Daily Updates

From: rika1@mindspring.com (Rika)
Subject: PC: Update, Thursday, 2/5/98
Date: Sat, 07 Feb 1998 22:09:04 GMT
X-Server-Date: 7 Feb 1998 22:09:41 GMT

                       PORT CHARLES UPDATE
                     Thursday, Feb. 5, 1998

TODAY'S STORYLINES:
-------------------
* A VERY HOT MEAL
* NO, A KANGAROO WOULD BEHAVE BETTER THAN THIS
* "AND WHERE THE LEGS ENDED, THE BRAINS BEGAN"

A VERY HOT MEAL
---------------
Matt and two FBI-looking guys arrive at a hotel room.  They sweep the
place while Matt complains that he doesn't want to be there any longer
than absolutely necessary.  The agents remind him that they don't want
to be there either - Matt just needs to do what he's been told and
then he can go back to being a doctor.  Matt remarks that they never
let him forget what he has to do; besides, he remarks, he came all the
way to Philadelphia - no sightseeing?  The agents are not amused - his
attitude could get him killed.

Mike shows up at GH and greets Ellen, who had evidently asked him to
come over to donate blood (he is AB-).

Marla (the X-ray tech) tells Chris that she isn't sure going out to
dinner tonight is a good idea because of the impending snowstorm.
Chris suggests that they delay the decision till after work; Marla
agrees.  Chris twists the subject around to Matt's difficulty in
mobility.  Marla remarks that Matt doesn't see it that way - the chair
is just part of his life and he doesn't let it stop him.  Chris just
hopes "there isn't anything serious on those X-rays you took" - like
spinal degeneration.  Marla doesn't know, since she's not a
radiologist, but she doesn't think there was anything to worry about.
"You don't THINK," Chris repeats.

That evening, Chris asks Marla if she's ready to go out.  She is
hesitant, due to the snow (Chris ought to take note - his
irresistability quotient seems to be slipping).  He suggests that they
just go to the Recovery Room for a drink, and then decide about
dinner.  Chris brings the subject back to Matt's X-rays again.  Chris
is "such good friends with him that I can't help but be concerned."
Marla is impressed; however, she has checked with the radiologist and
she is able to reassure Chris that there's nothing on Matt's X-ray
that "could be considered serious."  Chris picks up that there was
*something*, though.  Marla admits that - "Something odd.... maybe."

After his blood donation, Mike tells Ellen he has to leave to have
dinner with his godson (which indeed he did, over on GH.  There have
been quite a few PC-GH crossovers this week and they've been extremely
well handled).  Ellen asks if he'd consider giving blood regularly,
since his type is so rare.  Then, before he leaves, she asks if Mike
knows how to reach Matt.  She uses the paraplegic patient as her
excuse for asking.  Mike explains that Matt left with "a couple of
guys" but didn't say where he was going.  Ellen says that Matt
mentioned a death in the family; Mike didn't hear anything like that
from Matt.  Ellen asks about the guys with Matt.  Mike says they
didn't seem like family, but "no one held a gun to his head."

Back in the Philadelphia hotel room, a room service waiter is outside
the door.  The agents bring the room service cart into the room.  Matt
goes into the bathroom to wash up; the agents check out the contents
of the cart, which unfortunately for them includes a bomb.  A sizable
explosion ensues.

NO, A KANGAROO WOULD BEHAVE BETTER THAN THIS
--------------------------------------------
At the custody trial for Serena, Byron Rollins (Rex's attorney)
produces depositions attesting to Lee Baldwin's supposed drinking
binges.  Lee is furious, but the judge cuts him off.  Lee insists that
he's been clean and sober for 20 years; the judge remarks that the
depositions say otherwise.  Lee insists that he has a right to
cross-examine the witnesses (which is CERTAINLY true); the judge just
tells him to sit down.  Rollins petitions for custody for Rex, due to
Lee's drunkenness.

Lee objects to the lack of due process in the trial.  The judge tells
him he's on dangerous ground in questioning the ethics of the court.
Lee doesn't care; he angrily promises to bring the judge up before a
judicial review board for running what amounts to "a kangaroo court".
The judge uses Lee's outburst as an excuse to award custody of Serena
to Rex.  Scott's family and friends cry out their dismay. Rex turns to
Lucy exultantly; Lucy tries to smile, but can't quite manage it while
fighting back tears.

