"A bowl of cereal is a simple pleasure enjoyed by many people each morning---and Tad Martin is one of those people. He tiptoed into the den and carefully poured a dollop of milk into his puffed rice cereal. Carefully, Tad lifted the cereal to his ear to listen to the crackling noise. Not satisfied with what he deemed a bland breakfast, Tad decided to add a topping to his cereal. He surreptitiously looked over his shoulder---in both directions---before producing a small chocolate bar. His mouth salivated as he broke the candy into pieces and plopped it into his bowl. A muffled laugh sounded from somewhere in the room. Tad looked around and asked if someone was watching him. Within a few seconds, Becca and Scott emerged from their hiding place. Tad was not at all happy when he realized that his morning routine was being videotaped for Scott's film project. Becca smiled devilishly and informed Tad that Dixie had given them permission to set up the camera. "We'll see about that," Tad grumbled as he stormed off to locate his wife. Tad eventually tracked Dixie down in the bedroom. There, Dixie was draped in a peach silk nightgown. Tad looked at her curiously and noted that she looked "ravishing" for such an early hour. He then voiced his opposition to being "an unwilling star of a home movie." Dixie nodded her head and in what can best be described as an "uppity" accent, said that she'd forgotten all about the film project. From the amount of makeup on her face and her spiffy garb, Tad knew that Dixie wasn't being truthful. Tad wondered why Scott wanted to film them. Dixie explained that they were the "counterpoint" to the film's dark subject matter. "We are the ultimate in happy endings," she chirped. Tad wasn't about to disagree, but that did not mean that he wanted to be followed around with a video camera. Before Tad could run off to the office, she asked him to pick up his tuxedo from the dry cleaners. "We're getting dressed for dinner," said Dixie in her fake accent. Downstairs, Becca wondered if surprising Tad was such a good idea. She commented that she doesn't even let her dog se her before she's showered. Dixie breezed into the room pretending to have forgotten about the film. She toted a silver tea set to the coffeetable prompting Scott to ask if Dixie went to such extremes every morning. Dixie admitted that she wasn't acting totally normal, but she did not want to look boring either. Becca advised Dixie to sit down and talk about her family and her future. Dixie lit up and said that she could do that with her eyes closed. She sat down on the sofa and cheerfully told about her pregnancy. She spoke glowingly unaware that Tad was standing behind her. Tad's face formed a frown as Dixie talked of her plans for her baby. Tad turned and walked out of the room. "Life with Tad is never dull," Dixie laughed. "But I love that man more than anything in the whole world." That concluded the filming. Scott did, however, want to stick around and film some filler footage. Dixie gave him permission, but noted that Tad might need a few days to come around to the idea of being taped. Becca interjected that Scott didn't have a few days because he was headed to the Queen's garden party. Scott shook his head and cast a glance at Becca. "I am committed to Pine Valley," he stated. Dixie looked on with a smile.
Brooke dropped by Liza's office at WRCW on a mission that was never fully explained. Liza told her that she'd heard the news of Dimitri's death and that they'd be leading their nightly news cast with the story. "Business world mourns millionaire industrialist," read the headline of the Wall Street Herald. Somehow the headline just didn't seem to sum up Dimitri's life. Brooke informed Liza that Tempo would be doing a special feature on Dimitri's life and his untimely death. Brooke sighed as she said that Dimitri's death had come as a shock. His death, though, was not the only surprise sprung on his loved ones. Liza was shocked to learn that Dimitri had married, but she could not help but wonder if his new wife was after his money. Brooke shook her head and noted that Alex hadn't struck her as a woman with ulterior motives. The reporter instinct in Liza led her to believe that there was more to the story than anyone knew. She offered to use her "global access" to dig for more information. She asked Brooke for Alexandra's maiden name and the location that she and Dimitri were married, but Brooke didn't know the answer to either question.
After Brooke left, an angry Tad stomped into Liza's office and demanded to know how Scott, a WRCW employee, had free time to film his private life. "So," Liza chuckled. "Scott has captured the elusive Thaddeus Martinus in his natural habitat." Tad gagged at the idea that Dixie was merrily talking about her plans to have a baby---like everything was perfect. Liza handed Tad a copy of the Herald. Only then did he know that Dimitri had passed away. "Poor Edmund," Tad said softly. "What do you do when the bottom falls out of your world?" Liza cocked her head to one side and asked Tad if he was taking about Edmund or Dixie. Liza asked Tad to look at the positive side of things. He was, after all, going to be a father again. She reminded Tad that Dixie was in perfect health. "So was Dimitri," Tad countered. He asked Liza what would happen if Dixie's heart gave out or if her kidney failed. Without fanfare, Scott, Becca, and their one-eyed buddy entered the room. Tad rose out of his chair and ordered Scott to get the camera out of his face. Tirade aside, Scott and Becca continued with business as usual. They reviewed the footage they'd shot of Dixie earlier in the day. They focused their attention on Dixie's excitement about the baby. In the background of the scene, Tad was seen frowning. Scott laughed slightly and said that Tad didn't look like he was anxious to take part in early morning feedings. In her chair, Liza looked on sadly. She knew the real reason Tad felt the way he did.
