Jack the Ripper Hits Walford (Scenes 57-60)
(Scene Fifty-seven: 18th September - The café - Joe is working on his own. The café is quiet at this time when DCI Marsden arrives accompanied by the sergeants).
DCI Marsden: Three teas, please Joe.
Joe: Coming up. Why don’t you just have tea in all the houses you’re visiting.
(The three officers sit down).
DCI Marsden: That’s not always appropriate.
(The DCI notices Pat Evans, Barry and Frank sitting together. Frank is sobbing his heart out again and on the tables before them are a stack of papers all featuring the exclusive stories of Janine).
Joe: You want to talk to me now?
(The DCI looks at him as he serves the tea on a tray).
DCI Marsden: Thank you for your co-operation. However Joe, we’re unable to talk to you without the presence of your mother or stepfather or doctor.
(Joe looks disappointed).
Joe: But my statements are just as important as everyone else’s.
DCI Marsden: That’s as may be, Joe. But we have strict rules and regulations we have to abide by.
Joe: And you always stick to them?
Pat: Joe behave!
(Joe shrugs and saunters away back to the counter).
(Scene Fifty-eight: 18th September - Walford General - Jamie has been ushered into casualty where he’s still being examined. He’s complaining of severe abdominal pain and recurring vomiting bouts. Saul attracts the attention of Sonia who’s returned after accompanying a patient to a ward).
Saul: Sonia, I don’t want to worry you. Jamie’s been brought in now.
Sonia: What? What’s wrong with him?
(He stops her from barging into the cubicle Jamie’s been taken into. She can hear him groaning in agony and spluttering).
Saul: We’re not sure yet. You said he had flu.
Sonia: Well that’s what he told me. He had all the symptoms.
Saul: Well he’s very dehydrated with the constant vomiting he’s experiencing and he keeps passing out. It might be stomach migraine. What time are you finishing?
Sonia: Ummm in an hour or so…look I got to go in and see him__
Saul: Leave us settle him down. The consultant’s with him now. Go and have a quick cup of tea.
(Sonia watches as the dragon of a sister marches into the cubicle where she can briefly see Jamie tossing and turning, deliriously feverish).
Sonia: I don’t like her attending to him!
Saul: She’s okay with patients. She just doesn’t like many of the staff much, me included particularly now as I’ve applied for the position of charge nurse. Too much competition for her!
Sister: Saul! Come in here!
(Saul smiles reassuringly at Sonia and goes into the cubicle. The curtains falling back in place as he does so).
Phil: Sonia!
(She turns and faces her arch enemy).
Sonia: You brought him in then. Why didn’t you let me know he was being admitted?
Phil: I didn’t have time. Anyway, there’s nothing really wrong with him. Just his guts playing up.
Sonia: What do you mean?
Phil: Well he’s psychosomatic. Marsden has been questioning him again and it’s just upset him. You know what he’s like! Always over-reacts. He shouldn’t have come into work today, Sonia.
Sonia: Well he said he was better! And he never had problems with his stomach until you battered hell out of him.
Phil: Leave it, all right Sonia? I’ve got to go. You can bring in some stuff that Jamie needs, toiletries and his pyjamas.
Sonia: He has to stay then?
Phil: Well yes I should think so!
Sonia: He hasn’t got any pyjamas.
Phil: (sarcastically) Well I suppose you better run to the shops and buy a pair for him then.
Sonia: Phil, what’s your problem say?
Phil: I’ve not got a problem, love.
(They’re arguing when Saul comes out of the cubicle and sees them).
Saul: Keep the volume down the pair of you. Sonia, sister says you can come off duty early since Jamie’s here.
Sonia: Can I see him?
Saul: Not yet. We’re going to put him on a drip to replace the fluids he’s lost and he’ll need morphine as well for the pain.
Sister: Has he had problems like this before, love?
(Sonia’s surprised, it’s the first time the sister has spoken to her pleasantly).
Sonia: He often seems to have problems with his stomach these days.
Sister: Well it could be stress, love. The consultant isn’t certain of the diagnosis yet but it is probably what’s called cyclic vomiting syndrome.
Sonia: What’s that? I thought you said, Saul, it could be stomach migraine.
Sister: Cyclic vomiting syndrome is also known as stomach migraine. Stress could have triggered this off, he’s also still getting over flu.
(Sonia shakes her head in disbelief).
Sonia: Why would he be stressed?
Phil: It’s the type of person he is. And that Marsden woman has been badgering him again.
(Phil says good-bye and leaves the department).
