08/08/2013 EastEnders

Look at her. She's like a different person.

Yeah, well, it's too soon, she's not ready to be back.

-She needs to go back to the clinic, Dad.

-Don't worry, I'll fix it.

The bacon's a bit crispy round the edges.

I've got to get going.

What? Come on, Abs.

When was the last time I cooked yous lot breakfast?

Well, I said I'd meet Jay, so...

Abs, it's fine. See you later.

-Bye.

-They taught you cooking as well as sobriety at that clinic, did they?

Cora...

What? I ain't pretending she's been on holiday.

Yeah. Yeah, they taught me loads of things, Nan.

They taught me how to cope, how to deal with my feelings better.

-What about your mum? Does she know you're here?

-Yeah.

Do me a favour. She's probably halfway to Walford by now.

She'll be knocking at the door to drag you back.

There's nothing there for me, Dad.

I'll call her later and she'll understand.

No, she won't. She'll think the same as me - it's too soon.

I need my life back, Dad.

Give her a chance.

I need to feel like me again. Please.

-Oh, hello!

-Hi.

I thought we were meeting at the market.

I'm just heading over there now to set up.

-I thought you might want to get a head start.

-OK.

Ooh, "Beauty"! Great name. Adds that touch of class, doesn't it?

Glad you think so. And hopefully by the time you've got rid of this lot,

the whole of Walford will agree.

Sorry? You want ME to post these through the letterboxes?

-You don't mind?

-Course not. You know, cos I'm a team player, so...

Glad to hear it.

What's that?

Well, let's put Beauty on the map, shall we?

Absolutely. See you later.

OK, yeah, see you in a bit.

Sure you don't mind? I've got to be at the restaurant till late.

Yeah, it won't be the first time I've made tea for Bobby, will it?

Oh, Luce, before I forget, that's for you.

What's this?

It's a discount card for the caff - you know, family only.

I thought you'd get use out of it, cos Janine likes her coffee.

Where are you going?

I planned it all with the counsellors at the clinic.

I'm going to keep busy. I'm going to go for a run in the mornings,

and in the evenings sometimes too.

Lauren, I'd just prefer it if you stayed indoors, please.

Dad, you've got to stop this.

You've got your own life to be dealing with. You and Kirsty.

You were getting back together last night.

I'm just glad I didn't walk in two seconds later.

Yeah, well, she ain't my priority now, is she? YOU are.

-PHONE RINGS

-Hello, Max Branning.

Er, no, sorry, mate, I can't do that today.

-Well, I don't know, just take the motors somewhere else.

-Dad!

Hang on.

What are you doing throwing business away?

You flush all of a sudden, are you?

They worked really hard with me at the clinic.

They taught me how to control things,

create routines. So you can do what you need to do.

Yeah, hello, mate. ..No, that's fine. No, I've changed my mind.

I'll be there in about a half-hour, yeah? OK, bye.

Right, now, promise me, all right? Please. Just stay here.

I don't want you going out. Please?

You can trust me.

-See you later.

-See ya.

Keeping that chair warm for me?

I had a nice little chat with Janine this morning.

You know, reminded her how far back me and her go.

Mm. And she said what?

"Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Now get back to work"?

No more games, Lucy.

Now, that filing cabinet is in a right old state.

So, how about you spend today giving it a proper clear-out, hmm?

Plough through some dusty filing cabinet just cos you tell me to?

Yep.

I don't think so.

I've been calling you all morning.

I know, I'm sorry. It's just... Lauren, I'm trying to sort her out.

Now I've got to run out, pick these motors up...

You look done in.

I'm sorry, all right? I want us to talk. It's just Lauren, innit?

She's not ready to be back here.

Look, your kids come first and Lauren needs you.

Me and you can wait.

Look, I'll persuade her to go back to the clinic

and then we'll have all the time in the world, all right?

And what if she don't want to go back?

I'd better go. I'll see you later.

B, it's me.

Um, look, I don't think we can put off doing these books much longer.

So I'll get started on them, yeah?

-You'll be all right on the stall on your own, won't you?

-'Yeah,

'but it ain't like you to volunteer for a job like that.'

No, no, I don't mind.

All right, then, if you want to do it. I'll see you later.

Maybe we should get these to go, yeah? Take them home?

You've nothing to be ashamed of, Whit. Why not go and talk to her?

Cos she's busy. It's the play scheme interview thing today.

Sorry, I didn't know.

Don't matter. It's not your fault.

-I messed it up, no-one else.

-If you explain what happened,

I'm sure she'll understand - she's really nice.

What, and make her feel sorry for me?

No, I know Tyler's gone, I should be focusing on my career,

but I don't need no-one's sympathy.

Right...

Fine. I am calling Janine.

Say hi from me.

I popped into the caff earlier

but Marie said you were working here now.

