Corrie Canuck

Coronation Street will be pre-empted on Monday March 3, 2008 due to the
Canadian Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. A double-episode will air on
Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Crawls will run tomorrow (Friday) and next
Tuesday.

From the Liz Macdonald Collection

The Confrontation

Leanne comes home to find Carla in her flat. She wants to know why Leanne thinks Paul hates her. Leanne claims not to know so Carla asks the question more directly: Did she sleep with him?

Leanne denies it (true) so Carla says she’s going elsewhere for her answers. Leanne begs her not to tell Liam but Carla doesn’t make any promises, except that the business deal is off.

Leanne runs out and finds Liam in front of the Rovers’. He hasn’t met Carla or Paul that day, to his admitted delight, and hasn’t been told anything. They head inside for a pint. Later on, he offers to hit ‘tinterweb and book a holiday somewhere sunny, just for the two of them. Leanne agrees, happy to get away from a world of judgement that’s about to fall on her head.

Back at the Connors’, Carla comes home and tells Paul of a friend of Leanne’s who may be an escort. Paul says that’s not surprising, given how “dog rough” she is (ouch). Paul heads to the office (on a Sunday) to do a bit of paperwork and Carla starts rifling through Paul’s pockets until she finds what she needs: a bill from the Ashton hotel, and a bill for “secretarial services.”

She calls Paul Franklin (the gentleman from yesterday) and blackmails him for the escort agency phone number.

Carla goes to the factory and calls the agency, pretending to be “Rachel” who’s lost a bracelet the last time she was with her client Paul Connor. The agency agrees to call Paul to see if he’s found it.

Inside the factory, Carla is being nice to her husband, while watching his mobile to wait for the agency to call. A phone call comes in but it’s a wrong number. Then it rings again. Carla swiftly picks it up to confirm the identity of the caller, then hands it over to Paul.

Paul tells the caller that he doesn’t wish to discuss business on a Sunday and hangs up. Carla asks who it was but Paul brushes it off as business related.

“So it wasn’t Wanda from Margie’s Discount Hoor Warehouse “Some Enchanted Evening”? she asks.

Paul knows the ruse is up: “What do you want me to say?”

Carla produces the bills (he claimed “secretarial services” through the factory and therefore has a bill) and asks him to lie his way out. He denies everything but Carla continues to demand details. Carla says that she knows Leanne is really Rachel (true) and that he slept with her (not true).

Paul asks Carla not to give up on him but she spits at him and tells him he can go crawl under a rock under Leanne’s bed, as soon as Liam is finished with her. Paul figures there’s no convincing her now and drives off all psycho-like in his Mercedes.

The Other Woman

Liz, dressed in a form-fitting camouflage outfit, has arrived at the Licensee dinner with Vernon. She spots Derek, who’s there with his wife, Linda. She recognizes Liz from her visit to the Red Lion.

It’s all a bit awkward until Derek and Vern get up for more drinks. Linda says Derek is usually off chatting up a barmaid and she doesn’t know why she married him and she doesn’t really love him and it’s so clear that Vernon that is devoted to Liz and Linda’s just so unhappy but won’t just come out and ask, “Are you having an affair with my husband?” so instead she’ll just sit here and whinge some more to a near stranger.

So, yeah, it’s that kind of lunch.

In Other News

Sean, in his Space Invaders t-shirt, talks to Violet to find out what happened last night, assuming that things went a south with her date. Turns out Violet was going to sleep with him in an effort to get pregnant, but she just isn’t the type of girl to take sperm from just anyone.

John Stape shows up at Fizz’s where they have a little chat, figure out that they’d like to be together in a serious way, watch an old movie, have some wine, and then snog.

Original broadcast: June 3rd, 2007

Hey, CBC went with the ITV closing credits this time!

Claire Wants to Go-Go!

Claire is feeling like everyone on the street believes that she is responsible for the fire – even Dev who looked at her with his ‘tight lipped smile’ (oh man, we all know that!).   Ashley tries to convince her that it’s not true, but still she wants to leave, specifically to the Isle of Man.  She reminisces about the train ride to Douglas when Ashley sang ‘Wonderwall’ to her.  He tells her that he meant the chorus, that she was the one who saved him, and she tells him that he saved her.   aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw.  So it’s settled, they are going on a vaycay.  (This is a wise decision.).

