Kate seems to be getting her way

Radio Times: Phoebe’s birthday proves surprising and Lynda is confident of success

Characters: Alice, Brian, Jennifer, Lilian, Lynda, Phoebe

• Dogless Lynda meets equally dogless Lilian, and they engage in some opponent-needling. Ruth appears, and informs Lynda that Ben will help with the animals. Lynda is pleased, especially since Alistair was so rude to her when she rang to ask him to be the resident vet. He told her he had had enough of doing favours for people and getting nothing in return. Shouold she say something to Shula? Lilian counsels against this.
• Phoebe helps Jennifer with birthday lunch preparation. Phoebe has spoken to Noli and Sipho, but has no idea where Kate is, though she has at least told Phoebe that she will give her an extra-special birthday present. Brian appears, having heard from Debbie that Kate is of the opinion he is trying to silence the partners. To his annoyance, both Jennifer and Debbie agree with Kate. He is sent to Brookfield to retrieve some plates that were taken there by mistake after Ruth’s party.
• Brian does as he is told, and learns from Ruth that she will be attending the meeting called by Kate. He claims there is not going to be a meeting.
• Lynda appears at the party, apologising for failing to realise it was the 28th June already, but proffers a card from the village shop. She is pressed to stay, but declines, saying only that she wants a word with Lilian. Alistair has phoned to apologise and will be at the fete. She hopes that the prestigious Francesca Lockhart (of whom no-one present has heard) will judge the animal talent competition. Alice, meanwhile, tries to live down Chris’s story about her falling asleep and causing a fire.
• Phoebe’s present from Kate is an open ticket to South Africa. She is delighted, though Kate fails to appear. Alice informs her father that she, too, will be at the meeting. When offered a drink, Brian claims that he will need a full bottle if he is get through the meeting.