Daily Updates

From: rika@netcom.com (Melissa Martin)
Subject: GH: Update, Wednesday, 3/13/96
Date: Sat, 16 Mar 1996 23:38:17 GMT

                              GENERAL HOSPITAL UPDATE
                             Wednesday, March 13, 1996

There was a lot of storyline advancement today.  There were also
many interwoven stories, as much of the action took place in dining
establishments where different groups of characters interacted.
As a result, this update is not as well-organized as I would have
liked.  Today's stories:

* Kevin Collins, that other Hunka Burnin' Love
* Lucky gets lucky
* The Q's give some $ to %
* Kelly's - catering to the rich, the photogenic, and the confused
* The Face of Jacks Deception
* The Outback - catering to the lovers, the fighters, and the schemers

KEVIN COLLINS, THAT OTHER HUNKA BURNIN' LOVE
--------------------------------------------
(Updater's note:  To do an update, it is ordinarily necessary
to watch a scene a few times to get all the details right.  You can
imagine what torture it was watching *this* part of the show over
and over and over and over and ..... oh, sorry, what was I saying?
Anyway, no sacrifice is too great for the betterment of RATSA!)

Lucy bursts into Kevin's office in high spirits, even for Lucy.  She
gives Kevin a big kiss, to which he reacts with atypical wariness.
Lucy couldn't stop thinking about Kevin, and she had to see him
and tell him again how magnificent he was last night.  Evidently
he was magnificent on more than one front, because Lucy raves both
about the way he "vanquished" Damian, and also about the extraordinary
"energy" he displayed later that night and also this morning.  Kevin
seems to be feeling the effects of expending all that energy - he
appears to be somewhat nervous about what Lucy might want from him,
and whether or not he will be able to rise to the occasion, if you
catch my drift.

Lucy has brought him a gift - boxing gloves to protect his hands in
the future, since he's a doctor.  He says that, as a psychiatrist,
his hands aren't really that important.  Ah, but they are to Lucy,
and she proceeds to put them on her waist and to kiss him.  He
protests half-heartedly as she peels off his jacket, but she locks
the door, takes the phone off the hook, closes his appointment book,
and begs him to do that "manly man thing again."  Kevin agrees in
mock disgust, pulls Lucy close to him, lifts her into his arms,
carries her to the sofa, and..... expends some more energy.  We can
only hope his office is fairly well soundproofed.

LUCKY GETS LUCKY
----------------
Lucky visits Emily and tells her that he's still in trouble - the
vase he "borrowed" from the Q's didn't get him all the money he
needs.  Emily urges him to go to someone for a loan.  Lucky says
it's a matter of responsibility - he has to handle it himself.
(Oh, so it's irresponsible to borrow, but it's responsible to steal.
Aha!)  Instead, Lucky is going to try to convince Harper to give him
more time.  Emily asks what good more time is going to do if he
can't get the money.  For that matter, he needs to get the vase
back soon, or someone might notice it is missing.  (It's clear who
has all the common sense in this duo).  The two are busy trying
to fill its space with other things when Edward and Lila come
into the room.  Lucky claims to have been looking to borrow "Moby
Dick" from their library, and takes off with the book (and, I
hope, a guily conscience).

Later, he meets Harper down by the docks.  He turns over the money
he has - $1500 - and asks for more time to get the other $700.
Harper's buddies come out and form a menacing circle around
Lucky.  Harper gives the signal and his buddies start to beat up
Lucky, while Lucky pleads with them to give him time.  Harper
threatens to break Lucky's finger, but just then Damian arrives.
Lucky snarls at Damian for interfering, insisting that he can
take care of himself.  Damian guesses the problem, Lucky denies
it, and Harper contradicts Lucky and explains the details.
Damian pays Harper the $700, and the Bike Shop Card Club departs.

Lucky snarls at Damian some more, but Damian insists that he is
repaying a debt he owes Lucky.  Lucky saved Damian's life in the
catacombs, and now they can call it even.  He promises to keep
Lucky's secret.

THE Q'S GIVE SOME $ TO %
------------------------
The Q's assemble downstairs, worried about Borg Jason (hereafter
referred to as % [tm Tahnda]).  The family argue and obsess about
the best thing to do for %, but nobody can agree.  Lois assures
Lila that Jason will be fine, after which Lila notices the absence
of the vase.  (Try Joe's Pawn Shop on Charles Street, Lila).  She
is sure that, if one of the staff broke it, she would have been
told.  Edward suggests that perhaps % stole it, but the rest of
the family protests.

