The Week in Review: October 20 - 24

I. Brenda and Jax

A. Julia and Brenda

Julia:  "And I sent Christmas cards."

On Monday, Brenda wasn't angry with Jax; she blamed Julia for showing up when she should know better.  Jax said he'd get rid of Julia.  Out in the hall, Jax apologized and told her that Brenda's relationship with Sonny was emotionally abusive.  As Julia prepared to leave, Brenda came out into the hall and asked her not to go.

Brenda:  "Do you know that from the time that we were kids I could never really quite figure out if you were trying to be cruel on purpose or if you're just totally oblivious."

We had an uncomfortable conversation between sisters and Julia and Jax went off on a tangent talking about business.  It was clear that they had more in common--and were more comfortable with each other--than the sisters at this point.  And finally, Julia asked after Jason and Brenda launched into her.  Jason led back to Sonny, which led back to Julia's not being at the wedding because she was too busy.  Julia retaliated by saying that Brenda had been marrying a criminal.  Brenda continued on a rampage about Julia's neglect.

Brenda:  "You are ashamed of me."
Julia:  "Worried about you."

Julia explained that she wouldn't have been able to keep her mouth shut at the wedding and so she stayed away.  But Brenda wouldn't hear her.  She took offense at every word out of Julia's mouth.  Julia continued putting down Sonny--not the best tactic.  Brenda said that Julia should just go ahead and call her stupid because that's what she'd always thought.  But Julia said that Brenda was not stupid, just mistaken, but that she wasn't dead.  For that Julia was grateful.

I was just glad that Brenda was getting all this rage out of her system.  She won't yell and scream at Jax, and she never demands that he call her stupid.  But she has to feel this way about other people as well.  She thinks she was stupid or acted stupidly, and she may believe that other people think she was stupid too.  But she won't say that to Jax or Ned or Edward.  Just to Julia.  So right away, I decided that maybe it was a good idea that Julia was there.

Julia:  "You never take credit for the things you do right."
Brenda:  "How would you know that?  You're never here."

Julia said she had been wrong not to say something, and admitted that she had been wrong about lots of things.  But as she complimented Brenda, Brenda started crying and asked her why she never visited or called.  Julia said she was here now and wanted to help, but Brenda was still suspicious.  Julia admitted that she probably wouldn't have come if Jax hadn't called her.  Brenda tried to back out of the conversation and Julia told her forcefully that she had missed her, then left for the night, commenting on the Nancy Drew books on her way out.  She noted which one was Brenda's favorite and admitted she knew Brenda had borrowed them but didn't want her to get in trouble.  She would have won me over with that, but Brenda was still defensive and catty, reminding me of how awful things had been with Julia for her and my sympathies were torn (but at least I was having sympathies in this storyline).  After Julia left Brenda announced that she couldn't do this.  But she still didn't blame Jax, who said that after the Miranda debacle he wanted so much to see Jerry that he thought it would have been a good thing to bring Julia.

Jax:  "She's just your sister, Brenda, not a conquering army from Mars."

In the morning, on Tuesday's episode, Jax had ordered breakfast and asked how Brenda was doing.  Not so well.  She was doing worse when Jax announced that he wasn't staying just as Julia arrived.  If I were Brenda, I'd feel set up.  And she did; she called him on it.  But Jax told her that this was her sister and that he wasn't going to mistreat his guest; it was like he was reprimanding a child or guilt-tripping an adolescent.  He left them to it.

They started out immediately snarking, but Julia changed her mind and didn't leave.  Brenda pouted and Julia condescended and I thought we were going to be in for a long episode.  Brenda kept putting words in her sister's mouth and Julia told her to get over their father's favoritism.  The sarcasm fell at this point, and Julia said she would trade all of that in to have her sister back...and suddenly the episode looked quite promising.  They talked about their father and how he forced them both into roles that they didn't necessarily want.  But it wasn't only about dear old Daddy.  Brenda blamed her sister for not sticking up for her, for picking up where their father had left off.  Julia pointed out that Brenda was partly at fault for making herself "damage to be controlled."  Brenda was defensive, and when Julia pointed out that Brenda had succeeded she didn't want to believe Julia meant it.  Julia said that Brenda wouldn't have believed her if she had said anything; Brenda said she had never given her the chance to make that call.

Julia:  "I know that you're not the stick figure daughter who couldn't do anything right.  Why can't you see that I'm not who Daddy said I was either?"

