06/11/2012 EastEnders

DOORBELL RINGS PHIL: All right.

DOORBELL RINGS I said, all right, didn't I?

Phil. Lend us a tenner, will you?

I couldn't lug this all the way from the High Street on Shank's Pony.

-What is it?

-I'll explain later, just pay the man.

I've got that social worker coming. I've got to get the house straight.

What do you think this is all about, eh? Finishing touches.

Well, one of them anyway.

Yep. I'll have a couple of them, ta.

-And a couple of them ones.

-Yellow roses?

-Yellow, yeah.

-Listen, good luck today.

-Luck? I don't need no luck.

Not if me and Pops have anything to do with it, anyway.

Yeah. And one of them.

Breakfast?

Not that you've much in. What have you all been living on, air?

I'm going to go to work.

Work? Where do you work? And on an empty stomach?

Yeah, I got used to it.

I am sorry.

All right, Masood? I am sorry.

Everything just happened at the same time and...

..it was just a mess. I couldn't think straight.

-I shouldn't left like that...

-Or taken Kamil.

-You told me to go!

You said we were over.

You said it was over.

And do you think any of us were thinking clearly that day?

You didn't ask me to stay.

I was out there, missing the whole family...

-We needed you here.

-It didn't look like it last night.

Certainly didn't look like anyone was missing me last night.

You all seemed to be having a great old time.

Why don't you ask Syed how good a time he's been having lately?

Why? What's happened?

Masood, what's happened?

Never fails, does it?

The magic word?

Syed.

Just look at you.

-Well?

-Don't even ask.

Tam! Has she talked about what happened? What I did?

No, actually.

So far all we've had is, "You haven't much in.

"What have you been surviving on?"

It's like nothing's happened - it's like she's never been away.

That's what it feels like.

Does she ever actually think before she opens her mouth?

Syed?

Christian came round last night.

Right. Is he moving back in?

He asked me why he should.

And you said...?

I told him Yasmin was missing him.

Sorry, you said what?

I didn't mean it to come out like that.

What? You didn't think before you opened your mouth either?

You're both exactly the same as each other.

Maybe you should just move in together, both of you,

you and Mum, give the rest of us a break.

Three bacon sarnies to go. Quick as you can, yeah?

Got three builders back at the B&B with their tongues hanging out

and my cooker's gone and died, innit?

Not the only thing that's died, the way this lot's going on.

-Lucy?

-Environmental Health. They made a visit a few weeks back.

-Oh?

-Went through the place with a fine toothcomb.

And they didn't find anything.

But that doesn't stop them sending us all these guidelines and stuff.

So they didn't, um, give any warning at all?

No. They never do.

And if they don't like what they see, that's it,

you get the book thrown at you.

-All right, Kim?

-Where'd she go?

Dunno. She couldn't get out of here quick enough. Coffee, please.

-Steady, steady, where's the fire?

-Sorry. Emergency at home.

-What do you think of this, Phil?

-DOORBELL RINGS

Like Piccadilly Circus here this morning.

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-Phil?

All right, all right, I'm coming!

DOORBELL RINGS

-Hold these.

-Do what?

-Hold them, I dropped some.

First it's like Piccadilly Circus, now it's like Columbia Road market.

Oh, shush, go and get them in some water.

Who are they for?

Well, they ain't for you.

Well, come on then!

-Oh yeah, nice one, Pop.

-Lovely whiff, innit, eh? See, Phil.

Smell of baking bread, makes a house feel all welcoming.

-Lola read an article about it last night, didn't you, babe?

-Yep.

And with a few of them flowers dotted around the place...

It smells like the inside of a docks brothel in here.

We'll have to bow to your superior knowledge on that one.

Oi. Phil's been doing his bit.

Look at this place - wonder he ain't gone down with housemaid's knee.

Suppose it don't look like the usual pigsty in here.

-This is important, you know, Phil.

-Yes. Yeah I know it is.

Thought you might say that.

That's why me and Pops have billed everything to you.

Well, we can't afford it, can we?

Ooh. Oh look, Pops, he looks like a bullfrog, don't he?

The way his eyes just bulge out of his head

when he gets a little bit angry.

