Friday Update
January 25, 2002

PREVIOUSLY ON ALL MY CHILDREN

Vanessa (as Proteus) tells Mateo: "Not tonight." Mateo: "No, no, no, you said 7:00! You said 7:00! I've been waiting here!"

While Chris is busy in court, Ryan ransacks his room at Myrtle's, saying: "Let's see what you're hiding, Stamp."

Rudolph Lacey tells Greenlee and Leo: "If and when Erica Kane ever comes back where she belongs, I'll consider a continued relationship with her, but I don't do business with irresponsible children."

Moments before the verdict is to be read, Chris tells the judge that he wants Bianca Montgomery to testify.

CHRIS' BEDROOM

Ryan sits on the bed and realizes that the number he managed to "raise" from a notepad (11-8-74) is his birthday, and he wonders why Chris would be even remotely interested in THAT. He then ransacks the closet, ripping suits open and practically foaming at the mouth as he asks WHAT else Chris wants to know about him. From within the room, we hear Anna's voice saying that, in HER agency, they call this sloppy work and that Stamp would know it was him in an INSTANT. Ryan snorts and glares at her.

Ryan points out that the door was locked [then how the hell did HE get in?]. She holds up her handy little lock-pick and says: "Spy School 101." Ryan runs his hand through his hair and makes insufferable, newbie porn-actor faces as he tells her he doesn't care if Chris finds out he was going through his stuff. She giggles and asks him to tell her what he's looking for. He says he's looking for PEACE. She doesn't understand. He agrees. He says that people like Chris, Adam and her all think they have this CLAIM on his life -- and they DON'T. She thinks maybe she could help. He says she can help by LEAVING, but then tells her that he's there to find out why Chris is poking around in his life and why he's acting so weird. He then decides he doesn't HAVE to explain to her and tells her that she and Chris can do their little undercover dance -- just leave him OUT of it. He starts to walk away when Anna takes a breath and announces: "I was married to your mother's cousin." He stops and stares. She offers to tell him anything he wants to know about his mother. He makes more faces.

Anna tells Ryan that she was married to Duke Lavery, and his cousin was Ryan's mother, Gail, right? Ryan snorts, but doesn't say anything. She says they didn't seem to be close, but they stayed in touch with cards and letters. Did Gail ever mention anything to Ryan about Duke when he was growing up? He says she's a piece of work. She says she's not lying. He points at her and asks if this is some way to help her in her investigation with Stamp. First she used his father, which didn't pan out, and now she's using his MOTHER? He yells that he KNOWS everything he needs to know about his parents [that's not what *I* heard]. Anna smiles and says ALL he wants to do is beat up on someone ALL THE TIME. He hates HER, Stamp, Chandler -- they are all burdens and all corrupt and HE pays the price -- does she have it right? He accuses her of first poking around in his life and then giving him this dimestore psychoanalysis for FREE. She says it's not hard -- he's not very complex. He's a very black and white kind of guy -- just like his cousin, Duke. [SECOND cousin] Ryan smirks.

Anna says she's been watching Ryan for quite some time. Ryan smirks with that tongue-tooth/nose-wipe maneuver that he and Mateo are so fond of using. He tells her that there's a whole CLUB of her. She points out that every miserable thing that could happen to a guy has happened to him this year. [Oh, I could think of MUCH more miserable things that could still happen to Ryan] She praises him for still standing, saying he's one of the strong ones who keeps on marching, no matter what. She says he's a lot like his cousin [SECOND cousin] Duke, who was also outraged by basic rights being violated [yeah, like Ryan would know ANYTHING about boundaries when it comes to basic rights being violated], especially by the rich and powerful. He wonders if she thinks this distinguishes him in some way, because HE doesn't think so. Anna: "Oh, I do. Yeah, Ryan, I mean, there -- there's not a lot of people left like you. [THANK GOD!] People who have such strong instincts about what is right and what is wrong." [And who completely IGNORES those instincts whenever he feels like it] She says she knows it drives him crazy. He snidely says THAT'S why he's been drinking himself into oblivion -- why didn't he figure that out before? She says she thinks he has a lot of energy and doesn't know how to channel it in the right direction. [Oh my God! She's going to channel him into the direction of some law enforcement agency, isn't she?] She continues to blather about doing good deeds to make the world right. He ridicules her and asks what she's talking about. She says she would KILL to work with someone like him [told ya]. She says no one in her business (now) thinks the way he does. SHE does, though. She suggests that she could teach him how to do this without making a mess. It would be good for BOTH of them. Ryan says he's trashing a guy's bedroom to find out why Stamp is always in his business -- he's NOT on a job interview for the WSB. Anna grins. Ryan starts to leave again, so she starts in again about Duke Lavery. She says he wouldn't BELIEVE how many people Duke ticked off in his life -- and the good he did while he was at it. Ryan turns back and stares, shaking his head at her. Then he leaves. Anna starts to follow, but her beeper goes off. She closes the door behind her and leaves.

