Jack the Ripper Hits Walford (Scenes 72- )
(Scene Seventy-two: Westend Nightclub - Saturday Night - 20th Sept. Zoë and Kelly are watching Sasha practising her pole dancing technique whilst Gem N is also on the stage going through her exotic dance routine).
Kelly: That’s physically impossible!
(The two girls stare gobsmacked at the shapes and bends the two women can wrap themselves around in).
Zoë: Don’t look like they’ve got a bone in their body.
Kelly: I wish I was so agile!
Roxy: You’re still young enough and supple enough to learn new skills, Kelly.
(The two girls spin around stunned at Roxy’s intrusion. They hadn’t heard her arrival above the blare of the pounding, rhythmic music).
Roxy: I need to talk to you both.
Kat: I thought I told you to keep away from my daughter!
(The two girls are even more stunned at Kat Slater’s arrival into the nightclub).
Roxy: Well Kat Slater, I knew that you’d be here later……
(Kat charges up to the madam challengingly but Roxy is wise to her and it’s her who head buts Kat this time).
Roxy: Pay back time, Kat! Your daughter still owes me! Nobody twisted her arm and it was from you she was running from!
(Roxy’s minders hover behind Kat).
Kat: My Zoë’s off the game now, Roxy…
Roxy: That’s as may be. But there’s still the little matter of the money I loaned her. You get nothing in this life for free, Kat. Your little girl should remember that!
(Zoë’s eyes fill with tears and Kelly wraps a consoling arm around her. Kat wipes the blood from her nostrils, Roxy has a hard head and she fears that Roxy’s broken her nose. Sasha spins around the pole like an acrobat in a circus and gracefully ends her routine. Gem N astounds the manager of the nightclub with an exotic dance routine coupled with movements of a kick boxing display. Alfie and Spencer clap enthusiastically).
Spencer: I’m so glad that they let us in for rehearsals!
Alfie: I am too, Spence. Believe me! I’ve just realised what I’ve been missing all these years.
Spencer: You and Gem N getting back together again? Oh please Alfie say it’s true!
Alfie: I thought you liked Kat!
Spencer: I do! But Kat well, she’s nothing compared with Gem N is she?
(An hour later and the nightclub is in full swing and the performances of Sasha and Gem N are live and receive a standing ovation from the crowds. It seems most of the male population of Walford, Albert Square, in particular have arrived to see the finest show in London. It’s a sell out…made even more the popular now after the horrific, and tragic demise of one time favourite Toyah Smythe. Saul stands drinking a pint of lager with Dennis, Paul is there and has managed to drag Barry along trying to get him to forget about his troubles and grief for a while; so too is Martin, Asif and Gus and Ian Beale. Joe and Jake are sitting quietly at a table with Phil and Grant. Their mother Peggy is at The Vic and keeping watch over Nana Moon. Dan Ferreira has been pressurised into visiting the nightclub by Patrick but is uncomfortable at what he’s seeing).
Minder: What’s wrong?
Roxy: Not sure. Just I felt strange then, as if someone was watching me rather too closely for comfort.
(Her two minders look around the dance hall, but nothing seems untoward).
Minder: All eyes are on the girls, Roxy.
(All eyes were indeed upon the performing girls, all eyes that is except the eyes of the Ripper. He was watching Roxy intently. He doesn’t care that she had butted Kat; no what he’s bothered about is the fact Roxy gives the impression she’s a class above the other whores and he intends to correct her on that score!).
Kat: I’m staying if you’re staying Zoë. I’m not leaving you alone with her.
Kelly: She’s not alone, Kat. I’m with her.
Kat: Kel, I know you mean well, but Roxy is trouble, all right. She might’ve got one up on me this time…but I’ll do her in if ever she bothers you again.
(The killer overhears Kat and smiles. He’s no intention of allowing Kat to rob him of that pleasure!).
