Beth and Cathy think they are doing their good deed for the day when they drop Christine off at the hospital reception, but while Cathy manages to slip away, poor Beth doesn't get off so lightly and is committed to a visit post-op.

With a long list of demands from Christine, Beth and Eric return later with her supplies to find that instead of being sore and exhausted after surgery, she has been sleeping off her dinner. It emerges the operation has been postponed until the following morning.

As nurse Heather weathers Christine's demands, Colin arrives followed by Michelle and Alan. The ensuing group discussion leaves Christine very worried about her chances of survival.

With their house in turmoil in the midst of the redecoration, new Latimer Crescent residents Alan and Michelle take refuge from the floor sanding at Beth and Eric's house.

Michelle is keen that they are not going to be a nuisance and tries to get to bed as early as possible, but just as she heads upstairs, Christine arrives bearing rhubarb. Hot on her heels are Cathy and Colin, who turn up with the leftovers from their restaurant meal.

And Alan realises that it is not easy to leave the sawdust behind - discovering it in the most inconvenient of places.