Ricardo feels ready to tell Paula about the night she was abducted but Gabi interrupts them again, and Ricardo asks her to leave. Paula tells Gabi that she will accept Ricardo's proposal tonight. Gabi promises to herself that will not happen. Olivia tells Sean not to tell Gregory about Caitlin's call. Elaine is beating herself up with the fact that she wasn't a good mother. She then wants to talk to Olivia, to learn more about Cole's kidnapping. Gregory realizes that Olivia had a small fling with A.J. Deschanel in the past. Cole and Caitlin arrive at the house of his grandmas, Madame Julianna Deschanel. Julianna then tells him that she sent him to Sunset Beach to meet his real mother. He feels like she betrayed him, and Caitlin suggests they should return to Sunset Beach as soon as possible to save Elaine before the trial ends.

Meg returns to Ben's apartment to return the key from Maria's studio but she faces yet another chilling encounter with Ben. She accidentally cuts herself and the blood makes her think back to finding Maria's studio full of blood. Later, Meg is reluctant to grab some coffee with Ben and her mother. Caitlin, Julianna and Cole try to make a plan for Cole to return to Sunset Beach without getting arrested. Paula catches Gabi wearing her ring and Gabi makes up a lie to cover her actions. Annie advises Ricardo to tell Paula about the night she was kidnapped before Paula hears it from someone else. Gabi tells Paula that Ricardo was with someone else on the night she was kidnapped. Ricardo enters the room as they're talking.

Julianna tells Caitlin a story about Armando Deschanel. Cole arrives in Sunset Beach and visits Elaine, keen on helping her in court. She wants him to leave town for his safety. Meg is in Maria's studio, wondering what really happened to her. The doors suddenly get locked and Meg thinks that Annie is playing with her. Meanwhile, Annie arrives at Ben's apartment and sees him staring at Maria's portrait. Ben drinks and breaks a glass on Maria's picture, while Meg finds Maria's diary in the studio.

Gregory arrests Cole. Caitlin comes back to Sunset Beach and tells Olivia that Gregory caught Cole. Gregory tells Caitlin to say goodbye to Cole, as he is about to be deported to Europe. Cole tells them that he slept with both Caitlin and Olivia, after which Gregory calls Olivia a tramp and Caitlin's heart is broken. However, Olivia wakes up and realizes it has all been a dream. Annie and Tim continue working on their plan, while Meg is reading Maria's diary. Someone unlocks the studio doors and Meg escapes. Meg blames Annie for locking her up, but Bette gives Annie an alibi for the whole night. Meg wonders if maybe Ben locked her, because he was the only one in the house the whole night.

Casey's heart is broken when Rae finally decides to leave Sunset Beach and have a new life in San Francisco. He begs her to stay with him, but Wei-Lee comes to pick her up, and after a tearful goodbye, she leaves. Gregory tries to convince Elaine to testify herself because Cole is nowhere to be found. Cole manages to free himself. Caitlin informs Julianna that Cole disappeared, so Julianna arrives at the trial to tell her story to the judge. Caitlin worries that Gregory might have done something to Cole, but Cole surprised everyone by entering the courtroom. Casey learns that his mother Alex arrived in town.

Meg wants to know the reason why Ben never talks about Maria. He explains that he doesn't want to hurt her. Meg tells Mark that she fears the possibility that Ben might have killed his wife. When Mark wants to see Maria's studio himself, Tim follows. The trial continues, and everyone is in shock when Gregory pronounces Elaine a coldblooded killer. However, he then tells the story about Del's crimes. Cole testifies and makes an impression. The judge returns with the verdict... Elaine has 3 months of probation and 200 hours of community service. Meg stares in shock when she and Mark enter Maria's studio. The Interpol arrests Cole.

Vanessa returns from Hong Kong and she's not pleased to see Michael massaging Virginia. Michael tells her that Virginia will move out as soon as her leg gets better. Gregory stops the Interpol from taking Cole and Caitlin is surprised by his move. Cole wonders what he wants instead. In a happy reunion, Elaine is pleased to finally be with her son. Julianna makes a special arrival at the reunion, but Elaine isn't pleased to see her. Paula's tattoo, once again, gets in the way of Paula and Ricardo's happiness. Olivia faints when she finds out that Cole is free thanks to Gregory.