After the trial, Gail, Lee, Karen, Eve, and Kevin are together in an
alcove.  Lee wonders what else he could have done; Gail feels that if
Lee had said anything more, the judge would have put Lee in jail.  Eve
asks if a judge can behave that way, and Lee promises that he will
bring charges before a judicial review board.  Karen worries about
Scott's reaction; Kevin can't believe Rex pulled it off.  Lee corrects
Kevin - it's hard to believe that they underestimated Rex.  Gail
doesn't think that's where the blame lies.  She walks over to where
Lucy stands alone and rips Lucy to shreds for what she's done - she
thought Lucy loved Scott and Serena.  Lucy replies, "I do - more than
anything in the world."  (I'm sure Kevin loved hearing THAT.)  Gail
calls Lucy a liar and a selfish woman, accusing her of wanting Serena
for herself.  Lee finally comes over and draws Gail away from Lucy;
they leave.  Lucy approaches Karen, hoping for sympathy; Karen holds
her at bay, simply saying, "Don't.  Lucy, don't."  Then Karen walks
off.  This leaves Lucy alone in the hallway with Kevin (at least, as
far as we can tell).  She tearfully tells him how glad she is that he,
at least, knows the truth and realizes how this is killing her.  Kevin
cuts her off:  "Stop it, Lucy.  Nothing's killing you.  Your plan's
working beautifully.  I hope you're proud of yourself."  (It is not
100% clear if his coldness was genuine or for the benefit of
eavesdroppers, but we never see anyone else standing around.)  Kevin
walks off, leaving Lucy to stand alone, fighting back tears.

Inside the courtroom, Rex is talking to the judge, and we learn that
he blackmailed her in order to get her to grant him custody of Serena.
He has tapes and photos that evidently show some sort of scandal in
the way she got her judgeship; he will have them delivered to her that
evening.

At the police station, Lee and Gail give Scott the bad news.  Lee
already has an appeal in process, but the judge ordered Lee and Gail
to turn Serena over to Rex the following day.  Lee hopes that Lucy
will be able to keep an eye on Serena; Gail thinks Lucy is worse than
Rex.  Scott, in a characteristic show of self-control and good
judgement, starts tossing furniture around in an angry rage, causing
the police to come in and forcibly drag him back to his cell.

After he leaves, Gail tells Lee that she doesn't care what the judge
said - she will *not* turn Serena over to Gail.  She has already
contacted an organization that protects women and children; she is
going underground with Serena to protect her.  (FINALLY, someone who
is thinking clearly in this whole scheme!)  Gail breaks into tears as
she vows that she will not hand Serena over to "those monsters."

"AND WHERE THE LEGS ENDED, THE BRAINS BEGAN"
--------------------------------------------
After the custody trial, Eve visits Scott at the police station.
Apparently she couldn't smuggle in an apple, so instead they split a
stick of gum.  Eve remarks that ever since she's known him, his life
has been one big roller-coaster ride.  She wonders if it's always like
that (that's a big YES, Eve).  Scott wonders why Eve asked; she claims
she was "just curious".  Scott takes her hand and whispers to her that
he wants her to help him break out of jail.  Eve is shocked.  Scott
admits that he's asked her for a lot up to this point; Eve reminds him
that so far he's stopped short of requesting that she commit felonies.
Is it too much to ask, Scott wonders.  Yes, it is, replies Eve - "but
I'll think about it and I'll let you know as soon as I can."  Scott
reminds her that he doesn't have a lot of time.

Back at the hospital, Eve thinks about Scott's request, and she has a
fantasy about breaking Scott out of jail.  It is a wonderful parody of
black-and-white crime-story films, beginning with the line, "She was
legs.  All legs.  And where the legs ended, the brains began."  Eve
looks a little bit overcome by her thoughts and returns to work.

As Eve walks away from the nurses' station, Kevin gets off an elevator
and is told by a nurse that he has a call.  It's Lucy, telling him, "I
just wanted to hear your voice and to tell you how much I love you."
Kevin asks what's wrong.  Lucy tells him that it took her a long time
to find a guy like him, and no matter what happens, she won't let him
go.  You're engaged to Rex, he reminds her.  She insists that she has
to protect Serena; she can't let Serena live alone in the house with
Rex.  Lucy begs Kevin not to hate her, but she is going to ask Rex to
marry her that night.  Kevin insists that he won't let her do that,
but Lucy hangs up when she hears Rex coming.

Karen asks Kevin what's wrong; he tells her that Lucy is about to do
something crazy, and he has to stop her.  He dashes off.  Eve comes up
to Karen and asks what was wrong with Kevin; Karen explains that it's
something about Lucy.  Eve then pulls Karen aside and informs her that
"we're gonna to break your father out of jail."

Back at Chez Stanton, Rex asks who was on the phone.  Lucy claims it
was Don, her assistant.  She asked him to clear her calendar for the
next few weeks.  She wants Serena to come into a home with two loving,
*married* parents, and so she wants to marry Rex right away.  He asks
if she's sure.  She is, she assures him, and just barely keeping her
tears in check, she tells him that "I want to be Mrs. Rex Stanton -
tonight!"

-------------------
by Rika, Thursday updater