25/12/2017 EastEnders

CREAKING

LETTERBOX RATTLES

WHISPERS: Merry Christmas.

We can't.

This is mad. This is mad. What am I doing?

-I love you, Stacey.

-I'm making the tea.

-Did you hear what I said to you?

-Do you want one?

Stacey, I love you.

No, you don't, Max.

You're just sad and unhappy.

And last night was wrong.

No. It was right.

It's the only right thing that's happened to me in years.

Stace, listen to me, I love you.

I've missed you all these years...

This, this just feels like I've come home again.

Don't you feel like that?

Just a bit?

No.

No, I've got a family, Max.

I've got little kids, I've got a baby.

I know all that. I'm not saying that I like it.

You don't like it!

It's Christmas, Max.

In a couple of hours we're going to be opening presents

and eating dinner. What do you want me to do?

I know. I know.

Family...I know family's important.

I feel the same way about my girls.

Yeah? How's that working out?

Well, it is going to work out.

It is. I'm feeling clearer, Stace, I can see a way forward.

You were right, what you said. All that stuff about Ian and Phil.

None of that matters any more.

It's just you.

All I want is to spend time with you.

You're mine.

You're mine. I've known it since the first time I saw you.

Your bare little feet on the Square. Do you remember?

And you knew it.

There's your tea.

Tell me you feel the same.

No.

I, Mick Carter, will always... always be faithful...

Ohh...

Not good, is it?

I, Mick Carter,

I promise to...

KNOCK ON DOOR Mick? What are you doing?

I'm just doing my vows, babe. I'm finessing them.

Um, how are you getting on?

Finished.

Just trying to learn them off by heart, but there's so much.

-Yeah.

-DOOR HANDLE RATTLES

-Do you want to let me in?

-Well, I'm mid-flow.

Well, what about presents?

Do you want to do them before lunch, after lunch...

..before the vows, after the vows?

It's up to you, babe, really.

It's your call.

I, Mick Carter...

What time you going to your mum's?

-After lunch.

-That'll be nice, won't it? See your granny.

Other granny. Not your dad.

-Done that one.

-Have you? I tell you,

I'm going to miss you, my little helper.

-You've been a big help.

-He'll be back tomorrow.

Listen, I need to finish off some Christmas wrapping,

so can you watch him?

Yeah, course I will.

-I've finished it now.

-What do you want?

-I've finished it now.

-Have you done them all for me?

-Can you do that one for me? Oh, that one's smelly.

-No...

MUSIC: Lonely This Christmas by Elvis Presley

Oh, thermal vests. Thanks, Martin.

There's three in there.

They're hard wearing, but I thought, why not stock up

while they're cheap? Makes sense, doesn't it?

Yeah, he's right.

I've got to pop out and see Abi and Lauren, got presents for them.

Babe, he's definitely going tonight, yeah?

Yeah, yeah. Definitely. If not, first thing tomorrow.

Stace, I think I'm going to head over there now,

help Linda with the thingy.

-Oh, all right.

-Where's this come from?

Through the door.

Oh, nice. Someone's found it and brought it back.

-Christmas spirit is alive and well, then.

-PHONE BEEPS

Oh, Stace, you've got messages, loads.

-What are you doing?

-I've got to charge my phone.

All right.

I got you a present.

What do you want, Dad?

I just wanted to say sorry.

Give you this.

You not going to open it?

I'll do it later.

As you can see, we're a bit light on the present front.

It's just a bit silly. It's a bit tacky, that's all.

Just reminded me of a special time.

Oh, Dad, please don't give me one of your lines.

It's not a line.

It just reminded me of your first-ever Christmas.

You, me, Lauren sat on the sofa...

..and your mum was by the Christmas tree, taking photos.

Tiny. The pair of you.

It was the first time, first time I ever thought,

this is it, I've made it.

I'm going to have a good, normal life. Just like anyone else.

-Didn't quite work out like that, though, did it?

-No.

No, obviously I underestimated what a nut job I am.

Still, that's my problem, not yours.

Listen, I just want you to know that I love you very much.

More than anything.

You and Lauren.

And all that stuff that happened...

..it was like a madness.

Dad, I cannot do this now. I just can't.

I want a peaceful day.

Just go over the Vic with my mates and then go back to Mum's.

Why don't you come and see me at Martin and Stacey's?

Please, why don't you just pop in, have a mince pie?

