From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1996

             THE FAMILY TIES THAT BIND

Written by Sharon Epstein and directed by Matthew Lagle

Highlights:
* Ed announces his departure & is surprised by the response.
* Phillip takes Alex into his confidence & presses AM.
* Reva & Buzz force Alan to show where his loyalty lies.
* Amanda & Josh read each other's hearts.

Late afternoon in Springfield, USA...

CEDARS: Blake is distressed to learn that Ed is going to Africa. "You've 
been everything to me--my father, my confessor, my friend..." Ed assures 
her that he'll only be a phone call away & will certainly come back to 
visit. Blake asks Ross to convince Ed to stay, but Ross knows Ed's mind 
is made up. Ed kisses Blake on the cheek & exits. Rick decides this is a 
good time for him to make a major confession. "No!" exclaims Blake.

DOCKS: Bracelet Man touches Phillip on the shoulder & asks for help 
finding the people he rescued from the SC storm. Phillip identifies them 
as Alan-Michael & Lucy Spaulding, & says he's AM's brother. BM thinks 
Phil must relieved to have them back safe & sound. Phil calls AM an 
idiot & says if he had drowned, it would have been his own fault.

YACHT: AM wishes Phil had stayed in AZ, "where he belonged." Alex 
reminds AM that Phil never wanted to leave in the first place. AM 
angrily retorts that Phil got what he deserved & should go back to the 
desert & rot. Alex doesn't understand what Phil has done to make AM feel 
this way. AM hopes she has time, because it's a long list.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan is on the phone, talking to one of his business 
contacts. Apparently a lot of people are interested in investing in 
Advantage Systems. Reva & Buzz snicker in the background. They have 
returned to give Alan more grief. They play with one of Alan's lovely 
cushions, debating over whether it's down. Reva tosses the cushion at 
Alan & says they've got an offer he can't refuse.

Alan says it's to late to deal on the diner. Reva suggests that he not 
jump to hasty conclusions. Alan guesses that they will stage another 
accident & sue him. Whiplash, this time, maybe? Buzz says his neck is 
just fine & proves it by leaning over to kiss Reva quite thoroughly. 
Alan grimaces. He says unless they've come to pay off the note, they 
should go pack up because Amanda is finalizing the details with the 
wrecking company. Buzz & Reva know the guys from the wrecking co. 
because they come in for waffles with ice cream. Alan describes exactly 
where the wrecking ball will bust through Wheels & Meals, but Buzz & 
Reva seem quite unconcerned. Alan suggests again that they leave. Buzz & 
Reva explain that they have realized that when fighting a Spaulding, it 
is necessary to fight LIKE a Spaulding, i.e., filthy-dirty. "And no one 
can get dirtier than the Slut of Springfield," notes Reva.

FIFTH STREET: Amanda measures the doorway of a condemned property while 
Josh looks on. "Don't help your father destroy 5th St.," he advises. 
Amanda says they're not destroying anything--just "facilitating a new 
vision." [Sort of like what Meggie & Mikey are doing to GL.] Josh says 
they're kicking hard-working people out of their homes & there's no 
other neighborhood like this in the city. Amanda doesn't see the charm 
in living in a broken-down brownstone, but Josh says it's the residents' 
decision. Amanda knows Josh is a businessman & doesn't think he should 
be turning his nose up at what she's doing. Josh smiles & says he knows 
why she's doing this & it has nothing to do with money or business.

YACHT: Alex doesn't understand AM's animosity towards Phillip. As a boy, 
AM used to follow Phillip around like a shadow. And Phil has never done 
anything to hurt AM. AM has everything he's ever wanted, so why does he 
see Phil as a threat? [Good question, Alex! The updater waits with 
baited breath for a reasonable explanation. If I drift off in a few 
paragraphs, it's because I've passed out from lack of oxygen.] "Are you 
this naive, Alex, or do you just not want to see what's right in front 
of your face? Don't you know why Phillip came back to Springfield? Cause 
I sure as hell do."

