Number 26
The ominous music plays as Lyn checks her smoke detectors, packs away her most special photos and switches on the dodgy lights.

LYN: Gonna get you home girl.

She leaves the house, unsure whether she's doing the right thing.

Lassiters Complex
Donna and Karl are putting up a banner urging the Erinsborough residents to Vote #1 for Dr Karl. A stressed and anxious Lyn is accosted by both Kennedy campaign teams. Susan senses something is up, but Lyn breezes on - Christmas is such a busy time after all.

Harold's
Paul is interested to find out how Lyn's rent money is coming on, he knows she's strapped for cash what with the appeal and everything. Lyn shushes him and tells him he'll have it by the end of the week.

Sophie is pestering Kate about meeting Mark as they come into the store. Uncle Paul has a special Christmas surprise for them - plane tickets to Sydney to see Harry. Sophie is stoked, but Kate isn't so sure of Paul's grand gesture (there's a fully serviced apartment in the centre of the city thrown in too). Kate follows Paul out of the store, leaving Sophie to start the shopping confused.

Lassiters Complex
Donna announces to the crowd that Dr Karl is giving away free signed CDs and MP3s of his show. Susan and Zeke are incredulous, but not much, because Zeke switched the CDs with a Death Metal compilation. Susan is impressed by her step- son's low cunning, but still thinks they need to call upon their double agent. Zeke makes a call.

ZEKE: Alpha strawberry. Go.

Elsewhere Paul congratulates an extra on his work. Kate catches up with him and tells him that he knows what he's doing (Paul, not the extra). Paul tells her it's just a no- strings holiday. (Yeah, because that doesn't sound at all dodgy)

Number 24
You haven't tasted scrambled eggs until you've tasted Detective Mark's scrambled eggs. Oo er. Kate isn't all that interested in the "no milk" theory though, she has things on her mind. Mark tells her that Paul's case is still their top priority and they're doing everything they can. Kate would rather talk about something else. They decide to flirt over toast and Mark's cooking prowess instead.

Harold's
Lyn has things on her mind too, as she nervously looks at the Christmas lights adorning the store. Her phone rings and she answers it in a panic. It's only a sales call though. Susan and Zeke brief Sophie on Karl's dodgy vote winning tactics. Sophie reels off what she's learned from Susan's leaflets and Susan and Zeke are impressed.

SOPHIE: I just thought it was a really good message. I liked all the stuff about living in a small community, having responsibilities, but also rewards. And how everything we do can have an impact on the people around us. The bit about giving back to the community and supporting people in need. Look, you were all here for us when we first moved in and it meant a lot, so I want to be a part of that. I'll do whatever I can to help. Have you tried sabotage?

Lyn has overheard everything and that, combined with the sound of a fire engine siren really strikes a chord. Distracted, she leaves the store. Susan decides she'd better follow.

Car Park
Susan checks to see if Lyn is all right. Lyn fumbles with her car keys and says that she just has to dash back home to get Charlie's stuffed snake and take it to the babysitter's. Susan asks how Charlie is getting on - it must be hard with Christmas and Steph not allowing them to visit. She gives Lyn a big hug. There are still sirens in the background and Lyn looks desperate to get away. Frazzled, Lyn leaps in the car and has to sound her horn at others to get out of the way. The desperate ominous music starts up again.

Ramsay Street
The music has followed Lyn to the street along with some "DUN DAAAA"s. She gets out of the car and looks up at the house windows "DUNNNN! DUN DAAAA!" Then all is quiet. Nothing has happened, the house is safe. Declan calls out to her and is keen to organise hosting the Citizen of the Year awards at Harold's. Lyn says that sounds great and dashes inside.

25th Anniversary Photo Insert - 1996 Lou and Harold dressed as Santa

Number 26
Lyn breathes a huge sigh of relief when she enters the house and finds everything as it should be. She hurries over to the electricity socket and unplugs the faulty tree lights and takes them off the tree. Declan comes in, as he still has things to discuss about the award ceremony. Lyn drops the lights by the side of the sofa and kicks them half underneath. Dec asks her to be MC for the ceremony, which Lyn agrees to. Declan has a tight schedule for the rest of the day so would like to get everything finalised now, she agrees to follow him back to Harold's although she keeps throwing anxious looks back over her shoulder at the lights under the sofa.

Harold's
Zeke receives a text from Sophie saying that the wheels are in motion. Donna comes over to crow about how well Karl's campaign is going. Lyn bustles in and Susan asks how Charlie is now. Lyn tells her that she's been asked to host the awards ceremony. Donna overhears and looks concerned. She asks Susan and Zeke what would happen in Karl won, considering he's still banned from the store.

DONNA: Unless it's a landslide and then she couldn't really refuse.

Susan and Zeke scoff.

Lyn comes back. She's just had a call from Steph (from the Prison, in case we'd forgotten where she is). She'd like to see Lyn, Charlie and Sum this afternoon. Everyone thinks that's great news. Donna gives her a hug and Susan remarks that she must have won some karma points from hosting the citizen of the year ceremony. Lyn leaves and Donna wonders whether she should take advantage of her being on cloud 9 to ask her to lift Karl's ban.

SUSAN: Donna, don't you dare take advantage of that poor woman!
DONNA: Oh alright, keep your hair on. (She walks away)
ZEKE: Are you going to take advantage of her?
SUSAN: Pff..yeah! Absolutely!

