Mick just can’t cope with Linda
MICK AND LINDA CLASH AS THEIR FACADE COLLAPSES…
There’s fresh hell for Mick and Linda this week – as the two parents go to war.
The Carters are estranged, but they have to pretend that all is well because Ollie’s social worker is coming to assess the lad. The one thing Linda and Mick are united in is their desperation to keep their son in their care – but as Linda’s actions see their efforts go awry, it seems the family is set to descend into all-out war…
“It’s a paper-thin facade that’s in danger of crumbling under the slightest pressure,” warns our Albert Square spy. “Linda is paranoid – she sees Mick as the enemy now, and feels the need to keep her wits about her. So keeping up a front is tough, not least while she’s drinking so heavily.”
When social worker Loretta arrives to follow up on Ollie’s complaint at school, Mick and Linda put on a good show of being a happy couple. But once she settles down to observe the family, the pressure of the situation is getting to jittery Linda. She’s already had some gin to take the edge off, so as she spots Mick and Loretta having a quiet word, Linda loses it. Linda thinks Mick has told Loretta what happened when she fell asleep and set fire to the kitchen while Ollie was in the house. Hell-bent on giving her side of the story, slurring Linda follows Loretta out and drunkenly rants at her about what happened.
“This is the worst thing Linda could have done,” groans
This is the worst thing Linda could have done – Mick’s in disbelief!”
our sneak. “Mick can’t believe it when she tells him what she’s done. He has no idea how to protect Ollie from his mum.” Tina’s voiced her concerns about Ollie’s safety, as has Shirley, so Mick feels under pressure – and snaps at Linda that Ollie might be better without her. It’s a terrible moment, but before he can say sorry, Linda heads out – and it’s clear she feels she has to fight against him with all she’s got. Distraught Mick later bumps into Daniel, who gives him some advice. Soon, Mick tries to find Linda and make things right – but will she hear him out, or has Linda made up her mind?