THE ART OF SUBTLETY
Subtlety is a clever art, and something for which Brookside hasn’t been known in recent years, but I’m happy to say that, this episode from the past week, showed that Brookside could master this creative art once again.
It’s the ability to get a message across QUIETLY to the viewer, without spelling out in words of one syllable or less or shouting about the gist of the message at the top of one’s voice. Eastenders have this art mastered completely, and nowhere was it shown more admiringly than in last week’s episodes concerning the trial of Mo Morgan.
We knew she was guilty, she knew she was guilty, but everyone concerned knew why she had reacted in the way in which she did; however we knew, at the very end, when the jury brought back a guilty verdict, that they couldn’t have done anything differently. And we SAW the jury deliberate, actually saw how the mechanism of deciding a person’s fate works - we were witness (bad pun) to the different personalities (emphasised by constant camera shots all week as much as the regulars) comprising the jury and why they felt as they did. It would have been nice to have seen something of this sort in Ron’s trial.
As it was, we only got the odd shot of the jury, in which a doppelganger of the late George Harrison seemed to figure prominantly.
And then, there was the brilliant scene when Dr Antony Trueman, a witness in the case and a black man, was dropped at the court by a cabbie, who pleasantly asked his charge what he was ‘up for’ as he took his fare. Antony let the matter drop without comment, and was seen to be ruefully smiling and shaking his head as the cabbie drove off. Message: People assume that a black man being dropped off at a court of law is up on a charge. They assume because of the colour of his skin.
Translate that scene to Brookside. Jerome is called to be a witness in someone’s trial. He’s dropped off by a cabbie, who asks the same question. We would then be treated to a five-minute puritanically high-handed lecture delivered by Jerome to the hapless cabbie on the socio-economical history of the black man in modern Liverpool. YAWN.
But THIS week, THIS week we were presented with a brilliantly subtle storyline by Brookside. See if you can pick it out in the summary and discuss it.
It’s morning at NNT, and Katie and Nisha are nervously milling around, awaiting the appearance of Sammy, who’s daughter went missing the day before.
Sammy appears, wearing her ubiquitous blue dressing gown. Her first words are a wail that she’d been up all night with worry about Louise and her whereabouts.
Nisha, who, like her other fellow medical professional Dr Nikki, is incapable of giving believeable sympathy at the best of times, wearily quips that kids run away all the time, and Louise would probably turn up. There MUST have been a reason for her disappearance.
Sammy, however, is inconsolable, saying that she feels as if she’s driven Louise away. Louise was never very happy living here with Sammy and the rest of them.
There are more child problems back on the Close, as the Spanish Inquisition is about to begin at Sitcom House. Poor Antony Murray sits at the sitcom table in the sitcom kitchen, surrounded on both sides by the ponderous forms of his parents, looming over him. He sits, staring stolidly ahead, looking at neither of them, with his hands placed firmly over his ears.
They are repeatedly demanding to know why Antony demolished the science lab at school. Why did he do it? Why? Why? Didn’t he realise how mooch trooble he’d got himself into?
Ant makes no sound, so they continue?
And why won’t he talk to them? Why? Why? Antony used to talk to them about everything? Why wasn’t he talking now?
Good parents, the Murrays ... Not. And yet, Sammy’s the one constantly castigated for being a bad mother. Now that’s a point for debate: Dire Murray and Sammy Rogers ... Good Mothers or Bad? Discuss please.
Over at Number 8, Ron Dixon is up early and dressed in his best suit. He’s putting an extra polish on his shoes. Something’s up with Ron ... But not THAT.
Back at NNT, a WPC has arrived and stands in the background, having a conversation with Nisha, whilst Sammy continues to bemoan the fact that she drove Louise away to Katie, in the foreground.
Suddenly, Nisha breaks off her conversation to announce to Sammy that the police have found Louise. She was with Richard in London and had gone back there from the flat.
Instead of being relieved, Sammy is annoyed, and she reaches furiously for the phone. That’s just like Richard, she exclaims, not to have called her to alert her to the fact that her child was with him. He’s playing games now, she says.
Over at Chateau Farnham, breakfast is in full swing. Harry Farnham is trying to put jam in his sister’s hair and his harassed mother ticks him off for it. As she deals with the kids, Jacqui tells Max how sorry she feels for Sammy and how bad she felt after sacking her the day before.
