1.8 - The Advance

The door to the Rovers Return opens and in strides an angry Jason Grimshaw. The place is quiet enough - there has just been a funeral - but something tells the residents, who sit quietly in black talking in hushed voices, that this will not be a quiet occasion much longer.

Jason approaches the bar to which Shelley says, 'All right, Jason love? What can I get you?'

'Violet here is she?' Jason snaps.

'She's out back,' says Shelley. 'She'll be back in a minute. Shall I fetch her?'

'Yeah,' says Jason through gritted teeth. 'You do that.'

Alarmed, Shelley swivels and disappears. Moments later, she reappears with Violet in tow.

'You all right Violet?' Jason says loudly, and a couple of people turn to look. 'How you doing?'

Violet looks embarrassed. 'Jase... what are you...?'

'I only want to talk to you Violet, not take advantage of ye! You happy, I mean - good? Feeling great?'

'I'm all right ye-'

'Jason I think you might want to order a drink,' Shelley repeats. 'And try keeping your voice down?'

Todd is listening to the commotion from outside and choosing his moment.

'I'll have a pint please, then Shell.'

'Coming right up,' she says, narrowing her eyes.

'Anyone interesting in your life at the moment? Any men?'

'What's it to you?' says Violet, and she has started tapping her foot nervously, almost jigging on the spot.

'Just wondering. Word spreads, you know, small street.'

'Jason, what are you talking about?' Violet snaps, and now she's mad. Whatever he wants to say, he can say it.

At this point, Eileen and Sean have stood and are approaching Jason. 'Jason, come on,' says Eileen, who is as in the dark is Violet about what is going on.

'Answer my question,' repeats Jason, thanking a nervous Shelley as she passes him his drink.

'What are you going on about?'

'ANSWER THE QUESTION, VI!'

'WHAT ARE YOU GOING ON ABOUT?'

Jason spills some of his drink as he lifts it and slams it down on the bar. 'ANSWER THE FUC-'

'He's talking about me,' are the next words uttered, words that silence both Violet and Jason, as the door swings open and Todd Grimshaw steps into the pub. The next couple of events happen one after the other, but in quick succession. First, Violet looks over Jason's shoulder and her face falls - this is all she needs; second, Jason's head turns and fury mounts; and third, the pub turn in their droves. Some don't recognise the face, but others do - and its enough for a unanimous gasp.

Violet looks around - Todd is known in these parts?

'Todd,' she says, and Jason is standing opposite him now, they're face to face. 'Jason?' Violet adds.

Shelley's jaw has dropped as she has worked out the situation. 'Vi-'

'Will someone tell me what's going on?' Violet shouts. 'NOW?'

Ronnie is waiting at the bus stop. Calling a cab would have been far too risky - Steve could have picked up. The bus isn't due for ten minutes and she doesn't want Steve to bump into her before she leaves. In the McDonald house, Steve has grabbed his jacket and, while dialling Ronnie's mobile number, he leaves his flat. He's got to find Ronnie - he can't let her go! Out of his flat now, and into the big wide world...

Back at the Rovers, it's still silent. 'So are you going to tell her or am I, Todd?' Jason demands.

Todd opens his mouth to speak.

'THIS - Violet,' says Jason, putting his arm around Todd, 'is my brother.'

Violet looks mildly surprised. 'I had no idea.'

'Yeah - well.'

'But it wasn't my idea, I didn't know that, did I?'

'You're going to bet you did though, Vi...'

Violet's expression is now furious. 'Why? Because I don't want to go out with you? You cheated on me with Sarah Platt, Jason!'

'I'm not done telling you the -'

'JASON!' Violet shrieks. 'I've had enough of you, ruining everything for me... so what if Todd's your brother, he didn't know you and me USED to be together, we're over now, one hundred percent FINISHED, Jase, so it doesn't matter one bit...'

'I'll tell you what does ma -'

'You just can't stand the fact I'm with another man now, can you? You just can't bear it!'

People are whispering all around the pub. Everyone, seemingly, knows... everyone except Violet.

'Violet, love,' says Shelley, and she's pale. Very pale. 'Can I have a word...'

But Violet's not done. She holds up her hand. 'Come on Jason, admit it! You can't bear it to see me with another man. A real man...'

Jason snorts.

'Funny is it, Jason, because no one's laughing? Everyone knows what a prat you really are! Truth is, I'm more compatible with Todd than I ever was with you,' she spits, with more contempt than she knew she had in her.

'COMPATIBLE?' Jason roars. 'COMPATIBLE? YOU'RE MORE COMPATIBLE WITH HIM?'

'Yes, Jason!'

'If that's what you think, Vi, I feel sorry for you.'

'And why's that?' Violet snaps.

'Because he's GAY, Violet!' Jason fires back, and those who didn't know in the pub already gasped. Danny Baldwin, sitting next to Leanne, is just relieved the attention has shifted from him to someone else.

Violet laughs. 'What are you talking about?'

Then, the door opens and in bursts Steve. 'Has anyone seen - Ronnie?' he says, though his final word is much quieter as he notices the unusual stillness of the pub. 'Ronnie?' he adds meekly, before realising she isn't there. He lets himself out, and, in the Street again, notices Karen coming towards him.

