"Ryan smirked as Liza asked him to explain himself. The pompous expression really drew Liza's wrath, but Ryan quickly explained that his smirk was just his natural facial expression. Ryan listened to the accusations that Erica had made and flashed a toothy grin. He told Liza that Erica had misrepresented what had taken place in the office. He explained that Erica had mistaken him for a model and had asked him to strip down to his skivvies, but when she had realized that Ryan was there to pitch a sales proposal, she had offered him five hundred dollars to keep the mix-up silent.
Liza reached for the list of accounts Erica had provided and asked Ryan if the pizza parlor had mistaken him for a deliveryman -- and rattled off each of Ryan's accounts. Ryan knew that he'd been had, but he remained composed. Liza told him that his kickback scheme could cause the station to lose its broadcasting license. If that happened, Liza assured him that she'd have him carted off to jail. Ryan never got a chance to explain himself as Stuart burst into the room and asked Liza for her help.
Ryan left the office and ignored Liza's warning that he shouldn't leave the building. Stuart told Liza that he needed her help to stop Scott and Gillian's wedding. Liza suggested that Stuart take a stand against the marriage, but Stuart worried that such a stand would only make Scott more anxious to marry Gillian just to dodge parental authority. Stuart asked Liza if she thought that Gillian was just using Scott to get a green card. Liza cocked her head to one side and told Stuart that Gillian was not just using Scott to stay in the country.
For a moment, Stuart was relieved. Then Liza explained that Gillian was using Scott for a lot more than a quick way to duck Immigration. Liza handed Stuart a folder containing some press clippings about Gillian's father's bad run in Monte Carlo. Gillian had her sights set on draining Scott's bank account. Liza looked down at her clipboard, and an idea jumped into the front of her mind. She looked toward Stuart and said that she'd thought up the perfect plan to save Scott.
Kelsey asked Scott if he'd back out of marrying Gillian if she really loved him. Scott was forced to delay his response when Gillian trotted into Holidays and demanded his full attention. Scott was noticeably peeved by Gillian's whining and ordered her to chill out while he and Kelsey discussed some urgent business. Kelsey guessed that Scott's answer wouldn't be what she wanted to hear and nearly threw a tantrum. Scott noted that he never would have had to announce wedding plans if it weren't for Kelsey's meddling.
Scott wanted to know if what Kevin had said was really true -- he asked if Kelsey really loved him. Kelsey called Kevin an optimist who wanted to see two friends turn into "star-crossed lovers." In effect, she was telling him that she didn't really love him. Gillian dashed over to the pair and asked if Kelsey would be her maid of honor. Scott's mouth gaped at Gillian's panache, but Kelsey was unmoved. Gillian explained that she wanted to offer the spot to Kelsey, since she was the reason that Gillian and Scott had gotten together in the first place.
Kelsey bobbed her head several times before accepting the honor. Gillian wrapped her arm around Scott and led him off to a table where they could review wedding garb. Kevin raced over to Kelsey and asked her why she'd put herself in the awkward position of being maid of honor. Kelsey sighed deeply and informed Kevin that she has nothing else going for her. No matter what she did, Scott and Gillian would be getting married. She then prophesied that after the wedding, she'd join a convent.
While Erica spoke to Bianca on the phone, Ryan let himself into Erica's office at Enchantment. He hit her with a sales pitch, offering to replace her bigwig ad executives with his down-home style. Erica played along with Ryan, praising his business savvy. She smiled broadly as she told Ryan that one day he'd be an executive at WRCW. Ryan bowed his head and told Erica that he'd never move up the ladder as long as Liza Colby was in charge. He asked Erica if it would be possible for her to speak to Liza on his behalf.
Erica rose from her chair and informed Ryan that she'd already spoken to Liza about him. Erica managed to keep a pleasant demeanor as she told Ryan that she had talked about his "disgusting business ethics." "I ratted you out, Mr. Lavery," Erica said with a grin, adding, "Because of me, you're dog food." Ryan hadn't realized that Erica had been the one to squeal about his kickback scheme. He tried to get back on Erica's good side by praising her decision to report him to Liza, citing it as smart business strategy.
