16/02/2018 EastEnders

SCANNER WHIRS

Such a pretty face.

Thank you for doing this.

I mean, we could have done it a bit later, but once he's up...

that's it. He's very full-on.

Well, couldn't Josh look after him?

Yeah. Yeah, course he could. It's just...

They love hanging out together.

But we've got...

got to get all the packing done, get it all in the car and...

He's my son.

A lot of changes in his little life.

Yeah...

You sure Scotland's the right move?

Everybody else is gone, Whit.

I'm still here.

I know.

I just...

I want...

I want my dad to stay away and today to be over...

There'll always be a part of me that belongs in Walford, but...

..right now, I really,

really badly, I need to move on.

BABY CRIES, DOOR SLAMS

-Oh, that's him now.

-It's all right, mate. I'm back.

Hey. Listen, babes, you take that bath.

Relax. Do what you need to do.

I'm going to take him down the playground,

tire him out for 20 minutes before the funeral, yeah?

Come here.

Right, look what I've got for you, mate.

I do love him.

Like how you loved Peter?

Whitney, he's...he's really, really nice.

He's organised.

He's so reliable.

And bores you.

And bosses you about.

And acts like your big brother.

-No!

-Yes.

Lauren, I can tell. You've got this..."can't breathe" thing!

SHE SIGHS

Whitney... Stop. OK? Stop.

Do we really need to do this today?

Yes.

Yes, if you're going today.

Because Skype is not the same.

Lauren, it's Scotland.

That is a hell of a long way to go

to find out that you are stuck with someone

I know you ain't sure about.

I am sure about him, OK?

-Cos I'm a recovering alcoholic.

-What?

I have a son. I'm not working.

What am I actually supposed to do?

What, live in the house of Grandad Beale for the rest of my life?

-You know Ian would give anything to have you stay.

-I know he would.

Course he would, bless him,

but I can't because I hate this house.

I hate it.

It's like living in an actual grave.

Everywhere I look, each corner has a bad memory, right back to Lucy.

I really need to go.

OK? I do.

Anyway, how long do you think I'd actually last on my own?

You're not serious?

Lauren, you're beautiful.

You are an intelligent, smart woman, OK?

And I thought we wouldn't do this unless we were 100% sure.

Oh, OK. Mm-hm. So...

you and Halfway...

Don't you dare try and make this about me, all right?

This is about you.

Forget him. He's gone.

I ain't got no intention of keeping in touch with him.

Look...

..I'm not saying it won't be scary, trying to make your own way...

But you'd last.

Well, I do love him.

Louie loves him.

OK.

Ain't that how you ended up with Steven?

I am saying, one day,

given the circumstances,

I will mind the chip shop,

-overlook the fact that you play dirty.

-You what?

Listen, it wasn't me sneaking out samosas in the first place.

Normal hostilities will resume first thing tomorrow.

Too right they will. And the bet is still on.

Too right it is. And this time, I will lock up my chilli sauce.

Masood...

Thank you.

Don't use your feminine wiles on me, Kathy Beale.

Donna.

I ain't going.

I can't stand funerals.

No! OK?

I've got to work my stall.

That is just wrong, Donna.

Step up, will ya?

You are the best friend Abi had round here.

You know what?

I bet Jonah and all that lot from the vet's don't even turn up.

Me, you and Jay are the best friends my cousin had.

I can't...

It's just really sad.

So much of her life, she was playing a grown-up,

waiting for her future to happen.

If she'd've known it was going to be this short, she wouldn't have

wasted her time cleaning the bog or having early nights.

I mean, how many parties did she go to, let alone have?

This is the first time Abi

has ever been properly the centre of attention.

Then we make it count, Don.

Ow! Oh, for goodness' sake!

Even though Halfway's finally left us, he's still causing accidents.

I'm just checking how much bread we've got.

I nearly tripped over and broke my neck.

-All right, I'll call him.

-I'll call him.

-I didn't think you liked Halfway.

-Oh...

The ol' Valentine card.

No, I don't like him. Go on, what's his number?

All right, here you are.

PHONE RINGS IN ROOM

He really is a div, that boy.

