The Archers - 19/01/2009

Things are tense between Matt and Stephen Chalkman. Chalkman doesn't like the way Matt trusts Brenda, but Matt thinks it's good to have a bright young thing about the place. They have a big difference of opinion about the state of their company C3PL. Matt discovers that Chalky awarded himself a director's bonus early last year. So money Matt was hoping to hide away overseas has all gone. Chalkman thinks he's overreacting. They've just got to stand firm and it'll be fine. Brian finally goes to Tom and tells him he has continued with the negotiations with the supermarket. Tom is furious. A row between them develops, with Tom discovering that Brian has already agreed to consider compromising the quality of the product. Tom thinks it'll be a disaster if he tries to sell two products of different qualities under the same label to different places. By the end of the conversation, it's clear that they are poles apart in their thinking. Brenda quickly finds out what's been happening and is appalled at Brian going behind Tom's back. Tom thinks the whole thing is a disaster - while Brian, at home with Jennifer, just hopes that Tom will see sense and grab this golden opportunity. Episode written by Joanna Toye.