**The Week in Review: September 29 - October 3**

I. AJ and Carly

A. Monica and Keesha

Monica:  "This is diabolical!"

Monica:  "I'm gonna confront her, that's what I'm gonna do."
Keesha:  "Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Monica:  "Keesha, I don't think you know me very well.  She may be able to cute her way past a lot of people, but I guarantee you I am going to get straight answers out of Miss Carly Roberts."

On Monday, Monica insisted that she had seen AJ drunk that night.  Keesha was all too willing at this point to give her the information she had, despite her protestations.  I believe she wanted Monica to get it out of her.  She told Monica that Carly had set up AJ.  Monica was incredulous and wanted details, but Keesha said AJ wouldn't want her to...and then admitted that Carly drugged him.  She proceeded to fill in every detail.  By the end she was sarcastic and confidently gossiping about Carly to Monica.  Monica was fit to be tied and set off to find Carly.  She was not only upset with Carly, but with AJ for not telling her.  She was determined to bring Carly to justice and tell Tony...and everybody.

Monica:  "That deceiving little hypocrite tried to mess with my son's future.  She's gonna have to answer to me."

Before Monica could leave, Tony stepped in and asked them why they were talking about Carly.  After some niceties, he repeated the question to Monica.  Monica tried to dodge by playing dumb, but didn't say anything.  She just said she'd like to congratulate Carly herself and asked where she was.  Tony said she wasn't in that day and took off, not suspicious.  Afterwards, Monica told Keesha that she wouldn't tell Tony immediately...not before she spoke with Carly.

B. Carly and AJ

Carly promised Lorraine both details and money (the price went up when she found out about the Quartermaine connection, natch) after the thing was done.  They went into the examination room--she tried to get him to wait for her, but he insisted.  This was a scream, because they kept piling on those outdated endearments that Luke's so fond of.  Too funny.  AJ's "honeybun" was my personal favorite.  There was a false alarm when the doctor couldn't get a picture, but finally they saw the baby.

AJ:  "You do good work."

This was a beautiful moment.  In the middle of everything, when they saw the picture come up on the monitor they forgot that they were angry with each other and had a really nice moment of togetherness which showed me all over again what they could be like as a couple.  Oh, and btw?  The doc said something that made me assume it's a boy.  But AJ was back on track after that moment and asked for the exact date of birth.  Lorraine interrupted, and afterwards brought the fake sonogram report showing the due date in December.  AJ bought it and said he wouldn't tell Tony.  After he left, she thanked Lorraine, who demanded another check, and then she actually thanked God that her nightmare was over.  Silly girl.  Her Uncle Luke's coming home on Friday's episode and there are so many loose ends with this Lorraine chick Carly could have trouble well into the new year.

C. AJ and Keesha

AJ:  "I'm saying I've...I've about...about all I can take of people I can't trust."

Keesha admitted that she had told Monica about Carly on Tuesday's episode.  AJ was enraged, and only grew angrier when Keesha started telling him why Monica deserved a break.  But he finally backed off and told her to let him handle things next time.  Gee, I bet she learned that lesson.

D. Carly and Monica

Monica:  "And please, spare me the wide-eyed innocence.  I am monumentally unimpressed.  Just let me tell you one thing.  You come near AJ one more time and I will kill you."

Monica:  "I will tell whomever I want, whenever I want.  And anyway, Carly, you say you're innocent.  What do you care?"

When Monica showed up at her door on Tuesday, Carly seemed surprised but managed to appear cheerful.  She thought Monica was there for Tony, but Monica set her straight immediately.  I knew this was going to be such fun.  :)  The look on Carly's face told me she feared why Monica was there before Monica said it, but Carly immediately fell in to the playing dumb routine.  Monica didn't buy it for a minute.  Carly denied it and demanded to know who told her, starting in on how much Keesha hated her.  Monica put a stop to that and Carly moved to condescension.  In response, Monica responded with the top line above.  Such fun!  She slammed the idea of Carly as a mother and told her that Tony would indeed find out and would leave her.  Carly actually "warned" Monica not to tell Tony.  Monica was, again, unimpressed, and left.

Now, I have to admit that as much as Keesha's meddling has bothered me, I loved the fact that Monica struck out after Carly and threatened her like this.  I love that she's defending her son and believing in him where Alan won't, even if, to be fair, Alan hasn't heard all the facts.  But Alan might not believe the facts at this point, either, and Monica's quite willing to believe AJ has succeeded in staying sober.

After her confrontation with Carly, Monica ran into Bobbie.  She didn't tell her anything, but it was clear she was upset.  She headed off to find AJ.  Bobbie and Amy wondered about her and mentioned it to Alan, who knew nothing.

E. Carly and AJ

Carly:  "She threatened my life!"
AJ:  "Mom can be pretty tough."

Carly:  "It's Keesha who's to blame here."
AJ:  "No, you are.  And you always will be, Carly."

Carly interrupted AJ and Keesha's reconciliation and demanded to talk to AJ.  She wasn't happy.  Keesha left them, and Carly launched into AJ for telling his mother and for Monica's visit.  She pleaded with AJ to keep Monica from telling Tony and other people; AJ said he didn't control his mother but said he'd talk to her.  But AJ knew that Monica would be hacked at him for not telling her himself.  He was right.

F. Carly and Keesha

Keesha:  "I see, somehow you've managed to make this my fault."

Keesha:  "Your pretty little dream world?  It's about to get really ugly.  And you wanna know the truth?  I am gonna sleep so good tonight knowing that I'm the one who caused it."

