Mac raved about Christmas to Rachel. He wants Ada and Nancy to be reconciled.
Chris has no experience of cats. He was thrilled though and said they'd be buddies together. Nancy got into a State and said Arizona hadn't meant a thing to him.
Felicia threatened Zane.
Jake has an answer for everything. He kisses Marley a lot. They went back to her apartment. The phone rang. Marley: oh, I can't believe this, it always happens. Jake: don't you dare go answer it, you know what happened last time. Marley: OK. Jake: I'll get it. Marley: no — Jake: Uptown Body and Fender. Vic: boy, does that sound familiar. You used to answer the phone that way a lot. We were usually about to... Um. You know what.
Britt stared back in the window. Kevin presented Sally with a cutting board in the shape of a pig. [Aunt Liz cried "what a terrible present to give your mother." Nobody slugged her.] Sally professed her gratitude and suddenly went weird having caught sight of Britt. Liz asked what was wrong. Sally said she thought she'd seen someone outside. Catlin went to check it out * unarmed and in spite of Sally's protests that it had been nothing. He found Britt cringing outside. He shook her and yelled at her and told her never to come back. She said nothing. He shoved her away and went back in. He informed the gathering that it had been nothing. Sally said they'd leave. Aunt Liz and Kevin went to get a box. Catlin told Sally what he'd said to Brittany and asked her to stay a little longer. She refused. He said he wouldn't let Britt in if she came back. Sally was still upset.
Rachel thinks Chris is perfect for Nancy. Mac told Ada they should talk.
Nancy and Chris discussed their difficulties. The kitten's name is Flicka. Chris sneezes a lot. Nancy started to leave on good terms. He kissed her. She didn't leave.
Victoria was mildly vicious. She told Jake Marley could call her if she had any problems tonight and she'd be happy to advise her. Jake hung up. Victoria told Donna she intended to go out and find a date for Christmas dinner.
Felicia and Zane and Wallingford began exchanging gifts. Britt came in and Felicia suggested Zane invite her over. She's kind of crying. Zane took her to the bar for a coffee. She said she wished she could burn her bad memories. He worried but she said she always bounced back.
Marley thanks Vic's still in love with Jake. Jake doesn't think she even likes him. She's jealous of Marley he says because she's Marley Love. Perfect. Beautiful, rich, well-bred, etc. Born to it. Vic's insecure about being a Love. Marley wants to help her. Jake told her not to be nice to her. She asked what he was afraid of.
Vic told Donna she wanted to invite Ned for Christmas. Donna forbade it and asked her not to ask anyone to the already disastrous dinner. [Britt and Jake are bad enough.] Donna found a Christmas card from Ralph Walker who used to be wild about her. She got an idea and called him. She asked him about his magic. [He's a magician.] She wants lunch with him in Chicago for business.
Victoria's at a disco or party or something. She captured a stranger's interest and went to dance with him. [I'll bet he's nephew Neil.] She asked him to Christmas dinner. He declined. She left.
Ada presented her side of the argument. Mac was in love with Sybil Revere when he was 18 but although he wanted to marry her [at that time] he [now] couldn't imagine life without Rachel and they broke up over something trivial. She doesn't want Nancy to marry Chris so much as she wants her to realize whatever she does will affect her forever.
Chris and Nancy are in futon. In bliss. Not mad. She understands his point now. Merry Christmas.
Marley and Jake argued about Victoria until she called a halt. He's just nervous about the Love reaction to the engagement. She said it would be all right. He agreed.
Chris and Nancy and Flicka woke up next morning. Chris sneezed a lot but denied being allergic. He got Nancy's gift from under the tree. It proved to be a very weird necklace which she adored. She has morning Christmas with Dee and Marley and afternoon Christmas with the Corys. Chris is invited. Christmas is swell.
Grant Perry had his presents opened including the high chair from Grantplain. A deadly silence fell. Jake commiserated with Carter. Carter feels better. He went to get a screwdriver.
