1.11a - World Gone Wrong
We return to Coronation Street, and Todd can barely believe his eyes.
'Hello, Todd,' says Karl, and Todd knows his tone. It's calm and almost jokey to listen to, but deep down Karl is agitated and upset.
'Why are you - where did you?'
'I was always going to find you, Todd,' says Karl. 'Are you going to invite me in?'
Todd reluctantly lets Karl in. Jason had long scarpered from the scene. Regaining composure, Todd follows Karl into the lounge, where Karl sits. 'It's been a while since I were here,' says Karl, and Todd ignores him, walking into the kitchen.
Knowing what makes Todd tick, Karl smiles as he stares at the wall, saying, '"my mate with the beautiful eyes", do you remember that?'
Todd, who is in the kitchen pretending to do something, stops in his tracks, and then realises Karl has managed to make him think again. Determined, he carries on.
'I didn't think I'd see you again after that day, Todd, but I did - and when you came and found me I thought you'd be back for good.'
Having had enough, Todd decides to retaliate. 'You know what happened,' he snaps. 'You know why I couldn't stay.'
'Because you thought you had feelings for Jenny,' Karl says, stressing the irony in the sound of the female name. 'I thought you'd realised you were gay, Todd... you had boyfriends, you told me that.'
'I know - I did, I know that!' Todd splutters.
'So what's the problem?' Karl persists, turning round this time to face Todd, before impulsively standing up and coming to stand by him. 'Why'd you leave?' he says, gently pushing Todd's head up so they face each other.
Their eyes met.
'They're still beautiful, Todd...' Karl whispers.
In the Rovers, Karen is staring at Steve, wide-eyed and angry. 'Pregnant? Are you joking?'
'No!' Steve replies fretfully, returning the glare.
'So that's the third woman you've impregnated,' points out Karen, trying to keep her voice down.
'I - know,' Steve hisses.
'How could you be so stupid?' Karen says, louder this time. 'Flippin' hell, Steve,' she adds, biting her nails. 'Amy Barlow was enough, more than enough... what about me – my…'
'Well worry about yourself, why don't you?'
'I'm worrying about our baby, Steve.'
'I'm worrying about everything,' he fires back. 'Five minutes I only had one child, now you and Ronnie ... at the same time, Jesus...'
'There's only one thing you can do...'
'What? If you're talking abortion, just you try it,' says Steve. 'I did and she almost killed me.'
'You want me to try it?'
Steve snorts. 'I'd like to see you try. You don’t know Ronnie.’
'All right,' says Karen, standing up. Steve's eyes widen as he realises she's serious. Karen's halfway out of the Rovers before Steve leaps up and rushes after her.
Karen strides through the Street.
‘KAREN,’ Steve shouts in disbelief. ‘I wasn’t being serious!’
‘I’ve fried bigger fish than her,’ Karen replies, as they reach Steve’s flat door. ‘Now let me in.’
Steve goes to worm his way out of it, but reconsiders, opting for a, ‘no.’
Amused at his pathetic attempt at authority, Karen smiles, then the smile wipes from her face and she lowers her tone. ‘Let me in. Now.’
‘She’ll leave me, Karen!’
‘Maybe that’s what you need…’
‘No!’ he shouts. ‘If you’re trying to split us up…’
‘I’m not, Steve, babe,’ says Karen. ‘I just want things to be right for me, you and Oscar. Now open it.'
Defeated by Karen’s persistence, Steve puts his key in the door.
Back at the Grimshaw house, Todd and Karl are talking. ‘When we said goodbye the first time, that was okay,’ said Karl. ‘Even though I thought about you every day, I knew it was a mutual thing. When you came back, when you found me, I was happy Todd, really happy. And I was surprised. I thought we’d be together, properly. Y'know, for real. Even when you told me you didn’t love me, that you had a girlfriend, I was still okay, because you were there… and then when you kissed me again... last week, out of nowhere, I didn’t know what to think. I was going to ask you, you know, the day after you were at my flat.’
‘But I left,’ Todd says, finishing the sentence. ‘I know.’
‘You didn’t say goodbye, you didn’t tell me where you were going. I was devastated, Todd… really devastated.’
‘How did you find me?’
‘That doesn’t matter. What I want to know is this: were you really going to leave without saying goodbye?'
