17/12/2015 EastEnders

Where's Stacey?

RADIO PLAYS "Merry Xmas Everybody" by Slade

All yesterday's Dickens malarkey, I forgot the sprouts, didn't I?

Does your mum even like sprouts, Stace?

Stace?

I know he's out there.

L.

House is a pig sty.

I ain't slept. I can't focus.

Can we just talk about this, please?

There's nothing to talk about.

The wedding's off.

Do you want me to call the police?

And say what?

Well, you've seen him at the church, he was here at the Halloween party.

I had a stalker once. About 11 years ago.

So I know how scary it is.

Yeah, well, I ain't going to let him scare me.

He's probably not even following me anyway.

OK. I'm going to go and get them sprouts, eh?

No. I'll get them. Yeah, I'll get them.

Look, I've said I'm sorry. I'll keep saying I'm sorry.

I don't know why.

What Babe did is in the past.

I have to keep that in the past.

And this is why you want to call off the wedding, yeah?

It's not just about Babe.

So what is it, then?

The money. We can't afford it.

So we'll cut down on the guest list.

Yeah, but... Christmas.

So that's what this is about, is it? Readies?

Spending so much. It feels wrong.

Jane, you need to see a doctor.

Oh, I have. It's, um, it's just bruising... you know.

What's this, late breakfast?

Er, yeah, he wouldn't let me get out of bed.

But you probably don't remember what boys are like.

Can I get you another coffee?

No, we're going to my nan's before work.

See how she's settling in. See ya.

Oh! Personal e-mails? Work time?

Nothing, um...sorry.

Actually, er - do you mind if I just quickly check mine?

Yeah. Go for it, yeah.

Thank you.

What do you think? For the kings?

Mum's Nativity?

Yeah. Yeah, nice. Bit of glitter.

You do know Johnny's coming, don't you? He just ain't booked his flight yet.

It's nothing to do with Johnny.

I've got some trousers in here somewhere.

You see, you've always wanted a big day.

So, is it, what? Lee?

I mean, I can have a chat with him, he's in a better place now.

It's nothing to do with the kids.

It's...it's just the money. I told you.

Fine. Fine. We won't do it.

OK. We'll just call the whole thing off.

Thank you.

Not an ounce of disappointment in your voice.

It's just a bit of paper, Mick. It's never bothered us before.

Do you know what,

I'm actually really missing all yesterday's bonnets and stuff.

Really cheered the place up.

You all right?

Yeah. Er... I've heard from the new doctor's.

They've got the results of my blood tests.

And?

And they've given me an appointment for next week.

Oh, I'm sure it's nothing.

You don't know that.

Well, if it was serious, they'd call you straight in, wouldn't they?

Oh, come here. I'll come to you, then.

SHE CHUCKLES

I love you.

And, whatever this is...

we'll get through it.

Worried there'd be a rush on?

Oh, Sonia? Martin was just telling me about his stalker.

Oh, don't. Total basket case.

Got him arrested then stabbed him with a kitchen knife!

I had to hit her over the head with Pauline's fruit bowl.

Enjoy your sprouts.

Surprise!

I never took you for a coward.

I ain't going cos of Phil Mitchell.

Running away like a...

I'm going because of you.

What I said...

And I really hope that you and Donna

spend a very nice Christmas on your own.

It was hurtful. I was cruel.

And you don't hear me say this often.

I'm sorry.

That's it?

Pearl means the world to me.

You should have thought of that before you threw me out the family.

I was angry.

I was wrong.

Your dad would have been very proud of you.

Everything you've built here. Everything you've done.

Everything?

Whatever you did - you had your good reasons.

And even if you didn't - you would still be my son.

And the son I raised doesn't run away from anyone.

We take on Phil Mitchell together. And we finish what we started.

Tinsel's coming down.

So all this, you know - the wedding...

It's a pub. It's Christmas. Can't have wonky tinsel.

It's about Dean, ain't it?

It's nothing to do with Dean. I...I thought you agreed?

No wedding.

Well, we're going to have to tell the family. You know that.

Yeah. Yeah, of course.

Today.

Fine.

You two. Get everyone together. Lunch today.

Me and your mum have got something to say.

I need some air.

DOOR OPENS

I know, I know, we're early!

Jean! You all right?

But the early worm catches the bird. Or the turkey!

You don't mind, do you, Martin?

No, no, not at all.

