28/07/2017 EastEnders

Special occasion?

-Dutch courage.

-Ah!

Well, whoever he is,

he'd be an idiot not to sweep you off your feet.

Mind you, who knows how their heads work?

Trouble?

I dunno. He hasn't even bothered to come over and say hello.

Shirley.

Fi-Fi.

Do you think she's spat in it?

What's she doing in our kitchen anyway?

-Out-of-hours favour.

-Right, I'm going for a fag!

Another one already?

You have got to make them stop. Sorry, but...

All right, I know, Abs, I know.

Every time one says one thing, the other says the opposite.

Ten minutes, I had them battling to show me

the best way of writing on the specials board.

-It's too much, Mick.

-I'm sorry.

Bit over the top?

It depends if it's for...

-..who I think it's for.

-Me! It's for me, obviously.

Spill. Or I ain't letting you leave.

You didn't really think they were ever going to get back together?

-Hey, you don't want to go and live with Dad, do you?

-No.

I just...

You miss us all being together.

Yeah, and it's the stupid stuff, Kush. It's like,

you know, if I need someone to do my bike, or...

Or when they'd force us to watch films in the living room.

Sunday lunches.

Or hey, driving back from Auntie's in Birmingham, yeah?

One of Dad's CDs blaring out.

Burgers in the services in the middle of the night.

Yeah, we was an all right family, weren't we?

Him cheating, her crying. Yeah, it was a riot, weren't it?

At least Dad took the heat off.

Well, you know that Mum's tried to sign me up

for this football holiday camp thing.

At my age. Bruv, I've got my own life going on.

Yeah.

Long, hot summer.

Girl across the road, begins with "B", ends with "ex".

Me and Bex are just good friends.

Ah, well, that, my man, is the basis for all the best relationships.

I'm so sorry, Bex.

She doesn't want to see anyone.

Not even me?

Oh.

-All right! I might be meeting someone.

-Max!

Shut up!

I told you! I knew it.

It was the right move. So he's called you?

-No!

-No?

-No.

How many you got on the go, then?

No, he... Max texted.

-Said he'd rather not.

-Texted?

Mm. Yeah. He...

He doesn't see me like that.

-Max Branning?

-Yeah.

Really?

You'll be the first woman in living memory, then.

Yeah, thanks for that.

No, um... There's this fella.

Been chatting online for a while now.

Yeah. You've never even met him.

-Right. One of the traders?

-No.

Oh, that fit new ticket inspector bloke with the stubble?

Nah, I know. the bloke at the chemist.

The one that give you the free ear buds.

I know when you're lying.

I just don't want to jinx it.

Oh!

-Do you like him?

-I don't know yet.

I am trying so hard to learn from my mistakes.

Even Masood mistook kindness for permission to try to treat me

like a doormat.

And that fit new ticket inspector,

he's got a husband.

Denise,

I've been waiting so long to meet someone who likes me for who I am.

Aw.

Aw, darling, that is so romantic.

Have you waxed?

What?! I am not about to have... MOUTHING: ..sex.

I am going to a nice restaurant for a casual dinner

with a man I am just getting to know.

Not some clandestine night of unbridled passion.

Oh, you have waxed.

You have so waxed.

My bad. She is out of order.

She's your mum, Mick.

I've been trying to break it to her all week.

Listen, you've just got to do what do you think is right.

You know, you're the landlord. Always will be.

I just really want this pub to succeed.

You know, with the craft beers, the new games machine.

We've so almost cracked it, haven't we?

I don't know, maybe...

Do you think I should take a step back for a while?

Take the pressure off?

You know, there's plenty of other people in the office

I could hand over to.

I mean, it's doing so well.

It's not as if you really need me anyway, is it?

Sentimental attachment, really. Can't help it with some places.

No. No. Don't do that, Fi.

No, I'll do it.

A middle-aged woman chewing a wasp behind a bar,

it's not a good look, is it?

Even if she is me mother.

I'll sack her tonight.

She's hardly said two words, Bex. To any of us.

I think it's all starting to sink in, you know.

About how long it's all going to take and...

how it's going to look.

Fighting the demons.

Depressed.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think she might be depressed.

So many challenges, and now...

evil rears his ugly head again.

You mean Alexandra and Madison?

I just...

I just want to see her happy and smiling again.

You know, if she was well enough I'd take her to a theme park or...

or shopping in Paris for a week,

or maybe just to the seaside for a couple of days in Westcliff.

Yeah, she used to love that when she was little.

Did she ever tell you about the time when she refused to get out

the rock pools?

The tide was coming in.

It was coming right in, she was... She was getting soaked.

I had to pick her up...pick her up and carry her off.

