Thankfully, the resort where Larry had Doug railroaded into a drug charge decided to drop charges, and Doug was able to return to Salem in time for the hearing in front of the Alcohol Control Board! But what's this? Larry has tampered with Doug's chances there, also! The strong point in Doug's defense for the return of his liquor license was to be top-notch character witnesses; and Larry finds out just who those witnesses are, and does what he can to prevent them for speaking up in Doug's defense! Neil was one of them, and Larry succeeds in getting him stone drunk and unable to testify. Later, a bewildered Neil, just coming out of his stupor, cannot figure out what happened! When Mary hears Neil's story, she advises him to tell Doug right away. Doug is concerned and interested; but Julie, who feels betrayed, refuses to hear his story. Later, when Doug and Julie discuss the recent events, he is appalled to hear that Julie has been confiding so much in Larry! Doug tells Julie that Larry is unscrupulous and cannot be trusted; but she staunchly defends the man! She is also upset at Doug's revelation that he plans to take a job singing on a Caribbean cruise! She softens somewhat when he asks her and Hope to come with him; but then she must refuse, as she doesn't feel Robert can handle the club without her.
BILL MOVES OUT!
And Bill has moved out of his home and into the Salem Inn! He was spending so much time after work with Kate Winograd -- taking her to dinner, sharing cozy dinners at her place, giving her an expensive locket and trying to kiss her -- that poor Laura finally exploded one day when Bill had the nerve to accuse her of spending too much time with Mickey! Indeed, Laura only spent time talking with Mickey because everytime Mickey called Bill to discuss the case, he was never home -- he was always at Kate's! Finally, Laura -- hurt and bewildered by her husband's turning away from her and to Kate -- tells Bill he may as well live with Kate! So now Bill lives at the Inn and spends all his free time with Kate! Alice walked in on Bill when he was packing his bags and tried to persuade him otherwise, but to no avail. Later, a distraught Laura pours out her marital state of affairs to Mickey; and the wayward Bill is confronted by both Mickey and the patriarch Tom Horton. As for Mickey, Bill tells him quite bluntly and sarcastically to mind his own business, and he'll mind his (and that includes Kate!) -- but the elderly Tom doesn't give Bill a chance to back out; and instead of confronting him directly, sets up a surprise meeting for Bill and Laura together to give them a chance to work things out. Well, the couple talk to one another, but it again ends in a stalemate over his closeness to Kate, and nothing is resolved.
KATE RESIGNS!
Later, Kate goes to see Laura in her office to assure her that there is not now -- and never has been -- anything between her and Bill. Such a "confession" should set Laura's mind at ease, but it doesn't. (Indeed, why did Kate not tell Laura of the locket Bill gave her and the time he tried to kiss her?) In fact, before Kate leaves Laura's office, Laura quite bluntly says that Kate is in love with Bill!
Laura must have hit on the truth with that statement for, without talking to Bill, Laura resigns from the clinic! Bill is upset when he finds out, and goes directly to Kate's home. She tries not to let him in, but in the end she surrenders. She. tells him about her meeting with Laura; and her accusation that she (Kate) is in love with Bill. Such words seem to be what Bill wants to hear, and he pointedly asks Kate if she is indeed in love with him! She won't say yes, but her agitated demeanor makes it obvious. She finally asks Bill to leave, and he does, but only with the promise that he'll be back.
And what of Mickey and Maggie's marriage? A distraught Maggie seeks Alice for comfort. Maggie is afraid that with all the time Mickey (who was once married to Laura) spends consoling Laura; the two will be thrown together just like Bill and Kate! And then where will Maggie be?
And Linda has finally dragged a marriage proposal out of Bob! When he returns from his L.A. business trip and his bout with an undetermined illness, he realizes more than ever how indispenable, in so many ways, she is to him. Still, (and much to Linda's dismay) Bob wants to hold off on any wedding plans till Tom can determine exactly what state his health is in, as Bob doesn't think it would be fair for a young, vivacious woman to be saddled with an older, sickly man. Linda assures him that she loves him and wants only to take care of him; but Bob is adamant in his decision.
