From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1996

        YOU SAY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY? IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOO!

Written by Ralph Wakefield & directed by A.C. Weary (Kim Zimmer's hubby)

Highlights:
* Matt wonders about Zach's connection to Vanessa.
* A Towers party is full of surprises for Dahlia, Bill & Michelle.
* Rick & Abby share their first kiss.
* The kids have a ball bowling, but Reva's mind is elsewhere.
* Annie wants to have Josh's baby, but Josh thinks it's not a good time.

LIGHTHOUSE: Matt recognizes Vanessa's handwriting as he reads a letter 
she began writing to him: "My darling Matt, I just wanted to write & 
tell you how much I love you." The letter was never finished. "What did 
you do to my door?" asks Zach, returning to find it pulverized. "What 
did you do with my wife?" asks Matt in return.

TOWERS CLUB: Dahlia & Marcus finish their kiss & both say "thank you" 
simultaneously. Dahlia asks if they've rehearsed enough. Marcus locks 
eyes with her as he says rehearsal's over, "but this isn't."

BOWLING ALLEY: The Cooper clan is out for a night on the town. Lucy & 
Alan-Michael are with them. AM claims to never have been inside a 
bowling alley before. He could have taken bowling in high school, he 
says, but he opted for water polo instead. They all collect their shoes. 
Marah thinks it sounds like thunder & Shayne tells Reva that daddy says 
when it thunders, God is bowling. "That's what your daddy used to say," 
agrees Reva. She shoots an uncomfortable smile at Buzz

LEWIS HOUSE: Annie is trying to seduce Josh on the living room couch. 
She wants to have his baby "to seal our love" & so they can have 
something to share together. Josh reminds her that they already share 
Marah & Shayne. Annie loves them, but she wants a baby of her own, of 
their own. She starts kissing Josh again, putting all her powers of 
persuasion into it, but Josh pushes her away & says, "No!"

Annie asks why he pushed her away. Josh wants to slow down & talk about 
it. Annie says they talked about it when they moved into the house. Josh 
said they'd do it when the time was right. Josh reminds Annie that the 
timing is something they should decide together & he doesn't think now 
is the time. "Why?" asks Annie. He thinks it's too close to the tough 
time Annie has just gone through, & is still going through every day. He 
thinks they should get back to normal before bringing a child into the 
picture. He reminds Annie of the part of the 12-step program that says 
you shouldn't make any major changes in your life for at least a year.

BOWLING ALLEY: Buzz helps the kids put on their bowling shoes. The laces 
are too long & Buzz shows Shayne the "cool" way of wrapping them around 
his ankles before tying them. "Boys rule & girls drool!" exclaims 
Shayne. This is another bon mot he's learned from daddy. Reva says Josh 
better not ever say that in front of her. Shayne says boys are better & 
Lucy tickles him. A boys-against-girls bowling contest is proposed. Buzz 
thinks they'll just wind up with sore-loser girls, but Reva points out 
that AM is a novice, Lucy is an expert, and she herself has "rolled with 
some of the best." ;-) Reva thinks the girls will win. Buzz says he'll 
never be a loser as long as he has Reva. Lucy tells Buzz she's never 
seen him so relaxed or happy. Buzz says it's due to Reva.

LIGHTHOUSE: Zach doesn't know what Matt is talking about. Matt thinks 
it's very suspicious how Zach always showed up at certain times, and he 
wants to know who Zach is. But he hasn't found any bills or letters or 
postcards that might give him a clue. He can't find any evidence that 
Zach has a life. Zach doesn't believe in lots of material possessions. 
Matt says the only thing he was able to find was a letter from Vanessa 
to him. Why does Zach have it, and when did Van write it?

Nola barges in, glad to see Matt. She came by to invite Zach to a party 
at the Towers. It's a birthday party for Michelle, Bill & Dahlia; their 
birthdays are all in the same month.. [Hey, mine too!] Zach didn't 
realize it was Michelle's birthday. Matt forgot Bill's was coming up. 
Nola says Bill will never know if Matt shows up at the party. Matt's not 
really into crowds right now, but Nola says Van would want him to go. 
Matt doesn't respond. Nola decides she's made a big mistake & decides to 
leave. Matt has a change of heart & says he'll go with Nola, for Bill. 
"We'll finish this later," says Matt. Zach says he'll see them at the 
party.

