Episode 3319 (28th November 2002)

Plot
It’s a tense time for Gloria as she awaits the result of the election recount – will it go her way. But she is more than a little putout when she realises that Eric is seemingly quite happy for her to lose. It is only when Eric spells out that he is scared of losing her too, that the penny finally drops and they reassess the importance of their marriage. As the outcome of the re-count is announced, Gloria steps forward – but is it as a winner or loser? Mack is furious at Ray’s refusal to pay his bonus, but takes satisfaction from the knowledge of what he did in his and Louise’s house while they were away. Syd warns him not to get on the wrong side of Ray, but Mack is confident that he knows just how to handle people like Ray. Bumping into Louise, Mack asks about the holiday and comments on how good she is looking. But his words come back to haunt her when later that evening she receives a mysterious text message referring to her homecoming. Ray is furious and makes it clear that he will deal with the sender in his own way! Jack is bemused as to how his children persuaded his date to join him – she admits that it was because it was his birthday and she was glad to be his dinner date. The kids wait at home in eager anticipation of news as to how the date has gone, but Jack is having a great time and keeps them waiting. Steph is proving troublesome during her stay at Nicola’s and domestic bless isn’t the order of the day.