14/12/2012 EastEnders

What happened to you?

You were kicking.

Did I score?

Do you want a cuppa?

No, I'm all right, thanks.

I'd like you to take Denny to school today if that's all right.

-Yeah? Well, I've got work.

-He's cleaning his teeth.

You'll need to be gone soon if you're walking.

Did you not just hear what I just said?

Yeah. You'll just to have to be late for once won't you?

-I've someone I've got to see.

-Oh, yeah?

I warn you, he's wearing his nativity outfit

which won't necessarily go with the whole Jack Branning image.

This is all about the Derek thing still?

No, it's about the you thing.

How many more times have I got to apologise?

The damage is done.

Oh, no, the damage was done when you took the pills in the first place.

Oh, thank you, Jack, very supportive.

I take it you won't be coming this morning?

To what?

The play. 11.30 sharp.

Look, I've got an appointment. I'm not going to be able to break it.

Nice to know you've got your priorities sorted, innit?

Oh, where are you going, eh?

Post-match analysis with Phil, is it? After the court case?

No, I'm not off to see Phil.

Not that it's any of your business if I was.

So half a dozen romper suits, the pink cotton ones, yeah?

And a car seat for a five-month-old.

Well, I dunno, you tell me. Whatever the best one is, yeah.

And one of them bouncy things, what do you call them?

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hang on a sec, there's someone at the door.

I ran into Lola last night.

Not now, Shirl. I've got someone on the phone.

-She was in bits.

-Why?

What do you mean, "why?" You're already cutting her out.

What's gonna happen in six months, a year?

-We'll talk about this some other time.

-What was that judge thinking?

What with your track record as a parent.

And this coming from the world's top mum.

Where were we?

You're gonna get what's coming to you one day!

Sorry, can you say that again? I didn't quite catch that.

Come here.

That's it.

You all right, Shirl?

No, I'm not all right.

You can tell his mother she should be ashamed of herself.

Don't worry about her, just a very unhappy woman.

I was just coming to call for you.

My goodness, look, if it isn't little Lawrence of Arabia!

He's one of the three kings, actually.

Shepherds.

Yeah, whatever. What d'you want?

-It's about Max.

-Yeah, well, not now, mate. Excuse me.

Gotta take him to school.

We're seriously not going to let him get away with this

no stag night idea, are we?

You got some nerve speaking to me,

the way you dumped me in it with Sharon.

So I'll arrange it, shall I? The stag night?

I feel really bad about leaving you outside the court the way we did.

Bad, why would you feel bad, eh? You won.

Nobody won.

Oh, give it a rest, will ya? You know you're on Phil's side.

I'm not on anybody's side. It's about what's best for Lexi.

Lexi? Lexi, you don't even know Lexi,

so how would you know what's best for her?

OK, maybe I don't know Lexi that well, but I do know Phil.

Probably better than anyone.

And the one thing that is more important to him

than anything is family. And that is you, darling.

He is not going to cut you out.

Yeah, well, you heard what they said in court.

Well, just cos they said three times a week doesn't mean

it only has to be three times a week. You're her mum.

There is no way he's going to stop you seeing her whenever you want.

Has he actually said that?

Well, he didn't need to.

It's just a case of the pair of you

building up a bit of trust together, you know.

Now, look...here's some money.

You go and get something lovely for Lexi and take it round to him.

He'll appreciate the gesture.

And then you two can have a little chat

about where to take things from there, yeah?

And then I can just see her whenever I want?

Well, I wouldn't start demanding things, Lola.

Just take it slowly, yeah?

And once he sees you're not playing games, he'll come round.

So come on, cheer up. It's not all bad.

Yeah, but what am I going to buy her?

You're her mum, darling. You decide, yeah?

Well, that's brilliant news. You must be well...

Relieved.

There you go, darling. Have a look in the mirror. See what you think.

-Aw!

-Eh?

I look ridiculous.

Well, of course you do, now.

But once you've got the dress on and all the other little bits and bobs,

it'll be the perfect finishing touch that.

I bet Max was pleased.

-Yeah, course he was pleased.

-And your mother?

Look...yes.

Derek, is there something you wanted in particular?

Oh, yeah, yeah. I got Alice's measurements here.

No, hang on, I don't remember agreeing to that.

-Oh, it'd mean an awful lot to her.

-It's too short notice.

What is?

Derek wants Alice to be a bridesmaid.

She's all excited now. I'd hate to let her down.

