michelle returns

[pearly queen]

It is raining hard in Albert Square. A taxi pulls up outside the Fowlers, the stroppy face of Vicki Fowler peering out. She jumps out of the cab, as a slim 30-something brunette pays the driver. The front door bursts open - Pauline runs out into the rain to embrace her prodigal daughter and granddaughter. Martin and Sonia stand in the doorway grinning.
Next scene.
Michelle proudly shows off photos of Vicki's brother, little Mark.
'I'll go get a bottle of wine' says Martin, deafened by the Fowler women's chatter.
'Just the ONE bottle of wine? asks Michelle glancing at the assembled throng. 'I changed up some English money' she says taking £50 out of her purse and handing it to Martin.
'Nice one!' says Martin and leaves.
'Didn't you have enough on the plane, Mum?' Vicki mutters.
'I'm on holiday!' Michelle protests 'and looking forward to going over the Vic later. Just to see if it's changed any.'
She lights a cigarette, ignoring Pauline's critical raised eyebrow.
'Me and Vicki can book into the B&B if you're pushed for space, Mum' says Michelle.
'Wouldn't dream of it, love' answers Pauline, 'but somebody might have to share with Derek!'
Michelle laughs and looks impatiently at the door.
'Where's Martin got to with that wine?'

[eithne]

Interesting story! I don't know what the character of Michelle is like, so I'd love to see how you continue this story with her.

More please!

[pearly queen]

Part 2.
The Queen Vic. Ian is making a fuss of Michelle and Vicki.
'It's so great to see you! You'll have to come over and meet Jane - she's babysitting. The kids will be so pleased to see you again!'
'Yeah, great. Mum's sent me loads of photos of them'says Michelle, beaming.
Chrissie comes from the back carrying crisps. On seeing Vicki she falters.
'Hi Chrissie' shouts Vicki, waving her beer bottle in the air, 'Heard from Dad?'
'Oer er..um..' Chrissie gags.
'So this is the famous Chrissie?' asks Michelle, 'I'm Michelle -Vicki's mum .'I've heard a lot about you...'
'Listen Chrisisie...I do still have a room here don't I?' Vicki rudely interrupts.
Panic-stricken Chrissie is saved a by a rowdy call for drinks at the other end of the bar. Sam Mithchell smirks, enjoying Chrissie's torment.
Michelle downs one of the drinks she's got lined up on the bar and picks up the next one.
'Good idea, Vicki - living in a pub. In fact if Dennis is still away maybe they can put me up too'.
'Dad won't mind - I can wrap him round my little finger. When he's bored of his latest tart, he'll be back. Not so sure about Sharon though, last time she saw him she apparently wanted to kill him, but still never told me what he was supposed to have done.'
'I know Dennis Watts' Michelle slurs and sways slighly.'He always could get away with murder.'

[Katya]

I dont believe a word of it!!!!!!!! would be good if it was true though ay!!!

[eithne]

I think it is pretty good.

What don't you believe? (I ask as we are all for constructive critism here!)

[pearly queen]

Part 3.
The kitchen , the Queen Vic, breakfast time. Chrissie and Vicki are sipping coffee and nibbling toast, in a tense and awkward atmosphere.
'This is my dad's pub and my home. My mum can kip here while she's visiting can't she?' Vicki is saying. 'It's only for a couple of weeks. I'll go and bring her stuff over later.'
'Sure' Chrissie mumbles, cross-eyed with frustration.
'Good...she'll go mental staying at Gran's' replies Vicki, adding 'she doesn't always drink that much...' her voice trailing away.
Meanwhile outside Michelle is walking past the Arches when she spots Ian lecturing Garry and Minty about standards. She looks rough, hungover and is wearing no make-up.
'Morning Ian' she breezes in and catches Minty's eye. 'Aren't you gonna introduce us?'
'Garry...Minty...my grease monkies' says Ian, 'My cousin Michelle - she's MARRIED'.
At the word 'married' Michelle flinches and breaks her eye contact with Minty.
'Still the upholder of moral rectitude, Ian?' snaps Michelle at Ian, causing Minty and Garry to roll their eyes and snigger.
She stands right hand on hip, pouting slightly and blinking in the morning sun.
'Maybe I'll see you over the Vic at lunchtime?'.
The invitation is obviously for Minty. Highly amused he replies 'Yeah Ok, see ya there.'
Ian grabs Michelle by the elbow and steers her out of the Arches. 'I'll be in the caff' he calls over his shoulder, dragging a reluctant Michelle behind him.
They are barely out of earshot when Minty and Garry explode into laughter.
'What a state!' says Garry, wiping away tears of mirth. 'Buying it drinks'll cost so much you won't be able to afford a paper bag to put over her head!'
'She ain't that bad, Gal' says Minty 'Anyway, maybe if Sam sees me with a bird she'll get jealous.'
'Of some married old soak who's related to Pauline Fowler? You can do better than Desperate Dawg, Mints. Have some self-respect, man. Do yourself a favour and avoid the Vic; don't get lumbered with that barker.'

