**The Week in Review: September 1 - September 5**

Audrey:  "As for the whole story, I'm not sure we'll ever know that."

On Monday, Sarah told Lizzy that she had hit a new low with this new "lie" about Nikolas's Uncle killing Steve Hardy.  Lizzy stood her ground and Sarah ranted.  At first, she claimed this had nothing to do with Nikolas and that the lie was only Lizzy's jealousy and bad temper speaking.  Audrey came to referee, and when Sarah finally told her what Lizzy had said, Audrey claimed that no matter what anybody said or who may have contributed to Steve's death, she believed that Nikolas was blameless.  It was clear to me that Audrey was stunned that Sarah had heard the rumor, but she was also not willing to exonerate Stefan completely.

Apparently Audrey didn't take away Sarah's doubts, because Sarah couldn't face Nikolas and left the house, leaving Audrey to give a weak excuse when he showed up for their date.  I didn't buy this reaction; she was angry at her sister and at the circumstances of the revelation...and the revelation itself, but I didn't see why she lost it so completely and refused to see Nikolas at all.

Audrey stopped Lizzy before she could make her getaway.  She reprimanded Lizzy for her timing.  Audrey insisted that this had nothing to do with Nikolas and scolded her for using Steve's death to hurt her sister or Nikolas.

Nikolas arrived and Audrey flustered her way through an excuse.  Nikolas didn't buy it.  Audrey answered the phone and Nik quizzed Lizzy, who gave him some vague response.  He headed off to find Sarah.

Lizzy said she didn't understand why Audrey was irritated with her; Audrey said she should have come and asked about the rumor.  Instead, Audrey said it was clear to her that Lizzy meant only to hurt Sarah and was sad and disappointed in her.

When Sarah came home Audrey told her that Nikolas was concerned and that she shouldn't let such rumors affect her so harshly.  But Sarah was still upset, and it was clear that the overreaction would continue.  Lizzy came downstairs and held out the proverbial olive branch, but Sarah left her sitting by herself in the dark.

II. The Cassadines

A. Alexis and Stefan

George repeated himself at the beginning of Monday's episode, then headed to bed.  Alexis fished for Stefan's response and he finally reminded her (ha) that Katherine grew up at a place called Serenity.  Stefan was agitated by this point and Alexis was wearing her poker face.

Stefan:  "Well, it tastes like nothing.  It's like, uh, water mixed with acid."
Alexis:  "Then why ask Mrs. Lansbury to bring it to you?"
Stefan:  "Nostalgia.  You're right; vodka reminds me of Stavros.  All this talk about a sister I've never seen makes me miss by brother."

Alexis:  "Please stop drinking."
Stefan:  "I'm a good Russian; I can hold half a bottle and still have steady hands."
Alexis:  "What about a clear head?"
Stefan:  "Well, I rely on you for that, don't I."

Stefan started downing shots of vodka out of this really cool vodka holder/chiller and Alexis commented on his dislike of vodka--it reminded him of Stavros.  Stefan was agitated and rambling and Alexis was clearly worried.  He asked questions, mostly rhetorical, dodging the truth that faced him.  I was intrigued by the implicit comparison between Stefan and his brother at this point; I'm not sure what I want to make of it, but it's clear to me that Stefan was feeling very much a part of his family...a prisoner of his family...at this point.

Stefan:  "Now, how many coincidences add up to fate, Alexis, tell me that.  Teach me to go firing guns in the dark."

Alexis told him that this didn't mean Katherine was Natasha; Stefan sarcastically insisted it was a coincidence, but it was clear that he didn't believe it.  Alexis pretended to hold out hope that it wasn't true and said she could prove it.  At this point, Katherine called and Stefan answered coldly, telling her he had business to take care of.

Stefan then told Alexis that he was going to ask Katherine about the details of her childhood to help them prove whether or not she was his sister.  Alexis was clearly concerned by this course of action.  On Thursday, Stefan was trying to find Katherine by phone; Alexis told him not to ask her any questions.  She put up several excuses, then dropped the bomb.  She said that Katherine might be in danger if she knew the truth--that Helena might go after her because of her relationship to the family.  So Stefan fudged on the phone with Katherine and listened to her explanation.

