Daily Updates

From: Teresa Elaine Leslie <tleslie@emory.edu>
Subject: GH:  UPDATE FRIDAY AUG 14
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1998 11:17:01 -0400

        This episode sort of snuck up on me-- first time through, I
thought it was okay, but mostly just a set-up for a big Monday.  Second
time through, I noticed a lot of nice little lines, good SWATCH, etc.  By
the time the update was written, I was really impressed.  Translation--
the update is long.
        So, stealing an idea from my Friday harness-mate, JudyO, I'll give
you then condensed version first, in case you can't bear a long version
complete with several chunks of transcription of dialogue.

        Short version:  Jax is satisfied that the mystery woman is indeed
Veronica Barrett, as she claims, and by show's end, Brenda stumbles across
that information as well.  Before Jax can determine whether Momma is
interested in the daughter she left behind or just daughter's fiance's
money, Brenda shows up in tears and confronts her mom-- our first
cliffhanger.
        Lucky and Liz make plans for a lunch date.  Liz is nervous and
chats about her feelings for Lucky to Bobbie, but denies she's falling for
him.  When Lucky shows up to take her to lunch, they have another one of
those almost-kiss moments-- our second cliffhanger.
        Katsper appears in her shiny white dress and tells Stefan his
heart has always belonged to Laura.  This is the revelation of which
spoilers spoke?  Big deal.
        Alexis is haunted by fears of losing the case, and tells STefan
they have to put Laura on the stand. He doesn't see it that way.  Laura,
meanwhile, sees how miserable Nik is about his own performance in court,
and resolves to save Stefan for her son.  She tries to prepare Luke for
her action, but he doesn't want to deal with her Cassadine connection.
Alexis, to everyone's surprise, calls Laura to the stand.  With Luke in
the court room, Laura testifies that she was an eyewitness to Katherine's
fall.  This is our "revelation that shocks everyone" ending to the
episode.

And now, the llooonnnngggg version:
Today's theme--- Evanescence

Morning in Port Charles:
We open on the courtyard of Ruby's Diner (and yes, we see Ruby today!),
where Liz is serving breakfast to outdoor diners--a couple of young
lovebirds who spend the rest of the episode kissing and making googoo eyes
at one another in order for the main characters to have an excuse to talk
about love and romance.  Then Lucky appears, and we cut to...

Jax, in the penthouse, calling Veronica, who is still in bed.  He orders
her to meet him in the lobby in 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, court is in session, or so it seems.  The judge has reached a
verdict. (first clue something's amiss)  His pronunciation of Ste-fan, by
the way, is a real giggler-- worse than bobbie's.  The verdict?  Guilty.
What do you say in your own behalf?  I'm innocent.  Luke is there,
grinning.  Dara asks for immediate sentencing and gets it (another clue
this is not kosher).  The judge sentences Stefan to life in prison at
Attica (I thought they changed the name of that prison, but guess I was
wrong).  Alexis then confesses, telling the judge SHE is the guilty party.
"I killed Katherine Belle with an accomplice."  (another clue we are not
in court for real).  She turns to Luke and Helena, shouts at Luke to say
something, he stares at her and slides out the door.  stefan is shouting
at her to be quiet, Nikolas is screaming at her as well---" YOu could have
ended this before it ever started?"  Helean is making fun of her and
trying to drag Nikolas away as they prepare to cart Stefan off to prison,
the judge is banging his gavel and calling for order.  The knocking of the
gavel grows ever louder and more insistent and melt into... the knocking
on Alexis's door.  It was, of course, only a dream.  She has fallen asleep
sitting up on her couch, wrapped in her bathrobe.  She opens the door to
Stefan, who, seeing her disheveled appearance and strickened face, tells
her not to fall apart at this point.

This segues into more door knocking-- this time it's Nik at his mother's
door.  "What's wrong?"  she immediately asks.  He tells her he wanted to
call the night before, "but I wasn't sure if...." he trails off.  "I
know," Laura responsd, looking apologetic.  He tells her about b eing
recalled to the stand and "blowing it," and announces that he's guaranteed
his uncle a guilty verdict by saying he loved Laura. Laura looks upset and
we cut to a commercial.
        BTW, Laura is still wearing that odd hairdo, the bun with the huge
side curl loose.  It reminds me of the old doggerel about 'there was a
little girl with a little curl...'  and I wonder about girls with a big
curl.  I love her outfit, however, one we've seen before-- a dark jacket
over a blue flower print dress.

