The Week in Review: October 27 - 31

I. Jax and Brenda

A. Jax and Brenda

When Jax woke up on Monday's episode, Brenda was there.  They talked about their respective dinners, business, etc.  Everything came back to Julia, and Brenda admitted the many ways she constructed images and understandings of Julia, rather than seeing the real Julia.  And she admitted that she had always been afraid that her sister didn't care about her.  She told Jax that they loved each other, and that the reconciliation was all due to Jax.  This led to some babbling about there being no need for thanks, more thanks, etc.  And they agreed that they would go down and get her lamp out of storage.  She headed to bed and told him not to spend the rest of it on the couch.

B. Brenda and Julia

Julia:  "Thanking Jax and saying a few wonderful things about you while you're not listening."
Brenda:  "Really.  Why don't you say them to my face."
Julia:  "Cause you don't believe me."
Brenda:  "Try me."

Julia:  "I do love you Brenda.  I'm not gonna let you out of my life again."
Brenda:  "I love you too."
Julia:  "You really are a remarkable person.  You...you're brave...and full of love.  And I am so proud of you.  Oh, and by the way, modeling is not a dead-end job."

Julia showed up to see Jax and thank him as well.  They spoke of Brenda and the reconciliation, and Jax gave her some truths about herself as well--that she and Brenda were both too quick to believe the worst about themselves.  Brenda came out to see what was going on.  Jax headed to bed and the two sisters settled in for some mint cookies and more talking.  They reminisced and they talked about Julia's plans to go back to London rather quickly.  Julia invited her to come and live with her, though she couldn't move back to PC, but Brenda said PC was her home.  They both promised lots of visits.  We had a very sweet moment, above, but then Julia realized that her purse was downstairs in the grill and went to get it.  This is when she saw Ned.

C. Brenda and Jax

Brenda:  "You know, every single thing in my life that I believed in turned out to be a lie or a mistake.  And now, I don't know...how to fix it or what to do next."
Jax:  "One day soon you'll wake up and you'll know what you want.  Now, it may be just a cup of coffee, or your face on every billboard around the country.  The point is you'll want it.  And not to please Sonny or to prove something to Julia or your father.  For yourself.  And whatever it might be, that's what you'll do next.  And as long as you trust yourself, it'll be right."

After Julia left, Jax found Brenda looking for the sonnets that Julia had sent them for their wedding.  She wanted to read them, now that she knew they weren't a put down.  Jax started some Harlan Barrett bashing.  Brenda talked about her mother, telling the story about how there were no pictures of her mother because she was a mistake in Harlan's eyes, but that Julia had saved her passport picture so Brenda would have a photo of her mother.  Brenda said she had never thanked her sister for anything.  And she regretted several things.

Brenda:  "I don't even know...who I am now or how I'm ever supposed to trust my instincts ever again."

Jax:  "Sonny Corinthos is the bad guy here, not you."

On Tuesday, Brenda woke up to Jax's huge order of muffins.  Brenda wasn't in an optimistic mood.  She was angry with herself for being scared to face the day, and they launched into a rehash of their argument about Sonny.  This time, though, he asked her if her instincts warned her against Sonny.  She admitted they had.  He told her that her instincts were fine but that she just had to learn to believe in them.  He then announced that she should get a place of her own, telling her it would be good for her to have some independence and solitude.  She was taken with the idea, but was intimidated by it all at the same time.  He called the realtor.  He asked her a series of questions, pretending that she was in charge, but he was pushing her into this decision and I didn't appreciate it.  He tells her that she's strong but undermines her the whole way--he makes decisions for her (or forces her to make decisions), manipulates her, and all the while pats her on the head.  I'm getting sick of it, for her character's sake...and more importantly to me, his.  And for her part, she purposefully got Miranda's name right and mocked him about their shack on the beach.  Gee, that's sensitive.  Maybe it's her passive-aggressive way of striking back at him, but I don't like it either.

They returned, having found nothing.  But Jax announced that he had the answer.  On Wednesday, he said everything was set.  She had always thought that a house would be her reward, not a place to start over.  She fantasized about a place in the country, and when she mentioned cows, I knew she had to be thinking about Sonny and that place he bought for them.  They headed out.