Good point.  And Julia told Brenda that she had envied her too, for her independence, and Brenda was uncomfortable with that.  Julia said they had come full circle.  Finally, these two are two sides of the same coin, both created in part by their father's treatment of them and both of them angry and resentful and guilty and regretful all at the same time.  Brenda has the larger share of the anger and more cause to blame, and that's hard to get over.  But I was glad Julia called her on it.  When Brenda, at this point, stopped the conversation rather than face the fact that Julia might not be what Brenda thought her to be, Julia forced her to continue.  Julia said that she had broken free of what her Daddy wanted her to be, to a certain extent, and made her peace with him.  But now Brenda had their Daddy running her life.

Brenda:  "The only problem is, see, every time you start psychoanalyzing me I get this incredible urge to go and wash my hair so I'm just going to go ahead and give into that."

Brenda didn't buy it; she took it literally and refused to look at the truth of Julia's assertion.  She refused to let her sister psychoanalyze her, and I could see her point in that.  But Julia wasn't done.  She pointed out that every man that Brenda has been involved with has been like their father: self-made man, controlling, etc.  Brenda insisted that Daddy wouldn't approve of any of those men, but Julia's point made more sense to me.  Brenda was utterly offended, but Julia asked her for an alternate explanation for why Brenda chooses men who she knows will ultimately reject her.  Brenda wouldn't answer; she insisted that Julia didn't have the right to speak after all this time.  Julia remained calm--which was, I think, her only chance at getting anywhere with Brenda.

But at this point, she said something that appalled me, and I was completely on Brenda's side again.  She said that there was hope for Brenda because of Jax.  She read the litany of Jax's good points and reminded her that Jax wasn't taken and that Brenda was here and said that was luck.  Jax walked in at this point.  I couldn't believe she was telling her sister that her hope lay in pursuing a man!  Now, if she had said that her hope was in the fact that she had once chosen a man like Jax, so there was good reason to believe that she could break her pattern, then that would have been another matter.  But this was stunning to me, and I ended the day disliking Julia for butting in and coming up with this answer.

Brenda wouldn't let him leave again; she insisted that they were through.  Julia said she was only trying to help and Brenda replied by calling her "Dr. Freud in Gucci pumps."  Julia left to pack.  Brenda said that she was glad she had the chance to tell her sister off and that they were through and she was happy about it.  Jax tried to get her to agree to a cooling off period and another conversation, but Brenda wouldn't hear it.  He continued to talk as if he had all the answers and insisted that the sisters speak again.  At this point, I thought that he was right in being just as stubborn as she was being.  She ranted and raved, but he managed to get her to tell him what had been said.  Interestingly enough, when Brenda told the story she added the part about her leaving Jax once she found out that he wasn't going to reject her and choosing to return to Sonny.  She realized that Jax agreed with Julia and started to leave, but he wouldn't let her go.

Jax:  "Hey, I would never accuse you of whining.  You never have and you never will."

Ya right.  Brenda immediately grew angry with Jax for choosing Julia's side.  But he managed to get her to see the truth in what Julia was saying, even if she hated the messenger.  And I don't think he believed that she did.  He told her that children come to see themselves through their parents' eyes, and that what he saw was magnificent.  She immediately (convenient) saw that she was responsible for "this," which I assumed meant the mess with her sister.  The music came on and everything got mushy with more adulation from Jax.

Julia:  "I missed you, Bren."
Brenda:  "I missed you too."

Julia came back to say good-bye, and to apologize for not being around and for her attitude.  She hoped that Brenda would forgive her someday.  In response, Brenda admitted that Julia had been right...a little bit...and asked her to stay for breakfast.  The two embraced, and of course by this time I was crying.  And somehow, in the above lines, as Brenda was holding her sister, she seemed like the older, wiser one.  Call me crazy.  ;)

On Friday, Brenda entered, dressed for dinner with Julia.  She thanked Jax again.  V entered and asked if Julia had gone; Julia arrived and teased her for asking.  The sisters invited V and Jax along, but Jax declined.  Too bad.  V could have met Luke.  ;)

Julia:  "He looks different."
Brenda:  "Hair."
Julia:  "No, uh, they may look alike, but this guy's brighter, more substantial...infinitely more attractive."

