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


Begin forwarded message:

Here is the rip-roaring update for Another World for Friday, March 22,
1996, in which Matt and Jake reach a new level of understanding[!]: 


* Nick and Sofia learn of John's illness
* Josie and Gary get engaged; the Guv honors Josie at a public ceremony
* Matt and Jake have an editorial disagreement
* Family gathers as John hangs on (barely)
* Gary gets a surprise


CHRIS TRACKS DOWN A STORY
Nick/Sofia/Chris

     Nick and Sofia have stopped for the night in the woods across the
state line.  When she wakes up in the morning, he's missing - but he soon
returns, shaking off from a brisk dip in the creek.  After sleeping next
to her all night, he admits, the creek was the closest thing he could find
to a cold shower...  She blushes, but they share a good-morning kiss.  As
they sit by the campfire, Nick tells Sofia he's amazed and grateful at how
much she's given up for him - her family, her home, her life, everything. 

She remembers her childhood fantasies of the guy she wanted to be with:
tall, strong, tough but sweet, he'd protect her and never lie to her - it
was you, Nick, she tells him.  They start to kiss, than a hand claps down
on Nick's shoulder - gotcha, says the voice.  They panic, then Nick
recognizes it's Chris, who introduces himself to Sofia.  He tells them
he's here to talk some sense into them, only he and Jake know where they
are, they have a lot of people worried about them.  Then he tells them
about Nick's uncle John's grave medical condition.  He urges them to
reconsider: do they want to be on the run for the rest of their lives, or
do they want to go back home to their families and work things out? [see
below]


GARY POPS THE QUESTION
Gary/Josie

     New housemates Gary and Josie wake up in each other's arms and kiss
good-morning.  As she purrs drowsily, he slips into the front room,
dresses quickly, and pulls an engagement ring out of his pocket.  Smiling
over the proposal he's planning, he pops out the front door to get the
morning paper.  He's appalled to see the story about Josie's heroism on
the front page under the headline "MODEL COP," with a sexy "come-hither"
photo of former model Josie (instead of an official police portrait).  He
drops the paper in the trash can, then hears Josie from the bedroom making
a (phony) call to the police to report a missing person.  She gives a sexy
description of Gary, then hangs up when he appears with a grin in the
doorway.  She invites him to come back to bed, how can he refuse a
real-life hero?  Bursting with anticipation, he insists she shower and get
ready for her citation presentation ceremony, while he makes her
breakfast.  She reluctantly agrees.  While she's in the shower, he
prepares a breakfast tray, planting the ring for her to find in the center
of the grapefruit half.  He carries the tray into the bathroom, but she
calls out that she's not ready to eat yet.  Scrambling for a quicker
approach, he finally insists she re-brush her teeth for the full three
minutes; he nestles the ring in the bristles and hands her the brush
through the shower curtain - she squeals when she sees the ring.  It's so
beautiful, she gasps, pulling him into the shower with her.  In a pause
between kisses, he remembers he hasn't actually proposed yet, and he pours
out his heart about how he was sure he'd never get married when he came to
Bay City, but Josie turned his life around, he wants to be her husband, he
wants her to be his wife, he wanted to ask her for a long time but was
afraid she might say no...  She interrupts him with a big kiss - It's
about time, Sinclair, she grins - yes, yes, yes definitely!  She asks him
to put the ring on her finger, they kiss - and nature takes its course. 



CALL THE CLEANING CREW
Jake/Matt/Blair

     Jake is in the office at the Herald, smugly regarding the cheesy
cover story about Josie which he'd altered behind Matt's back.  Matt
enters in a rage.  Jake gloats about how well the issue is selling, but
Matt belts him, sending him flying across the desk.  Jake recovers,
follows Matt into the newsroom, and returns the blow.  A free-for-all
ensues.  Soon the newsroom is a shambles from flying office equipment,
overturned desks and chairs, strewn papers, etc.  Their shirts are ripped
to shreds, they're both nearly spent, but the battle continues.  I'll be
considered a hero for getting rid of you, snarls Matt, even Chris is
missing because he can't stand you.  Chris is on a special assignment for
me, Jake gasps [see above].  Matt can only imagine what sleaze that might
be, and proposes that this fight be winner-take-all - whoever is left
standing gets control of the whole enterprise.  Fine, says Jake.  Blair
enters and views the disaster area as they give each other one last belt,
leaving both sprawled on the floor amidst the rubble. [see below]



THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD SAVE ME - WOULD HAVE BEEN ME!
Felicia/John/Rita/Rax

     Felicia is hovering at John's side (actually in bed with him, like in
Love Story...), talking a blue streak to try to get a response, but he
mostly just lies there shivering.  She hears Rita enter the room.  John
briefly opens his eyes, and Felicia pounces on Rita about his prognosis -
Rita reveals that he has a tricky strain of cerebral malaria, and he
doesn't seem to be responding to their treatment strategies.  She assures
Felicia that they haven't given up, and urges her to use her communication
skills to keep him from falling into a coma while they struggle to find a
solution to save his life.  She exits, and Felicia returns to her post
next to John, cradling him as she talks about their future.  As she
babbles, he eventually regains consciousness.  Struggling to speak, he
shakily tells her he wants to dictate a letter for Gregory, but she
suggests he use her mini-tape recorder instead.  I love you, he mumbles,
I've never loved like this before.  She embraces him emotionally. 