They didn't find anything this time either, and we were treated to Brenda's description of what the right place would be--it would hug her.  She talked about the fantasy of living with fictional families and described her favorite place to read out in the woods (there was a nice moment where he told her not to romanticize his family and their happiness, even in the face of living in a car).  This gave Jax yet another idea and they set out again.  Sigh.  I was so sick of this repetition.

He had found a house in the woods with all the sunlight streaming in through the trees that sounded exactly like her special place.  She entered, and was immediately taken with it.  It was a beautiful house, in a style like the Spencers'.  Gorgeous wood and great architecture.  That wouldn't last long....

Brenda:  "Why can't I just skip past the middle part and go right to happily-ever-after."

On Friday they stayed in the house looking around and Brenda gushed about the house knowing her.  She was unsure, but the thought of losing the house drove her crazy.  She fished for a vote from Jax but he refused to give it to her (and got in a gratuitous slam on Sonny in the mean time).  Brenda liked the house because Sonny had never been there...would never be there.  She was still hung up on having a family before a house, but that's not working for Carly....  ;)  Of course, she knew Jax had already called the realtor, so she didn't call with her own questions.  Sigh.  And then he warned her that she would have to take care of everything herself.  Sigh again.  She just decided she could think about that later.  She called the realtor.  She was going to start over where she could choose every thing that went into it, and she wanted to know everything about her house.  She was going to lease with the option to buy.  He had brought champagne, knowing she would choose it.

II. Felicia and Mac

Mac:  "Felicia, you've had so many stalkers in your life I've learned to fight first and ask questions later."

On Monday, Felicia and Mac were at The Outback squabbling over redecorating possibilities and Mac's incessant rescuing.  Luke interrupted, back to see Mac.  Later, as they watched Kat and Luke, Felicia noted that Mac had his rescuers face on and he said he wasn't interfering.  But she told him that she would always be glad to have his help.  But she reminded him to wait until he was asked before helping.

Felicia answered the phone at this point, and it was a call for the private investigations firm.  A lady wanted them to find her husband.

Maxie:  "It's creepy!"
Mac:  "Hey, my middle name is creepy."
Felicia:  "You can say that again."

On Friday, Mac fixed up the speakers so they'd play scary sounds outside.  Maxie was headed up to the party at the hospital, but refused to wear a costume Mac picked out...cat woman.  But she had chosen Zorro for Mac, which amounted to a mask and a cowboy hat...and a lot of rescuing.

Mrs. Meadows called and wanted to see Felicia, and in the meantime, Mac gave Maxie an instant camera for her birthday.   Felicia stayed at home while Mac took the girls to the party at the hospital.  After they left, the woman showed up and told her the story of her husband disappearing 8 years ago and being seen in PC recently.  Then she showed Felicia a picture...and it looked just like Mac.

Mac made a great entrance at the hospital, leading Amy to ask if he was a Transylvanian cowboy.  But Edward stole the show with his vampire costume.  Too funny!

III. The Spencers

A. Luke and Katherine

Luke:  "You found me!  Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, come on!  I'm so glad you found me!  Have a seat.  Let's talk.  What's up?"
Katherine:  "Shouldn't you be somewhere spying on Stefan or saving the world or whatever it is you do in your spare time?"

Luke:  "You look frazzled.  Shaky.  Maybe a little pale.  Either they canceled your gold card or you had another run in with your assailant-slash-dreamboat."

Katherine:  "Don't you owe me a thank you?  I did something you never could.  Drive Stefan out of Port Charles."
Luke:  "I'll thank you when you drive him upstate to a small, cramped cell, not when you send him off to the Mediterranean to lay on a nice, white pebbled beach!"
Katherine:  "Why?  He's leaving.  What more do you want?"
Luke:  "Justice.  For having blackmailed my wife.  For almost killing my son.  For drugging my mother-in-law and keeping her hostage for ten years.  You see, Katherine, he...he's hurt more people than you.  Ya, but you...you...you're the only one...who can press charges.  Now maybe you oughta think about that before you just bid him Bon Voyage and see him go off to a good life of ouzo, grape leaves, and homemade baklava."

