Flashback - January 2003
 

Week of 01.27.03

Victor Newman had his slave chase off all members of the family just before the arrival of the Frito Banditos at the ranch where they planned to crack the safe.

The plan was to have Diego Guittierez let the bandits named Seth and Bobby in the back gate and then lock it. Larry Warton would be waiting by the safe behind the bar pretending to drill it open. Once Diego had locked the gate he was to call the cops. There would be no guns.

From out on the highway a call came in from who was thought to be the slave hiding in the bushes. The bandits had just turned off the main road. Victor slipped into the wings out of sight.

When the bandits entered the house Diego made a move for the fireplace poker and the went outside. Right from the start the bandits suspected a rat, but when Warton waved a wad of cash at them became distracted. That's when Victor emerged from the shadows.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Victor Newman. This is my house. That is my money."

The bandits were shocked and thought they could simply walk away. But when one decided to pull a gun Victor said it was hopeless because the cops had the place surrounded and knocked the gun away while smacking the man with a punch. Seeing his chance for revenge, Diego piled on while the other bandit hit Victor in the head with a bottle sending the great man to the floor. Warton got in a punch just as the cops began banging on the door to announce they were coming in. The bad guys were arrested, a bandage placed around Victor's head and that - was that.

Dizzy Izzy Williams was worried. Who is Kelly Simmons, what does she know and when did she know it? To find out she went to see Lynne 'Yes-Boss' Bassett.

Simmons was at the Newman Jitter Joint listening in on a conversation between Andy Richards and Paul 'Clueless' Williams. Williams wanted Richards to prove he was over Diane Jenkins even though Richards had said something about marrying her. They looked around the room and spotted Simmons as a gal Richards could hit on.

Using a terrible Southern accent, Simmons welcomed the strangers to her table. She claimed to be from South Carolina. Michael Baldwin was sitting at the counter when he noticed the strange woman talking with Williams and Richards. When she was alone he tried hitting on her too. Nothing came of these encounters.

His conscience eating away at him, Williams went home to tell Izzy that he had sex with the Bug. Izzy was outraged. She declared her marriage over and walked out leaving Clueless sobbing alone on the sofa.

Thinking she had the goods on Jenkins, Phyllis Abbott showed her husband the phone number she had obtained from a drunk. Jack Abbott recognized the number as that belonging to Jenkins' cell phone but did not want to go to the police for what having his son's mother arrested might do.

Meantime, Diane was at the RoadKill Cafe with her son. She wanted the boy to eat before going to see the doctor for a cold. Spotting John Abbott, Diane told him that she was taking his grandson to Florida. The old man nearly had a heart attack.

Diane raced back to her hotel room and was packing her bags when Jack and Phyllis arrived. They wanted her to confess to starting the poolhouse fire. When she refused they showed her the note with the phone number on it and said that if she would give them full custody of the boy they wouldn't tell the cops. Diane had 24-hours to decide.

Pleased with themselves Jack and Phyllis went home where they learned that the old man had been taken to emergency, treated for "acute angina" and released.

Almost forgotten in all the excitement was the fact that Sharon Newman had said she wanted a divorce from her husband. With a process server looking for Nick Newman, Sharon was pleased to see Victor. His head was hurting so she gave him some pain pills leftover from a previous prescription from her doctor.

Moments later Sharon was at the Jitter Joint telling a customer she and her husband were getting a divorce when Nick came in with flowers. At the same time the process server jumped on him.

Sharon returned home and was thinking about what she had done when Victor returned to tell her to try one more time to make the marriage work. Sharon noticed that Victor seemed groggy and he admitted to have just mixed booze with the pills she gave him. As he continued mumbling about what a wonderful mother she is Sharon took his face in her hands and asked if that was really how he felt. When Victor said it was Sharon locked her lips onto his. What neither of them knew was that Nick was outside watching through the window.

On the teen scene Brittany Hodges, Raul Guittierez, Mac Browning and Billy Abbott were trying to find an apartment for four. But first they had to tell their parents they would be passing up expensive private colleges to attend Genoa City University. They would need part-times jobs too, and damn the luck but what Lauren Fenmore didn't beam in to say she had just purchased the Little Shop of Horrors and wanted to hire the old Glow Worms to run the place.

