Daily Updates

From: rika@netcom.com (Melissa Martin)
Subject: GH: Update, Wednesday, 9/25/96
Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 21:39:35 GMT

                         GENERAL HOSPITAL UPDATE
                      Wednesday, September 25, 1996

The world in Port Charles seemed to be tilting off its axis today.  We
finally reach the end of a day that lasted at least a week, I found
myself liking Katherine Bell, and I sometimes found myself liking Bobbie
Jones.  Scary.

Today's storylines:
-------------------
* Drinks For All MY Friends
* Jailhouse Blues
* Mother and Child Reunion, Part 1
* Mother and Child Reunion, Part 2
* And Now Let's Watch Paint Dry

Drinks for All MY Friends
-------------------------
Felicia is back at work at the Outback.  She wants to celebrate by
buying free drinks for (as she tells a customer) "all my friends."
Tom suggests they leave Brian in charge and go have a quiet
dinner, and she chooses to consider that a suggestion that she
can't handle her job.

Mac and Lucy arrive.  Lucy is begging Mac to do something to get
Kevin into a hospital.  She fears that if he spends a night in
jail, he might crack.  Mac says he can't do anything - he had to
remove himself from the case because he is Kevin's friend.  Filly
and Lucy glare at each other.

Dara stops by.  Since tomorrow is just an arraignment, if Filly
thinks seeing Kevin will be too painful, she could skip it.  (Since
I am in my trying-very-hard-to-be-a-somewhat-impartial-updater mode,
I am struggling to stifle the pithy retort that popped into my
mind.  This isn't easy.)  Felicia has a pithy retort of her own,
"Are you kidding?  It'll be a blessed relief."

Meanwhile, Mac and Katherine are sitting at a table and Tom wanders
over.  Felicia is in denial, he says.  Katherine asks, "Of what?
I thought this was what she wanted."  (Katherine is permitted pithy
retorts - she's not an updater.  Lucky woman.)  Tom believes Filly
thinks she can purge her mind of everything that has happened by punishing
Kevin.  She needs help.  "Tell her to get some," replies Mac.
Tom did, and she told him he was a shrink.  (Oh, that Felicia, she
doesn't miss even the subtlest detail.  Oops.  DOWN, pithy retorts,
DOWN!!!)  Katherine asks what will happen to Kevin.  Mac explains
that he is out of it (which isn't what she asked, but Mac seems to
feel the need to explain it at every opportunity.  Would he like a
bowl of water in order to publicly wash his hands?).  Mac explains
that an arraignment and a bail hearing will take place tomorrow.
Kevin has to spend the night in jail, and there's nothing Mac can
do about it.  (Yes, Mac, we get it - you're out of it.)

Later, Katherine tells Mac that Tom is right - Tom and Mac will
both have to walk on eggshells around Filly.  Any support of
Kevin, Filly will see as betrayal.  Mac feels it's a package deal
for all her troubles over the past few years - she is trying to
punish Ryan more than she is trying to punish Kevin.  Katherine
suggests he not mention that around Filly.  Good plan.

Tom has wandered back to the bar.  He suggests to Filly that they
have a party when her kids come back.  Great, she says, but I've
postponed their return.  Interesting, remarks Tom to Mac - she says
she's getting her life back together, but the kids aren't coming
home.  Mac figures she wants Kevin behind bars first.

Dara and Justus discuss Kevin's case.  She is glad he's not defend-
ing Kevin, though she doesn't understand why he's doing corporate
law.  She tells him of a case a couple of years ago where a stalker
was acquitted, and then murdered his stalkee.  Justus has a word of
advice for her:  "Well, you know, there's a danger with so much
displaced zeal in a case.  You may wind up prosecuting someone
other than the defendant."  Dara ignores the advice, of course -
besides, she doesn't accept that someone who has done good in
the world shouldn't be punished for doing bad.  Justus gives up
with a sigh and returns to his drink.

