Tom stands on the verge of a new initiative that will take the Tom Archer brand onwards and upwards.

Radio Times: Jazzer calls in a favour and Tom forges ahead.

Characters: Alistair, Brenda, Christine, Jazzer, Jim, Tom

• Jim seeks Alistair’s suggestions about a suitable subject for his proposed article for Borchester Life. He suggests Mike, who has set up a micro-dairy and also has woodcraft skills; Probably Mike would welcome the diversion from contemplating fatherhood.
• Under the pretext of saying goodbye, Jazzer calls on Christine and persuades her to look after a bagful of his belongings: he plans to sleep tonight at The Elms, the homeless shelter, and his things would likely be stolen. Is there nowhere else he could go? What happens next, more particularly how it happens, is a mystery to Christine when she later looks back on it: in no time she has agreed to Jazzer moving into her spare room – just for a few nights! He proceeds to eat her out of house and home.
• Neither Tom nor Brenda has had a good day. He is a man with a big ready-meal order and nowhere to prepare it; she is an employee whose bosses are at war.
• Jim is surprised to find Jazzer’s feet under Christine’s table. When he goes early to bed, as milkmen must do, Jim suggests that if she can put up with Jazzer tonight he might be able to solve the problem.
• For Tom, a great light has shone: the neighbouring business unit will shortly be vacant, so he will take it on for his meal preparation. Brenda is not sure: he could be paying for capacity that he cannot use. But Tom is racing ahead; through his rose-tinted spectacles he sees no more scratching around for kitchen facilities; it’s no good seeking big orders if he cannot fulfil them; it will be a great place from which to expand.