The episode unfolds with John Barnett (Rupert Penry-Jones), meticulously reassembling a shattered photo frame, when Emma Barnett (Jill Halfpenny) approaches, her demeanor laden with regret. She confesses her remorse for not heeding his warnings and instead opting against calling an ambulance. John poses a poignant question: what if Derek Abshire (James Fleet) succumbs to his injuries? Emma replies, her voice trembling, that it would implicate John in his demise, making her an accessory to the fateful occurrence. John gently reminds her that it was she who physically shoved Derek, but she insists it was a harrowing accident, steadfast in her belief in upholding the sanctity of the law. He counters by hinting at her propensity for acquitting those in trouble, yet she remains steadfast in her conviction.
Just then, Lee Hatby (Chris Gascoyne) barges in, demanding payment by the week's end, his tone brooking no refusal. John inquiries about the consequences of default, to which Lee assures him with a sinister smile that Derek, if still a nuisance, won't be a problem much longer. Left alone, John vents his frustration by punching a hole through the wall. His attempt to reach Sonia Spence (Amy Nuttall) is thwarted by her voicemail. Meanwhile, across the fence, Alan Spence (Ray Fearon) greets him with a knowing nod.
Beth Barnett (Megan Trower) receives an urgent call from PC Gallagher (Jamie-Lee O’Connell), her gaze drifting to Nick Hewitt (Alex Macqueen), who stands mesmerized by the view from his bedroom window. Gallagher's call interrupts her thoughts once more. She tries reaching Terry Dobson (Larry Lamb), only to be greeted by his voicemail as well. Nick catches sight of Emma, engaged in a phone conversation outside the Abshire residence. Emma leaves a message for Terry, informing him of the withdrawal of their planning permission, before ringing the Abshire's doorbell.
Barbara Abshire (Tessa Peake-Jones), her demeanor uncharacteristically cheerful, greets Emma warmly and invites her in. She inquires about the progress of their house extension, prompting Emma to ask about the bruise marring Barbara's face. Barbara dismisses it as a simple slip, shifting the conversation to John's job prospects. Emma persists in her inquiry about Derek's whereabouts, but Barbara evades the question, instead probing Emma's true feelings towards Derek. Emma accuses Derek of causing the death of magpies, to which Barbara responds cryptically, narrating her discovery of Derek lying unconscious on the kitchen floor and her subsequent call to the ambulance, branding it a peculiar turn of events.
Emma expresses concern for Derek's wellbeing, prompting Barbara to question her sincerity. Emma assures her of her genuine care, but Barbara remains skeptical. When Emma inquiries about Derek's prognosis, Barbara wonders aloud if Emma truly cares, to which Emma replies affirmatively. Barbara reveals that Derek remains unconscious, his recovery uncertain. Emma apologizes, prompting Barbara to ask why, given Emma's apparent lack of involvement. Barbara suggests reporting Derek for the magpies' demise but cautions against involving the police, leaving Emma puzzled. Barbara curtly dismisses her.
Emma offers Beth a ride to college, but Beth, absorbed in her thoughts, continues on foot. John inquires about Barbara's visit, and Emma recounts Derek's hospitalization and Barbara's claim of being asleep during the incident. John wonders if he should believe Barbara's narrative, but Emma hesitates, fearing they might appear suspicious if they approach the police now. Lee slows his car, his gaze locking onto John before driving off. Soon after, Alan finds John distracted in their unfinished kitchen, sharing the bombshell news that Sonia might be pregnant. John, stunned, demands an explanation, and Alan reveals finding a pregnancy test in her bag. John wonders why Sonia kept this from him, and Alan speculates that she feared his reaction, though he himself is overjoyed, describing it as a miracle given their limited intimacy over the past year. John urges Alan to let Sonia break the news herself, but Alan, embracing him warmly, confesses that he never realized how cherished a friend John had become.
