**The Week in Review: July 14 - July 18**

I. The Cassadines

A. The Accident

At the beginning of Monday's episode, Stefan called for an emergency vehicle, trying to take care of Nikolas and get back to the computer in time.  He didn't, and his frustration and rage were quite evident.  In the meantime, Luke watched the screen from the club, almost unwilling to believe he had succeeded, until the "Program Aborted" screen appeared.  And as Stefan screamed "No!" Luke hollered "Yes."  Very nicely done, I thought, this contrast between enemies.

Stefan:  "Everything is going to be alright."
Nikolas:  "Get away from me."

Alexis returned to find Nikolas in the floor and the computer program aborted.  They rushed with Nikolas to the ER and Bobbie met them.  Stefan dismissed her, but she asked Alexis what had happened and Alexis was civil to her while telling her next to nothing.  But when Stefan tried to comfort Nikolas upon his waking, Nikolas sent him away.  And I had this strange sense of déjà vu.

Stefan:  "There was a struggle.  He was on the ground in an instant, unconscious."

Alexis asked Stefan what really happened, and he told her a version of things that negated his agency in Nikolas' fall.  I was waiting to hear his actual words here, and noted the above with great interest.  I also liked the moment where he actually almost apologized to Alexis, insisting there was no choice and she indicated she had taken that as a matter of course.  Stefan insisted that he had given up on this plan when Alexis stated that they would develop another program.  Of course, it's not clear to me why running another copy of the same program wouldn't work even if those disks and chips are destroyed, but since we've never gotten a clear description of this thing anyway I guess I'm glad it's over.

But the way these writers tossed off the ending to this story so quickly, with little payoff except for a reiteration of the injured-Nikolas scenario perturbs me.  Yes, it was clear that there were holes and gaps and problems, and it's clear that they simply wanted to be rid of this story so they could move on to something else.  But this story has been developing for a year, and I just think they could have had a bigger payoff or a better explanation.  I think I could have even accepted this quickness at the end if I had been given a better explanation about the plan itself.  I had trouble believing this unexplained computer program was going to cause as much havoc as Luke told me it would, since I didn't get the Cassadine explanation (and you know I always believe my Luke...).  That said, I might be premature.  They could milk this failed plan for all it's worth, showing Stefan figure out it was Luke at the same time we get scenes of the Cassadines regrouping, and that could catapult us into the next wave of the story.  I'll try to be optimistic while I wait to see what they've got in store for us in the new storyline.

Stefan:  "The Quartermaines aren't my favorite people, but my sympathies are with them tonight."

Can I tell you how much I want a Cassadine/Quartermaine storyline?  Geary's vacation and the ongoing adolescent version of the family feud offers the grownup Cassadines plenty of time to encounter, shall we say, the Qs.  Please oh please?

Stefan:  "I can lose anything, Nikolas.  Except you."

Nikolas was in the clear, but had to stay for observation.  Stefan breathed a sigh of relief and Alexis went home to clean up.  And Stefan went in to see Nikolas again.  His declarations haven't ceased to affect me, but I still remembered his rage over the program from earlier in the episode.  Meanwhile, Alexis slammed shut the laptop computer back at Wyndemere.  I so very much want her to be the start of the new Cassadine offensive, and I'm hoping that at least now that this storyline is over we'll get to see her start coming out from under Stefan's command.  She's a willing submissive to him, but I'd like to see that be complicated in the weeks to come.  I want more Alexis!

B. Nikolas

Nikolas awoke the next morning and said he didn't want to see anyone, especially his family.  He repeated the instructions on Tuesday's episode.

Nikolas:  "I have an unusual background."

Amy reassured Sarah before she even knew Nik was even hurt (good one).  Alexis showed up at this point asking why she couldn't go into Nik's room.  But Sarah went in anyway and tucked him in.  He caught her, and they shared a warm exchange that bored me (sorry).

By the time Stefan got to Nik's room at the end of Tuesday's episode (having passed Sarah in the hall), Nik was gone.  While Stefan ranted at the hospital on Wednesday, Nikolas went to the chapel in the woods.  Sarah, who had found that place with her grandfather and had gone there to remember him, was there before Nikolas, crying.  He comforted her, and they shared another warm exchange that bored me a little less, since Nik was talking some about his family and his loneliness.  They talked about Greece, Steve Hardy, Sarah's family, and Nik's lack of someone like Steve Hardy in his life.  There was a lot of apologizing, even for little things, and they came to an understanding of each other, I guess.

At the end of Wednesday, Stefan finally called Alexis about Nikolas' running off.  We cut from that to Nikolas showing up at Katherine's door and asking to stay with her.  On Thursday, we found that she did indeed let him stay without asking any questions.  But that morning she was asking questions and she wanted to know what had happened.  He announced that he wasn't going home.

Katherine:  "I am not afraid of your uncle."
Nik:  "You probably should be."

They talked more, with Katherine making some good points and Nikolas remaining sullen about his Uncle.  She insisted that his Uncle loved him and wasn't listening to Nikolas' view on things, which was obviously much different.  Despite her good arguments, Nikolas asked only for some time before he called his Uncle, and she promised she wouldn't call him in the meantime, jumping on him for being angry when she hedged on her promise not to call Stefan.  And when she did call Stefan, I wanted to smack her for lying to him.

Nik:  "Of course he has an explanation, because there is always an explanation.  See, that's what he's best at, Katherine.  He's best at rationalizing and explaining things so it never comes out his fault."

Katherine:  "I would do anything in the world for you but I cannot help you hurt him."

On Friday, as Katherine got off the phone from leaving a message for Stefan, Nikolas returned, having given up on a walk.  They fought again about Stefan.  She admitted she felt uncomfortable in keeping this from Stefan and admitted she had called him.  I wanted him to tell her off for that one so bad, but she batted those eyes and he said very little, staying at the apartment to think while she went to work.  And of course we knew what--excuse me, who--was coming.

Nik left for a bit, though, to go to Kelly's, and met up with Sarah (though who knows why he'd keep going to such a Spencer hangout).  More mushy stuff happened, which seems forced and boring to me, though I'm happy to see Nik falling for a girl more his age--and who might not, in the long run, bring him heartache.  Quite frankly, I want Sarah to end up with Nikolas because I think he needs her more than Lucky does.  Sarah mentioned Lucky was gone, and they talked about Lulu's birthday and Lulu, though he refused to fill her in on the gory details about him and Lucky.

At the end of Friday's episode, Stefan got to Katherine's apartment and found Nikolas.  Let the fun begin!

C. Stefan and Katherine

Stefan:  "I'm sure I'm simply overreacting.  I have a tendency to do that with people I care about."

Stefan:  "Very soon a great deal is going to change for us."
Katherine:  "I'm counting on it."

On Tuesday, Katherine overheard Amy comment on Nik's condition and asked after him, but Alexis told her politely to stay out of it.  Katherine started to argue her point but then saw Stefan arrive and went to plead her case with him instead.  Now, that's the way to make an enemy, and I loved Alexis' reaction.  Stefan's behavior because of and around Katherine is often reprehensible when it comes to Alexis, and Katherine's ain't much better.  Stefan caught her up on things, including Nik's previous fall.  Nik had never told Katherine that story (she said it was because he was too proud to admit Lucky had bested him), and Stefan claimed it wasn't a fair fight.  Ha!  To her, Stefan admitted that Nikolas fell this time because of him, but Katherine immediately reassured him it wasn't his fault and all would be well.  Again she glosses over the difficulties with these men, and I'll be glad when she can't anymore.  It's interesting, though, that he claimed his agency with her and not Alexis when both women were ready to reassure him it was an accident.

Stefan:  "It seems that every time we take a step closer to one another something stops us."

At the beginning of Wednesday's episode, Stefan confronted Amy about Nikolas' whereabouts.  Katherine tried to comfort him, but Stefan was convinced he had left the hospital.  He hounded Amy again, as if she were the one to go to, while Katherine tried to calm him down.  She asked him again about the circumstances of the accident, as if he hadn't already told her that it was his fault, and she insisted on going with him to look.  But when it became clear Nik had left the building, Stefan sent her home after dodging her questions about the incident again.  It's as if he could have told her everything at that first moment but she started making explanations for him and now he doesn't have the courage to admit to the details.

Towards the end of Friday's episode, Stefan received the message from Katherine.  Instead of calling her, he set off to her apartment.  And we all guessed what the various fall out from this would be.  It because clear that this new Nikolas injury wasn't just intended by the writers to stir up Nik and Stefan, but to throw some turmoil into the Katherine/Stefan waters as well.  It's high time, and I have to say I was looking forward to seeing it.

D. Stefan and Alexis

While Nik was at Katherine's, Stefan and Alexis worried at the hospital.  She had called banks and credit card companies and was doing most of the legwork.  She assured him it was accident as well and then asked about Bobbie.  He said the press was on their way and that Bobbie's cooperation would determine what he told them.

Alexis:  "I am actually sorry that I feel this way about Bobbie, but as far as I'm concerned right now she deserves what's coming to her."

I was surprised to hear this, and it sure raises the stakes on Bobbie's transgression.  Alexis has seemed so concerned by the whole thing, both for Stefan and for Bobbie, but her loyalties are clearly coming out now.  And I like it.  I want to see more of Alexis the gatekeeper, and right now, Bobbie's the one who needs to be kept out.  I hope Alexis keeps her away from Nikolas; he doesn't need to have to deal with Bobbie right now, though I hope at some point they can come to an understanding.

E. Alexis Ned...and Katherine

Ned:  "Alexis, hello.  Looking for me?"
Alexis:  "Not this time.  Are you terribly hurt?"
Ned:  "Crushed."

Ned:  "I'm just glad that I don't have to do business with you."
Alexis:  "Why's that?"
Ned:  "It would be much too distracting."

Alexis was actually looking for Nikolas when she came across the Quartermaine contingent, but I'm glad for any reason to get a gratuitous Ned and Alexis scene.  :)  Lila greeted Alexis as well (I'd really like some scenes with those two, especially as Ned and Alexis heat up, which I assume is inevitable since Wally's signed a new contract, I hear), then Monica walked her to the car.  Ned and Alexis set up another date.  I loved that she was actually taken aback by the above and didn't see the compliment coming.  That tells me she doesn't receive enough compliments in her life.

Ned:  "You look great."
Katherine:  "Well, being vertical makes a difference."
Ned:  "That depends on the situation."

Alexis:  "You seem awfully angry for someone who brought this on herself."
Bobbie:  "So what's your point."

After her exchange with Ned, Katherine stopped her and asked after Nikolas.  I couldn't wait for Alexis to find out she was keeping his whereabouts a secret.  Alexis questioned the nurses and Bobbie as well, who snapped at her.  She also ran into Sarah, who let slip she had seen Nikolas and Alexis asked her about it.  Sarah couldn't say where he was for sure, but she also didn't tell Alexis about the chapel.

II. The Quartermaines

A. The Accident

On Monday, Alan and Emily's conversation was cut short by Monica, who sent Emily away and told Alan to give her some space to heal.  But Alan wasn't buying her reasoning, and questioned her as to why Emily shouldn't talk about her fears.  Ned gave his two cents, which Alan disregarded but Monica championed.

They were all interrupted by a phone call from Robin about Jason's injury.  Emily overheard and screamed.  Most of this appears below in the Jason section.  The next morning, Ned comforted Monica and congratulated her on her handling of Alan but she continued to worry about all of her children.

Alexis:  "Where's the orchestra music when we need it?"

In the middle of it all we got some obligatory sparring between Ned and Jax and some concern between Ned and Alexis.  Their parallel situations were becoming eerie at this point.

At the beginning of Tuesday's show, Carly heard about Jason's accident and rushed downstairs.  A.J. showed up as well, and reassured Carly that Jason would live.  Ned, however, greeted him with contempt and A.J. threatened him.  Ned wasn't phased.  Monica greeted A.J. with more compassion, and apologized for not calling him.  Later, A.J. was surprised to hear how close Jason and Carly are, and wished for that same closeness.  Alan and Monica came back and thanked Carly for coming down; she said Tony was at a conference and would have wanted her to.

On Wednesday, Bobbie showed up to comfort Alan and Monica and they retold the story again.  Alan hoped Jason would come to a realization after this, but Monica told him not to count on it.

Monica:  "The young man in there is not...not the son we knew but he's the son we love."

There was lots of good history on Wednesday's episode, from the Steve Hardy montage on down.  Luke mentioned Lucky's gunshot wound to Monica and Alan when he went down to see about Jason.  He reassured them that Jason wouldn't have survived that accident just to die in this one.  Monica reminded him that Jason didn't survive that accident at all.

Robin:  "Don't apologize.  We all need someone to blame."

Alan apologized for his outburst to Robin, and she apologized that Jason didn't want to see them.  But Alan and Monica thanked her for saving Jason's life.  Later, she went into Jason's room while he slept and said she had done this to him, that it was all her fault.

B. Ned and Monica

Monica:  "Isn't it amazing how much guilt we can all carry around?  Maybe we should all just give ourselves a break.  I think Jason would like that."

On Friday, Monica told Ned to stop hovering.  Pot?  Meet the kettle.  But she's right that Alan was getting suspicious.  They chatted about the various disasters in their life right now.  I was happy to hear Ned talk about his mistakes regarding Jason and that night Eddie Maine was performing and he didn't go to Jason.  Sonny did instead.  The Quartermaines carry around so many different guilts, and this one of Ned's I'm not sure I knew before.

C. The Hospital

Ned:  "Grandfather is firmly entrenched in denial.  If he doesn't go to the hospital it means Jason didn't almost die."

Ned:  "In fact, I think deep down he's her favorite."
Monica:  "I thought you were."
Ned:  "No.  I just remind her of Grandfather, and that's a frightening thought."

Ned was there to take Lila and Emily to the hospital to see Jason.  Lila was sweet with him, but Jason wasn't excited to hear that Monica and Emily were outside waiting.  Edward called and Lila spoke with him while Ned got a word with Jason; he said was worried about Brenda, but also asked whether they were aiming at Jason simply because he works for Sonny.  And outside, Emily was sniping at her mother about hospitals and hiding things and demanding to know what Monica was lying about.  Lucky for Monica, Alexis interrupted.

III. Jax

On Monday, Jax brought Mac into his conversations with Rebecca, who refused to speak to them because Jax had revealed what she had said.  Now, I've been hoping Rebecca's in on this, but she seemed truly scared about the guy coming after her, and I don't think she would have identified him if she was covering for him--unless the Tin Man and his boss want Jax to come along for the ride.  Later, Jax convinced her to help stop the Tin Man before he shot someone else.  Repeat of this conversation on Tuesday.

Mac:  "I love Robin more than my life, Jax.  I promised to take care of her.  She's in love with a guy who gets shot at for a living and likes it that way.  I don't want that for Robin, but...if that's what she wants for herself there's nothing I can do but support it and try not to add to her pain."
Jax:  "Ya, I'm working on something like that myself."

This was a nice moment between two past enemies on Tuesday.  I wonder if they're going to do more with these two what with Kevin over on PC for the most part and Jax in need of a storyline.  I don't want them to become best buds, but tentative cohorts might be nice.

Mac:  "Hey Jax, feel free to fire me and be useless all by yourself."

Jax showed up at Mac's house on Thursday's show and they commiserated over the reluctance of Taggert to do this Tin Man lead justice.  Mac was off to the hospital to find out what Jason knew and Jax followed.  He met up with Officer A., who snarkily let him know she had been suspended.  She assumed he was behind it, and he tried to assure her that he wasn't.

Mac:  "Are you coming?"
Jax:  "What is it, a two man fax machine?"

Crack me up.  Mac gave Jax Tiger Key Florida and Jax was off without him...but not without Officer A. in tow.  On Friday she stopped him at the hangar as he gathered his gear.  She tried to stop him but he gave her the slip by telling her she could watch him test the new engine from the observation deck...for a bit.  She showed up on the plane and she told him she would be forced to use her "police weapon."

But frankly, this whole thing bores me.  Jax's storyline is still hinging on Brenda, and the worst was yet to come....

IV. Jason and Robin

A. The Shooting/The ER

Jason told Robin to stay where she was on Monday, but she insisted on coming to him.  As he stood and turned towards her, she saw he had been shot.  She tried to help him, but couldn't get near him because of the blood; she was bleeding too and couldn't risk infecting him.  Jason's condition didn't pain me near as much as Robin's, and I thought Kimberly did an excellent job in those scenes.  She called for the police and an ambulance and they got Jason to the hospital.

Mike showed up asking after Jason and Robin but Mac hadn't heard anything yet.  At that point, the medics brought in Jason and Robin gave a vague indication of what happened, breaking down as she swore she tried to help him.  Mac made her tell him the story again, slowly, while it was still fresh in her mind, and, I think, to keep her from going into hysterics.  I loved her inclusion of his declarations of in the story, both here and with Taggert, as that was the main point of the story for her--that and her inability to help him.

Mike:  "Honey, look, I've been here with Sonny, waiting, afraid to hope, afraid not to hope."

Alan:  "I feel so helpless."

I liked that Mike was there for Robin.  He was the one person that was going to be on her side and understand her emotions absolutely.  At this point Alan, Monica, and Ned showed up.  Of course they sympathized with Robin's worry and pain and anger, but Alan, in his frustration, unloaded on Sonny.  While I totally see his side in all of this and am very glad he's continuing to speak up against Sonny (I don't like it when it seems everyone likes my favorite mobster--it takes his edge away), I was sorry to see him let loose in front of Robin.  Robin defended Jason and his choices.

Mac vowed to find whoever did this.  At the end of Monday's episode, everything went into slow motion as the doctor came out of the OR with Jason's prognosis.  We saw a replay on Tuesday, and the doctor said that Jason would be fine.  Relief all around, and Robin went to look at him through the doors.  That was a strange moment with Carly and Robin over Jason, though; Robin retold the story again.

Mac instructed Taggert to go easy on Robin, but she said she was ready to tell them everything.  I loved the way that she greeted Garcia.  She retold the story again.  The differences between Taggert and Garcia were still there, even though the whole scene was understated.

Mike:  "I think that Sonny tells himself that his life won't touch you, that somehow you're immune.  And he needs to believe that because you are so precious to him, Robin.  I...I'm almost glad he's on the run so he doesn't have to know."

Mike had gone to get Robin's medication, and there was a sweet moment of him watching her take her pills.  I liked his choice of words above--"immune."  And I liked Robin asking Mike to stay away even though Jason would want him there so there wouldn't be another fight with Alan.  And when the doctor let one person in, Monica simply asked Robin to tell him that they loved him.  And as A.J. left Monica told him she loved him too.

B. The Immediate Aftermath

Jason woke up in the ER and started asking Robin about her cuts and how she was doing, more concerned about her than himself.  He started to take out tubes and Robin begged him to let them help him heal--the sign of things to come.  Jason asked her if she was angry with him; she said he had never lied.  But she was adamant she wouldn't let this happen again and all of us could see exactly where this was going.

Jason didn't want to see Monica and Alan no matter which Jason they were waiting to see.  He went to sleep and Robin said everything she couldn't say to him while he was awake.  She admitted she was mad.  But she knew the drill, she said, because she had watched her mom with Duke...and then Duke died.  She asked him not to do this anymore.  And at that moment he insisted he had to talk to Sonny, so she went to get his cell phone at the house.

I've always found Robin's affection for these dangerous men--or rather, men in dangerous jobs, maybe--fascinating precisely because of her parents and her step-dad.  Either that's all she knows so she seeks it out or she's drawn to men who are like her dad.  But the men she finds are on the wrong side of the law.  I think that's why she so easily sees Sonny as a father figure...and why she can overlook so much.  It's interesting to see her now, confronted with the reality of this kind of man's life, when it's her man and not a father figure.  And I'm glad to see the writers bringing in the history to help explain not only her reaction to this accident, but also her love for Jason.  I'm not trying to lessen her love for Jason or Stone with some weak psychology, but I sure wish Kevin were around to comment on things.

Robin sent Mac after the Quartermaines, but when Katherine came through the doors looking for Nikolas Robin embraced her.  Katherine offered her help and reminded Robin that she should accept help even as she continued to be strong, but Robin said she had to go herself.

C. Mac and Robin

Katherine told Mac Robin was going home, though, and Mac went after her.  He found her crying in the living room at the sight of the broken glass and everything (I was crying too).

On Thursday's show, Mac brought Robin coffee and tried to be light about her injuries and the damage to the house then made her eat breakfast and sit for a bit before she went to the hospital.  I really love Mac.  While he doesn't steal my attention or make me miss him when he's not there, he's one of those constants on this show that I really depend on.  I look forward to him having a storyline again.  They talked a bit about Jason's phone and Sonny.

While Mac was outside with Jax, Sonny called.  He knew immediately that something had happened because Robin answered the phone.  He told her to take Jason off the Tin Man job.

D. Jason

Robin:  "He takes care of you too."
Jason:  "No.  You just like thinking that and I let you."

Robin thought Jason would be mad at her for answering the phone, but he said he wasn't.  She relayed the message, but Jason was still insistent on getting up and helping Sonny.  She told him to call Sonny and he assured her she hadn't done any damage.  But the kisses and reassurances were covering up a lot of anger and frustration from both of them.  There was no answer on the phone.

Robin:  "Fresh chipped ice.  Yummy."
Mac:  "Cheer up.  You're already on solid foods."

Robin:  "He knows all this wasn't your fault."
Jason:  "Whose was it."

Mac quizzed Jason on what he knew, and Jason reassured him that he would tell him if he knew anything more.  When Robin returned, he asked her why Mac didn't hate him.  She was still refraining from blaming him, but he knew better.  More worry about the phone followed, and more reassurances covering up fear.

Emily came in to visit Jason and he knew she was desperate to get away from the family.  She daydreamed about confronting Monica until Jason asked her to help him leave the hospital.  I couldn't believe he dragged Emily into this, and when he got up from the bed he started bleeding and fell in the floor, sending Emily into fits again.

V. The Spencers

A. The Super Siblings

Luke:  "Meaning that, uh, Stefan's personal plan for a global grab bag fizzled like a wet sparkler."

Luke:  "Spencers rule again, Barbara Jean.  Just like always."

Bobbie called Luke on Monday to ask how the plan went.  He told her all was well and that this Cassadine attempt at global power was over.  I absolutely loved the way he went from solitary jubilation to a calm statement of victory.  He hid the disk from his computer on the top of a speaker and poured himself a drink.

Bobbie:  "If this is how it's going to be, Luke, you can count me out right now."

Luke:  "This is not your party face, Babs.  What's up."
Bobbie:  "I want to know what you've done."
Luke:  "Probably saved the world again from the Cassadines, this time from financial chaos.  Shouldn't the President give me a trophy or a key chain or a free night in the Lincoln bedroom with the postal worker of my choice?"

Bobbie praises her brother in one breath and then immediately assumes he lied to her in the next.  She showed up ready to tell Luke off for harming Nikolas after she had seen said boy come into the ER.  Luke patiently explained to her what he had done and told her that he hadn't technically been responsible for the boy's fall  ;).  But he wasn't worried about the kid, though I was waiting for some indication of his previous thawing towards the Cassadine heir (I'll bet Laura doesn't take this tale well either, though we won't be around to see her reaction, it seems).  At the same time I was glad to see Bobbie worried over Nikolas, even if her worry about the stable hands seemed gratuitous.

Luke:  "You're too good to me, angel."
Bobbie:  "Likewise."

Bobbie:  "Thank you."
Luke:  "For?"
Bobbie:  "For saving me from a life as Mrs. Stefan Cassadine."
Luke:  "I didn't do much, Barbara.  You found your own way out of that."
Bobbie:  "Don't be so modest.  Doesn't become you."
Luke:  "Are you sure you're not gonna...be angry with me about this later?"
Bobbie:  "Why?"
Luke:  "Well, for one thing the servants.  You know, at my house everybody scrubs their own bathtub drain."

