Norris arrived at number 4 with a policeman to break the bad news: Derek had suffered a massive heart attack and died. Mavis thought it must be a mistake, but she identified the body, and was left numb. Alec announced the news in the Rovers and Gary was shocked - "First Joyce, then Derek - makes you wonder who's next." Maybe have a look at the list on Brian Park's noticeboard. Rita worried about Mavis not crying, but she was soon sobbing when Norris presented her with the birthday locket from Derek's car. Maxine tried to make it up with Ashley, but he wasn't interested, which only made her want him more. Fred thought he was nuts. The truth was Ashley was dwelling on Don's confession about burning down the factory. Mike was still angry that he had no evidence to prove he wasn't the culprit, and he attended the police station with his feisty solicitor Frankie. She got the policeman to admit that they weren't going to charge Mike which meant he could get his hands on the full insurance payout. He went in the Rovers and gloatingly thanked Don for doing him a favour by burning the factory down. Don was livid. Vera argued with Tricia because she didn't want to lose her to Ray. Tricia said she wouldn't stay single for her benefit, so Vera tried to warn Ray off herself, saying Terry would soon be back to claim his child. Audrey's flirtation with Ron the lorry driver made him think he was in with a chance and, when she tried to push him away, he forced himself on her. Roy appeared from his sick bed and claimed Audrey was his mother to scare Ron off. When Gail returned Roy explained what had happened and how you should expect this sort of behaviour from some blokes - "they'll try it on with any woman, and they don't care how old or what they look like." Audrey was unimpressed.
TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 13th and 14th April 1997
Mavis's house became a hub of activity as the neighbours rallied round. It was quite lovely to see how nice everyone was, with Angie fixing her skirt for her, Rita making teas, and Martin coming round to offer assistance. Alec bought some groceries for the funeral tea but, being the glorious tightwad he is, he tried to get the cash to pay for it out of the Rovers' collection. Ken struggled to find words for a eulogy for Derek, but luckily, Norris stepped up. He delivered a wonderfully inappropriate tribute to "Dirk", mentioning all sorts of stuff that should probably be forgotten. (That's the last we'll see of Norris for a couple of years, sadly, as without Derek there wasn't much reason for him to visit. He'll return as a full-time cast member in 1999). Even Claire turned up for the funeral, which was totally unnecessary but really nice, the kind of thing that would happen in real life but so rarely does in soaps. Derek's nasty sister Edith - who made it abundantly clear that between his two wives, she was definitely Team Angela - said that he was a joke and the neighbours laughed at the Wiltons. Mavis announced that she didn't care if they were being two-faced; she loved Derek, and he was a wonderful man, and she'd miss him. In the conservatory, Don caught up with Alma. Depression had really taken hold with him over the last couple of days, as he felt that Mike Baldwin had made him a laughing stock (hint: don't set fire to factories if you don't want repercussions). He smashed up the house, and Ashley got Jack round to talk to him, where Don said he thought his life was over. He suggested to Alma that they team up to battle Mike, somehow failing to notice that Mike is her husband. She was rightly scared by his intimidating tone...
WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 16th and 18th April 1997
Tricia had some bad news for Jack and Vera: she was going to move in with Ray in his lovely semi in the suburbs. Jamie was upset that he was being dragged away from another home at the whim of his mother. Jim challenged Andy to a drinking session on the basis that it'd teach him it was no fun. Jim pretended to get drunk, which upset Andy, and he told him that this was how it made him feel when he saw Andy hammered. He realised how much he was hurting his dad and decided not to leave university. Chris cooked Angie a meal and did the washing up and then tried it on with her; he was confused when she refused, but she was angry that he thought she could be so easily bought. Mavis began to get rid of Derek's things, starting with those damn gnomes. Sensible lass.
