08/12/2016 EastEnders

Sometimes Lady Luck shines down on those who believe.

So, that's where you were last night. Patrick!

Oh, gosh, man. No, no, no.

It's not gambling if you know you're going to win.

Besides, I ain't keeping it for myself, you know.

I want to get a treat for the little one.

So, come on, tell me what you need.

A crib? A buggy?

Nah, it's all right. You keep your money.

I've got to get to work.

-HE CHUCKLES

-Yeah.

Will you put some clothes on?

My cousin is upstairs, he's not exactly a morning person.

-Well, I am!

-Oh!

SHE GIGGLES

Go and put some clothes on.

I must have called her 20 times since Tuesday.

She wasn't on the stall yesterday.

Donna said she called in sick.

So? Maybe she is sick.

You know, you worry too much.

Roxy was so excited about all of us moving to Ongar.

If you hadn't stuck me in the middle, as usual,

none of this would have happened.

Oh, right, so now it's my fault she's not talking to you?

Look, you might think that we can all live in some perfect bubble

but our happy ending is not going to work without Roxy.

Oh, I need to get Matthew up.

-Ricky, breakfast!

-KNOCK ON DOOR

I thought Mummy was taking you to school.

She had a friend over.

If your watch is wrong, I'd get it fixed, quick sharp-ish.

Do you know, I never thought I'd be one of them people

that comes to work for a break

but, you know, here I am.

Seems like Kim's not the only one in the wars.

Please don't talk to me about my clumsy sister.

33 weeks pregnant,

she's got me running round after her for the past two days.

Ian Beale did his back in on Tuesday.

Stacey told me yesterday.

Apparently he can't get up from the sofa.

THEY LAUGH

What's funny?

Just saying about Ian Beale.

Oh, don't. I'm supposed to be round there now, looking after Louie.

I spent the whole of yesterday

taking his Highness cups of tea and chocolate biscuits.

Poor Jane.

Mind you, it does make you think - life could be worse, couldn't it?

I just come to check what time rehearsals are.

Don't tell me you've been roped into this play an' all!

Martin ain't happy.

Ain't you got enough on your plate without playing Shakespeare?

I haven't heard anything but this play from her for weeks now.

Hold on, what is this - Pick On Denise Day all of a sudden?

-Five o'clock for rehearsals, actually.

-Thanks.

I tell you what, she ain't playing.

I've read some of the scenes she's written. She's wasted in here.

I can't believe you didn't see it.

Bold as brass, it was.

Chowing down on Craig's tuna as if it was entitled.

Yeah well, maybe if you gave the cat

cat food instead of actual food...

Craig's got a sensitive constitution -

and, anyway, I should be able to feed him what I like

without some stray stopping by to have a bite.

Well, it's a cat-eat-cat world, Mum.

Oh, and before I forget,

I spoke to Darius.

Turns out he hasn't got time to see his old mum.

Too busy seeing his mates.

What?! But that's bang out of order.

Oh, listen to you.

At least one of my boys still looks out for me.

Yeah, I'll see you later.

Sorry, sorry, sorry.

One of those days.

At least you made it in.

I suppose I should feel honoured.

Oi, I told you, I was ill yesterday.

Yeah, and today you stink of booze.

Medicinal, was it?

Hey.

Yes, it's really me -

the voice on the end of the phone that keeps leaving messages

-and you never get back.

-You were ignoring me not too long ago.

Look, I shouldn't have done that.

You didn't need to storm off on Tuesday.

You took everything totally in the wrong way.

That's funny, cos I thought Jack made himself crystal clear.

I'll talk to him. He'll come round.

Please let me make it right, Roxy.

I hate being piggy in the middle.

I didn't know you were seeing someone new.

Amy said you had a friend round this morning.

The latest in a long line.

I thought you hadn't done anything like that since Dean.

What do you want me to do?

Do you want me to be celibate for the rest of my life?

No, just...

I don't think you should rush into things.

My personal life is nothing to do with you, or Amy.

Why don't you get back to your perfect existence?

Go on.

Stay out of mine.

