Seasons & episodes

Michael and Vanessa try to spend some romantic time together before she leaves, but they are once again interrupted by Virginia and Jimmy, after which Vanessa leaves to Hong Kong. Casey receives a phone call from his mother and senses something is wrong with her. Rae is surprised to hear that Casey's mother exists. Casey and Rae are about to make love, but she stops, claiming that she isn't ready yet. Casey wants her to decide. Bette talks to Joan about Big Al, while Tim and Annie try to convince Joan that Ben is a murderer. Joan wants Meg to come back with her to Kansas, but she is determined to stay in Sunset Beach. Meg realizes that Annie is trying to make Joan believe things that aren't true. Meg finds the key to Maria's studio and goes upstairs. She unlocks the doors and finds a room full of paintings, red stains on the floor and splatters on the walls.

Wei-Lee returns to Surf Central and interrupts an intimate moment between Rae and Casey. He tells her that the Changs have forbidden any mention of Rae's name in their family. Meg is horrified of what she's seen in Maria's studio, and she comes downstairs where she bumps into Ben. Joan and Tim are worried when they hear a scream in Ben's apartment. Meg remembers leaving the key in the lock, so she goes upstairs and takes it out. Ben asks her if she found what she was looking for. Cole and Caitlin arrive at a hotel, and they must pretend being on their honeymoon so they could explain why they have no luggage. Cole has a nightmare about Olivia. Gregory vows to Olivia that he'll find their daughter.

Ricardo feels ready to tell Paula about the night she was abducted but Gabi interrupts them again, and Ricardo asks her to leave. Paula tells Gabi that she will accept Ricardo's proposal tonight. Gabi promises to herself that will not happen. Olivia tells Sean not to tell Gregory about Caitlin's call. Elaine is beating herself up with the fact that she wasn't a good mother. She then wants to talk to Olivia, to learn more about Cole's kidnapping. Gregory realizes that Olivia had a small fling with A.J. Deschanel in the past. Cole and Caitlin arrive at the house of his grandmas, Madame Julianna Deschanel. Julianna then tells him that she sent him to Sunset Beach to meet his real mother. He feels like she betrayed him, and Caitlin suggests they should return to Sunset Beach as soon as possible to save Elaine before the trial ends.

Meg returns to Ben's apartment to return the key from Maria's studio but she faces yet another chilling encounter with Ben. She accidentally cuts herself and the blood makes her think back to finding Maria's studio full of blood. Later, Meg is reluctant to grab some coffee with Ben and her mother. Caitlin, Julianna and Cole try to make a plan for Cole to return to Sunset Beach without getting arrested. Paula catches Gabi wearing her ring and Gabi makes up a lie to cover her actions. Annie advises Ricardo to tell Paula about the night she was kidnapped before Paula hears it from someone else. Gabi tells Paula that Ricardo was with someone else on the night she was kidnapped. Ricardo enters the room as they're talking.

Rae is shocked to find out that her parents disowned her. Ricardo confesses to Paula about being with another woman on the night she was kidnapped. Gabi wonders why Ricardo didn't tell Paula that Gabi was the woman who he was with. Casey and Paula have a friendly talk. Paula is not sure if Ricardo is being sincere to her. Casey tells Rae that she should go to San Francisco. Paula tells Ricardo she still needs some time to think. They both agree that Gabi should leave their apartment, and Gabi eavesdrops.

Ricardo wonders where did Gabi find the pictures of Paula and him. Trying to hide her real reasons, Gabi gives Paula the album of the pictures and makes up a silly excuse. A torn picture of Paula and Ricardo falls out and Paula wonders what happened. Gabi makes up another lie. Casey tells Michael he thinks Rae should go to her parents and be with Wei-Lee. Michael misses Vanessa. Gregory finally finds a trace on Cole, but Olivia wants him to stop the search. She tells him she doesn't want her family destroyed. Cole reads Elaine's old letter to A.J. Deschanel and decides to help her, without telling Caitlin.

Virginia organizes a picnic with Michael and Jimmy, but when Jimmy isn't okay with it, Michael invites Mark too. When Virginia asks him to go get ketchup, Jimmy meets Officer Ruiz and asks him if he should report a crime if he knows one. Virginia tells Michael that she doesn't want to leave his apartment. Meg has a nightmare about Ben wanting to show Meg the inside of Maria's studio. She wakes up and Ben does the same thing. Meg informs him that Joan will be returning back to Kansas. Joan wants Ben to promise her not to hurt her daughter. Meg enters the studio not realizing that Ben returned from his trip.