PV HOSPITAL

Jake handles an irate phone call from someone who was expecting information from David Hayward. Although Jake lets the caller know that it's not HIS problem, he does sit down to go through David's files to find the info for the caller. David walks in and blows up at Jake for going through his stuff.

David yells that he doesn't care if they are SCREAMING for his files -- Jake is to STAY THE HELL OUT OF THEM!!! Jake tells the caller he'll get back to him and hangs up. He asks David if he has ANY IDEA how much followup Jake has to do to cover his lazy behind! David rants about his busy surgery schedule. Jake says he's been covering with the Warneford Commission for 2 months now and David has to think about his OTHER responsibilities instead of pawning off his dirty work on people like Jake. David says he's busy SAVING LIVES, not worrying about bureauocratic stuff. Jake asks since when should HE have to worry about it. David reminds him that he WANTED to be part of the project. Jake: "Not as your personal assistant, I didn't! I have work to do in the E.R." He starts to leave and opens the door to find the long-lost Dr. Joe at the door. Joe gives them a lecture about fighting and how it's always so very NICE when patients hear doctor's SCREAMING at each other. David rummages around his desks and dismisses Joe without even looking up, saying that the discussion is already over, so Joe can save his deportment speech for another day. Joe says he came to get his $50,000. David stares, making hemming and hawing motions.

David bites and asks what $50,000 Joe is talking about. Joe says it's David's budget overrun, which he had SAID he would handle, but he hasn't. David tells him to just roll it over into next year's budget. Joe says he can't do that even if he IS so inclined, which he is NOT, because he would have no idea of what to label it -- you can't put $50,000 under "Miscellaneous". David ridicules the Martins, saying that between the two of them it's amazing that anything other than paperwork ever gets done. He offers to write a check from his personal account by the end of the day -- they can consider it a Hayward donation. Jake says he can't be serious. David says he IS serious -- if he starts itemizing everything he's doing with his top secret project, every competing hospital in the country will be after what he's doing, and he will NOT let that happen. [I'm sure Tante Joan can jump in here with a multitude of reasons why this RESEARCH would never happen, let alone the fuzzy accounting] David haughtily says his secretary will walk a check over to them by the end of the day [am I the only one imagining a big check with little trotting feet and a collar and leash around one end?] He walks out. Joe asks Jake: "Does he REALLY believe that people examine his invoices in order to steal his research?" Jake says no -- David normally wants to be reimbursed for the ink he uses on prescriptions [BWAHAHAA!] -- he's up to something and is trying to cover it up. David has been eavesdropping just outside the door. He grimaces, then walks away.

SOS

Romantic music plays as Simone looks longingly at Mateo. Since he's only about a foot away, he notices. He pulls her close and whispers: "Listen -- you know this is an act, right? And we've got to keep it up no matter who's watching. All right?" She nods. Vanessa, a vision in a fur-trimmed white cape over black clothes, walks in and speculatively watches them.

Mateo and Simone are kissing as Vanessa walks over to them. Vanessa sits on a stool in front of them. They stop kissing and make goo-goo eyes at each other; Simone adoringly walks away and Mateo playfully (and loudly) slaps her on the ass as she goes. He turns to Vanessa and nonchalantly apologizes for the lovey-dovey behavior. She laughs. He asks what he can get her. She smiles and hopefully says: "A job." He stares. She tries to look completely guileless.

