"Duchess Eugenia caught Gillian sneaking about Wildwind, but knew better than to ask her where she was headed. The less she knew the better, she reckoned. Eugenia did, however, offer a warning to her granddaughter. While not voicing disapproval of her renewed relationship with Ryan, she warned Gillian that "innocent people might be hurt." She mentioned that someone could learn of the affair and break the news to the Martins. Gillian vowed that she would never do anything to hurt Jake again.
Greenlee popped in at the loft to ask Ryan to help her choose a dress to wear to Hayley and Mateo's wedding. She feared that she'd select something that would steal the bride's thunder. While Greenlee was stripping to try on her many outfits, Ryan fielded a secret call from Gillian. The princess wanted to set up a rendezvous, but Ryan secretly told her that he was not alone. Sensing that Greenlee was lurking in the room, Gillian told Ryan that she wanted him to make love to her. Ryan smiled sexily and referred to Gillian's remark as a "very important merger." Ryan paid little attention to Greenlee or her dresses, instead telling her to look over the previous night's email messages. Ryan waltzed out of the door and Greenlee followed right after him.
Toting croissants, David showed up at Erica's house. Leo snuck up behind him and shoved a hairdryer into the small of his back. "Don't move or I'll blow you away," he said wittily. David failed to see the humor of the pun. Pieces of the shattered vase still littered the floor. Leo told his brother it wasn't a big deal and that Coral would clear it up sooner or later. David thought that Leo and Erica had gotten into an altercation, but Leo hinted that he thinks Erica likes him. Leo was furious with his brother for his implication that Leo was a troublemaker. Surprisingly, David offered an apology. The apology was lost on Leo as he accused David of having wanted to see him unhappy. The two argued back and forth until Greenlee burst into the house and ordered them to stop yelling. When she heard Erica's name mentioned in the argument, Greenlee jumped to the conclusion that Leo and Erica were sleeping together. David rolled his eyes and stomped out of the house. Greenlee sat next to Leo and grilled him as to whether or not he was "getting it on" with Erica. Leo laughed slightly and assured her that he and Erica were nothing more than housemates. Greenlee breathed a sigh of relief, saying that she would have lost all respect for Leo if he and Erica had slept together. Leo knew that Greenlee wasn't there to talk about him or his problems and nastily told her to tell him of her latest woes. Greenlee didn't like Leo's tone and accused him of having a bad attitude since they slept together. Greenlee told Leo that Ryan had suddenly become cold to her Cynthia letters and wanted some help to get back in Ryan's good graces. Leo suggested that Greenlee tell Ryan the truth and even offered to place the call for her. Greenlee said that she couldn't tell Ryan the truth because he'd "run screaming." Leo asked Greenlee to consider the possibility that Ryan will never feel for her the way she wants him to feel. "I am right where I want to be," Greenlee insisted. Leo looked around the room before muttering, "This doesn't look like Ryan's bed to me."
At The Valley Inn, Dixie happened upon a tete-a-tete between Joe and Tad. Dixie joined the two men and Joe informed her that Tad wanted to take six months off to "find himself." Dixie mused that Tad had already had numerous chances to find himself and nearly half a dozen occupations. Joe didn't want his son to "go into hiding," but understood that he felt a certain level of guilt and responsibility for what had happened to Jake and Stuart. Joe left the couple to talk over Tad's decision. Dixie was hesitant, but she did give Tad her approval to take some time off. She flashed a smile and said that Tad's stint as "Mr. Mom" would give her a chance to head out into the world and get a job. Tad's eyebrows raised at the mention of Dixie getting a job. David happened by and asked the couple what they were so thoroughly discussing. It wasn't really any of David's business, but for some reason Tad decided to tell the doctor about Dixie's decision to get a job. Tad left the pair alone to talk while he ventured out to find a wedding gift for Hayley and Mateo. Dixie discerned from David's demeanor that he'd either had a rough day at the hospital or that he'd gotten into a fight with Leo. The latter, of course, was correct. David asked Dixie if she'd ever done something that she was sure was right --- even though everyone else thought that it was the wrong thing to do. Dixie nodded and said that every time she makes a decision she thinks it's right, it usually turns out to be wrong. David bowed his head, fearing that he, too, may have done wrong by exposing Vanessa's evil ways to Leo. David quickly turned the topic, asking Dixie about her decision to join the ranks of the employed. Dixie sort of shrugged and said that she and Tad hadn't really talked it over yet. David grinned broadly and told Dixie that he may have an offer she can't refuse.
