Bending the Truth

In order to dispel the rumour that he is gay, Marcel ventures out on the town with the ultimate date - glamour model, party girl and vivacious blonde Jordan (guest starring as herself).

Harchester have reached the FA Cup Semi Finals with their 2-0 win over Liverpool. As the players are going up to the players lounge, Pilar and Tash are discussing how much Marcel is adored by the woman and how much extra money they could make. Ryan at the same time goes to see Nikki and asks if he could have a room at The Grange. After finding out about his Dad sleeping with Tara, he doesn't want to live with him.

A few hours later, Sandra is on a website called ‘SoccerSluts'. It gives all the up to date gossip on footballers. They say that a player from a Midlands club, who came from Paris Saint Germain makes secret visits to his close friend twice a week. They presume it's Curtis, and then they realize it could be Marcel Sabatier. A lot of reporters are now ringing up asking if Marcel is gay, the girls do not comment.

The lads are out on the training pitch and a lot of the press are snapping pictures of Marcel. Hankin comments on him being gay. Marcel is shocked.

At The Grange, Tash is awaiting her nanny, she arrives 40 minutes late, but she explains that she was giving the wrong address. She is told that she's missed her chance. Abi who brought her here, persuades Linzy to go along with Tash to the club.

The boys are getting themselves changed from their training session. Ryan tells Clyde how he's staying in The Grange, Clyde though, tells him how he has a little place in a new building being built and he can lodge with him.

Tash meets Marcel in the boardroom and asks if he is gay. He denies it and says it's a lie. Tash asks him how the rumors could have started and he tells her that someone must be out to ruin him. Pilar arrives, and joins Tash and Marcel in the boardroom. Tash tells Pilar that Marcel has a night booked with Jordan, and if they make sure some pictures are taken of him with her, people will forget they even thought he was gay.

Clyde and Ryan arrive at the apartment, but they cannot get in as Clyde cannot remember his code. While he is trying a camp man opens the door so they go in. The man asks him what number he lives at but Clyde does not wish to tell him. He eventually tells him he is on room 8.

At the club, Hankin is waiting for Marcel. Just as he's about to give up they find him, and they follow his car.

Ryan is impressed with the apartment, there is no furniture there though. Clyde tells him that he'll be getting it all soon.

Marcel arrives at the apartments, and hides when he sees Ryan and Clyde. He calls the man on the bell. The camp man comes downstairs, and as he is talking to Marcel, puts his hand on his shoulder etc. Hankin meanwhile, is hiding in the bushes snapping pictures.

Nikki who is working is confronted by Phil, they both end up asking each other the same things like ‘Is there anything I can do'. You can tell Phil likes her, and maybe Nikki likes her to. They could also be nervous over when they shared a one second kiss after Harchester scored against Liverpool – This was a kiss of excitement though.

Tash is at home and she asks Abi to come round, asking if she could look after the baby. Abi agrees but asks Tash if she has given Linzie the job yet. She hasn't. She explains with the whole Marcel thing she hasn't had anytime to interview her. Tash leaves the house telling Linzie to look after her. When she has left, Abi asks if she wants the job. She explains that she loves Hope, but isn't to keen on Tash. Abi replies, telling her that this is just because she is stressed and she's normally lovely.

Jordan arrives at Marcel's room, and Tash introduces them both. They both leave together. Tash is met by Hankin. He shows her the pictures that he took earlier. He tells her that the man is well known on the midlands gay scene.

Back at The Barons, Abi has to leave Linzie, but explains that Tash's Dad will be home soon.

At Ryan and Clyde's place, some of the furniture arrives. They start talking about girls and Clyde tells her to forget about Tara. Suddenly, Clyde has an idea, throw a party to get the girls. Ryan agrees.

Marcel and Jordan arrive for the film and cameras are everywhere.

Jeff arrives home, to find Linzie asleep on the sofa. She awakes and apologizes that she didn't mean to fall asleep. Jeff is very kind, and tells her that he'll order some food.

Phil is at home and cannot stop thinking of Jacqui. He then starts thinking of Nikki. He gets out his phone book and calls her. She answers and Phil gets ready to ask her on a date, but then changes to ask if she knows anything about Marcel. Nikki is confused, but when the phone goes down she realizes that he must like her.

Tash arrives home and she is not happy. She has ago at Linzie but Jeff defends her. He tells her that she should be kinder. She agrees to be kinder.

