09/05/2014 EastEnders

Lauren! Lauren!

You know, it's a pity to let all this go to waste.

I tell you what I'll do.

I'll put some in a little container.

You can take it with you and have it for your supper.

-Grandma.

-I think I'm going to like having the Cokers living round here.

Even though he does drive a hearse.

Just promise me you'll think about it, yeah?

I can't move away.

-Why not?

-Well, not with Ian as he is at the moment.

And then there's Sharon and all Jim's grandchildren.

You've been looking after people your entire life.

Don't you think it's time you came first for once?

I'm back.

So, er...found your phone, then?

Yeah, yeah. I was just out the door when some bloke collared me for a test drive. I'm famished.

If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were trying to avoid me.

Don't be soft.

So you won't mind discussing wedding plans over dinner?

-Er...

-Bridesmaids' dresses, flowers...

Yeah, yeah. Whatever you want, Carol. Seriously.

Even a small affair needs planning.

-What's for dinner? I'm hungry.

-Can you make yourself scarce?

-Me and Grandad have got things to discuss.

-Oh, he's all right.

No, you go over to McKlunky's, yeah? And get yourself something to eat.

Suit yourself.

You all right?

-Me?!

-Yeah, you seem a bit...

-What?

-On edge.

I could say the same about you.

Forget this.

-Where are you going?

-I'm going to get us a takeaway.

We've got a wedding to discuss, haven't we?

-Lauren!

-Just get away from me.

Lauren!

Not till you hear me out, OK?

Please don't hurt me.

Hurt you?

I could never hurt you.

I love you.

Why did you do it?

Do what?

She was my best mate.

You think...you think that I killed Lucy?

It had nothing to do with me, I swear to you!

Please. Please just let me go.

The only reason I replied to that e-mail was so I could see YOU.

You're all that I've got left.

HE GROANS

You can stay a bit longer, can't you?

-I leave for Bangkok in three hours.

-Please, Mum.

I've taken too much time off as it is, darling.

And anyway, have you seen the state of this face?

I look like Casper the ghost.

When are we going to see you next?

Couple of weeks, tops. Now come on.

You've got enough going on with school as it is.

You won't give me a second thought.

It's been good though, ain't it? These last few weeks.

Yeah, I've really enjoyed myself.

You keep trying with Cindy.

And if she don't start responding to your texts,

well, she's going to have me to deal with. And as for you...

Never lose the sheen?

That's my girl!

Play your cards right and I'll bring you back a ladyboy.

-Have you seen Peter?

-What? No, babe. Not since lunch.

Are you all right, Lauren?

Roxy, can I talk to you?

-Yeah.

-Come and sit down.

We're celebrating. First night out for the George Street...

It's about your house-warming.

-What about it?

-Where was Jake?

I don't know. I'm not his keeper.

Please. Please it's important.

Oh, um...he was at the flat, I think.

What, all night?

I don't know. I was over at Roxy's, wasn't I?

Did he say where he'd been?

Listen, that was ages ago.

Yeah, well, he must have said something.

Um...he was upset.

Listen, sweetheart. I didn't interrogate the man, OK?

Lauren, why are you bringing this all up now?

If we see him, shall we say you was looking for him?

You know there's some really good sheltered housing around.

-Oh, I don't know.

-Little self-contained flats. You've got your own kitchen and bathroom.

And more importantly, they've got wardens patrolling the building 24 hours a day.

You're a good boy, Charlie Cotton.

I don't know about that.

Your mother - she must be very proud of you.

She is.

Why don't I find us a couple of places to visit?

And you can see for yourself, yeah?

I don't suppose it could do no harm.

You're not going, are you?

It's late enough as it is.

You know, Walford, it ain't such a bad place.

A girl was murdered on the local common.

So who's the treacle? Blonde or brunette?

It ain't like that.

She giving you the run around, is she?

She ain't running nowhere. All right, bruv?

It's Mrs B.

Whoa, Mrs B. Let me guess. She wanted to watch Countdown.

I'm booking you more of a sort of Bargain Hunt kind of a geezer?

