Synopsis: Woken up and pressured about it at night, Carol reveals what she's protected her teens from: the ugly past with their fathers. But Bianca wonders if the difficulties of her childhood were as necessary as Carol says. Meanwhile, Geoff reveals what he'd put off telling Michelle: he wants to move to Scotland. Ruth and Mark wonder if life with Geoff, period, is right for Michelle. Fascinating episode.

"Portakabin" is a brand name of a very small mobile home (pronounced "port-a-cabin"). The Butchers use one as an office.

In Cockney English, "poxy" means inferior. A "chippie" is a fish and chips restaurant. "Ta" means thanks. A "quid" is a pound (money). "Up the spout" means pregnant. A "cow" is a bitch. A "prat" is an idiot. (Note: "eh" is usually pronounced "Ay," like the name of the letter A, especially when at end of a sentence/question. Eh?)

Braces {} enclose unclear speech.

CHELLE = MICHELLE = CHELLE

This episode involves a lot of people talking over each other. Rather than putting, "[over her/him]," all over the place, double dashes surround speeches that overlap (partially or fully) the preceding speech. If it's a short speech, (e.g. "--Get out!--") you can bet it completely overlapped into the preceding speech.

Approx. 22 scenes.

12 characters: DAVID, BIANCA, MICHELLE, GEOFF, ALAN, BLOSSOM, CAROL, ROBBIE, SONIA, BILLY, MARK, and RUTH. Cast list (cast.htm 3K)

Mark is HIV positive.

When I printed this, it took 36 pages.

Transcribed via microcassette and copious notes.

DAVID
Bianca.
Bianca, where you going?

BIANCA
Anywhere.

DAVID
You can't wander around the streets in this state..

BIANCA
[stops] 'S nothing wrong with me.

DAVID
Come on, back inside, we'll have another cup of tea an' we'll talk about it.

BIANCA
About what?!

DAVID
Please, come back with me now. Please.

BIANCA
[incredulous] Nothing to talk about..

DAVID
[pause, urgent, finding the words] I know how you must feel--

BIANCA
No you don't! I can't feel anything! Uh. I don't believe you ever had--my mum wouldn't sleep with you--

DAVID
Well, why not? You just tried..

BIANCA
[insulted, walks on]

DAVID
[walking after her] Bianca. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that.

BIANCA
Don't follow me.

DAVID
I'm sorry, darl--

BIANCA
I said, "Don't follow me"!

DAVID
[stops, shouts, distressed] Bianca! I'm sorry!

CHELLE
I need another drink..

GEOFF
[chuckling] Is that all you can say? I ask you to marry me an' y'immediately hit the bottle.

CHELLE
N--I don't know what to say..

GEOFF
[reasonable] You must have had some idea I 'as gonna..

CHELLE
Well that's just it: I didn't.. I thought you'd come in here tonight to say buh-bye.. This has come as bit of a shock..

GEOFF
[swig of drink] So?

CHELLE
What..

GEOFF
How do you feel, about us gettin' married?

CHELLE
Nervous, heh.

GEOFF
Don't blame you.

CHELLE
It's just come so out o' the blue..

GEOFF
Have you got something against it.

CHELLE
What? Marriage in general?

GEOFF
Mm. I know it would be your second time..

CHELLE
No, no, no. {Noth--I don't have} nothing against it, I'm thrilled you asked..

GEOFF
But.

CHELLE
[pause] I don't want to get {it wrong again..}

GEOFF
[quiet, serious] No. Neither do I.

DAVID
Bianca! Bianca, wait! Please, please!

BIANCA
[stops] I told you not to follow me.

DAVID
[out of breath] {It'd be tough, I'd ignored ya.} Now come back with me.. an' we'll talk about it this sensi..

BIANCA
So you can turn me down again..

DAVID
You know why I turned you down..

BIANCA
You liar! [her face is tear streaked]

DAVID
[incredulous] Why would I lie to ya?!

BIANCA
[pause] 'Cause you don't fancy me..

DAVID
I don't fancy you because I'm your father..

BIANCA
[shouting] You're not!

DAVID
Look. What could I do to prove to you. Eh? [angry] Tell you the time, place, an' date you were conceived!

BIANCA
{Go home..}

DAVID
Bianca. Please. Come back now.. Sober yourself up, an' we'll talk about this sensibly now! [urgent] Bianca, please, come with me now.

BIANCA
Uh! Don't tell me what to do!

DAVID
I just want to make sure you're all right, darlin'--I.. had to tell you because things had to stop.

BIANCA
What. Not good enough for ya?

DAVID
[urgent] Bianca. Gotta get into your thick skull: you are my daughter, whether you like it or not!

BIANCA
[sniff] Why couldn't someone've told me before?