Meanwhile, Marcel is back at the hotel with Jordan. Marcel is coming back from the toilets and bumps into Abi. She tells him that he is the best player the club has got and to tell Fletch that she has gone home.

Fletch, Jamie and Curtis, who are all drunk think that Marcel is going to take her to his room so they excitedly follow, only to realize he is taking her to her car.

Back at The Barons, Pilar goes round to see Tash and shows her the pictures, which Tash has already seen. Tash asks her why he is seeing the man but Pilar will not tell her and explains that it is Marcel's choice whether she no's or not.

Marcel awakes to see the mornings papers of the pictures of him with a man and a cheque which Pilar paid Hankin to get rid of the pictures. Tash, Pilar and Marcel are all discussing what to do. Natasha demands to know why Marcel is seeing this man. They won't tell though. Marcel is getting stressed though and begins to get angry. He storms off to training. Clyde makes a little joke and he ends up strangling him. Out on the pitch, Jamie makes a little joke as well and Marcel is not happy.

Jeff speaks to Tash, and tells her she should drop Marcel as an agent, there would be no shame in it. Linzie then comes downstairs to tell Tash that her baby, Hope had said her first word. Tash is gutted that she didn't see it. She tells her Dad that she's now going to find out what Marcel and Pilar are hiding from her if it's the last thing he does.

Training is over and Curtis questions Marcel. He asks if he is gay because in the time he has known him he has never seen him have a relationship with a girl or sleep with a girl. Marcel tells him that if he is his friend he will no that he is not gay. Curtis is not to sure though.

At the apartments, Tash has gone round to see Mr Chambers, the camp man seen with Marcel in the pictures. He answers the door, explaining that he cannot stay long as he has a patient. Natasha realizes he's a shrink. She doesn't have a clue why Marcel would rather people think he was gay than admitting to have a shrink. She asks Mr. Chambers but he won't. He says it's confidential.

Ryan and Clyde are going round asking if anyone want to go to their house warming. Both Nikki and Sandra say they will, Phil turns them down though. Nikki tries to persuade him but he still says no.

People begin to arrive for the party, and it's looking good. Phil who is at the club, drinking, decides to go to the party, the main reason, to see Nikki.

Tash goes to The Grange to see Marcel and tells him that she knows that Mr. Chambers is a shrink. When Marcel hears this he gets up grabbing her by the throat. He gets off her straight away realizing what he has done. He says he is sorry, really sorry, and breaks down crying. He tells her that he wants to go home and leave Harchester.

Phil arrives, seeing Curtis talking cozily to Nikki. He is abit upset by this. While he is standing at the door, Mr. Chambers comes in asking him to turn the music down. He explains that it isn't his party but he'll have a word.

Meanwhile, Marcel has gone to see Jude Chambers. Mr. Chambers cannot respond to Marcel on the bell because he is round at the party. Jude explains to Clyde that it's a weekday and he has patients the next day. They take the mic out of him calling him gay, Marcel then arrives at the party. Clyde doesn't stop and jokes about the two being gay. Phil turns the music off and explains that the party is over.

Marcel is blamed for this by Ryan and begins to work up a temper. Mr. Chambers manages to keep him calm though. He takes Marcel away. As the party is finishing, Curtis asks Nikki if she needs a lift home. She's about to agree when she sees Phil. Phil goes up to Nikki and asks if she needs a lift home and she agrees.

Clyde is furious that the party was stopped and storms off to ‘invade' the camp mans flat. While this is going on, Stuart is getting out of his car, to join in the party he doesn't realize is over. Clyde storms down the stairs, with Ryan following to find Marcel. Marcel calls Clyde and Ryan gay, and Ryan butts in. Marcel jokes that he doesn't have much luck with the ladies and that his Dad has to do all the work. Ryan is not happy and pushes Marcel. Suddenly Marcel snaps and begins to beat Ryan to death. Clyde tries to help but is punched to the ground. Meanwhile, Stuart is watching all of this from the door, and he cannot do anything as it is locked.

Notes:

First appearance of Pilar Hernandez.

Soundtrack: Shy FX: "Shake Your Body" and "Move Your Body", Power & Shy FX: "Don't Wanna Know", Audioslave: "Cochise", Archive: "Again", Manu Chao: "Bongo Bong"

Season 6 Guide