Charles Cabot, half-owner of the St. Gregory Hotel, introduces Peter to Lee Jordon, who represents a resort conglomerate interested in buying the hotel. Peter resists any thought of a sale because running the hotel is the only life he wants. Lee is willing to settle for Charles's share and day-to-day participation in running the hotel. Peter obtains a bank loan to buy out Charles's share of the hotel; though Peter's offer is less than Lee's, Charles sells his share to Peter, making Peter the sole owner of the hotel. Two young married couples share a large suite for a brief vacation in San Francisco. Jonas Robinson, a nose-to-the-grindstone accountant, is married to Melissa, a frivolous fun-loving blonde; and journalist Sean Marris, a rakish bon vivant, is married to Kate, a prim, practical woman. A daytrip turns into an impulsive fling for Sean and Melissa, which draws Jonas and Kate together for a more serious affair.

Travel magazine editor Myrna Dawson has an irreplaceable heirloom emerald pin stolen and threatens to publish an unfavorable story about the hotel unless it is recovered. Billy contacts Phil Kroger, a noted private investigator specializing in jewel thefts on an international scale. Kroger spots Trevor Harris in the lobby and identifies him as the jewel thief he's been unable to catch. The news is surprising to Christine because Trevor Harris, a very personable man, has already charmed her into considering a dinner invitation. Christine accepts the invitation in order to keep Trevor at the hotel, while Kroger secretly plots to frame Trevor. Ben Garfield and his adoring nine-year-old grandson Jason arrive fresh from a fishing excursion in Yosemite. Ever since Jason's father (Ben's son) lost his life in a skydiving mishap, the boy's mother, Susan Garfield, has resented Ben's influence on the child. Susan is about to remarry. Because Ben has spirited Jason away without her knowledge or pe

Superstar Katherine Cole comes to town for a stage play, accompanied by her devoted manager Anthony. Katherine and Anthony's stormy love-hate relationship stretches back twenty years, and a misunderstanding at one of the rehearsals leads Katherine to fire Anthony. However, Katherine is too nervous to do the play without Anthony, and she frantically searches for him. After she finds him, he helps her face her fears and do the play. When Peter falls sick, the temporary secretary, Bobby, mothers him. While spoon-feeding chicken soup to Peter, Bobby suggests a blind date with her niece, Robin, who turns out to be the most gorgeous woman Peter has met in a long time. A hard-driving career woman, Pamela Harding, on a business trip away from her husband and young son, finds her long-missing ex-husband, Mike, among the hotel staff. Their reunion turns from acrimonious to passionate as they spend the night in Pamela's suite. When Pamela's husband Jeffrey Harding, and six-year-old Timmie, show u

Television sportscaster, Larry Dawson, and his director, Biff Henry, are in San Francisco to telecast a '49ers' football game. When Larry's wife Maggie arrives unexpectedly, she finds her husband and Biff in a flagrant situation, and she's stunned when her husband admits he's bisexual. In spite of their dilemma, Larry and Maggie share a reunion with their son Kevin in town from school. Wealthy cement contractor Leo McGurty checks in with his voluptuous secretary, Ruby Turner, and enlists Mark's aid in refining the socially inept secretary. Mark tutors Ruby on art and culture, finding her to be a delightful diamond in the rough. Ruby is charmed, having never been lavished with so much attention. Leo puts a stop to the developing romance, but Mark warns him not to take Ruby for granted. In front of all the guests at an important social event, Leo proposes to Ruby, and she accepts. Christine emerges as a celebrity via her appearance in a Nutrawheat cereal commercial and is asked to becom

Garment manufacturer Robert Matthews, whose business brings him to San Francisco twice a month, is having an affair with dress designer Lynn Patterson. Their affair is interrupted when Robert's dutiful wife Gail pays him a surprise visit. Distraught, Gail seeks the solace of an old friend, Margaret Hudson, who advises Gail to win back Robert's love. Meanwhile, Lynn informs Robert that she has tested positive for AIDS and that Robert has been exposed to the virus. Robert knows that if he tests negative, he won't have to admit his unfaithfulness to his wife. Christine finds an abandoned baby in one of the rooms and plays baby-sitter while Billy seeks out the mother. Christine, who had been abandoned by her own father at an early age, relates strongly to the motherless child. Christine obtains permission from the child services department to be the baby's foster parent. Noticing that Christine is getting too deeply involved with somebody else's child, Peter begins to show concern. The fol

A preacher and her husband are taking a break at the St. Gregory but there is pressure on her to preach on television. A man returns to the hotel and reminisces about a woman he met at the hotel 35 years ago.

