Mon, Jan 4, 1988
Delia apologizes to Pat for supporting Dakota. Pat wants to pursue a lead by talking with the doctor who treated Augie Price. Ben pushes Maggie to kiss Roger goodbye as they're quarreling just before she's to leave for Australia. John Reid asks Maeve to give Nancy Don temporary shelter since she's been kicked out by Dakota. Roger and Maggie reconcile. Jill and Maeve share a very tearful goodbye. Roger teaches Mr. Dowd how to be a bachelor by putting his feet on the coffee table and ordering an extra large pizza with the works. Frank bids Jill, Maggie, and the baby girls goodbye as they depart for Australia.
Fri, Feb 19, 1988
Dakota thanks Maeve for saving his life and asks her to give him any updates on Johnny. Jack comforts a worried Maeve. Maeve prays for Johnny's survival. Before meeting the new publisher, Jack's editor cautions him to remove the chip from his shoulder and not quit in haste. Jack is surprised to see that the new publisher is an old acquaintance. Maeve grows more concerned when Frank and Pat look at her gravely after speaking with Johnny's doctor.
Mon, Feb 22, 1988
Pat and Frank tell Maeve that medically Johnny should have died but he's fighting to live. Jack and Leigh Kirkland, who has returned and bought the newspaper, find history repeating itself as they clash over journalistic integrity and his story about Emily Hall. Frank attempts to calm an upset Delia. John Reid comforts Ryan, who's worried about losing Johnny. Maeve sits with Johnny in ICU and vows she won't lose him now without a chance to reconcile their differences.
Mon, Feb 29, 1988
Lizzie leaves Ben in bed to go take care of Owen after she learns about Johnny's heart attack. Johnny's condition stabilizes. Maeve calls a family meeting to decide Dakota's fate. Despite some lingering hard feelings among Delia and John Reid, the family agrees to cover up Dakota's crimes and pretend the shooting was a simple robbery. Ben stops by the hospital and sees Lizzie warmly embracing Maeve. Maeve visits Johnny, who regains consciousness.
Tue, Mar 1, 1988
Maeve is thrilled to be reunited with Leigh. Frank, Pat, and John Reid inform Dakota that the family is closing ranks to protect him, and he has Maeve and Concetta to thank. Dakota agrees to cooperate and claims to be truly sorry. Later, he delights in telling Nancy Don how he gets through life by exploiting human nature in others who want everyone to think that they're good people. Leigh meets Emily. Emily says she can't take much more of the investigation into the murder, and Jack offers her his arm for strength. Outsider Dakota watches through the ICU window as Johnny receives a joyous visit from the Ryan men.
Wed, Mar 2, 1988
John Reid wants a word with Dakota. Jack shows Detective Vaughn how Sherry could've caught a helicopter into Manhattan, murdered Richard, and been back in the saddle within an an hour. Delia exacts her revenge by visiting Malachi to ensure that Dakota is wiped out in New York City. John Reid confronts Dakota over his lies and manipulations, and Dakota deems him as self-righteous as Frank. Jack tricks Sherry into admitting she knew all along about Richard and Emily's affair. Roger shows up just as Delia is leaving for her date with Malachi, and when he cautions her she's headed for trouble, she replies that sometimes trouble can be very entertaining.
Mon, Mar 7, 1988
John Reid tricks Delia into letting Lizzie help Maeve around the bar by reminding her how much he and Owen would love having her around. Maeve wonders if Ben will object to Lizzie working closely with the Ryans. Jack and Frank make plans to catch the killer of Richard Rowan. Zena and the Walker Singers perform a prophetic song for Jack and Emily. Maeve reassures Johnny that she knows she has to let her children go because he is the rest of her life, and they still have a long way to travel together. Emily arrives home and finds Sherry waiting for her in the dark.
