The Week in Review: January 19 - 23

I.  Baby Boy Morgan

A.  The Kidnapping Thwarted

Monica:  "What's going on?"
Edward:  "Nothing that concerns you."
Monica:  "I beg to differ.  Last time I checked, this was my house and these were my children."

Emily:  "Well, if you won't tell her I guess I just will have to.  My birthday got called on account of kidnapping."

Monday found the brothers still in a face off.  Jason insisted he wasn't leaving the baby with them and asked why Tony was there.  Concern for the baby, they actually managed to say with a straight face.  They tried their attempts at reasoning with Jason again, until Monica arrived home from the spa.  Nobody would answer her questions, so Emily took great pleasure in announcing to her that they were trying to steal the baby and had used her to do it.

Justus:  "Edward, don't presume to speak my mind.  Not now, not ever again."

Justus:  "Edward, if you throw that word family at me one more time, I swear I'll take a hit out on you myself.  We may be connected by blood but we are not family.  You people don't know the meaning of the word."

Justus:  "I know what happened, Edward.  You went for another acquisition and you lost.  Three ways.  You lost Jason, you lost any hope you ever had of having a relationship with that child, and I know this might go down a little easier for you, but you lost me."
Edward:  "Now you hear this.  You walk out that door and you need never come back."
Justus:  "Well Edward, that suits me just fine.

Justus:  "Ned, you take care of her.  In fact, you take care of everything.  I abdicate."

Jason asked Emily to take the baby from Alan and give it to him.  AJ asked her not to, but she told him he was wrong and did as Jason asked.  Tony tried his party line about parenting on her, but she gave the baby to Jason.  Justus began to rant at all of them; Tony ranted back about him working for Jason.  Justus simply announced that he could have the whole lot of them up on abduction charges within the hour.  Jason told AJ that he could come by and have something out with him anytime; he told the rest of them that they would never see the baby again (Emily and Lila excluded, we assumed).  And as Jason left, Alan and Edward threw "family" up in his face as usual.  Justus refused their understanding that word, especially on the anniversary of Granny Mae's death, and turned to leave.  Edward yelled at him that if he left now, he wouldn't be allowed back, and Justus took him up on his offer.  Emily wanted to leave with him; he wouldn't let her.  As Ned entered, they told him what had happened and then Justus announced his abdication and left.

Of course this kidnapping was about more than the baby to Justus.  It was about the Q's drive to possess every member of their family so they can use them and then preach family loyalty.  It was about him.  And I was applauding Justus every step of the way, since his is the only voice that may reach Edward on the subject.  I loved these scenes, not for the stupid actions of the would-be kidnappers, but for the way the responses of every person in the room were so in character, so filled with history and meaning and relief and delusion.  So many relationships between Qs were affected in that one act that we're going to be treated to the aftershocks for some time.

And one last observation before I finish out the day for the Qs.  Justus's above line about the distinction between blood and family struck me because of a conversation Luke and Jason have recently had on the same subject.  It seems to me that Guza is examining that distinction between blood and family--between the family you are born into and the family you choose--in a big way.  Most of all, he's deliberating whether there can really be a distinction--whether you can choose away your birth family.  I love it.  Because the family relationships are what drives GH for me, not the romances.  The friendships are great as well--but then again, that's still family of the chosen kind, isn't it. 

Monica:  "Emily, I'm very sorry."
Emily:  "It's not your fault.  They fooled you too."

Ned:  "You stage an ambush to steal a child and I'm the sick one?"

Alan:  "We've grown apart.  And the road back...probably long and bumpy.  But I'm willing to take it if you are."
AJ:  "Absolutely."

