Not much content on Tuesday night – really one key scene in the Arches, with a dynamic forming between Ben and Ellie, and Phil actually taking advice from Ben, which is nothing short of a miracle.
Screenshots for this episode can be found here.
We open with Phil storming out of the house in typical Phil fashion, with Ben behind him, trying to convince him to stop and think about things. He reminds Phil of what Callum said the day before, that Ellie is dangerous. And if she is, then there’s things they need to consider, like not only the possibility of her not showing up, but that she might not be alone. A wrong move might not just result in him not getting Raymond, but actual harm. Ben implicitly offers to be back up, but Phil dismisses his concerns and tells him if he wants to be useful, then to go and get some stuff that a three year old needs – he intends to bring his son ‘home.’ Oh Phil. You’ve got absolutely no rights to take Raymond home; it’s just child snatching. Ben knows this as well, and knows it could damage his custody chances in the long run, and they’re already slim. But he’s ignored; as he tends to be when Phil’s in tunnel vision mode and Ben’s trying to get him to see sense.
When Ellie and Phil meet at the Arches, she’s completely unapologetic about lying, and about the money, and instead sees it as a price for her time. And I have to say I kind of love her for that. Phil lists what he knows about her now; that she’s dangerous, and tries to get her to see that they’re not so different, it’s all about family and asks if she’s willing to put her grandson in danger. He insists Raymond would be safer with him, with his ‘real’ family (and that’s a can of worms right there – the suggestion that blood and biology is more important than anything else. It’s Phil to a tee, but it’s a very outdated way of thinking.)
Ellie gives it right back to him though, and lists everything she knows about Phil and his kids – that Ben got shot in the pub and lost his hearing in the warehouse (because Phil botched a ‘simple’ robbery – suggesting that’s child’s play for her), that Louise fled the country and also what happened to Dennis. She knows a heck of a lot about Phil – but the thing I found most interesting was the bit about Ben losing his hearing, presumably referring to Danny shooting that gun near his ear. Because not many people know about that detail – just Ben, Phil, Callum, and Danny. And Danny’s henchmen, I suppose, but I doubt they’re going to be relevant. So maybe Danny is Ellie’s informant – or is it DI Thompson? Did Danny give him info before he was released (as a trade) that he then passed on to Ellie? Because as far as I’m aware, Danny doesn’t know about the siege and Ben getting shot – but that was a police matter that’s probably on file somewhere. As might Louise’s escape to Portugal, if she was ever a suspect for killing Keanu. So I feel like something is going on, that there’s going to be a connection somewhere with these two stories.
So, Ellie gets quite threatening, and then seems to change her mind, telling Phil that he can have Raymond – for 150 grand. Selling her grandson? Seems suspicious, and Phil has to know it’s not going to be that simple; but he heads off home to get the money out of the safe anyway.
He gets back to the Arches, where Ellie is waiting. He immediately asks where Raymond is, but Ellie dodges the question and looks to his duffel back, asking if that’s her money. At that point, Ben arrives right behind Phil – he plays it down as just wanting to see what the fuss is about, but Phil knows he’s come in case Phil needs rescuing… again. Ellie’s very dismissive of Ben, referring to him as Junior (not unlike Danny’s ‘mini Mitchell’ nickname) and raising her voice to ask about his hearing in a very patronising way. Maybe ableism is a prerequisite in the criminal underworld.
Phil tells her he’s got her 80 grand and needs more time to get the rest, as Ben protests. I’m guessing it must be Phil’s share of the warehouse money, or what’s left of it. There are theories about how this might be a trap Ellie’s carrying out for Thompson because she knows the money is traceable – and remember, there’s a bug listening to this conversation, so there’d be proof of Phil handing it over! But Ben thinks it’s just a ploy to bleed them dry, and he points this out to Phil – which irritates Ellie, and she says so, resulting in a bit of petulant sass from Ben. He’s still got it despite his role as the voice of reason right now!
He turns back to Phil and pleads with him not to give Ellie the money, or anything, until she hands Raymond over. ‘Is that why someone shot him? To shut him up?’ was brilliantly delivered by Mica Paris and it made me laugh. Ben isn’t amused though and seems rather taken aback at being spoken about like that. Phil’s the one to break up their little spat. But the animosity has been established.
Ellie suggests to Phil that he thinks about how much Raymond is worth to him – she’s obviously keen for Phil to hand that money over by trying to rationalise the sheer amount she’s asking for. But Ben’s quick to point out that Phil obviously thinks more of Raymond than she does, since she’s selling him. It’s a goading tactic since he suspects there’s more to it than Ellie just handing Raymond over and he wants Ellie to admit it. Phil tries again to stop Ben, knowing he’s being antagonistic towards Ellie (who is definitely losing patience) but Ben shouts back at him, adamant that he can’t trust her and that she’s taking him for a ride. Ellie asks Phil if he has any control over Ben – again talking about him rather than to him, to belittle him. And it’s funny she’d ask about Phil’s control over Ben because usually, yes, he has a lot of control over Ben and he and Ben both know it. But Ben feels strongly about this and he’s determined to get Phil to listen to him, because he knows this isn’t the way to go. He tells Phil they have to go legit to get Raymond; through the courts. Phil can’t let Ellie play him like this. There’s a few seconds of silence after that, where Phil has to make a choice. And then he says the thing: ‘Ben’s right’. Excuse me whilst I pick myself up from the floor! Ben’s relieved more than anything, his reaction more of a ‘yes, I know I am’. Phil goes on to make it clear to Ellie she isn’t getting another penny – but Ellie is eerily calm, getting up from her seat and pretending she didn’t hear what Phil just said, suggesting he just needs some more time to think about things. But she warns him not to mess her around – basically suggesting that giving her the money is the only option, and there’ll be danger if he doesn’t. But Phil stands his ground, telling her that if she wants a war, she’s got one. And so the custody battle begins, I guess. Ellie leaves without another word, and Ben looks worried – she was too calm. Even if they ‘win’ Raymond legally, who’s to say there won’t be a retaliation attack, this time from Ellie? Hmmm.
It’s a bit worrying that Ellie witnessed Ben changing Phil’s mind about the money – he could be on her hitlist now! If this plot was any thicker I’d be struggling to stir my wooden spoon.
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