From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1996

Highlights:
* Philip & Amanda get reacquainted.
* Alan makes Buzz an offer.
* Rick confronts Blake about her test results.

SPAULDING MANSION: Philip leads the procession of Spauldings into the 
ancestral home. No one looks too cheerful. Alan refuses lunch, saying he 
has things to do. Alex hopes he's planning to pull out of the 5th St. 
business. Amanda says it's none of Alex's business. Philip just shakes 
his head & welcomes himself home.

DINER: Buzz & Reva share a few moments in the diner, getting the place 
ready to reopen. Buzz is managing despite his bandaged hand & Reva says 
she's fit as a fiddle & raring to go. Buzz thanks her for selling her 
bracelet to buy the plane tickets. Reva says she'd sell her soul to get 
as far away from Alan as possible. Buzz is amazed at her resilience 
after all she's just been through. She thinks they make a good couple. 
Buzz comes around the counter to kiss her just as Josh enters.

CEDARS: Rick is leaving a message for Blake as Michelle comes by in 
candy-striper mode. Rick asks what she's doing dressed like that. She 
explains Ed's way of keeping his eye on her. Rick thinks the outfit 
looks cute. She blames Rick for telling Ed about trying to bring J to 
Florida. Rick says he warned her. "You should have left Kato at home." 
:-) Michelle mentions that Blake is in Dr. Sedwick's office, since she 
heard him looking for her on the phone. "What's she doing there?" asks 
Rick. "It's a gyno's office -- figure it out," she tells Dr. Rick. Rick 
asks if Michelle heard anything. Michelle says it was some kind of test.

In Dr. Sedwick's office, Blake starts to freak. She says the results 
have to be wrong. Dr. Sedwick is also astonished, but says it's not 
impossible. "My babies can't have two different fathers -- I only have 
one husband!" exclaims Blake. She wants another test. Dr. Sedwick says 
it won't show anything different. Annie looks almost as upset as Blake.

Annie says everything will be fine; both babies are healthy. doesn't 
know how to tell Ross. Then she worries that word will be all over the 
hospital from the people who ran the tests. Margaret reminds her that 
the lab techs are bound by confidentiality, but Blake thinks twins with 
different fathers is too big a story--they're bound to talk. But, 
reminds Annie, thanks to Fern LaPlant, no one will connect the story to 
Blake. still wants to take disciplinary action against the other man for 
looking at Blake's records, but Blake won't tell. Margaret suggests that 
Blake reconsider, then gets beeped. Before the doctor leaves, Blake asks 
about her babies' gender. Margaret says they're both boys, then leaves.

Annie stays with the much-subdued Blake. "We're going to have sons. Me 
and Ross. And Rick."

Out in the hall, Michelle asks why Rick is so concerned about Blake. 
Rick is just worried that Blake might be sick. Michelle only heard about 
tests. No one tells her anything. She asks Rick to intercede with Ed for 
her & begs to borrow his car, since Ed won't let her use his anymore. 
Rick says they'll talk later & rushes off. 

DINER: Josh starts to leave, but Buzz urges him to stay & offers coffee. 
Buzz thanks Josh for the info on Advantage Systems. Josh sees their 
bandages & asks what happened. Matt & Van enter & ask the same thing. 
Buzz explain it was the result of some "unintentional off-roading." Buzz 
says they know who's behind Advantage Systems.

Frank & Eleni enter & start making coffee. Reva says Josh likes his 
black. Griff & Gilly enter & Gilly sings Griff's praises for convincing 
the butcher down the street not to sell to Advantage. Van says whoever's 
in charge is really slick & knows what he's doing. Buzz agrees.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alex wants Alan to call the whole thing off; Amanda 
wants him to get on with his plan. Alex says it's too late, because 
everyone knows that Alan is Advantage Systems. How can Amanda suggest 
that Alan continue to ruin Lucy's family, after all he went through to 
regain AM's trust? Alex wonders why? Amanda says it's about business, 
not family. Alex says the best thing for Alan to do is to tell the 
truth--that he temporarily lost his head over Reva, but it's all over 
now. Alan says it's not about Reva anymore. Amanda agrees that it's not 
a personal venture. Advantage Systems will be the cornerstone of Alan's 
new empire. Alan is tired of hearing Alex & Amanda snipe at each other. 
Amanda says she's with Alan, whatever he decides. Alex says she is too, 
as long as it doesn't hurt Philip or AM.

