From: Vicky Korosei <vkorosei@sinclair.edu>

Hey, Sports Fans - CASS IS BACK! - without Frankie (yet), but with beard
again.  True, they're using him as "Token Lawyer" now (the turkeys), but
let's hope he gets a real storyline soon.  (If only he had a sexy,
spiritual wife, magical children, and a beautiful, warm, inviting home
full of character - Oh, yeah - HE DID...!) 

Here is the action-packed update for Another World for Friday, January 31,
1997: 

* Cass helps Donna and Jake stall Grant
* Bobby and Vicky elude Grant's Goon Squad
* Matt hires Amanda at the Herald (surprise surprise)
* Cindy tells Gabe she's leaving town
* Donna and Grant close on Harbor Club sale


INVISIBLE MOM (Vicky's House)

     Jake bursts anxiously into Vicky's house, finds a worried Donna with
a basket of laundry - she's wearing a black-and-white, cow-spotted apron.
She says Steven's upstairs with Etta Mae, Kirk's with Grant.  Jake is
irate, Grant's probably pumping his kid for info.  Kirk doesn't know his
mom didn't come home, says Donna, otherwise Grant would be over here
demanding custody - I can't believe she hasn't even called!  Jake asks
about Donna's previous idea that maybe Vicky and Bobby eloped - is Vicky
in love with Bobby?  Donna admits she thinks Vicky has strong feelings for
Bobby.  While Jake absorbs this, Kirk bursts in and dashes to Jake's open
arms.  Grant follows him in, ignoring the restraining order, claiming Kirk
forgot these flowers for his mom - why not give them to her now?  [Subtext
- the sooner you report Vicky missing, the sooner she can be declared dead
and I can get custody...] Donna quickly says Vicky's resting, tired from
her trip, and she sends Kirk up to Etta Mae for his bath.  When he's gone,
Donna and Jake try to kick Grant out, but he notices Donna's cow apron -
playing housefrau? he chuckles - then he accuses them of hiding the fact
that Vicky's not even here, is she?  He also notes that Bobby's truck has
been missing for 2 days, and demands to see Vicky in person.  Jake steps
up and volunteers the "truth" - you've caused so much stress, she's sick
in bed with a cold.  Every time you see her you upset her, so just leave,
Donna echoes.  Jake heads up to her room to "see her" - give her her cough
medicine, it's on the dresser, Donna improvises.  Jake exits up the
stairs; Grant grills Donna on all Vicky's recent illnesses, maybe this
isn't a healthy environment for my son.  He starts for the stairs; Donna
grabs an umbrella and aims the business end at him [yay, Donna], blocking
his way.  Jake's voice is heard upstairs, pretending Vicky is resisting
her medicine.  Grant just laughs at them, says the charade is over - act
like an adult, he says [how ironic], breaking past Donna and starting up
the stairs.  Donna hooks his arm with the umbrella handle. Take one more
step, and you'll never visit your son again, warns Cool Cass, just
entering - come down, Grant - NOW.  You can't keep me from my son, Grant
growls.  I can't?  asks Cass, the judge might not agree, once he hears how
you've violated the restraining order.  Grant reluctantly withdraws - if
Vicky doesn't call me by tonight, I'll assume she's no longer fit to be
mother to my child, he snaps.  Well that's ridiculous, replies Cass calmly
[with just a hint of Groucho, but great common sense].  Tell it to my
attorney, Counselor, Grant snarls, and he exits.  Donna breathes a sigh of
relief, grateful for Cass's perfect timing - why are you here?  He pulls
some papers from his briefcase, it's the paperwork for her purchase of the
Harbor Club, the closing is tonight.  Donna's not sure she can make it. 
No, you have to do this now, while you and Grant are still speaking,
advises Cass (only half joking).  You have an hour, don't be tardy, he
says - and Donna - dear - lose the spots.  He exits.  Jake comes down,
pleased that they got rid of Grant.  He's even more suspicious, Donna
notes.  And why hasn't Vicky called, she always calls, even if she'd
eloped she'd have called - unless there was an accident - please God let
her be all right...  Jake is equally worried, but urges her to think
positively.  Donna says she has to go to her closing; Jake promises to
hang around for a while for the kids.  Donna exits; Jake paces, stewing
over Vicky's absence, I used to be able to sense what you were thinking,
but I feel so separate right now.  I know you're fighting to get back, he
thinks, gazing out the window - my thoughts are with you, and all my love. 
     Later, Jake and Kirk are sharing a confab on the couch.  Kirk wonders
why Mom isn't home yet.  Etta Mae guesses the truck probably broke down. 
Jake backs her up, your mom's probably working to fix it right now.  He
confides to Kirk, I didn't like this house when I first saw it, but now
it's like your mom, sweet and quirky and beautiful, a perfect cottage for
a princess.  My daddy and I read a story about a princess, says Kirk. 
Then you know how a princess story always ends, Jake prompts.  They all
live happily ever after, says Kirk.  Just like you and me and your mom and
Steven, happily ever after, Jake promises with a "pinky promise."  They
tussle a minute, then Jake tosses him upside-down onto the couch and says
he has a surprise Kirk will like.  He tells Etta Mae he'll be back soon,
and exits. 
     Still later, Etta Mae is reading Kirk a story [Steven is apparently
invisible, too - maybe he has a ton of homework, or maybe he's tied up in
some chat-room?], when there's a knock at the door.  Kirk thinks it's
Jake, and he's right.  Jake marches in with his suitcase and announces
he's moving in, go tell Steven.  Kirk cheers happily and darts up the
stairs, as Etta Mae glares at Jake.  She says it's already arranged for
the boys to stay with Donna tonight, and I can't just sit here waiting to
hear Vicky's footsteps on the porch, I'm going home.  I'm staying here,
says Jake, I have my reasons.  Do what you have to, she says, going up to
help the kids pack.  Jake walks over and picks up Vicky's photo - hey,
kid, he tells it, I need you close.


A WALK IN THE WOODS (off Route 4)

     In the watchtower, Bobby sits by the sleeping Vicky - there's so much
I wanted to say, he whispers, brushing her hair out of her face.  She
awakens - were you about to kiss me? she asks.  You're awake, he smiles
(caught).  She sits up - Bobby Reno, she asks, are you in love with me? 
He avoids answering - lots of reasons, he says, including Jake.  She asks
about Jake, who he is, what he's like.  I'm the wrong person to ask, says
Bobby, but he tells her they were close from childhood, Jake feels he has
to protect her from...well, from carpenters from out of town, for
example...  He's in-your-face, but he's loyal - and you're the most
important thing in his life, he loves you.  He tells her about Jake
lifting the Christmas tree from Lassiter, some reference to their past
together.  She doesn't remember Lassiter any more than she remembers Bay
City - you and this room are pretty much all I know.  We'll have to
broaden your horizons, he promises.  She sits next to him and says she
still doesn't remember him, but she feels like she's getting to know him
as a person - not with her mind, but with her heart.  She again asks him
to tell her what we are to each other.  No, he says, you'll figure that
out yourself.  I know what I'm feeling right now, she says, She strokes
his cheek, their faces drawing closer.  They're about to kiss, when Bobby
sees a flash of light, like headlights.  He peers through the window and
reports a car has driven up fairly nearby, 2 men are getting out.  They
haven't seen the tower yet, it's too dark, he says, we gotta get outta
here.  They gather up their stuff and start down the ladder, but -
remember that picture of the two of them together, that Vicky found in
Bobby's coat pocket?  Well, there it is, lying on the floor, unnoticed in
the dark as they make their escape...
     Bobby conceals Vicky in the woods at the mouth of a big drainage
pipe, remember you have a back exit at the other end if anyone comes by. 
He intends to scout around and see what those men are up to.  She doesn't
want him to leave, I have a bad feeling about this.  He tells her a story
about his being caught in a brush fire years ago, he buried himself in the
mud in a ditch until the fire had passed and he survived - when he
emerged, he found some melted pieces of glass and kept them as lucky
pieces.  He reaches into his pocket, pulls one out and gives it to her to
hang onto.  He makes her practice a bird whistle, so if she has to hide
they can find each other.  Stay quiet, he instructs her, I'll be back.  He
checks around and exits. 
     Later, Hal the Henchman is searching the deserted watchtower with a
flashlight while he reports to Grant on his cell phone [see below].  He
says there's no sign of life, they found the remains of the truck blown to
smithereens, no way Bobby and Vicky survived - they're debris, trust me. 
The photo lies on the floor by his foot, waiting to be discovered.
     Vicky huddles in the drainpipe, scooting back warily as footsteps and
the glow of a flashlight approach. 


NEPOTISM (Carlinos)

     Matt and Amanda are dining at Carlinos.  Whatever you want, the
answer is no, she says warily.  He informs her he just fired Nick - how
are you getting along with Jake these days?  He asks her to come and work
at the Herald, he needs a managing editor to bring in human interest
stories [yeah, that's just what Nick was doing, all right...NOT!].  She
says she has no desire to take orders from her little brother and
especially not from Jake.  Jake's been pretty distracted lately, he says,
I'm really worried about the paper.  Chris bursts in for a word with Matt,
I just covered the supposed UFO sighting on Route 4 [a.k.a., Bobby's truck
explosion - if Chris is such a thorough investigator, how come he didn't
find the wreckage - HMMMMM?????], where should we run it?  Matt wants to
dump it, but Amanda and Chris argue that the public loves these stories. 
Matt relents; Hire this woman, says Chris, exiting.  Amanda suggests Matt
should run a whole UFO series; he notes, it sounds like she's decided to
join the paper. [see below]


CINDY RUNS SCARED (Cindy's apartment; Gabe's office)

     Cindy is on the phone to her therapist, furious that her records were
supposed to be confidential, but someone got them and now I'm being
blackmailed into doing awful things...No, I'm not coming back, she shouts
hysterically, I just need to get away from this pressure!  She listens for
a moment, then apologizes tearfully for her outburst, promising to call
when she gets wherever she's going.  She hangs up, still whimpering I'm
sorry, I'm sorry.  She pops a pill and leafs through a photo album filled
with pictures of Gabe.  She takes out a photo - you're my whole life, how
do I say goodbye to you? 

     Lorna, back from her business trip, tries to sneak up behind Gabe in
his office, but he senses her approach and welcomes her with a kiss.  She
thanks him for the flowers he left in her office, asks about his lunch
with Cindy.  He reports that it was strange, Cindy suddenly got upset and
ran out when the [flaming] dessert was served.  As Gabe and Lorna are
kissing and cooing, O'Leary interrupts to say Forsythe is on the phone
about his stolen Beemer again.  No new info, you handle it, says Gabe. 
O'Leary beats a hasty retreat, as Cindy lurks in the hallway.  Gabe says
he has a little more work before he can leave.  Lorna suggests take-out,
but Gabe wants to treat her to a fancy dinner.  They agree on the Harbor
Club; a few more kisses, and Lorna exits.  Cindy grimly watches her leave,
then eyes Gabe through his open door.  Gabe comes out to get his messages,
spots Cindy, and invites her into his office.  He says he was worried,
tried to call her, her machine must be broken.  I turned it off, she
explains - I quit my job, I'm leaving town, there's too much pressure
here, it's for the best.  But you don't seem happy about this, he says,
everyone makes mistakes, help me understand why you have to leave?  Cindy
admits she has no real plans.  Gabe urges her to stick around, she has
plenty of time, shouldn't make rash decisions when she's this upset. Cindy
says last time she tried, she alienated his girlfriend.  We were just
learning to trust each other back then, he says, but Lorna understands
about us now.  He reminds Cindy she was the only one who knew what he was
going through, she stuck by him and got him through a rough time after
Sara died, she made it possible for him to love again.  Cindy feels
hopeful at this intimacy, until he thanks her for helping him open his
heart so he was ready to give Lorna all his love.  Lorna, she chokes... 
She asks him to get her a glass of water to take a pill.  He exits; Why
Lorna? she mutters, then she ducks out the back door [see below]. 
     Later Gabe tries to call Cindy from his office, but no answer.  He
grabs his coat and exits through the squad room, spotting Chris.  You knew
Cindy Brook back in Boston, didn't you? Gabe asks.  Yes - not well, but I
knew her - why? Chris answers.  Nevermind, says Gabe, exiting. 


FIRE SALE (Harbor Club)

     Lorna arrives at the Harbor Club and sees Donna with paperwork spread
out over the piano, congratulating her on purchasing the Harbor Club - we
won't have to see Grant around here anymore, says Lorna, then she gulps
self-consciously as Amanda enters with Matt.  It's o.k., I agree, says
Amanda - but I'm surprised to hear you say it, you were pretty hot for him
while he was married to me.  You were right, Lorna says contritely, happy
now?  Not really, says Amanda, softening slightly.  Matt congratulates
Donna on her purchase, announces that Amanda is working for the Herald
now, and they'd hoped Donna would be her first story.  Donna is pleased
and flattered, but it's a little premature, call me tomorrow after the
papers are signed.  Here by yourself, Lorna? Amanda digs.  They all watch
curiously as Cindy enters, breezes past them and heads for the bar.  She
pulls out her pills and orders a double scotch [tsk, tsk - and she's a
nurse!], gazing at her photo of Gabe, as she hears the foursome chatting
behind her.  She chugs the scotch and pills, gathers her purse and heads
for the ladies' room.
     Donna and Cass take a table and wait while Grant takes a phone call
at the bar, talking to Hal [see above] and looking pleased.  I never trust
Grant when he's smiling, Donna remarks.  Grant finishes his call and joins
them, sorry for the delay.  Good news? Donna asks warily.  The best, the
absolute best, Grant grins smugly.  Let's get this done, says Cass.  Grant
looks around for a pen, but no one offers him one [hee-hee!], so he pulls
out his own.  Donna's eager to end her dealings with Grant once and for
all; Fine with me, snorts Grant, after tonight we'll be free and clear of
each other.  He signs the papers, then eyes Donna with a knowing smirk. 

     Meanwhile, Cindy is in the ladies' room, highly distraught.  She
lights a match and starts to burn Gabe's photo; then she hears voices
outside the door, and quickly tries to snuff out the fire, dropping it in
the wastebasket.  She pulls off her scarf, frantically trying to clean up
the mess, grabs her purse and pills, and ducks into an alcove.  Lorna
enters, notices the smell but suspects the kitchen burned something.  She
reaches the mirror as Amanda enters.  They're tense at first, but start to
thaw as Lorna apologizes for her affair with Grant, I know you loved him.
I thought I did; you really did me a favor, Amanda replies - there's no
worse fate than being married to Grant - easy come, easy go.  They agree
Grant was a real turning point for both of them.  Amanda offers Lorna a
splash of her expensive French perfume, as Cindy eavesdrops, obviously
strung out and weepy.  As Amanda starts to leave, Lorna stops her and
confides that after her experience with Grant she couldn't trust any man
for a long time - but falling in love with her fiance (she flashes her
diamond) made her realize what she'd done to Amanda.  If another woman
tried to take Gabe away from me, I'd die, she admits.  Forget it, spilt
milk, it's in the past, c'est la vie, says Amanda, exiting.  Cindy hears
the door shut and emerges, thinking she's alone; she's shocked to see
Lorna still here.  Lorna's surprised, too, and sees that Cindy looks a
wreck, what happened?  I love him more than you ever could, Cindy blurts
out defiantly.  Give me the pills, I'll call Gabe to come and help you,
says Lorna, concerned.  She reaches for the pill bottle, they struggle
over it, and Cindy shoves Lorna away.  Lorna falls back against a wood
chair arm and collapses to the floor, clutching at her back in pain.  Help
me, she begs.  Cindy kneels at her side, I'm so sorry, you shouldn't have
tried to stop me, it was an accident, she weeps.  Suddenly there's a
pounding on the door, and Cindy panics - then she notices that a fire has
started in the wastebasket, the flames licking the wall [where the heck is
the smoke alarm and sprinkler system, Grant?!  Donna should stop payment
on her check...].  They'll think it was on purpose, Cindy predicts
nervously. She staggers toward the fire, but it's rapidly growing out of
control.  She frantically gathers up her purse and pills, and climbs out
the window [where'd THAT come from?], leaving Lorna injured by the door as
the flames spread.  FREEZE FRAME. 


Boy, is that some action, or what?!  If we can just get Cass a wife, kid,
and storyline, we'll be in business! 

Vicky (vkorosei@sinclair.edu)
mff1



