Out of Character: Mon Feb 15, 2010 Corrie Episode Review

Written by Damon Rochefort (7:30) and Joe Turner (8:30), directed by John Anderson

Gail's sat by the phone examining her bruises from the struggle with Joe on the boat and quickly hides them when David comes in. David tells Gail she's going to have to start acting more normal. Audrey asks Gail how her holiday was, and Gail tells Audrey it was her fault that David was MIA from work the other day. Gail lies to her mother about Joe getting work and not having come back with her. Funny enough, Gail seems most at ease lying to her own mother.

Tina is admiring her engagement ring from Jason. Jason figures they should have an engagement party, but Tina wants to wait until her dad comes back. Tina suggests they have the party on her birthday in a few days. Tina and Jason announce their engagement to Eileen, Sean and Jesse and Eileen thinks they make a smashing couple. Sean thinks it's classy that she's not pregnant already. Jesse also points out the divorce rate. Ugh, thank god he'll be gone soon. Jason asks Eileen if they can move back into his room after they sell the place, but Jesse says that's where he keeps his props and where John (his bird) goes for quiet time. Jesse's not happy about his props being cast outside in favour of Jason and Tina.

Tina goes over to Gail's and asks for a land-line number for the place her father's working at, only Gail doesn't have it, so she says she'll ask him next time he calls. Tina then shows Gail her engagement ring (in front of NuNick also) and Gail is delighted. Nick notices something is wrong with Gail at the mention of Joe's name, but Gail denies it.

Nick goes to talk with Audrey about how strange Gail has been acting and how Joe didn't come back with her. Audrey doesn't believe Joe getting a job - quelle surprise. Audrey figures they had a fight and Joe just ran off. Well, kinda. Audrey figures if Joe has legged it, she hopes he keeps running.

Gail hears the doorbell ring at home and jumps to find Slick Rick stood at the door. He asks if Joe is in, and Gail tells him to drop the act that she knows exactly who he is. Gail tries to shut the door, but Slick Rick forces it back open and says he wants his money. Gail tells him to get his foot out of her door or she'll call the police and say whatever it takes to get him arrested. Go Gail! Nick watches this interaction from across the street and asks Gail what's going on. He grabs Gail's arm and notices her bruising. Nick accuses Joe of giving her the bruises, but Gail tries to blame them on moving the boat but he's not buying it. David comes in and tries to help Gail cover up. Gail folds like a cheap deck of cards, it's so obvious something is awry. Nick asks David again, but David gives him some smart ass answers so Nick drops the "Tina and Jason are engaged" bomb on him.

David marches over to the Kabin and tells Tina she can't marry Jason. David tells her that Jason's got a habit of escaping through toilet windows on wedding days. David relents and says he's happy for her, when clearly he isn't.

Meanwhile, Gail is on the phone trying to figure out Joe's route to Ireland. Presumably, to track him down. David catches her and tells her to hang up. David reminds her that the police will check her phone records and asks why she's protecting Joe. David thinks she should tell the truth and let Joe sink. No pun intended, of course. David reminds Gail that Joe doesn't love her after what he's done. David tells her she can't do this, but Gail's sticking to it. Gail keeps thinking Joe will realize he's made a mistake and will come home.

Slick Rick then finds Tina and asks where Joe is. Tina also threatens to go to the police if Rick threatens her dad again. Rick tells her to tell Joe he'll be back on Friday and he wants his money. Nick sees them talking and walks up to Tina, then Rick saunters off. Nick asks who Rick was, and how he saw him around Gail's earlier. Tina tells him it's none of his business.

