John re-enters the living room excited about his upcoming date with Ava. Lucas wonders if it’s wise for John to be dating. “Ah, it’s just dating. A little social intercourse,” remarks John. Lucas questions how he thinks it will fly with Marlena. John replies that she had her chance, and if she can’t accept him for who he is, then he has no choice but to move on. He tells Lucas to be upstairs behind closed doors and hopes that the twins will be out of the way. Lucas assures an anxious John that the twins are with Caroline. He hears the doorbell ring and answers it to a guy who brings him something if Lucas has the cash. He comes back inside after the man leaves and proceeds to detach his ankle monitor.
Chloe later runs into Sami at the Java Café, where Sami gloats how Philip gave her the boot. Chloe says it was her choice. Sami jeers how Chloe could always sing if she runs into financial problems and people could give her money to stop. Chloe questions why she’s so mean to her. “Do you have time for the entire list?” retorts Sami. Chloe rehashes how she didn’t force Brady into drugs. Sami accuses her of abandoning him and keeping Brady’s problem from his family. Chloe plays the martyr and complains how she lost her husband, home, and career because of his addiction. Sami deduces that she really cares about Brady and asks why she didn’t stay in Europe and fight for the man she loves. Chloe asserts that Brady divorced her and she didn’t want their relationship to end. Sami accuses Chloe of not doing anything about it and coming home to cry on Philip’s shoulder. Chloe figures that if she would’ve tried harder with Brady, she could’ve made it work. The ladies have a civil moment as Sami reveals that she recently spoke to Brady. Chloe laments that Brady won’t take her calls and realizes that things are really over between them. Before she leaves, she asks Sami to tell Brady ‘hi’ and advises Sami to try and work things out with Lucas. Sami then flashes back to a happier moment with Lucas.
Back at the Kiriakis mansion, Philip asks Morgan to stay if she doesn’t already have plans or a date. Morgan reveals that the sorority girls went home for the summer and she hasn’t had a date for a while. Philip finds it hard to believe and refers to her as a pretty southern belle. He offers her a drink, which she accepts. Chloe returns to the mansion and spots them, then leaves the key on the table and walks out. Morgan later admits how weird she feels about the situation, predicting that his girlfriend wouldn’t approve of them having drinks together. Philip wonders what the big deal is, since it’s drinks between friends. He suggests having dinner sometime if she’s up for it.
Lucas sneaks away to the pier and gazes over the water. He quickly hides when he hears someone coming. Chloe arrives on the pier crying.
Sami later returns home, where John was hoping she would stay upstairs. Sami says she just put the twins down. “I can’t believe you brought the rugrats home. They’re supposed to be hanging at the pub with Caroline!” exclaims John. Sami expresses her disapproval of John’s date, predicting that it will upset her mom. John states that he’s given Marlena plenty of chances, but a man like him has basic needs. He looks in the mirror and wonders if he should undo a few buttons and show a little chest hair. Sami tells him that he’s making a big mistake. She later searches for Lucas. John reminds Sami that he wants Lucas out of sight. “And the same goes for you, Tink,” he adds. Sami reminds him that Belle’s the one he used to call Tink. She then phones Lucas, who turns off his vibrating phone and witnesses Chloe from afar. Sami is stunned to discover the paper bag on the floor containing Lucas’s ankle monitor.
At the Brady Pub, Steph asks the usual question, “Where’s Max?” Pete says he’s at the bank but should return soon. She then approaches Dean Robbins compliments him on his speech last night. Max approaches him and orders him out, affirming that they reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. The dean requests a word with the manager. Max informs the dean that he’s the manager and figured that the place would be too blue collar for a distinguished scientist such as him. The dean informs Steph how Max came back in the Java Café after the book singing and insulted him. Max refers to the dean as a total fraud. The dean wonders how a guy who pours beer for a living could know about scientific applications. Max demands for him to get the hell out. After the dean leaves, Steph wonders why Max is acting this way. “Cause you heard the guy. He thinks I’m some brain-dead bartender,” replies a defensive Max. Steph rehashes the same argument, in that she doesn’t understand why he’s being so secretive and closed off. Max says it’s not the right time. She quickly puts her foot in her mouth when she expresses how he could be doing so much with his life. Max gets defensive and claims he’s happy with his life the way it is. Steph presses him to open up. “I have beers to pour,” scowls Max. Steph heads upstairs to his room.
Steph later comes back downstairs as Max demands to know where she was and what she has in her hand. He lays into her for going through his things and tells her to go. Steph asks who the woman in the picture is. An agitated Max reveals that it’s his real mom. Steph admits that she shouldn’t have gone through his things, but at the time she thought it was a good idea. She thought she would find something which would explain why he’s so angry at Dean Robbins, but all she found was the picture of his mother. She encourages him to talk about her. Max sits down and recalls how young he was when he was put in a foster home, so he doesn’t have many memories of his mom. He recalls going to the park with his mom and having a picnic and playing on the merry-go-round. Max admits that he’s always wanted to know the little things about his mom. Steph suggests that they can find her, but Max doesn’t want to even go there. Steph agrees not to tell anyone about his mom and admits that she’s glad he finally opened up to her. They embrace and agree to no more secrets.
