Jake and Marley are baking bread together. She told him he was born to knead. He said he'd been lonely all his life until he met her. She said he made her very happy and the only thing that would make her happiness any completer would be to find her father.
Britt and Peter returned to her room at dawn. He's been wishing her happy new year regularly every two hours since midnight and it's that time again. She told him she liked doing things with him. He kissed her. She whispered it was okay. Twice.
Victoria's on a plane to Chicago, a bundle of nerves. Clutching her purse. Catlin was surprised to see her.
Neal opened a crate of treasure. Fayez wanted to take inventory. Neal forbade it. He is in charge. The cargo plane flew out of Bay City giving its destination as Toronto but it went somewhere else. The police are fuddled. The treasure is in an abandoned mine [OH. OH. Is it the one Kevin was lost in? I will be so sick if Britt finds it.] And they're going to ship it to the Middle East as a ransom [$800 million]. Fayez mentioned the Hutchins Cory irony.
The plane took off. Catlin made conversation. He thought she was nervous because of the takeoff. She denied being nervous. He's muddled because he expects her to be like Marley [they look so much alike, he says]. He says strange stuff. He told her he was going to Chicago because Michael Garrison had applied for a job there. She didn't know. He immersed himself in a magazine after telling her the security videotapes had been erased by the burglars. She was relieved.
Peter and Britt pulled each others' clothes to bits. He swept her up and put her wrong way up [feet to the head] on the bed. He said she was so beautiful. She said she was ready. He kissed her and my only fear was that she might chicken out at the last minute. Fortunately she didn't. After a prudent break for a word from our sponsor, Peter* was asleep [right way up] and Britt was sitting up pensively. She sighed "Catlin" and shook Peter awake. He likes women with stamina. Rustling. She told him he was good for her and she was ready for a commitment. He got confused. He thought this was casual. She got prim on him when he said he wasn't ready for commitment and ordered him out.
Victoria called Donna to tell her about Catlin [I suspect the lead is Donna's illusion]. She admitted to being in Chicago and said she'd explain when she returned. Donna is unconcerned about the Michael business. Vic gave her return flight and hung up. Donna said "so they found Michael. My my my my my."
Rachel made Mac stay home sick. She's going to Kansas City for her exhibition. Mac is mad that Neal hadn't called to say he wouldn't be in for lunch. He raved about how irresponsible SANDY was. When Rachel corrected him he got testy and insisted he'd said Neal. She apologized. Enter Neal promising to reform. He went to apologize to Helen the cook. He said he'd be out for dinner. Britt came in to claim her cheque and overheard Mac arrange to meet Peter there at 4 PM. She looked calculating.
Donna: Peter? Peter: hello Donna. Donna: you're home for a change. Peter: YES, I am home. Donna: why? Peter: home is where I live. My possessions are here my toothbrush. FRESH SHIRTS. Donna: I only meant that you aren't usually home in the middle of the day. You don't have to be so touchy. Peter: SORRY. I shall make a belated resolution to be less touchy. Donna: well why are you here, is everything all right at work? Peter: yes, everything's fine at work. I AM still employed. We still have income. We shall eat this week yet again. Donna: I think you just broke your New Year's resolution. Peter: sorry. I am home because I have to pick up some papers for a meeting with Mac. Donna: well why didn't you say that in the first place? Can I expect you for dinner? Peter: yes. Set another place. Donna: GOOD. I'll tell Bridget. Peter: FINE. TELL BRIDGET. ALERT THE SERVANTS. HAVE MY VALET LAYOUT MY SMOKING JACKET AND CRAVAT. [But not Bunter. Never Bunter for anyone but Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey.] Donna: Peter what is this mood you're in? Peter: this is my start the new year off with a BANG mood. Donna: well I trust you'll be over it by dinner. Peter: you never can tell Donna. You just can never tell about these things. Exit Peter [singing "in all the old familiar places"] Donna: something must have happened between him and Calamity Jane. And nothing good. Well. It seems the new year's starting out very promisingly.
Victoria as Harriet Jones went to Jorgensen's Jewelers to get a stone appraised. It's a whacking great diamond which she claimed to have found in her grandfather's safe deposit box. He asked where she'd really gotten it. She told him [with a catch in her voice] how her grandfather a wealthy banker had been her only family. This is her inheritance. Her parents died in a fire. When he was sidetracked by this she became businesslike once again and demanded an appraisal. He said he wasn't qualified but she said she couldn't wait. She asked for a guess. $500,000. She took the stone and fled.
Jake found his video camera rewrapped because Marley intended to return it. He can keep Victoria's and she'll get something else. He got upset. He doesn't like Victoria making her feel guilty. She told him she loved Victoria and wanted her to be happy. He said he was sorry. She can't lose Victoria. He told her how much he loved her.
