![[AWO]](../awo-small.gif)
Previous |
Next |
Episode |
Moral
Previous |
Next |
Episode |
Moral
Date: 18 Sep 1997 23:31:43 -0400
From: pitman@anotherwayout.com (Kent M Pitman)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps.cbs
Subject: Y&R: AWO#64: "A Long Story Short"
Message-ID: <sfwbu1qyo68.fsf@world.std.com>
INSIDE...
* Joshua discovers a long-buried secret that will devastate Nikki.
* Ryan is moved to get short with Keith.
* Cassie gets a surprise she's been longing for.
* Nick's family plans are unexpectedly cut short.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANOTHER WAY OUT, Episode 64, 19-Sep-97 by Kent Pitman (kmp@harlequin.com)
"A Long Story Short"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Malcolm, Neil, Dru, Diane, Victor, Nikki, Nick, Sharon, Grace, Tony, Cassie,
Noah, Miguel, Ashley, and Jack are coming out of Dr. Josh's office. "Thank
you all for coming by," Joshua says. "Yes," says Olivia, "it's so important
for everyone to give blood every chance they get." "Well, I'm just sorry I
don't do it more often," says Nikki. "Sometimes I get so busy with my
charities and my work at the local shelter that I forget to take time out for
things like this, too!"
A Red Cross helicopter flies overhead and Kurt parachutes in through an open
window. "Yes, one should never find oneself too busy to give blood," he chimes
in, as if he'd been part of their discussion all along. "Which way do I go to
give?" he asks them. Everyone points him to Joshua's office. "How've you been,
Kurt?" Ashley asks. "Just trying to keep busy," Kurt says. "There's so much
trouble in the world, and now without Mother Teresa to help, well--it's just
upped the workload for the rest of us." He disappears out of sight as Olivia
usher's him into Joshua's office. Meanwhile, Joshua taps Victor on the
shoulder.
"Yes, my former wife's husband, what is it?" Victor asks. Joshua says, "It's
a sensitive matter, Victor. Could I speak to you privately?" Victor looks
surprised but shrugs and goes with him into a nearby office. The others look
quizzically at each other and mill around waiting for them to return.
Inside the privacy of the office, Joshua explains: "Victor, I did some
standard checks on the blood you all donated, and I'm afraid there's an
anomaly." "Someone is sick, or what?" "Oh, no, nothing like that. But...
well, your son Nicholas--his blood type--Victor, he's not your son. Are you
aware of that?" "Of course he's my son, what are you talking about? I've
known him since he was a little boy and he came home from the hospital with
Nikki and me." "I don't think so, Victor. It can't be. There must have been
some foul-up here at the hospital. I'll go back through the old records.
But I think your real son is out there somewhere, and Nicholas is ...
someone else's." Victor looks stunned and mutters over and over "not'm'boy?"
Joshua asks, "Victor, are you all right?" Victor nods. "Of course I'm
ahright--but m'boy... where is he? who is he?" "I'll get back to you on
that as soon as I know," Joshua says.
Victor is in his office. He looks at his watch. Finally, in comes Nick. "Hi,
Dad. Sorry I'm a few hours late. Sharon fixed pancakes this morning and one
thing led to another and ... well, I'm sure you know how a healthy home life
can make it hard to find the time to work, sometimes." "No, Nicholas, I'm
afraid that's not a problem I've ever had," Victor says. The phone rings and
Victor answers. "This is Victor Newman," he says into the phone. "Ah, thank
you for getting back to me... You do? ... Uh,huh. You don't say... That's
really quite extraordinary... Well, I thank you for calling." Victor hangs
up the phone and is silent for a long time. "What's up, Dad?" Victor glares
at him. "Nicholas, you will no longer address me in this manner, is that
understood?" "Oh, right. A little professional distance while you work me up
the ranks, huh?" Nick says, laughing.
Victor frowns at Nicholas. "Nicholas," Victor begins. He fumbles for a word.
"Boy..." He says finally, as if lost without a good term. "I have something
to tell you that may have a profound effect on ... that is, on what we
thought ... Boy, there is no easy way to tell you so I'm just gonna have to
spit it out, ahright? It has come to my attention that you are not my son."
"Whoa, Dad! I know I was a little late on my first day... OK, and today, too.
