Daily Updates

From: Teresa Elaine Leslie <tleslie@emory.edu>
Subject: GH:  UPDATE Tuesday Dec. 30
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1998 21:55:54 -0500

        The cliche is true-- one SHOULD be careful what one prays for.  I
have always wanted to be a substitute updater, and Kate kindly allowed me
to fill in for her this time.  BUT it was one of those slow days, with a
lot of conversation in GH hallways and several scenes involving
my least favorite GH character.  Oh, well, beggers can't be choosers, and
I'd love to do it again sometime.

        Monday's show ended with Carly in cardiac arrest and Bobbie
clutching the baby, warning Carly not to die and leave her baby all alone.
Today's show opens the next morning-- Carly has survived, as has her son,
but both are in grave danger.
        But I'm getting ahead of myself.  We begin with Stefan
striding into Nikolas's hospital room, and attempting to engender some
enthusiasm in the boy by rambling on about the Windemere staff's
preparations for Nik's homecoming.  Nik scrawls a listless "It not matter"
on his chart, to which Stefan replies, "It matters to me, and to
Katherine."  [Note to Stefan:  PLEASE stop injecting Kat into every
conversation.  She had no place in that sentence.]  He goes on to tell
Nik he is sympathetic to his frustration but that "there comes a time
when bad health can no longer be an excuse for bad manners."  Stefan has
arranged for a speech therapist to begin work once Nik returns home, as
"the sooner you accept your condition, the sooner you can correct it."
Stefan also tells Nik he will have to stop "hiding" behind the crutch of a
writing pad once he gets to Windemere.  "When we get home, I will expect
more from you than sorrowful eyes and a sour disposition.  If that angers
you, tell me.  If you don't know how, learn."
        Stefan exits, taking the clipboard with him, and is met in the
hallway by Kat, who asks if Nik "agreed" to start work with the therapist.
"Not quite," Stefan answers.  Apparently Kat doesn't know much about
Stefan, if she thinks he asked Nik, rather than told him, about the
therapist.
        Mac is still tied to the bed and struggling to free himself. Tess
enters his room, unnaturally chipper, and offers him coffee (a cruel thing
to do to a man without restroom access).  Mac tells her he has figured out
that she kidnapped him to replace his doppleganger, her dead husband
Jimmy.  Tess plays along, acting as if he's figured her out.  Mac tells
her that "this is going nowhere," which I know many of you think sums up
this whole storyline.  [substitute updater here is still mildly
interested, however, if they will just hurry and give us some more hints
as to what's up] Tess pulls out an old-fashioned razor (a straight razor,
I believe it's called), making Mac exceedingly nervous.
        At the  Outback, FauxMac and Felicia are decorating for New
Year's Eve.  She wants him to tell her his resolutions, he demures.  Then
we move to a table in the restaurant, where Alexis and Tony are having a
breakfast meeting. It is revealed that Tony spent "quality time" with
Lucas in Manhattan the night before.  "We were supposed to stay later, but
I wanted to see you as soon as possible."  [Note to Tony:  Haven't you
ever seen that sappy commercial about that lady who "holds a meeting" by
phone while taking her children to the beach?  You could have handled this
from NYC.]  Tony has decided to pursue the custody case.  (this is news?)
They rehash the situation, unaware thatCarly has already given birth.

        Speaking of Carly's baby, we move to GH, where Jason is in the hall,
watching Carly's son through a window.  He is joined by Grandma Bobbie.
Conversation between the two brings us up to date on what has happened
with Carly and the baby.  Jason notices the baby is not breathing well.
Bobbie explains the child's medical condition, using a huge medical term I
couldn't catch, but which is thereafter referred to as PDA, to my great
relief.  A duct(?) that was supposed to close naturally at birth, hasn't,
and the baby is on medication to correct the problem. So far, it  isn't
working. "The baby can die, right, Bobbie?"  "Yes, it's a possibility."
If the medicine doesn't work soon, the baby will need surgery.
        Jason asks about Carly, who is still unconscious.  "Will she make
it?  Truth."  Bobbie says Carly is still in danger.  "If she starts to
bleed again, we could lose her." Then we see Carly herself, unconscious
and very pale.  A nurse takes her blood pressure, pulls back the sheet to
discover a pool of blood, picks up the phone: "Triple page Dr. Newman to
ICU 4."  The familiar opening music rises and the scene goes red.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

