Plot[]
Part One: Lucille refuses to go shopping with Annie, wanting the chance to put the supposed gifts between her and Emily in place. Jack looks forward to some peace. Dickie has flu, adding to his depressed mood. Audrey agrees with him that they need for furniture for the house. Ena offers to sell them her rocking chair for £10 to raise the funds to pay Dave back. Emily thinks Annie's present is a bribe and only opens it with reluctance. Elsie realises the presents have been mixed up and Emily has table mats while Annie has a poetry book. Emily refuses to accept them. Dave is still furious with what Ena said to him. He writes a note, giving Minnie twenty-four hours to pay her debt. Elsie is appalled. Ena advertises her antique plates for sale in the corner shop window, worrying Maggie and Val. Effie makes dinner for Minnie, who shows her Dave's threatening letter. Annie doesn't like the book, saying some of the poems are indecent, but agrees with Jack's suggestion to go and thank Emily.
Part Two: Val refuses Minnie's request that she takes down Ena's advert. Ena denies Minnie's accusation that she's said something to upset Dave. Annie calls on Emily and is puzzled by her thanks for the table mats. Emily guesses what's been going on and agrees to return to the Rovers. Emily realises Elsie had a hand in the gifts and both admit without any rancour that their living arrangement hasn't suited them. Impressed with Gordon's exam results, Annie warms to him and allows him to visit Lucille in her bedroom without objections. Audrey agrees to be Lucille's matron of honour. Gordon is taken aback that the wedding plans are proceeding quickly. Minnie can't bring herself to pawn Armistead's old watch. Ena finds out about Dave's letter. Furious, she sets out to confront him. Annie and Emily are amused at the conspiracy to unite them. Ena verbally attacks Dave and Elsie in the street as the neighbours watch on. Minnie watches on with concern from her front window. Ena realises that Dave hadn't told the taxman about the £550 in his car and threatens to report him unless he wipes the slate clean. Minnie sobs, feeling ashamed of herself.
Cast[]
Regular cast[]
- Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
- Annie Walker - Doris Speed
- Jack Walker - Arthur Leslie
- Lucille Hewitt - Jennifer Moss
- Dickie Fleming - Nigel Humphreys
- Audrey Fleming - Gillian McCann
- Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
- Miss Nugent - Eileen Derbyshire
- Elsie Tanner - Patricia Phoenix
- Valerie Barlow - Anne Reid
- Maggie Clegg - Irene Sutcliffe
- Mrs Spicer - Anne Dyson
- Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
- Gordon Clegg - Bill Kenwright
Guest cast[]
- Dave Smith - Reginald Marsh
- Mrs Toft - Beatrice Neild (Uncredited)
Places[]
- Coronation Street
- Rovers Return Inn - Public/snug, Lucille's bedroom and landing
- 3 Coronation Street - Back room and hallway
- 5 Coronation Street - Back room and front room
- 11 Coronation Street - Back room
- Corner Shop
Notes[]
- Dickie Fleming's case of flu was inspired by a real-life pandemic which raged across the world between 1968 and 1969.
- Athough she had been an extra in several previous episodes, and played an unnamed woman in 1963, Beatrice Neild appears as the recurring character of Mrs Toft for the first time in this episode. Uncredited and without dialogue, she is referred to by name by Ena Sharples.
- The two scenes on the Grape Street set were on film.
- TV Times synopsis: Ena presents a united front.
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 7,750,000 homes (joint 2nd place with Episode 852).
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