Pip misses vital signs and Brookfield loses a ewe and two lambs.

Radio Times: David is angry, and Rosa tries to help.

Characters: Darrell, David, Pip, Rosa, Ruth, Spencer

• Hardcore is David’s answer to the muddy gateways; Pip’s answer is to swan off to spend the day with Spencer on his family’s farm. Has she checked the ewes and lambs? Yes, yes, no worries; bye.
• Inspecting the crops with Spencer is much less of a chore for Pip than being at home. Other plans to keep her away from Brookfield include a shopping trip tomorrow (if Spencer’s dad can spare him!) and a party tonight – she will get Tom to swap days so that she doesn’t do the milking tomorrow morning.
• Darrell’s daughter Rosa, on the other hand, is being very supportive. She suggests asking Mike to deliver her father’s fliers on his milk round. Darrell is grateful for the suggestion but considers it would be inappropriate. A further calamity strikes when the freezer breaks down and its contents are ruined. To get a replacement, Rosa offers to lend the few pounds she has saved; Darrell appreciates the gesture but won’t hear of it.
• There’s trouble at Brookfield: David has found a dead ewe, probably with staggers due to magnesium deficiency but Alistair will confirm that tomorrow. Nearby her two lambs had died of starvation. Pip is supposed to have checked them; she could probably have saved the lambs if she had spotted the problem. It’s as much as Ruth can do to stop David ringing her straight away. He thinks her attitude stinks; she used to be consistent and careful but he can’t trust her any more.