**The Week in Review: April 28 - May 2**

I. The Cassadines

A. Nikolas

i.  With Alexis

Alexis:  "But whatever his reasons, he is a man who honors his commitments, right?  And he has never wavered on the one that he made to raise and protect you."
Nikolas:  "No."
Alexis:  "I bet you wish he had."

We started the week with Nikolas and Alexis on the docks at Wyndemere.  Nikolas told her of his suspicions that Stefan's having an affair with Katherine.  I was so happy that Nikolas thought he could trust Alexis with his concerns, and I'm glad to see them getting along so well and coming together.  He needs someone strong on his side right now and his Uncle's too confused, distracted, angry, etc. to be that person.  Bobbie's on his side, but she's got enough to worry about--and she's not a Cassadine.  And I think that makes a difference to Nik.  Alexis knows how this family works, and she's the best person right now to help Nikolas deal with things.  I think he wasn't convinced yet, but mostly wanted someone to talk to.

Alexis:  "He sees responsibilities where other people don't."

Aside from Stefan's love or lust or obsession or what have you, Alexis' explanation for his behavior is quite right.  He does see responsibilities everywhere.  While saving Lulu was a calculated move, it also served to meet a responsibility Stefan felt to bring Nikolas into his mother's life.  And part of what Stefan feels for Katherine is a responsibility.  The problem is that Stefan's responsibilities are always tinged by his main "responsibility"--the master plan--or by his unclear thinking with regards to a woman (Laura or Katherine).  I'm glad that Alexis can see the good in Stefan's actions and his good motivations as well as his bad.

Alexis:  "Nikolas, I want you to know--right now, in case you already don't know--you can always come to me for any reason and I will always put you first."

Alexis:  "And a Cassadine family with you at the head is one that I would be so proud to belong to."

I think one of the most interesting things to watch will be how Alexis navigates her loyalty to Nikolas and her loyalty to Stefan.  I hope that at some point along the way we will reach a point where she has to choose.  Not some drastic choice and not that I hope the family splits or anything messy like that, just some event or issue where Stefan's given orders or taken action that could hurt Nikolas in some way.  I'd like to see if she would moderate between the two or defy Stefan completely or what.

I always love hearing Alexis talk about her family.  We don't know yet how she is connected the Cassadine family tree.  I hope that she stays around long enough for us to hear her story in its full form.

ii. With Katherine

Nik:  "I wondered if it was more than a coincidence."
Katherine:  "You sound like you've already answered that."

Nikolas:  "So from now on, in term...in terms of your rehabilitation and the role that my family plays in it, I think it's best that you deal with me and not him."

Nikolas went to Katherine's instead of going up to the house with Alexis.  He asked a few furtive questions about his Uncle, and I think Katherine realized what was on his mind.  She made him speak his mind, and I was surprised that she became defensive so quickly.  I shouldn't be surprised, because Nik was, after all, speaking the truth to her face and she didn't want to be reminded of it, especially from him.

Nik:  "'Cause he would just say that we're overreacting and then get mad."
Katherine:  "Maybe he'd be right."

Katherine didn't admit anything, and she wrote off her relationship with Stefan in any number of ways.  The thing is, while she's avoiding hurting Nikolas now, she should realize that if this ever comes out, Nik's going to feel worse.  More than that, she made Nik feel badly about asking and guilty for having these suspicions and speaking up.  She had the gall to suggest he was jealous that she had other people helping her.  She was so defensive that she said things that made Nik feel badly now, today, as well as setting him up for potential pain later.  Finally, she told him he was rude, making him feel even worse.

Finally, Katherine's treating Nik the way his family treats him.  She lies to him "for his own good" while she comforts him with kind words and assurances of love.  The sad thing is, he's angry with Laura for telling him the truth (in part, and it was a partial truth), and he's defending a family he doesn't realize is lying to him.  But he's beginning to realize it, and he's not taking it lying down.

Nik:  "He's married Katherine.  And he's spending all this time with you because you need help, but it would be easy for someone to get the wrong impression.  You deserve...you deserve a man who wants you not because of this accident but because of who you are.  Someone of your own.  And he will never be that.  He can't."

In the face of all of this, I was proud of Nik for standing his ground and voicing his mind.  Faced with Katherine's claims that nothing was going on, he still argued that Stefan was spending too much time with her and could make mistakes, then pointed out that people could construe their relationship the wrong way.  He didn't say again that he believed they were having an affair, but his lines above certainly reprimanded her.  Finally, he didn't back down completely, even when they made up.  He told her to think about what he said and praised Bobbie.

I think those lines were also a plea to consider someone else...him.  He then said he could be more than a friend to her, and when she flipped he backpedaled like crazy and said he meant he could be a coach, etc.  The thing that should scare her most about this exchange is that he's not only against this affair or relationship because of Bobbie or even because of his Uncle.  He's against it because he thinks he would be better for Katherine than Stefan would.

Note:  They played that quirky music again at the end of one of these scenes, and I think it's inappropriate.  They've connected that music with humorous moments time and time again, and now they're using it in Nik scenes when things aren't humorous at all.

Nikolas also went to see Katherine at the end of Friday's show, and recognized Bobbie's scarf.

iii. The Egg

Nik:  "What it means?  It's a thing, ok?  It's a thing made out of porcelain and gold.  So what.  It's nothing compared to a family, and that sister is closer in blood to me than you are."
Stefan:  "Is that so."

Nik:  "I think you've lost on sight of what's really important."
Stefan:  "Which is what?"
Nik:  "That we finally have a family.  I thought you were happy.  I know I was."

Nik:  "But you have to realize how materialistic and crazy you sound."

Nikolas managed to hold his own fairly well, actually, even if he didn't know what was really going on.  From his point of view, this was pure overreaction on Stefan's part, and I think he had every right to be offended at Stefan's remarks about his maturity and judgment.  He struck a few good blows, and the hardest one he didn't even know he'd made.  He told Stefan that he was closer in blood to Lulu than to him.  I was glad to see him laud family over feuds and material things.  And I was glad to see him include Lulu in his family and express his love for her again (and his reason for giving her the egg--because she would see it for what it was, like she sees him--was quite sweet).  I wondered, though, that Nik wasn't tipped off that there was something else going on here.

B. Stefan

i. With Luke

Let's think about this timing.  On Friday, Katherine tells Stefan that she believes he's still in love with Laura and tells him that it's over, raising all kinds of questions about his character and how she understands him.  Angry (possibly) with her, angry at the situation, and angry with Laura, he returns home on Monday to find Luke Spencer waiting for him.  Luke not only tells him that he's doing a bad job as head of the family, which is something I think he's thinking about himself at this point anyway, but he praises Alexis (pointing out more than once how well she's doing in contrast to Stefan), who has been in Stefan's face about things all along.  Strike one.  Luke has had Stefan and Katherine followed, *and Stefan didn't know*.  That had to gall him (as did the comments about he and Nik being after the same woman), even if he pretended it didn't.  Luke now has the power to give Bobbie proof, and no matter what Stefan said, that kiss is not something Bobbie could know about.  Strike two.  On top of all of this, Luke taunts him with the fact that Nikolas gave Lulu the egg.  Stefan doesn't know if Luke knows what's in the egg or not, but the fact that Nikolas has given it into the hands of their enemies (bad enough) without him knowing (worse still) is a slap in the face.  Stefan's plan is in dire jeopardy, at Nikolas' unknowing hands, and Stefan didn't even know.  Strike three.

Stefan:  "Unlike you and Laura, my wife and I don't keep secrets from one another."
Luke:  "Oh.  Now the stake's in my heart."