Wed, Mar 9, 1988
Ben points out the difference between himself and Lizzie is that he doesn't need anyone else but her. Nancy Don warns John Reid that Lizzie has him on a leash, and she's going to make his life miserable. Sherry taunts Emily that she's known about her affair with Richard since September 1985. Furthermore, it was gratifying when she realized that Richard would never divorce her for Emily and asks if Emily felt demoralized. Nancy Don confronts Ben in the park, warning him that Lizzie is using him and John Reid. She vows if he doesn't put a stop to Lizzie messing with John Reid's head, she'll take matters into her own hands, and the results won't be pretty. Sherry continues her game with Emily, finally confessing that she slipped away from the riding party, took a helicopter into Manhattan, murdered Richard, and was back before anyone found her missing. Emily is stunned to hear the confession and accuses Sherry of trying to drive her insane with all of her details. Sherry denies the claims and says she doesn't know what she's talking about. Emily screams that none of it is true, she's just playing with her, manipulating her. Emily knows it because she really did kill Richard, not Sherry. As Emily confesses and grabs her coat to leave, Jack, Frank, and Detective Vaughn step out of the shadows. They've heard the entire conversation.
Thu, Mar 10, 1988
Dakota barges into Delia's apartment. Emily confesses again to killing Richard and asks Frank what will happen now. With her and Sherry's statements he plans to make a case to the grand jury for manslaughter. Emily is shocked that she won't be charged with murder, and Sherry admits she's unhappy too as she had nothing in life to look forward to except revenge against Emily. Dakota threatens to make Delia pay for talking Malachi into making him resign as district leader. Sherry tells Frank she might stay in New York and run her father's investment firm. An excited John Reid informs Delia that he's being appointed district leader, replacing Dakota. Emily says a regretful goodbye to Jack.
Fri, Mar 11, 1988
Dakota shows up at Ben's to tell him all about his fairy godmother Delia. Chaz goes to see Sherry and says he's resigning from MacMonnies because of her and Richard's treachery against Emily. Leigh apologizes to Jack, who hands in his story on Emily's confession, and they agree to work together. Frank's delighted that Dakota is eating his heart out over being replaced by John Reid. Dakota enrages Ben by revealing that Delia located and brought Nancy Don to New York in order to break up him and Lizzie. Sherry phones Chaz's boss Teddy Malcolm, instructing him to not let Chaz quit because she has special plans for him. A furious Ben confronts Delia, tears apart Deja Vu in a violent rage, and gets arrested, leaving a breathless Dee alone in her destroyed boutique.
Fri, Nov 18, 1988
Leigh accuses Matthew of setting up Jack. Roger wants to help his cosmic soulmate Delia, but accuses Rob of being rude, spoiled, and aggressively unpleasant. Alone in the apartment, Lizzie has visions of Ben. Joe tries to make Delia see why her relationship with Rob won't work, and they part still warm friends. As Siobhan attempts to fix the music box, Joe remembers Max talking about losing his timing this late in his career and connects the lyrics to Send in the Clowns. He screams at Siobhan to stop and rushes to pull her to the ground. The music box falls to the floor and explodes.
Mon, Nov 21, 1988
just as Siobhan attempts to pry it open, Joe realizes that Max had tampered with the music box. He rushes to her, pulls her to the floor, and shields her body as the music box explodes. Siobhan is unharmed, but a bleeding Joe appears mortally wounded. Siobhan phones Riverside for an ambulance. Leigh expresses her outrage over Matthew's lack of journalistic integrity and credits Jack with teaching her to take the profession more seriously. Delia pigs out on junk food and quarrels with her alter ago over the situation with Rob and the Ryans. Awaiting the ambulance, Siobhan begs Joe to stay with her and not close his eyes. He tells her about wanting to take Sean to Sheepshead Bay to feed the seagulls and watch the ships in the harbor. Alone and comfortable on the sofa, Leigh sings a romantic Italian opera to Jack. He asks her to marry him, and she quickly accepts. Joe's getting cold as he and Siobhan wait for help to arrive. She begs him not to leave her and tells him to imagine the warm sun. He sees the bright sunlight in her red hair, closes his eyes, and dies in her arms.
Wed, Nov 23, 1988
Family, friends, and some unwelcome arrivals convene at Ryan's bar to remember Joe and celebrate his life. Leigh and Jack inform an ungracious Matthew of their engagement. Angry and blaming Fenno for what happens to Joe, Frank wants to throw Fenno out, but he vows to stay because Siobhan needs him. Maeve tells Frank to back off Fenno and accept the fact that Joe and Siobhan chose their own path with Fenno's help, not his. Fenno reassures Sean that he is loved and has nothing to fear. Everyone welcomes Kevin back, and Johnny wants a word with him when things are quieter. Siobhan changes from her black dress into green and explains to everyone that green symbolizes courage and hope, the things Joe stood for, and she will continue to wear green to honor his life.