Filly approaches Tom, Mac, and Katherine, asking, "Would any of my
friends like a free drink?"  Lucy walks in just in time to see this
little group together.  She leaves the Outback in dismay, unseen by
anyone but Katherine.  Kath goes outside and finds Lucy fighting
back tears.  She asks Lucy why she just left.  Lucy saw the "happy
little group" gathered around Felicia, and couldn't stand it.
Katherine assures her that nobody is having fun, and they're not
taking sides - they're just trying to say and do the right thing.
Lucy tells Katherine that Kevin is trying very hard to "do the
right thing" - he is being brave, and nobody is there talking to him
or offering support.  She hurts for him terribly, feeling sick about
something he did but not even remembering it.  Katherine knows what
it feels like to regret something you have done, even though it's
not really the same.  She wishes she could help, because she knows
Lucy is hurting.  Lucy thanks her.  The whole thing strikes your
updater as the classiest thing Katherine has ever done.

Jailhouse Blues
---------------
We see Kevin's mug shots being taken.  For those who didn't already
know, we learn that he is over six feet tall.  We also learn that
today's date in Port Charles is September 24.  (They DO have long
days there - he was arrested in his hospital room earlier this
same day, which we saw on the Sept. 18 episode.)

Lucy is in an interrogation room at police headquarters meeting
with an attorney.  We never learn his name; so I don't have to keep
calling him "the attorney", I'm going to name him "Joe Creep" for the
duration of this update.  Lucy explains to Mr. Creep how she found
his name - from a friend of Scott Baldwin's - while he glances at his
Rolex, bored.  He tells her this case will be tough, turning into a
media sideshow - the story has the earmarks of a TV movie.  When Lucy
expresses distress, Creep says, hey, you never know when Kevin may
need a new source of income.  But first things first.  Lucy, the
naive thing, assumes he is referring to an attack plan for Kevin's
defense.  Don't be silly - he is talking about his fee, including a
"substantial retainer."  Lucy assures him - twice - that she will pay
whatever she needs to, and asks how to get Kevin into a hospital
instead of jail.  Creep looks at his Rolex again, insisting he can
do nothing tonight.

Just then, Kevin enters, handcuffed.  Lucy rushes to greet him,
and introduces them.  She promises Kevin he is not going to jail,
but he tells her he doesn't think she can stop it.  Creep tells
Kevin that he has reviewed the charges, and Felicia's story is
pretty ugly.  Now he wants to hear Kevin's version.  "I can't do
that," Kevin says.  Lucy explains that Kevin doesn't remember
what happened.  Creep tells them that a defense of "I don't
remember" rarely works outside of movies or TV.  But it's the truth,
Lucy insists - she was there and she can testify.  Creep isn't
impressed.  He explains that, at the arraignment, Kevin will plead
'not guilty', and that will give him time to prepare something.

During this conversation, Kevin has sat, silent and passive, his
eyes empty and downcast.  At this point he looks up and asks, "Why?"
Lucy clarifies, "Well, that is how you are going to plead."  Kevin
responds, "No, absolutely not.  I'm pleading guilty."  Lucy is
horrified.  She asks how he can plead guilty to something he
doesn't remember doing.  Creep explains that pleading guilty now
would eliminate the option of a plea bargain, so Kevin should "hang
tough" at the outset.  Kevin's response:  "No."  Lucy tries to
argue, and Kevin gets annoyed.  Creep sticks Kevin's file in his
briefcase and prepares to leave.  Lucy tries to get Creep to argue
with Kevin, but Creep says that's not his job - his job is to argue
in front of the judge.  He gives legal advice which the client takes
or not, as he prefers.  Lucy says Kevin doesn't know what he prefers.
Kevin insists that he does - it's just not what Lucy prefers.  She
begs Kevin to discuss it.  Creep says, fine - just let him know the
decision in the morning.  Lucy angrily fires Mr. Creep, who says,
whatever, just tell me where to send the bill.  Lucy, furious, gives
him her business card and tells him she understands why lawyers have
such rotten reputations.  Creep issues a parting shot:  "And you,
being such a fine judge of character."  Lucy shoos him out the
door in fine Lucy style.

Lucy can't see how Creep could even practice his profession, being
so incompetent.  "Why not," answers Kevin, "I was."  Lucy says,
no, Kevin wanted to help his patients.  But what about Felicia,
he asks - she may not have been a patient, but she was a friend.
Lucy thinks if Felicia were a friend, she wouldn't be doing this,
but Kevin says Lucy has it backwards.  Lucy tells him that he
cannot plead guilty - it would mean he is giving up.  "That's right,"
Kevin responds, "and it'll be a big relief, especially for Felicia.
And God knows I owe it to her, Lucy."

