The Archers

Kate loses her cool, and Keira is offered a surprising opportunity.

Ian attempts to look on the bright side, and Tom is confident about his future.

It’s the day of Brian’s mediation meeting with Adam and he’s made biscuits, rebutting Kate’s suggestion that they’re an olive branch. He doesn’t need one; he’s the good guy. When she asks whether he’s thought about division of the partnership’s profits, he laughs that there aren’t any. Kate wishes him luck, reminding him he can’t be both the good guy and a stubborn stick-in-the-mud.
Ian advises Adam to stay calm and remember that Brian’s refusal to pay the family what they’re owed is immoral. Ian confides to Kate he fears Adam will lose his cool if Brian doesn’t play ball. Adam’s worked night and day to keep the farm afloat. Kate agrees, though she worries Xander’s relationship with his grandfather’s getting a little lost. Ian insists Brian sees Martha as more of a real grandchild than Xander.
Brian declares to Ruth that his main goal is to put a stop to the claims for money. Ruth reminds him today’s about negotiation and compromise. However when Adam arrives it’s clear Brian won’t shift his in view, insisting he’s bankrolled his children for years. Seeing an impasse, Ruth suggests a break and another meeting, but Brian declares there’ll be no more meetings. When Adam leaves Ruth asks Brian what he actually wants.
Later when Adam declares it’s the end of the road, Ian ventures they still have information on Ruairi. They know the secret and could mention this to Brian. Adam’s against this. Ruairi’s his brother and he’ll never do anything that puts him at risk. Family is more than just blood.

Tom tells Helen he’s confused as to why she’s acting as if the new milking parlour is the obvious next step for the farm. Helen insists it’s just about belief in her business, and expansion of the farm, which will benefit Tom too. She suggests they discuss it calmly rather than falling out – getting a quote isn’t the same as ordering a parlour. It’s the bare minimum needed for putting a business proposal together. Fine, says Tom, he’ll work on a proposal too. Helen’s in favour – then they can each present their case to the family.
Ed discovers Keira’s found her own work experience placement at Rewilding Ambridge. Clarrie remembers when Keira helped make bat boxes as a child. Ed doesn’t recall, and Keira huffs that he was probably distracted by something George was doing at the time. Ed protests he’s always asked Keira to do things with him, but she’s often buried in her phone. George arrives and immediately winds Keira up, resulting in her storming out. Later she apologises for shouting, and for bolting at New Year. She admits she finds it hard to talk, and at New Year they were too worried about George to listen to her. Ed wishes he’d realised how much she was struggling. He reassures her, and she confides her worries about school and friendships. Ed reckons lots of her classmates will have had the same anxieties. They hug. Later Ed sets Keira and George a task to clear out a barn. They have fun, and Ed declares they’ve passed his challenge.

Susan isn’t sure she can commit to more hours in the busy dairy until they’ve solved the staffing crisis at the shop. She admits to Helen that she misses Jim. Helen’s loving having Tracy as a neighbour. She’s really helpful, and Brad’s happy to throw the boys’ ball back into her garden. When she moots the possibility of having a connecting gate between the properties, Susan’s equivocal – boundaries are important.
Henry’s late for school lunch with Keira due to a detention. He’s not happy he doesn’t have his own room yet, though it’s still better than living with Tom. He’s doubtful about Keira turning down her work experience – will she be able to fix up an alternative in time for next week? Keira tells Clarrie she can’t see the point of schools existing at all. She asks Clarrie how viable it would be to bring in re-jigged work experience forms tomorrow. Clarrie thinks it’s worth a try. Later Keira confides to Susan that she’s found a different placement.
Tom suggests Helen and the boys go back to Beechwood for a final supper now she’s settled in. Helen in turn reckons she should have a housewarming. Tom’s surprised to discover Helen’s asked a rep to Bridge Farm to quote for a new milking parlour. Tony too is wrongfooted. He reminds Helen that no decisions have been made on future investment. Helen insists she’s just looking at options and didn’t like Tom asking the rep questions. Tony suggests Helen apologises to Tom and thinks before steamrollering over them all with her plans.