From: Signifying Nothing <SDL3966@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu>

Folks, unfortunately due to the infinite wisdom of WBZ-TV in 
Boston, I missed two chunks of today's episode for lame news 
updates. These are explicated in the text below. If anyone cares to 
fill in what was missed, please feel free. Thanks.
 
It's Cheesy Mystery-Novel Night in Springfield, USA...
 
ANNIE'S APARTMENT
=================
 
A lone candle burns as Annie sleeps on her sofa. Banging on the 
door wakes her. She shrieks with terror. Josh's voice calls her name. 
She tears the door open and he comes in, looking much the worse 
for wear after his confrontation with Reva. He hugs Annie. "It's 
over."
 
LEWIS HOME
==========
 
Marah, too, is sleeping on the sofa. Reva sits next to her and fondles 
her hair. 'Mommy," Marah murmurs. Suddenly, more loud banging 
on the door. [Am I doomed to forever update the same scene over 
and over? :) ]  Reva disappears. Vanessa comes down the stairs in 
her bathrobe and opens the door to Tangie. Tangie apologizes for 
coming over so early. "Is it Dinah?" Vanessa asks breathlessly.
 
SPAULDING YACHT
===============
 
His doublet all unbraced, no hat upon his head, and with a look 
piteous in purport, Alan-Michael tears through the yacht yelling 
Lucy's name. Lucy appears from a back room, wondering what's 
wrong. A-M says he freaked when he went to her cabin and she 
wasn't there. She tells him it's a beautiful day, "perfect for the first 
day of my life. Brent is gone, and the best part of all of it is 
I'm making breakfast." [?]  She shakes a spatula at him.
 
HOTEL ROOM
==========
 
A mysterious figure, shrouded in darkness, carrying a box, enters a 
room and dumps the box on a bed. He tosses a newspaper onto the 
bed and we see the headline: "Turmoil at Spaulding Enterprises.'' 
Photos of Alan, AM and Brent are under the headline. The 
mysterious man uses a nasty-looking knife to slice out the article, 
and then crumples it in his hands. Pan upwards and we see it's 
Brent, looking menacing. [OK, raise your hand if you were surprised 
he didn't stay in Seattle.]
 
Roll lighthouse.
 
YACHT
=====
 
"You must have slept really good last night," AM observes, oblivious 
to the bloodcurdling death-shrieks of the English language as he 
mangles it in his merciless mouth. Equally oblivious, Lucy sets out 
silverware and babbles about how happy she is. She can't wait to 
get back to work. AM wants to talk about something else: what 
happened last night. Lucy claims she's perfectly OK. She tells him 
not to worry about the almost-kiss. He tells her it might help to talk 
to "somebody" (i.e. a rape-survivors support group) about the rape. 
She is adamantly opposed to the idea, thinking that talking will only 
make it worse. She just wants to forget abot the whole thing. 
"You're all the help I need." He looks unconvinced.
 
LEWIS HOME
==========
 
Tangie tells Vanessa that the police are analyzing the tape to see if 
it has any clues to where Dinah's being held, but that she sounds OK 
on the tape. Cutter asked Tangie to come tell Vanessa to gather the 
family so they can all listen to the tape together and see if they 
hear anything that might be a clue.
 
At this point my local station [&^*%#!] interrupted for a stupid story 
about a car accident locally. The interruption only lasted about two 
minutes.
 
When we return, we're back in Annie's place. We meet Annie and 
Josh in mid-smooch. Josh has tears on his face. He tells Annie he 
wants to make love to her. Re-engage smooch, and fade to black.
 
You're gonne go jogging on decaf? I think not.
 
LEWIS HOME
==========
 
Vanessa has gathered the troops with amazing rapidity. Henry 
offers coffee to a nervous Ross, who turns it down, then hugs Blake as 
Matt and Bill look on.
 
Cutter enters with the tape and tells everyone to listen for clues in 
Dinah's tone of voice that might tell something. Before they begin to 
listen, the doorbell rings and Van goes to answer it, saying she 
knows who it is. It's Rog. Vanessa says she's glad to see him; Ross 
looks suspicious. Van claims Rog is here to see Peter. Rog goes 
upstairs as Van rejoins the others.
 
Cutter plays the tape. Dinah addresses "Daddy" and says it's all her 
fault for getting in trouble. She says she's OK, though scared. The 
family listens, riveted, as she tells them "that man" wants $2mill. "I 
know I'm not worth it, but...." The tape ends and 
Vanessa, looking distraught, says that Dinah sounds so scared. Ross 
reminds her that at least Dinah is alive and OK. "We hold on to 
that." Pan to Roger in the background, sitting on the steps and 
listening intently.
 
