Episode 59: Staged Tabloid

SPECIAL GUEST STAR:
JUSTIN HARTLEY as James Fletcher
RICK MORANIS as Joey Parker
and MARA WILSON as Elena Parker.

JANUARY 1999, LAST YEAR OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, 7 MONTHS UNTIL BABY WILSON...MCQUIRE IS BORN.

Jeff gets up early and looks at a photograph of himself, Christopher and Sylvia together. Jeff had just spent Christmas and the New Year without his adopted son Chris, who hasn't spoken to him for over two months since Chris discovered Jeff's betrayal the night of Sylvia's murder. Jeff decides to take the morning off work and goes for a stroll.

Tina asks Jack if he's looking forward to seeing her show on Broadway in a few days? Jack says he cannot wait to see her perform in a winter show. Jack seems to have recovered well from his meningitis scare and Harry states that once the baby has arrived, then their family is complete. Tina agrees and suggests it's all thanks to Helen. Tina also points out she is still surprised that her mother and father have given their relationship a second chance and she wonders what kick started their romance back up again?

Helen meanwhile, knowing full well she did not go through with the surrogacy, has still kept the secret that she is carrying hers and Greg's child. Helen knows she would feel awful if she told the truth, so decides to keep up the pretence.

Jeff grabs a newspaper from a stall and reads on the raid Melissa's home for opening a brothel without licence in which he was involved in and discovers Chris's name on the article and is totally shocked when he finds Audrey and Billy's face in the frame of guests named and shamed.

Audrey and Billy storm round to the New York Times after reading it and threaten to sue the paper. Billy not only ruffs up Donald Blunt, but even balls out Chris.
'It seems you've picked up on your adopted fathers sneaky traits huh?' Billy groans.
'I swear on my mother's grave Mr Mcquire, that I was unaware those pictures made it to print,' Chris insists.
'You must think I was born yesterday child,' Billy snaps. 'This is your name on the article after all.'
'I did not print that, it's not in my nature to expose people who could possibly, be unaware of a criminal offence,' Chris states.
'Tell your boss to tell that to my lawyer, this is defamation of character on not only myself, but Audrey too, you are a disgrace and so is your pathetic editor,' Billy argues.
Chris begs Billy and Audrey not take it to court, so Billy insists that Blunt fires Chris or it will go to the judge. Once Billy and Audrey exit, Christopher insists that he never printed the article and feels embarrassed, but Donald surprisingly says that even if he had printed the article, he would have approved it. This leaves Chris perplexed.

Jeff asks Chris why he exposed Audrey and Billy in the paper? Chris is adamant he didn't print the article and Jeff immediately suspects Blunt printed it himself and put Chris's name in the paper. Chris is still not wanting father son relationship and doesn't need his help. Without the support of his partner, George, who is on vacation with Lola, Chris is short of companionship.

Billy and Audrey are flabbergasted when their lawyer suggests that winning against a top newspaper like the New York Times won't happen in court and figures that Billy should take it on the chin as it would be like fighting a losing battle. Billy slams the phone down in dismay. Donald Blunt receives the phone call from Billy's lawyer.
'Thank you for getting back to me on short notice,' Blunt smirks. 'How did the fiery Scot take it?...good, your pay will be with you in the post. Now, that I've put my stunt to the test, it's time to get dirty.'

Harry, Jack, Audrey, Billy, Helen and Greg head to Broadway to watch Tina in her winter show. Audrey tries to take her mind off the tabloid, by fussing around Helen who is carrying her grandchild. It's her Grandchild alright, but not Harry and Tina's. Greg looks at Helen's stomach wishing it was his child. Little does Greg know, it is. James Fletcher gives his employees some encouragement and demands everyone entertains the audience. Tina is overwhelmed by the atmosphere and is keen to put a smile on Jacks face, who is sat with Elena, who is with her father Joey. During the show, a few people keep scaring at Billy and Audrey and sniggering.
'I just hope for our daughters sake, that we don't upstage her,' Billy whispers.
'That would make it treble trouble, thanks to that w****r solicitor of yours, who thinks we should just put up with it,' Audrey moans.
'Looks like, we may have to. Just ignore them and watch Tina,' Billy encourages.

Blunt admits he printed the article and asked Jeff to leave Chris alone, but Jeff won't back down. He encourages Chris to play dirty more in his job and stop doing his job for all the right reasons. Blunt continues by suggesting, using his mothers death as an excuse to lash out and print a story that could hurt Jeff, who's hurt him.

Jeff reads an article headline "Cops affair Night Of Sergeant Wife's murder by Mass Murderer." This horrifies Jeff and he's angry.

Christopher Lloyd and Kathy Bates do NOT appear in this episode.

END OF EPISODE FIFTY NINE