(Scene Seventy-three: Walford General Hospital - 22nd September - Dennis makes sure that no one is about then leads Saul down the mortuary corridor to where the bodies of Janine and Toyah are kept. He’s already laid them out for Saul’s inspection. Both men realise that if Dennis is caught it would be an immediate sacking offence. But both Dennis and Saul have an air for excitement and danger).
Saul: What a mess!
Dennis: You ought to have seen them when they were first brought in. Toyah was covered in blood, but we cleaned her up easily enough. Whoever it was had tried to gut her, perhaps a practice run, hey?
(He laughs).
Dennis: Janine was another matter, her father Frank wanted to identify her but the killer had gone to town on her.
Saul: Did you know her well?
Dennis: No. I’ve seen her around of course. Put herself around the block a few times by all accounts. You know this job is so fascinating, Saul. I never knew I’d be privy to such a thing even working in this environment. Beats working in Angie’s Den, I can tell you.
Saul: Yeah! Thanks for showing me them, Dennis. I know you’re putting yourself on the line here to do so…
Dennis: No worries. Do you think you’re the only one who’s been in to see these girls? Everyone is talking about it around the hospital. They’ve had murder victims here before of course, but nothing that equates to this!
Saul: Has anybody remarked about the technical ability of the killer?
(Dennis laughs).
Dennis: You mean the ripper style of it all, and whether the person committing these atrocities is somebody in the medical profession? I would say unlikely, although there’s always a possibility. His incisions are not very neat and he just pulled her apart.
Saul: Could be a butcher then.
(Dennis laughs again).
Dennis: You know lots of people consider the work of morticians and pathologists as butchery!
(Saul grins).
Saul: I’ve heard some people even declare surgeons as butchers at times!
Dennis: Seriously though, we try to piece together a missing piece of puzzle when somebody dies. And the pathologists who’ve worked on these girls have no reason to believe it’s somebody from the medical profession. Coming to mine for tea?
(Saul and Dennis are in the hospital reception when they see Sonia with a wobbly Jamie complete with cases).
Saul: Hey Sonia!
Sonia: Hi! Jamie’s been discharged.
Dennis: We’ll give you a lift back to Walford then. Save you catching a taxi. Great to see you again, Jamie.
(Dennis gives Saul a sly look).
Dennis: Should’ve got in there when he was still hospitalised.
Saul: Early days yet, give me chance!
(Scene Seventy-four: 24th September - The Funeral of Janine Butcher. The Ripper suppresses a grin as he amongst the flocks of other mourners pays their respects to Janine. It’s turned out to be a media circus! Reporters and photographers from all over London and beyond have been arriving in their droves). Barry refuses to speak to any reporter whilst Frank and Ricky spare a few words).
Reporter: People have been arriving in their droves in what has turned out to be the largest gathering in any funeral at Walford. Some of those here present don’t even know Janine, but have come to pay their respects. In the church service itself, all heads were bowed and there was a three minute silence for Janine and a thought was spared for young Toyah Smythe who died on 31st August, whose funeral we’ve been told was held secretly and only a few well wishers were informed of the date and time. Janine Butcher was twenty years of age…a hugely popular figure in Walford and….
(The Ripper bites his lip. Hugely popular indeed! More like one of the most unpopular figures in Walford with her shenanigans! And as for the droves of people flocking to the funeral, he’s aware that many of those present who did not know Janine even by sight have gathered as they’re struck by morbid curiosity).
Reporter: And now we see DCI Marsden and her officers….
(The woman reporter is unaware that the killer passes casually behind her and Marsden and briefly pauses to look into the lens of the television camera, just like so many of the other mourners have done so. Nothing out of the norm, except of course he is the killer and the idea of seeing himself being captured on live television gives him as much of a thrill as that of the kill…)
DCI Marsden: No comment!
