Flashback - January 2004

Week ending 01-26-04

In general it was one of those long and sleepy weeks in Genoa City.

Brittany Hodges was stripping in front of rowdy, unshaven, sexless types at the Gentlemen's Club when her father tried to leave. As a pair of thugs moved toward Fred Hodges and his daughter began emulating sex with a metal pole a mysterious hand moved toward a switch. Soon an electrified Brittany was on the floor unconscious. Her boyfriends, Raul Guittierez and Bobby Marsino rushed to her side pleading for Brittany to "wake up." A closer look at Brittany's face showed an electrical burn which would later come to haunt the little strip tease.

At the God Have Mercy Medical Center Dr. Olivia 'The Butcher' Winters was on duty when Hodges was rolled in. Riding along in the ambulance Fred went directly to the chapel to pray. Also along for the ride Bobby Marsino said, "I don't pray" when asked if he could use some higher power.

After talking with God Fred got to the business of blaming Bobby for what had happened to his princess. It took Raul to remind Fred that he brought it on himself when he threatened to have the club shut down.

Dr. Winters delivered her first report. A "special" plastic surgeon had worked on Brittany, the patient's heart and brain were not damaged, the burns would heal, but there would be a scar and Brittany would need lots and lots of therapy. See Also: Cover Story

What a change a year can make. Paul 'Clueless' Williams was porking Lauren Fenmore and Christine 'Bug' Blair had gone back to washed up rocker Danny Romalotti. When the call came in Clueless went running to the Little Shop of Horrors where earlier Fenmore had left the door open. Crazy Kevin Fisher had been there and now, a scared to death Fenmore, said she wanted to help Clueless bust the little freak.

At the Bug's love bunker she and Danny had just had sex. Danny was wearing a bathrobe Clueless had left behind and which had not be washed. When the Bug went to work Clueless showed up to tell Danny it wasn't nice to lie about his nonexistent singing career. This from a man who cheated on the Bug behind her back.

In possession of two dead orchid plants thought to save Jabot Cosmetics, Phyllis Abbott called to say she'd be returning soon from self-imposed exile after stealing the plants from the Jabot lab.

At the Chancellor Mausoleum Katherine Sterling was trying to stop drinking, but kept a bottle close at hand. Her newfound daughter wanted new arrival Arthur Hendricks to help put an end to the boozing so Jill Abbott pinned Hendricks down at the popular Athletic Supporter Motel, told him Katherine's tale of woe and asked what he could do. Arthur didn't see how he could do anything given that the old woman already had such a great "friend" looking out for her welfare. Jill said she was no friend. She was Katherine's daughter. Arthur thought it weird as Katherine had never told him she had a daughter.

Other people will massive problems this week included Sharon Newman who couldn't stop looking at the photos on her outhouse mantel. Victor Newman was to appear in court and she was a wreck. Her husband wasn't helping matters and the police had officially opened an investigation into the disappearance of Cameron Kirsten.

Victor's lawyer was the rarely seen John Silva. The plan was for Victor to plead guilty to state charges of commercial bribery but the Feds wanted him too. Fortunately for Victor, the Judge ruled the Feds out of order, said he's consider Newman's guilty plea then sent him to the Probation Department for pre-sentencing.

Week ending 01-19-04

Victor Newman knew that ADA Christine 'Bug' Blair didn't have a smoking gun. All she had was the smoke she blew frequently up his butt and he wasn't about to plead guilty to any crime. But he did agree to confess - on tape - to how he used Michael Baldwin to pay people off in order to get Safra cosmetic products on store shelves at eye-level. Additionally, Newman confessed he paid people to keep the competitors product from getting to stores in time for the great cosmetics war and to tinker with print ads. Newman said his sole motive was to "take down" Jabot Cosmetics CEO Jack Abbott at a total cost of $2 million. In return Jabot lost some $500 thousand in sales.

Pleased with herself, the Bug was later contacted by Franklin Becker. The G-man said the Feds had taken the Newman case over and he wanted the Bug's notes to prepare a report. The moment Becker was gone the Bug summoned Newman to the courthouse. On his way Victor stopped by the Athletic Supporter to work out and ran into his back-stabbing son. He told Nick Newman he had no intention of pleading guilty to either state of federal charges because, "I am not a criminal." That said, Victor went home to tell his wife that he planned to plead guilty in the morning.

Elsewhere on the business front Dru Winters was still trying to get the "magic" orchid from Phyllis Abbott. Unable to do it herself she enlisted Neil Winters, but Neil wouldn't do it until he knew why the orchid was so important. That's when Dru told him that the very dead orchid had "hair straightening properties" which would revolutionize the personal grooming market.

