Episode 19, originally published 02-Feb-97

Justice is Served

Nick and Sharon are in a field on the Newman Ranch. "Nick, I don't know about this," Sharon says. "Now Sharon, it's time we learned to live independently," Nick explains. He sets up a large cardboard box. "But what will we do about heat?" she asks. He opens his backpack and pulls out some electric blankets. "Uh, ... ELECTRIC blankets, Nick?" He pulls out several extension cords. "We'll tap off of Mom's house," he explains. "And what about a kitchen?" she asks--"a bunsen burner?" He hands her a cell phone. "Better than that. I've programmed *1 to call Miguel directly. This will work, Sharon, you'll see. And when you're ready to pop that little bun of ours, Joshua will be right nearby, too."

Hope and Vic Jr. are on the streets of Genoa City. "Look, Mommy. It's a lost dog. Can I keep it?" Hope looks uncertain. "Well, I--" Vic approaches the dog, which backs up and growls a little. "He doesn't sound very friendly," Hope says. "But I miss Bingo, and this dog is kinda like him. It would help me feel less bad about the way we left Bingo behind to starve to death." "All right, all right," she laughs. "You can take him in. I don't know how we'll explain it to Mr. Newman, though..."

We see a tight shot of Nick at a payphone in a building somewhere. The cell phone rings in Sharon and Nick's box and Sharon answers. "Newman box, Sharon speaking," she says. "Sharon, oh, am I glad you're in. Look, I won't be back at the box as soon as I thought--I've run into a snag." "What kind of snag?" "Well, I've been arrested. Can you call around and see if you can get someone to spring me--legally, I mean?" "Nick, we don't have any money any more, how am I going to do that?" "Don't argue with me, Sharon. Call the Legal Aid office--someone there will help."

The master bathroom. Vic Jr. has made a complete mess of it giving the new dog a bath. "He sure did need a bath," Little Vic says. "Well, it'll be your job to make sure he doesn't get so dirty in the future," Hope replies. "I think it IS Bingo Mommy, it is. Now that his hair has been trimmed and he's had a wash, he looks just the same as he always did." The dog growls again. Big Victor walks in, and sees the dog. "Well, well, well, Bingo! How did you get here, m'dog?" The dog bares his teeth and continues to growl. "It still doesn't sound like Bingo," Hope says.

Ashley enters the bathroom. "I wondered why no one was downstairs in the living room," she says. Little Victor looks up and says, "Look, it's my dog Bingo. He didn't starve to death after all." The dog's growl continues as Ashley speaks, "Well, of course not. This dog has obviously been through some traumatic incident. He probably needs to revisit his home and confront whatever happened to him there." The dog suddenly stops growling and behaves perfectly. "I guess it won't be necessary," Hope says. "He sounds fine now." Ashley shrugs. "Ok, whatever. Uh, Victor, I wondered if you wanted to join me for some dinner." Victor nods and the two leave.

Cricket comes into an interrogation room where Nick sits, handcuffed. "It doesn't look good, Nick." "What do you mean? They don't have any proof I was in that store--I wore a mask, even covering my eyebrow, and I wore gloves, so I didn't leave prints." She pulls out a video tape marked "Prosecution Exhibit A - COPY" and sticks it into a conveniently-located VCR. The TV screen helpfully lights up and shows a security video of a non-descript masked man entering a store and asking for something, then there is a pause, and then the masked man shoots the storekeeper and takes the cash from his cash drawer. "So what? He refused to give up the money and he got blown away--but that doesn't prove it was me." Nick says.

Ashley and Victor arrive at the private Dining Room. "You know, this was a great idea, my pretty," Victor says. "I have missed these quiet evenings with you." Ashley smiles, "I agree Victor, it's so nice to have the Private Dining room as a place to get away to whenever we need it." The waiter enters and whispers something to Victor. Victor looks stunned, "Now? Well, can't you schedule this a little better?" "Well," the waiter says aloud, "We have a policy -- we are always available and we require no reservations. Sometimes it works better than other times. We can put up a screen to give you the illusion of privacy." Victor rolls his eyes, but before he can say anything, Ashley chimes in. "It's ok, really." The waiter nods happily and snaps his fingers. A few more waiters enter and stand by the table. "If you wouldn't mind," the head waiter says, apparently intending that Ashley and Victor stand while their table is moved to one side.

Hope is still with Little Victor and Bingo in the master bathroom. "I wonder why he suddenly got better," Little Vic says. The dog looks around and runs to a nearby computer terminal where a connection is open to where Victor has been reading rec.arts.tv.soaps.cbs and it starts barking. He's trying to talk to us, Mommy." "What does it say?" "It's a news program Mommy. I can't really read it but it just says the same thing over and over." "Spell it out for me, then" she suggests. "OK, it says in big letters A-S-H-L-E-Y and then there's a space and then it says M-Y-O-B ... What does it mean, Mommy?" "It means," she explains, "that Bingo didn't starve to death, honey. He's back, and he's smarter than ever..."

The now semi-private dining room. Ashley and Victor are eating in the foreground while John Silva and Jill eat in the background. Suddenly the head waiter enters and asks Jill something. Jill nods and more waiters enter to move their table. Victor signals the head waiter. "Why was I not consulted about additional people entering?" "I'm sorry," the head waiter explains, "but the new party will be seated in Mrs. Abbott's area, so it did not seem appropriate to ask for your permission." Victor's face turns red. "Not appropriate? Do you know who I am? I am Victor Newman. It is ALWAYS appropriate to ask for my permission." Victor whips out a cell phone and calls Mitchell Sherman, "I don't care what you have to do, Mitchell. I want these people out of here. Buy the damned restaurant if you have to," he says and then hangs up.

"That wasn't me on the tape," Nick says to Cricket in a pathetic attempt to snow her. "Oh, sorry," she says, "I forgot to turn on the volume." She runs the videotape back, this time with sound. "Give me all your money," the masked man demands. The man refuses. "Don't you know who I am?" the masked man asks. The man shakes his head. "No, of course not, you're wearing a mask," the man explains politely. "Well, I'm Nick Newman..." He waits for a reaction but gets none. "This always works for Dad," he mutters. "VICTOR Newman's son? Oh, never mind," the masked man says and he shoots the man. Cricket waits for Nick to say something. He laughs with a combination of nervousness and embarassment.

"I guess it doesn't look too good for me," he says. "No, it doesn't, Nick. I'm having Sharon moved into a women's shelter, and your son will be taken care of. But with your history of violent behavior--well, you're going away for a while. A long time perhaps..." "Wait, wait! Can't you tell that's not my voice. Did you hear how whiney it sounded? That was my sister--playing some sort of practical joke. It's Cole's gun and I'm sure if you get the prints off of it you'll see they're Vikki's...." "The man in the video is wearing gloves; the prints are obviously from some other time, Nick. It won't help you. Besides, Vikki's got an alibi. She was busy killing Cole and Nina at the time--and not with a gun, with a knife. But on the bright side, this postcard came by express messenger. It's from the prison--some guy named "the Wartman"--he says he's glad you'll be coming back. Isn't it great that old friends still remember you?"

The private dining room. Victor's cell phone rings, "Yes, Mitchell?" Victor says. "Can't buy it? Why? ... It's been bought? ... Well, buy the company that bought it. No, don't give me any buts--just DO it." He hangs up. A few moments later, the waiter enters and whispers to the other groups, who get up to leave. On her way out, Jill walks to Victor's table. "I just wanted to congratulate you Victor, you sure know how to get your own way." Victor smirks, "Let that be a lesson to you, Jill. NOTHING happens in this world without my permission." Jill laughs. "You said it, Victor... Oh, and by the way, it was Dennison and Vanguard that had bought the Private Dining Room before you. I just knew we'd find a way to make you agree it was worth purchasing if we tried hard enough. Enjoy your lunch, Victor. I hear the revenge is very good today--especially served up cold."

That's all for this episode. Hope you learned something. Don't miss Episode 20!
If you missed any older episodes, see the index.

Feedback, good or bad, is always appreciated.