"Liv" (Episode 5.04)

"Liv" is the fourth episode of Series 5 and the 41st episode overall.

This episode primarily focuses on Liv Malone and her growing isolation from her best friends Mini McGuinness and Grace Violet after sleeping with Mini's boyfriend Nick Levan, thus finding a kindred spirit in Matty.

Plot
Liv and Nick are having sex in Alo's van. Nick's phone rings - it's Mini, but he tells her he's just out with the rugby boys. Liv insists that they can never have sex again but Nick points out that she said that before. Liv walks home and finds her mother getting ready to go to a spiritual retreat. Her mother complains that Liv is becoming "out of control" and ends up leaving on a "sour note". Liv gets her sister Maud some breakfast.

The doorbell rings and Liv discovers Alo, Rich, Grace and Franky. They explain that Mini told them to come. Mini arrives with Nick and waits as the others go inside. She apologises for arguing with Liv after the fashion show, claiming that she can't remember it. Liv agrees that they can be friends and Nick smirks at her. Inside, Mini addresses the group and apologises for being a bitch, saying that she feels inadequate because they are all so cool and alternative. They all agree to be friends- Franky being the first to do so- although Rich is reluctant, especially when Mini initiates a group hug. Nick winks at Liv, who seems uncomfortable. At that moment, Mini produces a bag of marijuana and Alo says no-one can leave until it has all been smoked.

Liv goes into the kitchen and tells Nick to stay away from her. Mini appears and suggests Liv's punch needs gin, but Liv worries that it is her mother's expensive stuff. When Nick leaves, Mini claims that she has got a great sex life with Nick now and adds that she won't let anything get in the way of them being together. She adds that everyone is having a good time and it would be a shame if Liv spoiled it. Liv agrees to go and buy some sherry and pulls Maud with her. She drops Maud off at a cinema showing a 24-hour sci-fi marathon and goes to see her sister Bella in prison. She confides in Bella about sleeping with Nick and asks why she feels so guilty when Mini is always "playing" her. Bella tells Liv just to keep things simple and say she never had sex with Nick. Liv is unimpressed with her sister's advice and storms out, screaming as she stands outside the prison.

Liv ends up sitting outside a bus station and gets a text from Mini asking where she is. Matty appears and sits next to her, but after an awkward few words Liv gets up. However, she bumps into a man who is running. The unkempt man accepts her apology and thrusts some drugs at her and Matty just as the police arrive and arrest him for possession. When he has gone, Liv finds Matty and claims that the drugs belong to her. They look at them and agree to spend the day together before Matty leaves town. Liv announces some ground rules - no names, no touching and no future. Matty agrees and they begin taking the drugs.

They end up at a petrol station but the drugs have not taken effect so they decide to steal some alcohol. As the shopkeepers are distracted, they brazenly steal a range of items. The cashiers notice and chase them but they manage to get away. Mini calls Liv, but she ignores the call. Matty claims that everything he is wearing is stolen, except for his watch, which was a present from his brother. Suddenly, the drugs begin taking effect and Liv and Matty walk down the street holding hands. They end up going into a fancy dress shop and dance around. They go into a back room and discover a mannequin with a mouse's head wearing a ballet outfit. The shop owner appears and hands Liv an outfit. She goes to get changed into it, but there is a camera in the corner of the dressing room. The shop owner turns the door-sign to "closed" and goes in to see Liv. As he starts trying to touch her, she screams, and Matty hits him over the head with a fire extinguisher. Liv kicks him and runs out with Matty. Matty finds the CCTV tape and takes cash from the till before they dress up in animal costumes and run away. They end up in a multi-storey car park, unspooling the CCTV tape.

Afterwards, Liv admits that "it's starting to hurt" and they suck drugs off each other's fingers. She says it still hurts. Matty reassures her that his hand hurts from when he punched his brother the day before but he will be fine and the shop owner will be too. Liv suggests that they should check, but when they arrive they see police officers outside the shop. Liv asks where Matty was planning to go and asks if she can join him. He agrees and they end up going to a nightclub, where they agree to stick together. They both also suggest that this is "real". They kiss and go into the club, where they dance before running up to the roof. They begin kissing again and have sex. The next morning, Liv wakes up and sees Matty standing, looking out from the roof. She joins him and suggests that they should go.

