From: susanm@HP-AND.AN.HP.COM (Susan Margulies)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps
Subject: AMC: Thursday Update 7/23
Date: 24 Jul 92 16:10:55 GMT

AMC Update, Thursday July 23rd

Featuring:	"All My White Knights" starring Jack and Edmund
		"All My Ultimatums"    starring Dimitri and Erica
					(names officially unmerged!)
		"All My Pic-i-nic Baskets" starring HELLga
		"All My Broomsticks" starring Mona and Erica
		and
		"All My Little Piggies" starring Edmund and Brooke

Did You Notice?  The ball lasted for 5 show days, the day of the
		 ball lasted for 6 or 7 show days.  Pretty
		 impressive, eh?

		 HELLga and Dimitri's deja vu dialogue? (see "All My
		 Pic-i-nic Baskets")

"All My White Knights"
----------------------
Edmund reveals to Jack the big news (YAWN, says Jack) about Erica
and Dimitri having an affair.  Edmund really is chomping at the bit
to tell all to Angel, but Jack says denouncing the slime won't do
anything but hurt Angelique.  Edmund accusing Jack of not caring at
all about Angelique.  Jack says he isn't ignoring the affair, he
just realizes that it will self-destruct.  Edmund claims he knows
Merrick, but Jack, more importantly, knows Erica!  "Erica won't
settle for being his mistress long.  She wants the whole pie.  I
think our boy Merrick has finally found his match."  Edmund reminds
Jack that the pair can burn in hell; he only cares about Angelique.
Furthermore, says Ed, if he were in Angel's position he would expect
to be told, and told by his REAL friends.  Jack pleads with Edmund
to see that 2 things can happen: The whole affair will blow up and
fade away quickly, which Jack says is "Erica's trademark" or Erica
will force Dim to tell Angel, who will then hear the news from the
only believable source.  Edmund adds a third scenario: "One of us
can be man enough to warn her."  Jack asks Edmund why he wants to
ruin the best night of her life - maybe so she will be as miserable
as he is?  

Edmund denies the accusation, saying that he just can't let the
lying, two-faced snake get away with it.  When Jack tells him
nothing can be done now since Dim is in NY on business, Edmund goes
ballistic - "Dammit, He's with that WITCH right now!"  Jack tells him 
forget the witch and concentrate on who he cares about - Angel.
Jack believes that the longer Angel is "in the dark" the more
strength she will have to protect her from the inevitable.  Jack
thinks it is very important to allow Angel her ego boost - the
triumph of the party.  Edmund says he hates standing around and
doing nothing, but Jack points out that is often the most loving
thing you can do.  Edmund says he also hates when other people are
right!  Everything seems to be smoothed over between them.  Jack
leaves Edmund with one last idea - maybe after all Angelique has
been through, living in a fool's paradise for a little while isn't
such a bad thing.

Meanwhile back at the garden party, Angel has said goodbye to the
last of her guests, except Brooke.  Brooke tells Angelique what a
great success the fundraiser was and compliments her up the whazoo.
Angelique says she is sad the whole thing is over, she could have
danced all night if only Dimitri hadn't gone off to NY on business.
Brooke expresses gratitude for the couple's generosity in hosting
the party.  Angelique says it was their privilege to help out.
Brooke has been thinking about the Angelique she met 5 months ago
and how much she has changed.  Angelique says it is as though the
whole thing happened to someone else, someone who was very confused
and didn't know if she had a life to come back to.  Now she has
Dimitri back again and everything is different.  Brooke says the
change becomes her.  Aww...

