You're listening to Thursday's episode of The Archers from BBC Radio 4. There's your pint, Mick. Can I order some food too? Of course, my darling. What can I get you? The pie with the chips and veg, I think. The beef or a sweet potato? They're both yummy. The beef's more me, I think. OK, well, you won't be disappointed. Are you by yourself? I am. By the window. I'll bring it over. Right. With the beer, that's £18.90, please. Great.
Oh, a bit of proper cooking. I don't think I could face another ready meal. I know what you mean. They all start to taste the same, don't they? I'm not much good in the kitchen. Joy's away, you see. I heard. Is everything OK? Fine. Fine, fine. Just a bit of an emergency, that's all. Family stuff. Oh, dear. Well, that's all gone through. Do you want a receipt? No need. When's she back? Soon, I think. Quite soon. Not soon enough, I bet. Yeah, something like that.
Are you sure you're okay, Nick? Me? Oh, top of the world. Well, any time you don't feel like cooking, you know where we are. There's always someone to talk to in here. You must be a bit lonely with joy gone. I'm fine, honestly. It's just... I'm just going to sit down and check your messages. That was a nice catch, Rochelle. It was a fluke. That was no fluke.
She's going to be an asset, Freddie. Nice little mover. Good wrist action. Yeah, and a good eye. Very deftly taken. You gave me the impression she didn't have much experience. Well, it's only what she told me. She's giving Molly Button a run for her money. Yeah, she's really promising. Good evening, Vince. Freddie. Jolene. Hi. Oh, you look surprised to see me. Freddie said I thought... That you couldn't make it tonight. Oh, I moved to heaven and earth, friend.
I didn't want to fall foul of a new rule. Being on the team is very dear to me. My nephew knows that, don't you, my darling? Freddie? Yeah, I, er, er, he seems to be lost for words. I'm a bit late, I know, but I had to pick Tracy up. Oh, Tracy's here too? Oh, great. She's changing her shoes. So here I am, turning up like a bad penny. It's always good to see you, Jolene, obviously, but I was under the impression that... That Freddie had dropped me.
But then again, he didn't, did he? I don't follow. He said I was dropped because I was missing nets tonight. But lo and behold, I got Lillian to shift the meeting after all. Oh, you're going to love the Easter plans at the bull. And looks like we have VE Day sorted and all, so... Here are me and Tracy, where we belong. I'm not missing nets, am I? So I'm still on the team. Right, Freddie?
I, um... Freddie? Well, Tracy's here, Vince, so, you know, remember that. Was there a chance she wouldn't be? The bull meeting. She'd have missed two sessions as well as me. And that would have been both of us out, wouldn't it? Oh, I see. But she hasn't, which is amazing. You seem happier about Tracy than you are about me. Why's that? No, no, no, no. I'll leave this to you, Freddie. I want a word with Rochelle. You see, Freddie...
My dad always used to say, and he fought in the war, he knew what was what. He said... The way to deal with tyrants is to take them off guard. Tyrants? You know, leaders who impose ridiculous laws. demand impossible loyalties, that sort of thing. I'm not a tyrant. If you'd wanted me off the team, Freddie, you only had to ask. But you didn't ask, did you? You dropped me on the basis of a rule I hadn't as yet broken. And, as I haven't broken it, my sacking's not valid under club rules.
So I'm appealing your decision. OK. Or should I take it to the club committee? No, no, no. Don't do that. Right, well, I can't stand here talking. I've got balls to whack. I'll take any amount of praise, Vince, but I think you're being a bit generous. I could be a lot better. Everyone could be better, Rochelle, but you've got real potential. Really?
That means a lot coming from you. Now who's being generous? No, you've got form. Susan told me. A distinguished history in the Birmingham Leagues and all that. Impressive. I was younger then. Don't put yourself down. You still look pretty capable to me. You're pretty capable too, I'd say. I think you'd be an asset to the team, Rochelle. Let's wait and see what Freddie says. I'm sure that's a technicality, if I put in a word. I haven't been in Ambridge all that long.
It's not like I really feel I belong yet. Well, what better place than the cricket team to start making friends? Well, I'm up for it, Vince. Oh, yeah? If I'm wanted. Do you doubt that? We've still got some dead wood to replace, believe me. What do you mean? I'm not telling you that. Loose lips sink ships. What does that mean? That's just something people say. Look around, Rochelle, you're a smart woman, you can spot the weak links.
Sorry! I see what you mean. Are you coming for a drink after Nets in the ball? Sure. We'll give you a chance to talk to Freddie. And maybe a chance to talk to you? Me? Yes. There's something I'd like to ask you, Vince. Go ahead. I'm worried it might seem a bit inappropriate. Oh, right. Great session, everyone. Thank you. Well, I had an excellent time. Me too. Can anyone give me a hand with this kit back to Ambridge? There's more than will fit in my car.
