**The Week in Review: May 5 - May 9**

I. The Cassadines

A. Nikolas

Nik:  "Well she said something.  Was it about my Uncle?"

Katherine:  "Sometimes there are things that are better left unsaid, and this is one of them."
Nik:  "Well whatever happened, I guess it's for the best.  I guess it's time for everything to change."

Monday's show opened with Nikolas questioning Katherine about Bobbie's visit.  At the end of last week he found her scarf to prove she was there.  Katherine wouldn't answer his questions.  She lied straight to his face, and he knew it.  He pushed her, but she still wouldn't tell.  I think Nikolas knew exactly what Bobbie told Katherine, or maybe he imagines an exaggerated version of things, or a worse version.  It wasn't clear on Monday what he thought, but I'd bet that it's not over between him and Katherine and that he doesn't simply drop the subject at home, either.

Nik:  "You don't have to put on a face for me.  I know you're unhappy and I know why."

Nik:  "I know what's goin' on, Bobbie, and you can't just pat me on the head and tell me to go away."
Bobbie:  "Oh Nikolas, it's not your job to worry about me."
Nik:  "I know it's not.  It's his, but he's not doin' it very well."

Bobbie:  "But, you know, I still don't understand why he got so upset about it."
Nik:  "Lulu's father is Luke Spencer.  Is that reason enough for ya?"

Nik:  "Maybe Lulu will accidentally drop the egg off some mountaintop in Switzerland and then...and then we'll forget it ever existed."

On Thursday, Nik showed up at the hospital looking for Bobbie.  She put on a brave front, but he told her he knew why she was unhappy and showed her the scarf of hers he found at Katherine's.  She tried to pass off their visit lightly, but Nikolas called her on it.  Bobbie didn't admit anything, though, and she denied the affair.  Nikolas didn't buy it, and claimed he would have to look after her because she was so trusting.  Funny, when Luke offers to look after her she gets angry.  ;)  She let slip Stefan went on a trip, and Nik immediately grew concerned.

After a severe case of flashback-in-flashback (to an egg without a base...sigh), Nik set off with no explanation to Bobbie, and we were left to assume that he went after his Uncle.

I noticed, transcribing these lines, that Nikolas sure has started talking American lately.  All the dropped suffixes and slang versions of pronunciations.  A far cry from the early days, eh?  Even Stefan said "ya" the other day.

B. Bobbie

Tony:  "So, where is he now?"
Bobbie:  "Who?  What're you gonna do Tony?  Beat Stefan up?  I really appreciate your being outraged on my behalf, but it's a little hypocritical, don't you think?  Since he didn't do anything to me that you didn't do first."

Bobbie:  "You know, what happened between us was not the same.  It just looked the same."

Bobbie pulled herself together in Tony's arms while Carly broke down in the hall.  She's still angry with him for cheating on her, but she's dealing with that, I think.  It was gracious of her to admit that she was at fault in what had happened between them, and I was glad to see her acknowledge that and recognize her mistakes.  I don't want her to blame herself for this new problem though, and was glad to hear Tony tell her that there wasn't anything she could have done better.  She's very hard on herself, and I'd like to see her learn that her problems aren't all her fault at the same time she learns that her judgment needs a bit of a polish.  But Stefan's the most to blame in this marriage.

Bobbie:  "Mrs. Stefan Cassadine."

What she's not dealing with is the fact that her new husband's cheating on her as well.  She's scared that Stefan's found someone else just like Carly did.  Ruby pointed out that on last Friday's episode, Bobbie showed up at Katherine's door to find Carly there as well; she was faced with both the woman her last husband left her for and the woman she suspects her new husband of seeing.  The repetition is quick, and she's not yet ready to admit it's happening again, I think.  She couldn't actually say the words at the end of last week, and when Tony asked her what she would do next, she actually claimed that the problem might go away and that it might have been an overreaction on her part.  I thought about slapping her, but at the end of Monday's episode, I couldn't tell whether she was determined to put her fears aside or whether she was angry enough to take action.

If Bobbie's question as to whether he was traveling alone didn't worry Stefan, her behavior after they went to bed should have.  She claimed she needed rest for her throat and turned him away.  You know, I have to applaud her strength of will there.  ;)  I hope she noticed he still doesn't speak of love.

On Thursday, Bobbie sent Katherine a new home care nurse.  I wondered if she was sending in her own spy, since she didn't want Mary Scanlon to tell Katherine who recommended her.  Of course, Stefan was charming as ever with his wife's acquaintance, and Bobbie seemed very pleased to introduce him as her husband, even given the circumstances.

Bobbie was charming as well when Stefan told her he was leaving town on business.  But she made no promises of returning his overtures for a romantic getaway.  Gee, I wonder if he had a midnight swim in mind....

C. Stefan

i. Stefan the cat burglar

Stefan began Monday's episode in the Spencer house, looking for the egg.  He didn't find it, but did find the letter from Laura containing the picture of Lulu and the egg.  I actually got a kick out of watching him crack that safe (a bigger kick from the look on his face when he found nothing), though most of ratsa wants to know when Stefan started doing his own dirty work.  I found it interesting that he had to scorn Laura and her letter--especially her note of her love for Luke--even when there was nobody there to see.  Was he just reminding himself how much he hates her?  Was he perturbed with her note of love and the proof of her "happy" family life?  Stephen Nichols said in an interview recently that Stefan wants what Luke has.  He doesn't want to be Luke, but he wants the family and the dynamic.  I don't think the irony was lost on him that the trap was set with and by that very family.

Personally, I wanted him to open that front door to find Luke standing there...

ii. With Alexis

Stefan:  "How charming, using Lesley Lu as the cheese."

Alexis:  "They let a child play with a Faberge egg?"
Stefan:  "Let her chew the diamonds off.  We don't care."

Alexis:  "Do you think it could have been left there deliberately for you to find?"
Stefan:  "Well the thought had occurred to me.  I, I think it's a very remote possibility.  Either way I have no choice but to go there and get it back."

And I think he knows it's a trap.  The first line above seems to indicate as much.  But Stefan worries me when he dismisses Luke so easily.  People on ratsa have noted that Luke seems to be holding all the cards, especially with this little leap of logic about the egg.  But I can't decide if Stefan's got something new up his sleeve or not.  I also don't know if he's dismissing Alexis' concerns as a show of confidence or if he really doesn't think Luke's up to something.

Finally, though, he's right.  Whether it's a trap or not, he's got to go.  Although it might be entertaining to see him not go--that would certainly yank Luke's chain.  :)  

Stefan:  "And even if he does suspect something, it takes two medallions to unlock it.  Laura has only one."

Tuesday left us with many questions, which were kind of cleared up later, but not to many ratsa-ers' satisfaction.  Question:  Stefan wears one medallion.  Laura has the other (is it with her or at the house?).  Where is the third?  Do we know?  At one point we saw a scene of the orderly handing a woman in a chair a medallion as a reward for taking her medication.  Some thought it might be Helena, but I assume it was Lesley.  If Lesley has a medallion as well, is it with her?  Do the Spencers actually have two, and do they know they have two?  Luke knows the medallions slide into the base--we've seen him insert one.  It still isn't clear to me what the Spencers know and don't know, and I hope we get some clarification along the way.

Alexis:  "They'll be there, ready for you.  Laura will be waiting."
Stefan:  "And that, my dear cousin is the source of my good cheer.  Laura may or may not be surprised to see me.  She may or may not be participating in her husband's latest scheme.  It's immaterial.  She'll promise to do what Luke wants.  But ultimately, I'll be the one she'll obey."

