Sophie is leaving; Ruth still ponders over whether she should too.

Radio Times: Lynda gets gently persuasive.

Characters: Bert, Elizabeth, Lynda, Ruth, Sam, Susan, Usha

• As they hone their wood-turning skills for the “log into leg” competition, Lynda takes the opportunity to persuade Usha to be property mistress for the forthcoming production. Of course she denies Elizabeth’s accusation that her enthusiasm last year was because Alan was in it.
• Bert’s ploughing practice draws compliments from Sam and a promise to go and watch, although Bert’s suggestion that he could go with David, Ruth and the kids prompts a quick excuse. When Ruth joins him to watch Bert, Sam shows his jealousy but Ruth asks him to be reasonable. Ruth is being asked to make the biggest decision of her life; she has been thinking about little else but she needs time; she can’t just walk away. David has been very kind this week; the kids have been awful and now Sam is pressurising her. He is convinced they could be happy together, though Ruth describes it as a beautiful dream. He will stop pressurising; when Ruth is ready Sam will be waiting.
• Elizabeth has some good news for Usha about Sophie: her mother has agreed to go and live in Henley with her. So her dalliance with country life is over – and her other dalliance too! They agree that David behaved badly; at the very least he was thoughtless. Now he will have no-one to be thoughtless with.
• Lynda does not give in easily. Susan was so good in last year’s production, she should audition again. It would be good for Emma too; it would take her mind off moaning noises in the night. Susan caves in and agrees to talk to Neil about being stage manager – and Christopher about being a dwarf – anything to keep him away from that Carly.