Since the announcement of wedding plans for Peter and Devon Sloan, the interior designer hired to re-decorate the hotel, Christine has been depressed. Peter's fiancee has begun to interfere with hotel operations. Unable to convince Peter that Devon's meddling is hurting the hotel's operations, Christine resigns. Peter recognizes Christine's great value, but it's too late. Peter decides that he and Devon are too much alike and neither one could change enough to make their marriage work. Reluctantly, Devon agrees and packs for departure. Later, Peter begs Christine to return. One of the reasons Peter broke up with Devon is the love he still feels for Christine. Cliff Phillips, the personable new assistant manager, is enjoying the rekindling of a friendship he formed with two other men when they shared jury duty a year ago. Tom Conner, the aggressive jury foreman, arranged the reunion with Cliff and Joe Duran for a serious reason. Their jury had acquitted a suspected serial killer for lac

With Christmas only two days away, new full owner Peter and general manager Christine prepare to host the annual St. Gregory Hotel staff party. Among the honored guests this year are Dave, the ex-bellman who became a San Diego attorney, and his pregnant wife Megan. Peter and Christine, returning from a Portland convention, become marooned in a remote mountain village when their rented Porsche breaks down. Because the local garage doesn't have the auto parts to repair the Porsche, Peter and Christine are forced to stay in a decrepit boarding house room with only one bed. On the second night, Peter and Christine share the bed with a hanging sheet as a partition, but eventually end up in each other's arms. Although they have drifted into friendship, the incident brings them closer together. The hotel party is in full swing as Peter and Christine return and learn that Megan has given birth to a healthy baby boy. They rush to congratulate the new parents, and Dave makes a short but touching

Peter hosts a reunion with college classmates Hal Dryer (GEOFFREY SCOTT) and Lester Hooten (CLIFF POTTS), who has become a rich cattle rancher and has married his college sweetheart, Tracy (DEBORAH MAY). The reunion turns sour when Hal flirts with Christine, and Lester becomes jealous of the warm rapport that develops between Peter and Tracy. Lester realizes, however, that his problems with Tracy stem from his long hours of work that leave her alone at the ranch. Mrs. Cabot decides she's lost touch with the workers and is determined to join them in their duties, a move which leads to nothing but aggravation for the staff as Mrs. Cabot fouls up their work. Playboy Ashley Bennett's (JOHN DAVIDSON) mother (BARBARA BAXLEY) has trapped him into a blind date with archeologist Dorothy Mintzer (SHELLEY SMITH), whereas Ashley has a date with a gorgeous model. Mistaking a spinsterish woman for Dorothy, Ashley trades places with a hotel bellman, Jon Kolzak (JAMES HOUGHTON). When the beautiful, re

The hotel is the setting for the fictitious wedding of popular soap opera stars Cliff Palmer and his leading lady, Stacy. When Cliff grants an interview to the charming young fan club president, Robin, she seduces Cliff over dinner, and they end up spending the night together. Cliff seems not to notice Robin's difficulty separating fiction and reality, laughing it off as a joke when she asks him not to go through with the on-camera wedding. It becomes clear that Robin is disturbed, however, when she puts on Stacy's wedding gown and attacks Cliff with a knife. A resourceful young shoe shiner, Hank, is determined to establish his own business in the hotel corridors, eluding Peter and charming the hotel staff. Eventually, Peter rewards Hank with his own approved shine stand. Meanwhile, the hotel is also hosting a sequestered jury. Feisty Estelle urges her roommate, Alison, to encourage an obvious pass by another juror, Joe. However, when Joe suggests dinner, Alison declines, much to Estel

