Luke, Holly & Robert #26  August 12 - September 19, 1983 – 8 hrs

Luke is approached by a mystery man willing to pay great amounts of money for a certain disc shaped piece that Luke might be holding onto, something of no use to Luke but incredibly valuable. 

Robert is called early in the morning to do TV interview to fill in when the chimp interview falls through. Robert uses the program as a forum to vehemently denounce gambling and Luke's casino in particular. Both Holly and the gang at Kelly's are stunned by Robert's harsh attitude. Jackie's so mad that she forces Luke to hear a tape of the broadcast. Although Spencer really doesn't care about Robert's remarks, he’s furious at what he deems personal attacks. He later asks Jake if there is any legal action he can take against Robert. Jake tells Luke that he has no legal claim to sue Robert for slander. 

Luke calls the mystery man to tell him he's not interested in selling any disc shaped items. Luke bursts into Robert's office and tells him off. Luke accuses Robert of using his office to publicly bash Luke and threatens to sue him. Robert surmises that he didn’t say anything actionable and calls Luke’s bluff. Holly happens along just as the argument reaches it's peak and puts a stop to it. After Luke leaves, Holly expresses her concern and reminds Robert that his job was a politically appointed and if this situation between him and Luke escalates that it could bring trouble to all three of them. 

Celia is having terrible nightmares regarding her near death experience. Quietly placing a call to Long Island to her father, Grant persuades Quentin to let Celia stay with him for a few days. Celia is thrilled to hear from her father and agrees to visit him. She begs Grant to come with her, and even knowing the DVX will oppose the trip, he agrees to do it. He then fantasizes about running away with her. At GH, Natalie overhears Grant discussing taking a few days off. She confronts him privately and he tells her he has to get Celia out away as she is nervous due to Natalie’s attempts on her life! 

Celia is so upset she places a call to Holly for help. Celia is able to get Grant's fingerprints on a glass, and calls Holly for help in getting a set of fingerprints checked out. She claims it is a student in one of her art classes. Holly has a check run on the fingerprints that Celia got and is shocked they come from Dr Grant Putnam. 

Luke has Grant take a look at his leg. Luke begins dropping hints about discs and Jerrold's work and asking questions. Grant pleads ignorance about Dr. Jerrold’s work. Afterwards, Grant tells Natalie that Luke has been asking questions and that this is the second time that Luke has questioned him. Grant states that Luke is more of a threat than Celia ever was. Gregory and Natalie meet in the park and she fills him in on Luke’s curiosity and she doesn’t like it as far too many people are asking questions. Gregory wants Grant to get Jerrold's microfilm immediately, kill him and they will get out of the country by next Monday. Grant tells Gregory that he needs more time. He pleads that there is a silent alarm on the lab and guards. Natalie tells him to figure something out and move now as that is his job. Gregory tells him about the escape arrangements and timetable. Grant tells him again that he needs more time. Gregory insists that Grant do it now, he doesn’t care if he breaks in or if he forces Dr. Jerrold to let him into the lab, kill the professor, steal the microfilm, and they leave on the boat on Monday. 

Bobbie asks Luke why is he putting himself through the stress of the campaign? Luke is surprised at her change of attitude and she claims she is just worried about him. He assures her that nothing is going to change his mind. As a result of Robert's incendiary television appearance, Robert and Luke have been booked for a face off broadcast. The program rapidly degenerates into name calling between the two ex friends. About the only time Luke and Robert agree with each other is when the interviewer tries to cast blame on Holly as the source of their antagonism. Celia and Holly watch from the Scorpio’s and while Holly is upset to hear her past drawn out, she still meets Robert at the studio with her head held high. Robert does admit that hatred has replaced his friendship with Luke. Holly clings to her husband in full support. 

Tiffany arrives at the casino and Gregory is sharp with her for being an hour late. Tiffany tells him she isn’t up to singing tonight and obviously upset, she turns around and walks out. Luke admonishes Gregory that he is the boss and if there is any chewing out to be done that he will be the one to do it, obviously not appreciating the tone that Gregory took with Tiffany. Luke follows her outside and gets her to tell him what is bothering. Tiffany confides to Luke that she is torn apart by his battle with Robert. She realized after the interview today that Luke’s differences with Robert are irreconcilable, that it is really over and it hurts her. Luke tells her that she is right; it is too late for them. Tiffany asks if she misses Robert? He says yes, that they shared a lot together. Robert and Holly are having the same conversation, and Robert also tells her that too much has been said to ever go back to his friendship with Luke. 