AJ left and Keesha returned.  Carly lit into her like it was all her fault.  She was completely convinced at the hospital that all her worries were over (poor deluded little mama) and now blamed Keesha for setting things in motion again.  Sigh. When are you gonna learn, Caroline?  What goes around...comes around.  But Carly made this all about Keesha's lingering affection for AJ and his money.  In response, Keesha told Carly that she couldn't wait for this to come out and was glad that she was the reason.  She left and Carly threw something.

G. Monica and AJ

Monica:  "Now, I know we haven't been ideal parents, AJ, and we've made some lousy mistakes.  But nothing so bad as to deserve this."

AJ:  "No matter how much you believe Carly deserves to be punished, what she did she did to me."

Monica found AJ back in the gym.  She told him the story of her hope in him and her disappointment at his slip and his not going to rehab.  AJ said there was a good reason.  And outside, Bobbie caught Carly listening in--or looking, at least--on their conversation.  Bobbie went in to check on Monica and let her know that Carly was outside, to which Monica replied that perhaps they should get Tony for the update on his fiancee.  Carly pretended to be helping a patient.  AJ intervened, saying he was an adult and could pass along information about his own relationship with Carly.  Bobbie left them, and AJ asked Monica not to tell anybody and she protested.

On Wednesday, AJ continued to push for Monica's silence, saying that the child needed a father like Tony.  He still couldn't give her all the details, but it was clear he was thinking about Alan.  With this argument, Monica agreed to stay silent...for now.

Monica:  "You disgust me."
Carly:  "That's a terrible thing to say, Monica."
Monica:  "It's worse to feel.  I'm going to find out why you undermined my son's sobriety.  It might take years.  But the Quartermaines have money and power and very long memories.  You picked the wrong family to anger."

AJ:  "Listen to me.  We are not friends.  So unless Tony's around, don't even bother to say hello.  I won't answer."

Monica got in the last word with Carly.  Then Alan came in and filled Monica in on Katherine's termination.  He was looking for Stefan.  They left and Carly asked what Monica knew.  AJ told her Monica didn't know about their night together and that she wouldn't say anything.  Carly launched into her gratitude; AJ didn't buy it.  And again I was reminded of how much Carly did/does care for AJ.  She was so hurt when he told her they weren't friends.  I think that part of the reason she gets so violently angry with Keesha is because she feels guilty about feeling angry with AJ, since she knows she hurt him.

H. AJ and Carly

Carly:  "I gotta stop worrying about whether or not I'll be his wife and start acting like somebody he might actually wanna marry."
AJ:  "Yes you should."

On Friday, Carly's doorbell rang.  Now, I knew this was the day Luke would be back, so I was on edge anytime there was an entrance, even though I knew in my head that he wouldn't show up until the end of the show in one of those last-second, cliff-hanger appearances.  But chalk this up as false alarm #1.  Carly played nice; she was setting up a nice dinner for Tony.  She tried again to explain her actions by saying that she had wanted to be happy and was trying to convince Tony that nothing was wrong.  AJ's last request was that she not let all of this to be for nothing.  He gave her the sonogram.  She was happy, and then Tony came home with an "Oh, no."  He had eaten at the hospital.  She said they could have desert and sent him off to take a shower.  Before he could go, AJ found the chance to ask him how many days before the baby was due; Carly dodged it by saying it made her tired to think about it.

Carly:  "I wish I could take back what I did to you.  But at least no you understand why I did it."
AJ:  "Says who.  That day will never come."

AJ chided her for being so scared about the sonogram lying out in the open (he had hidden it) and moved to leave, but Tony stuck his head out and told her about time off in December for a honeymoon.  AJ was interested to hear that, but she told him that it was just as well for her to have the baby out of town where people couldn't watch and gossip.  She assumed that sonogram picture meant that AJ was less angry; he set her straight on that subject.  Tony went down to let the florist in; AJ left as well.

Carly was trying to comfort herself about AJ when the doorbell rang.  False alarm #3.  It was Lorraine, wanting her money.  Tony came back to find Lorraine there; he recognized her at the end of Friday.

II. The Cassadines

A. Nik and Sarah

Nik and Sarah came along in their romantic haze, but their riding date was to be put off again.  In the meantime, they settled in for a kiss off on a bench somewhere...but Archer (a new Wyndemere servant for the Halloween party!) interrupted them, looking for Katherine.  I loved Archer.

B. Stefan and Katherine

Stefan:  "Our relationship was disposable.  And today, the refuse was collected."

In the meantime, Stefan told Katherine that he had told her everything he was going to tell her.  She insisted that she wouldn't let go this easily; he broke into a rage and repeated his story detail after offensive detail.  He said he had destroyed all of the evidence and so he didn't need to keep her around anymore; his safety was secured.  At this point she said she had proof that he was lying.

Katherine:  "You are doing this for effect and I wanna know what it is."
Stefan:  "The only thing you have proven here, Katherine, is how little you truly know me."

Stefan:  "I know how difficult it is admitting when one has been played like a fool.  But it happens to the best of us.  Of that I'm certain."

He didn't want to hear it.  But she told him that this wasn't how he operated, all this ranting and raving.  If he were telling the truth he would have simply left her alone without her knowing anything had happened, and probably would have made it look like it was her idea.  Stefan protested; she recited the litany of their time together yet again.  They repeated themselves for a while, with him sticking to his story and her insisting that he would at least be a gentleman (she should have listened to Bobbie's tale...).  And ooooooooooo, the dramatic irony in that last line above.

