Virtual Quola originally grew out of the frustration of Quolaholics in the summer of 1996. Back in May of 1996, it was announced that Michael Tylo was coming back to Guiding Light as Quinton for a "long term role". Lisa Brown had been brought back quite a bit earlier with a story that shocked, disgusted and more than anything, hurt longtime fans. One circumstance after another led to a very unsatisfying summer of Quola in 1996. Quola fans got their hopes up for a return to the glory days, but all promises were apparently empty. In the middle of August, some Quint and Nola scenes aired that actually had a modicum of promise when Quint vowed to win Nola back. But then Nola went upstairs and wasn't heard from for three weeks, and Quinton walked out of the boarding house door only to disappear in Afghanistan (none of us knew how dangerous that country could be back then) and miss his sister's memorial service. Then when "Quint" did come back, he was played by a redneck-type actor for a few episodes. Quola fans threw up their hands and decided that if the "Pseudo Writers" (see Quola lingo) wouldn't write some decent story, then they would write it themselves and share it with others. Following are the creative, entertaining and consistant-with-history efforts of those that like to be called Virtual or Fanfiction Writers. It is hoped that they will be enjoyed as much by the reader, as they were by the writer. Now, if only the actors could add their undefinable magic . . . all would be well again in the Quola world.
"What's Past Is Prologue"
After finding a happy ending for The One With the Gazebo, I decided to skip ahead a few months for the next part of the series. I call this "What's Past is Prologue." This is a quote from the opening credits of the film JFK, and it has always struck me as a good summary of my writing, in which characters' pasts are always coming back to affect their current lives. It may not be as happy and full of romance as Gazebo, but I hope you will enjoy it anyway. -- Kate
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"The One With the Gazebo"
Welcome to The One With the Gazebo, a series of virtual scenes featuring my favorite Quola place, the gazebo in which the couple met. Originally housed behind the house on Thornway Road, Henry had the gazebo moved when Quinton and Nola granted his request to move in with him shortly after their wedding. The Psuedo writers (see "Lingo") soiled this sacred place soon after Nola's return last year by having Nola talk to Henry there about the way Quinton had hurt her, but I am determined to restore it to its former, romantic glory.
These episodes pick up the day after Donna's Episode #3, "It's a Wonderful Life, aka Nola's New Hedonistic Outlook." As you'll see, some Pseudo story is incorporated, but mostly just as a jumping off point. Hope you enjoy. -- Kate
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"Home for the Holidays"
Home For The Holidays is my Christmas wish for the ideal Quola reunion. It contains all the elements I yearn to see onscreen: A romantic, gallant Quint who is totally and completely in love with Nola and is ready to go to any length to prove his love to her; a Nola who is very similar to Donna's version - a woman who has grown comfortable with who she is and isn't afraid to go after what she wants.
Once Nola makes that leap of faith and decides that Quint is, in fact, what she wants the fun begins. Lots of goodies are included in an effort to make up for what was missing in Retro Quola and to let the current writing staff know what we Quola fans would love to see when this storyline finally gets moving again. -- Denise
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"Not So Forbidden Fruit"
These scenes pick up after Episode 3 of Val's "Sometimes You Get a Second Chance" series. I would especially like to thank Kate and Lusca for their wonderful contributions to this series. Readers will notice that my Quinton is very much consistant with the Quinton from the 80's. He is totally romantic and adores Nola. I felt however that it was necessary to "grow up" Nola from the way she was in the 80's. She is now a confident, assertive and competent woman, but she is stil fun and quirky at appropriate times. Enjoy!! -- Donna
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The Fall of '95 was a time of a major transition in my life. My oldest daughter started kindergarten and being a stay-at-home mother, this was the first time that one of my little ones had ventured away from the nest. I felt nervous, anxious, and maybe even a little old. About this same time, Lisa Brown resumed her role as Nola Reardon on Guiding Light. The Nola/Quint story had been such an important part of my late childhood and early adulthood. In those days, I never dawdled when I got off the school bus, less I miss something really good on that day's episode. And it was good. I remember watching almost mesmerized, as Nola and Quinton grew closer each day, despite and probably because of, all the obstacles in their way.
Now with the character of Nola back on the show, I imagined that I would be once again, rushing home from the bus stop, in order to see what Nola did today. Just this time, I would be rushing home from picking my daughter up from her bus stop. I imagined too, that I would have a second chance to once again experience the magic that was the Nola and Quinton love story. But unfortunately, Nola came back to town without Quinton, and without her old spirit. It just wasn't the same Nola. This Nola moped around a lot. She didn't dream. She didn't scheme. She was just there. But then the character of Quinton came back for Henry's funeral, and it was more than obvious to all us long time fans, that the Nola/Quinton chemistry was still very much alive.
And now that Michael Tylo is back in a recurring role as Quinton, the chemistry is still there, if not the story-line. And that's where my Quola story comes in. It's chocked full of references to Retro Quola, but it also involves the current characters of Bridget and Zachary. (I couldn't help but think, if there was anything supernatural going on in Springfield, Nola would have to be involved in it somehow.) And in this story, Nola gets to do more than just cry. She gets to laugh, to flirt, to fantasize, and to just be our Nola, again. And she also gets a chance to prove to everyone that sometimes you get a second chance. -- Val
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