From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1996

                   LOVE IS A TWISTED ROAD

Written by Pete T. Rick and directed by Matthew Lagle

Highlights:
*Blake straightens out Abby & Rick.
*Van has more scary experiences & realizes she can't care for Peter.
*Bridget continues her crusade of the Hart.
*J convinces Dahlia to be his tutor.
*Rog is foiled again & Dinah opts for shock treatment.

OUTSIDE ABBY'S APT: Blake rings the bell just as Rick arrives to 
apologize to Abby for last night. Blake's interest is piqued when she 
thinks they spent the evening together, but Rick disappoints her by 
explaining he got called away & had to work all night. Blake offers to 
leave, but Rick asks her to stay. Abby opens the door. When she sees the 
two of them, she looks very upset. She tells them it's a bad time & asks 
them to go away & not come back. 

BOARDINGHOUSE: Bridget, Hart & Peter arrive home. Peter sees Vanessa & 
runs to her, calling, "Hi Mommy!" Van gives him a big hug. Jet 
apologizes to Van for being late & explains they got stuck at the cabin. 
She takes Peter upstairs to get his stuff together to go to Van's. 

Van tells Hart with concern that she explained to Dinah that it was good 
for him to spend time with Peter. Hart says they had fun & offers Van 
some cake. Van adds that she told Dinah it was Peter who Hart cared 
about, not Jet. "I sure hope you're not going to make a liar out of me."

MIDLAND HILLS: Dinah chats with Roger's doctor. Rog is under sedation & 
has a guard posted outside his door at all times. They're not taking any 
more chances with him, now that they know what he can do. Dinah asks 
whether Rog might be well enough to be released at the end of 90 days. 
Dr. Dobson doesn't think so, due to his escape & his reluctance to 
cooperate with treatment. Dinah worries that Rog will be stuck in there 
for good, but she caps it off with a tiny smirk.

Meanwhile, Rog calmly explains to Dr. Simon that Dinah has convinced Dr. 
Dobson that he's dangerous & demented. But he's not; it's all about 
getting his money, even if they have to lock him up forever. Rog asks if 
it's OK to walk around while he talks. The doc thinks Rog is too smart 
to try anything with a guard posted right outside the door. Rog says he 
has no intentions of trying to escape again, & feels hopeful now that he 
has someone who will listen to him & take him seriously. He had trouble 
with Dr. Dobson because she was such a by-the-rules person. Rog thinks 
not all rules are necessary. The doc asks Rog to explain. Rog walks past 
the door & casually glances outside, then steps behind Dr. Simon & 
administers something resembling a Vulcan nerve pinch.

With Dr. Simon passed out, Rog steals his lab coat & affects the doc's 
British accent, saying that desperate times call for desperate measures. 
He also appropriates the doc's yarmulke, his thick black glasses & his 
keys. He peers out the window into the hall & sees the guard working a 
crossword puzzle. Keeping out of sight, Rog silently tries the keys, one 
by one. He checks to make sure Simon is still out.

Dr. Dobson says Rog should be just about finished with Dr. Simon, if 
Dinah wants to go see him. Dinah seems apprehensive about going without 
Dr. Dobson, so the doc says she'd be happy to talk with Dinah about Dr. 
Simon's findings after she's been briefed. Dinah says she's starting to 
lose hope that Rog will ever be better. Dr. Dobson hasn't given up yet, 
so Dinah shouldn't either. Dinah thanks the doctor, and says Blake & 
Hart thank her too.

BOARDINGHOUSE: Hart asks if Van thinks he's lying about his feelings for 
Dinah & Jet. Van's not sure. He's given her reason in the past not to 
trust him. Hart is glad she gave him a 2nd chance. Van admits that 
Hart's been great with Peter, but she wants to make sure he treats Dinah 
equally well. Hart admits that he really screwed up with Dinah when he 
first returned to town, but she is so important to him that he is not 
about to screw things up again. He explains all the reasons he cares 
about Dinah & how he connects with her more than he's ever connected 
with anyone. "Does that include Bridget?" asks Van. Hart says Jet is his 
friend, & Peter's mother & that's it. Jet listens from the stairwell. 

"I love Dinah. She's the only one for me," says Hart. Van breathes a 
huge sigh of relief. Van says she thinks the world of Jet, & doesn't 
want Hart to hurt her. But Dinah is her daughter & she loves Hart. Hart 
knows this, & knows how lucky he is. Van asks him to promise not to hurt 
Dinah. Hart says he'll be there for Dinah as long as she wants him.

