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From: rika1@mindspring.com (Rika) Subject: PC: Update, Thursday, 12/18/97 Date: Fri, 19 Dec 1997 19:35:44 GMT X-Server-Date: 19 Dec 1997 19:36:33 GMT PORT CHARLES UPDATE Thursday, Dec. 18, 1997 TODAY'S STORYLINES: ------------------- * A Table for One * The Day of Reckoning A TABLE FOR ONE --------------- Lucy wakes up in the morning and sleepily reaches across the bed for Kevin - but he's not there. As she becomes fully awake, she realizes where she is: in her room at the Port Charles Hotel. She sits up, frustrated and grumpy, and grabs the room service menu. Then she changes her mind - she needs to go to the restaurant alone and face everyone. But first she needs fortification. She calls room service to order herbal tea; in response to a question, she spits back in annoyance, "Yes, service for one - I'm all by myself. Alone." She slams down the phone and looks sadly at the other side of the bed. Down in the restaurant, Rollins and Rex are having breakfast together. Rex is reading a report from an operative, describing the view through Kevin and Lucy's window during their staged break-up. Rex inserts editorial comments (when he reads that Lucy threw things, he remarks, "I told you she was feisty"; when he reads that Kevin threw things too, he remarks, "Bad form"). Rex tells Rollins that he doesn't buy the break-up, but he is "starting to enjoy this little game they're playing." Lucy arrives in the restaurant, wearing a very tight, very short dark green dress. She is escorted to a table, and the waiter asks the dreaded question: "Just one, ma'am?" She orders a surprisingly light breakfast, given what we know about Lucy's appetite. After the waiter leaves, Rex approaches and asks, "Are you eating alone?" (Lucy is getting VERY tired of that question.) Rex offers his sympathies for the problems with her business that he's heard about. He claims not to wish to offend her; she retorts that his very presence offends her. She asks the waiter to have her food delivered to her room, she signs the check, and she leaves. Rex looks at the check, smugly noting her room number. (By the way, a fruit plate costs $7.95 at the PC Grill.) Scott visits Lucy in her room. He remarks that she looks pretty good for someone who "just broke up with the love of her life." Lucy explains that the plan seems to be working - at breakfast, Rex couldn't keep his eyes off Lucy's legs. Scott doesn't find that surprising, given the outfit Lucy's wearing. The dress is bait to lure Rex in, Lucy explains. Scott, of all people, begins to lecture Lucy that this isn't a game, and Rex isn't just some shark on a fishing line. Rex is dangerous and unpredictable, and Lucy should be careful not to get in trouble just because she's good at conning people. Lucy knows that, and she'll be careful. Scott will have his security people sweep the room daily for bugs. There is a knock at the door. Lucy answers while Scott hides. It's a huge bouquet of flowers. Scott thinks it's a bad idea for Kevin to be sending flowers, but Lucy checks the card and finds out the flowers are from Rex. Lucy reminds Scott that Rex may have the lobby staked out, so he should be going soon. Before Scott leaves, Lucy makes him admit that she's good at game playing, but she promises that she's going to put "Lucy the grifter" away as soon as this is over. Scott thanks her for what she's doing and leaves, after checking the hall to make sure no one is there. Then Lucy sits, looking at the flowers, and murmurs to herself, "Okay, Mr. Rexy, make your next move." THE DAY OF RECKONING -------------------- At the hospital, Eve greets Kevin, remarking that he looks tired. He explains that he isn't used to sleeping without Lucy, so he spent the night "working the remote control." Eve worries that this plan might harm Kevin and Lucy's relationship, but he assures her that it is only an act. Karen, Matt, Chris, and Jake get off the elevator together. Chris asks them if they need advice on facing the review board. Karen assures him that nobody could match his skills in sucking up. Chris smugly retorts that she shouldn't be spiteful just because he will get the best evaluation, due to his superior skills. Jake figures that honor will go to Matt, but Matt isn't sure Boardman is ready to overlook the wheelchair. Chris reminds Matt that he saved Boardman's life, and that might make Boardman go easy on him. Matt doesn't think that it will matter - or that it should. Karen turns to Chris and remarks, "That's called integrity, Chris." She starts to spell the word for him until Chris stops him; Jake snickers in the background. Meanwhile, Joe and Julie are sharing their insecurities. Joe figures they have nothing to lose at this point, because the reviews are already done. Thus, nothing can be changed, and whatever happens, happens. When Ellen calls Joe's name, he gets that deer-in-the-headlights look and goes into the room to face the firing squad of Burgess, Boardman, and Devlin. (Sounds like a law firm, doesn't it?) Joe's evaluation: Burgess - good medical skills and patient interaction, but he needs to learn to control his temper Devlin - good work in the OR; on the right track ("despite an early reputation for improvisation"). Boardman - Joe's patient care is "adequate," but