Alexis doesn't underestimate Luke at all.  I was glad to see Alexis wonder aloud at how much the Spencers know and if they're only testing for Stefan's reaction.  She always seems to speak my mind to Stefan, and she's asked him things I've wanted to ask him time and again.

Stefan's confident because of the secret about Nik, or something we don't know about yet.  What I would like to see come out of this is a conversation with Alexis and Stefan where she learns all.

Alexis:  "What makes you so confident that Laura is going to do exactly what you want her to do?"
Stefan:  "Trust me."
Alexis:  "It would be nice if you trusted me."
Stefan:  "Oh, I do.  Or you wouldn't be here."
Alexis:  "One thing everybody knows about Laura is that she is unswervingly loyal to her husband, so you're just going to demand that she hand over the Faberge egg to you and she's going to do it; do you know something that I don't."
Stefan:  "Alexis, if Laura has the object in question she'll give it to me.  If she doesn't, she'll tell me where it is."
Alexis:  "You're not going to give me a straight answer, are you?"
Stefan:  "I just did."

I don't fully understand Stefan and Alexis' relationship yet, and I hope I get the chance to.  He surely doesn't tell her everything, and yet she hasn't reached a point yet where she refuses him.  She trusts him enough to go on his word, while at the same time she pushes for the knowledge she knows he's keeping from her.  It would be interesting to see what would sway her loyalty, or make her question it.

For Stefan's part, I don't understand why he finds it so necessary to keep her in the dark about certain things--his relationship with Laura being the primary one.  Is it bravado, to a certain degree?  Certainly he can't doubt her loyalty, or suspect that she would tell his secret or use it against him--or maybe he does?  Or does he smartly assume that the more people know about a secret, the more likely it is to get out?  Whatever it is, he seems to take some kind of pleasure in keeping her asking questions, even if they irritate him at times.

Alexis:  "Do you think the Spencers have any idea what they have?  Is there a remote possibility that they know what's inside that egg?"
Stefan:  "No, none."

Now, back when Laura and Stefan were fighting after her return from the dead, Stefan was very concerned about Lesley and what she remembered.  It seems clear he doesn't know she holds the medallion, but the thing that bothers me most is that he hasn't mentioned her or shown any interest in her since then.  And it's clear she holds the key not only to the egg, but also to something bigger, I think.

What bothers other people most is the business with the egg prop itself.  First it had no base, then three slots, now two.  The shift from three to two bothers me a bit, since they could have left it as three just as easily (and had Luke steal Bobbie's, a la QED).  The changing prop itself doesn't bother me half as much as it does some people, because I assume that they started the storyline with the prop sans base (as we saw in the flashbacks later in the week), assuming they could hide whatever-it-is in the egg itself.  When they added the subplot of Nik running away and leaving Lulu the note, they needed to hide *that* in the egg, and so developed another hiding place for the whatever-it-is.  Finally, I don't really care how many times the prop changes.  That's the smallest hole in this story (which I find less hole-y than some--though I would like to know where Helena's gone off to).

We have learned this week that every Cassadine has a medallion, or at least that there are more than three (or two).  That just opened a huge can of worms, in my book.  But it does leave open the door for the story of where Lesley got the one she has.

Alexis called for the plane, but Stefan wasn't going to leave until the next day.  He made a good point about not alarming Bobbie or letting Luke think he goaded him into rushing, but the fact that he's so sure the Spencers aren't a real threat worries me.  While I'm glad to see him back at the helm, his rush of business adrenaline has him seeing things through some haze of bravado.  People are complaining, but I actually think it makes sense.  He's had to face so many of his failings in recent days that he can't allow for any more.  He's had to convince himself that he hasn't done great damage and that things are back under control.  Most of all, in the face of Katherine's accusations about his feelings for Laura, he can't allow that Laura might have the power to hurt him again.

Stefan:  "I have to go."
Alexis:  "Then I guess you'll need this."
Stefan:  "You're aware of the rules against removing it."
Alexis:  "Yup."
Stefan:  "Then why do it?"
Alexis:  "Because you asked me to."
Stefan:  "Which means more to you than your loyalty to the family."
Alexis:  "Um-hm."
Stefan:  "Leave the medallion where it is.  I'll see you in a few days."
Alexis:  "This was a test, wasn't it."
Stefan:  "We're a powerful team, Alexis.  And when I return with what is rightfully ours, the world will see the absolute magnitude of that power."

On Thursday at the airport, the discussion of the medallions continued, but this time Stefan asked Alexis to give him her medallion.  They went through some more information about the medallions.  It's now clear that each Cassadine has one, and we learned that they are not to take them off ever.  He told her he would need to open the egg and didn't want to alert Laura to their "practical use" by taking hers.  At first she said she couldn't, but he spoke about their shared power and she offered, finally, to give it to him.  He then declined to take it.  Their closeness in this scene--the way they spoke to each other, the way they touched, the way he kissed her hand--really struck me.  Even though he was testing her, she understood.  I hope that we really will see them working together--instead of at cross-purposes--in the near future.

iii. Stefan and Family

Stefan:  "Well, if you don't need me here."
Bobbie:  "Well that depends.  Will you be traveling alone?"

Bobbie showed up to interrupt Stefan and Alexis' conversation.  He noted her request for a drink, and she passed it off as a problem with a patient.  His dialogue in these scenes seemed more hollow that usual, and his compliments and explanations just as hollow.  I'm wondering if it's on purpose, that it echoes Bobbie's increasing awareness that things aren't what they seemed at first.  I was very glad to see her not-so-veiled question as to whether he was traveling alone.  I hope he heard the question.

Nikolas came in and comforted Bobbie without revealing his real concern.  Of course, the writers couldn't be that subtle, and gave us yet another flash-not-so-far-back.  This one really ruined the pace of the scene for me, and I didn't appreciate it.  I did like seeing Nik tell Stefan to go upstairs with her and then refuse to discuss anything with him that night.

Alexis:  "Can that be avoided?"
Stefan:  "It has to be."

Alexis was cute saying goodnight to Nik.  She came back for her briefcase, giving Stefan an opportunity for us to hear him promise someone that he wouldn't hurt Bobbie.

II. Carly and Tony

A. Tony and Bobbie

Bobbie:  "But looking back now, I see that there were things I could have done differently.  You can agree with me; I won't bite."
Tony:  "I'm not even sure I would agree anymore, but I'm grateful."

It was nice to see Tony and Bobbie getting along, and that he sees more clearly now what happened between them.  He was blaming everything but himself in their breakup--B.J.'s death, Bobbie's infidelity, etc.--and while he wasn't in a place where he could see that, he is now.  And I think that part of it is that he sees Carly more clearly, and sees that his perceptions of both women had more to do with him then them.  Carly isn't the perfect, caring, girl he fell in love with, and Bobbie isn't all the bad things he saw in her.

Tony:  "That lazy Dorman.  Suddenly, he's only gonna take a call about once a week.  That's funny.  You think he's in love?"
Bobbie:  "Well then someplace there's a woman who's a lot worse off than I am."

Ha!

When Tony and Bobbie met the next day, Bobbie insisted that he not treat her with kid gloves.  Funny, I didn't think he was.  I thought he was behaving professionally in the middle of the hallway--but since when has that been the norm.  :)

At the end of Wednesday, Tony stopped Bobbie and told her he had something to tell her about Katherine Bell.  I suppose we were expected to think he was going to harp on Katherine and Stefan again, but he looked too happy for me to buy that cliffhanger.