I mean, you like mince pies, don't you?

Look, I've got plans.

And I've really got to get on.

I'm sorry.

Look, I probably should warn you, I got Lauren the same thing.

So don't be disappointed. Cos I know what you're like about presents.

CHILDREN LAUGH AND SHOUT

Go on! He's beating you.

Right, come on.

Oh.

Yeah, that's nice. Is it silk?

Erm...

It's silk-ish, you know. Babe, I went a bit mad on you.

There's loads down there, so the quality might be a little bit...

Oh, don't be silly. I don't mind.

Anyway, you're my present. BANGING ON DOOR

-You all are.

-This one ain't got a label on it.

-Ooh, exciting!

-How do you know it's for you?

Well, he just said, he's gone to town.

Time's up. Let's get going.

Punters are here.

All right, I'll open up.

Put your suit on, then.

What? Already?

Your Santa suit, you idiot. For the kids.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, lovely.

There we go, Mum.

Oh, look at that! That looks lovely.

BANGING ON DOOR

You need to go. Now.

I want to see Lauren, please.

You tried to kill my son.

Do you think I'm going to let you take a step inside this house?

I want to apologise about all that.

Go away. Go away or I'll call the police.

I'm sorry, all right? I want to put it all behind us, what happened.

Dad, what are you doing here?!

Lauren, can I talk to you for a second, please?

I'm going to call the police.

No, don't. Please. Let me deal with him.

Please?

Merry Christmas. Just wanted to give you this.

Look, I'm sorry about what happened, Lauren.

You should never have had to see me like that.

Dad, I think you need help.

Professional help.

I don't think you're well.

I'm fine. It's OK.

-Dad...

-You ain't got to worry about me, all right?

It's all going to be OK.

I just...

I just don't want you to hate me, that's all.

I don't hate you.

I don't...

DOOR OPENS

I want you gone. Now.

I'll leave it here.

I got the same thing for Abi.

It's crap, really.

Dad...

You all right?

Come on in. It's cold.

Here he is. What time's it all kicking off, then?

You better ask the sergeant major. She's in charge.

Right...

Hey!

Single malt. Drop of water, please.

I don't think you're on the guest list, mate.

Who wants presents?

CHILDREN SHOUT OUT

Come on, I've got lots in here.

-Only one each.

-There you go. Do you want that one?

All right, load me up.

Well, lend a hand, then. No freeloaders here, mate.

You OK?

Oi, take something in.

Stace...

DOORBELL RINGS

Max? You got a visitor.

Properly... I, Mick Carter...

Shirley says you're on. Now.

All right, babe. OK. Thank you.

I'll...

Mick, I couldn't use your bog upstairs, could I?

Only the gents is flooded.

I think you might have a moody ballcock.

Yeah, go on.

-I suppose I'm going to have to fix that now.

-Come on.

Yes, the Queen Victoria pub. Albert Square.

Thank you.

What are you, a bit dim?

I told you you're not welcome here.

I got you a present.

Oh, thank you, that's lovely. But if you don't mind...

You don't believe me?

Excuse me, love.

Did I or did I not leave a present here yesterday?

Oh, yeah, yeah, he did. I put it upstairs, under the tree.

Just finish your drink and go.

Don't you want to know what it is?

Yeah. What is it?

A gun.

But I felt duty bound to report it to the police

that you had a firearm on the premises.

A loaded firearm.

Funny.

That was them just now.

In my experience, you have about ten minutes tops before they arrive

when there's a weapon involved.

I don't believe you.

No? Press redial. Go on.

LINE RINGS

Police operator. How can I help you?

Mick, what are you doing? Come on.

-Chop chop!

-Hello?

About seven now, if you're lucky.

Right, listen up, everyone!

This area down here is where they're going to do their vows.

CHEERING

Beginning in five minutes.

Well done.

Look at this.

Who is it?

So, that's me. That's my sister. That's my dad.

It was a present.

Told you it was stupid.

Oh, no, I love it.

Look at these.

Want to swap mine?

How about you? Do you want to swap? Yeah?

I'll model them first. Look. Worth a lot of money, these are.

-You can have those.

-Dad... Dad, it kicked!

-That's good.

-Yeah.

Eat your sprouts, right.

I don't like sprouts.

Yeah, but these are my sprouts, all right? I grew these myself.

How are these different? Did you grow the parsnips?

