As the World Turns Update Friday 9/17/10

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Written By Wanda
Pictures by Juanita

Bob stands in the hallway outside his office and laments that most days in a small-town hospital are pretty quiet in the early mornings….the moments before the carts start rattling down the halls and the doctors and nurses make their rounds. All you can hear is the steady hum of the machines. Everything else is silent. He walks into his office and flips the light switch on. He says that is his favorite time of the day and always has been. It’s that time of day when he can assure himself that on his watch all is as it should be. Of course he knows that his grand illusion of order can be shattered at any moment. He picks up his nameplate on the desk. He knows that the hospital will soon spring to life and along with the rest of the people who call this town home. “The world will have turned once more, and another day will have begun in Oakdale, Illinois.”

Bob continues to himself that as a doctor who has spent his entire professional life in this town, he’s come to know a lot about the people in this town. At the farm Holden is fiddling with the bobbers on two fishing poles when Lily brings Ethan by. He can’t wait to go fishing. He tells Lily that he will have him home for dinner. She tells them to have fun and bring back a big one. Bob says he has taken care of some of them since they were kids and now has watched them raise families of their own.

Bob says he has seen them come together and find happiness when and where they least expect it. Dusty holds the baby and brings him to Janet in bed, saying somebody wanted his mommy. In their bed, Carly and Jack wake up and snuggle. Bob has seen them marry and get divorced and marry again, sometimes more than once, but who’s counting? Jack likes his wake-up call, but Sage calls that she can not find her purple shirt, so this is to be continued.

Bob has enjoyed hearing of their many individual quirks. Henry misses Barbara in bed but sees her crooking her finger and beckoning him. He greets her with a hot kiss. Bob has seen them conquer their demons by sheer determination. We see Paul sleeping on the sofa with Eliza playing on the floor as Emily walks in and tweaks his toes. He pulls her down to the couch on top of himself and gives her a big kiss. Bob says love – love can be the lifesaver when you hit rock bottom and lose your way. John walks into the Lakeview and checks in at the desk. He tells the clerk that he and his lady friend just got off a flight from Amsterdam and he’d like a room with a very large and bubbly Jacuzzi. Lisa walks up and scoffs at him bringing a little Dutch treat back. He points out that yes he is going to hang his little wooden Dutch shoes in her little hotel and he wants roses on his lady’s tray every morning. Lisa wonders who this poor, darling, unsuspecting, precious tulip of his is. Lucinda walks in with big grin. They both laugh as they go off arm in arm with John telling Lisa how does she like those strudels.

Bob opines he has watched these people face every challenge over the years. We see a forlorn Margo in the kitchen. She sees Alison at the back door and has a big grin as she opens the door and invited Alison in. Tom walks in still straightening his tie and claims that Casey is still sleeping in, in fact snoring loudly. Alison asks if it is okay that she go up. They have a lot to do today. Tom puts his arms around Margo and says it is going to be okay. She’s not so sure; Casey is leaving today. Alison jumps on top of Casey on the bed and gives him a huge kiss and tells him it is going to be much worse when they are married. Luke sits on the couch with a card for Reid. He puts it aside when Natalie comes in and snuggles up to him. Chris tells Katie that it’s been a month and he’s tired of popping pills. She says she knows, but it’s for his heart to make it stronger. He has something else in mind and it ain’t laps. She gives him a big kiss.

Bob contemplates, “but the biggest challenge of all may be the day you realize it’s time to take the next step in life and walk away.” Kim bounces in and says he is not going to get very far this way. He is supposed to be packing, not daydreaming. She gives him a kiss on the head. He exclaims that he is not daydreaming. He was just thinking about this place and how many patients he has taken care of; some from their first breaths to their last. It’s been remarkable. It just doesn’t seem possible that he is retiring today.

Bob packs some books and thinks to witness the birth of a baby is to witness a miracle. But it’s actually the most ordinary thing in the world. At her place, Carly pours the cereal and Jack asks her how the morning sickness is going. She answers the less said about it the better. Perhaps it will be over soon and she can start eating for enjoyment and get big as a house. Jack laughs that he can’t wait. She comments that impatience runs in the family. Sage wants to hurry up and tell her friends that she is going to have either a baby brother or sister. He likes the sound of that and gives her a kiss.

Janet changes the baby and Dusty asks if this is really what she wants to do and she nods yes if it is not asking too much. She’s not the only one that has a say in this; it’s his son too. He reminds her that she and his son mean everything to him, so whatever she wants, he wants. She tells him that she loves him so much and he claims that he loves her more and seals it with a kiss.

