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EastEnders Wiki
EastEnders Wiki

Summary[]

There is a race against time to get to the police station when Lauren is pushed to tell the truth about the car crash. Carol discovers David's letter. Cora gives Derek a brutally honest eulogy.

Tanya and Abi find Max in the alleyway, smoking. He admits that he was with Kirsty but insists that she's gone.

Outside the police station, Lauren desperately attempts to talk Lucy round.

Abi tells Joey where Lauren's gone and he goes after her, with Fatboy driving. Though worried about Lauren, Tanya stays with a grief-stricken Max. The funeral cars set off without Jack and Carol.

Jack finds Carol, ashen, letter in hand and tries to calm her down. She's incensed at Derek's deceit and refuses to come to the funeral. She calls the number on the letter but it's been disconnected.

Jack catches up with the funeral party.

Outside the police station, Lucy lets rip at Lauren about her drinking, selfishness and dishonest behaviour but can't bring herself to turn Lauren in and walks away, leaving Lauren heartbroken.

Stuck in traffic, something Fatboy says makes Joey realise that Derek was more of a man than he ever thought.

In the Vic, Alfie knocks back shots with Ian. Alfie's upbeat; he has got a beautiful lady in his life. However, when alone, Alfie's sadness about losing Kat is clear.

Phil catches Jay in the café looking for jobs in the paper and discovers he's broke; he offers Jay his old job at the Arches and Jay happily accepts.

Eventually reaching Lauren, Joey persuades her not to hand herself in and they make a mad dash for the crematorium, where Cora's giving an unplanned eulogy for Derek. They arrive at the same time as Carol, who's had a change of heart. At the end of the service everyone's shocked to spot a smirking Kirsty in the back row. As the crematorium curtains close, Joey is overwhelmed with grief and runs out of the church. Alice comforts him and he confesses that he let their dad die.

Credits[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Guest cast[]

  • Reverend Juley Connors - Katy Maw

Notes[]

  • This episode saw the funeral of Derek Branning.
  • This extra episode was shown at 9pm.

Dialogue[]

CORA CROSS: Derek Branning was an obnoxious, difficult, pig-headed, little man. Yeah, he was. I'd have cheerfully swung for him this Christmas. One of those people it's best knowing at a distance. Close up, they give you a headache. Yeah, that's all well and good, but it's got to be lonely, ain't it? The thing about Derek was he knew... he knew what he stood for and he had the courage to say his piece and be damned. Which as a matter of fact he often was, really, wasn't he? Come on, all you lot had a pop. Don't be shy. Put your hand up, anyone here who ain't fell out with Derek Branning. One thing we can't argue about, he touched all of our lives. Made an impact. You know there was a time when the East End was full of men like that. Proper East End gents like Derek. Men in their prime. Men getting involved. Principles. Loyalty. Guidance, like it or lump it. Yeah. You can call that arrogance if you like. Sexist. I call it manners. Arm across the road and a nice little drop of malt whisky. Just like our dads. Protecting his nearest and dearest. And he did love you, Alice. More than words can say.