Today's recap was provided by jennymc

Gillian arrived at Jake's door in little black dress and tiara. Jake muttered in confusion, "Wow! Uh, maybe I should change?" in his V-neck sweater. Gillian assured him he wouldn't need to, she had somewhere private in mind for their dinner, namely, his room. She brought in candles, music, and then wheeled in a table with their dinner all laid out. She told Jake she had prepared a typical American dinner. But it turned out that Gillian's idea of a typical American dinner was a bit different from Jake's, starting with the "veggie dunk" with honey and Dijon sauce. Unfortunately, Gillian explained, she didn't have any honey so she'd used molasses. The main dish was baked steak, sweet potatoes, and Peruvian, a.k.a Lima, beans. While Gillian went for the steak knives, Jake hid his sweet potato in a napkin. While stuffing salad into his mouth, Jake realized something was wrong. Gillian had loaded it up with anchovies ("They were so small, I put in quite a few!") Jake had an allergic reaction and had to give himself an allergy shot. The steak proved a little tough to cut and Jake pointed out that most people prefer their steaks grilled. Dessert was a rich concoction, "Oh my, birds' nests with whipped cream!" Jake commented. "It's madertej," Gillian explained. The dessert was a success, but too rich for Jake to handle. As Gillian cleared the table, she found the sweet potato. Jake apologized, saying he didn't like sweet potatoes. "Next time, we'll eat out," he suggested. They kissed, but blaming his medication for affecting him, Jake then flopped out on the bed. Gillian gently kissed him then covered him up. At Tad and Dixie's house, Becca told Dixie she's thinking of returning to Pigeon Hollow, saying the only reason she hung out with Scott was because she thought he shared her values. Dixie tried to convince her to stay, and told here there are more guys around. Dixie persuaded Becca to go with her to SOS to have a good time. Meanwhile, Scott and Greenlee went to SOS together. There, Tad and Adrian had a drink together while Tad waited for Dixie. Mateo asked Tad about Hayley's audition and Tad told him she was great and has the job. Mateo wondered aloud if he should take Hayley some flowers as congratulations. Tina jumped in and reminded him he had promised Hayley her space. Adrian questioned Tina's interest in the matter. When Tina appeared a few minutes later in a Halloween mask, Tad told Adrian it reminded him of Adam, and they agreed that Adam has no heart. Becca and Dixie arrived and joined up with Tad and Adrian. Becca noticed Scott and Greenlee dancing. Later, she sauntered over to their table, "just to say hi!" Dixie and Tad discussed the deal Liza is planning with her new silent partner. Tad worried about the impact a new part-owner will have on The Cutting Edge. Tina wanted to liven things up, and dragged Adrian to the dance floor. Becca joined in the group dance, as Scott quietly watched her. Greenlee sidled up to him and reminded him, "It's all over with her," and they left together. Outside Trevor and Janet's house, Hayley and Ryan couldn't keep their hands off each other as they kissed. Once inside, things heated up even more and they admitted their feelings for each other. "It's hard to keep my distance, I want more," Ryan told her. Things escalated - Hayley's shawl came off, Ryan started to tear his shirt off. Drawing breath, Hayley told Ryan they should go to her room upstairs. "Give me a few minutes," she teased. No sooner had she disappeared but there was a loud banging on the front door. Ryan, still disheveled and half-dressed, opened the door and of course - it was Mateo, holding a bunch of flowers. "This isn't a great time," Ryan said in a masterpiece of understatement. But Mateo brushed past him. "I'll tell her you were here," Ryan said. "Let her decide who she wants to see," was Mateo's angry retort. Ryan told him he wasn't going to hide his feelings for Hayley any more. "I knew the whole time you were out to get her," sneered Mateo. "She's not a trophy," Ryan retorted. "You treated her like trash." "And you were whispering in her ear all the time," Mateo shot back at him. As tempers flared and voices got louder, Hayley came downstairs, in a shortie nightie and pink satin robe. "I didn't want this discussion now, like this," Hayley whispered, "I care about Ryan and it goes beyond friendship," she told Mateo. He seemed stunned at the whole situation he had stumbled into, and Hayley's confession of her feelings. Visibly shaken, "Do want you want," he told her and quietly left. By then Hayley was almost in tears. "Please go," she told Ryan. Confused, Ryan picked up his tie and his jacket and left. At the front door, Hayley was in tears as she watched, then sank to the ground, weeping.

