The Two Sides (Or Faces?) Of Justin Elliott

Simon Williams (Justin Elliott)

Before we get into this week’s blog, we should give thanks that, while the rest of the country is in lockdown and people are gradually going stir crazy, the coronavirus pandemic appears to have bypassed Borsetshire. As we will see, nightclubs, bars and shops are still open and, far from self-isolating, Ben Archer is, as they say, putting it about with gusto to celebrate his 18th.

The biggest worry is the loss of Friday night’s episode of our favourite soap; at this rate Ambridge will be operating a three-day week before long. We know that Saturdays do not exist in Ambridge, but now we have lost Fridays as well - where will it all end? And so to the blog…

Pip and Phoebe are talking about fencing for the rewilding project and they are joined by Justin. Pip has spent a lot of time preparing a spreadsheet with detailed costs from suppliers concerning the fencing that they will need. As far as I understand it, the idea is to let cattle roam free to graze on the rewilding land. Justin asks to look at the spreadsheet and he comments that the costs look a little high to him and he is confident that BL’s buying power could get the price down. Phoebe is pleased, but Pip says later that she felt patronised.

The following day, the two girls are joined by Rex and the trio decide to remove a fencepost. This they do, and Phoebe remarks that they should have done something to mark the occasion. Never mind, says Rex - they can celebrate in the pub later and he makes a speech, saying that the three of them make a great team. They go to The Bull and Rex returns from the bar, bearing a bottle of champagne. Where did that come from? Pip asks and Rex replies that apparently Justin ordered it and left instructions that it should be opened when the three came in. 

How did Justin know that they would be celebrating? “Justin moves in mysterious ways” says Rex, and the three of them toast Mr Elliott and drink his champagne. Call me picky, but I cannot help thinking that, if they celebrate every time that they move one post and Justin then forks out on a bottle of champers, then rewilding Ambridge is (a) going to take an awfully long time and (b) practically all of Peggy’s £500,000 will be spent on champagne and I’m willing to bet that that was not mentioned when they submitted the initial business plan. There is also the fact  that, by the time Ambridge is rewilded, the trio’s livers will be shot to pieces.

On Tuesday, we saw another side of Justin Elliott when, in conversation with Kirsty, he says that, in view of what happened at Grey Gables, he doesn’t think it is appropriate for Philip’s men to be working at Berrow Farm at this time. “Talk about kicking a man when he’s down” Kirsty mutters, adding that Philip has been badly affected by the whole Grey Gables incident and she has never seen him so down.

Justin makes a comment along the lines of ‘sometimes it’s the little things that we do that can have a big effect’ and Philip returns home to find Kirsty going through his business papers. What’s going on? She tells him that some company rang up about an invoice and she thought she would help him by finding it, but she has had no success so far. Philip tells her that he knows where it is and she is not to worry - he is on top of everything. Kirsty says she was just trying to help. Philip replies that he knows that, adding that she is his rock. “I don’t know what I’d do without you” he says.

At Brookfield, Josh is distinctly down, having no meaningful job and, trying to cheer him up, Brian, who is there to drill oilseed, says that they could use some help at Home Farm and to leave it with him. Sadly, Josh jumps the gun and goes to see Adam to tell him that he can start right away - he even had a refresher course on lambing from Pip (and what riveting radio that was). Adam is not best pleased - he tells Brian that he fired Ed because he was involved in dodgy dealing and has Brian forgotten that Josh is still under investigation for possibly selling stolen machinery? Adam orders Brian to contact Josh and tell him that there is no job going.

But back to Philip. He gets a panicky phone call from son Gavin, at the hospital - the police are questioning Blake; what if the lad cracks under the pressure? When he arrives at the hospital, Philip tells Gav that he’s getting fed up with his son’s attitude (Gavin admits that he’s bricking it) and orders him to go and stay with his mother for a while. “You’re a liability Gav - from now on we’re going to handle this situation my way.”

Philip’s way is to tell Blake to stick to their pre-arranged story. Philip’s attitude is part paternal and part threatening. “It’s the only way I can protect you, Blake.” Blake says that he is sorry about the explosion (Philip has told him that it was his fault) but he was so very hungry. “We’re family, don’t forget” Philip tells him, and adds that it is breaking his heart to see the trouble that Blake is in “but I promise I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe.” By this time, Blake is a quivering wreck and Philip has got him just where he wants him, with unquestioning, blind obedience.