Meanwhile Mike was furious at Don for frightening Alma at the funeral. He went to the factory unit on Coronation Street as he'd decided to set up a new business there, and, seeing Don peering at him from his front room, nipped across the Street to tell him to leave Alma alone and rub his success in his face. Don got drunk and wallowed in self-pity. That evening, at work on the switch at Weatherfield Cabs, he got a call from Alma for a taxi home from the Rovers. He borrowed a car and picked her up. When she realised who it was, she was frightened witless, and it got worse when he drove her to a deserted quayside. Don ranted and raved at her but she managed to fight him off and fled. (Incidentally this scene was quite clearly cut to ribbons for a daytime audience). Alma ran into the back streets but Don found her and dragged her back into the car. She tried to win him round, saying she understood his pain, but it dawned on him that he'd gone too far this time, and he'd be done for kidnapping. They ended up at Salford Weatherfield Quays with Don realising he had nothing to live for and Alma didn't deserve to live either. He drove the taxi into the water to kill them both.
THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 20th and 21st April 1997
The car sank beneath the water - showing off the hole in the back where the stunt cannon had fired it off the dockside, which was unfortunate - but Alma soon emerged from the water. A passer by jumped in and saved Don as well. Mike had to be restrained from attacking Don in the hospital, while Martin and Gail were disgusted to hear what had happened and immediately took Alma's side. (At one point, a furious Gail said she'd have to turn her back on him, even though they were sort-of related, shouting "he is my dead husband's step father!", which is another of those reminders that this is a very odd family). Don ended up being sectioned. Gail told Alma and Martin about him stalking Denise, and Alma said she should've told the authorities and maybe he'd have been locked up years ago. Chris went and sulked at Kevin's because he felt bad at being rejected. Angie told him to grow up. At the pub, Tricia was dealing with a restless Brad, and took him downstairs. She heard someone in the bar - it was Terry Duckworth, helping himself to a drink. She was thrilled to see him but he couldn't even remember her name. Tricia got herself gussied up to impress him. They ended up kissing. Poor Ray.
FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 23rd and 25th April 1997
You know, Chris is very good looking, but he's actually quite a horrible person. He brought a woman back to number 6 - a woman played by a very young Suranne Jones - and basically rubbed it in Angie's face that he was going to sleep with her. When she was uncomfortable, he revelled in it, and accused her of being jealous. They finally admitted they fancied one another. He also encouraged Kevin to forget about his wife and give in to Natalie's attempts at seduction. Incidentally, a word of warning; this blog will be very unkind about Natalie Horrocks, because I have never, ever forgiven her for throwing herself at Kevin and destroying the lovely Webster family, the harlot. She turned up at number 13 to "discuss business" and made it clear how much she enjoyed being around him. As she said goodnight, she stroked his face - and Rita saw it. Ashley fretted about the bills on the house now Don had been sectioned, and everyone told him not to worry and it wasn't his responsibility. Which is lovely advice but that won't stop Manweb switching off the leccy, will it? Terry and Tricia spent the night together and she confessed to Ray that she couldn't decide what was for the best. Jack made it clear that he didn't like Terry being around, but Vera asked him to trust him, because she believed he would make a family with Tricia. She told Jack to let Terry take the takings to the bank. He returned in a fury; Jack had replaced the money with newspaper, spoiling his plans to leg it with the profits. Vera and Tricia were angry that Jack had tried to set him up but when Tricia said she'd run away with him he said he wasn't interested in her or her snotty kids. Ray arrived and thumped Terry as he left the street for another few years. He also told Rita to get lost on his way out the door, because he's just that unpleasant.
The author is starting a charity that will put fences round all open water in Weatherfield to stop psychopaths driving their cars off quaysides. Donations can be sent via Twitter @merseytart.
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5 comments:
Never blame the mistress, always blame the person in a committed relationship. In my view, Natalie did nothing wrong, it is Kevin who was weak, he should have told her where to go or asked her to stop.
This was such a brilliant week of classic episodes.
Would Natalie really have gone for such a dull, miserable sod like Kevin? If she'd wanted a fling, surely she could have tried it on with Chris (who is indeed quite horrible and not how I fondly remembered him at all!). Yes, I know that's what the script said! I blame both - yes he should have said no but she did come on strong.
Line of the week for me was Jamie asking Tricia, fully made up first thing in the morning, if she was going for an interview! Runner up was Mike offering traumatised Alma a half eaten chicken.
It takes two to tango. Kevin could have said no and told her were to go. Of course it's never the husband's fault in these situations.
Angie was spot on about Horrocks' knickerless situation.
Show was at its peak in 97. I remember thinking when don was locked up that was the last of him only for him to appear again a few months later, in the days before advance spoilers
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