How's Lauren?

She's still in bed.

Teenagers, eh? Tell me you're all right about the dress.

I'll see what I can do.

Ah, excellent. Oh, it was Max I come to see.

He went out first thing.

Oh, did he? Ah. Oh, give him a message for me?

Tell him that Jack's having all these Sharon problems

and I said I'd take over as best man.

You what?

Don't worry. I won't tell too many dirty jokes.

Well, not that dirty anyway.

Good news about the cancer.

That man!

What's up?

A - I don't want Derek telling me who's going to be bridesmaid,

B - I don't want him being best man and C - I don't want him around.

Apart from that, I'm fine.

Mum...

What did Nan really say when you told her?

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

KNOCKING

Not very Christmassy in here.

It's a launderette, Jean, not Santa's grotto.

Yeah, but even so...

You know, when you go into a shop and you see a sign,

"Happy Christmas to all our customers,"

do you think for one moment they really mean it?

Well, Dot used to always do it.

What is it you want, Jean?

You know, Alfie's throwing out some Christmas decorations.

I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I brought them in...

What is it you want?

Oh, um, yes.

If I give this to you today, will it be ready in time for the wedding?

What wedding is that then?

Is there a problem?

I don't like Christmas, all right?

Last time I heard, it wasn't a crime.

So until it is...

Monday afternoon.

Is that cigarette smoke I can smell?

And?

You off out somewhere then?

Yeah. Thought I'd do a bit of last minute Christmas shopping.

-How was Tommy at playgroup?

-Yeah, good.

If it's money you're worried about, I've set myself a budget

and I'm going to stick to it.

Right, well, I should be back by lunchtime.

-If I'm late, I'll give you a ring.

-Right.

-Oh, you look lovely.

-Thanks.

-Off somewhere special?

-Going shopping.

-Oh, have fun. Alfie...

You know the Christmas decorations...?

Jean, do what you want with them, sweetheart.

Are you going behave yourself today?

Look at me, I can barely contain my excitement.

After all the trouble I've been to to get childcare.

Why can't we just buy presents online?

Michael, listen to me.

We're going to go shopping, grab a coffee, maybe,

maybe we even get some lunch, you know, like what normal people do.

Do I look like I go shopping?

PHONE RINGS

Hold on. Yeah, you do, anyway.

Alfie.

-He wants to talk to you.

-Not now.

Erm, Grandad, I thought he was here but it appears he's not.

So I'll take a message if that's OK?

Rox, darling, please don't lie.

I'm looking at the pair of you right now.

Just put him on, yeah?

Oh, he's seen us.

Thank you.

All right, Alf?

Enough of the, "All right, Alf."

Listen, I've been trying to call you.

'Your phone's switched off. How come you haven't called me back?'

I'm going Christmas shopping with Roxy.

I'm not interested. I need you to come up here now.

I need to talk to you right now, OK?

You set this up, didn't you? You set this up deliberately?

It looks that way but it's not. He's upset.

Right, and what does he want to talk to you for?

Well, that would be breaking a confidence,

-and two, it's none of your business.

-Michael...

So shopping's cancelled. Sorry.

# Cos she'll never change her ways

# Don't fool yourself

# She was heartache from the moment that you met her... #

Can I help you?

Alfie wants to see me.

Is something the matter?

MUSIC PLAYS IN THE ROOM

THE MUSIC QUIETENS

All right?

OK, I have been avoiding you,

but the reason why is to avoid precisely this situation.

So who is it?

Who's what?

You know what I'm talking about. Who is it?

Have you spoken to her?

You know, up till yesterday I thought it was you.

You know, going in my head, why Janine left when she did?

-Did she know something I don't?

-No, no, that's not right.

If it'd been me, do you think I would have told you?

No, not now. Because you're here and she's not.

If I knew, I would tell you, Alfie.

But I don't, so I can't.

This is me, Michael.

HE SIGHS

Who exactly is my wife getting into bed with right now?

Why couldn't she come and tell me herself?

Why couldn't you bring yourself to ask?

Shouldn't you be at school?

Well, I should be revising for my mocks.

Are you really going to pretend you don't care?

Wait till you have kids.

Oh, this is about Ava, isn't it?

I think you should leave, young lady, before I lose my temper.

You like to make out you've got this heart of stone.

Well, I don't believe it.

DOOR OPENS

Me again.

It's just in case you change your mind about the decorations.