And there was Ashley Carlton. Her husband was still staying in a hotel being serviced by Olivia Winters and when he stopped by to discuss whether Victor knew that his sperm sired her baby Ashley collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. A doctor who should have checked Ashley's thick chart asked if she had a history or heart trouble or diabetes. After some testing it was reported that Ashley had low blood sugar. In a flash Ashley was alert and telling Brad she wanted a legal separation. Then the really bad news came - she was pregnant!

Week of 01.20.03

Phyllis Abbott hired Paul Williams to help her get even with Diane Jenkins. Williams said he'd do it so long as Michael Baldwin weren't involved.

Detective Hank Weber was back on the Abbott poolhouse arson case. He arrived at Baldwin's office to ask Jenkins if she was certain the image on the hardware store security tape wasn't her and had she ever owned a dress like the woman in the video was wearing and if she had ever carried paint thinner in her car. Diane said no to all questions which were stopped when Baldwin determined Weber was on a fishing expedition. Weber confessed that if he couldn't find anything new the case would die.

While this was going on Williams was on the phone with his credit card contact. No, there were no charges on Christine 'Bug' Blair's credit cards which would indicate where she may have disappeared to. Just then Andy Richards popped in with a package from attorney John Silva's office regarding the Jenkins case. Williams was worried that Richards wouldn't be objective because of his personal connection to Jenkins but Richards said he could. If it was discovered Jenkins had anything to do with the fire Richards said he'd call off the wedding.

After reviewing the file Williams summoned Phyllis to tell her that the call she got on the night of the fire came from a pay phone near 3rd Street and Algonquin which just happened to be the address of the Olive Pit bar. Phyllis said she'd be able to recognize the voice again so it was decided they would go into the seedy part of town to check it out. By the way, did Williams happen to have a photograph of Diane. You bet!

It was the joke of the week. Phyllis and Paul pulled up in a car near the Olive Pit. A deserted phone booth was nearby. Paul called out to a passing drunk and held up Diane's photo. Had the man seen the woman? The drunk ran off without answering so Paul and Phyllis went into the bar, asked the barkeep if he had seen the woman in the photo and were told to get out. When some rowdies tried hitting on Phyllis, Paul got scared and wanted to leave but Phyllis snatched the photo and held it up for all to see. When someone called out that the woman and Phyllis would make a good foursome Williams grabbed Abbott and they fled.

When Jack Abbott found out he told Williams to get off the Jenkins case. The next day Jenkins called to say she was taking the baby with her to Florida because the boy had a cold.

Phyllis told Jack she wouldn't go back to the seedy side of town but did just that - alone! When one the rowdies tried to grope her Phyllis whacked him. Told to get out, Phyllis was about to leave when a drunk found the photo of Diane on the floor. "I know this woman. She hired me to do some phone work a few weeks ago," the old man said.

Phyllis raced home to tell Jack the good news. The drunk had given her a phone number. 5550175.

Nikki Newman was shocked to learn that her husband's sperm had produced Ashley Carlton's baby since Victor Newman had a vasectomy. Stupid as ever, Brad Carlton told her that Newman found a way even though Ashley had told him that she used artificial insemination.

Meantime, Ashley was worried that what she did was illegal and that Victor could have her baby taken away should he ever find out. She also should have never confessed on video tape.

After having sex with his wife's best friend, Brad Carlton returned to his wife to say, "the woman I loved and trusted has filled my life with lies and deceit." He told Ashley he knew about Newman's sperm and she explained how she got inseminated by a doctor in Chicago.

They decided to tell Nikki everything and raced to the ranch hoping to get there before Victor returned from a business trip. They were too late. Still, they went inside only to be screamed at by Nikki. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Ashley suggested Brad talk to Nikki alone while she chatted with Victor on the sofa. Brad told Nikki that Victor didn't know his sperm had been stolen and Ashley told Victor that she and Brad had worked out their differences. With that said, Brad and Ashley left and Victor didn't think it the least bit strange.