Luke was at The Outback at the beginning of Monday's episode wanting information about that gun.  While he was there, Katherine entered, and he welcomed her gleefully.  She didn't want to see him, and she wanted out.  She told him that all his plans were for naught since Stefan was going back to Greece.  Now, Luke actually didn't see that one coming, I think.  He followed her outside and asked for details.  She said that Alexis was dragging him back to Greece.  Luke said that he didn't want Stefan to leave; he wanted justice.  And Katherine was the only one who could press charges.  Now, of course we know that we should translate "justice" to read "revenge."  But if I have to have exposition, this is a quick and entertaining way to have it.  At the same time, I was struck by the fact that both of these people can only see the harms done to them...or only want to.

I was hoping for much more of Katherine and Luke scheming together, and I was hoping that she'd find a backbone and be an almost worthy ally.  I didn't get my wish, but I won't get ahead of myself.

Luke went back inside, and Katherine followed, asking about the gun.  Luke made no promises, but said he could find it if it was on Spoon Island.  She said that if he found it, she'd press charges.

B. Luke and Bobbie

Luke:  "I'm gonna break in."
Bobbie:  "For heaven's sake, Luke, why?"
Luke:  "Community service?"

Bobbie:  "Stefan has become even more bizarre than ever."
Luke:  "Practice makes perfect."

Bobbie:  "You know, you do tend to underestimate him.  I mean, sometimes you hold him in such contempt you tend to miss how truly lethal the man can be.  And right now he is, and I don't want you taking chances with your life."
Luke:  "Barbara, I do that every morning when I wake up."

Luke:  "And I'll tell you something else.  If you were on fire the entire Cassadine clan would gather around and put weenies on sticks!"

Luke:  "You know, you and my wife are stuck on the same page of a fairytale."

Bobbie came to the club to ask Luke to get some dinner with her, but he was busy planning a raid on Spoon Island to find that gun.  She couldn't believe it and protested, saying that Stefan would have destroyed it.  Luke pointed out that Stefan would have kept it out of ego...and the possibility that he would need a gun registered to Luke in the future.  Bobbie warned him of the danger and of his own overconfidence when it comes to Stefan (good girl).  She asked him to think about Nikolas, and he was amazed that she could think he'd worry about Nikolas.  He launched into his anti-Nikolas rant, but she was unshaken and told him that Laura was the thing that made Nikolas different.  Luke announced that he would take Nikolas down if he couldn't get to Stefan.  We'd had this conversation before, and Bobbie should know that she wouldn't get anywhere.  For my part, I had no idea why she was this dead set against his going when she had been so enthusiastic about helping him in the recent past.

Katherine called while Bobbie was in the front, announcing that she was prepared to press charges and that they needed to move fast because Stefan was set on leaving.  Bobbie came back in to say goodnight and found him leaving for Wyndemere.

One note on costuming.  Not only did people dislike Alexis's gown, but they also disliked Luke's shirt, which I thought was fabulous.  It was a dark cobalt blue velvet number--great texture and color.  And it was an obvious shirt, the color of which made me notice all the more the comparison between Luke and Stefan in that episode.  Stefan was wearing his cobalt blue shirt as well (under a dark suit), and he was telling Nikolas where they would live...just as Luke claims to control where Lucky lives and meets with the same resistance.  I miss the parallels between these two men, and while this one wasn't subtle, I liked it all the same.

C. Luke

Luke:  "Alexis Davis.  You bad girl."

Thursday's episode ended with Luke in the master bedroom at Wyndemere.  On Friday, he started looking around.  What cracked me up was that the globe that used to open the secret panel was gone and something else--a candle, I think--was in its place, but Luke didn't even hesitate.  Those damned Cassadine props!  He looked for a while upstairs and then went downstairs.  Of course he knew about the secret passage, and once inside of course he found the papers that Alexis had left sticking out of the rock (smoking a cigar all the time).  What stunned me is that he didn't take the other things in the hiding place...maybe he's already taken a look at all of those.  ;)

IV. The Cassadines

A. Alexis and Ned

Alexis asked Ned why he was there at the beginning of Monday, and he told her that he needed a friend before he went home to face his family.  He caught her up briefly about the loss, and she commiserated, all the while upset that her family had been the cause.  He announced then that he would make whomever did this pay.  The conversation then turned to her messages, and he told her that he only heard that she had missed him.  She turned to "the gatekeeper blues," but wouldn't give him any details.  They started to fantasize about vacations, but quickly realized they would never make it out of town.  He admitted that he had gone to see Brooke Lynn before he came back to PC, and Alexis said that she had met her and she was beautiful.  He admitted that he missed her as well.

