Matt gets in touch with his feelings. Christopher feels the lack of privacy.

Radio Times: Matt treads unfamiliar territory.

Characters: Christopher, David, Lilian, Matt, Neil, Susan

• Neil’s surprised to see Christopher home for lunch, and teases him about Alice. Neil’s keen on a bell-ringing simulator her saw at Stoneleigh, but Chris fails to share his enthusiasm.
• The flood of IOUs is annoying Susan, who’s convinced Nathan Booth is behind it. When Christopher tells her he got one from a child he gave a lift to, after missing the school bus, Susan is near to exploding.
• Matt has cold feet over his interview with the intermediary who will write to his mother. Lilian tells him it’s only like using a business consultant, but he’s not convinced. When he gets back, he’s quite upset. It had never occurred to him that his mother might not want to see him, or that someone else might read the letter if his mother can’t. Matt just can’t face the prospect of being rejected all over again.
• Susan is surprised to find Christopher alone in the Bull, and won’t leave the subject of Alice alone. Chris says he’s there because he can’t stand Emma and Ed in the house. Susan sympathises, but can’t see a way round the problem at present. Chris hints that if they don’t find somewhere to rent, he might.
• David’s furious. The Parish council meeting was hi-jacked by a woman from Grange Spinney, who takes no interest in village matters, but who led off about the digester for fifteen minutes. Susan doesn’t help when she says there are real concerns in the village.