On the business front, Lauren Fenmore got it into her head that she wanted to buy the defunct Jabot Glotigue and asked John Abbott to sell it to her. The plan was to sell a teen fashion line and only Jabot Glow Cosmetics would be sold.

Because she was having her apartment painted, Lynne "Yes-Boss" Bassett moved into Paul Williams' condo. At about the same time Kelly Simmons was at the apartment of Williams' latest wife asking questions about Izzy Williams' ex-husband, James Franklin. Simmons said the State was thinking about letting Franklin out of prison early and needed to know if he had ever communicated with Izzy. When the questions became hideous Izzy got suspicious, told Simmons to leave and called Baldwin who learned that Franklin was not being considered for release.

Back at the condo Yes-Boss asked Simmons how it had gone. Taking off her sunglasses and wig, the Bug said her conversation with Izzy had gone well.

Also at the Olive Pit but not seen when Phyllis or Williams had been there, Larry Warton and Diego Guittierez were going over their plans to break into the Newman ranch safe with the Frito Banditos.

Later, Diego showed up at the ranch to tell Victor he had a plan. The bandits were on their way! Victor said he didn't have a choice. He'd go along with Diego's plan but it would have to be done the Victor Newman way.

Week of 01.13.03

Brock Reynolds took time off from building homes for the homeless in Louisiana to fly back to Genoa City for a visit with the daughter he hadn't seen in years.

Mac Browning said she wanted to spend time with daddy but the two never spent much more than an hour together. Brock was worried that because Mac was in love with Billy Abbott and because they were both 18 for her to drop out of Northwestern to enroll at Genoa City University was just plain dumb. Still, what kind of a father would he be if he didn't let "a mature young lady make her own decisions."

Billy meantime was pushing his plan to have Raul Guittierez and Brittany Hodges get a place where he and Mac could all live together. And even though Brittany was planning to attend school in New York City she said she'd consider going to GCU if Raul would give up Pemberton and do the same. At last, it was agreed. They would all be living in the same pad. Mac would have her own room since she wouldn't have sex with Billy until they were married.

Down in the seedy side of town Diego Guittierez and Larry Warton were at the Olive Pit cooking up a deal to catch the bad guys who ripped off Victor Newman's money from Diego. Warton reminded the boss thug named Bobby that they were in the same prison together and Bobby told his sidekick Seth that Diego wanted to get even with Newman for not supporting him when was in hospital after the mugging. Diego also told the banditos that Newman was a big drug dealer and kept lots of cash in a safe at the ranch. Even Warton, who had never been to the ranch before, said he had seen the money in the safe behind the bar. And since Warton knew the security layout he'd be able to get them in and out in a flash. The banditos said they needed time to think so Diego gave them his address where they should contact him. Room 146 at the Lakeside Motel.

In other events, Ashley Carlton was still looking for her angry husband and calling Olivia Winters every five minutes to ask if she had seen him. Brad was with Olivia telling her how learning that Ashley's daughter was sired by Victor Newman was more than he could handle. And although Brad had repeatedly told Ashley that her daughter was his child "in every way" Olivia had to tell him "your child in every way that's important" and given time he'd be able to move on. Until he could come to terms with himself, Brad had moved into the Genoa City Hotel.

The next morning, that bitch Olivia, went to the hotel to serve Brad breakfast and did not object when he started swapping spit with her and eventually nailed her.

The night before Ashley confessed to Jack Abbott that Victor is the father of her baby. She claimed that her biological clock was ticking and needed a baby. Incredibly, Ashley would later tell Dr. Wesley Carter - a total stranger - the most intimate details or her shattered life.

Spurious that Ashley was having an affair with her husband, Nikki Newman grilled everyone she could think of about what might be going on and at last confronted Brad who told her the truth.

Sharon Newman was tired of living in limbo. Her husband was a "lousy husband" and she wanted to move on. Nick Newman was taking the kids to movies on school nights and had said he couldn't stand being near her and she wanted to crap or get off the pot as in divorce. Nick said if that's what she wanted he'd give it to her.

