We open in the emergency room as Chandler is running around in a panic, looking for assistance. A nurse comes out and asks him what happened. Why this is so important at this stage -- when Richard's already been admitted -- is suspect. Furthermore, why is Chandler so clueless, considering that we find out later that he and Heather both rode in with Richard in the ambulance? Anyway, Chandler explains to the nurse that Richard was with his child bride, he collapsed, and Chandler performed CPR. Hey, remember that time when I thought that Richard and Chandler were making out when Chandler was actually performing CPR? That was pretty funny. The nurse assures Chandler that they're doing everything they can. Peter, Gwen, Jenny, and Ethan arrive. They, too, want to know what happened. Chandler confirms that it was indeed a heart attack. Peter reminds the nurses that Richard built this place and that he should be receiving the best doctors. Actually, Peter, your father built the Williams Cardiac Wing, not the emergency room, as far as I know. Peter assures Gwen that Dad was in great shape and that he'll pull through. Laurie and David finally arrive from their dip in the fountain, but they're dry now. For the third time in less than a minute, somebody asks what happened and are told that it's a heart attack. Jenny's still not convinced: "But he was so healthy." Gwen is also perplexed over how this could happen...unless...wait a second...was Heather with him? Of course she was -- she's his wife. They were making sweet, sweet love when he just collapsed. It was awful. What was -- the sex or the collapsing? I know, easy joke. Sorry, I'll move on. A doctor emerges (we know he's a doctor because she's wearing a stethoscope around her neck): "I'm sorry. We did everything we could." Chandler lets loose a "Noooooooooooo!" The sisters start weeping, Ethan looks hungry, and Heather kind of looks shaken. Not as shaken as she looks once Gwen pointedly states, "You killed him." And just like that, Richard is no more. (Unless he shows up in later episodes as a ghostly mentor.) Cue dramatic music and title.
Jack Wagner's back in the credits.
Richard's mansion. The butler is doing his part to chip in, offering coffee to madam (Gwen to you and me). Gwen declines and attempts to comfort her children by kissing them and touching their saddened brows. Ethan seems really bummed out by the whole thing. Gwen still can't get past the whole cardiac arrest thing. It just seems so, so...contrived or something. It's like the producers were trying to bring in fresh blood or something. Still, she can't seem to shake the feeling that Heather is somehow involved. Chandler, faithful to the end (to Heather, anyway), believes that it's all an accident -- a horrible accident. Laurie enters the room. Until now, she's been handling all the arrangements. I hope they're not planning on holding the wake at the Pulse Club and having SR-71 provide the viewing music. Everything's being taken care of, but because the office is in "total chaos," Laurie's going to go down and help. Rather than somebody who actually works there, like, say...Peter? The insensitive-bastard son reminds Laurie to keep the press release short and vague. Chandler's off to check on Heather, and you can tell that neither Gwen nor Peter is happy with his priorities. "Instead of checking on Heather, shouldn't we be throwing her out of this house?" Peter asks. Jenny now sits at Gwen's feet so that her mother can stroke her hair. "That's enough, Peter," Gwen scolds. As much as she would agree with him, they have to be...oh what's the word? Sensitive.
Heather's bedroom: the scene of the crime. Heather is curled up in the fetal position. She's also hyperventilating. Chandler climbs on the bed with her. She can't believe Richard's gone. She hoped it was just a dream, you know, like the Bobby Ewing thing? Chandler tries to console her and says that she's not alone and that the family is there for her. Peter walks in on the two, and Chandler advises him to call a doctor. "Sedatives are on the way," Peter snarls back. Chandler gets up to leave, but Heather begs him to stay.
WGE. Laurie and Samantha enter the big guy's office. Samantha can't believe that Richard's gone. Laurie boasts of her own strength, as she's taken care of all the details including the press release. Samantha regrets that she never told Richard that he was like a father to her. In this family, it may have been a good thing that she didn't, if you know what I mean. It's just beginning to sink in with her. "For God's sake, Samantha, hold it together," Laurie begs. They have to work through all of this. It's what Richard would have wanted. Laurie then dictates a cold and dry press release and, per her brother's orders, keeps it short and vague.
Back at Gwen's house, Ethan, Gwen, and Jenny have returned. Gwen wants the brood to do their best to hold things together over the few trying days. Uh oh, better lock up the liquor cabinet, since I can see where this is going for Jenny. Gwen's going to take a shower. Now I get it -- this is where Bobby comes out of the shower and announces that it's all been a dream. "Chin high, never say die: the Williams motto," Jenny glumly mutters. Ethan warns her that he used to bottle things up after his mother died, but when you stuff it in like that you'll eventually explode. Just like Old Faithful. Jenny doesn't think that's going to work for her. He offers his shoulder to cry on if she ever needs it, as long as she promises to teach him how to use that expensive hang-gliding equipment of hers. Is Ethan actually coming on to his cousin? Somebody in the writers' room has some serious issues to work out. Jenny just wants a hug. I guess that's innocent enough. Keep your hands above the waist there, young Ethan.
Peter's raging against the machine, blaming Heather for numerous social ills as well as the death of his pappy. He blames Chandler for wanting to tell Richard about the fling on that fateful night. Peter might as well blame his agent, for obvious reasons. A doctor interrupts the rant. She's wearing some awful gray wig that would have made the Founding Fathers jealous. She informs Chandler and Peter that Heather's resting and should not be disturbed. As Chandler escorts the doctor to the door, Tom shows up. Whoever he is, he's just the guy Peter's been waiting for. He's Richard's attorney. Oh, that Tom. He's also one of Richard's closest friends. Richard's death has been a major shock for the entire firm. Peter gets straight to business. He assumes that all of his father's affairs are in order? "For the most part," Tom mysteriously replies. Peter glosses right over this and mentions the formal reading of the will before his brain catches up to his mouth: "For the most part?" Apparently there was a slight oversight on Richard's part. The last time he updated his will was six months ago, before he had met and married Heather. Consequently, she's not mentioned in the will. Peter's thrilled. He tries to cover up his glee and fakes grief over daddy's kicking the bucket.