Max raises his eyebrows. It wasn’t THAT long ago, he remarks, that Sammy was trying to break THEIR marriage up. Anyway, he continues, brushing that topic of conversation aside, it wouldn’t be long before Harry and Emma would be getting a new baby brother or sister, he finishes, smiling at the toddlers.
As if on cue, the doorbell rings, and Max rises to answer it, as Jacqui deals with Emma’s hair.
Max finds Ron on his doorstep and lets him in, remarking on how smartly the older man is dressed.
As Ron enters the kitchen area, he tells Jacqui and Max that he’s off out to see all the old Great Grannies’ clients - the ones who have cancelled their contracts. That’s the reason he’s stopped by, he says to Jacqui. He’s wanting the address of Mr Lomax, his biggest account.
Jacqui tries to dissuade her father from seeing this man. She’d talked to him at the time he cancelled, she says, and he was definite about cancelling the contract.
Ah, puffs Ron, but this time they’ll be talking to the organ grinder. And besides, he has to do something to get Great Grannies back on track. The only revenue he had at the moment was the rent he received from Ray and Jessie; and he wouldn’t have that for many more months. Why, he barely has enough now to be able to afford to buy Bev some flowers.
Max and Jacqui exchange significant looks at this mention of Bev. Surely Ron wasn’t angling to get back into Bev’s good books, they ask.
Er, no, stutters Ron. It was just that he and Bev had a bit of a misunderstanding the other evening and ---
Speaking of presents, Max interrupts, he and Jacqui have a gift for Ron. And Max lifts a large leather hold-all from the top of the fridge and hands it to Ron. It’s filled with junk mail.
Ron gazes at it curiously. Max explains that he and Jacqui dealt with all the relevant stuff, like bills and the like; this was all that was left over.
As Ron continues to rummage through the junk post, Jacqui bids her father and her husband good-bye. She has to see Sammy first thing this morning.
After she’s gone, Max tells Ron that Louise has disappeared and Jacqui was concerned about Sammy.
Well, he’s not surprised, remarks Ron. The poor kid! And with a mother like that ...
The Murrays are practically ALL seated around the sitcom table now, as Marty and Dire continue to badger poor Ant.
Why did Ant do it? Why did he trash the science lab? Tell them! Tell them!
Marty is fed up, saying that he really copped it from Mrs Plummer the day before. Did Ant realise that her original intent was to exclude him? Thank God, Marty managed to talk her out of it - but for how much longer, he didn’t know. He tried to explain to the woman that all this led back to the problems Ant had with Imelda, but Mrs Plummer didn’t want to know. Said she couldn’t keep taking into account something that had happened in the past in order to justify Ant’s actions.
Adele bounces, literally, into the sitcom kitchen, wearing a skimpy top, which Plank remarks on. She starts to say something but is given short shrift by everyone as they are still engrossed in Ant’s silence.
Plank suggests, as only Plank would, that Antony was most likely sticking up for himself against some lad in class, as he’d only just begun to fight back.
Marty speaks again. Miss Currie, the red-haired Scouse science teacher had told him that prior to the outburst, she’d had words with Ant about his not having done his homework.
Well, says Plank, that was it.
But you don’t go throwing a wobbly like that because you haven’t done your homework, reasons Marty.
Ant speaks for the first time. He lies and says that he reacted the way he did because one of the lads in class pushed him.
SO, bellows Dire, YOU VANDALISED THE SCIENCE LAB BECAUSE SOOMBODY POOSHED YER! YOU VANDALISE PROPERTY BECAUSE SOOMBODY WANTS TER FIGHT YER!
Lads scrap, quips Plank, shortly. It’s what they do.
Dire typically overreacts. ‘E’S BEING BOOLLIED AGIN!’ She exclaims, dramatically.
Marty sighs wearily and says he has to see the head, yet again today. He’s interrupted, however, by Adele. Turning to her, he snarls sourly, ‘How much?’
How did he know she wanted money? Adele asks coyly.
She usually does, remarks Marty.
Well, since he asked, she begins, the prescription for her contact lenses that her Nin paid for is finished. She needs money for a new prescription, because if she continues to wear these, they might be bad for her eyes.
Marty emphatically answers, ‘NO.’
Adele starts to protest, but Dire silences her, saying that maybe later she should try, when Marty might be in a good mood.
Next door, at Hotel Corkhill, Tim sits in an easy chair, looking at the paper, which sports a reasonably-sized advert for his ‘Lifting and Shifting’ enterprise.
