The Week in Review: January 5 - 9

I.  Baby Boy Morgan

A.  Jason and Mike

Jason:  "He's one tough little kid."
Mike:  "Like his dad."

Mike:  "You're gonna be alright, kid.  You've got one hell of a dad."

As Monday began, Mike arrived at GH to see the baby and found Jason, still there watching over him.  Jason told him that he was allowed touch the baby but thought that Carly should be the first.  Mike complimented Jason and spoke about fatherhood and Sonny; Jason shrugged it off and went to see Carly, asking Mike to stay until the little one fell asleep.  I love Mike.

B.  Carly

Carly was trying to walk--to get out of the hospital.  She said that everybody around her hated her and when Jason defended Bobbie's actions Carly only grew more snarky.  Carly was determined to be a better mom than Bobbie had been, but now she couldn't even touch her own child.  Jason left as Bobbie entered.  She couldn't say anything right; Carly resented even the kindest of suggestions.  So Bobbie left--but never once raised her voice to Carly.  Not that it helped; Carly then just felt bad that she had railed on someone who only wanted to help.

C.  AJ

AJ:  "Maybe it's for the best.  The baby doesn't have to grow up with its parents hating each other."

Meanwhile, AJ asked Amy for the baby's blood type, saying Lila wants to know.  As he waited for the information, Keesha arrived and he told her that he was going to sue for custody.  Due to AJ's ignorance about blood typing, Amy's news that the baby is B+ meant--to AJ--that he is not the father.  To add insult to injury, Amy let him know that Jason had officially changed the baby's name to Morgan.  He was stunned, realizing for the first time how much he wanted this child.  It was somehow different than Tony, who was vehement about his rights to the child.  AJ was regretful, where Tony was angry.

D.  Carly

Carly:  "Why are you here?"
Tony:  "To finish things between us."
Carly:  "You're late.  As usual."

Carly:  "But in the end, all you cared about was the baby.  You didn't love me, so was it my fault that it was never yours in the first place?"
Tony:  "Yes."

Tony arrived later to get in his parting shots.  Talk about kicking somebody when they're down--but Tony had no reason to know that she was suffering from PPD.  Anyway, he cruised into her room, glaring, and told her that she destroyed his life.  She noted that she didn't do it all by herself, and manages to make a good showing for one that pale and sick.  Tony brought BJ into the mix, but she told him that she was willing to let him raise the child no matter who was the father--that she had wanted them to all be happy and that she had loved him--and when his son had turned out to be better than he ever was, he would simply have congratulated himself.  But then he told her that she would be a horrid parent.  At this point, all she could muster was an "I hate you," but it was vitriolic enough for me.  He simply replied, "I know.  And it's mutual."

Bobbie returned, having heard from Carly's doctor that she does indeed have PPD.  Carly asked her to take her to see the baby so she can prove that she's alright.  Bobbie took her down to the nursery and Amy told her how well the baby was doing.  But Carly still couldn't take it.  She stumbled out into the hallway, meeting AJ.  In another strong contrast with the ranting Tony, in the face of her condition he simply took her to her room and told her that he knew Jason's the father.  He was conciliatory and admitted that he had simply wanted to be a father.  Carly was stunned, but responded by telling him that there was once a time she liked him.  Jason entered (where was he when Tony showed up?) and AJ congratulated him, asking him if fatherhood mattered.  Jason coldly responded that it wasn't his business--probably because he couldn't manage any other kind of answer.

After AJ left, Carly explained blood types and why AJ misunderstood.  She told Jason that this was her break, and that while both men had backed off she had to take some time away to become stronger for her child.  She said that if she stayed she'd do something wrong and take the child away from her (leaving it isn't something wrong?!)--but not if Jason protected it.  Jason said that AJ should look after the baby while she's gone; she refused.  Carly said she would return, asking Jason to take care of her child until then.  This was the one point at which I thought it odd Jason wouldn't do his research.  Knowing she had PPD might have changed his approach.  But this was the way to write Sarah Brown off for a few weeks while she worked on a movie.  Jason seemed convinced, however, that Carly would return, and I thought that maybe he might not be so quick to believe her.  Of course, he's always had this strange kind of belief in Carly.

