Y&R Transcript Wednesday 5/21/03--Canada; Thursday 5/22/03

By Eric
Proofread by Suvi 

Nikki: Are you looking for this?

 Victor: Yes! Where did you find it?

 Nikki: Downstairs hallway.

 Victor: Oh. Well, thank you very much.

 Nikki: You're welcome. You were out the door before I could catch you.

 Victor: Well, I have an early meeting.

 Nikki: So do I.

 Victor: Tuvia?

 Nikki: Satine? Far be it from me to ask questions.

 Victor: But if you could ask one, what would it be?

 Nikki: Well, is Nicholas going to be there?

 Victor: You know he hasn't been involved.

 Nikki: I know. He doesn't believe in the project.

 Victor: I have a feeling he doesn't believe in the company anymore.

*************************************************************************

 Neil: Hey.

 Dru: Mmm.

 Neil: Bet I can guess what you're thinking about.

 Dru: Oh, honey, we had ourselves a time last night, you were a gladiator.

 Neil: You inspire me to greatness.

 Dru: We're gonna be married again, baby. Who would've thunk it? Mmm.

 Neil: How does it sound in the cold light of day?

 Dru: It sounds wonderful... terrifying and wonderful.

 Neil: So listen up, kid, we're gonna get this thing right or die trying.

 Dru: You think we should tell Lily tonight?

 Neil: Absolutely. What, are you worried how she's gonna react?

 Dru: Not really. You know, if she doesn't come on board initially, she will eventually.

 Neil: That's the spirit. I'm gonna grab some coffee.

 Dru: Okay.

 Neil: All right. Hey, honey, you want me to rustle up some breakfast for us? Dru?

 Dru: Uh... huh? What?

 Neil: You want me to make some bacon and eggs?

 Dru: No, baby, I don't have time this morning.

 Neil: You okay?

 Dru: You know, I'm looking at these proposals I put together for the Tuvia campaign...

 Neil: Mmm. You're happy with 'em, aren't you?

 Dru: Yeah. I just wish that Jabot had told me that they were having financial problems. By the sounds of it, they're practically on welfare. My proposals are not gonna come cheap.

 Neil: Well, listen, boo, I know you're mad at 'em for keeping you out of the loop, but go easy on 'em, all right?

 Dru: Well, I will. If I can ask them questions and get answers, cool. If I can't, all bets are off.

*********************************************************************

 Jack: Hey, look what I found.

Phyllis: All right, so Diane's gonna pick up Kyle here. She's gonna spend a couple hours with him and then drop him off at your office.

 Jack: At my--today? Honey, I-I'm-- can he go to your office today?

 Phyllis: No, he can't. Listen, I told you this when Diane was finalizing the arrangements. Weren't you listening?

 Jack: Honey, you said Diane wanted to have Kyle today. I assumed that meant for the whole day.

 Phyllis: Okay, yes, I assumed that, too. That's why I gave the nanny the day off to take care of personal business, but Diane had a conflict in her schedule.

 Jack: Oh, jeez. I have an early morning meeting with Ashley. I'm gonna be running around for the next seven hours.

 Phyllis: You have a meeting with Ashley? Wow. Isn't she getting kind of close, I mean, with the baby? When is she gonna quit working?

 Jack: Are you that eager to get her out of the lab?

 Phyllis: Whoa! That hurt. You know, she's my sister-in-law, and I care about her I know how important the baby is to her, but I guess you don't believe that, either.

 Kyle: (Babbles)

 Phyllis: Oh, wow. Here, good. Get those crayons.

 Jack: I'm sorry. That wasn't fair.

 Phyllis: No, it was not fair.

 Jack: Look, much as I would like to have Kyle with me, I can't take him today.

 Phyllis: So you want me to cover for you.

 Jack: Oh, God forbid this should interfere with your job.

 Phyllis: You know, you're really making me angry right now. I'm really angry. Obviously, my job is not as important as your job.

 Jack: Are you kidding me? I have to bite my tongue every single day you go off to work for a man who's trying to bury us.

