Roger & Val Have Just Got In - 1 ª Season

Roger Stephenson,a botanist at the local winter gardens,is long married to Val,who teaches domestic science at a secondary school. When their Hoover breaks down they search for the guarantee in the 'big drawer' in the garage,finding an old door knocker and various holiday souvenirs. They talk about the past and plan the future. Val locates the guarantee but inexplicably tears it up. Roger calls this an act of independence but Sellotapes it back together nonetheless.

Val comes in to find Roger in a bad mood. She has put some fish fingers and frozen peas in the conservatory fridge,which he uses to store his bonsai seeds. She counters by claiming that the kitchen fridge is often over-loaded and a row ensues,in which she terms him pompous. He admits that he is grumpy as the winter gardens have two new water-voles who do not get on and staff have named them after him and his boss Phil. Val wonders why their rows are always over mundane matters and recalls a couple they know who argue about 'glamorous' things.Roger tells her that this couple are now facing bankruptcy so they are better off as they are. He cooks the fish fingers for her.

Roger has had another row with Phil and is not hungry. Still,Val had her pupils wash their dining room curtains for her,even though another teacher disapproved and may grass her up.Now all she and Roger have to do is re-hang them but both are tired. Furthermore the plants are growing faster with no curtains to shut out the light but it's a job that must be done. When Val appears to have brought in a bag of noodles instead of curtain hooks they reckon they can put it off until tomorrow and watch 'Grizzly Man' on DVD. Then Val finds the curtain hooks . . . but the moment has gone.

Weary after visiting his terminally ill father in hospital, Roger can do without the news that concerned cousin Cathy and her controlling husband Bob are coming to stay but he helps Val prepare the spare room. As they work he complains about Phil at the winter garden and she notes that the bedroom window would make an ideal emergency exit. It becomes apparent that the room was once a nursery for a child who died, and, as they eat their lasagne, Roger fails to cheer up a tearful Val.

Roger's father has died and,seeking the advice of the bereavement counsellor he met after the death of his son eighteen years earlier,Roger has come up with a means of solace. It takes the form of writing an idealized self-image,an account of life as he would like it to be. Unfortunately it also expresses the low opinions he has of his work colleagues,to whom he has accidentally emailed it. Val comes up with an excuse to provide damage limitation and sends it off but Roger has all weekend to wait before learning if he will be fired. He also rows with Val,who storms out. Suggesting she was having an affair with an old flame,Ian,now in New Zealand,was not a good idea.