Meanwhile, Alo, Rich and Grace are asleep on the sofa. Franky smokes too much marijuana and ends up falling asleep and falls off the chair, waking up Alo. Liv and Matty appear and say hello before running up to Liv's bedroom. Liv is disgusted to find Mini and Nick having a sexual encounter in her bed. Nick and Matty greet each other coldly and Matty admits that they are brothers. Nick yells at Liv that Matty is a "psycho" and warns her to stay away from him. Matty asks why he cares and realises that they have slept together. Mini sits in bed and starts to cry. Liv announces that the party is over and asks everyone to leave. She shouts at Matty that she doesn't know who he is and doesn't trust him, yelling at him to leave. She cleans up and ends up sitting on the sofa, but is surprised when Franky- who passed out and fell behind it- pops up. Franky asks what's going on between Liv and Mini before suggesting that "hate and blame" is "toxic". She hands Liv a video, saying that she liked watching it, and leaves. Liv puts on the tape and discovers an old video she and Mini made. She tells herself that she doesn't care. On the radio, she hears a news report announcing that the costume emporium owner has been charged with possession of indecent material and realises he is alright. She starts crying. Maud arrives home and complains that Liv didn't pick her up, so she spent the whole night in the cinema. Liv apologises and gets her some breakfast, but Maud throws it on the floor and storms out, using colorful language.

Liv goes to see Bella again and asks about her and her mother, but Bella refuses to talk about it. Liv says their family is falling apart, but Bella questions what there is to talk about. Liv replies: "Me and Maud." However, when Bella says: "What about you?" Liv storms out and says she will never come back. She runs to the bus station and discovers that Matty's luggage locker is empty, but finds him outside. Matty is angry with her and refuses to talk at first but Liv grabs his hand. In desperation, she ends up downing a whole bottle of vodka. Matty ends up walking her down an alley as she throws up. He gets her into a garage where he watches her being sick and gives her water. The next morning, he kisses her forehead when she wakes up and then kisses her, despite her fears that she smells. Matty shows her that she was sick but tells her to be quiet, because he broke into his house. Nick appears with a bat, but realises it is just Matty and Liv. Liv gets up to leave. As she goes, Matty begs Nick to talk to their dad, explaining that he needs to come back home.

Liv goes to see Mini and reminisces about their first meeting. She explains that she owes Mini so much and offers to try to explain what happened. She asks what she should do to make things up to Mini. Mini reveals that she heard Liv drank a bottle of vodka to apologize to Matty and produces one from her bag. Liv begs her not to make her drink it because her stomach is raw, but Mini says she would do it if she was sorry. Liv reluctantly drinks the bottle but Mini says: "I hope you die puking on your kidneys, bitch." She walks off as Liv is sick. Liv staggers home and drinks water from the tap, before realising that her mother is home. She goes to see her and admits that she has had a horrible time, as her mother asks what she has been doing and complains that she had a party. Liv apologises and asks about the retreat, but her mother says it was pointless. She adds that she can't just jet away like Liv's dad. Her mother also complains about the mess Maud made in the kitchen, adding that she might have to send her away. Liv claims that she threw the crockery and walks out. She then joins Maud in the cinema and they settle down next to each other.

Music Featured in "Liv"
Note: The music tracks listed below only refer to the music featured in the episode's initial airing. Many of the music tracks featured in this episode have been substituted for alternative tracks for both the UK home media release of Series 5.

Klumzy Tung and Mr Dero - Head Screwz

Lena Malmborg - A Change is Coming

Best Coast - Bratty B

Segal - Chuptaga

The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

Segal - Eat Your Foot

Craft Spells - Party Talk

Simon and Garfunkel - Wednesday Morning

Straus - Tales from Vienna Woods

Unknown Opera - Au Fond Du Temple

Glasser - Apply

Freelance Whales - Location

Charles B - Lack of Love

Devandra Bahnheart - Long Haired Child

The Knife - Ebb Tide Explorer

Oliver Girdler - Fall into Faith

Villah Nah - Emerald Hills

Best Coast - Happy

Beach House - Better Times

The Walkmen - Victory

Grinderman - No Pussy Blues