The Week in Review: December 15 - December 19

I. Brenda

Lucy:  "You know me, I always have a plan."

At the beginning of Monday's episode, the photographer tried to help her, asking her if she needed her pills.  She was seemingly calm, but she took the camera from the Star TV people at one point and they thought for sure that it was doomed.  Finally, Lucy arrived, spoke to her, and Brenda told her to get away.  Lucy did a wonderful job, letting Brenda know it was her and trying to lead her outside, pretending that they were both going to get away from everybody.  The paramedics came (Frank Scanlon leading the way!) at that point, and Brenda was angry again, trying to run away, but Frank held her.  Lucy talked Frank into letting her have Brenda, calmed Brenda again, and called Kevin, whose name Brenda recognized, for advice.  She told Brenda that Frank was a good guy and the restraints were just rules, and they got Brenda to the hospital.

Most of you know I'm not fond of Brenda.  Strike that.  I'm simply bored with her and tired of the way she's always the injured party.  But from the discussion here, I was expecting to be put off by the scenes on Monday.  On the contrary.  I thought Vanessa did a great job, and I found myself feeling for Brenda.  Probably, though that was primarily the work of Lucy.  Her face and reactions helped me worry about Brenda.  I was very glad that it was Lucy and not Jax this time.  Lucy's been an excellent friend to Brenda--better than Brenda deserves, sometimes, and she was wonderful with her.  And there's the promise that perhaps we'll get some Brenda/Kevin scenes again in the future, once she's leveled out again and things are quieter over on PC.

Meanwhile, Jax arrived to find the set destroyed.  At that point, Lucy called him to come to the hospital.  The nurse was telling Brenda the consequences of not being calm and saying that they didn't want to keep her here against her will--implying that they would.  She left Brenda and Lucy alone and Brenda asked if the staff was working for Sonny.  Lucy told her that they weren't, but Brenda continued to scream at the staff when they entered.  She was in a real state when Jax arrived. 

Jax:  "See my assistant.  Her name is V, as in very aggressive."

On Tuesday, Jax calmed Brenda by telling her that he won't let Sonny hurt her.  We learn that rubber sheets make as much noise as leather sofas.  Lucy apologized, but Brenda said it was Sonny's fault.  Outside in the hall, Jax and Lucy made a plan of attack (he blamed himself for not seeing this coming).  Star TV had the breakdown footage, Lucy said, so Jax told her to get in touch with V while he calls the Star TV people.  Star TV guy arrived to inform Jax they would be airing the stuff (he wanted to tell him in person...I don't know why).  Jax offered to buy Star TV, but no dice.  Jax called Lucy and V; when Star TV guy gets back he's heard from several major affiliates that they won't be airing his news.  Personally, while I can't stand the media capitalizing on personal traumas, this seemed to cross some line and I wasn't really happy with Jax.  Lucy--and the mention of V--made me very happy.

Jax spoke with the doctor, then sat with her, vowing to protect her.  Duh.  As good a job as Marcil is doing, I'm not into seeing lots of scenes of Jax worrying over her bedside.

On Wednesday, Gail spoke with the doctor--she was to be the second opinion that would determine whether Brenda would need to stay in the ward or not.  She went inside and spoke to Brenda, who was calm but in complete paranoia.  Somebody on ratsa said they were grumpy that this had become all about Sonny, and I kind of agree.  But I think this breakdown, as Christine pointed out, was all about a culmination of stuff over her whole life.  At this point, all of her defense mechanisms are gone.  Things were bad or good because of Sonny, and now that he's left her for good, she doesn't have that explanation.  She doesn't know how to cope; none of the old ways are working.  When Jax got back from seeing Jason (see that section), Gail told him that Brenda could be out as early as Friday; he told Brenda and she hung onto that as she fell asleep.

Friday didn't go so well.  Brenda sat with Jax in the corridor waiting for the review board to call for her.  She was really worried, but he told her just to say what was in her heart.  Instead, she practiced a little set speech.  When they called her in, things started out ok, and she said her little speech.  But the questions got more and more pointed and she got more and more nervous.  The questions were right on target, especially the one about whether she was in control of her life or whether things just happened to her.  But when they asked her whether she often thought people were staring at her, she looked like a deer trapped in headlights.

They let her go, but the things Jax had said about them needing the permission of a family member to keep her--Julia, who was away in China on business and hadn't been reached--she exited the room to find that Julia was there.  Paranoid, she took off down the hall and two orderlies (not the speedy, gurney pushing ones) restrained her and took her to an isolation ward.  Jax was incensed, threatening, and demanding to see her, but Julia tried to calm him down.  The end of the episode found Brenda in restraints in a dim room, rocking back and forth.

II. Justus

Justus:  "God knows I'm no saint."
Jax:  "But you are a Quartermaine."

Justus:  "Was there something specific you wanted, like maybe a ride?"

Justus:  "No contract.  No ties.  Nothing that would prevent me from selling ELQ out to the highest bidder tomorrow."
Jax:  "Well, when the bidding starts, I'll make it worth your while to give me a call."

