Gary makes a car deal with ""Orchid Cab Co."" againest Sid's better judgment. Gary also hires a female mechanic, Linda Stryker. Laura starts her real estate job. After her first sale, her boss, Scooter Warren, kisses her.Val starts college. Richard thinks a prestigious Chicago law firm will hire him, so he tells off his boss and quits his job. Then he finds out the Chicago firm's offer is for a salary several thousands less than he was already making. He cannot accept the job. He tells Laura he declined the job since she didn't want to move, but then starts crying.

The Fairgates find out that Michael suffers from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). Sid hires Abby as the bookkeeper for Knots Landing Motors. Frank Kolbert and Roy Lance from ""Orchid Cab Co"" offer Gary a deal on cheap parts, but Sid declines, thinking it sounds illegal. Frank and Roy tell Gary they had a verbal agreement and threaten him, telling him he'd better have $50,000.00 for them by the end of the week. Abby overhears and suggests Gary ask J.R. for the money, as she read in the paper that J.R. will be in town soon.

J.R. is in town for an oil convention. When Gary refuses to ask him for the money, Abby goes to J.R. for it and sleeps with him. J.R. says he knows that Abby has designs on Gary and that he'll only give Gary the money if he asks for it himself, so Abby keeps trying to persuade Gary. Val asks Gary not to get in any deals with J.R., and she and J.R. have a nasty confrontation. Roy and Frank continue to pressure Gary, so he finally goes to J.R., who gives him the $50,000.00. Kenny breaks up with Sylvie and wants to get back with Ginger, but she says no.

Jeff doesn't return the kids and Abby's really worried. The FBI question Gary about Frank and Roy, and Gary finally admits his illegal dealings to Sid. Abby claims to be innocent, and Sid believe her. Gary and Sid agree to do a sting operation for the FBI, and Frank and Roy are arrested. Sid and Gary will have to testify, so the FBI guards them. One of the mechanics at KLMotors lets the brake fluid out of Sid's car. Abby receives a tape from Jeff telling her he took the kids because she is a bad mother. Abby totally flips out, so Karen calls Sid to come home to help Abby. Sid and an FBI agent get in his car to drive home. As they drive around the road, Sid realizes the breaks won't work. The car goes out of control crashes over the side of an embankment down to the beach below.

Joe warns Mac that Karen is using the court transcripts to try and go after Frank and Roy herself. Karen asks Wayne to negotiate a parts deal, and he goes to Frank and Roy, who set him up with their front men Marshall and Angelo. J.R. has one of his companies buy Val's publishing company. J.R. also meets with Abby, who will only give him the rest of the book if he'll tell her about Jock's will. J.R. tells her that Gary's coming into millions, and it isn't dependent on Val. Laura's water breaks. Richard rushes her to the hospital, but the car goes off the road and Laura gives birth in the car. The baby isn't breathing, but Richard saves him by giving him mouth-to-mouth. They name their new son Daniel.

Gary really wants to get Val back, and even Lilimae tries to get them back together, but Val refuses to speak to him. Karen tells Mac that she suspects Wayne caused Sid's death and she wants to trap him. Wayne and Marshall exclude Angelo from their parts of the deal. Richard decides to open a restaurant, and Laura is supportive. Gary sees Ciji Dunne, a singer, rehearsing, and is entranced. He takes the Wards to see her and Kenny is really impressed and wants to do a demo with her. Ginger is jealous.

Karen goes through the KLMotors books and finds checks to West Century Auto, Frank and Roy's company. Karen invests money in Richard's restaurant, because Laura is concerned that Richard is spending too much money. Karen is being followed. Kenny's boss won't let him make a demo with Ciji, so Kenny and Gary decide to make a demo with her on their own. Val's publicist, Bess Riker sends a messenger, Chip Roberts to drop off photos at Val's. He charms Val and Lilimae, and tells him he's a publicist. Back at the office, Bess tells Chip that if he thinks he's so hot he can be Val's publicist. Val appears on The Mike Douglas Show.