Mon, Nov 28, 1988
Siobhan strolls through Central Park recalling her life with Joe. Delia and Roger have a heart-to-heart and begin a fresh start with Delia accepting a Friday night date dancing to Gershwin. Maeve talks with Sean about Joe's death. Fenno offers to help the Ryans any way he can. Siobhan finds a place in the park special to her and Joe. She lies down on the grass and cries for him.
Tue, Nov 29, 1988
Matthew shows up at Leigh's with a bottle and a heavy heart that she has never given him a chance to compete with Jack for her affection. Nancy Don doesn't want to stick around to answer Chaz's questions and goes out with Rob. Zena visits Chaz, urging him to contact Ryan if he still has even the slightest bit of interest in her. Matthew accuses Leigh of not caring enough for his feelings, but she thinks his sole problem with her engagement is Jack. Rob gets carried away with Nancy Don and just as things get hot and heavy, Sherry arrives home. Zena gives Chaz a telephone number for Ryan in St. Louis. Matthew passes out on Leigh's couch before she can usher him out of her apartment.
Thu, Dec 1, 1988
Nancy Don fights off Rob and escapes his limo. Fenno tells Jack that Senator Bench arranged for him to be transferred immediately back to Boston, so Fenno has quit the task force to stay in New York and help Siobhan. Jack sets things in motion to help Fenno figure out why Bench, who he doesn't know, would want him in Boston. Nancy Dons returns and explains to Chaz what happened with Rob, which was the result of being jealous of Ryan. Roger tries to help Ben see that Lizzie has made her choice and he has to accept that she wants John Reid. With Jack's support, Leigh faces phoning her father Hollis about the engagement, and when she does, he refuses to attend. Chaz takes Nancy Don for an examination after she won't let him teach Rob a lesson for abusing her. Chaz and the doctor urge Nancy Don to file charges against Rob.
Fri, Dec 2, 1988
Nancy Don files charges against Rob. John Reid awakens in a cold sweat after dreaming that he shot Lizzie and Ben who were making love in their bed. Rob goes to see Delia, who throws him out, but not without him first swearing that they're the same, and he'll one convince of her that one day. Later, the police arrive with a warrant for Rob's arrest.
Wed, Dec 14, 1988
Arguments abound at Ryan's when Delia doesn't like Frank's suspects in Rob's attempted murder, particularly Roger. Jack and Leigh tell Matthew that they've set a wedding date. Delia asks Fenno to investigate Rob's attack since the police are content to believe that Roger's guilty. Maeve approves of Leigh's marriage to Jack, reassuring her that Mary would approve of her, too. After a visit from Delia, Roger decides to go to the Excelsior Hotel in search of Antoine, the only possible witness to Rob's attack.
Thu, Dec 15, 1988
Life couldn't get any better for Zena who has been offered a three record contract and has the love of a large family. She and Jack talk about how far she has come. Fenno questions Sherry about Roger, Chaz, and John Reid, all three suspects in Rob's attack. He also comforts her with an anecdote from his childhood in which he recovered from a head injury. Talking with Fenno, Siobhan and Kevin agree that Roger never would have risked injuring his hands by physically attacking Rob. Instead he would have taken psychological revenge. Delia's tip about Antoine sends Fenno to the Excelsior Hotel, where Antoine and all of his belongings are now gone after speaking with a man who fits Roger's description. Sherry worries when Roger informs her that Rob's blood pressure is elevated and his heart rate erratic.
Fri, Dec 16, 1988
Ben is ecstatic when Lizzie lets herself in to his apartment saying she's left John Reid because she can't deny her love for Ben any longer. They move to the bed and begin to kiss, but then Ben realizes that he has fantasized the entire scene. Meanwhile, Fenno and Siobhan question John Reid and Lizzie about the events leading to Rob's attack. Zena tries to visit Rob at Riverside and has a sweet encounter with Sherry. Chaz shows Nancy Don a manly display of possessiveness. Frank warns Fenno to stop interfering in his investigation. When Rob's condition takes a turn for the worse and Roger fears his hand might not be ready to perform surgery, Sherry agrees to call in another surgeon. Roger phones Seneca Beaulac in Montreal, and he agrees to delay a London vacation to perform Rob's brain surgery.
