13th August, pride

After a week without them (and even longer without them together), Ballum were back in last night’s episode. And neither in a particularly good mood. Most of it was set up, leading to Ben accepting what he saw as his last resort. 

Screencaps for this episode can be found here.

So, out in the Square we’ve got Ben rounding the corner towards the Arches, with Callum and Vi walking together a good ten paces behind him at least. The idea of Ben storming ahead just to avoid conversation with Vi (or more disparaging comments) is one I find both amusing and understandable.
The twelve year old on a bike skids past Ben, startling him, and Ben thinks it’s an accident at first. He grumbles at the boy to be careful, someone might get hurt. Only then the boy comes to a stop in front of Ben, blocking his path. It’s an amusing stand off as they both attempt to come across as threatening – Ben asks him if he’s got a death wish, but the twelve year old is undeterred and asks if he’s Ben Mitchell. I’m going to guess that Ben was too startled that this boy knew his name to question who was asking, or to pretend otherwise, so he says yes.
The boy then says that a Mr Sully has got a message for him, and he reaches into his bum bag to retrieve this message just as Callum and Vi round the corner. There’s actually a smile on Callum’s face for just a second before he clocks that a situation is going on and questions Ben; but Ben’s clearly reluctant to answer. Before anyone can say anything else, the boy pulls a gun on Ben! No, wait, it’s just his fingers in the shape of a gun. Very scary. He informs Ben that Mr Sully is calling in his loan, with interest – but gives no more details before he menacingly takes his leave. I think there definitely might have been some Line of Duty influence there – it also featured a child with a bike recruited into a crime group to ferry messages and burner phones to people on behalf of the group. They’ve covered that kind of thing even in EE, with kids like Jay and Liam being persuaded to join gangs as apparently children are more undetectable, less suspicious, and less likely to get punished as badly as an adult might be doing the same job. So, you know, as silly as it may seem that someone who looks like they’re bunking off school is trying to be threatening – Ben knows that who the message really came from is someone he should be a bit worried about.
Not that he’d admit this to Callum, who’s full of questions in the wake of the threat – what loan? Who’s Mr Sully (I’d like to know that too.) Ben tries to brush it off as nothing, but then he’s got Vi informing him it didn’t look like nothing. Just what he needs. Callum then tries to guess, and gets it pretty spot on as it turns out – Mr Sully is a loan shark, and the Arches is in trouble. Ben’s lack of denial all but confirms it, but he insists he can handle it, and walks away, leaving a concerned Callum behind.
Clearly Ben was hoping he could sort things out without having to admit that he was ever in trouble – borrow some money with the intention of paying it back without falling into debt, only now the time has come to pay it back and he hasn’t got it together. Maybe he thought his connections in the money-lending world would buy him an advantage, but instead it looks like he’s in the same boat as everyone else those operations target. He needs money, and fast.

Cue our next scene, with Ben spotting his dad loading up his car and jogging up to him in order to ask for a favour. Looks like they are actually on speaking terms now, even if Phil is still being grumpy and rather unyielding – but that’s just Phil, isn’t it. He actually waits for Ben to explain, and so he does – he needs cash. Despite his initial quip about being a cash point, Phil digs for more info, as clearly Ben isn’t so willing to be forthcoming with the details of the situation he’s in. He needs money for the loan he took out for the Arches, as it’s struggling in the wake of Phil withdrawing all his illegal business from it (as suspected – the Arches as a legit business is not doing well, and whatever Ben’s currently got with Kheerat isn’t enough to sustain it.) Phil then purports that he thought Ben would want to run it clean now that he’s crossed over the ‘thin blue line.’ It’s a callback to the scene after the wedding where Phil accused Ben of crossing the line by choosing Callum. And the thin blue line is a police reference – so Phil is once again taunting Ben for the choice he made, essentially saying he’s made his bed (well, air bed), now he can lie in it.
In response to that dig about going clean, Ben then informs him he took the loan off Patsy Sully, who is apparently quite notorious going by Phil’s reaction, who clearly thinks Ben’s made a mistake doing that. Ben defends his decision by saying they weren’t on speaking terms at the time, implying he had no choice. So it sounds like this loan was taken out at some point between Ballum’s return from honeymoon and the Simon stuff. I’d guess it was probably pretty soon, as all those deals would have an impact on the day to day ingoings and outgoings rather quickly.
Anyway, Ben explains the urgency, that Mr Sully wants the money with interest today and that Phil knows what he’ll do if he doesn’t get it. Phil asks how much he needs, and with a little difficulty, Ben admits it’s a lot. It sounds like Phil might have been open to the idea of giving him money – or was perhaps just curious about how much trouble Ben was really in. He tells Ben he can’t get hold of that sort of money today, as he’s got a flight to catch; which is news to Ben. Phil explains that Lisa’s broken her leg in a car crash and Louise is struggling, so he’s off to help. Ben pleads with him then, fearing the loss of his kneecaps if he doesn’t get the money. He even puts a hand on his heart, trying to reason that this isn’t his fault. I think he means that the business going into trouble isn’t his fault – Phil withdrew the main cashflow and has left a garage that was already struggling before. I think Ben’s trying to reassure the both of them that he’s not failed. Phil was the one who complimented him on the business last month, and I think this is Ben trying to assure him that he wasn’t wrong, he just needs a bit of help.
However, Phil tells him again that he made his choice – the business is his, he’s a big boy and he can work it out. And Ben has to watch with frustration and incredulity as Phil gets in the car and drives off to the airport, to catch a flight to help out Louise. And I get the frustration. Ben only made a choice because Phil made it into a choice. He withdrew his deals with the Arches to punish Ben, and now the Arches is struggling and Phil is washing his hands of it. But Ben doesn’t want to cut his losses on it, hence turning to loan sharks to try and keep it afloat. And it’s also annoying because Phil seemed like he could be in a position to help, but the thing stopping him was the flight he was catching to help Louise instead. But to make himself feel better about his hypocrisy, he brought up all that ‘you made your choice’ stuff again. Sigh. 

