Week Beginning: Sunday 7th March, 2010
Sunday 7th March
Hayley braces herself for Kate's arrival.
Hayley, Roy, Phoebe, Kate, Pat, Helen, Vicky
- Hayley adds last-minute touches to Abbie's birthday party arrangements, but is very apprehensive about Kate's imminent arrival. Phoebe can't wear the dress Kate brought with her, because it's too small, but is eager to show Abbie and their new house to Kate. She manages to put her foot in it by commenting that Abbie speaks much better than Sipho.
- Helen uses the Bridge Farm computer to research preconception care. Pat's worried that Helen's approach to her baby plans is wrong; she's missing out on the romance. Helen comments that romance has not featured greatly in her relationships, and Pat's forced to admit that Tony's response to the news of Pat's third pregnancy was 'bang goes our chance of expanding the dairy herd.'
- Kate is stunned by Vicky's full-on approach, and seizes an opportunity to get away from her and join the party. Roy tries, rather lamely, to defend Vicky, but Kate's not happy when Vicky later comments on Hayley's skills as a mother, and the way Sipho has taken to her.
- Kate's even more upset when Phoebe tells her she doesn't listen to what Phoebe tells her about school. It seems she can't get anything right. Roy tries to cheer her up; by the end of her stay she'll know everything.
- After the party, Hayley tells Roy that Kate just wants to be the centre of attention, and to pick up where she left off, without a thought for them. Even more lamely, Roy tells her it will be different this time.
Summarised by Jo Saunders
Monday 8th March
Elizabeth and Nigel meet the new boy.
Jude, Pip, Nigel, Elizabeth, Kate, Jennifer
- Jude takes Pip out for a meal. Pip seems impressed that there's a two-for-one offer. Jude wants her to come away with him in the Easter holidays, to a foreign music or film festival. Pip doesn't seem very sure about the idea. When Jude asks whether she's sorted out some driving practice, she reminds him that he had offered to let her drive his BMW. Somehow Jude doesn't seem very sure about the idea.
- Jennifer puts Ruairidh to bed, and Kate comments on what a marvellous job she's made of him. She realises it must have changed Jennifer's life entirely. Kate is still sore about her failure to relate to Phoebe.
- To Pip's dismay, Nigel and Elizabeth come to the same restaurant, and because it's so full, Jude invites them to join him and Pip for a drink. Pip is not pleased. While Nigel and Jude fetch the drinks, Pip asks Elizabeth about the age gap between her and Nigel. It seems that Pip has been somewhat economical with the truth; Jude will be thirty next birthday. Elizabeth tells her that David's reaction is borne of his wish to protect his little girl.
- Kate shows Jennifer a child-care manual she's written for the orphanage at which she volunteers. Wistfully, she says she'd like to do more with her life. Jennifer reminds her of the rate at which children grow up, but this serves only to remind Kate of the gulf between her and Phoebe.
- Jude tells Pip that his insurance would go sky-high if she were to practise on his car, so maybe she'd better ask David to sort something out. Since Nigel and Elizabeth haven't managed to get a table, he suggests that they share one; Pip is not pleased, but Nigel and Elizabeth decline the offer. When they're alone, Nigel comments that Jude is too old for Pip. Elizabeth thinks David is going the right way to alienate Pip.
- Kate seems unwilling to talk about Lucas. Instead she wants to hear all the Ambridge gossip. Jennifer tells her about Matt's mother and arrival on the scene of Paul. She couldn't believe that Lilian actually wanted to attend the funeral. Luckily, says Jennifer, I talked her out of it.
Summarised by Jo Saunders
Tuesday 9th March
Lilian pays her last respects.
Lilian, Paul, Pat, Tony, Helen, Tom
- Lilian arrives at the Crematorium for Matt's mother's funeral. Paul is touched that she's there, and wants her to meet his children afterwards. He'll introduce her as his friend. His mother had no friends, and not all the family are there, so it's a sad little funeral.
- Pat tells Tony that Helen's on her way. She's had her second session at the clinic, and wants to tell Pat all about it. Tony heads for the silage clamp, out of earshot, but before he leaves, makes his feelings very clear; Helen's making a terrible mistake. This won't change anything. For someone as fragile as Helen, it can only spell disaster. Helen arrives as Tony is in mid-flow.
- Lilian is impressed by Paul's children, but he's upset that they won't stay after the service. Lilian wonders if it's because they think she and Paul are an item. Since there is no-one else, Lilian suggests they have tea and cake.
- Helen gives Pat all the details, and surprises her mother by saying that she intends to take the clinic's advice to gain some weight. She recognises that her eating disorder is a control mechanism. The baby idea has changed her - she's got a new focus.
- Lilian confides her anxieties about Matt to Paul. He's sympathetic and tells her she's got a lot to shoulder.
