From: Vicky Korosei <vkorosei@SINCLAIR.EDU>

Welcome back, hope everyone had a nice holiday; may I offer my New Year's
hope for Frankie for a complete recovery from her recent death and a
speedy return, and a Resolution for TPTB:  In 1997 - IF IT AIN'T BROKE,
DON'T FIX IT!


Here is the update for Another World for Friday, January 3, 1997 -

* Paulina throws the Corys a dinner for Amanda at Carlinos
* Jake thrown by Amanda's return to Bay City
* Ryan follows Grant's lackey
* Grant goes berserk (according to plan) - Bobby to the rescue


     HERALD (Jake's Office) - Jake is stunned to find Amanda in his
office, sitting in his chair, My day just got worse.  She says she was at
the fundraiser, got an eyeful of his fight w/ Bobby, you haven't changed a
bit.  He's dying to know what she's doing back in town, but she's evasive
- I'm here to make your life miserable, she taunts snidely.  She goads him
about Bobby, then about losing Paulina to Joe - poor Jake.  Old news, he
replies, Paulina seems happy.  Then she rides him about chasing after
Vicky, can't believe you actually proposed to her, big mistake! [What does
she care?  Jealous, Mandy?  HMMMMM?]  We're soulmates, meant for each
other, he protests, I want to help her get over Ryan - then he realizes
he's being baited, and calms himself.  If we're talking about mistakes, he
counters, I'd say your *second* ex-husband, Senator Ex-Con, ranks right up
there...  Touche', she admits, I've seen him but I'm trying to keep my
distance.  Smart woman, he agrees - also still gorgeous - why did you say
you came back?  Suddenly Rachel appears at the doorway; Jake swears he
never touched Amanda, but Rachel's here to rake him over the coals for
causing a scene at the fundraiser, donors got spooked and we lost big
bucks, you could have settled your beef w/ Bobby a lot more discreetly.
Jake insists Bobby robbed him, I'm ten times the man he is.  Prove it,
Rachel challenges.  You're right, he says - how much did you lose?  About
$50,000, she claims.  He dumps Amanda out of his chair, sits and scribbles
out a check for double that amount, handing it to Rachel.  Now out, out,
out, out of my office, he snaps irritably.  Amanda is amazed, she thought
he'd have lost his fortune by now.  Wrong, he retorts - now, why are you
back?  Rachel and Amanda give him a sniff and exit. [see below] "And I
thought it couldn't get any worse," he sighs to himself. [see below]


     CORY ART STUDIO - Sofia is flustered by Matt's insistence on pursuing
the subject of her virginity.  He admits that knowing she's a virgin does
make a difference - nothing bad, it just explains a lot, like why she was
so devastated by Nick's betrayal. [He should talk - he wasn't exactly cool
about Donna's little slip...  and Michael never claimed to be pregnant!]
She's still upset that she was such a fool.  Love can make anyone blind,
he sympathizes - but she doesn't want to be patronized.  [Neither does
anyone - take a hint, Matt Baby.]  It's not that simple, she claims - but
she'll explain later, right now she just wants outta here.  She bolts out,
to go help Paulina prepare the big Cory family feast at Carlinos [see
below].


