Christopher’s condition worsens, but Elizabeth has some good news.

Radio Times: Susan is thrown into a panic, and Elizabeth handles some hostile questions.

Characters: Elizabeth, Neil, Shula, Susan

• Elizabeth rings Shula to ask for news of Neil. She is concerned about Freddie, who witnessed the accident but is not talking about it. Shula suggests that they meet up to talk things over later. Meanwhile Elizabeth has a meeting with her trustees and Shula has to go and see Reg.
• Susan sleeps in after a restless night, and finds Neil speaking to Alice on the phone. Susan wants Neil to come with her to the hospital, but he wants to sort out Christopher’s business now that he has the password for his laptop. Ronnie has agreed to help out, so all Neil has to do is contact customers and suppliers.
• Elizabeth makes her presentation to the trustees, and stands up well to some difficult questioning, especially from the female member of the board, who is concerned that her plans to expand might jeopardise Freddie’s inheritance. Eventually they accept her case and agree to selling the land in order to fund the conversion work.
• Shula tells a relieved Susan that Jill will look after the shop, and has found temporary post master, who is both pleasant and efficient, but when Susan reaches the hospital, she finds that Christopher is much worse. He is short of oxygen and there is a danger of organ failure. She rings Neil and begs him to come.
• Shula and Elizabeth laugh over some old photographs of Mark, and enjoy some stories of his past. They are both concerned that Alice may have to go through what they both did when Mark and Nigel died. Elizabeth is very worried about Freddie’s internalising of his feelings, but Shula reminds her that Jill said the same thing about Elizabeth when Nigel died. She must just give him time.
• Neil arrives at the hospital but when he sees Christopher he, too, almost breaks down. Things are very serious indeed.