AFTER THE BREAK
Stefan and Alexis agree the case is in trouble.  She picks up the phone,
but when she announces she's calling Laura to prepare her to testify,
Stefan barks, "No, you will not.  Under no circumstance will Laura
testify."  Alexis argues that Dara has proved motive now, and that there
is no choice.  Stefan's response:  "How easily you concede defeat."
Alexis grows frustrated. "You're taking away the best weapon I have."  HE
counters that the forged will is the best weapon.
         "Not anymore," she says.  "Katherine fell.  Laura saw that you
had nothing to do with it. We need  her on the stand today."  Stefan
shakes his head no. Softly, almost inaudibly, "NO, I will not have it."
        You will go to prison."  Alexis is getting agitated and grows more
agitated as the conversation continues.
        Stefan is adamant. "There are some things more odious."
        "More odious than a life in prison?"  Alexis is incredulous.  "Maybe
there are a few things more objectionable,"she continues, shaking her head
to signify her confusion, "but embarrassing Laura SPencer is not one of them."
        "Embarrassment is not the issue." He turns away.
        "Then what IS the issue?  Is this some sort of misguided
expression of love? You're trading your freedom for Laura's WHAT?  Her
honor?  Her gratitude?  Her peace of mind?"  Alexis grabs Stefan's folded
arms and spins him around to face her, jabbing her finger in the air as
she then shouts, "Listen to me when I tell you that if she does not
testify, you may be convicted."
        Then we have a fine piece of acting, as Stefan and Alexis talk
simultaneously and yet both lines are clearly audible and understandable.

Stefan: I may require your services     Alexis: What do you think
        to put my affairs in order.             I'm trying to do?

        Alexis continues, frustrated:  "Do you love her that much?  More than
Nikolas?" She is crying now, and he is close to tears himself.  "Not more
than Nikolas," he says softly, as she goes on.  "She has a family.
NIkolas has no one.  What is he going to do if you wind up in prison?"
        Stefan says that Nikolas has " a brilliant future."  "What, with
Helena?"  He angrily shouts, "YOU WILL NOT PERMIT THAT TO HAPPEN."  But
she tells him he is inviting that to happen by "throwing your life away."
        Stefan does not budge.  "The choices I have made are in the best
interests of the family."
        "What family?  Nikolas?  You're effectively abandoning him.  And
you're not doing it for me, because I want you free.  Who's left?  Helena?
SEven generations of Cassadine ghosts?  Laura? Is she your family, Stefan?"
        Stefan prepares to leave.  Alexis puts her finger on the reason
for her frustration: "There's something missing here, and as your attorney
I need to know what it is."
        Stefan does not supply the missing piece, but merely says, "Do
what you must to compose yourself. I will expect to see you in court."
Then he slams out of the room.

Meanwhile, nik is also talking about the trial, with Laura.  He feels SO
guilty about his botched testimony.  "My uncle has always protected me."
Laura tries to console him. "It's not your fault." "I'd have died if it
weren't for him," Nik insists.  "I'd be Helena's little creature by now,
all stunted and twisted.  But my uncle banned her from seeing me when I
was seven years old."  He talks about how much Stefan has done for him.
"He's never asked anything of me in return. I've always been on the
receiving end. This was my one chance, my one big chance, to give
something back to him" (His voice almost breaks on this line.)
        Laura has been facing her son, as they sit on the couch, her eyes
fixed on his face.  "You did the best you could."  You can see the pain in
her eyes, and you can almost feel the wheels turning in her head.
        "Mother (that word just slips out, very nicely done), in the
matter of a half an hour, I managed to convict my uncle and cast suspicion
onto you."
        "Onto me?"
        "You're the other woman, the secret passion, the motive."
        "but that's not what you said?"
        "No, that's not what I said, but that's what everyone heard, the
judge, the ADA, even Alexis.  I could see it on her face."
        Laura tries to convince him what he saw on his aunt's face was
compassion. "What have I done to deserve compassion from anyone?  He would
be married with children of his own if not for me.  But he squandered
himself."
        "Stefan loves you very much."
        That only makes Nik feel worse.  "This is how I repay him, right?
Send him to jail fo rthe rest of his life?"
        "It's not over."
        "in that courtroom, it is."
        "No."  Again, louder and more insistent, "No. Don't give up.
Stefan hasn't given up.  Have you ever known him to?"  She wipes the tears
from her eyes, tries to put the best spin on things, reminding him no hard
evidence was presented.
        But Nik has another idea.  "There's only one thing left to do."
"What?"  "You'll see soon enough, and you of all people should
understand."  He rushes out, as she calls out to him.

