¶ Intro / Opening
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. You're listening to Wednesday's episode of The Archers from BBC Radio 4.
¶ Burns Night and George's Homecoming
No one told me it's monsoon season. Tell me about it. Most people have the sense to stop at home in the womb. Do you want to hand with your brolly, Joly? No, it's all right, stupid thing. There we go. Now, do you know where the shortbread is? Oh. As luck would have it, I'm standing right by soon. Oh, yeah, so you are. It's Pat's birthday Saturday. I hear she's quite partial. Ain't we all? I assumed it was part of your Burns Night celebrations. What, one tin of biscuits?
Though to tell you the truth, Eddie, that'll probably end up being the highlight the way Fallon's going. Oh, Noah. I was really looking forward to it. What? You're coming? Of course I'm coming. I love a bit of aggis. A nice drop of single malt always goes down well too. I just assume that you... What? Well, you know, with everything that's happened. To be honest, Eddie, that's why we're keeping it small.
What, because of what? Yeah, we decided against any kind of party. We're just shoving a few Scottish-themed dishes on the normal menu. You ain't selling it very well. No, I'm not, am I? Jolene, honestly, love. You don't have to let what happened with George ruin your plans. Fallon just worried it might seem a bit, you know, bad taste. Well, tell her that's rubbish.
It'll be good taste, providing a few whiskies come me way. That's very generous of you, Eddie. Oh, go as big as you like, Jolene. Bigger the better, I say. Emma and Will wouldn't mind. There's been enough misery already. And how is George? Oh, coming home later today. Oh, well. I'm pleased for you all. That's really good news. Yeah, we'll see.
Oh, I don't believe this. Give us a tea towel, Will. I'll try and get the smoke away from the alarm. Well, then open the bad door. I knew I could smell burning. Oh, I completely forgot about it. Oh, is it ruined? Oh, thank goodness. No, we can't eat that. Yeah, I think you're right. I'll put it outside. The rain should cool it down enough to chuck it in the bin. Just don't let the dog out or she's going to try and eat it. Never mind, mate.
It's George's favourite. I know, but he won't mind. After a week of hospital food, he'll be grateful for anything. Well, actually, the food wasn't bad. Well, you know, you've spent enough time there. You might have to throw away that oven dish as well. I don't think you're ever going to get that charcoal off. Just what George needs for when he comes out later. I wanted it to be nice for him. It is nice.
Look at all this stuff you bought him. Does he really need a new gaming chair, Will? I mean, we've only just had Christmas. I wanted him to know that we love him. He's so down and, well, he's scared too. But is this the right way? What do you mean? Indulging him like this. What? Isn't this what landed us here in the first place? Em's got a point, Will. Have you forgotten about all the things he said? About me, about you, about Nick? No, but... And what he did to Ed?
He is getting help. Yeah, I know that. And I believe him when he says he's sorry. The lad nearly died, Emma. Well, you don't have to tell me that, Will. I was sat in the back of that ambulance with him. But does that mean everything's forgiven and we just... What, go back to how it was? Yeah, that's exactly what we do. Well, mate. I get what you're saying, Emma, I do. But we nearly lost our son. And I just want to forget everything that's happened.
¶ Jazzer's Refusal and Eddie's Hardline
He's on his way home with Amber, and that's all that matters. It's Baltic there, Julie. There you go, my darling. It ain't warm, but it might help on me. Sure, thanks. Well, don't thank me yet. I do actually have an ulterior motive. Don't ask me to do anything complicated. I'm knackered. Is Tracy putting you up to this? No. That's an eye. What's she been saying? Just that you had a lot on.
She's no rang there. And that you didn't seem your usual, you know, jazzy self. So I wondered if you would like to help us organise Burns Night again this year. Tracy said you're no doing anything. Ah, but that was before. But now we reckon the village needs something to look forward to. You know, more than just a special menu, much more. We want to make it a proper celebration. Oh, go on, Jazzer.
Who better qualify to be our Scottish consultant, hmm? Sorry, Jolene, but the answer's no. Oh. OK. Thanks for the pint, but I'd rather pay my own wife if it's all the same to you. I was checking the ewes in the lambing shed and found myself having a quiet five minutes thinking a bottle. I do miss the old fella. Still can't quite believe he's gone. Yeah, me too.
Do you both fancy a brew? Not really, thanks, Dad. George is back from hospital. Oh, right, good. Amber's with him, so we wanted to give him some space, but we'll probably go back in a minute and see how he's doing. Righto. Mum's come in with us? Yeah, she's in. It would mean a lot if you did too, Eddie. George's been asking about you. He's not stupid, Dad. He knows you've barely been in touch. I came to see him in hospital. Once.
The farm can't just grow into a hole, Timber. She knows that. There's lambing coming up in a couple of weeks. Two of the eight lambs wanted fixing. Someone has to keep the place going. Yeah, and it's much appreciated. But it's our George dad. Is he? What? Is he our George? I don't reckon I know him anymore. I'm glad he's all right. Of course I am, but he crossed a line. Especially with you, Edward. What he's done to you is...
