09/03/2017 Part One EastEnders

Come on, what's wrong?

You want to have time for a nice little bath before I go to work, don't you?

I can run you a bath before I take Lily to school, if you like?

Where's my shoes?

Bex, you need to eat. You're going to make yourself ill.

Please, Mum?

Shirley will be back soon and your programme's on at half past.

And it's chocolate.

And you like chocolate, don't you, huh?

Mm.

Hey?

Don't you patronise me, you silly cow!

-WHISTLES

-Very nice!

-Where did you get them from?

-Delivered this morning.

-They're all right. I'm going to get some new ones tonight.

-Old money bags here!

-Well, I'm not sure Sharon's transfer's going to stretch that far.

-Yeah, there you go.

Sharon spoils him.

How's Bex?

They're not prosecuting her, Martin. That's a good thing.

We, er, had our interview yesterday.

Some of them questions the Old Bill were asking,

-Michelle, I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed.

-Poor girl.

Selfish. It's not just about her. It's hitting all of us.

What am I supposed to say to Lily?

-They took my phone and all.

-What?

-Just in case I was some sort of paedo.

-Oh, Martin, no!

How long did they say to keep Bex off school?

External isolation.

I don't know.

Whatever happened to innocence?

I can't get my head round it.

Stuck down that police station all yesterday afternoon.

I could have wept, Dee.

We think we can sit back and relax.

We think we've moved on because no-one pinches our bums any

more, or calls us "sweetheart".

I thought it was just me.

And all the time, we're just raising a sexist bunch of little gits,

who think that sending a photo or a film...

Oh! All right.

Yeah, some of them, according to the police, of their privates,

uninvited, to any girl who takes their fancy is actually flattering.

Yeah, but you know, Shakil ain't a bad lad.

-He's an idiot.

-Yeah, but they can be far worse, Carmel.

It can't be easy growing up nowadays, you know.

At least in our day, our mistakes weren't permanently recorded.

Couldn't imagine it, could you?

A world where kids are regularly gossiping about photos of

each other's bums.

I've told him, just because the police have let him off with

a warning, doesn't mean he's not getting punished.

While he's at home, he does his schoolwork, keeps his head down, and

keeps doing the jobs that I've given him, until I tell him he can stop.

It's awkward, though.

I don't blame Martin for getting angry.

Mind you, Bex doesn't come out of this smelling of roses.

Definite vicious streak.

It's always the quiet ones.

Mm.

Honestly.

You finally get to the point where you can trust them to make

their own choices and then they straight off cock it up.

Literally.

Stop!

Stop!

It's totally up to you, of course.

But Jack just wanted me to let you know we've all got to work.

You do know I didn't send Whitney over on Tuesday, don't you?

Whatever. Point is, he's been doing a bit of digging.

Well, you know, I talked to the boss.

-It's your court deadline tomorrow, ain't it?

-Yeah.

Well, how about you walk away, having paid what you owed,

and your bank account will be in the black?

Go on.

Well, his boss, sometimes, not often,

he buys up business freeholds.

You know, a bit of persuading, I'm sure he'll be able to um,

you know, give this place the once over.

Could be the out you're looking for, Mick.

No.

-What?

-Why?

I seriously do appreciate it, Jack.

Don't think I ain't thought about selling the freehold of this pub,

cos I have.

Your Nan, she's on a lease. Makes no odds.

You sell your freehold, you lose control.

See, the mother-in-law, she's got no say in her pricing, she's got no say in her stock.

She's still got to cover the repairs and all that, and when the lease is up, no guarantee of renewal.

So this is our dream.

So the Vic, it stays family-owned.

-What sort of money are we talking here?

-Mum, it's just a rough patch.

So, I'll turn it round, don't worry.

-Yeah, you will.

-All right, no worries.

-Probably right, you know. Best to keep it in the family, if you can.

-Yeah, cheers, boys, anyway.

-Thank you.

-Good luck, yeah?

-See you later.

-You didn't even let them give you a price.

-Have you done the barrels?

You seriously need a reality check, Mick.

Dreams - they don't keep a roof over your head, or stop it from leaking.

Money means nothing, if it's all tied up.

And seriously, what control have you got over everything at the moment?

-Mick is still in charge though, Shirley.

-Listen, we've managed to pull in two and a half grand,

ain't we? That shows willing, so I'm going to take that cash down to the

court and I'm just going to be straight with them.

This is a solid business. They ain't going to want to see it fail.

We cooperate. So we suss out a way we can repay what we owe.