        Liz and Lucky, meanwhile, talk  about the couple kissing at the
restaurant.  Then we learn he has his first paycheck from Jason, and is
back living in the railcar after his stay at the Hardy's.  They talk about
him having been nursed back to health by a great nurse-- Audrey, not Liz,
he jokes.  He teases Liz that she must be glad to have her mattress back,
and she says she sleeps better with a roommate or a patient.  Perhaps, he
suggests, she should shoot him next time, since recuperation would take
longer.  (Hey, I know, he could be paralzyed and she could will him to
learn to walk again.  On second thought....)
        Lucky has an idea for some of the money from his first paycheck.
"My nurse rates a five course lunch at the new Chinese restaurant."  "My
grandmother?"  "No, you."  Liz agrees to go to lunch later that day.  She
tries to act like it isn't a date, he acts like it is one.  Then he takes
off to get ready, she looks over at the still-kissing couple, and we cut
to commercial

We return from the commercials to the lobby of the Port Charles Hotel.
        Jax and Veronica are talking there.  She flirts, he confirms that
her identity claim checked out, but he wants to know what her agenda is.
        Meanwhile, Robin shows up at Brenda's house, and they talk L&B
business.  Seems Brenda is keeping L&B afloat with income from her
modelling.  Robin is quiet as the talk segues into wedding-talk.  She asks
Brenda if Jason is invited to the wedding.  Brenda is surprised by the
question. "Of course he is."

        At the diner, Liz is now waiting on Bobbie, who is also interested
in the the make-out couple.  Liz winds up talking about love with Bobbie.
At first it's light stuff, with Bobbie telling Liz "people in love don't
eat" and Liz asking, semi-seriously, "is that a classic symptom?"  It gets
heavier as Liz says that "I can't even let myself be kissed.  Even by
someone who's incredibly...." she cuts off, starts rambling, Bobbie tells
her to relax.  She tells Bobbie of her plans to go to lunch with Lucky,
BObbie notices that talking about Lucky makes her tense up, she denies it.

        Next we see Stefan standing in the hallway at the courthouse, and
Katsper appears again.  We hear her long before we see her, as she is
behind Stefan, who stares straight ahead through most of their
conversation.  Kat, wearing her slinky white dress, tells him, "I was
right in the end.  You must know that now.  Your heart has always been
Laura's."  "I did love you."  "As a substitute.  As an imperfect copy of
the original."  "I never said that."  "Of course not.  You said what you
wanted to be true."  "The truth is you would be alive today if it were not
for me."  "You didn't set that trap.  You were as shocked as I was when I
fell."  "You fought your way back from paralysis.  YOu would have fought
your way back from this.  That fall didn't shatter you, I did.  I broke
your spirit, your will to survive." "You wanted to love me.  You willed
yorself to love me.  And it almost worked.  But you were never free.
You'll never be free."
        She disappears, and speaking of disappearing acts, Nik rushes up
to his uncle, saying "There's only one way out of this. We have to
disappear, tonight."
        Meanwhile, Laura appears on Alexis's doorstep, enters with a
serious look on her face.  There's a commercial before we learn more.

        First, Stefan and Nik argue about running away.  "Nikolas,
Cassadines do not skulk away under cover of night."  "if that were true,
we wouldn't be here.  Bolsheviks would have murdered your grandfather and
the Cassadines would have perished with the romanovs."
        "that was entirely different."  "How is it different? It's a
matter of survival here."  "To survive without dignity is no triumph."
        Nik wants to know what's dignified about prison life, and Stefan
talks about their heritage.  "You come from a proud line of Russian
nobility.  We were targeted for extinction, yet we prevailed.  Not to
crawl like insects into crevices.  No. TO carry on with heads erect."
        Stefan says if he is in prison, Nik will carry on; Nik urges him
to flee and leave Nik behind to prove his innocence.  Stefan will have
none of it, and the talk turns to Helena.  "I will continue to fight her
from prison until you come of age, and take on the battle yourself.  Now
it's settled."  Nik sighs, and drops his head.

