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Barbara tells Dee that the only reason
her father died was HER fault. Patricia sarcastically remarks that
birthdays are such fun - an opportunity for families to get together and chat
about old times. Dee says
that she'll say anything to keep a fight going. Barbara storms out and Dee
follows her, trying to apologise.
Patricia asks how Barbara's father did die. Amanda tells her it was natural
causes - nothing suspicious.
In the living room, Dee begs Barbara for forgiveness. Barbara tells her there
is no way she is staying for
the party. Dee tells her that, if she leaves, the others will think there
is some truth in what she said.
Gordon comes in and sees that Barbara is tearful. She tells him she has a
migraine developing, and he
takes her upstairs for a lie down. A bit later, Dee is having a drink. Beryl
comes in and tells her she shouldn't
be drinking, and should have a lie down. Dee agrees. She tells Beryl that
Barbara isn't going to spoil her
night - she's going to have a party to remember.
Later, the guests are beginning to
arrive. Stephen gives Dee a present, and tells her he heard about the
argument earlier. Dee asks him if he thinks Barbara might come down later,
but he says she still isn't very
well. Dee is horrified when Charlie arrives, and tells her she wasn't invited.
She tells Charlie's companion,
Max, that he's always had bad taste. Later, the party is in full swing. Wayne
overhears Amanda talking to
one of her friends about going to Honolulu on holiday. She asks her how she's
going to get there - swim?
Amanda tells him to go drop in a hole. Patricia complains to Stephen that
everyone is talking to her about
having children. Dee isn't impressed with Charlie's behaviour. Gordon tells
her that her heart is in the
right place. Barbara comes down the stairs and tells Gordon she has been putting
on an act - she couldn't
face going to the party after what happened earlier. She starts crying and
Gordon takes her into Amanda's
room. Barbara explains that when Dee was in her forties she had several affairs
with younger men, and
everybody knew - except her father. She decided to tell him, thinking that
he'd divorce Dee and kick her
out. But it didn't work - her father loved Dee so much, he fell ill and later
died. She continues that Dee
has always blamed her for killing him. Barbara tells Gordon to go back to
the party, as she wants some time
by herself.
At the party, Charlie is becoming more boisterous. Beryl congratulates Phillipe
on the food he's laid on.
Amanda tells Beryl she wishes there were more people her age there. She explains
that her father is
working Kevin quite hard. Phillipe says that it must be hard on Lynn, not
seeing her husband much. Beryl
suggests that he takes Lynn to the cinema to cheer her up.
Dee walks into Amanda's room to check her makeup. Barbara is still sitting
there. Dee tells her that she'll
never forgive herself for the row earlier. She explains that she hasn't got
much time left, and she needs
her love. She adds that she is afraid of dying. Barbara tells her they all
are. Dee leaves.
At the party, Charlie is getting louder. Patricia decides to make herself
scarce, as Dee will be along at any
time. Dee comes in and has a go at Charlie for being rude, and poring the
hired help. When Charlie suggests
that she is jealous, Dee slaps her and tells her to go upstairs and learn
to behave. Shocked, Charlie rushes
off, and everyone is embarrassed.
Later, Barbara tells Gordon that she's
been doing the same thing to Dee that her daughter Wendy did to
her, and she knows how Dee feels. She goes into the living room, where Dee
is. She explains that, although
they'll never be the best of friends, she managed to bridge a gap between
her and her daughter Wendy.
She adds that there's no reason why they can't do the same. She wishes her
mother Happy Birthday, and
Dee starts sobbing.
The next morning, Charlie comes into the dining room shamefaced. Dee comes
in and asks Charlie how
she is. Charlie tells her that she'll be packed and gone as soon as possible.
Dee apologises for the previous
night and tells her that, seeing as Gordon and Barbara are staying for an
extra day, she might as well.
Charlie says she'll think about it, and walks off. Dee tells Barbara that
she can't wait to see Charlie's
face when she gets her surprise.
Lynn phones Amanda and asks her if she wouldn't mind baby-sitting for her
that night, as Kevin is working
late and she and Phillipe are going to the cinema. Amanda agrees. Kevin comes
into the living room, and
Amanda tells him that she's impressed with him not minding Lynn going around
with Phillipe in Europe.
Kevin doesn't know what she is talking about. Amanda continues that she always
wondered how Phillipe
fitted into the picture, but it never occurred to her it was because he had
an affair with Lynn in Paris.
Kevin is stunned.....
MARY WARD (as Dee Morrell),
CORNELIA FRANCES (Barbara Hamilton), JOHN SHERWOOD (Max),
SARAH KEMP (Charlie Bartlett), IAN RAWLINGS (Wayne Hamilton), ALYCE PLATT
(Amanda Morrell),
BRIAN BLAIN (Gordon Hamilton), ANTONIA MURPHY (Lynn Palmer), STEPHEN COMEY
(Kevin Palmer)
Written by DON BATTYE
Directed by MARK PIPER
Channel
Five broadcast: Sunday 28th July 2002