27/12/2021

Jennifer praises Alice for all the Christmas cooking she has done and her ability to not drink while people around her are. They’re interrupted by a phone call from Ruairi who needs a lift from Hollerton Junction. Jennifer is over the moon he is home while Alice shows her uncertainty about seeing Ruairi. Jennifer reassures her that she now has the opportunity to make amends.

Jennifer clucks around Ruairi who asks for a mushroom omelette – he can’t make them like her. Alice joins them and apologises for her behaviour before going to rehab. Ruairi chooses his words carefully in reply. In private with Jennifer, Ruairi apologises for not being in touch very much since leaving for university. They have a frank conversation about Brian’s affair, Ruairi joining the Aldridge family and how Alice’s drunken words affected Ruairi. Ruairi’s now clear what’s important in his life. When he admits to being homesick for an Aldridge Christmas Day, Jennifer insists nothing would give her more pleasure than hosting one for him.

While out with Martha, Chris comes across Harrison taking a dip in the Am. He’s trying to acclimatise in preparation for his baptism as Jesus in The Passion, the second of The Ambridge Mystery Plays. Chris tells Harrison about Mike who is visiting Ambridge over New Year with Vicky and Bethany. Chris thinks it’s a mad idea to be doing The Passion outdoors in winter, he was cold enough when he played Jesus in Spring. Harrison worries that it will be a disaster and Chris advises he tries out the cross before the full rehearsal.