Episode 38, originally published 26-Apr-97

Speechless in Seattle

Nick is still in Seattle after his two interviews. He re-enters the bar where he'd been before. The dark-haired woman he met the last time watches him as he enters. "Hi again," she says. "Hi," Nick says somewhat embarrassed about what has just happened but unable to resist her warm smile. "I'm starting to feel like I know you," Nick says. "That's ok. Because I'm pretty sure I know you. You're Nick Newman, arent' you?" she says. Nick perks up, happy to be known so far from home, but then suddenly he says, worried, "Oh, you probably saw some newspaper report about my dad...?" "Your dad? Who's he? No, I know you because my cousin Amy wrote me about you a while back, and sent me a photo. She was very in love with you--you really broke her heart... I can see why... Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Emily--or you can just call me Emmy."

The bartender asks, "Can I get you something?" Nick skips the beer and goes straight to ordering bourbon. "Can I see some ID?" the bartender asks. "You didn't make me show it the last time," Nick says. "Well I am this time," the man says. Nick gets out his driver's license and tosses it onto the counter. The bartender examines it carefully and then hands it back. "Sorry, can't serve you," he says. Nick stands up and starts to enter hostile mode. "Hey, what's the deal here? I'm 21. You can serve me." "It's not your age, Bud," the bartender explains. "It's that the police will be here soon to arrest you. Apparently you've been on a spree assaulting businessmen all over town? Not very bright." He points to Nick's mug shot photo from Genoa City a few months back, being displayed next to a copy of his resume on a nearby TV. "Then again," says the bartender, "if I had your resume, maybe I'd try to muscle my way into a job, too... By the way, I see a typo there--`executive' is spelled with an `x'. Anyway, I can't serve you anything to drink because when they arrest people," the bartender goes on, "I end up getting stiffed for the drinks. So no way I'm serving you at this point."

Seattle Jail. Nick is at a pay phone playing with a dime. He is obviously wondering if he should call Sharon and tell her. Before he has to, a policeman enters. "You have a guardian angel, it seems," the policeman says. "Your wife has posted your bond." "My wife?" Nick asks, confused. "But how--?" Emily enters and before he can protest she runs to him and kisses him deeply. "I'll explain later, honey. Let's just go home."

Nick and Emily enter Emily's apartment. "You'll be safe here. I've got some errands I have to run--I'll be back in a couple of hours and we can plot strategy. Don't answer the door." Nick nods, "Ok. I don't know how I can thank you." "I do," the woman says. And she pulls his head close to hers for another kiss. "Now, be good," she says and closes him inside. Nick shakes his head, which is still spinning from the events of the day, and sits at a nearby table. After a few moments he takes up the telephone and starts to dial slowly. Far away, in Genoa City, Sharon picks up the phone. "Hello? ... Hello? ..." But Nick says nothing. "Look, either speak or ... or ..." Nick still doesn't answer. Instead he just hangs up. At the other end, Sharon hangs up, too. Then she picks up the phone and starts dialing again.

It's a few hours later in Genoa City and the phone rings again at Sharon's. She picks up the phone. "Hello? ... Hello? ..." She hangs up and mutters. "Well, I've got you this time," she says. Once again she lifts the receiver and dials *57 on her phone to put a trace on the harassing call.

In Seattle, Nick has just slammed down his phone for the umpteenth time. He gets up and heads for the bathroom, where he disrobes. As he gets into the shower, there are knocks at the door but he does not hear. Nor does he hear as the door is knocked in and the police surround him in the bathroom. Finally he reaches for a towel and steps out to see the police waiting for him with guns leveled. He raises his hands and the towel drops to the floor. There are laughs all around, as one policeman says, "Don't worry guys, he's not packing much in the way of a weapon." Nick turns red. "Nicholas Newman?" another policeman says. "That's me. What are you doing here?" he asks indignantly. "I didn't escape from jail," Nick explains, "I was released on bail."

Another policeman steps forward from the crowd--the one that booked him earlier. "Hello, again, Newman. Just couldn't keep your nose clean, huh?" Nick looks momentarily into a mirror to see if he's missed a spot while in the shower. "For Christ's sake, it's just an expression," the man says, realizing how literally Nick is taking what he's saying. "Anyway, this ain't nothing to do with this morning," he goes on. "This is about that poor woman in Genoa City you were harassing on the phone today." Emily enters and asks, "You were harassing someone on the phone?" "It was my wife, alright?" Nick says, angrily. "I thought this was your wife," the policeman says, confused. "You were harassing your wife?" Emily asks. She eyes his still-naked body up and down. "Oh, Nick, I'm soooo disappointed..."

Nick's cell in the Seattle Jail, several days later. "Ok, Newman, you're free to go," a policeman says, pulling open the cell door. "I am?" he says, surprised. "I didn't even call anyone." "Well, we spoke to your wife and she dropped the charges." "It took you a week to reach her?" "No, we reached her right away. But she thought it would be good for you to rot in jail for a few days for doing that thing where you call and then don't say anything. She figured it'd teach you a lesson and maybe you wouldn't grow up like your dad. We told her we didn't think there was much chance of that," the policeman says. "Well, it's nice to know someone has some confidence in me," Nick says. "Grow up, I mean. Not the part about being like your dad," the policeman chides him. Nick starts to turn red and angry again, but then Sharon enters and tries to calm him. "Nick, now be nice to the man, he's going to let you out," Sharon says.

Nick and Sharon parade out of the jail to find Victoria waiting in the lobby. "Sis?" Nick says. "Does everyone in Genoa City know about this?" he asks. "Not Genoa City, Nick," she says. "Seattle. I got so fed up with the way Dad was treating me, I figured I'd circulate my resume around here. Nick, I can't believe you let those two jobs go they were offering you. A high salary and virtually no job responsibility?" "You're going to compete with Dad's company?" "You bet I am. He said if I wanted my old job I'd have to take it back. So I'm gonna do just that... He'll be sorry he ever turned this into a fight. Nick, you're looking at the head of Barrington Enterprises new youth cologne division, Rash and Brassy!"

As the three enter a waiting car, they find Doris waiting in the back seat. "Mom?" Nick greets her. "Hello, Nicholas," Doris responds. "My daughter thought you might need Collins and Sons to defend you against those assault charges," she explains in a comforting tone. "Well, that's really nice of you, but do you think that's really ncessary?" Nick says. "Nicholas, these charges aren't going to just go away because The Powers That Be want to forget they ever happened. You assaulted those men and there's got to be a resolution. Now let's explore your possible defenses..." she says thoughtfully.

"How about a diminished competence defense?" Doris suggests, exploring her options. "Really?" Victoria says sarcastically, "Like anyone's going to believe my brother's competence could suddenly become less than it is?" Sharon looks confused but says nothing. Doris says, "Hmmm. Maybe you're right. Well, how about self-defense?" "Self-defense? But he wasn't being threatened!" Victoria protests. "Ah, but he perceived that he was being threatened," Doris says. "And so that makes it ok?" Sharon asks. "Well, no, but the speeches to the jury would be full of angst and might confuse them into being lenient." "I've got a simpler idea," Victoria says. "These guys are not strong on scruples. Why don't we just pay them to drop the charges?" "Pay them? With what? We've severed our ties to Dad's checkbook, remember?" Nick says. "I've got an idea," Victoria replies...

Back at Nick's hotel room, Victoria gets on the phone. She puts a napkin in over the receiver, lowers her voice, and speaks in a weird, pseudo-Russian accent. At the other end of the line, the phone rings at the Newman Ranch. Nikki removes an earring and picks up the phone. "Hello?" "Uh, 'ello," Victoria says disguising her voice. "Is this Nikolaas Newman's mother?" "Yes, this is she," Nikki says curiously. "This is hiring person in seattle. I have decision to make about hiring your boy. I am thinking--perhaps mother would rather have son not be hired so he would return to state of Wiskonsin for big, teary family reunion, yes?" "Well, yes, that would be nice, but..." "Say no more, former Mrs. Newman," Victoria continues. "I will give you number to Swiss bank account.. If one million dollars is deposited within one hour, your son will be on way home."

The phone rings and Victoria answers again. "It's the bank," she whispers. "They've received the money." She puts down the phone. "Now just to call Mr. Pearlman and Mr. Barrington and set everything up with them."

A few minutes later Victoria finishes making calls. "Ok, great," she says to the others in Nick's room. "They've each agreed that for a million dollars, they'll drop the charges. Nick, you can go home!" There are cheers all around and everyone starts hugging. But suddenly there's a lull in the excitement as Nick says, "But I was going home anyway." "Yes," Victoria explains, "But Mom didn't know that." Sharon, too, looks suddenly panicked, "Wait a minute, if they each want a million dollars, that makes 2 million. You only asked Nikki for one. Shouldn't you call Victor and ask him for some, too?" Victoria laughs, "Oh, that. It's a little hard to explain if you haven't been through it. But trust me, things grow really fast in Switzerland. There'll be enough!"

That's all for this episode. Hope you learned something. Don't miss Episode 39!
If you missed any older episodes, see the index.

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