'The Hex'

At George and Ronnie’s he tries to kiss her neck as they get ready fro work, she pulls away. We learn that they have an engagement the following evening and Ronnie reminds George to get a baby sitter.

Ruth arrives at the Mill to drop her CV into Julia but Vivien mistakes her for a patient and orders her to sit down. Ruth is too intimidated to argue. Meanwhile Vivien offers to tell everyone Julia is conducting interviews all morning so as not to be disturbed.

Ruth is still sitting in reception when Michelle spots her and takes her to the staff room for some tea. Michelle thinks Ruth should hang around to give Julia her CV in person.

Ronnie arrives at the Mill and sees Daniel and George through the window from the car park. He sees Daniel touch George’s neck to release her earring that is caught in her jumper, they laugh as he tries to free it. Ronnie stomps inside ignoring everyone on his way to George’s consulting room. As Michelle is showing Ruth out Julia comes into reception and is delighted to see her.

George returns to find Ronnie in her room. He has come to tell her that he has managed to find a sitter for the following evening. He leaves clearly annoyed but doesn’t tell George why or mention what he saw through the window. Ruth impresses Julia with her suggestions for new services at the Campus practice. Julia tells the others they will keep Ruth on at the Campus if they win the bid. Daniel follows Julia into the staff room eager to clear up the bad feeling about the incident at the PCT when Ellen recognised him as Joseph. Julia is not interested in what he has to say and cuts him down in front of Archie which adds to Daniel’s embarrassment.

George is making stir fry when Ronnie arrives home. She tries to talk to him but he isn’t interested. He agrees something is not quite right but he doesn’t know what.

Meanwhile, The moon shines overhead as Penny Harvey (15) practises her magic on the back lawn, she draws a pentagram in salt while muttering an incantation. Barry Partridge (28) watches her from an upstairs window. Her mother Marilyn Harvey (40) does not share his concern and tells him to come back to bed as they have a big day tomorrow. The next morning at breakfast Barry tries to get along with Penny but she is having none of it. Marilyn comes in and tells her that they have won an important contract and will be going to India to finalise the deal. Penny is furious and tells them they will be sorry. We see Penny in her room surrounded by witchy paraphernalia. Marilyn knocks the door to offer Penny a lift but he tells her to go away.

Barry and Marilyn are with Archie getting their travel vaccinations. It is clear that Barry and Archie are old friends. Much to Marilyn’s annoyance Barry tells Archie about the contract and being hexed by Penny. He asks if Archie could recommend a councillor. They start to row in front of Archie and this carries on through reception into the car park.

At home Penny is in Marilyn and Barry’s bedroom she takes one of Barry’s football shirts and then she spots his laptop.

During the argument Barry reveals that he suspects Penny was skipping school when he had to pop home the other day. Marilyn is furious that he didn’t check for sure or tell her.
Penny is concocting a potion adding hair from a comb and a handful of broken microchips.
Barry and Marilyn are still arguing when Archie comes out to the car park he tries to get them to take the argument back inside as Barry remembers he forgot his laptop. Penny puts a box into one of her draws when she hears a car pull up. Marilyn waits in the car as Barry goes back into the house.

As Barry emerges from his bedroom and heads towards Penny’s she sneaks down the stairs behind him. He hesitates at the door reading the ‘death to all who enter here’ sign on the door. Marilyn is on the phone to her secretary when she spots Barry banging on the upstairs window. When she arrives in Penny’s room Barry is wheezing and pointing to a box. Marilyn opens it to reveal a wax figure with shreds of football shirt wrapped around it. Marilyn closes the lid and Barry’s breathing deteriorates. Marilyn can’t believe what is going on and is worried they will miss their appointment she is fed up with Barry and leaves on her own. Penny spots Marilyn leave without Barry and is excited the hex might be working!

Marilyn calls Archie and asks him to check on Barry as she thinks there is something wrong with him. Barry is in the kitchen with the wax figure about to smash it with a meat tenderiser when Penny returns. She makes a grab for the figure and during the struggle the head breaks off in Barry’s hands, he drops it and clutches at his throat. Penny tries to melt and reconnect the head to the wax figure. Barry’s condition rapidly worsens and he collapses. The doorbell rings, its Archie. Penny is hysterical, she thinks she has killed Barry.

Archie realises Barry is having an anaphylactic shock. He reaches into his bag and briefly hesitated before administering some adrenaline to Barry. Penny calls Marilyn. Archie speaks to Penny in the back garden and tries to reassure her that what has happened to Barry is not her fault. She explains she did want to hurt him. Archie believes she was trying to regain control over her life and having Barry move in was a big change for her as it had been just her and her mum for so long. Archie explains that Penny has more power than she realises not only over her own happiness but with those who care for her as well.

Marilyn arrives home and begs for Barry’s forgiveness. The ambulance take the family off to the hospital to get Barry checked over.