Don't worry, we've bought sandwiches.

Martin's cooking!

I know Martin's cooking! That's why we're here!

But that's not until Lily gets back. And I was thinking...

Sandwich, Martin?

No, no, I'm fine.

Well, shall we take our coats off?

Coats? Coats! Yes, of course, coats. This is so lovely, Stacey.

An early Christmas dinner before our Christmas cruise.

-Here, I'll take that.

-Cheers.

-Look at the size of you!

-Give me your coat.

-You're like a whale!

-Jean!

Not a very big one. Just a little one.

With an even more little one inside!

Shall I do the sprouts?

Yeah, go for your life, mate. I can't stand peeling sprouts.

How are your ankles?

Yeah, fine.

I had awful ankles with you. And Sean.

Ankles the size of an elephant.

Not a whale?

Whales don't have ankles, Stacey!

Have you thought again? About the home birth?

I know, it's not my place...

No, it isn't. And we've been through this on the phone.

But think if something should go wrong.

Not that it will... go wrong.

If it does, we'll just go to the hospital.

Jean, we'll be fine.

But I just don't see the point in taking risks when, you know...

Jean. They've made their decision.

She's my daughter! I can say what I think!

Yeah, and you've said what you think.

And you're not listening because you never do!

-I'm just a barking dog!

-Mum!

What's the big deal? I've got my rehearsals to plan!

Mum just wants to make sure everything's sorted for Christmas, that's all.

You know, who's needed where and when.

Yeah, and no repeats of last year, please.

There's more to it than that.

No.

No, honestly, Nan. No, er, no dramas.

No secrets. Just lunch.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have.

I wasn't...

You look tired.

I haven't really slept.

I hardly slept at all when I was carrying you.

It's... it's not that.

You and Martin? Everything's...?

It's good. It's not about me and Martin.

I'm not very good at guessing.

Whatever it is. You can tell me.

There's this...man. He keeps following me.

Who?

I dunno. We had a party here months ago and he was here.

Then I went to church, with Dot. He was there. On a pew.

Probably just wanted to pray, a bit.

I dunno, Mum, he scares me.

Probably nothing.

What?

We're going to need chairs.

Come and get your mistletoe! £2.50 a bunch!

Can I have two bunches, please?

Can't tell you how nice it is to get that bonnet off.

I don't think I was cut out to be Victorian!

Look, I'm sorry about the other day. It wasn't my place.

Dean's a nice bloke.

Look, it's just that I've seen a lot of women...

I don't want you to make the mistakes I made with my husband.

Whatever happened with your bloke - Dean's not him.

Like I said. I was out of turn.

You said five minutes.

I'm just getting some mistletoe.

We're talking. She's allowed to talk.

If you want to manage the salon, can you just go and manage it, please?

If you don't trust me, why don't you find someone else?

(Thank you.)

I'll put this over here, shall I?

Yeah.

Do you know who he is, Mum?

We're still going to need another.

You know, don't you? She knows who's following me. Mum!

Lily won't mind.

Mum, will you just put that down, please, and just talk to me?

Would you just get out of the way, Stacey?

Mum, this isn't fair!

Do you know who he is?

There we go. One, two, three, four, five...

A chair for everyone.

What's this all about, Stace?

Well, there's this man...

She thinks she's got a stalker.

I don't think, Martin - I have!

You and your imagination!

I have a man following me!

Is this something to do with your visitor?

-No!

-What visitor?

Earlier this year, Jean got a load of letters. One every week.

We're here to celebrate Christmas!

-Who is he?

-Some things are private.

-Then this bloke turned up at the door. Wanting to see her.

-That is none of their business!

Jean, she's scared. She needs to know.

Please, Jean.

There's nothing to tell her! You! Any of you!

It's Christmas, we're having dinner

and we've got crackers and presents and Lily's coming home

and we're all going to have fun!

Who is he, Mum?

I just told you!

Who is he?!

Bad news?

She's been staring at that for the last half an hour.

Oi!

You've got a visit to go and see Lucas?

Oh, what, you're not going, are you?

What is it with everyone? You, Kathy - I'm not mad!

Kathy? She needs to keep her nose out of other people's business.

Would you all just back off?

How many times?

He locked you in a cellar, and told you that your kids were dead.

I am doing this for Jordan.

Kid who's got no-one, needs a family?

Does that sound familiar?

I can't believe you kept it.

-Why don't I put the kettle on and we can all...

