Plot
As Michelle is working at the laundrette, she has a conversation with Sharon, telling her how Ali treats her better than her Dad & Gran. When Sharon tells her she's "flapping", as Ethel calls it, Michelle says maybe if she keeps flapping she'll get off the ground. Sharon says she needs a strategy, like the generals that she studied in history class, as Dot passes by telling them that her old gran used to say to cast your bread on the waters, to which Sharon replies, "We're not talking about your old gran are we !!"
At the Vic Naima brags about how wonderful Saeed was... how well he spoke... he should run for council himself. Pete buys them both a drink, as a busybody Dot puts in her unwanted 2 cents worth once more, saying "A right little Winston Churchill ain't he?"
A frustrated Mary says "You don't want to wake Sue." as tries to get baby Annie to stop crying. We see Sue sitting all alone staring at the TV set.
At the Vic, Den and Michelle have a heart to heart talk about her Dad, who she says moans all the time (must be where Michelle gets it from) and has a face like a cabbage. She tells Den that Ali is more like a Dad to her, "He's smashing, seems to understand." After giving her a pep talk, Den wishes her a happy birthday and gives her a kiss on the cheek (after which Michelle has a wicked little grin on her face that goes unnoticed by Den).
One moment we see Sue, still sitting at home alone, staring at the TV set, (which now has the humming buzz that you hear when there are no longer any programs available to watch); the next moment we listen to Den as he phone his mistress, who doesn't seem pleased to hear from him.
As they go out for a jog, in their matching suits, Andy & Deb manage to lock themselves out of their home. As Kelvin gets his Dad's ladder, so that Andy can get inside through his upstairs window, Deb asks Angie if she can loan her something she can wear to work.
Naima, who gets a letter accusing Saeed of "paying visits to houses of sin", asks Pauline what she should do about the letter. She tells her that since it's probably a hoax, that she should rip it up & put it with the rest of the rubbish.
Pauline & Arthur sing Happy Birthday to Michelle, and give her a new top & jewelry, along with a card saying how she is 16 going on 21. She is very pleased with her presents but unhappy that there isn't any card from her brother Mark.
At the café, Deb asks Sue if she's trying to get closed down. She says the place is a mess, what if a health inspector should come, and leaves when Sue isn't listening to her. At the laundrette, Tony who has loaned Andy the ladder, asks Deb about getting a bank loan, who tells him to see his bank manager.
As Ethel & Lou look at clothing, and Ethel tries to decide what to wear, Lou says, "What again?" She then tells her to take both, and bring back the one that she doesn't want later on. At his place, Tony takes on the challenge that Ian & Kelvin make to him after he tells them that he can make a better knitting pattern than the two of them. At the laundrette, a sarcastic Pauline makes snide remarks, as Dot goes on about her "charming" son again.
At thecafé, Arthur & Lofty discuss the country and the benefits of having your own land. Lofty says they will get it when they are 6 feet under & pushing up daisies. Arthur has a brainstorm saying "An allotment-- that's it !!"
As Lou gives Michelle the deposit for her motorbike for her birthday (the same amount she gave to Ian she says), Ali comes by begging Lou to help with Sue. Lou goes to the café, tries her best to get through, but says that Sue is becoming a ghost and she thinks they are losing her.
Pauline, who has been having pains throughout the day, leaves a note saying "Gone to the hospital," and calls out for a taxi. The driver tells her to "Get comfy, we'll be there in a flash."
Cast
Regular cast
- Naima Jeffery - Shreela Ghosh
- Saeed Jeffery - Andrew Johnson
- Tony Carpenter - Oscar James
- Hannah Carpenter - Sally Sagoe
- Kelvin Carpenter - Paul J. Medford
- Sue Osman - Sandy Ratcliff
- Ali Osman - Nejdet Salih
- Lofty Holloway - Tom Watt
- Dr. Legg - Leonard Fenton
- Michelle Fowler - Susan Tully
- Sharon Watts - Letitia Dean
- Debbie Wilkins - Shirley Cheriton
- Andy O'Brien - Ross Davidson
- Lou Beale - Anna Wing
- Kathy Beale - Gillian Taylforth
- Pete Beale - Peter Dean
- Ian Beale - Adam Woodyatt
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Arthur Fowler - Bill Treacher
- Den Watts - Leslie Grantham
- Angie Watts - Anita Dobson
Guest cast
None.