The lawyer told Donna that Victoria had no right to the inheritance. She worried about telling Marley.
Nancy went to the stables but she couldn't find Brittany. Chris Chapin appeared and told her he'd never ridden a live horse. He bounded off in a very Jake-like way saying he'd ridden 'carousels, and those little jobs in front of grocery stores you put a quarter in that go UP and DOWN for three minutes.' She said real horses were more fun. He said she could teach him. She said she wasn't a good teacher. He said it was okay, he wasn't a very good student. She said she'd rather ride alone. He got her to let him help her saddle up the horse. He chatted a good deal about Mr Ed. He asked her for change of a dollar 'to get the horse going.'
Larry told Tommy Lee he was calling the shots now. He asked who Brittany was saying he'd never seen her before. Tommy Lee was suspicious. Larry said he just didn't trust her or Jimmy. Tommy Lee said the girl wouldn't say anything. Larry didn't trust him and called her sweetheart and asked her name. She said nothing ('I hate it when they play hard to get.') Tommy Lee said she was deaf & dumb. Larry disbelieved him. Tommy Lee told her he had some business to discuss with his cousin (indicating Larry) and had Jimmy and Britt leave. Larry told Tommy Lee from now on they were partners and went to his office. Britt was lurking about in the corridor unobtrusively.
Chris waxed eloquent on the subject of Mr Ed. He had difficulty with the saddle and trying to help Nancy mount. She said she liked being alone. He asked if that didn't make her lonely sometimes. Enter Jake. Introductions all round. Jake remembered him from Smiley's. Nancy's supposed to go to Tom's to help fix it up. She asked Chris to come but he declined. Exit Nancy and Jake. 'Boy, there's a carrot in this for you,' said he, producing a carrot from the inner recesses of his costume, 'if you tell me everything you know about NANCY MCGOWAN.' Stony silence. Sigh. 'Mr Ed, you ain't.' He broke the carrot in two and ate half himself.
Peter explained the situation to Marley. Marley said she'd give Victoria half of it. The Loves were pleased and afraid they'd pressured her. They hadn't.
Bridget found Victoria brooding in the stables. Vic's tired of lying. She wants to confess, especially since the Loves have turned out to be nice people. Bridget's opposed. Vic went into the house and found Marley had gone to Tom's with Jake. The Loves wanted her to go too and Bridget backed them up. She gave in. Peter gave her a ride. Donna's thrilled by the birthday.
Carter's thug-proofed the house. Tom's such a drip. She's not worried, though. He is. She has an appointment with the doctor in about half an hour. They want Dee to take her. Dee had fits. She stalled them frantically until the party arrived yelling surprise. The Todds were pleased. Vast quantities of cheery idiot banter. Carter told them he didn't trust the people running the Plains Motel and they should 'cool it with the Plains Motel scene.'
Britt listened outside Tommy Lee's door and heard Larry say his people demanded 1/2 of Tommy Lee's Bay City cut. After a fuss Tommy Lee said he'd think about it. Larry left the drugs. Britt ran away. Larry left and made a phone call. Tommy Lee talked to Chicago revealing that he suspects Larry to be affiliated with a big deal operation in Detroit. The boss doesn't care what they do locally so Jimmy's all for blowing him up beyond repair but Tommy Lee quakes in his boots at the mention of Detroit so he thinks they should play nice with Larry JUST IN CASE. (Larry has such a tendency to be nonchalant and mention his people in times of utmost peril. It's just so funny ('ludicrous') to sit here and watch Tommy Lee stew because he's convinced he's up against all of Detroit (Catlin's children too?) when he's dealing with no more than all of Larry and portions of Catlin and MJ.) They'll agree to his demands. Britt has returned to her post and she heard them say he'd hired a gun to guard the lab. They suspected Larry of listening in and rushed to the door guns in hand but Britt got away.
The party is eating mini pizzas. English muffins with tomato sauce cheese etc. Dee received high praise for them but confessed she'd got the recipe off the English muffin package. Marley said Dee was turning into a regular Renaissance woman. Dee required definition. A Renaissance woman can do EVERYTHING they explained. They said like Marley. Marley protested. Jake said she was incredible. Marley was embarrassed. Nancy looked like nothing so much as a seasick goldfish. Tom was kind to her off in a corner. Carter whisked Tom off to the doctor as she offered her friendship to Nancy whenever. Dee then dragged Nancy off to help with laundry leaving Jake and Marley alone. Jake told Marley she was unselfish. She said she was just worried about Nancy. Jake reiterated that he thought her incredible. Enter Victoria.