DAVID
You'll have to ask your Mum that..

BIANCA
What..

DAVID
She's the one that didn't want you to know--

BIANCA
Oh, you're so full of bull!

DAVID
It's true! It's true! Uh.. All right, we'll--we'll ask her.. Go an' ask her, an' see what she says.. I'm fed up about lyin' about this darlin', an' I'm fed up with keep.. keep givin' you the wrong impression about me!

BIANCA
[inaudible]

DAVID
We'll go an' see, shall we? We go an' ask her..

BIANCA
[quiet] {That's it?} [sigh] I'll ask her. I'll go an' ask her.

DAVID
Good. [he's leaving]

BIANCA
[confused] Where you going?

DAVID
[comes back] I'm going to see your mum. I want to sort this out once an' for all. [angry] Are you coming?

BIANCA
[calmly decides like, "oh brother," reluctantly follows him]

CHELLE
Can't we just.. carry on.. the way things are? An' see what happens..

GEOFF
[sighs] No. Not really..

CHELLE
Why not..

GEOFF
Because I want you to know, that as far as I'm concerned, this is for life. This is how it's gonna be forever.

CHELLE
Yeah, we can still do that..

GEOFF
No. Things have changed..

CHELLE
What..

GEOFF
[breathes out] Something's come up..

CHELLE
[pause] {With who..}

GEOFF
A job..

CHELLE
So?

GEOFF
In Scotland..

CHELLE
Scotland..

GEOFF
I've been offered Chair in Modern History at Dunbarton University..

CHELLE
Scotland?

GEOFF
Near Glasgow.

CHELLE
Glasgow..

GEOFF
Yeah.

CHELLE
[subdued, shocked pause] Uh!
Scotland.

ALAN
D'ya know what time it is!?

BIANCA
I wanna see me mum.

ALAN
I mean, what you tryin' to do?! Wake up the whole street--

BIANCA
[shouting] I don't ca'! I want 'o see her!

ALAN
[like, oh nonsense] Well, you can't; she's gone to bed.

BIANCA
[almost amused] Well--I'll get her up!

ALAN
No, you won't. Your mum works really hard, an' she needs her sleep.

BIANCA
I wanna see her now!

ALAN
You'll see her in the mornin'.

DAVID
[going to her] Look, just leave it, Bianca. Come on.

ALAN
[seeing DAVID for first time] What's all this about?

BIANCA
Between me and me mum.

ALAN
[demonstrative sniff] Well, don't you think you might want to wait 'til you've uh, [big sniff] sobered up a bit.

BIANCA
Ta, I want to see her now. [walks past ALAN as he stares at DAVID]
[shouts] Mum!

ALAN
Bianca.

BIANCA
Mum!

[In the hall. BLOSSOM's coming over, was still up, wears a robe.]

ALAN
[kind of loud] Will you be quiet? Everybody's in bed!

BLOSSOM
[quiet] What's going on..

BIANCA
I want to see me mum! She's my mum an' I want to see her.

ALAN
{You won't..}

BIANCA
I wanna see her!

ALAN
All right, all right! W--just go in there an' get some breakfast, an' sober up. I'll go an' get her--

BIANCA
No I'll get her--

ALAN
[stops her, testy] I said I'll go an' get her. If you don't do as I say, I'll throw you out--

BIANCA
How dare, "throwin' me out"!

ALAN
{Now hang your jacket up}--

BLOSSOM
[getting BIANCA] --Come on, girl, let's get you right.

DAVID
[quietly to ALAN] Lis--I think I better go.

BIANCA
[turns, bitter] No. No you don't.. I want you here, you liar.

ALAN
"B"--

BIANCA
Well that's what he is!

BLOSSOM
[quiet] Come on!

BIANCA
You're stayin'!

DAVID
All right. I'm stayin'.

[BLOSSOM and BIANCA go to kitchen. ALAN and DAVID stay in the hall.]

ALAN
[sleepy] You've told her, haven't you.

DAVID
[quiet, a little smug] Alan, it had to come out sooner or later. An' tonight just happened to be the night.

CHELLE
{An' you've} taken it..

GEOFF
I don't want 'o lose you in the process..

CHELLE
So you've accepted it, then..

GEOFF
Yeah.. Bu--I can, change my mind..

CHELLE
What, an' stay in London..

GEOFF
If you think there's a future for us, I'll do anything you want. If you want to stay here, we'll stay here. If you wanna, emigrate to the Isle of Wight, I'll go along--I'll uh, I'll do anything you want. I just know this is a great opportunity for the both of us.

CHELLE
[long pause] Never been to Scotland..

GEOFF
You'll love it..

CHELLE
What would I do?

GEOFF
A--anything you want!

CHELLE
I just got a job..

