Gone to the Dogs

It seems Harchester's new bad girl - Tara - is going to let Ryan take the fall for the accident and she's still blackmailing Jacqui. Fletch, Ryan and Robbie skip training and head for trouble.

Patrick is furious with Fletch because he got himself sent off in the FA Cup. He is also furious with Robbie Walsh because he is so inconsistent. Ryan is another in trouble, Patrick tells him that he is a nightmare. The team are not happy with Ryan and Fletch as they have got the team extra training. Tash goes to see Abi to tell her that tonight at their meal she is going to ask him to move in with her and tell him about the divorce with Jamie. Abi warns her but she doesn't back down saying it's the right thing to do.

Meanwhile, Tara is up in the offices editing videos. She is not happy how she cannot film. Jacqui tells her she'll have to stick to editing until the fuss with the crash and Ryan dies down but Tara threatens her saying that unless she can get back to filming Phil will find out about her and Patrick. Phil calls Jacqui into his office telling her that Tara may have to be sacked as the TV channel is not doing well. Patrick, who is taking the training session, fines both Fletch and Ryan two weeks wages. After fitness training, Patrick explains that he wants to work on set pieces, but makes both Fletch and Ryan do laps of the pitch.

Back at The Barons, Jeff has come round to see Tash. He explains to her that he needs her to come with him to look at the new boy, Clyde Connelly. She agrees, but only if he will look after Hope while she and Robbie go out. Jeff tells her that she and Robbie should have a quiet evening in. Back at training, Robbie is still not doing it. He backchats to the manager and is then told to join the others running round the pitch. As the manager blows the whistle to do press-ups, Fletch is too slow resulting in all three of the players having to run an extra 30 minutes.

Phil tells Tara that the figures need to rise dramatically otherwise she will lose her job. Jacqui decides that to get the figures up they should do a presentation on Phil himself, and Tara can host it. Patrick blows once again and both Ryan and Fletch do their press-ups. Robbie though doesn't, arguing that is the end of training. Patrick tells the lads that they now have another 30 minutes, and when Fletch tells him he is out of order, he puts yet another half an hour on top. Ryan, Robbie and Fletch are furious and storm off. The go the dogs to place a few bets and have a few drinks. Patrick is furious when he realizes that the three lads have gone. Upstairs, Jeff is talking to Clyde about representations. Tash is more concerned about babysitting though. The young Clyde is not too pleased.

Meanwhile, Jamie has popped round to Tash's to see his baby. Tash will not let him see her though. When he threatens with a court order, she lets him in and tells him he can baby-sit tonight as long as his American girlfriend doesn't come with him. Jacqui is still lusting over Patrick but Patrick keeps saying he is busy, he finally agrees to see her later.

At the dogs, Robbie explains that he has to go because he has a date but the boys won't let him go. He decides to have one more drink. Phil and Tara are both about to leave for his house to do more filming. Jacqui once again see's Patrick, asking if he is busy. He tells her to meet him at The Grange in an hour. Tara see's this though and tells Jacqui that she should come. She cannot say no when Phil asks, so she tags along. Abi is worried about Fletch going off, and she cannot get through to him via phone. Marcel tells him that he is not himself at the moment as he has not been offered a new contract and has not had offers from other clubs. This is the first time Abi has heard any of this.

It's late now and the boys are off to a pub. Robbie once again says he'll have one game of pool then he has to go. Meanwhile, Tash is ready to go and answers the door for Jamie. Robbie has lost track of the time and is having another game of pool. A drunk Ryan also explains how he is going to kill Tara as he is getting the blame for something she did. Tara knows that Jacqui is wanting to meet Patrick so as she is filming she purposely wastes time. Every time Jacqui walks in with the tea she moves the camera in so the shot has to be taken again. Jacqui is not pleased. Jacqui rings Patrick telling him that she will be there soon. Tash is trying to get hold of Robbie but to no prevail, at the same time Abi is doing the same. Both phones are switched off though. While these calls are happening Fletch is necking a girl, he decides to stop though as he's married. They are all completely drunk. While they are having a laugh, a group of thugs come up accusing Ryan of nearly killing the bloke Tara knocked over. A small brawl breaks out but it is separated. The filming is finished and Tara leaves Phil and Jacqui's house. Phil asks if she wants to go up to bed but she turns him down, as an excuse she says she has to go and help Tara, but obviously she is going to see Patrick.

At the bar, Fletch pays off the bouncer for him not to say anything. As they are leaving they realize the time, Robbie remembers he was supposed to be going out with Tash. Tash is not pleased that she has been stood up and goes home. Ryan is dropped off at the club to get his wallet. Fletch gets home to Abbi, he's about to apoligise, but he comes home to an empty house. Robbie has also gone to apoligise, Tash isn't happy though, she explains how she is disappointed. As a drunk Ryan is leaving the club, he finds out that Tara is still working upstairs. He decides to go and pay her a visit… He tells Tara that she better ring the police, Tara says that she will but Ryan doesn't trust her. Ryan ties her up and films her admitting that she drove the car which hit the man. Obviously it won't stand up with the police as they can clearly see Ryan is holding Tara there prisoner.

It's morning in Harchester now, once again Robbie apoligises to Tash. Robbie explains how he will spend the day with her. Tash asks Robbie to move in with her but he doesn't give her a clear answer, he explains that he still loves her but he doesn't know whether to move in again. At the club, Jacqui asks Tara if she can cover for her, and pretend she was working on the tapes all night so Phil doesn't find out about her being with Jacqui or leaving him. Tara storms out. Ryan is in a very jolly mood, as he thinks he has got off with the court case and prison sentence. Surprisingly, when Phil see's the video, Tara actually covers for Jacqui, to her relief.

Patrick is not happy with Ryan, Fletch and Ryan. He is not happy at all. All three of the players are fined two weeks wages. Ryan is told that he is not wanted by the club and that he is to be offloaded in the next few weeks. Fletch is told he is to play in the reserves. They are all once again fined another two weeks wages as the brawl in the bar is in the paper. Ryan bumps into Tara and tells her to ring the police. Tara tells Ryan that she'll ring and explain how last night Ryan attacked her and that she has a tape as proof. Fletch tells Abi about what has just happened. Fletch tells Abi that he has no money at all and that he has never saved. He explains that he is completely skint and he has just received a tax bill. Stuart is furious with Ryan, explaining that he is a waste of space and ‘no son of mine'. Ryan is devastated by hearing this. Back in the changing rooms, Robbie rings Tash to explain that he is going to move in with her. Patrick interrupts to tell Robbie to pack his bags as he is being loaned out to Brighton And Hove Albion.

Notes:

Soundtrack: Humate: "Bedrock", Feeder: "Just The Way I'm Feeling" and "Child in You", The Coral: "Dreaming of You", Badly Drawn Boy: "The Further I Slide", Foo Fighters: "Have it All" and "Come Back"

Season 6 Guide