Jax got into the car with Justus as the week began.  Justus was immediately skeptical and let Jax know that he wasn't in the loop.  Jax kept fishing, a bit, about Justus's relationship with ELQ and the family.  They sparred about Jax's part in ELQ and finally Jax let him know he wasn't welcome, either in the family, the business, or in the car.  The topic changed to Sonny, and Jax said he knew nothing.  At this point, Jax pulled out the paper, and Justus knew where this was going.  Justus told him that Jason hadn't been charged and that he wasn't his attorney.  This was all about Jason...and Brenda.  In the next segment, Jax asked him why he stayed with the Qs and Justus said he was family.  Justus made it clear that there was nothing holding him to ELQ, and Jax was distant but interested.  I loved seeing Jax in this frame of action again.  He's been isolated with Brenda for too long, in my opinion, and he needs to be reconnected to the Qs, to his own family, and to the rest of Port Charles.  Too bad Kat's taken, because I actually liked their little scene together back when she was in her metal basket with wheels.  ;)  But more than that, I thought Justus was delicious all week!

III. Jason

A. Jason and Luke

Luke:  "That sounds dangerously like a brush off, Jason.  Hell rained on my party and my club the other night.  I thought we agreed there would be no automatic weaponry pointed in my direction."
Jason:  "I'm taking care of what happened."
Luke:  "You walked away from it, my friend.  What Sonny gave you came with a lot of responsibility.  And your number one responsibility is to your town, your territory, and your people.  If all out warfare breaks out in the streets, man, innocent people will die."
Jason:  "And I told you..."
Luke:  "You told me nothing!!  Is Robin's life in danger?!"
Jason:  "I will pay for the damages done to your club.  And you're right.  I am the boss.  And I wanna manage the business the way Sonny did.  But I'm not Sonny.  I'm me.  His door was always open to you Luke, and I respect that.  I will show you the same courtesy.  But you remember; you and Sonny were friends, and he didn't mind explaining things to you.  I do.  Now you can lecture me; you can call me a screw-up; you can ask me all the questions you want.  But when I tell you things are being taken care of, that is your answer."

Jason arrived home on Monday to find Luke sitting in his living room.  Luke greeted him in French; Jason didn't react.  Luke then asked how Paris had been and Jason again didn't comment.  So Luke got to the point--the shooting at the club and Jason's subsequent disappearance.  Jason's response was that he was taking care of it, and he wasn't going to explain any more.  He told Luke how things were going to be, and it was beautiful to watch.  I loved the Sonny/Luke dynamic, both when they were new to each other and feeling their way to an uneasy peace and when they were best friends.  This is like those early days, although there's no promise that Jason is ever going to be friends with Luke.  And I can't decide whether I'd like it if he were.  But I'm hoping there's a long road of progression between these two men, because I will love watching it.

A pal of mine commented to me that there was fear in Luke's eyes in this scene.  I misunderstood her, thinking she meant that Luke was scared of Jason.  After a brief discussion, we agreed that Luke was scared in that scene, not of Jason, but because he was being set one step further back from that other business of Sonny's.  And I don't think he likes that one bit.  While he's chosen to go legit, he likes the underworld connection--thrives on them.  That connection allows him to handle things his own way and to protect his family, which is necessary to sanity for him (I won't go into my dissertation on that again just now).  And to be put off by Jason is both annoying and scary.

Luke:  "My son was in that club when it was riddled with bullets.  So when I ask you, "What are you gonna do to stop that from happening again," not only do I expect an answer, I deserve one."

Jason:  "He sold us out."
Luke:  "So you take care of him."

But Luke wasn't put off balance for long.  He said his son was in that club, and for that he felt he had the right to hear the truth.  Jason assured him that his mind was on business and said Robin wouldn't follow him back.  Then he gave in and gave a few details.  He would throw a new re-opening party and told him a bit about Marino and his plan of attack.  He admitted that he made a mistake in not acting against Marino, and Luke reminded him that was exactly what he had advised Jason to do.  Jason told him about Valentine; Luke used that line again--since Sonny's been gone it's been sorely neglected.  Luke asked if he had a lawyer and Jason said he had someone in mind.  Cut to Justus.

Luke:  "But you've gotta stay focused, Jason.  You've got to.  If you can't, pull a Sonny, bail, buy a one-way ticket, and take Robin to happily-ever-after in the South of France.  But you can't have it both ways.  Innocent people will die.  And some of 'em might be kids.  You do not want that."

Jason:  "So we're cool?"
Luke:  "For now."

Luke approved, and said that everything else was none of his concern.  He reminded him to stay focused or leave.  Jason asked after "Laura's kid"  (Luke:  "You mean Nikolas?") because he didn't want her to think Sonny was behind it.  Luke said he'd deal with that.  But as he opened the door to let himself out, Justus was there.

B. Luke and Justus

Luke:  "Well ain't this interesting."

Justus:  "How are Laura and the kids?"
Luke:  "Swell.  How are you and your conscience?"

Luke:  "And whatever happens...couldn't happen...to a nicer officer of the court."

Luke's face just lit up at this little development.  Luke told Jason that he'd entertain Mr. Ward while Jason took care of that business.  They swapped one-liners and Luke asked him if he was looking for a gig with Jason.  Luke told one of his stupidest jokes and criticized Justus for his lack of humor.  Luke told him that if he were even introduced to Jason's associates he'd be in over his head.  You know, I used to love the Jason/Sonny/Luke configuration.  I might just love the Luke/Jason/Justus thing more.  ;)

C. Jason and Justus

After he left, Justus told Jason that Nikolas was doing fine and the case was closed (I was surprised to hear Stefan wasn't pressing charges).  Jason asked him if he had thought about the job offer and told him there were lots of ways he could work in the organization and remain legit.  Justus wanted to know why Jason chose him; Jason replied with several reasons, but the bottom line was that Sonny had trusted him.  But when he said they were family, *then* Justus laughed.  I love his sense of humor.  ;)  Justus said he wasn't ready to accept, and Jason reminded him of the time problem.  At this point, Jason's associates arrived, and Jason introduced them.  Hee!  All of them already knew him by reputation and were very gracious.  Justus left them to it.

