19/08/2016 EastEnders

WHITNEY: So, what happens today, then?

-JOHNNY:

-Well, both sides will make their closing arguments,

the judge will do the summing up

and then send the jury out to make the decision.

-MICK:

-Yeah. That should take about five minutes, then.

I'd better make a start on downstairs.

Leave that. I'll do it later.

Honestly, Whit, sit down, babe.

She... She wants to keep busy. It's probably for the best.

Ain't going to take long today, this thing, you know.

Jury have got to earn their luncheon vouchers, ain't they?

Dad, you know there's no guarantees...

Listen, don't, don't talk like that, OK?

Especially not around your mother.

I just want good, positive vibes, OK?

'Please be seated.

'Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

'this is not an easy case to decide.'

Shirl, come back!

'Some of the testimony you've heard has been highly emotive,

'but you must ignore emotions.

'You must decide,

'based on the evidence you've heard, what the facts of this case are...

'..which evidence you accept or reject.

'This alone must be the basis for your verdict.

'So, what are the facts?

'What is not in dispute is that sexual activity took place.

'Neither side has sought to deny that.

'What is in question is the issue of consent.

'Did the defendant really believe consent had been given?

'Was he justified in doing so?

'It may be felt by some of you that rape or attempted rape

'cannot exist in the context of a relationship,

'but this is neither the law

'nor sufficient basis for a not-guilty verdict.

'You have heard that the defendant is of previously good character.

'Good character is not a defence

'but it is relevant to his credibility.

'You have also seen photographs of bruising

'sustained by the alleged injured party,

'the prosecution would have it,

'as part of a brutal attack at the hands of Mr Wicks.

'The defence counter that these injuries

'were sustained during rough but consensual foreplay.'

You got a problem?!

Oi! I said have you got a problem?

-Hey!

-WOMEN LAUGH

Walk away, walk away, walk away.

'You have heard from the prosecution that Mr Wicks' own mother

'heard the alleged injured party shout, "No,"

'only moments before walking in and finding him on top of her.

'However, the defence have suggested that this testimony is unsafe,

'the product of a troubled and unhealthy mother-son relationship.'

Oh, Shirley... Come on, come with me. Come on.

'Finally, I must emphasise

'that the burden of proof is upon the prosecution.

'It is for them to establish in your mind

'that, beyond reasonable doubt,

'the defendant is guilty of this offence.'

'All rise.'

Have you... Have you heard something? I know Buster's in court.

I don't think she should be on her own, that's all.

I told you, I'm all right.

PHONE VIBRATES

Hello.

OK, thank you.

Come on.

Johnny, love, will you do me a favour?

Take Ollie to the park. He don't want to be cooped up.

Good boy.

Linda, the police have rung.

The jury's gone out.

Um, I'd better get back to the stall.

I think Donna would rather if you didn't.

-If you want to come to mine...

-No, stay.

Sorry. I mean, of course, if you'd rather...

I just thought...

Well, I don't know what I thought really, but...

Does anybody want a cup of tea?

Shirl,

pass us that, will you?

I'll get you a glass.

You not having one?

I want to be stone-cold sober when that verdict comes in.

Well, you've got more faith in the system than I have.

After what they did to me at court!

Yeah, but that could easily count against him,

bullying a victim.

Anyway, he was practically caught red-handed! What does it say,

your own mother testifying against you in court?

That don't mean he's going down.

-We all know it could go either way.

-Well I think...

-Please, Ronnie!

I've had a bellyful of that from the kids.

If we can't be honest with each other, then...

I've had it up to here.

No, don't. Don't make excuses for her.

You saw how she shut me out yesterday.

Do you know, I'm going to write to the Pope, get you sainted.

So, she didn't try to explain?

You deal with things differently, that's all.

I bend over backwards and she totally ignores what I need.

You'd think, all this business with Dean, you know,

it would bring us closer together.

So, what is it you need?

It must have been awful, being in the same room.

Well, they... They put a screen up, so...

I mean, to be honest, it was more like I was on trial anyway.

I mean, what difference, right, does it make

if I've slept with, what, a million men?

No means no, doesn't it?

You know what, it's not even like it's my word against his,

but yet I still have to prove it.

How is that even justice?!

It's just like any other crime.

-I mean, some women do lie.

-No, hardly ever.

What, so that gives him the right, does it?

That gives him the right to humiliate me AGAIN?!

I'm not saying that!

I mean, why didn't they talk about his past?

How is it OK to practically call me a slag

and not even discuss what he did to Linda?

I'm not saying that it's right and I'm not saying that it's fair.

-He almost destroyed me.

-Yeah, but he didn't.

And he won't.

I'm sorry.

I know you say it isn't, but this is my fault.

No, come on, Linda.

No.

