With Ken still away, Ray flirts with Val, offering to carry her shopping. Ena celebrates her birthday, counting herself lucky for the amount of cards she's received. Minnie organises a birthday party for her but refuses to invite Albert for the way that he's treated Handel. Lucille won't tell Annie why she doesn't like Mark. Nor will Billy tell his mother if he's seeing Irma. Maggie tells Elsie that Lucille is saying some strange things about Mark. Len returns from a council trip to Holland. He meets Mark and tells him that he and Elsie are great friends. Elsie questions Lucille and is told that Mark asked her point-blank to sleep with him and his language was offensive. Elsie goes to the Rovers where she is short with Mark. He listens in as Len tells her he'll be bringing a present round later. Minnie tells an annoyed Annie that Billy and Irma spent the evening together at her house. Some visiting football fans from Newcastle lead a Geordie sing-song in the Rovers that Alan is delight