DOCKS: Phillip muses that AM, so hell-bent on proving he can do any-
thing, puts himself in situations that he shouldn't. He guesses that 
Bracelet Man thinks this sounds cold. BM, whittling on a block of wood, 
thinks Phil would be relieved that his brother was OK. Phil says one 
should never make assumptions when it comes to Spauldings. BM heard that 
AM did a great job of piloting his ship through the storm. Phil says AM 
is very good at PR, regardless of his stupid mistake. He always finds a 
way to look like a hero. BM brings up AM's previous heroicism in the 
Brent/Marian incident, but Phil cuts him off with a naked truth: "He was 
an idiot to take this boat out on the Atlantic with no crew & a brand-
new wife that doesn't know a cleat from a drive-shaft!" [The most apt 
description I've heard of Lucy in quite some time!] Phil wonders why BM 
is so interested. "Who are you, anyway?"

CEDARS: Blake thinks Rick is crazy. Rick calls a bunch of other people 
around, while Ross wonders what Blake is so up in arms about. Blake says 
she's already had enough bad news for one day, with Ed leaving. Rick 
says it's on his shoulders to throw Ed a super going-away party, but he 
stinks at party-giving & needs their help. Annie & Lillian agree to 
help. Michelle pipes up that Ed doesn't want a party. "Dad gave you an 
order, and you're following it?" asks Rick incredulously. He says that 
Ed does want a party, but wants everyone to think that he doesn't. 
"That's twisted, Rick, even for you," she replies. Rick pushes the party 
through. Blake & Ross volunteer to handle the invitations.

FIFTH STREET: Amanda claims she's not involved in dirty work. Josh says 
if Alan's involved it can't be clean. Amanda says she's thoroughly 
enjoying her work with Alan & is doing it by choice, not necessity. Josh 
knows that she's doing it to win Alan's love. The Amanda that Josh used 
to know would not have turned her back on people for a quick buck. She 
had compassion. And all she wanted was to be loved. Amanda tells him to 
go preach his pop psychology on another corner, "because I'm about to 
tear this one down." Josh thinks Amanda is Alan's henchman, gofer & 
disciple all rolled into one. She'll do anything for his approval. "Even 
the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. You're better than that. His love 
won't last. Ask your brothers, ask Reva. But don't help him destroy 
these people's homes & then find out that the only thing you got out of 
it was money." Amanda thinks Reva has got Josh "whupped."

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan calls the police to report a disturbance. Buzz 
suggests asking for Frank. Reva thinks Alan might want to hear what they 
have to say. Buzz mentions that he had an interesting coversation with 
Hawk. "He actually formed a complete sentence?" asks Alan. Reva says 
they learned some very interesting information from Hawk, which he 
learned while working for Alex. Alan hangs up & asks what Hawk said. 
Buzz says it's about Amanda. Alan says Hawk doesn't know anything. Reva 
tells Alan to give it up. "You have the note on the diner & we have the 
goods on the Malibu Madam. It's time for a trade."

FIFTH STREET: Amanda thinks the only reason Josh is all het up about 5th 
St. is because it lets him spend time with Reva. Josh says she's way off 
base. Amanda doesn't think so. Josh says she's avoiding the real issue 
by focusing on personal stuff. He loves Annie & Reva loves Buzz, end of 
story. Maybe one day Amanda will fall in love & understand. Amanda says 
she's been in love. "You have never put your heart on the line for 
someone else," says Josh. "You have always played it safe." Amanda says 
the only difference between them is that she believes in loving only one 
person at a time. The conversation has lost its lighthearted tone. Josh 
says Amanda calculates the profit before she makes a move because she's 
terrified of getting hurt, but the sad part is that she ends up getting 
hurt anyway. She should think about that before she helps Alan destroy 
people's lives. Josh starts to walk away. Amanda calls after him that 
Alan is trying to help people, but nobody understands him like she does.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan maligns Hawk's credibility. Reva concedes Hawk's 
unreliability, but says he was able to provide sufficient details as to 
make his story verifiable. Alan tells Reva & Buzz to leave, claiming 
that they're blackmailing him. Buzz says they're doing him a favor. 
They're not asking him to forgive the debt, just to hold off on cashing 
it in. Buzz says they will pay it off in 10 years. Alan laughs & says 
they can forget it. "Beep! Wrong answer!" chirps Reva. Their next stop 
is WSPR. "Just think what Roger Thorpe would do if he got his hands on 
the story of Amanda Spaulding: The Lost Years," she urges. "Your whole 
family is going to go down on this one," she adds. Alan can grab the 
life rope, or it's anchors aweigh.

