Paul’s pre-occupation with his ex-wife sours a meeting with Lilian.

Radio Times: Pat wants to talk and Paul’s mind is in turmoil.

Characters: Celia, Lilian, Pat, Paul, Tom, Tony

• You would think Tom would be keen to talk about a plan to get rid of the herd. That’s what Pat expected but when she invites him to join them for lunch, he is evasive.
• Speeding towards Felpersham on a train, Paul gets a call from Celia, who accuses him of emotionally blackmailing their children. He wants them to reflect on their decision to attend mum’s wedding because they would be encouraging her to make a bad mistake. Celia labels this as bullying and assures him that, the children being grown-up now, it won’t work – or is he too obtuse to see that?
• Bowling? On a first date? Tony can well believe it was Jonathon’s idea rather than Helen’s. They will see how it goes tomorrow.
• Paul arrives at the love nest bang on time. Lilian is late, having done some shopping for lunch. However, Paul is not tempted by what she has bought – and he doesn’t want to drink: when he goes back, his van is at the station.
• Tom doesn’t take lunch with his parents; he has to go back to Sawyer’s Farm because an engineer is coming to fix yesterday’s problem.
• Paul continues to be grumpy and blames this on Lilian; he tells her to stop organising him. If she has done wrong she asks him to tell her. It’s just that she keeps going on; can’t she understand that – or is she too obtuse to see it? (There’s a recently learnt turn of phrase!) That’s enough for Lilian; it’s obvious he doesn’t want her there, so she leaves, with Paul calling after her to come back – in vain.