[pearly queen]

The word that was banned above was s n i g g e r and no offence was intended by it.

[pearly queen]

Part 4.
Dennis's bedroom, the Queen Vic, midday. Vicki is helping Michelle unpack; Chrissie is watching, arms folded and scowling, from the doorway.
'Make yourself at home' she says, trying to sound warm.
'Thanks, Chrissie' Michelle replies. 'Actually, I've slept here loads of times: when we were kids, I used to sleep over with Sharon. Drove Den and Ange nuts playing hide 'n' seek in the cellar.'
'The cellar!' Chrissie blurted out, alarmed.
'Yeah - I even scratched my name there once years ago. Wonder if it's still there? D'you mind if I have a look later? Just for old times' sake, you know?'
'You sound like a boring old fart, Mum' says Vicki, stashing the empty suitcase on top of Dennis's wardrobe.
'My memories are the only thing that makes me happy nowadays' Michelle mutters 'So, can I go and have a look?'
Chrissie's smile is strained.
'Er, I'd rather you didn't, it's a bit of a mess - we've had the builders in'.
'Why?' Vicki asks sharply 'You can't do any work on the Vic without Dad's say so'.
'Don't worry. It was an emergency and it was very neatly dealt with' says Chrissie, trying to sound effiecient. 'So, now how about a drink?'
Michelle doesn't have to be asked twice and shoots towards the stairs, and into the bar area. There she spots Minty and all thoughts of childhood nostalgia in the cellar evaporate.
'A large hair of the dog, please,' she asks Little Mo 'and whatever Minty's having.'
Minty, noticing that Michelle's eyes are now less puffy and that she is wearing a little make-up and a nice dress now, is quite pleased with his lunch date.
'Very forceful you American ladies, aren't ya', he jokes.
'I'm not American! Men are like naughty little boys who just need some discipline - don't you agree? Michelle replies, lighting a cigarette.
Vicki watches faintly disgusted, a look of wide-eyed, sulky resignation on her face. She knows it's unwise to interfere with her Mother while she's working on her next victim. Vicki leaves the pub, abandoning Minty to his fate.

[pearly queen]

Part 5.
Pauline's front room. Pauline and Vicki sit facing each other across the sacred fruit-bowl in stony silence. Finally Pauline speaks:
'Well, Vicki, are you going tp tell me what's been going on with your mother?' she demands imperiously.
Vicki glares back and replies 'How should I know? I've hardly even seen her in the last couple of years myself.'
'You know more than me Vicki. Why is Michelle really over here? Of course, I'm delighted to see her but I can tell there's something up.'
'Probably the same as last time' says Vicki dismissively, 'How many times can my step-dad put up with her sleeping around?'
Pauline winces 'Ooh Vicki, it's awful. Not that I approve, mind, but she must be so unhappy to behave like that. Is that why he didn't come over with her? Because they're splitting up?'
'No, I don't think they're splitting up - she just needs some time away to sort her head out' says Vicki, then snorting with joyless laughter adds 'Getting smashed in the Vic and pulling some dumb old git is therapy for her!'
'What?!' yells Pauline 'What old git? Is Dennis Watts back? Is he? Did she come back here for Dennis Watts, because he's your father? Is that why she's staying over at the Vic and not here with her family?'
'No Gran, calm down, he's not back yet. She's just making a fool of herself with Minty at the moment. It's not serious, I've seen it all before.'
'If she's making a fool of herself, she's making a fool of all of us!' says Pauline, standing up and putting on her coat 'I'm going to talk some sense into her'.
'There's no point Gran' says Vicki forlornly 'You don't know what she's like these days when she's been drinking. In fact I wouldn't wanna be in Dad's shoes when he does come backto walford. She's really gonna tell him what she thinks of him for pretending to dead all those years!'
'He WAS dead, as far she was concerned' exclaims Pauline 'She was in America for gawd's sake!'
Vicki takes a deep breath before saying 'I kind of got the impression that me and her might not have left England if Dad had been around. She wouldn't have married my step-dad and had loads of drunken affairs' she eventually blurts out what she had been trying to conceal from Pauline.
'Ha! Michelle's been holding a torch for Dennis Watts all this time? After how he treated her! How he treated everybody!'
Pauline grabs her keys and heads for the kitchen door
'Honestly that man! Even when he was dead and with a continent between them he's managed to mess with her head and turn her into some sort of version of Ange! Come on, lets' go and rescue Minty' She prods Vicki out the back door and locks it behind them. Glancing in the direction of the Vic she mutters 'And as for you, Michelle my girl, you still know how to yank my chain, you really do!'

