23/11/2012 EastEnders

What have you done?

-I'm sorry.

-I think I should go.

I didn't realise she was just going to turn up here like this.

Are you talking about me?

-Mum, please.

-I have to go.

No, no, you can't just walk out of here. She's your daughter!

What is this?

You weren't supposed to find out like this.

What have you done?

What have you done?

Who are you?

I'm your sister.

I can explain everything. Please, just... Just wait here.

Let's go inside and talk, Mum.

I'm so sorry, Mum.

Sorry.

-You're shaking.

-Am I?

I still can't believe he did this to you.

He didn't, did he?

Joey, what are you talking about?

Look, he manipulates her, Lauren. He messes with her head.

I wasn't just going to stand there and let him get away with it, was I?

She's my little sister!

Hey! Lau... Lau... Lauren!

Hey!

Look...

Promise me this.

This don't change anything between us, yeah?

What... What if he hurts you now?

HE SCOFFS

That's never going to happen, is it? Not mentally.

Come on.

Hey...

Hey, what's the matter?

I just hate being here. Hiding, like it's...

Like it's something to be ashamed of.

Just give it a couple of weeks, yeah?

What? What, until we break it to them gently, you mean?

Really?

"Dad?"

"Dad, you know my cousin Joey?"

"The one you let in our house because he had nowhere else to go?"

"Yes, well, WE... We are hooking up! We're a thing..."

All right, so it won't be easy, Lauren.

No, of course not. It's never going to happen, is it?

-Why are you being like this?

-Because...

-Because what?

Because.

I just wish that things could just be simple.

HE SCOFFS

That'd be boring, Lauren.

Anyway, you know I love a challenge.

OK.

Is that all I am to you, then?

-A challenge?

-Yeah.

Oh!

Amongst other things.

-Hey...

-Whoa.

-What's the matter?

-OK, someone just walked over my grave.

Can we...? Can we just get out of here?

-Cora? Cora?

-KNOCK AT DOOR

Co...?

Cora, the front door was wide open.

I need a drink.

Let me do that.

Has something happened?

I'll... I'll get Tanya, shall I?

I DON'T want her anywhere near me!

48 years.

She had no right to stir it all up again.

That was my life. My choice. And she took it from me.

What are you talking about? Huh?

Ava.

I warned her, didn't I?

I told her...

not to get involved with things that were no concern of hers.

What I want to know is how she found out.

She's been going through my things again, hasn't she?

-Cora...

-She was like it as a girl.

Once she got the bit between her teeth she wouldn't let...

Cora! Cora! I told her.

You did what?

Do you take sugar?

I'll just bring the bowl in.

Dad, have you seen Whit?

Nah, not since this morning. Is Joey all right?

Uh... Yeah, he'll live.

Well, well, well. This is nice, innit?

A bit of quality time with your old Uncle Derek.

Can you just get out my way, please?

You know, I remember the first time I came to see you.

You must have been what, three or four years old?

-Scrappy little thing.

-Yep, sounds about right.

Sitting there with all the grown-ups.

Chirping in, making them all laugh.

I thought, "That girl's going to go far."

Funny how things turn out, innit?

There you was, so full of promise...

and how did you end up?

Propping up some bar in a backstreet boozer.

I don't have to listen to this.

You know, binge drinking's one thing.

Dropping out of school? Well, we all did that.

But shacking up with your own cousin?

Well, that's low even by your standards, Lauren.

Are you going to deny it?

Well, what do you want?

Tell Joey I want to see him in the car lot in an hour.

Why?

That's between me and him.

And what if he don't show?

HE CHUCKLES MENACINGLY

You don't want to know that.

This isn't your fault.

Look, it was only a matter of time before he snapped.

You know that as well as I do.

If you just talk to him, maybe...

There you go again. You're making up excuses for him.

-He needs help!

-No, he wants locking up, Alice, all right?

Do you really think this is bad?

You should've seen my mum's face sometimes.

-I don't want to hear about that...

-I was seven years old

-and I was mopping up blood off the floor.

-Stop it.

He once hit her so hard that he left his ring printed in her face.

-You can still see it now if you look hard enough...

-Just stop it!

What is your problem, eh, Alice?

I mean, do you think I deserved this? Is that it?

You want to get out of this house right now,

before he does exactly the same to you!

I just wanted my dad, Joey.

I know.

I know you did, Alice.

Look, I'm sorry, all right? I'm sorry for shouting.

What are you going to do, eh?

SHE SNIFFS

I dunno. Go back to Mum's?

Tonight, yeah?

Listen, Alice. How about I stay here? We'll tell him together, yeah?

It's just going to make things worse.

-DOOR OPENS

-Hey!

Please, Joey! I have to do this by myself. Just go!

Alice? Alice?

-Look, what happened, I...

-I don't want to hear about it.

-I never touched him!

-I don't!

I swear on my father's life, I never touched him.

