"Across Pine Valley, generations gathered together to honor their past, to toast life, and to celebrate the promise of the future.
As Erica stroked Bianca's hair, she remembered the day Bianca was born. The two women then looked to Miranda with a smile. Bianca then gently stroked her daughter's hair, the same way that Erica had stroked hers. Later, their loved ones and children joined them. Spike and AJ jumped on Zach, as Marissa twirled around in a circle with Gabby. In the doorway, Kendall and Erica beamed proudly.
AJ, Miranda, and Spike lined up on one side of the room to practice lines that they'd have to deliver at an upcoming school assembly.
"The great and the least, the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong. In sickness and in health, in joy and sorrow, in tragedy and triumph. We are all your children," the children recited.
The adults applauded, and Miranda and Spike were overjoyed. AJ, however, was noticeably dejected. Marissa asked the boy why he looked down. His eyes cast down to the floor, AJ explained that the line "joy and sorrow" made him think of his dad.
A knock sounded on the door, and Erica excused herself to answer it. She opened the door only a crack before Opal stormed into the room. Showing great concern, Opal told Erica that she'd just left Erica's house. Opal had wanted to see Erica before Erica headed to Los Angeles, but instead she'd found Jackson clearing out his belongings.
"I think he's leaving you, honey," Opal said as she gasped.
In a corridor at Pine Valley Hospital, Jamie embraced Tad one last time before heading to the airport to again leave Pine Valley. Elsewhere in the hospital, Scott led Marian into a room where Stuart lay quietly in a bed. Stuart opened his eyes, and Marian burst into tears. Stuart asked if he was dreaming, but Marian assured him that she was very real.
"This is my dream," she said through sobs. Scott offered to let his father and Marian have some time alone. He said that he loved Stuart, and then stepped out of the room. Stuart then gave his "Queen of Hearts" a kiss.
In the park, Ryan hoisted Emma into the air. Greenlee walked over to the pair, and all three embraced.
Dixie recalled holding an infant JR in her arms, before returning her attention to the present and looking proudly at a recent photo of her son. Tad returned home and took his fiancée in his arms.
At the police station, as Jesse and Frankie stood nearby, Angie marveled at the miracle of life
"From birth, life itself is miraculous," Angie offered. "Watching our children grow up from infant to toddler to teenager to adult. I mean, the people that we've grown up with and grown older with in this town... it is a gift to have shared their lives for however long -- 20... 30... 40 years. Hopefully, many more."
David nodded his head in agreement. Though seemingly torn, Jesse stated that David's "miracles" were not an excuse for breaking the law. Cara stepped in to support David, reminding the police chief that David had given people back the lives that they'd thought they had lost forever. Jesse ceded that miracles were "way beyond" his line of duty. He shrugged and explained that his hands were tied. Her arms folded, Angie argued that they all needed to remember what was really important in life.
"One day, our family and friends will die, and they won't be back. One day they'll be gone for good," Angie responded softly. "What if that day were today?"
Lisa arrived at the station a short time later with news for David. She stated that Adam was so happy to have Stuart back that he'd called a judge and arranged for David to get out of jail on bail. Cara was overjoyed and told David that she was ready to bolt.
Before leaving, David turned to Angie and praised her being a formidable foe. He thanked her for seeing the good in him when no one else would.
"Maybe it took me being blind to see past the sneer and the ego to the good in you," she replied with a smile.
David asked that Angie not "knock" his sneer. Angie ceded that saving Stuart proved that David wasn't "Dr. Doom." Jesse shook his head in amazement and offered David a heartfelt "thank you."
In his room, JR stuffed some belongings into a duffel bag and zipped it closed. A stern expression on his face, JR never once made eye contact with the bag. He then marched out of the room, closing the door behind him. He paused momentarily, looked down at his bag, and then continued on his way.
At Krystal's, Amanda and Jake shared a kiss. They then turned their affection to their son, Trevor. At the bar, Jack took a swig from a shot glass. As he grimaced from the potency of the drink, Krystal wandered over to make sure that he was okay. Jack claimed that everything was just fine, but Krystal knew Jack well enough to know that he was lying.
"Let me put it to you this way," Jack began. "After 24 years, ten broken engagements, three television shows, two honeymoons, a marriage, and a divorce, it looks like Erica and I are finally over."
At Chandler Mansion, Adam remained in awe of everything that had happened. Remarking that he'd been "half alive and half dead" since Stuart's death, Adam had trouble wrapping his head around his brother being back in his life. Brooke smiled and hoped that Stuart's "resurrection" would allow Adam to live again.
Adam walked around the empty parlor with a heavy heart. He labeled the house as "more depressing than the hospital." Adam wanted to leave, but Brooke asked that he stay. She then revealed that she had a little surprise for him. Brooke informed Adam that she'd taken the inheritance that she'd gotten from her Aunt Phoebe and used it to buy back Chandler Mansion for Adam.
