David and Josh are on the point of falling out big time; Adam and Ian have fallen out big time; Rob may be thrown out, anytime.

Radio Times: Ian has had enough, and Usha calls on Alan’s support.

Characters: Adam, Alan, David, Ian, Josh, Ruth, Usha

• David is having a good old moan about the birthday greeting he received from Toby. He said that David was aging well like an old wine or cheese. Ruth tries to speak up for Toby but to no avail. Josh turns up having got in late from a Young Farmers do the night before. David can think of nothing more than to pick a fight with him about plans for his gap year. Josh is having none of it and makes a sharp exit.
• Ian is not taking the idea of them seeing a counsellor in the spirit in which it was made. He leaves Adam in no doubt that he fully understands that he has been deceived twice by his partner’s behaviour with other men. He can see exactly what the situation is. Nothing that Adam can say will be able to turn back the clock. He storms out leaving Adam with the clear impression that any thought of counselling is a complete non-starter.
• Alan and Usha discuss the forthcoming evening. Usha makes it clear that she has real concerns about the future of Blossom Hill Cottage, now that the trial is over. She’s not sure that she wants Rob to continue living there. Alan wonders about the grounds for eviction but she assures him that she doesn’t need any, just wanting her house back is sufficient. She doesn’t even care if it stands empty for a while. It’s a real moral dilemma. She hands the problem over to Alan for his “professional” opinion.
• It’s supper at Brookfield and David continues to interrogate Josh about his plans while Ruth attempts to pour oil on very troubled waters. Josh is clear that he won’t freeload off Brookfield. He’ll try to run a business from there, much in the style of Toby and Rex. David’s not impressed. Josh has an idea to go into growing mushrooms. David goes into full bluster mode, leaving Josh with few options. He exits to go to a “meeting” leaving his father’s blood pressure to continue on its steep upward trajectory.
• At the end of Usha’s therapeutic gardening session, the conversation with Alan still centres on the morality of evicting Rob. Alan mentions Bruce as possible mitigating circumstances but Usha sees no evidence of his claimed behaviour. As far as she is concerned, Rob has wronged her. He’s abused her trust and that of the whole village. Alan suggests that the precept of loving one’s neighbour may extend to Usha’s attempt to remove Rob from the village while trying to heal the community. Usha insists that whatever happens, she has to be able to sleep at night.
• Ian returns home late, to find that Adam has waited up, with his cases packed. Adam has been trying to contact Ian all day, but his messages haven’t been returned. Ian sees it as an ultimatum. Adam asks the question “do you want me to stay?” He pleads for Ian to say yes but he can see no point, and as Adam has his bags packed, he feels that he should be the one to leave. He even holds the door open for him. Adam pleads with him, saying that he loves him. Ian’s response is unambiguous…”just go!”