Back inside, Emily raged that she was used--on her birthday no less--to get Jason to the house, and I could see Monica in her.  Amber is picking up the behavioral patterns of the other Q actors very well, I think.  Emily went off on Edward and was even harder on AJ.  She went upstairs.  Then Monica tag-teamed her and went on her own tirade, especially about getting sent to the spa.  Next in line came Ned, who of course focused on AJ and AJ's jealousy of Jason, going so far as to suggest AJ caused the accident with Jason on purpose to remove the competition.  But I think he had something when he claimed AJ just did this to "look good in front of the grown-ups."  AJ said Ned must feel threatened at his return to the family; Alan backed AJ up--which was something to see, out of all of this.  If AJ's plan was to curry his father's favor by joining in this plan, he succeeded.  Alan was a big AJ supporter at this point.  But I don't think it'll be that easy.  I don't think they can find peace with each other until they face some of the stuff that lies between them rather than just agreeing to put it out of their line of sight.  But perhaps the most humorous part of the ensuing free-for-all was Edward screaming at Tony that he had used the Qs.  Good lord.  In the meantime, Emily snuck out of the house, going out the same window from which she almost fell last year when she was on drugs.  And in the end, Edward was concerned about Justus's departure, while Ned seemed oddly relieved.  And Monica found the note from Emily that she had gone to stay with Jason.

B.  Jason and Justus

Justus:  "I didn't mean to kill him, but he didn't end up any less dead."
Jason:  "Sounds to me like you were defending what was yours."
Justus:  "And that makes it right?"
Jason:  "It's not for me to say."

Jason:  "But if you're looking for somebody to beat you up about it, I'm not your guy.  You seem to have a handle on that already."

Edward had, it seems, good reason to be concerned.  Justus went to Jason and told him that he was through with the Qs and ELQ.  He actually told him everything--spoke of Mary Mae and revealed that he was Damien Smith's killer.  Jason had no reaction, even when Justus reminded him of Laura.  Jason simply asked if Justus had a reason to do what he did; Justus said he did it to save everything Mae Mae had worked for.  Jason said he couldn't blame Justus, but he could offer him a place to stay (he had sold the firehouse to Scotty Baldwin).  He had bought Katherine Bell's old penthouse when she moved out for "security reasons."  He offered it rent free; Justus said he would pay his own way--edging up to that line in the sand that separates him from Jason's world.  Jason said that taking the penthouse did not mean that he was automatically working for Jason.  Finally, Justus realized that he had been armed at the Qs earlier, but that he knew he wouldn't have to use the gun.  Justus warned him about guns and kids.

C.  Jason and Emily

Emily:  "Do you hate them?"
Jason:  "I don't...I don't feel anything.  I never have.  To me they're just loud, you know, and they want stuff from me that I don't have.  So I just try to stay away from them."

Emily:  "Well, bet you want to forget this birthday as much as I wanna forget mine."
Jason:  "Well, it started out rotten but it's turnin' out to be okay."

Justus left to look at the penthouse while Jason reassured the baby that he would never let anything happen to him--especially not the Qs.  He would keep him away.  And Emily soon showed up in tears.  Jason assured her that he knew she'd done nothing--that they'd used her.  He told her that she could stay there with him for a while.  Robin had sent over a cake for Jason's second birthday, and they shared it together.  Emily asked if they were back together; no, but he and Robin understood each other.  The kidnapping attempt, while making so many people look so stupid, was worth it simply for this scene, of Jason smiling and cutting the cake while Emily held the baby.  I love those two together; I love their trust of each other.  The next time that trust will be broken--the first time?--will be when Em finds out that the baby is Jason's.  There's been some talk of how that will affect her, and I have to say I think that after this night, she'll understand exactly why Jason was keeping him away from the Qs.  She will feel badly for AJ, and even be a little angry out of general principle.  But she won't turn her back on Jason.  I'm willing to bet.

D.  Justus

And in the final scene, Justus stood in the penthouse, contemplating Mary Mae and the life choice before him as she sings "Everytime We Say Goodbye."  A beautiful shot, and Phillips is only winning me over more and more since his reappearance on the scene.  I hope for much more Justus to come--and a little bit of Mae Mae every once in a while.

E.  Mike and Jason

Jason:  "See, you were right Mike, he likes you."
Mike:  "Heh heh.  How can you tell."
Jason:  "He doesn't smile at everyone."

