Tom and Kirsty struggle with their panto roles as young lovers.

Radio Times: Lynda has some reluctant players, and Toby sweetens the deal.

Characters: Eddie, Helen, Kirsty, Lynda, Pat, Toby, Tom

• Pat is pinning hopes on next week’s hearing but Helen would rather not think about it. Keira was due to play with Henry today but, because of the bug, she is not coming. She is feeling better, though whether Susan’s dress will ever recover is uncertain. Kaz will be released on Friday and Helen has invited her to visit in the week after Christmas.
• Tom is back from his Nuffield induction course and is not best pleased that Johnny has invited Freddy Pargetter again this evening. He will be out anyway – at the panto rehearsal.
• Meanwhile Kirsty is admiring Henry’s costume for the nativity play; he has however flatly refused to be in Mother Goose. He was really upset and Helen wonders whether this down to all those months with Rob.
• Tomorrow the Ambridge lights will be switched on; Pat will certainly bring Henry and Jack too. Toby turns up at The Bull with a favour to ask Eddie: does he have room in the container at Grundys’ field for storage of a still? In return he offers information about an abundance of mistletoe at Brookfield, and he volunteers to help with the picking. Eddie makes him sweat; a pint would help him think about it.
• Lynda explains to Tom and Kirsty the deeper meaning of Mother Goose: for Colin and Colinette think Romeo and Juliet. Kirsty has reservations about the script but declines the invitation to do better. Their two characters represent love’s young dream; fate has decreed that they were meant for one another.