From: Marni Centor <mccb@idt.net>

            GUIDING LIGHT UPDATE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1998

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Dinah laughs as Sean & Cassie are arrested, but she doesn't have the
last laugh.
* Jesse angles for money from his art dealer.
* Blake learns about Holly's drunken debacle.
* Rick promises to fight Ross for custody of Kevin.
* Michelle confides in Bill, then reconciles with Jesse.
* Beth futilely attempts to warn Ben away from Blake.

COMPANY: Dinah watches with a laugh as the cops lead Sean and Cassie out
through the restaurant. (I guess the boardinghouse doesn't even have its
own entrance set anymore.) Hart confronts Dinah, accusing her of
reporting Sean & Cassie. Dinah suggests Hart go bail out his girlfriend.
Hart says he'll do that when he's done with Dinah, and leads her
outside.

Mark, the art gallery dealer arrives to meet with Jesse. Jesse says he's
working on some more sketches & wonders how long it will be before they
can start selling his work. Mark really doesn't know.

CEDARS: Blake broods as Holly breezes in with a load of paperbacks to
cheer Blake up. Blake tells Holly that Ben recorded their conversation
when she admitted to him that she knew he didn't rape her, but then he
brought the tape to her & destroyed it rather than playing it for the
cops. "Why?" asks Holly suspiciously. "Because he loves me," says Blake.

TOWERS: Beth can't believe that Ben got Blake to admit the truth on tape
and then destroyed the tape rather than use it to clear himself. How
could he do that? Ben says he couldn't bear for Blake to hate him. The
burden now rests on Blake to come clean, and he believes she will. Beth
thinks Ben is stupid to bet his whole life on one woman. She plans to
tell Ben exactly what kind of woman Blake is.

Ross enters, glaring briefly at Ben & Beth, and then meets Rick at the
bar. Rick says he needs to talk to Ross about something important. He &
Abby want to help all they can. Ross says they've been a great help so
far, taking care of the twins during this crisis. Rick says he & Abby
are looking at Kevin's child care for the long term. He wants to know
that his son is being well taken care of. Ross starts to mention Holly,
but Rick cuts in that he doesn't trust Kevin with Holly.

CEDARS: Holly says maybe the tape was a fabrication. Blake says it
wasn't; she heard it. Ben could have used it to clear himself, but
instead he's put the truth in her power. Holly blurts out that Blake
should forget about Ben because he's the least of her problems. She
tries to cover by pretending that she's talking about Blake's paralysis,
but Blake sees right through her. What's Holly hiding from her? She
worries that it's about Ross, then becomes terrified that there's a
problem with the boys. Holly starts to leave, but Blake tells her if she
leaves now, she shouldn't bother coming back, ever. Blake wants the
truth now.

OUTSIDE COMPANY: Dinah denies turning in Cassie & Sean. Hart decides
arguing with her is a waste of time, and he leaves. Dinah calls the
station on her cell phone and tells Debra to get down to the police
station to cover the arrests.

COMPANY: Mark tells Jesse that it takes time for an artist to build a
career. He asks if Jesse is drawing because he wants to, or to make a
quick buck, because if he's after money, he's in the wrong business.
Jesse says he loves to draw, but he also needs to start making money.
Mark says the art business is unpredictable. Jesse wonders if he might
be able to get an advance to tide him over. Mark says he's already
invested his own money in preparing Jesse's work for showing; he can't
lend Jesse money on top of that.

OUTSIDE COMPANY: Michelle confides in Bill about the incident with
Holly. She knows that alcoholism is a disease & she can't keep bailing
Holly out, but she also hates that Rick is going to use it against
Blake. Bill says it's not Michelle's problem; it's Holly's. They both
know what it's like to deal with an alcoholic parent. Michelle agrees.
But she can't stand to think that the twins could be taken away from
Blake. Bill says they have a right to feel safe with their grandmother.
Michelle insists that Holly would never do anything to hurt the boys.
Bill says it could happen unintentionally, since Holly is apparently out
of control. Even if she decides to get sober, she has a long road ahead
of her. Michelle admits she's scared that her friends and family are
about to blow apart.

