EPISODE 4991 FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER 2003
Written by Andrew J. Davidson

Previously on "Crossroads":
Rio's photos stopped Scott attending the funeral.
Max was furious to find out Angel had hired Adam Chance.
Kate decided to go through with the double wedding.
Adam stole top-secret information and emailed it to his associate.
Nicola and Phil returned to Crossroads.
Rocky discovered Betty was leaving and going to Australia.

Starring
JANE ASHER as Angel Samson
STUART MILLIGAN as Max Samson
JANE GURNETT as Kate Russell
CINDY MARSHALL-DAY as Tracey Booth
ROGER SLOMAN as Rocky Wesson
SHERRIE HEWSON as Virginia Raven
LUKE ROBERTS as Ryan Samson
CLARE WILKIE as Cleo Samson
DI SHERLOCK as Oona Stocks
LUCY PARGETER as Helen Raven
BEN PORTER as Vince Vaccaro
SHAUNA SHIM as Phil Wise
FREEMA AGYEMAN as Lola Wise
JESSICA FOX as Belle Wise
With GILLY GILCHRIST as Billy Taylor
and ANNE CHARLESTON as Betty Waddell

Special Guest Appearance by TONY ADAMS as Adam Chance

Special Guest Star KATE O'MARA as Lady Alice Fox

Guest Starring
JULIA BURCHELL as Nicola Berry
NEIL GRAINGER as Phil Berry

Special Appearance by GRAHAM MCGRATH as Jimmy's Ghost

Co-Starring
Kelly Stanton - Jonathan's assistant
Benito - Crossroads barman
Carlton - Lady Alice's butler

Lola rolled her eyes at Vince as he flew into another panic and
started flapping around the kitchen. It was too much, he kept
shouting, he couldn't cope with all this!
"Calm down, will you Vince?" she groaned. It was too early in the
morning for all this nonsense.
"Calm down? Calm down? Calm down!!!" Vince waved a spatula in her
face. "I have lunches to get ready, and dinners, and I have to cater
for Betty's surprise going away party, and I have to sing! I mean,
how much can a girl take in one day?"
"Yeah, yeah," Lola nodded, "I gotta sing too, ya know." She paused
and looked thoughtful for a moment. "It's really rubbish that Betty's
going, innit? Phil's really gonna miss her."
Vince stopped next to her and leaned onto the worktop. "Yeah, me too.
It won't be the same around here without Betty. Who'll. make sure we
have clean teatowels?"
Lola glared at him, and he shrugged his shoulders. "In my head,
that's a nice thing to say!" he said helplessly. She walked off to
fetch some vegetables from the store room, leaving Vince to start
pacing about again. The other kitchen hands watched in amusement at
his antics.
"You getting in the mood for your star turn later?"
Vince threw Helen a disapproving look as she sauntered into the
kitchen with a tray. "I wish you hadn't volunteered me, you know
Helen," he whined. "I'm not cut out for big emotional numbers. I'm
too fragile."
Helen snorted and plonked the tray down on the table. "Yeah, right.
You'll be fine. I'll hold yer hand if you need it."
Vince started chopping up some carrots, as Helen chewed idly on a
piece of celery. "I got a call from Rio this morning," she said
between bites.
"Oh yes," sneered Vince, "and how is the little madam?"
"Vince!" Helen scolded. "She'd never have sent those photos to the
Yorks if she'd known that Cameron had died. You know that. She feels
awful."
"Hmmph. Not half as bad as Scott does, I bet."
Helen ignored him, and kept talking. "Yeah, well, she's coming back
next week. She wants to see Scott and make it up to him. She'll stay
for the wedding obviously."
Vince rolled his eyes at her. "That's just what Scott needs, isn't
it. His boyfriend dies and Rio comes back. Fantastic, all his
problems at once, eh?"
Helen glared at him, though she had to admit he had a point. But Rio
was genuinely upset when Helen told her what had happened, she
couldn't say no to her. She leaned against the counter and chewed
her celery intently.

