JasonDíSpeech
Well-Known Member
43 Minutes. The ornament scenes are pretty good, and some really deep flashbacks. Not an unpleasant episode.
Horton House - Doug is seated in a chair. Julie comes in with the last box of ornaments. She's holding Doug's ornament as she talks about the ornaments' symbolism. There's a flashback to an early Horton Christmas when Doug first received his (first) ornament and the Hortons offered to adopt him. Julie feels each Horton is a blessing. Later, Chad has brought the kids over. They don't want to hang with Doug and Julie and want to play in their old room. They leave the room, Chad reveals the kids miss Abigail...and Stephanie.
Townhouse - Jeannie T. brings presents for Tate. Brady learns that Tate's skipping the Kiriakis dinner to work at the Pub ("tomorrow"). Tate likens Kiriakis family time to a boring Greek tragedy. Jeannie T. also isn't going even though she's dating Alex who invited her. Brady accuses her of gold-digging (man I hate this story angle). They start to argue and Tate tries to storm off, calling his parents jerks. They talk him down and Jeannie T. promises they'll get along. Later, they are eating Chinese food and remembering a time when Brady visited and took them to Universal Studios when Tate was allegedly 10 years old.
Square - Everett and Stephanie are hanging out. Everett celebrates Hannukah, which Stephanie seems to have forgotten despite lighting a menorah with him once. They talk about Rudolph which is not Stephanie's favorite Christmas movie, (Elf is). She plans a quiet night tonight and will be with her family tomorrow. She is looking forward to her quiet rewatch of Elf. Everett says goodbye (he was invited somewhere but won't be going). Chad calls her (see below).
Horton House - Xander and Sarah have come over with Victoria, whose last name is now Horton-Cook. Xander is thankful for the invitation. Julie is calmly hateful toward Xander. Maggie arrives with Konstantin, who thanks them for their hospitality. (They never met him before.) Doug, in his chair, tells Julie that Konstantin reminds him of his younger con-man self. By the tree, Xander accuses Konstantin of not being a hero. In another room, Sarah learns how Konstantin got invited to the house and how she likes Konstantin. Back in the living room, Chad tells Julie and Doug that the kids are video chatting with Jack and Jennifer. Julie tells Chad he must do something about the fact that Stephanie never got to say goodbye to the kids. Chad calls Stephanie to ask her a favor.
Horton House - In another room, Stephanie has come over with gifts for the kids. Chad has realized they were too hasty and he didn't think of the kids. Downstairs by the tree, Sarah and Xander talk about Konstantin and Maggie. Sarah has faith Maggie will see through Konstantin if there's any more signs of trouble. By the couch/chair, Konstantin admires Maggie's first husband's family. Maggie says she's an honorary Horton; Julie corrects her, she is a Horton. They talk about Victor, and Maggie has a 3-second flashback of Victor's ornament and hugging her. They talk etymology for a bit. Later, Sarah and Konstantin talk about the kidnapping again. Sarah's grateful for Konstantin's rescue of Victoria. Xander tells Konstantin he will be keeping his eyes open.
Horton House - Back in the hallway/entryway, Chad apologizes for getting involved with Stephanie too soon after Abigail's death. He asks her to stay for the party. Back downstairs, Everett has arrived and is welcomed by the seated Doug. Everett, who is already fully in the house, leaves the living room to doff his coat. Julie is shocked and Doug forgot that Everett was Stephanie's ex (he ran into him in the Square). Stephanie and Chad re-enter with the kids, Thomas is thrilled at her return. She's staying for Christmas. Everett re-enters (now we know why he still had his coat on) to the shock of Chad and Stephanie. Everett and Stephanie each surprise one another with their presence. Back in his chair, Doug didn't know Stephanie was going to be there. Julie expresses an emotion. Thomas is excited for his present from Stephanie. Stephanie promises to spend time every year with the kids at or around Christmas as Chad looks on.
Horton House - Maggie talks about the ornaments and Sarah talks about the "retired ornaments" which are in the basement. Konstantin and Maggie go back to the tree area and Sarah tells Xander he'll always be a Horton (after Xander feels awkward and offers to leave).
Townhouse - Brady asks if Tate will be seeing Holly. He's depressed that Holly's into someone else. He throws away his birthday/Christmas present for her. Jeannie T scolds him and says he should save the present for the next girl. They ask if he will be returning to his private school? Tate says nobody at school misses him and implies the girls at school are all vapid; he wants to stay in Salem. Brady wants to increase Tate's odds of entering college by sending him back to his really good school. Tate asks if he has to go back? Brady and Jeannie T let him decide. He will stay and attend Salem High.