You know what, Mick? I don't need this.

I'm winding you up. I'm sorry, all right?

Now...tell Uncle Mick.

It might seem funny but it's always been me and her.

-And now...

-And now you feel like this copper, he's took your seat at the table.

She means a lot to you, that old girl, doesn't she?

Mrs B's all I've got.

What about your parents?

You know how many times I've seen them in the last couple of years? Yeah, yeah, I might see my dad.

-You know, drunk or asking for money.

-And your mum?

Mum? I don't even get a text on my birthday, mate.

Well, that's probably

because they think you're off living this life as an international DJ.

It's because they don't care. They never have, they never will.

Do you know what I think? I think copper or no copper, from what I hear he seems like a decent fella.

And I reckon he's the one who feels like the outsider.

-Yeah?

-And...you know...

It never does any harm to keep the Old Bill onside, know what I mean?

Maybe you're right there, man.

Listen, there's no maybe about it.

It's your job to make the kid feel welcome.

You know what, you're a wise man, Mick.

-Thank you for the chat, man.

-Always a pleasure, Fats.

All right, listen.

-Look after that for me.

-I'll keep that chilled for you.

-Nice one, man.

-Don't you worry about that.

Knew I should have been a psychiatrist.

What did you say to Lauren, Aleks?

Hey, buddy. You are behind with your rent.

Just answer me.

-Have you been drinking?

-What did you tell her?

She wanted to know where you were on Good Friday.

And what did you say?

That I didn't see you until the next morning.

Relax. What have you done, Jake?

I can't help you unless you tell me. What have you done?

It's too late.

What is too late? Jake?

All right. You sit down. Dinner is almost ready.

Well, the pasta's a little bit rubbery

but nothing a bit of ketchup won't sort out, eh?

Are you all right?

Yeah, fine.

Oh. I was thinking, maybe me and you could watch a DVD later as well.

If you like.

What do you fancy watching? Something slushy or slasher or...?

-I didn't mean...

-Right. I can't put this off any longer.

-Put what off?

-I need to go see what lies the papers have written about Lucy.

-No, you can't!

Our dinner's going to get cold.

-Lola...

-The papers just write more lies, all right, Peter?

-No-one's going to believe them.

-You've seen it?

-KNOCK ON DOOR

-I'll get...

-Leave that. Where is it?

-Is it here?

-No.

Peter, I didn't mean to...

KNOCK ON DOOR

Don't let that ruin our night, eh? Shall I dish up?

I'm not hungry.

Please, Peter!

PHONE RINGS

-That's very decent of you, Mr Cotton.

-I could have you done for blackmail, you know.

That's not a word I like to use.

I prefer to see it purely as a business arrangement.

-This is a one-off. Do you understand me?

-Absolutely.

And I'm very grateful to you, Mr Cotton, for helping us out

of our little...financial deficit.

Nikki?

You all right, love? What's happened?

-It's over.

-What's over?

I'm as good as dead.

You seen the paper?

More wicked lies.

Not that it matters now.

What's happened, Dot? You used to be able to go out through your door

and know somebody had your back.

You're still amongst friends, Ian.

And where was Lucy's friends when she needed them?

Dot, this used to be a community. People used to look out for each other.

Yes, well, you can't let one dark cloud put out the light.

The pain, it will lessen.

I know it don't seem like it now, but it will.

-You know what I did this morning?

-No. What?

I took a cup of tea up to Lucy's room.

It's still outside the door now.

I've still got an old pullover of Nick's.

-Will you promise me one thing?

-What's that?

Your Charlie. Don't ever take him for granted.

We don't know how long we've got them.

-You all right, Lauren?

-Where are you going?

I was just going to pop over to the Vic for one. Are you OK?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I could stay here if you'd rather.

Sure? Right, Abi'll be home soon anyway. See you in a bit.

KNOCK ON DOOR

DOG BARKS

It's all right. It's only Abi.

Lauren! Five minutes.

-Get away from me!

-Please.

-I mean it, Jake!

