From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

            GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1998

HIGHLIGHTS:


HARLEY'S APT: Harley straightens up & thinks about Carl's murder. She 
wonders why Phillip would lie about seeing Alan near the pond. She 
remembers Phillip telling her to leave it alone. "Damn it, Phillip. I 
love you," she says. There's a knock at her door & she opens the door 
for Phillip. She says she doesn't know how much longer she can do 
this. Phillip says he's returning her key. He guesses he won't need 
it anymore.

SPAULDING MANSION: Beth pours herself a cup of coffe, then drops it. 
Nettie comes in to clean up the mess as Beth apologizes. Nettie hopes 
the coffee will be easier to clean up than "that dead man's blood." 
Beth says she doesn't want any more talk about that, and also wants 
Nettie to stop looking at her "like that." Nettie asks if Phillip was 
able to get Beth's shoes cleaned, because she can take care of it. 
Beth remembers the way Phillip swooped down & collected the shoes. 
Nettie goes on & on, until Beth finally tells her to stop prattling. 
Nettie apologizes & so does Beth. Beth says everyone in the house is 
on edge. Nettie doesn't think that will change until the murderer is 
caught. Beth agrees.

MICHAEL'S APT: The clone, now sporting a shorter haircut, holds up a 
dress as she stands in front of a mirror, trying to find something to 
wear for her "homecoming" tonight. Cassie knocks & the clone makes a 
face before letting her in. Cassie gapes at the clone. "Reva? Is it 
you?"

ISLAND: Reva finds Sean working on her mostly-destroyed raft. He says 
he swam out & got it. She wonders what he's doing, since he already 
labeled it "pathetic." Sean says it was, but he's trying to make it 
seaworthy. Reva asks about some cloth she sees laying in the sand. 
Sean says it's a sail that he sewed from some spare clothing. Reva 
jokes that he'll make someone a great wife someday, but he doesn't 
seem to appreciate her humor. He asks if she might help him out 
instead of kibbitzing. She obliges, asking if she really has a better 
chance of getting home on his version of the raft. He thinks so. Reva 
knows he'd rather be doing other things, but Sean says since she 
won't give him a moment's rest, this is a good use of his time. He 
notes that the cruise ships pass by every 14 days, and the next one 
will be by in a couple of days. Reva asks Sean whether his worst 
nightmare is that she makes it home & tells everyone about him, or 
that she doesn't make it home & winds up intruding on his solitary 
little world for the rest of his life.

MICHAEL'S APT: Cassie can't believe how exactly like Reva the clone 
looks. The clone says she took a picture of Reva & took a cab to a 
salon in Clayton to have it done. She thinks they did a really good 
job. Cassie agrees. The clone asks Cassie stops staring. Cassie 
apologizes, but finds it eerie that the clone is now Reva's exact 
double. The clone says she took a little more of Michael's growth 
serum, with Josh's approval. Cassie gets teary-eyed because she never 
thought she'd see her sister again, but the clone is so like her that 
it's bringing back the loss. The clone tells Cassie to forget about 
the loss & get used to her. 

SPAULDING MANSION: Nettie goes on about the shoes & the body. Beth 
tells her to stop worrying about the shoes & says there's no need to 
mention them again. Nettie finally leaves. Alan comes downstairs, but 
when he sees Beth, he offers to go have his coffee elsewhere. Beth 
say he can stay; she'll leave. Alan doesn't want her to leave on his 
account. He knows she's angry at him for coming between her & 
Phillip. He wants her to know that he didn't kill Carl, although the 
thought did cross his mind. Beth is not exactly willing to take 
Alan's word on this. Alan says the evidence will bear him out. The 
powder residue test he took will show that his hands are free of 
residue. His fingerprints won't be found on the gun. As for the 
letter, Alan thought he was acting in Phillip's best interest. Beth 
doesn't buy Alan's twisted logic. Alan says he wanted what was best 
for Phillip; he wanted Phillip to reach his full potential, while 
Beth was willing to settle for Phillip being a writer or a thinker. 
Alan couldn't allow that. 

Beth says Phillip's life is up to him. And it's not that she didn't 
want things for Phillip, but she didn't demand them, and she didn't 
manipulate circumstances to get her way. She loves Phillip too much 
for that. Alan says Beth doesn't have a monopoly on loving Phillip. 
In the last few months, they've grown very close. Beth knows Alan 
would have done anything to not lose that, even cost her her life. 
Alan says he never meant for Carl to hurt her. Beth says it's a 
little late for that.