Horton House - Time to hang the ornaments. Montage of ornament shots (on the tree already now) - here's what I caught: Tom, Alice; Doug, Julie; Eli, Jules, Carver, Lani, David Abraham, Charlotte, Chad (seen hanging his), Abby, Thomas Jack, Stephanie (seen hanging hers near-ish Abby's). Shawn-Douglas, Belle, Claire, Mickey, Maggie, Victor; Bo, Hope, Jennifer, Jack Jr, Jack, Mackenzie, Sarah, Xander (seen hanging his and he smiles at Sarah, who smiles back). Maggie gives Sarah an ornament for Victoria, which Xander hangs. Thomas chides her that Charlotte's not the littlest anymore. We also get glimpses of other ornaments but I don't have time to pan for them (Lucas and Bill were the only ones I could see).
Townhouse - Jeannie T has gotten Tate some presents, the final of which was a tablet or laptop of some sort. Tate is happy he got to spend a nice night with both of his parents. Looks between Jeannie T and Brady.
Horton House - We catch the end of a group song. Maggie and Konstantin are about to leave. Julie tells him to send a thank-you note from wherever he's going. Out in the hallway, Stephanie offers to come help with the kids anytime and Chad's grateful she came over. Everett will be leaving as well, offers to walk with Stephanie. Chad will round up the kids and take them home. Chad has a quiet one-shot after Stephanie and Everett leave. Back by the tree, Xander and Sarah have packed up Victoria, who's going with Xander for the evening. He'll take lots of videos and they'll see each other tomorrow.
Salem Inn, Outside - Konstantin and Maggie talk; he would have walked but she had her driver drop him off. She leaves; he does not go into the Inn.
Horton House - In the darkened living room, Julie and Doug look at the tree and talk about Tom and Alice. Flashback to a Christmas when Jennifer brought baby Abby to the hospital to see Tom (with Alice, Mickey, and Maggie). They have a little tree by Tom's hospital bed. Tom asks Mickey to hang his ornament. Jennifer hangs Laura's and Bill's. Maggie hangs Doug and Julie's. Doug and Julie are surprise visitors, who announce they remarried in Switzerland. Julie loves the traditions and the memories, which go on and on. The episode closes on a long-shot of the tree from behind Doug's chair. END
Horton House - Doug is seated in a chair. Julie comes in with the last box of ornaments. She's holding Doug's ornament as she talks about the ornaments' symbolism. There's a flashback to an early Horton Christmas when Doug first received his (first) ornament and the Hortons offered to adopt him. Julie feels each Horton is a blessing. Later, Chad has brought the kids over. They don't want to hang with Doug and Julie and want to play in their old room. They leave the room, Chad reveals the kids miss Abigail...and Stephanie.
Townhouse - Jeannie T. brings presents for Tate. Brady learns that Tate's skipping the Kiriakis dinner to work at the Pub ("tomorrow"). Tate likens Kiriakis family time to a boring Greek tragedy. Jeannie T. also isn't going even though she's dating Alex who invited her. Brady accuses her of gold-digging (man I hate this story angle). They start to argue and Tate tries to storm off, calling his parents jerks. They talk him down and Jeannie T. promises they'll get along. Later, they are eating Chinese food and remembering a time when Brady visited and took them to Universal Studios when Tate was allegedly 10 years old.
Square - Everett and Stephanie are hanging out. Everett celebrates Hannukah, which Stephanie seems to have forgotten despite lighting a menorah with him once. They talk about Rudolph which is not Stephanie's favorite Christmas movie, (Elf is). She plans a quiet night tonight and will be with her family tomorrow. She is looking forward to her quiet rewatch of Elf. Everett says goodbye (he was invited somewhere but won't be going). Chad calls her (see below).
Horton House - Xander and Sarah have come over with Victoria, whose last name is now Horton-Cook. Xander is thankful for the invitation. Julie is calmly hateful toward Xander. Maggie arrives with Konstantin, who thanks them for their hospitality. (They never met him before.) Doug, in his chair, tells Julie that Konstantin reminds him of his younger con-man self. By the tree, Xander accuses Konstantin of not being a hero. In another room, Sarah learns how Konstantin got invited to the house and how she likes Konstantin. Back in the living room, Chad tells Julie and Doug that the kids are video chatting with Jack and Jennifer. Julie tells Chad he must do something about the fact that Stephanie never got to say goodbye to the kids. Chad calls Stephanie to ask her a favor.
