Jacqui and Nathan are heading off to Cuddington Hall for the annual carol service. Nathan's promised Debs a lift, but she's late. Whilst this *may not* be intentional on Debs' part, Jacqui allows herself to get wound up about it.
Debs does appear, just in the nick of time. She's been to Paris for the weekend and is bearing gifts for each of them. Upon arrival at the Hall, Debs is still being ultra nice and Jacqui becomes increasingly suspicious.
"She's unnerving me, being so pleasant," Jacqui whispers to Nathan.
"You're just seeing the real Debs," is Nathan's casual reply.
Jacqui's so bemused that she asks Debs outright what's going on.
Very charmingly, Debs replies that she'd been making a play for Nathan, but having seen how keen he is on Jacqui, she's now given up on that idea.
"There's no competition," she says. "So I've bowed out gracefully."
Following a successful carol service, Nathan stuns Jacqui by asking her to move in with him. Mind you, it wasn't the idea of living together that she found shocking, more the fact that he has a house in London and that's where he wants them to live.
In the bungalow, Jerome and Nikki discover that Ray stayed the night (on the sofa) and take the opportunity to tease Jessie.
Nikki decides that she's not going to bother with university today, but has her mind changed for her, when her tutor calls and demands to see her urgently. Following the meeting, Nikki is found seeking solace in Bar Brookie. Her tutor's made it plain that Nikki's so far behind in her work that she should seriously consider calling it a day and picking up the course again next October.
Ray tells Jessie that she's "good for him" and that he doesn't miss Renee at all - even after thirty years of marriage. He reckons that he's finally got the chance to "start living again". The marriage died long ago, he says, but neither he nor Renee had the inclination to walk away and start afresh.
Over in Number Ten, Jimmy is hardly speaking to Lindsey and it takes tears (Lindsey's, not Jimmy's!) before anything remotely approaching complete sentences is achieved. Lindsey begs for Jim's help, but he's only willing to assist if drugs are off the agenda. In the meantime, he simply suggests getting the police involved.
"Are you off your head?" implores Lindsey.
"You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out" replies Jim.
A car pulls up outside and we're introduced to Dave Burns, Alasdair's... er, 'associate'. He's the guy who'll be running the 'concession', as he called it, in the club.
Jimmy wasn't impressed and made a last ditch effort to persuade Lindsey not to go along with Alasdair's plan (it's a bit late for that though, surely?).
"Love, it's a simple choice," he says.
"No, it's not."
"It is. Me or the club."
"I don't want to give the club up, Dad."
"Wrong choice. Bye."
<slam>
Jimmy shuts the door in Lindsey's face, leaving her on the doorstep with Nice Dave. They head off to the club, where Nice Dave, sets outs how things are going to work...
Hmm, it looks like you want a rich, solicitor boyfriend, Linds. Now why hasn't *that* crossed your mind, eh?
Episode written by Maurice Bessman
Summary © 1999 Graeme Selway
Brookside and all related materials are © Mersey Television 1982-2001