You tried to warn me, didn't you?

And if I'd not been so pig-headed...

If I'd gone to the police straightaway, if he'd...

No! No.

No, what happened to you was totally different, OK?

When I realised...

what he was doing...

You know, I knew him,

I had slept with him

and I was still terrified.

But you fought back, you tried.

For all the good it did me!

Thank God you walked in.

Cos I wouldn't have got away. I wouldn't.

He had all his...

all his weight on top of me,

pressing down and his breath in my face...

Stop, stop!

Look, the truth is, no-one knows how they're going to react

until it's happened to them,

because, at first, you're in shock and then afterwards...

Well, you can't even admit what's happened to yourself,

let alone to anyone else.

But you came forward and that's what's important.

I think she blames me, you know.

Bad genes. I'm no angel, am I?

Spent half my life doing bird.

-I'm sure if Shirley blames anyone...

-Nah.

She's probably right.

To think that I was part of creating that...

that monster.

I want to hate him. A big part of me does.

Straight up, all that guff about blood...

I didn't know he existed till two years ago.

I should have stayed away.

Oh, what, and miss out on Mick? And your grandkids?

You and Shirl, you were happy once.

Past tense.

When I think about what he did...

I don't understand it.

I don't want to understand it!

He's a deluded, spoilt little boy.

He wants something, he takes it.

And that's an excuse, is it?

No.

No, but...he's not the bogeyman

and you can't think of him like that.

You're his mum! Course you feel guilty!

Because it's down to me! I heard that from the horse's mouth.

Oh, well, then it must be true, mustn't it(?)

I mean, if Dean says so... OK, fine, you were a crappy mother.

That's got nothing to do with it.

Shirl, look, I let a rapist live with my daughter.

No.

No, it's not coincidence that as soon as I left, then he...

He raped me, Shirl. You can say it.

And, yeah, he was upset, but....

I abandoned him!

He had his dad! He wasn't beaten or abused, was he?

Mick had a far worse time of it, so if that's his only excuse...

Why do you think that he hates women so much?!

How do you think he got like that?!

It's bad enough that I kept leaving him when he was a baby,

but then I kept on and on doing it.

I should have stayed away. Kevin wanted me to,

-but, oh, no, I...

-Listen, listen, listen, all right?

I hate to break it to you, but you're not that important to him.

All right? He knows you feel guilty and he plays on it.

That's exactly what he does.

Was it your fault for trusting him?

Was it your fault for liking him?

Was it my fault for letting him, for being his daughter?

Ron! You were 13, all right? Don't be ridiculous!

No, he was a fully grown man, all right?

And, like Dean, he knew it was wrong,

he knew it was rape, it was his fault,

HIS fault and no-one else's, so don't you dare make excuses!

I reckon they should castrate him, be done with.

What would you do? Those girls.

They're never going to get over it.

I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but...

they're strong.

Given time and the right support...

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And then the fairies come along and they wave their magic wands

and everyone lives happily ever after.

With all due respect, Kathy,

you don't know what you're talking about.

Yes, I do.

I know only too well.

I was 14 the first time.

Stupid. No, not stupid, naive.

I didn't have that excuse the second time around.

And not that that was my fault either.

It took me a long time to realise, but...

He was like Dean in a lot of ways, you know.

He was handsome, charming.

My husband never liked him.

No, he thought I was getting ideas above my station.

I mean, James was interesting, cultured.

Sounds like you liked him.

Yeah, I did.

Before.

He was kind and gentle.

I know. It's weird.

But that's what they do.

They reel you in.

Get you trusting them and that's why you end up blaming yourself.

If only they had "monster" stamped on their forehead.

But, Buster, look, I am living proof!

Life is good. I'm happy.

I mean, it's taken a while, yes, but...

Look, Linda and Roxy, they're strong women.

Look how far they've come so far. I mean...

They'll be OK.

And so will you and Shirl.

I know it's hard.

What I'd have given to have a man like you back then.

Someone who actually wanted to understand.

Shirley's lucky to have you.

She'll want to talk sooner or later and when she does...

she'll realise.

I know what it's like, that fear that no-one will believe you.

I really thought it was my fault because he told me that it was.

Do you see what I'm saying? You can't...

You CAN'T blame yourself.

I can't imagine... Your own dad...

Rape's rape, isn't it?

Keeping it to yourself for all that time...

That's what women do! All right? We blame ourselves!

But if we say it's down to us, if we take that on our shoulders,

then we're letting them off the hook.

I should be in court for when the verdict comes back.

Do you want me to go with you?

No, no, no.

But thanks for offering.

What are friends for?

Yeah.

Kathy, I just wish...

I was about back then, that's all.

You'll let me know what happens, yeah?

You think you're alone, but if it's happened to all of us...

