- Soon after Eugene's death, Angela keeps seeing the dead twins playing and talking around the house. Since she doesn't want to end up in the insane asylum, Angela decides it's best to move somewhere that won't remind her of her dead children.
- The McCourts move to Roden Lane, which seems better until they learn they live next to the community toilet.
- Christmas is fast approaching and things aren't getting any better: Malachy Sr. can't find a job, and when he does find a way to make money, he spends it on alcohol.
- When the first floor of the apartment floods due to the heavy rain, the McCourt clan is forced to move upstairs where it's dry. They call the upstairs "Italy."
- On Christmas Day, Frank and Malachy Jr. have to go out and find coal to cook Christmas dinner.
- While they're looking for a bit of coal Pa Keating comes to the rescue.
- He takes the boys to the local pub and asks the bartender if he can spare some lumps of coal for the McCourts' Christmas dinner.
- After a long and wet journey lugging the bag of coal through the streets, the boys finally arrive with the coal.
- Soon Christmas dinner is served: a pig's head, cabbage, and potatoes.
- Turns out that Angela was pregnant and the McCourts have a new addition to the family: a baby boy they name Michael.
- The new baby means that the McCourts will get more money on the dole, but it's still not enough money to support an entire family.
- Around Easter time the McCourts move back down to the first floor and Malachy Sr. (finally) gets a job at the local cement factory.
- Alas, Malachy Sr. goes on a bender and doesn't wake up for work the following day. He loses his job and the McCourts are back on the dole.