Mother, Mother

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The repressed memory of Kara trying to kill Emanda when she was a little girl still burns fresh in Ems' mind as her mother very quickly becomes a physical presence in her life. Kara approaches Victoria under the guise of emerging from exile due to Amily's coma, but is really after answers in the disappearance of her husband, Gordon Murphy. Kind of at a loss for what to do with a previously presumed dead woman in her face, Victoria invites Kara to stay at Grayson Manor. Lucky for her, this affords the Queen an opportunity to snoop around Kara's things. She finds a cell phone that's made numerous calls to Gordon. The Graysons can only assume Kara has been reporting back findings about them to her husband.

There's a lot more snooping around going on in other parts of the Hamptons. As when any major or national newsworthy thing happens, our 'writer' friend Mason Treadwell comes sniffing around Amily once she emerges from her coma. At this point in our reventures, Mason's pretty much worn out his welcome with everyone, but it's sorta nice to have someone around again who makes sure everything out of his mouth is more arch than McDonald's. By just sticking around and watching developments between Kara, Emanda and Amily, Mason is able to deduce that Amily isn't really Amanda Clarke when he catches a glimpse of her back through her hospital gown and a distinguishing burn scar from Amanda's childhood is missing. Creeeeeper.

Padma investigates the framed check from David Clarke she found in Nolan's dad's storage by inquiring with Grayson Global. She suspects it's the Graysons that have something to hide concerning this because Daniel summons her to speak with him immediately, but in actuality this is something that can come back to hurt Nolan. The fact that David Clarke gave start-up capital to Nolan, and the likelihood there was an exclusivity clause in the contract, would give Grayson Global a controlling interest in Nolcorp. So this is why it's a bad idea to promote someone to CFO when they have no prior experience.

Aiden and Emanda are at odds again, and this Nolcorp investment snafu is the perfect opportunity for Aiden to hit Ems and Nolan where it hurts. He tips off Daniel about it, ensuring he'll get a seat on the board at Grayson Global and will be the reason that Dan ascends to the head of the company.

The unbearably boring story thread with Kenny Ryan semi-blackmailing the Porters into submission comes to an oddly unfulfilling resolution. Kenny helps Dec and Jack find a cheaper contractor to bring the Stowaway up to code and then reveals his intention to make an offer to buy the bar. Jack is all ears about the offer. Surely this can't be the end of this.

Kara being around her supposed daughter and new granddaughter affords Emanda an opportunity to get to meet her mother since she's the supposed godmother. There's a lot of Ems letting her mother provide background and answers to questions about Amily that are really about her. Eventually, Kara feels compelled to sit down with Amily and explain her absence from her daughter's life. Through flashback, it's revealed she and David agreed it was best to make Little Amanda believe her mother had died. Kara was very sick at the time and understands now that she wasn't in control of her actions. It's a good enough explanation that Amily, in the moment, forgives Kara while Emanda eavesdrops. It must be very weird to have a cathartic mother-daughter moment vicariously.

-- Pablo G. is some guy who lives in Austin, Texas. He used to co-host TWoP's original "Trailers Without Pity" with his brother Omar G. Check him out at The YES and NO and Pablog and follow him @PendejoJoe on Twitter.

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We begin in flashback. Little Amanda floats unconscious underwater. Emanda voiceover: "They say, 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' " David Clarke's muffled voice can be heard from above. He swims into frame, pulling Amanda from the water, and then carrying her to the shore. Kara emerges from under the water as well and follows. When she reaches David and their daughter, he growls at her to stay back. VO: "And to be without sin requires absolute forgiveness." A crane shot pulls above David performing CPR on a lifeless Amanda. VO: "But when your memories are freshly opened wounds, forgiveness is the most unnatural of human emotions." /FLASHBACK. Ems wakes up from her dream and allows herself to sob for just a moment before sitting upright. Aiden notices she's awakened upset, so she explains that she's realized why her father lied to her about her mother being dead. It was to protect her. Sensing an opening, Aiden suggests that's why he also chose to withhold that he'd found her mother, and also this little nugget that he'd hidden from her until now: Gordon was Kara's husband. Aiden would like to continue helping with Emanda's quest to avenge her father. He can start by using his status as Takeda's proxy at Grayson Global to infiltrate their company and destabilize it. As far as the romantic part of this plan, though... Emanda: "I needed someone. You walked through the door. Don't let it go to your head." Ems, you sound just like the ex-Mrs. Pablo G.