Ryan stepped out of the jacuzzi and dried himself off with a towel,
just as Cleo arrived in the pool area. She gave him a cheery wave as
she walked towards him.
"You look surprisingly chirpy today," he pointed out. "With Betty
leaving and everything, I thought you'd have been upset."
"I am," Cleo agreed, "I mean I'll miss her, but if her mind's made
up, then I'm happy for her. And the party will be good anyway."
Ryan smiled sadly. He started drying his hair with his towel. "Any
news from Joe?" he asked.
Stacking bottles of water on the shelves, Cleo gave him a sad
look. "The lead on Jenny was another false one," she said, leaning
against an exercise bike.
"Another one?" Ryan shook his head. "This is too weird, sis, all
these false leads. The cynical part of me says somebody's messing
with Joe."
Cleo tilted her head, and a rueful look passed over her face. "I
agree. It's too much of a coincidence that every time Joe gets a
possible sighting and zooms off around the country to follow it up,
it's a dead end."
Ryan fixed his sister with a deep stare. "Do you still think Ethan
Black has something to do with it?"
Cleo returned the stare. "I'd stake my life on it. Honestly, Ryan,
maybe it's time I did some digging. Maybe if I paid a visit to
Ethan's mansion, a secret visit."
"Cleo!" Ryan was incredulous. "Is this the same wimpy Cleopatra
Samson I've known all her life? The one who used to cry every time
Mum shouted at her? Turning into some kind of younger version of
Jessica Fletcher?"
Cleo grinned. "Living with Max and Angel Samson certainly toughens
you up. And anyway," she said meaningfully, "Joe's done so much for
me, I owe him. It's time I returned the favour."
Ryan hugged his sister tightly. "Just look after yourself, sis," he
whispered. "Don't get yourself into trouble. Remember Jimmy."
Cleo nodded silently. She had no intention of barging in there
recklessly. But when the new Cleo Samson put her mind to something,
nothing would shift it.
That was a promise.

For the first morning in a very long time, Kate Russell felt like she
had her family around her again. Seated around a table in the hotel's
restaurant were Kate, Tracey, Phil, Nicola but no Scott, who had
barely uttered a word all morning and refused to come to breakfast.
They had just eaten a leisurely breakfast, and spent time chatting
and catching up. Kate was thrilled to have her daughter back in
King's Oak. Next week, Jake would be back too, and then the reunion
would almost be complete. Only Mark and Sarah weren't going to make
it to the wedding, something about Sarah having an accident and
being too tender to travel. Ah well, never mind, she would see them
eventually. For now, she was enjoying feeling like part of a real
family again.
"So when will we get to meet the bridegroom, then?" Nicola was
asking, shaking Kate out of her daydreams. She smiled at her
daughter, and sipped her coffee.
"A few days. He's sorry he had to dash off so suddenly yesterday,"
Kate explained, "but there were some problems with the Milan show,
and he had to fly out to oversee the preparations."
"You look really happy, Kate," Phil said, "all content and excited."
Kate shrugged. "That's because I am, Phil. I know that I've had my
ups and downs with men: Billy, Max Samson." She tailed off and
shuddered slightly, before giving a small chuckle. "Walking disaster
area, me and men. But Jonathan. Jonathan's everything I could have
asked for. Smart, funny, sexy. wealthy."
They all laughed, and Tracey's eyes almost bulged out of her head.
"Ooh, tell me," she giggled stupidly, "does he have a brother I could
get introduced to?"
"As a matter of fact, yes," Kate laughed. "He'll be here for the
wedding. But in the interests of family harmony, I would appreciate
it if you left the poor man alone, Tracey."
Tracey batted her eyelashes. "Ooh," she breathed, "no promises!"
Kate turned back to Nicola and Phil. "How's the job, Phil? Still
going well?" A look passed between Phil and Nicola that caught Kate's
attention and she leaned back in her chair. "What's happened?"
Phil looked shamefaced and stared at his hands. "The business closed
down," he confessed. "Lack of clients, lack of money. My boss had to
shut down. I'm looking for something else, but it's hard right now.
Not a lot around."
Kate nodded. "You know there's always a job here for you if you want
it. Both of you," she added, looking at Nicola. "And I'd love to have
you closer."
Before Phil could answer, Nicola butted in and stopped him. "Thanks,
Mum," she said, "we appreciate the offer. But we need to stand on our
own two feet. Things'll work out, you'll see." She smiled, but it was
a thin smile, less than convincing.
Phil sighed and attempted a smile as well, but Kate noted he looked
particularly troubled. Something was going on here.