E.  Luke

Bobbie:  "What's the matter?"
Luke:  "Nothin'.  Yet."
Bobbie:  "Hm.  Well now you're scaring me.  Come on.  I'm on duty in the nurses' station in five minutes."
Luke:  "Do you know I love you baby sister?"
Bobbie:  "Ooo.  Now you're really scaring me."

Back at the nursery, Luke was checking on the baby--backup for Jason, he said, when Bobbie asked.  In light of her attachment to this child, he didn't chide.  He simply told her that he loved her.

"The long December and there's reason to believe maybe this year will be better than the last...if you think that I could be forgiven, I wish you would."  In the closing montage for the day (I love these musical montages), he went to Carly's room and found that she's gone.  The look on his face was one of relief mixed with worry and anger.  Also in that montage we saw Carly boarding a plane and looking at her hospital ID bracelet and Jason with the baby as Bobbie looked on--it was so cute to see him so tentative but happy as the baby took his finger.

Jason:  "She's Carly's mother and the baby's grandmother.  Why wouldn't I listen to her."
Luke:  "My niece and I had an agreement that she wasn't gonna tell anybody."
Jason:  "I guess that's why you tried to run her out of town?  Last year she showed up at my place..."
Luke:  "Hold it.  Jason, I didn't try to run her out of town.  That's gotta be a misunderstanding.  And as far as showing up at your place, I assume it was unannounced, because, you see, that's a Spencer trait.  We do that all the time; it's called an ambush."

On Tuesday (my birthday!) we had some wonderful scenes between Jason and Luke.  Luke was there, visiting the baby (cute!), and Jason reprimanded him for touching the kid.  Luke dodged the question and asked him why he took Bobbie's advice over the doctor's.  Jason said matter-of-factly that it was because Bobbie was the baby's grandmother.  Luke's reaction was too funny!  He of course didn't miss a beat being stunned, he simply rolled with the revelation, not giving away his emotions.  Next, Jason half-amusedly noted that this must be why Luke had tried to run Carly out of town.  Luke smilingly denied having threatened Carly, knowing all along, I think, that Jason wasn't buying any of it.  They went back and forth, letting each other know what they knew...to a certain degree.  I adore these two together, and I'm hoping for more of the Jason/Luke/Justus dynamic.

Luke:  "No.  When Barbara finds out she's gonna find out directly...from Carly."

Luke:  "It hurt to know that she'd lost her old man.  But it woulda hurt a lot more if she'd known the itch in Tony's shorts was her own daughter.  So I figured, you know, the best thing to do would be to get rid of Carly, of course.  But for some sentimental reason I couldn't kill her."

Jason: "So you're probably not gonna kill her."
Luke:  "I'm not?"
Jason:  "Luke, I don't want trouble with you.  Do you want it with me?"
Luke:  "My trouble is with Carly."

Luke:  "She left this kid?  Man that's cold!  Don't you think that's cold?"

With most of the cards on the table, Jason and Luke discussed Carly under Jason's protection and whether Bobbie should know at this point about the kid.  Luke said that he would rather have Carly tell her own truth, but doesn't believe that she'll return.

Jason:  "She was, uh, blackmailing Carly."
Luke:  "I figured."

In the middle of their conversation, Lorraine arrived to see Carly.  Jason subtly threatened her by listing her job and address and sent her away.  She went and found Tony (see below).  Luke was, of course, unfazed, but it was a nice underline to Jason's promise to protect Carly.

Luke wanted to know why Carly hadn't used Jason before.  Jason said it was because Sonny was Luke's friend, but that Sonny wouldn't have let Luke hurt Carly either.