Stefan:  "Be sure to take her to the upstairs library and show her the new Picasso.  Sarah strikes me as a person who could appreciate the subtleties of cubism."

Stefan told her to leave or she'd be escorted off the island; at this point Nikolas and Sarah showed up.  After the salutations, Katherine told Stefan to tell Nikolas exactly what they'd been talking about.  Stefan launched into a description of a PR problem and Nikolas passed.  Nikolas set up lunch with Katherine, and they left.  Stefan told Katherine that there was no reason to discuss this with Nikolas.  She said he'd wonder; Stefan asked why she didn't tell him.  Katherine said she didn't want to hurt his relationship with his nephew and stormed off.

C. The Family

Alexis came in at that point and Stefan said that they were going to have a problem getting rid of Katherine.  Alexis told him to hold firm; he sent her away.  Sarah and Nik came back from their home tour and Alexis asked Nik to stay home that evening because Stefan might need him.  Nik said no, but Sarah said they could postpone.  Nik reluctantly agreed to stay, with Sarah's encouragement (she said Stefan had gone out of his way to tell Lizzy that his family had nothing to do with Steve Hardy's death--this is the scene that was in the trailers but we never saw).  Nik set her straight on Katherine--just friends.  Mush ensued.

When Stefan came back to the conservatory, Nikolas asked him what was wrong and he gave no answer, denying it was Katherine.  Nikolas chose this moment to reprimand him for speaking to Lizzy and getting involved.  Stefan agreed.  Some kind of comfort; I expect the conversation at dinner was a bit chilly.  Before he left the room, though, Stefan told her that she was the only constant aside from Nikolas in his life.

D. Stefan and Alexis

Alexis:  "You're saving her life, Stefan.  It's too bad that she will never know that."

On Tuesday, Stefan showed up with termination papers for Katherine for Alexis to look over.  She said the terms looked fine and that it should convince Katherine that Stefan was serious.  She reassured him as best she could, but he wasn't consolable.

E. Katherine

Katherine:  "Oh.  Sorry, Felicia, I thought you were Mac."
Felicia:  "Oh, that's ok, lots of people can hardly tell us apart."

In the meantime, Katherine was at The Outback.  She had Mac call the police department and verify the status of the gun Stefan said he had gotten rid of.  Mac wanted details, encouraging her to report what she had remembered if she had remembered, but Katherine wasn't talking.  The gun was missing.

F. Stefan and Katherine

When Katherine arrived at the hospital, Stefan stopped her.  In front of everybody at the nurses' station, he announced she was being terminated.  She was quietly flabbergasted; he told her the budget couldn't handle full time PR anymore.  She told him, quietly again, that he was lying and that he didn't want her around.  He turned to leave and she stopped him, asking why Bobbie could work at the hospital and she couldn't.  It proved to her that he couldn't stand to have her around because he loved her.  She pleaded, I grew bored, and Alexis stepped in as Stefan's lawyer.  Katherine told her to stay out of it and didn't accept the termination.

Stefan remembered Katherine's words about his way of doing battle (for who knows what reason; I decided that he knew if he publicly confronted her she'd know he didn't mean it) and stopped her before she could leave the room by calling after her.  By this time, they had everybody's attention.  He said he had other reasons for dismissing her and would bring them out if she fought his decision.  He told her they had no personal relationship and that there would be no further contact between them.

Alan:  "This is embarrassing."

We heard the gossip actually starting on Wednesday's episode, with Amy, Bobbie, Audrey, and Alan, who was headed off to find out what was going on.  In the meantime, Katherine started ranting about everything she had done for the hospital.  Alan stepped in despite Alexis' intervention, but Stefan cut Katherine off and told her to leave.

Katherine:  "This is an ugly way to prove that you don't love me.  But you know what, it's working."

They continued to repeat themselves over and over until Stefan walked off.  Bobbie kindly offered to sit with Katherine over some coffee, since she knew how Katherine felt, but Katherine turned her down and went to her office.

Bobbie:  "Well trust me, business is not and never has been what Katherine and Stefan are all about."

Bobbie and Audrey compared notes over the scene they'd just witnessed.  Audrey was upset, but still worried about Sarah seeing Nikolas.

In the meantime, Alexis had Stefan sign the termination papers and apologized.  Stefan was going to Rochester for a meeting with the people working in Jakarta.  Katherine returned with some boxes.  Stefan finally let Alexis comfort him with the knowledge that Katherine was safe.  But as Katherine looked on, she decided she saw something she suspected.  And she took her things back to her office.  Later, she was headed off in search of Alexis, and it didn't look good.

G. Alexis and Lois

Lois:  "It's nothing personal I'm sure.  You know, she probably just was wonderin', you know, 'My God, is my mom gonna leave me here in this house.'  No offense, Mrs. Q."

Emily and Lila sat with Brooke Lynn in the living room as Alexis arrived with some files for Alan.  She greeted Emily and Emily introduced Brooke...Ned's baby.  Emily left Brooke in Alexis' lap while she fetched her hat.  As Alexis talked to the baby, Lois arrived, overhearing her say she knew Ned.  On Thursday, the baby started fussing and Lois swooped in with an overly-jovial manner.  It sunk in that this was Ned's ex-wife and she introduced herself; Lois assumed she met Ned in the courtroom at Monica's trial.  Alexis dodged the question (loved seeing Lila claim Alexis as a friend) and they talked about Ned and Alexis' family roles ("Keeper of the skeletons in the closet, Polisher of the family name"--one of those things that lets us fantasize that they know we're out there), but Lois just came out and asked her if she was seeing Ned.  Alexis didn't really answer, and then Lois and Emily took the baby out for a walk and Alexis left.

H. Alexis and Katherine

Nikolas came home looking to tell Stefan about what happened at school.  Stefan wasn't there and he didn't fill in Alexis.  He called Sarah and left a message.

Alexis:  "Hey, you never said.  How was school?"
Katherine:  "Full of mean girls who stuck gum in my hair and made fun of my clothes.  But thanks to them, I know a malicious witch when I see one."
Alexis:  "And me without a stick of chewing gum to my name.  Have any?  Or do you find that it interferes with walking?"

Alexis:  "Is there anything else that you would like to claim an attachment to?  The wallpaper?"

Later, on Friday, Alexis thought that Nikolas had come back into the room.  It was Katherine.  Catfight City.  Alexis pulled the gloves out just as fast as Katherine, and her line above was the best variation on the chew-gum-and-walk cliché I've ever heard.  Crack me up.  Katherine demanded to see Stefan; she said the guards were sympathetic to her and had let her in.  Alexis said that would change and said she wasn't welcome.  Katherine repeated her request and wouldn't believe Alexis when she said that she had an emergency about Nikolas to speak with Stefan about.  Alexis thought it was a ruse; Katherine shoved in her face that hers was the number Nik had put on his school forms in the "In case of emergency" box.  She announced that Nik had been suspended, and Alexis didn't buy this as an emergency and sent her home.

Alexis:  "Because I will not have my cousin end up like Damien Smith."
Katherine:  "Excuse me?  Like Damien how?"
Alexis:  "Dead.  With his money in your bank account."

Alexis:  "Frogs may make decent princes in fairy tales, but murderous adulteresses tend not to make good wives."

Katherine wouldn't go.  She insisted on looking for herself, and Alexis grabbed her.  Katherine warned her away and shoved her into the piano.  Crack me up.  The fight went on with Katherine, who had obviously taken this opportunity to find Alexis, ranting about Alexis defending the family and Alexis ranting about Katherine's non-existent claims on said family.  Alexis set in on Stefan's dismissal of her and Katherine insisted on going upstairs to look for Stefan; Alexis called it the line in the sand and said she wouldn't allow Kat to go upstairs.  Then Alexis launched into a rave about Damien Smith and Kat's other indiscretions.  Yahoo!

Alexis:  "If sheer volume and repetition were enough to change his mind, you two would be together right now."

Katherine:  "You know what finally tipped me off?"
Alexis:  "The uncontrollable sneer that comes over me in your presence?"

Katherine:  "You are in love with Stefan and you always have been."

Alexis:  "You're accusing me of some incestuous passion for my cousin."
Katherine:  "Go ahead and deny it.  I'd love to hear it."
Alexis:  "It's poetic justice.  You may have your accusation, Katherine, if that makes you feel better.  It's instructive in a way."

Now, Katherine's mistake was in the way she read Alexis' intentions.  She was right to conclude from this ranting that Alexis was behind Stefan's new attitude, but she decided that Alexis was in love with Stefan and that she couldn't stand seeing him in love with someone else (Bobbie didn't count).  If she had listened to what Alexis was saying, she might have been able to go to Stefan, tell him that she suspected Alexis was behind this because of Katherine's past--that she was playing family watchdog--and Stefan might have started to think about things.

Katherine headed upstairs and Alexis proclaimed that this had to stop.  She reached for Katherine, Katherine lost her balance, and Katherine fall down and go boom.  I just hoped we weren't going to be subjected to another Katherine-in-the-hospital sequence.  Alexis just sunk to the stairs in horror of what had happened.  I found her reaction very telling; she doesn't like Katherine, but she doesn't wish her ill...she just wishes her away from Stefan.

The Cassadine stuff in general this week left a bad taste in my mouth.  It all seems ill conceived and contrived, and leaves Stefan and Katherine in their star-struck orbit around each other, rather than giving them a real falling out that has nothing to do with the surrounding players.  And it continues to paint Alexis as petty and illogical.

III. Jax and Brenda

How quickly the heading changes....

A. Jax and Brenda

Brenda:  "I guess I always did wanna run away with Sonny...."

Brenda:  "See, it was supposed to be our plan and he made it his plan."

Jax, having broken down Brenda's door at the end of Friday, held her close--she looked at him and then went into his arms (which don't look like a bad place to be)--on Monday.  He told her he had been away; she calmly talked about what had happened with Sonny.  She told him that the plan had been to disappear, and I thought what Jax must have felt at that moment to hear what Brenda was willing to give up and realize that she wasn't going to tell him.  But he didn't chide or respond in any selfish way.  He just listened to her story.

Brenda:  "Thank you for not letting me throw you out."

Afterwards, when he moved in to hold her again, she told him she didn't want him to comfort her and that she needed him to leave.  I thought I was going to be surprised.  She said she didn't want him to rescue her anymore.  She lauded their relationship, at least his part in it.  She had hurt him, and she said she knew how much and that she never wanted to do that again.  She didn't want to make him listen to her whine about Sonny.  Jax said that he would have come no matter what or who had hurt her.  Brenda launched into some despairing talk and Jax told her that if she had gone off with Sonny she might have been dead within the month.  That's the one thing that made her feel better.  Ha!