Er, yeah. I mean, there have been a lot of changes since you...

..since you went away. You look better.

Yeah. Yeah, well...

I wasn't really looking my best the last time you saw me.

Do you want to do something later? Me, you, Whitney, the boys?

At someone's house or...?

I was thinking we could go to the Vic.

Get the drinks in.

I'm joking, Lucy.

We can go to yours. Or mine.

You can bring Joey if you want.

Um... Look, Lauren, me and Joey were never...

I mean, we had a bit of a thing after you left but it's over now.

OK. So what was all that before, then, Lucy?

Were you just trying to make me think

that you two had something going on?

I don't know...

I just felt... I was just hurt, OK?

I'm sorry.

OK. Yeah, well, we weren't very fair on you either, were we?

Me and him. So...

What time shall we meet at the Vic, then?

First round's on you.

Lauren, I am really happy that you're better, but...

I'm sorry.

Yeah. Yeah, you said that bit.

OK, Janine said you have got to shred the old tenants' references

after...AFTER you've separated them from the current ones, OK?

Come on.

Oh, baby... you've got some magic hands...

And you can feel them any time you like once the salon opens...

Is that a promise?

You work out, don't you?

Well, I own a gym, don't I?

Hardly going to look like a sack of spuds.

Did you know that regular neck massage reduces the risk of injury?

I'll leave all the beautifying things to the women,

if you know what I mean.

Real men look after themselves. But I'm guessing you know that.

All right, then. Let's see what your hands can do.

-Come on!

-All right.

All right? How long has that been going on?

Since this morning. She must have asked Lister for a temporary pitch.

Men, eh? Just weak, pathetic creatures.

Yep.

Lauren?

Lauren?

Lauren!

So did you miss me, then?

Yeah, course I did.

Right, we need a proper catch-up, don't we?

Me, you, Tyler as well.

Oh, Tyler ain't around.

What? What happened?

Me and Tyler split up.

He's gone to work on a cruise ship.

Oh, yeah, and Tony killed himself in prison. So nothing much.

You know, you can't just come back here

and expect things to be just the way you left them, Lauren.

Things change, people change, people move on -

it's just the way it is, innit?

How long you back for?

It depends who you ask.

PHONE RINGS

You were meant to meet me half an hour ago.

I had a few issues getting here.

-What can I get you?

-I didn't know a high-powered restaurateur like you

-got involved with dishing out bacon butties.

-I'm covering for Marie.

It's what I call being a caring employer. What can I get you?

-Coffee, please.

-Why don't we sit down and talk business now?

I can't now, I'm busy. I've got some phone calls to make.

We'll catch up in the office later.

Did these issues involve you getting a bus in this morning?

-You all right? Lauren ain't been in here, has she?

-Course not.

She's gone for a walkabout.

-Calm down.

-Is this the famous Lauren we're talking about?

-What's it to you?

-Nothing, mate. I just saw her in the market.

You must be glad to have her back.

Mind your own business, yeah?

I can see why you're edgy, Kirst. A girl like that, off the rails,

vulnerable. Must be hard to compete with it.

-You listen to me...

-Max!

-Stay away from my family... You understand?

-Max, please... Please.

Double rum on the rocks, when you're ready.

The delivery man left the door open.

Is that for me?

-No, no...

-I'm joking.

Yeah, course.

Sorry... You... Lauren, you look...

Better?

-Yeah, a little bit, yeah!

-Yeah, I know, that's what everyone's saying.

Can I have a hug, then?

Yeah. Yeah, course.

Oh! What's wrong with you, then?

You ain't got a girlfriend to be worrying about.

Yeah, I know, it's just...

Do you really think you should be here with me?

Like...

All that drama...with us.

Wasn't that all sort of part of the problem?

Well, there is no "us" any more, is there? So that bit's sorted.

Well, look, I'm really, really glad you're doing so well, Lauren.

You can't even look at me, can you?

OK, er, tell you what,

why don't I just see you around or something, Joey?

Just a quick coffee to go, please, Marie. Thanks.

Morning, Ms Hartman!

Good afternoon, Tiffany.

Could you give my sister that job at the play scheme, please?

Hmm... Your sister chose to leave.

So, sorry, Tiff.

And I've got five people to interview this afternoon,

it's only fair I give them their chance.

Right, I've got three new-build apartments in Bow -

the developers gone skint, he needs to get rid.

I've already knocked him down to a good price, so...

PHONE RINGS Come on. That's the second big deal I've brought you in a week.

-It's got to be worth a look, innit?

-All right, I will look into it.

But I'd better like what I see.

For your sake.

You need to call Dad. He's going mad looking for you.

Why did you rush off this morning?

Why are you avoiding me?

Abi, stop.

Didn't you miss me?

Course I missed you.