Downstairs, Julia and Brenda settled into their nice table and started into some girl talk.  They remembered the day Julia left--the day of William's (Bill's) funeral--and Julia admitted that such a connection never went away.  Julia felt badly for leading the thoughts back to Sonny, but Brenda was optimistic.  Julia headed back towards Jax as her romantic option, but Brenda dodged.  Then Julia saw Luke, noticing that he looked just like William.  Later, she was utterly charmed at meeting him, and Brenda mocked her after Luke had left the table.  Too funny!  They continued to chat about men.  Brenda headed upstairs, falling asleep by Jax's side, and Julia stayed to have a drink at the bar.

Brenda:  "I just wanted to thank you for giving me my sister back."

I really liked the sisters this week.  Brenda seemed strong in those scenes, as if she could realize things about herself and start working to change them.  And Julia wasn't static either; she came to some realizations as well.  Finally, I do hope Julia will come back for good.  She makes a good business match with Jax and has great connections to the Qs and others in PC.

B. Jax and V

While the sisters conversed, Jax and V met for breakfast. V noticed his mood and asked him how things were going with the sisters.  He said all was well, but she didn't buy it.  Jax told her that they were sisters and would sort things out, but he didn't look convinced.

On Friday, after the others had gone down to dinner, V apologized for being negative about his decision to bring Julia to town.  Jax told her again that he liked that about her.  They settled in for some work over Chinese food.  He flew his in from Manhattan; she stuck with the local, calmer version of things.  They talked about revenge and V said Jax would always get back what was taken from him.  He said only things, not people.  Finally, she left and Jax slept on the sofa until Brenda came back up.

I separate this section out just to make the point that V is still here at this point, and at some point later, she disappears.  They're throwing away a good thing, IMO.

II. The Webber People

Lizzy:  "I hate you, Sarah.  I just plain hate you."

Despite Lizzy's fast-talking at the beginning of Monday's episode, Sarah knew that she was the one who stole the test answers.  Sarah said she'd tell on her (scary) and that people would believe her over Lizzy.  Lizzy snarked at her and left, saying she wouldn't apologize.  Back at home, the fight continued.  Sarah just couldn't match Lizzy in this argument, because Lizzy was willing to say, in the end, that she hated Sarah.  Sarah immediately changed her tune, wanting to change things and wanting to know what she'd done so she could fix it.  Lizzy rejected her all over again, saying she had everyone else's affection and trust.  Sarah didn't know what to say, and her pleas that she felt differently about Lizzy than those other people did fell on deaf ears.  Lizzy said she was leaving.  Sarah wouldn't let her leave it at that, and Lizzy said Audrey would pack her off to boarding school once Sarah told on her.

Audrey overheard the fight, once it moved inside, and Lizzy looked to Sarah to see if she was going to tell.  Nikolas called and interrupted, and Sarah filled him in.  Audrey was off to work, but said she wanted to know what had happened when they spoke the next day.  Sarah told Lizzy that she would tell the truth.

It was quite a week for sisters, and I found it interesting that Julia and Brenda were having the same discussion as Sarah and Elizabeth: people like one better, expect one to do no wrong, and the other one blames her for it and feels neglected.  But these two aren't going to come to a peace about that.  I think you they'll have to put some more space between themselves and their childhood before they'll be able to come to terms as I hoped Brenda and Julia would.

On Thursday, after some snarking about a brush, the sisters converse about whether or not Sarah will tell Audrey about Liz.  Sarah says that Liz *will* tell Mr. Murty the truth.  The rest of the scenes were preempted here, so I'm including, for those who depend on the WIR for their GH updates, a section out of this day's ratsa update, done by the wonderful Jan Yarnot:

"Sarah says Liz should tell.  Liz says she got a D.  Sarah doesn't correct her.  Audrey says Liz should study more.  Audrey leaves. They keep bickering. [Yawn.]  Liz wants to think about telling Murty and Sarah insists.  Liz walks out in front of Nik."

"Sarah tells Nik about the ultimatum.  Sarah will call Mr. Murty.  Nik complains about Stefan.  At work Liz and Lucky talk about Sarah and Nik.  [Yawn.]  Sarah calls Kelly's and tells Liz Mr. Murty will talk to her there."

On Friday, Liz was nervous that Lucky was around, as she as waiting to meet up with Murty and Sarah and Nik and didn't want Lucky around.  Sarah arrived and Liz told her that she wouldn't confess in front of Lucky.  Now, if I were Liz's sister (God forbid) I would know immediately that she was smitten.

Lucky:  "Mr. Murty.  Didn't uh, didn't know you hung out here."
Murty:  "Best chili in town."

