David chairs a difficult meeting and Nic has to face a difficult customer

Radio Times: Kenton puts his foot in it

Characters: Alice, Brian, David, Emma, Kenton, Kirsty, Nic

• On the day of the big meeting to discuss the contamination, Nic and Emma ponder what will happen. Nic is working at The Bull so won’t be there, but Emma, who informs Nic that the whole meeting is entirely down to her, seems to think she will be chairing the meeting as Neil is still not well. Nic remarks acidly that Emma clearly has a lot to say on the subject.
• A meeting with his solicitor has done little to raise Brian’s spirits, as he tells Alice, and now he must face the hostility of Ambridge.
• Emma’s nose is put well and truly out of joint when David informs her that Neil has asked him to chair the meeting. She goes to sit with Kirsty, and the pair get down to some spiteful criticism. David opens the meeting, and Brian soon launches into his spiel. As a grand gesture he intends funding some sort of village event; the offer does not go down well. Kirsty begins heckling, Emma continues her sotto voce carping and the meeting soon descends into a shouting match. When Philip Moss tries to defend Brian, he is accused of being hand in glove with him and Justin. Philip sees fit to warn Kirsty and Emma to be careful what they say. Kenton’s focus is on Brian’s offer; just what sort of event does he have in mind?
• As the rowdy meeting draws to a close, Alice seeks solace in alcohol at The Bull. Nic congratulates David on becoming a grandfather, and Kenton joins in, trying to make David see Toby in a better light. Then he reveals that Elizabeth knew about the baby before David and Ruth; an angry David storms out, leaving his beer untouched.
• Nic grows increasingly concerned at Alice’s drinking, but receives only abuse in return. When Alice asks for rum, Nic gives her just the mixer. Alice is too drunk to notice, but Kenton does, and tells Nic she must not interfere in people’s private lives. Nic apologises fulsomely, trying to explain her concern, but Kenton remains adamant that she has done wrong.