They leave the keys to the house with Eileen and Roy who decide to get Jason and Bill in there to do some repairs and Eileen and Roy will clean up the joint as a suprise.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw.

Kirk-eh, Soon To Be Known as ‘Three Fingers ‘ Sutherland

When Ashley and Claire discussed the vacation plans at the butchers, Ashley says that the problem is that he can’t leave Boris to watch the store alone.  (Boris, btw, has been there since like 1972 and I’m sure had to run it solo during several Peacock crisis…but I digress.).  Fizz overhears this and suggests that Ashley hire Kirkeh.

Because this is flippin’ KIRK we’re talking about, Ashley makes some joke about him losing a few fingers.  ahahahahaha!  But all kidding aside, Kirk did save Claire’s life so he owes him a job.   Later, Kirk says  that he owes Fizz a drink for recommending him, but she says, no thanks are necessary.

And By ‘Concerned Sister-in-Law’ Do You Mean ‘Bitch’?

Karla calls on the john who spoke to her at the bar the night before and asks him to meet her to discuss business.   Where should he meet her?  The Rovers, of course.   She brings him there to gage Rachel’s, I mean, Leanne’s reaction.  When she sees that Leanne is freaking out – indicated by her begging Liam to take her somewhere else and then running to the ladies, Karla knows what’s what.   She even tells ‘John’ what her plan is, which he thinks is just out right twisted.  (Liam, meanwhile, thinks John is an interested investor and encourages Leanne to chat with him.)

In the Ladies, Karla confronts Leanne who begs, begs, BEGS Karla not to ‘do this here’.  Karla, says, ‘No.’. 

Leanne leaves the Rovers and Karla says that she’ll meet her over at the restaurant to discuss business.  In reality she goes over to Leanne’s flat to find out what is what.   Leanne tries to say that she had an affair with ‘John’, but then Karla asks why he referred to the agency and why he called Leanne by her nom du lit, ‘Rachel’.   Leanne offers up several excuses, but Karla has her number pegged.  Leanne fesses up to being an escort and says that she did it because a friend of hers did it as a good way to raise tuition, blah, blah, blah.

It’s not good, Karla is telling Liam.  Leanne begs her not to because……’I love him.’.

Violet, Girlfriend, What Is Going On in Crazytown?

It would seem that George Michael has branched out into cults because Sean is walking down the streets of Weatherfield in a t-shirt that says, “I’ve just escaped from Camp Wham during their ‘Drink This Up Before You Go-Go’ kool-aid social.”

Violet compliments him on his neon attire and tells him that she has a date with guy from the pub.   Fast forward to the date, we see her back at his flat where the both of them talk of wanting a relationship…that I found a bit odd.   When guy invites her to water-bed for a bit of wavey-gravey she is all  for it….until he kisses her and she says it’s all going too fast and goes running out of his apartment.

Buddy, just pour yourself a big old glass of  ‘WTF’ and watch some Dr.Who.

In Other News

Does anyone know the best way of getting shredded cheese out of a Cuisinart?   Just asking.

Canucksters, I’m gonna come clean here and tell you that due to some crazy work hours I was exhausted last night and while I watched Coronation Street I couldn’t take the copious amounts of notes that I normally take. As a result, this update may not be my best work, nor may it be up to the standard set by my fellow posters. Still, I push on, and I give you the update for February 25th 2008, UK time Wednesday May 30th 2007.

Claire has gotten it in her head that she needs her diary from the empty burned out shell that was her house. She thinks there may be something in there that will help her find Casey. Ashley promises to go in there to get the diary in the hopes that it helps.

Later Ashley and Kevin decide to go into the house together to get the diary. Interestingly, he and Kevin have a conversation where Ashley says, “She needs to think I am supporting her.” Curious choice of words. I may have said, “She needs to know that I support her.” But perhaps I am splitting hairs here.