"This has gotta be a gag-o-gram," Trevor murmured. Janet was also in shock. Amanda took the news surprisingly well, rushing down the steps to announce how happy she was that her brother was going to get married. Janet told Trevor to call Paris and find out first-hand what Tim was talking about. Tim wasn't at home, so Trevor was forced to leave a message asking his son to call him back. The idea of Trevor flying to Paris was batted around---and Amanda quickly added that Janet should go along as well. "You have to go too, mom," Amanda announced. "So you can size up this Parisian babe---woman to woman." The young girl's language took both of her parents by surprise. Amanda scurried upstairs to write a letter to Tim's girlfriend to welcome her to the family. Meanwhile, Brooke arrived to check in on Trevor and Janet. Janet mentioned that Erica "must be devastated" over the news of Dimitri's death. Brooke said that she wasn't sure whether Erica was more upset or more angry that Dimitri had remarried. Janet took that as her cue to place a phone call to her friend. Trevor asked Brooke how she was doing because he knew that she and Dimitri had an almost-relationship not so long ago. Before they could get into much detail, Trevor was forced to take a private call in another room. That allowed Amanda a window of opportunity. She plopped down on the sofa next to Brooke and told her that she missed Jamie and wanted to have a sleepover---preferably for a week or more. Brooke said that the timing wasn't quite right. To that, Amanda said that she had to sleep over because her mother and father's marriage depended on it. Amanda filled Brooke in on the details of her plan (none of which were said on camera). Brooke smiled broadly and told Amanda that she was definitely in on the plan. "I needed a little sunshine in my life," she said as she hugged the girl. Trevor returned to the room and threw a monkeywrench into his daughter's plans. He announced that he'd decided not to go to Paris after all. He figured that Tim's romance was a typical fleeting teenage romance---and that it would be over by Labor Day. Amanda's eyes widened as she looked to Brooke for help. Brooke remained calm and Amanda if she could walk her to her car. Amanda nodded and the two walked off together. Outside, Brooke assured Amanda that her plan had not gone up in spoke because she had an idea.
Hayley and Mateo each recalled the more memorable times they'd had with Dimitri. They both knew that Dimitri had helped recruit club-goers on SOS's opening night. The eased at which a life could be taken away startled both Hayley and Mateo. Mateo blamed himself for not having spent much time with Maria before she died. Hayley, meanwhile, wondered if it was wise to always be waiting for a second chance. It's quite possible, she noted, for that second chance to never arrive. Mateo told Hayley that he'd only recently learned of Dimitri's death while he was at Trevor's looking for her. Hayley mentioned that she'd gotten the news from Gillian. She said that they had managed to put aside their differences in the time of sorrow. Mateo shook his head as he mentioned that it was unfortunate that most people waited until times of tragedy to be on their best behavior. Hayley concurred, but she said that some good could come of tragedy. She looked at Mateo and asked him if they could "forget the past month" and try to work out their differences. "Being without you is killing me," Mateo confessed. Just as the two seemed destined down a path of reconciliation, Peggy entered the room and told the couple how glad she was to finally see them. Peggy told Hayley that Edmund had been looking for her. Peggy's choice of words---particularly the use of "finally"---led him to believe that Hayley had not spent the night at Wildwind as he'd believed. Hayley looked to Peggy and asked her if she and Mateo could have a moment alone. Peggy nodded. On her way out she told them how happy she was to have them back at Wildwind. Hayley knew what Mateo was thinking: He probably figured that she and Ryan had slept together the night before. Hayley quickly moved to dispel the thought, but Mateo said that he didn't believe anything she said. Hayley felt as though Mateo thought she was a "guilty slut" who'd been sleeping with Ryan for months. She swore that she had never been unfaithful to Mateo. Moreover, she said that she could never be unfaithful to him. "You're a liar," Mateo snapped. He said that the ease at which Hayley had walked away from their marriage proved that she never loved him. Hayley quickly pointed out that she and Mateo were never married. And since Mateo had labeled her a liar, Hayley had a label for Mateo---bigamist. Hayley muttered that her "taste in men reeks." Her first husband, she noted, was a rapist. The second slept with her mother. The third, well, the third marriage was "called on a technicality." She remembered that Mateo had come to her in her time of need and convinced her to "hand over" the gun and bullets. "But never once did I think that you'd take those bullets and try to shoot me down yourself," Hayley said with tears welling in her eyes. What came next is almost indescribable. "Bang," Mateo said. "You're dead to me." Hayley's mouth fell open. She placed her hands over her mouth and nearly fell apart. Tears now ran freely down her cheeks. Almost in passing, Mateo announced that he was going to Texas for a few weeks with Max and Raquel. "I need to turn to someone who feels my pain," he said mockingly. While he was gone, Mateo said that someone would be watching the bar for him to prevent Hayley from trying to steal it out from under him. "Be sure to give Ryan your love," he sneered. Mateo turned and walked away. Totally devastated, Hayley collapsed on the sofa, holding her head in her hands, and crying hysterically."
- Soap Central