A new past is invented for Neil, and Kirsty and Rex look to the future.
Characters: Neil, Hannah,
Kirsty, Rex
Credited scriptwriter:
Sarah McDonald Hughes
Director:
Kim Greengrass
Editor: Jeremy Howe
On the morning after the night before Neil is hungover and a bit dizzy, but he and Hannah are at work tending to the pigs at Berrow and checking the fence posts to contain the sows in future. They both enjoyed the small and select party last night, and so did Susan. Hannah manages to be sympathetic about missing George without actually saying she is sorry he was sent to prison, which would be a lie judging by her previous opinions on the subject. Neil doesn't think he and Susan have ever spent a Christmas and New Year without getting the whole family together at some point [apart from 1993, the year Susan was in prison, perhaps... Chris], and says that when he was young himself he used to imagine family Christmases with a big extended family; it was something he always wanted. Hannah enquires whether he always knew he wanted kids, and Neil, having considered the matter, says that he thinks he did, so she goes on to ask if he was from a big family.
[This leads to a complete load of hokum, not borne out by anything on air before this episode nor by anything in the reference texts published by the BBC to date. I shall put it into brackets and keep it continuous rather than put it into scenes with breaks at dramatic moments and interpolations from Hannah as it was broadcast. Chris.]
(According to Neil's/Sarah McDonald Hughes' fantasy, Neil never knew his birth mother or father. He was found when he was about two days old on the steps of a bakery in Southport. The woman who found him was the baker's daughter, Nelly Bannister, a wonderful woman who initially took him to the local police – who took him to the nearest children's home – and then kept in touch with him throughout his childhood, during the course of which he was in nine children's homes before he was five [total bollocks and simply would not happen. Chris] and then fostered by the couple he called Mum and Dad. By then he'd made his way down the country from Southport via Liverpool and Birmingham to Worcester. [Out of area three times. Give over; the other one has bells on. Chris.] According to this fairy-tale, it's what used to happen: kids got shipped about depending on where there was space and suitable placements. Neil says he doesn't remember an awful lot and being so young, just got on with it. His foster parents Sandra and Dennis, now long dead, were nice, good people, and it was a bit like living in a train [sic. Chris] station with other foster kids coming and going, but it was a safe, warm place to grow up, with always a pot of something cooking on the stove [was this a pot of message? Gus] and washing drying in the kitchen and the Shipping Forecast on the radio. He stayed there until he left school and started in Ambridge as a farming apprentice and could afford digs in the village. He never met his biological mum: he both wanted to and didn't want to. He doesn't know what happened to Nelly Bannister, and wishes that he did.)
A hungover Kirsty opens her door to bouncy Rex, who has come to make fun of her for having got drunk and been still at his party at quarter to three in the morning. He claims he is there for their New Year Brunch date, for which he has been shopping specially, and insists they agreed to this in the early hours; she doesn't remember having done so. She just wants him to go away, but he demands entry and tells her to go and have a shower while he throws a shakshuka (she doesn't know what that is) together.
(Another scene of the Neil fantasy.)
It seems that Kirsty likes shakshuka and thinks it is amazing, though she is still hung over and somewhat fragile. She asks Rex to distract her with beavers. His research has led him to conclude that this will be a long-drawn-out process, taking years rather than months before they can let the beavers loose, and that the fencing alone will cost sixty grand; they are looking at two hundred grand over five years, and Kirsty can't see how anyone manages to do it. Rex suggests talking to the woman from Borsetshire Wildlife again, because there may be other options, but Kirsty doesn't think it likely. They can't afford what is being quoted, and can't afford to wait eighteen months either, but she doesn't want to give up; she is interrupted by an urgent need to be sick, for which she blames the chorizo rather than having been very drunk the previous night. Rex drags her out for a walk.
The Carter Christmas Cake is a great success, and Hannah and Neil sit eating it with a cup of tea each, with Neil saying it was good to talk about his childhood and he doesn't often; it's not a secret and Susan and the kids know [he hasn't told them yet, so how can they? Chris] as well as a few others, but he's always felt the past should stay in the past, and he doesn't particularly want to find out about his birth mum. He's content with the family he's got now and has no urge to go disrupting things. Hannah thinks he's amazing, but Neil just thinks he has been fortunate.
