The shop sub-committee experiences the joys of Susan; Ruth and David experience the joys of having a teenager.

Radio Times: New image, new attitude for Pip.

Characters: Brian, David, Pat, Pip, Ruth, Susan, Usha

• The first shop sub-committee is meeting to draw up a business plan; it is proving heavy going and difficult to keep Susan from delving into detail.
• At Brookfield, Pip comes down ready to go to a party; David suppresses his opinion of her outfit.
• The idea of approaching supermarkets to get some bulk-buy deals is raised – and resisted by Susan. She recommends that they replace some of the shelving and that is noted. The main problem, as Pat knew it would be, is that Susan believes the only way to do things is the way they have been done – by her – up to now. Brian tries to convince Susan that, far from criticising everything she has done, it is to her credit that the shop has done as well as it has. It’s time for a break.
• Dozing in the chair, David wakes with a start and is relieved to learn that his nightmare is not real – yet: he dreamt that Lynda is chairman of the PC. He should go to bed; Ruth will go for Pip. David is uneasy when Pip texts to say she has got a lift but Ruth feels they must trust her and let her grow up.
• Brian is last to leave but not before Pat has thanked him for helping to keep the meeting on track but they can’t avoid having Susan on board. It was rather like paddling through porridge.
• Pip has not played fair, as Ruth is quick to tell her when she arrives home, an hour after texting to say she was on the way. A row ensues. Admittedly they did not have to turn out to collect her but she has not done them a favour because she did not stick to the arrangements; Ruth had been very worried.