17/11/2020

Rex can’t understand how Toby can be so laid back about their eviction from Hollowtree – six months to find a new rental is no time in farming. Toby drops the bombshell that he might sell the Scruff gin brand to Shires. They made him an offer at the start of the year. But Rex is still tearing his hair out over finding somewhere for his pigs. Later Toby finds out he can still sell to Shires, at a lower price than pre-Covid, but even after Kenton takes his cut there should be enough left for him to plough into another project. He offers to shout Rex a drink at The Bull by way of celebration.

Chris tries to keep Alice calm ahead of her scan. The bleeding has stopped, and none of this is her fault. They’ll deal with whatever the result is together. To their relief all is well with the scan. Chris is excited, but Alice is quiet. She flinches when he touches her belly, and starts to cry. She gradually admits the truth to Chris: not only was she drinking to excess before, but she hasn’t stopped since discovering she’s pregnant. Chris reels from this double blow. He could just about cope with the fact she had a problem in the recent past, but the second admission floors him. She begs him to respond, and is desperate for his help, but he remains silent.