Rachel was a little awkward with Mitch. He said it hurt when she looked at him like that.
Adam told MJ that he had a surprise she'd like. It is not a diamond bracelet. It is not a pair of fuzzy dice. It is a party. He wants to give a party so everyone they know can see how much they love each other. She was pleased until he she found he was inviting his parents.
Vince [posing as a cop] tried to find out the name of the driver of his alibi bus over the phone. He did not meet with success.
Michael put men on Dr Bowden's tail. Enter Cheryl and Scott with good news. They explained they thought Mrs. Markham's boyfriend had given Vince a ride and he would come forward if they paid him a vast sum of money. He said they had to let his detectives do the investigating if they wanted him to put up the money. Scott objected. Cheryl agreed with Michael. Scott sent Cheryl on ahead so he could talk to Michael. He asked why he was using him.
Mac is throwing a surprise birthday party for Rose at the office.
Rachel told Mitch she was sorry. She told him about Matthew's report card. She denied looking at him in any particular way and went to meet Felicia. Chad asked Mitch who she was. Mitch said it was someone he'd known.
Adam: all right. Are you ready to talk? MJ: oh, come on, Adam. I think you're making a big deal out of nothing here. Adam: I don't. Your mouth about hit this table when I said I wanted you to meet my parents. MJ: well, that's a pretty big step to take. Adam: and one you're obviously not ready to take, I see. MJ: Adam, look. I've been under a lot of pressure lately, I've been working long hours — with pops gone I'm TOTALLY responsible for Cheryl. Maybe a party right now isn't such a great idea. Adam: you were pretty keen on the idea until I mentioned my folks. MJ: well, that's because... Adam: because what? MJ: with your folks there — I don't know, it's like an ENGAGEMENT party or something. Adam: oh, HEAVEN FORBID, WE WOULDN'T WANT ANYONE TO THINK LIKE THAT. MJ: and we don't know how this is going to work out. Adam: NO, WE CERTAINLY DON'T, DO WE? MJ: Adam — Adam: at least I know about me. MJ: this has nothing to do with my feelings for you, Adam. Adam: look, there's something going on here, and you're not telling me what it is. MJ: no there's not. Adam: every time I try to make a plan for the two of us, you go crazy. MJ: why can't we just keep on with the way we are? Adam: WHO ARE WE? [long pause] MJ, if something doesn't grow, it starts to die. MJ: we haven't even been together that long — Adam: WE CAN'T — MJ: how can it die? Adam: I love you. I love you. I want to make a life with you. You can't even look at me when I say that. All right, look. Do you want to quit with what we've got? Because if you do, you'd better tell me now. Come on, MJ. I want an answer.
Mac stalled Rose by making her work overtime. She was put out until she found the party in his office. [He's the only guest, but there's a cake.] He appreciates her friendship.
Adam: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? [silence] fine, fine, just forget it. Forget about the party. FORGET EVERYTHINg. MJ: Adam, please don't leave. [pause] there's — there's something inside me that I don't know, I get really scared when something good happens to me. Adam: now why is that? MJ: I don't know. It's like I don't deserve it or something. I know it's stupid, I KNOW it's stupid, and I'm trying to fix it, but it's still there. Adam: why can't you talk to me about it? MJ: you're the man I love. You shouldn't have to be my therapist, too. Adam: MJ, I'll ALWAYS listen to you. MJ: I know. But this is just something I have to work out for myself. I panic when things start to get more serious, but it's not because I don't love you. I do love you, so much. And I just feel so afraid of losing you. Adam: you won't lose me if you're honest with me. MJ: I didn't want to tell you I was scared about the party. Adam: FORGET about the party. MJ: I hate it when you get mad at me. Adam: I get mad, so do you. It's what people do. But you can't let that stand in the way of being HONEST with me. MJ: I know. Adam: look, MJ, all the things that you feel, all the things that you're afraid of, that's what makes you you. You can tell me anything. I love you. I love you. Just please, PLEASE don't shut me out. Samuels phoned. Adam had to leave. He assured MJ he loved her and it would be OK.
Vince thought about MJ as a small girl reading Heidi. He told her he was proud of her and always would be.
Michael told Scott it would be dangerous for him if he implicated Reginald. They argued. Scott got very upset and in a smashing mood. Michael told him he could smash him.
Rachel summoned her car. Mitch told her he was sorry for having caused her pain. He said he wouldn't try to recreate the past any more.
Rose misses her husband. She's upset with Sara for having forgotten her birthday. Mac asked Julie to bring in Rose's surprise. It was Sara with a gift.
Michael told Scott that Reginald loved him and Mary [and lied to them] just as he had loved Donna [and horsewhipped him]. Scott pointed out that Reginald had thrown himself in front of a knife in order to save Victoria. Michael laughed and said he liked him. "I think you're a little crazy, but I admire your loyalty an awful lot." He asked him to trust him to talk to Mrs. Markham and her boyfriend to see if the reward were necessary. Scott assured him it was. Some men dragged Dr Bowden in. Exit Scott. Michael proceeded to interrogate poor Frank regarding the Photograph. Bowden denied any knowledge of the photograph. Michael became very upset with him. Enter Nicole. Bowden was taken out. Nicole said the photograph might be in an old family album and invited him up to the house to look through their collection.
Sara gave Rose a present. She's the youngest. She is using her middle name as her last name. She promised to visit more often. Rose promised to get involved in extracurricular activities. She asked her to resume her last name. Sara said she'd think about it.
Tony expected to be in trouble. He is a gofer, you know. Once upon a time there was a man named Collins who wrote an article for Brava because that was his job. Tony noticed it lying around one day and improved it a little even though it wasn't his place. Mark called him up on the carpet but praised his improvements and offered him a chance to research a feature on the prostitution explosion. Tony was excited beyond control. Mark said he'd decide who was to write it after he'd seen the research. Tony: [fervently] thank you, chief. Mac: and don't call me chief. Tony rushed off to the Pig Whistle. [He called it the Pig 'n' Whistle too.]
Cheryl told Scott that Michael was more experienced and the important thing was to help Vince. He tried to take some bottles into the kitchen; Ada tried to prevent him. Vince got away.
I can't stop laughing. Chad booked the lovely and talented CRYSTAL GAYLE into Tops. He tried to make Mitch take an interest. He said Crystal's manager said Crystal read all Felicia's books. MJ arrived and asked to speak with Chad alone. He suggested the observation deck as a private place.
Michael wants never to see another photograph of Peter on a pony as long as he lives. All of the pictures are too innocuous to be the Picture. Michael mentioned the photograph to Bridget. She seemed to know something. He pounced.
MJ offered Chad her life savings to leave town. ["There's more here than you think; I'm very frugal."]
Vince did something involving a lot of rustling paper. [oh, he must have been looking at that map of the Love Estate.] "there's got to be a way," he said.
Rose thanked Mac for her wonderful birthday. Rachel arrived just as Mac was saying that no woman as attractive as she was should ever be lonely. Rose [very discreetly] evaporated. Rachel and Mac left together.
Bridget told Michael she'd seen Reginald take a photograph out of his pocket and look at it before going into Donna's room the time she screamed and was never the same again. Michael deduced that Reginald had it still and sent her to fetch him.
Chad hesitated. MJ said she could scrape up some more. She begged him to leave. He gave the money back. He tried to tell her he dreamed about her and he'd loved her. She told him he'd never loved anyone but himself. He tried to convince her that they could have that special something again.