B. Nikolas and Sarah

Nik went to look for Sarah at the chapel, but she wasn't there.  On Thursday's episode, he found her in the playroom at the hospital.  He asked her what had happened and apologized, even though he didn't know what he had done.  She said she wanted to work it out herself, and when he pushed (and he pointed out that she had done the same with him before) she still wouldn't tell him.  She just lied to him.

Nikolas decided that Lucky was the one who turned her away from him and then didn't believe her when she denied it.  But she wouldn't give him the real reason and stormed out on him.  Doesn't seem fair, since, as he said, she pulled the same thing with him earlier.

Mostly, these two bored me.

C. Katherine and Edward

Stefan:  "I'm sorry; I should have knocked."
Edward:  "Oh, no no no no, we, uh, we have nothing to hide.  Katherine's passion for me has, uh, long been common knowledge."

Katherine was in a meeting with Edward when Stefan called, and he noticed immediately the "rosy glow" on her cheeks and demanded to know who had put them there. When she told him, he warned her profusely about Stefan as only Edward can.  She didn't listen, of course.  I was glad for the SWATCH about the Quartermaine girl who was killed during her involvement with the Cassadines so long ago.  He offered her help, should she ever need it, and then they were interrupted by Stefan.

D. Alexis and Ned

After Stefan had left Alexis pow-wowed with Leo.  She was scared that Stefan would ask Katherine about things.  Leo agreed that if Stefan got suspicious he would go back to George...Alexis finished his sentence.  George would panic and admit that he lied and say the whole thing was Alexis's idea.  She knew that if Stefan found out her lies he would quite possibly expel her from the family.

Ned:  "I'm ready for something more.  And I'm hoping you are too."
Alexis:  "Theoretically, I am.  Scared but ready."

At this point, Ned showed up.  He could tell something was wrong, and it was clear she was glad to see him.  She apologized for leaving abruptly; he said he had been patient.  But now he asked her to go away with her; she couldn't because of her family.  He even got her to relax and painted a picture of them away on holiday together, but she couldn't go with him.  There was a nice kiss somewhere in the middle, though.

Ned:  "Maybe I'll send you anonymous dirty email."
Alexis:  "I'll know it's from you if everything is spelled correctly."

On Friday, he ended the phone call about business (nice moment where she was worried it was about his daughter) and said he was off to the Far East on business...he asked her to come with him.  She refused because of family business.  She spoke of it only in vague terms.  But he knew what she was talking about and commiserated.  He left her with the promise of more later.  I loved that he made her look away from him to tell her he'd miss her and then left without letting her see him go.  Sigh.

I really like these two together, and though I appreciate the slow pace, I think they need to have some more tension build immediately when Wally gets back from vacation.  These stops and starts are getting to me.

E. Stefan and Katherine

When Edward was gone, Stefan and Katherine kissed, then he turned right to the questions at hand.  He told her he wanted to be with her but that business was keeping him away.  Then he asked her about her life, starting with childhood and her father.  She talked some about her background and he got her to tell him that she had proof of her parentage.  She said that her mother had told her Avery Stanton (I almost, inadvertently, typed "Rex"...confusion would abound!) was her father on her deathbed.  But she also had scientific proof.

Stefan:  "I long ago stopped explaining myself to my mother."

On Friday she told him about the DNA test, which was good proof but not completely conclusive.  She became suspicious at all of his questions.  He said that he simply wanted to know everything about her.  She just thought he was checking her pedigree.  More mush.

F. Stefan and Alexis

Back at Wyndemere, Stefan told Alexis that the deathbed confession was the thing that proved it to him.  Alexis said it could have been a lie to protect her child from their family.  Helena would see a child as a threat to the other heirs and would kill such an illegitimate child.  Stefan saw her point and was dejected and angry again.

Several of my pals and I don't like this storyline.  It makes Alexis look bad and act out of character, and we didn't understand her motive.  If Katherine does find out that she's supposedly Stefan's sister, I don't think she'd go after the wealth because of Nik, and I should think she would keep her mouth shut if she were in danger.  But she'd have more reason than ever to worm her way into the family--at least Stefan and Nik's part of it.  I'm hoping there's something more behind Alexis's choice of attack, but I'm not sure there is.

