Tom has an uncertain future; so does Roy; so does the Am.

Radio Times: Kirsty makes a horrific discovery

Characters: Jennifer, Kirsty, Pat, Peggy, Roy, Tom

• Jennifer calls to give her mother a lift to Pat’s and takes the opportunity to mention how difficult things are at Home Farm. With Adam, Brian and Kate having their own difficulties and Noluthando looking forward to returning to South Africa, Jennifer just hopes that everyone will be able to settle their differences. Peggy looks forward to the day when an unhappy Noluthando manages to reconcile herself with her mother.
• Kirsty tries to persuade Roy to come down to the Am for the traditional New Year swim, even though almost all the other participants have cried off. She has little success. He just wants, or rather needs, to talk of his plans with Lexi. The chances of their Bulgarian trip seem to be receding. He can’t come to terms with her offer of surrogacy to Adam and Ian. Why on earth should she want to put herself through the pain of carrying a child, only to give it away? He really can’t understand how she’s thinking.
• At Bridge Farm, Pat tells a rather morose Tom that she and Tony would support his kefir venture for a further month if he wished. He’s quite insistent that he must move on to other fermented food, perhaps kimchi, and not continue to throw good money after bad. Pat tells him that they’re both proud of his determination, at which point Jenny and Peggy hove into view. Tom can’t face his aunt’s bragging about Brian’s business award and escapes indoors. Jenny notes his disappearance and then pushes off herself, leaving Pat and Peggy to go inside to prepare for lunch.
• Kirsty has persuaded a miserable Roy to go to the river with her but not to swim. He is the guardian of the towel and custard creams. She’s freezing and almost convinces herself to call it off come back with a wetsuit next week. At the last minute, she decides to strip off and wade in through the freezing mud. As she realises just how cold it is, Roy calls to her, she must come out… now! She wonders what’s wrong as he shouts his instruction again. There’s something in the water, by the reeds.
• Peggy finds Tom feeling more than sorry for himself. He feels that lately, he can’t seem to get anything right. The kefir venture is just the latest in a long line of failure. Peggy offers a shoulder to cry on but as Pat comes in with an offer of pre-lunch sherry, he strops off. Pat apologises for his rudeness but Peggy sees further than that. He’s having a crisis of confidence and just needs support, especially from his mother.
• Kirsty is safely out of the river, but despite Roy’s urging to get properly dry and warm, she’s on a mission. She phones the local Environment Agency hotline to report a potentially serious incident. There are dozens of dead fish floating in the Am.