‘I don’t know…’ says Todd.
‘What’s wrong, Todd? Why are you so afraid of being with me?’
‘I don’t know…’ Todd repeats.
‘Is it that you think I don’t love you? That I don’t care? That I’ll leave you? ‘Cause I won’t. You’re the one running away, Todd… or is it that you don’t love me?’
Todd screws up his face like he is finding this all difficult to hear. ‘It’s not that…’
‘What then? You don’t want to be with me? What is it, Todd, tell me?’
‘I guess… I guess I’m just worried you think I’m not good enough for you.’
‘Don’t be daft.’
‘It’s true.’
‘You’re more than good enough for me, Todd.’
Todd’s kiss comes without warning. Karl kisses him back, albeit slightly confused, and then Todd pulls him into a bone crunching hug. ‘I’m sorry!’ he says.
‘It’s all right,’ says Karl, smiling in surprise. ‘It’s all right, mate!’
In the darkened Street, Matt Ramsden sits in his car, and dials a number on his mobile phone. His eyes flash with malice.
The phone rings at the Peacock’s as Claire, Ashley, Josh and Ellie eat.
‘I’ll get it,’ says Claire, standing up. At that moment, Ellie lets out a squeal and starts crying. ‘Ohh,’ Claire says sadly, picking up Ellie and cradling her in her arms.
‘I’ll do it then,’ says Ashley, climbing up and retrieving the handset. ‘Hello?’
‘It’s Matt.’
‘I told you not to come anywhere near us again,’ Ashley hisses. Claire looks up, and stops rocking Ellie. She closes her eyes.
‘Meet me in the Rovers for five minutes and I’ll never bother you again. I swear. I’m not going to try and take Josh, I just need to say something to you. Then I’ll leave you alone, you’ll never see me again, okay?’
Ashley roars, ‘I’ve said NO, Matt, so piss off and leave my family in peace!’
Claire winces at Ashley’s swearing.
‘All I want to do is give you something of Maxine’s… that’s all, I realised today you are a better parent to Josh than I could ever be. It’s not about Josh…’
The sound of his ex-wife's name softens Ashley.
‘Fine!’ Ashley replies, still furiously, but the real passion gone. ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’
The line goes dead and Ashley slams down the receiver.
‘Who was that?’ asks Claire, though she already knows.
‘Matt Ramsden,’ Ashley spits with contempt.
‘And what does he want?’
‘He wants to meet me, doesn’t he? He says it’s the last time he’ll bother.’
‘And you’re going to go?’
‘YES,’ says Ashley, picking up his coat. ‘I’ll be back soon.’
He opens the front door and steps out into the biting cold and the wind, storming in the direction of the Rovers. Matt spots him from his car, shadowed in the dim lamplight. He waits, and then, minutes later, watches Ashley enter.
Retrieving the gun, he steps out of the car. He slides the gun into the back pocket and stares at the Rovers, buzzing with energy. Then his eyes turn, and he faces in the direction of the end of the street.
And he begins to head toward the Peacock house…
Jamie Baldwin receives a call on his mobile. It’s not one from his phone book. Perturbed, he picks up. ‘Hello?’
‘Hi there, it’s Helen Peters from the Gazette.’
‘It’s like eleven pm,’ Jamie says.
‘Working late,’ she replies. ‘I hear you’ve got a story for us.’
‘Well, yes, I do,’ says Jamie, grinning.
'Go on...'
‘Danny Baldwin, my Dad, is giving the contents of my grandfather’s will to charity. And Mike was worth a hell of a lot!’
‘Why?’ asks Helen.
‘He’s so selfless,’ continues Jamie. ‘I keep telling him it’s not what Mike would have wanted, but he’s adamant.’
‘And which charity is he giving it to?’
‘The Alzheimer’s Trust.’
‘And how much would you say he is donating to charity?’
‘I’m not sure, but put it this way – Mike had villas in Spain, London apartments – he was rich.’
‘We’ll send someone round in the morning for an interview.’
‘Okay!’
‘All right, thanks, bye now.’
‘Bye,’ says Jamie. Once the call was finished, he stared up at the sky. He knew he was about to ruin his father forever. But he really believed Danny deserved it. He had conned Mike out of everything, and Jamie was suspicious of the will – he was sure Danny had something to do with Adam and he receiving so little.
