he opens the door he is surprised to see Kris Windsor sagging against the
door jam.
Stone: Man, what the hell are you doing here? I thought you were still in
the hospital.
Kris: (Growling, his face pale and sweating from the exertion of getting
from the docks to the house.) What the hell are you doing opening the door
without looking in the monitor? Doesn't anyone in this flipping place have
a clue about security?
Stone: (defensively) They would have let us know down at the docks if there
was a problem.
Kris: You got it backwards, kid. They let you know if it's all right. IF
the door rings without them calling first-- barricade the flipping door.
You're on an island; that means 360 degrees of access.
Stone: (grimacing) That makes sense. Sorry.
Kris: Fine. You do it again and if you aren't dead; I'll knock you out
cold-- personally. (He winces as he tries to stand upright; he weaves as
his hand reaches out to the door jam to balance himself.)
Stone: No offense-- but you couldn't knock a flea out cold right now.
(Stone threads an arm around his waist allowing Kris to lean on him.) Are
you sure you should be out of the hospital?
(Just then Staci comes racing down the stairs. )
Staci:(elated at the surprise) KRIS! I was going to come see you this
afternoon.
Kris: (Looks at Stone and they exchange a meaningful glance) Yeah, I needed
to get out of the hospital. They can give my bed to someone else. I was
missing Mrs. Lansbury.
Staci:(growing concerned as she notices how weak her bodyguard is.) How did
you get here? (She slides an arm around Kris on the other side and together
Stone and Staci walk Kris into the living room.)
Kris: Jason Morgan broke me out of GH. He dropped me at the launch on the
other side of the river.
Staci: I'll tell Mrs. Lansbury you're here and get your room ready.
Stone: Better make sure it's ground floor, Stace. This guy and stairs
aren't agreeing right now. (Staci squeezes Kris's hand before leaving.)
Why didn't Uncle Jason come with you?
Kris:(wincing as he settles into a chair) He told me I was being a jackass
checking out AMA and that I should feel the consequences of my actions. I
think he's been living with a doctor for too long. Some nurse told me that
Staci was about to jump ship here.
Stone: (nodding) That would have been Georgie. She and Lu are tight.
Georgie knows everything that goes on here.
Kris: Yeah, I got that feeling. I need to talk to Mr. Cassadine.
Stone: Which one?
Kris: Both.
The Quartermaine estate, down at the Morgan's house. Maxie is just leaving
when Tommy pulls up and blocks her car with his own.
Maxie: (rolling down her window) Hey Tom, what's up?
Jr.: I just talked to your sister; she tells me you have a new job. When
were you going to tell me?
Maxie: (bewildered) When I saw you. Why?
Jr.: (Furiously angry) I can't believe you're going to work for the
Cassadines! Three of their employees are currently at GH: two in the morgue
and one recovering from a bullet wound! Now is not the time to be changing
jobs! What-- are they offering combat pay or something?
Maxie: Slow down. You knew I was miserable working at the high school
after what happened to Stone. It was the last straw. I told you I was
looking at other options.
Jr.: Yes, but this? Are you crazy? (Tommy gets out of his car and opens
Maxie's door, offering her his hand) Come on, let's walk. I need to digest
this.
Maxie: (Taking his hand) I don't know why you have to digest this. It's
my life. It's my decision. Stone and Staci shouldn't be penalized for whom
their family is. And neither should Anna and Michael.
Jr.: Then you're working for Jason too?
Maxie: Robin used to sit both of us, Tommy. She was like a sister to me
long before her uncle married my mother.
Jr.: (Frustrated and running a hand over his face) I know that, Maxie. But
this is a mess and I don't want you a part of it.
Maxie: I can take care of myself. I always have.
Jr.: You shouldn't have to. (He frames her face with both of his hands,
drawing her close ) I'd go crazy if anything happened to you. (He kisses
her gently, lovingly but as the kiss progresses it becomes increasingly
ardent. Maxie's arms wind around his waist pulling him closer still.
Neither notice someone coming from the edge of the woods.)
Maxie: (pulling away-- her breathing ragged, she rests her head on his chest
as she gathers her thoughts.) Tom, we can't do this. It's all wrong.
You're married.
Jr.: Yeah, to someone who's always gone and who married me on the rebound.
You've always been the one for me, the one who supported me and put us first.
Maxie: (looking up at him her eyes filling) Tom, we can't . . .
Jr.: (Small kisses to her brow, her cheeks ) Maxie, How can we not? (His
mouth covers her protest as he draws her again into his embrace.)
Over in the woods a slim dark haired figure kneels next to a German Shepard.
