From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1996

                     OH! THE PAIN, THE PAIN!

Written by Roger Newman & directed by Bruce S. Barry
And for the first time, NOT credited to Megan McTavish

Highlights:
* Marah & Shayne leave for Italy.
* Marina reappears, SORASed, in Roger's arms.
* Annie's friends plan an intervention; Reva joins in.
* Alan gives up on 5th St. & bonds with Philip; Buzz is ecstatic.
* Roger eyes a possible soul-mate in Amanda.

CEDARS: Ross rushes in, concerned about Blake, who left a message for 
him to meet her there. He finds her & she calms him down, explaining 
that she's going to be part of an intervention with Annie. Ross worries 
that Blake shouldn't be a part of it (the stress & all that) but Blake 
thinks it's important after all Annie's done for her.

SPAULDING MANSION: Philip tries to convince Alan to see a specialist 
about his back; Alan says Phil's concern is the best medicine. Amanda 
tries to prevent a rabid Buzz from entering, but Buzz wins. He's foaming 
at the mouth -- oops that's the smoke from his cigar. Buzz explains how 
he was going to blow up the diner to beat Alan to the punch, but then he 
decided it would be better to blow up Alan's place first. He removes a 
batch of dynamite from a paper bag & lights the fuse.

DINER: Eleni packs while Reva talks on the phone to her mom. Reva is 
sick at heart, but she knows Sarah will take good care of the kids. She 
ends the call & helps Eleni, who is worried about the effect of the move 
on Marina, who's whole world has been the diner since their home burned 
down. Eleni is angry that someone's whim can turn a child's life upside-
down. Reva takes this to heart & decides that Josh isn't sending her 
kids off to Italy without her even getting to say good-bye just because 
of Annie's problems. She strides out of the diner with purpose.

LEWIS HOUSE: Annie asks why Josh is sending the kids away. The kids want 
to know too. Josh says they can't disappoint their grandma. He reminds 
them how much they loved Italy. Shayne is psyched, but Marah is 
unenthusiastic. Josh sends them upstairs to pack. Annie guesses that 
something is very wrong. Josh says she's right.

Josh says it's about their marriage. Annie gets hysterical, trying to 
figure out what's wrong with their marriage -- does it have to do with 
Reva or Rick? She's really losing it. Josh tries to get her to calm 
down. He says they need time alone together, away from work & the kids. 
Annie cries, "Our marriage is in danger. That's it, isn't it?"

CEDARS: Ross doesn't understand why Blake owes Annie anything. Blake 
says Annie's been very supportive; she doesn't know how she would have 
gotten through her pregnancy without Annie. Ross is concerned about the 
effect on the twins. Rick butts in to say that they discussed it with 
Dr. Sedwick, who thinks it's no problem. Ross asks Rick to butt out so 
he can talk to Blake alone. Ross says interventions can get really 
stressful & intense. Blake promises to cut out if that happens. But she 
really feels an obligation to Annie & wants Annie to have someone by her 
side who loves her. Ross thinks Blake is a wonderful friend & offers to 
go with her. Blake says she has the greatest guy in the world. Hug, hug.

DINER: Reva returns, with Roger following. Roger is carrying Marina, who 
fell & skinned her knee while jumping rope. [Marina looks like she's 
aged another 3 years since we saw her last! This child looks about 7.] 
Rog plays his ECTed self to the hilt, hoping he didn't frighten Marina 
by scooping her up. Marina thinks Rog is nice. Eleni takes her upstairs 
to get cleaned up. Reva asks Rog why he's hanging around. Rog says he 
was just out for a stroll & was looking for a place to live. He saw the 
kids jumping rope & stopped to watch. He waxes philosophical on children 
& how quickly they grow up. The phone rings & Reva answers.

It's Marah, calling to tell Reva about being sent to Italy. She worries 
that it's a punishment for doing something wrong. Reva says it's nothing 
like that. Grandma Sarah is feeling really low & Josh & Annie thought 
sending the kids to visit would lift her spirits. Reva swears a pinky 
promise that Josh & Annie aren't mad at Marah or Shayne. They end the 
call & Reva heads out to deal with Josh. Rog smiles evilly.

SPAULDING MANSION: Buzz says they have about 1 minute to say good-bye. 
He taunts them with the dynamite & tries to hand it to Amanda, who 
screams. Buzz pulls out the fuse & says they have no sense of humor. 
Alan doesn't think it's funny, proving Buzz's point. Buzz says he's won 
because all of Alan's shenanigans with 5th St. have made his marriage to 
Reva stronger & the sex is great. Alan says he's called off his plan, 
the diner is safe & Buzz has won. Buzz is incredulous.