III. Carly

A. Carly and Tony

Tony:  "And, uh, maybe that's the lesson here, you know, you're stuck with the action, you're stuck with the consequences, so you just try to make the best of things.  Just try not to repeat the mistake.  At least not exactly the same way."

Monday found Carly whining about not meaning to hurt AJ.  Tony assumed Bobbie had set something off, but Carly said Bobbie was right.  Tony said he already knew what she had done--fake cliffhanger again, and I'm getting tired of them.  Tony told her not to rob AJ of his responsibility for his own failings and that she didn't know it would happen.  He comforted her and told her to put it behind them.

At home, Tony tried to distract her with baby names, but Carly wrote a note to AJ before they headed to bed.  She enclosed her necklace and left it on his door.

On Tuesday, she and Tony picked out china and Carly worried that nobody would show up at their wedding.  She was sad that AJ wouldn't be there and wondered why he hadn't stopped by before he left.  Tony reassured her.  Again.  Then they went to look at wedding dresses with one hoot of a saleslady; Tony's imitations of her were quite funny.  More mushy stuff, more whining, and more reassurances followed, as Carly asked him if she'd be ashamed of her walking down the aisle pregnant.  Tony left to get some stuff for Lucas and she tried on a dress...just in time for Bobbie to show up.

B. Bobbie and the Happy Couple

Now, there's no good reason for Bobbie to show up for yet another catfight.  We get the picture.  They snarked back and forth until Tony came to the rescue.  At this point, Bobbie completely backed off and switched gears.  I slapped her not for the fight, but for her complete change from bitching to laughing and apologizing and praising.  She became the perfect, supportive mother at this point, and I couldn't stand it.  Tony tried to smooth things over and reassured her that his new child would never take his attention away from Lucas; she responded by dismissing that as a concern while managing to make her dismissal sound like a warning.  Slap and double slap.

C. AJ and the Happy Couple

AJ showed up at the hospital at the end of Tuesday's episode to see Tony.  On Wednesday, Carly found him first, and was shocked to see him not in rehab.  AJ lied and said they had asked him to delay his arrival by a day.  Carly was suspicious, but AJ persuaded her.  And the thing is, after all of this--all his suspicious--he felt guilty about lying to her.  I was glad to see Carly suspicious, though...she deserved to be nervous about now.

Carly went on to an appointment and AJ stayed behind to talk to Tony.  He said he was trying to put together the facts so he could find out what triggered the drinking, and he said he remembered Carly telling him it was just the two of them.  At this point, Tony cleared that up, saying he was never supposed to go along and that Carly knew he was working every night that week.  Tony wrote off the whole thing as side-effects of the pregnancy, and told AJ that he had found Carly going through his medical bag that night in the process of agreeing that Carly was almost never sick or tired.  I loved the fact that Tony added to momentum of AJ's investigation.  At the same time, I can see why AJ would be worried about Tony in all of this...but I get ahead of myself.

D. Carly and Tony

Tony:  "What's wrong with corny?  I love corny.  I was up for Mr. Corny with...against Neil Diamond in 1977.  Incredible race."

Over at The Outback on Wednesday, Carly and Tony picked out a place for the reception.  He wanted the PC Grill; she wanted something more casual.  He tried to talk her into celebrating their wedding.  More insecurity from her; more reassurances from him.

IV. The Quartermaines

A. AJ and Keesha

Keesha pushed for answers from AJ at the beginning of Monday's episode, and he wasn't giving any.  Mrs. Perez came with a gift for AJ.  He asked her if he could see Jimmy for a minute.  AJ quizzed Jimmy more about that night; Jimmy filled him in on the timeline and on Carly's bribe...and the he mentioned that the laundry cart was really heavy and AJ should help her next time she did his laundry.  AJ left without explaining anything to Keesha.

He went to Neptune's Net and Keesha followed.  She demanded to know what was up, but AJ wouldn't tell her what he suspected because he didn't want to hurt an innocent person (Tony and the baby) with his suspicions if he was wrong.  She wanted to help, but he hid her behind a dumpster and confronted Mick on his own.  Mick didn't tell him anything, but AJ still admitted afterwards that he didn't believe that he had a drink.  He wanted the truth, but said he was going to rehab; Keesha told him to stay until he figured things out.  By this time, it was clear that AJ saw where this was heading and he didn't want to accept his suspicions about Carly.  This was going to be ugly.

