I had a minor epiphany when John Ross gave Elena that oil-colored diamond ring and compared her beauty to that of sweet, light crude. Perhaps the reason Elena doesn't seem like a fully realized character is that she isn't meant to be one. She is the walking, talking personification of oil. Where Bobby and J.R. battled over Ewing Oil, Christopher and John Ross battle over Elena. The plot flip-flopped on Elena's love interests as it did over who would control the mineral rights to Southfork. She rolled back and forth between Christopher and John Ross like a barrel of oil, and with no more personality or ability to determine direction. She's a goal to be fought over, a prize to go to battle for, but nothing herself without the worth ascribed to her by others. Of course, I'm probably reading too much into it, in which case the writing for this character has been simply atrocious and hinging so much of the plot on her has been a big mistake.

Rebecca finds the pawn shop, but her rings have already been sold to someone. She gives the broker a wad of cash to get the rings back from the buyer.

Christopher arrives at the new office space to find John Ross and Elena already drinking celebratory champagne. Christopher is actually very touched to learn that John Ross has rented the space for them. Then he sees the ring on Elena's finger and the smile drops right off his face. He eventually recovers and congratulates them, even as he and Elena trade wistful looks. John Ross wants to hurry up and get working so that they can pay off Vicente and get Christopher off the hook, but Christopher wants to wait. He says the lawyers may have something they can use against Vicente. For some reason, John Ross doesn't seem worried.

Rebecca sits in the Condo of Death, replaying Tommy's shooting in her mind. She jumps when Christopher walks in. He comes bearing Chinese food. "I told you I wanted a fresh start," he says. "And what better way to start over than when we were dating?" he asks. You mean when Rebecca first conned you? What an odd place to restart. These people all have weird ideas about starting fresh. They kiss and he notices she's not wearing her rings. She makes some excuse about her fingers being too swollen.