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Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
All bets are off when Days' Ali, with Craig and Nancy's help, discovers Mike's and Carrie's true feelings

FRUSTRATED BY HER CRUMBLING marriage to Austin, Carrie stops off in Las Vegas with Mike for a little relaxation and fun, this week on Days of Our Lives. Craig, Nancy and Ali are hot on their heels, however. The Wesleys' goal is to have Ali get so angry at Mike that she files sexual-harassment charges against him. When the scandal gets him ousted as the hospital's chief of staff, Craig would eagerly step in as his successor

Carrie's telephone conversation with Austin at the beginning of the week erupts into another marital spat. "Carrie is very disappointed with Austin," Christie Clark (Carrie) says. "There's a lot of baggage with Austin. There are always problems - whether it's Sami, Will, Lucas, Billie. Mike is an easygoing friendship. He's an older man. He gives good advice. He's sweet. They have fun together."

"From his viewpoint,. there is no question about who is the better man for Carrie," Roark Critchlow (Mike) says. "Mike is more sensitive. He loves Carrie better than Austin does. He loves Carrie more than Austin. And Mike is someone who would never do all the stupid crap to Carrie [that Austin has done] and make her feel so bad. Beyond that, whenever you fall in love, you feel that you are the right one for that person."

Carrie and Mike arrive at the Mardi Gras hotel and almost run into Craig, Nancy and Ali at the front desk. Ali spots a newly married couple and says she can't understand anyone wanting to get hitched in such a tacky place. Nancy is taken a back when Ali announces that she plans to marry Mike at the Plaza in New york. "nancy is starting to realize that there is something seriously wrong with Ali, that she's not playing with a full deck," Patrika Darbo (Nancy) says.

Lisa Linde (Ali) doesn't belive her character has totally lost touch with reality.  "I just think Ali's been very hopeful and optimistic when it comes to Mike," Linde explains. "She has to be that way, because the truth hurts too much. She knows it might [be possible that Mike loves Carrie], but Ali's hoping against hope that he doesn't - that there still might be a chance for them. In All's heart, she really knows and feels that she and Mike would be right together."

Mike tells Carrie to go upstairs and unpack while he takes care of something. Mike gives Carrie a kiss on the cheek and leaves, as Ali, Craig and Nancy observe the whole thing. Ali still isn't convinced that anything intimate is going on between Mike and Canne.

However, it may be just a matter of time. Because even though Mike and Carrie are in separate rooms, they're both thinking about spending the night together.

"Mike kept his feelings at bay for a long time," Critchlow says. "He did what he thought was right for everybody as long as he could. Now what is right for everybody has changed. To desire the woman he loves is in no way guilt."

Clark concururs. "They're both passionate about each other,"she says. "When you have feelings for someone like this- you're in love with them - you can't help but think of them sexually"

Mike sends a surprised Carrie a gown and necklace for their night out on the town. Carrie is touched "because she hasn't had this kind of attention in a while. Austin used to do romantic little things for her. All women like - even if it's just getting flowers picked from the front yard - little
special surprises. So Carrie's excited. She thinks Mike is fantastic," Clark says.

Soon, a tuxedo-clad Mike arrives at Carrie's door and whisks he away for their wonderful evening together. Although happy to be with Mike, a part of Carrie can't help but be preoccupied with thoughts of Austin.  "When you're in love with two people, it's really confusing," Clark notes. Carrie's focus, however, turns to Mike as the night progresses.  After she wins some cash at a slot machine, Mike tells her this is their lucky night.

While Carrie's thooughts linger in that direction, Clark insists that her character still is a little tentative about making love to Mike, and "I hope Carrie always will be if she's married and has a ring on her finger."

As Carrie and Mike sit down to dinner in the hotel restaurant, Nancy and Craig watch from their own table in the distance.  Ali, disguised as a photographer, lets Nancy and Craig in on her act and heads toward Mike and Carrie's table. Ali is unsettled when she sees them so cozy together.
"Carrie's just a royal pain in the butt. She's that annoying girlfriend that the guy just can't get past," Linde says. "Ali thinks that if it weren't for Carrie, things would be a lot easier."

Ali marches over to Mike and Carrie's table and asks if she can take their picture. Mike politely declines, as he and Carrie head for the dance floor. For Ali, it's just another rejection, and she vengefully spits in Carrie's soup. "Poor Carrie. That's sick!" Linde admits. But she does understandher charachter's demented little outburst. "ali doesn't know where to put her anger. She's got to let it out in little bitty increments every now and then or else- good god - she'll blow!"

Ali flips watching Mike and Carrie dance closely; then she witnesses Mike take Carrie's hand and tell her now much he loves her. "It's a natural progressiion of the intimacy that they're sharing on this trip," Chitchlow says. "They've been alone in cars, alone in rooms, alone in places where nobody knows them. There's freedom in that, and that freedom has become more encompassing as it goes along. Mike maintains this declaration of love to Carrie because he's swept up in what he feels."

So is Carrie. "So many special things are happening on this trip," Clark says. "Mike keeps showing Carrie how much he loves her, and Austin isn't showing her anything."

Needless to say, seeing and hearing the reality of Mike's love for Carrie cuts through Ali's heart like a knife. She suddenly cracks, gripping a wine glass so tightly that it shatters in her hand. "Ali feels totally defeated," Linde says, "All her greatest fears have come true. She's completely embarrassed. Hurt. Just hopeless. It's: I've hears it. Now what can I do? How can I deny it?

Devastated, Ali races to the ladies' room and Nancy rushes after her. All is furious at Nancy and Craig for putting her through all this. "It's: 'I'm very sorry this happened to you, but you need to face the music. It's over,' " Darbo says of Nancy's reaction. "Then the other part of Nancy is saying, 'Honey; I'm sorry; We've been trying to tell you this was going on, but you wouldn't listen. The only thing we could do was show you.

Ali doesn't buy that Nancy and Craig are looking out for her best interests. When Ali continues to rage, Nancy is forced to slap her to calm her down. Nancy then tells her she has to deal with the reality that Mike loves Carrie, not her, and move on.

'And moving on means suing Mike," Darbo elaborates. "It's good for everyone at this point. Ali needs to realize she's in a deadend situation."

For the first time in weeks, it looks like Ali will finally make the decision Craig and Nancy have been waiting for. "Mission accomplished," Kevin Spirtas (Craig) declares with a grin. "Craig wants power and control, and he has the partner of a life time in his wife. He's thrilled things are finally on track. His wonderful plot against Mike is working. He's very happy"

Ditto for Nancy "Craig and Nancy don't think they've done anything wrong. It was all part of their plan, and they also helped Ali wake up and smeel the roses," Darbo adds.  However, neither anticipated Ali totally flipping out. "They didn't have any intention of destroying her life. Craig and Nancy knew Ali's elevator didn't go all the way up, but I don't think they were aware that she was as far gone as she is."

"They were not out to hurt anyone," Spirtas agrees. "Craig was just out to get what he feels he deserves. The truth is Craig has no idea that Ali [was mentally unstable]. It's kind of becoming a joke with Nancy. He keeps saying, 'We'll take care of her,' as he discovers she's really batty and nutty."

Exactly how nutty Ali will become remians to be seen.  At this point, Linde thinks Ali now is prepared to sue Mike for sexual harassment and destroy him. "Ali's a woman scorened. She has it in for everybody," Linde says. "I think she'll be able to convince herself that she was done in by Mike."
-Janet Di Lauro & Lesleyan Medeiros  ---- Soap Opera Weekly-- April 20, 1999