HARLEY'S: Harley says she's sorry, and so does Phillip. Harley knows 
she promised Phillip she would stay away from the Carl situation, but 
when Beth came to her with a black eye... Phillip asks why she didn't 
come to him. She says she wanted to, but she was concerned for his 
safety. Carl was a serious danger. Phillip says she should have told 
him. He would have told her. Harley asks why he didn't tell her about 
the letter. Phillip turns to go. Harley asks if he wants to take his 
stuff with him. Phillip doesn't want this to be happening, but he 
doesn't know what else to do. Harley feels like they've tried 
everything. "How did we screw this up?" asks Phillip. Harley just 
goes to him & he wraps her in his arms. She clings to him miserably.

LEWIS HOUSE: Marah & Shayne work on decorations for Reva's 
homecoming. Josh returns home & says the kids have done a great job. 
Shayne says it feels like his mom has been gone forever. Josh 
understands. Marah thinks Josh should be happier. Josh says the kids 
need to understand that it's been a long time away for their mom, and 
a lot of things have happened in the last few weeks. Marah is scared. 
Josh say he just wants to prepare them. "Your mother may not seem 
herself when she first gets home."

MICHAEL'S: Reva wants to make a good first impression tonight. She 
models a black dress for Cassie & asks her opinion. Cassie doesn't 
have one. She thinks all the clothes are fine. The clone thinks 
Cassie wants her to screw up, so she can have Josh & the kids to 
herself. Cassie says this is ridiculous, but the clone thinks Cassie 
really feels threatened. Cassie says her problem is that the clone 
doesn't care about the kids; she just wants to get close to Josh. "So 
what?" asks the clone. She's supposed to be his soulmate; what's 
wrong with trying to do it right? The clone reminds Cassie that she 
IS Reva, and if things don't work out with Josh & the kids, she's not 
going back to test-tube heaven. Cassie & everyone else is stuck with 
her, so they'd better get used to it. Cassie says she misses her 
sister. Even though the clone looks just like her, she's not just 
like her & it's very hard for Cassie to deal with. 

The clone says it's hard for her too, but she's trying to make the 
best of it. If the kids like her, Josh will be happy, which will make 
her happy. Maybe she'll even learn to love the kids someday. The 
clone realizes that Cassie can't seem to get past the fact that she's 
not the real Reva. But they don't have to be best friends. All they 
have to do is get along, even if it means ignoring each other. Cassie 
doesn't want to shut her out. "But you don't want to let me in, 
either," says the clone knowingly. Just like Josh. The two of them 
can't seem to understand that Reva is gone & is never coming back. So 
it's the clone or a gravestone for the kids. "You've already made 
your choice," adds the clone. "So stop pretending that you haven't."

ISLAND: Reva wants the answer to her question. She still doesn't know 
anything about Sean. He's very complicated & full of contradictions. 
Sean disagrees. He thinks he's very simple. Reva wonders why he acts 
like he hates her one minute & then is nice to her the next. Sean 
says he already explained that he wanted to get rid of her. Reva 
doesn't buy it. She thinks there's a part of him that hasn't given 
up, that still wants to go back to the real world & prove his 
innocence. Josh's family can help him. Sean doesn't want to talk 
about it. Reva says if Sean doesn't fight this, he's letting his wife 
win. Sean doesn't care. Reva says it's a waste; he has so much to 
offer. She knows he has a decent side & she admits that she likes 
him. He says she needs him & there's a big difference. 

Reva wonders how she can prove it to him. She says she hates camping. 
She's never told anyone before. She likes being comfortable. Sean 
jokes that he'll have to cancel the camp-out he had planned for the 
weekend. He doesn't see the point of her little secret; it hardly 
compares to what he told her about his wife. Reva says it doesn't 
matter how dire the secret is; what matters is that she told him 
something she's never told anyone else. "Not even Joshua?" asks Sean. 
Reva says he's the one she's been faking it for. If she told him, 
he'd give it up, but he loves it. Sean realizes how much Reva must 
love Josh. It's been awhile since he's seen someone look the way Reva 
does when she talks about Josh. "I'm sorry you lost her," says Reva.

