This festive season in Carrigstown, a tinderbox of romantic complications will make for incendiary developments.
For Niamh and Paul, it’s their first anniversary, and bittersweet, because it’s also the anniversary of Gina’s death. They’re both preoccupied with staking a claim on the future of Yvonne’s unborn child.
Will new information cement their adoption plan or lay it to waste? Events at Sarah’s New Year’s Eve bash bring tensions, secrets and agendas to the surface.
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FAIR CITY
Week 52
Episode 208
TX: Sunday, December 27th, 2009.
Yvonne blames Louie for breaking up her engagement to Connie. Yvonne finds Connie cold and intransigent. Paul continues to stall with Niamh about her plan to falsify the unborn baby’s birth cert. Louie sends Yvonne home when she looks tired and covers her shift himself. Yvonne is touched by Louie’s tender, solicitous behaviour, despite herself.
Wayne asks Dolores to invest in his start-up business distributing hair products and makes a case for her involvement. Wayne offends Malachy by offering him a product specially designed for the bald. Dolores takes offence when Malachy implies she would be mad to get into business with Wayne.
Lara suggests to Wayne that once she gets Jane back, Dolores will have a lot more time on her hands to help him with his business. Dolores tells Wayne she will have to run his business plan and proposed investment past her accountant and lets slip that Malachy advised her in this regard. Wayne covers his rage at Malachy.
Christy takes pleasure in teasing Bob about his unpleasant surprise from the Bulgarian mafia until Carol points out that these gangsters may not have gone away. Bob and Christy start to sweat the mafia threat once more as Bob starts internet-researching the scary individuals and finding news clippings about their activities. Carol does some additional research and informs Bob that the particular gangster he fears is missing, presumed dead. Bob and Christy are relieved.
Zumo tries to intimidate Bob into giving him a free keg for his New Year’s party. Bob threatens Zumo with the Bulgarian mafia, given that Zumo’s granny Eileen made off with all the counterfeit cash.
Louie lies to Connie that Yvonne does not want to be disturbed for the rest of the evening. Louie then heads over to Yvonne’s, feigns sympathy at her break-up woes with Connie and concentrates on pampering a grateful Yvonne. Louie oversteps his mark when he moves to kiss Yvonne who abuses him verbally. Connie walks in and gets the wrong impression of what is happening between Louie and Yvonne.
Wayne makes a barbed comment to Malachy who walks out, leaving Dolores perplexed.
Episode 1
TX: Tuesday, December 29th, 2009.
Louie reiterates to Yvonne that he won’t be slacking off in his quest for confirmed paternity and this time he’ll be taking the legal route all the way. Connie admits wistfully that she regrets moving from Australia. Louie takes any opportunity to play on Connie’s anxieties about her relationship with Yvonne.
Dolores insists Wayne apologise for upsetting Malachy. Wayne does so, but leaves Malachy is unsure as to whether sarcasm is involved. For Dolores’ sake, Malachy and Wayne maintain some decorum. Wayne starts to get a little hands-on with Jane to give Dolores a break. Dolores takes offence when she overhears Cleo and Wayne saying she’s too old to keep up the pace of mothering an infant.
Sarah pressures Keith to agree to a party in their place on New Year’s Eve. When Keith expresses surprise that she is diverging from her strict ‘no parties’ policy, Sarah tells him she has resolved to “be more fun” and describes her plan as “more of a soiree”. Keith says it’s no skin off his nose but doesn’t plan to be involved.
Orla declares she has nothing to celebrate and is therefore not inclined to have a party but Sarah over-rides her. When Sarah lets slip to Ian that Orla has been on a year-long celibacy drive, his interest is piqued. Sarah gets Orla to agree to the party by listing the eligible men who will attend.
Colm continues to bond with Lorcan. Ali tells Carol that Colm is relocating to Leeds for a new job. Carol chides Ali for allowing Lorcan to be set up for a fall. Ali explains sadly to Colm that he’ll need to keep a little distance, for Lorcan’s sake, giving Colm pause for thought.
