Truth or Dare
Remember that game? How about making it a Brookside challenge for a week or so? Now that WOULD be a challenge to the scriptwriters, to say the least! Have the cast of Brookside, in whatever storylines they find themselves, actually have to be truthful. Anthea could take the stand and admit that she wasn't actually in the room where the shooting of Clint took place, therefore she wasn't really qualified to testify as to what happened, but - for the record - she only stayed with her husband because he offered her a roof over her head, food in her stomach and money in her bank account. Ron could then testify that he shouted a warning to Clint, not once, but twice, and then proceed to vilify the scriptwriters ON CAMERA about being so stupid and arrogant as to think that the viewers wouldn't remember that fact. He could then say he never asked for the gun, but that it was foisted on him by the neighbourhood scally. And Tim could then confess to having stolen the car from pervy Carl the photographer and wrecked it, thus being responsible for Mike Dixon's incapacitating injuries. He could also be overcome by an innate desire to continue telling the truth and admit to blackmailing Carl, amongst other things.
There are other examples too numerous to mention and involving other storylines, but really, this court case thing is becoming so fraught with lies, it's difficult to ascertain if there's any truth in it. And those who aren't lying are so damned batty and bitter (i.e. Katie Rogers) that they just aren't believeably tragic anymore.
However, on a positive note ... This line is doing another thing that Brookie used to do best - i.e., uniting several storylines by the same thread.
Anthea's wearing Jackie Corkhill's discarded bathrobe, whilst fixing a Dixon brekkie. As usual, she's being badgered by Ron, who's - as usual - standing as close to her elbow as he possibly can. As usual again, Ron is not a happy bunny, but this time his badgering doesn't concern his impending trial and Anthea's position as a witness.
No, he's carping about the fact that his daughter, Jacqui, has become romantically involved with their older next-door neighbour, Max Farnham. Not only is Ron annoyed about finding out, he's also annoyed that Anthea neglected to tell him, until she absolutely had to - and it's been made clear to him that, had he not been handed a clue about the affair, Anthea probably wouldn't have told him at all. Of course, he's annoyed by that; but he shouldn't be surprised - after all, Anthea has been keeping secrets from Ron since time out of mind, never mind being liberal with the truth.
Anyway, Ron is carping about the fact that he wasn't told about the affair, and Anthea, continuing to make breakfast, replies calmly that she hadn't told him because she was only thinking of him and his present concerns. At the moment, she thought he had enough on his plate, with trials and solicitors and the like. Anyway, she only found out about the Jacqui-Max relationship the day before, herself.
But, Ron argues, he was kept in the dark about that for a full day. He probably would never have found out, if Mick Johnson hadn't inadvertantly let the cat out of the bag. Anthea told him that, had she told him immediately, he would only have got all worked up, which is exactly what he was doing now, she adds smugly, pleased to have been proven right yet again.
Ron reminds Anthea that Jacqui was his daughter, and he had a right to know about this situation. Anthea replies that this was true, just as she had had a right to know about Gobby Moffatt trying to have her run over in retaliation against the killing of Saint Clint the Duck.
It's another day on the grind for the work force of Great Grannies, as Jessie and Brigid arrive at Bev's Bar. If they were horrified at the state of the place yesterday, they are thoroughly sickened today. The place is in a state worse than shite, absolutely sickening. It appears that someone's had an after-hours curry party, the remains of which are plastered all over the place. Quite simply, it reeks. As the two women stand there dismayed and trying to make sense of the mess, Lance bounces in, greeting them with good humour; but he's stopped cold in his tracks when he cops the state of the premises. He's truly at a loss for words and extremely embarrassed, because he knows who's behind the mess. As the trio survey the chaos, Brigid remarks to Lance sourly that they were paid to clean, not to fumigate.
Suddenly, from under a nearby mound of curry detritus, a low, painful moan is heard. Brigid enquires as to the origin of the sound. Edging gingerly toward the sound, Jessie, removes a soiled piece of paper to reveal a very hung-over Christy Murray, stretched out on one of the bench seats. 'It's THIS streak of uselessness!' Exclaims Jess.
