From: lizb@banyan.com
Subject: GL: Update for Thurs. Jan. 21
Organization: Banyan Systems, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1993 21:48:58 GMT

GUIDING LIGHT
Update for Thursday, January 21, 1993

At Nadine's

Frank and AC arrive to a tense Harley and Nadine.  Frank 
teases Harley about exposing the film of their father's name on 
the wall; both Harley and Nadine look relieved.  Frank says 
he'll just go see his dad's name himself.  "No," Nadine 
protests, as Harley stares at her unsympathetically.

The Country Club/WSPR

Gilly calls Roger at his table with Jenna.  Jenna drinks her a 
grim toast.  Gilly suggests that to kick off their story on Jenna 
they have Nick interview her - Brandon Spaulding's grandson 
interviewing Brandon Spaulding's victim's granddaughter.  
Roger is pleased with the idea and tells her to make some 
notes and they'll discuss it in the morning.  

Gilly hangs up the phone, then picks it up again to make 
another call.  Hamp comes in and hangs it up for her, telling 
her she's officially off-duty and he's taking her to dinner.  She 
starts to protest, telling him she has a big story to work on; 
but he pulls her from behind the desk and tosses her over his 
shoulder to carry her out.

Roger tells Jenna he has a surprise for her.  "I've had enough 
surprises for one day," she tells him, glowering.  This is a 
nice one, he insists.  He holds out a ring-sized box; her eyes 
soften.  "What is it?" she asks, not wanting to make any 
assumptions.  "Just a little something to make you feel better," 
he tells her, smiling.

Spaulding

Over the phone, Eve asks Nick if he's still there.  Nick pulls 
his eyes away from Mindy and says he is.  They firm up their 
dinner plans, he somewhat distractedly, and hang up.  He 
turns to Mindy and greets her tersely.  She excuses herself 
apologetically and says she's come to see Vanessa.  He 
intercepts her as she tries to leave the room and tells her they 
need to talk.

Mindy tells him now is a bad time.  When, then? he asks.  She 
pushes her way past him toward Vanessa's office.  Angry, he 
calls after her, and starts to step forward; Billy stops him with 
a firm hand on his shoulder.

On the other side of the door, Mindy leans back in relief, then 
greets Vanessa and Henry.  She and Vanessa embrace.  
Vanessa notices she's upset and asks what's up; Mindy tells 
her she's there to express her condolences about Maureen.  
She asks after Ed and Michelle; Vanessa observes that this is 
the hardest time, when everyone else is getting back to their 
lives.  She invites Mindy to go to dinner with them; Mindy 
says she has to go to "some Lewis family gathering" at 
Nadine's.  Henry leaves to bring the car around and Vanessa 
asks Mindy when she has to go back to New York.  Mindy 
says she doesn't have to go back at all; the store wouldn't give 
her any time off, so she quit.  She turns away and says there 
really isn't much reason for her to stay in Springfield.  
Vanessa asks if that's because of Nick.  Mindy turns around 
and says decisively, "Nick has nothing to do with it."

Billy asks Nick about him and Eve.  Nick looks surprised; 
Billy says Mindy told him she walked in on them.  Billy asks 
if Nick and Eve are serious.  Nick bristles; what would he be 
doing together if they weren't?  Nick reminds Billy that Mindy 
was the one who left him; in fact, it was Billy who told him to 
get on with his life, and he has.  He doesn't feel he needs to 
apologize for his relationship with Eve.  Billy says he wasn't 
asking for an apology; it's just that Mindy was so happy with 
him.  Nick's expression closes, and he suggests they drop the 
subject.  He moves to leave, then turns back to Billy.  He asks 
Billy to look after Mindy and make sure she doesn't get 
involved with "the wrong people."  Like who?  Billy wants to 
know.  Like Roger, Nick says.  He tells Billy Roger was the 
one who helped Mindy leave town.  Billy is stricken.

The Country Club

Jenna holds a beautiful ruby necklace.  She thanks him 
graciously, concealing her disappointment well.  She confesses 
that when she saw the box she had "this horrific thought that 
you were going to make an honest woman out of me."  He 
smiles.  "I like you just the way you are," he tells her.  He 
says the reason there's only one ruby in the necklace is to 
remind her what she has to gain from this lawsuit - her choice 
of jewels.  "Not just my choice of jewels," she says 
flirtatiously, "but my choice of men." 

At Nadine's

Nadine tells him he can't go because she might have the baby.  
He says she can tell him about it when he gets back.  What 
about the diner?  she protests desperately.  Frank catches on 
and wants to know why she doesn't want him to go.  Yes, tell 
him, Harley prompts.  Flustered, Nadine says she just doesn't 
think it's healthy to be so fixated on someone who's 
well..."Who's what?" Harley goads.  "Who's gone," Nadine 
finishes lamely.  "'Gone'?" Harley echoes incredulously.  
Angrily she steps forward, and tells Frank she'll tell him why 
Nadine doesn't want him to go to Washington.

Nadine interrupts her by noticing her engagement ring.  She 
goes on and on about the wedding, effectively silencing 
Harley.  Nadine is rescued by the arrival of HB, Dylan, and 
little Bill.  Bill asks Harley about the wall, and Frank takes the 
opportunity to tell the story of his father's "death."  Nadine 
suggests they turn the party into a reunion/engagement party.  
AC explains that they've driven all night, and they'll see 
Mindy before she leaves.  Nadine hisses at Harley that they 
have to talk.  Harley and AC try to slip out in the hubbub, but 
Nadine stops her.  She insists Harley can't tell Frank; he'll be 
devastated.  Harley says he won't be devastated; he'll just be 
furious with Nadine for lying to him all these years.  Nadine 
looks hurt; how was she supposed to explain MIA to a little 
boy?  Harley points out that Frank is not a little boy anymore.  
Nadine pleads with her; everything's going so well now.  
Billy's moved back in, Harley is marrying the man she loves - 
this should be a night of celebration, of looking forward, not 
back.  Harley is unmoved.  The only thing she'll be looking 
for, she says, is the truth about what happened to her father.

Spaulding

Billy reads Mindy the riot act for relying on Roger.  She 
won't even tell her own family where she is - does she care 
about Roger more than her own family?  Of course not, 
Mindy protests; she doesn't care about anyone more than her 
father.  Billy fumes that he should have finished the job on 
Roger that he started.  You don't mean that, Mindy says.  
You're right, Billy shoots back; words mean nothing when it 
comes to Roger Thorpe.  Mindy tries to back out of Nadine's 
party; Billy insists that she can't.

The Towers

Nick meets Eve.  She asks what took him so long; he tells her 
the board meeting ran long.  Eve goes to check on their table.  
Vanessa and Henry approach Nick; Vanessa apologizes for 
being indiscreet, but tells him she saw Mindy and Spaulding 
and she seemed upset.  Did anything happen?  Eve, 
overhearing this, meets Nick's eye.

Eve returns to Nick's side; Vanessa apologizes, saying she 
thought he was alone tonight.  She and Henry excuse 
themselves.  Nick falls over himself apologizing to Eve for 
lying.  She assures him good-naturedly that it's not a problem.  
It really doesn't bother you? he asks incredulously.  Of course 
it does, she laughs, and pulls him off to their table.

Vanessa and Henry spot Roger and Jenna.  Vanessa says they 
can leave; Henry refuses to be moved.  

Roger asks Jenna if she wants to leave; she says of course not.  
She meets Henry's eyes over the check.

Gilly and Hamp enter, laughing.  She sees Roger and shrinks; 
she's supposed to be working, she tells Hamp.  You work 
hard enough, Hamp declares, and leads her to a table to order 
some champagne.

At the Firehouse

Harley is fuming to AC about Nadine.  Harley is distressed; 
Frank always talks about their father as if he's some kind of 
god, dying for his country.  Maybe he did, AC observes.  
Maybe, Harley concedes; but Nadine never should have lied 
to them.  She decides she wants to look for her father; AC 
says the whole government couldn't find him.  She agrees, and 
wonders if she really should tell Frank.  After all, he gets at 
least as crazy as she does when he's been lied to.  They really 
look after each other, AC says.  Harley tells him Frank always 
looked after her when she was little.  When she was a child, 
she felt she understood her mother's leaving them - she'd been 
traumatized by losing a husband so young.  She doesn't 
understand why Nadine lied all those years.  "I will never 
understand that woman as long as I live," she declares.

Nadine's

Nadine is clearing hors d'oeuvres and drops a tray.  Frank 
picks it up for her and observes that Harley's leaving early 
really upset her.  He asks Nadine if she noticed Harley was a 
little distressed.  Nadine says of course she is; she's just come 
back from Washington, and now she's engaged.  She asks 
Frank why he didn't tell her, trying to change the subject.  He 
wonders why Harley would have driven all night to get home.

Mindy enters, and Nadine moves to embrace her.  There are 
warm greetings all around.

The Country Club

"How do you keep your girlish figure?" Roger asks Vanessa 
at the buffet.  "This plate is for my father," Vanessa tells him 
coolly, adding more food to the already laden dish.  Vanessa 
tells him she thinks it's despicable, his using Jenna; he doesn't 
really care for her, he just wants to destroy Spaulding.  Roger 
points out the hypocrisy of her accusing him of using Jenna.

Jenna marches up to Henry and asks if he received the lawsuit 
papers.  He asks if there's some way they can settle things 
differently.  Why can't she believe he cares about her?  She 
reminds him hotly that he lied to her about her father, and he 
let Brandon send her father to jail where he died.  Henry 
protests he knew nothing about Brandon and her father.  "I 
don't believe you," she cries.  Henry's protests are interrupted 
by severe chest pains; Jenna is distressed.  Vanessa pushes her 
aside and pulls out his heart pills for him.  "What did you say 
to him?" she demands of Jenna.  Jenna stands silent, looking 
helpless.

From a distance, Jenna and Roger watch Vanessa minister to 
her father.  Jenna chastises herself; she always forgets he has 
a heart condition.  Roger accuses him of faking.  She can't 
believe it.  He's much stronger and smarter than you think, 
Roger warns her, and you better remember that if you want to 
win the suit.  He pulls her back to their table.

Roger and Jenna run into Gilly and Hamp.  I thought you were 
working tonight, Roger says to her.  She smiles.  
"Everything's under control," she says smoothly, and wishes 
them a good evening.  She pulls Hamp away and asks him not 
to pick another fight.  He is angry that Roger seems to feel she 
should be working 24 hours a day.  Gilly spots Nick and 
excuses herself to talk to him briefly.  Hamp protests mildly, 
then lets her go with a kiss.

Gilly cuts in on Nick and Eve's dancing.  Eve takes the 
opportunity to run to the ladies room.  Gilly tells Nick about 
the interview with Jenna.  He's reticent; he's not sure he can 
be objective.  Gilly tells him he's a professional; and besides, 
he's got a lot in common with Jenna.  He's confused; she 
explains to him how Brandon robbed and imprisoned Jenna's 
father, leaving her without an inheritance.  He is stunned; 
she's surprised he didn't hear it at the board meeting.  
Pensive, he tells her he wants to think about it.  Gilly leaves 
and Eve returns, instantly noticing his upset.  He asks if she 
minds if they leave; she says of course not.  They leave.

Nadine's

Mindy is telling New York stories about dating.  Dylan teases 
her about the men in New York; she admits she's been having 
fun.  What about Nick? he asks.  "I wish everyone would stop 
asking me about Nick," she snaps; and turns around to see 
Billy.  She apologizes more calmly.  HB toasts Mindy's 
homecoming.  They hug, and Billy grimly meets her eyes over 
HB's shoulder.

Frank heads for the kitchen to call Harley.  Nadine stops him 
and asks why he wants to talk to her.  He says he's a little 
worried about her.  Nadine asks him to ignore anything 
"wacky" Harley might say.  Like what? he wants to know.  
Just anything, Nadine says.  He smiles fondly at her.  "You're 
the only one who seems wacky to me, Mom."

At the Firehouse

Harley is organizing a stack of Xeroxed articles.  She tries to 
think up scenarios that end with her father being alive - he was 
taken in by friendly villagers, he fell in love with a native 
woman and is raising a family, he had amnesia.  "The war 
ended a long time ago," AC says gently.  "You think that my 
father's dead, don't you?" she asks.  He doesn't want her to 
get her hopes up.  She says she knows the chances are slim, 
but she tells him she can't rest until she finds out the truth.  
"And I will," she says determinedly.  "I swear I will."

At the Country Club

Vanessa insists to Henry that they leave; she doesn't want him 
upset any more by Jenna.  He observes that Jenna was upset 
too.  Hamp approaches them, and says he's heard about the 
lawsuit.  He doesn't think they have anything to worry about; 
who'd believe what Jenna had to say, anyway?

Across the floor, Gilly tells Roger of her conversation with 
Nick.  She's excited; she thinks he'll do the interview.  Roger 
calls her a miracle worker; she basks in his praise.  She 
catches Hamp's disapproving eye and excuses herself to rejoin 
him.

Jenna isn't sure about Nick doing the interview.  Roger tells 
her with Alexandra's son on her side, there's no way she can 
lose.

Eve's Room

Nick is pacing and raving about being lied to.  Why does he 
let them do this? he asks.  "Because they're your family," she 
reminds him.  He realizes she's right.  She says he's doing 
what he thinks is right, and if his family can't accept that, 
that's their problem.  They move closer, and he thanks her.  
She admits she wasn't so great at first, but she was afraid he 
was going to hurt her.  He reminds her he promised he'd 
never hurt her; now does she believe him?  They embrace, 
and he whispers in her ear, "I'll never hurt you, Eve.  
Never."

Nadine's

Bill asks Mindy if she'll come to his basketball game.  If I'm 
still here, she tells him.  Dylan laughs and says of course 
she'll still be here, and looks to his father for confirmation.  
That's up to her, Billy says shortly.  Dylan and Bill leave.  
Mindy tries to talk to Billy; he ignores her.  HB asks what's 
going on.  She says it's about Roger, but when he asks for an 
explanation, she starts apologizing for leaving without 
explanation and thanking him for the party.  He embraces her, 
allowing her to steer him away from the subject.  

Nadine bursts in and asks if Mindy's seen Nick.  Mindy says 
yes, and Nadine observes that things didn't go too well.  She 
offers to act as an intermediary; after all, Nick's been 
miserable, and she knows for a fact he hasn't looked at 
another woman.  Apologizing, Mindy bolts.

Nadine apologizes.  Billy tells her it's fine; if Mindy can't 
appreciate people who try to help, that's just too bad.  HB 
turns on them; he can't believe what he's hearing.  Mindy left 
home and didn't contact anyone for months - she's terrified.  
Instead of getting love and support when she comes home, 
she's getting people pushing her toward Nick.  Can't they see 
she's hurting?  he asks them.

At the Country Club

Mindy asks for a table, then sees Roger and Jenna dancing.  
She leaves.  Roger watches her leave, and Jenna notices he's 
suddenly distracted.  She asks what he's looking at.  
"Somebody I thought I knew," he says, "but I must have been 
mistaken."  They go back to dancing comfortably.

Eve's Room

Eve and Nick are giggling under the covers; their stomachs 
growled at exactly the same time.  She says she thinks she has 
some leftover pizza.  He gets out of bed and finds a piece of 
the broken mirror on the floor.  She says she dropped it.  
"Seven years bad luck," he teases.  "Hope you're not 
superstitious."  "Not at all," she replies.

At the Firehouse

AC tells Harley that the search for her father is just like a 
case.  He tells her to use her investigative skills, but to be 
careful; there are risks.  Like what? she asks.  She's 
personally involved, he points out; and you should never be 
personally involved in an investigation.  She could find out 
he's been dead all along, or she could find out he's still alive 
and she still can't contact him.  Is she prepared to take that 
risk?  Harley considers the question, then says yes.  She has 
to.  He hugs her, and they lean back on the couch in each 
other's arms.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's an interesting coincidence...when I was spell-checking 
this document, the first alternative the system gave me for 
"Maureen" was "Mourn." 

I really liked Jenna in this one; but Gilly is becoming more 
and more like Roger.

Until next week,

Your friendly updater,

Liz
lizb@banyan.com