Summary[]
Lou continues doing her rounds around the Square, telling certain people a few home truths. Pat confides in Donna about maternity and parenting issues. Colin and Barry enjoy themselves by getting drunk on cider. After much thinking and probably the guilt lingering over her after Lou gave her a piece of her own medicine, Pat finally tells Wicksy that Brian Wicks is in fact his biological father. Lou gathers her family together at Number 45 and goes around them one by one, giving each a lecture but also words of encouragement and a gift. Satisfied that she's given her family one final sorting out, and feeling she hasn't got long left to live, she heads to bed saying "I can go now".
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Colin is sad that Barry is leaving and suggests they have a few drinks back at his flat before he goes. Lou warns Den that he is being watched, and then reminisces about Albert Square and all the times she has shared with her friends in the Vic over the years. Pat talks with Donna about how she felt when she found out Kathy was her biological mother. Dot finds a drunken Colin and warns him against seeing Barry again, as he still has not paid him back the £500 he lent him, but Colin says life is too short. Dot convinces Pauline that Lou is saying her goodbyes to everyone as she is going to live in Leigh-on-Sea permanently. Pat asks to see Simon, while the rest of Lou's family wonder what home truths she is going to give them. Pat sits Simon down and tells him that neither Kenny nor Pete are his father, and nor is Den. Simon is stunned to learn his biological father is actually Brian Wicks. Pat is full of guilt and self-hatred. The Beales and Fowlers all meet at Number 45 to see Lou. Lou enters the backroom and sits down. She begins with Ian and tells him he has to stand up for himself, and stop letting people dictate his decisions for him. She then gives him a cookbook and turns her attention to Michelle, telling her she would have brought shame on the family in the old days by getting pregnant when she was not married, and that she wants her to start thinking of others for a change. She gives her a paper mat and then gives Kathy another talking to, telling her that she should try to keep herself grounded. Kathy receives knitting needles. Pete is told to get Kathy pregnant so she has a reason to stay at home, and also to give Ian more direction, and is given Albert's pocket watch. Arthur is next to receive a good talking to by Lou, before being gifted with Albert's gardening book. Lou then focuses on Pauline and sympathises with her for keeping the family going, even through tough times. She gives her her wedding ring and, feeling she has not got long left to live, heads off to bed to die. |
Credits[]
- Lou Beale - Anna Wing
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Arthur Fowler - Bill Treacher
- Pete Beale - Peter Dean
- Kathy Beale - Gillian Taylforth
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- Dot Cotton - June Brown
- Colin Russell - Michael Cashman
- Barry Clark - Gary Hailes
- Simon 'Wicksy' Wicks - Nick Berry
- Pat Wicks - Pam St. Clement
- Frank Butcher - Mike Reid
- Ali Osman - Nejdet Salih
- Sue Osman - Sandy Ratcliff
- Donna Ludlow - Matilda Ziegler
- Den Watts - Leslie Grantham
- Sharon Watts - Letitia Dean
- Michelle Fowler - Susan Tully
- Vicki Fowler - Samantha Leigh Martin (uncredited)
- Martin Fowler - Jon Peyton Price (uncredited)
- Little Ali Osman - Omer Mustafa Salih (uncredited)
Locations[]
- The Queen Victoria - Public, hallway and upstairs flat
- 45 Albert Square - Backroom
- Launderette
- Café Osman
- 14B Walford Towers - Living room/kitchen
Notes[]
- Final appearance and death of Lou Beale.
- Last appearance of Barry Clark until 23 February 1989.
- Frank Butcher refers to Brian Wicks as being the first husband of Pat Wicks when in previous and future dialogue it has been confirmed that Pete Beale was her first husband and Brian was her second.
- Radio Times synopsis: 'This has been our local all our lives. It's seen all our good times and bad times. Engagements, Weddings, Christmases, Confessions, Secrets...'
- Viewing Figures: UK broadcast - 17,150,000 viewers (chart placing unknown).
- This episode has been featured on Amazon Prime in the box set "Iconic Exits" uploaded by the BBC and EastEnders.
- For its 2025 upload to BBC iPlayer as "Classic EastEnders", this episode was entitled Lou Beale's Last Words.
Dialogue[]
PAT WICKS: (about Lou) She's a canny old bag. For all her fire and brimstone, she knows exactly how to get straight to the jugular.
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