01/05/2024

Denise is teasing Alistair about his dancing and as they work they get distracted talking about what might have happened in the church hall if they hadn’t been disturbed by Joy and Azra. Far from being uncomfortable, Denise thinks they should just choose a better time and place. They chat about Bartleby – Jakob is considering having a word with the Grundys because all the extra attention can’t be doing Bartleby any good. Alistair asks Denise if she has plans for this evening – he has Greenacres to himself. Denise is keen, she just needs an excuse to tell John. Later after a takeaway meal, and tucking into a second bottle of Jim’s fine wine, Alistair suggests they move somewhere more comfortable. But Denise doesn’t think Jim’s house has the right vibe and proposes they book a hotel room where they can really relax. Alistair misunderstands, saying they should call a taxi because he’s had too much to drink. But Denise explains she means they should make a booking at the weekend - John is away on Sunday night.

Jakob is checking on a horse at the stables when Alice suggests that maybe he doesn’t need to check on her sobriety every day. Jakob says he’s not happy keeping her lapse from Kate but Alice tells him to stop worrying and she lies about having checked in with her detox buddy, Lisa. Alice offers to make Jakob a cup of coffee and, when he asks what Lisa thinks about her having a drink, she gets uncomfortable and has to spin ever more elaborate tales.