More Mac and Tess-- the razor was for shaving, big surprise.  Tess assures
Mac that she used to shave Jimmy all the time, as he was always cutting
himself and she got tired of having to clean blood stains out of his
shirts.  Then there was the day she discovered OTHER red stains on his
collar-- lipstick.  Apparently we're supposed to feel some sort of
tension, listening to her talk about her slimy husband who looks like Mac
while holding a sharp instrument close to Mac's neck.  I felt that sort of
delicious tension watching Whoopi shave Mister in "Color Purple", but Tess
didn't have a similar effect on me.  Mac worries about Felicia, whom he
assumes must be worried about him.  Tess pretends to be offended by his
lack of attention and leaves.
        Felica is still decorating with JimmyMac.  Here we have the first
bizarre Felicia dialogue of the day (There will be more):  She asks "Mac"
to hold the stepladder while she climbs down.  Then she says, "Thanks.
Twice."  FauxMac:  "What do you mean?"  Filly:  "Every time I stand on the
bar or a chair instead of a ladder you give me a lecture.  This time you
didn't.  [Duh, Felicia, maybe that's because you ARE using a ladder this
time.]  FauxMac:  "That's my New  Year's resolution-- if Felicia wants to
split her head open, let her."  He DOES sound like Mac.  He then makes an
excuse to leave the bar for a while.

        Tony and Alexis are still discussing the custody battle.  Alexis
is explaining, yet again, how unlikely it is that Tony will be able to get
Carly's baby away from her.  Tony:  "She's unstable, unmarried, living
with a criminal who was just involved in a shoot-out. Isn't that enough?"
Alexis: "It's a start." Alexis reminds Tony they will need to investigate
Carly's past, and he says he'll talk to Felicia about taking the case.

        Next, it's back to Jason and Bobbie.  Jason is telling Bobbie he won't
leave until he knows Carly and the baby are okay, and Bobbie trots off to
check the status of mother and child for him, just missing the entrance of
big brother Luke, who stumbles across Jason while wandering the hospital
corridors for no apparent reason.  "What's up, another drive by?" "Actually,
it's Carly."  Jason explains what has happened, as Luke gets very still.
He's not happpy to hear Bobbie was in on the delivery. Bobbie runs up to
announce that Carly is hemorrhaging and Jason has some decisions to make.
"If we don't stop the bleeding, we could lose her."

COMMERCIAL BREAK

        Tess and James meet and have a filler conversation about how their plan,
whatever that might be, is progressing.  He gives her a list of questions
about Mac and Felicia and she says she'll get answers. Meanwhile, Mac has
managed to get one hand loose, and gets that hand on the phone.
        Meanwhile, at the Outback, Lizzie appears and introduces herself to
Felicia.  Lizzie wants a reservation for tonight's party, but Felicia
assures her she won't need one.  We see Alexis leave and Tony approaches
Filly, who says, "Are you going to tell me why you need a lawyer or do I
have to guess?"  He tells her it's a custody case, and she assumes it's
about Lucas, again.  Tony sets her straight:  "I'm suing for custody of my
unborn child."  (Brad M. manages to deliver this line yet again with a
straight face, which I find amazing.)
        Then we head back to the hospital. "Mr. Morgan, I have an update on
Miss Roberts."  As Bobbie and Luke look on, Dr. Newman(?) explains to
Jason that Carly has something that sounds like Disseminated Intervascular
Coagulation, or DIC. Her blood isn't clotting and the doc says the best
way to stop the bleeding is to remove the hemorrhaging organ. She wants
consent to perform a hysterectomy. Before Jason can say anything, Bobbie
jumps in, vehemently declaring, "No, you can't do that to her." Everyone
turns to stare at Bobbie, Luke squirms, and we cut to commercial.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Luke stands leaning against the wall, arms folded, head down, as Bobbie
pleads for Carly's uterus.  [Updater's note:  this scene was just eat up
with SWATCH, and I loved it]

Bobbie: Listen, I realize you didn't ask for my opinion, but I am begging
you, Jason, do NOT give permission for a hysterectomy.

