Friday, July 6, 2007
Aaron, Alison, Dusty, Emily and Susan had brunch together. Susan credited Dusty with bringing them all back together, then made a toast to fresh starts. The ladies excused themselves; Susan praised her daughters for pulling themselves together. At the table, Aaron thanked Dusty for helping Alison out in Las Vegas. Dusty had a guilty flashback to them sleeping together. Susan went to go make a call and check in on a patient. Ali thanked Emily for everything she did for her. Emily urged her to be happy and leave her mistakes behind. Aaron and Alison left together. Dusty told Emily that he loved her family, but felt like they had chaperones whenever they went on dates. "Wait, we're dating," Emily smirked. He said he thought they had real potential. She told him she liked him, but confessed she was worried she'd mess it up. He said he was nervous, too. "Trusting anyone is major for me, but I'll try," he promised. They sat on a bench and kissed.

At the house, Susan walked in on Alison and Aaron kissing in the living room. Susan said it felt like a time warp and she was catching them in high school. Aaron left. After, Lance showed up. Ali told him to split, but he wouldn't. He tried to get her to return to Vegas with him. She adamantly refused. He threatened to tell Aaron the truth, but she declared that she already had. He wondered if she told Aaron everything. Alison tried to toss him again, but he wouldn’t go.

Noah dined with his father, the Colonel, but he didn't have an appetite. The Colonel asked why Noah didn't tell him that he was coming to Branson. An uneasy Noah explained that the station was paying for him to be there, so he was focused on work. His father told him that his priorities were messed up. The Colonel announced he was pulling Noah's college tuition to Northwestern, deeming a tv/film major useless. Noah insisted he worked hard at his internship. His father announced that Noah wouldn't be going to college; he’d be enlisting in the Army like he and his father did. Noah replied that he didn’t want a career in the military. His father responded that it would make him a man.

Maddie called the prison to talk to Casey, but he wouldn’t take her call. Maddie was distraught. Noah found her crying on the bed and asked what was wrong. She told him what happened. Noah told her she deserved better. She realized he was upset, too, and asked what was wrong. He said he had a bad day, then suggested they go and have some fun and shake their bad moods. They frolicked around in the water slide. After, they returned to the room to change. She asked him what happened earlier. He told her about his conversation with his dad. They sat on the bed together. She gave him a reassuring hug. Things took a turn and they began to kiss. They wound up having sex.

Cleo and Will continued their tour of Silver Dollar City. Gwen called and asked Will to meet her at the theater. Tim the reporter overheard and told Gwen that there was a reception before the show that she was required to attend. Will and Cleo arrived in time to hear Tim tell Gwen that she had all the makings of a big star. She said she didn’t want to be one. Gwen told Will and Cleo about the reception and asked if Will wanted to go. He said no, because she had work to do. "I'll make sure Will never gets bored," smiled Cleo. Gwen spied the gnome in Cleo's arms and asked her about it. Cleo explained that Will bought it for her.

Jade and Luke arrived in Branson, but Luke’s cell phone battery was dead and Jade left hers at the farm back home. They walked through the streets and spied a flier with Gwen’s face on it. They rushed to the theater, but the dressing room was empty. Jade said she’d wait for Gwen and co.; Luke went to the hotel to see if they were there. Gwen returned and was shocked to see Jade. Jade tried to convince Gwen that Cleo was dangerous and after Will, but Gwen didn’t believe her. Jade implored Gwen to tell her where Will went. Back at the hotel, Luke walked in on Maddie and Noah, who were in the awkward aftermath of their random hookup.

Cleo took Will for a walk in the woods. After a while, he asked if they could go back, but she said she wanted to stay for a bit. They sat down. She pulled out her gnome and said they should name him together. "He’s the best present I’ve ever gotten," she smiled, then decided to call him Bashful. After, she leaned in and kissed a stunned Will. He pushed her off of him and explained that he loved Gwen. A delusional Cleo insisted he loved her and they were destined to be together. Cleo copped to getting rid of Jade and running Will off the road back in Oakdale. A horrified Will told her she had to go to the cops ASAP and be locked up for good. She got more delusional, insisting they were meant to be, but he kept telling her her loved Gwen. He turned to leave. She clocked him on the head with the gnome, refusing to let him leave her. "Now look what you made Bashful do," she remarked.