Then, why are you acting like this?

Everyone that I thought I was coming back to,

they're acting like they don't even know me.

I don't get it.

You can tell I've not been drinking, can't you?

I thought you were going to die!

-Abi...

-You cannot just stop drinking and everything goes back to normal.

You hurt people. All those that you have been thinking about.

You said things and did things, Lauren.

You almost broke us.

Come here.

I'm sorry.

I have to go.

You all right, Joey? Has Lauren been here?

-She was, yeah.

-You didn't give her a drink, did you?

No, course I didn't, Max! What do you take me for, eh?

She just came in, she wanted to talk. That's all.

So I kept my distance.

-What do you mean, kept your distance?

-I ain't going back there.

I can't take that risk, can I?

Look, you and me, we're on the same side here.

COMPUTER BEEPS

Ladies, can I give you a flyer?

Denise, one for you?

Yeah, I know what it's like to be lumbered with the donkey work.

Ian's been treating me like a glorified skivvy lately.

Oh, you know, I don't mind. Anything to help out.

You've got really lovely cuticles.

I get that a lot.

Can I tempt you?

I've got magic potions here to make blokes look beautiful.

Course, you've got a head start.

Proper little charmer, ain't she, eh?

What is she doing over there?

It has been like this all day.

I think Phil's going to turn up for a leg wax in a minute.

Some birds, they will do anything for a bit of business.

She'll wait a while if she thinks she can flirt ME into the chair!

-Thanks.

-Thank you.

Sadie, I think it might look to some of the other women that you're...

well, that you're flirting just to get a bit of extra business.

Maybe that's cos I am.

Thing is, it's the women who are going to be our regular customers.

So you don't want to get off on the wrong foot with them...

Thanks for the heads up, Poppy, but I know what I'm doing.

How are you going to do that without these?

What's up?

I've been looking for these all day.

Kat, I've got four kids, I can tell when someone's hiding something.

It's nothing, honestly. It don't matter.

I ain't leaving this house until you drop the act

and tell me, so you may as well get on with it.

Ronnie's getting out. Sometime in the next month.

They kept her in longer than expected.

Something to do with her conduct.

That don't sound too good, does it?

I never thought she'd come back here.

But now there's a wedding, she's not going to miss that, is she?

What does Alfie say about it?

Anything he's got to say about Ronnie, he'll say it to her sister.

Yeah, well, it happened to you and him, didn't it, Kat?

Don't really matter who he marries, nothing's going to change that.

Ms Hartman said she'd still consider you for a job at the play scheme.

-Stop mucking about, please, Tiff.

-She did! You're qualified now.

You just have to convince her that you really, really want the job.

This ain't a joke, all right? That job meant a lot to me.

Yeah? How much did it mean?

Ah, you're there. Billy said you'd taken lunch.

I'm on my way back now.

No, no, it's fine. You deserve a break.

I've got to say, that filing system is the most functional

it's been in a really long time.

So, on that note,

how about I give you something a little bit more challenging?

-Are you serious?

-Yeah. I want you to pick one of the businesses,

put together a report on how to make it more efficient.

There must be ways of saving money that I haven't noticed.

And have it on my desk first thing tomorrow morning.

Take the rest of the day off if you want to work on it.

You need to ring your dad.

I thought I could just stop the drinking and that would be it.

But...it's not that simple, is it?

No, it's not. I'm with you there, darlin'.

What if I can't make up for what's happened?

I thought that it was just about drying out

and staying sober, but it's not, is it?

I didn't think about what it'd be like coming back here

and seeing everyone again.

Maybe Dad's right, you know.

Maybe I should go and stay with Mum.

Is that what you want?

I'm just scared, Nan.

I've known Whitney and Lucy since I was a kid.

And they're looking at me like they don't even know me.

So talk to them. Ring them up.

They won't listen.

Keep trying.

Can I fit you in for an appointment at the salon when we open?

Nah. I'm allergic to cheap products.

I can fit you in for an appointment at Beauty if you like?

Nah, it's not really my thing, that.

Come for a drink with me later if you want.

-Look after him, yeah?

-Yeah.

I've just been driving about, looked everywhere I could think of.

Have you spoken to Tanya?

No, course not. How can I tell her I don't know where Lauren is?

What she's doing. She might be out there now, drinking.

What if she comes through them doors in the next couple of minutes?

What if she's fallen off the wagon? What then?

I'll have to do what's best, won't I?

Even if it's not what she wants.

Sounds like you know what you should be doing, then, bruv.

Will you help me?

Yeah.

Quick coffee to take away, please, Marie.

Do you know you always come in here

exactly ten minutes after the play scheme has finished?

Quite the little private eye, aren't you?

Nosy parker, my mum calls me.

Will you sit down, please?

Listen to this.