Colm tries to tackle Carol on her dislike of him and convince her he’s serious about Ali but ostensibly makes little impact. Colm asks Ali to move to Leeds with him but she demurs, explaining that she can’t uproot Lorcan on a whim.
Rachel overhears Yvonne and Niamh discuss putting Paul’s name on the unborn child’s birth cert. When Niamh leaves, Rachel asks Yvonne pointedly whether Paul is the father of her child. Shocked, Yvonne covers with difficulty and explains the adoption plan to Rachel who struggles to comprehend this complex issue and the baby’s future. Yvonne alerts Paul to this unfortunate occurrence. Paul broaches the matter with Rachel and manages to spin it more positively for her.
Yvonne tells Connie she wants to move back to Australia with her as soon as the adoption transaction is complete but has not bargained on Connie’s reaction.
Episode 2
TX: Wednesday, December 30th, 2009.
Connie refuses to relent to Yvonne’s attempts at reconciliation. Connie asks Yvonne to settle up her Vino’s wages for her because she wants to leave Carrigstown immediately. Rachel tells Yvonne she thinks Yvonne should keep the baby, giving Yvonne cause for sad reflection.
Malachy allows Lara to take Jane out for a half hour, while Dolores is sleeping. Wayne spurs this on but denies it when Dolores confronts him. Dolores berates Malachy who heads out in search of Lara. When Malachy fails to find Lara and Jane, Dolores combs the area.
Dolores quizzes Malachy as to whether he thinks she’s too old to mother baby Jane. Wayne tells Malachy that as far as he’s concerned, the sooner Jane gets back into Lara’s custody, the better.
Ian takes opportunities to flirt with Orla when he stays the night with Sarah. Orla drops a hint of this to Sarah, when provoked. Sarah warns Ian, the better to keep him in check, that Orla has cast aspersions on his fidelity. Orla fumes when Sarah gives her a demeaning task-list of housework in advance of her ‘soiree’. Keith tries to cheer Orla up when she admits that she’s down and hates her life. Later, Ian flirts more vigorously with Orla and almost kisses her. Orla stalks away from him, confused.
Colm presses Ali to reconsider moving to Leeds with him. Ali asks Keith for advice because he has known Colm longer. Keith is encouraging. Carol is unsupportive when Ali says she is veering towards moving to Leeds. Ali breaks the news to Colm who is overjoyed but urges Ali to smooth things over with Carol.
Lara returns and explains that she took Jane to hospital because she started vomiting and could not call because her battery was dead. Malachy is stunned when Dolores wont forgive him and asks him to leave.
Yvonne’s back is against the wall so she tells Connie that Paul is the father, hence her determination to give the baby to Niamh and Paul. Connie, to Yvonne’s surprise and relief, decides not to leave her after all.
Episode 3
TX: Thursday, December 31st, 2009.
Niamh and Orla get over their recent estrangement as they bond over Gina’s anniversary. Orla reminds Niamh that as it’s also her wedding anniversary, she should come to the party. Yvonne agrees to mind Rachel so that Niamh and Paul can attend, and encourages Connie to go to the party without her, for Connie’s sake. Connie agrees but says she will come home early.
Malachy seeks forgiveness from Dolores but it’s a hard sell. Eventually, Dolores softens and asks him to have dinner with herself, Wayne, Robert and Cleo.
Carol confides her distress at Ali’s imminent departure to Christy and asks Christy to have a word with Colm. Christy and Colm are on the same page as regards bringing Carol to acceptance of Ali’s right to self-determination. Colm and Ali have a quiet night in and look to the future over cups of tea.
Sarah is irked when Ian and Orla giggle and conspire over party arrangements. Later, Ian and Sarah argue over a trivial pretext. Orla, Niamh and assembled guests revel as midnight approaches.
An uninvited and very drunken Louie arrives when the party is in full swing.
Keith and Sarah discuss her relationship troubles with Ian, and Keith tells Sarah she deserves better. Keith asks Orla what on earth Sarah sees in Ian. Orla cant help but agree.
Wayne tries to make a move on Cleo but is found merely pitiable by Cleo and Robert.