Scott and Colby returned to the mansion with plans for a celebration -- a celebration of Stuart's return and the Chandler Mansion being back in the family's possession. Pine Valley, Colby said, needed to be "whooped up a little bit." Brooke thought it was a great idea, but Adam was reluctant. He eventually came around and agreed. Adam then barked out to his housekeeper, Winifred, and she raced into the room with her arms outstretched.
Back at her penthouse, Erica was stunned to see that Jack had moved out. "He took his toothbrush -- that is a sure sign!" Opal offered. Erica refused to believe that Jack had left her. Erica insisted that Jack was simply upset because she was leaving town to work on her screenplay. She reminded Opal that starring in a movie was a dream she'd had since she was a little girl.
"Pine Valley has come a long way over the years, but it's still not the corner of Hollywood and Vine," Erica noted.
"No, but can't you be happy on the corner of Main Street and Pine with the man who loves you?" Opal asked. "Pine Valley is your home."
The doorbell sounded, announcing the arrival of Kit Sterling, who had arrived to whisk Erica off to Hollywood in his private jet. Opal implored Erica to listen to her, and to realize that going to California would be a mistake.
"I let my stupid pride keep me away from Palmer -- and look what happened. I thought I had all the time in the world with him," Opal said. "And now, what I wouldn't give for just one more chance with him. Do not let that happen with you and Jackson."
Kit impatiently looked on and reminded Erica that they had a scheduled to keep. Opal told Erica about the party at Chandler Mansion to celebrate "another miracle rabbit" that David had pulled out of his doctor bag. Erica was floored by the news that Stuart was alive, and then realized what David had meant when he'd teased her about taking care of someone she loved. Opal also tossed in that Jack would be in attendance. Erica threw her hands in the air and announced that they would go to the party.
"For once in my life, I'm grateful to Brooke English," Erica said with a chuckle as she giddily ran up the steps to get dressed.
Alone at the airport, JR was haunted by the voices in his head. He was roused from the torment when someone called his name. JR turned his head and saw Jamie standing a few feet away. Jamie extended his hand, but JR ignored him. JR chided Jamie for "crawling back" into town after learning of David's resurrections. "You thought you'd creep in and take Babe from old JR, but... Babe's dead," JR snarled.
Jamie seemed perplexed by JR's less than amicable greeting. He said that he'd left JR several messages since he'd gotten back into town. After learning that Tad had filled Jamie in on everything that had happened recently, JR muttered that he was certain Tad had left out crucial details -- "like how everyone stabbed me in the back."
Jamie quickly replied that JR had always found a way to stab himself in the back. JR rose from his chair and announced that he had a private jet to board. Before JR could get too far away, Jamie told his brother that he loved him. JR mocked the idea of love, grumbling that the woman he'd loved had left him for another woman. Everyone in town, JR said, was against him.
JR claimed to be fighting for his life, and assured Jamie that, although he was leaving Pine Valley, he'd be back. "My son's not getting raised by lesbians," he hissed. The comment prompted Jamie to reveal that he was glad Babe wasn't still alive to see how venomous JR had become. "It would break her heart," Jamie said with a sigh.
Once Jamie had gone off, JR again turned to his thoughts. Dixie appeared out of nowhere and raced up to her son. Tad followed closely behind. She could hardly contain her excitement as she informed JR that his Uncle Stuart was alive. JR's eyes darted back and forth from Dixie to Tad. JR appeared skeptical, and then enraged. "Why does everybody gotta lie to me?" he snapped. Dixie was stunned by the response.
"Maybe Uncle Stuart and Babe can have a little tea party in heaven and throw down cows and paintbrushes to make everything picture perfect," JR angrily replied. "Everyone thinks that I got my dad's bad side and I got my mom's good genes and that's what saved me. What a joke. It wasn't my father who screwed me up. It was you."
Dixie begged JR to believe her, but JR refused. After telling Dixie that she'd lost him for good, JR turned his back and walked away. Dixie broke down after being shunned, but Tad assured her that everything would work itself out. JR just needed some time, he said. Tad took Dixie's hands and gave her a kiss. Just then, Tad received a text message inviting them to the party at Chandler Mansion. They both agreed that the party could be just what they needed to lift their spirits.
As Tad and Dixie left arm in arm, JR emerged from around a corner. The pilot of his private jet approached JR and said that they'd be ready for takeoff as soon as he filed a new flight plan. JR produced an envelope and told the pilot he had "20,000 reasons" to leave the flight plan as-is. His face tensed as he icily announced that he had a party to crash.
At the Chandler Mansion, the celebration was getting underway. Joe and Ruth entered and shared a happy reunion with Jesse and Angie. Ryan, Greenlee, Kendall, and Zach were next to arrive. Angie greeted them with a smile and noted how great they all looked. The foursome gasped upon realizing that Angie's vision had been restored.
Later, Frankie and Randi chatted it up with Angie and Jesse. Angie noted that Randi was absolutely glowing in her purple dress. She questioned if Randi might be pregnant. Frankie's head snapped back and quickly assured his mom that they were not expecting. At the same time, Randi replied, "Maybe." It took a moment or two before Frankie processed what his wife had said. The pair kissed.