(The DCI has no time for the media and the circus it’s creating, she pushes past the reporters and photographers. Her objective at the funeral is to scan all those faces present. In all probability the killer is among the rest of the mourners. If he was known to Janine, he would look more out of place not showing up she assumes! The weather has kept up for the funeral, it is warm and sunny and doesn’t seem like September at all).
Reporter: Mr Frank Butcher, father of the deceased….
(Frank looks in her direction. Pat is supporting a pale faced Barry, who is wracked with grief and looks as if he’s lost a stone in weight since the death of his beloved Janine).
Reporter: I wonder if you could spare a few moments and talk about your feelings…
Frank: What do you want me to say? My daughter is dead…but I can tell you this…today we’ve seen such an overwhelming show of community spirit and we all stand united and together we’ll track down the monster that killed my little girl….
(The killer hides a smile behind his hand. Frank’s a blundering idiot and he holds him responsible for the way Janine turned out. Had she experienced more discipline at home, she might never have stooped to low moral earnings…)
Jamie: Surprised you’ve come, Saul.
Saul: Why is that, Jamie?
Jamie: Well you didn’t know Janine, did you?
Saul: No. But now that I’ve moved to this area, I feel it a moral obligation to pay my respects. Is it true what I hear about you and Janine?
Jamie: You what?
(Martin, Spencer, Asif, Gus and Jake stand apart from the rest of the mourners).
Martin: So who else bonked Janine that I don’t know of?
Asif: Martin, quiet will you! Her dad is talking to the press over there…
(Martin shrugs).
Spencer: Do you think Alfie will get back with Kat?
(They look surprised that he’s changed the subject).
Jake: Well you know your brother more than anyone else
Gus: I don’t know about you guys, but that Gem N, she’s something else!
Barry: Look, get out of my face all right!
(Everyone looks at him in astonishment as he charges at one of the photographers and hits him to the ground).
Pat: Barry…
(They watch as Pat tries to calm the situation, mumbling apologies to the photographer and putting a consoling, protective arm around Barry).
Pat: Have some respect for his grief!
(Dennis stands with Sharon and Vicki, Saul joins them).
Saul: So he admits it then.
Dennis: Who admits what?
Saul: Jamie, that he had sex with Janine, on not one but two occasions!
(Dennis laughs).
Dennis: What a case of desperation on her part then? Or did she charge him?
Sharon: Dennis! That’s neither respectful to Janine or Jamie!
(Vicki grins as her sister nudges Dennis).
Dennis: Sorry, Sharon.
Sharon: So you should be. You’re not in some sleazy little nightclub now where it’s quite permissible to speak about your sexual conquests. I had thought you above such thing…!
Dennis: Well sorry, Sharon, to disappoint you…but it’s harmless talk. Lighten up!
Sharon: I don’t know what’s happened to you since you began bothering with Saul.
(Saul has wandered off to talk to Zoë and Kelly, leaving Ronny Ferreira seething that the male nurse has seemingly muscled in on his girl Zoë. Dan Ferreira looks pleased, hopefully Zoë will go off with Saul, he thinks. Kareena and Sasha are talking and Dan grinds his teeth in anger, but neither of them notices).
Dennis: Quit lecturing Sharon, all right. It’s not as if you women don’t do your fair share of gossiping. You’re my sister, not my mother!
(Vicki and Sharon just gape as Dennis goes off to talk to Phil and Grant. Their mother, Peggy has chosen to stay behind and help out at The Vic as a buffet lunch is being held there in an hour for the mourners).
Patrick: How are you, son?
(Patrick looks knowingly at his son).
Patrick: I know how you’re feeling, son. Losing your mother left a huge gaping wound in my heart, that will never be filled again. I know how deep your feelings were for Janine.
Paul: Janine was special. But she belonged to Barry, I know that. I wanted them split up, but not in this fashion.
(Paul’s voice breaks in anguish as his father reaches out to console him).
Reporter: Emotions are running high at the funeral of Janine Butcher…
(Patrick and Paul’s embrace has been captured on film an they look up stunned at the reporters intrusion).