I want Brenda to have friends to console her.  And I wouldn't believe it if Jax didn't try to help her out.  But what I don't like is the fact that every time she tries to assert herself--tries to find her independence and internal strength--he chides her and tells her that friendship is dependence.  Friendship is dependence, but it's also the support you need to stand on your own two feet.  I don't believe Brenda finds that with Jax at this point.  She needs to figure out how to take care of herself (pun intended) even as she accepts support from others, and Jax needs to learn to let her stumble and pick herself up, rather than rescuing her every time she falls.  I've found a new appreciation for Jax through this whole V thing, but he's right up there with Mac for playing knight in shining armor with women.

Edward:  "You know that Lila nearly wheeled herself into a rosebush this morning?  Reginald won't even answer the door.  It's all your fault."

At this point, Edward showed up.  He was pretending to be angry at something she had done to his family...she hadn't come to stay with them.  So cute.  So she agreed to back in with the Qs after Jax supported the idea as well.  Jax said they could go for dinner...and order extra grease if they wanted to.  Too cute.  She took one last sad look at the room that was to have been her honeymoon suite and followed him.

B. Jax and V

Jax:  "In order to truly distract Brenda, I need something simple."

On Tuesday, V asked about the deal on some movie theatre equipment; Jax apologized for disappearing.  V was understanding and asked about Brenda.  V talked about getting her mind off of it and Jax came up with an idea.  He wouldn't tell V, but he headed off with that twinkle in his eye.

On Thursday, V was setting up a lunch meeting just so, trusting that Jax would be there in time.  She thought back over their children's book as Mac stopped in to make arrangements.  She ordered the very champagne that the client liked and sat back to wait.  Actually, she started asking Mac questions about Jax under the guise of being better at her job.  Mac didn't really buy it.

Jax arrived and V caught him up to speed and asked after Brenda.  Their appointment called to cancel, but Jax had reason to celebrate anyway.  The publisher was calling to say that "Dog and Bird" were going to be published.  Yay!  They toasted their partnership and Brenda's feeling better (that was V's suggestion, actually) 

C. Brenda and Lois

Lois:  "Ha-ha!  Hey, gorgeous."

At the end of Tuesday, Brenda was safely away from Edward and settled in at the gatehouse.  Lila and Emily showed up with a surprise...Lois and Brooke Lynn!  Lila and Emily came in with Lois on Wednesday's episode.  Lois caught Brenda up on the new band and L&B business, gushing over the tour and the hotel and telling her that her father had some chest pains (what show did I see that actor on this week--3rd Rock?) but was alright--her mother had him on a strict diet (too funny, the description and the vision of that!).  That was the reason she was in the area, though, and she had wanted to see Brenda while she was there, so when Lila had called, she was more than willing to come.

Lois:  "One of my favorite things about Lila is that she always knows when to make a very discreet exit."

Brenda wanted to take the baby to the park, but Emily said there were reporters.  Lila suggested that the baby should have a nap, and Lois agreed, saying she wanted to talk with Brenda.  Lila and Emily took the baby to the big house, and Lois sat down to talk with her best friend (funny, I thought Jax was Brenda's best friend), who seemed to be dodging the topic at hand.

Brenda:  "She's like my fairy godmother, you know.  It's just that I always seem to wish for the wrong things."

Brenda:  "Just one time I wanted to have my happy ending.  Serves me right.  I chose my prince and he's a liar and a user and he never loved me."
Lois:  "Oh.  No, he did, Brenda.  I know he did."

After Lois' comment above, Brenda said Lila had helped her at her wedding, and Lois said she didn't have to talk about it.  But Brenda went on about Lila and then turned to Sonny and told the story about the wedding.  She said that everyone had known something was wrong...even her.  She just didn't want to believe it.  I was glad to hear that she hadn't been completely delusional, deep down, about the prospect of running off with Sonny.

Lois:  "You walked up that aisle on nothin' but faith.  And you should have been rewarded.  You didn't fail, Brenda.  Sonny did."
Brenda:  "I just wish that I knew why.  I keep on trying to remember when his eyes changed.  Cause that's what he used to do when he'd lie.  His eyes would change.  But then he'd...he'd take my face...in his hands and he'd kiss me...so long and hard that I'd just forget about everything and I still knew that he was lying but I just didn't care.  See, it wasn't like that this time.  He...he was...he was different.  I...I believed him when he told me that he loved me.  And he said he was gonna be there."

Lois told her that Sonny loved her but was so broken that he couldn't change.  She told Brenda that it wasn't wrong to love Sonny or to be willing to live with him, but that she shouldn't have to live like that.  I loved Brenda's response, above, about Sonny's eyes changing.  And at the end, I so much wanted her to say, "This time his eyes never changed."  I want her to believe that this is not about her, since she can't know that it had everything to do with her.

Lois:  "If you hate Sonny, you're gonna carry him with you for the rest of your life.  But if you let him go..."
Brenda:  "I'm not sure I can."
Lois:  "I am.  You know what, it always amazes me how strong you are but you're like the last person to know it."

Brenda:  "You are so wise."
Lois:  "I'm pushy.  Just ask anyone."

Lois talked about hating Sonny.  She said that all the good things that had happened were as real as these feelings.  They happened, and they would always be a part of her.  The bad feelings are newer and closer right now, but all of the feelings and memories would always be there.  She spoke of marrying Ned and of losing him.  But everything they had together was still inside of her (nice series of memories about their past storylines).  Trying to forget meant you just lost part of yourself.  She told Brenda to let the memories come as they would and she would hurt less.  She told Brenda she was strong and that she could do it.  She went up to the big house to look in on Brooke; Brenda stayed behind.

