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


Begin forwarded message:

* Frankie on target as Cecile slips up: good news for C & F, bad news for 

Mags! 

* Josie gets a clue - foils Mike's plan to protect Donna
* Gabe nearly pops the question, as Lorna leaves for St. Louis
* Joe finds Sofia's secret, thanks to Maggie


THE JIG IS UP!
Cecile/Cass/Frankie

     In response to Cecile's cryptic phone call, Frankie arrives at the
bookstore in time to catch Cass and Cecile half-naked in a passionate
embrace.  Thanks to Cecile's spiking his cappuccino with an aphrodisiac,
Cass is half-crazed and powerless to resist her advances.  Frankie is
dumbstruck, as Cass looks up and sees her - is that you, Frankie? he asks,
peering at her quizzically.  Frankie is livid.  Cecile claims it was
inevitable chemistry.  Frankie starts to storm out, but Cass starts to try
to clear his mind and he staggers after her and catches her near the
coffee bar.  He insists he's woozy, not sure why he's so hot, he doesn't
feel right.  Frankie grabs his face and looks in his eyes carefully, then
demands that Cecile tell what she did to him, but Cec plays innocent. 

Cass recalls drinking cappuccino with Cecile; while Cec pretends to find
her garter in Cass's pocket, Frankie snoops around and finds the love
potion under a book on the counter.  Everything clear to her now, she gets
into a shouting match with Cec.  Cass tries to intercede to explain the
inexplicable, but they keep shoving him reeling back out of the way, as
curious customers watch the drama unfold.  Cec tells Frankie that all the
recent tensions at home with Maggie made Cass realize how much he missed
Cecile and his old carefree life; Frankie accuses her of trying to revive
her long-faded charms.  She grabs Cec's pearls in a choke-hold: keep your
hands off my husband, she growls, stalking out.  Yeah, Cass echoes weakly
to Cec.  He starts to stagger after Frankie.  A customer stops him: Great
bookstore, she chirps, I love performance art!  Cecile smirks, as Cass
looks befuddled. 

     Back at home, Cass begs Frankie for a chance to explain: I don't know
what happened, when I fell in love with you I lost all desire for Cecile
or my despicable old life in Europe, I'd never jeopardize us for anything. 

He's mortified at what she walked in on at Wallingford's, and can't
understand why she's so calm about it.  She explains: At first I was
furious, but then I realized what I saw couldn't be real, so I clicked
into P.I. mode and found this.  She pulls out the bottle of fluid - it's a
homemade love potion, she explains.  They exchange some choice words  
about
Cecile's plot, and Cass says he's incredibly lucky to have Frankie as his
wife.  They start to kiss, when the phone rings.  Frankie impatiently
unplugs in; Cass laughs and pulls her close.  I love everything about you,
he murmurs, the new life you've given me, our home, our daughter - before
I met you I was nothing more than a Don Juan.  I don't care, she smiles,
now you're *my* Don Juan.  He claims he's still feeling "hot" - they start
to kiss again, but this time Cecile bursts in [don't people ever lock
their doors around here? haven't they heard there's a crime wave?].  Don't
try to stop me, I'm here to tell the truth, no matter who it hurts, claims
Cecile.  They glare at her, making it clear they don't believe she'd know
the truth if it bit her.  They confront her with the aphrodisiac they
found, even threaten to press charges, while Cecile brazenly denies any
knowledge of such thing, even accuses Frankie of planting the vial to
incriminate her, how desperate can you get, poor thing?  When she repeats
that she's here to tell them the truth, Frankie's heard enough.  Nothing
can come between me and Cass, so give it up, she advises angrily, storming
out.  Good riddance, sneers Cecile.  But Cass tells Cec that as far as
he's concerned this was the absolute last straw, I never want to have
anything to do with you again, not ever, so take a hike.  Cec, undaunted,
tries to convince him that what they'd had in Monaco when Maggie was
conceived was the real thing - it was rekindled when Cec returned to Bay
City, that's why she didn't leave town after Christmas as she'd planned. 

