From: Marni Centor <marni@panix.com>

GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE -- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1996

                        PARENTHOOD

Written by Sharon Epstein & directed by Irene M. Pace

Highlights:
* Reva worries about her mom & plans a trip to Italy.
* Annie continues her sexpot scheme to get preggers with Josh.
* Blake & Ross prepare to take the twins home.
* Abby's parents reject her; Rick agonizes over denying his own son.
* Michelle doesn't understand Zachary's "spiritual path."

LEWIS HOUSE: Josh calls Reva & leaves a message on her machine asking 
about Sarah. Annie enters as he's hanging up; she hopes it's his last 
business call of the evening. She's wearing silk pajamas with the top 
open, & one of those push-up numbers underneath. She doesn't want any 
interruptions. Josh notices her sexy get-up & is surprised she's not 
exhausted from the Springfield Inn. Annie's anxious to show him how 
exhausted she is & initiates a passionate embrace.

HOSPITAL: Reva & Buzz charge in with information about Sarah from a 
hospital in Rome that they need translated. [We get the hand-held camera 
effect a la NYPD Blue to emphasize how urgent a moment this is.] Reva 
has a feeling that the news isn't good. Buzz says if Sarah is as tough 
as Reva, then she'll be fine. "What if she's not?" asks Reva. "we'll get 
through it together," promises Buzz, hugging her. Reva thinks of Josh 
telling her he'll take care of everything. 

BAUER KITCHEN: Zachary leaves Michelle crying over him not loving her 
back. He returns, saying he can't leave her this way. "There are things 
I have to tell you about myself, Michelle. Things you don't know."

CEDARS NURSERY: Holly, Fletch & Ross watch the twins through the window. 
Ross explains that Kevin's about 1.5 lbs bigger than Jason. Fletch 
doesn't think the twins look identical & asks if the doctors have any 
theories about why. Blake listens from around a corner. 

BLUME HOUSE: Mr. Blume says he has no daughter. Abby begs him to listen 
to them & Charlotte also entreats him to keep his heart open. She knows 
it must give him joy to see Abby again & hear her speak. "Leave," 
insists Mr. Blume. Rick refuses to allow the man to deny his daughter. 
Mr. Blume says Rick can't know how he feels until he too is a father.

Abby says her father isn't being fair. Charlotte says when Abby chose to 
make her life in Springfield, she knew she would no longer be accepted 
in their community. "And her own home?" asks Rick. Charlotte says it's 
not her home anymore. Mr. Blume adds that Abby has shunned God & them. 
Rick doesn't understand how her parents can turn Abby away. "Abigail is 
a woman of God," says Rick, because she learned it in Goshen. "She loves 
you with all her heart just the way you are; why can't you accept her 
the way she is." 

Charlotte says Abby is not the way they raised her to be. Abby says 
there's no sense in fighting. They must respect her parents' beliefs. 
She apologizes for coming; she should have known she couldn't live in 
both worlds. Rick doesn't get how the Blumes can reject their daughter.

NURSERY: Ross says he was obsessed by the non-look-alike identical twins 
for awhile too. Fletch asks if maybe they could be fraternal. Holly asks 
what difference it makes. Ross says the boys are identical, but it's 
difficult to tell. He points out lots of things that are similar between 
them, like the way they shake their fists when they cry. Holly says 
Blake used to do that; Ross says she still does. :-) They are growing & 
changing so quickly. Fletch remembers this with Meg, but he continues to 
harp on the non-identicalness. Ross says Rick says it's just a medical 
anomaly & he's checking it out. The guys decide to get a cup of coffee; 
Holly decides to stay with the twins. When the men are gone, she calls 
to Blake that the coast is clear. 

BAUER HOUSE: Michelle says Zach doesn't owe her any explanations. He can 
just move on & forget he ever knew her. Zach doesn't want to forget her. 
Michelle is confused. Zach says he can't return her feelings. Michelle 
asks if he's involved with someone else. "In a way," replies Zach. 
Michelle thinks he's got a girlfriend somewhere, but they decided it was 
OK to see other people. Zach says that's not it. "I've never had anyone 
else in my life like that," he adds. He doesn't want her to expect 
something from him that he can't give her. Michelle guesses that Zach 
cares about her more than he's willing to admit.

