Storylines
Laurie arrives in September 1989, taking over a vacant stall on Turpin Road market, where Cindy Beale’s (Michelle Collins) mother had formerly sold hats. Laurie sells fruit and veg by trade, opening up in direct competition to the resident fruit and veg trader, Pete Beale (Peter Dean). A trade war escalates as Laurie tries to pilfer all Pete’s customers by undercutting his prices. Meanwhile, Laurie catches the eye of hairdresser Julie Cooper (Louise Plowright). They date briefly, but Laurie is far more taken with Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) - Pete’s recently estranged wife. Kathy is initially wary of Laurie, but she begins to warm to him after he shares his sad life story with her – he’d been scarred by the loss of his second wife, who had died from cancer. Julie is extremely jealous of their blossoming romance, and Pete is furious that Laurie is not only trying to steal his customers, but also his wife. Numerous rows erupt between Laurie and Pete, as each try to outdo one another.
Laurie and Kathy’s romance progresses slowly. Unbeknown to Laurie, Kathy had been raped in 1988. She still finds it hard to trust men, so she is unwilling to rush things with Laurie. Julie takes advantage of this. She seduces Laurie in October 1989, and leads him back to her flat where she has sex with him. Laurie regrets it the next day, particularly when he is shunned by Kathy. Julie assumes that Laurie wants a relationship with her, but he tells her their night together was a silly mistake. Incensed, Julie tries to persuade him against Kathy by informing him of her rape, but this only makes him more sympathetic towards her. He persuades Kathy to give him another chance and promises to take things slowly.
Kathy and Laurie face objections from Pete and Kathy’s son Ian (Adam Woodyatt), who takes Pete’s side and refuses to accept Laurie as Kathy’s new beau. After a long period of feuding, Pete eventually accepts that he and Kathy are over and the Beales call a truce with Laurie. By 1990, Kathy finally feels ready to sleep with Laurie; however their attempt at consummation fails and Laurie storms out angry and embarrassed (the reason for which is never divulged, although it is indicated that Kathy had laughed at Laurie and he later tells her that she “has a knack for laughing at the wrong time”). After this Kathy becomes increasingly uninterested in their relationship and her ambiguous behaviour begins to confuse Laurie. He is keen to hold on to Kathy and he tries his best to please her, but she begins to feel as though he is treating her like a possession – buying her expensive clothes and jewellery and showing her off like a “trophy”. Unaware of Kathy’s discontent, Laurie arranges to go on a lavish date with her, but when he comes to collect her she refuses to go and ends their relationship instead. Laurie takes the rejection badly and some tactless comments regarding her sexual abstinence makes Kathy believe that he has hidden shallows. He storms off, dropping his wallet in his haste and, when Kathy retrieves it, she discovers that it contains a photograph of woman who strongly resembles her. Kathy concludes that Laurie has been attempting to recreate his dead wife through her, by dressing her in the same clothes and jewellery.
Following this, Laurie becomes depressed and begins drinking heavily. His sister Shirley visits Kathy, asking her to talk to him and explain why she has ended their relationship. When Kathy does, she accuses him of trying to turn her into a replica of his deceased wife; however, she is embarrassed to learn that the woman she had seen in the photo was not his dead wife after all. Kathy apologises for jumping to conclusions; they call a truce and part company, realising that they are not right for each other. This is Laurie’s last appearance, though it is revealed that he had decided to give up his pitch on the market and move on, an act which fuels rumours amongst the traders that Turpin Road Market is due to be closed.
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