At Outskirts, Cassie and Reva argue about Josh's confession to Alan's shooting. Cassie focuses on the impact it has on her and her kids, while Reva points out that Josh's own kids are affected as well. They try to figure out how they can get him to recant. Buried feelings service as Cassie says that Reva is trying really hard to hate her. She gives Reva a couple of reasons why she should. Reva tells her it's no fun if Cassie says it first. Cassie says that she can only remember the beginning and the end of the night Alan was shot, but not the middle. Reva tells her she will help her remember. She tells her sister that they will get everything cleared up so that Josh can be free to be with Cassie. Reva goes to Jeffrey's room and tries to hire him on a retainer of one dollar. She asks him if Cassie would have a better chance getting off than Josh if Cassie confessed to the shooting. Jeffrey will have no part of it. When Reva asks him what she can do, he replies that she should pray that the police find another suspect.
At The Beacon, Olivia is on the phone with Jeffrey discussing their daughter Ava. Buzz arrives and Olivia quickly gets off the phone, trying to hide the fact that she was speaking with Jeffrey. Buzz is on to her and insists that she stop lying to him. She says she wasn't lying, only leaving things out. Buzz lets her know he feels it's the same thing. When she asks him if he isn't bothered by her spending time with Jeffrey, Buzz tells her that he is not. He just wants her to be honest with him. He tells her that if she is scared, she should come to him. She says she isn't scared of anything, but Buzz insists that she is scared of something. Later, after Buzz and Marina have had a heart to heart about Marina's lack of confidence in her abilities as a cop, Marina leaves feeling better and Olivia arrives on the scene. She tells Buzz that she made a mistake putting Ava before him. Buzz tells her that she's got it all wrong. He knows the importance of protecting one's children and encourages her to do so as long as she not things from him. Buzz acknowledges that whatever the problems are that Olivia has with Ava, Ava is still her daughter.
At the police station, Mallet tells Marina that the "charming" con-artist, Cyrus Foley is probably long gone from Springfield. Marina is still a bit obsessed with the case and how she was taken in. Meanwhile, Dinah, "Di Di," has found Cyrus waiting for her in her room. It becomes apparent that Dinah and Cyrus had once been partners in crime and that Dinah had given testimony that let her off and had him imprisoned. Cyrus is resentful and looking for revenge. Cyrus hides in the closet when Vanessa stops by. While she is there, she reveals that Matt is in Toronto raising a lot of capital for their project. Dinah begs off dinner with her mother, explaining that she really needs to spend quality time with Mallet that evening. Vanessa understands and leaves. Cyrus emerges from the closet and tells Dinah that he isn't a pushover like her mom and leaves saying that he will be in touch with her soon. Marina and Mallet are back at the police station and Mallet tells her to get a life and start dating so she won't be obsessed with the likes of Cyrus Foley. He also tells her that Beth gives him the "willies."
At the Spaulding mansion, Alan-Michael finds Beth in the sitting room with a revolver she has taken from a hiding place in the bookshelf. They discuss how anyone in the family could have had access to it. Beth is angry when Alan-Michael says that even Lizzie could have used it. Just then, Ava enters. Although Alan-Michael has the gun sitting on a blanket in his lap, Ava doesn't see it as Beth removes it from sight. Beth wants to continue her conversation Alan-Michael without Ava present, but he says it can wait. Jeffrey lets himself in and begins telling Ava she should stay away from Alan-Michael. He reveals that Alan-Michael set Josh up to skip out on his bail. Beth leaves for Cedars. While there she is confronted by Mallet who alludes to the fact that the case isn't over since the weapon hadn't been found. She also encounters Cassie who asks her to help Josh in his case. Beth tells her that, though she's sorry about Josh, she can't help because she is a Spaulding. After Beth and Jeffrey leave, Ava confronts Alan-Michael with how what Jeffrey said was true. She told him that she didn't need Alan-Michael's, Coop's, or Jeffrey's protection. She was there to help Alan-Michael. She kisses him on the forehead and leaves for the kitchen to get them something to eat. Alan-Michael tells her he needs to make a last phone call. When she leaves, he stands, walks to the door, locks it and retrieves the revolver from its hiding place. He holds it away from his side and stares at it as though he is about to use it.
Jeffrey O'Neill arrives at the farm to have a talk with Cassie. He tells her that Josh could be in a great deal of trouble. He tells her that she has found a good man and she really deserves this life. He asks her again about Alan's shooting, and Cassie tells Jeffrey that she wishes that she could remember what happened that night. She informs Jeffrey that she will not allow Josh to take the fall for this. She just believes that he is not guilty of this, and she knows that she had a gun the night of the shooting because of the video tape that Chief Cooper showed her. She will not let Josh use a plea bargain to get a lesser sentence for something she is sure he did not do.