Virginia coughed theatrically in order to attract Betty's attention,
and she stood awkwardly in the door of the laundry room. Betty
turned, and forced a smile.
"I wonder if I could have a word, Betty?" She stepped into the room,
but remained as far away from Betty as possible. "It's about your.
trip."
Betty folded her arms across her chest in a classic defensive
position. "Yes, Virginia, what about it?"
Pursing her lips, Virginia struggled to find the words. "Well I, that
is Rocky and I, well, we had been wondering."
"What is it, Virginia?" Betty said irritably. "As you are no doubt
aware, I have to finish work and then finish packing. I really don't
have time for this."
"Would you consider." Virginia looked as if she could hardly spit the
words out. "Consider being my. Matron of Honour?"
A silence hung in the air between them, as Virginia shifted
uncomfortably and Betty stared at her in utter disbelief. Suddenly,
Betty burst into laughter.
"Matron of Honour? Is this some kind of joke?"
"It's no laughing matter, Betty Waddell," Virginia raged, "this is a
very serious part of my wedding ceremony. If you're not going to take
it seriously."
"Look, Virginia, we both know this is Rocky's idea. You don't want me
to be part of your wedding, and I certainly don't want to be Matron
of Honour!" Betty marched away, and started hauling laundry out of a
machine and into a basket, with Virginia angrily pursuing her around
the room.
"If that's your attitude, then you can forget it!" Virginia
screamed. "I wish I hadn't bothered!"
"Me too!" yelled Betty, "stick your wedding where the sun doesn't
shine! I won't be here by then, as you well know. This is all about
scoring points, isn't it? Rocky thought if you asked me to be Matron
of Honour, then I wouldn't leave. You knew I'd rather cut my own toes
off and eat them than do it, but you knew you could curry favour with
him by asking! It's pathetic."
Virginia clasped a hand to her chest, as if she was having a heart
attack and then prodded her in the chest. "Don't you ever speak to me
like a piece of rubbish again!"
"Well, if the cap fits.!"
Virginia let out a loud roar, and hauled the laundry out of the
basket Betty had just filled, throwing it in her face. Betty roared
back, picked up a pile of towels from the table, and hurled them at
Virginia. She threw water, Betty threw washing powder at her. Before
long, they were yelling and screaming at each other, covered from
head to toe in soap, detergent and washing powder, freshly washed
laundry everywhere.
"What on earth do you think you are doing?!!!"
They broke off their fight, to find an enraged Angel standing in the
doorway. She was immaculately dressed, as ever, and looked like a
million dollars, a contrast to how she'd been the past few weeks.
She grabbed the collar of Virginia's jacket with a freshly painted
nail, and yanked her to the side.
Virginia and Betty stood, facing each other, huffing and puffing, the
debris of their confrontation scattered around them. Angel stood
between them, keeping them apart. She glared at Virginia, who
spluttered and tutted.
"The quicker you get on that plane and go to Australia, Betty
Waddell," she finally screamed, "the better! And good riddance!"
And with that, she stormed off out of the Laundry, and down the
corridor, where a number of guests looked bemused as to why the
receptionist was covered in soap powder.
Back in the Laundry, Angel sighed and waved a dismissive arm around
the room. "Get this mess cleaned up, Betty," she muttered. "And then
come and see me in my apartment. We need to talk."
"Yes, Angel." After Angel had gone, Betty looked around her and then
down at herself. And then started laughing uproariously.
That was the most fun she'd had in ages!