AJ went home and found Carly's note and necklace--a gift from her mother--and was outraged that the woman he suspected of setting him up could leave such a note.  He was just as mad that he could suspect...had to suspect...the woman he cared about so much.  He called Keesha and told her he wasn't going, and on Tuesday she showed up to hear the details.  Keesha told him that she wanted to help him and that she felt she could, now that he was standing on his own and not depending on other people.

But AJ didn't want her to help, mostly because he didn't want to admit his suspicions about Carly yet.  He lied to her and told her he was afraid he was in denial and didn't want to disappoint her.  But he agreed with her that something happened, whether he was drinking or not, and said he was going to find out what it was.  She insisted that she wanted to help, and he finally said that he would let her.

AJ retold the story, this time including the detail about the original plan with Tony.  He admitted that he could only remember up to the point that Carly left to run her errand.  Keesha retold the story, emphasizing Carly as the common denominator.  AJ didn't want to hear it; Carly's his best friend.  Keesha insisted, and he denied it, saying Carly was nothing but supportive.  Keesha started pointing out her little lies and said that he had to consider the obvious.  He saw where she was going--that he was in the laundry basket--and he refused to believe it of Carly.  He asked her to leave and called Tony.

AJ:  "And I'm not gonna start throwin' around accusations at someone unless I have all the facts.  Which is exactly what my father just did, by the way.  Ok, so I was lying.  He didn't even consider the possibility that I wasn't.  I won't do that to Carly."

After seeing Carly and Tony at GH, AJ faced Alan.  I lost these scenes because of a weather bulletin, but suffice it to say that Alan was less than happy to find his son not at rehab.  Afterwards, Keesha found him and assumed he was upset because he had spoken to Carly; he filled her in on his confrontation with Alan.  He was still upset about turning on Carly--about having to do so--and about lying to everyone about why he wasn't in rehab.  Keesha told him he should be able to tell his family the truth; he knew they wouldn't believe it, and he wasn't sure he knew the truth.

Keesha said they needed to go to the source and that she had a way.  On Friday, Keesha showed up at Mick's and said Carly had sent her.  She pretended as if she knew everything that had gone on and Mick fell for it.  He even returned Carly's check to her, saying he wanted cash (I told her that check was a bad move).  At the end, when Mick was getting suspicious, AJ came out and confronted him.

AJ:  "I'd pay big money to see a video of her wrestling me into that laundry cart.  You know, tipping it over, rolling me in."

AJ demanded to know what he knew, but Mick wasn't talking.  AJ remembered then that the juice had taken fermented and started putting things together...the juice, the reference book, the timing, everything.  He was devastated, and Keesha reminded him that he was still sober and that was the bright side.  She asked him what he was going to do.  Turn her in?  Tell Tony?  He replied, "How could I do that...to my best friend."  So sad, but it says so much about this new AJ...and I like him.

I'm angry with Keesha for being so pushy, and at the same time I'm glad she's there to push AJ to find out the truth.  She should support him now, not insist on doing things her way, but of course she wont'...but that's for the next review.  All in all, though, this is the best storyline going on the show right now, for my money, and I'm glad it picked up some pace this week.

B. Edward and the Boys

Lila:  "Edward, do you ever listen to yourself?"
Edward:  "I'm the only one who does."

Alan came home to Edward griping about Brenda and about the trouble he was sending Ned to take care of.  Alan was highly agitated and told him about AJ, then told him not to tell anybody else because he didn't want to hear it.  Later, Ned ranted at him about making everything so urgent.

V. The Spencers

A. Lucky and Sarah

When Sarah ran away from the house after hearing the Nikolas rumor from Lizzy, she went to Kelly's, where Lucky found her.  Clearly the whole overreaction was a plot device to get her to seek Lucky's comfort; I was hoping that Lucky would slip up and she'd find out that he was the source of the rumor, but she wouldn't tell him what was wrong.  Lucky threatened Nikolas but she said she didn't even see him.  They just sat down together outside.  We got some mush about her not feeling like she belonged now that her gramps was dead and Lucky consoling and reassuring her.  The nicest moment was their awkward hug, so reminiscent and yet so different from Sarah's awkwardness with Nikolas.

