With the theme music from Rocky ringing in our ears, the fight is on for Raymond and Eileen.
In the Red Corner, publican (and secret murderer) Raymondo, his recent actions perhaps morally dubious but all done with the best intentions. In the Blue Corner, Eileen, Shieldinch’s resident ice queen and scary councillor, only concerned with protecting her son from a man she feels she no longer knows. The stage is set for a Battle Royale between these two Shieldinch stalwarts.
While Raymondo’s attempts at mediation ended in a shouting match (after being accused of aggression, probably not the best way to respond!), Eileen's pulling out all the stops with her council complaints against the Ship. But Stuart’s run-in with a teapot was a nail in her coffin. The little tyke correctly identified the kitchenware - pretty good for an almost two year old! Nil point for tipping it on your head though Stuart. Needless to say, that incident did nothing to boost Eileen’s chances. Everyone wanted to coach the two worthy adversaries from their ringside seats , and some even looked like they might throw a punch or two of their own.Murray’s so strongly in Raymondo’s corner that he was happy to get all up in Eileen’s face about it. No one, NO ONE messes about with his best mate.Got it? Eileen was a little out on a limb as it goes, even Gina was rooting for a reconciliation.It was only when Eileen finally spilled the not-so-secret secret (that Raymond killed Sean, remember?) that Gina finally understood Eileen’s fears. Now we all remember that Gina played a not-so-innocent part in the killing of Archie (though she didn’t deliver the killer blow, she did throw his lifeless body off a cliff, wait…with Eileen!).But that was self-defence. As Raymond so correctly pointed out to Stevie at the time of his own murderous mishap, a smack to the back of the noggin will never count as self-defence.
As both sides limber up to go the full twelve rounds, it’s shaping up to be an evenly matched fight. But with underhand tactics already being deployed, who will deliver the killer blow?It’s time to pick sides: are you Team Eileen or Team Raymondo?
We also had a couple of new faces appearing in Shieldinch this week. One pretty, one…not so much. In fact, all that property tycoon Mark Vincent was missing was a handlebar moustache to twirl in his most evil moments.Eileen, just because a man takes off his tie and loosens his shirt does not make him any less of a villain!Keep away!
On a much nicer note, Bob’s finally got a helping hand in the garage in the form of new apprentice Alice. After Stevie’s sterling work as Bob’s personal HR adviser, and a number of more unsavoury candidates (poor Zinnie didn’t get a look in, even against the guy with his own overalls!) Alice was a breath of fresh air in Montego Motors.And if Alan Sugar ever decides to fire himself from The Apprentice, we think we’ve got two pretty good replacements right here in Shieldinch. Despite all Alice’s loveliness, she’s already rubbing people up the wrong way. Nicole’s face was a picture as Alice introduced herself. Surely she wouldn’t be a threat to the mighty SteCole?
And for those of you that might be concerned about the wheelie bin situation in Shieldinch, we can confirm that Molly’s Crusade will continue until every Rolls Royce style bin in Jordanhill has been wiped out. She will not rest until she gets Wheelie Bin Justice for all!
Next week…Nicole is desperate to be trusted, Scarlett needs another job and it’s crunch time as Robbie and Will’s parents meet before the wedding – EDWARD IS BACK!
Quote of the week:
Zinnie: I’m throwing myself on your mercy here Bob.
Bob: (genuinely terrified) Please don’t…