GEOFF
[offhand before a swig of his drink] Ahh!--Get another one.

CHELLE
[pause] Mn-ww--there's Vicky--I mean, she'd have to change schools..

GEOFF
[wry] Mmm-nn. Bit difficult commuting from Scotland, mmm.

CHELLE
Geoff, you know how kids hate leavin' their friends..

GEOFF
Yeah, but better now than later. In a few years' time, when she's started her secondary education, you wouldn't want to move her then.

You must of thought of movin' before..

CHELLE
Yeah. But I could never go through with it, though..

GEOFF
Life, doesn't start an' finish in the East End..

CHELLE
Oh, I know.. Couldn't leave my family and friends..

GEOFF
[quiet, breezy] Oh! Scotland's not the other end of the world..

[serious] I'm really wantin' you to say yes, Michelle..

CHELLE
{I'm not--}

GEOFF
Oh--oh--I'm--I'm not expectin' an answer now. No, no-no-no-no--it'd be wrong of me to expect that.

Ah. I'm just asking you to think about it. For me. Think about--actually for Vicky think about it. The quality of life you could offer her up there, she'd never get 'round here. Look, I'm going up for a couple days--sort out a few things. Why don't we say, when I get back--no, no--actually--no. Just so you know you're not rushing into things, why not let's give it couple o' weeks. Then give me an answer, eh?

CHELLE
All right, you want me to think about it for two weeks..

GEOFF
Well, if the answer's yes, then I'll buy the ring and away we go! Heh, heh.

CHELLE
[with gravity, wants to know] What if the answer's no?

GEOFF
Well, "Let me re-think."

CHELLE
Are you sayin' that, you'd turn the job down..

Well?

GEOFF
[trying to be breezy] Uh, give me a couple o' weeks, I'll tell you..

CHELLE
No, no! Tell me now..

GEOFF
[trying to laugh] Oh Michelle!

CHELLE
Oh, go on, Geoff--please.

GEOFF
[pauses, then, meaning it] Yes.
Yes, I'd turn it down.
[back to trying to be breezy] You said you wanted to know.
Michelle, I promise you. You will not want for anything. I'll make your life as near perfect as it could be.

CHELLE
You really mean it, don't you.

GEOFF
Yes. I really mean it.

CHELLE
Thank you. [they kiss]

GEOFF
Look, I'm gonna get dressed an' go. [finishes drink]
Because I want you, to start thinkin' about it right now. [gets up, heading for upstairs]

CHELLE
[follows him] Geoff?
[GEOFF stops on the dark stairs (only a light from upstairs hall on them)]
How long have you known?

GEOFF
[trying to be breezy] Oh, a few weeks. Went to the interview a couple o' months ago.

CHELLE
You never said..

GEOFF
Well, I just didn't think I'd get it, so why rock the boat. When I found out they wanted me, I didn't know what to do.

CHELLE
Should have said.

GEOFF
I know.. I was scared what you'd say. So I kept puttin' it off an' puttin' it off until I couldn't put it off any longer. [chuckling a little]

CHELLE
Look, um, if I didn't, seem very excited in there--

GEOFF
Don't worry--

CHELLE
--it's just that it's come as such a shocck..

GEOFF
I understand. Two weeks, eh?

CHELLE
Two weeks. [they kiss]

CAROL
[mellow] What's this all about Biancer, eh? Wake everybody up in the middle of the night.

BIANCA
Him.

CAROL
I think you can go, David. You're not welcome here.

BIANCA
No I want him to stay, 'til you've heard what he told me then you can tell him he's a liar.

CAROL
[mellow] Ha, ha, I can tell you that now before you start it, love: he's a liar. You don't want to believe a word that he says. Good night, David. [hasn't looked at DAVID, goes to BIANCA to kiss her]

BIANCA
I want him to stay.

CAROL
Wha'?

BIANCA
Talk it to his face..

CAROL
Look, whatever he's told you, Bianca, you want {to be keepin' it}--

BIANCA
[talking over her by now] --He ain't told me somethin', all right--

CAROL
--just forget it! W--he's made a liviing giving balloon rides on the hot air that he's talked--

DAVID
--Why don't you just let her speak, Carol--<

CAROL
I said you're not welcome here, David, so {what did the--I}--

DAVID
--Bianca wants me to stay--

CAROL
--Well I don't! So get out!--<

DAVID
You're scared, aren't you--

CAROL
Get out--

DAVID
You're scared, you'll have {to get too ang}--

CAROL
[loud, while pushing him down the hall to the door] --I said, "Get the hell"--Alan!! You--throw him out--go on--

BIANCA
Mum!

DAVID
[is going, not physically resisting her much] --Bianca wants me to stay, Carol--

CAROL
[loud] Well I don't! So get oo-out! Go home.

