The aftermath of the failed meeting

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Look, I'm not going to take any criticism of my home making today, Kate. Not when I've already baked a batch of biscuits this morning. They look fabulous. I don't suppose they're vegan No, I'm afraid not. Are they an olive branch to take to the meeting? So you know about that? I just know that Adam is keen to have a civil discussion about what dissolving the family partnership actually looks like. And he thinks that without Ruth there we'll be uncivil. Don't you? Your track record hasn't been great recently, dad. He these biscuits are not an olive branch because I don't need to proffer one I'm the good guy here. I've agreed to be at this meeting even though there's absolutely no need for it. But I'm nothing of not accommodating. Pass me in the biscuits here with you. burnt the first batch, but I'm very proud of these. What flavor are they? Ginger. H Doid you know this ten is older than Alice Your mother and I managed to get away for a long weekend in the run up to Christmas. Not long before Alice was born, must have been december nineteen eighty seven. We were on Oxford Street when it started snowing, so it ducked into a shop for shelter and we were both completely charmed by this tin And who was looking after me while you two were gallivanting around London I don't know. someomeone I don't remember But I do remember how beautiful your mother looked Right or done When did the meeting start? twwelve I've just got time for a shave and a change a shirt. Dad Have you thought about what will happen to the profits left in the bank? how they should be divided? What profits? What with the cost of fuel and fertiliser or barely be any profit? I do hope that's not what Adam is planning to fixate on. I'm not sure that making very little profit is something to sound quite so smug about. N smug, just realistic If you think I'm making all this up, perhaps you should come along to the meeting this time and rely on Adam to do all the dirty work. Luckily I have work to do. My shift at Grey Gables starts soon, so I need to get going. Give my best to Oliver. I hope it all goes well, dad. Just remember that you can't be both the good guy and the stubborn stick in the mud. I have no intention of being stubborn or a stick in the mud. Great Well, I'll see you later Who said that about me? Did someone call me a stick in the mud? So do you want my advice? Please. Okay, here it is, straight from the Ian Craig School of Pep Tks. Just stay calm. You'll be looking to get a ryise out of you. You've wr in your side and Ruth is a witness. so I just remember what Kate said, Don't poke the bear. Let Ruth hear how unreasonable it is and that her do the challenging Just stick to the facts and you can't go wrong. And the fact is the other partners and me are owed money. Yeah exactly. Brian can't just take back his land without divying up the profit the partnership has made. His refusal to address this is illegal and immoral. Immoral, certainly, but I'm not completely confident that it's illegal. Now Brian is basically stealing from his own children to make a point. That's morally repugnent. But since when has Brian been bothered about morality Take a seat, Ban. Oh, thank you. Here's a coffee. Oh, it smells delicious. There's milk and sugar on the table. It's very generous of you to host this, Ruth Inder where Adams got to's not really on to be late to a meeting you've convened. It's only just on twelve. Well, maybe my ginger biscuits will help sustain us while we wait. Freshly baked by yours truly. lovefully. Jennifer be proud. M more like. You know why he's called this meeting, don't you? He wants me to agree to a long mist of things he thinks he's owed But I have to be frank, Ruth. My main goal for today is to put a stop to these ridiculous claims. Ryan, if you've come here with a closed mind or all fired up to be adversarial, then you can put the lid back on your ginger biscuits and go home I see. Today is about meaningful negotiation and compromise, taking positive steps towards an agreement that will suit Everyone I did see you and Adams divided. look, this is him now. All families have their ups and downs. You should have seen Ed Grundy. You arrived at work this morning, shattered from the constant never ending energy needed to bring up kids. Well, there's some truth in that, certainly. Even when they're grown ups, we don't get to stop thinking like their p. Especially when they're grown ups. That's when the difficulties really kick in. Hi, Adam Come in Come in. Finally. I'm sorry, I'm a couple of minutes late. I got held up by Linda Snell and her spepeed watchatch team. CQu speeding, were you? No, Brian, I was. I have a seat. Thanks. Help yourself to coffee and biscuits. Made from a secret family recipe. takeake one. No thanks. So. Okay, I suggest we crack on straight away I know this is an informal meeting, but I'll be taking some notes so we have a record of what's been agreed. Good idea? orr disagreed? Gight Now jump in if I get anything wrong, but as far as I understand it, Adam is looking for the partners to get their share of the farm profits