We do whatever it takes. We'll work it out.

Sounds great.

Sounds like way too little, way too late. They told you at the hearing.

If you don't pay tomorrow, it is prison, Dad!

Running out of options and burying your head ain't going to change that.

Up to your old tricks again?

-What?

-I saw you on Tuesday.

Offering Mick a shoulder to cry on.

-Have you come off your HRT or something?

-Yeah!

And I'm watching you, lady!

Seriously? Are you for real? Talk about pick your time.

Look, I know how stressed you lot have been, right?

Ain't you supposed to be on your own son's side,

instead of standing there, stirring things up with me?

You know how drunk Mick got on Tuesday. Do you know why?

Because he blames himself for everything.

And by the way, Mick is a middle-aged man, for God's sake!

He's been like a dad to me.

All I'm trying to do is support him.

All right? Maybe you should try it.

# When it's spring again, I'll bring again

# Tulips from Amsterdam

# With a heart that's true, I'll give to you

# Tulips from Amsterdam... #

DOORBELL

# Tulips from Amsterdam

# With a heart that's true, I'll give to you

# Tulips from Amsterdam

# I can't wait until the day you'll feel

# These eager arms of mine... #

KNOCK AT DOOR

KNOCKING CONTINUES

DOORBELL

Bex?

I thought you had your headphones in.

What are you calling over for?

Just came to see how you are, babes. Come here.

I mean, where the hell does she get off?

I know this sounds pathetic,

but I actually look forward to going in to work.

They've called me up, I'm on the cake run.

You know, Shirley's always at the pub.

She's always at the pub, even if she's not on the rota.

She should be at home, looking after her own mother, not stirring things and sticking her

nose in other people's business. And like I'm in any frame of mind to get with any bloke at the

moment, let alone my ex's dad, for Pete's sake!

He has got nice eyes, though.

What?

I mean, I know he's old and that, but...I bet Linda ain't got

-no complaints.

-Lauren!

What?

I'm allowed to look, ain't I?

Just because I'm stuck in the House of Beale with a baby and

a bloke who thinks a fun night is a bar of chocolate and a box set.

OK, so Steven still ain't taken you out, then?

He's turned middle-aged, Whit.

We've gone from saving for Christmas, now saving for

a summer holiday, but clearly that's never going to happen anyway, so...

My whole life is just a long list of routines. It's just...

I mean, I know we have a baby, but it shouldn't be...

We.. It's just... It's a little bit boring, Whit.

You ain't thinking about going to New Zealand, are you?

No.

Well, there is some things you can do to spice it up a bit.

I mean... 99p.

Bit of imagination and some of those leopard print pants from the market.

-Oh, please!

-What?

You're the one who told me Ian's got a doctor's appointment tomorrow,

so Jane will probably be hanging round with Stacey.

You'll have the whole house to yourself, all afternoon.

-Leopard print pants?!

-Yeah, and edible bras, three quid.

Oh, I don't know. I don't think Steven will wear any of that.

-LAUGHTER

-All right?

-All right, Dad?

GIGGLING

-Maybe it is my fault.

-Isn't that just like a woman?

Always blaming ourselves.

Maybe a kid needs his father's influence.

Not in my experience, Carmel.

Come on, you know, Shakil's a teenage kid,

they're going to make mistakes.

Do you think I'm being too harsh?

Oh, Carmel, what do I know?

Maybe I'll get him a sticky bun.

I'm still trying to get my head around Brexit, never mind

getting suspended from my job and being fined and an assault charge.

And don't get me started on the state of this place.

I don't want to sound like that Walford Facebook lot,

but what are the council actually doing?

Well, they did an amazing job after the bus crash, but now, they're

just holding online consultations about where to put the train tracks.

It annoys me, these people that are hiding behind their computers,

faking it, like it's going to make a difference.

And what is actually needed is a face to face community meeting.

Well, go on then.

It's no good moaning to the papers, Denise.

Like I keep saying to Shaki, you're in charge of your own destiny.

Not the other way round.

All right. See you later.

Oh, sorry.

It's all right, don't be.

No, just...

Madison wants to know if you told the Old Bill on them.

Well, Bex, what was I supposed to do? She asked.

I couldn't not warn her.

Bex...

If you've got something to say, do you want to say it to my face?

Don't have to cry about it!

Look at her, she's legit going to cry about it.

I did try to say it, actually. Thank you.

-She called you yesterday morning.

-Yeah.

She called you and you never picked up.

Cos I think that's, like, really disrespectful.

Because they took my phone.