Aaron ran into Holden while he was out renting movies. Holden was surprised that Aaron and Alison were back in a relationship so soon. Aaron said they were in a good place and that Ali had come clean about everything that had happened. Holden cautioned him, reminding him that Alison always lied in the past. Aaron thanked him for worrying about him, but insisted everything was fine. Aaron returned to the house and found Lance harassing Alison. Aaron punched him out.

Thursday, July 5, 2007
In Branson, MO, Noah taped Gwen, Will and Maddie walking around. Cleo got insulted when Gwen didn't introduce her on camera, so Gwen obliged. Cleo remarked that she felt Branson was going to change their lives. Gwen signed autographs while Cleo was on camera. Cleo went to the hotel (the most beautiful one she's ever seen) and unpacked her suitcase. She picked up a pink, frilly lingerie top and fantasized about hooking up with Will. Her reverie was interrupted by Will, who walked in carrying Gwen. Cleo revealed that to save money, she decided to bunk with them. Will said she should stay with Noah and Maddie instead. "You guys want to be alone. I understand," Cleo said dejectedly. Cleo showed Gwen a gift basket that came for her, but Gwen told her she could keep it and share it with Maddie and Noah. Cleo ripped up the card, then threw a piece of fruit across the room, just as Noah and Maddie arrived. They asked her what was wrong. She played it off. Noah got a text that they all had to go over to the theater. Cleo was happy that it would interrupt Gwen and Will's alone time.

At the theater, Noah ran into an old work friend, Gabe, who noted that he was surprised to see Noah there since it was a little "too close to home." After, Maddie asked him what Gabe meant by his comment. Noah changed the subject. They talked about Casey, but Maddie got uncomfortable. Noah went outside, where his dad (in a military uniform) was waiting for him. Back in the room, Maddie called the prison to talk to Casey.

Gwen settled in to her dressing room, where she and Will kissed. Andy Williams came to introduce himself to Gwen. She then took the stage. A reporter, Tim, was itching to interview her. Will introduced himself and asked Gwen if she had time for lunch. No, said Tim: Gwen was all his. Will cleared the room to talk to Gwen alone, sensing she was overwhelmed. He offered to take Cleo sightseeing to get her out of Gwen's hair. Cleo was thrilled. They checked out the local Branson fare. Will suggested taking a ride on a rollercoaster, but Cleo was scared. After, she told Will she loved it. He took her to a collection of gnomes and bought her one for being such a good sport about going on the rollercoaster. She told the gnome that Will was falling in love with her.

Luke rushed into the police station and spoke to Dallas about seeing Cleo suspiciously near the trash and that they needed to get their hands on her diary. Dallas advised Luke to talk to Lily if he wanted to help Jade. Will rushed to the farm to tell Lily that Jade had been wrongly arrested. He then had to recount the whole Cleo story. Lily asked when Jade would get over her obsession with the Munsons. Luke insisted she had and that Cleo was creepy and dangerous. He made a passionate plea on Jade's behalf. Lily suggested that Jade was finally getting punished for her bad behavior.

At the station, Dallas brought Jade into see Luke and Lily. Jade insisted to her aunt that she was innocent and that Cleo was setting her up. Jade said she understood if Lily didn't want to help her because of her lies in the past, but that Will and Gwen needed to be saved. Lily said she would pay the bail and get Jade an attorney, mainly because of Rose. "Don’t make me regret this," she added.

Luke and Jade went to the Munson house, but the garbage truck had already been by, so the cans were empty. They summoned the garbage man and asked if they could go through the bins. He said no, so Jade offered him cash. It worked. They procured the diary pages in the discarded trash, but they were all ripped up in little pieces. Jade was discouraged, but Luke told her it would be like doing a jigsaw puzzle. They sifted through the pages and found some writing where Cleo said that she’d have to get rid of Gwen "the mean way." Luke then asked what Will’s big appeal is. "He listens," Jade explained. They found proof in the diary pages that Cleo left Jade’s necklace at the scene to frame her. Luke apologized to his cousin for doubting her. Jade suggested they go to Branson. Luke said she could go, but he couldn’t because of Noah. Jade plead with him to go, so he gave in and said he would. He pulled out his cell phone to call Gwen. She was still being interviewed by the reporter, who wouldn’t let her pick up her phone. Luke then tried Will, but Will didn’t recognize the number, so he didn’t pick up.