Well, I'll leave them there.

Bye.

I think you should leave an' all.

Ava's my aunt. She's Mum's half-sister.

I'm not going anywhere.

Why would she tell you without telling you who it was?

I didn't want to know. It was too much information.

And neither should you.

Yeah, well, I tried and it doesn't work.

So when did she tell you then?

It was ages ago, it was in the Square, you'd kicked her out.

Remember? That was then, she was crying. She was...she was a mess.

Alfie, this is Kat we're talking about.

You either come round, come round to who she is or you launch her.

She's never going to change.

Do you know this song?

# Hard as I try to forget her love was a joke... #

You ever been cheated on, Michael? Cos I have.

Oh, of course, you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?

Woah, woah, hold on, just have a listen...listen to this all right?

# Remember her hair as it shone in the sun

# The smell of the bed when I knew what she'd done

# Tell yourself over and over... #

Alfie, mate, you are torturing yourself. Don't do it.

You know...you know what apparently she's doing this time?

You know what it is? Apparently, she's "Christmas shopping" now.

That's plausible. Maybe she is.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Yes, what?

-Jean, what is it, darling?

-Sorry, sorry to interrupt.

It's just that I found this in the kitchen.

She's not going to get very far without her purse, is she?

Just put it down there for me, please.

Are you going to sit there all day?

We could always put these up.

I've had all this with Jean.

Christmas was all right till it started happening once a fortnight.

Might cheer the place up a bit. Cheer you up too.

I don't want to be cheered up.

That's a very strange thing to say.

You get to an age, Abi, when you don't want ups,

you don't want downs, you just want a little bit of peace.

What's so strange about that?

That's like saying no to life.

I'm 66 years old.

So?

Whatever time I've got left,

I want to spend it with as least possible aggravation.

Is that all right?

So if you never saw Ava again, that would be all right?

You can't pretend like it hasn't happened.

I know you care about her.

Maybe, if she cared about me.

What makes you say that?

When I gave her up, I gave up any expectations I might've had as well.

She doesn't owe me anything.

Maybe she hasn't been back in touch because she's scared.

What of?

I know you don't mean it,

but you can come across quite scary sometimes.

When have you ever been scared of me?

Just now. When you were talking about losing your temper.

I should never have given her that bracelet.

The one you lost?

Stupid thing to do, cos it demanded a response.

One I had no right to expect.

So why would she get in touch?

I realise I'm probably a very unlovable person.

I love you.

CORA CRIES

Oh, Nan.

No, no, no, no, no, darling.

I've got work to do.

It's all right to be upset, you know.

I've got three loads of washing.

I can't afford to be upset.

Nan, stop, please.

Look, come on.

-SHE LAUGHS

-It's Christmas.

What you talking about? Derek's best man?

Yeah, and also he wants Alice to be bridesmaid.

Like I can just get hold of another dress, just like that.

Right, and you just went along with it?

Well, I had no choice, did I?

It was like it had already been decided.

I am sick and tired of him throwing his weight about.

Where you going? No, Max. Max, leave it. It's no big deal.

35 quid. What else?

Well, there's a bank card, credit card, Oyster card, picture of Tommy.

Yeah, nice one.

HE SIGHS

I need to be somewhere, Alfie.

OK. Just let me ask you something, all right?

Did you come on to her or did she come on to you?

OK. All right. Listen. Just hear me out.

Was it your place or hers? Hers, was it?

Or should I say ours? Of course.

Was it upstairs in the white room with the balcony, yeah?

The one with the picture of the Flamenco on the wall.

And the dried flowers in a vase on the sideboard.

Oh, yeah, the wicker chair in the corner, yeah?

Why are you doing this to yourself, Alf?

How many times, Michael? How many times?

Six times! Two times. 100 times.

What difference does it make, exactly, huh?!

I don't know what you're planning,

but have you really thought this through to the end conclusion?

Have you thought about the boy?

Courts always favour the mother, Alfie. Always.

You'll see him once a fortnight, if you're lucky.

Burger and fries, please, and a plastic toy?

Is that what you want? Cos that's what you'll get.

I'm sorry.

I know...I know you're feeling bad but it's...

It's paradise compared to that.

All right, Jack? Haven't seen Derek, have you?

I've only just got here myself. Why?

-He's been saying you don't want to be best man.

-Eh?

Yeah, apparently, you've got "Sharon problems" and don't want to do it.

-What's he been saying?

