Dead Man Walking

As Tara sets about making money from Phil's suicide attempt, Patrick finds himself in a very tight corner. Plus, nosey hack Suzanne tips the FA off about Fletch and the drugs test.

It's the same night and fans are still calling for Phil to get out of their club. Nikki and Tara here the fans are still restless so they go to see Phil. She goes in the office to finds Phil on the floor. He's taken an overdose.

Nikki decides to stay with Phil at the hospital while Tara goes to look for Jacqui. As she leaves the hospital she is bumps into Susan Simons, asking on Phil's condition. She walks away. Tara manages to find Jacqui telling her what's happened. She is told that Phil will be alright.

Meanwhile, Patrick is being interviewed by Sky Sports. He explains that he misses Harchester and wishes Stuart all the best in his next league game. He tells the interviewer that he questions Stuart tactically but he cannot question his love for the club.

Tara, who has found the tape that Phil used to record himself before he took the overdose, watches it. She remembers Susan Simons.

Back at The Grange, Patrick hears that Phil is in hospital. As he heads back to his room he is met by a man, and a bodyguard. They ask him how he can guarantee relegation if he is sacked. He explains that they are practically already down but the man isn't pleased. Patrick goes on to say he has left documents which show a transfer deal done by Wallis which show large sums of money went to agents. He explains that the FA will probably relegate the club just for that. The man stops him telling him that he doesn't deal with probably's. The old man tells Patrick that to ensure they go down they are willing to buy the club and it is his job to make Wallis sell. He tells the two men that he bets his life that they'll go down, he is then told that he already has.

Phil awakes to see Jacqui by his side. She tells him that she's sorry and maybe they could start again but Phil tells her that the relationship is over.

At training, Curtis argues with Stuart, the manager, because he does not agree with his tactics, so Stuart sends him home.

Tara finally decides to ring Susan, she gives her the tape. She asks not for the newspaper to say it's off her and also asks if she can have a job there as she doesn't see her future at HUTV.

Back at the club, Stuart tells Fletch he is needed as Curtis won't be playing. He tells Stuart he can't, Stuart is not happy. He tells Fletch that he is just like the others and wants to sit on the sidelines and watch him and the team fail. He does not no the real reason why Karl cannot play.

Patrick has gone round to see Jeff and tells him that he has to persuade Phil to sell. He explains that it is not for him and is for a client. Patrick tells Jeff that he will get 750,000 pounds if he gets Phil to sell. Jeff backs out telling him that the guy has been through enough but then decides he needs the money.

Abi finds Karl training in the physio room with bin bags on. He tells her that he might play because Patrick cannot get to him now. Abi though reminds him that the FA could turn up and do a random drugs test, and even if it was a tiny, tiny chance, she doesn't want him to risk it.

Back at the hospital, Jeff has gone to see Phil. He finds off he is escaping, so he gets on his good side by helping him get away without the press seeing him. He tells Phil that he can stay the night.

Ryan, who has finished training, walks past the physio room and hears noise. He takes a look in to find Fletch sweating. Ryan tells Fletch that there isn't anything wrong with his back and that he's mates with Patrick Doyle. Fletcher reacts, grabbing him telling him not to ever say anything like that. Ryan though, brushes him off explaining how he is fast on his feet for someone with a bad back.

Susan has gone round to Tara's. She tells Tara that if she wants a job she'll have to do more than just give in a tape. She tells him to find out who has taken cocaine in a drugs test. Tara sees Nikki arriving home and tells Susan she has to go. Nikki sees her and asks who it was but Tara just tells her it's a friend.

Jeff asks Phil what he is going to do with the club but every time he mentions it, Tash keeps telling him to stop.

Nikki and Tara are having a conversation at the house, when completely off subject, Tara asks Nikki if she knows anyone taking cocaine. Obviously, Nikki is shocked and tells her that no, she doesn't know anyone. Tara tells her that it's just something she has heard.

Jeff has gone to meet Patrick and tells him that he hasn't started asking him to sell yet as he has only just came out of hospital. Patrick leaves him and goes to see Jacqui. She tries to ring security, but is persuaded not to. Patrick tells her that if the club isn't sold to the people who he has done the bet with, they will both end up dead so she better try and make him sell.

It's match day and Stuart is in the dressing room trying to focus himself. Tara, meanwhile, is upstairs, looking through files in Stuart's office. Stuart walks in but doesn't see her snooping. She makes up that she has just came to wish him good luck. She realizes Curtis isn't playing and questions him on it asking if it is about the drugs business. Stuart though, just pretends he doesn't have a clue what she is talking about.

Back at The Barons, Phil thanks Tash for everything but tells her he should go. He consoles in her and she tells him that things could work out.

The match is soon starting. Fletch tries to persuade Abi that he should play but she is having none of it. He explains though that if he doesn't play Harchester may lose and then they'll be relegated. While the boys are getting changed, Tara speaks to Ryan outside. She hints about the drugs once again and Ryan says she shouldn't be thinking it's Curtis, she should speak to Fletch as he's training in the physio room with bin bags on. Stuart hears and gets slightly suspicious.

Stuart begins giving the team talk. He tells the boys that they should believe like he does that they can escape this relegation battle. Marcel asks him to play Curtis but he tells Marcel that they can win without him.

Tara rings Susan Simons telling her what she's found out, back in the dressing room, Karl tells Stuart that he is going to play. He doesn't care about his ‘back injury' and going to play. Abi tells him to stop but he explains he HAS to do this. The pressure builds and Harchester must win to stay up.

When Patrick hears Fletch is playing he is not happy. Back at The Barons, Jacqui has popped round to see Phil. She tells him that he should sell. He tells Jacqui he'll sell, and that her friends no where to find him. He then tells her to get out.

Harchester have a free kick and Fletch lines up for the shot. He runs up and buries it in the top left hand corner. Patrick claps with the other fans but is not happy. Fletch is everywhere, nearly putting away another goal.

It's half time and Phil rings Jeff. He tells him that he'll sell. Jeff then goes to speak with Patrick saying that he'll be at the club at the end of the match. As Phil is leaving he once again sees Jacqui. She changes her mind at the last minute and tells him not to sell. She tells him that they are not Jeff's friends but Patrick's friends.

As the second half begins, drug testers arrive. In the match though, Di Canio has a brilliant shot, scoring.

Phil meets Jeff and tells him that he wants to meet the buyers before he sells. Jeff is hesitant but Phil explains to him that he knows they are Patrick's friends and he no longer cares. Jeff explains that he is sorry and he is so relieved that Phil understands.

Harchester have another attack and West Ham give away a penalty. Ryan Naysmith lines up to take it. He hits it bottom left, scoring. Impossible for David James to save.

Phil meets Patrick and the buyers face to face. He calmly tells Jeff to leave the premises and tells him he is banned from the club. He then tells them that he'd rather die than sell. Patrick tells the men that he needs a quick word with the Chairman. As he steps outside with him, he runs, runs for his life. When the men realize they storm out and chase him.

The match finishes and Harchester win 2-1 with goals from Fletcher and Naysmith. As he goes into the dressing room Karl is chosen for a random drugs test.

Notes:

Soundtrack: 1 Giant Leep: "My Culture", Fatboy Slim: "Right Here, Right Now", Feeder: "Summer's Gone", Armand Van Helden: "Necessary Evil", Org Lounge: "Une Femme De La Mystique"

Season 6 Guide