Nicole concocted a plan.
Cheryl kept on at Vince about renting a room to Dawn. Vince looked at Dawn with his eyes narrowed in a peculiar expression.
Donna fidgeted. Peter suggested that she didn't want John to leave. Donna said she didn't want to know Michael's reaction. Peter ran down Michael for expecting Donna to take on Responsibilities. Donna stuck up for Michael. Peter advised Donna to go down to the docks to ask John to stay for Michael and Clara's sake. Donna took off.
Dawn found an apartment she could afford and went to call. Vince gave in to Cheryl's pleading. Cheryl hugged him. Dawn found out that the apartment was in a bad neighbourhood, but she didn't admit it to Scott and Cheryl. So Cheryl was crushed, and Dawn looked like sacrificing a stove for Chad's happiness.
Nicole intends to sabotage Barbara's show, I guess. She didn't tell Cass exactly. She means there to be a lot of press. Cass said he thought he'd get great mileage as a saboteur. Barbara signed autographs. Cass and Nicole went over and complimented Barbara on her outfit, and she said it was from her collection, and he said innocently, "The one NICOLE designed for you?" and they giggled as she looked discomfited, because a small crowd of Public heard it. Cass is looking forward to being in a place with a lot of models changing clothes. Cass enlisted Wally to help him filch Nicole's designs. Mary and Victoria came by for lunch. That Old Carrot introduced them to Barbara. Victoria told That Old Carrot that Mary was working for Michael.
Vince thought that Dawn had accepted his offer when Scott said she had a place. Cheryl tried to shut him up but he was not to be shut. Dawn liked the sound of the McKinnon house a lot. Scott tried to out her off. He was called to the phone. Dawn's enthusiasm raged unabated. Cheryl told her about all the people who had departed the McKinnon house lately. They look like being best friends and roomies. Scott looked less than thrilled.
Donna found out from Henry that John was on board. She hesitated and, spying a pay phone, called Jane to try and reach Michael. She left a message that she needed to talk to him. Then she left.
Vince presented Dawn with a key. Beware of Funny Dad. Dawn was crazy about him and Cheryl. She sounds as though she's had a brush with death.
That Old Carrot told Mary that Michael had hired her only to spite him. Mary 'I know I have only a BA in psychology, which isn't much use to you' McKinnon said she was highly qualified, so there. She left the table and ran into Chad. He obviously didn't know MJ had left, so she told him. He was stunned. She told him she knew he'd loved her and she'd left a letter for him at Mary's Place. That Old Carrot told Victoria that Michael had hired Mary deliberately to get back at him. Victoria told him that nothing was Michael's fault. She looked meaningly at Donna when she came out of the elevator. She approached her at the bar. Donna has given up trying to convince Victoria that she hasn't done anything wrong. Her attitude is take it or leave it. She told Victoria that John was leaving. Victoria refused to believe her. Donna told her to see for herself.
Dawn was once in a near-fatal car accident once. Eleven times code blue. Anyway it made her realise she shouldn't take life for granted. That's why she's so Pollyanna. She and Scott clasped hands.
Donna tried Michael again but couldn't contact him. Peter came up and was displeased to see here there instead of at the boat. He conferred with That Old Carrot. That Old Carrot got an idea. Mary and Victoria had to go back to work. Donna asked Mary to tell Michael she missed him. That Old Carrot arranged it so that Donna overheard him and Peter saying how badly Michael treated her, expecting far too much and berating her when she failed to live up to his expectations. Then she overheard Cass telling Wally he'd miss John Hudson's grim visage if he dumped them for his boat. She fled. (Cass: Look on the bright side, Wally. Maybe we'll find someone who can smile and make a martini at the same time.) That Old Carrot sent Peter to follow Donna. Barbara warned Nicole she was playing with fire.
Chad read MJ's note. "Dear Chad. I used to think I didn't deserve to be happy. Then I met you. No matter how much went wrong between us, you never stopped believing in me. I'll never forget you, but I have to find a life of my own. MJ." He told Dawn he'd loved MJ from the time he first saw her. She comforted him.
Donna scrambled for change for the dock phone. Henry startled her. He told her he'd seen John stocking up on supplies. She wriggled. Peter stood at a distance (procul) and watched. He phoned That Old Carrot when she disappeared down the pier. Mission accomplished.
Nicole warned Barbara not to be so cocky. Barbara told her she'd never prove anything. Nicole got a couple of cold toes. Cass set about warming them up. He advised her to come up with a new set of designs to prove her talent.
Chad told Dawn that Vince didn't like him. He forbade her to get a job. She suggested he let her audition to sing at Tops. He put his foot down. She's too good for that. She didn't argue. Chad left. Scott urged Dawn to get a job singing somewhere.
Peter arrived back home and let on that Donna wouldn't be back to dinner, since he suspected she'd gone to John's sailboat.
Donna burst into the cabin and saw a gardenia on a packing crate.