Episode 92, originally published 05-Apr-98

A Knight A Loan

In the Caribbean on their trip to anywhere they want to go, Diane says to Victor, "Victor, why don't we go out for a change and look at the city?" Victor smiles and pulls out a video tape. "There is no need, my darling. I had someone else walk all over town and make this lovely six hour video for us. So we can just sit here and make love while we watch a video of the town." "But Victor, it hardly feels like we've even visited some of these places when all we ever do is hang out in our hotel." "Well, that's why I got this video tape--so you can get a better feel. But why would you want to waste all that energy just walking around when you can spend the same energy here in bed with me?" Diane sighs and they go at it yet again.

Later, we find that Diane has somehow slipped away from the hotel room to speak with the hotel medic about her nausea. "It must be the water," she explains. "I don't think so," says the medic. "Our tests reveal that you are pregnant, Señora." "Pregnant? But my husband has had a vasectomy!" "Well, then either you have been a very naughty woman or God has smiled upon you with a miracle," the medic explains. "A miracle!" she says to herself with sudden intense happiness. "Oh, Victor! You'll be so excited!" We hear the sound of angels rejoicing as the scene fades out.

On the plane to their next hotel/prison, Victor and Diane are chatting away about their next romantic destination. Diane says, "Victor, I have some wonderful news." Just then, the phone rings. Wally tells Victor that Jack is trying to reach Victor. Victor bites his head off for interrupting them. "I told you Wally, no calls, dammit! Now if you value your job..." and he slams down the phone. He smiles apologetically at Diane and says, "Now where were we?" Diane says, "My wonderful news." Victor nods, "Ah, yes. And what is that news?" The phone starts to ring again and Victor reaches for it but Diane stops him for a moment. "Victor, I'm pregnant!" she says. "You're pregnant. But how is that possible? If it's that Jack Abbott character, I'll--" "No, Victor. By you. I guess your manhood is just too strong for that operation you had." Victor blushes. "Well, I--" The phone is still ringing and driving him crazy. "Hello? Wally? Dammit I--Nikki? Shot?" He stands transfixed.

"Listen, Diane, I don't know how to say this but apparently Nikki has been shot. Jack says she's on the brink of death and--" "We have to go back to Genoa City," Diane says, gently relieving him of the need to suggest it. He smiles thankfully. "Yes... is that ok?" "Of course, Victor," she says. "Do you know aanything more about what happened?" "No, just that they don't hold much hope for her in this condition," he says sadly.

In Genoa City, Diane is pacing her home where she has been left prisoner while Victor goes to see Nikki. Victor enters with news and Diane rushes to hear. "Apparently it was their maid--Sarah. Her husband, that Joshua fella, was fatally shot by him. No one knows why. Nikki was also shot, and left to bleed to death." "That's terrible," says Diane. "Yes, well, that's not the worst of it," Victor says. "It's not?" Diane asks, trying to brace herself for more. "Apparently Nikki was pregnant. And they think she may lose her child as well." "Oh, Victor, that's terrible. Is there anything we can do?" Diane asks compassionately. "I'm glad you asked that," Victor says with a sly smile, "because there is. There is a very special gift that we can give to her. The doctors say it's possible that since you and she have been pregnant about the same amount of time, they could abort your baby and implant Nikki's in its place. Without that, she'll probably die and lose Joshua's baby with her." Diane is stunned and says nothing. Victor continues, "So you see, my darling, why it really is such a miracle that you were having my baby at this critical time--so you'd be ready to take on this task of mercy, if you decide you will, of course." Diane continues to say nothing.

"Ok, Victor, I'll do it," she says finally. "I'll do what you ask." Victor smiles smugly. "Well, you know, that's really only HALF of what I was going to ask you." Diane raises an eyebrow, half-terrified. "What's the other half?" she asks worriedly. "Well, don't you see--I was hoping maybe I could also...uh,... marry her. It would be a sort of symbolic gesture on my part, you know, like that fella Jesus Christ did when he offered crackers and juice to all his friends in their time of need. I thought maybe if Nikki's dying, the least I can give her is a little slice of me before she goes." He pauses for a response, but of course nothing is immediately forthcoming. "She's dying," he says by way of encouragement, "and I'm sure it'll only be for a little while." Then, with a kind of grossly upbeat tone, he adds, "and then we can go back to our lives, as if nothing happened. Well, except for the little baby. You'll hold onto it for a while and then give it up for adoption or something. We'll work that out later." Another pause. "So will you do it?" Diane can barely muster words. "Victor--it's a lot to ask--I...I... I don't know. You're asking me to give up everything." "Yes, but just for a little while. And it's for such a good cause..."

