Ben is sitting and sees Stacey chasing after her mum. Jean yells at her to leave her be. Max pulls up and gets out of his car. He walks up to Stacey and wonders what’s happened. She tells him that her mum is not coming to the wedding. He wants to know how he can help. Stacey tells him it has nothing to do with him. He tells Stacey that no matter what’s happened between them he doesn’t want to see her unhappy. Stacey says it’s hilarious. Max touches her face. Mo yells at her not to get the dress dirty as it’s a proper fake designer dress. Stacey looks at Max and says to him that he’d do anything to get a feel, wouldn’t he? She walks off.
The phone is ringing, and Jane races down the stairs to grab it, but it’s too late. She tries Ian’s phone. She sees that there is one message on the machine. It’s a hang-up call but has noise to it.

Shirley asks if Heather’s mum is joking? How do you get the sack from a supermarket? Heather gets wheezy and grabs her inhaler. Queenie says “oh here she goes if she passes out you ain’t using my phone to call the ambulance.” Heather uses her inhaler and then feels better. She offers to make tea. Queenie tells her to explain to Shirley how she got fired. Heather took a bite of an Edam ball. Queenie says she bit it right through the wax. Shirley wonders if that was it? Why did they fire her for that? Queenie says it was the last straw as the week before she’d been caught in the freezer eating ice cream out of the container with her library card. Shirley says “Bloody hell Hev!” Queenie says hows that play into her little plan now for Heather to move in and pay your rent with her wages?” Heather defends Shirley. Queenie tells Heather that Shirley is a leech and a user and is only around when she needs something. Heather again defends Shirley and says that it’s not true and they are mates till the end. Shirley tells her. Shirley makes her way to leave. Heather asks her about moving in. Shirley says she didn’t mean right now. Heather looks disappointed. Queenie tells Heather that she doesn’t want you. She tells Heather that no one wants her and when is she going to get that through her lard-filled head? Shirley changes her mind and says “what is wrong with now? I’ll help you pack.”

Max chases after Jean. Jean is putting out her cigarette. Max wonders where she is going. She says home. She tells him that he’s a liar and his family is liars. She tells him that he sucks them in and makes them believe his lies. Max asks if they can have a drink since they will be family soon. As they are walking off Stephen walks out of the tube station.

Jane is on the phone with the phone company and attempts to get them to tell her where Ian’s phone was last used or if it’s being used. They must disagree. She explains she is his wife it must count for something. Shabnam goes to pick up the pay phone, and Jane yells at her to leave it since it’s broken. Shabnam tells her there is a dial tone. Jane yells at her to leave it. Everyone looks at her.

Jase is working without his shirt. A group of ladies walks by admiring him. Roxy walks up and says she will give him baby oil to complete the look. She mentions Jay was around for lunch. She tells him they got their things from Ibiza, so it looks like they are sticking around. She and Jase flirt and she walks out. Stephen walks up and asks what the shop will be. Jase tells him. Stephen stops in front of the Chip shop. Shabnam walks by, and Jase asks her if a 12-year-old can take five hundred pounds out of his savings account. Shabnam looks a bit stunned.

Stephen walks into the laundrette. He sees the note that says back in 10 minutes. He hangs up the phone line.

Roxy comes in and orders a cup of tea. Jane wonders if she’s come to celebrate and gossip. Roxy says she’s hurt. The pay phone rings and Jane races to answer it. She tells the person on the line she will come right now. She grabs her coat and tells Marie she’s got to go out . Outside Stephen looks at the cafe.

Heather tells her mum that all she has to do is ask her to stay and she will. Queenie says she won’t beg. Heather says she isn’t begging and will she be ok. Queenie ignores Heather and talks to her bird. She ignores Heather. Heather says what about their system? Queenie says she only did it to keep her busy because she can’t imagine how big she’d be if she didn’t keep her moving. Shirley tells her she didn’t put up much of a fight to keep Heather. Queenie tells her she’s always been a bit of a drag on her. She tells Shirley that Heather was the biggest regret of her life. Shirley yells “Oye that’s your flesh and blood.” Queenie asks if she’s changed her mind now that she sees what a drag Heather will be and wonders when Shirley became a nun.

