"Tad returned home and told Dixie that Cara was "not doing so hot." He immediately realized that Dixie might not want to hear about the trials and tribulations of his "other woman." Dixie quashed any notion that she didn't care about Cara, adding that Tad's relationship with Cara was important because they couldn't allow Cara to be deported. She also reminded Tad that Cara had fallen in love with him.
Tad questioned how Dixie could be "so annoyingly calm." Dixie shrugged slightly and told Tad that she didn't fault him for marrying Cara. "You thought I was dead," she said. Tad suddenly realized that they were going to be late for the custody hearing. As they were headed towards the door, Marissa arrived with the news that the hearing had already been held. Tad and Dixie were mortified that JR had tried to bribe the judge on the case, and told Marissa that they'd go to check on JR.
At Chandler Mansion, JR questioned how his son "would grow up to be a man with two butch..." Liza, aghast by his tirade, cut JR off before he could finish his statement. She warned JR that he'd never see his son again if he continued down the same path. JR countered that he didn't want his son exposed to "that lifestyle." A seven-year-old, he explained, doesn't understand the concept of having "two mommies."
Liza quickly noted that Miranda seemed to be quite content with having two women raise her. "Bianca can screw up [Miranda's] life all she wants," JR replied angrily. Liza assured JR that the matter wasn't about political correctness, but rather one of common sense. JR glared at his attorney and asked her what his next move should be. Liza shook her head, and advised JR to find a new lawyer. Colby broke her silence and pleaded with her mom not to walk away from JR. "I don't want to lose any more of my family," Colby said softly.
Tad and Dixie arrived at the mansion and offered their support for JR. JR became enraged again, blasting Dixie for thinking that she could "come back from the dead and make everything okay." Tad suggested that JR be open to the idea that Dixie could help. "My entire family is non-existent," JR shouted, momentarily showing signs of hurt.
Tad questioned if JR had been drinking. JR deflected the question, noting that everyone already thought that he was drunk. Colby asked that her brother be nice, but the request fell on deaf ears. "Your online groupies might listen to you, but it's all just noise to me," JR sassed. Tad asked Colby and Liza if he and Dixie could have a moment alone with JR, and the two women were more than willing to oblige.
JR claimed that he had nothing to say to either Tad or Dixie, but that didn't deter them. Dixie recounted the lengths Adam had gone to in order to get custody of JR: Adam had gotten Dixie committed to a psychiatric facility because he thought having custody of JR would earn JR's undying love. JR agreed that Adam's plan had backfired, but he argued that at least Adam had been there for him, an obvious jab at Dixie's two presumed deaths. "There is more to being a good father than possession of a child," Dixie insisted. JR asked if he should give up his fight.
Tad pointed out that if JR had been granted custody of AJ, it wouldn't have changed the fact that AJ was scared of JR. JR was heartbroken over the thought that his own son didn't love him. Tad assured JR that AJ did love him, and Tad vowed to stand behind JR if JR was truly sincere about wanting to get his life back in order. JR's hardened façade cracked and he embraced Dixie. "I missed you so much," he said. He then promised to make things right so that he wouldn't let his mother down.
Later at Confusion, Colby told her mother that no one else could do a better job as JR's attorney, and again asked that Liza stay on the case. "I'll do it for you," Liza replied. They then clasped hands and smiled.
At Pine Valley Hospital, Greenlee and Ryan were stunned by Zach's praise for David. Zach explained his gratitude for David. "He put my family back together," Zach stated before adding that he wanted to make sure that David could do the same for other families. Ryan reminded Zach how strange it was that David had been able to find Zach after the plane crash. Zach nonchalantly explained that he'd asked David to keep an eye on him. As Ryan and Greenlee listened in disbelief, Zach said that he'd feared something might happen to him and asked David to use the same procedures that he'd used on Greenlee should he fall victim to foul play.
Griffin entered the room and informed Zach that they'd have to alter the levels of his medication, but said Zach appeared to be doing fine otherwise. Ryan pulled Dr. Castillo into the conversation, but Zach refused to back down. Claiming that David could "change the face of medicine," Zach reasoned that David's methods -- even if they seemed questionable -- were completely justified considering the outcome. Ryan couldn't believe what he was hearing. He reminded Zach that David had kidnapped people and used them as "guinea pigs" in an experiment that wasn't approved by the FDA. Griffin noted that the FDA could shut down Project Orpheus and that the end result would be no one benefiting from David's research. Griffin excused himself and headed back to his rounds.
In his room at the Yacht Club, David pulled away from Cara and told her that he shouldn't have kissed her. "You're going through a tough time, and I don't want to take advantage," David said as he took a step away from Cara. He then told Cara that he had some things to tend to, but said that she was welcome to stay in his room as long as she'd like. Cara asked David not to leave, and she assured him that he hadn't taken advantage of her.
