Sunday Comments, February 1

Lines of the week:

• Deirdre "We had a very steep learning curve with Tracy" Ken "it was more of a direct ascent"
  
• Tony "Do I look like a murderer?" Carla "Frankly, yes" (you might want to remember this conversation, Carla but I'm saying nowt)
  
• Truck driver to Roy "Is that your final word?" Becky "I can think of two more!"
  
• Paul "I may be a loser but i'll still take the money" (as long as you know)
  
• Roy "Jason's not the brains behind this operation." Becky "Jason's not the brains behind anything"
  
• Foreman "We're going to have to call the police" Roy "Feel free to use the phone inside the cafe"
  

Gail skwawking at the judge isn't going to do much good. It's not as if it was a trial where people give evidence. She's just desperate that he doesn't go to jail but it seems he knows or at least needs to in order to finally take responsibility. After all that, i don't suppose he'll *still* get the councilling he needs. You can understand the neighbours being annoyed at the destruction but does Janice *have* to gob off at the top of her lungs like that every time? It's as if they don't know what else to do with her. You'd think after all the stunts Les has pulled over the years that had her hiding her face in shame, she's be more understanding, like Ken and Deirdre. I loved Claire putting her in her place, bringing up the fact that her own (step) daughter was a prostitute. David is doing the right thing, he knows it but he's still scared about going to prison and that's a good thing. He might actually realize he's got to turn his life around. There's something you don't see very often, David hugging his mother... sincerely. He seems sincere all around, leaving a letter for Tina and apologizing to Ken. He even remembered his mother's birthday! Can't blame Gail for not being in the birthday mood but look, Tina's back but not for long. She broke up with David. Didn't she already do that? No really, I mean it this time? Anyway, he got four months, which means he'll be out in half the time as per usual.

So Roy and Becky have compromised and she' promises not to have lads overnight that are one night stands. And the very next thing, she's having that Rick fella over as soon as Roy's left for an evening at the pub. Well, it *is* the second date after all. She still didn't quite get the concept of respecting his space, did she? But that served to have Roy on the street when Jason came by after the smoke-out. Odd, Roy remembered seeing Jason but he didn't remember smelling smoke on him and by rights, Jason should have been reeking of it. Jason shouldn't have reminded Roy he was "just out for a walk". That only serves to put it in the front of Roy's mind. Now that the bats have been shifted, and the inspector knows something funny is up, Roy is on one of his classic missions starting with a sit-in which lasted about 30 seconds but parking Hayley's Woody car across the site was a much better plan. it was quite neatly executed, wasn't it? I"m willing to bet not too many people can get the better of Tony Gordon. Roy insisting on cash, for a charity, was SO Roy! Hayley will be proud!

We went through all that palaver for a smoking shelter that looks little more than a picnic table with a cover over it. Ok, it's a brick wall up the back and a trellis on the side. Doesn't look like it could hold more than two people back to back and i bet it's going to film like it's the size of the entire yard! Apparently they built another door out into the yard as well. Pretty clear that Bookie senior has taken a liking to the Rovers landlady. If he wasn't such a smooth operator and an obvious ladies' man, i'd say he and Liz were well suited. He's certainly more her type than Vernon is. I'm a bit surprised that Liz would be so shirty with Vernon over the bet he won but with all the aggro he caused over the smoking shelter, i suppose it's understandable. Still, when more and more things start to irritate you about your partner, there's a problem. So will they work it out or will it be the end of them?

Jason went ahead and smoked out the bats to keep his and Bill's jobs. He looked so funny didn't he? Now he's done Tony's dirty work, though, the ice is broken. Poor Jason isn't bright enough to really stand up to Tony and he's not bright enough to withstand direct questioning. I hope he's not getting in too deep. Doesn't look like Michelle has learned any lessons and she's as single minded as ever. Making plans with Alex and leaving Ryan in the dark about it. You can be sure Nick is rubbing it in Alex' face that he's spending time with Ryan but Michelle wouldn't be doing that, it would only be common courtesy but she had blinkers on. You might say Ryan and Alex would never be friends but i figure, over time, they could get along ok, once they realize Michelle loves them both. But it will be a very long time. She finally told her mother and father about the situation, months after it happened (wouldn't you tell your mother first thing?) and what's the first thing Mammy Connor does? Want to make sure Ryan's ok. At least someone thinks of Ryan first.

I thought Lauren was only working at the pub on trial? The way she behaves and with her slack timekeeping, you'd think the trial would be abruptly over. Liz didn't find out Steve gave her and advance after she said no, but Lauren swanning off on holiday did at. One can only hope. Poor Darryl, he's managed to get shot of Lauren but figures it was his fault for not being cool enough. I don't think it was that. You don't need to be cool, just need to have a steady stream of cash. Her next target is Sean, wanting him to go on holiday, meaning he pays. And as soon as she's bled him dry, she'll drop him too. How many places of business will let you have time off at the drop of a hat? Most of the businesses on Coronation Street apparently. Sean and Lauren are going on holiday and Michelle is swanning off to Ireland and nobody blinks. That's pretty much all the staff isn't it? It'll just be Liz and Betty. Vernon's no help and Steve has two businesses to run. Meanwhile, poor Darryl doesn't see much future for himself. All that upset over quitting the shop came to not much at all though Jerry *says* he'll be more considerate. That'll be the day.

Paul's getting pretty worked up, isn't he? It's all just festering inside. He's got as much to lose as Leanne does and probably more since he lit the match. We know what a good liar Leanne can be but if Paul decides to take them both down, will she be able to get out of it?