Though it wasn't his office, Tad had no trouble making himself comfortable behind Liza's desk. Liza straggled into her office and gently teased him about sitting in her chair. Tad smiled and praised Liza on the press release that had been put together promoting Hayley's addition to The Cutting Edge's lineup. Liza smiled and told Tad that she'd sent a copy of the release and a videotape of Hayley's audition to her new partner, "Duffy" Duffield. Tad's eyes widened and he asked Liza if she knew what she was doing. Liza shrugged nonchalantly and explained that it was "simple courtesy" to include Mr. Duffield in the loop. Tad worried that Duffy might not approve of the style segment. Everyone, he groaned, had an opinion. At that exact moment, a memo came through on Liza's fax machine. Sure enough, it was from Duffy. Liza grinned from ear to ear as she read the message aloud. The still unseen investor approved of Hayley's hiring. "I applaud your judgment," read the letter. Liza became eerily quiet and said nothing more. Tad snatched the fax from her hands and read the remainder. "Hopefully Miss Vaughan can put the edge back in The Cutting Edge," Tad read. The letter confirmed what he'd feared: the new owner might want to shake things up a bit. Liza assured him that that would not happen as long as she maintained a majority ownership of the station. In actuality, she and Duffy each held forty-percent of the station with Stuart holding the remaining one-fifth share. Liza left the office to tend to other matters. Tad hurriedly picked up the phone and placed a call to Mr. Duffield's office. He was put on hold and never got a chance to speak to the mysterious investor.

Mateo reclined on the sofa in the back room at Sounds of Salsa. Tina strolled into the room hoping to pick up a deposit for the bank. She took a look at Mateo and wondered if his ragged appearance meant that he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. She knew that he was going to have met with Hayley and hoped that he and his ex-wife had made up, so to speak. Mateo picked up the picture of him and Hayley at the club's grand opening and smashed it on the ground. Shards of glass flew everywhere. Immediately, Tina knew that things had not gone well. Mateo told her that Hayley had had "company." Tina put the pieces together and figured out that Ryan must have been with Hayley. Mateo paced back and forth, asking himself how Hayley could get involved with a man like Ryan. He admitted that he'd caused most of the problems that he and Hayley have had over the past year. However, he was unable to understand why Hayley would not give him a chance to redeem himself. Mateo pounded his fist against a metal filing cabinet to emphasize his point. Tina headed out to ready the club for opening even though it was still several hours away. A little while later, Gillian strolled into the room hoping to get Mateo's quesadilla recipe. Gillian chuckled as she told Mateo that her attempt to cook for Jake had gone terribly. Mateo was glad to hear that Gillian and Jake were getting along. His happiness lasted for only a few seconds. He told Gillian that Ryan and Hayley were also getting along quite nicely. "They're sleeping together," he said icily. Gillian puckered her lips and reminded Mateo that he's thought that same thing for nearly a year. Mateo informed her that this time he had proof---he'd caught a nearly naked Ryan and Hayley at Trevor and Janet's house. "He's a predator," Mateo growled. "[Hayley] belongs with me." Surprisingly, Gillian remained unfazed by the news of Ryan and Hayley's blooming relationship. For a few moments she appeared hurt, but then she shook her head and vowed not to be upset by the news. While ranted endlessly about how Ryan was to blame for his breakup with Hayley, Gillian had another viewpoint. She stated that while Ryan was at fault he was only partly to blame for the breakup. The true blame, if it can be called that, belonged to Mateo and Hayley. With that, Gillian headed on her way, saying that she'd get the recipe some other time. Mateo plopped down on the sofa and drifted into a daydream. He imagined that Hayley dropped by the club to reaffirm that their relationship was kaput. "It's over, Mateo," said Hayley coldly. "I'm with Ryan now [and] I love him." Tina returned to the back room with the day's mail. She withheld one of the envelopes, saying that it was addressed to Ryan. Mateo assured Tina that he's forward the letter. After she left the room, Mateo methodically tore the oversized envelope into pieces.