Gregory arrives at GH to see Grant and pretends he is having pain in his hand. Gregory asks Grant what his plans are to get into the lab? Grant says he can’t break-in and that he has to get Dr. Jerrold to let him in. Grant doesn’t understand the need to kill Dr. Jerrold? Gregory informs him that the microfilm is useless as long as Dr. J can duplicate his work. Gregory also points out that Dr. J can also identify Grant. Grant says he is willing to take that risk, obviously unwilling to kill the professor. Gregory threatens Grant’s life if he doesn't complete his mission. 

Later, Gregory tells Natalie that they will use Celia as leverage to get Grant to get the microfilm. One of his henchmen drops off a live scorpion and puts it in Celia's bed. Celia leaves Grant a message at the hospital thanking him for the fruit basket. A puzzled Grant suddenly realizes the danger this delivery might pose and rushes home. Celia exhausted falls asleep in the bed as the creature creeps closer and closer towards her. Grant arrives just in time as the Scorpion is crawling on her, and he knocks it off of her and saves Celia's life but he is stung in the process by the poisoness Scorpion. 

Robert and Holly discuss their pasts. He asks her if she misses her former life of adventure and intrigue? He asks her if she finds her current life dull? She insists not, that she loves her life. She asks him if he ever misses the good old days of the WSB? He says no but what he is doing now isn’t much different from what he did for the WSB. She admits she enjoys the peace as her life with her family was filled with stress and she never knew what would happen from day to day. Celia phones Holly in a panic over Grant. 

Once they arrive at GH, Lesley tells Celia that once she administers the anti-venom that Grant should be fine. The nurse arrives with the only bottle of anti-venom but the seal is broken and Leslie reports they can’t use it as it is contaminated. Robert and Holly arrive and a sobbing Celia fills them in. Robert believes the Scorpion may have come in on the fruit basket from South America. Robert puts Ramsey on the trail of the Scorpion/Fruit basket that Celia got. Holly tries to calm her hysterical friend. 

Natalie sees the name “Putnam” on the patient list and assumes it is Celia. She calls Gregory to report that the plan worked like a charm and she is sure that Grant got the message. Natalie is shocked when she enters the room to find that Grant is the patient! Leslie and Monica arrive with the just arrived package of anti-venom. Leslie can’t believe that she has received the drug for a black widow bite by mistake! Celia is desperate for them to find the venom to save her husband’s life. 

The next 24 hours are touch and go for Grant as Lesley conducts a maddening search for anti-venom. Natalie meets with Gregory, and he demands an explanation for this! She says that she had no idea of the problems they would face getting the anti-venom, she checked to make sure there was a vial in stock but didn’t notice the broken seal. Gregory tells her that Robert has run Grant’s fingerprints and that they are closing in and they have to move fast. He tells her his contact at the WSB substituted the real Grant Putnam’s fingerprints and Robert didn’t notice the difference. While waiting for the anti-venom to arrive, Grant goes into convulsions. 

The mystery man tracks Luke down at Kelly's and offers him 50,000 + for the disc. Arriving at Kelly's, Natalie is shocked to see Luke sitting with a rival spy. Luke jauntily informs the spy he has nothing to sell him. Bumping into Gregory at Kelly's, Natalie insists that Luke does know something about the disc but Gregory still doubts it. Returning to the casino, Luke plants poker chips around the room in an effort to fool Connie (who he caught poking around his closet). Connie and Luke later snuggle in bed. Luke tells Connie that if she is going to sleep with him, that she can’t spy on him. Luke removes the disc from his shoe and tapes it high above on the top of the ceiling fan. 

A recovering Grant is up and about, and runs into Dr. Jerrold out in the hallway. Grant asks again about his work, the professor admits to being incredibly busy. Grant offers to assist him in the lab, answering phones, emptying the garbage, anything that can give Dr. Jerrold more time to work on his project. Dr. Jerrold insists that isn’t possible, as he can’t allow anyone to enter his lab, not even Grant. Natalie listens in and comes up and overhears this. She calls Gregory and tells him that they have trouble. 

Jackie overhears Lee confront Scotty about the police report he dug up on Bobbie and Ruby’s past as prostitutes. Lee is furious that Scotty would use them to try to hurt Luke’s campaign. Scotty insists that he never planned on going public with the information and only wanted to try to force Luke to quit the race. Lee tells him if he pulls anything like this again that he will be out of the campaign. Jackie is standing outside and listens in. She calls and has a copy of the police report faxed to The Herald. 