At the same time, another moan is heard and from another mound of rubbish, Leanne rises like a drunken phoenix. The two women are thoroughly disgusted and complain to Lance that the bar has become a 'doss house' and a 'knocking shop'. Leanne calls out to Brigid to put the kettle on.
Morning has broken at Hotel Corkhill too, as a despondent Tim stumbles around in his teeshirt and boxies. Jimmy notes that the lad's awake, but Tim is very pessimistic at the day ahead, remarking that he may as well roll over and die, referring to the fact that Mike Dixon had told him the previous day that Ron was going to be forced to name him as the supplier of the gun, with which he had shot Clint.
Visiting the Farnham residence, we surmise that the divine Miss D has spent the night with her new-found love. The couple are also preparing for the day ahead. Jacqui notes that Max appears to be running late, and Max is unconcerned. She asks him what time he intends arriving at 'the Happy House'. Max shrugs his shoulders and implies that he's going to be late deliberately. Mick's there; let him sort out the mess. Jacqui mutters that she hopes he's absolutely snowed under and refers to Mick as the 'snide get'.
Still, she continues, at least she's thankful it was Anthea to whom Mick tattled and not Ron. Jacqui had had a word with Anthea and got her to promise NOT to tell Ron yet about their relationship. Max is relieved at this and refers to Anthea as 'the soul of discretion'.
Back at the bar, Brigid, Jessie and Lance are peering intently at a suspicious stain on the carpet, wondering what exactly it could be and shuddering to think of what it actually is. The two grannies still harp on about the appalling state of the place, with one of them commenting to Lance about the disgusting state of the gents' toilets, reminding him that that much cleaning really isn't a part of their contract.
Sensing that the women are about to make a less than complimentary reference to Leanne's (mis-)management of the place, Lance hastens to explain that the fault for all this disorganisation and mismanagement is down to Christy Murray and Christy only. It's he who's got an evil hold on RLeanne. She was totally under his influence.
Jessie and Brigid rubbish this theory, remarking that Christy and Leanne were 'six of one, half a dozen of another'.
Ron and Anthea are still arguing about the Jacqui-Max situation. Anthea tells Ron in no uncertain terms that he can't go around controlling other people's lives. Jacqui was an adult; she could make her own choices. Ron then gives Anthea a taste of her own sanctimonious and hypocritical medicine - she's such a stickler for the truth, how does she justify keeping this piece of information concerning his own daughter from him, yet she practically refuses to tell a white lie in court that may ensure that he doesn't spend the rest of his life in prison?
Anthea responds that she doesn't agree with Ron's judgment at the best of times. Ron, she points out, jumps into a critical situation with both feet, and then decides to think about the consequences of his precipitous actions afterwards. As for her opinion, he never gives that a second thought, unless it can help get him out of a sticky situation. She tells him that she chose not to tell him about Jacqui because she thought he had enough on his plate at the moment, and with his angina, knowing this about Jacqui just might tip him over, health-wise. Whereas, she continues, HIS secrets actually put HER life in danger.
Jessie and Brigid are still slaving away at the bar, but the pair are having a goss as they work. Jess has been telling Brigid about Nikki's treatment of Jerome in the bar the previous day, how she met his apology and declaration of love with a lager shampoo. Brigid laughs and remarks that a pint of lager might not go amiss over Marty's head. Jessie admits that Nikki is 'her mother's daughter' (perish the thought of another Margi in the world - anyway, I would have thought the Mekon more like Margi). Well, remarks Brigid, at least the girl found out what Jerome was really like before they got serious. Jessie tells her that the couple WAS serious.
Brigid speculates that perhaps the new young Doc might sweep Nikki off her feet. He was such a good-looking young man, such a strong jawline. Jessie scowls jealously at her and stalks away.
Brigid shouts at Lance, asking the whereabouts of Leanne. Lance tells her that Leanne is having a bath.
