23/11/2022

Paul takes Ruairi to a bar and regales him with entertaining stories of previous raucous nights out. There’s a jukebox and they enjoy choosing favourite tracks. Ruairi reveals a liking for Diana Ross, a passion Paul reveals his mum shares too. Ruairi explains about his own mum, and confesses he misses her. Paul sympathises. They play Diana Ross, for both their mums. Ruairi wants the night to continue but Paul thinks not. He has to work early in the morning. Ruairi goes in for a kiss but Paul holds back. He’s noticed all the texts from JW. Is Ruairi seeing someone? Ruairi replies it’s complicated, but basically it’s not monogamous so it’s fine for them to get together. Paul’s not fine with it – he doesn’t want something casual and it’s clear they want different things right now.
Downbeat David comes to the Bull, not really knowing what he wants. Tracy sees he’s preoccupied, and offers to listen if he wants to talk. David explains they had to tell Jill about Chelsea and Ben after Vince’s outburst in the pub, and that Ben’s devastated at Jill’s reaction. David doesn’t know what to do. Tracy recommends giving it space and time. Vince comes into the bar and needles David. He wants his money for the solar panel loan. And further, he wants reimbursing for the New Zealand trip he’d booked for Beth and Ben. When David protests, Vince threatens to go to Ben for the money. David retorts that he was right about Vince from the start. He’s a petty, underhand lowlife.