- 2 days ago
EastEnders 5th March 2026
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TVTranscript
00:08Music
00:28You can barely walk, so if I say he isn't here, then that is because he is not here, yes?
00:34Yeah.
00:35Now, I suggest you put out an alert and inform your charge nurse, okay?
00:38I mean, don't disrespect, I know you're really busy and all that, but how could you lose
00:42my husband?
00:43For God's sake!
00:49Right, I suppose he could have tried to find the toilet again.
00:54He can't get as far as the canteen, and I've tried the day room, I mean, if he's collapsed
00:59somewhere, I swear- Nurse, it's my husband, Nigel.
01:04Well, can you tell me what's going on?
01:06Yeah, look, just come with me into his room.
01:10Okay.
01:12I'm, I'm so sorry, I...
01:14What's happened?
01:14Well, I thought you'd been informed.
01:16McPherson!
01:18Up away!
01:19The sacks have dipped to 82% of the toilet.
01:22Guys, get them on the morning side.
01:24Sit!
01:27It's all right!
01:28It's all right!
01:28It's all right!
01:29Hi, it's Claire.
01:30I can't get you there now.
01:30Voicemail.
01:31It's gone straight to voicemail.
01:33I knew I shouldn't have got back in touch with Claire.
01:36I mean, she's not grown up at all.
01:38I mean, how could she be behaving so, so selfishly, so, so stupidly, so, so dangerously?
01:44How could she just check him out of here, Phil?
01:46Because he's her dad.
01:47Yes, I know that.
01:49But she's got eyes, hasn't she?
01:51I mean, ever since Nigel came in here, he's just not been getting better.
01:54Look, we've got to find him, Phil.
01:55Why are you not panicking?
01:57All those months, eh?
01:59All that time, all that effort, trying to make sure that he was safe, and then she barges
02:02in, and then she puts him at risk.
02:04I mean, why?
02:06Why is she doing this, Phil?
02:08Why?
02:09What is she doing this for?
02:10I mean, where has she taken him to?
02:12Today of all days, you know?
02:13I wouldn't put it past her if she'd shoved him in the back of a taxi, and she's going
02:16to try and wheel him all the way back up to Scotland.
02:23Come on, Dad, please.
02:24Off!
02:24You old pal.
02:26I don't know who she is.
02:27Who is she?
02:28Claire's doing this for you, Nigel.
02:30Are you set?
02:31You don't have to.
02:33You don't want to.
02:35Something hurts.
02:37You feeling bad?
02:40This isn't going to work.
02:41Maybe we should just take him back inside.
02:44I don't know how to do this.
02:48He doesn't recognise me, and I don't recognise him.
02:53Are you going to come?
02:54Like you told us you wanted?
02:57Put a smile back on that face.
02:59One last time.
03:10I mean, all that time it's taken us to find him an appropriate care home place, and if
03:15he doesn't move in there today on time, you don't think they're going to give his
03:17room to someone else, do you?
03:19Because there's no way we can cope, Phil.
03:22Of course.
03:27Lexi says Nigel's safe.
03:30Right.
03:31Right, well you'd better tell them to bring him back here, then-
03:33Julie, Julie, could you just stop, please?
03:37So where are they?
03:40Ain't it obvious?
03:42Look, I'm just saying, you know, I'm technically sure Bon Voyage quite hits the mark.
03:47Well, is that her happy birthday?
03:48There ain't exactly a mark here for last pint in the Vic banners.
03:51What about some streamers?
03:52There might be some in the Christmas box.
03:55It's a cruel disease, isn't it?
03:57Hey, half an hour well spent, right?
03:59So there's one person who knows how to live in the moment, squeeze it out of the joys,
04:03called Lexi Pearce.
04:04No, I'm not sure this is good for her, you know.
04:06Come little Lexi's posting messages on the neighbouring shack.
04:10I've always got something just out of the oven.
04:12Yeah, my dad will be over as soon as he's having eel issues.
04:14Can you remember?
04:15I've got some nice butter icing on it, can I breathe?
04:17Yeah, go and take it, it's lovely.
