"Wearing only his bathrobe, Mateo hovered over the stove making some oatmeal. He lifted the spoon to taste his concoction and, after determining that all was well, stuck the spoon back into the pot and continued stirring. Hayley wandered into the kitchen and teased her almost-husband about his spoon licking. They appeared ready to turn up the heat --- not on the oatmeal --- just as the doorbell rang. Mateo wanted to ignore the ringing, but Hayley figured that it might be better to see who was outside. It took Tina a few moments to realize that Mateo wasn't alone. When she did, she apologized profusely for the interruption. She handed over a houseplant that she'd grown for the couple as well as the day's mail. Hayley paged through the mail and suddenly her face froze. The cover of the Sun blared a headline promoting the "interview" Arlene had given about her daughter. Almost seconds later, John Vincent, the man in charge of "Wave's" affiliate syndication, phoned to express his displeasure over the article. Citing a "morals clause" in Hayley's contract, John warned Hayley that the plug was about to be pulled on her style show. Hayley pleaded with the man to reconsider, saying that the only portion of the story that was true was that she was in the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program. It seemed to assuage the man's fears, but the show remained out there on the chopping block. Mateo and Hayley were both furious with Arlene. Tina found it unfathomable that Hayley's own mother would try to trash her life. Hayley decided to confront her mother. Mateo asked her to wait until he was dressed, but Hayley explained that she wanted to talk to her mother one-on-one. After Hayley stormed off, Tina told Mateo that she was sorry that she hadn't checked the mail before delivering it.
"About your search," the computerized voice muttered. "Proceed no further." Edmund, Alex, and Jack exchanged glances. For one reason or another, the voice sounded familiar to Alex. Edmund attempted to recover control of the computer, but his attempts were unsuccessful. Guy wandered into the lodge with news that Scorpio was showing more signs of progress. Edmund thought it a bit odd that the trainer kept popping up so often, but he agreed that seeing the horse might be just the way to sooth Alex's jangled nerves. After the pair left, Edmund told Jack that they should consult Adrian about the incident with the computer.
In the stable area, Guy asked Alex what was troubling her. Alex said only that she was having "family trouble." After that, Guy proudly told Alex that he'd "broken" Scorpio earlier in the day. Alex's eyes lit up when she realized that the horse had been ridden and asked if she could have a chance on the horse. Guy smiled and said that her saddle had already been placed on the horse.
Jack and Edmund returned to the lodge after consulting Adrian. The former spy was on the case and looking for anything that might help them learn more about Alex's past --- or why someone would want to keep her past a secret. Jack noticed that Edmund seemed overly concerned for Alex and warned him not to lose his "objectivity." Edmund looked a bit offended by the remark. He reminded the lawyer that Alex was his sister-in-law and the only tie he head left to his brother.
Alex's ride on Scorpio came to a crashing end; the horse had thrown her and kicked Guy in the chest. Guy carried Alex back to the tack room and carefully checked out her ankle. Alex knew that her ankle had been sprained, but she assured the trainer that she'd be fine. She reached out and unbuttoned the man's shirt so that she could check out his injuries. Edmund entered the room just as Alex was gently feeling Guy's abdomen. Alex determined that Guy had a broken rub and headed off to get her medical bag. As she left, she bumped into Edmund. Both Alex and Guy told Edmund that they'd been out riding Scorpio. Soon after she left, Edmund angrily confronted Guy about what he was trying to do to Alex.