Ned:  "I propose an addition to the rules: never apologize for our relatives' behavior.  Otherwise they're all we'll ever talk about."

Ned:  "Call me tomorrow.  I think I'll need some cheering up.  And whatever's going on in there?  Give him hell."

At this point, Stefan arrived home and put on his we-have-visitors face.  He and Ned swapped some polite comments and Alexis walked Ned out.  He stopped her excuses with a rule and a kiss...a very nice kiss.

B. Alexis and Stefan

Stefan:  "You didn't used to be so sentimental."
Alexis:  "You didn't used to be so cold."

She went back inside to the same fight with Stefan over her relationship with Ned.  She accused him of going behind her back to separate her from Ned.  He told her that this was business, pure and simple, until she made it otherwise.  Alexis tried to defend herself, but Stefan wouldn't hear it.  She asked to help him, because she loved him and Nikolas.  He replied with talk of family interests and threatened to tell Ned immediately that the Cassadines were behind this.  Believing her to be in line, he warned her not to cross him again and retired.

She returned with some papers, asking him to check her work, and he apologized.  Again, he goes from cold and heartless to overt praise, and I find his treatment of her very distasteful.  And here he got in one last jab after his apology, saying that they wouldn't have to worry about Ned once they'd moved.

C. Ned and Alexis

At the beginning of Thursday's episode, Alexis remembered Ned's words about the takeover.  The phone rang; it was Ned.  He asked her to dinner, and she agreed.  As he got off the phone, Julia arrived--the meeting he had told Alexis about.  They chatted for a bit and he gave her the details about the takeover.  Ned got a call from Alexis saying she would be late, and as they continued to talk, Julia said that her father had backed away from that holding company at some point and that she could find out what company was behind it.  She made a call and announced that the Cassadines owned the company.  Ned kept his cool, but it was clear that the bomb had dropped.

Alexis was dressed to the nines when next we saw her in a dress that most folks hated...but I thought she looked beautiful.  She chided Leo for coming there, and he teased her that he would tell Stefan they were lovers if their meeting was discovered; he was practically drooling over her dress.  Too funny!  He had stopped by to give her all the paperwork from their little scheme so that she could do with it what she would.  She started to burn it, but in true soap fashion she ended up stowing them away in a hideyhole in a secret passage behind the armoire when Ned called back and said he needed her to be there immediately.  I could see what was going to happen with that a mile away.

Ned:  "I'm trying to decide whether...and how much...I can trust you."
Alexis:  "You called.  I came.  Can I keep a secret?  Yes.  Will I lift your wallet?  No.  Could I disappoint you someday?  Probably.  Will it be tonight?  I hope not."

Alexis:  "Is this a test of what I would or wouldn't do for you?  It seems a little early for that.  Maybe not.  I'd make you breakfast.  I'd fold your trousers...once a month.  I'd feed your cat if you had one.  I would send you embarrassing messages if you were halfway around the world.  What else?  If you or Nikolas were about to be executed which one would I pick?"

On Friday, she showed up at the Grill and immediately she knew there was something wrong.  Ned spoke vaguely about trust and Alexis tried to play it cool.  Ned wasn't giving anything away, and led her into some vague talk about the takeover.  He said he knew who was behind it, and she didn't take the opportunity to admit her family's guilt.  She pretended to think he was talking about Monica.  But they both were aware of the double meaning.  And then Ned said that he could tell her the truth and see what she said--and it was quite clear that everybody knew what was going on.  Alexis sat, eyes cast down, calmly waiting for the bomb to drop.  I think she was hoping he didn't really know and so wasn't giving anything away, but I did wonder why she didn't jump to her own defense once it was clear he did know.  She would explain this to us on Monday.