TOWERS CLUB: Dahlia sees that the staff is getting ready to open & 
thinks she & Marcus should leave. Marcus steers her onto the terrace 
instead, to go over the sheet music for another song. Rick, Abby, 
Bridget & J enter, all dressed up & carrying lots of bright balloons. 
Jet sends J to make sure Marcus keeps Dahlia outside. Abby tells Jet 
that Rick seems tired lately. Jet thinks it must have been a big strain 
delivering Blake's babies. They both think the babies are adorable & 
Abby winces at the thought of Blake's caesarean in the Bauer cabin. Jet 
says it was scary giving birth to Peter, but you do what you have to. 

They look around & decide the place looks great. Fletch rushes in with a 
bunch more balloons & congratulates Rick on his amazing delivery feat. 
Abby proudly announces that Rick saved 3 lives in one day. Rick gets 
embarrassed. Fletch says the identical twins sure are something. He goes 
to help set up. Abby asks Rick if he'd like her to get him some food or 
coffee. Rick looking dejected, thanks her, but says he's not hungry.

Frank & Eleni arrive, followed by a long line of extras, all carrying 
gifts. One girl, in a particularly atrocious yellow vinyl dress, 
announces that Michelle & Bill are on their way. Jet anxiously tells 
everyone to hide their presents & act natural. Jet looks at her watch & 
can't believe Nola is going to miss the surprise part of the party. 
Michelle & Bill enter & Bill reads the banner. "Look, it's for you," he 
says. Michelle looks at the banner & says it's for Bill, too. Marcus 
brings Dahlia inside & says it's for all 3 of them. "Surprise!!" yells 
the crowd. The 3 youngsters look stunned but happy.

LEWIS HOUSE: Annie admits that the step program *suggests* not making 
any life changes for a year, but it's not an order. She argues that a 
new child won't be a major change, since they already have 2. Josh 
thinks her 1st child is a big deal. "Having a baby will change your 
life," he says. He recognizes how hard Annie's worked to change her life 
& he wants her progress to continue. She's the most important thing to 
him. Annie says if it will make her happy, why not? Josh says they've 
just begun to be able to trust each other again. "And, you don't use a 
baby to fix things. You fix things, then you start talking about having 
a baby. You know I'm right." Annie concedes. Josh is glad she's thinking 
about this, but he doesn't think the time is right. Annie realizes it's 
important to regain his trust & says they can wait a year. "You do want 
to have a baby with me someday, don't you?" she asks.

Josh doesn't respond. Annie repeats the question. Josh says he has to be 
honest--he hasn't thought about it lately, with all the problems they've 
been having. He can't picture bringing a child into that any time in the 
near future. Annie says she talked about waiting a year. Josh is not 
ready to make any promises right now. "Let's just wait & see," he says. 
Annie doesn't seem real happy with this, but agrees. She admits she's 
disappointed. Josh says he loves her, but doesn't want to be on any kind 
of schedule while they're still taking things one day at a time. "Tell 
me this isn't going to be a problem for you," he implores.

BOWLING ALLEY: Buzz helps Shayne & they watch as the ball rolls into the 
gutter. Everyone groans. Shayne tries again & this time he hits some 
pins. Marah says Shayne did it "just like Daddy." AM is up next. He 
verifies basic information, such as which fingers go in the ball. Lucy 
beats a drumroll as he takes his place on the lane. AM knocks down lots 
of pins. "Is that called a strike?" he asks. Buzz thinks maybe AM is 
hustling them. He & AM go off to buy beverages. 

