From: Vicky Korosei <vkorosei@sinclair.edu>

Wow, Grant really cranks his plot into high gear today!  Too bad Cass has
disappeared off the face of the earth lately...  Maybe he and Charlie are
out looking for Frankie - let me know if I can help!

Here is the update for Another World for Friday, January 17, 1997:

* Rachel contemplates her pregnancy, while Carl searches for info
* Grant initiates Operation Sleazebucket, duping Jake, Tom'as, Vicky,
Bobby - and Bay City's "Finest" (Gary)
* Ryan tries to scope out Grant's plots (but he's not warped enough)
* Isn't Alli terrific?  I could see her going on outings w/ Frankie &
Charlie...


     CORY MANSION - Rachel is brooding in the living room when Amanda
enters carrying Dante - Paulina's sick, I offered to babysit today. Rachel
takes him into her arms, observing how special it feels to hold a baby. 
She agrees to watch Dante while Amanda makes some phone calls; Amanda
exits.  Rachel settles on the couch w/ Dante and pokes through his diaper
bag, wondering if she has the strength to deal with a new baby full-time. 
She rises and carries him around, musing how new babies are irresistible,
but she'd already raised her family - it might be fun with Carl, but not
alone.  Maybe this is a sign of new hope, she continues - and to think,
I'd thought my life was over...  Amanda enters in time to hear the last
line, and insists with alarm that it's time Rachel leveled with her about
her condition.  Rachel eludes her and goes to put Dante down for his nap,
while Amanda makes her phone calls.  Later, Amanda continues to pressure
Rachel about her health, what was that "my life was over" comment?  I
meant my life with Carl, Rachel explains, nothing to do with my health. 
Amanda reminds her how she's seen her family through so many hard times,
we all love you and we're eager to care for you in return, if you need us
- you don't have to face it alone.  For the last time, read my lips, my
health is just fine, Rachel insists; if you really want to do something
for me, just tell the family to get off my back!  She exits. 
     Later, Rachel settles at the foot of the stairs to gather up baby
toys.  Alli flounces down and joins her, reporting how she just helped
change Dante's diaper, I love babies.  Rachel is pleased; then Alli asks
her where babies come from - my mom told me something that sounded so
silly she probably made it up.  Tell me what you think, Rachel urges.
Paulina says, when a man and woman love each other, God creates a new
person to share their love, Alli answers.  Rachel smiles - good answer, I
agree, babies do come from love.  Alli zips over to the table in the foyer
and points to a photo - who's this?  Rachel joins her - you wouldn't
remember her, it's my half-sister Nancy, she was born when I was all grown
up, and - my mother was a grandmother!  Wow, marvels Alli.  Wow, Rachel
agrees.
     Sometime after, Rachel takes her Manhattan snow globe down from the
mantle and shakes it up, flashing back to the first time Carl kissed her,
on the bridge.  Then she picks up a letter opener from the desk, and
flashes back to when Carl had thrust his prop dagger into Grant's chest,
she'd believed for a moment that Carl had really stabbed him [wishin'
ain't doin', eh?]. Then she sits and flashes back to visiting Steven and
Kirk on New Year's Eve, only to find Carl was waiting there for her.  She
picks up Ada's photo from the sofa table - What should I do, mother? she
asks. 


     PHASE I ... STRANDED! - As Jake stops at the newsstand in the square
on his way to his car, Grant's lackey Hal has barely enough time to finish
siphoning off his gasoline and duck out of sight.  Jake sees a flash of
movement, but the car looks fine, so he gets in and drives away.
     Apparently he'd started for his trumped-up meeting, then decided to
blow it off and turn back toward Vicky's house instead - but when we see
him, his car has just died in the middle of nowhere.  He can't believe it
when he sees he's out of gas, I just filled it!  He's even more baffled
that his cell phone is missing from the glove compartment (courtesy of
Hal).


     CLOSE CALL - After Carl sneaked out of Grant's apartment, leaving the
safe and the front door standing open, Gary comes out of hiding and heads
for the safe, but it's empty (just as Carl had found it).  Grant sneaks in
and catches Gary, who bluffs that a break-in was reported.  Gary asks for
a list of the contents of the safe [yeah, right - just my gun, my
blackmail files, my phony fingerprints, my fake passport, officer...] for
the theft report, but Grant is suspicious and threatens to call Gabe and
report Gary's illicit activities.  Go right ahead, Gary urges, you'll find
it was Gabe who sent me: we still have a lot of questions about your
involvement with Mercer and his suddenly scarce mother, who so
conveniently provided the alibi letter that cleared you and made you a
"hero"...  Grant accuses Gary of bluffing, but Gary notes that Grant
hasn't made the call yet.  Uh, I don't have time right now, Grant covers,
I'll do it later.  When - after Bobby and Vicky are dead? asks Ryan,
appearing at Grant's shoulder.  Gary vows to stick to Grant like glue -
have a nice day.  He exits.  Grant tries to convince himself that the cops
have nothing, he's covered his tracks too well.  Ryan agrees, and decides
his next step should be to check in on Cindy's activities. 