And the romance between Don and Marlena seems terrific except for two minor problems: when Don campaigns in conservative towns, he and Marlena must book separate hotel rooms; and whatever are they going to do with that vicious gossip reporter Arlena? Arlena has dragged out the whole sordid story concerning Sam!
TABLES TURNING?
Julie has fired Arlo, the contact Larry had working as a busboy at Doug's Place to spy for him! When Larry finds out that Arlo has been fired, he angrily tells the man that he failed in his mission and is no longer any good to him. He tells Arlo to leave town. Arlo is angry and fights back. He tells Larry that Larry had promised him a future with the "company" and he refuses to be run out of town just because some lousy spy job backfired! Larry refuses.to be intimidated, and again insists that Arlo leave town. Arlo gets tough then, reminding Larry that right now he has the upper hand, not Larry! He warns Larry that unless he gives him a place in the "company" he will go to the police with everything he knows about Larry's dirty dealings concerning Doug!
But Larry has more dirty dealings in store for young Arlo! As Arlo leaves The Pines, Larry has one of his men give him quite a roughing up! The young man, bloodied and barely conscious, is able to stagger through the woods to Mary's cabin! Indeed, Mary and Chris are enjoying quite a romantic interlude when this poor soul literally falIs into their living room, collapsing into a state of near unconsciousness! The two call Neil, who attends to Arlo until an ambulance arrives. Will Arlo survive? Will he tell all about Larry's tampering with the Alcohol Control Board?
Larry, meantime, thinking he has shut Arlo up for good, enjoys an evening with Geri .. . But surely Larry's mind cannot be totally at ease when she asks who that young man (Arlo!) was he talking to so secretively.
Linda, meantime, is in a bit of a quandry. She has gotten Bob to the point where his feelings tell him to marry her, but his head says no! And that is all because of his illness in Los Angeles.. Now, he tells the frustrated gold-digger, he cannot many her until he gets a good bill of health ! He tells her he doesn't want to be a burden! Linda, meanwhile, tells him she loves him and wants to marry him, and that means to take care of him, too, when necessary. Finally, in exasperation, she even hints that possibly he doesn't want to marry her because of his disastrous marriage to Julie. That innuendo upsets Bob, and he embraces Linda, passionately kissing those thoughts away . . . And later, when Bob tells Linda he has decided to make her his chief executive administrator, she is very happy -- until Bob tells her that young David Banning will be her assistant, as he wants to groom him for an executive position!
ELEVATOR INTRIGUE!
Don, meantime, is upset at Jim Bradley because Jim privately persuaded Marlena not to accompany Don on his campaign swing through Medford, a conservative small town. And Don is more upset when, continually unable to reach Marlena by phone, he ultimately finds out that the poor woman has spent half the night stuck in an elevator with Fred! It seems that Jean walked out on Fred again, and Marlena was trying to help the situation. Odd as it seems, being stuck in an elevator did help Fred's situation! Marlena was able to get him to relate -- and in doing so she, found out that Fred's childhood was a nightmare, where his father beat both his mother and him! Oh, Fred had his bid moments in the elevator (took a couple of swinqs at Marlena!) but basically, it was a therapeutic time of delving into his inner self and why he treats women the way he does
Luckily, however, between Don's frantic phone calls to Marlena's answering service and to Amanda and Greg as to the whereabouts of Marlena, Greg finds the two, rescues them, and, before the night is out, Marlena is snuggling safely in Don's loving arms (he drove all the way back from Medford to Salem in the middle of the night)!
Mickey and Maggie, meantime, are also quite cozily involved with one another as they spend some time together down on the farm. Despite their loving time together, however, Maggie still cannot drive away her doubts about Mickey and what his feelings for Laura are now that Bill has left her.
TROUBLE FOR DOUG & JULIE?
Arlo was placed in the hospital under Neil's care, and seemed on the verge of telling all about the whole Larry Atwood mess; until a cryptic and threatening call from Larry frightens Arlo into fleeing! Where will he go -- and what will he tell?
