21 August 1997

Characters: Chris, Clive, David, George, Ruth, Shula, Tommy

• David’s exhaustion deepens and, while he’s adamant that Ruth should do nothing, they frustration does boil over into raised voices. She wants to help and he refuses.
• Chris, George, Jack and Peggy have been roped, by Lynda, into helping with the front of house. (Will there be anyone left in the village to pay to watch this play?)
• Chris tells of her concern for Phil to Shula, who immediately runs to offer to help with the milking, Ruth’s not keen, but David leaps at the opportunity. Ruth eventually accedes, so long as she supervises.
• Chris offers to lend Sean some props, only he sends his new assistant, young Mr Horobin, who is apprehended by George leaping to various conclusions. Eventually Chris puts him straight, but George is still loath to even consider that this leopard could change his spots.
• Tommy’s exam results don’t sound as though they are what they could have been and he and some friends are celebrating in the village hall. Drunken sixteen year olds break the piece, George wades in as Tommy is ill into the duck pond, various voices are raised and windows smashed.

Summarised by: Chris Harrison