On Tuesday, Mike paid a visit to Jason and the kid.  They had a nice talk about parenting.  Jason described the kid's routine--too cute--and Mike took pleasure in thinking about what Sonny would have thought of this new turn of events.  Mike rocked the child--too cute again.  I love what this has done for Mike.  It's brought back all of these father feelings, these regrets, and he has nothing to do with them because Sonny isn't there.  So he visits the kid and tries not to give Jason too much advice.  Mike was concerned that Emily was staying there as well.  In the end, Jason told him to come over again, if he wanted.  I'll bet he does.

F.  Alan

Monica:  "Sure.  She will probably come home, yes.  But what will it matter if she never trusts us again?"

Back at the Q house, Alan attempted to reconcile with Monica but she would have none of it.  She had spoken with Emily and given her some time at Jason's.  She blamed Alan for ruining any possibility for reunion with Jason and simply hoped that Emily wasn't just as lost to them.  She pointed out that she was a victim of guilt by association because she was married to him.

Alan:  "Our intentions were good.  No they weren't.  They were selfish.  They were even cruel.  Not only was our plot absurd beyond comprehension, we managed to destroy the very foundation of what we were trying to preserve.  I'm just so sick of myself lately; I can't seem to get anything right."

After Monica left, Alan had several drinks.  Lila entered and watched him, upset.  When he noticed her, he was abashed.  Lila noted that he didn't confide in her any more, and he tried to explain what was bothering him.  This was a sweet scene of mother and son.  It's precisely why I love the Qs so much--because of their multiple generations, you can reiterate themes of familial relationships and the same relative configurations between any number of characters.

G.  Monica

After leaving Alan, Monica went to Jason's.  She wanted to talk about Emily, but Jason was very cold with her, seeming to blame her as much as the others--which I didn't think was fair.  He didn't even let her touch the baby.  Don't he and Monica have some kind of understanding that they've been working towards?  But that was gone, as far as I could tell, and I didn't really understand why, when it was clear she hadn't been a part of the kidnapping.  Emily entered and Monica asked her to go home.  But Monica couldn't promise that the Q males wouldn't use her again, so she declined, asking for more time.  I couldn't blame her, really.  Not this soon after her revelation about her family.  Monica understood, but she was hurting.

Taking the news back home, Alan claimed he would force Emily back home, but Monica shot him down.  Finally, she said, she couldn't convince her that their home was a better place to live than Jason's was.

H.  Emily and her Visitors

Meanwhile, Jason headed out on business, leaving Emily alone in the penthouse.  She was cute, offering at first to go with him but knowing she couldn't when he said it was business.  But she realized that she missed her family, I think, as she sat there alone.

I had a minor interruption on Thursday as well, but thankfully the ratsa update was complete, so the content is all there, even if I missed out on some quotes.  I believe it was Jan Yarnot's update--thanks Jan!

On Thursday, she told Jason about her homework.  Again, I think she was missing her family.  What cracked me up was that Johnny would be helping her with geometry!  Jason again told her that she could stay as long as she wants, and showed her the shaker with the cash.  She still blamed herself for not knowing what had been going on at the house.

Alan showed up a bit later.  After some other explanations, he told Jason that he loved Emily and that he wanted her home--that he didn't want to lose her too.  Emily came in at that point (as Jason had to leave on business), furious with Alan for showing up there on top of everything else.  She refused to come home.  And finally she told him that she loves him--and that's why what he did hurt so much.  He left, asking her not to punish Monica at the same time, and Emily cried after he was gone.

Lila:  "Jason, I want to apologize to you for what those stupid, jug-headed Quartermaine men tried to do to you."

Lila arrived at the penthouse next--you know that the Q drivers and Jason's men were having a laugh about the Q parade into the penthouse.  She had come to see Emily to give her the birthday present and to work on the quilt they had started together.  And in speaking to Lila, Emily decided to come home.  Jason returned to find the two of them quilting.  Too funny!  Lila apologized for her men-folk.

I.  AJ

Meanwhile, Jason had been at the Grill, where AJ was telling Keesha about the "intervention."  She was not impressed, and was worried about his motives.  He claimed that he really had good intentions, but I still don't buy that.  Jason had entered, and AJ had followed him into the restroom and ranted at him about how much he--AJ--didn't care.  Uh-huh.  Right.  Back in the restaurant, Keesha kept looking at Jason, who was talking with Benny.