     CARLINOS - Joe is bemused that Paulina is so agitated over setting
the table exactly right for the Cory family dinner.  She finally admits
she's nervous to make a good impression, remembering how she'd crashed
into the Cory family as a poor relation, they made her feel like she
belonged, but now she wants to stand on her own and give something back,
like with her new cooking career.  Joe reassures her, it's just Matt and
Sofia and Amanda and Rachel, they already love her, she'll be fine.  She
calms somewhat, until Rachel and Amanda walk in.  She greets them,
self-consciously pulls off her apron, and offers them a canape.  Amanda is
eager to sample Paulina's cooking she's heard so much about, and also to
see the baby.  As Joe and Paulina take Amanda in the back to see Dante,
Rachel lags behind and has another dizzy spell.  She recovers as they
return w/ baby.  Amanda grabs a moment w/ Paulina, thanks her for the
homecoming, then asks for the inside scoop on Jake/Bobby/Vicky.  To
Amanda's surprise, Paulina assures her Jake is on the level, truly gone on
Vicky, could get his heart broken if he's not careful.  Sofia swoops in,
eager to help, but Paulina says it's all under control.  Joe teases that
she doesn't think anyone else can get things perfect enough.  Paulina
hides her irritation at his digs, and exits to the kitchen.  Matt arrives,
and Sofia quickly follows Paulina.
     In the kitchen, Paulina is frantic that dinner isn't done yet, then
babbles about Joe's insensitivity.  Sofia agrees, Matt is the same way,
making a big issue of her virginity, making her feel like a child rather
than an equal.  Joe enters, Paulina explodes at him, then sends him out w/
the salad - he tries to talk to Sofia on his way out, but she too bites
his head off and he exits.
     As Joe returns to the dining room w/ the salad, Matt notices Rachel
drift off by herself and follows her, asking if she's brooding over Carl.
She assures him she's fine, here w/ her family, then she again walks off
by herself [again, TAKE A HINT, Matt!].
     Paulina finally serves the food, and Joe pours the wine and offers a
toast to their extended family and to their sexy chef.  Sofia gets up to
get the garlic bread, and naturally Matt follows.  She admits she's had
opportunities to sleep w/ guys, but she'd decided years ago to save
herself for marriage.  He says that's fine, he admires her dedication to
her principles.  Joe calls for the bread, and they return to the table.
As Paulina stands happily watching the family scene, she sees Jake enter
for dinner.  He spots all his "favorite" people and starts to leave, but
Paulina darts over and insists he stay.  She even wants to seat him at
their table, but he refuses, this booth will be fine.  He observes warily
as Amanda regales them with stories of her time in Paris.
     Throughout the meal, Jake watches Pauline fussing over her Cory
guests; she notices he hasn't touched his lasagna, and joins him at his
table, guessing maybe he hates her cooking.  No, he objects to her fawning
all over the Corys, acting like their servant.  She insists she's enjoying
playing hostess, and again urges him to join them, new year, new leaf?  He
doesn't relish enduring more Cory ridicule, esp. Amanda.  Paulina asks how
things are going w/ Vicky; just fine, he tells her.  He decides he feels
so awkward he/d better just leave.  Come back w/ Vicky and join us, she
suggests.  Vicky's doing great... he says walking away, then turns back
and finishes the thought ...without me.  He makes a quick exit [see
below], to Paulina's dismay.
     As the party reaches the dessert and the chatter continues, no one
seems to notice that Rachel is looking woozy, coughing weakly, dabbing
sweat from her face with a napkin.  She rises and walks toward the
kitchen.  As she passes Paulina's seat at the head of the table, she
stops, then starts to collapse.  Joe and Paulina leap up and catch her
before she hits the floor.



     BOBBY'S PLACE - Bobby returns to his place, and spots the Christmas
tree on the dresser, with Vicky's lightbulb earrings hanging on it, still
blinking away.  He removes the earrings, dumps the tree in the trash can,
then sits on the bed and gazes at the earrings in his hand.  Aw, Vicky, he
sighs with some distress.

     VICKY'S HOUSE - Vicky is packing up the Christmas decorations, and
pauses over her homecoming tiara (which Jake had hung on the Lassiter tree
downtown).  She spots Carl's book of poetry, picks it up, and Ryan appears
and begs her to read the poem and get the warning message he's trying to
provide.  She starts to set it aside to return to Carl, and Ryan gets so
frustrated he takes a swipe at it, knocking it out of her hand.  They both
look stunned.  Vicky paces around, demanding that whoever is haunting her
stop playing games - if he has something to say, just say it!  Ryan begs
her to open her heart and hear him, but she's clueless.  She goes back and
picks up the book from the floor.  It's automatically opened to the poem,
and Ryan is hopeful when she reads aloud about doom, little victims, ills
to come...  That's you and Jake and Bobby, says Ryan, you're in danger,
you have to fight back.  But she misses the meaning, thinks it's
depressing - Carl reads such weird stuff, she worries.  She puts down the
book and carries the box of decorations upstairs, with Ryan chasing after
her, urging her to put the pieces together and heed the warning.
     Outside, Gun-Boy returns w/ Kirk from their scheduled visit, and he
drills the child over the plan they've discussed: Mommy needs Bobby so she
won't be alone, remember to use speed-dial, our little secret - and we'll
soon be together - how much?  All the time, Kirk recites proudly.  Daddy's
little soldier, Grant praises him with a big hug. [AAAACCKKKK!  What a
slime!]
     Kirk creeps into the house, sees the room is empty, and heads for the
phone.  He presses Bobby's speed-dial code, and Bobby answers.  Kirk tells
him Mommy's worried about you, I wish you could come and live here, Mommy
needs you.  Bobby, taken aback, asks to speak to Vicky.  Kirk hangs up,
just as Vicky comes back downstairs and asks who he was on the phone with.
Let's make some cookies, Kirk recites.  Vicky follows him to the kitchen,
puzzled.
     Bobby starts to call Vicky back, then spots the earrings and decides
to use them as an excuse for a personal visit.  He exits. [see below]

     Meanwhile, downtown, Ryan pops in over at Grant's place where Grant's
lackey is carefully studying Cindy's videotape of Jake at work.  Who the
hell are you? Ryan asks, intrigued.  Later, we see Jake (after leaving the
restaurant) dart through the town square, buying a paper from the
newsstand on his way to his car.  Grant's lackey follows at a discreet
distance, observing and taking notes.  Ryan is at his heels - you and
Grant are planning something, aren't you? he observes; let's just go find
out what that is!  They exit.

