Jenny’s gone; taking little Jack, so speed is of the
essence. Clearly Jenny is deluded into semi-believing that Jack could take the
place of Tom, her own son. As everyone who is a parent knows, losing a child is
the worst possible thing that could happen to you in this world. It has
happened to Jenny and there may well be a degree of guilt concerning Tom’s
death. We learn that Jenny had got out the paddling pool and left Tom alone
while she intended to buy ice cream from the van playing Greensleeves. Realising she couldn’t leave him, it was
still too late. Adding further confusion
to our own feelings as viewers, watching the drama unfold, we discover that
today would have been Tom’s 7th birthday.
None of this is Jack’s fault. Coincidentally, there is a
real life situation, mirroring more or less, this story, in that a little boy
was taken from his father who had custody, by his mother and who then went on
the run. The real life mother had the sense to realize eventually that what she
was doing was madness and unfair to the child. And that’s just it. Jack has
been snatched away from what he is used to, even though Jenny had been looking
after him for some time now; but his dad, his sister, his home, his bed – those
things which give a child security and stability have been removed.
The police are at Kevin’s and anxiety is sky high
understandably. But Jenny loves Jack doesn’t she? She surely will not hurt him,
reassures Rita, who manages to get the address from Jenny when Jenny rings
Rita, sobbing. Rita promises that she will come alone. But of course, the family plus honorary
grandmother, Rita, head off.
Rita talks to Jenny who feels that she has been betrayed,
because Rita didn’t come alone. Jenny is
clearly suffering devastating grief and her efforts with the birthday tea is a
symbol of that. Kevin cannot stand
waiting and enters the flat. Close to the edge, literally and metaphorically,
Kevin pleads with Jenny. Could this be Kevin Webster’s finest hour? Sophie though barges into the flat inadvertently causing Jenny with little Jack in her
arms to move further to the edge. Finally, after much pleading, she gives Jack
back to Kevin. The police arrive and Jenny is taken away, sobbing. There is a
tender moment for Kevin and Sophie as he recognizes she was right all along.
As yet, Julie has not understood the significance of
Talisa’s arrival and it seems somewhat unfair to Julie for Dev not to show her
the lie of the land. Talisa is certainly making herself at home, wearing
Julie’s dressing gown and making smoothies. As Talisa nips upstairs Dev can
barely take his eyes off her. ‘Don’t drool Dev – it’s very unbecoming,’ says Mary. Mary then expresses her own feeling about Talisa in an amusing phrase, ‘Vegetable
bothering interloper.’
Julie asks Talisa how long she will be staying. Talisa tells
Julie how kind Dev has been to her. ‘I can see I’m a cuckoo in the nest. As
soon as I get back on my feet I’ll be out of your hair.’ Dev and Talisa do look
very cosy in the pub, though.
And then Brian turns up! He declares his passion for Julie and
has packed in his job in Wales. He tells Julie that their limerick won a
competition, but nothing is enough to persuade her. Julie is in love with Dev
and so she tells Brian. Like a burst balloon, Brian has to take the news and
digest it. Luckily Brian won’t have to stay in the Vegas anymore as Ken offers
him a room.
There is, at least for me, an uncomfortable moment when Ken
tells Brian that Deirdre will be back soon to celebrate her 60th
birthday. I realize the scriptwriters have to say something but nevertheless…
The Nazirs, in their grief for Kal, have shown themselves at
their best so far. Though Kal’s death has affected them all profoundly, they
have conducted themselves in a dignified, strong and united fashion. Alya, who
I am beginning to consider as a superb actor is sent on her own to deal with a
client. Jason is there to help her when the client behaves like an ignorant
idiot, making suggestive remarks about Bespoke Basques, which are actually
Alya’s designs. ‘Go on pal, do one,’ Jason tells him.
Beth is clearly as proud as a mother can possibly be when
she shows Craig’s fabulous artwork as a tribute to those who died. Or was it
just for Maddie? As Eileen, Alya, Gary and then Carla gaze upon the work, Beth
declares it, ‘Done by a genius.’ She speaks of a newfound appreciation of
contemporary art. In the café, Talisa tells Beth that her hair is lovely and
that Beth reminds her of Sonia, the singer from Liverpool who hit the charts in
the 1980s. A good day for Beth!?
Alya asks Carla if she’s having trouble sleeping. ‘Look at
her – business as usual.’ Mary ticks Alya off and seems to have taken on a bit
moral crusade in these 2 episodes.
Kylie is doing her best but things aren’t good chez the
Platts. Understandably, Max is a little ill at ease around Kylie. He doesn’t
want her to brush his hair and tells her, ‘You can’t tell me what to do, you’re
not even a proper mum. Callum cannot resist launching an attack on Kylie, his
ex-girlfriend and mother of his child. Callum suggests that Max’s ADHD
medication should be kept in a safe, away from Kylie as she would be unable to
resist taking them. It cannot be easy for Kylie, who Gail refers to as a
Stepford Wife, ‘Aggressively cheerful.’
Kylie and Maria meet in the street. Kylie tells Maria that everything is
pointless. Maria tells Kylie that her kids are a reason to keep going. And
proving the Platts wrong.That is reason enough for anyone.
Admirably, Kylie
visits the doctor and is honest about the drug habit she’s had. She points out
that keeping drug free is the hardest part, which Kylie more than likely knows only too well. She is given leaflets and takes
them home. Gail and David are reading them and Kylie tells them that that she
cannot get clean without their help.
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