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Buster is back in Albert Square and has a surprising proposition for Shirley. Kat recovers with the help of Stacey and Alfie following the previous week's events.

Shirley hugs Dean in relief while Mick threatens to call the police. Dean sneers Mick would be arrested himself for attacking him but allows Buster and Shirley to lead him back to Patrick鈥檚 house. Denise is relieved to see him. Dean explains he visited Buster in prison before he was released. Shirley berates the pair for not getting in touch. Kim鈥檚 worried about harbouring a criminal but Buster reveals they鈥檝e a plan to start a new life in Zante as a family - the ferry leaves tonight. Meanwhile, Nancy apologises for not believing Mick. After an urgent phone call from the hospital, Mick hurries to Stan鈥檚 bedside but Tina won鈥檛 go without notifying Shirley.

Dean鈥檚 distressed to learn of Stan鈥檚 decline and wants to go to the hospital. Shirley convinces him to wait until she鈥檚 smoothed things over with Mick first - then they鈥檒l all leave for Greece together. Denise tells Shirley Dean should stay to prove his innocence or he鈥檒l be running for the rest of his life. As Dean and Buster wait in Blades they discuss Stan; Buster recalls Stan threw a bucket of fish guts over him when he first started seeing Shirley. Dean鈥檚 tickled. Buster thinks Stan wouldn鈥檛 want Dean to risk being arrested but Dean won鈥檛 let Mick stop him saying goodbye. At the hospital, Mick tells Shirley and Tina that Stan has just days to live and can only be kept comfortable in a hospice.

Tina鈥檚 devastated that Stan didn鈥檛 want that but Mick and Shirley insist there鈥檚 no other option. Shirley assures Mick that she, Dean and Buster are leaving the country tonight and begs Mick to let Dean say goodbye to Stan - then they鈥檒l be out of his life for good. Mick鈥檚 left with little choice when Stan wakes and asks to see Dean, but sneers that Shirley鈥檚 running away as usual and tells her she鈥檚 not needed anyway. After a phone call from Mick, Linda fills in Nancy and Lee but advises them not to visit Stan yet because Dean is going. Lee鈥檚 frustrated that Dean gets a new life abroad and won鈥檛 pay for what he did. At the hospital, Dean鈥檚 overwhelmed by Stan鈥檚 condition. Stan advises Dean he can鈥檛 run forever, pointing out what it鈥檚 done to Shirley. Emotional, Shirley slips out as Dean produces a bottle of scotch, to Stan鈥檚 delight. Tina鈥檚 shocked to learn of Shirley鈥檚 plan to leave and disgusted she鈥檚 abandoning Stan. Mick claims they don鈥檛 need her.

As Shirley fetches a bag from Patrick鈥檚 house, Denise wishes she鈥檇 change her mind. Outside, Shirley encounters Phil; she can鈥檛 help asking about his father鈥檚 death from cancer and ponders maybe it鈥檚 better not to be there at the end. Phil realises Shirley鈥檚 leaving with Dean and thinks they should stay and fight. Shirley despairs Dean鈥檚 going with or without her. Phil suggests she could make him stay. At the hospital, Tina wonders why Buster鈥檚 supporting Dean but not Mick but Buster thinks they鈥檙e beyond fixing. In Stan鈥檚 room, he and Dean are sharing a laugh when Stan begins to cough violently. Mick races in and marches Dean out with the bottle of scotch, berating him. Police officers appear. Dean accuses Mick of grassing him up and shoves an officer to the floor. Dean鈥檚 arrested for assault and led away, asking for Shirley. Buster calls Shirley as Dean鈥檚 driven away in a police car. Hidden out of sight around the corner, Shirley cancels Buster鈥檚 phone call...

Groggy Kat鈥檚 wheeled into hospital by paramedics and slurs at Alfie to go. He鈥檚 relieved as the doctor reports there鈥檒l be no permanent damage. Kat鈥檚 hooked up to a drip; she won鈥檛 speak to Alfie and wants Stacey. At Kat鈥檚 bedside, Stacey empathises with how Kat鈥檚 feeling but insists Kat must fight and get help for the sake of her children and holds Kat as she sobs. Alfie apologises for everything he鈥檚 put Kat through - he鈥檒l do anything to make Kat better even if it means staying away. Stacey reports Kat will be discharged tomorrow after she鈥檚 spoken to the psychiatric nurse to arrange proper support for her. Kat panics at the mention of social services and worries they鈥檒l take her kids away.

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30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • Rae Morris

    Under The Shadows

  • Jessie J & 2 Chainz

    Burnin Up

  • Jessie J

    Sweet Talker

  • KING

    Years & Years

Credits

Role Contributor
Shirley Carter Linda Henry
Andrew 'Buster' Briggs Karl Howman
Mick Carter Danny Dyer
Linda Carter Kellie Bright
Lee Carter Danny-Boy Hatchard
Nancy Carter Maddy Hill
Stan Carter Timothy West
Tina Carter Luisa Bradshaw-White
Stacey Branning Lacey Turner
Kat Moon Jessie Wallace
Alfie Moon Shane Richie
Denise Fox Diane Parish
Kim Fox-Hubbard Tameka Empson
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Phil Mitchell Steve McFadden
PC Evans Adam McNamara
Writer Wendy Granditer
Director Richard Lynn
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts