Friday, December 30, 2005
AS THE WORLD TURNS was pre-empted today, due to CBS' coverage of the Sun Bowl.

Thursday, December 29, 2005
Henry explained his predicament with Olga "The Amazon" to his Bubbles (a.k.a. Katie), while Mike, Maddie and Nick listened. When Henry found out that Nick was a cop, he snatched up BJ's briefcase and exited as quickly as possible with Maddie. Once alone with her honey, Katie and Mike celebrated everything finally being over with a few hospital bed kisses. Mike didn't want Katie alone with BJ on the loose, and now on a plane to an undisclosed location, so he had his cousin stay with her and watch her for the night. Katie gave her sweetie a few more kisses and left with Nick. Later, Henry tried to dodge questions from his Kitten (a.k.a. Maddie) about the contents of the briefcase, but eventually revealed the money. Henry was convinced a jury would award him the money anyway, so he was intent on keeping it. Now very wealthy, Maddie and Henry toasted in the New Year.

Will and Gwen shared a rooftop picnic and laughed at all the drunk people below them. Gwen found it hard to celebrate New Year’s, stating that one day couldn't make a difference. Will pulled her into a hug and promised to make her days ahead good ones. The super-sweet couple decided to make fireworks on the roof (Yes, that kind, and that kind) a yearly tradition for them. After discussing important "alone time," Gwen inquired if Will was sure about having a baby. He assured her he was and the two made love, er, fireworks, together.

In the chapel, Susan and Hal worried about Emily. When Hal flipped and started to call the station for help to locate her, Susan stopped him. She told Hal he had to stop acting like a cop...and a husband. Susan assured Hal that Emily loved her life with him. “Not enough,” he sadly answered. Elsewhere, Meg’s New Year’s with Dusty didn’t go exactly as she planned. He dropped the bomb, er, the plane ticket, and informed a stunned Meg he knew she was aware for months that Jennifer's baby was alive. She tried to explain the entire story to him and how Paul convinced her not to tell, but an irate Dusty continued to attack her. “I bet you were shaking in your boots when they got arrested,” he spat. “You played them like you played me...I can’t look at you at all.”

Dressed all in white, complete with a white fur coat, Emily blended perfectly with the snow. Despite this seeming problem, Paul was able to find her. Unfortunately, he had upsetting news. "Emily, we're not getting married," he told her. (Not exactly what the beautiful bride expected to hear.) Paul explained with his future days expected to be in prison, he couldn't marry her. She suggested that they flee the country and begged him to tie the knot. He couldn't let her throw her life away. A tearful Emily accused Paul of not marrying her because he still loved Rosanna. "You are the best thing that every happened to me," he tried to stress. When she wondered if he loved her, he said, "I do. Just not the way you want." (Ouch!) After claiming no one could fill the hole Rosanna left in his heart, Emily’s tears flowed harder and she fell further apart. Paul apologized and turned to just walk away. Um, not so fast, Paul. Luckily for Emily, she still had her “something borrowed” on her: a gun. Unluckily for Paul, she used it on him. (That'll teach him to just walk away after breaking a girl's heart!)

Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Dusty pocketed Meg's ticket to Tampa as she came in gabbing about New Year's Eve festivities. Jennifer and baby showed up at the police station to ask Hal why Paul was out of jail (Emily posted his bail). Paul and Em arrived at the penthouse, determined to get married. At WOAK, Jack and BJ struggled for the gun, and Jack was shot. Carly saw all on television and urged a stranger to drive her to the station. BJ tried to get up with the gun but was stopped by Henry, still dressed in Olga's clothes. The mystery biker man ran over to the explosive, ripped out the wires and ran off with the bomb box, urging everyone to get down. Seconds later the bomb went off, sending debris everywhere.

Post-blast, BJ woke up and ran off with the gun. Carly arrived to tend to Jack, who was grazed by the bullet. The mystery man was hailed as a hero for throwing the bomb into the stairwell, where it did the least damage. Kim thanked him profusely, as did Mike, who recognized him as his cousin Nick. After greeting each other enthusiastically (careful, man — Mike has rib injuries), Mike was returned to hospital. He introduced Nick to his girlfriend Katie, who Nick referred to as the "hot little blonde" from the station before he saw her liplocking his cousin. Katie told Nick Margo is her sister, and Nick figured out that her sister is his new boss — he's Jack's replacement on the force. Maddie and Henry were reunited, and he filled her in on how he tricked Olga. Maddie told Henry how BJ tried to kill her and Mike saved her. Henry had BJ's briefcase, which he opened up and feasted his eyes on bundles and bundles of crisp, cold cash. Secretly delighted, he hid the cash from Maddie and the pair visited Mike and Katie at the hospital.

Lucinda, wrapped in an elaborate head scarf, visited Meg at the guest house and gave her a prized reservation at Dusty's favorite restaurant in Chicago for New Year's Eve. The ladies made New Year's wishes over champagne. Lucinda warned Meg to not get her hopes up with Dusty if she had done anything that could come back to haunt her...Meanwhile, Dusty met Meg's lab contact Eli and tricked him into explaining that Meg knew Jennifer was Johnny's mother months ago. Dusty went home to an unwitting Meg, who was modeling her sexy lingerie and her sexy black party dress.

Hal visited Emily to try and convince her to not marry Paul, promising her loads of heartbreak with young Ryan. "He's a bum," Hal flatly stated. Then he declared his love for her and dared Paul to do the same, which fell on deaf ears. "You'll never understand me and Paul because you'll never understand passion," Em spat, which sent Hal to trashing the apartment. "I'll get out of your life, but I'll take Paul out of it first," he vowed before storming out. Meanwhile, Paul cornered Jennifer at the police station and insisted they talk. He thanked her for dropping the charges against Emily, but she didn't care. She accused him of using her son to punish Craig for hurting Rosanna, and sacrificing her in the process. She urged him to stay as far away from her as humanly possible. "It's not about you," she cried. Paul looked stunned and confused.

A frantic Emily called Paul and begged him not to go to the church, and to meet her with the priest at the bluff where they could get married outside and away from Hal. He agreed. Jennifer dared Paul to put someone else's life above his own for once.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Hal entered the station in his dress uniform and explained to the fellow officers that he was on his way to the telethon at WOAK. Emily came by with Cass, and told Hal that a judge revoked the no-bail restriction on Paul and that he should be released. Hal instructed Paul to be brought up. "Oh, he'll be back soon enough," Hal shrugged, after Emily apologized for ruining his day. Hal warned Emily that he wouldn't be there to pick up the pieces when everything went horribly wrong. Paul was released. Emily suggested they get married right away. Paul and Hal exchanged barbs. After that, Hal wasn't in the mood to go to the telethon. Emily headed to the hospital to tell Susan that she was getting married. Susan refused to attend. "To hell with you," Emily snarled. Susan warned her she was making a big mistake marrying Paul. Emily took off; Susan called Hal. He came to the hospital and told Susan he had washed his hands of his ex. Susan begged him to stop Emily from marrying Paul. Paul and Emily met up at the church. Paul gave her a last chance to get out, but she didn't take it.

At the telethon, BJ was thrilled to see Katie in the red satin dress he got her. Katie asked BJ about Henry. BJ lied that he was fine and on his way home to Oakdale. Katie thanked him. Unbeknownst to her, BJ had a bomb planted that would detonate when the giant thermometer that tallied the donations hit $500,000. In the wine cellar, a trapped Henry called for Olga. Olga finally showed up, with BJ in tow. BJ revealed he was setting Henry free, in a sense: Olga was going to kill him. When they were alone, Henry implored Olga to let him live. They began to kiss. He tricked her and handcuffed her to a wine rack. He dressed in Olga's clothes and escaped.

Jack ordered tea while they were out, which alarmed Carly. She suspected he was up to something and asked what. They discussed the telethon. She figured out they roped him into singing. Jack explained it was a cover so he could keep an eye on BJ. Carly accused him of having stage fright. He asked her not to come because she'd be a distraction. She agreed. He left. She called the babysitter and asked her to watch the kids a little while longer, planning to attend the telethon. Carly had car trouble and was stuck on the side of the road. A guy on a motorcycle stopped to help her. He was smart-mouthed and the two verbally sparred. The stranger explained he was a cop. Carly didn't believe him and told him to scram.

Katie called Maddie at the hospital and warned her to keep Mike away from the television. Maddie came in just as Mike was about to press the on button on the remote and told him not to. He said he wanted to watch football. She lied that there was no football on, which made him suspicious. The nurse came in, so Maddie had to leave. Mike put the TV on and saw Katie at the telethon with BJ. He got dressed, then came out in the hall and found Maddie leaving a message for Katie.

Barbara performed at the telethon, as did Tom and Lisa. After, Barbara told Lisa she made drink plans with someone she just met. Jack arrived at the telethon and ran into Katie. She figured out Mike sent Jack there to keep an eye on her. Katie insisted she was fine and that BJ wasn't going to try anything. "I'm playing him and it's working," she noted. Jack said he was sticking around and was stunned when Mike arrived. Jack took the stage. Carly made it back to the coffeehouse in time to catch her hubby on air. BJ donated $100,000 and told Katie to pull the lever, knowing the bomb would detonate. The biker Samaritan arrived at the telethon; Carly spotted him on TV and wondered what he was doing there. Mike and Jack discovered the bomb; BJ pulled a gun on them before they could do anything. Katie began to pull the lever.