This episode is, in one way or another, all about futures. Freddy's, Hilly's, the estate's, the river's....
Freddy's future is looking good, as she has done well in her GCSEs. Hilly's doesn't look so great, as she has no qualifications, about which Jack feels slightly guilty. According to Harriet, Lady Pat is feeling rather guilty about that too...
The river's future is looking up, as life seems to be returning. (The turbine, mentioned a couple of episodes ago gets installed here).
One of Lady Pat's tenant farmers is retiring after 48 years & leaving. (Her aborted hug rather makes you wonder if there's a story there) The new couple tell Jack that the rent she wants from them is actually rather low, leading Lady Pat to ask for Jack to look at the estate's books. They are, in a surprise to absolutely no one, in a terrible state.
So Jack & Harriet hatch a plan to give Pat the help she needs and Hilly interesting future employment by teaching her about the estate she will one day inherit. 5000 acres apparently, with multiple tenancies and so forth.
The prickly side of both Lady Pat & Hilly is on full display in this episode (& sadly there's no sign of the romantic interest for Hilly from a couple of episodes ago) but it also shows the reality of their relationship - it's very close. The future seems as though it will be good after all.
Freddy's future is looking good, as she has done well in her GCSEs. Hilly's doesn't look so great, as she has no qualifications, about which Jack feels slightly guilty. According to Harriet, Lady Pat is feeling rather guilty about that too...
The river's future is looking up, as life seems to be returning. (The turbine, mentioned a couple of episodes ago gets installed here).
One of Lady Pat's tenant farmers is retiring after 48 years & leaving. (Her aborted hug rather makes you wonder if there's a story there) The new couple tell Jack that the rent she wants from them is actually rather low, leading Lady Pat to ask for Jack to look at the estate's books. They are, in a surprise to absolutely no one, in a terrible state.
So Jack & Harriet hatch a plan to give Pat the help she needs and Hilly interesting future employment by teaching her about the estate she will one day inherit. 5000 acres apparently, with multiple tenancies and so forth.
The prickly side of both Lady Pat & Hilly is on full display in this episode (& sadly there's no sign of the romantic interest for Hilly from a couple of episodes ago) but it also shows the reality of their relationship - it's very close. The future seems as though it will be good after all.
