Crash Course
By Stephanie Sloane and Alan Carter

Other Articles August 19, 1997 September 12, 1997 October 7, 1997 October 14, 1997 November 25, 1997 December 23, 1997 January 13, 1998 March 31, 1998 April 7, 1998 January 12, 1999 February 2, 1999 February 23, 1999

Talk about a plan backfiring. Hoping to deal the death blow to Carrie and Austin's romance, Lucas pushed Carrie in Mike's direction. To Lucas's dismay, she liked it! Now, Carrie and Mike have genuine romantic possibilities. This week, the tangled Carrie/Austin/Mike/Lucas/Sami dynamic completely changes: Austin finally frees himself from Sami's clutches, just as a car crash brings Carrie and Mike's friendship to a new level. "The story heats up in L.A. because Carrie has been pretending to be Mike's girlfriend," explains Executive Producer Tom Langan. "They really enjoy each other's company, and have kissed because they're playing this game to make people think they're involved." Not that Carrie has given up on Austin, clarifies the exec. "Carrie may be away from Austin, but she doesn't stop thinking about him," says Langan. And Austin is still crazy about Carrie - so much so that he doesn't want to destroy what he thinks is her chance at happiness with Mike by telling her that he's dumped Sami. "Austin is trying to get in touch with Carrie half-heartedly because he feels that she is in L.A. with Mike maybe trying to stars a new life for herself with this guy," says Langan. "Meanwhile, Mike has fallen madly in love with Carrie." Which is good news and bad news for fans of the ongoing star-crossed love affair of Carrie and Austin. Up until now, Sami and Lucas were the main obstacles to their happiness, frustrating viewers with one ingenious scheme after another. But nice-guy Mike poses a very different kind of challenge. "I think there's a kinship between Carrie and Mike in terms of them both being honest, and genuinely caring about other people and caring about what happens to each other," believes Roark Critchlow (Mike). "The timing is right." Christie Clark (Carrie) agrees: "Heck, yeah, it's time. Mike listens to her, he pays attention to her and she has fun with him. There aren't all these dramas with him, like having a child with someone else." So does this mean that Carrie will start to view Mike as more than a supportive friend? "She thinks Mike is one of the greatest guys in the world," observes Langan. "The one line he doesn't want to hear is 'I love you, Mike, and I hope we never lose our friendship,' because that line is the kiss of death." But Mike is so focused on his feelings, that he doesn't realize she's not reciprocating them. "He is so caught up in the passion and the romance and admiration and love of her that he can't see that this woman is in love with someone else," says Langan. "Mike has convinced himself that Austin isn't the best match for her." Critchlow has to agree that Mike isn't facing reality. "For an intelligent, thinking fellow, I think Mike is being kind of stupid because he can't keep himself from enjoying the feeling of being with her, and that's all that's motivating him right now," concedes the actor. For his part, odd-man-out Austin Peck sees why Carrie would prefer Mike to his alter ego. "Mike has a more stable background and their families are long-time friends, which I think is really important," stresses Peck. "Besides, Austin promised her a lot and he hasn't come through. Mike's there for her all the time. And he's nice, he's a doctor and he's also very attractive." But Austin isn't giving up on his true love. "I don't think in his heart he'll give up," says Peck. "I think he's just trying his best to accept the situation as it is." Mike, Lucas, Austin ... Carrie's got the men-under-30 set in the palm of her hand. Who does she really belong with? DIGEST: "Should Austin and Carrie wind up together?" PECK: "Yes, they should, d*** it!" CRITCHLOW: "Mike should get her because he's an honest guy." DIGEST: "Why does everyone love Carrie?" CRITCHLOW (laughing): "She's a tease. She's good ... what can I say? CLARK: "I don't know, but it feels pretty good. I want more. I need another chick to be after him so I can compete." That's where things stand this week as Mike and Carrie take a road trip to California. "Austin has called and found out that the lovebirds have gone on a romantic getaway," previews Langan. "It's a big miscommunication, but the message that he's getting is that she's moved on." Danger strikes while Mike and Carrie are on the road. "There's a rain storm and flash floods in Southern California," explains Langan. "They get in a car accident and she's injured." Mike moves an unconscious Carrie to an old hut, where they seek refuge. "He has to keep her warm, but he can't keep her warm because she has wet clothes on," says Langan. So . . . "Off the clothes come and he jumps in beside her and warms her up." What happens next? "Something very romantic happens to Carrie and Mike while they're undressed under the blanket," hints the exec. "Mike expresses his love for her in many ways . . . but does she hear him?" However this triangle turns out, Langan knows it's a winner. "I just felt that Mike and Carrie would be a very sweet couple," says Langan. "I would have been very surprised if it hadn't worked. I think that Carrie needed this break. However, I think a lot of people are still rooting for Carrie and Austin - it's probably 50/50 right now." And there are no signs of it slowing down. "We wouldn't build something like this without a future," smiles Langan. "You have to pay it off." Reel Life If you can't get enough of Roark Critchlow in his hot storyline on DAYS, catch him in the feature film that he produced with his wife, Maria. It's called Making It Home, and is now available on video. "My wife wrote it and we produced it together," notes Critchlow. "It's taken about two years to complete. We shot it in Canada; it's a full-length feature film, and there's no sex or violence. The message is that no matter how along you feel, everything's going to be allright. It's about three people who have to find the strength to learn to love again." Days of Our Lives Review - A Look Back Carrie and Mike arrive at the medical conference in Los Angeles. Carrie takes a magazine quiz on true love and is dismayed when she and Austin fail. At the conference, Carrie pretends to be Mike's girlfriend in front of his competitive former classmate. Austin calls the hotel and Mike's school chum answers. He innocently remarks to Austin how close Carrie and Mike are. Mail Bag DAYS OF OUR LIVES devotees are enjoying the budding romance between Mike and Carrie. Some are even hoping Sami and Austin can find happiness together - and leave Mike and Carrie to their own devices.