On account of the photo that you made her post.

-Is that what she said to the police?

-That better not be what you told the police!

-No, I didn't.

I said it was me, all right?

And I am the only one anything is being pinned on.

I'm the only one that's done absolutely nothing wrong!

-Are you going to cry about it?

-CHUCKLING

Look, I've got to go. Michelle will tell my dad if I get another late.

You know Libby Walker?

She said she saw her coming out of school Tuesday, crying about it.

Is this cos you still love Shakil?

Do you still love Shakil?

That is what this is all about, isn't it?

You do know he's seeing someone else?

Wow!

Oh!

LAUGHTER

Then, Lewis Terry said that Jaden Watson said that Libby Walker

saw her coming out of school Tuesday in handcuffs,

like proper screaming at the police!

So then, I go to Miles Kingman, and Bex wants to watch it,

cos mate, that's the next best meme right there, innit?

She's such a mess. Literally, no-one likes her.

Are you having a laugh?

Are you having a laugh, bruv? You messed her up!

-All right, mate. Back off, yeah?

-Just cos they can't pin nothing on you. All right?

Have you been interviewed? Had a formal caution, Keegan? Had your mum crying at you?

-Had your ex not even allowed in the same room?

-God, you still like her?!

-You done this!

-You mug!

You done this!

Oi!

Miss Canning Town 1958. Can you see? Cos I'm wearing it there.

My sash with it written on.

Miss Canning Town. They give us a prize and all.

Cos my best pal, Moira Dunn, she was a dab hand on a sewing machine.

That's her! Look, that's Moira.

What happened to Moira?

-What happened after they took your photo?

-We got chips.

I shouldn't have.

I got to watch my figure, now I'm famous!

Pub opposite, it's got its doors open. That song about the daffs.

No, no. it's tulips, ain't it? That tulip song, what is it?

-# La la-la... #

-Tulips From Amsterdam.

Oh, yeah! On the jukebox!

-That's it, yeah.

-FRONT DOOR OPENS

Do you know it?

We sat on the wall, me and Moira.

I goes, don't tell my mum, we've got fellas queuing round the block.

I thought we were doing a bath.

-I thought you were getting ready for work.

-You must have been well proud.

No. Well... I was only 16. Only probably the best day of my life.

Marilyn Monroe, my dad calls us, when we got home.

Right Bobby Dazzler.

Mum wouldn't like that.

Giving myself airs.

I knew what was coming.

I tried to hide in the lav, but she took the key out of the door as soon as dad went up the club.

What did she do?

She burnt my sash.

No!

Made me scrub my face. What's that soap? Smells like, you know, petrol.

Clipped me round the ear.

Told me that over her dead body,

no daughter of hers was going to make a show.

She hit you?

Told me not to answer back. She dragged me outside.

I was giving as good. I'm Miss Canning Town 1958.

Didn't need to see Babe watching from our bedroom window to

know she was laughing. Nasty cow!

Bruises all the way up my arm.

She locked me in the coal shed.

Whole night in the coal shed.

Oh, Mum! That's awful!

What?

Yes, my mum, yes.

But I made my fingers bleed, trying to get that door open because

there was no latch on the inside, you see?

It was so black.

Took your breath.

Why would she do that?

Yeah, I did say, you know?

Must have been later. Was it a lot later?

Oh, cos she was old, she weren't very well, she was in the bungalow.

I don't know where my dad had gone.

On her last legs.

I said...

"That was one of the best days of my life. Why did you ruin it?"

She said, "Did I? Don't know. Can't remember."

DOOR SLAMS

Will you just take some responsibility?

-I never asked Keegan over.

-You opened the door.

You let him in. You chose to be friends with the boy!

And then you thumped him all over my living room!

He's involved, isn't he?

Was it his idea? The video?

Did he tell you to send dirty pictures to your ex-girlfriend?

Just give it a rest.

Well, he is banned. He is banned from this house! Do you hear me?

You know, maybe your dad's right.

Letting you think the world revolves around you, breaking my back to sort

you out, while you make one stupid, stupid mistake after another!

Can you just for five minutes stop having a go at me, please?

You are so self-obsessed! All you think about is yourself!

All anyone thinks about is themselves!

I get up 40 minutes earlier than I need to

to iron your school uniform.

Every morning.

I leave your shoes by the door.

Put money in your jacket pocket.

Make sure you don't forget that rotten phone.

Put breakfast by your bag. Get your water from the fridge.

Find your locker key.

And twice a week, I pack the half of your PE kit you haven't

bothered to find the night before.