And with Sarah's comment that Nikolas was going to attend PC High with them in the fall, we all saw where this was headed.  And I wasn't looking forward to it.  I thought the teeny-boppers would fade from the front burner with the fall semester.  Put Lucky and Nikolas back with their families rather than leaving them languishing in this teen-polygon from hell.

B. Lucky and Lizzy

At the beginning of Thursday's episode, Lizzy showed up at Kelly's and joined Lucky.  He asked if she was still upset; she passed it off as nothing.  But Lucky was suspicious that Lizzy was the reason Sarah was crying the night before.  When she spoke of Stefan's part in her grandpa's death like it was fact, Lucky asked her where she heard it...then put two and two together.  He was angry, until he realized this would mess up Sarah and Nikolas.  Typical Lucky.

Ruby arrived and fired Lizzy at this point.  When Audrey showed up, Lucky got her job back for her because of her brilliant strategy.  Ruby was gruff but accepted her back; Audrey said she should get her secret to handling Lizzy.  Lizzy thanked Lucky and Lucky told her just to be a good waitress and cut her sister a break over the rough revelation about Nikolas.

VI. Jax and V

On Tuesday, Jax reviewed V's training with her.  She said she was trying to watch his people skills to learn.  After some quizzing, a client arrived.  The client was rude, sexist, demanding, condescending...you name it.  V held her tongue for a while, but finally she couldn't stand it anymore and let loose.  The guy left angrily, and V said she'd quit.  Jax finally let her in on the secret: the guy worked for him and the whole thing had been a test.  V took it fairly well, actually.  She got a little jab back at him and considered the matter closed.

Jax:  "It's all about catching those curve balls."

V started in on bull markets and proved that she could be an asset.  Jax asked for the paper and grew quiet as he saw the headlines about Brenda and Sonny.  Brenda called at that moment and asked if she could come by and see him.

I still like these two together, and their scenes are the light points in some fairly dark storylines.  But I still feel they're isolated and need some integration.  That said, I think V allows Jax to demonstrate his softer side (no singing that Sears commercial), but I want to see Jax the corporate raider that I missed out on when he first came on the show.

VII. Sonny and Brenda

A. Jason and Sonny

Tuesday found Brenda on the phone to Sonny; she was worried about getting everything done and not letting on that they were leaving as she said her good-byes.  She went off to have her dress fitted while Sonny talked with Jason at Luke's.  Jason wasn't happy because the wedding was all over the front page and said that people were waiting to see what Sonny was going to do before they planned any attacks or hits.  Who knew mobsters were so romantic, waiting until after the wedding?  Jason said he'd be ready; Sonny started in with more instructions; "How to become a mob kingpin in 12 easy steps," I'd call it.

Despite the potential cheeziness of this mobster training, I was thankful for any scenes between Sonny and Jason at this point.  They talked about Sonny's not being around and Sonny reassured him that he would be fine, with a little practice.  They joked about Jason's wardrobe and Sonny reminded him that he would have to deal with family and friends (Sonny said he'd handle Luke, and I sure hope that means that Luke will give some mention to Jason about knowing what went down with Sonny once he gets back).

Jason:  "Sonny, you know I'm not...I'm not social."

Sonny:  "Sometimes you just don't look back."

Jason:  "But you care about Mike."
Sonny:  "Who told you that?"
Jason:  "You did."
Sonny:  "I didn't say anything."
Jason:  "You didn't have to say anything about it."

On Wednesday, Sonny told Jason he had to pay his respects to a list of people in the near future.  Jason protested, but Sonny insisted this was necessary because Jason had to earn their respect.  Jason said the whole thing was weird--unnatural--but Sonny told him he would be a natural.  Jason asked him if he had any regrets; Sonny said he didn't.  Jason said it wasn't fair that Sonny couldn't say goodbye to his father.

B. Mike and Sonny

Jason:  "Bad news?"
Sonny:  "No, I'm just realizing that I've got a few good-byes of my own to say."

