Friday Update
November 16, 2001

PREVIOUSLY ON ALL MY CHILDREN

At the boathouse, Roger tells Mateo: "Proteus likes things to go as planned." Mateo: "You give him the money and you tell him I want a meeting face to face."

At the hospital, Dr. Clader tells Liza and Ryan: "We ran the baby's D.N.A. and compared it with Mr. Lavery's file sample. It's 99.9% certain that Mr. Lavery was the baby's father."

As Jake overhears, Leo tells a distraught Greenlee: "I know I've been a real jerk, but if you'll just hear me out, I have to tell you why I bagged the wedding today."

VALLEY INN

Mateo is on the phone with Mr. Robotic, pushing for a meeting with Proteus. [If Roger is the man behind the robotic voice and Mateo already knows that, why is Roger still hiding behind the electronics?]

Dramatic music plays as Simone and Edmund grimly walk into the dining room from one end and Mateo walks in from another. Another phony fight ensues, which is odd, since no one but the dining room staff is in evidence. Edmund tells Mateo it's OVER and that he's double- crossed him for the last time!

Edmund accuses Mateo of using his money to gamble. He says Mateo has a sickness and needs to get some help. Mateo hands over a wad of cash to the restaurant manager to take his staff away for some privacy. Edmund comes off his angry routine, but is still pretty annoyed as he tells Mateo that Simone said he was shutting them down and he's been flashing a lot of money around ever since he returned from the Cayman Islands [when no one noticed that he and Hayley and the baby had left]. She accuses him of having something going down with Proteus and keeping them out of it. Mateo says he can handle Proteus. Edmund says doing it alone is suicide. Mateo insists he knows what he's doing. Simone nags him some more and he fires her. She asks Edmund for help. Edmund says they NEED Simone. Mateo says no, EDMUND needs her for his stupid little story, but he wants them to kill the story or they'll end up dead. Edmund stares.

Edmund tries to calm things down and asks why Mateo is doing this. Mateo says he's trying to save their NECKS. He says Proteus KILLS people and threatens them. He even threatened Mateo's KIDS! It took him a while, but he got the message! Simone, still total attitude, says Mateo is giving in to what Proteus wants! Mateo says that's RIGHT, because running a clean business and making an honest dollar ISN'T the right thing if your family isn't SAFE! Totally unsympathetic, Edmund continues to goad Mateo about letting Proteus have his way and Mateo giving up his integrity. Mateo is steadfast in doing what he has to do to protect his family and, besides, he's being compensated. Simone is sickened by this and says she's not going to listen to it. He stops her from leaving and says if she's smart, she'll do the same thing HE'S doing. Doe she think her little story is going to stop him? If she even LIVES to write it? It won't even put a DENT in Proteus' business. Simone and Edmund both yammer at him with self-righteous indignation and he tells them to think about their OWN families. Simone admits to having a family member she cares about. Mateo tells Edmund his kids don't need to lose ANOTHER parent.

PV HOSPITAL

Liza is agitated about Ryan and Adam going at it out in the hallway. Marian and Dr. Clader tell her to stay calm. He says he'll discharge her, but to go home and rest. Marian goes out to see about the dueling duo. Liza tells Dr. C. she wants some way of saying goodbye to her baby. Out in the hall, Marian and Hayley try to tear the two men apart before they choke each other. Hayley gets Ryan off to the side and tries to soothe him, eventually persuading him to leave with her to talk about it.

In another part of the same hallway, Leo is about to tell Greenlee why he called off the wedding, but Jake interrupts to tell her he has a good lead on her father. He wants a word alone with Leo first, though. For once, a word alone actually entails walking quite a distance away from the current position. Leo is still dressed in his wedding suit. Jake accuses Leo of being about to lay another trip on Greenlee by telling her he's made a huge mistake, seen the light, is sorry for everything and wants her back. Leo tells him it's none of his business. Jake warns him that, right now, it's the WRONG thing to do. She's worried half to death about her father, who might be dead as they speak. Leo says Greenlee can speak for herself, and he understands what's going on a hell of a lot better than Jake does. Jake says that, right now, she's not up for another round of "who does Leo want THIS week"! Leo insists he and Laura are OVER. Jake: "Wow, what was it, about an hour ago now that you were going to do the 'till death do us part' thing with Laura, and now you're ready to make this commitment to Greenlee? Don't you need to go home, put your feet up, maybe change your shirt or something?" Leo: "Look, I got blindsided by a dying woman who went crazy on me." Jake doesn't want to hear the details. Leo asserts that he loves Greenlee and she loves him and she needs to hear that. Jake says: "NOT NOW!" Leo asks who the hell HE is to say that. Jake: "I'm the guy who patched Greenlee together every time you gave her mixed signals that tore her apart." Leo says Greenlee has gone out of her way to show him she loves him and has been waiting for him to realize that he loves her; believe it or not, it's going to do a LOT of good for her to hear that. Jake says Leo doesn't get it -- this is not about HIM right now, or covering for himself over Laura. He needs to LOOK at Greenlee and what she's going through an at least give her enough time to find out if her father is DEAD OR ALIVE!

