Lip Service - Series 1 episode guide
BBC Three's seductive new relationship drama Lip Service follows the lives of a group of twenty-something lesbians.
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Episode 1Tuesday 12th October 2010
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When spirited photographer Frankie went to America two years ago she ran away from many things: her relationship with Cat; her family; herself. Now she's back home in Glasgow for the funeral of her beloved aunt and her sudden return causes a stir among her friends.
For former girlfriend Cat, Frankie's reappearance throws her so much that she almost jeopardises her blind date with sexy policewoman Sam. Cat's brother, Ed, is also anxious as Frankie is the only other person who knows about his secret love for best friend – and lesbian – Tess. Only Jay seems happy as he's reunited with his drinking buddy and former pulling-partner-in-crime, Frankie. But as he's on the verge of settling down with new love Becky, Jay has to fight the urge – and Frankie's bad influence – to fall back into his bad-boy ways.
Meanwhile, unlucky-in-love aspiring actress Tess has a humiliating run-in with her ex-girlfriend, but things start to look up for her when she finds herself being hit on by gorgeous, and apparently straight, daytime TV presenter Lou Foster.
Initially hostile towards her former lover, Cat has a change of heart after learning Frankie is back in town for her aunt's funeral. Overwhelmed by an urge to comfort her, Cat tracks Frankie down to a funeral parlour and, for the first time since their split, the two connect. But painful memories quickly come to the surface as Cat recalls how badly Frankie treated her.
Later, when Cat returns to make amends, she witnesses first-hand Frankie's apparent inability to change and vows never to let her get close again.
Episode 2Tuesday 19th October 2010
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Frankie tries to unravel the mystery of her past; fate offers Cat a second chance with Sam; and Tess learns new love Lou isn't ready to go public about their relationship.
Emotions run high at the funeral of Frankie's Aunt Carol. Treated like an outsider by her Uncle Cameron, Frankie causes a scene. And when her cousin Karen explains Carol sent Frankie's childhood photo album to someone before she died, Frankie is left confused.
Cat regrets her decision to accompany Frankie to the funeral and leaves the wake feeling humiliated, only to fall victim to a teenage thief who snatches her mobile. When Cat gives chase, she ends up being arrested for assault and is further embarrassed when she comes face-to-face with Sam at the police station. But every cloud has a silver lining and the encounter leads to a second chance with Sam.
An excited Tess is over the moon after Lou gets her a job as TV runner – regular money and the chance to see more of the woman of her dreams. But it soon becomes clear that Lou wants to keep their relationship hidden. To try and coax Lou out of the closet, Tess asks her over for dinner with Cat and Ed. Much to Ed's disgust, Tess goes to great lengths to impress but it's a wasted effort as Lou cancels at the last minute.
On hearing that Cat has another date with Sam, a jealous Frankie turns up at her door. But she is snubbed, so Frankie decides to spend some time alone – until her head is turned by an alluring stranger, Sadie, shoplifting in a bookstore. Sadie knows she's been spotted and thinks Frankie will turn her in, but she's got other plans.
A night of seduction follows at Jay's flat but afterwards Frankie makes her feelings clear – she'd like Sadie to leave. And when Frankie wakes the next day she discovers Sadie has disappeared... taking a very expensive gift Jay bought for Becky with her.
Episode 3Tuesday 26th October 2010
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Cat and Sam's honeymoon period is threatened by Frankie's constant presence; Jay sets out to prove he's still got pulling power; Tess gets more than she bargains for when she turns up at Lou's flat unannounced; and a shocking revelation throws Frankie's identity into question.
Despite some early hitches, Cat and Sam's relationship is back on course but Frankie's presence in their life starts to take its toll. To make matters worse, Cat is forced to work alongside Frankie after her boss, Alistair, hires her to take some photos for a company brochure. Determined to keep her ex at a professional distance, Cat's facade begins to slip as she grows increasingly irritated by Frankie's efforts to build bridges.
For Jay, having Frankie in the workplace is like having a devil on his shoulder. As they eye up hot, new intern Hayley, Frankie goads Jay that he's too old to pull her. Jay takes the bait but his attempts to impress Hayley backfire – with disastrous consequences.
Tess is thrilled when Lou kisses her in public. It looks as though she's slowly but surely growing more comfortable with her sexuality and Tess promises to help her come out – no matter how long it takes. With things going so well between them, Tess is confused when Lou fails to show up for dinner that night and doesn't return any calls the next morning. Tess decides to give Lou a sexy surprise and persuades Ed to drive her to Lou's apartment. But it's Tess who is on the receiving end of something unexpected.