Palmer marched Vanessa into the community center. The pair brought with them an assortment of clothing from Vanessa's closet. Vanessa thought it unfair that she had to give up her prized frocks, but Palmer told her that it was part of her penance for being Paolo's "inflated sex toy slash piggy bank." He added that the donation would make numerous women happy, especially those who were not fortunate enough to "snag a rich guy." Becca wandered by and thanked Palmer for the donation of chicken. Palmer smiled and said that she should Vanessa because Vanessa had done all the hard work. Becca was surprised, but asked Vanessa if she would help out for the Independence Day cookout. Before Vanessa could grumble, Palmer stated that his wife would be happy to pitch in. Palmer virtually forced Vanessa to tell Becca that she wanted to donate her clothing. Through gritted teeth, Vanessa said that she needed to clear out some of her old clothing. In the hallway, Opal stood unobserved, listening to every word. Becca blinked her eyes and asked Vanessa if she was sure that she wanted to part with her glamorous garb. "Do you want them or what?" Vanessa snapped. Palmer apologized for his wife's cold behavior. Vanessa forced a smile and said that she had a terrible headache. Becca looked over one of Vanessa's fur coats and figured that it would cost about $100. Vanessa started choking and said that the coat, a genuine chinchilla, costs thousands of dollars. Becca explained that the thrift shop's clientele wasn't able to afford a price that high. Palmer grinned and told Becca to price the coat at $99. Palmer headed to the water fountain to fetch his wife a drink. Opal slinked up behind him and told Palmer that she knew he was forcing Vanessa to give up her goodies. It took her only a few moments to figure out that Palmer must have something really big on Vanessa. Opal followed Palmer back over to the table. Vanessa tried to hide one of her bits of clothing in a bag, but Palmer caught her in the act. To add insult to injury, Palmer offered Opal one of garments that had been specifically designed just for Vanessa. Opal gladly accepted the sequin-covered dress. "Of course," she noted, "I'll have to get it altered. I'm so slim-hipped and all." Vanessa bit down on her lip to avoid letting loose an insult. Palmer, Opal and Becca left to take the remaining garments to the thrift shop. Soon after they were gone, Leo entered the room and came across his mother. He asked her what she was doing there, but Vanessa was not very forthcoming. Leo quickly let it be known that he was there to see Becca and not his mother. Leo continued his search for Becca. Becca, meanwhile, returned to the room and again thanked Vanessa for her generous donation of clothing. She asked Vanessa if she wanted to help display the clothing, but Vanessa icily told her not to pester her with post-donation questions. Becca scolded Vanessa for having given Leo hope during his ordeal with the police while all the while knowing that she was responsible for Paolo's murder. Vanessa argued that she had accidentally killed Paolo. Becca didn't see any difference between accidental and premeditated murder. "How dare you judge me you... frigid little virgin!" Vanessa snapped. Becca's mouth gaped in shock. She asked Vanessa if Leo had told her that she was a virgin. Vanessa shook her head and said that Leo didn't have to tell her because Becca wears her virginity "like a crown." Stunned, Becca raced out of the room. Leo overheard the tail end of the conversation and laid into his mother for being so cruel. Vanessa insisted that she was trying to look out for her son. Leo, however, angrily told Vanessa that he no longer had a mother --- adding that he doesn't even love her.
At the tower on the Wildwind estate, Ryan and Gillian began kissing passionately. During the kiss, Ryan slipped off the ring Jake had given Gillian and replaced it with a ring of his own. After they made love, Gillian and Ryan wondered how they'd keep in contact between liaisons. Ryan whipped out his laptop computer and showed Gillian how to send email. He warned her to send the messages to his private account so that Greenlee and Adrian wouldn't have access to the email. Gillian was thrilled by the modern miracle, but teased that the computer was not nearly as romantic as sending love letters via pigeon. Ryan left Gillian to head back to work. Gillian tapped out a message to her lover with a smile. "My darling, Ryan, I'm in our hideaway dreaming about our lovemaking. Being with you again is so incredible, keeping it a secret will be hard. I'm so happy. I want to tell the whole world we're together again, as we were meant to be. I'll send you this now and wait for your reply. I love you. Rapunzel." She hit the send button and hoped that it would not be long before Ryan returned to her side.
Back at the loft, Greenlee vented her frustration on the cabinet doors. Fortunately for the doors, Greenlee was distracted by Ryan's computer chirping out a "You have new mail" message. She stomped over to the computer and opened up the new message. "What a dorky name," she laughed. "Who the hell is Rapunzel.""
- Soap Central