Episode 109, originally published 07-Sep-98

Fair Game

Nick and Sharon are on the couch together, hugging (so far). "Finally," says Nick. "Some time alone with my wife." The door opens and Cassie runs in. Sharon looks to her and says, "Uh, Cassie. Do you remember that favor I was going to want of you?" Cassie nods. "Sure, Sharon. I'll go do that now." "Thanks, sweetie." The door slams behind her. "What was that?" Nick asks. Then he adds, "Actually, I don't want to know. Just please tell me she'll be gone for a while." "Oh, don't worry. She'll be gone for plenty long enough," Sharon says with a smile. The camera focuses on a clock, which reads 2 o'clock.

Michael is pacing back and forth in his living room talking to himself. "I can't believe she can do this to me--not when I'm this close." Phyllis enters. "Michael, you're talking to yourself. What's the matter?" she asks. He sighs. "It's nothing," he says. "Come on, it can't be nothing. You're upset about something. Out with it," she insists. He begins pacing more quickly. "It's just something Christine is doing." Phyllis is immediately flitting about trying to calm Michael. "What has the little pest done this time?" "The problem is that she's supervising me to make sure my behavior is ethical, and its hers that's not." Phyllis does a doubletake. "What? Miss Pristine Christine's halo is tarnishing? Shame on her." She goes to a desk nearby and presses a button. A computer console slides out and she starts typing away. "Phyllis, what are you doing?" Michael asks nervously. "I'm--uh,--fixing things," she says. "Fixing things? How `fixing things'?" he asks. "It'll only take a minute, Michael. I still have that account for Judge Ittolamor, you remember? It won't take long. Just gonna smudge up her record a little." "Phyllis, please. I'll fight my own battles if you don't mind." Phyllis gets a big pout on her face. "Oh, Michael, why won't you ever let me do anything for you?" "You don't understand--this is about ethics. You can't win a fight about ethics by having some imaginary judge break into the State Bar's computer system and illegally alter her record." "Yes, I can," she says. "And I was just about to do it." Michael frowns. "I'm sure you can. But it isn't--proper." "Proper? Michael, are you trying to fight Christine or become her?" "Just let me handle it, ok?" he asks.

Back at Nick and Sharon's, the clock has moved to 2:05 and we hear a door opening. "Sharon!" comes Cassie's voice as the camera pans across to see her entering. "I'm back!!" Sharon and Nick are under some covers on the couch, and Sharon peeks her head out. Cassie very conscientiously asks, "Did I stay away long enough?" Sharon looks at the clock. "Five minutes?" Sharon asks. "Well," says Cassie, "I know you said it would only take three but I wanted to leave you some margin of error." "That was very considerate of you, Sweetie. But Nick was right on schedule. He's been sound asleep for a couple of minutes now. And remember what else we talked about." "Right," says Cassie, repeating: "When he brags to his friends about it having taken all afternoon I'm not supposed to correct him." Sharon just smiles.

Katherine hands an envelope to Esther. "Esther, I want you to deliver this to Jill." Esther looks at the envelope. "Do I have to?" she whines. Katherine looks at her, surprised. "Do you have to? No, I suppose not. I didn't expect you to resign just at this moment, but if that's really what you--" "Never mind," Esther says, "I'll deliver it." "Thank you," Katherine says smugly as Esther removes her little maid's apron and prepares to go out.

Michael enters the offices of Collins & Sons, Attorneys at Law. As will surprise no one, the secretary is not at her desk, so he goes on in to where Doris is busily working at her desk. "Can I help you?" she asks. "I'm hoping you can. My name is Michael Baldwin and I--" "I know who you are--you're an attorney," she says. "Word gets around," he says modestly. "That," she says, "and I do my homework." "Well," he says with a smile, "that's what people told me when they recommended you. I'm in a bit of a legal bind myself, and you know what they say..." "A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client," she says. He nods his agreement.

Jill is in her office talking to Chuck when Esther enters. "Jill, I--" she says, then stops, eyes transfixed on Chuck. "Esther, what ARE you doing here?" Jill asks. "It's you," she manages to say. Chuck doesn't reply. Jill looks to Chuck, who shrugs sheepishly back at Jill. Jill points him out the door, saying "I'll talk to you later." At the same time, she's grabbing Esther by the arm to assure she doesn't follow after him like a zombie. "You didn't have to ask him to leave on my account," Esther says. Jill ignores her. "It's time we talked, Esther." "I didn't come here to talk, Jill. I don't like talking to you. You're always mean to me. I just came here to deliver a letter." "Letter?" Jill asks, ripping it from her hand. She opens it and reads. "You are not invited to my party. Do not come as anyone's guest. Do not come at all. You are officially uninvited. Signed, Katherine" Jill tears it in half and throws it in the trash.

Esther tries to leave but Jill moves between her and the door. "You're not going to let me leave?" Esther asks. "We have things to discuss, you and me," Jill says. "Things?" "Chuck." "Oh," Esther says, with a big smile. "What about him?" "You know who he is?" "I know that was him," Esther says. "And does Katherine know?" "Not yet--she's been wanting to find him, though." "And you're going to tell her?" "Of course. I work for her." "Maybe we should change that arrangement." "But I just told Katherine I didn't want to resign." "I'm not talking about you resigning--I'm talking about you becoming a double agent."

Tony peeks his head in Nick's office. "Darn," he says. "What's the matter? Not happy to see me?" Nick asks. "It's not that. I just hoped Grace would be here. Well, I hoped she wouldn't be here actually. But I thought she might be anyway, whether I wanted her to be or not." "You guys still having trouble?" "I dunno, Nick. It's weird. It's like one minute she's really hot for me and another minute--she's cool as a cucumber. You know what I mean?" Nick nods. "Actually, I do, Tony. I know exactly what you're talking about." Tony notices the travel schedule on Nick's desk. "Hey, what's this?" he asks. "Thinking of taking a vacation?" "No," Nick says, "this is the travel schedule for me and Grace." "Really?" Tony asks. He looks it over. "What are these two days free here--just before this big Newman Conference?" "That's prep time for the conference. It's not scheduled--we're holding it open so I can study." "Well, that's perfect," Tony says. "You'll be in Aspen. It'll be the fall. Mountains. Snow. I'll just get Grace to marry me then, on the break." "I dunno, Tony. She's been talking like we have all this studying for me to do." "Right. For you. She and I can be marrying. Come on, Nick, you told me any time I wanted you'd support me. Ok?" Nick nods. "Ok, Tony. You show up with a minister and we'll surprise Grace."

"A double agent?" Esther asks Jill. "Yes, Esther. Can you handle that? You'd work for me. I'll pay you more than her. But you'll still pretend to work for her." "And I'll still pretend to get paid by her?" Esther asks. "That's right," Jill says. "I still can't do it," Esther says. "But why?" "It's not just about money--Mrs. C. has always been good to me. And--" "And what?" "And she's getting old, so I--" "--might be able to inherit from her?" Jill asks. "Right," Esther says, looking embarrassed. Jill thinks for a moment, then says, "Esther, didn't Katherine tell me that when you married Normie and you had little Kate, you asked for your inheritance early?" "Right," Esther says. "I needed some money for all my expenses." "So don't you think that might imply something now?" Jill says, trying to lead her to the right conclusion. "That I should be grateful?" Esther asks. "Esther, you already have your inheritance from Katherine. You aren't going to get any more!" "I'm not?" she asks, surprised. "No, that's what it means to get it early. It's gone. Now, if you work for me, you might have a hope of getting something from me." "How old are you?" Esther asks. Jill glares at her. "Never mind how old I am Esther, this is the best offer you're going to get. If you won't do it for me, do it for little Kate. You don't want her to have to depend on a dimwit like you for cash later on, right?" Esther thinks. "Well, when you put it that way..." she says. "What do I have to do?" "Just be yourself. Don't arouse suspicion. But don't tell her anything about Chuck. And keep me informed about everything she does."

"So what's the issue?" Doris asks Michael. "A matter of ethics, actually. You see, it's not well-known, but I went away to prison for a while and I--" Doris looks at him quizzically, completing his sentence, "lost your license? How can you be practicing?" "You catch on quick," he says. "It was later reinstated. With the aid of a woman I, uh, harassed. Then Christine Blair, now Christine Williams. She spoke on my behalf, allowing me to be reinstated--on the condition that she watches over me." "So far I don't see a problem," Doris says. "Well, neither did I. But lately, I'm representing Diane Newman in her divorce from Victor Newman. Victor and Christine are acquainted and--to make a long story short--Victor seems to have retained her services to keep me from causing problems for him." "Ah, yes," says Doris, "I've been reading about that mess in the papers--and I saw Diane's story on the Leanna Love show. Very tragic. But Christine can't represent Victor in this case--that would be a conflict of interest." "Exactly. But, as you can imagine, I'm not in a very strong position to pursue the matter. Would you be willing to look into it? Your reputation for fairness and objectivity suggest to me that if you were to bring it to Christine's attention--or perhaps to the attention of the Bar--perhaps my problem would go away." "So you could continue to create problems for Victor Newman?" Doris asks, being direct. "So that I can continue to protect my client's interests," Michael replies. Doris thinks for a moment and then nods. "Yes, Michael, I'll take your case."

At the Chancellor Estate, Katherine calls Esther and she comes running in. "Yes, Mrs. C?" "Esther, bring me some tea." "Yes, Mrs. C. I'll bring it right away. Well, almost right away. I have to make a quick phone call." Katherine waves her away with one hand as one would do a drunken mosquito. Esther stops at a phone in the kitchen and punches in some buttons. "Jill Abbot," comes the voice on the other end. Esther says in a loud Whisper, "It's me." "Did you learn something?" "She wants me to make her some tea," Esther says. "So?" Jill asks. "Well, you said to tell you everything..." "Esther, when I said everything, I didn't mean Everything." "You didn't?" Esther says, confused. "Look Esther. Just make her some tea before she catches you." "Yes, Mrs. A," she says.

Sharon is on the phone to her mother. "Mom, you can't cancel on me. I was expecting you for dinner tonight." "What about your husband, girl? That's why a woman takes a husband--so she'll have reliable dinner companionship. I just took a new case and I can't come by." "But Nick's working." "Nick's always working--you can't let that be your excuse." "Well, he has this trip coming up and he's getting prepared for that." "A trip? For how long?" "Three weeks, I think." "Good grief, how will the man survive so long alone? He can barely dress himself. Are you going along?" "No, Mother, I'm not. But Grace Turner is." "Grace Turner is going! Girl, you aren't going to let her get away with this, are you?" "What can I do, Mother? They work together. I can't stop him from doing his work." "It's not the working you should be worried about. Now listen to me. This man I'm doing work for--he used to be in prison. Now I want you to get in touch with him--I'm sure he can tell you what they used in there--salt peter or something, I'm sure. Just tell him you'll need a supply of `vitamins' for Nick to take with him on his trip." "Vitamins?" "So your husband will have the energy to work. I'm sure this man will understand and be willing to help you out."

The phone rings in Jill's office. "Yes?" she asks, exasperated. We imagine this isn't the only time it's rung this afternoon. "It's Esther," comes a whine on the other end. "You don't say," Jill says. "What's up now? Has she gone to the bathroom?" "No! Do you want me to report that kind of thing, too? I was just going to--" Jill stops her. "No, Esther. I do not want you to report that kind of thing. I have a new plan." "A new plan? Will I still be a double a--" "Esther!" "Yes, Mrs. A?" "Don't speak about that out loud--the old bag might hear you." "Yes, Mrs. A," she says sadly. "Now listen to me, I want you to just go back to the way you were. No more reporting in." "But how will you know what I know?" Esther asks. "Trust me," Jill says, "I have a very good idea what you know even without you saying it." "Oh," Esther says, "like telepathy?" Unseen by Esther, Jill shakes her head and rolls her eyes. Then she says, "Yes, that's right, Esther. Telepathy." "Oh, ok. That's really neat," Esther says. "But remember," Jill says. "No mention of Chuck to Katherine. As far as she is concerned, Chuck has died."

A little while later, Esther is with Katherine serving tea. "Esther," Katherine says, "this is just hot water. Where are the tea bags?" Esther starts to go for them but then remembers to contact Jill. She stops and scrunches her face up tightly in what we recognize as an attempt to be telepathic. "Esther," Katherine says, noticing she looks like she's in pain. "Are you thinking about that Chuck again?" "No, ma'am. Chuck's dead," Esther says. "Oh, my word. No wonder you look like you're in pain. Maybe you should go lay down."

It's a few weeks later. Nick is with Grace in a hotel. It's late and Nick is looking quite tired. "It's probably time we hit the hay," he says. Grace loosens his tie for him. "Are you sure, Nick? The night is still young. There's so much one could do at this hour." "I don't think my brain can handle another thought at this point." "I'm not interested in your brain," she says with a smile, starting to loosen his tie and then deciding to leave it tightened and pull him toward her.

An hour later, it's dark. We can't see anything. We hear Grace saying, "Gee, Nick, is that all the interest you can muster in me? It's not very flattering, you know. You did so much better long ago--don't you remember?" "I'm sorry," Nick says. "I don't know what it is." "Maybe it's that you thought I was Sharon," Grace says bitterly. "I can't believe this. You think she's more attractive than I am?" "Well, she IS my wife," Nick says. We hear Grace storming around the room in a huff and saying, "Nicholas Newman, I can't believe you. All this build-up for what? I can't believe I made such a mountain in my mind out of that little mole-hill of yours. You can just plan your own damned conference speech!" There's momentary light as we see Grace opening the hotel room door and slamming it behind her. Somewhere amidst the shuffle, Nick cries out "Wait!" but it does no good. She's gone.

It's morning and Tony arrives at Grace's room. He knocks on the door. "Go away!" she shouts. "It's me, Tony!" he yells through the door. She runs to the door and opens it. "Tony!" she cries. "It's you!" "Who did you think?" he asks. "Never mind, it's a long story. I just hope you brought a minister." "As a matter of fact, I did," Tony says. He points down the hall to where a minister waits at a discreet distance. The minister, realizing he's being pointed to, waves meekly. "Well, don't just stand there, invite him in." Tony looks surprised. "Grace, you're not even dressed." She looks at him in amazement. "Do you want to marry me or not?" "I do," he says. "Save that line for another minute," she says. She motions for the minister to join them.

Another week has passed. Grace is in a hotel in bed, looking out over snowcapped mountains. Tony is next to her, asleep (and probably exhausted). The phone rings and she answers. "Hello?" Jack Abbot is in his office talking on the other end. "Grace? Is that you? I thought you told me I could trust you." "What? I haven't done anything with Nick, I promise. I'm here with my husband and--" "No, I mean to look after Nick. Tell me you didn't write that speech he delivered at the conference." "You're right. I didn't. Was it that bad? I haven't heard anything about it." "Are you kidding? I sent you along to watch over him. You know he can't be allowed to make decisions on his own. As soon as he delivered that speech about the future of the company and how people shouldn't be worried about his dad getting old because he was ready to take control any time, the bottom fell out of the stock price. And you know it wasn't doing that good already with all that fuss over Diane's divorce settlement." "Well, I'm sorry, Jack. I guess I--" "Sorry doesn't cut it, sister. I was counting on you and you--well, I just can't tell you how disappointed I am." He hangs up.

Pull back to fuller view of Jack's office, where we see Brad entering. "Jack, look at this," he says, holding out a copy of the Wall Street Journal. Jack brushes it away. "I already saw it. Newman stock is going through the floor. Victor is going to kill us." Brad shakes his head. "You don't get it, do you?" "Get what?" Jack asks. Brad points to the paper. "This price is so low we can buy Newman Enterprises ourselves. Outright. We don't even have to scheme about it." Jack snatches the paper away and looks at it. "Bradley," he says after a moment's thought, "you may be only a pool boy but you're a damned good one. Remind me to promote you to Senior Pool Boy."

The phone rings again at Grace's. Grace has a worried look as she answers it. "It's Jack," Jack says. "Look, Jack," she says, "I'm very sorry. I really am. I'll write up my resignation right away. I'm sure you never want to see my face around there again." He stops her before she can say more. "Sugar, sugar, relax. I just discovered a silver lining in all of this. Maybe even a gold lining." "So I shouldn't resign?" Grace says. "Well, yes and no," Jack explains. "It's probably best if you do resign so that no one thinks we planned this. But the company's going to be undergoing a few changes." "Changes?" "Nothing major, you understand," he says, "just a name change: From now on it's going to be called Abbot-Carlton Enterprises." "Abbot-Carlton? You're getting married?" "No, not exactly. Look, I'll explain all the details when you apply for a job there in a couple of weeks. But for now, just know I'm in your debt for having enabled this little change." "But what about Nick? Won't he need to know?" "Nick?" Jack asks with a grin. "Nick who?"

Grace looks to Tony who's still asleep. She clicks on the TV, which is just finishing up a Leanna Love episode. The camera zooms in on Leanna, who says, "I hope you've enjoyed Part 1 of our special two-part interview with Hope Wilson, author of the new book `Hopeless', a virtual sequel to my own book `Ruthless', discussing still more of the indignities Victor has put women through. Join us tomorrow when Hope returns with Bingo, her dog, for a truly horrifying account of the near-death experience this dog suffered when Victor forced Hope to come live with him in the city, leaving poor Bingo home on the ranch to starve. Bingo's story is so heart-wrenching that even if you didn't cry for Diane's and Hope's, I'm sure this one will leave you teary-eyed. Don't miss it! And remember to call our 900 number or visit our web site to let us know what you think. Already we've received hundreds of e-mails from other women who claim to have been treated just as badly by Victor Newman as the people we've interviewed already. So if this has happened to you, let us know!" Leanna reaches down and pulls up a t-shirt and continues saying, "Remember, for those who do, we have this limited edition fine t-shirt that reads `I was divorced by Victor Newman and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.' This is a limited offer, and only the first 5000 ex-wives who call will get the t-shirt, so call now."

That's all for this episode. Hope you learned something. Don't miss Episode 110!
If you missed any older episodes, see the index.

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