That is re-write. He was drunk, but he was also extremely ill.
If Jolene had known him for a drunk she would not have insisted that he stay at the pub all among the alcohol, nor later insisted that he be employed there. (He seems to have drunk an entire half-pint, bought for him by Eddie, during the time he was there.)
The person whop assumed he was a drunk was Sid (I said Kenton before but it was too early for it to be him), who miscounted the spirits bottles in a stock-check and accused Wayne of having stolen some.
Lowfield:
12th August, 2009
No one in the Bull got much sleep with Wayne in the Bull. But when he gets up it's clear he is really ill and has to stay for longer. Sid is convinced it is swine flu.
17th August, 2009
Sid's unhappy. Fuelled by Shires, Eddie and Neil have been telling a busy pub that swine flu's upstairs disguised as Wayne despite knowing it's bronchitis. Sid wants Wayne to go, he's not their problem, but Jolene insists he's staying while he can't even get down the stairs to sneak a pint in the night.
19th August, 2009
Wayne makes it downstairs at the Bull, dressed to leave but can't find his boots. Fallon sternly tells him to go back to bed, he's still unwell, and then has to help him back. She'll ask mum to take him to the doctor again, he's not improved despite almost finishing the antibiotics.
21st August, 2009
Eddie's raucous visit to Wayne last night has cheered him up; he ate a good breakfast and the doctor's hopeful more tablets will make him better. Sid, ever suspicious, is sure he heard clinking glasses though, does a stock check and finds he's two bottles of vodka short. He tells Jolene and Fallon. Jolene tells him Wayne can't get out of bed, let alone into the cellar, and she goes to search his room to prove it.
....
Jolene's search comes up with an empty lemonade bottle brought by Eddie. Now Sid thinks it must have had cider in it. He's being ridiculous, smell the bottle, says Jolene, and then go and check the cellar again. Fallon asks mum why she's so certain and is told Wayne was never a thief. Sid returns, sheepishly, he must have miscounted, sorry. Jolene tells him to apologise to Wayne to clear the air
30th August, 2009
Fallon is short with Sid when he tries to make her take a break; she's concerned that he'll be unpleasant to Wayne. Sid tries to call Wayne's bluff by offering him work in the kitchen - an offer Wayne accepts with alacrity.
....
Wayne shows what he's made of in the kitchen, to Sid's annoyance. Fallon points out that he did once work in a bakery. Freda has warmed to her new assistant, and has asked him to continue working with her. Sid can only try to sound pleased.
10th September, 2009
Jolene is struggling with keeping Wayne cheerful as well as everything else. He is so upset about Fallon telling him he has never been any sort of father. The worst thing is, Fallon was right. He was never around.
14th September, 2009
Jolene realises Fallon feels forgiving Wayne for walking out on them would be disloyal to her mum. Jolene explains that Wayne can't undo what he's done, but he can try and start from here. Fallon agrees to try too and goes to help him collect glasses. Sid hassles Jolene about Wayne leaving but once again she persuades him to extend the invitation although he wonders if it's just for Fallon's benefit.