Darrell asks Matt for work and says his boss at Fawcett Magna will give him a reference. Paul. The penny drops.

Radio Times: Alistair disappoints Darrell, while Pat and Tony have things to mull over.

Characters: Alistair, Darrell, Lilian, Matt, Pat, Paul, Tony

• Lilian finally gets to speak to Paul. He says he hasn’t been feeling able to talk to her. He hasn’t heard anything from Celia or the children. Lilian says how dreadful it is that Celia is dragging the children and the grandchildren into it. He’s just doing bits this week and is working from home on Friday…. Lilian says she will ring him every evening to check he is okay.
• Darrell is still looking for work. Alistair is surprised that he is staying in Ambridge. Darrell says he’s looking for something smaller so he has more for the girls. It depends where they all end up living. Alistair, ever tactful, suggests he joins up for the single wicket. Then he comes up with the idea of working for Amside. Darrell still doesn’t sound keen.
• Tony is still talking about getting rid of the cows and Pat gets really cross that he is tempting fate. She’s fed up with Helen being miserable that Jonathan hasn’t called and Susan and Clarrie keep pestering her. And then Alistair turns up…
• Matt overhears Lilian making changes to her plans to leave her free on Friday. He is obviously suspicious. Lilian asks what’s wrong and he says he’s tense about the golf.
• Alistair tells them that Animal Health says they can go on with the sale. But it is their risk. If the reactor does turn out to be positive it would be a nightmare. Tony still wants to push ahead. Pat is less sure. Alistair points out that the cow will have to be kept quarantined. Pat is persuaded that going ahead with the sale is better than sending a healthy cow to slaughter. So Tony is on the phone to Rodway’s straight away.
• Darrell does turn up to ask Matt for work at Gilbert’s Cross. Matt is pretty sniffy but he says his boss at Fawcett Magna would give him a reference – and Lilian saw the work and she knows they all know each other from way back. Matt finally works it out. Paul. Of course.