The Week in Review: February 2 - February 6

I.  Jason, Carly, and Michael

A.  The Baptism

Edward:  "What now, a hit squad?"
Monica:  "Worse.  Carly's back."

On Monday, the baptism continued with Carly entering the room and sitting in the back pew.  Terry noted in her "Eye for Detail" column that Bobbie looked back to see Carly just as the Priest announced God's blessing on his sons and daughters.  Nice touch.  Jason went back to her and asked her to join them at the altar, but she refused.  The Priest didn't make a big deal out of it, but we could tell that everyone there was ready to make his or her opinion known.

Jason:  "Carly is not going anywhere.  You should.  This is none of you business."
Monica:  "Yes it is, Jason.  And the longer you're a parent, the better you'll understand it."

Monica was the first.  After the ceremony was over, she immediately announced to Carly that she should leave again for good...for the baby's sake, of course.  Carly, nervous and unsure of herself as she was, put on her best Spencer scowl for Monica and everybody else.  Jason filled her in on everything (she thought the Qs knew and that's why they were there); she had thought it would be a funeral.  She still couldn't hold the child.

Bobbie:  "You're doing the right thing."
Carly:  "You always seem to know what that is, don't you Bobbie."

Edward and the Qs continued to grumble; Edward announced that he wouldn't leave until he'd held the baby.  When the Priest announced the reception, Jason added that the Quartermaines were not invited.  Marino was, however, because Jason wanted to get a first-hand sense of what he intended.  Bobbie was still trying her best to change Jason's mind on the Qs, and this time she took a different tact.  She asked what Carly thought.  Jason said that Bobbie could ask her and he would agree to whatever she said.  Bobbie asked and Carly said she didn't care.

As the Qs grumbled about their treatment, Edward especially (who was shut up by Lila, as usual), Jason thanked Robin for coming.  She said that she understood that it would have been awkward for him to ask her but that she was glad she was able to attend.  She was set to leave, however, but Emily talked her into coming to the reception.  But as they left, Jason exited with Carly and the baby, leaving Robin at the altar alone.  Very nice shot, because it highlights the motivations Robin has regarding that child.  She's jealous and angry, I believe, even if she won't admit it yet.  And I hope we get to see her deal with that.  Terry pointed out that she was at the same place in the church (though I'm not sure whether it was the same set) that Brenda stood when Sonny didn't show up to their wedding.  While the parallels between the two couples aren't exact, there are some similarities (which, for me, serve to highlight the differences) that are playing out beautifully.

B.  The Reception

Edward:  "Using your smarmy son's connections with Jason to...to weasel your way into my great-grandson's life."
Emily:  "Hey, Mike loves that baby just like I do.  That's why we're the godparents.  We didn't try to kidnap him."
Marino:  "No kidding?  The old geyser actually tried to snatch the kid?"
Justus:  "To the Quartermaines it's the ultimate act of familial devotion."

Jason and Carly went into the penthouse to catch a breath and talked about the baby, finally sending him upstairs with Laticia to stay, while the Qs and everyone else waited in the hallway.  Of course Edward grumped about that as well.  But once he was allowed in, he took a passing swipe at Mike and then his demeanor changed as he sidled up to Carly and informed her that they had things to discuss.

Meanwhile, Monica cornered Bobbie and thanked her for getting the family into the reception.  She couldn't believe Bobbie was still giving Carly the benefit of the doubt, and neither could I, quite frankly, though I was glad to see that somebody was.

Once Edward let Carly go, AJ was the next to approach her--stopping off to confront Robin first about her letting Jason treat the baby this way and telling her to have Jason sue for sole custody, saying that was exactly what he would do.  Turning to Carly, he told her about the kidnapping in his own terms and pointed out Jason's use of a firearm.  She was not impressed.  She told him that Jason knew he wouldn't have to use it because he knew that they were all weak and would back down.  AJ simply noted that Jason and Carly were suited for each other and wondered aloud what would happen when they turned on each other.

Edward:  "But I swear, if you let this thug throw me out, I will charge you with assault.  Not to mention the theft of a very valuable old antique silver bowl.  And two salad forks."

Jason approached, warning him away from Carly, but they were interrupted by one of the bodyguards hauling Edward downstairs--he had been trying to see the baby.  Edward threatened legal action...and Jason laughed out loud (along with everyone else).  Jason's been showing more and more expressions and emotions lately, and this one had me in the floor laughing right along with him.  He had Edward let go, however, at a look from Robin (ick).  Emily scolded Edward as well, but all the Qs were shown the door because of Edward's little stunt.  Jason made it very clear that he never wanted to see any of them there again--or at anything that concerned the child--with the exception of Lila and Emily.

After that excitement was over, Bobbie tried to comfort Carly, but she simply wanted to be left alone, especially by Bobbie.  In the meantime, Marino greeted Robin, telling her that he had known her family and mentioning what had happened to Duke when he tried to leave the business.  Most people read this as a threat, and Jason did as well.  I'm not sure it was a threat, though maybe it was a show of knowledge and power.  And maybe it was a warning for her not to try to convince Jason to leave the business again.  I don't think it was a threat against Robin.  But whatever the intent, I believe Robin was taken aback by the mention Duke.  She was reminded again of the people she has lost to this kind of life--and she doesn't like to think about Jason being in that life as well.  Mike noticed.