[I should point out for interested parties that throughout this episode Greenlee's breasts are all but falling out of her VERY low- cut, wrap blouse, even when she's lying down. I am SO jealous!]

Greenlee runs up and asks Jake if he's talking to Leo about her father. He says no, he's about to chase down the lead. She wants to know what it is. He didn't want to say anything until he knew he was on the right track. [Then why did he tell her he has a lead?] She's bummed an thinks he doesn't really HAVE a lead. He says he's never lied to her before and he's telling her, right now, that he's going to find her father. He wants her to go back to the loft and get some rest. She says she can't. He promises to call if he finds out anything. She says she's not going to go alone, then and invites Leo to go with her. Leo shoots a veiled triumphant look at Jake as he says yes. Jake stares after them with angry disappointment as they leave.

David walks up to Jake, responding to his page, and asks if there is any news on Roger Smythe yet that can't wait until morning. Jake relates the info from Roger's cardiologist in San Diego about his pre- existing heart condition and referral to David. Why did he tell Greenlee that he never treated him?

Marian walks back into the room where Liza is lying on a table. As usual, Liza's feet are toward the windowed doors so that anyone walking by would be treated to an up-close-and-personal view of Liza's crotch if they happened to glance in [I feel obligated to say, however, that at the moment her legs and feet are bound up so tight as to make me wonder if she's been entombed] Marian tells her that Ryan and Adam have been separated by Hayley, and Liza is relieved. A Reverend Peterson walks in and introduces himself. Liza explains that she wanted to say goodbye to the baby and requests a prayer. The three of them hold hands and he prays. Adam walks up and peers through the window (despite the fact that the other door is standing open). He painfully watches Liza cry. Liza, prompted by the Reverend, says a few words to the baby: "Well, I couldn't give you life the way that I wanted to. But I -- I loved you. And I wanted you. And I'll always remember you because you were a part of me. The rest is in God's hands. And I pray that God can forgive me and -- and that he will take care of all of us. Amen." Adam, who has finally noticed the open side of the two doors, tearfully adds an Amen. Liza looks up with an ambiguous look of hope.

Back in the hallway, David and Jake are still going at it. David insists he's never met nor heard of Roger Smythe. Jake asks why Roger was BEGGING to see him, then. David suggests maybe Roger finally got smart and decided to see the doctor he was referred to in the first place, whom he should have been seeing all along! Jake notes that Roger split before David got there. David suggests that perhaps Roger decided to see his OLD doctor in San Diego. His pager sounds and he takes off to respond, snapping that he hopes THIS is a REAL emergency. Jake glares at his wake. Jake lifts a nearby phone and calls Derek to track Roger down.

HAYLEY & MATEO'S CONDO

As Ryan mills around, Hayley thanks Rosa for watching the baby. Rosa comments on Mateo's continued absence and Hayley says she DID call him, but he is apparently working in another part of town. Rosa is skeptical about that at this time of night. Hayley says he usually comes in around 2am. Rosa is shocked that a nightclub owner would keep such late hours. Hayley makes excuses for his constant late hours, but agrees with Rosa that she doesn't like it. They air-kiss and Rosa leaves.

Ryan tries to split, but Hayley yanks him down to sit on the couch and talk, saying she didn't want to leave him at the Bates Motel or at the hospital duking it out with her father. She advises him that he doesn't want to be "off" when dealing with her father. Hayley: "You need sure footing where he's concerned, or he will -- he will SUCK you into his dark place. It's like a whirlpool." She looks bummed out at having been a victim of said whirlpool so many times. Ryan wonders how the two of them can be related. Hayley says she doesn't think they are all that different when it comes to parenting. When Enzo was born, she finally understood what protecting your child was all about -- she would do ANYTHING -- legal or otherwise -- to protect her child. Ryan, who has been intensely brooding, sagely notes: "The power of parenthood." Hayley says it's awesome. Enzo starts crying and Hayley picks him up, talking baby talk. She brings him back to the couch. Ryan is entranced by the baby and Hayley's mothering. She realizes that Ryan has just lost a baby and apologizes. He asks if he can hold Enzo, who appears to be vaguely working up a good crap. Ryan is enthralled as he and the baby look at each other. Ryan thanks Hayley.

