Chapter 19
“The course of true love never did run smooth.” William Shakespeare
The sunlight is fading and people are milling about getting ready for the big
4th of July fireworks. Helena had spent the day in her room, but she got up and
got dressed after receiving a call from Ari. She gave him instructions to watch
Lucky and Liz, so she would know when they had opened the Champagne. She had the
bottle’s contents tainted for a desired result. Helena is walking slowly to the
place one of her men picked as the “perfect” place to see Laura’s reaction to
the news of Lucky and Liz. She sits in a chair and glances around the crowd. She
sees Laura chatting with Bobbie and Amy. She hears a familiar laugh and spies
Alexis laughing and smiling with the Quartermaines.
H: (to herself. sullen) Well, well, well, Natasha. Enjoying yourself?
Ned walks away and into a wooded area. Helena watches as Alexis looks around,
then follows the same path Ned took. Helena motions to one of her men.
H: Follow Alexis. Don’t let her know you’re watching her. Then report back to me
what you see.
The man nods then begins trailing Alexis.
Ned is hiding behind a tree and grabs Alexis from behind as she walks past.
A: Ahh! (Seeing it’s Ned, she smacks him on the arm) THAT is the second time
today you’ve done that.
N: (low) I know. I want to see if it’s as much fun this time as it was earlier.
He pulls her close and passionately kisses her. She puts her arms around him,
and holds him tightly. She pulls away from him, when she realizes that someone
could be watching.
A: (coy) Are those sparklers in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
N: Why don’t we find out?
Ned begins to undo his belt, but she grabs his hand and stops him.
A: (mortified and looking around) Ned! Not here. People could see us.
N: I feel like being reckless, but if you’d rather, we could go back to my
place. Of course we’d have to miss the fireworks.
A: (smiling) I was never very fond of fireworks. They’re too loud and they never
last long enough, unlike you.
Ned kisses her, then takes her hand. They hasten to his car and drive away.
Helena’s spy follows them in his car.
Meanwhile, Katherine and Jerry are sharing a lounge chair, she is sitting
between his legs and leaning back on him. Jasper and V. are sitting next to each
other, on lawn chairs, beside the couple. V. is admiring the horseshoe trophy
Katherine and Jerry won.
V: So, I hear you two are off on vacation soon.
Jerry: We’re leaving right after the fireworks.
Jasper: Enjoy it while you can.
Jerry: (offended) What’s that supposed to mean?
Jasper: Well, after the children arrive you won’t be doing as much traveling.
Jerry: Why not? The little nippers will be portable.
Jasper: But you enjoy going to dangerous, out of the way places with no plumbing
and plenty of snakes and ferocious animals. Mother would have a fit if you took
her grandchildren someplace unsafe.
Jerry: (angry) Are you saying, *you* don’t think *I* can take care of *my* wife
and children?
Jasper: (forthright) I’m saying you’re going to have to grow up and stop all
this globe hopping. (Touching the index finger of his left hand with the index
finger of his right. ticking off the points he is making) Katherine doesn’t need
to get any of those phone calls that say, “Your husband’s body was found. Only
part of it, of course. We assume the animal who ate him has the rest.”(Touching
the middle finger of his left hand with the index finger of the right) The
children will need a father they can depend on, NOT someone who’s face they only
see in pictures. I guess what I’m saying is… (Poking Jerry in the arm) You’ll
have to start thinking about someone besides *yourself* for a change.
While Jasper has been making his points, Jerry has been trying to push Katherine
forward, so he can stand up and slug Jasper. Katherine has been leaning back
hard, so Jerry can’t move. Jasper stands up and gets in fighting position. V
hops up out of her chair to avoid getting hit by either of them.
Jerry: (miffed and pushing on her) Lois, MOVE!
Katherine: (annoyed) All right you two, that’s enough! Jax, sit down. (Jasper
doesn’t move) SIT DOWN! (He sits slowly. she sighs and shakes her head) I knew
what Jerry enjoyed doing *before* I married him, and I’m O.K. with it. And
you’re right, (elbowing Jerry) I don’t want one of those phone calls, but I
trust that your brother will keep his wife and children in mind before he does
anything dangerous. (After a pause. reassuringly) Jax, you don’t have to worry
about the babies or me. I promise *I* won’t go anywhere full of snakes, and
that’s not safe.
Jerry: (smirking) lets face it, Lois’ idea of “roughing it” is staying at a
hotel without a pool.
Katherine: (feigning hurt feelings) HEY! That’s not true. My idea of “roughing
it” staying at a hotel without *room service*.
Jerry: (laughing) Oh! I stand corrected.
