• Monday 12th April --- KARL'S BIRTHDAY
It's the morning of Karl's 23rd birthday. He comes into the hospital canteen and sits down next to Todd to drink his tea. Todd hands him his birthday present with a big smile on his face and Karl jokes: “Ooh, for me?” Todd says: “I don't know anyone else who's 23 today – 23 soon be 30!” 
Karl contradicts: “I'll have you know 23's a fantastic age, best ever. What is it?” Todd tells him to open it and see so Karl starts ripping off the paper eagerly while Todd rabbits on: “I got it in town. I've got the receipt if you don't like it. I just thought it'd suit you, I mean I haven't, I haven't bought -” Karl holds the shirt up to his chest and interrupts: “It's great.” Todd's pleased: “Yeah?” Karl goes on: “Yeah. Looks expensive though.” Todd tells him it cost less than it looks and it's from Sarah as well. Karl is well pleased. He grabs Todd's shoulder affectionately and says warmly: “I really like it. Thanks mate, I'll wear it tonight.” Todd's chuffed that his present is appreciated and gives Karl a winning smile: “Good.” Then Karl asks him if he's still up for tonight and Todd replies: “Yeah definitely. How many people are coming?” Karl tells him he's invited loads but it'll probably just be a few of his mates. 
Then without thinking, Todd asks: “Gay mates?” Karl replies: “Yeah - you okay with that?” Todd says he is and then realising what he's said, he quickly apologises: “Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.” Karl tells him: “It's okay. So yeah, you and Sarah, Katy and er ... Martin, we're just talking about you.” Martin comes over to their table and Karl goes on: “Yeah, we're just going over tonight, should be a good ‘un. You're bringing Katy and Sarah aren't you?” Martin mumbles in agreement, makes some excuse and then makes himself scarce. Karl is amused: “You can tell he's keen can't you. I bet he can't wait to set foot on Canal Street!” Todd is still feeling a bit awkward about tonight so he asks Karl if it's all gay bars, to which Karl replies: “Yeah, the ones we'll be going to anyway, but it's full of straight people, open-minded people, like you.” Todd is convinced and says jovially: “Looking forward to it, should be, should be good.”
Sarah and Katy are both looking forward to their night out on Canal Street and they are standing outside Sarah's flat chatting about it. Katy says Martin doesn't want to go and she jokes: “You know what he'll be doing don't you? He'll be panicking, he'll be thinking the minute he steps in a gay bar then every fella will call in on him, because he is so irresistable. Is your Todd like that?” Sarah doesn't think so and Katy goes on: “Well, he won't be. He's comfortable with himself, you can tell. Mind you, they do look good don't they, gay guys? They like their fashion, and they look after their skin and stuff. Anything other than soap and water and Martin's at a loss!”
Later on that evening, Todd and Karl arrive together on Canal Street (gay nightlife district of Manchester). Todd seems to like it; he says it's not what he was expecting but it seems alright. Sarah phones Todd's mobile to tell him that she can't come out because their babysitter (Candice) is in a bit of a state and has let her down, but she doesn't mind if he stays out without her and she asks him to tell Karl she's sorry. When Todd tells Karl that Sarah won't be able to come, he takes it pretty well: “Oh shame. So, that leaves you free and single for the night, just like me.” Todd starts to look worried but Karl reassures him: “Come on, you'll be alright, I'll look after you.” So Sarah's night is apparently ruined and Todd and Karl end up starting the night out on their own. The two boys go into the nightclub. Even though Karl had told Todd there would be a group of his mates there, it seems that the only one that's actually put in an appearance is the very camp Sean Tully who immediately comes up and twitters round them for a while. He gives Karl a pair of bunny ears and briefly puts them on Todd's head. Sean questions Todd about getting married and having a baby: “You don't do things by halves do you?” Karl tells Sean to leave Todd alone so he goes off somewhere else for a while. Karl asks Todd if he's alright ‘cos he seems very quiet but Todd says he's just not very good with new people. Karl asks Todd if it's what he expected and Todd says it's good and he likes it. 
He says it's a shame Sarah couldn't come but Karl puts his arm round Todd's shoulder and tells him: “Yeah, but it would've been more of a shame if Sarah was here and you were stuck at home babysitting. You're my mate, you're the one I really wanna spend time with.”
