22/02/2013 EastEnders

-This is all very cosy, innit?

-We were just having dinner.

I'm not blind, Abs. I can see what's going on.

-Tan...

-Look, Daddy's here as well. That's a nice surprise, innit?

Say hello.

-How are you?

-Maybe we should go.

No, don't be silly. Don't go on my account.

Any leftovers?

Yeah. Well, we just started.

Good. Well, I don't know about you lot but I'm starving.

Give us a chance to catch up, won't it?

Obviously plenty to chat about.

Tan?

Oscar's tired. You should take him upstairs to bed.

Read him a story. He's missed you.

You going to go up to bed with Daddy?

Do you want a story?

Right? Let's eat, shall we?

All right?

Alfie knows about us.

Does he? Interesting. You told him? Why?

What was it you said?

"Can't go a whole day without a screaming fit."

So I typed "hot Pakistani spices" into the search engine.

HE CHUCKLES

I wouldn't recommend doing that without Safe Search on.

So, Ayesha, this is a surprise. Why? What brings you back?

Obviously not my stories. Tam, fancy a pint?

No.

I wanted to come. And say I'm sorry.

Sorry?

-I meant soft drink.

-Yeah, I know what you meant.

-There's no need for you to...

-I heard about Zainab.

They need to catch up. You need to buy me a pint

because I'm skint. See you later.

Tam!

So you heard about Zainab?

That she left. That...

I had to come.

This is, uh...this is very good.

The secret's in asking Ian Beale for extra vinegar.

Is it?

They do say, don't they, that

the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

I find with Max... What am I saying, you'd know, wouldn't you?

-Stop it!

-Stop what?

This. Pretending like everything's fine.

Oscar's asleep already.

We know you must be angry but you weren't here, were you?

-Who's angry?

-Look, go easy. I'm sure your mum's...

No, it's fine, Kirsty, I can speak for myself, thanks.

I'm just glad to see you all getting along so well.

It's good, innit?

Girls, make sure you tidy all this away after, yeah?

The last thing your mum needs is a messy house.

Shall I take those bags up for you?

No. No, it's fine. I can manage on my own.

What are you doing here? I thought you was going on your date.

-What's it look like?

-You a bit nervous?

I'm just fashionably late.

So what's with the Dutch courage then? You all right, Cora?

I've been hounded out.

My granddaughters are paying court with their father to his Jezebel.

Oh. So, not all right then.

That's a nice bit of slap you've got on, Carol. Got a date?

As a matter of fact, I do.

I just don't know why she'd come back.

Maybe she needs chaperoning again.

Yeah, but she said she heard that Mum had gone.

So I don't understand why that would mean she had to come back.

She might be worried for Zainab.

They grew pretty close when she was here.

Look, they're family friends.

Obviously word's got around about your parents.

People are going to gossip.

Your dad needs to explain. It's easier to do that in private.

They're not going to get a chance. She's going for "cooking lessons".

Listen, something's come up

and I'm going to have to take a rain check for tonight.

I'm really sorry.

You lost something?

Phone. I pretty much chucked everything in without sorting.

That's quite a lot for a visit.

I didn't come to visit, Masood.

I came for you.

DOORBELL RINGS

It's Joey's.

Yeah, and that towel's Nan's. She's out.

She couldn't stand to be in the same room as Kirsty.

He hasn't moved her in. They're at the B&B.

Well, thank heavens for small mercies, eh?

You did leave him, Mum. It's Dad. What did you expect?

I didn't expect to come back and find them here.

Find you all here, sitting round, playing happy families.

Wasn't someone going to tell me?

Well, I didn't want to hurt you, Mum.

And what were we supposed to say?

That you were right when you threw him out? Come fight for him?

Is that why you came back?

-Hi.

-You all right?

Something smells nice. You started without me?

Well, the thing is, something's come up.

I did try to call you, but...

Ayesha. She's a...family friend.

Ayesha, this is Carol Jackson. She works at the cafe.

You're here to help cook, is that right?

Well, yeah. Sort of.

It was going to be her first time. Cooking, that is. Curry.

Well, if you like, I can help Masood and you can take the night off.

I don't know. That depends what Masood wants.

Erm...

I think it's probably for the best.

Because it's quite late and there's so much cooking to do.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, without me getting in the way.

-I'm so sorry.

-No.

-I came home and she just turned up.

D'you know what, we can do it any time, you know. It's fine.

Yeah.

She was dressed nicely for someone coming for a cooking lesson.

MASOOD SIGHS

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have... you know, I'll go.

No, no.

Don't go. You only just got here.

And we've got so much cooking to do.

Right. So the shortest one gets to go out?

No. Remember, long equals good result, short equals bad result.

