"At SOS, Mateo and Tina briefly discussed the club's Halloween decorations. Neither could decide what to use or how to hang the decorations that they had. Mateo noted that Hayley usually handles the decorations. Tina headed off to the kitchen. Mateo, meanwhile, looked longingly at the club's first dollar, which had been framed along with a photo of him and Hayley at a much happier time. Mateo looked up from his downward glance and noticed Hayley entering the club. "I was just thinking about you," he smiled. "Welcome back." Hayley and Mateo sat down and reflected on their memories of Holidays. Both were saddened that their club had met such a tragic end, but Mateo saw a bright side. Mateo softly noted that sometimes one doesn't realize how precious something is until they lose it and get it back. "When and why did we stop trusting each other?" Hayley asked. Mateo shook his head and shrugged slightly. He didn't want to dwell in the past. Instead, he wanted to focus on their future. Mateo felt that Hayley's return to the club was the first step towards getting back what they'd lost. "We can't pick up where we left off," Hayley replied. "I'm not coming back to work here. I want you to buy me out." The news hit Mateo like a ton of bricks. He laughed nervously and told Hayley that he never wanted to buy her out---it was something he'd said out of anger. Hayley told Mateo that she wanted to rebuild her life. As she told Ryan previously, everything in her life was somehow tied to Mateo. Mateo tried to understand, asking Hayley if she was sure that she wanted him to buy her out. When Hayley nodded, Mateo asked her where that left their relationship. Hayley wasn't quick with an answer. "I'm afraid of making the same mistakes over and over," she explained. She followed it up with another expression of her need to have some space. Tina appeared and was introduced to Hayley. Tina then said that someone on the phone wanted to talk to Hayley about promoting a new act. Hayley offered some advice on how to handle the call, but in the end she refused to get involved in a club that soon she would not own.
In her office at WRCW, Liza met with a woman known only as "Rain." Rain, donned in black clothes, dark mascara and lipstick, was a perfect specimen of the "Goth" style trend. Ryan entered the office with some papers for Liza and unwittingly rescued his boss. Liza wasn't really enjoying the interview and was thankful that Ryan had given her an easy out. After the model left, Ryan asked Liza why she was interviewing the woman. Liza forked over a stack of papers and explained that the station was thinking about launching a new fashion and style show. Rain had been one of the candidates for the job. Ryan sensed that she wasn't going to get the job and offered the name of another candidate: Hayley. Liza was surprised that her stepdaughter's name had popped into the conversation. She assumed that Hayley wouldn't have time for the job since she was already working full-time at Sounds of Salsa. Ryan informed her that Hayley wasn't going to be going back to work at the club. In fact, he added, Hayley was looking for a new gig. Liza liked the idea, but said that she wanted to hold off until Hayley did a screen test for the job. Liza asked Ryan if Hayley's attempt to reinvent herself might somehow include him. Ryan became very quiet, perhaps worried that Liza was going to lecture him about coming between Hayley and Mateo. To his amazement, Liza vowed not to interfere. She said that both Hayley and Ryan was "consenting adults," adults that could make their own decisions in life. As she headed out the door to a luncheon date with Adam, Liza offered some parting words. "May the best man win," she smiled.
Hayley arrived at the station a little while later. She was late for lunch, but Ryan didn't seem to mind. He told Hayley that he'd mentioned her name as a candidate for the style editor position. Hayley laughed at the suggestion that she could somehow report on what's trendy. Ryan asked her not to be so hard on herself. Hayley had yet another reason why she should not take the job: Ryan also worked at the station. She apologized for sounding brash, but explained that she wanted to find her new life on her own. Ryan's help, while appreciated, wasn't the way she wanted to start anew.
