Tom finds a sympathetic ear in Pip over his family troubles. Josh’s motives remain unclear and Lynda has anxieties over deadlines.

Radio Times: Pip has a proposition for Tom, and Eddie might be raining on Lynda’s parade.

Characters: Eddie, Lynda, Pip, Ruth, Tom

• The pasting table which passes for a folding bed in Lynda’s shepherd’s hut has collapsed and Lynda demands that Eddie makes good the substandard work, otherwise he’ll receive not a penny more for his troubles. Eddie produces some Victorian timber to replace the table, and dances around the issue of what weight and strain the frame can expect to endure. Lynda gives nothing away, although later agrees to test the bed’s strength by lying on it with Eddie beside her. She agrees to the chimney being painted black, but wonders if she may live to regret her decision to contract Eddie for the work on the garden. Will it be ready in time, or will it be a let-down, not only for her, but the whole village?
• As Pip and Ruth assess this year’s silage potential, conversation turns to family business, including Elizabeth’s dinner tomorrow evening and Josh’s current propensity for winding people up. Ruth has a word with Josh and later tells Pip that things don’t seem to add up. Josh says he feels let down by Neil and has the impression that Neil does not trust him. He has neglected to mention to Ruth, his thoughts about letting the free-range business go under.
• Pip wonders if now may be a better time to approach Tom over the mob grazing and rings him to arrange to meet. Over lunch, Tom offloads the family troubles to Pip and feels better for it. She reassures him that he is doing the best he can by continuing to stand by Helen. Tom is open to Pip’s proposal to take a dozen of his cattle for summer grazing, paying only for live weight gain, but will need to discuss first with Tony.