People are still walking on eggshells around Alice. In conversation with her mother, Emma says that she looks exhausted. No wonder! Susan says that Alice came to see them yesterday and she got very upset because Martha wouldn’t stop crying, but at least Alice appears to be trying (very trying, if you ask me).
At Berrow Farm the next day, Brian and Neil are talking. Brian lets it be known that he was less than impressed when Emma rocked up on his doorstep and began bad-mouthing Alice. Neil knew nothing of this, but it hasn’t changed his point of view – he won’t leave Martha alone with Jennifer and Alice. Brian, who seems to have a blind spot when it comes to his youngest daughter, describes Alice as “very resilient” (sounds better than ‘a total lush’ I suppose). The two men wonder how this situation has got to this point, and Neil tells his boss that the Carters have always looked on Alice as their own daughter, but Martha is their priority now.
Be that as it may, neither Susan nor Neil are getting any younger and the strain of looking after a new-born baby is taking its toll, with Susan doing most of the night feeds. So it is that Shula confronts (in a nice way) Susan in the shop; Peggy (and Jill, and many others) have received letters saying that their newspaper bills have not been paid, and intimating that their goolies will be put in the mangle if they don’t settle up pronto. The problem is that all these people have all paid up to date and the letters have been sent out as an oversight.
Susan is distraught and asks Shula to apologise to those members of her family who have been unfairly smeared – she must have pressed the wrong button. It’s difficult to get Martha into a routine, explains Susan. Shula asks if perhaps Susan should take a break from the shop, but Susan replies that she just needs to concentrate a bit harder.
Meanwhile, Neil has returned to Ambridge View to relieve Emma from Martha Watch duties. Emma goes off on one about Brian Aldridge and Neil reminds her that Brian is his boss, and Emma’s attitude and actions haven’t really helped very much. In fact, he tells her to stop – she’s only making things worse and, before she opens her mouth in the future, she should ask herself if what she says is really going to help improve the situation? They need to be constructive. Emma replies that it won’t be easy to disguise her feelings about Alice – or Kate, come to that. Neil thanks his daughter for her help in looking after Martha today and says that he knows it won’t be easy – in fact, it’s breaking his heart.
We shouldn’t assume that Alice is not seeing her daughter while all this is going on. In fact, on Tuesday, we see Alice and Chris at Ambridge View with Martha. Alice keeps remarking about things that their daughter is doing for the first time, only to be told by Chris that she has been doing them for a couple of weeks. Chris won’t leave Alice alone with Martha, despite the fact that Alice insists that she has changed. “What? Since the christening?” asks a sceptical Chris.
Alice starts to get bolshie and says that she cannot stand the way Chris is watching her like a hawk all the time. She suggests that she is not entirely to blame for the current situation, as both she and Chris were fond of nights out, fuelled by plenty of drink – it was only her that got ill (nice euphemism there, Alice). “But you are still ill” replies Chris, and an argument ensues, with Alice claiming that he wants her to fail; “Now you’ve got Martha, you don’t need me any more” she says. Chris’s response to this is to ask his wife if she is mad; has she had a drink today? He tells her to go – now. Alice says that her time with Martha isn’t up yet, to which a snarling Chris replies that she can see her daughter only when he says she can, and please go.
This episode has been witnessed by Jennifer (who can spy on Ambridge View from Willow Cottage) and who is relaying what’s going on to Peggy, who is on the phone. I tell you, GCHQ has got nothing compared to the Ambridge gossip network. Jennifer isn’t really listening, and keeps going on about, had the family known the extent of the problem, then they might have nipped it in the bud. Peggy, who points out that she has had some experience of alcoholism with her first husband, says that this would have been unlikely. She then tries to tell Jennifer that she already knew that Alice was an alcoholic, but Jennifer has spotted Alice leaving Ambridge View in floods of tears and says that she has to hang up.
While all this is going on, Susan turns up late for work and apologises to Helen. Helen is disturbed, as she notices that Susan is shaking and has obviously been crying – is she fit to drive? Susan says yes, but Helen isn’t having any of it and says that she will drive Susan home and she insists that Susan takes time off with compassionate leave. In a small voice, Susan asks if she ought to resign – she knows she has not been doing a good job recently. Helen rejects the thought out of hand and tells Susan to take some time out and focus on her family – they are what’s important. This leaves Helen with a staffing problem, as she tells Kirsty later. Kirsty says get someone else in, but Helen replies that there are no guaranteed hours or any length of contract, so who would be mad enough to take a job like that?