Emily and Jimmy are about, and Dr Nikki approaches Jimmy and asks if she can use his computer to send an e-mail. (Dr Nikki? E-mail? To whom, I ask.) Jimmy gives her the nod, and Emily is trying to attract Tim’s attention. She’s wearing her new leather jacket and wants to know how Tim reckons she looks.
Tim wants to know why she’s all glammed up to go to work. Emily explains that Joanne, the owner of the Salon, will be at the Salon today. Apparently, she’s got some good news to tell them all.
Tim is despairing about the advert in the paper. All he’s got so far, he wails, is one phone call and one quote.
As he and Emily discuss their plight, Dr Nikki, with a frown of disapproval on her face, confronts her naughty patient about the contents of his webpage. She sees he’s been adding to his website, she remarks.
Oh? Jimmy is impressed. Nikki having a look, was she?
Couldn’t help it, says Nikki, as it’s Jimmy’s homepage.
What did she think? Asks Jimmy.
Nikki says that she thinks it’s sick.
It’s the history of this house, says Jimmy, defensively. It’s the truth, and the truth will out.
Nikki’s not impressed.
Ron still sits at the Farnhams’, rummaging through his junk mail. Max reckons Ron’s lucky to have received that. All Max is receiving lately are tenders for building work, and letters from Leanne Powell’s solicitor. Max explains to Ron that the solicitor is badgering him to give evidence against Bev.
Ron is flabbergasted. Did they really think Bev capable of harming anyone like that?
Of course not, scoffs Max. It’s just a pathetic attempt on Leanne’s part to get cash out of Bev.
Well, says Ron aloud, Bev’s still a fine figure of a woman, you know. Of course, he hastily adds to Max, she and Ron were only good friends. And Ron was ready to move on.
Over at NNT, Sammy is having a vociferous argument on the telephone with Richard, when Jacqui arrives. She’s told by Nisha and Katie that Louise has been found. She’d made her way to her stepfather in London.
Jacqui is relieved, but Nisha quips that it’s just as well Louise had someone to go to.
As Sammy continues to talk, Jacqui leaves, telling Katie that she’ll call around later to have a word with Jacqui.
When Sammy finishes the phone call, she’s indignant. Richard ONLY says he wants Louise to stay with him. In fact, she continues, he’s offered to pay her school fees if she goes back to her old school AND give Sammy a lump sum.
Well, asks Katie, what does Louise say about that?
It’s what Louise wants, wails Sammy. She doesn’t want to come back. In fact, she wants nothing to do with Sammy.
Back at Hotel Corkhill, Tim has summoned Plank’s presence and he’s arrived there, when the doorbell rings. Jimmy answers the door to find Jerome, who’s no longer Spiderman, but Topsy, complete with corn rows.
Tim is trying to persuade Plank to help him out on a job today. The ad paid off. Someone’s got a big job for Tim to shift, a job that pays good money. Is Plank interested?
Plank’s not interested. He wants nothing to do with Tim’s enterprise. He got him the van; that was enough. Besides, he might have a car job of his own on this afternoon.
Does he? Asks Tim.
No, replies Plank.
Then it’s settled, and he’d split the profit with Tim.
Jimmy calls out to Dr Nikki, saying that she’s got a guest.
Dr Nikki appears from the extension and stands looking critically at Jerome, arms piously folded.
Jerome, uneasy in the audience of Tim, Jimmy and Plank, squirms and says he’s needed some time to think things through with Nikki.
As Nikki stares pointedly at the two other lads, Jimmy ushers Plank and Tim out of the room.
Jerome approaches Dr Nikki with reverence. He thought perhaps he and Dr Nikki might go out for a meal.
Dr Nikki’s mouth is still screwed up and her arms are still folded, indicating that she’s less than impressed.
Jerome begins again, reverentially. He wants a chance to talk ... If Dr Nikki will listen. (Go ahead, it’s good practice for your practice).
The only problem is, says the all-new-corn-rowed-Topsy, Jerome, who’s gone all pickaninny shy, he’s skint; but he’s a ‘berassic’ cook.
(HANG ON, JUST WHAT DOES ‘BERASSIC’ MEAN?)
As Nikki looks fed up, he continues. It’s his way of making an apology, he says.
Well, Nikki asks, shortly, where was he planning on cooking this meal?
Jerome hesitates and smiles a wide, pickanniny grin. Er, he thought that he could cook for her here.