Mike called and Sonny asked him to drop by the club.  I knew this was going to be the final scene between these two, and I was already stocking up on Kleenex.  In the meantime, Mike was buying a wedding present and was stopped by the Tin Man at the end of Tuesday's episode.  On Wednesday, the Tin Man asked mundane questions about where to eat, etc., and it wasn't clear at all what was going on.  The Tin Man couldn't move slowly, so he wasn't trying to infiltrate by way of Mike.  When Mike left, he pulled out a cassette recorder, and I figured out what was going on.  Future scenes showed the Tin Man putting together a tape of Mike from the conversation he'd recorded.

Mike got to Luke's and greeted Jason, who was befuddled about his wedding present.  Mike was so proud about his kid getting married and talked about how everyone sees that and congratulates you.  He was so happy, and that made me so sad.  Jason teased him for being so giddy, and Mike continued to wax philosophical about fatherhood and Sonny and happiness.

Mike:  "So I thought that maybe if you made the connection, you know, between one turkey and...and another you might, uh...you might be inclined to invite your father over at least maybe once a year."

Sonny teased him about his present; Mike thought they were off to another bad start.  Sonny simply meant that he had already given them the engagement ring and that it meant a lot to him.  Mike said that was an engagement present; this is for the wedding.  Sonny wanted to open it now and not wait for Brenda.  It was a serving platter; Mike said it was to remind him about Thanksgiving.  Sonny was visibly moved by Mike's explanation and he fended off emotion by talking about finances.  Mike took it as a comment on his failings, which isn't what Sonny intended, and I think Sonny saw, finally, that his father *expected* criticism from him.

Sonny:  "Oh, you're not that bad."
Mike:  "D'you say that again?"
Sonny:  "You're a pain.  You're always stickin' your nose where it doesn't belong.  You're always in my face about stuff, questions, and...and all those boring stories about the...the guys you met in Vietnam.  You're always tryin' to tell me that...that I should be learning from your mistakes, as if, you know, I can't figure out...I'm not gonna be able to figure that out on my own, a grown man.  But...you're not the same man who walked outta the door all those years ago.  I know that.  I can see it."
Mike:  "You can?"
Sonny:  "You probably...you don't trust this do you?  You're probably...you're probably standin' there thinkin' that the lights are gonna come on and people are gonna come out that you know and yell, 'You sucker!'"
Mike:  "Can you blame me?"
Sonny:  "No, I can't.  That's why I'm tryin' to tell you what's in my heart."
Mike:  "I'd love to hear it."
Sonny:  "When...when you first came to Port Charles and you conned your way past Luke...I was so angry.  I thought to myself, 'This guy has a lot of nerve to show his face to me after everything that's happened.'  I didn't want to see you; I didn't want anything to do with you, and I made no secret about it."
Mike:  "No.  You certainly didn't."
Sonny:  "But you...you, uh...you hung in there.  You didn't turn tail and run, you...you didn't throw your hands up in the air and say, 'Who needs you.'  You could have.  And I made staying the hardest choice you coulda made.  But you surprised me; you showed me every day by the example...by example of how you lived your life that you really did change.  And I respect that and I respect you."
Mike:  "I don't know what to say."
Sonny:  "You don't have to; it's my dime."
Mike:  "I'd like to try."
Sonny:  "Go ahead."
Mike:  "Only...that I love you.  And I'm proud to be your father.  And I'm proud that you became a man of honor who inspires love and loyalty in others.  Is it permissible to...to take pride in something that you had absolutely nothing to do with?"
Sonny:  "Well, that's not true but....
Mike:  "Ya."
Sonny:  "And, you know, you shouldn't let this go to your big, fat head, but, uh....  I love you too."

A transcription can't capture these scenes, but I had to put them down, because any description I gave would be inadequate as well.  These are two of my favorite actors on GH, and two of my favorite characters.  More than his interactions with anybody (except, when they're really good, Luke), I will miss Sonny and Mike.  I'm sad that we've waited so long for this reunion and that now they're going to be separated just when they're getting back together and finding peace with each other.

Bravo to two fine actors and two wonderful performances.  I emptied a box of Kleenex on this one...but maybe that's because I watched it five times before I turned it off.

C. Brenda and Jax

Jax:  "I'm losing you.  You're about to marry someone else.  About to commit your life to someone else.  I have to accept that, but I don't have to watch you."

