Carmel is worried that she won't be enough for Barney's rich friends at the ball he's invited her to, so she asks Mercedes along for support. But at the party Barney spills the details of his arrangement with Nana to Rob, unaware Mercedes has overheard everything. Humiliated, Carmel runs out of the club and as she tears through the village, she runs into the path of a car, driven by Jim McGinn. He scoops a dazed Carmel up in his arms and takes her home, leaving heart-broken Barney behind. Brendan is angry when Cheryl tricks him into having lunch with his Dad. Leah and Ste join them, but Brendan boils over and shouts at Leah. He goes to apologise and wins the little girl round leaving him and Ste to celebrate Christmas, knowing that in a week, Seamus will be gone for good. Mercedes is shocked when Paul Browning turns up at her door, but without a second to lose, they launch straight into a passionate snog. Also, Holly is forced to go to the McQueens while Cindy is in hospital and there's a spark between her and Bart.
