Friday Update
January 11, 2002

PREVIOUSLY ON ALL MY CHILDREN

Vanessa: "Mateo Santos has no idea who I am. Proteus is going to milk this for all it is worth."

Laura: "I just thought after all that's happened, I could have a little of your time, but clearly, Edmund and the kids come first!"

Kendall: "They're going to put you away for life! She is going to get exactly what she deserves!"

NOTE

[It's late and I'm tired, so I'm not going to proofread for content and context this time, although I DID run a spell/grammar checker, not that MS Word's spell checker knows the difference between their/there/they're or its/it's, since it routinely flags the CORRECT usage as wrong]

PV PARK

The Christmas trees are gone and it's a park again. Hayley is boring another young mother, bragging about how big Lorenzo is, when Simone shows up. Hayley calls her a cheap whore and explains that Simone stole the father of her baby. The mother beats a hasty exit, suddenly remembering something she has to be somewhere. Hayley stands to "confront" Simone, who slams into her and mutters that Mateo is MISSING and is in trouble. Hayley stares.

Simone says the alley door was open. Hayley says he NEVER leaves that door open. Simone knows that. Hayley asks where the hell Simone was when this was going on. Simone says she's a journalist, not a cop. They both assert something is going on and they have to be VERY careful -- they could both still be being watched (she indicates some bystanders with her head). Hayley rushes away. Simone follows and quietly calls after her.

BROOKE'S HOUSE

Brooke is on the phone with a local hospital checking for Laura, who has been missing since last night and has a heart condition. Jamie comes downstairs and tells her she doesn't have to remind him -- he DID put out the recycling. He wonders if something is wrong. She distractedly asks if he has basketball practice tonight. He is hurt that she didn't remember that he has a game tonight. She promises she'll be there. He prompts her to invite Edmund and the kids. She hands him a sack lunch of roast beef. It must be a LOT of roast beef, because it's in a nearly full-size grocery bag. No mention is made of the 50 lb. backpack he has slung over one arm, the better to cripple him for life. As he leaves, Edmund walks in and Jamie tells him to ask her about tonight. We figure out it's morning by the bright sunshine filtering in the door. Edmund asks Brooke about tonight and she distractedly invites him to the game. Being a Pulitzer Prize- winning journalist, he deduces that she doesn't sound too excited. She says something is wrong. It's Laura.

Later, Edmund sips coffee and sort of listens to Brooke fretting about Laura being incommunicado. He suggests Laura shuts down when she's angry. Brooke puts on a brave face of denial, saying Laura isn't going to screen her calls just to torture Brooke -- she has a HEART condition, after all. The super already checked her apartment -- she didn't come home last night. Edmund says maybe she's staying with a friend. Brooke sarcastically asks if that would be Greenlee or Bianca. He suggests Susan, the girl from the almost-wedding. Brooke says they must not have been all that close after all since Susan ran out pretty quickly after the non-wedding and hasn't been heard from since. Edmund notes that there are lots of things about Laura that aren't what she says they are. Brooke feels guilty because Laura came there wanting to talk and Brooke told her no. He says that what Laura wanted was for Brooke to clear the room, so she could dote on her. Brooke says something is wrong -- she is frightened that Laura may be hurt. Laura uses her keys to come in at that moment. Brooke rushes to her and fiercely hugs her. Laura seems to be into the hug, but looks surprised when she sees the ever-judgmental Edmund staring at her from behind.

Laura breaks from the hug with a slightly calculating look in Edmund's direction. She sweetly asks Brooke what she missed. Edmund wanders around badly pretending to be looking at magazines, etc., glowering at Laura whenever he looks up. Brooke tells her that she was worried sick about her and even called her super. Laura is surprised at this. Edmund jumps in and says Brooke was worried about her because of her condition. Annoyed, Laura wonders if she's going to have to be on- call for the rest of her life. She says she was upset and just went out for a drive. She ended up practically in Ohio, so she spent the night in a motel. Neither Edmund nor Brooke seem to be buying it. Pointedly ignoring Edmund and playing up to Brooke, she apologizes for being irresponsible and acknowledging all of Brooke's fears and hugging her again. Brooke is VERY relieved. Edmund is blowing air through the fingers he's holding to his mouth. Brooke tries to move on and takes Laura into the living room, then goes to get something for her to eat.

