It's New Year's Eve in Oakdale. Usually, Metro would be throwing a big bash, but due to some legal matters, the club won't be open anytime soon. And as far as Ice, the newest nightclub in Oakdale...well, all the employees are going home to watch the Hal Munson Memorial Telethon on Channel 9, also widely known as WOAK. Barbara Ryan is co-hosting alongside her aunt, Kim Hughes, and the beloved Nancy Hughes. The event almost exactly coincides with the half year anniversary of Hal's death. And strangely, nobody had planned it that way. In any case, the money raised would be donated to one of Hal's favorite causes, the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Will and Gwen enter hand in hand, followed by Luke and Maddie. "Wow, they really have the place set up nice", says Gwen. Will hardly recognizes it, and stops dead in his tracks at the picture of his father in the backgorund of the calling center. "He would have been so pr...", Will struggles to finish but he just can't. Barbara greets them and asks who has volunteered to take calls, as Luke and Maddie take their seats by a phone. Will goes to get a drink of water, leaving Barbara and Gwen alone. Barbara tries to bring up matters of business, but Gwen doesn't care. Soon, Will returns and he and Gwen take their seats in the screening room.

Holden and Lily arrive and are thrilled to see Luke and Maddie. "I had to drag your father along. He kept trying to come up with exucses", taunted Lily. "No I didn't. I simply said that I think we should take it easy, ya know", Holden replied. "Well, if you think I'm going to just sit on my rump all day at the house watching soaps just because the doctor told me not to overwork myself, then you're wrong, Mr. Snyder. After all, I am singing tonight". Luke heard the frist part of that and thought after thought started racing through his mind. Maddie could notice he was worried. But that's when it was finally said. "Luke doesn't even know I'm pregnant. Do you, honey?" Luke stood in awe. His family had been through so many twists and turns over the past year. He felt as though this was the best thing that could happen....and the worst.

Lucinda grabs her coat and begins to walk out the door until Matthew comes rushing in, perhaps to warn Ms. Walsh of an intruder approaching. Indeed, he was. "Some gangly man outside. Said he has some news to deliver to you, Ms. Walsh. Quite a rude young man, I might add. Kept on..." Lucinda stopped him. This was twice in a week and she couldn't handle it anymore! "Craig" she muttered.

Chris was making some last minute changes to the equipment at the station. His mother had give him a little side project to keep him busy during the telethon. "Chris? Chris Hughes?" It was a voice that Chris knew all too well. Susan ran up to Chris and though hesitant for a moment after recalling the way Chris seemed to have chewed upand spit out both her daughters, Susan shook his hand anyway. After a brief catching up session, Chris felt the need to apologize just one last time. "You know, Susan, I just wanted to say that I'm sor..." Susan stopped him by raising her right hand high in the air, aimed at his face. "Hush, hush. No time for apologies. So I assume you're going to be rejoining us at Memorial?" But what she didn't know was the reason beind Chris's move to Oakdale was the absence of a job he once had. He had, sadly, come close to losing his medical license, but he had yet to find the courage to tell anyone...not even his family. So he just lied.

Andy isn't one for big parties, but he feels he has to go. He ows it to Hal. However, he isn't so sure how Emily will handle him being at the telethon being held in her ex-husband's memory. Either way, he doesn't seem to care. He pulls into a parking spot and notices a young blonde in a red car, the same car Emily drives. She has her head rested in between her hands and seems to be draining her tear ducts of all available moisture. Maybe she's upset about the break-up. I knew she'd finally realize the truth. I didn't sleep with Roxie. Maybe if I just tap on this window and offer her some sort of condolence, she'll listen..he thought. Tap. Tap. "Hey, you seemed upset. I was just gonna check. See if you're okay.," said Andy. No reply. Just crying. Tap. Tap. Tap. "Hey..are you okay? I mean, we can talk if you want. Or not. I can just go on about my business". Right as the "s" escapes his mouth, the blonde turns amd looks with eyes full of tears. "Roxie? What the hell's the matter?" Or does he even want to know, he inwardly chuckled.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Episode 257 will air tomorrow, despite As The World Turns's pre-emption.