Horton House - In another room, Stephanie has come over with gifts for the kids. Chad has realized they were too hasty and he didn't think of the kids. Downstairs by the tree, Sarah and Xander talk about Konstantin and Maggie. Sarah has faith Maggie will see through Konstantin if there's any more signs of trouble. By the couch/chair, Konstantin admires Maggie's first husband's family. Maggie says she's an honorary Horton; Julie corrects her, she is a Horton. They talk about Victor, and Maggie has a 3-second flashback of Victor's ornament and hugging her. They talk etymology for a bit. Later, Sarah and Konstantin talk about the kidnapping again. Sarah's grateful for Konstantin's rescue of Victoria. Xander tells Konstantin he will be keeping his eyes open.
Horton House - Back in the hallway/entryway, Chad apologizes for getting involved with Stephanie too soon after Abigail's death. He asks her to stay for the party. Back downstairs, Everett has arrived and is welcomed by the seated Doug. Everett, who is already fully in the house, leaves the living room to doff his coat. Julie is shocked and Doug forgot that Everett was Stephanie's ex (he ran into him in the Square). Stephanie and Chad re-enter with the kids, Thomas is thrilled at her return. She's staying for Christmas. Everett re-enters (now we know why he still had his coat on) to the shock of Chad and Stephanie. Everett and Stephanie each surprise one another with their presence. Back in his chair, Doug didn't know Stephanie was going to be there. Julie expresses an emotion. Thomas is excited for his present from Stephanie. Stephanie promises to spend time every year with the kids at or around Christmas as Chad looks on.
Horton House - Maggie talks about the ornaments and Sarah talks about the "retired ornaments" which are in the basement. Konstantin and Maggie go back to the tree area and Sarah tells Xander he'll always be a Horton (after Xander feels awkward and offers to leave).
Townhouse - Brady asks if Tate will be seeing Holly. He's depressed that Holly's into someone else. He throws away his birthday/Christmas present for her. Jeannie T scolds him and says he should save the present for the next girl. They ask if he will be returning to his private school? Tate says nobody at school misses him and implies the girls at school are all vapid; he wants to stay in Salem. Brady wants to increase Tate's odds of entering college by sending him back to his really good school. Tate asks if he has to go back? Brady and Jeannie T let him decide. He will stay and attend Salem High.
Horton House - Time to hang the ornaments. Montage of ornament shots (on the tree already now) - here's what I caught: Tom, Alice; Doug, Julie; Eli, Jules, Carver, Lani, David Abraham, Charlotte, Chad (seen hanging his), Abby, Thomas Jack, Stephanie (seen hanging hers near-ish Abby's). Shawn-Douglas, Belle, Claire, Mickey, Maggie, Victor; Bo, Hope, Jennifer, Jack Jr, Jack, Mackenzie, Sarah, Xander (seen hanging his and he smiles at Sarah, who smiles back). Maggie gives Sarah an ornament for Victoria, which Xander hangs. Thomas chides her that Charlotte's not the littlest anymore. We also get glimpses of other ornaments but I don't have time to pan for them (Lucas and Bill were the only ones I could see).
Townhouse - Jeannie T has gotten Tate some presents, the final of which was a tablet or laptop of some sort. Tate is happy he got to spend a nice night with both of his parents. Looks between Jeannie T and Brady.
Horton House - We catch the end of a group song. Maggie and Konstantin are about to leave. Julie tells him to send a thank-you note from wherever he's going. Out in the hallway, Stephanie offers to come help with the kids anytime and Chad's grateful she came over. Everett will be leaving as well, offers to walk with Stephanie. Chad will round up the kids and take them home. Chad has a quiet one-shot after Stephanie and Everett leave. Back by the tree, Xander and Sarah have packed up Victoria, who's going with Xander for the evening. He'll take lots of videos and they'll see each other tomorrow.
Salem Inn, Outside - Konstantin and Maggie talk; he would have walked but she had her driver drop him off. She leaves; he does not go into the Inn.
Horton House - In the darkened living room, Julie and Doug look at the tree and talk about Tom and Alice. Flashback to a Christmas when Jennifer brought baby Abby to the hospital to see Tom (with Alice, Mickey, and Maggie). They have a little tree by Tom's hospital bed. Tom asks Mickey to hang his ornament. Jennifer hangs Laura's and Bill's. Maggie hangs Doug and Julie's. Doug and Julie are surprise visitors, who announce they remarried in Switzerland. Julie loves the traditions and the memories, which go on and on. The episode closes on a long-shot of the tree from behind Doug's chair. END