Nick finds Audrey in the Rovers and asks if she knew Joe was in debt with a loan shark. Audrey says no, but that makes sense. Nick tells Audrey about the bruises on Gail's arms and figures they should see Gail together and force her to tell the truth. Nick and Audrey tell Gail they know all about the loan shark and how he's been hassling Tina. Gail flounders through wet eyes as she tries to stick to her lies. Audrey asks her about the bruises, to which Gail says she can't see them. Gail tells Audrey that Joe has never hit her, and he's a good man. Gail tells them they're so far from the truth that they wouldn't believe it. Yup. Gail manages to get Audrey off the scent and Nick packs his bags, since Gail obviously doesn't want him there. Nick says that Gail's obviously lying and she's not very good at it. Gail tells the two of them to "get out." How many times do those two words pass through Gail's lips. David gives Gail a glass of wine. Gail says she's going to sit and wait for Joe to call. David warns her that it's only going to get worse

Dev wakes up in sheer back pain on the airbed at Sunita's. This isn't going so swell for him so far. Sunita reminds them that her Aunties are only there for a week. The Auntie's are still set on seeing Dev's "fabulous business empire." Dev's got the Auntie's in the corner shop and he's walking on thin ice where customers come in that know he and Sunita are no longer married. Dev explains the situation to Claire and Claire figures if he wanted to get back with Sunita he could have just asked her out for dinner or something. One of the Aunties mentioned that Aadi said it was nice to see his daddy in the house for a change. Sunita makes up some story about Dev being away on business trips and out in the garden. The Aunties also as Dev and Sunita why they haven't had other babies. Dev gets ahead of himself with Sunita and says it's just hard to "get out of character."

Becky tells Claire that she hasn't had any morning sickness or pregnancy complications yet. Becky pretends to have cravings when Steve comes around though, just to get some food delivered in. Becky moans about being stuck in work and would rather go to the pictures. Becky fibs about having "morning sickness" and Steve tells her to stop work. Liz tells Steve that Becky's taking advantage. Just then, she calls to say she's dropped the remote and needs him to come pick it up.

Nick comes by the factory to see Carla, but Carla tells Sean to have Nick make an appointment. Sean then mentions that Nick is "absolutely gorgeous" so Carla allows him five minutes. Nick informs Carla how he used to run the factory with Mike Baldwin back in the day. Nick tells her that the factory was top on his list - being an old romantic - for investing. Carla tells him that she's got a partner, and she's doing fine and she doubts he can even afford it. Ouch! There's a dressing down. Nick asks David and Graeme later about Carla's business partner and is informed that the partner is a murderer husband currently serving time in jail.

Later, Leanne talks to Carla about how boring her life is now just running the bookies and how Simon is at George and Eve's for the school holidays. They walk up to the Rovers and Nick walks out and sees Leanne, telling her she looks well. Nick walks off and Leanne asks Carla how she knows Nick and Carla asks her the same. Oh, they better sit down for a double. Leanne tells Carla that she was once married to Nick and he's a very manipulative man and he's trouble. Carla says she agrees with Leanne, but she's curious.

Eddie and Anna get a text from Gary that he's bringing a friend home with him from military training school. Eddie's worried that he's "gone the other way."

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Jason and Tina enjoying their engagement and Tina thinking that 'Mrs. Grimshaw' sounds minging.
- Eileen joking to Gail that she thought she may have fallen in on her boating holiday. Both funny AND ironic, or Eileen!
- Sean congratulating Jason on the engagement ring he gave to Tina and adding, "size isn't everything."
- Becky getting Steve to run her "cravings" errands and justifying it by "making him feel involved."
- Gail telling off Slick Rick and threatening him with calling the police.
- David trying to help Gail and not blowing his top (well, to the extent of smashing windows) when he finds out about Tina's engagement. Does David have some compassion and self-restraint now?

LOWLIGHTS:
- Gail saying she doesn't want to cover up for Joe, she just doesn't want him to get into trouble. Isn't that the same thing almost?
- Dev's high pitched voice as he cries and whines about his back pain from the airbed at Sunita's
- Dev then walking into the wrong room in his towel where Auntie was, and dropping his towel. What was that about?
- The Aunties asking about Dev and Sunita's fertility issues! How intrusively rude!
- Anna playing with Eddie's gross wiry hair as she thinks of something to cook.

Looking forward to: Gary and his army buddy coming for a visit!
NOT looking forward to: More of Gail's paper-thin face as she lies about Joe's absence.