Grayson Manor. With a general disdain for life, Victoria dethorns a vase of long stemmed roses. A maid informs her that she has a guest, but Victoria wants no part of any guests at this time. From behind her, we hear Kara softly utter the Queen's name, freezing her blood. She turns to see the woman she thought had long been dead, like a deer in a ghost car's headlights. Kara sidles up to her and takes Victoria in a sudden embrace. Victoria tightens her fist around her pruning shears and rigidly returns the hug.

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Victoria has just finished giving Kara the grand tour of Grayson Manor. We're hearing the end of the type of small talk that only a psychotic woman on the lamb and an ice queen can have -- Kara noting that building the house on the beach allows Victoria to see her enemies coming. The conversation turns to Gordon, whom Kara admits she's had slight contact with recently, but nothing to tip off her true relationship with him. Victoria assumes Kara is in the Hamptons because of Amily's accident, to which Kara thanks Victoria for being so generous as to invite her into the fold. It's the least Victoria can do for a girl whom tragedy seems to follow. Mentioning Amily's awful past triggers the crazy in Kara. She had been toying with one of Victoria's roses throughout their conversation and now suddenly has decided to intentionally prick herself on one of its thorns. She sheepishly asks if she can go wash up. The look on Victoria's face: "You are all sorts of fucked up. I hope you brought your own hand towel because you're not ruining my nice ones."

A meeting between Aiden and Conrad at Grayson Global is well underway. As Takeda's proxy, Aiden wishes to express that they are not pleased with the appearance that Grayson Global can't get back on track, there appears to be a rift between Conrad and Daniel and the hands-on approach Takeda was promised has been largely absent. Conrad gives his assurance, but Aiden says that's not good enough, so Conrad picks up his phone and dials Daniel. He asks his son to attentively cater to Aiden's requests for transparency. Conrad's smugness at handling Aiden's request in short order is short-lived though, because his phone rings with a call from Victoria. Pointedly, she informs her husband that Kara Clarke is still alive. Conrad immediately asks Aiden to be excused. Once he's out of the room, Conrad very seriously asks, "Is this a joke?" No... she's actually washing blood off her hands in the Grayson Manor powder room at the moment. It seems a bit coincidental that Kara would re-emerge after all of the trouble they've been having with Amily, Victoria hypothesizes. She wants Conrad home within the hour so they can deal with the psychopathic woman they thought had been dead for the last couple decades. Victoria would need him home within the half hour if they'd thought her dead for the last three decades.

Stowaway. Cleaning. Declan is forever cleaning. Charlotte timidly enters the bar to return her ex-boyfriend's coat that he draped around her the night of Amily's accident. She invites him to swing by the hospital with her to visit Ams and newborn Carl, but Dec is all about the cleaning. Kenny Ryan walks in just as Charlotte is walking out. He takes notice that Dec's got a little hot number in his life. He figures correctly that much of Declan's motivation centers around impressing Ms. Grayson. He hands Dec a business card for a guy who can get all of the cleaning done cheaper and faster. It plays out like some Faustian shit, so there's gotta be a catch somewhere down the line.

Jack sets little Carl down in a basin beside his comatose mother in her hospital room. Nolan enters, wearing a turquoise blazer (naturally), and congratulates the new papa with a huge cigar. He immediately notices that Jack does a mean swaddle, but it turns out that's the handiwork of Grandma Clarke. Nolan's stunned to hear that Kara has been in contact with Jack and Amily. He takes his leave when the doctors and nurses come in to check on Ams.

Back at Grayson Global, Aiden now sits across from Daniel. Ashley interrupts them going over quarterly reports with an alert that someone has inquired into David Clarke's past employment history. Aiden acts as though he's just been reminded David used to be associated with Grayson Global and would like to hear more about the history. Ashley suggests a meeting with the inquirer is in order and also that the three of them should discuss this matter over drinks tonight, but Ash never suggests anything that ends up being a good idea.