-Hope Lexi don't turn out like you.

-You finished?

Yes. But you ain't. Get yourself down the caff.

I know I'm the probably the last person he wants to see right now...

-Probably?

-But I really, really want to see him.

-Not here you won't.

-Don't be like this, Rox.

-Christian's not with me!

-He's not left the Square?

The mood he was in, I wouldn't bet against it, Syed.

DRUM 'N' BASS MUSIC BLARES

Much more of that and I might join him.

Look. I saw him this morning. He's with Lucy, all right?

-I've gotta go.

-Rox, I really, really am sorry.

Oh, for what? Or is the list too long?

Don't tell me, let's see - lying? Your stupid scams?

Or Danny perhaps? What do you want, Syed?

Because Christian doesn't know, and he doesn't reckon you do either.

So until you've worked that out, leave him alone.

-Give us half a dozen iced buns, will ya?

-What, no fairy cakes?

Just stick 'em in a bag, yeah?

-Sharon's on her way over.

-Right.

Yeah. Looking a million dollars she is too.

Hair's done, new clothes... nice new ring.

-I don't want no trouble.

-No, course not.

-Just one mate helping out another, right?

-Right.

A game.

Sort of.

Just like that ring, ain't it? Fake.

So is it final? You and Christian?

I've just heard all about it from your father.

Yes. He's moved out.

Well, you can't let him.

You have to fight for him. You have to refuse to let him go.

Syed, you cannot give up like this.

So that's it?

What?

After everything I've done. The business? Is all that forgotten?

No, of course not. Why do you think I left?

I was disappointed.

But that is all in the past, OK? Christian is the here and now, Syed.

I hate seeing you like this, I really do...

So that's it?

What?

This. It's all about you, it's how you feel.

-No, I am just trying to help.

-Interfere, you mean?

-Syed...

You don't know anything, Mum.

You weren't even here while it was all going on.

All what?

Just back off.

Do you think we've done enough?

-We couldn't have done any more, could we?

-What if it all goes wrong?

-It won't.

-What if they say...?

Lola, it won't. All right? Just gotta play the waiting game now.

Eh?

Look like you're off to meet the Queen.

Well, this place has scrubs up well, too.

-Not the usual pigsty? Lola.

-Charming.

Listen, there's been a slight change of plan.

I spoke to Social Services last night. They reckon there's more

chance with a fostering rather than a residency application.

What? Well, thanks for telling me, Phil.

I'm telling you now...Sharon, please, don't go into one of your moods.

This is my granddaughter we're talking about.

I mean, if this bloke says no...if I don't get this right...

-DOORBELL RINGS

-He won't. And you will.

Not if you don't let him in, though.

I thought I should come and say hello, properly.

Welcome home.

And to apologise for leaving you short-staffed like that. Tamwar,

why are you wearing that?

Why do you think?

-This is where you're working?

-Doing well he is, too.

Taken to it like a duck to water.

I can see someone has a little something to learn.

I think you'll find those things there, they go on the middle shelf.

-Not any more.

-Since when?

Since Tamwar suggested it'd make a much more eye-catching

display over there and I agreed.

In fact, it's just one of the few improvements that

old Tamwar's made in here.

Yeah, but they've always gone there,

that's how the customer knows where to find them.

OK, Mum, and now they don't go there.

Now things have changed, things aren't how they used to be.

Ring any bells?

OK, just to explain what I'm sure you already know,

I'm Rick Gekowski, a Fostering Assessment Social Worker

appointed by Walford Local Authority.

And I'm here because you've agreed to be added to the care

plan for Lexi?

Yeah, well, we decided to follow Trish's advice.

We believe this has the potential to work out best for Lexi.

So any questions so far?

Cake?

To be honest, Phil, if I ate all the cake I'm offered on these

sort of house visits, I'd be the size of a house myself.

-Just trying to make an effort.

-Yeah. Yeah. I know.

Which is a lot better than not making any at all.

I see that too many times as well.

-They hate me. All of them.

-Of course they don't.

Don't patronise me, Denise.

Why shouldn't they?

It was wrong of me to run off like that, wasn't it?

It was selfish.

It was craven. It was cowardly.

