From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1996

                     SHIP OF FOOLS

Written by Roger Newman and directed by John M. O'Connell

[Note: The stills under the closing credits are now in strict 
alphabetical order, beginning with Grant Aleksander. Rachel Budig is 
back & Marshall Hilliard is still there, but George Pilgrim is out.]

Highlights:
* Viv asks Holly for advice about Griff.
* Griff shuts Gilly out & gets it on with Viv.
* AM & Lucy battle the storm while their families worry & bicker.
* Holly flirts with a fearful Fletch.

HOLLY & FLETCH'S COTTAGE: Holly invites Vivian inside. Viv apologizes 
for the late hour, but Holly couldn't sleep anyway. Viv says Griff's 
plans have changed--he will be staying in Springfield rather than 
leaving. "I'm in terrible trouble & Gilly could be too."

GRIFFIN'S ROOM AT THE INN: Griff restlessly wanders around his room in 
his PJ pants & no shirt. There's a knock at the door & when he opens it, 
Gilly is there. He dons a robe & comments on how late she's working. She 
asks to be invited in & he obliges. "What can I do for you?" he asks. 
"Actually, it's what I can do for you," replies Gilly. 

SPAULDING MANSION: Phillip, Alex, Buzz & Reva all pace while Alan calls 
in a marker with a congressman. He says his son & daughter-in-law have 
been caught on their boat in a very bad storm off the coast of South 
Carolina. He wants the congressman to put pressure on the Coast Guard to 
do everything in their power to find the newlyweds.

RISING STAR: AM & Lucy huddle over the wheel on the bridge while the 
storm rages outside. The ship tosses & Lucy frets. AM tries to figure 
out what's wrong with the engines. The fuel gauge reads empty and the 
bilge pump is broken. The ship is probably taking on water, which may be 
why the engines quit. AM leaves Lucy in charge of the wheel while he 
goes to see what he can do. Lucy warns that it's too dangerous for him 
to go outside. He says he has no choice & won't be long. Suddenly, the 
ship lurches & they are both thrown to the floor.

SPAULDING MANSION: Buzz demands that Alan fill him in on his earlier 
conversation with the Coast Guard. Alan complains that he's already told 
Buzz everything, but Buzz wants to hear it again. The Coast Guard 
received a distress call from the Rising Star 200 miles off the coast of 
SC & lost it. Amanda enters & asks what it means that they "lost it." 
Alex snipes that it doesn't mean what Amanda hopes. Alan breaks up the 
bickering. Buzz, Reva & Phillip all come up with reassuring explanations 
for the signal loss, such as interference. 

Buzz asks about the boat & Alan yells that it's 80' with a back-up 
generator & state-of-the-art instrumentation. Phillip says it would take 
a hell of a storm to damage the yacht. He & Reva suggest that AM saw the 
storm on radar & got out of the area or sought shelter. Buzz latches 
onto this, but Alex wonders why they set off the emergency beacon. The 
room falls silent. Buzz & Alan agree that they have to face facts--Lucy 
& AM are in trouble. Everyone wonders what they can do to help. Alan 
says they can't do any more than the Coast Guard & yells angrily at Buzz 
that if there was something else he could do, he would.

SINKING STAR: AM & Lucy pick themselves. The emergency lights are back 
on. Maybe the bilge pumps will work now. AM repeats that he has to check 
the engines, because if they don't get them working, the consequences 
could be dire. He digs out life jackets & Lucy puts hers on. AM finds 
something wrong with his & decides he doesn't need it anyway. He tosses 
it aside & says he's going to check the antenna to see if he can get the 
radio working. He tells Lucy if she hears any noise from the radio, she 
should send out a MayDay call & give their last known position as 180 
miles southeast of Cape Fear. They share one, no two last kisses before 
AM goes off to battle the storm. Lucy struggles with the wheel.