Peter has given Andrea Green, a photographer-friend of Julie's, a chance at the photo assignment for the new hotel brochure. Andrea's father Louis is highly critical of his daughter's work ethics, which leads to bitter family squabbling. Andrea's mother Sonya, rapidly succumbing to Alzheimer's, begs her husband and daughter to work things out. Architect David Welch befriends Christine and offers to help convert Christine's Napa Valley barn into a home. While Christine and David share a dinner date, David's ex-wife Rebecca visits Peter. Rebecca demands that Peter stop Christine's affair with her husband before the hotel gets caught up in a scandal. Later, Rebecca trips Christine on a stairway, causing her a painful fall. Peter tells Christine to work at home for a few days until he and Billy can get rid of the obsessive ex-wife. Rebecca, however, visits Christine in her apartment and holds Christine at knifepoint as she screams accusations. When a phone call from Peter interrupts the co

Paula Todd has a reunion with her long-lost sister, Stephanie, a workaholic antique dealer, and her husband, Preston Dwyer. Paula and Stephanie's meeting is emotional, but Stephanie keeps busy and leaves Paula and Preston together. After Preston reveals to Paula that Stephanie has become frigid, he makes a pass at Paula. Stephanie becomes furious, but Preston explains his predicament to his wife and declares his love for her. Stephanie decides to seek help, and the Dwyers embark on a second honeymoon. The hotel staff is excited that Mrs. Cabot will be interviewed by Alexander Heath for a magazine cover story. After various blunders by the well-meaning staff, Heath forsakes the ""quiet elegance"" theme of his article and praises the staff's unpretentious human qualities instead. When Owen Lloyd recruits a naïve teenager, Kelly Braden, into prostitution, Peter asks a retired madam, Rita LeLaine, to confront Lloyd and pretend the area is her territory. Unintimidated, Lloyd sets Kelly up wit

Gayla and Steve Erickson are in San Francisco to confer with a specialist about their ten-year-old son, Josh, who is dying from a rare blood disease. In preparing for a bone marrow transplant, the doctor's tests reveal that Steve is not Josh's biological father. Alice and Bill Korman arrange a blind date for their unmarried, plain friend, Millie Broome, who is in town for a teachers' conference. When the date has to cancel, Alice hires a professional escort, Charles Vandoor, who spends the night with Millie and finds himself infatuated. While Charles waits for the right moment to reveal his line of work, Millie accidentally finds out from Charles's enthusiastic former client. Receiving most of the attention at the St. Gregory Hotel, however, is the celebrated clairvoyant Constantin Markos, who is in town to perform his unique skills. Markos, an old acquaintance of Mrs. Cabot's, impresses Peter when he predicts that a redhead will soon enter his life.

While preparing for the annual St. Gregory/Mark Hopkins Charity Softball Game, the Mark Hopkins Hotel's assistant manager, Brian Fox, falls for Christine and makes no effort to hide it. Christine likes Brian, but thinks that he comes on too strongly. At Christine's suggestion, Brian takes a more gentlemanly approach, and Christine ends up in his arms. When Brian lands the job of general manager at a luxury hotel in Boston, he asks Christine to join him, but Christine can't bring herself to desert Peter. Having promised Mary Tyson to look after her 15-year-old grandson Randy while she's out of town, Peter has checked the boy into a room at the hotel. A bit mixed-up, Randy secretly seeks escape in alcohol. When Peter catches Randy drinking with some other teens, Randy berates Peter and stumbles, striking his head. Later, Peter introduces Randy to a recovering alcoholic teen-ager who convinces Randy to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting to deal with his problem.

A friend of Peter's tries to channel his dead wife, which leads to some bizarre and unexpected events. Peter and another man both try to date Christine.

Christine decides to move to a larger apartment, but the realtor has promised the apartment to another applicant as well: Michael Casey, a retired airline pilot. Michael gallantly withdraws his offer and Christine helps him find temporary lodging at the hotel. The friendship between Christine and Michael blossoms, causing Peter some concern. Michael starts to get serious about Christine, but she cannot commit herself. Leslie Chase, a former New Orleans socialite, is using a suite to operate an escort service. Peter is an old friend of Leslie's, but he is unaware of the nature of her business. Seeing Christine's involvement with Michael, Peter spends time with Leslie, which sparks a mutual attraction. Leslie adds to her staff of escorts a beautiful model named Dana March. Dana, a close friend of Julie's, has found modeling jobs scarce and desperately needs work. When Julie questions Dana about her new job, Dana brushes her aside. Dana finds herself in deep trouble when a client gets rou