D. Jason and his Associates

Jason:  "Sonny's gone.  I'm in charge."

I loved this scene of mob business.  And I love Jason as the mob boss.  Jason told them the plan and that it was his plan.  He confirmed that he was in charge.  He pointed to higher profits and asked if there was an objection.  They told him to go after Marino, but he said he would put it off to the first of the year, saying he was expecting them to go after Jason and then after each other.  Marino would wait to see how things fell, but in that time, Jason would strike back, convincing him to stay clear.  There would still be no drugs on his turf.  Benny was the first to stand and say that he was reassured by Jason's control because this territory was his primary instance.  The others followed suit.  (Benny, by the way, was the same actor who used to play Mr. Litman on Seinfeld.)  They continued to talk business until there was a disturbance in the hallway.  It was Carly.  (See the next section for her arrival and their deal.)

E.  Jason and Jax

On Wednesday, Jax arrived, demanding to see Jason.  Jason let him in, unimpressed with his threats.  Jax claimed that Sonny would be a dead man if he ever returned to PC and went on and on about Jason's part in Brenda's breakdown.  At one point, Carly came down the stairs and started threatening right back.  Jax smiled--and smiled and rolled my eyes.  If she wants to be a good mob moll, she's got to stay out of business.  Jason can take care of himself, and I'm not sure he'll appreciate it if she continues making these displays all over creation.

After Jax left, Jason explained the situation, and Carly actually seemed to recognize the danger.

F. Jason and Mike

Mike was the next visitor.  Among the now-familiar things he wanted of Jason, he wanted Jason to tell Sonny to come back and help Brenda.  His logic?  Sonny was the cause; he would be the cure.  Jason was immovable.  Mike noted that Sonny had intended not to do what his father had done--that story of those two men remains fascinating for me, and I want more of it!

Again, Carly had something to say.  She offered sympathy, noting that they were both in similar situations.  I'm not sure I understood this.

IV. Carly

A.  Carly and Tony

Carly:  "He doesn't build impossible situations where I feel that I have to lie all the time just to stay worthy of him."

Carly repeated her claim at the beginning of Monday's show.  She was clearly upset at the lies she was telling, but she was certainly determined to fight back with everything she had.  Tony repeatedly tried to cut her off short, but she insisted on speaking.  She spun a tale of sex and passion; he called her sick.  She went on and on, saying that she and Jason did it in the apartment, and at this point, Bobbie entered to tell Tony that a consult had been cancelled.  She quickly left when she got a look at what was going on behind door number three.

Carly:  "My baby is not your concern at all, do you hear me?  It is gonna be strong and healthy like his father.  Not a weak, self-righteous bully like you.  And I intend to say what I have to say, even if I have to stalk you down the corridor on your way to the nurses' station or your next big deal consultation."
Tony:  "You have three minutes."

Carly:  "Well you know what you were to me?  An alternative to having to work for a living.  That's right.  And not a very good one, because you wouldn't let me quite my lousy job.  You wanna dump me?  Let me save you the trouble, buddy, I am gone.  And I'm glad.  Because at least I won't have to spend one more pathetic night in bed with you.  Jason's got all the money I need.  Now I'm done."

Tony said that they should stop for the baby's sake; she said it wasn't his concern.  Tony wanted her to explain Robin; Carly said they were both in love with other people and found grounding in their other relationships, but that they found sex and passion with each other.  She took small incidents that were sure to remember and created the illusion of an ongoing affair with Jason.  She used enough truth about her past and her real relationship with Jason, and she convinced him--and she knew it--though he wouldn't admit it.  She went on and on about Jason, and when he yelled at her to shut up, she then went on about how much of a loser he was.

And inside, Tony slumped, in shock and tears over what had just happened.  In the bathroom, he splashed his face with water and remembered all the instances he had seen Jason and Carly together--a positive use of flashbacks.

When she finally left and shut the door, her face crumbled.  It hurt her to be that cruel to a man she had loved, but I believed at that moment she was regretting mistakes rather than missing him.  I have always thought it sad that she felt so unworthy of him, like she had to be somebody else to deserve him.  She deserves better.  And that's always been the way Tony is.  He sets impossible standards and never forgives.  But at least Carly stood up to him.  Bobbie would just whine and cry.

And I have to say, even though that last paragraph sounds like I'm completely on Carly's side, everyone's been choosing up sides on the Tony/Carly fight, but I can't.  I understand and sympathize with both of them, just as I blame both of them for contributing to this mess.  Tony is now realizing just what a mistake he made in getting involved with Carly.  But he did fall for her out of all the wrong reasons and has never really trusted her or given her the benefit of the doubt.  The look on his face in the bathroom didn't make me laugh; it pained me.  She threw every insecurity of his up in his face and he believed it all.  And for Carly, from the pain in her face as she began her tale, to the very real anger she was spewing--she's taken so much bad treatment from him, to the near-collapse as she left the room.  My God, this girl has my sympathies.  She has screwed up a squillion ways, and yet
I still worry over her, am frustrated by her, and am completely wrapped up in her story.  Mostly, I applaud Sarah Brown and Brad Maule.  While their characters are both doing almost unforgivable things, they are putting in great performances.