Reporter: Mr Trueman…would you like to share a few words with us. What does this murder mean to you and the community of Walford?
Paul: I’ll tell you what it means…
(He snatches the microphone from her and snarls into the camera).
Paul: This person isn’t even of the human race…and when he’s caught he should be strung up…life is too good for him…we are all here united against him….
Reporter: What is your feelings regarding the idea that the killer could actually be here at this moment at the cemetery?
Paul: Absolute nonsense! Look around here. Those attending the burial are those who knew her best…
Reporter: We’re aware that a lot at the service didn’t even know Janine, there were many having stand…
Paul: Just goes to show how popular Janine was and the strength of the community spirit.
Reporter: Are there any strangers here that stick out from the others?
(Paul looks briefly at those present and notices Saul).
Paul: We are all residents of Walford.
Reporter: It has been suggested that Janine knew her killer.
Paul: That’s wild supposition on the part of Marsden.
(Ian stops to exchange a few words with Martin).
Ian: How’s Joe behaving?
Martin: He’s keeping his distance actually. Perhaps Grant told him to do so.
(They look across at Joe who is on his own at the moment. Then Jamie goes up to him with Sonia and the three begin talking. Grant and Lorraine stroll past them, her arm linked through Grant. Grant glares at Martin as he passes them by).
Kate: How are you doing?
Phil: I’m fine.
Kate: The atmosphere’s all wrong. You can feel the tension in the air. Doesn’t help with all the press here and it’s been leaked that the killer could actually be here now.
Phil: Nobody knows that for sure.
(Phil pauses for a few minutes to have a brief chat to his mother on the mobile phone).
Kate: It must be awful for Peggy too, Janine being her stepdaughter and all.
Phil: Janine was Peggy’s stepdaughter. They had a falling out and never really got back together. Everyone is devastated by Janine’s death, Kate, but there’s no point in exaggerating what we felt about the girl. She was a bitch, Kate. I don’t believe in making martyrs out of the dead just because she was murdered.
Kate: You’re a hard man.
Phil: I pride myself in being hard, Kate. I’m also being honest.
Grant: Excuse me for a second, Lorraine.
(He kisses Lorraine then strolls up to Jamie and takes the boy by the arm leads him away from the earshot of Joe and Sonia).
Jamie: What is it now?
Grant: I’m minus three books from my collection, you still got them yeah?
Jamie: Yes. I called after you, you know when you came and took them all back…but you’d already gone__
Grant: Right. I want them back straight away. As soon as we get back at The Square. You go and get them__
Jamie: Can’t I do it later__
Grant: No! Straight away, you understand?
Jamie: You took a while to notice them missing didn’t you.
Grant: Don’t be clever, Jamie, all right. It doesn’t suit you.
Jamie: Fine! I’ll get them for you.
Grant: That’s a good lad.
(He pats Jamie on the shoulder condescendingly then returns to Lorraine. Sonia goes up to him with Joe).
Sonia: What was that all about? He was badgering you about something.
Jamie: No. It’s okay.
Joe: Sure?
Saul: Sonia…how are you then? Nice day off yesterday?
Sonia: Yes thanks…
(Jamie looks as Sonia and Saul begin talking and Joe watches him curiously).
Joe: Jamie…
(Jamie looks back at Joe).
Joe: Don’t worry about Grant, he’s only looking after your interests.
Jamie: What do you mean?
Joe: Well, he frightens me too at times. But he really likes you, Jamie. And he just doesn’t want people thinking you’re the Ripper.
(Jamie pales).
Joe: So glad to see you’re better, Jamie. Come over to the B & B soon and I’ll do you and Sonia a stir fry or something…you look like you need a bit of feeding up now after all that vomiting you’ve been experiencing. Then I can show you all Grant’s research material…
Jamie: Research material? What research material?
Joe: Aha! Later, Jamie boy!
(He winks at Jamie and turns away).