04:19That's Lexi though, what a good idea.
04:21I mean, Nigel's just part of here, isn't he?
04:23Albert squares in his bones.
04:25Oh, you know.
04:25Talk to the witch.
04:26That's him.
04:27Is he?
04:28Hiya.
04:29There he is.
04:30There he is.
04:31Come on, mate.
04:32Come on, mate.
04:33Come on.
04:34Come on.
04:35Come on.
04:38Come on.
04:46Hey!
04:50I heard you were back.
04:53Are you all right?
04:55You know, I'm just getting my head down the fact that my dad can recognise a pub but not his
04:59own daughter.
05:01Look, don't listen to me.
05:03I'm hardly the priority.
05:04I'm just...
05:05And they're shocked.
05:07Shocked.
05:10I tried to contact you but you've got a new number.
05:13I'd have been here.
05:15I'd have come back.
05:18I can't believe he doesn't know who I am.
05:19No.
05:21Well, you're not giving him a chance today out here, are you?
05:24No.
05:25Right.
05:25Come on.
05:26Or we'll have you a drink.
05:27No.
05:28How's that handsome husband of yours?
05:30You little girl.
05:31She's not little anymore.
05:32No.
05:32No.
05:37Oh!
05:38Well Nigel went behind.
05:40Don't think he was talking about Prosecco.
05:41Yeah, well, certainly very Nazi.
05:45Congratulations.
05:47Everyone's got an opinion.
05:48I mean, it's not like Nigel knows what he says, is it?
05:52Well, that's the thought of the council.
05:56There you go.
05:58Of course, it should really be a pint of oranges and lemons.
06:01Remember?
06:02The cocktail we all had at your birthday party?
06:06The first night your mum and dad met.
06:08I introduced them.
06:12Yeah, he bought me a pint more than once.
06:15In the downtimes.
06:16Good listener.
06:18What?
06:19Messing up your Santa Claus, Lance?
06:21Yeah.
06:22I mean, you got some homework.
06:24Hey, God always said, the best port and lemon this side of Peckham.
06:29Oh, yeah.
06:30God knows Jim tried to top him.
06:33Yeah, according to Dad, the only man who could set Grant Mitchell straight and walk away still
06:36wearing his own face.
06:39Mum always reckoned you preferred a nice cup of tea to a pint.
06:46Thanks.
06:54You gonna have a sip?
06:55All this effort getting you back in.
06:57Turn in one.
06:58That is inappropriate, Maureen.
07:03I'll give us a drink.
07:05Well, if you want to talk about drinking, has anyone heard the story about Nigel and Ricky Butcher's dad do?
07:10No.
07:11No.
07:12It's okay.
07:13Well, they all woke up hanging in a field, apparently.
07:18Don't know where they got there, where they are.
07:21Summer mentions a ferry, probably Grant.
07:24Looks like France.
07:25Must be France, right?
07:27Anyway, this is urgent because this is the actual day of Ricky and Bianca's wedding.
07:31Oh.
07:33Nigel's the only one with an O level.
07:35So we volunteers start speaking French.
07:37Well, the poor farmer hasn't got a clue what he's saying because they're not in France at all.
07:43They're in Kent.
07:43Hello.
07:45Hi, Kent!
07:50Bonjour.
08:01Friend of Chelsea's.
08:04I don't think we've met.
08:06I'd remember your face.
08:09Large one, is it?
08:11I doubt it.
08:13No thanks.
08:14Cheers.
08:16God loves a try, eh?
08:24What the hell's in the plan now?
08:26Oh, back off, can you?
08:29So, Nigel's fine, yeah?
08:32Be safe, just...
08:34Just let him have this.
08:36It's 20 minutes.
08:41Come here.
08:44Stop it.
08:45All right.
08:58Why are you following me in here like some middle-aged stalker?
09:01You've come to tell me off.
09:03You're not the step-mom anymore.
09:05You're not my teacher, and I'm not that screwed-up teenager in your way, Julie.
09:08You're right.
09:09Oh, I never thought that.
09:11Don't do it.
09:13Do not do that.
09:15Act like you're perfect because you're not.
