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With midnight approaching, Kay hands out the hats and
noisemakers (to Ester, Murphy and Jill) - and as they
file out to get drinks to toast the new
year, Chance and Chloe are left alone to practice -
3...2...1.. ~kiss~
On the phone with Traci,
Jack's congratulated on his engagement - 2010's gonna be
a great year - Jack can feel it.
At CL's, a glum
Vikki chooses a noisemaker from Kevin's tray. JT's
working? he scoffs - guy's a machine.
Billy's
'that' drunken guy at Jimmy's - slurring loudly and
hanging all over the new friends. Staggering over to the
juke box, he points to a pair of breasts - those new?
Another round, he orders from the 'Fuzzy Aussie' behind
the bar. You're drunk Billy, Mac frowns - half on Scotch
- half on attention. See? Billy's no lush - he's an
attention 'whore'. Declining being 'poured' into a cab,
Billy laughs his way outside. - where he gives his snow
globe a shake. Stumbling off the curb, he sits down to
toss it in the air a few times - 3..2...1... - it
shatters on the sidewalk. Delia - I'm sorry - Daddy's
gonna fix it. A glow emanates from the globe - and Billy
looks up to see his dead father - aka 'Father Time' -
his 'date' for New Year's Eve.
Magically
transported to RS, Billy thinks it a slick trick - but
the buzz he worked hard for is gone. He knows how this
goes. Wow - Billy looks around - RS's doing well -
awards and everything. He sees the wall
mounted cover (a cartoon version of him with a bimbo on
each arm). See how fair Billy is? He even spoofs
himself. John's not so sure he'll be laughing when all
this is over.
And now it's over to the Ashby
home - where two children happily run about. And here's
Lily (with her 'own hair' - and cancer free for 6
years). That's great - where to now? 5 years ahead? 10?
John won't say - let's keep it interesting. With Lily in
the kitchen with Cane, Mac tidies up. A wedding ring? We
made it? Billy's excited. But as Mac pulls her son onto
her lap, Billy realizes she's not his wife - that's not
his son. Now to the kitchen - where Lily's crying (as
she does every year) about what Mac gave them (and
gave up to do so). Mac comes in to smile adoringly at
the loving Ashby's - it's time for birthday cake (much
to the children's delight).
And now it's over to
the mausoleum. Chance congratulates Delia on her dance
recital (with Chloe, Ester, Kay and Jill
equally proud). Camcorder in hand, Murphy heads out to
set up in the media room. Where am I? Billy
wonders. John implies he was excommunicated for
exploiting his family in RS. Oh well - Billy's sure he
sees Delia - probably takes her to New York. And
as Delia's fussed over some more, John comments
that Chance is good with her. Billy's not the
selfish bastard they think he is - he's proud of
his daughter - just has a demanding career is all. Where
now? Forward? Let's go - this is a piece of cake, Billy
claps his hands.
John now takes Billy to the
Abbott home - 13 years ahead. Jack pours champagne
for Traci and Ashley (who talks of Faith starting high
school this year). Colleen would be so proud of Abby
(who's an executive). Jack still had hope she comes back
to Jabot (which the Abbott's now control). Billy left
Jabot, Jack reminds his sisters - it was his decision -
he died the day he took over that magazine. Traci wishes
he were there with them - instead of where he is.
Billy's sure he's up to his eyeballs in vices. Billy
gets it - everyone's fine without him. But why is Jack
holding his grudge so long? And as the Abbott's count
down the new year ...3...2...1... Billy's now outside.
Fisher? In MY magazine? Hell no! he rips the
issue up.
Now at RS, Kevin's having his photo
taken with Vikki and Nick. They may have regained
control of RS - but it was Kevin who turned it around
(in 5 years). Nick and Vikki discuss changing the
magazine from tabloid trash - and Kevin didn't mind
dismantling Billy's empire. What does Captain Coffee
Cakes know about running a magazine? Billy complains -
hopefully he made a bundle selling it to the 'sucker's.
Billy's then furious to see Mac kissing Kevin - are you
high? Am I high? And as Kev and Mac
exchange 'I love you's', Billy walks to the
window to scream.
Moving on - down the road a
piece, John takes Billy to CL's - where Cane joins Jill
and Kay for 'urgent business'. Jill announces her
retirement - Cane will take over Chancellor Industries.
