Lilian is sad, Tom is worried about Kirsty and Jenny wants family peace for her birthday.

Radio Times: Johnny is keen to party, and Lilian cannot be cheered.

Characters: Brian, Jennifer, Johnny, Kirsty, Lilian, Roy, Tom, Tracy

• Jenny interrupts Lilian as she sits in the dark. Jenny complains about Brian and his land deal. Debbie has left already for Hungary but Jenny hopes that the Lower Loxley Ball will cheer everyone up. Lilian protests that she isn’t in the mood for dancing; with whom exactly, she asks?
• Tom asks Kirsty to come out on New Year’s Eve but she is reluctant. Johnny wants to invite a few friends over but Tom refuses.
• At the ball, Lilian notes that Justin and Miranda have not made an appearance. She tells Jenny how Kenton’s ad libs and Kaz’s comments made things a bit public for Miranda’s comfort and she rushed back to London.
• Johnny tries to talk to Tom but he is busy looking for Kirsty at the young people’s event. Roy comments that Kirsty decided to stay home and will not be making an appearance. Tracy Horrobin comes in looking for Roy. Tom tries to protect Roy and claims he isn’t there.
• Brian is angry that Lilian’s bad end with the affair with Justin might foul up the land deal. Jenny shames him because he isn’t thinking about Lilian’s feelings. Brian changes the topic by asking what Jenny would like for her birthday. Jenny voice is tinged with exasperation when she tells Brian that if he can’t tell what she wants, then he doesn’t know her at all.
• Tom tries to call Kirsty but only gets her voicemail. Johnny seems taken with Tracy’s appearance but Roy tries to explain why Tracy isn’t his type. A story is repeated about Tracy’s intimate clinch at a wedding with the groom in the going away car. She finally catches up with Roy and kisses him without mercy. Tom calls on Kirsty to make sure she is all right but he wakes her up and Kirsty isn’t in the mood for casual conversation. Go home and get some sleep, she advises.