On Thursday, we had an extremely happy scene with Bobbie and Tony in the hall.  Bobbie let slip she thought Katherine traveling, but then they went back to chatting about her halos.  Carly overheard, and put the file on Tony's custody case in the outgoing mail...addressed to Bobbie.  Smooth move, if she can keep it under wraps.

B. Carly

Carly went back to Luke's after seeing Tony and Bobbie together.  She emphatically denied Jason's suggestion that there was something wrong, and he left her to her drink.  She overheard Dorman giving Dara legal advice, and got that Spencer look in her eye.  She asked Justus for a business card...for a sick friend.  I wasn't sure what she was up to.

Carly overheard Tony telling Justus he was dropping the custody suit on Wednesday, and she waylaid Justus to thank him for the business card he gave her.  I still didn't know what she was up to.

She then showed up at Justus' office in a wig straight out of Luke and Laura's costume closet.  I laughed when I thought of them breaking into that lawyer's office, for example.  When the secretary left, Carly stole Tony's file out of Justus' filing cabinet.  Ratsa pointed out that this must not have been a particularly important case for it to be filed in the outer room....  L&L never had it this easy.  Justus and Ned nearly caught Carly, but the secretary left her free and clear to steal whatever.  And I wondered if the things she overheard would come into play later.  Like, will she tell A.J. or something and that will play into Quartermaine strategies later?

A.J. ran into Carly at Justus' office at the end of Wednesday.  She drug him out into the hall and made him promise he wouldn't tell anyone he had seen her with some random lying about her friend.  She managed to drop an earring, however, which A.J. ended up with.  Who knows how this will get Carly into future trouble.  Maybe Tony will be wondering about who sent the file to Bobbie and A.J. will walk up and return the earring?  He seems to be always around, somehow.

C. Tony

Tony met Justus in the GH halls on Wednesday and told him he was dropping the custody suit because things were going well with Bobbie.  Justus reminded him that they didn't have a formal agreement, and that they needed one.  But Tony insisted that things were going to work out soon, or so he believed.  He believes Bobbie's going to leave Stefan.  Pair that with his behavior towards and openness with her these past few weeks--and especially this past week--and I think Carly has good reason to worry.  It was sweet to see that he was going to lay off the custody battle for Bobbie because he knew what she was going through, and because it's nearly the anniversary of B.J.'s death (is this the second?).

III. The Spencers

A. Luke

I must be living right.  At the beginning of Monday, we got a bit more of Luke's dancing as he headed out the door, unnoticed by anyone but Lucky.  I loved him setting Amy up on top of the bar to dance.  While he may irritate the heck out of her, I'm betting that she loves having a bro-in-law that makes her feel so special.

I'll say it again:  "Luke + hat + cigar + sly smile = very happy McAmy."  ;)

Laura:  "I know what to do."
Luke:  "Ok.  Keep your eye out.  Make that move as soon as you see his mangy little goatee."
Laura:  "I will.  I love you."

Luke made it back in time to thank All 4 One.  He gave Lucky the thumbs up and a hug before he went up on stage, and called Laura immediately after (I love it when he sings).  Laura's more upset than he is, and seemed nervous (because of the secret?).  She was distracted and short with him, actually.  She says she knows what to do, but I'm not sure if she'll do it.  I am sure that I can't wait to see.

Luke:  "Does it have to do with that pestilence she calls husband?"

Luke:  "I like to keep my enemies in front of me."

Luke:  "I'm really gonna miss bein' the bad cop, you know.  I kinda enjoy that."

Luke:  "Do you want her back, Tony?"

Luke:  "Excuse me though, I thought for a minute there you were an ex-brother-in-law of mine."

At the beginning of Thursday's show, Luke showed up at GH looking for Bobbie, but Tony waylaid him.  But Luke was bearing good news this time, and told Tony so.  In exchange, Tony told him that Bobbie was having rough times but that he thought she would leave Stefan soon, or at least that she's not buying his act anymore.  Tony said he was calling off the custody suit, and Luke asked him if he wanted her back.  Tony simply said he didn't owe him an explanation.  We had that fun guitar Spencer music at the end of that scene.  That music always makes me smile and know something's going ok for that family.

Luke:  "Well hello little sister.  Nikky."
Nik:  "Gotta go."
Luke:  "Fine boy.  Gonna make a first-class psycho one day."
Bobbie:  "Ok.  This is where I came in."
Luke:  "Oh, I'm sorry Barbara, really.  I'm only here to make you smile if you'll let me."

Luke:  "Well, how bout a family snack.  We'll meet at Kelly's and whoever's hungry eats."

Luke gave Bobbie the news of Lulu's great checkup this time around.  He then wrangled the info out of her that Stefan was out of town with false plans for a family snack.  I'd actually like to see that family get-together, as would Lucas, I'm sure.  Luke went straight to the phone to call Laura.

B. Lucky

Lucky:  "Gin and tonic, man, come on."
Mike:  "Ooo.  You mean ginger ale.  Comin' right up."
Sonny:  "You gotta be careful what you drown your troubles in."
Lucky:  "I was just kiddin' with Mike."
Sonny:  "Oh, I know.  But I also know you got a few other things on your mind."
Lucky:  "Well, Sonny, who doesn't."

This was one of those moments where I forget Jonathan Jackson isn't really related to Tony Geary.  He has Luke's mannerisms and speech patterns down precisely (and I noticed Luke putting his hand to the back of his hand like Lucky does last week--these two are so convincing as father and son).  I really liked this moment with Sonny and Lucky.  When Luke spoke with Lucky about Emily's death a while back, he spoke around the subject of drugs but not directly about it.  I hypothesized that he didn't want to ask anything that sounded accusatory when Lucky was already reeling from the news.  But I hope that he and Lucky talk more about substance abuse as this drug storyline goes on, and I was glad to see Sonny take up the subject now.  I hope that they aren't going to involve Lucky in drugs as well.

Sonny asked what Lucky knew, and Lucky told him he didn't know anything.  Sonny backed off.  What I would like to see, actually, is Lucky talking with Emily and starting to put two and two together somehow.

C. Luke, Lucky, and Sonny

Luke:  "I'm happy to report that when I stepped outside for some air I dropped by the house and there was a breaking and entering in progress right on schedule."

Luke:  "What kind of a chicken lays an egg like that, I ask you."
Sonny:  "I don't know.  But I tell you what, I think you're doin' great, keeping one step ahead of Cassadine."
Luke:  "Well, finally, to a point."
Sonny:  "You'll work it out, Luke."
Luke:  "I appreciate the vote of confidence."

Luke updated Lucky and Sonny at the beginning of Tuesday's episode.  I'm so glad Sonny's in on this one, because if Maurice does end up leaving, I would like at least one more hint of a Sonny and Luke escapade before he does so.  

What struck me most about this scene is that while Luke has been very confident with Laura on the phone to keep her confidence up, here with Sonny he can admit that things aren't completely under control yet.  His "Well, finally, to a point," indicates to me that he's not suffering from overconfidence (as much as Luke Spencer can manage to avoid overconfidence) half as much as Stefan seems to be.  We cut from this scene directly to Alexis quizzing Stefan about his control over Laura.  Laura, too, seems anxious, and I have to say I think this gives the Spencers the advantage.

Luke filled Sonny in (see next section), but admitted that they didn't know what the chip did yet.

Luke:  "Uh, you keep an eye on things here?"
Sonny:  "You got it."
Lucky:  "I'll watch Sonny for ya."
Luke:  "Good."