Alan is surprised that neither Alex nor Amanda have had any creative 
solutions. "The third option is right in front of us." Philip enters & 
asks what that option is. "Maybe I can help."

ROOSEVELT PARK: Fletch wheels the carriage while Holly races ahead. 
They're on the way to the office, but Holly worries about the baby. She 
suggests that Fletch take Meg home while she goes to the office. Fletch 
would rather stay in the park. Holly feels like she's being a rotten 
mother. Fletch says it's OK; they need their salaries. 

A woman comes by & says Meg is beautiful. "And don't worry about the 
shape of her head; in 3 months she'll be normal & look just like 
everybody else." Holly & Fletch stare at the woman in shock.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan says Philip has been more than enough help 
already, having gotten Alan into his current predicament by spilling the 
beans about Advantage Systems. Philip insists he had no idea it was a 
secret, besides Reva & Buzz were 3/4 of the way there already. Alan 
wants to talk to Alex alone, so they leave Philip & Amanda.

Amanda suggests that they catch up with each other. Philip lost track of 
her when he left for Arizona 5 years ago. Last he heard, she was in 
California. Amanda decides it's time to find Philip a room & suggests 
one of the rooms they reserve for overnight guests. Philip leans back & 
puts his feet up. "I think chances are I'll be staying longer than 
overnight," he replies. Amanda leaves to see to Philip's room.

DR. SEDWICK'S OFFICE: Blake thinks Ross would have understood & forgiven 
her if she had told him she slept with Rick, considering the circum-
stances. Even if both babies had been Rick's, she thinks they could have 
gotten past it, but not this. Annie insists that Ross loves Blake very 
much. Blake is sure that Ross will leave her if she tells the truth & 
that she's wrecked what should be the best time of their lives. She 
predicts that she will be a single mother with twins. Annie tells Blake 
to stop expecting the worst. Blake wishes she could go far away. Annie 
suggests some juice & muffins and opens the door. Guess who's on the 
other side? "Did you take the test? And if you did, what did you find 
out?" asks Rick. Blake turns away & sits down.

Rick is surprised to see Annie. They exchange small talk about the 
trauma team & then Rick asks for some time alone with Blake. Blake 
suggests that he should be asking *her* & not Annie, and she minds very 
much. She gives Rick what-for for harassing her from land, sea & air, 
and she tells him that Annie knows all. Annie pipes up that Rick has no 
business harassing Blake. Rick says it's none of her damn business. 
Blake wonders if she can get a word in edgewise. Rick says if he's the 
father, he has the right to know & Blake is obligated to tell him. "Did 
you take the test?" he asks. "Did   you   take   the   test?!" Yes, she 
says. "Well, who's the father? Is it Ross or is it me?"

PARK: Fletch informs the nosy bystander that Meg looks the way she does 
not because of forceps, but because of Down syndrome. Holly insists that 
Meg is beautiful & they adore her. "Of course she is. Of course you do," 
says the woman, then walks away. Holly realizes they will have to deal 
with this again & again. They realize the woman was embarassed & didn't 
mean to be cruel. Holly thinks maybe she should skip the office & stay 
with Fletch & Meg, but he insists they'll be fine. He knows the 
difference between the "change me" cry & the "feed me" cry & 
demonstrates both for our edification. Holly finally leaves, with much 
encouragement from Fletch.

Alone with Meg, Fletch tells her she is beautiful, takes after her mom & 
he loves her to pieces.

