The Archers BBC Radio 4

Adam lays down his conditions and Kirsty over promises

Chelsea, Freddie and Paul prepare the food for today’s cricket match against Farndale. They’re short on players, so Paul and Chelsea have been roped in and Tracy’s trying to convince George to take part. They wonder if team captain Harrison will turn up after Fallon’s miscarriage last week and later Tracy confirms that Harrison’s not coming. George agrees to think about playing when Tracy points out that Tilly Button will be there. George is fed up with everyone wanting to talk to him about his ‘heroic’ river rescue but Tracy counters that’s because everyone, including her, is proud of George. But Tracy thinks Alice should be locked up for drunk driving and causing the accident. Paul agrees - because of Alice, six people could have drowned in the Am, including his mum, Denise. She’s still sick from her part in the River Am rescue.
At the last minute everyone’s delighted when George turns up at the cricket ground, calling him a hero, but George is having none of it. Paul comments that Denise and Alistair feel the same as George and won’t hear a word of praise. George has a storming game but in the end Ambridge lose the match. In The Bull afterwards Tracy praises the team, and they raise their glasses! But George is subdued and when he learns about Fallon’s miscarriage, he feels sick and heads to the toilet. Chelsea wonders what’s wrong and asks if it’s because of what happened to Fallon. When George worries their baby died because of him, Chelsea puts him straight saying it absolutely wasn’t his fault.

Kate and Jakob bring Brian and Alice some shopping, but Brian isn’t pleased to see Jakob. Brian argues with Kate, accusing her of trying to tell him what’s good for Alice. Kate counters, furiously, that his spoiling Alice is why they are in this situation. She adds that Brian’s ill-judged words about Jennifer are what drove Alice to drink that day. Then Jakob points out Alice left while they were rowing. Wearily, Kate asks if she heard, and Jakob says it’s unlikely she didn’t. Kate says it’s time to stop treating Alice with kid gloves. All three leave to try and find her.
Fallon offers Harrison a cuppa as he sorts out his toolbox. The miscarriage is happening. She declines his offer of painkillers or hot water bottle and definitely doesn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy. He wants to talk about it, but she doesn’t. She promises they will talk but not right now. He wants to go for a walk to clear his head.
Alice turns up and Fallon invites her in. She forcefully tells Alice that she is shaken but still alive and she wants something from her – Alice has to get back to being a mum to Martha and a friend. She has to get back on her feet – if she does that she is forgiven. Harrison returns and erupts with fury, turning on Fallon for refusing to talk to him but having time to chat to her friend. He throws Alice out – shouting at her in the street that Fallon was pregnant and now she’s not: ‘Are you Sorry for that?’

Alistair, Mick and Jazzer are having a pint when Paul joins them. He says Denise has a bug she picked up from the river Am. When Mick takes Paul to the bar, Jazzer points out it wasn’t a coincidence that Alistair and Denise were together that night. He commiserates when Alistair says they didn’t make it to the hotel. Mick confides he’s experiencing flashbacks and that George seems overwhelmed too. Paul queries the ‘late call out’ Denise said they were on when they spotted the crash. Mick comes to the rescue with a story about an injured sheep. Alistair, grateful for the intervention, embroiders it. But Paul won’t let it go, despite assurances that it’ll be dealt with at HQ. When Paul goes to get another round, Mick promises Alistair mum’s the word.
Chris and Alice are watching Martha in the playground. Adam gave Alice a lift with several bags so she could avoid being seen at Chris’s place – the rumour mill has already started. Alice insists Martha must stay with him for the foreseeable future: she can’t deal with her drinking and looking after Martha. Later Chris suggests they all go and get dinner together, but Alice just wants to leave, without even saying goodbye to her daughter. She’s resigned herself to ending up in prison after emptying the vodka, and even fruit cider, bottles found in her car. Three people ended up in the Am and Fallon nearly died. Later, Chris tells Jazzer the situation doesn’t fit with the Alice he knows - but it’s like she’s already given up.

Will is sticking sequins to Poppy’s party T-shirt as George teases him about his handiwork. Will tells him rice has failed to revive his waterlogged phone. He complains about the messages backed up on his voicemail - panic-stricken, George remembers that Will has the message he left when he found Alice. Mick arrives with thank-you goodies and, as Will goes to answer the door, George tries frantically to access Will’s voicemail. Tense after failing do so and embarrassed by their praise, George rushes off to his room. Mick says Alice deserves what’s coming to her. George returns, still out of sorts, apologising and saying the situation is a bit full on. He persuades Will to leave his phone when he has to dash out. With a sigh of relief, George deletes the voicemail he left.
The atmosphere is awkward between Fallon and Harrison and she becomes frosty when he mentions ‘her condition’. They are interrupted by Alan who is collecting items for charity. Fallon is eager to send Harrison over with donations. Later, at the church, Harrison spots a tiny babygrow and can’t resist telling Alan that Fallon is pregnant. He has been given a double miracle – she survived the crash and he’s going to be a dad. At the hospital, however, he is devastated when the scan shows the foetus has no heartbeat: Fallon will miscarry naturally once her coil is removed. She asks if the accident is responsible. The doctor says it’s difficult to say for sure. But Harrison is adamant it cost them their baby.

Brian, Adam and Kate are at the police station – they want to get Alice through this with the least possible trauma. She was arrested as soon as the doctor said she was well enough. Brian is kicking himself about his harsh words to Alice. But Kate thinks people have every right to be furious with her. For now Alice is free to go, while her blood alcohol is being tested.
During the drive home she wants to go to the hospital to find out how the others are. Kate is derisive – if the shoe were on the other foot, they wouldn’t want ‘the offender’ visiting. Alice struggles to remember what happened – she recalls George but little else. When they get home Alice tells Brian it’s not the first time she has parked up and got drunk but she’s never driven drunk before. After putting her to bed, Brian tells Kate and Adam they have to do something – he doesn’t know how Alice will get out of this mess.
Fallon is impatient to leave the hospital with Harrison. Mick arrives, unscathed apart from a sprained wrist although Joy has a broken collar bone. They’ve all had a lucky escape - they all agree George is one brave kid. The doctor arrives and gives Fallon the all clear to leave, but first wants a word with Fallon and Harrison in private. He tells them one of the hospital’s routine tests has come back positive – Fallon is pregnant. She’s shocked - she has a coil and they’ve been careful. She must return for an ultrasound tomorrow.