44 Scotland Street: Episodes 16 to 20

Published on Saturday 19 February 2011 16:43

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Is it sexist to say that men are less nurturing than women? Or is it, instead, merely stating the obvious? Whatever the answer, this is what causes a rift between Matthew and Big Lou, when Matthew asserts that fathers should get just as long off work as mothers do. When Big Lou points out that this isn't the way of the animal world, their row escalates to the point at which Matthew becomes the only person in Edinburgh banned from her coffee bar.

All of this is profoundly worrying, as Big Lou is not the kind of person who will readily back down. As a rule, people from Arbroath aren't good at backing down, which is why it was such a fitting place to send a letter to the Pope from, urging him not to bother taking England's claim to Scotland seriously. Pat tried to make peace between her two friends, but to no avail.

Back in 44 Scotland Street itself, history surfaces again when Angus and Domenica notice a small painting on the wall of Antonia's unoccupied flat that looks suspiciously like a Caddell. Given Antonia's customary poor aesthetic taste, this is a bit of a surprise. But a potentially even bigger surprise is to be found when they read a postcard to Antonia in which one Magnus Campbell announces his imminent arrival in Edinburgh. Could this be the same Magnus Campbell with whom Domenica had a small fling with all those years ago?