22/05/2017 EastEnders

TAP RUNNING

DISTANT ALARM

SHE SIGHS

I'm so worried for that poor little boy.

It's all such a mess.

I've got to do something

to put it right.

I'm sorry to be ringing you so late at night, but will you help me?

-RECORDED MESSAGE:

-'Thank you for calling.'

Morning. Here she is, look, the best mother in the world. Look at her.

Beautiful little thing, ain't you?

Eh? What would I do without you? How are you doing today, all right?

Yeah, thanks.

Good. Good. Beautiful day today, ain't it?

Well, rain is forecast.

I'm not talking about the weather, am I? Soppy.

I'm going to get them readies back to you, soon as.

I don't want you worrying about that.

I think her highness wants to go out for a little run.

You want to go for a run? A waddle? Yeah?

I think she needs an eyelash.

I'll take you out once I got me clobber on and I've phoned L.

Actually, Mick, I spoke to Linda last night.

She's going to be up the hospital all day with Elaine.

How comes you spoke to her last night? All I get is the odd text.

You were out with Lady Di.

Anyway, she sends her love and she said she'll ring you when she can.

You know I'd be in Watford, don't you, if we weren't so short staffed?

-I can manage a shift, Dad.

-No, no. I want you studying. OK?

I can't believe Tracy goes away at a time like this.

-Time off well earned.

-True. True. Come on then, girl. Come on.

Let's have it.

You ain't told him about the freehold.

I haven't found the right time.

-There's no time like the present.

-Will you get off my back?

-Are you going to tell him now?

-All right!

Come on then. Let's get you down to the exam.

-You're not still cramming?

-Well, I've been up all night.

And I can't remember a single thing.

You'd be better off getting some shut eye.

-That's easy for you to say, isn't it?

-What?

Me with a toddler and a husband who snores?

-Look, you'll be all right.

-You don't know that!

After all the work you've put in? Come on, man.

You've always got your nose in a book.

That don't mean that anything's actually going in, though, does it?

Sorry?

The thing is, Kim, you telling me that I'm going to be fine,

it doesn't actually mean that I'm going to be fine.

Nothing is going in. OK? Not a thing!

All this time that I've spent and it's all going to be wasted.

-Look, all of this is last minute nerves.

-No, it's not! Do you know?

There's no point actually even turning up now, is there?

OK.

OK.

OK.

You remember when I was going for my driving theory?

And I said to you I wasn't going to go because I was going to fail?

It is not the same thing.

And if it wasn't for you, who pushed me, I wouldn't have gone.

I wouldn't have done it.

You made me believe that I just might be able to make it,

I might be able to pass.

And you were right. I did it and I passed.

You will, too, D. You've worked too hard for this.

-MOBILE RINGS

-Sorry.

Vincent.

Hi, babe. I'm with D.

What?

Family crisis, sorry.

Her blue rabbit is in the washing machine!

What?

Oh, OK. OK, OK, OK.

Look, I'll see if D can make her own way to the exam then.

Right.

-No worries.

-You know?

I wouldn't ask, but Pearl is just working herself up into a state.

It's not a problem. There's plenty of time. Off you go.

OK. But listen, make sure you come round later.

-Let me know how you get on, right?

-Yeah.

-Good luck!

Brain box!

There we go.

-Bacon sandwich. Extra ketchup. Not.

-One for you.

Oh, cheers, love.

Hey, do you know what? One rasher wouldn't hurt, would it?

-We can't give in on our first day, Ian.

-All right.

-Steven and Lauren not eating?

-Lauren left five minutes ago and

Steven's upstairs getting ready for his big day out with Louie.

It's nice they can have some boys' time.

Important?

Just a diabetes presentation. Do you want tea or coffee?

It says here you've got to go online and book.

-It's just a tick box exercise. Do you want tea or coffee?

-Tea.

I mean, if Charlie hadn't just turned up out of the blue,

this fight with Jack would never have happened.

I mean, if I could just get them to talk to each other, you know,

-with me there as well.

-As referee?

-With a nice cup of tea.

Dot, there's a chance that could make things worse.

Worse? How can it make things worse?!

No, I'm going to try to get Charlie on his mobile.

And I'm going to say - why don't you and Jack sit down and talk to

each other and sort it out peacefully?

Cos Charlie, he is a good boy. Deep down.

And then you could talk to Jack.

Please, Max! I implore you! He'll listen to you.

