All is quiet on the square as the Eastend wakes up. Sean comes barreling down the lane, music blaring, after a night of using Charlie’s cab. He nearly hits Yolande and doesn’t notice.

Ian brings Jane into the newly renovated house, and it looks much the same. Jane asks him if it’s finished as it looks the same. Ian says it is finished.  He goes on about how living there is like a dream come true. He turns around to say something to Jane, but she’s gone.  Lucy is over in the chippy and making out with Craig.

Sean comes into Charlie yelling at him. He slips the key down before Charlie can catch him doing it. Charlie asks him for the rest of the rent. Sean pulls out a wad of cash and Charlie takes it from him. Stacey walks into the situation, and Sean slams out.

Yolande is giving Patrick a hard time about his hangover. She reminds him she’s opened up, put the papers out and he’s whinging about his condition. She has no sympathy for him.

Sean knocks on Carly’s door and pushes by when she answers. He tells her he needs a shower. She tells him that Deans in the shower. She asks him if he’s hungry. He says he’s starving.

Craig schmoozes Ian. Lucy comes out pretending as if she’s been cleaning. Ian puts on a jacket and tells her he’s never too busy to spend time with her. Craig comes back in, and Ian hugs Lucy. Ian tells Craig it’s one for the family album. Lucy smirks.

Carly is cooking Sean breakfast when Dean walks in and ask what he’s doing there. Carly says that he needs a shower. Dean says he needs one. “No wonder they call you Pongos,” he says. He goes on talking about how soldiers go weeks without showers and tries to wind Sean up. Chelsea jumps in and says the only thing Sean can attract right now is a four trotter with a curly tail. Sean tells her that she never seemed to mind. Chelsea storms off.  Dean tells him “you know what bro, one of these days!” Sean replies “What Deano, what? One of these days?” He tells him he knows nothing would give him more pleasure than to hit him, so he will make it easy for him. Sean puts his hands behind his back. When Deano does nothing, Sean smacks him to give him a reason.  Carly puts a stop to it and sends Sean up to shower.

Abi and Lauren are arguing. Abi tells her dad she didn’t spoil the surprise for her mum. Max is getting ready to take Tanya out for a special night. Lauren convinces Max she can look after Abi.  He says he’s off to buy Tanya something then they are out for the day. He asks them how he looks and the girls tell him not bad. He wonders if he’s put on too much aftershave and they both giggle, and he pretends to scoff. He tells Lauren to call if she needs anything. Abi asks Lauren what they are doing, and Lauren blows her off.

Lauren texts Lucy to tell her that she has an adult-free zone. Craig smiles at Lucy. Ian comes in and starts to talk about Pete and how he always wanted him to run the fruit and veg, but he never wanted to be like his dad. Mark was the one who took it over. He mocks Mark and laughs. Ian goes on to say that he realizes now how much it would have meant to him to see him do it. Lucy tells him she doesn’t want to end up working in the chip shop. Ian tells her fish is the future. They could have a whole chain. Lucy says that sounds a bit better. She picks up a bin and says she may as well get used to it. Ian stops her and gives her the day off. She can’t get out of there fast enough. He says if they get too busy he’ll send for reinforcements. He says he and Craig can handle it. Craig is not pleased.

 

Ronnie is giving orders to Roxy about how the relaunch is important and all the things that need to happen. Roxy pretty much ignores her except to ask her opinion between David Beckham and Jose Mourinho. Ronnie replies “Roy Keane any day of the week! Now shift yourself!” Sean walks in, and Ronnie yells at him that he is late. Roxy tells him that he needs to clean the bogs and flowers that need shoving in the boxes. Ronnie tells him that there are barrels that need changing. Sean asks for an advance as he’s short. Ronnie tells him maybe depending on the work he does. Sean asks her if that is a yes or a no. She replies that it is a do as I say and we’ll see..She adds that if he doesn’t like it, he knows where the door is.  Roxy is grinning, and Sean is frustrated.

Lucy and Lauren are sitting reading magazines. Lucy tells Lauren about her dad nearly walking in on her and Craig making out. Lauren says her dad would have killed her. Lucy tells her that her dad doesn’t even have a clue about anything. Lucy says “what does he think I’m going to do? Stay a virgin my whole life?” Just then Abi walks in and Lauren shushes Lucy. Abi wants to know what they are doing, and Lauren tells her that she is just talking to her friend. Abi tells her she said she would look after her. Lauren tells her she lied and sends her off to play.

