From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

                      GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1997

                                ACTING UP

Highlights:
* Buzz and Eleni play their parts to near-perfection in Switzerland.
* Phillip & Harley play their parts beyond perfection for Jeffrey.
* Jesse & Michelle reach an understanding.
* The Lewises help Dinah search for Vanessa.
* Vanessa searches in vain for her dream house.

DINER: Jesse surprises Michelle at the diner. She starts to talk to him 
about her dad & his mom, but he tells her to forget it. He also says the 
reading thing isn't going to work. She agrees. 

Reva & Josh arrive. Reva is glad they don't have to hide their feelings for 
each other anymore. Josh, with a short new haircut, lifts her up for a big 
hug in agreement. Billy comes over & thanks them for coming by to help in 
the search for Vanessa. Dinah and Hart are on their way, and Frank is 
following up a lead from someone who saw Van up north. Frank comes over & 
says it was another crank call. Reva volunteers Josh to talk to all the 
lunatics, since he has experience. They learn that Eleni is in Greece 
visiting her sick grandmother. Reva thinks Frank's got one special wife. 
Yeah, replies Frank noncommittally.

SWISS BANK: Buzz, looking dapper in a dark suit, waits anxiously in a 
meeting room for Eleni. She arrives in short order, wearing a sharp red 
suit and sporting a new, chin-length hairstyle (looks a lot like Abby's; 
you could almost mistake them for one another now). Buzz is annoyed that 
Eleni is late. She was busy becoming glamorous at the salon. She is worried 
about getting caught & going to jail. 

Buzz says all they have to do is convince the bank manager that they are 
Jeffrey and Jenna. He has Eleni try out her British accent again. It's not 
bad, but he asks her to tone it down a little. He is wearing the latex 
print on his thumb, but it's not visible.

NEW YORK/MORGAN ROOM: Jenna stands in front of the video monitor & screams 
at Jeffrey that bugging Phillip & Starla's room is not protection--it's 
pornography! Jeffrey tells her to quiet down & that he's doing it to 
protect her. He turns up the sound on the monitor & hears Harley tell 
Phillip that 2-handed poker is boring. She asks if he can think of 
something more creative. Phillip asks what she has in mind. Jenna grabs the 
remote from Jeffrey & turns off the monitor, calling Jeffrey's actions 
perverse.

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Harley suggests some TV. "We're supposed to be 
making love," complains Phillip. He doesn't think it would be cool if 
Jeffrey heard the TV, or heard them laughing at Letterman. Harley claims 
that she has laughed many a time during sex. "Yeah?" asks Phillip 
suggestively. "Forget it," she replies. Phillips suggests that they take 
off their robes, just in case Jeffrey surprises them & they have to dive 
for the bed. Harley takes off hers, revealing a sheer black negligee with 
opaque areas strategically placed to resemble a bikini. Phillip is bare-
chested under his robe & this seems to make Harley uncomfortable, although 
she denies it.

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey wants the remote back, but Jenna won't give it to him. 
She says he's acting like a Peeping Tom. He says he can't Jenna walk into 
the other room to steal the bearer bonds without making sure that Phillip & 
Starla are otherwise occupied. Jenna says she could listen at the door, but 
Jeffrey says she can't go in unless they know exactly what's going on. What 
if she gets caught? He says he has everything under control. Jenna accuses 
Jeffrey of rationalizing; she says he's really bugging the other room for 
his own personal enjoyment. Jeffrey laughs at this. "My personal enjoyment 
is not watching, it's doing!" He asks if Jenna wants him to demonstrate. 
"No!" she cries. Jeffrey flips the monitor back on with a satisfied smirk. 
They hear Phillip say where he's going to put the bearer bonds. 

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Harley looks at Phillip's chest & asks if he works 
out. "No, I eat a lot of vegetables," he replies. They wonder what they 
should do now. Phillip suggests ordering room service; Harley thinks 
Jeffrey already ordered some for them.

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey sits in front of the monitor & watches. Jenna stands 
in front of the monitor & says he seems pleased with himself. He's pleased 
with the way Starla & Phillip are getting along. Jenna just knows he'd like 
to see them get along better. She claims she can't watch any more of this 
rot, and is going out. As she opens the door, the waiter from room service 
arrives with champagne & strawberries for both rooms. Jenna suggests that 
Jeffrey turn off the telly, since room service has arrived. Jeffrey clicks 
it off. The last thing he sees is Phillip reclining on the bed while Starla 
looks in the closet for something.