Jay brings his dad a sandwich and milk. Jase asks him if he’s hungry. Jay tells him that he ate at the pub. Jase says that was about half an hour ago. So you’ve had time to go to the post office and draw out five hundred pounds and had lunch. Jase wants to know where his savings book is. Jay tells him it’s at the flat. Jase says he’s lying. Jay says he’s not. Jase says “so you’re telling me you haven’t bought a motorbike or computer games with that money?” Jay tells him is Nan told him it was for special family things. Jase doesn’t believe him. He tells him to take off his trainer. Jay does, and Jase proceeds to saw to front of the shoe off. Jay says his dad was well out of order. Jase wants to know where he got the money. Jay finally confesses after handing his other trainer to his dad. He tells his dad he nicked the ring off the two Mitchell birds. They had plenty of dough, and they needed the tools. So he took the ring and pawned it.

Heather calls out to her mum to see if she needs anything before they go. All of the sudden they hear a thump and Heather finds her mum laying on the floor moaning. Heather runs to her. Queenie tells her she didn’t want to bother her. She tells her to go and live her life and enjoy herself and not to worry about her. Queenie gives Shirley a knowing glance. Shirley tells Heather she is faking it. Heather tells her she is not. Queenie plays the part well. Shirley tells Heather she is going to regret this.

Max brings a drink to Jean. Jean tells him she wanted to make the dress and be a part of the day. Max tells her she was trying not to hurt her feelings. Max pushes Jean until she gets up to leave. He asks her if she is jealous. She says no. He says to her then why have you abandoned her. Jean looks at him square in the eye and says she has not abandoned her. He says “you’re right because you are still here.” He pushes her drink towards her, and they sit back down.

Bradley is chatting with Gus about his best man. He can’t ask his Granddad because he’s with Aunt Carol. He figures he will ask his boss. Gus doesn’t think that is a proper good idea. Bradley knocks on Stacey’s door and sees her in a dress and shields his eyes. She starts to cry.

Jase is chatting to Jay. Jay tells his dad he might not be home tonight. He might be beat up or chucked in a ditch somewhere. He raises his pant legs to show his shoes. Jase asks him what he expected him to say “well done for stealing Jay?” Jay tries to justify it. Jase sends him to school. Jay tries to ditch, and Jase won’t have it.

Stacey is explaining everything to Bradley, and he’s distracted by the rare magazine Jean found. Bradley answers the door, and it’s Jean. Jean tells her she will be there. Max suggests she do a reading and Bradley looks at Max. Jean thinks that will be perfect. She can get her dad’s book of poetry and read something out of that. Stacey believes it will be perfect. Max leaves and Bradley thanks him. Max tells him he’ll always be there for them.

Heather’s made tea and hears her mum laughing on the phone. She overhears her speaking about how she tricked Heather, and she fell for it. Queenie tells the other person how she wishes she’d taped it as she could have played it down at the pub for a laugh. Heather goes back and starts devouring her food. She hears her mum says she has to look at her in the morning and she’s depressed.

Shirley arrives back on the square just in time to see the landlord tossing her things on the corner. She yells at him and asks him what he’s playing at. He tells her that she has an hour to clear it or he’ll call the council and have them pick it up.

Stephen is sitting on the bench and sees Lucy, Peter, and Jane. Lucy is explaining something to Jane and Peter is trying as well. Jane doesn’t think their dad would see it the way they do. Stephen opens the locket and kisses the photo of Lucy and Peter and Cindy.
Peter says he wasn’t fighting he was defending himself. Lucy explains that everyone thinks their dad has run off with all the money and they couldn’t go off on holiday. The phone rings, and it’s dead air. She asks if it’s Ian to please say something. Lucy asks for an explanation. Jane explains that it’s been five days since anyone has spoken to him.

Roxy walks in and catches Ben putting her bra back in a drawer. He tells her it wasn’t him. She tells him she knows boys his age start to feel things and all. Ben runs out. She follows him and asks if he’s alright. She tells him it will be their secret and she won’t tell his dad.

