EastEnders - 05/03/2010

Emotions are running high as the inhabitants of Walford try to hold themselves together on the morning of Bradley’s funeral. As a tearful Dot sits at home quietly praying, Bridge Street market goes silent as the hearse bearing Bradley’s coffin arrives in Walford. Unable to even do up his tie, Max is comforted a little by Carol who seems to be holding things together a little better than her brother. As he heads out to the funeral car, he takes a minute to fill a hip flask from Becca’s vodka bottle. Thankfully, things take a turn for the better when daughter Abi appears, determined to help him through the horrors of the day. Sharing her fears with Billie about his friends, Billie assures Whitney that he is finished with his old life and his old friends too. Later at the wake, Billie seems particularly nervous as Janine searches in the kitchen cupboards for paper towels but is relieved when Carol produces a roll, stopping the search. As he leaves the wake with Whitney, old friends Connor and Kylie appear, to offer them a lift. Billie assures them that he’s thrown away the gun. Is he telling the truth? Nervous about the prospect of throwing himself from a plane for Liz’s birthday (she wants to go skydiving), Patrick is urgently trying to think of a way to back out without seeming cowardly. Egged on by Lucas, though, it seems that Patrick will be unable to find a good enough excuse. Liz is thrilled when a bunch of flowers arrive sent by ‘Owen Turner’, but her happiness is short-lived as she reveals that her son would never send her lillies as, in the past, he always sends daffodils. The Slaters are still waiting to see if Stacey will put in an appearance at the service. Becca comes out of the house wearing the one of Stacey’s dresses. Jean, who is still hoping that Stacey will show, flies at Becca. Mo and Charlie calm the pair and the family head off to the funeral struggling to accept that they will not see the young widow at the service. Jean, having recorded the service for her daughter on a mobile phone, decides to offer Max her apologies on Stacey’s behalf but is met by cynicism. Wanting to wait a little longer for Tanya to arrive, Max is ushered into the church without the comfort of seeing her. He is able to pull himself together enough to deliver a heartfelt speech to the tearful congregation. The service is interrupted, though, when a crying Rachel runs down the isle and into her ex-husband’s arms. When Lauren walks into the back of the crematorium, Max wonders if his dreams of seeing Tanya have come true but is disappointed to find that his wife is not here. A reluctant Mitchell clan go out to the funeral together and, at Peggy’s command, even make a show at the wake. Billy, who still wants to impress Carol, is laughed off as he produces a Star Trek cake in Bradley’s memory. Carol is more impressed than the rest of the guests, though, putting a smile on Billy’s face. The cease-fire is cut short, however, when Jack announces that the court ruling has been announced. The deceased, Bradley, is indeed responsible for Archie’s death. The Mitchells leave in indignation as Max asserts his confidence in Bradley’s innocence. Jane is mortified when Ian receives a letter informing him that, due to his suspended sentence, they will have to wait at least two years before adopting. As Jane zips up the back of Lucy’s dress for the funeral, the pair cannot help but think about Lucy’s growing bump. Later, touched by Max’s speech and distressed at the thought of never having a child of her own, Jane accepts Lucy’s offer of the baby and the pair embrace, sealing the deal. Becca makes sure to place herself in Max’s line of sight all day. After arguing with Rachel and shouting at his guests, Max is exhausted and weak, the perfect prey for the predatory Becca. As she leans in to kiss him, he is unable to resist. At the end of the long day, Dot and Rachel return together to the beautiful, snow-covered cemetery. The two women look at the floral tributes that have been left for their beloved Bradley. Rachel is distraught. Dot wipes away her tears as they say goodbye to Bradley forever.