Sylvia takes Hayley aside and Hayley tells her that ,'There's nothing wrong with me, I'd know if there was.' But that's not the truth and her anxiety is evident as she makes a mistake at work, something she hardly ever does. Beth is far too ready to apportion blame and to claim that she's being bullied, consequently ordering a cream horn and a custard slice as she is stressed!
Still on Beth, there has been a bit of confusion as to why she wears a C on her necklace, when you might expect her to wear her own initial. But, don't forget that Beth has a son called Craig who has great comedic skill.
When Beth criticises Hayley and ridiculously accuses her of bullying, Roy is like lightning in coming to her defence. 'Hayley is the most considerate, compassionate human being to have ever walked the earth.' Good work Roy, as we need to know that you will love her the best you can through her horrific diagnosis of cancer of the pancreas. You have succeeded in acquiring tickets for Midnight Tango, in which you have very little interest - just a blur of feathers and legs to you. I hope you'll be able to go, it's possible it might just lift the spirits, if only a little.
A salute signifying absolute respect must go to Carla tonight. She has all this Peter, Rob, Tracy mess swirling around her and yet she rises above all that. She takes Hayley to the hospital telling her not to let anyone see them as she's meant to be a bitch and is ruining her reputation. and would have been happy to wait for her had Hayley not turned her away. There is brilliant camera work as Hayley emerges from the hospital. The camera pans downwards onto Hayley, emphasising her solitariness and isolation, often the feeling people speak of when they have just received devastating news.
Later, Carla calls Hayley into her office and is the embodiment of kindness. 'Whatever you need, whatever you want, just ask.' Carla points out that she and Hayley are not so different and reflecting on that statement, we can see the truth in it. They are both the strong ones, the ones on whom people depend. Hayley captures her husband's eccentric character, in the one sentence. 'Roy sees the world through a strange lens.' Hayley's diagnosis is bleak in that only one in five survive pancreatic cancer for five years post diagnosis. The hand holding at the end is tender and heartbreaking.
Naturally this puts all other characters' problems into perspective. That is not to say that they are not problems. Nick is certainly suffering and we know why. We remember David gleefully pouring water into the spirits and now the man from Trading Standards arrives. As Nick lists the problems of late we are reminded of David's vitriolic campaign. The flat, the police and now Trading Standards. It seems that the last person Nick would suspect is David, as he says of his brother that, 'He is the most honest bloke I know.' Does that quite ring true?
Deirdre scores full marks once again tonight. In the salon she derides her daughter once more. It's rather refreshing these days to hear parents criticise their offspring as so often it is the case that they will neither say nor hear any wrong against their precious darlings. Audrey too gets stuck in, and criticises her family and rightly so as her birthday do in The Rovers is a bit of a washout. Apart, that is, from the gift Deirdre brings, described by her tutor as a one-off. 'Oh now, look at that,' says a tactful Audrey, shortly before she packs in her birthday celebrations due to her tight-fisted family.
Deirdre tells Tracy just how it is, giving her daughter no leeway whatsoever. She reminds her she took Amy's money and also that her proposal of a business venture is entirely bad news, relying on desperate people. Audrey even goes as far as to say that she is preying on people's poverty, to which Tracy replies that she will be practically a charity. It's good to see the blossoming friendship too between Deirdre and Carla. With Ken out of the way, Derdre seems a more fully rounded character, a likeable one too.
What will happen between Sally and Tim? He's supposed to be leaving soon but his feelings for Sally are evident as are hers for him. Sally will be pleased that Kevin used a too large rawl plug which got him to her house, and what about that comment of his about Sally having a nice bed! She made it crystal clear that she's a single person as did he. Let the romance begin.
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