To her surprise Kirsty feels OK, and she and Rex admire the scenery, in particular the rewilding. Kirsty is sure they can't just give up: this site is perfect for beavers. Rex says that he wishes they could just get a few beavers and release them: they lived there until the sixteenth century. Kirsty tells him he is a genius: all they have to do is get hold of some beavers from somewhere and let them go. Job done! Rex asks her if she is serious; she tells him they should just stop worrying about all the red tape and just do it. A wild release, says Rex, testing the idea, and she confirms it: a wild release.
Summarised by Chris Ghoti
Joy is worried, Lee is leaving, and Henry unwittingly helps Helen's cause.
Characters: Pat, Helen,
Tony, Khalil, Henry, Hero-the-goat, Mick,
Rex, Lee,
Joy
Credited scriptwriter: Sarah
McDonald Hughes
Director: Kim
Greengrass
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Pat is getting ready for Henry's birthday tea and taking some ice-cream over to the house: vanilla to go with Madeira cake, rather than the chocolate Henry prefers, but in the end she takes some chocolate as well. Helen has given Henry some superhero convention tickets for her present to him, after he dropped several hints. Khalil is coming over to see him in the afternoon, and Lee is coming to see him too; he has a present for Henry so Helen told him they'd be at the farmhouse, but doesn't think he will want to hang around for long enough to share the chilli because 'he has a lot going on at the moment'. Tony will now go to check on the Anguses and Pat will see if Susan needs help in the dairy, but Helen just wants to ask before they go: they are all right, aren't they, after the other day? Her parents reassure her they are.
Henry, Khalil and Hero the goat have foregathered after school. Khalil wonders what his mum would say if he turned up with a goat (nothing positive, it seems); Henry displays quite a lot of general knowledge about animals, and offers to let Khalil come and see Hero whenever he likes. They also talk of dormice and dormouse boxes, and the rewilding project in general: Henry suggests Khalil might like to go there. Hero enlivens proceedings by escaping.
At The Bull, Mick encounters Rex and they talk together while Kenton is away changing a barrel. Mick is there for some ale with which to make a beef-and-ale stew, and Rex enquires if Joy's migraine is better; Mick seems to have forgotten that's why they were not at Rex's party. He covers this by telling Rex that he and his boat made a hit with Rochelle, and Rex says enthusiastically that she is great, before asking if she plans to stay long. When Mick says he isn't sure but he could ask, Rex says he doesn't want him to.
Rounding up Hero is proving difficult for Henry and Khalil, but Lee arrives in time to help and the truant is soon brought back to his fold. Henry introduces Lee and Khalil, but Khalil is summoned home and has to go: his mum is going to take him round the sales. After Khalil 's departure Lee tells Henry that his present is up at the house, and Henry tells him that Helen got him tickets to the Superhero Convention in the summer in Birmingham; he invites Lee to go with him, but come the summer Lee will be in San Francisco, which he hadn't planned to tell Henry on his birthday.
Having gone to the shop on his way home, Mick tells Joy that Rex fancies Rochelle, which makes her very thoughtful. Mick asks what's wrong, and she muses that it seems a bit quick: they hardly know each other. Mick thinks it's nice, and Rochelle could do a lot worse and so could Rex, but Joy is not sure Rochelle needs a relationship right now, and when Mick argues that she's been single a while, tells him that the thing with Rochelle is she presents herself as someone who's got herself together, but she hasn't really. She's actually a very long way from having herself together. Mick persists that she seems all right to him, and Joy says that yes, that's what she's trying to say, Rochelle seems all right but she isn't, not really. Mick asks whether she might not be being a bit over-protective. Rex and Rochelle are adults and if they want to go out for a drink that's up to them: what harm can it do? Patiently Joy tells him that she knows he means well but there are a lot of things that he doesn't know when it comes to Rochelle, and she can't tell them to him because it's complicated and difficult to explain and ... Anyway, she's at work. Mick apologises and says he only went out for some ale for the stew, and thought he'd drop by to see her; he'd never have mentioned anything about Rex if he'd thought it would be so controversial; Joy denies that it's controversial, and claims to be a bit busy; Mick retreats to the house to get cooking.
Lee is explaining himself: he wants to be near his daughters. Henry is very adult and understanding about it, though he sounds rather gloomy. Lee will really miss him and Jack, but they can keep in touch and maybe even visit. Henry asks if he is going to stay there for good, and Lee says that at the moment he doesn't know, but he will keep them posted. When Lee gets up to go inside, Henry tells him to go on and Henry will be there in a minute.