Doctor:  Are you aware that a hysterectomy could save Carly's life?

Bobbie:  Are you aware that I have had one myself, without my consent?

The doctor answers with a hilariously calm, "With all due respect to your
issues, Carly has a life-threatening condition.  A hysterectomy offers her
a chance to be around to raise her child."

"She's just given birth to a child that's critically ill.  Look, I pray to
God this doesn't happen, but what if you go ahead and you give Carly the
hysterectomy and the child dies?  Then Carly's left with no baby and no
chance of ever having another and I think we have to offer her better than
that, doctor."

The doctor counters that Jason's decision should be based on medical
reality, not emotion.  Bobbie then comes up with a medical alternative to
hysterectomy-- platelet infusion.  Newman concedes that could work.  "Can
you honestly say in her condition major surgery would be better?," Bobbie
argues. The doc says Carly's chances are poor in either case. Luke continues
to look troubled.  Bobbie makes a final pitch to Jason:  "Jason, you know
how important this baby is to Carly.  IF she loses it, you know she's
gonna want to have another." Jason makes his decision (or finally gets a
word in edgewise, hard to say)-- no surgery.  "I think that's what she
would want."  The doctor heads off to start infusion.

        Elsewhere in the hospital, Katherine enters Nik's room, bearing
the clipboard Stefan had taken earlier: "Your uncle took this by mistake."
(note to katherine:  Uncle took it on purpose.)  She then gives NIk her
standard earnest "I was once where you are" speech-- "the first step is
the hardest."  [note to Kat-- he's not paralyzed, he has a speech problem.
Note to Kat fans-- it's a joke.  I know she didn't mean it literally.]  I
NOT YOU, Nik writes.  Kat replies, "You were there for me, you just say
the word and I am here for you." [geez, kat, great word choice]
        Kat exits, and confers with a waiting Stefan in the hallway.  [Updater's
note:  Is this why Kat is still around?  To help Stefan play "good cop/bad
cop" with Nikolas? Sigh]  "He's not ready," she intones.  Stefan assures
her that once Nik is home, he'll have a change of heart and take interest
in speech therapy.  [Note to Stefan:  Stop deluding yourself about the
seriousness of Nik's problems. You and Jax need to talk.]  Kat says Nik
will be too tired to usher in the New Year, and Stefan says he has other
plans for that evening, anyway.  "Will you join me in seeing in the New
Year?"  [Substitute updater gets nauseous & thinks 'so much for the loving
father routine.']
        Nik is in his room, brooding.  Lucky sticks his head in the door,
causing this viewer to wonder how he passed unnoticed by the lovebirds in
the hallway-- Stefan is later surprised to see him.  But we have to wait
until after the commercial break to learn what Lucky has to say.

        As we wait for Lucky to come to the point, we move to Felicia and Tony.
Apparently the writers thought that long-time viewers would get a kick out
of hearing Felicia rant about the nerve of a woman planning to marry
someone who might or might not be the father of her baby (since many of us
would remember that Filly herself was in a similar predicament years ago).
Filly volunteers to investigate Carly for free, "as a public service."
Very odd.  Next, the phone rings, Felicia answers  It's RealMac, who has
called to assure her he's okay. Hearing Tess returning, he hangs up
before he can tell her he's been kidnapped or discover she doesn't know
he's missing. Everything is back in place by the time Tess enters.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

JimmyMac is back at the bar, and he presents Felicia with a gift, which
turns out to be two lovely champagne flutes (what, the bar doesn't have
enough glassware?). "For us," he explains, "as part of my new year's
resolution to change for the better, esp. where Felicia's concerned."
[updater's note:  JimmyMac has an odd habit of referring to Felicia in
the third person while he's speaking to her.]  "Is that why you called?"
she asks.  "Where were you, anyway?"  James hurries to call Tess and let
her know that Mac used the phone; Tess is not happy to hear it.

