Tom faces a race against time, and Kirsty makes a surprising demand.

Neil approaches Alan about the ring of bells for the sewage leak protest, and to his surprise Alan is enthusiastic. He thinks they should aim for a marathon ring of ten hours. It will call people to arms and encourage questions in people’s minds about climate change. Before Neil knows it they’re delivering flyers. Alan’s secured the support of most of the PCC in advance of their meeting tomorrow. Not yet official then, cautions Neil. Akram joins them and Neil explains they’re less anti-Borsetshire Water and more hoping to open a dialogue. Akram helps with the leaflet delivery; he’s right behind them on this.

Freddie thinks paying Rex will split the cricket team. Lily assures him they won’t know, but Freddie still thinks it’s against the spirit of the game. He asks her if she’s run the plan past Lynda, and Lily says she intends to. Later Freddie’s dismayed to hear that Vince has approved the payment, and more so that he wants not one but two players to be paid. Lily assures Freddie that this makes it a policy rather than favouritism, but Freddie’s still worried. Two members being paid doubles the chances of the news getting out. Lily sweeps on, announcing she’s found a new team member. She’s played for Felpersham uni and she’s brilliant. Freddie points out that for every new member, someone else will have to be dropped. Lily agrees this will be a difficult conversation, but a team has to evolve. The difficult conversation falls to Freddie himself, and he makes a call.

Clarrie and Emma visit George and find to their surprise that he’s very worried about Eddie. George believes they’re keeping information from him about an illness. He’s had a letter from Keira and Poppy, suggesting he speaks to the family to find out more details. With Emma and Clarrie nonplussed, George realises he’s been duped by his sisters. Clarrie thinks it’s sweet that they’ve concocted this plan to get George to see her and Emma, but George thinks they shouldn’t have used his grandpa this way. However he does admit it was kind of a Grundy thing to do. Emma’s really happy to see George smile. He admits he misses them all. Emma suggests tentatively that they might visit again, and George agrees. Susan admits to Pat that whilst she’s glad Clarrie’s got to see George, it does still hurt that that he won’t have anything to do with her – and there’s no sign of him coming back from that. Talk turns to the looming fight for their jobs. When Helen ventures that it’s nobody’s fault, Pat’s riled. She puts the blame squarely with the sewage leak incident. They need a more effective way to make their voices heard. Susan suggests a ring of the church bells, to rouse people to the cause. But Neil isn’t happy with the idea. He believes the leak could be as much down to climate change as mismanagement. Pat points out Susan could lose her job – the bells would be for her and Clarrie. Might Neil reconsider and ask Alan’s opinion, for Susan’s sake?

Lily has some proposals for Kirsty to begin forging a relationship between Grey Gables and Rewilding Ambridge. They’d start by including the rewilding in their tour offer to guests. But Kirsty’s only half listening, preoccupied with the lack of progress on her Beechwood house sale. Lily reckons she’s being too patient with Tom and Natasha – she should give them a cut-off time. Changing the subject, Lily wonders whether Kirsty might consider being on the cricket team. She can play a bit and has the right positive attitude. Kirsty’s unsure. Lily seeks Rex’s opinion, but he announces he probably can’t play this season himself. He’s busy with the taxi at weekends and needs the money. Lily offers to consider paying him to play. Rex is uncertain about this private agreement, but Lily insists she’ll talk to Vince as their sponsor.

Helen gives Susan and Clarrie the difficult news that, with the dairy struggling, one of them will have to go. She offers the option of voluntary redundancy. The two women have a heart-to-heart, speaking fondly of their thirty years together at the dairy and all they like about it. Susan thinks she might hang up her hat. Clarrie suspects Susan’s saying this for her sake; she thanks her but couldn’t bear it on her conscience if this is the case. When pressed Susan admits she wants to stay on. It will be in Helen’s hands to decide. Helen announces she’ll hold interviews. She’ll do her best to make it a straightforward process, but it won’t be easy.

