The Archers - 20/01/2009

Mike shows Hayley and Roy round his new house. He shows them his kitchen plans, and Hayley gets jealous. They wonder if they could afford a new kitchen themselves. Roy says they can look at the finances, but they both know it would stretch them. Shula goes to the Vicarage, for the hand bell session. Alan provides coffee afterwards in the sitting room, and Shula sees a bronze statue of Shiva in there. She can't disguise her shock, and Alan contrives to keep her back to discuss it. Shula says she can't help it. There's a statue of a Hindu god in the Vicarage! It feels so inappropriate. Alan tries to tell her that it's a work of art to him, something much more to Usha - it has a place in their lives and their home. Shula can't understand how all this doesn't weaken his faith; Alan thinks it strengthens it. Shula leaves in some distress. She tries explaining her feelings to Alistair - almost cast out of the church because she can't accept the situation. She feels alone. Alistair finds it hard to understand. Maybe she should give it time and hope things will get better. Shula wishes she thought so. But she can't see that anything will change. Episode written by Joanna Toye.