So, we won't have the place to ourselves then?

No.

I don't suppose we could use your place?

Well, I'd have to get rid of Stacey, my dad, the kids...

Look...

I want to do this...

but if we can't find anywhere then...

No, I'll sort it.

Leave it to me.

The boys are down.

They hardly put up a fight for a change.

How's Ian doing?

Next door, lying flat on his back,

grumbling like he's the first person to ever pull a muscle.

I can hear you, you know!

Good!

Oh, I know I should be more sympathetic.

It's just...

Now we're entering day three and, with no end in sight, I'm...

If I had a bad back,

the last thing I'd do is lay on the floor for hours.

Well, that's what I said, but would he listen?

Do you know what? I've had enough of you two prattling on.

I'm going for a bath!

HE GRUNTS

Ian, I'm not sure that's a good idea.

When I want your help, I'll ask for it.

Oh, God! Oh!

I just don't think anyone's in the mood tonight, boy.

-Do you know what I mean?

-Just a few drinks for Whit's birthday.

How do you think she's going to feel if we don't make an effort?

She told me she didn't want to do anything.

Yeah, well, she told me different - so who do you think knows better?

Hang on. What else are we going to do, eh?

Sit around with long faces for the rest of our lives?

I suppose we've got to get back to normal sometime.

Yeah, business as usual, eh?

It's just a shame I can't get any staff willing to lock up.

Listen, can you do me a favour and keep hold of that until later?

Whenever I leave it at home, Whitney nearly finds it.

L GASPS Blimey.

Get on that.

That must have cost you a few quid.

Yeah, well, she's worth it.

PHONE DINGS See you later, darling.

Thank you.

-Denis, I'm glad I caught you.

-Yep?

I've got a confession to make.

I saw this on the market...

and I couldn't resist.

I'm so glad you changed your mind about all that adoption business.

Everyone has a wobble about something when they're...

in the family way.

-I've got to go and get Kim her lunch.

-What?

Don't ask.

Do you think Daddy would like some ducks on his birthday card, Louie?

Ooh, don't do that.

I used to hate writing Christmas cards before.

Now, with Martin's family in the mix, it's ten times worse.

Did you hear something?

IAN: Jane, I think I'm stuck.

Jane...

Help!

I can't keep nipping out of work

every time you get hungry.

It's your arm that's broken, you know, not your legs.

And I've got a million things to do today, you know -

I've got work,

I've got the rehearsals,

I've got night class...

I know what you're doing, you know.

Yeah, being your unpaid skivvy.

-Tell me about it.

-No, not that.

This play.

Running yourself ragged at work.

It's all because you know that,

when that little person arrives,

you're not going to have a lot of time to do anything else.

Only you don't have to.

You don't have to worry.

I'll be there!

Fun Auntie Kim, ready to babysit

at the drop of a hat-ta-ta.

Look...

you can lean on me any time, Dee.

I mean, I know I'm a little bit lopsided at the moment but...

I don't want you to be my birthing partner.

What?!

And it's not because the dad,

or anyone else, might show up.

It's because this is my baby...

and I want to do things my way.

So... OK, look...

No.

Thank you for the offer of help...

..but I don't need it.

What do you mean you're busy on the stall?!

Martin!

Steven said he'd love to help

but he's got a delivery due any minute.

What about Ben?

-Not answering.

-Um...

Mick?

Well, maybe... Can't we just leave him in there?

If it makes you feel better,

I know that he'll be ten times more embarrassed than you are.

That does not make me feel better at all.

IAN: Jane!

Come on, love, I'm getting cold.

My fingers are getting all pruney.

Jane!

Stacey, please.

I'm coming, Ian.

-There you are.

-Thank you.

Donna said we'd find you in here.

That was nice of her.

Oh, come on, she wants this sorted as much as I do.

She can't afford to run the stall another day on her own.

I don't suppose you're here cos you want to be.

If Ronnie's unhappy, I'm unhappy, all right? And we get it sorted.

Yeah, I want to get back to work, so...

Listen, I know that you think we were getting at you the other day...