- Tom arrives and chats to Tony, who wants him to try and talk sense into Helen. Tom refuses - any sort of opposition always makes her more determined. She just has to be in control. Tony takes comfort from the thought that Tom and Brenda will marry and have a baby. Oddly, there's no answer from Tom.
Summarised by Jo Saunders
Wednesday 10th March
Jill gets her affairs in order.
Jill, Shula, Lynda, Roy, Alan, Brenda, Tom
- Shula helps Jill to sort Phil's clothes out. She offers to take them to a charity shop in Borchester, but Jill can't bear the thought of seeing people wearing them, so Shula says she'll take them to Felpersham instead. When Alan calls to check that it's still all right to camp outside Glebe Cottage, Shula seizes the opportunity to go to the shop and stock up on basics. It seems that Jill isn't eating properly.
- Lynda is revving up for overdrive, organising shop volunteers, anti-graffiti parties and the talent show. Roy seems unwilling to discuss Kate's visit, but Lynda does comment that Hayley must find it hard.
- Brenda is dejected by yet another unsuccessful job application. When Tom tells her what Tony said about them being married and starting a family, it's clear that Brenda doesn't share that dream. She can't think why Helen should want to be tied down with a baby. She now thinks she should look further afield - Birmingham or even London - for a job. Tom is appalled.
- Alan offers wise counsel to Jill. She realises it must have been so much harder when he was widowed, with Amy to look after; she does at least have years of happiness to remember, and she has Chris and Peggy for company.
- When Shula returns, she notices that Phil's hat is still in the hall. It's the one thing Jill can't bear to throw out. Then there's his new blazer. When Alan comments that he'd seen Bert at Phil's grave, Jill knows what to do; she'll give it to Bert.
- A despondent Tom meets Roy for a drink, while Brenda goes shopping with Fallon. Roy tries to make Tom see Brenda's point of view, but Tom can only see that she doesn't seem to want to make wedding plans. When Kate texts him, Roy tells Tom that he's got nothing to worry about; Roy, on the other hand is caught between Kate and Hayley, both of whom resent the other.
Summarised by Jo Saunders
Thursday 11th March
Ed lays down the law with the boys.
Kenton, Kathy, Jamie, Ruth, Ed, Josh, Lynda
- Kathy wants to eat early because the talent competition committee is meeting at Honeysuckle Cottage. Kenton thinks it should be at Lynda's; that way they could escape when the Oscar photos were produced. Jamie says he's going to help Josh with a science project.
- Ruth is not pleased when Josh announces that Pip won't be in for supper because she's going to a party. Meanwhile he claims that he's going to Jamie's.
- Lynda arrives for the meeting boasting that she fed Alan on locusts and honey while he camped at Ambridge Hall. She's full of the news that the reed beds at Arkwright Hall are to be restored. Kenton finds it hard to be civil to Lynda when she keeps ignoring his offers of help and stating that she'll do it herself. True to form, she produces the latest Oscar photos.
- Far from working on the Science project, Josh and Jamie set about more tagging. But they're discovered by Ed, who gets a mouthful of rudeness from Jamie. Ed suggests that they come along on Sunday to help remove the graffiti - and if they don't, he'll tell their parents what they've been up to.
- Both Josh and Jamie surprise their parents by returning early. Someone who won't be returning early, it seems, is Pip, who's not answering her phone. Josh tells Ruth not to wait up. But nothing could be further from Ruth's mind.
Summarised by Jo Saunders
Friday 12th March
Helen tells Kate some home truths.
Kate, Adam, Ruth, Pip, David, Helen
- Kate gives Adam a hand assembling some benches for the pickers. She seems upset by the difference Ruairidh has made to the dynamic at Home Farm. Adam admits he's apprehensive about the future; will Ruairidh want to run the farm when he's 18? He's also very cynical about Brian.
- David's in a bad mood; the tractor won't start and they've had a sleepless night waiting for Pip to return. Ruth's letting her sleep in as she doesn't have classes until later. Then Pip comes downstairs, and is very rude to both Ruth and David, using every argument they put forward as proof of her unjust treatment. David retreats to the tractor.
- Bert takes a look at the tractor, and prudently suggests that David might leave him to it. He tells David about Jill's gift of the blazer, and admits that he misses Phil. Right now David misses him too - for advice on how to handle his daughter.
- Helen calls to meet Sipho and is entranced by him. He finally falls asleep in her arms. Kate's impressed - can Helen be broody, she wonders. She tries to sound Helen out, but gets nowhere. When she mentions her problems in re-establishing a relationship with Phoebe, though, Helen gives it to her straight; Kate left Phoebe with Roy to start a new life. There are many ways of being a mother. It's for Kate to work out what's best.
Summarised by Jo Saunders
Credited scriptwriter: Mary Cutler
