Neighbours, who'd have'em, eh? All they do is twitch curtains, purse lips and pass judgments. Well, they were out in abundance tonight, folks. Take a look ...
Max and Jax are intent on playing happy families and apparently aren't bothered about keeping their relationship secret any longer, as Mick appears to have told all the world and his neighbour. It's morning and Max is outside Number 7, preparing to drive(?) off to the restaurant. He's in the process of bidding the divine Miss D adieu for the day. Jacqui is hurrying Max off, saying she'll be late getting the kids to nursery if he doesn't depart.
Max consoles her on her latest round of argument with Ron, telling her to try not to let the disagreement with her dad get her down. Jacqui is very upset, she says to Max, because Ron compared her relationship with Max to the death of Tony Dixon, saying that as long as the couple are together, Ron wants nothing to do with Jacqui.
As the couple talk, both clock Ron twitching back the curtains of Casa BevRon and glaring out at them, as well as Mick, taking the post from the postman, staring disapprovingly in their direction.
Jacqui is almost in tears, seeing the two hypocrites. She wonders why everyone is so dead set against her and Max being happy; and she wonders why Mick is so bitter. Max forgets himself and starts to tell her about some nasty allegations Mick made during the course of his conversation with Max the day Max sacked him; but thinking better of the content of the conversation, he stops. Jacqui asks him to continue, but he tells her it's not really worth discussing.
Over at Hotel Corkhill, Mrs O'Leary sits industriously at a sewing machine. Ah, the rehabilitation of Emily Shadwick continues! But fear not, viewers, Ms Shadwick O'Leary will tomorrow night pass the baton in the 4 x 100 metres slapper relay to the erstwhile and fragrant Ms Murray. Tim enters the room, and Emily smiles at him, telling him that she's mended the skirt she burned the other day. She thought about ditching it and buying another, but this way she would save money. She's pleased with herself and holds the garment up to her so Tim can see her handiwork.
The skirt was short before, but it's minute now, barely covering her private parts. Tim is shocked. Jimmy, entering the room, remarks that he has vests longer than that skirt.Tim is tactfully trying to tell Emily that perhaps the skirt is a bit too short, but Emily maintains to both men that 'everyone' wears skirts like that these days; however, she agrees that she'll try it on at work and see what Di and the other staff think about its length.
When Emily leaves, Jimmy asks Tim if he's spoken to Ron anymore, specifically if he's ascertained when Ron's likely to speak to he police. Tim is despondent. What's the use? Ron would only blank him, the way he did previously. Tim was going back to prison, and he would lose Emily.
Jimmy tries to encourage Tim not to lose heart. Tim, he says, has got to look after number one, just like Ron's doing. He's got to try to convince Ron that it's in everyone's interest to lie and keep Tim from prison, whilst at the same time maintaining a believeable front for Ron's own story. Tim needs to be more constructive in this measure and stop feeling sorry for himself.
At the Bar, Leanne sits before the computer terminal. Christy appears and asks what she's doing. Leanne tells him that she's sending an e-mail to Bev. At first, Christy is alarmed, thinking Bev's coming back; but Leanne assures him that she won't return for months. In fact, she'll see to that. Christy is reassured, because Bev's return would shake their cosy, little set-up. Leanne reckons the pair of them make a great team, but without Bev. As Christy leaves, Leanne types her e-mail, the gist of which is as follows:-
'Dear Bev, The bizzies are crawling all over the place. They have a warrant out for your arrest. Best not to come back too soon. Love, your bezzy mate'.
As she clicks the mouse on the 'send' button, Leanne smiles wickedly and chomps on a sausage.
Ron Dikko sits sadly gazing at a framed photo of Jacqui when in the distance, his doorbell rings. Mike, who has graduated to one crutch, answers in the background. We hear Tim's voice asking if Ron's in, and Mike announces that Ron has a visitor.
Tim enters, and for a minute, both he and Ron look shame-facedly at each other. Ron sadly asks Tim if he's come to have another go at him. Tim apologises for that incident, but asks Ron rhetorically if Ron can blame him in the current circumstances.
Ron apologises, but tells Tim he has no choice in the matter. The solicitor has demanded that Ron provide him with a name of the person from whom he bought the gun. Tim asks how much time does he have before Ron sees the solicitor. Ron says he's seeing the solicitor at the end of the week; and make no mistake, he will have to give a name. Tim remarks that he doesn't have too much time, but he has too much to lose. He turns to go and Ron stops him in order to apologise again.