Right.

So, kind of like the difference between pulling Ray and, say, Ian?

Just choose a straw, Kim.

Look, the both of you go out now, man!

I can look after myself.

Result.

Patrick. It wasn't like that.

Look, I'm fine. I'm just fine, OK?

I've survived for over 70 years, I'm sure I could manage

an hour or two while you all go out and have some fun.

Well, you just call if you need anything.

And no drinking.

You've hidden my stash anyway.

It's for your own good.

PATRICK SCOFFS

HE WINCES

Max? Coming?

Babe, I feel like I need to talk to her.

You know, just explain.

Explain what? Us?

Do you feel guilty?

-No.

-Ashamed?

-No, course not!

Well, then what's there to explain?

Babe, it must have been a shock for her.

You know, coming in, seeing that.

I just want five minutes, all right? To make sure she's OK.

Babe, she's back now.

And me and her, we got to work things out, haven't we?

Find a way forward.

You're going.

Tan, can we talk?

You've got five minutes.

I'll be five minutes. All right? Five minutes. I promise.

Well?

Well, you were gone. She was gone. I was in bits, weren't I?

Really? How long?

How long before she came back? Did you go and get her, did you?

Or did you just send her some text the minute I drove off?

It weren't like that. She needed help.

That's what you call it now?

Do you want to come round tonight for some "helping"?

No, she was in trouble. I brought her back here.

You brought her back here and what?

You slipped and fell into bed with her? That sort of accident?

No. Well that weren't an accident, was it, obviously.

I knew what I was doing.

Yeah, of course. Yeah, that's what you wanted.

Yeah. Maybe, yeah.

-Only because, you know.

-Because, you know, what?

Because you left, all right. I didn't know what you wanted.

So what do you want?

What I want...

is to be able to leave for three weeks without you replacing me

in my own home, with my daughters.

-Right, I think I've heard enough.

-Heard enough for what?

To know that they're not getting back together.

At least not tonight, anyway.

But you do want them to, right?

Don't you?

MUFFLED ARGUING CONTINUES

I wish I was on a date.

Date? Yeah, I remember those. Dimly.

Men, they're about as reliable as an old clock and as trustworthy.

Have you seen Dexter?

He was supposed to be buying me tea at the cafe

and now it's closing and he's a no-show. Men.

You could join us.

We're thinking of starting a support group.

HE SIGHS

This is what we drew straws over. So you could sit at the bar.

Where's your date?

Just good to get out of the house, I suppose.

He will be OK, though. Won't he?

Patrick? What you talking about?

He's tough as old boots. Don't worry about him.

If there's anyone who knows about tough old boots...

TV PLAYS IN BACKGROUND

HE PANTS

What you talking about? Masood and Carol?

But Zainab's only been gone five minutes.

Don't worry, so was the date.

Mum? What's happened?

Well, it turns out it wasn't a date, after all.

I thought you were cooking tomorrow's special?

Yeah, well, Masood's got it all under control.

I'd just have just been playing gooseberry.

Oh, Trace, will you just sort Carol out?

-Are you going to go to her then?

-Why would I do that?

Because you feel bad.

Rox, maybe that's what she wanted, you know. Her and Michael.

Yeah, maybe. Or maybe there's another explanation.

Yeah, what's that?

Well, I don't know, they're two grown adults, free to do what

they want, when they want, with who they want.

Since when did you start caring?

What makes you think I want to cry?

Because the man you love is divorcing you.

And the only way that you can deal with it

is to cop off with another man. A man you will never love.

So, sometimes it is better to just cry.

Why do I do it, Jean?

Why do I keep on screwing up?

There's a darkness in you, Kat.

Always has been.

You're good at this cheering up lark, aren't you?

You been taking lessons?

There's...a lot of good in you too.

I mean, you've got a big heart.

That's why decent men like Alfie fall in love with you.

I just keep hurting him.

Why do I always hurt everyone I care about?

There's only one person you're trying to hurt here.

-Okra?

-You disapprove?

No. Isn't it quite tricky to cook?

I don't see it much in modern restaurants.

Yeah, that's why I chose it, you see. It's traditional.

It's something I'm comfortable with. People of my generation appreciate.

Well, I suppose traditional recipes can always be

spiced up with a modern twist.

-Ow!

-Come here.

MASOOD MOANS

Is that better?

Yeah. Ow!

Ayesha...

I see it but I don't believe it.

What do you want, Tanya?

It doesn't matter what I want, does it?

It's never been about that. It's about what Max Branning wants.

Always has been.

Well, that's not exactly fair, is it?

No, it's not fair, is it? But it's true.

You can't help it, Max.

You know, you need someone in your life. Always have.

In your life, in your head, most of all, in your bed.

