Chris woke up late because Nancy had killed the alarm. He yelled at her.
Donna told Ralph to write a goodbye note to Marley and Victoria. Enter Marley.
Neal dropped in on Mac at the Complex. Mac called him Alfred. He snapped out of it. When Neal expressed concern Mac started raving about how Alfred/Albert had stood up to people who wanted to have certain books banned. He told Neal about his wonderful idea. Neal encouraged it. Mac raved at him about wasting talent and various other things.
Chris stomped around yelling at Nancy and getting ready to go out. She trailed along behind trying to explain herself. He ordered her never to touch his alarm clock or beeper again. Exit Chris in a huff.
Marley has plans for the week. Donna had Ralph say he'd been called back and left them alone to say goodbye. Marley is distraught. She wanted to get to know Michael and have him get Donna to like Jake. She said she needed him and Victoria did and begged him to stay. He agreed.
Wally took Victoria to the Pig Whistle.
Nancy went to the Complex to pour her troubles into Mac's sage ear but he wasn't there so she raved at Neal instead. She's so worried about her own troubles that she's noticed nothing wrong with Mac. She concedes that she did a dumb thing in making a doctor late. Nancy: and I thought if Mac was here I could get some advice, after all, he's a man. Neal: what am I, a sardine? Nancy: Neal, I would never trust your advice on something as important as this. Neal: now wait a minute, I think I'm a clear-thinking, rational kind of guy. Nancy: and I'm Joan of Arc. [or as I should say as a Frenchman, Jeanne d'Arc.] Neal: now wait a second, listen to me. You are trying to take care of Chris, that is your problem. That man is independent, he is used to being mature and responsible. Nancy: mature and responsible, yeah, that's him. Neal: that's exactly right. Now if I were you I would act mature and responsible myself and be even more independent, see how he reacts. Nancy: huh, kinda like a woman of the 80s, a Cosmo kind of girl, Neal? Neal: no. Me, I kind of like a charming girl who turns off the alarm, but these mature types, who can say what they like? Nancy: man, they are hard to read. Neal: yeah, right. Look, I've got to get out of here, let me know how it turns out. Nancy: yeah, hey, Neal, the advice, it wasn't so bad. Neal: not so bad for a sardine at least. See ya. Nancy: see ya. Exit Neal. Nancy checked the help wanted ads in the paper.
Liz thought about being fired. Sally asked what was wrong. Liz told her. Sally said it was impossible. Liz is hurt and confused. She sent Kevin to bake brownies and Sally to do a Lesoleil brochure. She is a quivering mass of insecurity. Sally called Mac to register a complaint but he was untraceable.
Wally introduced Vic to Lou Hunt and left them alone to visit a friend at the bar. Lou doesn't believe in the research project. Vic relaxed the Marley voice some and produced one of the stones ["funny kind of family jewel" "it's a funny kind of family"] He refused to give an estimate without seeing the rest of them. He gave her his card. She said she'd think about it. She reassumed the Marley voice and ran into Nancy at the door.
Mac dropped in at the Matthews'. Sally yelled at him. Enter Liz.
Marley told Ralph about the differences between her and Victoria. But she thinks they're alike underneath. She wants to know all about him. Donna broke it up. She was unthrilled to hear he'd promised to stay a little longer.
Nancy's come about a job. Wallingford advised against. So did Vic's Marley. Wally rushed off after some woman. It occurred to Nancy to ask why Marley was there.
Marley went to get the door. Donna: I told you to tell her you were leaving. Ralph: I tried. Donna: nothing's preventing you, nothing at all. Ralph: Donna, what do you want me to do, go back to Chicago and have that girl follow me and find out that I'm not Michael Garrison? Donna: you could prevent that. Ralph: how? She is determined to get to know me. Donna: tell her that you'll write her every day, call her every day, she'll fall for it, she's naive. Ralph: and vulnerable. What do you want me to do, break that poor girl's heart? Donna: yes, that was the whole point. Ralph: Donna I cannot believe you. How can you do this? Marley rushed in dragging Jake behind her. He seems suspicious that Michael was able to get out of work so easily. Ralph wants to get to know Victoria.
Vic said she'd been with Wallingford and he dropped in there and she wanted to be by herself. Nancy rambled on about the Christmas gift and how awful Victoria was. Vic made for the door. They ran into Neal who took Victoria aside to tell her he was in love with her sister. She rushed off with Nancy in her wake. He said "twins. Twins."
Mac apologized and rehired Liz. She's worried about him.
Donna yelled at Ralph. Victoria returned. Ralph was sent to do an errand for Donna. Vic thinks he's pathetic. Donna begged for her help in keeping Ralph sane and getting rid of him. Vic capitulated. Ralph returned. Victoria was nice as pie.
Mac and Liz decided they should support Sally no matter what.
Vic's on about her rejection as an infant again. Bridget warned her not to scheme to help the Loves.
Marley's on about her father. Jake is less than thrilled. She went over to see Tom. He called Ellie to ask what she thought of Michael. He asked if he were like the one she'd heard about. She admitted that when she'd shown at Bertha the snapshot she'd taken at lunch she'd claimed it wasn't Michael. But she puts little stock in that. Jake has his suspicions. He invited her to the wedding.
Vic called Neal and told him to ask her out for tonight. Red Lion in 9:00 PM.
Mac got a wrong number [555-8657 Tom's car service] twice. He told them he was trying to reach Rachel Davis the woman he was dating. This is her mother's number. At Tom's suggestion he looked it up in the phone book. It wasn't there.