Episode 1196

 

You Can Make Me Cry
Written by: Dallas Walsh | Originally Released: July 28, 2025

Episode Theme song: "Truly Dreams" Allie X

Previously on One Day at a Time
- Josh warned Lukas and Donovan to stay calm while they take the stand in the custody case
- Logan and Sophie met Frederick with Meggan
- Chris, Trenyce, Daisy, and Andrew had an awkward family dinner
- Simona opened a murder case with Chantel
- Victoria told Bryce that they would never get back together. Bryce wondered how close Victoria and Jeff were getting after seeing them worked together
- Paige pondered her future as she was single but pregnant with Will's baby

Twin Peaks Law Courts

There is an eerie silence in the courtroom as Max, Lois, Cassie, Donovan, Lukas, Josh, Abby, and Ethan wait for the next step in the custody battle for Olly/Sonny. Franklin, the judge, is reviewing the notes in front of him so he knows where to go next. He has already agreed to expediate the rest of the case since they were delayed by Abby going in to labour earlier in the trial. He hopes that by end of the day, there will be a resolution to the case.

"Alright," Franklin looks up and over at Josh. "Mr. Levitt, please call your first witness to the stand and we can proceed with the trial."

Josh stands up and looks over at Max, Cassie, and Lois slowly. He knows that he has a surprise later in the day, but for right now, he has to move ahead as planned. He still hates that Max is even trying to get custody of the little boy; it has added a new wrinkle of complication to the custody case.

"Your honor," Josh finally speaks to the judge. "I'm calling Donovan Moretti to the stand."

Donovan slowly stands up and moves to the stand, where he is sworn in. "Mr. Moretti, can you please explain to the court how you, and your husband, came into raising the child at question?"

"Of course," Donovan nods back to Josh. "Lukas and I, we were married and very much in love. We decided that we would adopt a child since we believed that we could give a child a great home. So, we went to an adoption agency and started the process."

"What happened next?"

"Our social worker revealed that there was a pregnancy woman, here in Twin Peaks, that wanted to give her child up for adoption, so we met with her, and Chantel, she agreed that we could adopt her child. After the child was born, we took Olly home, and we've been raising him ever since."

"Just so we are clear here," Josh moves closer to the witness stand. "Neither you, nor your husband, knew about this baby switch? You had no idea that the child you were raising was actually Abby Lawson's son? And the son that you were supposed to raise died that day?"

"Absolutely not," Donovan shakes his head back to him. "We had no idea. How could we? We never would have kept a child from their biological mother had we known the truth."

"But isn't that what you're doing now? Trying to keep a child from his biological mother?" Josh asks him.

Donovan gulps back to him. "Abby can be a part of Olly's life, of course, but the fact is, we are the only parents Olly has known for the last 4 years. He is our life, our world, and if you asked him, he would tell you that he is very happy; he loves me and Lukas very much. In every way possible, he is our son, and he thinks of us as his parents."

"Thank you, no further questions," Josh says as Ethan stands up.

"Mr. Moretti," Ethan looks firmly at Donovan. "You claimed you and your husband were very much in love at the time of the adoption. Where, exactly, do you two stand today? Because from my understanding, there are divorce papers that have been filed and the two of you are estranged. Can you confirm this, please?"

The Pink Flamingo at the River Rock Casino

Will moves into the restaurant looking to grab a bite to eat and a drink while he is on a break from a long shift at the hospital. Sometimes, he would just eat at the hospital, but he was looking forward to a change of scenery. As he waits for the hostess, he happens to see Eva sitting alone at a table, so he finds himself moving closer to his former lover.

"I am probably the last person you want to see," he admits to her but he still sits across from her.

"You are right about that," Eva nods back to him. "You had to go to Dominick and tell him the truth? I know you were hurt by what I said, Will, but the truth is, you've made everything far worse."

Will gulps heavily back to her as he recalls his last conversation with Paige, who also berated him for lying to her, and the family, about knowing Felicia being alive. He realizes that he by telling the truth he has hurt a lot of people, but he was devastated when Eva told him she wanted to get back together with Dominick after they had sex most recently.