Mick Johnson stalks moodily down The Parade, when Jacqui Dixon calls him from behind and runs to catch up with him. Jacqui wants a word. Mick asks her sarcastically if her 'lover boy' sent her with a message. Jacqui denies this, but simply wants to know why Mick is so against her and Max being together as a couple. They are in love with each other; why should that bother him so? Why does he feel the need to be so critical and free with his snide remarks? Mick brushes her aside, saying he has nothing further to say in the matter; but Jacqui persists. Mincing no words, Jacqui informs him that the relationship she and Max enjoy with each other is no business of his. She's sorry that Mick lost his job at the restaurant, but at the end of the day, that was his own fault. Mick gazes after her with a dirty look, as she leaves.
Christy and Leanne are behind the bar, and Christy is seeking confirmation from Leanne that Bev's not about to return. Leanne says he has nothing to worry about, as Bev will be away a LONG time. Christy remarks that the longer Bev is away, the better it is for their little set-up. Leanne assures him that they are, indeed, OK for a few months. That's good, says Christy, because it means that they will be able, hopefully, to expand their little empire - maybe make this place into s sort of 'theme place'.
'Like a meat bar?' Asks Leanne, hopefully. Their eyes meet. That's exactly what Christy means, he exclaims. Why, why not do that? Give the punter what he wants ... Steak and chips served at the local pub. Why, Christy can envisage a chain of such places opening across the land. (Hardly original, is it? And, as Christy will probably provide the knock-down meat, do I foresee food poisoning on the horizon and the return of the redoubtable Mr Moore?)
At that moment, Steve 'the Plank' Murray enters the bar. He needs Leanne to give Bev a message the next time she speaks to her. Bev was his footie team's sponsor last year, and the team is in need of a new kit for the season, which starts soon. Leanne informs him that she is in charge of such matters whilst Bev is away and proceeds to refuse point blank to sponsor the team. Leanne runs a class joint; she wants nothing to do with losers, she says. The Plank tries to convince her that the team did all right last year, but Leanne won't be swayed and walks away.
When she leaves, the Plank tries to get his uncle Christy to put in a good word. The team is in dire need of a new kit, and they were refusing to play another season in the mauve job Bev had chosen last year. Christy promises.
The Naughty Nurse is back from hols and enters the bar at this time, only to be ogled by Christy, as he talks to the Plank. Nisha is aware of the attention she's garnering from Christy's quarter and smiles back uneasily.
'Now SHE'S just what the doctor ordered,' comments Christy. The Plank warns him that if he so much as made a move toward her, Leanne would rip his tackle off.
Nisha notices Christy's ogling and asks politely if there's anything she can do for him.
'Not half,' replies Christy.
She appears uncomfortable with that remark, and Steve admonishes Christy, saying she doesn't want to hear remarks like that from an old man like him. Christy tells the Plank to use 'less of the old.'
As he leaves the bar, the Plank stops briefly by Nisha and apologises for Christy's remark. Nisha eyes him up and down, like a punter buying a horse, and says that her uniform seems to bring out the beast in all sorts of men. Still, she remarks as she openly ogles the Plank, girls like to have a look as well. (So kinky Nisha is developing a wood fetish). The Plank tries to blush bashfully for the cameras.
Max is actually dealing with some customers in the restaurant, when Mick enters. Max asks him pointedly if he's left something in his locker.
'No,' answers Mick shortly, 'and I haven't come to ask for my job back either.'
In fact, Mick is at a loss to explain why he ever agreed to work for Max. (Er, I thought it was the other way around, actually - Max agreeing to work WITH Mick). Mick informs Max that he's spoken to Jacqui, who tried to convince him just how much she and Max loved each other. But one thing Jacqui failed to mention: she didn't say anything about Susannah's death.
Max reiterates that that was because Susannah's death was an accident. Mick laughs bitterly and says he thinks it wasn't, because the two of them had too much to gain from her death. Max tries to dismiss him, by saying he was tired of Mick's insane theories.
Back in the Bar, Christy is still ogling Nisha, unaware of a scowling Leanne standing immobile in the background. By now, Nisha is clearly annoyed with his behaviour and asks if he has anything worthwhile to do. If not, could he please leave her in peace?
Christy is in a chat-up mood and hints heavily how the Murray men knew how to treat a woman; and Nisha was missing out when it comes to Christy.
Nisha picks up on Christy's assertion that the Murray men knew how to treat women, and asks him to name a time and a place. Christy misunderstands, thinking he's pulled, but Nisha deflects his hope. She meant STEVE, his nephew. She understood he was the shy type, and she's attracted to him. Anyway, Nisha understood that Christy was spoken for, and reminds him he's being watched.
