"Liza followed a still-disheartened Adam down the main staircase at Chandler Mansion. The millionaire was still hurting over the way his son had run from him. Liza explained that Junior was used to turning to Tad and Dixie for comfort, but that didn't make Adam feel any better. "He was afraid of me," he said in obvious pain. "He thinks I am a monster." Adam was troubled by the nightmares Junior had had while in the mausoleum. He felt that the presence of Ray Gardner in the dreams somehow signified that Junior equates him with "the worst possible father he can imagine." Liza insisted that Junior doesn't have Adam. All parents, she said, make mistakes---and wanting to ship Junior off to boarding school was a big mistake. Adam assured his wife that he meant well. Nevertheless, when Junior was found and in need of a hug, he'd turned to Tad.
Even a prize-winning writer needs time to unwind. At Wildwind, Edmund found relaxation playing with some building blocks that he'd bought for Sam and Maddie. Erica breezed into the castle to find out how about the reading of Dimitri's will. Edmund smiled slightly and told Erica that the will contained a few surprises. Erica sat down next to Edmund and said that she hoped that Dimitri did not bequeath all of his assets to Alex. Edmund shook his head and said that that was not the case. He told Erica about the codicil that set up a medical research foundation for Alexandra to oversee. Erica was miffed that Dimitri had "forced" Alex into their lives. Edmund took a moment to offer some good news: Dimitri had left Maximillian to Bianca. Since the horse had been destroyed, Edmund offered to buy another horse for the girl. Erica, her voice growing soft, thanked Edmund for his generosity. Another horse, though, would never be able to take the place of Maximillian. Erica again vowed to never forgive Alex for causing Max's death. Edmund confessed that he wishes there were a way to get rid of Alex. He did not, however, use such strong language. Edmund told Erica that Alex would be returning to Pine Valley to head up the foundation set up in Dimitri's will. Erica was certain that Alex wanted to use the foundation to further herself, but Edmund disagreed. He told Erica that Alex wanted to stay as far away from Pine Valley as possible. Erica's face suddenly lit up. She smiled broadly as she announced that she might be able to make Edmund a very happy man.
With Dixie still asleep upstairs, Junior and Tad sat down to discuss his running away. Junior apologized for splitting, saying that he didn't know that so many people would be worried about him. "You had your reasons," Tad admitted. Running away, he said somewhat sternly, was not the answer. In the back of his mind, Junior was still sure that he'd encountered Ray Gardner in the mausoleum. Hoping to lessen some of the boy's fears, Tad took the unusual step of assuring Junior that his father loved him. He explained that in Adam's mind, Winchester Prep offered Junior the best possible education and soccer team. Junior asked Tad why he and Adam fight so much. It was a difficult question for Tad to answer, but he did some diplomatically. "We're both crazy about you," he replied. He then reminded Junior that he can always go to him when he's in trouble. Jamie and Brooke stopped by and the two boys immediately got caught up to date on all that had happened. Jamie told Junior that the police were going to drag the lake for his body. Junior smiled, nodded his head, and replied, "Cool." Brooke and Tad knew that this was the appropriate time to sit the boys down and give them a few non-threatening parental warnings. Jamie was scolded for not telling the truth about Junior's whereabouts. Junior, of course, was once again told never to run away from home. Both of the boys were stunned that they were not going to be punished. They left the room to get some juice. Tad told Brooke that Junior was still afraid of Adam and that he wasn't sure how to remedy the situation. The boys returned just as the phone started to ring. Junior answered the phone and was scared to hear his father's voice on the other end. Adam asked if he could visit with his son for a little while. Junior put down the phone and asked Tad what he should do. "I think he's still mad at me," Junior whispered. Tad snatched the phone away and told Adam that he'd be over in a few minutes to talk to him. Brooke headed to the kitchen to make some sandwiches and Tad headed off to Chandler Mansion. Junior, meanwhile, had a chilling tale to tell his friend. While on the run, Junior said that he'd fallen asleep beneath a tree. When he awoke, he found a trail of bottle caps leading from his position to the spot where everyone was looking for him. He was reasonably certain that those caps were not there when he fell asleep.
