If anyone needed a friend right now, it is Carla. Yes, she has Peter, and Ken is being kind but part of her agony and guilt is reinforced by the fact that Roy is not on her side; in fact it would not be an exaggeration to state that he has removed his friendship from Carla, as well as forcing her out of her home with him. What’s more, he has removed the friendship at exactly the time when she needs his affection and loyalty, not just his disapproval and judgement, which he is offering, I believe, a little too freely.
Carla has most certainly been less than careful and her ignoring of the roof problem ended in the tragic death of Rana. Her guilt at Rana’s death, her rather cavalier approach to ensuring fully that her staff were safe, are going to stay with her for the rest of her life: she can never be fully at ease with herself; her failure to act will punish her far more than any prison sentence could.
Carla’s reputation is in tatters. Her own family support is at best weak and at worst wholly adequate. Yes, of course Kate is aggrieved but Carla had no intention whatsoever to hurt a hair on Rana’s head. Kate is adamant that Carla killed Rana and that none of her family should have anything to do with her. I would be interested to know what others think, but it seems to me that Johnny has not performed his duty as a father to Carla, distracted as he has been by Kate’s very real and profound grief.
Carla has endured a myriad of insults, and it seems inevitable, that there will be more to come.
And so to Roy… I think I’m right in saying that she has moved out and is living at Ken’s with Peter, and that both men are kind and concerned. Carla tells Ken that she wishes she could make it up with people. Viewers will remember Ken talking about seven maids and seven mops, from The Walrus and the Carpenter by Lewis Carroll. I’m not sure Carla understood the reference nor am I sure I did. Anyone?
Ken tells her that you can’t erase the past and its consequences, but you can try to ameliorate the effects of what’s happened. Change those things you can as you go forward. A lot of people are worried about their jobs after the accident, Ken reminds Carla.
‘If you could take that concern away it might help.’
‘It won’t bring Rana back though, will it? And it won’t stop people hating me.’
‘Nor will fixating on her death. Saying how sorry you are, isn’t going to buy you forgiveness, Carla. You have to express your remorse through meaningful deeds, not words which will only sound hollow, however well meant.’
Wise words Ken and very well intentioned.
Wise words Ken and very well intentioned.
Carla takes Ken’s advice and goes to speak to her employees. Again, their reaction indicates just how much she needs Roy. Most of her employees are hostile and quite rude, especially Beth, who does seem to enjoy kicking as woman when she’s down.
In a scene in Roy’s café, we witness a very pensive Roy. Brian wants to know what it is that weighs so heavily on Roy’s mind. It is Carla, he tells Brian
Of Carla, Roy says, ‘This is about right and wrong. What Carla did was utterly deplorable. I feel enormous affection for Carla as did Haley, but her moral compass and mine are rarely in alignment.’ Brian chips in to say, ‘When it comes to morality, you have a GPS not a compass. It can be hard for people to measure up.’
‘You think I’ve been harsh? But she behaved badly. It was a complete abdication of duty to her employees.’
Roy is spotted leaving the cobbles by Carla, who is lurking in a doorway. She asks Brian, ‘Where’s Roy going?’ Brian tells her he has to get away. ‘When’s he back?’ she demands.
‘No idea. When things are less stressful for him.’
Friends, such as Roy and Carla, at times of difficulty, need to be together. Carla is at fault – undoubtedly, but Roy has deserted her when she needed him most. What can be gained by his absenting himself from her? If he is, as he states, and as we all believe him to be, very fond of her, why has he barely met her eyes since the factory collapsed? He is nobody’s judge or jury - he is a friend. It is frustratingly disappointing. To criticise Roy, really sticks in the craw and it’s something I thought I would never have to do.
By Ruth Owen, twitter: @Ruth1722
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