KIDNAP HIDEOUT
==============
Mellow 70s music plays as Dinah puffs away on another cigarette 
and dictates into her tape recorder. "Life in Captivity, by Dinah 
Marler. What a dreary experience this is. My nerves are shot. The 
days are long, the nights are worse." She looks down at the 
handcuffs chaining her to the sofa. "Every minute is dissected into 
tiny ticks of my life force." She sighs heavily, smoke drifting out of 
her nose and mouth. "Waiting is heavy, like pressure in my lungs. 
[No, dear, that's the nicotine.] But then sometimes I feel 
like I'm going to get through this. That's the weird thing, the 
mood swings. One minute I'm way up there, hopeful and optimistic, 
and the next minute I'm crashing down, deep and dark despair." She 
likes the sound of "dark despair" so she says it again. Then she 
looks disgusted, stops the recorder and tells herself "dark despair" 
is a cliche. She decides on "crushing" instead and starts anew." My 
every thought is, "They'll come, they'll rescue me.'" Viktor 
approaches and listens as she details her wait for rescue "The worst 
is will my captor loose what little humanity he has left?" Viktor 
clears his throat.
 
SPAULDING ENTERPRISES
=====================
 
Alan enters to find Alex dictating a note, claiming that there is no 
truth to Brent's accusations, that in fact Brent is just a disgruntled 
employee who's currently under investigation. She sees Alan and 
dismisses the cartographer. She tells Alan she's appointed herself his 
press secretary and answers the phone. It's the Journal, asking if 
Tangie can come to the press conference Alan's about to give. Alex 
says sure. A reporter barges in and asks Alan how Brent could have 
falsified all those records without help, specifically Alan's. Alan 
tells him to come to the press conference and throws him out.
 
Off the elevator come three intimidating men in three sizes of 
business suit: small, medium, large. Medium tells Alan they're an 
independant accounting firm hired to go over Spaulding's books. 
Alan and Alex ask each other who hired them. AM enters with Lucy 
and says he hired them. They're doing a review of the company's 
financial records for the past ten years. Alan and Alex try to hide 
their self-centered dismay as AM innocently [ ;) ] tells them he 
wants to clear all their names, so they can start with a clean slate. 
Behind him, Lucy smirks. Cue spooky music...

HOTEL
=====
 
Creepy, suspenseful music and some interesting camera work 
heighten the tense feeling as Brent uncrumples the article and tapes it 
to his mirror, along with a number of other articles about the 
troubles at Spaulding, and a copy of the company newsletter with 
him on the cover as Employee of the Year. We fade out on a closeup 
of a photo of Lucy, sitting atop Brent's gun on the bed. [Symbolism, 
anyone?

Halftime. 
 
SPAULDING
=========
 
AM maintains his innocent face while telling Alan he'll be pleased 
with the results of the review. Alan and Alex make a quick exit and 
Lucy offers to show Small, Medium and Large to the accounting 
department.
 
Alone, AM calls Cedars and asks Lillian to help him out.
 
In the hallway, Alan tells Alex he's going to make sure the 
accountants have "Everything they need." Alex says it's a good idea. 
They give each other a significant look. Alan has to prepare for the 
press conference. On his way out he bumps into Tangie, who 
apologizes for being late to the press conference, which she isn't. 
Alan apologizes for keeping her up late last night; she says she had 
a good time. "Wait for me," Alan says and takes off, grinning. Tangie 
squirms under Alex's glare.

LEWIS HOME
==========
 
The family listens to the tape again. Blake stews, looking skeptical, 
and then asks what kind of recorder was used. Cutter says it was a
cheapo portable one. Blake and Matt glance significantly at each 
other. Van and Ross chastise Blake for asking a pointless question. 
Bill says he thought he heard church bells. Cutter tells Van she has 
a budding detective here ;) and then says the tape has what sounds 
like steam-driven equipment in it, which might mean it's near a 
construction site. Roger finally speaks up. "Not necessarily," he 
says. Ross tells him to butt out. Rog says his experience tells him not to 
jump to conclusions. Cutter says he doesn't know why Rog is here, 
but this is a police investigation, restricted to cops and FBI. "Do 
you understand what I mean?" he asks [meaning, of course, "Butt out"]. 
Pan to Vanessa, poker-faced, and Matt, giving his fiancee a 
speculative look.
 
Why drink Minute Maid? *shrug*
 
KIDNAP SITE
===========
 
Dinah tells Viktor she thinks he's very human. He just needs to 
lighten up. She paints him a portrait of what's happening right now, 
getting it surprisingly right: the entire family gathered and sobbing 
as they listen to the tape, discussing how to get the money together. 
"They find me wandering aimlessly, in a fog, traumatized..." She 
imagines they'll pamper her to pieces when she's finally returned to 
them. Viktor asks whether the family will notice her sudden riches. 
She says when the money starts rolling in from her book and movie 
deals, she'll just "blend" it in with the ransom money. She tells 
Viktor he should go to Monte Carlo and live the high life.
 
Yet again my &%$&! station interrupts, this time to announce that 
the new Celtics coach will be M.L. Carr. This interruption lasts about 
eleven minutes as Carr can't seem to shut up. (Sorry, basketball 
fans, I can't bring myself to care.)

When we return, AM is ranting at some unseen person about how 
wrong and unfair rape is; no woman asks for it. We then move to....
 
