GH2017.25 Heard It On The Evening News.

*In a bizarre twist on a story we reported Earlier. Bruce Saunders, teacher
at Port Charles Elementary school and the victim of an alleged assault
last week that was reported exclusively here on WVPC, has been arrested on a
number of felonies. This was the scene earlier at the Saunders residence
where Detectives of the port charles police executed a search warrant.
Officers would not comment as to the object of their search nor when Mr
Saunders was taken away . Wait... here is a late breaking development,
Keesha Garcia of the District Attorney's office appears to be making a
statement. Lets go to Veronica Bowles, who is live on the scene.*

Veronica: Thanks , Serena. Ms. Garcia sent out word a minute ago that she
would be making a statement on this sudden turn of events. Here she is now...
Keesha: I have a prepared statement and I will not be taking questions.
Today Judge Markum issued a search warrant for this house as a result of
the investigation into the alleged assault on Mr Saunders. The search
resulted in probable cause for his arrest on a number of charges. Mr
Saunders will be arraigned tomorrow in Port Charles County District court.
That is the end of my statement.
Veronica: Ms Garcia, Ms Garcia...how does this affect the case against
Stone Corinthos?
Keesha: ( turning abruptly back to the cameras.) The name of the minor
accused of allegedly assaulting Mr Saunders has NOT been released to the
press. The determination of the status of those charges is pending and is a
separate issue. That is all. ( Keesha moves out of camera range while all
the reporters are making their closing statement. when she sees that Bowles
is off the air she walks over.) Are we off the air? ( veronica nods. the
cameraman who hates Bowles and can sense an ass chewing about to happen
secretly keeps the tape rolling) If you ever mention the name of a minor
suspect ,that has not been cleared, over the air again you will not be
welcome at press conferences in the future. Are we clear? ( veronica says
nothing) And a word to the wise Ms Bowles, Mr Corinthos has powerful
friends and family some of whom might want to get into the communications
industry and I don't think your 20+ years on the air will save your job if
they do.
Veronica: Are you trying to threaten me? I have a duty to report the news.
And the Corinthos are public figures.
Keesha: You keep believing it, honey. Just remember they can afford
better lawyers than you can; including that kid's mother who will eat you
for lunch if she thinks you have defamed him in any way. And if no assault
charges result from all this, in my professional opinion, she will have a
case. Whatever protection you think the first amendment provides
you...will the station cover for you...again? ( Keesha walks to her car)
Veronica: Lets get back to the station.
Cameraman: Gonna call your attorney and find out how far out you are
swinging...Honey? (Bowles glares at the cameraman but says nothing as they
climb into the van and head back to the station.)

Spoon island: In the Media room Laura is curled up on the couch next to
her husband watching the news. Brooke is playing chess with Stone
Laura: Stefan, Do you own any TV stations?
Stefan: Not at present but I think that will change soon.
Laura: That woman is a menace. I don't know how many times she has gone
after me and my family over the years but she has gone too far this time.
Stefan: (making a call on the cell phone to an assistant) I need to know
the phone numbers of the majority owner of the WVPC and I want all the
information on the station as well. Net worth of the station as well as
insurance limits. Amount of prior suits against a ( Laura mouths the name
veronica Bowles) yes, Veronica Bowles. Call me when you have the
information. ( he hangs up)
Should have this settled tonight.
Brooke: Settled what? ( looking up for the first time)
Stefan: I am afraid that a reporter mentioned Stone's name on the air.
Stone: things were just beginning to die down. I thought I would be able
to go home soon.
Stefan : I am afraid that has just been postponed for another week.
Although I think your mother would agree to keep you here as long as you are
out of school. You seem to be retaining much more of your studies being
tutored than was apparent while you were in class.
Laura: (In a soft voice) Nice leverage for future good grades, darling.
But just remember that I pushed for Staci and Lu to go to public school for
the socialization and I'll do the same for Stone.
Stefan: And you'll win as you always do when you put your foot down but
don't give away all my secrets, Lasha.
Laura: Him seeing you wheeling and dealing will be impressive enough. I am
going to call Alexis and let her know you are handling it.
Stefan: Just incase the owner proves to be intractable have her prepare
papers for a suit. If she saw the news I am sure she has them almost
completed. (Laura leaves the room to find some privacy for the mother to
mother chat that is going to happen) Who is winning over there?
Brooke: Well we seem to be in the thick of things here but I think Stone
has been practicing.
Stefan: Use caution, Brooke. Stone comes from a long line of game players
on both sides of his family tree.

The Hardy residence. Alexis arrived home right before the news and had not
had time to even kick off her shoes before the Saunders lead story. Her
mood swung quickly at the mention of her son's name on the lips of veronica
Bowles
Alexis: YOU BITCH! ( taking off her shoes she casts them at the television
before grabbing her dictaphone out of her brief case angrily she exhales
and then inserting a new tape she begins to dictate, her eyes closed as it
seeing the brief in her mind, the lawsuit that will drive Ms Bowles into the
poorhouse and give her son an inheritance of a television station. She
pauses for breath when the phone rings)
Laura: You saw it didn't you?
Alexis: Keesha had told me the arrest was happening today. I wanted to
see the results.
Laura: Stefan and I were both watching. Stone knows about it too.
Alexis: there were no reporters in my yard when I arrived home; will the
same be true by 11pm? Damnit Laura, I want my son home.
Laura: I know, Alexis believe me... I do know. Stefan is already working
on buying the television station. I am just furious about this. And I feel
like I was the magnet that brought her to the story. She has been going
after me and my family for years. I have held off when it was me, Luke or
Stefan that she tried to get the dirt on but what she did to Staci about the
kidnapping before and now this. Stefan wanted to know if you had the
lawsuit ready to go if the majority stockholder doesn't want to sell. I
think we have turned the other cheek once too often.
Alexis: I was dictating it when you called ( there is a buzzing noise on
the line) Laura, that is (checking the call waiting) Keesha calling from
her car. I'll call you and Stefan back in a minute, okay.
Laura: Please. I want to know if she has any news we can give Stone. (Laura
hangs up and Alexis picks up the other line)
Alexis: Keesha, I want to thank you for what you tried to do. I think
however teaching that woman to respect the privacy of children is a lost cause.
Keesha : I told her that if she did something like that again that I would
bar her from press conferences.
Alexis: You weren't doing major felonies back then but do you remember when
Staci was kidnapped?
Keesha: I had forgotten! She compromised that case and almost got Staci
killed. I'll send a letter off to the station tomorrow AM about her not
being allowed at our press conferences from here on out. I did tell her
that she might have new ownership at the station or a lawsuit pending.
Alexis: (laughing without humor) Both are in the works. Even Laura is
furious and you know how long her fuse is. Bowles had better crawl back
under her rock. But what happened with Saunders?
Keesha: In custody with no way of making bail until morning. I gave him
until 10am tomorrow to accept the plea before I start tacking on additional
time and charges.. He was looking a little shell shocked as they hauled him
away. If he decides to not press charges against Stone; I don't think the
state will press the issue and I made it a condition of his sweet deal to
not press charges. I tell you though Alexis; I have been in the system now
for 20 years and Stone did a thorough job on Saunders. If there had not
been these mitigating factors he would be looking at years in Prison for
that assault.
Alexis: When all charges are dropped with prejudice, we'll have coffee and
talk about that one.
Keesha: Agreed but I'd say if we are talking about raising kids in the 21st
century then it ought to have a shot to go along. I'll call you if he
accepts the plea. You are the attorney on record for Stone, Georgie Jones
and Anna Morgan correct?
Alexis: Yes. I'll relay the status of the case to my clients. ( they end
the conversation. Alexis leaves a message on Georgie's machine to call,
relays the status to Laura and stone before calling Jason)

Morgan residence: The children are in the family room working on a banner
to welcome their mom home the next evening while Jason Morgan keeps a keen
eye on them from his study located in a loft overlooking the family room.
His phone rings.
Jason: yeah?
Alexis: Saunders is in custody. Hopefully he will accept a plea and this
will be settled by the end of the week.
Jason : What about Stone?
Alexis : A condition of the plea is that he drop charges against Stone. And
a full admission of everything he has done. He'll probably only be in jail
overnight they'll talk bail at his arraignment tomorrow. How is Anna? and
when will Robin be home?
Jason: Anna has a new afterschool activity. It is called playtime with
Gina. She seems to be doing alright. Gina wants to talk to Robin and me.
I told her Robin called and will be home tomorrow night. Look Alexis, I
know you don't want this guy dead-- yet. But someday I want to look in my
daughter's face when she is really old enough to really understand what that
animal took away from her and be able to tell her that he is not breathing
the same air she is.
Alexis: Please Jason just a bit longer; I have to get Stone clear.
Jason: I can be patient. ( he hangs up the phone) Phase I complete.

The Intake area of the jail. Bruce Saunders looks around the loud,
unfamiliar setting with bewildered eyes. A corrections officer draws his
attention back to the paperwork.
CO: Well actually Mr Saunders that cast on your arm is a blessing in
disguise. We'll be placing you in an isolation cell of the infirmary.
Saunders : I am not complaining but why is it a blessing?
CO: Beside you conceivably being able to use that cast as a weapon, seems
the young man that broke that arm informed the holding cell exactly why he
was in custody. Your name has spread all over the jail. There are no
secrets in this place. You wouldn't be safe from....harassment in any block
in the jail. ( Saunders pales) I'll escort you to the infirmary and get
the nurse to check you in. ( the CO collects Saunder's copies of all the
paperwork and places them in an over sized envelope before escorting and
locking him in his small private cell) You need to review all the
information in that envelope. even if you are only here over night you are
responsible for the contents.
The corrections officer returns to the control center and calls a friend on
an outside line.: He's got it. That was a nice piece of work; there is a
competition coming up for the department. I need a partner are you
interested? We would be sure to win. Since Garcia took over running the
jail there should be no problem with you participating. (laughing ) yeah
think about it. I'll talk to you later.

An infirmary cell in the jail. Saunders opens the envelope tipping the
contents onto the shelf masquerading as a cot. last out is a folded piece
of paper that looks unfamiliar. Saunders opens the sheet smoothing it out
on the cot. He flinches and withdraws as he realizes what it is. On the
cot is the silhouette of a man with 13 separate bullet holes obscuring the
groin area.