Mon, Mar 2, 1970
Jack tries to hide leaflets about the Better Homes exhibition from Annie to stop her getting ideas. Mickie Malone calls on Stan to try and buy his songs. He wants to see the written scores. Annie moves the furniture in the back room around, much to Jack's annoyance. Hilda and Betty "assist" her and bicker constantly. Alan shouts at Elsie when she behaves in a way that reminds him of his wife. He apologises and she tells him that she understands. He tells Elsie he has a surprise for her - she thinks it's a new house. Elsie surprises the womenfolk when she tells them she'd be happy to live with Alan and not marry him. Mickie waits in the Rovers for Stan who arrives with the scores. Stan gets upset when Hilda takes to Mickie when he sings the love song to her. Mickie thinks they're in with a chance with the song "Dreaming Time". Maggie realises that Len is jealous of Alan and Elsie. Alan shows a delighted Elsie her new detached house on a posh estate in Bramhall.
Wed, Mar 4, 1970
Elsie hangs round the Bramhall estate to carry on dreaming about her house. She remains coy with the womenfolk when she gets back to Weatherfield. Bernard plays "Dreaming Time" for Stan on his mouth organ. Annie, Betty and Hilda go to the "Better Homes" exhibition. The residents gossip about Elsie moving to Bramhall and rib her about wedding dresses. Music man Stan takes to wearing a cravat and smoking his cigarettes through a holder. Hilda returns from the exhibition with an inflatable chair. Alan is shocked when Elsie talks about marriage and tells her that he doesn't want to marry her, just to live with her. She is livid. He offers her half the house as security but she is still afraid of what would happen if things went wrong. Alan demands a yes or no answer from her but she stays silent and walks out of the house. Mickie Malone tells Stan his agent thinks he's got talent as a songwriter and wants another song to buy. Elsie avoids Alan, moping in the Rovers. She tells Val about Alan's offer and that she doesn't know if she loves him anymore. Alan asks Len to intervene but he refuses. Alan rings Elsie in the pub and tells her that he's coming in for one drink and if she hasn't come over to talk to him by the time he's finished it, he's walking out of her life. Elsie tells Val that Alan should have asked her to marry him. She sits and waits as he finishes his drink as the residents watch on. Alan walks out of the pub alone.
Mon, Mar 9, 1970
Stan tells Ena no one was interested in her song and asks her for another. Alan writes to his staff putting the salon up for sale and giving them first refusal. Stan tries writing lyrics of his own. Mickie Malone pushes him to come up with another song. Hilda finds out that he's received an advance for the songs. A football bus starts in the Street. Football yobs, including Spider Smart and Nobby Jones, descend on the Street, insulting Annie in the pub. Jack is pleased at the extra custom but Annie is livid. Emily asks for a cloth to clean the graffiti on the walls that the yobs have left behind. When Annie finds out what they've written, she writes a letter to the transport authorities demanding the removal of the bus. Ken thinks of buying the salon for £30 a week for Val to run. Mickie is annoyed with Stan for not having another song ready and threatens him with the police for misrepresentation if he doesn't have a song for the agent when he comes tomorrow. The men refuse to sign Annie's petition against the bus. Ken gives Stan some lyrics he's written but he can't write music so he sings it for them. They aren't impressed and Ken isn't pleased. Stan asks Ena for another song and plies her with drinks. Annie gets the women to deny their husbands all services until they sign.
Wed, Mar 11, 1970
Annie tells Jack the terms of their "Lysistrata" campaign and he is unable to get a cleaned and ironed shirt, a cup of tea or even the phone answered. Likewise Stan can't get his breakfast made. Mickie Malone chases up Stan up for the promised song, threatening legal action. Dickie can't get a morning goodbye kiss from Audrey. Albert finds the campaign amusing until Val gives him his washing and darning back. Ena gives Stan a song score which Mickie likes. Ken tells the menfolk who Lysistrata was and predicts it will all blow over by tomorrow, making a bet of a round of drinks that he will be proven right. The next day, he has to buy the round which Annie takes pleasure in serving. Cyril tells the menfolk they must present a united front and knock down the women's defences one by one. The women hold a meeting to discuss tactics in the salon in which they agree to withhold sexual favours. Stan receives money for the song. Ena hears Len whistling her tune which he tells her he heard at the Robin Hood. Ken starts to think the business life may have its appeal after all. Jack isn't bothered by Annie's announcement that she will sleep in the spare room. Stan tells Ena that he's had no success with the song. Ken suggests a kibbutz run from No 9 for the men. Ena goes to the Robin Hood and is furious to hear her song sung by Mickie and that Stan claims to be the writer of the piece.