Lynda and Freddie watch their newly promoted cricket team at nets, wondering how they’ll fare in the higher division. Freddie reckons enjoyment is the key to success, whereas Lynda maintains that setting high standards is key. She can see dead wood that needs clearing out, via a razor sharp selection policy. Anyone who doesn’t make the grade will have to be told. Later Lynda laments Freddie’s lack of discipline during practice, and declares his proposed list of top eleven players ridiculous. Lily assures her he’s joking – there are no women on the list for a start. But Lynda feels this is no arena for larking around. Freddie’s answer is they can look for another captain. Lily doesn’t think it’s a bad idea for her to be involved, and they settle on a role for her as director of cricket, in charge of selection. Helen’s asked Clarrie and Susan to the Tearoom for drinks and cakes. When pressed she admits she has something to tell them, but is interrupted by the untimely arrival of a lorry delivering a mountain of gravel to the wrong spot. The cavalry arrives in the form of Azra’s husband Akram, who expertly spreads the gravel, solving the problem. Helen’s grateful. She shares that she has a difficult conversation ahead of her with Susan and Clarrie. Akram’s sure they’ll be right behind her. They look like they all make a wonderful team.

Emma tells Susan that she’s had a letter from George wanting her to visit him again. Susan’s thrilled for Emma, who can barely contain her excitement. Emma could take on the world if she had to! At the shop Jim asks Brad about being his apprentice scorer for the cricket. Brad quickly accepts and they arrange to go through the basics after Brad’s finished at Uni for the day. When Emma comes in Brad worries she’ll be angry with him for letting George down, but instead she tells him about George’s letter. She wants to know how George was when Brad saw him on Wednesday. Emma meets up with Pat and they discuss the next stage for their protest, agreeing that they need to look at successful campaigns elsewhere and get more people involved. At Greenacres later, Jim explains the arcane principles of cricket scoring to Brad. He tells Brad that it’ll be an honour to have him at his side. While potting yoghurt in the Dairy Helen and Susan discuss a report in The Echo detailing dividends and bonuses given to Borsetshire Water shareholders and bosses. Emma’s sure they printed it because of the protest. They also discuss the pros and cons of prison visits, before Helen waxes lyrical about seeing Henry driving a tractor. Helen’s good mood is punctured later though, when she tells Pat the deli she was hoping sign a new contract with has turned them down. With the accounts in such a terrible state Helen has no choice. She’s got to lose either Susan or Clarrie from the Dairy!

While Akram starts preparing their evening meal in Lynda’s kitchen, Khalil is still off with him after events on Tuesday. When Khalil stops doing his homework, Akram tries boosting Khalil by telling him how brave he’s been. But for Khalil the point is that his cancer could still come back. And if it does, he doesn’t want to have spent his whole life being careful, following every rule. They end up having a big hug, admitting how much they’ve missed each other.

Brad struggles at nets, but it’s soon apparent he doesn’t have any talent for cricket. Brad’s envious of Chris and Tom, who make everything look so easy. It’s the same for Tracy. Despite Jim’s reassurances, Brad reckons he doesn’t take after his mum at all. Then Eddie calls Brad, heaping pressure on him to do more work for George. After nets, Jim and Freddie discuss how standards on the cricket team have slipped following the winter break – and Brad clearly isn’t the answer to their prayers. Then Freddie thinks of something else Brad can help with, persuading Jim to take on Brad as his apprentice scorer.

Later, Eddie expresses his disappointment in Brad in no uncertain terms, despite Brad telling him George doesn’t mind him quitting. Eddie perks up though when he hears George has some new business ideas. Eddie then sings Brad an unfinished rap song he’s composed about tractors and hi-vis vests. When unimpressed Brad doesn’t respond in the right way Eddie reckons George is probably better off without him.

At Bridge Farm Helen’s hoping to generate some new business to start offsetting their recent losses. She’s keeping an eye on Henry too, after yesterday’s misadventure at the demonstration. Tony and Pat admit to being impressed by Henry and Khalil’s commitment to the cause, so long as it doesn’t become a habit. Pat is still up for the fight and Tony reluctantly says he won’t stop her. Henry is suitably contrite with Helen for going AWOL yesterday, thankful that she’s not too angry with him. He also mentions talking to Tony about driving the tractor.

Later, whilst planting seedlings in the polytunnel, Tony and Pat are pleasantly surprised when Helen tells them she’s spoken to the insurance company. They should get enough compensation to at least pay for a marketing campaign and potentially drum up some new business. To Pat’s delight Tony starts to feel more positive. She pushes him to have another think about Henry and the tractor. Pat and Helen then watch with bated breath, while Tony gives Henry final instructions before letting him start the tractor engine for his first test drive.

