Episode 4, Scene 1

Author's Note: Could it have been Helen knocking on the door at the end of the episode?

Mandy continued to walk up the cellar steps into the kitchen. She was single-mindedly focused on getting herself out of the house as quickly as she could. This was her one and only chance to get away from her terrible situation. The doorbell rang again before the person on the other side started to knock as well. As soon as Mandy reached it, she opened the front door to a worried looking Helen.

"You took so long ter answer I thought you'd changed yer mind?" Mandy silently shook her head. "Are you alright?" Of course Helen hadn't expected Mandy to be bright and cheerful considering she was leaving her family but she certainly didn't look like a woman on her way to freedom.

"I'll just get me case from upstairs. Go, I'll see you in the taxi." Helen lingered for a moment and watched as Mandy walked up the stairs. For a second she swore she heard voices from inside the house but thought better of going in. There shouldn't have been anyone in the Atkinson household so Mandy could make a clean getaway. However, if for some reason her plan hadn't worked out, Helen didn't want to be the one to jeopardise things. She went back out to the taxi, got the driver to pop open the boot for Mandy and made herself comfortable in the back. A few moments later Mandy appeared back at the front door with a large suitcase in tow. She stopped to pick up her coat and bag from the rack in the hallway before she was grabbed by an upset looking Becky. Helen looked on as and they proceeded to have some sort of argument. Mandy was able to get out of the house and walked towards the taxi but she was followed all the way by her daughter. Helen could hear them arguing as Mandy put her case in the boot with her own and closed it.

"What is she doing here?" Becky suddenly seemed to have noticed Helen's presence in the taxi. Their last exchange had been less than pleasant and she was sure that the younger woman wasn't going to be particularly understanding of her relationship with her mother.

"I'll explain later, I just need ter go love. Please understand." Mandy opened the taxi door and stepped inside.

"Do yer know what she's done to me Dad? Did you help her? Have you been planning it all this time? What do yer want from 'er Helen?" Becky was clearly distressed and confused al exactly what was going on. Finally she'd worked out what she wanted, more importantly who she wanted and it looked like she and Luke were going to try and make a proper go of things. Then she had come home to her family in the midst of it seemingly falling apart. Her mum had clearly gone insane and her dad was in a bad way after what must have been days tied up in the cellar. Quite what her boss and mum's long-time friend had to do with it all Becky wasn't sure, but whatever it was she knew it couldn't have been good.

"Driver, please go." Mandy instructed, trusting that Helen had already told him where they were going.

"Mum, you can't just leave us like this?!" The taxi driver started the engine and indicated to pull away.

"I'm sorry Becky, I'll be in touch." Helen reached across and grabbed one of Mandy's hands to give her some reassurance. If she was honest with herself she desperately wanted to get away as she was frightened Mandy would change her mind. Finally they were on the move and heading towards a brand new life together.