Summary[]
Sonia overhears Pauline talking about Dot's operation. They try to persuade Jim to get some rest but he goes to the pub instead. Sonia and Pauline go to the hospital. At last orders, Alfie realises that something's wrong with Jim and he tells everyone about Dot. Alfie holds a lock in and they light a candle for Dot. Andy discovers this and threatens to fire Alfie. Ian stands up for him and is hit. He then relents and falls into conversation with Dennis - he tells him that Sam has accepted him for what he is. Jim is worried but a phone call from the hospital tells him that Dot will be all right. Meanwhile, Martin, Spencer, Mickey, Ronny and Tariq go out to celebrate Martin's stag night. He drunkenly falls into conversation with a waitress, Sarah, and walks her home.
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Sonia overhears Pauline on the phone to Jim. She's crushed to learn that Dot's ill. The Fowler women rush to the hospital. Pauline sends Jim home. He takes Sonia's mobile in case there's news. Jim wells up with emotion when he finds the biscuits that Dot's left out for him. He prays to God, pleading for her to come through her illness. He asks for a sign that she'll be alright. Pauline lectures Sonia about the importance of small comforts. She accuses her daughter-in-law of being immature. Sonia reminds her that she's had to cope with the death of a fiancé. Jim arrives at the Vic as it's closing. He's annoyed and pulls himself a pint. Trembling, he claims that he just wants to drink alone. He reveals that Dot's having surgery for cancer. Mickey teases Martin and Spencer about their boring relationships. Tariq blags them into the club by claiming that it's Martin stag do. The lads have a bet on who will pull first. Patrick suggests they light a candle. It's one of Yolande's rituals in times of trouble. Jim can't believe that he's an old man. He still feels like he's 20. Ian replies that he'd rather be 35 than a youngster. Alfie, Minty, Jim and Patrick wish that they were still young. Ian disagrees. He hated being bullied as a kid - as an adult he feels stronger. He has the law, money and reason behind him. Jim's amused by Ian's argument. He thinks that Ian acts more like he's 40. The men laugh uproariously. Jim raises Ian's age to 73! They're silenced by the words, "Open up, it's the police". Alfie opens up while the others hide. He's confronted by Andy who suspects that they're drinking after hours. Alfie fibs his way out of trouble, but Minty blows it making a noise. Pauline rattles on about the past repeating itself. Sonia's replaced her as the young newly-wed of the house. She believes that Sonia's got it easy compared to life in her young day. Ian takes Andy to task when he threatens to sack Alfie. Ian calls him a bully before thumping him. His triumph is short-lived as Andy punches him back. Martin's riled when Mickey teases him for not pulling. He launches into a speech about how Sonia's the best thing that's ever happened to him. He adds that he'll never hurt her. Dennis reminds Andy that he's been in Jim's position. Andy's bitter that his ex-wife wasn't around when his mum was dying. Dennis accepts Andy's invitation to be his best man. An attractive waitress chats to Martin. She's impressed by his passionate words about Sonia. He's wasted and rambles drunkenly. He offers to walk the girl home to save her a cab fare. Martin has a terrible shock when he wakes up in the early hours. He's in a strange bed with a strange woman! The other lads assume that Martin's tucked up with Sonia at home. The crowd in the pub sing a rousing rendition of 'My Bonny Lies Over the Ocean'. Jim receives the sign that he's been waiting for. It's word from the hospital. He's relieved to hear that Dot's fine. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Jim Branning - John Bardon
- Sonia Fowler - Natalie Cassidy
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Martin Fowler - James Alexandrou
- Spencer Moon - Christopher Parker
- Mickey Miller - Joe Swash
- Minty Peterson - Cliff Parisi
- Alfie Moon - Shane Richie
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- Patrick Trueman - Rudolph Walker
- Dennis Rickman - Nigel Harman
- Andy Hunter - Michael Higgs
- Ash Ferreira - Raji James
- Ronny Ferreira - Ray Panthaki
- Tariq Larousi - Nabil Elouahabi
- 'Nana' Victoria Moon - Hilda Braid
- Bobby Beale - Kevin Curran (uncredited)
Recurring cast[]
- Tracey - Jane Slaughter (uncredited)
Guest cast[]
Notes[]
- This was a special extended episode with two episodes merged together.
- When this episode was repeated on the Drama channel in December 2023, it was shown as two half-hour episodes. The first half ended with Alfie (who got the doof-doof) looking worried when someone knocks on the Queen Vic door as he is having a lock-in.