LEWIS HOUSE: Josh thinks they need some time alone. He's already talked 
to the kids' teachers. Annie's upset that he left her out of the 
decision. The kids tramp downstairs with their luggage & Annie says 
good-bye & asks them to call every night. Josh tells them to have a 
great time & hustles them to the door so Mary can drive them to the 
airport & fly with them to Italy. The kids get a few last hugs & take 
off. Marah looks sad. 

Annie cries as the car drives away, then says she has to go shopping. 
Josh follows her into the house & says he has to go to work for awhile & 
then they can have their "honeymoon." Annie sits at the desk & starts 
writing. Josh gives her a kiss, then leaves. As soon as he's gone, Annie 
pulls out Rick's prescription pad & writes herself a scrip.

CEDARS: Ross & Blake enter a meeting room. Ross says Blake doesn't have 
to participate; the intervention will go on with or without her. But he 
does agree it's a good idea. Blake worries about the truth's power to 
destroy something worth keeping. Like Josh & Annie's marriage? asks 
Ross. The drug counselor enters & says if things don't change, pretty 
soon Annie won't have a marriage to lose. Rachel explains her role to 
Ross, who says Blake is worried that the intervention will turn into a 
lynch mob. Lillian pipes up that one-on-one, Annie wouldn't listen to 
anything she had to say. Rachel says everyone is there because they love 
Annie. Reva enters & says they need another chair.

Blake thinks Reva has some nerve to butt in, but Reva says she has an 
interest because of the kids. Blake thinks the intervention should only 
involve people who love Annie. Reva says she'll speak for Marah & 
Shayne. Rachel wants to know why Reva decided to come after telling Josh 
she'd stay away. Josh wants to know too & threatens to have security 
throw Reva out of the building. Reva tells about the call from Marah & 
how the kids think they've done something wrong. She wants to be involve 
in anything that affects her kids. Lillian says Reva will undermine the 
whole intervention. Rick thinks if Annie sees Reva it'll blow the whole 
thing. Rachel says Reva has a legitimate interest. Everyone else groans, 
but Rachel thinks Reva should stay if she'll agree to the guidelines.

Rachel organizes the seating arrangements. She puts Blake & Josh to 
either side of Annie, & Reva near herself. She explains that their goal 
is to get Annie to understand how her behavior is affecting the people 
who love her, & also other people who need to know she's acting respon-
sibly (i.e., Reva). "What if she won't listen?" asks Josh. Rachel says 
Annie has to listen because her life is on the line. She needs to hear 
that they all find her behavior unacceptable. The hardest part is that 
everyone has to back off if Annie says she won't stop taking the pills. 
They have to keep their word to not see her until she stops & gets help. 
Josh doesn't know how he can do that. Rachel makes them all promise.

Blake asks how they know Annie will show up. Why should they expect her 
to come back to the hospital after the way Rick & Lillian humiliated 
her. Rachel says Annie will be there because she has no choice.

RANDOM PHARMACY: Annie approaches the counter, wearing sunglasses & a 
green baseball cap with her hair tucked under. She hands the druggist an 
item she wants to buy, then remembers she also has a prescription to 
fill. The druggist enters some info into her computer & is concerned 
when she sees that Dr. Rick Bauer wrote the scrip. She sees that Rick's 
drug code has been changed & she can't honor any scrips written on his 
old pad. Annie says she isn't well enough to drive back to Cedars for a 
new scrip. The druggist wishes she could help. Annie cries that she's in 
so much pain. The druggist offers to call Rick. Annie stops her & says 
she has another idea. She pulls out her wallet & says she could make it 
worth the druggist's while. The druggist gets huffy & says she'll 
pretend she didn't hear Annie's offer. She tells Annie to leave. Annie 
slinks away, crashing into a rack of postcards on her way out.

SPAULDING MANSION: Amanda begs Alan not to go through with his decision. 
Alan refuses to reconsider, despite her threats. They are scaling back 
the project & will not run a highway through the diner. Amanda thinks 
the pain in Alan's back has gone to his head, but he says she's a bigger 
pain. "At least the pain in my back will go away." [ROTFL!] Buzz wonders 
what has turned Alan around. Alan says Griffin helped him realize what 
was important in life -- family. Buzz can't believe his ears. "God bless 
America -- the land where King Midas can turn into Ward Cleaver." He 
tosses the dynamite towards Alan as he skips out, intent on telling Reva 
the good news. Alan lunges for the dynamite & groans in pain.