No, no, I bought those. Just try the sprouts.

You bought the parsnips?

You all right, Stace?

Yeah. Yeah.

Just happy.

Just happy it's Christmas.

-What are you doing?

-What? Oh, nothing, babe.

You ain't even changed.

Mick!

You're hilarious, you, ain't you?

I'm meant to be renewing my wedding vows in a minute.

This isn't a joke. Listen.

SIRENS APPROACH

Yeah, well, it's a brick not a shooter.

Maybe the shooter's elsewhere. What do you reckon?

Would I do that to you, eh?

Why?

It's a question of respect.

And you showed none.

Where is it? Where is it?

I'm very partial to smoky bacon crisps. Get me some.

Your fingerprints. 15 years.

I tell you something...

Hiya. Is Mick Carter here?

Mick, are you going to get changed, or what?

Sir?

I've got to... Let me dump this.

Mr Carter?

Lovely bit of bog roll you've got there, Mick.

-Whoa, whoa, whoa.

-Go and give it to Phil.

-What?!

-Take it. Please. Please go. Go, go!

Mr Carter?

Billy?

You reported a disturbance. Drunk and disorderly.

A knife.

A knife?

No, I ain't. Not me. No harm done. Everything's sweet in here.

It's all lovely.

Why don't we have a little Christmas drink and all that, eh?

Well, we're on duty.

Have a drink, go on.

You look hungry. Do you want something?

Listen, there's plenty of grub over there if you want a bit of...

Tina, come and help this lot... mob out.

Get them a nice bit of grub. Sausages here.

Have what you want.

Why are the police here?

I've no idea. It's nothing to do with me.

Who is it to do with? That Aidan?

No.

No, right, let's get this over with, eh?

Get it over with?

No, I mean, I'm going to go and get changed, babe.

I won't be a minute.

Ooh!

-I'll do that.

-No, it's all right. Take that.

-Sorry...

Stace...you were right.

Me being here.

So I'm going to go.

I'll probably stay at Abi's.

I do.

Do what?

I feel the same.

I'll make you happy. Really happy. I promise.

No, you won't...but I don't care.

Where's the brandy?

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

-Who is that?

-Sounded like your mum. But it just went dead.

You've got loads of messages on here.

Yes, I know, I haven't had time. I'll ring her back.

Come on.

Least we can do is give 'em a good Christmas.

THUNDER RUMBLES

WIND WHISTLES

CHATTER AND LAUGHTER

Hiya. You all right?

Merry Christmas, Billy.

-Merry Christmas, Sharon.

-I'll see you... Mwah! ..in a bit.

All right. See you in a bit.

What?

Look, I've had one too many.

So, best watch out for my wandering hands.

Nothing changes, then, eh? Where's my lovely grandson?

I've been dying to get my hands on him.

I tell you, that boy, he has saved me these last couple of months.

-He really has.

-That's nice, yeah. It must have been really hard for you,

with Steven and...

And Jane, yeah.

Yeah, well, look, I should make a move...

Have you heard from her at all?

Jane? I mean, you and her, you were close.

Come on, then.

Hello, darlin'.

-Oh, look!

-Sorry, Mum, I didn't realise you were here.

Here he is. Hello!

Look at the size of you.

I'm not leaving it this long again. Where's Abi?

Um... She's... She's with Dad.

What?

At Martin and Stacey's.

Well, call her. Call her now.

-I have.

-Call her again.

Sorry about this, but we are going to have to go.

It's a bit of a drive, you understand.

So, you said your goodbyes?

It's only for a night, ain't it?

Eh?

Lauren's moving to Glasgow. With her boyfriend.

HUBBUB

Right, I'm here.

Do you actually want to do this?

What?

Of course.

HUBBUB SUBSIDES

Today, we're here to celebrate Mick and Linda's wedding...

..and to renew their marriage vows.

Linda, you want to say something?

Yeah, yeah, thank you.

Mick and I, um, we...

..we both wanted... before we leave this pub...

..which has been our home,

to share with you, our friends...

We both...

We...

I'm sorry. I had a whole speech.

I'd like to say a few things.

I had a speech, an' all. Well, I had a line.

I had a line that I wrote on a bit of paper in the khazi.

Um...

I'd like to say...

Well, um...

You're all I want.

You know, like, now. For ever.

Cos there's nothing that compares to...

We should never be apart.