Jerry rubs Katherine’s belly and whispers something in her ear, she is nodding
her head and giggling. Unbeknownst to them, Stefan has been watching them for
the last half-hour. He has been trying to decide the best way to approach
Katherine with the news that he understands why he was obsessed with Laura, that
he is over her, and that he is more than ready to begin his life with Katherine
and their children. As he has stood there, watching the two of them, he realizes
that he has rarely ever wanted to trade places with someone as much as he wants
to trade places with Jerry right now. All at once, his arms are aching to hold
her, and his lips are aching to kiss her. He is at a loss. He has never been
faced with a situation like this before. Should he walk up and pull her away
from him? If she saw him would she run to him, or run away from him?
V: So, where are you going?
Katherine: I don’t know. BUT Jerry promised me there would be lots of shopping.
V: Oh. I’ve never been a big shopper, trying on clothes, going to all those
stores. I just don’t see the point. I get in, grab the first thing I see, and
get out.
K: That’s probably because you never had anyone show you *how* to shop. Think of
shopping like police work. You don’t automatically arrest the first person you
see do you?
V: Well, no. You have to get statements, assess the evidence, before you arrest
anyone.
K: Shopping is the same way. You have to try on many outfits, before you make a
purchase.
Jerry: Well, while you ladies discuss shopping, I’ll go get us something to
drink.
Jasper: I’ll go with you!
As the boys leave quickly, Katherine continues her “seminar” on shopping.
Meanwhile, Lulu has been playing on the boat, while Lucky and Liz lie
unconscious on the blanket. Ari has been watching Lulu carefully.
Lulu: (in her best Captain Hook voice) I da capin! Pony, you sit dere.
She puts the pony on the rail of the boat, then goes and “steers”.
Lulu: We have to get Peter Pan. Hurry! (Looking at her pony) What do you mean,
we can’t? Ohhh, we tied up. O.K. She walks to the front of the boat and unties
it. The boat begins to slowly drift off shore, but not too far.
Lulu: Weeeee!
Lucky is starting to rouse, but he feels as if he’s been hit by a baseball bat.
Liz is still not moving. As Lulu walks back to the wheel, the boat rocks and her
pony falls over into the water. She lets out a little scream, that Lucky hears.
He gets up slowly and tries to focus on where Lulu went to.
Lulu: I save you! Hold on!
Lulu leans over the railing to get her pony, but she slips and falls into the
water. Lucky sees her and is trying to run, but his feet are lead. Lulu doesn’t
surface. As another boat pulls up, and a man jumps into the water the same time
Lucky does. Ari calls Helena.
A: (upset) Madame, something terrible has happened.
H: That was my plan.
A: No, no. You don’t understand. There was a little girl with the young couple
today, she just fell into the water. I’m afraid she’s drowning.
H: (panicked) You’re not helping are you? If you’re seen, it will ruin my plan.
A: (looking at what is happening) Lucky and another man are searching… I should
call 911…
H: (seething) You listen to me. This is no time to be softhearted. *I* have a
plan and *you* WILL follow the plan. Go and do as you were told. AND *don’t* let
anyone see you.
A: (pleadingly) But, Madame, she was not part…
H: (angry) DON’T QUESTION ME, ARI! (Noticing that people have turned to look at
her, quieter) You know what happens when you question me. OR did you want to see
*another* of your father’s fingers in a box?
A: (sad) No, Madame.
H: I will see you on the yacht in one hour.
A: Yes, Madame.
Helena hangs up and watches Laura happily playing with Lucas.
H: (snidely) Enjoy it now, my dear. Soon you won’t ever be able to smile so
easily again.
Stefan saw Jerry and Jasper leave. When he is sure they are out of site, he
begins to walk toward where Katherine is sitting. Jerry spotted Stefan and has
now crept up behind him.
J: (quickly) Just where do you think you’re going, Mr. Cassadine?
Stefan is startled, but regains his composure as he turns to face Jerry.
S: (business like) To see Katherine. I want you to give her up… *now*.
J: (doubtfully) All over Laura, are we? Do you really think Lois will believe
that? I mean after *years* of obsessing over this woman, you’re feelings for her
are settled in a few *months*?
S: (curtly) THAT is for *Katherine* to decide. Now, if you’ll excuse me…
Stefan turns to walk to Katherine. Jerry catches Stefan’s arm and spins him back
around.
J: (assertively) Oh, no. You *had* your chance. I don’t want to, *nor* will I,
“give her up”. I’ve decided I like being married… to Lois. I enjoy spending time
with her. I especially enjoy lying in bed next to her every night, and waking up
to see her beautiful face every morning.