Yes, he thought. Danny deserved it.
He found the second pre-entered number on his mobile, and dialled. ‘Hello?’
‘Hi,’ says Jamie. ‘Is this The Sun’s office?’
‘It is indeed.’
‘I’ve got a shocking story for you.’
‘You’ll have to call back during –‘
‘This man,' Jamie cuts over the woman, 'has told the local papers he’s donating hundreds of thousands to charity and it’s all a big fat lie.’
There was a pause. The woman’s voice muffled. ‘Give me a minute, Doug,’ she says to someone else. Then her voice is clearer. ‘Tell me more…’
Steve opens his flat with caution, and Karen strides in. ‘Karen…’ he starts.
‘Where are ye?’ Karen says, before discovering Ronnie in the bedroom.
‘Do you mind? I’m trying to get changed here!’ Ronnie cries indignantly.
‘You’re carryin’ Steve’s baby right?’ Karen asks.
‘Yes,’ Ronnie says quietly, instantly upset at the news spreading.
‘Yeah well guess what? He’s already got two kids, he doesn’t need another!’
Steve put his head in his hands.
‘I never asked for this…!’ Ronnie cries. ‘Do you think I wanted this?’
‘Karen,’ Steve says, ‘you’re upsetting her. I told you this was a bad idea, you flippin’ idiot!’
Karen stares back at Steve angrily, and Ronnie speaks. ‘So that baby of hers is yours too, is it? Maybe she’s right, maybe I shouldn’t keep this baby.’
Ronnie stands up, picking up the bag she’d packed earlier.
‘You can’t do this! I won’t let you run away again,’ Steve says.
‘Steve, let her go!’ Karen says in a falsely sympathetic voice. Ronnie passes Karen and Steve and leaves the flat almost instantly after donning a coat and shoes. Steve stares at the blank space in front of him, shocked. Karen touches his cheek.
‘Come on baby,’ Karen says. ‘Don’t be sad.’
Steve looks up blankly at her, before bursting out. ‘Don’t be sad?’ he roars. ‘You’ve ruined everything for me, Karen! And you don’t want me to be sad? Well it’s a bit too late for that! Get out of here, go on!’
‘Steve!’ Karen cries, shocked.
‘Get out!’ he shouts, lifting and dragging Karen under the arms. ‘And don’t come back! I don’t want to see you – or that baby – ever again!’
He slams the door and Karen bangs on it. ‘STEVE!’ she shouts, over the bangs. ‘STEVE!’
Todd and Karl sit in the Grimshaw sitting room, Todd resting on Karl’s shoulder. ‘I never meant to leave you, you know.’
‘Sure you didn’t,’ says Karl, smiling.
‘I didn’t.’
‘Okay.’
‘’K.’
‘Are you going back then?’
‘Back where…?’
‘To Uni.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I’m not sure I could cope with losing you again, Todd… and if you go back to Uni we’ll drift apart.’
‘Then I won’t go back,’ says Todd, as though this settled the matter.
‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously.’
‘But it’s your… your education… your life…’
‘This is life,’ says Todd, moving into a position where he faced Karl head on. ‘This life is more important than a degree. Me being happy. I don’t need to graduate to be happy, Karl.’
He kisses him, smiles, and goes back to his previous position. ‘I’m happy enough as I am.’
The door rings.
Todd looks up. ‘I’ll get it,’ he says.
Karl replies, ‘Nah, let me,’ before standing up and making for the door. Todd sits up straight and checks the time. Half eleven.
Moments later, Karl re-enters. ‘Todd, someone here to see you…’
Todd turns around. Standing by a grimacing Karl’s side is Jenny, the girl he messed around, the girl he hurt, the girl he destroyed. She stares down at him, and just the sight of him causes tears to brim in her eyes...
In the Rovers, Ashley waits at a table. He checks his watch. Matt Ramsden had arranged a meeting and not showed up. He wonders where he is, and as he does so, his anger steadily rises…
… while in the dark of the street, the man himself reaches the Peacock door. He rings the doorbell and immediately hides away from view. Moments later, the door opens, and Claire stares out into the darkness. Then, Matt sidesteps into view, arms outstretched. This time, Claire doesn’t shut the door.