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Harley found a trivia game in the closet. "I feel 
trivial," claims Phillip. "Well, can you be trivial in bed?" asks Harley. 
"Not usually," replies Phillip seriously. Harley says she just meant that 
they should play the game in bed; if Jeffrey suddenly comes in, they can 
just hide the game & look amorous. There's a bit of awkwardness as Harley 
attempts to get into the bed beside Phillip. They prop themselves up on the 
pillows & Harley asks the first question, while Phillip looks at her 
intently. He gets the question about a Kevin Costner movie right and adds 
that the movie had great sex scenes. Harley agrees & gushes that Costner is 
really hot. She remembers a particular scene. Phillip says he doesn't feel 
like playing. Harley says they could talk about what they're going to do 
after Jenna makes off with his dough. Phillip suggests irritably that maybe 
they should just go to sleep. Harley hopes he's joking. She asks how he can 
possible be tired. Phillip says he's not tired. Harley says they're almost 
done and then they can get out of there & get back to being themselves, 
leaving Jeffrey holding the bag.

DINER: Michelle tells Jesse she's thought about it a lot & knows they can't 
go through with the tutoring lessons. She realizes now how difficult it 
must be to even look at her. Jesse tells her to let it go, but of course 
she keeps yakking. She says he has every reason to hate her & she doesn't 
blame him one bit.

Over at the counter, Reva reads aloud a letter from someone who claims to 
have met Vanessa, but she was surgically altered to be a man. Now her name 
is Vinnie Reardon, and he still loves to shop. Josh laughs, but Reva 
doesn't find it funny. Billy thinks it's scary that these people can vote. 
Josh suggests checking the hospitals in case Van had a relapse. Frank says 
Dinah already has that covered. 

Dinah & Hart arrive, but they have no good news. Reva doesn't think Dinah 
wants to read the letters that have come in. Hart says they will find Van. 
Dinah is discouraged. Nothing has panned out yet & Matt is utterly useless, 
building Van's dream house like a maniac. Reva asks about Michael. Dinah 
says he's with Matt. Hart tries to be reassuring, but Dinah doesn't know 
where to look next.

REAL ESTATE OFFICE: Van tells the agent that she hasn't seen anything she 
likes. The agent asks to see Van's sketch again. She says it's lovely, but 
the chances of finding something just like it are very remote. Van says she 
can't wait for a new listing; she needs a place to live now.

SWISS BANK: The bank manager arrives and greets "Jenna" and "Jeffrey." He 
is a new manager, so he hasn't met them before. Eleni says they would like 
to see their safety deposit box. Privately, adds Buzz. Of course, says the 
manager, but he doesn't move. Eleni speaks to him in French. The manager 
says her French is quite good, but they all speak English at the bank. 

Buzz says they want to see their box, #721. The manager says they have a 
few formalities to go through first. He needs signatures and print checks. 
Buzz says they know the drill, and takes the pen from the manager, but adds 
that only his signature and print are required. The manager consults his 
book & sees that Buzz is quite right. Buzz signs and touches his thumb to 
the electronic sensor. The print is verified. Buzz & Jenna are ready to 
head to their box now, but the manager says there's one more safety 
procedure, something new that they've added. He needs them to tell him the 
date of their last transaction with the bank.

Eleni says she's feeling very warm. She says the room is spinning, then she 
falls into a chair. The manager is very solicitous of her, and while he's 
trying to help her, Buzz steals a quick glance at his book to get the 
correct date. Eleni apologizes to the manager & says she doesn't know what 
came over her. Buzz plays the concerned husband. The manager offers to get 
her a glass of water, but she says she's fine now. She often has these 
dizzy spells. Buzz explains that they're expecting a baby & the manager 
congratulates them. 

Eleni starts going on about how it's their first & they're so excited & 
they think it's a girl.... The manager asks if they've settled on a name. 
"Prudence," says Buzz warningly. He suggests they get on with their 
business. The manager asks for their last transaction date & Buzz takes a 
date book from his pocket, checks it, & says 11/20/96. This is correct. The 
manager says they're all set & Eleni goes a little overboard in thanking 
him & saying good-bye. After he's gone, Buzz suggests a tranquilizer for 
Eleni & some Prozac for himself. Eleni thinks they make a pretty good team. 
Buzz hopes Harley & Phillip are doing just as well in NYC.


PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Phillip asks Harley to hand him his drink. She 
does so, & says they have to stop acting this way. They've been acting 
weird ever since Jenna said she thought something was going on between 
them. Phillip denies he is acting any different. Harley says they've been 
dancing around each other uncomfortably, and there's no reason. "There's 
nothing going on here. We're friends," she insists. "Very close friends." 
Phillip agrees. They laugh about how they've been acting like high school 
kids on a prom date. Phillip blames it on the power of suggestion. Harley 
says they should forget all about it & remember why they're in bed 
together. "Right," says Phillip, looking less than convinced.