All Rex wants to do is buy some milk, but he stays to chat a little, saying that Mick told him Joy feels a lot better and that is good; in return she tells him they were sorry to miss his do, and she hopes he had a good time. He tells her it was fun, and that it was good to see Rochelle. As he starts to leave, wishing Joy a happy new year, she seems to pluck up her courage and although she doesn't know if she should say anything, informs him that Mick said Rex was thinking of asking Rochelle out and Joy really thinks it's better if he doesn't. Rex is dumbfounded: Mick said what? Joy is embarrassed, but sticks to her guns: Mick thought he might like her. Rex says that of course he likes Rochelle, but he hardly knows her; Joy clearly hopes she had the wrong end of the stick and he wasn't thinking of asking her out, but just in case he was, she thought it best to... she knows he's a lovely person and would only have good intentions, but the thing is, Rochelle is much more vulnerable than she seems. Rex must think she's an interfering old woman (which Rex instantly denies) and Joy knows she is interfering but it just really isn't a good idea for Rochelle to get involved with anyone at the moment, not even in a casual way. Rex lets this sink in, then tells her that if she doesn't think it's a good idea, that's good enough for him. It seems a little bit strange, but it's fine. Joy thanks him.
Henry is hard at work on something rather than at his birthday tea, but Helen though he seemed OK when she put her head round the door. Tony is cross that Lee chose Henry's birthday to divulge that he would be going away, but Helen explains he had to because of the convention. When Henry comes in, though, he knows at once what they have been talking about and tells them he is fine about it; sorry that Lee is going, because he likes him, but they can stay in touch. Pat and Helen are both touched by this, and it then turns out that Henry has been working on a project not for school but for Bridge Farm. He makes several basic marketing suggestions such as loyalty cards for the shop, films on social media [which George has already been doing. Chris], a kids' club with discounts on ice-cream ... The adults are blown away by his enthusiasm and the excellence of his suggestions.
Summarised by Chris Ghoti
Two can keep a secret if one of them is dead. Three definitely can't.
Characters: Hannah, Chris,
Kirsty, Rex, Khalil
Credited
scriptwriter: Sarah McDonald Hughes
Director:
Kim Greengrass
Editor: Jeremy Howe
At the playground Martha is on the climbing frame and Chris claims to be terrified by her fearlessness when Hannah comes over to say hello. She retails to him having been told Neil's fairy-story origins, and Chris confirms that it's 'a pretty amazing story'; they agree that Neil is a pretty amazing person. Chris has to leave in five minutes to take Martha to stay with Alice for the night, and has no plans for the evening himself. He is then struck by an idea: he and Hannah never went for the drink they planned to, so why not do that tonight? Maybe not The Bull, though: Felpersham? There's a new cocktail bar by the station. They arrange that Hannah will book a taxi and pick Chris up at quarter to six.
Just as Kirsty puts the phone down Rex comes in, then apologises for interrupting her. She has been talking with her friend Neo of 'Bring the Beavers Back', who has essentially told her they should go ahead with unauthorised beaver release, and is coming over to have a look at the site at six this evening. It was all very covert: they are to go down to the woods, find a quiet spot and then send her their location.
It seems that Chris can, and will, talk about Martha literally for hours, interspersed with memories of his own childhood and how Martha's doings remind him of it. Hannah is told the enthralling fact that he was born with a unilateral cleft palate and had to have an operation to correct it, which meant nothing to him at the time but made his parents worry about him and wrap him in cotton wool. He finally realises that he has talked at Hannah for ages and apologises for it, and she makes a joke of it and then claims it was interesting.