Angel and Brooke somehow get on the subject of being only children
by the next time we see them.  Not only are they both only children,
but so are Dimitri and Edmund.  While Brooke coped by inventing an
imaginary sister, Angelique allowed Edmund to be her surrogate
brother, turning her into a tomboy from the ages of 5-11.  Brooke
tells Angel she is Edmund's only family and that it meant sooo much
to him to be an invited guest at W.W.  Angelique tells Brooke how
happy she is for them and how Brooke has softened Edmund.  Angelique
hopes they will be as happy as she and Dimitri (Thanks a lot,
Angel!  I wouldn't wish that marriage on my worst enemy!)  Angelique
wants to know how long the engagement will be a secret, and Brooke
invites her to a luncheon tomorrow at which the announcement will be
made.  Edmund and Jack arrive in th garden, and everyone makes jokes
about where they might have been.  Edmund compliments Angelique for
the best party ever.  She thanks him for being so polite with
Dimitri.  He looks like he wants to burst out with Dimitri bashing,
but holds his tongue, asking Angelique if he looks like the type to
trash a party over an old grudge?  (YES!!!!)  

After Brooke and Edmund say goodnight and go, Jack and Angel are
left alone.  Jack is curious about the big announcement Brooke has
planned for tomorrow, but Angel keeps the secret. (Not like any of
us had doubts about this woman's loyalty or anything!)  Jack says
his surrogate host-ship is over now, all except for the "morning
after debris." (Yeah, but I think Jack has some other morning after
debris in mind than the party decorations - more like their clothes
in a heap on the floor of her bedroom!)  Angel says Jack doesn't
have to help out with clean-up duty.  When he whines about being
"freezed out of the fun part," Angel invites him over for coffee in
the morning.  Jack takes her hands in his, thanks her for a pleasant
evening, kisses her on the forehead, and says "sweet dreams."  Then
he has to plie himself away - it looked VERY painful for him.
(Meanwhile, I was sitting on my sofa with a nearly-melted VCR
remote! - Give me ACTION JACKSON!!! Ow, baby!)  Angel looks sad all
by herself in the garden.  (more Jack and Angel in "All My Pic-i-nic
Baskets", see "Return of the White Knight.")

"All My Little Piggies"
-----------------------
When they get back to her place, Brooke denounces the inventor of
high heels as a sadist and Edmund volunteers for foot-rubbing duty.
He is psyched that Angel and Brooke are friends, and asks if his
ears should have been burning when he and Jack returned to the
party.  Brooke says a little, and goes on to tell him about the
exciting revelation that they are all only children.  Edmund is
happy Dim is an only child, and mutters something about how if there
were any more Dims around, they would all be in big trouble!  Brooke
picks up on the slight (yes, that's sarcastic) hostility remnants
which Edmund is harboring for Dimitri.  She defends Dimitri a
little, saying he was great to Angelique tonight.  (Excuse me, Miss
English, which party were YOU attending???)  Edmund doesn't want to
talk about it, he would rather talk about Brooke's little piggies.
He starts the nursery rhyme and tickles her toes.  They kiss.  Aww.
(I like the way this relationship has become more playful since the
engagement - I mean, passion is great, but so is goofing around.)

In the morning, Brooke and Edmund go over the guest list (11 people)
which includes all of Jamie's grandparents.  Edmund worries about
getting approval from everyone - maybe he's not Daddy material?
Brooke reassures him that Jamie worships the ground Edmund walks on,
and Edmund reassures her the feeling is mutual.  Brooke talks to
Edmund about his disliking big parties, but feels that since he
handled the fundraiser, he can handle the engagement lunch.  Edmund
tells her he is turning into quite the social animal lately.  They
kiss goodbye, and Brooke reminds him not to be late.
(Foreshadowing...)

"All My Ultimatums"
-------------------
Back at the hunting lodge (during the ball), Hellga is poised
outside the door listening to Erica and Dimitri in round 6 of the on
going make-up or break-up feud.  (I have NO clue how the woman can
hear their conversations through that thick wooden door; I can't
even hear Nader talk when I have my ear pressed up to the speaker of
my TV with volume on full blast!  Yes, quiet is sexy, but if I can't
hear it, I can't follow it!!!!)  Dimitri has just told Erica he
wants to marry her.  She asks incredulously, "In what lifetime?"
Dimitri says ASAP.  She calls his promises hollow (OUCH).  He starts
to give her the as-soon-as-Angel-recovers crap, but Erica can't take
it any more.  Dimitri swears that the next party held at W.W. will
be given by Erica as Mrs. Merrick.  Helga says "NO!" to the big
wooden door who is lending a sympathetic ear, and storms off.

