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It's a big day for Jean, but Stacey has other things on her mind. Carol and Ian argue over new redevelopment works in Albert Square, leading to Carol dropping a bombshell.

Martin wakes early to find flustered Stacey in the living room with wedding outfit options strewn everywhere. At Martin’s suggestion, she takes the key off her necklace before leaving for Jean’s wedding but secretly slips it into her pocket. Shirley arrives, producing vodka for the road trip. In Brighton, Jean answers the door - she wasn’t sure they’d come. Stacey smooths things over with Jean but secretly searches the house for a lock to fit the key. As Stacey styles her hair, Jean sadly explains Ollie’s children aren’t attending because they don’t want their dad marrying a crazy woman.

Stacey packs Martin off to the wedding venue to help Ollie. Jean comes across her rifling through drawers and Stacey lies she’s looking for ‘something old’ for Jean. Jean insists Sean had no right raking up the past and forbids Stacey from mentioning the key again.

At the venue, Ollie confides in Martin, Jean’s worried about Stacey; Martin admits Stacey seems hyper. Outside, a nervous Jean promises Stacey she hasn’t forgotten her father – he was a good man who lost his way. Stacey’s bemused but Shirley interrupts to hurry Jean along. Stacey’s certain Jean’s hiding something but Shirley demands she leave it. Jean walks down the aisle to a waiting Ollie; The Wendys sob as Jean and Ollie exchange vows.

Martin realises Stacey still has the key. The Wendys present Jean and Ollie with two rose bushes. Jean throws her bouquet which falls at Stacey’s feet. Stacey suggests Jean and Ollie plant the roses today and heads back to the house, determined to find answers. As she searches, Martin asks about her dad; Stacey remembers he used to leave his steel-capped boots by the door – one day she came home and they weren’t there anymore.

Her search unearths a photo of her as a little girl with Jean and her dad. Jean and Ollie return. Martin tries to stall but Jean catches Stacey searching red handed. The pair argues again about the key; Jean wails Stacey’s made her special day all about her then stops, struck and insists Stacey’s not well. Stacey’s adamant she’s taking her medication but Martin has to admit she’s not sleeping and has mood swings. Jean insists Stacey obsession isn’t healthy and she must see a doctor. Jean gently takes the key from her, and then races upstairs. Stacey pursues in time to see Jean flushing the key down the toilet.

On the drive home, Martin tentatively suggests a fuming Stacey sees a doctor. Jean watches the car pull off and heads back inside. She flicks on the kettle to make tea, and opens her hand to reveal the key still clutched inside.

Carol’s irked by a property developer flyer through the door. When Cindy makes a disparaging remark about Max sleeping on the sofa, Carol awkwardly apologises she promised Jane Cindy could stay. At the Beales’, Ian also considers the property developer flyer and ponders selling the house, remarking that Lucy would be all for it.

Later in the café, Jane hands Carol her pay slip with extra for Cindy’s board and lodgings. Carol rants about the property developers; Ian makes a dig about her family and council housing. Later, Jane brings a letter to the Butchers’ for Cindy but gets a hostile rebuttal. On Bridge Street, rattled Carol consults with Billy, Pam and Max about the property developers and organises a meeting in the Vic.

Later, Ian pompously tells Mick they should be more selective of who they let into Walford. Carol’s meeting begins, Billy, Pam and Kim among them. Ian’s stunned when Jane joins too. The gathered group’s outraged the council’s happy to turn hardworking families out into the street for the property developers. Ian points out Janine may sell Carol’s house once she discovers Carol’s illegally subletting and regrets Cindy’s ended up shacked up with Liam Butcher. Seething, Carol snaps Cindy’s there because Jane’s paying her. Reeling, Ian rushes out.

At the Butchers’, Cindy shows Liam her letter - she got into sixth form. Liam’s encouraging her to tell Ian when he suddenly bursts in and berates her for blackmailing Jane - he’s fed up tiptoeing around Cindy and will take her to police himself. Carol’s appalled. Jane drags Ian home, leaving Cindy shaken.

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30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • LunchMoney Lewis

    Bills

  • Diljit Dosanjh

    Patiala Peg

  • Black Eyed Peas

    Meet Me Halfway

  • Imagem

    Sheep May Safely Graze

Credits

Role Contributor
Jean Slater Gillian Wright
Ollie Walters Tony O'Callaghan
Stacey Branning Lacey Turner
Martin Fowler James Bye
Shirley Carter Linda Henry
Mick Carter Danny Dyer
Andrew 'Buster' Briggs Karl Howman
Ian Beale Adam Woodyatt
Jane Beale Laurie Brett
Billy Mitchell Perry Fenwick
Carol Jackson Lindsey Coulson
Max Branning Jake Wood
Liam Butcher James Forde
Cindy Williams Mimi Keene
Pam Coker Lin Blakley
Kim Fox-Hubbard Tameka Empson
Bobby Beale Eliot Carrington
Lily Branning Aine Garvey
Wendy Hewson Elizabeth Nestor
Wendy Simmons Karren Winchester
Celebrant Kate Doherty
Writer Matt Evans
Director Steve Finn
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins

Broadcasts