05/04/2001



"Still seated at a table at BJ's, Leo expressed sincere regret to Bianca over the past scams that he'd pulled. According to Leo, Roger knew the "worst thing" he'd ever done. Bianca gently pressed for more information, but Leo refused to offer up any details. Bianca tried to put a positive spin on it all, reminding Leo that he's changed since his days as a grifter. Leo became troubled by the conversation and quickly rose from his chair, saying that he had to "get out" of the restaurant. Bianca was left behind with a bewildered look on her face as Leo raced out the front door.

Aboard Fidelity, Adam demanded to what the "strangers" were doing aboard his yacht. Ryan tried to remind Adam that he had given him complete control on the day-to-day decisions. Ilene returned to the main room and introduced herself. She explained that she had not been aware that Adam owned the ship. Ilene added heaps of kind words into her discussion with Adam. "You can use all the flattery you want," Adam said with a sly grin. "It just won't get you anywhere." Ilene and Adam journeyed up the deck, leaving Ryan and Gillian behind. Ryan began to panic, fearing that Adam would ruin the deal he'd made with Ilene. Ryan had arranged everything so that he and Gillian would be the ones to reap the profits from the television venture. With Adam in the picture, Ryan feared that Adam would take all the money for himself. Adam returned a short time later with a broad smile on his face. He asked Ryan why he had not been upfront with him about the deal he'd made with Ilene. Before Ryan could say a word, Adam mentioned that Ilene had told him all about the free publicity films she'd be filming. Ryan immediately realized that Ilene had not told Adam the real reason she was onboard the ship. Later, after Adam left, Ilene was evasive about the real reason she hadn't told Adam the real story. The look on her face and a statement that she likes Ryan more than she likes Adam made it appear as if Ilene had a crush on Ryan. She did nothing, however, to solidify that vibe. Ilene was ready to roll film right then and there. A call to one of the couples she's arranged for the couples' cruise bailed out on her; it seems that they'd split up. According to Ilene and Ryan's vision, the yacht would serve as a place where committed couples could test the strength of their relationships. In essence, while aboard the ship, the couples would be temped by other boatmates. Now that one couple was out, Ilene felt that Ryan and Gillian had to appear on the show. Ryan shook his head and said that he had a better idea.

Roger continued to listen in on the conversation between Millicent and Greenlee. Millicent called her granddaughter's belief that a prenuptial agreement would spare a raid by Leo "foolish." Suddenly, Roger burst into the loft and the conversation screeched to a halt. Greenlee briefed her father on the argument she was having with Millicent. Surprisingly, Roger came to Leo's defense, saying that his willingness to sign a "prenup" proved that he was on the up and up. Roger reminded Millicent that her husband, Woodruff, had also been penniless when they'd gotten married. Millicent quickly noted that her husband had "worked hard for three years" and managed to double her inheritance in that time. She added that she and Woodruff "took full measure of Leo" and determined that he was a "parasite." As Roger continued to defend Leo, Millicent became more and more suspicious. She accused him of having some sort of vested interested in Leo and Greenlee's marriage. Millicent walked towards the door, telling Greenlee that she was not welcome in her house until she had come to her senses. After Millicent left, Roger rolled his eyes and grumbled that he's had to deal with his mother-in-law's attitude for over 30 years. An out-of-breath Leo raced into the loft. He was shocked to see Roger and Greenlee engaged in a civil conversation. Greenlee received a call from the contractor working on her penthouse and scurried out of the loft to talk to him. Leo demanded to know what Roger was up to and assured him that he would be paid once he and Greenlee were married. Roger flashed an icy frown and told Leo that he knew all about the prenuptial agreement he was planning to sign. Roger shook his head slightly as he mentioned how he'd now have to "break [his] little girl's heart" by telling her of Leo's past, specifically "the life [he] led in Verona." Leo's eyes widened. He pointed out that if Roger spilled the beans, he too would be cut out of Greenlee's life. Roger admitted that Leo was probably right. However, he noted, "When you work a scam you must be prepared to lose it all." Leo urged Roger to remain calm and to let him and Greenlee be happy. He vowed that he would have an easier time getting money from Greenlee if he remained in her good graces. Roger seemed to agree with what Leo was saying. In a surprising move, he handed over the newspaper article that he'd been using to blackmail Leo. Leo snatched the piece of paper and said that he was glad he and Roger had come to an understanding. When Greenlee returned and found the two men smiling, she immediately knew that something was amiss. Roger announced that he was going to throw the engagement party that Millicent had refused to back. Greenlee assured her dad that he didn't have to host a party for her, but Roger insisted. Later, after Roger left, Leo tried to hurry Greenlee out of the loft so that they could sign the prenuptial agreement. Greenlee said that she saw no reason why they had to sign the agreement; Leo, she said with a smile, was obviously not interested in her money. "Someday you might need proof," Leo replied cryptically. Ryan placed a phone call to Leo and told him that he needed him, his leather pants and Greenlee to report to the yacht immediately. Leo tried to get out of it, but Greenlee reminded him that he was going to need a job if he didn't plan to live off of her money.

