Plot summary
It is Christmas time and the Salinger's grandfather Jake Gordon comes back. Charlie decides to get rid of all Kirsten's stuff so he can finally move on with his life. He tries to help a homeless man at the restaurant find a job and place to live, but later learns that it was all a waste because the homeless man suffers from the exact same mental illness as Kirsten. Sarah and Callie are away for the holidays. Bailey, alienated with his family, wants to spend Christmas all by himself, but Coach Petrocelli does not let him and instead asks Bailey over to his place to watch wrestling on TV, where they bond by talking about Bailey's dead parents and Petrocelli's failed marriage and a daughter who never calls or writes.
Meanwhile, Julia notices that Jake can not see very well, and he tells her he's going blind. Charlie sees him leaving early Christmas morning, and Jake says he has to go for a chemotherapy appointment for cancer and he does not want to be a burden on them anymore. Charlie agrees not to tell anyone about Jake's failing health. Julia asks Bailey to spend Christmas in the house, and he brings Coach Petrocelli with him since Coach's daughter is not coming to visit anymore. Stuart gives Claudia a very expensive gift and she tries to give him a bad gift, but he loves it.
She tells him that she does not like him in that way, and he gets mad, but apologizes and stays for Christmas dinner. Grace shows up and Charlie invites her to stay, and they all happily celebrate Christmas.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, List of Party of Five episodes. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.