A male tawny owl is providing a properly spooky soundtrack for Kirsty and Rex's rendezvous with Neo [will it preen? Gus]; Kirsty has sent her their location and they are waiting for her to arrive. Rex finds it all a bit much, meeting under cover of darkness and sending her their coordinates instead of over a cup of tea in the office. [But where is the fun in conspiring to break the law without melodrama? Chris.] Kirsty thinks Neo is right to be careful, given the illegality, about which Rex knows, and he is not 'all right' with it really: the idea that they are breaking the law makes him extremely uncomfortable, though he does think they should find out more about it and see if it's an option. Kirsty reckons that if they want beavers at Rewilding Ambridge it might be their only option. [And since they were Rex's idea and he was the one who wanted them it seems churlish to drag his feet now. Chris.] As Kirsty says words to the effect 'infirm of purpose, gimme the daggers' they hear a noise, and at first think Neo has arrived; forgetting the need for secrecy, Kirsty shouts her name and tells her they are by the stream, but it is Khalil. And he has heard everything they have been saying, including the bit about illegality, because he has been crouched behind the logpile while they were talking. Rex disputes his description of them as 'some kind of eco-warriors' and Kirsty asserts that they are just trying to do what's right, so he wants to know why the top-secret mission in the woods at night. She tells him that they have to be discreet because what they are doing is controversial to some people, but it shouldn't be: all they want to do is to reintroduce beavers to the land. It turns out she is preaching to the choir: not only does Khalil know a fair bit about beavers, he is completely in favour of reintroducing them. The message 'Beavers Good' is hammered home again by Rex [who could bore for the Milky Way on the subject. Chris.] talking about biodiversity and the many species that would come in their wake. Khalil begs to be allowed to stay and hear what their contact has to tell them, and they reluctantly agree that he can so long as he leaves the talking to them.
The pair in the cocktail bar are no longer sober, but Chris is still liable to mention Martha and her doings at the drop of a feather; Hannah butters him up when he apologises for it by saying it's fine and she thinks Martha is great. Chris tells her a bit owlishly that is good, because he thinks she is great, and moves to kiss her, which she wasn't expecting. He wants to go back thirty seconds and forget it ever happened, and Hannah thinks maybe them having a drink was a bad idea, or not a bad idea because it's been nice but she doesn't know: she just doesn't feel like it's going to work. She really likes him but she feels like he's not really looking for a girlfriend, he's looking for a family. Maybe what he really wants is the family he had, Martha and Alice. [He didn't ever really have both the other two at once, did he. Chris.] Chris can't believe that she thinks he'd want to be with Alice,and she can't explain; maybe she's wrong, she mutters. But is he over Alice? He prevaricates about them having been together a long time so he'll always have some feelings towards her, and Hannah suggests that feelings are like memories: sometimes we push them down, but that doesn't mean they're not there. Maybe he needs to have a think about what it is he really wants; he says he doesn't really know. She then offers to get them some beers: it seems a shame to go home so soon. He thanks her, and she says it's fine.
After Neo has left them, Khalil is free to rhapsodise on the theme of beavers; his enthusiasm is exhausting, and loud; both Kirsty and Rex shush him; he is sorry but explains that he is so excited. Apparently Neo has said that enclosing beavers would be like caging elephants on the Serengeti, and this has captured Khalil's imagination. Neo has said she could hook them up with some beavers, no problem. [Opens one side of trenchcoat. "Gorra lovely set 'ere, owned by an old lady wot only took them out on weekends." Hedgers.] They are inclined to be cautious, Rex in particular, but conclude that they probably are going to do it. Talking to Neo made it seem like they have to do this, don't they? The benefits far outweigh the risks. Khalil is exuberantly, noisily delighted, and wants to know when they get their beavers. Kirsty doesn't know, and realises that they need to swear him to absolute secrecy: he can't breathe a word of this to anyone, not Henry, not his friends at school, not anyone. He says he has got it, and at once starts to plan that they need a secret sign to use round the village, for no reason whatever. Kirsty vetoes the idea and says that what they need is to remain extremely calm. Khalil claims that he is calm, and Rex soberly says that basically, it would be really great if he never mentioned this again. Forget it ever happened. Khalil can't do that: this is the most exciting moment of his life and he's never going to forget a single moment of it. Kirsty's 'great' in response to this is definitely not enthusiastic, but Khalil assures her that he won't tell: their secret is well safe with him. Rex laughs mirthlessly.
Summarised by Chris Ghoti
What did I say about three? Leonard doesn't want to move in, and Fallon is shut out.
Characters: Leonard, David,
Ruth, Tracy, Kenton, Jolene, Fallon,
Khalil
Credited scriptwriter:
Shaun McKenna
Director: Peter
Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe
As usual, Leonard is trying to be helpful and David is refusing his assistance. Jill is upstairs packing for a visit to Shula in Sunderland, and she and Ruth will want tea, he suggests. Leonard says it seems to him that it might be a good time for him to go home, and David says breezily that he can pick up anything Leonard wants when he goes to Farm Supplies shortly, but Leonard meant go home as in 'stop staying at Brookfield'. David's immediate reaction is to try to dissuade him, and when Ruth comes down she immediately comes in on David's side, but Leonard is determined. He takes the tea up to Jill, leaving Ruth and David agreeing that they will miss him; Ruth decides that it would be better if he moved in permanently. David seems less enthusiastic about this than she is, and says it has to be Mum's decision. And Leonard's, Ruth adds in a minatory way. She'll have a word while she's helping Jill pack.
