Ramsay Street
Christmas Day. Karl makes sympathetic noises as Sonya tells him how Toadie has had to stay in Chile, having been unable to catch his flight home last night due to a coccyx inflammation. Karl invites Sonya to have Christmas lunch with the Kennedys, Chris and Nate, as they're having a barbecue by the lake. But she tells him Mark is coming round to hers for dinner.

Paul pulls up in the street, shouting 'yo-ho-ho!' to Karl and Sonya. He presents them both with Christmas cards with Lassiter's vouchers in them, and thanks them for their support during his tough times this year. He crosses the road to present Terese with a special additional Christmas bonus from him personally, for taking on his job when he was grieving over Kate's death. Terese thanks him, saying it couldn't come at a better time due to their legal bills and since Brad might lose his job. Paul tells her to try not to think about all that today.

No 26
Sheila, Kyle, Georgia, Naomi and Gary are having a cosy family Christmas together, pulling crackers and telling bad jokes. Paul calls round to present Sheila with her bonus, but she notices Paul's put a photo of himself in mayoral robes and Santa hat on her card!

SHEILA: Oh, you never miss an opportunity for self-promotion, do you?

Paul also congratulates Naomi on her success with the carol concert, though does chastise her mildly for locking Sue Parker's henchman in The Waterhole office! Sheila invites Paul to stay for lunch, but he says he has things to attend to before he spends the rest of the day with Daniel. Gary looks nervous as Paul leaves.

Ramsay Street
Gary follows Paul out into the street.

GARY: If you're handing out presents, Santa, I think there's a little something you still owe me.

Paul hands him an envelope full of cash.

PAUL: I am giving you this on the condition that you get out of town as soon as you can, okay?
GARY: Relax. I'm having Christmas lunch with the family and I'm out of here. I don't want to get caught any more than you do.

As this exchange goes on, Sheila appears at the front door and looks suspicious. Gary counts the cash.

PAUL: It's all there.
GARY: Pays to double-check these things. I'm the one who did the dirty work; I don't want to get short-changed.
PAUL: Just make sure this doesn't blow up in our face, alright?

Paul leaves, and Sheila comes down the steps to confront Gary about why Paul was giving him money. Gary claims it was just for some handyman work he did for Paul, and heads back inside, but Sheila looks worried.

No 32
Matt is wearing a Santa hat, beard and fake belly, and is doing his best Father Christmas voice as he distributes presents.

AMBER (to Paige): I told you Christmas at our house was gonna be lame.

All the family is present except Bailey, who is conspicuously Not In This Episode™, despite Amber's loud insistence that he should 'get his butt out here'. Paige is moved to receive a framed photo-montage of various Turner family members. Picking up the next present, Matt resolves to leave that one till later - and it turns out to be for Daniel. Lauren apologises, saying she thought he'd be here, but Amber says it's fine. Lauren suggests a break in present-opening, and they all go to call Lou in Cambodia. Lauren apologises again to Amber as she leaves the room.

Suite 1 Eclipse Apartments
Paul has had some smoked trout flown in from Tasmania as an appetiser before Christmas dinner, but Daniel isn't hungry.

DANIEL: What do you think a break means?
PAUL: It means don't be miserable on Christmas Day. Come on.

But Daniel's not in the mood, so Paul gives him a wise lecture about being positive and looking to the future. Paul decides to book the pair of them flights to Brisbane, so they can go and surprise Daniel's parents Scott and Charlene. Daniel's unenthusiastic, saying it's what he was planning to do with Amber. But Paul tempts him with the promise of first class, determined to cheer him up.

No 30
Mark takes a Christmassy photo of Sonya and Nell to send to Toadie in Chile. Sonya's disappointed Toadie can't be here, as this would have been Nell's first proper Christmas. She's glad to have Mark with them though, who makes conspicuous mention of his intention to call his brother later, since he's not spending Christmas with his family.

Sonya wonders how Erin is spending the festive season. Mark reminds Sonya it's not her fault she disappeared, but Sonya's just concerned she gets some decent food at a shelter today. Mark suddenly claims he has some things to sort out, saying he'll be back before lunch.

Lassiter's Lake
Susan, Karl, Chris and Nate are having a barbecue under the rotunda (the tinsel wrapped around its pillars presumably covering up any vestiges of Kate's blood). Karl is on call at the hospital, and Susan's got to drive up to Ballarat later (presumably to see daughter Libby and grandson Ben) so neither are drinking, but Chris and Nate are enjoying a tipple.

KARL: Who needs turkey when you can have a barbecued snag?
SUSAN: Translation - I married a cheapskate.
KARL: Just making a stand against rampant consumerism that is destroying society.
SUSAN: Well at least you paid for the sausages.
KARL: Well actually, Nate bought the meat.

Nate says he wanted to thank them for everything they've done for him since he arrived. They all raise a toast to Christmas.

No 22
Paige has come over to join Brad, Terese, Imogen and Josh for dinner. Imogen's not in a mood to celebrate given all that's happened, but Terese gives the family a pep-talk, and raises a toast to the whole family - including absent Piper.

No 26
Naomi, Gary, Sheila, Kyle and Georgia are stuffed after their own Christmas dinner, and no-one has room for pavlova. Georgia asks if anyone has New Year's resolutions - Naomi's is to make heaps of money through Naomi Canning Enterprises, but Gary says he doesn't believe in resolutions.

NAOMI: Oh, here, I'll think of one for you. How about you try not to be so dodgy next year?

