"Tad and Kit had meant once before, in a past life if you will. During his amnesiac days as Ted Orsini, Kit and Tad had apparently met, although the details of the meeting were never addressed. Kit still knew Tad only as Ted and was unaware that he wasn't the real Ted Orsini. Tad briefly explained that Kit was a con artist and urged Edmund to disregard anything that she might have said. He then turned towards Kit and told her that she should do everyone a favor and leave town. Kit mused that she and Tad should have a duel at high noon since the town apparently wasn't big enough for the both of them. Edmund listened quietly as the two bickered back and forth. When there was a pause in the argument, Edmund stepped in to ask how the two knew each other. There was a momentary pause before the two began telling their tales simultaneously. Only a few words were decipherable, notably Tad reiterating that Kit was a con artist. The phone interrupted the discussion. Edmund learned that the jury was ready to deliver its verdict and he and Tad knew that they had to hustle to the courthouse. Edmund assured Kit that they'd talk later. Tad looked at Kit one last time before leaving the office and told her to refrain from stealing any office supplies.
The atmosphere in the courtroom was anything but light. Phoebe and Brooke both fought back tears as they shared an embrace. Phoebe urged Brooke to keep her chin up and stand tall when the verdict was read. Ryan arrived at the courthouse and wished Brooke well. He was surprised when Brooke smiled and thanked him for being there to support her. Ryan had figured that Brooke would hate him for the way that he'd tried to weasel his way on the jury. Brooke told Ryan that everyone makes mistakes. She was more interested in knowing where Ryan was when he heard the news that the jury had reached a verdict. When he said that he was at Wildwind and not WRCW, Brooke's voice softened. She wondered if Dimitri had heard the news too. Ryan shook his head and said that he hasn't seen Dimitri in some time and assumed that he was out of town on business. The look on Brooke's---although she tried very hard to hide it---showed that she was upset that Dimitri would be unable to be there with her. Just when all hope seemed lost, Dimitri appeared in the doorway. Brooke smiled meekly and told Dimitri that she thought that he'd gotten too busy and would not show. "Whatever happens today," Dimitri replied. "I want you to know..." Brooke cut him off before he could say anything more. "I know," she said nodding her head. Brooke, while still very fearful about the verdict that could be rendered, looked much more at peace now that her friends were starting to show up. Jack walked into the courtroom and told Brooke that he wishes her the best of luck. After he left, Dimitri grumbled about Jack's attempt to be nice. Brooke began to think about all of the things that she could have done while she awaited the verdict. She regretted not being able to spend more time in her garden. "There's still the rest of this summer," Dimitri said reassuringly. Tad and Edmund arrived next. Of course, they asked Brooke how she was holding up. "I feel like I'm standing on quicksand," Brooks said softly. "Been there, done that," Edmund laughed, a reference to an adventure they'd had at Willow Lake a few years ago. Jamie burst into the courtroom and gave his mother a big hug. He'd somehow eluded his babysitter. Tad scolded Jamie for running away, but Jamie insisted that he had a good explanation. Jamie handed over his mother's good luck charm, a golden ring. Brooke gently rubbed Jamie's head as the three men discussed how they would get Jamie back to the babysitter. In a surprising move, Brooke announced that she wanted Jamie to stay in the courtroom. Janet stepped in to temporarily distract Jamie. Tad asked Brooke if she was sure that she wanted their son to be there when the verdict was read. Brooke blasted Tad for his part in keeping Jamie's hopes raised. Brooke told Tad that he should have thought about how Jamie would accept a guilty verdict before he'd promised him that she'd never go to jail. Dixie stepped in and said that she'd be more than happy to sit in the corridor with Jamie while the verdict was read. Everyone liked the idea and thanked Dixie for her help. Everyone took their seats as the jury entered the courtroom. Within a few seconds, the judge was gaveling court to order. The foreman handed over the verdict sheet to the bailiff, who then presented it to Judge Foster. After the judge reviewed the paperwork, he asked for the verdict to be read. On the charge of murder in the first degree, the foreman announced that they'd found Brooke "not guilty." The gentleman made sure to enunciate each word careful so as to avoid any misunderstanding. On the charge of murder in the third degree and illegal possession of a firearm, the jury delivered the same verdict. The courtroom erupted in applause. Judge Foster banged his gavel and demanded that there be order. He thanked the jury for doing their duty and then announced that Brooke was