The Final Piece of the Puzzle: Mon Apr 18, 2011 Corrie Episode Review

7:30pm

Written by Damon Rochefort, directed by John Anderson

Kirk is wondering why Maria has stopped working at the factory, since he liked them working together again.  Even Chris, who has taken up slumber at Maria and Kirk’s, has noticed her acting strange lately, and he thinks it’s towards him.  At the factory, Frank wonders if Maria resigned because of what happened “at his house” and he says he’s apologized so many times.  Carla announces to the factory girls that Maria resigned and everyone is confused.  Carla says she won’t need a new PA since she’s got Frank on board now.  He makes it clear he won’t be fetching Sally her morning brew.  Maria’s been in to see Roy later to see if she can get work there, but Chris thinks she can do better and feels that she’s brushing him off.  He even asks Cheryl if she’s been saying things to Maria about him. 

Carla sees Maria and persuades her to talk in the cafe – after everything they’ve been through together.  Carla admits she didn’t tell the factory girls why Maria left.  Carla makes it seem like she’s protecting her staff’s jobs by taking Frank on.  Carla makes it seem that doesn’t completely believe Maria’s account of things – or at least the severity of her accusations.  Maria can’t believe that Carla is taking a stranger’s word over hers and warns her about how she think she can handle Frank.  Maria freaks out on Chris again and he’s shocked.  Chris confesses to being the wife-beating bully that everyone claims him to be, but Maria doesn’t even listen as she tells him that she’s upset over Frank, not him.  Erm, hello, your boyfriend told you he was a wife-beating bully and you’re so wrapped up in some other guy putting the moves on you that you aren’t even listening!  Maria tells Chris about what happened with Frank and Frank loses it.  Maria has to chase after him as he heads down to the factory. 

It’s the day of Kevin and Sally’s court appointment, and Rosie has come to Kevin’s rescue by minding Jack for him while he’s at the hearing.  Can anyone wonder why Rosie is buttering up her father?  Before they head off to the appointment, Sally gets her digs in saying she’d rather be driven by Stevie Wonder than him.  Before the hearing, Kev tells Sally he didn’t even want it to come to this, he doesn’t even want a divorce.  Sally’s says he’s ruined the best thing that ever happened to her. 

At the Windasses, Faye is taking lots of posh baths with new pink towels, while Eddie complains about his life.  He seems to want to have nothing to do with Faye.  He tells Anna that Len has a good job opportunity for him in Germany and wants to move all three of them there (I’m assuming they’re leaving Gary behind?).  Anna’s a little shocked at this idea. 

Over at the Young Pauper’s Inn, Katy’s having morning sickness while Chesney takes off work to make sure she gets to a doctors appointment.  Meanwhile, Fiz and John are enjoying baby Hope.  Well, at least Fiz is.  John is fatigued and not quite himself so Fiz suggests that he go see Doctor Carter.  Fiz asks Chesney if there’s anything new with him but Chesney keeps mum (no pun intended) on Katy’s pregnancy news.  Katy sees Izzy out and she tells her that she’s got a doctor’s appointment but lies about it just being about a stomach upset.  Izzy tries to go with her, but Katy says she won’t.  Izzy wants to make sure she’s eating properly. 

An unexpected return, Sylvie is back at Roy’s Rolls and is already moaning about the poor service.  Can Roy do ANYTHING right?  Sylvie inserts herself into Roy’s kitchen and helps out while Hayley returns to work.  Sylvie is still at Roy’s when Hayley returns and Sylvie says she still hasn’t had a chance to talk to the “master of avoidance” (Roy).  Hayley gets him off the phone, and Sylvie hands him an old train set that she found in the attic.  It was the one that she and Roy’s father gave him for his sixth birthday.  Hayley says Roy is always talking about that set and Roy’s delighted to see them.  Sylvie says she’s sold her house since she couldn’t stay there alone, and she’s living in a home called Twelve Oaks until she buys somewhere else.  She speaks of Twelve Oaks as almost being palatial.  Hayley offers to drive Sylvie back, and she accepts. 

8:30pm

Written by Debbie Oates, directed by John Anderson

Carla warns Chris to get out before she calls the police.  Chris tells Frank that he’s going to regret what he did to Maria.  Frank tries to explain that it was a misunderstanding, but Chris is there for blood.  Carla gets rid of the factory girls, or peanut gallery at this point.  Maria rushes in looking for Chris as everyone is leaving and stops him from completely beating the life out of Frank, all while Carla looks on in horror.  Carla asks Frank if he’s okay but he says he is.  Chris wants to beat Frank, but Maria convinces him not to since it’s all about her, not Chris and Frank fighting.  Maria says she’ll kick him out if he goes after Frank and that she wants no part of his ego.  Chris apologizes after and says he wish he could have stopped it happening.  Yeah, imagine – some scum thinks he can do what he likes to a woman.  Maria says the whole incident made her feel stupid and tarty.  Chris says she’s got to report Frank to the police.  Maria is nervous to call the police thinking the evidence is against her and it was perhaps her fault.  When Chris is gone, Carla comes by and wonders what she should tell the factory girls about what’s happened.  Carla blames Maria for saying she “could handle it” and blames her for taking Underworld down.  Carla thinks that Maria should accept Frank’s apology.  Immediately, Maria calls the police to report an attempted rape. 