-Hey. Just an orange juice, please.

-No problem.

Hey, Mick. I'll get these, man.

I saw you coming in, so I just thought...

No better way to bond than over a drink in the Queen Vic, eh?

Exactly. You see?

So, I swear Mrs B said you was working tonight.

Yeah, they don't need me till ten.

OK. That must be hard, though. You know, splitting your time between here and work?

That's not going to be a problem for much longer.

-Yeah? Why's that?

-I'll let Dot tell you.

No, come on, bruv. Don't leave a man hanging.

She's leaving the square.

Oh, dear.

Oh, no. He's gone and left his stew behind.

Oh, never mind. I'll run it down to him.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hello? It's Lauren Branning. Lucy's friend. I just...

I really need to speak to someone. So can you give me a call back, please, on this number?

KNOCK ON DOOR

Lauren. Just open the door, will you? Lauren!

Where's Grandad?

Your guess is as good as mine.

-Want a bit?

-No thanks, darling.

Look, come on, Nikki, I've got to go.

Don't leave me. Please.

-It was just such a shock, do you know what I mean?

-Yeah, yeah, I can imagine.

How can they ground me? I'm the best cabin crew they've got.

Come on. Working on the ticket desk? That can't be so bad.

You get your staff travel, don't you?

-It's where they stick you when you're past your prime.

-Stop it.

-They might as well send me to the knacker's yard and be done with it.

-Don't be daft.

You're still a very attractive girl.

You're just saying that.

No, I mean it.

That boss of yours - he needs his head examining.

Anyway, look on the bright side. You can spend more time with your kids, can't you?

-It'll be all right.

-There is that, I suppose.

-Yeah.

Come on.

Do you know something?

You're the only person round here who's ever really been kind to me.

Well, that's cos...

Cos you and I understand each other, don't we, eh?

In a parallel universe, who knows where we would've ended up?

Eh?

No. No. It's not happening again, Nikki.

No way. Sorry, love.

Sorry.

Don't tell me. Another test drive.

I'll bung it in the oven. It'll be hot in no time.

-There you are.

-It's the wig, isn't it?

I saw the way that you looked at me.

It's all in your head.

I don't believe you.

All right. Maybe I was a bit surprised, that's all.

Well, you know, it's something that you're going to have to get used to.

-If you still want to do all this.

-Of course I do!

Did it really look that terrible?

You looked beautiful.

Then why didn't you say that?

I dunno. Because it's me, Carol, innit?

Sometimes my head and mouth don't always work together.

Go on, go and put it on for us.

-No, I don't want to.

-Please.

Oh, that's good.

Hurry up, cos I'll eat it all.

Come here.

Still the same girl I fell in love with.

So what, you reckon he's bent?

-Well, maybe. I don't know.

-Based on what, exactly?

I saw him with that funeral guy.

-Doing what?

-Giving him money.

Maybe he's buying his plot early.

Come on, Max, all right? And then there's this whole Mrs B thing, yeah?

Like she would ever want to leave this place.

-She practically runs this square.

-Arthur, you know what you need, don't you? A girlfriend.

-Max, please, all right? Just talk to him?

-What, and say what?

I don't know. Suss him out.

I've got to be honest with you, mate. The last thing I want to do is spend my night with a copper.

Hey, Charlie. Listen, have you two met?

-Yeah, briefly.

-Max.

-How's it going, all right?

-Jim's boy.

You know what, I promised Tina a game of darts.

So I'm just going to let you two boys catch up and all that.

Arthur?

I, um, I told the police everything last week.

Told them what exactly?

How, er...I'd e-mailed you...

Using a made-up name.

Come on, Lauren, you would have never replied if you knew it was me.

Carry on.

That we'd arranged to meet.

Except when I got there...

Lucy was there.

And?

She could see how drunk I was.

I could barely stand.

Did you try it on with her?

-No!

-But you did fancy her though, didn't you?

It's only ever been you, Lauren.

Are you seriously trying to say that you've never even thought about it?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Then what happened?

She...she, um...

She put us in a cab and dropped me back at the flat.

