Summary[]
Wicksy asks Pat if he can move into the spare room at the Vic. Michelle goes to the wine bar to ask Mantel if he knows where Den is, while Den desperately tries to contact Michelle. They arrange to meet at the canal as the Firm desperately search for Den to seal his fate. Barry returns to the Square on a seven day break from his job on the cruise ship, and pops in to surprise Colin. Colin moves out and leaves the Square to go to his brother Bill's in Bristol, leaving Guido to look after the flat.
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News of Den's disappearance quickly spreads around Albert Square via a news report. Sharon wants answers, while Pauline worries what is going to be Michelle's next step. Mantel desperately searches for Den, determined to end him once and for all. Colin proceeds to leave the Square to live with his brother Bill in Bristol but the reappearance of Barry slows the process down. Brad confesses his deeds to the police and cautions them to find Den before The Firm does. Simon offers his sympathy to Sharon, and petitions to Pat whether he can move into the spare bedroom in the Vic. Den tries his best to get in contact with Michelle, but nonidentical people withhold them from connecting. With Michelle wanting answers, she pays a visit to Mantel, who remains casual and chum to reveal anything. When Den finally gets in contact with Michelle, he plans meeting between the pair and Vicki at the canal, however, Michelle concludes otherwise to bring Vicki along and attends alone. Guido is livid to discover that Colin was going to depart the Square without telling him. When Colin has gone, he admits to Barry that he felt Colin was always more concerned about other people rather than himself and their relationship. Michelle arrives at the canal but Den is nowhere to be seen. His voice echoes moments later from behind a bush. He tells Michelle to remain still, knowing someone may be watching. Michelle confesses all her feelings. She wants a future with him. Den plucks up the courage to face Michelle, and Michelle tries to design a future for the pair and tries to convince him to hand himself into the police. After her final attempts to woo him, Michelle departs the scene, and Den is left alone and is oblivious that The Firm are praying eyes on him from different hide out spots nearby. As Den prepares to leave also, a dodgy looking man approaches from the bushes, so Den heads in the opposite direction. A young happy looking couple approach him, with the man carrying daffodils. Den thinks he is safe, until the sound of a gunfire mimics from the daffodils and a colossal splash echoes from the canal. |
Credits[]
Main cast[]
- Den Watts - Leslie Grantham
- Michelle Fowler - Susan Tully
- Sharon Watts - Letitia Dean
- Pauline Fowler - Wendy Richard
- Arthur Fowler - Bill Treacher
- Matthew Jackson - Steven Hartley
- Cindy Williams - Michelle Collins
- Colin Russell - Michael Cashman
- Guido Smith - Nicholas Donovan
- Barry Clark - Gary Hailes
- Ethel Skinner - Gretchen Franklin
- Pat Wicks - Pam St. Clement
- Simon 'Wicksy' Wicks - Nick Berry
- Vicki Fowler - Samantha Leigh Martin (uncredited)
Guest cast[]
- D.I. Ashley - Robin McCallum (credited as Robin Lermitte)
- Brad Williams - Jonathan Stratt
- Gregory Mantel - Pavel Douglas
- Marco - Peter Quince
Locations[]
- Albert Square
- The Queen Victoria - Public and hallway
- 3B Albert Square - Living room/kitchen
- 3C Albert Square - Living room
- 43A Albert Square - Kitchen and front room
- 45 Albert Square - Kitchen and backroom
- Laundrette
- Turpin Road
- Walford Police Station - Interview room
- Grand Union Canal [actual filming location: Grand Union Canal and Water Road, Alperton, HA0 1HX -https://goo.gl/maps/1YsCbggLYUD2]
- Wally's Café - Interior and exterior
- Mantel's office
- Unknown street
Notes[]
- Last appearance of Den Watts, until 29 September 2003. The episode keeps his fate deliberately ambiguous in order to keep his return open, although it was originally intended to show Den's dead body until the scene was cut.
- Last appearance of Ethel Skinner, until 20 June 1989.
- Last appearance of Colin Russell until his guest return on 8 September 2016.
- First appearance of Barry Clark since 26 July 1988 and last until 13 December 2022.
- This is the ninth episode that ended without a 'duff-duff'. Instead the screen went to black, after Den was shot and presumably fell into the canal, before the credits rolled.
- Tony Holland and Julia Smith had their names removed from the credits of this episode in protest over BBC1 Controller Jonathan Powell's request that the final shot of the episode be removed to allow for Den Watts to potentially return to the show in the future. The scene of Den falling into the canal after being shot was never broadcast. It is rumoured that the scene also showed a dead Den Watts bobbing to the surface of the river with blood pouring out of his mouth.
- Radio Times synopsis: 'I wanna see Vicki.... and you.... 30 minutes.... usual place.'
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 24,080,000 viewers (chart placing unknown).
Gallery[]
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