Mac visits Tom Jessick, an attorney friend that he sent to jail and says he wants him on the crime commission. Greg's at the McKenzie's and his daughter Mary Francis comes by, angry that he forgot to pick her up. Karen invites Mary Francis to stay with them. Police patrol the ranch for Chip. Cathy tells Gary that she thought he might be someone her ex-husband Roy sent to find her. Gary invites Cathy to live and work at the ranch. Abby finds out she'll need a coastal variance to develop Lotus Point, and asks Greg for help. They sleep together, and he says that a member of the coastal commission will meet with her. Laura tells Abby she knows about H & O, but won't tell Gary for a piece of the action. Val makes a romantic meal for Ben. She gets mad and leaves when he assumes she will sleep with him. Later, she goes back, and she and Ben make love.

Gary buys Cathy a dress like Ciji's and brings her to get her hair cut like Ciji. He also has her lip sync to Ciji's album. Laura walks in and is angry. Gary says he's doing it because he couldn't help Ciji, but now he has a chance to help someone else. Mary Francis walks in on Greg and Abby, and is upset. She and Eric kiss. Mac tells Karen she's using Mary Francis to replace Diana. Karen continues taking pain pills. Mac is on to something and Tom Jessick is the link. Some men meet with Sumner and tell him to drop Mac, because he's getting too close. Ben goes with Val to bring Lilimae home, against Dr. Bovine's wishes. Diana brings chicken to the barn at the ranch, where Chip is hiding.

Mac questions Tom about whether a lawyer named Cavanaugh is the head of the Wolfbridge group. Mac wants Tom to go back to them as an 'inside' man. Gary asks Cathy to sing for him. She gets upset and tells him she's not Ciji, and never will be. Greg gives Abby the coastal variance she needs. They begin kissing, and then notice that Laura is watching them. Val is worried because Karen is acting so strange. Karen tells her she's tired, and continues to take more pills. Detective Nick Morrison posts a policeman on the ranch. Chip tells Diana they need to leave the next day. Diana goes to meet Chip. Chip is hiding in the stable. Cathy walks in. Chip is dumbfounded, thinking she's Ciji. Frightened, he scrambles to get away from her, and falls on a pitchfork. Police and Diana run to the stable when they hear Cathy screaming. Chip's dead.

Tom tells Mac that Wolfbridge is bigger than he thought, and later calls Mac from the bus station and says he's leaving town, because it's not worth giving up his life. Chip's sister Angie comes to town for Chip's funeral. Angie tells Diana that Chip's a louse, and Diana's only 1 in a long line of women that Chip used and threw away. Diana slaps her. Abby talks to Diana and says first loves never last. Diana angrily responds that it wasn't a schoolgirl crush, it was her husband who died. Greg tells Abby that she's telling Laura too much. Abby tells Laura to lay off, because she's a master at the game Laura's just learning to play. Val tells Mac that Karen's in trouble with her pills, and Eric concurs. Karen overhears them and screams at them all that she doesn't have a problem.

Jane Sumner comes to town, so Greg can't pay attention to Abby. Mac asks Greg to help him find Tom Jessick. A man tells Greg to get rid of Mac or they'll drop his campaign. Cathy goes to Abby and says she wants out of their deal for her to impersonate Ciji, because she doesn't want to hurt Gary, but Abby won't let her. Val and Mac are concerned about Karen. Val finishes her book ""Nashville Junction"" about Lilimae's life. Ben asks Val for more of a commitment. Then Val finds out she is 3 months pregnant with Gary's baby.

Mac has Karen admitted to a hospital chemical dependency program. Karen denies she has a problem .Abby is angry at Greg for getting her involved with Mark St. Claire. Mark tells Abby that the Marcus's house has burned down, so Abby tells Laura to make them another offer. St. Claire tells Greg he has one more chance to drop Mac, or else he will give incriminating information to his opponent. Greg has a press conference and says that Mac abused his power and got a variance for Karen's property on Lotus Point, and so he's asked Mac to resign. Mac questions Karen about Lotus Point. She says she gets checks, but doesn't remember anything else. Gary barges into Abby's office and says he is going to have her books audited. Jane and Mary Francis apologize to the MacKenzies for Greg and go back to Sacramento. Jane berates Greg for making the election more important than friendship. Greg wins the primary race.