Episode 85 (13th August 1973)

Plot
Jack arrives back from London, he is still reluctant to write his film script despite being offered thirty thousand pounds to do it. Annie think it's unfair the amount of money offered for just writing a script. A shy young man walks into The Woolpack. Verney arrives and meets him, he is his nephew, Mark. Verney and Jack have an awkward meeting at the bar. Jack offers to buy him a drink and he accepts. Verney telephones the Sugdens to ask if Matt can play in Beckindale Cricket Club's match against Robblesfield. Wilks is invited to The Blue Boar by Molesworth. Mick invites Alison to The Woolpack. Wilks calls to see Verney who shows him the Butterworth Ball, a ball used by a local shepherd passing through the village in 1891 when Beckindale were playing Robblesfield at cricket. The story is that Butterworth filled in when they were a man short and won the game for them by hitting the ball over a quarter of a mile. Nowadays, the two villages play each other every year for the honour of winning Butterworth's Ball. Verney wants to make sure that Matt gets the hay in so that he can play cricket for Beckindale. He suggests sending Mark over to help, in the hope that it may toughen him up a little also. Jack has a drink with Alison. Wilks comes back from his meeting with Molesworth and tells Annie that Molesworth is offering to double Matt's salary and provide him with a nurse for the twins.

Regular cast

 * Jack - Anthony Burt
 * Annie - Sheila Mercier
 * Sam - Toke Townley
 * Wilks - Arthur Pentelow
 * Alison - Carolyn Moody
 * Verney - Patrick Holt

Guest cast

 * Mark - Geoffrey Burridge
 * Molesworth - Reginald Marsh
 * Mick - David Kelly

Commercial Releases
This episode was included on the following commercial releases:
 * Emmerdale Farm: Volume Four DVD released by Network on 6th August 2012.