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



Begin forwarded message:

Apparently the Harbor Club is last year's news; everybody in Bay City 

seems to be chancing the new Carlino's Italian Ristorante to celebrate 

the new year...

* John gets a kick in the rear (finally!)
* Sharlene gets a few things off her chest
* Sofia and Nick team up to avert disaster for Joe
* Carlino's patrons ring in the New Year
* Maggie gets kidnapped, reacts like typical Maggie



JOHN'S ROAD BACK
John/Jetter/Rita

     After Sharlene kicks him out, John heads down to the docks to
commiserate with his homeless army buddy, Jetter.  John tearfully rehashes
the trauma of that boy's death in Vietnam that he couldn't save, then he
moans about what a mess he's made of his life.  Drunk and homeless but not
stupid, Jetter tells him to get over it, 'Nam was a long time ago - what
does your wife say about it?  She just threw me out, mutters John.  Ah,
she found out about your girlfriend Felicia, eh, guesses Jetter.  [I'm
starting to like this guy.] John denies he's involved with Felicia, but
Jetter forces him to admit there's some truth to it.  I don't know what I
want anymore, I didn't know where else to go, he whines.  You're such a
hypocrite, sneers Jetter, catching John by surprise.  He chews John out
for coming down here to wallow in self-pity, when he's got so much going
for him.  No one can help you but yourself, he adds, so if you don't like
the way things are going, go change it. 


     Sure enough, we later see John at the hospital.  He goes to the Chief
of Staff office, and slides Rita's name plate off the door.  Then he walks
in on her at the desk and drops the name plate in front of her.  What are
you doing to my office, she demands, as he starts using the wastebasket as
a packing crate and loading it with Rita's stuff.  MY office, he corrects
her firmly.  He tells her he's talked to the board - despite her attempts
to undermine him, they want him back, so she can go back to being just
Hospital Administrator.  Don't make a stink, he adds, it'll be better if
we try to get along at work.  You might regret this, she warns, exiting
with her honey.
     Later, we see him slide his own name plate back on the door.  He 

glances out his window at his view, then drops into his armchair by his 

wall, and surveys his territory thoughtfully.


GIRLS' NIGHT OUT
Sharlene/Josie

     Josie comes home to find Sharlene distraight.  Sharlene tells her
John practically admitted he was having an affair with Felicia since last
summer, so she threw him out - he probably went running right into
Felicia's arms.  She was just so angry and shaken by seeing the guilty
twosome, she wanted him gone.  Now she's having second thoughts, it was
partly my fault for being gone so long, Gregory will be devastated, etc. 

John was stupid, he cheated on you, Josie protests, why do men always have
to screw things up instead of just being happy with what they have?  This
isn't just about John, is it? Sharlene notes.  We don't need men, Josie
decides, come on, let's have some fun of our own! [see below]


MISERY HATES COMPANY
Felicia/Gary

     Felicia is home alone, emotionally drained, sadly contemplating
Luke's picture.  Gary comes over for some AA support on New Year's Eve,
but she tells him she's in no shape to help anyone, she just wants to be
alone.  He refuses to leave.  Why aren't you with Josie, she suggests.  We
broke it off, he says, my past caught up with me, I don't want to be alone
tonight.  Felicia sympathizes, but urges him to call Judy for support
instead.  You're the one I want, you've been a friend I could always rely
on, protests Gary.  Yeah, I'm just the kind of friend a guy needs, she
laughs ironically - please, just go, before I ruin your life, too.  I can
tell you haven't been drinking, says Gary, so, who's the guy who's hurt
you like this?  You're wrong, she answers with a sad smile, there's no one
in my life - now please go, and call Judy.  Gary reluctantly leaves [see
below]. 



ALL ROADS LEAD TO JOE'S PLACE
Joe/Paulina/Cass/Frankie/Cecile/Sofia/Nick/Pasquale/Marshall/Dana/Gabe/Lor 
na/
Josie/Sharlene

     With the help of Joe's cop friends, the new restaurant is open and
crowded for New Year's Eve.  I never doubted it, says Paulina.  As they
welcome in their customers, Joe is dismayed to learn that Paulina has
optimistically invited the KBAY food critic and the mayor.  Everything
will be wonderful, lighten up, she tells him. 


     Cass and Frankie are there, she wants to support her ex-partner Joe. 

Cecile descends upon them, looking for Maggie, who'd missed their shopping
date [see below]. 


     Sofia frantically drafts a semi-willing Nick into helping her in the
kitchen, which is a disaster since Chef Pasquale is sloshed to the gills. 

All his food is swimming in liquor and tastes terrible.  Sofia takes over
as chef with Nick to assist her, so Joe's opening night won't be a
disaster.  As Pasquale drunkenly sings opera arias from the corner, Sofia
and Nick establish a rhythm and turn the disastrous beginning into a
possibility of success. 

