- Minmei tries to become part of Rick Hunter's life again after returning from her tour of the frontier. It is a situation complicated by Rick's growing concern for Lisa and his final realization of his duty as a soldier.
- Lisa is making a picnic lunch at home as she prepares to go on a walk in the forest with Rick. Meanwhile, Rick is at his apartment shaving when he gets a phone call. Wondering if it's Lisa, he answers the phone to hear Minmei on the other end. She says she called to thank him for saving her the other day. Minmei asks Rick if he's free, and he says not really, asking her what's up. Minmei asks him if he can make it over to Monument City.
Rick says he made plans. Minmei pleads with him to drop by, saying she's only in town for the day. Rick thinks back to the conversation he had with Lisa the day before, when he saw a forest he was flying over and suggested they take a walk in it together. He finally decides to see Minmei, but when he tries to call Lisa, there's no answer.
At the cafe where Rick had promised to meet her, Lisa is left waiting. She thinks it's odd for Rick to be late, since it's not like him, and wonders what time it is. Meanwhile, Rick arrives in Monument City and meets Minmei at the airport. Minmei apologizes for tearing Rick away from his appointment. Rick says he was able to reschedule it.
Minmei takes Rick to a fancy restaurant, telling him movie stars go there all the time. Rick says he doesn't really care about movie stars. Minmei reminds him that she's a movie star. He says he liked her before she was a movie star. She asks him if that means he doesn't like her now, and he says he still likes her. Rick nervously glances at his watch, wondering if Lisa is okay. Meanwhile, at the cafe, Lisa also wonders if Rick's okay.
Minmei gives Rick a present as a way of thanking him for saving her life. He says she didn't have to get him anything. She asks him to open it, saying she bought it especially for him. The present turns out to be a new scarf, which Rick says he'll treasure -- he'll think of her whenever he wears it. Minmei asks how long it's been since they've been together. Rick says their first date was over four years ago, but it feels like yesterday to him. Minmei says not to her -- a lot has changed since then. Rick says it is a long time, but some things time can't change. Minmei agrees, saying sometimes she thinks her feelings haven't changed a bit. Rick says he still thinks about her.
The conversation is interrupted when Kyle bursts in and strides over to the table. He reminds Minmei that he scheduled a press conference for her and says they're leaving. Minmei refuses. Angered, Kyle raises his voice, lecturing Minmei on the strings he had to pull to get the reporters out there. Rick tries to defuse the situation by telling Minmei they can meet later if this is a bad time. Minmei says she's not going. Annoyed, Kyle tries to pull her away. Minmei tries to act tipsy so she can't talk to reporters, and Kyle responds by throwing a glass of water in her face to sober her up.
Taken aback by Kyle's actions, Rick tries to defend Minmei by saying she doesn't want to go. Kyle retorts that Minimei has too many things to take care of. He tells Rick not to worry about lunch, either -- that's what expense accounts are for. After Kyle and Minmei leave, Rick goes over to the bar to drown his sorrows. He tells himself he doesn't know why he thought it'd be any different. Minmei has her public, and now he expects Lisa to kill him for having stood her up.
Lisa calls Rick's apartment, but there's no answer. She wonders what happened, as she knows he's not at the base either -- if there had been an alert, she would have heard something by now. She calls her station at the base, but hangs up upon hearing Kim and Sammie gossiping in the background. Meanwhile, Rick encounters a road block when he tries to get to the airport. The guard tells him the airport's been closed due to a Zentraedi uprising. Saying his plane is there, Rick drives around the sentry, wondering if Lisa is all right.
Arriving at the base, Rick changes into his uniform and commandeers an armored mecha, leading a team out to take care of the uprising. Arriving on site, Rick orders the rebels to surrender. They refuse, and he and his men go after them, subduing them in short order. He tells his men to lock up the rebels in a vacant building, saying someone will probably want to interrogate them later.
Finally on his way back in his plane, Rick thinks it'll be a major miracle if Lisa doesn't hate him now. Meanwhile, Lisa decides to give Rick ten more minutes. She is interrupted by a puppy and gives him a snack from her picnic basket before his owner calls him from across the street.
Lisa gets ready to leave, but then hears Rick calling her as he runs toward the cafe. Rick says that some really urgent personal business came up that he had to take care of. Lisa says it's much too late to go on a picnic now -- a shame, since she spent the whole morning cooking -- something she hadn't done in years. Rick apologizes. Lisa says he should have called. He says he tried to call her more than once.
Lisa and Rick decide to salvage what they can of the day by taking a walk. As they reach the park, Rick wraps part of his scarf around Lisa. Recognizing the perfume as belonging to Minmei, Lisa gets angry and leaves, telling Rick not to bother calling her for another date. Rick pleads with Lisa to let him explain, but she refuses to listen. As it begins to snow, Rick is upset with himself for having lost both Minmei and Lisa, wondering how he could have been so stupid.
In Monument City, Kyle introduces Minmei to the audience. The introduction plays, but Minmei doesn't sing. Kyle prompts her. She finally apologizes to the crowd, saying she can't perform when her heart is breaking, and runs offstage.
Later, Kyle finds Minmei sitting by herself. She blames him for her losing touch with the things that are really important to her. Kyle lectures her on being the same selfish brat, only wanting what she wants. He says that Minmei let down her fans. She says she can't do it any more.
Kyle says that Minmei's music could bring people together. He says that it's a precious gift, but has to be properly presented, which is why he's worked so hard for four years. But now, Kyle says, this is the end. Wrapping his jacket around Minmei, Kyle says he's going to take a long trip and probably won't see her again, at least not for some time. He says he hopes someday she can find happiness, telling her goodbye. Kyle says he loves Minmei and departs, leaving her alone and in tears.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content