B. Carly and Jason

Carly went to Jason's.  In the middle of a business meeting, after his associates had just told him that they approved of him and were glad that the business was his primary interest, a wet, crying, pregnant woman shows up on his doorstep.  Sigh.

Jason:  "Will you just stop crying?  Do you have to be shivering?"

Carly:  "I really thought the first time that I laid eyes on Bobbie she'd...know who I was.  That she would somehow...recognize me?  And get on her knees and beg me to forgive her."

On Tuesday, Jason let her inside because he saw she was absolutely desperate, sent Rinaldo to fetch some soup, and sent Carly upstairs to dry off.  The associates were skeptical, and told Jason again that they were sure he would never make the same mistakes Sonny made.  He doesn't explain Carly, but he assured them.  After they were gone, Carly told him absolutely everything.  I'm always fascinated by the way people retell stories, and I must say that Carly's learned a thing or two about exposition from her Uncle Luke.  There was no whining, no excuses, just the truth with a little self-awareness and regret and determination thrown in.  The thing is, she already has my sympathies, but she won them all over again as I heard her talk about her mother and the reasons behind everything.  Jason asks who knows, and she admits that Luke does.

Jason:  "When you know people had sex, is there a particular comment you're supposed to make?"

Carly:  "But, at least it made me the guilty one and not him."

Carly:  "So, I told Tony--and I'll...I'll have to tell AJ--that the baby's not his."
Jason:  "That oughta shut him up."
Carly:  "I told him it was yours."

Jason:  "Well, if you need to get married I gotta tell you I'm kinda busy right now."

Jason guessed that the other man she slept with is AJ, and she's amazed for some reason.  She thought AJ said something to Jason.  He reminded her that they used his bed and didn't make it up.  Ewwww.  At this point, she told the story of drugging AJ and then told him that she's told Tony somebody else is the father.  He said that sounds good, and she told him she named him (the inflections on these lines were wonderful!).  Finally, he's shocked just a little bit.  Then she almost started whining and pleading.  Jason's just amazed that she never thought about getting caught, and she admitted she thought Tony would see that she had done it to keep them together.  Now she had to do something, because if she let them take her child she would be no better than Bobbie.  Jason said he won't lie for her because he's no good at making up stories, but he won't deny it either.  Carly took the deal because she wants to buy time.

Jason let her stay but warned her about the possible danger.  She took the deal again.  In a very astute moment, he notes that she rarely gets away with things but she keeps trying.  He admires that.  In his practical way, he sees immediately that she should get to keep the baby.  He repeated the deal at the end of the episode...just in case we missed it the first time.  ;)

On Thursday, she teased him about not listening in to his business.  He told her she was already in danger and she finally seemed worried.  He offered to put her up in an apartment, but she told him that she needed to be around him because he knew everything but didn't think she was horrible.  She could stay until there was a risk or he changed his mind.  He pointed out it would look better for her in court if she didn't live with him; she dismissed that.  He pointed out that she had lied as well...but she had too!  ;)  She said she hated Tony.

C. Tony and Alan

On Tuesday, Alan entered Tony's office as Tony smashed Carly's picture (of course, it's one of the pictures Virginia Benson had of Carly back in High School, but we're not supposed to notice that).  Tony filled Alan in (translation: repeated the whining and self-pity he expressed to Bobbie the day before).  Alan told Tony that he's a liar too.  Tony responded by telling Carly's latest lie--that Jason's the father.  Alan believes it--I think because he wants to.  More on that later.  Tony became scared about AIDS and Alan broke the law and told him that Jason was HIV negative this summer, among other details.  When pressed, Tony admitted that Carly might not be lying, feeding into Alan's desire for Jason to be the father.  He asks Alan not to tell anybody, but Alan insists on telling Monica.  As he left, he commented on AJ's paternity and said that when God closes a door, somehow he opens a window.  I think Jason's baby is that window for Alan, even if that line isn't really clear.  He was stunned by all of this, but he never took a pill....

D. Tony

Tony:  "Because I'm the father."
Jason:  "Because you had sex with her?"

Carly helped Jason do the bills for Luke's...until Tony showed up.  This scene was amazing.  Tony spoke as if Carly wasn't in the room, demanding the truth from Jason.  Then he actually claimed that custody was like ownership and ranted that Carly would never keep this child.  Jason met everything with his usual demeanor and put up a stonewalling like you wouldn't believe.  Never lying, he deflected all the questions, leaving Tony with no foothold (His best response?  "And?").  But Tony was angered at the fact that Jason was so cold about the baby when fatherhood meant so much to him.  But Jason insisted that he couldn't own the child and that taking care of the child was up to Carly.  At one point, Jason threw science in Tony's face, pointing out that science had said that Jason wasn't able to take care of himself.  Tony decided this was revenge.  Finally, faced with Carly's anger and Jason's stoicism, Tony resorted to demanding that Carly return to the apartment because of the women who had died because they lived in that penthouse.  Jason told him to leave.

Carly:  "He is such a jerk."
Jason:  "Ya, he is."
Carly:  "Oh my gosh! Why?  How in the world?  What is wrong with me?  I almost threw my entire life away trying to be good enough for some...some self-righteous, narrow-minded, pompous, old..."
Jason:  "Doctor?"
Carly:  "Exactly."

Carly:  "Jason, you are the best friend anybody ever had."
Jason:  "Cuz I'm doin' what you want?"

