Robert defies Lynda over his daughter and Little Croxley gets a confirmed FMD case.

Radio Times: The worm turns.

Characters: David, Jill, Lynda, Peggy, Robert, Ruth, Shula

• Jill asks David if he would teach her to drive the tractor so she can help on the farm. Phil isn’t sleeping, for worry of the Little Croxley suspected foot and mouth case, and it would take the pressure off him. David is doubtful. Ruth comes in, saying they’ve made £26,000 in milk income for the year to the end of March – much more than expected. Jill, who had gone off to tell Phil, returns with bad news: the Little Croxley case has been confirmed.
• Shula and Peggy are discussing the proposed housing development and walk down to look at the land. Shula had put two and two together from the notice in the paper that Chris had shown her. It would spoil the view from the back of Glebe Cottage. Lynda appears, full of Save Our School leaflets and her new water feature. When Lynda probes about what they are doing, Peggy tries to stall but Shula tells her about the development proposals. Peggy, who is worried about keeping Jennifer’s secret, tries to dissuade Lynda from hasty campaigning action. She should wait till the Parish Council meeting on Wednesday.
• Jill finds a modern tractor too much of a challenge. Ruth tells Jill and David that, following a phone call by Bert to Freda, the news of the £26,000 is all round the village. They consider making a contribution to the foot and mouth hardship fund. When they remember that Home Farm could itself become infected, Jill says she doesn’t know whether Phil could deal with it.
• Lynda is rhapsodising about her water feature and Robert is getting increasingly agitated as he tries to get a word in edgeways about Leonie and the £5,000 loan. Shula arrives to pick up the school leaflets – she must wish she had a knife with which to cut the atmosphere. After Shula leaves, Robert tells Lynda that he has told Leonie he will lend her the money. Lynda is annoyed and hurt, accusing him of putting Leonie before him. In her anger, she dramatically says that perhaps he ought to go and live with her. Robert says that, if that’s the way Lynda wants it, he will.