PHOENIX RISING

So ITV have axed Heartbeat, leaving Oscar Blaketon's life in the balance. This is my version of subsequent events.

"He's a stubborn old Beggar." Alf Ventress said. "He won't go until he's ready."

He repeated this to Gina as they sat in the snug. Gina was crying.

"I was a mardy cow to Oscar most of the time, Alf. And most of the time he was only trying to give me advice, try and stop me getting hurt. I'll miss him so much. He's a good decent man."

"Aye. They don't make men like Oscar Blaketon anymore."

"None of them out there have known Oscar as long as we have but you've known him longest Alf."

"Aye and I feel privileged to know him. But he'll be okay Gina. I think it will take more than a heart attack and an iron spike to finish off Oscar Blaketon."

Gina sipped her drink.

"I wonder what Claude would have made of all this? I mean I know he & Oscar got on one another's nerves but he did save his life after he had the heart attack. Moved him away from that burning car before it exploded. I'll never forget that day Alf."

"I suppose I'll have to let Joan know. His ex wife."

"Why Alf? She hasn't been near him in years. She took his son away from him. She won't care."

"They loved one another once Gina. I think he still loves her. That's why he doesn't talk about it. It was very painful for him. A few years ago now their son got into a bit of trouble so I had to call her. They were at one another's throats but I think a tiny part of her probably still loves him."

I mean Joe's got Carol. You've got Mrs Ventress but Oscar had no one. It didn't seem to bother him but I know it did. I kind of hoped he might get together with Auntie Mary but it wouldn't have worked as they both had strong opinions and would probably have ended up killing each other."

"We all need someone Gina. Whether we admit it or not."

Joan Forrester sighed. Mr Forrester had stormed out after yet another row and she had simply had enough. He had never cared about Graham. Had refused to adopt him. She found herself thinking about Oscar, Graham's father and her ex husband. Things had been ideal once. They had loved each other very much. But his work had got in the way. She had spent many hours alone and when he had been at home, often tired and drained, she had tried to talk to him about his work but he wouldn't. He had probably been trying to shield her, she realised now, as she couldn't imagine what horrors he must have seen. She had craved his touch, his affection but he never seemed to have anything left to give. So she had fallen into the arms of another man and married him almost as soon as her divorce had come through.

She reached into the desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. In it was a faded wedding photograph. She looked at it for a long time, gently tracing the lines of his face with her fingers. She had thought about him a lot in previous months. She remembered the time when Graham had been in trouble and she had gone to Ashfordly Police station. She had accused Oscar of all sorts but deep down she knew that the fault had been on both sides. Whatever else she could accuse him of, not caring about Graham wasn't on the list. She was the one who had had an affair. What a mistake! She thought. She had never really stopped loving Oscar Blaketon, she knew that, and she suddenly longed for him. She didn't know if he would forgive her, if he would even agree to speak to her and if he didn't it would serve her right.

She got up suddenly & went upstairs. She threw some clothes and toiletries into a holdall and wrote a note to Forrester.

"Going away to sort self out. It's over. I have had enough! Maybe we can talk when you decide to grow up"

She threw her bag into the car and drove away. She knew through friends of friends that Oscar had retired from the police force after having a heart attack and now owned the village pub in Aidensfield.

She pulled up outside the pub. Stopped for a minute to collect her thoughts before going inside. The atmosphere was like a wake. She approached a young dark haired man in police uniform.

"I'm here to speak to Oscar Blaketon. My name is Joan Forrester."

"Alf" Joe Mason appeared. "Sorry to disturb you but there's a woman out here asking for Oscar. Said her name is Joan Forrester, like it's meant to mean something to me."

"I'll deal with it Joe." Alf said. "His ex wife." he mouthed to Gina.

"Talk of the devil!" Gina muttered.

Alf went out into the main bar and saw a woman he recognised. She was dressed casually.

"Alf Ventress." She said coolly. "I'm here to see Oscar."

"I need to talk to you Joan." Alf said and he led her into the snug.

"Who is that woman?" Peggy Armstrong asked.

"Oscar's ex wife." Gina said. "I hope she ain't come to cause trouble."

"She'll probably hotfoot it back where she came from once Alf tells her what's happened." Dawn said.

"From what I know of her I hope so. For Oscar's sake!" Gina said.

"She might want to get back with him." Don said. "These things happen."

Joan turned pale as Alf told her what had happened that day.

"It wasn't a pretty sight!" Alf said. "But he was very brave."

"Poor Oscar!" She said.

"Aye." Alf said. "What do you want anyroad?"

"I came to talk to him Alf. Bit late maybe but I." She didn't finish.

"Not working out with butcher boy then?"

"No it isn't. I suppose I should lie on the bed I made but he doesn't care about me or Graham. One thing I can say for Oscar is that he loved his son."

"Aye, and you took that from him."

"I didn't come here for recriminations Alf."

"Truth getting a bit painful is it?"

"I wanted to talk to him. We were both wrong about a lot of things. We were both right as well. Graham is the one who's suffered. We both let him down and we let each other down."

"Where is Graham?"

"Camping in France with friends."

Joan folded her hands in her lap.

"I need to see him, Alf. It may be my last chance to make my peace with him. Even if he can't hear me. I need to know as I may have to get Graham so he can say goodbye to his dad."

"Fair enough!" Alf said. "But if he happens to wake up let me speak to him first. You have no idea how much you hurt him."

"We hurt each other, Alf."

"Aye, but he didn't have an affair."

"I know that. I made my bed and I should lie on it. But I never stopped loving him." She sighed. "All the times when I picked a fight when what I should have done was show him affection. If I had tried harder to meet his needs he might have met mine. I thought I was a good wife Alf but I wasn't. I failed him and I let Graham down too. I hurt Oscar and for what? Pure lust that was all it was. I thought he cared about me but he doesn't. He certainly doesn't care about Graham. I made a mistake and I know that. In the last few months I've woken up every day wishing it was Oscar lying beside me. I want to make it up to him, Alf. He probably won't want to know and I'll accept that but I still want to see him. He can't die Alf. He just can't."

"He won't go until or unless he wants to. He's a stubborn beggar."

"Don't I know it?" She smiled.

"I'll take you to him." Alf said.

"Thanks." She said.

They left the pub and drove to Ashfordly General hospital.