Diane paces the room thinking about The Unthinkable. Victor asks, "Is there anything I can offer you to make you feel more comfortable?" "Offer me?" Diane says. "Yes, Victor, there is." "Well, why don't you name it? If you will grant me this one favor, I will be happy to do anything else you need to make things even." "Ok, Victor, that seems fair. I want full title and control of all your financial and business assets." Victor looks startled. "That's a lot to ask." "Exactly," Diane says. "But," she says, quoting him from earlier, "it's just for a little while. And besides--it would protect you." "Protect me? How's that?" he asks. "Well, if Nikki did recover, and you had to divorce her--I'm assuming you WOULD divorce her--she might demand a lot more of your personal estate. If I held that for you, it wouldn't be available to her." "Well now, you're a very astute business woman, aren't you? I'll have to think about this." "But Victor, you said you'd be happy to do anything else to make things even." "So I did. Very well, it's done." He picks up the phone and presses a speed dial button. "Connie, tell Wally to fuel the jet for a round trip to the Dominican Republic. Call Mitchell Sherman. Tell him I'll need to see him immediately. Ahright?" He hangs up.

The next day at the hospital, Victor arrives in a tux with a minister. Nick and Victoria react with surprise, but seem to be mostly smiling. "What's going on?" Victoria asks. "Someone getting married?" Nick asks. "Hopefully your mother and me," Victor says. "But what about Diane?" Nick asks. "Well, she agreed to let me go out of the country to get a divorce in time to make all of this work. Now there remains the matter of getting Nikki's agreement in all of this." "Uh,..." Victoria says, "Mom doesn't know she's not married. No one's told her about Joshua." Victor says, "Well, I'll tell her about that, too, at the same time. A mix of good and bad news--perhaps it will soften the blow," Victor says. "Dad, I dunno," Nick starts to say. Victoria finishes for him, "Your husband's dead but you're in luck, a replacement's been found?" Victoria says. "Well, I'm not just any replacement, you know," Victor says. "That's true, but..." Victoria starts to reply. Just then, we hear Nikki moaning and groaning. "Victor?" she asks. "I am here, my darling," Victor responds, moving toward her. "Where's Joshua?" she asks. "It seems that Joshua is dead," Victor mumbles, perhaps hoping that the near unintelligible nature of his remark will soften the blow. "Joshua is what? In bed?" "No, dead," Victor repeats. She starts to roll her eyes and moan. "However, I have some good news," Victor says. "I am prepared to remarry you. We can be a family again." Nikki says only "Joshua" and then goes into an apparent cardiac arrest. The doctors clear the room.

When all are out of the room, the doctor goes to Nikki and says, "Everyone is gone. Is something the matter?" [Author's Note: To understand why Nikki is not really been injured by the shot, see Episode 91.] She sits up and says, "Oh, it's just that Victor proposed to me and I needed some time to think about that. That man can be so full of ego--I can't believe it. And telling me my husband had died in so indelicate a way? If I had been ill, I probably really WOULD have had a coronary." The doctor says, "Well, everyone's going to be worried--I can't hold them long." "Ok, well, I just wanted a minute to catch my breath ... set the machine for a weak heartbeat and give me the speed control again. I'll go back to being out of it... Oh, and after I'm announced as saved, I need you to make a phone call for me, Doctor. It's very important." The doctor nods and they set about readying to tell the family the "good news" that Nikki is again ok.