        Bobbie and Luke have a conversation outside Carly's room. Luke wants
to know how Carly's doing.  "We won't know for a while."  What are the
odds on the baby?  (RATSA-GH Bookie perks up her ears-- did someone say
odds?) Bobbie figures they are about the same as those on the mother.
(and those would be?)  She adds, "Carly may never see her child
alive, and I can't think of anything sadder than that."  Luke asks if Tony
has been told, and Bobbie explains that he and Lucas had gone to a Rangers
game the night before and weren't due back in town yet.  (So where the
heck did Tony stash poor Lucas while he met with Alexis, anyway?)  Bobbie
talks about the irony of her protecting Carly (more ironic than you know,
Bobbie dear) and Luke, uncomfortable, agrees.  "Birth is a turning point,"
Bobbie opines.  "Once your baby's gone, there's no replacing it.  I know
what having a child means, and I wouldn't want anyone, not even Carly,
to have that taken from her."  A guilty Luke changes the subject, inviting
Bobbie to ring in the New Year with him and Lucky.
        Speaking of Lucky, he's finally telling Nik why he's there. He
wants Nik to know that "I didn't do anything to bring this whole speech
thing on, not on purpose."  Nik looks serious, writes "You okay."  Their
eyes meet.  It's a great moment.  Out in the hallway, a lurking Sarah is
joined by Lizzie, who asks if she wants to go to the Outback for the New
Year's Eve celebration. Sarah's not in the mood.  Kat approaches and lets
Sarah know Nik will be going home soon.  "I'm sure once he gets settled,
he'll want to see you."  Sarah isn't so sure.  "Don't give up on him, "
Kat tells her. [Run, sarah, run; I remember her giving similar advice to
Miranda about Jax, and look where she wound up.]  Sarah says she won't,
"not in this lifetime."
        Lucky and Nik are still bonding, after a fashion.  "Must be tough,
having people tell you what to do all day.  I'd be going nuts," Lucky
observes.  Nik writes, "I have been."  Then Stefan shows up and snarls at
poor Lucky, "What are YOU doing here?"  [Hey, stef, he had to walk right
past you and Katherine to get in here, what's the deal?]
        Jason is watching the baby.  Bobbie tells him the infusion is
going well, and that Carly will thank him for his decision.  Jasons says
he'll tell Carly exactly what happened, "and she'll thank YOU."  This
sweet moment is interrupted by the arrival of Tony, who quickly lets
Bobbie know this crisis is really all about HIM, sniping at her for not
informing him of the delivery the moment it happened.  When Bobbie calmly
tells him she left a voice mail message, he whines, "You had my cell phone
number.  Why didnt' you use that?  You know how important this is to me.
Tell me the condition of my son."  Jason and Tony exchange glares.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

        FauxMac has invented a blue drink, and asks Felicia to sample it.  She
likes it.  He gets smarmy, telling her "it's the only thing you should
drink, because it matches your eyes."  She looks confused.
        Stefan is going after Lucky: "You are not welcome in this room.  Nik has
enough stress in his life without you adding to it."  Lucky leaves,
without trying to explain that Nik HAD welcomed him. Stefan assures Nik
that Lucky will bother him no more, and announces that Nik has been
discharged and is free to leave as well.  "But you have to ride in this"
he adds, indicating a wheelchair.  Nik stalks out. "Nikolas!" Stefan calls
as he rushs out to catch up with the boy. "I'm happy to see your pride is
still intact."  He puts his arm around Nik's shoulders, another of those
uncharacteristic easy gestures that are driving me crazy. [Here a hug,
there a head pat, what has gotten into stefan?]  As they walk away, Alexis
appears, too late to sneak in another visit with her nephew.
        We glimpse Luke staring through the window into carly's room,
looking pensive.  [well, that's how I read the look, anyway]
        Elsewhere in the hospital, Tony continues to rant at Jason,
throwing the phrase, "my child" around.  Jason is unmoved, stating yet again
that "the child belong to Carly."  Not for much longer, Tony retorts, at
which point Bobbie lets him know that he's acting like an inappropriate
pig in the middle of the hospital (well, not in those words, exactly, but
she said "inappropriate").  Tony answers, "I am sick and tired of being
'appropriate.'  All that matters from now on is that I protect my child
from his mother and her friends."  Dr. Kaplan(?) appears, and tells Jason,
"I have some bad news for you.  There's a problem with your son."  With
that cliffhanger, the episode ends.

Sorry about the length.  Imagine if I'd had a really juice episode to do--
my update would be longer than the script!  Thanks again, Kate, for
letting me fill in.  It was a lot of fun.

Terry