MORGAN ROOM: Jenna sends Jeffrey to get tip money while she signs the bill. 
She writes quickly & asks the waiter to leave her note on the tray for the 
people next door. She adds that it's just a joke between the two couples. 
Jeffrey returns with a $100 tip for the waiter, who accepts it with 
enthusiasm and leaves.

Jenna thinks some bubbly would be nice before she goes next door. Jeffrey 
tells her to go ahead. He picks up the remote & Jenna suggests that if he's 
looking for entertainment, he play with his own toys. She removes her 
jacket to reveal a strapless black bustier. Jeffrey says they'll have 
plenty of time for that later. He turns the monitor back on just as the 
waiter knocks on Phillip's door.

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Phillip & Harley hop out of bed & put on their 
robes. Phillip opens the door & Harley regards the champagne & strawberries 
eagerly. She picks up the check to sign & sees Jenna's note. She gasps 
briefly & Phillip asks if something's wrong. She recovers quickly & becomes 
bubbly as she signs the check & returns it to the waiter, closing the door 
behind him. Then she decides they need music & turns on the radio. Phillip 
asks what she's doing. She says she's dancing & invites him to join her. He 
walks into her arms & she tells him to hold her close.

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey wonders what the hell Starla's doing; she's supposed 
to be getting Phillip into bed. "Some men really do enjoy foreplay," Jenna 
comments snidely.

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Harley whispers in Phillip's ear that the room is 
bugged & Jeffrey can see & hear everything they do, so they have to make it 
look very, very real.

SPRINGFIELD SIDEWALK: Michelle walks alone, very slowly, crying. Jesse 
follows her & asks her to stop. She doesn't know what else she can say. 
She's very sorry his mom died & she's even more sorry that her father might 
be responsible. Jesse holds her & tells her it's OK.

DINER: Josh says he & Reva found each other again against all odds. What 
Matt's doing might seem crazy, but his actions have meaning. Thinking & 
loving have nothing to do with each other. Dinah has to believe and trust.

>From the kitchen, Frank calls Eleni's grandmother. He wanted to say 
goodnight to his "best girl." Yia-Yia says Eleni isn't there, and she would 
like to know why. She tells Frank that Eleni called last night & asked her 
to cover in case Frank called, but she won't do it. She thinks whatever 
trouble Frank & Eleni are having, they can work it out. She warns Frank 
that he has to do something before he loses his wife. Frank stares at the 
phone in disbelief.

Out front, Dinah says she can't just wait around & trust that her mother 
will come back. Every day that goes by, she's getting further away. "Or 
closer," says Reva. Josh says maybe she just needs time to think things 
through. It drives Dinah crazy that Roger knew about Van & never told them. 
Hart defends his dad, saying that he was just honoring Van's wishes. But 
Rog let Van think that Dinah & Matt were together, says Dinah, & that's 
what drove her away. "What if I never see her again & for the rest of her 
life she thinks that I took her husband?"

Back in the kitchen, Frank promises Yia-Yia that he will take care of 
everything. He turns to Billy & says he has a case he has to take care of. 
He's going to bring the kids over to Mrs. Popoff & he needs Billy to look 
after the diner. Billy asks if Frank is OK. Frank says no, but he will be. 
He leaves quickly.

SWISS BANK: They've got the box open and Eleni wants to grab what they need 
and leave ASAP. Buzz curses when he finds a list of all the jobs Jenna & 
Jeffrey pulled, making it look like Jenna alone is responsible. He really 
wants to get Jeffrey now. Eleni says that's being handled in NY. Buzz 
decides loads the entire contents of the box into his briefcase. 

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey watches Starla & Phillip dance & gets impatient for 
them to get on with it. Jenna suggests he go over there & put them to bed 
himself. He complains that they're taking all night. "You wouldn't know 
anything about that, would you," jibes Jenna. Jeffrey tells her to put a 
lid on it. He watches as Starla removes Phillip's robe & gently pulls him 
toward the bed. Jeffrey comments that he would have guessed that Phillip 
would be the type to wait for her to make the first move. "The guy's got 
money, but he's a wimp."

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: As they caress each other in bed, Harley tells 
Phillip to pull the covers up over his pajama bottoms. She says Jeffrey 
can't hear them over the music, but he can see everything, so they have to 
make it look real. Phillip asks where the camera is. She spotted it over 
the dresser. Phillip kisses her neck & then comes up for air. He asks how 
far they're going to go with this. She says they need to go as far as they 
have to for it to look real. Phillip takes a deep breath & says OK. He 
makes as if to warn Harley what's coming next & she nods. He eases himself 
Into the male superior position. Harley says she'll "just make some noise 
or something." Phillip looks down at her & says they're going to laugh 
about this. Harley hopes so. 