BIANCA
Mum!

ROBBIE
[in robe over tee shirt, has come down stairs] What's going on?!

CAROL
[turning from DAVID, loud] Just go back to bed, Robbie. Just go back to bed--

ROBBIE
I've got paper route to do in the morning!

CAROL
[still heated] I don't care! Just go back to bed!

ROBBIE
It's hard to try to sleep with a riot going on!

ALAN
[collected but urgent] All right, let's stop this, now, yeah?

CAROL
I want him out.

ALAN
Look, Carol, let's stop it.

[to DAVID] You. In there.

[DAVID goes in the living room and ALAN looks at CAROL.]

CAROL
What, what're you doing..

ALAN
Well we're gonna hear what Bianca has to say..

ROBBIE
Gran, what's goin' on?

BLOSSOM
I think it's about something that should be best left alone.

CAROL
Look, Bianca, whatever he's told you--

DAVID
--Just let her speak, Carol--

CAROL
--you've gotta take with a pinch of <salt!

ALAN
[firm] Carol, this has gone on long enough, right? Let Bianca say what she's got ta say.

CAROL
[long pause, BIANCA's quiet] All right, love, what--what--what did you want to say..

BIANCA
[quiet] David. [clear throat]
David told me that he's my dad..

CAROL
[feigns calm amusement]

DAVID
Carol.

CAROL
What?

DAVID
Tell her.

BIANCA
[quiet] Is he..

CAROL
[is still amused] {What a lie to pick, ha.}

DAVID
Just tell her.

BIANCA
[quiet] Is he my dad--

CAROL
[nervously amused, but is looking at the floor] It, it's just like sayin', all right, um. Woman who wants to loan me some money, all right, to get this new dress. Which, um--

BIANCA
Mum!

CAROL
Which I would've worn to an interview, all right? Which--which got me the job. Only it's everything, everything I got from that job!

DAVID
[loud] --Look, for crying out loud, now--just tell her!

ALAN
[pause, to BIANCA] Yeah.
He is, Bianca.

[Long pause, as BIANCA takes this in and CAROL walks up to DAVID. She seems hurt, she's surprisingly quiet.]

CAROL
[quiet] Happy now?

DAVID
[satisfied, calmly nods, quiet] Yeah. I am.

CAROL
Look, you had no right to tell her..

DAVID
No?

CAROL
You had no right!

DAVID
[stern, just as hurt] You had no right to keep it from her..

CAROL
{Let's get one} idea into your head, all right: you've screwed things up enough. You've done what you wanted to do, let's just leave it at that.

DAVID
I was forced to tell her..

CAROL
[pause, amused/testy] Wha'? Wha', she--she twist your arm, did she? Wha'? Held a gun to your head? Had you by the short 'n' curlies until you'd confessed?! What!

ALAN
Let's call it a night, shall we?

CAROL
No!
Cause I wanna know how Mr. Nasty Nobody had felt he was forced to tell her something he knows is best forgotten about!! [DAVID's chuckling, she zings up to him] An' believe me, there's one thing's for certain, yeah: memorable you ain't.

SONIA
What's going on.

ROBBIE
Bianca's just found out David Wicks is her dad!

SONIA
David Wicks..
Sad..

DAVID
Well, ah, I think we should be talking about what happens now..

CAROL
{You mean.. she got off o' maintenance didn't she?}

DAVID
You know what I mean.

CAROL
[pause] You think you're gonna, what, some part in her life, is it?

DAVID
I'm her dad.

ALAN
Yeah, but it's me who's looked after her for the last six years!

DAVID
I'm still her father!

CAROL
What?! I don't give a flyin' fairy what you think you are! You stay away from this family--

DAVID
That's up to the girl-- [CAROL: "--No.--"] --to decide--

CAROL
--No, that is where you're wrong--

> DAVID
[annoyingly calm] She is old enough to make up her own mind..

CAROL
--Stay away from her--

DAVID
Bianca? What do you want, eh?

CAROL
[grabs for his clothes] Get out. [DAVID: --Honey?--] --Get out!--

ALAN
[opens door] Look, mate. I think you better go; we can sort out {all that stek to rights}--

CAROL
[grabs his clothes] --Get out!--

ALAN
--later!

DAVID
[stands, angry at ALAN] Do you think this is funny.

ALAN
[angry, pushes him on] Definitely not. Get out, go on.

ROBBIE?
Yeah!

CAROL
--Yeah! Go on--

DAVID
[collected] All right. I'm going. [to BIANCA] I'll see you later, Bianca. [leaving]

CAROL
--An' you stay away from her--jus--just stay away from her, eh?! You're nothing to do with, you--nothing!--

[door slam]

CAROL
[turns, sees ROBBIE and SONIA, is testy] {Sonia, what're you two--just hangin' out}--I thought I told you to go to bed.

