Robert gets the news that his testicle was cancerous but it hadn't spread. Checkups but no further treatment. Later, he decides to go back to work which worries Michelle to no end but he's determined. She keeps following him around and hovering and can't understand when he makes dark jokes about slicking a small lemon.
Kevin's back from Germany and Gary's got him up to speed but Kevin, ever the tactful little pillock, identifies himself to his girlfriend's mother that he's a single parent. We can see where this is going, can't we? Just charming. It's ok for her to bail him out financially and ok, he stuck with her when she was injured badly though he did whinge a lot because she didn't feel romantic, and now, maybe because she's not there to look after him and Jack? He's had enough. Selfish git.
Gary goes to see Anna who's dosed up to her eyes on pills and he has trouble getting the guards to see that she's had a bad reaction to the meds. They argue with him but he insists there's a problem and he's right. She passes out on the floor! They take her to the hospital for observation and Kevin shows up. As expected, Kevin decides to kick her when she's down and he dumps her. It's too much upheaval for his sprog! (And I thought it was illegal to take your child out of school these days?) Kevin's rejecting her and so is Faye. Now she's really not got anything to lose. When she's told that she is being sent back to prison, she manages to escape.
Back at home, Gary told Faye about Anna but it didn't seem to sink in really. Seb wasn't feeling well so Gary offered to take him to the hospital but he never did, getting sidetracked, first by Kevin. Back at the hospital, Anna is slipping out into the dark night. Gary wasn't too happy with Kevin when he told Gary about he and Anna. I'm glad Gary called him on the money and his flirtation with Erica. But both of them were shocked when the police showed up looking for Anna. Kevin's right, Anna's unstable but only where Phelan's concerned and she should expect support from Kevin.
Tim brought the news to Faye and Phelan had a good chuckle over that. His reaction has touched a nerve with Faye and she confronted Phelan. She's finally decided to ask about his side of the story re Anna's accusations of rape/coerced sex. She won't let him out of it, either. He tries being reasonable and then he slags off Anna. She feels bad for how she treated her mother and now believes that Phelan was lying all along. She can't convince Seb that Anna didn't push him and he's not willing to back down so she finishes with him. Anna's huddled in a dark alley, alone and shivvering.
Anna doesn't get very far and she contacts Gary, overheard by Seb so it's going to go wrong, right? Right. He tells Phelan, Phelan calls the cops and Faye calls Craig. But for his new, upstanding role, can he balance friendship and loyalty with rules and regulations. The plan worked, however, Craig blowing the cover of the undercover officers and Anna saw it and knew what was up. Now what to do? Where to go?
Later in the cafe, Shona gets David to go up to Roy's flat and water the plants (Roy has gone hill walking). Who does he find in the flat? Anna. Now how on earth did she get in there? I know she'd have had the keys when she was working there but she came from the prison to the park to the flat so she wouldn't have had them and Roy wouldn't have left the flat unlocked nor a key accessible. Anyway, he passed on the news to Gary and Faye and let them up into the flat. She's determined to prove her innocence but it's not going to be easy.
With Anna still missing, the neighbours are all abuzz. Phelan remarks to Eileen that her absence proves she's guilty and he, of course, has no good thing to say about the Windass family in general even if they're going to be related to him via Nicola's baby.
Anna is taking advantage of Roy's flat by having lots of showers. Gary is making her breakfast. He's told the cafe staff he's doing some decorating for Roy as an excuse for him being there. Anna is dismayed to find out that Gary told Faye about what Phelan had done to her in the past. She wants to find proof that Phelan is lying about where he was the day Seb fell. Later, Faye comes to see her mother. They discuss how Faye's dealing with the truth about Phelan and Faye pledges to support her mother no matter what. Anna is determined to find the proof she needs. She wants Faye to stay in Roy's flat for a bit, it would be safer for her.
Gary tells Phelan there's something wrong with Nicola's baby. They need to find which hospital she's gone to. That gets Phelan up out of the chair quickly, he locks up and he and Gary get in his van, leaving Anna to break the chain off the lock with boltcutters so she can go into the office and start searching. She rifles through the files and ledgers to no avail. Meanwhile, Gary has been leading Phelan around on a wild goose chase, which he finally figures out. Phelan takes off in the van and Gary has no way to contact Anna to warn her because she'd taken his phone.