Luke:  "So the problem is do I tell Bobbie the truth and have her hate me for a little while until she realizes Carly is a nightmare, always will be a nightmare, and the only thing important is her grandson, or do I keep my mouth shut and let her believe that the kid in there is just one more baby that she's delivered in her career--you know I like the sound of that."

Jason:  "What's it matter if she's the kid's grandmother or someone who likes him a lot?"
Luke:  "A grandmother is blood, Jason."

Jason:  "Luke, you know as well as I do family is who you love...and respect and honor and learn from.  And those are people you choose for yourself."
Luke:  "That's true.  But not when you're 5 days old."

Luke:  "You gotta keep your kid away from the Quartermaines.  They can't wait to put a silver spoon in his mouth and ship him off to military nursery school.  I don't want my sister havin' to ask some...what, butler if she can visit her grandchild."

Luke:  "Are you nuts?!  That kid is a diapered sitting duck!"

Jason asked Luke not to tell Bobbie when he finally announced that he was going to.  Jason said it might matter to Carly; Luke was skeptical that Carly had any connection to that child at all.  Luke said he'll give her a month and then he's telling his sister the truth.  They also agreed that the Qs would be kept away--Luke thought he was nuts for keeping the kid with him--and that Bobbie will be allowed to see the child (in exchange for Luke's month of silence).  The humor here was that Jason was letting Luke be a part of the decisions--he was holding all the aces, at this point.  Diplomat to the end, when he wants to be.  Luke was worried about the child's safety, but Jason reassured him (filling him in on Moreno), saying also that he would never let Carly hurt Bobbie.  Either he's overconfident or he's quickly become a master at the art of Mafia promises that you may or may not be able to keep.  But I was amused at the exchange all the same, as the two men decided everything...when it really lies with the women.

One of the most interesting points of their discussion was the distinction between blood and family.  Luke's a big believer in bloodlines, while Jason--due to circumstances--believes only in the family you choose.  And their main problems come when they have to deal with the other's version of life.  Luke has to deal with Carly being blood even though he doesn't like her.  He has to deal with Nikolas being Laura's blood.  And on the flip side, Jason has to put up with the Qs because they are blood, when he would rather never see them again.

Finally, Bobbie arrived and asked Jason about Carly.  He gave very little answer and asked her to help him find a nanny for the child while Carly was gone.  Luke smiled in the background.  Then Bobbie went in to visit the child and he grew pensive again.

F.  Tony

At the PC Grill, Tony was drinking at the beginning of Tuesday.  Lorraine arrived, as if by chance, but I highly doubt that.  She tried to ingratiate herself with Tony, but he grew angry when he found out that Lorraine had known about Carly's sleeping around.  Of course, Lorraine was talking about AJ but Tony thought it was Jason.  Tony continued to moan about his troubles and said that it all came down to the fact that Carly trapped him with great sex.  Lorraine suggested that she could meet that need, but he told her that she was a user just like Carly and left.

Back at the apartment, Tony arrived, drunk as a skunk.  Brad Maule gave a wonderful performance as Tony entered, saw the baby things, played doctor to a little rubber ducky, and then threw everything out the balcony doors.  He then went outside, lay down in the hallway, and slept.  Tony is doing so many wacko things these days, but I love it because everything is so totally in character and in keeping with his history.  Tony's breakdown is fascinating, and Maule's been absolutely fantastic.

On Wednesday, AJ woke him up in the hallway and he spat more accusations at him.  AJ was shocked to hear of Carly's departure.  Tony left and went to meet Alexis at the grill.  He insisted that he was going to lay a claim to the child because he had thought it was his for so long.  Alexis tried to talk logic, but Tony was beyond logic.  I can't believe he still thinks he could have a chance at that baby, but I understand his obsession.  He returned to the apartment, picked up his stuff, kicked the door in and left the keys in the floor.  No word on where he's staying, but I assume it's the PC Hotel.

G.  Jason and Justus

Taggert:  "That's your idea of cooperation?  Admitting that Sonny's not coming back?"
Jason:  "Detective, it's what you're afraid of.  Now you will never get the chance to frame Sonny or lock him up for the crime of having a pig for a stepfather."