Then, I wake you up.

I start my job on the market.

Then, I come home.

And wake you up again, then I wake you up again,

and you fall out of bed, moaning because you can't find whatever.

Dive into the shower, leave your wet towel on the floor,

get dressed, and you walk out the door.

And sometimes, you say "bye".

Then I make myself a cup of tea.

And go back to my job.

And I do it because I want to.

I want to take care of you.

I do it

because I love you.

What about me?

TV ON

I don't know.

It's just like for a minute then, we got her back, didn't we?

And she remembered it all so clearly.

I ain't never heard none of that before.

Poor Mum.

She ain't had much of a life, has she?

No.

That's why you would have thought that she could have tried

a bit harder.

I mean, seriously, Tina, if her mum was that bad to her,

why the hell did she have to pass it on?

She never locked you in the coal shed, Shirl.

-She never beat you up.

-No. She chucked me down the stairs.

You know? They should have sterilised her.

Some people should never have kids.

And just because she's old now,

don't you go forgetting that she was a cow!

Unpredictable and you never knew where you were with her!

Don't you think that had something to do with the fact she was married to Dad?

I remember...

I must have been about six...

..and she sent me down the corner shop to get her fags.

I knew it was late because it was dark outside.

But off I went with a smile on my face, a pat on the head and a penny,

to get some sweets.

And when I come home...

..she left me, sitting on the front doorstep in the pouring rain

for 20 minutes, while she finished her bath.

I was six years of age, Tina!

Then maybe it's genetic.

Yeah? Maybe some women just ain't born maternal.

-I was never like her.

-You weren't there, Shirley.

Neither of us was.

No mum to tuck them in, to give them dinner,

to hold their hand when they're ill.

-You was hardly kind, was you?

-I did my best.

Really, Shirley?

-Really?

-I'm not pretending that I like her, Tina, end of.

We should never have taken her on.

Everything. Everything's gone on hold.

Someone has to be here to guard her all the time.

The house smells of old woman and her poxy quiz shows!

You know what your life's like since she's been here.

Senile or not,

I am not going to humour that old cow.

I would rather move out of my own flat.

Then, why don't you just do that?

I'm sick of you slating her.

Finally, the perfect excuse to save you pretending that you live here,

pretending that you're helping.

-Drugging her with alcohol.

-Oh, will you drop it?

You have always got a good reason to be out of the house,

from first thing in the morning till last thing at night!

Do you honestly think I would notice the difference?

Right.

Right.

Shirley, I can't call in sick again.

Shirley! I'm meant to be working! FRONT DOOR CLOSES

No, I am sorry, but the plan is half-baked.

It doesn't hold up. Judges don't make random threats and not carry them out.

He said payment or prison.

That's what he meant.

Well, I can't pay.

And you don't think Mum will worry when you go silent for six weeks?

How are you going to explain that? A nasty case of laryngitis?!

And what are you going to do about this place? Write us a list?

And you really think me and you are up to it?

I have got my finals, Whitney. My dissertation.

-Your mum can't do nothing.

-Yeah, but she has the right to know, though.

Doesn't she?

What I don't get is why you both are killing yourselves over Lee.

What?

You think if you don't say it out loud, you'll save her feelings?

That Mum somehow won't find out he's left us in several tonnes of debt?

She has a right to try, Dad.

OK, OK.

Well, if you don't want to tell her the truth,

I'll go round there myself and I'll do it.

You forgotten how the key works?

Where are you going?

Prison.

I've let her down again, Mum.

Linda.

I've got to tell her.

I've got to warn her.

No. It'll be all right.

You call her tonight at the usual time.

You have a little chat, you tell her that you miss her.

You do miss her, don't you?

It'll be fine.

Look, Mick,

there is a difference between lying and bending the truth just a bit.

And what's the truth going to do to her?

She's going to worry and then you two are going to be at each other.

You know, there's a lot riding on finding the right partner in life.

And when you're married to them...

..it's what makes you who you are.

Just a bit. Don't you think?

And you've got a good one there.

She's your best mate.

That's precious, Mick. It's worth fighting for.

So you don't tell Linda anything until tomorrow.

We don't want her to worry.

And then, you tell her exactly what I'm going to tell them at the

police station. With a bit of luck, it might not even go to court.

What?

It's my fault.

I knew Babe was selling the booze.

And you didn't have a clue.

No.

That's why... That's why I'm finally stepping up, Mick.

No.

I'm not asking you, I'm telling you, son.

I am going to get you out of this mess.

Whether you like it or not.