麻豆社

Unsettled Esme answers a call from Susan, who apologises for the disturbance at yesterday鈥檚 funeral. Esme accepts the apology, but cuts Susan off when Ruth and David arrive. Seeing the state she鈥檚 in Ruth pulls Esme into a hug. Esme blames herself for letting her dad down, despite David and Ruth鈥檚 reassurances. Esme then announces she鈥檚 decided to take the farm on, as her dad would have wanted. She doesn鈥檛 mean permanently, but she鈥檒l keep it a going concern before selling the herd and business on to the next tenant. David and Ruth pledge their support, while Esme offers to use what money she has to make it work. Between themselves David and Ruth aren鈥檛 sure how realistic this is, agreeing they鈥檒l keep an eye on Esme.

Susan tells Neil that Brian, Lilian and Mick, plus some of the volunteers, have complained about George working in the shop. The shop committee have summoned Susan to an emergency meeting, though Susan is defiant about keeping George on. Neil thinks she might have to back down or risk losing everything she鈥檚 fought for to keep the shop going. Later, Neil finds Susan taking out her frustrations on some bread dough. She鈥檚 been told she can鈥檛 let George volunteer in the shop. And now Susan鈥檚 dreading having to tell him, after making such a huge effort to repair their relationship. While Neil is more pragmatic Susan determines to give the committee her own ultimatum: unless they reconsider for George鈥檚 sake, she鈥檚 handing in her notice. Is Neil with her on this?