 Phyllis: Well, there's one way to avoid that, isn't there?

 Jack: Yeah. You could leave Newman.

 Phyllis: Or you drop Tuvia before you guys get in way over your heads.

*****************************************************************************

 Billy: Morning.

 Mac: How long have I been asleep?

 Billy: I think you dozed off around 2:30.

 Mac: Any word on grandma?

 Billy: Still no change.

 Mac: Will they let me see her?

 Billy: I checked with the nurses a little while ago. They're still not allowing any visitors.

 Mac: This never should have happened.

 Billy: Please don't start this again.

 Mac: We wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for your Mom.

 Billy: Mac--

 Mac: This is all her fault.

 Billy: My Mom did not cause Katherine's stroke.

 Mac: Maybe not directly, but she's made grandma's life miserable for years. I wish you hadn't pulled me off of her last night.

 Billy: Well, I couldn't just stand by and watch while you attacked my Mom.

 Mac: Why not? She deserves it.

 Billy: Look, I understand why you feel this way. Maybe we should just focus on your grandma right now.

 Mac: She's gonna be okay, right? I mean, people survive strokes all the time.

 Billy: I'm sure they do.

 Mac: What?

 Billy: I just think, uh... I think you should be prepared in case--

 Mac: No. Billy, don't say it. She made it through the night. That's a really good sign. Doctors probably just want to stabilize her a little until they let people in to see her. I'm sure that's all it is.

 Billy: Yeah. Yeah, you're probably right. Come here.

*************************************************************************

 Esther: What? Oh! Thanks a lot, Jill. That's the first time I fell asleep all night.

 Jill: Well, how was I supposed to know that?

 Esther: Maybe because my eyes were closed.

 Jill: Any news?

 Esther: No. Last time I spoke to Dr. Winters, Mrs. C. was still out.

 Jill: What about that lunatic Mackenzie?

 Esther: She spent the night, too. I think she and Billy are in the other waiting room.

 Jill: Better keep her away from me. She damn near scalped me last night.

 Esther: You're lucky that Billy pulled her off.

 Jill: She's lucky that I didn't scratch her eyes out.

 Esther: Oh, please.

 Jill: The girl's grandmother just had a stroke. That's the only reason I went easy on her.

 Esther: Ah, baloney. She caught you totally off guard. If Billy hadn't stopped her, then you would have spent the night in a hospital room, too.

 Jill: You'd have loved that, wouldn't you?

 Esther: Totally.

 Jill: You know something? The only reason she attacked me is because you did such a miserable job of describing what happened.

 Esther: It was the truth!

 Jill: It was not the truth! For God's sake, you made it seem like I caused the stroke!

 Esther: Well, I'm sure in some way you were part of it.

 Jill: What a terrible thing to say! That's an awful thing to say!

 John: How is Katherine?

 Esther: Oh, she's gonna be just fine--

 Jill: She's not good, not good at all.

 Esther: Mr. Abbott, she's going to be fine. What's aggravating?

 John: Emergency averted. Mrs. Martinez is gonna clear the decks today. Diane can drop him off here.

*********************************************************************

 Phyllis: Fine.

 Jack: Wait. Wait. You're just gonna leave? Can we talk?

 Phyllis: No. We can't, because every time we try, it goes from bad to worse. You are so consumed in this cosmetics war.

 Jack: Oh, what, and you aren't?

 Phyllis: What's happening to us?

 Jack: I don k know. Maybe it all could have been avoided by your accepting my job offer at Jabot.

 Phyllis: Jack, come on. You didn't want me or my "expertise." It was a device to get me out of enemy hands.

 Jack: Hold on a second. That is not true. Everyone knows you're a genius at what you do. You'd be a great asset at Jabot.

 Phyllis: Yeah, and I wouldn't be at Newman Enterprises, right?

 Jack: Okay, maybe I had some ulterior motives, but that's not just-- I hate what's going on between us.

 Phyllis: You know what I hate? I hate that everything is about you--what you need, what you want, what you desire.