Because Jill Abbott had ruined the Chancellor Mausoleum Katherine Sterling was still drinking like a fish when Arthur Hendricks arrived. Katherine was amazed in that she'd seen his photo in the paper just two weeks ago. The accompanying story had something to do with a "scandal" the about to be retired judge had been involved in. His wife, Eleanor, had died two years earlier, he had a son somewhere he hadn't seen for years and now the US Appeals judge was in Genoa City because he'd never stopped thinking about Katherine. Noting that Katherine was drinking again Arthur said he wanted to help her stop.

Out of nowhere Liz Foster blew into town to tell Jill she'd come all the way from London for a medical checkup. Without asking about the cancer that had once been rotting her "adopted" mother's brain Jill raved on about Katherine's drinking.

His wife still in Zombie Land, Brad Carlton was told the only thing that could help Ashley was Victor and that he'd have to tell Victor that he was Abby Carlton's father. Brad refused. To do so would cause him to lose his marriage and family.

Also fearful of losing her family was Sharon Newman. Cameron Kirsten was dead. There was at least one person who could put her at the scene of the crime yet she refused to tell police.

Fred Hodges wanted his daughter to stop working at the local strip club and had already cut off owner Bobby Marsino's credit as part of a plan to shut the club down. Fred reported to his daughter's other boyfriend that soon the club would be closed and Brittany Hodges would be back in Raul Guittierez's arms where she belonged.

Raul rushed over to the club to tell Marsino he could help solve the club's bookkeeping problems that had developed since the termination of Kevin Fisher. Since he had knowledge of computers and was a college business major he could work as the bookkeeper for $10 an hour. Bobby hired Raul on the spot - for 2 weeks.

Week ending 01-12-04

Aware that Victor Newman didn't have an attorney Christine 'Bug' Blair spoke with him about the Bribery Case anyway. She bragged of having enough evidence to put him away for a long time and wanted him to plead guilty so as to save taxpayer money. Newman said he'd consider it if the Bug could promise no jail time. She couldn't.

The Bug was becoming so overwhelmed with the responsibilities of an Assistant DA she went to cry on Danny Romalotti's shoulder. When he called her "Cricket" the Bug squirmed. Not many people could get away with calling her that and she especially detested the years since she'd become known as the Bug. To forget her past the Bug told Danny she'd been listening to his one hit single, "Rock On" and wondered if he'd ever release a new CD. Romalotti said there was a new one released just before Christmas in Europe. A montage of Christmas tunes that generated few sales. Romalotti also said he had a North American tour in the works and that his "son" Daniel was at a Swiss boarding school.

Romalotti was also told that the Bug's former husband had re-married, has a "two year" old son and said son was living with its grandparents in Los Angeles. An arrangement the Bug called "the right thing."

Later, with plans to attend a rock concert at which the lead singer sounded "a lot like" Romalotti, the Bug's only female friend Lynne 'Yes-Boss' Bassett was looking up Romalotti's website called, "The Danny Romalotti Ultimate Fan Page." On the site she found that Romalotti had re-released an album from 1996, but there was nothing new. No concert dates either. It was strange given that Mr. Rock On had said he'd been touring.

Passing himself off as a PI, Paul 'Clueless' Williams dropped by the Gentlemen's Club to tell Bobby Marsino that his employee, Kevin Fisher, might one day "mess" with his strippers and get the club shut down. Williams suspected Fisher was gay, or only liked young, underage girls and had given Lily Winters an STD. Additionally, Williams defamed Fisher by claiming he burned down the RoadKill Cafe and asked Marsino to help entrap Fisher by firing him so as to cause Fisher to make a mistake for which he could be arrested.

Although her Little Shop of Horrors was closed, Lauren Fenmore had left the door unlocked so that Fisher could wander in and look around. Laughing at herself, Fisher noted that she sounded like his mother. Fenmore was intrigued. Was Gloria Fisher a good parent? Fisher said no, then slapped himself for being so personal. Fenmore said it was okay because, "I have one of those faces" and urged Fisher to call her Lauren.

When Fisher was gone Clueless arrived with takeout spare ribs. A good thing too as Fenmore said she'd been craving ribs all day. After chowing down the two got it on right there in the store with the door open and Fisher watching through the window. After the dirty deed Lauren told of the "nice boy" who had stopped by earlier. Clueless knew right away it was Fisher and warned Lauren to keep the door locked. Fisher was a "dangerous" man.