YACHT: AM says Phillip came back to claim what he thinks is rightfully 
his. Alex says AM is wrong. Lucy points out that Phil was in charge of 
Spaulding before, but Alex notes that Phil has refused any involvement 
in it in recent years. She thinks AM is being paranoid, but he doesn't 
think so. Why did he find Phil in his desk the other night? Alex thinks 
AM should give Phil the benefit of the doubt, but AM thinks Phil was 
spying on him. Alex wonders why AM is so sure Phil wants to take over at 
Spaulding. AM just knows that Phil didn't come back for a simple family 
visit. Alex recalls what Phillip told her about someone setting him up 
as AM rants on about Phil wanting his chair at Spaulding back. Suddenly, 
Alex looks very concerned. "No, it can't be," she says to herself. AM 
asks if she knows something. She says she thinks AM should keep his 
suspicions to himself. AM thinks the family needs more honesty. Alex 
says the whole family is falling apart & quickly makes herself scarce

DOCKS: Phil wonders who BM is. A sailor looking for a job? Phil says AM 
doesn't need a crew. He makes a few comments about the cushiness of the 
yacht & the ostentatiousness of his family. Alex shows up & is surprised 
to see Phillip. She asks if he's spying on her. When he says no, she 
wonders why he's skulking on the docks. He says he was just having a 
pleasant conversation & turns toward BM, who has (suprise!) mysteriously 
disappeared. He regroups & says he was planning to talk to AM, but Alex 
says it's not a good time. Phil knows it would never be a good time & 
heads toward the boat, over Alex's protestations.

CEDARS: Lil, Rick & Blake are planning the party. The country club is 
available. Ed likes little cocktail weenies. Michelle arrives with a 
list culled from Ed's Rolodex & reprises her disapproval for the party. 
Rick ignores her & asks Blake what happened to Ross. He is dismayed when 
he hears that Ross went to get a gift, because Rick wanted to do that. 
Lil volunteers herself & Michelle to handle the decorations. This leaves 
Rick & Blake alone at last. Rick thanks her for helping. Blake knows 
Rick couldn't plan a party to save himself. Rick is still appreciative, 
after all he put her through. Blake says Ed's last memory of Springfield 
shouldn't be a "rousing night of Bauer boredom." They both already miss 
him. Rick knows that Blake's life will soon be very full & is glad to be 
a part of it in some way. He's glad they are able to get past their 
mistakes & can't wait to be a godfather. Blake is taken aback & reverts 
to party details & they both head out, almost leaving Annie in the dust. 

Annie apologizes for missing the planning session. Rick tells her to be 
at the country club at 8. Alone, Annie goes to her locker. Her pills are 
on the shelf, but she reaches for her hand cream instead. "If I didn't 
know better, I'd say you were a slip getting ready to happen," says Ed.

YACHT: Lucy encourages AM to forget about Phillip. She thinks AM's the 
tops. Phillip arrives & Lucy tells him it's not really a good time, but 
AM invites his brother in. Phil is glad to see that AM doesn't look too 
much the worse for wear after his run-in with Alan. AM says he doesn't 
let anyone get in his way. He wonders what Phil wants to discuss. Phil 
says he's thinking about moving back to Springfield. It was his home 
until 5 years ago, and now that he's back, he realizes how much he's 
missed it. AM says there's lots of room back at the house, but Phil 
isn't especially worried about where he's going to live. He needs a job 
& wonders if AM would hire him back at Spaulding. AM was wondering when 
Phil would get around to that. Phil replies, "Separately, you & I are 
very good, but together, man, I think the Spaulding brothers can rock 
the business world to its financial roots."