Britt was frightened nearly out of her wits when she was apprehended in the stables by an unidentified tallish man. Turned out to be Catlin in a deadly serious mood telling her to stay away from the Plains Motel. She took this as proof that he cared. He told her to stay away from that sleaze Tommy Lee. She said he was protecting her. He said he was protecting Larry. She was mad he was in the know without telling her. She said she was investigating Willa's death and he said it wasn't her job. He told her Tommy Lee would kill her too. She told him she was in a position to overhear things innocently and told him about the hired gun from Chicago. She seemed to think he'd let her continue now but he told her to stay out of it. She dared him to try to stop her. He grabbed her by the arm and glowered at her and said he didn't have to try, he would do it. 'And how are you going to do that, cowboy?' He told her she only got one warning and left. She looked thrilled to utter death. I guess being gripped fiercely by the arm and spoken to in a calm menacing voice is as thrilling as being married to him any day.
Victoria was weird. Dee appeared with Nancy 'WHO would steal ONE sock? I mean, it's the height of dumbness --' She was astounded to see two Marleys. Twins. Marley made the introductions. Dee was disposed to be friendly. Marley took Nancy to task for leaving her alone with Jake so obviously. Everybody decided to go back to the Loves' for a swim except Dee who's 'into this responsibility phase right now.' She said the twin thing was such a hoot and they were both absolutely gorgeous. 'She's prettier,' the twins chorused. Giggles. Nancy decided to go home. Dee was left alone with her thoughts.
Mr Baker dropped by Smiley's to most a missing kid's notice. He gave Child Find a plug. Clarice was sorry she hadn't been found. Mr Baker thinks they're all better off with Larry off the force. Enter Catlin looking for Larry. Clarice rushed off fairly cross. Catlin made a phone call and said he had to see someone right away. Zane dashed right over. He told Catlin he was dashing off to Oregon for a few weeks. 'Well what's Brittany going to do?' said Catlin. Zane said he didn't worry about Brittany any more. Catlin told him Britt was working at the Plains Motel (not that Zane understands the significance of that) and asked him to keep her occupied for a couple of days. Zane said he'd kept her occupied for three years and he was no longer her keeper. (Britt could be such the Mrs Rochester. Insane, I mean. But Catlin wasn't hiding her.) Catlin was sort of vague but managed to convey the impression that Britt was having a spot of trouble. A thoroughly fogged Zane promised to have a word with her and do what he could. He fled. Catlin told Clarice Zane was rushing to Oregon.
Chris got Donna to recommend him to the hospital staff. Victoria came in alone. Donna introduced her as her sister. Donna asked about Nancy. Vic said she'd gone home to ride. Chris bolted like a startled deer back to the Corys. Donna invited him to return. She told Vic he was handsome and wealthy and potentially successful and she should get to know him. Vic is contemplating Marley and Jake in the pool.
Larry went to Smiley's. He hit Clarice up for a cup of coffee. (Not literally.)
Jake found Victoria in the stables. She told him she was contemplating telling the Loves. He said he was worried about the repercussions for her and Bridget. She asked if he loved Marley. He hedged and responded eventually without much enthusiasm that he loved her [Vic]. She was not impressed so he kissed her. She pulled away and said it was unconvincing. I think he kissed her again.
Zane asked Britt to go to Oregon but she said she had two jobs now. He asked tentatively if she was working hard to take her mind off Catlin (very little could be further from the truth. I think partly she wants to draw herself to his attention as a candidate for the Catlin Ewing Memorial Summer Romance-cum-Mystery). She denied it. She said it was money. He offered money. She changed the subject. They agreed they're friends. He kissed her saying she was more than a friend and left.
Larry told Clarice he hadn't been to Canada and someday he'd be able to explain. She said not to bother and if he was crawling back after an affair gone bust she wouldn't forgive him. He asked after the kids. She was tight-lipped. He tried to be nice but she got teary and asked him to leave and wouldn't take money for coffee. He left. He looked back at her through the window but she ignored him.
Nancy caught Chris putting the horse back after a ride and called him immature and silly. He said he'd been trying to cheer her up and get to know her better. She said he was deceptive and immature. He called her honest and strong and beautiful. She became much friendlier and began to help him with the horse. He asked her to go riding sometime. She said she didn't think she was ready to date yet. He told her the difference between a date and this ('For a date you wear pretty clothes and get flowers. This is a RIDE. You wear dirty jeans and draw flies. SAY YES.') She fled in terror.
Victoria and Jake are in the stables with clothes strewn about. They have a blanket though. She said she still thought he loved Marley. She thinks he slept with her just to keep her quiet about the plot. He said she could get the money and they'd go away. She wants to stay. He wants to be with her. He asked her not to tell Donna and Peter as a favour to him.
When I see Brittany I think of
Imagine I'm in love with youShe is not lacking in foul determination.
it's easy cause I know
I've imagined I'm in love with you
many, many many times before
it's not like me to pretend
but I'll get you, I'll get you in the end
yes I will, I'll get you in the end
oh yeah oh yeah
well there's gonna be a time
when I'm gonna make you mine
so you might as well resign
yourself to me etc.
Mary Page Sally is forgiven. I think she might have improved Sally's condition by leaving because they had to give Mary Page Sally a happy ending so's to start fresh with Taylor Miller Sally.