Celebrating Audrey Hardy was a special episode for the ABC soap opera General Hospital, celebrating its 10,000th episode on April 17, 2002, centered around one of the show's longest-running cast member, Rachel Ames. The episode commemorated her character Head Nurse Audrey March-Hardy, celebrating her 10,000th shift as a nurse at the hospital. The episode was notable for showcasing the show's long history in a series of clips and montages. Similar to the 30th anniversary, this episode took place entirely at General Hospital.
Storyline[]
Nurse Amy Vining attempts to catch the attention of Audrey, who is daydreaming about her first day at GH in 1964. The hospital staff and friends surprise Audrey by celebrating her 10,000th day of work, and Alan Quartermaine presents her with a lovely heart pendant from all of the staff. She is touched by the warm reception she receives and spends time reminiscing about her early years on the job with Steve Hardy.
Luke Spencer and Scott Baldwin, running late for the celebration, hastily enter an elevator with a pregnant woman, hoping to delay the event slightly. Unfortunately, as the elevator ascends, the woman goes into labor. To make matters worse, at that very moment, Alan is demonstrating his new security system at GH to the party guests and inadvertently locks all the doors and halts all the elevators in the building much to Monica Quartermaine's annoyance. As he frantically attempts to resolve the issue, Luke, Scott, and the pregnant woman all scream for help as she begins going into labor.
Zander Smith who arrived with a head wound is sitting and sulking alone and Monica kindly patches him up. Maxie Jones, who had attempted to sneak out of the celebration to attend a concert, is trapped at GH after Felicia Jones catches her. Felicia reminds her daughter that GH and her cousin, B.J. Jones, saved her life. Maxie tells her mother to leave her alone and goes to sulk privately. Later, Zander enters the room she's in and the two get to know each other. She shares with Zander the story of her heart transplant. After they finish talking, Felicia finds her. Maxie tearfully apologizes to her mother for taking for granted the sacrifice that saved her life.
Laura Webber and Bobbie Spencer, who happen to be walking by the elevator shaft, hear the cries from Luke, Scott and the pregnant woman trapped in the elevator. They coach the two men through the delivery of a baby girl. Shortly after the delivery, Alan is finally able to fix the system and get the elevator moving. Mom and baby are whisked away to labor and delivery. Luke and Laura later share an intimate moment in front of the elevator and walk away, waving goodbye to Audrey. As the episode ends, the lights dim to just Audrey around the nurses' station as "Faces of the Heart" begins to play. A title card appears congratulating GH on 10,000 episodes.
Music Montages[]
- Danger Zone (Kenny Loggins) - Montage of action clips through out the decades.
- Taking You Home (Don Henley) - Montage of weddings through out the decades.
- Be My Baby (Linda Ronstadt) - Montage of births through out the decades.
- Only Time (Enya) - Various clips
- Only a Miracle (Kenny Loggins) - Montage of kissing scenes through out the decades.
Trivia[]
- Following the airing of this episode at the year's conclusion, Rachel Ames was taken off contract at General Hospital after 38 years.