Stacey is riding in the back of a cab and realizes she doesn’t have enough money. She asks the driver to pull over just past the bridge. She gets out and tells him she has no money, and thanks for the lift. Stacey takes off running and hides as the driver chases her. She manages to duck into the cafe. Shirley asks her if someone is after her? Shirley asks her who it is? Some bloke who doesn’t want the answer no? Shirley tells her not to worry as there are two of them, and they can kick his head in. Stacey tells her she can take care of herself. Stacey sits down, and Shirley joins her. Shirley orders two coffees. Stacey asks her if she’s had a good night? Shirley tells Stacey it was her worst yet. Shirley asks Stacey if she’s been out clubbing? Was it good? Stacey tells her it was crap. Shirley asks her why? Stacey responds,” because I was there.” Shirley tells her that it is excellent, how she feels. Shirley wonders if Emin feels the same? He brings their coffees while Shirley tells him she bets he is a good boy and is respectful. She tells Emin that if she were his mum, he’d love her no matter what. He just smiles and sits back down. Shirley tells Stacey they should make their coffees Irish. She takes out a bottle of vodka, and it’s empty. Stacey figures that is for the best as she’s had too much already. Shirley said it’s ok, as they are still there, still fighting them. The cab driver walks in, and Stacey shrugs down. Stacey asks Shirley for a tenner as she’s done a runner on the minicab. Shirley gives it to her and tells the cab driver it’s his lucky night. She tells Stacey to go home. Shirley then sets her sites on the cabbie and tells him he can come home with her. His face gives it away that he’s going to but thinks better of it.
Stacey opens the door and finds Jean on the other side on the floor. Jean demands to know where she’s been. Stacey looks at her and says, “out.” Jean says it’s nearly 3:30 in the morning. Stacey tells her to go to bed then, as that is where she is going. Jean cries out to Stacey that she’s been calling her all night and demands to know why she didn’t call her back or text her just to let her know that she was safe. Stacey wonders why she wouldn’t be safe? She tells Jean that just because she’s screwed everything up doesn’t mean she was going to do herself in. She tells Jean that she’s not like her and Sean. She’s the dependable Slater, the one you can count on. Just ask Bradley.
Lucy asks Ian if he is ready for his gay date tonight? Ian tells her for that last time; it is not a gay date. Peter tells him that Christian says it is. Ian says NO, it’s a business meeting. Ian tells the kids that it’s just a business meeting with a client who just happens to be gay. Lucy asks if that is what the client thinks? Christian snickers, “no.” Ian tells Christian to remember that he is there under sufferance, and as soon as they have the party planned, they are holding another vote. Ian says that once he meets him, he’ll put the record straight. Jane asks if he’s going to set him straight before or after he signs the contract? Ian is appalled; she would even suggest that. Ian asks if she is seriously suggesting that he would lead someone on to get what he wants? Lucy chimes in, “why not? I would!” Peter wonders why this man thinks Ian is gay in the first place? Lucy says she can see why. Christian agrees. Lucy says he’s sort of mincey! Ian protests and says that he is 100% heterosexual. He asks Jane to defend him. She says that she supposes he is. Lucy grabs on to the comment and says, “suppose.” Ian demands Jane to defend his argument, and he tosses in some private information for good measure. The kids are grossed out. Ian is flustered that he has to defend himself. He again demands Jane to tell them all that they are married in the fullest sense. Jane says that she is pleased to announce here at breakfast that they are married in the fullest sense. Christian says that he could still be bi-sexual. Peter wonders if that means both? Ian storms off and says they are having another vote! They are all laughing.
Clare is rummaging through Dot’s purse when Dot calls out, “did you find it?” Clare takes some cash out and then pretends she’s just found it on the side of the sofa when Dot walks in. Dot swears she left it upstairs. Clare says she’s always doing the same, never remembering where she’s left things. She goes to walk out and comes back in. She hands Dot some money and says she knows it’s not much, but she doesn’t get paid until the end of the month. Dot tells her not to be silly and keep it until she gets her wages. Clare thanks Dot and tells her she’d been saving to go to that new club R&R. Dot tells Clare that is Jack’s club, Jim’s boy, and she’ll mention for him to keep an eye out. Clare says he looks lovely. Dot tells her that she’s sure he’ll be a perfect gentleman.