Long story short, Kevin brings up “Ian Davenport” and Sally has a fit.  She ends up losing her claim on the winnings and dashes out of the court offices after being reprimanded by the mediator for her decorum.  Bill’s back in town and meets up with Kevin, who updates him on his marital status.  Kevin says that he never meant it to go this way and feels like a selfish, greedy man.  Bill says he needs to set Sally straight.  Sally is at Gail’s trying her own luck at scratch cards complaining that she deserves to be lucky.  Kev arrives and gives her a cheque for the winnings, no holds bar.  Sally accepts and Kevin says he’s not “post Sally” like the money.  Kevin says he loves her and always will.  Gail looks stunned and reminds Sally that Kevin just handed over a big cheque and he does have a kid to raise for the next 18 years or so. 

In the medical clinic, Katy is assured by Doctor Carter that what has passed between them about her “situation” will remain confidential.  Obviously, since Gail doesn’t work there anymore.  John is at the clinic as well and tells Doctor Carter that he’s ready to get off his drugs.  Doctor Carter says they shouldn’t rush things and create other problems and that he shouldn’t come off his meds yet.  At home, Fiz asks Ches that if anything happens to her that if he and Katy would take on baby Hope.  She knows that he and Katy are too young to take on a kiddie, but wants assurance.  Ches seems shocked that she thinks he and Katy are too young for a kiddie.  Chesney thinks that Fiz should ring back Joy’s solicitor and that it isn’t necessarily bad news.  John returns and lies (quelle surprise) that Doctor Carter says he could go off his drugs completely so he can be a regular daddy again.  John freaks out when he sees the credit card  bill and Chesney tries to say that it was he who the goods were charged for.  Fiz admits it was her who got carried away.  John gets upset and says she should have said something, since he just went out and bought a car.  Fiz says they need the car and all will be fine. 

Eddie isn’t too keen when Faye makes fun of his hair calling it “daft” saying most of it’s at the ends.  She asks if she can brush it or plait it, but he’s not keen on that either saying he’ll have to move to Germany for shame.  Yeah, Anna’s for having him as her man.  Anna tells Eddie that they are not moving to Germany.  Gary doesn’t think it’s a good idea either.  Eddie quickly takes out his plaits and goes to the pub before they have ribbons in them. 

Sylvie is horrified at the sight of the Woody thinking she might be better on the bus, but Hayley insists that she drive her home and the car is fine.  Sylvie has Hayley drop her off somewhere close to Twelve Oaks claiming she can’t batter around in that “bone-shaker” any longer.  She walks to Twelve Oaks, which is more “broke down palace” than “palatial.”  She doesn’t know this, but Hayley can be quite the sleuth when the situation calls for it.  Hayley spies on Sylvie walking up the rickety steps of Twelve Oaks and takes a phone picture to show Roy later of how decrepit the place was.  

HIGHLIGHTS

- Baby Liam!!!! Isn’t he absolutely adorable?  It’s nice to know he still exists too ;-)

- Shirtless man, Chris.  Putting aside the fact that he’s a wife-beater for these two minutes in soap time. He might have a better physique than even our reigning shirtless captain, Jason Grimshaw!

- Hayley, leaving Roy with Sylvie: “Oh, I don’t like to leave him.”  Sean: “Oh, she’s his mother.  Or as I like to call her, ‘the final piece of the puzzle.’”

- Bill’s still alive, and from the looks of him he’s been spending this long-lost time up in the mountains somewhere.  Now where’s Auntie Pam?!

- Hayley to Sylvie: “Sit. You must be shattered.”  Sylvie: “Why? I sat on the bus, I didn’t push it.”

- Sylvie to Tyrone: “Yes, you don’t look a salad type.  Sit!” 

- Eddie: “I’ve been on the phone to our Len.”  Anna: “In Germany?” Len: “Oh, don’t worry I used the cab office phone.” 

- Eddie Windass in pigtails!  Or, should this be a lowlight?!

LOWLIGHTS

- Where is the irony in the fact that Maria has got a hate on for a man who attempted to rape her (Frank) yet she dates a man who is a proven wife-beater?  Great track record.

- “Chris, no, wait!”  What did Maria THINK would happen when she told Chris that Frank tried to rape his girlfriend?!

- Maria is so incredibly boring as of late.  I can’t even bring myself to be the least interested in her plight, unfortunately.