Downtown, Taggert made not-so-veiled threats about Robin to get Jason to talk.  On Friday, they continued their questioning, and Justus arrived to free him, scoring points easily--too easily for my taste.  But I love seeing Justus go up against Taggert, and would like to see some transference of T's hatred for Sonny and his business over to the "brother" who's taking up with the likes of Jason.  In the middle of everything, Jax arrived to offer whatever help he could give to bring Jason down.

H.  The Spencers

Luke:  "Jason isn't here?"
Bobbie:  "No, and I haven't seen him all day.  Any ideas?"
Luke:  "Maybe."

After Alexis left (see Cassadine section), Bobbie approached and told her brother that she had asked him to come so that it would be easier for her to say goodbye to the child.

Bobbie:  "Are you sure you're ready to take him?"
Jason:  "I have a nursery, a crib, a nanny, and a book."

Bobbie:  "Well, you know, there are a few things that you should know before you take him."
Luke:  "Welcome to the wonderful world of diapers."

Justus:  "Ah, Jason.  I enjoyed myself today.  God help me, I had fun."

Jason headed to pick up the baby, who was going home that day.  Bobbie gave him some instruction while Justus and Luke swapped barbs--actually, Luke was the only one barbing.  It was wonderful to see Jason speak to the kid like he was just another person, and Bobbie just beamed, especially when Jason let her hold him.  The contrast between her baby talk and his book learning was marvelous, and I thought they made a charming trio.  At one point, Jason checked with Justus, who was still hesitant to sign on.  Bobbie asked after Carly, but he wouldn't tell her why Carly had left.  He just assured her that Carly would return.  Bobbie noted that Carly had always ridiculed her for exactly the same thing--leaving her child.  When he got home, Robin was there to meet him...and we all knew that she had lots of questions.

II.  Brenda

A.  Brenda

Brenda had taken out the scissors at the end of Friday's episode and held them to her face.  On Monday, she sat in front of the fireplace, cutting out the faces from all the pictures of herself she had in her apartment and burning them.  You know, that can't be an easy thing to perform.  But the images were haunting, and I applaud Marcil's work again in this storyline.

When next we saw Brenda, she appeared normal, and was happy to hear from Jax that he was bringing her a surprise.  But as she hung up, the camera brought our attention to the photo of Brenda on the end table...with the face cut out.

B.  Jax and Robin

Jax:  "I keep wanting to help Brenda.  And she keeps letting me.  I can't anymore.  For both our sakes."

Meanwhile, Jax was on his plane with Robin.  He admitted to her that he shouldn't have taken Brenda out of the hospital, and that he couldn't be the one on whom Brenda depended anymore--it wasn't good for either of them.  So he was bringing Robin into the picture.  Brenda clearly still needs someone, so I suppose Robin was as good a choice as any.  I was hoping, at this point, that this would mean Robin wouldn't fall back into her old patterns with Jason and we'd instead get more of Brenda and Robin.

Jax complained about Jason and told Robin that she didn't know him, didn't understand that Jason was a killer.  Robin noted that she broke up with Jason for that very reason.  Hmm.  I thought she broke up with him because she was afraid he'd be killed, not that she was worried that he'd kill somebody....  They agreed to disagree.

C.  Brenda and her Visitors

And in the closing montage, Robin arrived at Brenda's door.  On Tuesday, she reluctantly let Robin in, almost immediately announcing that Jason wouldn't be allowed there.  Robin agreed, saying she wasn't there to see Jason, and looked puzzled.  Brenda tried to catch Robin up on her condition, but she managed to still sound paranoid and angry.  Later, Robin asked her about the picture with no face, and Brenda told her that she had wanted to destroy her face and the rest because it was the only thing that Sonny had ever loved.  Robin stupidly tried to disagree, and Brenda decided that she was spying for Sonny.  In the end, Robin called Felicia and FakeMac picked up--he didn't know who she was.  Brenda overheard her telling somebody that she would meet them and had lots to tell them and was convinced, it was clear, that she was talking to Sonny or Jason (same thing).