Looks like Anna might be having a bit of luck. She's contacted a client who says he did work for them on a date that seems to please her but they put her on hold to find out the time of day. Outside, Eileen notices the yard's gates unlocked and goes in to investigate. Desperate, Anna picks up the bolt cutters and swings at the person coming up the stairs, probably thinking it would be Phelan but is shocked to see Eileen come crashing down at her feet.
She gets away and over to Roy's flat unseen and tells Faye they have to get away now, suggesting Scotland. Faye doesn't understand, of course, and Anna loses her temper trying to get her to shift. Faye insists on going home to get some things. Seb sees Faye slip out and she makes him promise not to tell anyone he's seen her. Anna and Faye are ready to go in Gary's car but Anna has to run back to the yard to see how Eileen is and freaks out when she sees there's blood on the floor under Eileen's head. Naturally she gets caught by Phelan but she runs out when he rushes to his wife's body. He's furious and calls the police and ambulance on his mobile. Anna runs to the car and they drive off around the corner.
Faye is brought home to Gary. Faye tells Gary what her mother did. Todd comes over, really angry at what Anna did and seems intent on taking it out on Gary. Faye tries to blame Phelan but he wasn't the one that swung the lead, literally, and Todd reckons Anna will be convicted for this.
Eileen looks a bit worse for wear with stitches across her forehead but she's going to be ok. Phelan seems genuinely upset and they seem to know it was Anna that did it though I wasn't sure Eileen had seen who did it. Todd apparently found her so presumably he might have seen Anna running off. Phelan's out for blood but Eileen doesn't want further trouble. Anna will be punished.
Gary's right. Anna's case against Seb has been very much damaged by her escape and assault on Eileen. Going to be more difficult to prove she didn't push Seb off the ladder now. And her solicitor tells her just that.
Now Fiz is worried maybe someone is trying to scare them or maybe it's Kirsty! Gemma's tales of people faking their deaths and returning to commit crimes didn't help! But they did confirm that Kirsty was out of the country so it couldn't have been her. The only problem is, Fiz found a lighter in a box that has Ruby's name on it. But Ruby didn't like being confronted about where she got it from. At least Beth and Fiz have finally made up. Kirk and Tyrone will be pleased. They can be friends in public again. Fiz is really worried that it could be Kirsty's genes coming out in Ruby. I guess she's forgotten about how John Stape's genes might be coming out in Hope.
I don't blame Tyrone for being angry at Fiz for even suggesting it. Kirsty was the way she was due to years of her father's physical abuse and torment and unrealistic expectations. She wasn't born that way either. I'm glad Tyrone pointed out John Stape's genes could just as easily be to blame. Food for thought, Fiz, food for thought.
Fiz has the girls home making mince pies and they seem to be getting on ok. Tyrone comes home, upset that he and Fiz had fallen out. They're all made up and looking forward to Christmas together. But later we find Fiz packing. Turns out Cilla has had a bad fall and she's going to have to go look after her mother. She asks Chesney to keep an eye on the kids but not to tell Tyrone she asked. Tyrone is gutted she will be away for Christmas. Later he asks the girls how they can cheer Mummy up. They do a homemade nativity and sing Little Donkey for Fiz. Tyrone has done up a Christmas dinner of turkey nuggets and Fiz thinks it's the best ever!
Chesney has a ring for Sinead finally. In his conversation with Fiz, Ruby's mother Kirsty was mentioned as a head case. We all hope Ruby isn't taking after her mother! I doubt very much that's the problem and may we just point out that Hope's father was a serial killer? Anyway, Chesney is going to propose to Sinead in the Bistro. She's worried about Daniel but he insists he's fine with Daniel and he's not going to be working anyway which virtually guarantees that he will be. Yep. There's Daniel just as Sinead and Chesney arrive and Michelle sets Daniel up as their waiter because it couldn't possibly occur to her there might be a conflict of interest there, could it?