"I know that everyone is upset," Will sighs back to her. "And that includes you. I…I am sorry, for what it's worth. I was just hurt by you claiming to still want to be with Dominick despite always turning to me when you needed something more."

"I don't think that I've ever lied to you about my feelings," Eva tells him. "You've always known that Dominick has my heart, Will. Did I need you for comfort, yes, I can admit that. But my feelings, I never mislead you."

"I take it that Dominick is furious with you?"

"That's an understatement," Eva nods back to him. "He won't listen to me even try to explain this. I…I don't think he will ever forgive me."

"Give him time, Eva," Will looks over and smiles at her. "In time, he will realize what he has in front of him."

At the entrance to the restaurant, Paige peers in and sees Will and Eva together. Immediately, she feels her heart start to race and she leaves unseen. She rushes outside, where she leans up against the bricks of the building.

"I…I don't think I can do this," she whispers to herself as she puts her hands on her stomach. "I don't think I can have this baby."

A tear forms in her eye as she realizes that she has to terminate the pregnancy before it's too late. "I can't have a baby when the father is in love with another woman," she gasps to herself, thinking that she has, finally decided to do with her unborn child.

The Victors Mansion; Frederick's Lair

"How did you enjoy the first visit with your grandfather?" Sophie asks Logan as they walk through the hallways of the Victors mansion. After they were visiting Frederick, he suggested that they explore the mansion, which has been restored after the bombs went off a few years earlier. Logan and Sophie agreed since Frederick and Meggan wanted some time alone, as they had some tense moments.

"It was great," Logan nods back to her. "Frederick seems very genuine because we are family. I know my mother is upset with him, but that beef is between them."

"I'm glad that you feel that way," Sophie smiles back to him as they open a door and move into a study. "I wasn't sure how the meeting would go, but it seems to be a good thing."

"Very good," Logan chuckles back to her. "Thanks Sophie; this was a good idea."

"You're welcome," Sophie smiles back to him, as Logan starts to look around the room.

"Oh, there's a bar in here, I'm dying for a drink," Logan says as he moves to the bar and starts to make himself a drink. "Do you want one?"

"No," Sophie shakes her head back to him. "And Logan, I don't think you should either."

"What? Why not?" he asks her in surprise. "This is my grandfather's home, I can have a drink."

"Your Mom has had a few downstairs and you still need to drive us home," Sophie reminds him.

"I'll only have one," Logan replies to her as he takes a sip of the vodka that he poured. "I will be fine to drive us home after, I promise."

Sophie uneasily nods back to him, unsure that she likes the sinking feeling that Logan is drinking before he has to drive everyone home, but she doesn't want to create a scene between at the Victors mansion.

***


Meanwhile in the living room, Meggan stands at the bar is about to herself another drink as Frederick watches her from behind her. He knows that they had some heated words earlier while he was visiting with Logan and Sophie. He can tell that his daughter is upset with him for, once again, faking his death and removing himself from everyone's life for the last year or so.

"I wish that you would let me explain," Frederick finally breaks the awkward silence between them. "Why I felt like I had to pretend to be dead again, I mean."

"I don't know how many more excuses I can handle," Meggan turns to her father and glares back at him before she takes a sip of her scotch. "Every time you feel the need, you play dead and expect all of us to, what? Just be okay with the fact that you've alive and have been playing with all of our lives?"

"I felt like I needed a reset," Frederick explains to her. "Sometimes we need those in our lives."

"Yes, sure," Meggan rolls her eyes back to him. "Most of us just handle that on a day to day basis and we push through, we don't let our loved ones believe they are dead. Although making people think others have died is your specialty, isn't it?"

"You're still upset with me for letting you believe Noah was dead, aren't you?" Frederick asks her. "I wish you'd understand why I did that."

"Upset?" Meggan cuffs back at him. "That might be the understatement of the year! You let me think for years that I took someone's life, not just anyone, a child's life! So don't you dare stand there and ask me if I am upset, because you're damn right I am!"

"Meggan…"

"No!" she yells back at him. "You see this drink in my hand, it's there because of you, you sent me back to the bottle! And there's not a damn thing that you can do about it!"