-I thought you flushed it down the loo?

-I lied, OK?

Sean gave me this key.

Sean stole that key.

It was your father's.

Stace, this ain't good for you.

I ain't about to drop.

Martin's right.

But what has this got to do with the man who's following me?

-I asked you who he was and you...

-I don't know.

You took it out of your bag, my key - what does it open?

I don't know.

Yes, you do, Mum.

Jean...

Can't you see she's scared?

It was...

It was just a suitcase, a silly old suitcase full of photographs.

It's just silly Jean being all sentimental.

Stop lying, Mum.

It opens a safety deposit box that belonged to your father.

It's in the bank by the old Star and Garter.

Why has he got a safety deposit box?

Your name's on the list of people who can open it.

You'll regret it if you do.

Why? What's in it?

I promise you.

You'll regret it.

What happened?

You tell me.

This had nothing to do with me.

Shouldn't have been chatting my business.

-Well, you know what they say, Vincent. If you play with fire...

-Mm, I'll take it.

I'll take it all.

Then when the time's right...

You've got a pretty face, Blue Eyes.

You're saying I should watch my back, yeah?

The way I see it is that Phil has nothing to lose.

But you...

It's always a pleasure. I've got to get Matthew from his baby-sitter.

You sure that's where he is?

This has gone far enough.

It's out of my hands.

I mean, if your cousin's going to come after me and my family,

I've got to come after you and yours.

This isn't my fight, Vincent.

Be a shame, wouldn't it...

..if poor little Matthew didn't get to enjoy his first Christmas?

Ooh!

Ha! Someone's cheered up a bit, haven't they?

I was just remembering last year.

I should have, um...done this then.

OK!

HE CHUCKLES

Can you do it tomorrow?

-Stay with my mum, please.

-Let's just get today over...

-Just keep her there. Don't let her go home.

What's happened?

Look, Shabs, can you go with her?

I can't, um...Denise has clocked off. I'm on my own till two.

-Kush?

-Where's she going, mate?

-Just stick with her, yeah?

-Yeah, yeah, all right.

-Please.

-Take that.

-Oh.

-Thanks.

Listen...

Roxy's told me, you know, everything you've been saying.

You don't scare me, Dean.

Not even trying.

You can't stop her doing things.

Talking to people she wants to.

I'm not trying to stop her doing anything, and even if I was...

Problem?

Am I supposed to be scared?

-It's nothing, Ben.

-Well, then he won't mind going.

-Listen, pal, this is none of your business.

-She's my mum.

That makes it my business.

Mummy's boy.

I can relate.

Thank you.

He's scum.

Ben!

Just 10 minutes.

Please?

-I don't need a baby-sitter.

-Well, Martin asked me to come with you.

-Especially not you.

-I ain't going to let him down.

No more than I already have.

Well, this is nice, isn't it?

-Everyone together. Christmas coming up.

-And your wedding!

-Got my Nativity to get through first.

-Right, everyone, listen.

I... I dug some clothes out for you, Mum. Bit of sparkle.

I can lend a hand.

I think I can manage, thank you.

-The reason we wanted you all here is because...

-Are you still working on the script?

Oh, yes, yeah, I've got to trim a few lines

if we want any hope of that little Janet remembering them.

Your mum wants to say something.

We're really looking forward to it. Love a nativity.

-It's important.

-LEE:

-Is this about Nancy?

What? What have I done now?

I found your Koran.

What? You've been going through my stuff?

What Koran?

-She has a Koran.

-So? Dad knows.

-Oh, you know about this?

-Yeah.

L?

You becoming a Muslim?

Oh, my...

Saying...

what I said the other day...

in front of Abi, I'm...

I'm sorry, OK? I shouldn't have.

TEXT MESSAGE TONE

It's just that...

I'd only just found out about you and Jordan, and my head was all over the place.

Um...anything else?

We're fine.

All right?

Yeah, you?

He's nice.

He's just a mate.

That why you're blushing?

Oh, Ben, I...

Look, I'm sorry, OK?

I just want you to be happy.

That's all any mum wants.

He was...

more than a mate.

What, and... And you still like him?

I'm with Abi.

I love her.

-Will you have to change your name?

-Oh, Nan!

-Of course she won't!

-Will you? TAMWAR:

-I was thinking Mildred.

I'm not becoming anything!

-A Muslim! Fancy that!

-I'm just reading more about it.

