Clarrie’s distress over her warring sons intensifies and Daniel’s anger about Darrell’s presence intensifies.

Radio Times: Caroline offers tea and sympathy, and Dan is fed up.

Characters: Alistair, Caroline, Clarrie, Dan, Joe, Nic, Shula

• Dan finds Shula clearing up Darrell’s room and removing an empty Vodka bottle. He asks for a lift to the station; he wants to visit a school friend at university in Leeds. Realising that this is more to do with Darrell than the school friend, Shula is upset, but Dan refuses to discuss things.
• Out Christmas shopping, Clarrie speaks to Nic on her mobile. At least they have good news about Joe’s wrist. Nic sounds distant and when Clarrie raises the matter of help with the turkeys, an embarrassed Nic is forced to say that Will has no intention of helping this year, and she doesn’t blame him. She tells Clarrie she will pick up the nappies that Clarrie has bought for her; there is no need for Clarrie to come round. On the verge of tears, Clarrie bumps into Caroline, who insists she come for a coffee and a chat.
• Alistair is appalled to see that Shula intends to do Darrell’s washing, and tells her very clearly that she must not make things easy for Darrell. Shula tries to defend her actions, but Alistair spells it out; Dan is better off in Leeds, away from the misery at home.
• Caroline lends a sympathetic ear to Clarrie’s woes. Clarrie says William is convinced the shooting was deliberate and she just wishes her boys would stop fighting. She is always the one who has to try and fix things between them, and she dreads another Christmas where she has to tread a path between them. Even Nic is taking sides now.
• Nic calls to see Joe and to tell him that Poppy’s middle name will be Josephine after her great-grandfather. Joe is delighted, but as soon as Clarrie returns, the mood changes with Nic making an unfortunate remark about being glad they chose Josephine rather than Edwina and having to beat a hasty retreat.
• Alistair loads the car ready to take Dan to the station, while Shula continues to justify her actions over Darrell. Alistair tries repeatedly to shut her up, but in vain. It is all too much for Dan; everything is about Darrell. His arrival was never Dan’s choice, was it?