Max is walking by the Vic with a big beautiful bouquet of flowers. Sean tells him “I thought flowers like that were for saying sorry! Guilty conscious?”  Max replies “no, try beautiful family, beautiful wife, beautiful daughters, good life. How about you?” Sean looks a bit dejected.

Patrick and Jim are laughing about their night of drinking. Jim tells Yolande he’s just kidding. Patrick gives Jim a betting tip and sends him off to make a bet without Yolande catching them.

Chelsea is stacking product up in the salon when she knocks some over. Tanya comes over and Chelsea whinges she didn’t want to do it that way anyhow. Tanya tells her that sometimes we have to do things we don’t like and starts to stack them up herself.  Max walks in as Chelsea storms off. Max is trying to help her and is sympathetic. He tells her he knows how she gets messed up when Rainie is around. Tanya snaps at him. Max reminds her it’s their anniversary. Tanya has forgotten. He shows her the flowers. He says at least she didn’t give her any money. He tells her to get her coat he’s taking her out for lunch. Tanya tries to get out of it as she’s still not feeling well. He tells her it’s only lunch and he has everything sorted.

Craig is at Lauren’s. Lucy asks him how he got out of the chippy. He tells them that he told Ian that his Nan texted and she was upset and needed him. Lucy says “let’s play a game!” Lauren suggests Scrabble but then says she was only joking. Lucy asks them to play Truth or Dare. She asks Lauren if she’s playing.

Jase is at the bar, and Ronnie asks him what she can get him. He pips up “a pension at this rate” as he shows her his empty bottle. She wonders where Sean is. She says he’s usually good except on Friday nights. He is ex-Army she says. He comes in with pail and mop in hand. She reminds him they have customers and he tells her he’s been busy. She pushes back that he isn’t looking too good when it comes to the advance. Roxy walks by and smiles big at Jase. Sean glares at Jase and asks if he thinks what Ronnie was saying is funny. He glares at Jase some more and tells him unless he’s been in the Army he knows nothing.

Patrick’s horse wins, and Kevin wants to know who he’s getting his tips from.

Back and Lauren’s things are getting out off hand. Lucy is chugging whiskey. Craig is smoking and drinking. It’s Lauren’s turn for truth or dare. They ask her how far she’s gone with a boy. Lauren tells her that isn’t fair and she’ll take a dare. Lucy says she has to do something, so she tells Lauren to take her top off. Craig is laughing, and Lucy tells her she’s got a bra on so it’s okay. Lauren starts to, and Abi runs in because Marge is stuck and she needs her help. Abi asks why the curtains are closed, and wonders if Lauren has been smoking as it smells disgusting. Lucy pops up and says that they are going now.  Lauren looks relieved for them to go. Abi asks Lauren if Marge will be ok. Abi looks at the room and scrunches her nose up.

Tanya and Max are having lunch. She waves off the drink, and Max convinces her to have a little. Max toast to 13 years and making it through the hard times. He says “love is about never giving up on the people you care about.” Tanya looks sad.

Jane is finishing her purchase at the Minute Mart and discussing decorating with Yolande. Jane akins Ian’s style of socks with sandals. Yolande gets a good laugh at that. Patrick tells her that he likes the house the way it is as she shows him paint swatches. Outside Jim is peering in. Yolande and Patrick discuss saving and spending. She says they work hard and he tells her it’s not the right time. Charlie comes in and joins in saying he’s got a broken shower to replace. He says he’ll be working night and day to pay it off. Yolande tells him as long as he goes the speed limit. Charlie is confused. She tells him that Sean nearly ran her over this morning but wouldn’t even have noticed he as going so fast. Charlie is enraged that Sean was driving his cab.

Jase is yelling at Sean that he’s mixed up his change. Sean says he hasn’t. Ronnie comes over, and Jase asks her to have a word. About that time Charlie comes walking in. He tells Sean he asked him point blank if he’d been in his cab and he lied. He reminds SEan that it is his livelihood and how he earns a living. He yells that he messed with the clock and could have hit someone. He tells Sean he has the morals of a sewer rat. Sean yells back “you wanted your money for rent I got it for you! I didn’t hit anyone now did I?” Charlie yells back that he’s lucky that there are still good honest people left in the world and he’s lucky it was just Yolande who saw him.  Charlie is happy she did otherwise he’d not have known until the police come knocking on his door.  Sean storms off as Charlie yells at him to pack his bags and find another mug. He wants him out.

Craig and Lucy are on the swings. She tells him to try. He says the bird in there doesn’t trust him. But she could, she trust her. He tells her to go on. She gets up and walks off with a smile on her face.