CEDARS: Buzz brings Reva some coffee. Dr. Grant comes by to talk to 
them. Reva explains about the language barrier; Dr. Grant says he has a 
surgeon friend in Rome whom he has contacted. The doctor is in surgery 
right now, but when he gets out, he will contact Sarah's doctors & relay 
the information to Charles. Buzz asks whether the terms he wrote down 
give Charles any clue, but Charles does not want to speculate. Buzz asks 
for anything Charles can tell them. Charles guesses that Sarah is 
suffering from staphylococcal pneumonia, which can have serious 
complications. But Charles can't tell them much about Sarah's prognosis 
because he doesn't know about her general health or how sick she was 
before she sought treatment. Reva wonders if the disease is life-
threatening. Charles says it might be. Reva wants to go straight to 
Italy. Charles promises to call them when he knows more. Buzz & Reva 
leave. "I hope Sarah got to the doctor in time," muses Charles.

LEWIS HOUSE: Josh tells Annie to slow down; he thinks she's acting like 
she's under some kind of pressure. Is there something she's not telling 
him? Annie says they were apart for so long that she just wants to be 
with him. Josh is sensing some urgency that he doesn't understand. Annie 
admits she feels guilty about lying to him about her addiction & says 
she's trying to make it up to him. She wants to make a fresh start & 
forget about all the bad things that happened. She renews her attack & 
Josh doesn't fight back.

GOSHEN: Rick says God says that parents should love their children. 
Charlotte says Abby understands that they have chosen "the harder way; 
the rockier course." She says their hearts are breaking over their lost 
child. Rick says Abby isn't lost; she's found herself. Parents have to 
send their children off with love to be themselves. Charlotte agrees 
with her husband that Rick can't understand until he has a family of his 
own. Rick says he has a family & he knows how devastated he would feel 
if his father rejected him. Charlotte says they have no choice; Abby has 
fallen to temptation & lost God. 

Abby disagrees. She still says her prayers & studies the bible. Rick 
says they can't imagine how hard it is for Abby to follow her beliefs in 
Springfield, but she does. Charlotte says Abby belongs with her people 
in Goshen. Rick says Abby has touched many lives in Springfield & every 
one is better for it, including him. Maybe it was God's will that she 
left Goshen. Rick hopes God gives the Blumes the strength to accept 
their daughter the way she is. The pain they feel is not necessary. The 
Blumes turn away from Rick & sit at their table. Rick tells Abby it's 
time to go home. After they leave, Mr. Blume looks thoughtful.

Outside, Rick hugs Abby & tells her how sorry he is. He asks if she's 
all right. She says he showed her a part of his heart that she never saw 
before. She's so tired, she feels nothing, she cries. Rick kisses her 
forehead, puts his arm around her & he takes her home. 

BAUER HOUSE: Michelle says it was a big deal for Zach to give her his 
bracelet. Zach says he can't lie & say he doesn't care about her, but it 
doesn't change anything. He wishes he could act on his feeling, but he 
can't. Michelle is really confused. He can't say that he feels something 
for her & then walk away. Why can't they just be like 2 ordinary people 
& take things as they come. Zach says she doesn't understand; he's 
chosen "a different path." "Are you gay?" she asks. No, he says, he's 
just chosen another way. Zach says he's on a spiritual path, so he can't 
be with her as she'd like. "You're a priest?" she asks. No, says Zach. 
"But you have no room in your life for me," realizes Michelle. [This 
would be very frustrating if I gave a hoot about angel-boy.] 

Michelle tells him to be as spiritual as he likes, & take his bracelet 
while he's at it. Zach just looks at her, so she puts the bracelet in 
his hand & walks out. Zach sighs.

NURSERY: Holly asks Blake if she wants to talk about the weight that's 
on her heart. Blake says she can't be down; she just gave birth to 2 
beautiful boys. Holly suggests she might have post-partum depression & 
Blake seizes on this as the likely culprit. Holly asks the boys to give 
their mama a smile. Blake can't believe how much she loves her boys. 
Holly says the feeling never goes away, even when the kids grow up & 
have kids of their own. She will always know when one of her children is 
troubled, just like Holly can tell that something is bothering Blake. 
She urges Blake to talk about it. "It won't go any further," she 
promises. Blake sighs, then says it's nothing. She wants to freshen up & 
tells Holly to go get Fletch & join her in her room. Holly leaves & 
Blake smiles at her boys.

LEWIS HOUSE: Josh & Annie go at it on the living room rug. Josh asks if 
Annie "took care" of everything so they don't have babies before they're 
ready. Annie assures him that she did, as she remembers slicing her 
diaphragm. Josh hears a car door slam & Annie urges him to pretend 
they're not home, but Josh gets up anyway. Reva & Buzz are at the door. 
Reva says she's taking Josh up on his promise; she needs his help. Annie 
looks defeated.

