Charlie is reaching breaking point; the Fairbrother’s ill thought out plans for share farming gather pace.

Radio Times: Toby may have the gift of the gab when a certain cat is out of a certain bag.

Characters: Adam, Charlie, Fallon, Helen, Rex, Toby

• At Home Farm, Adam phones Helen with regard to helping the dairy unit with emergency silage supplies. She agrees to help out, subject to Tom’s approval. He ends by congratulating her on her good news and hangs up. The Fairbrothers arrive for their meeting but Adam has other fish to fry and he tries to put them off to a later date. Toby pleads for just five minutes.
• At Woodbine Cottage, Helen finds Fallon in the middle of moving in. It’s going very well. Fallon offers her congratulations about the baby and suggests that Helen should return in half an hour for a cup of tea and a good old chin wag. She can be their first visitor. Slightly nonplussed, Helen agrees.
• Toby shares with Adam their plans for 150 head of beef cattle grazing his herbal lay. Perhaps Adam would like to share some of the financial risk, and reward. Adam isn’t nearly convinced that they have the necessary experience but Toby spins a line about Rex’s experience on an Argentine farm and with his uncle’s beef herd. Adam makes no promises. He’ll think on it but wants to see their CV’s. Toby is over the moon; Rex is considerably less so.
• Adam finds Charlie standing in the pouring rain at the dairy unit, looking at a dead cow. It’s one of 18 that have died since yesterday; over 60 have died in total. There are no test results back yet. He gives Charlie the good news about the offer of silage from local farms. He’s choked at their kindness. He suddenly starts to shake and seems to be on the point of collapse. Adam helps him inside.
• Helen admires the new kitchen at Woodbine. Fallon invites her to a housewarming party on Friday. Helen wonders how she knew of her pregnancy. It seems to be common knowledge. Fallon offers to quieten speculation, but there seems to be no point now. She shares her plans for the kitchen at the new shop, but is told that Rob is project managing it now. She could speak to him, if she wished.
• Charlie admits he’s in a terrible state, having not eaten properly for ages. He confides that he feels that he won’t survive the crisis; Justin’s breathing down his neck and he feels utterly on his own. He feels he’s blamed for losing Rob, but he had to let him go. Adam wonders what he means, but lets it pass. Charlie admits to wanting to see Adam so much. He’s just so grateful to have a friend.