2009-11-06

The fire in the barrel store starts to take hold, but when Archie hears Peggy shout, he quickly extinguishes the flames. Peggy’s suspicious but Archie insists the fire must have been started by kids, claiming he saw them run away. Janine tells Archie no one can prove he’s anything but a hero, but Archie’s haunted by the thought he could have killed Peggy. Peggy finds Billy’s wallet and summons Archie back to the Vic. Sure Archie started the fire, Peggy plies him with drink and shows him Billy’s wallet. Archie admits nothing. They kiss. Masood makes light of the kiss, but tells Jane it’s probably best if Ian and Zainab never find out. Lucy’s worried that Jane’s going to leave, but Ian reassures her. Jane and Ian talk, he tells her he’s willing to give the adoption a go. Jane’s excited, but soon realises Ian’s only doing it for her. Jane decides she needs to go away to think things through. Ian gives her an ultimatum, if she leaves now, she never comes back. He doesn’t understand why she would choose a child that might not exist yet, over him and three children who love her. In floods of tears Jane gets into a taxi and Ian watches as she’s driven away. Denise visits Owen to apologise; once again he tries to warn her about Lucas. Unaware that Lucas saw her leaving the Brannings’, Denise doesn’t tell Lucas she visited Owen. Knife in his pocket, Lucas visits Owen, who tells Lucas exactly what he said to Denise. Lucas puts his hand in his pocket and squeezes the blade of his knife. Owen tries to goad Lucas into hitting him. Lucas tells Owen he’s got one week to leave, he shakes Owen’s hand and leaves. Owen looks at his hand; it’s covered in Lucas’ blood.