OUTSIDE ABBY'S: Rick says he's never seen Abby so upset & won't leave 
until he knows why. He rings the bell & Abby asks which part of "leave" 
he didn't understand. Rick asks why she's so upset. Blake asks if 
they've done something wrong. Rick is sorry he had to leave last night, 
but the hospital needed him. Abby says there's no excuse for what he did 
& shuts the door again. Blake pulls Rick away from the door & says 
she'll talk to Abby. She goes in & Rick waits outside.

Abby tells Blake to go away, but Blake says she won't until Abby tells 
her what's wrong. "I thought you were my friend," says Abby. Blake says 
she is. Abby says Blake lied to her & was only nice to her so Abby 
wouldn't suspect the truth. Abby says she knows who Rick is crazy about. 
Blake doesn't get it. Does Abby think Blake knows & didn't tell her? 
"Yes, you know," says Abby. "The woman Rick is interested in is you." 
Blake is dumbfounded.

COUNTRY CLUB POOL: Several girls, including Dahlia, watch admiringly as 
J demonstrates his gymnastic abilities, but Michelle does not seem 
impressed. Bill laughs & tells Michelle he thinks J is a show-off. He 
goes to get Michelle a drink. J comes over & Dahlia compliments him. 
Michelle pointedly keeps her nose in her book. J says he's joining the 
university gymnastic team in the fall. Dahlia laments that she still has 
one more year of high school. J knows Dahlia will ace it. Dahlia credits 
her mom with encouraging her to study.

Bill returns & J asks if he's going to go out for the swim team. "I hear 
they're looking for a few good men & if they don't get them, you're in." 
Michelle doesn't want to talk about school. J gloats over being in 
college while they all suffer from senioritis. [I fear for Bryan Buffin-
ton--he's still 2-3 years shy of 18; will he be able to play a college 
freshman next year? Or will he go live with Aunt Trish in Europe?] J 
thinks college will be a breeze; he'll just drop the classes he doesn't 
like or take incompletes if they're too hard. Michelle asks why he's 
bothering to go to college at all. J says it beats working. His parents 
think hard work is important to build character. 

J predicts that college will be like a 4 or 5-year vacation. He plans to 
register for easy classes. He opens an official-looking envelope & looks 
dismayed. Dahlia asks what's wrong. "Shoot me now," says J.

ABBY'S APT: Blake adamantly denies any involvement with Rick. Abby says 
that's not what Rick said last night. Abby figured it out because Rick 
said he likes redheads & the woman he's interested in is involved with 
someone else. Blake says maybe he was talking about Ann-Margret. Why 
would Abby assume he meant the very pregnant, very married Blake? Abby 
knows she's right. Blake says she's not. Abby doesn't think she owes 
Blake explanations. Blake says they are friends & they shouldn't turn on 
one another without good reason. Abby explains that Amanda said Ross had 
asked her about Blake & Rick. The light dawns for Blake. Abby continues 
that Amanda was concerned for Ross & wanted Abby to spy on Rick to see 
if he was still involved with Blake, to try to save the Marler marriage. 
Blake vows to kill "that lying little witch" with her bare hands.

BOARDINGHOUSE: Jet & Peter return & Peter runs to Van with his new book. 
Jet asks Hart to check out the new ventilation system in Company to see 
if it's screwed up. Van reads with Peter & tells him he's special & will 
always be loved. She remembers Rick's prognosis. She tells Peter that 
even though they don't see each other or talk to each other every day, 
he knows he still loves her. "Right," he agrees. She asks him to promise 
that he'll never forget that. She tells him she loves him with all her 
heart & soul. Peter agrees & cheerfully continues to play with his book.

MIDLAND HILLS: Dinah heads for Rog's room just as he's letting himself 
out. The guard doesn't bat an eye, but Rog spots Dinah with her back to 
him as she checks her makeup in a little mirror. Rog touches her on the 
shoulder; when she turns around, he grabs her mouth so she can't scream. 

Rog drags Dinah into a supply closet & warns her to keep quiet as he 
gags her & ties her up. He tells her that Dr. Simon is indisposed, but 
not dead. Killing him would be crazy, & Dinah knows Rog isn't crazy. He 
says she's been a naughty girl. He doesn't like being restrained & 
medicated. He doesn't want to weave basket & fingerpaint. He wants his 
life back & intends to get it back. Dinah sees the fire alarm on the 
wall and as Rog starts to tie her feet, she lunges forward & manages to 
set it off. This pisses off Rog even more, & he realizes he should have 
killed her when he had the chance. The guard shows up, ending the party.