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan says Amanda has proven herself a tremendous 
asset. Buzz says she's about to turn into a liability, once Advantage 
Systems' investors learn she made her living off the backs of Hollywood 
wannabees. "No, you can't do that," says Amanda from the doorway. Reva 
says they're playing by Spaulding rules now. Buzz & Reva exit to the 
hall so Amanda & Alan can talk things over. Amanda starts to get 
hysterical, but Alan says Spauldings don't weaken when their backs are 
against the wall. Amanda tries to think of a way around it. She suggests 
a back-up site & forgetting about 5th St, so Alan won't be embarrassed. 

Alex enters, having been apprised by Buzz & Reva in the hall. She rakes 
Amanda over the coals for being the Spaulding to bring the family 
crashing down. Amanda points out that no one would know if not for Alex. 
The two women continue to bicker while Alan paces thoughtfully.

Amanda blames Alex for everything. Alex won't take it. Alan won't stand 
for it. Buzz & Reva return, asking for Alan's reply. 

YACHT: AM thought Phillip had had his fill of the family business. Phil 
says it beats waiting for the cactus to bloom. He's ready for something 
different. AM just stands there. Phil figures his record ought to be 
worth something. AM admits it's impressive. Phil thinks AM's still angry 
about finding Phil in his office the other night. AM denies this & says 
he'll see what's available at Spaulding. Phil accepts this & says good-
bye. Before he leaves, Phil asks for assurance that AM won't bust him 
down to the mailroom. AM thinks he can find something a little better.

CEDARS: Ed assumes Annie was going to get around to telling her sponsor 
that she's taking a controlled substance. Annie says Dr. Stein 
prescribed the pills for her killer migraines. Ed just nods his head. He 
reminds her about AA's feelings on the subject & also notes that she 
hasn't been to many meetings lately. He wishes Annie had at least talked 
to him about it. Annie says the pills don't do anything for her except 
take away her headaches. She pleads that she's been too busy with work & 
family to attend meetings. Ed says she won't have any of that if she's 
not sober. He doesn't want her to move away from the program while he's 
away & wants her to get a new sponsor ASAP. She says she will & insists 
she's OK. Ed says he will miss her. Annie says he's been a good friend 
to her & she wouldn't be where she is today without him. But she wants 
to focus on Ed's new adventure. She will miss him very much, but urges 
him to enjoy himself & not look back. 

Rick & Michelle enter & Ed starts berating them for throwing a party 
until he realizes that they are alone. He expected a bunch of whooping, 
hollering people behind them. He insistst that he doesn't want a party, 
but suggests dinner instead. Michelle pleads a dinner date with Bill, 
but Rick says he'll join Ed. He convinces M to break her date. They 
agree to meet at the country club at 8:15. The Bauers exit en masse. 
Annie reaches for the pills in her locker. Josh enters & surprises her. 
He gives her a big hug & tells her how lucky he is, then kisses her.

COUNTRY CLUB: Most of Springfield is in attendance, Spauldings excluded. 
Rick runs in & says Ed ill be there momentarily. Everyone hides on the 
patio. Ed arrives & looks around. He looks a bit confused. Rick asks 
what's wrong & Ed says he's relieved that there's no party. Just then 
everyone yells "Surprise!" and Michelle gives her dad a huge hug. Ed 
does not look at all displeased. Ross gives Ed a big stuffed zebra. 
Confetti flies.

DOCKS: Phillip leaves & Lucy wonders why AM practically offered Phil a 
job instead of telling his brother how he really feels. AM says he's 
just playing by the family rules. Lucy thinks this doesn't sound at all 
like AM. AM says he'll be fine as soon as he get Phillip out of his 
life. They head back to the boat & Bracelet Man reappears. He leaves a 
whittled bird on the dock.

SPAULDING MANSION: Buzz & Reva wonder whether Alan will throw Amanda to 
the vultures or accept defeat & leave 5th St. alone. Amanda encourages 
Alan to tell them about their new plan. Alan doesn't care what Buzz & 
Reva do; he won't stop the 5th St. project. Freeze frame on Amanda's 
stunned expression as the screen fades to black.


--Marni (marni@panix.com)