09:18Because none of us are.
09:20All this playing, poor me, it does my head in.
09:23Do not pretend that your life didn't get a whole lot easier once I left.
09:27Well, we certainly had more money in the bank.
09:31Your dad missed you.
09:34OK, so, yeah, in some ways it was, yeah.
09:40And you wonder why I never came home for Christmas.
09:44Nigel just wanted to meet his granddaughter.
09:46No, Julie.
09:48No, Julie.
09:49Not enough.
09:50You won.
09:51OK?
09:52You won.
09:54And I'm not interested in you or your opinions.
09:57I...
09:58I'm just gutted.
10:00He doesn't know who I am.
10:04I am gutted you didn't call me when you first found out.
10:09You knew he went missing.
10:11I left you I don't know how many messages.
10:15And now I've lost the chance to tell him I'm sorry.
10:21But Dad never called me either, did he?
10:24Then I...
10:26I never called him.
10:29This was just one little nice thing I could try and do for him, you know?
10:35One wish.
10:38You don't have the monopoly on loving him, Julie.
10:41You never have.
10:49Yeah, but Nigel's smiling, ain't he?
10:51When did you last see that?
10:55Nigel ain't got his memory.
10:56Like the rest of us have.
10:58So, if...
11:00If you ever go off like that without telling us again,
11:04I'll get Cam to take your laptop off, you know,
11:06and get him to cancel your phone contracts and all.
11:10Or your mum.
11:14Your mum would be proud of you.
11:16I know that.
11:23Then what was it again, more hours in the back van?
11:26A little more minimum wage and commission when you sell a car.
11:31Because, you know, technically, Lauren has head-earned you.
11:33Yeah.
11:37Priya, relax.
11:38You know, most normal people celebrate to get a new job.
11:42Most normal people ain't waiting for a drug scan to talk to their house.
11:45Yeah, I told you I should mark down.
11:47Can you just...
11:49Will you just trust me?
11:51Yeah.
11:52As soon as you give me one good reason to...
11:56Victoria's sandwich, Nigel, your firm favourite.
11:58I'll be making you one of these every week when you get yourself settled.
12:04Oh, hi.
12:06Miss Favourite.
12:07You want me to get you a slice, Dad?
12:10You.
12:11Judy.
12:12Judy!
12:12It's all OK.
12:13It's all OK, I'm here.
12:14Judy!
12:14It's all right, it's all right.
12:16Hey.
12:16Of course not.
12:17With the bit of a name change.
12:20Hey.
12:21It's not his all-time favourite, though, is it, Clare?
12:25Years back, it was...
12:26It was doughnuts.
12:29From the bakery by the swimming pool.
12:31Wasn't it, love?
12:33Yeah.
12:35He used to take Clare swimming every Saturday.
12:39That time you, um...
12:41You made him go with you up to the top diving board.
12:45Three flights up, it was.
12:47And then you got cold feet.
12:51Turned around and walked all the way back to the bottom.
12:54I was only 30.
12:56And you...
12:58You felt obliged.
13:00You didn't want to hold the queue up.
13:02And he hates heights.
13:04Never seen a belly flop like it.
13:08And you always used to pick up...
13:11those sugary doughnuts...
13:12and bring them home with you.
13:14Oh.
13:14Yeah.
13:17And...
13:18every weekend...
13:19the pair of you would have a competition.
13:23In the kitchen.
13:24In the kitchen.
13:25To see who could hold off from...
13:28licking their lips first.
13:30I always won.
13:33I always let you in.
13:36And made her laugh.
13:40Dad.
13:54I'm sorry to break things up.
13:57That's...
13:58Yeah, um...
13:59someone...
14:00has got a new home they need to move into.
14:03Oi!
14:04Finished upon it.
14:06I'm fired.
14:08Lexi, would you...
14:09come back and help me back after tea?
14:13And, um...
14:14maybe you and Claire can...
14:15settle Nigel in and help.
14:17I'll bring his case along later.
14:22Right.
14:23Up at God of Honour.
14:26He's not going to walk.
14:27Yeah, she's right.