Josh says it's not a good time. Annie joins him at the door to see 
what's going on. Reva explains about Sarah's potentially grave condition 
& says she wants to get over to Italy ASAP. She spoke to Dylan, & he 
wanted to come, but she told him to wait. Rusty is going to meet her in 
Rome & Hawk is packing. Reva hates to ask favors, but wonders if they 
can use the Lewis jet. Annie doesn't see why not. 

Reva calls the hospital to see if Dr. Grant has any more news. She 
learns that Sarah's condition is very serious because she waited over a 
week to see the doctor, thinking she just had the flu. Dr. Grant 
suggested they ship her to Chicago, where he knows a specialist who 
might be able to help. Josh asks Annie if they can do this; she says 
they need a flying ambulance. Josh says he has to do whatever he can for 
Sarah; she took care of him & the kids when Reva "died." He calls & 
orders the jet to be prepared.

BAUER HOUSE: The phone rings & the answering machine picks up. A woman 
leaves a message saying she hopes they've gotten her messages & are 
expecting them. She can't wait to see them. Also, she hates talking to 
machines. She doesn't leave her name. 

Rick & Abby return. Abby notes that Rick has been silent all the way 
home. She says he can't blame himself for not being able to change her 
parents' minds. They are very set in their ways & have a very different 
idea of love. Rick thinks he's no better than they are. Abby can't 
believe this. He's the most caring person she knows. He would never walk 
away from his child.

Blake calls & tells Rick he's got to come to the hospital right away. He 
asks if the boys are OK. She says yes, but she needs him. Rick 
apologizes to Abby & leaves for Cedars.

LEWIS HOUSE: Everyone's been busy on the phone. Buzz announces that Hawk 
will meet them at the airport. Reva says she has a contact on the flying 
ambulance. Josh says there's some kind of delay getting the medical 
supplies. He thinks it would be best if he accompanies them to Italy to 
help arrange things. He tells Annie he'll be back by the next evening. 
Annie doesn't look pleased.

CEDARS: Dr. Grant greets candy-striper Michelle. She asks who needs help 
& he suggests she bring some new magazines to a patient. She drops the 
magazines & shows her frustration when Zach offers to help: "Don't 
pretend you care. You're on some spiritual journey & I'm just some dead-
end road you almost took by mistake!" Zach says she's wrong. He's not 
playing a game.

In Blake's room, everyone's excited about Blake going home tomorrow, 
especially Fletch. Rick enters & Ross wonders if he's got the scoop on 
the not-so-identicals. Rick is still working on it. He wants to check on 
Blake's stitches. Everyone else says good-bye & leaves. Blake says Rick 
has to come up with a good story about the twins that Ross will buy. She 
sees how melancholy Rick looks & asks what's wrong. "Tonight I saw with 
my own eyes what happens when a father denies his own child." Blake 
reminds him of his promise. Rick says he won't break his promise. Blake 
assures him he's doing the right thing. Rick says he has an idea that 
should put things to rest once & for all. He will talk to Ross tomorrow. 
Blake thanks him, but he tells her not to, because "If I screw this one 
up, it's going to cost me my career and the woman I love." Exit Rick.

Back in reception, Michelle asks why Zach followed her. He wanted to 
make sure she was all right. She thinks he's hiding something. If he 
denies that, he's either lying to her or himself. Zach leaves without 
another word. Michelle knows this is not the end of Zachary "Smith."

LEWIS HOUSE: Josh comes down with a suitcase & Annie asks if he really 
has to go. He promises to be back soon. Annie understands. Reva says the 
kids are spending the night with Eleni. Annie promises to pick them up 
at the diner tomorrow. Josh kisses Annie good-bye. She promises him 
"something better" when he comes back. They Italy-bound crowd leaves & 
Annie wonders how she's going to get pregnant when Josh is 30,000 feet 
in the air. She blames Reva. She grabs her ovulation kit from her bag & 
reads the back. She has 24 hours left "for best results." She figures 
Josh will be back in time. "It will be tight, but I am going to have 
Josh's baby," she declares.

CEDARS: Ross enters Blake's room with a flower for her. She's happy to 
see him. He says his arms were way too empty without her. He asks about 
the stitches. Blake says she's good as new. Ross asks if they're ready 
to start their new life together tomorrow. Blake hugs him.

In the nursery, Rick picks up one of the twins & remembers his words to 
the Blumes. "How can any parent say `I have no child'?" Rick cradles the 
baby as the screen fades to black.

--Marni (marni@panix.com)