When we last see Kevin, he is lying on a bed in his jail cell in
a county jail jumpsuit, staring into nothingness.

Mother and Child Reunion, Part 1
--------------------------------
Laura, continuing a scene from yesterday's episode, is in Nikolas's
hospital room telling him goodbye.  Nikolas pretends indifference.
Laura asks him to listen - this is, in a way, even harder than
leaving him when he was small, since now she has seen who he grew
into.  She insists that she loves him, and that is why she has to
do it.  She has to do something to stop the anger and hatred
between Nikolas and Lucky that caused him to be in the hospital.
There was a moment when she saw him at the bottom of the stairs
when she thought he was dead.  "Like my father?" asks Nikolas.

Stefan tries to stop Laura from saying anything more, but Nikolas
interrupts and asks her to continue.  She explains how grateful
she was that Nikolas was not dead.  He suggests that it might have
been easier if he had been dead, but she vehemently denies this.
She feels that the only way to stop the violence, since the adults
in this case don't seem able to deal with it, is to walk away
before it ends with one of her sons killing the other.  She prays
that when they are grown, her sons will end the hatred.

Laura begs Stefan to take Nikolas and go home, so that the two
boys can grow up in peace without all the ugliness.  Laura tells
Nikolas that running away is not the solution, and that he must
never blame himself for what has happened.  Don't tell me what
to do, he retorts.  She has no power to hurt him, but he agrees
that they have no reason ever to see each other again.  He gets
out of bed and leaves the room.

Stefan says he expected that Luke would never allow the relationship
to continue.  Laura insists that she was speaking for herself, and
Stefan tells her she doesn't understand the extent to which Luke
controls her.  Laura tells Stefan that neither he nor Luke under-
stands the pain she feels, because they are too busy keeping the
vendetta going.  Stefan tells her that this was her decision - she
looked Nikolas in the eye and told him he was unworthy, and that
she had chosen another family over him.  Stefan fears that Laura
has undone all that he has tried to do for Nikolas.  No, says Laura,
Nikolas is angry with her, and that is appropriate.  Stefan is the
parent Nikolas knows, and he will need him more than ever.  Laura
feels that Stefan has given Nikolas a great deal, and that he has
given her the gift of knowing Nikolas will grow up without being
poisoned by Stavros's and Helena's hatred - she still believes that
Stefan is different.  Perhaps if Stefan and Nikolas go away for a
while, some day they can all live in peace.  Stefan feels this is too
much to hope for.  And as to their departure, they will leave when
and if they choose.

Nikolas returns to the room.  Laura starts to move towards him, but
he tells her not to, and says goodbye.  He walks past her, facing
Stefan, with his back to Laura.  She looks tearfully at Stefan,
mouthing the words, "Hold him, please," and crossing her arms
over her chest.  She leaves, and Stefan does as she asked while
Nikolas fights back tears.

Stefan explains to Nikolas that the words he heard were Luke's, not
Laura's.  He assures Nikolas that Laura does care about him - but
she fears Luke's violence.  Nikolas insists that he doesn't care.
As far as he's concerned, Laura did him a favor.  Either way, says
Stefan, we have no reason to leave Port Charles.  (I don't know,
guys - winter is coming.  I'd get out before the first blizzard if
I were you.)

Later, Stefan sits in Nikolas's room while Nikolas sleeps.  He gets
a phone call telling him that Bobbie went to Florida and visited a
Mrs. Benson.  He wants to know who Mrs. Benson is, and why Bobbie
visited her.

Mother and Child Reunion, Part 2
--------------------------------
Bobbie wants Luke to find her daughter.  Luke, who is good at asking
the tough questions, asks if Tony knows, and wonders how she will
deal with that.  Bobbie rationalizes, in her own special way, that
it really doesn't have anything to do with Tony.  Luke tells her
to remove her blinders and see the truth.  She would want to be
involved in her daughter's life, which would affect Tony and Lucas.
Bobbie asks which situation he is talking about - hers or his?
He agrees that there are parallels, and then tells her that Laura
is saying goodbye to Nikolas because she realized that she had to.
Bobbie recognizes what must have happened, and she remarks,
"Oh, my God - you made her cut Nikolas off, didn't you?  Oh, Luke,
how could you?"  (Way to go, Nurse Jones - but you grew up with
Luke, so by now you ought to realize that the only feelings Luke
cares about are Luke's.)

