04/06/2000



"Leo popped in at the community center to visit Becca. Becca, though, sensed that Leo had ulterior motives. He wasn't very obliging, but after Becca pressed him for the truth Leo admitted that he was laying low --- laying low "from everybody." Leo mentioned the argument he and Vanessa had had, but he didn't go into much detail. His soup ladle in hand, Leo mused that he'd suddenly realized that he, like many of the people at the center, had no home. Grace stood in the doorway with a frown on her face. She was obviously not amused by Leo's humor. "I don't recall booking a comedian for the soup kitchen," she sneered. Becca introduced Grace and Leo and took it upon herself to say that Leo was there to help out. Leo nodded proudly and said that as an executive at Cortlandt Electronics he'd be more than willing to cut a check for the center. "Money's always good. Two hands are better," replied Grace. Grace led Leo out of the room just as Tina and Adrian were filing in. Tina chuckled and wondered if Leo would actually lift a finger. Becca told Tina that she was amazed by how much of her time she volunteered. Since Tina used to live in a shelter, Becca thought that it was the last place Tina would want to spend her time. Tina quickly explained that people have the wrong idea about shelters. Most shelter residents, she explained, are good people looking for someplace warm to stay and a decent meal. After Becca left the room, Adrian told Tina that he had no idea that she was once homeless. Tina shrugged it off and ordered Adrian not to feel sorry for her. Out in the main gathering room, Grace gave Leo instructions on how to stuff envelopes. Tina wandered by and asked Leo if he needed any help. Leo nodded his head and relayed Grace's instructions to Tina, Becca and Adrian. As the others sat down at the table to get to work, Leo sprung to his feet and offered to put on some working music. After he flipped on the music, he left in search of beverages. While he was gone, the trio mused about whether or not Leo would actually stuff any envelopes. Becca waited until her friend returned before jokingly calling him "a slacker." Leo countered that by grabbing hold of Becca and pulling her into an empty area of the room. There, he began to dance up a storm with her. Adrian praised Leo's dancing skills. In return, though, Leo offered a challenge to the former spy. Adrian looked to Tina and hit the floor with her. Becca and Leo scooted out of the way while Adrian and Tina accepted Leo's challenge. A slow song came on and the couples slow-danced with one another. Grace looked on and slowly walked over to Leo. She asked if she could cut in and Leo was only too happy to oblige. Grace danced with her back to Leo's front for a few moments before turning around and handing him another stack of envelopes. Everyone returned to the table and resumed stuffing envelopes. Leo, though, somehow managed to find a way out of it. He claimed that he'd remembered another engagement and quickly fled --- but not before handing over his new stack of envelopes to Becca. Grace, meanwhile, asked Adrian to turn off the music. Adrian snapped that the music helped them work, but Grace did not accept that as an answer. She turned off the music herself and flashed Adrian an icy glare. Later, Tina asked Becca about her relationship with Leo. Becca, however, insisted that her relationship with Leo was strictly platonic. Becca turned the tables and asked Tina about Adrian. Tina, though, was about as forthcoming as Becca had been.

Alex was stunned by her recollection. Edmund instructed her to take a deep breath and asked her to recall what she'd seen. Alex explained that she remembered hugging a small girl named Robin. For one reason or another, Alex said that she had a strange feeling that the girl was her daughter. "Tell me I'd remember if I had a child of my own!" Alex cried. Edmund tried to assure Alex by saying that she would not recall anything if she'd been brainwashed. Alex shook her head, refusing to believe that she could be forced to forget a life that she'd brought into the world. From there, Alex wondered if she had a husband --- or more importantly if she was still married at the time she married Dimitri. Edmund took Alex's hand and told her that he would help her get the answers she needed. Alex was still not keen on the idea of Edmund traveling to Wales. She offered to go along with him, but Edmund refused. Alex said that she was sure her martial arts skills would resurface if she needed to protect him. Edmund cocked his head to side, presumably wondering why Alex had chosen to say that he might be the one needing protection. Suddenly, he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. Now mid-region to mid-region, Edmund told Alex that he'd allow her to accompany him if and only if she could fight her way out of his grasp. In a very sexy voice, Alex told Edmund that she had no intention of breaking free. "I can't use martial arts," Alex smiled, "because I don't want to get away from you badly enough." As the pair stood there, Guy popped into the sunroom. Edmund immediately wondered why the stable hand was there, but Gut quickly explained that he was there to get an x-ray. Edmund told Alex that he was headed home to pack. Curious, Guy asked if Edmund was going on a business trip. Edmund refused to give any specifics, saying only that he and Alex were headed "overseas."

