An HSE visit to Bridge Farm causes Tony some angst; the news about Rob’s paternity test is out.

Radio Times: Shula has a donkey at the ready. Meanwhile, Tony’s getting tetchy.

Characters: Alan, Helen, Jill, Pat, Shula, Tom, Tony

• Against a backdrop of church bells, Jill and Shula discuss the more technical aspects of the upcoming performance of Messiah at St Stephen’s. Shula is bringing a rather noisy donkey Benjamin to the Palm Sunday service. She mentions that she is planning to go to Daniel’s passing out parade. Alan meets them and promises to announce the meeting on Thursday at church about a local flood plan.
• Tony is in the yard at Bridge Farm, passing comment about its untidy state. It’s a mess and should present a more welcoming aspect to visitors to the temporary village shop. Pat agrees with him, just as Helen turns up having abandoned her car carelessly in the yard. Tom will attend to the tidying with Johnny.
• Alan’s sermon mentions how the community has come together and worked selflessly in the face of recent adversity. He reminds the congregation of the upcoming village supper at Brookfield, to which everyone is invited.
• Pat and Helen are preparing a meal at Bridge Farm when Helen announces that Rob has decided to take a paternity test after all. It will be such a weight off her mind. Pat can’t see why he has delayed his decision; Helen says that he didn’t want to dance to Jess’s tune. The test will probably happen after Easter.
• After the service, Alan asks Jill to do a reading at the Vigil on Good Friday. She agrees. Shula begins to have pre-performance jitters about her forthcoming rendition of Messiah on Monday. Benjamin however has been a star.
• Tony is heard outside, fretting about the state of the yard. Pat blames an imminent visit by a Mr Wallace, an HSE inspector, pursuing inquiries into Tony’s accident. Helen mentions the possibility of a potential prosecution. Surely not! Tony turns up in a state of exhaustion. Tom suggests using the village shop as an outlet for Bridge Farm produce. Tony is enthusiastic too, though Pat is concerned that it may seem like a shop takeover attempt. Just what would Susan say? Indeed!