Cassie goes to see Josh at the police station just after Mel has arrived to discuss a plea bargain that Josh insists they do for it is self-defense or so Josh claims. Josh and Mel argue and the discussion becomes heated as Mel tells Josh that he will do at all cost to protect Cassie from any further hurt. Mel becomes frustrated when Josh says to get the DA to offer a plea, and she tells him that the DA works for Alan's wife, as she asks "Do you really think this will go well?". As Josh starts to reply, is when Cassie arrives to see him. The two embrace and Mel leaves to see what she can do. Cassie and Josh begin to talk, and she tells him that she will not let him do this not matter how much he loves her. She loves him too much to see him suffer through all of this.
As Mel leaves the station she runs into Rick, when they exchange kind words, and Rick asks her if they can go and talk. Arriving on Main Street for coffee, Rick tells Mel that it is time for them to get a divorce. They both apologize and exchange memories of how they are reminded of the good times that they shared and the love they had had for each other just as Cassie and Josh. They both agree to continue to raise their daughter and they both apologize for what went wrong in their marriage, and Rick tells her that he is a better man because of her. She thanks him and they both embrace.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey O'Neill asks to meet with the DA Doris Wolfe, and she agrees. Before leaving the Spaulding Mansion, Doris meets with Alan-Michael and the two begin to disagree about how to run the Mansion as well as the family. Doris meets with Jeffrey and he tells her that there is no way she will give in to Josh Lewis. He confessed to her husbands shooting. Jeffrey reminds her that he can call the driver back from Australia about the death of Tammy Winslow. This can get ugly and he will see to it. She agrees to offer a plea, and Jeffrey tells her that Alan only married her to protect himself. This will all come out in trial. Jeffrey leaves to go see Josh and tell him the news. Arriving back at the station, Jeffrey tells Cassie and Josh that Doris agrees to two years upstate in a minimum security prison. Cassie says no way will he take the blame for this. They will go to trial.
At the Spaulding Mansion, Doris and Ashlee are planning her 18th birthday party. Ashlee's friends are not good enough for Doris, so therefore Doris will invite her some teens from the country club. Ashlee is furious! Lizzie comes in and begins to help with the planning of the party, all the while planning the party's demise.
Alan-Michael is at the mansion with Ava when she arrives just as he is claiming to be doing some therapy. He and Ava admit that they have feelings for each other and they kiss. They agree to go to the party for Ashlee as a true couple. Alan-Michael is still leading Ava along that he is truly paralyzed. She continues to fall for him and believe all that he tells her. She is truly naive.
Inside the Light: Birthday
Ashlee and Moxy seem to be the only ones on time for her eighteenth birthday party at Company. Outside she wonders where her guests are. Coop sprints out the door. He isn't keen on hanging around for the bash considering the guest list. Snotty rich girls that her mother and Lizzie invited comprise the list. Ashlee is just happy her mother at least let her have Company for the location. Coop he wishes her a happy birthday and hopes she enjoys all the work Buzz put into it. Once Coop leaves, Ashlee confides in Moxy how badly she wants to be accepted by Lizzie and all her friends.
In Alan's parlor at the Spaulding mansion, Beth feels the Spauldings are all in the clear because of Josh's confession. Alan-Michael isn't so sure since someone hid the gun in the Spaulding mansion. She makes a brazen play for Alan-Michael, inviting him to just "walk" into her room later tonight after the party. Though definitely intrigued, he declines. He has other plans. An unpleased Beth agrees with him that they will keep one another's secrets. Still she wants to know what is up with him. He's been coming onto her since he returned to town, but now he's resisting her. She thinks it's Ava. He must be in love with her. Alan-Michael won't answer and tersely excuses her. Their secrets must mean nothing, Beth hisses and exits. With the door closed, Alan-Michael springs from the wheelchair and opens the false book with the gun in it.
Lizzie isn't dressed for the party or anywhere near it for that matter. She pulls up a chair at Alan's bedside. Resentfully she talks about how Doris and Ashlee think they can just make themselves instant Spauldings. She thinks he'd be proud of her for making a farce out of Ashlee's birthday. She never invited any guests. They have to learn, she tells Alan, Spauldings do whatever they have to do to protect each other—whatever they have to do.