Ron is still having a moan at Anthea. He's utterly dismayed about the news concerning Jacqui and Max Farnham. What was Jacqueline thinking of? She was absolutely lousy at picking fellas. Again, he wonders why Anthea didn't tell him. Anthea repeats that she was only trying to alleviate him of one further worry.
Jessie and Brigid labour on, but are pleasantly surprised by Lance, who approaches them, laden with a tray of hot tea and cakes. He places the tray on a nearby table and sits down with the women, assuming the role of 'mother' at the tea party. Jessie advises him cautiously that the pair still had a lot to do - the ladies' toilets hadn't been done yet - but Lance urges them to have a break to which they were entitled, assuring them that not everyone takes them for granted.
Brigid takes the opportunity to ask exactly what hours Leanne does work, and Lance replies uneasily that Leanne does 'flexi-hours'. He leaves them to their tea, and as he departs, Brigid remarks to Jessie what a nice young homosexual Lance is. She bets he keeps his bedroom like a palace.
As Lance positions himself behind the bar, Leanne enters. Lance asks if she's had her bath, but she says fondly that Christy had fallen asleep in the bath. He was unloading some hearing aids now to stash in the office, and - bless him - he came out of the bath all wrinkly. Upon hearing that Christy's about to stash some of his dodgy goods on the premises, Lance gets noticeably antsy.
It looks as though the business day has begun at the Bar, as there appear to be a few customers entering. Poor pitiful Katie sits sadly at the bar, waiting hopelessly for someone to come and sympathise with her plight. It looks as though she hasn't had a hairwash since Clint died a couple of months ago. Presumably, this hygenic omission is out of respect for Clint's memory, as ducks' feathers are supposed to be well-oiled. Or perhaps she's supplementing her meagre income as a doctor's receptionist by providing cooking oil for the kitchen of the bar?
Anyway, Mingeing Mick enters and takes a seat beside her at the bar. Katie rouses herself briefly from her morass of self-pity, in order to greet Mick. She's amazed to see him in the bar at that hour of the day (indeed, shouldn't she be at work?), and asks if he shouldn't be at the restaurant already.
Mick's not bothered. In fact, he could care less. Max was a no-show this morning, and Mick doesn't see why he should push himself if Max can't be bothered to come in. Katie remarks that Max is all right. Mick's face lights up maliciously. Ah, but it's obvious that Katie hasn't heard the latest! And Mick takes great delight in telling her that Max and Jacqui were now a romantic item, thus fanning the fires of Katie's obsessive jealousy and bitterness even more. Poor pitiful Katie is left shocked, whilst mentally driving another nail into the coffin of her friendship with Jacqui.
'What's she playing at?' Katie wonders. (Nice to know that someone who's known a person for donkey's years, suddenly is ready to assume the worst of that person).
Jacqui and Max, meanwhile, have been out in Max's Range Rover to do a spot of shopping. They arrive back on the Close and are unloading groceries, when they are confronted by Anthea. She's appeared on the doorstep especially to warn them that Ron knows about their liaison. Jacqui and Max exchange looks of alarm, before Jacqui accuses Anthea of breaking her promise and telling Ron.
Anthea assures the couple that she didn't tell Ron. Mick Johnson couldn't resist spreading 'the good news' and Ron got it from him. (Actually, is this evidence of more of Anthea's lying? Mick told Ron nothing concrete. He told him enough to whet Ron's curiosity. Ron got the news from Anthea, who will not lie for Jacqui, but would lie continuously for Rachel).
Max asks the singularly silly question of how Ron took the news. Anthea replies that he wasn't happy, to say the least. In fact, Ron had gone round to the Health Club in search of Jacqui in order to have it out with her. Suffice it to say, Anthea adds almost gleefully, that Ron is on the warpath.
Mick continues to stir trouble for Jacqui by embellishing his story of the Dixon-Farnham entanglement for Katie. Mick discovered the truth, he says, because he caught the pair kissing on the Farnham doorstep. Katie, who feeds obsessively off the hatred and jealousy of Jacqui she's concealed for ages, is only too willing to believe in Jacqui's ulteriour motive regarding the relationship.