No, you both came barging round,

accusing me of turning you against him.

Yeah, cos you were.

And you practically admitted that I've ruined your life.

I didn't. You're just paranoid

that I'm going to side with Jack over you.

Roxy, you're my family.

Of course I want you to be included, so does Amy, but...

maybe there's a compromise, all right?

We can all move to Ongar, but...

we just don't have to live right next door to each other.

JACK SIGHS

I really do need to get back to the stall.

Rox, look,

I just want to find a solution that suits everyone.

I just don't want to fight. Please.

All right, look, I'm willing to put this behind us if you are?

Promise me this - the next time Amy meets your boyfriend,

I want to meet him first, all right?

Bit soon to be calling him your boyfriend, ain't it?

Sorry, this is a private conversation.

All right, I'm just saying. You only met him Tuesday.

I thought you picked this one up last night?

Oh, what, you really think she's changed?

Sorry, what part of me having a sex life

makes me unable to fit into your perfect little family?

Surely even you can see the bad example you're setting for Amy?

Amy's got a mum who loves her, all right?

She's not interested in who I sleep with.

Just like she's not interested in your history with women either -

which is lucky, cos there's been too many to keep track of!

Rox...

could you not just be nice?

You... You don't have to go just yet.

Lily's been a bit clingy.

I don't want to be late picking her up.

You got time for a cuppa first?

Have you seen Arthur's little blue bear?

Do you know what? It doesn't matter. Doesn't matter.

Well, I thought you said he couldn't sleep without it.

Well, he'll have to learn someday, won't he? Just man up, Arthur!

-What's that under Ian?

-Just keep it, Jane!

I'll see you later, bye!

Will we see you tomorrow?

Stacey?

What's she talking about, eh?

"Be nice"? Honestly, I could write you a list a mile long

of women he's slept with

and that's just relatives.

Will you shut up?!

Oi.

Thank you very much. You were a really big help before.

Look, if you want to go round sleeping with married men,

that's your business, but don't you expect me to keep schtum about it.

Terry?

I didn't know your mate was married, OK?

He must have forgot to mention that before our five seconds of heaven.

He's not any more, anyway.

So, he's divorced?

So, you're making a big deal out of nothing?

Separated...

as of Tuesday night.

Yeah, he rung me last night.

He's gone home, ain't he?

Stinking of booze, feeling all guilty,

his missus has cottoned on and kicked him out the house.

Two kids.

Pity.

Go on. Go on.

CHEERING

-ALL: Happy birthday!

-Happy Birthday, darling. Happy Birthday

Lee, are you totally insensitive?

Come on, it's your birthday.

We're all up for a drink.

No, you're not.

Look, just cos we've had a bit of bad luck it,

it don't mean the world has to stop turning.

That's right. So, here you are.

Look, get your laughing gear round that, girl.

We'll all have a drop of fizz, you know, a bit of a sing-song.

Yeah. Look, I...

..got these from the market stall earlier.

They're panic alarms, right?

So, the minute there's any sign of trouble, we press that -

all hell breaks loose.

Send the bad guys running for the hills.

Can we not talk about this later?

No, Lee. It's important.

Tracey, here you are, that's for you. It's a panic alarm.

Hello, Derek.

Martin Fowler.

Come here!

Oh!

I...

I heard about Pauline. I'm sorry I didn't get to the funeral.

No, It's all right.

Thank you for sending the flowers.

It seems like such a long time ago now.

Yes.

It's really good to see you again.

I heard about you and Sonia as well.

Oh, yeah. We're still mates.

She's down in Kettering, she's doing really well.

No, I'm remarried now.

Stop it!

Lily! Put that thing down!

Is that Stacey Slater?!

I would hardly have recognised her.

Believe it or not, this is the highlight of my day.

Get over there.

Everyone!

I'm sure we've all had a chance to read the new material

and I'm sure you will all join me in telling our writer,

Denise Fox,

exactly what we think.

APPLAUSE

Jack was bang out of order this afternoon.

He's just put so much pressure on the move.

He wants everything to be perfect for us all.

