24/07/2017 EastEnders

What are you doing here?

I'm her mum, Sharon.

Sonia called me.

She had Louise's bag, but I...

Did she, now?

BABY CRIES

He's so grizzly tonight.

I don't know how you can do that.

Act so normal. Be so brave.

Let me see if I can go settle him again, yeah?

How are you?

She's on morphine.

Sorry, you are...?

Bex. Rebecca.

Oh, yeah, Sonia's... Yeah.

I had no idea she was calling her.

You've got a nerve!

I just couldn't believe it. When I heard...

Not a word. A year and a half.

Get her out.

-I'm here for Louise.

-Well, she doesn't need you.

-MARTIN:

-Bex.

-Dad!

All right?

You came quick.

You had no right! Hasn't Louise been through enough?

-She's her mum.

-You unlocked her phone.

What, YOU rang her?

It was in her "in case of emergency" numbers.

What were you thinking?

Look, when you have a kid, you'll get it.

Know what? Maybe we should... You should go home, eh?

-I want to stay.

-It's OK.

I think we should let Louise get some rest, eh?

-SHARON:

-Yeah, go on, darling. Look, it's late.

I'll look after Lou for you.

I'll come back tomorrow, yeah?

-MARTIN:

-And if there is anything that we can do...

Come on.

Haven't you done enough?

If it was you, you'd want to know.

Thank you.

Are you... You OK for a few more minutes?

Yeah, course.

-How's Shaki?

-He's really shaken up.

Look, if you...

If you need to go...

I'm doing the washing up.

I'll be upstairs.

Didn't work out in Florida, then?

Can I get you something?

-I'll get it.

-Glass of water?

Look, I'm not trying to pick a fight,

-but why don't you just go...

-So, where is he?

Phil? While his daughter, his precious daughter...

He's in Italy.

I leave my daughter with him...

No, you didn't. You just left.

..and he goes swanning off to Italy...

He had a liver transplant. He nearly died.

Oh, but he's well enough to go on holiday without his daughter...

-He's recuperating!

-Sounds like a holiday to me, Sharon!

You abandoned her for some new man!

-That's what she told you, is it?

-You do not get to judge.

Louise needs quiet.

Yeah, sorry.

Can I...? Can I have...?

For the pain?

-Could you just give us a moment?

-Actually, I'm her mum.

Oh, I thought...

Well, you thought wrong.

Stay.

Yeah. OK.

Why don't you go home and come back tomorrow, Lisa? Mm?

I... I really do need to...

I'll wait outside.

When do you think you might be able to start treatment?

I told you. It's watch and wait, isn't it?

I'm talking about chemo and stuff. Days? Weeks?

Babe, we have to accept treatment might not work.

Yeah, well, you're going to get better.

-It's going to be hard.

-Yeah, I know.

And we're going to need help.

Louie's enough of a handful as it is...

Now, come on, we have talked about this.

I think we should tell Ian.

No, Lauren. OK, look, this is my decision...

I don't think I can do this on my own.

When my mum had cancer, that was when the drinking spiralled.

Look, if you don't think that you can do this, then...

I just can't believe this is actually happening.

Do you want to leave?

Look, if you just want to take Louie and go, then I understand.

It's a big ask, and I wouldn't ask it of just anyone.

No, I'm... I'm here.

I'm here, I'm not...

-Yeah, yeah, I'll be here.

-Stay strong, yeah?

Tell her...

-Give her my love.

-Thanks. I need to call Denny. Bye.

What is it?

What's happened?

I'm sure no news is good news.

-You don't know that.

-PHONE RINGS

-Hi. Hi, how's the...?

-Lisa's here.

-Lisa?!

-Don't ask. Is Denny in bed yet?

No, no, he's still up.

-How's Louise?

-It's not looking great.

I can't talk for long. Can I talk to Denny?

Yeah, yeah, course. It's your mum.

-Mum?

-Hi, darling.

FRONT DOOR CLOSES

-Just heard.

-Heard what?

Louise.

What's happened?

She was at the school prom, her dress has caught fire,

and she's been badly burnt.

She's been taken to hospital, Martin just told me.

Is she going to be all right?

She's just so young. I mean, she could've died.

Thanks for mine.

Yeah. It's just a little headache.

-Do you need anything?

-No, I don't do pills.

What did the nurse say?

Not much. She just wanted to make sure Lou was comfortable.

Give her more pain relief.

I just can't believe this has happened.

My little girl.

If you're looking for comfort...

Don't flatter yourself, Sharon.

What have the doctors said?

-I just told you...

-I meant earlier.

She's having a skin graft tomorrow. She could be scarred for life.

How did it happen? I mean, Sonia said the prom?

All I know is her dress went up in flames.

Why? Was she smoking?

Two girls did it. On purpose.

Why?

You really don't know anything, do you?

I bet when Sonia called, you said, "Louise who?"

No, I got what I need. All right, I'll see you soon.

-I'm so sorry that took so long.

-That's all right. Don't be silly.

You didn't have to dry it!

Least I could do.

-Right...

-So, where were we?

-I should make a move.

-No, no, it's OK. I'm...