Tracy arrives for work full of enthusiasm, and starts to encourage Kenton to organise special Events at The Bull in the slack month of January; between them they concoct the idea of Wayne cooking dishes from different countries, which they will call 'Wayne's World'. Jolene's arrival casts a damper on this: she tells them Wayne is off on a cruise on Thursday. He will be working in a band, replacing one of their members. It's the cruise of a lifetime, and Jolene asks rhetorically whether she could have said 'no'; Kenton's immediate reply is 'yes', and he is even more alarmed when she tells him it's for six weeks. Initially envious of Wayne, Tracy realises, when Jolene speaks of calling the agency and getting a cover, that this could be an opportunity for her: she volunteers to help out. Kenton is incredulous but then enthusiastic, and Tracy tells them she would love the chance to prove herself. Jolene says a rather brisk 'Thanks, Tracy', and Tracy asks if that's a yes; Jolene says good-humouredly that it may be a maybe, till they find someone. Tracy is a hundred percent sure she could do it, and while Jolene appeals to Kenton she adds that if it makes life easier, she could do the whole six weeks. Jolene argues that they'd have to cover her bar shifts, but Tracy points out that it's easier to find someone for that than a qualified chef at no notice. [They don't have one of those in Tracy either, do they. Sigh. Chris.] Kenton acknowledges the truth of this, and although Jolene says they will talk about it, his reply to that it that they could just say yes: why not? Is it OK with Jolene? Thus pressurised, Jolene supposes the answer is yes. Tracy is extremely pleased, and dances away saying this is going to be amazing. Kenton wishes that all their problems got sorted out so fast, and Jolene worries about whether they have done the right thing; as she speaks, Fallon comes in. She has brought them some surplus mini-fondants she has made, and is on her way to see her father, who has told her he has news he wants to tell her in person. She'll catch them later. The two realise that they may just have made a silly mistake; as Jolene now realises, they should have asked Fallon first.
Although David didn't expect her back yet, Ruth returns from delivering Jill to Felpersham, where Leonard made sure they were at the station an hour early. She has left him and Jill having coffee and says, as if of small children, that they are 'so sweet together'. She has spoken to Jill, who, to David's surprise, doesn't want Leonard to move in but thinks it's best if they carry on like before. Ruth thinks she is scared; David finds that hard to credit. She closes the conversation as Khalil comes into view, telling David that she has Wednesday's event to finalise. Left with instructions to talk to Khalil, David replies to the impertinent question 'why have you got a quad bike?' with surprising patience. Khalil asks if Jill is there. David tells him that he has missed her, and she has gone to Sunderland to see David's sister, so he asks if he can talk to David instead. He has an essay to write by Tuesday, about a landscape of his choice, but he would prefer to write about a farm from a predator's point of view. He was thinking about Jill's bees and the Asian hornets, but there must be other predators. David has to tell him there aren't really: there are plenty of animals that do damage, though. When Khalil says that'll do David tells him he can't stand around chatting because he is off to the winter housing; uninvited, Khalil says he will come too.
Regret is the order of the day for Jolene and Kenton, while Tracy is eagerly planning what she will be able to do for a menu; this is compounded when Fallon comes into the bar, having spoken with Wayne, and they have to break it to her that the job she now says she would be absolutely delighted to do for them has already been offered to Tracy – Kenton tries not to tell her, but Jolene is more straightforward. Fallon is disappointed but, after a short pause, assures them that Tracy will be great, her chips are legendary, and it's honestly not a problem: it was just an idea. And she has to run and will see them later. As she goes Jolene says she could kick herself. Or Kenton. Injured innocent Kenton asks 'what have I done?'
Once launched onto animals that can do damage on a farm David is in his element complaining about them: rats can do a lot of damage, and badgers can cause havoc, though David has badger-proofed Brookfield. Khalil asks if they aren't hibernating, and David tells him they don't hibernate, which leads Khalil to ask if beavers hibernate. With splendid inevitability, once beavers have been mentioned David makes it clear that he regards them as a menace, and in his determination to defend them Khalil says too much and gives away his personal interest, mentioning the name Neo. He then tries to leave, but David won't allow that: he is determined to know what Khalil is talking about and why.