She takes great pleasure in confirming to Mick that Gobby always reckoned that there was something more to Jacqui and Max's friendship. Mind you, she adds, Gobby was always paranoid. But then again, she remarks, Jacqui just flits from fella to fella. Katie bitchily reckons that the reason Jacqui's after Max has everything to do with Harry.(Rant: HANG ON A MINUTE! JACQUI DIXON'S SEXUAL HISTORY IS ANYTHING BUT PROMISCUOUS. JACQUI LOST HER VIRGINITY TO CARL BANKS IN 1994. SHE THEN HAD A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AUSSIE LAD, SHANE IN 1995, WHO DIED. THERE WAS A BRIEF FLING WITH BEN O'LEARY IN 1996 AND THEN NOTHING UNTIL SHE BECAME INVOLVED WITH NATHAN IN 1999, A RELATIONSHIP THAT LASTED OVER A YEAR. THEN SHE BECAME INVOLVED WITH GOBBY, AND NOW MAX. KATIE, ON THE OTHER HAND, GOT SERIOUSLY INVOLVED WITH WEIRD SIMON OF THE RELIGIOUS CULT IN 1993, THEN MOVED ON TO WEIRD CHRISTIAN FOR A FLING IN 1995. AFTER THAT SHE WAS THE MEAT SANDWICH FOR THE MUSGROVE BROTHERS, UNTIL SHE MET CLINT THE DUCK. IF MOLEY'S SPOILERS ARE TO BE BELIEVED, SHE'LL BED GOBBY SOON. IF ANYTHING, KATIE'S THE SLAG HERE. AT LEAST, JACQUI'S FELLAS HAVE BEEN REASONABLY NORMAL. THIS IS PURE, UNMITIGATED JEALOUSY).
Brigid and Jessie are still enjoying their tea and cakes, along with a prolonged goss. Brigid is telling Jessie about Diane's and Marty's decision to have another go at IVF treatment. She hates to admit it, but Marty's to be admired for the sacrifice he's making for this - selling his car AND his Liverpool season ticket. Sadly, says Brigid, their chances of success are even less this time around.
Jessie remarks hopefully that Brigid should have faith this time. Perhaps it might work. Brigid explains that this was the reason she was so reluctant to loan them the money for the first attempt. She knew that the chances of success were slim and she couldn't stand the heartache they would have to endure. Jess remarks that it's just as well that Brigid was flush then, but Brigid refutes this. 'Do you think I enjoy cleaning bogs!' She scoffs.
Meanwhile, that pair of jealous souls, Mick and Katie, are having a gossip of a more malicious kind - developing the character assassination of Jacqui Dixon. Katie wickedly tells Mick that poor, misunderstood, sociopath Gobby had accused Jacqui of sleeping with Max all along. Why, she reckoned, there must have been some truth in that accusation now. In fact, every time Jacqui visited the Farnhams, she had to lie to Gobby about her whereabouts. (Er, wasn't that because she was afraid of having the shit knocked out of her, Katie? Especially when Jacqui saw Gobby's reaction was to demolish a piece of furniture in response. You callow bitch).
Back with the grannies, Brigid is lamenting Adele's abortion. Jessie remarks that she realises Brigid doesn't believe in abortions; but women who choose to have them, don't take them lightly. Brigid is sceptical. She's heard of women who've had seven or eight, and if that isn't taking the operation lightly, she'd like to know what is. But she couldn't understand why. Still, she muses, it WAS ironic - Diane trying desperately to conceive via IVF, whilst Adele was going through with a termination. Jessie hasn't been listening for a few minutes. She's sitting and gazing into space, at nothing in particular in the present. Jess is gazing into her past. Sadly, she admits to Brigid that she didn't take the abortion of her baby lightly. Brigid is shocked at the confession and at a loss for words.