CEDARS: Rachel confirms that everyone understands what they're about to 
do. Blake says the only person they have to worry about is Reva, because 
she doesn't give a damn about Annie. Reva tells Blake to back off. Ross 
seconds Reva. Rachel says they mustn't fight among themselves. She 
reiterates all the rules about what they should or shouldn't say. Josh 
gets testy with Rick, then apologizes. Lillian says she's packed some of 
Annie's things so she can go straight to rehab if she agrees. Reva tells 
Josh that she wants the same thing he does. She asks Rachel if the 
intervention can possibly work. Rachel says yes, but maybe not right 
away. Lillian wishes Vanessa were still alive. Blake thinks Annie won't 
come. Josh looks worried.

Out in the reception area, we see Annie's feet come through a door. She 
walks into the room with the drug cabinet & takes off her hat.

PARK: Rog tries to buys a hot dog with the works, but the vendor can't 
change any bill bigger than $5. Rog looks around & spots Amanda, who 
asks what he's doing there. He says he's "seizing the day" & asks Amanda 
to change a $20. She does & he thanks her. She notes that he's out of 
the psych hospital. He says it was a life saver. Amanda agrees, since 
convincing everyone that the ECT made him docile has gotten everyone off 
his back. Rog says she's all wrong about him. Amanda promises not to rat 
on him. Rog says he's going to give Amanda 1st bite of his hot dog. He 
buys the frank, waxing poetic about the beautiful day. Amanda's eyes are 
downcast. "I see you eyeing my hot dog," Rog says. [wink, wink, nudge, 
nudge] He wipes off a bench so they can sit & offers her the 1st bite. 
Amanda, who has been remarkably quiet up until now, says she's not very 
hungry. Rog thinks she looks a little despondent & encourages her to 
open up to him. "I've become a very good listener," he adds.

SPAULDING MANSION: Alan asks Philip to spearhead a public relations 
blitz about how they're shutting down the project because it's the best 
thing for everyone. Phil says he'll have it out by the evening news. 
Alan knows that a lot of people will be skeptical, and they may lose 
investors. Phil says as long as they're in it together, they can handle 
it. Alan suggests they do something different that will really wow the 
press. "Let's tell the truth." Philip laughs & so does Alan.

CEDARS: Rick tells Ross that Annie should be there soon. Ross says he'll 
leave & makes sure Blake wants to stay. She does. Ross wishes them all 
luck & exits. Reva tells Blake she's very lucky to have one of the best 
men in Springfield. Then she asks Josh what will happen if Annie doesn't 
accept the deal. Josh says he just wants to get things back to where 
they belong, they way they were when things were good.

Another nurse enters while Annie is fiddling with the drug cabinet. 
Annie claims she came to get the rest of her stuff from her locker. 
Nurse Claire asks if Annie is still on medical leave. Annie says yes, 
but she'll be better soon. Claire has to leave when a code is called 
over the PA. Annie goes back to the cabinet & grabs the bottle of 
isolil. When she turns around, Lillian is standing there looking grim.

SPAULDING MANSION: Phil writes busily while Alan tosses out ideas. 
Suddenly, Alan cries out in pain. Phil insists that Alan go to a doctor. 
"Ever since you were 9, you thought you knew everything," smiles Alan.

PARK: Amanda can't figure out why Alan doesn't accept her. Nothing she 
does is right, nothing works. "Am I supposed to just walk away before he 
takes every last shred of self-respect I have?" She laughs, realizing 
that she's resorted to "telling my personal story to a man who just got 
out of shock therapy." Rog laughs too. "Do you know what it's like to 
love & love & love & never be loved in return?" Rog knows all too well, 
but he thinks Amanda is a spectacularly beautiful woman with wealth & 
power. If Alan's rejected her, it's his loss. Rog knows what it's like 
to be rejected by those he cares most about. He thinks they're both 
outsiders, with a lot in common. 

DINER: Buzz dances in, shouting that they've won. He gives Eleni & 
Marina big kisses & tells them to start unpacking. He shouts to Reva.

CEDARS: Lil drags Annie into the hall while Annie protests. "I caught 
you stealing drugs," says Lillian. "I have no choice." Lil drags Annie 
into the meeting room & Annie gets real quiet when she sees all the 
people gathered. "What is this?" she asks as the screen fades to black. 


--Marni (marni@panix.com)