HOLLY'S: Viv recaps that she began boffing Griffin when Gilly started 
showing a romantic interest in him. This extreme action was necessary to 
prevent an incestuous affair between dad & daughter. Viv's affair was 
only supposed to last as long as Griff's fellowship at the U, but now 
he's entrenched in the 5th St. fight. Viv asks Holly to have Fletch talk 
Griff out of this cause. "It's not his battle." Holly doubts that Fletch 
can sway Griff, who's not a man to walk away from a cause. Viv laments 
that Griff gives his causes more attention than the people who need him. 

Holly deduces that Viv has not exactly been gritting her teeth 
throughout this affair. "I did not know he was staying," Viv insists. 
Holly asks if his staying is really such bad news for Viv.

GRIFF'S ROOM: Gilly says she just came from a fund-raiser for the under-
privileged of Springfield. Griff was the hot topic of conversation. 
"You've stood this town on its ear, or at least its conscience," she 
says. Griff says he's done it with a lot of help from her. Gilly says 
they still have more to do. They need to start strategizing, tonight.

Gilly says the consensus is that the way to go with situations like 5th 
St. is private investment, and gov't handouts & fund-raisers are 
unnecessary. Gilly is disturbed, but Griff has heard this song before. 
Public funds earmarked for disaster relief often get lost before making 
it to their intended destination. Gilly asks if there's anything they 
can do. Griff says they can raise bloody hell. "There's no way they're 
going to bury those funds just because Big Daddy Spaulding wants to turn 
this place into Gentrification City." Gilly likes this response & asks 
for a drink. Griff pours while she complains about the hypocrites who 
are toying with 5th St. Griff says they're playing Monopoly  with real 
hotels & utilities. But they won't let Alan pass go or collect $200.

Gilly says the mayor & other civic leaders were wondering whether Griff 
would stay in Springfield after his fellowship ends. Griff snorts at 
them & asks what Gilly told them. She said the 5th St. project was very 
important to him & might keep him around. She stands very close to him & 
speaks very silkily. Griff turns to her & looks into her eyes.

She takes the drink, extending the contact of their hands far longer 
than necessary. Griff says Gilly is a very attractive woman... She notes 
that he too is attractive. Griff continues that it's important to keep 
business separate from personal involvements. Gilly says she has no 
problem keeping them separate. Griff says Gilly doesn't understand--he's 
involved with another woman. Gilly had no idea. That's the point, says 
Griff. He assumed his private life would remain private. Gilly 
apologizes & is quite embarrassed. Griff says there's no harm done, but 
in the future they should only meet during regular business hours. 

He reminds Gilly that he's a target for the media & wants the woman he's 
seeing to be protected from that, when she's in from out of town. He 
wants their time together to be theirs alone. Gilly understands. Griff 
adds that it's also a good idea that Gilly not show up at his room 
unannounced anymore. Embarrassed again, Gilly assures him it won't 
happen again. She wonders why Griff is so intent on keeping his 
relationship so low-key. Is his lady friend married?

HOLLY'S: Viv only cares about protecting her family. Holly finds Viv's 
solution "unconventional & a bit risky." She thinks Viv isn't being 
honest with herself. Griff was Viv's passion. Viv protests that this was 
long ago. "Yeah, but you know, once a passion..." Holly thinks of her 
own long-standing passion. She continues that it's obvious Viv's 
feelings run very deep. Viv admits she doesn't mind Griff's attentions & 
it's like she's found a piece of herself that she lost years ago. Holly 
knows it's good for the ego. "But that is all it can be," insists Viv, 
adding that she's married to a very good man. Their relationship has 
never been passionate, but he's been a good husband & wonderful father & 
she loves him for that. She has to protect her family.

Holly repeats the ends of Viv's sentences, causing Viv to suspect that 
Holly is skeptical. "You tell me," says Holly. Viv says she has to leave 
& apologizes for imposing. Holly brushes this off. Viv asks what Holly 
would do. Holly thinks Viv should come up with a plan, because she can't 
go on as she has been indefinitely. Viv just knows she has to keep Griff 
& Gilly apart, without either of them finding out why. Fletch enters & 
is surprised to see so many other people awake. He checks the sleeping 
baby, kisses Holly & asks what he heard about Griff & a secret. Viv says 
she's planning a surprise party for Griff for after his fellowship ends. 
Fletch agrees to keep it quiet. Viv says good night & departs.