You're the only man I've ever truly loved, she coos, and you feel the same
way, I've seen the way you look at me.  Cass insists she's really lost it,
all she loves is money, she'd even kept Maggie's parentage a secret to
hold onto her Cory inheritance.  Not true, Cecile claims, just give in to
your true feelings, I know we can recapture the magic we shared under the
silvery moon that August night in Monaco...  Frankie, who's been
eavesdropping, returns to Cass's side.  They look at each other, puzzled,
then at Cecile: August? But Maggie was born in December - does she claim
she was only pregnant for 4 months?  Cecile tries to cover her slip-up, I
misspoke, stop quibbling over every word, go away and stop eavesdropping
on a private conversation, she tells Frankie with annoyance.  But Frankie
keeps pressing: the whole thing was a lie, Cass isn't really Maggie's
father after all!  How can you think I'd lie about something like that,
Cec protests indignantly.  Frankie snorts; Cec condescendingly suggests
that Frankie's just in denial over Cass and Cecile's relationship -
besides, you're jealous because I gave Cass what you never could: a happy,
healthy first child!  You lying slut! Frankie shouts, giving her a wallop
across the face. 




A.P.B. ON DONNA
Lorna/Gabe/Josie/Donna/Michael

     Police Station - Lorna, travel bags in hand, arrives and asks to see
Gabe before she leaves on her trip.  The cop tries to interrupts Gabe to
give him her message, but Gabe won't listen, he's up to his eyeballs with
the murder investigations and orders the cop to check out Ozzie's crib
under the bridge.  The cop returns to Lorna to report Gabe is too busy to
see her.  Disappointed, she exits [see below]. 

     Josie goes in to see Gabe.  They discuss Donna's disappearance, she
didn't come home last night.  Gabe hopes she's just avoiding them, and not
lying dead somewhere, the latest murder victim.  He puts out an APB on
her, then examines Ozzie's fragment of gold chain [see below].  Josie
reminds him they're still missing Courtney's cassette player and purple
scarf.  Maybe Donna knows something, good thing her picture is being
circulated all over town.  Josie has a list of people to contact re: 

Donna's whereabouts, and Gabe hands her his desk phone... 


     Hudson farm - Donna's spent the night on Michael's couch.  This
morning he confronts her with the scrap of fabric he found on her car
bumper.  She's baffled.  He informs her it looks just like the piece of
Sharlene's coat that was torn off by a hit-and-run driver, it's starting
to look like that driver was you!  Donna insists nothing like that ever
happened, she'd have remembered something that dramatic.  Mike doesn't
think it was probably intentional, but he reminds her that her blood
pressure medication has been causing her blackouts.  She panics, realizing
she can't account for her presence on the docks when Blair and Courtney
were killed - her blood pressure will skyrocket if the cops grill her. 

She begs Mike to help her.  He calms her down and tries to get her to
remember whatever she can about last night.  She presses her temples as he
talks her through the incident; she insists it never happened, but in her
mind she keeps hearing screeching tires (and creepy music).  She erupts
when he mentions Sharlene, carping about how men seem genetically
incapable of being alone: Mike went right from Dr. Carol to Sharlene, just
like Matt went from her to Blair to Courtney.  She again seems woozy; Mike
helps her back to the couch and asks about her pills.  She admits she
needs them when she's upset, like when Matt was involved with Blair - the
pills are the only way I can get any peace.  Mike dashes to the phone, to
call Cass - you're gonna need a lawyer, he tells her [apparently he never
heard that Cass is retired, eh?].  He gets the answering machine at the
bookstore, which he thinks is odd, since it's business hours [see above]. 

Donna thinks he's overreacting, she doesn't need a lawyer, her presence on
the docks near the murders was just coincidental, if she knew anything
about it she'd remember.  Still concerned about her blackouts, Mike wants
to see her pills, but when he grabs her purse, he finds the purple scarf. 

