River City - 15/09/2009

Scarlett’s worst fears are confirmed when Michael refuses to let her leave his flat – he has realised she knows he is the attacker. Scarlett tries her best to pretend she has no idea what he’s talking about and tries to make a break for freedom but Michael is too strong for her. Michael tells Scarlett to sit still as he tries to figure out what to do - as she listens to him talk it’s clear that he’s seriously disturbed. Meanwhile, suspecting that Scarlett is having an affair with Michael, an annoyed Jimmy tries hacking into her computer. When he finds an essay she’s written he realises he has nothing to worry about – the essay is all about how much she loves him! Back at Michael’s, Scarlett tries to hide how scared she is as she listens to Michael talk about his childhood and, in particular, how he felt about his mother. Things take a sinister turn when Michael suggests showing Scarlett some more books that he keeps downstairs – in the basement! Racking her brains, trying to think of the best course of action to get her out, Scarlett decides to pretend she is in love with Michael and he begins to believe that she really does want the best for him. Just as it looks like she has managed to persuade him to turn himself in, Gina calls. Michael insists Scarlett answers and the moment is broken. Much to Gina’s annoyance, Scarlett gives her friend very short answers when she questions why she didn’t pick up Madonna. When Gina mentions to Scarlett that the suspect in custody turned out not to be the attacker, Scarlett tries to highlight that she is in trouble by indicating that she already knows this. But Gina doesn’t pick up on this signal and hangs up feeling angry at the apparent uncaring behaviour from Scarlett. It’s not long, however, before the significance of Scarlett’s words dawn on Gina and she immediately alerts Jimmy and the police. Jimmy, Bob and Deek race round to Michael’s flat and not a moment too soon – Michael has been trying to strangle Scarlett. They rush down into the basement and manage to fight off Michael and while Deek pins him to the floor, Jimmy and Bob rush to Scarlett. A powerless Michael can only watch on as Scarlett and Jimmy hold each other and the sound of sirens approach - the attacker has finally been caught. A stunned Nicki watches as Bob packs up his belongings, insisting that they are both moving out of Deek’s flat. Nicki is concerned about the two best friends falling out because of her but Bob makes it clear that he thinks it is Deek who is out of line. Bob suggests he and Nicki move into his Mum’s but Nicki isn’t so sure and, when she sees his old bedroom complete with single bed and decked out in Star Wars, she can barely hold back her tears. Meanwhile, Deek finds Bob’s Celtic shirt and throws it in the bin. Deek soon feels bad about throwing out the top and heads round to give it back and hopefully make the peace. But Bob is still angry and isn’t in the mood to make up, this riles Deek and another argument ensues. Their fight is interrupted when a panicked Gina arrives looking for Jimmy and tells them she thinks Scarlett is in danger. The two friends immediately forget their differences as they rush off to help Scarlett. Hayley is in a rotten mood caused by concern for her younger brother being bullied by her dad. In an attempt to cheer Hayley up, Robbie latches onto the fact that Gina rejects a date with Jack and begins a day of teasing and tormenting him. Hayley gets right into the swing of things, loving the fact that the more they tease Jack, the more annoyed and paranoid he gets. However, things don’t end well when Jack snaps thinking Hayley tripped him up on purpose. He sacks Hayley on the spot and while Hayley gives Jack as good as she gets, her fury masks her genuine upset.