Chapter Text
Wednesday, February 8th 2023
The paramedics arrive outside Walford East as Rocky, Shirley, Dana and Jude stand back as Kathy is put in the back of the ambulance. Kim notices the commotion at the Albert and is shocked to see what is happening outside. Shirley heads over to No.45 to alert Bobby of Kathy’s collapse. Meanwhile, Kathy regains consciousness in the back of the ambulance. Rocky grabs a distressed Kathy’s hand tightly and assures her that everything will be fine. The paramedic tells Rocky that they need to get Kathy to the hospital to discover why Kathy lost consciousness. Dana tells Rocky that she’ll get her father to drive Bobby to the hospital instead so that the ambulance can take off. Rocky thanks Dana. Shirley opens the unlocked door of No.45 and calls Bobby downstairs to inform him of Kathy’s fall, a feeling of guilt instantly descends onto his face. Sam is impressed by Shelley as she informs Sam of her businesses and jokes that she would take Shelley on to help run the bar in a heartbeat if she could. Shelley finishes her wine and shuts her laptop and thanks Sam for her time by saying that it would be a pleasure to head into business with a Mitchell. Sam is given food for thought. Suki is busy serving the locals behind the bar when Nish arrives downstairs and Suki reluctantly leans in for a kiss with her husband. Nish tells Suki that he has somewhere to be, but refuses to tell Suki where he’s off to. Bobby and Shirley wait in the corridor for any news on Kathy. Rocky sits next to a now conscious Kathy. He kisses her forehead and Kathy asks Rocky when she is free to go home. Rocky says that they’re going to have to get the results back from the tests to see what caused her to collapse. Kathy asks to see Bobby and Rocky gets up to find him. Rocky is surprised to see Shirley sat with Bobby in the corridor. He informs them that Kathy is awake, and that she wants to see Bobby. Rocky takes a seat next to Shirley and thanks her for staying with Bobby. Shirley says that even though it probably shouldn’t have, today is the first time she has felt normal in a long time. Rocky leans in to hug Shirley and assures her that he will always be there for her if she needs him. Shirley remarks that she should probably get back home as she gets up from her seat, smiles back at Rocky, and turns for the exit. Felix arrives into the Vic and orders a pint of beer before noticing a lonely Johnny sat at the bar. Felix heads over and asks him how Linda is coping. Johnny tells Felix that the family is taking every day as it comes and that Frankie has settled in wonderfully with Nancy in Birmingham. Felix proceeds to ask Johnny how he is coping with his father’s sudden death and Johnny admits that he regrets not being able to say his goodbyes unlike Shirley, Linda and Frankie. Felix informs Johnny that he too lost his father last year after a battle with cancer. Johnny says that he’s sorry to hear about Avery and asks Felix about how he’s managing to cope with it all. Felix tells Johnny that there is no set way of dealing with grief, you just have to adjust your life to fit around the pain, and that Johnny will undoubtedly have good days and bad days of where his grief will overcome him. Johnny thanks Felix for the advice and the pair sense a spark forming between them. Kathy apologies to Bobby for losing her temper with him and Dana earlier, but Bobby insists that he is the one that should be apologising for not stepping up for his grandmother when it mattered the most. Bobby blames himself for Kathy’s collapse, but Kathy begs Bobby not to, and that the only person to blame for this is herself. Kathy says that she should’ve taken the signs her body was giving her instead of prioritising the businesses. Bobby suggest that Kathy takes a long, well-earned break from work, leaving him in charge. Kathy affirms that Bobby won’t be able to cope, but Bobby insists that it’s time he does his bit for the family empire. Kathy ponders why Ian had to go, and why Peter had to leave the family in ruins, but Bobby cannot pledge an answer. Nish enters the café and orders a coffee from Marie at the counter. He notices Ravi sat on his laptop in the far corner and he takes a seat opposite him. Nish asks Ravi that he can’t stay for long, in case any other of the Panesar’s spot him with Ravi. Ravi asks whether that would be such a bad thing, but Nish warns Ravi that no one can know. Nish asks Ravi whether he’s made any progress in ensuring Kheerat’s time on the Square is limited. Ravi shakes his head and questions what his father expects of Ravi to do Kheerat. Nish harshly reminds Ravi that if he has it in him to kill his own brother in Jags, then he's sure Ravi will find a way. Nish takes his coffee and exits the café, leaving Ravi desperate for his father’s approval. Ravi rushes out behind Nish to assure him that whatever his father needs from him, he’ll do it. Nish nods and heads over to the shop. Watching on, Kheerat’s suspicions raise on what Nish is planning with Ravi. Shelley arrives home to see Jude cooking a meal for the family. A confused Shelley asks Jude what he is doing, and Jude responds by informing her that she is looking at the new waiter for Walford East. Shelley congratulates Jude and asks her son why Fin isn’t home yet. Jude says he hasn’t seen him since he left for school. A bus pulls up at the bus station and a high Fin stumbles out. A group of hooded teens