The episode begins with Fiona “Fi” Lawson (Tuppence Middleton) encountering movers bringing furniture into her house. She asks Lucy Vaughan (Dinita Gohil) if she is a friend of her husband, Bram Lawson (Martin Compston). Lucy questions if she is a neighbor. She assures her the property belongs to her and her husband. Lucy explains her husband will be there soon. Upset, Fi says she would remember if the house was to be rented out. Holding up the house key, Lucy says they acquired the property.

Confused Fi orders Lucy to stop the movers from bringing in more furniture. When Lucy refuses, Fi identifies herself to the movers and orders them to stop. Lucy suggests she come inside the house. Shocked by what she sees, Fi stops to look around at all the changes. She demands to know where her things are at. Lucy says someone told them she moved out yesterday. She denies being home yesterday as she walks upstairs. Lucy talks to the workers when Fi pleads with her to update her on what is happening.

Lucy shows her correspondence from their solicitor, Gilchrist, Bennett, & Stafford, a contract confirmation, and sale documents. Fi describes them as “fake.” Lucy assures the documentation is genuine and the funds should have been deposited into her account. Fi warns her a mistake has been made here. Lucy says acquired their house because it was on the market. Raising her voice, Fi denies signing any contract before ordering her to get the fu** out of her house.

10 Years Earlier – Bram pulls up in front of a multi-story block home. He asks Fi what she thinks about the house. Smiling, she admits to loving it. The property owner gives them a tour. Bram asks why the home was placed on the market. The owner says he and his wife are retired and their children are grown.

Bram jokes around with Fi as she scraps wallpaper off the wall. They end up in the bedroom. Harry Lawson (Casper Knopf) and Leo Lawson (Tommy Finnegan) play while Bram prepares spaghetti and talks to Fi who wishes she was with them. When she smacks her lips, he questions if she is putting on lipstick. She assures him it is just work.

Upon entering the house, she quietly calls for Bram. She removes her shoes before walking upstairs, where she finds Harry and Leo sleeping. While preparing to wash dishes, she spots what looks like an empty bottle of wine sitting on the countertop. While looking around outside, she hears a noise in the direction of a small building adjacent to the house. She gradually crosses the yard and peeps through the window of the building to see Bram having sex with Merle (Weruche Opia). They stop to stare at her.

Merle suggests Bram speak with Fi before he enters the house. He assures her what she saw what not what it looked like. She says, “Don’t.” He claims Merle just happened to show up possibly drunk. When she asked for some wine, he poured her a glass to avoid being rude. As he moves closer, she hurriedly moves away. Apologizing, he is confused about what went down. She sarcastically says you just couldn’t help yourself. He describes his mental state at the time as insanity. Professing his love for her, he promises to make it up to her.

Ordering him to pack a bag, she promises to schedule a time for him to retrieve his other things when the boys are out. He reminds her of the children belonging to him as well. He pleads with her to not kick him out. Refusing to give him a second chance, she orders him to leave tonight.

Back to the present: Fi tries a phone number that is no longer in service. Lucy suggests she leave a message. Fi tries to call his workplace and gets a voice recording. She calls Neil who informs her Bram has been off since Wednesday. She asks why he hasn’t changed his phone number. He asks why. Changing her mind, she admits to just being silly. Lucy asks about her children who she believes are in school. Fi questions how she knows about her children. She reminds her of their bedroom. Fi calls Alder Park School to speak with Mrs. Emery about having someone pick them up today. Mrs. Emery informs her of Harry and Leo’s absence. Fi asks if she knows their whereabouts. She asks if she gave them permission before abruptly hanging up.

Flashback Fi tapes up a cardboard box when the doorbell rings. She opens the door to find Merle standing there. As she apologizes, Fi slams the door in her face.

Bram opens the garage door to find a red sports car inside. As he stares at the car Tina Lawson (Maureen Beattie) approaches with a beverage. He questions why she kept the vehicle. She reminds him of the car belonging to his father, so she thought he would want it. He doesn’t want the vehicle. She asks, when will they get to see Harry and Leo. He promises her very soon.