I'm all yours now.

Sorry.

That's all right. We'll do this another time.

Kids come first, don't they?

See you later.

Erm...

Thanks for coming.

-It's been fun.

-Has it? I mean, yeah. It has.

Most of it.

-Ring me?

-Yeah, course.

Or text. Texting's fine.

-Night, then.

-Night.

No text, no messages.

You've got no idea what's been happening for me.

Some new man waltzes into your life

and suddenly that's all that matters.

She's spent most of her life with me, Sharon!

You helped me get her back!

Yeah, well, do you know what? I wish I hadn't.

So much has been going on. I wanted to call.

Did you run out of minutes?

You walked away from your daughter!

And now I'm back.

Well, she doesn't want you. You saw her.

Still think you're better than everyone, don't you?

There's not a day goes by when I don't speak to my son.

Then why don't you go now and look after him?

-He's being looked after.

-Me and Phil'll take care of Louise.

Oh, no, that's right, Phil ain't here.

Well, you're lucky he isn't.

-She's my daughter, Sharon. Not yours.

-And?

And I don't want you anywhere near her.

Tough.

I'm her legal next of kin.

So why are you walking away again?

Cos I'm going to go and find someone to get you thrown out!

-Right, I'm going to go through.

-Night-night, Dad. Sleep well.

You OK?

You know, one minute they're running around,

causing you headaches.

Dad, come on.

And the next, your whole world's just changed.

I mean, it takes one moment, one flash of anger,

one split-second decision, and you can't turn it back.

Dad, don't go there.

Look, you try and do everything you can to protect your kids.

To keep them safe from the world. But it's never enough.

-It wasn't your fault.

-No, I know.

I just keep thinking, if I'd done this,

or if I'd done that, and... I don't know.

Look, having you come back here with Lauren and little Louie -

I know he's not actually yours - but...

Look, having this time with you again, getting to know you again,

having a second chance...

Look, I haven't heard from Peter in, I don't know how long, months.

So...

Look, I should've made more of it on Father's Day.

Cos having you here, it...

It means the world to me.

'Scuse me!

I'm her stepmum. She lives with me and Phil.

You're nothing to her. In the eyes of the law...

-You really want to go there?

-'Scuse me!

I will tell them everything you've ever done. Every little thing.

Then they'll ask Louise who she wants here.

I'm her mum!

Yeah, and you know who she's going to choose.

Is your dad going to come back?

Sharon doesn't want to tell him till things are clearer.

Well, she's his daughter!

Sharon thinks he's only just really got back on his feet.

She can't just not tell him! If that was me...

Well, it ain't, is it?!

Look, are you sure you want to go down there?

Sharon said I won't be able to see her. Not till morning.

Right, so where are you going?

No. Ben, no...

Listen, you just wait till I find them!

-They're girls!

-The police are dealing with it.

-Yeah, they're also 15!

-I mean, come on. After last time?

I thought she was your sister, too.

Yeah, she is. And you're my brother.

She's in the best place.

I still can't believe you called her.

-Lou needs her mum.

-We talked about this.

Just like you did, when you were being bullied.

No, I chose to call you! It's not the same.

If she had her mum in her phone as her emergency contact,

she must have wanted her.

Look, son, it's getting a bit late, innit?

She needed to know.

Try not to think about it.

I knew what they were like.

Everything they did to me...

No-one's blaming you. You've told everyone, right from the start.

If I made them listen...

But, look, you couldn't've stopped this.

Yeah, you didn't know that they were going to take it this far.

Nobody did.

I just keep seeing her...

Bex, you are not responsible for this.

This is not your fault.

How long you been back?

Nearly five years.

And you come back for Phil?

I was going to marry someone. But I realised I didn't want him.

I needed a bit of help.

And good old Phil was there!

Well, you always go back to where you feel safest, don't you?

-And you been with him ever since?

-No.

No, I was supposed to marry someone else, but...

What happened to that what's-her-name that Lou

said he was with? Erm...

Shirley?

She shot him.

On our wedding day. He clearly has that effect on women.

Never been tempted yourself?

Plenty of times. Trust me.

So, the liver thing.

Did he really nearly die?

You know Phil. Nine lives.

Can't have many left.

And is he on his way back?

He doesn't know.

He's recovering. I'll call him tomorrow.

You always did wear the trousers.

You have no idea what we've gone through, Lisa.

Everything you said, about me walking out on Louise...

-Look, we both said a lot of things.

-It's true. All of it.

I chose a man over my daughter.

What kind of mother does that?

Louise made the choice for you...

No, she didn't. She just made it easier.

She knew where all my time and my attention was.

That's why she chose her dad.

I should've come to talk to her.

Talk to him, work something out.

But I was just so exhausted by everything.

Lou going felt like one less thing on my plate.

At least I left her believing she was with her dad.

Phil swanned off to Italy leaving Lou with some woman she hardly knew.

No, it wasn't like that! Lou knew her.

She weren't with you, was she? You went with him. To Italy.

-He needed care.

-And he didn't think to tell me?

Look, it all happened so quickly, Lisa.

-So, where's Lou been?