He wants it to be perfect for you and him, and the kids.

-He couldn't care less about me.

-Mummy!

-Hey!

There's my big girl.

-How was dinner?

-Beef stew.

-Eurgh!

Excuse me, you said you liked it earlier!

We used to say we liked Mum's Hawaiian liver, didn't we?

We made Christmas cards at school today.

Nice. Am I going to get one?

Should your friend get one, too?

My friend from this morning?

Is he your boyfriend?

No!

No. What makes you say that?

Because you were cuddling and kissing, and stuff.

I can't wait to have a boyfriend.

Amy, sweetie,

why don't you take your colouring in the living room, OK?

Rox, don't worry.

It's just...

It's kids' talk, that's all.

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Um...

I'll see you later.

I've picked up Craig's food.

I don't want another uninvited guest getting in on the act.

Enough about the cat, Mum.

People have real problems, yeah?

Do they?

What sort of "real problems"?

Hey.

Now, I could be wrong,

but I'm pretty sure I've just seen a puma sneaking out the window

with Craig's sparkly collar in its mouth. Argh!

It's not nice to mock your mother, you know.

I just popped in because Darius text...

and we are back on for tomorrow.

Seriously?!

What happened?

This one here told him how upset you were,

how much you were looking forward to it.

Guilt worked a treat.

Oh, Shaki,

you shouldn't talk to your brother like that,

not on my account...

but I'm really glad you did.

Come here.

Will you stop stirring it so much?

It's going to be well mushy.

It's called a stir-fry.

You're supposed to "stir" it?

-Oi!

-Pass the tofu.

The what?

It's veggie. It's good for you.

If you two are trying to keep me alive for the next 30 years

just so I can...

listen to you banging on,

then don't bother.

We need more onions.

Keep stirring.

Right, I'm going for a wee.

Don't bother stirring for a while.

You're quiet.

You complaining?

You've done all right, you know, with those two.

Despite everything.

Cheers.

Come on, Phil, it's you and me.

We haven't got to sit here

and pretend you've been father of the year, do we?

SHE SIGHS

I... I don't know what I'm doing with my life.

I suppose Sharon told you

she caught me on the landing with that bloke, right?

Honestly, Phil, I have not slept with anyone since...

For a long time.

And the minute I do, everyone starts judging.

I mean, what am I supposed to do?

Not have a life of my own?

Not how you've done things.

Yeah...

..and maybe, if I'd put my kids first a bit more often,

I wouldn't be sitting here...

eating tofu.

It's too late now, though, isn't it?

Evening.

All right, Denise.

Hiya. You all right?

OK, guys, are we ready?

Sharon, if you can find a seat...

That's great. And then we'll have a little chat

about this lovely novel

by Charlotte Bronte.

All I wanted to do was win my wife a stuffed bear

and I'd have been better off

staying at home and ordering it online.

Yeah, but if you'd done that,

we wouldn't have had that hot chocolate with marshmallows in it.

Or heard those carollers singing Silent Night.

Or had those three glasses of mulled wine.

HE CHUCKLES

It was very nice mulled wine.

Do you know what? I like all that stuff.

Makes you realise Christmas is just round the corner.

So, come on, then -

which one of us is going to get up and get the wine?

Denise, can I have a word before you go?

You know, if this is about that essay, then...

No, no, no, it's not about the essay.

No, I just wanted to let you know

I'm organising some Christmas drinks

in a couple of weeks' time

and hope you can come along.

I know it's going to start getting a bit tricky with...

Oh, no, no, I can always just come along and have a chat -

even if it is over a soft drink.

Listen, you're doing so well, Denise.

The last thing I'd want is to see your studies slip away.

Yeah, but there's no worries about that.

I am committed to this.

I wouldn't be here if I wasn't, would I?

Look, you're top of the class, you know.

You keep it up and...

you'll go far.

You're not still upset about what Amy said, are you?

No.

She's just a kid. She doesn't know what she's saying.

Exactly.

Look, I hate it when we fight, Rox.

