After last week's car crash I am back and ready to write. We open with R'Leanne congratulating R'Toyota on her engagement to Geoffrey. To think they left together for that London over 20 years ago (February 2003) so it has been a long time coming. Leanne also warns Spider that if he messes her sister around she will rip his head off. Even Simon is present to celebrate!
Sam cannot go to school for silence day as he needs to be at home for 48 hours. Spider is summoned to a meeting at Freshco's car park at 11:30. We see him waiting for a contact and sat in a car there are two obviously "shady" men (uncredited) watching him. Back at the flat Sam wants to go and play chess with Roy, Leanne goes shopping and a mystery visitor, Leyla, Spider's ex-wife, is at the front door and wants a chat. Sam nags to see Roy. Toyah explains to Leyla that Sam is not hers.
Just before the break Leanne and Spider meet at the precinct and Spider is alarmed as his almost ex-wife is abroad. Spider phones R'Toyota and Leyla twigs that Toyah has become discombobulated when she is offered another cup of tea - not having finished the one in her hand. Spider and Leanne arrive back at the flat - no people, plant pot all over the carpet and a broken mug. No Sam either. Leanne phones Sam - he is safe and playing chess. So Spider thinks it must be the far right group that are targeting him.
Platt's-ville all have the day off as it is the anniversary of Kylie's stabbing (so it is actually 15 July) and a visit to the cemetery is planned. Max is not sure he wants to participate (well he is booked on a prison visit with Lauren who has been in the garden all this time). They head off to meet Lauren's father. At the prison Reece Bolton tells them how bad prison is and wants Max to amend his story so that Griff gets all the blame as Reece claims that he was duped by Griff just like Max and he was only doing it to protect Lauren. They apply the thumbscrews but Max is not as green as he is cabbage looking and tells them that Reece can forget it - he is not changing his story. Lauren is unhappy and they leave the prison - but Max is not falling for that trick again - he has paid for it and he wants to change and he wants Lauren to change as well.
Magically Spider finds Lauren and Max outside the prison and under police questioning Lauren admits she recently told a journalist all about Spider and Toyah and where they lived, so it seems it is not a far right group. Despite everything Lauren later gets offered the Platts couch until she can find somewhere to live - David believes she would be at risk on the street as Max has admitted use of the salon.
Adam is planning a lunchtime gathering of the clans - one of those massive Barlow / Platt get togethers that were in my view the only reason for getting Adam and Sarah together! Rovers lunchtime - be there or be square! He confirms to Daniel that the intention is to announce the new spawn of the
In Roy's Rolls Sarah immediately cancels the pregnancy pronouncement as she has not had her 12 week scan, so Adam agrees he will invent another excuse. In the Rovers we find Ken, Peter, Steve, Tracy, Nick, Gail, Shona and David who is told by Tracy that he should be at home writing a book on how not to raise a right wing terrorist. David then reveals that he a cold curry waiting to be consumed at home and this remains the conversation until Adam and Sarah arrive which allows Tracy to announce that Sarah is up the duff! After big hugs Adam reveals that he won a trial and no Sarah is not pregnant. Shona is not convinced. The fizz is served and Daniel arrives pleased that he can now celebrate a new Barlow baby. Tracy collects a fiver from Steve as she guessed right. Ken then asks the inevitable question - who is the Daddy - or as Tracy puts it "Are you sure it's Adam's sprog?" Sarah assures them all that it is Adam's and leaves. Later Adam assures her that he wants to be a father and she will be an excellent mother just as with Harry and Bethany.
Text messages abound tonight - Gemma gets one from Henry Newton wanting to chat (about a job!). However she does not tell Ches the news pretending it is from Glenda. Beth continues her objectionable shouting from across the Street and a passing Kirk is asked by Ches if there is any chance that he could take Beth and stuff her mouth to shut her up! In the factory Kirk makes Beth a cup of tea just the way she likes it - with 3 sugars, but she only takes 1 now! But they talk and Kirk plays the Paul card - asking Beth to be easier on Gemma. At the end of the day Beth goes to see Gemma and apologises. She also offers to listen if Gemma ever wants to talk about Paul. Beth invites her to the Rovers for a drink and Gemma accepts. When they arrive they find Kirk and Ches deep in conversation and this allows Kirk to thank Beth. And it turns out she has been dead miserable and Kirk admits he loves her and has been missing her. As we can see they are re-united.
Dev ties to convince Aadi that he should smile at the customers as it grows sales. Aadi is not convinced but is pleased to see Amy when she arrives with Asha and Nina (who are clearly partners now). Aadi is mispricing some cans when Asha returns and he admits to his sister that he is hoping that there might be more than Amy being a mate - but Asha thinks now is not the time to pursue it - Amy is not ready for a relationship. Dev catches them talking and he thinks there must be something wrong if they are not falling out! Later in Speed Dahl Aadi tells Amy she can do some shifts in the shop (well they are an Evelyn down in case you had forgotten) and she hugs him. He is pleased - but will it lead further?
Spider admits to Nick, Leanne and Simon that he has a pretty good idea who has abducted Toyah and it is not a far right group but someone wanting revenge on him - which narrows the possibilities but finding Toyah will not be easy. So to help the police does anyone recognise the view above? That is "Leyla" - so not Spider's ex. And it is a remote car park as no-one will hear her banging on the side of the van - and she is gagged so cannot shout. Apparently the lady is "Maggie" according to the credits and is played by Catrin Aaron.
OK last week I had a moan. Can I therefore praise the team this week? First up the interchanges between the Platt and Barlow families were exactly what I expected from the link between Sarah and Adam and the quips and lines were played well and were exactly what I wanted - it just did not go on long enough - but a wonderful ensemble piece. But not just that tonight. The ladies playing Asha and Nina were given time to show their relationship - long overdue - but it is those familial links which are important. Similarly where Beth and Kirk in Speed Dahl started talking about wanting to be sharing a bed again moved from having a curry to having a curry to go to have to GO and now! Ditch the abductions; the far right - tell us about the families and how they live together and play together (within reason - this is pre-watershed). And that is without commenting on Sean wanting to sniff a bacon butty - and did I mention that plain clothes Craig was on the case with the returning DS Swain? What a turnaround within a week - from despair to delight. Which of course is why we watch!
And it is a long time since I had a "if only I could" and it never happened (reminder - Rita, Sharon, Jenny, Evelyn and Elaine in a Rovers lock-in) but I now have another one. Can we get Evelyn, Sharon, Glenda, Cassie and Estelle (and the latter has to come back at some point - we all know that) together for at least one number? They have all done big West End musicals so it ought to be easy! I know - but we all have our fantasies.
Written by Nessah Muthy and John Kerr. Directed by Jason Wingaard.