Of course, this was the only point Stefan scored against Luke, and Luke didn't even know it.  I wondered for a second if he was going to hint at the secret Laura still holds, but he was so off balance he didn't pursue it.

I'm very glad that Stefan's been called back to reality.  He was comforting himself about his affair with Katherine by telling himself that all else was going according to schedule (and he underestimated Luke, in my opinion, by writing him off so easily).  Now he sees Alexis was right all along and that may be the worst thing of all.  That he was told the truth time and time again and refused to hear it.  It was his own error in judgment--not Nikolas' gift--that put them on the defensive, and he'll have to face that.  I want him to fight for Katherine, but I want to see him deal with business and family as well.

In light of all this, Stefan's behavior back at the house seems quite understandable.  He all but sprinted up the stairs once Luke's boat cleared the dock, tore open the safe, realized that the egg was a fake, and smashed it against the far wall--just as Bobbie entered.  Nice Monday cliffhanger.

ii. The Egg

Stefan:  "Barbara, leave me!"
Bobbie:  "No I won't."

Bobbie saw a side of Stefan she had never seen when she came home from Arizona.  Stefan was enraged over Luke's revelation about the egg.  I haven't decided whether I think it was stupid or brave of Bobbie to remain in the room with him and force him to calm down and answer her questions.  What I do think is that Stefan will have to let that anger out sometime, and since he forced it down now it's probably going to come up very easily in the near future.

Stefan:  "I don't do well with surprises, that's all."

Stefan:  "Forgive me.  I never would have exploded like that if I'd know you were at home."

Stefan:  "Not to a Spencer.  Anything but that."

Stefan tried to convince Bobbie all was well and apologized for his behavior.  I found it interesting that he said the above line.  He wouldn't have exploded like that if he had known she was there, because he doesn't let her see that side of him.  He doesn't want her to see him angry or out of control.  The fact that admits to that should set off warning bells in her head that he's keeping something from her, even if it's just a part of his emotions.  Of course, the anti-Spencer comments should really have set off warning bells.  She's convinced herself ever since Katherine's speech at the hearing, I think, that things have been smoothed over and Stefan's put this behind him.  Not so.

Stefan:  "Nikolas took it."

Stefan:  "I don't want an explanation.  There can be no excuse for this sort of betrayal."

The fact that he had a fake egg made for "security reasons" should tip her off that something's weird about this situation too.  They have a bunch of eggs, and they don't have copies of all of them.  But she simply thought he meant the original had been stolen.  Stefan didn't want to tell her all that was going on, but she kept asking questions and suggested they call the police.  Then she forgot the egg and was more concerned--and rightly so--with Stefan's unwarranted anger towards Nikolas.  Again, I should probably praise Bobbie for sticking up for Nikolas, but I thought she made things worse by trying to speak for him and was glad when she left.

Nikolas:  "What was this?"
Stefan:  "What remains of my trust in you."

Nikolas:  "I knew exactly what I was doing."
Stefan:  "You have no idea."

I found it striking that the same evening Alexis is talking about bullmooses with Luke, Stefan and Nikolas are locking horns at home over that egg.

Stefan:  "You have just crossed a line of rank insubordination and disrespect that I will not tolerate."
Nikolas:  "You think Bobbie would tolerate it if she knew?"
Stefan:  "Knew what?"
Nikolas:  "About what's been going on between you and Katherine."
Stefan:  "There is nothing going on between me and Katherine."
Nikolas:  "I don't believe you."
Stefan:  "You have completely misunderstood a very innocent friendship."
Nikolas:  "I don't think that I have."
Stefan:  "Then don't think.  It's that simple."

Stefan:  "Obviously I have to pay closer attention to matters right here at home."
Nik:  "You sure about that?"
Stefan:  "Absolutely.  And to begin, I have to mend this mistake you've made with the Spencers.  You better hope it's not too late."

While Katherine gave Nik the runaround, Stefan simply denied everything and put him down.  I was irritated by the fact Stefan thought Alexis had been telling Nik these things and was glad when Nik told him she said there was nothing going on.  At least now Stefan doesn't have Alexis to blame.  I was also irritated that Stefan would accuse him of jealousy as if he were an equal and not a ward who deserved some concern over his emotions.  And while Nikolas didn't push his opinion with Katherine, he insisted he didn't believe Stefan.  Again, Nikolas is forcing him to see that the very things he thought he was in control over are leaving him and his family open to trouble.

I think Stefan was angry with everyone but Nikolas, and was taking it out on him.  Nikolas couldn't have known what he had done, and Stefan couldn't explain.  He could only blame him for things that didn't seem so horrible to Nik. He was angry with Luke Spencer for speaking the truth down at the docks, and he was angry with Katherine for speaking the truth about Laura.  And he was angry with Laura for affecting him so deeply.  But mostly, he was angry with himself.  Things have gone on in his house and in his family that he doesn't know about, and this egg thing is simply a sign of his own loss of control over the plans he's made.

Nik:  "You know, maybe your problem is you're just too selfish and rigid ever to give anything up for someone else."
Stefan:  "That was unfair, unkind, and uncalled for."
Nik:  "I don't think it was.  Prove me wrong.  Name someone...name someone you would do that for.  (Pause)  That's what I thought."

Stefan:  "You."

But he couldn't admit these things to Nikolas, and I was sad to see that he couldn't answer Nik's question to his face.  If he had, Nikolas wouldn't have believed him, because Stefan can't explain the biggest sacrifice of all--that he's denying his name as Nik's father so Nik can inherit the very power he jeopardized by giving that egg to Lulu.  That line, spoken so softly and regretfully after Nikolas had left in anger made me cry.  Stefan's face when he tries to keep all his emotions bottled up--that little quiver around his lips--is so good, so subtle.  Stefan has only managed to worry and frustrate me in this lapse of attention to Nikolas and to business.  It's nice to sympathize with him again, instead of only worrying that he was getting himself into trouble.

Stephen Nichols rocks.

But then, everyone performed these scenes very well--Stephen Nichols, Tyler Baker, and Jackie Zeman.  Very nicely done.  I'm thankful that Stefan's had his reality check, and I hope that he will continue to fight to regain control of his plans *and* for Katherine.  I think he can do both.

iii. At the Hospital

Wednesday's show opened with Stefan and Bobbie arriving at the hospital.  He was trying his best to be the concerned husband, but Bobbie didn't allow it.  (Interesting pairing of Amy and Alexis chatting off to the side.)

Alexis:  "We have trouble.  Nikolas has the strange notion that you're having an affair with Katherine."
Stefan:  "Luke Spencer has the Faberge egg."

Stefan won that little problem competition.  :)  He went on to the scene with Bobbie below and kept the flyer about the concert at Luke's.  He asked after Emily graciously, but it was clear he wasn't in the best of moods.

Bobbie:  "I hope that means you're ready to lighten up about the damned egg."

Bobbie sure knows how to take the wrong tact with Stefan these days.  Making light of something he obviously felt strongly about, even if she doesn't understand why, could only make him angry.  He refused to answer directly, and softly but firmly told her to drop it.

Stefan went to see Katherine, and she wouldn't even let him speak.  She turned him away, and the fact is, he knows she did it for all the right reasons--Bobbie, Nikolas, her doubts about him.  But he was hurt and angry all over again.  And while she's channelling her anger into her therapy, he's channelling his back into business.  And while I continue to worry about him, I can't say I'm sad to see that.

Stefan:  "I will handle my wife.  And everything else from here on in.  You've had too much responsibility while I've been distracted.  No more."
Alexis:  "Forgive me for being redundant.  But you've said that  before."
Stefan:  "Not from this vantage point.  From now on, I will make all the decisions.  You concentrate on the business of this hospital."
Alexis:  "What about Katherine."
Stefan:  "I don't give a damn about anything but getting that egg back from Spencer.  I will do it quickly and cleanly and then continue the agenda."

