Susan dreams of the Pony Club Ball. Shula is bored with normality; Ruth craves it.

Radio Times: Susan looks to go up in the world.

Characters: Alistair, Caroline, Christopher, Ruth, Shula, Susan, Usha

• Christopher is up early, expecting a busy day: there is a meet this morning. Nitia has sent an invitation to the Pony Club Ball at Lower Loxley; Christopher certainly doesn’t expect his parents to go.
• Usha and Ruth are planning a night out – a film and a drink. Ruth reports that things are much the same; it’s good that David has accepted Ruth’s idea, as long as he doesn’t make it too difficult.
• Maisie is a casualty of the day: she picked up a thorn jumping hedges. Alistair is pleased to have a straightforward case for a change. Shula and Caroline are also going out to a film this evening.
• In the car park, Ruth explains to Usha that Eddie has agreed to do three days per week but not five; Phil and Jill have agreed in principle to help with the other two school days. Inevitably, they bump into Shula and Caroline but, to everyone’s apparent relief they are heading for a different film.
• Susan calls on Alistair, Shula being out, for some information on the Pony Club Ball; dropping into the conversation the idea that they will probably be on the Streatfields’ table is irresistible.
• As they settle in to their meal, Shula expresses concern to Caroline that she and Alistair have slipped back into the same old rut. She believes he is not gambling again, but ‘normal’ seems rather dull. Ruth and Usha have no wish to join them; Usha will see more than enough of Shula at the Bishop’s installation. Ruth appreciates what a good friend Usha has been to both of them; she also realises what a very long way she and David have to go.