Arlene was headed out to do some shopping, but she realized that she was a little low on cash. She managed to convince Janet to spot her some money until her severance check arrived. Janet happily handed over the money and told Arlene to keep the change. Janet headed out the room. Now alone, Arlene envisioned all the booze she could buy with her windfall. Amanda puttered into the house just as Arlene was about to leave. Arlene smiled broadly and asked her niece if she should pick up some ingredients to make chocolate chip oatmeal cookies --- Trevor's favorite. Amanda nodded and told Arlene how good it made her feel to have her around. With every story that Arlene tells her, Amanda said that she feels closer and closer to her daddy. Janet returned to the room and asked her daughter why she was home from school so early. Amanda explained that she only had half a day of school because of teachers' conferences. Amanda wandered over to the coffeetable to find the necklace her father had "given" her. Janet held out her hand and flashed the necklace, explaining that she'd moved it so that it wouldn't get lost. She took a deep breath and stated that she also wanted to make sure that the necklace had been paid for. Amanda insisted that her father had given her the necklace as a gift. Sadly, that was not the case. Janet told Amanda that she returned to the shop where they'd seen the necklace and learned that the item had not been purchased. Janet told the shopkeeper what had happened and paid for the necklace. Amanda was furious with her mother for doubting what she'd said. She angrily blamed her mother for being the reason Trevor had run away. "You think I'm a liar!" she snarled. "I hate you!" Amanda ran upstairs. Janet wanted to chase after her daughter, but Arlene stopped her. Janet told Arlene that she feared that Amanda was becoming unhinged. Saying that Amanda feels "utterly and completely alone," Janet vowed not to let her daughter go down the same path that had ruined her life. Janet bowed her head and went into another room to verify that Amanda's claims of teacher conferences were true. The front door suddenly flung open and Hayley angrily stomped into the room. She threw the newspaper at her mother and blasted her for trying to destroy her life. Arlene claimed that her comments had been taken out of context, a claim Hayley didn't believe. More than anything else, Hayley was furious that her mother had taken away her anonymity as a recovering alcoholic. "Everything I do I do out of love," Arlene professed. Hayley shook her head and replied that her mother was incapable of loving anyone but herself. From the top of the steps, Amanda listened in on the conversation with tears welling in her eyes. Hayley informed her mother that she could lose her show over the interview. Arlene assured her daughter that she'd call and ask the paper to print a retraction. Ordinarily Hayley might have been moved by the gesture. In addition to the call, Hayley asked her mother to do one other thing --- pack her bags and leave town. This was not a request, it was an order. Arlene began to sob and asked Hayley how she could speak to her, her mother, in such a tone. "You have never been a mother to me," Hayley growled. "I have everything I ever wanted... but I can never have a mother." Hayley's tongue-lashing did not end there. "Any animal can give birth," she continued. "But it takes a human being to be a mother." Arlene sniffled loudly and told Hayley that she'd made her point. Arlene wanted to remain in town to see Hayley get married, but Hayley told her mother that that was not an option. She icily stated that she'd sooner cancel her wedding than run the risk that her mother would ruin it. Janet suddenly burst into the room and asked the two women if either of them had seen Amanda.
In the park, Amanda crouched down close to the ground and told her "father" that she wanted to go away with him. She reached out her hand and grabbed hold of her imaginary father's hand.
In the hallway outside the boardroom, Liza told Tad that he couldn't go soft on her when they entered the room. Tad nodded his head and pledged that he'd pull no punches. Liza hid behind a corner while Tad knocked on the door. A woman answered and told Tad that they'd been expecting him. Inside, Tad announced that he'd called the board meeting so that he could inform everyone that he planned to take legal action against Adam Chandler, Chandler Enterprises, and each and every member of the board. Liza burst into the room and ordered Tad to stop whatever it was he was doing. Tad refused to back down, saying that Adam was "mentally unstable" and incapable of acting as CEO of Chandler Enterprises. Tad went as far to say that Adam was even capable of murder --- his murder. Liza chalked up Tad's remarks to jealousy, but she was silenced when Tad popped a videotape into a nearby VCR. This was the tape that Tad had asked Scott to make at the prison, the same tape that showed Adam pummeling and groin-kicking Tad. After seeing the tape, Liza asked Tad why he was trying to ruin her husband. Tad coolly replied that he wanted to hold Adam accountable for all the terrible things he'd done to his family. He then revealed to the board members that Adam really had switched sperm samples at the fertility clinic. Liza saw no other recourse but to admit that Tad was telling the truth. Tad called Adam "a squirrel," who was on the verge of a full mental breakdown. "Adam has already lost his mind," Liza snapped. Her eyes bulged and she tried to assure the board members that her outburst was a mistake. It was far too late to retract her words, so Liza admitted that Adam hasn't been himself lately. She claimed that occasionally he liked to pretend to be his twin, Stuart, and that he sometimes had no recollection that he was pretending to be Stuart. The board began to whisper amongst themselves, asking one another if it was possible that Adam was no longer fit to run the company. Barry entered the room and froze in his tracks upon seeing Tad and Liza. Tad raced over to Barry and hurried him back out the door. There was loud shouting from outside, but eventually only Tad returned to the room. Tad vowed that he'd play his tape on her new show. Liza nixed that idea, saying that she owned the station and would never allow the tape to air. Tad smiled and said that he'd take the tape to every other news outlet in the country. Liza came up with a plan to convince Tad not to go public. She said that Adam had given her power of attorney and that she would not mind fulfilling his obligations as CEO of Chandler Enterprises until he was fit enough to return."
- Soap Central