JJ finds love letters in his wife's wardrobe, but he is unable to read them.

Things start to go wrong for Valerie when she fills a prescription she can't read.

Trainee teacher Sam loses his ability to read and write following a tragic accident.

To Kathleen,looking after an invalid mother for most of her life,her one link with the outside world is as a school crossing lady. She is friendly with pupil Megan and her divorcee father Jimmy and when Megan and Jimmy are asked to do a reading for the school's Christmas play Megan,knowing her father is busy,asks Kathleen to join her instead.But Kathleen is illiterate,having given her life over to caring,and eventually must tell Megan,who feels betrayed. However there is reconciliation when Kathleen encourages Jimmy to let Megan contact her mother and the little girl teaches Kathleen computer literacy to communicate with her sister in Canada.

John cannot cope when Jackie starts pushing the boundaries of their relationship.