That was a hoot, as was Luke's admission that Lucky was teaching him everything he knows.  Personally, I love that Lucky's helping the parents--and that he gets the mobster as his babysitter.  :)  I know, I should be more concerned in the message that this sends out to kids, blah blah blah, but as a single person who doesn't have to face brutal reality very often, I enjoy seeing one of my longtime fantasies played out with Lucky.  I used to want to have a mobster father, actually.  Explains a lot, doesn't it?  ;)

Lucky:  "Thought you'd never ask."
Sonny:  "Startin' to sound like your old man there."

Luke:  "Thanks for the dancin'."
Lucy:  "Ooo, I liked it."
Luke:  "A lot more where that came from."
Lucy:  "I hope so.  And, tonight wraps up with, of course, getting to go home and seeing my Doc."
Luke:  "Oh you're still in love?"
Lucy:  "Ya.  Just like you.  So, how's the wife.  Is she doin' ok over there?  What's she doin' over there?"
Luke:  "She's handling everything beautifully.  Like you, she's an amazing woman."

I love Luke and Lucy (see my FGC Lucy title, which I'm sad will be in little use when Lucy moves to PC).  I also love that anytime Luke starts in flirting with some woman he mentions his wife.  He both compliments the woman and reminds them that he's taken, all at the same time.  And, to be put in the company of Laura by Luke is compliment indeed.

D. Switzerland

Lesley:  "It's hard to believe this beautiful little thing could hold something so dangerous."

On Tuesday, it became clear that even Lesley knew what was in that egg and that the Spencers weren't acting on a simple hunch.  Later that day we got to listen in while Luke caught Sonny up to speed and retold the story of how they opened the egg.

Luke:  "Well the one thing that we've got going for us is that Stefan doesn't realize I figured out the mystery of the egg."
Lucky:  "Hey now."
Luke:  "Uh, alright.  We figured out the mystery of the egg.  And we got it open."

Luke's right.  If Stefan had known Lesley had that medallion, he would have stopped her from leaving the country.  The Spencers have the upper hand free and clear in Luke and Lucky's minds, but we all know that there's one variable they don't now about--Laura's secret.

Lesley:  "I just had this feeling that no one was supposed to know I found it.  Somewhere, I don't remember.  But I knew that it was important and I knew that I had to make sure that no one else knew that I had it."
Luke:  "My mother-in-law is a very wily woman.  I got no complaints with your logic."
Lesley:  "You should have this.  You'll do what's right."

Sonny:  "So, you got the base open.  Was there something inside?"
Luke:  "Was there ever."

In flashback (to scenes we didn't see when they happened in the timeline), we saw Luke demonstrate the way the medallion slid into the egg's base, then Lesley's horrified reaction to the medallion.  She said she had found it, and that she couldn't remember.  We don't know whose it is, or where she got it.  But it seems fishy to me that Stefan wouldn't know one had gone missing.  Perhaps it's from somebody who can't tell that their medallion is in her hands?

Now, a lot of people are in an uproar over this lightning fast development.  They don't like the new flashbacks to things they would have rather seen in keeping with the timeline, and they are driven crazy with the changing egg and medallion stuff.  Personally, I don't mind the prop changes, and I actually am quite fond of the new scenes as flashbacks.  We never heard much about what happened when Luke took them to Switzerland, and he was certainly more willing than usual to lay low and keep out of Stefan's face for a while.  I think he wanted to see if he could get Bobbie out of there before he pulled this rug out from under Stefan.  But back to the scenes.  I liked the way they handled these scenes in the Twist of Fate week last winter, and I thought they worked almost as well here.  They don't leave us hanging forever, but they give us about a week to speculate about what's going on--this time it was about what Luke did and didn't know.  I think these scenes work better and irritate less when they're not surrounded by so many other flashbacks.  But I like them.  That said, they've done this twice--December and May--and that'll be about enough of that for a while.  Too much of a good thing becomes not so good.

Laura:  "Can't you sleep?"
Lesley:  "Not if you can't."

Lesley:  "It is not a dream.  I am here.  And I am not going away.  Not anymore.  You know what?  I think it's my turn.  You have taken wonderful care of me.  But, I wanna be the mother now.  Will you let me?"

Laura:  "And I only have one weapon to fight him with.  I'm just afraid it's not gonna be enough."
Lesley:  "Oh, don't underestimate yourself.  Or Luke.  You two always seem able to accomplish anything you need to."

Even Laura had flashbacks this week.  Sigh.  But it was at least to her threat to Stefan.  And her face said it all.  She wonders if her threat will be enough to keep Stefan from telling Luke in the upcoming battle.

Her scene with Lesley was so wonderful.  I want to believe so much that Lesley's going to stay around--Laura too.  I was so happy to see them on DTR this week.  I wanted to see what they were like before, and I wasn't disappointed.  The dynamic between Luke and Lesley fascinates me too, and I'd like to see more of them.  I was glad to see Lesley remind her that she didn't have to fight Stefan by herself and that Luke would be there.  The problem is that's what she's worried about most.  If Luke is there, Stefan might tell.

Laura:  "I miss you."
Luke:  "Me too, honey.  Like a major appendage."

Luke called Laura to let her know Stefan was on his way, and Laura told him again to keep Lucky out of it.  She misses him though.  But they confirmed that the egg was hidden and that they had plan B in place for Lulu and Lesley.  They had a sweet sign off...though I don't think anyone would actually kiss a public phone if it were real.  :)

Stefan:  "I've come to collect what belongs to me."
Luke:  "That wouldn't be my wife, so just exactly what the hell do you want, Cassadine?"

Luke:  "You look a little surprised.  You're not up on modern transportation?  Ever hear of the Concorde?  You get to Chuck DeGalle airport, a little puddle-jumper, and I'm here to roll out the frayed carpet."
Stefan:  "You never know when to quit, do you Spencer."

Luke:  "Lasha can't help you.  You have to come to me."

Stefan:  "Give it to me."
Luke:  "No please?"

Luke:  "Why do you keep crying to her?  She can't help you."
Stefan:  "Relinquish it, or I promise you life as you know it is over."
Luke:  "Oh, you Greco-Russkies are so dramatic."

Luke:  "It's about a 200 foot drop down there; you may find this next summer when it thaws."
Stefan:  "Now I deeply regret having to resort to such vile measures.  Certainly you know how fast a bullet travels, Luke.  I would venture a guess that before you can throw it I can put a bullet between your eyes."

Luke:  "You wanna go head to head?  You wanna see whose nerves are steadier?"
Laura:  "Luke, stop it.  He's got a gun."
Luke:  "I see that honey.  Do you think it's loaded?"
Laura:  "Stop baiting him."
Luke:  "He won't shoot me.  He only shoots women."
Stefan:  "I'm going to count to ten."
Luke:  "By the time you hit three you're a dead man.  You wanna play chicken over this egg?"

On Friday, Stefan showed up at Laura's door for the egg.  He found Luke.  Luke goaded him to tell what was in the egg as if he didn't know already while Laura played mediator and pretended to try to convince him to give it up (of course, I wondered if that was completely part of the act or whether Luke's going to call her on it later, because Laura was in part, I think, responding to Stefan's unspoken threat to tell Luke the truth).  But the mediating failed, and Stefan pulled a gun on Luke when Luke threatened to throw the egg off the cliff.  Luke was prepared, and pulled a gun of his own.  Instead of firing, however, there was a struggle, and Stefan knocked Luke out with the butt of his gun--must have taken lessons from Alexis on that one.  Laura protested, but Stefan met her protestations with a clever answer--and a veiled threat...

Laura:  "Damn you."
Stefan:  "Why?  I just saved your marriage."

I found it interesting that Stefan commented that Laura didn't look surprised when he showed up while Luke commented on Stefan's surprise at seeing him there.  Clearly, Stefan wasn't just grandstanding with his confidence for Alexis; he truly did underestimate Luke this time.  He should learn--he's fallen for all of their schemes so far, after all.  :)  At the same time, he did bring the gun, and I'm not sure he would have used it on just the women.

Was this the first time Stefan's called her Lasha in front of Luke?  And that hiding place wasn't really very good, now, was it?  Maybe it was only hidden on the off chance Stefan beat Luke there.  And was that the first time he's called Luke by his first name?  Usually it's Spencer or Luke Spencer.

IV. Sonny/Brenda/Jax/Miranda

A. Brenda

On Monday, Brenda called the pilot, who told her that they had landed early.  She still didn't know where he was, and I wondered if she suspected.

Brenda:  "How many sets of lost keys does this make?"
Dorman:  "You know, I always wish that I was one of those people that lost their keys, but I always seem to lose money."

Dorman:  "Brenda Barrett.  The paragon of righteousness.  First time for everything, I guess."

I'm still not sure what Dorman's up to with Jax, or how this scene with Brenda might play into that (maybe later she can tell Sonny about the encounter?).  But this scene with Brenda was a hoot.  He left her befuddled and me smiling.  Tuc Watkins is so good at this kind of sarcasm.  I have to say he's won me over.

B. Jax and Miranda

Jax:  "What did you just say?  Now that didn't sound like a wild guess; it sounded like an accusation."

I didn't really understand why Miranda was so upset when the truth slipped out.  She intended to tell him, and she claimed she knew he'd be upset when Brenda confronted her last week.  And she almost did tell him in the hotel lobby.  But the look on her face when she actually said it told me that she was half-bluffing with Brenda, and that she wasn't as prepared as she claimed to tell Jax the truth.  She was quick to correct him and put "sleeping with" in the past tense, as if that would make her revelation any better.

Jax:  "I'm not interested in Brenda right now, ok?  I'm interested in you, Miranda.  You have my full attention finally."

Miranda:  "Hey, Brenda would have done the same exact thing and you know it.  The only difference is you'll forgive her anything.  Or will you?  I guess we'll see."
Jax:  "I guess you think there's nothing worse than having an unfaithful wife.  But you know what?  Having a dead one reading poetry in a seaside cabana somewhere in the Philippines is right up there on the list."

I was so very glad that Jax was able to sideline the revelation and get to the point of the matter: the manner in which Miranda found out.  What she didn't foresee was that this would be the final straw for him, and the final proof of her spiteful intentions.  Instead of her love, she's proven only that she's changed from the girl that he once loved...or that maybe she never was that girl.  For Miranda, it was always an either/or choice.  She was wrong, and it cost her.

Miranda:  "I may not be who you thought I was, but neither is she."

Miranda continued to justify her actions by pointing out that Brenda was the same or worse.  Definitely not the right tactic and I'm glad it didn't work for even a second on Jax.

The thing is, Jax has been willing to try and see Miranda for who she is now.  He's been disappointed, but he's almost always made the effort.  On the other hand, Miranda has never tried to see Jax in the present; she's maintained an image of him in the past.  While GH has its inconsistencies, this thing they always stick too: Idealized love never works out.  (Ok, maybe almost never.  I haven't been watching long enough to say this with complete certainty, but if you want to fill me in or discuss my theory, I'd be glad to hear it.)  Stefan's love for Laura, Brenda and Sonny the first time around, Miranda's for Jax, and even (please don't get angry) Ned and Lois.  The people who aren't willing to face the bad things about each other, or who develop an image of the person they love rather than seeing the real thing, end up without.  On the other hand, Luke and Laura, Alan and Monica show that loves that see each other clearly may neither always happy nor permanently romantic, but they last.  And I hope they don't prove me wrong.

Jax:  "And you know what, one other thing.  You're not gonna tell anyone what you just told me."
Miranda:  "Who you tryin' to protect, huh?  Her or yourself?"
Jax:  "That girl I met on the beach.  There was no meanness in her, and I never heard her tell a lie.  And now she's not around to protect herself."

And in the end, Miranda could only see a spiteful or selfish motive in Jax's order.  Jax, on the other hand, showed that he had room in his heart to treat her better than she treated Brenda...or him.  And he went up a notch or two in my estimation with the way he handled this scene.  Of course, at the end of the episode he went home to Brenda, and I wondered if he'd handle that scene just as well...or if it would be the same scene.

C. Miranda

Miranda:  "I did the right thing.  He had to know the truth."

She comforts herself with that, but I think she wasn't wise to believe that Brenda would never tell.  That secret would have come out sometime, and she could have come off looking really good if she had been the good friend and kept her spite out of sight.

Miranda:  "I mean, if Jax needed a reason to despise me, I sure gave him one."

She went to see Katherine on Tuesday, and found her alone working out in the hospital gym.  She told her the news and (finally) admitted her lack of grace and dignity in the whole situation.  Hindsight and all that, huh?  The scene was actually kind of funny, because they were both trying to outdo each other on the pity meter.

Dorman showed up and ushered Katherine out of the gym.  He's actually right, that she shouldn't be in there by herself, but he didn't have to be so rude about it.  ;)  Miranda remembered that she had seen him at the airport--I just wonder if he remembers seeing her there.

On Thursday, Miranda told Sonny that she remembered seeing Dorman at the airport.  Despite his warnings that this was sensitive information, she left without giving a statement.  Not that she should have been able to read his mind that that's what he needed her to do, but I think I wouldn't just walk away without asking--leave town without knowing that this thing was settled or at least let Sonny know how to get in touch with me.  Of course, she doesn't seem to take this thing very seriously.  She probably would if she knew her precious Jax just fell in the middle of it.  But I get ahead of myself....

Miranda:  "Look.  I came to Port Charles because Jax was here, and I think I should leave for the same reason."

Miranda told Katherine she was leaving town, and Katherine couldn't dissuade her.

D. Brenda and Jax

Brenda:  "What's wrong?"

At the end of Monday's show, Jax came home to find Brenda waiting for him.  I wondered if he knew by now that the thing she had been trying to tell him was that she'd slept with Sonny.  And I wondered if she had figured out that he knew from his absence and the look on his face.

Brenda:  "I...I want to...I *want* to live up to your belief in me, and I need to tell you the truth."

Jax:  "To my mind, what happened in that cave is private."

Jax:  "We have to be apart now, if we're ever going to be together in the future.  And if that day comes, then it has to be because we choose each other freely."

Jax:  "I'm afraid that I'm gonna lose you forever."

Jax:  "I don't wanna settle."
Brenda:  "You shouldn't have to."
Jax:  "Exactly.  And in the meantime, it'll be interesting to see how things...how things develop."

Brenda:  "I have to say, of all the things that you've surprised me with, this was the biggest.  See ya."

Jax told her he had asked Miranda to leave town, and Brenda wanted to know what she said.  I believe she knew that Miranda had told Jax and recognized exactly what he was doing for her.  He was letting her off the hook, and truly giving her the opportunity to make up her mind about what she wants.  He talked about their whole relationship and the falseness of their marriage.  I was glad to hear him acknowledge that false beginning, even though I believe that their relationship has become real.

I don't know if it was for Brenda's own good that he let her off that hook.  He hasn't made her choice any easier; if anything he's made her love him more.  But she doesn't have to admit the truth to him, and that might have been good for her to have to do.  At the same time, we've seen her come to the point where she would tell him.  I still haven't decided exactly what I think about the whole thing.  But I do think he's allowing her to express her independence, and that's a good thing.