-LEE:

-Yeah, a cockle says this only lasts as long as the week you went vegan.

-Do you know what? If you could read, I'd lend it to you.

-MICK:

-Yeah, all right, Nance.

-Listen, me and your mum...

-Is it... Are you getting married?

-No!

-This is unbelievable.

-TAMWAR:

-No, it's not that important to me. Kind of is, but...

-We've only just met.

-Talking of marriage...

-He's got you changing your religion already, though, hasn't he?

-Mum!

Let her speak! Can we all just let her speak!

-BABE:

-You don't even believe in God!

-People can change.

I'm... I'm not reading the Koran

cos I'm thinking about converting or getting married.

I just want to understand the way Tam sees the world a bit better.

You know, he's a good man, and he's... He's got good morals.

-What, and we haven't?

-Mum!

All right, look, Islam brings Tam simplicity and peace and answers.

And looking into the way the person I'm with sees the world

feels like the right thing to do.

And if - like, massive if - I ever did think about converting,

or even bigger if, getting married, then I would tell you.

Because you're my family,

and I wouldn't keep something like that from you.

Hmm.

Here you are.

Thank you.

I can't do it.

I always thought of you, you know?

Every Christmas.

Did you?

Yeah, always lit a candle.

One for you, one for Ian.

-Didn't you get my text?

-Oh, look, it's my fault.

Arches.

-Yeah, in a minute.

-No.

Now.

Ben...

Thank you.

And, er...

I'll still light that candle.

He was my dad.

My hero.

What if there's something in here...

Something that might ruin that?

Why would it?

My mum said if I open it, then I'm going to regret it.

Don't you think you deserve the truth?

However hard?

Doesn't everyone deserve that?

I thought you'd kick off at her.

She's only interested.

If we fight it, she'll be in a hijab just to spite us.

Well, she's her mother's daughter, ain't she?

You know, the bit about telling her family the truth.

She gets that from you as well, don't she?

Mum, er...needs to get going. I thought I'd give her a hand this afternoon.

I thought we were going to tell them the wedding's off.

LAUGHTER

-Right then, trifle!

-Ooh!

-Can't keep mum from her rehearsals, can we?

-No.

-Seeing as we're all sharing something, Tina's got something she'd like to say.

-Son!

-Have you? Bit of news? BABE:

-You getting married as well as, Nancy?

-NANCY:

-Ah, that's funny! I ain't getting married, am I, Aunt Babe?

-Trifle, Whitney? LEE:

-Wait for Mum and Dad get married first.

-It ain't that!

-WHITNEY:

-Only a couple of weeks now, ain't it?

-Anyone having trifle?

-I'll have some.

-No, you won't fit into your suit.

-Shut up!

-ELAINE:

-So...

What's this lunch really about?

Just tell 'em, please.

I haven't made the coffee.

Is this her idea of a joke?

-Stacey...

-No, Kush, I want answers.

Right...

Take these to Ritchie. She'll know what to do with them.

Ain't you taking it all a bit serious?

Ben, he's a grass, and some day they're going to come knocking,

-looking for a paper trail, so just take'em, yeah?

-All right.

PHIL SIGHS

All right?

You've got to stop.

-Stop what?

-What you're doing to Vincent.

The pig's head, the turf, getting the boys to do him over.

What, and you think that's me, do you?

Look, I'm not stupid.

-Enough's enough. It's over.

-Listen, the fun has only just begun.

No, the fun finished a long time ago.

Yeah, well, it's under control.

No, it's not.

Look at him. Look at you!

Someone's going to end up dead this Christmas.

Nice work, Blue Eyes.

Look at me.

Look at me!

Please, Mick.

Now, you still haven't told everybody.

You haven't told everybody

because you don't want to answer their questions, my questions.

And it ain't Dean, it ain't Johnny, it's not Lee,

it ain't Aunt Babe, it ain't money...

So what is it?

What is wrong with you?

What have I done?

I told you!

-Stace?

-I want the truth.

-Now.

-I gave you the key!

-Come and sit down, Stace.

-It was empty, Mum! There was nothing in it! What aren't you telling me?

Well, they... They should be there.

-What?

-In the box.

-What?!

-I think you should stop shouting...

Why can't you just tell me, Mum?!

Please, just... Just... Just tell me!

Er...

Um...

Your father...

SHE CHUCKLES

He had another family!

SHE CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY