At her gallery, Lindsay tells Troy she'll "kill" him before she'll ever allow him to marry Nora. Despite the fact that she's holding a letter opener to his throat, Troy grabs her and throws her down on the floor in a tempestuous embrace. Lindsay gets up and runs to the phone to call Nora about Joanna, but she and Troy struggle over it. He disconnects it and grips Lindsay close to his face. She evades him and runs for the door, but Troy physically prevents her from leaving. Their chase leads them to her bedroom. Lindsay is sure that Troy still has feelings for her, but that she hates him. Using her continued attraction for him against her, Troy gets up hot and close again. He baits her to admit she still wants him. She does admit it and they fall passionately kissing onto her bed.

Max surprisingly comes to Roxy's defense against her oppressive mother. Played by veteran film actress Silvia Miles, Roxy's mom Stella decides to take the goods Roxy brought her to the next room to dodge Max's heroics. Then Roxy suddenly realizes that it's strange for Max to be in South Philly and wonders why he is there. He admits to following her, but vaguely feigns concern for her as his reason for it. Roxy almost slips where she was really headed, but does admit her misguided quest for maternal approval. She cries and feels she deserves her mother's abuse because she was a bad mother herself. Max grudgingly hugs and comforts her. Sporting one of the new duds Roxy brought her, Stella comes out of her room and calls her daughter a "cry baby." Max leaps to Roxy's defense again and declares they are leaving. To her mother's protests, Roxy replies, "My husband says that I'm leaving, so I'm leaving."

Cristian walks in on Jen and Mitch's toast. Jen lies and says Marcy brought the champagne over earlier. Cristian sends Jen downstairs to get Bo, then goads Mitch to go ahead and kill him, as promised. Mitch chuckles. Quoting the commandments, he denies he ever intended to hurt Cristian. Cristian turns the tables and threatens to kill Mitch, unfortunately as Bo is coming through the door. They discuss what Mitch describes as his "wife's kidnapping." Bo denies any knowledge of it. Mitch leaves after Bo threatens him with a new stalking law. Bo chastises Cristian for giving in to Mitch's argumentative stimulus and leaves. With an awkward goodbye to Jen, Cristian also leaves to go stay at the carriage house. After he leaves, Jen opens the door where Mitch is still lurking. She and Mitch share a smirk and expound on their plans for revenge.

On the terrace at Llanfair, Seth and Rex continue their antagonistic dialogue. Rex belittles Seth because Jessica is spending the "worst moment of her life" with her friend Al and not with her boyfriend. Seth tries to get Rex to admit he wants Jessica for himself. Seth leaves to look for Jessica.

At his stables, Asa asks Jessica for the reason she's been so evasive and quiet lately. He wonders if Al has been "giving her a hard time," but Al covers and tells him that Jess had a fight with Seth. Asa recalls the day that the photo of Jessica and Clint was taken—the day she was born. Jessica explains that the baby in the hospital was Natalie and that the picture was actually taken after Jessica was returned to the Buchanan family. Asa apologizes that he can't keep the twin switch details straight. Al rescues her from the conversation that continues with memories of her childhood with Clint. They finally leave. Al takes her to the Millhouse and temporarily assures her privacy. They plan to leave the next day for a better place to be secluded. But it's too late. Seth walks in on them.

Nora arrives at Llanfair to help Viki and Natalie. She is surprised to learn that Jessica is Mitch's biological daughter. They discuss freeing Natalie of her marriage to Mitch. Nora advises them that an annulment is possible because Mitch defrauded Natalie about his true identity and everyone is thankful that the marriage was not consummated. Nora promises to keep things confidential with a hand gesture that reveals her engagement ring. Viki is very happy for her friend. Cristian arrives and Nora advises that it's not a good idea for Natalie to be with him until after her annulment.

Due to the New Year's holiday, all soaps will be pre-empted for various holiday programming. On behalf of everyone at Soap Opera Central, I would like to thank you for making 2002 an incredibly successful year for us. It means a great deal that you visit the SOC site and take time to offer feedback, post on our boards or partake in the polls. I hope that we'll see you back in 2003. And here is hoping that your 2003 is even better than 2002.