The next morning all of PC is a buzz by the news that leaked out to the press about Bobbie and Ruby's past lives in prostitution. Reading the report in rage, Luke races over to see Bobbie. When Bobbie says it may have come from Scotty to tip the scales in Lee's favor, he heads over to the newspaper. Luke bursts into the Herald newspaper and screams at Jackie and Ian. Taking care of more unfinished business, Luke barges into the cottage where he interrupts Scotty and Heather's lovemaking. Luke smashes Scotty in the face and walks out in disgust. 

One of the nurse’s tells Robert that the night he was stung that he rushed out of the hospital still wearing his scrubs. Robert is curious as to why Grant raced home in his scrubs and asks Celia if he has done that before? She reports never, that Grant is always very careful to shower and change before coming home. Natalie and Grant concoct an alibi to cover for Grant. Gregory hires a hood to break off a key in Grant's locker. Robert comes into Grant’s room and begins to question him about his sudden departure that night and Natalie calls to relay the excuse to Putnam. When Robert checks out the story he sees it's true, he finds the broken lock. Gregory gives Grant his final warning to get the microfilm, kill Jerrold or else. 

Grant is furious over this last attempt on Celia’s life and warns them that if they harm a hair on Celia’s head that he will abort the mission! Natalie can’t believe he would make such a threat. Gregory counters that Grant has been repeatedly stupid, and should have completed this mission long ago and has been stopped by his own fear. Grant suggests that if Gregory is so unhappy with his performance that he should replace him and get someone else to complete the mission. Gregory says that isn’t possible that he is stuck with Grant and he will complete his mission. Grant asks what if he doesn’t? Gregory tells him if he doesn’t that there will be no place on earth that Grant will be able to hide. Grant asks what will happen once he does leave town to the people he has left behind and Gregory assures him that they will be safe. 

A tremendous explosion jolts everyone in town, coming from the waterfront area. When Robert distractedly lets slip Ballantine's name slip out in front of Holly, she realizes that her husband's crises is WSB related. Then Jerrold angrily confronts Robert what his warnings of what would happen if the disc was exposed to air. Scorpio quickly assembles a meeting with Ballantine, Connie and Jerrold. 

Holly eavesdrops on Robert's conversation and learns the explosion was a shipload of fertilizer and not the disc. Robert later tells her that he wants to forget anything she may have overheard and stresses again that this is for her own protection. Ballantine insists the disc won't explode as long as it's kept in a cool dry place. Meanwhile, a pleased Luke surveys the disc spinning on top of his casino fan. Holly enters an information request in Robert's computer and discovers that the disc is still missing. Natalie and Gregory order Grant to kill Jerrold and retrieve the microfilm no later than Monday. 

Luke catches up with Brock at Kelly's and lays into him regarding Bobbie. Connie is surprised to find Holly at the casino waiting to see Luke. When he arrives, Holly urges him to tell her anything he knows about the disc and to turn it over to Robert if he has it. She urges him that it is extremely important and she believes he knows something about it. Hearing all the chitchat between the two, Connie is outraged at Robert for telling Holly everything. Robert insists he didn’t tell her and she must have overheard them talking during their meeting. 

When Holly gets home, Robert pleads with her to stay out of his business for her own safety. He asks her exactly what she overheard? She knew when Ballantine, Connie, and Dr. Jerrold were all meeting together that something important was going on. She tells him that if he tells her everything she promises not to poke around anymore. She has surmised the disk is stolen and admits to using his computer to confirm that information. She tells him about going to see Luke and he asks if Luke told her anything. She admits no that he isn’t talking, but she was hoping that he would confide in her. She advises Robert that Luke is always in the center of the action and recommends that he keep an eye on Luke. Holly is sure she can be of help to Robert but he refuses to have her involved in this assignment, as he won’t have her be a target. She tries to convince him that they work well together but he tries to divert her attention by kissing her and taking her upstairs. 

Grant is released from the hospital. At the Quartermaine mansion, Dr. Jerrold meets Grant and Celia for dinner and offers to set up a trust fund for their firstborn child. Later, Gregory and Grant meet. Grant agrees to steal the microfilm but he absolutely refuses to kill the professor. He says that he has become like a father to him. Gregory then meets with a couple of goons, he instructs them to stake out the Quartermaine mansion and wait for their opportunity. 

