Update- Friday, February 22, 2008- Singing the Jailbird Blues

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.