wave him off and Jude waves back before heading back to the house. Fin takes a long, judgmental look at the Albert before checking whether the rest of the drugs are kept safe in his pocket. A cab takes Shirley back to 5D and upon opening the door, a frantic Jean asks Shirley where the hell she has been. Shirley informs Jean of her day with Rocky and Kathy’s collapse and Jean is pleased that Shirley has had a day where she hasn’t had to think about Mick all day long. A guilty Kim arrives into the hospital and Rocky asks what she is doing here. Kim hands Rocky the karaoke night leaflet and says that she needs to apologise to Kathy for not consulting her about the night at all. Rocky shows her the way. Bobby continues to keep Kathy company by her side and when Kim enters the room, Kathy politely asks Bobby to give them some space to talk. Bobby exits the room and Kim is quick to express her apologises on behalf of herself and Felix. Kim assures Kathy that they will cancel the night. However, Kathy begins to apologise to Kim for being so hard on her recently as she admits that she hasn’t been herself at all. Kathy prompts Kim to keep the drag & karaoke night going ahead. Suki calls last orders at the pub and Johnny and Felix decide to head off. Outside, Johnny tells Felix that he is eager to see the mysterious Tara Misu in action. Felix hands Johnny a leaflet for the drag & karaoke night and offers for him to come along to see his alter-ego perform live. Johnny thanks Felix for a lovely catch-up and he heads back to Sharon’s place and Felix walks back to 3C with a big smile on his face. Sam arrives back at the house and notices a leaflet for Thursday night’s event at the Albert. She picks it up and chucks it harmlessly into the bin before spotting the letter from earlier on, staring at her on the table. She plucks the courage to open it and her face drops when she sees the content of the letter. She hastily puts it back into the envelope and throws it into a drawer. Ravi enters an unlocked KJP office to try and find anything he can pin on his brother, Kheerat. He begins opening drawers and searching through papers before Kheerat makes his presence known as he stands behind Ravi, furious. He asks Ravi what the hell he thinks he’s doing at the office. Ravi chuckles to himself as Kheerat tries his hardest to intimidate his brother, but it doesn’t work. Ravi slowly makes his way out of the building, purposely bumping into Kheerat on his way out – mimicking the sound of a ticking clock, leaving Kheerat confused. Shelley sets the table for food and asks Fin to sit with them for once. Fin says he’s not hungry and he heads upstairs. Jude arrives into the dining area with three plates and Shelley tells him to leave the third plate on the table, in case Fin wants some later. Shelley pours a glass of wine for herself and Jude and the mother and son cheers to a fresh start. Kheerat gestures Suki into the living room and he shuts the door behind him. Kheerat tells his mother that Nish is up to something, and that it has something to do with Ravi. Suki tells Kheerat that she doesn’t want to get involved with anything to do with Ravi and shuts him down. Suki says that she’s tired and that she just wants to finish her food and head to bed. Kheerat remarks that Suki still isn’t sleeping and asks her once again whether she’s hiding something from him. Suki tells Kheerat that although she knows he is only looking out for her, he needs to stop worrying about her and focus on his own life. Kheerat tells Suki that he knows she’s not happy. Kheerat is hesitant, but gives into his mother. He tells her that if she needs a shoulder to cry on, he’s more than willing to be there for her. Suki thanks Kheerat and he leaves the room. Suki slumps onto the sofa and breaks down into tears. She’s tired. She’s trapped. A doctor comes in to see Kathy who is talking with Rocky and Bobby. Kathy asks Bobby to leave the room as she doesn’t want him worrying. Bobby heads out to get some coffees. The doctor informs Kathy that they’re not going to discharge her just yet as they need to wait for some results to confirm what exactly has lead to her collapse. However, when asked about whether Kathy has been feeling under pressure lately, the doctor tells Kathy that it is likely she collapsed due to the stress she has been under and asks that when she is discharged, she takes some time to rest and to think of ways to begin reducing the main causes of her stress. When the doctor exits the room, Kathy becomes upset, thinking that she has let the whole family down. Rocky comforts Kathy, saying that she shouldn’t have to feel like she is the one to leave anyone down as she and Bobby are the only ones still running the businesses in Walford by now. Rocky affirms that he is going to make sure the businesses will stay afloat as long as Kathy promises to take some time to rest once they arrive back in the Square. Kathy nods her head and asks Rocky to leave her alone for a moment. Rocky does as he is told and leaves Kathy to herself. Kathy breaks down into tears and puts her head in her hands, believing to have ruined everything.
DOOF DOOF: Kathy Beale
CAST (in order of appearance): Kathy Beale, Tom ‘Rocky’ Cotton, Shirley Carter, Jude Barnes, Dana Monroe, Kim Fox, Bobby Beale, Shelley Barnes, Sam Mitchell, Suki Panesar, Nish Panesar, Felix Baker, Johnny Carter, Ravi Gulati, Kheerat Panesar, Fin Barnes, Jean Slater