A minked out Doris interrupts Lizzie's time with Alan and instructs her to get ready for the party. Belligerent Lizzie causes Doris to wonder what happened to their fence mending. They got along so well in planning the party for Ashlee. Lizzie accuses her of blackmailing Alan and demands she get out of their house. Doris asks Lizzie what she did wrong to her. Lizzie rants that Doris dances on her dead baby's grave and celebrates while Alan is in a coma. Doris tells her to suck it up and move on. Lizzie's mouth drops at the woman's audacity to tell her to get over her baby's death. Doris rolls her eyes. What's passed is past. Lizzie still argues with her. Doris condescendingly tells Lizzie that, as the future of the Spaulding family, she often asks herself what would Alan do. Alexandra crosses the threshold with an amused giggle. Yes, she says. Do things Alan's way and Doris, too, can wind up with a bullet in her.
Beth strolls to Ashlee's party with a gift in hand and literally runs into Rick outside company. Now that his divorce is moving forward, Rick passionately proposes that Beth and he be together. Beth seems to deter, but Rick seriously wants the rest of his life to include her. She reminds him that she carries Alan's baby. Rick is ready to help her with that if Alan never recovers. Beth struggles with her thoughts as he happily tells her they no longer have to sneak around or lie. They can be together in the open now. It's not that easy, Beth tells him. Rick sincerely tells Beth that Alan was cruel to her, but he will give her whatever she needs. Thoughtfully, Beth inclines her head and wonders if he really means that. Of course, Rick nods. Beth latches her arm with his and silently leads him away from Company.
Just then, Ashlee reemerges and desperately checks for guests. Back inside, she stares like a puppy in the window, wondering what could be keeping everyone. "Maybe there's a traffic jam or something..." Sadly she blinks. "Maybe they hate me..."
Meanwhile, Rick wonders why Beth brought her back to the hotel room where they used to carry on their affair. Beth replies that he is very convincing. Rick nervously paces the room, thinking they are moving kind of fast. Beth rips his jacket off, saying they have to start somewhere. When he's still hesitant, she asks him if he really wants her. He does. If they plan to spend the rest of their lives together, then they do this. "More than once if we have to—because we want to," Beth tells him. "Rick, you are the man who is going to give me everything I need." The two fall into bed together.
Meanwhile Alexandra wonders if this is the night of Doris's daughter's birthday party. Doris says that it is. Alex laughs, "Well, were you invited?" Lizzie laughs at the comment. Doris proclaims that she is a Spaulding now and asks that they treat her with a little respect. "We do," Lizzie nods and then smirks, "very little." She leaves Alex with Doris for round two and exits the hospital room. Alone Alexandra advises Ms. Wolfe that she doesn't want to go head-to-head with her. Doris corrects her again that she's a Spaulding and tells her that she's gone against her before. She put her in prison. Bitterly Alex retorts that she hasn't forgotten that.
With her evil giggle, Alex recounts Doris's poor life. She never had much of anything, worked her way through law school and intimidated men. However, she's never gotten the respect she's longed for. Uncomfortable, Doris cuts the conversation short, and says she'll see Alex at the party. Alex sends her regards to Ashlee. Stunned, Doris wonders if Alex means she isn't attending Ashlee's party. Alex has more pressing matters with the Spaulding board and attorneys. While Doris Wolfe huffs and puffs and blows out candles, Alex will be devising a plan to carve her out of the Spaulding family. "Oh, come on," she tells a distraught Doris. "You didn't really think I was going to just stand by and let you become Alan's widow?" With a blink and smile, she continues, "Dream on," and turns her back on Doris.
Meanwhile Alan-Michael returns the false book to the bookshelf. As he walks toward his wheelchair, Ava barrels into the room. She stops short, discovering him standing. At first Ava is overjoyed to learn that he can walk. Alan-Michael lies that he just started learning to walk again, but wanted to keep it secret. His legs are nowhere as strong as they need to be. As he blubbers through his explanation, Ava realizes that he lied to her the whole time. She wonders if he were ever paralyzed or if he just pretending so that he could get her in his house. She yells at him that he tossed himself off the balcony for her sympathy. Alan-Michael protests, but Ava deems him a liar and storms out of the house.
On Main Street Coop encounters Lizzie and asks her why she isn't at the party. Immediately he sees through her façade and presses her about what she did to Ashlee. After a short interrogation, Lizzie admits there is no party. Doris and Ashlee are getting what they deserve for trampling on all the Spaulding misfortune. Coop jerks her around and berates her for causing Ashlee to have a horrible memory of her eighteenth birthday. They argue and Lizzie doesn't care what he thinks. She doesn't need him or anyone. Coop asks her to look around because that's exactly what she has—no one. More gently, he takes her to a bench and tells her that he understands all she lost. Lizzie responds that she lost her baby but no one even cares. They wish it were her that was dead. Coop asks her to prove them wrong and be better. He leaves her alone on the bench to think.