Oh, remarks Nikki, sarcastically. Were his mates getting fed up with Jerome?
Jerome lays on the smarm now. It’ s just that - just that - this place feels like coming home.
(SICK/PUKE/BARF/COUGH! KISS ME, MANDINGO!)
Outside, Plank presses Tim for more information about this shifting job. Tim is circumspect. It’s just something this fella has to get rid of. He just hopes the van is big enough.
Plank is wary, thinking it will be on the order of money for old rope, while inside Nikki forgives Jerome and the two share a snog.
Back at NNT, the moaning of Sammy continues. And did they know, she regales Katie and Nisha, that Louise ONLY told Richard that Sammy sent her back there in the first place! Why, Richard even called her an unfit mother!
Nisha and Katie exchange knowing looks, which Sammy senses. She demands to know why the two of them fell silent at this remark. She’s taken aback at their lack of support. Sammy interprets this as the two other women agreeing with Richard.
‘Well, thanks a lot,’ sneers Sammy in disgust. She knows she hasn’t been the best of mothers for Louise, but she expected a little bit of support from Nisha and Katie.
Nisha reluctantly remarks that perhaps it WAS better for Louise to spend some time with Richard. Sammy has to think about what was best for Louise.
Katie agrees. Sammy has to start putting Louise first, and if this is what Louise thinks will make her happy, then no matter how hard it was, Sammy should make this sacrifice for Louise.
Sammy feels betrayed and insulted. First Louise, she says, and now her own sister!!!
Tim’s white van returns to the Close, with Tim and Plank inside. As the vehicle draws to a stop, Plank glances disdainfully at Tim. Tim’s had some daft ideas in the past, says Plank, but this has to be the best.
It’s money, replies Tim, his eyes gleaming greedily, Money for taking it away, money for chopping it up, which is where Plank comes in.
Plank looks at Tim quizzically.
Doesn’t Plank have a butcher in the family? Asks Tim.
Plank thought Tim wasn’t speaking to Christy, but Tim says this is a necessity.
Plank is dismissive. All that spin Tim gave the bloke about providing a flannel, plenty of toys, putting him in a good home.
Well, replies Tim, laughing, he’ll go to several good homes.
As they open up the rear of the van, we see a huge pig standing amid straw. Tim glances appreciatively at Plank, asking him how much he reckons Christy would give them for the pig. Then he looks lovingly at the pig, calling it a little gold mine.
Ron Dixon, portfolio in hand, stands on the doorstep of a large house. He rings the bell.
Jacqui walks by the side of the pool in the Health Club, barking orders at various lackies. Suddenly, she stops and clutches her stomach, almost doubling up in pain.
The punter on whom Ron has called, shuts the door in his face.
Sammy is still bemoaning and bewailing the fact that Louise has chosen to remain with Richard instead of her. She was relishing Louise staying with her; it would give her a chance to make everything up to Louise; and now this happens.
Nisha gives her short shrift, as Sammy lies on the couch, awash in self-pity. If Sammy cares so much about Louise, she says, why is she still here, sacked out on the couch? Why isn’t she in London, trying to deal with the situation close at hand? All she’s done since finding out where Louise was, was whinge about Richard.
Anyway, Nisha continues, she’s off to work. Is Katie coming?
Katie says she’s staying with Sammy for a bit.
When Nisha’s gone, Katie asks if Sammy’s OK.
No, she’s not OK, replies Sammy, petulantly.
At least Louise hasn’t been harmed, says Katie, comfortingly.
But Sammy feels like a failure, she wails. He daughter doesn’t want her; no one wants Sammy, not even Sol. To think he preferred that Penny one, that stick, to her -
Katie interrupts her mingeing sister, scathingly. Sol, for Sammy’s information, was a married man? Didn’t that concern Sammy? And here she lies, with her daughter run off to London to be with her stepdad, and ALL Sammy can do is whinge about being rejected by a married man. Sammy wants to get real, she advises.
Sammy retorts that she knows that everyone thinks that she’s an awful mother, and Katie replies that Sammy’s her own worst enemy in that respect and gives people fuel for gossip. Has Sammy forgotten about the time SHE went on holiday and left Louise on her own?
That was a misunderstanding, cries Sammy, defiantly, and anyway, Katie wants to remember that Sammy went directly from being a schoolgirl to being a moom. She was on her own as well for a long time with Louise before she met Richard. And what was so wrong with Sammy wanting a little enjoyment now and then, especially as she never had any opportunity to have any sort of youth?
