From: Robert Willers <willers@trombone.sps.mot.com>

Well, I'll play the clean-up role again.  Hmmmm, I want a raise.  :-)

LOVING Mini-Update for Monday, March 27:

(At the Mansion.)
Frankie asks Angie what's going on.
Kate tells Neal she doesn't remember him.  He tells her name: Neal
 Warren, from Corinth HS(!).  Now she remembers him.  He tells her
 that all those years have been good to her.  Ava watches this from 
 distance.  She tells Alex to "look!"  Alex doesn't see any big deal.
Cabot pours Buck a wine and they small-talk a little bit.  He goes to
 "track down" Stacey.  On his way, he sees Tess, dressed in a black
 dress -- and looking rather stunning.
Gwyneth complements Deborah's catering.  Stephanie wonders where she
 is.  Isabelle walks by and mentions that Clay took her to Le Bistro.
 Cooper can't believe it!
(At Le Bistro.)
Deborah is lying on the floor, short of breath.  Clay re-enters the
 restaurant, angrily suggesting that she quit playing games.  She
 doesn't move...

* "So you've come to the death scene in your little play, Deborah?"  She
 asks, feebly, "please?"  He takes his coat off and puts it under her
 head.  He gets some water for her.  She tells him she was already at
 the hospital this morning.  Clay says she should have left, and that
 they're going back.  Deborah collapses.  Clay calls for an ambulance.
(At the Mansion.)
Angie says it's all right, she's met Mr. Johnson before.  Charles says,
 "we're going home."  The three of them leave Jacob in the library.
Neal tells Kate that he works at Le Bistro; Deborah's previous chef was
 allergic to guns.  Kate says it is all coming back to her; he could
 always certainly sling more than hash.  Ava walks over and asks to be
 introduced.  Kate introduces her as the youngest of eight children.
 Neal lays some more "stuff" on about her not possibly having a child
 Ava's age.  He says he was a couple of years ahead of "Katherine," but
 he was always a secret admirer.  Kate is a bit embarrassed.  He says
 he sees a resemblance between the two of them: their smile.  Lenox
 comes over and breaks up the party, telling Neal that he is needed in
 the kitchen.  "See you again soon."  "I hope so."  "Not half as much
 as I."  Neal leaves.  "Well, excuse me, Katherine."  Ava laughs.
Tess goes over to Buck and asks why he is looking at her like that.  He
 says he didn't expect to see her there.  "I don't think anybody did.
 I'll see you later if I don't get thrown out first."  She walks over
 to Jeremy, Gwyneth, Cooper and Stephanie, Ally and Casey and says she
 is there for a staff meeting, but --oh-- all of them have quit.  "It's
 a joke, a small joke."  Stephanie says she's glad Tess is there.  She
 has a gift for Stephy.  She opens it; it is the picture that "launched
 her career."  Tess says that she will now shine all over the world.

* Tess credits Jeremy with the inspiration for the picture; Jeremy says
 all he did was provide the finger paints.  Tess credits Casey with the
 photography.  Tess says it's time for her to go home.  They hug.  Tess
 walks by Buck and leers at him, then walks slowly out the door as Buck
 stares at her.  Brianna comes up and introduces herself to Buck.  She
 says she works at the ad agency, but her boss has been moody lately.
 Buck says she seemed to be in a good mood tonight.  Bri says, "Looking
 like she did, who wouldn't be?"
Jeremy calls for everybody's attention, then calls for a speech from
 Cooper.  He and Stephanie stand up.  He thanks everyone for coming.
 He reminds everyone about the last time he was there with those same
 people (Stephy's birthday party), and that he felt unwelcome then, but
 things are so much better now.  He says their move to Paris is too
 good to be true.  He says the two of them are going to take all the
 guests to Paris with them...in their hearts.  He thanks everyone and
 says he loves them all very much.  They kiss as everyone claps.
(At the hospital.)
Deborah is wheeled into the emergency room, while Clay babbles her
 symptoms.  The doctor asks if she has any family in Corinth.  "Yes, a
 daughter."  "Call her."  The doctor leaves.
(At the Mansion.)
Isabelle tells Cooper that his speech was lovely.  Cabot says he even
 got a tear out of *him*.  Stephy gives "Buddy" a big hug and says he
 made a "sensational" hamburger.  Cabot gloats about that to Isabelle.
 Lenox comes over and calls Isabelle to the phone.  Angie and Charles
 come over and ask if Cooper and Stephy will forgive them if they leave
 early.  No problem, of course, as we see Jacob in the background.
Frankie tells Brianna that they are leaving early, but she doesn't have
 to come with them if she doesn't want to.  "My mama told me to always
 leave the party with the gentleman who brought you."  Frankie says he
 will get their coats.  Bri turns around and locks eyes with Jacob.
 Angie sees that and turns to stone-face again.  The four of them
 leave.
Isabelle tells Stephanie that she has some bad news for her: "It's about
 your mother."