Carly cleans up the dishes and asks Jack if he can do her a favor and look at her car today. She noticed it was making a funny noise. Then she asks if he realizes what is happening to them…..they are normal; they are married. They have normal children with normal problems. She hopes they are not going to become dull and boring. He grabs her and squeezes her and laughs that there is not a chance. And to prove his point, there is Janet at the door. Janet apologizes for just dropping by. They comment that the baby is so big, but then it’s been a month. Janet admits they have kept their distance. They thought it would be easier. Earlier they had thought Lorenzo was Jack’s and Dusty just wanted to bond with him first. Jack assures them that he understands. Dusty is happy to introduce them to Lorenzo Dustin Donovan. Jack hopes he can live up to that big name. Janet says there is one other thing. Lorenzo’s christening is coming up and this may seem awkward but she’d like Jack to be the godfather. Dusty puts in his agreement and Jack says he would be honored and he thanks her. And then says he has some news of his own. Carly reveals that she is pregnant. Janet gasps and comments that she must be thrilled. She says just look at all of them. She thinks it turned out exactly as it should be. Carly wants to hold the baby and coos to him that he and her little one are going to grow up together and she thinks they will be great friends.

Bob thinks – how does it happen that trick of time when in the blink of an eye your babies become young adults. Amid the chaos of all the luggage, everyone leaves the Hughes house. Susan tells Casey to take good care of Alison and he replies that he will. Alison says the same. Before she wasn’t ready, but now she is. Margo, Tom, Susan and Emily all hug and say their goodbyes. Tom tells Casey that the day he was born changed his life forever. He was completely filled with pride that day and he wants him to know that he still feels the exact same way. Casey gives him a big hug and tells him that he loves him and he hopes his dad always feels that way. Margo tells him that she knows he hasn’t always felt she was fair to him or that she was harder on him than she had to be but she wanted him to be better than he thought he could be as she knew he could. He thanks her for believing in him and never giving up on him. They hug and profess their love and she tells him to go. Susan and Emily hug now that their little girl is moving. Emily suggests buying Susan a soda at the Lakeview. Margo accepts their little boy is leaving and now another chapter of their life is over. Tom suggests to look at it another way. A whole new life for them has started.

Bob says that he read somewhere that a happy marriage is a long conversation that seems too short. Katie is at home making a sandwich for Chris. He asks her to let that go for a sec and come to him. She tells him that she won’t make him hold to the promises that he made before his heart transplant. At that point they were all desperate to believe they were going to have a future together. Chris says and now they have that future and he wants her to hold him to every single promise. Despite her protests, he gets down on a knee as he wants to do it right and asks her to marry him. Tears fall but she laughs and says yes and she knows that he knew that before he asked her. He tells her good, now help him up so he can kiss the hell out of her.

Margo tells Tom that she feels like she has been hit in the gut. Tom says he was serious before that this might be a new beginning for them. They are gonna have the whole house to themselves. She says yes this big old empty house. He reminds her that she is looking at this the wrong way. Looking at Chris, he is reminded of the promises they made each other when he had his own heart attack and promised they would cut down on work and spend more time together. She lets him know that she is not ready to retire yet. He says he is talking about living in the here and now. He tells here to take his hand; they are going out.

Chris and Katie sit on the couch and he approaches the subject that maybe they should consider getting a bigger place. She guesses that he doesn’t want to live in Brad’s shadow. He points out that he already is living with Reid’s heart and he just thinks they need a place of their own. The doorbell rings and it’s Tom and Margo. Tom says she needs a distraction. Margo cries that Casey just left and all she has is a big old empty house with some dirty dishes. Katie says well Chris just asked her to marry him and she said yes. Margo is suddenly ecstatic. And here Katie needs a bigger house and Margo is thinking smaller so seems perfect. They hug. Chris tells Tom that he is scared. Tom offers that he’d better get used to that feeling.

Henry practically devours Barbara as she is putting on her earrings. Bob says going through the changes life throws at you together is part of any marriage. But doing it with a sense of humor may be the key to a happy marriage. Barbara tells Henry that she never minds when he kisses her, but if he keeps this up they will never get to Paul and Emily’s for dinner. He points out that she has the most luscious slope of neck he has ever seen. He wonders if she really wants to get into it tonight with the decisions she has made. She says Paul will be upset no matter when she tells him. Likewise, Paul tells Emily that he will tell Barbara tonight that he is walking away from B.R.O. She says fine, he can do all the talking as she will be in the kitchen hiding the knives. He says he is not changing his mind. For once he is making her and Eliza his priorities and is doing something that makes him happy for a change. They start to kiss when Henry and Barbara walk in. Paul stashes his piece of paper under a pillow in the chair. He starts to pour a drink but Barbara says she has something to tell him first. She hands him a piece of paper and says she is dissolving their partnership in B.R.O. She says she loves him and has loved working with him, but now she has Henry and she wants to spend her time with him. He says he understands more than she knows. He signs the papers. Barbara tells Emily that she is not walking away from her son; she is setting him free. She is setting both of them free. Paul pours the champagne and gives a toast to the future that they all get exactly what they want.

Bob says that death is a part of life but nothing can fully prepare you for a loss in your own family or that of a young man they knew all too briefly. Luke shows up to see Chris who tells him the transplant was a success and he feels great. Luke shares with him that he just came from dinner with a board member and Luke had strongly suggested that when Chris was fully healed that they name him full new chief of staff at Memorial. Chris says he is flattered but he’s not sure that is now the path that he wants to go down. Luke is shocked and says Reid will be seriously ticked if he heard that after all he had done for Chris. Luke wants to look around….you know the place where Reid lived. Chris says no need to explain; he understands. Katie goes to the desk and brings a stethoscope back and hands it to Luke. She says it was Reid’s and she thinks he would want Luke to have it. Luke is touched and thanks her. He tells Chris this may sound weird, but could he…..Chris says yes and Luke listens to his heart.