Wed, Mar 18, 1970
Hilda offers to work on Len to reduce his resistance but Annie turns down the kind offer as Elsie is on the case. At the Robin Hood club Charlie plays the score of Ena's new tune. It turns out to be "Onward Christian Soldiers". Mickie Malone is not pleased and Stan runs for it. The bank refuses Ken a loan as they have no confidence in a school teacher knowing how to run a hair salon. Stan is forced to give Ena £10 for "Dreaming Time". Elsie weakens Len but Bernard interrupts, asking for his dinner. Len sends him away. The menfolk work out what Elsie is up to and send Bernard back to No. 9. Len realises what Elsie is up to himself. Bernard sneaks in the back door and refuses to leave, so Elsie does. Ken asks Dave Smith for a loan. The men begin to weaken when they taste Albert's awful potato pie. He's insulted and tells them they're on their own from now on. The women also start to weaken but worry how to tell Annie. Dave refuses to give Ken a loan so he takes it out of the money from a maturing insurance policy. The football bus is moved to Bessie Street. Len claims it was due to him and Annie also claims victory but Ena tells them that it's because Coronation Street is too narrow according to a bus driver she spoke to. Bernard hears from Sandra that Ray will be back next week. Alan rings Len and tells him that he's sold the salon. Ken sends his cheque off for the same.
Mon, Mar 23, 1970
Audrey prepares the house for Ray's homecoming. She and Dickie are sharp with each other. Minnie expects Ray to live with her and not at No.3. She is disappointed when Audrey puts her right. Ken and Val look forward to taking over the salon. Albert suggests that Ken get his long-haired students to patronise the establishment in return for good exam results. Val worries about telling Elsie that she's her new boss. Subsequently, Elsie is shocked when Val breaks the news to her. Dave Smith returns to the area after a holiday in Bermuda and makes straight for the salon and Elsie. Dickie tries to pawn Ray off onto Len but he refuses to have him. Bernard gets annoyed when Val flexes her management muscles. Len tells Maggie that he's not sure that the Barlows are the new owners. Dave takes Elsie for a drink and offers her a job. He is, for once, stuck for words when Ray walks into the Rovers, unaided. Dave whisks Elsie out of the pub quickly and back to the salon where Ken is discussing changes he wants to make to the establishment. Bernard gives Dave a haircut, boring him with his chatter. Minnie brings Ray a pie as a welcome back present, already partially eaten by Bobby. Dickie isn't pleased to have Ray back in his house and the obvious effect he's having on Audrey. Elsie doesn't like having Val as a boss and agrees to work for Dave instead. Len is annoyed when Maggie agrees to go out for a drink with Dave. Ray and Dave have a confrontation in the Corner Shop and Ray threatens vengeance for getting rid of him at their yard. Dave takes a phone call at the salon from his solicitor: he has officially bought the salon off Alan and he thanks a furious Ken for tipping him off about it.