Martin has been pretending to be ill because he really doesn't want to go to Canal Street and Katy is really mad at him. He admits he doesn't want to spend the night with his back to the wall, bottling it all up so he doesn't have to go to the toilet. Sarah phones Katy to say she won't be able to go out, but Katy has a brain wave and tells her to bring Beth over because her grandad will babysit, so Martin's off the hook and the night's on again. Sarah and Katy get a taxi into town, excited about their night out and wondering what the blokes will be like. Sarah tries to phone Todd to let him know they're on their way but he's not answering it as he probably can't hear it with all the noise going on in the club.
Todd and Karl go and sit down next to the dance floor. Karl says he should come out with him more often and Todd says he'd like that but it's hard with Sarah and Beth, but not impossible. Karl wants to get on the dance floor but Todd doesn't want to so Karl protests: “Oh come on! I bet you're a great little mover.” Then a bloke walks by and gives Todd the eye which makes him feel rather uncomfortable. Karl tries to make light of it: “Don't let it bother you. You're a good looking bloke. You're gonna get attention.” Todd tries to make out he was probably looking at Karl but they both know he wasn't. To make matters worse, Karl's ex-boyfriend Robbie turns up and they notice him standing at the bar staring over at them. Todd starts to feel decidedly uneasy and even though Karl insists that Robbie's not going to spoil his night, he soon begins to get really agitated about him being there: “I bet he's been in every bar round here looking for me.” Todd tries to be positive: “He hasn't come over. If he meant trouble he'd come over,” but Karl points out: “You don't know him, he'll be getting himself ready, working out what to say, how best to wind me up, ruin my night.” So Todd suggests that they should go somewhere else but Karl doesn't want to: “It's my birthday, I wanna spend it here.” Sean comes over to join them again and he hears them talking about Robbie. Todd wants Karl to leave it and just ignore Robbie but Karl wants to sort it out so he goes over to the bar to have a word with him. Meanwhile, Sean stands chatting to Todd and fills him in on some of the details: “I don't know why Karl went out with him in the first place, he's not his usual type ... I'm surprised him and Robbie lasted as long as they did, the rows they used to have. Still, what's it they say about making up? ... Robbie's not Karl's type at all, but he keeps going back for more.” This just winds Todd up even more. Karl and Robbie have a fairly civilised chat; Robbie wishes him a happy birthday and says he was going to give him a watch. He notices the new shirt and seems to be a bit put out when Karl admits it was a birthday present from Todd. Karl tries to make out it's ‘not like that' but Robbie doesn't believe him: “Isn't it? Then why's he been staring daggers at me for the last few minutes, and why's he coming over here?” 
The situation has got too much for Todd and he's decided it's time to leave so he tells Karl he's going to head off and check on Sarah. Then he rushes outside with Karl chasing after him and Robbie finds it all highly amusing.
Karl finds Todd outside leaning over the wall looking down at the canal. He shouts Todd's name as he walks up behind him. Todd says he's going and makes some excuse about coming out to make a phone call. Karl doesn't want Todd to go and asks him to come back inside the bar but Todd doesn't see the point. Then he has a bit of a dicky fit: “It's not me! It's a great bar, I can see why you like it. The tunes are great, the lights, the feeling, it's really good. But, I can't relax, it don't feel right, it's just not me.” Karl points out that Todd was having a good time before Robbie turned up and maybe they could go somewhere else, but Todd denies it: “It's not Robbie. It's me! I can't be like you. I can't be like that with those blokes in there. You're all so confident, know who you are. It's like how you are at work, you just adapt. Nothing gets to you, you take everything in your stride.” Then Todd mentions the bloke that was staring at him earlier and Karl reminds him: “You said he was looking at me!” Todd admits: “No he wasn't, he was looking at me! I know that and you know that!” 