he has a short fuse and lacks respect for his superiors. (Joe proves Boardman's point by trying to defend himself.) Out in the lobby, Kevin and Karen are chatting. She asks about his first intern evaluation. It was overseas, he replies, but just as nerve-wracking. Scott gets off the elevator, bringing Karen a daisy to cheer her up on evaluation day (awwwww). Scott and Kevin reassure Karen that she's a good doctor; she wishes they were on the review board. Scott suggests that Kevin ask Lucy to "look in her crystal ball" to see what's going to happen. Kevin tells Scott to ask Lucy himself, since Lucy has moved out. Karen, stunned, is about to express her concern, but Scott interrupts to continue the little play the guys are putting on for her benefit. Scott starts to give Kevin patronizing advice about dealing with Lucy until Kevin angrily stops him. He tells Scott that part of the problem in his relationship with Lucy is her relationship with Scott, so Scott should stay out of it. Kevin strides off angrily, leaving a speechless Karen in his wake. Julie's evaluation: Boardman - hesitant, tentative, lacking confidence in her judgment. Surgeons need to be bold and confident, not always looking to others for confirmation. Burgess - concentration has been erratic; she cannot afford to bring her private life to work. Devlin - starts by remarking that he is in an awkward position as her father, and then he *blasts* her. Her focus on her work is "shaky at best." When Frank came into the ER, her emotional state interfered with the trauma team's ability to do its job. She could be an excellent doctor, but she needs to behave like one every day. Eve, Karen, and Jake are outside the conference room obsessing, griping about the process, and claiming not to be worried. Ellen calls Karen in for her evaluation. Karen's evaluation: Devlin - Karen is "willful and insubordinate" in the ER, which is unacceptable. (He must figure she gets this from her dad.) Burgess - Admires Karen's dedication and ease with patients. A good diagnostician. Conducts herself with assuredness and confidence, which is mistaken for willfulness by some people. (This was a nice little snipe at Devlin.) Boardman - Excellent diagnostician; works hard on research and preparation. Karen comes out in the hall and remarks that it went okay, "if you can listen to people criticize you and not be able to smack them in the head." She explains that Devlin was the tough one; Eve figures that, in that case, she (Eve, that is) is dead. Julie and Joe, meanwhile, are telling Chris and Matt about their evaluations. Julie walks off, furious, telling them to "expect the unexpected" from her father. Jake's evaluation: Burgess - Jake has had a difficult six months, but a doctor needs to push personal issues aside to care for patients. Jake is effective when he concentrates on his patients, but he doesn't seem to do that naturally. Boardman - ditto, suggesting that perhaps Jake should choose a branch of medicine not requiring patient interaction Devlin - ditto. Eve's evaluation: Boardman - Excellent diagnostic skills, patient care, research, and follow-ups. Burgess - Consistently calm, direct, professional work. Devlin - "Rarely have I seen an intern of such talent and poise." Eve starts to make a speech, but Boardman stops her - "Leave before someone changes their mind." She comes out of the room beaming, and brags to Chris and Matt about how well it went. Matt's evaluation: Burgess - Great dedication, outstanding patient skills and perservence. Boardman - Still getting used to having a "disabled surgeon" in the OR, but admires Matt's dedication and considers him an excellent doctor - and a "gifted and decisive surgeon." Devlin - *If* Matt had anything to prove, he has proved it. Ellen follows Matt out into the hall and congratulates him. Matt tells Chris how well it went, and then Chris (who is getting very nervous) follows Ellen back into the conference room. Chris's evaluation: Boardman - His performance "has been nothing short of perfect." A unique talent for surgery, and an excellent student. (I guess that fly tying paid off.) Burgess - Conscientious doctor, but needs more of a team mentality. Devlin - "A showboating manipulator who seems to take delight in capitalizing on other people's weaknesses." He will never work on Devlin's team, and Devlin promises to share his opinion with others at the hospital, including Alan Quartermaine. Boardman and Burgess exchange shocked glances during these remarks. Chris listens in stony silence. When Devlin is finished, Chris coldly asks if he is allowed to respond. Devlin smirks, "Give it your best shot." Chris, with cold eyes and a truly frightening smile on his face, thanks the doctors for their input, "especially Dr. Devlin," remarking that their comments will only make him a better doctor. He leaves the room; when he gets outside, he makes a remark casting doubt on the legitimacy of their birth, if you catch my drift. Eve asks him how it went. Chris coldly assures her that nobody will cut him out of the Quartermaine fellowship. He walks off; Eve watches him go, concerned. So it looks like Eve and Matt are the front-runners for the Q residency - at least, until Chris does something about that. -------------------- by Rika, Thursday updater