D. Jax and Brenda

Jax:  "There is a superb documentary on the demise of the rain forest, the uncut version of 'Alexander Nevsky,' uh, and the entire BBC adaptation of 'Bleak House.'"

[Ed. Note: I don't know for certain how to spell the middle one, but if there's really a BBC version of BH available, I want to find it...]

Jax showed up at the end of Wednesday's show, and on Thursday he came in the door (love how that works).  Brenda was doing because of Lois' visit.  She said they all meant well, but told him how irritating they all were and about the move down to the gatehouse.  He invited her to a movie; she said she didn't want to go out.  So he announced that he had brought the movies to her.  She thought he meant videos, but he meant a ton of movie equipment, all the way down to popcorn and candy machines and wall decorations.  Too cool.  I want one!

Brenda:  "Edward's lucky you didn't decide to construct a drive-in movie theatre out on his lawn."

Jax:  "You said you needed your space."
Brenda:  "Right.  You know, there is a lot of popcorn, though."

Lois:  "You can't be her savior.  It wouldn't be good for either one of you."

Jax set her up and then turned to go.  Brenda asked him to stay; he said he had business but then changed his mind and sat down for a while.  V called at one point and he said he'd put off the meeting, but Brenda told him not to and sent him along.  He left her by herself and met Lois coming in as he was going out.  Lois thanked him for getting her out of that hotel room and he said he was going to stand back.

E. More Brenda and Lois

Lois:  "Who woulda known that all you needed was a woman in a dime store sarong and a pet elephant."
Brenda:  "Jax."

Lois:  "I mean, what I'm trying to say is, I'm here even when I'm not here."

Lois:  "But you and me, we're never over.  We're friends forever.  Thimba!"

Later, Lois joined Brenda for the jungle move...and cried about Jungle Woman leaving Thimba.  Crack me up.  Lois reassured her that she was going to get through this and they said their good-byes.  Lois asked her to let her know when Ned was back so she wouldn't call and get him by accident; Brenda suggested...and Lois said they were over for good.  When she left, Brenda had this painful look of loneliness on her face and I felt so sorry for her.

These scenes were so wonderful to see.  Not only because I'm a huge fan of Lois and Rena Sofer, but also because I'm a huge fan of the non-romantic types of scenes.  And I don't mean only the scenes with enemies, but the scenes with families.  And more than that, the not-so-common (at least these days) scenes with friends and other pairings.  I loved Brenda with Lois, while she irritates me with Sonny.  I loved having two girlfriends in such a prominent storyline.  I wish we could get back to that with at least one set of people again (though Luke and Bobbie, even though they are family, may fit the bill with me for a while).

After Lois had gone, we cut to a shot of Brenda staring at a seemingly blank scene and I kind of laughed.  Then they started playing flashbacks of Brenda and Sonny on the screen...a nice touch.  You know, we haven't had a good, end-of-the-episode musical montage in several months.

IV. The Spencers

Bobbie showed up to work on Tuesday's episode with news of Luke and Laura, happy in Switzerland.  She chatted with Amy for a bit about Amy's awful blind date from the night before.  Later, in the worst subject/setting match possible, Lucky showed up at the GH gym (?).  Bobbie had pulled him out of second period to ask him why he hadn't talked with his father, who'd been calling for him repeatedly.  Lucky said that he didn't want to move to Switzerland; Bobbie told him he had to talk to his father about it.  Lucky bailed out because of the English exam and Bobbie made it about Sarah.  Lucky insisted that Port Charles was home and said he'd talk to his dad that evening.

Lucky:  "Honey, I'm home."

Bobbie:  "What, did he get beat up or something?"
Lucky:  "No.  But that can be arranged." 

On Friday, Bobbie showed up home from work.  Lucky followed her in the door.  Note:  Maybe he said "Bobbie, I'm home," but I like my interpretation better.  Bobbie knew something was the matter and Lucky said nothing had happened to him but started in on Lucas messing with his CDs.  He headed upstairs but Bobbie stopped him.  He told her that he had had a "misfortunate" day, but not as bad as Nikolas.  Lucky took a small thrill in telling her that Nikolas had stolen the test answers.

Lucky:  "It's test time.  Everybody's thinking, 'What are the names of the three Bronte sisters and how did their father tell them and their boring books apart.'"

Bobbie:  "Doesn't that strike you as being a little far fetched?"
Lucky:  "Well, of course it would to you."

Bobbie:  "He is your brother."
Lucky:  "We may be related, but he will never be my brother."
Bobbie:  "Well, you know, you're going to have to excuse your mother if she doesn't agree."

He wouldn't say more, because he knew that Bobbie would take Nikolas' side.  Bobbie said it didn't do him any harm for her to admit Nik was intelligent.  Lucky ranted; she told him to watch his language because Lucas might be listening (the door closed upstairs).  He tells the story, putting up with her questions, and announces that Nikolas set all of this up so he could come to Sarah's rescue.  Bobbie didn't buy it.  Lucky told her that she had to find one good thing about her time as a Cassadine bride (my words, actually) and that she was determined to make Nikolas that one good thing.  She responded by saying that his lousy mood was about his father and Switzerland.