     VICKY'S HOUSE - Playing with Bobby on the front porch, Kirk mentions
his "special friend" who'd been around earlier.  Finally getting a clue,
Bobby asks what this special friend looks like.  Kirk is typically vague,
so Bobby takes him inside and shows him Ryan's photo from the bookcase. 
Yeah, that's him! squeals Kirk.  He's been here all along, Bobby murmurs. 
He advises Kirk to keep this a secret until he's talked to Vicky about it. 
Everyone always wants me to keep secrets, says Kirk.  Like who? Bobby
asks, just as Vicky arrives home from her parent-teacher conference. 
What's this about secrets? she asks.  Kirk, well-trained by Grant, asks
for a cookie as a diversion.  Vicky instructs him to go upstairs, you and
Steven have to pack for your overnight with Nana Donna in case Bobby and
I get back late.  After Kirk is gone, Vicky suggests that with the kids
gone maybe we can just stay here and talk, instead of our road trip.
Bobby points out that the house has too many built-in distractions, they
need to get away from civilization, this will still be here when we get
back.  You're right, let's go, she agrees.  He says he has some errands,
he'll be back in a couple of hours to pick her up.  She suggests he pick
up some sandwiches for their trip.  And ribs, he adds.  She agrees, and he
exits.  She paces around, takes down Ryan's photo and looks at it.  Etta
Mae comes down and reports that the kids wanted to do their own packing.
Vicky confesses she thinks the timing may be wrong for this trip, nothing
to do with her and Bobby, she just has a funny feeling about it...
     Etta Mae exits and runs into Bobby.  He asks her, as a religious
person, what she believes about ghosts and spirits.  He's surprised when
she says Vicky was just asking the same thing; like I told her, I was sure
my late husband was around for a long time after his death, death is like
a door to another place, and no door would stop my Harold if he decided to
check things out - why do you ask?  Just the weather, he says [huh?]; tell
Vicky I'll be back soon.  He gets in his truck and drives away.  They
don't notice that Lackey Hal has been lurking around the corner of the
house, watching; he emerges and calls Grant to report that Bobby's left
the Hudson house.  Keep on him, tell me where he stops, replies Grant.
He's been stewing over his close call with Gary, but he sees his plan
falling into place - it won't be long now, Victoria, he smirks.


     CARLINO'S - Donna and Michael are at adjoining tables, back to back. 
He bumps his chair into hers, initiating another round of juvenile
bickering in which each accuses the other of following him/her, and each
insists the other is too stubborn to apologize and admit he/she was wrong.
     Carl enters and asks Sofia if he might talk with Paulina about
Rachel.  Sorry, she's down with the flu, all medicated and woozy, Sofia
tells him.  Just as well, he muses, she probably wouldn't want to talk to
me - no one does, except you.  He decides to go to "the source," gives
her a kiss on the temple, and exits.
     Vicky arrives with the boys to drop them off for Donna.  As the
sniping continues between Donna and Mike, the kids run off looking for
cannoli.  Vicky insists her parents pipe down and give it a rest in front
of the kids..  She sits with Donna and observes that this kind of conflict
is normal for them, but she wishes they'd get tired of it eventually -
life's too short, you never know when it could all end...  Donna is
concerned about her state of mind, but she just says she's been moody
and uneasy about leaving the kids behind.  Everyone will be just fine,
Donna tries to reassure her.  Vicky urges her to make peace with Mike, but
Donna says she's tired of going out on a limb only to have Mike chop her
down.  I promise that won't happen, says Vicky; she brings Mike over to
join them at their table and urges them to hark back to just a few days
ago when they were getting along so well, before the "napkin incident."
She begs them, Can't you just apologize for the misunderstanding and
pretend it never happened - PLEASE???  With Vicky as mediator, Donna and
Michael agree to forgive each other and call a truce.  Vicky urges them to
keep it rolling, while she goes to say goodbye to the kids.  When she
walks off, Donna apologizes to Mike for not realizing how adamant he was
about their no-marriage pact.  I'd much rather lose you as a husband than
as a lover and friend, she says, promising never to mention marriage
again.  Mollified, Mike agrees to kiss and make up.