Later, he went to see Alexis and found her with Ned.  I'm glad he gets to see her with people outside the family just to shake him up a little.  Funny, Bobby got interrupted, as did Ned, but Stefan simply locked the door.  I actually laughed at that.  I think Stefan's in denial about Katherine, or that he's pushing his many emotions about her and because of her to the side in order to put his house back in order.  And I don't mind seeing that either, because I know he'll have to deal with those thing later.  I was thrilled by this dialogue, though.  He spoke quietly, and that's always much more dangerous than when he's yelling.

iv. With Nikolas

Nik:  "I wanna know what's gonna happen.  Will you divorce Bobbie?"
Stefan:  "Cassadine marriages don't end in divorce."
Nik:  "Maybe not.  But sometimes they become a living hell like my father's marriage to Laura.  Is that what you have in mind for Bobbie?"

Nik:  "Do you intend to take Katherine as your mistress?"
Stefan:  "I am really trying to keep my patience with you, Nikolas.  You wouldn't allow yourself to be baraged by such insolent questions; why should I?"
Nik:  "Because I have a right to ask them."

Stefan:  "I will explain nothing.  However, I will say that there is no circumstance, no condition, and no single person that would ever cause me to berak any promise I made to you."

On Friday, Nikolas returned to the subject of Katherine with his Uncle, and of Bobbie.  Stefan strayed from the topic to remind Nik of his place, and stands by his word that he wouldn't harm Bobbie.  But Nikolas wants answers, and Stefan won't give them.  He wouldn't even say where he was going.  Stefan may see Nik's behavior as insolence, and may avoid his questions.  But he's thinking like a fool if he thinks Nikolas will stop asking them or stop looking for answers.

We ended Friday's episode with Stefan breaking into the Spencer house.  And we all want to know where Foster is.  I think Luke tied Foster up outside, knowing (or guessing) Stefan would show up.  The fact the dog's not there should tip Stefan off.  Or not.  ;)

C. Bobbie

Bobbie was sarcastic with Stefan when they arrived at the hospital on Wednesday, and commented that she felt most like herself at the hospital.  She was greeted by Amy and Dorman, and then spoke to Alan and Monica about Emily.

Bobbie:  "Well, do you see us at Luke's tonight?"
Stefan:  "Perhaps not."
Bobbie:  "Betcha never go to concerts."
Stefan:  "Well, contrary to popular belief, Barbara, I wasn't brought up in a mausoleum."

Things are definitely strained between Bobbie and Stefan.  His joke certainly didn't read like a joke, but rather like a reprimand.  I think he's frustrated because of the secrets he's keeping from her and because of her opinion of the little scene from the night before.  She, on the other hand, is nervous because she's starting to find the proof that her husband isn't all that he seems.  I actually thought part of her hoped he'd say that yes, they could go.

After a couple of rough exchanges with Stefan, she went to visit Emily with Tony (they had to send Dr. Dorman away from her door).  Such different men, finally, and I think she was really struck by that.  She was reminded of a lot of emotions when Tony spoke of losing a daughter, I think.

Bobbie:  "Ok.  What I want to know is, why is that the disaster of the century, and why did that turn my husband into a raving maniac?"
Alexis:  "That bad, huh?"
Bobbie:  "I came home to a husband I'd never met.  A stranger with a murderous look in his eyes who said cruel, brutal things to a boy he's supposed to love."

After seeing Emily, she went to question Alexis about the scene from the night before.  Alexis had just phoned home to check about Nikolas.  The funny thing was that when Bobbie asked her to tell her about the egg, Alexis didn't even ask which one, though she launched into a history lesson.  Alexis covered Stefan's butt again and gave the giving-away-the-family-heritage excuse, but Bobbie--for once--didn't buy it.

We ended Wednesday's episode with a pained look between Stefan and Katherine at the nurses' station.  Alexis saw it and walked away, while Bobbie saw it and wondered.

Bobbie:  "I wouldn't say that.  I don't really have too much to do with publicity, and I'm not sure your relationship with Stefan does either."

After her encounter with Luke on Wednesday, Bobbie headed over to Katherine's.  She asked her straight out what her relationship with Stefan was, and while Katherine denied any involvement, Bobbie knew she wasn't going to tell her the truth.  She saw through Katherine, and while the pain has begun anew for Bobbie, I'm glad she's seeing clearly.

Bobbie:  "Everything's wrong.  All over again!  Cause you didn't love me, you loved Carly.  And you didn't even have the decency to tell me.  I had to find out by myself, on my own.  And tonight again, by myself, on my own.  I find out that maybe..."

Bobbie went back to the hospital, furious with both Luke and Tony for making her doubt her new husband...for making her doubt herself and her judgment and putting her through this again.  And mostly she feels alone.  She shouldn't, but she does.

II. Mac

A. With Sonny and Taggert

On Monday, Mac brought the news that Matt had OD'd and was dead.  The dope wasn't cut, and could have killed him without him knowing what hit him.  Does this mean the cops will consider this as murder, rather than an OD?

Mac:  "Be warned, I'm not listening to the Corinthos theory one more time."
Taggert:  "You never have."

This is indeed how Taggert sees things.  While Mac knows Sonny's not behind this, he's not offered any proof of that, so there's no reason Taggert should believe him, vendetta or no.  While I understand it's not Mac's job to prove Sonny innocent, you'd think he could offer some kind of proof or assurance to placate Taggert.  Not that it would work.  But Mac is now convinced that Sonny's being set up, and hasn't given any explanation of why.

Sonny:  "Go ahead, let him ride his white horse, he'll save the world someday."

Taggert's quip about this line--that white horses were something Sonny would know about--was a lame response, and Sonny's reaction to it was a hoot.

Taggert:  "Excuse me sir, I have a question.  Which one of you is really the man here?"

Mac reprimanded Taggert--again--and although I just got through saying that he should perhaps offer Taggert some proof, at the same time he's the Commissioner and Taggert is insubordinate time and time again.  Funny how Taggert jumped to the correct assumption that Mac didn't fire him because Sonny asked him not to.  These fantastic leaps in logic happened all over the place this week.  Must be something in the water.

Sonny:  "That's one kid in the hospital, another one in the ground.  When are you gonna cry over somethin' that matters?"

I loved that Sonny told Mac he'd give him information if he got it right in front of Taggert.  And the remark above was truly the harshest thing Sonny could say to Taggert.  For while Taggert thinks he's doing all of this to protect and serve, Sonny's got it right.  He's got a selfish streak a mile wide, and he's making this thing be more about him and his vendetta to Sonny than about the drugs and the kids getting hurt or killed.

Mac:  "Taggert, I know there is history between you two.  Look, whether you like it or not, Bensonhurst is a long way from Port Charles."
Taggert:  "No, it's not that far."

Mac explained away Sonny's request to keep Taggert on the force by saying Sonny knows Taggert could be good for the force if he'd channel his energy after the real problem.  But Taggert brought everything back to Deke.  As I say elsewhere, he can't see anything but Sonny.  Mac won't stand for it, though.  I was glad to see him stay calm in the face of Taggert's accusations.

Mac:  "Has it ever occurred to you that you might be wrong."
Taggert:  "Ya.  Ya, I wonder.  What, that surprises you?"

It surprised me.  I couldn't believe he would admit that, and I was glad to see it.  But he still can't deal with Sonny.  Funny, he's the one that seeks Sonny out repeatedly and then complains about having to deal with him.

B. With Felicia

Felicia:  "I'm an Aztec princess, and don't you forget it."

