With the imminent arrival of her sister, Ma is beside herself and cleaning like a demon. Meanwhile Tom's plans for Bluff Court are speeding ahead and a crunch meeting at the village hall looks like giving him the planning permission he needs.

With the imminent arrival of her sister, Ma is beside herself and cleaning like a demon. Bertha, her husband Howard and their daughter Jemima are firm suburbanites who despise the countryside and in particular dirt and animals. Things aren't going very well between Mariette and Charley, so Tom makes his move.

Meanwhile Tom's plans for Bluff Court are speeding ahead, threats of pulling down Spreading Linda (a beloved tree) and flattening the countryside are worrying Miss Pilchester and other villagers. Pop smells self-interest from Alec Norman and his crew.

Back at the farm, Ma and the family are trying not to slap showboating, competitive Howard and Bertha. Finally Ma snaps and challenges her sister to a race, Jaguar vs Rolls Royce, much to Pop and Howard's concern.

A crunch meeting at the village hall looks like giving Tom Fisher the planning permission he needs. Primrose saves the day by bringing news from the planning office that Tom intends to flatten most of the village. Ma is winning the car race but sees how desperate Bertha is to win so lets her, restoring harmony to the sisters. But celebrations are interrupted by the discovery that Mariette, despite growing affection for Charley, has scarpered and is on her way to France.