Meanwhile, at Walford East, Callum is suffering through a meal with his nan, who is full of things to say about Ben’s run in with the loan shark – recommending that Callum take home a spare bulletproof vest for himself. It doesn’t help Callum’s fears about what’s going on and he asks if they can just not – he doesn’t want to talk about it and he certainly doesn’t want to engage in speculation about his own husband with Vi. Vi apologises then, which surprised me, until she launched right back into the subject, informing Callum she tends to lose her appetite after witnessing a ‘gun fingering’. So dramatic considering no actual guns were involved. This whole scene consists of Callum trying to get his nan to shut up, to no avail. He must have lost to Stuart in a game of rock paper scissors is all I’ll say.
Vi clocks Kathy, who’s working a shift, and raises her voice to make sure she hears her comment about how it’s a mother’s job to teach their kids about being responsible with money. She’s looking for a reaction so she addresses Kathy (or rather, Katherine) to ask if she agrees. Only Kathy hasn’t a clue what she’s on about. And why would she – she never had to teach Ben about money, because she was dead during that part of his life. But I digress.
Despite Callum’s pleas, Vi takes pleasure in informing Kathy about Ben getting chased up by loan sharks. And rather conveniently, Kheerat is standing at the counter and catches this piece of information. At Kathy’s confusion, Vi turns to Callum to point out the fact that Ben’s clearly not told her anything about it either. Callum doesn’t like that little reminder that he didn’t know, or the fact that she’s trying to cause trouble with Kathy, so he literally gets up and informs Vi that they’re leaving, rushing her out the door before she can say anything else. But Vi stops to make a mocking sound of warning to Kathy before she goes. 

I’m not sure if Kathy being informed means she goes to Ben first, or Ben has decided to try her next, but our next scene sees them sat at the pub with Ben admitting he has no choice but to ask her for help; but Kathy tells him she just doesn’t have that kind of cash, and therefore can’t help him. She suggests he wait til Phil gets home and ask him – maybe Ben hasn’t informed her of the urgency with with he needs the money, or doesn’t want to admit that he’s already asked Phil but got all that stuff about crossing the thin blue line – so he dismisses it instead and tries to assert what Phil had said earlier; that he’s a big boy and it’s fine. Which weirdly gets Kathy’s back up, and she comments on Ben’s pride and the fact it’ll be the death of him, before storming away. Does she mean Ben’s too proud to ask his dad for help, even though he did, and has also literally just asked her for help too? Or does she mean Ben’s too proud to give up on the Arches and cut his losses instead of trying to keep it afloat? Either way, it’s a misunderstanding of what’s going on with her son, as well as a dismissal – putting the blame on him to make herself feel better for not being able to help, just as Phil had done. You can’t choose your parents, I guess.
In another coincidental turn of events, Kheerat has arrived at the pub and approaches Ben in the wake of Kathy’s exit, having heard he’s having money troubles. Ben asks if the ‘little bird’ who told him has grey hair, four eyes and a big mouth – and he’s of course spot on. I bet Ben just knew that Callum would have been trying to rein her in to no avail.
Kheerat correctly guesses that it’s the Arches that’s in trouble, and when Ben’s not forthcoming, he reasons that Vi’s been airing his dirty laundry anyway (since day one apparently – what a nightmare), so Ben might as well tell him himself.
So Ben explains what the place means – it’s essentially a family heirloom, part of the Mitchell firm since Phil had a fringe (which gave me a flashback to when Louise gave birth to baby Peggy, where she suggested that the last time Ben saw a woman’s bits Phil probably had a fringe. Simpler times.) He tells Kheerat that his dad gave him the keys and then took the main cashflow out, so now he’s got a struggling business and a debt to pay. It’s just as much about losing the business as it is about the fear of losing his kneecaps to Mr Sully, because of what it represents. It’s the business Phil said Paul would be proud of Ben for (amongst other things.) It’s his completely now, and keeping it afloat is important to him.
Kheerat informs him that he just sold a property the previous week, so not only is he flush with money – it’s clean money, and he’s looking to invest. It’s actually not a dodgy deal, it’s legit!
However Ben isn’t keen, wrapped up in the fact that it’s a Mitchell firm and not willing to share it with an outsider. But Kheerat points out that it might not be a Mitchell firm for much longer if it’s struggling. He puts it on the table – he becomes a partner in the business, 50/50, and any money Ben makes goes in his back pocket by the end of the day. Ben’s mulling it over as there is yet another coincidental appearance – this time by Callum, who approaches the bar and looks over at them; and whether he can hear what’s going on or not, it’s bound to set him on edge that Ben and Kheerat are together considering the Jags stuff.
Kheerat continues to reason with Ben, about how they’re the future of their families whether those families like it or not – referencing their similarities in how Suki and Phil treat them, which was touched on around Christmas with the CCTV. He knows that they both try to prove themselves to their parents, so he proposes that they make them proud together. Ben insists that Kheerat would have to be a silent partner – deadly silent. And you know why that is; so Phil doesn’t find out. But it’s a sign that he is considering it, so Kheerat asks him whether they have a deal or not.
Ben starts to smirk, but then when he turns his head it fades at the sight of Callum watching them. I’m sure he knows exactly what he’s thinking (and it’s hard not to really – Callum does not look impressed.) Kheerat turns to look as well, and I’m sure he can also tell that Callum’s not a fan of what’s going down.
However, Ben turns back to Kheerat and the smirk returns, nodding to accept the deal as Kheerat smiles back and Callum looks towards the sky for some divine intervention because so help him god. I think Ben decided he didn’t have a choice but to accept, despite the risks that he’s just as aware of as Callum is. But then Callum doesn’t have the same attachment to the Arches as Ben has.