The Tower's; Floor Ten; Andrew & Daisy's Condo


"The dinner with Chris and Trey, it was nice, wasn't it?" Daisy asks Andrew as she moves to the sofa in their condo and passes him a glass of wine. The previous evening, the four of them had dinner at Chris and Trenyce's home; they had been invited over by Chris and Trenyce in hopes of trying to build the bridge between the four of them. While there was some tension between Chris and Andrew, the dinner, for the most part, was a success.

"Yea, I guess it was," Andrew takes a sip of his red wine. "Chris and I had some moments, but I think it will get better in time."

"I think it is a good sign that Chris invited us over," Daisy replies to him. "I've known Chris for a long time; if he wasn't ready for that, he wouldn't have agreed to the dinner."

"I'll take your word for it," Andrew chuckles back to her. "But I agree, it was a nice a first step. There is one thing that I wish for though…"

"Oh?" Daisy arches her eyebrow back to him. "What is that?"

"The kids," Andrew looks back at her. "It would have been nice had BJ and Tinah been there."

Daisy uneasily sighs back to him. "I think in time," Daisy says back to him. "Right now, it was important for our adults to get along and get back on track. Then, we can re-introduce the children to us."

"Yea, I suppose so."

"And let me ask you a question," Daisy locks eyes with him. "How would you have felt being that close to Tinah, knowing the truth is out now? After the truth came out, you went into a darker place, Andrew."

"I know and I feel better about things now," he admits to her. "I think seeing her would bring closure to me. I can still be in her life, but in a different way, you know."

"It will happen," Daisy tells him. "You will be apart of her life, I believe that."

The Davenport House; Chris, Trenyce, BJ, & Tinah's Home

"Before we go see our daughter," Trenyce stops Chris from leaving the kitchen with a small tray of snacks in the house that they live in together. They are about to have a catch-up with Cheresa, but Trenyce wanted to have a quick conversation with him. "I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?" Chris asks her with a confused look on his face.

"For having dinner with Daisy and Andrew," Trenyce explains to him. "I know that it wasn't easy for you, but I think it was important that we take the next steps to get back on track with our family. It's a big part of why I wanted to see Cheresa; it's been too long since we connected with our daughter."

Chris smiles back to her before he leans in and kisses her on the lips. "Can I just say that I love how driven you are to put our family back together? I love seeing this side of you, Trey."

Trenyce smiles back to him. "Family is key," she winks back to him. "Now, let's go see our daughter."

They move into the living room, where Cheresa is looking out the large front window, deep in thought.

"We have some snacks if you're hungry," Chris announces to his daughter, who doesn't turn around from her gaze. "Cheresa, did you hear me?"

"Sorry, I guess I was lost in my thoughts," Cheresa admits as she slowly turns around.

Immediately, Trenyce moves closer to her. "Alright, what's wrong? I can tell by the look on your face that something is troubling you, so what is it?"

Cheresa uneasily chuckles back to her. "You know me so well. I'm…I'm afraid it's not good news."

Chris and Trenyce nervously look at one another. "You're not sick are you?" he asks Cheresa.

"No," Cheresa shakes her head back to him. "It's Chantel…she's dead, and Simona thinks that she was murdered," she reveals as Trenyce and Chris gasp back to her.

"Alright young lady," Chris instructs her. "Sit down and tell us everything.

"And then you can tell us how we can help," Trenyce tells her as they move to the sofa and Cheresa begins to tell them the horrific story of Chantel's disappearance.

Robertson Enterprises


"I got the email draft you sent of the rollout, and I have a few comments and amendments to make but otherwise, I am good to proceed," Jeff tells Victoria as they sit next to one another on the small sofa in her office at Robertson Enterprises. As they continue to work on the upcoming launch of a luxurious spa line for the company, they had been given some feedback from Tyler on some changes, especially around the launch, which Victoria took into account for. Jeff, however, had some minor changes to be made, and they are now looking at them together.

"I think I can make those changes and get back to you," Victoria admits to him. "I'm getting excited by this, I have to admit."

"Yea, same here," Jeff tells her. "I think we need to get Trenyce involved so she can start designing some of these essential items, like the robes, towels."

"I couldn't agree more," Victoria replies to him. "I'll send her a meeting invite now."