Brenda:  "I'm so sorry that I didn't get you anything; I was kinda tied up."

On Thursday, Emily came to visit Brenda and bring a late New Year's present (someone should have warned her).  Unfortunately, Emily couldn't stop talking about Jason and the baby, not only letting the cat out of the bag (or the straight-jacket) with Brenda, but also serving only to annoy her--and give her ideas.

Brenda:  "Once you know who they really are, then they can never ever hurt you again."

Brenda:  "Now we're even, Jason."

When Robin returned, Brenda accosted her about visiting Jason by telling her that she didn't have to lie about where she had been.  Ick.  Bad taste in my mouth city.  When Robin didn't relent (since she was actually seeing Mac, after all), Brenda tore into Jason, telling her about the baby and about Jason kissing her the other day.  Robin was left all but speechless (probably not because she believed Brenda completely, but because she was shocked that Jason hadn't told her), both unbelieving and worried.  Then Brenda pleaded with Robin--actually she demanded that Robin not let Sonny and Jason ruin their friendship (The last decent one in her life?  What happened to Jax?).  Sigh.  She wouldn't stop, even though Robin was saying that she didn't want to hear it.  She coated it all with a concern for Robin's welfare, but it was clear to me that she wanted Robin to hurt in exactly the way she was hurting--in addition to the stated reason for the behavior, above, that she was making Jason hurt through Robin.  Cold.  By this point, it was clear to me that Robin was going to serve as Brenda's punching bag for quite some time, and was actually willing to do it, since she didn't know how to handle Brenda otherwise.

Brenda:  "Sure.  Ya.  I believe, uh, that you've been just about as honest with me about Sonny as I've been with you about Jason."

Brenda:  "You need to learn that Jason never loved you and that every single second that you spent with him was a lie and that every single thing between you two was a joke."

It continued on Friday.  Ned arrived with an update about Brenda's legal problems.  He greeted Robin and asked after Brenda; Robin told the truth.  Later, Brenda returned from a work to get the news.  It was worse; Star TV was suing her for breach of contract over the unfinished special.  Again, I thought that this was too much trouble to the point of being silly, but I trusted that Guza was setting us up for something else.  Brenda reacted with happiness, saying that she didn't have to worry about anything anymore, and refused Ned's offers of help.  Robin made a call to Jax about her weird response, and again Brenda thought she was calling Sonny.  Brenda sent Ned away and attacked Robin again--I think they both got the irony in the above statement.  She told Robin that Carly probably wasn't the only one, that Jason was everything that Robin despised, etc., but she continued to insist that she was trying to protect Robin by opening her eyes.  Jax entered to hear the end of it, above, and Robin left while the door was still open.  I hope Jax realized that he had made another...shall we say...miscalculation.

Brenda:  "I really wish that you would stop running things for me, alright!"

Jax:  "Look, you can't dismiss me, ok?  I am part of your life, like it or not."
Brenda:  "Well, I don't like it."

Then Brenda yelled at Jax, who was hesitant to reprimand her but really wanted to.  She was angrier when he tried to intervene in her business dealings.  She told him that she didn't need his help and resented his interference.  He suggested a therapist; she became enraged and insisted that she was fine.  The funny thing is, I think she was saying things that she needed to think and to feel, but at the same time it was very hard for Jax to hear.  After everyone was gone, Brenda got out the scissors again.

I think the writing has been good this week, if a little repetitive.  I find it believable that Robin would not know how to handle Brenda--would know that she was lying (or hope) and yet not want to confront her about it.  I think that Brenda's belief that Robin was headed down the same path she had taken makes sense, as does her desire to hurt Jason through Sonny.  But somehow this story doesn't interest me.  It's like it's been too long in coming, this rebirth of Brenda through a trial by fire, and I just am not invested in it.

III.  Felicia and Mac

Felicia:  "Well, I'm not trying to impress anyone.  Especially Mac."