Carly had another moment of revelation once Tony had left.  She couldn't believe that she had ever loved such a man.  I don't approve of everything she's done, but I'm so glad she's seeing that she doesn't need that man's approval for her life.  She asked why Jason didn't say anything; it wasn't his business, he said.  He affirmed her opinion and said that Tony was boring.  Too funny.  But he told her that she should be ready for the fight and gave her the card for the lawyer Justus had recommended.  Carly asked him to go with her, not only to pay, but also to do everything they could to become the legal father.  She was headed out to pick up her stuff with the help of Jason's guard, when AJ showed up at the door.

I love these two together!

E. AJ

AJ informed her that he could prove her lies simply by asking Jason the question: "Are you the father of Carly's baby."  Jason wouldn't lie.  They went on for several scenes, with her going on about her relationship with Jason and him talking about the view.

AJ:  "But believe me, Jas.  You don't know her like I do."
Jason:  "You're right.  I know her better than you do."

AJ:  "This baby is either mine or it's Tony's.  Why can't you accept that?"
Jason:  "Because I don't agree with that."
AJ:  "What do you mean you don't agr...  Are you telling me that you could actually be the father of this baby?"

As Carly yelled at him to get out, Jason arrived and calmly asked AJ why he was there.  They sent Carly upstairs and AJ launched into the list of things she had done to him.  Jason told him he had heard them all.  And I think that was the thing that upset AJ the most--that his brother could know all these things and not seem to care.  I hoped that he would ask how long Jason had known, but he didn't.  Upstairs, Carly grew worried, and at the end of the episode, AJ seemed to ask Jason the important question.  But I know Jason will dodge it come Monday and repeat his line to Tony--that you can't own a child.

V. The Spencers

A. Luke and Bobbie

Luke:  "Why is it so much fun, no matter how old I get, to scare my baby sister."

Luke:  "Well sure they fight, Barbara.  I mean, wouldn't you fight if you were one of them?"

Bobbie came back to Tony's office to see about him and Luke snuck up from behind and scared her.  Too cute and too real.  He noted her worry, and she told him that she thought Tony had just broken up with Carly.  He didn't think Tony would give up the chance to be a father; Bobbie told him about the custody suit and filled him in on Tony's change of heart.  She called him arrogance, and Luke asked if she was on Carly's side.  She said no, but that Tony's attitude and actions annoyed her.  At the same time, the thought of Carly as a mother scared her.  She spoke of pregnancy and children, and he knew what this was about for her.  But he didn't tell her to put it behind her or let it go.  He just held her.  You know, I don't think I'd want to be married to Luke Spencer, but I sure wouldn't mind having him for a big brother.

I was, however, waiting for Bobbie to tell Luke that Tony had hired Alexis....

B. Luke and Lucky

We had a fascinating set of scenes with Luke and his son on Thursday.  All kinds of people were up in arms, as usual, over Lucky's general brattiness and Luke's poor parenting skills.  But judgements aside, I thought the scenes were--I'll say it again--fascinating.

Amy:  "Actually, he's worried about Nikolas.  He just doesn't want to admit it."
Luke:  "I'm not so sure about that, Amy."

Amy asked Lucky if he was there to see Nikolas; he said no.  Luke set Amy straight (while wearing my new favorite shirt--but not my favorite jacket--and I got to hear my name from Luke again  ;) ), and told Lucky not to get upset, that he believed him (but I wonder).  Lucky said he had a question, and they sat down to talk.  Lucky said that he was confused because he had imagined Nik dead but then he had run for a pen to help Jason save his life.  He claimed that he wasn't a Spencer because he was weak and that Luke should be ashamed of him.  At this point Luke was in disbelief, and I was hoping that he would begin to see how warped his son's logic had become.  He was leaning back away from his son at this point, with a look of measured attention, as if he wanted to hear Lucky go to the end of his thoughts before he responded.

Luke:  "Now what it does mean is there's a big difference between wanting somebody dead and watching them die."
Lucky:  "There's a difference between wanting to kill someone and letting them die."

Lucky continued, saying that Luke had done the same thing, and more, to save Nik's life.  He didn't understand that.  Leaning in to him at this point, Luke told him that he wasn't ashamed, that Lucky was most definitely a Spencer, and that wanting someone dead wasn't the same thing as watching them die.  For me, this was all about the difference between the emotion of hatred and the reality of watching a person die in front of you.  Tough stuff.  Notice the rewrite, because Lucky then said that wanting to kill somebody wasn't the same as letting them die.  Dad's words don't show personal agency anywhere; Lucky's show personal violence.  And he's mimicking that from his Dad too, for Luke made the same distinction after the cliff incident.  That means it shows progress for Luke, just a little itty bit.  I wanted Luke to notice the difference and comment on it, but I think, instead, he sized up the situation, knew there was no arguing with Lucky, and let it be for now.  The expression on his face wasn't pleasure, though there was some caring for his son.  The thing is, this was just like the calling Laura fight out in the hall.  We didn't get to see Luke's reasoning, we were just left to assume it, and most people assumed the worst.  But I saw worry in Luke's eyes as he smiled at his son, and I think we're just getting the tip of this new turn of events.

