Mac explained Christmas to all the children. He told them that Jesus would want them to love everyone, even Robbie. Blaine and Sandy and Alex are toboggan racing. Everybody's really silly.
The Matthewses are going to clean up. Catlin and Sally and Kevin got another tree. A real tree. A green tree. Kevin is unthrilled by Catlin (unlike the rest of the world).
Kathleen and MJ have got their new Christmas mass dresses and they are much admired by all (well, Vince is the only one there). They're stalling about the cameo.
Wallingford came to visit Cass.
Blaine and Sandy are going to be left in charge of the children. Sandy is wearing glasses with a false nose for some reason. He's eager to have more toboggan races. Everyone's going out on A MISSION. Spreading Christmas cheer.
Perry brought a gift to Carl. He said pretty much that he loved him, Merry Christmas. Carl said they could go to dinner but Perry's spending Christmas Eve with the Corys. And Carl is left alone.
Wallingford tried to talk Cass out of having Krystle borrow money from Tony. Wallingford: I just think somebody ought to point out that you are crazy. Cass: It's been pointed out. Wallingford: Cass, think about this. Cass: I have thought about it. Now it's time to do something about it. Wallingford: Now listen to me. If you go to Tony for money, you're going to have to talk to him, right? Cass: Well of course I'm going to have to talk to him. I'm going to ask him for a loan. Wallingford: Right. Right. Well he may have the ugliest sister in America, and he may be just short of being called legally blind. But Cass, if you have a conversation with him -- Cass: I HAVE had a conversation with him. A couple, in fact. Wallingford: What, one minute? Two minutes? You give him five minutes of that FOGHORN voice of yours, and -- Cass: I'm getting better at it, Wally. Now listen. "I don't need the money for myself, Tony dear." See? Wallingford: Bang bang, you're dead. Cass: Wally, we tried everything else, now this is it. Wallingford: Yes, I know Kathleen needs that cameo back. But we're not going to get it if we have to drag the bay for you. Cass: I want to look nice for Tony. I think I'll wear the outfit with the fur trim.
The Matthewses are salvaging what they can. Alice is making Mark rest. He seems to be unpsychic, headacheless, and minus the anxiety. The MISSION arrived with decorations and paint and things to make life look better. They're thrilled to see Mark. Quinn is bossing everyone around. Thomasina is pretty quiet. Jamie and Sally are examining ornaments together. Nancy's desperate to find out what everyone's getting and giving. She loves living at the Corys'. Ada admits she likes it too. Nancy says she's grown closer to Rachel. Perry wandered in with the gifts for them. Ada left to get him hot chocolate. Nancy brandished mistletoe at him and achieved the desired end.
Kevin put the last ornament on the tree. Rachel invited the inhabitants over for Christmas dinner. Alice was momentarily reluctant (it's that old Steve thing rearing its ugly head) but she accepted.
Blaine and Sandy are wrapping gifts. Blaine told Sandy there was a difference between being totally useless and being totally inept. They's happy. Except Blaine fears Carl. She raved about the horribleness of Carl. Nancy and Perry came in. Perry claims Carl would never hurt anyone in the way they think (touching filial faith).
I love the holidays, don't you Rocco? Cass has now arrived.
Kathleen's slightly hysterical. She's fighting with MJ.
Krystle asked Tony for a $5,000 loan for her sister's child's operation. She got it. No interest. Tony and Rocco know that "that wasn't no broad. That's -- Winthrop." Tony wants to know what he's up to. Rocco wants to squash him like a potato.
Mac gave Rachel a beret. She's being dim.
Marley's going to Mass with the McKinnons. Vince says MJ and Kathleen have been acting strangely all day. He discovered the absence of the cameo. MJ told him nothing. Ill at ease. Vince bashed on Kathleen's door to get to the bottom of this. Cass came in at the window and put the cameo about her neck (how did it happen to fit?) and kissed her and left with the most incredibly huge grin all over his face. He was in his own clothes. Vince was still outside the door, in fact I think he'd gone back to the kitchen.
Mac said the children should go to bed. Mothers, man your children, he said. So Ada told Nancy, and Rachel told Jamie, and Quinn told Thomasina, but Alice couldn't find Sally. She's off with Catlin somewhere. "Taking a walk," explained Mark. They're going to sing carols. Joy to the World.
We whisk you now to Sally and Catlin out of doors in the cold. It's snowing. Sally says this is the best Christmas of her whole life. Catlin expressed a desire to be able to buy her fancy presents but she said she didn't care. He promised to love her and take care of her and their children (looking ahead rather, isn't he?) and to never hurt her or do anything that would make her doubt their love. She said that he's the only man she's ever loved completely that loved her too (I expected her to qualify that even more: "Who isn't the father of my child" and "Who is not rich as all hell.") She promised to love him with all her heart and never hurt him. And then they took up where they had left off, being wrapped in fond embrace, as usual.
Vince grew impatient waiting for Kathleen to come down and tried to get an explanation out of MJ. MJ was on the verge of confessing when Kathleen breezed in and claimed they'd been polishing it. It was decided that since it looked so good on Kathleen they could break tradition and make it her turn. And they're heading over to St. Luke's now.
Mac made a Christmas speech. They're singing Silent Night.
Among the things Catlin mentioned he couldn't give her but Sally professed not to want was an emerald bracelet. Sally has strength. Of course it would be monumentally tactless to say she was dying for one.
Immediately prior to the proposal, right after Sally said Catlin was stuck with them forever, he said "Is that a promise?" to which she replied "Solemn." I have come to the conclusion that although solemn is a good word, the correct response should have been "That is a threat," as when she wouldn't let him pluck Fluffy and said she'd use him as a pillow. What an oversight.