Also on a sofa---but this one at the Dillon house---Hayley worked on a "what's in" list for her style segment. She had a difficult time focusing on her work. Ryan dropped by with breakfast, but Hayley claimed that she'd already indulged in the day's first meal when she'd had a cup of coffee. Ryan warned Hayley about not eating properly, but his warning fell on deaf ears. Hayley apologized to Ryan for what happened the night before. Ryan looked tenderly at Hayley and told her that he hadn't come by looking for an apology. "We were in sync," he said, before Mateo showed up. Hayley sighed and bowed her head. She said that seeing Mateo made her uneasy about being intimate with Ryan. Ryan told Hayley that he wanted to pick a time and place when they could be together without any interruptions. "I care more about you every day [but] I'm not ready to go away with you," Hayley replied meekly. She explained that she was unable to pretend that she didn't have feelings for Mateo. Ryan respected that and claimed that he didn't want Hayley to simply forget about Mateo. Ryan had yet another question for Hayley, this one much more pointed than the previous. He asked her what who she'd thought about when she was left alone the night before---him or Mateo. Hayley quietly replied that she'd thought about "the look on [Mateo's] face." It was "so full of anger and resentment." Ryan questioned why Hayley still had feelings for a man who had hurt her time and time again. Hayley flashed a bit of anger and compared Ryan to her father. She asked that he leave and Ryan respectfully agreed to honor her request. Before leaving, however, he told her that she would have to decide if she wanted to start a new relationship or remain true to someone who has repeatedly let her down.

Adam met with Barry Shire at Chandler Mansion to discuss the latest step in his planned revenge against Tad. He touted his way of parenting as much better than the Martin technique. Turning the other cheek, he said, was not an option. "If someone strike you, you strike them back," he said proudly. Barry wondered how Adam would convince Stuart to sell his shares of WRCW. Adam had a secret weapon---his attorney. Adam knew that Barry and Marian had once been intimate. He deduced that Barry could use that as leverage over her. With a little prodding, Adam was sure that Barry could convince Marian to talk Stuart into unloading the shares. "There's something she wants," said Adam of Marian. "And you're going to give it to her."

At the gallery, Stuart carefully carved a face into a pumpkin. He and Marian mused that the creation bore an uncanny resemblance to Millicent Greenlee. Adam phoned Stuart to ask him for his help in nursing a dying houseplant back to health. Stuart headed off for the mansion. He'd only been gone a few minutes when Barry knocked on the door. Barry claimed that he had some things to discuss with Stuart. He then "accidentally" let it slip that he was not happy with the "conservative" way in which Adam had been handling Stuart's stock portfolio. Marian asked Barry if he remembered the discussion they'd had about Stuart becoming more involved into his finances. Barry nodded. "I can remember what you were wearing," he smiled. Marian was taken a back. She listened as Barry told her that Stuart could unload some of his smaller stocks and reinvest the money into something much more profitable. By the time Stuart returned to the house, Marian was totally convinced that selling was the way to go. Stuart only wanted to know one thing: would selling the stocks make Marian happy. Marian nodded and Stuart scrawled his name on the dotted line, giving Barry permission to sell the stocks.

Back at the mansion, Adam placed a call to Duffy to tell him that he'd soon be the majority owner of WRCW. What no one knew was that Adam owned Datcom, the company buying into WRCW. "No one can trace it back to me," beamed Adam. "But I still call all the shots." Barry returned to the mansion and broke the news that the deal was done. Adam practically drooled at the opportunity to stick it to Tad. Barry warned Adam not to get too happy because David Hayward could still expose him as Colby's biological father. Adam brushed off the attorney's fears, saying that David enjoys taunting him more than anything else.

Monty sat behind his desk at the stem cell lab chowing down on his favorite snack---chocolate pudding. Liza poked her head into the room and asked him if he had time to meet with her. Monty nodded and Liza explained why she was there. She asked how David's name had gotten into Dimitri's case file. Monty shrugged and said that it was common for more than one doctor to sign on to a case. He then got sidetracked and mentioned that a segment on the lab would be a great feature for The Cutting Edge. Liza rolled her eyes and explained that David had not been working on the case. Monty thought long and hard for a few moments before recalling that Adam had dropped by the clinic that day. Adam, said the technician, was the one who'd relayed Dr. Hayward's orders to rush the stem cells to Seaview.

