A woman is brought in after taking an overdose at a Christmas party. She reveals she is pregnant but her boyfriend dumped her and gave her money for an abortion. She leaves the hospital against advice and goes back to the party only to see her ex having fun without her. Maxine asks Rob to give homeless teenage runaway Suzie (Rebecca Callard) a bed for Christmas but Charlie insists she is discharged. She runs away from the hospital just before her father turns up, and runs in front of an ambulance. Jane, who was driving, suffers whiplash and Suzie escapes with minor injuries. Rob and Maxine share a kiss. A violent pensioner, Arthur (TP McKenna), is angry when his son (Jeff Rawle) refuses to bring his family for Christmas and beats his wife (Dorothy Tutin), who stabs him. He dies from his injuries meaning his wife will be charged with murder.
Lance's big find seems to have brought him nothing but misfortune, as the mysterious 'Curse of the Gold' appears to be taking its toll. Meanwhile, Andy briefly returns in good spirits from his adventures in Botswana and things take an upward turn for Lance when he finds a way to make his peace with the earth.
As the year comes to an end, Poplar faces unprecedented and relentless wintry conditions, which pose a challenge to the occupants of Nonnatus House and the community at large.
