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1-12 of 12
- Roger Stephenson,a botanist at the local winter gardens,is long married to Val,who teaches domestic science at a secondary school. When their Hoover breaks down they search for the guarantee in the 'big drawer' in the garage,finding an old door knocker and various holiday souvenirs. They talk about the past and plan the future. Val locates the guarantee but inexplicably tears it up. Roger calls this an act of independence but Sellotapes it back together nonetheless.
- Val comes in to find Roger in a bad mood. She has put some fish fingers and frozen peas in the conservatory fridge,which he uses to store his bonsai seeds. She counters by claiming that the kitchen fridge is often over-loaded and a row ensues,in which she terms him pompous. He admits that he is grumpy as the winter gardens have two new water-voles who do not get on and staff have named them after him and his boss Phil. Val wonders why their rows are always over mundane matters and recalls a couple they know who argue about 'glamorous' things.Roger tells her that this couple are now facing bankruptcy so they are better off as they are. He cooks the fish fingers for her.
- 2010–201230m9.0 (13)TV EpisodeRoger has had another row with Phil and is not hungry. Still,Val had her pupils wash their dining room curtains for her,even though another teacher disapproved and may grass her up.Now all she and Roger have to do is re-hang them but both are tired. Furthermore the plants are growing faster with no curtains to shut out the light but it's a job that must be done. When Val appears to have brought in a bag of noodles instead of curtain hooks they reckon they can put it off until tomorrow and watch 'Grizzly Man' on DVD. Then Val finds the curtain hooks . . . but the moment has gone.
- Weary after visiting his terminally ill father in hospital, Roger can do without the news that concerned cousin Cathy and her controlling husband Bob are coming to stay but he helps Val prepare the spare room. As they work he complains about Phil at the winter garden and she notes that the bedroom window would make an ideal emergency exit. It becomes apparent that the room was once a nursery for a child who died, and, as they eat their lasagne, Roger fails to cheer up a tearful Val.
- Roger's father has died and,seeking the advice of the bereavement counsellor he met after the death of his son eighteen years earlier,Roger has come up with a means of solace. It takes the form of writing an idealized self-image,an account of life as he would like it to be. Unfortunately it also expresses the low opinions he has of his work colleagues,to whom he has accidentally emailed it. Val comes up with an excuse to provide damage limitation and sends it off but Roger has all weekend to wait before learning if he will be fired. He also rows with Val,who storms out. Suggesting she was having an affair with an old flame,Ian,now in New Zealand,was not a good idea.
- Val returns to the house,mainly to get changed for the school centenary dance,where she will be escorted by old flame Ian from New Zealand. This makes Roger childish and bitter,ranting against all things New Zealander and threatening to destroy his plants. Val cooks him a meal and is prepared to leave - until he shows her the shrine he has built to their marriage and tells her of his sacking, which they then resolve to fight together.
- Roger and Val return from a family wedding,commenting on how Roger's brother Mike,who has given him a copy of Rolf Harris's 'Two Little Boys' from their childhood,seems to have rapidly gone grey and complaining about their hotel facilities. Val has received a note,telling her she has been short-listed for promotion,as a result of which she demonstrates,helped by a cardboard box,her means of giving herself confidence. Roger,about to face the tribunal with regard to his sacking,also receives a note,whose contents he finds very worrying.
- Roger has been successful at his tribunal and got his job back. Despite her fears that she has an abler rival for the post of deputy head Val is in celebratory mood and cooks a romantic meal to go with the pint of beer she has bought him in a personalised glass. But Roger is distracted and eventually confesses that Jean Duggan,the woman he once knew,has been to the house to tell him that he has a thirty-one year old son named Liam.
- As Roger prepares his speech for the tribunal Val returns from school with cards from well wishers and a swimming toy,a present from a supporter. They also find support on his Facebook page but Val is troubled that he is secretive about messages from one Jean Duggan. Eventually Roger admits she was his old college cleaner who has been stalking him since reading in the local paper of his dismissal. Having cleared up this mystery the couple then wonder why the swimming toy seems to be duplicating itself.
- Yet to meet Liam,Roger has got in a fight with Jean's other son and lost a front tooth but still plans to accompany Val to a restaurant with her rival for promotion Pam Bagnall and her husband. Val worries that Pam has stolen a march on her by using a collage in her promotion campaign and decides to pull out of the race but feels better when Roger,who has phoned the school,discovers the nature of the collage. She also finds the perfect tooth substitute.
- Roger and Val return from the pub where Liam failed to turn up though he later knocks on the door but leaves without waiting for an answer. Distant relative Barbara rings to tell Val her uncle Jack has died. This makes her extremely maudlin,especially as she believes Pam Bagnall has beaten her to becoming deputy head and she reflects on past times,writing an elegaic poem for Jack. Then Liam returns but only to leave a box of chocolates on the door-step.
- As Roger and Val prepare for a visit from Jean,Liam and Liam's little son Rhys,Roger looks at the toys he kept belonging to Christopher,the son who died. Val is overjoyed to hear that she has won promotion to deputy head but still argues with Roger for building a Wendy house for Rhys. However they are reconciled as he gives her an engraved ring to thank her for her support, after which Roger has his first meeting with his grandson.