You know, all this - the vows and the ceremony, it don't mean nothing.

Not really.

Cos I love you just like I did when I first laid my eyes on you.

And...I love you.

And I fancy you.

LAUGHTER

A lot.

So...

Ah!

APPLAUSE

Really? What?

CHEERING

Oi, oi, X-rated.

Whatever happened to the Queen's Speech and The Great Escape?

Mother, I love you

and you're a doll.

Drinks are on the house.

CHEERING

Merry Christmas.

I'm sure you can go and visit, or they can come down here.

It's, like, 1,000 miles away.

Don't worry, I'm not going.

What?

I'm not going to Glasgow. I'm staying here.

No, no, no, no, you've made a decision, you stick to it.

No, hold on, hold on, hear her out.

Well, she can't stay here cos of you, Ian.

You ain't even family.

Mum! It's not because of Ian.

Well, what, then?

It's Dad. He's not well. I'm worried about him.

I don't think it's safe to leave him here on his own.

Not safe?

No, he's fragile.

I'm staying here until Dad's sorted.

Otherwise I'm afraid of what he'll do.

Call Abi again.

-She's not picking up!

-Fine. Go and get your bags.

-All of them, cos we're going, and you ain't coming back.

-Mum!

No. Don't worry about your father. I'll put him straight.

He's not making me do anything!

Lauren, you don't know what he's capable of.

You don't know what he's done, and I do. I do.

So I'm going to go over there, I'm going to get Abi, I'm going to

bring her home, where she can have her baby and be safe.

And you and Louie, you are going to Glasgow, right? You're going to

get away from this place, a fresh start, away from your father and...

Do you understand? Do you...understand?

Get packed. I'll be back in five.

Yeah.

Mum, look, I've got to go, I've got loads of hungry kids to feed.

Yeah. I promise.

All right. Love you too.

Martin wanted you. Something to do with Hope.

Nappies, I think.

Thanks.

TEARFULLY: Stacey, it's Jane. I shouldn't be calling you,

I know I shouldn't be calling you, but I just...

I have to tell someone.

What's that for?

TEARFULLY: He is the reason Steven is dead.

He left me to die in that fire.

He's threatened Ian, Bobby's life...

He's out of control, Stacey.

And he is capable of anything.

Hope's fine.

-What are you doing?

-Nothing. No. Just your mum called back.

I told her I'd ring her tomorrow.

No, she was just... She forgot something. She was wittering on.

Give it to me. I'd better ring her. She'll be worrying for hours.

No, she'll be fine. I calmed her down.

You?

Yeah, yeah, I'm a charmer.

I don't think my mum's going to fall for your charms.

Well, women can't resist me.

Oh, is that right?

Give me the phone.

Give me the phone.

See? I'm irresistible.

Give me the phone.

DOOR OPENS

Sorry to interrupt.

Tanya. Happy Christmas.

Ditto. Can I have a word?

No. No, we're sort of in the middle of something,

you know, mince pies, brandy butter. You know the routine.

-It's about the girls.

-I'll get out your way.

It's all right. You ain't got to do that.

I'll call you, yeah? We'll speak tomorrow.

No. I want to talk to you now.

It's all right, I'll leave you to it.

Help yourself to turkey or whatever, there's loads.

I've eaten, thanks.

What? It couldn't wait?

Lauren's meant to be going to Glasgow, only now she's not

-because of you.

-What do you mean, Glasgow?

She's worried about you. Says you're not well.

I'm fine. Really. Don't I look fine?

Frankly, I don't care.

I don't care if you're alive or dead

but I will not have you messing with my girls' heads.

Lauren IS going. Tonight. And you're not going to stop her.

If she calls you, you tell her, tell her it's the right thing to do.

Now, I'm going to go in there,

I'm going to be polite, smile at Martin and Stacey,

and I'm going to get my little girl

and I'm going to take her with me, away from you. Do you understand?

Well, what if she don't want to go?

What if she likes being around her old man?

What if she wants me to be a part of her life, her baby's life?

Not going to happen. I promise. I can guarantee it.

One word from me, she's not going to want to look at you ever again.

What are you talking about?

I know what you did.

I know.

What does she want?

I don't know. A little chat. It's private.

So we're not allowed in our own kitchen? This is our Christmas.

First, an unwanted house guest...

No offence, Abi.

..and now this.

Mum. It's Stace. ..Yeah, you just rang. You spoke to Max.