Meanwhile Leonard has come back later than Ruth expected, not having been able to get a taxi, and is in a bit of a state. As Ruth is asking what has happened to upset him David bursts in full of righteous indignation about what he has learned from Khalil, but Ruth won't allow him to speak until she has found out that Leonard has had bad news in the post: one of his university friends has died and the funeral is on Wednesday. He doesn't want to talk about it or have any tea, and goes to sit in the other room for a bit. David forgets his grievance in concern about the death, though he feels that this 'Frank' must have been a fair age if they were at yew-knee together; Ruth feels that doesn't make it any easier. She asks what David was raging about when he came in, and he informs her that Khalil told him something unbelievable.
Summarised by Chris Ghoti
Brad is floundering, Tracy is magnanimous and David has his rant.
Characters: Brad, Tracy,
Lily, Justin, Kirsty, David
Credited
scriptwriter: Shaun McKenna
Director:
Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Brad is trying to work in the library but is interrupted, first by a phone call from his mother, whom he eventually manages to get rid of, and then by Lily, who takes it upon herself to lecture him about using a telephone in the library in front of a sign saying 'no telephones', and then stays for a bit of inconsequential chat and wants to buy him a coffee.
At the rewilding, Justin is talking enthusiastically to Kirsty about the dormouse boxes when David comes in demanding to know from Kirsty whether what he has heard is true. Since he doesn't get round for some time to saying what he has heard, his sound and fury somewhat baffles both Kirsty and Justin, even though he is 'speaking as a Borsetshire NFU member' who is objecting to 'this ludicrous plan' which he seems unable to give a name to. Kirsty thinks she might have some idea what he is talking about; Justin hasn't, and bluntly asks him 'what plan?' Apparently, according to David, they are talking about food security; one minute after bursting in, he tells Kirsty that he knows all about Neo, which leads Justin to say that he's glad David does but he is none the wiser. Exasperated by this indication of denseness, David snorts but condescends to explain to him that Kirsty and Rex have been plotting with some eco lowlife, with an improbable name, to release beavers: a wild release, Justin, he fulminates, an illegal wild release; he found out yesterday. Beavers would be bad enough in an enclosure; running free and uncontrolled they'd be a nightmare. Kirsty demands to know who told him, guesses that it was Khalil, and tries to defuse the argument that way, but fails; David tells her not to blame the boy, because he teased it out of him. As Kirsty tries to start making excuses and denying things Justin pushes her to one side verbally, telling her to leave it to him, and – from his position of complete ignorance of what David is talking about – sets out to shut David down. He tells him that it is no secret they are investigating the possibility of a carefully controlled, entirely legal release of beavers, in a high-grade, secure enclosure. David snorts as he flannels about a future consultation at a suitable forum. When he has finished David agrees that all sounds very reasonable, except that it's not what's happening. Is it, Kirsty? Justin is surprised: isn't it?
Lily manages to get out of Brad his uncertainty about the assessment that is coming up, and gives him plenty of good advice, from her knowledgeable position of having failed to stay a course at university once already. He doesn't think it is going well, and feels that he might have to give up the course; she feels that he ought to stop devoting time to George Grundy's business, and missing lectures to go and see George in prison, and concentrate on his studies. She has also noticed he hasn't been doing shifts at Grey Gables [which suggests she is still on her summer work-experience placement there. Chris] and he admits he needs the money but hasn't got the time. University maths is very different from A-level maths, and he has been taught things at college he's now being told to forget.
Kirsty admits there was a meeting, because they want to examine every possibility. David suggests with feeling that there is a difference between 'examining possibilities' and having after-dark trysts with militant activists in the middle of a wood in winter. He proposes to make this very public: she won't get away with it. Justin splutters and tries to shut him up, but fails, so he thanks David for bringing this to his attention and says he can leave it to him now; thank you, that's enough. David asks incredulously if he is telling him to shut up, and Justin says he wouldn't be so rude. Now if David wouldn't mind, he needs a few words with Kirsty. David says that he bets he does, but leaves anyway, slamming the door behind him. Justin announces that he just doesn't see how Kirsty and Rex could have been so stupid. Kirsty claims she can explain, but he doubts that very much, and stops her praise of beavers before Kirsty has said more than 'beavers are the most amazing – '. He doesn't want to hear about beavers, not now, not ever. This crazy plan is over, and he's going to think very hard indeed about the whole idea.