     Later Joe pops into the kitchen to congratulate Pasquale on his
triumph, and is surprised to find that Pasquale is sleeping off a major
drunk, Sofia and Nick are responsible for the food.  You saved the day,
Joe tells Sofia gratefully.  Sofia strongly recommends he find a new chef
by tomorrow, then laments to Nick that she won't be able to stick around,
the dreaded Aunt Francesca is due in tomorrow to drag her back to New
York.  Too bad, says Nick with a wink, I'll miss your ravioli - but she
can tell he really wishes she could stay.  He wonders why she doesn't just
refuse to go back if she doesn't want to, just put your foot down, you're
over 18.  Wouldn't work, mourns Sofia, Aunt Franny swore to protect me
after my mother died, the whole Carlino clan would close ranks behind her
and drag me back if necessary.  Nick is baffled at this family dynamic, he
had virtually no relatives around at all, until he inherited the Hudsons. 

As the evening wears on, they chat about their lives.  She says Aunt
Franny never let her go on real dates, she could only go out with the
unappealing guys her family picked out, highly chaperoned - I had one true
love: Tom Cruise when I was 10 - what about you?  Nah, he's too short,
Nick jokes - more seriously, he says there's been no one in his life in
quite a while, unless you count Maggie, which was a HUGE mistake. 


     Paulina cheerfully offers Marshall and Dana some of Pasquale's
canapes while they wait to be seated, not noticing that they recoil in
disgust at the taste. 


     Gabe and Lorna arrive, followed by Joe's cop buddies.  Joe seats the 

captain and his date at a special table, reassuring Gabe he's not giving 

up being a cop, at this rate he'll need both jobs to make ends meet.
     Gabe notices that Lorna is rather subdued.  She admits she's worried 

about Felicia, but she doesn't want to dwell on that tonight.  They toast 

to putting the horrendous 1995 behind them and getting a fresh start with 

the new year.  Lorna teases him about ordering oysters, you realize 

they're an aprodisiac.  With that dress you're wearing, I don't need one, 

he responds.  She suggests they skip right to "dessert."  No way, he 

tells her, we're going to savor every single course - take our time, good 

things are worth waiting for.  Maybe "delayed gratification" should be my 

New Year's resolution, Lorna kids, what's yours?  I don't believe in 

them, Gabe tells her, things never work out the way you expect - I had 

some plans when I took this job, but none of them happened the way I 

thought they would - instead, I met you.  They toast to "surprises" - 

wonderful, beautiful surprises, he adds.


     Josie drags Sharlene over to Carlino's to forget their troubles. 

Sharlene half-expects to see John and Felicia at a table celebrating
together.  They're not here, says Josie, snagging two glasses of champagne
- forget about them, let's live it up!  They spend quite a while knocking
back the bubbly - are we having fun yet, I'm out of practice, observes
Sharlene.  Frankie comes over to greet them, what's going on?  We're
celebrating, they tell her.  Where's John, she asks.  Long story, answers
Sharlene, drifting away [see below]; Don't ask, Josie advises. 


     Cecile frets to Cass that she still can't find Maggie, I've called
everywhere I can think of and I'm getting worried.  Frankie comes over to
let Cass know she's calling Charlie as she'd promised.  As Cass rises to
join her, he suggests to Cecile that Maggie stood her up because she's a
lousy mother.  No, says Cecile, I think I know what happened to her. 

[Yeah, Cecile probably hired Rafael to kidnap Maggie, to get the ransom
money from Rachel...] She tells Cass she thinks Maggie ran away, because
of the way they've been arguing lately.  Gee, what about, needles Cass -
the way you tried to sell her to the highest bidder? or the way you forgot
to get her a Christmas gift, and tried to palm off Rachel's scarf on her -
come on, everyone at that party could see what you were doing!  She
accused me of coming back just to be with you - which is partly true,
Cecile admits.  Read my lips, says Cass, I'm going to the phone to talk
with my DAUGHTER - and when I come back with my WIFE, I want you gone! 


     Josie, feeling no pain, sashays over to Gabe and Lorna's table.  Gabe
greets her, then goes to make a phone call[?].  Josie snidely asks about
Felicia's whereabouts, you should really keep an eye on her.  Just look
after your own mom, Lorna retorts, she was really tossing'em back at the
bar over there.  Josie sneers and walks away. 




GIRLS' NIGHT IN?
Sharlene/Felicia

     Her inhibitions gone, Sharlene comes pounding on Felicia's door. 

Don't play innocent, she snaps, what have you done with my husband? [I
thought that was obvious!] When Felicia insists he's not here, Sharlene
calls her a liar and storms from room to room looking for him, but no
John.  She rants about what a fool I was, all the things I'd confided in
you, I believed your words of comfort and encouragement, and all the while
you were stealing my husband - you probably had a big laugh at my expense
every time.  No, it wasn't like that, Felicia protests, I was a friend to
him when he needed one, because you weren't around!  Sharlene slaps her
across the face.  Felicia responds angrily, he was dying inside, he needed
someone, it should have been you!  How DARE you turn this around, Sharlene
shouts back, a friend is one thing, but you slept with him - there's no
excuse for either of you! [Go, girl!] Felicia wants to know what John said
to her after Felicia left the farmhouse with Tom'as.  Probably what you
planned together, babbles Sharlene, how could you sully our home with your
sordid affair, you must have wanted to get caught - I'll never forgive
either one of you.  She starts to leave, but Felicia is desperate to know
what happened - despite your suspicions, I haven't seen John since that
morning.  You really don't know, Sharlene realizes, you have no idea what
you've done to my marriage - he's gone, I threw him out, I can't live with
him, after what's happened.  Felicia is appalled, then worried - where did
he go, where is he now?  I don't give a damn, Sharlene expounds, he's your
problem now, congratulations, you've won, hope you're very happy.  Happy
New Year, she adds, as she reels out the door. 



HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Joe/Paulina/Josie/Gary/Cecile/Nick/Sofia/Gabe/Lorna/Cass/Frankie/
Pasquale/Cecile

     Joe and Paulina discuss how well the opening has gone, how happy they
are, and how bright their future looks afte the turmoil of the last year
[like ditching her husband because he wasn't dead enough, etc.].  As Joe
goes to investigate a waiter crisis, Josie stumbles up to Paulina looking
for Sharlene, no sign of her.  Josie heads for the door, and bumps into
Gary on his way in.  They freeze, staring at each other, then greet
formally.  Gary says he's here to help out Joe, a fellow cop.  As Josie
starts to leave, he stops her and thanks her for her Christmas present
(the I.D. tag?).  Don't worry, I have the receipt for when you return it,
she answers, and exits. 

     Joe comes over, and Gary congratulates him on the nice crowd.  It 

had better stay that way if we're gonna make it, Joe confides; it was 

different when it was just me, but now with a wife and kid, I can't 

afford to blow it.  You've got it all, don't ever lose it, Gary advises, 

glancing at the door where Josie just left.
     Paulina comes over and grabs Joe - we have a problem, she says 

urgently.  Cecile is at her wits' end, begs Joe to put out a missing 

person report on Maggie.  She's an adult, she's only been gone a couple 

of hours, there's nothing the cops can do yet, he tells her.  Cecile 

sputters with frustration.


     Eventually, Nick points out to Sofia that it's nearly midnight.  She
thanks him for all his help, then says she has to go home and start
packing for the dreaded trip back to New York tomorrow.  She shakes his
hand - as their hands touch, there are definite vibes.  The New Year's
countdown starts out in the restaurant; as they reach 3 - 2 - 1 - Happy
New Year, Nick impulsively takes Sofia in his arms and lays a big one on
her, and she responds. 


     Out among the guests, who are attempting "Auld Lang Syne," Joe and
Paulina laugh and embrace and celebrate making it through a successful
opening and starting a wonderful new year together. 

     Gabe and Lorna are going at it hot and heavy.  She stops long enough
to gasp suggestively that she's made a New Year's resolution anyway, he'll
just have to wait and see what it is.  They they resume their original
activity. 

     Gary, sitting forlornly at the bar amidst the merry couples, looks 

up and sees Josie come back in the door.  Their eyes meet.
     Cass and Frankie share a romantic kiss, then are inspired to take
advantage of the opportunity: the night is young, the baby is asleep -
they exit to "start the year off right." 

     Chef Pasquale, having slept it off, joins the party and shocks Cecile
with a huge back-bending kiss, to the cheers of the other patrons! 




THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF, REVISITED
Maggie, Rafael

     Rafael (Nick's old juvenile delinquent buddy from Chicago) carries
Maggie kicking and screaming into a remote hovel, wrapped in a burlap sack
over her head so she can't see him.  She threatens him, my grandmother's
the most important person in Bay City, you'll never get away with this -
but she's terrified that he'll hurt her.  She whines and whimpers,
pleading her captor to take the sack off her head, I'm suffocating.  I
can't do that, just shut up, he growls, but he finally gets sick of her
whining and removes the sack - by this time he's wearing a ski mask.  Are
you gonna kill me? Maggie asks fearfully.  He ties up her hands behind her
back, and she begs to know who he is, why he's doing this, did the
Archduke hire you because I broke the engagement contract, I promise I'll
go through with the wedding if you'll just let me go, etc.  No response. 

Maggie notices that her captor has bags of all her favorite junk foods on
the table.  Just a coincidence, he snaps.  You can't keep me here forever,
she challenges him.  Wanna bet? he growls, pulling a gun and sticking it
in her face.  Maggie screams bloody murder, and he stuffs a gag in her
mouth - we're too far away for anyone to hear you, he claims, but that
noise is driving me crazy!  He offers to take off the gag if she can
manage to keep quiet; she nods, and the gag comes off.  Then she starts
pleading for him to untie her wrists, the ropes are cutting off my
circulation.  [No, it's your LIES that cut off your circulation, twit!] He
refuses, she starts whimpering again, and to shut her up he sits beside
her and unties her wrists.  Why are you doing this, who are you, she asks,
then she impulsively pulls off the ski mask.  He angrily grabs her by the
coat labels - you should never have done that, little girl, he yells in
her face. FREEZE FRAME. 



[And a Happy New Year to all our friends, in and out of Bay City!]


Vicky 


