Pat and Tony pin their hopes on next week’s hearing; Justin has more plans, not necessarily to do with Lilian; the Cricket club is in freefall.

Radio Times: Pat and Tony need to find the right words, while Adam plans a spending spree.

Characters: Adam, Alistair, Brian, Henry, Jennifer, Pat, Richard, Tony

• Jenny and Brian reminisce about their Venice trip. Brian is grateful that he avoided Kate’s solstice event. Jenny is concerned about Alice’s new job and the reasons for Phoebe’s unexpected departure. She’s also worried about a photo of Lilian and Justin in the Borsetshire Life. It looks rather “intimate”. Brian tells her, in confidence, that Justin has development plans for the market site in Borchester. Brian has no details as yet.
• Pat and Tony enjoy a picnic with Henry. He seems much happier since they last saw him. Friday was a difficult time for all concerned. They agree that they just have to carry on swaddling him in love and hoping that he’s not damaged by Rob’s tactics. Here’s hoping for a good result at Wednesday’s hearing.
• At Home Farm, Adam is due to play cricket. Thanks to Harrison’s mates and some arm twisting with Josh, they have managed to get a team together. Adam shows Brian details of the no-till drill he proposes to purchase. Brian’s shocked at the price but offers to chat to Justin in an effort to keep him onside.
• Alistair and Richard meet at the nets and discuss the lamentable showing that they put up last week. At least they’ve managed to get a team together for the match against Paxley. Adam turns up and they all agree that things just have to be better this time.
• Pat calls Tony and Henry for lunch. Pat manages to stop herself from correcting Henry when he calls his brother “Gideon”. Instead, Henry is sent off on a chase to a tree and back. Pat and Tony agree that though it’s confusing for Henry, they must try and keep matters on an even keel for him, especially as the hearing is looming. Henry returns and asks why his mother couldn’t see him running and just why doesn’t she come home?
• Brian and Jennifer commiserate with Adam, the match was lost. Alistair refuses to have the team collapse on his watch. He decides to call an EGM next week to plan the way forward. Meanwhile Pat and Tony are on their way home. Tony didn’t get a chance to agree on a plan with Rob for telling Henry the truth about Helen’s whereabouts. They can’t go on like this. But, they also agree that it’s probably best to wait until after the hearing. The problem will be solved if they get custody.