     Later, wrapped around John in his sickbed, Felicia scoffs at the
speculation that the characters in her book were she and John - they don't
realize that I could never write about us, I don't have the words, I'd
need a whole new vocabulary.  She recalls his speech the night Ryan died,
when he urged people to love each other while there's still time.  She
begs him to hang around for her, he changed her life and she needs him so
much.  Then she realizes he's totally unresponsive, he can no longer hear
her voice, and she frantically buzzes for the doctor.  Fax and Rita rush
in, and Rita pulls Felicia away from the bedside as Fax assesses John's
condition.  Wake up, John, don't leave me, Felicia pleads. 



UNACCUSTOMED AS I AM TO PUBLIC SPEAKING...
Mike/Sharlene/Tom'as/Gregory/Gary/Josie/Gabe/Joe/The Guv/Matt/Donna

     Family, friends, dignitaries and cops gather in the town square for
Josie's ceremony.  Michael emerges from the police station, seething over
his grilling by Joe over Nick and Sofia's disappearance.  He runs into
Sharlene - still no word on the fugutives, he says, but I'd stay away,
too, if I had a maniac like Carlino after me.  They're good kids, they'll
come back, says Sharlene.  Tom'as arrives with Gregory on his shoulders. 

Luisa wasn't feeling well, explains Tom'as; my dad's sick, too, says
Gregory.  But he's hanging in there, Mike says reassuringly.  Josie and
Gary arrive; Gregory calls his big sister a hero, and Josie gives him a
high-five.  Tom'as takes Greg to find a seat, as Josie and Gary greet
Sharlene and Mike.  Josie's glad Sharlene could be here, and asks about
John.  No improvement, says Sharlene, then she remarks that Josie's hair
is still wet under her cop cap.  Josie raises her hand to her hair,
spreading her fingers so Sharlene will notice the ring.  She's relieved
when Sharlene says she's genuinely happy for them, she still believes in
marriage; she gives them both a hug. 

     They take their seats as Gabe brings the gathering to order, Josie
and Gary seated behind the podium.  Gabe welcomes everyone to the
ceremony, honoring a fine young officer for bravery and heroism beyond the
call of duty.  He welcomes KBAY's coverage, but can't say the same for the
print media, a dig which baffles Josie (although a battered Matt arrives
with a photographer).  Gabe praises Josie for defending a woman against a
known international felon [actually, since the woman was Cecile, Josie was
defending one known felon against another known felon...another of life's
little ironies, eh?].  When Gabe mentions felons, Joe and Mike glare at
each other from their seats.  Gabe continues that Josie's made them all
proud.  Amid the applause, he introduces Governor Charles Drake for the
official presentation.  The Guv expresses the public's gratitude, and
calls Josie to the podium to give her a plaque citing her heroism; my
daughter Lucy [wasn't she the one Grant rescued from the prison fire?]
considers you her new role model, he adds (applause).  He asks Josie to
say a few words, and she says it's an honor to be here with her family and
friends, thanking especially her fellow BCPD cops who made this possible -
I love being a cop, she finishes (more applause).  Donna runs into Matt,
alarmed at his cuts and bruises.  Jake happened to me, he tells her, but
rejects her solicitude. 



DETENTE
Rita/Sharlene/Mike/Josie/Tom'as/Gregory/Fax/John/Nick/Felicia; 

Joe/Sofia/Paulina

     As the award ceremony breaks up, Rita rushes out and heads for
Sharlene - I've been trying to find you, you'd better come now, she says
urgently.  They rush off with Mike; Josie sees them, and she follows,
joined by Tom'as carrying Gregory. 

     Sharlene, Mike, Josie, and Tom'as with Gregory dash down the corridor
to John's room, where Felicia is pacing outside.  Sharlene sends Josie and
Tom'as off to the cafeteria with Gregory, and Mike says he'll go in and
find out what gives.  Inside, Fax tells him they've paged the specialist,
John's unconscious.  Perfect time to talk to him, Mike quips grimly.  Fax
exits, and Mike chokes back the tears as he orders John to cut the crap,
no way am I calling our mother to give her news like this, I've been
furious with your behavior lately and you're not getting off that easy. 

