Stella

I thought you'd gone for good.

You can't get rid of me that easily.

I don't regret it.

I don't regret any of it.

Do you?

Rob?

Rob?

Rob?

Rob?

Stella?

Stella, you're dreaming.

Oh.

I was, erm...

Oh, my God. What time is it? She needs a feed.

It's OK. We've both already have breakfast, haven't we, Hols?

Your mummy was very fast asleep.

A bit like you.

- Was it Rob again? - What?

In your dream.

Eh...

Yeah. Sorry.

What are you saying sorry for?

My conference call is in five minutes.

- Are you kicking us out? - I'm afraid it's the only room available.

That's all right. We know when we're not wanted, don't we, Hol?

He's bound to be on your mind, you know, with it being a year.

11 months.

- I better wake Ben. - No need. He's already up and packing.

Oh. A bit ahead of himself, isn't he?

Ben?

- Morning. - Looking very casual, Bob, for a funeral parlour.

Day off. Oh, bloody hell, Stella, I'm a bag of nerves.

I've got my big a date tonight, haven't I?

The Game Of Thrones fellow?

- Leslie, is it? - Wesley, yeah.

I've been swotting up on my characters.

I've not even finished series one yet.

Oh.

Ben, you're not leaving for a week.

Yeah, well, I want to be organised, don't I?

Oh, look at him. He can't get away from here quick enough.

Have you got a spare cheese grater?

No. What are you doing with my wok?

- You're not having that. It's a Ken Hom. - Oh, Mum, don't be so tight.

I'm a struggling student.

Well, you'll just have to struggle without no stir-fried beef.

It was a wedding present, this, from your uncle.

Wow. He splashed out.

- Oh, God, Ben. - Oh, don't start.

You've cried every day since I've had my results.

- I'm only going Cardiff. - I know, but you're my baby.

No, she is.

You know what I mean. Come here.

I'm so going to miss you, Ben Morris.

Yeah, I'll miss you too, as it goes.

And I'm a bit surprised by that because you're such a flipping nag.

So, can I have the wok to remember you by?

- No. - Stell, I've done it again.

Oh, what now?

Your poor maltreated grandmother,

God rest her Babycham-dependent soul.

She's not dead, Auntie Bren.

They mislaid her false teeth at the home.

Last seen inside the lying smile of Betty Jean.

- Gross. - Yeah, they had to tell her

- it was bedtime just to get her to take them out. - Who, Betty?

- Yes, of course Betty. - Oh, bless her.

She was probably a bit confused, that's all.

Hey, Ben, do you want a hot water bottle? Only I've got a spare.

So I'm going up this morning

to see if we can sow a label on them or something.

The false teeth?

Honestly, as if we haven't got enough to contend with,

- her turning 100 next month. - That is well old.

- She'll get a telegram from the Queen. - Wicked!

If she makes it.

Because the way things are going...

I mean, Eddard Stark, what a name.

- He's cool. - Belonging to Gary Stark, works up the Londis?

Well, according to this, he is Lord of Winterfell

and Warden of the North.

Oh, heck, tonight is going to be a wash-out.

So are you planning to visit your ailing grandmother any time soon or

has she just been cast aside like a Costa cappuccino cup?

Oh, hush your nonsense.

I took Holly up there last Tuesday, she was right as rain.

And she's really annoyed with you.

Oh, what? Because of the shoehorn?

Well, now, that's not fair because I told her I was taking it.

- What's a shoehorn. - Stella?

What? What?

Good God, what's up with him.

- He looks like he's seen a goat. - Michael, what's the matter?

I've just been speaking with Al Komadi.

Who the Dickens is Alan Macardie?

Shh. It's his boss, Mum. Go on.

He wants me to go and work for him out in Dubai for six months.

He wants us both to go.

It's a free accommodation, Stella, in a really plush apartment.

Free childcare for Holly.

You can be a lady of leisure while I'm at the office.

Yeah, but I don't know if I want to be a lady of leisure.

