Debate commences on the future of the village hall. Rob has found an alternative to adoption, but Helen doesn’t quite seem herself.

Radio Times: Eddie stirs up some community spirit, and Rob hits a setback.

Characters: Eddie, Helen, Henry, Jim, Neil, Rob, Shula

• Shula has received news and photographs from Caroline and Oliver in Italy and judges her own life unglamorous by comparison. Neil tells her that Roy had expected to hear from them by now but as Shula points out, Caroline trusts both Roy and Cathy and is more than happy to walk away and leave them to it. It’s widely circulating that Kirsty Miller has applied for the health club manager job.
• It’s Thursday night date night in the park and Rob’s clear that Helen must not mollycoddle Henry, as Rob pushes him onto higher monkey bars. Henry’s athletic and Rob muses over his joining the cricket team in time. The village team takes on Darrington again this weekend, and Alistair will have to miss it due to injury, but Adam will step in. Over the meal, they discuss the complexities of adoption and the length of time it is likely to take. As an alternative, Rob has discovered a step-parent parental responsibility order which covers almost the same legalities as adoption but does not involve seeing a judge in court – or the extensive checks. As the food arrives, Helen rushes off, feeling unwell.
• It’s the meeting about the future of the village hall. Neil lays out the options – demolition versus repair and refurbishment. Eddie reminisces about many a happy evening spent in the hall and there is much agreement. However, there are plenty who would also support a state of the art new build. Jim and Shula query Justin Elliott’s motives with his generous financial offer and don’t want to be seduced into accepting dirty money as a bribe for any part his dealings may have played in the flood. Eddie presents a third solution in the form of a volunteer working party and is determined to rally support.