-So it's rubbish, yeah?

-Yes!

What's he talking about, "Sharon problems?"

Nothing, all right? And I'm sorting it anyway.

Jean? You haven't seen Derek, have you?

No, no. Not seen him.

You all right?

Um...no.

Alfie is upstairs with Michael

and it feels like something's going to explode any minute.

Yeah? What kind of something?

Maybe to do with Kat.

I don't suppose either of you could find an excuse to go upstairs

and see what's going on?

No. Not really our place, I wouldn't have thought.

I'm going to find Derek, all right? See you later.

I've got things I've got to be doing anyway, so...

See you later.

-How much is that?

-£26 the lot.

What do you think you're doing?

What does it look like I'm doing?

That's Phil's responsibility. Let him pay.

I know, but Sharon said...

You supposed to be fighting him, not helping him.

I'll take 'em all, please.

Oh, look at that, look. I've got to get a picture of that.

-Where's me phone?

-Go and play with the traffic.

You know, I'm going to really enjoy watching you

push a pram around the Square, Phil.

That'll be one for the scrap book.

How's Sharon, by the way?

You're cruising, Derek.

She didn't deny that pill thing, did she?

-Derek...

-What?

-You're flying low.

-Yeah.

There you are.

Well, well, well, if it isn't the bridegroom to be.

What's all this, Del?

What's all this that Tanya tells me about you being best man?

What, you frightened of what I might say at the speech?

You should be.

No, it's Jack, still thinks he's doing it.

Maxwell, I'm doing my best to stop our friends

turning you into peanut butter.

A little gratitude wouldn't go astray.

A bit higher.

A bit more.

Yeah. Yeah, that's it.

So what do we think?

Tasteless, vulgar, tacky...

Magical.

You're a good kid, Abi.

Your mother did a good job with you.

Shame she didn't do so well with your sister.

Stop it. You were doing really well there.

DOOR OPENS

Nan?

Is it a bad time?

No. No, no, no, course not.

Come in.

Abi, this is Ava.

Ava, this is my granddaughter, Abi.

You go and see the play then, Tate, yeah?

Sharon! Thought I weren't going to make it.

Couldn't find anywhere to park.

I thought you had a meeting you couldn't break?

Yeah, well, it turns out I could.

You sure you don't want one, Abi?

No, I'll leave you two to it.

It was nice to meet you, Ava.

You too.

Can I, um, can I tell Mum?

You can tell her what you want.

Tell her I'm very pleased about...

You know.

Why don't you tell her yourself?

All in good time.

She seems like a nice girl.

Yeah, I'm very proud of her.

How did you find me?

I asked.

I think it's called being resourceful.

I, um...

I got you a card.

You didn't have to do that just cos I got you one.

Yeah, I know I didn't have to.

Can I open it now?

Thank you.

Very Christmassy in here. It's lovely.

D'you like Christmas?

I'm coming round to it.

The trouble is, I've already got a load of stuff on order.

Yeah, but I wanna be part of it an' all.

Wipe your feet on the way in, will you?

I've just had the floor polished.

Wow. What was wrong with this place before?

Well, new baby, new start.

Now what is this?

I don't like this, it's nylon or polyester or something.

-I don't want my baby wearing man-made stuff.

-Your baby?

The best thing you can do is get your money back.

If you want to buy her a present, that's fine, you know,

but make it something a bit classier than that, will you?

Well, go on. Off you go.

Right.

DOOR CLOSES

I have to go.

Alfie! >

Careful.

< Where are you?

We're in here, Kat.

-All right?

-What are you doing here?

Oh, just a bit of male bonding.

-We're going to have a wrestle in the snow later.

-There is no snow.

Isn't there? Oh, another time, maybe.

-So, how did you Christmas shopping go?

-Good.

So where's your stuff?

Never you mind.

I knew I hadn't lost that cos I remember checking it

before I left to see how much cash I had.

How did you get there then? How did you manage to pay for stuff?

I was really lucky.

Realised I hadn't got this on the way to the Tube,

about to turn back to get it and I banged into Roxy.

She drew out 100 quid for me and lent it to me.

-What, Roxy did?

-Yeah. I'll be five minutes.

HE EXHALES

Happy now?

You need to remember this, Alfie,

the things you hate her for are the very same things you love her for.

You kick her out and what's left?

Will a single day go by where you don't have this big

hole in your heart, wishing she was back?

Think on, cousin.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd