**The Week in Review: July 7 - July 11**

I. Tony and Carly

A. Carly and A.J.

A.J.:  "That was the last night I had a drink."

Monday's episode opened with Carly and A.J. chatting.  A.J. worried over Carly's condition while Carly prattled on about Keesha.  A.J. assured her he could keep this secret like he kept the secret of their night at Jake's.  Tony walked in at an inopportune moment, but A.J. glazed over the mention of the night in question.  They all chatted a bit about the gym being open to the public.  When A.J. stepped away, Carly told Tony she was starting to wonder about A.J. and Keesha, and he warned her against matchmaking.

Carly didn't take his warning.  She called Keesha and asked her to come back to GH to talk with her about something important.  When Keesha arrived, she told her that A.J. had said he still loved her.  Keesha told her it would be wrong for them to be together and that it wouldn't do A.J. any good for them to get back together.  She didn't want to change anything about A.J.'s life since it seemed to be working.  Carly stumbled around trying to persuade her, but made little progress before Tony came in.  He faulted her again for her matchmaking, but downstairs Keesha stopped to see A.J. on her way out.  While they agreed that things were working out for the best just the way they were, it was easy to see they still feel deeply for each other.

Tony found a toy of B.J.'s in the playroom and told her the story of when he had bought it for her.  He's so happy about this new child, and I'm sad to know what he's doomed to go through regarding it.

Carly went downstairs, pretending to be surprised that Keesha was there.  She told A.J. it was obvious that Keesha was still in love with him and he tried to set her straight.  She invited him to dinner...and then invited Keesha.

B. The Dinner Party

Tony:  "Your secret is safe with me, ma'am.  One chicken coming up in my jacket."

Tony:  "Welcome to my hell."

Tony:  "Good 'ol chicken bread."

Carly daydreamed about A.J. and Keesha being together and she and Tony's new baby, but then reality settled back in.  The dinner party was a disaster, with an uncooked chicken, uncomfortable conversation (especially about repressed memories), and A.J. and Keesha none too happy to be thrown together.  But these scenes offered some great humor in the middle of the week as Tony laughed but didn't tell the secret of the chicken and Carly deluded herself into thinking all was well...and lying through her teeth.

Note:  I thought it was weird that Carly was so anxious to open that wine with A.J. there.

A.J.:  "Have you ever seen a chicken's face when it's skewered and being cooked on a spit?"
Carly:  "Oh God.  A.J., oh God, are you a vegetarian?"
A.J.:  "It looks like this!"

After Tony left, giving Keesha the opportunity to go as well, A.J. and Carly talked again about the possibility of his getting together with Keesha.  He tried to convince her she was wrong on a lot of counts, but after she left, Carly was already plotting the next time.

II. The Spencers

A. Bobbie

i. at the Hospital

Audrey asked Bobbie about the pills at the end of last Friday's episode, and Bobbie told her on Monday that she did indeed take those pills but that she couldn't explain why at this point.  Audrey asked who convinced her to steal the pills, but she didn't admit Luke was in on it, though his name was definitely in the air.  She asked for some time and Audrey gave her a couple of days.  Now, I don't understand still why Bobbie didn't tell Audrey--or better yet, Tony--the whole truth.

Alexis:  "I don't keep tabs on my cousin."
Bobbie:  "Like hell you don't."
Alexis:  "I suggest you keep a semblance of dignity for your own self respect."
Bobbie:  "Oh, don't worry about my self respect.  I lost it when I married your cousin."

Bobbie saw Alexis come in and went to ask where Stefan was.  Bobbie made it clear that she knew Alexis had been the one to inform Stefan and Audrey about seeing her in the meds closet.  But it wasn't clear that Bobbie holds Alexis in either as much contempt or as much guilt as she does Stefan.  I think that these two will be interesting to watch as all of this falls out, and I hope we get some more good scenes with them.

ii. at the Retreat House

Bobbie:  "I hope I'm interrupting."

Bobbie:  "My husband groping the woman who'd never give herself so cheaply.  She must have changed her mind."
Stefan:  "You're trespassing."
Bobbie:  "Or maybe she just raised her price."
Stefan:  "This is none of your affair; leave Katherine out of this."
Bobbie:  "How can I?  She keeps throwing herself right smack in the middle."

Bobbie knew where to find Stefan, though I'm not sure how.  That aside, she arrived in time to lay in a few good (yet cheap) shots at Katherine before she left and he let that other side I'm so fond of keeping show (my FGC title actually doesn't refer to a particular side of Stefan's character, but instead reminds us that whatever side he's showing there are a myriad of other sides he's not).

Stefan:  "You were handed the world."
Bobbie:  "Oh, spare me.  I've heard it all before.  It doesn't matter in the least to you that I'm right, does it.  I'm just supposed to be a good little Cassadine wife.  See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, just suck it up and live with it Barbara, where's your gratitude, you were handed the world on platter."

Bobbie:  "Meet the real Stefan Cassadine.  Fascinating to see a snake shed his skin."

Stefan:  "Well hear this.  I am not my brother, my uncles, nor my mother.  But you have made a serious mistake in underestimating me.  Both you and your brother."

Bobbie had come to tell Stefan that she wouldn't let him get away with his plan to ruin her career.  She had some threats of her own, and while they didn't seem equal to his I applauded her on her tenacity.  She told him she would sell the story of her life as a Cassadine wife to the tabloids.

Note:  I'll find it interesting to see if there's any real grounds for her to claim he was having an affair and gain something from that.

Stefan:  "I have never been unfaithful to you."
Bobbie:  "Don't treat me like an idiot.  She was paralyzed until a few days ago."

Stefan raised his voice at this point.  I find it interesting that he persists in claiming he was faithful to her, drawing on the technicality that they didn't have sex.  He couldn't even admit to Katherine that they were having an affair; do you remember her insisting on the word and his refusal of it?  I hope they explore that, but I suppose it will go un-developed.

Bobbie:  "Don't dismiss me."

Stefan:  "It's up to you."
Bobbie:  "Oh, that's right.  It is up to me, isn't it.  I won't let you win."

Stefan:  "I already have."

Love that exit.  Stefan returned to his computer, and spoke that last, predictable yet delicious, line.  And he though he had won.  But the shot of his screen changed into a shot of Luke's, and we knew that things weren't over yet, even if Luke didn't.

iii. v. Stefan

Bobbie:  "What are you, a mouthpiece or a spy?  Did you ever have a life or mind of your own, and if you did, what happened to them?"
Stefan:  "No one expects you to know what loyalty looks like, Barbara.

At the beginning of Thursday's episode, Bobbie stopped Stefan from leaving with Alexis.  When Alexis tried to tell her they were too busy, Bobbie laid into her.  I think Alexis was hurt, not only by what Bobbie was saying (it hit pretty close to home if you ask me) but also by the fact Bobbie was lashing out.  Stefan's comment seemed to ignore the fact that Bobbie was simply showing another loyalty than hers to him in marriage.

Stefan:  "You have my name.  I want it back."

Bobbie:  "You wanted me to be independent, remember?  Well you got your wish."

Bobbie:  "And if you don't like it you know what you can do?  Bad-mouth me all over town.  I don't mind being known as the one who took you to the cleaners.  But don't forget to mention your sex kitten on a stick.  Because I won't."

Bobbie:  "You, content?  Not for one minute of one day of your life.  Maybe that's my best revenge.  I don't even have to lift a finger."

Bobbie demanded to know what he was going to demand of her.  He said he wanted a quiet divorce and his money and--more importantly--his name back from her.  He told her also that she would never keep company with Nikolas again.  She didn't concede anything, and he threatened again.

iv. with Nikolas

Bobbie:  "But we are friends, remember?"
Nik:  "I, I, I believed that once just like I believed that my mother loved me."

Bobbie stopped Nikolas on his way home after the canceled meeting.  He didn't want to talk to her, and he wasn't a willing listener to what she had to say.  She complimented him on his act of coldness, and I thought it wasn't a very smart opening to claim his emotions were a pose.  He went on the offensive immediately, quizzing her on how long she had been working with Luke and proclaiming all their moments of closeness a lie.  Bobbie couldn't believe he was being this cruel, and it became clear she doesn't know him as well as she thought she did.  She also went on the defensive herself, dangerously close to playing the injured party.  Nik told her to explain herself if she wanted him to believe she had good reasons.

Bobbie still laid it all on Stefan's relationship with Katherine.  But the excuse didn't wash.  Bobbie protested that she married Stefan for good reasons and that he had failed her, but Nik didn't believe her.

B. Luke

i. at Church

Father:  "You have committed a grievous sin.  You need to confess."
Luke:  "Uh, n...ordinarily that might be true.  But this is about somebody else's sin."

In the meantime, Luke went to the Russian Orthodox Church to have the phrase from the computer screen translated.  These scenes were a riot, and I have to say again what struck me.  In the face of all the conversations and other things we don't get to see they depend on Geary to make even these scenes--scenes that could easily be talked about, rather than shown--come alive.

Now, despite the attempts of FGC Stefan to keep me straight on all the ins and outs of the church in question, I can't keep it all straight, so I'll just say that the Father wasn't willing to grant Luke's request at first but Luke was able to persuade him.  After waiting impatiently, the Father did translate the phrase, saying that there were some misspellings.  It was a date: June 28th.  And Luke was convinced that he was too late.  (Let it go on the record that people at FGC Stefan came up with the answer to this one well before it was revealed.)

Luke:  "Everything go ok with the big cheese?"

Luke:  "Sin, yes.  Yes, it is.  Look, I, I won't try to con you.  By no stretch of the imagination could I be considered a religious man.  My life experience tends to be more existential than spiritual.  But I know that you people firmly believe in this notion of, uh, good and evil."
Father:  "The battle between the two is unending."
Luke:  "Ain't it.  So what I'm offering ya here, Father, is an opportunity to put a good one into the battle.  And you'll be standin' on the side with the good guys."
Father:  "Of which you are one?"
Luke:  "In this particular instance, yes."
Father:  "And how do I know the evil does not emanate from you?"
Luke:  "Emanate...from...me?  Well, you're the expert.  What do your sources tell you?"

Aside from the translation itself, the interaction between Luke and the Father was very interesting in terms of the way Luke described himself and sees himself.  I've recorded those lines above.  I'll leave it to other people to begin a more detailed discussion of these lines, but I will say that I find it quite in character for Luke, having evoked the terms "good" and "evil" to make it clear they were relative.  My dad is a theologian, and one of the courses he teaches is Biblical Ethics.  Luke Spencer is clearly into situational ethics.  ;)

ii. v. the Cassadines

Luke went back to the club and called Laura, telling her that things were over and they couldn't have done anything to stop it.

Luke:  "Ain't technology a wonderful thing, Mike?  It can be your best friend or it can be the worst snaggle-toothed mangy dog that ever chased a fool down a highway."
Mike:  "What's happened?"
Luke:  "Just the end of the world as we know it."
Mike:  "That's what I've always liked about you, Luke, your gift for understatement."

Luke:  "So how come you don't wanna hear from Sonny?  What'd you do, drop his penthouse in a card game?"

Mike:  "I was arrested for passing marked money."
Luke:  "You low-life pervert."

Luke:  "Oh, isn't it wonderful?  The world, Mike?  Everybody worrying about everybody, everybody reachin' out their hand to help everybody over their little hurdles and their hell holes.  So much care is rampant in Port Charles.  So how come we just keep rollin' down hill like a big fat dead rhino?"

Mike:  "You know, you and the Cassadines have been going at each other for years, Luke.  I mean, didya ever, uh, ya ever just think about ignoring them?"
Luke:  "I'd like nothin' better."
Mike:  "Well, so?"
Luke:  "Hey man, they're too dangerous.  Mike, they're like a paper bag full of poisonous snakes.  I mean, these people live in medieval times.  It's like somewhere they're always boilin' oil ready for human fondue or something."

Mike:  "Luke, I think it's time you saw your wife."

At the beginning of Tuesday's show, Mike came in to Luke's office to find him still there after a night of worrying.  Luke rattled on for a while, then Mike told him he had come to say thanks.  They talked about Mike's new bar, the incident with the stolen money, Sonny and Brenda, and then got back around to the Cassadines.  When Mike pulled out of left field a comment about the Julian calendar, I rolled my eyes at the now-familiar Mike-knows-everything ploy but quickly forgot my irritation when Luke reached over and smooched Mike on the head.  Crack me up.  I love these two together, and am very sad that we may not see them together, except on rare occasions.  Here's hoping Luke stops by the rec room for that drink sometime.

Luke:  "Hey what's up?  Don't you guys believe in knockin'?"

Luke pulled up the Julian Calendar on the Internet, I suppose, and counted days.  They're 13 days behind, which meant the plan wasn't going down until July 11th--that Friday.  At this point, Sonny and Brenda came in, and Luke met them with smart remarks and laughter.  Crack me up.

iii. With Sonny and Brenda

Luke:  "Well, luckily you didn't go out the exit he was watching.  I love it when that happens."

Sonny:  "We...we're only gonna stay here long enough for y...for you to help us out.  You got a problem with that?"
Luke:  "Whatd'ya need?"

Luke:  "Oh, no, no man, I think a lot clearer when I have many things at once goin' down."

Luke:  "Oh, I've, uh, collected it through the years.  I find disguise is a...is a valuable thing.  It's sort of my, uh, my hobby.  That and disco dancing."

Luke told Sonny the cops hadn't quizzed him yet, but was willing to help them.  Sonny told him he'd understand if he was busy with other things, but of course Luke would help.  He immediately broke out a box of disguises (with no comment about a "box of hair," much to our collective dismay) and asked Sonny if Brenda should be a blonde or a redhead.  Brenda was nervous about this escape, but Sonny (again) reassured her while Luke went to set something up.

Of course, Luke reminded Sonny to think about whom it might be that's filling the cops in on their whereabouts.  Sad thing is, Sonny might actually need to be reminded, since it took him so long to realize it wasn't the cops.  One other odd thing: Luke asked about the possibility of riding in a trunk for a while and Sonny said it would be no problem, that his claustrophobia was gone.  Oh, the power of love.

While Luke was gone Brenda said that there were people she wanted to say good-bye to if they weren't coming back for a while.  The unspoken "if" was that they might never come home, and I was actually glad to see that she recognized this possibility.  Sonny assured her that she would see all these people at some point.

Sonny:  "Whatd'ya got for us?"
Luke:  "Something you would not expect."

Now, I was hoping that this was going to be something truly out there, but it was just that Luke had put them on a boat to get them out of town.  I was pleased, though, with the SWATCH in this choice, however, seeing as how Luke and Sonny, in the same scheme that involved the wonderful birdwatching scene, had to commandeer a boat.  Crack me up.

Luke:  "Well there was a big surprise party planned, but I canceled it."

Sonny:  "Brenda, if if he says he knows, he knows.  Just say thank you."

Brenda:  "Countdown to what?"
Luke:  "Digital calisthenics."

Luke:  "Oh, no, sorry, no.  Those are just little chickens.  Cornish hens are too temperamental for sea."

Luke:  "Somehow I didn't see you as a beer guzzler."
Brenda:  "It depends."
Luke:  "Well, you know, I think that when you're on the run you gotta treat yourself well whenever you can because nobody else is going to.  So whenever you can be comfortable, be comfortable."

Luke:  "You want my opinion?  Keep lookin' at her.  Just keep lookin' at her.  I'm serious.  I mean, um, if you look over your shoulder all the time you're gonna get a crank in your neck and you're gonna get paranoid.  But whoever's after ya?  You can see him right over her shoulder."

Brenda:  "I always thought you didn't like me."
Luke:  "I've been wrong before."

On Thursday's episode Luke took them to the boat and gave them the plan.  The boat's headed to Virginia.  He set them up with disguises and some groceries.  Sonny thanked him while Brenda asked him too many questions.  Sonny told Luke that he was flying blind and didn't know what they were up against, and Luke gave some very Luke advice (above).  Then he gave Brenda some expensive perfume--what a smoothie.

Luke:  "He's like my brother, you know.  Keep him cooking.  It'll keep his mind off things."
Sonny:  "Don't be tellin' her how to handle me, man.  She doesn't need any more encouragement."
Luke:  "Oh, everybody needs encouragement, Corinthos.  Otherwise we tend to give up."
Sonny:  "Ya.  Well, um, I don't know if I'll be back."
Luke:  "Sonny, I've had a handful of friends in my life.  You're one of the best.  I don't wanna lose you."
Sonny:  "It's not gonna happen, man.  Wherever I go, you'll know."

Luke:  "Oh, are either one of you decent swimmers?"
Brenda:  "Why are you asking that?"
Luke:  "Sleep in your life vests."

I was worried that we weren't going to get a good-bye from Luke and Sonny.  With Maurice Benard's departure date up in the air and Tony Geary's vacation eminent (he left the last week of June and his last air date is the 17th of July) I was going to be upset if we didn't get one more good scene with these two--the always unofficial FGCO of mine and Roo's.

I wasn't disappointed.  Their good-bye was understated and in the middle of a scheme.  Quite fitting.  And I got a hug, which I wasn't even counting on (I'm still waiting for Roo to tell me if they've ever hugged before, because I don't remember it if they did).  I hope that tptb remember this scene and always let Luke know where Sonny is....

iv. with Bobbie

Bobbie:  "Have you ever tried to lie to Audrey Hardy?  Oh, what am I asking.  Of course you have."

Bobbie:  "As if his damn name would even get me a seat on the bus."

Bobbie:  "He's so paranoid about his family.  It's as if he thinks the tide comes in to grab them."
Luke:  "Well, that much I understand deep in here."
Bobbie:  "Ya, but you're different.  You're not deranged, and you don't want to take over the world, just the room."

Luke went to GH to find Bobbie and did, at the phone.  So cute.  She filled him in and he remained confident that they could get out of it even though she had already admitted it.  He recognized from her update that Stefan was in a hurry, and told her that things could change drastically in the next hour or two.  He told her that Stefan mustn't know that he was behind the foul up if he did manage to stop Stefan, or they would be in for more Timoria.  I'm betting the thought crosses someone's mind that Luke was behind it.  Bobbie inadvertently gave him the clue to use Stefan's family to set up the distraction.

Luke:  "Tell me, uh, what is Stefan's biggest weakness apart from his humungous ego and his colorless wardrobe?"

Luke:  "I'm not gonna hurt him Barbara.  I'm just gonna use him."

Bobbie:  "Luke, you have to promise me that he will not be hurt."
Luke:  "Not by me."

Luke's plan was to use Nik to add to the diversion at Wyndemere at the exact time the code had to be entered.  Bobbie made him promise Nik wouldn't be hurt, and he promised he wouldn't be the one to do it.  But her question and his answer provided for some subtle foreshadowing.

v. The Counter Attack

Luke:  "Go home, Nikky.  Go home, boy."

Luke hacked into the GH computer and canceled Nik's meeting, trusting that he'd go home.  I wondered why he didn't also leave a phone message from Stefan asking him to return home or something to ensure his return.  Maybe he though Nik would call and check on the message.  But he seemed to be taking quite a chance in the face of this plan we've been told over and over is so major.  Nik did go home, however, upon learning the meeting was canceled...after talking to Bobbie reluctantly.

Luke:  "Lucky, there's a plan in motion here.  Can you hang on five minutes and see if it works?"
Lucky:  "Well it'd be nice if I knew what the plan was, man.  Since when don't you trust me, huh?"
Luke:  "Since you started acting like a spoiled brat who wasn't invited to the birthday party.  I couldn't find you.  I handled it myself.  Don't make it a problem."

Luke:  "Ok, well just, you know, stay here and sulk.  But don't touch anything."
Lucky:  "Don't worry man, I'm not, I'm not gonna ruin your beautifully idiotic plan."
Luke:  "I gotta tell you something.  This adolescent thing is a drag.  Drop it."

In the middle of Luke's watching and waiting, Lucky came back to the club.  Luke filled him in briefly, but Lucky was offended that Luke hadn't told him this before.  Luke told him he couldn't find him and Lucky asked him if he had even tried.  Lucky asked all manner of questions, looking down his nose at his Dad's attempts, until finally tempers flared and he left.

I'm very sad that Geary's going on vacation just when the Lucky/Luke stuff is getting interesting.  I hope that we get much more of their negotiating around each other and of Lucky's trying to find his own place in the family and in life apart from...and with...his father.

Bobbie:  "He doesn't think I'm smart enough."
Luke:  "That's his problem."

Bobbie showed back up to see that Nik wasn't hurt, but Luke wouldn't tell her what was going down.  He told her to be public so Stefan wouldn't suspect them.  She went back to the hospital and he went back to watching the screen.

C. Lucky

On Tuesday's episode Lucky and Sarah played Parcheesi (I think it was Parcheesi) with some kids, and when they left, Nik came in and asked them to pick up before the next group arrived there.  Lucky immediately gave him attitude, when I thought--and Sarah thought--that Nik was making a simple request.  Lucky baited him with Lucas, and Nik insisted that he and Lucas were close.  Lucky said he'd never see Lucas again.  Etc.  Sarah told them to stop, blaming both of them equally.

Sarah:  "Hate and anger are not exactly attractive qualities, Lucky.  You know, maybe it's time that somebody told you that."

Nik left and Sarah let Lucky have it for starting things with Nik.  He wouldn't admit he started it, but she called him on it.  It's clear that Sarah's objective eye (well, so far it's objective) could be good for Lucky, but it still feels a bit like she's talking down to him when she herself has problems relating to people all over the place.  Lucky admitted he enjoyed sparring with Nikolas.  At least he's honest.  ;)  He told her she wouldn't understand, and she actually described Nikolas as somebody who rubbed Lucky the wrong way.  Silly girl.  She really doesn't understand.  And while she makes some good points, her answers are too simple for the situation.

Lucky asked her to lunch at Ruby's, and she told him this argument was over for her.  They agreed to meet later, as she was going to drive around the long way--the way she used to go with her grandfather.  I don't know if she ever got there or not, but Lucky was certainly in a foul mood later in the week, and I was hoping that he'd give this as part of his reason.

III. The Cassadines

A. Stefan and Katherine

i. at the Retreat House

Stefan:  "Why are you here, Katherine?"
Katherine:  "I know that you and Bobbie have separated.  I spoke to Alexis and Nikolas.  Your marriage is over, and I know why."

Stefan:  "Barbara's feelings towards me and our marriage have changed...drastically.  As have mine."

Katherine sure moved quickly.  She showed up at the retreat house on last Friday's episode, and on Monday she started making declarations about Stefan and herself and their relationship.  She recapped everything we already knew about their relationship, dubbing their attempts to stay apart "a losing battle."

Most of it was on the money, but I couldn't help but be a little put out with him for not telling her at least some version of the story of the breakup.  Even a biased one would do.  Despite her protestations that she knew there was more to the story than Stefan's leaving Bobbie for her, she convinced me only that she thought he had done that very thing, or at least taken advantage of some argument with Bobbie to do so.  While I would never expect him to tell her everything, I expected him to say something about his soon-to-be-ex wife and comment on the good that has come out of her evil, or some such thing.  Instead, he simply smiled and let her keep her delusions.

I was glad to see her ask about Nikolas, but Stefan simply said Nikolas was supportive, under the circumstances.  Again I'd have liked to see him say something about Nikolas' state of mind, say that he was concerned about him, that it might be rough, something.

Katherine:  "But in spite of all the difficulties, in spite of everything, I can't help but feel hopeful about us."

Stefan:  "I feel much more than hopeful, Katherine."

Clearly Stefan isn't going to wait.  And while this reunion made some very happy, it made me remember again the things that are left unsaid, and may always be.  We were given, out of the blue, that scene several weeks ago where Katherine confronted Stefan with his past (?) love of Laura, and that has been dropped.  I hope, now that these two are together, that this will come up again.  I don't want to see our Stefan in love with Laura, hopeless and rejected.  And I don't want to see them together.  I'm willing, yet again, to go with this relationship they've written us into between Katherine and Stefan, if we can just get some awareness about it.  Stefan was in love with Laura, and suddenly and irrevocably he shifted his emotions onto Katherine.  I think it has to be, in part, transference of emotions and images and ideals.  I don't think he sees Katherine clearly, just as he never saw Laura clearly.  And I hope that now that the main tragedy has passed we can see both Katherine and Stefan have to deal with their past lives and past behaviors and emotions.

For now we just got sweet nothings being whispered into each other's ear and talk about perspective and promise mixed with remembrances about past nights.  They were interrupted by Bobbie.

ii. at the Hospital

After Bobbie confronted Stefan in the halls of GH, Katherine arrived.  He told her that after that night everything would be possible.  They got on the elevator and I wondered what they managed to do between floors.

iii. The Plan

Stefan:  "Well perhaps there'll be a new outsider to take her place.  One we can trust.  One who'll fit in.  Yes.  Katherine."

Alexis mentioned Bobbie--or, actually, the fact that they didn't mention Bobbie.  When she admitted she missed the company, Stefan told her Katherine would take Bobbie's place soon enough.  I don't think she was happy or consoled.

Stefan:  "To the Cassadine past."
Alexis:  "Cassadine future."

Stefan started the program countdown and they shared a toast.  Unfortunately, we then had to have another fantasy sequence of him sharing a toast with Katherine.  I thought those would be over once they were together.  At the same time, it seems kind of fitting that this man who sees women through the veil of idealism would persist in such fantasies.

Alexis:  "But you believe it's in our best interests and I believe in you."
Stefan:  "I've wondered."
Alexis:  "Don't."

Stefan:  "I appreciate an element of control, which this program ensures."

On Friday, Alexis made sure Nik was at GH while they completed the plan.  Stefan gave her some last minute reassurances even as he quizzed her on her loyalty.  She said the plan costs more than she thought it would but that she believed in him even though he had started acting differently of late.  He took her to mean his improvisations but I think they both knew she was referring to his relationship with Katherine.  He assured her that things would be back to normal...or better.

Alexis:  "I tell myself that if I'm very very good and I say all of my prayers and clean my plate after every meal that I will never ever have to lay eyes on that woman again."

Alexis continued to drink champagne as the countdown continued.  She started to reminisce about their stealing champagne and taking picnics together.  I adore this kind of Cassadine backstory, and loved hearing Stefan's reasons for going back--to say goodbye to Stavros--and his reason for staying--he was "distracted."  They talked about Helena briefly, and Stefan said he'd had her moved and they would be returning to the island.  Alexis agreed that Nik and Stefan would be better off on the island, but didn't react well to the news that he'd be taking Katherine with him.  Gee, after all our speculation about Helena, this is all we get?

At that point the countdown started and the stables went up in fire.  Alexis went to take care of it while Stefan watched the screen.  But Nik came home and demanded that Stefan get up from the computer and help.  Now, I was against this from the moment I read the spoilers about it, and I didn't like the execution of this scene.  It didn't make sense.  The only way I can justify Nik's outrage at his Uncle's seeming inaction is by guessing that Bobbie's words got to him more than he admitted to her and that he was still suspicious of and angry with his uncle.  But I don't understand why he dove at the computer screen.  Stefan tried to block him, and somehow Nik flew across the room and bashed his head on a table.  Uh-huh.

I don't like the fact that tptb keep injuring Nikolas at Stefan's hands to further the complications in their family.  And I especially don't like the fact that the aftermath from the last accident was dropped so completely.  We didn't get a resolution on that one, and now we're getting another?  We don't need to have the point that Stefan's hurting Nikolas even as he tries to help him drilled into our head in such a literal manner.

B. Alexis

After seeing Audrey speak to Bobbie, Alexis asked her if she had mentioned the missing pills.  Audrey rebuffed her politely and turned away.  It was clear that Alexis was anxious about the exchange, and I think it was because she hated doing this to Bobbie and at the same time maybe because she's a bit worried that Bobbie's friends may help her crime slide by.

Katherine stopped her on her way to the elevator, much to her irritation.  Katherine was perky, and assured her that she had seen Stefan and that all was well.  She left by saying that she'd be seeing more of Alexis both in and out of the hospital.  Now, other people have read this as an awkward or insecure scene on Katherine's part, but I don't buy that in the least.  I know that Katherine's letting Alexis know that despite her warnings, Katherine's going to do what she wants where Stefan's concerned.  I'm hoping that the exchanges between these two will be where we start to see some of the old Katherine come through.

C. Nikolas

Nik:  "Well I beg the entire sisterhood's pardon for trying to be nice to you."

Sarah's car overheated, and at the end of Tuesday Nikolas found her on the side of the road.  He offered to help.  Who knows if he'll ever offer again, given her response.  On Wednesday she proved herself to be as arrogant and rude as she finds him.  She apologized at one point, but then still continued to label him and assume things about him and make snide remarks about his money.  These scenes just drove me crazy.  At least, in the end, she needed Nik's help and had to admit it.  I think this is supposed to be one of those they-can't-stand-each-other-so-we-know-they're-gonna-get-together things, but I can't stand watching it, from her side of things, and I don't see anything but her bare midriff that would make Nikky take a second look.

IV. The Dorman Case

A. Brenda and Sonny

Brenda:  "This must be what jail feels like, huh."
Sonny:  "I don't think so."
Brenda:  "What's the difference?"
Sonny:  "Your cell mate."

