Friday Update
March 16, 2001, Part 1

Sorry, I got bogged down with paperwork this weekend. At least I got as far as the first commercial :-) I'll post the rest of the update on Monday night.

PREVIOUSLY ON ALL MY CHILDREN

Alex to Dimitri: "I'm not going to endanger my sister just to solve Dixie's problems. I can't do that."

David talks to Leslie's comatose body: "You think you're going to bury me? You don't stand a chance!" He does a shifty-eyed double-take when he sees her index finger twitching.

ERICA'S OFFICE

Erica walks up to Shannon and Bianca and asks what's going on. She presses, but before Bianca can answer, Brenda (PR rep?) bursts in to tell Erica that Teen Times wants to do an exclusive on Shannon for their July cover. She says it won't just be a fluff piece, either -- it will focus on the Teens Against Addiction program. Shannon and Bianca stare at each other. Shannon pleads with her eyes for Bianca not to tell Erica about the drugs. When Brenda and Erica flit across to room to twitter about how wonderful the cover story will be, Shannon once again begs Bianca not to do this to her -- or to her mother. Bianca says her mother is the ONLY person she is interested in protecting. Shannon: "I'm not an addict!" Bianca: "Shannon, you're my mother's spokesperson. You signed a contract saying that you wouldn't take drugs, and here you are high!" Shannon: "On **X**, for crying out loud! You act like I shot up in the bathroom stalls or something." Bianca: "You really just don't get it, do you?" Shannon promises to call off Heather and Mindy and the gay jokes. Bianca holds her ground, so Shannon turns ugly: "Listen to me. You blow this and you'll pay for it!" Bianca: "Are you THREATENING me?" Shannon: "You don't even KNOW what I could do to you!" Erica tries to get Bianca's attention while Shannon talks under her breath so that only Bianca can hear: "I don't think you want to find out!" Erica asks Bianca what it was she wanted to tell her. Shannon hisses: "Think HARD!" Erica pushes Bianca, who hesitates for our benefit. Shannon's eyes get as big and round as it is possible to stretch them, and Bianca says: "Yes. Before you commit to this cover, I think that you should know that Shannon uses drugs." Erica: "Excuse me?" Bianca: "She -- she takes ecstasy. She's high right now."

ALEX & DAVID'S OFFICE

As Dimitri watches, Dixie hugs Alex, joyful that Alex has returned alive. [I have to say that they must be TRYING to make Dixie look bad, because she looks really off. The lighting is too harsh for EVERYONE and Dixie's hair is atrocious (even worse than usual). Maybe Cady has been crying or something, but something is not right.] Dixie tells Alex that Dimitri was SOOO worried while Alex was gone. Alex says one day she'll tell Dixie everything, but suffice it to say that for now, she's back to normal, whatever that is. Dimitri tells Dixie that a lot of what what's happening with he and Alex right now is due to Dixie. Dixie: "What do you mean?" Dimitri: "Well, you sent Alex to find me at Wildwind. I was sick, I was isolating, and you understood that the only way that I was going to get well was to open up to her again. So you sort of saved us both." Dixie: "Listen, David had a lot to do with you getting strong enough to be able to do that, Dimitri." Dimitri grimaces. Dixie: "What's that look for?" Behind Dixie's back, Alex shakes her head warningly at Dimitri. Dimitri says they know about the trouble she's having with Tad and David. Alex shoots him a subtle, wifely "NOW you've done it!" look. In the meantime, Dixie turns and walks away a few steps, saying that sometimes she thinks there's not a soul in town who DOESN'T know about it. She turns and defensively asks if they are going to get at something here. Dimitri sighs and says yes. He asks Alex if she thinks they should tell Dixie what they know. Alex tries to think fast, then grimly faces Dixie. Dixie sighs and stares at her like a kid waiting to find out what her punishment is.

PV HOSPITAL

In Leslie's room, her sister, Pam, blinks back tears as David walks in and hands her a clipboard. It's the Do Not Resusitate authorization form. Pam sniffles and asks if they have to do it NOW. Has it really gotten to that point yet? David points out that Pam herself said Leslie has a living will. He cajoles her, telling her that Leslie wouldn't want to live like this for any length of time. Pam hands the form back and tells him to stop so she can think. He says he'll be outside waiting her to decide when to kill Les-- uh -- what to do. He turns with a worried look on his face. Pam relents and says she'll sign. David closes his eyes in relief and satisfaction, then looks upward with a nod of thankfulness. Pam says that if that's what Leslie wants, then she'll do it for her -- she couldn't really help her when she was ALIVE. Jake opens the door to see Pam being handed the clipboard again and hear David say: "It's ok. You don't have to explain anything here. Just sign right there, ok? I really do believe this is the best thing for Leslie. She doesn't want to live like this, Pam." Jake looks at David, then Pam and says: "Don't sign it!"

To be continued ...

Irreverently submitted,

Robin "paperwork weekend" Coutellier