Kathleen had to work late. Cass is taking fits over having to deal with the McKinnons. MJ and Jake came in. Cass: I have a tough enough time dealing with your family when you ARE here, you know that. MJ: Oh, a nice hello to you too, Cass. Cass: Oh, hi, MJ. Kathleen: Did she hear what you just said? Cass: Yes, yes she did, so would you please come over here right now? Kathleen: Let me speak to MJ. Cass: MJ, Kathleen would like to talk to you. Boy, that's a nice coat. I really like that coat. MJ: You have suitcases here. I am a detective I can deduce what suitcases mean. Cass: I really like Kathleen's family, y'know, I just -- I just -- Jake: Just said the wrong thing. Kathleen asked MJ to try to help smooth things over between Cass and the family. MJ told her not to worry. MJ: So, Cass, you're our new star boarder. Cass: Kathleen didn't tell you, huh? MJ: No, she didn't mention a thing. It's just a great big wonderful surprise.
Sandy went to the hospital and talked to Jamie. Rachel's condition is unchanged.
Peter fidgeting with a bit of paper on which he had written in very large letters (503) 555-0986 RE: CATLIN/JOSH PETERSON. Donna came in so he hid it. She wants him to come home for dinner. He works too much for her taste. Kathleen borrowed him to look at something. Donna found the bit of paper. Sally came in. Donna hid the paper. Sally tried to do some work. Donna kept talking. Donna: I was just trying to pry Peter away from the office one night. I hardly get a chance to see him any more. Sally: Well I guess he's busy. Donna: And you? Sally: What? Donna: Have you been ignoring your friends and family for your job, like Peter has? Sally: No, I don't think I have. Donna: Well, I guess that's the burden of responsibility. The underlings get to go home and have their lives while Peter burns the midnight oil. Sally: That could depend on who you have to go home to. Donna: Pardon? Sally: (smiling sweetly) Nothing. Donna asked about working with Peter and whether their past relationship posed a problem. Eventually Sally exploded and said she was trying to work. Donna said she thought they should be friends for Peter's sake. Sally said Peter hadn't anything to do with it. Donna said Peter'd been through a lot. Sally said most of it was her [Donna's] fault. Donna blamed Carl. She returned to her original statement that it would be easier for Peter if they were friends. Sally suggested they just not have anything to do with each other. She got upset about Rachel and said Donna was treating Carl's evilitude like some kind of minor social indiscretion to be forgotten. She worked herself up rather and left as Peter came in. Peter turned on Donna. "Just what have you done NOW?"
Sandy and Jamie again. Nancy's worried about Ada. Jamie went to see about her. Sandy told Nancy everything would be all right.
Blaine and Catlin at the cabin preparing to go to the hospital. Blaine told Catlin about a jim-dandy job offer she'd had from a San Francisco TV station. She said she knew she'd have to turn it down but she hadn't given an answer yet. She'd like the job but what about Sandy and the kids. Catlin advised her to talk to Sandy. She's worried about her marriage.
Donna: What do you mean, what have I done? Peter: YOU UPSET SALLY. Donna: She upset ME. Peter: Just because you talked to Carl doesn't give you the right to take it out on her. Donna: Did it ever occur to you that it might be HER fault? Peter: No, not really, no. Donna: Do you know what my big mistake was? I had the TEMERITY to ask her if we could be friends. Peter: Considering all that's happened don't you think that's asking a little bit TOO MUCH? Donna: Of course it is you're absolutely right and I'll never be forgiven for anything. Peter: Donna, Donna, I know that Carl hurt you, but that is no reason -- Donna: It's NOT THE MONEY. It's not that. It's not what you think. Peter: Then what is it? Donna raved about how everything had changed and she wanted life to be like it had been before and she wanted him to come home for dinner. He won't. Donna said she couldn't let Carl do this. Kathleen returned to borrow Peter again. Donna left. Kathleen said they couldn't do anything much until Mac got back. Steamroller Peter began snapping at her and saying he was in charge and they'd get the magazine out regardless.
Vince is grumbling about Cass. ("Probably has some kind of weird dietary requirements, too.") MJ says he's not that bad. Not on par with WWII. Cass arrived with Jake. MJ: Say, Dad, why don't you show Cass the basement? Vince: What? MJ: I said you should -- show him the basement. Vince: Why in heaven's name would he want to see the basement? MJ: Well, I heard Cass say that he was very interested in carpentry. Cass: You did? MJ: Mhm. Cass: Oh, yes, she did, I am. MJ: Right. Vince: You are? Cass: Love carpentry, just love it. MJ: Well, Dad redid the whole basement. He did it all by himself. Cass: Ooooh, I'd really like to see that. Vince: Okay, come on, Cass. (To MJ) Don't let that boil. MJ: No, no. Cass: The whole basement, huh? Exeunt Cass & Vince. Jake: He knows about as much about carpentry as I do about aerodynamics. MJ: I don't think you can say Kathleen went out and found someone like her father. Jake: Don't you think it was cruel to send them down there together? MJ: well, I promised Kathleen I would, um, try to patch things up between Cass and Dad. Jake: And you think talking about carpentry's going to do it? MJ: No. Well. I'll think of something. Jake: You have an evil smile, MJ. MJ: I wonder if Cass remembers all the things he's said about the Bay City Police Department in the past year. Jake: Probably not, but you do, don't you. MJ: Every word. Jamie called. When Jake found out Rachel was Nancy's sister he rushed right down to the hospital. Prometheus was let in. MJ embraced him.
