Daily Updates

From: rika@netcom.com (Melissa Martin)
Subject: GH: Update, Wednesday, 11/20/96
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 05:52:28 GMT

                        GENERAL HOSPITAL UPDATE
                      Wednesday, November 20, 1996

To all you folks in Chicago and Detroit who missed this episode,
I'm sorry - it was a good one, if you like Kevin/Lucy, Luke
Spencer, Emily, or Alan and Monica.  I've provided a fair amount
of detail; I hope it helps!

Today's Storylines:
-------------------
* The View from the Lifeboat
* The Other Half of Me
* The Birth of MDP, the Sequel?
* Caroline and her Uncle Luke
* Land of the Squeaky Voices and Widened Eyes

THE VIEW FROM THE LIFEBOAT
--------------------------
Kevin and Lucy are in Kevin's hospital room.  He is packing
his things into a duffel bag while she engages in some nervous
babble about finding things long forgotten.  She says, "Doc,
the worst is over.  The important thing is, you are going home
tonight."  Kevin tells her she's partly right - he is going
home, but he isn't her "Doc" anymore, and he's afraid he never
will be again.

Lucy realizes he's worried about the review board, but since the
meeting isn't even scheduled yet, she suggests that he not worry
about it for the time being.  She has a special homecoming planned,
and he ought to think about that.  Gail arrives with Kevin's
release papers for him to sign.  Kevin remarks that his name is
in the wrong place.  Lucy misunderstands what he means, and he has
to explain.  Both the patient and the doctor sign the form, and he
has signed many of them - but as the doctor.  He asked Steve to do
away with the form - how ironic that the last one he signs has his
name on the patient's side of the form.  Lucy and Gail suggest that
maybe he won't lose his license after all - he is an excellent
doctor with a well-earned reputation.  He had a breakdown (Kevin:
"A meltdown is more accurate, wouldn't you agree?"), but he has
made amazing progress.  Gail feels he needs to get out in the real
world - he will find out there's more of the old Kevin left than
he realizes.  Gail hugs both Kevin and Lucy and leaves.  Kevin and
Lucy leave; Kevin pauses at the door to shut off the light, looking
back into the room pensively.

Kevin and Lucy arrive at the lighthouse, which is strangely devoid
of artwork.  The easel and all the paintings are gone.  Lucy ex-
plains that she did some "straightening up" while he was gone.
"Well, it certainly looks.... clean," agrees Kevin.  He asks about
his Jasmine Island painting.  That painting, along with the others,
is in the dumpster.  The easel and the art supplies are in the
dumpster too.  Kevin is somewhat taken aback by all of this, but
Lucy suggests it might be time to take a break.  "Already had one -
psychotic break - get it?" quips Kevin, but Lucy is not amused.
She asks if he is upset about his paintings.  When he was painting
them, he remarks, he didn't know what they represented.  He knows
now, and he never wants to see them again.

Lucy suggests that they move on to dinner.  Kevin asks what she
wants, preparing to cook something, but Lucy explains that she
has a French feast from Cafe Matisse in the fridge.  While Lucy
goes to get the wine, she rhapsodizes about how perfect the evening
is going to be.  Kevin, listening to her, closes his eyes, his face
a mask of pain and regret.  She returns with the wine, remarking
that the evening reminds her of the days when they first started
dating, and things kept going wrong.  Kevin misses those times,
"when nothing stood between us but the cruel hand of fate and my
allergy to shellfish."  (Well, Kevin, you're forgetting Grace....
but we see your point.)  So much has changed, he remarks.

He uses the sinking of the Titanic as a metaphor.  Until such a
moment, people don't really know who they are:  the gentleman, who
helps the women and children into the boats and drowns in his
evening clothes, or someone who scrambles over others till he
knows he's safe.  Kevin now knows which type of person he is, and
"the view from the lifeboat is pretty d*mn scary."  But, insists
Lucy, you didn't run over anybody.  Kevin:  "Felicia, Ryan......
and you." He tells her about faking the catatonia.  Lucy is
visibly shaken, but says nothing; she merely stands, one hand
gripping her stomach, and takes deep, almost gasping, breaths
as she listens to him.