Brenda:  "Thank you for coming into my life Jax...and for making my life better...for making me better."
Jax:  "Hey, you were always the best.  You just didn't know it."

Brenda showed up on Wednesday and discovered V at her new post.  They chatted for a minute, and then Brenda was left to look around the apartment before Jax arrived a moment or two later.  They talked about old times for a bit, and then she told him she had something to ask him.  She asked him to come to her wedding; he told her he couldn't.  Now, I faulted Brenda for this at the time, for not realizing how painful that would be for him.  But I think, on reflection while writing this, that she genuinely wanted him around because she knew it was the last time she would see him.  At the same time, I'm glad he said no.

On her way out, she asked V to keep an eye on him.  She easily agreed.

D. Jason and Sonny

Sonny:  "You've gotta learn to lie, Jason, or at least find a better word for stuff that you don't care about than 'nice.'"

Sonny:  "Mike never said goodbye because he couldn't.  There are just some things that are too hard to say...and you just don't."

Jason came with the car on Thursday after Mike had left.  Sonny told him about Mike's gift and how his family didn't like Mike.  Sonny saw the irony in the fact that Mike just disappeared without saying goodbye and it hurt him...and now he was doing the same thing.

Sonny:  "Luke, he knows a lot, but you've gotta understand that he's a cowboy.  Nine times outta ten he's gonna push you to do things when you're not ready and he's gonna want you to act alone, which you cannot do."

Sonny:  "Violence is stupid and it's sloppy."

Sonny told Jason to reassure Mike that he trusted him once he was gone.  He told him to help Mike in business or whatever (he even told him to take care of the competition if need be...crack me up), and to listen to his advice because sometimes he says things that are worth listening too.  So cute.  And Sonny told him not to let Luke help either, because of the family.  Jason will take over the club shares as well--I hadn't thought about that, and I can't wait for scenes of Luke and Jason at the club!!  More mobster instruction about delegation.  Sonny sent the waiter out of the room and emphasized to Jason that he can't kill people himself.

Jason:  "You used the Quartermaines the same way they use everyone else.  I'd say I got my money's worth."
Sonny:  "Damn.  You're cold."
Jason:  "I can be."
Sonny:  "Well, that's good.  It'll keep you alive."

Jason said the finances would be ready by tomorrow.  Sonny told him to take the ELQ stock back, but Jason said he didn't want it.  It would go to Robin if Sonny didn't come back.  They laughed over the fact that Robin will give it all to charity.

Joseph came in and Sonny told him to protect Jason just as he had protected Sonny.  Joseph seemed to hesitate, and I was hoping for some future trouble between Joseph and Jason after Sonny was gone (later we had some hesitance from another guy on the phone).  I wasn't gonna get it....

E. Sonny v. the Tin Man

Sonny went for a walk on the docks, remembering his past with Jason and Robin.  Nice clips.  He then remembered his goodbye with Luke (yay!).  Again, the promise that Luke would know where he was; I hope we get to see that promise kept.  And I hope if Sonny comes back, we get an adventure with the two of them to bring him back.  Finally, he remembered Brenda.

At the end of Thursday, Jason got the message from Mike (created by the Tin Man) asking him to meet him at The Outback.  He headed off immediately.  He left his cell phone number for Mike (555-0127)...maybe I'll have to keep that number as well (FGC Sonny, Keeper of The Offer to Take Care of Somebody and his Cell Phone Number).  Ha!  At the same time, the Tin Man showed up at the docks, took care of Joseph, and announced that Sonny was going to die.

On Friday, Jason showed up at The Outback asking for Mike.  In the meantime, Sonny was facing down the Tin Man over Joseph's dead body, so to speak.  I loved Joseph, and was pissed off at the Tin Man at this point.  Sonny demanded to know why he was doing this for a simple contract now that Rivera was dead; the Tin Man hinted that it could have been something more, but nothing more came of that.

Sonny:  "What am I, God, that you have to give up everything for me?"

As usual, the Tin Man didn't shoot first and talk later.  Sonny mocked; the Tin Man grew more agitated and threatened.  When he mentioned Mike, Sonny struck out and they wrestled.  The Tin Man won out this time.  Sonny's cell phone rang and the Tin Man told him to answer it and tell Jason where they were so he could kill him next.  Sonny connected, didn't say anything, waited a minute, and thew the phone into the water.  On the other end, Jason figured out that he was near the water.  Then Mike came in and Jason realized he hadn't called.  He immediately went after Sonny, leaving Mike to worry.