Lily met her mother at the Lakeview. She told Lucinda about the problems with Jade. She also said that she could easily have become Jade had Lucinda not adopted her. They had a heart-to-heart.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Emily and Dusty kissed at the Lakeview. She said that if a year ago anyone had told her they’d be doing that, she’d have laughed. She reported that Susan wanted to meet with her. He asked if she wanted him to come. She said yes, but that she should do it on her own. Emily met Susan at Al’s. They both apologized and had a heart-to-heart. Susan noted that her drinking left lasting scars on her daughters and that she loved her daughters and didn’t want to be angry anymore. Emily was pleased, then told her mom about what was going on with Dusty. Susan got all excited. Emily left and ran into Dusty. He asked how Susan was. "She’s your biggest fan," Emily reported. Emily then said that she felt like anything was possible. He said optimism looked good on her. She told him that Susan invited them to brunch. He said this time, they wouldn’t have to pretend like they were an item.

Alison cried on the couch at her mother’s house. Aaron banged on the door, demanding to be let in. She told him to go away because she wasn’t the same, innocent Alison he used to know. He pleaded with her to let him in. She did. He admitted he was shocked to hear about the drugs and the porn. She said she was tested for everything when she came back to Oakdale and is clean. She asked if he was going back to Seattle. He said no, that he wanted to be the guy to remind her what a great person she is, despite her mistakes. She asked why. "I still love you. With all my heart," he declared. She took a moment, then admitted she wanted to start over with him, too. He thanked her for her honesty; she guiltily flashed to sleeping with Dusty. Aaron asked her to promise that they wouldn’t keep secrets anymore. He asked if she had anything else to confess. She said no, other than that she still loved him. The began to kiss. She said they needed to take things slow.

Vienna gave Henry a special, painful Norwegian massage that he didn’t enjoy. She was dismayed because she wanted to open a spa and have that massage be their signature one. He comforted her, then left to get a steam. She went to the lobby and asked a bellman to come back to her room and take his clothes off. Upstairs, she gave him a massage and he loved it. Henry returned and threw him out. Vienna smiled that Henry was jealous, but assured him it was innocent. They had sex.

Katie worried to Jack that it was official: Carly wanted him back. He insisted that he didn’t want to be with her again. "So why does it bother you that she’s with Brad?" Katie asked, noting that Carly was hanging out with Brad to make him jealous. Jack said it wouldn’t work. "It’s just Carly being Carly," he shrugged. Katie referenced the Carly/Brad/John Dixon drama of years ago. "Wow, you went into the archives for that one," he cracked, then added that the denoument came courtesy of Brad. Jack tried his best to reassure Katie with kisses.

Brad escorted Carly to the Lakeview. She thanked him for having breakfast with her. He asked if her mission was accomplished. She said there was no scheming going on and that their breakfast was impromptu. Brad spun her around in a kiss. Lily walked in on them and told Carly that that was a bad way to get Jack back. Carly asked what she was talking about. Lily pulled out the paper that featured Carly’s photo with Brad and asked if it worked and was Jack jealous. Brad replied that Jack was "jealous as hell." Carly feigned innocence. Lily walked away to talk to Lisa about business; Carly reprimanded Brad for being too open. "Let me call the shots from now on," she insisted. Brad said okay, noting he liked women who took control.

Brad arrived at the farm and encountered Jack. Jack asked Brad what was going on with him and Carly. Brad said nothing as far as he knew; they were just hanging out. Why, Jack asked. Brad queried if Jack was jealous. No, Jack replied, but suggested Brad was jealous of him and Katie. Brad said that yes, Katie was cute, but he wouldn’t blow his job by hooking up with her. Besides, "Why chase the horse when I’ve found greener pastures?" he smirked. Jack told Brad to stop trying so hard; he was on to him.

Katie ran into Carly at the Lakeview. "Twice in one day. My stars must be perfectly aligned," Carly smiled. After some tense back and forth about Brad and Jack, Katie finally cut to the chase and told Carly she knew she was up to something. Carly denied it and insisted she simply enjoyed Brad’s company. "Like I believe that," Katie sneered. Katie then advised Carly to stop wasting her time. "Jack has moved on. All this plotting and scheming won’t work this time," she announced. Lily returned, so Katie left. Carly confessed to being vexed that Katie was on to her. Carly told Lily that there were still sparks between her and Jack and that she never stopped loving him and she knows he hasn’t stopped loving her. Lily said she hoped Carly didn’t get hurt. Carly replied that she wouldn’t, but would have to outsmart and outfight Katie.

