"Desperately trying to learn more about Ryan and Braden's connection, Tad and Dixie headed to Iowa to do a little investigative work. Somehow, they ended up on a lonely country road with nothing around for miles---except for "moo cows." While Dixie peered out her window at the cows, the car suddenly hitched. Tad and Dixie were momentarily rattled, but they sustained no injuries. They looked through the windshield and realized that their car had been attacked by a bull. Perhaps attacked isn't the correct term. The bull had taken a romantic interest in Tad's red rental car and there was nothing he or Dixie could do to get the bull to back off. Dixie tried singing to the beast, but the old adage about music soothing the savage beast didn't hold true. Finally, Tad decided to take the bull by the horns (sorry). He slinked out of the car armed with some sandwiches. The bull was overjoyed by the food offering and thanked Tad with a big wet kiss. His face thoroughly slimy, Tad returned to the inside of the car and placed a call to a judge that he and Dixie were supposed to meet. Ironically, the judge turned out to be the owner of the bull, a bull that had already had several similar encounters with cars. The judge agreed to unseal files pertaining to Ryan if Tad promised that he would not sue the judge for damages to the car.
Both alone at their tables, Adrian and Braden sat in the bar at The Valley Inn sipping drinks. It was no coincidence that they ended up in the same place; Adrian was tailing Braden. Belinda wandered into the bar and asked Adrian why he was sitting by himself. Adrian quickly told Belinda to have a seat and proceeded to fill her in on the details of his undercover operation. Shortly thereafter, Jack stormed into the bar and headed directly for Braden's table. The District Attorney snatched Braden's glass out of his hands. He blasted Braden for telling the newspapers about Kit's false rape allegations. Braden said nothing. In fact, he seemed almost unfazed by Jack's tirade. Jack rambled on for several minutes before concluded his speech with an admonition. He warned Braden that he would pay if he ever tried to "intimidate" Kit again. Braden sneered noticeably and told Jack that he wouldn't have to worry about him again. Belinda raced over to the table and asked Jack if she could have a few words with him. Belinda escorted her colleague outside the bar area. There, Belinda told Jack that she was concerned about his mental state. She calmly told Jack that there was no way that he could ever make up for the time he lost with his sister; Going after everyone in his path wouldn't change that. She discreetly handed Jack the business card of a local counselor. Jack was highly offended by the implication that he needed help and tossed the card back in Belinda's face. Jack then proclaimed that he would always be indebted to his sister because he'd been the one to let go of her hand so many years earlier.
Trevor and Dimitri continued their search of Mona's home, but the were unable to locate Erica. They returned to the bathroom and looked for clues that might lead them to Erica. The bath water had not been drained from the tub and Erica's makeup was still carefully laid out on the vanity. Trevor briefly mentioned an old Japanese custom where people cleanse and beautify themselves shortly before committing suicide. Dimitri vehemently denied that Erica was going to kill herself. "You don't have to kill yourself to commit suicide," Trevor responded softly. Trevor wondered why Erica would return to the house where her mother had lived. Dimitri explained that Erica and Mona had been very close. Perhaps, Dimitri offered, Erica felt closer to her mother in this house. Dimitri's eyes lit up and he announced that he might know where Erica had gone.
David demanded to know why his mother had been in Erica's room. Vanessa claimed that she'd dropped by to help "deflect" the rumors. David's face reddened slightly. Vanessa refused to state exactly what she had told Erica. She went on to imply that since Opal had been there too, perhaps she might have told Erica the truth about her facial injuries. David blasted his mother's reckless behavior, but stopped short of accusing her of telling Erica the truth. Vanessa wasn't about to let her son heap the blame back on her. She looked coldly into David's eyes and told him that he has only himself to blame for Erica's condition.