Luke has learned his hatred for all things Cassadines from years of experience.  And from these new experiences with Nikolas, he might learn to change his mind just a twitch.  It'll take forever and a day, of course.  But Lucky has learned everything from his Dad.  He's learned the rules and now the rules are changing.  And it's left him scared and insecure all over again.  He's anxious about his mom because of Nikolas, and now he's anxious about his dad as well.  I'm not saying it excuses anything, but I understand it.  And I think it'll be wonderful to see the relationship between father and son go through the changes that I believe are about to take place in the Spencer/Cassadine dynamics.  We're setting up, it seems, to have both Nikolas change his mind a bit about the Spencers and Alexis depend on them.  Fun!

But just to further my point, and because I'm trying to whip this out really fast and leaving off quote and such, I want to include (with her permission, of course) a post TJ put up about this subject.  She writes (and she rocks):

"Sometimes I think I should write a standard post that I can just zip in
when I want to answer messages like this.  Let's see.... how would it go?

"Hello, FGC Luke (Keeper of the Box of Hair and the Half-Smoked
Montecristo) here.  When watching scenes involving Luke, Lucky and the
Nik Complication,  here is a small list of things to bear in mind:
	1.	Luke Spencer may be a monomaniac, but he is more than
capable of change.
	2.	Lucky Spencer acquired his siege mentality with his
morning Cheerios, and has seen and done things no child should have been
exposed to.  But it's kept him alive from real threats to life and limb.
	3.	Luke keeps his own counsel, even from his son.
	4.	What Luke says, what he believes, and what he senses his
son needs to hear are often at odds with each other.
	5.	Lucky is not wired to be introspective.  He can be
sensitive to people and situations that do not threaten the fragile
microcosm he calls his life. 
	6.	Nikolas Cassadine threatens every aspect of his life,
because of the place Laura holds in Lucky's.  Lucky may ape his father,
but his love for his mother is positively Oedipal.  (The last thing
Oedipus Rex needed was a romantic, brooding brother Jocasta would moon
over._

Having said that, I should reiterate that I have not been a fan of
Lucky's for a long time.  I do understand him, however, and I have to say
I think many of those who have screamed about this conversation are
missing the point.  In fact, I took heart from it.

What Lucky was saying under the words, IMHO, was that he is so far out of
touch with his moral compass that he's scared, feeling adrift.  He has
believed that he wants Nik dead.  Literally.  And now, faced with a
situation when that goal could have been accomplished, he discovered it
wasn't really what he was prepared to do.  In his literal, adolescent
mind he is backing off of a horrendous assumption -- that his father,
too, believes that Nik dead is preferable to Nik gone (to Greece).  It's
not true, but he is too immature, under that worldly facade, to see the
difference, because even he doesn't realize the pressure-valve value of
rhetoric in Luke's psyche.  Now that his father has in effect given him
permission to start thinking less concretely and more emotionally, Lucky
is pathetically grateful to learn that thought doesn't have to translate
to deed.  It's a beginning.

However it was delivered, that's a good message for Lucky to have.  Luke
hasn't told him a Spencer kills Cassadines.  Lucky looked at the
empirical evidence: he loves and wants to emulate his father, and his
father HAS killed Cassadines.  Luke knows his own heart, and is coming to
grips with the reality that Nikolas has the right to a micron of it for
Laura's sake.  But he's sure as hell not going to tell his
black-and-white kid that, not before he has absorbed baby lesson #1.

Luke is Luke.  Nothing I can do from my armchair will change the way he
thinks.  But, surprise!  I don't want to change him.  I want to see how
he changes himself.  Lucky too.  Just one opinion among many."

VI. The Cassadines

A. At the Hospital

At the beginning of Tuesday's episode, Katherine entered Nik's room, waking Stefan, who had been sleeping while sitting bolt upright at Nik's bedside.  I actually found myself calling him Cousin Stiff in my head.  Mushy chat ensued.  When Nik awoke, Stefan spent several minutes filling him in on the nurse and the weather (taking into account the rain that had wet Carly and run down Brenda and Tony's rooms as well as the snow on PC earlier that day).

Nik wrote a note asking about Sarah, and Katherine said that only family members were allowed in.  Bobbie came in and Katherine asked her about the policy.  Now, I was confused, because I thought Katherine knew that Stefan had ordered there to be no visitors, but now I can't find that scene, so I'm not sure we saw that.  At any rate, I'm surprised that she didn't know, since she's so in the know and considers herself family.  Bobbie said that it wasn't hospital policy, and I think I remember Nik looking at Stefan knowingly, but that might be my memory playing tricks on me.

Bobbie:  "If I bring you another pad and a pen, would you mind not speaking too?"

Bobbie:  "Well then, why don't you take it up with her husband.  Maybe you two will find you actually, finally, agree on something."

Anyway, then Katherine went out into the hall to talk to Sarah.  Again, she was acting like family and it was driving me nuts.  In the meantime, Bobbie confronted Stefan about his attitude towards her, and I found this confusing too, since the other day he had been so pleased to have her help and to show her Nik's response on the clipboard.  Ah, well.  Stefan said he had no problem with her care, but had a problem with her because her brother and Morgan were responsible for Nik's condition.  The talk turned to Laura, as he asked if Laura knew about Nik.  Bobbie said no, that Luke agreed with him.  And as Judy put it in her update for that day, "The pen and paper idea is now unnecessary, as Stefan is struck dumb."  I will say that the "takes" on people's faces just before scene changes seems to be getting longer these days.  Maybe it's just me.  But her description cracked me up, because I was thinking the same thing in a less humorous way.

Out in the hall, Sarah proves that she knows Stefan better than Katherine when she says that he blames her for Nik's accident.  Katherine says she'll talk to him.  Again, drive me crazy!  They chatted about Nikolas for a while and his friendship with Katherine.  Boring females bonding.