Mateo says he understands she might need to find something to keep herself busy, but she's married to one of the richest men around -- can she really see herself serving drinks to people and waiting tables? She informs him that her marriage is over. He extends his sympathies. She says she needs a job to pay her way -- she used to be an actress at a very important studio and knows how to work hard, but she doesn't actually want to wait tables. She wants to sing. [BWAHAHAHAAAA!!] Mateo is somewhat flummoxed by this request. She says she knows he sometimes has live music nights -- she is a chanteuse at heart and could be his regular nightly act! Mateo looks trapped. She says she knows some women would bolt after being so unceremoniously dumped by their hubbies, but she will RISE like a PHOENIX out of the ashes! Mateo looks around for invisible help and says he doesn't know what to say. She says she understands his position-- He says he's glad she understands. Vanessa continues: "But here's the thing -- if it doesn't work out after a week, I'll move on. You have my word about that." Mateo looks like he's going to hurl. The camera pans to show Simone eavesdropping on their conversation and hears Vanessa tell him: "Oh, Mateo, I don't know what it is, this feeling, but for the longest time I've felt that you and I would eventually end up working side by side!" Simone narrows her eyes suspiciously. [Did anyone catch a 60s version of The Outer Limits the other night. I think it was entitled "Do Not Open Until Doomsday". It was truly creepy and centered about a box with what appeared to be a turd-covered toad. Anyway, one of the characters was an aging flapper whose husband had disappeared on their wedding night in 1929. Other than aging considerably, she hadn't changed a bit and wore garish makeup, a spangly flapper dress, haircut and stockings rolled to just under the knee as she listened to Dixieland jazz and danced the Lindy around her cobwebby, art deco house. When she DID interact with anyone, she was VERY melodramatic. I thought of Vanessa every time I looked at her :-)]

ENCHANTMENT

Greenlee works on Erica's computer while Leo leans over the desk offering to go to Erica and explain that this is all HIS fault. Greenlee nixes it, saying Erica HATES excuses and it won't change anything. She assumes Erica is going to fire her, though. Greenlee gets up, huffing in morose frustration. Leo sits in her chair and pulls her down onto his lap for a comforting hug from behind as she says: "She makes it look so easy, Leo. I mean, she comes in here, she kicks butt, and she looks like a million bucks doing it. Then she makes a million bucks doing it and she makes it look like anyone can do it. Anyone CAN'T." The door opens and Kendall enters, carrying a picnic basket. Kendall demands of Greenlee: "Who the hell are YOU?" Greenlee gets up and settles her behind on the desk instead of on Leo; she tells Kendall that maybe SHE should go first. Leo offers insight and introduces Kendall Hart, Erica's daughter. Kendall's face and body goes through at least 6 poses of overt, preening smugness.

Kendall prances around the room, disgusted that there are even MORE pictures of the CEO around the office than before. Greenlee grits her teeth and says she doesn't remember asking Kendall to come IN. Kendall continues her stroll around the room and says: "Always an experience driving up to this place. Reminds me of the mansion at the end of 'Citizen Kane'. That's a movie." Greenlee: "Gee, is it really?" Kendall makes herself at home, taking off her jacket as she talks about Charles Foster Kane always trying to control people's minds. Kendall: "You know, like how Erica tries to control how people should look and dress. Obviously, she's already gotten to YOU." [She's got a point -- Greenlee is, once again, sleeveless in the dead of winter] Greenlee challengingly stares, her heavily muscled arms crossed. Leo diplomatically asks if he can help Kendall with something. She wanders over to Erica's desk and picks up a framed photo, still comparing Erica to Citizen Kane: greed, power, control and authority, all bundled up in that LITTLE package. Greenlee snorts with derision and says: "How many years have you been rehearsing that out-of-tune little aria, hmm?" [LOL!] She informs Kendall that she's WORKING there, so Kendall and her deep thoughts about her mother's meaningless existence might want to find somewhere else to play. Kendall says that, according to what the little birdies told her, Greenlee should be running to the unemployment office because Enchantment will be GONE by the end of the month! [Wow, that K-Mart bankruptcy is far-reaching] Kendall insists the place is DAID!