In Roy’s Ashley and Clair are sitting down to a cup of tea and worry. Sally comes over to lend some moral support and so does Becky, in her own way. Mind you, she focuses on the fact that people will be nice to Claire’s face but say all sorts behind her back. Ashley is offended, but perhaps he should let that sink in a bit. Roy assures the unhappy couple that he will tolerate no malicious gossip in the café. Claire and Ashley leave and Becky takes this as an opportunity to remind us all that Claire went loopy in the past, and could go loopy again.

Back at Eileen’s place, Claire is going on and on about being judged by everyone in the street. She is annoying right now, but in all fairness, it must be irritating to know that everyone thinks you are the loony who set your own house on fire. Taking matters into her own hands, she decides to have a drive around to see if she can spot Casey.

Kirk isn’t having the best time on the job front, poor guy. He lost his job and he lost his girl. If he would only work on his dingbat image, I’m sure something would happen for him. He strikes out at the garage as, shockingly, Kevin only hires people who know something about cars.

Meanwhile, Fizz is feeling like John is slipping through her fingers. Yes, she is at the ‘why hasn’t he called’ stage. This is kinda like how I felt last week when the hot guy from my favourite restaurant didn’t call me. Mind you, she and John have a real connection. The waiter only got my number because I got drunk, stole his cell phone and put my number in it … then sent myself a text message from his phone … while wearing his scarf and jacket. I should call Fizz and tell her that story, because, I saw this waiter a few days ago and it wasn’t weird at all. I can still eat at my favourite restaurant. See, everything works out. I’m sure John will call her.

Later, Fizz-bomb-Brown bumps into Kirk in the pub and he tells her that he has loads of job offers from diverse and exciting industries, such as insurance and mobile phones. She believes him. Ok… Although, I firmly believe that he could work for Bell Mobility considering what a crapshoot it is dealing with those morons on the phone. He could replace Emily the automated attendant, who, by the way, STILL wont send me my bill and tried to charge me five bucks to send me the bills they never sent me. They are still sending those bills to my place in Montreal despite eight attempts to change my address. I swear, you could strap those bills onto a donkey’s back, point it in a south westerly direction, smack it on the ass and in a couple days, you’d see that donkey making it’s way up my driveway, but trust Bell Mobility to send me anything and good luck! Anyway…

A little while later Fizz finds out that Kirk lied to her and no, he isn’t about to be hired as a CPA.

Now for the really good stuff. Leanne runs into Janice after a shift. Janice bangs the same drum about Leanne’s chosen work. Leanne tells Janice that she only went back to prostitution to raise the money for the restaurant.

Over at the Connor household, Paul is being super supportive. What a great guy. He also takes this opportunity to beat his drum about Leanne. Yes Paul, she’s a bad egg, your wife should just listen to you because you are a dishonest psycho, and dishonest psychos are excellent judges of character. Also, what did the Connors ever do to anyone? They don’t deserve to have anything bad happen to them.

Then, in the factory, Paul basically threatens Janice. Janice plays it cool while I scream WTF at the TV. Liam gives Paul what-for in the office.

Meanwhile Leanne and Carla sign the contract for the restaurant. The deal is sealed. Then Leanne makes an appointment for another shift of work telling Carla that she has an appointment with the bank manager.

Later, Leanne and Carla are at a posh bar celebrating, when Leanne’s double life bites her in the barstool. While Leanne is on the phone with the bank manager, an old dude comes up to ask Carla if they are “working” at the bar. Nice. He recognizes “Rachel” and says that he always asks for her, but if he knew that Lady Botox was available, he would have gone for her. Nicer. Carla may look like a horse, but she is significantly smarter than one and she soon catches on to what’s happening. She takes his card and plays like they will do some sort of sex worker side deal so as not to involve the ‘agency.’

Carla tells Leanne what just happened and while she pretends not to know the guy, it’s pretty clear that she does. Carla is not impressed. They abruptly decide to make it an early night.

On the way home Leanne is practically attacked by Paul. He tries to offer her money to get out of their lives, Leanne’s not going for it. Leanne points out that yes, she has sex for money, but he pays for sex while he’s got a wife at home. Paul takes off in a fury. Dude is a weirdo.