Belle swiped the door of the room, and backed in with her cleaning
trolley, almost colliding with Adam Chance as she did so. He reeled
back as the trolly narrowly missed his feet, and Belle gasped.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr Chance," she said. "I'm so careless, I wasn't
expecting you to be here."
Adam smiled smarmily. "That's alright, young lady. Accidents do
happen."
Belle grinned at him. "Yeah, well, plenty of them happen in my
family. My mum always said Lola was the biggest accident she ever
had!"
He laughed and then stared at her for a second. "Have you worked
here in Crossroads for long?"
"About ten months or so," Belle told him. "Sometimes it feels like a
lifetime."
"What's your name?" he asked, and she told him.
"Well," he beamed, "I like you Belle Wise. I have a feeling you and I
are going to get along very well."
Completely missing any hidden meaning that may have been there, Belle
just smiled and started dusting the room. Adam bid her farewell, and
then stepped out into the corridor. As soon as he was out of sight,
and earshot, he pulled out his mobile phone.
"It's me," he hissed into the phone. "I just had a very interesting
conversation with Max Samson's illegitimate daughter. And I think I'm
forming a plan. Maybe we should test some family loyalties and see if
we can't use Miss Belle Wise to our advantage."
He gave an evil chuckle and headed for the lift, another insidious
plan already forming in his head.
And back in his room, poor Belle was thinking what a nice man that Mr
Chance was, completely oblivious to the danger she may soon be in.

Lady Alice's eyes widened as she listened to Max's rants about his
recent run-in with Angel. She had been away visiting her son in
Vienna, and had only just got back a few hours ago. Just back in the
door, and she was already getting all the petty squabbles and rants
of the Samson family. However, this time it was rather more
interesting.
"Adam Chance?" she said in disbelief. "Now there's a name I didn't
think I'd hear again in a hurry. Talk about a blast from the past."
"You know him?" Max enquired, and Lady Alice gave a chuckle.
"Oh yes. Adam and I were. somewhat intimate many years ago. I was but
a bored wife and mother, he was debonair and charming, and utterly
ruthless. I was just another notch on his bedpost, but I learned a
lot from him. Learned that to stay on top you have to fight hard, all
the way."
"You know he killed his wife?"
"Yes," Lady Alice said softly. "Poor Jill. She never did have much
luck with men. Her mother was a real inspiration, tough as old boots.
That hotel and her family were everything to her. I knew Adam was
trouble, but I never thought he was a killer."
Max snorted. "Well, I don't want him in my hotel or near my family.
And I'll do whatever I can to get him out of there."
As Lady Alice rolled here eyes, and sipped her glass of champagne,
Carlton the butler popped his head round the door and called out to
her.
"Phone call for you, ma'am," he said. Lady Alice went out into the
hallway to take the call, and found only silence on the other end.
Then a gruff male voice suddenly spoke. "If you don't want to end up
like your horses, keep away from Max Samson," he hissed. "This is
your first and last warning. Next time, we come after you!"
She slammed the phone down and breathed deeply. Hearing the
commotion, Max appeared behind her and laid a hand on her
shoulder. "Alice? Is everything okay?"
"No, Max," she sighed, "no, it's not okay by a long chalk. Someone's
out to get us, someone dangerous."
"Are you worried?"
Lady Alice fixed Max with a determined stare. "Yes," she said
simply. "Yes, I am."