Lucky went off on her again and told her that this was all about Nikolas getting away with something...and, moreover, gaining something.  Then Bobbie launched into Lucky's hatred of Nikolas for no reason she could see.  She noted Laura's disagreement with Lucky (odd, since Lucky tells everybody that his mother hates Nikolas...one of them has it wrong ;) ) and went back to Lucky's not calling his father.  

She understands that Lucky doesn't want to leave, but she insisted that he call his parents and tell them himself, rather than ignoring them.  And she told him to think about what he was asking them to come back to--him fighting with Nikolas, the Cassadines, and the whole bit.  All the trouble that they had faced the last time.

Personally, I hope they don't drop this nephew/aunt stuff out of the picture as the rest of the Spencer clan comes home.  I always like watching this dynamic.

But Lizzy arrived it the middle of this (her doorbell = false alarm #2) and she and Lucky fell to plotting as Lizzy let the bomb drop about the secret place.  Bobbie excused herself, or otherwise she'd have to say something.  Too funny.  Lizzy planted all kinds of thoughts in Lucky's head about what they might be doing out at the secret place and Lucky wanted to go out and find her. Lizzy insisted on going with him.  They got to the door and--no doorbell--Luke was there!

Luke:  "Hi.  D'you miss me?"

Day one of one.  Warning: we're up to day 11 of 11 right now, and I'm going to have a lot to say....

V. The Quartermaines

A. Brenda and Edward

At the Q mansion, we had some hysterical scenes of Edward and Alan hovering over Brenda on Tuesday.  They had chosen her breakfast, outlined her day...Edward had even hired a yoga instructor for her.  But the best scene was Edward showing up in tennis togs.  So cute!  (Do you know John Ingle is on the Revlon Color-Stay makeup commercial and gets kissed by Cindy Crawford?  So cute again!)  Lila of course tried to put a stop to their meddling, but had no luck.  But again, I laughed at this exaggerated version of comfort and support, but it's the same thing Jax is doing.

B. Emily

Alan said he was going to the airport to get Emily, but Emily showed up to surprise them.  She had taken a cab with Lila's permission.  Alan was absolutely thrilled to see her.  She told them about her trip and asked about AJ and killed the mood, even though Alan tried to be optimistic about him.  Then Brenda arrived and she and Emily chatted a bit after she had dodged the yoga.  Emily assured her none of this was her fault.  They chatted about school and Brenda reassured Emily that her real friends would stick by her, just as her own friends were trying to do.  Then they fell into some talk about Emily's hair--a cut and a streak or some highlights--and this is when Edward showed up in tennis duds swinging a racquet...armed and dangerous!

Lila entered and suggested that Brenda stay in the gatehouse and Brenda promised she'd come to eat at the big house every night and eat everything on her plate.  Edward begrudgingly agreed and Brenda left, thanking Lila.  Emily said she wanted to do something for her, and Lila said she'd already done it...and whispered the secret to Emily.

C. Jax and Jason

Jax:  "Well, well, well.  I guess it's true.  Spend enough time in the Quartermaine house and you eventually run into everyone.  Broken-hearted models, gangster flunkies.  Where is Sonny, by the way?"
Jason:  "There any bagels here or what?"
Jax:  "I asked you a question."
Jason:  "I...I didn't answer.  As far as I'm concerned, you were just here when I walked in the door.  Kinda like furniture."

Jax:  "I am happy for Brenda.  At least your boss left her alive.  And I intend to make sure she stays that way, which means you never got near her again.  In case you've forgotten, people get shot in your vicinity."
Jason:  "You're right.  I am dangerous to know."

Edward:  "He's a disgrace, but he's ours.  And you aren't.  So go."

While Brenda and Lois were down at the gatehouse, Jason was up at the house, running into Jax.  Jax wanted to know why Jason was there; in exchange, Jason let him know that he knew Jax had busted into Brenda's room.  Jax decided that Sonny was keeping tabs on Brenda and since the hotel couldn't do it anymore, Jason would, being Sonny's "own personal Quartermaine."  He wanted to know why Sonny cared, since Brenda's life was already in ruins, and taunted Jason for being a whipping boy.  Jax threatened him, Jason taunted back, and then Edward entered, not happy to see either of them.  He sent Jax away after Jax asked a lot of questions about Brenda's well being.

Then Edward turned to Jason, demanding an explanation about Sonny and the ELQ stock.  Edward figured that he was still working for Sonny.  Jason knew this wasn't about Brenda, but about the stock alone.  But Edward was also concerned about Jason and, at the same time, held him equally responsible for the things that had happened.  Edward recited all the things that Jason had done that had hurt the family and asked him to quit his job and come home.  Jason, of course, refused.  Edward told him to leave and not come back, but Lila stopped him.  Lila was the first person that immediately thought of Jason's feelings over the loss of his friends.

Jax:  "I kept the peace with Sonny for Brenda's sake.  She doesn't give a damn about you."

Jax:  "First rule of business, Jason?  Never lose your temper."
Jason:  "Second rule.  Never turn your back."

Jason went out the side door and Jax stopped him.  Jax threatened; Jason reassured him that Brenda was of no interest to the organization any more.  Jax railed on Sonny some more, and Jason refused to say anything but that Brenda was safe.  They both grew angry, and then Jax left; the above exchange at that point was so good--I was on Jason's side at this point, and he sure got the last word.  And thus, two new enemies were born.  I hope they don't just drop this flat as things go along.  Getting Jax involved against Jason would mean Jax would be involved in the Quartermaines as well, and that's something I like to see.