TOWERS: Ross has no idea what Rick's talking about. Rick understands
that Ross is reluctant to leave Blake's side, but he's left the twins in
the care of someone who has no business taking care of any child. Rick
intends to protect his son. Ross says Kevin is his son too & he has his
best interests at heart. "Then why would you leave your son in the care
of a drunk?" asks Rick. Ross is stunned. Rick tells Ross to wake up &
see that Holly has a drinking problem. He accuses Ross of abandoning his
sons. "The bottom line is that you shot a gun in your house that left
these kids' mother in a wheelchair. And once again you've become totally
obsessed with your brother Ben. And all the while you've left my son in
the care of a woman who spends her day drinking. So don't sit there &
stare at me & tell me that I'm wrong!"

Beth says Ben is the last in a long string of men for Blake. Ben says
his past was not exactly monastic. But Blake has a history of hopping
into bed with any man who suits her purpose, says Beth. She slept her
way through most of the Spaulding mansion. "Maybe she wanted a better
room," quips Ben. He's neither impressed nor bothered. Beth says Blake
has not only slept with most of the Spauldings, but most of Springfield.
"The only thing that Alan has in common with his son is sleeping with
Blake," continues Beth. Ben says Blake is a "young & spirited filly,"
and unlike Ross, he'd never try to break her spirit. Beth reminds Ben
that Blake also slept with Rick, the father of one of her twins. Blake
sleeps around. A lot. Ben says he knows all about Blake & Rick and their
situation, more than anyone in the room. "And I do mean anyone." He
turns his attention to his soup.

POLICE STATION: Levy is pouring coffee as the cops drag Sean & Cassie
in. Sean tells them to let Cassie go. Cassie insists that Sean is
innocent. Levy asks why Sean ran, then. Cassie says no one would listen
to him. Levy calls Frank & Teri over while the uniforms book Cassie &
Sean. He's giving this high-profile case to his two best detectives. [So
why is he telling Frank? :-)] Frank says he'll take care of Cassie,
since he's known the Lewises for a long time. Teri says she'll deal with
Sean.

Frank sits down with Cassie. He gives her grief for throwing him off
Sean's trail a few weeks ago. Why shouldn't he throw the book at her?
Hart arrives. "Hart, I thought you were right behind me," says Cassie.
"What'd you do? Stop for a cappuccino?" Frank suggests that Cassie focus
on the trouble she's in right now. 

Teri invites Sean to sit down in an office. She says the first thing
she's going to do is call Florida & let them know he's in custody. Sean
yells that no one will listen to him. Teri says she'll listen to
everything he has to say, and she'll type it all up & send it back with
him to prison.

Dinah leads a camera crew into the station & heads for the office where
Sean & Teri are meeting. She smiles through the blinds at Sean just
before Teri pull them closed.

CEDARS: Holly finally admits that Blake will have to forgive her. The
boys weren't even in the house when it happened. She had a couple of
drinks, more than a couple. Michelle & Abby came over with the boys &
found her. "Drunk? You were drunk?" asks Blake angrily. Holly sighs.

TOWERS: Beth says Blake won't tell the truth because she's a user. Ben
says he knows exactly who Blake is. He doesn't care if she slept her way
through Springfield. If he'd found Blake first, she'd never have locked
lips with Dr. Rick. 

Rick says Holly was so drunk she couldn't stand up. So Meta & Abby had
to take the kids back to the Bauer house. Ross can't believe Holly was
drunk. Rick says they both know it wasn't the first time. Ross days if
this is true, he's missed the signs. Rick says it's been going on for
months. Ross says he's been dealing with other problems. He's glad Rick
told him, and he will rectify the situation immediately. Rick says he
knows Ross is a decent man, but he's not looking at the situation
clearly. Blake can't walk & Ross has his hands full. Even once Blake
gets home, life will be difficult at best. Rick says he couldn't sleep
at night knowing his son wasn't getting the very best. So he's called an
attorney. He's seeking custody of Kevin.

