Created & Finished 28th September 2004

Pearl (Meg Johnson) is desperate to flee the village, but Len (Peter Martin) is adamant that he won’t be driven out of his own home.

Meanwhile Viv (Deena Payne) plans a protest meeting outside Pearl’s house, leaving her distraught that her worst nightmare has come true.

Still brimming with righteous indignation over the news that Pearl’s son is coming to live in the village Viv takes great pleasure in advertising the lurid Hotten Courier headline about his release.

Pearl tells Len that their only option is to leave the village. Refusing to be driven out Len heads for the shop to buy milk where he finds not only Viv but Emily and Louise also opposed to Frank’s arrival.

Edna (Shirley Stelfox) insists Pearl should hold her head up high and convinces her and Len to go to the Woolpack to face the music.

How will they be received by the locals?

Later in the Woolpack the villagers discuss how they can prevent Frank’s arrival. Aware that the issue could be useful to him politically Eric suggests a petition.

As the villagers line up to sign the petition Ashley is appalled and tells them that Frank deserves a second chance. When Ethan joins him things turn ugly, as the regulars demand to know why he’s not signing the petition. As Ashley and Ethan leave Ashley tells Eric that he knows exactly what he’s up to.

Meanwhile when Len and Pearl go to the Woolpack Louise tells them they are not welcome in there.

After Pearl rushes out Edna tells the villagers Frank has paid for his sin and asks them whether they’ve paid for theirs?

Elsewhere, Lisa pops round to see Alan and tells Steph that she’d like to take him out to get some fresh air. Steph turns her away, telling her that Alan is still not up to visitors. When Alan tells her that he could have done with the company because he’s starting to feel lonely Steph gives him a bottle of wine and says that it will keep him company.

Later in the Woolpack Steph later turns on the self-pity and deviously suggests to an enthralled Viv that Turner’s (Richard Thorp) mental state seems unstable.

Steph adds to it by asking Viv to ask Emily not to bring Alan round any puzzle books because he wouldn’t be up to them because his mentally ability is not what it was!

Over at the pub Zak and Shadrach are delighted when Bob comes up with the idea of a darts match. The only snag for Shadrach is that no one in his family wants him on the team.

The Dingles are delighted to find out that there is a cash prize for the winners of the darts competition and quickly set about putting together a team. They initially refuse to let Shadrach (Andy Devine) join in.

When the Dingles gather to practise Shadrach disappears and returns with a tin containing his magic darts. Shadrach scores 180. Everyone is impressed but Zak still refuses to let him join the team.

Back in the Woolpack Louise asks Terry to play but he says he’s not interested. Viv tells Louise that he is afraid of failure because he used to be a great darts player.