David angrily blasted Erica for her "juvenile" behavior in the dining room. Erica argued that David was merely jealous of her relationship with Paolo. Snorting slightly, David said that Paolo was nothing more than "a toy." Erica shook her head and asserted that Paolo "has feelings for me that you couldn't even begin to fathom." She added that David's "caveman" attitude wasn't winning him any points. David saw Erica's antics as a test of his devotion. He reminded Erica that he'd already told her that he loved her --- something he'd never said to another woman. The feelings Paolo had for her were real, Erica insisted. David threw his hands into the air and told Erica that he was through with her. "Losing me," Erica retorted, "is going to be the biggest mistake of your life." Erica turned her back and stomped out of the room

Elsewhere in the hotel, Paolo exited room 920. He turned into the room to face his female companion, referring to her only as "Angel." With a board smile, he told her to take her time getting dressed because he had some errands to run.

At a table in the dining area of the hotel, Palmer grumbled about having to wait for Vanessa to show up. He placed a call to the office and learned that Leo hadn't reported for work. Palmer asked a passing waiter for the check. He then chirped that he'd give the waiter a job as Vice President of International Affairs if he could find him a wife who showed up for meals on time! An out of breath Vanessa scurried into the room and plopped down at the table. She immediately apologized for her lateness. Palmer grumbled that tardiness seemed to run in her family. Palmer watched his wife curiously and asked her if she'd been engaged in any exercise before joining him. Vanessa looked unsettled, chalking her flushed face up to the way Palmer made her feel. Palmer told Vanessa that he'd had just about enough of Leo and was going to fire him. The only way he wouldn't, he growled, was if Leo showed up within five minutes and groveled at his feet. Vanessa took a deep breath. Through gritted teeth, she reminded Palmer of his plot to "eliminate" her. Palmer buried his head in his hands and stated that he'd used poor judgment when he planned to off her. Nevertheless, Vanessa noted that most people would have ended up in jail for such a crime.

In the lobby, Erica walked up to Paolo and told him that they needed to talk. Paolo nodded and told Erica to join him upstairs. Somewhere several floors up, Paolo unlocked the door to his hotel room and asked Erica to join him inside. "You must be kidding," she laughed. Erica told Paolo that she'd "found a use" for him. Paolo smiled broadly and asked if he'd be the next Man of Enchantment. Again, Erica rolled her eyes. Erica let her intentions be known almost immediately: She wanted to hire Paolo to be her man. She explained that Paolo's job would be to "be solicitous in public and cater to [her] every whim." Paolo questioned why Erica would choose him when she could have any man. Then he answered his own question: she wanted to make David jealous. Paolo told Erica that he'd have expenses. She quickly produced another check. Before forking over the check, Erica warned Paolo that she'd go to the police if he even thought of double-crossing her. Erica noticed that the handkerchief in Paolo's pocket had a lipstick smudge on it. She plucked it away from him and groaned. She couldn't believe that he'd have a tryst with someone in such a short amount of time. Paolo claimed that the lipstick smudge was from when he'd kissed her in the dining room. Erica shifted her weigh, saying that her lipstick didn't smudge --- and that she would never be caught wearing such a hideous shade. Erica told Paolo in no uncertain terms that he was not to be seen with any other women. She handed Paolo the check --- which appeared to be sizeable based upon Paolo's bulging eyes --- and walked away.

Back downstairs, Leo finally showed up. Palmer told Leo that he was about to fire him, but that Vanessa went to bat for him. To everyone's surprise, Leo told Palmer that he was sorry that his mother was pressuring him. He flatly stated that he didn't want to work at Cortlandt Electronics. Vanessa gasped audibly. David, who'd been watching from nearby, applauded his stepbrother's honesty. "I quit," Leo chirped.

Back at the hunting lodge, Edmund helped Alex gather her things for their trip. He told her that he still wished she'd stay home. Before leaving, Edmund fired off an Email to Dr. Griffith at the Welsh mental hospital advising him that he and Alex would be there within a day. The pair turned off the lights, locked the door, and headed off for the airport. Only a few moments later, the door was unlocked. Guy swaggered into the room and sat down at the desk. He read the email that Edmund had sent and quickly reached for his cellular phone. He placed a call and asked the person on the other end if he'd gotten Edmund's message. When the person confirmed that he'd (or she'd) gotten the message, Guy stated that he was going to be on the next plane to Cardiff. Guy hit a button and the screen went blank. He turned off the lights and left the lodge. Second later, the computerized again sounded an alarm. "Edmund. Do not come to Wales," the voice stated. "Danger is everywhere here. Stay away! Stay away!""

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