Edmund goes into the living room where Laura asks if he and Brooke are working together. Laura gives lip service to Edmund for looking after her mom. She asks if Edmund spent the night. Edmund reminds Laura that Brooke already lost one child and there are certain emotional triggers that bring things back. Laura snaps that she lost her own mother and is very aware of that. He says he's lost someone too. Edmund: "What I'm saying is it would be really a great thing if you could just sort of be aware of how much you mean to your mother." She stares at him for a couple of moments, clearly barely tolerating him talking to her. She thanks him for his input and basically dismisses him. He observes that she doesn't like him very much anymore. She just blinks and turns away in annoyance. He says he DOES have to get back to work and now he doesn't have to worry about her mom anymore -- today, now that she knows Laura is okay. Before he leaves he asks Laura if she ever thinks, even for a minute, about her mother being happy. Laura glares at him as Brooke stands in the entryway, crushed.

Brooke comes into the living room and asks Laura if she wants waffles. Laura says she's not hungry after all -- she just wants to go home and get into her own bed -- she'll eat later. Brooke says she doesn't have to go. Laura: "Well, I'm intruding, apparently, so, yeah, I do." Brooke throws a brief glance of dismay in Edmund direction and asks what just happened there. Edmund moves to leave, but Brooke says she wants him there for what she has to say to Laura. Laura says she drove 500 miles last night and doesn't really have it in her for a lecture right now. Brooke asks why she thinks it's going to be a lecture. Laura snottily says that Brooke's boyfriend HATES her and wants Brooke to hate her too! Brooke says that is SO unfair [notice she didn't say it was unTRUE]. Laura sneers that Brooke is ALREADY taking his side. She starts to storm out, but Brooke stops her and asks her to answer Edmund's question -- does she WANT Brooke to be happy or not?

Laura says OF COURSE she wants her to be happy. She says Brooke has given her everything -- she's given her LIFE. Laura actually drops her nasty act and dons her poor, unworthy, street urchin persona: "I mean, I -- I know I'm not -- it's not like I'm Jamie, but --" Brooke: "Do you think I love you less because I adopted you?" Laura: "I don't know." Brooke: "Oh, Laura, why? God, don't you get how much I love you?" Laura: "I get that you see a pathetic loser kid who gets her lunch out of a garbage can." Brooke: "It's not what I see." Laura: "It's what EVERYONE sees." [Don't be silly -- everyone sees a nasty, narcissistic lunatic who is a waste of a perfectly good donated heart or they see someone who posed for porn, but most of them wouldn't remember the garbagecan stuff if you didn't keep bringing it up] Brooke gives a heartfelt speech about how worthy Laura is -- she's proud of her because she's talented, strong and a SURVIVOR! Phoebe and Jamie love her too! Laura whines that it's a crock. She says she's not a kid anymore [we've been trying to tell that to Brooke for over a year now] and that they don't need each other anymore. She gestures to Edmund and tells Brooke SHE'S all set -- and she DOES want her to be happy. Laura tries to leave, but Brooke slams the door shut and tearfully tells Laura she is not leaving until Brooke is FINISHED with her!

KENDALL'S PINE CONE MOTEL ROOM

Loud music plays as Kendall primps. She's apparently hurting for money, because she's wearing yet another silky robe that barely covers her ass. She opens the door to find Myrtle, who informs her that she's not DEAF ... YET. Kendall grimaces and actually turns down the music, since she has no desire to have sex with Myrtle. The door is still open as Kendall fills in the blanks of what Myrtle wants, assuming that she wants Kendall to stay away from Erica and that Erica is like a daughter to her -- she knows it all and doesn't want to hear it anymore, especially from Myrtle. Ryan just happens to walk by and notice them. Kendall starts to call Myrtle a pain in the -- but Ryan walks in and yells at her, asking if she knows who she's talking to. Kendall: "Do you have any kind of life of your own?" [LOL!] He orders her to apologize to Myrtle. Kendall refuses, rightly pointing out that she didn't invite Myrtle there -- OR him. He yells at her to apologize or ELSE! Kendall: "Or WHAT? You'll MAKE me?" Ryan smirks and makes a lot of Jackson-like twitches and head jerks.