Wed, Mar 25, 1970
Elsie takes Dave to task for getting one over Ken. Bernard stumbles into work late, much to Dave's annoyance. Ken's cheque is returned by Alan's agent. His pride is hurt. Minnie refuses to hear any thing bad about Dave, in view of his past kindnesses to her. Maggie worries that Audrey is a bit too happy to have Ray under her roof. Val reluctantly returns to work. Annie, Sandra, Minnie and Maggie make comments about Len's moustache, making him self-conscious. Dickie grows jealous at the attention that Audrey pays to Ray. She isn't pleased to hear that Ray is taking Sandra to the cinema. Dave's offers of drinks are snubbed by Len, Annie and Albert but Minnie accepts one. Len goes to the salon to have his moustache shaved off but, noticing Bernard's trembling hands when holding the razor, he does the job himself. Dave calls a staff meeting at which he announces that he's bringing in a new barber named Adam. He gives Val a rise to keep her sweet but sacks Bernard. Elsie is furious. Dave meets Ken in the Rovers and tells him he didn't lend him the money because he's a ditherer and a bad investment. Len suggests a boycott of the salon but Annie disagrees. Minnie perturbs Maggie when she tells her how much Audrey is spoiling Ray. Elsie confronts Dave who says he sacked Bernard because his conversation bores the customers. Dickie isn't pleased when Audrey asks Ray to pin up the hem of her skirt. Albert tells Bernard to set up in opposition against Dave. Lucille rings Annie from Ireland to tell her that she's returning. Annie is concerned as the decoration of her room hasn't been completed. Len pushes Ray to return to the yard. Val, Elsie and Sandra walk out of the salon in protest at Bernard's sacking.
Mon, Mar 30, 1970
Bernard tells Albert he's taken his advice and setting up as a mobile barber. Lucille returns from Ireland. Annie is delighted to see her although the young girl is disappointed that her Uncle Jack is in Derby and that the redecoration of her room is unfinished. Minnie offers to put her up. Ray returns to work, chivying Len to join him. Audrey is annoyed that Dickie won't take her out. He reminds her that they're skint. Lucille calls at No. 3 and hears from Audrey that Ray is engaged to Elsie's niece, Sandra. Val refuses a suggestion from Sandra also to set up in opposition to Dave. At the salon, Dave has to turn down custom with only Adam as his cutting staff and he rejects Hilda's suggestion that she is made receptionist as he's also taken a girl named Jasmine on for that task. Annie refuses Bernard's request to advertise his services as she has to remain neutral between businesses. Lucille meets Bernard and realises he is Sandra's brother. Audrey tells Sandra that she and Ray will be working overtime at the yard. Val worries about their reduced income while Ken avails himself of Bernard's services. He mentions that he's making as much as he did at the salon, giving Ken pause for thought. Sandra tells Ray she's not happy with him working at the yard. Lucille plays the radio loudly at No. 5. She asks after Gordon when she meets Maggie. Val snubs Dave in the Rovers. Dave hears how well Bernard is doing and finds out that his own day's takings are only 4/6. Ray introduces Lucille to Sandra who is put out by her attitude.
Wed, Apr 1, 1970
Albert tells Dickie it's time he put his house in order when Audrey slams the door in his face after he plays an April Fool trick on her. Val misses being a hairdresser and wishes they'd bought the salon. Albert loses his patience in the salon when Hilda and Adam bicker and walks out and Annie complains about the service she is receiving. Lucille cattily warns Sandra about Audrey and Ray. Dave rings Elsie to plead with her to return and under duress agrees to take Bernard back. Hilda points out to Dave that Val was the salon's best hairdresser. A shocked Sandra tells Ray that Audrey fancies him. Dave comes crawling to Val who agrees to return to the Salon on an extra £1 a week plus commission. Adam and Jasmine walk out of the salon with all the staff changes that Dave has agreed to. Bernard refuses to return until Dave takes Sandra back on and give them both a rise as well. Dave takes Lucille back on at the Betting Shop. Dickie and Sandra watch as Audrey throws herself at Ray in the Rovers. Lucille tells Ena that Ray and Sandra's engagement won't last.