Because she’s staring into the barrel of a loaded gun.
'Hello, Todd,' says Karl, and Todd knows his tone. It's calm and almost jokey to listen to, but deep down Karl is agitated and upset.
'Why are you - where did you?'
'I was always going to find you, Todd,' says Karl. 'Are you going to invite me in?'
Todd reluctantly lets Karl in. Jason had long scarpered from the scene. Regaining composure, Todd follows Karl into the lounge, where Karl sits. 'It's been a while since I were here,' says Karl, and Todd ignores him, walking into the kitchen.
Knowing what makes Todd tick, Karl smiles as he stares at the wall, saying, '"my mate with the beautiful eyes", do you remember that?'
Todd, who is in the kitchen pretending to do something, stops in his tracks, and then realises Karl has managed to make him think again. Determined, he carries on.
'I didn't think I'd see you again after that day, Todd, but I did - and when you came and found me I thought you'd be back for good.'
Having had enough, Todd decides to retaliate. 'You know what happened,' he snaps. 'You know why I couldn't stay.'
'Because you thought you had feelings for Jenny,' Karl says, stressing the irony in the sound of the female name. 'I thought you'd realised you were gay, Todd... you had boyfriends, you told me that.'
'I know - I did, I know that!' Todd splutters.
'So what's the problem?' Karl persists, turning round this time to face Todd, before impulsively standing up and coming to stand by him. 'Why'd you leave?' he says, gently pushing Todd's head up so they face each other.
Their eyes met.
'They're still beautiful, Todd...' Karl whispers.
In the Rovers, Karen is staring at Steve, wide-eyed and angry. 'Pregnant? Are you joking?'
'No!' Steve replies fretfully, returning the glare.
'So that's the third woman you've impregnated,' points out Karen, trying to keep her voice down.
'I - know,' Steve hisses.
'How could you be so stupid?' Karen says, louder this time. 'Flippin' hell, Steve,' she adds, biting her nails. 'Amy Barlow was enough, more than enough... what about me – my…'
'Well worry about yourself, why don't you?'
'I'm worrying about our baby, Steve.'
'I'm worrying about everything,' he fires back. 'Five minutes I only had one child, now you and Ronnie ... at the same time, Jesus...'
'There's only one thing you can do...'
'What? If you're talking abortion, just you try it,' says Steve. 'I did and she almost killed me.'
'You want me to try it?'
Steve snorts. 'I'd like to see you try. You don’t know Ronnie.’
'All right,' says Karen, standing up. Steve's eyes widen as he realises she's serious. Karen's halfway out of the Rovers before Steve leaps up and rushes after her.
Karen strides through the Street.
‘KAREN,’ Steve shouts in disbelief. ‘I wasn’t being serious!’
‘I’ve fried bigger fish than her,’ Karen replies, as they reach Steve’s flat door. ‘Now let me in.’
Steve goes to worm his way out of it, but reconsiders, opting for a, ‘no.’
Amused at his pathetic attempt at authority, Karen smiles, then the smile wipes from her face and she lowers her tone. ‘Let me in. Now.’
‘She’ll leave me, Karen!’
‘Maybe that’s what you need…’
‘No!’ he shouts. ‘If you’re trying to split us up…’
‘I’m not, Steve, babe,’ says Karen. ‘I just want things to be right for me, you and Oscar. Now open it.'
Defeated by Karen’s persistence, Steve puts his key in the door.
Back at the Grimshaw house, Todd and Karl are talking. ‘When we said goodbye the first time, that was okay,’ said Karl. ‘Even though I thought about you every day, I knew it was a mutual thing. When you came back, when you found me, I was happy Todd, really happy. And I was surprised. I thought we’d be together, properly. Y'know, for real. Even when you told me you didn’t love me, that you had a girlfriend, I was still okay, because you were there… and then when you kissed me again... last week, out of nowhere, I didn’t know what to think. I was going to ask you, you know, the day after you were at my flat.’
‘But I left,’ Todd says, finishing the sentence. ‘I know.’
‘You didn’t say goodbye, you didn’t tell me where you were going. I was devastated, Todd… really devastated.’
‘How did you find me?’
‘That doesn’t matter. What I want to know is this: were you really going to leave without saying goodbye?'
‘I don’t know…’ says Todd.