Myrtle thanks Ryan for protecting her, but she and Kendall go back a long way. Kendall hasn't changed a bit since the last time she came to Pine Valley, when she didn't have a friend in the world except MYRTLE. Ryan crosses his arms and stands sentry. Kendall asks if either of them have anything better to do besides interrupting her. Myrtle shrewdly asks Kendall if she still has her doll. She reminds her that the doll has some pretty important papers in it (her birth certificate and, I think, adoption papers signed by Erica). Kendall is startled by the remark and looks off into the distance. Myrtle bets she DOES. Then she asks how Del is. Kendall turns back to them and says it's been a blast, but she has to get ready for court. Myrtle tells her to let it GO. Kendall: "Let WHAT go?" Myrtle: "Whatever brought you here to CRUCIFY your mother!" Kendall asks if Erica told Myrtle why she's there and if Myrtle cares. Myrtle says Kendall KNOWS how she feels about her mother. Kendall snaps that Erica Kane is NOT her mother -- she didn't RAISE her and she CERTAINLY didn't LOVE her. Myrtle demands to know what the HELL Kendall is doing there if Erica is not her mother! Kendall gets a grip and says it's a surprise. She starts to walk away from Myrtle, but Myrtle yanks her around and says: "Listen to me, you stupid little TWIT! Erica Kane is like my daughter. Now, don't you go after her. And don't you DARE try to ruin her!" Kendall thanks her for the benefit of the doubt and shows her the door, ordering her to take her bodyguard with her. Myrtle orders her: "DON'T DO IT!" Kendall closes the door, even though Ryan is still there. He asks her if ANYONE likes her. She suddenly looks vulnerable for a moment.

Ryan says he's known Myrtle for several years and has never known her to say a cross word to ANYONE [then he doesn't know Myrtle as well as he THINKS he does] Kendall says she was minding her OWN business when that gossipy old thing came to her door to harass her. He says she jumped all over Myrtle and she counters that Myrtle jumped all over HER. Kendall [rightly so, IMO] tells him he doesn't know anything about her or what Myrtle was or is to her or what they were talking about. He leans forward and tells her he knows a class bitch from hell when he sees one -- and he sees one right now. She seems momentarily surprised.

Regaining her inner bitch, Kendall shoots back that he doesn't know anything ABOUT her! He gets real close and says he knows all about her -- she's a LEGEND! He's apparently been researching her and he knows she's there to cause trouble for just about everyone he cares about in town [does she even KNOW Liza?] He says he knows all about that victim thing she plays like a violin. He fills in some blanks for the audience: "Erica Kane was raped when she was a teenager. She gives her child up for adoption that she conceived. Child comes back to make mom pay for being so thoughtless to actually try and give this kid a shot at a real life." She asks what his problem is. Being a total asshole, he says he heard she had two great parents who loved her. She agrees. He demands to know what she's doing back her now -- what does she want from Erica? She asks what he wants from her [not listening, is she?] -- she forgot how nosy everyone in this town is. She asks why he's even TALKING to her [I am TOTALLY on Kendall's side here]. Ryan then has the unmitigated GALL to stand in HER room, uninvited after numerous requests and orders to leave, to say: "BECAUSE!! You're invading my SPACE!" [CHOKE!!!] She tells him to stay in his OWN damn room, then! He yells at her to stay out of his way. Kendall: "Duh! Whose ROOM are we standing in? MINE!" She keeps yelling at him to go away and he just ignores her, repeating the same questions over and over, then snidely saying this must be about that whole ABANDONMENT issue. He FINALLY leaves, backing out and condescendingly waving his arms and fingers at her, hoping she has a lot of fun in court today and that it's worth it. She tells him to drop dead as he slams out. She returns to the bathroom.