SPAULDING MANSION: Amanda suggests calling the Coast Guard again. Alan & 
Buzz both say the Coast Guard will get in touch if there's any news. 
Amanda offers to get food for Alan, but he replies testily that he's not 
hungry. He won't eat until he knows AM is safe. Amanda repeats her offer 
to Buzz & Reva. Buzz declines, as he's trying to cut down on Spaulding 
handouts. Quietly, Phillip asks Alan if AM's really capable of handling 
the ship in these adverse conditions. Alan insists that AM is completely 
qualified. Phillip, keeping his voice low, worries that AM's experience 
may not have prepared him for handling a dangerous gale. "Phillip, you 
have no idea what your brother is capable of," says Alan ominously.

S.S. MINNOW: AM struggles in the engine area. Lucy steers, anxiously 
peering through the windshield wipers. AM doesn't see any signs of a 
fuel leak. He steps up on a railing & grabs onto a cabinet, trying to 
avoid a flooded area. A loose bolt on the cabinet causes it to crash 
down on AM, landing him on his back in the water. Sparks flare out of 
the back of the cabinet, scarily reminiscent of a toaster in a bathtub.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan fills Phillip in on AM's guts in dealing with 
the maniacal but clever Brent. AM earned his place as Spaulding prez. 
Phillip doesn't doubt this. Reva slips out of the room. Buzz listens in 
as Alan extols AM's virtues & finally interrupts to complain that Alan 
is talking about AM like he's dead. "He's not dead!" Buzz insists. 

Reva enters the darkened study & starts snooping.

LINDSEY-READE COTTAGE: Fletch brings Holly some herbal tea & covers her 
cold feet with an afghan. He fusses over the tea & they share some inane 
conversation. She reminds him it's been 6 weeks since she gave birth. 
Fletch loves taking care of her. Meg gives a "diaper cry" & Fletch rises 
to tend to her, offering to return with Holly's bunny slippers. She 
wonders why he's so concerned about her feet. He just wants her to be 
warm. Bunny slippers won't do the trick, she hints. Fletch is dense & 
asks what she wants. "You," she replies. Finally, he gets it.

GRIFF'S ROOM: As his press secretary, Gilly says she needs to know if 
Griff is involved with a woman who could compromise his image. She needs 
a story ready in case some tabloid makes an inquiry. She needs him to be 
completely up front with her about his personal life. "No," says Griff 
firmly. Gilly insists, but he refuses. Gilly warns that the press could 
do a smear job on him if she doesn't have all the facts. "What you don't 
know won't hurt me," says Griff. If anyone asks about his personal life, 
all she has to say is she doesn't know. It's best if she knows nothing.

In the hallway, Vivian fixes her hair & approaches Griff's door.

Gilly says she'll respect Griff's wishes & hopes the tabloids don't come 
calling. And in the future, she'll call before coming by.

Out in the hall, Viv hears them talking & beats a hasty retreat.

Gilly says Griff must have one hell of a woman. Griff agrees. Gilly 
leaves with a thoughtful look. The hall is empty. A few moments later, 
Griff answers another knock. Viv tells him to close the door quickly so 
Gilly won't see her. Griff admits Viv was right about Gilly's interest 
in him, but he told her it wasn't going to happen. He was very careful 
about her feelings though. Viv wants to know exactly what Griff said. 
Griff recaps the conversation, including the part about a woman from out 
of town whom he cares about deeply & wants to protect. They kiss. "That 
woman's you, Vivian. It's you I want. Only you." They kiss again.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan yells that he's not giving up on his son. He & 
Buzz yell at each other some more. Phillip apologizes for getting Alan 
so wrought up, but says the AM he's describing is very different from 
the kid Phillip left 5 years ago. Alan defends AM some more & Alex 
allows as how AM's a Spaulding through & through. Buzz laughs at the 
Spaulding drive to be the big dog sitting in a big chair. Phillip says 
that Buzz seems to like AM anyway. Buzz says it took awhile, but he saw 
past the surface & AM won him over. AM's not a "win-at-all-costs-screw-
em-all Spaulding." Buzz says this killer gene seems to have bypassed AM. 
Maybe his mama's side of the family balanced it out. "I hear you're 
lucky too," he congratulates Phillip. "You're not a Spaulding by birth." 