Look, let's just wait and see what Charlie's got to say first, yeah?

Thank you, Max.

Thank you.

-There's a queue of people outside your old house.

-Yeah, I heard.

They council are doing viewings. It's weird, isn't it,

to think someone's going to be moving in to Uncle Charlie's?

-Yeah.

-What are you doing here?

-I was just...

-I was worried about this morning.

-What about the stall?

It's all right. I've just left Luke to keep an eye on it.

-Oh.

-You feeling all right, yeah?

-Yes.

-WHISPERS:

-Just a bit of morning sickness.

-Shouldn't you be on the stall?

-He's just come to wish you luck.

-Yeah. Good luck today, Bex.

-I'm so not ready for this exam.

You'll be fine.

-All right?

-Good luck.

-Go smash it.

-What did Kush say?

-Kush...

Yeah, when you spoke to him about having Arthur every week.

You forgot.

Look, I'll go and do it now.

-OK.

-Right. See you later, yeah?

-Love you.

-Me too.

I thought you was taking Lady Di out.

-I've got to slip down the cash and carry. Wahey.

-Oi!

Love you!

Love you.

-I'm so sorry. I didn't see you.

-Just get lost.

Oi! Watch it!

Don't let him get to you. You've got to concentrate on your exam.

You remembered I've got an exam?

Yeah, yeah. Course.

I hope it goes well.

Thank you.

-Why are you here?

-Just keeping out of my mum's way.

She's bursting blood vessels all over the place about moving house.

Well, at least you ain't got two exams today.

I've got English this morning and then Geography this afternoon.

That's long.

-You didn't tell him, did you?

-I was going to tell him, but he...

-You bottled it.

-No, I didn't.

-What are you going to do when Fi

-turns up?

-She's not due till later in the week.

The longer you leave it, the worse it's going to get.

-I am going to tell him.

-He's going to go ballistic.

-I do know that.

-Do I look like an idiot?

-You're acting like one.

-He hit me.

-Yes, but that's no excuse, is it?

-What if he hits Matthew?

-Jack wouldn't do that.

He loves him.

-Well, I can't take the risk. I've got to take him away.

-No, no.

No, don't do that cos I couldn't bear it.

I mean, I didn't even know that you existed until you were grown up.

I have to think of what's right for Matthew.

Yes, but this is his world. It's all he knows.

It wouldn't be kind to take him away.

And you are a kind man. You are a very kind man.

I just... I don't want him to suffer.

You want what's best for Matthew. So that's what I'm saying.

Why don't you sit down with Jack and me and we'll discuss together

what is best for Matthew?

He's my son. Grandma, he's my flesh and blood.

Yes. And he's mine.

Please.

Talk to Jack.

For me.

For Matthew.

OK. I'll think about it.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Charlie.

He says he'll think about it.

OK.

So, now,

will you talk to Jack?

Yeah, sure.

Go on, mate.

If I'd hit Charlie Cotton as hard as he said I'd hit him,

I'd have injuries myself, wouldn't I?

He's trying it on. Shouldn't you be at work?

I got a couple of meetings in the area.

Well, save you going back to the office,

-if you want to use mine, you're welcome.

-Cheers.

I'll be a couple of hours. I've got a meeting with Jimmie Broome.

-So what shall I tell Dot?

-Well, you can tell her what you like.

Just make it crystal clear, I ain't going in a room with that man.

-Jack, she's going to be disappointed.

-It's not my problem.

Matthew's my priority, not Dot.

SHE SIGHS

It's only an exam, love. The sky ain't about to fall in.

Are you doing this, too?

English Literature, English Language, History, and French.

Oh, and Maths.

-That's quite a lot, isn't it?

-You've got to use it or lose it.

-Oh, I'm Freda, by the way.

-Denise.

-So, why so many?

-Do you know, recently,

I've just been asking myself the same question.

-But you're not nervous.

-No, not a bit. See?

Oh, OK.

So I'm wetting myself.

But even if I fail the lot, I will still have had a go.

Oh, aye-aye. Looks like we're about to have lift off.

Please take your seats.

Fingers crossed, girl.

Fingers crossed.

Ooh.

Look at you.

Oh!

Oh, I didn't see you there.

Feel like I've run a marathon.

Choccie biccie to celebrate?

-Ian!

-It was a joke.

-Maybe a peppermint tea.

Mm, refreshing(!)

Ooh!