Mac and Felicia had dinner at Luke's on Tuesday.  She asked about the drug case and insisted that he pay cash rather than using the credit card.  He asked about the trouble she was having and she told him about confronting Kevin.  She seemed calmer about the whole thing as she was describing it to Mac, which tipped me off that she might be pondering what I've been pondering this whole time--that maybe it's not Kevin.  She actually started listing reasons it couldn't be Kevin.

Mac went out to get something from the car and ran into Kevin.  I don't think he's made up his mind that Kevin's doing anything wrong, but he doesn't want to run the risk of having to bail him out again.  He knows that if something goes down with Kevin again, he might not get off at all.  So I think he was trying to protect Kevin and Felicia, rather than taking Felicia's side.

Felicia spoke in the past tense about her worries to Kevin, although she didn't let him off the hook completely.  She wasn't upset when she spoke to him, though, and she didn't let Lucy upset her either.

C. At the Concert

Tom:  "I believe Luke was making what is known as a conciliatory gesture.  I think it was very politic of you to come."

Actually, Tom sitting Audrey right in front of Mac had me laughing.  It was quite cute.  And Audrey talking Luke's invitation was fun too (and let us know that Luke had an invitation hand delivered to Stefan).

III. Brenda/Jax/Miranda

A. The Penthouse

Brenda:  "I thought maybe we could have an honest talk like we used to."
Jax:  "Well that's...that's funny, that's almost exactly what Miranda said when she walked in."

Brenda:  "See ya.  ...I'm sorry.  I don't know why I just said that."
Jax:  "Don't worry about it.  She's been out of line a lot lately.  I feel like I don't even know her anymore."

Brenda showed up at Jax's door on Monday, and I loved this moment.  For a second, I actually thought Miranda might have told him--certainly Brenda wondered--but then I decided they would have let us see that.  She continued by being snide and snippy, and Jax finally asked her to leave.  Not what she expected, and I was surprised that she could be so appalled.  She was asking for it, behaving this way in front of Jax.

Brenda:  "No wonder Miranda's such a pain.  Look what she's fighting for."

When left alone, Brenda remembered what Kevin had said to her, and decided not to tell Jax after all.  Actually, she paused a bit and Jax told her there was no rush and that they could both use some time.  He admitted he was thinking things over as well and that he would keep her posted.  There was no sign, though, that he was wondering if she would leave him, or that he was thinking of leaving her.

B. The Lobby

Brenda:  "Oh my God.  What are you doing, stalking me?  You're like some scary movie of the week."
Miranda:  "Well I'll tell you what, here's a plotline for ya.  Either you tell Jax or I do."

Pretty ironic line, given Brenda's past history, but still funny.  The thing is, with spiteful, sarcastic lines with these I prefer Vanessa Marcil's delivery.  Lesley Horan's found some spunk with her lines, but she still tends to deliver line after line in the same way.

Miranda:  "Wait.  Maybe you can make it sound like rape."
Brenda:  "That's pretty low."
Miranda:  "Ya, right down there with you, slut."

Brenda:  "Let me tell you something.  If you tell Jax, you'll pay."

As in their other confrontations, Brenda managed to pull her strength together in the face of Miranda's rantings, but as Miranda continued to talk, Brenda weakened.  And she actually started to defend herself, and to explain herself to Miranda.  I think she gave in not only because she doesn't want Miranda to tell Jax before she's ready, but also because she can't stand hearing anyone criticize her.  She's insecure about her actions and about Jax's reactions, and I think Miranda's angry reaction scares her because she knows Jax could respond in the same way.

Miranda:  "You know what, I don't care what you do, Brenda.  For once I'm not thinkin' about myself, I'm thinkin' about him.  You should try it sometime."

Miranda:  "I'm going to destroy your life, Brenda, and then I'm gonna sit back and watch the fallout and enjoy every minute."
Jax:  "Miranda, how dare you threaten her."

I was glad to see Jax come off that elevator and tell off Miranda.  There's no reason he should be attracted to her right now, and there's really know reason he should listen to her--although of course he will when she finally tells him.  She tried to then, but he wouldn't listen.

While I appreciate Miranda keeping the pressure on Brenda to tell the truth (because I do think she's stringing these boys along, even if it's for her own good), I don't think she's doing the best thing for Jax.  I think she's getting too much of a kick out of watching Brenda twist and turn over this one, and I think she enjoys having the upper hand (if she indeed has it).  If she would have gone directly to Jax and told him, or stayed out of it and waited to be the comforting friend (as someone suggested on ratsa), she wouldn't have come out looking so bad.  At this point, she's right down there on Brenda's level in my eyes, and maybe below it, for while Brenda's still screwing up (possibly), I think she's trying to do the right thing and just doesn't know what that is (though Roo might disagree).  Miranda's motives, on the other hand, are spiteful.  It's like she isn't working for a positive goal anymore--getting Jax back--but for a negative one--tearing Brenda down.

I know that part of it is that they're writing the character to be unsympathetic since they're going to remove her in the near future.  And I have to admit, she's breathed some life back into this conflict for me (although she's rather breathe life into Jax).

Of course, Miranda also makes it easy for Brenda not to have to retaliate, since Miranda keeps putting her worst face forward in front of Jax.  It would be interesting, I think, to see what lengths Brenda would go to in retaliation if Jax weren't seeing Miranda in such a bad light.  What if Miranda had played nice in front of Jax, giving Brenda no room to complain about her and Jax no reason to think she was up to anything?  That would still be the scheming Miranda they've developed.  Instead, I think this really is their way of trying to kill sympathy for the character before they write her off.  Too bad for them some people find this Miranda much more entertaining than she was before--and most people have at least taken greater notice of her.

After Miranda left, Jax and Brenda exchanged a few sweet words.  She told him she wanted to talk to him when he got back from Alaska.  Miranda watched in disbelief through the window.

C. Jax

On Tuesday, we were treated to Jax's flashbacks to scenes from about a month ago.  They balanced out the flashbacks with a John Jax appearance, so that was good.  Jax called his Dad, who talked him into visiting home in an overnight trip.  I was glad to hear Jax doing business, and I hope they give him a good business storyline, with or without the family.  I would also be interested in seeing Jax deal with the conflicts between him and his family.

John Jax:  "Well, in the new version, you understand."

I didn't like John Jax in my first exposure to him, but it was good to see him.  I do like seeing him having to deal with his mistakes or misjudgments now.  The whole family, like the Quartermaines, has realized that they can't maintain the status quo, can't keep their blinders on, without someone getting hurt--and that lies aren't for anybody's good.

D. Brenda

Brenda went to look for Alice, who was in a session with the Quartermaines.  Flashback again to her conflict with Miranda.  After meeting Sonny at GH, she determined that she wouldn't tell Jax unless she thought it was the right thing to do, and she headed over to Miranda's to tell her so.  Thursday's episode ended with her ringing Miranda's doorbell.

I almost got whiplash watching Brenda this week--and she wasn't on all that much.  First she was going to tell Jax, then she wasn't, then she was, but for different reasons.  It went by so quick!

E. At Miranda's

I don't know why Brenda went off on Miranda, trying to convince her that Jax will hate her.  All she needed to do is tell her that she was going to tell Jax in her own way and in her own time.  Instead, she got in an argument with a girl who sees her only as a "gangster slut" and will listen to nothing she has to say.  But again, I think scenes like this are calculated to make Miranda absolutely unsympathetic.

Jax:  "I also know when I don't see it anymore."

At the same time, I almost felt sorry for her when Jax showed up and broke the news.  I almost faulted him for not getting straight to the point, but she deserved to be strung along for a few minutes (and I liked hearing his description of his parents).  Also, I don't understand why, when she let the truth blurt out, she almost hesitated.  She was ready and willing to tell Jax back in the hotel lobby, and even started to.  But then she was surprised when she actually did.  Maybe because she finally realized that she had passed the point of no return.