The answer is staring Helen in the face, says Kirsty – she will do it. She’s twiddling her thumbs at Grey Gables at the moment and she is sure that Clarrie can explain what needs to be done. Kirsty might have thought ‘and if Clarrie and Susan can do the job, how hard can it be?’ but she never voiced the thought. Helen is worried that she is taking advantage of her friend, but Kirsty says that she wants paying. “In that case, when can you start?” Helen asks.
‘But what happened to Alice – where did she go?’ I hear you scream. The short answer is ‘to the shop’, where Jim is serving behind the counter. Alice, who has obviously had a sniff of the barmaid’s apron – well, several sniffs, actually – is trying to persuade Jim to sell her a bottle of vodka. And if he doesn’t, then she will get in her car and drive to somewhere where they will sell her a bottle. Jim asks whether she would take a risk like that with her safety, and that of other road users, and the answer is ‘yes’. In that case, Jim has to decide whether it’s better for her to have the bottle, rather than risk an accident.
In the end, he thinks the former course of action is the preferred option, so it is a tad unfortunate that Susan enters the shop just as he is handing the booze over. “Jim – Alice. What do you think you’re doing!” Susan says, aghast. A three-way argument breaks out, with Jim trying to justify his action, Alice screaming to be given the bottle and Susan telling Jim to shut up and mind his own business. “Can’t you see what this is doing to you?” Susan asks Alice, only to be called “an interfering hypocrite” in response. Susan loses patience and tells Alice to get out of the shop – she will not serve her alcohol. As Alice storms out, Jim tells Susan that she handled the situation very well, but he is interrupted by the sound of breaking glass.
Let’s pause here for a moment – we are told, next day, that Alice threw a brick through the shop window, and then went back into the shop to see if Jim and Susan were OK. Personally, I reckon she went back to see if she could liberate the Voddie bottle, but that’s just me. What we do know is that somebody called the Police, but what I want to know is where did Alice get the brick from? I mean, you don’t see bricks laying around the place, do you? I cannot believe that Alice carries bricks around for just such an eventuality.
Leaving that aside, the following morning Alice has been told to report to the Police Station at 8.50. Brian and Jennifer have gone with her and Brian is getting arsey about the length of time that his daughter has been detained – should he go in and stir them up? he asks Jennifer.
Jenny was obviously ahead of Brian in the queue when Common Sense was being handed out, as she suggests that it might be counterproductive to antagonise the police in the execution of their duties. Fortunately, Alice reappears and says that they can go home. She offered to pay for the window (offered Brian to pay, more like). There is just a slight complication, in that, should Jim or Susan want to press charges, things will be taken further.
Alice goes round to see Jim to apologise, but Jazzer sends her away with a flea in her ear, telling her that “Martha needs a decent Ma – and you’re not it.” When Jim learns of this, he gently chides Jazzer, saying that he should be more understanding and sympathetic. Jazzer puts this attitude down to delayed shock and keeps trying to get Jim to drink hot, sweet tea.
Brian goes to see Neil and offers to pay for the new glass and any clean-up costs (told you so!). He takes the opportunity to suggest that, as neither Susan nor Jim were not seriously hurt, perhaps they won’t be pressing charges? After all, if that were to happen, it could seriously knock back any progress that Alice has made. Neil puts on his stern voice and says “Brian, we all want Alice to get over this, but you have to draw the line somewhere.” He adds that the decision is Susan’s, but he will back her, whatever she decides.
It turns out that Neil goes to see Jenny and Alice, to tell them that Susan said that, while it was a nasty experience, she feels that punishment won’t help in this case. The shop committee would like to accept Brian’s offer to pay for the clear-up. Just then, the phone rings and Jenny goes to answer it. Alice says that she feels that she deserves to be punished and Neil wonders out loud “Where has she gone – that beautiful girl we all loved so much?” He adds that, if they all work together, maybe they can get her back, and then takes his leave.
If the Aldridges think that this draws a line under the situation, then it appears that they are sadly mistaken, as a shocked and worried Jennifer returns from answering the phone and gives her daughter the somewhat upsetting news that it was Social Services on the other end. And so another week’s episodes end.
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