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Brenda was so good...

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Vicarshusband (U6051871) on Wednesday, 20th June 2007

  ...during the Chalkman business.
  
  What was that? All I can remember about Chalky is that he gave up Matt's hidden dosh to Yvette (Renee! Oh - Renee!!! - sorry, couldn't resist - ) when she and Matt were divorcing.
  
  Did Brenda play some heroic part in that, and if so what, or was Matt referring to something else altogether?
  
  VH

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Wednesday, 20th June 2007

  "Brenda corners Brian in the bar and asks him about Andrew Eagleton, a board director of Borchester Land, who owns a Jaguar dealership in London. Stephen Chalkman, a member of the district council planning committee, has been seen lunching with him - and recently obtained a new Jag from Eagleton's dealership. Brian smoothly warns Brenda off. She won't help herself chasing stories of non-existent corruption. "
  
  "Matt explodes into Home Farm to ask Brian what Brenda thinks she's playing at.Brian's been out all day, and didn't hear the programme.It seems Brenda made insinuations to Councillor Stephen Chalkman, on air, suggesting that he'd been taking backhanders from a board member.Matt is furious, Brian doesn't see what it's got to do with him.But Matt tells him Brenda is going to be in serious trouble.He'd better warn her off. "
  
  "Betty is on the phone to Brenda trying to reassure her when Roy and Hayley come in - they had a really wonderful time in London - lovely hotel, all the sights, eating out and so on. They ask what the matter is and Betty says that Brenda is very upset because she interviewed a man from the council - and Brian has been to see her too - Brenda was in floods of tears - Roy is going straight over to see Brian, he should be ashamed. Hayley says he ought to get the facts first but Roy will have a word with Brian while they are at Home farm picking up Phoebe.
  
  Roy talking to Brian about why he had a go at Brenda because if it's true about backhanders it should be revealed. Brian still thinks that she's been stupid as she had only hearsay to back it up - she's been officially reprimanded now and there may be further action ... even the sack, at the very least an apology on air will be needed - but the man who fed her the information is the real villain and he's left Brenda hanging out to dry ... "
  
  "Brenda is having a hard time over the interview in which she ambushed Councillor Chalkman. She has been put onto 'soft' stories for the time being, and might get the sack. She has decided that, when Brian warned her off, he just might have had her best interest at heart. She must talk to him again. "
  
  "Brenda discusses with Brian her interview with Councillor Chalkman. Radio Borsetshire will be broadcasting an apology. Brian advises her to come to him first if she hears anything more.
  
  Brenda is relegated to "soft" stories for Radio Borsetshire, like the 100th birthday of Lottie Cromer. The trouble is, there are few people left who knew her well. But there is one: Joe Grundy. Joe spins some unlikely yarns about her two sons, both now dead, and Brenda suggests that he might like to tell some of them on air.
  Brian discusses with Phil his conversation with Brenda, but is dismissive when Phil asks if there is any foundation for her allegations. "
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Wednesday, 20th June 2007

  "At the Bull, Brenda reveals to Brian that Councillor Chalkman and Andrew Eagleton used to be directors of the same company about twenty years ago. He is not impressed; it is in the past. Brian admits he is inclined to believe the Jag was a bribe and reveals that there is no love lost between him and his other directors. He is sufficiently interested in Brenda's research to enquire about the company, Mererid Ltd. There were 3 directors: Eagleton, Chalkman and Chalkman's wife under her maiden name of Mererid Calder. Brian warns Brenda that she is playing a dangerous game; nevertheless he keeps the paper on which the details are written. "
  
  "Brian is edgy. He had a bad night trying to work out where he had come across the name Mererid Calder before.
  
  Brian has struck gold. He has discovered amongst his Borsetshire Land papers that Mererid Calder is a director of the parent company and therefore stands to gain by the development. Councillor Chalkman did not declare this interest. Now what does Brian do?
  
  Back at Home Farm, Brian has some serious thinking to do, so is not receptive to discussing the Kruger National Park. Jennifer does not want the houses in the village but is very tempted by the huge profit they will bring; they must not be tempted. If Andrew has been giving back-handers, all of the directors are implicated; making a big profit will invite the press to have a field day. There is no going back now that Brenda has exposed some of the truth. Brian impresses on Jennifer the need for secrecy; tell nobody, least of all Brenda."
  

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Wednesday, 20th June 2007

  "Brian explains the problem, as he sees it: Mererid Calder is Chalkman's wife and stands to gain from his support of the housing development, in which he has not declared an interest. If this comes out it will be seen at least as a conflict of interest and probably as corruption. They have no choice but to pull the plug on the whole scheme. Steady Brian. What if it doesn't come out? The Borchester Land directors will make half a million each. Matt is not so keen to give this up just because it goes against Brian's principles. "
  
  "Brian thinks Matt is betting on his silence and greed. He might have to put off the trip in order to keep pressure on the Board; if the development is not called off he fears they will all be implicated and could even face criminal charges. Jennifer, however, is not going to let Matt Crawford ruin their holiday. "
  
  "The purpose of Matt's lunchtime meeting soon becomes clear. He thinks Brian and Jennifer need a holiday, a real holiday. A 70-foot yacht, complete with crew, is at their disposal in the Bahamas for two or three weeks. As a director's perk, the company would pay for the flights.
  
  Brian is not going to be bought off. If he took the holiday, the local press would have a field day. Matt will have to go back to the Board and tear up their Ambridge development plans. He admits that Brian has got him where it hurts and Brian has no intention of letting go: those plans have got to be scrapped or he will shop the lot of them. "
  
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Wednesday, 20th June 2007

  "Matt arrives just before dinner - Brian is unhappy, and points out that he isn't budging. Matt announces that Cllr Chalkman's wife has resigned from the board of the parent company, and announces that he wants to make development plans more suitable for the village."
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Vicarshusband (U6051871) on Thursday, 21st June 2007

  Thanks for that RosieT - it had all gone from my mind. Very worrying.
  
  VH

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• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Quezzie (U2255959) on Thursday, 21st June 2007

  So in what way was Brenda "so good" ? For sniffing the corruption out? Or for not finding out about Chalky's wife?
  
  Q xx

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