PV JAIL

Erica, wearing bright orange for once, sits on her bed and holds her head in her hands. Opal suddenly appears and tells her that thinking too hard makes her head ache. Erica is pleased to see her. Opal hands her a bag containing mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, blush, lipstick, brushes, pencils, and mirrors. She asks whom she's getting all pretty for. Erica says it's for herself. [Her hair looks a little droopy, but otherwise it looks like she has plenty of makeup on already -- okay, maybe a little blush is needed] Opal, noting how depressed Erica appears, whispers that she knows Erica is doing it for Bianca, but is she sure it's really going to work? Erica says that with Kendall there she really doesn't stand a chance. Erica turns away and unzips the bag, checking her contents and rolling her eyes briefly as Opal asks what Kendall knows. Transparently to us, Erica asks how SHE should know. Opal wonders why Erica went over there. Erica turns back to her and says she doesn't want to talk about Kendall. She asks if Opal has seen Chris. Negative. Erica is worried that she's pushed Chris to his limit -- he's smart -- TOO smart [BWAHAHAHAAA]. She thinks he's figuring out what she's planning; she didn't give him any credit, and now--. Chris: "And now what, Erica?"

Opal moseys on out and Chris takes her place in front of the bars, accusing Erica of keeping something from him. She quietly denies it and makes herself busy putting the bag on her bed. He wants to know why she went to see Kendall. She says she hasn't seen her in years and now she suddenly shows up -- she just wanted to know what Kendall was going to say. Chris says she's there to testify. Erica (and me) basically says: "Duh!" He wonders what she found out. Erica says Kendall hates her now more than ever -- he was there, he SAW. He says he saw Erica begging Kendall not to betray her, which he finds interesting since Erica said there was nothing between them. If there IS not mother-daughter tie, then what purpose does begging her serve? Erica says she has no idea. He says she's driving him out of his MIND! She says she's sorry. He doesn't want apologies, he wants ANSWERS. She is lying and telling half-truths, which hurts him twice as much since he's not only her lawyer, but also the man she CLAIMS to love. They should SHARE everything. She complies by handing him a tasty cockroach [just kidding]. He asks if she's doing it because she feels so guilty about what happened to Frankie. She's condemning herself to a lifetime behind bars -- WHY? She's at a loss for words and just meekly shrugs. He says he's NOT going to let her do this to herself. He's just NOT. He walks out and Erica wipes away silent tears, but shores herself up against the coming losses.

PV COURTHOUSE

Erica, escorted by two guards who grip her arm like she's about to bolt any second, walks by Myrtle, who is sitting in the hallway. Myrtle jumps up and calls her name. The guards let go of Erica. Erica asks for privacy and they fall away like autumn leaves. [If they are THAT pliable, then why did they have such a death grip on her?] Myrtle says she saw Kendall, but couldn't get a word out of her about what she's going to say on the stand. All she wants to do is bury Erica. Myrtle gripes that, after all these years, Kendall doesn't understand how LUCKY she is to have had GOOD parents who CHOSE her and brought her up, but all she can think about is paying Erica back. Chris walks up and kisses Myrtle hello. He and Erica stare. He apologizes for losing his temper earlier. She's glad he's back. He gives her that "Oh Erica!" look and says she makes it so dang hard to love her! She caresses his face just as Jackson rounds the corner and gives her a knowing look. They all go into the courtroom.

Just as the doors close, Hayley and Simone careen around the corner. Simone grabs Hayley to try and stop her from going after Chris. Hayley insists on going in to find out what Chris, aka Proteus, did to her husband. The camera pans to a warehouse-type place loaded with boxes and Mateo's inert form.

At the defendant's table, Erica asks Chris what would happen if Kendall just didn't show up. He says the jury would just work with the evidence they've already heard. She says she already told them that she killed Frankie in self-defense. He says he's been watching them -- he thinks they WANT to believe her. [I'd think they'd want to spank her] He just hopes that Jackson's star witness doesn't say anything that turns the whole thing upside-down, AGAIN. [At this point, isn't that what he would WANT to have happen, since it's already in such a pathetic state?] He wonders what Kendall has to say that Jackson thinks is so important for the jury to hear.

Out in the hallway, Simone physically restrains Hayley. Simone tells her that if she walks in and let's Chris know that she knows he's Proteus, and if he IS, then she's blown her cover and Mateo doesn't stand a chance! [Go Hayley, go Hayley, go Hayley!!!] Hayley says Mateo might already be-- Just then Chris walks out of the courtroom and Hayley runs over, saying she has to speak with him RIGHT NOW! She glares at him. He glowers at her.