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey watches approvingly. He says it's time for Jenna to 
join the fun. She grabs the sheaf of counterfeit bonds & leaves to do her 
part. Jeffrey continues to watch the monitor.

REAL ESTATE OFFICE: The agent suggests that maybe Vanessa should lease a 
house & get to know the neighborhood. Van thinks she's already taken too 
much of the agent's time. The agent is determined to find Van a home. Van 
has an excuse to dislike every place she sees. The agent suggests that the 
breakup of Van's marriage is affecting her more than she realizes. Van says 
it was her own fault.. She tried to make the right decisions, but she made 
all the wrong ones & now she can't get her life back.

DINER: Over at a booth now, Reva explains that mothers love their kids no 
matter what. Vanessa knows that Dinah would never do anything to 
intentionally hurt her. Josh & Billy are sure they will find her. Reva gets 
an idea. They should pool the information from all the people who knew 
about Van's illness. She suggests that they call Rick, Nola & Roger over to 
the diner. Maybe combining all the different pieces will turn up something 
new. She & Josh & Billy go to make the calls.

Hart reassures Dinah that she hasn't lost her mother. He's sure by looking 
at Josh & Reva, & by looking at themselves. She has to believe in the power 
of love.

SIDEWALK: Jesse doesn't want to upset Michelle; he just wants to get things 
straight. Michelle knows he can't be anywhere near him, but she still feel 
that she owes him & doesn't want to see him go to jail. Jesse says he can 
handle it. Michelle explains that she arranged for a friend to take over 
the tutoring. Jesse doesn't want a teacher. Michelle gets annoyed. Fine, 
she says. "Spend your life in jail, not knowing how to read, & blaming me & 
my family for everything that's gone wrong." Jesse says he doesn't blame 
her. She knows he hates her. Jesse says that's not true. He kisses her. The 
kiss grows quite intense as they both put their all into it.

When they finally come up for air, Michelle is finally speechless. "Wow," 
is all she can say. Jesse says she's not to blame for anything. She 
couldn't have known about her father. All he knows about his mother is that 
she died at childbirth with a Dr. Bauer. Jesse says they can't be together 
because they're trouble for each other. He asks her to trust him. It won't 
work. He hangs his head & walks away. 

DINER: Josh & Reva have arranged for Lillian, Nola, Rick & Abby to come by. 
They suggest a game of strip poker to decide who has to call Roger. They 
revel in their togetherness some more [this is getting really old, 
already!]. Josh tells Reva he thinks he may go help Matt build the house. 
He asks Reva if she thinks he's crazy. No, she thinks he's wonderful.

Hart tells Dinah that when they find Vanessa, he has a very important 
question to ask her. He's going to ask for the privilege of marrying Dinah. 
They kiss across the table.

REAL ESTATE OFFICE: Van still hasn't found the house she wants. The agent 
suggests that if she's set on the house she sketched, they could meet with 
a contractor. Van says there's only one person who could build her that 
house, and he's not available. She grabs her purse & thanks the agent for 
her time.

SWISS BANK: Buzz & Eleni make their way out of the bank, chit-chatting as 
Jeffrey & Jenna. The bank manager calls after them to wait, so they run. 
The manager and a guard run after them, asking them to please stop.

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey watches as Starla & Phillip roll around on the bed. 
Jenna crawls into the room & opens Phillip's briefcase. 

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: "I think it's happening right now," whispers 
Harley as Jenna trades the real bonds for the counterfeits. Phillip asks if 
it's good for her & Harley just makes an "mmm" noise. "Once more if that's 
a yes," says Phillip. Harley makes the noise again. "This is the best," 
says Harley. "This is the best there ever was." 

MORGAN ROOM: Jeffrey urges Starla to give it her all, because tonight is 
going to cost Phillip $25 million. 

PHILLIP & STARLA'S ROOM: Jenna closes the briefcase & back out of the room. 
At the door, she hisses to Phillip & Harley, showing them that she's taking 
the bug with her. They glance over & indicate their understanding. Jenna 
leaves. Harley says she thinks they can take a breather now. Phillip nods & 
breathes heavily as he slowly (regretfully?) rolls to one side. Finally, he 
asks Harley if she's OK. Yeah, she nods. Phillip says he's OK too. 

They look at each other & Harley smiles just a little. Phillip reaches out 
to her & she leans over to him. They start kissing & making out for real as 
the screen fades to black.


--Marni (marni@panix.com)