At WRCW, Liza placed a call to Adam to remind him that his one-hour window was almost up. She hung up the phone and got back to her work. Suddenly, a man appeared outside her door. Recognizing the man, Liza rose from her chair and headed towards the man. The man, referred to only as Jerry, is a noted tele-journalist from Manhattan. He beamed proudly as he informed Liza that he was in town to tape an interview with Erica. Liza's face suddenly dropped. She asked her friend to tell him where the interview was to take place. Jerry listened as Liza explained that Erica was reported missing from the hospital. "Nice bluff," Jerry chuckled. He was convinced that Liza had concocted the story to horn in on his exclusive interview. Liza shut the door to her office and, off the record, told Jerry all about Erica's injuries. Jerry showed only slight concern and told Liza that he would contact her if he found Erica to be in poor health---but after he finished taping the interview. Jerry filed out of the office. Liza grabbed her coat and headed out after him.
Dimitri arrived at the cemetery and solemnly walked towards Mona and Charles Tyler's gravesite. He smiled warmly at a daffodil that had poked out of the ground. "Life has got Erica pinned to the mat," Dimitri said softly. "I'm afraid she won't fight." Dimitri pleaded with his former mother-in-law to do whatever she could to help Erica one more time.
Erica arrived at her old stomping grounds, Pine Valley High School, dressed in her beautiful white dress. A custodian, Wally, unlocked the door to the library and permitted her access. The man couldn't help but notice the odd manner in which Erica was acting. After all, it's not every day that someone appears at the school after hours wearing a gown and bandages. Erica reflected momentarily on her days in school, her dates with Chuck Tyler, and the numerous battles she'd had with Mona. The camera crew arrived on the scene and Erica instructed them on hoe to set up. She requested that they not use any phony lighting techniques to improve upon her appearance; Erica wanted her fans to see her the way she really looks. There was no initial response. Finally, one of the cameramen spoke up and asked Erica how they were going to handle the bandages on her face. Erica's eyes bulged slightly and a look of horror crept over her face. Her hand slowly raised to her cheek, but before she could react Jerry waltzed into the library and announced that he was ready to begin shooting. Liza burst into the library and begged Jerry for a few minutes alone with Erica. Jerry complied, but Erica was furious for the interruption. Erica accused Liza of being unable to see anyone else stand in the spotlight. Liza tried to convince Erica that she needed to go back to the hospital, but Erica claimed that she felt fine. Liza headed to the hallway and plucked her cellular phone from her purse. She called Adam, but his line was busy. She next turned to the only other person she thought could help---David. Liza called David's office, but David wasn't there. Instead, Liza left a message with a woman she believed to be the doctor's secretary. It wasn't. Vanessa listened as Liza told her that Erica was planning to do a special interview. She then urged the woman to have David contact Adam immediately so that he could offer his help. Vanessa hung up the phone and lifted up the yellow notepad she'd been writing on. There were no words, no numbers---just a series of doodles. Vanessa shrugged and mused that she couldn't deliver the message because she could not read her writing. But don't think for a second that Vanessa hadn't been paying attention. She recalled that Liza had mentioned that she'd been calling from WRCW. She thumbed through David's Rolodex until she came to Liza's card. Vanessa picked up the phone and placed a call to WRCW. There, she spoke to Rudy and told him that Liza wanted him to head to the library with a film crew. Vanessa hung up the phone and placed several more calls to other local media outlets. David returned to his office and Vanessa couldn't wait to tell him the news that Erica had been located. Of course, she took particular delight in informing him that Erica was prepared to go on national television and show everyone the damage that he had done to her face.
Back at the shoot, flashes of reality flecked the otherwise fantasy tale Erica related in the interview. She mentioned that she was blessed and repeatedly stated that her life could not be any more perfect. "My mother was really my touchstone," Erica said softly during one of her moments of lucidity. "She made me feel safe and loved and I knew that I could handle anything [when she was by my side]." Liza looked on with tears in her eyes. Suddenly, Rudy and the WRCW camera crew filed into the room. Liza looked on curiously and asked them why they were there. Seconds later, other members of the press descended upon the library. Erica hid behind Jerry as the press snapped photo after photo of her injured face."
- Soap Central