You say she's over there right now?

Well, stop staring and go and talk to her now, man!

Don't ever tell me what to do. Do you understand?

-You never said he was black.

-You never asked.

Did he know?

He cleared off before I had a chance to tell him.

I kept it hidden for nearly four months.

I was convinced he'd come back to me...

whisk me off to the Caribbean.

I can still remember my father's face when I told him.

He never looked at me the same again.

So what happened then?

I was shipped off to a mother-and-baby home in Faversham.

They waited until it was dark before they took me to the station.

Couldn't risk offending the neighbours.

Turns out they'd sorted everything.

Poor childless couple.

Bit of money tucked away.

After 14 hours, I was back in my room, packing to go home again.

Did you ever see her again?

There was no need.

She wasn't my...

problem anymore.

But you must have kept a photo or something to remember her by?

Just a...silly string of beads.

Got lost years ago.

Cora...

Why don't you go over and talk to her?

There's nothing to say.

She needs an explanation, if nothing else.

I was happy muddling along,

getting ready for Tanya's wedding.

And she came along and spoilt everything.

-Oh, come on, you don't mean that.

-Don't I?

My baby's dead.

That woman over there...

she's nothing to me.

You know what I would give to see my Paul? Just five minutes?

And all you can do is sit down here and talk about how YOU feel.

What about that poor girl over there, eh?

I didn't mean to do this.

Then why did you?

Because I had to see you.

-And your mother?

-She didn't know anything about it.

I tried to put it to the back of my mind, but...

I couldn't.

I just wanted to find out who my sister was.

It feels strange, hearing that.

Doesn't quite cover it.

Did you know anything?

Just a name on a birth certificate.

That's all.

So, that story about your son coming to my school?

Yeah, it was just an excuse to see you.

You didn't say anything.

I couldn't.

-Was I a disappointment, is that it?

-No. No, of course you weren't.

-DOOR SLAMS

-Mum?

I'm in here, Lauren.

This is Ava.

Mum, can I...? I really need to talk to you.

I'm going.

No, no, please don't. Just...

It's nothing that can't wait, is it, Lauren?

That's my eldest.

I've got two girls and... And my boy, there, Oscar.

There is another sister as well.

Rainie.

She's...

She's got her problems, but I know she'd love to meet you...

Just answer me one question.

If I hadn't found your purse, would you have come back?

'Hi, it's Joey. Please leave a message.'

Hello? Hello, Joey, it's me.

Can you call me back as soon as you get this? It's really important.

Girls, have any of you two seen Joey?

Erm...no, not today.

Aren't you going to stop and have a drink?

It's beauticians' day out.

Yeah, we're helping Poppy out. Unlike some people I could mention.

Yeah, well, I've been busy, ain't I?

Are you all right?

Yeah. Yeah, I just really, really need to find Joey.

Well, with any luck, he's taken a long walk off a short pier.

-Lucy...

-What? He tried to split the three of us up.

Or does that not matter to you?

Yeah. Yeah, of course it does.

Tyler told us what happened.

Derek punched him. I can't believe it.

I don't blame him. He had it coming for months.

SHE GIGGLES

No wonder he dumped you.

What?!

Yeah, yeah, it must be really, really hard to try and actually like you.

You little cow!

Ow! Get off me, Lucy!

Lucy, stop! Lucy!

Oi, get off her! Get off her! What the hell's going on, eh?

-She started it.

-Well, I'm finishing it, all right? A truce, yeah?

Depends.

On what?

It's us or him.

Are you serious?

Lucy, you can't make her choose. He's family.

Oh, come on, Lauren. We're meant to be your best mates.

So which is it?

I choose Joey.

I just got your message. What... What's so important?

-It's your Dad.

-What's he done now?

He knows.

He knows about us.

No. No, Lauren, he'll be bluffing.

-Not this time.

-What did he say?

He wants you to meet him in the car lot in 40 minutes.

Right, well, he can whistle, can't he?

What if he tells my dad?

We'll just have to front it out, all right?

No, you don't understand. He's going to kill you!

I can take care of myself, Lauren, all right?

Well, what about me?

Do you think he's going to just let you keep seeing me?

No! It's all going to kick off, Joey.

You're going to have to go. You're going to have to go.

Hang on. I'm not leaving you, all right?

Just go to your mum's or something, can't you? Just leave.

No, I can't.

We don't really have much choice, do we, Joey? So...

I mean, this.

Us. It's got to stop.

Right. So, that's what you want, is it?

No.

No, of course it's not!

SHE SNIFFS

But we can't be together. Not here.

Right, then. We'll have to leave.

-We can't.

-Why not?

Because this is my home!

You're 18 now, Lauren. You can do whatever you want.

What about my family? My friends?

My mum and dad are meant to be getting married

-in a couple of months.

-What would you rather do?

Just stick around here till they screw things up again?

Just give me half an hour, yeah?