Bobbie brought muffins and Luke shaved, which led me to wonder if there was any chance Geary might return from vacation sporting a beard, at least for a little while.  He looks tremendously good in a beard, but I would start to miss his face after a while.

B. Lucky

In the meantime, Lucky stopped by Sarah's house and she explained why she hadn't shown up at Kelly's (I was very pleased to see they didn't drop that one).  We intercut scenes of Lucky and Sarah on Audrey's porch with the scenes of the Super Siblings fighting over Luke's methods from the above sections.  These were pretty annoying to me, so the less said the better.  They did their usual good job with these cuts, juxtaposing particular lines.  And of course we got Luke's declaration that they were going on holiday to Switzerland with Lucky's declaration that he was going to be staying in PC for the summer.

Luke:  "Good morning to you too, sunshine."
Lucky:  "Is it."
Luke:  "Apparently not.  What'd I do?"
Lucky:  "It's what you didn't do, Dad, and I think you know."
Luke:  "What am I, psychic?"
Lucky:  "What am I, chopped liver?"

Luke:  "The idea here was not to win the game, Lucky, it was to get my sister away from Cassadine.  We did that.  We won.  Now, all we gotta do is go to Switzerland, have a nice summer without lookin' over our backs every time we wanna take a yodel."

Luke:  "Force me into a corner so I have no option but to sound like a...parent."
Lucky:  "Well give me your best shot, dad."
Luke:  "Is that a challenge?"
Lucky:  "What, is that against the rules now?"
Luke:  "What rules?  This is open season!  You give me your best shot!"
Lucky:  "I think that you're uncomfortable with sounding like a parent because you know how lame you'd be.  Up until now, up until it doesn't suit you anymore, you've been preaching the gospel of independence.  Of how important it is for me to be my own man, a free thinker, someone who knows what he wants in life and knows how to get it.  A Spencer, dad."

Luke:  "You know, son, I'm very impressed with this conversation."

Luke:  "But see, at this stage in life when a young guy starts to hear that pounding in his head?  There's usually a woman somewhere with a mallet in her hand."

Lucky:  "Look, I've given you my reasons for staying.  Just pick one you like and go with it."

Luke:  "What happens if I say no?"
Lucky:  "Then you're a hypocrite."

Lucky cruised into the club again at the beginning of Tuesday's show, throwing a fit.  I love seeing father/son conflicts, whether they be Spencer or Cassadine, and I cheer for a storyline that shows Lucky growing up and negotiating his relationship to his father.  But I was sorry to see that this scene risked being merely a contrived way to exit Geary and keep Jackson on for the summer.  Too bad we couldn't have seen the build up to this; instead, it was as abrupt as the rest of this end to a potentially good but now discarded storyline.

That's not to say Geary and Jackson weren't good.  Jackson does whining adolescent very well (I can hear the comments now), and I absolutely adore Luke as the father who won't put up with the adolescent crap from the son who learned everything from dear old dad.  Luke will be as fascinating to watch as he faces this changing mirror of himself in his son as well.

Bottom line, Luke's going to Switzerland for the summer to see the womenfolk and Lucky's staying in PC to see the womenfolk.  But the thing I liked about this sequence was exactly the way Lucky pointed to the things I want to see so much from this storyline.  He's not fooling anybody with his claims about his word as bond and needing some space.  Sure he needs some space, but those are secondary reasons to the Jones he has for Sarah Webber (and his violent denial convinced me of that).  But his claims about Luke's possible hypocrisy and fear of being a bad parent were choice.  At the same time, I wonder if Luke would feel this comfy about leaving his first born in the shadow of the Cassadines even given the latest Spencer victory.  True, he can look after the home front, but still.

Luke:  "Zippola to do with Sarah."

Lucky stormed out, and in a beautiful delayed reaction (complete with forgotten keys) Luke stormed after him.  They got all the way to the hospital, where Sarah stopped Lucky in his tracks and Luke stopped to smile.  But Amy filled Luke in about Jason and he took off downstairs.

C. Luke

Luke:  "Since his devotion to volunteer service and the leggy Miss Webber clobbered his family loyalties."
Bobbie:  "Oh.  Hmm, well, I suppose he could have worse influences in his life."
Luke:  "Ya, like me."

After Luke's awkward comforting of Monica and Alan, Bobbie took him aside.  Luke invited her to Ruby's for a good-bye get together and they double-checked that each would be alright in his absence--Lucky too.  Mac came by with a soda for Robin and Luke asked him what he knew and gave him a reassurance about Sonny.

Luke:  "Could you be any ruder?"

Bobbie came back with a Jason update and he asked her if she'd be able to handle Stefan.  Stefan showed up at that point and Bobbie asked after Nikolas and was met with coldness.  She turned back to Luke and said she guessed that meant she could handle him.  Luke called the above after him.  Crack me up.  Then he stuck around to harass Stefan.

Luke:  "How's it feel to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory?"

Stefan thought he was talking about Nikolas, but I was hoping he'd put 2 and 2 together at this point and at least get 5.  Luke keeps making these comments and backing away from them with alternate explanations, but Stefan has written him off so completely that he can't even see the possibility that Luke knows something important.  Sigh.

Luke:  "Hey kid.  They say you took a bullet in a pretty tricky spot.  No cheese fries for a couple of weeks."

Luke ducked in to see Jason and tell him Sonny and Brenda had gotten away okay.  He told him he would be leaving but would leave a number with Mike.  Jason closed his eyes again, and Luke put his hand on Jason's forehead.  And at that moment I saw all his worry about Lucky.  Luke doesn't want to be a conventional parent, but he has those conventional parent worries even if he doesn't always express them.  And that one gesture said more to me than several soliloquies.  And at the same time it told me that Jason doesn't just have Robin and Sonny looking after him or caring about him just the way he is; he has Luke.  And I hope when Sonny is gone these two stick together.

D. The Going Away Party

Luke:  "Why Ruby.  What delicate, greasy little fingers you have."

Luke:  "My kid is a genius.  He gets Cs in courses he doesn't even know he's taking."

I often wonder what Lucas thinks about his namesake.  He seems a boring enough child that Luke wouldn't take much of a fancy to him, and we certainly don't see much of them together.  (But I've been treated to some footage of the previous actor who played Lucas...ick and double ick.)  I loved the sequence about the bikini and Lucas' subsequent declaration to Sarah: "You're bikini material."  And I was glad to see that Lucky was back to his usual joking self with his father, even if he completely dumped him for Sarah when she came in.  Lucky told her he was ready to stay in one place for a while.

Luke:  "Unless his excuse is really impressive, you know.  Then buy it every time.  Cause I like to encourage creative thinking in him."

Bobbie:  "Hey, you know, Ruby and I made this whole waffle for you and I'm the only one eating it."
Luke:  "Well, that's alright.  I don't like things with this texture much.

Bobbie:  "Well, if he were to do that, I guess I would just have to keep his millions, wouldn't I?  Or I'd have to court and ask the judge for more, you know?  I mean, if he's not going to let me support myself, what's a poor mother to do?"
Luke:  "Oh, I like that."

Luke:  "We turned him into an old snaggle-tooth guard dog, half blind, little goatee, runnin' down the highway.  We're in the car, we swerve over, open that door, smack him, he goes rollin' right off the road."

Luke was sent off with pies from Ruby and presents for Lulu from the family.  And, of course, a last bit of reassurance to and from his little sister.  He gave Bobbie the very loose rules about Lucky's behavior (I'm glad he's over their little tiff too--in fact, it didn't seem to phase him at all) while she proceeded to eat all of his waffle.

Luke:  "I'm always on my own time."

Luke had a moment with Mike outside, assuring him Sonny was ok and that he wouldn't be leaving if things weren't under control.  I love these two together.  They joked around, then Luke told Mike to let him know if anybody messed with Lucky.  I was glad to see that.

Lucy:  "I was going to wrap it but I didn't get to wrap it."

And joy of joys, Lucy showed up to say good-bye.  She's going to watch over the club, and she brought a present for Lulu.  She babbled on about kids and ducks and gave Luke a big hug good-bye.  Lucky too.  I was so glad to see them together again; I am FGC Lucy, Keeper of her Friendship with Luke, after all.  Hugs all around and then Luke and Lucky were off.

F. Stefan and Bobbie

Bobbie:  "Everything Luke ever said about you is true.  You can actually stand here and threaten me and pretend it's because you care about my son."

Bobbie:  "All I want is what I had before I married you.  I want my career and I want my name.  Barbara Jean Spencer.  And you just make sure Alexis spells it right when she redrafts this."

Stefan confronted Bobbie again after talking with Alexis about his plans.  He told her about the press coming and he dictated his terms again, giving her legal documents.  She refused to sign without a lawyer, and he actually threw Lucas in her face, suggesting that if she drags this out she could hurt Lucas, especially when her past came out.  At this point the press showed up and Stefan announced he was donating six million to a drug rehab unit.  When asked how he came up with the sum, he simply looked coyly at Bobbie.  Too funny.  Bobbie still had demands of her own, namely, that the drug investigation would be dropped.

G. Bobbie and Katherine

And at the end of Friday's episode, Bobbie stopped Katherine to have a few words with her about Stefan.  Crack me up.  Katherine played dumb, and refused to listen to Bobbie.  Of course, there's no reason she should, at this point.

VI. Sonny and Brenda

Brenda:  "This is hard for you, isn't it."
Sonny:  "What, uh, sleepin' on a yacht with a beautiful woman?  Ya, I'm suffering."

On Tuesday, Brenda and Sonny woke up on the boat.  He tried to make light of the situation, but she knew he hated running.  They talked about their course of action and other possibilities, but it came down to the fact that Sonny was running because of Brenda, because whoever is behind this was coming at him through Brenda.