WHITNEY: 'This is the opportunity

'I've been waiting for my whole life, Tiff. I know it's just a play scheme.

'I know it ain't much, but to me it's everything.

'It's working with kids, it's a chance to prove that I ain't

'just stupid Whitney, I ain't some air-head with no qualifications.

'I'm good at something. Really good.'

She really wants that job, Ms Hartman.

Will you give her another chance? Please?

I want to say that I get it now.

You don't know who I am without a drink in my hand.

Neither do I.

Lauren, it's not that we don't want to help, it's just...

No, I can't just come back here and expect everything to be the same.

I know. And I want to change.

I don't want to be the one that just lets people down any more.

Well, do you know what? I weren't honest.

I weren't honest about me and Tyler.

I really hurt him.

I didn't mean to. Things didn't just happen.

We split up because it was the best thing for both of us.

But I tell you what, I do miss him.

Yeah, well, even if you hurt someone...

even if you know that you don't deserve a second chance...

you can't help but miss them, can you?

PHONE RINGS

Dad - for the hundredth time. All right, I'll see you later.

Um, are we going to see you?

Are you staying?

So, what do you fancy? A drink, then dinner?

Maybe finish off the evening with a bit of a boogie?

Sorry, what?

Er... You don't flirt with a guy the way you were flirting with me

and not be after a date.

Darlin', I could get that pint glass to think I fancied it

-if there was something in it for me.

-But...

I've got a business to open.

If that means that I'm going to flirt with a guy

I wouldn't normally give the time of day to - that's you, by the way -

then that's what I'm going to do. Get it?

So all that before...?

Just business.

When you getting married again?

Ooh. I THINK...February.

What's with the "I think"? As if you'd forget.

I think I know a salon you can get your hair done.

Sounds good. Put me down for an appointment, yeah?

-I've got a great idea for our first dance. A waltz...

-No, no.

-A tango?

Or the cha-cha.

No, Alfie. Oh, shut up! I'm not doing the cha-cha with you.

-Right, over to you, Tess...

-THEY LAUGH

-You can't be here.

-Yeah, it's not going to take long.

Lauren, please. I've already had your dad round here.

Me and you shouldn't be around each other.

Like that stopped us before.

Listen, what happened wasn't your fault, OK?

I was the girl that drank too much before you even knew me.

It was a bit different, though, Lauren. How you were at the end...

Yeah, and that was down to me. It wasn't your fault.

You did nothing wrong, all right?

I'd be in prison if it wasn't for you.

You were not the one that wrecked things, OK? That was me.

Yeah...

Come here.

-Hiya, Whitney.

-Hi.

I did those interviews today.

Met some really good people.

Serious, committed...

amazing with the kids...

But not quite what I'm looking for.

You are the best candidate for the job.

So it's yours if you want it.

Are you serious? Of course I want it!

-Thank you.

-It's not me you should be hugging.

It's Tiffany, who's been bugging me all day to give you another chance.

She's all right, your sister.

She's more than all right. Come here.

Thank you.

Luce! What are you doing here?

Well, I got to thinking, you know, how you were paying Carl

and still managing to keep Janine's profits intact.

-So I checked the accounts on the computer at home.

-You had no right!

You had no right to calculate Janine's share

after what you had to pay Carl.

What else am I supposed to do? I'm barely scraping by here.

I'm pretty confident Janine's not going to think that's her problem.

Come on, you're not going to tell her, are you?

It's not personal, Dad.

I should have had you working with me instead of handing out leaflets.

-Let me make it up to you with a drink.

-Yeah?

And take that T-shirt off, for goodness sake!

Where have you been? You know how to put people through it, don't you?

Yeah, I'm sorry, all right? Listen, you and Dad, last night.

I ruined it, didn't I?

Things would be easier for you if I weren't here. Tell me the truth.

Do you think I should stay here or not?

Recovery ain't easy.

And you've got to be where you think you can make it work.

And if it's here, then you've got my support.

Thank you.

Right, that's it, Lauren, I'm taking you back to the clinic. Now.

-What? No! No, you're not!

-Lauren, get in the car.

No! No. You're just scared, that's all.

You think I've been drinking and I haven't.

-That's what I told him.

-Cora, stay out of it, will ya?

-I'm her nan!

-Look, you were right. I can't just get my old life back.

I called Mum and I told her everything.

I told her I've left the clinic and I'm here.

She weren't happy about it but I told her I'm staying.

You shouldn't have told her that, Lauren.

I'm thinking of starting my college course again as well.

I've even been in touch with an alcohol counsellor,

just like they told me to at the clinic.

I'm going to do whatever it takes. This is a new start.

It's a new me, Dad.

What if I say no?

Well, I'm not going back there.

So if I'm not welcome in your house,

then I'll just find somewhere else to stay.

So what's it going to be, Dad?

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