Christine's old friends, Sarah Oliver (MORGAN BRITTANY) and Patty Maloney (DIDI CONN), join their mutual friend, Mandy Vining (MELODY THOMAS), in celebrating her wedding to Roger, a man whom all four women have known before. Tom Sherman (JOHN BECK), who is a bonded courier and Billy's friend, meets his new love, Anne Cowley (MARKIE POST), host of a television cooking series, and her son Bobby Cowley (CHAD ALLEN) after they arrive at the St. Gregory Hotel on a visit from their home in New York. Anne and Tom enjoy a candlelit dinner, until she tells him that her late husband was murdered. Later, after making love in Anne's room, Tom recognizes Anne's husband from a picture: it is the man he accidentally killed when he was an FBI agent. Meanwhile, Peter faces an IRS audit with April Bradshaw (SUSAN WALDEN) without the assistance of his accountant who was rushed to the hospital with a kidney stone. April grills Peter about his numerous tax-deductible lunches, and although affected by his w

The St. Gregory Hotel is the setting for a grim custody battle over a nine-year-old girl, Lindsay, when it is revealed that she is the missing child of Tom and Sally Banks. Lindsay is now in the custody of policeman Will Pomeroy and his wife, Cheryl. Will did not learn of the Banks' search until years after bringing the girl into the family. Though the Banks have a legal claim to Lindsay, the girl objects to the idea of leaving the Pomeroys for a pair of strangers. Lindsay points out that she has two mothers now and wishes to visit the Banks. Dave and Megan have their first serious quarrel when he brings in a con artist, Wade Stafford, who persuades Dave to give up law for a get-rich-quick scheme in real estate. Megan leaves to stay with Julie, then returns to their apartment to find that Wade has brought home a couple of girls to lift Dave's spirits. After losing a game of basketball, Peter realizes that he's no longer as young as he would like to believe. Peter feels better after bea

High school teacher Nancy Rhodes and lounge pianist Kyle Stanton share a honeymoon suite following their swift, one-week courtship and marriage. Their bliss is suddenly interrupted, however, by the arrival of Kyle's father, George Stanton, a tough, no-nonsense businessman who brands Nancy a gold digger and demands to know her price for an annulment. Nancy, unaware of Kyle's wealthy background, resents the elder Stanton's insinuations. A short time later, she is further distressed to meet socialite Hilary Sinclair, who introduces herself as Kyle's fiancée. Peter is delighted by a visit from his favorite grandmother, Katherine Jenkins, and her best friend since childhood days, Roz Campbell, who has come along to see a heart specialist. Peter is unaware that Roz is his true grandmother. Katherine painstakingly explains to Peter that Roz was 18-years-old, unwed and pregnant when Peter's real grandfather was sent overseas and lost his life in battle. The revelation stuns Peter. Roz is unawa

An Elegant matron, Barbara Lyman, swears she's marked for death because she witnessed a murder in the hotel that nobody else can prove really happened. Despite two more terrifying encounters with the killer, Barbara can get little help from Billy or Inspector Chin. The so-called killer turns out to be her husband, who often appears as the villain in Barbara's paranoid hallucinations. Peter books his favorite country singer, Joe Daniels, to perform in the hotel nightclub. Joe's career has deteriorated from alcohol, but he is starting a comeback after a five-year absence. His 18-year-old son Mark, who has his own drinking problem, is disappointed when his father hits the bottle again. Joe's ex-wife Lisa is there too, and tells Joe about his son's developing alcoholism. On opening night, Joe is surprisingly sober, giving them the hope of reuniting as a family.