Ron is walking across the Close when he's confronted by Tim. Ron doesn't exactly want to face Tim, but there's no avoiding the lad. Tim thanks Ron sarcastically for ruining his life. Ron begins to apologise for having to grass on Tim. Tim points out that Ron couldn't even tell him of his decision, himself. Instead, he sent Mike as his messanger.
Ron begins to splutter. If there were any other way ... But there is, says Tim. Ron could lie. Ron protests that they would never believe him; it wouldn't hold up in court. His solicitor wants names. Tim shouts that if he's done, he's looking at a five-year stretch. He couldn't face that. Ron retorts that he was looking at a life sentence. Ron admits that he wouldn't last a day in prison. He'd be carried out feet first. Tim's getting tearful now and reminds Ron that he is only just a kid. (Funny how, when it suits Tim, he plays the 'juvenile' card).
What about Emily, Tim asks Ron. Tim's only been married five minutes. The best thing he ever did was to take his vows. Part of those vows was a pledge to love and cherish his wife. What if someone else is cherishing her whilst he's inside?
Tim reminds Ron, who looks increasingly uneasy, that Ron's actually killed someone; and that's bad. But Tim reckons he, himself, has never actually done anything BAD, just stupid. (That's a matter of contention - harassing Susannah, breaking and entering, etc). In fact, says Tim, he was nothing more than a stupid scally who tried to do a good deed by protecting Ron.
Ron tries to excuse himself, saying he has to go. Tim calls out to Ron that he's got children and grandchildren. Ron's a granddad; his life is over. Tim's life hasn't yet begun. He and Emily had plans. Now there plans would come to nowt as five years' imprisonment would scupper them.
Ron turns and walks away, too ashamed to face Tim. The viewers can see how much it hurts Ron to have to do this. Tim shouts after him that one day he hopes Ron's grandchildren find out what a coward Ron was.
Mick has finally arrived at the restaurant, only to find Max hard at work on some paperwork. Max sarcastically notes the time of Mick's arrival, remarking that it was nice of him to show up. Mick cockily informs Max that he was 'taking five' with Katie Rogers. Well, remarks Max, now that he's here, perhaps he'd like to sort out the next two weeks' menus. It pays to plan ahead.
Mick agrees. Doing that would make a change from sweating cobs down in the kitchen. Good, Max agrees, coldly. Then he could get on, himself, with some paperwork that needed doing. And he wordlessly dismisses Mick. As Mick departs, we see a coldly impersonal look cross Max's face.
Back at the bar, Jessie finishes off her confessional tale of her abortion to Brigid, wondering what her aborted child would have look like. Jessie admits that the trauma of that abortion was all brought back to her when Greg died. She often felt that his death was a punishment on her for aborting her first child. She was demented with grief, but later as her grief lessened, she realised that her abortion back in the Fifties (when it was a far more dangerous procedure in that it was illegal and backstreet at the time) was the right thing for her to have done at the time. She realises Brigid mightn't agree.
Brigid admits that having an abortion was one thing she could never have done. Jessie reminds her sagely to 'never say never'. Brigid, however, respects Jessie's right to her own opinion. Jessie repeats her belief that 'we are all blessed with free will' in our actions. (A-HAAAA! So Jessie is Presbyterian, or Church of Scotland, or ... Ulster Proddy!). Brigid ends the discussion amicably by saying the pair will simply have to agree to disagree on this subject.
Ron has found Jacqui, and they have adjourned to the Farnham residence to discuss Jacqui's entanglement with the man Ron calls 'the Merry Widower'. (Please! Max Farnham is NOT a widower, having been divorced from Susannah before she died!) What bothers Ron is Max's sexual track record. Max, reckons Ron, goes through wives like salts.
Ron is getting tetchy, and Jacqui reminds him of his angina, which is the basic reason why she hadn't told him about her involvement with Max. Is it any reason he's shocked, says Ron, finding out what she was up to with Max. Why, she was nothing more than Max Farnham's latest conquest. Anyway, he didn't need this extra worry, not when his primary concern was whether or not he was going to be bunged up for murder.