Fi informs Kirsty (Harriet Web) and Alison (Bronagh Waugh) of her separation from Bram. Alison supports her decision to wait a few months before filing for divorce. Kristy asks if Bram cheated with a female co-worker as Alison calls Merle’s name. Alison asks about the boys. She claims Harry appears to be fairing well while Leo is struggling because he was very close to Bram. Alison asks about work before promising to pick her side. Fi says there is no reason to pick a side as Merle takes a seat at the table.

Bram visits the house to see the boys. He tries to talk to Fi, but she ignores him. He refuses to take her car, saying the bus would be faster.

Back to the present: Lucy tries to keep Fi calm when Mrs. Emery returns her call. She informs her of the headmistress not being available until 4pm. Fi orders her to barge in the meeting to inform the headmistress of the issue. Mrs. Emery says the children are most likely with Bram. She tells her about being away and Bram working from home. Mrs. Emery denies speaking directly to Bram.

Flashback– Sitting on the sofa, Fi looks at images of Bram stored in her phone. When she opens the doors, the children rush through and up the steps. She questions where he took them. He claims to have taken them bowling in Lewisham. As she prepares to close the door, he assures her the boys don’t know what is going on with their relationship. Appearing confused, she asks him what he means by going on. He suggests the boys want to spend time with both of them simultaneously. She agrees to accompany him to the part with the boys. While the boys play soccer, they have ice cream. He secretly watches her as she reclines backward in the grass. She turns to see him looking at her.

They arrive home. She reminds him it is his turn to take the boys on Friday. He admits to having a difficult time keeping his eyes off her because of her beauty. He pleads with her to forgive him, promising it will never happen again. Giving him a package of speeding tickets, she calls him a liar and irresponsible. He suggests she fu**ing forget the speeding tickets. She refuses to relent. He reminds her of how the divorce will destroy everything they worked hard to build. She admits to wanting a divorce.

Back to the present: Lucy asks her if she is aware of anyone who husband would get to watch their children. Distraught, Fi calls Tina to ask about Bram’s whereabouts. She says he is supposed to be at their house. Fi tells her it is urgent she speak with him because the boys were taken out of school. Tina informs her the boys are at her house, but she doesn’t know Bram’s location. Fi looks over the building, where she found Bram with Merle.

Flashback: Fi informs Alison and Kirsty that she may need to sell their house. Alison reminds of all the work she did to it and how much the boys love living there. Fi watches Merle with a young girl who is probably her daughter. Sarcastically, Alison asks if she is going to live in a shitty flat, with little room for her and the boys. Fi refuses to fight for the house. Alison suggests another option.

Fi speaks with Bram about the house. She suggests they keep it the house but take turns living there. Bram suggests they sell it. She says they will lose too much money and the boys would lose their friends and school if they sell it. He asks why he can’t keep staying with his mum. She says they need to draw up a contract, so they can share the house fairly.

Grace Deakin (Suzette Llewellyn) explains to Bram how the contract would work. She would reside in the house Monday through Friday and every other weekend. She will stay in a flat for three days. He is only required to stay in the guestroom, not the master bedroom, where Fi sleeps. Grace tells him the sheets must be changed after each stay. He turns to ask Fi if she refuses to share sheets with him. Grace reminds him of their relationship being practical, not intimate. Fi threatens to send him back to his mother’s house if he doesn’t help transport the kids from place to place. She will only be permitted to call the children one time while staying in the flat. Neither are allowed to bring a boyfriend/girlfriend into their home. They can do whatever they like at the flat.

Bram takes a tour of a flat. Looking out the window, he tells Rob Estate Agent (Tarinn Callender)his house is close by. He is required to pay a deposit in the amount of a month’s rent and two months of rent before moving in.

Bram visits Saskia (Celinde Schoenmaker) to request an advance on his next month’s commission. She denies his request. Before he leaves, she reminds him of his car insurance. He informs her of his driver’s license being revoked due to speeding tickets. She says driving is a requirement for his job. He assures her it will only be a couple of months. She promises to talk to his line manager, Neil about the issue. He pleads with her to let him keep the job or Fi won’t let him see the boys.

When the doorbell rings, Fi informs the boys Bram is there. She tells them to have fun when she leaves for the flat. Upon arriving at the flat, she looks around.