DINER: Buzz says they proved what they suspected -- Alan has been behind 
Advantage Systems from the start. And he had the chutzpah to announce 
that he was buying the company to save them all. Gilly wonders how AM 
took it; Buzz says AM & Lucy don't know yet. Van wonders why Alan is 
going after 5th St. Buzz says it's because of Reva. Griff says if Alan 
is operating on emotion, he's vulnerable & they can beat him. Buzz 
agrees. "Spaulding doesn't know what he's up against. We have the 
advantage. We know the enemy." "That you do," says Alan, as he enters 
with Alex. 

CEDARS: Rick is still waiting to know if he's the father. "All right, 
all right," says Blake, exasperated. "The results of my test are that my 
alphafetoprotein is just fine." Rick is confused. Blake says she took 
the CVS test, but the lab is still working on the results. The results 
she got back today were for the spina bifida test. She says she will 
tell him the results when she gets them. Rick doesn't believe that she 
doesn't have the results yet, because she said she took the test 2 days 
ago. Annie tells him to back off. "I expect to hear from you soon," says 
Rick. Under one condition, says Blake. "Stop bugging me." Rick leaves. 

Blake leans against the wall & says she couldn't tell him because she 
has to tell Ross first. Annie offers to drive her home, but Blake says 
she'll be fine. "I've got to do this myself." She plans to walk over to 
Ross's office & figure out how to tell him on the way. "I'll be thinking 
about you," promises Annie. "Don't think--pray," requests Blake. She 
leaves & Annie follows her out the door.

SPAULDING MANSION: Philip looks at the photos on the mantel, including a 
recent one of the Spauldings. Amanda enters & says it was too bad he 
wasn't there for the photo. "You miss out on all kinds of things when 
you get banished for 5 years," says Philip philosophically. So did Beth 
& Lizzie, he adds. That was the worst part, really, yanking them away 
from their home & family. Amanda understands; she hated being away from 
Alan & the rest of the family all those years. Philip says the 
difference is that she could have come home whenever she wanted. Not 
exactly, she says, but doesn't elaborate. 

She hopes he'll be comfortable in his rooms. She's put him in the back 
part of the west wing. She'd give him her suite, but she needs to be 
close to Alan for work. Philip comments on how closely they've become. 
Amanda says Alan is amazing, but demanding. Philip says he'll be 
comfortable anywhere. He even slept in the stables at one time. "But you 
would know about that. I understand you had a stable of your own back in 
Malibu." ;-) Amanda seems a bit surprised that Alex actually told 
Philip. "She couldn't wait," says Phil with a smile. "And you can't wait 
to tell Father," she replies.

DINER: Frank & Eleni attack Alan for daring to show his face on 5th St. 
Buzz says Alex is welcome anytime, but Alan better get his butt out 
right now. Alex urges them to listen to Alan. Alan says that after the 
fire, he wanted to help redevelop 5th St., but he also wanted to make a 
profit, like any developer. He wanted to stay in the background because 
if the owners on 5th St. knew he was the driving force, they would have 
held out for a lot more money & nothing would ever have gotten 
accomplished. Since he lost $10 million saving AM & Lucy, he doesn't 
have the resources he once did, but he's a good businessman & plans to 
make back every penny. "Out of our hides," comments Buzz. 

Alan says the plans for redevelopment include low-income housing, a 
church & a clinic. Griff recognizes this as the standard line of BS: 
"That's what all you real estate developer types say to all us po' folk 
types. And what happens? No church, no clinic, no low-income housing. No 
po' folks." Those assembled agree with Griff. Alan respects Griff's 
opinion, but says he's wrong. He's committed & believes that 5th St. 
will come back. He appeals to Buzz to work together with him.

Buzz recognizes this as a new spin on Alan's offer in Florida to buy his 
own company to save them all. Alan hands a check to Buzz & says it's for 
3 times what the diner is worth. He's willing to match it for the other 
owners in the area. Buzz says Alan will just knock everything down to 
build a new Spauldingville. Alan says the check is a sign of his desire 
for peace & harmony. "I am cutting my profits in half." Alex encourages 
Buzz to reconsider. She says she's gone over the whole plan & it makes 
sense & everyone will profit. 