'Hey, Steve,' she says. 'Going to surprise the Rovers with my return! Where you going?'

Steve notices a bus pull up by the bus stop and sees a suitcase... then he sees Ronnie and runs from Karen, who is now confused.

'RONNIE!' Steve roars, and Ronnie, hearing his voice, cries out in upset. He reaches her and for a moment, nothing is said.

Across the Street, a passing car knocks Karen out of her trance, and - slightly upset - she turns to enter the Rovers. The car that passed stops outside the Peacock house. It's Matt Ramsden.

The Rovers door opens again and Karen bursts in. Her explosive entrance fizzles out immediately, but when the factory girls see her, there is a huge upheaval. 'KAREN!' Fiz screams, to which the other factory girls squeal. Karen rushes forwards and gives them all a huge hug. Once finished, she says, 'why's it all so quiet? I know this is a wake but...'

Blanche, sitting at a table with Deirdre, Ken and Adam, nods ferociously at Todd, Violet, Eileen, Sean and Jason, as though to order her to let the excitement continue. Deirdre and Ken, uncaring about the unfolding debacle with Violet, are amazed Karen has come back. 'Well thank god Tracy's not here,' Ken whispers.

The factory girls, still excited, make room for Karen, who sits with them.

'You're ... gay?' Violet utters.

'I can explain,' Todd says, and this confirms it.

Violet lifts up the catch of the bar, strides out, and slaps Todd across the face - hard. 'You lying... cheating,' she starts, picking up Jason's drink and hurling it in Todd's direction, 'BASTARD!' she screams, and he's drenched.

Todd stands quite still, having accepted Violet's anger. He deserves it, or so he thinks.

'That's why you're not compatible, Vi,' says Jason, and he's slightly guilty now.

But Violet's gone. Through the gap, and out into the back. She didn't manage to hold the tears back before she left.

'Oh, Todd!' cries Eileen. 'What have you done?'

In the Street, Matt Ramsden is heading for the Peacock house. Having already made it clear to Claire his intentions, he feels it is necessary for him to take it one step further. He rings the doorbell, and his expression is oddly furious. It is like he is transfixed, driven with compelling determination to get what he wants...

At the bus stop, Steve is upset. 'Why did you leave... you can't leave, you're pregnant, Ronnie!'

'I have to go,' she replies, and she's close to tears.

'You can't do this to me! You can't leave with nothing but a positive pregnancy test to explain things...'

'I can't...'

'Ronnie!' Steve says, stopping her from getting on the bus. The people on the bus are looking at them, and the bus driver is growing impatient. 'You can't just go... not like this... we need to talk...'

'There's no room for me now,' Ronnie weeps.

'There's more than room for you... Ronnie, I really care about you, I want to be with you... stay, let us make this work... for us...'

'But...'

'At least stay and we'll talk about it, don't rush into this... please Ronnie... let me take your suitcase.'

He puts his hand on the suitcase and after deliberation, Ronnie lets go of it. He lifts it up and says, 'come on... let's go. Sorry mate,' he adds, to the bus driver, and the bus chugs off. 'We'll talk, okay...?'

Ronnie nods, though she's not sure she can cope with how things are panning out, and she follows Steve, tears streaming down her face.

Claire answers the Peacock door and her smiling face quickly fades. 'Matt!' she hisses. 'I told you not to come back here! Go, now!'

'I want to see Ashley.'

'Go, please!' pleads Claire, but it's too late.

'ASHLEY?' roars Matt, and Ashley, in the living room with his son and daughter, hears the noise. He picks up the newborn and stands, as Claire rushes in.

'He won't go away, Ashley,' she says, and she's slightly scared. Matt is in now, he's entered. Ashley's trembling with rage, and he passes Claire the baby. Then he pushes Matt so hard, he almost knocks him down, and they're out into the Street. Ashley punches Matt to the ground, and starts kicking him hard.

'STAY AWAY FROM MY FAMILY,' he roars. Fury... anger... emotion... spilling now...

Now he's kicking Matt in the head and only Claire can scream to stop him. 'ASHLEY, NO!' she shrieks, trying to shield her newborn from the sight, for what good it'll do. Ashley finally stops. A dazed Matt lays in a bloody mess on the floor, barely conscious.

'Ashley, oh my god! Call an ambulance!'

'No,' grunts Matt, bringing himself to his feet slowly, he faces Ashley and says, in a tone that can only be described as menacing, 'I've tried to be reasonable with you two, but you've left me no option. I'm going to get my son back, whatever it takes...'

Ashley leans in so he is inches from Matt. 'If you come here again,' he says in a deadly whisper, 'I will kill you, Matt. I'll bloody kill you.'

And as Ashley realises what he is saying is very true, his eyes water. Matt turns, unfazed and walks away. Walks to his car, and gets in. He opens the glove compartment, which contains a revolver. He looks at it, then at Ashley, then closes the draw. 'You've left me no option,' he repeats. The engine starts, and Matt Ramsden drives off...

... leaving a sense of foreboding lingering awkwardly in the air.