free to go. Edmund approached the foreman and asked him, off the record, of course, how the deliberations went. The foreman reluctantly stated that it was "touch and go" for a while. The photos that had been found in Jim's safe deposit box, he added, turned out to be Brooke's saving grace. Dixie happened to overhear the foreman as she was walking across the courtroom. Phoebe wheeled up to Keith and told him that now that the trial was over, he should "get lost." Dimitri stood at the back of the courtroom and announced that he would be throwing a celebratory bash at The Valley Inn. Keith congratulated Belinda on her win and asked her if it was possible that they could get together for dinner now that they were no longer on opposing sides. Belinda wasn't so sure that they weren't still on opposing sides. She let it be known that she despised Keith's antics during the trial especially his insinuation that Brooke killed Jim because she believed that he was carrying on an elicit affair with Laura, her daughter. Tad lingered around the courtroom after everyone else had left----well, almost everyone. Dixie saw down next to Tad that he'd kept his promise to Jamie. She told Tad that she'd overheard the foreman telling Edmund that the pictures helped clear Brooke. She again told Tad that he'd done good when he planted the pictures in Jim's safe deposit box. Tad quickly noted that he could get into serious trouble if Dixie's wild accusations ever became public. Dixie got silent very quickly and told Tad that she would never mention her "unsubstantiated" claims ever again. Tad asked Dixie if she wanted to go to Brooke's party. Dixie said that she had planned in going home to spend time with Junior. Tad understood and offered to give her a ride home. Dixie was stunned by Tad's offer. She told him that she could get home fine by herself. Tad knew that Dixie was still angered over their encounter at the hospital. Tad again urged Dixie to get past their problems and move on. Dixie remarked that she'd been the one hurt by Tad's infidelity---not him. She also said that she would "get over it" when she decided that it was time to get over it and not a second sooner. Dixie stormed out of the courtroom. Tad plopped back down on the bench and looked up at the ceiling. Jack entered a short time later and asked Tad why he wasn't off celebrating with Brooke. Tad rose to his feet and walked over to the district attorney. He warned Jack that there was a con artist in town by the name of Kit Fisher. He said that he wasn't sure what the woman was up to, but he was sure that it was nothing good. Jack told Tad that he'd already met Kit and that he was also familiar with her game---she was claiming to be his dead sister.
Gillian and David sat together at a table at The Valley Inn. The sipped champagne and spoke openly of their past sexual conquests. Somehow, they got to talking about the most exciting places that they've ever made love. David said that he'd made love on a cable car going up the Matterhorn. For her part, Gillian said that she'd made love in a private box at a Paris opera house. Gillian wanted to partake in an old European custom with David: the breaking of the champagne glasses. Gillian explained that people used to toss their champagne glasses into the fireplace to make certain that no one else could ever drink out of their lover's glass. In lieu of a fireplace, she explained, they could simply snap the glass' stem. David received a page from the hospital and had to phone in to see if he was needed. While her pseudo-date was occupied, Gillian began daydreaming. She imagined that Ryan caught her dining with David. In the dream, Ryan barged over to the table and yanked Gillian away. He proclaimed that no other man could ever have her and then kissed her passionately. David asked her where she'd drifted off to, but Gillian assured him that she wasn't thinking about anything in particular. In the real world, however, Gillian's dream just didn't play out. Ryan and Kelsey entered the dining area to help celebrate Brooke's court win. Ryan didn't barge over to the table nor did he even acknowledge his wife. Kelsey mused that Gillian and David were a perfect couple, she called David "the prince of darkness" and referred to Gillian as "Vampira." Ryan snapped at Kelsey and told her not to "trash" Gillian. Kelsey was surprised by Ryan's reaction and asked him how he could still be nice to Gillian after all she'd put him through. Ryan said that he didn't want to be dragged down by Gillian any longer. Kelsey reminded Ryan that he was still married to Gillian and that he had no other choice but to be dragged down. David told Gillian that he was going to call it a night because he could tell that he was not the one on her mind. He gently kissed her hand and then adjourned for the evening. Edmund waited until everyone had arrived before proposing a toast to Brooke and her legal team. He thanked her for keeping the world safe, perhaps a bit of an overstatement. He went on to say that he was glad that Brooke didn't get punished for doing the right thing.