In other news:

Liz and Vernon are going to a licensee’s lunch and they keep making out. I think the writers are having a lot of fun with these two.

A young attractive guy asks buys Violet a drink and asks for her phone number. She says yes. She could have expedited that by getting drunk, stealing is phone and programming her number in it. But you know, different strokes …

Famous Jailbirds:

                                                          Henri Charriere, A.K.A. “Papillon”

                                             Robert Stroud, A.K.A “The Birdmand of Alcatraz”

                                                            Claire Peacock, A.K.A “Casey”

The scene opens with the police leading Claire away, and Ashley trailing after them. Claire tells Ashley to look after the boys while she is in the big house. Ashley shouts at the police, which surprisingly has zero effect on them.

After they leave, Ashley goes to Sally and Kevin’s and asks them to take care of the boys so he can go down to the police station. Sally is appalled that they would accuse Claire of setting her house on fire and getting rid of Freddy. She offers Kevin to Ashley as a ride and support at the police station. Kevin doesn’t really want to go, but it is kind of impolite to say that, so he adds his half hearted support, and Ashley takes him up.

Back at the police station, the police offer Claire the use of the washroom, and ask if she wants anything to drink. She doesn’t. As D.I. Parks leaves the room, he asks her what her maiden name was. “Casey”, Claire replies. Coinkidink? D.I. Parks thinks not.

They begin the interrogation. They go over the fact that she was put into a mental institution, that she tried to return Freddy to the hospital, tried to push his pram into a busy road and that left him in the car in a park. Then the coup de grace: they confirm that Claire is no longer taking her medication.

Meanwhile, as Ashley and Kevin sit in the waiting room, Ashley confesses that he is beginning to have doubts about Claire’s innocence. He thinks about the time that Claire lied to him and told him her mother had cancer. Maybe she really was the one to do it.

The scene cuts back to the police interview of Claire. They remind her that no one except her has seen Casey. She tells them that, as they were doing one-on-one counselling, it is not really that odd that no one saw Casey. He tells her that they know she couldn’t stop herself, and they just want to help her. She just needs to open up to the sweet, caring, helpful police. Claire leans over to D.I. Parks and tells him in no uncertain terms that she did not do it.

Ashley continues speaking with Kevin, asking him not to tell Sally, as he does not want Claire to know that he doubts her. Claire comes out of the interview room, and confirms that the police are not arresting her, as they have no proof. They leave the police station, and Claire asks Ashley if he believes her, because that is the only important thing to her. “Err, uh, of course I believe you, ” Ashley says (actually quite convincingly). Claire is pleased. Ashley is ashamed.

Carla Connor: Girl Entrepreneur

Carla has taken Paul to the Italian restaurant she is about to purchase. She tries to make Paul guess what new business he is going into but apparently Paul doesn’t like guessing games. So Carla tells him she is buying it. He does not jump for joy, but tells her that she knows nothing about restaurant business and tells her he is not putting his money into it. Carla tells him she doesn’t need his money, she is getting it from Leanne. Paul is even less happy at those news. He says that Leanne has no head for business. Carla tells him he just never wants her to have anything for herself (which is likely true). Paul decides to leave instead of having a major scrap in the middle of the restaurant.

While this has been going on, Liam runs nto Janice at the Rover’s, and asks whether Toya is visiting. Janice replies that she isn’t. Liam then says that that is what Leanne told him. Janice recuperates and says oh yes, she is, Janice had forgotten about it. Liam mentions that he is put out because Leanne didn’t want to take him along. Janice says that maybe Leanne wanted to talk to Toya about him, and Liam perks up.

Later on, Carla runs into Leanne. She tells Leanne that Paul knows about their business plan, and is not happy, but she thinks it is just Paul being his sour old self. They head over to the Rover’s. Liam and Paul are there together, having a drink. Leanne buys Carla and herself a glass of wine, and, while she is ordering, Janice gives her hell for bringing Toya into Leanne’s sordid little lying life. Leanne promises she will not do it again. After the drink, while they are getting ready to leave to do something else, Leanne receives another phone call from her boss. She has to meet someone else in half an hour.

