EastEnders - 24/12/2009

Peggy and Roxy are waiting at the hospital outside Ronnie’s room before going to Ronnie’s bedside. Archie is pacing in his lounge, expecting visitors. He informs Janine that when the Mitchells read the loan agreement, they will realise they must leave the Vic. Soon after, Peggy visits Archie and slaps him twice around the face. Janine overhears the conversation through the wall. Peggy is livid and threatens Archie there will be trouble if he goes near the girls again. Janine then enters in lingerie, asking Archie to return to bed. Peggy leaves in disgust. Peggy informs Ben and Phil that Ronnie is in hospital. In reaction, Phil pours himself some whisky and swiftly downs it. Peggy watches in disappointment and pleads the family fight Archie together. Billy arrives to see Peggy and confesses he knew about the loan. Billy explains his reasoning claiming that he doesn’t feel part of the family and Archie was there for him. In the Vic, Peggy announces the raffle draw and Mo complains loudly that she has not purchased tickets yet. Stacey gives Mo one of her and Bradley’s tickets. The raffle is drawn and Mo wins Max’s Merc, that he was recently forced to give to Phil. Bradley is frustrated as the winning ticket was originally his. Mo attributes her luck to the Queen Vic bust – she touched it shortly before her winning number came up. Everyone in the pub touches the Queen Vic bust in the hope that it will bring them good luck. Peggy announces to the Vic that she wishes everyone a merry Christmas. In response, Minty toasts to what a fine landlady Peggy Mitchell is. Archie and Janine enter the Vic. Roxy reacts aggressively but Peggy states she invited the couple. She says she is tired of fighting and affirms that family is more important than any building. Archie and Janine are behind the bar as Peggy, Phil, Roxy and Ben bring their belongings downstairs. Phil threatens Archie on his way out. Peggy heads back upstairs to collect her things. Mo is outside in the car she has won and he places the cash takings from the nativity play in the backseat. As she drives off, the money flies out of the car all over the road. As she leads a dignified but tragic Mitchell exodus from the Vic, Peggy gives Charlie her licensee plaque and asks him to bin it. She fights back the tears. Meanwhile, Bianca tells Ricky that Whitney is having Pat’s bed whilst she is away. Ricky is unimpressed that he has been by-passed and is still the man that sleeps on the sofa. Janine invites the household over for Christmas dinner at the Vic but Bianca is quick to reject her offer. Janine snidely comments to Ricky that he is not part of the family he lives with resulting in Ricky telling Janine that he will talk to Bianca. Ricky reminds Bianca that their living arrangements were supposed to be temporary and he should look for a place of his own but Bianca seemingly ignores him. Tiffany reads out her letter to Father Christmas. But she’s not read all of it. Later, Bianca sees the last wish on Tiff’s letter - that she wants her Mummy and Daddy to get married. Elsewhere Max encourages Abi to call Tanya and tell her that they miss her. Libby is helping with the nativity and is having difficulties finding someone to play Jesus. Heather suggests they use George and Libby enthusiastically agrees. Later, many of the children including Tiffany and Bobby are ill and unable to perform. According to Mo, the nativity is a sell-out and cannot be cancelled but Libby has an idea. The adults replace the children as the cast including Heather and Darren awkwardly cast as Mary and Joseph. After the nativity, Heather asks Shirley to be godmother to George but Shirley claims she is not a suitable candidate. Shirley is searching for Heather in the launderette when she finds a Christmas present addressed to her. Shirley unwraps the gift and sees it is a picture of her, Heather and George. She glances at the outfit Heather hired and asked her to wear earlier. Later, during a tense moment in the Vic, Shirley busts out of the toilets dressed in the festive attire. Christian grabs Syed as he leaves the Masala Queen unit. Seeing this as a chance for them to escape, Christian asks Syed to join him with the one-way ticket and tells Syed the taxi is booked for six o’clock. During the nativity, Christian waves goodbye to Jane. She tries to bustle through the crowd to get to him but she’s too late, Christian has gone. As Christian stands by the taxi, Syed is visible in the darkness. Christian is pleased that Syed appears to be joining him but then Amira appears next to him. Christian’s face drops and he gets in the taxi. Syed is upset as he watches Christian’s taxi pull away.