Wed, Apr 8, 1970
Ray worries about what Maggie saw and tells Audrey to go home. She and Dickie bicker when she does. Maggie advises Ray to tell Sandra about the kiss before Audrey does, telling him to put it down to being a dizzy moment. She asks him if he'd be pleased if Sandra threw him over. Sandra confides in Val that she doesn't think Ray is interested in her. Lucille asks Len what's going on with Ray and what Maggie has to do with it, having seen the two of them talking in the Rovers. Maggie tells Len what she saw. Sandra books St. Mary's Church for the wedding on 23rd May. Len warns Ray that if he loves Audrey he can't marry Sandra. Audrey realises from Len's manner that he knows about the kiss but she isn't concerned. She tells Ray she's never loved Dickie, she's only been fond of him; he's too weak. She tells Ray she'll never feel the same for Dickie as she does for him. Ray loses control and tells Audrey he loves her. Len tells Lucille that Ray and Audrey are getting in very deep water and he's worried but if she says anything to Dickie, he's finished with her. P.C. Conway calls into the Rovers looking for the Ogdens and tells Ken that they've had a telex to say that the Barlows have been involved in a car accident in Australia and are in the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Mon, Apr 20, 1970
Word spreads round the Street about the death of Darren. Albert tells a mourning Ken that he's not to mope over David but Ken asks him to leave him alone. Ken tells Val that the wrong brother died. Stan asks Ken and Val's advice about sending a message to Hilda en route to Australia telling her of Darren's death. Ken thinks they should if only to save Irma from having to tell her when she arrives and tells Stan he'll arrange with the airport for a message to be sent to the plane. Lucille is annoyed to discover Sandra and Ray have set the date for the wedding and asks Maggie to help stop them but Maggie refuses to get involved. Ken is angry when he discovers Albert has talked to the press about David when the Gazette prints a story mentioning Irma's reluctance to return to Australia after Christmas. Stan mopes and loses his appetite. Lucille tells Dickie about Audrey and Ray kissing. He refuses to believe her so she tells him to ask Maggie about the kiss she witnessed. Ena tells Ken not to envy the dead and that he's valuable to the world by himself. Well-wishers start to send money to No. 13 after reading the story in the Gazette. Dickie confronts Audrey who denies the allegation but Maggie walks in and, under duress, tells him what she saw. Audrey tells Dickie she loves Ray.
Wed, Apr 22, 1970
Annie, Betty and Val fuss over Stan, competing to make his breakfast. Stan gets a cheque for £95 from his workmates. Dickie feels that he's done something wrong. Audrey tells him she's waiting on Ray who she loves while she's only fond of him. Ray and Len go off to Huddersfield to help build a school, leaving an abrupt message for an upset Audrey. Stan gets £600 in all for his ticket to Australia from well-wishers. He is overwhelmed by people's generosity. An angry Maggie tells Lucille she's to blame for anything that happens to the Flemings. Val is astonished at the £600 and thinks that Albert did the right thing in talking to the Gazette. Ena tries to make Audrey see Ray is too flighty but Audrey is adamant that Dickie is too boring for her. Cyril books Stan a flight. He gets nervous at the thought of the smallpox jab he has to get. Audrey breaks down when she discovers that Ray and Sandra have set the wedding date of 23rd May at St. Mary's Church. Annie and Val pack for Stan. He gets a telegram which he's too scared to open. Val does so for him. It says that Hilda and Irma are coming home. Audrey packs a suitcase and leaves.
Mon, Apr 27, 1970
Ken and Val plan to go to Manchester Airport to meet Hilda and Irma. Stan thinks he should wear a sombre tie to meet them when they arrive home and to show Irma that he's settled and in regular work. Dickie grows desperate to find Audrey but Cyril can't help as she isn't an official missing person. Stan asks Emily for help replying to the well-wishers. Dave Smith takes the Barlows to the airport as he has to call on someone in Wythenshawe. Stan puts on a suit for his daughter's return. Irma comes home to a big hug from her dad. Dickie hides Audrey's absence from the residents. Irma is sombre. Dave knows that Irma could have got home cheaper on an assisted passage but he has his own reasons for wanting the Ogdens spending £600. Ken wonders about buying a car but Val is frightened about what happened to David. Dickie rings round Audrey's friends and family. Irma breaks down when she reads one of the well-wisher's letters. She tells Ken and Val about the suddenness of the accident. Dickie feels frustrated when Ray calls round looking for Audrey. He claims she's ill in bed with flu.