Saul: And Jamie was watching out of the window when Janine was found.
Sonia: What’s that got to do with the price of bacon? Loads of people actually had a good look at the state she was in, Saul.
Saul: Yeah, but what exactly was Jamie able to see from the window?
(Sonia pales at what Saul might be implying).
(Scene Fifty-nine: 18th September - The café - 6.00 p.m. The killer is enjoying a nice hot cup of tea and looking at the flier he along with the rest of those in Walford have been passed, either by hand or through the letterbox. He smiles at the wording.)
"SHARON WATTS current proprietor, cordially invites you to her final night as owner of Angie’s Den on 30th September 2003 starting at 8.00 p.m. until late. Let us all unit in the community spirit to celebrate the life of Janine Butcher who met a tragic untimely death on 8th September, and show our commiserations to her father, Frank Butcher, brother Ricky and sister Diane. All are welcome. Make 30th September a night to remember, spend it with your family at Angie’s Den. "
(The killer smiles. He’s determined that it will be a night to remember as well. He looks up from the paper he’s reading as people start flooding into the café).
(Scene Sixty: 18th September - The café - 6.15 p.m. Joe is bombarded with orders as everyone floods into the café together. It’s been quiet until now. Frank, Pat and Barry have been here almost all afternoon drinking an endless supply of tea and rattling various newspapers, Frank sobbing and Barry blubbering away like a baby).
Pat: Come on we should be going now.
(She gets up and Barry looks reluctantly at the doorway).
Frank: We can’t stay here any longer. It’s getting too noisy and my head is killing me.
Pat: We could go back to Kenwyn House.
Barry: That dive? No thank you. We can go back to my place.
(He chucks the newspapers down in contempt upon the table and scrunches up the “Angie’s Den” party invite).
Frank: I’m going.
Pat: Where?
Frank: To the party. They’re holding a party for my little girl, and I’ve got to go.
Barry: I wouldn’t bother if I was you, Frank, the murderer could be going there.
Pat: Barry!
Martin: Come on Joe, hurry up with the orders!
Joe: Keep your hair on, all right? I’ve only got one pair of hands.
Martin: Well where’s lardy Laura then?
Joe: Laura’s gone home to look after the baby.
Grant: Come on, Joe, I’ll give you a hand.
(Grant pushes past the crowds gathered at the counter and helps Joe to serve the tea).
Joe: You’re not checking up on me are you?
Grant: Stop being so paranoid! I heard Marsden was in here, just checking you’re all right.
Joe: Then I’m not being paranoid then am I? I was right.
Spencer: Fancy another cuppa Jake?
Jake: Yeah okay then.
Spencer: That’s Grant over there with Joe. Go and ask him about the job.
Jake: I was hoping to start sometime sooner than in October.
Spencer: It’s only a matter of weeks away. The Mitchells aren’t the most popular family around, but a job’s a job and I think Grant will be okay to work for.
(Jake’s uncertain however. There’s something about Grant and his stepson which makes him uneasy and he can’t quite put his finger on it).
Saul: So this is one of Walford’s favourite haunts?
Sonia: Yeah I often drop in here. Sometimes it’s so nice and quiet I sit in the corner over there and study for hours. I get more peace than at home at times.
(Saul frowns).
Saul: You don’t get enough peace to study at home? Why ever not? It’s not like you have little kids running all over the place.
Sonia: I know. But when Robbie, my brother lived at home, it was like it at times.
Saul: Any chance of one of those super all day breakfasts you’re advertising, Joe?
Joe: Yeah, sure mate. Sit down.
(Saul and Sonia sit down).
Ian: Well look at this! It was so much better organised when I was running the place! It’s going down hill fast.
Pat: You’re doing a brilliant job, Joe.
Grant: Shut it Beale.
(Joe’s working flat out, but tends not to get as flustered like Laura does).
Grant: How long did that Marsden woman stay?
Joe: About an hour. They wouldn’t let me talk to them.
(He watches as Pat finally manages to usher Frank and Barry out of the café).
Joe: They’ve been hanging around much longer though and whispering to each other.
Grant: If she starts pestering you, you tell me okay?
Joe: She said she’ll pop over to the B & B soon.
Paul: Not again surely!
Patrick: She’s only doing her job, boy. We’ve got to find who killed Janine.
Joe: We already know who killed Janine.
(Those queuing at the bar look at him astonished, their hearts in their mouths. Dan Ferreira looks hard at Joe, his table the closest to the counter).
Dan: Who, Joe?
Joe: Jack did.