Christy turns to encounter Leanne's foul stare. Nisha wants to know if Christy would put in a good word for her with Steve. Chastened by a look from Leanne that would kill most people, Christy agrees. He leaves Nisha in peace, but is pounced upon by Leanne. Wasting no time, Leanne wants to know what Christy's doing sniffing around 'her'. Christy explains that Nisha was interested in getting to know Steve and he'd promised to put in a good word.
Leanne says that's good, because 'that one's' got a reputation for nicking other people's fellas. Christy, relieved to have got off a nasty hook, reminds Leanne that people were jealous of them. Not everyone has as happy a relationship as they do.
Max and Mick are still parleying at the restaurant, and they are beginning to be noticed by several diners, which is NOT good for business. Mick is thinking rapidly whilst he talks. He's convinced that Susannah's death was not an accident and reiterates that both Max and Jacqui had too much to gain from her death, especially Jacqui. Why, with Susannah dead, all Jacqui had to do was ingratiate herself with Max, and she would have more access to Harry. What's next, eh? Perhaps Max should be more careful of his company.
Max angrily shouts at Mick that he has no right to accuse the woman Max loves of being a murderer, and tells Mick to get out of the restaurant.
Emily enters the bar to leave a notice with Quiet Paul, who must be about to become a more integral part of the proceedings on Brookside, as he says two words. As she turns around, she spies Nisha still nursing a drink. Emily approaches her and asks snidely if she's got her claws yet into another fella. Nisha attempts to ignore her baiting.
Emily reminds the nurse how upset Nikki was after what Nisha and Jerome did to her. Why, poor Nikki was so upset, she had to run off to Belgium to remind Margi that she was the girls' mother. Nisha condescends to look at Emily briefly, before admonishing her to 'change the record, and learn to move on, like an adult.'
But Emily won't go away and rises to the bait, threatening Nisha. Nisha puts her face up close to Emily's and shouts at Emily to leave her alone, thinking this is the only action Emily understands. Emily refuses to budge, spoiling for a fight. 'Push along, little girl,' remarks Nisha. Emily responds by calling her a slut, and the fighting and hair-pulling begins in earnest.
Christy jumps into the fray to pull Emily off Nisha, as Leanne intervenes to bar Emily from the place. Emily departs and Nisha is shaken and dishevelled.
The doorbell rings at Casa BevRon, and Mike Dixon opens the door to find his sister standing there. Not sure whom exactly the Divine Miss D wants to see, because she asks, first of all, if Anthea's in. Mike tells her that Anthea has taken Beth and gone downtown (funny that, especially since Anthea is SO put upon by looking after Beth all the time). Jacqui, still not across the threshold, asks if her dad is in. Why no, says Mike. In fact, Ron's made a beeline for the restaurant to have a conflab with Max.
Stepping inside, Jacqui is both worried and annoyed. Why does he want to go stirring up trouble with Max anyway? Hasn't he done enough? Mike soothes her by saying maybe Max will turn on the charm with Ron and win him around. Anyway, Mike continues, Ron was worried about her getting hurt, and so was he. Jacqui maintains Max isn't going to hurt her. She's certain of that. Doesn't Mike credit her with enough intelligence to realise that if she thought she would be getting hurt, she'd run a mile?
She loves Max, she says.
Tim returns to Hotel Corkhill to find Jimmy on his own. Jim looks pleased with himself for some reason, as he asks Tim if Tim's found out when Ron Dikko is due to see his solicitor. Tim tells him that Ron's not seeing his brief until the end of the week. Good, says Jimmy, that gives him time. Time for what? Asks Tim. Time to formulate the plan that's just entered Jim's head.
Now, Jim begins, he wants Tim to tell him everything Tim knows about this Sotto. Has he ever been in trouble before? Yes, says Tim. Sotto's been in trouble with the authorities regularly, since he was a kid. So he's got a police record, then? Asks Jim. Good.
What was he like inside? Jimmy wants to know. Hardly a model prisoner, says Tim. He was always throwing his weight around, bullying other prisoners. He beat up Craig for no good reason. But Tim stood up to him. Good, confirms Jimmy. A no-mark with no mates. Just what Jim wants to hear.
Jacqui and Mike are still discussing her relationship with Max. Jacqui is wailing about the fact that everything and everyone is against her in this affair - there's the difference in their ages and backgrounds, as well as Max's past. Yet, of all her previous boyfriends, she's never felt as happy and contented as she's felt with Max. Surely that should count for something?