At WRCW, Scott decided to step out before Hayley unleashed her fury on Ryan. "Remember: duck and cover," Scott mused to his buddy. Ryan nervously told Hayley that he had Scott edit an audition tape of Amanda's faux fashion show for Hayley. Hayley didn't take the news nearly as well as Ryan had hoped. Ryan insisted that he thought it was a good idea. "What it is with all the men in my life?" Hayley asked herself aloud. "I'm tired of the men in my life riding all over me." Ryan insisted that the choice to audition for the position ultimately rested on Hayley's shoulders.
Outside in the hallway, Scott and Greenlee's paths crossed. Greenlee wondered why Scott hadn't stuck around to see Hayley's reaction to the tape. Scott explained that the audition tape had been made without Hayley's knowledge. He pointedly noted that Greenlee should know all about secret videotapes. Greenlee insisted that the tape she'd made had hurt no one. She quickly turned the topic, asking Scott if he would accompany her to the opening of a new art exhibit at Stuart's gallery. Scott shook his head and explained that he was leaving town. This wasn't anything permanent; he was going to his dad's cabin for a few days to clear his mind. His troubles with Becca were one reason for the planned solitude another was that fact that NYU still had not accepted his enrollment application.
Back in Liza's office, Ryan's guilt trip convinced Hayley that she should at least take a look at the tape that Scott had edited. Hayley was thrilled by the several minute-long segment. So excited, in fact, that she was beginning to rethink the job offer. She agreed to go to the live audition---but she insisted that she wanted to get the job on her own merit and not because she was Adam's daughter or a friend of several WRCW staffers. "I really think that I can nail this audition." Hayley and Ryan's eyes met and before long they were sharing a kiss.
Alexandra sat alone in the dining area at The Valley Inn. David slowly passed by, taking several jabs about why Alex was still in town. Alex mentioned that a quirk in Dimitri's will had forced her to stay longer that she wanted. Before David could get any details, Jack showed up and shooed him away. Jack and Alex found common ground with their dislike of the renowned cardiologist. Alex once again informed Jack that she wanted to leave Pine Valley as soon as possible. Jack asked Alex if she was really ready to disregard Dimitri's last wish. Alex claimed that Pine Valley held too many painful memories---Dimitri's death and the lies she had told to prevent everyone from learning about Dimitri's illness. Jack, on the other hand, felt that Alex's yearning to head back to Europe was the result of the friction that had developed between her and Edmund. Alex assured the attorney that was not the case and thanked him for being a friend to her. As they shared a piece of cheesecake, Alex made Jack promise that he'd do his best to find someone else to oversee the foundation. Jack reluctantly agreed, but said that the process could take months. In his mind, the best candidate had already been located. David once again passed by, sarcastically commenting that he hopes to bump into Alex more often.
David returned to his hotel room and found Erica waiting for him. "I have the perfect job for you," she gushed. David smiled wryly and asked if the position might require him to be Erica's personal "sex slave." Erica smiled even wider. The job, she said, offers "fascinating research, unparalleled prestige, virtually unlimited funding, and international recognition." Before Erica could tell David about the job, the two fell into each other's arms.
Tad stormed into Chandler Mansion and blasted Adam for not giving Junior space. Liza took up for her husband, saying that Adam was understandably concerned about his son's well being. Tad explained that he'd just tried to smooth things over between Adam and Junior. Adam was furious that Tad had been talking to Junior about him. Adam's paranoia caused him to believe that Tad was filling Junior with lies and trying to turn the boy against him. Tad pleaded with Adam to give Junior a little time to get back to normal, but Adam wasn't about to be told how to be a father to his son. "That boy isn't going to be one of your casualties. You're no father to him," Tad snarled. Liza's eyes welled up with tears and she begged Tad to apologize for his icy remark. Tad refused. He vowed to do whatever it takes to "protect" Junior. "Nobody messes with my family," he growled. As Tad headed for the door, he announced that he was taking Junior and Dixie away for a few days. Liza chased after Tad to try to calm him down. Adam, meanwhile, stomped over to his phone and placed an urgent call to his attorney, Barry Shire. "I have a job for you," Adam said coldly. "Tad Martin---I'm going to destroy him.""
- Soap Central