A little while later, Leo is on the phone with Mateo, asking him what the HELL he's talking about. Mateo tells him to come down to SOS IMMEDIATELY. Leo says he's busy. Mateo tells him Vanessa is there -- AGAIN -- and she's not his damn problem. Leo says she's not HIS, either. Mateo hisses at him to get down there and then hangs up. Leo rushes over to grab Greenlee, who is about to blow and try to soothe her. She tells Kendall: "You know, sorry to burst your VINDICTIVE little bubble, SWEETHEART, but Enchantment is running like a well- oiled machine. And it'll KEEP running like that whether Erica comes back or not." Kendall gets up and tells her she KNOWS Greenlee lost Lacey's and that three other tie-ins are ALSO on the line. Greenlee says Kendall has no CLUE as to what she (Greenlee) has done. Kendall says she knows Greenlee has been throwing her weight around for the last two months, trying to be like Erica, all to DISASTROUS effect! Kendall tells Greenlee that Erica's loves her lackeys to grovel and RUN -- look at Val -- does Greenlee have any IDEA how long he's been getting Erica's coffee? Greenlee: "Oh, my goodness. Do you not LIKE your mommy? Do you have ISSUES?" Kendall says this place is ALL about Erica, like it or not. Without her, it's all OVER -- and she's NOT coming back. Leo says Kendall doesn't know what the jury is going to decide -- none of them do. Kendall laughs derisively and says that right about NOW the jury foreman is saying: "GUILTY!" Kendall: "POOF! No more Erica. No more Citizen Kane. Hello, inmate number 45672!"

PV COURTROOM

Jackson gets up to strongly object and make a speech about Chris' idiocy in thinking he can call a witness at this point in the trial. Opal walks in and settles in a seat near Erica, next to Bianca. Chris interrupts and slams down 3 large law books on Jackson's table, telling him to check the facts; there are over 7 precedents in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, ALONE, where testimony has been allowed at this point. Jackson brings up one of them and says it was excluded. Chris interrupts and says that exclusion was reversed and a new trial was held, but he thinks Jackson already knew that. In the background, Palmer walks in. Jackson argues that, in that case, there was new EVIDENCE. Chris says the defense HAS new evidence. Opal and Bianca look worried. Chris walks over to the judge and says: "The Defense has new evidence. Your Honor, we have evidence of what REALLY happened on the night Mary Frances Stone died and was murdered by --" Erica jumps up and runs over to Chris, shouting: "No, don't!" The gallery erupts in excited jabber. Erica BEGS Chris not to do this to "HER". Judge Montel bangs his gavel and orders ORDER over and over again. He is completely ignored. No bailiff has tried to stop Erica from doing whatever it is she's doing. [I'd LOVE to see them handcuff her to her chair and muzzle her to keep her from her repeated outbursts]

Chris pulls Erica into the middle of the aisle for some "privacy" and says: "So it's true." Erica: "You son of a --" Chris: "I underestimated you, but you did the same thing with ME Erica. I'm nobody's fool. Do you understand?" Erica: "I'll never forgive you for this!" He glares at her and says he doesn't give a damn. He turns to tell the judge some legal reasons for presenting the new evidence and says that he's not there to railroad anyone like the Prosecution is doing -- he's there to get to the bottom line and find the TRUTH! He points around Erica, who is still standing, uncontested, in the middle of the aisle, to Bianca and says SHE can lead them to the truth. Bianca looks as expressionless and innocent as a baby watching TV. Erica can't take her eyes off of Bianca and shakes her head in pain and frustration. Jackson goes on the record to say that the Prosecution does not object to new evidence if it will lead to the truth, but they DO object to the sensationalistic way in which it has been presented. Montel so notes and tells the bailiff to rebrief and bring in the jury. Opal tells Bianca to just hold tight. Bianca says Chris is wrong -- she doesn't know what happened. Opal tells her to just say THAT when she gets up there. Erica urgently whispers to Chris that he's just WINGING it -- Bianca still doesn't remember anything -- is he going to try to FORCE it out of her? He says he knows how to get the truth out of her -- it's his job. The jury walks in. Erica and Chris return to their table, but are still standing as she lambastes him for his stupid, arrogant male pride, accusing him of trying to destroy her daughter in front of everybody in the courtroom, just so he can WIN. He stands like a rock. She tells him she HATES him for this. He says he'll live with it. He calls Bianca to the stand. Bianca walks up to the stand. Erica is STILL standing.