"Sit down, Betty." Betty knew from Angel's tone that it was an order,
not a request. She also knew that she meant business, which usually
ended in a punch-up if it was with Max or Kate. Sensing she was in
trouble, she gracefully perched herself on the end of the sofa.
Angel sat across from her in the big leather chair, and crossed her
legs. She dropped her room key and her scarf onto the coffee table
and took a long look at the woman sitting opposite her, who had been
her confidante and advisor for so many years. This was difficult, but
she took a deep breath and started.
"I've been mulling things over, Betty," she said briskly, "and I've
concluded that it simply isn't possible for you to take time off at
the moment. What with the wedding, and all the guests that will
bring, and with it coming up to the Christmas season, I simply cannot
let my head of housekeeping go gallivanting off around the globe. So.
Your request for leave is denied."
Betty stroked her chin, and looked at Angel, as she took in what she
had said. Then, without flinching, and with barely a hint of emotion
in her voice, she nodded at her. "Fine," she said calmly, "then I
resign."
"What?"
"I quit. I'll hand in my notice." She paused and folded her arms. "I
understand that it's the worst time for me to be going, so it's only
right that you should hire someone to replace me. I think you should,
goodness knows how long it will be before I'm back."
"Or if you'll be back at all?" Angel asked, quietly and sadly. As
Betty looked up at her, she saw all the bravado, all the pretence,
draining out of Angel's face. In her place was a frightened,
vulnerable child, who seemed terrified. And it all clicked into place.
"Angel," she clucked softly. "I will be back, I promise. At first, no
I didn't think I would, but in the past few days I've realised how
much everyone means to me."
Angel reached over and clasped her hands. "Then don't go. You're
needed here."
"No-one needs me," Betty responded, and shook her head again. "I'm
getting in the way. Rocky."
"Forget Rocky. This family needs you - I need you!" A tear rolled
down her face and she brushed it aside. "Betty, please. You're my
rock. You've been more of a mother to me than Patty has ever been.
And now, more than ever, I need you here."
Betty thought for a moment, and then clutched her hands
tightly. "Angel, and I love you like the daughter I never had. But
I've given the best years of my life to this family, you know that.
And now I need to do something for myself. Jimmy's death made me see
that. I don't want to be here for Rocky and Virginia's wedding, so
I'm taking myself off for a while. It's too hard."
"Oh," Angel suddenly realised what was going on here. "Rocky. You.
love him, don't you?"
Betty nodded slowly, and sighed. "Yes, I'm rather afraid I do. It's
like they say, Angel, if you love someone, let them go. I'm letting
Rocky go. now, please, you have to let me go."
Angel began weeping, and Betty crossed the room to where she was
sitting and embraced her. They stayed like that for a few minutes,
both quietly emotional. And then Angel whispered, "your job is here
for you, Betty. Whenever you want to return, it's here. You will
always have a place at Crossroads."
"Thank you," whispered Betty back.
She was right, she would always have a place at Crossroads, this was
home. And she'd be back.
Meanwhile, behind them, unseen by Betty but right in Angel's eyeline,
Jimmy was standing in the doorway to the bedroom. He was smirking, a
nasty, knowing smile. Angel closed her eyes and prayed he'd go away.
When she opened them again, he was. But for how long?

Helen and Oona were gossiping away as they set up the main room of
the Cat in the Moon for Betty's surprise going away party. They spoke
about everything, from Max leaving, to Cameron dying, to Phil and
Nicola coming back.
Oona hauled a stool down off the table and plonked it on the floor.
"Flippin' eck," she exclaimed loudly, "it's all go round here at the
moment, isn't it? It's like being in some kind of over-the-top soap
opera!"
They both laughed at how ridiculous that was.
"I had another date with the agency last night," Helen grinned.
"Ooh, tell me more!"
"It was a good night." she chuckled. "And an even better good
morning!"
"Helen Raven, you dirty beast!" Oona gave a filthy laugh, then leaned
towards her. "Tell me more!"
"His name was Jeremy, an investment banker would you believe. Boring
as they come, but that doesn't always matter!" She wiggled her
eyebrows suggestively.
"Are you seeing him again?" Oona wondered.
"Probably not. Not my cup of tea really. But you know, you gotta try
before you buy!"
They cackled loudly, and Helen asked where Dave was. "He's taken the
babby away for the day, to see the animals at the Kestleton Zoo, and
to the park. He's a bigger kid than she is! He won't be back til
late, I don't think."
As they chatted, Oona glanced out of the window into the street, and
spotted Adam Chance strolling leisurely through King's Oak in a big
trenchcoat. He was taking into a mobile phone, and smirking.
Suddenly, Oona grabbed her temples and stumbled backwards.
Fortunately, Helen was there to catch her. She held onto her as she
thrashed around and winced in pain.
"Oona? What's wrong?"
"It's him." she spluttered, "Adam Chance. I just had one of my
psychic flashes, one of the worst I ever had. Oh, the pain!"
Helen steered her over to a chair and sat her down. "What did you
see?"
Oona gasped for breath as the pain subsided. "Nothing specific: I
don't know how and I don't know who. but that man is going to be the
death of someone we know. Literally. Someone's going to die at his
hands."
Helen gave her a reassuring hug, as they both considered what Oona
had just said.