Ron tries the emotional blackmail route with Jacqui, telling her that she and Mike were precious to him. And now she had to humiliate him and the family by getting together with Max Farnham. Ron had Max pegged; after all, he had lived next door to him for 12 years. (Didn't the Dixons arrive on the scene in 1990?) Jacqui, he announces, is selfish.
Jacqui is amazed. So falling in love is selfish? She remarks in amazement. Ron is almost apoplectic when he hears the phrase 'falling in love', He looks as though he's ready to choke and announces that Jacqui is trying to put him in an early grave.
Tim is relating to Jimmy the details of his brief encounter with Ron in The Close. He implies that Ron had no time for him and was seeking to avoid confronting him.
'Not now, sonny. No time now,' he parrots, imitating Ron's impatience to be rid of him. Ron was in a hurry, he said. He had some place to go.
Jimmy asks Tim if Ron was going to the cop shop. Tim replies that he didn't think he'd been, because when Tim saw him, he was headed toward number 7. Then, reasons Jimmy, there's still time. Time for what? Tim wants to know.
Time to think of another story and to convice Ron Dikko to use it, says Jimmy. Tim, however, is only convinced of the fact that he's going back to prison. He resolves that he's never going to get shafted again.
'That's the spirit!' Exclaims Jimmy, but Tim means something else.
From now on, it's no more Mr Nice Guy. He'd done someone a favour and got shat upon from a great height. No. When he returned to prison this time, he was determined to become one hard case. And when he got out, he was only going to do top jobs that would get him top dosh - criminally, he means. Jimmy is wry about this remark. In fact, Tim maintains, he was going to get enough of a stash to look after Emily, and he was going to make sure he became one HARD man.
Ron is still badgering Jacqui. Did she feel she had to become involved with Max for Harry's sake? Jacqui replies that Harry wasn't the real reason she and Max became attracted to each other, and she is insulted that Ron should think that.
Ron remarks that he has other things on his mind at the moment, and this affair isn't exactly top of his priority list. Now who's selfish? Asks Jacqui.
Ron reminds Jacqui of Max's marital record. He's using Jacqui, he tells her. How long before he starts to cheat on her, with someone else? Jacqui retorts that Ron cheated on DD, but Ron, using Mick's logic, reckons that was a different kettle of fish, being years ago. Jacqui's amused by that assumption. Anyway, she continues, people change. Max has changed.
Leopards don't change their spot, Ron says. Jacqui replies that, after all the recent heartache Jacqui's had, Ron should be happy for her and Max, because they genuinely loved each other. Maybe their shared parentage of Harry was a start, but they genuinely loved and cared about each other.
Ron tries to explain his feelings to Jacqui. He tells her that if she had presented someone to the family as her fella, an older man, four times divorced and with four kids, two of whom he never sees, Ron would be a bit wary; but in fairness, he'd give the broke a chance. But this is MAX FARNHAM, he reminds her. Max knew her as a kid. He'd seen her skinned knees, watched her ride her bike, shouted at her to keep off his garden.
Ron informs Jacqui that he happens to be aware of Patricia and Susannah - as well as all the rest of Max Farnham's flings and floozies. (Sorry, who were these flings and floozies, besides Faye?) AND, Ron informs her, he's heard all the slanging matches from next door between Max and his various wives. Max, in short, would ruin Jacqui's life.
Lance and Leanne sit in the office formerly belonging to Bev. What a changed place! It now resembles some shabby, cut-price storeroom. Obviously, Christy has been using it to stash his dodgy gear. There are opened boxes of goods all over the place. Leanne is examining some flip-flop sandals. She's telling a totally disinterested Lance that Christy had ordered this consignment of shoes in size 6, but they'd all come in size 9. He was well narked, she says.
Lance isn't worried about the shoes, but he is worried about the direction in which the bar business seems to be going, which is distinctly DOWN. As far as the office was concerned, Lance surmises that it's become nothing more than a holding point for dodgy flip-flops, digestive biscuits and hearing aids. Leanne pointedly tells Lance that, by holding the goods here, Christy is saving a fortune on forking out to pay for storage space.
