Jessica is on vacation in the Teton Mountains to meet her friend Greta, at the hotel of Colonel Howard Levering (Ret.) Greta's abusive ex-boyfriend Frank Nichols is in the area with his girlfriend Marla, scheming to steal a diamond Greta inherited. Nichols also has a beef with Colonel Levering, who was the commander of Nichols and his brother while they were in the army, and threatens to raise an old scandal, to the alarm of Levering, his wife Ellen, son Pete and assistant Juan. Greta is also being romanced by Harley Foote, the secretary of Myra's Meal Ticket Arthur Jennings, with Harley re-evaluating his life after a fateful call from his doctor. And Pete's dog Soldier is in trouble after being seen around a farm where livestock has been killed. Then, the diamond disappears and Nichols turns up dead.
Tropes:
- Ambiguous Situation: Nichols accused the Colonel of covering up negligence during the war games exercise where his brother died. It's never revealed if this is true or not but hinted that it might be.
- The Atoner: It's implied that Howard feels this way about the death of Nichols brother.
- Canine Companion: Soldier to Pete.
- Contrived Coincidence: Nichols running into his enemy Colonel Levering and threatening to ruin his name while in the middle of some other nefarious activity is a surprising leap.
- Domestic Abuse: Greta says that Nichols would hit her when they were together.
- Extreme Doormat: Harley characterizes his life before he thought he was dying as just being a drudge without backbone and earlier on he is seen questioning his bosses unethical stock trades but not standing up to him.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: Marla telling Nichols that she can't bear the thought of spending another night with Arthur.
- Hidden in Plain Sight: Greta hides her diamond in an ice cube tray.
- Like You Were Dying: The beginning of the episode has Harley's doctor call him to say that he has six months to live (the man is wrong). He starts enjoying the activities of the resort more (even contemplating sky-diving), dating Greta and refusing to cary out his bosses unethical orders.
- Manly Facial Hair: Juan is a veteran with an air of toughness and authority and a prominent mustache.
- Slave to PR: The Sheriff states that whether Soldier is guilty of the livestock killings or not he relies on the votes of the ranchers and will kill the dog himself if he has to.
- Surprise Litter of Puppies: At the end of the episode, a litter of puppies provides an explanation for why Soldier kept racing around a particular sheep ranch (their mother was there).
- Undying Loyalty: Juan to the Colonel, who he served with in the Army and works for now, refusing to hear a bad word about him, and the feeling seems to be mutual.