On Tuesday, Bobbie was at the brownstone visiting Felicia, who had purchased new clothing and was complaining about Mac at the same time.  Felicia was trying to explain the changes in Mac, until FakeMac arrived in the flesh to gush over her and render all attempts at description moot.  They were off to dinner, but Felicia sent him off to fix the toilet.  Bobbie seemed amused, and while Mac was out of the room, the gals discussed Carly and Tony and Mac.  Felicia couldn't explain why Mac makes her so uncomfortable--Bobbie looked like she had her guesses.  In the end, Felicia decided to attempt to distract Mac with the prospect of Dara and called her.

Can you believe this storyline has been dragging on since October?!  Sigh.

IV.  The Quartermaines

A.  The Family

Justus:  "Sorry Edward, call me humorless, but I have a strong aversion to the buying and selling of human beings."

Wednesday began as many days do at the Q house...in a fight.  Alan and Edward were delusional about having the baby at the house while Justus rebuked his grandfather for planning to pay off Carly (Monica and Lila were appalled).  The usual conversation ensued about Jason and the baby.  Meanwhile, Ned and Justus were clashing over business, as usual.  When he left, Lila told Edward he should pay attention to Justus, the grandson already under their roof. Ned and Edward then discussed Justus, and Ned noted that Justus's days as the ELQ legal council were numbered.

B.  AJ

Ned:  "I guess I must have underestimated you.  You might turn out to be a Quartermaine yet."
AJ:  "Yes I could.  I just might wind up showing you all."

AJ arrived to hear the news about Carly, and he took it as a sign to tell his father the whole truth; Monica went outside to guard the door.  He told, and Alan actually believed him....up to the point at which he had slept with Carly.  Instead, he claimed that AJ was covering for Jason.  He announced AJ's sobriety to the family as if it were all in a day's business and they all responded in a similar manner.  AJ's news took second place to the news that Carly had left town.  They simply invited him to the board meeting.  Ned alone took it upon himself--as always--to comment on AJ's announcement while the others discussed the baby.  He and AJ went a few rounds and then AJ left with the above line.  I'm wondering now what his plan is.  Even as I've seen past this week in question, I want to know what his motivations are.  Is he trying to ingratiate himself within the family, or is he trying to prove them all wrong about Jason...or both?

I was disappointed with this.  I thought that perhaps this would be the catalyst for some heart-to-heart father and son stuff.  But it's been delayed again, what with Alan's addiction and the baby dilemma.

C.  Justus

Meanwhile, Dara had arrived to warn Justus away from Jason and inform him of the dealings with Marino.  Justus responded by dodging her questions...and asking her out.  She told him that if he put out the effort to actually call her, she would consider it.  You go, girl.

D.  Ned and Alexis

Ned:  "Now when are you going to come home with me so we don't have to continue this affair in public places?"
Alexis:  "Are we having an affair?"
Ned:  "A guy can dream, can't he?"
Alexis:  "Your eyes should come with a warning label."

After the morning discussion about Justus, Ned arrived at the PC Grill to proposition Alexis...and then to tempt her with the possible opening at ELQ.  She didn't promise anything, but their conversation was a joy to watch as usual.

E.  The Board Meeting

Monica:  "No, you have passed optimism and hurled right into giddy.  What are you on?"
Alan:  "A beautiful dose of my wife on a daily basis."
Monica:  "Well, just keep on taking whatever it is."

At the beginning of Thursday's episode, Alan and Monica dressed for the board meeting.  Monica noted his mood, but he said it's his desire for her as well as the thought of Jason's child in the house and AJ's sobriety.  She headed downstairs, leaving him to fill his pill bottle.

Justus:  "I'm not a partner, Edward, I'm an acquisition."

Downstairs, Edward and Justus were discussing Jax, primarily because Edward knows that his relationship with Justus is a weak link and that Jax may try to exploit him.  Justus recognized the real motivation and put the discussion to rest.  Ned and Jax entered.  Jax and Edward swapped comments about the Tracy debacle, and Ned asked after Brenda.