Kevin explains that, had he stayed at Pentonville, he would have
gone insane.  He did what he had to do to survive, but surviving
has changed him - he's not the man she used to love.  Lucy,
terribly agitated by now, vehemently objects.  All that mattered
was getting him out of jail - and here he is, home.  And here they
are, together, with no bars between them and no guards watching
them.  She fought way too hard to have him tell her he is not the
man she loves: he is, and that makes everything worth it.

Kevin takes Lucy's face in his hands, and tells her that he used to
look at her face through the prison bars and think that he might
never have her again.  "You have me," Lucy cries in response, and
they begin to kiss passionately.  (Something tells me the romantic
French feast went uneaten).

When we see them again, they are in Kevin's bed.  He is asleep,
and Lucy leans over and gently kisses him.  She nestles against
him, looking troubled, and tries to sleep.

THE OTHER HALF OF ME
--------------------
In a continuation from Tuesday's epsiode, Monica is furious with
Alan for "intercepting a private message" from Dr. Cahill to her.
Alan explains that it was a call from the doctor's office (of
course, he doesn't know that it was Nikolas calling on Emily's
behalf), and that it was a message for him.  He tells her it was
stupid to skip her six-month check-up - this is her life at stake.
Monica says it's her business - his input isn't wanted or appreci-
ated.  Tough, says Alan - she gets his input whether she wants it
or not.  He then beautifully sums up their long relationship:  "We
can lie to each other, and cheat on each other, and even divorce
each other, but you don't get to quit on me, Monica.  Not now, not
ever."  Alan is pretty tough with her, telling her she probably
got what she deserved for taking up with someone like Dorman to
begin with.  But she can't let it jeopardize her health.  They
argue about her reason for cancelling the appointment - was it
because she is embarrassed and doesn't want to show her face around
the hospital, or because she's in denial - sleeping with Dorman
might have been a way to pretend the cancer never happened.

Meanwhile, AJ and Jason are still at Luke's, arguing about whether
or not Jason will go to the Q mansion.  Jason doesn't see how going
will help - he won't know what to say or do.  He finally agrees to
go, but only to prove to AJ that his presence will only make Monica
feel worse.  After that AJ had better never ask this of him again.

Back in the Quartermaine den, Monica remarks that she has already
admitted the affair is her fault.  What more does Alan want?  He
wants a rational explanation - Monica wouldn't let Alan near her,
but "you slept with Pierce Dorman just because he thinks you're
cute."  This degenerates into Argument #572 (about who is to blame
for Jason moving out of the house) just in time for Jason and AJ
to arrive outside the French doors and overhear.  Jason leaves.
As AJ continues to listen, Monica argues that some things - like
car accidents and cancer - just happen, and no one is at fault.
Alan argues for cause and effect - there would have been no accident
if AJ hadn't been drunk, and pretending the cancer never happened
won't prevent a recurrence.

Alan wonders if she's trying to get him out of her life to com-
pletely remove the cancer experience.  No, she doesn't want him
out of her life.  She slept with Dorman because he helped her to
find her own sexuality.  She thought Alan's desire was motivated
by pity.  She was attracted to Pierce because he didn't want her
for her mind, and once she had what she needed, she couldn't wait
to break it off.  Alan is astonished to learn that Monica was the
one who broke off the affair; Pierce lied to Alan about that.
(What I want to know is why Alan believed ANYTHING Dorman said.)
Monica explains that Dorman was furious that an "older woman"
broke it off.  She explains Dorman's veiled threats against Alan
before the hand surgery.

She talks about what it's like to have to live six months at a
time, fearing that the next check-up might show that the cancer
is back.  Alan listens, clearly moved by her pain and fear.

When we see them again, they are sitting opposite one another.
Alan holds out his hands, and Monica places her hands in his.
Alan again succinctly sums up their relationship: "Sometimes
I've loved you, and sometimes I've hated you, and often at the
same time.  But the one thing I could never imagine is not having
your presence in my life.  You see, this may sound corny, but
you're the other half of me.  Not exactly a compliment, I
suppose."  They laugh at this, and Monica agrees to see Dr. Cahill
the following day.  Alan offers to go with her; Monica gratefully
accepts, and they embrace.

AJ shows up at Luke's, looking for Jason.  The bartender asks AJ
if he wants anything.  AJ doesn't answer.

Jason is wandering around the docks by Kelly's.  He notices
Emily sitting on a bench.  He sits down with her, and they
make small talk at first.  He notices Emily is cold, and wraps
her in his leather jacket.  She tells him things have been bad
at the house, and he tells her he was there and heard Alan and
Monica arguing.  It doesn't bother him.  "I knew you wouldn't
care; I just wish I didn't care so much," replies Emily.  She
begins to cry, and Jason puts an arm around her and draws her
head onto his shoulder.

When we rejoin them, Emily, with Jason's arm still around her,
has stopped crying and is telling him about the photo of Lois's
baby.  She thinks Lois will make a good Mom; Jason guesses so,
but doesn't know much about it.  Emily remarks that Monica
tries to be a good mother, and tells him about Monica's promise
to Page.  Emily worries that Monica might die too; Jason asks
why.  Emily begins to explain about follow-up check-ups for
breast cancer patients, and Jason discovers that he knows a fair
amount about the subject.  He supposes that Jason Quartermaine
must have learned everything he could.  Emily explains that Monica
cancelled her check-up.  She had hoped the phone call to Alan
would help, but if Alan & Monica were fighting, that probably means
she failed.  She's scared.  Jason doesn't know how to help her.
Emily:  "I have to learn not to care so much."  Jason offers her
a motorcycle ride home; Emily is happy to accept.  She tells Jason
he is a "nice guy."

THE BIRTH OF MDP, THE SEQUEL?
----------------------------
The guys are at Luke's, piecing together how the Timoria Foundation
destroyed the hospital's finances.  Luke figures they promised the
money, and Steve budgeted for it, but the money never came.  Tom
figures the financial problems created strain that caused Steve's
heart attack, and thus, "What you're saying here is that b*st*rd
just killed my father."  (Don't hold back, Tom - tell us how you
feel.)

Luke tests Tom's mettle with an offhand remark about Hardys having
a reputation for being level-headed and law-abiding.  Tom points
out that it hasn't gotten them anywhere with Stefan.  Luke assures
Tom that Stefan is going to end in a violent death, just like the
rest of his family.  Tom:  "I may have more of a stomach for that
than you might think."  Luke says if Tom wants revenge, he can
help, but Tom has to listen to him.  (Oh, no, another MDP in its
infancy?)  Tom, showing his wisdom, asks, "Excuse me, boss, just
a minute.  When did I agree to work for you?"  Tom then gets talked
into being Luke's eyes and ears at the hospital.

The move on to Stefan's current interests around the hospital.
First, the computer, and now it's obvious why - Stefan is trying
to find and delete the Timoria information.  Second, "Dr. Kevin
Collins."  Tom explains that Stefan has visited Kevin a lot, and
is interested in the review board hearing.  Luke wonders what role
Stefan might have had in the malpractice suits.  Tom is about to
get several depositions from these suits, and he'll try to find
out.  The mention of Kevin reminds Tom that he needs to meet
Felicia at the Outback and escort her home.  Before he leaves,
Luke urges him to make a copy of the Timoria disk tomorrow and
put it in a safe deposit box.

CAROLINE AND HER UNCLE LUKE
---------------------------
In the aftermath of her nightmare, Carly sits by the fire at the
cabin, looking shaken.  Tony brings her hot chocolate.  She tells
him she dreamed that she lost him forever; he promises he isn't
going anywhere.  She tells him she has to go into town to do
something - after that, she will be able to believe their relation-
ship is real.

Meanwhile, at the Outback, Tom and Luke had just finished their
conversation.  Luke poured himself a shot and drank it (I don't
know about New York, but it's against North Carolina law for a
bartender to drink while on duty).  He turned back to find Carly
sitting on a barstool.  Her greeting:  "Hello again."

Luke pours Carly a shot, and she and Luke both drain their shot
glasses.  Carly asks Luke if he's going to kill her; he implied
it before.  "I was nasty, wasn't I?", Luke remarks, smirking.
Carly calls him a jerk and tells him he's playing games with her
life.  She passionately defends her right to stay with Tony,
and tells Luke he can kill her if he doesn't like it.  He tells
her to "save your Romeo and Juliet for your sugar daddy, baby."
He follows by asking, "How much do you think Tony is going to love
you when he finds out he is boinking his step-daughter?"  (Luke
does have a way of cutting to the heart of the matter).  Carly
sidesteps the issue by pointing out that Tony and Bobbie are
divorced.  Luke points out that she's still got a problem in this
area.  Carly (who held her own with Luke beautifully in this scene)
pointed out that Luke had a problem of his own:  how was Bobbie
going to feel when she found out Luke lied to her when he told
her Caroline was dead?  "The truth is, Uncle Luke, if you wreck
my life, you wreck hers too."

Luke's expression suggests he is mildly impressed by this show of
Spencer blood on Carly's part.  He tells her she needs to keep her
mouth shut about her relatives; in that case, "Uncle Luke's gonna
let you be."  Luke suggests that Carly is going to need a lot of
help - Bobbie still loves Tony, and Tony seemed awfully upset by
the divorce.  Carly says Tony was just surprised; Luke says,
"You play patty-cake while you can, Caroline, because you don't
have enough Spencer blood pumping through your veins to be a match
for Barbara Jean.  You're just a cast-off photocopy, remember?"
If Bobbie wants Tony back, she'll get him.  (Right now, I'd say
that is a BIG "if").  Carly leaves.

LAND OF THE SQUEAKY VOICES AND WIDENED EYES
-------------------------------------------
Felicia drops in to visit Bobbie.  Bobbie makes tea.  Filly is
edgy because of Kevin's release.  She thought she was doing the
right thing, but she's wondering if she should be afraid.  She's
glad that Tony and Tom will be in the building tonight.  Bobbie
explains about the divorce from Tony - she has already changed
her name back to Spencer.  She explains her reasons for haste,
and your updater laughs aloud:  "It's just not good for a child to
grow up with lies - I mean, a few, you know, every once in a while,
if you can't avoid it."  Felicia hadn't even noticed any problem
between Bobbie and Tony.  Bobbie explains that they've had a lot
of practice, and then she tells Felicia that Tony is in love with
Carly.

After hearing the story, Filly remarks that she's sorry Bobbie
had to go through it alone.  Bobbie mentions a "friend who was
very supportive."  Just then, Tom rushes in, agitated, looking
for Felicia.  He got worried when she wasn't at the Outback or in
her apartment.  Felicia asks Tom why he seems angry, and he
explains his conversation with Luke about Stefan.  Bobbie quotes
from page 45 of her script for any day in the past two months,
accusing Luke of irrationality about Stefan.  Tom thinks Luke is
"right on the money."  He talks about Stefan as a manipulator,
and Bobbie widens her eyes as she listens.  Felicia interrupts
Tom's tirade, changing the subject to something mundane to spare
Bobbie's feelings.

Later, we see Bobbie dialing a number; then we see Stefan, looking
at his ringing flip phone, wearing that cat-that-ate-the-canary
little smile, but not answering the phone.  (What?  Does he have
a separate phone for each of his victims so he knows which one
is trying to reach him?  Can he sense widening eyes and pursed
lips just from a ringing phone?  This guy is even better than I
thought.......)

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