Her phone calls unreturned, Isabella felt the only way that she'd ever speak to her son was to drop by SOS and speak to him face-to-face. "I would've called you," Mateo said unconvincingly. "You're hiding out," said his mother. Mateo ordered his mother to leave him alone and stop interfering in his life. It was then that Isabella knew that her son was hurting terribly. "Do you know who you sound like?" she asked rhetorically. "It's your face, but I'm hearing your father's voice." Mateo shook his head and argued that he could never sound like his father. Hector, he insisted, never had the type of problems he was having now. Isabella grumbled that her late husband had had his fair share of problems. Part of the problem, she said, was that Hector believed in "some sort of code" that didn't allow him to ask women for help or advice. Isabella knew that Mateo wasn't going to open up to her, so she implored him to find someone to talk to in her place. She gave her son a hug and headed on her way. Later, Mateo argued on the phone with a supplier. As a priest entered the back room, Mateo ordered the man on the other end of the line to "go to hell." Mateo blushed slightly open seeing the minister, but his embarrassment lessen somewhat when the priest burst into laughter. Mateo knew that his mother had sent the priest. However, he wasn't really in the mood to talk. "Everything's cool with me," insisted Mateo. Mateo felt that the priest could not possible help him because he'd never been married. The priest agreed that he had never been wed, but he noted that he had married many couples and helped them get through some rough spots in their unions. Finally, Mateo broke his silence. "I hate someone," he growled. "I want Ryan Lavery gone---I want him wiped off the face of the Earth." He ranted about how Ryan had posed as a friend only to stab him in the back. After listening to the tale, the priest understood why Mateo was angry with Ryan. Before absolving him, however, he asked Mateo to talk a little bit about how he had wrecked his marriage. Ryan would never have gotten between Mateo and Hayley, noted the priest, if everything was as "cool" as Mateo had claimed. Mateo took a deep breath and shook his head. He again repeated that he wanted Ryan out of his life---and out of Hayley's life. Without saying another word, he stormed out of the room. The priest was frozen in place for several moments before eventually taking off after Mateo.

At the hospital, Hayley appeared in the solarium for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Axel was set to preside over the meeting, the first time he'd be doing so. He tried to get Hayley to open up about her feelings, but Hayley was unwilling to talk. "If one more man tells me what I should do, I'm going to ring his neck," Hayley said coldly. As the meeting began, Axel somehow convinced an unwilling Hayley to stand before the group and talk about her problems. She agreed, but her speech was not what Axel had expected. Hayley rambled on and on about how her life was slowly coming together. She touted her new job at WRCW as a sign that things were looking up. Axel pursed his lips together and flashed Hayley a slight frown. Suddenly, Hayley began chuckling to herself. She looked directly at Axel and asked him if he could believe the "load of bull" she'd just spewed. After the meeting, Hayley helped Axel clean up and Axel, in turn, helped Hayley confront her feelings. It took Axel's pointed questions to make Hayley realize that she was sending "mixed signals" to both Ryan and Mateo. Hayley hadn't once thought about the vibes she might be sending the two men. Axel urged Hayley to come to terms with her feelings before she hurt herself and the men she claims to care about. If she wants to start anew with Ryan, Axel urged Hayley to stop feeling guilty and move forward. Otherwise, she should change course and end the relationship before things move past the point of no return.