On Friday, we ended with Miranda's declaration and Brenda in an empty penthouse.

IV. The Spencers

A. Luke

i. At Wyndemere

Luke:  "How was your swim?"

Luke:  "I'll be brief.  I know where you were.  I know who you were with.  I know what you were doing and for how long.  You didn't know you were under surveillance.  You're slipping Stefan."

Stefan:  "Have you come up with another really good plan?  Other than playing dead, that is?"
Luke:  "You bought it.  But then, you're easy, aren't you.  You're the inept Cassadine."

Luke:  "Your family nearly froze the world and you can't find the air conditioner."

Stefan:  "What do you want?"
Luke:  "I think I'm here to pick a fight."

(That was my absolute favorite line.  It was the delivery, though, that made it so good.  I love Tony Geary.)

Luke:  "And this'd be a very good time to strike, with you and your nephew both distracted by Katherine Bell's charms.  Don't you think you boys should splash around in a bigger gene pool?"

Luke:  "It's terrible when everybody in your family gets a mind of their own, isn't it.  I know.  At least right now Alexis is using her mind to cover your butt."
Stefan:  "You're pathetic, Spencer.  You know, since your wife left you're like a clown without a circus.  You serve no purpose."
Luke:  "I help others feel superior."

When this scene started on Monday, it wasn't clear how much Luke and Laura knew about the egg.  We've debated it on ratsa a bit--probably for too long--and whether Luke knew everything about the egg going into the meeting with Stefan, it seems clear to me that he was there, in part, to see just what feathers he could ruffle.  He started out with the fact that Stefan had been under surveillance and taunted him with his ineptitude, moved on to the fact that he now had the proof to give Bobbie, taunted him about Nik's crush on Katherine, praised Alexis (throwing the fact that she came to see him without telling Stefan in his face), and only then mentioned the egg out of hand.

Stefan fell for the bait.  He asked the simple question--"Egg?"--and Luke knew he had struck a nerve.  He said nothing about any contents; he simply questioned whether Stefan knew Nikolas had given the heirloom away or whether it was intended for Blondie.  Stefan's attempt to brush it off, saying it was probably flawed, may have tipped Luke off that his hunch was right even more, if he wasn't sure already.

Luke:  "Ya, ya ya ya.  They'll warn me not to do it again, I'll swear I won't, and you'll be right back where you started.  Don't bother to call the dogs.  I already poisoned 'em.  Just kidding."

Luke:  "Taxi?"

The glee on Luke's face when he made the comment about the dogs was a scream (even though he shouldn't joke about Fang, Wolf, and Honey that way) as was that call for the boat.  HA!

ii. With Mac

Luke:  "What am I running here, another precinct?"

Luke:  "Did you get Taggert on a leash?"
Mac:  "For now."
Luke:  "Tie him to a tree Mac, serious."

Luke:  "You mean they left a cop in charge of the register?"
Mac:  "There's nothin'...there's nothin' left."
Luke:  "Hey, ya kn....  Bubba, if you turn that off, nobody will find you."
Mac:  "Ya, fine.  On a day like today?  I wish."

Scenes like this are so fun, and they're filling time with flashbacks?  I have loved seeing Luke with everybody these past few days (that goes without saying), but I also liked seeing Mac in one of these non-police exchanges.  I like Mac, and he's had nothing to do but yell at Taggert since he broke up with Katherine.  Give the man a story!

iii. With Laura

You know, I always said Tony Geary could read the phone book and I'd watch.  Now I know for certain.  I can watch that man dial the phone and be happy.  ;)

Laura:  "Hello?"
Luke:  "Hi, darlin'."
Laura:  "Luke?"
Luke:  "Hi.  Your voice sounds like warm flannel sheets."
Laura:  "I've been out of bed for an hour already."
Luke:  "Ya?  Well a guy can dream, can't he?"
Laura:  "I hope so.  I hope every night I'm away.  How's it goin'?"
Luke:  "I gotta hand it to me.  I finally got Stefan on the run."

Laura:  "He must have been furious."
Luke:  "I'd say worried."
Laura:  "Oh, that's even more dangerous."

Laura:  "You know, I liked it better when we had a cease fire."
Luke:  "Ya, well kiss those times good-bye, angel.  I was too easy on him and it didn't work.  This time he won't know what hit him."

At the beginning of Tuesday, it became clear Luke and Laura do have some sort of plan.  Luke said Stefan wouldn't cross the pond until they wanted him to and he's confident that something big is going down.  What remains unclear this week is whether they know exactly what that egg contains or whether Stefan's actions now will confirm for Luke that it's the key.  He told Laura he figured that Stefan would make his move on Friday during the concert and that he would be waiting for him.

Luke:  "Well, honey, it's like this.  He, uh, he wants to stay here.  He's suddenly enamored of school."
Laura:  "He's enamored of you."
Luke:  "The feeling's mutual."

I'm always glad to get calm, sweet Luke and Laura scenes, and I really enjoy their phone conversations.  Luke's so cute when he talks to her.  It's always interesting to me how easily Laura recognizes and admits Lucky's love for his father--even preference for his father.  Lucky loves his family, but I do think Luke's his favorite.  But there's no jealousy in that for Laura, it seems, and Luke seems always to downplay Lucky's adoration.  I thought perhaps Laura would feel badly about this after Lucky sided with Luke against her in the whole Nikolas thing.  It speaks well of her and her love for him that she understood.

iv. With Felicia

Luke:  "What've we got here?  You come in here alone often?"
Felicia:  "No."
Luke:  "Hey, are you a Gemini?  Are you sure?  Well if you're not a twin I hope you won't be a crab."
Felicia:  "Ew."
Luke:  "It ain't workin' for you, is it."

Felicia:  "Tell me, what do you know about mainframe?"
Luke:  "I know you've got one of the finest little mainframes this town has ever seen."
Felicia:  "How 'bout ones with Pentium processors and hacking capabilities?"
Luke:  "Um.  You got brains too?"
Felicia:  "There aren't many of those around, are there?"
Luke:  "No.  You and my wife.  What's up?"
Felicia:  "I have been having a lot of problems lately, mostly online."
Luke:  "Online?  Are you plugged into that crowd?  Those mouse-pushing wackos?"

This line brought the most attention on ratsa, but I think it's safe to say TG was making a humorous nod to the online community rather than an intentional slam.  Most of us really enjoyed it.  And one note: I've compared the audio on the "crab" in the first exchange to the "crowd" in the last line above, and I believe I have them right, though some disagree.

Felicia:  "How good is he?"
Luke:  "Not good enough."

But back to the story.  Felicia questioned Luke not only about computers, but also about Stefan Cassadine, and it was clear to me she was thinking exactly what I was thinking.  We've never been clear as to why Stefan's so interested in Kevin, and I believe he's using Kevin to some degree.  His breakdown helped them put the hospital in jeopardy, and now it may be helping them derail Felicia's investigation. The only problem I have with that theory is that Felicia hasn't proven herself a threat to the Cassadines yet, and I don't see why Stefan would be spending this much energy on her.

v. With Sonny

Sonny:  "Do me a fav...don't mess with the power windows."
Luke:  "Oh, did you get 'em fixed?"
Sonny:  "I...they're just about there.  You know what I mean?"
Luke:  "Well, uh, you know, I, what happened is, I, I was holdin' it down the whole route and I didn't realize it..."