Casa Emily. Ems rushes across the living room to reach a ringing phone. It's Gordon's phone she has stashed in her cabinet of secrets. Another missed call from Kara. Emanda's own phone rings with a call from Aiden. He informs her that someone is snooping around Grayson Global for info on David. They wonder if it could be Kara, but Ems hasn't been able to track her down. Aiden thinks she may be with the Graysons, based on the phone call he witnessed Conrad take from Victoria. That investigation will have to wait because Nolan's banging at Emanda's door. He barges in because he's at a 9 on the "freak-o-meter" due to Kara being back in the Hamptons, and he's freaking so much that he just assumes Emanda knows all about this. Nolan continues his tirade into a guilt trip about Ems not being around to hear that his father passed away. She puts herself on pause and apologizes to Nolan sincerely. He accepts and finally they're on equal ground again. Nolan asks what the deal is with Kara. As far as Emanda knows, she thinks Amily is her daughter. They sit down together at the surveillance laptop to see that Kara is already having lunch with Victoria and Conrad. Cut to the despicable outdoor lunch meeting. Kara asks about the safety of Grayson Manor with Gordon on the loose. Conrad unwittingly disparages Kara's husband by calling him a coward that would be shot on sight if he were stupid enough to try to come there. Kara is safe to stay with them, apparently. Cut back to Nolan and Emanda watching surveillance. Nolan: "No place like home... huh, Auntie Ems?" Just then, Ems gets a call from Jack about Amily being out of her coma. She tells Nolan she has to get down there right away because Ams could be in danger if her mother finds out.

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Amily is already wide awake in her hospital bed and aside from circles under her eyes, looks relatively full of life for someone who should be dead. Jack hands over her baby boy for the first time, triggering tears of joy. Ems appears in the doorway just in time to witness the happy family moment. FLASHBACK: Little Amanda awakens in her hospital bed after the drowning. She asks David where her mom is. He explains that she wasn't strong enough to overcome her illness and she's now gone. /FLASHBACK. Jack notices Ems and comes over to talk to her in the hallway. She extends an invitation for Amily and Carl to stay with her, then suggests that Jack go home and get some rest. Ems enters the room to congratulate Amily and apologizes for putting her in the situation that resulted in her coma. She adds that Kara has returned, but gets interrupted by a doctor wanting to run more tests on Amily, so she doesn't get a chance to explain that it might not be such a good thing.

Victoria's balcony. She stares longingly at Casa Emily. Kara comes outside to talk about David since it's pretty obvious based on what she knows that Victoria's still pining over him. They respectfully talk about how they were both deceived by him and share parts of this mess in common. Kara lets it slip that they also both were deceived by Gordon. Charlotte appears and interrupts to say that the hospital just called, and Amily is awake and well. Kara leaves immediately to head to the hospital, leaving Charlotte to express to her mother that she's surprised by Victoria's gesture of generosity. Maybe the Queen really has changed.

Stowaway. More Declan cleaning. The brothers exchange good news. 1) Amily's awake and OK. 2) Kenny hooked them up with a contractor that can fix the bar faster and cheaper. Jack's all for that.

Grayson Global. Ashley shows Padma into Daniel's office for their meeting about David Clarke. She calls Daniel out for making an outsized response to her request for info. Either something's wrong or she's won something. Has she won something? Only the most obnoxiously aggressive new character award. Padma wants information about David Clarke's terms of employment at the time of an investment from Nolcorp in Grayson Global. Aiden has tapped into the conference call and takes notes of this exchange. Daniel tells Padma they will look into David's contract, and shows her out. Ash seems placated, but Dan's concerned. There's supposedly never been an investment from Nolcorp.

Back at the hospital, Ems walks out of Amily's room with a sleeping Carl in her arms just as Kara is walking up. Emanda turns to see her mother for the first time and introduces herself as the baby's godmother. The first question Ems asks her estranged mother is what Amanda was like when she was a little girl. With sincere love in her eyes, Kara talks about her daughter being so gentle and innately good. Kara asks if Amanda ever talks about her. With probably a tiny bit of scorn, Emanda says, "Honestly, no." Ems goes in for the kill, "When was the last time you saw her?" But before she can answer, our favorite slimy 'writer', Mason Treadwell, butts into the conversation holding a giant bouquet. He asks for confirmation that the woman standing before him is, in fact, Kara Clarke. When she responds in the affirmative, Mason blubbers, "God, I love the Hamptons."