Ross says this is absurd. Rick says he's within his rights as Kevin's
father. Ross offers to modify their visitation agreement. Rick says he
wants to protect his son. Ross becomes incensed & says there is no judge
who would take a child away from his mother. Rick says these
circumstances are quite different. Ross tells Rick to go ahead & take
his chances in court. But he can't believe Rick's cruelty, and that he
would take advantage of this situation. Rick says he's thinking about
how his son has been neglected. If Ross can't see that, then it only
proves that Rick is doing the right thing.

Across the room, Beth can't figure out how to convince Ben that Blake
won't help him out. Ben says he won't go to prison for a crime he didn't
commit. Even if Blake doesn't come forward, he is sure he will beat the
rap. Beth asks who's defending him. Ben says he's got the best lawyer in
the business--himself.

COMPANY: Bill & Michelle discuss the devastation caused by alcoholism.
Bill watched his parents' marriage fall apart because Billy couldn't
stop drinking. Bill notices that Michelle is looking past him, rather
than at him. She says sometimes you lose a person because of the way
that person has behaved. Bill thinks Michelle is talking about Jesse
now. She says she hasn't talked to him since the fight at the beach.
Bill suggests that Michelle walk over & talk to Jesse. Even though he
doesn't think Michelle & Jesse belong together, they have to find out
for themselves.

Jesse asks Mark to tell him as soon as something sells. Mark promises,
and then he leaves. Bill brings Michelle over to Jesse's table & asks if
they can join him. Jesse smiles.

CEDARS: Holly tells Blake about the letter from Fletcher. She was so
happy at first, but he didn't say where he was. He said he was never
coming back again & neither was Meg. He said being away from Holly was
so good for Meg, he knew he was right in taking her away. Holly couldn't
believe it, so she took a drink to calm her last nerve. And then she
took a few more. How much was she supposed to take? Blake tells Holly to
stop feeling sorry for herself. She is sorry about Fletcher & Meg, "but
you do not drown your sorrows in a vat of alcohol." Blake can only
imagine what Abby thought. But Abby is so nice, she probably nursed
Holly through her hangover & took care of the boys. "She did help you
take care of the boys, didn't she, Mom?" Holly doesn't answer. Blake
demands an answer. Holly confesses that Abby went to Rick & told him
everything. "Oh, no!" cries Blake. She asks what Rick said. Holly
reports that Rick said he would keep the kids temporarily. Blake gets
hysterical. She's sure that Rick will go after custody of Kevin. She
pushes Holly away & tells her to get out. Alone, she continues to cry in
her bed.

TOWERS: Ross says trying to get custody of Kevin is the worst decision
Rick could ever make. Rick points out that he's a married man in a
stable environment, in a home that's not filled with anger & bitterness
& deceit, not to mention handguns. Ross complains that Rick is being
unfair. Rick says what's fair is for the kids to have a safe home. He
intends to fight for Kevin & do whatever it takes to get him back.

Meanwhile, Beth tells Ben he's crazy to try to defend himself. Ben is
convinced in his own abilities.

Back across the room, Ross stands up & repeats that Rick is making a
terrible mistake. "And the mistake I made was giving you visitation
rights." Ross runs out of the room. Ben notices the departure & wonders
what's up with Ross & Rick. Beth has no doubt that Blake is the cause.
She tells Ben to worry about his own problems, because he's going to end
up a lot worse off than any of Blake's other conquests.

POLICE STATION: Frank tells Cassie it's kind of dangerous to harbor a
felon. Cassie insists that Sean didn't murder anyone; he was set up.
Frank says that's for a judge & jury to decide. He asks how Cassie
hooked up with the "creep." Cassie maintains that Sean is one of the
good guys. "Even Reva..." she starts, then stops herself when Frank asks
if Josh & Reva are involved. Cassie says they have nothing to do with
it. She tells Frank not to bother Reva because she's going through a
really rough time; she just lost someone close to her. Frank asks if
Cassie is talking about Michael. Cassie takes the easy way out & says
yes. Frank doesn't understand why Cassie is protecting "this jerk."
Cassie wants Sean to get the justice he deserves.