14:28We could still go see him.
14:30Exactly.
14:31I've already made a group chat.
14:33So everybody needs to tick off...
14:35which day is best for them...
14:36because we don't all want to turn up...
14:37the same time.
14:38the same time.
14:51Why do you love her when you let her go?
14:54I will never let her go.
14:59And Easy.
15:01Cheers!
15:03Feels guteni!
15:06Thank you very much, this time.
15:11Well done, you all, guys.
15:15Whoo-hoo! Whoo-hoo!
15:20Bye.
15:21Bye. Hey, Marge.
15:25Er... He's never quite a black, is he?
15:28I think so.
15:33He's just in the shade...
15:36Yeah!
15:48...we are looking for a black, so we don't see any black.
15:50Oh, this is...
15:58I think now all of you know, are we all doing the black Sioclase?
16:01...we are just like...
16:02...and we're doing the black.
16:27and we can move your photographs around how you want once you've had time to have a look
16:31your wife Julie isn't it already bought in your slippers nice little crochet blanket and we'll
16:38have a look at where your new bedroom is and the new bathroom we've had the hospital discharge
16:57summary through right well we just need to do our basic medical check and I expect a nurse want to
17:05have a bit more of a thorough look at you don't want that pneumonia back and this is you soon
17:12feel
17:12like home it's like a thousand cups gradual chipping away it's been a while now since you and Phil have
17:25been taking such good care of him I think the night the hospital stay really took its toll on Nigel
17:33I've been telling Patrick what an excellent job you've both been doing I can't remember my name
17:38I don't even think he knows where I am most of the time it's just um it's just waiting for
17:46you know
17:46it's just it's just been such a big build-up I feel like I'm wearing heavy coats I know there's
17:52no practical alternative but I just feel like such a bad person I don't want him to go
17:58hush hush hush hush Julie Julie Julie Julie hush hush hush look the care home we pray will be the
18:11best place for you
18:14you and Phil have done all that you could you have nothing to be guilty for
18:22I'm not choosing this.
18:25It's just...
18:28..little tiny flashes, you know?
18:33Nigel's already gone, hasn't it?
18:39Yeah.
18:41Take it off me!
18:43Nigel needs to give your arm a gentle hug.
18:44I don't want a gentle hug!
18:47It's very blood pressure, that's all.
18:48I haven't got any blood pressure.
18:52You're a flippity-jibbit.
18:53So's your mum.
18:55Oh, poor thing, you've got a sore nose.
18:58You, you're useless, you're no good to me.
19:01I bet you, ten thousand quid,
19:04you can't make me better in ten minutes.
19:07Yeah, go on.
19:07His brother tried to kill me. Grant, yeah.
19:11It was at home, I was in the bath,
19:14and his brother's pushing me down, trying to drown me.
19:16I'm soaked! Look at me!
19:18It's your brother, Grant!
19:21Look!
19:22Soaked.
19:25All right.
19:26All right, it's all right.
19:28Why don't we take a minute?
19:30Yeah? Get you tidied up.
19:34Come on.
19:36Come on.
19:36Come on.
19:37Come on.
19:40Come on.
19:42Come on.
19:46Well, we've got to be realistic.
19:47I mean, it's bound to get worse.
19:54Everything...
19:56Nigel didn't want everything he left Scotland to spare me from.
20:01I suppose we've just got to find a way to get detached a bit.
20:06Well, I mean, that's what all the online forums say,
20:09and I've been on enough of those.
20:11It's not that easy to do, though.
20:14No.
20:17But you're not on your own.
20:19Half of the squirrel has already signed up to visit him.
20:22Yeah.
20:23I'm married to him, though.
20:26Nigel will always...
20:28He'll always have my heart.
20:30The heart of an honourable woman.
20:32Mm-hm.
20:35You know...
20:38We've had so many happy years.
20:41And whatever time there is...
20:45Now that this is what it's come to,
20:47then I will visit a man who looks like my husband.
20:50I'll do my best to keep him cheerful and make sure he's safe.
20:56Find joy in little things like...
21:00Like a cup of tea and a plate of bourbon biscuits.