Mike has to ask her one thing: Is she certain that she doesn't see Max as a safer option to Robbie? Jacqui maintains that what she felt with Robbie and Nathan was nothing close to what she feels for Max. With the other two, there were always some niggling doubts to be resolved. She had none of that with Max. Everything felt completely right with Max.
Mike gazes at her sister and reckons that her relationship sounds like 'the real John and Yoko'. Jacqui asks if that means he approves. Mike confirms that, as long as the couple don't stage any bed-ins, he'll give her his support; and the pair embrace.
Ron, meantime, has arrived at the restaurant and sits in a booth opposite Max. He comes straight to the point with Max. He's worried about his association with Jacqui. Ron's seen too many heart-broken women emerge from Number 7 for Jacqui to become just another notch on Max's belt. (Er, so many women? Only Patricia and Susannah, and they came back for more.)
Max promises that things are different concerning Jacqui. He genuinely loves her and promises Ron he has no intention of hurting her. Ron remarks that Max's promises aren't worth the divorce papers on which they are written.
Back at Hotel Corkhill, Jimmy's plan to keep Tim out of prison slowly unfolds before the lad. It's simple. Sotto takes the blame. After all, it was Sotto who provided Tim with the gun. Why should Tim suffer punishment for something for which Sotto is ultimately responsible? Tim, nice but dim, fails to see the sense in this. He argues his point with Jimmy. If he tells the bizzies that Sotto provided the gun, then all Sotto would do would be to deny it, and Tim would be in bigger trouble with Sotto.
Yes, Jimmy agrees. But it won't be Tim who tells the bizzies anything. It'll be Ron Dikko. HE'S the one they want to give a name, and if Ron can be convinced to give Sotto's name to his solicitor, instead of Tim's, then Tim's home scot-free.
Max and Ron are still discussing l'affaire Dixon. Ron asks Max exactly what he's aiming for, getting involved with Jacqui this way. Max replies calmly, that he loves Jacqui. Ron scoffs at this admission. Love her?
'Why she's a young girl with a crush on you, and you're filling your boots.'
Ron tells Max that Jacqui is young and daft enough to believe that playing happy families with him is what she wants to do for the rest of her life. But Ron knows that, as soon as Max gets what he wants and tires of her, he'll wash his hands of her.
Max remains calm and collected. He explains to Ron how Jacqui was always there for him after Susannah died. It may look like it, but their mutual affection was no mere affair on the rebound. Why, Max states, the last thing he was looking for was another relationship.
Ron is unmoved and unconvinced. He asks Max to end his relationship with Jacqui now.
Jacqui, meanwhile, enters the garage opposite The Parade. As she enters, she passes poor, pitiful Katie, who's leaving. Katie hasn't made any purchases, so perhaps she was trying to do a deal with Jackie Corkhill to provide extra oil for the garage, as her hair is virtually dripping the stuff. She grudgingly moves aside for Jacqui, and as she's about to leave, turns and asks her former friend roughly if the rumours are true about her and Max Farnham.
As a matter of fact, says Jacqui, since Katie enquired, yes, they are.
'Are you on glue or something?' Sneers poor, pitiful Katie, jealousy almost visibly rising within her.
Unwilling to rise to Katie's pathetic baiting, Jacqui pushes past her out the door. Katie won't be silenced, however.
'What are you playing at?' She calls after Jacqui. 'With your record for failed relationships.'
(Sorry, rant time here. This is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, for the only failure I see here is sad Katie, herself. Jacqui's failed relationships? Well, there's Shane, for starters. He and Jacqui were pretty serious until he died - no failure there. Then there was Ben O'Leary, which didn't get past first base. No real failure there. Then Nathan - safe to say that Katie had a dab hand in planting doubts about that one. And Gobby - until the death of the Sainted Clint, Katie was doing her sensible and level best to DIScourage Jacqui from this violent association.
And Katie? Weird Simon, followed by even weirder Christian. Then the meat in a Musgrove sandwich of a two-timer and a rapist, followed by the tragic patron saint of ducks. NOW, who's the failure? Right. KATIE.)
Katie continues. Anyway, she thought Jacqui hated Max Farnham. Jacqui turns around to face her. For Katie's information, Jacqui informs her, Jacqui's thought Max was a nice guy for some years, dating back to when she was pregnant with Harry. (Actually, this is an inconsistency. Because it was Jacqui who snitched to Susannah about Max and Faye and was VERY judgemental about Max).
Oooooo-ooooooh! Well, poor pitiful Katie never realised that. In fact, at that time, she was SUPPOSED to be Jacqui's best friend ... So why hadn't Jacqui told her how nice a person Max was?
