17/07/2017 EastEnders

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Steven?

I couldn't sleep.

Babe, please talk to me.

I want to be able to help you, but I can't if you won't let me.

I need...to deal with this in my own way.

FRONT DOOR OPENS

Hey. Stuck the kettle on?

Yeah, I'll...do it now.

Here, do you know what? I had the weirdest dream last night.

I dreamt I was getting chased round the square by this giant saveloy.

PHONE RINGS What does it mean?

That you're hungry?

Well, no...

Cos I'd then be chasing the saveloy round the square, wouldn't I?

You've got this meeting about the sale of the chippy later.

It's an anxiety dream. Yeah, course it is!

I do fancy a saveloy now, though.

Dad, I'll go do that delivery for you at the restaurant,

seeing as I'm already up and about. Oh, great! Steven!

I thought it was your day off.

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa - if he doesn't mind.

I'll do the coffees.

Look, it'll only take a couple of hours.

Mrs Branning!

Wasn't expecting to see you up. Did someone help you?

No, they did not.

Well, that's a great step forward.

I've now proved I can do it meself -

I think I'd better be getting back home.

Mrs Branning, we've talked about this.

I've got too much to do to sit around here wasting time,

and I'm not one of those persons to stop another person getting a bed

when they need it more than I do.

Well, until there's space in the rehab ward,

this is still the best place for you.

I don't want it.

I want to go...

and be normal.

Ooh!

Two enough for ya?

Cos I've told school you're not allowed off site at dinner time.

I thought this grounded thing was a joke. Do I look like I'm laughing?

And you can keep your mooey shut, cos it won't be two weeks -

it'll be two years.

Better off for everyone if he WAS off the street for two years.

Oh, who's talking to you? Keep your snout out!

You do know he tried to force his way into my house last week?

You're lucky I didn't call the police.

Yeah, and you're lucky I didn't call the police

on your little chavvy for assaulting my Bernadette.

Oh, surprise!

You didn't know that part of the story.

Why don't you keep your own house in order before commenting on mine?

Come on, Keegan - don't want you to be late.

I know you don't want to talk about this, but...

..I'm scared.

I need to know what's happening.

Lauren... What the doctors have said.

I... I really can't deal with this right now.

Sorry, I...

I shouldn't have asked that. Erm...

I'm still just...

..trying to process everything.

I wish you'd told me straight away.

I wanted to.

I did. You'd just been so...

..distracted.

I thought you might not want to see this through with me.

You don't, do you?

It's fine.

I understand.

No.

No, I'm not... I'm not running away.

I'm...

I'm worried about how we're going to cope...

..but I want to be there for ya.

Thank you.

But if we're going to deal with this together,

then you need to tell me everything.

HE SIGHS I will.

I'm just...not ready yet.

Steven! Please, Lauren.

The best thing you can do to help me right now

is to let me deal with this at my own pace.

OK?

It's been so long since I had a proper holiday, I can't wait.

I've ordered three new bikinis from the catalogue

because I couldn't decide between them!

CARMEL CHUCKLES

I keep trying to persuade Billy that we can afford a holiday,

you know, now that the business is doing so well, but he's not so keen.

Suffers terribly from heat rash.

Sorry, ladies.

Honey, does the Minute Mart do that thing

where you can bring back packages to be returned? Yes, we do.

Why - have you got an unwanted gift?

Oh...yeah, something like that.

Ooh!

Hot date? No, no.

Sharon's back from Italy, so we're having a drink later. Why?

No, you just look a bit dressed up, that's all.

Well, I think you look lovely. Thank you.

Three new bikinis, eh?

I take it you've not told your mum that she's not invited

to this holiday of yours?

Denise has tried talking to her, but...

it's like telling a child Christmas is cancelled.

Right.

Didn't you check the rota? I'M covering the morning shift.

Oh, no!

I got distracted by this meeting tomorrow with Mr Lister.

Why do you think he's coming to see me?