‘What’s wrong, Todd? Why are you so afraid of being with me?’
‘I don’t know…’ Todd repeats.
‘Is it that you think I don’t love you? That I don’t care? That I’ll leave you? ‘Cause I won’t. You’re the one running away, Todd… or is it that you don’t love me?’
Todd screws up his face like he is finding this all difficult to hear. ‘It’s not that…’
‘What then? You don’t want to be with me? What is it, Todd, tell me?’
‘I guess… I guess I’m just worried you think I’m not good enough for you.’
‘Don’t be daft.’
‘It’s true.’
‘You’re more than good enough for me, Todd.’
Todd’s kiss comes without warning. Karl kisses him back, albeit slightly confused, and then Todd pulls him into a bone crunching hug. ‘I’m sorry!’ he says.
‘It’s all right,’ says Karl, smiling in surprise. ‘It’s all right, mate!’
In the darkened Street, Matt Ramsden sits in his car, and dials a number on his mobile phone. His eyes flash with malice.
The phone rings at the Peacock’s as Claire, Ashley, Josh and Ellie eat.
‘I’ll get it,’ says Claire, standing up. At that moment, Ellie lets out a squeal and starts crying. ‘Ohh,’ Claire says sadly, picking up Ellie and cradling her in her arms.
‘I’ll do it then,’ says Ashley, climbing up and retrieving the handset. ‘Hello?’
‘It’s Matt.’
‘I told you not to come anywhere near us again,’ Ashley hisses. Claire looks up, and stops rocking Ellie. She closes her eyes.
‘Meet me in the Rovers for five minutes and I’ll never bother you again. I swear. I’m not going to try and take Josh, I just need to say something to you. Then I’ll leave you alone, you’ll never see me again, okay?’
Ashley roars, ‘I’ve said NO, Matt, so piss off and leave my family in peace!’
Claire winces at Ashley’s swearing.
‘All I want to do is give you something of Maxine’s… that’s all, I realised today you are a better parent to Josh than I could ever be. It’s not about Josh…’
The sound of his ex-wife's name softens Ashley.
‘Fine!’ Ashley replies, still furiously, but the real passion gone. ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’
The line goes dead and Ashley slams down the receiver.
‘Who was that?’ asks Claire, though she already knows.
‘Matt Ramsden,’ Ashley spits with contempt.
‘And what does he want?’
‘He wants to meet me, doesn’t he? He says it’s the last time he’ll bother.’
‘And you’re going to go?’
‘YES,’ says Ashley, picking up his coat. ‘I’ll be back soon.’
He opens the front door and steps out into the biting cold and the wind, storming in the direction of the Rovers. Matt spots him from his car, shadowed in the dim lamplight. He waits, and then, minutes later, watches Ashley enter.
Retrieving the gun, he steps out of the car. He slides the gun into the back pocket and stares at the Rovers, buzzing with energy. Then his eyes turn, and he faces in the direction of the end of the street.
And he begins to head toward the Peacock house…
Jamie Baldwin receives a call on his mobile. It’s not one from his phone book. Perturbed, he picks up. ‘Hello?’
‘Hi there, it’s Helen Peters from the Gazette.’
‘It’s like eleven pm,’ Jamie says.
‘Working late,’ she replies. ‘I hear you’ve got a story for us.’
‘Well, yes, I do,’ says Jamie, grinning.
'Go on...'
‘Danny Baldwin, my Dad, is giving the contents of my grandfather’s will to charity. And Mike was worth a hell of a lot!’
‘Why?’ asks Helen.
‘He’s so selfless,’ continues Jamie. ‘I keep telling him it’s not what Mike would have wanted, but he’s adamant.’
‘And which charity is he giving it to?’
‘The Alzheimer’s Trust.’
‘And how much would you say he is donating to charity?’
‘I’m not sure, but put it this way – Mike had villas in Spain, London apartments – he was rich.’
‘We’ll send someone round in the morning for an interview.’
‘Okay!’
‘All right, thanks, bye now.’
‘Bye,’ says Jamie. Once the call was finished, he stared up at the sky. He knew he was about to ruin his father forever. But he really believed Danny deserved it. He had conned Mike out of everything, and Jamie was suspicious of the will – he was sure Danny had something to do with Adam and he receiving so little.