So what did Fenmore do when Clueless left? She left the door open! That's how Romalotti was able to get in to rehash the days when he and Lauren once sang together. What he wanted to know most was how she handled it when the career was over. A tip that Romalotti was lying about his career. He was washed up.

Worried that her father might do something to have the strip club where she worked shut down Brittany Hodges asked Fisher what he knew about the people behind Marsino. Fisher was about to tell her when J.T. Hellstrom blew into the club to warn Hodges about Fisher.

"You prey on young girls. You're a pervert," she exclaimed, as Hellstrom snarled that he was going to get Fisher fired.

Nikki Newman wanted to knew where her daughter-in-law had gone on New Year's Eve after the party. Sharon Newman refused to say anything and when Nikki threatened to tell Sharon's husband Sharon said she knew a certain secret about Ashley Carlton's baby she could tell too.

Meantime Jack Abbott was shocked that Brad Carlton would consider using Victor Newman to pull his wife out of her funk.

Also on the case of Cameron Kirsten's disappearance was police detective Hank Weber. He was at the Athletic Supporter Club asking manager Gina Roma and dinkwad Nick Newman when they'd last seen Kirsten and why they reported him missing. Roma confessed that she'd let Newman snoop around Kirsten's motel room but it was okay because Nick hadn't touched anything. Newman volunteered too that his wife may have been the last to see Kirsten and was ordered by Weber to get her to the club pronto.

Before arriving Sharon called attorney Michael Baldwin to ask what she should do and to say she'd gone back to the scene of her crime to be sure Kirsten's body was still in the snow near a dumpster outside the sleazy motel where she'd cracked Kirsten over the head with a champagne bottle.

Baldwin couldn't believe his ears. There was probably any number of hair and other fibers on Kirsten's body that would connect her to the crime. If she acted fast there was still time to come clean.

"I'm a married woman with children. It would ruin my marriage," Sharon spewed as reasons for her unwillingness to tell the cops.

Involved in a criminal mess of his own, Baldwin was later visited by a Federal Prosecutor named Franklin Becker. Having passed the case down to State level the Feds were thinking of taking it back. Becker wanted Baldwin to cut a deal.

At the Chancellor Mausoleum a panicked Jill Abbott called police when she heard a motorcycle roar up the drive. It was Larry Warton come to say he wanted to prove how much he'd missed Jill by trading his car in for a hog and driving it in the dead of Winter. Jill lamented that Katherine Sterling was drinking like a fish again to which Warton said he'd have a talk with the old woman right after putting the pork to Jill.

The next day Jill summoned Eileen, a woman who at the drop of a hat would listen to people whine about their alcoholic friends. An AA sponsor.

In other events diabetic Raul Guittierez reported that he'd been kicked off his father's health insurance because the insurance company now required dependents to live at home with their parents. When J.T. heard he considered himself lucky that his father's insurance had no such requirement. He did suggest Raul check with Fenmore. Surely she'd had an employee health plan part timers like Raul could get on - cheap.

Raul didn't think so because he's diabetic and everyone knows how insurance companies frown on diabetics. Besides, it didn't really matter. Raul said he'd figure something out. That's why J.T. told Raul he had bigger problems. His girlfriend was working at the same place Fisher works and Raul should know what a "dangerous" person Fisher is. Raul said he'd fix that by getting a job the stripclub so he'd be around to protect Brittany.

The next day Fisher was fired. Hours later Marsino received a letter by messenger. Fred Hodges had arranged to have his loan cancelled.

On the business scene Dru Winters was still certain Jabot could be saved by the "silver bullet" of which there were now two. Problem was: Phyllis Abbott had swiped the magic orchid and left town. Now Winters wanted her tracked down and arrested. Cooler heads prevailed when Jack said he wouldn't hear of arresting his wife even though they were estranged.

Week ending 01-05-04

As the new year rang in Nick Newman was at the office working on a proposal for Cameron Kirsten. Concerned, Victor Newman stopped by to ask: shouldn't junior be home with his wife and kids on New Year's?

Nick said no because Kirsten was leaving town in the morning and needed the proposal in his hand so he could read it on the plane. Victor told Nick to let some flunky finish the report. Besides, Victor didn't want his back-stabbing son involved with anything to do with Newman Enterprises. But in the end Victor capitulated. Nick could finish the proposal and then be done with NE.

Victor went home to tell his wife who didn't trust Kirsten. Victor said he didn't trust Kirsten either but both he and Nikki Newman confessed they didn't know much about Kirsten. For a New Year's present Victor unveiled a crystal vase and a dozen red roses he said would be replaced each day forever to remind Nikki of his love for her. Not only that, the vase and flowers would remind them how much they belong together.

