Alice is unhappy with her lot while Chris is more than happy with his. Will enjoys his birthday while Ed finds it a strain.

Radio Times: Clarrie plays peacemaker, and Alice is feeling peeved.

Characters: Alice, Christopher, Clarrie, Ed, Eddie, Nic, William

• Will’s birthday begins with croissants and real coffee, plus presents from George and Nic. George is keen to get to The Bull, but Nic is anxious about it and asks Will to go easy on Ed and Emma when they meet.
• Alice is in a bad mood because the move she wanted at work has not come about. She refuses to go and watch Chris play football, but agrees that lunch out would be nice; maybe at the new Thai restaurant everyone at work is talking about? Chris thinks The Bull would be more to his taste.
• Still in a mood, Alice moans to Nic about the boredom of her job and its lack of opportunities, while Chris, with what threatens to be dramatic irony, tells Will how wonderful it is to live in the village where all your social life takes place, to work nearby and to be so happily married.
• At the birthday lunch Clarrie admires Will’s smart appearance, but when Ed arrives there is a noticeable frost in the air. Ed hands over the present from Caroline and the one from him and Emma, but Will puts them down unopened. Eddie makes great efforts to enliven the conversation, but all Will can do is sneer at his brother. As a last attempt at brokering peace, Ed asks his brother if he would like to have George for longer than usual, and at least gets a thank you, followed by a somewhat muted appreciation of the present Emma chose. The brothers manage to shake hands.
• As they weave their way home, Eddie tells Clarrie she should work for the United Nations. Clarrie just wishes they could relax when the family is all together. Will her sons ever get on?