J.  Jason

On Friday, Jason and the kid were on their way home from the pediatrician when Jason decided to check on a shipment (Jason had asked if it was hurting the kid that Carly wasn't there--I wonder if he'll ever blame her for leaving?).  He sent the kid home with the driver and he and Rinaldo got out.  In the middle of the delivery, shots rang out--Moreno's people were trying to take out the shipment.  Jason fired back, despite Rinaldo's pleading to get down; he said he refused to lose this shipment.  I was reminded of Sonny's instructions to let other people do the dirty work.  Jason's still too involved with the little stuff, I think, and this situation is proof that he needs to practice his delegation skills.

Jason:  "You know, I made a mistake...when I said I'd take care of you.  I mean, you take care of a dog or a business.  But a kid?  You have to love.  And look, I don't know if I told you or not, but...I was in an accident and I damaged my brain and I...I can't think like other people.  Now look, most of the time it doesn't matter, but I missed...I missed a lot of things when it came to you...that I shoulda understood about you.  You have a right to more...then a place to sleep, food to eat.  You have a right to a life...and a name.  And I know I've made you wait too long because I guess I though Carly should be the one who gave them to you, but...but she trusted me to do it.  You know I had this friend once...who, uh, who believed in me...and gave me the chance to live the way I wanted to...and taught me everything I needed to know.  I'm gonna do the same for you.  I know you're too young to make decisions, but when you can...and until you can I'm gonna keep you safe...and give you whatever you need.  Starting with...a future...and a name.  And I'll love you...for as long as you need me to.  I swear."

But Jason didn't think of what this means about his approach to business.  He only thought of the kid.  After setting some things in motion with his people, he called Justus and asked him to write up a will.  He named Bobbie as the kid's guardian and trustee, much to Justus's surprise.  But the speech above, given to the baby when they were alone at the end of the episode, had me in tears.

And I love Jason with Justus.  For all his belief that he's doomed and on the path to destruction, Justus is one of Jason's truthtellers.  And with the strained relationship between Robin and Jason and the bias of Emily right now, Jason needs a truthteller, both in life and in business.  Justus is perfect for him, because he only gives Jason the truths he asks for, rather than preaching.  They shine in their scenes together, Phillips and Burton, and I wish for a long and interesting partnership between Jason and Justus.

K.  Justus

Justus:  "It's not that I'm any less guilty.  I just would like to enjoy myself on the road to damnation."

Justus:  "Quiet as it's kept, Edward, I love you too.  But I hate what I have become listening to you."

While Jason was out, Justus was back in his new penthouse.  Edward arrived, wanting to talk about what happened.  He asked Justus to return to ELQ and admitted that he was wrong.  Justus turned him down.  Edward spoke of Mary Mae and family history, but Justus told him that he couldn't return.  They told each other that they loved one another--very sweet.  But Justus stayed, despite Edward's warnings that Jason would turn him into a criminal.  These two are fabulous--their relationship is fascinating.  And I hope that Justus's moving into Jason's part of the canvas doesn't mean the end of these great scenes.

II.  Brenda

A.  Brenda and Jax

Brenda:  "I am so grateful to have you in my life."
Jax:  "What brought that on?"
Brenda:  "I'm just trying to concentrate on the good things in life now instead of drowning in the bad.  And since the day I met you you've been at the top of the good stuff list.  So thank you for being my friend."
Jax:  "Right back at you."

Brenda knows The Good Stuff?  ;)

On Monday, Brenda explained to Jax what had been going on inside her head and told him about her visit to Lily's grave.  He didn't tell her that he'd overheard most of it.  She told him that she was really glad to have him as a friend and he agreed.  What I didn't understand was why they had to have any scenes at all other than the Qs on Monday.  I wouldn't have minded a bit more of them.