Murty:  "I have a brother who went to Harvard and founded a stock brokerage firm by the time he was twenty-five.  I can relate to your problem."
Liz:  "It's rough, isn't it."
Murty:  "Hmm.  There's a pop quiz tomorrow.  Henry James.  Be prepared."

Luckily, Lucky was on his way out as Murty came in, so Liz sat down to talk with him.  After lots of rambling and storytelling and almost pleading from Liz, they worked out a deal.  Liz would go to counseling at the school and Murty wouldn't make the truth public.  Pretty contrived, and I don't think a high school teacher would actually do this, but Murty was cute, nonetheless.  ;)  Nik and Sarah looked on, and afterwards, Sarah agreed to the arrangement.  Meanwhile, Liz threatened Nikolas, who blew her off.  At the end of the episode, Nik and Sarah talked about the resolution and held each other while Liz looked on.

This storyline just drones on, and I have no interest in it at all.  At least this was the last scene we've seen of the school, and even though I'm sad that Mr. Murty's gone (it seems), I think that's a good thing.  This after-school special garbage has gone on long enough, watering down both Nik and Lucky.  The only good thing is that Audrey gets to shine as a grandmother.

III. The Cassadines

A. At Katherine's

Stefan:  "Let me understand this.  You want me to resume our relationship or you'll report me to my teenage nephew?"

Stefan:  "You're bluffing.  He matters too much for you to use him.  And if you try, eventually he will perceive your kindness as a ruse and hold you in the same contempt he does his mother and Barbara.  You'll simply be one more person who betrayed him."

On Monday, we found out that Katherine's trump card was that she would tell Nikolas what Stefan had done with.  I didn't believe she'd do it, and Stefan didn't either, and he answered all of her threats, calling her bluff.  Katherine became enraged at the calm truth behind his words and screamed at him to get out.  Just then, Nikolas arrived.  He and Stefan locked horns over his injury, but Nikolas stayed behind with Katherine, who wouldn't tell him the truth.

Nikolas:  "You're not a good liar, are you.  Now see, my mother, she...she was much more convincing than...than you are.  She was so convincing that...that I didn't...I couldn't even tell when she was lying.  So I just always assumed that she was.  You were different.  Until now."

Nikolas:  "I'm not angry.  I'm just used to it."

In the face of his anger, she told him that she had left her job but wouldn't tell him who had instigated her leaving.  She tried to talk about other things, but he wouldn't hear it.  We're back to the Nikolas who distrusts all women who claim to love him, and I was struck by the fact that we've never had that element of him come up with Sarah.  Why would he assume she was honest, when every other woman in his life lies to him?  Is it that he's channeling all the trust he has to give onto her?  If so, then I hope she never fails him.

B. At Home

Alexis came home and Stefan admitted that he had been to see Katherine.  He was trying to decide whether or not to tell Nikolas because of Katherine, and Alexis was enraged that Katherine had threatened to use Nikolas against Stefan.  Nikolas walked up at this point, but didn't have the energy to have the same discussion about their keeping secrets from him again.  He went inside and Alexis told Stefan Luke had been on the docks.

Stefan:  "We come from a truly hideous family."
Alexis:  "It could be worse.  We could be Spencers."

Stefan told her that they had to keep Luke busy until he went back to Switzerland so he'd stay away from Katherine.  Back at the club, he was telling Laura that he was staying longer.

On Thursday, Stefan and Nikolas talked about his now-defunct suspension.  The subject turned to Katherine and Nik's realization that she was lying to him as well now.  After he had gone, Stefan informed Alexis of the business meeting that evening at the Grill.  Nik came through, pouting all the way, and he and Stefan clashed again about the family policy of limited information.

Later, Stefan told Alexis again not to call Ned, and she again told him that she didn't agree.  After Stefan left, Leo arrived to say good-bye.  Alexis thanks him for helping her pull off a difficult project, and Stefan arrives to hear this.  Again, their last scene from Jan Yarnot's ratsa update:

"He recalls that Leo is an excellent forger.  (Apparently Leo left during the commercial break.)  What did he forge?  Alexis said he'd tracked down a Rembrandt sketch for Stefan.  Stefan stares into space."

C. Cliffhangers

Alexis came home from the Grill to find Ned sitting on the coffee table waiting for her with the sweetest smile on his face.

Stefan went outside, placed Katherine's wrap on her shoulders, and told her that they were leaving Port Charles for good.  Katherine replied by telling him that Alexis was in love with him.