I want to be in nurse, and I know it's lovely,

but the timing is rubbish.

More than just lovely, Stella, it's six months.

And what about Jackson? You'd be happy not seeing him for months,

- would you? And Katie. - Of course not.

They can come and visit. Katie, she can bring her little brother,

she'd love that.

Michael, I have worked so hard to get where I am.

I don't want to just throw it all the way for a six-month jolly

in some plush Abu Dhabi apartment.

- It Dubai. - Dubai then.

Just think about it before you decide.

Please?

I'll talk to Cheryl.

See if I can get some sort of sabbatical.

But I'm not promising nothing.

- Morning, Brenda. - Morning.

Morning, Brenda.

Morning.

Mam?

Christ sake, Bren. You'll put me off my shot.

Oh, dammit to hell!

Sorry, kid, I'm just a bit tetchy today, that's all.

Bessy Simmons cleaned me out on the blackjacks last night.

And he's been grinning all morning

like a what's the name, what you call?

Now, what is it you want? Because I can't lend you a penny.

Are you daft? I just wanted to chat, that's all.

What the hell for? I'm coming over tomorrow for my tea.

- I know. - And for God's sake...

- And I got a nice bit of... - Don't give me your bloody Soreen.

When is your brother coming to see me?

Ken? He's in Tenerife.

So? I'm worth a two-hour flight from Santa Cruz, aren't I?

- It's not that, it's just... - Oh. I see.

He can't be arsed.

- Well, that's nice, isn't it? - Look, never mind Ken,

I got something important to say.

Christ, you're not pregnant?

I've given this a lot of thought and I won't take no for an answer.

Cheryl the lodger is moving out, which means I've got a spare room.

So, I've decided that you are to come and live with me.

No, let me finish,

I never felt right about you being in a home, Mam,

you should be with your family, surrounded by people who love you,

not living with strangers who steal your teeth.

You'll have your own room, and Stella is only across the road,

and I can look after you properly.

- No, sorry, Brenda, I couldn't. - I know you think I'm making a big sacrifice.

What's a vibrant, active and busy career woman like Auntie Brenda

want with an elderly mother hanging around her neck,

dragging the very life-force out of her soul on a daily basis?

But it's not like that.

It would be an honour to have you live with me.

Get you out of this sad and lonely place.

LAUGHTER

No. When I said I couldn't, I mean I couldn't think of nothing worse.

You're up.

I appreciate the thought and that but I'm happy where I am.

Stella Morris.

- It's Jackson, actually. I got married. - Hey, I haven't got time

for names and... names. And what have you. The patient in bed nine

needs his BP doing sharpish.

Cheryl, I was wondering if I could have a word?

I know you're going to say no,

and that's fine, but I said I'd asked so...

- Get on with it, Stella Jackson. - Right, OK, well,

Michael has been offered a job in Dubai for six months

and he wants me to go with him.

Obviously, that's totally out of the question...

Yes.

As I thought.

At least I asked.

Yes. You can go.

I'll sort the necessary paperwork.

Oh. Right.

That's great.

Right, the special today is fish pie and the soup is roast tomato.

I've got no beef casserole until George the butcher can do his

delivery and we're totally out of profiteroles.

Thank you, Alan. Little Alan.

- Bobs. - Cheers.

Oh, will you test me?

I mean, I've just got to get a sense of the world, that's all.

Otherwise what in the name of Anneka Rice am I going to talk about on

- this damned date? - Right, OK. Let's see.

What is the nickname of Tyrion Lannister?

The Imp. Bull's-eye.

Now, how many kingdoms are there in Westeros?

Six. No, seven, seven.

I'm afraid I'll have to take your first answer.

Them's the rules, Boss.

OK, who is the exiled Princess of the Targaryen dynasty?

Daenerys Targaryen, also known as Stormborn.

I'll have a snakebite and black, go easy on the bite.

How is your mother, Auntie Bren?

I rue the day that women gave birth to me.

Heck, is she playing up?