Stacey takes some medicine to help with her hangover. Jean tells her that if she’s not feeling up to it, then she and Mo could open the store for her. Stacey looks at them, annoyed. Jean tells Stacey they have a plan to get her money back. Mo says she should call Roger and tell him that the stock is flying off her shelves, and she needs more. When he arrives, they’ll grab him and get her money back. Stacey is not amused. Mo calls him, but Stacey refuses to leave him a message and heads back to bed. Jean yells up at her that they are only trying to help her.
Shirley is asleep when a bat starts to poke at her. It’s Sean holding the bat. He tells her he came in through the front door. He tells her she needs to get that looked at. He wants to know where Deano is. Shirley tells him he’s gone. Sean wants to know when he’ll be back. Shirley says she reckons when she’s dead and only to make sure it’s true. Sean wonders why he’s run away this time? Shirley tells him not to flatter himself as it’s because of her this time. Sean wonders if he should just batter her a bit. She tells him to go ahead as it might help with the hangover. Sean gets angry and busts a lamp. He tells Shirley to tell Dean that if he ever comes back, he’s going to do that to him until his arms get tired. She tells him she’ll pass along the message, and if he’ll excuse her, she has to puke. He looks at her and says he wouldn’t notice the difference.
Ian and Christian are working on the playlist for the party. Christian has to explain why Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” is the end all be all of the songs. He tells Ian that they have to give the client what he likes, what turns him on. Steven protest and says they should have given him back his check and kept their pride as any normal person would do. Christian asks if he’s the definition of normal? Ian tells him it’s just business. Steven says he knows what he wouldn’t do for money. Ian tells Christian this better be worth it.
Stacey takes money from Jean to take care of her hangover. Mo is trying to decide which kitchen tool to use on Fat Elvis.
Shirley is at the pub ordering a double vodka. She’s wearing the pink cowboy hat, and Ronnie wants to know if it’s her new look. Ronnie reminds her she has a shift later. Phil asks her if it was a rough night with Deano? She tells him not to worry as he won’t be coming into the pub again. Phil tells her that it’s Sean he has to worry about. Stacey comes in and says she needs what Shirley’s having. Shirley tells her if she looked as rough as her, she’d get two.
Jack comes into the salon. He introduces himself to Clare, who reminds him they’ve already met. Jack tells her that Dot told him she’d like to come to his club. Clare apologizes for that. Jack says not to worry as he’s not bothered after meeting her. He tells her not to queue up but to let the doorman know he’s expecting her. He asks if she likes champagne. Clare responds, “who doesn’t.” He tells her he’ll see her tonight and heads off.
At the pub, Heather has joined Stacey and Shirley. Heather takes the cowboy hat and thanks to her for as she’ll be needing it soon for the interview. She asks where Dean is. Shirley tells Heather he’s taken the money she’s given him and headed off to meet Carly and Denise on holiday. Heather gets excited and almost asks if she can return when Shirley tells her he’ll be back soon. Shirley asks her how she’s getting on with the grease monkeys? Heather tells Shirley they are getting on well and having such a laugh. She tells her that they love it. Heather gives Garry and Minty a little wave. Shirley tells her she’s pleased for her. Heather tells Shirley how happy she is Deano is back, and she’s getting a second chance with him. Heather goes on about how lucky Shirley is and how well it’s working out for her.
Garry tells Minty that it’s all going to end in tears. Minty tells Garry that Heather doesn’t fancy him anymore. Garry isn’t so sure. Heather walks over and asks for her drink. She replies, “cheers, roomies!” Garry whispers to Minty that if she says that one more time, he won’t be responsible for his actions.
