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Date: 05 Apr 1998 00:33:30 -0400
From: pitman@anotherwayout.com (Kent M Pitman)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.tv.soaps.cbs
Subject: Y&R: AWO#92: "A Knight A Loan"
Message-ID: <sfwsonsj3ad.fsf@world.std.com>
INSIDE... * Will the Black Knight go it alone?
* Will Victor's lone offer give Nikki a new lease on life?
* How much can Victor's being a loan have cost him?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ANOTHER WAY OUT, Episode 92, 05-Apr-98 by Kent Pitman (kmp@harlequin.com)
"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, Sen~ora." "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."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright 1998 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"!