Returning home from work, Paul must face a cranky baby and an equally cranky Sarah, who fears that they have not been communicating effectively ever since the birth of their baby. Next door, the subjects of Andrew's complaints range from Jeremy Paxman to the house sitter next door, and no amount of pleading from his wife Alice will calm him down. Meanwhile, in the third house of the terrace, Sapphire and Gulliver talk about life and their TV careers (Gulliver the host of a gardening show and Sapphire an extra on shows such as Silent Witness).

Sapphire meets with Ruby, who seems very interested in her relationship with Gulliver, however the young woman does not realise that the journalist is really only after a juicy story. Still disturbed by the phonecall from their daughter in LA the previous evening, Andrew and Alice argue over whether she is overexaggerating the problems that she is having with her husband, Denis. Meanwhile tensions continue to flare between Paul and Sara after she discovers that he has secretly been in contact with her psychologist.

When Andrew tries to convince Alice that she shouldn't be going on the globalisation protest, tempers begin to build, accumulating in a shock revelation from Alice about her past. After Paul returns home late yet again, Sara tries to persuade him that she wants to hold a dinner party in order to alleviate the paranoia that she is suffering about him having an affair, but the idea doesn't go down well. Meanwhile Ruby attempts to get some more dirt on Gulliver after his latest meeting with Sapphire.

Sara's paranoia grows after an embarrasing and unplanned confrontation with Paul's colleague Melissa reveals a few surprising facts about his work life. Andrew is shocked to hear about Alice's behaviour during the globalisation process, but the two are soon united by a pleasant but unexpected phone call. Meanwhile, Sapphire and Ruby prepare another entrapment plan to catch Gulliver in the act of cheating on his wife.

Jools' sudden return from LA does little to stem Andrew's lack of tact in difficult situations, especially when an unwanted guest turns up at the house. Sapphire comes clean to Gulliver about her work with Ruby, but the two women are stunned when they discover a significant flaw in their work. Meanwhile tensions continue to build between Paul and Sara as they seem to grow even more distant from each other.

Sapphire and Ruby confront Gulliver after their shocking discovery about him. Paul finally comes clean to Sara, but his revelation is startingly different from what she had expected. Meanwhile Andrew and Alice worry as to whether Jools is doing the right thing by talking things over with Dennis after everything that has happened between them.

Paul and Sarah are exhausted parents raising their newborn son, and Alice and Andrew are retirees trying to enjoy some peace and quiet, which is hard to do while surrounded by their noisy neighbors.

After another long day of being a stay-at-home mom, Sarah battles a cold and fears that Paul is hiding something from her, and Sapphire shares more information with a reporter than she probably should.

Ruby continues her scheming to get dirt on Gulliver. Alice voices her discontent, and Andrew takes it upon himself to investigate the suspicious activity outside his home.

Paul and Sarah host a dinner party with Paul's coworkers and Sarah confronts Melissa. Alice and Andrew are faced with their mortality, and Ruby continues to manipulate Sapphire.

Andrew and Alice's daughter, Jools, comes to stay with them, but they are unsure what crisis has befallen her. Meanwhile, Paul and Sarah worry that their baby may be sick.

Tensions between Paul and Sarah finally come to a head, and Ruby finally gets to confront Gulliver.

As preparations to celebrate Christmas are underway, the holiday cheer seems out of reach for everyone.

After a long Christmas Day, the families begin to air out their frustrations that had been growing throughout the day.

As the holiday festivities come to an end, events from the last few days finally come to a breaking point in the lives of each family.