#26B A panicked Jerrold bursts into Robert's house and tells him there is no way he can complete the disc by the time of the Expo. He asks to have Grant help him out. Robert must run a security check on Grant before he can say yes. Robert tells Ballantine that Dr. Jerrold insists that he can’t finish the disk in time for the Expo. Ballantine is against this, as Grant doesn’t have security clearance. Robert reports that the professor insists on it being Grant or no one and without help, the disk won’t be completed. Ballantine reluctantly agrees and authorizes Robert to being the security clearance for him and insists that Grant not go anywhere near the lab until he has the clearance. 

Unaware of the news, Grant takes Celia out for a memorable day on the Expo site. This is a location shot, and workers are setting up for the Expo. As they sit in the cafe, Natalie and Gregory are watching Grant. Gregory hires a pair of motorcycle thugs to take care of Grant. As they walk the grounds, the motorcycles come screaming down the stairs headed straight for Celia. Grant grabs her and pulls her out of the way at the last second. When Grant gets up, he sees Gregory spying on him from a distance. Celia cries that they were trying to run them down! 

Robert pops by the Q's with questions for Grant on his friends. Doing a security check on Grant, Celia is no help at all when she casually mentions the missing Dr. Bunny Willis! Grant reports the news to Gregory who is not concerned since he took care of the noisy doctor. Security clearance or no, Gregory orders Grant to kill Jerrold. Grant reluctantly agrees to perform the loathsome task of his mission but the promise of being a hero to his "homeland" is not important to him anymore. Lord Rama arrives at Robert's door. He wants to make sure that his pavilion at the Expo will be given diplomatic immunity. Robert assures him that all of the Expo Pavilions will have full diplomatic status similar to Embassy status. Holy is bored and she wants to help Robert with his investigation. 

More foreign agents approach Luke with offers to buy the disc. Luke meets Lord Rama who has a business proposition for him. Spencer makes light of the man's inquires as Gregory strains to hear the conversation. Gregory quickly gets Natalie over to the casino. She is instructed to watch Luke while he listens to the recording of the agent’s conversation with Spencer. Suddenly, Luke realizes Gregory is not at the piano and tracks him down in the security room. Luke listens as Gregory comes up with pathetic excuses for his behavior. 

Grant has nightmares of killing Dr. Jerrold. He reluctantly slips a gun into his pocket. Gregory angrily paces wondering why Grant has not shown up for his final instructions. Unable to reach Grant by phone, Natalie shows up at the Q's pretending it is regarding a medical crisis. When Natalie offers Celia a box of chocolates, Grant wildly grabs it out of her hands. Following Gregory's orders, Putnam pretends to be ill and Jerrold immediately admits him to his lab concerned for the health of his friend. 

Grant pulls a gun on a stunned Jerrold and reluctantly forces him into the to retrieve the microfilm. Luke has been hosting a campaign rally on the dock. He's being stalked by an Arabian sheik that he insulted at his club for coming onto Connie. As Luke makes a speech, the angry Sheik pulls out a sword and swings it at the box that Spencer is standing on. Losing his grip, Luke falls injuring his leg. His friends rush him to GH, where Natalie is forced to work on him and it causes her to miss her boat. As Jerrold hands over the microfilm to Grant, a shot is heard, the professor grabs his chest and fall to the ground. 

Grant turns around and sees Gregory has fired the fatal shot. Cradling the kindly doctor in his arms, Jerrold tells Grant to have Robert "keep it safe". Gregory fires a second bullet into his body and hustles Grant out towards the waiting boat. Natalie rushes out on Luke leaving him perplexed. She promises to return and give him a full work up later. Gregory contacts the DVX mole in Ballantine's office and says "Destruct". When Natalie finally shows up, Gregory discovers the microfilm has been cut and he realizes that there must be a second half. 

Panicked, Gregory tries to call Ballantine's office back, but the mole has already left. Grant is terrified at the thought of staying in town and getting the remainder of the microfilm from Robert. Gregory gives him an alibi for the time of Jerrold’s death. The story is that Grant stopped by to help Natalie who hurt her hand during car trouble. To make everything ring true, Gregory smashes Natalie's hand with a rock! Hearing that Natalie was in an "accident" Luke visits her. He is surprised to see a campaign flyer stuck to her shoe since Natalie was nowhere near the docks this afternoon and he gets a suspicious look on his face. Luke asks Connie to run a check on Ms. Dearborn. 