But don't you think disowning me is just a little harsh?" "It's not that,
I--" "And I know I haven't really contributed, yet, but I'm sure if you just
give me a small company of my own, I can show you--" Victor raises his hand in
a `stop' gesture that commands silence. When Nicholas obeys, Victor
continues: "You were more than a little late on the first day--you forgot all
about it. And today--it's the middle of the afternoon. I must admit, if you
were not my son, I would not have put up with it. Indeed, I have often
wondered how someone with Newman blood could have done something like that in
the first place." "Do what?" Nicholas asks. "Put family above work as you
occasionally do. In any case, I now understand that it is not entirely your
fault, since I have just learned you are not a Newman at all. Even so, I'm
afraid there are certain changes that are gonna have to be made, since you
understand I must now make room for my real son who has been denied his place
at my side for so long..."
A while later, Victor is once again alone when Ryan enters. "You sent for me,
sir?" Ryan says in his usual crisp, will-do way. "Ryan, m'boy, why don't you
sit down?" Victor says. Ryan looks surprised at this, but looks around for a
chair. Victor leans in and says, "Now... I must ask you a very important
question. I realize this is of a very personal nature, but you'll see it's
important." Ryan nods. "I'll do my best to be helpful," he says. "I'm sure
you will," Victor says with a smile. Then, leaning back in his chair he says,
"Ryan, was your marriage to Victoria ever ... consummated?" Ryan is taken
quite aback. "I have to admit, that's a pretty darned personal question,
sir." "I know it is, Ryan m'boy, and I want you to know I wouldn't ask if it
wasn't absolutely necessary." There is silence for a moment as Ryan thinks
about what to say. "Well," he begins finally, "the fact is--no, sir, it never
was. You see, before we really got a chance to--well, Vikki never wanted to
after she saw--" "That's ahright, myboy, I don't need the specifics. I just
need to understand the general situation."
"So what you're telling me," Victor continues in his discussion with Ryan, "is
that it would have been possible, technically, to have had this marriage
annulled." "Well, I suppose--but only if the truth had come out, and ... I
loved Vikki, so I didn't want to do that to her." "Well, I can respect that,
Ryan, and I'm glad to hear that you love her, but it's for that reason that
you'll see it may become important to bring the truth out." Ryan looks
confused and alarmed, but says nothing as Victor continues. "You see, m'boy,
as it turns out, her instincts were good ... perhaps better than you both then
realized." "Mr. Newman, I really don't think it's your place to be advising
me on my sex life with your daughter--especially years after the fact."
"Well, I think that when I get done, you're going to change your mind on that.
You see, m'boy, as your father, it's very much my role to advise you on
matters involving ... birds and bees, as it were."
After a long and stunned silence, Ryan responds. "Mr. Newman, I can
appreciate your desire to be my mentor, and I know you're really sad with
Vikki being out of town for so long and all, but--as a friend, I have to
wonder if maybe it's not time for you to take a bit of a vacation..." Victor
laughs genuinely. "You do, do you? Well, perhaps there will even be some
time for that. But I'm completely serious about the matter of your parentage.
I have done some digging, and I have found that a horrible error was made at
the hospital years ago, and that the parents who raised you were not your
genetic parents." "Error? What kind of error?" "Apparently, you and that boy
Nicholas, who I had thought was my son, were switched in the hospital. In
effect, you were denied your birthright as a Newman. Now, I feel very sorry
about that, and there's very little I can do to make up for the past, but I
intend to take all reasonable steps to fix that problem for the future."
Ryan is amazed. "All reasonable steps?" "Well, that office that Nicholas
just received will be reassigned to you, for example. And if you'd like, I'll
see you're set up with a home at the Newman ranch, since there has recently
been a vacancy there as well." "But what about Nicholas?" "Well, I'm sure
he'll find something--perhaps he'll be interested in moving into your old
apartment..." "Well, Mr. Newman, I don't know what to say..." "Ryan, m'boy,
it's not like a business deal--family is family. One pretty much has to take
them as they are. I hope you'll be able to deal."
On his way through the door of Victor's office, Ryan gets a sudden smile and
turns to Victor. "Does this mean I don't have to worry about Keith getting me
fired?" he asks. Victor smiles. "You think very strategically, Ryan. I'm
going to enjoy having you as my son. Maybe you should pay a visit to our good
friend Mr. Dennison and give him the good news personally." Ryan smiles, too.
