Recap of DFL: Christmas

Short Recap (Full Recap below with pictures)

It’s coming up to the end of the year and before heading back to London for Christmas Lydia stops in uninvited to see Noah at the Classroom on the Coast where he is playing around with some new recipes.

We discover that Noah has started a relationship with Chloe which has resulted in a lot less time spent with Lydia. As they talk they are both reminded of Christmases past and we are transported back to these memories, learning more about the how it all started.

Back in the present they part ways with Noah making it clear that their relationship has to be something different now.

“I do care, I’ve cared every Christmas since I’ve known you. But I can’t be your safety blanket anymore Lydia… Coz you’re not that for me…”

10 point recap with pictures:

The Musician starts singing ‘All I Want For Christmas’ and is joined by a choir from within the audience.

Noah enters, followed by Lydia, and it is clear things are off between them. She says that Baz told her where to find him and asks if he’s received her messages; he avoids the question. She has stopped by to see him before getting the train back to London to be with her mum at Christmas.

Noah says he’s here to practice some recipes but that he is also making cookies for Chloe and her family. Lydia confronts his lack of contact asking if Chloe has asked him to see less of her. He tells the audience that this is true but brushes it off with Lydia. Lydia says she feels he is blaming her for her choice on his ultimatum at Bonfire. She asks if he is mad at her, and he says he’s not, he’s ‘good’; his response tells her that he’s still hurt. She asks if she can stay and he eventually lets her. He asks whether the cookies should be chocolate or caramel and this prompts a flashback:

It’s the first year of uni, and Noah and Lydia have only known each other for a few months. She's been out drinking and has lost the key to their halls. She pokes fun at him studying instead of partying and asks to borrow his key. They start chatting about where they are from and Noah describes Hastings to her, unflatteringly.

She says that maybe she should have his number as an emergency contact, he jokes that she’ll be asking him to move a body next. She is a bit shocked, saying that that’s the ultimate sign of love, which he finds weird.

He clarifies that he does not love her.

Noah asks what she’s doing for Christmas and she explains she doesn’t love this time of year because her Dad left at Christmas. Picking up on his Festive joy she jokingly retorts “Not all lucky enough to be born into a perfect family”, to which Noah replies that he is adopted, but explains he is happy with his family and hasn’t looked for his birth parents; he admits, however, it sometimes takes him time to trust.

Noah offers to cook her something that makes her feels Christmassy and she explains that that is waffles, which remind her of her dad, along with the song ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. He asks what flavour: chocolate or caramel? And this takes us back to the present.

Back in the present Lydia asks him why he’s not using the restaurant kitchen to practice recipes, Noah brushes this off and asks how her shop is doing. She admits that it’s not doing well, then laments the shortage of Hastings festivals at Christmas. She talks about what her mum will be like and he asks her to not lapse into bad habits, briefly showing her that he still cares. This prompts the second flashback.

It is the second year of university and Noah is making Lydia waffles in their shared kitchen. He is singing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ very loudly and she is very hungover. He says that Maddy told him that Lydia liked him, which he initially dismisses until she makes it clear that it is true. They debate the possibility of being in a relationship and she asks if he likes her too. He goes through the practicalities of their personalities and what would happen if it didn’t work out, finally saying there’s no evidence it would work, so she stands close to him saying she will kiss him. He dismisses it so she leaves it turning away, but he grabs her and they kiss. It is clearly life changing. They agree that they will give a relationship a go but that their friendship will always come first.

We jump back to the present. Remembering the past Lydia tells Noah that she hates him being upset with her. He says he’s not but he can’t be friends with her when he’s put himself on the line, that he tried to work out how they could be, but that it’s not possible. That they can be friends in a group but not spend time alone together because it’s not fair on Chloe. He tells her he cares deeply but she made a choice and it wasn’t a relationship with him. She starts to leave and he stops her, and offers her some food for the way home. They share a sad smile, she leaves and he returns to the kitchen.

We jump to the third flashback. It is the final year of university, Noah and Lydia are in the kitchen of their shared house and they are in a happy relationship. Noah is making waffles and humming ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’. Lydia enters wearing his jumper and gives him a big hug. She says she misses him already and doesn’t want to go home for Christmas, he cutely teases her and then asks her to come to Hastings with him for Christmas. This is clearly an ongoing conversation. They are playful and sweet together and she tells him that this is the happiest she has ever been at Christmas.

They reminisce about getting together and he admits he’d loved her for a long time but didn’t want her to freak out. She can’t bring herself to say she loves him too, but she says she would move a body for him and he replies saying he’d move a body for her too. They kiss, and then he starts to sing ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ to her whilst slow dancing. They kiss and then she joyfully breaks the moment by grabbing the waffle batter. They tussle over it and then together take it to the bedroom.

The choir begin to sing again, joining on stage for a final line of ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’