I'm not going to get the sack, am I? No, they wouldn't do that.

It's probably just an appraisal or something.

Did you have one? Yeah, course.

What, after three weeks?

Er...no.

Not quite.

Robbie? The hospital just rang.

Is Dot OK?

Yeah, she's fine. She's coming home today.

Oh, that's great news!

Against the doctor's advice.

I mean, the house is nowhere near ready, but she's adamant.

Well, why don't me and Robbie get it ready while you go to the hospital?

As long as you don't mind.

No! Robbie's not supposed to be here, anyway.

Thank you.

Right, the main thing is getting the bed downstairs.

I thought she already said no to that.

Well, we're just going to have to persuade her it's a good idea.

You're going to need a few extra pairs of hands.

Maybe Kush and, er... Martin won't mind helping.

Would ya?

I'll buy you both a pint later.

Whoa... Let's have a think about that. Er...

A pint, or the eternal wrath of Donna for drinking with the enemy.

You're on your own, mate.

HE SIGHS

DOOR OPENS

Sorry, we're closed.

So, you run out on me, ignore my calls all weekend,

and then I see Lauren going into your house

when she's supposed to have left.

What the hell happened?

Do you know what, Abi? It's none of your business.

You knew she was leaving,

and you deliberately tried to keep her from me.

Well, you weren't complaining at the time. She's going nowhere.

Yeah, until the next time she gets bored.

No - she's not going to leave her sick boyfriend, is she?

What?

Steven, what are you on about?

I told her I had a brain tumour.

SHE GASPS

Are you joking?

Does it look like I'm joking?

You're an absolute tool.

Our mum had cancer - to lie about something like that

is totally out of order.

As soon as she realises that you've got no symptoms,

no hospital appointments, no nothing...

she's going to get suspicious.

You need to tell her the truth...

before it backfires on you,

and it'll be worse than you ever imagine when it does.

I could get used to this external isolation stuff.

As long as they don't find out that we're not at home.

They won't.

Do you think they'll stop sharing that video of the showcase

by the time we get back to school?

Don't know, don't care. They'll forget about it soon.

Mmm.

Bex's song's getting loads of shares again.

What you looking at?

Louise Mitchell keeps banging on about being scouted or something.

As if! I know.

Look at all these pictures of her and Travis.

That is SO embarrassing.

I know. Pathetic.

I just want to go through some of the support

Mrs Branning's going to need to ensure she's safe at home.

Well, I spoke to the council - they're going to send someone round

to do an assessment to see if there's any equipment she needs.

I don't need no equipment!

And my brother's organising getting the bed moved downstairs.

Still here, Sonia, in case you hadn't noticed, and I've told...

Dot! Please.

Listen, we've been through this.

You're not mobile enough to get up and down the stairs at the moment -

this is going to make it much more manageable.

Yeah, well, I dressed meself, didn't I?

That shows that I can manage perfectly well.

Well, your... What?

Your cardigan.

Oh, so what?

I mean, I had to do it left-handed, and there ain't no mirror.

Well, let me help you, then.

No! I am not a child, Sonia.

Mrs Branning...

if the house isn't suitable to your needs,

then the hospital won't discharge you.

But it's me own house!

It's not as if I'm moving into someone else's.

I mean, my house has already been assessed,

because my husband Jim had a stroke.

Oh, all right - I'll sleep downstairs,

but that bed goes upstairs

as soon as I can climb up them stairs easily.

LAUREN SIGHS ON VIDEO

FOOTSTEPS ON VIDEO

JOSH: Hey, Suzie.

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ON VIDEO

Lauren?

I didn't think you were in work today.

You weren't supposed to be in, either.

What the hell's been happening?

I get this one weird text from you, and then nothing.

I saw your dad earlier. He said you've been avoiding...

I can't talk right now - I'm really busy. You say all those things...

Josh, please. You at least owe me an explanation.

I'm sorry.

Erm...