Amanda overheard the news and told Jake that her everything about her near-death experience was coming to fruition. Jake told Amanda that he wished she'd bought a lottery ticket when she'd started having all of her good feelings. JR and Natalia added to the celebration by officially announcing their engagement.
Madison and Scott also enjoyed their first public outing as a reunited couple. Greenlee cheekily noted that she took full credit for the couple getting back together. Madison gave Greenlee partial credit, noting that she probably never would have met Scott had it not been for Greenlee's meddling.
Krystal was aghast when David showed up at the mansion's front door. David admitted that he hadn't been invited to the party. In fact, he hadn't even known that there was a party being held. Krystal urged David to leave before Ryan and Zach saw him.
In a separate room, Adam and Dixie had a serious discussion about JR. Adam noted that they'd both felt the need to leave Pine Valley at one time or another. Perhaps, Dixie stated, it was a good thing for JR to leave town and put his troubles behind him. Unbeknownst to either of them, JR watched them from inside one of the house's secret passageways.
Erica arrived at to the party and found Jack and Krystal together. Krystal bowed out as Erica approached, and Jack seemed surprised to see Erica. Erica asked Jack to go somewhere to speak privately to him. Before he could answer, Adam and Brooke took to the center of the room and proposed a toast "to Pine Valley." In the passageway, JR repeated "Pine Valley," and took a sip from a bottle of alcohol.
After the toast, Adam found David lurking in the foyer. Adam told David that he wasn't sure how he could ever thank David for saving Stuart. "Cash is always a good way to say 'I love you,'" David mused. Adam handed David a manila envelope stuffed with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Adam left the room, but before David could leave, Dixie entered. David engaged in some self-adulation, telling Dixie that he knew how much she wanted to thank him for saving Stuart. Instead of a thank you, Dixie pressed David for information about the other patient he'd claimed to be treating. "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you," David replied. Dixie begged for David to tell her, but David wouldn't part with any details. "Trust me, that's something you don't need to know," he added before walking away.
Bianca and Marissa rushed into the party to ask Scott about an emergency text he'd sent. A quizzical look overtook Scott's face and he informed the pair that he hadn't sent them any messages.
Jack followed Erica to another part of the mansion and asked her why she wasn't in Los Angeles. Erica stated that she had to put Jack first -- and that she had a solution to their problem. Erica beamed proudly as she explained that she'd made arrangements for Jack to travel with her to California. "We can have every single night together," she purred.
Jack became somewhat indignant, reminding Erica that he'd always been waiting for her, even as she chased after other men and careers, and handled personal crises. Erica denied putting her movie before Jack. The denial only served to outrage Jack all the more. Jack told Erica that he wanted to establish roots, and not to sit alone watching Eric chase her dreams. "I can't let my dreams take a backseat to yours any longer," he said softly.
Erica insisted that she was committed to Jackson. There was a difference, Jack argued, between "committed" and "commitment." Jack leaned in close to Erica and told her that she didn't want to get married. Erica admitted that she didn't want to get married. Jack wished Erica the best of luck, but told her that she'd have to live the rest of her life without him.
Inside the catacombs, JR paced back and forth. He held a gun in his hand, and tapped the barrel of the gun against the side of his head.
Back in the parlor, Tad prepared to make another toast. "It's funny, because at a time like this, there's always so much that you want to say. There are so many people that mean so much and you can't find the words. But I've been thinking about it, and I've come up with three: neighbors, family, and friends. I found all of them here. It's been my home, the best years of my life," Tad said, as several of the partygoers wiped tears from their eyes.
"There are all these amazing people that should be here and aren't, who deserve to be here, that have meant so much," Tad continued. And some of them I'm sure, sooner or later, they're gonna get around to buying a ticket home. Usually they do. And then there are others who... who, sadly, can't. But, I'd bet my life on one thing -- that if they were all here, they would remind us what a miracle this place is."
"It's because of the love and the help of everybody, everybody in this room, because that's how Pine Valley works. Always has, always will. In tragedy and triumph, we come together," Tad added, his voice growing soft. "I wish the rest of my kids were here to see this, you know, because this is -- this is something to remember, folks. We'll be talking about this for a long time. But then again, I always like to think that no matter what, my family and all my children -- they're always with me."
Applause erupted and the revelers took sips of champagne. Adam again took center stage for another announcement. Adam produced a diamond ring box from his jacket pocket. The room fell quiet and jaws dropped. Adam asked Brooke for permission to put the ring on her finger, and for Brooke to agree to marry him. The glittering object mesmerized Brooke, who was at first only able to say, "Whoa." She blinked several times and, as tears welled in her eyes, she accepted his proposal.
Jack stormed through the crowd as Erica chased after him, calling out his name. Erica begged with Jack not to walk out on her. "I need you," she pleaded. "Frankly, Erica, I don't give a damn what you need," Jack replied coldly.
JR looked through the ajar passageway door with rage in his eyes. He slowly raised his gun, his hand shaking. As he looked at the partygoers one by one, his finger clenched onto the gun's trigger.
A shot rang out."
- Soap Central