Later, Erica is FINALLY sitting down as Chris asks Bianca if she's been having headaches. Jackson objects. Erica anxiously watches. Chris continues, asking if they are confusing episodes followed by blinding headaches. Jackson asks for a ruling on the ignored objection and the judge belatedly allows it. Bianca says: "Yes." He asks if, during these episodes, she feels like she's about to remember what happened on the night Frankie Stone was murdered. Jackson objects again, saying it has nothing to do with new evidence and asks that the testimony be stricken. The judge agrees [shouldn't they have decided WHAT and IF new evidence could be entered BEFORE the jury came back in?] and asks if there IS any new evidence. Chris whips out a photo of the crime scene and shows it to Bianca, over Jacks yelled objections, asking if anyone had shown it to her before. Jack says no one has shown it to the STATE! [The jury has already DELIBERATED and the STATE hasn't even SEEN any crime scene photos? OH PUH-LEASE!!!] Chris ignores everyone else and asks Bianca if it brings back ANY memory of that night. Bianca looks at the photo AND at Chris as if both of them were greasy-grimy gopher guts.

After the commercials, Erica jumps up and screams at Chris to stop it because he's scaring widdle Bianca. Jack is still yelling ignored objections. Chris is still totally ignoring everyone, including the judge who is finally ordering Chris to shut up. It looks like Montel is seriously contemplating hitting CHRIS with the gavel [and I wouldn't blame him for a second]. Jack continues to yell about contemptible grandstanding. Bianca also ignores the judge as Chris continues to hammer the same question at her over and over again. She says it's a butterfly. Erica leaps out of her seat and runs across the room, shrieking like a banshee to Bianca that she does NOT have to do this -- she does NOT have to look at the picture! As usual, the bailiff just stands with his hands clasped behind him like he's a mannequin in a uniform shop window. The judge tells Chris that he's considering holding him in contempt of court, but Bianca shushes the judge with her hands and says she HAS to look at it. Erica looks like she's about to pee her pants. Bianca loudly and confidently says that Frankie is wearing a tee-shirt with a butterfly on it and she never saw Frankie wear it before. Erica is now magically reseated at her table. Bianca says she HAS seen, though, hasn't she? [Yeah, we ALL had shirts like that back in the 70s. Parrot shirts, too.] Chris says that when she was visiting her mother in jail that morning she thought she was about to remember something, right? Bianca says yes -- she saw Opal wearing a butterfly pin. Jack lamely objects and the judge lamely tells Chris this is his LAST chance. Chris shushes the judge with his hand and tells Bianca to look at it and put it all together. Bianca says the first time she had one of these headaches she had run into Opal at BJ's and she was wearing the pin that her friend had just given to her. Chris asks what the butterfly means to her. Bianca says it means she must have gone back to Frankie's room the night she was killed and she must seen her wearing the butterfly shirt. Jack jumps up and distributes spittle all over the room as he objects at her not POSSIBLY being able to reach a conclusion based on something she's never even seen. Bianca shushes him with her hand and screams "NO, NOOOO!" to Jack. Bianca: "I was there. I was THERE. I remember it now. I went -- I went back to Frankie's room -- to tell her that I HATED her!" Erica watches apprehensively.

SOS

Vanessa is still trying to convince Mateo to hire her: "Now, Mateo, I do realize that some of your younger clients aren't up on the old standards, but I think I can work into my set something that would give even Madonna a run for her money! Oh, and I understand that Britney Spears is quite the thing. So I was thinking if you put together a medley that sort of has pop --" Mateo looks grateful as he sees Greenlee and Leo walk in. Vanessa giggles, turns and asks what they are doing there. She and Greenlee stare challengingly at each other.