HARLEY'S: Harley asks why it has to be this way. Phillip says he has 
to be able to trust her. Harley thought she was doing the right 
thing. Phillip talks to Harley's back & asks her to think about what 
she did. She keeps telling him how much he doesn't need to protect 
Beth, but everything Harley does shows him that Beth does need his 
protection. Harley turns to him & asks if he cares so much about Beth 
that he'd pin this murder on his own father. Phillip asks why Harley 
cares what happens to Alan. Harley doesn't, but Phillip would send 
him to prison even if he's innocent. "My god, Harley. Do you know 
what he did to me when he took that letter?" asks Phillip. Harley 
nods. Everyone knows if he hadn't done it, Phillip & Beth would have 
reconciled. Harley & Phillip would be just friends. And that's what 
makes Phillip so crazy. Phillip doesn't want to argue. Harley doesn't 
either, but she saw Alan's face when Phillip lied about seeing Alan 
at the pond. Phillip says all she saw was guilt. Harley doesn't think 
so, and she knows Phillip is covering up for whoever he thinks really 
killed Carl. "And I think we both know who that person is."

SPAULDING MANSION: Beth doesn't know what Alan wants from her, but 
he's certainly not going to get her forgiveness. Alan says he was 
afraid of losing his son; wouldn't Beth do whatever she had to for 
Lizzie? The only thing Alan is guilty of is holding on to his son. He 
hopes Beth will understand that someday & forgive him. He starts to 
leave, but adds that he didn't kill Carl. Beth just wants to be left 
alone. Alan asks why she's so upset. She had opportunity & motive to 
kill Carl. He asks where Beth "slipped off to" during the party. Beth 
says she was upstairs checking on Lizzie when Carl was shot. Alan 
says no one knows that for sure. Beth insists that she didn't kill 
Carl. Lillian enters & tells Alan to leave Beth alone. "She didn't 
kill that man." Lillian goes to Beth's side. Alan says the killer had 
to have means & motive. Lillian had good reason to hate Carl. For all 
they know, she could be the killer.

LEWIS HOUSE: Shayn & Marah wonder why Reva might be different. Josh 
says she's been through a lot in the past few weeks. It was 
emotionally draining. Shayne figures they should be extra nice to 
her. Josh agrees. He adds that Reva might be overwhelmed when she 
first gets home & she might seem forgetful because she's got a lot of 
stuff going on in her head right now. He just wanted to warn the kids 
so they won't be surprised if this happens. Marah plans to wear the 
new dress Reva got her before she left. Josh leaves the room. Marah 
thinks Josh & Cassie don't know about the surprise party Billy is 
planning. Reva won't be the only one who's surprised. They think this 
is great.

MICHAEL'S: Cassie says she'll help the clone prepare for tonight 
because she doesn't want the kids to be disappointed. The clone is 
still trying to figure out what to wear. She holds up a sparkly black 
dress & Cassie blurts out that she can't wear it because it was 
Reva's favorite. Josh loved Reva in that dress & Cassie doesn't know 
if he can handle it with everything else that's going on. Reva holds 
up a blue dress & Cassie says it's fine. She says the clone shouldn't 
go to too much trouble, since it's only going to be family. 

Cassie works on preparing Reva for other aspects of the evening. She 
already knows what to say to Billy & the kids, but Hart will also be 
there tonight. The clone remembers that Hart is the one who came to 
the house "with the lady who owns the TV station." The clone thinks 
Cassie has really good taste in guys. Cassie agrees. She adds that 
she loves Hart a lot. He's a wonderful man who respects her & treats 
her like a lady. He has a son named Peter in Minnesota, so he knows 
what it's like to be a single parent. She's telling the clone all 
this so she'll know the things Reva would know. 

"What's it like to sleep with the man you love?" asks the clone. 
Cassie is taken aback. The clone wants to know because Reva would 
know. Cassie says the clone can't just go asking people personal 
questions like that. The clone says she' doesn't have anyone else she 
can ask those kinds of questions of. Cassie understands, but says 
they can deal with that later. Tonight is about bonding with the 
family. The clone says if Cassie won't tell her, she'll just have to 
ask Billy, or maybe Hart. Cassie freaks. The clone says she needs 
this info. Cassie gives up & says it's the most wonderful thing in 
the world. The clone lights up. She knew it. Cassie says these things 
take time, though. You can't just jump into bed with someone. It was 
months before she & Hart slept together. The clone asks why it's 
important to wait if you want to be with someone. Cassie says 
important to make sure it's not just about physical attraction. "You 
want to make sure it's the right time, the right place, so when 
you're together, with every kiss, with every touch, there's an 
incredible feeling. That's why making love with someone you're in 
love with is so special." 