Reunited

After Norris watches Claire being transported to the police station, he goes into the Kabin and relates the news to Rita. Rita also can’t believe that that is happening. (So, so far it is only Ashley that doubts Claire’s innocence. Hmmm.) Norris tells Rita they should close up early, being a bank holiday and all,  and although Rita cannot believe that Norris would ever want to to close early, agrees.

They go to the Rover’s, and who should appear but Doreen! Norris makes an excuse, and leaves. Doreen and Rita kiss and make up (well, just make up. Kissing would have spiced up the story line quite a bit though). Rita asks if Norris was instrumental in their reconciliation, and Doreen admits that he was. She tells Rita that Norris is a good friend. Rita scoffs a bit.

In Other News

Sean and Violet make up. But it ends up being half-hearted, after Sean confesses that he was not so nice to a cute guy who wanted to pick up Violet, and who ended up leaving pub without speaking again to her.

A bit we did not see to accomodate commercials: Vernon tries to get a date set for the wedding. Liz hems and haws and won’t do so. She flees the room.

Okay, get out your thinking cap, this week’s question is…’What DID Leanne do with all the money she got from Danny?’

My theory she spent it on Herefordshire cattle and teatowel removal in addtion to the thousands she spent on having her clothes taken in.

At the Connor’s boudoir flat, would be restaurateur Carla is talking to Leanne on the phone about getting the lease for the restaurant. Being the secretive person she is, she then realizes Paul is listening and tells him to scram. She tells Leanne that they need £20,000 in six weeks. Leanne says she doesn’t have the dosh at the moment but could get it with that time.

Leanne is in her flat – immediately phones the escort agency and explains that she needs money urgently, so the more jobs they can provide for her, the better. The grovelling is quite sad. She adds on,  “once a hooker, always a hooker”. Janice coming up the stairwell into the flat, overhears the conversation and looks extremely distraught. She explains to Janice she has only six weeks to raise her portion for the restaurant.  Janice does not believe her and adds that the urge for money will not stop there and she will never quit being an escort.

Carla offers to take out Paul for lunch. She suggests they go to an Italian Restaurant.  Hmmm, I wonder which one? At Janice/Leanne’s flat, Liam and Leanne decide to go and spend their bank holiday together.  Janice remarks to Liam that Leanne may be seeing some “mates” during the day. Leanne retorts that it was a tentative arrangement, and it was made before she knew what Liam was doing.

The Connor clan are having a drink in the pub. Paul and Carla get ready to go off to lunch. Liam asks if he and Leanne can join them. Leanne gets a call from the old employer. She tells Liam and says he is going to hate her, but her “sister” Toyah has arrived in town on a visit. Leanne says she will just pop over and say hi and then come back. Liam invites himself, but Leanne doesn’t want him to come. She tells him another time. Liam says that she must be ashamed of him. But says she isn’t and then rushes out of the Rovers.  Liam would you like my number?  

Inside the Kabin, Norris and Rita discuss Doreen. Rita says she would like to see her again, but says it is Doreen who cut off their friendship. And says she does not want to discuss it any further.  Rita catches Norris snooping through her address book and writing something down. He claims that she left it lying around, but Rita doesn’t agree and grabs it back.  Norris runs off to the phone booth in the street, but we don’t know who he is calling. What Norris, no mobile phone? Norris runs into Roy’s Rolls and asks Roy if a lady has been asking for him.

Roy asks in what time frame, and Norris says in the last few minutes. Roy says no, Norris then orders two coffees and asks Roy to bring them to him when “the lady” arrives. Doreen walks into the café. They start arguing. She gets up to leave, Norris apologizes and wants her to stay. He tells her that Rita is a stubborn woman and will not admit missing her.  He asks her to take Rita out and get her drunk, and that would make her happier.  Norris asks her not to mention to Rita that he had anything to do with it.   

Derek meanders into the pub and offers to buy Vernon (in a great paisley shirt) a drink. Liz tells him that she can’t stop as she has things to do at the back. Derek tells her there might be an “issue” with the last delivery he made. He manages to whisper to her that Linda knows about them.  In the meantime, Vernon has gone out to the washroom. Liz then asks Derek what Linda might possibly know. Derek says that Linda asked him if he had taken anyone back to the flat. He denied it. Liz fails to ask anymore as Vernon returns, so she switches the subject back to the delivery.

