Amanda saw Sam's name in the lowest position on the sign outside layout, so she rectified that. Rachel came looking for Sam and asked Amanda what she was doing there. Amanda admitted she worked there.
Mary came up to Tops to meet with Zack and Vince about the divorce. Vince is in a bad temper.
The Hudsons were excited to hear Nicole was in town. The doorbell rang. Everyone expected to see Nicole but it was Cass. They let him in. Peter is less than crazy about him. He did not seem inclined to bury the hatchet when Cass suggested it. Nicole arrived.
Rachel was not pleased. She asked Amanda if she knew who Sam was. Sam came in and asked Amanda to track down Cheryl McKinnon for him. Rachel asked to talk to Sam alone. Amanda left. Rachel yelled at Sam. He was mystified. Mac came in. Rachel left. Mac warned Sam to behave in the budget meeting.
Vince and Mary agreed to let Zack lawy [sic] for them. Vince insisted on a 50/50 split. Mary refused to accept anything. Zack said they had to do something.
They toasted Nicole. Nicole explained her situation unintelligibly.
Amanda looked at the pictures of Cheryl Sam had given her and scowled. Rachel came in and accused her of wanting to work for Sam because she had a crush on him. Amanda denied it. She refused to quit.
Vince said he didn't think Mary could manage without assets. She said she could manage without taking anything from him. He said she had to take her portrait. Vince spotted Cheryl at the bar. She was stood up by Chad. She talked politely to Mary. She and Vince left to visit with Becky.
John and Wally fed the ducks and talked. John thought about kissing Donna. Wally advised him to fight without knowing what he was talking about.
Mac yelled at Sam for being too conspicuous in the meeting. Sam apologised. Sam went to lunch. Rachel told Mac Amanda was waiting for him in layout. Mac went in. Amanda told him about her new job. He said Sam was egotistical. She begged him not to blow her cover. Mac told her to have this resolved by the time he got back from his convention.
That Old Carrot came by to welcome Nicole home. Reluctantly she allowed him to embrace her. When she called him Reginald he treated her like a twelve-year-old. Nicole rushed Donna upstairs to chat and avert a fight.
Sam berated himself down by the ducks. His face lit up when he saw Cheryl and Vince and Becky come down. He approached her and asked if she would do some modelling. He suggested they discuss it over dinner. Vince said his daughter didn't date guys she met down by the docks. Cheryl was wildly embarrassed. They put a lot of effort into convincing him Sam was legit. Sam left her to Becky and the ducks.
Nicole acted as though she'd never seen Michael before and hadn't heard from Donna since he came back. She told Donna she wanted to be a designer more than anything. Victoria came in. Nicole behaved as though she hadn't seen her since she was fifteen. ("You're all grown up, kiddo," she squealed.)
Michael told Cass he might be able to keep Nicole in line and more or less transferred the rights of big brother (not Big Brother) to him. Ugh. They discussed Barbara Van Arkdale. The last designer who felt about her the way Nicole does wound up in hospital. Mary dropped by to see Michael. Cass took a walk to make sure That Old Carrot didn't interfere. Mary applied for a job. Michael suggested that she call his personnel director. (He was not putting her off.) Mary thanked him profusely and left. Michael called his personnel director and told him to hire Mary.
Colette returned to Zack the underwear (?) he had left in her apartment last night. She's willing to do anything to get Isadora back. Peter told That Old Carrot that John had moved out. That Old Carrot wants to snuggle up to Nicole.
Julie Ann told Amanda that Rachel had given her a hard time about the layout job. Amanda said Rachel would get over it. Enter Sam. Exit Julie Ann. Amanda told Sam that Chad Rollo was Cheryl's agent. He phoned Mary's Place and tried to convince Cheryl to have dinner with him tonight at Tops (the dock date had been another night, at Mary's Place). She said she had to work. He said he wouldn't take no for an answer. She told him not to order her around and hung up. (I was impressed. I haven't seen anyone avoid high-handed tactics in so long.) He laughed and called back. He said please. Cheryl cracked. (Drat. Spoke too soon.) He rushed. Amanda was not pleased. She picked up her purse and went out after him.
Tony chatted with Mac and Rachel in Tops. Mac's going to San Francisco for two weeks. Rachel refused to come with him because: "In two weeks Amanda could be working for Hugh Hefner." They left, passing Sam on their way out. Cheryl was right behind him, and Amanda lurked by the elevator, feeling nauseated. Enter Cass & Nicole. The charges against Nicole have been dropped. Lack of evidence. That Old Carrot approached her. Nicole suggested they have it out on the terrace. She said she was going to tell him how she really felt.
Michael and Donna dressed to go out for dinner. Donna told Michael she was glad John was gone. He did not look overjoyed.
Victoria came up to Tops. Tony decided to linger. She went up to John. (What is the distinction between pink cummerbunds and black cummerbunds?) She said she hoped he wasn't staying in Bay City long. In fact she told him to get out.