Erica has a momentary lapse of will power and gets gooey at the
sound of "Mrs. Merrick."  Dimitri, seizing what might be his last
opportunity to get her into the sack, goes for the jugular and
shares his dream for their future - waking up every morning
together.  He wants her to hold on a little longer.  Erica says she
just can't handle seeing Angel and Dim together because they look so
connected.  Erica observes that Angelique looks at him with radiance
and that the pair have a romantic glow about them.  Dimitri denies
it, but Erica points out that everyone noticed it and talked about
it.  Normally she doesn't care what people say (yeah, right) but
because of the news that Angel wants a baby, she had mucho trouble
trying to smile and agree with everyone.  Dimitri is sorry she was
hurt and promises not too much longer, but Erica feels any amount of
time is too much longer.  She realizes that Dimitri will never think
Angelique is strong enough since "she just orchestrated a social
event for hundreds" and he still isn't convinced.  Dimitri denies
it, and Erica presses him - "When?  When she doesn't need her
husband, her anchor to reality, the man who elevated her from
servant stature, the saint whose child she wants to bear??"  (All of
this is said despairingly, not bitchy)  Erica is through pitying
Angelique.  Dimitri asks if she can't try having compassion for
everyone involved; he hates pretending too, but he needs her to see
things from his point of view.  In order to have Erica, he must
destroy Angelique's emotional stability (dammit, this guy is such an
egotist.  I want to slap him so hard that his brain falls out his
nose!)  

Erica accuses Dim of still loving Angel, which he doesn't deny.
Rather, he turns the phrase and says there is a big difference
between loving someone and being in love with them.  He reminds her
that they are not children, both have loved before, neither of their
slates are clean.  Erica reminds him that she is not the king who
wants it all - namely a wife in his home and a mistress on the side.
Dimitri reminds her that Angelique is in the home as an obligation
and that the passion died long ago.  (With all this reminding going
on, I can't help but being reminded that WE freakin' heard all this
before!!!!)  Erica says the passion isn't dead for Angelique with
all of this baby stuff going on.  Dimitri tells her Joe Martin will
be letting Angelique down easy tomorrow about not having a child.
Erica goes into Church Lady mode, "Well isn't that conVENient.  Joe
will tell her so YOU don't have to!"  

Erica has had enough.  Tonight was a turning point; either Dimitri
tells Angelique now, or it is over forever.  Dimitri thinks that
sounds like an ultimatum and bristles.  Erica tells him to call it
what he likes.  Dimitri calls it "Break Angelique in two or we're
through?"  (Shoulda been a poet instead of whatever-the-hell he is -
a generic business man)  He balks - just like that?  Erica says YES.  
Again he balks - tonight?  Erica says YES! (and she thought Bianca
was a difficult child!)  Erica is sorry if he thinks her selfish and
lacking in compassion, but the truth must be told.  Dimitri accuses
her of not trusting their love.  Erica says the problem is him
wanting everything his way!  And if he hates ultimatums so much,
what does he call what he has been giving her since the start?
Dimitri says "Mutual Choices."  Erica says she snuck around and took
any spare time he could give her because he said it was her only
choice.  He made her choose between her SELF RESPECT and his BED!
(OUCH, OUCH, DOUBLE OUCH!!!  Well, somebody had to say it!)  Now the
tables are turned and it is he who has 2 options: either leave
Angelique or don't.  Dimitri refuses to be backed into a corner and
accuses Erica of coming to the lodge with the sole intent of
controlling him.  Erica says she thought he would do whatever it
would take not to please her but to give them a real chance.
"I guess not," she says firmly, and leaves just as willfully.