Well, then where did Lucy go?

That is the last time I saw her.

So what's your take on this Lucy girl?

That's not my department, mate.

Yeah, well, you must've heard about it?

-What are you so interested for anyway?

-No, nothing.

It's just, you know, she was my daughter's best mate, that's all.

So when's Dot planning on moving out?

As soon as we've got everything sorted out.

And you really think she's ready to leave all this?

-All I'm trying to do is make sure she's looked after. That's not so bad, is it?

-No, of course not.

She might think she's invincible but she's an old lady.

Trust me. She is going to outlive all of us.

-Right. Listen, I should get moving. Say goodbye to Arthur for me, will you?

-Yeah, all right.

-See you later.

-See you.

What did the police say to you?

They released me without charge.

What? They just let you go?

I've done nothing wrong!

What about this cab?

They're trying to trace the driver.

So you ain't got no-one to back up your story?

No, not yet. But when they find him I will.

What did he look like?

What did he look like - this so-called cab driver?

Tall, dark hair.

He had a checked shirt on with a woman's name

tattooed on the back of his neck.

That's not going to be hard to find, then, surely?

He was unlicensed.

Oh. Course he was(!)

Tracey, same again, please.

So, what did you make of him?

Yeah, he's all right. He's a nice bloke. For a copper.

Did you ask him about that Coker guy?

-No. It's none of our business, is it?

-Yeah, but Max...

No. But nothing, all right?

Just let Dot live her own life, will you?

Some moving-in party this has turned out to be.

Why don't we go and have a little celebration of our own back at the flat?

Fats, are Jake and Lauren back together?

-I don't know, babe.

-What about you? He's your mate.

Has he said something to you?

What is the matter with you tonight?

Hmm? I've got to go, sorry.

-Where are you going?

-How much was it?

-What?

The cab. The cab - from Walford Common to Albert Square.

I've done it enough times.

A fiver, I think.

OK, well, who paid for it? You or Lucy?

-I don't know.

-But you can remember the checked shirt and the tattoo on the back of his neck.

You ain't got a clue what happened that night, have you?

Hello.

Yeah, I'd like to speak to someone about Lucy Beale, please.

There are flashes, yeah. Bits that I can still remember.

Like when you made a pass at her?

Is that what happened, Jake? Did she knock you back and...

No!

Come on. Come on, we know Lucy had a bit of a temper on her.

-What, did she fight you back?

-Stop it, Lauren!

-Did she laugh in your face?

-I already told you what happened!

So it all got a little bit too much for you?

-And then you fought her back. And then you pushed her and then you...

-Don't you even dare say it.

Lauren!

Lauren!

Lauren, wait!

Lauren! Get off me!

Leave her. She's not worth it.

Come on. Come on.

-Yeah, they had won three in a row but then they lost 3-0 to a second division team.

-Who?

I think it was Southend.

Nik?

You frightened the life out of me.

I wanted you all to be the first to hear my news.

-What is it?

-I've decided to transfer to the ticket desk.

That way I get to spend more time with my babies.

Yay!

Well, I'll make the bed up then, shall I?

Maybe just for tonight, yeah.

They're so getting back together.

-Night, Mum.

-Night, sweetheart.

Who are you texting?

Just a friend.

-Fancy a cup of tea?

-Yeah, I wouldn't mind one. Oh. Actually, no. Don't make me a cup of tea.

Hey, Mrs B.

Um, can we talk for a bit?

It's just that recently I've been feeling a bit in the way.

A bit pushed out. And I know Charlie's your flesh and blood,

you know, and I'm just a lodger.

But Max is right, you know. He's a good guy.

And he only has your best interests at heart.

Mrs B?

He forgot his stew.

And I went after him and took it down to the station.

And he weren't there.

No, they didn't need him until ten.

He was with me over the road.

They said they'd never heard of a Detective Constable Charlie Cotton.

What? What are you saying?

That he's a fraud. A liar.

No. There must be some kind of explanation.

Yes.

That I was a fool for ever believing that he was my grandson.