# The Archers — 2026-10-29

*Edited from an automatic transcript. Speaker identities are inferred; wording has not been verified against the audio.*

## Scene 1

[00:00:58] **George:** Morning.

[00:01:03] **Kira:** What are you doing here?

[00:01:05] **George:** Checking you've gone to school.

[00:01:06] **Kira:** I'm just washing up. Mum goes mad if I leave my stuff in the sink.

[00:01:10] **George:** Then I'm going. You'll miss the bus, won't you? You won't get there in time, no?

[00:01:13] **Kira:** I'll be fine.

[00:01:14] **George:** Leave it, George. I can give you a lift. The bus is fine.

[00:01:17] **Kira:** Yeah, it would be if you were going, but you're not, are you?

[00:01:20] **George:** Of course I am.

[00:01:21] **Kira:** Well, I was. I've been looking forward to it. It's science.

[00:01:25] **George:** You've been looking forward to science.

[00:01:28] **Kira:** OK, but I was going.

[00:01:30] **George:** Was, right. I mean, we spent so long in A&E yesterday. I'm really tired. I don't think I'll be able to learn anything. I just keep yawning, see?

[00:01:42] **George:** Yeah, I see. Shouldn't you be at work?

[00:01:45] **Kira:** Yeah, I should.

[00:01:46] **George:** Well, go. Don't worry about me.

[00:01:48] **Kira:** Mum asked me to check on you.

[00:01:50] **George:** What's going on, Kira?

[00:01:51] **Kira:** I'm exhausted. I told you.

[00:01:53] **George:** Because you spent so long in A&E yesterday.

[00:01:55] **Kira:** Exactly.

[00:01:56] **George:** Yeah, when they couldn't find anything the matter with you. Funny that, don't you think?

[00:02:01] **Kira:** Well, it wasn't my idea to go. It was Will's.

[00:02:03] **George:** I think we need another chat, Kira. One skiver to another.

[00:02:06] **Kira:** I'm not a skiver.

[00:02:07] **George:** No, you were so ill you had to go to A&E, and then suddenly you were fine.

[00:02:11] **Kira:** Go to work, George.

[00:02:12] **George:** I'm going to be late anyway. Another half hour won't hurt.

[00:02:14] **Kira:** I'm not going to talk to you.

[00:02:16] **George:** Why not?

[00:02:16] **Kira:** Because I don't want to.

[00:02:17] **George:** Because you know I know.

[00:02:18] **Kira:** No, because I don't want to. I don't have to. You're not going to listen to me anyway.

[00:02:22] **George:** You've made a reminder.

[00:02:24] **Kira:** What if I promise I will listen?

[00:02:25] **George:** Oh, I'm going to my room.

[00:02:26] **Kira:** I'll talk through the door then.

[00:02:27] **George:** What?

[00:02:27] **Kira:** I'll put my music on.

[00:02:28] **George:** I can show it with the best of them, Kira.

[00:02:31] **Kira:** Well?

## Scene 2

[00:02:35] **Martin:** All the records?

[00:02:37] **Rex:** Yes, please, Martin. To be on the safe side.

[00:02:39] **Martin:** That's rather a lot, Martin. I don't need printouts. E-copies will be fine.

[00:02:43] **Rex:** I'm putting everything I can together, so if there's trouble, everything will be to hand, and we can head it off at the pass.

[00:02:49] **Martin:** We're going back how far?

[00:02:51] **Rex:** Two years, do you think? All the details of any tree surgeries, any check-ups, follow-ups, all that.

[00:02:56] **Martin:** Do you use multiple service companies?

[00:02:58] **Rex:** A couple. Mostly the Grundys. They're local and very reliable.

[00:03:03] **Martin:** That shouldn't take too long, should it? You concerned about anything in particular?

[00:03:08] **Rex:** Well, apart from a falling tree nearly killing Vince Casey, you mean?

[00:03:13] **Martin:** Sorry. Obviously, that's important. If there's a claim, we'll need to show that BL as landowners and rewilding as tenants are completely in the clear.

[00:03:21] **Rex:** Investigations are still ongoing.

[00:03:24] **Martin:** Yes. Is there a problem? Is there likely to be a claim?

[00:03:30] **Rex:** That's the question. I popped up to the hospital last night to see how Vince was, poor chap.

[00:03:35] **Martin:** And?

[00:03:36] **Rex:** I don't know. He wasn't allowed in. Elizabeth said he wasn't up to visitors, though we're here on the grapevine. He's issuing orders via Freddie, so he's obviously awake and compass-mentous.

[00:03:46] **Martin:** Alan got turned away too, though. So it wasn't just me. I don't know if that means anything. Right. Seems par for the course for our vicar lately, though, wouldn't you say?

