Joe's girlfriend Lorraine comes to town, but they determine they want different things and it won't work. Abby, Gary and Val go to Sacramento to see Senator Riker, because if a bill doesn't pass to make Methanol legal, they will lose their business. He says there's nothing he can do. Abby sleeps with him, and then he decides to push the bill through. Val is mad at Abby and how she uses sex to get what she wants. Abby tells Val she could learn from her. Larry asks Karen away for the weekend, but she's not ready. Joe tells Karen she needs to stop living in the past and should take off her wedding ring. He shows home movies of the Fairgates, and everyone laughs and cries. Karen goes to the cemetery and talks to Sid. She says she will love him forever, but will now wear her ring on a chain to symbolize letting go of her fantasy that he's not really gone.

Val asks Mac to be her birthing coach, and Gary tells her he wishes she would have asked him. Val and Gary try to get Karen and Mac back together, but Abby's worried that Val will tell Gary about the babies. Abby asks Scott Easton if the babies can be heirs and complains about them, but says there's nothing she can do about it. Easton replies, ""You never know..."" Abby hires Joshua to work at the cable station. Gary tries to use reverse psychology on Karen and tells her to divorce Mac, but to his surprise, Karen agrees and goes to see a divorce lawyer. Cathy has a romantic dinner with Joshua. Ben gives Mac a tape about Gary Loader, who was in prison with Tom Jessick. Greg wins his election to become Senator. He gives his acceptance speech. Afterwards, Jane tells him that she wants a divorce.

Mac is served with divorce papers. Karen says she wants to explain but she will need time. Mac finds out that Gary Loader has been killed. Val and Gary feel responsible for the MacKenzies' divorce. Abby and Scott Easton watch them talking from her office. Joshua's father, Jonathan, comes to Knots Landing determined to bring Joshua home with him. Joshua tells Cathy how confused he is and they make love. Afterwards, Joshua feels dirty and disgusted, and is horrified that Cathy doesn't feel ashamed too. Joshua goes to see Reverend Kathryn, who has a religious show on the station, for advice. Joshua decides to stay and talks with his father. Scott Easton has lunch with Mitch Ackerman. Val goes to see her obstetrician, but she has been called away to a conference, and there is a new doctor - Mitch Ackerman. After Val's appointment, Ackerman calls Easton and tells him that he gave Val the pills, and that it will be 2 or 3 days at the most.