Wednesday, December 23, 2009, Episode #5718

Whip tries to get Sandy to go to the party.

Whip comes by Sandy's trailer to take Sandy to the Jackie M Christmas party. Sandy laughs at his sweater, which he notes was a gift from his mom, Joy. Whip tells her that his mom would love to see her for Christmas dinner. Sandy says she'll think about it. Whip suggests that they get going, but Sandy doesn't want to go to the party. Whip still doesn't understand what caused her to be so closed off, but he thinks going to the party will be good for her. Sandy declines, since she just isn't in the Christmas spirit. Whip reminds her that Nick and Bridget will want her there since she's carrying their baby, but she just can't do it. She doesn't want to celebrate Christmas this year.

Jackie and Owen are sorry to hear that Sandy's not coming.

At Jackie M, Pam organizes the food, including her peanut butter fudge. She gets offended when Bridget brings in a tray of brownies, since she thought Bridget was bringing spinach and feta turnovers. Bridget says she has appetizers in the car, so she hands the brownies to Pam and goes to get the appetizers. On her way out, Nick asks her if there's been any sign of Sandy yet. Bridget tells him that she left messages, but Sandy hasn't called back. She really hopes Sandy comes to the party. While Jackie and Owen (both wearing antlers on their heads) decorate, Whip arrives. He tells the gang that he stopped by Sandy's to offer her a ride, but he doesn't think she'll be joining them. Bridget fears that Sandy will be alone on Christmas Eve and asks Nick to go with her to Sandy's.

Nick and Bridget try to convince Sandy.

Soon after, Nick and Bridget arrive at Sandy's trailer ask her to please come to the party. Sandy appreciates the invitation, but she feels funny because she doesn't really know anyone at Jackie M yet. This is a good way to get to know people, Nick explains, since there will be several employees there who are alone for the holidays for one reason or another. He knows those people aren't looking forward to celebrating Christmas, so he and Bridget started a new tradition at Jackie M where family and friends could spend the holiday together. He'd really like Sandy to join them, but she's still hesitant. Nick goes out to the car and returns with his guitar, ready to serenade Sandy in the hope of convincing her to come to the party. As he plays his first song, a little ditty he wrote to the tune of Jingle Bells about getting Sandy to the party, Bridget and Sandy both laugh. The ladies applaud as Nick finishes the song. Sandy giggles at the thought of him keeping his guitar in the trunk of his car in case he has to serenade someone, but she still thinks she'd rather stay home. Bridget warns Sandy to agree to come to the party, since she knows Nick has more songs ready if necessary. Sensing that Sandy is still on the fence, Nick gets ready to start song number two.

Sandy decides to have a Jackie M Christmas after all.

Back at Jackie M, Owen and Jackie greet their guests as they wonder where Nick and Bridget are. Whip reminds them that Sandy might not have let Nick and Bridget in. A bit later, Nick and Bridget return and announce that Sandy didn't want to come. Bridget doesn't know what to do anymore about Sandy closing herself off. She wants to be involved in Sandy's pregnancy, but she fears Sandy might bolt on them if she pushes too hard. Whip advises her to be patient. Just as Bridget resigns herself to the fact that Sandy isn't in the mood to celebrate Christmas, Sandy arrives and says that she's definitely in the mood to celebrate now. Nick laughs that it was probably his third song that changed Sandy's mind, but Sandy says she finally realized that Nick and Bridget aren't just taking pity and really care about her. She wants them to know that she cares about them, too, and she thanks them for opening their hearts to her. She looks at Whip across the room and they smile at each other.

Eric shares his hopes with Brooke and Ridge.

Brooke comes home and finds Eric and Ridge working on more designs for Bill. Ridge offers her some of Eric's eggnog. Brooke sips some as she looks at one design and cries out that it's "God-awful" - the design, that is, and not the eggnog. "Thank you," Eric says, smiling. As talk turns to Christmas plans, Brooke assures that she and Donna made sure not to include Bill, even though it means keeping Katie away, too. As Eric and Ridge get ready to email their latest designs to Bill, Brooke again prays that the plan will work. It has to, Eric affirms. Ridge sees his dad grinning and asks what that's about. Eric answers that he was thinking about the company; he promises that the company is going to be Ridge's soon, since it's Ridge's time to lead. The two men hug.

Bill can't give Katie her Christmas wish.

At Forrester, Bill notes to Katie how dead it is on Christmas Eve. He predicts it will be even quieter tomorrow. Katie asks if he's thinking of working tomorrow. He tells her that it's been a good day for him to get ahead on work in the past, but Katie nixes that idea and tells him that he'll be spending Christmas with her. Bill asks what she wants for Christmas, suggesting some more jewelry. Getting emotional, she tells him she doesn't need any more jewelry and she confides that what she really wants is for him to give Forrester Creations back to the Forresters. Bill wonders what's going on. She says that she's sad that her family is celebrating without her and told her to keep her new husband away because they hate him. Bill admits he would hate himself, too, in their shoes, but Katie says it's not about blame. It's about being with her family, and as much as she loves her job, she doesn't think it's worth it to be CEO if it costs her her family. "Let's fix this," she begs. Bill empathizes with how she feels, but he reminds her that the Forresters already got their early Christmas gift when he saved their floundering company. He hates that this is hard on her, but he thinks the Forresters are being petty and assures her that things will get better. He then tells her to start acting like a CEO, since they have a meeting with George, an important member of the Spencer board. He needs her ready for that meeting, or else he'll have to make excuses for her. Katie says she's fine, but it's just hard to figure out what the right thing to do is. "That's why I'm here," Bill says, "to steer you in the right direction."

George, the Spencer board member, drops by.

Bill ushers George into Katie's office. George (played by the same actor who played Marone board member and CEO George) thanks Bill for seeing him while he's in town for the day. After meeting Katie, George explains that he came by to talk to Bill about the Forrester acquisition. Noting that the Spencer board had their reservations about buying Forrester, he's pleased to admit that the numbers have been strong and the board has been happy with the profits. "This next line is gonna knock your penny loafers off," Bill brags. After George leaves, Bill and Katie view Ridge's email with the latest designs. They both agree that the designs are different, but Bill is willing to trust that Eric and Ridge will come up with something new. "Whatever it is," he growls, "it better be profitable."