[00:03:55] **Rex:** Uh, I wouldn't know.

[00:03:57] **Martin:** So, can I expect all those records by, say, two o'clock? I'd like to have everything collated before the weekend.

[00:04:04] **Rex:** I'll dig out the details.

[00:04:08] **Martin:** And any associated emails, please. Belton braces.

[00:04:14] **Rex:** There.

## Scene 3

[00:04:15] **Kira:** Well, I'm not drinking it.

[00:04:17] **George:** It's a mug of tea. I haven't poisoned it.

[00:04:19] **Kira:** You're being horrible.

[00:04:20] **George:** I made you tea.

[00:04:22] **Kira:** Well, it's got too much milk in. You make terrible tea.

[00:04:25] **George:** Keira.

[00:04:25] **Kira:** I'm too tired to go to school, all right? We were in A&E nearly six hours.

[00:04:30] **George:** Because they kept doing tests because they couldn't find anything wrong with you.

[00:04:33] **Kira:** That's not my fault.

[00:04:34] **George:** Do you know the state my dad was in when he got back yesterday?

[00:04:38] **Kira:** Keira.

[00:04:39] **George:** I did have a headache. The cut on my leg was red.

[00:04:42] **Kira:** And you played that for all it was worth, didn't you? See? Horrible.

[00:04:45] **George:** You know what happened to Nick. You're not a kid anymore.

[00:04:48] **Kira:** It wasn't my fault.

[00:04:50] **George:** Dad was scared you'd got sepsis. He was terrified you might die like Nick did because she left it too long. He was a complete wreck last night. It took me and Amber a solid hour to calm him down.

[00:05:03] **Kira:** I'm sorry.

[00:05:04] **George:** It was cruel, Keira.

[00:05:06] **Kira:** I didn't mean it to happen.

[00:05:07] **George:** Right. It wasn't on purpose.

[00:05:09] **Kira:** He got all worried and frantic and I couldn't get out of it. How could I? I didn't want to upset him. I was just trying to get off of school.

[00:05:18] **George:** It was only a catch-up class. Two hours of your life. You couldn't manage that. Why not?

[00:05:24] **Kira:** Stop shouting at me.

[00:05:25] **George:** I'm not shouting. I'm trying to understand.

[00:05:28] **Kira:** Because I'm a waste of space, all right? Is that what you want to hear?

[00:05:31] **George:** Of course I don't. Of course you're not.

[00:05:34] **Kira:** Why couldn't you just go to school?

[00:05:35] **George:** I hate it.

[00:05:36] **Kira:** Yeah, I get that. I hated school too.

[00:05:39] **George:** No, I mean really hate it. Really, really hate it. Oh, I feel sick every time I go through the doors.

[00:05:48] **Kira:** I know you think I'm just bunking off because I can't be bothered. But I can't bear it, George.

[00:05:56] **George:** I really can.

## Scene 4

[00:06:01] **Martin:** I don't understand. This isn't a complicated request, Rex.

[00:06:04] **Rex:** I'm just saying there may be a delay. I'm not sure I have all the passwords.

[00:06:08] **Martin:** Of course you will though, surely.

[00:06:10] **Rex:** Yeah, yeah, I'm sure.

[00:06:11] **Martin:** I'm not seeing the problem here. Call her and ask.

[00:06:14] **Rex:** It's not that simple. Text for then. Why does nobody under 50 like using the telephone anymore?

[00:06:20] **Martin:** I'll do it.

[00:06:20] **Rex:** Yeah, please don't.

[00:06:21] **Martin:** Rex.

[00:06:23] **Martin:** Rex, why are you being obstructive?

[00:06:27] **Rex:** I don't think I am.

[00:06:28] **Martin:** It feels like it from where I'm standing.

[00:06:30] **Rex:** What's going on here?

[00:06:32] **Martin:** There's an issue.

[00:06:35] **Rex:** Issue?

[00:06:36] **Martin:** The fallen tree, the one in question.

[00:06:39] **Rex:** Yes.

[00:06:40] **Martin:** It was checked back in the spring.

[00:06:41] **Rex:** Good.

[00:06:42] **Martin:** And a follow-up recommended.

[00:06:44] **Rex:** All right. When for?

[00:06:47] **Martin:** The next few weeks.

[00:06:48] **Rex:** Yes. It slipped off my list.

[00:06:53] **Martin:** I'm sorry.

[00:06:55] **Rex:** So the tree that almost killed a leading local businessman would weaker than it should have been?

[00:07:00] **Martin:** Possibly.

[00:07:01] **Rex:** Possibly?

[00:07:02] **Martin:** It was a very heavy storm. The tree may have been fine. But we'll never know, will we? Because someone failed to book in a re-inspection.

[00:07:09] **Rex:** That was me. I forgot.