Mon, Dec 19, 1988
In bed with Nancy Don, Chaz can't forget the words Ryan said to him. Fenno confronts Roger who claims the desk clerk at Excelsior Hotel was lying because he never saw Antoine. Roger thanks Delia for making him feel like a new man, but she still loves the old one. Siobhan thinks Fenno sounds a little like Frank as they go over the suspects. Maeve comforts a frightened Sherry. Jack and Leigh announce their wedding date to everyone at Ryan's. Seneca phones from Montreal to say all flights in and out are delayed due to a snowstorm. Rob's CT scan shows a cranial bleed, and when his pulse drops dangerously low, Roger realizes he can't wait for Seneca and will have to perform surgery.
Tue, Dec 20, 1988
Roger begins delicate surgery on Rob. Seneca finally arrives and is astonished by Sherry's uncanny resemblance to his late wife Nell. Delia mopes around the bar having a crisis but no one can help her...until brother Bobby comes into the bar bearing a Christmas tree. The Ryan family delights in having Bob back home, and he details his experiences since he left New York. Roger and Seneca emerge from surgery, and Sherry thanks Roger for saving Rob.
Wed, Dec 21, 1988
Delia wants to discuss with Bobby the cosmic crossroads she's reached with Roger. Seneca reassures Sherry that Roger couldn't have been responsible for Rob's injuries. Fenno and Siobhan investigate Matthew's business activities and learn he has a company in the name of Catherine Strand. Ben and Delia are at odds over Olivia. Fenno confronts Matthew who insists he has no idea what he's talking about with his accusations of malfeasance. Roger tells Delia, Ben, and Dowd that Rob is going to recover and will clear him in the attack. Seneca suggests Sherry dine with him, but they're interrupted by a nurse who says Rob is in acute distress.
Thu, Dec 22, 1988
Rob awakens from his coma but can't recall what happened to put him in the hospital. Sister Mary Joel breaks the news to Silvio that as much as she loves him and Jack, she can't turn her back on her commitment to the church. Matthew demands that Leigh and Jack call off Fenno who's digging around in his personal life. Leigh's beloved butler Mendenhall arrives to help her with the wedding. Lizzie and John Reid enjoy preparing for Christmas with Owney. Silvio promises not to cause more heartache for Sister Mary Joel, and she reveals she's requesting to be transferred away since it will be easier for Silvio and Jack to have a clean break. Rob overhears Sherry telling Seneca that Rob is Roger's only hope of being cleared of the assault.
Fri, Dec 23, 1988
Sister Mary Joel visits Jack and Ryan to tell them of her decision to remain with the orderly. Silvio and Jack share a warm moment, with Jack wanting to accompany his father to mass, and inviting Silvio to join him at the Ryan's for their family celebration. Rob calls a meeting at the hospital to announce that he now recalls Roger bludgeoning him with a tire iron and he wants him arrested today. Ryan and Chaz have a chance meeting on the street and share a cup of coffee together. The Ryan family and friends decorate their Christmas tree. Delia tells Fenno she desperately needs him to find Antoine since Roger is now in really big trouble.
Mon, Dec 26, 1988
Ryan encourages Maeve to have a comforting word with Silvio. Nancy Don's jealousy is aroused when she learns Chaz went to the Christmas tree lighting at the bar with Ryan. She decides that Chaz should go ahead and cut her off cold if their relationship is going to end with him hurting her. Delia fails to get through to Rob. Roger is arrested for Rob's assault. Maeve and Silvio share their cultures. Chaz fantasizes Nancy Don in a bordello and demand they stop playing games with one another.
Tue, Dec 27, 1988
Ben bails Roger out of jail. Sy Morlaes dies of a massive heart attack and word on the street is that millionaire real estate developer Dan Trails is after his congressional seat. Maeve urges Ryan to stop being so hard on herself and others. The thought of Frank running for Morales' seat has Kevin singing. After he accuses her of being a manipulator, Nancy Don throws a tantrum and Chaz walks out. Leigh apologizes to Matthew for making a mistake with Catherine. Chaz quits MacMonnie's. Fenno gets a lead on Antoine. A furious Roger, out of jail, heads straight for the hospital and Rob's room.