Yes, he thought. Danny deserved it.
He found the second pre-entered number on his mobile, and dialled. ‘Hello?’
‘Hi,’ says Jamie. ‘Is this The Sun’s office?’
‘It is indeed.’
‘I’ve got a shocking story for you.’
‘You’ll have to call back during –‘
‘This man,' Jamie cuts over the woman, 'has told the local papers he’s donating hundreds of thousands to charity and it’s all a big fat lie.’
There was a pause. The woman’s voice muffled. ‘Give me a minute, Doug,’ she says to someone else. Then her voice is clearer. ‘Tell me more…’
Steve opens his flat with caution, and Karen strides in. ‘Karen…’ he starts.
‘Where are ye?’ Karen says, before discovering Ronnie in the bedroom.
‘Do you mind? I’m trying to get changed here!’ Ronnie cries indignantly.
‘You’re carryin’ Steve’s baby right?’ Karen asks.
‘Yes,’ Ronnie says quietly, instantly upset at the news spreading.
‘Yeah well guess what? He’s already got two kids, he doesn’t need another!’
Steve put his head in his hands.
‘I never asked for this…!’ Ronnie cries. ‘Do you think I wanted this?’
‘Karen,’ Steve says, ‘you’re upsetting her. I told you this was a bad idea, you flippin’ idiot!’
Karen stares back at Steve angrily, and Ronnie speaks. ‘So that baby of hers is yours too, is it? Maybe she’s right, maybe I shouldn’t keep this baby.’
Ronnie stands up, picking up the bag she’d packed earlier.
‘You can’t do this! I won’t let you run away again,’ Steve says.
‘Steve, let her go!’ Karen says in a falsely sympathetic voice. Ronnie passes Karen and Steve and leaves the flat almost instantly after donning a coat and shoes. Steve stares at the blank space in front of him, shocked. Karen touches his cheek.
‘Come on baby,’ Karen says. ‘Don’t be sad.’
Steve looks up blankly at her, before bursting out. ‘Don’t be sad?’ he roars. ‘You’ve ruined everything for me, Karen! And you don’t want me to be sad? Well it’s a bit too late for that! Get out of here, go on!’
‘Steve!’ Karen cries, shocked.
‘Get out!’ he shouts, lifting and dragging Karen under the arms. ‘And don’t come back! I don’t want to see you – or that baby – ever again!’
He slams the door and Karen bangs on it. ‘STEVE!’ she shouts, over the bangs. ‘STEVE!’
Todd and Karl sit in the Grimshaw sitting room, Todd resting on Karl’s shoulder. ‘I never meant to leave you, you know.’
‘Sure you didn’t,’ says Karl, smiling.
‘I didn’t.’
‘Okay.’
‘’K.’
‘Are you going back then?’
‘Back where…?’
‘To Uni.’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I’m not sure I could cope with losing you again, Todd… and if you go back to Uni we’ll drift apart.’
‘Then I won’t go back,’ says Todd, as though this settled the matter.
‘Seriously?’
‘Seriously.’
‘But it’s your… your education… your life…’
‘This is life,’ says Todd, moving into a position where he faced Karl head on. ‘This life is more important than a degree. Me being happy. I don’t need to graduate to be happy, Karl.’
He kisses him, smiles, and goes back to his previous position. ‘I’m happy enough as I am.’
The door rings.
Todd looks up. ‘I’ll get it,’ he says.
Karl replies, ‘Nah, let me,’ before standing up and making for the door. Todd sits up straight and checks the time. Half eleven.
Moments later, Karl re-enters. ‘Todd, someone here to see you…’
Todd turns around. Standing by a grimacing Karl’s side is Jenny, the girl he messed around, the girl he hurt, the girl he destroyed. She stares down at him, and just the sight of him causes tears to brim in her eyes...
In the Rovers, Ashley waits at a table. He checks his watch. Matt Ramsden had arranged a meeting and not showed up. He wonders where he is, and as he does so, his anger steadily rises…
… while in the dark of the street, the man himself reaches the Peacock door. He rings the doorbell and immediately hides away from view. Moments later, the door opens, and Claire stares out into the darkness. Then, Matt sidesteps into view, arms outstretched. This time, Claire doesn’t shut the door.
Because she’s staring into the barrel of a loaded gun.