Bob says that he’s also come to believe that out of loss comes something great – rebirth. John and Lucinda show up at Lily’s. She did not know they were back from Amsterdam. John says they just got back this morning and Lucinda assures her they are not there for her to beg forgiveness. John chimes in that Lucinda would like her to see that she can live her life and be happy without trying to run Lily’s. Holden guesses they are back together. John says don’t look so shocked, they still have blood in their veins. Lucinda tells Lily that she has something else to say. She has no intentions of getting in her way at Worldwide. If she wants to take control, it is for her taking. Lily is shocked and wonders what Lucinda is going to do. WW was her entire life. Lucinda says yes it was, but now she wants to spend her time with John and forget all about work. She tells Lily that she doesn’t have to say anything. She is off the hook and that is what she always wanted. And of course if she gets a hankering to see her dear old mother she knows where to find her. John and Lucinda walk away arm in arm. Lily asks Holden if that just happened. Who knew John Dixon would be the answer to her prayers.

Susan tells Bob that it won’t be the same without him around Memorial. She can’t believe she is stuck with working with John Dixon again as the new acting chief of staff. Bob tells her to go easy on him and she says she is making no promises. Kim comes in and Susan gives Bob a big hug and says goodbye “old friend” and be well. She tells Kim to take good care of him although she knows no one can do it better than Kim. She gives her a hug. Bob tells Kim that now it’s beginning to feel real – his leaving. He tells her that he is taking some boxes to the car and then will come back for one last long look around. “And so a perfectly ordinary day in Oakdale comes to an end.”

Katie helps Chris around in his new place and asks if he can see himself spending the night tonight and tomorrow here. He surmises that if she and Jacob are there, he will love it. She thinks they can be as happy as Tom and Margo were. Chris thinks that is very possible and hopes she won’t mind if they start trying to fill up all those bedrooms….too many kids to count. Meanwhile Margo is directing Tom in hanging a picture in their new apartment. She hands him his reward, a beer and tells him how handsome, manly and brilliant he is and always has been. And he is right, this is a new beginning for them. He tells her the good thing about not having kids around the house all the time is they can make love in this room any time they want. She kisses him and says what are they waiting for?

Paul and Emily are cuddled on the couch and she tells him how proud she is of him. But contract or no contract his mother will always be part of his life and she loves him anyway. Henry tells Barbara that Dusty said he has no problem selling Metro back to him if it makes his wife happy. She replies that nothing would make her happier than spending every night working and dancing with Henry in their club. He gives her a pat on her behind, turns down the lights, turns on the remote for the strobe light and asks her for this dance. They do a sexy number to “Let’s Dance”.

Lucinda and John bump into Lisa at the Lakeview and he says since he is paying for these roses on Lucinda’s breakfast tray, he expects to see them every morning. Lisa scoffs and Lucinda asks if she has a problem with that. She replies that no, gather those rosebuds while he may. Lucinda says she intends to. She wonders if John is doing this truly because he wants them for her or doing it just to get a rise out of Lisa. He laughs, a little of both. She says he hasn’t changed a bit. He laments that no one knows what the future holds so why don’t they make a pact to have a hell of a good time finding out. She replies that he is on. They fall into the elevator kissing.

Holden wonders why Lily looks so worried. She can’t believe she is saying this, but she is worried about her mother with John if things don’t work out between them. They’ve tried before and it didn’t last. Holden realizes that but points out they are older and wiser now. He really does believe they love each other and that is why they found their way back together. She looks at Holden and says she hopes that love is enough. He says he does. Sometimes it just takes a few times to get it right. He heads for the door and says he will call her tomorrow. She replies that she would like that. She starts to say something and hesitates. He says he knows.

Carly tells Sage to go to sleep. She can text her friends tomorrow. She tells Jack that he got her that cell so she holds him responsible. Jack says he will talk to her tomorrow and set down some ground rules. Carly calls him her hero. She kisses him and he says it feels good to just be the two of them. She reminds him that he means three; the baby will be with them for the next eighteen years. He tells her way to kill the mood. “With you, that’s impossible, G-man.”

Bob says that Oakdale may be an ordinary town filled with ordinary people, but it’s an ordinary town where extraordinary happens every day. He returns to his office where Kim gives him a little kiss on the cheek for encouragement. He says he didn’t realize how hard it would be to say goodbye. Kim says there shouldn’t be goodbye’s, just goodnight. It’s time to have fun so she will meet him out in the car and he can take all the time he needs.

Bob looks at his desk and the last thing he does is pick up his Robert Hughes, M.D. nameplate and puts it in his briefcase. He turns out the light and turns back toward his desk and says, “Good night.”

The globe on his desk is lit up and turning round and round.

Bob and residents of Oakdale, you always made our world turn!

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