04/09/2026

0:00This BBC Podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. From BBC Radio 4. George? Hi, S.M. I wondered when you were going to turn up. I thought you'd be over first thing, but then when you didn't show up I realised of course. Silly me, you had to go to your other job first.

1:02Yeah. Unbelievable. I thought about coming early doors before the milking, but I knew you'd be busy with the cows. Very considerate of you. What I mean is, I wanted to come when we'd have time to talk properly. I don't know that there's much to talk about really George. I told you how I felt yesterday. Yeah, you did. But I want to try to explain. Please, S.M. Just hear me out. Oh, Harrison. Hi. Hi, Lily. You're Ethanette. No, no, actually. I've just heard the cafe here is really good. Oh, really? No, Harrison. Not really. Yes, I'm here for Nets. Why else would I be at an intel cricket centre on a Friday night? Right, yeah, sorry. It's just, uh, my sister, you don't usually come to training? I do, sometimes. Admittedly, not for a while, but Rex taught me into it. He's short on players for the next couple of matches apparently. Where is he? Oh, yeah, he's not here yet. He's not, he's text. What text? We messaged off an hour ago to say,

2:02I'd had to move the start time till seven. Mix up with the booking apparently. Really? Oh, yeah, to get attacked. But I didn't pick it up. No, same. Didn't see it. I got parked. Great. So we've got 53 minutes to kill. Yep. You know, I almost didn't come. Paul wanted to go to the cinema. Well, if you wanted to skip it, I mean, now's your chance. I could say he didn't realise about the time change and you had something on later. Are you trying to get rid of me? No. No, no, I'm not, I'm not at all. I mean, I know it's a bit awkward. The two of us standing here for 52 minutes, making small talk. Well, would it be more or less awkward if we went to get a kind of pop from the cafe? A kind of pop. Yeah, or a tea? A coffee, if you prefer, I mean, I tend to stay off coffee at this time. Okay, granddad. I can't really bail now. I've got this far.

3:03So a small talk over a kind of pop, it is. This isn't coming out right. Maybe because there is no reasonable explanation for what you've done. Well, that's just it. All I've done really is tried to earn enough money for my family to live on. I'm not trying to rip you off. But that's exactly what you have done. No, no, no, just listen for a minute, please. I didn't want this. I didn't want to go on the sick at all. I wanted to keep working. Oh, George, you couldn't work. You had your grandad in helping you. Yeah, because I was desperate. And when you told me I'd take sick leave, I panicked. Because I'm grateful for the sick pay, but it isn't enough to keep us going. The baby could come any day now. Amber's finished work today and her maternity pay won't last long. Yeah, I get all that, George, but... Let me finish, please. So when Amber's mum and dad offered me some work at the car showroom, I thought there was no harm in taking it. Because I can't work here, can I?

4:03But I can stand around the car showroom, no problem. No, don't do that. Don't do what? I don't try to spin it to make it all perfectly acceptable. You lied to me, George. I didn't lie. You didn't tell me you had another job. Oh, no. That has lie in. I honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong. So why didn't you tell me? Give me a chance. I've only been working there a week. No, if it was all so innocent, why didn't Amber tell me yesterday when I asked after you? Why did Eddie lie through his teeth? All right. I knew you might not like it. Of course I don't like it. You're taking me for a mug. Oh. You know that money is a massive worry for me too. Yeah, but... But nothing. I'm in dire straits here, George. I don't get anything like the amount I pay you as sick pay. In fact, I don't take anything all from the farm. Instead, I'm working another job to pour additional money into this place to keep it going. You do realise that your sick pay is coming out of my pocket, don't you? It was you who forced me to stop working in the first place. What are you saying? But I brought this on myself. No, but I am entitled to sick pay.

5:03Oh, yes. And while I'm paying you that, I've also got to pay Eddie to do your job. And now I find out you've been working somewhere else. I can't believe that you don't seem to be able to grasp how wrong this is. I know what you're saying. I just don't think what I've done is as terrible as what you're making out. The fact is, I couldn't do my job here, but I could do another one. It's not like I'm making millions. I'm barely keeping my head above water. Oh, George, it's about trust. I trusted you and you lied to me. So what are you saying? Are you sacking me? Turns out it really is quite a nice cafe, who knew? It's all right, isn't it? I've got to do jacket potatoes as well. You know, it's a sign of a good cafe that I always think when you see one of those big, of any things with the jacket potatoes in. Right. What's your favourite topping? I always think you can't go wrong with beans and cheese. Harrison. Lily.

6:03We should probably talk about it. I thought we'd agreed small talk over cans of pop. We did, yes, but then you started rambling on about jacket potatoes and well I just couldn't stand it anymore. Sorry. Anyway, it's starting to feel a bit ridiculous. What is? The fact that we haven't spoken since the tango night. I mean, we live in the same village. No, yeah, no, I know. I wasn't sure whether to concept you or... No, we neither. I wanted to, but then as time went on, I just felt so awful about it all. No, not very much. No, no, no, I mean it was... I had a nice time. A really nice time. Me too. The whole thing took me totally by surprise in a good way. Me too. And, you know, in another world, if things were different. Yeah, if they were... But it wasn't a good idea. No. No. It doesn't help that straight after it happened, I kept bumping into Fallon. Really? Really?