Sorry, was I supposed to say, "No it wasn't?"

All I've done since I've come back,

is I've told everybody what they're doing is wrong.

-That's just you, though.

-Interfering. All the time.

But they know you don't mean anything by it.

Tamwar was right, you know? What he said.

I can't just come back and expect to pick up where I left off.

You can't change who you are, Zee.

Can't I?

OK, so the first item on the check-list -

why do you want to care for Lexi?

Cos she's my...

..flesh and blood - it's only natural, ain't it?

-She's not your flesh and blood though, Sharon.

-No.

But for richer or poorer, better or worse...

not that having Lexi would make things worse...

All part of marriage, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Taking on each other's burdens.

Lexi ain't a burden. You know, where we come from it's simple -

never turn your back on your own.

Sounds like a good place where you come from.

And the mother?

Lola?

She'll be involved in all this too, will she?

That depends.

On what?

On her.

On you. You say, involve her, we'll involve her.

You say don't, then we'll take your advice.

And what do you say?

I mean, forget us, forget our advice -

how do you feel about all that?

I say involve her.

Nice to know we're in total agreement.

OK, so next I'd like to ask about your other children.

Here we are. Look, there's a slide.

Go on, off you go.

Hey.

No Christian today?

No.

-Holding the fort, are you?

-It's no hardship, is it?

You know, it's weird.

What is?

You look at them sometimes and you think, "I'm in prison."

Then something happens and you think,

"That's exactly where I want to be."

Throw away the key.

You're bringing a child of your own into this marriage, Sharon?

Denny. Yeah.

And Denny's father?

He was killed. A few years ago.

He got on the wrong side of a nutter.

-That can't have been easy.

-No. It was hell.

Didn't think I'd ever get out from under it.

Well, maybe I wouldn't if it hadn't been for Denny.

Your son's older, of course, isn't he, Phil?

Yeah.

And how do you feel about him, Sharon?

Well, how do you mean?

Phil's son's up on a murder charge.

It's manslaughter.

A charge he's pleaded guilty to.

Your former husband was murdered.

Well, it's like you said, Ben's already pleaded guilty,

so he won't be around for a bit.

So let's not think about it then?

No. It's just not an issue with us, that's all.

It's going to become an issue though, isn't it?

I mean forgive me, Phil, if this sounds harsh,

but even if Ben goes down for ten years, she'll hardly be

a grown woman...

..and if there are any tensions in the house...

Of course it's something we're going to have to deal with, I know that.

But what happened to my husband

really was just down to a nutter, plain and simple.

Well, what Ben did, it wasn't the same.

Before you ask, it wasn't Phil's fault either.

Phil's only looked after him for the past couple of years.

When Ben came to this country he was

already a frightened, and confused kid...

a damaged kid.

But Phil did his best, didn't you, darling?

The damage had already been done?

Yeah.

And it couldn't be undone?

Let me try and explain it a bit better...

Actually, Phil, I'd rather you did. I mean, this is your son we're

talking about and you're really not saying very much at all.

Just going to get some more coffee.

Won't be a sec.

Phil?

You heard him. What's the point? He's already made his mind up.

-No, he hasn't.

-All them questions?

Look, he's asking the sort of questions he's paid to ask,

the sort of questions anyone has to ask in his position.

There's a lot at stake here. A little girl's whole future.

Could see it in his eyes.

Leave the kid with a chancer like that? Yeah, yeah, right.

He's just doing his job, Phil, like you should be doing right now.

You're a grandfather and you have rights.

Now, start acting like one and get in there and fight for them.

And what if he's right?

What?

What if I shouldn't be left to look after her?

You said it yourself, didn't you?

There's a kid's whole future at stake.

Look what happened to the last one.

Doesn't mean Lexi'll turn out the same.

Fair bet something bad is going to happen, ain't it?

Look at my track record. It's not just Ben, is it?

It's Lou as well.

So you don't even try.

What kind of future is she going to have, then?

Is everything OK?

Yeah, yeah, course, we were just coming back.

Is there anything that either of you two want to tell me?

Look - Phil, Sharon, this is only going to work

if you're both completely honest with me.