Wed, Apr 29, 1970
Bernard offers his services as best man to Ray. He tells him he'll think about it. Irma sleeps in, doped with one of Annie's sleeping pills. Hilda wonders if they are to blame in some way for not letting Irma confide in them in the past. Irma tells her that she can't tell her how she feels. Cyril tells Dickie that he can't report Audrey as a missing person. Dave tells Elsie that Stan signed over the deeds to No.13 for the £600. The editor of the Gazette tells Stan to keep the donated money. Irma tells Ken the crash was her fault as she was rowing with David at the time over her unhappiness at being in Australia. He yells at her that she's branded for life. A shocked Val interrupts and comforts Irma. Betty and Cyril suggest the Ogdens pay Dave back the £600 with the Gazette money. Val tells Ken how disappointed she is with him. Mrs Bright turns up from Preston and tells Dickie that Audrey is with her. She blames him for the split but realises from his replies that her daughter had an affair. Mrs Bright promises to get Audrey to ring him. Val tells Irma not to take all the blame on herself but that David was partly at fault too. Emily overhears that Audrey is supposedly ill and tells Ena. Stan wants to help Irma with the money. Mrs Bright rings and promises Audrey's return but she is not on the Preston train when it arrives at Victoria Station.
Wed, May 20, 1970
Betty starts to get nuisance phone calls. Stan gets nervous when Dave Smith makes complimentary comments about No. 13. Dave gives Minnie caviar to give to Bobby. Irma meets Bet at the Laundryer where she works to chat about the night before. She gets upset when she thinks Emily disapproves of her going out so soon after David's death. Audrey sends Minnie a letter saying she's never coming back and the house is being sold. Maggie looks after the key for Minnie as she's nervous of the responsibility. Dave makes arrangements to take Irma out again. Stan tries to find out if Dave could throw them out of the house without notice. Emily advises a worried Hilda to ask Dave if his intentions are honourable. Keith Lucas comes into the Rovers and scares Betty into paying for his drinks. Emily later spots Betty doing this. Irma tells Stan that Dave is just a bit of fun. Len takes Maggie out to the pictures. Jack buys a bell to ring last orders on after years without one. Irma tells Hilda that Dave's taking her to a church dance. Hilda wonders if she's turning to religion. Cyril rings Betty to say his course is finishing early and he's coming home. Lucas isn't pleased.
Mon, May 25, 1970
Albert is bored on the bank holiday and grumpy with Ken and Val as they plan a day out. Dave takes Irma out again, to Hilda's fury. Betty is scared when Lucas hangs around outside the Corner Shop. He asks Maggie when Cyril will be back. Ken and Val plan a surprise day out for Albert but he takes umbrage at them for not telling him where they're going and refuses to go with them. Cyril returns early. Bernard is upset that Irma and Dave have gone out again. Hilda plagues Stan about tackling Dave so he's forced to tell her about the deeds. Lucas suggests to Betty that Cyril and Maggie are an item and she throws a drink in his face. He threatens to deal with her soon. Maggie tells Cyril that something's wrong with Betty. Irma and Dave don't enjoy their day out as they were stuck in a traffic jam to Blackpool. The Barlows enjoy a country park until it starts to rain. Albert enjoys his bank holiday getting drunk with Jack and Len in the Rovers. Hilda continues to rage about the deeds until Stan points out to her the benefits of having a bookie for a son-in-law. Cyril forces Betty to tell him about Lucas. He determines to teach him a lesson.
Wed, Jun 24, 1970
Cyril can't find Keith Lucas but goes searching for him again. The Ogdens decide to butter up Dave Smith as they think he'll solve their financial problems if he becomes their son-in-law. They decide to invite him to tea. Cyril asks Dave to put out feelers for him. Dave finds out from a contact, Vince Fisher, that Lucas was seen in Walker Street earlier that morning. Cyril goes after him. Betty grows frantic when he's missing for several hours but he returns unharmed but again unsuccessful. Irma and Dave realise what Stan and Hilda are up to. Irma tells Bet she can't stand the thought of being married to Dave but that it'll be fun to kid her parents along. Cyril is on his night beat when Lucas confronts him with a lead pipe. A fight breaks out but Len appears and stops Cyril while he is in the act of beating Lucas up badly.