Stacey asks Shirley if Deano is gone for good? Shirley doesn’t answer her but instead tells her how loyal Heather is and how she has a heart of gold but a brain like a beer mat. Shirley tells Stacey that she’d have been there for her. Stacey tells Shirley that she had someone like that once. Shirley tells Stacey that she’d love to blow this place up. Take everything you have and watch it all burn to the ground. Stacey tells her she thought she’d done that once already. Stacey tells her if she wants to do it, then she’s got to go faster as you end it quicker that way. Stacey heads off.
Christian wonders if Ian has thought about what he’s wearing tonight? He tells Ian that it is important, and he needs to make a good impression. Ian tells him that he figures he’ll wear what he wore last time. Christian says it’s perfect as it was what attracted him to him in the first place. Christian tells Jane that Ian is getting the hang of it already. Ian asks Jane how long he will keep this up? Jane laughs and tells Ian until Christian knows it’s not getting to him.
Stacey is chugging vodka from the bottle. Mo is on the phone and demands she get home so they can shift the dresses back to Roger. Stacey tells her she can’t and hangs up. She kneels down, pours vodka on the dresses, and sets them on fire. She continues to chug the vodka.
Shirley is burning Dean’s photo. She grabs the bottle of vodka and chugs away.
Clare is all dressed up, and Dot tells her she should wear a coat, so she doesn’t catch a cold. The bell rings, and Dot tells her she has a little surprise for her. Clare assumes it’s Jack who has come to collect her. She races to the door, pulls her cleavage down lower, and answers to find Gus standing there with a rose. He tells her that Dot mentioned she needed a chaperone.
Jean is yelling at Stacey for having burned the dresses. Stacey yells back that it doesn’t matter anyway as Mo’s gotten the money back. Mo tells her that he still wants them back. Stacey says that it’s not like he will call the cops. She stands up to go out, and Jean wonders where she’s going. Stacey tells her she’s going to R&R and then wherever is open. Jean begs her not to as she’s scaring her and to stop it. Jean tells her she has a surprise for her and pulls out Snakes and Ladders. Jean tells her that it always used to cheer her when she was little. Jean is excited to have a night in with Stacey. Stacey grabs it and bins it telling her mum that she’s not 6. She looks at Jean and tells her that she’s a 19-year-old screw up who’d going to go out and get more wasted than she already is.
Jane is adjusting Ian’s tie and tells him to behave himself. She wants him to remember that just because he’s paying for him, it doesn’t mean he has to do anything. She kisses him and asks if that is Christian’s aftershave? Christian says it is. Lucy bets Edward will like it. Peter wishes him good luck. Christian tells him to remember if you can’t be good, then be careful as he hands him a box of condoms. Ian tosses them on the table, and Jane, Christian, and lucy have a laugh.
Jack is pouring Clare and Gus champagne. Gus is ecstatic to be Clare’s chaperone. Clare is annoyed. Jack takes a call, and Gus tells her that he can give her his undivided attention, whereas Jack is a busy man. Jack tells her he’s going to have to take the call, but she can go anywhere she likes. She looks at him all doe-eyed and asks him if he will be back. He tells her he will.
Ian walks into the restaurant and greets Edward. Edward tells him he was beginning to think he stood him up. Edward takes his hand and mentions he has cold hands, but that means a warm heart. Ian awkwardly says he hopes it’s still pumping. Ian sits down, and Edward says he’d like to get the awkwardness out of the way. He hands Ian a check and tells him he’s hiring him to host his party. Ian explains he has to tell him that he is not gay. Edward simply replies, “ok.” Ian defends himself and tells Edward he’s been married four times, and he’s not gay. Edward laughs and asks him if they all found out. Ian exclaims, NO. He liked them, loved them all. Edward tells Ian to relax; it’s nothing more than two men having dinner. Ian is still nervous.
Jean finds Sean at the Vic and demands he go help, Stacey. She tells him Stacey is in a bad way and has been drinking all day. Sean says, lucky her! Jean emphatically begs him to go to R&R and help get her home. Sean says, why? Because you asked me to? Jean tells him no, it’s because she needs their help, and she’s his sister.
Stacey is slamming shots and tells the bartender to line them up as it’s not going fast enough. Gus is boring Clare to tears, and she keeps looking for Jack. Steven comes in to join Stacey and orders three more on top of her three. He tells her she’ll never believe what his Dad is up to tonight. He needs to be drunk to deal with this.