Bobbie:  "Oops!  I forgot to poison him."

Back to Nik's room, where Bobbie is playing General Jones (but at least she hasn't said it yet).  As she leaves, she makes the above comment to Stefan.  Too funny!  Bobbie rocks...sometimes.  ;)  Unfortunately, this drew some more fire from Stefan, who started bringing up her drug theft and insinuating threats against Luke and Jason.  Bobbie says she'd love to see him take this up with Jason Morgan.  I agree!  The thing is, where once I would be terrified for Jason's life and waiting on pins and needles for the confrontation, now I'm just laughing at the thought of Stefan facing Jason, who would be completely unimpressed.  Bobbie offers Jason's address (she was on a roll) but Stefan says he doesn't need it.  Should I be scared?  (Sorry, I'm feeling a bit catty here at the end of the semester.  Too many student papers in too short a time.)

B. Katherine and Stefan

On Wednesday, Katherine came downstairs to find Stefan and ask him if he had slept at all.  They talked about Sarah and Nikolas and Stefan insinuated that he wouldn't leave them together for long.  He blamed himself for Nik's injuries, saying that Nik had wanted to be ordinary and having a girlfriend and a car and all resulted in this.  Stefan related a time when Nikolas was four and had almost drowned in the ocean, and I realized that the man can still move me. 

C. At the Hospital

Stefan was worried about Nik still being on the ventilator and brusquely asked Bobbie where the doctor was.  As he left to find out himself, Katherine took Bobbie aside and asked her to leave Nik's case.  Bobbie didn't fall for her kind tone, and told her that if she had a legitimate reason for wanting a change of staff she could take it up with Alan Quartermaine.  She also pointed out (finally) that things sure were different between Kat and Stefan...but didn't stick around for the explanation.  I continued to be annoyed with Kat, if you couldn't tell.

Sarah showed up, asking about Nik, and Kat let her go inside and see him.  We were treated to lots of kisses and cuteness.  Ick.  But it was a change of pace in a tense week or two.  Stefan returned, not pleased to see Sarah in the room, and indicated that he might not be so tolerant in the future.  We had more mush here too.  Ick.  The doctor examined Nikolas, took him off the ventilator, and said that he should rest his voice for another day.  He wasn't going home yet, but things were looking good.  Bobbie sent the family out and then said those dreaded two words...General Jones.  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

Nikolas:  (writes something like) "Since when did U treat me like an equal?"
Stefan:  "Since I nearly lost you."

On Friday, Liz teased Lucky about going to see Nikolas and then they went to find Sarah.  In the meantime, Nik and Stefan had a conversation that started out sweet, got tense when Stefan suggested he stay at home with tutors for his recovery, then sweet again when Stefan told him he wouldn't meddle in his romantic attachments.  The above was the end of that exchange.

Katherine:  "Well, you will never guess who I was just with."
Stefan:  "You're right.  Guessing is not our strong suit."

Lucky:  "But if she decides she wants to be with him all I can do is wish her luck."

When asked if he wanted to see Sarah, Nikolas's gestures were hysterical.  When Kat let her know he was asking for her, she dumped Lucky and Sarah...and Liz noted as much to Lucky.  She commented on his feelings, and he said that he considered Sarah a friend and didn't really care if she was going out with Nik.  Playing it tough, eh?

Sarah:  "I'll call you.  We can have wonderful one-way conversations."

Sarah went in to Nik.  She had bought him a silver jingle bell so he could call for assistance as he rested his voice.  More mush ensued, until Stefan suggested indirectly that she leave.  Nikolas grew sullen at Stef and Kat at that point, while Sarah thanked Stefan for allowing her to see him.  He thanked her for raising Nikolas's spirits.  Outside, she asked Katherine if Stefan would keep her from seeing Nikolas; she said she didn't think so.  I am so bored by the pair of them I could spit.

Stefan:  "The insolence of that young man is rivaled only by that of his father's."

Inside, Nikolas wrote a request, which Stefan immediately denied.  He wanted to see Lucky, and when he moved to get out of the bed, Stefan caved, saying he didn't appreciate blackmail.  He informed Lucky of Nikolas's request and Lucky said he'd think about it, walking the girls out.  Katherine told Stefan that she thought it was a good idea for the boys to figure out how to coexist together.  I'm so sick of her saccharine tone and her sweet tone in these scenes I could...yes...spit.  Stefan wasn't convinced.

After Alexis had gone, we had some more Kat/Stefan mush and a scene where Stefan told Nik that Lucky had been told of his request, and they left the hall.  Lucky came to Nikolas's room then.  Nikolas noted that it was Laura's birthday, and Lucky told him that neither his family nor Nik's uncle had wanted Laura to know of his condition.  Nik looked shocked and Lucky taunted him to write something, thinking he was responding to the news about Laura, but then Nik tried to speak...and the words were all a jumble.  By the end of the episode, Nik was frightened and Lucky was realizing something was wrong.

D. Alexis and Luke

Alexis:  "Who is it?"
Luke:  "Santa's tallest elf.  Biggest too...

Alexis:  "Well, turns out I'm leaving."
Luke:  "What is it?  Royal business at the little kingdom that thought it could but maybe it can't?"

Alexis:  "You didn't come here to inquire about my health, so whatever is buzzing around in that mangled circuitry you call a mind, let's hear it quickly."

