Episode 3821

Extended Summary

RECAP
Josie gives in to Morag – she won’t be contesting Flynn for guardianship and Tasha won’t be living with her
Morag informs a delighted Irene of Josie’s attitude, but she is convinced that Josie is up to something – it was too easy, and Josie is not a loser.
Josie informs Ian over the phone that she has done as he wanted, and Ian has another plan. Josie is stunned, telling him that it is illegal, but finally agrees – she knows how they can carry it through
Leah and Dan kiss.

***

PATTERSON HOUSE
Leah and Dan engage in some good old tonsil-hockey on the couch, until they shift onto the remote and succeed in switching the TV on. The pair seem delighted at how things are going, and Leah asserts that she now knows where she is going – she hasn’t felt like that in a LONG time. They kiss.

DINER
Morag is still insisting to Irene that Josie is up to no good, although she isn’t sure what yet. She decides to look at things from Josie’s point of view, eventually musing that either Josie values her independance too much to have Tasha around, or that Josie is scared of her past being uncovered.

BEACH HOUSE
As they do the washing up, Tasha once more apologises to Josie for not being able to move in, and Josie is predictably understanding – they have plenty of time to think about living together, as she’ll always be around. Josie asks for an update on the concert, offering to help Tasha rehearse her lines, before subtley enquiring as to whether all the beach house residents are going. Tasha tells her that Kirsty’s helping organise it and Kane might go along with Irene to watch – although it’s not really “his thing”. Josie seems pretty adamant that Kane should go – especially as she has a big surprise lined up for the residents at the concert. She asks Tasha to talk Kane into attending.

DINER
Irene and Morag continue to try and work their way into Josie’s mind, thinking that Josie is only “playing ball” so Morag will stop interfering. Morag goes to start her investigations into Josie’s shady past.

PATTERSON
Dan reluctantly tries to leave Leah’s, the pair of them deciding that it wouldn’t be best for him to stay overnight yet, despite the pair of them being virtually attached by the lips. Leah is downhearted by the fact that the next morning she’ll wake up and it’ll be ‘business as usual’, a stark contrast to their evening together. Dan decides that it would probably be best for them to get to know one another properly before they start facing up to reality – namely Vinnie, Jesse and Peter issues. Once he has gone, Leah removes photos of Vinnie from on the fridge.

DINER
Irene and Morag sit in a darkened diner, Morag announcing that she will be spending the following week in the city, carrying out some detective work into Morag’s past. However, Irene is becoming less enthusiastic about the cost of Morag’s help – but Morag assures her that she will not be charging – she has a personal interest as she is hell-bent on finding out why Josie is ‘playing’ her.

THE PALACE
It’s late, and Josie calls around to see Hayley, who immediately thanks her for the suggestion that the bar be called “Noah’s”. Hayley shows Josie a portrait she has been working on of Noah, remarking that she actually has conversations with Noah in her head. When the topic of the concert is brought up, Hayley is quick to express her delight – they’re honouring Noah’s life by doing something so positive. Josie admits that she came by with a proposition for Hayley for the concert – but she needs Hayley’s help. Hayley smiles somewhat nervously.

PATTERSON HOUSE
Sally has called around to see Leah, and quickly notices that Leah has taken Vinnie’s photos down from the fridge. Leah mentions that she couldn’t have them up forever – it’s not that she doesn’t want to remember Vinnie, but now… she trails off. Sally decides to stay for a coffee.

DINER
Alf comes down to find Irene busy at work, conceding that the one thing about the job that he doesn’t miss is the lack of sleep. For the first time, he makes an order and takes a seat. Josie invites him to join her, and he agrees. She talks to him about Morag – “she’s an impressive woman” – and Alf agrees that that’s “one way to describe her”, advising Josie not to cross his sister, before asking that if Josie ever works out how to “handle” Morag then she should let him know. Irene looks on with interest as Hayley enters and makes a beeline for Josie, cheerfully announcing that she has “the best news!”. Alf leaves them to it to give Irene a hand with the coffee and Hayley takes a seat. She informs Josie that all it took was a couple of phone calls, and the only slight problem is the cost – however, Josie assures her that cost is no issue, so long as Hayley is happy with it. Hayley doesn’t know how she will ever be able to thank Josie, but Josie tells her that seeing her smile is reward enough.