[She moves on--they're just looking at her.]

BLOSSOM
You all right?

CAROL
No. [pops open can]
[long pause] You heard.

BLOSSOM
The whole square heard..

CAROL
[sitting, tired] {He talked, damn rat.} W-I should have known he wasn't goin' to keep his mouth shut..

[SONIA and ROBBIE have entered. ROBBIE went straight to the sink for a glass of water. SONIA's by refrigerator dumbly looking at Carol with arms crossed.]

CAROL
I thought I told you to go to bed.

ROBBIE
Well, I'm not tired.

CAROL
[nervous/testy] Well, can you just go an' count sheep or robocops or whatever it is that makes you konk out, Robbie.

ROBBIE
[serious, stands near her] Mum?

CAROL
[pause] What?

ROBBIE
He's not my dad, is he.

CAROL
[pause] David? No. Hah..

ROBBIE
[urgent] I want to know who--who my dad is.

CAROL
Why?

ROBBIE
Mum, I just do!

CAROL
[pause] Robbie. Believe me, when I say, you're better off not knowing, all right?

ROBBIE
Mum! I don't want to open up the door one day an' stan'n' there is Arthur Fowler sayin', "Hello, Robbie, I'm your dad!"

CAROL
[miserable, tired] Ohn! Don't be ridiculous.

ROBBIE
Well, it's no more ridiculous 'n David Wicks bein' Bianca's dad!

CAROL
[nice, serious] Robbie, it--it doesn't matta who your dad was, all that matters is now.

ROBBIE
Mum, it may not matter to you but it matters to mee.

CAROL
[getting up] All right, all right, all right, love, whatever you want, but for now, I've got to go an' sort your sister out, so go to bed, please.

BIANCA
[quiet, still in shock] {Why not tell me..}

CAROL
Long story.

ALAN
Should have told 'em.

CAROL
[weary, as she sits] Oh, don't start, Alan..

ALAN
Loo--everyone's got a right to know who their father is--

SONIA
Well, I don't want to know..

ROBBIE
Course you do!

SONIA
No I don't! Look--Mum's right! Don't mean anything.. I never even knew my real dad, so why should I care who he is? As far as I'm concerned, Alan's my dad. An' I'm really pleased, yeah? [kisses his forehead, gets up] Night. [leaving for bed]

ALAN
Goodnight, sweetheart.

ROBBIE
Yeah, bu--but, well I still care.

BIANCA
How long've you known, Alan.

ALAN
Not long.

BIANCA
Who told you--

CAROL
Me. I told him.
David Wicks only found out when he came back to Walford..

BIANCA
[pause] What, you never told him then..

CAROL
No.. When he started to follow you around like a dog on heat, I thought it best not to ignore it otherwise there might be real trouble..

ALAN
Look, you should have told Biancer when you told David--

CAROL
I did what I thought was right, Alan, I didn't know I was gonna get a sudden attack {if I'd've known, jus}--

ALAN
--Well, you must o' known it was gonna come out sooner or later!--

CAROL
[jumping up] --Yeah I jus--All right! I just thought it'd come out later, all right?! I thought I'd know when the time was right!! Uh.. I messed up! Yeah? I made a mistake! I'm sorry. [upset, leaves]

CAROL
{Wanting} something stronger.

[BLOSSOM goes to her stash in the cupboard and hands CAROL a tiny liquor bottle. CAROL thanks her silently and opens it. ALAN comes in and leans on the kitchen sink near CAROL.]

ALAN
Well?

CAROL
[drinks, turns] What?

ALAN
W--is that it?

CAROL
What d'you want me to say?

ALAN
Uh! Look, you can't just forget about it, Carol.

CAROL
[bemused] An' why not? That's what I've been tryin' to do for the last seventeen years..

BIANCA
[has come in, urging CAROL] Not fair, mum, you're not bein' fair.

CAROL
Not fair?!
[shouting] Shall I tell you something, young lady: nothin' is fair! Do you think it was fair for me to be pregnant at fourteen?! Do you think that was fair? The sooner you learn that "fair" isn't something that happens to people like us, then you have learned a lot.

ALAN
They need to know..

CAROL
Know what.

ALAN
What happened. What their fathers were like. Is that too much to ask?

CAROL
Yu, yeah, yes, it is too much to ask!

ROBBIE
Why?!

CAROL
It just is!

BIANCA
I knew Sonia's dad. Didn't know me own..

CAROL
[tired] Uh! What difference does it make?

BIANCA
I can't believe you never told me..

CAROL
[pause] Shall I tell you why I didn't tell ya? Mm?

BIANCA
Yes.

CAROL
[quiet, daring, in BIANCA's face] Because David Wicks was just somebody I went with. That was it: No Big Deal.

