Christmas day finds the Kennedy's arguing worse than ever. Laura has brought Chiltern and Violet together and they finally admit their love for each other. Monk finally declares the fight for tenant rights open. He has Finn's support, tacitly at the moment so that Finn won't lose his ministerial position too soon. Eventually Phineas fulfills his word to Monk and backs him up. This, combined with Mary Flood's pregnancy, will remove Phineas back to Ireland and away from our story, for the moment. The Duke of Omnium makes his final play for Marie Goesler and she, again, manages to refuse him without losing his, or Glencora's, friendship. At another garden party we are introduced to the delightfully wicked Lizzie Eustace. Before we bid farewell to Phineas, he saddens Marie, and rescues Laura from Kennedy by aiding her to leave with her father. As the episode ends the Duke collapses.