17/12/2019

Helen admits to Lee that while her parents are fine with it, she still hasn’t told Henry that he’s coming for Christmas lunch. Lee’s surprised to see how Christmasy Kirsty’s house. Helen’s amazed to see that Philip has gone even further with the decorations inside. Kirsty comments wryly it’s like living in a lighthouse.
Helen picks Henry up from school and broaches the subject of Lee. But Henry’s ahead of her; of course she can invite her boyfriend to Christmas lunch! Henry’s more interested in asking Natasha if Uncle Tom is going to the Grundy World of Christmas. Natasha tells Helen she’s had a good time at Deck the Hall but she got talked by Joy into giving her a makeover tomorrow.
Jim is dismayed to learn that Lynda’s at the ghost stories rehearsal, planning to make the costume while she draws inspiration from the ambience Jim will create. Lynda interrupts the rehearsal to make alterations to the set. She notices a painting and is aghast to find it looks like her – but with a scary, unpleasant look in her eyes. Why would Russ have done that? All this distraction is too much for Jim, who insists he and Robert decamp to Greenacres, leaving Lynda to finish the costume. But Lynda can’t stay. She begs a lift home from Freddie to get away from Russ’s bizarre little joke.