Jax does win points with me for not being hateful and for, even in this, trying to make things easier for the woman he truly loves.  The most impressive thing of all is that he knows he could lose her.  And he hasn't changed his mind about Sonny, I'm sure.  He knows that she could choose Sonny and wind up miserable, but he knows that right now she needs most of all to make up her own mind.  He can't choose for her again.

All in all it was a completely unexpected scene for me, and it made me like Jax for the first time.  I've never disliked him; I've always just taken him kind of neutrally.  But looking back on things, he's a pretty good guy, and I'm glad he's sticking around to fight new fights...and hopefully to love new loves, if Brenda does indeed return to Sonny (they suggested she will with that shot of him at the end of Tuesday's episode).

E. The Airport

Sonny called in and told the police he was on his way with somebody to give a statement.  He went to Katherine's to ask for Miranda, then went to Miranda's to find her gone as Katherine said.  Boy that girl moves quickly when she sets her mind to it.  Of course, I laughed when Sonny read Miranda's letter out loud and skipped the majority of it.  Some self-awareness over all the letters we got in quick succession a week or so ago?

Brenda showed up next, saying that she was checking to see if Miranda was really gone.  He explained the drug lead to her and they headed for the airport.  Again, repetition of things we've already heard.

Jax and Miranda were already at the airport.  She thought for a second that he had come to ask her to stay, but no such luck.  I'll spare you the rehash of their conversation, because it was exactly that.  A rehash of things we've heard them say several times in recent episodes.  He was there to fly out on business.  Miranda left, telling him she was headed to Miami and then to she didn't know where.  Brenda and Sonny showed up, and while he said he wasn't irritated by seeing them together and told her they were apart and she didn't have to account for her company, he was clearly miffed and refused to take them seriously, pretending he didn't know where Miranda had gone.  That was nothing compared to the look on his face when the authorities stopped him for a search and found drugs in his bag.  Sonny and Brenda were shocked, and of course we all know Dorman did it.  Since Jax wouldn't help him out, he's framed him for drugs.  We haven't heard the explanation behind that, but I'm wondering if Brenda will now tell Sonny and/or Jax about Dorman's little visit to the penthouse.  Anyway, Friday left Jax being searched and arrested and Sonny and Brenda looking on confused.

V. Lucy and Kevin

A. Kevin and Lucy

Kevin:  "Lucy, I hate to be a wet blanket, but I don't think grabbing them by the shirttails as they pass the table is the most diplomatic way of offering them the job."
Lucy:  "I am not offering them a job; I want them to sing for free."

So Lucy's charm works on visiting musical acts very well, I see.  :)  I've really enjoyed these concert scenes because they gave us some happy scenes with people for a change.

At the end of Wednesday, after much of the below had happened, Lucy came home to Kevin and another angry phone call.  She didn't comment on it, but instead told him that she had something to tell him...after she told him something.  She told him she loved him and they headed up to bed.

Kevin:  "You know, I've practiced for over ten years.  I've even published a few groundbreaking papers.  But I have no words to describe what I feel right now."

On Thursday, we caught some of the fun afterglow of Kevin and Lucy.  It was good to see them happy for a bit...of course, then Lucy told him about Serena's visit, and Kevin looked less than happy.  Ratsa has conjured up all manner of reasons why Kevin wouldn't want to have kids with Lucy, and any and all of them could be true.  I think it's mostly because he's got this secret he hasn't told her yet and he's worried she won't be around long enough to have children with him.

Lucy:  "Do we have a toaster?"
Kevin:  "Ya.  It's the white thing on the counter."
Lucy:  "I think we'll be going out for breakfast...maybe most meals."

Lucy:  "Oh my gosh!  I might actually get jealous of you two.  That is wrong, isn't it."

Kevin recovered quickly, thanks to Lucy's ramblings about her plans for Serena.  I think he may actually like the idea (or fantasy) of a child, but doesn't think it's a wise idea right now this minute.  I think that maybe these dreams with Lucy are part of what's holding him together, even if he can't commit to them completely just now.  Lucy is so elated by the thought of Serena's visit, on the other hand, I don't even think she noticed that Kevin was worried.

Lucy:  "You did not make that easy at all."
Kevin:  "Makin' it easy isn't what I had in mind."

But they weren't all ramblings.  They had some serious talk about wanting kids, even if they staged it in terms of women and men in general.  That way it was safer, I think, and she wasn't risking his rejection.  Just when it turned serious, Lucy initiated another round, but Felicia called and interrupted...but Kevin didn't stop.

B. Lucy and Felicia

Lucy:  "D'ya wanna stay and just...be my friend maybe again for just a little while?"
Felicia:  "Sure."

Felicia:  "Oh, let's face it.  Both of out men don't have nine to five jobs."
Lucy:  "Oh.  Do you know how wonderful that is to hear you kinda put Tom and Kevin on the same level, kind of in the same frame.  You know, like, 'Kevin and Tom.  They're brilliant men and they do brilliant jobs and brilliant weird things.'"

Lucy:  "Stefan Cassadine himself?"

Kevin had to do some work after the concert, so Lucy stopped Felicia for a chat at the end of Monday's show.  They chatted on Tuesday.  Felicia told her about Tom's leaving and Lucy admitted she was worried about Kevin still.  In exchange, Felicia admitted that she suspects Stefan.  Actually, I'm surprised Lucy hasn't come to that conclusion herself.  She's certainly no Cassadine fan.  She's always said she doesn't like Kevin working for Stefan, but she's never actually wondered whether Stefan could *use* him, only that he could hurt him.

It was quite a hoot hearing Felicia and Lucy discuss mainframe computers and twisty Cassadine plots.  I thought perhaps Stefan knew about her investigation and that's why he targeted her, but Felicia is sure he doesn't.  No indication from Stefan himself as to whether he knows or not--if indeed he's behind this at all.

They talked more about Kevin afterwards, and Lucy told Felicia that Kevin was embarrassed or afraid of his past still.  I was actually pleased to see Felicia making Lucy feel better.  They're a funky combination of characters, and I' m actually looking forward to seeing the way this pans out.  Lucy has now decided to show Kevin why they should look ahead to the future.  Felicia, on the other hand, asked if she could investigate Kevin's trip to Oxford.

Felicia:  "I hope you have a couple of habits lying around, preferably ones without sequins."

On Friday, Felicia showed up and told Lucy that Kevin was indeed keeping secrets.  He sent a package to a nunnery in France while he was in Oxford.  Lucy agreed that they should go check on it right away, and they took off at the end of Friday.  Lucy left Kevin a note, but he didn't read it to us yet.  I wonder if she told hi m the truth?  Anyway, at the end of Friday, Felicia and Lucy were on the plane, with Felicia being bumped up to first class while Lucy was stuck in coach.  It's gonna be a long flight for someone....

C.  Felicia and Kevin...and Lucy

On Wednesday, Lucy breezed back into the lighthouse and sprung her Sonny and Mike act on Kevin.  Ha!  I'm hoping that the number of times she mentions it will indicate whether we may actually get to see that one come about.  :)  It was a hoot to hear her remind Kevin of all his own nurses' ball appearances.

They were interrupted by Felicia's arrival.  She wanted to speak to Kevin privately, but Lucy managed (in typical Lucy style) to get Kevin out of the room and ask Felicia what was up.  Felicia sent her away and asked Kevin her questions directly.  The dynamic between Kevin and Lucy is kind of fun, and it's almost a switch from worried Lucy scenes.  At least she's taking action now.

Felicia:  "Just like I'm starting to believe that you don't know that he's using you."

