EastEnders - 22/03/2010

Ben and Peggy are having problems finishing the guest list for their joint birthday party as Ronnie is still distanced from the rest of the family. Wracked with guilt over her dealings with Louise, Ronnie declines her invitation at first but after Ben pleads with her, she finally puts in an appearance at the party. She tries to confess everything to Phil but each time she does another guest interrupts her. Having difficulty accepting the reality of her situation, Lucy plays truant from school. When Jane receives a call from the school, she finds Lucy and assures the girl that a good life is still there for the taking and that everything will be all right. Finding out about the truancy later in the day, Ian approaches Lucy, who has not been as comforted by Jane’s words as the woman may have hoped. Lucy tells her father that she would like to put an end to the problem tomorrow. Billie is disappointed, having lost his job at the Arches, and Ricky’s apologies are don’t make the lad feel any better. Sticking together, the pair try to keep the issue a secret from Carol but when she finally finds out her anger is only exacerbated by the deceit. Tackling Phil and demanding to know why he sacked her son, Carol is disappointed to learn that it was Ricky’s decision. She is even more stunned to discover that the Arches is not really doing well financially at all and that Bianca only lied about it just to spare herself Carol’s gloating. The busy gardeners are devastated to see the mess that has been made of their hard work in the Square but none more so than Jean. When the Walford Gazette team arrive a sad Charlie, who is struggling to answer their cynical questions, meets them. Fortunately, Lucas steps in and saves the story, and some face, by announcing that this sad event will only spur them on to make good with a community programme to keep the youth off the streets. Hailed as a hero, Lucas enjoys a toast in his honour over at the Vic. Abi is the only guest that Ben has invited to the party and he is a little put out when she turns up with Jordan in tow. She tells the boys about babysitting for Ronnie and Ben wonders who this girl, Louise, could be. He asks Phil if he has ever heard Ronnie mention a Louise before but the man is not paying attention. Ian is enjoying himself at the Masala Unit as he patronises Carol and dolls out a few sexist observations about the efficiency of women. His smile drops, though, when Zainab tells him that there is going to be a reshuffle. Carol will do paperwork, Jane and Zainab will cook and Ian will be left with the cleaning. Thinking that Phil is going to propose to her at the party, and not wanting to mess up a second marriage, Shirley decides that she will stay at home. After some persuasion by Heather, Shirley finally makes an appearance but not before she has downed a few vodkas. Humiliating herself by rushing in and accepting Phil’s alleged proposal, she is laughed at by her paramour who tells her that the ring is a birthday present for Peggy. As Shirley turns to leave in indignation, she bumps into Ronnie and the photograph of Phil, Lisa and Louise falls to the floor. As both women reach down, Shirley is the fastest and gives the picture over to Phil. Phil loses control, pinning Ronnie against the wall, and immediately regrets being so violent when he turns to see his daughter Louise looking at him, frightened.