It's a semi-quiet evening at the Queen Vic, with a few randomers, and a few regulars scattered around the pub. Shirley Carter is behind the bar, leaning over to listen to Heather Trott who is staring in Tanya Branning's direction dreamily, with a smile on her face. Tanya is on her own for now, at the other end of the bar, yet gives off the impression she is waiting for someone, and she is dressed radiantly.
Heather finally speaks, still looking in Tanya's direction.
HEATHER; She's very pretty isn't she?
Shirley follows Heather's eye line with a baffled look on her face
SHIRLEY; Who?
HEATHER; Tanya. She's one of those naturally glamourous types. Y'know, doesn't need to make an effort to look lovely.. all the time.
Heather nods towards Tanya. Shirley notices her, rests her elbow on the bar beside the Queen Victoria statue, and narrows her eyes.
SHIRLEY; S'pose.. You trying to tell me summink 'ere 'Ev?
Shirley stares at Heather suspiciously. Heather props herself up momentarily and rolls her eyes at Shirley before slumping against the bar again.
HEATHER; Nahhhh, it's just .. I need someone to base my new look on, and Tanya fits the bill perfectly.
Shirley understands, as Heather has been going on about a style overhaul in time for the wedding for days now. It is now Shirley's turn to roll her eyes and huff. She stands away from the bar.
SHIRLEY; Not this blimmin' wedding makeover guff again?
Heather looks exasperated.
HEATHER; Well I gotta look nice for Minty 'int I? I need some inspiration Shirl.
Shirley puts her hand up and turns away from Heather, closing the conversation.
SHIRLEY; Spare me.
Heather sighs as Shirley goes to serve a punter, then returns to watching Tanya, who is now fidgeting with her red jacket. She withdraws her phone from her pocket, gives it a scan, then replaces it, picking up her drink and looking quite content.
About five minutes later, the doors of the Queen Vic open, and Jack Branning enters, looking very suave in a dark suit. He instantly makes his way over to Tanya once he clocks her. He goes behind her and leans over her shoulder, as she has not yet noticed him.
JACK; Mrs Branning, Fancy meeting you 'ere.
She appears quite surprised by his appearance as she looks to the side, but nevertheless, greets him with a warm smile.
TANYA; Oh, 'ello Jack. You're early.
JACK; You're earli-er.
Jack gives her a charming smile and leans beside her. She let's out a short laugh.
TANYA; True. Y'know me. Fashionably early for everything. With the occasional lateness.
Tanya waves her hand casually as she talks, looking at him with another cheery smile still on her face.
JACK; Yea don't I know it.
He chuckles, then pauses, watching Tanya as she fidgets with her coat buttons. He seems to take her in with an almost captivated look in his eye.
JACK; You do realise how absolutely stunning you look?
Tanya looks up, distracted from doing up her jacket, looking a tad taken a back at Jack's comment, and slightly flustered, but her composure is still very much there. After a second, she makes a stuttering noise of disagreement and returns to the buttons, but she is not concentrating on them. Jack's gaze is still very much intent on her.
TANYA; You don't scrub up too bad yourself.
Her voice is soft and airy as she grins cheekily, finally looking back at Jack. He returns her grin. The doors of the Queen Vic open once again, and the quiet calmness of the pub is disrupted by Roxy Mitchell's loud voice. She enters, looking slightly irritated and ruffled, with Sean Slater behind her. He looks quite uninterested in what Roxy is saying, and even more so when he catches sight of Tanya and Jack looking very cosy at the other end of the bar. He stops in his tracks for a moment, watching Tanya with a mixture of wistfulness and disbelief, yet failing to attract her attention. He slumps moodily, and wanders over to where Roxy is. She is propped against the bar, still talking in a loud voice. A few of the pub-goers glare at her disruptive actions, and Shirley joins in. Jack looks over in Roxy's direction, and stares at her in an unimpressed manner as she continues to talk. Tanya follows suit a few seconds later, but it is Sean who has caught her eye. He stares back at her coldly, bitter at the sight of her looking so content with Jack. Tanya deliberately looks away, and once again, starts figetting with her jacket.
ROXY; -an' I said, I said, 'Just do one love', y'get me ..?
SEAN; Yea yea..
Sean folds his arms, his eyes still on Tanya, not listening to what Roxy is saying.
ROXY; .. But she wasn't 'aving none of it, so i just went right over there an'-
Finally Sean snaps, switching his glare to Roxy and talking in a low, exhausted-sounding voice.
SEAN; Roxy. Give it a rest will ya?
He shakes his head at her, and Roxy immediately shuts her mouth.
ROXY; Fine.
She puts her hands on her hips, and looks seriously displeased at what Sean has said. She then throws her hair behind her, and storms behind the bar, shoving Shirley out the way.
SHIRLEY; Oi watch it!
Roxy pauses for effect in the doorway, ignoring Shirley and facing Sean with a look of pure annoyance.
ROXY; Don't expect me to come crawling back once it's your turn to play damsel in distress.
She then storms out of the doorway and out of sight, heading upstairs. Sean's reply comes too late.
SEAN; Whatever.
He rubs his eyes in a tired fashion, and once again, places his gaze on Tanya. As the moments pass, it becomes much softer at the sight of her.
JACK; Let's get going then.
Tanya is on her feet in an instant, silently wishing to get away.
TANYA; Yeah.
She tilts her head at Jack, who stands up more slowly.
TANYA; Where do ya have in mind then?
He then gives her a mysterious smile, and taps his nose in an intriguing fashion.
JACK; Surprise.
TANYA; Surpise? Just as well I like them, eh?
She widens her eyes, and they both begin to stroll towards the door, Jack's hand placed on Tanya's back. Sean sits up straighter, scowling terribly in their direction.
JACK; Well, that makes me even more of a happy man, Tanya. It's about time I said thank you. Properly. For everything you did with Penny, Ronnie. Without you it'd have all gone to pieces really.
He smiles genuinely at her, opening the door, and leading her out.
TANYA; I didn't do anything Jack. Or whatever I did do, I did it because I wanted to. You've nothing to thank me for, you're family.
She returns the smile weakly, but is preoccupied by Sean still watching her like a hawk. She gives him an unreadable look, before disappearing out of the doors, with Jack following suit behind her. Sean slumps back down again, drumming the bar with his fingers in a tense manner, staring lifelessly at the wooden surface. Shirley wanders over to him, leaning over and talking sharply.
SHIRLEY; Yer gonna put a hole in that, it's doin' my 'ead right in.
Sean slowly looks up at her with a serious glare on his face, leaning back into her and snarling in a menacing tone.
SEAN; That's not the only thing I can put a hole in.
SHIRLEY; Watch it Slater, I don't buy the big man act.
Sean flies to his feet and yells in Shirleys face, the whole pub going silent as they onlook Seans shouting with almost frightened looks on their faces.
SEAN; Well back off alright? I'm sick of the lot of you women. Yer just a bunch of slappers waiting for yer next kick, all of ya.
He slams his hand down on the bar, making a loud thud, before exiting the pub in a blind rage. Shirley walks back over to Heather impertuably, while the noise levels in The Vic pick up again with many mutterings and disapprovals over Sean's behaviour.
HEATHER; Someone's tetchy eh Shirl.
SHIRLEY; 'E's a physco that one.
Shirley shakes her head with a definite tone to her voice.
HEATHER; Nah, 'e's just a damsel in distress. Like Roxy said.
Shirley looks at her, raising an eyebrow in a bewildered manner.
SHIRLEY; Just you go back to fantasising about Tanya 'Ev.
Shirley grins in a wicked manner, and wanders away again, leaving Heather frowning after her.