Sheila chastises her, but Naomi says she was only joking - and takes offence at what she perceives as Sheila's blanket refusal to hear a bad word said against Gary. Kyle and Georgia look miserable as Sheila and Naomi squabble, and decide to go for a walk - while Gary tries to defuse the situation with more cracker jokes!

Squat
Mark has come to an abandoned building to find Erin, and looks at some photos he finds of her and her daughter. But Erin isn't around, so he leaves.

No 30
Mark arrives back in time for lunch. He explains he's been to the local homeless shelter in a bid to find Erin, and now knows where she's staying - a squat in Anson's Corner. Sonya's upset to think of Erin living like that, especially on Christmas Day, but she thanks Mark for finding out where she's staying.

No 22
Imogen talks to Paige - she's worried about whether or not Daniel has told Amber about Imogen kissing him. Paige then reveals that Amber has told Daniel she wants time-out. Josh appears in the background, and overhears this second part of the conversation. Paige says she doesn't know how permanent the break is, but says it's pretty easy to guess why.

Lassiter's Lake
Karl, Susan, Nate and Chris are finishing up their dinner; Karl has to rush off to work, and Susan has to get off to see Libby and Ben, leaving Chris and Nate alone. We learn they're celebrating Christmas again in two weeks with the Pappas family, presumably because they're away on holiday.

Chris gets a text from Lucy Robinson, wishing them a merry Christmas. He says Lucy will be in town soon, and that he's looking forward to Nate meeting her. Kyle and Georgia turn up, explaining that they've escaped from home because Sheila and Naomi were fighting. Chris and Nate invite them to stay for beer and leftovers.

Suite 1 Eclipse Apartments
Imogen has come to see Daniel, who is packing up for his trip to Brisbane with Paul. She says she's heard about his break with Amber, and apologises profusely, assuming it's all her fault because of the kiss. But Daniel reveals he never told Amber about the kiss - it isn't about that.

DANIEL: We're on a break, but don't ask me to explain that, because I wouldn't know where to start.

Imogen encourages Daniel to talk to Amber and work things through - they love each other, so can sort it out. But Daniel's in no mood to discuss it further. Imogen says he can call her if he needs to talk, then leaves.

Squat
Sonya turns up with some Christmas leftovers, looking for Erin. She appears to be out, so Sonya leaves the food - but then Erin shows up. She thanks Sonya but says she's already had a meal at the shelter. Sonya reminisces about their past, when Callum and Cat were little kids - and says she was worried when Erin took off without saying anything.

ERIN: I don't need to tell you what I'm doing. I don't even want you here. The only reason that you're doing it is just to make you feel really good about everything that you've got, and everything that I've lost.

Erin starts coughing badly, and Sonya offers her some water. But Erin repeatedly tells her to get out, amidst a coughing fit. Sonya reluctantly leaves.

No 26
Naomi has gone for a walk, and Gary is talking to Sheila. She demands to know what business he's been doing with Paul, not buying his story about handyman jobs given the size of the wad of cash she saw Paul give him.

SHEILA: I know Paul Robinson. And if he wanted you to hammer a nail into a wall, he wouldn't be paying you that sort of money.
GARY: It's the type of work that he couldn't ask anyone else to do for him.
SHEILA: Go on.
GARY: Paul hired me to give a guy a fright.
SHEILA: Ezra Hanley? You're the one who roughed him up?
GARY: I did it for the money. I was trying to help Kyle, get him some new tools.
SHEILA: And I'm sure he will be so proud of you when he finds out the truth (!)

Sheila orders Gary to go straight to the police and confess, because Brad has been charged with the crime he committed. Gary doesn't look keen.

No 32
Josh comes round to see Amber, admitting he's heard about her break with Daniel.

JOSH: I'm sorry.
AMBER: Don't be. Not for me anyway. I'm the one that stomped all over Daniel's heart, just like I stomped all over yours.

Josh says it seems like there's a pattern developing, of people not realising how amazing Amber is until they've lost her - or at least, that was Josh's problem.

JOSH: Don't beat yourself up for giving me the flick. I gave you no choice.
AMBER: Thank you for trying to make me feel better.

Josh says he's telling her the truth because he doesn't want her to be so hard on herself.

JOSH: And because I still love you. Always have, always will.
AMBER: ...
JOSH: Merry Christmas!

He leaves, while Amber looks shocked.

No 26
Gary has packed his bags and intends to leave, explaining to Sheila that he made a deal with Paul to leave town due to what he did to Ezra.

SHEILA: So you're just going to run out on the family again? Take off?
GARY: I don't have a choice.
SHEILA: What am I expected to tell Kyle?
GARY: Just tell him I'm sorry.
SHEILA: If you walk out that door, I swear, I will call the police. It's going to go worse for you if they hear it from me.
GARY: Mum, I've got to go. I love you, okay?
SHEILA: Oh, Gary, please!

He rushes out, despite Sheila's obvious distress. In tears, she picks up the phone and starts to call the police, but she suddenly gasps for breath, clutches her chest and collapses onto the floor, unconscious.

Coming Soon
- Naomi and Georgia looking worried
- Sonya and Mark looking worried
- Paul and Tim Collins looking worried
- Paige looking worried
- Imogen hugging Daniel
- Amber crying on a bench
- Terese looking annoyed with Paul
- A delighted Lauren hugging Matt
- Brad cleaning a surfboard
- Bailey smiling and lounging in the pool
- Susan and Karl smiling at each other
- Nate hugging a distressed Chris
- Georgia and Kyle looking worried
- Daniel and Josh in angry confrontation mode