Lucy believes their dad is with Cindy. Peter tells her it’s impossible as their mum is dead. Lucy says haven’t you seen the photos. Peter tells her they were faked. Lucy says she believes her dad and mum are getting things together and will come back to get them. Lucy asks Bobby if he wants to come to live with them and her real mum. He asks if she has Fireman Sam DVDs. Lucy says she’s got all the DVD’s in the world. Bobby shakes his head yes. Lucy wonders if Peter doesn’t remember her as well. Peter cries, and Lucy asks him what he does remember. He says her perfume, her voice, holding her hand.
Downstairs Jane has made dinner and grabbed the crisps. She heads up to the kids. Lucy and Peter are reminiscing about their mum. Jane walks up and overhears Lucy explain that she reckons they have to get Jane out of the way first. It would have been easier if he hadn’t married her. Peter tells her that Jane is not going anywhere. Lucy says they all go in the end, don’t they? It’s just what happens. Jane is sad.

Ben walks back into Roxy’s room. He destroys the room. Ronnie and Roxy hear the noise and see Ben walking out of her room. Ben says he hates her and wishes they’d never come to live there. Ronnie wonders what’s happened. Roxy tells her she caught him earlier. Roxy knocks on his door, and he tells her to go away. They go back into the room, and Ronnie sees her bag in there. She looks for the diamond ring, and it’s gone.

Stacey walks her mum back to the tube, and they have a good chat. Shirley is on the phone with the council, and they aren’t much help. Shirley sees the landlord walking by and yells at him that she’s not bothered. Nothing holds her back. Heather gets off the bus and says hello to her roomie. Shirley is happy.

Jane is in the kitchen and tells Lucy dinner is nearly done. Lucy grabs the crisps and tells Jane she will have those. Jane tells her she doesn’t know how to put it, but she overheard them upstairs. Lucy says “So!” Jane explains that her mum is dead and Ian is not with her dad. Jane explains that she’s having a tough time of it with running the three businesses and taking care of the kids and looking for their dad. She asks her for help. Lucy coldly looks at her and says “if I were you I’d be lining up somewhere else to live. Just in case. Not being nasty.” Jane can’t believe she’s said that. Lucy tells her that she’s the one that told Ian to get out. Jane says it might have to do with Lucy with Craig, Patrick and all that? Don’t you think that might have sent him over the edge? Lucy tells her it might have been her but he’s not here to ask is he? Lucy smugly walks off. Jane tells her she will not let her speak to her like that. Lucy tells her she’s just bricking it because her days here are numbered. Jane tells her she’s treated her like her child. Lucy tells her she’s nothing like her mum, she’s worth a dozen of Jane. She tells Jane that her mum is with her dad gone and they will all be a family again.

Bradley meets Stacey and tells him he’s thinking of asking his dad to be his best man. Jase tries to find a match for the trainer he destroyed.

Lucy is packing to go to Pat’s and says that Jane is blaming her for her dad leaving. Lucy tries to get Peter to go. He tells her it’s not the right way. Lucy convinces Bobby to go. Peter looks torn.

Jay comes up to Jase and Jay gives him new trainers. They jointly saw the ugly shoes together.

Jane is on the phone with Pat. She has asked her to come over as she needs a rest. She tells Pat she isn’t handling any of this properly. They hang up, and she sees Lucy and Bobby marching out. Lucy tells her they are going to Pat’s for the night. Jane says they are not. Lucy says locking them up won’t stop them. Jane says “what if your dad comes back? I don’t want him coming home to an empty house.” Lucy says oh yeah so you can be super Jane holding it all together. Jane says that yesterday Lucy hated her dad. Why is she turning on her? Lucy tells her because she lied to them and didn’t tell them the truth about their dad. Jane tells her she’s trying to protect them. Lucy tells her they don’t need protecting. They’ve been through this before. Why can’t she accept that Dad has had enough of her and has moved on? Jane goes after Lucy and tells her she’s had a gutful of this, and they are going to sit down eat their tea and stick together. Lucy tells her if she lays another finger on her she’s going to scream. Jane grabs her and Lucy screams for Jane to get off her. Peter protects his sister. Jane demands they stay there as no one is going anywhere. She turns around, and Stephen is standing there.