Chris says he has to make a phone call before the trial starts. Hayley yells that this is IMPORTANT! Simone jumps in and snidely tells Chris that Hayley thinks he can help her get Mateo back -- she thinks he actually has pull with him because he used to work at the club -- that's how well she THINKS she knows her husband. Chris swats away imaginary gnats and says it sounds like this has nothing to do with him and he REALLY has to make this phone call. He walks away. Simone grabs Hayley to keep her from chasing after him. Myrtle walks out as Simone quietly tells Hayley: "I'm begging you, drop this. Ok? If he was Proteus, why the hell would he be here helping Erica Kane's bony behind?" [ROTFLMAO!] Hayley takes a deep breath and crosses her arms with her back to Simone. Simone says she's worried too, but why lower Mateo's chances by trashing their cover before they know where he is or what's going on? Hayley turns back and fake brightly says they know he's MISSING -- isn't that ENOUGH? [Good enough for me -- let's go home now] She demands that Simone tell her what they are going to do. Simone says she's going to SOS to see if he came back [a phone call to SOS might work, too] [For some reason, Simone's eyes are all watery, but she's not crying -- I think] Simone says to stay away from Chris -- he is NOT Proteus -- she just FEELS it. Simone leaves and Hayley pulls out her cell phone and starts dialing.

A WAREHOUSE

Over a loudspeaker, Proteus orders Mateo to wake up. Proteus: "I trusted you (...) I made you one of my own." Mateo: "Ok, just chill out, all right?" Proteus: "Is this how you repay loyalty?" Mateo: "I -- I can explain!" Proteus: "Explain how you stole from me?" Mateo: "It's not the way it looks. Just let me explain --" Proteus: "Shut up! You can't justify this kind of betrayal." Mateo: "All right. What do you want to do?" Proteus: "Do you think there's a choice, Mateo, for me? Your usefulness has expired, Mateo." Mateo, ever the sharpest tack, says: "What are you saying?" Proteus: "Well, you know what I'm saying. You must die." [Is it my imagination, or did Mateo get a haircut sometime between disappearing and ending up at the warehouse? Man, that Proteus is one sick puppy!]

Mateo tells the ceiling that it doesn't want to KILL him -- he can be trusted! Proteus says Mateo doesn't know what she wants. He insists he can be trusted, but Proteus says she doesn't put her trust in thieves. Mateo says he'll prove it -- he'll do whatever Proteus wants to prove that he can be called on again. He says Proteus is smart -- come up with something and let him try. Proteus: "Are you serious?" Mateo: "DEAD serious!" Proteus says maybe there is a way. Mateo breathes hard.

PV COURTROOM

Judge Montel is not too bright, because he asks Jackson to call his FIRST witness. No one notices this discrepancy, though as Jackson calls Kendall Hart to the stand. Kendall steps in, dramatically stops in the aisle, then strides to the witness stand. She's wearing a VERY low-cut black and white polka-dot dress. Erica runs her hand through her hair and stares with apprehension.

BROOKE'S HOUSE

Laura reluctantly puts her coat back down. Brooke says she's not going to CHOOSE between Laura and Edmund because there shouldn't HAVE to be a choice. Laura says she's not ASKING her to make a choice. Brooke: "You're not listening! You haven't listened to anyone except that little tiny voice, that insecure voice in you that keeps telling you that the world is out to get you!" Laura whines: "I thought I wasn't going to get a lecture today." Brooke: "I thought you were smarter than this, honey. [Wrong again, eh, Brooke?] I -- I, better than anybody, know the hell that you've gone through! All right? And when I say I am proud of you, I mean that from the core of my soul because you DID it! You pulled through! You survived! And yet you still want to undo everything that you have -- all your natural gifts, all your beauty, and I am SICK of it! Laura, eyes tearing up now, says: "Wait a minute." Brooke: "You have to LISTEN, all right? You used to know how." [Well, that was before you wore her down with years and years and years of barraging her and everyone else in sight with the word "LISTEN"] Brooke says Laura doesn't even realize what she DID last night. She came in last night and tried to undo their FAMILY. Everyone in the room loved her and she tried to undo it because she doesn't think she's worthy. Laura grabs back onto her snotty attitude again and says: "How SHRINKY." Brooke whispers to her to stop, because she's her mother and she loves her and Laura can't ask her to just have that and nothing else. Laura is her priority, but she might not always come first. She needs Laura to get that in her head and understand it, because she's worried about her. She's on a dark and lonely path and it solely of her own choosing. It makes Brooke feel very sad for her. Laura wipes her nose and stubbornly says: "That's great. Can I go now?" Brooke: "No." Laura says she's too old to be sent to her room. Edmund tells her to listen to her mother. Laura snarls at him, saying she's rather DIE than stand there and talk about this stuff in front of HIM -- how about THAT? He stares. Brooke silently cries and gulps.

