Rob’s appearance at the audition throws the future of the pantomime up in the air.

Radio Times: Rex has the final word, and Kirsty despairs at the panto audition.

Characters: Alice, Kirsty, Pip, Rex, Rob, Toby

• Rex calls on Pip with a message for Toby. There’s to be a meeting at Hollowtree, 4:30 sharp, to discuss the future of Upper Class Eggs. He’s texted but has had no reply. This is a final reminder. He must attend. Pip agrees to pass it on. She tries to persuade him to come to this evenings audition. He refuses, saying that Toby is normally the one to make a fool of himself. Pip assures him that Toby has withdrawn from the pantomime, adding that Alice is now really short of good men.
• Alice and Kirsty meet to discuss pantomime recruitment issues. Kate’s out trying to drum up interest and Alice has messaged almost of her contact list. Roy’s backed out and talk turns to his recent date. Kirsty reckons that the word from Jazzer is that the meeting went remarkably well with Roy and Lucy getting on well and sharing lots of interests. However, something happened to sour the occasion. The date barely ended with a kiss. Jazzer doesn’t know what the “something” was, Roy wouldn’t say.
• It’s 5:30 and Pip returns home to find Toby knee deep in drinks paraphernalia in the kitchen. This is his venture now. He makes it perfectly clear that he has no wish to go to any meeting. Rex can stew in his own juice. He needs Toby far more than Toby needs him. Pip reminds him that this meeting concerns Upper Class Eggs and she really feels that he needs to attend. He issues one last and rather annoyed “no”, saying he has far more important things to do.
• Kirsty and Alice put on a brave face on the fact that the audition has no takers, not even Kate. Just as hope begins to fade, Rex walks in. They greet him as a long lost friend and despite his insistence that he doesn’t want to audition really, he’s persuaded to stay and simply read a part. Just as well really, as the door latch rattles and in breezes Rob, with every intention of auditioning.
• Toby has concocted his drinks and has inveigled Pip into a tasting session. It seems that they are very alcoholic with just a dash of fruit. He’s sure that his friends in Brighton will like it, which is good as he’s going down there right now, for a few days. Pip just can’t believe that he’s going without her, not even an invitation or a warning. She insists that he should at least stay and find out what conclusions the meeting reached. Either he calls Rex, or she will.
• Rob quizzes Rex about his previous acting experience. His role as a Jet in West Side Story is greeted with the familiar Titchener sneer. He’s saved by a phone call. It’s Toby. Elsewhere, the girls are at odds about how they should deal with the situation. They return to find Rex leaving to meet Toby. Kirsty can’t face auditioning with Rob and apologetically withdraws, leaving Alice with a terrible predicament. Later Rex tells an unbelieving Toby that the egg business is finished. The partnership is dissolved. Rex will continue with the geese on his own. Despite Toby’s blustering, Rex insists that it’s all over. Toby is free to go his own way.