Donna claims it's not hers, she picked it up by mistake somewhere.  I saw
a photo of Courtney at the hospital, Mike tells her - this is Courtney's
scarf!  As Donna absorbs this, the phone rings.  It's Josie, asking about
Donna.  Mike burbles something about not being married to her anymore, she
doesn't check in with me, if I see her I'll tell her you were looking for
her, and he hangs up abruptly.  Donna is grateful he covered for her, but
Mike starts feeling guilty about lying to the cops, and he starts to call
Josie back.  Donna stops him, begs him to give her time to get in her car
and drive out of town.  Mike can see she's a wreck, he's afraid she'll hit
someone else, and he makes a decision.  I have an idea, he tells her, but
you have to promise to follow my instructions to the letter, no arguments. 

She agrees.  He calls Rita: I've given your hospital a bundle of money,
never asked for anything in return, he says - until now... 

     Later, at the hospital, a man in a dark overcoat and wide-brimmed hat
pushes a heavily robed and scarved woman down the hall in a wheelchair. 

Josie gets suspicious and asks the desk nurse who the patient is.  The
nurse checks the register - her name is Jane Smith, she says.  Josie
decides to check it out, and follows them to their hospital room.  When
she gets there, there's a QUARANTINE sign on the door.  Josie knocks,
identifies herself as a cop, and demands to know who the patient is.  The
"doctor," his face hidden behind a surgical mask, points to the sign and
tells her to keep out - but as the door closes, Josie hears a woman's
voice say "Michael, water, please."  Josie (uncharacteristically) puts 2
and 2 together and figures out that the patient is Donna. 



GABE & LORNA - NEAR-MISS
Sofia/Nick/Maggie/Rafael/Joe/Gabe/Lorna/Felicia

     Restaurant - Sofia thanks Nick with a kiss for paying off the back
taxes and restoring peace to the family, as Maggie watches, glaring. 

Miffed, she sneaks a look at the bikini clipping of Sofia she's keeping in
a big brown envelope.  Joe comes out of the kitchen, greets Nick cordially
(for a change), and tells Sofia he's off to the cop shop.  As he exits,
Nick wonders if Joe suspects his involvement with the tax payment.  Sofia
tells him no way, just relax and enjoy it.  They exit to the kitchen;
Maggie looks heartsick and teary-eyed.  A hand offers her a tissue - it's
Rafael [see below]. 


     Police Station - Gabe is musing over the engagement ring he plans to
give Lorna, but he stuffs it in his pocket when Joe enters.  Joe reports
nothing helpful yet from Ozzie's digs under the bridge, and he has a list
of questions for Donna, if and when she turns up.  Gabe asks Joe how he's
doing, must be rough for a newlywed with his wife and baby so far away. 

It's never easy being separated from someone you love, Joe answers.  When
Gabe looks wistful, Joe insists he go track down Lorna, everyone knows
she's leaving town, go give her a good-bye kiss, the forensics report will
still be here when you get back.  Gabe is finally convinced - thanks, he
says, there's something I wanted to ask her before she left.  He grabs his
jacket and dashes out. 

     Hospital - Lorna [see above] has returned to her office.  Felicia
drops by to say good-bye before Lorna's trip.  Lorna admits she and Gabe
had a great evening, but he was too busy to see her when she stopped by
the station earlier.  Felicia assures her Gabe will miss her while she's
gone, he really loves you.  I know, he told me last night, Lorna grins. 

They talk about the difficulty of two-career couples, but Felicia says
living with John hasn't interfered with her writing, and she shares with
Lorna the story of John's taking her to his favorite fishing hole this
morning, great fun.  Look what we found, says Felicia excitedly, showing
her the gold chain [see above] - John thinks it's a good omen.  [John be
dead wrong...] Felicia can see that, despite Lorna's brave front, she
really wants to call Gabe again before her flight, but Lorna doesn't want
to bother him at work, I'll call him from St. Louis.  For the first time,
she continues, I really feel secure about a man's love.  Felicia agrees,
it's a wonderful feeling. 