There were a couple of moments I thought Tony Geary and Maurice Benard lost it just a touch this week.  The first came when Sonny told Luke he was going back to the hospital to make sure Jason didn't lose his cool.  Those two were just giggling at something that wasn't really funny--though I really laughed at them discussing the power windows.

vi. With Bobbie

Bobbie:  "They're from my husband."
Luke:  "Oh, him.  I thought maybe you'd dumped him by now and moved on to a new heartache."

Luke:  "Did he leave the coffin up?  Or maybe he forgot to wipe the blood of the virgin from his fangs.  But then of course it wouldn't be virgin's blood, would it?  Because his fangs have been stuck in Katherine Bell."

Sonny and Luke went to the hospital to pass out flyers and look for Jason.  Luke arrived in time to see Bobbie receive Stefan's present.  Funny, she didn't actually seem too happy about the present until Luke showed up to criticize it.  She wasn't happy at all to hear Luke guess why Stefan was giving her presents--because they'd had a falling out--because she suspected the same motives.

Luke:  "How come you're not doing that same old tired song and dance about how great your marriage is.  How perfect it is.  Did you discover what a crowd three can be?"
Bobbie:  "I discovered that a while ago, with Tony and Carly.  Remember?"

I think that in his drive to get Bobbie away from Stefan, Luke may have forgotten that it's not simple stubbornness that makes it so hard for Bobbie to admit the truth or to even see it.  It's the fact that if she admits that Stefan's having an affair, then she's also admitting that she again chose a man who cheated on her, that she again believed in someone who failed her, and that there's something wrong with her that makes the men she loves want someone else more than her (not true, but that's how she'll see it).

Bobbie:  "You really think I'm a fool, don't you?"
Luke:  "No, Barbara, I don't.  But I think you get lost at times and people take advantage of you."

Luke:  "No.  Because if I give it to you, you'll ignore it.  You're right, I do have the urge to protect you.  I probably always will.  But I can't do anything for you if you won't be helped.  Barbara, you've got to open your eyes and your ears and ask the right people the right questions.  And stop being snowed by smooth talk and shiny stones."

Luke:  "I don't think you're a fool.  Don't act like one just to spite me."

Luke didn't give his proof.  Partly, I think, to spare her.  Partly for the reason he claimed--that she wouldn't listen because she didn't want to hear.  But he didn't back down from telling her Stefan was having an affair.  I really liked this scene, especially that last line.

vii. The Concert

Jason:  "Luke, it's a sellout.  Everybody in town is gonna be here tonight."
Luke:  "Sounds good.  Everybody but one."

Laura:  "And Luke?  I'm worried about Bobbie.  I know it's up to her now, but please, don't do anything to antagonize Stefan."
Luke:  "Hey, would I do that?"

Luke:  "Get to sleep, woman.  I'll call you later and let you know how it went."

Luke left the club for a bit, and I wondered what he was setting up.  We didn't find out this week.  On Friday, he was back at the club and called Laura to let her know what was up.  She was worried, of course, but he reassured her.  I liked that Laura was worried not only about her men, but about Bobbie as well.  But what did she think he was going to do, if not antagonize Stefan?

Luke:  "Miss Jensen, welcome to my club."
Dara:  "Thank you, but I've been here before."
Luke:  "Oh, that's right.  That would be between the time you tried to convict my wife of a murder she didn't commit and the time you almost helped Stefan frame me for a shooting I didn't commit."
Dara:  "Well I'd hardly have a thing to do if it wasn't for the innocent Spencers."
Luke:  "We aim to please."

Luke:  "...the cheese fries are fresh..."

Dara:  "What a strange character."
Justus:  "That's one way to put it."

This was just a hoot.  It was good to see Luke and Amy together, too.

Sonny:  "Me?  They don't know me from Adam."
Luke:  "They know you from Adam."
Sonny:  "What do you mean?"
Luke:  "You're a...I mean you're a minor public figure in these parts.  Sorta like John Gotti with yard privileges."
Sonny:  "Well thank you."
Luke:  "You're welcome."

The next little giggly moment between Luke and Sonny came when Sonny told Luke All For One had arrived.  Must have been that Adam line, because it made me laugh too.

Luke:  "Don't twist my arm."

Lucy:  "Luke can do it."
Luke:  "I can."
Lucy:  "Yes you can, and you will, because remember you owe me for impersonating that widower."
Luke:  "Isn't it ok that I'm just charming enough to get over that?"
Lucy:  "No!"
Luke:  "Oh Lucy, I'm so hurt."

Lucy's demand for an introduction was a hoot.

And finally, Luke caught the eye of many people when he made his introductions on Friday.  Actually, it wasn't the sight of him in the cool suit and sharp shades, but his dancing that made the biggest impression.  It was good to see him having fun, even in the face of the new Cassadine offensive.  And I'll spare you the rest of my reactions because you know them all already.  ;)  Suffice it to say I've watched that song about 10 times now....  I loved these scenes.  

I loved everyone's reactions during both songs, especially Lucy's reaction to Luke's performance.  I thought the editing was good in these sequences too.  I actually liked that first song--that kind of music/song isn't my favorite by a long shot--and liked the cuts to the different people (especially Laura).  The song I adored, however, was the second one.  Anybody know if it's out on a single?

B. Laura and Lesley

We did get a scene with Laura and Lesley on Tuesday.  No new information, but I always like seeing them together.  Lesley sees her so clearly, and they obviously comfort each other a lot.  Laura remembered Stefan's words (flashback again) and worried.  She knows that when Luke takes this step against Stefan, there's a chance Stefan will retaliate with the truth, despite her threats.

V. Sonny

A. With Taggert

At the beginning of Monday's episode, Taggert claimed he wanted to hear what Sonny had to say and that he wasn't objective before.  I didn't know what to make of that cliffhanger we had, but I wasn't sure I could take Taggert's request to start over at face value.  I assume he was playing Sonny to see if he could get any information out of him, but Mac interrupted before it could go any further.  Probably for the best, as Sonny didn't seem to be buying it.

Sonny:  "Gotta stay after school?"
Taggert:  "Shut up."
Sonny:  "Oh, I see the evil twin is back.  What happened to the nice Taggert that walked through the door?"
Taggert:  "Momentary lapse."

Sonny:  "It's a tight, desperate little world inside that brain of yours, my brother."

Left to themselves, Taggert dropped the act.  He accused Sonny of trying to pin the drugs on him.  Again, that's some leap in logic, but it makes sense, from Taggert's point of view.  Of course, this makes it clear that he's still set on his pet theory that Sonny's behind the drugs.  I would like to see this come to a point where Taggert makes a mistake or misses something because he's got his Sonny's-the-dealer blinders on--something to make him have to admit that he's had it wrong all along.

B. With Mike

Sonny:  "So what you're telling me is 'be patient'."
Mike:  "I think Brenda's worth the wait."
Sonny:  "I hate patient."

On Monday, Mike commiserated with Sonny over Matt's death, and even managed to bring up Brenda.  ;)  I think he was also feeling down because that could easily have been Sonny's fate.  He went on, talking about Lily and the way Sonny didn't let him in because he had to do what he was going to do.  He was also talking about Sonny wanting to help Brenda.

C. With Jason

Sonny:  "Pick up the chair and sit down.  Sit down.  You need to listen to me."

Sonny:  "When I find out who opened the pipeline, he can have whatever accident you want."

Jason went to see Emily at the hospital and was also treated to an encounter with Dorman.  Later, when he reported back to Sonny, Sonny told him about Dorman and the drugs.  Jason was furious, and wanted to take action right then.  Sonny managed him well, and got him to promise not to do anything to Dorman until the time was right and they figured out who was supplying the drugs.  Sonny didn't talk to Jason about this until he was sure and had run it by Luke as well.  Sonny told him again not to let it become personal, just as he couldn't let Taggert become personal.  Jason didn't like it, but he agreed.  He went to the hospital and kept an eye on Dorman.