Billy was relaxing on a bench in the grounds of the hotel, reading a
newspaper and enjoying the surprisingly warm weather for October. He
didn't see a figure emerge from the main doors, spot him, and make a
beeline for him.
"Excuse me," said a voice, and Billy put down his paper to see Kelly
Stanton standing over him, wearing a skirt that could be mistaken for
a belt, and enough make-up to completely change her features. He
stifled the thought that she looked like a man in drag, and smiled at
her politely.
"Yes, can I help you Miss Stanton?" He would make polite conversation
with her, but no more.
"You certainly can," she said seductively. "You can have dinner with
me later."
He chuckled and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I've got plans for
tonight, I'm meeting friends."
"Another night then?" She was persistent, he'd give her
that. "Please. I don't know anyone in King's Oak, and we've both got
something in common."
"We have?" he asked her. "And what would that be?"
"We've both been pushed aside by Jonathan and Kate. I don't want a
relationship, just a friend. What do you say?"
Billy considered it, and thought to himself, what the hell? I'm
single, she's single, and it's not every day a reasonably attractive,
intelligent woman makes a play for you. He finally nodded. "One night
next week, maybe. We'll arrange something."
She flashed him a dazzling smile, and he got to his feet. "Now I
really have to go, I have a phone call to make."
They said their goodbyes, and Kelly watched Billy disappear back
towards the hotel. She shuddered slightly when he was out of view.
She would go along with this plan of Jonathan's to get friendly with
Billy, so they could keep him away from Kate. But she didn't have to
like it - or like Billy, for that matter. She went off to call
Jonathan in Milan, and fill him in on her progress.

Phil and Nicola were seated in the Caribbean Sunshine Cocktail Lounge
sipping on brightly coloured cocktails which had umbrellas and bits
of fruit sticking out of them, but the mood between them was
definitely less than tropical. Behind them, the hotel's resident
cabaret singer, Miss Mona, was belting out some indistinguishable
tune, but they weren't listening. They had hardly spoken since
breakfast that morning. Nicola knew Phil wasn't pleased.
"Why did you turn down your mother's offer of jobs?" he suddenly
demanded, and she rolled her eyes. "It's perfect! A roof over our
heads, good jobs, back with family. And you just said no for both of
us!"
Nicola sighed and put down her Tangerine Torpedo. "It'd be a step
back, and I'm not prepared to do that. We can't sponge off my mum
forever. Something will turn up back home, I'm sure."
"Get real, Nicola," Phil blasted. "You know as well as I do, nobody
wants to hire an ex-jailbird!"
"You were cleared."
"Like that makes a difference! Nobody will give me a chance."
Nicola glared at him. "Well, you take my mum's job then. You stay
here in this poxy hotel. But I'm going home after the wedding. With
or without you."
Phil got to his feet. "I'm not listening to any more of this, I'm
going into town. Rocky's invited me to this do at Dave and Oona's
pub."
"When will you be back?" she demanded.
He shot her a furious look. "Don't wait up!" And he marched out of
the Caribbean Sunshine as fast as his legs would carry him.