     Later, in the lobby, Felicia is stopped by Edna, a fan, who asks for
her autograph and congratulates her on her readings in the solarium for
the patients.  Felicia is happy to sign her book, but is uncomfortable
when Edna proposes getting John's autograph, too, drawing the inevitable
connection.  As Edna leaves. Gabe rushes up looking for Lorna.  You just
missed her, Felicia informs him; anxious to help out, she readily provides
him with Lorna's gate and flight number.  Wish me luck, says Gabe, giving
her a kiss on the cheek and rushing off.  Felicia smiles. 


     Airport - Lorna's flight is all boarded but her, but she continues to
pace restlessly around the gate.  The ticket agent warns her she'll miss
her flight, but she goes to the pay phone to call Gabe at the station. 

When another cop answers, she hangs up and goes through the boarding gate. 

She turns back happily when Gabe rushes up calling her name.  There's no
time for his proposal, just time to kiss, exchange "I love yous" and give
her the flowers he's brought.  Hurry back, he tells her, as the door
closes behind her.  Smiling, he tosses the ring box up in the air and
catches it, before he walks away. 




CECILE'S DAUGHTER (or, A CHIP OFF THE OLD SLUT)
Maggie/Rafael/Nick/Sofia/Joe

     As Rafael offers Maggie a tissue [see above], she snarls at him for
always showing up at her worst moments.  Do you have any others? he
retorts.  She starts to tail Nick and Sofia into the kitchen, but Rafael
stops her and advises her to pull herself together first.  He guesses she
resents him because he always tells her the truth.  Everyone thinks they
know the "truth," she snaps: Frankie, Cass, Rachel, and now you.  She
rejects the idea that she and Rafael are alike; he advises her to stop
putting on society deb airs, claims it's scary but they even think alike,
so he can guess what's in the brown envelope.  He grabs it away, playing
keep-away with it as she dances around trying to snatch it back.  They
struggle all around the dining room and finally she grabs the envelope
back, but he tries to coax her into revealing the contents: just a hint, I
know it has to do with Sofia and Nick.  All Maggie will say is, Sofia has
everything and I have nothing, but that can always change! 

     Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Sofia wants to give Nick a free Carlino's
t-shirt, but he insists he wants to pay full price.  She says she can't
thank him enough for settling their tax debt, and she plans to design a
special shirt just for him.  He suggests a picture of her face on it, but
her idea is a big heart with a motorcycle in the middle, in honor of the
sacrifices he's made for her.  Meanwhile, one of these other shirts will
have to do, she smiles.  Maggie starts toward the kitchen, peering in the
window in time to see Sofia helping bare-chested Nick put on a t-shirt, a
little too intimate to suit Mags.  She fumes. 


     Later, Joe sits at his desk in the squad room, talking on the phone
to Paulina in Italy.  As he's urging her to hurry home, he'd come and get
her himself if he wasn't so busy with these murder cases, Maggie starts
down the steps to the squad room.  She spots Joe at his desk, and ducks
back up the stairs.  She waits until he goes into Gabe's office to drop
off a folder; while he's away from his desk, she scurries down, slips the
incriminating newspaper under some papers in Joe's "IN" tray, and scurries
back out.  Joe returns, leafs through the memos in his "IN"  tray, and
finds the article with Sofia's bikini photo.  Enraged, he barrels out to
confront Sofia. 

     Maggie beats Joe back to Carlino's, and finds a seat at a table to
await the impending fireworks.  Rafael sits at the counter, keeping an eye
on her.  Nick and Sofia emerge happily from the kitchen, wearing their
matching t-shirts.  Maggie grimaces as they're about to kiss, then Joe
bursts in.  Maggie, unaware that she's just "lost" her "father" [see
above], gloats as Joe confronts Sofia with the newspaper photo.  FREEZE
FRAME. 




Interesting stuff, eh?  Hope Maggie's really a Cory, maybe Cass and 

Frankie can get a storyline of their own now...

Until next time,

Vicky (vkorosei@sinclair.edu)