SHE SIGHS

I've just realised that me and Steven, erm...

Well, I need to give things another chance.

No, no, no. No, this is him talking. Has he done something? No.

No.

It's what I want.

SHE SIGHS

SHE SNIFFS

So, you're really saying all that talk

of us being together properly - what, you didn't mean any of it?

No, I did.

I did mean it.

I...

I would be with you if I could.

SHE SIGHS

But I can't, so...

I cannot believe what that Taylor girl did last week, you know,

ruining all your hard work.

Oh, well....

She didn't really mean it.

Actually, she's offered to help me after school.

But you've been out there all morning.

But Ted's been helping me. Everybody's doing their bit.

You're the one holding it all together, Jane, yeah?

You're a trooper. I know.

Bye! See ya later.

Oh, here we go.

That's it - you got this, Robbie. Go on! Come on, mate - strong!

Strong man!

Ah... You guys could have helped. Nah.

No, we ain't helping him out until he gives Donna her pitch back.

Really?

Come on, Mr Bean! Put your back into it!

Anyway, look - watching him struggle -

much more fun than working.

Eh? Yeah.

Plus, Kush is trying to avoid his mum. Yeah, I know the feeling!

Kim practically jumped into a bush to avoid talking to her.

You know, one of you are going to have to man up,

and tell her she ain't welcome at some point, otherwise, er...

it's going to be too late.

By "one of you," you mean me, don't ya?

Yeah. Yeah. No!

Do you want to go Westfield or something?

Look.

Look at this - Louise has just posted a picture

of the dress she's wearing to prom.

MADISON SIGHS

ALEXANDRA SIGHS

And now everyone's started putting pictures up of their dresses.

Hashtag #WalfordHighProm. Oh, it's so tragic.

Yeah.

Don't matter, anyway - she's going to look dog rough.

Look, everyone's saying her and Travis

are going to be winning Most Beautiful Couple, anyway.

Well, that would've been me, if I hadn't been banned.

There's no point getting vex about it.

I'm not.

Would be funny if someone messed it up, though, wouldn't it?

I don't care, to be honest.

We're going to be having a mad one at Chase's party,

while those losers are going to be trying to hide booze

from teachers and that.

That's funny enough for me.

Yeah. Suppose.

Ooh!

Whose idea was the welcome committee?

Everyone's excited to see you.

Who's he?

That's Ted. Who?

Your next door neighbour. He's moved in with his wife Joyce.

Since when?

Ooh, look. There's Jim's old ramp.

Yep. Give it a try, Dot.

Uh-huh. Well, I suppose it will come in handy.

Welcome home, Grandma!

Oh! He's the one I wanted to see - my little Davey. Aah!

KAREN: It's good to see you back, Mrs Branning. What?

JANE: Er...anything you wanted to borrow from me, Dot,

just let me know.

Oh, that's very kind. I don't need all this fuss.

Did you have a nice time in Exeter? Thanks for the offer.

That's Dot's cat, is it?

I thought he was missing.

Oh, well, it's a relief he came back.

You know, she absolutely loves him.

You know, I think some of Jane's things

will come in really useful for you.

What things?

Why don't you come and have a look at your new room?

Robbie's done a really good job.

I'd rather sit down and have a cigarette, Abi.

Oh, come on, please. It won't take a minute, will it?

Oh, all right, then!

We brought down all your favourite pictures and things.

And I even got your old comfy chair back off Patrick.

It ain't my chair -

it was your grandfather's riser, what helped him get up.

And where's me table gone?

Well, the bed wouldn't fit with it in,

so the new bloke off the market offered to buy it.

You SOLD it?

Well, we didn't think you ever used it.

He gave me a good price.

I DID use it - for me visitors.

And who give you permission to dispose of me belongings?

I just thought, Dot, you might... You've never even liked it, anyway.

Where did you get that idea?

Neither of you have been here.

I think...

..a little meeting is in order.