Erica dropped by David's office at the hospital to give him an invitation to a party she was throwing. The engraved invitation cordially invited him to a party she was throwing his honor. The occasion, said the card, was to celebrate his being named director of the Marick Foundation. David wondered if the fete was a bit premature. After all, Alex hadn't given him the green light yet. Erica urged David to visualize the positive. The two shared a kiss. As their lips parted, Erica told David that the party would also serve as a public announcement that they were dating. David was surprised by Erica's sudden about face. A few hours before, she was unwilling to tell anyone about their relationship. Now, she was practically sending out announcements. Alexandra knocked on the door and apologized for having interrupted. Erica smiled and explained that she was just on her way out. As Erica was leaving, she made a point of informing Alex about how David had saved her life. After Erica left, Alexandra figured out that Erica knew that David was in line to replace her on the foundation. David couldn't wait to hear Alex's verdict. Alex explained that she'd promised herself that she would not allow "personal bias" to interfere in her decision. "In all honesty, I would defame my husband's memory by having you head up his foundation," Alex replied curtly. Alex bid David farewell and turned to walk away. David grabbed her arm and begged Alex to reconsider. He knew that she had not taken his merit into consideration. Alex shook her head. She stated that she had reviewed David's credential very carefully. If her decision was to be determined on professional ability alone, David would surely be a shoo-in. But there was more to the decision than skill alone. Alex accused David of continually using his position as a way to meddle in other people's affairs. As an example, she asked David how his name had ended up in Dimitri's medical file. David claimed that it was "impossible" for his name to appear on any paperwork because he'd never had anything to do with her late husband's treatment. The second example of how David went too far was a case of attempted murdered. "Adam," David said under his breath. His mind flashed back to the run-in he'd had with Adam in the stem cell laboratory. He looked at Alex and asked her if the only reason he was being turned down was because his name had ended up in Dimitri's file. "Give yourself more credit," Alex fired back. She told David that he knew exactly why he was being turned down. Erica burst back into the room claiming to have forgotten something. While she was there, she thought it best to ask if she should "break out the champagne." One look at David's somber face was all she needed. She stepped up to Alex and blasted her for letting David slip through her fingers. Alex told Erica that appointing David to head the foundation would dishonor Dimitri's memory. "And he certainly wouldn't want David Hayward for you either," she snapped before exiting the office.

Downstairs in the lab, Monty said that he didn't see a reason why he should have questioned Adam's message that David had put a rush order on the transfer of Colby's stem cells. Lizanodded her head. "Of course not," she agreed. "You didn't know that Adam was against the idea." Monty feared that he would lose his job for breaching hospital protocol, but Liza assured him that his job was safe. In return, Liza asked that Monty tell her everything that happened from the moment Adam first set foot in the lab. The lab tech became extremely nervous. He shook noticeably as he explained that he didn't know that Adam was Colby's father. Monty explained that Adam had originally contended that he'd dropped by the lab to scout it out as a possible feature for a television program. Liza shook her head in disbelief. Once again Adam had managed to weasel his way into something with false promises. Liza became very interested when Monty stated that David had also dropped by the lab. He said that he didn't know what the two men had talked about because he had been in the storage facility. There was still no clear cut sign that anyone had done anything wrong---but both Liza and Monty agreed that there was something "unusual" about David and Adam's presence in the lab. Monty checked his computer and realized that this was the first time that David had ever consulted on a stem cell case. Suddenly, Monty remembered another strange occurrence: the fire drill. Monty explained that Adam had seemed overly concerned about the sample's safety. Monty headed into the storage area and retrieved Colby's stem cell sample. Liza looked at the sample and realized that something was definitely wrong. The sample was completely full and remained sealed. How, she asked, could the vial be sealed if some of the cells had been used to treat Dimitri. "I can't imagine," Monty gasped. "I sure as hell can," Liza snarled. She turned and stormed out of the lab.

Erica and David are in his office after Alex has left. Confused as to why Alex is so opposed to David become head of the Andrassy Foundation, Erica questions David about it. David suggests that Alex may have been listening to stories about him from other Pine Valley residents, but Erica isn't convinced that's it, it seemed much more personal to her. Erica jumps to the conclusion that David must have had an affair with Alex, a charge he vehemently denies, declaring that Alex is a "cold fish" and he has never had any interest in her what-so-ever. She accepted his word on it, but her instinct tells her that there's something he's not telling her. Until he's willing to level with her, she feels they should not be "intimate." She and David are still arguing about it when Vanessa enters and apologizes for interrupting their "lovers quarrel." Erica storms out of the room and, after a few harsh words with his mother, David storms out, too.

Needless to say, he's not in a good mood when he finds Adam on the sun porch after the halloween party (see below). David accuses Adam of wrecking his chance to become head of the foundation by putting his name in the file regarding Colby's stem cells. Grabbing him by the shirt, David promises to make him pay. Adam laughs it off, sure that David is only bluffing as he has many times before. I'm not bluffing, David warns, and threatens to tell the next person that walks through the door the truth about Colby's parentage. Adam doesn't believe him, that would mean David would lose the only thing he has to hold over Adam. But David isn't kidding. The next person to walk in is Gillian and David informs her that Jake isn't Colby's father, Adam is.