It was sweet that Kevin remembered how Felicia took her coffee.  I hope that they find some sense of closure before Kevin moves to the new show.  She asked Kevin if he had any idea who could be doing these things to her, and led him to bringing up Stefan's name.  As always, it was interesting to see Kevin defend Stefan.  He claims he would stop Stefan if he knew Stefan was up to something that would hurt Felicia, and I would actually like to see him make that decision.  He's hung onto his job because it was his first offer after his breakdown, and I think he wants to believe it's not Stefan.  Felicia told him to keep her informed, and Kevin said he would.

D. Lucy

While Kevin and Felicia talked, Lucy went up to the hospital to meet with Audrey in a nurses' ball meeting.  She called her office for her messages, and heard that Scott Baldwin had called.  :)  She called Scott, and then ran into Lee Baldwin.  They were both so excited about Serena's visit.  Lucy mentioned the Stanton foundation, and I think that's what's going to be the set up for his return in the sequel, since we have a Rex Stanton cast (Lynn Herring's RL husband).  Lucy was indeed jubilant, as she told Kevin, and those of you who have been waiting for this reunion certainly will be rewarded.  I'm so glad.  I'm just sad it doesn't look like we have a Scott/Luke reunion slated for the near future.  ;)

After talking with Kevin (among other things), Lucy had a little fantasy of child versions of Lucy and Kevin Jr.  Kind of cute, but the kids weren't anything to write home about.  Still, better than a flashback and I'd actually like to have seen Kevin's version of the fantasy.  Ha!  The fantasy did reveal that she was still worried about Kevin's secrets.

E.  Kevin

Kevin:  "Lucy happened."

Kevin:  "The bottom line is we keep getting closer and closer to the point where I don't know where I leave off and she takes up from me again."

While Lucy was deciding to leave with Felicia to investigate Kevin's trip, Kevin was telling Gail that he had woke up happy and had decided to be completely honest with Lucy.  But he didn't get a chance to tell her, because she had taken off with Felicia, leaving a note.  We don't know what the secret is exactly, again, but we know it has to do with his father.

Kevin:  "'The Paradoxes of Love.'  Sounds like a song.  Maybe I should write that.  I have time, you know."

I don't know if I trust Kevin's happiness yet.  He admits he's scared too, but I wonder if he's talking himself into this kind of emotion because he wants to make Lucy happy.  I was glad Gail called him on it.  He answered, though, by saying that Lucy has never wavered in her love for him.  I wonder if he feels he owes her something, so he wants to do this for her.  I hope, however, that he truly feels happy enough and safe enough with her to tell her everything.  I was so sorry that he was so excited to tell her and she wasn't there.  I wonder if he'll fault her for looking.  Probably not.  But I bet she's sorry she didn't stay long enough to listen.

VI. Felicia

Tom:  "I love you Felicia Jones.  I'm gonna carry you with me always."

Lucy:  "Where are your escorts?"
Felicia:  "Gone."

On Monday, Tom got a letter about a consulting job in Africa.  He's taking it and leaving.  Those who didn't know before know now that Tom's leaving.  Or at least Matt Ashford's leaving.  Do we know for sure if they're recasting Tom or not?  We've heard rumors both ways.  This certainly was an abrupt and clean write-out.  No big fanfare, no plot leading up to it, nothing.  Tells you tptb had given up on that storyline completely.  Tom says he's leaving to give something back to his father.  He also says he's going to be back sometime, but that good-bye seemed rather final.  You know, Felicia really should get back with Mac.  He's the only one of her men that didn't leave town.  ;)

Felicia seemed to take this really really well.  That was no kind of good-bye for long-time lovers, in my estimation.  The writers have just sped her away to this new plotline, and if that's the last we hear of Tom, it'll sure prove that their love wasn't meant to last.  ;)

Felicia:  "Well, you see, I have my technique.  I take fifteen minutes out of the day and I go completely hysterical over all my problems and then I know the rest of the day I have to be completely grown up."

I would try that, but having seen Felicia over the past year, I'm not sure it works so well.  :)

Kevin:  "What if he isn't responsible?"
Felicia:  "Then I have to find out who is.  Because I'm not gonna do this again.

I'm glad to see Felicia taking charge of her situation in a levelheaded, positive way finally.  She's run the gamut of reactions this year, and finally I think she's on track, and we're seeing her using her skills in a believable way, instead of breaking into Kevin's apartment.  At the end of Wednesday, she made a call about Kevin's trip to Oxford asking for all manner of records.

VII. The Quartermaines

A. Edward

Edward:  "What good does Monica think it'll do poor Emily to have that delinquent visit?"
Ned:  "Which delinquent would that be, Grandfather?"
Edward:  "Jason, of course.  How many delinquents do you know?"
Ned:  "A.J. comes to mind."

Edward was grumpy from the beginning of Wednesday throughout the rest of the week.  I suppose he has good reason to be, what with everything that's going on.  But somehow he struck me as overly harsh this week.

Edward:  "Alan, I cannot risk her smashing into a tree like the other one!"

Edward:  "Here she nearly killed herself with a drug overdoes and now she's listening to A.J.  You've got to do something, Ned."

When Emily got home she was met with the family en masse.  Edward was impossible, giving rules and making snide remarks.  I don't know if he thinks he's doing the right thing or if he's responding out of fear that something that she's going to hurt herself.  The line above suggests the latter, as does his exchange with Ned on Friday (I laughed when he said Emily ate all of the lambchops...can he say munchies?).  He told Ned to tell Emily he loved her, etc., and when Ned asked why he didn't tell her himself, he all but refused.

Ned:  "Why don't you tell her yourself?"
Edward:  "Oh.  Don't be absurd."
Ned:  "Emily needs to hear that you love her, Grandfather.  How you say it is not important."
Edward:  "How would you know."
Ned:  "Emily told me."
Edward:  "Huh?"
Ned:  "Goodnight."

B. Ned

Lila:  "Tracey's going to be wealthy again?  Oh how lovely!"

The Qs got the news of Tracey's questionable marriage on Wednesday from Ned.  I particularly enjoyed Lila's reaction to the news.  Ned informed the also about the threat of blackmail from Jax.  Edward hit the roof, and it was interesting to see Ned play the calm one, letting his grandfather think he had the last word when Ned had already made the deal with Jax.  It always surprises me, somehow, the skill with which Ned handles Edward.  I remember when Lois left last fall and Ned told Edward he was now in charge completely because he was no longer under Edward's control.  I hope we get to see nasty Ned some more soon.

Ned:  "Ms. Dalton, I know you mean well.  But Emily has lived here for more than two years.  If Alan and Monica bring her back to a house that's suddenly wallowing in family togetherness, she'll know it's a lie."
Alice:  "How 'bout making it the truth?"

At the same time, it'll be interesting to see if Ned changes his ways at all because of Emily.  He certainly took her accident to heart, and I've enjoyed seeing him contemplate the ways his methods and motives have contributed to her problems.

Ned:  "I have to hand it to you, counselor.  You opened my eyes.  You hurt me enough to, um, to make me think twice, but not enough to make a mortal enemy.  Well done."

Ned:  "I admire you Justus.  I really do.  You came out fighting.  I would say that, uh, Grandfather would consider you a true Quartermaine."
Justus:  "Oh, Ned.  Now, there's no need to get nasty."

Ned went straight from meeting Ms. Dalton to meeting Justus about his siding with Jax.  Now, I don't remember hearing that Jax actually joined Jax in the blackmail deal.  Did he provide the documentation?  Did I miss something?  I suppose this is just another instance of jump-starting a story this sweeps.  Justus wants to tell Edward himself.  And Ned's right.  Edward will be both angry and pleased all at the same time.  Ned told Justus he expected him to triple cross Jax out of family loyalty; I loved the way he repeatedly called him cousin.  I'm sad they've cut Justus' time down.  I'd like to see this whole dynamic developed between Justus and the Qs.