No? ..Oh, no. No, it's all right. I probably got it wrong.

Yeah, don't worry, I'll speak to you tomorrow. Bye.

Oh. I think we are going to need those nappies after all.

I'll go and get 'em. I'll tell your mum you're ready to go.

Yeah. Thanks for a really lovely dinner.

-Couldn't it wait?

-I think it's the perfect time, perfect place

to look you in the eye, tell you what I think of you.

Sorry, I need to get some nappies.

-Excuse me, I need wipes.

-Sorry.

-How could you even have him here?

-Tan.

I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to her.

Well?

Look, I don't want to get in the middle of what's going on.

Going on? Going on?

Well, yeah, if you're having a domestic,

-that's fine, but can you just take it elsewhere?

-A domestic?

Well, whatever. Whatever it is. It's Christmas.

It's my family Christmas, and I don't need it ruined by you.

What, like you ruined mine, all them years ago?

Look, can you just finish up and go, please?

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God! You're sleeping with him, aren't you?

-Is that why he's here?

-How dare you?!

-You are, I can tell.

-That's enough, all right? Will you just get out?

Didn't you learn anything the first time? He is poison. He's poison.

-He will mess you up.

-Let's go.

-Don't touch me! Don't come near me!

Tan, there's kids through there, little ones.

Since when did you care about that?

-Can you keep your voice down?

-What, you worried Martin might hear?

Look, even if it is true, which it isn't,

then it's none of your business, is it?

You're not married to him any more. You bailed on him years ago

so don't come in here and accuse me of something I haven't done...

I'm accusing you of being stupid.

A victim.

I love her.

I do. I love you. I don't care who knows.

In fact, the biggest mistake I ever made

was not leaving you for her when I had the chance.

You're trying to hurt me and you can't. I'm way past all of that.

No, I'm just being honest. I'm telling you the truth.

She's the love of my life. More than you ever were.

She knows everything.

She knows what I've done, she don't care.

Is that true? Is it?

What, you'll take him on?

After what he's done?

What is wrong with you?

You'll let him in your house?

You'll let him in your bed?

And you'll take him on even after what he's done?

All right, he's done some bad things. Who hasn't?

He was pushed and provoked. I mean, he went to prison.

He didn't even do anything wrong. He's not a bad man.

Really?

So it's OK, is it?

Everything? Everything Jane told you?

-That's fine, is it?

-Jane? Jane didn't tell me anything.

Don't lie to me. I know she did. She called you.

She told me she did. I saw her last week.

I don't know what you're talking about.

I know that you know.

Jane told me she left messages. She left several.

I don't have any messages from Jane. Or calls.

I haven't had a call from anyone all day apart from my mum.

Not today. A couple of months ago. She called you.

She called you to warn you. She told me she did.

I lost my phone. I only just got it back.

I've got loads of messages.

I've got loads of messages, but I haven't got any from Jane.

Oh, I do.

-Play it. Play it.

-No, no, no. That's enough, all right?

-That's enough.

-Then tell her. Tell her what you've done.

What do you mean, what I've done?

I haven't done anything she don't know about.

Stacey, it's me, Jane. Ignore that call.

Forget everything I said, it was a mistake. It was all a mistake.

Stacey, you can't tell anyone, OK?

Is that it?

-Yeah.

-She's drunk, I mean, listen to her.

You can hear it, hear it in her voice.

There must be more. There must be another one.

Yeah, from Martin and my mum, but not Jane.

-No, there must be.

-Am I mad?

That's the voice of a woman who's totally off her head.

He's deleted them. He's deleted them.

What are you talking about? That's totally ridiculous.

When I came in, he had it in his hand. Just now. He had your phone.

-Did you?

-What are you talking about? No! Don't believe her over me.

Look at him. Look, that's guilt. You know him.

You know when he's lying. Look at his eyes.

Max, are you lying?

No.

-Tell her what you've done.

-What do you mean, tell her?

-I ain't done anything, have I?

-Just tell her.

-No. Get out of here!

-What are you going to do?

-Max, don't.

-Get out of here, get out of my life.

-Are you going to hit me?

-If you don't tell her, I will.

-What? Cos it ain't true, is it?

He killed Steven. Killed him, tried to kill Jane...

-What are you talking about?

-He threatened Bobby, a child.

He's a murderer! He made Jane leave...

