The Corys celebrated Christmas joyously. Mac told Amanda Sam had been by to see her.
Sam retrieved Amanda's gift and then found the one she'd left under his tree.
Donna panicked when she did not find Michael on the couch. He came in from the woodpile a little cranky.
Felicia and Wally are crazy about each other for Christmas. She doesn't know what she'd do without him. They and Vince and Mary and Mitch are still toiling for St Elmo's. Cass and Nicole said they couldn't help. Felicia disapproved. Cass promised he'd stop try to stop by later. He gave Nicole her gift: a plaque for her design house. She was touched. They rushed off to attend their different parties. Felicia and Wally didn't buy it.
Donna produced an ample breakfast, blithely. Michael said he wanted to leave. Donna played dumb when he accused her of trickery. [Donna: how do you like your eggs? Michael: I'm not hungry. Donna: why not? Michael: you can't cook.]
Amanda's face lit up, especially when Mac said Sam had had a gift in hand. She wondered if she should call.
Sam contemplated his gift and picked up the phone.
Amanda picked up her phone.
Sam found the line busy.
Amanda chickened out. Jamie gave Lisa some beautiful earrings. He went out into the hall and, hearing she wasn't sure she should call Sam, let her back into the family gathering, assuring her they would take care of her. The Corys went to dress for St Elmo's. The phone rang. Amanda got it. It was Sam. He asked to come over. She was delighted.
Cass hung out in a weird old house and made faces at the mantelpiece. When he went upstairs, Nicole came in with her plaque.
John told St Elmo's children jungle stories. Cheryl plied them with gingerbread. Scott and Chad and Adam arrived, having no news of Dawn. Enter Jamie and Lisa, who fell into an embrace with Felicia. When Vicky came in, Adam saw her stop under the mistletoe and pounced. Father Flynn required his help with his whiskers, so he bound it off. Victoria stayed under the mistletoe determinedly for Jamie's sake and demanded a Christmas kiss when he approached. He obliged with a peck on the cheek. Zack and Julie Ann arrived. Scott said he couldn't stay. Adam insisted on going with him.
Scott found Dawn in a parked car just outside. [How fortuitous.] Adam ran in to fetch Jamie.
Nicole watched television. Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn sent her running from the room. Cass came in and, seeing the TV on, grabbed his jacket and left.
Amanda told her family she was staying home. They left. Sam knocked on the French windows. Amanda could not conceal her joy. She invited him in and gave him eggnog. He loved her gift of Parisian paint brushes. She told him to admit he hated her being rich.
Zack told the children about Jesus.
Michael chewed valiantly but told Donna his eggs were a little tough. She said she thought they were bad, since they had been brown. He said he wasn't staying for lunch. The snow plow came by. Michael rejoiced. Donna said she wanted to stay. She made him admit he'd closed the door against temptation last night. He said he was still attracted to her and he didn't hate her but the situation was impossible.
Nicole and Cass returned at about the same time carrying paper bags. They both claimed to be working and to have no interest in Holiday Inn. When each thought the other had gone, they both crept back. Nicole caught him doing Bing's lines. They sat down together.
Sam told Amanda his mother had dated a rich guy for a while but he left her. He said he loved the brushes. Her gift was a miniature of the Painting. He told her he would be the best possible father for the baby. She said she didn't want to talk about that.
Adam and Jamie returned from delivering Dawn to the hospital. Scott and Chad were staying with her. Vince wished Mary a Merry Christmas. Agitated, she broke out of his embrace and ran straight into a Navy guy who was surprised to see she was alive. Mary asked if she knew him. His companion rushed him off. Mary was confused. Everyone suddenly burst out singing.
Sam assured Amanda he'd see her soon and left. She cuddled her teddy bear. He watched through the window briefly.
Michael told Donna he loved her but there was no hope. She cried. He was nice. They left together. He kissed her and wished her Merry Christmas. She stared.
Cass and Nicole accused each other of crying over the movie, and of loving Christmas. They got up to go but stayed for white Christmas.
St Elmo's sang White Christmas. Mac wished us all Merry Christmas.