Ned insists that it's time to step in and help %.  He suggests
that each family member transfer 1 percent of ELQ's stock to
%.  He won't be allowed to sell it or vote it, but it will
be there to protect him.  Monica feels % won't accept it, but
Ned says % won't even need to know about it.  Lila, Monica,
and Alan all agree to Ned's plan.  A.J. is concerned - this
will mean % will hold more stock than he does.  Ned asks if
A.J. thinks that is inappropriate.  A.J. takes a deep breath
and says, no, it makes a lot of sense under the circumstances.

The attention turns to Edward, the last holdout.  Edward figures
he's the only one with any sense; besides, he doubts that Tracy
will agree to it.  (Another mention of TRACY!!!!  C'mon, chant
it with me - TRA-CY, TRA-CY, TRA-CY........)  Ned says Tracy
owes him big-time, so she'll agree.  Edward finally gives
in, on the condition that he votes Jason's shares, and Ned
says he'll have the papers drawn up.  Edward is suspicious of
Ned's generous nature (and I'm sure, the fact that Ned seems
willing to shift the balance of power in Edward's favor), but
Lois insists that Ned has been "transformed by the love of a
good and honest woman."  Lila utters LOD candidate #1 to Edward:
"Pity it didn't do the same for you, dear."  As Edward silently
harumphs, Ned assures the family that his only interest is
protecting Jason.  Lois eyes him, and you can hear her thoughts:
"Sure, Nedly, tell me another one."

KELLY'S - CATERING TO THE RICH, THE PHOTOGENIC, AND THE CONFUSED
----------------------------------------------------------------
Unaware of the financial transactions being discussed in the Q
mansion, % awakens, having slept in the shelter of some cardboard
and newspapers down on the docks.  He drives his motorcycle
over to Kelly's.

Meanwhile, Brenda and Jax are already at Kelly's.  Brenda talks
about how Jax has been good for her - for months she's been in a
funk, but now she feels energized.  Jax asks if the funk is the
reason he hasn't seen her in any Deception ads lately.  No, says
Brenda - but it's true that her last test shots were bad because
she couldn't stop crying.  Besides, Lucy has been busy and hasn't
had time to come up with a campaign.  But Brenda figures it's time
to get back to work - she'll go talk to Lucy today.  Jax suggests
that he tell her that, if Deception doesn't want Brenda, Jacks
Cosmetics does.

Sonny and Lily come into Kelly's - Lily is looking for an earring
in her old room.  Sonny waits for her at the counter.  Ruby gives
him some coffee and some attitude, but admits that Lily seems happy.
Ruby gives Jax his bill for the meal, but Brenda offers to take it
to the counter, apparently as an excuse to speak to Sonny.  They
have a brief conversation in which each claims to be happy in
his/her life and the other looks unconvinced.

% waits outside Kelly's until Brenda and Jax leave; then he comes
in and asks Ruby if he can help out around the place in return for
food until he finds a job.  Ruby agrees to this arrangement and
goes off to fix % a meal.  Sonny asks him when he left the Q house,
and % explains how he spent last night.  Sonny is surprised that %
didn't freeze sleeping outside (then again, this is the same climate
in which Felicia spends her Friday nights on the Brownstone roof
in sleeveless dresses and harem costumes), but % explains, "I don't
feel the cold anyway," a line which your updater found very sad.
Sonny suggests that % go to Luke's and look into a job.  He
offers % a loan to help him in the meantime, and % accepts.

This is the last of % we see till almost the end of the show.
Robin walks onto the bridge where Stone bungee-jumped.  She stands
at the rail, obviously absorbed in poignant memories.  Unseen by
Robin, % watches her with interest.

THE FACE OF JACKS DECEPTION
---------------------------
Brenda and Jax arrive at Lucy's office.  Lucy gets the intended
message behind their joint visit right away, asking if Jax plans
to steal Brenda away from Deception.  Jax utters words which Lucy
should, but won't, ponder seriously:  "You know my reputation - I
steal everything that's not nailed down."  Brenda insists that
nobody steals her without permission - she just wants to know
when Deception intends to use her again.  Lucy has just come up
with a new campaign - but she can't talk about it in front of Jax.