     Back at Vicky's, she's washing up the cookie pan when her gaze lands
on the poetry book on the table.  There's a knock at the door; she opens
it, surprised to see Bobby.  He hands her the earrings, then asks if Kirk
is o.k., informing her of Kirk's phone call - how'd he dial my number
(like, did Vicky "help" him?)?  Vicky realizes he'd used the speed-dial;
Bobby says Kirk claimed he missed him, wondered when he was coming back.
Vicky's surprised he'd be so resourceful, says Kirk's fine, we just made
cookies, he's up in his room.  Bobby hems and haws, finally asks if he can
come in and talk, he thinks the conflict w/ them and Jake is upsetting
Kirk, all the tension.  He apologizes for letting Jake's accusation about
the ring provoke him into a brawl, starts to leave, then turns back and
says there's still something he'd wanted to say, even before the fight
broke out.  He stammers around, finally says he'd like to be a part of her
life, if that's o.k.?  She looks amazed, but doesn't answer.  Guess not,
I'll just go, he says, turning to leave.  She grabs his arm to stop him -
for a man of few words, you sure take a long time to make your point, she
teases.  She admits she hadn't enjoyed kicking him out before, or fighting
w/ him or Jake - she also doesn't believe he lifted the ring from Jake's
pocket, but she's not convinced Jake set him up either.  Bobby can't see
many other possibilities [oh, come on, Bob, who's your third guess?  The
old (pre-Cecile) Cass & Frankie would have figured this out by now!]  She
doesn't want to talk about it anymore, but walks back into the house and
Bobby follows, closing the door.  They agree they're glad to clear the
air; then Kirk bounds down the stairs and welcomes Bobby back with a big
hug.  Bobby says he has some work to do in the attic, Kirk can help if
it's o.k. w/ Vicky.  She says fine, shaking her head at how fast Kirk is
growing up, as Bobby carries him upstairs.
     As Bobby gives Kirk a carpentry lesson, he questions him about the
phone call, it was sweet but you sounded different, are you o.k.?  No
response.  Did Steven put you up to it?  No, says Kirk.  Thought maybe you
and Steven were worried about your mom?  No response.
     Downstairs, there's an urgent, persistent knock on the door, Vicky
scurries to answer it, irritated at Jake's pounding - only it's not Jake,
it's Gun-Boy! [This woman HAS to get a peephole! (Who's her carpenter??)
Also learn to lock her door - I suggest a double dead-bolt w/ silent
alarm, the kind of language Gun-Boy understands...] Not Jake, not Bobby,
he sneers - it's the one man in your life who's onto you!  He forces his
way in and demands to know if his son is here. [Where else?] He's in the
attic w/ Bobby, she replies innocently (not seeing the set-up coming).  He
starts ranting and raving about how the whole town knows she's having an
affair with two men at the same time, in front of her child - on our
visit, I could see how upset Kirk was over what he's seen going on here,
you're an unfit mother, I'll make sure the custody court knows all about
your depraved lifestyle.  Maybe Kirk should be more concerned about
spending so much time w/ his father the murderer, she shouts back, now get
out!  He refuses to leave while Bobby is here; she tries to walk away, he
grabs her arm, she shouts at him to let go and keep away from her.  He
continues to taunt her about how it feels to see your spotless image
destroyed.  He strokes her cheek mockingly; she pulls away and throws
something at him, which misses [darn!] and shatters on the floor.  Up in
the attic, Bobby hears the crash, tells Kirk to stay put, and rushes out. 
     Vicky insists no one would believe his fabrication of non-events; he
claims it's obvious how much suffering her behavior has caused Kirk.  Any
suffering around here has been thanks to you, she shouts, get out or I'll
call the cops.  He starts to manhandle her, and she struggles to get free.
Bobby dashes down and pulls Grant away.  Bobby, don't! she shouts, but
Bobby slugs him in the face.  Grant taunts him about how she's jerking
Bobby around, making a fool of him.  Bobby slugs him in the stomach, then
drags him to the door and tosses him off the porch.  Careful, sneers
Grant, she's already dragging you down.  Kirk could have come down and
seen you abusing his mother, how could you do that and still say you care
about Kirk's welfare, Bobby blasts him.  Don't lecture me about my own
son, snarls Grant.  Bobby orders him to hit the road; don't forget, sneers
Grant, she'll bring you down - she always does!  He skulks off with an
evil grin.  Bobby starts back to the house, pauses, then turns and strides
off after Grant, as Vicky watches through the window.
     Later, Bobby returns with a satchel and a bedroll.  He checks that
Grant hasn't been back, apologizing to Vicky for leaving so abruptly.  I
saw you follow Grant, I was afraid you were going to kill him, she frets.
Murder isn't on *my* resume', he reminds her.  He strides up the stairs to
the attic; she follow, and he announces he'll be staying here from now -
I'm moving in.  FREEZE FRAME.



Ooooooh - Senator Slime has sure been busy over the holidays - 'tis the
season to be sneaky, fa-la-la-la-la, etc. etc.!

Later,

Vicky (vkorosei@sinclair.edu)
mff1




