13/09/2021

Chris and Jennifer arrive at Alice’s rehab facility. As they settle down with Luke, Alice’s counsellor, Alice apologises for worrying them when she ran off. Noticing Chris is quiet, she suggests he could leave – she understands how hard this is for him. Chris affirms he’s staying, and the session begins. Alice tells her mum she’s been writing a diary, a history of herself and drink. She comments there’s lots of talking involved too, and they all eat together – none of this was easy for her at first. But she’s getting used to it. Chris notes she’s not asking about Martha. Luke prompts that not talking about Martha doesn’t mean she’s not important to Alice. They move on to the impact letters they’ve brought. Jennifer reads hers with difficulty, and it hurts Alice, who takes a break before Chris reads his letter. It’s not what he wanted to say and he improvises more words on the spot. With emotions running high Alice gives her response to their letters. She didn’t mean to hurt them, and she’s genuinely trying to change. She tells them she now feels like she has a little bit of hope. In the car Chris and Jennifer agree that this was more like the Alice they know, and they dare to believe the rehab is doing some good. Privately Alice admits to Luke that seeing them was painful, and she’s not sure they fully get it. She’s scared, and doesn’t think she wants to go home.