Bobbie knows that Laura would never give Nikolas up on her own,
so Luke had to be involved.  He admits it, but "Stefan and the
demon seed" had Laura confused and he had to straighten her out.
What matters is that she protects her family (i.e., HIS family).
And forgets Nikolas is alive, asks Bobbie.  Sure, why not, says
Luke.  Bobbie tells him it can't happen, any more than Bobbie
can forget her daughter.  Besides, Luke doesn't even know Nikolas.
Luke gets angry - he has to listen to the same thing from Laura
"while she desperately tries to hold on to the spawn of the devil."

Bobbie gives up - she came to Luke because she hoped for a bit of
sympathy and understanding.  Luke just doesn't want to see her mess
up her life.  She says Tony's reaction can't stop her, and she
makes a remark that may come back to haunt Luke:  "If you think
Laura can give up her son and not spend the rest of her life longing
for him, you're a fool."  Enter Laura, looking shaken.

Bobbie must have left right after that - we next see Luke and Laura
alone.  She tells Luke, as tears run down her cheeks, that she told
Nikolas she would never see him again.  Luke reminds her, "*We*
decided."  She agrees, pointing out that she never said anything
different, but, "What I don't know is whether or not I'll ever get
over what happened tonight."  She has no positive feelings about it,
if he was waiting for that.  She can't understand how Luke could
think this is a solution and never doubt himself.  Luke has nothing
to say for himself, for once in his life - he simply goes upstairs
and leaves Laura sitting alone.  She dissolves into tears and
falls over on the couch, sobbing.

We see Bobbie back at home, receiving a delivery of flowers with a
note from Stefan.  She calls to Tony, who isn't home.

Meanwhile, upstairs at Kelly's, Tony and Carly say a bittersweet
farewell.  Carly feels that they will need to be more distant with
each other at the hospital from now on.  Tony says that will be
hard to do.  Carly agrees - she doesn't know how she will look at
him without thinking about their time together, and how special he
made her feel.  He tells her she is special.  He starts to leave,
but turns back, saying he can't do it.  He grabs Carly, and they
embrace passionately.

We see them later in bed.  Carly tells Tony he has to go home and
be with his family, but she thanks him again for a beautiful day.

Tony arrives home, to find Bobbie sitting in the living room.
She thinks he is still upset about their argument.  He sarcastically
responds that he's not sure which one she means - he has been losing
track.  She says it's late, and she doesn't want to get into a fight
tonight.  Bobbie goes upstairs.  Tony notices the flowers Bobbie
received; the card is lying nearby, and he reads it.

Carly, alone in her room, holds a bunch of flowers she and Tony
picked on their walk.

And Now Let's Watch Paint Dry
-----------------------------
For some unknown reason, AJ and Keesha appear onscreen, meeting at
the Outback.  AJ is working on a speech regarding some sort of
vote coming up, and he wants to quote something Jason once said.
He thinks he lacks Jason's passion and intensity.  (Well, Keesha
would be the one to be able to judge that.....)  AJ wishes he could
get Jason riled up about this new issue, but he figures Jason would
just get mad.  Well, said Keesha, why don't YOU get mad instead?
Not at Jason - at the situation.  She is worried because lately
AJ has been getting calmer and more earnest.  AJ asks, right along
with your updater, "Calm and earnest is BAD?"  He figures that it's
better to stay calm - when he gets emotional, he starts drinking.

AJ is working hard to prepare for the Council meeting - he is
afraid people will think he is sliding by on the Q name.  Keesha
again raises the issue of anger.  It's one thing to control his
temper - it's another to sit on his feelings.  He tells her that
there are some things he only wants to discuss at AA meetings.  She
doesn't like that, but it doesn't change his mind.  They leave.
Yawn.

-----------------------------------------
by Rika, 1/2 of the Wednesday Update Team