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In Amily's hospital room, Mason Treadwell explains that he was drawn back to the Hamptons by the Graysons' announcement that Amily was welcomed into the fold. When Mason notes that Kara looks good after all these years and asks where she's been, she simply replies, "Away." Mason: "Oh, that's one of my favorite places." OK fine, Mason; that was kinda cool. Amily gets wheeled back into the room and notices that a party of mostly unwanted guests has sprung up while she's been gone. Mason offers to help Amily out of her chair and gives a creepy glance to her exposed back through her hospital gown, just before Ems declares that he should leave. With the trace amounts of testosterone gone from the room, Kara asks Amily if she recognizes her. Ems steps between the awkwardness to suggest that mother and baby need rest. She offers to drive Kara home.

On the drive home, Kara laments that Amily didn't recognize her. Ems asks if Kara ever read Mason's book about David. She couldn't ever bring herself to believe he was capable of any of the things they said he did. Kara can take solace in the fact that David didn't destroy Amanda. Emanda echoes the sentiment.

Nolan returns to Padma who's burning the midnight oil at his office at Nolcorp. He's happy to be an unofficial uncle... like Kracker or Fester. He notices the framed David Clarke check receipt sitting on his desk and has a mini-panic attack. He asks if Padma did anything with it, and she lies. Even though it's 10 o'clock at night, Nolan invites Padma out for breakfast. He figures they can find something to do between now and breakfast time. Sexy.

Late night out on the town. Daniel, Ash and Aiden are nearing the end of their drinks meeting. Daniel, under the influence of the universal lubricant, lets it slip that the company is falling apart and his father couldn't care less. While he's in the restroom, Aiden starts in on Ashley, prying into their personal life and gets the sense that Ash isn't too into Daniel. He name drops Emanda for good measure and gets the story of her cheating on Daniel and ruining their engagement. He suggests that he'll look her up for a fling. That should serve as perfect cover in the future.

Casa Emily. Emanda comes home to find Aiden waiting for her. This sets her off because Victoria watches the house like a hawk, and their cover could easily be blown. Aiden changes the subject, revealing it was Padma that was digging for info about David Clarke at Grayson Global. If Daniel looks into this, Aiden thinks it could expose the source of Emanda's wealth, but she liquidated her stock in Nolcorp a long time ago, so that's no worry. This could be a problem for Nolan, though. Aiden's not too concerned by that. Suddenly, Kara's phone rings. Aiden tracks down the phone and snatches it. Emanda: "Answer that phone and it'll be the last thing you ever do." Aiden doesn't answer it, but he threatens that Ems should consider he'd be better for her as a partner than an enemy.

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Twenty minutes before high tide, Nolan has arranged for a romantic small breakfast table for two on the beach. He tells Padma he likes living on the edge. Nolan gets a call from Emanda. He's shocked by the urgency of Ems saying he needs her help. She explains that Padma contacted Grayson Global about David's investment. Nolan hangs up without alerting Padma as to what the call was about. He eyes her suspiciously as they clink mimosas.

Casa Emily. Jack and Amily settle in with Carl in Emanda's spare bedroom. Jack has to leave though, to go get some work done at the Stowaway. Ems can sense that Amily is a little upset. Her guilt over the baby supposedly not being Jack's is eating away at her and she's stressed over having to deal with Kara. Ems reveals that Kara tried to kill her when she was little, which explains why Ems suddenly just wants Kara gone. Amily is all for calling Kara now to just tell her to get lost.

Aiden strolls into Daniel's office, joking about getting drunk. Dan wishes he was drunk after the morning the company has been having. He advises Aiden to just take Takeda's money and run, but he doesn't. Instead, Aiden offers up what he's learned about Nolcorp. He figures that David Clarke may have given start-up capital to Nolan from a personal account with an exclusivity clause. That would mean that any investment he gave Nolan would've be on behalf of Grayson Global, giving the company a controlling interest in Nolan's company. If you were able to follow all of that financial crap, can you please take a look at my portfolio? Aiden thinks this guarantees him a seat on the board at Grayson Global and Daniel a one-way ticket to ruling his dad's company. Dan puts in a call to archives to start digging for proof of all of this.

Mason Treadwell walks in on Victoria searching the guest bedroom for anything Kara may be hiding. He notes how sad it is to see a woman snooping and/or robbing her own home. Mason: "I read your Vanity Fair article. It was like gazing upon your lovely visage, Victoria -- the most elegant blend of fact and fiction." Where I come from, the proper reaction to such a statement would be: "Ohhhhhhhhhhh!" Mason confesses he originally returned to the Hamptons for the kidnapping story, but Kara's return is even juicier since Victoria claimed all this time that she was dead. "I honestly believed that," Victoria says. "Do you... gag a little when you say that? 'Honestly?' " I didn't realize how much I missed Mason being a bitch to the Queen. Victoria thinks Kara poses a major threat to everyone, including Mason. He thinks he'll be just fine.