BIANCA
Ya must o'--

CAROL
An' so I'm sayin', "So what?"! It doesn't mean he has any right over you, does it?! I mean, it doesn't mean he can just come strollin' in here after all this time an' start playin' Daddy!! Because if it does then I've got something, seriously wrong here!

BIANCA
He must o' meant something to ya..

CAROL
[pause, looking at floor] I was a Kid, Bianca. He meant, nothing. An' he means even less to me now-- [looking at her] I mean if he was to go walking across that square tonight, get hit by a ten ton truck, the only person--the only person--I'd feel sorry for is the road sweeper who'd have to clean up the mess.

[BILLY came in a few seconds before and had got a drink out of the 'fridge.]

CAROL
[quiet] Come on little man, let's get you to bed.

BLOSSOM
[getting up] It's all right.
I'll see to him. [leaves with BILLY]

CAROL
Thank you, Blossom.

All right, I think we should all go to bed, uh. Some of us have got work in the morning.

[No one's moving, though.]

BIANCA
[quiet] Mum..

CAROL
[quiet, tired] Too late..

BIANCA
Eh?

ROBBIE
[urgent] I wanna know about my dad.

CAROL
[earnest] I've told you all you need to know, Robbie!

ROBBIE
No, you haven't, Mum! You haven't told me! What was he like?!

CAROL
You've lived this long not knowin', why can't we just leave it at that?

ALAN
You can't say that Carol.

CAROL
I can if I want.

ALAN
Not now.
I mean--they need to know!

CAROL
[angry] What? What precisely do they need to know!

BIANCA
[very quiet] {Well, where my dad wasn't there while I was, growin' up.}

CAROL
[very quiet] {???} You tell me..

BIANCA
[very quiet] Why didn't my dad want me?

CAROL
[touched] You think he didn't want you?

BIANCA
Yeah.

CAROL
[touched] No! No, it had nothing to do with you! It was to do with me!
It was me, that he didn't like.. [to both of them] It wa--it was me they left, not you..

MARK
I'll make some tea!

RUTH
Oh, I'll get it!

MARK
You sure?

RUTH
Yeah.

MARK
I'll see what's on telly.

RUTH
{All right.}

MARK
What are you doin'?

CHELLE
Thinking..

MARK
You all right? Somethin' happen?

CHELLE
Sort of..

MARK
What?

CHELLE
[pause] Geoff's asked me to marry him.

MARK
[relishing, pleased] Yeah--I knew it.

CHELLE
What's funny?

MARK
Uh, nothing--I--I just knew it, that's all. When's the big day?

CHELLE
Dunno..

MARK
You turned 'im down?

CHELLE
No, no.

MARK
So?

CHELLE
I didn't tell him anything yet..

MARK
You didn't rush, ah?

CHELLE
You think he's too old for me, di'n't ya?

MARK
[wry] Yes, I dooo, but I once lived with a woman twice my age an' I had a whale of a time. Anyway, look on the bright side: things don't work out, I hear the divorce laws are pretty good in this country..

CHELLE
Givin' me a couple o' weeks to think about it.

MARK
Now, why doesn't that surprise me?

CHELLE
What?

MARK
Mn--I don't know, he's just.. he's never struck me as the sort of bloke who does things on the spur of the moment, that's all..

Know what you're gonna say?

CHELLE
Thought I did.

When he asked me, even though I was feelin' really.. you know, flattered, I thought I knew exactly what I was gonna say..

MARK
You like him, di'n't ya?

CHELLE
Oh, yeah, yeah..

MARK
So, go for it..

CHELLE
[pause] Not that simple..

MARK
Why not?

CHELLE
Well.. He's movin' to Scotland.. He wants me to go with him.

MARK
Scotland?!

CHELLE
Yeah.

MARK
What's he goin' to Scotland for?

CHELLE
Got a job up there, I mean, it.. It'd be a new start.. Be great for Vicky..

MARK
[preoccupied] Scotland..

CHELLE
It'd be a chance, for me to forget everything that's happened here..

MARK
[looking down] Forget about us..

CHELLE
Oh, don't be daft, I mean, you'd come up an' visit, wouldn't ya?

MARK
Yeah..

CHELLE
{Well!} Ya see, an' on the holidays I'd come down here! Ya see, when I think about it like this, I don't even know why I'm nervous..

MARK
Right.
Well, you gotta do it, 'i'n't ya?

CHELLE
Really?

MARK
Nyea! Like you said: great opportunity.

CHELLE
You really think I should marry him?

MARK
[going to her] If it was me, proposed to under those terms, I'd have to seriously think about it. [sits by her on the couch]

You've got a great chance, here, Michelle. Might not come by again. Go for it. Get away.

