In the Long Run

Walter receives a letter from his mother telling him his younger brother Valentine is coming from Sierra Leone to live with him. Valentine's imminent arrival causes a stir on the estate, especially with Walter's wife Agnes, who believes he may be a bad influence.

On his first night, Valentine is charged with looking after young Kobna. Walter asks Bagpipes to check in on them, but before long Valentine, Bagpipes, his wife Kirsty and the kids find themselves at the local pub where a little drunken rivalry between the men gets out of hand. Agnes is returning from her rounds when she sees the children sitting outside the pub, and realises her fears about Valentine have been confirmed.

As Valentine settles into London life, Agnes and Walter suggest he finds a trade instead of just taking occasional odd jobs. By way of encouragement, Walter arranges an interview for him at the car parts factory where he works.

Meanwhile, Bagpipes and Kirsty's anniversary is looming. It's a bit of a loaded time for both of them because of Kirsty's never-spoken-of affair that resulted in their three-year-old daughter, Melissa.

In order to avoid the celebratory night out Bagpipes jumps at the chance to help Valentine with a cash-in-hand electrical job. The men turn up at the flat only to realise it's a brothel. They get the work done but Agnes and Kirsty are shocked and angry when they spot Valentine and Bagpipes leaving the disreputable flat, leading Bagpipes to confront the true source of his conflict with Kirsty.

While Walter and his friends teach Valentine how to deal with the local police, Agnes and Kirsty make the terrible discovery that one of their elderly neighbours, Ernie Jenkins, has died alone in his flat undetected for a few days. Shocked by the failing of the local community in helping their elders, Agnes attempts to track down his family and friends so that he can be given a dignified send-off.

Meanwhile, Valentine dreams of reviving his footballing career by preparing for an open trial at Leyton Orient FC. Bagpipes offers to get him match fit but during a training session they both find themselves in trouble, when the police ‘stop and search' Valentine.

Walter's goddaughter Cynthia arrives at the Easmons' flat in a panic and begs Walter for help. Her engagement party is about to be ruined because her father, Uncle Akie, disapproves of the union and is refusing to take part in the traditional ceremony. Walter and Agnes agree to take on the role of ‘family elders' and are tasked with making sure everything goes smoothly. Valentine is to provide the music and Kobna jumps at the chance to assist with the DJing.

But the problem extends beyond Cynthia's side of the family. Fiancé Kevin's Glaswegian clan struggle with the West African traditions, and stereotypes and misconceptions on both sides threaten to derail the relationship before it's begun.

Valentine is excited by his relationship with Adelaide, a British-born woman of Sierra Leone heritage he met at the engagement party. Walter and Agnes can tell she is different from his usual conquests, but the relationship is cut short by Adelaide, who doesn't feel she and Valentine are a true match.

Bagpipes and Kirsty take a long-awaited romantic holiday… in a motorhome in Essex. Kirsty fixates on spicing up their sex life with role play and even some ‘al fresco' fun, but Bagpipes is less convinced and when the pair stumble on to a development site for new-build homes, he jumps at the chance for a viewing. They're both excited by the idea of a new start and put in an offer.

Meanwhile, Agnes is inspired to learn to drive. She starts taking lessons with Walter but quickly realises not even the strongest of marriages is road-rage proof. Exasperated, she convinces a heartbroken Valentine to take over as instructor, and uses it as a chance to offer some sage advice.

After having his heart broken, Valentine is back on his feet with a new delivery job and plans to move into his own place. Meanwhile redundancies at the factory are rumoured, and an anxious Walter and Bagpipes, along with their work colleagues, start to question how this will affect their lives. Bagpipes hides the truth from Kirsty and knows that it will probably mean an end to their shared dream of a new start in the country.

With the job threat in mind, Walter and Agnes have a moment of wishful thinking – Walter nostalgically imagines returning to Sierra Leone, which in reality Agnes has no real ambitions to do. Unfortunately, Kobna overhears their conversation and starts to worry. London is his home, so with best mate Dean, who is also unhappy about leaving for Essex, they decide to run away.