Grant: Joe!
(Everyone shudders at his words. The door swings back open and Barry races back into the café in a fluster, Pat and Frank close behind him).
Barry: I’ve left my wallet somewhere__
Dan: Here it is!
(Dan Ferreira picks it up off the floor).
Joe: So there’s no mystery really__
Grant: Joe!
(His stepson ignores him).
Joe: Jack done it. Jack’s back.
Barry: What’s that about Jack?
Joe: Jack is back.
Barry: Jack’s back! My Jack is back?
Pat: No…Barry…it’s not your Jack he’s referring to__
(Pat shouts too late as Barry is out of the café desperately seeking his son Jack, thinking that he and Natalie are back in the Square).
Frank: Nice one, Joe! You need to sort him out! (He says angrily to Grant).
(Grant grabs Joe’s arm and pushes him into the kitchen as the bereaved Frank races after ex-wife and his almost son-in-law).
Grant: Joe! Keep your mouth buttoned about this thing regarding Jack.
Joe: What did I do wrong? Everyone saw the writing on the bench.
(He looks innocently at Grant).
Grant: The sooner the CPN visits the better I say.
Joe: I don’t need no community psychiatric nurse telling me that I’m a paranoid schizophrenic, Grant! And she or he can’t tell me to keep quiet about this Jack!
(Jake has come around the counter and has heard what the two are saying and is shocked to hear Joe confessing his schizophrenia).
Grant: I’m telling you to shut it about this Jack okay!
Joe: Oh yeah? And what will you do if I don’t? Beat me up, revert back to your true colours?
Grant: Joe, now stop it okay. You’re doing a good job and have made good progress, don’t spoil it all now. For the sake of your mother, if not for yourself, curb your tongue.
(Jake watches as Grant then embraces Joe. They feel Jake’s presence and look at him. Joe pulls away from his stepfather’s embrace).
Grant: Yes, Jake, what can we do for you?
Jake: It’s about the job in the paper.
Joe: Jake? Isn’t that another version of Jack?
Grant: No. Different name entirely.
Joe: Sounds similar.
(He shrugs as he goes back to the counter to serve. He notices Spencer has returned back to the café after popping out for a few minutes and is pushing his way past the others queuing and there’s a distinct odour of fish in the place now).
Joe: Yes, Spencer, what can I do for you? More tea?
Spencer: Fry this up for me will you?
(He had just popped out to salvage a fish from his stall before it packed up. Joe complies with his wishes although it’s not the usual policy).
Spencer: It’s so good to be away from The Vic for an hour or so. Now that Alfie’s ex has arrived and they’re busy making eyes at each other, it makes me sick. And I can get some decent grub here now that you’re working here. Don’t worry, Joe, I’ll pay the price of cod and chips - even though I supplied the fish! (He laughs good naturedly and winks at Joe).
Grant: Come and see me at the B & B tomorrow morning, Jake and we’ll have a chat then okay. Now’s not the right time.
Jake: Okay thanks.
(Jake goes back to the counter and hears Spencer’s cutting comment regarding Gem N).
Spencer: She’s another hooker as well.
Jake: No she’s not. She’s a dancer.
(Spencer laughs, then he and Jake rejoin Martin at the table).
Spencer: Joe, see if you can get that fish to go three ways!
(Joe is already dissecting the fish to be served. Grant looks at him angrily).
Grant: Joe, you don’t allow the customers to bring in their own food!
Dan: I do say, Joe, that you’re cutting that fish to almost surgical precision.
Joe: I like to take pride of my work, Mr Ferreira.
Dennis: Mind if I join you?
(Saul and Sonia look up at him and smile as he draws up a seat).
Dennis: Busy in here this evening, what’s going on?
Sonia: Nothing I think everyone has just heard how good the grub is since Joe started here…and will you look at how meticulous he is with that fish!
(They look at Joe and laugh at the way he serves up the fish).
Dennis: Well beats fish and chips from “Beale’s Plaice” any time!
(Ian scowls).
(Joe tosses the head and tail in the left over bucket).
Joe: Next time Spencer, I’ll be pleased to gut it for myself. You don’t cut it neatly enough.
Spencer: You’re not performing an operation, Joe!
(Joe serves the fish up with fries and peas and turns to face an irate Grant).
Grant: Don’t do that again, okay. You don’t allow them to bring in their own food ever. Phil would go ballistic if he knew you did that.
Joe: They’re still paying.
Grant: All right. And Joe, no more talk about Jack now, okay?
Joe: Okay, mum’s the word!