Fashion consultant Sydney Page is unable to find a male model for a new clothing line until she meets Chuck Fisher, the hotel's plumber. Chuck exudes sex appeal, and Sydney tries to talk him into doing a photo session. When Chuck expresses that he hates modeling, Sydney resorts to seduction in an effort to change his mind. They spend the night together, but Chuck still refuses to model. Sydney realizes she'd rather have a man in her life than a model for her fashion campaign, and the two make up. A crusty businessman from Maine, Vein Lambert, whose daughter Joanne has been killed in an accident, comes to gather up her personal effects and take her back to Maine for burial. Lambert is unaware that, for the past six years, Joanne had lived with her lesbian lover, Carol Bowman, the hotel's catering manager. Lambert contacts Peter and demands that Carol be dismissed for corrupting his daughter. Peter tries to reason with Lambert, who wants, among other things, to take back an heirloom that

Peter enjoys a reunion with old friends, Kurt and Judy Milford. Peter, who used to date Judy, invites the couple to dinner, but Kurt bows out. When Judy returns from the dinner, Kurt drunkenly accuses her of cheating and beats her. The next morning, Kurt apologizes to Judy; however, he mercilessly rapes her that night. Judy shops for a gun, while Kurt tells Peter that his wife has a drinking problem. In their suite, Judy waits for her husband, pistol in hand. Peter sees her with the gun and tries to reason with her. When Kurt enters and lunges at Judy, she shoots Kurt in the shoulder. Receptionist Megan and bellman Dave are having troubles, too. Their jobs, plus Dave's law studies, keep the couple apart. Billy suggests that Dave pay more attention to anatomy than law. Dave corners Megan in a hotel broom closet and makes his interests clear. Robbie Joe Carson, a country boy with an oil fortune, showers Christine, his former girlfriend, with expensive gifts. With Christine present, Robbi

A booksellers' convention lures Agatha Deming, author of a lurid best-selling novel, Wilma Klein, a highly regarded editor, and Nick Braithwaite, a harsh book critic. Agatha and Nick meet by accident, hiding their true identities from each other. Later, Nick and Agatha get drunk and spend the night together. When they discover each other's identities, Nick calls her book trash, and Agatha storms out. They appear on the Dick Cavett show that evening, and Dick Cavett observes as love wins out, despite Nick and Agatha's difference of opinion. Frances and Carl Bernard reunite with their daughter, Jenny. The Bernards' old friend Peter is Jenny's godfather. Jenny secretly resents her domineering mother's control of her life and wants to be an artist, but her mother has decided that Jenny will go to Oxford to study chemistry. When Jenny fails to get into Oxford and finds her boyfriend Dan with another girl, she attempts suicide. Peter rushes Jenny to the hospital and later arranges a reconcil

Ellen Lindstrom winds up in the room of a British diplomat, Anthony Mortlake, who introduces Ellen to heroin. Later that night, he finds Ellen in the bathroom, dead. When police inspector Alvarez suggests a search for a syringe, Mortlake refuses to open his dispatch case on the basis of diplomatic immunity. Joe Lindstrom, father of the dead girl, arrives at the hotel and hides in Mortlake's suite, watching him set up for an injection. Lindstrom holds Mortlake at bay with a pistol and calls for police. Lisa Herrick waits at the hotel for her boyfriend, who has been delayed. Disappointed, Lisa wins the sympathy of Zack Shepherd, an old friend of Mrs. Cabot. Actually, Lisa is there to meet with attorney Sylvester Sullivan regarding the inheritance she is receiving from a mysterious guardian who has looked after her needs since she was an orphaned baby. Julie is juggling romances with two delegates of a computer convention, Errol and Kaz. Christine overhears Errol and Kaz making a bet as t

The staff prepares for the engagement party of Kelly Howland and Brad Dodge. Kelly's father Ned has urged the marriage for financial reasons: his company needs a merger with Victor Dodge's firm to survive. Ned's wife Margot assures her daughter that love can come later. However, Kelly is in love with a young mathematics teacher, David Newman; in fact, she is carrying his child. Adding more complication, Jonathan Talbot, who is an alcoholic, introduces himself to Kelly as her long-lost Uncle Jonathan. Actually, he is Margot's former lover and Kelly's true father. Due to Ned Howland's actions, Jonathan saw his business crumble and then he sought solace in the bottle. Meanwhile, Christine has learned that a lump in her breast may be malignant. Because the same problem claimed her mother's life, Christine is terrified and turns to Peter for comfort. Peter and Christine drink too much wine, and spend the night together, but they're too inebriated to share anything but sleep and a hangover.