[pearly queen]

Part 6.
The Queen Vic. Michelle is already three sheets to the wind, holding onto Minty's arm. She takes a deep drag on her cigarette, turns and blows it in Minty's face as she confides in a loud, drunken stage whisper
'I bloody love this pub, mate. Love it! All my happiest memories are from in here.' She waves her cigarette majestically round the pub, smiling fondly.
Minty chokes and looks up at the door as it opens. Seeing Sam Mitchell come in and approach Chrissie at the bar, he stands up straight and pretends to be consumed with interest in Michelle's ramblings.
'Another drink?' he offers, flagging down Little Mo, who looks apprehensive.
'Maybe Michelle might want a soft drink now, eh?' she suggests, tactfully.
'Don't you dare tell me what I can and can't drink in my daughter's own pub' yells Michelle.
At this, Chrissie jerks her head up from the angrily muttered conversation she is having with Sam a few feet away.
'What's the problem?' she asks sharply.
'No problem Chrissie' says Michelle 'It's just that Vicki will own this pub one day - Den will see to it. We even named her after the pub - Queen Vic...Vicki, see?'
'So I gather' says Chrissie icily, 'but as his wife..'
'Wife,ha! Wife nothing! I know how he treats his wives. This is Vicki's pub - she was even conceived in here, did you know that?'
Enjoying everyone's embaressment, Michelle continues mischievously 'Oh yes' waving her empty glass, 'Right over there on the carpet, right there, next to the juke-box'.
She points drunkenly and giggles. Chrissie flinches as she is forced to look at the exact same spot where Den had met his own fate.
'Don't you think you've said enough, Michelle' Little Mo enquires nervously 'it's just that..'
'Oh no' michelle laughs madly 'Imagine being ravished on that smelly pub carpet - how sexy is that?'
Little Mo gives a loud sob and rushes out the back weeping. Chrissie follows her, looking daggers at Michelle.
'What's her problem?' Michelle slurs into her empty glass 'and what are you looking at?' she demands as she catches Sam's pitying glances.
'Vicki won't get this pub' Sam answers confidently 'It was the Mitchells' once, and it will be again, and that's a promise'.
'The Mitchells, oh yeah! The place was jumping when you lot were in charge weren't it? In fact, hee hee, lots of jumping went on in here' Michelle collapses into giggles.
Minty and Sam exchange glances, shrug and both try and edge away from Michelle, but she grabs Minty's arm again.
'Guess what?' addressing Sam 'I've got another reason why I'm owed a slice of this pub: your brother Grant made me pregnant with my son, right here on this very bar top!' she yells, and slams her hand down on the counter next to Sam, knocking the ashtray flying.
'Grant?' Sam shouts, incredulous.
'Grant Mitchell is your son's father?' says Minty and gives a little whistle.
Nobody had heard the door open; Pauline and Vicki stand in the doorway, drinking in the news. The ashtray rolls as far as the jukebox and rocks slowly to a noisy halt.

No original ideas in here, I just fancied writing the scene where Michelle revealed the real reason why she took off to the States with little Vicki and a Mitchell embryo on board.