Jill may have lost a battle but there’s still a war to be won; Anisha and Rex seem to be getting along famously; How long will Brian’s “relationship” with Ruth last?

Radio Times: Ruth makes her position known. Rex gets an invitation

Characters: Adam, Alice, Anisha, Brian, Fallon, Jill, Rex, Ruth

• While out for a ride, Alice finally gets Anisha to admit that she rather likes Rex. However, she feels that she may have lost out in the battle for his attentions, to the girl at his party. Rex was supposed to be going out for a run later with Anisha, but she’s had no confirmation. Alice’s questions get a little too close for comfort, and Anisha decides to ride on ahead.
• It’s Ruth to the rescue. Jill’s car has broken down and she gives her a lift to the village. Ruth’s going to meet Brian. Jill takes the opportunity to ask her to remind him to cancel his restaurant booking. As Ruth drives off, Jill meets Fallon. They discuss her proposed move from Woodbine. Jill suggests that the couple should make an offer but the price that Christine has mentioned is just too much. Any attempt to climb the housing ladder will have to be made away from Ambridge. Jill asks Fallon for a short pre-meeting chat.
• At Home Farm, Ruth meets Brian and Adam in the yard. Adam goes in and Brian has his own pre-meeting chat about Adam’s report concerning a new forage harvester. He feels that it may be a step too far. Ruth makes it clear that she has things to say, but only in the meeting room. Meanwhile, after their run, Anisha grills Rex about his new girlfriend. Did he take her home or swap numbers or even, did he sleep with her? He replies ‘yes’, ‘no’ and ‘certainly not’ and is about to make his way home when she invites him in for a shower or perhaps a coffee. It doesn’t take too long for him to make his decision.
• At The Tea Rooms, Jill compliments Fallon on her vintage style, a throwback to simpler times, less food waste and so forth. Fallon moves the conversation on to the Cricket Club’s proposed human fruit machine stall at the fayre. As more arrive Jill asks if she can say a few prepared words at the meeting. Fallon agrees. At Home Farm, Adam has lost his argument for new machinery and leaves for home. Brian quietly thanks Ruth for her support. She’s having none of it. She’d simply voted in Ruairi’s best interests. Point made, she heads for the kitchen, leaving Alice smiling about Brian’s nose being put out of joint.
• Rex wonders why Anisha has a wall clock in her bedroom. It was her gran’s apparently. She asks if Rex had any regrets and hopes that it wasn’t the end of a beautiful friendship. Deftly, Rex says that they shouldn’t look too far ahead. Perhaps tonight was the start of a beautiful relationship. He makes to leave but Anisha suggests that he should stay for a bite to eat. Or perhaps, stay for the night.
• Ruth finds Jill sitting alone at Brookfield. She lost her argument at the Fete Committee meeting though Fallon has agreed to donate their takings to the Happy Friends café. Jill senses that Ruth got nowhere with the Aldridges about their reservation. Oh well. She begins to head upstairs as Ruth makes for the cake tin. She discovers that it’s quite empty. Jill announces rather haughtily that she has other things on her mind now. Keeping the Brookfield larder stocked seems to have been bumped down her list.