Julianna tells Caitlin a story about Armando Deschanel. Cole arrives in Sunset Beach and visits Elaine, keen on helping her in court. She wants him to leave town for his safety. Meg is in Maria's studio, wondering what really happened to her. The doors suddenly get locked and Meg thinks that Annie is playing with her. Meanwhile, Annie arrives at Ben's apartment and sees him staring at Maria's portrait. Ben drinks and breaks a glass on Maria's picture, while Meg finds Maria's diary in the studio.

Gregory arrests Cole. Caitlin comes back to Sunset Beach and tells Olivia that Gregory caught Cole. Gregory tells Caitlin to say goodbye to Cole, as he is about to be deported to Europe. Cole tells them that he slept with both Caitlin and Olivia, after which Gregory calls Olivia a tramp and Caitlin's heart is broken. However, Olivia wakes up and realizes it has all been a dream. Annie and Tim continue working on their plan, while Meg is reading Maria's diary. Someone unlocks the studio doors and Meg escapes. Meg blames Annie for locking her up, but Bette gives Annie an alibi for the whole night. Meg wonders if maybe Ben locked her, because he was the only one in the house the whole night.

Vanessa learns over the phone that Michael and Virginia are spending more time together when Jimmy answers her call. Michael wants to know what Jimmy told her, and then he, once again, tries to assure Jimmy that he doesn't have anything to do with his mother other than friendship. Rae tells Casey that she wishes she had married Wei-Lee and made her family happy. Paula wants Gregory to drop the charges against Cole. After talking to Caitlin, Gregory decides to drop the charges, but he gets angry when Caitlin decides to go away with Cole.

Meg talks to Mark about her fears concerning Ben. Gregory tries to convince Cole and Caitlin to stay home, but Cole refuses to accept the plea. He believes Gregory has a secret agenda. Gregory makes up a new solution for Cole when he receives a phone call from the judge's office. Meg returns to Ben's home and reads another section of Maria's diary. Annie and Tim watch her as she puts the key back. On the trial, Elaine wants to know where Cole is, but Gregory just makes a weird face move. Meanwhile, Caitlin waits for Cole under the pier, while he is handcuffed to a jet, unconscious.

Casey's heart is broken when Rae finally decides to leave Sunset Beach and have a new life in San Francisco. He begs her to stay with him, but Wei-Lee comes to pick her up, and after a tearful goodbye, she leaves. Gregory tries to convince Elaine to testify herself because Cole is nowhere to be found. Cole manages to free himself. Caitlin informs Julianna that Cole disappeared, so Julianna arrives at the trial to tell her story to the judge. Caitlin worries that Gregory might have done something to Cole, but Cole surprised everyone by entering the courtroom. Casey learns that his mother Alex arrived in town.

Meg wants to know the reason why Ben never talks about Maria. He explains that he doesn't want to hurt her. Meg tells Mark that she fears the possibility that Ben might have killed his wife. When Mark wants to see Maria's studio himself, Tim follows. The trial continues, and everyone is in shock when Gregory pronounces Elaine a coldblooded killer. However, he then tells the story about Del's crimes. Cole testifies and makes an impression. The judge returns with the verdict... Elaine has 3 months of probation and 200 hours of community service. Meg stares in shock when she and Mark enter Maria's studio. The Interpol arrests Cole.

Following Cole's orders, Caitlin calls Paula and informs her about Cole being taken by the Interpol. She asks her to not say anything to Elaine. When Paula asks him to help, Ricardo tries to find some mistake in the papers, but it all seems right. Meg & Mark find Maria's studio clean, so Meg tries to assure Mark that she isn't going crazy. Meanwhile, Ben washes the blood off his hands at The Deep. Once again, Meg is sure that Annie is just playing a game with her, but Annie assures her that it wasn't her. Ben arrives home and Meg wonders how he got a cut on the hand. He answers with a simple answer -- from the robbery that happened recently. Meg finds out that be has been alone at The Deep. When Ben feels tired of the questions, he sends her home. Annie tells Meg she better make sure she isn't near Ben on the day of Maria's death. On the airport, Cole tells Caitlin that he has a plan.

Vanessa returns from Hong Kong and she's not pleased to see Michael massaging Virginia. Michael tells her that Virginia will move out as soon as her leg gets better. Gregory stops the Interpol from taking Cole and Caitlin is surprised by his move. Cole wonders what he wants instead. In a happy reunion, Elaine is pleased to finally be with her son. Julianna makes a special arrival at the reunion, but Elaine isn't pleased to see her. Paula's tattoo, once again, gets in the way of Paula and Ricardo's happiness. Olivia faints when she finds out that Cole is free thanks to Gregory.