 Jack: Oh, my God. Give me a break. That's exactly where you come from.

 Phyllis: Oh, really? Okay. It's exactly where I'm coming from. Sure. Sure. I gotta wonder, Jack, if there's any hope for us.

************************************************************************

 Neil: Hey, look, sweetheart, I realize how involved you are, how much you wan to be a part of everything that's happening.

 Dru: Well, yeah, I'm running the damn project as a spokeswoman, Neil.

 Neil: Yeah, I know, but this was high-level financial stuff. There's no reason that you had to be brought into it, that's all.

 Dru: Okay, you know what?

 Neil: What?

 Dru: I love you. I'm gonna marry you, but please don't preach to me about the business. Thank you.

 Neil: Hey, I'm just trying to help you, you know, be a sounding board, that's all.

 Dru: Oh! You know what? The last time that you were my sounding board, I opened my big mouth, and you used it against me, remember?

 Neil: Uh-oh. We're going back there. That's ancient history.

 Dru: Oh, to you, maybe, but not to me. You see, Victor Newman snatched Satine Cosmetics from Jabot because of a private conversation we had.

 Neil: Mm-hmm. Yeah, okay. Can we drop this?

 Dru: Yeah, you know what? Good idea. Bye.

 Neil: Yeah, bye!

**********************************************************************

 Nikki: Why would you question his belief in the company?

 Victor: Because I made an offer to our son that I thought he would jump at.

 Nikki: What kind of offer?

 Victor: I offered to mentor him personally, so that one day he can take over this company.

 Nikki: With or without Victoria?

 Victor: This case, I was focusing on Nicholas only.

 Nikki: And he turned you down.

 Victor: Rather vehemently, yeah.

 Nikki: Did he give you a reason?

 Victor: I'm sure they're personal.

 Nikki: Yeah... trouble between you two.

 Victor: And he has no intention of going beyond that.

 Nikki: I guess not, no matter how big the carrot.

 Victor: This wasn't meant as a carrot. It's not a bribe.

 Nikki: Darling, I know it wasn't a bribe. I'm sure your intentions were admirable.

 Victor: But he doesn't see it that way.

 Nikki: I'm sorry. Do you think there could have been some other reason?

 Victor: No, not another than after all that happened... Sharon and the kids and all that. I guess he can't stand to be in the same room with me.

 Nikki: Well, I hope that some day you two will be on common ground again. I have to go.

 Victor: You gotta go to the meeting, huh?

 Nikki: Yes.

 Victor: I realize we've had this conversation before--

 Nikki: Oh, Victor, please don't do this. Yes, we have, and it doesn't work.

 Victor: Sweetheart, you're my wife. Please listen to me. Jabot is not gonna win this battle. In order to finance an expansion of that magnitude, you gotta have money. They don't have it. They're gonna go bankrupt.

 Nikki: You could back off, you know.

 Victor: I'm not gonna back off.

 Nikki: Then I'd better hurry to the office, hadn't I, to fend off the big, bad wolf as long as possible.

 Victor: Wait a minute, darling. Are you saying you're willing to kiss $35 million good-bye? $35 million. That's your money. You're gonna kiss it good-bye out of stubbornness, or what?

 Nikki: If you were really that concerned about my investment, you would back off on all these stupid games you're playing with Jack--who, by the way, is just as determined as you are.

 Victor: Determination is not enough. You need to have the capital to back it up. He doesn't. He will bankrupt his company if he goes up against me. You got that?

 Nikki: Darling... I love you, but don't you know by now you can't intimidate me anymore?

 Victor: Will you listen to me? I'm not trying to intimidate you. I'm simply giving you a reality check. You know how I do business.

 Nikki: Okay. Enjoy your meeting.

***************************************************************************

 Phyllis: Oh, God. Just relax, Phyllis. Focus on work. Work.

 Victoria: (clears throat) Hey.

 Phyllis: Hey. I didn't know you were there.