Later, Hayley picks up the sleeping baby and puts him back in the bassinette. She apologizes for the place being a mess. Ryan says she and Mateo have it all -- the PERFECT life. Hayley ruefully says she wishes she could see it the same way, then apologizes for saying something so insensitive. In a first for her, Hayley say: "You don't need to hear me complain about my life." Smiles abound out in TV land, but hopes are dashed as Ryan prompts her to elaborate and she does. She asks if he ever wonders if there's some kind of manual that tells people how to be happy and normal. Ryan: "And everybody else has a copy but you?" She says yes -- people like him and her know what it's like to wake up every morning and try not to step on any landmines on your way to the breakfast table. Ryan: "Getting into the cereal without bleeding was always a goal, yeah." Hayley thinks that even though she now has her own family to take care of, the landmines are still there under the floorboards. He agrees they are tough to get rid of. She says she still feels like she has to watch every step she takes. He asks what's in the landmines. She says she has a husband who loves her and a beautiful baby and she doesn't want to think about anything else. Refusing to take her at face value, Ryan prods her to continue. She says she still has thoughts that she doesn't want to think. He asks if she's been thinking about drinking and she shrugs the shrug of the inevitable.

Ryan talks to her like she's 5-years-old and says she is a recovering alcoholic and will ALWAYS be in recovery. She holds a teddy bear and shakes her head sadly, saying she thought it would be different when she had her OWN family. She prayed to GOD that it would be different. Hayley: "My biggest nightmare is that Lorenzo is going to grow up with a mother who cuddles a bottle of booze instead of cuddling him." Ryan loudly reminds her about the "One day at a time" adage. He says she's NOT drinking and her thoughts are just her THOUGHTS. She nods and says in affirmation: "I am Hayley, I am NOT Arlene!" He adds that she's a wonderful mother. She asks if he's sure about that and says he's just feeling sorry for her because she's having a meltdown. He insists that she's the BEST and to take it from someone who knows the hard way. She says she WANTS to be and thanks him for listening. He asks if she's talked to Mateo about all of this. She says she did before Lorenzo was born and after and he was great. Ryan suggests it's time for another chat. Still looking down, Hayley says something tells her he wouldn't understand her still having these fears. Ryan: "Well, when you have parents like ours, you'll always be afraid that one day you're going to wake up in the morning and find out that you turned into them. And it's hard for people who didn't grow up in the bunkers to get that."

Hayley nods and says, speaking of parents, she wants him to PROMISE her he'll stay away from Adam. Ryan says that what gets him about Adam is that when he looks at him, he sees his old man. Adam is classier on the outside, but underneath, he's the same man who will throw his fists at anybody who gets in his way or says something that he just doesn't want to hear. The baby fusses and Hayley gets up to tend to him. Ryan says no one could get through to his father. Hayley says no one can get through to her father either -- but her father did not kill his baby -- it was an accident, and he's got to know that. Ryan's not so sure. She says he has to let go of his anger so he can grieve for the baby he's lost. FORGET Adam! Ryan decides to leave as Enzo continues to fuss. Hayley says he'll quiet down as soon as he gets what he wants. Ryan says what he probably wants is for people to stop talking while he's trying to sleep, so he's going to let himself out, which he does. Hayley bends back over the bassinette. Ryan stops at the door and tells Hayley that she's an incredible mother and not to ever doubt it. We hear a grunt that seems to be coming from Ryan, but is really coming from the baby :-) Hayley picks up the baby and assumes he's missing his father. She assures him he's coming home real soon. Suddenly, the lights go out. Hayley gasps.