Oh, and by the way, I went online and made an appointment for

that diabetes clinic.

Had a cancellation for Thursday and for what it's worth,

I don't think it's just a box tick thing.

Well, we know what they're going to say, don't we? Brown rice, good.

Biccies, bad!

-Puddings, the work of the devil!

-SHE CHUCKLES

So, how did you get on with your lawyer? Jack?

-You weren't there long.

-Matthew needs his water.

-No, what did Jimmie have to say?

-He said...

-Yeah?

With the complexities of the case and me being on bail and all,

I ought to try and agree a mutually convenient arrangement with

the biological father.

In other words, that meeting with Dot - you'd better tell her it's on.

Pens down, please.

SHE SIGHS

SHE MOUTHS

I'll sit them in the front room.

Or maybe they'll be more comfortable in here. What do you think, Max?

I don't know. I don't think it really matters.

No, pot of tea, some cake,

and the three of us to sit down together and talk.

I'm sure that once they're in the same room, with me, you know,

they'll be able to sort it out.

Listen, I could always join you.

-Oh, that's very kind of you.

-It'd be a pleasure to help.

-Yes, but I think just the three of us.

-Dot, it's not a problem.

You're a good boy, Max.

Your father would be ever so proud of the way you're behaving

over this. But I think just them and me.

-That Shakespeare section.

-It was challenging.

-Try crippling.

-It was tricky, but...

-No, no. It's fine.

I haven't got any spare change on me.

It's only 50 pence, love. And it's no fun drinking on my own. Go on.

Cheers.

But? You said the Shakespeare section was tricky, but...?

Oh, yeah.

Well, don't get me wrong, I want to pass,

and I'd like to pass well, but what's been really good about

going back to school is feeling

-my brain stretch.

-Yeah! Yeah.

-And I've enjoyed myself.

-Me, too.

So, even if I've failed the lot, and I might just do that,

it will still have been worth it. And you know what?

It beats cleaning other people's kitchens and khazis.

So you're...? You're a cleaning lady?

Well, I prefer the technical term - skivvy.

Do you know?

If you'd told me before I started this lark that I'd be having

a good time, staying indoors on my own,

-reading a book!

-Do you know?

When I'm reading,

it's like me and the author, it's like we're having a conversation.

And maybe they're saying that I've noticed this or I've felt

like that and it's like they've turned to

-me and they're saying - do you know what I mean?

-Yeah.

When I started, I really didn't expect to find other people,

different times, different places,

different sex, some of them,

different colours, different everything, and it's like they've

noticed the same stuff I've noticed,

felt the same way that I feel.

Exactly!

But we still want to get A*s, right?

Come on!

I keep wandering round the flat, making plans, imagining what

it's going to look like when all our boxes are unpacked and we've

-got our pictures on the walls.

-Aw! It sounds like you're having fun.

Yeah, and do you know what? People have been so generous.

We've had dining chairs, a tall shelving unit thingy, all sorts.

And Janet loves her bigger bedroom. She wants everything purple.

-Why purple?

-Why not?

-Oh, fair point. What does Will make of that?

-Um, yeah.

He's happy with the purple. Anyway, so we were thinking about

having a housewarming, so do you fancy coming?

Oh, yeah. We'd love to.

We're just working out all the plans. So I'll let you know, yeah?

-Sounds lovely.

-Oh, duty calls. See you later.

-See you.

-Are you all set for your job tomorrow?

-I think so.

Be good to be out in the world again.

-I'm really looking forward to it.

-Aw! See you later.

-See you.

-Well, what did he say?

-Who?

-Have you even spoken to him?

-Oh, Kush.

-You forgot again!

-Why don't you go and talk to him?

No, it'll mean more coming from you. Go on.

Go on!

Any one other thing that you see, on the house. Get something for you.

-What about returns?

-Yeah, I'm here.

-Exciting times.

-I know, definitely. I've got such plans.

-Don't want any clutter.

-Oh. What, with two kids?

Yeah.

-Might be a challenge.

-You OK?

-Michelle, you're a mum, aren't you?

-Yeah.

It's just that Will and the new place.

I don't think he's very happy.

I think it's the, um...customers downstairs.

I've said to him, you know, the dead can't hurt you. But he's worried.

And I'm worried about him.

Well, my kids, I usually found the time to worry about them was

when they started bottling stuff up. So if he's talking to you...

Yeah, I know, but what do I say?

I'm not sure you need to say anything.

