February 21, 2020 – The Soap Dish

(Thursday 20^th February 2020)

The partygoers are clinging to help in the water as the boat begins to sink in the Thames. The bust of the Queen Victoria sinks. Nooooo!

Seven Hours Earlier…

Ben is going out of his mind trying to save Callum. Meanwhile, Sharon lies to Denny, confirming that Phil and Ben killed Keanu. She then pledges a future to him, just them and the baby. I’m not sure I could think of anything worse! While she packs up, ready to leave, Ben drags her to the funeral home, holding her hostage in a bid to exchange her for Callum. Sharon is horrified to learn what Keanu has done and insists to Ben that she has changed her mind about leaving with Keanu – it’s just her and Denny now. She then goes into labour.

Phil is laying low with a gun in the cellar of the Queen Vic with Shirley, having set her on the case of locating Callum while he tracks Keanu down. He breaks into Karen’s house, where she is excitedly getting ready for the boat party, threatening her and demanding to know where her son is.

Ignoring calls from Karen while he attempts to track Sharon down, Keanu bumps into Denny who realises that Sharon has lied to him. The angry teenager then heads off to the boat party. Sharon breaks up with Keanu on the phone and begs him to let Callum go. Keanu mentions that Denny went to the boat party and is determined to fight for Sharon and the baby. Sharon begs Ben for help, prompting him to call Kathy before heading to the boat himself. Things get tense between Karen and Phil. Billy arrives and knocks Phil out but not for long. He overhears them mentioning Keanu heading for the boat. He’s off!

Alone, Callum manages to release himself from his ties (he couldn’t have done that days ago?) but he falls during his escape and ends up in more danger. When Shirley comes to rescue him, she can’t find him. You know… I’m starting to doubt his credibility when it comes to being a copper…

On the boat, at least a few people are having a good time but out on deck, Phil lays into Keanu who can only apologise for his behaviour. It’s genuinely sad to see the breakdown of their relationship. Phil saw Keanu as a son and more than angry, he is hurt by his betrayal. And Keanu, who never had a Dad, saw Phil as the only father figure he’d ever known.

Phil and Keanu finally come face to face…

Phil almost takes pity on him but then Shirley rings to say that she can’t find Callum anywhere. Believing that Keanu has lied to him again, he loses it and they fight. The Captain tries to break it up but gets knocked out, putting the whole boat in danger! A shot rings out but just hits the glass. Unfortunately, the brawling men knock the wheel, veering the boat off course and they hit a nearby ferry.

We see the devastation on board as everyone is thrown about, including Denny, locked up downstairs and Linda, getting her foot trapped as she reaches for a bottle of wine in the kitchen. Phil is ready to shoot Keanu but Ben turns his own gun on his father, refusing to let him kill Keanu; he is still the only person who knows where Callum is…

(Also, as an aside, separate to the episode, we’ve all now heard the news that the legendary Jude Brown has left Eastenders. Such a shame that she didn’t depart with a storyline befitting an incredible character as Dot Branning and a wonderful actress as June Brown. But many well wishes to June and thank you for all the memories.)