Summary Ricky makes Joe's reunion with Karen even worse by pointing out Joe's disheveled appearance and his failure to come home the previous night. Karen stalls telling Noe why she has returned to a place she hated. Patricia and Cissie each thought Joe was divorced, and Patricia wonders why he didn't formally end it. Joe explains why. Karen's leaving him destroyed his ego. He was afraid to love again, so there was no point in pushing for a divorce. He declares his love to Patricia and willingness to risk another rejection. Karen reunites with old friend Jerry and is barely civil to Holly. After Karen proposes he return to Chicago with her to pursue an architectural career, Joe forcefully informs her that he loves Patricia, not her. He wants a divorce and for her to go back home. Debbie and Brad agree to visit their mothers in prison together. She thinks it would be cool if Rita and Kath were best friends. Rita watches with a smirk as Fisher takes away Brad's photo away from Kath, and she refrains from losing her temper. Nell quarrels with Fisher about his harassment of Kath. He realizes she was the one who reported him to Warden Grayson and threatens to not be there when she needs him. Ricky snoops in the cellar and is caught by Captain Goodard, who's hiding out. He sends Ricky to get Patricia. He tells her that he needs her to help him sell his bait and fish shop in order to get enough money to go far away from Cronin's mob. Patricia offers him $50,000 cash which he's forced to accept. A distraught Cissie fears Patricia is up to something. Karen tips Frances off to Jerry and Holly's engagement. When Ricky asks him for advice on handling Debbie, Joe suggests he ask Crystal. Karen confronts Patricia. She wants Patricia to step aside so that she can save her marriage. Patricia flatly refuses and orders her to leave the inn. When Karen reveals that she's an investigative reporter and can ruin the inn's reputation, a worried Patricia backs down. Ricky gets good advice from Crystal, leading to tentative steps toward friendship with Debbie. Maria agrees to ask John Randall to defend Cissie's case. Karen's attempt to seduce Joe fails badly. Later she overhears Patricia and Joe laughing about her sleeping with a married man under the same roof as his wife. Frances fills Karen in on all the criminal activity at Cedar Lake Inn. Karen decides to write an expose and phones her office to get files on Ben Cronin, Faith, Tony Osorio and Patricia. Cronin phones Cissie regarding her possible knowledge of Goddard's whereabouts then makes veiled comments about her family. She reports her fears to Patricia. Brad accidentally reveals that Patricia is buying out Goddard. An upset Cissie demands to know what's going on, leading to a quarrel. After Cissie storms out, Patricia finds her unconscious on the floor.

• Comedy
• Crime
• Drama
• Romance