 Victoria: Just catching up on a little reading, trying to prepare for this meeting.

 Phyllis: Right, the meeting. We're waiting on Neil, right?

 Victoria: Yeah. He should be along any minute.

 Phyllis: So do you have any idea why your Father called this morning?

 Victoria: It's about Satine. He thought that Jabot would cave by now.

 Phyllis: Well, that will be the day.

 Victoria: Which makes him even more determined to beat them at their own game.

 Phyllis: Meaning we ratchet up the pressure.

 Victoria: Mm-hmm. I guess.

 Phyllis: Mm-hmm. So what does that entail?

 Victoria: Apparently, we're getting our new marching orders.

 Phyllis: Like what?

 Victoria: I don't know, but I have a feeling it's gonna mean a lot more work.

***************************************************************************

 Jack: Where is everyone?

 Brad: On their way, I'm sure.

 Jack: Ash's memo made this all sound pretty urgent.

 Brad: Don't look at me, Jack. She didn't tell me a thing.

 Jack: So how hard did you try to find out?

 Brad: Not too hard. I don't think Ash needs any added pressure right now.

 Jack: Okay. Okay. I hear you.

 Brad: If I had my way, my wife would be at home with her feet up.

 Jack: Why, is she having problems with her pregnancy?

 Brad: No, she's not, and I don't want her to. Been working like a maniac as it is.

 Jack: I know. I wish I had three more of her, just not all due at the same time.

 Dru: Ah! I need to talk to the two of you.

 Brad: Oh, good morning to you, Dru.

 Jack: Hello.

 Dru: I don't know what's good about it. I understand that Jabot Cosmetics is in deep financial doo-doo.

 Jack: Where did you hear that?

 Dru: Is it true, Jack?

 Brad: It would help if we knew where this was coming from.

 Dru: I have it on very good authority that Jabot is deep in debt, that there's not even enough money to start a new cosmetics line.

 Jack: Sounds like Neil.

 Dru: Never mind Neil. Is there any validity to this, and if so, why was I the last to find out?

 Brad: How about because it doesn't concern you?

 Dru: How about because it does?

 Jack: Sugar, look--

 Dru: Don't "sugar" me, Jack. This is serious.

 Jack: Yes, this is, and when you're C.E.O. of this company, you will be privy to all this information.

 Ashley: Good morning. Thank you for being so prompt.

 Jack: Good morning.

 Nikki: Hi. So is this everybody?

 Brad: Where's John?

 Ashley: His secretary said he was called out on an emergency.

 Jack: What kind of emergency?

 Ashley: I have no idea. We'll have to fill him in later. Let's get started.

*************************************************************************

 Esther: I don't know, Mr. Abbott. I am confused about this whole thing.

 Jill: There's a news flash.

 John: Look, a stroke can either be a blockage or a break in the blood vessels. Two different kinds.

 Jill: And we don't know which kind she has.

 Esther: Dr. Winters didn't say.

 John: Either way, it's not good that Katherine was unconscious that long.

 Jill: She still is, as far as we know.

 Esther: If she were awake, they would have said.

 Jill: Is there an echo in here?

 Billy: Dad.

 Jill: Hello, darling.

 John: Billy. Hi, son. Mackenzie, honey, I am so sorry.

 Mac: She's still alive, Mr. Abbott, and she's strong.

 John: She certainly is.

 Esther: It just seems like if she were awake, she'd be fighting this thing, fighting to get past it, but she's so out of it. How can she fight when she doesn't know what's happened to her?

 John: Esther, look, we just don't know everything about how the human body struggles to stay alive.

 Billy: Dad's right. We just gotta believe she's gonna hang on.

 Mac: The doctors are doing all they can.

 John: So we have to pray. Could you tell me how this whole thing happened?

 Jill: Oh, no, no, no, please. The last time this idiot tried to tell it, I nearly had my hair pulled out.

 Mac: I don't care who tells the story, Jill. If you hadn't been driving my grandmother crazy for years, then whatever happened yesterday wouldn't have given her a stroke.