Karl says it's because he fancies him and it's no big deal but Todd explodes: “No big deal? You just don't get it do you? I don't belong here. It don't feel right, but you don't see that do you. You're just out having a laugh and why shouldn't you be, 'cos you do belong! What I'm feeling, and don't pretend, don't pretend for one minute you don't understand what I'm feeling. You just think it's hysterical. Yeah, a big joke! You've got Robbie running round after you, and you know you'll probably end up with him tonight. You know ...” Karl can't believe what he's hearing and wants to know what Todd means; Todd tells him that Sean said they were always rowing and making up. Karl says: “In the past yeah! When we've been together, but we're not together anymore. I dumped him. It's over. Todd, I came out with you tonight. Don't let Robbie spoil that.” Then Todd asks: “Why did you invite me here?” 
Karl replies: “Because I wanted to be with ya!” Then Karl asks: “Why did you come?” and in reply Todd moves in and kisses Karl and they have their first proper snog.
Right on cue, the girls turn up in the taxi and nearly catch them at it ... Sarah is all excited: “Oh, I can't wait to see Todd's face when he sees me!” Luckily, as they get out of the taxi, Todd opens his eyes at the crucial moment and spots them arriving over Karl's shoulder. He quickly breaks up the clinch and pulls away from Karl, much to his surprise. Sarah and Katy go over and greet them and wish Karl a happy birthday. Todd is feeling desperately uncomfortable and keeps looking at Karl. Sarah notices that Todd's looking awkward and she wants to know what's up and wonders if they've been there for a while. Karl says: “We've been in, but we came out for a couple of minutes didn't we Todd?” 
Todd makes out that it's Robbie that's bothering him and says maybe they should go somewhere else but Sarah and Katy don't see why they should let some jealous ex spoil Karl's party. The two girls go into the club and Karl very cleverly asks Todd what he's doing: “So, what are you doing? Are you staying out ... or going back in?” Todd hesitates then turns to go into the club leaving Karl disappointed and frustrated.
They go inside the club to join Sarah and Katy and make the most of the rest of the evening. Katy asks Karl if he had any good presents and he shows them his new shirt but he makes out it was from ‘just a friend'. Sean comes over and gets introduced to the girls, then he mentions that Robbie's still hanging round and Karl says he's ignoring him. Sean says: “He's trying ever so hard to give you daggers poor love ... pathetic really, I'll go and have a word.” Karl tells him not to wind Robbie up but Sean insists: “I'm only gonna tell him to leave you alone that's all. I don't want him spoiling your big night.” As Sean goes off to speak to Robbie, Karl points out: “He thinks he's my gaurdian angel.” Then Karl spots some of his mates and he thinks this would be the perfect excuse to get Todd on his own so he can ask him about what's just happened: “Heyup Todd, it's the ear, nose and throat lot – shall we go over and say hello?” Todd obviously doesn't want to discuss it so he says he hardly knows them and would rather stay with the girls. Karl goes off on his own but he still wants to talk to Todd and tries to beckon him over but Todd just slopes off after Sarah and Katy instead.
Robbie's perched by the dance floor and Todd's sitting on a sofa refusing to get up and dance. Sarah tries to drag him onto the dance floor but he doesn't want to so Katy says she'll dance with Sarah and they go off together. Karl sees Todd sitting on his own and he comes over to ask him why he didn't follow him before. Todd snaps: “Are you kidding? I'm not chasing after you, not with me fiancee in the room.” Karl says he wants to find out what's going on but Todd doesn't want to discuss it and tells him now's not a good time. Karl won't be fobbed off and he goes on: “Sarah and Katy are having a ball, now all I need to know is what you think's just happened.” Todd replies: “I think you know what happened,” but Karl says: “No I don't. You kissed me, you pushed me away.” Todd says: “Yeah, Sarah turned up.” Karl asks: “What if she hadn't? You kissed her brother once and that was a one-off mistake, it didn't mean anything remember?” Todd shouts: “Yeah, course I remember!” Karl carries on interrogating him: “So was that the same, a one-off? Was it the drink talking? Did it mean nothing?” Todd says no so Karl asks: “No, it meant nothing, or no it meant something?” At this point, Robbie comes over and interrupts them (to Karl's obvious annoyance) and says: “I just wanted to say I hope you have a good time tonight and I hope we can still be friends.” Sean must have been keeping an eye out because he immediately comes across to check that everything's alright. The quiet chat has been spoilt and Karl walks off defeated, saying: “Everyone's just good friends and I'm gonna dance.” Todd stares after him and sighs deeply.