Phil smiles at this. Alex never knew Buzz was such an expert on 
genetics. Buzz says he's just an observer of human nature; he sees all 
kinds in the diner. "Enjoy it while you can," mumbles Amanda. "All 
kinds," repeats Buzz. He expounds seriously [no arm-waving] on the 
differences between people who are victims of circumstance & don't have 
the heart to break out & others. Alex drowns the rest of his theory. 
Alan is happy to let Buzz ramble on as a distraction. Buzz says AM was 
able to rise above his circumstances & showed that the sins of the 
father do not have to be visited on the son. Or the daughter.

The phone rings & Alan answers anxiously. He asks if there's any word 
about AM. Amanda slips out of the room.

FALLING STAR: AM is trapped underwater, possibly unconscious. Bubbles 
rise from his lips. On the bridge, Lucy worries because he's not back 
yet. She grabs some rope & rigs something intended to hold the wheel 
steady while she prays aloud for their safety. She deserts the bridge.

Lucy enters the engine room, calling for AM. She sees him underwater & 
lifts his head. He sputters & coughs as she whacks his back.

SPAULDING MANSION: Reva has found some papers of interest & is perusing 
them when Amanda interrupts & asks what she's doing. Reva says she was 
just looking for a pen. Amanda doesn't buy it. Reva doesn't care. She's 
just seen the plans for redevelopment & there's no hospital or church or 
community center or low-income housing. "Why not? Because they don't 
exist? Liars!" Amanda grabs the plans from Reva, who tries to get them 
back. This results in some amusing arm-flapping on both women's parts.

Back in the main salon, Alan hangs up. The Coast Guard hasn't found 
anything. The storm is getting worse. Reva's & Amanda's voices waft in 
from the hallway as they bring their fight to an audience. Amanda whines 
to Alan that while everyone was worrying, "this one" ransacked the 
study. Alan yells at Reva to get out of his house. Reva says she has 
faith that Lucy & AM will be all right, and she intends to see that 
Lucy's family isn't out on the street when Lucy gets back. Amanda can't 
see how Alan ever cared about Reva. "She doesn't have a heart." Reva 
retorts that Amanda & Alan have no souls. [Shall we send them to the 
Wizard?] All they want is to make a buck. "All you people know how to do 
is tear down & destroy." She knows that they plan to wipe out the entire 
place because she's seen the plans. "You lying dog," accuses Buzz.

LINDSEY-READE LOVE-NEST: Meg is asleep. Holly makes eyes at Fletch. She 
thinks he's sexy because he knows about herbs & baby diapering. She 
invites him to join her under her afghan & says the next move is his. 
Fletch puts his arm around her, with some prompting. He seems hesitant 
to do anything further & asks about the doctor's instructions. Holly 
said they were supposed to wait 6 weeks & it's now been 8 weeks and 2 
days. Fletch is still worried about whether Holly is all right. She 
assures him that she's fine & he finally puts the moves on her.

GRIFF'S ROOM: Viv bares Griff's chest & he unbuttons her jacket. He 
carries her to the bed & lays her down right on top of the jacket.

SPAULDING MANSION: Buzz goes for Alan as Reva tries to hold him back. 
Phillip steps between the 2 men as everyone shouts simultaneously. Buzz 
yells that they're vermin for what they're trying to do, and how dare 
they call Reva names. He vows that they will pay. Alex yells even louder 
that they all have much more important things to worry about, namely 
Lucy & AM. Everyone shuts up.

CATCH A RISING STAR: Lucy says they have to get out of the engine room 
because the water is rising. AM is pinned & can't move. Lucy struggles 
to free him & AM passes out & goes under again. Freeze frame on the 
waterlogged wunderkind as the screen fades to black.


--Marni (marni@panix.com)