Mark warns Meg to stay away from Ben on the anniversary of Maria's death, but she has something else in her mind. Ricardo and Paula aren't able to make love when old pain comes haunting Paula. Ricardo and Ben fight over the fact that Ricardo still believes that Ben is responsible for Maria's death. Meg tries to comfort Ben and tells him he should forget the past and move on, and then she reminds him that tomorrow is also the anniversary of the beginning of their Internet chatting. They start dancing, but when Ben remembers Maria, he tells Meg she should get as far away from him as she can.

On the beach, Annie and Meg watch Ben pushing Maria's swing. Annie feels bad on her best friend's death anniversary, so she cries on Tim's shoulders. Ricardo sees Ben on the pier, standing with Maria's favorite flower. Ricardo asks Ben to tell him what happened the night Maria died, but Ben says nothing. Tim warns Meg to stay away from Ben. Ben returns to the studio and remembers what happened the night Maria died. He later goes to The Deep and continues thinking about Maria. He sees a woman standing on the stairs and wonders if it's her.

Alex gets a job offer from Gregory. They talk at the celebration party held for Vanessa. Olivia buys a pregnancy test. Meg asks Ben to open up to her and put Maria behind, but he just wants to be left alone. Meg returns back home and dresses up in Maria's clothes. Tim and Annie continue fulfilling their plan. Tim calls Ben and tells him that someone is in his apartment. Annie and Tim get closer.

Annie and Tim start seducing each other, but they both know what they really want. Ben enters Maria's studio and finds Meg dressed in her clothes, and then they start arguing. Gregory suspects that Olivia started drinking again, and she goes down that road just to keep the real truth away from him... she is pregnant. Cole and Olivia promise to each other that nobody will ever learn about their affair. Alex decides not to accept the job offer. Ben kicks Meg out of his house, while Annie and Tim celebrate the success of their plan.

Annie and Ricardo remember the old times when Maria was still alive. Meg goes to Annie's house and begs for her and Ricardo's help when Ben's house starts flaming up. Caitlin questions Olivia if it's true that she started drinking again. She tells her that it's not true what her father said, and Caitlin is very pleased to hear that. Olivia listens in shock as Caitlin tells her that she would like to have a baby. Olivia and Gregory make love. Michael is worried that something is going on with Alex. Mark talks to Tim and tells him that he should leave Meg alone, because Meg doesn't need him. Casey still feels bad about Rae.

Everybody runs into Ben's house and Ricardo stops the fire. Ben is not aware of what's happening. Ricardo is pleased to see Ben covered with guilt over Maria's death. Ricardo warns Meg to stay away from Ben, while Tim arrives and comforts Meg in front of Ben. Meg apologizes to Ben and leaves, while he convinces himself that the best thing is that Meg is far away from him. Gabi has secret plans. She wants Mark to help her find an apartment. She lies to him about Ricardo making a move on her. Michael feels that Alex is hiding something from him, and they talk about Casey, trying to convince him to move on with his life, just like Rae did. Later on, Michael tries to persuade Alex to tell him the truth. Finally, Alex breaks and wants Michael to help her go to the doctor, but she doesn't want Casey to know anything about it.

Tiffany's dog Spike digs out Olivia's positive pregnancy test from the trash and she tries to catch him. When she finally reaches the test, Gregory arrives and Bette covers for Olivia. Tim tries to comfort Meg. Olivia tells Bette that she is pregnant. Later on, she goes to the doctors where she meets Alex. Alex confesses to Michael that she has a Stage 4 Cancer, and that she has been ignoring all the symptoms. She is afraid. Wei-Lee arrives at the Waffle Shop and tells Casey that he and Rae got married two days ago. He gives Casey the half of the house that Rae owned.

Meg believes that Ben didn't kill his wife and she berates herself for putting on Maria's dress, while Tim believes Ben is very dangerous. Meg an Ben talk and she apologizes once again. When Ben leaves to the beach, Meg returns to Maria's studio, takes her diary and reads a new passage. Olivia can't wait for the results of the pregnancy test in the hospital, so she goes home and almost starts drinking again. Cole and Caitlin announce that they'll stay in Sunset Beach. Cole wants to keep the short romance between him and Olivia a secret. Alex is afraid that Casey will break under pressure if she tells him that she has cancer, especially now that Rae left him. She promises to Michael that she'll say the truth to soon. Casey informs Alex about Rae and Wei-Lee's wedding. Michael tells Casey that now he should spend a lot of time with Alex.

Ben and Meg talk on the beach, while Tim continues trying to split them apart. Michael wants Alex to tell Casey the truth, but she is still too afraid to tell him. Gregory is surprised when Cole and Caitlin announce that they'll be living together. The tension between Annie and Tim arises again, and they are both afraid that it will take them off the road. Olivia is convinced that Cole is the father of her unborn child.