David is the butt of village feeling.

Radio Times: David’s plan backfires, and Adam is left in the lurch.

Characters: Adam, Alice, David, Joe, Pip, Shula

• There’s a demo of the new drone, principally for Brian; Adam is less enthusiastic. How did Alice do it: get Brian to spend all that money? Alice genuinely believes her sales patter. For Adam the cattle are more of a worry. Pip arrives and would be more interested in the drone if it milked cows.
• Joe calls at The Stables with questions for Anisha, the equine expert. David seeks Alistair for views about the IBR spread. Shula is shocked when she hears that Tom said he was not half the farmer dad was; Dad would have said buck up and get on with it – that’s farming. She reports that Alistair and Anisha have won the stud farm contract.
• Adam has had enough fun watching drones and he heads to the herbal leys with Pip, who surprises him by declaring that she will not be buying any cattle and she doesn’t even want to manage the project. Who else can he get to do the job? She disappears without offering a suggestion.
• Meeting Shula, Pip reports that David is going to The Bull at lunchtime, braving the feeling in the village. Shula decides to join him to show solidarity.
• It doesn’t go well. Joe and Adam both round on David, both having turned down the offer of a pint. Shula’s support is welcome but futile. Joe in particular brings up all sorts of historical alleged Archer misdeeds. As well as the IBR, Pip has let Adam down; that of course is news to David. Finally David storms out of the pub threatening an action for slander if such accusations as Joe’s continue.