Finally, this was a week of stuff we've seen before with the Cassadines--a week of treading water.  I'm bored to tears with Nikolas and I don't understand Alexis's motivations--and what I do understand doesn't justify her moving against her cousin in such a way.  And Stefan is not half as interesting when we're only getting to see one side of him.

IV. The Spencers

A. Luke and Alexis

Alexis:  "I'm going to be very disappointed if you're at a loss for words."
Luke:  "The only thing that's going on right now is hurt feelings.  How can you think that I would poison your family?  What a waste of toxic substance."

Alexis:  "But, you know, some people need hobbies."
Luke:  "And what's yours?  Spit-shining Cousin Stiff's penny loafers?  Don't you get sick of that?  And what about all the time you have to be the one scramblin' around doin' the damage control for whatever world domination plot he's blown this week while he goes off and stalks his favorite dim bulb.  That must really get on your nerves.  Whatever went south between Blondie and the Count, there were enough cow-eyed longing looks in The Outback tonight to give me motion sickness."
Alexis:  "Try Dramamine.  Or hemlock."

Luke:  "Most of your family is willing to kill for what they want.  How 'bout you?"

Luke:  "But anymore I'd bet you anything you'd like to shoot her yourself.  That is if you could get a Spencer to blame it on."
Alexis:  "In that case, can I interest you in a short walk to the Harbor View Towers?"

Luke:  "Search me."
Alexis:  "I have to go home.  But thanks just the same.  Listen, you're welcome to sit here and visualize if you like.  Oh, and by the way, if you do set foot on the island you'll be shot for trespassing."
Luke:  "Ya, that happens a lot out there, doesn't it.  Well, if I'm wheelchair bound will you promise to fall in love with me?"
Alexis:  "I'd rather be shot myself."

Luke and Alexis started in on each other at the beginning of Monday's episode.  She taunted him with his last wasted year running back and forth between Switzerland, and he taunted her with her desire to...shall we say...take care of Blondie.  Not much content, but lots of fun fun fun!  I loved the joke about the wheelchair....

Alexis:  "No one asked you to wait.  Or listen."
Luke:  "I don't mind."

Alexis received a call and Luke stayed there to listen.  It was clearly about Stefan being at Katherine's.  And while Luke was on the docks in contemplation of going to Wyndemere to search for the gun while everyone was away, I'm sure he didn't mind hearing that his predictions had come true.

Luke:  "Goodnight.  Thanks for playing."
Alexis:  "It's not a game, Luke.  It's an endless, idiotic war of attrition.  And since the side with the most resources usually wins, why don't you do yourself, your family, and most of all my cousin a favor and go home...to Switzerland."
Luke:  (after she's gone)  "My home ain't Switzerland baby.  Any more than your home is Spoon Island."

Let the turf war begin!  Or continue....  But seriously, I would love to see these two go head to head, without Stefan in the middle.  And that's something you're going to hear more than once as I catch up on these reviews.  Luke went back to the club and called Laura, telling him he was staying in PC longer because he had found a way to get to Stefan.  He didn't give details, but I assumed it to be by way of Alexis...or hoped it would be.

B. Luke and Lucky

Luke:  "I wouldn't even try to cheer you up.  You're as grim as they come."

Lucky:  "Ya, you know, I'm just...just gonna trust you've got your own...fish to fry, so to speak."
Luke:  "Fish to fry.  Actually it's turkey.  A real big fat turkey.  And I'm gonna...I'm gonna take that turkey and...and let him stew in his juice and then I'm gonna stick a spit into that turkey and I'm gonna barbecue him.  And then I'm gonna eat me some barbecue spitted up turkey."

At the beginning of Thursday's episode, Lucky cruised into the Spencer kitchen, where Luke was fixing a chair.  Lucky was grumpy but wouldn't tell him why.  Luke announced that they would need more orange juice because he was staying.  Lucky thought that meant that the family was coming back; Luke set him straight.  Lucky said that it better not be about him and Luke assured him it wasn't but couldn't give him the details.

C. Luke and Katherine

Luke:  "No, I'll pass on dinner.  Unless you can assure me that there's something in it for me other than lamb chops and strawberry parfait."

Katherine:  "So, can I expect to see you at my place a little before seven, dressed...appropriately for the occasion?"
Luke:  "No.  But I'll meet you at the restaurant.  I'll wear a carnation so you'll know me."

