Welcome back, Lloyd! And how Steve has missed him! Great to see the two friends doing what they do.The way in which they were brought together was pretty amusing. Eileen in a rage and singing Celine Dion was somewhat surreal as Steve was yelling about having, 'Just been gassed by some muppet from Primo cabs!' Steve then adds, 'A planet killing muppet!'
There was real pathos created by the writers tonight and Craig Charles showed great skill in his delivery. 'Loser Lloyd is back in town. Fancy a lager?' He talks about his trip to Jamaica and his dodgy property investment and now he tells us, 'My life's at zero; the needle's going backwards.' Steve steps up and offers Lloyd a room and a job, telling him, 'You're not a charity case, you're my best mate!' Great heartwarming stuff and exemplary behaviour from Steve and his recognition of the importance of friendship. As Eileen points out to Steve, 'You're a good friend Steve McDonald.' But, this is Coronation Street and Lloyd, it seems, has got the wrong end of the stick. As Steve himself says, 'This is going to take finesse and deftness of hand.' Eileen mutters an aside, 'None of which you possess.' Lloyd thinks he's a partner again but Steve hadn't intended that so trouble brews and there's a misunderstanding to sort out. Sean departs yelling, 'You and me have got unfinished business.'
Judging from Maria's behaviour and facial expressions, she surely has a thing for Marcus. She succeeds in persuading him not to go to London and tells him that if he goes to London, she and Liam will miss him. . How though does he feel about her? Does he feel more than friendship? Might he feel more in forthcoming episodes? Maria has him in her house now and the appeal of Liam for Marcus should not be underestimated. It is a family he wants and as the three of them walk down the street, just as Eileen and Sean are emerging, they look for all the world like a family. Maria, understandably maybe, shows little compassion when Marcus expresses anxiety about Sean. She simply says,'If he doesn't like it he'll just have to lump it!' Intrigued to see where this story line takes us.
Can it be that Mary, with her chess prowess and her tales of Sister Kevin, is managing to seduce Roy? His less than enthusiastic greeting of the successful dance exam candidate Hayley, fascinator still intact, was quite shocking and Hayley was obviously deeply wounded. Is Mary using Roy to awaken the green-eyed monster in Norris? 'Norris, behave!' chides Mary. 'I wasn't aware I was shouting,' says Norris. In comes Mary with the cryptic,' You're not aware of a lot of things!' Perhaps as Mary's past is gradually revealed, we will come to understand the wonder that is Mary.
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