Season 8 Episode 28 Episode 352 Sky One Transmission Date: Sunday 1st May 2005 Directed by Joss Agnew

Ryan @ Euro 2004 Ryan, Viv, Naomi Scott, Viv Savannah, Ryan Ryan, Caskey

GS: Naomi Wyatt (Rebecca Loos) Following defeat to Brighton, a furious Viv reminds the team there are five games left and they have just conceded three points. With Sully and Frank still at war, Viv holds them responsible and drops them both. Caskey meanwhile is downing booze in the toilets, and when he emerges Viv tells he and Ryan that together they are the key to the club’s promotion. Viv realises Caskey has been drinking. Naomi has read Ryan's files, and Viv gives her the green light to speak with him. Lee comes in and Viv tells him he will be pairing Ryan up with Carl, if Caskey’s off-field problems don't worsen. A comment from Lee solves it for Viv, as how could Carl be expected to do well on the pitch when he hasn't sorted things with Nicole. The Caskey's have moved into The Barrons, and Carl tells Savannah the manager knows he's drinking and there's no way the club will keep him now. The phones rings and Viv asks Caskey to come to Studs that evening. Naomi arrives at Ryan's and explains how Viv wants him back on the pitch for Tuesday so they need to get to work. Naomi shows Ryan a tape on tackling and Ryan flashes back to the moment when he broke his leg in the England warm-up. Carl finds Viv has closed Studs for the night, and gets a shock when Nicole appears. Viv says he'll leave them to it, and locks them both in. Nicole asks him to talk, but Caskey refuses to listen and climbs out of the window of the gents. Ryan tells Curtis how Viv wants to use him for the Wigan game, and confides that all he can do is think about his injury whenever the thought of going back on the pitch comes to him. At training, Viv tells Frank the tackling ban on Ryan is off and not to go easy on him, following which Ryan storms off the pitch. Savannah arrives home to find her dad passed out drunk on the sofa, and decides to have words with Viv. Savannah berates Viv for sending her dad into the state he's in and bumps into Ryan. He is equally desperate to get away from the club and insists on taking Savannah for a drink. Ryan has no idea who Savannah is, but she understands where he is coming from and the two make a connection. Viv goes to see Carl where he admits it was a mistake to make him meet with Nicole, but reminds Carl that Barker was the one who ended his relationship and now might as well be handing him the bottle, which gets through to Carl. Savannah goes back to Ryan's and up to his room. As Caskey sobers up Nicole phones saying she and Savannah were supposed to meet and she never showed. Viv tells Caskey of how Savannah came to the club and left after a row. Carl looks out of the window and sees Savannah canoodling with Ryan. He storms outside and warns Ryan to stay away from his daughter before kicking his leg! Whilst Curtis frets over Ryan being injured once more, Ryan himself is fine and has overcome his fear, now unable to believe he was thinking about quitting playing. Savannah refuses to forgive Carl, who is left feeling guilty. The day of the game Ryan tells Viv he is ready to play but won't be giving up on Savannah as she really means something to him. Viv tells Ryan to go and talk with Caskey, as he wants no problems between them by the time they kick off. Caskey is unhappy about Ryan being five years older than his daughter, and Ryan responds with how Savannah acts more twenty-one than anyone that age he knows. Ryan tells Caskey he really wants to give this a go and Carl comes round and says Savannah feels the same. Harchester take to the pitch against Wigan Athletic and within the first twenty seconds Lee scores after a pass from Ryan, and a proud Savannah sits in the stands as Carl and Ryan celebrate on the pitch. Notes: The Best: Savannah had the potential to be one of Ryan’s better pairings, alongside Chelsea, so it’s a shame they don’t stick with it. Ryan suggesting he and Naomi use his room for their session but she sees right through it. Not even if you were David Beckham Ryan! Well... maybe. Quotes: Carl (on Nicole’s stance on their marriage): "You were the one who threw it away... when you screwed Don Barker!" Continuity: Lee on Caskey, remarking to Viv he has seen blokes react worse when they found out their wives were cheating on them, then stops short of continuing when he remembers Chelsea. Additional Info: Ryan describes his injury to Savannah, and tells her of the complications and how a fat embolism formed and he nearly died – something Ricky Whittle experienced himself, added to Ryan’s story as his leg break had been. What Was The Score?: Harchester suffer a 3-0 defeat to Brighton. It looks up for them when they face Wigan and Lee scores. Soundtrack: Bloc Party: "So Here We Are", Boards Of Canada: "1969", Depeche Mode: "In Your Room", Maxim: "Hell's Kitchen", Moby: "Swear", The Caesars: "Jerk It Out" <<SE08 EP27 | Season 8 Main Page | SE08 EP29>>