EastEnders’ Linda Carter has made an important decision about her future – but not everyone is happy.
Elaine’s recent split from George has made the situation in The Vic increasingly difficult, with Linda struggling to cope with her mum’s erratic behaviour and running the pub alone.
Things went seriously wrong this week, when Elaine irresponsibly allowed Denzel and Joel to have a glass of alcoholic punch at Patrick’s party.
The teens then secretly took home two large jugs, and when they weren’t looking, kids Raymond, Bert and Ernie ended up drinking the alcohol and falling ill.
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With the police having turned up at The Vic to investigate why alcohol was served to minors, in today’s episode Linda told Phil that she was reaching breaking point.
Elaine apologised to Linda for their blazing row the previous day but thought she deserved an apology too and refused to take responsibility for what happened.
With Denise and Kat still at the hospital with their boys, Linda tried to make amends with Kim, in fear that she could lose her license – but Kim reminded her that the safety of the children is more important than the future of the pub.
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Linda was given food for thought, and Johnny later found his mum looking through old photo albums and reminiscing about when she and Mick first bought The Vic.
She told Johnny that the pub didn’t feel like home anymore, and that the traumatic memories associated with The Vic, such as her rape at the hands of Dean and Keanu’s death, had become impossible to live with.
What’s more, Linda sadly admitted that she no longer pictured her beloved Mick behind the bar, and these happy memories have been replaced by painful ones.
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In emotional scenes, she realised that she wanted to sell the pub, in fear that she might soon relapse again and in hope that she can make a fresh start and be happy.
“I have been here for over 11 years,” she later said, as she broke the news to Elaine. “I have been through hell and back, and I’m done.”
But Elaine didn’t accept Linda’s decision, insisting that The Vic was her home too and refusing to leave. How will the future of the pub be decided?
