UK Time Monday April 16th (episode 2) and Wednesday April 18th 2007

Before I launch into this update I noticed that the CBC had cut a number of scenes to make room for J-Pod, The Week the Women Went and Sophie* commercials. I have included those scenes in this update. The omitted scenes appear in italics.

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They Worked Her to The Bone

The show opens with Sally standing in the factory accompanied by the Connors and a dead body. After confirming that Kasha is dead, Paul, leads Sally out the factory. Basically Paul rolls right into mastermind mode acting like the concerned/devastated boss one moment and borderline psycho in the next. At times he el serioso, at other times he is el Matter-o-facto, and there are times when it looks like he is relishing the challenge of a dead body on the factory floor. Really, for the entire two episodes the man looks like a rat that has crawled out of a wet ditch, always a little pale a little clammy.

The workers are all waiting outside the factory and finally the Connors come outside to give them an update. The upshot is that they will compensated while the factory is shut. They are also wondering where Vicky is. Always punctual, our Vicky.

Vicky appears on the street ready to talk to the police. Pulling her into Liam’s gaff, Carla tries to manipulate her into keeping quiet. You know, for the good of Kasha’s family. Vicky, who didn’t just fall off the perogi truck makes it clear that she knows Carla is out to save her own skin and compensating kasha’s family is really just an unintended side effect. Still, Vicky tows the line.

After Vicky watches her friend’s body removed from the factory, the rest of the staff approaches her and the Connors on the steps of the factory to express concern. Sean invites Vicky to join the pub. But, the Connors assure the staff that they will take care of Vicky, which is totally out of character. The behaviour change is well noted by the staff.

While the staff goes to the pub the Connors share a drink in the office. Liam is, of course, behaving like a psycho.

The next day, rather at the start of the next episode, the Connors wait for the health and safety inspector to finish his inspection. Carla is nervous and Paul is drawing perfect circles at the desk. Anyway, the health and safety inspector has ruled it an accident, and Paul is elated … and doesn’t hide it while talking to the inspector. Even after her learns that he has a lot of changes to make the guy is thrilled. I guess anything is better than going down for negligence causing mortal injury and breaking several labour laws.

So they get away with it.

Paul and Liam explain to the staff (who have gathered in front of the factory with some flowers from Dev’s) what has happened. Kelly asks the smart questions. The questions continue at the pub, although they get a little crazy. In any case, they are suspicious and well aware that Kasha and Vicky were overworked.

Liam also enters the pub and over at the factory, Paul and Carla joke around a bit before he tells her that Liam wants her out. Then he goes to the pub and tells the staff that they have been given a clean bill of health and really lays on the “we are devastated” routine. The staff still doesn’t buy it and know they have to talk to Vicky.

Paul really is a piece of work. It makes me miss Danny. Remember when Adam sold his share of the factory to Liam. When Danny found out he was pissed. He told Adam that the workers depend of the factory for their livelihood and Adam should have thought about that before selling up to some dude he knows nothing about.. Imagine, Danny Baldwin, the picture of employer responsibility.

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Could Gail be More Miserable?

While the police and ambulance are at the factory David is watching the action from the garden. Gail finds out that he has decided not to go to school so that he can watch the action.

Later, in the pub, Gail complains to Audrey that David is being … well … David. Bill then pops into the booth and Gail refuses to discuss her delinquent while Bill is there. So, Audrey asks Gail what she wants to do for her birthday. Gail gets offended again and storms out. Audrey then lets it drop that Gail is turning 50, although she may as well be going on 80. Bill thinks that they should have a real knees-up to celebrate. Because, you know, Gail would LOVE that.

Later Gail runs into David. No he has not been to school and he has done no revision and bla bla bla he doesn’t know which exam he will write. Why doesn’t she just throw him out?

The next day, at the salon, Bill shows up with a huge sign that says “Happy 50th Birthday Gail” in big bold letters. This is gonna be awesome.

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Fancy a Quick One?

Leanne has a shift tonight and is getting ready at the flat. Janice tries to get her not to go and suggests she goes to bingo instead. That’s right, bingo.

While sitting in the hotel lounge waiting for her Jon to arrive, Leanne is approached by the concierge and asked to leave. He is super nasty to her and escorts her out the back door. Busted. I wasn’t big on this scene, nor do I think she deserved to be talked to that way. Leanne looks very hurt, and I am sure it was the “you don’t belong here” line that really upset her. Perhaps her rationalizations are growing cold.

Leanne goes back into her flat where Janice looks a little over dressed for bingo. Janice makes some crack about her being the fastest hooker in the west. Then Janice gets it. Leanne hasn’t made it to the date. But, Janice assumes that Leanne was rejected, not busted and suggests that it is time for her to realize that, “… it wont always be posh hotels, soon it’ll be streets and curb crawlers. You’ll be selling yourself for loose change.” Ouch. I’m not exactly sure that is true. I don’t know that the slope is that slippery. But, I guess Janice wanted to drive a point home.

Later, Leanne heads into Rovers looking pensive and depressed. So does Liam and she abruptly asks him on a date, which he accepts. They have a little trouble finding dinner conversation. Well, Liam doesn’t want to tell her that one of his employees died due to overwork while they breached countless labour laws. Also, Leanne doesn’t want to tell him that she was thrown out of a hotel because she’s a prostitute.

You know, there is nothing that a good Italian meal won’t solve, and after dinner Leanne and Liam finally get together after some flirtatious banter in front of Leanne’s flat. It will be awesome in the morning when Janice finds her boss in her prostitute-step-daughter’s bed.

In Other News

He must not know ’bout her:

Kevin convinced bill that since Bill is living with Audrey and she has invested in his business, she may want to be married in the summer. Audrey says that she’ll pass and that things are only as permanent as she wants them to be.

The Kid is Not Jason’s Daughter

Jason finds his mother watching both Holly and Freddie. He has decided that he can’t watch his mother play happy families and leaves. On the way out he bumps into Claire. She and Eileen sit around and talk and Eileen drops the pertinent info like a used dish cloth. She also tells Claire that her application to be Holly’s guardian went through. Claire is shocked that Eileen would care for Charlie Stubbs’ offspring. Hello … Claire … it’s a baby.

Mother Morton

Jerry’s wife shows up. She’s lovely. She’s also clearly about 10 years older that her oldest daughter, Jodi. She trades her kids for her TV, and that includes Finlay.

Maria the Moron

Does Maria really think Peter Barlow is ready to dedicate his life to her? Come on now.

*Just before Christmas, I went to a restaurant for brunch. The woman who plays Sophie (who, by the way lived in my university residence) came in with her boyfriend and then proceeded to make out like they were still at home in bed. Really, no one needs to see two hipsters make out.