Derek leaves the Rovers. Liz then interrupts her conversation with Vernon and escapes out the back door. She catches up with Derek and asks to hear the rest of the story. Derek explains that he denied to Linda that he had taken anybody there, because she had no proof. Liz wasn’t happy that Derek worried her without any real reason. Liz is just about to go back through the front door, when he reminds her that she left by the back door. Whoops.

Vernon tells Liz that he thinks Derek fancies her. Liz asks what makes him think that. He tells her that it is the way he looks at her, but then he looks at Violet the same way. He then deduces he is just a bloke that fancies all women…

Violet realizes any attempt at a relationship with Gary is now diminished. Sean tries to matchmaker Violet with Jamie. He tells her not to thank her as he says that is what fairy godmothers are for. That is hilarious. Violet tells Sean in no uncertain terms that Jamie is the last person she would want to go out with. She reminds him that they used to live together until he started going out with Frankie. In a firm, but gentle way she tells Sean to keep out of her personal life.

The spring bank holiday continues and Ashley is trying to persuade Claire to go out and about and get some fresh air.  She is having none of it and wants to be around if the mystery woman Casey is caught by the police. Being the neighbourly person she is, Sally comes round to Claire’s and suggests they go for a walk. Good timing. Claire is unsure, but Ashley says it is for her own good.  Two police officers come round to the Peacocks. The male inspector asks to see Claire, but she has gone out asks Ashley to see Claire. 

Ashley lets them in, but first takes the kids next door to Kevin. The officer confirms in a hostile voice that Claire had told that she had had post-natal depression, but that she failed to tell them she had been sectioned for three weeks. Ashley explains that she was not well at the time, but she is okay.  The female officer offers to make tea and coffee. Ahem, I find it annoying that she offers to make it….Ashley asks the officer whether they are going to continue to harass Claire about her past.

The inspector (who gives me the creeps) says they just want to help if she is still not well. Yeah, right. He asks Ashley whether he thought could have started the fire after taking Freddie away. Ashley immediately says no.Claire and Sally return from their jaunt. Claire sees the police car outside their house and freaks out. She asks Ashley what has happened, seeing the inspector standing there. He replies they just wanted to talk to you. Ashley confirms the kids are with Kevin. Claire turns to the officer and asks what he wants. He replies that he is arresting her on suspicion of arson. He then gives her an official caution. Claire stands stunned in silence. Poor Claire.  

As you  all know the British Isle Show is happening in Toronto Mar 7 – 9.    Special guest this year is Ashley from Corrie.

Last year the Corrie Canucks gathered to go to the show and for a pub night on the saturday.  

I’m ready to make reservations at Fionn’s for that Saturday, but I need a hands up of who will be comeing.   Also, if you are planning to come to Toronto for the event, let me know as a I have a welcome planned for out of towners on friday.

Paul made a reference to diving like an Italian footballer last night. While the Italians are not alone on being prone to taking a dive if someone looks at them the wrong way, they certainly have a deserved reputation for this ugly form of cheating.

I could go on a bit of a rant here, but I will instead vent my wrath on the soccer pitch tonight when my team play (you guessed it) the long haired pasta eating Gucci wearing bocce tossing Il Duce loving Italians.

I know there’s been a bit of confusion with the last two schedule changes that I posted, mainly due to email notice to blog posting transferrence.   I get emails from my super secret connection at the CBC and then post it here.

I’m a bit worried that the schedule changes posted here will be take as the word of god and I don’t want anyone to miss an episode if the info I’ve recieved is wrong or if (like the last posting) I forget to add that it’s a regional change only.

Sooo, having said that I would suggest that you use the schedule changes I post here as a ‘heads up’ – rather than the final word.   I think that is the safer way to do it.

So here’s your next schedule change: 

Another crawl will be running in BC this coming Sunday:  “Due to live coverage of Canada Cup Curling next Sunday March 2, Coronation Street will be seen one  hour earlier than usual, at 6:30 am.”