Darrell lets Shula – and himself – down again.

Radio Times: The newlyweds return. Meanwhile, Shula is in despair.

Characters: Darrell, David, Jill, Kenton, Meriel, Ruth, Shula

• There is an Archer three-line whip today for a family lunch at The Bull to welcome home the newly-weds. David would rather get on with farm work but he does at least admit that it has been nice having Meriel here; she and Mel will be going home at the weekend. Mel has mentioned Jill’s driving to David; Jim had said something similar to Ruth. It would be a sad blow if Jill had to give up driving.
• Back from the Lakes, Kenton is keen to spend as much time with Meriel as possible; there isn’t much left. He notices that the crush she has on Jamie has not abated. Kenton is hoping that all his siblings are going to turn up today; Jill has not heard from Shula and that is not a good sign.
• Darrell has run out of money again, so touches Shula for a loan; he wants to go on the bus to Borchester to see Anna.
• Jill fails to notice that Elizabeth has arrived, which leads David and Ruth to raise the topic of eye tests. Jill admits hers is overdue but her optician has retired and she has not taken to his son, who has taken over.
• Shula thinks Kenton looks contented; he wishes he could say the same about her. He gets her to open up and admit that Darrell is a worry to her. She sees herself as his last chance; if he thinks no-one has any faith in him, he will go from bad to worse. Kenton accompanies Shula home to find Darrell in a drunken stupor; he couldn’t face Anna without a drink, so he didn’t go to Borchester at all. Shula admits that Alistair’s patience is wearing thin, so she doesn’t want to tell him. Kenton insists that she must tell him.