[I have a prediction -- Mateo is going to push Hayley and Ryan together so he can distance himself from his family, thus taking the heat off of them]

THE LOFT

Leo and Greenlee walk in. Leo says Jake's new place looks GREAT. [I think it looks WEIRD -- is that a SEWER PIPE over near the windows?] Greenlee mutters that it's good to be home. Depressed, Greenlee lies down on the couch and wishes she could go back to the day she was born and start all over again -- she'd make things so different for them. Leo assures her that whatever went down when she was a kid was NOT her fault -- SHE wasn't the one who was supposed to make it work. She says she was a BRAT -- how else could it work out? He insists she was just a kid. Greenlee mourns: "But if I had made him love me, he wouldn't have lied to me. He wouldn't have left me. He wouldn't -- he wouldn't be lost right now [...] And I wouldn't feel so lost and so alone." Leo holds her hand and says he's going to be there for her. Greenlee impatiently turns to him and says: "I WANT Jake!" Leo stares in confusion.

Leo offers to call Jake, but Greenlee says no -- she MEANT that she wants Jake to call her and tell her that he found her father and that everything is all right and that Roger didn't know Greenlee was worried out of her mind. She realizes this is going to take some time. Leo suggests she gets some sleep, but she says that's not an option. She dejectedly walks to the kitchen area to make some coffee. Leo notes that she really knows her way around there. She quips that she should since she's lived there so long -- but not anymore. Her penthouse is finished and Jake moved her out. [Then why is she there?] Greenlee doesn't want to go to the penthouse -- she feels so comfortable right there in Jake's loft. Leo tells her to forget about the coffee and walks her back to the couch. She lies down and grabs a pillow to hug. Leo starts to take the pillow, offering to get her a blanket. She protests, saying she WANTS it! It's a stupid thing Jake taught her. One night Jake came home late from the ER and found her wide awake on the couch. She's had insomnia since she was a kid. Leo didn't know that about her. She says her parents were gone so much as a kid that she would get up at night and just wander the halls feeling really lonely. Jake told her that the next time she felt like that, she should pick up a pillow and hold it and think of the person she was missing. She says that it always works now and asks Leo to wake her up if Jake calls.

Leo paces as Greenlee sleeps. He pets her hair ever-so-slightly as he wanders. He picks up a greeting card from the table. Inside it says: "To Jake, I'm Here. Love, Greenlee" He puts it down and picks up some photos of Greenlee and Jake happily goofing off at the new playgound. He puts them down and notices the beribboned box containing a new blender. He picks up the card for that, which he reads aloud: "I, Greenlee Smythe, hereby promise to avoid all contact with all appliances which can burn out, die in water, or produce sparks. Sorry about the blender, Jake. Love, Me." Greenlee has awakened [probably from him talking out loud to NO ONE] and says that was NOTHING -- her first week there she blew out the stove. She wonders how long she's been asleep and he says not long. She's bummed that no one called in the meantime. Leo, seeking to lighten the mood, grins over her trashing the stove. Greenlee: "The hardest part was getting the tomatoes out of the kitchen vent. Jake wasn't amused." Leo: "Yeah, well, tomatoes in a kitchen vent are serious business, Greens." Greenlee: "I was so careless when I started living here. I drove Jake mad because he's, like, the world's premiere neat freak." Leo removes his tie and says: "You and a neatnik? Never would have guessed." Greenlee: "Yeah, Jake was always on my case. He was like some kind of drill sergeant pounding this stuff into my head day after day." Leo wryly says: "Well, that sounds like a lot of fun." Greenlee gets up and comes over to sit on the edge of the coffee table in front of him -- she's perking up: "Huh! Agh! Got so MAD until it got to where I learned that I could do things. Domestic things." Leo snorts: "You and domestic? No, those two words don't even belong in the same sentence." Greenlee laughs and says: "I LIKE doing those. That's what makes me feel like I'm not totally helpless." Leo: "Well, if you say so." Greenlee: "I'll have you know that thanks to Jake, I can cook. Don't look at me like that. I can make coffee and a grilled cheese sandwich!" Leo: "Wow. Bra-VA!" and claps his hands in applause. Greenlee: "And I don't break nearly as many appliances as I used to. That -- that blender was weeks ago." Leo throws up his hands in surrender and says he's impressed. She jumps up and goes to the phone. Leo tells her that Jake WILL call. She hangs up the phone without dialing. She sits again, then says that back at the hospital he was going to tell her the REAL reason he broke off the wedding. What was he going to say? He nods.