I just wanted to see if you were all right.

Yeah - why wouldn't I be?

Well... I just had a lovely day with my boy.

What more could I want? Oh, Louie's still here? Yeah.

Yeah - he's just having a nap. Why wouldn't he be?

You knew Lauren was planning on leaving me, didn't you?

Why wouldn't you warn me, Stacey?

You're meant to be my mate! It wasn't my place, Steven,

and I didn't know for sure... What did she say?

She's confused. What did she say?

She just said that things weren't right between you.

HE SIGHS

You know, before we came back here, we used to share everything.

It doesn't matter what I do - she just keeps pulling away.

Well, have you spoken to her about how you feel?

Nah - we've not had a proper conversation in weeks.

Well, maybe that is a good place to start.

But what if...

What?

What if she doesn't want me any more?

Coming back here...

being accepted by Dad and Jane...

..being a proper family with Lauren and Louie...

..it's all I've ever wanted.

So, don't let it go without a fight.

Do whatever you need to do to keep it.

You took your time.

Grounded, aren't I?

So this better be worth it. What do you want?

Hot wings, if you're offering.

You seriously got me here for hot wings?

I want to ruin prom.

Yeah?

What you thinking?

Don't know yet.

Something jokes that'll mess up the whole stupid thing.

You in?

The minute Mr Pryce sees me at prom,

he's going to know that something's up.

Not if you pretend you want to help.

ABI: So, I take it you told Lauren the truth?

No. I didn't.

I'm not going to, either.

Well, you're mad if you think you can keep this up.

I don't need to keep it up.

At least not forever.

Just as long as it takes to make Lauren suffer.

What?

I'm fed up with her always getting her own way.

Right, so how does this make her suffer?

Because she'll put her whole life on hold for me, playing Saint Lauren,

because she thinks the tumour is life-threatening.

And then, just when she is as low as she can be...

I'll tell her the tumour's shrinking...

..and leave her...

..to be with you.

You want to be with me?

You and me, Abi...

..we're the same.

We understand each other in a way that no-one else does.

SHE SIGHS Yeah, but earlier you said... I know.

I was wrong.

If this is going to work...

..if we are going to be together,

then we have to make this lie as convincing as possible.

We need to do our research, OK, on symptoms and appointments,

whatever it takes to make Lauren believe it.

Do you think you can help me with that?

Yeah, of course I can.

If I didn't know you two,

I wouldn't believe people this stupid actually existed.

What?

How am I going to get it off?!

Well, you were the one who bought it.

Yes, to return the items that you stole, not to wind me up with.

Come on, you have to admit, is a little bit funny.

Yeah, well...

..buy me a drink, and I might crack a smile.

THEY CHUCKLE

Stace!

You know, I try to see the good in people, but that family...

They enjoy winding you up. Stop rising to the bait!

Oh! As if Denny's anything like that Keegan.

OK, I know Louise can be wilful,

refusing to listen and do as she's told,

but she's not as bad as that feral lot.

Louise is just a teenager pushing boundaries.

Yeah. Well, she's really testing my patience at the moment.

Been a right little madam,

who's got Phil wrapped round her little finger.

What, like you did with Den?

It's always going to be harder when they're not your own,

but like you just said, Louise isn't a bad kid.

Mmm.

Well, with everything that's going on,

I forgot to ask how your date went with Tom.

Oh, it was, er...

It was great, actually.

Really great. Good!

When are you going to see him again?

Oh, I don't know - we didn't make any firm plans.

Well, why don't you text him?

I'm just going to wait till I see him on the way to work.

I thought I might today, actually, but I didn't.

Not chickening out, are ya?

No!

No, no - I'm just taking things slowly.

Mmm!

THEY CHUCKLE

The only thing I don't like

is how hard it is to get the dirt from under me fingernails.

So wear gloves.

Well, I do, but sometimes, you just want to get stuck in.

So, you got many people signed up for this Walford in Bloom?