"You think that's appropriate?" "M'boy, there comes a point at which a man
must stand tal--uh, must stand up--and take responsibility for his personal
affairs." Ryan straightens up and says proudly. "I really appreciate your
support, sir. Thank you." He pulls the door closed behind him, and once
outside he breathes a big sigh. "Yes!" he exclaims silently.
The next day is Saturday and Nicholas is busy moving into Ryan's old
apartment. Sharon brings him a contract to sign. "What's this?" Nick asks.
"It's the rental agreement," Sharon explains. "Oh," Nick says, trying to
pretend he understands. "What's this part here about payments? Wow, that's a
lot of money!" Sharon nods. "Well, apartments are pretty expensive now, I
guess. Maybe we should move into something cheaper?" "Nope, I don't care
what price it is--nothing but the best for my family," Nicholas says.
"Okayyy..." Sharon says uncertainly. "But remember, we won't have your father
to be paying the rent for us." "Oh, is that how it got paid before? I was
gonna try to find that out." "Why?" Sharon asks. "Do you think we should send
a Thank You note?" Nick looks at her like he doesn't know what she's talking
about. "No, I was just trying to figure out how we can get the rent paid
here. But don't worry--everyone's got parents--so I imagine Ryan had them,
too. I'll just call him and ask who HIS parents are, or were. That way, I
can call them and let them know that even though they've lost their old son,
they shouldn't stop sending rent checks. They'll have a brand new son here
ready to receive the checks and to love them just as much as Ryan ever did..."
The following Monday, Nicholas is at Newman Enterprises and he arrives at his
[old] office. The sign on the closed door says "Ryan Newman". Nick stops and
sighs. "Oh, right. This isn't my office any more. I guess I'll go sit in
Ryan's old office for now." He wanders down the hall to where Ryan's office
was, but it says "Grace Turner" on the door. "Grace?" he says. She peeks her
head out. "Hi, Nicholas," she says. He asks, "What are you doing in this
office? I thought this was mine..." "'fraid not," she says. Just then,
Victor is walking down the hall, and Grace stops him. "Uh, Mr. Newman, could
you help Nicholas find a place to sit?"
"I'm sorry, m'former'boy," Victor explains, "but you will not be having this
office." Nicholas is surprised, but like one of those little clown punching
bags that is weighted at the base and bounces back quickly when punched, he
comes back soon for another round. "That's cool. Where is my office then?"
he asks. "Well," says Victor, "that's a bit like a trick question now isn't
it because you don't really get an office." Nick is really puzzled now. "But
Ryan and I traded," he says. "Yes, m'former'boy, but he was qualified for the
new position on his merits, and you, I'm afraid to say, are not." "But my
degree--" he starts to say. "About that degree," Victor says. "Colleges do
not normally give degrees for a semester or two of work--I'm afraid if you
read the fine print on that degree they gave you, you'll see it was a sort of
honorary thing they gave you because of your relation to me. Now, I've had a
little talk with them and even though you no longer really have that degree,
they will credit you for the classes you've taken. And, with luck, in a few
years, you could graduate with a REAL degree." "But won't I have to go to
class?" "Yes, you will. If you can find the time."
"Now," Victor continues, "as for where you'll be working--we'll be starting
you back in the mail room." Nick gets an enlightened look on his face. "Oh,
I get it! You want to make it look like I'm working my way back up so it
doesn't look like special treatment..." Victor shakes his head. "Well, now,
it won't BE special treatment, will it, m'former'boy. Because I'm afraid it's
going to take a little longer this time than before since you'll actually be
earning your way out of each position. But I'm sure with hard work and
determination that you'll eventually find something here besides mail delivery
that suits your skills. Stranger things have happened around this place, I
can tell you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm a busy man and I must get back to
work. Good luck."
Later in the day, Nicholas is roaming the hall delivering mail. Grace sees
him and says, "Oh, Nicholas, I was going to mail this to you, but I didn't
know where to reach you these days. Since you're working in the mail room,
can you just have this stamped and delivered to you wherever?" Nick takes the
letter, but doesn't think to open it. "What is it?" he asks. "It's a bill
for--well, you should open it." "Open it? I thought you wanted me to mail
it!" Nick says. Grace sighs. "It's to YOU, Nicholas." "Oh," he says,
finally getting it. He opens the letter and reads. "What's a `Big A' ..."