Lila:  "Elegance is a dying art."
Jax:  "Not as long as you're around."
Ned:  "I think we know what Jax got for Christmas.  A shovel."

Lila entered next, happy to be charmed by Jax.  Meanwhile, Ned was pleased that AJ is nowhere to be found while Edward was thrilled that Jason wasn't coming...so of course she showed up at that moment.

Monica:  "Jason, she abandoned her child.  What does she have?  Post partum depression?"
Ned:  "She must have heard the Quartermaines were coming."
Lila:  "That's enough to give *me* post partum depression."

Alan wanted to see the baby; Edward wanted to talk about Carly.  Jason confirmed that Carly had indeed left.  The responses, above, were hysterical--Lila's been getting the best lines lately.  Alan offered all of their support.  Edward was flabbergasted to find that Jason's not there about the baby--he's come for the board meeting.

AJ:  "Love is like an Olympic event.  If you don't bring home the gold you're off the team."

Meanwhile, AJ and Keesha were at dinner, discussing the Qs and filling her in on his dad's reaction to his truth and his re-acceptance into the family.  AJ spoke of how much he wanted the child, but he also spoke of how that would have served his father right, if the baby was his.  It was a mix of selfishness and selflessness, exactly in keeping with AJ's disappointment both over the baby and because of his family.  AJ says that he's still trying to be Jason, and Keesha reprimanded him for his attitude, praising him for becoming his own man.  They went to the board meeting, and it seemed to me as though AJ had decided to prove something to his family.  Keesha bores me to tears, but she's the only one with which AJ speaks of his desire to be a father--the thing that sets him apart from Tony right now.  Maybe we need more of it.

Edward:  "Ned, dammit, do something.  Now.  Come on."
Ned:  "Alright.  I now call this meeting to order.  Any old business?"
Edward:  "Don't get me started."

Back at the meeting, Edward ranted about Jason having Sonny's proxy; Jason wouldn't sign it over because Sonny had left it in his trust.  Alan told off Edward, saying that Jason wasn't Sonny.  Ned ignored it all and started the meeting.  Ned had a plan to renovate the waterfront.  Justus was angry that he hadn't been informed; he also noted that Jason runs the docks even if the Qs own it.  Lila didn't see the problem, but Edward immediately started to see the problem.  My FGC Rinaldo broke in at this point to speak to Jason out in the hall, leaving the Qs to contemplate this new turn of events.  Personally, I like it, and I hope that this deal drives the Q story the way that the Incinerator project did several years ago.

Ned:  "Junior, if I didn't know any better I'd swear you were almost respectable."

Later, Justus gave Jason the word from Dara (Jason told him that he already knew and noted the relationship between Justus and Dara) while Monica told Alan to stop pushing Jason.  At this point, AJ and Keesha entered, much to Ned's usual mix of dismay and glee.  AJ informed Ned that they'd need an environmental report for the project--Edward had sent over the agenda--and said he had friends from the City Council working on it already.  Edward continued to rant.

Back inside, Ned and Edward bickered about AJ; Lila had gone upstairs to watch How Green Was My Valley (starring Anna Lee, the lady who plays Lila).  They are all interrupted by Garcia and Taggert, who have come to arrest Jason for the murder of his lawyer Valentine (Awwwww.).  Justus left with Jason and Edward tried to stop him.  He wanted to leave Jason in jail so they could get their hands on the kid.  A huge amount of bickering ensued.

V.  The Cassadines

A.  Stefan and Katherine

Stefan:  "How would you suggest I temper my extremism?"

