From: Lisa Klobucar <lisa@ah5.cal.msu.edu>


Begin forwarded message:

Not much action - except for Courtney, of course...

* Paulina loses her temper with Joe
* Sharlene tames an administrator, and attracts a resident(!)
* Chris buys Morgan's story; Andy doesn't buy Courtney's
* Cecile and Rafael stonewall, Maggie views a line-up


HONEY, OUR FIRST FIGHT!
Joe/Paulina/Sofia/Nick

     Joe and Paulina are cleaning up the dining area.  She tries to ignore
his tirade about finding Nick with Rafael when Rafael was arrested, I'll
make sure Nick never goes near Sofia again, blah blah blah.  Finally
Paulina has had enough, and yells at him to just shut up!  Joe blames her
outburst on hormones, but she says she's just sick of his constant carping
on Nick and Sofia.  He insists he's just trying to protect his sister from
that ex-car thief/Jake protegee.  That could backfire, Paulina warns; she
suggests he's just under such pressure (two jobs, bills, baby, etc.),
things are out of control and he won't let anyone help him, so he takes it
out on Sofia by pulling this power trip - not to mention yelling at staff,
vendors, etc. - stop being such a jerk, she tells him.  Maybe I should
leave, he bluffs.  Maybe you should, she answers.  Fine, he yells,
storming out.  As the door shuts behind him. she picks up a dish of
something off the counter and throws it at the door, then bursts into
tears. 

     Nick warily peeks his head in at the back door to see Sofia,
arranging to pick her up in the alley after the dinner shift.  He sees
Paulina approach and starts to split, but she morosely says come on in,
Joe probably won't be back for quite a while.  Sofia senses her mood and
asks Nick to fix the cappucino machine, then she takes Paulina aside.  I
heard the yelling, you're obviously upset, what happened, she asks.  Half
in tears, Paulina tells her she got so crazy with Joe's attitude that she
finally blew up and told him to shut up - I feel awful, I even threw a
cannoli at him, she blubbers.  Good for you, Sofia giggles, Joe had it
coming, I've been wanting to drop a tray of lasagna on his head all week. 

But he's under so much pressure, Paulina wails, I just wanted to help.  He
always does this, Sofia explains, he tries to do everything himself, then
when it gets to be too much, he can't deal - and Carlinos fight like that
all the time, he'll soon be back with a box of chocolates, you'll see. 

Paulina, only half convinced, thanks her for the pep talk. 

     Sofia returns to the kitchen, tells Nick they have to get Joe and
Paulina married before they kill each other.  She admits the cappucino
machine wasn't really broken, she just needed to see to Paulina, and she
tells him about the big fight.  They share a moment when he compliments
her ability to sense people's troubles and raise their spirits.  Then she
decides to get a substitute for herself on the dinner shift, we have to
get the Cory chapel repaired and ready ASAP. 

     Joe soon returns to the restaurant, carrying - two sacks of onions. 

Paulina is disappointed, Sofia said you might bring chocolates.  I thought
about that, he admits, but I didn't want you mad at me about the calories
- er, not that you need to be...  He reaches behind his back and pulls out
a stuffed dog from under his jacket.  She melts and hugs the toy, then
offers to help him with the onions.  I can do it, he insists.  They
struggle over the sack, it pops open and the onions go flying - then they
start to giggle, admit they're both jerks, and they kiss and make up. 




OFFICE FLIRTATION
Rita/Sharlene/Fax/Michael

     Rita approaches Sharlene at her desk in the outer office, holding a
copy of the meeting notice that Sharlene had just sent out for her.  This
isn't the way I wrote it, Rita scolds her, if you don't say it's mandatory
they won't come, this isn't a tea party.  It isn't an inquisition either,
Sharlene answers gingerly, people usually show up, especially when there's
free rolls - I'm baking cinnamon buns tonight...  Then Sharlene backs down
and apologizes, but Rita relents and admits she might have room for
improvement.  Following Rita back into her inner sanctum, Sharlene draws a
barnyard analogy about a recalcitrant chicken who refused to lay eggs
until Sharlene tried playing different music (she finally responded to the
French national anthem), suggesting you can catch more flies with honey,
etc.  Rita laughs, then wonders if she'll be o.k. when John gets back; no
problem, says Sharlene.  Rita dismisses her, saying feel free to edit my
memos, just run them by me first. 

     Relieved, Sharlene returns to her desk, picks up a stack of files,
then drops them on her way to the door.  Of course, just then Dr. Fax
enters and helps pick them up [their hands touch, their eyes meet...]. 

Have we met? he asks.  He hovers over her, trying to flirt with her, but
she pretends not to notice, as she nervously pulls up his schedule on the
computer and prints it out for him.  He says they've met before, when she
was interviewing with Rita, but she doesn't remember.  He asks if she'd
mind if he dropped by later if he has more questions.  Anytime, she
answers, I promise I'll remember you next time.  He flashes her a smile
and exits with the schedule. 