Beth unfolds Gallagher's captivating snapshots of John, Sonia, and herself, captured amidst the cozy ambiance of Aidan’s Kitchen, presenting them to Terry with curiosity. She inquiries about the circumstances of his encounter with John and whether he was accompanied. Amidst this discussion, his phone buzzes with an incoming call from Emma, prompting him to share the photos with her. As Emma prepares to depart, Terry's intrigue deepens, prompting him to request a glimpse of all the images on her phone. Reluctantly, she surrenders her device. As he scrolls through the frames, he inquisitively asks about the photographer, to which she replies, "A friend," with a hint of evasion. Terry firmly corrects her assumption, insisting that the lensman is anything but a mere acquaintance. Fearing the revelation, she confesses her apprehension and implores him to keep silent about it in front of Emma. With Emma's call ringing again, Beth hastily exits the pub, leaving a trail of unanswered questions.
Elsewhere, John's arrival is marked by the chiming of a doorbell. Sonia, opening the door, finds herself confronted by John's determined presence as he forcefully enters. He reveals that Alan has discovered her pregnancy test, nestled unbeknownst in her bag. Stunned, she reprimands him for informing Alan, rather than her. John, questioning the Paternity of the baby, encounters Sonia's resolute denial of any obligation towards him. Their conversation veers towards hypothetical scenarios, as she elucidates how the impending life has filled her with unparalleled emotions. John discloses that Alan sought to gauge his reaction, already privy to their affair. As the topic of the baby's future arises, Sonia insists that John leave.
Barbara discovers a mysterious package awaiting her at her doorstep. John's timely appearance prompts a query about Derek's health, which she describes as perplexingly critical. He offers hopeful sentiments for Derek's recovery, while she, with a smile, closes the door behind him. Meanwhile, Gallagher's car comes to a halt beside Beth, striding resolutely down the pavement. In the park, Emma confronts Terry, accusing him of meddling in their kitchen venture due to her refusal to finance his loan. Terry, denying any involvement or knowledge, is blindsided by Emma's revelation of her job loss. He shares his concern about Beth's palpable fear regarding something he has discovered, urging her to reconnect with her.
Elsewhere, Gallagher confronts Beth about abandoning her photo exhibition, prompting her to question the motive behind her photography. Gallagher suggests that her subjects' activities were questionable, emphasizing that a photograph often speaks volumes. Beth, desperate for clarity, pleads for an understanding of Gallagher's intentions. In a sudden, unforeseen move, Gallagher grabs her gearshift, leading Beth to instinctively touch his hand in reaction. Gallagher retaliates with a harsh slap across her face.
Elsewhere, John discovers Lee and Pawel (Patryk Szewczyk) demolishing the kitchen tiles, attempting to intervene but being thrown against the wall in the process. In a neighboring apartment, Barbara, contemplating a photo of Marcus, is startled by the distant sounds of commotion. John, promptly dialing the police, watches as Lee threatens to tear down the walls next. Barbara's comforting news about Derek's potential recovery is met with John's relief, yet she warns him of Emma's astuteness and the shared wisdom of their circle. Lee speeds away in his work van, leaving John to reconsider his decision to involve the authorities. Nick, observing the scenario, retreats indoors.
Later, Alan, noticing a lock on the Barnett's gate, expresses his dissatisfaction to Sonia. His tender moments with her, kissing her and rubbing her abdomen, are juxtaposed with his cryptic remark about John's distracted demeanor and hidden secrets. Sonia leaves John a voicemail, requesting a meeting. Meanwhile, Alan watches her from the garden, his gaze filled with unspoken intentions.
Beth is shackled to the stove, her wrists encased in metal handcuffs, as Gallagher suggests sending Emma the incriminating photos from Beth's phone. Beth's eyes widen in disbelief as she inquiries the rationale behind Gallagher's actions, warning that such deeds could land her in jail. Gallagher, with a smirk of confidence, boasts that the police would undoubtedly side with her over Beth. She insists that Emma deserves to know about her husband's affair. Beth's brow furrows in confusion as she asks why Gallagher cares so much. Without hesitation, Gallagher seizes Beth's finger and forces it against the phone's sensor, unlocking it with a beep.
