Friday September 26th 2008 – The Stand In Update

Yes Corrie Canucksters, normally the Friday slot is filled by the one and only Papa Smurf. However, as he is out enjoying the wilds of Thunder Bay, I am filling in for Friday’s episode.

UK Time Monday December 17^th 2007 – Episode 1

The episode opens with Ryan, Michelle and Steve in the back room at The Rovers. It seems that Ryan is taking advantage of his mother’s worry and getting more money for his phone* and suggesting that he leaves school well early. Steve picks up on his game but Michelle really is going insane, and frankly, I don’t blame her. For Christ sake, someone is stalking her son.

Later on, Lloyd has delivered Ryan to school but notices a car following him. Lloyd decides to follow it. I guess he calls Claire to tell her to get Michelle, because Claire, ever the helpful neighbour has high-tailed it over to the rovers to get Michelle who flies over to Streetcars. Liam catches wind of what’s happening and runs into Streetcars himself.

Liam and Michelle get into his flash car (you’d think given this family’s history with driving and fast cars, that Liam would choose a more modest vehicle) and speed over to the stalker’s house. During the drive Liam made me want to punch him as he tried to get Michelle to calm down. For Christ sake Liam, someone is stalking her son.

Back at Streetcars, Claire is left to tell Steve what’s going on. He calls Michelle just as she is about to confront her son’s stalker with a big fat hair commercial smile on her face. Did anyone else think that didn’t fit? She turned around like she was popping in on an old friend. Why the glamour smile?

Anyway, when she focuses on the person who answered the door she looks dead shocked, mainly because the boy who answered looked exactly like her dead husband. WHAAAAAAT? (said like an America’s Next Top Model contestant).

*Just as an aside, I have always heard that cell phone charges in the UK are sky high. In fact the cost to actually talk on your cell phone is prohibitive. However, texting is dead cheap. This is why text messaging is all the rage in the UK and on the show. On the street, the use of cell phones corresponds with economic class. If you notice, the Connors will talk on their cell phones, while Maria, Sara and Jason, Violet and a number of others will always text. Also, if you were wondering how much talking Ryan did to celebrate his video gaming victory keep in mind that ₤20 is actually $35.36 Canadian funds as of this morning’s rate. According to some light internet research, on a pay as you go plan like Ryan’s, he managed to talk for two hours for that 20 quid. That’s 2 hours of chatting for more than 35 bones. Ouch.

What is Sarah playing at? That girl is scheming and you know it. In the morning she has some tense words with David warning his that his Italy plans will fall apart. Really, I hope they do, because while I believe that David does need to get away from his idiot mother, what he really needs therapy, not a trip to Italy to be the 17 year-old full-time office manager in a country that he has never lived in for an industry he knows nothing about (great idea uncle Steven!).

Also, if I were Sarah, I’d be super angry. He’s been terrorizing my mother for two years and now an uncle who has no idea what’s been going on decides that he knows what’s best? What made Steven think David was up to the job? Did the Richard Hillman cards demonstrate creativity? Was sabotaging the builder’s yard an example of his planning ability? Was hiding narcotics in Bethany’s toys evidence of advanced managerial skill?

Anyway, there is some back and forth about a suitcase and David and Steven go off shopping for his luggage. Then Gail says something supper irritating to Sarah about David finally being happy and Sarah now being the ‘difficult one.’

Later in the salon Darryl comes in asking David for that 20 quid he borrowed (to pay for Ryan’s cell phone bill?). David doesn’t have it so his grandmother pays the debt for him. Sarah is all interested in why David borrowed the money in the first place. She doesn’t find out, but she is suddenly struck with a desire to buy cakes for the whole family, David included. Scheme on, schemer.

In Other News:

Mel got into the police academy and celebrates with her new 35 year-old bessie mate.

Eileen, Violet, Jamie and Lauren are supposed to decorate the flat, but Eileen ends up doing it alone.

Tony makes plans for take Carla for lunch and dismissed the staff, with pay for the rest of the day.

Blanche is now stealing pens from the bookies. I think she has a crush on that young man. The bookie son is flirting with Mel’s 35 year-old new bessie mate and getting the knock back. Bookie dad has just moved a woman out of his house. He’s been married three times. Way to go! I haven’t even managed to do that once.