D. Jason and Emily

Emily went out for Brooke's hat and found Jason on the patio.  He asked about Italy; she asked about Robin, how he was doing, and whether he had known what Sonny was planning.  She was understanding, though, and promised that she would call if Brenda needed anything.  He told her to call as well.  I love these two together.

E. Emily and Lois

Lois:  "You, me, Brenda, Ned, we have to stop concentrating on the worst that we've done and we have to start thinkin' about what we can do...and what we can be.  Ok.  If there is anything I'm incredible at, it's spotting potential.  Ok?  And you, baby, have got oodles and oodles...oodles of potential.  And as soon as you start to see what the rest of us see when we look at you, watch out world."

Lois gushed over Edward and Brooke and Emily regretted that she couldn't stay longer (Lois was leaving at 3).  She asked after Emily and told her she looked terrific.  She said she wished she could have been with her; I wanted Emily to tell her that she had Lois' locket with her.  They talked about feeling in-between.  Lois was wonderful with her, reassuring her and telling her that she was more adult than most of the adults (at least the adults around there, but then she stopped herself since Ned wasn't there to do it for her).  Emily apologized for writing things in her diary, but Lois told her that she and Ned would have split up no matter what happened.  Lois stopped her and gave her one last boost before she left to see Brenda and head home.

Lois took one last uncomfortable look around the room, and in that moment said more to me than anything she had said to Brenda or Emily.  That was the nicest moment, when the guard came down.  And Lila saw and understood.  Lois asked about Alexis; Lila said they weren't terribly serious, and Lois took back her question.

VI. Mac and Felicia

On Tuesday, Felicia was hauling books about Native American art, and Mac was teasing her about them (I have to admit "Uncle Periwinkle" had me laughing as well).  She said that she and Maxie were doing some research--a project, kind of.  And in the meantime, the new mysterious guy was digging in the sand.  Later, Felicia showed him what she had found and that Maxie was going to take it to show-and-tell at school.  She said it wasn't native to that part of the country, and that someone had brought it from a long way.  And Mysterious Guy kept digging.

On Thursday, Mac started hounding her again.  She had consulted an expert, who was sending information.  Mac was shocked that she was serious, and Felicia was offended.  They had a talk about things and she said that she didn't like being put down for her interest in her ancestry.  He apologized and handed her the package that had just arrived.  There wasn't anything conclusive, but it was clear that the statue didn't come from there originally.  At that point, Mysterious Guy stopped digging and showed up at Felicia's grandmother's door.  His name was Lonnie, and he had disappeared from her employ some time ago.  He asked her for his things, and she only had a bag of his.

The guy had given Felicia the option of sending it to him for carbon dating, but she wanted to keep it nearby.  Lonnie heard that Felicia and the girls were in Port Charles.  So far, this is doing nothing for me.

VII. The Webbers

Back at school on Wednesday (joy, rapture, bliss), Lucky chatted with friends about the upcoming English test while Nikolas proclaimed that he hadn't studied and Sarah filled him in about her lucky pen.  Nobody had seen Elizabeth.  That was because she was off stealing the test and dropping Sarah's test at the site.  When she showed up, people teased her about skipping out of the test and she told Lucky that things might change.  She then helped Sarah look through her stuff and put the answers in her bag (the suspense is killing me).  I still don't understand what her original intent was, but she didn't miss a chance to stick it to Lucky that Sarah was off with Nik the night before.  I suppose she was trying to make Sarah look like she hadn't studied, so she stole the answers--to make her look bad in Lucky's eyes?  Dunno.

Anyway, when they got to the classroom, Murty came in and asked whether anybody recognized the pen he was holding.  Sarah said it was hers; Murty asked her to open her bag.  They found the answers and Elizabeth gloated while Lucky looked confused.  Sarah protested, but Murty believed she had stolen the paper.  On Thursday, Nikolas stood up and announced that he had taken the answers.  Lizzy and Lucky were stunned, and they knew he had been lying about something when he said he had borrowed her pen (since he had just been helping her look for it).  Murty sent Nik to the office to be suspended and kept Sarah from going after him.  There was a test to take.

Murty disturbed me a bit in these scenes.  He all but mocked Nikolas' different background and his parting comment to Sarah--that he was glad they'd established her innocence and that he would expect nothing less of her--seemed to imply that he expected nothing more from Nik.  While I don't at all want any more of these scenes than I have to suffer through already, I might like to see something more made of Murty's apparent prejudice against Nik in the scenes we do have.

Afterwards, the kids applauded Nik's attitude and romantic moves, but Lucky was unimpressed.  He went over to Sarah, who had gone to check on Nikolas, who had never gone to the office.  But Lucky chimed in about how Nik was using her, and Lizzy agreed.  Sarah was adamant that Nikolas had done this to protect her.  Sarah stormed out.  Lizzy tried to put her own spin on things, but Lucky was insistent that Sarah was simply too innocent to see Nikolas clearly and stormed out after her.

Lizzy got home and Audrey asked her about what had happened at school.  We had more of the usual Lizzy stuff, and Sarah came home told her story to Audrey, got Nik's message, and left to meet him (I'm just going to let you imagine those scenes; she thanked him and the finally kissed (at least we don't have to put up with that faux suspense anymore)).  It became clear at this point that she knew exactly where to meet Nik--that they had a regular place at which they met.  Sarah told her grandmother where it was and that nothing she wouldn't approve of went on there.  After she had gone, Lizzy started in again, but we had a great scene with Audrey telling Lizzy she loved her.  Lizzy said she was going to work and headed off to see Lucky.