Night fell on King's Oak, and most of the Crossroads staff were
assembling at the Cat in the Moon for Betty's farewell party:

. "It was terrible, Tracey," Oona was telling her, "the pain was
worse than giving birth to our Mandy! And I turned to Helen, I did,
and I said, "you mark my words, that Adam Chance is a killer!" You
know I'm right, Tracey!"
"Ooh yes," Tracey breathed, "I've never trusted him. Remember he
tried to kill Billy and Sarah, as well as what he did to poor Jill
Harvey. He's a brute!".

. "What was his name?" Lola giggled to Helen, "do I know him?"
Helen laughed and took a swig of her beer. "Jeremy something."
Lola snorted. "Jeremy the investment banker?" Helen nodded, and Lola
dissolved into drunken laughter. "He's about as much an investment
banker as I am! He's a binman!"
"Get lost!" Helen snapped.
"Straight up," Lola roared. "I fell for that one too. Hey, was he the
one who stole my dirty knickers? I think he was."
Helen suddenly felt rather squeamish .

."Yeah, Joe will be back in the morning," Cleo was telling
Philomena. "He did find out some snippets about Jenny, but nthing
concrete. He's really disappointed."
"Poor Joe," Phil sighed, "tell him to come see me when he gets back,
maybe I can cheer him up."
Her mobile rang, and she apologized to Cleo before answering it. Her
face lit up.
"Carl!" she grinned, "it's so good to hear from you! Yes, I miss you
too. I'm really sorry for everything I said." .

. Angel and Kate stood side-by-side, not speaking as usual. Angel
broke the deadlock with another snide remark. "I bet you're sorry you
said yes to Jonathan now, Kate. If you'd only waited a few weeks you
could have had Max after all."
Kate rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. "Let's not do this, Angel.
Not tonight. Don't ruin Betty's farewell, eh?" Angel nodded, a
genuine nod, and Kate smiled. "Buy you a drink?" she said, and Angel
nodded again. .

. "Best man? Me?" Phil Berry exclaimed, and Rocky nodded at him. "Are
you sure, Rocky?"
"Well, of course I'm sure," Rocky told him. "You've been like a son
to me, and I'm very proud of you. There's nobody else I'd rather have
stand up for me."
Phil beamed at him. "I'd be honoured, Rock!" And he threw his arms
around him and hugged him. .

. Vince edged towards Virginia, seated on her own in the corner of
the pub with a scowl almost tattooed across her face. He had a
mischievous look on his face as she looked up at him.
"Is it true you had Persil in your hair?" he asked her, barely
containing his laughter.
Her eyes widened, she gave him the iciest stare he had ever seen, but
she said nothing, just pursed her lips and bit her tongue. Thinking
better of it, Vince retreated back to where Ryan and Belle were
standing, and the three of them laughed their heads off.
Virginia just sat where she was, and simmered. She was like a
pressure cooker, all ready to pop. .

"She's coming!" Ryan yelled, peering out of the window. Everyone fell
very silent, and Oona hit the lights off as planned. It was deathly
quiet.
The door to the pub creaked open, and Betty peered in, dressed in her
fur coat, and diamond earrings. She was there to meet Rocky for a
quiet farewell drink, but there didn't seem to be anybody here.
"Um, hello?" she called out. "Oona?"
The lights flicked on, and everyone yelled "surprise!" Betty's hand
flew to her mouth, as everyone swarmed around her. A large painted
banner reading "So Long, Betty!" was draped above the bar. She
laughed, as various people hugged and kissed her. As Rocky came
towards her, she gave him a mock disapproving look.
"This was your idea, Rocky Wesson, wasn't it?"
"Guilty as charged!" he smiled. "I couldn't let you go without a big
send-off." He leaned in and gave her a long hug, and whispered in her
ear. "I'll miss you so much, Betty Waddell, I love you. You make sure
you hurry home soon, you hear?"
Betty nodded, and tears flowed down her face. They broke away, and
she was swept into the throng by the crowd.
Over in her corner, arms folded, glaring at everyone, Virginia
grimaced.