At the end of Friday, the Tin Man held Sonny at gunpoint. They struggled, and a gun went off.  Funny, didn't the same thing happen when Harry died?  I wonder who got shot this time....  But all in all, I like the Rivera returns storyline, even if there are some holes.  The idea works for me, makes it personal.

F. Brenda at the Qs

Reginald:  "Well, if I'd have known I would have saved the stuff from the last one and just frozen it."

Lila:  "All the world's a stage, you know...at this address!"

Brenda reassured Reginald that she wasn't getting married at the Q mansion (his reply was too funny) and then went in to see Lila.  Lila was all grace, and Brenda asked her to do a reading at the wedding.  She assumed that Lila hesitated because of Edward and informed her that Edward was giving her away; Lila said she was just anxious about appearing in public in her trifocals.  So cute!  A nice couple of scenes with these two.

Brenda:  "Just...be careful.  No, forget that.  Just be happy."
Ned:  "Can anyone ever be both?"
Brenda:  "Ned, I love you."

Ned arrived and told Brenda he wouldn't be able to stand up with her at the wedding because of business.  He knew Lois couldn't come because of a new band she was working on, but he said he would throw them a party when they got back.  He saw she was upset; she said she was just disappointed because neither he nor Lois would be there...she was really upset because she wasn't going to see him again.

VIII. Felicia and Mac

A. Home Sweet Home

Mac, Felicia, and the girls got back to her apartment on Tuesday's show.  She started in cleaning while Mac fixed the sink.  When Mac asked for rags, she found Tom's favorite shirt and ripped it up.  She was still protesting that she was fine about things, but Mac knew better.  This turned out to be a fun sequence, with an impromptu water fight over the spray nozzle.  I like these two, and I was glad to see some fun (with this and Jax and V) for a change.

While they were out of the room, Maxie tried to hide the statue behind the videos and her mother caught her.  On Wednesday, Felicia asked her if there was something in that cabinet, but the doorbell rang and Felicia went off to meet Bobbie, giving Maxie a chance to move the statue.  Bobbie waited while Felicia quizzed her again about the cabinet.

B. We chicks gotta stick together

Bobbie:  "Well, there is a bright side to all of this.  I'm not married to Stefan anymore."

Felicia:  "Well, there's one good way of looking at it.  We're young..."
Bobbie:  "Relatively."
Felicia:  "...happening..."
Bobbie:  "Ya, when we're not busy being moms."
Felicia:  "...and all ready to unleash ourselves on the unsuspecting male population."
Bobbie:  "Ya, except we're both too darn sensible to get all dolled up and go down the nearest bar and meet some guys."
Felicia:  "Thank God.  We're so boring."
Bobbie:  "Nah, we're fabulous."

It was good to see Felicia and Bobbie together--two girlfriends--even if they were mostly whining about their troubles.  But hey, that's what girlfriends do when they get together.  Felicia commiserated with her as she heard the update on the Carly saga.  Bobbie said she was going to move back to the Brownstone after L&L got back, but she wasn't sure it would feel like home.  Felicia then told her about Tom.  They decided to give up men...not!  Crack me up.

C. Mac and Felicia...and Dara

On Thursday, Dara asked to rehearse and Felicia showed up to throw in her two cents.  Mostly she was trying to interrupt Mac and Dara's flirting...though she wasn't going to admit it was flirting.

Felicia:  "It's just that you always complained when you had to introduce Miguell Morez."
Mac:  "Dara's prettier."

On Friday, Felicia criticized Mac's choice in wineglasses.  His choice made complete sense to me, but they looked cheap to her.  He knew that she just wanted to find things that he had done wrong.  Too funny.  Dara showed up again dressed to the nines and Felicia told Mac not to stare.  Cheezy joke from Mac and Felicia just rolled her eyes at the two of them.  She wasn't very happy when he introduced Dara or told her that she was going to sing his request, either.  She kept trying to interrupt him, but he wasn't to be interrupted.  More chit chat afterwards.