You ARE my son. I'M your son, Billy argues (as John
reminds they can't hear him). Billy's then floored to
hear Delia's getting married - come ON - I gotta see
this.
The mausoleum's decorated for a wedding.
Dressed up, Chloe comes down to kiss Chance (and is
complimented by Jill, Kay and the Ashby's). Kay makes a
bet with Jill - a house for the kids if she can stay dry
eyed throughout the ceremony. Enter Delia in her wedding
gown. Kay presents her with something old - antique
earrings. Ester provides a borrowed locket. Lily has the
new - a hanky with a Valentine heart. Yes, the Ashby's
were there when she was born. Her Dad was there too -
but not for this. Billy objects - what is this? He'd
crash if he had to. Delia pouts - seems he chose not to
be involved in her life. I wouldn't just ditch her,
Billy doesn't get it. Jill admits Billy should be there
- but we're all here for you. John stops Billy from
running away - and turning his back on those who love
him. And then, Delia holds Chance's hand - she's picked
the music for the father/daughter dance. Billy and John
follow to watch them waltz - 1,2,3...1.2.3. It's YOUR
dance, Delia says - Dad's stick around. In tears, Billy
begs John to help him fix this.
Billy joins
Chloe in the dining room (where she pores over a photo
of baby Delia (taken on Halloween) - unfolding it to
reveal Billy's image). 'Billy', she whispers - you're
such a jerk. For a while it was like you actually loved
her - more than yourself - and here we are - she's
aching because you're not here. Billy knows it's his
fault - go get our little girl - I want to tell her I
love her. You broke our little girl's heart, Chloe talks
to the photo - I'll never forgive you. And as Chloe
walks off, John explains he's just a bad memory to her.
Billy doesn't appreciate the tough love - and
wants to go make things right. I wanted to make lots of
money - who cares? Give me some credit! John explains
that Jabot was never about money. I'll be good - I
want my family, Billy whines. You have me, John reminds
- yes, he IS gone .... And there's Billy - dead
behind the wheel of a crashed car. In the passenger
seat, John strokes his hair .... and so are you.
The GC Chronicle's headline reads; Print Mogul Billy
Abbott Dead In DUI.
Billy's stunned - that's not
me. This is why I miss everything? Birthday's - my
daughter's wedding? I wasn't a jerk - I was dead. John
explains he's no victim - he made a choice. You partied
it up - then wrapped your car around a pole. This wasn't
tonight? I'm not dead. But I will be, Billy gets it -
how long do I have? John doesn't think it matters - you
think you have all the time in the world - everyone
would take him back. You're SCARED - John reminds of
those he's already lost - yet he won't admit he gives a
damn. What's Billy to do? Change. How? Billy's back in
realtime - eyeing the broken snow globe. Still drunk, he
slumps to sit on the curb.
Back at the mausoleum,
Chloe and Chance kiss. It's time! Ester interrupts. And
with champagne glasses in hand, all count down to
2010.... Jack ends his call with Traci - I love you -
Happy New Year. Em! he calls out - don't get started
without me! ... 3...2...1 Cane and Mac call out to
Jimmy's patrons - Happy New Year, they hug behind the
bar. Outside, Billy hangs his head. A car parks and a
woman gets out - you OK? Vikki extends her hand - come
on - I'm taking you home. Looking back at the shattered
globe, Billy follows along.
My Thoughts: Today's
show is obviously Billy and The Restless - similar to
Mike's 'It's A Wonderful Life' episode - mildly
entertaining if not somewhat boring .... With
JET 'working' on New Year's Eve, why on earth would
Vikki be moping at CL's (and driving a drunken Billy
home) - when she could be ringing in the new year
with her 'miracle' son? ... Kevin married to Mac?
Whatever happened to Jana? Why is Mac putting the
wrapping paper into black garbage bags instead of
recycling it? ... Odd that no one gets any new
furniture over the years - that mausoleum sofa must be
made of durable stuff - like whatever encases the
'black box' in airplane's ... Odd that Kevin would shake
his head at JT working - isn't Kevin working too? Is he
a 'machine'? .... Oh Billy - you're not an attention
whore - just a whore ... Huh? Chance is 'good' with
Delia? Trying to wrangle chocolate cup cakes away from
her? ... Note that Traci and Ash age considerably -
while Jack looks the exact same (and it seems his
relationship with P doesn't last 13 years - shocking)
...
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