-Michelle was with her.

Who?

-Mark's sister. Your old in-law.

-I've never even met her myself.

So, hang on a minute, you leave my daughter with some total stranger,

take your kid to Italy with Phil, and...

Oh. You didn't take him either?

Him and Louise were at school.

The kid you never go a day without talking to?

Not easy, is it, Sharon?

Balancing children with the men we love.

Nearly 11.

-Will Mum be home soon?

-She'll be here in the morning.

Tell her to come in and see me.

Yeah, course I will.

Louise'll be OK.

It'll all be OK.

This is going to break him.

You think I don't know that?

Losing Lucy. Losing Peter.

He hasn't lost Peter.

-Losing Bobby.

-Bobby will be back.

Can you stop acting like everything's going to be OK?

You said it yourself -

we have to accept that you might not even get better.

Lauren, please, not now, all right?

There's never going to be a good time.

And with every day that passes, it's just going to get worse.

Dad will be OK.

He won't, though.

-I

-won't.

I just wish this wasn't happening. I wish...

I wish that it wasn't true.

-You don't think

-I

-do?

This is just such a mess.

It's not like I chose this to happen.

What am I going to say to Louie?

Louie... He's too young to remember any of this.

But he won't be forever.

When he's older, what... He's not going to have Peter.

This isn't about Peter!

Look, whatever we're going through, we're going through as a family.

Come on, we're just going round in circles.

No, we need to tell Ian and Jane.

You just said it will break him!

OK, so maybe we'll tell Jane first...

No, Lauren. OK, I'm not having this conversation.

You're not going to be able to keep this quiet.

OK, what about when you start having treatment, Steven, or...?

One day at a time, please?

No-one ever tells you how hard it's going to be.

Get pregnant. Everyone's excited.

No-one says you're going to spend the rest of your life worried sick.

Would anyone ever have kids if they did?

I thought you couldn't have children.

Yeah, so did I. He's a miracle baby.

Glad for you.

Well, you do know he was Dennis'?

Peggy told me.

-And you know that he died before Denny was...?

-Yeah, I heard.

I thought that losing him - that was the hardest.

I loved him so much.

You know, suddenly you're all alone and pregnant, and...

all you want to do is hide, you know, make the whole world stop,

but then, Denny came along, and you just keep on going.

Suddenly there's this tiny little thing,

not knowing anything about anything, and you're all they've got.

I remember that feeling.

You chose to go it alone.

To try to cut Phil out of it.

Phil never wanted me, Sharon.

He only ever wanted Louise. And Ben.

You still could have had him in your life, in hers.

Me - I had no choice.

I used to wish I'd died there, too.

Lying in that road with Dennis, little Denny never born.

But you deal with what you've got, don't you?

And the pain, it passes with time.

But still, they're there, needing you.

Doesn't matter how old they are, how grown up they start to seem.

He fights with me all the time.

Me and Lou never stopped.

Well, you're not alone.

I know what Louise is like when she gets an idea in her head.

And I used to fight with my mum.

That's what kids do, isn't it?

Thinking they know best, knowing that really they don't.

All we want to do is protect them.

Stop anything bad happening to them.

Look at her, Lisa.

She's so young, beautiful.

So full of life and excitement.

Do you know she's got a boyfriend?

Has she?

Mm. He's a nice enough lad.

Well, you remember what it's like. All that excitement.

Yeah. Like you're the only person that's ever felt like that before.

They had so many things they were going to do this summer.

She had so many plans for her future.

It's not over, though, is it?

Well, that's what we've got to persuade her.

Cos right now, she is scared.

Did they really say she might be scarred?

Well, skin graft tomorrow,

but I don't think there's a "might be" about it.

But her face looks OK?

Small mercy. Her chest's got third-degree burns.

But we are going to help her through this. All of us.

We are going to help her come to terms with it.

Be strong for her. All of us. Together.

If you sign up for this...

I will call Phil.

And I'll try to persuade him.

He won't want me anywhere near her.

She don't even want me herself.

She's going to need every bit of help she can get.

Phil'll see that.

But if you can't step up and be there,

then you walk, and you keep on walking.

No more messing that girl about.

If you're going to go, then go for good.

Hey.

I've been thinking about what you said.

About wishing this wasn't happening. None of it was true.

And I've been thinking about what you said about us

going through this as a family.

Yeah, look, I know you don't want to tell them...

Look, I always thought I would have kids of my own one day.

And I know now that that's not going to happen.

But having Louie...

..it's been as good as having my own.

You, me and him, this past year...

And the thought of...

Well, it's like what you said, isn't it? About what do you tell him?

Well, I want him to know that I always wanted him.

I want him to know that I never wanted to leave him like this.

I want - before I die...

I want us to be a proper family.

I want to adopt him, Lauren.

I want to be his dad.

Hey.

Hi. How you feeling?

Can I get you anything?

Like you care.

I'm your mum. Of course I care.

Louise, darling...

I just want my dad.

Yeah, I know, sweetheart. But right now, you've got us.

And I love you. And I ain't about to walk away.

PHONE RINGS

Ben? What is it?