December 21, 1992 - January 4, 1993

Picture From First SOD Interview With Christie Upon Her Return

Billie scores a job at the local department store as a clerk on the make-up counter with a little help from Carrie. Unfortunately, she upsets one of the store's regular customers an hour later and she is fired. Carrie and Austin are there to hear the firing but when they get back to the apartment, Billie isn't there. She's down at the Brady pub, where Cash finds her and makes her an offer she might find hard to refuse. Cash gives Billie some pills and tells her that they may be able to work something out. He tells her that he wants her to start working for him as a dealer. She refuses but then tells him she'll think about it. He tells her not to think to long.....or she'll owe a lot of money. Carrie and Austin phone the pub and Shawn tells them that Billie us there. However, by the time they get there, Billie is no-where to be seen. It is only when they leave that they find her. She's taken a couple of the pills and is having a really bad trip. Austin tells Carrie they can't take her to hospital as she's on probation, so they take her back to the apartment where Austin manages her through. When she's asleep he tells Carrie that he's bad news, she'd be better off without him. Carrie refuses to listen and when she leaves the room and Billie wakes up, Austin tells her that it might be time to leave Salem. Roman and Marlena stop by Carrie's on their way back from Colorado and Marlena discovers that Billie has been high. Carrie asks her not to tell Roman as Billie is still on probation. Marlena agrees - on the condition that Billie goes into rehab. They agree and then Marlena asks them to come over for Christmas dinner. They all agree, but when Marlena and Roman get home, Roman isn't too happy about the whole thing. He didn't get any time to spend alone with her on Colorado and he is worried about her, just having gotten out of hospital. But she says that she wants to do this and he decides to go to the station while she gets organized.

John is told by his accountant there may be a problem with his checking account. He shows him the check that Billie forged and John realizes that it was forged on the day that he went to Washington to look for Marlena. He wonders if Carrie had anything to do with it and he goes over to see Marlena. She can't believe it at first but then he tells her the string of events. She wonders if maybe Carrie is into drugs too and when John says he swears she isn't Marlena tells him that yesterday he would have sworn that Carrie wouldn't have stolen from him either. She goes to call Roman but John tells her that Roman has to stay out of this. This is between Carrie and him. Marlena tells her that Roman is her father but John tells her that he brought Carrie up for more years than Roman did and that Roman treats her like a child. She isn't convinced but he tells her that he wants to go talk to Carrie about it first. Then he tells her that he'll never come to her with any problem about Carrie again if she goes to Roman. She finally agrees and they go over to Carrie's apartment. At first Carrie denies knowing anything about the check. John says that if it had been a family matter they could have taken care of it themselves, but since it isn't they are going to have to get the police involved. At this Carrie tells them that it was she who stole the check and she intended to pay it back. She asks them not to tell Roman and John asks her why she would do it and then lie to him about it. She says that she got behind on rent etc. Marlena asks her if she's in any other sort of trouble, implying drugs. Carrie tells her she would never touch the stuff. All the time Billie is standing there listening and doesn't do a thing. Eventually John and Marlena leave and Billie thanks Carrie for covering for her. Carrie tells her it wasn't for her - it was for Austin and when Billie says she didn't get into trouble, Carrie says no but she has never seen John and Marlena so hurt and disappointed in her.

Shawn and Caroline arrive at the Brady House. Carrie, Austin and Billie arrive and then John with Brady. Caroline notices the lovely charm bracelet and asks Marlena if Roman gave it to her. Marlena says that no, John did and then quickly shows Caroline the pin that Roman gave her. Marlena gives Billie a pair of earrings and tells her to wear them in good health. John thanks Billie for the present for Brady and Billie says that she just loves the little kid. John suddenly realizes that she seems to have spent a lot of time at the loft. Later he tells Carrie he'll be by to talk to her tomorrow. The traditional Brady toast is toasted. Finally there is a present opening and Austin tells Carrie he has a present for her. He has picked up the tune to her favourite song and plays it on the keyboard Marlena has hired. Then they all sing Marlena's favourite carol, Silent night. Austin takes Carrie back toher apartment and there he kisses and cuddles her wishing her a Merry Christmas.

Billie tells Carrie that she can't take Austin up to the cabin and if she tries Billie will tell Austin what she's up to. Carrie won't listen to her and when Austin arrives he reminds her she has an appointment with her probation officer. She asks him not to leave till she comes back and he says he won't. But when John arrives Austin goes down to see Gus his promoter. John asks Carrie about the check and then tells her he thinks she's covering for Billie. She assures him she isn't but she isn't a very good liar. He tells her that Billie is not worth it. Carrie says she is and that she does a lot of stuff people don't know about. Austin comes back and Carrie tells him that Billie called and said not to wait so they leave. John wants to use the phone so Carrie tells him to lock up. But Billie arrives before he leaves and he confronts her about the check, tricking her into admitting she did it. She says he can't prove anything and John tells her not to hurt his girl or she'll have him to answer to.

Carrie and Austin make it to the cabin but it's a little Œrustic' for Austin's liking. Carrie convinces him it's okay and cooks him dinner. Later they begin to make out and Carrie tells him that she doesn't want to wait any longer - she wants him to make love to her. He picks her up and takes her to the bed but after a while tells her that he can't do this and that they'll have to wait till after the fight. Carrie grudgingly agrees but later on as he's sleeping she sabotages the car so that they can't get back to town. Austin and Carrie have lunch and then Austin starts talking about getting back to town. Carrie attempts to distract his attention, but he goes out to start the car. He comes back in when it won't start, stressed out about getting back to town. He realizes that there's no phone an Carrie hasn't told anyone where they've gone. He decides to go for help but then comes back later having found nothing. Carrie says that since they can't get back to town they can make the most of it. Austin says that she doesn't understand....if he don't get to the fight and win it, the loan shark will kill him. Carrie says that her dad will protect him but Austin tells her that her dad will throw him in jail if he finds out why he owns the money. He says that the only thing he can do is to go out and fix the car. She says he can't - it's freezing out there. He says so he'll freeze to death if he can't get the car fixed. So then she breaks down and tells him she pulled a wire out of the car so that he wouldn't be able to get back for the fight. Her excuse that she didn't want him to get hurt doesn't wash with him and he is furious. They go out to look for the wire but have no luck. Austin finally manages to get the car going, with a bit of a MacGyver trick (using the telephone cord and some electrical tape) and they make it back to Salem just in time for the fight. However Gudd tells Austin to take a dive in the fight and after a bit of angsting Austin does.