Episode Guide

It was finally time for Archie and Niamh to make their escape! They plotted to meet later, to dump his car at the edge of a very long drop, and they'd make their way to the airport. Getting time to himself was going to be an issue but Archie was confident and obviously happy at the thought of leaving. However, he quickly swapped his smile for a frown and turned his attention to Gina - he acted all depressed and told her how great she is, how he doesn't deserve her... yeah, right! Gina didn't know this was to be their final goodbye but she was obviously shaken by his mood.

Niamh bumped into Liz and found herself listening to her fears about her son's depression. It was killing Niamh to watch her friend suffer so she turned up at Archie's and told him she couldn't do it. He thought on his feet, handed her a ring he'd intended to leave for Gina in his suicide note, and convinced her this was better for everyone.

Meanwhile, there was a big awkward silence between Scarlett and Jimmy, which ended with him shouting at her to leave him alone - she can't love him, she must just pity him! Kelly-Marie made a despondent Scarlett go and speak to him but she was talked into looking after the Oyster for Gina. By the time Scarlett got home, Jimmy and his self-pity had moved back to his own place.

Elsewhere, another farewell was taking place. Roisin and Shona prepared to leave Shieldinch and were impressed when a limo turned up to collect them. It was sent by Sonny, Roisin's new man, but they were shocked when he appeared, too! The lusty old American cowboy was obviously delighted to see her "sweet ass" again and they all headed off in style.

Liz decided not to let her depressed son out of her sight and Gina dropped her work to go home to look after him. Archie had to resort to drugging his mother just to get some peace. He sent her off to bed and finished his packing. Gina was the next interruption so he used seduction to distract her. He got ready to leave but Liz came downstairs and was horrified when she saw the suicide notes.

Archie told her he was leaving and she was full of despair until she spotted his and Niamh's passports. Suddenly, it all shockingly clicked into place and Archie had to think fast and he sneered at her about her attitude to life and his father. He tried to tell her she should let him go, playing on a mother's love for her son... but it soon turned to threats. If she won't let him disappear and pretend to be dead, he'll come back and kill her!

Gina overheard and things quickly got out of hand. She wouldn't let him leave and he pushed her out his way. Increasingly frustrated, he grabbed her throat and tried to strangle her. This was too much for a groggy Liz - she smashed the urn of his dad's ashes on his head and dazed him. Shocked, he turned on her and she pushed him. He stumbled and landed flat on his back and knocked his head. Liz and Gina were horrified to see him lying on the ground, lifeless. What have they done?