CHELLE
[has been looking at him vaguely puzzled, tries to smile nice]

CAROL
David never even knew ya.
Right until he came back to Walford, he never knew you existed.

BIANCA
{You should have} told him..

CAROL
No. Never told him.
He just went off, I thought I'd never see him again..

BIANCA
Should have said something, {to his Mum, or have told me..}

CAROL
Seemed no point in tellin' who your dad was if he was never goin' to be around..

BIANCA
You should 'ave..

CAROL
[pause] Bianca.
{It turn--just gone for} what was right..
{What if you jus'} didn't wanna know..
I want him out of my life an' out o' yours.

Now Robbie's dad--

ROBBIE
[quiet, urgent] Did he run off as well?

CAROL
[pause, quiet] Yeah. He took a shine to a girl even younger'n I was..

Haven't seen him since.
The only good thing about Gary is he managed to get us a Council flat..

BIANCA
I remember Sonia's dad..

CAROL
Terry?

BIANCA
You an' he 'as always arguing..

CAROL
[angry, ironic, yet oddly cool] Yeah, 'cause he was always knocking me around..

BIANCA
Is that why he left..

CAROL
Noo.. He just up and went, takin' anything that wasn't nailed to the floor..

ALAN
{Is this, you say?}

CAROL
{So you can give 'im that..}

ROBBIE
[urgent] An' my dad didn't hit you..

CAROL
[pause, regretful for ROBBIE] No, got to give Gary that--never hit me.

Sleep with uh, thirteen year old little girls. Fourteen year olds, fifteen year olds, when--if he had to, sixteen year olds. Bu' no, he never hit me.

He'd buy 'em things like uh, like a [sigh] gym slip, or a, pencil case maybe. Huh. An' if he really liked 'em he'd get 'em nice pretty little dollies.. An' he gave me a couple 'o quid to feed you an' Bianca..

[bitter] We were struggling to make ends meet when.. bits on the side were gettin' uh, uh, annual subscriptions to Jackie?

You see why I didn't tell you about them. Eh?

Now I thought I done a Pretty Good Job o' protectin' you from 'em. I knoow, I've not been the best mum in the world, I know that.. I've always fed an' clothed ya, an' that's what I thought was important.. [urging] Your fathers were my mistakes, not yours.. [resentful] An you shouldn't have to put up with 'em, an' up 'til now you haven't had to..

[During that, camera slowly panned from ALAN, tired, sympathetic and slightly questioning, to BIANCA and ROBBIE, mostly numb/sad. (A tear went down BIANCA's cheek.)]

CAROL
[serious] I still don't think I did wrong.

I still don't think that.

CHELLE
See you in the morning.

MARK
Is what you told me top secret?

CHELLE
[stops] Well, I'd rather tell Mum an' Dad meself, yeah.

MARK
Yeah.

CHELLE
Can tell Ruth, though.

RUTH
[coming over, amused] Tell Ruth what..

CHELLE
Oh, it's, not that important.

MARK
[thoughtful, regretful] Yeah, I'm not so sure.

CHELLE
[as she leaves] Night.

MARK and RUTH
Night.

RUTH
[sitting down] Well?

MARK
You'll never guess what.

RUTH
Geoff's proposed.

MARK
You've been listenin' out in kitchen, haven't ya--

RUTH
Noo! I wasn't! It's obvious.. She accepted?

MARK
Not yet. She hasn't turned him down. He's givin' her a couple o' weeks to think it over.

RUTH
Oh.. He seems the type that'd want a pre-managed contract. Listen, if we split up, you can get the playpen an' I'll have the {flash lights} okay?

MARK
You don't think she should marry him..

RUTH
[smiling pause] No. An' you? [MARK shakes head no]
I mean, he's a nice guy an' everythin' but.. I can't see Michelle endin' her days with him.. I mean, when she's in her forties, he'll be in his seventies? I don't think it's a good idea..

MARK
You don't know the worst of it. He wants 'em to move up in Scotland with him.

RUTH
Uh! Scotland?

MARK
Start a new life.

RUTH
Listen, I've nothing bad to say about Scotland, but, it's a hell o' a long way from Walford..

MARK
Tell me about it..

RUTH
If I know Michelle.. She loves her family.. I don't think she can survive without them..

MARK
Can we survive without her..

RUTH
You especially..

MARK
Especially me..

RUTH
[pause] {I know wha' you mean}.. she was always goin' to be there? When things get a bit tough..

MARK
[quiet] Yeah..

RUTH
Oh, I can understand that..

MARK
You know that nightmare.. Scene in the hospice.. Always saw it with Michelle..

RUTH
I know..

MARK
Thought of--not bein' around..

RUTH
Whaa?