Grant falls into a state of depression and starts drinking. Robert receives an urgent call from Ballantine. There's been an explosion at the WSB safe house. Robert and Connie fly to Washington, where they learn that the duplicate microfilm has been destroyed. When Ballantine finds out that his secretary had been a DVX plant they all fear for Jerrold’s life. 

Robert and Connie got to the lab and find Jerrold dead and the microfilm gone! They now realize the WSB and the DVX each have half of the formula. Robert turns over his half to Ballentine. Later, he has to deal with a snoopy Jackie when she arrives at the crime scene. Figuring out that Jerrold must have opened the door to someone he trusted, Robert's first suspect is Grant as he was the person that Jerrold trusted the most. Robert tells Grant of his death, Grant feigns shock, and then mentions that Jerrold had been depressed lately even to the thought he might commit suicide. 

When Luke sees the latest headlines of Jerrold's death, he demands Connie tells him what's going on. Grant is tormented by nightmares of the murder. Lee informs Robert and Holly of Jerrold's final will and testament. The latest findings for Robert are that Jerrold committed "suicide. Holly and Celia at the Q's. Acting cheery while visiting Natalie, Luke quizzes her on her background. Later, Steve tells him that Natalie was hired because her predecessor was suddenly killed in a car accident before she was to begin work at GH. After questioning Grant on his relationship with Dr Jerrold, Robert heads over to Luke's to question him but learns nothing. Returning home, Ballantine reports that Bunny Willis has vanished off the face of the earth. Not completely satisfied with Putnam's answers, Robert switches on his computer and learns that he supposedly inquired about Grant once before. 

Holly walks into Robert’s secret room to find him very confused. He tells her that when doing Grant’s background check that it not only shows his original inquiry but that there was a second request for Grant’s fingerprints and he can’t figure it out as he knows it didn’t come from him. Holly admits she used it to investigate Grant. She tells him about Celia’s request and that the glass holding Grant’s fingerprints were a mistake. Robert says he will forgive her, as this is an interesting piece of information. Holly observes that he doesn’t think Celia’s request to run Grant’s fingerprints were a mistake? He says he doesn’t know what to think about Grant anymore. 

Connie is very distraught over Jerrold’s death and Luke asks her what is wrong? She asks him to just hold her as she cries on his shoulder. She says she can’t sleep as she sees Jerrold’s face. She feels like she let him down as she was supposed to protect him. Luke assures her that it wasn’t her fault he killed himself and she blurts out that it wasn’t a suicide. Luke is shocked and questions her and she covers that suicide is just one theory. Luke asks her if this is about the disk? He asks her what she would do if she had the disk right now? (Her one chance to plead for its return and really convey to Luke its importance and the risk to the public safety and national security). Connie insists she doesn’t care about the disk anymore, as it can’t bring back the dead! 

Gregory is waiting for Grant at his office to torment him further about the missing microfilm and makes threats against Grant’s life if he doesn’t complete his mission. Grant tells him that he needs Grant’s help and if he doesn’t to go ahead and kill him! Gregory says not a day goes by that he doesn’t consider killing Grant. Grant taunts him why doesn’t he kill everyone, Grant, Celia, Robert, and Luke and eliminate them all! 

When Robert stops by suddenly, Gregory makes an excuse and leaves. Robert needs Grant to open Jerrold's safety deposit box at the bank, hoping that it will contain the microfilm. Grant examines the box's contents. However, all it contains is a letter warmly speaking about the Putnam's. Robert comments that the letter hardly indicates the sentiments of a man about to commit suicide. Grant and Robert arrive at Jerrold’s funeral, and find Holly, Celia, Lee, the Quartermaine’s have already arrived. Then Connie and Luke arrived, followed by Natalie. Grant is so shaken that later that night he comes close to blurting out the truth to Celia and tells her he wants to tell her everything. Gregory interrupts Grant’s impending confession with a summons to yet another meeting. His new mission is to get the Scorpio's out of the town home tomorrow night. Connie reports to Luke her check on Natalie was clean but Luke still has his doubts. 

Gregory concludes that Robert has the other half of the microfilm. He gives Natalie a layout of the Scorpio's. She is to break in and find it! She asks what if they don’t find it? He says they will then apply pressure using Scorpio’s wife! Natalie warns him that could be very dangerous. Luke and Connie lay in bed together, wrapped in each other’s arms. Connie is still shaken over Jerrold’s death. Luke asks her if she is feeling guilty over Jerrold’s death. He assures her that Jerrold’s death is not her fault and she is not responsible. 

The Prometheus Disk storyline is continued on the #27.