21:04For the wonderful...
21:07Wonderful...
21:09Nigel.
21:10And you.
21:12And...
21:13It's the least he deserves.
21:16If I can make his life better...
21:20Then...
21:21I need to be there for him.
21:25I don't want her.
21:31Tell Julia...
21:32I've got to go and see the family.
21:33Just tell Julia I'll visit.
21:53Mind you, we'll settle down.
21:55He's sleeping.
21:57I'm gonna go in.
21:59Yes, this is...
22:03This is wrong.
22:04This is wrong.
22:05How is this?
22:07Hm?
22:09How is this?
22:11Making his life any better?
22:14Transfer trauma is not uncommon in residents with...
22:19How could it have been any worse?
22:21Him dying of...
22:23Pneumonia in hospital, you know?
22:25They could have just let him slip away.
22:27You know?
22:27With some sort of...
22:29Some sort of...
22:31Dignity.
22:32This...
22:34This place...
22:35The smell...
22:41I suppose this is how you do each other.
22:45Because you...
22:46You didn't know him, did you?
22:47You didn't know Nigel.
22:49He's...
22:52Nigel's...
22:53He's a...
22:54You know, he's...
22:55He's a kind, gentle bloke.
22:59He's...
22:59He likes...
23:01He likes old films.
23:03Stuff like that.
23:04And this...
23:04This is not...
23:08This is not how his life should end.
23:10You know, in this place, just waiting for the axe to fall with...
23:15We're kind of dogs, don't we?
23:16Mr Mitchell.
23:17No, he's in there.
23:20He's in there terrified.
23:23Lost in...
23:24You know...
23:25Dementia.
23:26Nigel's...
23:27Nigel's disappeared and...
23:31His body's just...
23:33His body's just keeping going, innit?
23:35It's obvious...
23:36How hard you've been working.
23:38I mean, this is a big adjustment.
23:43This is torture.
23:45You don't deserve this, you know?
23:48I owe Nigel everything.
23:50He's...
23:52He's my best.
23:55My...
23:57Perhaps...
23:59Maybe...
23:59It could be helpful for both you and Nigel if...
24:03You take a break.
24:04Short or as long as you need.
24:07Let him adjust to his new routine here with us.
24:12No.
24:12But...
24:14Sometimes...
24:15Having a bit of space can help new residents adjust more easily.
24:20We'll keep you updated.
24:22Plan for you to come back if, when, you've...
24:25You know, had some time to rest.
24:28Get your strength back.
24:30Maybe...
24:31You should let us take care of the both of you for a while.
24:36Huh?
24:37Do you know what?
24:45I can't...
24:46I can't...
24:47I can't do it.
24:48I can't do it.
24:51Care of burnout.
24:53We see it all the time.
24:55There's nothing to be ashamed of.
24:57I'm sorry.
24:58I'm sorry.
24:58I'm sorry.
25:01Excuse me.
25:02I can't do it.
25:06I can't do it.
25:07I can't do it.
25:07I can't do it.
25:08I can't do it.
25:09You know what it's like.
25:12This is not the way.
25:13You call it, but let me clean up.
25:14You're gonna be the only one.
25:17No.
25:18No.
25:18No.
25:21Oh, no.
25:22No.
25:22No.
25:50I'm sorry.
25:52Nigel, I'm sorry for letting you down.
25:59I love you, Nigel, too.
26:02I love you.
26:05But I can't...
26:07I can't help. I can't...
26:10I can't watch. I can't...
26:13I can't... I can't do this. I'm sorry.
26:20I can't be here.
26:24For you any more, Nigel.
26:28I can't.
26:47I can't do this.
26:49I can't do this.
26:51I can't do this.
26:53I can't do this.
26:54There's no one in there.
26:56It's amazing.
26:58It's amazing.
26:59It's amazing.
26:59You should do it.
27:12Details of organisations offering information and support with dementia
27:17are available on the Action Line pages of the BBC website.
27:21We can call for free at any time to hear recorded information on 08000 560 780.
27:51Based on how much money is needed opefç ‚ block.
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