audrey, archie, norris and rita amongst others are in the rovers awaiting news after richard kidnaps gail, sarah, david and bethany. they all escape apart from richard who dies at the scene. gail asks archie to sort out richard's funeral. she wants the least fuss with no guests and no service. gail changes her mind and attends richard's funeral. she feels bitter and empty. archie conducts the service - they are the only two people present. audrey talks to archie about reopening the salon and finding a replacement for maxine. audrey is panicking. she confides in archie that she's checked her investments to find that they've plummeted and she's not sure that she can afford to bail gail out as promised. audrey can't bring herself to tell gail that she's unable to bail her out so instead she confides in archie that she's going to take out a loan against her own house. archie persuades blanche to attend a tea dance with him. blanche plays hard to get but is delighted on the quiet. les battersby (bruce jones) asks ken to be a character witness for him. ken refuses. in desperation les asks shelley unwin (sally lindsay) and archie, both of whom refuse. deirdre rings her daughter tracy barlow (kate ford) and realises from the sound of the pool in the background where she is, with wally bannister. she gets archie to take her there and she and tracy fight, falling into the pool as they do so.