7:03It's like I couldn't escape. Oh, that sounds terrible, but... She works for my mum now, so we see each other all the time. She's even asked me to go for coffee with her. I like Fallon, but making small talk with her after... Right. Yeah. I feel really guilty. I mean, you two have only been split up for five minutes. Six weeks, but yeah, no, that's at your point. Really, I didn't plan for something to happen between us. No, I know that. I had no idea you were going to be there that night. I thought I was going to take one door. But I was there. Yeah, you were. Don't look at me like that. What, can't you like anything? It shouldn't have happened. I feel really bad about it. Really? I'm sorry. I'm sorry that it's difficult with Fallon. I'll get that. But really, you've got nothing to feel guilty about. You're single? Yeah, but it's not as simple as that. I know my situation is tricky.

8:04It's not just that. It's... I've been in complicated relationships before. And I ended up feeling really bad about myself. I made myself a promise that I wouldn't go there again. I don't want to get into anything messy. However much I like someone. I've got to think of myself a steam. And I know that sounds a bit... It sounds absolutely fair enough. I'm really, really sorry, Lily. Why are you sorry? Well, it's me, you know. I'm bringing the messiness. I suppose you are, yes. Which is why I can't, you know. Yeah, go there. Exactly. I know you're not asking me to. But I just need to be clear about this. As much as I had a lovely time. I don't want anything else to happen between us.

9:05Really? You're not sacking me. I must be mad, but yes. You can come back to work once your wrist is there. Oh, thanks, it's me. But this is your absolute last chance. If you ever lie to me again... I won't. I promise. Good. Because I mean it, George. I know. Thank you. So I take it. You're planning to keep working at the car place? Yeah. But only while I can't work here. Okay. So until your wrist is healed, you can take a leave of absence. I'll keep your post open for you. But I'm stopping your sick pay. Sorry, what? Have you not been listening? Of course I'm stopping your sick pay. You're working full time for someone else. All right. Fine. And there are other conditions. Go on. When you come back, you start at the bottom again. What does that mean? It means you'll start with mornings and we'll see how you go. Home I meant to survive on mornings. Not my problem. Maybe speak to your parents in law.

10:05See if you can do part-time hours there and part-time hours here. You don't make no sense. Who'll do the rest of my job? I'll work it out. Don't be stupid. You need me. Do I? You know you do. No. Believe it or not, there are other people out there who can milk cows. And the rest? I've gone above and beyond for this place and you know it. You've said it yourself. You don't know what you do if I wasn't here. I'm the reason that this farm is doing well. Oh, a new splash, George. Meadow farm isn't doing well. It's still not doing well. It's hanging by a thread. You're lying. The only reason it's still going at all is because I'm working another job to support it. And even then, I'm not making enough to actually pay off any of the debts. It's a mess, George. You should be grateful I'm employing you at all. Tell you what, then. Don't bother. What? You're hurt me. You can keep your job. I don't need your charity. Are you for real? Absolutely. Amber's parents have offered me a permanent post. So what the hell was all this about? I wanted to come back here. But not if you're going to treat me like this. Like what?

11:05Like you're doing me a favor. I am doing you a favor. Well, I don't want it. I ain't coming back here for less hours to be treated like dirt. See you later, Esby. Good luck. It's definitely all over between Fallon and me. There's no question of us getting back together. But you're still living together. Actually, we're not. Oh. I moved out a couple of nights ago. Really? What were two? Two, um, the bull. The bull? I remember. I know. Is that, I mean, it's a bit weird, surely, living with Uncle Kenton and Joly. It's not ideal, but I suppose it's a bit of a breather space. And I get on really well with Joly and Kenton, so. It won't be forever. It's just a stop gap because it was going a bit tricky. Me and Fallon, living together. Yeah, I can imagine. How many was all key? Nothing dramatic happened. It just wasn't very good for us. It sounds really difficult. You were together a long time.

12:05It's going to take time to adjust. Yep. Which is why I think I just need to be single for a while. Good idea. Not rushing to anything else. What I'm saying is that I don't want anything else to happen between us either. Okay. Well, that's good. Neither of us want anything to happen. So we're on the same page. Excellent. And you know, really, it was just a kiss. Yeah. No big deal and the grand scheme of things. No. What time is it? Surely Rex should be getting here around now. Yeah, we've still got about half an hour. Do you know what? I might see if Paul still wants to see that film. We tell Rex that I'm sorry I couldn't hang on. Sure. So then. Yes. Oh. I guess I'll see you around. You will. Bye, Harrison. Bye, Lily. Get more with BBC Podcasts, wherever you listen.

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