I wonder how many more women are out there?

-Not all men are rapists.

-No.

Mick's been my rock.

I was terrified of telling him.

You know what he's like, he had me on a pedestal.

I know we've had our ups and downs, but...

I mean, looking back, it was like a fairy tale,

right up until that night.

You got through it.

It'll never be the same.

It can't.

I'm not...

I'm not saying that I think about it 24/7 any more.

But it's always there...

..colouring things.

You know what I mean.

Are you glad you told him, though?

It has made us stronger.

I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but...

I know now, that nothing... nothing can ever break us.

It makes you appreciate who you've got in your corner.

Archie made me...feel powerless.

I couldn't have stopped him, I know that now.

But maybe if I'd said something, maybe if I'd spoken out,

things would have been different.

Well, I'm glad.

I am glad I've let him know I'm not going to just curl up.

Even if half the people in the court room didn't believe you?

I'm proud of you.

And you.

I know it can't have been easy.

Whatever else, he's still your boy.

Pint, please.

I need the loo.

'Will the forewoman of the jury please stand?

'With regard to the charge of attempted rape,

'have members of the jury reached a verdict

'upon which you are all agreed?

'Yes.

'Do you find the defendant guilty or not guilty of attempted rape?'

PHONE VIBRATES

-Do you want me to...?

-No!

-QUIETLY:

-No.

Don't!

What if he's got off?

I mean, look at us, sitting here,

pinning all our hopes on 12 complete strangers.

They don't know what happened. She's right. All through this,

other people have had the power - him, the police...

We did the only thing we could. We spoke out.

No verdict, guilty or not guilty, is going to change that, is it?

PHONE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE

PHONE STOPS VIBRATING

Oh, Mick.

Hold it together, son.

-Come on, boy! Come on, come on.

-Linda's going to need you!

Come on. Come on, boy.

I'm sorry.

To us.

To being bold and brave.

Dad, Dad.

What's it going to do to her?

What's it going to do to all of them?

You need to stay strong.

I'm sorry, love.

Oh, no.

The head juror weren't too happy, not that that's any consolation.

Listen, you don't... you don't have to worry

because he's never going to show his boat around here again.

I mean, I'd like to bury the geezer myself,

but Buster's sorted it out, so...

I paid him off.

Told him exactly what would happen if he ever came back.

-You paid him?

-Yeah.

With our money, you paid him off? How much?!

Enough to get him abroad, you know, as far away as possible....

You know the little bit we had put by for emergencies -

I just thought that this was an emergency.

You idiot!

Do you think that's going to make them feel better?

Knowing that he's sunning himself?

Wait a minute, what was I meant to do?

-I didn't know he would get off!

-Then you should have thought!

You should have used that excuse of a brain of yours!

It's not a punishment, you moron!

-I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

-No.

No, you...you did the right thing.

I'm all right. Really.

He shouldn't have done that!

He should have asked! He should have come to me first!

We both know it's not about Buster.

They didn't believe me.

Come here.

Everything's going to be all right, I promise.

Come on.

Of course you love him. You're his mum.

I don't want to.

I've tried not to, God knows.

But the thought of never...

seeing him again...

I wasn't around enough, I know that

and that's my fault, but...

He was such a good baby.

He hardly ever cried.

You don't need to hear this.

It's fine.

I know you hate him.

I don't want to.

I'm trying not to.

See? Who said we had nothing in common?

I pity him, Shirl.

You know this isn't how I wanted things to turn out.

A few years inside...

It wouldn't have made up for what he'd done,

but it would have been something.

The truth is, it don't matter where he is.

I don't care if he's on a beach,

in the sun somewhere, with a wedge of cash,

he's got nothing.

What's more important than love?

Family?

We're surrounded, Shirl.

And he's lost any chance of that.

And I know that means you've lost him too and I know that hurts.

But you've got another son, right here on your doorstep,

who thinks the absolute world of you.

Tina, the kids.

Me.

And Babe, for all her sins!

And a man who'd give you the moon if you'd only let him.

You've got to concentrate on what you've got, Shirl.

Here. Now.

KNOCK AT DOOR

What happened? Is it...?

Oh...!

Has Buster gone?

Yeah.

How's Mum?

They'll sort it out.

So...

That's it.

I'm so sorry, baby.

I don't understand.

How can they just let him walk away?

I know what he is. And you know.

I wish the rest of the world did, too, but...

The only thing that kills me is that he could do it again.

And why wouldn't he? He's got away with it.

You can't think like that.

He tried to break me.

He came close.

You know I couldn't find my voice that night.

I couldn't fight back,

but I have been fighting ever since. And I'm winning.

I know it wasn't my fault.

I've done nothing to be ashamed of.

Well, I'm in awe of you.

I'm a survivor, Mick.