The Archers

Writer: Tim Stimpson
Director: Sally Avens
Editor: Jeremy Howe
David Archer … Timothy Bentinck
Harrison Burns … James Cartwright
Neil Carter … Brian Hewlett
Vince Casey … Tony Turner
Alan Franks … John Telfer
Usha Franks … Souad Faress
Martyn Gibson … Jon Glover
Eddie Grundy … Trevor Harrison
Chelsea Horrobin … Madeleine Leslay
Jazzer McCreary … Ryan Kelly
Kirsty Miller … Annabelle Dowler
Elizabeth Pargetter … Alison Dowling
Freddie Pargetter … Toby Laurence
Lily Pargetter … Katie Redford
Fallon Rogers … Joanna Van Kampen
Lynda Snell … Carole Boyd
Donal Gough … Sean Connolly

Early at Lower Loxley, Elizabeth bumps into Freddie who is leaving for work. She makes a comment about Vince’s experienced staff which bristles Freddie. At the Abattoir, Donal is looking for a solution to their excess meat from Freddie who has only left messages with a local procurement manager. Later, Freddie calls Vince with the good news, his idea has worked and Freddie has got a new contract to start in a couple weeks. Donal rushes into the office, when Freddie says he’s fixed it. Donal reveals the truth: Vince sent someone else to negotiate instead of Freddie.
At Brookfield, Josh is helping David clean the Hereford’s troughs. David asks how Esme is doing, the last couple years have been tough for farmers and Esme is new to it. Josh changes the conversation to Ruth’s BRCA test, she’s still asking if he’s okay with it when he’s not. David says he doesn’t have opinion on it, his job is to be supportive. When Elizabeth arrives, Josh shows off his photos from Patagonia. He misses it but it’s a remote place. They move briefly onto Vince updates. Elizabeth asks David if he wants her to drive Mum back from Shula’s in Sunderland. When Vince sends a message.
Later at the hospital, Vince is singing Freddie’s praises to Elizabeth. He’s sorry for how he acted but he can’t stand Elizabeth seeing him like that. Elizabeth only needed someone in her corner but now Vince can’t do that. From here on out though, he is going to be the best man he can for her.

Alan spots Eddie in the community orchard, it’s looking better after the village’s help. Eddie confesses he can’t see the orchard getting back up to what it was. Alan tries to comfort him. Lynda spots them and says it’s good to see them hard at work. Alan is impressed with Eddie literally bolting a branch back together. Lynda laments the poetry readings Alan organised falling through. Alan leaves to take a call from the Archdeacon. Eddie says he can’t blame Alan for wanting to keep his head down. When Eddie tells Lynda about his plan to plant a tree for baby Storm, she thinks it’s a beautiful idea. They recall the old legend linked to the Tumble Tussock, Joe Grundy’s favourite.
Freddie is delivering the news that Midwoods Foods has gone under, when Vince starts instructing Freddie on what he needs to do to stop the abattoir suffering. He complains that he’s being tortured by the physio. Freddie says maybe a visit from Elizabeth would help, before Vince tell him no. Lily arrives to surprise Vince with a grilling. She wants to know why he won’t let Elizabeth visit. Vince says his daughters visit when they can. Lily says she’s taken over Lower Loxley to give Elizabeth time to focus on just Vince. Freddie ushers Lily out. As they wait for the lift, Lily says it would be devasting if Elizabeth and Vince couldn’t make it work after all this time. Lily says her piece to Vince: is he going to hide away from his biggest challenge?

At The Stables, Harrison is trying to find a clean bowl and questions if it annoys Lily that neither of her flatmates can use a dishwasher. Lily says Grey Gables are asking when she’ll be back, but she’s still needed at Lower Loxley. Harrison says the milk is off and invites Lily over to his. Lily is not comfortable, even with Fallon out working. Josh emerges half-dressed from the lounge to their surprise. Harrison offers Josh a lift to Brookfield on the way to drop Lily’s phone at Lower Loxley. When Chelsea spots them, Josh says he’ll walk instead. He offers to be an ear for Chelsea until he returns to Patagonia. Josh is praising Chelsea’s horsebox and compares his own business. Chelsea can’t help but scoff when he complains about only inheriting 30 acres and Glebe Cottage. She points out he’s had a headstart.
In the Lower Loxley office, Elizabeth is telling Fallon of the issues the abattoir is facing before asking about Deck the Halls. Lily arrives shocked to see Elizabeth working. She says her and Fallon can manage so Elizabeth can go visit Vince. When Harrison gives Lily her phone, she tentatively asks if he’s seen Fallon. Harrison says this treading on eggshells makes him feel like they’re having an affair. Elizabeth walks in as they kiss goodbye. Lily realises Harrison has dropped off the wrong phone, but when she goes to give it him, she finds Harrison awkwardly asking Fallon if Lily can come over to the cottage tonight. At the cottage, Lily apologises to Fallon about this.

Lynda is pitching all the changes her dog field would require to Martyn Gibson. As much as he loves the idea, it’s a business venture and BL will require a share of the profits, and a monthly rent. Lynda is taken back as this wasn’t the plan.
Freddie tries to revive his school meals idea from before the attack last year to a very busy Donal. Donal says until Vince says that he wants to do it, he’s not doing it. They both receive a message saying Midwoods Foods has gone bust. Donal starts to plan for the fallout of this problem as they’re going to be left with a few hundred thousand pounds’ worth of pork meat on their hands. He tells Freddie to contact suppliers. Later, Donal catches Freddie and suggests a couple of options but says they need Vince’s knowledge.
At Berrow Farm, Neil and Jazzer are on a tea break when Jazzer quizzes Neil about chaperoning Alan. Neil says it was meant to be secret. Jazzer apologizes for letting slip that Martyn is thinking of downsizing the team. Neil says it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Martyn interrupts Neil and Jazzer’s conversation to tell them about the Midwoods news, but then questions why they were talking about redundancies. Neil takes the blame and says he suspected changes were coming. When Freddie calls asking to delay the next batch of pigs, Neil and Jazzer point out that it would only work for a couple days. Lynda calls to talk more about the dog field, but a busy Martyn promises to get back to her.