21st December 2021

Steve and John chat about getting a new Christmas Tree for the RR, while Becca and Liz chat about how fats Christmas has come round. Liz is happy to be on shift and Becca reckons she wants to be busy. They chat about Andrea, while Paul and Audrey talk about the ludicrous Christmas sale at the shop, annoying Audrey who feels they will make a loss. Liz enters and Paul leaves abruptly. Liz asks Audrey if Paul is okay. Audrey offers Liz some of the bargains and she says no. Steve and John continue to chat, and Steve gets acquainted with Rick who has an idea of how to make quick money shifting trees. Steve isn't interested. Becca recoils in pain and tells Lydia she hasn't been feeling great lately. Steve and Liz chat behind the bar as Steve tells Liz how he really wants a child of his own and talking to John has got him thinking. Liz tells Steve to keep trying, while Liz awkwardly serves Paul at the bar. Claudia asks Liz if she still has a chance, and Liz tells her that Paul might be avoiding her. Steve finds Becca upstairs and has frisky plans for tonight, but Becca claims that she isn't feeling 100 percent. Liz chats to John. As Steve, Becca, Liz and John toast Andrea's life, Paul leaves. Liz watches on, and Becca asks what the situation is with Paul. Liz vows to get to the bottom of it.

Tracey confides in Cilla over how stupid she has been to believe that Jim was a changed man. Chris has breakfast with Mike and Samantha and tells them about the pain in his leg. Mike vows to support Chris with the restaurant and Mike heads out to see Ryan. Chris continues the business talk with Samantha who riles at the fact that she can forget what he did to Bill. Chris claims that Bill tried to kill him, and the pair row. Samantha is more distressed as usual when Chris mentions that Jim was taken back to his cell. Chris asks her what happened. Samantha opens up about Jim's threat. Ryan is happy to learn that their drug misdemeanours didn't scupper the business. Mike tells Ryan that he owes his dad and vows to work at the Bistro, Samantha heads to work and chat to Nikki about what happened in that office when Jim was here. Nikki encourages her to take leave and get support. Samantha dwells on what could have happened, while Chris tells Tracey that she ought to think about who she spends her time with. Chris tells her that Jim nearly attacked Samantha and Tracey is horrified. Mike asks Nikki where Samantha is, who pops out of the office and tells Mike she isn't feeling well, having taken Nikki's advice. As Samantha leaves, she bumps into Clare and Samantha offers support for Stacey. Clare insists that she and Stacey are coping. Mike tells Clare to go easy on Samantha, while Nikki and Mike chat briefly. Mike finds Chris on the bench outside and learns he couldn't climb the stairs to the house. Mike tells Chris that he needs medical attention and Chris ignores him. Mike pleads Chris to get a drink at the RR with him and they do, and chat business. Tracey finds Samantha getting home and asks to chat. Tracey tells her that she knows what happened with Jim, and Tracey blames herself. Samantha tells her not to, Ian can see that Tracey is disturbed as she claims to have had a long day on the weekend. Tracey tells Ian to stop quizzing her. Tracey leaves the argument and heads to the balcony to cry.

Alvin chills at his dad's place and Micheal wants to know about the situation at the Bistro. Micheal tells him that Paul warned him that he could be the one to blame. Alvin defends Micheal's stance and Alvin vows to set Paul straight. Alvin is offended as Micheal wants Dan to talk to Paul, and storms out, Natasha and Marya have a drink at Laura's bar and watch as a depressed Marc sits and drinks his water. Marya feels sorry for Marc. Natasha needs to see David and tells Marya to reminds Marc to see a solicitor. Marc and Marya chat. Marya can see that all Marc wants to do is drink, and offers him lunch at the RR. Paul gets a visit from Alvin at the shop, and warns Paul to keep Micheal out of this bistro mess. Paul accuses the family of gross negligence and the pair row as Paul stands his ground. Alvin insist that Micheal did Paul a favour in getting the Bistro, but Paul claims that he cant trust him for being Harry's lawyer and having been caught up in scandals. Paul tells him that he knows all about him. Alvin leaves. Marya asks Jane how Barry is, and wishes them a Merry Christmas. Amanda and antagonises Marc to cheer up. Marya tells her to leave him alone, and Amanda makes a joke that Marya will be sleeping with Marc next. Marc is put off his lunch. Alvin arrives and Amanda supports him having seen that he's had rough day so far. Alvin lies and says that he hasn't got much business and leaves. Marc has an idea, Natasha arrives to check up on Marya and Marc. Amanda leaves and heads to the salon where Elle is knee-deep in work. Natasha tells Marc to see Alvin and Marc is already on it. Natasha thanks Marya for being there for him. Amanda tells Elle about Marc's depressed attitude. Amanda greets Alvin at the salon, who just got a text from Aaron. Alvin insists that he needs to go, and tells Amanda to lay off him as she asks him about where they are spending Xmas. A peeved-off Alvin is approached by Marc who wants a solicitors quite. Alvin laughs it off and accuses Marc of being as bad as Harry and mocks his attempts. Natasha arrives as Marc throws a punch at Alvin and Amanda stops the men from fighting and tells Alvin to call the cops. Amanda hurls abuse at a helpless Marc. Natasha pulls Marc away and warns Amanda to stop Alvin calling the police. Marya takes Elle back inside the salon. Amanda is sick of Marc and calls the police herself and gets Marc arrested. Natasha fumes and lets Elle and Marya know. Marc is driven off in a police car, as Amanda consoles Alvin.