Dru Winters broke the news to Dr. Carter that she and her daughter were moving back in with her former husband. Dru said that didn't mean she didn't love Wes. Later, Dru showed up at Brad's hotel room looking for her sister and detecting that Olivia had screwed Brad suggested she get back in the bedroom to "show him what you can do."

Even later, Carter told Dru that he was on his way back to Paris and should she ever decide to accept his marriage proposal to give him a call.

Week of 01.06.03

Still in touch with his ex-wife Faren, Andy Richards was in town telling detective Paul Williams about his daughter Betsy and that his divorce had been amicable. Williams was envious as his divorce from Christine 'Bug' Blair hadn't gone so well. In fact, the Bug was still missing.

Having agreed to be her lawyer, attorney Michael Baldwin told Diane Jenkins to consider Jack Abbott's bribe and not to worry about being brought up on arson charges.

Meantime the Abbotts were moving forward with legal custody of Diane's son and feared Baldwin might throw a monkey wrench into the works. All-purpose lawyer John Silva told them not to worry because Baldwin would never do anything shady because "he doesn't want to lose his license to practice law." Just when they thought Diane would sign the papers she ripped them up.

Billy Abbott made an earthshaking announcement. He would not be returning to Louisiana to build homes for the homeless and instead would continue his education at Genoa City University. This was good news for Mac Browning who also announced she would drop out of North Western and enroll at GCU so that she could be closer to her man.

Wanting to get even with the thugs who robbed him of Victor Newman's money, Diego Guittierez asked Larry Warton for help. The first thing Warton wanted to know was where the money had been. When Diego said he had been strolling around town carrying the money in a duffel bag Warton asked if anything else had been in the bag. Diego thought for a moment before saying yeah, receipts from the motel he and Victoria Newman were shaking up in. Warton advised not to go looking for the bandits because they had undoubtedly taken Diego for a drug dealer and would be in touch with him.

At the Chancellor mausoleum, Katherine Sterling was opening a package addressed to Warton. Inside was a security guard uniform, a cap, belt, badge and a note announcing Warton's appointment as new assistant to the head of security at Jabot Cosmetics. A reward from John and Jill Abbott for not suing the company.

When Raul Guittierez learned his girlfriend Brittany Hodges was shoplifting again he threw a tantrum and stormed out of the dive apartment they were living in. Later, the two thugs appeared at the door looking for Diego. When Hodges said she didn't know what they were talking about the bad dudes ripped the place apart looking for the money.

At the Newman Jitter Joint, Raul called Brittany to say he was sorry and coming home. When Brittany screamed it was a bad time one of the bandits snatched the phone away and told Raul they would be holding Brittany hostage until he gave up the money.

Raul put in a rescue call to Billy and then rushed alone to the apartment, burst in, began attacking the bad guys and got his ass kicked in the process. While this was going on Billy was at the mausoleum when late word arrived of Raul's plight. Not knowing where Raul lived, Billy found the Wartman upstairs screwing his mother, told him Raul was in trouble and together they sped to the Sugar Shack.

As they burst in Warton wielded a wrench, but the bad guys had a gun and by now knew they had the wrong guy and left. Warton said he had recognized one of the thugs and knew exactly where to find him.

As Raul and Brittany packed up and moved out without notice, Warton and Diego were arriving at the Olive Tree bar where they began hatching a plan to catch the bandits and sure enough the bandits soon walked in and sat at a nearby table.

Although he had earlier gone to see if Victor wanted to help catch the bad guys and was told no, Diego convinced Warton that Victor would play along and then confronted what would become known as the Frito Banditos. They were told there was much more Newman money waiting to be stolen and asked if they'd like to team up and cash in.

Out on the street, Raul and Brittany had no idea where they'd be sleeping next until Billy came up with a brilliant idea. Why don't he, Mac, Raul and Brittany all live together?

On the warpath, Brad Carlton was looking for Victor Newman while Ashley Carlton whined to Olivia Winters of all people that her husband hadn't come home. Olivia reminded Ashley again that if she had told Brad the truth about her baby's paternity from the beginning she'd have no reason to be getting all worked up.