Bethany is left holding Harry as Sarah goes out, not that Bethany minds, as she thinks that this is the last time she will see her baby brother, as she plans to run off with Evil Nathan, and the only thing standing between her and human trafficking is Mary. In an affecting scene, Mary talks about her own abuse, about how she felt that she was special when her abuser paid her attention, and she explains that what Nathan did to Bethany was rape. What the other men did to her was rape. Massive props to Patti Clare who proves she can do drama as well as comedy - I'm very glad that she is being given the opportunity to expand her range and not just be used to provide quirk in a scene. Bethany refuses to see the similarity in the situation and rushes out of the door with her bag, as Evil Nathan pulls up in his Audi. Mary tries to stop him: "She is a precious human being and not your plaything," but Nathan is not at all affected and even threatens Harry. En route, Nathan reveals that Bethany is going to Belgium (via Hull), but as he throws away her SIM card, the scales finally, finally fall from Bethany's eyes and, confused and scared, she approaches a family in the service station and asks them for help. So the end is in sight for this important but upsetting storyline.
How is Billy even a vicar? He gets so over-emotionally invested in everyone's problems. Surely to be able to help people you need to have a little distance. Also, I'm not sure why the Rev can't care for Summer in the vicarage with Todd having conjugal visits? Anyway, I'm over-emotionally invested in Todd and Billy as a couple and I want them to stay together and raise the rather precocious Summer together. Todd warms to Summer as she starts questioning Billy's faith, namely why God allows good people to die. Todd is reluctant but accepting of his new role of guardian: "Do I dislike her so much I'm prepared to see her sent to a children's home?" he asks rhetorically, but Summer, despite being a sarky madam herself, thinks Todd's being serious. But just as it looks like happy families might be in order, Drew is rushed into hospital, ultimately dying from complications due to heart failure and Summer is led away her uptight, homophobic grandmother.
Meanwhile, a lost thread of a storyline turns up: Kim, Fiz's childhood friend, arrives to looks at the cash in the backyard, much to Tyrone's jealousy. Kim turns out to be....potentially Sean's new boyfriend? I'm not sure where this storyline is going - Fiz becomes the new, paler David Dickinson?
And finally, Robert does an impromptu employee appraisal and visits post-stomach pump Daniel, persuading him to come back to work.
Rachel Stevenson - on twitter
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