In the meantime, Katherine has been calling around, pretending to be Stefan's assistant, to find out where his dinner reservations are held.  She then calls Luke and asks him to dinner, coming by a short time later to settle the details (as he commented on the lack of orange juice for a virgin screwdriver, he simply tossed the container back in the refrigerator...empty...and I thought of the possible reactions to the male housekeeping we could have if Laura comes back...and chuckled all the while).  He doesn't understand why they have to go out, and won't agree until she gives him her word that she will press charges.

D. Luke and Bobbie

This scene was preempted as well, so I've included one last clip from Jan Yarnot's ratsa update for today:

"Later, Luke sits in the repaired chair and it collapses.  Just then, in what might be clever foreshadowing, but is probably just coincidence, Bobbie walks in.  She tells him Carly ambushed her about being a good mother.  [Your Fearless Updater is amazed at the selective memory here, since Bobbie started it.] Luke tells her he plans to tape Katherine at dinner, and get her
to admit Stefan shot her."

"Katherine has chosen a drop-dead red dress. The spooky music plays."

E. Luke and Katherine

Luke:  "That's alright.  My friend likes to make an entrance."

Luke:  "As long as you can discuss nailing him at the same time you make him salivate into his lamb chops."

Luke:  "I like a woman with a healthy appetite."

Luke arrived at the Grill ahead of Katherine on Friday, wearing all black, doc martens, and, yes, a carnation.  He noticed the Cassadine table and deduced immediately that Katherine had set the whole thing up.  He briefly remembered what he had told Bobbie: that he was going to get Katherine's confession on tape.  This was the first time I can remember that Luke has had to put up with a flashback in the middle of one of his scenes (except for the pseudo flashbacks about opening the egg), but I was thankful because I had that scene preempted on Thursday.  When she arrived, he let her know that he knew, despite her claim that she knew nothing about it.  She used that same self-deprecating move that she so condemned in Alexis, saying she wished she would have thought of it.  But the dress undermined her claims of innocence in this one.  At the same time, she was quite confident--overly confident, actually, and her later change in mood was quite striking.

Alexis:  "That man who just walked in is the town nuisance.  He specializes in harassing normal citizens."

At the other table, Alexis suggested that they go to Wyndemere, but Stefan refused, saying they would simply ignore them.  But he couldn't.

Back across the room, Katherine ordered a martini and Luke requested her signature (and silly) three olives.  She took his hand, flirtatiously thanking him for remembering, and he played along, reminding her that she was going to have to admit Stefan shot her to get him to play along for much longer.  At this point, lots of people were asking why on earth they could expect anyone--even Stefan--to believe they were an item.  I don't think that was the point at all.  Stefan and Alexis would know that this was a scene aimed to drive Stefan crazy, but at the same time he would indeed worry about who was using whom, and how.

Eliot:  "Astounding, isn't it, how good-looking women always have the worst taste in men."

Stefan led Eliot Butterworth to talk about Ned, and I thought it a spiteful move, since they were discussing how Ned failed in the match with the Cassadines.  They spoke of the Quartermaine family and Stefan jabbed at Alexis, asking them how the family would treat Ned.  It backfired a bit, since Eliot also noted Katherine's beauty.  And the line above cracked me up, since Katherine's taste in men actually leans towards Stefan.  Ha!

Luke:  "Look.  There's only so much of this peek-a-boo crap I can stomach.  Particularly just before I eat.  Now you...you can let your hands wander all over me; you can hang your cleavage all over the table; you can do whatever you want to make Cassadine scowl.  But just remember why I'm here.  I'm here to show you mine if you show me yours."

Luke tried to get Katherine to say those three little words--Cassadine shot me--but wasn't succeeding.  As he led her back through the memory, she folded.  She said that she couldn't fight back and the sight of him was making things worse.  She had to leave.  He was stunned, but helped her go out to the terrace.

Luke:  "Well, babe, my date deserted me and I'm lonely."
Alexis:  "As you should be."

The only thing I understood about this was that it was a chance for Luke/Geary to enter the other scenes around him.  First, he called Alexis on her cell phone from his cell phone at the next table and asked her to join him.  What a hoot!  The Cassadine table headed home...except for Stefan.  Alexis was worried, but Stefan told her that they were headed back to Greece.

Julia:  "I knew your cousin Bill."
Luke:  "Oh.  Well I guess he got the sweet end of that deal."