Back at Wyndemere on Wednesday, for the first time this week, Katherine and Stefan had that same old discussion about Nik's speech therapy--after discussing the appropriateness of their relationship in front of Nikolas.  Nik entered and sat down to some solo chess, ignoring Katherine's attempts at cheer.  Now, I'm on Stefan's side when it comes to the laissez-faire approach to Nik he's been taking on the speech therapy issue.  But does that mean he can't have any contact with Nik at all?  Couldn't he at least offer to be the chess opponent and then not push when Nik declined...this time?  It's a fine line between letting the boy make his own decisions and leaving him too much alone.  I side with Stefan, but if I were in Kat's place I would encourage him to spend time with Nik, rather than harp on the speech therapy.

B.  Nikolas and Emily

Outside, Sarah asked Emily to see about Nik and hid in the bushes when Kat came out.  Emily went in, and though Nik didn't want to see her at first because Stefan had dropped the bomb about Katherine moving in (he wasn't particularly happy), he agreed to play chess with her, and I was glad to see it.  But Emily had to ask Nik to read a letter from Sarah, which he didn't open immediately and didn't particularly look happy about.  Emily met Sarah outside and they departed; Nik heard them together and held the letter but didn't open it, instead crunching it into his pocket.  Yawn.

C.  Stefan and Katherine

Stefan:  "Would it be so difficult for you to follow my wishes regarding Nikolas?"

While Emily and Nik played, Stefan and Katherine discussed their discussion some more.  Katherine did insist that Nikolas needed companionship, but she didn't say it should be from him--she was talking about Emily.  Stefan abandoned the discussion rather quickly, I thought, and took her off to show her a surprise.  It was the guesthouse at Wyndemere (which we didn't actually see and haven't seen yet in several weeks, so I don't see the point).  Katherine was completely charmed, especially when he told her of the tunnels connecting the main house to that which would be hers.  Inside, she noted the similarity to Mikkos and Kristen, but Stefan insisted the same would not happen to them.

Now, some people loved this scene, finding it romantic.  I couldn't believe it.  Stefan invites her to move in and then changes his mind?  Indian giver.  And Katherine, daughter of a mistress, not offended at this little set up?  She should watch "Pretty Woman" and see how it's done.

D.  Nikolas

On Friday, after a supposed-to-be-sweet-and-sexy moment between Stefan and Katherine, Stefan filled Nikolas in on his grandmother's arrival and warned him to avoid her or at least be on his guard.  Afterwards, Katherine filled Nik in on the new arrangements.  He wasn't happy, but he didn't object even though she gave him the opportunity.  In a very obvious contrivance (as everything about that guest house has been), Nik attempted to write a note to Sarah telling her that he had plans of inviting her to stay in the guest house.  The attempt to write to her was ok by me, however, and in his frustration he crumpled the letter and went out riding, much to Katherine's distress and worry.  On the beach (and they brought in a real horse), he dismounted and when his horse was spooked by something and looked to see what it was.  It was Helena, complete with cloak and hood, come to visit.  Hee!

E.  Alexis and Luke

Luke:  "Well then it's been fun.  Make sure they sprinkle your ashes upwind of my club, will ya, so I can toast you as you blow by."

Luke:  "Don't bother to stock your refrigerator."

Luke:  "And Bobbie never tried to hurt me.  She only hurt herself."
Alexis:  "And if she had?"
Luke:  "If she had?  I don't know.  Maybe I woulda forgiven her; maybe I wouldn't.  But I wouldn't have killed her.  You see that's the difference.  Big-hearted Lucas Lorenzo, you see.  Your last, best bet.  Your last chance."

[Ed. note: Luke's a B5 fan?]

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Alexis approached Luke as he was looking at the baby.  He reminded her that she hadn't given him an answer and she told him that she would handle things herself.  She told him that she would find a way to find acceptance and even Stefan's trust, and that she had already told Stefan that she was his sister and he hadn't killed her.  Luke was flabbergasted that she would give up her "ace in the hole" so easily and quickly.  He left her, but she came back later to argue her side.  Funny thing, she got about 10 words out of her mouth and Luke stopped her by voicing his convictions again.  You'd think that she doubted her position....  And Luke asked her why it mattered to her that he approve of her plan.  Anyway, he left her saying that she'd rejected his help and she was on her own.