Frankie is troubled by the mystery surrounding her past and visits the registrar's office to try to find out more about her parents, who died in a car crash when she was a child. However, Frankie gets more than she bargained for when she sees her parents' death certificates and all is not as it seems.
Episode 4Tuesday 2nd November 2010
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Frankie and Tess move into an amazing new flat courtesy of estate agent Sadie, Frankie's casual fling. But, despite their incredible new pad, Tess is depressed about her dire love-life – until she's persuaded by Frankie to launch herself into the dating scene once more.
Love-struck Ed can only stand by and watch forlornly as Tess goes out on a date but it proves to be a troublesome experience, to say the least, for the unlucky-in-love actress.
Frankie continues to search for answers as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her identity. Feeling totally lost, she turns to Cat – the only person she feels she can confide in. Cat can't bear to see Frankie so distressed and lies to her lover, Sam, to get information through her work.
Armed with the facts Frankie confronts her Uncle Cameron, who warns her off further investigation. But this only fuels Frankie's fire to find out the truth. To assuage her guilt over lying for Frankie, Cat invites Sam to lunch with her parents. It's a cringe-worthy affair but Sam is in great form.
Loving Sam all the more for this, Cat confesses her secret but Sam admits she's always suspected. Although relieved to finally hear the truth, Sam questions Cat's loyalties and whether she still holds feelings for her ex, Frankie.
Frustrated and rejected by her uncle and desperately upset about Cat, Frankie is in a reckless mood, determined to forget her troubles. She ends up embarking on a drug-fuelled session with Sadie. Together they make a wild and dangerous combination. When they find themselves in trouble with the police, Frankie is forced to turn to the unlikeliest of allies for help, but her troubles are only just beginning...
Episode 5Tuesday 9th November 2010
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It's the morning after the night before and Frankie and Jay are desperate to forget about their recent indiscretion. But there's no escape after Tess reveals she saw them and told Ed the gossip. Keen to keep the truth from Cat and, of course, Becky, Frankie asks Tess and Ed to keep quiet. But the secret is like an unexploded bomb within the group of friends.
In a moment of passion, Sam tells Cat she loves her. Sam fears the worst, though, when Cat doesn't reciprocate. Later, Frankie and Cat take a stroll down memory lane on a work assignment to their old school. With tensions easing between them, they admit they're still attracted to each other. But their nostalgic trip comes to an abrupt end when a sly cigarette causes a fire and puts Cat's job on the line.
Tess is doing her best to ignore her forthcoming 30th birthday and, despite Ed's best efforts, refuses to mark the occasion.
When Ed gets a meeting with a literary agent, Tess is terrified he'll become successful and leave her behind. Desperate to boost her acting work, Tess visits her own agent only to be told some home truths about why she doesn't get any work. She then sets out to prove the critics wrong but her new-found positivity receives an unexpected blow when her ex-girlfriend, Chloe, reveals she's marrying the woman she left Tess for.
Rejected, defeated and alone on her 30th, Tess treats herself to Botox – with disastrous consequences. Desperately sad, Tess rushes home only to meet Ed on the street. As he watches Tess break down, Ed toys with the idea of revealing his true feelings. But just how will Tess take the news and how will she react to the surprise party waiting for her in her flat?
Episode 6Tuesday 16th November 2010
The excesses of the night before come back to haunt Frankie and Jay as they assess the carnage of their respective lives. More upset comes calling for Frankie when Tess drops the bombshell that Sam is moving into Cat's flat. The news leaves Frankie in a spin, faced with the prospect of losing Cat for ever.
Horrified by Ed's admission that he's in love with her, Tess goes to great lengths to avoid her best friend. However, her mood is lifted after landing an audition for a dream lead role in a theatre production. But her hopes for a fresh start are quickly dashed when she gets stuck in a lift with Jay.
Imprisoned together, the friends have a heart-to-heart. Jay thinks Tess should go easy on Ed – it's not his fault he fell in love with her – while Tess's words make Jay question whether he's really right for Becky.
Frankie's day goes from bad to worse after discovering more painful secrets about her past. She turns to Cat for support, asking to meet up. But Cat is left furious and hurt when Frankie fails to show. Later, a run-in with her Uncle Cameron leaves Frankie devastated, appalled by the truth she has been searching for all these years. She seeks out Cat to apologise for standing her up but is confronted by a territorial Sam who warns her off – Cat's better off without Frankie.
With Sam's words echoing, Frankie decides to book a one-way ticket back to New York. On hearing the news, Cat lies to Sam and dashes to comfort Frankie, attempting to convince her to stay. Emotions run high as the former lovers talk with Frankie finally opening her heart to Cat. Torn between former lover Frankie and new girlfriend Sam, Cat must choose between the two loves in her life.
