Alice Manley was a case worker based at a rehabilitation facility in Leeds where Shona Platt being treated to recover her shattered memory after she came out of the coma brought about following an operation on Christmas Day to repair injuries sustained when deranged Derek Milligan went on a shooting rampage. She went into a cardiac arrest afterwards, causing the oxygen flow to the brain to be impaired.
Shona had virtually no memory left of her adult life, especially her relationship and marriage to David Platt and her time living on Coronation Street. After several months of therapy, Alice spoke with Shona and told her that she and her colleagues were pleased at her progress and found out from her that her wish was now to go home - but not to 8 Coronation Street and husband David, of whom she had no recollection, but instead to flat 406 in the Albright Tower on the Robeson Estate with her son Clayton Hibbs. Alice had to patiently remind Shona that Clayton was in prison and she became agitated, demanding a right to visit him and threatening legal action if she wasn't allowed to do so. Alice duly arranged a visit for the two of them to HMP Stoneway which went badly as Shona didn't recognise the adult man stood in front of her, expecting a child in his place. Things became worse when her devious offspring saw an opportunity for himself and traded on any guilt she felt to get her to agree to bring in food parcels and the like for him as Alice watched on uneasily. She intervened when Clayton lied to his mother about David, stating he was a drunk and violent and he turned on the key worker, earning a rebuke from Shona for him speaking to her "friend" like that. As Clayton's temper failed, Shona ran out in tears with Alice in pursuit with her sons cries about how useless she had been as a mother ringing in her ears.
Back in Leeds, Shona was utterly confused, not knowing who she could trust to tell her the truth about her past. Enlightenment came in the form of sister-in-law Sarah Barlow who was desperately worried about her brother David's state of mind with his wife separated from him by cruel fate. She reminded Shona of the strength of their relationship and how she had helped him overcome the ordeal of his rape at the hands of Josh Tucker. Sarah encouraged Shona come home and recover her old life there.
Shona agreed to try a visit on the proviso that David wasn't present, and Alice accompanied her there. She found the surroundings totally unfamiliar and the family themselves were taken aback by her new habit of speaking the first thing that came into her mind, irrespective of how undiplomatic her words may be. There was a glimmer of hope though when Shona remembered where in the kitchen the tea bags were stored although the lady herself was utterly thrown by the realisation. So much so that she absconded from the back garden and wandered the area, leading to a search. Shona was spotted by her old friend and employer Roy Cropper whose gentle and empathetic ways calmed her down. While Alice took Shona back to Leeds, Roy agreed to let Shona live in his flat while she slowly adjusted back into her previous ways.
Alice brought Shona back to look over the flat and be introduced to Roy's niece Nina Lucas who she had previously not met before, but the recee was slightly problematic as Shona's habit of blurting out whatever she felt like saying provoked uncomfortable reactions. Shona caused further problems when she insisted on taking a hot tray of her favourite cookies out of the oven, burning herself. Nevertheless, Roy and David went to Leeds to trash out the arrangements and Alice arranged a "best intentions" meeting to gain everyone's agreement with an encouragement for frequent visits to the centre before the transition took place.
Although there were still obstacles to overcome, Alice's handling of the return was a vital component in the process of Shona's gradual recovery.
List of appearances[]
2020