Kathleen and MJ are now making up Cass' bed. Kathleen is worried about Vince & Cass getting along. MJ told her she'd suggested to Cass they discuss Ulysses. Kathleen recognized this as a bad move since the men in her life have diametrically opposed points of view. (Cass says it's a masterpiece. Vince uses somewhat stronger language.)
Cass and Vince arguing. They figured out MJ is devious and were somewhat allied momentarily until they hit on further Joyce to argue about. Cass spluttered about saccharine.
Peter is generously giving the art department (Sally's concern) vast sums of excess money left lying about (unguarded). She's pleased. He says she needn't write up her thoughts she can just talk to him. He apologized for Donna. She said it was partly her fault. He said they could go out to dinner and discuss her ideas. Sally declined saying she was meeting Catlin at the cabin. (Peter said, "You're saying no to the boss?" Grr. Ick. She was firm.) Lucky guy said Peter. Sally kept trying to leave and Peter kept complimenting her on her work. Finally she got away. (LET'S ARRANGE TO HAVE PETER BEHAVE JUST VILELY ENOUGH TO GIVE SALLY CAUSE TO FILE A SEXUAL HARASSMENT SUIT. Or if you'd rather we could sacrifice some other unknown female to the cause.) Peter flew to his phone and dialed but no answer.
Catlin and Blaine are at the hospital. Catlin asked if Sally were there first thing. She wasn't. He intends to see Ada before he leaves. They went in to see Rachel. Jake arrived and was sympathetic and kind to Nancy. He said he'd stay as long as she wanted. They went to see Ada with Jamie in the cafeteria. Sandy bounded in. He was immediately caught by Donna full of concern for Rachel. Blaine came out and told Sandy about her job offer. Sandy got upset but only briefly. Blaine: It's just that -- I do love you, Sandy. Sandy: Look, if you really want this job, we can talk about it. Blaine: I want YOU. That's what I want. Sandy: Well that's what you've got. I love you, sweetheart.
Vince: He said he liked stew. He only had one helping. Kathleen: He said he liked it 3 times. MJ: I thought it was a little salty, myself. Kathleen went to bed. MJ told Vince he should at least consider that Cass had READ Ulysses and formed an opinion and not been cowed by the almighty father McKinnon. Vince went to ask him to watch the news with the family. MJ exulted with Prometheus.
Kathleen is in Cass' room. Cass was at first panicked but was quickly won over. He (like Vince) is considering the fact that Vince has read Ulysses etc. Kathleen's pleased. Cass tried to convince Kathleen to spend the night in his room. She said Vince would kill them. Cass said he couldn't find out. Vince knocked. Kathleen hid in the closet. Vince came in and invited Cass to watch the news. Cass pleaded tiredness. Took a raincheck. Vince told him he was welcome in his house but Katie was still his little girl. Cass thanked him. He left. Kathleen emerged from her hiding place. "You know," said Cass, "I feel as if I'm in high school again. I HATED high school."
Jamie (rather unshaven and vague) dropped in in the kitchen. MJ comforted him. He's scared. She understands.
Catlin returned to the cabin. Sally asked after Rachel and all of the worried Corys. Things are not great with them and Catlin's a bit worried but Sally sympathized and said there was nothing he could do. She clumsily smashed a vase and set about cleaning it up. She said she'd had a run-in with Donna today. In the vase had been more of those flowers. He asked about them. She said she just liked them. Catlin said (rather violently) they'd been a mistake the other day. She (a little bewildered) said she knew that but she liked them. She went to get another vase. He thought about looking foul and knocking on the door of that female. She opened the door this time and stood there smiling with the flowers in her hands (I have convinced myself that she looked just as foul but I could be warped of course she had no moustache). Sally returned. Sally: Catlin? Catlin: What? Sally: What do you want for dinner? Catlin: (mangling the flowers somewhat and putting them aside) It doesn't matter. Sally: Did I do something wrong? Catlin: NO. Everything's fine. Sally: Now listen, why don't we just forget everything else and just concentrate on each other. They agreed they'd make a real nice old married couple.
Cass told Kathleen it would be cold and lonely. She said she knew how to fix that and left momentarily. She returned. "Kathleen, you're carrying the dog." She gave him Prometheus so he would be neither cold nor lonely. So now everybody's happy.
Sally: I'm sorry I was in a bad mood. Catlin: You know, Donna's really not that bad. Sally: Watch it. Catlin: No, you should try to get along with her. Sally: Don't hold your breath. Catlin: I'm not wild about Peter, but you kept telling me what an okay guy he is. Sally: SO? Catlin: SO, I made an effort. And now I'm TRYING to get along with him. Sally: Well, honey, there's a reason for that. Catlin: What's that? Sally: you're a much better PERSON than I am. Catlin: This is true. He then proceeded through Unbelievably Devious and Underhanded means to convince her to kiss him.
Peter on the phone. Sounds like a busy signal. There are folk in the room at the other end (one of whom seems to be Catlin's female) playing cards.