Oh dear, Peter - just what you didn't want- Absent Enemy winning at 40-1. £2000 for Steve plus the £50 stake - a dreadful drain on Peter's bookies' funds. 'For once in my miserable life,' declares Steve, 'I've actually come out on top.' He tells Peter he feels a bit sorry for him but that the pity is drowned out by the joy of winning. Earlier, of course, Michelle was talking to Carla about her fears for the bookies but she got very short shrift from Carla. Sticking up for Steve when he came up for criticism by Carla, Michelle points out that Steve runs a very successful taxi firm. Carla is not having this and describes Steve's Streetcars as a 'few knackered old bangers' that he co-owns with Lloyd, which is 'run from a broom cupboard.' She further points out that, 'he lives over a kebab shop with you and Ryan.' A further insult comes in the shape of Donald Trump, who Carla is certain will not be losing any sleep about Steve as a threat to his huge empire.
Peter is in trouble then and Deirdre is a shoulder to cry on. Before arriving at Deirdre's for a sympathetic ear, Carla asks him if he's closing early or just run out of money and if it's the first day of the sales tomorrow. Understandably she's cross and when it's her turn to sit at Deirdre's table, her anxieties come to the fore. She has 22 people depending on her for their livelihoods. It's not just that, she's a business woman after all. Still, it's good to know that she cares about her staff, despite her hard-nosed approach in the factory. Great line from Deirdre to end their conversation - she says she doesn't take sides - so that Carla should think of her 'as Switzerland with glasses.' You've got to hand it to Deirdre tonight, sending Rob and Tracy away, with a flea in their ears as she listens to Peter and tries to lend a sympathetic ear.
Norris had a bit of a rough time tonight, but he doesn't half bring it upon himself. Emily is giving him number 3 Coronation Street. In the Kabin, Norris, busily sweeping tells Rita all about Emily, 'She looks like butter won't melt, but she's a wily old bird,' and, just at that point, Emily enters the Kabin to hear Norris' every word. Much fun to follow though as Emily suggests that they go to the Bistro for a meal. Rita throws Norris a bone, only to snatch it away. She suggests that they have a meal at her place but then remembers that Dennis has been cleaning the oven and you have to leave the foam on for several hours, so it's back to the bistro and the threat of someone maybe ordering lobster.
And so to the race row. Well done Mandy for showing common sense, politeness and dignity. Mandy is behind the bar chatting to Jenna and Sophie when Paul and Eileen come into The Rovers. Eileen orders the drinks and Mandy, with such good grace, says, certainly, she will bring them over. As Jenna and Sophie give her a questioning, disgusted look, Mandy counters with a superb reply. 'What do you want me to do? Give them a black power salute and a chorus of We will Overcome.'
I wonder if the writers deliberately chose such an outdated phrase as 'Play the white man?' Asking round, most people in their twenties and thirties said that they had never heard it and very few in their forties and fifties had heard it, let alone used it. Admittedly, this little survey was not very scientific, but really, who uses it? If the phrase was selected in order to be the fuel for a racial exploration, and to demonstrate how careless and casual some people can be in the words they use, then it's a pity, because it just doesn't convince. In addition there is a danger of tedium inasmuch as each time Lloyd and family meet Paul and his crew, we will expect aloofness, standoffish behaviour and unpleasant comments. Resolve it quickly, please.
You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
14 comments:
I think the writers needed to choose a phrase for Paul to say that had room for ambiguity, in this case the excuse being it's an old fashioned saying. There needed to be that ambiguity to get a discussion that was in any way 2 sided.
OH NOOOO I was already welling up when Hayley was in the doctor's surgery, and Roy looking all contented on the couch. How will we get through this?
Wow that Sophie is such a self rightous pain in the ass.
I am enjoying the race row because Paul and Lloyd are acting really well, but I am 40 plus and no I have never heard the expression. I imagine the producers deemed all the alternatives too racist and offensive to use on screen.
Really enjoyed watching Deirdre telling Tracyluv off. She should have done it years ago.
I'm enjoying dierdre being given the 'come into the back room' Stella role. It's more reasonable for a long term resident and fixture of the street to give advice - well done SB!
Well Barlows must be a pretty lame bookies if it cant ride the storm of a paltry £2k payout?? If it were £200k or even £20k it would be more realistic. People win all the time although lose more than they win most of the time. And I cant take any more of 'dynamic' business woman Michele who just stands and holds empty mugs most of the time! The house give away has to be one of the most boring stories ever, the scenes in the Bistro yesterday were straight out of a bad 1980s sit com!
Now that Ken has gone it seems like Deirdre is positively blossoming. Long may it continue.
Loved the "I could murder a Chinese" comment. If only Paul had been within earshot...
Excellent final paragraph, Ruth
SB said the race row was about male pride so the casual racism was the trigger rather than the theme. It was a very clunky expression to use and they could have used other scenarios to the same effect. Without even using the word, Paul could have affectionately referred to the toy on Robertson's jam jars and regretted its passing. Everyone would have known what he was talking about.
...and if Paul had heard the expression all his life from his father or grandfather, it's not out of the ordinary that he'd use it. Yes, the storyline really is more about male pride isn't it? Neither side is willing to back down.
That phrase was common when I was at school back in the 70s (I'm 50 now). I haven't heard it for years, though, but I can well imagine Paul having picked it up off his dad. I like the storyline, it's exploring a modern problem in a very realistic, non-preachy way which is great. Plus, it's giving Mandy and Jenna something to do, which both of them sorely needed.
Yes, it was a common phrase in the 70s and 80s where I grew up in the Midlands, particularly when playing sport. People seem to have found more neutral but pithier epithets for describing bad play/decisions on the sporting field.
Anyway, I don't think the phrase matters. It's a story about misunderstanding, people getting on high horses, people taking sides and "making summat out of nowt". That is something we can all identify with and is more like the Corrie of old. Personally I have had enough of the "tedium" of crime, affairs, unwanted babies and far fetched, unrealistic storylines.
Thank you Anonymous.
Post a Comment