SPAULDING
=========
 
Lucy types in the foreground as Alan tells Tangie he feels he should 
catch her up on the official Spaulding line. Since Brent seems to 
have made Tangie his confidante, Alan figures she knows the real 
story. She doubts it. There's always something new to learn about 
Alan. He says he was talking about the company, not him personally. 
[Yeah...right.] He thinks she needs a *private* briefing. 
"How private?" Before Alan can answer, Alex enters with some 
papers. Alan ushers Tangie into AM's office. Alex leaves.

Lucy answers the phone. Brent's voice (which she very clearly 
recognizes) asks for Tangie. Lucy asks who he is, and he won't say. 
She puts him on hold and goes into the inner office to tell Tangie 
she has a call. T asks what's wrong. "I think it's him," Lucy says 
nervously.
 
LEWIS HOME
==========
 
Blake asks Matt if he thinks the cheap mike making the recording 
was from Dinah's boombox (the one missing from her room). He 
says if so, she's a very good actress. Blake is sure Dinah is twisting 
her family around her little finger, but Matt cautions her that it 
could be for real.
 
Cutter reminds Rog that they're still not sure Viktor is involved, and 
tells the family they have to continue waiting and not doing 
anything, except getting the money together. Henry tells Van they 
can liquidate stock. Cutter leaves. "You still here?" Ross asks Roger. 
"Just leaving," he replies and kisses Blake goodbye.
 
As Rog leaves, in a loud voice Van tells him she's glad he could 
come see Peter. In a low voice, Rog promises to find Dinah before 
things get too dangerous. Van says she never expected to say 
this, but "if you find her, I'll be eternally grateful." Rog says he'll 
remember that, and leaves.  Ross watches all this suspiciously.
 
KIDNAP HIDEOUT
==============
 
Dinah tells Viktor to go buy some wine and rent a French movie so 
they can pretend they're in Paris. Then she suggests Scrabble. "I 
had another game in mind." Viktor says. Dinah laughs. "You men..." 
she winks. He tells her it's time to make another tape; this time 
he's prepared a script. Dinah reads it into the machine: the money is 
to be dropped off in three days. The family will be contacted with more 
details. Dinah will be making the pickup so no police, no funny 
business, "or I'll be dead." She looks at Vik. "Now who's being 
melodramatic?" He scowls [his only expression].
 
You gotta love those cute little 7Up creatures. :)

ANNIE'S
=======
 
Post-boink, Josh and Annie chat and eat ice cream. He thinks it's a 
miracle that their paths crossed. She reminds him that he was 
wheeled past her path. :)   They continue your typical happy-couple 
teasing. They think they were meant to be together. At this rate, 
the ice-cream will be soup soon.

EDARS
======
 
Those of us who were rudely interrupted earlier discover that AM 
is at some sort of support group meeting for men involved with 
women who've been raped. Lillian is there. AM apologizes for his 
outburst and the man next to him observes that he needed to get it 
off his chest. AM says maybe there are women "like that," but the 
woman he knows didn't ask to be raped.  The guy asks him to tell 
them what happened. AM says that if anyone is to blame (other 
than Brent, without naming names) it's himself. He's the one who 
"exposed" Lucy to Brent. He should have stopped them from getting 
close, but he wanted to let Lucy have her freedom. He should have 
seen through Brent's act. By the time he was ready to tell Lucy how 
he felt about her, it was too late. Lucy is a different person now, 
not as lighthearted. He starts to cry. He doesn't know how to help 
Lucy.

Lillian says that rape victims go through a lot of different emotions: 
fear, anger, shame. Some of them become unable to function, some 
scream and wail themselves hoarse, but most of them suffer in 
silence and act like nothing happened. She tells AM the way to help 
Lucy is to face his own feelings, as he is doing now. He doesn't buy 
it. "That's me...what about her?" Lillian tells him he can't do it for 
her. With his support and patience and love, Lucy will find the 
strength.
 
SPAULDING
=========
 
Alan offers to take the call but Tangie says no, she'll take it. Lucy 
looks on as Tangie goes back out to Lucy's desk and takes it. Brent 
tells her they have to meet: he has enough dirt on father and son to 
bring the whole company to the ground. Tangie says she's not 
interested. Brent can't believe it. "They got to you, didn't they?" 
He swears this won't stop him. "They're not going to get away with it. 
This story is going to be told." "But not by me," Tangie says and hangs up. 
 
She tells Alan and Lucy what Brent said. She doesn't know where 
Brent was calling from, but "I think he's a long way from 
Springfield."

HOTEL
=====
 
With black marker Brent draws a circle around a newspaper photo 
of Tangie (from when she was jailed for protecting her source in the 
5th Street theft). "I'm not gonna take 'no' from some chick like you," 
he tells the photo. He points his gun at it and adds, "You're gonna 
write that story...or else."
 
That's all folks!

-joan the english chick

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<D. Joan Leib.......................sdl3966@ocvaxa.cc.oberlin.edu>
>Give sorrow words: the grief that does not speak................<
<Whispers the o'erfraught heart and bids it break................>
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