The die seems well and truly cast, Justin and Lilian are no longer “an item”

Radio Times: Lilian comes to a heart-breaking realisation and Nic offers some words of wisdom

Characters: Alan, Clarrie, Eddie, Lilian, Nic, Shula

• Clarrie and Eddie discuss the apparent end of Lilian’s wedding plans. At the same time, he sorts through the bottles donated by Kenton for his craft cider. Nic bursts in with bad news about Mary’s nativity costume. It’s been destroyed by Nic’s dog. Clarrie saves the day; she can easily make another shift dress even though there are only two hours to go to the performance. Now, where’s that old blue sheet?
• At The Stables, Shula finds Lilian saddling Jimba in readiness for a ride, rather than Amir or Aziz. Lilian is surprised that she hasn’t heard that her wedding is off and that the horses are no longer hers to take. She confirms that she’s told Elizabeth but doesn’t appreciate being quizzed by Shula about whether she knew about Matt’s dodgy activities. She most certainly wouldn’t have stood by had she known of his plans to fleece Christine. With that, she trots off into the distance.
• Clarrie waits for Eddie outside the church with Alan. He arrives and they go in, just as Shula leaves. She explains to Alan that she has some urgent oil to pour on stormy waters with respect to Lilian. She shares the fact that the wedding is off with Alan and mentions that she unwittingly accused Lilian of being aware of Matt’s plans for Christine’s money. She was rightly offended; Shula somehow has to make amends.
• Clarrie and Eddie relive old times as they watch a near perfect Nativity performance by Poppy. their granddaughter. Meanwhile, Shula manages to catch up with Lilian and offer apologies for her earlier crass behaviour. They are accepted, along with the offer of a cup of coffee at The Stables.
• As the Nativity finishes, Nic takes a bow as producer/director. Clarria and Eddie were impressed, as was Alan. So much so that he offers her his same role with the village panto. He seems very down about the whole thing and seems close to packing it in. Nic won’t hear of it; running away solves nothing. He just can’t give up.
• Over coffee, Lilian opens up to Shula. They were both probably doomed from the start; Miranda was more his type really, not Lilian, the daughter of a pub landlord. Matt had a dash of danger about him and he lived mostly on the edge. Lilian enjoyed the adrenaline rush, but Justin was somehow “safe”. Shula seems to understand only too well what she was saying. Lilian missed being cherished, and that was a big loss. There’s no going back. Justin’s made it quite clear that it’s finished. She’s lost him forever.