* Isabelle wants to go to the hospital for Stephy.  Kate points out that
 Cooper is with her; Ava says it *might* be a heart attack.  Alex goes
 to call Angie on his car phone.  Jacob offers to clean up, but Isabelle
 says it can wait.  He asks her to tell Deborah that he and Neal will
 take good care of Le Bistro.
(In a car)
Brianna thanks everyone for taking her.  Angie, coldly, says she is
 welcome.  Bri talks about how nicely Tess was dressed -- and everyone
 else.  Charles asks Angie why she hadn't mentioned meeting Jacob
 before.  Before she can answer, the car phone rings.  She says, "Oh
 no," hangs up and tells Charles that she needs to get to the hospital.
(At the hospital)
There is a lot of commotion around Deborah.  Stephy, Cooper, Casey and
 Ally enter.  Stephy starts asking questions: "Is she going to be all
 right?  Is she going to die?"  Clay tries to reassure her that Deborah
 will be fine.  "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER, CLAY?"  Stephy goes for Clay's
 throat.  Cooper pulls her off of Clay.  The nurse closes the curtain...

<---------------------------------------------------------------------->

LOVING Mini-Update for Tuesday, March 28:

(At the loft, which is more nicely furnished.)
Tess comes down the stairs.  She shuffles a deck of tarot cards and
 asks them what is next for her and Buck.
(At Stacey's house.)
Stacey says Deborah is too young to have a heart attack.  Buck says he
 had a friend who had an ulcer at age 10.  Buck says that one day, they
 won't be there.  Stacey says that's morbid.  [True.]  Buck says he
 only meant that they should live their lives...then he says he has
 something to tell her.
(At the hospital.)
Stephy wonders what is taking so long.  She paces right out of the
 waiting room.  Angie enters.  We get a strange effect from the
 director, slow-motion with heartbeats, then Stephy asks Angie if
 her mom will be OK.

* Angie pulls her into the waiting room.  She tells her that Deborah
 has had a major heart attack, but she has made it this far and that
 is half the battle.  They're going to do an angiogram.  Stephy wants
 to see her.  Cooper and Angie try to talk her out of it (she isn't
 even conscious), but she insists.
(At the loft.)
Tess pulls the death card.  Tess says that doesn't *necessarily* mean
 anything bad.  Buck and "the happy homemaker" aren't suited for each
 other, you know.  Tess draws the lovers card.  She says (to herself)
 that she could see the love in his eyes at the Rodeo the other night:
 the same way he looked at her at the Aldens' tonight.  Tess falls on
 her bed: "Buck hasn't gotten over me yet."
(At Stacey's house.)
Buck says he's never really had a home, but, he says, he is comfortable
 here.  He says he is looking for some a little more permanent.  Stacey
 asks if he is saying what she thinks he is saying.  "I want us to have
 something.  Something we can share."  She says she wants that, too.  He
 says he has found a way to show her.  He gets a blueprint.  "I want to
 build us a home, Stacey.  *Our* home."