Suddenly, an incoming call flashes across the screen, and Gallagher answers it promptly. Emma's voice crackles through the line, querying Gallagher about Terry's distressed state. Gallagher curtly ends the call, leaving Beth to protest that such actions are unfair to Emma. Gallagher counters by asking if Emma's unjust suspension of Beth was any fairer, before sending the photos with a flick of her thumb.
Meanwhile, Emma receives a call from John, who is currently with Sonia near the park. Ignoring the call, John declares his intentions to raise their baby together, a revelation that shocks Sonia. He claims excitement upon learning of the pregnancy from Alan and asserts that their respective marriages have been on rocky terrain for some time, while what they share is genuine and real.
Nick informs Emma that her security camera has malfunctioned, yet his own camera failed to capture the culprit. As she prepares to shut the door, Nick halts her, posing a grim question about Derek's potential involvement in the magpie disappearances. Emma replies that if no more magpies are seen, Derek must be responsible, given his hospitalization. Nick then shares his CCTV footage of Lee and Alan engaged in a heated argument, suggesting Lee might be up to something sinister, while Derek is无辜的. Just then, Emma receives an attachment from Beth's phone, interrupting their conversation. She scans through the photos, her heart pounding.
A message from Beth pleads for some solitude to ponder, but Emma's call to her friend goes straight to voicemail. As she steps onto the crosswalk, Alan intercepts her, breaking the news of Sonia's pregnancy. He reveals that John knew before he did, leaving Emma devastated. She apologizes hastily and dashes to her car, tears streaming down her face. Alan watches her speed away with a sinister grin, while Nick observes the entire scene through a live security feed.
Elsewhere, Barbara is immersed in washing dishes when she notices a magpie perched on her tree, a rare sight amidst the recent disturbances. Just then, her phone rings with a call from the hospital, filling her with a sense of foreboding.
Upon arriving home to discover an eerie emptiness where his loved ones should be, John hastily scurries to gather his belongings. A notification buzzes on his phone, signaling an incoming call from Emma, but he brushes it aside, intent on his packing. Meanwhile, in a separate conversation, Emma confides in Terry, revealing that Beth was the one who forwarded her the photographs. Terry, however, speculates otherwise and insistently advises her to contact the authorities.
Elsewhere, Alan confronts Sonia, grilling her about a conversation regarding their baby that she supposedly had with John but kept from him. His face inches from hers, he confesses to having been aware of their affair for quite some time and even toyed with the idea of sleeping with Emma. Sonia attempts to interrupt, but he silences her abruptly. He had assumed that once John and Emma relocated, their illicit affair would fade into obscurity. As he gestures towards Lee lounging in his van, Alan demands to know if she is enamored with John. She remains silent, her expression unreadable. With a parting order to stay put, Alan storms off.
Concurrently, Gallagher confines Beth, her wrists bound to the stove, while Emma, trapped in her car, repeatedly dials Beth's number to no avail. Back at his residence, John descends the stairs, suitcase in hand, only to find the front door ajar. Emma's call rings out again, but he ignores it, his attention riveted by a startling sight that sends shockwaves through him.
Beth's desperate cries for assistance echo in the distance. As Emma steps out of her car, Barbara intercepts her, delivering the heart-wrenching news of Derek's passing. Emma offers her condolences, but Barbara, overwhelmed with grief, retreats to the sanctuary of her home. Upon arriving at her doorstep, Emma encounters two lifeless magpies, a grim message tied to them: "Five for silver. Six for cold." Stepping inside, she is greeted by a grim tableau—a bloody handprint on the wall, streaks of crimson leading to the kitchen where Alan lies lifeless, a knife embedded in his chest. Beside his body, a chilling note reads: "Seven for a secret never to be told." Emma clamps her hand over her mouth, stifling the screams that threaten to escape.