[00:07:10] **Martin:** Forgot.

[00:07:11] **Rex:** I take complete responsibility.

[00:07:13] **Martin:** Forgive me, Rex. Just at the moment, I'm not finding that much comfort.

[00:07:18] **Rex:** Please don't say anything else.

[00:07:20] **Martin:** I'm sorry.

[00:07:21] **Rex:** No, no, no. I don't want to hear that.

[00:07:26] **Martin:** I'm finding it hard to know how to respond, Rex. Because if I were to share how I'm actually feeling right now, they would be a loud, possibly obscene, and very violent confrontation. Which I think is best avoided, don't you?

[00:07:39] **Rex:** Yes.

[00:07:40] **Martin:** You do have the passwords, then. You can send me the documents.

[00:07:42] **Rex:** Yes.

[00:07:44] **Martin:** By two o'clock, please. I shall have to take this to the BL board.

[00:07:49] **Martin:** I'd like you, Rex, and I like what you've done here. But you must see that this is potentially catastrophic.

[00:07:55] **Martin:** Vince Casey could sue for hundreds of thousands of pounds. More if he doesn't walk again.

[00:08:00] **Rex:** Sue BL, you mean, as land owners?

[00:08:03] **Martin:** That all rather depends, Rex.

[00:08:05] **Rex:** On what?

[00:08:05] **Martin:** On what's in the contract with rewilding. I'll be in touch.

[00:08:09] **Rex:** But Martin, what is in the contract?

[00:08:11] **Martin:** I'll be in touch.

[00:08:13] **Rex:** Oh, damn, damn, damn.

## Scene 5

[00:08:25] **Rex:** Helen?

[00:08:27] **Helen:** No, sorry, I can't quite hear you. I have to see you, Helen. Can I come over now?

## Scene 6

[00:08:36] **Keira:** Here.

[00:08:37] **George:** Feeling any better?

[00:08:39] **Keira:** Not really.

[00:08:40] **George:** Do you want a sandwich or something? Or a bit of toast?

[00:08:42] **Keira:** Why is this you trying to be nice?

[00:08:44] **George:** Maybe.

[00:08:44] **Keira:** Why, it's not working.

[00:08:46] **George:** I can see that.

[00:08:48] **Keira:** So.

[00:08:50] **George:** So what?

[00:08:51] **Keira:** Why don't you want to go to school? Is someone bullying you? Is it because of a boy?

[00:08:57] **George:** Oh, I see.

[00:09:01] **George:** What? Oh, that's great, George. Absolutely great.

[00:09:03] **Keira:** What do you mean?

[00:09:04] **George:** Oh, my sister is upset, so it must be a boy. Oh, wait. Maybe it's her time of the month. Or maybe she's just hysterical and irrational. Girls are, aren't they?

[00:09:13] **Keira:** Sorry, sorry. Honestly. I didn't mean it like that.

[00:09:16] **George:** Well, try thinking before you open your mouth.

[00:09:18] **Keira:** I said sorry.

[00:09:21] **George:** OK. I just want to understand.

[00:09:25] **Keira:** It's not just one thing. It's everything, everything on top of everything else.

[00:09:31] **George:** OK.

[00:09:31] **Keira:** I cope with school most of the time, don't I? I get myself there. I make it to the end of the day. I do my homework.

[00:09:38] **George:** Sure.

[00:09:38] **Keira:** The holidays. Well, I need the holidays, George. I need to, I don't know, refuel, recharge myself just so I can face going back in.

[00:09:48] **George:** Is it the work?

[00:09:50] **Keira:** Well, yeah. That's hard. Some of it's really hard.

[00:09:53] **George:** I found that too.

[00:09:54] **Keira:** But I'm thick.

[00:09:55] **George:** You're not. You're not thick.

[00:09:57] **Keira:** What about your mates? Henry and Khalil.

[00:09:59] **George:** I mean your mates at school.

[00:10:01] **Keira:** Exactly. Henry and Khalil. They're great. They get me.

[00:10:05] **George:** You've got other mates?

[00:10:06] **Keira:** People I know, not mates. I don't even like most of the merch.

[00:10:10] **George:** I get through it because I can walk away and calm myself down, especially in the holidays, when I don't have to be anything.

[00:10:17] **Keira:** So the extra class is...

[00:10:19] **George:** Why do I need maths? I can add up and multiply and stuff. That's all I need. I've got a calculator on my phone if there is a problem. I don't need Venn diagrams or equations of working out how many empty small jars Julie has.

[00:10:33] **Keira:** What?

[00:10:34] **George:** It doesn't matter.

[00:10:34] **Keira:** Who's Julie?

[00:10:35] **George:** It was a homework question. It doesn't matter.

