Joe is plotting something … but what? Josh receives strong words from his father and Neil.

Radio Times: Neil reaches a decision, and there is big change ahead at Grange Farm.

Characters: David, Eddie, Joe, Josh, Neil, Susan

• At the farm shop, Susan tells Joe her views about the current management especially as Rob’s retail expertise is missing. She’s sure that tabards for the staff should be the order of the day. Tom will hear none of it! Neil turns up and is quizzed by Joe about the forthcoming PCC meeting on Friday. Hearing that there’s a paper being presented about the elves in Millennium Wood, Joe scuttles off on urgent business. Hayley and Neil have decided to quit their egg production but haven’t yet told Josh. Susan suggests that Neil should speak to David before going further. He agrees.
• Grange Farm finds Joe and Eddie discussing the surveyor’s findings. Amongst a wealth of other things, the sycamore in the garden is apparently too close to the house and must be felled. Joe can’t believe his ears. It’s vandalism! Surely there must be other matters that the surveyor could find which would thwart the sale. Clearly, Joe is going to set about finding them.
• Josh receives a dressing down from his father. Neil’s decision is a direct result of Josh’s dishonesty; David insists that he buys him out with his own savings and not a bank loan. David and Ruth will lend him the rest. That solves matters financial but regaining his former partners’ trust and goodwill is another matter entirely. As for his “A” level results … only time will tell if he’s done enough.
• Eddie discovers Joe wandering about the farm, looking for as yet undiscovered problems. Eddie warns him against any act of sabotage and Joe is suitably offended. He counters by telling Eddie in no uncertain terms, that the family isn’t finished at Grange Farm yet.
• Josh calls to see Neil, to apologise and to offer him a bottle of whiskey. Neil accepts though he admits to being very disappointed at Josh’s behaviour. He remembers the fifteen-year-old lad full of great ideas for the future. But he didn’t see such stupidity coming. He hadn’t ever thought of Josh as a thief. Josh makes a fulsome apology adding that he had wanted to impress Toby. Neil is taken aback. Why chose him as a role model when there are so many others to choose from. Without a good measure of decency and trust, Neil reckons that Josh’s life outlook seems pretty bleak. Well said that man!