The happy couple decide to pretend it doesn't matter. They'll just concentrate on each other. He slips the ring into the champers to surprise her. Daniel sure got a surprise. Chesney has even booked the registry office for January 12. Not quite sure most women would want their wedding date sprung on them like that. Daniel tries to bunk off work, poor lad, he's still wearing his heart on his sleeve and well Chesney knows it but he's not quite sure if she's still harbouring feelings for Daniel in return. Desperate times and desperate measures. He comes down with "food poisoning" and ran out, leaving her to pay the bill, I might add. Then he cast aspersions and implied Daniel put something in his food.
It kind of had the required effect though, because Robert was irritated by Daniel's absence even though he's the one that ordered it and wasn't believing of the tale of the brick injury so Daniel's walked out on his job, too. Or it looks like it. Sinead is determined to put an end to it so it's her turn to confront Daniel. Except she doesn't go to Daniel, she tattletales to his father and he is leaning towards Sinead's version of events though Tracy suspects otherwise but even she thinks he's gone a bit too far. He's not backing down, though.
He's got Sinead where he wants her because she feels guilty that she was with Daniel when Joseph nearly got hit by a car. She pledges her loyalty and love to Chesney. Down the road, Ken apologizes to Daniel because he clocked Tracy coming out of Chesney's and realized Tracy might have been manipulating him. Ken encourages Daniel to fight for Sinead and Daniel put Chesney on a warning and Chesney is just paranoid enough to believe him.
Leanne is back from France where apparently Stella is. Leanne has decided to move into her own place. She's also signed up for a dating app and has already had some luck, so she thinks but he later turns out to be a dud. Too bad Aidan is lurking around being nasty to Eva. He needs sorting out. He has no right to blame her for ruining his life when it was his infidelity in the first place that started her off! Then again, Eva set out to destroy him. She shouldn't be so surprised she succeeded and now feels sorry for him. She's going to sell the flat and the car and divide the proceeds with him.
It's sister time. Leanne is moaning about the dates she's finding from the online site. Eva's putting the flat on the market and Toyah's hosting B&B guests, the most recent which has arrived early but Peter offers to sort that out. Toyah offers to set up a blind date for Leanne with an old mate of hers. In the pub later, all three plus Steve are moaning about the poor choices available on the dating sites.
Eva and Adam have a little flirt over the bar as she tells him about selling the flat with no particular plans on where she's going after that, not yet. Behind the bar, Peter mentions the overnight guest whom we haven't yet seen and Toyah finally convinces Leanne to meet her friend for a drink.
Eva and Adam exchange a few more words later in the pub which does not go unnoticed by Billy (who has been told by Peter that they have a hearing on Thursday, Peter having drafted a victim impact statement which will be a positive rendering for Billy. Adam is heading to the Bistro to see Matthew Singh but when Aidan comes in, Adam realizes Aidan doesn't know about the Bistro meeting and makes sure he hears about it.
After getting all dressed up, Leanne is not happy to find out that Toyah's friend has cancelled the date. Eva has a brainwave, (yes, just the one.) She thinks it would be a good idea to put Leanne in the path of Matthew Singh, Adam's client and takes her reluctantly to the Bistro where they're meeting. In the pub, the lodger has finally appeared and Toyah is surprised to see how good looking he is.
Adam and Matthew are both bemused to be introduced to Leanne by Eva. It starts off awkwardly when Eva finds out that Matthew doesn't drink and she mentions that's a good think considering Leanne has an alkie as one of her exes. Later they all seem to be getting on well but Aidan, worse for wear from the alcohol he's consumed in the pub, crashes the party and makes a right idiot of himself. Matthew decides to leave as well, apologetically, citing a probably complicated conflict of interest. Leanne is pragmatic about it though Eva's a bit dismayed things didn't work out. The two sisters muse about losing their touch. Leanne offers Eva a room to rent in the house she's thinking of buying and all is well again.
They arrive back in the pub where the lodger, Chris, is propping up the bar talking to Peter who seems to be trying to get him out the door to no avail. Chris claps eyes on Eva and Leanne and decides to stay pub. Toyah introduces Chris to the women and Eva pushes Leanne forward. The B&B guest, Chris, seems to be nice enough but Peter doesn't seem keen. Leanne certainly does. Chris offers to help her sort through house listings etc. Peter seems suspicious. Quite a coincidence he being in "the property game", perhaps that's why.