Doug, meantime (and much to Julie's dismay) accepted a singing gig on a Caribbean cruise! To dry her tears, however, Doug suggested that Julie come along and leave Robert in charge, of Doug's Place! Julie finally agrees, and goes on a shopping spree for beautiful vacation clothes, when Neil is forced to bring Doug and Julie some bad news: Robert is laid up in the hospital with a bad case of pneumonia! A disappointed Julie now must forego the cruise to take charge at the club, and it saddens her that Doug still leaves for the cruise. She cannot understand why he insists on taking these obscure singing engagements -- they certainly don't need the money! Is this marriage in for some hard times due to the strain of legal problems concerning the Alcohol Control Board? Julie grows more and more hurt and frustrated with each out of town job Doug takes; and, across town, despite Jeri making no secrets about being head over heels in love with Larry Atwood (she has a key to his apartment and has taken it upon herself to fix him homecooked meals, despite his discomfort over her getting too involved); Larry finds his romantic thoughts and desires turning more and more to Julie!
Mickey, meantime, is upset when he walks into his office for a scheduled meeting with Kate and Bill -- and finds Bill caressing Kate's cheeks and neck!, And perhaps Maggie's fear that Bill turning to Kate will cause a hurt Laura to turn to Mickey is justified? Indeed, a distraught Laura went to Mickey's office, and, unable to contain herself any longer, burst into tears -- and into Mickey's arms! And who should walk in just then but Maggie! Later, Maggie voices her fear to Mickey, and he tries to reassure her that such fear is unfounded -- but is it? In an ex-lover's arms, is it unrealistic to believe that consolation could turn to passion?
David, meantime, has found a certain solace in the company of Chris and Mary! David dislikes Linda to begin with, and, now that he's her, assistant, she is treating him like a mere messenger! In fact, she has even suggested to Bob that he be transferred to one of their smaller, out of town branches!
And Fred can walk! He is afraid to let anyone know, however, as then his malpractice suit would be down the drain, with no chance of winning any money. But if he doesn't make an effort to get help -- physically and psychologically -- it is doubtful Jean and Billy, whom he loves dearly, will return to him. What will he do? Rick Stevens is back in town to tell what really happened that fateful day -- will Fred, also, come clean?
The case against Bill and Kate finally comes to trial -- only to have it begin and end all in one day! Evidently, the soul-searching time he spent in the elevator with Marlena had quite an impact on Fred! In the middle of the trial, he finally realizes that Jean and Billy mean much more to him than a fraudulently acquired million dollars; so, in a dramatic moment, he simply rises to his feet from his wheelchair and confronts the judge!
With Fred no longer incapacitated, the judge immediately throws out the case -- and everyone (especially Fred!) -- is happy! Fred and Jean embrace (this is a new beginning for them!); and Laura, who came to watch, longs to embrace Bill, but instead she rushes out in tears! For her husband turns to embrace Kate.
While a distraught Laura sits home alone by the fire, Mickey and Bill go to Kate's apartment to celebrate with a glass of wine. Upon finishing his drink, Mickey gets up to leave, and quite pointedly asks Bill if he is leaving. Bill makes it quite obvious that he prefers to stay, so a disgusted Mickey leaves alone. Kate however, spurning Bill's amorous advances says she will not become involved with a married man!
It is obvious, however, that she has the same feelings for Bill that he has for her, for she cannot stop herself from submitting -- and retuming -- his passionate kiss! She finally breaks it off, however, and forces him to leave! She says goodbye -- for good, she says -- but Bill will only say goodnight . . .
Mickey, meantime, has gone to console Laura! Laura, however, doesn't want consolation. She has been hurt so badly, she is not even sure she wants Bill back! But Laura knows that a man belongs with his wife, so Laura, drying her tears, sends a reluctant Mickey home to Maggie .
And who should be spending a cozy late-night supper in another man's apartment while her husband is away? Larry has lured Julie into having a late dinner with him at his place . . .
