Yahoo News EastEnders' Elaine makes a painful decision in early iPlayer release
EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday's episode (December 12), which is available to watch now on streaming service BBC iPlayer and hasn't yet aired on TV.
Note: This article contains detailed discussion of alcoholism.
EastEnders' Elaine Peacock has made a painful decision about her daughter Linda Carter in the show's latest episode.
Last month, Elaine and George got married, but while they've been away on their honeymoon, Linda's drinking has spiralled out of control.
Linda has continued to burn bridges with her loved ones, and after a heartbroken Johnny kicked her out of The Vic, she ended up sleeping on a bench in the Square.
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In today's episode, Elaine returned to Walford – but when catching up with Johnny and Sharon, she quickly realised that no-one knew where Linda was.
Elaine searched for her daughter in the Square, but she got little sympathy from the likes of Kat. Linda then turned up, dishevelled and drunk, and Elaine took her home.
As she helped Linda to get undressed for a bath, Elaine tried to get to the bottom of where she'd been, and she revealed that she had met a "very nice man" during the night.
In a particularly devastating scene, Elaine washed Linda's hair in the bath, silently sobbing while her inebriated daughter told stories about her late father.
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Later, Elaine went to the Minute Mart and confronted Alfie and Phil about how they've failed Linda. They both made it clear that they had tried to help and couldn’t do any more for her – so Elaine pledged to sort things out herself.
When she returned home, Linda was distressed about recent events and she ran off to continue drinking – claiming that it was dangerous to completely stop immediately.
After Elaine spoke to Bernie, Gina and Anna informed her that Linda was gone and had walked out of the pub with a couple of bottles.
Linda came back later but she wasn't alone, returning with a drunk man called Glen. The situation escalated when Ollie told Elaine that the man had gone into his room, mistaking it for the toilet.
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Elaine reached breaking point and chucked Glen out of the house, before angrily confronting Linda about her actions.
She called a meeting with Johnny, Sharon, Alfie and Phil and apologised for leaving them to cope with Linda. They advised Elaine to stop enabling her and walk away, as Linda is in charge of what her own future looks like.
Elaine took this advice and confiscated Linda's bottle of wine, before giving her daughter a serious ultimatum.
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"Either you go to rehab tonight and start getting yourself better," she said, "or you take this bottle and you get out the door. And if that is your choice, you're not coming back."
What will Linda decide to do?
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Alcohol Change UK offers information, advice and support with their questions about drinking and the problems that can sometimes be caused by alcohol. For more information, visit Alcohol Change UK's website.
Drinkline also offers free, confidential advice to anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's drinking on 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm).
Readers can also contact Drinkaware.
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