Later, again in the hospital room, everyone is assembled around when in walks another minister. "Hello," he says, "I'm Father Francisco. I am told that Miss Reed has requested me?" "Me? I didn't--" Casey starts to say. The Doctor says, "No, you didn't. But she did," he says, pointing to Nikki. "Oh, right. She knows she's not married any more," Nick says. "But I wonder why she isn't Mrs. Newman?" he adds. "Probably because she's about to marry Mr. Newman," Victoria says. Father Francisco steps forward, and the other minister stands aside. What proceeds is a typical sexist leadin: "Do you, Victor, take this woman, Nikki, to be your wife, to have and to hold, until death you both shall part?" "I do," he responds. The minister turns to a neardeath Nikki. "And you, Nikki, take this man, Victor, to be your husband, to honor and obey, until--" There is a dramatic pause punctuated by a weak cough from Nikki. "--until death you both shall part?" Nikki eeks out an "I do" and the two are pronounced married.

After a few moments of everyone celebrating, they turn to look at Nikki who says suddenly, "Oh, Victor. Oh, Victor! I feel the strength of your love pulsing through my veins. Victor, VICTOR!! It's making me well... I'm feeling stronger..." Her various monitors show an increase in activity. She leans over and washes her face in a pan next to the bed and much of the white comes off, revealing a healthy glow. Nick says, "Mom, are you all right?" "Of course I am," Nikki replies with a smile. "I have your father back, don't I? Isn't that the definition of a perfect universe?" Victor is stunned. "I, uh, I, I did not expect this," he says. "You what?" Nikki says coyly. "You're not backing out are you?" "Well, you see, I ..." For once, Victor is speechless. "I think we'd better leave them," Victoria says, and the others all pile out of the room.

"You see, Nikki," Victor says, "before I divorced Diane, she had me give up all my fortune to her. This marryage was just to be temporary." "Oh, Victor, that's soooo sweet--giving up your fortune for me. Who would have thought you capable. Well, it's ok. I still have the money I got from you in the divorce--I can take care of you." "Nikki, you don't understand, I--my empire--I have to get back to it. They need me." Nikki waves away the thought with a quick brush of her hand. "Oh, nonsense. I'm sure Diane can manage it, savvy businesswoman that she is." "No, I--" Nikki's tone turns suddenly cold. "Victor, you are such an egotist. Playing with people's lives this way. You only took this marriage commitment because you thought you were not committing yourself, didn't you?" He stutters. "Well, I--" She continues, "Well, you want out? I'l give you out. Father Francisco was not a real man of the cloth, and we are NOT legally married. I arranged a fake ceremony just in case. So not only do you not have Diane, but you don't have ME either. How do you like that?? TWO can play at your little game of musical marriages." Victor starts to respond but decides to say nothing. He just leaves the room as if metaphorically hanging up a phone upon which the discussion has in his mind ended. He comes out of the room to find Diane waiting outside. "It's done. I can come back now." "Oh, no, Victor," says Diane. "It is NOT done. Not by a long shot. I know exactly what's happened with Nikki's recovery. You said you wanted to be with Nikki until she dies, and I honor my promises. I'm not taking you back until she's dead. So have a nice life..." she says as Jack walks up. Jack takes Diane by the arm as she says to Victor, "... just as Jack and I plan to do. I'll see you in 20 or 30 years, perhaps. If there's anything left of you, and of Newman Enterprises, at that point." She walks toward the door.

Nick and Victoria approach Diane and Jack as they start to leave. "What's up with you and Dad?" Nick asks Diane. "Is he ok?" Victoria chimes in. Jack steps back to allow the discussion to proceed without him. Diane says, "Victor? Ok? I'm not sure if anyone will ever know how to answer a question like that. But there's one thing I will tell you--" "What's that?" Nick asks. "He's no longer rich... and that means you'll both have to earn your living from now on, like normal people. You may keep your jobs, but you'll be rated on merit from now on, and promoted--or DEmoted--based on that." "I'm not sure I understand," Nick says. Diane smiles sympathetically. "I know, Nicholas. But I'm sure your sister will figure out how to explain it to you. I've to go now. I have an empire to attend to." She reaches out her arm to Jack and they exit with Diane laughing all the way.

Victor sits down in a chair the hall. He is now penniless and without love. As he sits there, Hope sits down next to him. "Hello, Victor," she says. "I just came from the jet. Wally brought me. I thought you might need me just about now... finally."

That's all for this episode. Hope you learned something. Don't miss Episode 93!
If you missed any older episodes, see the index.

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