        Bobbie and Liz are still talking.  "Lucky and I have been joined
at the hip" for months, Liz tells Bobbie, so why is she suddenly "weirded
out" about being with him.  Bobbie suggests that it's because her feelings
for him have changed from like to love, from affection to romance.  Liz
says "we're best friends," that's all.  Bobbie points out friends do fall
in love, but liz insists, "It can't happen with me and Lucky."  "Why not,
because it's not what you want?"  "What you want and what you can handle
are two completely different things."
        Liz then tells Bobbie a humorous story about her childhood, when
she wanted to be able to fly.  She talked about having "bat-like feelings"
(A stefan joke?)  She fell down and hurt herself,instead.  "Now, I know I
can't fly."
        Ruby comes out, fusses at Liz affectionately and lets her go early
to get ready for her lunch date.

        Veronica and Jax, still in the lobby, talk about Brenda.Jax warns
that Brenda will be disappointed when she learns about her mother.
Veronica feigns hurt:  "I think of myself as infinitely presentable."
"Brenda thinks of you as dead.  She sees you as a shimmering spirit
plucked  by fate from the mortal plane, transcended to Olympus to take
your place among the other goddesses and gods... Fate didn't snatch you,
you walked away willfully from your daughter...."
        he wants to know why she has chosen to reappear now.  Neither of
them see Brenda as she enters from the side door and goes up to Jax's
apartment in the elevator.  Jax tells Veronica he didn't like her opening
number, the torn photo.  she makes a face that makes the updater wonder if
she is indeed the one who sent the photo at all.  She grins at him and we
cut to commercial.

        Laura enters her house, where Luke is reading an Inquistor tabloid
with the headline "Prince says Unk in love with Mom."  He's peeved, she's
scared and serious.  "Where've you been?" she asks.  "Catching up on
current events."  she tells him Nik was there earlier.  "Oh, its a shame I
missed him.  Would have made my day completely."  She tells him Nik was in
agony, feeling he'd sabotaged Stefan's defense. "That's a public service,"
Luke sneers.
        Laura is not in the mood for sarcasm about the Cassadines.
"Stefan is the only family he has ever known.  That's my fault.  All of my
choices have excluded my eldest son."
        "You know, I know this song well enough to sing along, but not
this morning."
        "You have to hear this."
        "No, I DON'T have to hear this."
        "Then don't accuse me of not consulting you."
        "You're not consulting me, you're informing me.  You're telling me
to brace myself for some motherly gesture.  Well, I don't want to know
about it."
        "Please, Luke, please."
        "You want us to talk about this until we're blue in the face?  You
want to argue?  What will that accomplish?  Mother Nikolas all you want,
just leave me out of it." He slams out of the hourse and she begins to
cry.

        Jax asks Veronica if she's just there for money, since she
approached him first, not Brenda.  He won't pay her off to disappear-- he
wants Brenda to know what her mother is like.  Upstairs, Brenda is at his
desk, and while looking for a pen, finds the file folder about her mom.
We see her stunned face, then go to commercial.

        Jax and Veronica are still arguing in the lobby when Brenda comes
downstairs all choked up.  "Veronica Wilding Barrett?  You're my mother?"
Ronnie sighs, and we have our Brenda-cliffhanger.

        Liz meets Lucky at the diner.  She's wearing a cute gray slip
dress.  They are color-coordinated-- he's wearing a gray shirt.  He has
brought a menu so she can be sure she wants to go to the restaurant he's
chosen.  They engage in small talk about food, standing very close so
both can read the menu simultaneously.  Both realize how close they are to
one another, grow quiet, stare into one another's eyes, sort of lean in,
but no one moves that last few inches-- again.  Another Almost-Kiss.
That's our Liz-cliffhanger.

        At the courtroom, Helena and LUke and Nik are in the gallery as by
Alexis calls Laura as a witness. Luke is definitely surprised, but
Stefan's look is harder to read-- anger, but something else as well,
perhaps a sense of inevitability, an acceptance of his fate.
        Laura is sworn in, and her eyes sweep across the room as she
prepares to speak.  Nik looks confused.  Justus is at the defense table,
an ironic touch considering the last trial in which Laura participated.
Laura's eyes fall on Luke, who is staring down at his fingers, presssing
his thumbs together nervously.
        Alexis begins her questioning: "Did you come to my suite this
morning?"  "Yes, I did."  "For what purpose?" "To tell you that Mr.
cassadine did not kill Katherine Bell."  She goes on to say "I saw it all.
I was there when she fell."  We get reaction shots from around the room,
and this is our Laura cliffhanger.

The End-- at long last
Director:  Ludel
Writer:  Michelle Patrick [are you SURE that's not MVJ and PM combined?]