You can't believe a word she says.

..made her leave without saying a word to Ian,

let him think she didn't care about him.

If you don't believe me, call her. She'll tell you everything.

-Max?

-What? What, are you happy now?

Coming in here, trying to wreck another life?

Bringing your loneliness, your misery in here!

What are you trying to do, wreck everything for me?

I'm not lonely, Max.

I'm just alone.

There's a difference.

Now, I'm going to get my girls, both of them,

and I'm going to take them away from you.

Away from ever having to see, listen, look at you again.

I am not going to let you ruin their lives, not any more.

We've had it with you. All of us.

-Abi, let's go.

-What do you mean, he killed Steven?

Abs, it ain't true, all right? Any of it.

-Let's just go.

-No, I want to know. What did he do?

-What did he do, Mum?

-Just come on. Go.

Abi...

-I want you out. Get out of my house.

-He's going.

-Just go, Max.

-I need to talk to you.

-Just go.

-I just want to talk to you.

-No, Max. Not now. No.

-Stace...

-I need to sort my kids out.

-Stacey, please...

-I need to change Hope's nappy.

I've got washing up to do, there's a whole load of stuff to do.

-I just want to talk.

-You heard what she said.

-Max, just go.

-No, I don't want to go...

-Just get out!

SHE SOBS

I'm going to change Hope's nappy.

Stacey...

Stacey, I can do that.

Stacey, just let me do that, all right?

Kids, go upstairs.

Bex, just take the kids upstairs, go and play.

Now!

Right, look, I'll be back in a minute.

Come on, let's go upstairs. Come on.

Abi, what's happened? What's wrong?

It's Dad.

What's happened? Is he OK?

He killed Steven.

He killed Steven!

-Stay away.

-What, are you happy now?

-I told you, just stay away.

It's not going to work, Tan, all right? We love each other.

I love her. It's real.

It's not real. You sad, desperate, pathetic little man.

It's just you grasping at straws, and Stacey -

she's too stupid to see you for what you are.

Yeah, well, I'm not a bad man, am I?

-Tell someone who cares.

-Yeah, you care. Deep down.

You always have.

Not any more.

Really. It's all gone. Nothing. I feel nothing.

You're like a dream to me. You and me

and all those years and that whole thing.

It was just like a bad memory. It's not real. It doesn't feel real.

Them girls and Oscar, they're the only real thing in my life

and I'm going to protect them, just like I always have.

-They love me.

-Dream on.

What are you going to do? Take them away from me?

-Is that what you're going to do?

-Get off.

You can't take them away from me. You can't take them off me.

Ian, don't!

-Stop him.

-Dad!

Dad! Dad, don't! Stop!

Ian! Come on, get up, Ian. Come on...

Come on.

It's all right.

Just go. They know, they all know what you did.

-We all know.

-Lauren?

Don't try and stop us, Dad. We're going.

-Go on. Just get away from us.

-Go!

-Girls, please!

-Go!

DOOR SHUTS

-Keep him here.

-What?

Just keep him here.

CHILDREN CHATTER UPSTAIRS

BABY FRETS

BANGING ON DOOR

SHE GASPS

What is it, Kath? What's wrong?

Just tell me!

Max...

He killed Steven, and he got rid of Jane, now Ian...

I can't control him.

You've got to deal with Max, you've got to finish this. Now.

Go home. And keep Ian there.

Just go, Kathy, go.

What are you doing here?!

-I have to talk to you.

-No, Max. I can't.

-Stacey, please.

-No, I mean it. Martin is upstairs. He'll hear.

Just two minutes outside, all right? That's all I need.

Look, I can explain everything.

No. Not here.

Stace... Stace, will you just hold on?

Is it true?

No. No, all right? It's not what you think. I mean...

The whole situation just got out of control.

Did you kill him?

Stace, please, I didn't mean for it to happen, did I?

So you did?

And Jane?

Jane... Jane was part of it. She was part of it.

Putting me inside. With Ian and Phil. I know it's wrong.

But you saw what I was like.

Stace, you saw me the other day, all right?

You've got to understand.

Understand?

Understand what? That you killed someone!

That you lied to me, Max?

Are you even capable of anything real?

Are you?

I...

I thought you'd changed.

I really believed you.

Stace, Stace, listen to me. Just listen.

Just listen to me, all right? I love you, that's all that matters.

Is that even true?