 Jill: So what exactly are you saying, Mackenzie? Would you like a rerun of last night? Because I'm ready for you this time.

 Mac: You think so?

 John: Ladies, ladies. Remember where we are. You can afford this.

****************************************************************************

 Phyllis: You don't sound too thrilled about this meeting.

 Victoria: I'll be fine once my caffeine fix kicks in.

 Phyllis: Oh. Yeah, well, I know the feeling.

 Victoria: I don't mean to be nosy, but were you talking to yourself on the way in here?

 Phyllis: Um... yeah. You know, it's not a big deal. I talk to myself all the time.

 Victoria: Something bothering you?

 Phyllis: Nothing I can't handle.

 Victoria: Business or personal?

 Phyllis: Both, actually. I knew there would be bumps in the road.

 Victoria: Ah. Hubby's giving you grief.

 Phyllis: Yeah. I'm not gonna let it affect my work, okay, Victoria?

 Victoria: I didn't say it was going to. I know it must be tough for you and Jack to be on opposite sides of the fence.

Phyllis: Yeah, well, I think a lot of people doubt I can handle the pressure.

Victoria: I don't. You've proven how professional you can be.

Phyllis: Well, thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.

Neil: Morning, ladies. Everyone ready for the big meeting?

Victoria: Ready as I'll ever be.

Neil: Good. Oh, guess what. Dru said yes to my proposal.

Victoria: Wow! Uh, congratulations.

Neil: Thanks, sweetheart. Appreciate that. What, no hug, no love from the redhead?

Phyllis: Oh. Um... good luck. Gonna need it.

Neil: Thanks.

***********************************************************************

Jack: Sis, you seem a little, uh, intense. What's going on?

Ashley: I called you all here to propose a change in the strategy for the Tuvia line.

Nikki: Really? What are you talking about-- marketing, product development?

Ashley: Something much more fundamental, actually.

Brad: Well, you have us all curious.

Ashley: We're facing two major challenges-- time and money. Nikki: Yeah, as in we don't have enough of either one.

Dru: Oh, so then it's true. We are in financial trouble.

Jack: Drucilla has heard some rumors she's not too thrilled about.

Dru: I doubt that they're rumors, Jack.

Ashley: I don't see any point in dancing around this. Do you?

Jack: Ash, I--

Ashley: I mean, all of our livelihoods could a affected here.

Dru: Good. Someone who doesn't want to sweep the issue under the carpet.

Brad: Ash, you were saying?

Ashley: Yes, could we please just stay the course? We're all insanely busy.

Nikki: So let's get back to this money and time issue.

Ashley: As some of you know, and some of you suspect, we are facing major cash flow issues.

Jack: Thank you, Victor Newman.

Nikki: Victor might say thank you, Jack.

Ashley: "A"--we're strapped on account of our debt load, "b"--we have a monster balloon payment coming up, and "c"--product development is costing us megabucks.

Brad: Which wouldn't be a problem if it weren't for "A" and "B."

Jack: And let's not forget "d"--Victor's threat to bury us with profligate spending.

Dru: Could we step away from the alphabet for a second? Are you saying that we're totally in this bind because of Victor Newman?

Ashley: Well, he certainly wouldn't have the leverage he has if we'd been able to acquire Satine.

Dru: I hope you're still not blaming me for that, Ashley.

Ashley: You're asking for the facts, and I'm giving them to you. A ready-made product line, which we originally planned for, means we wouldn't keep having to pour our own resources into this project.

Jack: Okay. So the bottom line is our bottom line is problematic. We got that.

Ashley: Second challenge-- time. We're putting ourselves under an enormous amount of pressure to somehow beat a revamped Satine to market. Now you couple that with the fact that I will be taking maternity leave soon...

Brad: Longer, rather than shorter, if it was up to me.

Nikki: So this change in strategy is a possible way to mitigate our money and time issues?

Ashley: Short answer, Nikki, yes, but I'm warning all of you, you're not gonna like it.

*****************************************************************************

John: All right. Come on.

