Helen speaks out but ends up on the receiving end of Rob’s violence.

Radio Times: Temperatures are raised behind closed curtains. Meanwhile, the curtains at the village hall are proudly hung.

Characters: Clarrie, Eddie, Helen, Lynda, Neil, Rob, Susan

• Lynda feels that it will be only fitting for Rob to be part of the village commemorations in June, given his outstanding heroism during the flood. She also tries to interest him in tickets to see the play, ‘England’s Pleasant Land’. Rob may take Henry and his mother but decides that Helen won’t be up to a public engagement, and won’t want to endure sitting on a cold hard chair.
• When Helen suggests that Ursula may have returned home by Lynda’s performance, Rob takes offence that Helen appears ungrateful for his mother’s help. She takes the bull by the horns, tells Rob that it is time for Ursula to leave and that he must tell her. Helen feels stifled in her own home and links Henry’s bedwetting to him being unsettled over changes in the home environment. Far from hearing her anguish, Rob reels off her string of ‘accidents’ and inadequacies. The relationship reaches a new low as Rob questions her fitness to parent Henry. Helen sees red and goes to hit Rob, but he slaps her, apologises, but blames her for his actions as she should not have attempted to hit him. He wanted a wife and a mother but has ended up with ‘a wreck’. He’s certain the problem is not him and wants Helen to seek psychiatric help. She agrees that the problem is her, not him, but hadn’t realised she was so bad.
• Neil, Eddie, Lynda, Susan and Clarrie are hanging the new curtains in the village hall. Lynda takes the opportunity to give Eddie further instructions for her garden. Eddie is not so sure: they seem to be deviating so far off plan.
• There is a clash of ideas over how to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. Susan suggests a picnic on the Green whereas Lynda feels her open garden is too similar an idea. Susan is supported by Eddie, who doesn’t see why both ideas can’t play an equal part. Will Lynda be outvoted on this occasion?