Ned dropped in on Donna. She gave him canisters of pictures of Jake. He showed her disgusting pictures of men whose bodies can have Jake's head stuck on. Donna was delighted with them. Ned was tickled to death. [it's so sweet, I'm dying, he has qualms about posing like this himself.] She selected the best and sent him on his way.
Rachel's on her way. She told him to be nice to Neal. Mac said something about him bothered him. Exit Rachel. Mac sat down at his desk and stared into space. He didn't see Helen. She asked if she should set a place for Neal for dinner. He said she should. Twice.
Neal met Victoria at the Bay City airport [I swear it looks just like the Arizona airport and the hospital]. Vic: what are you doing here? Neal: I love airports. I even love meeting airplanes particularly when there's no one to meet. Vic: no, what are you really doing here? Neal: I came here to be with you. Vic: you didn't even know that I was gone. Neal: right you are. But Fate stepped in and took a hand. Vic: what do you mean? Neal: don't you believe in Fate? Vic: no. Neal:. Do you believe in telephones? Vic: you called my house? Neal: ah, that's right. I called your house and spoke to your sister. Vic: why? Neal: why? Because she answered the telephone. No, really, she told me that you would be arriving on flight 357. Vic: no, I mean why did you call my house? Neal: boy, you sure say why a lot, don't you? Vic: look, Neal, this is all very flattering and everything but I hardly know you. Neal: I know you don't. That's why I've decided to rectify it. I've made reservations for dinner for two at Casa Conejo. Co-nay-ho. It's that Mexican restaurant on the south end of the bay. Vic: yeah, I know it. Neal: is it really as dim lit as they say it is? Vic: look, I ate on the plane. Neal: oh come on Victoria, they don't serve food between Chicago and here. And second of all you are not the kind of woman who enjoys airline food. Victoria: oh I'm not, huh? Neal: well — you might like cupcakes that they serve for dessert — and those little airline nut bags. I mean they might be fun, but that's about it. Vic: OK, you're right. Neal: of course I'm right. That's why I made reservations for the two of us at Casa Conejo [pronounced always as it looks]. Vic: look, Neal, I'm really sorry I can't go to dinner with you. Neal: why? Vic: because I've decided — that you scare me. Neal: well think of how I feel. Vic: I can't go out, OK? Neal: why? Vic: look, I'm on the rebound. Neal: yeah, well, I understand that, we've both been on the rebound every now and then. Vic: not me, this is my first time. So let's just put this off until sometime later. Neal: no, Victoria, listen. Listen. We can't put this off till sometime later. We just can't. We cannot forget it. Vic: Neal, I'm sorry. Neal: I am perfect for you, don't you understand that? Vic: REALLY. Neal: yeah. I don't make promises and I don't even keep them. Casa Conejo. Yatatayatatatatayatata...
Larry called Marley to tell her about Catlin. She gibbered at Jake. He cautioned her not to get her hopes up. Marley's just flying. Jake supposed he [Michael] was handsome and a dentist. She told him to be imaginative. Jake: he's a movie director and his first big flick is coming out at the end of the month. Marley: that's good. Do you want to know what my fantasy is? Jake: what's your fantasy? Marley: he's an orchestra conductor and — Jake: well just think of all the free tickets were going to get now. Marley: YEAH, that's right. And then he sees Donna again and they fall madly back in love. Jake: OK, I can see Donna falling for a conductor. Marley: you can? Jake: sure. Marley: you see that's how it's supposed to work. And then everything will be happy and Donna will have the Man she loves back in her life, the Father of her Children and then they'll get married and have More Children, Donna with babies. Jake: let's float back to earth for a second here. We have to find the guy first, alright? All Marley wants is for Michael to be lovable and loving and want her to marry Jake as much as she does.
Mac and Peter concluded their business. Mac left Peter alone. Britt stomped through with a suitcase to say goodbye to the Corys. She has to leave to think. Things are too complicated. She told him she was compassionate and vulnerable [would we ever have guessed?] and she could be hurt real bad. He said he didn't want to hurt her. He told her she couldn't go. THERE IS A FUTURE HERE.
Neal let Vic off the hook and took her home. She told him she'd been trembling when they danced at the bash because it was cold. He said it hadn't been at all and kissed her meaningfully. Smooth one, Neal. He left. She thought about him half turning as she crept out of the warehouse [is he pursuing her because he saw her?] and went and hid her grandfather's legacy in War and Peace.
Britt was firm. Peter told her he loved her and he'd follow her. [a desperate man.]
Catlin called and told Marley he'd be on the next flight back to Bay City with Michael in tow. [Illusion. Donna would be flipping out if she believed it. And CHICAGO.]
* On the hairiness of Peter's chest scale he's middling. Somewhere between Peter and unPeter. ↩