Leo again tells Greenlee to take it easy. Greenlee ignores him and tells Vanessa: "Look, when you need rescuing, I'm coming with Leo because if I don't, you have one of your boys beat him up or you do your OWN emotional autopsy on him just for the fun of it." Leo protests that MATEO called him. He asks what's going on. Vanessa, looking hurt, whirls on Mateo and asks why he did that. Mateo says he was just trying to help her out. People come in and talk about their problems all the time, and he DOES listen, but he doesn't buy the charade about the end of her marriage not being important to her, so he called Leo to help her out. He WILL talk to her about a job, but later. Vanessa: "You really ARE such a GOOD man, Mateo!" She turns back to L&G. Leo asks Greenlee to leave them alone for a while and says he'll give her a high sign if he needs help. He and Vanessa go off to the other end of the bar. Greenlee walks up to Mateo and begs him to give her every tiny detail about what kind of job Vanessa wants. He says she wanted to sing. Greenlee: "Shut up!" Simone says it's true. Greenlee cackles with glee over the idea of Vanessa singing "Feelings" or "Hopelessly Devoted to You". Mateo is appalled at her delight and says that the woman is HURTING. Greenlee: "Yeah, in the BRAIN! She's NUTS, Mateo -- certifiably NUTS!" Over at Vanessa and Leo's end of the bar, Vanessa anxiously watches Greenlee, fiddles with her furry collar, and does that deliciously evil, almost imperceptible, viperous tongue-slither.

PV COURTROOM

Jackson slowly sits down. Bianca says she drove around for a long, long time. She had seen Frankie in bed with a boy earlier. Now she's sniffling. She says she froze, then ran out and got in her car. Bianca: "I kept seeing that look on her face when she looked up and she saw me watching them. I -- I couldn't get that LOOK out of my head!" Jackson, quiet for once, rests his face somberly in his fists. Ryan quietly creeps in the door. Chris urges Bianca to tell everything truthfully, reminding her that she's under oath and that her mother is accused of murdering her girlfriend [Oh really? Is THAT why they are there?] He tells her that this is NOT the time to be "delicate". Bianca sniffles and throws up her hands, then says: "I don't know. I don't know. I didn't see his face. I -- I just saw that they were about to make love. And I ran and I got in my car. But I couldn't stay away. And I -- I don't remember deciding to go back to Opal's place. I just ended up there somehow." Chris prods her to say that Frankie LIVED at Opal's place. Erica watches apprehensively. Bianca says she doesn't remember everything in order -- she remembers being in Frankie's room. She's quiet, reaching to remember. Bianca: "I -- I don't remember walking in the house. I don't remember walking up the steps. I just -- I just -- I just remember being in that room and going to tell her that she was horrible and -- and then I walked in and she was on the floor and she wasn't moving and there was -- there was blood! I thought something --" Erica jumps up yet again and faces the jury, imploringly yelling at them: "She doesn't remember everything because she's blocking it out!" Chris: "Erica, SIT .. DOWN!!!" Erica ignores him. The mannequin bailiff is still frozen, and appears to be idly thinking about whether or not he should do laundry after work or just crack a beer and watch a COPS rerun. Erica continues yelling as Chris ambles over to her: "She doesn't remember because she saw ME!" The courtroom is loudly atwitter, Bianca stares at her and Jack implores the judge (but doesn't specify what he is imploring). Erica: "HER OWN MOTHER KILLED FRANKIE!!" As pandemonium ensues, Bianca flashes back to turning over Frankie's body. Bianca then shrieks: "NO, WAIT!!! That's not what happened at all! I remember!!" Erica takes a deep breath and stares at Bianca, her face frozen in apprehension.

PV HOSPITAL

Jake slips into David's office and tells the air: "50 grand from his own bank account to keep requisition slips secret. I don't think so, Hayward." He starts going through David's desk, asking the air: "What are you up to now?" He pulls out a file that may or may not be interesting.

SOS

Anna and David walk into SOS [what happened to all the paperwork and the $50K check, not to mention saving lives all day?] He stomps over to a seat and plops into it, pouting. Anna notices Vanessa and Leo at the end of the bar, but walks over to David, demanding to know what is wrong with him. He says he's distracted. He apologizes for jumping all over her. She asks if it has to do with whatever is going on with Leo and his mother over in the corner. He says that's the LEAST of his problems. It's Jake and his bloodhound father. Jake knows something is up, and Joe knows David moved some money around for the research. He complains about them being so by-the-book and obnoxiously self-righteous that they aren't going to stop until they dig him a hole. She asks why he paged her if it's just a run-in with Jake and Joe, like it's URGENT. Why is he so worried? He says for a number of reasons, one of them being HER. He says there's no paper trail or evidence leading back to him, but SHE knows EVERYTHING. She says he can trust her. He says no, actually, he CAN'T.