Mon, Jul 6, 1970
Susan undergoes an operation while Hilda looks after Peter. Len tells Elsie she's turning hard and bitter. Alan returns to the Street from London. The Barlows are relieved when Susan's operation goes well. Sandra, Irma and Bet spend their Sunday at Alderley Edge for a laugh. Alan is horrified to find Elsie has let herself go. She accuses him of coming back thinking she'd jump at the chance to go out with him again.
Wed, Jul 8, 1970
Annie has gone to Derby with Lucille after news has reached the Street that Jack has died while staying at Joan's. Frank Bradley and Judd Johnson look for Ray who they were in Borstal with some years previously. Maggie tells Len she knows she's second best for him after Elsie. She realises he is using her to make Elsie jealous and refuses. Ray is annoyed to see Frank and Judd. They tell him they're going straight and he takes them on to make some cabinets for the studio. Len tells Alan he has to mop up after him as he cares for Elsie. Emily isn't happy about having Frank and Judd in the studio. Alan asks Elsie to marry him so that they can never get away from each other, she doesn't believe him and refuses.
Mon, Jul 13, 1970
Len is in a bad mood at the Yard. Elsie rings him to come round as she needs to speak to him. He does so and she tells him about the marriage proposal from Alan. She doesn't want him to come into her life again and asks Len to get that through to him. Emily rings Ray and summons him to the Camera Shop. Ena and Minnie watch Len's comings and goings from the Corner Shop. Emily tells Ray that a £30 camera is missing from the shop. He asks for a couple of hours to sort the matter out himself before she rings the police though she is reluctant to involve them. He also realises the tools he gave to Frank Bradley and Judd Johnson to do the job are missing. Betty and Bet gossip about Elsie and Alan. Alan asks Ena for help. She tells him that she can't pick fellers and how much he hurt Elsie - he's the latest in a long line of let-downs she's suffered. Len warns Alan off Elsie, telling him to leave her alone before he gets lent on. Minnie lets slip about the marriage proposal when Betty, Emily, Maggie and Bet gossip about Elsie and Alan and wonder what's going on. Ray can't find Frank and Judd and he now owes Len for the tools and Emily for the camera. The two suddenly turn up in the Rovers with the tools and an excuse of having broken down after sleeping overnight at a friend's in Stockport. Ena calls on Elsie and advises her to take Alan on rather than spend the future alone, as it's something she's never got used to herself. Frank and Judd refuse to admit they took the camera and tell him they'll report the matter to the police themselves. Elsie has a heart to heart with Val and tells her she's lost trust in men. Ray sees that Frank and Judd are flush with money at the bar but they claim they've had a win at the dogs. Alan tells Len that he's decided to leave the area. Elsie admits to Val that she's kidding herself and that she wants Alan more than she's ever wanted anyone in her whole life.
Wed, Jul 15, 1970
Hilda tries desperately to find out is happening between Elsie and Alan. Elsie tells Val she can't stand being let down again. Val tells her she thinks she's wrong. Judd Johnson and Frank Bradley threaten to tell Emily that Ray set them up to nick the camera unless he goes in with them on one job - doing over an electrical shop on the corner of Mawdsley Street. They give him until dinnertime for an answer. Val refuses to tell Hilda about Alan and Elsie. Cyril gets a job as a clerk in a solicitor's office, with a flat as part of the job. Maggie is sorry that she's going to be on her own again. Emily tells Ray she's calling in the police if she doesn't get the camera back. Len suspects something is wrong. His hand forced, Ray agrees to help on the job if they give the camera back and Judd lets slip it's still in their possession. Elsie tries to contact Alan and finding out about her enquiries to trace him, he turns up unannounced at No. 11. Elsie tells him that she loves him. They are happily reconciled although the residents try to frustrate Hilda's attempts to find out what's happening. Irma and Bet talk about getting a flat together. Len tries to find out from Emily what is wrong with Ray. Betty tells Maggie she'll get used to being on her own. To stop the gossips, Elsie announces that she and Alan are back together again. The news depresses Len. Ray returns the camera to Emily and tells her that he's moving on.
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