You just can't function without it, can you?

That's cos you're weak. Always have been.

That's why you need a Stacey, a Kirsty or a me around.

You know, cos we're weak too. And that's why we love you.

That's why we can't stop.

So you do still love me?

PHONE RINGS

It's not what you think.

Really? What do I think?

Actually, Dad, tell me what you think about a young, beautiful,

Muslim girl living in a house with three unmarried men.

It's not ideal.

How about her turning up while Mum's bed is still warm?

-That's enough.

-Is it?

Did something happen between you and Ayesha before Mum left?

What? No! No. Nothing inappropriate.

-Inappropriate?

-Don't lecture me, Tam. I'm your father.

Yeah, and you're old enough to be her father!

Look, I don't know what's gone on.

Whatever mid-life crisis you're going through,

whatever reaction you're having to Mum leaving,

this cannot happen.

Look at us, what a sorry bunch.

Stood up, passed over, and me chased out of my home.

For what? Men? Why do we even bother?

-Well, I can think of one reason.

-Only one reason?

THEY LAUGH

What about you, Ava? You as cynical as Cora here?

Well, we don't agree on much but, yeah, in this case.

Why's that then? Whitney said Dexter's a lovely kid.

His dad can't have been that bad. He didn't spoil him, did he?

Didn't get the chance, did he?

Took off not long after he was born.

Men, eh?

It keeps going straight to voicemail.

He's probably turned it off.

-I'm going to go and check. I'll see ya.

-See ya later.

All right, Alf?

Go on, go on then, lay it on me.

I've come to face the music.

What music?

Well, your music. You know, took advantage of Kat.

Again.

You know what, Michael, you're both adults. You know what you're doing.

If it makes you feel happy, then just go for it.

But if it doesn't,

and you're doing it because she's just there,

then I kind of feel sorry for you.

Did you mean what you said?

About still loving me?

Tan, is that why you're back here? For me?

Maybe that's part of it. If I'm honest.

That's good.

I like honest.

You see, Jane warned me this would happen.

This is the problem.

I've always loved you.

Yeah, well, that's not a problem, is it?

I still love you too.

And that just makes it worse.

What do you mean? Makes what worse?

This. This whole thing. Us.

We just keep going round and round in circles, don't we?

And it's destructive.

We're still here. We're still standing.

I don't mean to us. To everyone else we get involved, you know?

To Stacey, Greg, Kirsty.

Our kids. Max, our kids.

I mean, poor little Oscar,

he don't know when or where he's going to see his dad next.

Then we've got Abi, she should be out there getting some fabulous career

and instead she's stuck here.

And Lauren...

And here we are. Going round and round.

You told Kirsty you'd be five minutes.

It'll be fine. She'll understand.

She shouldn't have to understand, should she?

-Babe, please.

-No, I'm not doing this. I'm not doing this again.

I didn't come back here for you, Max. I didn't.

I came back here for our kids.

To do right by them. For once. Please.

So what do you say, we'll just wipe the slate clean,

we'll focus on them, yeah?

Right, and that's what you really want?

That's what I want.

OK.

I better go.

Yeah!

Patrick?! What's happened?!

Oh, I...slipped.

Are you hurt?

HE GROANS

You daft old thing. You should have just waited.

I didn't want to have to ask.

Over 72 years.

I never had to ask anybody to open a rum bottle for me before.

Still there's always a first time, eh?

Come on, why don't we drink to it?

Here you are.

Tamwar... He doesn't understand, that's all.

No. That's not all.

I don't understand.

What are you doing, hey? Here? Now?

My wife of 30 years,

the woman who I gave my whole life to, has been gone barely two weeks

and you come here thinking I'm just going to fall into your arms?

Like she's some kind of obstacle that's now been removed?

No. I just...thought...

Thought?

What? What did you think?

I'm sorry if I've hurt you.

HE SIGHS

No. No, I did that to myself.

Tam's right.

I need to get a grip.

I'm going to call you a cab. You can't stay here. How would it look?

I don't care.

But I do.

Ayesha.

-Five minutes up already?

-Yeah, sorry about that.

Did you tell her we're still together

-and that's how it's going to be?

-Yeah, of course.

I told her. Clean slate.

You all right?

Yeah.

I'm home, aren't I? Come here, you guys.

Don't bother calling us a cab.

I haven't.

I didn't want it to, erm... end like this.

I knew you couldn't.

You can't stay here un-chaperoned.

You've always been sad. From the moment we first met.

You hide it but it's there. You deserve to be happy.

That's why I'm here. For you.

I'm not going anywhere.

And I don't care how it looks. I want to be with you.

And I think you want to be with me too.

There's nothing standing in our way.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd