Episode 8, originally published 07-Dec-96

Sharin' Secrets

It's Nick and Sharon's humble abode. Sharon rubs her belly for the n-thousandth time. "Isn't it amazing?" Sharon says. Nick nods excitedly. "Preganancy is awesome." They smile uselessly for a while longer. Sharon finally breaks the silence. "I can't wait for it to be born--they say the experience is truly unforgettable." "I thought this was your second baby," Nick says, perplexed. "Oh yeah," Sharon replies, "I forgot."

Kurt-with-a-K Kostner is in the hospital, coming to. Ashley is there to soothe him. "Are you the one I saved?" he asks weakly. "You look different..." "I'm bruised up from the fight," she says. "No, it's more than that." "Oh," she frowns. "It shows then?" "What?" he asks. "Well, while I was covered with bruises, I got plastic surgery to straighten my eyes. I figured no one would notice a few extra scars." "Yes, that's it! The eyes. Well, it does look better." She blushes. "Thanks." She kisses his forehead and says, "Now rest." and she walks out.

The camera moves down the hall to the hospital chapel. Danny enters to find Phyllis. The room is full of people, quietly praying. Phyllis stands off to one side, pacing. "Phyllis, what are you doing here? I've been looking all over. Little Danny is all well. You don't have to pray any more. Don't you remember?" "Of course I remember, Danny. But I was so impressed with this praying thing, I've decided to bring the good word to others. Look!" She shows him a trayful of money. "Offerings?" he asks, surprised. "What's an offering?" she mutters, perplexed. "No," she continues, "those are admission revenues, Danny! I'm charging $100 a person. Pretty cheap when you consider the value of a human life, don't you think? All I did was post a sign telling people they could learn how to pray and that their loved ones would get better. A lot of people have come--the idea seems to have some sort of universal attraction. Isn't this exciting? We're going to be rich, and lots of lives will be saved!!" "Phyllis!" he says with a look of frustration, "It--it doesn't work that way. You can't just tell people prayer will fix their problems." "Why not? It fixed mine. Are you saying prayer had nothing to do with it?" Danny fumes. "No, I'm not saying that. Oh, Phyllis,..." The lights fade and (you will gradually realize after a few weeks) the plotline has been completely dropped forever with no further mention because the writer has boxed himself into a corner and sees nothing further to do with it.

Determined to help make fullest use of the hospital sets while they are set up, Katherine enters Kurts hospital room. "So you just couldn't leave Genoa City," she jokes. He smiles feebly. "I suppose I should tell you why I really came here," he says. "You aren't just a casual drifter?" she says with surprise. "No," he says with considerable effort, "I'm a man without a past. Some years ago, I think, I woke up in my car, which had driven off the road. I can't remember what came before that. A man was going through my things--he stole my wallet and ran off, so I don't know my name..." He slumps back into sleep.

Grace is at the Crimson Lights cutting a photo of Nick and Sharon in half. Antonio enters and she sweeps the scissors and the picture of Sharon under her coffee setting. "Antonio." she says, unenthused. "Hey, gray-Ceee.." he responds in his best Sylvester Stallone impression. "How's about you's and me--" She bristles. "Thanks, but no thanks, Antonio. I have an appointment." She starts to get up. The phone rings in the distance and someone says, "Is there a Grace Turner here?" She goes to the phone. It is the famous mystery caller. "You are invited to a very special gathering..." the voice says, as we break for commercial.

After commercial, the scene is the same, but Grace is gone and Antonio is being called to the phone. Paul and Cricket enter. "I still don't understand why you insist on having lunch at this juvenile hangout," Paul asks. "I don't know either," Cricket explains, "but something told me I should." They sit at Grace's ex-table, where the dishes are being cleared. "Paul, look!" Cricket says excitedly. "It's a clue." She points to the scissors and the photograph of Sharon. "You're right, Chris. Someone is obviously out to stab Sharon with a pair of scissors." "No, Paul, it's not that. The scissors have a rounded end. I suspect they'll use a gun instead. And obviously it's the other half of the picture who's the target. The killer wouldn't have left his target's photo behind. It's clearly someone who wants to get to Sharon by murdering Nicholas Newman. That means it must be a man. Bartender!" Jake comes over. "Was there a man sitting here before us?" Jake nods. "Some guy named Antonio. He's been stalking Grace Turner." Paul nods. "These guys are never satisfied long by just one focus. He must be about to move on to a new one. Thanks, bartender. You've been very helpful." They march out purposefully, ready to save the day.

Katherine is still at the hospital with the drifter, who has drifted off. He opens his eyes again. "You were saying something about an accident, and a man stealing your things." "Yes," continues Kurt, "he spoke to me, babbling. He said something like ``I saw what you did. I know it was your fault. You better not come after me, or I'll tell.'' I didn't know what he was talking about. But later I saw that down the road a ways, there had been another accident--one I must have caused. It was your son. The papers said it was all his fault--that he'd been drinking. I'm not so sure. Maybe I caused it, but I don't remember. I think I was drunk, too... I'm haunted by the screeching sounds ... I came to your house to see, to see what remained after--that." Kurt is exhausted and slips back into sleep, leaving Kay to ponder whether to love or hate him.

Grace enters Nick's office. "Hi" he says with sudden excitement, "I was just about to come looking for you." "For me?" she asks, and he nods. "Yes, but--ladies first," he says. "Well,... I was just noticing that the Jabot board is short one person now that Adam has left to rejoin the oil industry, so I thought maybe--" Nick smiles, "This is PERFECT! Sharon's been saying how she's worried you have too much free time on your hands... With this change, you'd be spending all your time here at work where I could keep an eye on you, and Sharon wouldn't have to worry about you any more." She smiles happily. "Oh, Nicholas, thank you!" "Well," he responds modestly, "it's not a done deal yet. I still have to talk to my dad. But I'm sure I'll think of something that will convince him." "How about telling him the position is open and should be filled, and then pointing out that I'm the latest rising star, coming up from the mail room to marketing, and that I have yet to achieve my full potential." "Excellent! See, I knew you were qualified for the job. You're really good at this business stuff. I'll tell him just that. I'm sure it'll be no problem."

That's all for this episode. Hope you learned something. Don't miss Episode 9!
If you missed any older episodes, see the index.

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