Jill: She's just looking for someone to blame, and of course, it's me.

John: Look, I still want to know what happened. Now did Katherine just fall over, or did something upset her?

Jill: Something is always upsetting Katherine.

John: Jill--

Esther: That's not true.

Billy: Who was there besides you?

Esther: Jill.

Jill: Can't you get it right? I arrived there after Katherine conked out! You got that, Mackenzie?

Esther: There was a moment there earlier. Actually, now that I think about it, I heard a car pull up, a door close. I didn't hear the car drive away. Then the doorbell rang.

John: Well, wait. Was there a reason you didn't answer the door?

Esther: I was upstairs cleaning a spot out of the carpet in front of Jill's room. She always takes food up there and spills it.

Jill: Oh, stop it, you moron! This is no time for carpet spots!

John: Listen, in any event, Katherine answered the door herself.

Esther: Are you mad at me, Mr. Abbott?

John: No, of course not. Now did you get to see this mysterious visitor?

Esther: No, but it was a woman. Their voices were raised a time or two.

Jill: Gee, you mean maybe somebody else besides me upset Katherine? What a revelation!

Esther: Oh, there's Dr. Winters.

Jill: Oh, God.

**************************************************************************

Victor: I told you before that June 6th is the deadline. I don't want to discuss this beyond then. All right? Get back to me. Thank you. Thank you for coming this morning. I'm sure that Victoria has filled you in as to the reason for this meeting.

Victoria: I just told them it was about Satine.

Victor: Right. I'd hoped that the competition would have folded by now.

Phyllis: I happen to live with the competition. I can guarantee you, they're not about to fold.

Victor: Let me get to the crux of the problem. I want to make sure that Satine produces products that are equal to or better than anything Jabot comes up with, all right?

Neil: They're sticking their necks way out on this one.

Victor: You bet, and they may bankrupt their company in the process.

Victoria: I would think that that would give you some comfort.

Victor: No. I don't want our success to depend on their financial failure.

Neil: So then what do you propose?

Victor: We all know that Jabot has extensive experience in producing and marketing cosmetics line. What I'm telling you is that Ashley Abbott is a brilliant chemist who will come up with very exciting product... meaning we have to come up with better products, and we have to come up with more of it.

Phyllis: Yeah, well, you know, Satine has a very strong line of products. We've bought a proven commodity.

Victor: You don't understand. I want to blow them off the map.

Neil: So you're talking about expansion.

Victor: You got it.

Victoria: Can I say something?

Victor: Of course.

Victoria: It just seems to me that it's... not smart to pour more money into this if we can't be sure that our products are gonna be the best.

Victor: For that, I hold you and Neil responsible.

Victoria: Well, that's gonna cost us a lot of money.

Victor: Precisely. We have that kind of money. They don't.

Neil: (Clears throat) Um, didn't Satine already have some internal problems when we acquired the company?

Victoria: Which may be one of the reasons why they wanted to sell.

Phyllis: I happen to have the inside information that their research development department was in total disarray.

Victoria: And that's what we have inherited along with everything else.

Neil: We're dependent upon those same people for new products.

Victoria: Does anyone here see a problem?

Neil: Hey, listen, if I may, I think I have a solution.

Nikki: Well, you certainly make a strong case for the need to do something.

***************************************************************************

Jack: You said we're not gonna like this.

Ashley: And you won't, at first. I guarantee it. However, I'm hoping once we start to discuss it, you'll see it as a very viable alternative-- possibly our only alternative.

Brad: Obviously, you mean to our current approach.

Ashley: Which consists of us spending money like there's no tomorrow and trying to outrace a very determined adversary.

Dru: Sounds as though you're suggesting that we should bail.

Ashley: Not in the sense you mean.

Dru: What sense do you mean, that we should quit before we get started?

Brad: Let Ash finish, Dru.

Ashley: You know what I'm trying to say here? Why should we rush in? Let Newman think we are. Let them be in a hurry. Let them make the mistakes. We'll use their sales as a barometer to see if our concept is viable.