     Michael enters and sees that Sharlene is blushing - was that guy
coming on to you? he demands.  Of course not, Sharlene pshaws.  Why not,
you're a very attractive woman, Mike responds.  He says he came to take
Carol to lunch, but dropped by her office to see how she was doing after
their disastrous "book barbecue."  She says she's doing fine.  He claims
he wants to make it up to her, thought tonight maybe they could break into
Wallingford's together and draw moustaches on Felicia's picture on all her
book jackets - it's good to see you laugh, he observes.  He asks how she's
getting along with Dragon Lady.  She's been perfectly nice to me, Sharlene
assures him.  That's not what John says, Mike replies, then apologizes for
bringing up John's name.  Sharlene informs him, Gregory just got a letter
from John saying his rotation in Africa had ended sooner than expected,
he'll be coming back home today.  Are you ready for that? Mike wonders. 



DOCTOR ON THE RECORD, IDIOT UNDERCOVER
Courtney/Andy/Morgan/Chris/Nurse Kathy/Rita

     Courtney is just finishing her shift.  She goes to the nurse's
station in the lobby and calls Andy, telling him she'd like them to get
together, it's not about Morgan.  He suggests his place, and she
[stupidly] agrees.  As she hangs up, she doesn't notice that Morgan has
arrived; preoccupied, she nearly bumps into him.  He's puzzled by her
lukewarm greeting at his being out on bail [again].  I was just surprised,
she covers, embracing him; she asks how he survived county lock-up.  I
definitely don't want to go back, he admits.  She promises they'll prove
his innocence.  He says he was worried about her with Andy on the loose,
and vows to never again let her out of his sight.  Not necessary, she
giggles, trying to make light of it.  He wants to take her home, but she
lies that she still has to work - oops, sorry, that was tactless...  She
knows he has to stay away from patient floors, but he says he'll wait for
her here.  No, she says a little too quickly, let's meet at Carlino's for
dinner.  Make it Harbor Club, he counters.  She hints that she may have
good news for him.  Suddenly he spots Chris in the lobby, and tells
Courtney to go on with her work while he checks out his former patient. 

     Morgan overhears Chris tell Nurse Kathy that he's timing the trip
between the doctor's locker room and Bridget's room.  What's going on,
Morgan demands.  Chris flirts with Nurse Kathy as she hands him his
release forms to sign, while Morgan blasts him for teaming up with Matt to
smear him in the paper.  Chris is surprised that Morgan has seen through
his cover, but insists that everything he wrote was the truth - I didn't
make up "Dr. Death," it's what people are calling you.  Morgan even
accuses Kathy of being Chris's spy; Chris tries to talk to him, but he
says he's off to find Courtney and get out of here so he won't have to
listen to Chris's lies anymore.  Chris warns Morgan to stay off patient
floors, they could use it against you in court.  Morgan tells him to buzz
off, and insists that he's being framed by Andrew Miller, Courtney's
ex-finacee who likes to beat her up, why not print that?  It's just
heresay, no proof, Chris answers, starting to take notes.  Morgan accuses
him of covering up the hospital's attempts to conceal the first three
deaths because he's Rita's son - I became a doctor to save lives, believe
it or not, he snaps.  I believe you, I don't think you're guilty, Chris
tells him. 


     Meanwhile, Courtney has sneaked out of the hospital and shows up at
Andy's place, which he has decorated with candles.  He hands her a bouquet
of wildflowers and offers her a glass of her favorite wine.  She tries to
casually bring up his (alibi) sales conference in Cincinnati, pressing him
gently for details.  He bluffs for a while, then urges her to drop the
subject, they've already lost too much time together.  He claims he was
worried about her, after they found out what a psycho Morgan is; but at
least he's behind bars now, he'll never come between us again.  I just
wonder if we'll ever know the whole story, Courtney smiles.  What's that
supposed to mean, Andy asks suspiciously.  He pulls out the newspaper - we
know the whole story, even with people in and out of intensive care all
the time, no one would notice a doctor slip in, pull the plug, then slip
out before the alarm went off.  C: "How do you know all this?"  A: "I, uh,
heard it at the hospital."  C: "When were you there - just curious..." 

Andy accuses her of trying to set him up.  Maybe I should go, she says
casually.  You're not going anywhere, he snarls, grabbing her arm roughly. 


     Morgan gives Chris all the info he knows about Andy, tells him that
Courtney is sure she saw Andy around the hospital the day Bridget was
killed.  Chris promises to check out the Cincinnati alibi.  Rita storms up
and chews out Morgan for hanging around the hospital.  Just waiting for
Courtney to get done, he assures her.  Her shift ended quite a while ago,
Rita tells him.  Alarmed, he goes to the desk phone and dials. 


     The phone rings at Andy's place, Courtney tries to answer it but Andy
has her by the wrist and pulls her back.  As the phone continues to ring,
he reams her out for believing Morgan and for trying to trap him (Andy). 

He yells at her to admit that she's in love with Morgan.  Yes, she finally
says angrily, more than I ever loved you.  Enraged, he wallops her across
the face, then throws her on the sofa and proceeds to beat and throttle
her - oh, no, he can't have you, you're mine, he shrieks. 



ARE CECILE'S FINGERNAILS LONG ENOUGH TO HANG ON?
Maggie/Cass/Gabe/Cecile/Gary/Rafael

     Maggie tracks down Cass at the bookstore, and wants to know if he had
Cecile arrested.  He admits that, as an officer of the court [retired?],
he was obliged to report any crime.  She says she's grateful for how he
stood up for her, he's all she has, no one else could get Cecile out of
her life.  He asks her to consider carefully what will happen, whether she
could live with herself if she put her own mother in prison.  She frets
that he's taking Cecile's side; not at all, he says, wanting justice is
right, but wanting revenge is - something Cecile would do.  You think I'm
like her? she asks, upset.  Absolutely not, he answers [naively], you have
an inherent goodness.  I didn't get that from Cecile, she observes, where
do you think it came from?  Cass squirms, then offers to accompany her to
the station house to make her statement.  [Gee, think Rachel might want to
know about this?] They exit.  [BTW - has Cass mentioned this to Frankie
yet?  HMMMMMM????!!!!]

     Cecile is on her high horse, indignant at Gabe for hauling her in
about Maggie's kidnapping.  Gabe says he has evidence she was involved; 

you can't believe Cass, he's a liar, she retorts.  Why did you mention
Cass? Gabe says, tripping her up.  Um, er, Cass is in love with me, has
been for years - when I rejected him, he swore to get revenge, she
fabricates; you have no proof!  Don't be so sure, says Gabe; she turns to
see what he's referring to, as Gary brings in Rafael in custody.  She
struggles to hide her distress.  Do you know this guy? asks Gabe.  Never
saw him before in my life - was he the one who kidnapped my daughter? she
gasps innocently.  He orders her to sit down while they question Rafael. 

Where were you on New Year's Eve, Gary grills him.  Out with friends, he
sneers, I don't need an alibi, I didn't do anything.  Tom'as Rivera was a
witness, says Gabe, he saw the guy who left the ransom note at the Cory
house.  He hands Rafael the police sketch from Tom'as description.  Even
Cecile sees its resemblance to Rafael.  As she listens, Rafael claims the
sketch could be anyone, even Tom'as.  He surmises that Tom'as fingered him
because, according to Nick, Tom'as used to be involved with Maggie - he
wants to score points with her by solving her kidnapping, so she'll come
back to him.  Gabe's had enough, and orders Gary to take him to
Interrogation.  Cecile tries to make her break, I can't identify him, can
I go now?  Gabe advises her to get herself a good lawyer. 


     Later, sitting at his desk, Gabe again muses over the mysterious set
of keys; then he dials Lorna and leaves yet another message on her machine
for her to call him.  He looks up and sees Cass arrive with Maggie.  He
goes out to receive them; Maggie admits she told Cass about Cecile's
involvement.  Cass wants a word with Gabe before Maggie makes her
statement.  Are you acting as her attorney? Gabe wants to know.  I guess I
am, Cass decides on the spot.  Maggie asks nervously what will happen to
Cecile.  It's a federal crime, Gabe answers, anyone involved will be
punished to the full extent of the law. 

     Meanwhile, Gary deposits Cecile in Interrogation with Rafael,
recommends that they both tell the truth when questioned later, and exits
(over Cecile's protests).  Cecile and Rafael glare at each other.  What
did you tell them? she demands.  Secretly pointing out the two-way mirror,
Rafael growls, I didn't say anything, lady, because I didn't do anything,
I'm being held for no reason.  I know how you feel, young man, she
answers, playing along; imagine them thinking any mother could do this to
her own daughter!  By this time, Maggie has wandered over to the
observation area, and numbly watches their dog-and-pony show. 

     Maggie returns to the squad room, shaky, as Cass and Gabe emerge from
his office.  Maggie wants to go home, she's not feeling well, but Gabe
offers to let her rest in his office.  As she exits, Cass notes that
turning in her own mother will be really rough on her, isn't there another
approach?  Gabe suggests, if she identifies Rafael, maybe he'll testify
against Cecile.  Gary enters and reports that Cecile and Rafael are
putting on quite a show, pretending not to know each other - I caught
Maggie watching, but I couldn't read her reaction, either, he says.  Gabe
orders him to bring Cecile out; Gary drags her back to the squad room,
squawking over her treatment.  She spots Cass: I'm never going to forgive
you for this, not ever, she tells him secretly.  Where you're going, he
answers smugly, it won't matter. 

     A short time later, Cecile is poking around the squad room trying to
see what's going on, as Cass tells Maggie in a back hallway that they
realize it would be hard on her to implicate her mother.  We're trying
something different, he says.  Puzzled, she follows him and Gabe to
another observation room so she can see the police line-up - including a
scowling Rafael.  Take your time, says Gabe, do you see the person who
abducted you?  She studies the line-up, then turns to Gabe and Cass, her
face wracked with distress [planning her next lie, no doubt].  FREEZE
FRAME. 




As always,

Vicky (vkorosei@sinclair.edu)



