Sam was painting in lipstick when Amanda arrived to say they had to get going if they were going to her parents' for dinner. She deduced he didn't want to go.
Someone lurked on a not-unfamiliar street corner.
Jason told Mary he knew That Old Carrot was having them watched. He's afraid the Carrot will do something before they can get the court order.
That Old Carrot offered Judge Kastner a substantial campaign contribution in exchange for a certain court order.
Sophie helped Nicole pick an outfit for her date with Cass. Michael dropped by to ask Nicole some questions. Nicole refused to help him. She told him Donna had told her that Elizabeth and Jason had had an affair. Michael was surprised. He told Nicole he just wanted to put That Old Carrot away. He let on the affair issue didn't concern him. Nicole calmed down and answered Michael's questions. That Old Carrot had given Elizabeth's things to charity the day after she was buried, but Nicole had managed to squirrel away a few things for herself. Michael was pleased.
That Old Carrot got his judge for $20,000. André advised him to hurry. That Old Carrot gloated. He said there was no other evidence to connect him to his wife's death. Then he remembered the gun. He couldn't imagine why he'd kept it. He decided to go to Scott's room himself.
Sam admitted he didn't really want to go but said he would. He changed. Amanda assured him everything would be fine. He warned her not to be too disappointed if they didn't. She hustled him out.
Nicole told Michael she'd hidden her mother's stuff under a floorboard. He asked her to show him. Cass suggested Michael tell Nicole more about his purpose. Michael said it was too dangerous. Nicole decided to help. Cass said he wanted to come along. Nicole asked Michael to leave them alone. She asked Cass not to come. He complied. She left.
Mary and Jason watched the watcher. She told him what she'd said to Donna. She told him That Old Carrot had been entirely different in Paraguay. Jason said Elizabeth hadn't divorced That Old Carrot because he hadn't wanted a wife with three kids. [Did he know that Marley was not Elizabeth's daughter? If not, what did he make of the prolonged European vacation?] He scowled and said he'd loved Elizabeth but he'd had to be free. Scott moped in. Mary told him the evidence against That Old Carrot could improve tonight.
That Old Carrot searched through Scott's drawers and found a card made of construction paper. He smiled tenderly and kept it in his hand while he searched further. He straightened up hastily when Scott entered and beamed at him. Scott asked [what he was doing there].
Rachel worried about the dinner. Ada reassured her. Jamie phoned and said he and Lisa couldn't make it. Rachel: Oh no. Ada: it's not the end of the world. Rachel: yes, but I was COUNTING on Jamie and Lisa to be here and help defuse any difficult situation. Ada: how? Rachel: well, the impact of something embarrassing is felt less on a large group. Ada: physics was never your best subject. Rachel said the conversation should be kept on safe topics. Novels are a safe topic. She instructed Ada to ask Sam if he'd read a book called Grave Entanglements if the conversation lagged. Ada assured her everything would be fine. Sam and Amanda arrived. Rachel accepted Sam's flowers very graciously and looked only slightly askance at the Idaho cabernet he had brought. When Mac appeared he and Sam were effortlessly civil. Rachel's keeping her fingers crossed.
That Old Carrot portrayed himself as a loving father and reminisced about Scott's snowflake [which is glued to the construction paper]. Scott pointed out that the snowflake had been in the bottom drawer of his dresser. That Old Carrot admitted he'd been looking for his gun because he'd discovered it was valuable and he thought it ought to be stored safely. Scott told him he'd left it in Paraguay. That Old Carrot relaxed. He asked after Dawn and offered to pay her medical bills. Scott refused. That Old Carrot assured him the only reason he hadn't attended the hearing was because he hadn't wanted to upset him by his presence. Scott and the Carrot went out into the hall. Scott left. Mary found That Old Carrot and suggested he leave. He told her he was pleased to hear she was recovering her memory. It's all he's ever wanted. She called him a liar and slapped him.
Michael and Nicole crept into the attic. She found the floorboard and her box. Earrings. Lipstick. Key holder. Combs. A compact. A photograph. Nicole stared at the photograph. Michael couldn't find what he was after. He left Nicole alone. She shone her flashlight at the photograph and it seemed to show something upsetting about Jason and Elizabeth. Nicole tore the photo up and sobbed "NO" a lot.
Dinner conversation at the Romance was prone to grinding to a halt. Ada was frequently compelled to ask someone if he or she had read Grave Entanglements. Sam hadn't. Amanda hadn't. Ada brought up what a great little reader Amanda had been. She had gone through an extreme Heidi phase which eventually caused her parents to take her to Switzerland. Sam said he'd loved Ferdinand the Bull so much his mother had taken him to Taco Charlie's. Clunk. Rachel started talking about the wedding. With great pride Amanda said she'd sent Sam's mother a note. Sam asked why she'd done that. Amanda was taken aback. Everyone assured Sam that his mother should be at his wedding. He told them they knew nothing about it and it was his business. Mac suggested it might be Amanda's business. Sam left. Amanda followed him. Dead silence.
Mary raged at That Old Carrot. He insisted he loved her. She unwisely started to make some remark about Elizabeth's death. He looked concerned and told her he was sorry her memory was coming back all wrong. She's remembering things that never happened. Mary yelled at him for robbing her of her past in order to cover up his filthy secret. She insisted she did remember he'd shot Elizabeth. He told her he'd never stopped loving her. She burst into tears and told him she despised him.
Cass fidgeted. He told Sophie he was nervous. She wished him well and vanished upstairs. Nicole clumped downstairs. Cass smiled appreciatively. I hate her earrings. She's wearing a black dress which isn't too bad, but her heels are too high. They kissed. Cass gave Nicole his arm and they went out.
Mac thinks Sam has no right to be upset that Amanda assumed he would want his mother at the wedding. Rachel confessed that she'd made things worse.
Mary told Jason about her encounter with That Old Carrot. She assured him she didn't think That Old Carrot would try anything to harm her. Michael was horrified when he heard. He said he had the feeling they were missing something. Mary remembered Elizabeth had said "the clue is in the watch." Michael realized Elizabeth had given Jason the key. Michael smashed the watch and picked the key out of the wreckage. And all the people rejoiced. They don't have to wait until morning. They'll rouse the bank.
André gave That Old Carrot the court order. That Old Carrot decided to rouse the bank to get the box. [I obviously don't understand court orders. I would have thought a person would need Adam for one to work.] He can't wait and do it in the morning. They leaped into the elevator.
Rachel stared at her plate and admitted she'd mailed Sam's mother a plane ticket. Mac and Ada predicted Sam would be upset. Mac decided to get involved.
Amanda asked Sam why he'd lied to her. He said he didn't want his mother at the wedding. She asked why. He turned away.