Jack: But we keep moving forward, just covertly.

Ashley: Of course we do, yes. We get our financial house in order, at the same time developing the best products we can at a pace that isn't killing ourselves. By the time I get back from having this baby, we'll be in the perfect position to take on Satine.

Dru: Well, that sounds convenient, and I need to go on record right now that I think this is wrong, wrong, very wrong.

Brad: Don't hold back, Dru.

Dru: Don't you see that we're reacting to Victor Newman's bullying, instead of staying strong and confident as a company?

Ashley: What I see is the need to be realistic.

Nikki: I have to say that Drucilla has a valid point. If he knew what we were doing, he would see it as capitulation.

Ashley: So what? Let him. We have to do what's best for our company.

Jack: What about the millions we've already spent?

Ashley: Well, they wouldn't be wasted.

Dru: They will if Tuvia doesn't get out of the petri dish.

Brad: We have to look beyond our own personal agendas.

Dru: I'm not gonna lie to you. I want this job, and if Tuvia goes bye-bye, so does Drucilla.

Ashley: And if we rush in and blow this, all of our jobs go bye-bye.

Jack: And if they get to the finish line first, and they have a hit, we're still out of a job. I'm telling ya, this makes my teeth hurt, having Victor trounce us by default.

Brad: All right, look, the number one obstacle I see-- there's only one Ash, one r&d chemist up to the task.

Nikki: Brad, she's gonna be out of commission regardless.

Ashley: For a very short period of time, Nikki.

Brad: Which means her product development is automaticy put on hold.

Jack: Sis, you've been working on this off and on for years. We already have a line for African-American teens. How long would it take us to get the rest of the line out?

Ashley: If I stick a cot in the lab until after the baby comes?

Brad: Not an option.

Ashley: Right. Well, best-case scenario-- nowhere near ready before the due date.

Dru: Ashley, surely you can delegate to a qualified person in the lab.

Ashley: It doesn't work that way.

Dru: Why not? Are you the only qualified chemist on the planet?

Jack: Dru, knock it off.

Ashley: No, I'm not the only qualified chemist on the planet. However, we don't have anybody experienced enough to take this project on.

Dru: Well, great. All of the hard work that we've accomplished is just gonna go down the drain. Come on, come on, come on. For warmer weather.

****************************************************************************

Olivia: As I explained last night... once the blood vessel in the brain hemorrhages, even if the bleeding stops immediately of its own accord, the damaged area of cells can continue to grow. We have new and effective treatments, but what really concerns us is that she's been unconscious for some time.

Esther: Can she hear us?

Olivia: We don't know, but I would suggest to all of you that when you're with her, you assume that she can hear and understand you.

Mac: Can I go see her?

Olivia: Yes.

Billy: You want me to come?

Mac: Would you mind?

Billy: No, of course not. I'll be right here. Go ahead.

Olivia: Now there are gonna be machines and tubes, but I don't want you to be afraid. I mean, your grandmother looks like her normal self, just asleep. So go ahead, okay? Having you by her side can only help.

John: Esther... I want to talk to you some more about this visitor Katherine had before her stroke, not right now, but soon. I want to know more about it.

Esther: Yes, sir.

***********************************************************************

Brad: I don't suppose you're finished, Dru.

Dru: For us to back off now, after we've built this kind of momentum, would be ludicrous. It would be the worst possible decision.

Ashley: We haven't made a decision yet. So it's on the table. I know how she feels. How about the rest of you?

Nikki: Well, the money aspect doesn't bother me nearly as much as the fact that you're gonna be unavailable in the not-too-distant future.

Jack: I'm sure Ash will work as hard as she can for as long as she can without jeopardizing her health.

Ashley: That's the plan. However, the fact remains--

Nikki: Yeah, but we're just not going toe e the first to roll out, are we?

Ashley: No, not unless we go with a skeleton line and without a test market, which I'm extremely uncomfortable with.

Jack: I'm sure you know who I blame for this.