Grace rolls her eyes. "I fell off a ladder, Nicholas--it's for my hospital
bills." "I don't get it," he says. "What does that have to do with me?" She
growls, "Ohhhhh... Iterminatedmypregnancyok?" He is stunned. "You were
pregnant?" She sighs some more. "Look, just be glad it's not a summons for a
rape hearing, ok? You tricked me into tricking you into getting me pregnant,
if you'll recall! And now I find you've tricked me and you're not really the
person I thought I was tricking..." Nick's eyes go ping ponging back and
forth as he slowly repeats what she's just said trying to make sense of it.
"Never mind why," she says. "Just get me the money, ok?" Nick nods, happy to
be freed of the heavy burden of understanding why and left with a simple task
he can understand. As he starts to walk away, she blurts out, "Oh, and I'll
be by later to drop off Cassie, too...."
Nick turns to Grace. "Cassie? We don't have a ranch any more, so there's no
point in bringing her by. We have no horses--we don't even have a Miguel."
"Well, that's your problem, sugar," Grace says sarcastically. "Or Sharon's,
anyway. She IS Cassie's mother, after all." Nick's eyes bulge. "What ARE
you talking about?"
Later that day, at the McNeil apartment, Nicholas sits on the sofa with Cassie
and Sharon. Just then, there's a knock on the door. It's Nikki. She's
carrying a brown paper bag. "Hello, Nicholas..." she says. "Hi,... Mrs.
Landers," he says awkwardly. "It's ok to call me Nikki," she says. After an
awkard pause, she continues: "Anyway, I know it's probably being a rough
adjustment and I can imagine how much you must miss the ranch and Miguel, so I
brought you a little care package--something to eat." She holds up the bag.
Nick's eyes light up as if gold had been delivered as he says, "Food from
Miguel? Oh, you are an absolute angel!" Sharon throws him an annoyed look
and says, "Nicholas--my cooking isn't THAT bad!" Nikki blushes and says,
"Actually, it's not from Miguel. I was just at the homeless shelter serving
food to the street people, and--amazingly--there was a little left food over.
So I thought you might like some. It's mostly stale bread and some cans of
expired soup--I don't really know what non-Newmans eat, but I figured it must
be something like that." "Well, gee, ... uh, Nikki, ... that's very nice of
you," Nick says with a forced smile. Cassie takes the bag and starts looking
through it. "Oh boy!" she says. "No donuts or pizza anywhere! Thanks, Mrs.
Landers!! This is really wonderful!" she says with sincere enthusiasm.
It's later still. Nikki has gone home, and Sharon has left the room. Cassie
and Nick are talking. "It's ok, Nicholas, I know all about being poor. I can
teach you," she says helpfully. Sharon enters from another room. "Are you
two still here? I thought you were going shopping." "We are," Cassie says,
smiling. "We were just leaving!"
Nicholas is obviously not happy about this shopping trip, but he stops again
to listen to Cassie's helpful hints anyway before heading into the local
convenience store. Cassie says, "Now you go in and say, ``Look, I don't want
to be any trouble, but could you spare...'' and then you say what you'd like."
"And they just give it to me? With no money?" "Well...." Cassie says.
"Sometimes. Usually." Nick nods. "Worth a try..." The camera does not
follow them inside. It remains fixed for a few moments on the outside door.
Suddenly, a man with a large rifle chases them out of the door. They run a
block or so and finally stop around a corner, huffing and puffing. "I don't
know what happened, Nicholas," Cassie says apologetically. "When I say it,
they almost always give me what I ask for. Maybe next time you should smile
more ... and also, I think you should try not to hold their shirt collar quite
so tight when you say you don't want to cause any trouble. I think the man
was having trouble saying `ok' because he couldn't breathe very well..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright 1997 Kent M. Pitman. All Rights Reserved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Another Way Out" takes plotline state at time of publication and shows that
there are interesting places right around the corner. The goal, besides
having some fun with good-natured parody, is to challenge the notion that we
must be mired in certain tired plotlines for months just to have a good time.
There is always another way out...
Archives of this and older episodes of "Another Way Out"
as well as the more serious "morals" that underly them,
can be found at: http://world.std.com/~pitman/awo/index.html
Don't forget to try the "character index" and "ratings index"!