Dinah instructs Debra to catch Cassie's & Sean's expressions when they
are led away to their cells. Hart interrupts to ask Dinah to play down
Cassie's part in this situation. Dinah says she will not compromise her
journalistic integrity to help out Hart's "little girlfriend." 

In the interview room, Teri sits at the keyboard while Sean insists that
he didn't kill his wife or partner, & that he'll keep repeating it until
someone believes him. Teri suddenly jumps up, runs to the door & calls
Frank over. She says she's got the police in Florida on-line. They've
found Sean's wife & know exactly what happened to her. 

Frank says if they have a body, Sean can't continue to say he didn't
kill her. Teri says that's not it; Sean's wife is alive, as is his
ex-partner. They were just arrested for trying to pull another scam.
Sean obviously didn't do anything. Frank finds it unbelievable, but is
glad an innocent man will go free. He says he'll tell Cassie. Teri says
she'll tell Sean.

Frank returns to Cassie & tells her what he just learned. Cassie is
thrilled that Sean will go free. Frank says she still has to post bond
for him. Cassie says that's no problem.

Teri returns from the interview room & gives a statement to Dinah's
crew. She informs them that Sean is being released. Levy arrives & takes
over. He says Sean didn't kill his wife or ex-partner; the pair faked
their own deaths & were arrested for committing another fraud. They've
made full confessions. Dinah is annoyed, but Debra points out that Dinah
wasn't the one on camera with egg all over her face. Dinah asks Debra to
come outside to talk.

Out in the hall, she tells Debra to wrap the story up on the front steps
of the police station. Debra says there is no story. Dinah tells her to
make it work, or she won't be working at WSPR at all. Debra takes the
crew outside.

Sean finds Dinah in the hall & tells her that she & his ex-wife can both
go straight to hell.

Back in the main station room, Cassie promises Frank that he'll never
see her in the station again. She knows she made a big mistake. Frank
laughs it off & disappears. Cassie looks around for Hart & Sean, but
they're both gone.

COMPANY: Bill goes to get drinks, leaving Jesse & Michelle together.
They both try to apologize first. Michelle says it's not fair that some
people are treated differently than others because of circumstances out
of their control. Jesse's had to deal with that his whole life. Jesse
says he won't be on the outside anymore. Things are changing. He says
the gallery sold some of his paintings. Bill comes back & Michelle tells
him why they have to celebrate. Bill asks which pieces sold. Jesse says
they were new ones. They all toast to Jesse's brilliant career. Bill
asks if Jesse is up for another game of poker. Jesse says sure.

TOWERS: Ben excuses himself to make a call. Beth says he mustn't go over
to Rick's table. "Don't push it." Ben says he knows how to take care of
himself. He leaves, and Beth says to herself that Ben can't take care of
himself at all.

Rick speaks on his cell phone to his attorney, saying he wants to start
custody proceedings right away. As he hangs up, he sees Ben hovering
near the bar.

POLICE STATION: Cassie goes into the hallway, calling for Hart & Sean.
Hart is waiting on a bench, though he doesn't know why. He says Sean is
already gone. Cassie says Hart is a wonderful man & she has a lot of
explaining to do. "And you expect me to believe it," says Hart. Cassie
doesn't know if he'll believe it, but it will be the truth.

DIVE BAR: Sean orders an Irish whisky, straight up. Dinah pops up next
to him & offers to pay.

CEDARS: Ross enters Blake's darkened room to find her sitting up in bed,
awake. He takes her hand & starts to talk, but Blake says Holly already
told her. "I forced it out of her. She told me about the drinking. And
about Rick. And about Kevin. Oh god, what are we going to do?" Ross says
when Blake starts walking, which will be soon, they will go home to
their boys & Ross won't allow another person to hurt her or their
family. He kisses her forehead.

TOWERS: Ben joins Rick at his table & Rick asks what Ben wants. "The
better question is," replies Ben. "What do you want? Ross & Blake's kid?
I don't think that would be a good idea." Rick says it's none of Ben's
business. Ben doesn't care. He warns that if Rick tries to take Kevin
away from the Marlers, he'll be making the biggest mistake of his life.
He strongly warns Rick to stay away from Kevin, as the screen fades to
black.