     HOSPITAL - Carl tracks down Cindy and says he can't find John, he
wants to apologize for trying to strong-arm him the other day.  Cindy,
looking overwhelmed, takes a phone call, and Carl sees Rachel's records on
the counter.  Ryan appears and urges Carl to get lost so he can see what
Cindy's up to.  Cindy finishes her call and tells Carl that John isn't due
in until later; Carl says he'll hang around just in case, and walks off.
Ryan sees that Cindy is studying Tom'as's work schedule.  Tom'as comes by,
and Cindy says that Grant's Foundation just got a big corporate donation,
they need to meet and discuss candidates for the next scholarship.  Tom'as
says he has plans for his time off, but Cindy says Grant's been pressuring
her, besides what if it were you waiting to get a scholarship, so he
agrees. I'll call you when I get off my shift, she says. He exits;  Ryan
urges Cindy to reveal her plans to him before it's too late. 
     Hal calls Grant to report that Bobby stopped at Sassy's.  Good, now
go to work, says Grant.  He calls Cindy - Reno's at Sassy's, stall him ten
minutes, make it look good.  Tom'as is lined up, too, she reports.  You
know what to tell him, he says.  As they hang up, Cindy looks frazzled and
wired and distressed.  She exits, with Ryan right behind. 
     Carl, who's been biding his time at the hospital, waits until the
desk is deserted, then goes to sneak a look at Rachel's chart.  But the
folder only contains a note from John, that he's keeping Rachel's records
in his office for safekeeping.  Carl is even more frustrated and worried. 


     SASSY'S/HOSPITAL - Bobby gets out of his truck in front of Sassy's,
looks around warily, then goes inside.  Hal emerges from the shadows with
a canvas tool bag [similar to the one Justine used to use - maybe even
the same one, depending on their prop budget...].  He reaches in and pulls
out - no, not a trowel - it's a bomb, with a timer set to 60 minutes.
     Meanwhile, Tom'as is in the therapy room, watching Sharlene work out
with dumbbells.  She assures him she's newly inspired to step up her
recovery.  Grant enters, kisses her cheek, and comments on the new rehab
equipment down the hall.  It's amazing, she gushes, every time I use it I
think about your generosity!  He smiles, but he secretly glances at the
clock - where the hell is Cindy, why is Tom'as still here, the device
ought to be under the truck by now...  He maintains his smile as Gary
enters.
     Hal is under Bobby's truck, attaching the bomb (clearly visible, even
from the side).  He freezes as he sees Cindy pass by on her way into
Sassy's.  Inside, Cindy sees Bobby at the counter, ordering sandwiches and
ribs to go.  She heads for the pay phone.
     Gary congratulates Sharlene on her progress, as Grant thinks what a
great alibi Gary is providing him.  The phone rings, Tom'as answers.  It's
Cindy, she says she's at Sassy's, but she suddenly felt sick.  He offers
to postpone their meeting, but she claims she's too ill to drive home, she
needs him to come and get her.  He agrees, hangs up, and tells Sharlene he
has to leave for a while.  Grant "generously" offers to look after her,
and Tom'as exits.  Grant suggests they have a celebratory brunch, and
Sharlene is delighted, as Gary looks on suspiciously (yet cluelessly).

     CARLINO'S - Vicky is telling her kids they both got good reports from
their teachers, both about studying and about getting along with their
classmates - now why can't you get along with each other that well?? she
teases them.  Grant wheels Sharlene in for brunch, and stops by to give
Kirk a hug.  I'd like to stay longer but I'm not allowed to, he tells his
son (trying to make Vicky the bad guy again).  Vicky assures him she
wasn't about to enforce the restraining order right now.  Grant returns to
Sharlene, keeping an eye on Vicky.  She kisses her kids goodbye, finish
your cannoli and then go over with Nana.  Then she kisses her parents
goodbye and exits.  On the way out she runs into Gary, who is peering in
at Grant.  Goodbye, Vicky, Grant murmurs with a sly grin [I'm surprised
Sharlene didn't catch him].
     Vicky returns home; while waiting for Bobby, she starts planting seeds
in a seed try, telling Etta Mae she wants to get a head start for spring. 
Etta Mae predicts that by spring her current problems will be well behind
her.

     SASSY'S - As Bobby is about to leave with his order, Cindy greets him
and puts on her "deathly ill" act.  She nearly collapses, and he helps her
to a chair - maybe you got something from Grant, people say he's almost
toxic, he quips, how close are you two?  Not very, she assures him; good,
keep it that way, he advises.  As Ryan watches the performance, Bobby says
he has to go - Cindy suddenly starts coughing and gagging, and gets Bobby
to bring her some water.  Why the act? Ryan wonders.  I'm a nurse, but I'm
scared to death of being sick, she tells Bobby, could you wait with me
until Tom'as arrives?  Bobby agrees.  Ryan begs Cindy to reveal what her
next move is - and why the frip it's so important that Tom'as be here???
     As Tom'as scurries towards Sassy's, he passes Bobby's truck out front
and hears a noise from underneath.  He takes a second look, and Hal scoots
out from underneath - only he looks just like Jake now!  [How he got the
makeup and costume crew under there in the last 3 minutes, I'll never
know.]  Problem with the truck, Jake? asks Tom'as.  Phake (Phony Jake)
faces down Tom'as in silence [as Grant put it: "DON'T SPEAK!"].  FREEZE
FRAME.


Cool, huh?  As ever, and until next time,

Vicky (vkorosei@sinclair.edu)
mff1