Incidentally, it takes Kirsty a couple of days to notice that Gavin has gone walkabout and she questions Philip about his whereabouts. Philip replies that he sent Gavin away, as he’s dealing with a lot of guilt. Kirsty is very angry and blames Blake for the explosion and the subsequent effect on Philip.

It’s an ill explosion that blows nobody any good, as they might say, and Freddie is being hailed as a hero by all and sundry for rescuing Lynda from the aftermath of the blast. So much praise is being heaped upon him that he feels embarrassed and begs people not to use the words ‘hero’ or ‘heroic’ when they talk to him, or about him.

This feeling of embarrassment becomes acute when Robert Snell seeks him out to thank him for saving Lynda’s life and insists on giving him a hug. “You don’t know how grateful I am” Robert tells him, while Freddie’s toes curl up with embarrassment. Robert says that Lynda would like to see Freddie above anyone else, but Freddie is unsure, as he feels guilty because he is virtually unscathed, while Lynda was in mortal danger for a while.

Robert then presses something into Freddie’s hand - it is the Military Medal that was awarded to Robert’s father for bravery in the war. A stunned Freddie says that he cannot possibly accept it, but Robert says that Freddie did something extraordinarily brave and he wants to honour him for that. Touched, Freddie says that he will treasure it, and, if Robert ever wants it back…

So now we come to Ben Archer’s birthday celebrations - or to be more accurate, the fortnight after his birthday, as he was 18 on 15^th March. We learn that the colour of his car is bright - very bright - orange, but Ben doesn’t care. What concerns him is that Pip still hasn’t bought him a proper birthday present. To keep him quiet, she suggests that she, Ben and Josh (to cheer the latter up over the no job at Home Farm fiasco) go out for a night on the lash. Pip will drive them and will pay for the drinks - but not for Ben’s friends as well; her generosity only stretches so far.

Ben accepts with alacrity and suggests that they go into a club in Felpersham the very next night. Josh finds his brother going through his wardrobe, looking for something suitably stunning to wear. At first, Josh isn’t too keen on the idea, but when he learns that they will be going out in Pip’s car and not the orangemobile, he allows himself to be persuaded. Perhaps they should have taken Ben’s car, as Pip’s car breaks down. Ben, who is already pretty well-refreshed and drinking in the back, demands that they get him to Felpersham. He gets out of the car and drunkenly flags down the next car that he sees, much to his siblings’ consternation.

Luckily (or possibly not) the car is Joy Horville’s MG Midget and Ben demands a lift, as it’s his birthday. She agrees, but it is only a two-seater, so she sets off with Ben, leaving Pip and Josh to follow when the breakdown van arrives. Some time later, brother and sister arrive at the club to find Joy and the friend she was meeting, but there’s no sign of Ben. Joy tells them that he met a girl and has vanished. Pip wants to go back home, but Josh insists on having a drink “or maybe two”.

Next morning, Rooooth gives a violently hungover Josh the third degree, as Ben hasn’t come home yet. Josh says that Ben is crashing at one of his college friend’s and reminds his mum that Ben is 18, after all. Rooooth goes and Pip comes in, angry because Ben and Josh abandoned her and she had to listen to Joy all night. Pip and Josh agree to cover for Ben, but, later on, Jill notices that their stories differ; while Josh said that Ben was staying with a college friend, Pip said that he fell in with some young farmer friends.

Rooooth and Jill talk and agree that they suppose they will have to get used to Ben staying out late, or indeed, all night. Rooooth gets a text from Ben, which says simply “chill out, mother”. Jill is alone when Ben slips back into Brookfield and she teases him, saying that she hopes that he took precautions (by which I assume that she meant that she hopes he washed his hands).

Ben and Josh meet up and Ben says that he spent the night with Chloe, whom he describes as “gorgeous” and he tells his brother that he is going clubbing again next week. Chloe, he adds, couldn’t wait to get his shirt off. “Too much information!” protests Josh, and forbears to remind Ben that it was his shirt anyway. As Ben goes to get some (presumably well-earned) rest, Josh says to himself “I’ve got a horrible feeling that we may have created a monster!”