Sean storms into the minute mart filled with rage. He yells at Yolande that she just couldn’t keep her mouth shut and from tossing spanners into his life. She says he must have spoken to Charlie. Sean asks her if the sun is setting a bit too fast. Stacey happens to be in there and yells at Sean. Yolande tells him “maybe if you weren’t always breaking the law”  Sean yells “Have I killed anyone? Have I?” Yolande asks him to leave as Patrick comes round the corner. She tells him he is not welcome. He insults her some more by asking when her lot became the moral compass of the square. Patrick stops him and says that’s his wife. Sean points at him and tells Patrick he needs to rein her in. Patrick tells him “There was a time I couldn’t walk down the street without someone knocking me about. I ignored them once, twice but the third time I must take my jacket. These days I don’t have the patience.” Sean goes for him. Stacey steps in front and gets Sean to leave. She asks him what he was doing trying to his Patrick; he’s an old man. Sean doesn’t respond, and he keeps on walking. Stacey wonders what’s gotten into him. He continues to walk away. Stacey yells “well go on! Story of your life, innit!”

Yolande asks Patrick if he’s alright. Lucy walks in. Patrick says he thinks so. Lucy goes to the liquor to shelve while Yolande and Patrick discuss the incident. Patrick is telling Yolande that they need to stick up for themselves. Lucy shoves a bottle up her shirt. She tries to sneak out, but Patrick catches her. She hands the bottle to Yolande and says she’s sorry. She asks her not to tell her Dad. Patrick thinks he should tell the police. Yolande asks for an explanation. Lucy tells them it was a dare, and her friends made her do it. Yolande tells her she needs new friends. Patrick tosses a bag of candy to her and tells her to stick to sweets. Lucy looks mortified. Patrick and Yolande are disappointed.

Carly finds Sean sitting on a bench and asks him why he isn’t at work. He’s staring at the names of lost soldiers. He tells Carly he thinks they were the lucky ones. She rubs his shoulder.

At home, Ian is hanging wall paper and dancing. Jane catches him in the act. He tells her how fantastic the house will look when it’s finished. She kisses him and says she knows. She turns up the music, and they dance.

Carly asks Sean what happened. He says it’s this place. She tells him he’s just tired as he’s been working long hours. He tells her that pouring warm beer into glasses isn’t work as he stares off into the distance. He says “walking down the street, up against the wall, knowing there is a sniper in that building, waiting.  That’s work” Carly says he never talks about it. He turns to her and says “come away with me. Let ‘s get a map, jump on a plan and run away” He kisses her. Chelsea snoops outside the door and then walks away. Carly tells him that he can talk to her. He tells her that the day he got his posting was the best day of his life. She says she can’t imagine wanting to go. He continues saying “The Gulf, Kosovo… I was too young. This, this was my war.”  He tells her about a mate he had, Lee. He says he had no sense of humor. He hated the Army. He never stopped moaning about it. They used to go on patrol together. One day Sean got sick and stayed behind. Lee’s convoy got hit by an IED. He lost both legs and pensioned at 23. he needs a new wheelchair, it’s on his list of items he needs.  He wanted that war he says. He wanted more than that; he wanted a bloodbath. Carly tells him he doesn’t have to keep fighting, why is he still so angry. Sean breaks down and cries “I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t stay and watch her lose her marbles slowly every day. Food in her hair, stinking.” Carly wonders who and realizes it’s his mum he’s talking about.  She reminds him he was just a kid and nobody expected him to manage it. He yells back at her through his angry tears that Stacey did. He says “you want to see brave? You look in her eyes. I can’t” He walks out, and Carly chases after.

Kevin walks in and blows Patricks secret betting earlier. Yolande wonders what he’s talking about “out of what”.

Max and Tanya are having lunch, and he’s going on about the area and how well they’ve done for themselves. Tanya gets up and says she can’t do this right now.

Yolande asks Patrick “What am I to you?” He says you are my everything. She says “some kind of fancy housekeeper? Keep you fed and your bed warm?” Patrick tells her that he was going to tell her everything. She tells him not to lie. He says he didn’t want her to go wasting it. She says she didn’t ask for designer clothes, or anything. She just wanted the place to look nice. He says he was a bit hasty and he can get some more paint charts. She walks around, and he asks her where she is going. She stops in the doorway and tells him that he can do what he likes. If he wants to drink himself to death, that’s ok. Patrick is worried.  Yolande runs into Denise. Denise says she was just the woman she was hoping to see. She asks her to lunch and Yolande breaks down crying.

Back in the shop, Patrick is putting things away when he’s smack over the head with a bat. He falls to the ground.