It comes across as selfishness, Katie reasons. It looks as though Sammy never puts Louise first. For example, says Katie, Sammy shouldn’t have bunged Louise off to boarding school when the kid was only seven -
That was only because Sammy wanted what was best for Louise, Sammy argues.
It was because Sammy was too busy living the high life with Richard around the world, says Katie, brutally.
But what Richard was trying to do, Sammy whinges, is BUY her daughter off her, as if she’d sell her own child, like Jacqui Dixon -
He wants Louise to have stability, Katie points out. If Richard can promise her that, what’s so wrong?
Stability? Shrieks Sammy. He flits from woman to woman. The one he’s with now’s even younger than Sammy!!! Why, she was of a mind to go right down there to London and -
And what? Says Katie. Upset Louise. Maybe this is the best thing for both her and Louise, Katie says. Sammy bleats on about wondering if her daughter will miss her, but all she can really think about is how another tart beat Sammy to a married man! Sammy would be better off thinking about Louise’s future, Sammy finishes, scathingly, because LOUISE was thinking about her own future - maybe that was why she left.
Tim and Plank are milling about the van, as Plank tries unsuccessfully to ring Christy on his mobile. The mobile is off, and Plank reckons that Christy’s spending time with Leanne.
Emily arrives back from work and promptly asks what the rancid smell is. Tim shows her the pig. He got £50 to move it, he says. Now they’re on the blower to Christy, in hopes that it might be chopped up and sold.
Emily wonders if they could use its skin too.
Ron has cornered another of his ex-clients on his doorstep, but is unsuccessful.
As the three discuss the pig, Marty and Antony appear, Marty having walked Ant home from school. He’s still scolding the lad. Marty is telling poor Ant for the umpteenth time that he had to beg Mrs Plummer not to exclude Ant. Again, he tells Ant that the head wasn’t about to continue making allowances for something that happened awhile ago.
Antony says nothing, just walks, staring stolidly at the ground.
Tim, Emily and Plank take a break out from dealing with the pig. Tim asks about Emily’s day in the Salon and the meeting with Joanne. Did it mean a rise?
No rise, confesses Emily, and she asks Plank if Dire’s said anything about the proposed changes at the Salon, but Plank’s not so sure. Emily discloses that Joanne wants Emily promoted, and that was good, but the Salon’s due to be moved straight across town, and she has to decide whether or not she’ll want to travel the distance.
(What’s to decide? This is Brookside, just like Eastenders is Walford. There’s no way anyone would dare think to work any other place except within walking distance of their front door!!!)
As Plank and Tim resume trying to deal with the recalcitrant pig, Marty and Ant approach home. Marty hears the oinking sounds coming from inside the van and approaches the other two lads, leaving Ant on his own. As he approaches Tim and Plank, Marty asks what the hell is going on inside the van. ‘It sounds as if soomone’s being merr-derred in there.’
‘No, it doesn’t,’ whispers Ant.
We see Ron getting another polite thumbs-down from yet another ex-client.
Jacqui’s called around to NNT again and is met at the door by Katie. She asks to see Sammy, but from a distance, she can see that Sammy’s upset. Is she all right? She asks Katie.
Yes, Katie deadpans, telling Jacqui that Katie’s just put Sammy straight on a few things.
Sammy sees Jacqui and asks roughly what she’s doing there.
Jacqui, looking suitably humble, tells Sammy that she’s come to apologise for misjudging her motives at the Health Club. She made a mistake in assuming that there was something going on between Sammy and Sol.
Anyway, Jacqui continues, if Sammy wants her old job back, it’s there for her.
Sammy blurts out ungraciously that that was big of Jacqui, but then, meeting Katie’s glare, she humbles herself, as well, and thanks Jacqui for the offer, accepting it.
Jacqui then asks if Sammy could manage to do the late shift this evening. At first she attempts to refuse, but then, again catching Katie’s glance, she agrees.
Good, says Jacqui, briskly, and Sammy can expect NO special treatment in the future. And she either shapes up or she ships out. And by the way, Jacqui adds, Sammy will be expected to assume extra responsiblities until a replacement for Sol is found.
As she turns to leave, Sammy calls her back. She tells Jacqui that it took guts for Jacqui to come here and admit her mistake, and she sincerely thanks her for it.