Erica dropped by Cortlandt Manor to have a serious heart-to-heart talk with Opal. She told her gal pal that she had tried to convince Palmer to turn over the paintings, but that he'd rebuked her. She also informed Opal about Jack's offer to arrange a deal so that Palmer would get little more than a slap on the wrist. Opal said that she couldn't help Erica because Palmer was refusing to listen to her too. Erica worried that Palmer would be seriously injured or even killed if the roving gang of rogue art "collectors" caught up to him. Palmer walked into the room and told Erica that she was not welcome in his house. Opal groused that Cortlandt Manor was her house, too, and that Erica was her guest. Palmer insisted that there was no reason for him to accept Jack's deal because he hadn't stolen any paintings. Erica asked Palmer who would protect him when the "collectors" came after him. More importantly, she asked who would look out for his family. "I've heard enough," Palmer growled. Erica rolled her eyes and called Palmer "impossible." She told Opal that she would only be a phone call away if she needed her.
Erica returned to Linden House and found Mike sprawled out on her sofa drinking a bottle of beer. She accused Mike of breaking and entering and felt like a heel when he said that Coral, her housekeeper, had actually let him in. He explained that he wanted to talk to Erica about Palmer and the stolen paintings. Erica told Mike that she'd just come from Cortlandt Manor and that she'd had no luck in trying to get Palmer to return the paintings. Erica wondered how Palmer could be so thoughtless about his family's safety. She thought for a second and determined that Palmer's behavior could be chalked up to only one thing: he's a man. Erica noted that all of the men in her life had, at one time or another, let her down. Erica announced that she would rather be a "spinster" than get involved with another man. Mike gave her a funny look and remarked that Erica was the "Jane Eyre of the new millennium." To that, Erica replied, "maybe if she had a makeover." Mike one-upped her and said that all she needed what the right man in her life. The two exchanged longing glances. They looked like they might kiss, but the kiss never materialized. Erica left the room to get herself a glass of iced tea. While she was gone, the doorbell rang. Mike took it upon himself to answered the door. He expected to see Jack on the other side and appeared at least mildly pleased to see Kit. Kit introduced herself and said that she wanted to speak to Jack Montgomery. Perhaps thinking that Kit was a potential love for Jack, he invited her into the house. Erica went nuts when she saw Kit and snapped that Jack could be reached at the office during normal business hours. Kit said that she needed to talk to Jack about personal matters. Mike was eating it up and told Kit that she should have a seat and wait for Jack to return home.
Back at the Valley Inn, rebuked by Ryan, Gillian headed upstairs to David's room. David wondered why she'd dropped by when she could be partying it up with her husband. Gillian said that the party was boring. She reminded David that he'd said that he was never boring. Gillian stepped into the hotel room and she and David started kissing very passionately.
