Christmas, 1942. The Porters are invited to stay at the Ashton's for Christmas Day. David Ashton is staying in London with his pilot and meets his friend's sister, Grace. Mrs Porter finds a letter addressed to Margaret Ashton - and when she reads it, discovers Margaret had a baby by another man whilst John was missing. Mr Porter and Margaret agree that John is not ready to be told yet, and they decide they must stop his Mother from saying anything. Sheila gets drunk on a bottle of sherry which Colin has given her for Christmas and decides to have an affair with him, but Colin does the noble thing and leaves her to sober up. The programme ends with Phillip returning home, his sight nearly fully restored.