A WAREHOUSE

Mateo keeps nattering at the ceiling about how trustworthy he is. Proteus says she heard that before, but then Mateo STOLE from her. In a Tivo/Replay/PTV instant-replay moment, Mateo says: "Yeah -- well, that's because I'm an idiot." He assures Proteus that he's not unredeemable [that's a matter of opinion] and he knows what the price is if he doesn't pass the test. He asks for another chance. Proteus grants it. Mateo is VERY relieved. Proteus asks how far he would go to prove his loyalty, above all else. Mateo asserts he will do anything Proteus wants. Proteus tells him to be careful what he promises. Proteus: "To save your own life, then, will you take another's? Yes or no? You have five seconds." [Is he going to be Larry's intended assassin?] The camera then shows Vanessa on her cell phone in the courthouse hallway, of all places, and says: "Kill or BE killed Mateo -- it's that simple." Back to the warehouse, she gives him a 2-second countdown to make his choice. He says he'll do it. Back to Vanessa, she says it's a wise decision and she'll be in touch.

PV COURTHOUSE

As Vanessa strolls down the hallway, Hayley is running around like a chicken with her head cut off and telling someone over the phone: "Just tell him that it's Hayley Santos and it is a matter of life and death. No, it is not a medical emergency. Just give him the message. Isn't that what you're paid for?" She ends the call and starts to make another, but Vanessa puts a hand on her shoulder and asks her if everything is all right. Hayley stares open-mouthed and says yeah, it's just really been a bad day. Vanessa hugs her and pats her back, says she knows, she heard -- she's so sorry. Hayley looks perplexed and suspicious. [The way Vanessa is thumping her back, I wonder if she's planting a bug on Hayley]

In the courtroom, Jackson asks Kendall to tell him what her mother said during the course of their telephone conversation [Objection! Hearsay!] Kendall proceeds to tell them that Erica expected her to help because she's her daughter. She says Erica asked her to help set up a slush fund and a fake passport, then arrange for a private jet to get away in case the jury found her guilty. Astonished courtroom murmuring ensues. Erica works her jaw like a codfish, but doesn't say anything.

KENDALL'S PV MOTEL ROOM

Ryan just walks on in, as usual, because Kendall's alarm clock is buzzing over and over. It shows 9:48am. He rips the clock out of the wall socket and throws it on her bed. He starts to leave, but is distracted by the sight of Kendall's VERY large doll sticking out of her suitcase, presumably remembering what Myrtle said about it.

PV COURTROOM

Jackson: "Ms. Hart, after Ms. Kane asked you to help her flee the country should she be convicted, did she confide in you as to why she was on trial in the first place?" Chris objects, but is overruled [have you noticed he never gives a REASON for his rare objections?] Jackson asks what Erica said that night about Frankie Stone. Kendall: "She said she went to Frankie's room that night to end it for good." Jack: "To end what?" Kendall: "Erica HATED Frankie. She hated that my sister was in love with Frankie." Jack: "And? And what else did your mother say with regard to her feelings toward Frankie Stone?" Kendall: "She said she wanted Frankie dead." More shocked murmuring ensues. The judge frowns his disappointment at hearing that Erica actually said that [isn't that reason for a mistrial right there?] Erica doesn't say anything. Chris looks upset. Erica looks at Kendall.

ON THE NEXT AMC

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Laura sits on the steps at Brooke's house and tells Leo (who is somewhere with Greenlee) over the phone: "If we're going to move on, we need to settle things. Just come to my mom's place."

At the courthouse, Hayley tells Mateo (while Vanessa overhears): "I'm going to take the condo and everything. You can kiss your assets good-bye!"

In a nearly empty courtroom, Chris says to Erica: "So it wasn't self- defense?" He stalks out, disgustedly telling a guard: "Get her out of here!"

Irreverently submitted,

Robin "how long before we see Kendall and Ryan in the sauna?" Coutellier