MARK
[big sigh] Scares me. Really scares me. [sighs]

RUTH
What did you tell her..

MARK
[poignant, resigned] To marry him! Go to Scotland. What else could I say.

CAROL
[truthful] I never wanted you to know {all of that..}

ROBBIE
Never mind, Mum. Makes no difference..
You're my mum, an' that's all that matters..

CAROL
Thanks Robbie..

ROBBIE
Off to bed, all right? I love you. [kisses her and is slowly going upstairs, past her]

[CAROL sighs in relief/tiredness, slowly gets up.]

BIANCA
[quiet] Mum.

CAROL
[pause, quiet] I'm just tidying up an' then I'm going to get into bed.

BIANCA
[quiet] Why did David leave you?

CAROL
Told ya..

BIANCA
You ain't..

CAROL
Bianca, [quiet, indecipherable]

BIANCA
[puts CAROL's hand off her arm, stays standing determined but quiet] I just wanna know, why he left.

ALAN
[comes in, passing her to sit down] Drop it, "B."

BIANCA
No. [turning to CAROL]
We've all been hearin'.. how badly she's been treated through all this.. Just want to see if it was one way traffic.. I mean, accordin' to her, you just put a foot wrong--

CAROL
I never said that.

BIANCA
Yes you did--

CAROL
No, look, I was no angel, but I never deserted you!

BIANCA
[quiet] Oh, an' David did?

CAROL
Yes, he did.

BIANCA
Why?

CAROL
He just did.

BIANCA
[pause] Like I said, never your fault.

CAROL
{Don't know him.}

BIANCA
Just want to know why he walked out on ya.
Why have I spent my life without a father?

ALAN
Thanks "B."

CAROL
[sitting on chair] Huh! Come off it, Alan!
I mean we {don't even have the same name!}

CAROL
[heated] He's been a damn sight better father than your David Wicks ever was!

BIANCA
He never had a chance, did he?

CAROL
[admitting] No, I, that's--that's true, it's true..

BIANCA
Didn't want him, did ya?

CAROL
[testy] Do you wanna know why he left, eh?

BIANCA
[quiet, earnest] Yeah.

CAROL
He left because my brothers beat the living daylights out of him--that's why he left!

BIANCA
[quiet, sad] Thought so.

CAROL
[emphatic] Happy now?! Can we drop it?! [turns away, looking down at sink]

BIANCA
[quiet] You just told me the truth.. {An' Dav}--I knew he wouldn't o' just walked out on ya..

A liar, aren't ya.. [sniff, quiet] Yeah, he would o' looked after me..

CAROL
[facing the sink, quietly snide] Yeah, yeah, I've been such a bad mum.

BIANCA
[sudden, loudly objecting] Stop bein' so cleva!

CAROL
I'm not bein' clever! I'm just agreein' with you, aren't I?!

BIANCA
[loud, wronged] Why don't you just admit! You messed up your life an' you messed up mine!

CAROL
[quiet, turns around, amazed] That what you think?

BIANCA
[quiet] Suppose so.

CAROL
[amazed, getting snotty] Don't you? You think if David Wicks 'ad been around, it would all have been different? Thought we'd had a, palace with butlers an', women to take our laundries out? That what you think? That it's All My Fault because I just so happened to send the man who got me up the spout packing?

BIANCA
[wet eyes, squinting at her] Yeah.

CAROL
W-shall I tell you what I think? I think you're one selfish stuupid little cow.. Yes: you.. Don't you start on at me about your high an' mighty David Wicks, your clearly wonderful prat of a father! [high voice, mocking] Oh, you think he would a stood by you in thick an' thin, an bought you a pony for your birthday? Is that what you think?

BIANCA
[very slightly nodding, staring at air, resolved. During the next, grows more resolved, getting an exquisite but ugly look: chin out, wronged, refusing to look at anything but the air]

CAROL
That's rubbish. An' you know it. He, never cared for you. Huh! You?! You--you were just something that came along after the--that excited gropin' an' fumblin' down by the canal! It was me that brought you up, me that Fed an' Clothed ya! Me that went out to work all the hours god sent to make ends meet! Me, that gave up everything! Can't you get it out of your thick head it's David Wicks who messed up an' not me!

BIANCA
[instantly stands, shouting back] Yeah! Because you're so perfect, i'n't ya?!

You've never put a foot wrong! It's never your fault!

CAROL
[calmer] No, that's not true, {honest.} [suddenly really heated spewing] Honest--if I ever knew, I should never 'ave bothered! {Never lied 'n' never had yous at all!}

[BIANCA, still resolute, still with wet eyes, quickly leaves without a word. CAROL listens. The door slams. CAROL puts her head down, crying, feels crushed--like she blew it.]

-boom- -boom- -boom-boom-

Last Updated: 1 March 1998