Ian and Edward are chatting about Edward’s partner. Edward tells him that his partner won’t come out, but he loves him, so he learned to live with it. He then tells Ian how he was invited to Buckingham Palace as he was being awarded an MBE. Ian is mesmerized and congratulates him on such an honor. Edward tells Ian his boyfriend wouldn’t go. Apparently, he’s been dating a republican this entire time. His boyfriend tells him, “shoot them all,” that is his view. He tells Ian that his boyfriend gave him an ultimatum and told him if he went, they were over. Edward tells Ian that he told his boyfriend they were over anyway as he’ll not have anyone insulting the Queen, especially since he’s one too. So, Edward says, I upped the budget to $7,000 pounds. Ian is happily shocked.
Phil is sitting with Shirley. She tells him she can’t do her shift tonight. He tells her if she doesn’t get her act together, she may not have a job. She tells him she’s lost her son. He looks at her and says that he’s lost his daughter, so what else does she have? She tells him she has him. She wonders why he’s there and why he wants to help her? He looks at her and hands her coffee. He says because they are short-staffed.
Sean tries to convince Stacey to slow down on the drinks. She asks him if he’s her Dad? She keeps on drinking, and Sean gives up. Stacey backs into Jack. Jack tells the bartender that they (her and Steven) are through unless it’s water. Stacey tells him she will behave unless he doesn’t want her to. She grabs Jack (to the disgust of Clare) and tells him they can go in the back and she can misbehave if he wants her to. Jack tells Steven to get her out of there and get her home. Stacey grabs her purse and says she doesn’t want to go home; she wants to dance. Jack tells Steven that either he gets her out or he will.
Clare asks Gus if he saw that! She figures Stacey reckons to make her way through the whole Branning family since she’s already had, Max and Bradley! Gus wonders how she knows all of that? Clare reminds him she lives with Dot. She tells Gus she’s going to go apologies on her behalf. Jack is standing with Ronnie. He tells her it’s a nice surprise to see her there. He wonders if she would like a drink? She tells him no; she just came to see how things were going. Besides, she will leave him to his little friend as Clare has walked up behind Jack.
Stacey is dancing away as Minty and Garry walk by. Garry is determined Heather still fancies him, The Hobbster, as he calls himself now. Minty asks Heather, and she denies it. He wonders why she wants to go through with the contest. She says so they can split the prize money, and she can get liposuction and a nose job. She wants to be beautiful. She walks away, and Garry says see she still fancies me and wants to get all that done so I’ll go out with her. Steven tries to get Sean to help him get Stacey out, but he refuses and instead tells Steven to catch up with Stacey and start having as much fun.
Ian and Edward are polishing off a bottle of wine. Ian is whinging about how he doesn’t have a great love with Jane. He loves her, but it’s not the greatest love he’s ever had. He wishes he could make it that way, but he can’t. Edward asks him, do you stay with someone because it’s comfortable. He tells Ian that he deserves better. Ian says that he does indeed. He could meet the Queen, accept awards. Wouldn’t his Dad just be proud to know he got to meet the Queen. Edward grabs Ian’s hand and says he can. Edward invites Ian to go with him to the palace to meet the Queen. Ian accepts but pulls his hand away.
Clare tells Gus she’s just getting over someone, and its not the right time for her. She tells him she’s ready to go home. She asks him if they can be friends. He agrees, and they shake hands. Clare gives him a kiss on the cheek. Clare glares at Jacks’s office.
Ronnie and Jack are in the office, and she’s going through the books. Jack tells her when she’s decided to finish punishing him to let him know. He walks out and sees Stacey still there. He demands Sean to get his sister out. Sean asks him how he’d like him to do it? Drag her out? Jack tells him he doesn’t care how he does it, to just do it. Sean tells Steven to come to help him. Sean grabs Stacey and the protest. Suddenly she starts to have a seizure. Sean yells at Steven to get an ambulance as everyone in the club watches.