Next, Luke showed up at Brenda and Julia's table to kiss Julia's hand and generally charm her without trying too hard.  He was kind in his inquiry as to Brenda's welfare as well.  These kinds of insider/history moments just entertain me to no end.

Luke headed outside to Katherine, who told him she was leaving.  He was quite put out with her, but he covered, saying they'd be ready for the real thing and left her.

While I love having Luke on the screen, he had no scenes with Carly this week, which means he was stuck in the boring Cassadine mire.  The scenes with his family were token scenes in between the Katherine mess.  The Alexis scenes stole the whole week for me, and I want more of them and more of Luke in his own family's big storyline--Carly.

V. The Quartermaines

A. Alan

Alan:  "And then at 12:30 I have luncheon...with Stefan Cassadine?  It's such a shame my secretary forgot to tell me about that."

On Tuesday, Alan was feeling frisky again.  He and Monica smooched on the sofa until Lila found them.  Edward was next to enter, and he was appalled at their behavior and chastised Alan for missing a meeting.  Alan had gone, and was quite perky about his schedule for the day.  But when he went outside, the façade fell for a moment as he went for his pills, but Emily came back to the house.  She noticed his strange behavior, even though the words he spoke were kind and loving and he seemed in good spirits.

At the hospital, Alan stopped Tony and thanked him for the prescription, managing to get 3 refills out of the bargain.  And while he was taking care of his supply for a little while longer, the family discussed what might be wrong with him; Monica refused to agree that there was anything wrong at all.

Alan:  "Am I hearing properly?  Did you just pay me a compliment?"

On Thursday, Amy announced that the mail had fallen open and Alan had been accepted to give a paper of his at a conference in Stockholm.  Edward actually congratulated him, mentioning his bad day the day before.  Alan was suspicious, but Edward said he really was proud.  Edward then went to call Ned in Jakarta for the news, but there was no answer, which made Edward worry.  After he left, Amy returned to praise Alan as well, and they talked about the pain of his hand.  Amy told him he should use meds for his pain, and Alan promptly spoke with the pharmacist about getting some pills....

B. Monica

Monica and Emily prepared for parent's day.  Emily told her about school and the way the kids treated her, and Monica felt badly for her.  Emily asked what was wrong with Alan, and Monica couldn't believe it.  She went to work and told Amy she was planning to meet Bobbie for lunch after Emily's school thing.

Bobbie:  "Oh, to be young and fickle again."
Both:  "To be young!"

Bobbie:  "The woman is a sociopath.  She's like one of those amoral people that you read about in psych books."
Monica:  "How does she keep getting away with it?"
Bobbie:  "By always making herself the injured party."

Monica:  "I will only say that if I catch Carly Roberts anywhere near AJ, I'll kill her."
Bobbie:  "Give me a call.  I'll help."

On Wednesday, Monica and Bobbie talked about Italy and the boy who drove Nikolas out of Emily's heart (gee, I thought he was already long gone).  They talked about being Emily's age again and the way the trip did her good...and did Monica good.  Bobbie asked after Alan and noted his mood.  They talked about Lucas and Tony, which led to the subject of Carly.  They remembered the ways she worked her way into both of their lives and they noticed that Carly had gone out of the way to make Bobbie's life miserable.  Bobbie said she was feeling better but that she got "zapped" every once in a while by the memories.  Monica didn't know that Bobbie had found them in bed together; I assume this apparent lapse in girl chat was required to fill in the audience on the past.  But even though this was all exposition, I was glad to have scenes with two friends sitting down to lunch.  Nice.  They then talked about Carly's modus operandi: playing the victim, acting helpless, playing on male sympathy, etc.  Bobbie asked why Monica was upset with Carly but Monica said it wasn't her story to tell.  But she made it clear that Carly had hurt AJ.  Monica left and Bobbie asked after Felicia.

The Quartermaines were also stuck in repetition this week.  Nothing new happened, and the Alan storyline seems not to build but just to circle.  I've decided that I'm bored with it because nobody knows yet.  Since Alan can't talk to anyone about it we are left only with the many times he tries to get drugs.  They need to pick up the pace a bit.

VI. Carly

A. Carly and Tony...and Lorraine and AJ and...

Carly showed up to see Lorraine on Tuesday, apologizing and giving her money.  But Lorraine knew that a request would follow.  They rehashed the lies thus far and Carly told her that she needed to get out of town so that she could tell people the baby was born at any time she wanted and nobody would check.  She needed Lorraine's medical expertise to figure out an ailment for her "friend in Florida."