Katie went to the farm to find Jack, but ran into Brad. Jack came downstairs and Katie produced tickets for the fireworks show later. Jack said the kids would love it. He asked Katie if she was free because he had the afternoon off. Brad was jealous. Jack pulled Katie outside to go skinny dipping in the pond.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Jack found J.J. screwing up his sad little puss over the photo of his dad and Katie at last night's party in the paper. Also acting childish about the shot was Brad, who sat in the WOAK studio and doodled on their faces. A chipper Carly stopped by to invite him to breakfast — then slyly asked Katie not to tell Jack. "Wow, I don't know if I can keep that electric bit of news to myself," snarked Katie. But Carly was just unfurling her claws — noting how Jack is passionate about his family — when Brad separated the women. "Okay, okay, we'll call that a draw," he said, escorting Carly out. Over bagels, he wondered whether Katie would tattle. "That's the thing about Katie: everything goes in one ear and out her mouth," purred Carly. He suggested that she's looking a little desperate, trying to get Jack's attention this way; she pointed out that he's doing the same thing for Katie. Touché! He guffawed when she wondered what Jack saw in Katie anyway, then listed all of her "hot" qualities, which disgusted Carly. "She doesn't deserve you, let alone Jack," she snapped, flattering him. She then revealed that she and Katie used to be friends, before Katie's betrayal, so stealing Jack back would be like killing two birds with one stone.

Back at WOAK, Jack called the photo of Carly and Brad his “worst nightmare,” which of course triggered Katie's insecurities as usual. He clarified that it's the pairing that scares him: “Nitro? I'd like you to meet glycerine.” Katie, of course, told him all about Carly and Brad's breakfast date, which annoyed Jack. Moments later, he decided to focus on what a great day it is, so they skipped off to buy up copies of the newspaper. They were back at the station, having preciously framed a photo of their clipping, when Carly and Brad returned for some awesome awkwardness, which only convinced Katie that Carly will stop at nothing to get Jack back.

Craig found a distraught, disheveled Meg still (still!) on the cliff, waiting for Paul. He tried to convince her to come back to Oakdale with him so that her Momma can take care of her, but when he put a gentle hand on her shoulder to comfort her, she flinched and warned him crazily not to touch her. It turns out Meg is feeling awfully guilty, and announced her intention no stay on the cliff until Paul was found. That, of course, makes absolutely no sense, so she finally, agreed to go back inside (in spite of her anger about Craig's association with “inside”). There, she found Barbara (finally!) waiting. "I came to find out what the hell happened to my son," announced the grieving mother, fabulously. Apparently, next of kin was already notified, which freaked Meg out. Babs broke down in tears over all the people she's lost, while Craig stood by, exhibiting remarkable restraint and sensitivity. She then told Meg to go home, adding that she would stay and keep vigil for Paul. "I look at you and I see Paul's future. I see him happy. I see him at peace. And that is unbearable," Barbara explained in an exquisite scene that brilliantly put the two women's levels of grief into perspective. She then begged Meg to leave and take Craig with her. Meg agreed, but again (perhaps tactlessly) insisted that Paul isn't dead. Outside, Meg asked Craig to take her home, then leave her alone forever. First, she had to toss the locket over the cliff (thus making Paul's vision come to life) while Barbara, stood supposedly "outside" (but looking like she wasn't quite as outdoors as Meg and Craig were), tearfully begged her son to come back to her.

Emily wanted to over-analyze the (non-)meaning behind her kiss with Dusty, who made her squirm by suggesting that maybe he did want a relationship with her. She dismissed that out of hand and excused herself to go around the corner and start crying. She pulled herself together and came back to thank him for everything he's done for her, then admit that she has feelings for him but she's not good at this whole relationship thing. He flashed back on his sleepy time sex with Alison before cryptically noting that he's done bad things, too. Nothing worse than her, she argued, and he kissed her. "I don't want to talk about the past. I wan to move on. With you," he said, and she kissed him back.