Stefan’s jaw sets, and anger wells up in him. Jerry can see Stefan’s anger and
smiles inwardly.
S: (calm, but irked) You sleep in the same bed?
J: (smugly) Oh, yes. We ARE married, you know. Unlike you, *I* appreciate the
time we spend together, in bed and out. (Seeing Stefan’s face tighten with even
more anger, Jerry presses on) Yes, I relish waking up in the middle of the night
to find her snuggled up next to me, her head on my chest.
Stefan is taken aback at the thought of his Heart sleeping next to anyone but
him. He knows why they married, and just assumed that the public displays of
affection were solely to keep up appearances. It never occurred to him that
Jerry may actually be a threat to winning Katherine back. Stefan refuses to
believe that she would rather be with Jerry, or that she could even love him.
S: Katherine doesn’t love *you*. She loves *me*.
J: Really? I think I’ve almost gotten her to forget about you, and the pain you
caused her. You’re name hardly ever passes her lips anymore. AND I think Lois
likes being married to me, too. *I’m* there for her. *I* take care of her. Now,
she’s focused on *our* children and their future.
S: (seething) They are *not* YOUR children. Those children are MINE.
Knowing that he has struck another nerve, Jerry zeros in.
J: Oh? You know, they say a baby can not only recognize its mother’s voice, but
the father’s voice as well. I’ve spent *a lot* of time talking to them. I intend
to spend a lot more. Those children will be calling *me*, “Daddy”, and not
*you*. (Jerry begins to walk back to Katherine, then turns and faces Stefan once
more) I hope you will continue to heed my warning to stay away from my wife, or
I *will* take her and disappear.
Jerry turns and quickly walks to where Katherine is sitting and talking with a
very dazed V. Jerry sits behind Katherine, and puts his arms around her. He
whispers in her ear and she smiles, then turns to kiss him on the cheek. He
rocks her in time to the music and she laughs. The lights and music go down and
the fireworks start. Stefan has not moved from the spot where he and Jerry had
been talking. He stares intently at her, memorizing the smile on her face.
Memorizing how her eyes sparkle under the light of the fireworks. He will take
the memory of that smile home with him tonight, while he figures out the best
way to get his Heart back from Jerry.
Meanwhile, it has been about four minutes since Lulu slipped under the water.
Lucky and the man from the boat are frantically searching for her. It has been
difficult because it is so dark. The woman on the boat has radioed for help. Ari
was busy carrying out “the plan”. He was on the shore retrieving the half-empty
bottle and replacing it with an empty bottle. Liz was trembling, and Ari
couldn’t help but cover her with part of the blanket. He then returned to his
boat unnoticed and sped away. A minute later, the man finds Lulu, and pulls her
to his boat. The woman drags Lulu’s limp body into the boat and begins CPR. The
man then swims back to where Lucky is and helps him to the shore. Lucky stumbles
over to see if Liz is awake. Several Marine Patrol boats arrive at the same
time. One boat pulls along side the boat that Lulu is in. The officers board the
boat and then they quickly take over doing the CPR on Lulu. On shore, Lucky is
starting to panic, because he can not wake Liz.
Lucky: (trembling) LIZ! LIZ! WAKE UP! (Weakly) Please.
As the Patrol officers arrive, one sees the bottle of Champaign, then sees that
Liz is beginning to have tremors.
Officer: Get a gurney! (Looking at Lucky) How much did you two have?
Lucky: (disorientated) What?
Officer: To drink. How much, son?
Lucky: Only a glass. Not even.
The other officers put Liz on the gurney, strap her down, then take her to their
boat. Lucky gets on board, still dazed.
Lucky: How’s my sister doing?
Officer: They’re taking her to shore. We have an ambulance waiting for her and
for your friend. What’s your name, kid?
Lucky: Lucky Spencer.
Officer: Do you know where your parents are?
Lucky: My dad is out of town. My mom is at the park.
Officer: She have a cell phone?
Lucky: Yeah.
A sudden sick feeling comes over Lucky as he realizes he will have to tell his
mom and dad, and Audrey what happened. With the motion of the speeding boat, and
his worst fears running through his head, he leans over the railing and vomits.
The officer holds on to the back of Lucky’s pants, so he doesn’t fall over
board.
Officer: Take it easy kid. I’ll call for you.
The fireworks have ended and everyone is leaving. Katherine and Jerry get into
their limo and are off to the airport. Laura, Amy, Bobbie and Lucas haven’t
moved yet, because they know that the parking lot will be packed for at least an
hour. So they are taking their time in saying good-bye, then Laura’s phone
rings.
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