Downstairs, Dimitri finally managed to get some time alone with Brooke. He told her that it had been a long time since he'd seen a smile on her face. Brooke took a deep breath and said that she hadn't truly been herself in over a year. She thanked Dimitri for all his support and that it was nice to have him as a friend. "That's a start," Dimitri grinned broadly. He told Brooke that Keith had been right when he hinted that he might have feelings for her. "I can't get you out of my mind," Dimitri said. He asked her if she would give him the chance to love her
Things at Cortlandt Manor became very heated. Palmer told Opal that she should pay Erica little mind because she'd been brainwashed by Jack and Mike. Opal wasn't so sure. Since Palmer had already admitted to having the paintings, she wondered why he just couldn't give them back. She and Petey were Palmer's family---the paintings were just, well, just paintings. Palmer nearly fainted dead away when he heard Opal speak so lowly of the priceless pieces of art. Palmer claimed that he wanted to rebuild his marriage. Opal nodded in agreement and told her husband that she wanted nothing more than to get back to where they were. In order to do that, she said, Palmer had to accept Jack's deal. Palmer didn't like Opal's ultimatum and told her that nothing she could say or do would make him change his mind. "Oh yeah," Opal sassed, "watch this." Opal headed over to the phone and dialed several numbers. Palmer leaped from his chair and demanded to know who Opal was calling. "The police," she responded. "I'm having you arrested."
Since her daughter still had not chosen a name for her baby, Marian leafed through a baby book searching for possible names. She found a name that struck horror in her heart: Henrietta. She was so disgusted by the name that she actually tore the entire page out of the book! She was still frustrated when an orderly wheeled in a late night snack. Unaware that the orderly was actually Stuart, Marian told the man to take his gruel back to the kitchen. Stuart came bearing gifts: cheddar cheese-flavored Goldfish>tm crackers. Marian was overcome with emotion as she thought about her pending grandmotherhood and how lucky she was to have Stuart in her life. Marian felt awkward about crying, but Stuart admitted that he cried when he noticed that she was missing---and then again when he found her. Both wanted desperately to admit their feelings for each other, but neither felt comfortable expressing their feelings that way. "My forevers are with you," Stuart said softly. "Because I love you." Marian's eyes welled with tears. "I love you too," she replied, "with all my heart." Stuart crawled into bed with Marian and the two cuddled and kissed until Stuart realized that it was time for him to go. Before she'd let her beau leave, Marian asked Stuart if he'd tell her that he loved her one more time. He did and tossed in at least three other repetitions just for good measure.
"Give us a chance?" Brooke asked. Her voice cracked in the middle of her sentence. Dimitri said that he wanted the chance to write Brooke love letters, buy her flowers, take walks with her on rainy days, and go horseback riding at sunrise. "I care about you more than I ever thought possible," Brooke said softly. She admitted that her heart lifted and her confidence soared when he walked into the courtroom. Still, there was reluctance in Brooke's voice. "I'm not asking you to marry me," ribbed Dimitri, perhaps hoping to lessen the tension. "I know," Brooke nodded. "I just can't." Dimitri didn't press. He found it hard to accept that had he not mentioned his romantic intentions, Brooke would have thought nothing of occasional dinners and outings. Brooke explained that her past relationships have all blown up in her face. She was beginning to wonder if she was doomed to a solitary life. Would Brooke date again? According to her, "not in the foreseeable future." She said that she wanted to get her homelife in order and catch up on work at Tempo. Dimitri wondered if perhaps after that time Brooke would reconsider. Brooke said she could make no promises. Dimitri nodded and asked Brooke if she could do one more thing for him. Without warning, he leaned over and gently kissed her on the lips.
Tad told Edmund that he'd met Kit Fisher while living with Nola Orsini, the woman he called his "third mother." He said that Kit had tried to convince Nola that she was her long-lost best friend. Nola, he said, nearly signed over the vineyard to Kit. Kit, he said, is "as bogus as they come."
