91Èȱ¬

It’s the day of Derek’s funeral and the Brannings are in sombre mood. A stalwart Tanya lectures Lauren about standing by your man. Jack and Max visit Joey and inform him he will be respectful and go to his father’s funeral but Joe’s defiant. Kirsty unexpectedly turns up at the Butchers’ with sandwiches for the funeral. Carol can’t believe her audacity and they argue. Kirsty believes Max loves her and Carol thinks she should prove it by telling Max she’s leaving for good. Alice can’t stop crying and Poppy looks after her. Moved, Kat tells Joey to step up, for his little sister. Alice finds Joey sitting on Derek’s bed holding his shirt. Alice’s thrilled Joey’s coming to the funeral. Jack and Carol discuss Derek’s relationship with Jim. Taking Carol’s advice, Kirsty tracks down Max. Max claims he’s glad Kirsty’s going and offers to pay her train fare. Angry, Kirsty shouts that she hates him, but the atmosphere between them is charged. Meanwhile Derek’s hearse arrives. As Walford falls silent, Poppy hands Carol David’s letter, which she found in Derek’s bedroom. Suddenly, Carol runs back into the Butchers’. Tanya and Abi hurry to the launderette to look for Lauren and worry when they discover she’s gone to the police station. Tanya attempts to phone Max, unaware he’s in a nearby alley, kissing Kirsty passionately.

Arriving at the launderette to sort the family funeral clothes, Lauren bumps into Lucy. When Lauren tries to explain her relationship with Joey, Lucy doesn’t want to hear it and bitter words are exchanged. Lauren confides that she was driving Derek’s car when she and Joey crashed and she’d had a drink. This is emotive territory for Lucy and she heads off towards the police station with Lauren hot on her heels.

Denise tells Ray their kiss was a mistake.