Pat is less than hospitable. Caroline is less than reasonable.

Radio Times: Rob is on his best behaviour, and Caroline finds life stressful.

Characters: Caroline, Helen, Oliver, Pat, Rob, Tony

• As Helen cooks Goulash in preparation for Rob’s visit to Bridge Farm, it is made abundantly clear that Pat is not looking forward to the evening. Tony seems quite relaxed about it, and while Helen stresses about details and Pat glowers, he chats happily about Lilian having told him Brenda was taking time off, leaving Lilian to do all the work.
• Caroline returns home very late and frazzled from a difficult day at Grey Gables. Oliver makes her a sandwich and a drink, attempting to put things into perspective, but gets nowhere. Caroline is worried about falling income and competition from Lower Loxley. Oliver begs her to replace Roy, but Caroline will not listen. Finally Oliver lays down the law; they had agreed to send time together, but never see one another. What about all their plans? Caroline’s answer is to storm off to bed.
• Rob is appreciative of Helen’s cooking, but gets a lecture from Pat on the advantages of organic food. Tony does his best to divert Pat, but in vain. Rob politely defends himself, but when Pat sees Helen becoming flirtatious, she pointedly asks when Rob’s wife will be coming to Ambridge. As ever, Rob is vague about that one.
• Helen sees Rob out, while Pat continues to find fault with their guest. She thinks Tony could have done more to support her, but all Pat can say is that something odd is going on with Rob’s wife. Helen returns, and cheerfully remarks that Rob is not such a monster, is he?