Wallingford's gift for Felicia was a hat with a fan sort of thing on the front. Felicia gave Zane cufflinks. He doesn't appreciate them. She rushed off to get his other gift: 2 sets of cold weather gear. He was delighted. Red flannel long johns. One is for Felicia. She'd follow him to the ends of the earth even in sub-zero weather. Kissing. Felicia's box from Zane was full of dirt. Inside was a map. For property. Land on which to build a house. 40 acre lakefront site. Felicia was overwhelmed.
The Cory madhouse is in full swing with Sally and Kevin helping out. Sally told Mac about Lesoleil. Catlin arrived with Cory because Clarice and Larry are going to be late. He would have left but the Corys stayed him with flagons. Sally followed Kevin to the game room. Liz told Catlin she thought Sally might come around eventually and consider the counseling. Britt arrived having been dolled up with Rachel's help just as Sally returned. They were civil. Britt said she was having a marvelous Christmas and had received what she wanted most in the whole world. She stared at Catlin who stood silently by. When Chris and Nancy appeared the room was deserted. Enter Ada. Everyone was civil. Nancy's thrilled to be there. Ada's thrilled to have her. Enter everyone. Brit thanked Rachel profusely and left. Rachel gave Mac Nancy's gift. Nancy was embarrassed. Mac loved the beautiful Blue Jar.
When Cass wheeled Kathleen into the Northwoods Inn everyone piled gifts on her. Cass is unthrilled about the screenplay collaboration. Wally warned him against Edouard.
Donna is a maniac with a camera. She's photographing everyone. Peter is impressed with Britt's outfit [it's certainly better than her seduction in Wyoming gear]. Victoria thinks Marley's ring is too, too sick-making. Bridget sent her in. Donna snapped her. She wants a photograph of Jake opening his gift from Marley. Marley gave him a hint. It's something he really needs. He got a great look on his face [she stopped him from shaking it] and said "what, a toaster oven, I don't know." He was thrilled to bits to see the video camera. He said it was too much. Victoria got a sick look on her face. Interfering Britt pointed out his other gift from Vic. Vic said twins thought alike. A hush fell. Vic demanded a Christmas kiss. Jake shuffled over and kissed her cheek [highly embarrassed] and shuffled back. Merry Christmas.
Kathleen told Cass she and Edouard were just friends. She's having dinner with him. She asked Cass not to feel he was replacing him. Ed's chauffeur arrived and wheeled her out. Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
Before leaving Chris joined the Cory Christmas blessing circle. Mac's at it again.
* Richmal Crompton (one of the William books, I forget which):
"Do be careful, John," she said. "If it's a burglar you know how desperate they are nowadays. They shoot on sight."
↩
Ethel's door opened. "What is it?" she said.
"It's a burglar," explained Mrs. Brown. "He knocked over the ladder."
"I heard footsteps," said Mr. Brown. "I distinctly heard footsteps both before and after the crash. The best thing would be to search the house."
"Take something, dear," pleaded Mrs. Brown. "A poker or a revolver or something. Even William's air gun would be better than nothing. It's on the wardrobe, you know. You took it from him for breaking the garden frame with it."
"I've still got that old service revolver," said Robert. "I'll take that."
Ethel had gone back to her room to take out her curlers, put on some makeup and change into her other dressing-gown. It was only a burglar, of course, but Ethel was the type of girl who likes to look her best even for a burglar. When she emerged, Robert and Mr. Brown were just coming out of the spare bedroom.
"There's no one there," said Mr. Brown.
"Did you look under the bed?" said Mrs. Brown.
"Of course."
"And in the wardrobe?"
"Of course."
"You've searched the bathroom, haven't you?"
"We looked into it. No one's there. You can't search a bathroom. A person's there or they aren't. Come on, Robert. We'll look in the downstairs rooms."
"You mustn't go down without a weapon, John," said Mrs. Brown. "Robert's got his revolver. He might miss him. You'll want something if it comes to a hand-to-hand struggle. Look." She took a brass stair rod out of the top stair. "Take this, John. John, I shan't let you go downstairs unless you take it."
Somewhat sheepishly, Mr. Brown allowed himself to be armed with a stair rod, and the two went downstairs. Mrs. Brown and Ethel hung over the banisters, offering advice. "Don't forget the coal cellar." "Look in the hall cupboard." "John, darling, don't carry that stair rod like a walking stick. Have it ready."