The end of the road?
Robert has a car crash, and his web of lies unravels…
Michelle is very suspicious
Robert Preston has been flying by the seat of his pants for months, telling lie after lie to juggle the two women in his life, Michelle and Vicky. In fact, he must be one of the few people in the country hailing the existence of a) young offenders and b) Stoke-on-trent, both having had a key role in his cover stories.
But when he’s involved in a car crash this week, it sets up a chain of events that leads to Michelle spotting him with his secret baby-mother.
The smash happens when Robert’s driving home from Vicky’s place. Michelle calls up to rant about former boss Ray and, as Robert takes his eyes off the road, disaster strikes. Next thing, Michelle gets a call from the police to say that her boyfriend is in a Macclesfield hospital.
‘Michelle can’t understand why he’s in Macclesfield, when he told her he was in Sandbach,’ says Kym Marsh, who plays the baffled brunette. ‘From that moment, she thinks something isn’t right.’
Michelle races to the hospital, where a few more seeds of doubt are planted. As Robert returns from theatre, he starts rambling about a baby.
And among his personal items is the ‘Big Daddy’ necklace that pregnant Vicky gave him.
‘When Robert comes round, he explains things and gives her a cock-and-bull story,’ Kym adds. ‘It could be feasible, but Michelle is very suspicious.’
A series of unlikely soap coincidences leave Robert in further trouble. A midwife passes by and, despite seeing hundreds of patients every week, she recognises him.
Vicky then comes to the hospital for a check-up, and the midwife tells her about Robert’s accident. Vicky rushes to be by Robert’s side, and Robert is forced to think on his feet to stop her and Michelle from having a very awkward tête-à-tête.
In the wake of his hospital nightmare, Robert finally decides to dispense with his daft double life. But as he later calls round to Vicky’s place to tell her their relationship is over, little does he realise that he’s been followed… by Michelle and Carla! And the duo are stunned by what they see.
Back in Weatherfield, a furious Michelle confronts Robert, before going to pay Vicky a visit. Will the women discover they’ve both been played for fools?