'Maybe you weren't much of a best friend after all,' admits Jacqui, truthfully. 'I seem to recall you weren't very supportive of me at all at that time.' And Jacqui walks off in the direction of the bar.
Katie, determined to have the last word, shouts that at least she won't have to put up with Jacqui's whingeing when Max dumps her.
Just at that moment, Mick the Minge appears at the garage. He hears the last couple of exchanges and advises Katie sympathetically that perhaps she was best out of that friendship. On the spur of the moment, Mick asks Katie to join him across the way at the bar for a drink. At first, Katie declines, saying she doesn't want to go because Jacqui will be there; but Mick convinces her. She'll be with him, and she needn't pay any attention to Jacqui Dixon at all.
Jimmy is putting the final touches on his plan to redeem Tim from prison. They just have to get Ron to tell his solicitor that Sotto provided him with the gun. Tim was just the middleman in the operation, someone who ferried the gun for Sotto. The bizzies aren't going to be interested in someone like Tim. No, sir, it'll be Sotto they'll want. They just have to get Ron to lie.
Poor, pitiful Katie and Mick the Minge sit in the bar, whilst Jacqui stands a great distance away, actually at the bar, herself. Katie is practicing her favourite hobby of indulging in self-pity in hopes that Mick will sympathise. She moans that all at once, she's lost the two people she's loved most in the world. Mick tries to empathise, reminding her that she and Jacqui have been friends for a long time. Perhaps they'll make it up.
No, says poor, pitiful Katie. All she wants is for Ron Dixon to get a life sentence. If he does, then Jacqui will never speak to her again. On the other hand, if he doesn't, then she'll never speak to Jacqui again. (Go figure).
Anyway, she continues, she doesn't know Jacqui anymore. In fact, Katie bitchily remarks, she thinks the only reason Jacqui's with Max at all is to feed her obsession with Harry. Mick, like a true one, pricks up his ears at that remark. Jacqui's obsessed with Harry? He asks. Since when? Glaring at an unaware Jacqui, Katie says confirms the obsession began before Susannah's death. Why, Jacqui would have done anything to get Harry back from Susannah. Mick stares at Jacqui, the cogs in his small mind, working overtime.
Tim and Jimmy sit in the dining area of Hotel Corkhill, having finalised their plan. Emily enters, wearing the shortened skirt. Tim smiles his approval. Emily comments on Tim's better mood, and Tim assures her that things are looking up. When she leaves the room, Jimmy says she is all the more reason Tim should endeavour to stay out of prison and reiterates that they just have to convince Ron Dikko to lie.
Dikko, meanwhile, is still yapping with Max. He warns Max that he's only too aware of Max's track record with women.
Max tells Ron that Jacqui is an intelligent woman. Did he think she would seriously get involved with him unless he'd proven himself to be a changed man? Ron asks what exactly Max wants to do with Jacqui. Max says simply that he wants to cherish her and care for her.
Standing up ominously, Ron informs Max that Jacqui is the most precious thing in his life. He'll do anything to prevent her from associating romantically with Max Farnham. Ron means what he says. Max is to stay away from Jacqui; and if he has to get another gun to ensure that Max does as he's warned, he will.
The Plank enters the bar again, only to be met by his Uncle Christy. Christy informs his nephew that the Plank owes him a drink. Not only did Christy manage to change Leanne's mind about sponsoring the footie team, he put in a good word with the Naughty Nurse for the Plank, and she's definitely interested. As Nisha's still seated in the bar (even after her altercation with Emily), he tells the Plank to 'get in there'.
Nisha greets him, coyly. She notes flirtatiously that he has a reputation for being bashful; and as he's so bashful, she's going to make the first move and ask him out for a drink. The Plank tries to blush for the cameras, but can't. First, however, Nisha wants confirmation that the Plank is definitely through with Trona. When he confirms that Trona is history, he and Nisha arrange to meet the following evening.
Jacqui still stands at the bar, as Mick menacingly approaches her. He's curious, he begins sarcastically, why isn't she home playing happy families? Intimidated, Jacqui answers nervously that she's waiting for Max. Well, Mick remarks, ominously, if he were Max, he wouldn't feel too safe around Jacqui, himself.
Jacqui looks at him curiously, not understanding the gist of his words. Mick laughs maliciously, reckoning that Jacqui should be happy now that she had Harry all to herself. In fact, Jacqui did very well out of Susannah's death, didn't she?
Uneasy at his tone, Jacqui eyes him warily whilst trying to move away, but Mick grabs her roughly by the arm. In fact, he says through gritted teeth, if the truth be known, he reckons it was Jacqui who actually killed Susannah.
Summary © 2001 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001