Her fingers are threaded in the dog's fur as she sobs into the dog's
shoulder. Confused, the dog whines and licks at his mistress' face.
The club: Cari arrives with Billy. Lucky is behind the bar reading the
paper while Mike sits at his table playing solitaire and drinking coffee.
The mournful sound of a sax resounds through the club but there are few
patrons to appreciate it.
Cari: Gee-- it sure is slow.
Lucky: Week nights and terrorists: a caustic combination for killing
business. What are you doing out from under the thumb of your Daddy, Babe?
Cari: I brought a bodyguard.
Lucky: (jokingly insulting) Ahhh-- he doesn't look as if he could lift
anything heavier than a pen. Maybe a handheld tape recorder.
Billy: Looks can be deceiving, as I continue to find out in this town.
Lucky: (Nodding) True. Cari, when we were on the phone earlier, the DA
walked in. She says her husband, the police commissioner, won't push any
tickets on you if you get your license ASAP.
Billy: (Bursting out laughing in disbelief) You ARE kidding right? Shoot
outs, bomb blasts, car chases, press conferences AND the District attorney
and the Commissioner of police are talking about speeding tickets?
Lucky: (Shrugging) What can I say? They micro-manage. And having the
criminal justice team in this town married to each other means they have
things to talk about at home.
Mike: Why don't you tell the girl the real reason Garcia has a bug up his butt.
Cari: (Curious) Why is it, Grampa?
Mike: You aren't the first little girl Lucky has taught to drive. And
little things like learners' permits never seem to be relevant. Garcia has
been itching to catch Lucky at this for years.
Lucky: It's no problem. I know someone down at the DMV. Take the written
tomorrow morning and your "behind the wheel" as soon as you pass. You'll
have a license by noon.
Cari: You think I'm ready then?
Lucky: Baby, you're a natural. Hell, I even have my mechanic and autobody
man on the lookout for a Cadillac for you.
Mike: (exasperated) DAMN IT, LUCKY!
Lucky: Sorry, I think I just blew a surprise. (Cari climbs up on a
barstool and gives a big hug to Lucky across the bar) Hey, hey! It was the
old man's idea. (Cari hops down from the bar to go over to her grandfather
and starts hugging him too.)
Billy: (smiling but with concern in his eyes) That's the first time I've
really seen her act like a kid since I got here. I've been worried about
her, wondering when it was all going to hit.
Lucky: Has she been sleeping okay?
Billy: As far as I know.
Lucky: Who drove over here?
Billy: I did. Why?
Lucky: Scene of the crime, Man. I think maybe I'll build some practice
time in for tomorrow.
Billy : You're worried about her driving.
Lucky: (shrugging) It might be a problem. Cari didn't have time to think
before. She does now. (Emily enters the club. Her eyes are red and there's
a tremor in her hands.) Excuse me, I need to talk to somebody.
Billy goes over to Mike's table where Cari is talking excitedly to Mike as
Lucky walks over to the door to greet Emily. He watches her silently,
waiting for her to speak. Emily doesn't. Her eyes fill with tears and her
chin starts to tremble as she bites her lip trying to maintain control.
Lucky holds out his hands to her and Emily burrows into his embrace. He
hears the rasp of her sob as he folds his arm around her. Turning slightly,
he makes eye contact with Mike who nods. Lucky takes Emily into his office
where he allows her to cry rocking her and murmuring endearments until all
the tears are gone.
Wyndemere living room. Kris, Stefan, Nikolas and Laura are present. Stone
and Staci have been sent from the room.
Laura: (concerned) Are you sure you should be out of the hospital? You
look rather peaked.
Kris: I'll be fine. My nurse was telling me that Staci was giving you a
problem. I figured I'd solve it before she did something rash.
Nikolas: So basically Georgie is doing her own version of problem solving
again.
Kris: She didn't seem too thrilled by my leaving. Who is she anyway?
Stefan: Who did she tell you she was?
Kris: Well . . . she denied being Florence Nightingale or Cherry Aames.
Stefan: (totally confused) Cherry Aames? Who is this . . . Cherry Aames?
Laura: (Laughing) Darling, it's a character in a series of girls' books:
Cherry Aames: student nurse, registered nurse, etc.
Nikolas: I suppose we should be glad she does not compare herself to Nancy
Drew.
Stefan: or James Bond.
Kris: She was kind of Bond-like. She tossed my room while the cop was
right outside the door and found a bug in it.
Stefan: (His face grows serious; his eyes narrow.) Really . . . I wonder
who could have been listening?
Kris: This Georgie told me the shooter was Russian but that the timing had
been thrown off by the call you gave me, Nikolas.
Nikolas: (nodding) Their intention was to catch you unaware. It didn't
happen, for which we are all thankful.
Kris: So either the blast was premature, or someone else has dealt
themselves in at our table.
Nikolas: I spoke to my leasing agent and showed her pictures of the two men
we know of. She couldn't recall either of them. The police are still
sifting through the building. Hopefully they'll recover some of the tapes.
Laura: What tapes?
Nikolas: Since I bought the building I've been keeping the survellience
tapes. Unfortunately, they were stored in the security office of the
building. The safe should have protected them but . .
Stefan: Do the police know to be looking for them?
Nikolas: (nodding) I called Garcia myself. In the last pictures I saw of
the building they were still searching the rubble. Garcia said that he
would clue in the Arson investigators to be on the look out for them. I
don't know they have been discovered yet.
Laura: Another job for Georgie? Alex DOES dote on her. (Nikolas winces.)
Stefan: (With a small smile at Nikolas's discomfiture) Perhaps, but let us
allow the police the opportunity to come to us before we start circumventing
them.
Laura: (Rising from her seat with a knowing smile.) Right. Said the spider
to the fly. (She gives Stefan a quick affectionate kiss before walking to
the door. Opening it, she turns to look at the three men.) Kris, don't let
them keep you up too long. You need your rest.
The club back room. Lucky hands Emily a tissue from a box on the desk.
Lucky: What's going on, Baby? What's happened? You look like you lost
your best friend.
Emily: Close, I lost my marriage.
Lucky: (disbelieving) What? What did that the punk doctor husband of
yours do now?!
Emily: (beginning to sob again) I found Tommy with someone else. Oh Lucky,
I don't know what to do!
Lucky: (realizing that now is not the time to bash Tommy) Em, you and I have
never been able to talk about your marriage. Hell-- I could never stand to
talk about you and any other guy. All I ever saw was red, Darlin'.
Emily: I made promises to Tommy. And I tried, I really did . . . maybe if
I had stayed closer to Port Charles . . . not gone in the field.
Lucky: Baby, you saved alot of lives and got the stuff to save more. Don't
go second guessing yourself now. I know you worked hard on your marriage,
Em. Tell me what happened.
Emily: I was out walking Tanker and I came across Tom and Maxie together .
. . they were kissing.
Lucky: (swearing under his breath) Are you sure? They've been friends for a
long time, hon.
Emily: I KNOW WHAT I SAW!
Lucky: And I believe you. But you want to work things out right? You and
Tom have had rough spots before, Babe, and you always go back to him.
Emily: (Adamantly) Not this time.
Lucky: (Drawing her into his embrace he squeezes her close. Leaning his
head against hers he closes his eyes and sends a silent prayer for what 'til
this point had seemed a hopeless cause.) Em, you know I'll support whatever
you want to do. But you'll hate yourself if you don't talk to him before
you make any decisions. You two were in love once; why else would you have
gotten married? Maybe he has an explanation?
Emily: He wanted to outdo you.
Lucky: Want me to beat him up for you? It would make me feel SO much better.
Emily: (wiping her eyes) Nah. Jason would do it if I asked him or I'd do it
myself. Just tell me that things are going to be okay?
Lucky: (Folding her into his embrace, he strokes her hair gently) The
families are at war. People are trying to kill us. You think your husband
is cheating and I've got the police commissioner watching every move I
make. Baby, things are just fine. 'Fact, I think we're having a slow day.
(Tilting her head up he gives her a gentle kiss on the mouth before hugging
her close again.) I know you are hurtin' right now and things are looking
grim. But I'm right here, Babe. I've screwed up too many times in the past
not being there when you needed me and taking you for granted. It isn't
going to happen again. Whatever you need, you call me and I'm there. Now
tell me, how did you get here?
Emily: (in a small voice) I drove.
Lucky:(straightening up abruptly) Without a bodyguard!
Emily: (straightening also at Lucky's tone.) Don't start with me, Lucky Spencer!
Lucky: (shaking her) Then don't do dumb stuff! Dammit Em! I almost lost my
sister and my niece in one day; I'd just as soon people I care about take a
few precautions.
Emily: (Slapping at his arms) I was upset . . . so sue me!
Lucky: Oh baby, I'm sorry. (He hugs her again and allows a silence to wrap
around them)
Emily: (grimacing, as she breaks the silence.) I guess I should go back to
the house.
Lucky: Are you sure you're up to it?
Emily: (her face growing resolute.) This is long overdue, Lucky.
Lucky: Okay. Let me follow you back to the Q's.
Emily: That isn't necessary.
Lucky: It'll make me feel better. Come let's go. I'll just tell Mike to
watch the place for a bit.