I know it's going to be an adjustment,

what with the move and everything,

but we're always going to be us.

Even if we're not in Walford.

Is Jack here?

I think you both need to hear this.

Patrick!

There's no need to hide,

cos I'm in such a good mood

that I've even forgiven you

for not showing up at rehearsals...

HE CHUCKLES

I thought you'd understand if I stayed home just this once. Hmm?

I can't accept that.

Come on now, man, it's just a gift.

No, no, you don't understand. It's...

-Come on, it's the least I can do.

-No!

No, because I'm putting the baby up for adoption.

This move to Ongar,

it's not just about a new home.

It's not just about spending the proceeds from this place.

It's about a better life for our kids.

You see?

I told you she gets it.

I do get it.

I get that it's about setting Amy on the right path.

SHE CLEARS THROAT

That's why you need to move to Ongar without me.

How long have you known?

I knew I didn't want this baby from the start.

No, no. I mean, how long have you known you were going to give it up?

Oh...

Couple of months.

I've been meeting with social services and...

..everything's in motion.

Well, go on, then, say it.

"How could you?"

I know what you're thinking.

Yeah, but you know, Dee,

you are such a good mother...

Why?

Because I am a good mum.

I've dedicated myself to it for years.

It's all I know.

Look, I want to know more.

Be more.

I want to...

..fulfil my potential.

You don't have to hold yourself back, you know.

You're not going to say anything I haven't already said to myself.

Look how I behaved when Libby was pregnant.

I just... I couldn't get my head

around the idea of someone not wanting their own baby.

Wow.

If I could go back there now...

I don't like this, Patrick, you know?

If I thought there was another way...

Oh, but there is.

No. If I thought there was another way that I can have

the life that I want to have.

I've been the woman

that puts their kid first for years...

and I can't do it any more.

I want a career.

I want success.

Yeah, yeah, but plenty of people have children AND success.

Yeah, maybe, but I can't.

I'm talking about...

..changing my whole life.

Going on a different path,

you know, at my age.

It's massive...

and it's going to be a struggle...

..and I can't wait.

The thought of doing my GCSE...

..it gets my heart racing

more than this baby does.

Now, how can that be fair

to want to bring up a child

when you're feeling like that?

If...

If you do this...

If you make this choice...

..there is no going back, you know.

I choose...

..to let my baby...

..be with a family who's going to love 'em.

Not get stuck with some...

ageing woman, who's just going to end up resenting it.

No, no, no.

You are going to love this child.

Dee, I know you would.

Love isn't enough.

You have to want to be a mum.

It's hard enough when you're just...

taking it on for all the wrong reasons.

Look, Patrick, this isn't something

you're going to be able to talk me out of.

I'm not asking for your permission.

I'm just...

I'm just... I'm saying, please...

Please don't let me do this on my own. Not any more.

Jack's just settling the kids.

Don't let that picture fool you.

We came from a so-called "perfect" family.

It doesn't mean anything.

SHE SIGHS I can't change...

..and we can't keep doing this to each other.

I can't keep putting you in the middle,

and making you choose between me and Jack.

Well, that's for me to decide.

It's not good for any of us.

Someone's got to put an end to this and...

it might as well be me.

We're sisters.

One doesn't work without the other.

That is the way it's always been.

I used to think it was cute.

You know, when we were little, it was but...

..now I'm just starting to think it's a bit sad.

So, you agree with Jack, then?

No.

No, this is just another way of making me choose.

No, no.

No, this is the complete opposite of what I want!

I just want us to be grown-ups for a change.

Right, and abandoning your kid - that's the way to do that, is it?

You think I'm abandoning her?

Well, aren't you?

Ron...

ever since Amy was born...

..I never ever felt I knew how to be a good mum.

I basically thought you just had to show up and...

stick around.

Well, that's not a bad start.

It's not enough.

Amy deserves...

..a much more stable life than I can give her.

I'm taking a step back, OK?

It's best for her...

and I think it's best for all of us.

Do you...?

Do you think you can forgive me?

SHE SOBS

SHE SOBS UNCONTROLLABLY