Back in David's office, Vanessa has made herself at home and is using his phone to call her mysterious friend. Palmer has been watching me like a hawk, she tells the person, but promises them the money is on the way and to look out for an envelope with Pine Valley Hospital as the return address. Erica returns to retrieve the invitations, which she had thrown across the room during her earlier argument with David. Vanessa has already seen them, however, and warns Erica it would be in her best interest to stay away from David.

Liza returns home from the hospital with the knowledge that Colby's stem cells have never been touched and is furious with Adam for his interference. Adam isn't home, though, when she gets there and she calls Jake and asks him to come over. Jake leaves the Halloween party at the hospital, which had just finished, and arrives before Adam does. Liza asks Jake if he would take Colby for the night, there's something she needs to talk to Adam about.

The hospital is throwing a Halloween party for the pediatric patients, who are currently painting faces on their pumpkins. Dixie and Tad are there with Junior, and Gillian is helping out and taking pictures. Joe Martin stops by and when Gillian asks him how long they've been throwing this Halloween party, Joe tells her that it was originally Jake's idea. When he was a little boy, he suggested it since all of the kids at the hospital couldn't go trick-or-treating, and the party's been held ever since. Gillian is touched by Jake's thoughtfulness, even as a child. Across the room, Adam arrives and starts talking to Junior (who's dressed like Anakin Skywalker as a pod racer). Junior obviously doesn't feel comfortable talking to Adam and turns down his invitation to go to dinner, he's going out trick-or-treating with his friends. Tad comes over, much to Junior's relief, and runs interference. Adam does promise Junior that he doesn't have to go to Winchester Prep, which makes him feel a little better. When Junior refers to Tad as "Dad", Adam gets a furious look on his face and goes out into the hall. He calls his lawyer, Barry, who informs him the papers have all been signed. Adam is delighted, now he's the majority owner of WRCW and Tad Martin will get what he deserves. Hayley stops by after her meeting and Adam mentions how pround he is about her new job, she'll "put the edge back in Cutting Edge." His statement arouses Tad's suspicions, since that was exactly the same phrase Duffield used in his fax to Liza. Jake arrives with Colby (who looks adorable in a yellow flower costume), which only adds to Adam's anger. After Brooke and Jaime arrive, they go with Tad, Dixie, Hayley and Junior over to the Dillon's.

Mateo is peeking into a window at the Dillon house when Trevor arrives home and catches him. Mateo says he was only checking to see if Hayley was home, but Trevor knows he was actually checking to see who Hayley was with. Not denying it, Mateo tells Trevor about coming over the other night and finding Ryan there. Trevor suggests that maybe what Hayley needs right now is to be with someone whom she hasn't made so many mistakes with. This isn't what Mateo wants to hear, of course, and he quickly leaves as Janet, Becca and Amanda arrive. Janet has talked Becca into going trick-or-treating with the kids while she stays home on candy patrol. They all go inside and sit down, while outside a mysterious figure in a black cape and hood watches them through the window. The figure quickly disappears when it hears Tad, Dixie, Junior, Jamie, Hayley and Brooke coming.

After everyone's inside, Jamie and Junior sneak back onto the porch. Amanda follows them and insists on knowing what's going on. They tell her their plan to go back in the woods and find the person that left the bottle cap trail for Junior. To prove she's not scared, Amanda tells them that she's coming with them.

Everyone else goes trick-or-treating and Janet and Hayley are left home alone. Hayley makes a call to Ryan, leaving a message on his answering machine asking him to meet her at B.J.'s in an hour so they can talk.

The kids have managed to slip away from Becca and are at the boathouse. They hide their costumes and head off into the woods in search of the mystery person. Junior insists they split up so that they can cover more territory.

Hayley arrives at the boat house and sits down. Suddenly she hears a noise behind her and, frightened, calls out, "Who's there?" It's Mateo.

All alone in the woods, Amanda is scared, but keeps on going. All at once, a figure in a black robe and hood appears before her and Amanda screams.