Of course it is.

Stace, course that's true.

And when I realised it, everything else went out the window.

All of it. I didn't care about Ian and Phil any more. Just...

It was just you and me. It always has been.

You and me, we slept together.

We were as intimate as any two people can be, Max,

and I had no idea. You didn't tell me. I can't live like that.

I can't live with someone like you.

What, one thing, Stace? One mistake.

You could go to prison. Ian'll know. He'll find out.

He's not going to keep his mouth shut, is he?

-I ain't going to go back to prison, am I?

-You might.

-For years and years.

-I couldn't go back there.

-That's how it all started, with them putting me inside.

-I know.

-I heard it all, you told me.

-Oh, yeah? What do you mean, you heard?

I ain't told you. What do you understand? You don't know, Stace.

You don't know what it's like facing 20 years,

thinking that's real.

I couldn't take it.

HE SOBS

I couldn't take it, so I done the only thing I could to escape.

The only trouble is, they found me.

They found me before I bled out.

I think for a moment my heart went.

Then when they revived me, when I woke up, I just...

..I just felt disappointed.

And that's just how I've felt ever since.

Felt disappointed and bitter

and angry and mad and sick.

Sick, it's like I've got a virus in my head

that's made me do all those things.

And that's why.

And then I found you.

I found you. You saved me, Stace.

Stace, it's going to be all right. I'm good.

Good? You're good?

Not good...

I feel I can...

I can see a way to be happy.

There is no way, Max. Not any more.

Stacey... Stace...

-Just go, Max. Please. Just go.

-What do you mean go?

-I don't want to lose you.

-Just go.

-Stace...

-No, I'm going to go inside.

I'm going to check on my kids.

Can you just talk to me and we'll sort it out?

-No, Max.

-We'll sort it out.

-Just let me go! Just let me go, Max!

Stace...

Stace, just give me one chance.

No. No. No more chances. They've all gone.

And whatever I felt, Max, has just gone.

It's gone.

You killed it.

-Stace, that's not true.

-Yeah, it is.

And you know what? Tanya was right.

You're just poison.

You just can't help yourself, can you?

It should have been you that fell off that roof, not Bradley.

It should have been you.

I hear you've been looking for me.

One or two things you wanted to discuss, eh?

No? Did I get that wrong?

You know, beating up Ian Beale's easy. Me, not so easy.

How's your heart, Phil? Your dodgy ticker.

When's that going to go?

You're over, Max.

You're finished!

Do it.

Do it. Go on, Phil, put me out my misery.

Go on, do it!

Go on, Phil, do it. Kill me!

Kill me!

GUNSHOT

Why don't you finish me off, Phil?

Or aren't you man enough?

You want me to, don't you?

Yeah.

Yeah, do it.

THUNDER RUMBLES

No.

HE LAUGHS

THUNDER CRACKS

MUSIC BLARES OUT

Max? You all right?

THUNDER RUMBLES

Dad!

Where have you been?

MUFFLED SHOUTS OUTSIDE

You been with him?

-<

-Dad, please! Please just get down!

-<

-Dad, get down!

Please, Dad, please.

-No!

-Mum, stay with Louie, please.

Max!

Max, don't!

Dad...

Dad, don't. Please, just take my hand.

-Just take it.

-Come on, Dad, it's OK.

Go back inside.

No, not without you.

-Come on, it's OK.

-Listen to me, all right? Just go back inside.

Come with us.

Dad, listen, we can talk about it.

I don't want to talk to you, Lauren, all right?

I know what I am. I know what I've done.

You're not well. You need help, Dad.

Whatever you've done.

Whatever it is.

We love you too, Dad.

We love you, Dad.

Just go back inside!

No. Not without you.

-Abi, no!

-Abi, what are you doing?

Abi, don't! Abi...

Get off the ledge, Dad.

Abi!

I am not going back in without you.

Are we?

Are we?

No.

No. Stay there.

Abi, OK?

Abi, get back. Get back!

Lauren... Lauren, you've made your point, all right?

Just be careful.

Come on, Dad, it's OK.

Please, come on, just take my hand.

Come on, just take my hand.

Just take it, Dad.

Abi!

Dad... Dad, please don't do this.

Please... Please don't do this.

Come on, Dad!

OK...

I'm coming over.

THEY SCREAM

MAX CALLS OUT

SCREAMS

MUSIC AND CHATTER