Brad: We know, Jack.

Dru: Victor Newman is forcing our hand. He's trying to force us out. Are we gonna stand for this?

Jack: I vote we all think about this some more-- long and hard--see if there are any other options.

Brad: And if there aren't, we decide if we can live with Ash's suggestion, delay the whole thing for a few months.

Dru: You'll have to excuse me. I need some air.

Ashley: Meeting adjourned.

Victor: If you have a solution, Neil, then let's hear it.

Neil: Okay, I spoke with Vicki earlier this morning. Then I did some nosing around.

Phyllis: About what?

Neil: About the problems with Satine's R&D department, and why it all fell apart.

Victor: And why did it?

Neil: One name was mentioned over and over. Evidently, things got shaky when he left.

Victor: Who is this man?

Neil: A guy named Damon Porter. He developed the Satine line.

Victoria: I've heard of him. He's like a legend in the field.

Victor: What happened to him?

Neil: Apparently, he left several years ago when the company was up for sale.

Victor: Uh-huh.

Victoria: Any idea why?

Neil: Rumor said it was a clash of personalities. Not only is the man a genius, but he's an independent thinker, marches to his own drummer. Now get this. One day, the guy just tosses down his lab coat and walks out-- moved to the country.

Victoria: That's kind of unusual.

Neil: Yeah. He bought himself a horse farm. He spends his time fishing, hunting and raising thoroughbreds.

Phyllis: Hmm. Sounds like quite a guy.

Victor: So what are you suggesting?

Neil: Victor, with your permission, I think we ought to offer the guy a job.

Phyllis: Are you sure he'd be interested? I mean, it sounds like he has a nice life.

Victor: He might be tired of fishing. Why don't you give him a call?

Victoria: Hold on a second. Don't you think we should find out a little bit more about him before we offer him a job?

Victor: I think his record speaks for itself, don't you?

Victoria: But we don't know that he's gonna be a good fit here at Newman Enterprises. I mean, independent thinker or not, he's got to know where he fits in around here, what his place is, because we've got enough chiefs.

Neil: Okay, um... why don't I give this Damon Porter a call, see if I can get a good read on him, all right?

Victor: Why don't you do that?

Victoria: Well, he better be damn impressive, or I'm not interested. Meeting adjourned?

Victor: The meeting is adjourned. Thank you for coming.

Neil: I'm gonna get to work right away on this one. Take care Victor. Have a good day.

Victor: Thank you, Neil. Same to you.

Phyllis: Victor, thank you.

Victor: Phyllis, you have a nice day as well.

Phyllis: You too.

*****************************************************************************

Mac: Hi, grandma. It's me, Mackenzie. You're in the hospital. Did you know that?

Mac: I'm not sure if you can hear me. I hope you can. I spent the night in the waiting room. I wanted to be in here with you, but they... they wouldn't let me until now.

Mac: the doctors are taking real good care of you. They have you hooked up to all these machines that are gonna help you get better. But you have to do your part, too, grandma. You have to fight, which I know you can.

Mac: You're the strongest person I know.

Mac: Billy and I met with the wedding planner last night. I can't wait to show you what we picked out. I know you'll approve. I can just hear you. You'll probably say something like... "that granddaughter of mine sure has great taste. She must've inherited it from me." Grandma, promise me you'll be at that wedding. It wouldn't be the same without you. I love you so much. I need you. We have spent so many years apart, and now that I finally found you, I'm not ready for you to go yet.

Mac: Not yet.

***************************************************************************

Victor: Then why don't you cut your margins? If it's a choice between that or losing our business, I don't think there's... what are you talking about? Look, right now we're living in a very weakened economy. You know that. Then I have a feeling you better adjust to it. All right? Call me back after you've thought the whole thing over. Thank you.

Victor: Drucilla. My goodness, how are you?

Dru: I don't think you're going to want to hear the answer to that question.

Victor: Are you looking for Neil?

Dru: No. I'm looking for you, and now I've found you.

Victor: Why would you be looking for me?