Belinda phoned her landlord to inform him that she'd be moving out. She offered to part with her security deposit to make up for giving such short notice about her departure. She hung up the phone and regretfully on the key Adrian had given her. A knock sounded on her door and she hurried over to answer it. She was surprised to see Adrian at her door. Equally, Adrian was surprised to see that Belinda was packing. "It looks like you already made your decision," he said quietly. Belinda explained that she hadn't heard from Adrian in a few days and assumed that his silence meant that he was going to let her go without a fight. Adrian apologized for not getting back to her, but he said that he needed time to think about things. "I'm proud of you," Adrian said once again. Belinda confessed that it would not be easy leaving Pine Valley and her loved ones. "I don't regret a single moment," she smiled painfully. "What started out as a three-week love affair lasted an extra forty weeks." While Adrian was lugging up some baggage from the basement, Belinda cuddled his leather jacket and reflected on what might have been. Adrian returned and apologized for not being able to give Belinda what she wanted. Belinda, in turn, thanked Adrian for coming into her life. "I was sleepwalking. You woke me up," she sniffled. A single teardrop meandered down her cheek. "I will never forget you and I wish you the best." Adrian returned the troubled grin. "Wish me something else," he replied. "I've already had the best." The lovers shared a final hug before Adrian headed on his way. As the door to Belinda's apartment closed, Adrian paused momentarily. He raised his hand to his face, closed his eyes, and continued on his way. Back inside, Belinda leaned against the door and sighed deeply.
Adrian headed for SOS, where Mateo was having a similarly bad day. The two men exchanged stories of their failed loved lives and toasted to the future without the women they cared about. Tina exited the backroom and told Mateo that one of the shelves had suddenly collapsed. She flashed a grin at Adrian, recalling that she'd had trouble preparing a cappuccino for him on her first day of work. She asked Mateo if Hayley would be returning to work any time soon, offering to fill in for her until she did. Mateo informed her that Hayley would not be returning and accepted Tina's offer to become full-time help.
Lunch with his father turned out to be a less than thrilling event for Adam Junior. Junior wanted a chilidog for lunch, but his father vetoed his request and placed an order for salmon instead. Junior grumbled about the order, saying that chilidogs were his favorite food---and that Tad made them for him every weekend. Junior knew that he hadn't been invited to lunch just for the heck of it; his father wanted to talk to him about his antics at the party the night before. Adam didn't lecture his son at length, but he did let it be known that he was disappointed. "You are a Chandler," Adam bellowed. He muttered that he didn't want his son growing up to be another Tad. Junior sensed his dad's unhappiness and asked him why he dislikes Tad. Knowing that Junior does look up to Tad, Adam didn't want to alienate his son by berating Tad. So, Adam praised Tad's abilities as a talk show host, but downplayed his skills as a father. Adam then turned the subject to his son's soccer team. Adam knew nothing at all about soccer or even his son's involvement on the team. Junior reached into his knapsack for a picture Dixie had taken of him scoring a goal. As he did, Adam caught sight of one of his son's school papers. He beamed proudly as he read the "A" paper: The Most Influential Person In My Life. His face turned a shade of green when he realized that his son had dubbed Tad the most influential person in his life. Junior quickly noted that there was another paper due soon about the "World's Best Dad." He assured his father that he'd write about him. Liza arrived and took Adam by surprise. He appeared that he'd forgotten that Liza would be joining him for lunch. Junior was rushed off to school courtesy of Adam's driver. Junior had asked his dad if he'd be going with him. Adam was oblivious to what his son was really saying and brushed it off; Junior didn't want a chauffeur to take him anywhere---he wanted his dad. Liza knew that something was troubling her husband. Adam tried to tell her that nothing was wrong, but Liza knew all too well that something was wrong. "Tad Martin is trying to steal my son from me!" he groused. After hearing about the school paper, Liza attempted to minimize its importance. "He's an overgrown kid!" continued Adam. Adam complained about having to share his son with Tad also grumbling about Jake's interference in his life. Liza was beginning to understand why Adam was acting so irrationally. "You feel like you're under attack," she said softly. Liza had to get back to work and told Adam that she'd wait for him in the car. Alone, Adam picked up the phone and placed a call to one of his buddies. The man, now headmaster of an exclusive boarding school, thanked Adam for his generous contributions. He even offered to name the school's library after him. Adam chuckled and told him that the honor, while appreciated, was not necessary. There as, however, something that he could do for him. Adam knew that the school had a top-notch soccer team. He explained that he wanted his son to attend a school where he'd be free of bad influences in his life. "The sooner, the better," he said determinedly."
- Soap Central