Episode Report Card Pablo G: B | 4 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT Weathering the Storm
By Pablo G | Season 1 | Episode 13 | Aired on 01.18.2012
Stowaway. Ashley sidles up to take a seat next to Nolan and orders a house vodka soda. Nolan's concerned. House vodka?! Ashley spills that she's ashamed she's been distancing herself from her best friend all summer and trying to weasel her way into Victoria's good graces only to find out the queen's reign is probably coming to an end. All Ashley has had to show for it is a psychotic Tyler, and now Emanda gets an engagement ring and the keys to the kingdom. This news catches both Jack and Nolan off guard. Ashley excuses herself to go drown in the "loo," which Nolan comically directs her toward, ignoring her supposed intent because he's still in a daze at the revelation of Emanda's engagement. Jack asks Nolan if he heard the news correctly, and Nolan confirms. Elsewhere in the bar, Amily pours a shot for a tough-looking guy who suggests she pour another for herself on him. Amily declines, but the guy persists, offering to give her a ride home. Amily reveals way too much info, telling him she's already home and she lives upstairs with her boyfriend. Tough Guy files that info away for later.
Daniel finds his father drinking alone at an adjunct to the lounge of the South Fork Inn. He was looking for Charlotte, but Conrad explains she's been sent home. Daniel reveals he's asked Emanda to marry him and they're now engaged. Instead of being happy for his son, he asks if Emanda's aware she's part of Dan's scheme to claim his share of the company. Daniel tries to appeal to his father's memory of his love he had for Victoria when they first met, but it turns into Conrad comparing the feeling to what he's sure his son thinks he's feeling now. Daniel points out he'd never treat Emanda how Conrad has treated Victoria. Genuinely hurting, Conrad replies, "No, no no, you say that, but you'll be at each other's throat in the end. You'll see. You'll cheat on her, she'll cheat on you and then one day you'll find out she's been keeping a secret so big it'll destroy your whole family." Daniel asks what secret he's talking about. Conrad suggests Daniel ask his mother.
Casa Emily. Emanda sits quietly on her couch hugging a mug of coffee with all the windows and doors open. Curtains swirl in the wind from another oncoming storm. There's a knock and Charlotte appears through the curtains of the French doors. She's looking for Daniel and is obviously a mess. Her voice breaks as she tells Emanda she's been kicked out by Conrad and she has no idea why. She has no way of knowing the meaning of what she's saying when she tells Emanda that she's never seen her father look at her the way he did today -- like he looks at her mother. Emanda knows exactly what it means -- another woman in Conrad's life who was supposed to belong to him actually belonged to David Clarke all along -- so she has to put her hand to her mouth to ponder what Charlotte has just told her. It happens to be Emanda's left hand, which means Charlotte sees the giant diamond ring. She asks if it means what she thinks it means. Emanda tells her Daniel wanted to tell her himself, and asks if it's OK with her. Charlotte: "You have no idea how badly I've always wanted a sister." Charlotte, don't make me cry, please; thanks. She grabs Emanda in a hug. Emanda cautiously places her hand on Charlotte's back, trying on for size the feeling of hugging a sister.