Helen makes a gruesome discovery after Kaz has received bad news. Pip and Toby reunite in a more permanent arrangement.

Radio Times: Helen hopes she can help, and there is a new offer on the table for Pip.

Characters: Brian, Elizabeth, Helen, Jennifer, Kaz, Pip, Toby

• Kaz is distraught as her previous partner has smooth-talked Kaz’s grandmother into handing over their daughter to him. Helen feels there must be something Kaz can do, such as alerting the authorities, but knowing him as Kaz does, this will be futile as he presents very differently to them and knows how to get what he wants. For Helen, hearing about this pattern of behaviour is horribly familiar. Helen notices that Kaz has withdrawn into herself, paying no attention to her baby. Helen steps in to help with him, as Kaz seems to be losing hope and Helen later makes a terrible discovery when she goes to visit Kaz in her cell.
• Toby receives a call from Rex who he perceives is ‘checking up’ on his care of the birds. He receives a surprise visit from Pip who wants to clear the air and is troubled by the bad feeling that has arisen between them. Neither expected exclusivity and Pip would like to return to their previous arrangements. Toby, however, has a different offer and would very much like an exclusive arrangement with Pip. It is an offer she accepts, although Toby fully expects her to finish with him soon.
• It’s the evening of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly opera at Lower Loxley. Brian is not at all certain that opera is for him but Jennifer encourages him to enjoy a ‘cultural evening’. They congratulate Elizabeth on hosting the evening set in beautiful surroundings, then commiserate with her over Freddie’s GCSE results. Brian issues a friendly word of warning from one parent to another: it does not get easier once youth is behind one’s offspring. Kate is testament to this! They also discuss Alice’s prang last night. Brian observes how close Justin and Lilian appear and comments that if he didn’t know Justin had more sense, he would suspect something between them. Jennifer brushes this off as ridiculous.