Ron’s at last called on his star client, Mr Lomax, who’s leading him through a maze of narrow passages down into the cellar of his establishment. Ron is profusely thanking the man for seeing him on such short notice. He explains that he’s making personal visits to all his valued former clients after the difficulties he’s encountered.
Mr Lomax seems interested in Ron’s visit, especially as Ron wants him to know that now Ron’s back and in charge of things at Great Grannies.
No worries about the competition then, quips Mr Lomax, smiling coldly. Ron could just shoot them.
Ron tries to laugh uneasily at this cruel joke, and proceeds to tell Mr Lomax that, no matter who the man was using for his cleaning needs now, Ron could undercut them by 10%, if necessary.
Mr Lomax admits that Ron is making him a reasonable offer, and Ron agrees.
However, Mr Lomax continues, there are other factors to consider.
Ron politely asks what they are.
Well, begins Mr Lomax, the primary factor is that he didn’t want his business to become known for contracting the services of a concern run by a convicted criminal.
Ron is left speechless and reeling.
The Murray clan are gathering at the sitcom table for the evening meal. Adele is still banging a gong about wanting Marty to pay for a repeat prescription for her contacts. Marty refuses. Adele retorts that he’s not being fair.
Life’s not fair, replies Marty.
Plank enters the melee at that moment and asks if anyone knows where Christy is these days. He’s ignored.
Marty is busy ticking off Adele, reminding her that her Nin paid for the first three months’ prescription, and Adele’s agreement was that she would pay for repeats. Adele has a job, Marty points out.
Adele retorts that Marty paid for her glasses. What’s the difference in paying for her contacts?
It’s too expensive, argues Marty. (Er, not if Adele ONLY had ordinary contact lenses, it’s not).
Plank asks again if anyone’s heard from Christy, and Marty, over the din, asks what Plank wants Christy for. He then turns back to ask Adele what she spent the money she earned at the Garage on - clothes, CDs ,the like.
While all this din is going on, Ant slowly rises from the table and sidles toward the door. He asks if he can be excused, saying he’s off out. Dire screeches at him not to be out too late, as he slowly ambles off.
Jacqui returns to Chateau Farnham at the end of her day to find Maxim doing dishes. She asks if the kids are OK, as if she cares, and Max replies that they were being boisterous - although we can’t hear or see them. He asks her about her day.
Terrible, she replies. Someone crapped in the pool at the Health Club.
Max is equally as disgusted. Did Jacqui find out who did it?
Oh, no, says Jacqui, fastidiously, the culprit was well gone.
Probably some kids, offers Max.
Well, says Jacqui, at least the offensive bit was still in one piece, and the staff managed to sort it.
Max asks how Jacqui’s coping with work and she admits it’s better now, but she’s more worried about how she’s going to cope with the next 7 months of her life.
Well, Max says, enthusiastically, there’s a lot to think about - clothes, pram, bed - he was quite looking forward to shopping for all that again. (Again? What about using Harry and Emma’s clobber?)
Jerome has cooked Dr Nikki a slap-up meal in the kitchen of Hotel Corkhill, and the couple are seated at the table, when Jimmy appears. Nice to the the pair of them together again, compliments Jimmy. He proceeds to have a rummage in the overhead cupboards. Glancing over his shoulder, he asks Nikki the whereabouts of the tomato puree. He’ll get that, then clear out of their way.
Er, Jerome speaks up, he used all the tomato puree for the meal that afternoon.
No problem there, says Nikki, in fact, why doesn’t Jimmy join them? She’s sure Jerome’s cooked enough for three?
Noticing the look on Jerome’s face, Jimmy is reluctant to take up Nikki’s offer, but Nikki refuses to take no for an answer. Jerome won’t mind Jimmy eating with them, would he?
Jerome smiles weakly, as Jimmy boomingly suggests that he flit over to the garage and buy them all a bottle of wine.
Tim, outside, is worried about what to do with the pig until Christy can be contacted. Emily wants to know where it will sleep, and Jimmy, passing, jokes that it won’t be the first time Tim’s had a pig under the covers.
Ron is seen ringing the doorbell of another nice house in another nice neighbourhood. He rings again. No reply. He stands on the doorstep for a brief moment, before turning desconsolately away and trudging up the driveway. As he passes the front window, however, the corner of his eye catches a fleeting movement of the curtains. Someone deliberately didn’t answer the door.
Ron lumbers on, dismayed.
David A Young wrote a much better episode this time around.
Summary © 2002 Marion Watts
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2002