Brooke returned to the dining area and thanked everyone who had helped her. While she gave the speech, Myrtle patted her forehead with a napkin. Edmund observed Myrtle's actions and asked her if she was feeling okay. Myrtle wiped her brow and said that she was going to sit down for a minute. Edmund flagged down Ryan and the two men determined that something might be seriously wrong.
Erica quipped that Mike, while acting like her butler, was only a guest in her house. She again told Kit that she should take up business matters at Jack's office. Mike enjoyed seeing Erica squirm a bit---and he did his part to turn up the heat. Kit said that she had to speak to Jack immediately because her business was of an important personal nature. Mike grinned. It was obvious that he was hoping that Kit and Jack were a past or present item. Erica looked at Kit and said that Jack had never mentioned her in conversation. Kit claimed that she and Jack went "way back." The final remark really had Mike approaching a fit of giddiness. The door swung open and all those questions appeared to be on the threshold of answers. Mike stepped out of the way and allowed Jack to walk over to Kit. He told Kit that she was unwelcome at Linden and ordered her to hit the road. Kit apologized to Erica with a bowed head and then headed for the door. Jack took his cellphone out of his pocket and made an cryptic phone call. He told the person on the other end that the "problem" he'd mentioned had appeared at Linden. Jack then headed out the door after Kit. By now, Mike was ready to burst. He mused that he had pegged Jack wrong when he'd said that the attorney was "a bore." Mike pressed his ear against the door and hoped for at least a piece of the conversation between Jack and the mysterious blonde. Erica told Mike that it was tacky to eavesdrop. She then proceeded to press her own ear against the door. Erica mustn't have been able to hear anything because she decided that she'd wasted enough of her time. She told Mike that she was going to take a bubble bath and that she would find out what went down in the morning. Mike was amazed, but he wondered if Erica was just putting on an act. Outside, Kit told Jack that she meant him no harm; In fact, she claimed that she wanted to help him. Jack couldn't see how the mystery woman could possibly think that she was helping him by parading around and claiming to be his dead sister. Kit had what seemed to be a selfless reason for showing up in Pine Valley: She wanted Jack to know that she hadn't died. Jack, she said, was the one who had reached out to her when she was washed overboard. Since he was unable to hold on, she knew that he must have been haunted by the nightmare ever since. A police officer arrived on the scene and asked Jack if he had phoned for assistance. Jack nodded and ordered the officer to arrest Kit. Kit's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She demanded to know why she was being arrested. "Your [car] registration is expired," Jack growled. He said that he would have the Department of Motor Vehicles run her plates and see he she really is. Kit said that Jack's actions were not fair. The officer took her by the arm and escorted her away. Jack returned inside and got slightly better news from Mike. Mike received a call from the lab that had analyzed the canvas taken from Cortlandt Manor. The canvas was shown to be of the same era of the missing paintings. They knew that they had to proof to get their man.
David and Gillian wasted no time in getting down to business. David wondered why Gillian wasn't schmoozing with her husband. "What husband?" purred Gillian. "I'm not a child, doctor," Gillian said. "And I'm not your doctor," David replied. Gillian smiled seductively and said that while David might not be her doctor, she was sure that he had the cure for what ailed her. David wondered if Gillian's only ailment was a broken heart. Her heart may have been broken, but her hands were full. She and David turned up the heat and laid down on the bed. After they'd finished making love---or having sex---David fell fast asleep. Gillian laid awake staring at the ceiling. She stayed still for a few seconds before crawling out of bed and reaching for her clothing. David noticed that Gillian was missing and asked her where she was going. Gillian reminded David that he was slated to operate on the governor in the morning and said that she wanted him to get enough sleep. David smiled and thanked her for her thoughtfulness. As Gillian was getting dressed, a knock sounded on the door. Ryan called out to David and said that they had an emergency in the dining room. Gillian went into panic mode. She didn't know what she was going to do. David kept calm and even managed to crack a smirk at Gillian's breakdown. He told her to hide in the bathroom until he left. Gillian nodded and ducked into hiding. When the coast was clear, Gillian sat down on the bed and began brushing her hair. She began thinking about what she'd just done. Her mind was filled with visions of her wedding night escapades with Ryan. She fell back on the bed and asked herself what she'd done.