Karl's having a good time dancing, while Robbie's watching him from one side of the dance floor and Todd's watching him from the other side. Sarah goes over to Todd and says: “Have you seen Robbie? He can't take his eyes off Karl, pathetic really, not that Karl seems to mind. Oh look he's finally going.” Then Todd announces to Sarah that he's sick of this place and he wants to go home. Sarah wants to stay but Todd storms out without even saying goodbye to the birthday boy. Karl sees Todd leaving and Sarah chases after him.
As soon as they arrive back at the flat, Sarah wants to know why Todd was so desperate to get home early and they end up having a big argument. She complains that it's the first time they've been out in town for ages, they've got Beth off their hands for the whole night and they're back home before 11 o'clock. Todd says he just wasn't feeling comfortable but Sarah doesn't understand why and yells at him: “Oh Todd, come on, it's 2004! It's the 21st century! If you can't deal with the fact that gay people exist ...” Todd protests: “I've got nothing against gay people ... I just don't like them in my face all the time.” Sarah asks if someone tried chatting him up but Todd replies: “No ... not exactly, but everywhere I looked there was men staring at me, trying to make eye contact. It was literally doing me head in!” Sarah still doesn't understand and says tactlessly: “You should've been flattered!” Todd tries to explain why the whole situation was such a problem for him but Sarah is still being a bit dim so Todd yells at her: “Are you really that stupid? ... If you can't see why I'd be awkward in a place like that!” The penny still hasn't dropped with Sarah so Todd decides to leave it and says: “Forget it, I'm sorry, it's me that's being stupid.” At long last, Sarah cottons on: “It's not to do with our Nick is it?” Todd confides in her: “Can you imagine what he'd be like if someone came up to him and said ‘oh by the way, I saw your future brother-in-law on Canal Street last night'? I'd never hear the end of it.” Sarah finally becomes a lot more sympathetic and says: “Who cares what Nick thinks?” Todd goes on: “I know I shouldn't but ... ever since he got the wrong idea that night, he's looked at me as if I'm a piece of filth. You must've seen it, the way he looks down his nose at me. Is it any wonder I felt awkward tonight?” 
Sarah asks why he went out in the first place and Todd explains: “Karl's a mate. I was going for a couple of drinks then I was getting off. I was on my way home when you turned up.” Sarah apologises for not realising it was such a big deal. They kiss and make up and Todd immediately gets amorous, almost as if he wants to prove something to himself.
Later on, after Todd and Sarah have gone to bed, Todd receives a text message from Karl saying: “Don't expect Me 2 Come Running After U With A Slipper Cinders”. Todd checks that Sarah's fast asleep, then he goes into the living room and phones Karl to apologise for leaving so early. He says: “Karl, it's me. I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. I'm sorry, it's just ... I had to get out of there. You know, it was doing my head in, Sarah turning up like that. I was actually sick, I mean physically sick.” Karl isn't impressed: “You really know how to flatter a bloke don't you?” Todd apologises: “I didn't mean ... I'm sorry ... it's just me 'ead's all over the place.” Karl jokes: “Yeah, and so's your tea. Big deal!” Todd goes on: “Look Karl, thing is, about what happened tonight, I spose what I'm trying to say is it did mean something. I can't stop thinking about you. I wish I was still there with you right now.” Karl tells him that the club doesn't close until 3 o'clock, implying that he wants Todd to go back and meet him there again, but Todd says he can't go back because Sarah's in the next room. Karl says: “The ball's in your court. Like I said in the text - I'm not running after you. If you want me, you know where I am.” By now, Sarah has woken up and, realising that Todd is talking to someone on the phone, she goes into the living room to see who's calling at this time of night. Todd lies to her that it's his brother Jason on the phone. She tries to take the phone off him because she wants to talk to Jason but Todd quickly cuts off the call, leaving Karl hanging. Todd apologizes to Sarah and says he told Jason he shouldn't phone at this time of night but he's upset about Candice splitting up with him. Luckily Sarah believes him and asks him if he's coming back to bed.