It's all right for Christy to save a few quid, harkens Lance, but what about the Bar? Leanne reckons the bar is doing all right, but Lance says that they will know soon enough how healthy the bar is when Anthea does the books. It's now apparent where the bulk of Leanne's profit is coming from and it's not the Bar. It's from the stay-behinds, the proceeds of which she pockets herself.
Lance reminds her that if she continues to hold these stay-behinds, it's only a matter of time before the bizzies cotton onto this. And when that happens, Bev could lose her licence. (Again, WHO IS THE LICENCEE?) Leanne isn't in the least bothered by that, believing in her own invincibility. In fact, her sole concern is the fact that she has to 'go for a wass'. As she leaves, she cockily informs Lance that this bar is 'a gold mine'. Lance's brow furrows with worry.
Just at that moment, Anthea arrives in the bar. It's time for her to do the books. As she enters, Christy rises from his semi-permanent perch at the bar to meet her. Immediately Anthea notices the signs denoting 'Cash only' placed at strategic places around the premises. She queries the meaning with Christy.
Christy gives her some old codswollop about that being the latest 'Dutch' idea. The Dutch hate credit cards, he says. But the system's a raging success. Anyway, Anthea announces, she's here to do the books. Christy says that won't be necessary today. But Anthea insists. She was in the area and thought she'd get this task over with.
Christy spells it out more succinctly. That won't EVER be necessary. Her services are no longer required. Anthea is well put out. 'After the morning I've had,' she says, 'you can STUFF your job'. And she hands Christy the books and storms off.
Sackings seem to be in the air. Over at The Shelf, Mick hands the completed menus for the next fortnight to Max. Max appears to be dealing with some rather involved paperwork and accepts them distractedly from Mick. Mick is feeling particularly cocky and starts to taunt Max.
Mick says he found talking with Katie Rogers VERY enlightening.
Max refuses to rise to the bait. Keeping his attention firmly on his paperwork, he remarks lightly, 'Oh my. You do have a lot of conversations. First Anthea, then Katie Rogers. Who's next?'
Mick is gloating now, describing himself as a verty sociable guy.
Well, Max remarks, Mick would have a lot more time to be sociable now. Max hands him a document, which happens to be his P45. Mick is being sacked. The man is astonished. He reckons Max is sacking him because he found out about Max and Jacqui. In fact, Mick surmises, there's something funny about this. Mick must have really rattled Max's cage for Max to decide to sack him over his discovery.
Max coldly assures Mick that his sacking was for entirely personal reasons, other than that concerning his relationship with Miss Dixon. And he ends by asking Mick not to leave his smelly trainers in his locker when he goes.
Jimmy is still trying to encourage Tim, who's absolutely certain he's going back to prison. Jimmy tells the lad to think positive. Positive? Tim's positive, all right. Positive he's going back to prison.
Jimmy tells him he has to start thinking 'outside the box', meaning he has to step back and look at the situation objectively, in order to figure out how to convince Ron not to grass on him. Jimmy's about to hang some laundry on the line, and as he leaves the room, he's muttering to himself that he 'can't see the forest for the trees' in this one, obviously trying to come to a successful conclusion about helping Tim. However, he promises Tim that he will ensure that he won't go to prison.
Ron is still banging on at Jacqui. Now he's telling her that she and Max Farnham have nothing in common, apart from Harry. Max, he says, is the archetypal Sloane Ranger, whilst Jacqui was his bit of working class on the side. Jacqui, he points out, was born in a 'corpy'flat; she went to the local comprehensive. She has the wrong accent and she listens to the wrong radio station.
Jacqui points out that Ron has always been a snob, so this volte-face is a turn-up for the books. Anyway, she owns her own successful business ('so successful it runs itself'), which moves her up a rung or two on society's ladder. Doesn't that count for something? (Strange how Ron thought 'corpy flat' Jacqui was good enough for the son of a titled baron, but she ISN'T good enough for Max Farnham, who - although he has a university degree - was also educated at a comprehensive).