Now, you sure you're all right with the sandwiches?

Cos Kathy'll sort the hot stuff when we get back.

-Do you know that Max is banned from the funeral?

-Oh, don't.

Even hearing the word "funeral" makes me well up.

I know... So sad.

She was just so young.

It's heartbreaking. It just goes to show,

you've got to grab every chance of happiness you get.

Erm, what is Halfway's regiment? Do you know?

Bedford or...

..Berkshire or...

No, it's Buckinghamshire, weren't it?

-I don't know.

-Mick!

All right, er... See ya later.

DOOR SLAMS

How dare you show your face here?!

You're barred from this funeral, you understand?!

Her mother made it perfectly clear.

You want to know how many tranquilizers it took to get

her in that car?!

You've caused enough damage to last a lifetime.

Her whole life.

It should be you in that coffin.

Yeah, I know.

Today's not about me, is it?

And you...

..you're just as bad as he is.

Can we just not?! Please!

Not today!

Pants, old train tickets,

a lot of chocolate.

Password locked.

Ah!

Who in this family actually knows, like, actual useful facts and that?

Johnny, all right?

Right, listen - Whitney is completely smitten with Halfway.

Yeah, I know!

What is his regiment?

And that's 100% biodegradable, yeah?

OK. Thank you. Bye.

You sure? I thought we were broke.

"We"?

It's not much, but it was a good idea.

Don't flatter yourself.

It's the first one you've had since I've known ya.

HE EXHALES

I'm not snapping, OK? It's just friendly banter.

Come on. We can still make it.

OK.

Come on, darling.

Come on, now.

What are people going to think...

if you can't even be there for your own daughter's funeral?

Mum?

Nan, why don't you go?

I'll bring her in.

-WEAKLY:

-No.

SHE BREATHES HEAVILY

His name is Callum Highway.

Well, they call him Halfway.

No, no, no, sorry, I just said to the lady on the phone.

He's not family, no.

He's an old family friend.

Well, that's... Yeah.

Because he's left his stuff here. That's why...

Can't you just put me through to him for two minutes?

Please?

OK, thanks.

They don't put civilian calls through to the barracks

and they won't give out any details of any army tours.

Do you think he's gone abroad already?

Well, I'll never find out.

I guess that's it.

Abi used to make us leave the landing light on

when you two were small. Do you remember?

They've put her in a box all on her own.

It'll be all black in there, Lauren.

My little baby girl.

I just want everything how it was.

Mum, do you think maybe we could...

..we could try and get out the car?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

Yeah.

I can't make my legs move.

I can't...

-SHE HYPERVENTILATES

-OK, OK, it's OK, Mum.

I'm sorry!

I'm so sorry.

Look at the state of me!

I'm sorry...

I didn't save her.

Mum...

I didn't save her!

And now, every time I try and go to sleep...

..eyes wide open and all I can see, all I can see, is you and Abi

falling off that roof and I'm just standing there doing nothing.

I'm just standing there watching my babies fall and I...

SHE SOBS

And you kids are everything.

Yeah?

You're the best thing that ever happened to me.

The best thing I ever did.

My beautiful, blonde girl.

What kind of mother...

What kind of useless, worthless, useless mother...?

Even now, even this one, final thing and I'm letting her down.

-I can't...

-Mum, you've got to stop doing this to yourself.

I'm scared.

I'm scared. What if I'm in there and I...

What if I pass out or I throw up

or something and I ruin it for her?

I'll ruin her.

I can't.

I can't say goodbye to her.

SOMBRE ORGAN MUSIC

The damage your brother has done.

We could go back to the Square

and find he'd torched it or run off with my great-granddaughter.

What would Max run off with his granddaughter for, Cora?

Just to punish someone, probably.

If she was well enough to leave the hospital, she'd be here,

wouldn't she? Her mum's funeral.

You can't ban Max from his own daughter's funeral

and expect to get away with it.

Do me a favour, Cora.

Listen to me, Jack.

This is the man who tried to kill Ian Beale.

Flatten Walford.

He's sick, Jack.

He's got mental health problems.