PV HOSPITAL

The reverend tells Liza that something things like this are a wake-up call that helps us appreciate our friends and family. He tells her not to be afraid to reach out. She thanks him and he leaves. Adam steps in. Marian coldly orders him out, but Liza says she wants to talk to him. Marian acquiesces and leaves, glaring at Adam on the way out. Adam apologizes and says he wants to do anything he can to help. She says Dr. Clader is signing her out right now. Adam tentatively steps foward and blurts out that he wants her to come back to the house. He wants her to be there with Colby. She thinks they should talk. He says they will, but first they need some time to heal. He wants to give her all the space and time and privacy that she'll need to do that [then why are you bringing her back to the house?] He promises he won't bother her. He just wants to take her HOME. Liza and Adam stare at each other, wondering if they can bridge the distance between them. Marian and Dr. Clader return, because Dr. Clader doesn't HAVE any assistants. HE tells her to take it easy. Marian urges her to come with her to her house. Liza says no, she wants Marian to take Colby to the main house. Marian is doubtful. Liza says Adam is going to take her home. Adam smiles with gratitude. Marian bites back her disappointment and nods.

VALLEY INN

Simone makes nasty little faces that would make a gang member think twice about crossing her as Edmund tells Mateo neither he nor Simone are going to fight with him [well you're doing a lousy job so far]; just DON'T shut them out! Mateo says he has to get back to work. Edmund says they have to clear this up. Mateo throws up his hands and says he just DID. He melts back into the shadows. [I want to think of a mob name for Mateo, but all I can come up with is Mateo "The Turd" Santos] Edmund and Simone looking meaningfully at each other. Edmund sighs. Mateo walks around the corner and stops, closing his eyes and sighing with worry and extreme stress. Suddenly a gloved hand [no NOT Michael Jackson] reaches out from behind and claps a presumably chloroformed cloth to his mouth and nose, pulling him back and down.

JAKE'S LOFT

Leo hops up and says this is NOT the time to tell her what he meant to say -- it can wait. Greenlee follows him and tells him not to do that. TELL her. He opens his mouth to talk, but Jake suddenly walks in. Greenlee rushes over and asks if he found Roger. He says no, but the police found Roger's car just outside of Philadelphia. No sign of Roger so far, but Jake's going to Philly right now. He wants her to stay and let HIM find Roger -- she's tired and stressed out and he doesn't want to be worred about her. He promises to call [oh yeah, you didn't call THIS time]. Jake asks Leo if he's going to spend the night there. Leo thinks for a moment and says yes. [Oh Laura is going to LOVE this -- I'm hoping that whatever happens as a result involves that odd-looking sewer pipe in the living room, because it just looks like it could be entertaining; not as entertaining as, say, watching a cat cough up a hairball to the tune of "Funky Cold Medina" (which I actually saw while walking around the block once, much to my utter fascination), but entertaining, nevertheless.] Jake hugs Greenlee and strokes her hair as she thanks him for doing this for her.

VALLEY INN

Simone paces and says she can't believe Mateo turned [just thought I'd take this opportunity to say I think Simone's a snot]. Edmund says he HASN'T -- he's lying, and that's the REAL problem. Edmund guesses Mateo has decided to take Proteus down. Simone: "So he wants to die." Edmund: "It's not going to come to that because I'm going to get to Proteus first." Simone is not amused that Edmund also wants to be a cowboy and asks how HE plans to stop him. [Okay, NOW I think Michael Jackson should become involved -- one look at him would stop ANYBODY in their tracks] Edmund says Proteus finds out the strengths and weaknesses of his soldiers before they are chosen so that by the time they work for him, he feels like he knows them up close and personal. He's going to find out HOW Proteus got to Mateo and WHY he chose him. When he finds THAT out, he's going to use it to nail the bastard. [You know, they've been employing the word "nail" a lot lately on the show -- and every time they do I know what they mean, but in my mind I always substitute an alternate definition for the word -- I am SO easily amused ;-)]

SOMEWHERE

We hear sounds of the sea and see a rotating light as the camera pans up Mateo's prone body. Suddenly we hear what sounds like Hayley on a bullhorn yelling: "Mateo, HELP me!" He sits up and looks out to wherever, breathing heavily.

ON THE NEXT AMC:

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At SOS, Erica (which very lightened hair) tells Opal: "If you just plant these drugs on Frankie, it'll get her out of Bianca's life!"

Dixie tells Tad: "This is over, Tad, for good."

Ryan stands in the condo living room and yells at the top of his lungs: "Hayley, I was just about to take off when I saw your lights go out. You ok?" [and here I thought he was concerned about waking up Lorenzo]

In a completely darkened area, with a spotlight on Mateo, he tells someone: "Just make me part of the team and I'll go straight to the top."

Irreverently submitted,

Robin "The Klutz" Coutellier