* Buck is eagerly "selling" her on the house.  Three bedrooms, an office
 and even a sauna!  He says *he* can build it with a little bit of help.
 He wants to find some property on the lake.  Stacey is silent; Buck
 asks what's wrong.  She says when he talked about building something,
 she was thinking about something else.  Buck doesn't get it.  Stacey
 says she loves living with him and having him there, but she has never
 been comfortable with the idea of living together.  She thinks about
 the kids and what that says to them.  He asks if that means she wants
 him to move out.  [Stoopid!]  No, but if they're going to build a dream
 house, she wants a ring on her finger.
(At the hospital.)
Casey gets Ally a drink.  She says she has called Betty and she'll stay
 with Tyler all night.  Casey says this isn't exactly what he expected
 on their second date.  Ally asks why something always has to happen
 when things are going so well.  Casey says it's life; there's nothing
 you can do about it.  He says it could be worse: they could be away
 from each other.
Outside, Cooper brings Clay some coffee.  He wonders if he should drink
 it or send it downstairs to be analyzed.  Cooper suggests to Clay that 
 he thank him.  He does.  He says he has never seen Cooper's good side.
 Cooper says the same thing -- he saved Deborah's life.  Clay isn't so
 sure of that, but Cooper says that the paramedics said she wouldn't
 have made it if he hadn't been there.  Clay says, "Ironic, isn't it?
 [...]  Comsidering how often I have wished her dead."  Cooper thanks
 him for Stephy and they shake hands.
Stephy looks in at Deborah.  After a moment, she enters.  She tells
 her unconscious mother that she realizes that she never meant the
 things she said about wanting her out of her life.  She tells her that
 she has been a pain, but her intentions were good and she knows she
 always wanted the best for her.  "You just wanted me to know how much
 I meant to you and how much you love me.  Well, I love you, too.
 You're my mom and I love you and I can't imagine what it would be like
 to lose you.  [She hugs Deborah.]  I don't ever want to be without you,
 mom.  Don't leave me."  "Baby..."  Stephanie pulls up.  "Do you really,
 really love me?"  "Yes, I love you."  Stephy cries tears of joy.
 "You'll never lose me, baby.  I promise you that."

* (At the loft.)
Tarot cards, booze bottles, Tess passed out on the bed.  A dream:
 Buck, shirtless, enters.  While Tess babbles, Buck goes to her.
 Tess asks how Stacey "took it" and says she hopes it didn't hurt
 her too much.  Both of them crack up and Tess says no, she hopes
 it hurt like hell.  Buck tells her the "gorey details" as he pushes
 her down on the bed.  He says Stacey cried a lake of tears.  She
 says she has weenies [!] on the grill.  "Raging on a bonfire of
 Stacey's worthless ad copy?"  They kiss...
Tess snaps out of it, breathing hard.  "It'll happen.  Give it time."
(At Stacey's house.)
"A ring?"  "Yeah, as in the 'm' word.  You know, marriage."  He says of
 course, he thought that was settled.  She says he never really asked.
 He gets down on one knee.  She says she doesn't want to pressure him.
 She asks why he didn't do this.  He says he didn't want to rush her.
 "Buck, there's slow and there's *too* slow."  He says he loves her and
 the kids -- there aren't words to explain it, but he can show her.  It
 might take a while, maybe even a whole lifetime.  "Stacey, will you
 marry me?  Will you be my wife?"  She joins him on one knee and kisses
 him passionately.  "Does that answer your question?"  "Say it."  "Yes,
 I'll marry you.  I'll be your wife."  "Does this mean we can build the
 house?"  "Our house."  They smile and kiss.
(At the hospital.)
Ally says, "She spoke?  That's great!"  Stephy tells them to go home,
 but they want to stay and be with her.  Cooper says he'll miss them.
 Angie enters.  "She's weak, but she's stable."  Angie turns to Clay
 and says Deborah wants to talk to him.  "Me!?  I don't think that's
 such a good idea."  Angie says, "Just don't upset her.  Two minutes,
 tops."  Clay goes in.
"Clay, don't go.  There's something I want to say to you."  "Heart
 attack, huh?  And all this time I thought you didn't have one."
 "Funny."  "Sorry, couldn't resist."  "I just wanted to thank you
 [...] for saving my life."  "Well, what was I going to do, leave
 you there?"  "Tempted?"  "For a second.  [Groan.]  All right, for
 two seconds."  "Well, I'm glad that you didn't."  Clay shrugs.  "So
 am I."
Stephanie watches from the waiting room.  Cooper offers to bring her
 some coffee.  No, thanks.  She says she is feeling a little better.
 Cooper says she is going to be OK, you know.  "I love you, Cooper."
 "I love you, too."  "...but I've been thinking, and I've kind of
 made a decision.  I don't think you're going to like it, though."
 "Try me."  "I can't leave her.  I can't go."  "What do you mean?"
 "To Paris.  I can't go.  Not now."

I'll be back with Friday's update on Sunday.  :-)

-----
|   "I guess irony can be pretty ironic sometimes."    |  Bob Willers  |
|         -- William Shatner as Buck Murdock,          |  Phoenix, AZ  |
|            from AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL              | MY opinions!! |
+------------ willers@trombone.sps.mot.com ------------+---------------+