D. Nikolas and Stefan

Nikolas showed back up in his mask at the beginning of Thursday's episode, attempting to scare his Aunt Amy.  She was charmed but not scared, and I was really glad to see them getting along, even though it was just so Nik could show off the necklace to the audience and get moral support from Amy.  As he headed to the party, Stefan stopped him to tell him they were moving back to Greece.  Nikolas was angry, but not surprised, that they had decided without him, and he announced that the decision was unacceptable.  An argument ensued.  Nikolas said that he would be in PC to be near Sarah and his sister, when Laura brought her home.  And when Katherine walked up, Nikolas asked Stefan again if his reason for leaving wasn't personal.

E. Katherine and Stefan

Stefan:  "Are you ill?"
Katherine:  "I used to be paralyzed, remember?"

Katherine:  "Do you realize that this may be the last time we ever see each other?"
Stefan:  "I pray for it."

Katherine started off strong.  She asked him one last time to tell her the truth.  Stupid move.  He replied as he always had before.  She weakened and almost started pleading with him again.

Stefan:  "What exactly is intended by the phrase 'trick-or-treat?'"
Amy:  "Well, it's basically a threat.  You come up with a treat, or you have a trick played on you."
Stefan:  "What sort of trick?"
Amy:  "Well, most people just go for the treat."

Stefan:  "Steve Hardy's hospital closed its doors.  When I reopened them no one asked about my pumpkin carving skills."

Stefan:  "I would have thought you'd fill any key positions with your undisciplined, talentless family.  Perhaps you could put your grandson the gymnasium manager in charge of drug and alcohol rehabilitation.  Or your gangster grandson could head up the fundraising office."

As Amy sent the children back to the party on Friday, they ran into Stefan, who said "Good evening, children"...and they all ran away.  Obvious joke, I know, but it cracked me up.  Edward entered, asking if Stefan was really leaving.  Katherine was at his right hand, looking sheepish for some unknown reason.  We had a snarky exchange between the three of them and Edward threatened Stefan and claimed that he didn't care anything about the hospital.  Stefan turned that criticism back on Edward, saying he was running it in the black and that was what they had wanted.  But Edward was confident that once Stefan left, his control over the hospital would go as well.  Edward would see to it, and reinstate Katherine Bell.  Stefan left him with mock praise of his power.

Edward:  "Our affections have wills all their own.  As witness the fact that Lila has chosen to keep me around all these years."

Stefan and Katherine chatted a bit afterwards, and Edward reassured her that her job was safe.  She told him that she didn't want her job and they spoke of Stefan.  He didn't believe that Stefan loved her, or was capable of love, but she wasn't convinced.  She told him, however, that she would be alright and might even take the offensive.  Meanwhile, Stefan had a fantasy of Katherine coming to him and announcing that she wasn't his sister.

V. The Quartermaines

A. Ned and Julia

Ned:  "If you'd told me when you left that your snotty brat of a little sister would become my best friend, I would have told you to get your head examined."

After seeing Alexis on Monday, Ned went back to the Grill and ran into Julia.  They spoke of business and old times, of Julia's visit and Brenda, of forgiveness and relationships.  They would meet later in the week and talk of the Cassadines (see above).

B. Alan

At the beginning of Tuesday, Alan called Amy about a package--more pills.  He was upset, and Amy noticed.  Monica did as well, but Alan deflected the attention back onto Ned.  The family joined in, and Ned headed off to a nap.  But Lila stopped him and announced that Alan would apologize.  Alan smoothed things over, though Ned didn't buy it, and headed to the hospital.  Monica stopped him and asked him what was wrong again, but Alan brushed off her concerns and left.  Inside, Ned noticed Alan's mood as well.

At the hospital, Alan had his pills and gleefully bounded into the nurses' station, causing Amy to do a double take.  He was off on the trail of some more pills when Dara showed up announcing that she was heading up a study of drug abuse in the medical community and wanted his help.  He became defensive, but smoothed things over, even though he missed his chance at some more pills.  His changing moods continued to draw the attention of Amy and Bobbie.

Edward:  "You know, I wouldn't say this to his face, but I kind of like it when he starts acting feisty.  It makes me feel like he's really my son."

At home, Lila asked after Alan again, much to Edward's chagrin.  Monica still claimed he was just stressed, and Edward didn't think it was anything serious either.  He was more concerned about Ned.