As Coop rushes to Company to see about Ashlee, Ava accosts him. She wants a sympathetic ear to comfort her about Alan-Michael's lies. Coop only says that he told her so. Ava is taken aback by his harshness and admits she should have seen this months ago. She starts to cry, saying that she just wants to undo what she did and take everything back. Coop doesn't think that she's done with Alan-Michael. Ava proclaims that she is done, but Coop tells her that he has a choice. His choice is to go inside and help someone that he knows really needs him. He wishes Ava luck and leaves her outside.
Inside Coop pretends that Ashlee's party is over instead of revealing that he knows it never began. He sprightly asks her can they now have cake and enjoy a good time together. Ashlee doesn't correct him that the party never was and laughs as they dig into the cake. Later, they spread out on the floor with Moxy and Ashlee reveals that she used to live in a trailer park. Coop tells her there is nothing wrong with that. Ashlee laughs it off, saying that her mother is the one who doesn't want anyone to know about it because she's trying to fit in the Spaulding world. Coop tells her that those people are no better than her. Ashlee says she knows who she is and she's learned to laugh at herself. She loves herself, but it's her mother who wants her changed. Coop encourages her to be herself, love herself and her friends because that's all that matters. He reminds her that all the Company customers love her and she lights up the entire restaurant when she comes in. With hearts in her eyes, Ashlee asks him if he wants another piece of cake. Lizzie happens by the window. Perplexed by the scene of Ashlee and Coop inside laughing and dancing, she strolls away.
On Main Street, Alex discovers a distraught Ava. She wonders what's the matter as she hands her tissues. Hurt, Ava reveals that Alan-Michael lied to her and she doesn't think she can forgive him. Alex giggles and is not even going ask what he did wrong. She does know, however, that her nephew is not poison. He's capable of deep felt love. She's seen it before and she has a feeling that she's seeing it again. They exchange looks and Alex leaves her on the bench to figure it out.
At the hotel, Beth lies with her legs up on the headboard, encouraging Rick's sperm to swim where they are supposed to. Rick reenters the room and Beth is ready to hit the sheets again. Rick wonders if they should give their little friend a rest, but Beth thinks he's rested enough. She throws Rick down on the bed and starts kissing him again.
Back at the mansion, Ava drags into the parlor to find Alan-Michael in his wheelchair. She says she should have given him a chance to explain. She asks him for the truth. She wonders if he was lying to her the whole time. He says he wasn't. She wants to know if all the physical therapy was a lie to keep her from Coop. Alan-Michael tells her that he doesn't want lies between them. He says the possibility of them getting together is what made him work harder to walk. He says she just found out before he could tell her. He pleads with her to believe that he was trying to be whole for her, to be the man she deserves. He takes her hand and says that if he botched it up, he has no one to blame but himself.
Alexandra and Doris lock horns again at CO2. Alex laughs to think Doris stood Ashlee up just to follow her around. Doris wants to know if she had her little meeting. Alex coos that she did and it went very well. Doris will be hearing about it, she tells her. Doris threatens Alex's retreating backside that she'll be sorry she did this. Without turning around, Alex replies that she doesn't think so.
In the hallway outside Alan's parlor, Lizzie strolls by the photo table. She catches of glimpse of a photo of herself with Sarah. She grabs it and collapses to the floor, sobbing. Inside the parlor, Ava tells Alan-Michael that it took a long time for her to believe in him. She won't toss it away. They kiss and he pulls her into his lap as the passion deepens.
At the hospital, dutiful Beth goes to see Alan. She relays to him that they belong together. She vows that they will be together because she's made sure of it. She knows that he'll understand why she did what she did tonight and he'll thank her for it. She was putting the family first. That's what Alan always says, family comes first. She smiles, asking him to rest. When he comes back to them, everything will be different and right again. She kisses his cheek and leaves. Up close, Alan's eyes slowly flutter. With difficulty it seems, he finally opens them.
Due to CBS Sports coverage of the NCAA College Basketball "March Madness" tournament, today's entire CBS Daytime lineup (The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, As the World Turns and Guiding Light) was pre-empted.
Regular broadcasting will resume on Monday, March 19th.
Due to CBS Sports coverage of the NCAA College Basketball "March Madness" tournament, today's entire CBS Daytime lineup (The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, As the World Turns and Guiding Light) was pre-empted.
Regular broadcasting will resume on Monday, March 19th.