David has retreated to The Bull to drink coffee and calm down, and Jolene is comforting him and saying she's sure it will all get sorted. She then turns his mind to other things by asking how Leonard is and saying she was sorry to hear about his friend; David tells her he and Ben are driving Leonard to the funeral on Wednesday. In return he asks if she is all right, and she bluntly says no, she's a twit, which makes him laugh. So is Kenton. She explains the situation, and David sympathises and suggests talking to Tracy. When Jolene says she hasn't the heart, he thinks she could try to put her off by talking about the downsides, and Jolene thinks he is right and thanks him. Only they need to be sure first that Fallon will definitely do the job.
Once he starts to talk, Brad opens his heart to Lily; his social life is fine, with both friends and societies. It really is only the work that is bothering him, and he is finding that very hard for more than one reason. She persists in comparing his situation at Felpersham with hers in Manchester where her social life was messed up by living with Russ miles from the university, and Brad notes that she dropped out. He has been thinking about doing that.
Jolene concedes that Tracy makes great chips, and, as advised, does her best to put Tracy off the idea of doing the job full-time. Tracy initially argues her case, then realises what Jolene is up to, saying that she's not stupid and can tell Jolene wants Fallon to do it. She is aware she bulldozed her way in and didn't give Jolene a chance to think about it, and if she were in Jolene's shoes she'd sack Tracy without a second thought. Jolene protests that no-one is sacking her, and Tracy says she'll be quite happy with her normal bar shifts: the chef's job should go to Fallon. Jolene thanks her wholeheartedly.
In a concerned voice, Lily asks if Mia knows how Brad feels, and how Mia is doing. He has gathered that she is having the time of her life, loving the course and making loads of new friends. Lily asks if she has a boyfriend, and whether she would tell Brad if she had. He thinks she would, and anyway this has nothing to do with Mia: they decided to split up so they would both have permission to explore the opportunities being at uni brings to live their lives. It was the right thing and he's not pining. It's just that the bit of life he's living is harder than he thought, he says, slightly brokenly. Lily implores him not to drop out, or at least not yet. He says he doesn't know what to do. He loves maths, it's just – it's so hard! Lily wants him to give it another term at least, or half a term, it's stressful now because of the assessments, but in a couple of weeks... Brad tells her kindly that he knows she is trying to help, and she tells him there are other people who can help too: he should talk to his tutors, ask his new mates, 'there are whole departments of people put in place for this exact purpose' [sic. Is this Lily or a university handbook? Chris] so try talking to them before he does anything final. Brad remarks that he is no good at talking to people he doesn't know, so Lily asks about his family and is told that he can't talk to his mum: he's meant to be being brilliant all the time. She falls back on Jazzer, and Brad perks up and says he's been great but he never went to uni so he doesn't really get it, any more than Mum does, so, no, he's on his own. He'll either have to drop out or find a way through for himself. Lily anxiously asks if that is really the best way, and Brad says it is for him. He'll give it till week five. Lily concedes that it's his decision, and he says yeah, it is. He's going to be fine. He will. He'll be fine.
Summarised by Chris Ghoti
Scarlett, Brad and Harrison speak their truths; will Harrison's get him into trouble?
Characters: Harrison,
Inspector Norris, Tracy, Fallon,
Lily, Scarlett, Brad
Credited
scriptwriter: Shaun McKenna
Director:
Peter Leslie Wild
Editor: Jeremy Howe
Because they were the nearest car, Harrison and Inspector Norris respond to a call on their way back from the prison. Harrison offers to drop her off at the station first but she is quite keen to do a routine call-out in 'a miserable part of town' where they get a lot of domestics: it makes him glad he and Fallon live in Ambridge. She asks if everything is good with him and he hasn't found being back full-time too challenging; he makes a joke about it, then says the address is just round the next corner. Norris confirms – number 47, top flat, reports of a breach of the peace from downstairs neighbour. Harrison has been to that address before and thinks they have a child; Norris says there is no report of violence. As they pull up the Inspector sees the child on the wall, and sends Harrison to talk to her while Norris goes in to talk to the parents.