POOL: Michelle asks if J's been expelled already. J says you have to be 
in before they can kick you out, & it seems he's not in because he's 
missing a course in Western Civilization. He has to take an equivalency 
test in 3 days or they won't admit him. Dahlia asks what he's going to 
do. J says he learned a lot of that stuff on digs with his parents, but 
he's no good at dates. Michelle suggests he talk to their history 
teacher. J asks if Michelle & Bill took the class. Bill got a C; 
Michelle got a B. J thinks they can tutor him, but Michelle says even if 
she wanted to, she has no time. 

J asks Dahlia to help. She admits she got an A. He begs her to help him 
cram. Bill thinks J is pretty smooth. Michelle couldn't care less if 
Dahlia wants to spend time with J. Bill heads back to work. Michelle 
watches J & Dahlia with a look bordering on disgust. Or is it envy?

ABBY'S APT: Blake can't believe Amanda used Abby this way. She says 
Amanda lied to Abby about Rick being interested in her. She explains 
that Amanda used to be in love with Ross & tried to get back with him 
even though he was married to Blake. Abby thinks this is shameful. Blake 
agrees & says Amanda's still trying to split them up. Abby thought 
Amanda was convincing, but believes Blake now. Blake is very relieved. 

Now Abby feels bad for being mean to Rick. She asks Blake to call 
Michelle at the pool & tell her Abby can't make it. She owes Rick a big 
apology. Blake suggests that Abby go to the pool while Blake smooths 
things over with Rick. While she's at it, she'll try to find out who 
he's interested in, so they can get rid of her. Abby doesn't want to be 
deceitful like Amanda. Blake assures her that at her worst, Abby 
couldn't come close. The light flashes because Rick is ringing the bell. 
Blake tells Abby to rush right past him & she'll handle him. Abby agrees 
& apologizes for her mistake. She leaves & rushes past Rick. Rick asks 
what's up. "Plenty," Blake replies. "Life as we know it is over."

Rick asks for the scoop. Blake recounts what Abby told her. Rick sits 
down heavily. Blake says she set Abby straight. You mean you lied, says 
Rick. Blake was hardly about to tell Abby that they made drunken love. 
Rick wonders how Amanda knows they spent the night together. Blake 
doesn't think she does. She thinks Amanda was on a mission. Dinah had 
already warned her. Rick wonders why. Because Amanda's life is a bigger 
mess than her hair, says Blake. She has to take it out on someone & 
Blake is her #1 target. Rick is just an innocent victim. Rick says Abby 
would never spy on them, but he can understand why she was so upset. 

Rick says it's all his fault because he hemmed & hawed so much last 
night. Blake wonders why he was talking about unavailable redheads. Rick 
says Abby had the idea he was interested in some blonde at the hospital. 
Blake asks him outright who it is. Rick says he's not telling her 
anything, then blurts out that it's Abby. Blake laughs. 

BOARDINGHOUSE: Van & Peter continue to read the book. Van tells Peter to 
get his horsey & packs up his bag. The eerie music plays & Van's eyes go 
wide. "Oh no," she says quietly. Peter is standing on a chair looking at 
his horse. Van asks him where he is. She asks him to come back to her. 
When he doesn't answer, she stands up. Peter has become interested in a 
cake on the counter. It has a pretty big knife alongside it. Van gets 
more worried when Peter doesn't answer. She asks him again to talk to 
her. Finally, her vision returns & she sees Peter by the knife. She runs 
to him & grabs him, picking him up & hugging him.

Jet & Hart return. Jet asks if everything is OK. Van says yes, but she 
just remembered that she can't take Peter today because she has too many 
meetings scheduled. Jet agrees to keep him for one more night. Van 
reminds Peter that she loves him & gives him a kiss goodby. Van heads 
for the door & blows a kiss before she leaves.

MIDLAND HILLS: Dr. Dobson asks Dinah if there's anything she can do for 
Dinah. Dinah says no, but she's obviously shaken. She tells the doc Rog 
said he wishes he'd killed her. The doc is once again surprised at Rog's 
capabilities. Even sedated, it took 3 men to subdue him. Dinah asks 
about Dr. Simon. Dr. Dobson says he'll be OK. Dr. Simon thinks Rog is 
dangerously pathological. They both think another course of treatment is 
called for. Drugs aren't working, nor is psychotherapy. The doc's idea 
is completely safe, although it may result in some memory loss. The 
benefits are immediate & outweigh the disadvantages. She's talking about 
ECT. Dinah's not familiar with the term, so the doc explains electro-
convulsive therapy, known to laypeople as shock treatment. It's been 
controversial in the past, but is now widely accepted. The doc already 
has the court's permission; now she only needs Dinah's.