Dimitri's jaw drops open in exasperation, frustration, and
devastation.  (Yay!!! Oh, sorry - didn't mean to be insensitive)
He breathes heavily, sits down and hangs his head.  (very well done,
nice to see AMC portraying men as capable of being hurt!)  A bit
later we rejoin Dimitri at the lodge where he is sniffing and
looking longingly at the phone.  He goes to pick it up but stops
himself, saying, "Oh dammit, Erica!  Why'd things turn out this
way?"  He sounded very wistful and teary.  Erica at the same time is
returning to her place (needs a name, dontcha think?) She also
lingers over the phone but won't call.  She shakes her head as she
says "Dimitri."  She sounds very disappointed yet firm.  (By the
way, there was a great, mournful soprano sax solo during this
scene!)

"All My Broomsticks"
--------------------
In the morning, Mona comes to see Erica who offers her coffee.  Mona
ignores the coffee and gets down to it.  She wants Erica to stop
using Charlie to get at Dimitri.  Erica delivers with, "How many
women my age do you think put up with the fact that their mother
jumps on a broomstick at the crack of dawn to come over and say
horrible things to them??"  Charlie is just an old friend and Mona
has no right to talk this way to her.  Mona says it isn't right to
fool Charlie again.  Then she notices that Erica is quiet and
guesses, "Dimitri has broken your heart, hasn't he?  He's chosen his
wife."  Erica doesn't want to discuss it.  Mona tried to give
sympathy, but Erica just wants her to leave so she can get her day
started!  Mona says Erica just doesn't understand men; she wants
100% which just isn't possible.  Erica says "No, mother.  Men are
selfish monsters and I don't trust a single one of them."  She
denies that Dimitri is or will ever be a part of her life.  Mona
points out that Erica is only lying to herself.  When Erica pushes
her out the door saying, "I'll call you," Mona snaps back with a
sarcastic thank you.  (Good to see her not taking the dis - sort of)

"All My Pic-i-nic Baskets"
--------------------------
Upon her return to Wildwind from spy duty at the lodge, HELLga
Hellcat, looking much like Boo Boo bear is all set with her
pic-i-nic basket full of memorabilia for Edmund.  We are lucky
enough (:]) to get one more reading of Master Merrick's last will,
which Helga packs in this most nutritionally fortified snack basket
for Edmund.  Then Helga has a dream in which Edmund and Angelique
are married.  He is carrying her over the threshold into their home
(Wildwind of course) and saying how he will always take care of her
and protect her.  Helga comes out of it saying, "in good time, my
darling."  As she is looking for the "dear boy's address" Angelique
walks in full of curiosity about the suitcase and where Helga thinks
she is going in the middle of the night.  

Helga convinces Angel that she is working on getting rid of the
ghosts by getting rid of memorabilia from the past.  Angelique is
very worried about her, reminding her that only a few hours ago she
was completely deluded.  Helga says this is proof that she took to
heart all of the advice from Dim and Angel.  She has a "new healthy
outlook - onward and upward!"  Helga convinces Angel not to wait up,
as she intends to go for a mind-clearing walk after taking the
bundle to the trash.  Before she goes, she wants to say something
about Edmund.  Angel braces herself for the worst, and nearly goes
into shock when HELLga starts praises Edmund as a handsome addition
to the party.  Helga tells Angelique she accepts their (dramatic
pause) friendship now.  (You can tell she wishes it was more than
that, suddenly!)  Angelique thanks Helga who promises to be nothing
but supportive of them now.  As soon as Angel leaves, Helga turns
back into the demon-spawned secret-keeper.

At Edmund's apartment, Helga convinces the superintendent to let her
in so she can leave the important parcel.  She sticks a note on the
basket and leaves.  (I think this is cruel.  True, Edmund probably
wouldn't want the news from Helga, but I think being alone when he
gets it will suck.)

In the morning, Helga grills Lucy (the maid).  Is Angel up yet?  Is
Dimitri back yet?  And most importantly, did Edmund call yet?  No on
all counts.  The phone rings, and Helga gets all excited for nothing
- it's just a business call for Dim.  Helga tells Lucy enough
dusting, go clean up from the party.  Helga then calls Edmund's and
is upset that the phone just rings.  (Get real, the guy lives at
Brooke's and doesn't have an answering machine?  I know, the ringing
phone is more dramatic, and IOAS!)  Helga questions aloud, "Edmund,
where are you?"  (Buy a vowel, Helga.  Is she so wrapped up in her
daughter's life that she hasn't noticed Edmund is seriously involved
with Brooke??????  Sheesh!  She and Dimitri are two peas in a pod!
Maybe she IS his mother!!  Just kidding!)

Return of the White Knight -
Jack arrives at Wildwind in the morning to see Angelique, I mean
pick up the place.  When Lucy goes to fetch Angel for him, he has a
daydream about Angelique finding out about Erica and Dimitri.  It
goes something like this:
A - "He's in love with Erica Kane?"  J - "I'm so sorry"  A - "A part
of me already knew weeks ago, maybe months - and you did too, Jack.
I could sense it."  J - "Tell me exactly what you sensed."  A -
"Truthfully?  Understanding."  J - "Angelique, I have to be honest
with you."  Then she stops him from talking with A HUGE CLINCH!  Yes
folks, finally a passionate AND romantic encounter (albeit in a
dream).  After the first kiss, Jack comes up for air and pants
tenderly, "I won't say a word."  More kissing, more melting of my
VCR and remote control... UNTIL -

Angelique jolts Jack from his daydream when she enters the garden.
He looks sooo cute - kind of a cross between guilt, embarrassment,
and disappointment at reality.  Angel's hair is that same copper
color, but the style is different.  She is now without bangs - much
better I think, because I don't like them giving her Brooke's
hairstyle!  She breaks the news to him about the trash being already
picked up by early bird staff members.  He has time to kill and
suggests another driving lesson, but Angelique doesn't want to leave
with Dimitri's impending return and her doctor appointment later.
Helga comes in and says she must speak to Angel - it's urgent!
(How many times have we heard this from the woman?!)  Jack will see
himself out.  Helga says goodbye very eagerly.  Then she turns to
Angelique and in a word-for-word repeat (practically) from her
deluded scene during the ball tells her she has to tell her
something but doesn't want to hurt her, etc..  Dimitri (also doing a
retake from the scene during the ball) comes up and says "Not
another word, Helga!"  Deja vu, writers!

Helga tells Dimitri this is a private conversation, but Dimitri says
Helga has no business repeating ugly rumors to his wife.  (Yes, this
self-centered jerk, knowing that life completely revolves around
him, thinks Helga is about to reveal his affair, rather than what
she really wants to reveal - that the estate is willed to Edmund
Merrick, Hugo's illegitimate son!  I can't WAIT till Dim gets
Witch-Slapped with THAT news!)  Helga is prepared to take her
daughter elsewhere to finish the conversation, but Dimitri is
adamant and sends Angelique off to the house.  (I'm surprised they
didn't play tug-of-war with her!)  Dimitri asks Helga if she is
trying to prepare Angel for the worst.  Helga admits she is, for she
knows all about Dimitri and Ms. Kane!  (not much of a slap here,
guys.  I think he knew this already)

Meanwhile, Edmund arrives home to find the goodies from Helga.  He
is sooo excited to open the case and find his old books and a
scrapbook of pictures from his childhood.  As he sits down to
reminisce, the camera focuses on what's left in the goodie bag, the
letter/will from Hugo, and appropriately enough, a book of
Shakespeare titled "The Tragedies."

[Major, Major, Butt-Kicking Cliff-Hanger!!!!]

Please, please, please VCR work today!

Susan


--
Susan E. Margulies       |  So many bad drivers,
HP Imaging Systems       |  so few hand gestures.
508-681-2153 (work)      |      o o 
susanm@hp-and.an.hp.com  |     \___/