Tuesday's episode found Sonny and Brenda in the safe house with her very edgy and him trying to reassure her.  Outside, the tin man lurked.  Then the reassurances were interrupted by Taggert's bull horn outside the window, and Sonny got her down in the floor amidst the tear gas and they headed for the downstairs hidden path to the forest (although not everyone on ratsa remembered it was down there ;) ).  When Taggert busted in, he amazingly took one look around and knew they weren't there.  Such thorough searching.

As Taggert cursed Sonny's name, Sonny and Brenda showed up at Luke's office.  Ha!  This is above in the Luke section.

Brenda:  "I mean, Jason gets a little crazy, right?"
Sonny:  "He won't.  If he remembers to think first."

After Luke left them, Sonny reassured Brenda again that Jason would be their ears and their eyes.

B. Jason, Robin, and Mac

In the meantime, Mac was reporting to Jax about the evidence he'd searched through, mentioning the button and the gum-wrapper origami.  Jax latched onto the button as something that wouldn't point to Brenda.  Jax is frustrated because he doesn't know exactly what he's up against.  Robin arrived home as a surprise, and it was very good to see her!  Of course she had come home into a big mess, including Jason in jail.  Mac was reluctant to tell her, but he did finally, after she told him she knew everything else already.  I loved her telling Jax there was somebody cleaning the side mirrors of his car.  Ha!  Robin said she had to get Jason out of jail and asked Mac to help.  He said he would.

Taggert:  "The management asked me to come by and, uh, see how you slept."
Jason:  "Uh, same as always.  On my back with my eyes closed."

Jason was in jail facing Taggert's ribbing and no breakfast.  I loved it when he asked for his phone so he could order in.  Ha!  Taggert got a phone call and took it down the way, so I think Jason overheard him.  It was a tip from the tin man telling Taggert where to find Sonny and Brenda.  At least Taggert gave the indication that he was going to figure out who these tips were coming from at this point.  Jason called to him after he got off the phone.

Jason:  "Robin, I told you.  You shouldn't...you shouldn't worry about me."
Robin:  "That's like telling me not to breathe."

Robin got to the police department and kissed Jason before they were split up.  Reassurances from him, and then he was free, not through Mac's help, but by Justus' hand.  Jason didn't react to the Quartermaine help, but I was glad to see it.

Robin:  "You ok?"
Jason:  "Usually."

When they got back to the house, Jason was edgy to go because of the night they broke Brenda out when he hit Mac.  Ha!  Robin said she wanted to know when things were going on, and Jason caught her up to speed.  He also told her Taggert was going to be on his case all the time and that she shouldn't worry.  She tried to be optimistic, saying they would spend their summer in places Taggert didn't know about.

Jason:  "Guess what Mac; I might know who killed Dorman."
Tin Man:  "It's me."

Robin went upstairs and Mac came out of the kitchen.  Mac reminded him that the evidence was strong, and mentioned the origami.  Something clicked, and Jason remembered seeing a similar figure at the hospital the day he saw the drug guys threatening Dorman.  Nice cut from this scene to the next at the end of Tuesday (see above).  The Tin Man called his boss and told him that the police had entered and taken Sonny and Brenda.  Not true.

On Wednesday, Jason and Mac talked some more about the "origami guy" and Mac told him they were on their own because the police wouldn't act on it.  Mac started putting things together with the info Jason gave him and then he called in a sketch artist to make a picture of the guy Jason saw.  I was pleasantly surprised that he had called Kevin!  Robin continued to worry.  Kevin made the drawing and A.J. dropped by to see about Jason.  After some chatting and Robin's dubbing the mysterious guy the "Tin Man" (with no comment on Kevin's Nurses Ball appearance, either) A.J. took Jason aside and told him he recognized the guy from a sleezy bar.

Robin:  "But loving Jason comes with certain things."
Kevin:  "Like fear?"
Robin:  "Well I have to have some; the guy doesn't have any."

Robin:  "You're not gonna tell me I shouldn't be with him, are you?"
Kevin:  "Even if I were that presumptuous I wouldn't dare.  What if someone told Lucy that about me?"
Robin:  "I think Lucy's lucky."
Kevin:  "We love who we love.  I don't know how much choice we have in the matter.  It always seems to defy logic, thank God."

Meanwhile Kevin and Robin chatted a bit, and that made me very happy.  She said she was out of practice worrying since she'd been away.  He offered some comfort, and I think he of all people would understand.  She congratulated him on the baby as well.  So sweet.  And I eat it up, since I never know when the next (or last) time I'll see them together is gonna be.

Mac:  "I'm not a cop anymore."
Robin:  "Sure you are.  My own personal cop."
Mac:  "Be...because I'm so strict?"
Robin:  "Because I know the bad guys never stand a chance against you."