Aaron brought Alison some wildflowers, which elicited a sneezing fit, thanks to her allergies. They sat down at Al's for some more reminiscing about stuff we didn't see when they were off-screen, then he excused himself to wash his hands before eating. That's when Elwood spotted her and instantly got all nervous and excited, because he's a fan of her porn work. A desperate Alison was trying to shut him up when Aaron came back out. Elwood may be pervy but he's not evil, so he went along with Ali's cover story, but still griped that she's not as fun in real life. "That's because I hate real life," she sighed, then went back inside and confessed everything to a stunned Aaron, who took so long to express his feelings that she assumed he hated her now and ran off angrily.

Monday, July 2, 2007
Cornered at the police station by Dallas, Gwen, Will, Maddie and Noah, Jade confessed her role in bringing Cleo to town to impersonate Gwen, but insisted that once the look-alike revealed her true, nutty self, she tried to send her packing. Instead, as we all know, Cleo stuck around; Jade accused her of conspiring to break up the young Munsons because she's in love with Will. A tearful Cleo denied any wrongdoing and of course won everyone's sympathy — never mind that they all hate Jade. It doesn't matter, reasoned Jade: proof is in the diary. Unfortunately for her, Dallas wasn't ready to rush off for a subpoena, because Jade seems like the guiltier party anyway. He tossed her in the interrogation room, while Cleo swore she was being honest and she would never ruin the Branson concert. Gwen gave her a comforting hug, and unconvincingly assured her that she didn't believe Jade. At home, Cleo came down with an instant, piercing headache. The young Munsons left to fetch some medicine, while Cleo flashed back to seeing an unconscious Will in the car, then sat down to scribble down some more damning evidence — that is, she actually wrote in her diary that if anyone found her diary, she'd be in trouble, so she has to get rid of her diary. "Good-bye. Thank you for being my friend," she said, tearing up the pages. Unfortunately, she was too busy literally making out with the journal as she said her farewells that she didn't have time to properly dispose of the evidence. She tossed the garbage bags (in which she had separated the pages) out the window as Gwen and Will (after discussing whether Jade really was guilty) returned. A guilty Cleo behaved even more odd than usual as she made some random excuses for going outside for fresh air, but the young Munsons understandably couldn't really discern from a higher level of crazy when it comes to her, so they didn't really notice. Outside, Luke snuck up in time to spy Cleo furtively stuffing the bags in the trash.

Maddie and Noah went to Al's to gossip about her favorite snarky subject: Bad Girl Jade. He argued that Cleo might be a little crazier than she looks (if that's possible). He was encouraged to hear that Luke is close with Jade, so she can't be all bad. This, of course, led to discussion of how awesome and funny Luke is. Speaking of, Luke went rushing to Jade's rescue at the police station. He needed some convincing after he found out that she brought Cleo to town, but she begged him to just tell Dallas the truth (that she told him about losing her necklace before Will's crash). Too bad Dallas just thought Luke was covering for his cousin and arrested Jade.

Back at Al's, Maddie and Noah talked colleges, but she got squirrelly when he invited her to visit Northwestern in Chicago, where he's going. Reminded, no doubt, of her rapist brother-in-law, not to mention her psycho slasher sister, she cryptically declined. Things soon turned back to flirtation, because they both like hanging out with each other.

Jack and Katie canoodled and discussed — without knocking on wood, as usual — the fact that things would likely get back to normal soon. In Milltown, Carly got all dolled up like a Hollywood screen siren, wowing Brad. She insisted that she's concentrating on her image for career purposes, but he teased her by pointing out that Jack will also be at the party. Indeed, Jack and Katie came out as "an item" to the press, just as Carly and Brad sauntered in, ratcheting the tension. Katie was soon pulled away to pose with her co-star, so Jack quizzed Carly about what she's doing here with Brad, tipping his jealousy hand. She went too far by calling him on it, which annoyed him at first. "I think it's sweet that you worry about me," she said. "Old habits die hard," he responded, giving her "The Look." The press, meanwhile, was grilling Katie on having "a thing" for the Snyder men. She admitted that both Jack and Brad are "good-looking and smart and funny" but that Jack's grown-up. Brad retorted that his brother may be one of Oakdale's finest, but he would be a snooze on OAKDALE NOW. They finished their photo op in time to see Jack and Carly making eyes at each other. Brad had just started needling Katie about it when a reporter interrupted. Katie left Brad with her, and went to check on Jack. He, in turn, left her with Carly while he got a drink, so the ladies could make slightly catty small talk. By the time Jack got back, it was time for Katie to take some more photos, while Jack told Carly that she can date whoever she wants.

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