Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) has faced her dementia diagnosis with defiance, laughing in the face of the condition at every turn. She continued managing the Chariot Square hotel, sang in the dementia choir, and enjoyed misadventures with her friends – Sally Metcalfe, Glenda Shuttleworth, Bernie Winter, and Christina Boyd, known as Debbie's Angels. She even married the man of her dreams, Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan), despite her illness.
However, Debbie's time in prison – where she took the rap for her son Carl Webster's (Jonathan Howard) dangerous driving that killed Billy Mayhew – took a toll. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, causing mistakes at work and forgetfulness.
Disturbing Garden Party Incident
This week, Debbie suffered another worrying symptom during a garden party with friends. She temporarily forgot who Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) was and accused him of being a pervert. This sobering moment prompted her to give up alcohol to protect her brain, even if it meant parting with her beloved large measure of vodka.
A Glimpse of the Future
In next week's episodes, Debbie gets a painful reminder that dementia will eventually win. Outside the café, she encounters a woman named Sadie, who is lost and searching for her daughter. When Debbie offers help, Sadie snaps at her. Sadie is the mother of newcomer Sienna Milburn (Charlotte Tyree), who is in a romance with Asha Alahan (Tanesha Gorey).
Sienna rushes over, worried for her mother's safety. But Sadie doesn't recognise her and lashes out. She has dementia too. When Asha tries to help, Sienna gently leads her mother away, while Debbie watches in horror, realising she is seeing a glimpse of her own future.
Now that Debbie has been confronted with the awful truth about where her story must end, the question is what she will do next.