In the meantime, the tin man sat at said sleezy bar and made origami.  Crack me up.  A.J. had wanted to go with him, but Jason set off on his own, not even telling Mac where he was going.  He just told Robin he'd be back soon and they could go to their dinner reservations Mac made for them.  She asked him, at the end of Wednesday, not to go.  She was scared, and admitted she had been relieved he was only in jail.  But she's scared and worried, and despite his reassurances she remained so, despite her attempts to assure Mac of the contrary on Thursday's episode.  Mac comforted her a bit, but didn't hold back in telling her that Jason had become more a part of Sonny's world.  

Katherine came in and chatted with Robin while Mac went out to fix her car windows.  They chatted about Mac and Katherine said she didn't know why she wanted to make him Commissioner.  They talked about letting the people you love be the way they are and Robin says she wasn't the one to say at this point.  She's obviously starting to think hard about Jason and their relationship.  She's beginning to realize how deeply he's in this world.  I hate that Katherine persists in comparing her bullet to Robin's HIV.  And I hate it when she speaks in these veiled references to Stefan.

Mac came back in and Jax came to update him on Rebecca.  They agreed Rebecca needed to see the picture of the Tin Man.

Jason went to the bar asking after the Tin Man.  The Tin man was ready for him, but couldn't get a shot off.  Thursday's show ended with Jason calling Sonny to inform him about the Tin Man theory.  Sonny took the tip about Florida and asked Brenda if she was willing to go all the way.  But he had time to tell Jason not to go back in the bar by himself.  Crack me up.

Jason came back bearing flowers and he and Robin settled in for a quiet, romantic evening at home once they found out their reservations were canceled because they were late.  I do like these two together, and I'm very glad that they're hitting a rough spot.  That rough spot was waiting outside on the terrace until he could get a clear shot.

Robin:  "I just realized.  I'm not the only one who's been studying."

Jason filled her in on Sonny and Brenda and actually admitted that he thought Sonny had done the wrong thing by breaking Brenda out of jail.  He said that now he had to dot he thinking for Sonny, that their roles were reversed.  He started thinking out loud, and Robin was taken aback to see the way he thought.  She said that he had changed.  She made him imagine their life in the future, but he can't imagine.  He only knows he wants her in the future.  Robin seems very young in scenes like this.

At the end of Friday's episode, Robin showed Jason how she used to dance on her father's shoes.  But their dancing was interrupted by gunfire.  Two shots.  And we weren't sure if anyone had been hit.  I thought the actual shooting looked really good.  I liked the montage effect and the slo-mo.

C. Jax

At the hospital, Officer A. and Jax talked about the case a bit while Jax waited on a meeting with Lucy (we didn't actually get to see her).  Rebecca overheard Jax telling Officer A. why he believed Brenda was being set up and she jumped in to claim that Brenda did indeed kill Dorman.  Now, her expressions before she butted in were the most suspicious things she's done since this whole thing started, and I'm still convinced she's involved, somehow.

Jax put on the diplomacy and chatted with Rebecca about Dorman.  She continued to insist that Brenda was guilty, and finally went away.  Officer A. had been watching, though, and we were treated to a long description of her observational skills applied to Nurse Chase.  Finally, the important thing was that she noticed the missing button on Rebecca's sweater.  He was immediately convinced Rebecca was the murderer (despite Officer A.'s warnings), and on Wednesday stayed to talk to her some more and Officer A. was called away.  He promised that he would share any information he received.

Rebecca:  "He could look at you and just know."

Jax turned on the charm again, first questioning Audrey (though he got more information from Amy) about Rebecca and then getting Rebecca to open up a little.  By talking about Miranda as someone who had kept secrets from him, he established some common ground, and she told him all about what she had felt at Dorman's death.  And she told him on Thursday that she had found him dying and he had clutched her sweater and that's how she lost her button.  But she had let him die, rather than calling for help, since she saw that he was beyond hope.  She also remembered seeing someone in the hallway, and I'd bet it turns out to be the Tin Man.  They've given us enough hints to make us doubt her as a reliable narrator, however, and I wonder if her story's only partly true.  She indicated several times she had reason to dislike Dorman, what he had lied to her about and the way he used her.  But if she's in on it, will she or would she identify the Tin Man?

V. The Quartermaines

Edward:  "How did I miss it?"
Monica:  "Senility, perhaps?"

On Friday, Monica and Ned talked about Jason's imprisonment as Emily listened outside the door.  She also heard them mention Monica's thinking about confessing and their determination to keep it from Emily.  She headed upstairs but Alan stopped her.  Alan and Monica hovered while Ned tried to run interference, but Edward got home and added to the uproar by declaring against Emily's outfit and against Jason.  In the middle of it all Sarah stopped by (coldly welcomed by Edward) to see Emily.

They talked a bit, after Emily introduced her around.  Emily told her about her mother dying and about her fears that she'd lose Monica as well.  She didn't know Alan was listening outside the door after Ned sent Monica away.  He was convinced Emily might open up to Sarah, and he was right.

Ned:  "Emily won't remember killing Dorman unless you keep acting like there's something to hide."
Monica:  "What if we're wrong?"

Finally.  Monica started to wonder if maybe Emily didn't kill Dorman.  Ned brushed it off, but I was glad to see that surface.