Over at the bar, Leo questions Vanessa: "Ok, let me get this straight. You actually walked in here, sidled up to Mateo Santos, and offered to be his regular LOUNGE SINGER?" Vanessa snorts a giggle. Leo: "Please tell me you're kidding, Mother." Vanessa: "Leo, you remember how well I used to sing!" Leo: "No, I don't." Vanessa prompts him: "Yes, you do! Paris, Cote D'Azur." Leo: "Oh. But I do remember Prague. Do you remember that? Prague, when we got run out of town by that angry mob after you did 'Je Ne Regrette Rien' topless? Remember THAT?" Vanessa: "It WAS hot, wasn't it? Listen, Darling, for Pete's sake, I need a JOB. My husband has just DUMPED me!" Leo: "And THIS is how you expect to regain credibility? Come ON!" He notices she keeps looking over at Greenlee and wants to know why. She wishes they could just GO -- the THREE of them. Leo: "Go WHERE? You want to hang out with me and my FIANCEE now?" She scowls at him, bends forward, narrows her eyes and earnestly asks if he's EVER going to be on her side again. He stares at her as if she's totally lost her mind and says: "Are you ever going to be NORMAL?" She blinks and returns to her more dignified, upright sitting position, as if a decision has been made by Leo and that's that.

Meanwhile, Greenlee tries to convince Mateo that Vanessa is not to be trusted: "But Vanessa is a whiner. That woman is a parasite. She plays victim and then she preys on unsuspecting nice guys like you to bail her out of her misery." Mateo says Vanessa is hurting and, pathetic as it was to ask to sing there, he has compassion for her. Greenlee enlists Simone to agree with her that Mateo is SUCH a man -- he never sees what a woman is like on the inside -- he just sees the outside and falls for it. Then the nice guys like him are all thoughtful and the creepy ones like her last boyfriend -- Simone interrupts and asks if that's why her marriage broke up. Greenlee informs her that Vanessa was sleeping with her chauffeur. Simone looks at Mateo, smiles, and says "Stuff happens." Greenlee says she saw Vanessa's true colors last night. Greenlee: "Went over to talk to her about coming in between Leo and me, and she had some rendezvous scheduled with the dude for exactly 7:00 or something. You'd think she was never going to get it again the way she was trying to shove me out the door. I mean, she was like, 'it's 7:00, you have to get out of here!' And I wouldn't budge. And I have to tell you something. If I didn't know any better, that old broad would have killed me right there if she could have." Mateo, with a glimmer of a light bulb over his head, stammers: "What did you say?" Greenlee looks questioningly at him. Simone walks in front of him and they share a meaningful look. They both turn to look at Vanessa.

ENCHANTMENT

Kendall pours herself a glass of champagne, sits in Erica's chair and toasts the portrait of Erica: "Who's laughing last, Mama, ME or YOU?"

PV COURTROOM

Bianca weeps and says: "I -- I remember being in that room and seeing Frankie's body. You didn't kill her, Mom! You COULDN'T have!" Erica: "NO --" Bianca: "You didn't -- you didn't kill her because --" She jerks in horror at the memory that is fitfully returning. Erica creeps forward like a cat as Bianca whimpers: "Because --" She buries her face in her hands. Erica leans forward, trying not to startle Bianca ...

ON THE NEXT AMC

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Kendall charges into the courtroom and yells to the judge: "This is nothing but a big ACT to save Erica's lying behind!" Erica stares from her seat. Kendall waves her arms and yells: "Bianca is LYING! Can't you SEE that?"

Mateo grins at Vanessa and tells her: "I have a proposition for you."

Greenlee smiles up at Leo as he caresses her face and says: "What did you have in mind?" Leo: "Something large and romantic -- a night you're never going to forget." She grins.

Irreverently submitted,

Robin "Large and romantic? Are they talking about Shaqqie?" Coutellier