And as for her relationship with Max, the pair of them don't exactly sit around counting their qualifications. Max likes the 'corpy flat' in her, she points out. Ron is actually insulting her with all this working class dross. Is this how much he really values her that he thinks she's patently not good enough to be loved by Max Farnham? That does wonders for her own self-esteem!
Ron equally points out that Max has had four wives and has four kids. (Correction: Max has had two wives. He married them both twice). For Christ's sake, Ron says, Max was on his second wife by the time the Dixons arrived on The Close. All Ron wants Jacqui to understand is that he, her dad, is a bloke as well. He knows Max Farnham's type, and he has Max's cards marked.
By now, Ron's struggling to keep his emotions in check. Nothing that's happened recently has affected him so badly as hearing that Jacqui and Max had fallen in love. (Not even being charged with murder and facing a life sentence?) In fact, only one event in his life has hurt him more - the death of Tony Dixon. He equates Jacqui's liaison with that sad happening. Ron informs Jacqui that if she continues to associate with Max, he wants nothing more to do with her. (Funny, how, in all his lengthy tirade, Ron Dixon never once mentions that Max's age has anything to do with his objections to Jacqui's involvement with the man. It's more of a social background issue).
Mick has cleaned out his locker and is preparing to leave. As Mick departs, he hands his chef's whites to Max, telling him that Jacqui can put it in with Max's smalls to wash. Max is astonished that he's still on the premises and asks sarcastically if Mick shouldn't be at the Job Centre, before remarking that he'll suggest putting Mick's whites in with the smalls to Jacqui. Still, Mick can't resist some parting comments to Max, who's doing his best to coldly ignore the bitter Mick.
He asks Mick how long he and Jacqui have been seeing each other as a couple. Max tries to deflect this personal line of questioning by telling Mick that it was none of his buisiness; but Mick persisists. Finally, Max admits that the pair have been intimate for about three weeks.
Mick refuses to believe this, reckoning the pair have been 'at it' for years.
Truly exasperated, Max turns and faces Mick. 'Why are you so bitter?' He asks.
Katie Rogers, Mick says, seems to fill in all the blanks that exist in the story of Max's and Jacqui's love. In fact, he informs Max, Katie reckons that he and Jacqui have been carrying on for ages - years, perhaps. Certainly they had to be carrying on before Harry was born, and right under poor sainted Susannah's nose. Mick suggests that maybe he should ask around about the length of time Max and Jacqui had been seeing each other - check out their stories with people like Katie Rogers or Lisa Morrissey. Just out of interest, Mick comments, is Harry supposed to be a test-tube job? Max confirms this. (Well, actually, Harry was a turkey-baster's job). But Mick is sceptical. Max may say that, but how can he. Mick, be sure that's how Harry was really conceived?
Max icily informs Mick that he, Jacqui and Susannah knew and planned the details of Harry's conception and birth. All three of the parties involved knew and accepted the situation. As far as Susannah's position with regard to Harry was concerned, both he and Jacqui accepted the fact that Susannah was considered to be Harry's mother. As far as both children were concerned, Max spoke to them about Susannah every day. He talked about her to them practically all the time.
Mick asks Max if he considered himself and Jacqui Dixon to be free agents, prior to their involvement. Max agrees with that assessment.
'Then why all the secrecy?' Asks Mick. 'Neither of you had any other ties. Why not come out into the open with your relationship from the very beginning?'
Max replies that he and Jacqui wanted to make sure they had got their relationship right before proclaiming it to the world. He tells Mick quite succinctly that he's tired of his boorish behaviour an assumptions, asking Mick sarcastically if he didn't have a Job Centre to attend.
But Mick reckons something else. He reckons that the couple are hiding something, a guilty secret, perhaps? A secret that went back a fair way into the past. Jacqui wanted Harry, and Max wanted Jacqui. And Susannah was in the way. Mick discloses to Max that he reckons that Max and Jacqui, together, were responsible for Susannah's death.
Max, quite succinctly, is speechless.
Summary © 2001 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001