While Bram cleans a stain off the carpet, Leo asks about Fi. He tells him Fi will not be back tonight. Leo asks if they are still married. When Bram says yes, he questions why they aren’t living in the same house. Fi calls to speak with the boys.

Back in the present: Lucy tells Fi at least Leo and Harry are safe. Fi informs her she last saw him yesterday. She wouldn’t have known about the house if she hadn’t returned for her laptop. When David Vaughn (Felix Scott) arrives, Lucy walks out of the room, so they can contact their solicitors. Fi gets a drink when she sees a prescription for Sertraline in what looks like Lucy’s bag. She reaches in to grab it when Lucy and David enter the kitchen. He introduces himself. She assures him they have made a mistake about the sale of the house. Showing her the keys, he says the agent gave them to him. She denies selling the house. He shows her the contract she is supposed to sign.  She looks at it horrified.

Fi answers the doorbell to find her solicitor standing there. She asks her what Lucy and David are doing there. David assures her they have a signed contract to validate their purchase of the home. Fi denies signing the contract before threatening to contact law enforcement.

Flashback: Bram arrives to spend time with the boys. Alison is staying with Fi at the flat. She suggests Fi push the divorce forward, so she can get the house. Fi tells her she can’t do it. Confused, Alison asks why.

Bram is watching TV with the boys when the doorbell rings. He asks if they would like some ice cream. He answers the door to find Merle standing there. He refuses to let her in, but she enters anyway. She tells him they need to talk. He warns her about what would happen if Fi found out. She informs him of her pregnancy. He asks who’s the dad. She admits it belongs to Adrian and he knows about it. He questions why she wanted to tell him. She warns him about potential rumors of the child being his. She wants to settle things with Fi who doesn’t know about her pregnancy.

Back in the present: David shows Fi a confirmation he received from her solicitor. It is a receipt for the funds from the sale of the house. Merle assures them Fi knows nothing about the sale or money. He pleads with her to check her bank account. The money hasn’t been deposited in her account. Merle suggests they contact the police. David grabs her phone when he sees Bram’s photo. He says this is the man who sold us the house.

Flashback:  When Fi arrives home after spending time at the flat, Bram rushes out the door for work. He refuses to take her car. When he arrives at the depot, the train leaves. He returns to the house to get the keys to the car.

Fi and the boys are at Suki’s birthday party. She seems a bit distracted during the party.

Bram is having a drink at a pub when Saskia informs her of Neil’s decision to let him continue working. An intern will take him to meetings until his driver’s license is reinstated. Touching his shoulder, she immediately apologizes.  She informs him of her plan to stay in a hotel because she is too drunk to drive home. She asks if he would like to stay with her when his phone rings. He answers the phone to hear Fi on the other line. She asks if he would stop by when he leaves the conference. He asks if she is okay. She suggests they talk a bit.

On his drive home, Bram speeds past a slow driver. Fi looks at her watch. He tries to utilize his cellphone when the car pulls up behind him. The bright lights obscure his vision. He slows down and the car speeds past him and immediately slows down. Bram nearly hits the car in the rear end. They race down the road when an oncoming car approaches. He stops his car and gets out to find the oncoming car on its side. The other driver leaves as the episode comes to an end.

 

The House Review

I was intrigued by the premise but soon figured it out. The show is a mess, with way too many flashbacks. I was hopeful when the show jumped back 10 years. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of endless time jumps. Since there was only one warning, I found myself pushing replay more times than I would have liked just to make sure I wasn’t confused. A smoother and less confusing outline would have been to jump back 10 years and gradually move forward to the present.

The acting is good, but the plot is uncompelling. I’m sure there are plenty of men who would agree to give up their homes for their wives and children. Where they went wrong was the ridiculous contract. Fi expected Bram to not only give up his home but also about 90 percent of his paycheck. What did he get out of it? A crappy, lonely flat that he really didn’t want or need, thanks to his mum’s generous offer to let him stay with her. I give Fi credit, she did let him stay in the guestroom for three measly days out of 14.

While I could empathize with Fi, I felt she was apathetic, cold, and selfish. Yes, Bram brought it on himself, but he is the father of her children. The show deserves a 6.5. Get more Our House recaps here. Support ReelMockery by clicking the link to learn more.