Lucy thanks Reva for making Buzz so happy. Reva thinks Buzz is a happy 
kind of guy. On the outside, yes, agrees Lucy, "but you make him happy 
on the inside." She recalls how down he was after losing first Jenna & 
then Nadine. "I think you really saved him." Reva thinks Buzz is a 
survivor & would have done fine without her. Lucy insists that Reva saw 
something in Buzz that other people didn't. "He loves you very much." 
Lucy walks off, leaving Reva looking troubled. 

TOWERS CLUB: Rick can't believe they were able to keep the party a 
secret. Jet gives Michelle a big birthday hug & points her to the phone, 
where Ed is on the line from Africa. Michelle goes to take the call.

Nola runs in, bubbly & cheerful. She sees the party's already going & 
asks Bill & Dahlia if they were surprised. They assure her they were. 
Zach heads toward Michelle. She's telling Ed how she's having the best 
time she could without him. She misses him & wishes he was there. She 
calls Rick over to talk. Rick talks to Ed about Blake's babies while 
Abby looks on. He says the 1st baby was named Jason Frederick & the 2nd 
was Kevin Ross. He says Kevin was the breech baby. [I thought it was the 
other way around. Wasn't the caesarean baby the same one that needed the 
transfusion? Wasn't Jason the baby who got the transfusion?] Rick says 
he misses Ed, then says good-bye & hangs up.

Matt looks glum. He sees Zach with Michelle & starts over, but Bill 
comes up to say hi. Matt shakes Bill's hand & wishes him a happy 
birthday. He realizes the birthday must be hard on Bill. Bill says he's 
fine. Matt thinks Van would be glad to hear that. They go for a drink.

Jet is worried because Hart isn't there yet. Nola assures Jet that he'll 
be there, since Dinah is Bill's sister. She points out all the cute guys 
at the party & tells Jet to relax & have fun. All of a sudden, the music 
stops, making Jet & Nola's loud conversation the center of attention. 
This ends in a moment, when Hart, Dinah & Roger enter. [Dinah's dress is 
horrid too--a long halter-top in a big blue-gray & gold print with 
people's faces in it.]

"Ask & you shall receive," says Nola. Jet doesn't remember inviting Rog. 
Marcus takes Dinah aside & asks what Rog is doing there. Doesn't she 
remember how he feels about Rog? Dinah says Rog has really changed. She 
tells Marcus how Rog saved her life. Marcus tells Dinah to keep Rog on a 
leash. If he so much as sneers, Marcus will toss him.

Michelle thanks Zach for coming. He gives her a gift-- his bracelet. He 
thinks it will look better on her & gives her a birthday hug. Matt comes 
by & asks to speak with Zach in private. J wonders what's going on. He 
sees how happy Michelle is & says he thought she was done with Zach. She 
says the bracelet is pretty, that's all, & goes to enjoy the party.

Michelle joins Dahlia & Marcus, who is trying to convince Dahlia to 
sing. Michelle chimes in as well. Dahlia's not sure she's ready. Marcus 
thinks she is, but says it's up to her. Dahlia agrees. Marcus grabs a 
mike & introduces Dahlia. She takes the mike & dedicates her song to 
Bill, Michelle & everyone who's ever had faith in her.

Dahlia sings and Marcus watches her intently. The entire party stops to 
listen. Griff enters with Tina toward the end of the song. Frank notices 
& nudges Eleni to look. Dahlia finishes her song to loud applause, then 
sees her mom & runs over to give her a big hug. 

On the terrace, Matt wants a straight answer from Zach about the letter 
from Van. Zach says he's never seen it before. He remembers one time 
that Van stopped by the lighthouse; maybe she started the letter then. 
Matt thinks it makes no sense for her to write him a letter when she 
could have spoken to him. Zach says people have all kinds of reasons for 
putting their thoughts on paper. Matt thinks Zach knows something about 
Van that Matt doesn't & vows to keep dogging Zach until he finds out 
what it is. Zach is sorry Matt feels that way. 

LEWIS HOUSE: Josh needs to know that Annie is OK with the decision to 
not have a baby right now. Annie understands that she has to keep her 
priorities straight. She says she'll wait. Josh says he loves her. "Then 
show me," says Annie. "Make love to me. Not for a baby. Just for us." 