Fallon is at The Bull to run menu ideas past Jolene, and pauses to thank Tracy, but Tracy won't allow it: of course Fallon should stand in while her dad's away, and she'll be fantastic. Lily then wants to be served and Tracy goes to get her an orange juice. Lily would like something stronger but needs to revise, though she just needed a change of scenery. Since Tracy mentions Brad sitting in his room all day working, and then asks if he is doing all right at Grey Gables, Lily feels free to discuss Brad with her, though when Tracy asks if Brad has said something she gets a not-terribly-convincing 'no, no'. Tracy is sure he can't be having trouble with the work, because he is so clever, and Lily tactfully tells her that yew-knee can take some adjusting to, though, it's a different world, before going to grab a seat by the window to read in.
Left to himself, Harrison approaches the child, tells her his name and laboriously strikes up a conversation with her, hampered by the fact that she doesn't in the least want to talk to him and has a low opinion of 'pigs', which is what Reece, her mother's boyfriend, calls the police. He manages to establish that her name is Scarlett and that the wall is where she comes when Reece shouts, which he does a lot, and that Reece hates the old woman downstairs who reported him; that also happens a lot. Reece is not Scarlett's father, she has no aunts, uncles or grandparents, and she can recognise covert suggestions about talking to social workers with no problem whatever.
Because of Lily's broad hints, Tracy has gone to interrogate Brad in his room, and elicits the information that he is reading about Lagrange derivatives and it's really hard, in fact it's all hard. Tracy asks if everything is OK at uni, and in a despairing way he tells her that he can't do it. He's really struggling. Tracy is concerned: why hasn't he said before? He says he doesn't want to let everyone down, and Tracy assures him there is no way he could ever let her down [last time she said that, to her other child, Chelsea announced her pregnancy. Gus]: whatever he does and whatever he wants is good enough for her. If her boasting about him has put him under pressure, she's really sorry. Brad tells her dolefully that it has, it does, and she immediately says she'll stop; he laughs and tells her she won't be able to. She laughs too and says she'll do her best, anyway, which is all she can do. After this brief lightening of his mood Brad reverts to gloom and tells her he thinks he's going to quit.
It seems that Scarlett got gloves for Christmas, purple (or lilac); she wanted pink. The inspector comes back out and tells Scarlett she can go back in and her mum is waiting for her, but she doesn't want to until she is told that Reece has gone to stay with friends for a few days. After she has gone back in with a policewoman called Sandy, Harrison vents his anger at her mistreatment: she got meagre Christmas presents but Reece can afford to drink and smoke. He says the parents should be arrested, and when his boss very reasonably asks on what grounds, he starts criticising 'procedure' because he thinks Scarlett is at risk. He starts to have a rant about it, and flounces off [presumably with the car keys. Chris], leaving his inspector shouting after him that he is not to walk away from her.
Tracy has come back with some cheese on toast for Brad, and has something she has to tell him: if he wants to leave uni she'll support him. She just wants him to consider all the possibilities first. He says that he has, and she tells him she has thought of something: they could get him a tutor. He says they can't afford it, but she is determined they can. He is touched and grateful, and they are in harmony with each other until Lily rings him up and he realises that she has been talking to Tracy, and says disgustedly that she always sticks her nose in and doesn't want to talk to her, so Tracy seizes his phone and answers it, then hands it to him and instructs him to talk to Lily. Then, because he is clearly not going to talk with her there, she leaves him to his call. Lily has rung to tell him she's sent him a link with all the numbers for Felpersham yew-knee student support; she knows a couple of people who work there and they are lovely. He accuses her of talking to his mum. and she admits she dropped a hint but didn't give her any details. She worries that Brad is angry with her, he says that he isn't and she tells him that she meant it for the best. He knows, and he supposes that he doesn't really want to leave uni; he's just going to have to find a way to make it work, isn't he.
When Harrison gets home he immediately learns that Fallon has had a brilliant day, and she tells him she is 'so stoked' about The Bull, and has spent the day preparing and planning for taking over on Thursday. Harrison says gloomily that he's on a late, Thursday, and might not be there, but Fallon didn't expect him to be. She then realises he seems a bit deflated and asks if he is OK; he says of course, and, when she asks how his day was, tells her it was absolutely fine. She wants to be sure, because he seems a bit quiet, but he says that he's knackered, that's all, and his day was fine; nothing out of the ordinary.
Summarised by Chris Ghoti