Also working this new year at the Sugar Shack on a research paper was Raul Guittierez. Roommate J.T. Hellstrom blew in to wish him a happy new year and to tell him that he'd just come from a party Raul's girl had gone to alone. Thinking J.T. meant Brittany Hodges, Raul told him to shut his mouth. But J.T. meant Lauren Fenmore whom Raul had swapped spit with behind Brittany's back.

Meantime at the strip club Bobby Marsino and Brittany were boasting of how much money they raked in the night before. But Brittany was bummed because mobster Sal Staley hadn't come by as promised to hear her sing. As Bobby told her how he was so rolling in the dough she didn't need to sing Brittany's father stumbled in drunk as a skunk to say he didn't want his "kitten" hanging around with a slug like Bobby.

As Brittany told daddy he should be home saving his marriage Fred spat at Bobby "I'm going to take you down" adding he wasn't good for his daughter or Genoa City. Too drunk to drive, a cab was called to apparently take Fred home and when he was gone Bobby noticed he'd left his car keys behind.

Bobby ordered his sidekick Angelo Italiano to drop the keys off at the Athletic Club on his way home. When Angelo got there he found Anita Hodges looking for Fred and introducing himself as Fred's friend told Anita to talk to her husband so that he "doesn't do something stupid" like walking in front of a bus, wink-wink. Outraged, Anita threatened to call Club security as if some flunky security guard would scare a guy like Angelo.

Over on the poor side of town a hooded Sharon Newman was keeping an appointment with destiny. She walked into a sleazy motel and was heading for the elevator when a clerk asked if she was a new whore. Sharon said no, that she'd come to see a friend, went up to Kirsten's room and hit him over the head with a champagne bottle when he tried to rape her.

Thinking he was dead Sharon (wearing high heels) covered Kirsten's body in a sheet, dragged it down the hall, down the stairs and dumped it near a dumpster.

Still at the office Nick's next visitor was Michael Baldwin looking for Victoria Newman. Nick explained how Victoria had left town before Christmas and wasn't expected back.

Back at the ponderosa Nikki was worried. Sharon still hadn't come home. She wasn't worried about the grandkids because they'd spent the night on sleepovers. Before going to bed Nikki ordered the slave to keep an eye out for Sharon so Miguel went down to the outhouse to light a fire. When Sharon returned the place was toasty. And when Nick returned he wondered what the bruise was on Sharon's face. She told him she'd slipped on the ice.

The next morning Nick began whining how Kirsten didn't respect his business knowledge. He'd spent the whole night working on that proposal and by Noon Kirsten still hadn't called to say he got it.

Nikki was out early too. At the Athletic Club manager Gina Roma told her that Sharon had left the party just after midnight.

While Nick was back at the office on New Year's Day Sharon summoned Baldwin to the outhouse to tell him she'd done something "terrible". Kirsten was dead and she killed him. Baldwin's best advice was for Sharon to tell the cops. Since there was nothing to connect her to the crime Sharon declined.

On the business front Damon Porter was still convinced that the orchid from Japan would save Jabot. The problem was that the competition had one too but that all changed when Phyllis Abbott gave hers to Jack Abbott and then told her boss, Neil Winters, what she had done.

When Neil told her that Jack had used her Phyllis seemed stunned then vowed to make Jack pay. Before that she told Victor what she did and submitted her resignation. Victor said regardless of what she'd done she was always welcome back. Phyllis promptly left town.

Meanwhile deep in the dark Jabot lab Damon had discovered that both magic orchids were gone. There was a note, however. It read: "one ugly betrayal deserves another."

Jack was at home when Diane Jenkins came by with his son. Kyle was on his way for another skating lesson and wanted a cookie which Jack said the squatting PainMe Johnson had made the night before.

And still drinking, and worried she was getting old, Jill Abbott was moving on with renovation of the Chancellor mausoleum when Katherine Sterling stopped by to bawl again that Jill was destroying her past. Jill didn't much care and took off leaving Katherine alone with the booze she couldn't resist.

Scheduled to start kindergarten "next year" the previous toddler Abby Carlton was now talking, carrying on conversations and hanging out at the Newman Jitter Joint with her sister, Colleen Carlton. This was the place Victor first meant Abby on a personal level and offered to help color Abby's book.

His wife still a space case Brad Carlton blamed Victor but both he and John 'Yawn' Abbott had noticed that each time Victor's name was mentioned Ashley Carlton would perk up. They summoned Dr. Olivia Winters and Wes Carter who agreed that Victor would be the key to Ashley's recovery.