Satellite TV

“Ever since she got the satellite tv she spends every evening flicking through the various foreign news channels with her eyes closed trying to guess the nationality of the news readers. I said mother! Mother! At least close the front windows. I mean, it’s not nice for the neighbours, is it, hearing the name of various Eastern European countries booming around the cul-de-sac of a night. I don’t know what them in number 5 think. They’ve only just moved here from Lithuania. It must be very disconcerting. Are these for today?”

Mary is back! And I am very happy to see her and Norris. It was such a treat on Thursday to hear them both on a loose rein with their storytelling. Their scenes, after their eventful trip to the Lakes District, were with Tracy and then with Amy as well. Both are good foils for the stories and the bickering of Mary and Norris.

Straight off the bus

Some of the dialogue of the first Coronation Street episodes came, Tony Warren said, straight off the bus. He would eavesdrop on others’ conversations and, if he heard something particularly good, he’d scribble it down in a notebook. Later, it would get worked into his scripts.

Mary’s story about her mother and the satellite television sounds to me like it came straight off the bus. It is also nice to have confirmation from Mary that her mother is indeed alive. Oh, I wish she would decide to come for a visit.

Blanche

Later in the episode, a mention of Blanche made me smile – and miss her. Norris, discussing his unfortunate encounter with geese, said he felt like Tippi Hedren in The Birds. Amy knew the movie, to Tracy’s surprise. Nana Blanche used to put it on for Amy when she had trouble sleeping. Bwahahaha!