Luke:  "I have friends in the record industry."  [Note:  Lois and Brenda?]

Alexis:  "Because I'm an experienced observer of human nature and you're as easy to read as a flare gun."
Luke:  "Ok."

Luke:  "Now that your family history is buzzin' around in the air you never know who's gonna take bug spray to it."

Luke:  "If you'd like to listen to this alone, just say so."
Alexis:  "Consider it said."
Luke:  "Consider it done."

While all of this was going on at the hospital on Friday's episode, Alexis called for an update and was told she needed clearance from Mr. Cassadine.  To make matters worse, Luke showed up at her door (if anybody can make out the second half of that line, I'd appreciate it--I don't have time to make it out on my slightly fuzzy audio).  He came bearing gifts.  Opening his coat, he revealed a red ribbon sticking out of his pocket.  Taking it out, he announced that it was a tape of her mother singing.  She was floored, but managed to ask him what he wanted in return.  He said that perhaps, later, he would ask a couple of favors, but for now, this was a gift (and somehow, I think he liked giving her that tape).  She told him she would never act against her family (never say never, Miss Davis), but accepted the tape.  He asked if they were going to listen to it and she told him the story about listening outside the door when Mikkos played opera.  She wondered aloud if she'd ever heard her mother.  He left on her request.  I think he might have wanted to stay, in case she needed support.  And I think she might have wanted him to stay.  But they're not to that point...yet.  ;)  I love them together, though, and was glad to have this brief encounter.  We've had precious little Luke these two weeks, but the scenes we've had have been all kinds of interesting.

The scene of Alexis listening to her mother sing was so beautiful they made me cry.

She went to the hospital and asked Stefan to be put on the list to get information about Nik.  He turned her down cold.  And when she asked Katherine to give them a moment alone, Katherine told her not to try to drive her away again.  Alexis tried to step towards Nikolas's room, and Alexis backed away.

When she got back to her room, the music was playing.  She thought it was Luke, but then she realized...just as the woman in the chair turned...that it was Helena.  I'm so EXCITED!

VII. The Quartermaines

Edward: "Just what we need.  A baby hitman in the family."

On Wednesday, Alan entered the den where the Edward was ranting over the morning paper and announced that there would be an addition to the family.  Everyone looked at Monica, but Alan explained that it would be Jason.  So much for not telling anybody but Monica.  I think, though, that Alan needed to gloat a bit over the new arrival.  Ned pegged it when he told Alan that becoming a father wouldn't make Jason return to the Quartermaine fold.  That must be what Alan's thinking; or maybe he's thinking that the child will.  He presented it as absolute fact and wouldn't hear it when Emily and Monica claimed otherwise.  Most everyone was skeptical.  Justus pointed out Carly's past theft from his office; Monica ranted about her being pathological; Emily brought up Robin; Ned was unfazed; Edward responded with the above.

Things went on and on until V arrived, asking for help with the Brenda situation.  Actually, she brought the news of Brenda; the family hadn't heard.  The family pitched in and V was thrilled.

In the end, Monica and Alan sat apart, and she told him that she knew Carly was using both of their boys.  But she wouldn't give details.  I had no idea how Alan would interpret things, but I knew he wouldn't follow Monica's instructions to ask AJ about his own Carly encounter. 

I was right.  On Thursday, Alan brought it up with AJ and again passed it off as fact.  AJ was stunned, but the more he protested the more Alan smiled smugly and became convinced he was only jealous of Jason.  AJ made every common sensical argument in the book, but he knew Alan wouldn't confront Jason about it.  And he knew it was because Alan was proud of Jason for being a father.  After Alan left, AJ filled in Keesha, who wondered why Carly would name Jason.  Then he set off to ask Jason that very question.  I was really irritated by Alan's demeanor, but I wasn't surprised.  Sigh.  I was mostly irritated that Alan didn't flat out ask his son what he knew about Jason.  AJ might have told him; he told Keesha as much.

VIII. Felicia and Mac

When Felicia got to The Outback on Wednesday, Mac was laid out on the bar, holding a lily.  She was not amused, and dumped a pitcher of water on him.  Insensitive again.  Outside, Tess made Jimmy wait in the car while she went in and pretended to grieve.  Mac and Felicia asked all manner of questions about the burial and we could see Mac growing suspicious.  She said she had ordered the body cremated.  She asked for some documents and said she was leaving town.  She rejoined Jimmy outside while Felicia told Mac his suspicions were unfounded.

Jimmy scolded Tess, back at the hotel, for not having the story thought out.  But Tess reassured him and said they were ready to move on with the next phase of the plan.  At this point, I was completely ready to hear the plan, not because I'm enthralled, but because I'm so tired of them trying to make me suspicious and nervous when I don't have enough clues about what's going on to care!  Sigh.

On Thursday, she told Mac again that he was wrong to suspect Tess.  Unfortunately, he turned out to be right.  Tess set things up so that Felicia would go to school on a PTA call.  She then had Jimmy call Mac and tell him that she had tried to kill herself.  Mac the rescuer fell for it, went out to the hospital, where things went according to the plan...until he noticed the syringe in Tess's hand.  At this point, Jimmy came out of the closet (so to speak), conked Mac with a hairdryer, and Tess stuck him with two syringes full of some vet medicine that would leave him conscious but unable to speak or move.  Then Jimmy went to The Outback and was there when Felicia got back...and didn't suspect.  Meanwhile, Tess informed Mac they'd be going to the woods...for a very long time.