In the meantime, Tony remembered Carly's denial of the sonogram, and Amy noticed his spacey behavior.  He left quickly with no explanation and called Mercy hospital to ask about the alleged sonogram.  He spoke to the head nurse and asked after "a patient" who was supposed to have a sonogram.  The nurse told him that "Carly Roberts" never had a sonogram.  Lucky break there, Carly, with the false names.  And Tony felt bad for doubting her.  When she arrived, Tony announced they were going out for dinner and a night at Luke's club (wish I could go), and she was thrilled and happy in the thought that she had found an answer to all of her problems.

Carly and Amy spatted while Tony took care of something or other.  When Tony came back, Carly took a phone call.  It was Lorraine, and Carly pretended that she was getting bad news while Lorraine mocked her on the other end.  Too funny.  On Wednesday, Carly told Tony that a friend was ill and that she had to go see her again.  Tony said she couldn't, because of the baby.  Darn.  Thwarted again.  And on top of it all, she had to convince Tony not to call down and have a specialist check in on her.

Carly:  "Tony just does not understand how profound relationships between women can be."

Monica arrived and asked AJ what was going on.  He had been listening in and said that Carly had a sick friend.  Tony and Monica went to their staff meeting and AJ checked in with Carly.  She played upset, but when she announced that she needed to get out of town, I thought he'd be suspicious.  She asked him to talk to Tony, but he said he agreed.

B. Carly and Bobbie

At this point, Bobbie came up to Tony and asked him whether the baby was due at the end of January.  She said that AJ told her it was February.  He cleared up things and spoke of taking care of Carly.  Tony left and Bobbie and Monica noted again that Carly had Tony clueless.  Then Bobbie met up with Carly and asked her when the baby was due.

Carly:  "How is it that you manage to make the simplest question sound like an inquisition?"

Bobbie:  "Carly, maybe you're paranoid."
Carly:  "Ya, maybe I am, but it seems to me every time you speak to me it's as if you're one step away from making a citizen's arrest and I am really sick to death of it!"

Carly:  "It's like she cursed my baby."

On Thursday, their conversation escalated into an argument (as if you thought it wouldn't).  Carly stuck it to her about butting in, but Bobbie swiped back with slams on Carly's ability to mother a child.  Carly announced that at the very least she wouldn't put her child up for adoption.  And here we go again....  They bickered about that a bit, and then AJ stepped in.  Carly started ranting to AJ about Bobbie attacking her and cursing her child.  After AJ left, Carly called Lorraine and arranged to meet her in the park; AJ overheard and followed her.  Carly tells Lorraine that she may leave town; Lorraine says she has a plan.  As they leave, AJ recognizes Lorraine.

And again, this storyline was repeating itself as well.  Everything seemed to tread water this week, and we learned nothing new.  But this storyline is starting to become too much repetition, not just this week.  Geary's back, folks, let the party begin.

VII. Mac and Felicia

Tuesday found Mac and Felicia squabbling over the bills and the gardening.  They talked about Maxie and the doll; Maxie was off school for a half-day and was going shopping.  She announced that she was going to be an archaeologist ...and at this point I was fairly bored.  Mac noted that Felicia was keeping a very close eye on Maxie, and she admitted that she was feeling like somebody was watching her.  And immediately following, Lonnie showed up at The Outback and the new bartender told him Felicia was working at home.

Mac took her instincts seriously and questioned her and then they talked about Maxie's "artifact" from the back yard.  Maxie headed off, as did Mac, who walked her out.  But when Mac got to The Outback, the bartender told him that some guy had headed to Felicia's.  That guy, Lonnie, showed up at Felicia's door at the end of the episode.

On Wednesday, she actually let him in the house as he told his story about leaving the doll at Mariah's ranch.  He insisted he wouldn't leave without it, and at that point, Mac jumped him.  Felicia made him release Lonnie, and Lonnie told them the story of his wife, the woman who had made the doll.  I'll spare you the mushy story of the doll and his wife's death.  Suffice it to say they realized he didn't mean any harm and Felicia gave him back the doll.  Of course, then there was Maxie to consider, but when she heard the story she was willing to give it back as well.  And, of course, Lonnie was so touched by her that he told her his wife would have liked her to have it.

This ended the abortive Indian doll storyline.  Apparently Guza rejected it for something else so they cut it off very short.  Too bad.  I kind of liked Lonnie.