[00:10:37] **Keira:** Well, science is stupid too. Who cares? History's the worst. Oh, I hate history so much. It's really upsetting.

[00:10:45] **George:** History?

[00:10:46] **Keira:** It's just people endlessly killing each other and taking stuff that doesn't belong to them and being hateful to everyone else. Really hateful. I'm going to get enough of that when I turn my phone on.

[00:10:57] **George:** You see?

[00:10:58] **Keira:** Yeah, I'll see.

[00:11:00] **George:** Thing is, you have to go to school. You need your exams.

[00:11:04] **Keira:** Everyone says that.

[00:11:05] **George:** They're not making it up. Please don't do what I did.

[00:11:08] **Keira:** Go to prison, no chance.

[00:11:10] **George:** Keira.

[00:11:11] **Keira:** What did you mean then?

[00:11:13] **George:** I didn't listen in school. I thought it was a waste of my time. I thought I could blag my way through life. I only realised in prison how many opportunities I threw away.

[00:11:23] **Keira:** Like I said, I'm thick.

[00:11:25] **George:** Stop it, George.

[00:11:26] **Keira:** I must be. To have thought I didn't need qualifications.

[00:11:30] **George:** You've got a decent job.

[00:11:31] **Keira:** Yeah, because of Amber's dad. Not because of me. If I don't get a proper job in farming, I'm going to have no chance in life, Keira. None. And that means Storm won't either. It's scary.

[00:11:44] **George:** I hear what you're telling me and I understand the pressure you're under.

[00:11:47] **Keira:** Well, enough of it anyway.

[00:11:49] **George:** But please, please don't make your life any harder than it needs to be. Go to school. Stay and sit your exams. It'll be worth it.

[00:11:58] **Keira:** You think?

[00:11:59] **George:** I know it seems like a really long time until you can leave. But honestly, it isn't. Hang in there. Find a way.

[00:12:05] **Keira:** I don't know if I can.

[00:12:07] **George:** Maybe you'll surprise yourself.

[00:12:10] **Keira:** What are you going to tell mum?

[00:12:12] **George:** Well, it depends. Are you going back to school next week?

[00:12:16] **Keira:** I suppose.

[00:12:17] **George:** And you'll stick to it.

[00:12:18] **Keira:** I said so, didn't I?

[00:12:20] **George:** Then I'll tell mum you're puking your guts up when I got here.

[00:12:23] **Keira:** Charming.

[00:12:24] **George:** And I wouldn't drive you in case you were sick in the car.

[00:12:27] **Keira:** All right. Deal?

[00:12:30] **George:** Deal.

[00:12:32] **Keira:** Hug.

[00:12:32] **George:** Oh, no way. Look, I'd love a bit of toast.

## Scene 7

[00:12:40] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** You have to tell Kirsty there's no alternative.

[00:12:42] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** I can't. There's no way she'd want you to get into trouble for her mistake.

[00:12:46] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** I called her straight after I called you.

[00:12:48] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** Did you say anything?

[00:12:49] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** No, no. I nearly let it slip. But then she told me the midwife was with her. She's being monitored daily now. Her blood pressure's through the roof. I can't put any more stress on her.

[00:12:59] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** What a mess.

[00:13:01] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** Look, I've told Martin I'm to blame. I'll just take the roller king from the BL board, leave Kirsty out of it completely.

[00:13:08] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** And have Vince sued?

[00:13:10] **Unknown / likely Helen and Rex:** I don't know. I'll just have to hope for the best.

[00:13:31] **Ad break / promo text repeats.**

## Uncertainties

- [00:01:10] “Leave it, George. I can give you a lift.” speaker at this point is unclear in the source; kept as Kira/George dialogue by context.
- [00:02:35]–[00:04:14] Speaker labels around “Martin” and “Rex” are inferred; the transcript’s turn-taking is noisy.
- [00:04:57] “because she left it too long” may be slightly mistranscribed; meaning preserved as close as possible.
- [00:05:56] “I really can.” appears to be a misrecognition or clipped turn; kept as supplied.
- [00:06:15] “Tex for then.” is unclear wording; retained as [unclear: original wording] equivalent? Here preserved in cleaned form only as uncertain speech.
- [00:07:55] “leading local businessman” and [00:06:55] “would weaker” are likely recognition errors; context suggests “would have been weaker,” but exact wording is unverified.
- [00:08:25]–[00:08:31] The call with Helen is partial and speaker identities are uncertain.
- [00:10:06] “most of the merch” is unclear; retained as supplied.
- [00:11:31]–[00:11:39] The “decent job” passage seems internally inconsistent, possibly misattributed or transcribed; review needed.
- [00:12:40]–[00:13:10] Final exchange has uncertain speaker identities and likely involves Helen, Rex, and Kirsty-related context, but the audio source is not verified.