The bar at Crossroads was almost deserted, Nicola saw as she came
downstairs into the foyer. She wandered up to the bar and smiled at
the bartender.
"Has my mother arrived back yet?" she asked Benito. Benito said she
hadn't, so Nicola asked him to let her know she was in the
Conservatory when she came back. Benito assured her he would, and
Nicola headed off down the corridor towards Hunter Wing.
It was so strange to be back here, she thought again. It was home and
yet. it wasn't. So much had changed, so much was different. Even she
was different. She thought back to the spoiled, petulant brat she had
been before everything happened. It seemed like a million years ago.
Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed someone walking up the
corridor in her direction until he was almost upon her. She stopped
and put a hand out to stop him.
"Hello Billy," she said icily.
"Nicola," was Billy's equally cold reply. "I heard you were back."
"I think it's time you and I had a chat about things, don't you?"
Nicola and Billy stared at each other hard, both knowing this was a
showdown that had to happen sooner or later. Billy nodded dumbly at
her.

From the stage, Oona was roaring at the top of her voice like some
demented ringmaster. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, to open
tonight's karaoke, the performers would like to dedicate this number
to the guest of honour. Betty," she said, beaming at her
broadly, "this one's. for you."
The curtain dropped to reveal a packed stage: Rocky, the Wise
sisters, Cleo, Ryan, Vince and Helen crammed in like sardines around
one mike, wearing glittery wigs and draped in feather boas. A whoop
went up in the room as the assembled crowd cheered and laughed. Betty
gasped and giggled in delight, clapping her hands.
Around her, she could see everyone else smiling - even Virginia.
Next to Betty, Angel laughed and clasped Betty's hand, as Helen began
to sing.

"When you're down, and troubled, and you need some loving care,
And nothing, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me,
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest hour."

Then everyone joined in, pointing at Betty and swaying from side-to-
side. Rocky couldn't get the timing of the movements right, but that
didn't matter. Betty was loving it.

"You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am,
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, yes I will."

"You've got a friend!" crooned Rocky, loudly and out-of-tune.

Everyone whooped and cheered, and tears streamed down Betty's face.
These people were more than her friends, they were her family. And
she loved them, each and every one.
Well, maybe not Virginia.
The song ended, and everyone piled off the stage, grabbing Betty in a
big group hug. Then Ryan hauled her onto his shoulders and hoisted
her aloft the crowd as she squealed and laughed.
And it all only strengthened her resolve: she'd be back.

Lady Alice watched Max's car drive out of her estate, no doubt
heading back to his shabby little hotel and his even shabbier little
wife. She poured herself a drink, and reclined back on the leather
settee. Her mind was working overtime: the attacks on the horses, the
arson attack on the stables, now the threatening calls. Someone was
trying to give her a message, alright.
Was it Ethan Black, or someone else? Lady Alice shuddered. She didn't
have any enemies she could think of who would want to get at her so
badly. But Max, well he had scores of them. She only hoped Cooper
could come up with a way to get him out of her life, and fast.
As she sat sipping her drink, there was an odd sound from the
hallway. She got to her feet and crossed the library, opening the
door and peering out. "Carlton?" she called out, "Carlton is that
you?"
Suddenly, she was grabbed by a rough pair of hands who pinned her up
against the wall. Her glass fell to the floor, smashing into pieces.
As she struggled and writhed, a blade appeared before her and sliced
into her arm, leaving a deep slash across her skin. Blood poured from
it and she let out an anguished cry. From behind her, a gruff voice
barked threats at her.
"You were warned," the voice hissed, "but you didn't listen. So now
we're telling you: stay away from Max Samson, he's hazardous to your
health. Otherwise, next time, it'll be your throat getting cut!"
And with that, Lady Alice was thrown to the floor, sobbing with
terror and anguish, blood forming into a pool around her knees.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Home

This is a page from the Crossroads 2003 & Beyond group, a fan fiction site that has written a continuation of the series since its television finale in May 2003. Click the link to visit the group where you can join in with plot discussion and write episodes!