Lucas taken from Dawn!
DRUNK HARRIET WRECKS EVERYTHING THEY’VE BUILT…
Dawn’s dreams of a happy 6th birthday celebration for little Lucas end in heartbreak this week – when the police remove him from her custody.
The terrible development happens when spiralling Harriet gets drunk, goes to pick up Lucas, and then loses him. Dawn has no idea of what happened until her social worker arrives the next day to question whether the family is fit to look after Lucas. Later on, police officers arrive and remove Dawn’s precious son from their home.
“Dawn is stunned, and in total disbelief,” shares Olivia Bromley, who plays the mum. “It’s Dawn’s worst fear that social services would take her child away. She’s been dreading this happening for the whole time she’s been clean and off drugs…”
It’s not Dawn’s addiction, but Harriet’s problems, that spark the whole incident. The vicar has been losing the plot for weeks, but the new flirtation between ex Will and Kim Tate has pushed her over the edge. Worse still for Harriet, Dawn’s boss Kim is throwing Lucas’ birthday party at the HOP, and helping the family go all out to make it special.
“Dawn has this really lovely opportunity to make this day perfect for Lucas,” shares Olivia. “Now that the dust has settled on the Malone business, she wants to focus on her son. I don’t think Dawn is aware of how much Harriet is struggling because, as a vicar, she keeps up a facade.
It’s very rare for Harriet to crumble in front of Dawn.”
As Dawn gets everything ready, Harriet goes to pick up Lucas – but trouble’s ahead… She’s gone so long that Dawn’s worried sick, and even ponders calling the police. When they finally arrive, Harriet’s clearly drunk, and Dawn and Will are fuming. But they don’t know the half of it – nor that Harriet’s sworn Lucas to secrecy…
“When they don’t turn up, Dawn thinks the worst,” says Olivia. “She’s cross once
It’s impossible to imagine that Dawn could get over this!”
Harriet does arrive, but she brushes it off. She’s aware something is going on, but Harriet is essentially Lucas’ grandmother, so I don’t think Dawn would ever assume Harriet would endanger him.”
Sadly for Dawn, the truth is revealed in horrifying fashion the next day when social worker Eloise shows up. She tells Dawn that Harriet lost Lucas, and now the custody arrangement is in question.
“Dawn actually assumes the social worker is coming with good news as things have been going well for Lucas, so it comes as a real blow,” Olivia tells us. “Dawn and Harriet have been through so much together that they have this unshakable bond. However, this is the most testing thing for their relationship. It’s impossible to imagine that Dawn could get over this.”
Can Dawn convince social services to give Lucas back to them, or has Harriet lost their precious boy for good?