-Best thing is to listen.

-Yeah, thanks.

-That's all right.

-You mean every week?

-Yeah, if you'd like that.

You're asking me if I'd like that! If!

OK, you come round for a couple of hours after work, just before

-his bedtime.

-That's going to be... That's going to be great. Cheers.

Cheers, man! Cheers, Stacey! Cheers. Come here.

Thank you.

Good, isn't it? Having the ship back on course!

And you at the helm!

Do you know what? We could do with another hand on deck.

-Go upstairs and get me mother please, babe.

-Aye-aye, captain.

Hey, um, it's getting quite busy downstairs now,

so I could do with a hand.

That ain't going to make nothing better, is it?

Did I ask for your opinion?

You need to tell Mick the truth.

Why don't you and Tina change the record?

The truth is...

..I don't know how to tell him.

Denise. Martin and Stacey, they asked if I wanted, like,

-a regular slot with Arthur, every week.

-Oh, that is great.

-Yeah.

-Oh, how did your exam go?

-Er, best not ask.

-Oh, not good?

-Well, I gave it my best shot.

You know. But I kind of, well, messed up.

-You don't know that for sure, though.

-Not for sure, maybe, but...

You need to have a bit more faith in yourself, Denise.

-You think?

-I've got faith in you.

Really?

Yes. Definitely.

Do you want to get that up there and have a little look at it?

There you go.

Once he's over the shock, he'll understand why you did it.

No.

-He'll never understand.

-Someone had to do something, Shirl.

The Vic, it was crumbling into the ground.

But me and Linda, we sold the freehold.

I still can't believe Linda did that.

-She loves this place as much as he does.

-Yeah.

Why can't she tell him?

Cos I said I would.

She's got enough on her plate with Elaine.

Yeah.

OK, so maybe you shouldn't have done that without telling him.

But it's a bit of paper.

He still owns the place.

No.

Actually, he's got a lease.

-Which lasts what? 100 years?

-100 years, 1,000 years.

It doesn't matter. We sold the one thing that matters to him.

Well, he's going to find out whether you tell him or not.

But I think it's best that it comes from you.

You know, over the years,

Mick, I used to see him looking at me.

And before he looked away, he used to have this look in his eye.

Disgust.

And every time I saw that look,

I felt a little piece of me inside shrivel up and die.

In these past few months,

Aunt Babe, the roof,

Linda, Sylvie, Lady Di,

it's been terrible, the whole thing's been falling apart,

but me and Mick, we were solid.

I even went to prison for him and I didn't mind about that

because I wanted to be a good mum.

Mick's mum.

And I know that if I tell him what me and Linda did,

I'm going to see that look in his eye again.

You can do it, Shirl.

I really don't think I can.

Look, I know it's not easy...

It's more complicated than you can imagine.

He will thank you.

No, he won't.

You helped him.

I forged his signature!

Do you still think he'll thank me?

What are you going to do, Shirl?

Are you going to carry on lying to him until he finds out himself?

Tell him the truth.

-Vincent has taken Pearl to the park.

-That's nice.

She's been such a little madam all morning.

Oh! So, how was your exam?

Yeah.

Yeah? What's that mean?

It means...

Sorry, it means I was a bit...wobbly at first and then,

the more I think about it, perhaps,

yeah, yeah, not too bad.

Well, what did I tell you?

I don't know, Kim. What did you tell me?

I told you I'm brilliant, you're brilliant. That's the facts.

-So, when's the next one?

-Later this week.

Well, you've got some time to get some sleep then.

So, I was in the market just now and I saw Kush.

Oh, you're bound to, innit? I mean, he does work there.

We had a nice little chat actually. Yeah.

And he asked me how it went. The exam.

It was really nice. Just talking to him.

As friends. You know, cos maybe...

Maybe we can be that, just friends.

And when you say friends... What? Just friends?

Course. Friends.

And nothing else?

What are you talking about?

Friends like...Martin or Jane?

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-Good.

-Good.

-Cos you know he was in the Albert the other night.

-Oh, yeah?

-Do you know he's dating again?

-Kush?

-Mm-hm.

Yeah, yeah. Course I knew that.

Oh, OK. That's good.

-Yeah, and I'm really pleased for him.

-Really?

Course I am, yeah.

Yeah, I want him to be happy, don't I?

Mick, can I have a word?

So, Mum.

This is Fi.

But I believe you've already met.