Fleabag – Episode 2.6

By: Ellie Dolan-Yates

Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is stroking The Priest’s (Andrew Scott) hair. They are in bed. He asks her what she is thinking and she says she can’t believe what happened. The scene cuts to Claire (Sian Clifford) and Fleabag greeting guests at the wedding. Claire has clearly found a clip on ponytail. Various members of the family are introduced into scene before Claire asks Fleabag if she wants a tequila. Fleabag asks Claire how Klare is and Claire says he’s crazy about her, so it’s good that he’s going back to Finland today. They both agree that, unfortunately, today is going to be a lovely day.

Godmother (Olivia Colman) introduces her deaf friend Daniel, her lesbian friend Francine and Asif who is a Syrian refugee who also happens to be bisexual. As she goes to introduce Dad (Bill Paterson) it is clear that she doesn’t even know his name saying, “I always call you ‘darling!’” Fleabag asks if there’s anywhere she can put a present that she’s been trying to get rid of it for ages. Godmother says she’s going to open it over a bin and asks Fleabag to go with her. She asks Fleabag if she had a little show planned, but Fleabag says she doesn’t. Godmother opens the present- the missing bust statue! Oh, that has been around the houses hasn’t it?! She’s touched by its return and thanks Fleabag. Godmother explains it’s strange Fleabag chose to take the statue as it’s based on her mother!

Fleabag makes The Priest jump as she appears behind him rehearsing his lines for the ceremony. He tells her she looks lovely. He says he needs to go and get changed and Fleabag wishes him luck. They kiss against the wall, causing The Priest to get lipstick all over his face. The Priest is reluctant to leave.

Claire brings Fleabag a drink. When Fleabag asks her if she’s okay she explains that she hates her husband and the man she actually loves is going back to Finland. The Priest appears in his “dress” and he’s greets Martin (Brett Gelman) and Jake (Angus Imrie). As Godmother introduces Fleabag, the one who had the miscarriage, Claire explains it was her miscarriage. Everyone laughs awkwardly before they realize it is true. Martin is upset that it was his baby, but Claire throws what he said to Fleabag about the baby not wanting to be there back in his face. Godmother asks whoever had the miscarriage to take it to the kitchen. Claire tells Jake not to follow her and tells Martin it’s over. Fleabag and Martin follow Claire to the kitchen.

In the kitchen Claire tells Martin to leave her. He asks Fleabag to go away (but not so politely) and Claire tells him no. As Claire and Martin argue, he lists things that he does for her, which isn’t much. He explains that it’s not his fault he has a bad personality. He knows that Claire doesn’t like him but he makes her laugh. She says that she actually loves him and that’s what she hates most. Claire remains silent. Martin says the only way he will leave is if Claire gets on her knees and begs him to. She does exactly that.  He and Fleabag exchange “F- you’s” as usual and he leaves. Claire lets out a breath of relief and Fleabag helps her off the floor.

Fleabag is outside having a cigarette, thinking back on her kiss with The Priest. We see The Priest and Godmother waiting next to the painting of Fleabag and Claire. Well, the back of Fleabag’s head and Claire. Godmother approaches them asking what they have done with their dad. She begs them to do something and they go to find him. Fleabag finds him in the loft. He explains that he’s trapped and he can’t get out. Fleabag explains that everyone will understand and they’ll be relieved. He explains that he means his foot is stuck and asks what she meant. She doesn’t know what to say, but he asks her to help him. She asks him what he’s doing in the loft and he explains he was checking a mouse hadn’t got caught in the trap he left. Love a good metaphor. Fleabag says she’ll only get him out if he tells her why he’s there. He reiterates that he was checking on the mouse, but Fleabag says they can make a run for it. He says he knows Godmother isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but neither is Fleabag. He tells her it’s the bits of her mother she needs to cling to. Fleabag says he has two daughters who love him, even if he doesn’t like them. He tells Fleabag he likes Claire, but she finds it funny. She releases him from the trap, but he doesn’t want to go. She tells him “buck up, smile, charm, off we go.” He says to her, “I think you know how to love better than any of us. That’s why you find it all so painful.” Where’s the crying emoji?!

Fleabag walks her dad to the aisle. She goes to sit down, but her dad asks her to stay. She walks him the rest of the way down the aisle and he’s reluctant to let go of her until Godmother tells him to. Fleabag takes her seat next to Claire and The Priest thanks everyone for coming. Jake plays the bassoon and Claire tells Fleabag she can’t do the reading. Fleabag says she’ll do it and for Claire to go after Klare. Claire says she can’t leave the wedding and Klare will already be at the airport.  She can’t get through security without a boarding pass to find him anyway. She tells Fleabag to imagine Klare finding out she knows which gate and terminal he’s going to. Claire says the only person she’d run through an airport for is Fleabag. Jake finishes his piece “Where’s Claire” and The Priest begins his speech. He speaks about love and how horrible it is. People think he’s joking until he really lays into love. He says no wonder people don’t want to do it on their own and we need to find the right place to put it. Amen. Claire is clearly moved by the speech and Fleabag tells her to go. Claire tearfully agrees and leaves her ponytail on her chair.

Fleabag is outside her dad’s house having a cigarette and it’s getting dark. Her dad joins her and they both laugh. He says that The Priest is looking for her. Fleabag finds him in the garden and says that she is going to get the bus. She says goodbye to both fathers. The Priest joins her at the bus stop. She tells him that he nailed the ceremony. They look at the screen and see the bus will be another 46 minutes. They talk a little about the wedding. The Priest looks at Fleabag and she looks back at him adoringly. “It’s God, isn’t it?” He confirms and she says the worst thing is that she loves him. He takes her hand and says that it will pass. She’s clearly hurt, but then again they both are. The Priest decides to walk and says Fleabag is never allowed back at the church and that he loves her, too. Fleabag cries as he walks away. She looks back at the screen and sees the bus is cancelled. A fox walks past and she tells it where The Priest went. Fleabag goes into her bag and pulls out the statue of her mum. She holds it close to her and looks at us. She walks away and shakes her head at us. She doesn’t want us to follow her. Fleabag walks a little further before waving us goodbye. Bye Fleabag, we’ll miss you.