Luke:  "Ten bucks says he decks him."
Sonny:  "In which case I'll step in before he kills him.  I don't think so."

Jason confronted Dorman at the hospital yet again, but didn't lose control.  He just warned Dorman again.  And if I were Dorman, I would worry.  You know, Luke didn't pay up on that bet.  :)

Back at the club, Sonny told Jason that Gina likes him (Jason, Gina, and Mike had a short exchange on Friday).  Jason called him on the fact that he was starting to sound like Mike.  Ha!

D. With Brenda

Brenda:  "You think those are my only two choices?"

Brenda:  "You're right."
Sonny:  "It happens.  Not a lot, but it happens."

Kind of a cute scene at the elevator.  I was glad to see him encourage her to see Emily.  Emily needs to know she's not the only one to make this mistake.  Brenda told Sonny that she was going to tell Jax what had happened in the cave.  Not because of anyone else, but because she thinks it's the right thing to do.  Sonny wanted to know what would happen then, but she didn't have an answer for him.  I was glad she rejected his simple either/or choice of him of Jax.  Sonny told her not to do anything she didn't think was the right thing to do, and she said that was exactly what she would do.

Sonny:  "So, you gonna stick around?  I don't know if we got any seats yet, but, uh, you can sit on my, uh, shoulders."

Brenda stopped by to tell Sonny that she had made up her mind to tell Jax the truth, and that it was her own decision.  He told her he'd be her friend if she needed him later.

VI. Kevin and Lucy

A. With Mac and Felicia

Lucy:  "Oh please.  Been there, done that, been to jail, remember?"

When confronted by Mac outside of Luke's, Lucy was outraged that he could think Kevin was stalking Felicia again.  Kevin, on the other hand, sees that Mac has good reason to worry, and doesn't blame him.  He volunteered to show Mac his time journal, but Mac wouldn't take it.  Lucy doesn't want him to have to prove himself to anyone, but Kevin wants to do just that.  He also understands Felicia's fears, although Lucy lit into her as well.  And, finally, he doesn't blame Lucy for worrying.

Kevin:  "Don't worry about me.  I have Lucy to do that."

Lucy's right, I think, to worry about Kevin's faith in himself.  He needs to be confident, to be sure of himself.  But I don't know that he can do that right now.  It certainly doesn't help that other people doubt him, but I don't think she can expect them to simply forgive and forget so easily.  And I hope she sees that Mac is worried about Kevin for Kevin's sake.

Kevin:  "Breathe.  Count to ten.  Let the pressure off.  I'm afraid you'll explode, I'll have to take you to the hospital, we'll never get dinner."

Kevin:  "We're allowed to take care of each other."

Kevin made light of the journal and of the situation and helped Lucy regain her composure.  Lucy's asking to read what he had written about her was a hoot.

B. Lucy with Sonny and Mike

Lucy:  "What?  Can't I just pay two very special friends a little compliment?"
Sonny:  "Probably not without them paying you back."
Lucy:  "I don't like you 'cause you're so darn astute."
Sonny:  "I am famous for it."

Sonny:  "I write checks.  I don't tap dance."

One of the best scenes of the week was Lucy with Sonny and Mike at Luke's.  She critiqued their flyer presentation and segued into her proposition for a father/son act at the nurses' ball.  Cracked me up.  Mike and Sonny responded in unison in the definite negative, but Lucy didn't lose hope (she went from straw boaters to tuxedos to genie costumes).  Of course we also had the obligatory worry about the drug problem, and Sonny and Lucy each found out the other knew about Brenda.  I would like to see more of Lucy and Brenda, actually, as Sonny encouraged.  I adore Lucy and Sonny together, and was glad to have this little scene with them.

C. The Phone Call

Lucy:  "Did the dry-cleaning come?"
Kevin:  "Why?"
Lucy:  "There is a big concert tonight."
Kevin:  "God bless the home of the lightning non-sequitur."

Lucy:  "I don't really have any troubles at all at all."
Kevin:  "Well, you have me."

That was arguably the best line of the week.  :)  Lucy just rattled on about the nurses' ball in perfect Lucy style.  Kevin went through his mail while she went for bagels, and found something he didn't like in the mail.  When she came back, he was talking very firmly to someone on the phone.  I assumed that he was calling Oxford, but Lucy assumed he was calling Felicia.

Luke:  "Hurricane Lucy.  Bye!"

Lucy:  "I so didn't want this to be about you, and now I'm positive that it's not.  So, please don't jump to any conclusions yet."
Felicia:  "I already have."
Lucy:  "Oh, great.  That's what I was afraid of."
Felicia:  "I don't believe that Kevin is responsible for my computer problems."

Lucy then went to Felicia's house to see if Doc had called her.  I just have to tell you that I have the exact same answering machine that Felicia has.  ;)  Lucy tried to get the tape out of the machine and got caught.  She had to admit to Felicia that she suspected Kevin, and I know that was hard for her to do.  But she cares enough about Kevin to do it anyway.

Felicia wasn't perturbed, as she could have been.  She simply played the tape for Lucy, and I think she was confident that it wouldn't be Kevin.  (I laughed at Mac's rattling on about getting a table, since Luke told Felicia that he was saving her Georgie's table, and that's indeed where they were sitting.)  She was willing to be Lucy's friend, even if it was about Kevin.  She admitted then that she didn't think Kevin was the one behind this anymore.  She thinks it's Stefan Cassadine, but she didn't admit it to Lucy.  And she told Lucy she would help her get to the bottom of things.  Felicia, in turn, told her that they should go to the concert as well.

D. Kevin and Gail

Kevin:  "Sometimes you do know."

Kevin:  "Yes.  And it's the mother of all lies.  Pun intended, at least for me."
Gail:  "I don't understand."
Kevin:  "You're about to."

The most exciting scene this week was actually not shown.  Kevin went to see Gail, concerned that he was lying to Lucy and that the truth would come out.  He's afraid that if he tells Lucy the truth, she'll leave him.  But he told Gail the truth, and she was stunned.  She said that she could understand his story now, and that she was surprised this hadn't come out in all their sessions before.  But he hasn't decided whether or not to tell Lucy.

Ratsa tried to figure out what the secret could be.  Is Victor Collins alive?  Is Kevin's mother, Grace, alive?  Is Kevin really Ryan?  Is Kevin a Cassadine?  Does Kevin know what the formulas mean?  Whatever it is, Kevin thinks it's bad enough to scare off Lucy.  I don't believe she'll be scared off that easily, but I'm ready to know what the secret is.

VII. The Quartermaines

A. Alan and Monica

Alice:  "Seems like you have a pretty tight family."
Ned:  "Tight, uptight."

Tony:  "Well I'm sure you'll do everything you can to make Emily well."
Alan:  "Well of course we will, but I don't have to like it."

Ned met Alan and Monica at the hospital with their new family counselor on Wednesday.  Everyone claimed they were willing to work with her to help Emily, and they set a meeting for that day.  Alice Dalton has no idea what she's in for.  She got a hint when Alan insisted that Emily not know about Matt, despite Alice's recommendation.  Later on Wednesday, Alan told Ned, Monica, Bobbie, and Tony that while he would do the counseling, he wasn't sure it would work and didn't like it.

In their first session with Alice, Alan lost it.  He didn't like Alice claiming that it was his fault Emily was on drugs and overdosed, and didn't want to take responsibility.  In fact, he blamed the dealers and blamed A.J.  I think that Alan doesn't want to face his part in Emily's troubles because if he admits those, he'll have to admit he played the same kind of role in Jason's troubles.  And I hope he doesn't make it harder for Emily because he can't face his responsibility to his son.