Ryan asked Erica if she'd ever bent the rules or cut corners to advance herself. Erica looked him square in the eyes and denied doing such unscrupulous things. Erica was preparing to dismiss Ryan, so he knew that he had to make a final move to get his foot in the door. When Erica turned her back to him, Ryan hovered over her shoulder and asked her if there was "something I have that you want." The sexual innuendo was even less appealing than Ryan's money bilking. Erica ordered Ryan to get out of her office. He obliged her, but he was more furious than ever.
Edmund begged Maria to assure him that he'd get out of the cave alive. Maria smiled her familiar smile and told Edmund that he'd live to see his children grow up -- and to see his grandchildren. Edmund didn't only want to escape his prison. He also wanted Maria to be real. "I'm as real as your imagination," Maria said with a smile. Exercising his mental muscles, Edmund imagined that he and his late wife shared a kiss.
Maria reminded Edmund that he was wasting precious time by not trying to free himself. Again Maria reminded him that she was always with him. "Be their hero," Maria said softly, referring to Brooke, Mateo, Hayley, and the others hit by Jim's crime wave. "You're already mine," she added. To prevent Edmund's mind from wandering, she "left" the viaduct so that Edmund could focus on an escape.
Edmund contorted his body so that his back was not pressing against the wall to which he was handcuffed. He could see the ties that bound his hands to the metal bars. He took one of the bars in his hands and pulled with all his might. The bar gave way, and Edmund flew backwards, but he was ultimately pulled back to the wall by the other handcuff. Edmund continued to work on freeing himself, but the heavy surf had begun to pound at the viaduct's entrance.
Ryan returned to WRCW and reported directly to Liza's office. There, he learned that he had a chance to avoid being sent to jail. Ryan listened intently to Liza's explanation, but she warned him that no matter whether he accepted or rejected the offer, he'd still end up wearing a ball and chain. The plan was to go to jail or avoid jail altogether by getting married.
Jim was pleased to see Laura, saying that he was glad that she'd received his letter. Brooke told Jim that he was "sneaky" for contacting Laura behind his back and telling her about the wedding. Jim smiled and reminded Brooke that she needed a maid of honor. Jim detected that something was going on between the three ladies and asked them what they were up to. Laura tried to explain Brooke's uneasiness, pointing out that Brooke had worked herself into a frenzy, worrying about planning the perfect wedding.
Jim suggested that they hold the wedding at the house so that Brooke could make her "grand entrance" down the staircase. Phoebe stepped in to explain what they'd been talking about -- a problem -- a problem by the name of Jim Thomasen. Brooke and Laura's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Brooke tried to put a positive spin on her aunt's comments, but the feisty Phoebe insisted that she could speak for herself. Phoebe informed Jim that they had been discussing the wedding and that their subject matter was definitely not for the groom-to-be's ears.
Jim took the hint and skedaddled but not before asking Brooke what would be played as their song. Brooke looked over her shoulder and realized that Dimitri's handgun was still prominently displayed on the desk. She lunged to cover it up as she told Jim that they didn't have a song yet. After Jim left, Brooke begged Laura to spill what she knew about Jim. Laura still put up a fight, saying that it wasn't relevant. Hoping that her presence was what was causing Laura's uneasiness, Phoebe left the room to prepare the afternoon tea.
Phoebe was right, and once she'd left the room, Laura opened up. She told Brooke why she'd agreed to pose for the infamous photos, saying that she had been "totally desperate" to help her ailing mother. Brooke was confused by Laura's references to a photographer. Previously, Laura had stated that Ricky, the man in the photos with Laura, had been calling the shots. "I lied," Laura said fighting back tears, "The man behind the camera was Jim.""
- Soap Central