Stella takes Ben to school, reminding him to try harder to be a better boy and to stop sulking. She makes him smile for Phil. Phil admits to Peggy that he was awake worrying. Peggy’s dismissive; things are great at the moment. Phil takes out a model plane he has bought for Ben and pins the marriage licence on the board. Peggy calls him to fix a barrel. Phil shows Ben the model plane and says they’ll make it together after tea.

Phil and Ben are making the plane together. Ben plucks up the confidence and begins to explain what is going on to Phil but he interrupts Ben and tells him that he’s knows what’s been happening to him. Phil tells Ben that what he’s going through is all part of growing up, everyone goes through it. Ben is confused as Stella returns. She is happy to see Phil and Ben together. Ben sits on his bed, hearing the chatter from Stella and Phil in the room next door. He’s all alone. Denise calls round at Shirley’s and asks her to talk to Deano. Shirley says she’ll do what she can, but when Denise leaves it’s clear Shirley has no such intention. Shirley gets Deano thinking that Denise is trying to make her mark on the family. Carly is bent over a steaming bowl of water suffering from a cold. She makes a decision and heads off. Carly goes to Shirley’s flat and calls for Deano but there’s no answer. Deano listens to the message, unimpressed and turns off his mobile. Carly’s fed up of waiting and shouts at Deano that he’s a coward. Denise hears and takes her home. Deano decides to go to Mickey and Li’s housewarming; he arrives plastered. Libby tries to get Deano to go home but he shouts at her. Shirley goes to the flat to find Deano’s not there and the vodka bottle is empty. Shirley arrives looking for Deano at the now disbanded party, but he’s not there. Shirley arrives at Pat’s. Shirley goads Kevin about their night of passion. Kevin tells her he’s indifferent to her and she leaves, hurt. Shirley turns up and tells Carly she should watch her temper, Carly spits in her face and tells her she can’t do anything about Kevin getting married and she can’t ruin his happiness. Shirley wipes the spit from her face and we see her defiance…Jim and Dot arrive back in the Square. Dot’s holding baby Tomas in her arms.


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