Charlie's
Kate and Mark are still flirting about eggs ( ...yeah, whatever does it for you guys...) They get all kissy, then Paul walks in. Kate goes to order and Paul heads over to talk to Mark to find out how the investigation is going. Mark asks when Rebecca is back, she's a person of interest and they'd like to speak to her again. Paul thinks they'd be wasting their time talking to her. There's an awful screeching sound from outside so Kate and Mark go to see what all the fuss is about.

Lassiters Complex
Sophie has a megaphone and introduces Karl and his musical talents.

KARL: Everybody it's Dr Karl Kennedy here, ready to rock for your votes!

Donna comes out of Harold's and looks horrified at what is unfolding before her eyes. She tells Zeke that it isn't a part of their strategy. Zeke thinks that Karl is overexposing himself.

ZEKE: Yeah...it looks like the voters are turning.
DONNA: This is a disaster.

She goes and unplugs the amplifier and tells Karl that he's driving voters away. Karl objects and says that Sophie says they love it.

DONNA: You listened to her over me.
KARL: Well she said it was a point of difference.

Mark doesn't think Karl is all that bad. Kate is shocked by her boyfriend's horrendous taste in music. Susan and Zeke give Sophie the thumbs up.

KARL: Susan can never compete with my musical talent .
DONNA: This is sabotage!
SOPHIE: Don't know what you're talking about.
DONNA: They put you up to this didn't they?
KARL: But you work for me...don't you?
ZEKE: Just leave her alone, ok...
DONNA: She's a double agent!
KARL: Oh this is outrageous. (To Susan)You sanctioned this? I suppose you bought Lyn off as well.
SUSAN: Oh as if I would do that. (To Zeke) She wouldn't take the money...
KARL: This is appalling.

Charlie's
Mark is still humming Karl's song. Kate thought detectives are supposed to be able to tell when things aren't quite right. Mark goes off to the gents and Paul comes over to tell Kate that he's asking about Rebecca. He needs Kate to find out if Mark has any specific leads. Kate tells him to forget it, it's not that she doesn't care, but it's dishonest - he'll have to find another way. Paul says that's fine, but she can forget about the tickets to Sydney.

KATE: You said they were Christmas presents, no strings attached.
PAUL: Yes, but things change and they're going to keep on changing until you help me out.
KATE: What does that mean?
PAUL: They trust fund...you know, the money you live on. Yeah I can take it away just like that.
KATE: You wouldn't. Not to Harry and Sophie you wouldn't.
PAUL: Yeah well, like I say, whatever it takes.

The Kennedy campaign teams come in and Karl and Susan make a pact to play fair, just them head to head. Donna asks if that means they're sacked. Yes, it does. Zeke comments that at least he got an iPod out of it all.

Having heard that Lyn has gone to visit Steph, Kate decides she'd better eat and run. Sophie comes over and finally gets to introduce herself to Mark. Donna tells him that Sophie has a promising career in the police force considering all the undercover work she's been doing. Mark heads back to work and Sophie comments that Mark is twice as good looking as Declan.

Harold's
Lyn delightedly tells Kate about her trip to see Steph, and is so pleased that they get to go back and see her on Christmas day. Tim comes in supposedly to find out how Lyn is getting on. She hands back the contract and tells him they won't be needing it anymore. It's not what Steph wants and it's not what she wants anymore either.

TIM: You're happy to let your own daughter rot in jail.
LYN: Of course I'm not happy about it, no. But I can't risk a longer sentence.
TIM: You're making a big mistake, Lyn. The things that happen in prison...

Lyn doesn't need to hear it. Tim decides to get a coffee from Charlie's instead. Lyn tells Kate that she was so desperate to appeal Steph's charges that she even asked Paul for a loan to help her with it. She's glad he said no, the last thing she needs is to be beholden to him.

LYN: Oh sorry Kate!
KATE: No, it's alright. Trust me, I understand.
LYN: Nobody should be put in that position for money. It just ain't worth it.

Number 22
Declan tells Paul that he needs to take care of Brenan. Paul calls Kate, but Kate is right behind him. She's brought back the tickets to Sydney, they won't be needing them. They're still going, but they'll be going by bus, which they'll pay for themselves. In fact they're going to pay for everything themselves now. They'll find a way, and she won't tell Sophie how he's been threatening them.

PAUL: Ok, and what are you going to tell Sophie when you can't afford to buy new school shoes.
KATE: Well I'll find a way to buy her new shoes, and anything else that she needs.
PAUL: You won't last.

Kate tears up the tickets and tells him she will.

Ramsay Street
Paul chases after Kate. He reminds her that if Rebecca goes down, so will she, as the Police don't like people who lie to them. What will happen to Sophie then? He's just looking out for his family.

KATE: What family Paul? Rebecca? Who's not even here! Declan, who can't stand you? Or are you talking about us, the poor little orphans you took pity on?
PAUL: Come on, I have always been there for you.
KATE: Yeah, when it's convenient for you, or you're feeling guilty or you want something. Paul, I've had enough. You're not my uncle anymore. I don't want to talk to you again, ever.

Preview
- Donna is the perfect person for the job.
- Andrew finds out that Paul remembered Diana didn't push him.
- Kate is caught in the middle.
- Brennan needs Kate to tell him what she knows.
- Brennan is wasting his time with Declan.