Having kept an understandably low profile since the wedding, it comes as a surprise when, without prior warning, Brad makes his return to teaching. While Sally is desperate to catch a moment to talk over their problems, though, her one-time husband-to-be is keeping up a remarkably frosty façade, insisting on a business-as-usual approach to the day – and it’s not long before the students, too, are falling victim to his lack of patience. While Annie is heartbroken to find out that she’s been failed on the first assignment she’s ever completed without help, Luc is disappointed that news of his publishing deal fails to win any praise; worse still, Brad gets so tired of Luc’s spending time on his novel during lesson time that he confiscates the disc holding the only working copy of his latest chapter, choosing to slip it inside the cover of Annie’s project for safekeeping. But when Annie’s project finds itself in Geoff’s possession, so does the disc... Cutting all tiesAs the day draws to a close, Sally finds herself overwhelmed by problems at home (once again, made all the worse by a big dose of bad judgment on Colleen’s part); it’s only with Alf’s well-informed advice that she decides that the time to confess her feelings to Brad is long overdue. Unfortunately, her visit also means having to broach the subject of Annie’s harshly marked assignment, and Brad is quick to see through the pretence, knowing that hopes of a more serious heart-to-heart can’t be far from her mind. ‘I love you and I still want to be with you,’ Sally pleads, before asking what it is she needs to do to fix things between them. ‘For starters you can take that engagement ring off,’ he responds, making it clear that he’s sooner cut all ties than attempt to rebuild their relationship. Before Sally has time to say another word, Brad’s already on his way out the door – but is his rage about to get the better of him?

Road rage

Meanwhile, Alf’s old friend, a football talent scout and ex-professional player, is in town to watch the U18 team play. Geoff’s particularly excited at the thought of one of his heroes coming to see the game, especially when he realises that he may be destined for new horizons if he can stay on top form.

But the thrill of meeting a legend doesn’t last long. Practice session over, Geoff stumbles across Luc’s CD hidden amongst his footie kit and, having failed to notice that it’s been damaged, goes to return it to him. (And there we were thinking that these two had finally buried the hatchet.) Furious at seeing Geoff still on a buzz from his celebrity encounter rather than showing any great remorse, Luc decides it’s time to retaliate by letting go of his trademark maturity and throwing his rival’s football into the road – something he soon has reason to regret when, Geoff having gone to retrieve it, a car speeds out of nowhere and fails to stop in time.

Horrified, Luc looks on as he sees Geoff lying motionless in the road – and Brad stepping out from behind the wheel of the car.

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