He insists that John get well and call Mom himself, invite her to dinner
at our place in one week, and you're doing the cooking.  You're my
brother, he adds, you didn't give up on me and I'm not giving up on you,
I'm not ready to lose you - but you have to do your part in fighting this
thing. 

     Later, Mike is pacing outside the room when Nick dashes up.  They
embrace, then Nick tells him Chris tracked them down, I came back as soon
as I heard about John.  Mike chews him out mildly for taking off, then
tells him John's prospects don't look good.  Mike is worried about the
consequences of Nick's jumping bail, but Nick is only concerned with John
- he can't just check out, like Bridget did, and my mom, he says, what
will happen to Gregory? 


     Meanwhile, at the police station, Paulina renews her plea for Joe to
lighten up on Nick and his family, especially now.  Joe refuses, he told
her Nick was bad news for his sister, now she's on the run with a fugi-... 

He stops short as Sofia comes down into the squad room and glares at him. 

He starts to embrace her but she pushes him away, she still hasn't
forgiven him.  Forgiven ME?? he says indignantly.  Sofia starts to leave,
but Joe backs down.  She tells him the "hardened criminal" came back to be
with his sick uncle.  So, he's at the hospital, eh? muses Joe.  Don't you
DARE go over there to arrest him now, Sofia warns.  Joe relents, I'll give
him some time.  Sofia again protests his attitude - you don't want me to
find love and happiness like you and Paulina have, she accuses him, Nick
got in trouble just for trying to pick up YOUR rings to make YOUR wedding
happen.  Controlling his temper as Paulina watches ruefully, Joe shows
Sofia the $5000 pin - Nick didn't just take the rings, he also took this
pin, to give to you.  Sofia doesn't believe him.  I knew he wouldn't have
the guts to tell you, Joe adds, but he admitted it to me - what do you
think of your new boyfriend now? 


     Back at the hospital - as Sharlene watches through the window, Josie
sits at John's bedside.  She apologizes for her attitude lately, for
feeling like she had to take sides between him and Sharlene despite Gary's
advice not to judge.  She tries to show him her ring, and tearfully begs
him to get well so he can walk her down the aisle at her wedding.  I'll
always love you, she tells him.  She exits, and Sharlene sends her back to
watch Gregory. 

     Felicia approaches Sharlene and tells her about the tape John made
for Gregory.  I haven't heard it, she says, he taped it in private, but
you should probably be with Greg when he listens to it.  Sharlene wants to
listen to it first before she plays it for Gregory, and Felicia offers her
the use of her tape player.  Sharlene takes it into John's room, and sits
by his side as she plays the tape.  It was obviously difficult for him to
speak, and his voice sounds weak and halting as she listens:  "I never
meant for our family to break up, I'm sorry I hurt you and your mother,
and I know she'll take care of you, whatever happens...I've missed you,
and I wish I could hear you tell me about school and what's going on in
your life...you're the best part of your mother and me and I'm very proud
of you...we'll always be a strong family because of how much we love each
other...tell your mother I love her, and I always will."  A tear rolls
down her cheek as she clicks off the recorder.  She touches John's hand,
then exits, pulls the tape out and gives the recorder back to Felicia,
then rushes off in silence. 



MOMENT OF TRUTH
Jake/Blair/Gary

     Jake and some of the staff start to put the trashed newsroom back in
some semblance of order.  As he tacks up copies of today's sleazy front
page on the bulletin board, Blair comes down the stairs and accuses him of
goading Matt into this blow-up over her.  Don't flatter yourself, he
smirks; I don't care if you help me or not, as a semi-lucious babe you
have Matt so snowed that, when he finds out the truth about you, he'll be
so distracted that I'll have free reign around here.  Blair stalks out
indignantly, and Jake returns to the office, finally locating the phone on
the floor behind the desk.  He calls Gary at the police station - you'd
better get over here, he says smugly - Police business?  You bet it is! 

     Gary arrives at the press room and notes the disarray - it was all
Matt's doing, says Jake.  Gary rips down a few of the Josie headlines that
Jake has hung up like posters all over the room, and berates Jake for
dredging up Josie's unsavory past to sell papers.  It's not libel because
it's all true, Jake retorts.  Lay off my fiancee, Gary warns. 

Congratulations, sneers Jake, how's it feel to do a cop - but then, it's
not your first time, is it - do your cop buddies know about your history
of snitching on fellow officers back in Clearwater?  They know I came here
for a fresh start, Gary answers.  Jake laughs, while wincing from his
bruises - there's a young lady around here who says the same thing, he
smirks, watch out for snakes!  Gary turns to leave in disgust, but in the
doorway - he runs face-to-face with Blair.  FREEZE FRAME. 




Other than that, not much happened...

Later,

Vicky (vkorosei@sinclair.edu)