Sonny made breakfast, but they didn't get around to eating it right away.  That poor hollandaise sauce.  But Brenda felt invincible at this point.  Stupid girl.  She drives me batty.  And there was more mushy stuff afterwards.  But Sonny also realized Jason hadn't checked in, and started to worry.

Sonny:  "I'm trying to figure out how long before we round this peninsula and hit the Virginia coast."
Brenda:  "Wouldn't it be easier to just look out the window?"
Sonny:  "Virginia's only pink on the map."

On Thursday, Sonny was really worried about Jason.  Of course, the above exchange had me rolling in the floor laughing, especially Brenda's response--like it actually just dawned on her that they couldn't look out the window and tell where they were.  There's been a lot of comparisons drawn recently between Luke and Laura's adventures and this one, and while I'll admit L&L's were sometimes (and I'll only admit to the sometimes) as lame as this one, at least Luke didn't have to put up with this.  ;)  They chatted about future plans, and I got a special news report.  Lucky for me they came back in time for my Luke's going away party.

Sonny:  "Last time I snapped my fingers you threw a Caesar salad at me."

Sonny:  "What was Laura Spencer thinking to wear a wig the same color as her hair?"
Brenda:  "I don't know.  Maybe this is Luke's."

We got the first shot of their brilliant disguises on Thursday's show too as they prepared to disembark the yacht.  And again I say: "Lloyd and Lucy they ain't."  While Luke and Laura's disguises were never believable either, Sonny and Brenda looked just like Sonny and Brenda...only in baseball caps.  After the phone call to Jason, which Robin answered, Sonny declared his determination to find the guy that did this.  They hid in the closet (again, convenient that Sonny's over his claustrophobia) while the owner came on board but left their cell phone in the floor to be stepped on and ruined.  Sigh.

Sonny:  "What are we, Hansel and Grettle?"

Brenda flipped out about the phone while Sonny pondered.  They were stopped at a truck stop, and Sonny's new plan was to get into the back of the truck, which was going to Miami (he was listening to the truckers rather than to Brenda, much to her irritation).  We were treated to Brenda's impression of the way men bounce when they have to pee, but she was right about the trucker.  The scene of her sending the other trucker to the loo as well by means of a shake down the back of the neck was entertaining, though.  And at the end of Thursday's episode, the cops stopped them as they went to get in the back of the truck.

On Friday, we found out the cops wanted someone else whom Sonny resembled.  Tante Joan described his accent in this scene as "Mel Blanc on speed" at one point, and I have to agree.  Crack me up!  But I just rolled my eyes at Brenda's part in this: "Passport-o"?!?!  "El Slow-o"?!?!  Sigh.  But Sonny found the fake passports and they were free to board the truck and head to Florida.  He joked about the décor and they had one final gratuitous Friday scare when the doors weren't closed properly and the guy was going to open them up, but Sonny saved the day and they got back to discussing how they were going to pass the time on their long drive.

And the closing shot of Friday's episode was of the Tin Man consulting with his boss, whose face we didn't see....

Aside:  Does anyone know where this song is from?  It's been bothering me since this adventure started....

	No holds barred, baby, I'm going to Florida,
	Don't you wanna come with me?
	We'll get the hell out of dodge and make it down to a lodge
	Alongside your favorite key.
	We will cavort with the porpoises, snorkel in the coral
	Way down in the deep blue see.
	And if the weather is hell we'll hang around the motel
	Making love and watchin' color TV.

VII. Audrey

At the beginning of Wednesday's episode, Audrey was forgetful and clumsy.  I worried that this was the beginning of an Alzheimer's storyline or something, but then Sarah reminded her that this was the anniversary of Steve's death.  Audrey was trying to forget that.  They looked at the photo album, and Sarah told Audrey that Steve had told her about watching Audrey come down the aisle at their wedding.  Audrey talked about the wedding as well--nice SWATCH.  Sarah went off to the hospital and Audrey settled in for memories.  We got a nice montage of scenes of Audrey and Steve towards the end of the episode.  I would have liked more--scenes of Steve with other people, actual scenes with dialogue, etc.  But the musical montage--to "I'll be seeing you"--was very nice.

VIII. Carly

Jax:  "Just what this place needs.  Traffic cops."

A.J.  "I told him you sent your best."
Keesha:  "And he said, 'Keesha who', right?"
A.J.:  "No, he said, 'How come hospital windows don't open?'"
Keesha:  "He must be feeling better.

Carly came in to visit Jason on Thursday's show and gave him water, which choked him.  The whole exchange was a waste to me, just another unneeded example of Carly's bumbling.  Then she apologized to Keesha while A.J. went in to see Jason.  She also yelled at Jax to not go into Jason's room, eliciting the above hoot of a response (though maybe that was directed at Officer A., though I don't think she had walked up yet).  Keesha remained suspicious of Carly, but she did agree to come to the house and drink that bottle of wine with her.