Lucy notes that Jax and Brenda look good together, and wishes
that Jax were a model so she could use them together in her ads.
She then starts dangling the hook in front of Jax the great white
shark.  She points out that Deception doesn't sell cosmetics, just
bath products and fragrances.  Jax suggests that maybe some day
she will branch out, but Lucy, shifting into flirtatious gear,
insists that she wouldn't dream of doing anything that would make
Jax her adversary.  After all, if they were to get together, they'd
have the best of both worlds.  Jax, not having fallen off a turnip
truck yesterday, easily grasps Lucy's not-too-subtle message as
Brenda looks on, amused.  Jax claims never to have thought of the
idea, but he finds it interesting.  He raises some doubts about
compatibility of the companies, and then quizzes Lucy about ELQ's
ownership of Deception, but she insists that she "is" Deception,
so he would have to deal with her.

After Jax and Brenda leave, Kevin arrives at Lucy's office (this
takes place after his conversation with Mac about Jax - see below).
Lucy offers to lock the door, but they both have business to see
to.  Kevin's purpose is to pass on Mac's warning about Jax.  Lucy
offers the same response which has launched a thousand near-
calamitous storylines for her:  "Oh, pooh!"

THE OUTBACK - CATERING TO THE LOVERS, THE FIGHTERS, AND THE SCHEMERS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Robin explains her busy schedule to Mac, who is concerned that
she is overdoing.  She figures it's better than taking time to
think, but she says it is getting easier.  She likes Sonny's
philosophy of welcoming memories of Stone as a way of keeping him
close.  She hurries off as Kevin arrives, presumably fresh from
his "manly man" detail with Lucy.  Mac comments that Kevin looks
tired.  Kevin isn't surprised to hear that, and orders a pot of
ginseng tea as a restorative.  Kevin asks Mac to deny seeing him
if Lucy should call.  Is there trouble, Mac asks, and Kevin
responds with LOD candidate #2:  "Just the opposite.  Too much,
too good."  Mac doesn't touch that line with a ten-foot pole,
instead changing the subject to the Tuesday Night Fights.  Kevin
admits that he completely lost control, but that it felt great.
The guys have a laugh at that.

Kevin, in a neat segue, asks Mac about his history with Jax.  Mac,
who is slicing lemons, whacks the daylights out of one while
insisting, through clenched teeth, that Jax is just someone he
knew a long time ago.  Kevin probes for more information; Mac
gets annoyed.  All that Mac will say is that Jax is extremely
ruthless.

(After this, Kevin heads to Lucy's office to try to convince her
to stay away from Jax, as described above).

Some time later, Brenda and Jax are at the Outback, and Brenda
is excited about being "out there" again.  Perhaps she'll even
be the face of "Jacks Deception".  She is excited about seeing
her face plastered all over billboards and buses (somehow that's
not a particularly attractive image - one's face on a bus as it
exhales diesel fumes....) so that (Brenda pauses, just barely
swallowing Sonny's name before it tumbles out of her mouth)
people can't go anywhere without seeing her face.

Ned and Lois arrive at the Outback too, and Lois quizzes Ned
on his ulterior motive in getting the stock for %.  Ned chuckles
and explains.  He told Edward that Jason wouldn't be allowed to
sell or vote his shares - but he didn't explain the small print.
"Except with my approval."  Lois isn't too pleased, but she
still trusts him, and they kiss.

The kiss is observed by Jax and Brenda.  Jax's trademark smile
actually vanishes for a while.  (I'm going to report this scene
in detail since it is bound to be controversial).  It is obvious to
Jax that he is wasting his time.  Brenda is astonished - does he
mean he's giving up?  Jax says no, he is sure he would be successful
if he continued his efforts, but why should he ruin their wedded
bliss?  Brenda reminds him that he wants Lois, and he always gets
what he wants, but Jax says what he wants is for Lois to be happy.
Ultimately, she would be happier with Jax, but first there would
be the misery of a divorce, and he thinks it's better to leave.

Brenda the ever-helpful, insists that he can't do that.  He compares
the situation to acquiring a business, and basically points out
again the damage he might do to Lois if he continues.  Brenda says
it's just a cover-up - he's scared.  Why else would he get
discouraged at this point?  Jax says he has learned when it's time
to move on.  Brenda says he still wants Lois - so he shouldn't
give up.  Besides, she really wants him to stay.  In fact, (and
I quote), "I will personally deliver Lois into your hands."  He
nods, intrigued.  (And your updater bites her tongue so as to
maintain at least a small shred of objectivity).

--------------------------------------------------
by Paprika Peel, aka Rika, 1/3 of the Wednesday Update Team