I'll meet you out in the gardens.

I'm scared.

Joey, I'm really scared.

You've got nothing to be scared of, Lauren, all right?

Cos I'm going to look after you.

So, are you married?

A few near-misses.

My husband, Max, he's, um...

Well, I say husband, we're actually divorced at the moment.

We're about to get married for a second time.

It's not as complicated as it sounds, actually.

DOOR OPENS That might be Lauren.

I should just go and see what she wanted to talk about.

Could you leave us?

I'm not going to tell you again.

This must have come as quite a shock to you.

You could say that.

Well, I'm about as prepared as you are.

I don't know about you,

but I could murder a Scotch.

Mum?

Can I talk to you now?

Do you know what I would love?

Just for once?

Someone to ask me if I was all right, for a change.

I mean, you think life's complicated now, Lauren.

I hate to break it to you, it doesn't get any easier.

You must have a fair few holidays as a teacher.

I'm in between jobs at the moment.

I used to run the charity shop on Turpin Road.

Dalston, eh?

I knocked about there when I was a kid.

I remember this one time,

it must have been the summer of 1958...

Why did you do it?

Why did you give me up?

Because I wanted to give you the best life I could.

And my father?

He knew nothing about you.

Come on.

There must be 101 questions you'd like to ask.

I can't do this.

You were born at 3:26 in the afternoon.

Five pounds, four ounces.

A bit underweight, but nothing to worry about.

Sandie Shaw was number one.

Always Something There To Remind Me.

They played it on the wireless all the time.

How long did you stay with me?

An hour, maybe.

And then you just walked away?

And then what?

Then I got on with my life.

What else could I do?

Didn't you ever want me?

It was different back then.

That's not what I asked you.

Don't know about you...

but I could do with a top-up.

MUSIC PLAYS ON TV

# Wai-ai-ai-ait, Mr Postman

# Wait, Mr Postman, look at me... #

'Leave a message.'

Max, it's me. Where are you?

DOOR SLAMS

I can see him in you, you know?

Can you?

I see I'm not the only one with a sweet tooth.

Your Chinese has gone all cold now.

I'm not hungry.

How about I make you a nice hot chocolate when I get back?

Where are you going?

Just a bit of unfinished business.

Nothing for you to worry about, angel. All right?

SHE GASPS

Are you serious?

If we're going to do this, we might as well do it in style.

Well, maybe we should wait until tomorrow.

He might not even say anything.

Lauren, this is Derek we're talking about.

Exactly.

Will you calm down?

Trust me, all right?

Everything's going to be OK.

Have you ever driven a Daimler?

-SHE SQUEALS

-Get in.

ENGINE REVS

JOEY LAUGHS

HORN BLARES

-What are you doing?!

-Nothing. Shh!

You can think of it as child support!

You made it easy, you know.

I came here to show the world

what a low-life piece of scum my old man really is.

Go on. Go, go, go!

It turns out I needn't have bothered.

You did all that by yourself, Derek!

SUITCASE BANGS ON STAIRS

DOOR OPENS

What are you doing?

-Did you think about me?

-Of course I did.

Then why didn't you fight for me?

I didn't have any fight left in me, darling.

You know, it's funny.

All my life, I've wanted to know whose eyes were looking back at me.

And there you are.

Was it a good life?

The best.

Your mum and dad...

Best parents I could have asked for.

Didn't have it easy, mind.

Try telling all the kids why you've got two white parents.

Don't think hairdressers in Surbiton knew what to do with an afro.

We muddled through, though.

I tried to find you once.

I was in my late 30s, I felt a bit...lost.

What happened?

I got scared.

Worried I'd disappoint you?

You rejected me once. Who's to say you wouldn't do it again?

So you never tried?

I decided the past was best left there.

And now?

Nothing's changed.

Ava.

Mind how you go.

DOOR SLAMS

-I cannot believe we're actually doing this.

-Exciting, innit?

-Is it?

-Yes, it is actually, Lauren.

Just think about it, will you?

Look, no more looking over your shoulder,

no more hiding out at the car lot.

-No more dramas.

-Yeah.

-No-one kicking off.

-Exactly.

It's just me and you, Joey.

Like a film, innit?

THEY LAUGH

Well, it is!

-Have you seen Max?

-No.

Tanya.

You've seen Mum, I take it?

What did I tell you about meddling, hmm?

That no good at all is going to come out of raking up the past.

That has broken her. You know that, don't you?

This whole thing is a... Is a terrible mess.

What can I do to put this right, Patrick?

Nothing at all you can do.

It's up to both of them now.

SHE SOBS

# Oh, any time, time, time... #

-Are you serious?

-Yeah.

DANCE BEAT PLAYS

There we go, that's better.

Now, I love you, Lauren. But that is... That is just embarrassing.

RADIO CRACKLES

Oh!

TYRES SCREECH

ALARM RINGS

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd