Cass brung Nicole flowers picked from the lobby. She assured him it was the thought that counted. He told her Zack had gone well. He handed her a prenuptial agreement.
I love Ada's Vince imitation. Mary went into the kitchen to talk to him and found him staring a little bleakly at the divorce papers.
Amanda picked up a Pamphlet about birth control methods and phoned Julie Ann. She asked her to tell Sam she'd drop by his apartment later. She turned around and nearly fell over him. He was surprised to see her. She held the pamphlet behind her back. He was giving blood. He was concerned that she was not well, but she reassured him. He told her where his spare key was so she could let herself in. Jamie appeared. Amanda made sure he didn't give her away, but it had to be done so suddenly and obviously that Sam looked a little puzzled. He watched them go into Jamie's room.
Vince and Mary chatted awkwardly. He denied being bitter. He told her about their wedding. He's not bitter, he's angry.
Nicole told Cass she trusted him and the agreement was unnecessary. [Oh, but he's cunning.]
Jamie asked why Amanda was there. He strove to be impartial when she asked for birth control advice. ["What for?" he said. So much for that. There must be other doctors.] Amanda gave up. Jamie sat her down and told her casual sex could be dangerous because of AIDS. She said it wasn't like that; She thinks she's falling in love. [Does MEANINGFUL sex have some kind of magical properties? Why is LOVE some kind of charm that inhibits sexually transmitted diseases and ensures fertility?] Jamie [after a bit of a struggle] accepted the idea that Amanda would be having sex with the man she might love. He told her he and Lisa had been Tested for AIDS before anything had happened. [I can just picture him conducting emergency experiments in the kitchen sink by flashlight.] He said he advised patients to use a condom and spermicide. She assured him she wasn't taking this lightly. She's a virgin. He was concerned about Sam's intentions. She's fairly sure they're more or less honourable. He told her he'd arrange an appointment for her and she should be all right for the Pill, having no family history of heart disease or high blood pressure and not smoking. He warned her that the Pill was only 98% effective after a month of taking it and advised her to use an alternative if it was necessary to have sex before then. He made her promise to talk to Sam before doing anything. She hugged him.
Nicole knocked the paper out of Cass' hand. She had doubts about her talent. He assured her many success stories were built on self-doubt. She snapped out of it. He signed the agreement and gave it to her. They decided to go horseback riding.
Mary told Vince he was shutting out reality by dwelling on what life could be. They're both unhappy. He went into the dining room. Diane was there and the first thing she said was, "did your divorce come through?" When he said it had she hugged him ecstatically, insensitive bitch. Mary was displeased. Vince drank to what was left of the McKinnon family. Cheryl found Mary crying in the kitchen.
Cass discovered there were two horses left in the inn's stable. One available, the other too vicious or something to let a guest ride. He gave the stablehand $100 to let him ride this horse. Nicole came up and proclaimed herself a good rider. I think Cass means to give her this vicious "Challenger". [What would it gain him to kill her if they're not married? Can it be that? Is the redhead meant for Kathleen? Not one who schemes evil schemes, surely.]
Amanda let herself into Sam's loft and discovered him in a fresh-from-the-shower state of undress. His jaw dropped and he clutched his towel a little tighter around his neck, although how that was going to hide anything I couldn't say. This seemed to occur to him after a second and he moved the towel to a more useful position. He went to dress. She got to work making a list of supplies for him. She admired his artwork. He was pleased. She promised to knock next time. He smiled rather nicely, but I don't think much of his legs. He had to leave for a meeting. [I forgot to mention, he wishes someone would buy his painting.]
Cheryl was unhappy about the divorce too. Mary told her love was not enough [even though it prevents STD?] Cheryl said she'd never understand. She went into the dining room and stared resentfully at Diane. Mary suggested they go to the movies. Cheryl wanted Vince to come, but he wouldn't join them.
Cass mounted Challenger himself, although Nicole offered to take him. I am perplexed.
Vince brooded. Diane looked discontented. Ada took Vince's beer from him and said she'd be in the kitchen if he needed her. He told her not to worry, there were plenty of carrots in it. [Am I sensitive to carrot references, or is there really a disproportionate number of them?] She was perplexed. Diane told Vince he could have a new beginning without Mary. He said he didn't need one. She said they [he and Diane] had been together for years and this should have happened sooner. He complained about his scattered offspring and did not hear a word she said. She told him she and Cheryl still needed him and if he didn't like being single that could be changed. [If he didn't marry you as a widower, why would he marry you as a divorcé, you idiot?]
Cass and Nicole rode in slo-mo.
Amanda parceled up Sam's painting. She hit it when he came back because his car wouldn't start. She suggested he buy a new one. He complained that Mac would never give him a raise. She said she'd heard Mac was generous. He didn't believe it. Either a rich person is a pig because he inherited his wealth and doesn't deserve it but thinks he's entitled, or he's a pig because he earned it with his bare hands and doesn't deserve it and hungers for power. F Scott Fitzgerald has warped this boy's mind. Scott [Fitzgerald, not Lasalle], and the crowd he ran with in Seattle. A society girl made it plain she wanted to go to bed with him in a casual manner, and since sex means something to him, he was horrified. She had no regard for AIDS, as if her money could protect her. She wasn't stupid, just raised rich and believing in her immunity. Amanda asked if he'd ever been tested. He said he was when he gave blood. He asked about her. She said she didn't have to be. He said that was the same attitude as the Seattle society girl. She said she meant she was a virgin. He stared.
Cass and Nicole came back in. He told her not to ride Challenger. She became determined to ride Challenger. [Did I say cunning?] He suggested they have a drink.
Diane told Vince to think about it. She gibbered. He didn't say much. She said she loved him and fled.
Ada came and told Vince he had overcarroted his stew. [It's subliminal frustration with That Old Carrot, because of the divorce. Trust me.] They yelled at each other.
Sam was embarrassed. He was surprised because he thinks she's a lot older, for one thing. She radiated innocence. He told her not to be ashamed of it. It's so nice they can talk honestly about these things. She's longing for the month to pass. He's glad she's not like those Seattle society girls. He kissed her.
Cass is quite the reverse psychologist. His motives puzzle me a little.
Sam should have seized the opportunity to ask if Amanda had participated in any intravenous activities, too, just to be thorough.