Hard Times

Over the centuries, the angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley slowly become friends, spending time together in the Garden of Eden, at the time of Noah's ark, in Jerusalem, Ancient Rome, Arthurian Britain, at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, in a prison in Revolutionary France, Victorian London, getting mixed up with a Nazi spy ring in World War II, and in London's Swinging Sixties. Crowley saves Aziraphale from grave danger on more than one occasion, for which he is repaid by the angel with the ultimate gift - a flask of Holy Water.

Back in the present day, now that Aziraphale has located the actual Antichrist, he is preparing to break the news of the misplaced child to his superiors - not least the heavenly but menacing Archangel Gabriel.

Adam overhears an upset Anathema and befriends her. Anathema gives him a pile of New Aquarian magazines and explains to him what needs to be done to save the world. Anathema continues her own investigations in Tadfield, noticing various residents’ auras - a coloured glow that appears around each of them. Witchfinder Sergeant Shadwell is contacted by both Aziraphale and Crowley, and asked to investigate Tadfield, look for an 11-year-old boy (by Crowley), and keep an eye on Adam Young (by Aziraphale).

The second of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse receives a crucial parcel. Famine receives his scales, but not before he and his assistant are introduced to a chain of fast food ‘restaurants’, serving non-food-based meals - chow. He leaves for the UK.

Shadwell agrees to let Witchfinder Private Newt go to Tadfield.

Meanwhile, increasingly anxious that the Antichrist is still at large, Crowley and Aziraphale meet again to discuss a plan of action, where Crowley suggests Aziraphale, in the interests of the rest of the world, kill Adam. Tensions rise, culminating in an angry row between the two old friends. As the end of the world nears, Adam blissfully and naively uses his powers, changing the world to fit things he reads in magazines Anathema has lent to him, such as removing an entire reactor from a nuclear plant.