Back downstairs, David gave Myrtle a quick checkup and found no signs of anything wrong. He did, however, recommend that she head to her doctor in the morning. Janet and Trevor overheard the discussion and offered to drop Myrtle by the hospital on their way home. Belinda stepped in and said that she'd go along with Myrtle just to make sure that everything was okay. Myrtle bowed the pressure and agreed to get checked out. Ryan thanked David for leaving his peaceful evening at home to check out Myrtle. David smiled and said that he's a man who "[believes] in sharing." Ryan had no idea what the comment meant. David, however, left with a big smile on his face. Ryan headed out of the party, which was just about over, and bumped into Gillian in the lobby. He asked her why she was still hanging around. He didn't ask it in a mean way, more surprised than anything else. Out of nervousness, Gillian became defensive and told Ryan that it was none of his business. Ryan did offer to take Gillian home, but she turned him down flat. Brooke, Tad, Jamie, and Phoebe gathered their things and prepared to head home. As Brooke was leaving, she took one look back at Dimitri and smiled. Dimitri told Edmund that Brooke had turned down his request to be more than casual acquaintances. Edmund told Dimitri that he was sorry that things didn't work out for him.
Palmer snatched the phone away from his wife and said that he would not allow her to turn them into laughing stocks. Opal reminded Palmer that the Feds were closing in on him---they had pieces of canvas from the paintings. Palmer quickly noted that the snippets of canvas had been obtained without a search warrant. A mere technicality, Opal replied. The "art freaks," as Opal called them, were closing in on them. Opal sighed and said that she wanted to come before the paintings in Palmer's life. "But you didn't!" Palmer gritted his teeth. He said that he'd gotten the paintings long before he met Opal and even before he met Daisy. Opal struggled to deal with the pain she was feeling. She told Palmer that she loved him, but said that he had to take Jack's deal. "I love those paintings," Palmer said in a near maniacal tone. His mouth pursed tightly together and his eye's became very wide. He insisted that he had not stolen the paintings; He said that he'd saved them from destruction. Opal, he said, uses the term "love" to describe her feelings for so many things. "Why won't you let it," Palmer said of the same term, "mean something to me?" Opal lowered her head and walked back towards the phone. She picked up the receiver and held it out to her husband. She wanted Palmer to admit his wrongdoing. Palmer told Opal that by forcing him to call the police she was destroying their marriage. "I'm trying to save it," Opal argued. Palmer couldn't see how Opal was trying to save their marriage---she was pushing him into admitting that he'd committed a felony. Opal told Palmer that it was wrong, "plain wrong," to keep the paintings. She told him that he speaks of his paintings with such passion, a passion he fails to exhibit when talking about his family. Palmer took a deep breath and said that he'd accept Jack's deal, but only if he could see the paintings one last time. Opal nodded and asked if she could see them too. Palmer smiled and told Opal that he'd been hiding the paintings in the basement the whole time. As Opal and Palmer headed to the wine cellar, Opal remarked that Mike had searched the lower level from top to bottom without finding the paintings. Palmer chuckled and informed Opal that he'd carved out a second hiding place within the first secret compartment. Opal entered the secret room with Palmer just behind her. Palmer pointed towards the secret compartment and asked Opal to get the paintings for him. Opal agreed and walked across the room. When she turned around, her husband was gone. Palmer closed the double doors leading the to secret room and locked his wife inside. Palmer left the key in the lock as he made his way out of the room. He then pushed his button on his remote control, thereby sealing the secret room behind the safe door. Inside, Opal pounded on the door and demanded that she be let out. "I'm sorry Opal," Palmer said, "But you gave me no other choice."
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