Onto our final scene, and Callum has taken the seat opposite Ben in order to swig from his beer and give him the stink eye – knowing that Ben doesn’t like it. And sure enough, Ben cracks first and asks him to just get it over with and give Ben a dig, or both barrels – or anything, because he’ll take the consequences of those things over the silent treatment. At least with the other things there’s an end result; but he can’t bear the prolonged agony of Callum just staring at him and saying nothing.
But Callum, face like thunder, doesn’t respond and takes another swig. Ben tries again, leaning forward to reason that Callum should be happy because he’s sorted it like he said he would, he’s out of trouble now. But, as Callum points out, he didn’t even know Ben was in trouble in the first place. And he can’t see much to be happy about, given the fact that Ben’s just made a deal with Kheerat of all people to help pay off a loan shark who could have done his kneecaps in.
Ben holds a finger out to him to protest that the money Kheerat is giving him is legit money from a property he’s just sold. And it’s cute that Ben would think Callum would have a problem with the source of the money considering all the dodgy stuff Callum’s helped him get away with in the last year, but Callum tells him it’s not where the money comes from that’s the issue, it’s who he’s getting it from.
Ben insists that he needs that money, he’d have been in a lot more danger with the loan shark if he couldn’t pay up – but Callum asks if Kheerat’s the safest option he’s got, to which Ben replies that he’s the only option he’s got.
I don’t think Ben needs Callum to point out the fact that he might have just gotten himself into more trouble by accepting Kheerat’s deal, but Callum does it anyway – reminding him what they said about making sure Kheerat never found out about Jags, but here Ben is doing business with him again (I wonder if maybe the arrangement with Stas has come to an end as well and the Arches really is the only thing Ben’s got going on?)
Callum tells Ben that he’s playing with fire and isn’t the only one going to get burnt – this affects the pair of them. He points out that if Kheerat finds out the truth then losing the Arches will be the least of Ben’s worries – money’s one thing, but blood is another. But what does Callum actually mean by that? I actually wasn’t too sure. I wondered if he meant Ben losing money is one thing but if Kheerat finds out the truth then he’ll be losing blood, i.e. things will get violent. But I also wondered if he meant family – that Kheerat’s investment in the Arches is business at the moment, but if he finds out about Jags then it becomes personal, and about family. Bit of a weird one, that. But whatever he meant, the intention is there – to warn Ben that doing business with Kheerat with this secret in the background is risky business indeed. Riskier than actual dodgy deals he’s done where Callum’s barely batted an eyelid, I must add. And of course, Ben knows full well that Callum is correct, he just doesn’t want to admit it; hence his prickly response. He doesn’t want to believe that he’s made the wrong decision to save the Arches, because in that moment it seemed like the only way he was able to. We know he’s a stubborn git and so does Callum, hence his prickly response. They’re a pair of prickly married hedgehogs, bless them.

So, that happened. Kheerat’s a partner in the Arches, saving it from closure and saving Ben’s kneecaps. What could go wrong?