Steve is meeting someone from a dating app later though it seems that both he and the potential date were using very out of date photos on their profiles and the date was a no-go. He brings Oliver to Leanne at the pub just as she's heading out with the lodger who seems quite forward, reaching out to take Oliver's stroller. Steve holds back, this is a complete stranger! But Leanne is fine with it and off they go. Oh, yes, and Leanne doesn't have her mail in her purse like she thought. Inconsequential? Never on a soap. Steve wants Liz to check up on that Chris. Liz thinks he's being paranoid. But is he?
Well, paranoid enough to ask Tracy to dinner in the pub so he could keep an eye on Leanne and Chris. Is that paranoid enough for you? He also doesn't drink alcohol and admits he won't be around long and the name on his payment card appears to be Paul, not Chris. Looks like Steve is right to be suspicious especially once Sarah alerted them to his name being something else. Meanwhile, Chris/Paul is stealing Leanne's phone at the Bistro. If it's her phone along with her organizer that he nicked earlier, it would have ID and possibly online banking details in it. This won't end well, will it?
Aidan's happy. Showcase liked his bid. He had a last minute meeting with them the day before, again behind Alya's back and she's not happy. Aidan seems to think these guys prefer to deal with men and of course he doesn't care if he can get a contract. Alya is rightly angry. Aidan's all excuses but he's also desperate to make things right with the factory workers. It looks like these people might go for an order. He's upset that he can't compete with Matthew Singh to buy into the factory. Eva tells him later that the flat might have a buyer and he's pleased to hear that.
Craig and Bethany are making a date and I think all Craig's birthdays have come at once at least they will once he finds his lucky shirt. Chesney advises that Craig create the right moment to tell Bethany how he feels. He showed up at Platt Towers and is nervous as all get out. Bethany's treating him like the friend she always considered him. He finally grabbed opportunity and told her how he feels about her. She freaked out and threw him out.
Bethany thought Craig was only after one thing but both Audrey and David think that's the last thing Craig would push on her. And I agree, he is a sort of Alf Roberts character isn't he? Steady, loyal, would adore her and treat her like a queen. She realized the truth of it and apologized to him. That's one happy Craig!
Adam teases Daniel for being outmaneuvered by Chesney, he with the brick-shaped dent in his face. When he mentions Tracy's possible involvement, Adam wouldn't put it past her to be coaching Chesney. Daniel lets himself into Number 1 later to talk to her but of course she's her usual spiky self. He confronts her with the idea that she's helping Chesney turn Sinead against him. She plays the innocent and catches on that he's trying to record their conversation. She finds it highly amusing that he's playing detective.
He tells Adam later that he can't let Chesney win, as he follows Sinead down the street with puppy dog eyes. Chesney tells Sinead about Fiz's news but Daniel arrives. Joseph is sent upstairs. Daniel apologizes sincerely and tells them he's getting help for his temper. He promises it won't happen again. He says all the right words but his sincerity doesn't quite make it to his eyes. Chesney later tells Sinead that something isn't right with Daniel and he doesn't want her to see him again.
Daniel admits to Adam that he's messing with Chesney's head and then moans that the Barlows seem to be doing a Secret Santa and he's got Peter's name. He doesn't know what to get and wants it to be something Peter will like, perhaps to mend a few fences. Billy shows up and needs a spare elf for the Community Centre grotto. Why is he asking Adam you say? Because Eva's the other elf, complete with skimpy costume, or so Billy says, and he's still trying to matchmake! It always seems to work but then it never lasts!
Zeedan is distracted, worried that Rana's alibi won't hold up to the police scrutiny. He's also irritated that Robert dropped him in it in the first place but him being sacked *is* something the police would have found out anyway. Rana's brother Imram has shown up and is a good distraction because it's his turn to disappoint the parents. He's breaking up with his wife! Turns out he's a lawyer.
Rana checks with Kate later and it's all sweet nothings under Michelle's nose. Her brother's news seems to have made a deeper effect on her than expected, probably because if he's going to upset her parents, imagine how they'd react if they knew what she was up to! Now that Rana and Kate have a little nest to hide out in (Michelle and Robert's flat)
Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter
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