Ethel Duke's water rights are crucial to the fortunes of both Tyler Cane and the Kensingtons. Tyler visits Ethel, offering to buy the water rights for $500,000, but she refuses. Later that day, in Fresno, Charlotte is outmaneuvered by the scheming Tyler, who takes control of the annual Raisin Festival Masquerade Ball (traditionally hosted by the Kensingtons) and vows to erase the Kensington name from Fresno forever. Talon tries to seduce Billy Joe, but he rebuffs her. That night, as Billy Joe listens to Bobbi Jo on the radio, he becomes enraged when she makes an on-air dedication to Cane. He angrily shoots the radio, but the bullet ricochets off it, accidentally killing his neighbour, Ethel Duke. Billy Joe is arrested and charged with murder, and his case is taken up by glamorous public defender Desiree DeMornay (Melanie Chartoff).