Minnie is upset that Handel has had to return to Whaley Bridge to look after a sick cousin. Billy tells Irma how he's kidding on that she is pregnant. Annie's taken to her bed, supposedly ill, but invites Irma and Stan to tea to sort things out. Elsie leaves for work, telling Alan that she wants things sorted out once and for all with Mark when she returns home. Mark tries to apologise to Alan and asks for another chance. Alan tells Mark that there's no way he could ever return to his mother and makes him leave. Betty tells Billy that he's going too far in winding up his mother. Val asks Ray to fix a dripping tap. Joe Donelli returns to the area after being demobbed from the US army. He asks Irma if she knows of any digs and she sends him Minnie's way. Ena disapproves, thinking Minnie is man-mad. Irma tells Stan that Annie has summoned him. Mark packs and walks out without a word to Elsie. Ray brings round some fish and chips for Val, only to find Ena and Minnie having tea with her. Ena is suspicious of his intentions. Elsie is delighted to see Joe and introduces him to Alan. Stan thinks Annie sees him as a successor to Jack behind the bar. Irma grows alarmed that they're going too far. Ena gives Val unwelcome warnings about Ray. Billy tells Irma that he's convinced his mother that she was jumping to conclusions, but she's still refusing to get out of bed. Stan dresses up for tea and Irma has to tell him that it's cancelled. Ray plays with the twins. Val asks him if he's heard any gossip about the two of them. A disappointed Stan gets drunk. Ena asks Emily to keep Val company, telling her of her suspicions of Ray. Elsie makes fun of Ray's interest in Val. Joe invites Irma out for a meal in Manchester. Emily calls on Val as instructed. She tells her to leave; if she wants Ray around, he shall be around. (thetvdb.com)