It's now a little after twelve-thirty in the morning. Tess Sherwood is sitting in the stolen police car. She has just radioed an SOS, hoping someone might hear her. Russell Gault, her fiance Paul Harper, Paul's father Kane Garrett, and Chief Mario Hernandez did hear her.
Russell: Tess! Tess, this is Russell! We're on our way!
Tess: Russ! Thank God it's you! I'm so scared!
Russell: Don't worry honey. Sit tight and lock everything up. Paul is with me, and so is my friend Mario Hernandez. He's a policeman too. Everything is going to be okay!
Tess: Please hurry! Paul, I love you!
Paul: I love you too Tess! (Russell turns off the CB)
(Tess turns on the radio so she won't feel alone, and prays Russell gets to her before Quentin Michaels does...)
(Russell, Paul, Kane, and Mario are speeding down I-95, looking for the police car on the shoulder. All the men are excited.)
Paul: I hope we rescue her before Michaels can find her.
Russell: We will.
Kane: I think I see the car. On the other side of the interstate.
Mario: He's right. That has to be her!
Russell: Alright, this is it guys! (He puts on his siren and heads towards the exit that will take them to Tess).
(Meanwhile, Quentin Michaels is also closing in on Tess. He can't believe how lucky he got, with the drunk man pulling into the abandoned lot. He was such an easy target. This is fate's way of telling him Tess was meant to be his....)
Tess sits in the car, shaking with joy. The other cop car had to have noticed her. She's finally going to be rescued. Tess is so excited, she doesn't see the white pickup truck pull up behind her...
Russell and company are heading towards the turnaround to get back on the other side of I-95 when his CB crackles.
Voice: Unit 310. Come in 310. This is Atherton.
Russell: Atherton, what's up buddy?
Atherton: We got a call from an Everett Burnham. He's at the mansion you left from earlier tonight. He said he and his wife possibly talked to Quentin Michaels tonight.
Russell: You serious?
Atherton: Yes, sir. Mr. Burnham says the man was dressed as a cop, and he fits Michaels' description. He had a flat tire and refused their help. Mr. Burnham also says this guy was heading south. Have you found her yet?
Russell: Yes. We're just about to get back on 95 now. She's on the shoulder. She radioed us.
Atherton: Smart girl. Over and out.
Kane: Thank God Cordelia and Everett weren't hurt by that psycho.
Paul: I know.
Russell: Okay, here we go guys. We're getting ready to re-enter I-95. Tess, we're coming sweetheart....
But Tess isn't there. She's in a white pickup truck, gagged and unconscious. A smiling Quentin is next to her, and he's about to turn off the highway again, to hgead back to the abandoned high rise....
Back to the Grimes mansion. Almost everyone has managed to go to sleep, Cordelia and Everett as well. Placing the phone call to the police has made them feel better. But Eliza Braxton can't sleep. She can't believe the man she loves, the man who fathered her baby, has just dumped her for his family's maid.
Eliza: It's not Rosamond's fault. She didn't even know. But she doesn't love him. And once Lance realizes she won't return his affection, he'll get frustrated and come back to me. To our baby. And we'll be happy once again.
Then all of a sudden, Eliza's stomach lurches, and she runs to the bathroom to throw up. At that time, Deanna Thorpe enters her mom's room to check up on her, as she is concerned for her. She hears the retching sounds and runs to the bathroom door.
Deanna: Mom? Mom! Are you alright? (Eliza opens up he door. The sound of the toilet flushing is heard).
Eliza: I just got sick that's all. I'm okay now.
Deanna: I know, Tess' kidnapping has gotten us all shook up. (Sees her mom begin to cry) Mom, I know it's terrible, but Russell will find her.
Eliza: That's not why I'm crying. It's---Lance broke up with me tonight.
Deanna: What? Mom, let's go sit down. (They sit on the bed) Now what happened?
Eliza: Lance ended our relationship.
Deanna: But why? I thought you and Lance were doing so well?
Eliza: I thought so too. But I was wrong.
Deanna: What exactly happened?
Eliza: He's fallen out of love with me. He told me he's in love with somebody else, and he has been for weeks.
Deanna: Who is he in love with?
Eliza: Rosamond Tucker.
Deanna: Rosamond? This is for real?
Eliza: Yes. But it's not her fault. She didn't even know until tonight.
Deanna: Wow. This is hard to digest. It's like something out of a romance novel---or a soap opera. The handsome rich man who is dating the beautiful reporter but is secretly in love with the family maid. It would be beautiful if it wasn't you.
Eliza: Don't blame Lance either. He didn't want to hurt me. But he'll be back. Rosamond doesn't love him---and he has bigger things to think about now. (Pause) Deanna, I didn't throw up because I was upset about Tess. I'm pregnant with Lance's child.
All Deanna can do is look very, very shocked.
Russell, Kane, Mario, and Paul are in the car, now trying to locate Tess, who has been kidnapped again by Quentin Michaels. They arrived too late, and found just an empty car.
Paul: He got her before we could reach her. Dammit!
Kane: He couldn't have gotten far. Paul, we'll find them.
Mario: My guess is he got off the first exit. We'll get off there too. We're not far behind.
Russell: Like I said earlier, he had to have snuck behind her and caught her by suprise.
Mario: There's the exit now.
Russell: I'm pulling off. That sick pervert doesn't stand a chance now....
We're at carnival that's closed for the night, just outside of Alexandria. Quentin has decided this would be so much better than the high rise. He has hidden the truck in some bushes and is carrying an unconcsious Tess towards the funhouse.
Quentin: We're finally alone my Tessie. (Kisses her cheek and forehead) This is the perfect place to consummate our love. I dare that cop and whoever else is with him to find us. I'll kill them all. Nobody is going to tear us apart. Nobody! Blood will spill before that happens....(evil laughter)
End of Episode 18
Officer Atherton is being played by Frank Dicopolous.
Next on come nightfall....
Lance and Deanna have a heart- to-heart talk.
The deadly showdown between the heroes and the madman begins.
Back to Episode Archive Back to come nightfall