It was her favourite place when she was six.

So peaceful.

Safe.

You should write it down.

Yeah, write it down.

The Mayside Hotel.

Cos it's right near Southend. Just... Just mention my name

if you and your bloke ever want to go on holiday.

I don't have a bloke.

I've got an idea.

Maybe...

Whatever you and Joyce said to Dot earlier, she seems so much happier.

-I owe you a drink.

-Oh, jolly good.

I'll have a pint, please, and I'll tell you all about it,

-word for word.

-Oh, good.

-There you go, my darling. Get that down you.

-Cheers.

Madison and Alexandra have been expelled from Walford High.

Good. They got what they deserved.

Are you happy about that?

It's not exactly a victory, is it?

Louise has paid such a high price.

I mean, she was just at the start.

Had the world at her feet. You know, first boyfriend.

Scouted for modelling. Now, I might not be Louise's mum but honestly,

I'd rather it was me.

Save her all the upset.

I'm really sorry to bother you.

You don't know me.

RELAXING PIANO MUSIC

-Ms Kazemi?

-Ooh!

Do I know you?

Mr Branning is already at your table, madam.

Right.

Lovely hotel.

He told me to look out for the most beautiful woman in the room.

Oh! I don't think so.

I mean, I'm sure I'm not anything special.

Mind you, the wife can talk for England, bless her.

My fishfingers'll be defrosting, Ted.

Suffice to say our son saved us enough on his

comparetheprice.com

for a three-night caravan holiday in Clacton.

Off-peak. Platinum. That's what swung it.

I'd say, without fear of contradiction, that Mrs Branning

is definitely veering towards giving you her power of attorney.

I can't stand here chatting all day. Sorry!

Window boxes do not water themselves.

Yeah, I should have treated her better.

You know, I'm not saying Tanya was a saint.

You know, I think we just brought out the worst in each other.

Plus I used to chase the thrill.

I was a risk taker.

I wasn't faithful. I couldn't help myself.

What have you done to me?

-Hm?

-You know, I've talked more in the last ten minutes

than I have in the last ten years.

You can tell me anything, Max.

What changed?

Prison.

Prison changed me.

I just saw things from the other side.

Just felt what it was like

when people let you down and betrayed your trust.

You know, and then on top of that if you can't trust the system,

you ain't got any basic justice. There's no-one you can turn to.

I mean, no-one listens to a con inside who's claiming

they're innocent, do they?

Whatever this is, Carmel,

me and you... You've got to understand that I was banged up.

I lost it.

I lost hope.

I was locked up.

Just locked in here.

Come here.

At least I worked out who my friends were.

You came out the other side.

Yeah.

Yeah, I just stopped wasting time.

I wised up.

I worked out what was actually important.

We can have one drink, babe.

Yeah, I know you like to get out.

Well, you go and sit down, then.

-I'm

-not

-sulking, Stace.

I'm just saying that, you know, we should be sharing this.

You know, you ought to tell me, really,

rather than keeping me in the dark.

It's a big deal, you know, getting a letter for a scan.

-I did tell you!

-No. You didn't tell me. And I'll tell you why,

cos I found the letter from the hospital this morning by accident

with some chewing gum wrapped round it,

-stuffed down the back of the sofa.

-Oh, that must be Lily.

I don't know where she's getting it from.

I just want to be there, Stace.

I want to be with you by your side every...every step of the way.

Do you? You sure about that?

Because actually I was just having a little rethink,

and I think that when the time comes, I might just take myself off

and squat in a bush on my own.

I forgot!

All right, Martin? I forgot. And I'll tell you why,

because I'm working all day and then I'm working all night

and then I'm sat bolt upright with heartburn while some little person

dances all over my bladder and you're snoring your head off.

I am fat, Martin. And I am knackered.

And hormonal?

Probably j...

Do you know what, I should probably just...

Say sorry?

Go home?

Relieve your sister of baby-sitting the kids that we've already got?

Tell you what, you could run me a nice little bubble bath?

Yes, that's a good idea.

I'm sorry.

All right? You...

sexy bird-with-the-curves.

-You're an idiot.

-Right.

-Nothing is as certain as you think, is it?

-No.

-No, it can get lonely.

-No...

Maybe a little bit.

I don't know.

In the middle of it all, small kids, heart of the family...

..can't imagine it ever slowing down or being any different.

It's only when you get up this end...

..you start realising what a short amount of time

being a hands-on mum actually is.

You must have enjoyed it, though.

Oh, yeah, I enjoyed it.

Climbing on your lap, the hugs and their dear little faces.

Even the sleepless nights and the dirty football kits.