Both ceded that the kiss had "felt good," and David went one step further by acknowledging that he liked Cara. It had been a long time, David noted, since he felt that he could speak openly to someone. "I'm not a fragile flower," Cara replied with a wry smile. Contrary to what other residents of Pine Valley might say, Cara praised David for listening to her without judgment. "You're getting a bad rap," Cara stated, adding playfully, "I don't see the horns, the tail, and the pitchfork." David chuckled heartily. "That's because I live in a hotel and it doesn't go with the motif," he relied, deflecting the praise. As an aside, he added, "And the pitchfork is in storage."
Cara assured David that she wasn't kidding; she didn't feel "like an outsider" when she was around David. The two locked eyes and started kissing passionately. They eventually made their way to David's bed and made love.
In the afterglow, Cara exalted, "That was freaking unbelievable." She went on to say that she'd had no idea that she "needed that." Cara then threw her hands into the air and mused, "Oh, look. You saved another person without even trying." David vowed to keep their tryst a secret, and asked Cara to reconsider her decision to leave Pine Valley. He then offered Cara the position that Griffin had held at Project Orpheus. Cara was stunned by the offer and asked for some time to think it over.
Cara got dressed, gathered her things, and prepared to go somewhere quiet to think. As she opened the door to leave David's room, Griffin was preparing to knock on the door. Griffin demanded to know why Cara had been in David's room. David interjected that it was a "personal matter." Cara revealed that she'd been offered her brother's old job, and Griffin was outraged. Griffin demanded that Cara turn down David's offer, but a defiant Cara proclaimed that she would make her own decisions.
Cara stormed off, and David started to close the door to his room. Griffin put his hand on the door and angrily ordered David to stay away from Cara. David turned the tables, claiming that Griffin was standing in the way of Cara's growth.
Tad returned home and briefed Marissa on his visit with JR. Marissa said that she would be willing to work with JR, but only if JR made some significant changes in his life. Shortly after Marissa left, the doorbell rang. Tad opened the door and was surprised to see Cara, suitcase in tow, standing on the other side of the door. Tad said he was relieved that Cara was okay.
Cara explained that she'd been doing some thinking about what she really wanted from her life. "I'm a doctor. I want to make people better," she stated. She then announced that she was seriously considering being a part of Project Orpheus. Tad begged Cara to reconsider.
Back at the hospital, Ryan tried to convince Zach that Zach's opinion of David was blurred by his gratitude. When Ryan noted that David had messed with Greenlee's mind the same way, Zach became agitated. "Is this about him taking Greenlee from you?" Zach asked. Zach then issued Ryan a stern warning: If Ryan continued, he wouldn't just be going against David -- he'd be going against Zach, too. Greenlee and Kendall both asked their husbands to stop arguing. Zach then asked Kendall and Greenlee to leave the room.
In the corridor, Greenlee expressed her surprise that Kendall was suddenly David's cheerleader -- especially since it hadn't been that long before that Kendall had tried to kill David. Kendall admitted that she wasn't necessarily thrilled with what David had done, but since Zach was supporting David, she would do the same.
Zach explained to Ryan that he'd "lost focus" and that was how his casino partners had been able to get the upper hand on him. However, he explained, his near-death experience had taught him to never let his guard down again. Ryan was about to press Zach for details when David entered the room. Zach cheerfully announced that he was feeling great and thanked David again for his hard work.
Kendall and Greenlee returned to the room just as Zach announced that he wanted to help expand David's work. Ryan warned Zach not to fall for David's mind games, but Zach brushed him off. Zach told David that he wanted to work to help get Project Orpheus the backing of the FDA and to then expand the project to help make families whole again -- and to help make David millions. The two men then shook hands and agreed to work together.
Back at the Chandler mansion, Dixie rounded up all of the alcohol in the house and prepared to pour it down the sink. JR confessed that he'd stashed two bottles in his closet to spike his coffee in the morning. Dixie held out her hand and told her son that she'd be there for him any time he needed something to "take the edge off."
Marissa stopped by to talk to JR, and Dixie gave them some privacy. Marissa informed JR that she'd spoken to Tad and heard that JR wanted to make some positive changes. She told JR that she'd do whatever she could to get AJ to want to spend time with him. Marissa left, and JR stood in the parlor alone. He slowly walked over to the fireplace where a picture of his father sat on the mantel. "If someone was taking your kid from you, you wouldn't waste one minute explaining anything to anybody," JR said to the photo. "Well, it's on now, dad. That bitch is about to find out exactly who she's up against.""
- Soap Central