B.  Brenda and Ned

On Tuesday, Brenda and Ned met at the Grill to discuss her financial situation.  Ned wanted to give her a job or a loan on her shares, but Brenda wouldn't take it.  Instead, she wanted him to buy her L&B shares so that she could pay off her lawsuits.  He agreed, only on the stipulation that she could buy them back at any time.  I wondered if newer people would have any idea what L&B was, and that made me a little sad, since that was a good time in the lives of these characters.  A time that I miss, but am not sure could be recreated--or even should be attempted again.  If Lois comes back in the future, it would have to--for my taste--be a less idealistic time.  But it was good while it lasted, and I would never want that part of history to be swept under the rug for long.

C.  Brenda Sans Job

Later, Robin joined Brenda for lunch.  In discussing Brenda's future, Robin convinced Brenda to go to Lucy and find out about her modeling job.  Brenda did go, leaving Robin to chat with Felicia, but Lucy wasn't in.  Don was there, and let slip that they were thinking of another model.  Brenda took that to mean that she was definitely out and left.  Brenda was really shaken.  Robin was worried, but Brenda told her that she'd had it easy in her modeling career before and now she knows that it's what she wanted and she is willing to work hard to get it back (sounds like she's talking about Jax)--she was very confident at this point.  I assumed that this was where we were headed--a period of time in which Brenda has to work at her life. But in the end, I know that she'll simply regain everything she wants and won't be much different.  She will have gotten there on her own, so maybe she'll be more tolerable.  But I got this sinking feeling that the breakdown was already in the past.

III.  Mac and Felicia

A.  Felicia and Jimmy

Robin:  "I mean, don't guys that age get really weird?  I mean, I love him to death, but look at Tony Jones."

In an attempt to make up for the birthday fiasco, Jimmy gave Felicia a sweater/blouse on Tuesday and asked her to lunch at the PC Grill.  She hesitated, but agreed, since he gave her very little choice, finally.  At the Grill, Robin (at lunch with Brenda) greeted Felicia and they took a moment to discuss the changes in Mac.  Later, Jimmy actually suggested to Felicia that they take a room at the hotel.  She wrote it off with a laugh, wanting to believe very much that he was joking.

B.  Jimmy and Dara

Wednesday's show was riddled with holes due to the President.  Ratsa was just as affected, I think, what with all the TANs about said President and, apparently, some angry flame war breaking out quicker than you can say "Bomb Iraq."  But unlike the presidential interruptions, I could killfile the threads, so I'm not sure what went on.

At the beginning of the episode, Tess and Mac continued their little dance.  Figuratively speaking, of course, since Mac was still tied to the bed.  Jimmy called.  He needed information on Dara, since he had a date with her that night.  Tess quizzed Mac, who told her that Dara was one hot sex machine.

Jimmy:  "Why don't you go on upstairs and get undressed.  I'll be right with ya."

Now, this promised to be quite the funny incident in this boring storyline, and of course that's when the interruptions clicked in.  Felicia was actually disappointed that Jimmy was excited about the evening with Dara.  She split once Dara showed up.  Jimmy stalled until Tess called with the update.  It was too funny to watch his face as he realized that he would have to--get to--sleep with Dara to keep up his cover.  They went to the mayor's, came back, and then told Dara to go upstairs and take off her clothes--in so many words.  Interruption!  So I didn't see the response.

C.  Felicia and Jimmy

Back at the Brownstone, Felicia spent some time talking with Tony (he'd been keeping the kids), who seemed fairly sane, and told him about Mac.  She had wanted Mac and Dara together, but now was jealous.  Later, after another news interruption, she came to the door to find Jimmy.  He was there to drop off the tax forms...and to kiss her goodnight.

D.  Tess and Mac

On Thursday, we had more of Tess and Mac, who is now ill, possibly from the drugs in the orange juice.  Tess was careless that day, for she left the paper with FakeMac's picture on it and a hairpin, both where Mac could eventually reach them.

E.  Felicia and Jimmy

Meanwhile, Jimmy brought Felicia flowers, telling her some cheesy story about Greek gods.  Maxie put her two cents in, but Felicia sent her away.  She then told Mac that she didn't want to lose her best friend, but Jimmy just kissed her and asked her out again.  Once he was gone, Felicia tried on outfits.  Sigh.  Clearly once this mistaken identity stuff is over Felicia's going to have to face the fact that she wants Mac back.  And of course, he'll have no idea it's coming and may not reciprocate.  Sigh again.