that they feel they're oed. And also to get financially compensated for Kit bought by the partnership and now in Brian's possession Hi, Kid, have you got a minute? Yeah, as long as we can talk while I work, I'm still nowhere near as fast at making a bed as everyone else. Even the porters and bar staff can do it faster than me. Why are porters and bar staff making beds? Because it's useful to have a range of skills. Wasn't that what Dane was encouraging? Oh also there's a league table. Of bed making? Yes. And I'm at the bottom Anyway, look you crack on, I just wanted to ask if you'd heard anything about the meeting between Adam and Brian yet? No, because housekeeping aren't supposed to look at our phones while we're working? I won't report you. Okay, O second No, notothing from Dad or Adam. Oh out of the way and I need to get to the right angle to do that corner. Sorry. I wish I wasn't so preoccupied with Adam's blasted meeting. I should be focusing on getting ready for the sci fi convention next week. Is that Hasic Con? Yeah, yeah, it's a big deal. And it could mean return to business if we got it right. A! E with you distracting me, I've beaten my bedmaking time by a full five seconds. Congratulations Oh. Now, I think you need to try and forget the meeting is happening and you know, just throw yourself into your work here. Yeah, you're right, but I'm worried Adam is going to lose as Culp Brown behaves badly. I mean, you should all be getting what you're entitled to without having to beg for it and an apology wouldn't go amiss either, especially to Adam who's literally worked night and day to keep home fararm afloat and you're preaching to the converted. In fact, he's done way more than just keeping it afloat. He's put that farm at the cuttting edge of sustainable agriculture. Why can't Brian be grateful for that? I do worry that in all this righteous rage, Zander is getting a little lost. Brian is his grandfather It's just tragic that such a vital bond is being broken. Yeah, I would have felt the same a few weeks ago But how can we trust Brown to always treat Xander as family? You see how easily he tossed Adam aside, denying him as a son? And that was awful, Unforgivable. But you're gonna find an excuse for it anyway? No. But we can't predict the future or control it, and maybe letting Dad and Xanda build their own relationship is worth a risk. Not for us You know, Dad had a gorgeous time with Martha on the train on Father's Day, and the photos of them together at Martha's reading afternoon are adorable Your fear of future rejection on Xander's behalf is actually only denying him these experiences right now. But that proves it Brian has never once been to one of Xanders's reading afternoons, he obviously considers Martha more of a real grandchild All right, I understand your frustration, Brian, but let Adam have his say. Well, go on then speak Though I'm only sticking around if you've got something new to say I won't sit here and have the same old insults held at me. What insults have I heard? Well if you can't remember, isn't that part of the problem? You can deflect all you want, Brian. I've been sitting here for the last forty five minutes and watch you go from victim to aggressor and back again as you spout your hero narrative. Ruth for the record, write down that I'll accept my status as as closeer as to flawed hero. That's not helpful, Brian. I disagree. Hume's got many a fraught negotiation back on track. In the end, it's simple You want your share of both the profits and the value of the partnership machinery? Yes, finally. Well you can sling your hook This feels like the perfect time for a short break Let's get some air, another coffee and meet back here in ten minutes. No Ruth, no, no, I can't see us making any more progress when Adam refuses to accept that I bankroll them for years. These ridiculous statements. Not ridiculous at all Jenny and I kept all our profits in the farm Well the rest of the partner has got payouts no matter what. So you're getting nothing from me now. bank of Mum and dad is well and truly closed. Another hollow declaration. Can you see what he's doing, Ruth? He's trying to get me to a point where I say or do something I regret. All I can see is two people who aren't prepared to listen to each other. Can you blame me? It's obvious. Adam's in no state to negotiate. this is going nowhere Be you never had any intention of letting it go somewhere. You know, I think we all need time to process what's been said Let's arrange to meet again one day next week. There won't be another meeting, or not a me present anyway. Okay. . won't you even stay for a biscuit, Adam? Let's at least be civil. I'm sorry about this, Ruth, but thank you. I'm grateful you tried. Bye Adam. Bye, bye Adam See, the boy's impossible. The boy is almost sixty and in a difficult position. He thought he was going to spend the rest of his life managing a home farm and now he's not. There's a lot to come to terms with. I can understand his frustration. Everyone has to face disappointments in life at some point. I do have one final question for you. Oh yeah What is it you want, Brian? What do you actually want