Emanda and Kara enter the baby's room just after Amily has put him to sleep. Ems offers to leave the mother and pseudo-daughter alone, but lets Ams know that she'll be just outside if she needs her. Kara and Amily take a seat on the bed and the absentee mother jumps right into her heartfelt apology. She comments on Amily's strength and the fact that she's become more than the woman she had hoped her daughter would be. Kara clarifies that she was a very sick woman who was not always in control of her actions. Ems listens to this out in the hallway with tears in her eyes. Kara: "Your father and I made a choice. One that I knew I would have to live with..." FLASHBACK: Kara stands over a sleeping Little Amanda at the hospital and kisses her goodbye. She tells David through tears that he must tell her that she died. It will be better for her. She hugs David. /FLASHBACK. David found it in his heart to forgive Kara, she says. She gets up to leave, but Amily reaches out and grabs her arm, then says she forgives Kara, too. They hug. Emanda sobs vicariously.

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Stowaway. The bar has passed inspection. Jack and Kenny are all smiles. Jack's ready to get back to work to repay the Porters' debt, but Kenny clues him in to the bigger opportunity. Jack figures out right away that Kenny wants to buy the bar. His hesitance is quelled by Kenny pointing out that the bar has only brought his family misery. Jack's mom left, his dad died and he has a new family of his own that he should be spending time with. Jack shakes Kenny's hand and is open to talking about selling. Dec comes in and hears the good news about the bar passing inspection... but doesn't get filled in on the bar being up for sale.

Grayson Manor. Victoria storms into the living room where Conrad is smarmily reading a book. He suggests that Victoria try out its calming effect. She's upset because she found Kara's cell phone lifeline to Gordon. She points out all the outgoing calls were to Gordon and figures that Kara must've been sharing inside information about the Graysons to their dangerous enemy. Victoria is flipping out at the prospect of the Initiative coming after them, but Conrad has an idea. If they get married, they'll be bound to never be legally compelled to testify against each other in a court of law. Still a more legit wedding than Kim and Kris.

Ems steps out on her front porch in a bathrobe. Amily is sitting out on the porch swing with Carl. She apologizes to Emanda for forgiving Kara. She just got caught up in the moment, she says. Ems is totally OK with it -- likely because it's what she might've done, too. With Amily emotionally vulnerable, Emanda takes this opportunity to confess that she lied about the baby not being Jack's. Ams is at first relieved to know she's no longer living a lie, but then realizes the one person she's supposed to be able to trust did a really horrible thing to her. Ems says it was because she was worried she needed some insurance to keep Ams on her side. She gives Amily a proper apology, but Ams responds with one of her own. She admits her part in deceiving Jack into falling in love with her despite knowing Ems loves him. Amily: "And now I have this incredible family." Ems tries to keep her face straight while Ams obliviously twists this knife. They agree that they cannot tell Jack the truth.

Ems stands down by the water at the beach in contemplation. Emanda voice-over: "Over time, we commit acts with intentions either good or bad that require forgiveness." Angus & Julia Stone's "For You" begins to play. FLASHBACK: Fond memories of Little Amanda and David playing together in the ocean. /FLASHBACK. Ems comes back from her reverie to find Kara standing beside her. She thinks her family might've ended up happier if they'd lived here on the beach. Emanda points out that just as many mistakes are made here. Kara asks if Amanda really forgives her. Emanda: "I think she wants to.

Back on the porch, Mason walks up on Amily, who immediately recoils in anticipatory discomfort. Mason declares that his research shows that Ams should have a major burn scar from an accident when she was younger. This is what he noticed when he saw her back through her hospital gown. Thinking quickly, Amily says she simply had it removed, but she can't answer Mason's question of where the scar was located. He tosses a manila folder down to her after proclaiming there's no way she's the daughter of Kara Wallace and David Clarke. He walks off whistling "Strangers in the Night."

-- Pablo G. is some guy who lives in Austin, Texas. He used to co-host TWoP's original "Trailers Without Pity" with his brother Omar G. Check him out at The YES and NO and Pablog and follow him @PendejoJoe on Twitter.