F.  Jimmy and Tess...and Mac

Jimmy went to see Tess.  He told her that Mac had been lying.  They spat a bit about whose fault everything is, and then he let drop that he might want to stick around after the job.  She told him to reconsider, since something bad was going to go down.  Tess returned to Mac.  She screamed at him about the lies and Mac responded by asking who had called her from his number.  She left him, and then left the house with Jimmy.  Mac got both the hairpin and the paper, saw his photo with Dara, and headed out.  But before he could get out the door in his drugged condition, Jimmy returned.  Now, as my mother would say, we're cooking with gas.

While Felicia waited at the Brownstone on Friday for Mac to show up, Jimmy and Mac fought out at the cabin.  Jimmy won this round, but Mac demanded to know what was going on.  Jimmy actually talked a bit; turned out he has no idea what the master plan is.  He just knows that he has a safe deposit box with everything he'll need to get out of the country.  He offered it to Mac in exchange for trading places with him--he wants to stay with Felicia.  Mac tried to talk some sense into him about Tess while turning down the offer.  He was even more upset when Jimmy said that he and Felicia had a date.  Jimmy drugged Mac before he left.

Mac hallucinated about Felicia--and as silly as that sounds, it was actually interesting to see Mac's fears about her liking Jimmy's version of Mac better than the real one.  Meanwhile, Jimmy took Felicia to a flower shop...and proposed!  She ran out of the store crying.  Looks like Mac had nothing to worry about on that front.

IV.  The Cassadines

A.  Ned and Alexis

Ned:  "You'll never guess what just popped into my mind."
Alexis:  "The witty comeback to the first girl who turned you down."

Alexis:  "To put me in a 'yes' frame of mind."
Ned:  "I'll take that any time I can get it."

Ned:  "Did I say we were here to conduct business?"
Alexis:  "No.  That's how I knew."

Alexis:  "But it's comforting to know my family isn't the only one trying to kill each other."

On Tuesday, after seeing Brenda, Ned met for lunch with Alexis.  They flirted and remembered the night of the Nurses' Ball.  But she knew he was trying to sell her on ELQ.  He offered her Justus's old job, filling her in on the kidnapping, and she seriously considered it.  He set in to entice her with all the perks...when he got to the next-door office to his, she admitted she was pleased.  It was quite clear that they were mixing business with pleasure and that this was as much a seduction as it was a sales pitch.

B.  Stefan and Katherine

Katherine entered Wyndemere on Wednesday and told Stefan that she was being followed.  Stefan wasn't upset, and that upset her.  They spoke of Helena for a while, and Stefan tried to convince her that there was no reason to worry without giving any details.  Nik entered, and then they argued about speech therapy instead of Helena.

C.  Nik and Emily

Emily arrived to stop the discussions, asking to see Nik.  She wanted to ask him about her current family situation, since he had left his family for a while as well.  Unfortunately, Katherine couldn't help butting her nose in where it didn't belong.  But in the end, Nikolas told her--not wrote her, spoke to her--to "Go home."

D.  Helena and Alexis

Ari:  "The important thing as always is that you are pleased."
Helena:  "True."

Alexis:  "How charming.  A kidnapper with a David Niven complex."

Alexis:  "You could have phoned."

Meanwhile, Helena's "handyman," Ari, brought Alexis to her.  Alexis wasn't happy about her methods, but Helena took no notice.  She told her that they were going to take the power back from Stefan and had the cooking minion laid out dinner.  Alexis actually suggested that they could work everything out; Helena wouldn't hear of it.  It was to be business as usual.

Later, Helena gave Alexis her first job: to make friends with Katherine.  Now, how she thought Alexis would do that was beyond Alexis (and me), but after an interruption Helena said that she was quite confident Alexis would handle it.  I assume it's not friendship that Helena's counting on happening, but simply a way to feed false information and suspicion into Wyndemere.  There was a lovely shot of Helena running her fingers down Alexis's cheek that showed up later in a set of "previously" clips.  More on this as the plan unfurls and as I'm not having to deal with interruptions.