"Great," Jeff smiles back to her. "I think we are in good shape."

"Yes, I believe we are," Victoria closes her laptop, stands up, and moves to her desk, where she sets the computer down.

"What do you say we head to the Pink Flamingo and get a drink to celebrate our success?" Jeff suggests to her.

"No," Victoria shakes her head back to him quickly. "Sorry, it's not you. It's just…I ran into Bryce the last time I was there, and he is the last person I want to see right now."

"Ah," Jeff sighs back to her. "I am guessing that he is still trying to get back into your good graces?"

"Despite sleeping with my cousin, yes, he is," Victoria chuckles back to him. "I don't know how many times I have to tell him that we are over for him to accept that. After all the pain he caused my brother, I don't see a future for us; not now, not ever."

"I get it," Jeff moves closer to her. "And while he is my son, I can appreciate where you're coming from, Victoria. I…I know other members of my family have taken issue with you, but these few weeks of us working together have made me seen you in a new light."

Victoria blushes back to him. "Well, I appreciate that," she admits to him. "I'm not this evil woman everyone makes me out to be."

"I can see that," Jeff moves closer to her. "I can see a lot of things."

They look into one another's eyes for a moment and she turns away as she chuckles. "We aren't going to do that, remember?" she tells him as she looks back at him.

"Do what?"

"It felt like we were going to kiss. And you're with Leah, remember?"

"How can I forget?" Jeff chuckles back to her. "But, I will admit, I was drawn to you just now."

"So was I," she admits back to him. "What are we doing?"

"I don't know," Jeff moves closer to her again. "But it feels…right."

She kisses him passionately and he responds to her kiss, unable to hide his attraction to his son's estranged wife.

Twin Peaks Law Courts

"Answer the question, Mr. Moretti," Ethan presses Donovan for an answer to his question about his relationship status with Lukas. "Are you and Lukas headed for a divorce?"

"We are," Donovan admits to him as the Judge starts to make notes. "But couples break up every day and that doesn't impact their ability to be parents to their children. You of all people should know, considering your own upbringing."

"Refrain from asking council questions," Franklin warns Donovan, who gulps back to him.

"Now that we have established that you and your husband are estranged, can you advise as to what set the demise of your marriage into motion?" Ethan asks next.

"Objection your honor! My clients marriage is not on trial," Josh stands up and protests.

"Overruled, answer the question, Mr. Moretti."

"There wasn't one thing," Donovan admits to everyone. "But Lukas, he did have an affair with Jasper Lam, our nanny. That was probably the start of the downfall."

"I see, so your husband sleeps with the help that was hired to take care of your son, is that my understanding?" Ethan asks him quickly.

"Yes, that is what happened," Donovan fumes, as Lukas covers his face in horror.

"No further questions, your honor," Ethan says as he moves back to his seat and sits down.

Lois then stands up. "Mr. Moretti, a number of years ago, you went on trial for murder, is that correct?"

Donovan grunts loudly. "Yes, it is true," he tells everyone. "You prosecuted me, Ms. Kam, despite me being innocent. I almost died because you convicted me; if it wasn't for my sister, I wouldn't be here right now!"

"Mr. Moretti, I have warned you! You are held in contempt!" Judge Franklin smashes his mallet down.

"Your honor, my client is simply defending himself!" Josh tries to protest back to him, to no avail.

"You have to understand, she's trying to make me look bad, and I was innocent in that murder charge, your honor!" Donovan yells back at him. "I just want my son, is that so fucking much to ask for!"

"That's ENOUGH!" the Judge smashes his mallet again. "Mr. Moretti, you will be fined $5000.00 for your outbursts, and you are hereby removed from the stand. I will not tolerate this type of behaviour in my court room, do you understand me?"

"Yes, your honor," Donovan gulps as he stands up and moves back to his chair, uneasily looking at Lukas and Josh, realizing that he screwed up royally on the stand, as Ethan and Lois smile at Abby and Max, respectively, knowing that they did their jobs perfectly well.

Next on One Day a at Time
- Lukas takes the stand
- Kim and Tyler grow closer
- Penny and Cory have their date night

 
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