Thanks, Rex. My boot's full, I'm afraid, and I'm driving Tracey and Kirsty back and all. I don't mind helping, if there's something I can take on the bus. Rex could give you a lift, surely. Oh, I'm sure that won't be necessary. I wouldn't mind a lift, Rex, if there's one going. Fine. Are you sure, Rex? Yeah, yeah, it's fine, Freddie. Thank you. Right, well, night, everyone. Night. Right, then. You better show us this kit, Freddie.
We're not very chatty, are we? I don't know what to say to you. You said the other night that you wanted to clear the air. You closed me down. I didn't. It wasn't the right moment. Um... I'm not being funny, Rochelle, but I find you very confusing. You're not the first person to tell me that. I really put my foot in it, didn't I? After your mum said what she said. Let's not talk about that. I feel bad that I told you.
I don't think I gave you much choice. No, no, but Joy was furious with me. Well, I bet she was. She had no business calling anyone that, let alone her own daughter. There are worse things to be called than vulnerable. Not by your mother. Not to a potential... boyfriend. So, I was that? I don't know. Yes, maybe. I don't know. Sorry. And then you disappeared. No word, no
That wasn't anything to do with you. No? No. You're a nice man, Rex. You're not the first person to tell me that either. But being a nice man doesn't always cut it. Don't be so hard on yourself. I don't want to get between you and your mum. That's not my business. I never meant to offend you. Why would I? I wanted to apologise back in January. That's why I texted so much. But you dropped off the face of the earth. You ghosted me.
It felt horrible. I get it. You don't owe me anything. We barely know each other, but it felt awkward bumping into you in the shop this week. You're right. It did. If we're going to be on the team together... I don't want it to be awkward. Nor me, honestly. So can we draw a line and just be friendly? We absolutely can. We absolutely should. Good. Teammates, right? Yes. Because I do actually think, well, we could be good mates.
You know, if we wanted to. Yeah, all right then. Good. And I'll buy you a drink at the bull to show there's no hard feelings. Oh, not tonight. I'm not stopping. I'll just drop the stuff off and get home. Oh, come on. No, no, honestly, there's no subtext here. I've just got a really early start with the pigs. I'm knackered. But we're friends, yes? Friendly, anyway. If that's good for you. That's good for me, Rex.
So what do you say? Go on. I think you'll enjoy it. If you think I can cut it, I'd love to join. Excellent. Good for you. Can you pass me that glass? Yes. Welcome to the team, Rochelle. Cheers. Just don't miss any practice. I'll do my best. Right, I've got customers to serve. Freddie. Yes, I know. I'll speak to her now. I'm not talking about Jolene. I've said Rochelle can have a job interview tomorrow. Oh, OK. I was very pushy, I'm afraid.
I asked Vince for a fever. Happy to oblige. We can always use people with a bit of enterprise. Right, did you fix a time? Any time suits me. Come in first thing then, before we start on the list. 9.45. Great, see you then. I'm going to the bar, Vince. I'm fine, thanks. Tell me about your time in the Birmingham Leagues, Vince. The Birmingham Botham, Susan called you. Did she now? Mick? Wait up. Oh, hiya. Were you in the pub? I didn't see you. I was.
I couldn't face cooking for one again. Well, you could always cook for me you know. Although, hmm, maybe not after that vegan lasagna you made last time I was here. The whole thing was grey. I still don't get why you couldn't just put a bit of cheese in, just a smidgen. That's not how it works, Mick. I know, I know. So, how come you didn't come over and join us? Oh, I didn't feel like talking. Well, do you mind if I join you now? Walk back together? Oh, if you want.
You seem to be having a good time. I did. I've joined the cricket team. Jumping in with both feet, just like your mum. I hit a couple of good balls and made a lucky catch. I surprised myself. And I've got a job interview tomorrow. A proper job. At Casey Meats. That doesn't sound like you. It pays decent money. It's got to be better than working in the shop for free under Susan Carter's beady eyes. How was your night? You know. Did you hear from ma'am? No.
Did you leave her any more messages? I might have done. Mick. Don't go on about it, Rochelle. I'm doing the best I can. Look, I tell you what, you go on, I'll catch you up. No, Mick. Please. I'd rather just... Talk to me, Mick, please. I miss her. I know. I hate this. I hate it. What if she doesn't come back? She will. This is what we do, we Horvilles. We're a mad lot.
When it all gets too much, we run for cover. It's probably not the best reaction, but it's what we do. And we always come home in the end. Is that what you're doing now? Running for cover? We're not talking about me. You've stayed away years. What if she does? Her life's here. Her house gutted by sewage, a volunteer job in her shop and a daughter she can't live with for five minutes without fighting. What's to come back for? You, Mick. Oh, yeah. I'm a big draw. You are.
You care about her? Anyone would care about Joy. Me? I'm a middle-aged man who's muddling along. That's worth coming home for. And you love her. You do, don't you? Yeah. More than you'll ever know.