-Yeah, let's be honest, shall we?

-Yeah. Let's.

We're both feeling that we're not quite what you're looking for.

We're both feeling like you're expecting someone else.

So let's put this on the line, shall we?

What exactly are you expecting? Perfect parents?

Well, we ain't that.

What do you want? People who've never made a mistake?

We're not that either.

Who were you hoping to meet?

People who've never screwed up? Well, go somewhere else.

So that's what we're not.

But what we are, is us.

And as far as kids are concerned, we'd go to the ends of the earth for them.

Will we make mistakes? Yeah. Yeah.

Probably. Could we do things better from time to time?

Almost definitely.

Will we mess up now and again like every other parent in the world?

Then take us out and shoot us.

So who else were you hoping to meet?

Hallelujah, it speaks.

I thought you'd taken a vow of silence or something.

Someone who'd let you get a word in edgeways?

Cos you won't find that here either.

Oh, hark at him. The original motormouth most of the time.

See what I mean?

The only man who opens his big gob to put his size tens in it.

But listen, no-one will ever, ever harm our kids...

..and there's no parent in the world who could love them more.

Now if that's not enough, I suggest you take your files,

and your case notes, and your questions...

..and, well, you stick 'em where the sun don't shine.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Sure you don't want some cake?

Christian, I've been leaving messages all morning.

Please call me.

I've been doing some thinking - a lot of thinking

about me and you...

..and Yasmin...

BUZZER

Amira.

Hi.

How'd it go?

I don't know.

And what's this I'm hearing about fostering all of a sudden?

Yeah, Pops heard from the Social.

Lola, look, it's the best chance we've got,

it doesn't change anything, you know?

You're still Lexi's mum.

He hasn't said anything?

What's he doing now then?

He wanted to go through Phil's businesses.

-I know him.

-What?

Yeah. He worked on a couple of child protection cases I was involved in.

Oh. Is that right?

-Oh no...

-Jack, just a quick word?

-No.

-Please? And find out what he's thinking.

That won't be very professional, will it?

Yeah, but you're not a professional. Any more.

So are you working round here?

Yeah. Just been to see Phil Mitchell and Sharon Rickman.

Do you know them?

I've seen them around, yeah.

Phil owns this place, doesn't he?

Yeah. I don't really come in here that much.

-So you don't know much about them then?

-Such as?

You know? What they're like? are they well suited...?

Yeah, yeah, I think so...

Nice try, Jack.

I saw Sharon talking to you not five minutes ago.

-I can guess what about too.

-Ah.

-She's a resourceful lady.

-Yeah, she is.

Then again, sounds like she's had to be.

I can't give you any inside track, you know that.

That's fair enough.

But for what it's worth, I agree.

I think they're well suited too.

Thank you.

For...?

For agreeing to sit down with me and to listen to what I have to say.

I'm very grateful.

Great. So where's Mum?

-What?

-I think she's been abducted by aliens,

and they've sent an imposter in her place.

-Tamwar!

-That's more like it.

I have acted very badly.

Not just in going away, but also since I've come back.

But all of that is going to change...

..because from now on I am going to change.

Ah. And where've we heard that before?

From now on there will be no more...

meddling, interfering...

secrets...

nagging...

judging...

complaining and definitely no more taking sides.

That is my promise to you.

That is my pact.

Well, say something.

Masood?

Dream on.

All done?

Just getting Sharon a drink to say thanks.

That is OK, ain't it?

Wouldn't want you getting the wrong idea.

No chance.

Well, no need is there? It's like you said -

it's all fake.

You should have called.

You could have taken Yasmin out for the day, spent some time with her.

You know, proper family time.

Actually, it's family I wanted to talk to you about.

I'm, um...

..I'm getting married again.

I met someone whilst I was away. I know it's a bit of a whirlwind,

but...

-You're happy.

-Very.

Well, I'm pleased.

-The thing is, my fiance...

-He doesn't know about Yasmin?

No, he knows about her...

If it's difficult you can take things slowly,

build up contact gradually.

He lives in Birmingham.

He wants us to be a family, Syed.

A proper family. Right from the start and so do I.

We want to be together.

Him, me...

..and Yasmin.

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