You know what? You need to button it, Cora, all right?

You don't know what you're talking about. He won't do anything stupid.

Max will be fine.

Oh, yeah?

You want to bet on that?

I wish I'd known...how long Abi would get, you know?

I wasted so much time.

Fighting with your father. Pointless.

All caught up and...

I wish I'd had the courage to work out what I wanted, you know,

and not just been swept along by some...

the wrong man.

Learn.

All my mistakes.

Mum, stay here.

No.

No, I just...

I'm going to try...

I'll get my breath...

Mum, stay here.

Abi knew how much you loved her.

She loved you, too.

Mum.

We are here to remember the life of Abigail Branning,

precious mother, cherished daughter...

-WHISPERS:

-Sorry. Can we just...?

-..granddaughter...

-So sorry.

..and sister.

Let us all rise and say the Lord's Prayer.

ALL: Our Father, who art in heaven...

..hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,

on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us, this day, our daily bread...

Excuse me.

Where's the baby? Where's Baby Branning?

Look, you don't understand, all right?

It's been a very difficult day. My brother's...

Mr Branning, no-one can leave the premises without going through a...

Yeah, we've all just...

How can you just lose a baby?

I can assure you we haven't lost Baby Branning.

Where is she, then?!

You all right, Jack?

Listen, I'm sorry.

-What you doing here?

-You all right?

Yeah, yeah, I've just been registering her name.

It's extenuating circumstances

cos we've passed the official cut-off point.

Is it done?

Can't be far off.

Here, do you want a cuddle? Come on.

Come on darlin'. Shh.

There you go...

-WHISPERS:

-Hello. Hello.

Shh, shh, shh.

Max?

Births, deaths, marriages...

Every pretty big event ends in sandwiches and bowl of crisps.

Do you know what? Every time I'm in that kitchen,

I just expect Abi to be standing there in the doorway.

Teen.

Ah! Well, if it ain't the main man himself.

All right?

You all right?

I forgot my bag.

Have ya?

Oh, that bag.

Pleasure.

Thanks.

Anyway...

Sorry for bothering.

-Go after him!

-Huh?

Go after him!

And this time make it count, all right?

Otherwise you ain't coming back in.

Oh, apron! SHE CHUCKLES

There's no rush.

You know, I'm not rushing you. Take as long as you like.

Providing we're around Liverpool by rush hour,

then should be pretty smooth sailing.

Then it's just me, you and little Lou-Lou, isn't it?

Louie.

Start again.

Whole rest of our lives.

You all right, little monster? Let's go get you some crisps.

Why don't you take five minutes and meet us by the car?

Come on, matey.

So, I was, erm... I was wondering...

..do soldiers still get to write letters and that? Or is it...?

-Er, text, e-mail, Skype.

-Oh.

Well, you could e-mail me if you like.

Can I e-mail ya?

Well, I'd like you to.

Mick, look.

Oi-oi! Don't drop her, will ya?

I left my bag behind on purpose.

Well, I'm guessing that this means that he is actually...

"perfect"?

THEY GIGGLE

Five minutes, all right?

Cheers, Jay.

While I draw breath, you cannot die

You're locked in my heart

You're there in my dreams

Whenever I close my eyes

You're wrapped in my love

You're held in my soul

You're warm in the memory

Alive only yesterday

Whenever I close my eyes

With my final breath

I will follow behind, I swear

I will find the place

Wait for me there

Wait for me then

And the sun will shine

And the stars will blaze

I will reach for your hand

I miss your face

I'll see your face

We'll both be free

Forever embrace

When at last I close my eyes.

HE EXHALES

I'm sorry, Abi.

I'm sorry, Lauren.

Dad, I need to leave.

I know.

Lauren, life's short.

Just be happy.

Live your life for the both of ya.

SHE SOBS

INAUDIBLE

BELL RINGS

To my dear granddaughter, Abi.

-ALL:

-To Abi.

To Abi.

To Abi.

ALL: To Abi.

EASTENDERS THEME ON SOFT PIANO

You called her Abi?

Yeah.

This time...

..this time I'm going to get it right.