The clone says that's how she feels about Josh. She's been waiting 
her whole life to be with him. Cassie says the clone has only known 
Josh a month; that's not nearly long enough. The clone says it feels 
like an eternity to her; it's her whole lifetime. Besides, she's 
supposed to be a mother to those kids, yet she's still a virgin. 
She's supposed to be the love of Josh's life, but she's never made 
love to him. When she's finally with him tonight, she doesn't want to 
disappoint him. Cassie says the clone won't be sleeping with Josh 
tonight. The clone points out that the kids will think it's very odd 
if their parents sleep in separate bedrooms. Cassie says they'll be 
in the same room, but all they'll be doing is sleeping. Love & 
passion take time. "Are you going to tell me what to do or not?" asks 
the clone. Cassie says she will tell the clone eventually, but not 
now. You have to let these things happen when they're supposed to 
happen. Cassie says she's going home to get ready & Josh will be by 
later to pick up the clone. And she urges the clone not to be 
nervous, promising to help her with whatever she needs. Cassie leaves 
& the clone says she's not nervous. She picks up the dress that 
Cassie said was Reva's favorite & tells herself that she has to keep 
remembering that Josh loved Reva more than anything. "And, I'm almost 
exactly like her." She holds the dress up. "Make that `exactly.'"

HARLEY'S: Phillip says Beth didn't kill Carl. Harley says he won't 
even admit that it's possible. Phillip says it's possible that anyone 
did it, including Nettie, or someone else that they don't suspect at 
all. It could even have been Harley. He's sick of fighting about 
things that have nothing to do with them. Harley says this has 
everything to do with them. The man who abused his ex-wife was shot & 
died in his living room. Phillip tells Harley to let it go; let Frank 
solve the case. They don't need to let this thing pull them apart. 
Harley asks if that's what's doing it. "You're doing it," says 
Phillip. He takes her in his arms. "You said you would fight like 
hell for us to stay together. Well that's what I'm asking you to do. 
I'm trying. I love you & I need you, but I need you to do this one 
thing for me. It's not that much; just don't look." 

Harley says she can't talk about this anymore. All she wants is to 
get away. Phillip suggests a drive up to Lakeville and lunch at the 
inn. They head for the door. Harley says she loves him & he returns 
the sentiment. They walk down the hall arm-in-arm.

SPAULDING MANSION: Beth says Alan knows Lillian didn't kill Carl. 
Alan says all he knows is that he didn't kill him. She & Lillian 
claim not to have killed him. But the killer was at the party, or 
else it's someone they don't know about, someone who was hired. 
Lillian thinks Alan is out of his mind & resents his accusations. He 
wonders why the mere mention of it upsets her so much. Is there 
something she's not telling them?

Beth asks Lillian if she's OK. Lillian says yes; he just resents 
Alan's accusations. Alan apologizes for offending her. Lillian says 
she just came over to check on Beth & Lizzie. Beth says Lizzie is 
still sleeping & invites Lillian to come check on her. Lillian 
declines, saying she has to go to the hospital. Beth goes upstairs & 
Alan heads for the study. Lillian tells herself she has to do this. 
She has to find out right now. She picks up the phone & dials someone 
named JC. She says they met the other night in the bar; she was the 
one who was so upset about her granddaughter. She was terrified that 
JC misunderstood her. "I never meant for you to kill Carl Stevens."

STREET OUTSIDE HARLEY'S: When they get to Phillip's car, Harley 
decides that it's a little chilly & she needs her jacket. Phillip 
says he'll pick out some music for the drive. Harley sees Phillip's 
jacket in the car & says she can just use that instead. He tries to 
stop her from picking it up, but isn't in time. Underneath the jacket 
are Beth's muddy shoes. Harley picks them up & asks what he's doing 
with them. "You think Beth killed Carl & you're trying to cover it 
up," she accuses.

LEWIS HOUSE: Cassie comes home & compliments the kids on their 
decorations. She sees Josh & sends the kids upstairs to get ready. 
She comments to Josh that they're very excited to Reva coming home. 
Josh says he's dreading it. He asks how "she" is. Cassie asks if Josh 
gave the clone approval to take more of Josh's formula. Josh says 
yes, & asks why. Cassie says he'll see when he picks her up. She 
looks exactly like Reva now. "She is Reva. She's your Reva."

Marah comes back downstairs for her crayons, then runs outside for a 
minute. Who's out there, but the clone, wearing a red suit & a white 
turtleneck. Marah rushes into the clone's arms. The clone hugs her 
gingerly.

ISLAND: Sean rigs the sail to the raft while Reva ties some buoys 
together. She comments that he has very kind eyes. He just stares at 
her, so she decides to go for a swim. Sean remembers her swimming at 
night in the lagoon & showering outside his house. He realizes that 
he doesn't want her to go, as the screen fades to black.

--Marni (marni@panix.com)