Monica:  "Well there's some things we have to be accountable for."

Monica:  "Oh, everybody loves Emily and wants to help her.  After that, I'd say the situation was pretty much up for grabs."

Monica, on the other hand, remained matter of fact and as open as possible to Emily's help.  I'm glad to see someone is managing to keep a level head in these times, and I think Monica can do so because she willingly admits her part in all of this while Alan can't.  She and Alice talked about the patterns of behavior in their family and Alice assured her they could break them with everyone's help.

Dorman:  "Fine.  But if that were my heroin addicted little daughter in there who just found out about the death of her friend, I don't think I'd want her to be counseled by her alcoholic brother."

Alan:  "I don't know.  Maybe I was wrong about wanting him to see her.  Maybe I was wrong about not letting Emily know about Matt's death.  And the list of mistakes, it really does go on and on.  You know, I listened to those kids and I realized so much of this was my fault."

Not the way you'd want to hear that news.  Alan immediately went to Emily's room...and he was pleasantly surprised.  He overheard A.J. say he was back at AA and heard him and Emily speaking plainly and honestly.  Stuart Damon's expressions during these scenes were simply wonderful.  He told Monica that Emily knew about Matt and that A.J. was doing a great job with her.  And he recognized and admitted his responsibility.  I was happy for that.

B. Emily

Emily:  "When I woke up in the ER and saw that creep Dr. Dorman, I was sure I was being punished."

Jason came to visit Emily on Wednesday.  She told him what she remembered, and seemed rather embarrassed about trying to fly.  She thanked Jason for saving her life.  He asked her how she got into drugs, and didn't push her when she didn't want to say anything specific about where she got it.  Jason didn't push her, and offered to get her some ice cream.

Bobbie and Tony were good with Emily, who was worried that everyone knew.  Bobbie assured her that it was ok, and told her they'd make a date for lunch when she got lunch.  I was just glad to see people not preaching at her, though Tony did do a little worrying later in the scene.

Alice:  "Ok.  But just so that you know, when they say that I'm qualified, that doesn't mean that I have a bunch of letters behind my name, even though I do happen to have a few.  Emily, I'm a been-there-done-that kinda person.  I have done what you've done and more.  Been to hell and back."

Alice and Emily talked one-on-one before Alice's meeting with Monica and Alan.  I thought she was very good with Emily.  Emily didn't want to talk, but Alice told her that she had been an addict herself, and I think Emily was actually interested by that.  I hope she'll call Alice, because I'd like to see more of them together.  And I just like Alice.

In the most painful scene of the week, Emily called Matt's house asking for him.  Matt's mom let loose on her, blaming her for getting Matt hooked on drugs and killing him.  Emily couldn't respond.  She simply cried.  I hated that Dorman was the one to be there when she heard the news.  He comforted (that can't be the right word) her with a story of his childhood, but he really wanted to see what she knew about Matt.  I was glad when A.J. showed up.

Emily:  "I missed my science fair."
A.J.:  "Oh, honey, I know.  But you'll have another chance next year."
Emily:  "Matt won't."

Emily:  "You know, I think we should all join SA."
A.J.:  "What's SA?"
Emily:  "Secrets Anonymous."

A.J. was the perfect person to see Emily at this point.  He's going through the same thing she is, and part of her confusion comes from his own problems.  I was very glad to see him determined to kick his habit, and I hope that the two of them can help each other get through this.  He doesn't want the family to know yet.  And I'm glad to see him wanting to do this on his own.

C. Ned

Ned:  "Is this a bad moment?"
Alexis:  "You're timing is impeccable.  By all means, let's talk Quartermaine."

Ned:  "Well, she's kind of a no-nonsense, straight-shooter type, and, well, I'm not sure Emily will know how to deal with someone like that after living with us all this time."
Alexis:  "I know exactly what you mean.  There's nothing more disconcerting to a Cassadine than a direct person.  They have a question, they ask the question, and they expect an answer.  I hate when that happens."

Alexis:  "She's taking on all of you?"
Ned:  "That's the way she works."
Alexis:  "You'll kill her.  Unless, of course, you all kill each other first."
Ned:  "Hey, that's one way we can finally put an end to all these PR scrambles."
Alexis:  "I actually thought we scrambled rather well together."

Ned:  "And all without Katherine Bell's expertise.  I enjoyed that."

Ned let Alexis off the hook by showing up in the middle of Bobbie's questioning.  He came to talk to Alexis about Emily and the counseling.  My favorite line, however, was the line about doing it so well without Katherine Bell.  Ha!

D. A.J.

A.J. showed up at the concert to thank Jason again for all of his help.  Jason asked him to stay, and I was glad to see A.J. turn down time in the bar.  I was also glad to see him not act hateful to Keesha, and to tell her the truth--to tell her that he knew the truth now.  He admitted he was leaning on her, and wouldn't do that anymore.  He ran into Carly yet again, and noted her perfume...yet again.

VIII. Katherine

Stefan:  "Ah, forgive me for interrupting.  There's a PR problem we should discuss immediately."
Carly:  "Must be the day for them."
Katherine:  "It's not a good time."

Katherine:  "Don't say a word before I do.  I'm telling you.  As of now, Stefan, it's over."

Katherine:  "Then do me one final favor, and walk out that door now.  'Cause I can't.  I will just have to sit here and look like nothing's wrong."

Katherine:  "I was shot.  But I'm getting over it.  I am going to walk away from this.  Me.  I'm the only one who can make that happen, nobody else.  And damnit, I'm gonna do it."

On Wednesday, Katherine met Carly for PT, but claimed she had a quick PR meeting upstairs first.  After that, she was insistent on working overly hard, and wouldn't listen to Carly's recommendations to take it at a healthy pace.  She was angry because she had seen Bobbie and Stefan in the hall upstairs before and because of Nikolas' visit (which she told Stefan about), but also because of all the thinking she's been doing about Stefan.  She's realized that she doesn't trust him and doesn't know him.  She's recognized his feelings for Laura and has begun to doubt his motives.  That doesn't mean she isn't still attracted to him, and that's her main struggle.  But I'm so glad to see that she's channeling all this energy into her recovery (though I hope she doesn't overdo it), and that she's dropped the line "I couldn't do this without you" from her vocabulary.

IX. Carly

A.J. showed up in the hospital gym on Wednesday (we don't know why) much to Carly's chagrin.  She sweet-talked Tony, but after he left she went up to A.J.  She's still worried he's going to talk.  The problem with her story (that he helped her) is that it leads him to think they have a positive (kind of) background and a shared problem with alcohol.  So, he kind of looks forward to their little chats because he thinks that she thinks he helped her out.  Of course, he also mentioned that Bobbie was his mother's best friend (oops).  Later he told her again that he remembered her perfume.

X. Justus and Dara

I wasn't sure what that argument was about during the concert.  But I liked seeing Justus flirting again, and I liked the look he traded with her during the concert.

XI. Other Things

A. Flashbacks

I'm quite willing to give tptb some slack since they're gearing up for Port Charles and shuffling writers.  I liked the letters, and I like the flashbacks to the past and the montages of scenes we've been getting.  I can even understand the Monday flashbacks to last week.  But the flashbacks every day to the day before are starting to get on my nerves.  Go for some more flash-further-backs, or do a musical montage every day.

B. Balance

I thought we had a really nice balance of scenes this week.  We had one-on-one conversations, some fairly in-depth, and we had some of those combination scenes, where one character meets up with several in a row or we have one setting with several smaller groups of characters interacting.  Then we had the even bigger scene at the All For One concert at the end of the week.