Frank takes a look at the check. "That's a lot of zeroes, dad." Gilly 
whispers to Griff that Alan can't be trusted & thinks he should speak 
up. Griff says it's the Coopers' decision. Buzz hands the check to Reva 
& asks her opinion. She says any decision he makes is fine with her. 

PARK: Blake bumps into Fletch & apologizes for being so out of it. He 
says it's better she bumped into him than a bus. Blake plays with Meg 
while Fletch wonders if his daughter will grow up to do Blake & Holly's 
wrinkle-between-the-eyebrows thing. He asks what she's worried about. 
Blake says it's nothing. Fletch says they're family & she can always 
bring her problems to him. 

"If mom did something really awful, would you forgive her?" Fletch asks 
how awful. The worst, says Blake. Fletch says no matter how terrible it 
was, he would put Meg's interests first & act accordingly. Blake seems 
somewhat relieved to hear he would put the child first. Fletch says 
she'll understand better after she & Ross have their kids.

SPAULDING MANSION: Philip asks why he would want to tell Alan about the 
Malibu Madam? He has no reason to do that, yet. Amanda perceives this as 
a threat. Philip says he has no desire & nothing to gain by hurting her. 
"If you really believe that, we have more in common than you think," 
says Amanda. She'd like to get to know Philip better & learn about his 
life. Phil is surprised that Alex & Alan haven't filled her in. Amanda 
says Alex tells her nothing & calls her a witch. Watch it, warns Philip. 
She's the only family member who's bothered to keep in touch with him. 

Amanda apologizes, but wants Philip to understand her position. She's 
made mistakes & has had to pay dearly for them, so she can relate to 
what he's gone through. Oh, so you do know what happened to me, notes 
Philip. Amanda has a vague picture of a madman who framed Philip & put 
his fingerprints on a bomb. This tidbit intrigues Philip. Only people 
who were directly involved knew about the fingerprints. Since she wasn't 
around at the time, how did she know that?

Amanda says Alan might have mentioned it. Philip says Alan was in 
prison. Maybe it was Alex then, says Amanda. Does it really matter? 
Philip says everything that happens in their family matters. Amanda 
changes the subject by getting concerned about Philip's room & dinner. 
What would he like? Since there's no fatted calf around, Phil would love 
a bowl of Vera's fish stew. Amanda says Vera's been gone for ages :-(, 
but she'll talk to Cook. After she leaves, Philip notes how anxious she 
was to get away from him.

DINER: Buzz rips Alan's check in half & says his family is not for sale. 
He goes on about this at length, in typical Buzz fashion. "You're making 
a huge mistake," warns Alan, deriding the "greasy spoon." Buzz says the 
place may be a little run down, but it's clean, because it's a place 
where real people come to meet their friends & neighbors, a place where 
people can run a tab. It's a place for the heart. "It's our place. Now 
you must leave because YOU ARE ON OUR PROPERTY! GO!!" 

Alan says he made his offer & Buzz turned it down. He'll deal with the 
other merchants while Buzz & his ragtag band do what they wish. Alan 
storms out & Alex follows him, obviously distressed. Most everyone 
applauds Buzz's stand, but Josh looks worried.

Outside, Alan rants about Buzz throwing the offer in his face. Alex 
urges him to let it go. Alan says no. It's war & he intends to win, no 
matter what the cost.

PARK: Blake says Meg & Holly are both lucky. Fletch says Ross is special 
& Blake shouldn't forget it. He offers to escort Blake to Ross's office 
or home. Blake thanks him, but says she has to do it on her own. She 
gives Meg a kiss & heads off, thanking Fletch.

CEDARS: Rick, flaunting every semblance of respect for confidentiality, 
sits at a computer, intent on finding out the results of Blake's CVS 
test. He pulls up the OB/GYN database. "What do you think you're doing?" 
demands Annie, surprising him. "As if I didn't know!" Freeze frame on 
Rick's guilty face as the screen fades to black.

--Marni (marni@panix.com)