BOARDINGHOUSE: Hart offers to go read to Peter while Jet relaxes. Jet 
thanks him, then gets a gleam in her eye when he's gone. She knocks over 
a chair & starts screaming that she's hurt herself. Hart comes running. 
Jet says she fell off the chair trying to get something off a shelf. 
Hart says he'll take her to Cedars. "No!" she says.

POOL: J promises Dahlia he'll be a good student. "Teach me what you know 
& I'll teach you what I know." Dahlia asks if he's coming on to her. J 
asks if it would help if he was. No, she replies. Then he wasn't, he 
responds. Bill & Michelle watch with interest as J continues to beg. 
Dahlia agrees to help him, but only if he promises to study. J thanks 
her.

Abby arrives & apologizes for making Michelle wait. Michelle says she 
hasn't missed anything, but Abby catches her glance towards J. She 
thought M was finished with J; M says she has been for months. Just 
because he looks great... she has no feelings for him anymore. "If you 
say so," replies Abby. Abby asks about the book Michelle is reading. 
It's a romance novel, explains Michelle, where the heroine gets the man 
of her dreams. They talk about what makes such a man--he's good-looking 
& strong, yet vulnerable & sweet, also true & honest. Michelle thinks it 
makes real life seem depressing. Michelle thought J was her hero, but 
he's not. Abby knows what Michelle means. Michelle guesses that things 
aren't working out with Rick. "You know, I look really bad as a blonde," 
says Abby.

ABBY'S APT: Blake wonders how everything got so messed up. Rick rambles 
about how he likes Abby, but she likes some guy at the hospital with a 
thing for blondes & even went so far as to get a blonde wig. Blake asks 
if it worked. Rick doesn't know; he wasn't around. "Obviously not," 
laughs Blake. Rick is very discouraged & doesn't appreciate her humor. 
"Oh Rick, sweet, thick-headed, too-dense-to-see-the-writing-on-the-wall-
because-you're-a-guy, Rick. Abigail bought a blonde wig because she 
thought YOU liked blondes." Rick babbles incoherently, then insists that 
Blake is wrong. Blake says if he doesn't believe her, she'll kill him. 
"You mean the whole time I was talking to Abigail about Abigail, she was 
talking to me about me?!" Ding! "Yes, you lox!" replies Blake. "If 
labor's this hard, I'm having a Caesarean."

Rick wants to go right to Abby, but Blake stops him. "No wonder you were 
sleeping with the drunken wives of other men!" "I have my standards," 
replies Rick. Blake concludes that Abby & Rick are incapable of getting 
together & she's going to have to guide them both every step of the way. 
Rick says he can handle his own love life. Blake asks if he wants to 
hear her plan. "Shoot," answers Rick.

MIDLAND HILLS: Dinah asks how the therapy works. Dr. Dobson says it's 
not like they show in the movies, and it's not for everyone, but Rog 
needs it. Dinah remembers Rog's scary words to her. She asks about the 
potential memory loss & wonders if it means Rog may forget all the 
horrors of the past few weeks. The doc says it's possible. Dinah thinks 
this is a good idea & worth a shot. She signs on the dotted line. 

BOARDINGHOUSE: Hart holds an ice pack to Jet's leg & asks why he can't 
take her to the hospital. She says it has to do with her insurance & 
would wind up costing her a fortune. It's just a sprain & she can handle 
things while Company is closed. Hart offers to take Peter back to the 
farm so she won't have to chase after him. Jet asks if the farm is kid-
proofed. Hart suggests bunking at the boardinghouse. Jet thinks this is 
a great idea. Hart thinks it will be fun. He can sleep on the sofa. Jet 
says he can have Nola's room, next to hers. Hart goes to tell Peter. Jet 
smiles happily.

CAR: Van is driving. She flexes her left hand, looking at her wedding & 
engagement ring. She starts to worry because she's having a problem with 
her hand. She can't control it and winds up turning the wheel sharply & 
veering off the road. She screams as the screen fades to black.


--Marni (marni@panix.com)