Yeah, well, Stacey, obviously. Erm...

And then there's Honey, Denise and Patrick,

oh, and the new couple next to Dot - they're up for it, as well.

Got to lot of time though, ain't they? You know, retired. Mmm.

A bottle of your finest champagne when you're ready, please, Stacey.

Hey, what's all this?

Meeting went well, I take it?

Oh, yeah. I had an asking price offer for the chippy.

And you accepted?

Well, I wouldn't be ordering champagne on a Monday if I hadn't!

JANE LAUGHS Congratulations!

Ah, you celebrating?

Ian's sold the chip shop.

Oh, nice!

So who's the buyer? They going to keep it as a chippy?

It's Weyland and Co. I'm not sure what they're going to do with it,

and to be honest, I don't care! Weyland and Co...

Where do I know that name from?

Oh, that's where Max and Lauren work, innit?

Hello.

So, I think we can get away with saying I'm having routine scans

for the next few months at the moment.

As long as you distract Lauren when she wants to come with me...

we should be able to find a way round those.

I think we can do one better than that.

What's this?

Open it.

That's a scan of P Gregory, who has an inoperable brain tumour.

Did you print this off the internet?

Looks good.

No - it's a real scan.

Just from work.

P's for Pudsey, who's a King Charles Cavalier.

A dog?

Yeah, but you assumed it was human, right?

And so will Lauren.

You really think I can get away with saying this is mine?

Oh, definitely.

They're similar enough not to make anyone suspicious.

All you've got to do is add your details to it.

You know, hospital numbers, dates and stuff...

and then we'll be laughing.

You're a genius.

Come on...

there's still lots to do.

Now...

I don't know whose idea it was

to give me the smallest room in the house,

apart from the lavatory, with a view over the back yard,

but it don't suit me, not one little scrap.

Now, you've got the whole of the upper storey,

so, I suggest that I have the front sitting room as my bedsit,

with Jim's riser in the window,

so as I can see what goes on in the world, and watch me telly,

and you could have me sofa, and the bureau in the dining room,

and then you'll have a nice little sitting room to yourselves.

And Bex - she can do her homework in it, or have her friends in,

or play her violin, as long as it ain't too loud,

and we'll all have...

Rebecca's not moving in.

What?

She's chosen to live with Martin.

Oh!

Is there anything else, Dot?

Well, a cup of tea and a biscuit'd be very welcome.

Robbie, kettle.

FRONT DOOR OPENS

FRONT DOOR CLOSES

Hey.

How was work?

I couldn't really concentrate.

Er...yeah.

Listen, come and sit down.

I'm sorry...

about earlier.

You know, not wanting to talk.

Shutting you out.

It's OK. No.

No, it's not.

You're right, you know?

If we're going to deal with this together, then...

I've got to let you in.

Be...

..completely honest.

Listen, I don't want to push you. No, it's all right.

I'm ready.

OK.

A couple of weeks ago, I hit my head at work...

SHE GASPS SOFTLY

..and my vision was a bit blurry, so I decided to go to A

They decided to give me an MRI to be on the safe side.

That's when they found it.

The tumour.

Probably why I hit my head in the first place.

Been having headaches...

dizzy spells, for weeks.

Dizzy spells?

I did tell you about them.

Oh.

Er... Thing is, babe...

Well...they think it's too dangerous to operate on.

What? At the moment.

But I'll be having regular scans, you know,

just to check that nothing's changed.

SHE SNIFFS

OK...

It's...

Apart from the dizziness and the headaches...

..are there any other symptoms that we should be managing?

No.

No, I've been lucky.

So far.

Right.

Look, I know...

that this is a lot to take in. I do.

I also, er...

HE SIGHS

Well, I didn't know if you'd want to see this or not, but, erm...

SHE GASPS

I know it's frightening.

But at least I'm not going to be going through this alone.

WHISPERS: No.

No.

SHE SIGHS

I'm going to be with you every step of the way.