Ned returned to the house to speak with Emily.  I talk about this more in Emily's section, but I have to say I love him with her.  Even when he's making mistakes.  But I don't think he made any on Friday.

C. Ms. Dalton meets the Qs

Alice:  "Hey!  Is this normal?"
Lila:  "I'm afraid so."
Alice:  "My God."

Monica held her own with Edward when Alice Dalton showed up at the house on Wednesday.  This was one of the moments I thought Edward was overly grumpy.  I know that part of it was that this was to be the epitome of the Quartermaines.  It was a hoot watching them hit all the hot topics of their quarrelling and slam every single person in the room in the space of three minutes, and Alice's reaction was a scream.  I know I'm supposed to see this scene as a problem, especially for Emily, but the concentrated Quartermaine bickering made me laugh.  They redefine dysfunctional.

But Ms. Dalton wasn't laughing.  She didn't, however, write them off.  Even in the face of Ned's matter of fact tone, she had practical steps for them to take to change the atmosphere in the Quartermaine mansion.  This could be interesting if they handle it well.  For Emily's sake, I hope things get better, but I have to say that a kinder, gentler Quartermaine family isn't necessarily what I want to see.  I hope they can manage to keep the Q spirit alive in business even if they try--and even succeed--in changing family dynamics for Emily's sake.

D. Emily

On Wednesday, Jason came to visit Emily.  She wiped her tears and hid the newspaper headline of Matt's death before she let him in.  Jason asked if he should leave because she was sad, not thinking that maybe he'd make things better.  Emily didn't want to go home, because then she'd have to face the world--or her family.

Emily:  "I think that there are people who do things, like you and Ned, and then there are people who hide, like me and A.J.  He says it harder to be him, and it hurts.  Doesn't it ever hurt to be you?"

It was interesting to see Emily interact with the different members of her family.  She knows Jason would never do drugs, and that he can take action against the people who hurt him.  But while she feels different than Jason, she values his honesty.  He offers her comfort precisely because of his lack of emotion, I think, because he doesn't pity her.  He simply gives her the straight answers she wants from his point of view.  And she knows he speaks the truth.

She was sweet, trying to pretend it didn't bother her that Jason might not visit her once she went home and then lighting up when he said he would.  He also returned her bracelet--without a lecture.  Emily talked about getting a charm bracelet to be like Lois, and was then worried that Lois had found out and what she might think of her.

At this point A.J. came in.  Another exchange between brothers, with A.J. profusely thanking Jason when it's not necessary.  I would be very interested to see their relationship develop.

She told A.J. about her call to Matt's mom and cried over Matt's funeral with A.J.  I thought A.J. was good with her as well, in a different way.  A.J.'s going through this with her, instead of helping to pull her up.  She admitted to A.J. as well that Matt was the one that gave her the drugs.  She doesn't want her family to think badly of him because it only adds to the guilt she feels.  Amber Tamblyn was so good in this scene, as she has been through this whole story line.  I was bored with at first, and she has won me over.

A.J. got through to her that she didn't mean for Matt to die so she wasn't responsible by comparing her situation to his with Jason.  And he encouraged her to tell the truth so things wouldn't back up on her and cause her to use.

Faced with her whole family and Edward, Emily promised never to use again and told them he got the drugs from Matt.  Alan and Monica were understanding and encouraging, but telling her to talk to them hasn't worked before.

Ned:  "I trust you."
Emily:  "You're the only one then."

Emily:  "You sound like Jason."
Ned:  "Thank you."

Ned:  "I think she'll be grateful that you're alive.  And she'll say that she loves you very much.  Just like I do.'

I loved Emily with Ned most of all.  He apologized and expressed his worry without being overly mushy, and he found a way to connect to her.  He told her that he had been in her shoes, sans the accident, when a friend of his at boarding school died of an overdose.  Again, I'm glad Emily turns to Ned to understand the way the family works, and I'm glad she's gotten to see now that he can't always fix things.  She told him she was worried about what Lois thought of her, and he told her that he thought she should call Lois herself, and that Lois would love her.  I'm sure he's right, and I'm sorry Lois isn't here to be Emily's friend right now.  And I hope he's right that she'll be ok.  He is right that she's a fighter, I think.

E.  A.J.

A.J. went to Justus' office to resign from the city council and tell him about AA on Thursday.

VIII. Dorman

A. Jason

On Wednesday, Jason witnessed Dorman speaking harshly to nurse Chase and wisely stepped in and offered his condolences while at the same time warning her.  I think she'll be Dorman's weak link, and I suspect she'll be the next Star Fleet ensign who goes behind the rock by herself, so to speak.

After listening in on Dorman's conversation with the drug guy he didn't get the chance to report back to Sonny because he called Robin's room, got her roommate, and heard apparently some bad news.  We didn't find out what was going on this week, and this cliffhanger happened on Wednesday.  He told the roommate not to tell anybody else.  Any thoughts as to what this will be?

B. Dorman

Dorman couldn't head after Jason or nurse Chase because he had some tough guy show up and tell him that they had business.  This was one of his supplier's men, telling him he needed to pay up.  Jason watched all, but we don't know how much he heard, because he hasn't reported back to Sonny yet.

IX. Katherine

Mike:  "Isn't this something.  You know, you stand in this hallway long enough and you'll meet every beautiful woman in Port Charles."

I believe Mary Scanlon is moving to GH2 once it starts.  I have to say it's going to be confusing if there's really a Scanlon family and a Stanton family.  That was a cute scene between Mike and Mary in the hall at the penthouse, with Mike telling her all manner of lies to get her phone number.  I loved that he called her Mary and she responded by calling him Mr. Corbin.  He's quite charming, and I'm wondering if this is the reason that he'll move to Port Charles.

Mary:  "There are two kinds of patients.  Those who are looking for a friend and those who aren't.  My guess is you've got all the friends you need."

Mary was quite a hoot.  I like all these straight talking health care workers we're getting this week--Alice and Mary both.  Ha!

X. Other Stuff

A. The Opening

On Monday, they moved the theme song back after the opening scenes.  I don't know if it makes a difference, but I kind of liked having the "previously" scenes separated from the new ones.  I do like the fact that the opening scenes were shorter (they seemed so, anyway), as they were before the opening was changed.  Mostly, I just like that music starting in over the scene and everything turning red.

B. Special Reports

Some building with fumes broke into Monday's show twice.  I was very relieved it wasn't during a Cassadine/Spencer moment.  Once was in the middle of Jax/Miranda, right before he told her she knew nothing about honesty.  The other was between Carly and Justus and then Felicia and Tom's good-bye.  If I missed anything good, I'll catch it on the updates...

I also had a special report cut in at the beginning of Thursday's show.  They found it imperative to tell us they had found out nothing about a case they were working on.  A missing child case, actually, so important and of community interest, but they didn't have any information, just a 10 minute special report telling us the same things they had told us all morning...that they didn't know anything.

C. The new Port Charles ad

I really don't like new PC ad--the one of them walking down the hall?  It's kind of a let down from the revved up Bad Case of Lovin' You ad (I had to go out and buy Robert Palmer's greatest hits after that one).  I like seeing the new people's faces, but I think two things.  First, I think they should have kept the same kind of upbeat music as the other one.  Second, I think they should have shown Kevin and Lucy and some of the known faces that will be appearing--Kin Shriner especially, as well as Lynn Herring's real life husband (whose name I can't remember).