Back at the hospital, Alan popped some more pills and called about the package.  Bobbie showed up with it and he hid his pills.  The package was opened on another floor and Bobbie asked him why he was having pain medication sent directly to him.  He said he was buying them for and distributing them to some of his poorer patients.  She wanted to help, but he refused.  She let it go with a warning that he was taking on too much.

Dara showed up on Wednesday to fill him in on the task force inquiry.  Alan took it as an opportunity to volunteer his help as a spokesperson and preached a bit about drugs and his family.  Dara was thrilled to have him on board.

C. AJ

Julia ran into AJ at the Grill at breakfast on Tuesday.  She asked him what he was concerned about, wondering if it was a fight with Ned.  He wouldn't give her the details, but she went through the list of possible (and familiar) topics.  Julia told him about her visit with Brenda, and they patched things up from their past falling outs.  Ned had done the same, and it left me wondering how the Quartermaine boys would react if Julia did indeed come back for good.  Could be fun.  :)  He told her about sobriety.  Keesha stopped by and AJ introduced them, but Julia was late for a meeting.  Keesha was a bit jealous, now that she realized Julia was gorgeous.  AJ replied that he didn't know what Julia was doing with him.  Keesha was jealous that Julia could make him laugh; AJ told her that wasn't her fault, but the time they were together.  But she was still irritated that he was protecting Carly, and he announced that it could change.

D. Monica and Emily

Emily:  "So Dr. Dorman was sort of like your version of pot?"

Monica:  "And I think you and I have been reacting to just the same thing this whole past year.  Breast cancer."

Emily:  "I am so proud to be Emily Bowen Quartermaine."

Emily wasn't happy that Monica had to go into school with her on Tuesday.  She doesn't like that that counselor thinks it's her parents' fault that she did drugs and didn't appreciate the intrusion.  She insisted that it wasn't anybody else's fault, that it was her own decision.  But Monica told her that it was also the family's fault for letting her slip away.  They spoke of Paige, and Monica told her that they were both in the same boat.  They were both trying to find ways to deal with pain; Monica turned to Dorman and Emily turned to drugs.  They were both still trying to recover from the loss of Emily's mom and Monica's cancer.  They both acknowledged that they had been hiding their pain for the other's sake and agreed that they would face their pain together.

E. Emily and Alan

Emily told Alan she was proud of his paper and they talked about school.  Alan told her that he was amazed at how grown up she was.  She asked him if anything was wrong, but he gave explanations that satisfied her.  After she left, he took some more pills.

VI. Carly

Lorraine:  "You're such a strange girl, Carly Roberts.  You lie the way most people breathe, and yet when you talk about this child I can almost believe you actually care."

On Tuesday, Carly showed up to see Lorraine, who said she had a plan.  Lorraine said she could induce labor and have the baby in December, when AJ thought it was due.  Carly refused, saying she wouldn't do anything to hurt her baby.  Lorraine told her that the Qs would take the baby away from her if it were AJ's, and Carly refused to believe her.  Lorraine continued to speak the truth, but Carly resented her reminders.  She was confident that she could figure things out.  She told Lorraine that her child would not grow up hating its mother; Lorraine asked why it shouldn't know its father.

Carly went to the hospital and left a note for Tony, enduring Amy's mocking.  And at the end of the episode, AJ showed up demanding an explanation of the meeting in the park with Lorraine.  On Wednesday, AJ pressed the question despite Carly's accusations about spying.  She told him finally that they had become friends since the sonogram.  A weak story and AJ didn't buy it.  He did admit, however, that he had followed her because he was worried about her stress level.  But it was only for the baby's sake, to keep her from hurting Tony or the child.  She pleaded with him to forgive her again, but he chastised her for not taking responsibility for her mistakes.  She continued to make herself into the victim, and I have to say I can't stand that about her, even if I understand it comes out of her insecurities.