SCHOOL
Tasha struggles to learn her poem in an empty classroom, and as he is walking by, Dan notices her. He offers to practice with her, assuring her that she isn’t “stupid” – just different. Which doesn’t go down well with a girl who strives not to be called “different”. However, Dan can relate to her hatred of being different – he was “different” when he was at school, but Tasha brands him “cool”. He assures her that one day she will wake up and realise that she’s been ahead of everyone – all the other kids are “sheep”. She agrees to his offer of assistance with her poem, and gives her permission to go with him into the staffroom.

BREAK

PATTERSON PLACE
Leah talks to Sally about her oh-so-complicated life now that Dan has entered the equation, but Sally is more positive – they like one another, and there’s no certainty that Vinnie’s alive – so they’re not doing anything wrong. They may never know the truth about Vinnie, and she can’t put her life on hold. Leah reminds Sally that Vinnie’s not just ‘any old guy’ – he’s VJ’s father – and although Vinnie would have left them behind, he would have had apt reason to do so. Sally points out that if she ever wanted to be with Vinnie again then it would involve she and VJ being swept away into the witness protection programme and cutting all ties with her family and friends – would she really be willing to do that? Leah hasn’t got a straight answer as Sally muses how she would behave… before asserting that Leah should just live her life the way that she wants to and do what’s best for her.

DINER
Irene isn’t impressed when Alf starts giving her a hand in the diner, and is less happy when she spies Josie and Hayley still deep in conversation, remarking that Josie’s probably sniffing around for a ‘thank-you’ for the bar suggestion.

Over at their table, Josie asks that Hayley inform everyone that there’ll be a surprise at the concert, but asks that she doesn’t give too much away. Hayley wonders why Josie is doing “all this”, and Josie creates an excuse about repaying her for her helping Tasha out in the past. Alf brings over their drinks, and Hayley begs to be allowed to tell him – Josie relents. Irene gives them all the evil eye. Alfis evidently impressed by whatever surprise that Josie has lined up, remarking that there should be more people like Josie. Irene drags Alf aside for a word, wanting to know what is going on, but Alf is on a promise not to say anything. He advises Irene to ask herself if she wants to know, and when Irene starts slating Josie again, Alf forcibly steps in – once Irene sees what Josie has got lined up for the concert, her opinion will change.

PATTERSON HOUSE
Leah does the washing, and looks around at all the photos of she and Vinnie around the house – she takes them all down, and puts them away in a cupboard. Whilst in the cupboard, she removes a video tape

SCHOOL
Sally approaches Dan in the corridor, where he is examining the schedule for the concert. He remarks that he’s surprised she’s not taking part – he has heard about her singing. She pulls him aside into a classroom, to discuss the topic of Leah and how serious he is about her – Sally doesn’t want to see her best friend being hurt again, and if Dan is just looking for a bit of fun then he should back off. Dan asserts that he really likes Leah, and although he can’t promise anything long-term he certainly isn’t in it for fun – if he was, he jokes, he would have picked someone with less baggage. Sally reminds him that it won’t get easier, and he can handle it – she’s not the only one with a complicated past. He tells Sally that Leah is gorgeous and smart and no one has made him feel “like this” in years, and Sally apologises for playing the role of ‘protective best friend’. He’s just glad that she cares so much – although he admits that ‘Miss Fletcher’ can be kinda scary, and now he can understand why her classes behave so well.

DINER
After a long talk, Josie and Hayley get up to pay, Hayley insisting that she foot the bill – after all, it’s the least she can do. Hayley asks that Josie call her as soon as she hear anything, before bouncing out of the door. Josie turns back to Irene, who is quick to inform her nemesis that she knows that Josie has planbs for the concert, and warns her that the night is about Noah – she doesn’t want that to be upstaged. Josie insists that her plan will make everyone happy – even Irene.

PATTERSON PLACE
Leah sadly rewatches one of the tapes that Vinnie made before he went to jail, and after she starts talking to the video she switches it off, insisting that she can’t “keep doing this”. She grabs the phone, and accepts Dan’s pact to ignore reality – it’ll just be them for a while.

DINER
Hayley is back, having left her mobile behind, and Irene is quick to broach the topic of Hayley and Josie’s new friendship. Hayley informs her that Josie has come up with *the best* idea for the concert, but is unable to reveal anything else. Irene pulls her aside into the kitchen, assuring Hayley that it’s great to see her so happy again, before warning her that Josie isn’t the person she’s making herself out to be. Hayley defends Josie – she knows Irene is worried for Tasha, but she is confident that if Josie and Irene talked then they could work through the tension.

JOSIE’S PLACE
Josie talks to Ian on the phone, telling him that all is in place – everyone will be going to the concert, and his men will have access to “the place” for a good few hours…

Claire