Maybe I shouldn't have prioritised my kids quite as much as I did.

Anyway.

Anyway. Onwards and upwards, Max.

Yeah.

Yeah, job at the council, I mean... That's got to be interesting.

Yeah!

Yeah.

I might miss my babies, but when you're not dashing back

for the three o'clock school pick-up, you start to realise

there is a whole life to live.

Anything is possible.

Anything.

Authentic my eye.

Your mate Fi is a grade-A, nine-carat manipulating witch.

Who YOU brought in, Mum, let's not forget that.

And who's on the other side of that wall,

both her earholes are working. Can you keep it down, please?

SHOUTING: Vision of the Vic? It's a sell-out, Mick.

-It's a joke.

-Can we talk about next week's shifts?

-Yes!

I was just about to get to that.

This place, Mick.

It was never my dream.

It was yours.

And it was Linda's.

And me...

Well, you know what, Mick? I've had enough.

I don't want to work here any more.

You're a partner, though. I don't know.

It wouldn't feel right, without you behind the bar.

Come on, Mick. Don't over-egg it.

If you had the choice between me and Fi-flipping-Fi...

No-one's driven you out here, OK?

No-one's driving me anywhere.

This is my home.

And I do what I like.

And you make that crystal clear, Mick,

to Lady Rod-up-her-jacksy, right?

Right.

And I've got some more info on this parental responsibility thing

for Louie.

-Yeah, I know you wanted to get on with it.

-OK.

And...

I've booked our wedding reception.

-What?

-September.

Where?

OK, so, um... We're getting married in September?

-It's too rushed, isn't it?

-Um...

I know.

I know, the bride usually gets at least a year to plan everything.

Pick the venue, plan the dress.

Look, I'm sorry. OK? I'm just being selfish.

No, don't be stupid.

It's just...

I've got to be brave like you.

I've got to get my head around all this.

Yes.

Of course it's a yes.

I cannot wait to marry you in September.

-There you go.

-Thanks.

-I would invite you back for a coffee.

-Yeah?

Yeah, but I got a really early start. My studio flat...

..it's more bedsit than penthouse.

All my money went on fighting the conviction.

Right.

Seriously, it ain't been decorated since the '60s.

I got the kitchen in the bedroom,

can't open the window properly and...

I can't remember the last time I had hot water.

No. Completely.

I'm more of a green tea sort of person, anyway.

Anyway, we can't go back to yours.

You know, your son's there.

And the Square, it's full of gossips.

Don't want to risk that, do we?

No.

I'll get you a cab.

OK.

Unless...

What you doing for the rest of the night?

One to ten, how bad is it?

Do you want me to do your drugs?

Do you want to eat now? Do you need the loo?

Louise...

Don't get cross, I know Sharon ain't going to like this, but...

I've got a little surprise for you.

No! Mum, how could you? For God's sake!

I thought you'd be pleased.

Why are you doing this? Please. Don't let him see me...

He's been waiting outside for you to wake up.

-We had to get special permission.

-Mum...

DOOR OPENS Louise?

You can't turn him away now, darling.

You want to see him and all, don't you?

I'm...

I'm not as young as I used to be.

Wrinkle-wise.

Look at me.

You're beautiful.

I was going to get you flowers but I felt stupid.

And I went online and apparently you're not even allowed flowers

in hospitals.

And Mum said that you're not going to be in that long, so...

And I thought that you might not want to see me.

Look, this is all my fault.

The candles and...

-Look, I'm really, really sorry.

-No.

-Please don't look at me.

-But I miss you.

And you're OK. So everything's all right, Louise.

-You look OK.

-Don't.

Don't feel sorry for me.

Don't say stuff you don't mean.

You don't owe me out of guilt, Travis, all right?

So why don't you just...

Just go away.

Well...

in the end I got these...

There's one each...cos...

All that you've gone through...

What I mean is...

that I love you.

Promise rings.

-Well done.

-TEXT MESSAGE ALERT

Mum wants me home before the last bus.

Yeah, course she does.

Yes, you must...

Very tired.

Listen to Mum.

Do what she tells you.

Couldn't be clearer.

Oh...

Are you OK?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm fine. I was just drifting away.

But I'm back now.

You got to leave the bad behind, Bex. Stamp it out.

Just stamp it out.

Treasure the good ones.

You've gone above and beyond on your night off, sweetheart.

Thanks.

-Night.

-Goodnight.

Mum?

Mum?

Martin?

My lady.

Babe, I'm home.

-Did you remember to send her the text?

-Yeah, of course.

-Did you have fun?

-I could murder a proper drink.

LIQUID POURS

Poor baby.

Thirsty work.