Visiting George in prison Brad notices his battle scars after a fight. George reckons he came out on top and that’s all that matters. Brad mentions the sewage spill, and fills George in on how the family are doing, before he confesses that he can’t run George’s business anymore. George is surprisingly chilled, mentioning plans for a new business venture. George then reaffirms his respect for Brad, but won’t divulge his plans just yet.

Unknown to their parents Henry and Khalil bunk off school to go to the demo at Borsetshire Water. Tony’s still worried about Pat going in case there’s any trouble, but wishes her and Emma luck. Dressed as toilet rolls Emma and Pat join in with the chants while waiting for Borsetshire Water board members to arrive. They spot Henry and Khalil, who insist they’re doing the right thing by skipping school for a worthy cause. Nevertheless, Pat insists on calling worried Helen and Akram to let them know where the boys are.

Later at the demo, Tony introduces himself to Akram, who’s concerned Khalil will miss an important medical appointment. They find Pat and Emma with Henry and Khalil, who are disappointed the board members haven’t turned up and it’s all rather low key. Tony and Akram take the boys away, just as Pat and Emma spot a protestor accosting a worker. It’s not the sort of action Pat feels comfortable with. But Emma persuades her that simply being there, making their feelings known, is important and worth doing.

Henry apologises to Tony that he had to come and get him, and for upsetting Helen. Henry admits he knows Tony was the one who found John when he died. Henry’s happy to wait until Tony’s ready to teach him tractor driving.

At the oncology clinic Khalil defends himself against Akram’s accusations that he shouldn’t have risked missing his appointment. Khalil hates being the sick boy, then admits how scared he is that his cancer could come back, despite Akram’s assurances that it won’t.

It’s good news at Bridge Farm after Helen gets the thumbs-up to re-open the dairy. But the bad news is that their sales figures since the closure are even worse than expected. Meanwhile, Tony’s not keen on Pat going to a demonstration against Borsetshire Water tomorrow at a shareholders’ meeting, although Helen defends Pat’s noble intentions. Tony’s also concerned about Henry wanting to learn to drive a tractor. Later, in the Edible Forest Garden, Tony admits to Helen how the thought of Henry on a tractor brings back terrible memories of how John died. Despite Helen’s pressing Tony’s not convinced Henry’s ready for it yet.

Susan and Clarrie are thrilled to be back working at the Dairy, especially when they find the brand new, bright pink wellies Pat and Tony have gifted them. Later, while enjoying just making cheese again, they reckon they’re ready for questions at the viewing window, even if they’re about the sewage leak. They talk about how Eddie’s drumming up more commissions for Brad to make George’s videos, though Susan reveals how concerned Tracy is about Brad neglecting his studies.

Having failed to get a helpful response from Borsetshire Water Emma’s determined to join grateful Pat at the demo, even if it jeopardises her position as Parish Councillor. Emma has an idea for costumes they can both wear too. Pat then shows Helen some ideas for slogans to go on placards. Helen says she’s definitely with Pat in spirit. They both wish Tony would come round to supporting them about the demo and Henry driving a tractor, but accept it may take time.

At Lower Loxley Freddie’s rushing to get to work for the first big day of his initiative, hoping to persuade the local Academy Trust and their schools to use locally produced food, including Casey Meats. He’ll be giving local farmers a tour of the abattoir while Vince schmoozes the bigwigs from the Academy Trust. Lily is encouraging and wishes Freddie luck. But just as the tour’s about to start Lily calls Freddie - he’s left all his tour notes behind. Then Lynda texts, telling Freddie he’ll be cricket club captain as well as team captain after Tom dropped out – and there’s a long list of jobs to be done immediately! To alleviate Freddie’s stress levels Lily sends over photos of his notes and offers to cover Lynda’s cricket jobs for him. Freddie meanwhile conducts the likes of Eddie, Pat and Ruth on their tour of the abattoir. During this Pat and Ruth find time to discuss the hold-up over Kirsty’s house sale, plus the ongoing effects of the sewage spill and Pat’s determination to hold Borsetshire Water to account. After a successful conclusion to the tour Freddie leads everyone off to lunch and any further questions.

Eddie commiserates with busy Brad over what happened at the Pancake Eating competition then tries to guilt trip him into accepting a commission for a film promoting the use of hi-vis vests on farms. Brad can’t let George or the rest of them down. Later, Brad asks Lily if Freddie might let him go to cricket. Lily assures Brad, he’ll be more than welcome.