EastEnders - 12/10/2009

A hung-over Liz returns to Dot’s and finds Pat looking after Jim in Dot’s absence. Patrick and Liz practice for the dance competition. As they grow closer and arrange a night out, her phone rings. Flustered by the call, she makes excuses and swiftly exits, leaving Patrick puzzled. Liz heads to the station. There to meet her is Owen. Sam is dressed demurely ahead of her court appearance. She’s put out when Peggy and Phil comment that she looks more like a child dressing up. Irritated at being patronised, she defiantly heads out for court alone. Janine finds Sam in the café and lends a sympathetic ear. Sam attends court accompanied by Janine. She wonders whether she’s doing the right thing by pleading not guilty, but Janine assures her she is. Later, Janine sits conspiring with Archie: if she manages to persuade Sam to leave the country and skip her bail, the Mitchell’s will stand to lose everything. Shirley’s broke, having been sacked by Ian. Darren canvasses for someone to run his uncle’s ice-cream van. Heather suggests Shirley for the job, but Darren scoffs at the idea. Having drawn a blank, he’s forced to approach Shirley. Charlie’s irritable as Jean talks about Stacey. The reason for his behaviour becomes evident when he reveals that it’s the anniversary of Viv’s death. As the mention prompts Jean to talk about her husband’s death, Charlie again snaps at her self-involvement. Jean furiously retorts that Charlie never cared for her or Stacey. Having returned from the psychiatric unit with Stacey refusing to see her, Jean regrets her harsh words to Charlie. She finds him at Viv’s grave and apologises. Masood is still bristling following Zainab’s accusations of an affair. He tries to approach her, but talk descends into more argument. Syed’s left feeling guilty.