At BJ's, Roger placed a call to someone in Italy and said that he wanted to discuss Leo du Pres. From the expression of joy on Roger's face, it was quite clear that the mention of Leo's name did not at all please the person on the other end of the line.

Dr. Bryant coldly informed Brooke that Laura's heart was operating "at 30% capacity." Any damage, he stated, was irreversible. Brooke was stunned. "She was fine a week ago!" Brooke said in disbelief. Dr. Bryant said that there was nothing that he could do to help Laura. He admitted that they could "explore" the idea of a heart transplant, but he doubted that Laura would be a suitable choice for a transplant because the prognosis was so grim. "Do you think you could be a little more pessimistic?" Brooke snapped. The doctor explained that he thinks it's best to prepare Laura for the worst. Brooke cast a quick glance into Laura's room and saw her sitting on her bed reading one of the magazines Bianca had given her. After the doctor left, Erica arrived on the scene and sensed that something was terribly wrong. Brooke angrily and tearfully told Erica that Dr. Bryant had done everything short of telling her to buy "a black dress." Erica was outraged that the doctor had been so cold and unfeeling. She did, however, feel that Laura had a right to know the truth. Telling Laura the truth, explained Erica, would "prepare her for the fight of her life." Bianca approached the two women and asked them if everything was okay. Brooke wiped the tears from her eyes and assured Bianca that everything was okay. Bianca went in to see Laura, who was preparing what she and Bianca would wear to Leo and Greenlee's wedding. Laura admitted that she still was not over Leo. Bianca looked on painfully, saying that she knew how Laura felt. Laura assumed that Bianca was referring to Sarah; Bianca, however, remained silent. Laura suggested that she and Bianca take a trip to Europe after she's released from the hospital. Back outside in the corridor, Brooke finally agreed with Erica about telling Laura the truth. She wanted to wait a little while until she had a chance to do some research about transplants. In an amazing show of support for her frequent enemy, Erica offered to make calls and call in favors to do whatever she could to help Laura. Laura slowly walked out of her room, an stand by her side, and gushed the good news about her planned trip to Europe. Brooke begged Laura to go back to her room and rest. Brooke's unusual display of concern signaled to Laura that something wasn't quite right.

"Who are you?" Maddie asked as she entered the hunting lodge. Gabriel, the mystery man lurking about the property, said nothing. His silence prompted Maddie to ask if the young man was able to talk. Gabriel extended his arm and pointed towards the door. Maddie spun around to see what he was pointing at, but when she turned back towards the stranger... he was gone. A few seconds later, Alex and Edmund wandered into the lodge and asked Maddie was she was doing. Alex spotted the broken recorder on the floor. Edmund assumed that Maddie had broken it, but Maddie claimed that the "magic man" had broken it. Edmund smiled and thought that Maddie might be trying to blame one of her imaginary friends. Maddie shook her head and said that her imaginary friend only looked after her dolls to protect them from bad people. One of the housekeepers scurried into the lodge and hustled Maddie back to the main house for some cookies. Edmund was saddened by the fact that Maddie feels she needs imaginary friends to protect her toys from bad people. Alex feared that her roller coaster life had irreparably harmed Edmund's children. In spite of all the commotion she'd brought, Edmund refused to hold any ill will against his sister-in-law. For the first time since Dimitri's return, Edmund and Alex openly discussed the relationship that they'd had. "What we had was great, wasn't it?" Edmund smiled. Alex nodded and informed Edmund that what they had was real - and that she had never turned to him because of grief. Edmund told Alex that he had had to pay a "really high price" to get his brother back; the price, of course, being the loss of his lover. Outside, Maddie sat on a bench eating a cookie. Her new playmate, Gabriel, slowly approached. Maddie held out the cookie and Gabriel hungrily ate it. Maddie smiled broadly and told him that she had a lot more cookies. She held out her hand and Gabriel took it. Maddie then led Gabriel off to parts unknown. A little while later, Edmund left the lodge. Alex walked around the porch, pausing when she spotted something in the nearby bushes. She called out to Edmund and he raced back to her side. Together, they went over to investigate. There, in the bushes, they discovered the lifeless body of one of the guard dogs."

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