Bobbie:  "AJ, I've had longer than you to, uh, study her MO.  And it's a four-stage plan.  First there's denial, accompanied by hurt and righteous indignation.  Then there's the breakdown, where she's totally exposed as a liar and she's left without a shred of credibility to her name, which forces her to admit her guilt.  And then comes the apology.  She's profoundly, deeply sorry for the things she did but she's learned her lesson and it will never happen again.  Now, I think the secret of her success is she honestly believes what she's saying when she's saying it and that's what makes her so good.  I know because I let her into my life and she zeroed in on my weaknesses and she went after me.  And she'll do the same to you.  And she'll do it again and again.  Because she's always threatened and she always has her back up against the wall."

As Carly left with Tony for a minute, she asked AJ to stay, and Bobbie sidled up to him and asked him what was up.  He wasn't talking.  She simply said that she was trying to help him avoid another mistake and had been talking to his mother.  She outlined Carly's MO (above), and was right on target.  But AJ knows all this.  He just can't tell how he knows.

In the meantime, Tony was telling Carly that he was bidding on the house.  She was worried about debt, but he reminded her that he was a surgeon and that he wanted this for the family.  She was happy and worried all at the same time.

When she returned to AJ, she was sure Bobbie had been talking bad about him.  He called a truce and told her to go and live happily with Tony and the baby, but not to expect any more from him.  We'll see how long that lasts.  She called Lorraine to fill her in on things and told her that AJ had called a truce.  But AJ was on the phone with Sister Margaret asking questions about Lorraine.

Bobbie and Tony talked about Lucas and Halloween; he was going as a doctor.  Tony thanked her for her graciousness about Lucas and we had a mushy moment.  Tony said he was going as a little kid.  Too cute!

VII. The Webber People

On Wednesday Nik mocked Halloween to Sarah as they prepared for the hospital's party.  They had been shopping and she had bought him a sweater; he wanted to buy her something in return.  They talked about Liz for a bit, and Sarah seemed really concerned.  Of course, then she started telling Halloween stories that reminded her of things that Liz did to her in the past and she had never suspected back then.  She still thought she and Liz could work things out.  They headed home to see how the counseling had gone.

But Liz was home getting out of her first appointment with the school counselor.  Emily arrived, dropping off some notes she had borrowed from Sarah.  Emily thanked her again for standing up for her and went on and on about Sarah being so wonderful.

Sarah and Nik returned to find Emily's notes strewn all over the floor by Liz and hear that she hadn't gone to counseling.  Nik had a word with Liz, telling her that everyone would have known if it were up to him.  Basically, they both threatened each other.  They left their bags while they headed back out to the hospital, and Liz added a little something--a box of condoms.

Bobbie greeted them on their way into the hospital as they brought in the decorations.  She headed home to pick up things before the party, and Nik told her to look in his bag, but didn't say it was for her present.  Maybe he was just trying to keep her guessing.  As she went to the elevator, he put on his Halloween mask, and she laughed when she turned back around and saw it.  Bobbie later noticed Nikolas with a necklace and told him she was glad to see him so happy.  Luckily she didn't stay around, expecting any response.

Audrey arrived home and Lizzy made sure she was still coming to Kelly's for dinner.  Sarah breezed in and started to show off their shopping...and found the condoms.  And thus began the most boring section of the teenybopper storyline to date.

Audrey:  "The only time I mentioned sex to my grandmother was when we wanted to have the cat spayed."

On Friday, Audrey came out of the kitchen to find Sarah standing there, jaw dropped, holding a box of condoms.  Sarah assured her grandmother that she had no idea that they were there and that they weren't having sex.  We had a bit of a talk between grandmother and granddaughter and Audrey told Sarah that she had to talk to Nikolas about this.

Lizzy was at work making sure that everything was perfect for her grandmother's visit.  Lucky arrived, teasing her as always.  Liz told him that things were worse with Sarah and predicted that Audrey would be put out with her in the near future.  Lucky didn't even ask.  Audrey came, had dinner, and invited Ruby to play bridge.  Liz sat down with her and pretended to be earnest about Sarah.  Audrey would only say that Sarah's relationship with Nikolas had become rather serious, but Liz forced her to admit that they were discussing sex.  Liz then turned around and laid some groundwork with Lucky, telling him what Audrey said.

Sarah went to the hospital where she talked in vague terms about the "present."  The misunderstanding just became silly as he talked about giving it to her out at the retreat house.  She just told him things were moving too fast and they agreed to slow down.  More mush, and then the children arrived.