You don't hurt one of your own, ever. I know, but he's been through a hell of a lot. What about William, eh? No one had more heartbreak than him these last few years. You know how low he got it. You know how close he came to... When George said what he said about Nick, it was glad she died. Some things just cannot be forgiven, and I'm sorry, but that is one of them.
¶ Confronting Past Mistakes with George
Another pint, is it, Jazzer? No, it's all, Jolene. I'm going to get off now. You got anything exciting planned for the evening? No, really. Just waiting on Tracy to get back from Felpisham. She's with Chelsea. I was looking for a car. Oh. She'd been saving a lot mad. She saw this bloke, had one online. Dirt cheap. I feel what Tracy says, it sounds like a bit of a rust bucket, but who knows? Chelsea's been a bit doing recently. Yeah, New Year's blues. I don't like to ask too many questions.
Fair enough. And how's Brad's course going? Okay, I think. Doesn't he start back till next week? You know what Brad's like, just stays in his room most of the time. Oh, bless him. Look, Jolene...
I'm sorry about earlier. Buns night and all that. Oh, no, it's fine. I can see you've got a lot on. It's just, it's not been a great start to the year with Beryl Farm and everything else. Don't worry about it. Tracy says the police still think Markie might be connected with what happened to George. Yeah, that's right.
Must be a worry for you in Kent, isn't it? It is, but we're trying to just get on with things. The police have been good, actually. They said they'll treat any cause from here as a priority in case any of them... You know. That's something, I suppose. You just don't know who's out there, do you, Jas? It's frightening to think what some people might be capable of. Aye, it really is.
He should be resting. Well, and it's freezing outside. He'll be fine for a few minutes. Yeah, he's been cooped up in that hospital. It's going to be doing him good being outside. Yeah, Amber's with him. They're only going under the shopping bag. And he wanted to go, Will. Can't baby him no more. I am not babying him. I'm making sure our son is all right. Look, are we still ordering a takeaway? Yeah, I'll do it. I'm paying. You don't have to. No, I want to.
I'll ring Dad and ask him what him and Mum want. Oh, no, no, no. What? Dad's not coming. Why not? There's something up with one of the Yuzi records. Oh, Ed. Has he called Alistair? Yeah, yeah, and he's got a way in for him to come. Well, I can just order him something and take it over. Yeah, I'll call him. Ed, you might as well just tell him. He doesn't want to see George, does he?
Not for the moment, no. I knew it. But Clary's come in. And Susan and Neil. Yeah, Mum's bringing a bread and butter pudding. He don't need a bread and butter pudding. He needs his family around him. What's he going to think when his old grandfather doesn't turn up? Dad just needs a bit of time, that's all. What for? To, you know, come to terms with everything. Look, it's a lot for him.
It's even more for George. What am I supposed to say to him? Well, your mum's invited us round for lunch on Friday. Maybe by then he'll feel differently. You agree with him, don't you? Come on, Will. You do, don't you, Emma? It's written all over your face. Yeah, all right. I can see his point. I don't believe this. Well, this is the problem, Will.
I tried to tell you this morning, but as always, you didn't listen. No, Ed, this needs to be said. Well, go on then. We're no good at this, Will. We've got it wrong. We've got it so badly wrong. Got what wrong? George. Look at him. Look at what he's done. What he's become. What we've become. What do you mean? We lied. We hid things from the police. We covered up for that crash. We let Alice torture herself for weeks longer than she needed to. We were just trying to do what was right.
It weren't our fault. It weren't. And don't get upset. I'm not upset. I'm... I'm practical. It was our fault, Will, and it still is. We're too soft on him. We always have been. I felt so guilty for everything that happened with you and Ed.
I stuck up for him maybe when I shouldn't have done. Yeah, well, we all did. Yeah, but we didn't spoil him. We couldn't afford to for a start. That's exactly what we did in every sense of the word. You don't mean with stuff, Will. I was gutted when I found out he wasn't mine. I wanted to be his dad. I'd have done anything to have him love me like a dad. OK, let's not go there.
This isn't going to get us anywhere. Yeah, this is the problem, Will. It's always been the problem. We feel guilty or embarrassed, so we bury our head in the sand and we hope it all goes away. We give him for a quiet life. Well, have we got a quiet life? Have we? No, she's right. And what about Keira and Poppy? What about them? Keira ran away because of George, and me and Ed didn't see it coming at all. George takes up so much headspace...
They won't run for anyone else, not even our own daughter. And I'll never forgive myself for that. And do you want the same for Poppy? Because you mark my words. That's what's going to happen. We have to make Kira our priority. I really think that you need to do the same with Poppy. She is my priority. I love both my kids. We know you do. But Em's right. We've given him too many chances already.
So what? You know, we just wash our hands with him like Dad's doing? I know. Or so he goes back to prison or ends up dying in a ditch somewhere? I'm not saying that. I love George, Will. But we've got to do things differently. I am not taking any more crap from him. I will always be there for George, and you know I will. But I am going to have to take a step back from ignoring his flaws.
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