In the tangled streets of EastEnders, families are torn apart by lies, distance, and danger—and none more so than the Monroes. Kat Slater is walking a tightrope this week as her son Tommy finds himself closer to a crisis than ever before, and the one person who could help—Alfie—seems to be slipping through her fingers.

It starts with a gut feeling. Kat watches Tommy grow increasingly withdrawn and on edge, especially around Joel. Something’s wrong. She can see it in her son’s eyes. But when she turns to Alfie for help, he’s nowhere to be found. Distracted, evasive, constantly on his phone—he won’t give her a straight answer.

Kat’s worry morphs into frustration, then fear. She’s trying to protect her son, but Alfie is hiding something. And when she finally corners him to talk, the conversation leaves her more unsettled than before. Alfie doesn’t deny anything—but he doesn’t explain either. That’s when he drops a bombshell: he’s going to Australia. His brother Spencer is in turmoil and needs him immediately.

This announcement floors Kat. She’s expected to deal with Tommy’s growing emotional fragility alone, without answers, and without backup. The man who was once her partner in parenting is about to disappear—again.

But the emotional blow doesn’t end there. Unbeknownst to Kat, her instincts about Tommy’s turmoil are spot-on. Vicki, desperate to shield Joel from the consequences of his crime, corners Tommy in a chilling confrontation. She makes it clear: if he tells anyone what really happened on that tube ride, she’ll make sure he’s blamed too. Terrified, Tommy is silenced.

Back at The Vic, Linda is fighting her own silent battle. With Elaine partying away money from the business account and ignoring her daughter’s concerns, Linda is left to carry the pub on her back. Phil notices and steps in to scold Elaine, finally giving Linda a flicker of support. But when Elaine tries to make amends, Linda hides the truth—burying her stress, resentment, and exhaustion behind a smile.

Kat, Linda, Tommy—they’re all struggling. But in Walford, struggles don’t stay secret for long. And when they come crashing out, they tend to destroy everything in their path.