Clare is five and three quarter years old in a Christmas flashback. Her granddad has dressed as Father Christmas only for her mother Celia to ruin the magic by telling her it is granddad in costume.

In the office, Irene is organising 'code indigo' in time for Christmas day. A scheduled phone call from Irene gives her colleagues an opportunity to leave their families and meet up for an office party. Ray and Helen pen in times, but this year Clare refuses as she is determined to see a whole family Christmas through. Though Megan is alone with Brenda, she still organises a 'code indigo' as she doesn't want to be left out.

At the Barker's house, Clare's mother Celia has already begun on the drink while cooking the dinner and starts seducing Brian in the kitchen asking him to 'scoop out her melon balls' and 'prick her Yorkshire's to see if they are rising'. Celia is doing this in order to get back at her husband Malcolm, as he has been caught having an affair with a younger woman who happens to be the same age as Clare.

Clare's sister Emma arrives at the house and is asked where her husband (Max) and two children are. She keeps making excuses until she reveals he has run away with the children and the nanny. Clare volunteers to pick up grandma from the care home - she brings her back, only to be told she has collected the wrong one! The real Grandma Barker arrives and argues with the other old lady who won't leave. Malcolm is telephoned by Alice, the younger woman he is having the affair, and tells him that she is breaking up. Celia has fainted in the kitchen and Brian is left to sort it all out because Clare has just got a call and must leave for the office because of a 'code indigo' situation.