Mike, Simon clash over Katie

AS THE WORLD TURNS: Chris finds Alison by the fire escape. When Alison starts to slip, Chris tries to save her. Alison loses the baby. Aaron tells the police he saw Chris push Alison. Alison cannot recall what happened. Mike is stunned that Simon is alive. Mike and Simon, each in love with Katie, clash. Katie goes to church to try and sort out her feelings. Simon enters the church and shares a kiss with Katie. Mike walks in during their embrace. After the church is sprayed with bullets, the trio escapes. Lucinda and Holden are concerned with the attachment Lily has made with psychic Lois. James warns Paul to keep friends close and enemies closer. Paul tricks Barbara into asking him to work at BRO. Carly does not know what she wants to do with her life. Jack suggests she return to fashion designing.

ALL MY CHILDREN: Jack implicates himself in Michael's murder. Erica fears Jack is trying to protect Bianca. On the stand, Jack says he stole heroin and planted it in Michael's condo. Greenlee blames Kendall for Jack's situation. The fake DNA tests concur that Kendall is pregnant by Michael. Mia finds Fred Lomax at the pump house. David finds Krystal intriguing. Ryan informs Kendall that once she is acquitted he will marry her. Maria collapses. Liza tells Krystal she will do whatever it takes to win Tad's heart. Adam is attracted to Mary.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Massimo reluctantly agrees to let Jackie keep her job. Deacon makes one final plea for Eric to support his and Bridget's getting back together. Thomas bumps into Caitlin and sparks a conversation. Caitlin learns Thomas is a Forrester as they discuss his family. Deacon provides Massimo with ammunition against Eric in the form of tax returns. Nick tracks Brooke to Paris and brings her home. Brooke confesses that all she can do is think about Ridge.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: The Horton Foundation's circus is in full swing. It is a race against the clock, as Tony takes the center ring and attempts to expose the Salem Stalker. Tony is attacked by a tiger. Rushed to the hospital, he dies after the stalker injects him with poison. Marlena is pleased that her latest murder has worked. Bonnie "faints" to get Mickey's attention, and he takes her to the hospital for tests. Nicole lies to Brady about Colin Murphy's murder.

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason does not realize that Brian saw Courtney shoot him. Courtney feels guilty when it appears that Zander is going to take the fall for Brian's shooting. Nikolas and Emily plan to steal the treasure from Helena. Helena is chloroformed and abducted by Luke. Sonny refuses to let Carly see Michael and Morgan. Alcazar plans to reunite Carly with the boys. Maxie helps Zander elude the police. Georgie goes alone to the Winter Formal. When Tom arrives at the dance, Dillon punches him. Zander finds Jax and prepares to kill him, but his gun misfires. Jax wounds Zander and escapes. Jax decides to try to reconcile with Sam.

GUIDING LIGHT: Danny and Bill save Michelle when she almost succumbs to a gas-filled room. At the museum, Marah is confused when a china doll keep appearing and disappearing. As Marah reaches for the doll, she sustains a bad cut. Tony and Eden break away from Bruzi's henchmen. Eden realizes Tony has been injured and takes him to the hospital. Ross convinces the outgoing mayor to give him the endorsement. Beth and Lizzie learn that Phillip and Olivia are married. Olivia meets the wrath of the Spauldings. Phillip, who thinks his child did not live, hopes he and Olivia can have another child. Cassie is on to Olivia's secret, but she agrees to keep it. Zach is upset when he sees Harley and Gus argue. Jeffrey reveals that he is continuing to investige the Spauldings.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE: Flash is rushed to the hospital after being attacked by the Music Box Killer. Professor Barnes resigns when two students claim he sexually harassed him. John and Antonio set a trap for the killer by claiming Flash can identify the murderer. Kelly learns she is pregnant. Todd takes Blair to the hospital after she faints. Marcie invites Michael and John's mother to dinner. On her way to see John, Natalie is attacked by the killer. Kevin decides to quit his lieutenant governor position. Roxy warns Rex not to get involved with Lindsay. The killer calls John and says Jessica will be his next victim.

PASSIONS: Fox tries to admit his true feelings for Whitney, who is continuing to fall for him. Theresa encourages Whitney to reunite with Chad. Julian and Eve's clandestine meeting gives Liz an opportunity to expose her sister's past to T.C. Whitney tries to understand why her mother was hiding at the Crane mansion. Julian and Fox work together to stop Whitney from telling T.C. all she knows. Miguel and Jessica are horrified to catch Charity in bed with Reese. Trying to uphold her deal with Death, Charity tells a devastated Miguel that it's over. Luis struggles to get into the psych ward to see Sheridan. Alistair tells Dr. Ackland he wants all of Sheridan's memories of Luis erased, no matter how dangerous the procedure.

YOUNG AND RESTLESS: At Marsino's, Bobby and Raul try to resuscitate a lifeless Brittany. Bobby sees Fred struggling to break free from the thugs and moves over to help him. Sharon is stunned when Grace reveals she is in Genoa City looking for the love of her life, Cameron Kirsten. In Jack's office, he and Diane discuss his marital problems, and she urges him to fight for Phyllis. Paul is surprised when Lynne reports that Danny's career isn't as successful as they all believed. Victor pleads guilty to both counts of the indictment. Jack reminds Nick that Jabot plans to file a civil suit against Newman Enterprises.

Lynda Hirsch, a columnist for Creators Syndicate, has been writing abou the soap-opera scene for 18 years.