Annie says all the time she was going through withdrawal, all she could 
think about was the 2 of them together. It was the only thing that got 
her through the pain. Josh says he missed Annie too. Annie kisses him 
passionately. He reminds her they have to use protection. Annie says 
she'll get her diaphragm. "This one's for us," she says. They go 
upstairs arm-in-arm.

BOWLING ALLEY: Lucy does well, amid much cheering. AM doesn't do as well 
& the girls win. "Girls rule & boys drool," gloats Marah. Shayne sulks. 
Buzz gives him something to cheer him up--a "grow-worm" to put in 
Marah's drink. Lucy chides AM for hustling them. AM admits he was "All-
American" his senior year. Lucy asks if he took a dive in the last 
frame. AM will never tell. Lucy thinks she can get him out of it.

TOWERS CLUB: Dahlia wonders how Tina got out of jail. Griff called in 
some favors, but it didn't hurt that Tina was such an exemplary inmate. 
Tina still has to stay at a halfway home for awhile, but before long 
they'll be together again. Marcus thanks his dad, & Tina thanks him too. 
She knows she can never repay him. Griff says the look on Tina's & 
Dahlia's faces is all he needs. Dahlia hugs Marcus & thanks him too. She 
says it's the best night of her life. "So far," adds Marcus.

A blond guy approaches Bridget, but she waves him off. Rick & Abby 
dance, but Rick is really tired & decides to go home. Abby says she 
wants to stay, but walks him to the elevator.

Rog comments to Dinah that everyone seems to be having a good time 
except Matt. Didn't Dinah see the way he ran after Vanessa's friend? 
Dinah wonders how Rog knows that Zach was Van's friend. Rog guesses he 
saw them together somewhere. Dinah sees Zach with Michelle, but not 
Matt. She decides to go check on him. 

Hart returns with a drink for Rog. Rog comments that everyone seems to 
be having a good time tonight except Bridget. He points out the glum Jet 
standing by the bar. "She's dying to have someone ask her to dance." Rog 
stands, ready to do his duty. Hart doesn't think it's a good idea, with 
Rog's injuries. Rog goes on about how hard Jet works, running 2 
businesses & raising Peter. "I wish she could have some fun in her 
life." Hart decides to ask Jet to dance. Rog thinks this is a good idea.

Rick sits while they wait for the elevator. He shuts his eyes & asks 
Abby to wake him when it comes. Abby sees her golden opportunity & 
kisses Rick on the lips. Rick opens his eyes & smiles. Abby hopes she 
didn't startle him. "That's the nicest thing anybody's done for me in a 
very long time," he says. Abby is momentarily at a loss for words. She 
says she saw him on the phone to Ed & he seemed so sad; she wanted to 
make him feel better. "It worked," says Rick. He kisses Abby back. They 
gaze into each other's eyes.

Dancing with Hart, Jet says it was nice of Dinah to go check on Matt. 
Matt stands by the bar & reads Van's letter again. Dinah approaches him 
& he shows it to her. She puts her hand on his shoulder to comfort him & 
he breaks down, crying that he misses Van. Dinah hugs him & cries that 
she misses Van too. Rog watches approvingly from a doorway.

BUZZ & REVA'S HOUSE: Buzz is lying on the bed as Reva enters, saying the 
kids are tucked in. Buzz sits up & massages her shoulders while she re-
moves her shoes. She tells him how wonderful he is, especially with 
Shayne. Buzz says after all Shayne's been through lately, he just needed 
a few hours of fun. Speaking of which, Buzz has an idea. He starts kiss-
ing Reva & they fall back onto the bed. Reva looks less than enthusias-
tic, but Buzz is too busy with her neck to notice. She kisses him back.

LEWIS BOUDOIR: Annie rolls on top of Josh in bed. Josh's arms seem 
unwilling to touch her. Split screen to show Reva in Buzz's arms beside 
Josh in Annie's, as the screen fades to black. 

--Marni (marni@panix.com)