Jason:  "The Quartermaines don't matter.  You do.  I lost a lot when Sonny left; I'm just glad I didn't lose you."
Mike:  "There's no chance of that, Jason.  No chance at all."

Robin:  "Jason and I are none of your business.  And you and Michael are none of mine."

He was one of the last to leave.  Robin was still there, and Carly approached her to find out when Robin was leaving.  She wasn't.  Then Carly started to fish to find out what Robin knew, and Robin made the above declaration.  Too bad I didn't believe that she would follow it for a minute.  And, finally, there was Bobbie, who brought Michael down and tried to give him to Carly.  I don't understand why she thinks that she can make this better for Carly--she certainly has to know that she doesn't make Carly more comfortable.  But I do understand why she has to try, for Michael's sake.  Carly said she'd caught a cold on the plane and Bobbie let it drop...for now.

The reception was a scream, with the Qs and Marino and Robin and Carly and Bobbie all in the same room.  The mix was wonderful.  But my favorite moment was when Reginald tried to serve people and Jason took the tray away from him and made him take a glass of champagne himself.

C.  The New Family

After all the guests were gone, Carly awkwardly said goodnight and went to bed, after asking Jason what he would do with the baby.  Terry also noted how Carly would touch things that had been near Michael, even though she wouldn't touch him.  That was so sad to see--the longing on her face and the fear at the same time.  I was on her side already, but to see this side of Carly--the side few people see or believe exists--is, for me, to gain even more sympathy for her.  Jason held Michael for their nighttime conversation, and Carly quietly stopped on the stairs to look on.  The episode ended with that shot--Jason and Michael with Carly in the shadowed background, smiling just a bit and pained at the same time with guilt and frustration and sorrow.  It was a nice shot, and a manifestation of their relationships to that child right now.  I'm hoping for a shot later of Jason coming up upon Carly unawares when she's holding the child.  I like symmetry.

D.  Carly and Bobbie

On Tuesday, Michael cried and Carly started to go to him.  But instead she called up to the nanny.  Bobbie arrived to hear the baby screaming; she had brought him a present (she noted that he was outgrowing his clothes--meant to guilt Carly into going shopping) and was *very* peppy and supportive and encouraging.  Carly was not happy to see her; why would Bobbie think that she would be?  She started in on her immediately, but Bobbie showed restraint for once.  But she insisted that Carly should go see about Michael and kept asking if there were something wrong that she could help Carly understand.  And Carly simply left, rather than answer any more questions or hear any more advice.  Jason came back downstairs; Bobbie told him that there was something wrong with Carly.  But even given Bobbie's description of PPD, Jason insisted that he couldn't force Carly to hold Michael if she didn't want to.

Jason:  "Don't be afraid that he'll hate you because he won't."
Carly:  "How can he not?  I hate myself."

Jason:  "If I thought you would hurt him, I wouldn't let you near him, ok?  I promised to protect him; he doesn't need protection from you."

Carly:  "I don't care if Bobbie's interested in Michael.  I just wish she'd been a little more interested in me."

Carly:  "You know how I know that I'm not the world's worst mother?"
Jason:  "Hmm."
Carly:  "I gave him to you."

Once Bobbie was gone, Jason reassured Carly that Michael didn't hate her and told her that she could move at her own speed.  He told her the story of Sonny's behavior after Lily died and pointed out that maybe she just had to shut down for a bit like he did.  The kid wasn't going anywhere.  She realized then, I think, just how smart she was to give the child into Jason's care.  Jason doesn't judge her, and she certainly didn't need any more judgement at this point.  Luckily, the child won't judge her either, at this point.  And I looked forward very much to the time she would realize that.  But she's still blaming herself for his heart defect and still worried that she'll hurt him.  When she started to complain about Bobbie, Jason cut her off and said that if she wanted Bobbie gone, he'd tell her so, but that he'd asked Bobbie to leave her alone.  Carly didn't want Bobbie gone.  I think that it pains her that her mother wants to spend time with Michael, but I think that it gives her hope as well.

In the end, she looked on again as Jason had a conversation with her child.  He spoke of the coming of spring and what Michael would see when they went out then.

E.  Tony

Meanwhile, Tony was at GH, speaking with Alexis about the custody suit.  She, oddly enough, believed that it was over, since he wasn't the father.  Not so.  Tony still thought that he was the best caregiver for that child (foreshadowing?), repeating that he thought that the child was his, and insisted on continuing the case.

In one singularly stupid move on Bobbie's part, for which I slapped her, Bobbie ran into Tony shortly after this and she expressed her worries about Carly's PPD and the fact that she hadn't held Michael yet.  Tony's eyes literally lit up and he actually smiled as he hailed Alexis with the new good news.  She begrudgingly admitted that they might have a case for neglect, but still insisted that this was a losing battle.  She was taking note of his demeanor, and I was hoping that she would put 2 and 2 together and actually get 4.

F.  Carly and Jason

Carly:  "Just another helpful little tidbit of information for the mother who's never held her child from the mother who didn't keep hers."

Carly:  "If I'm not afraid that I'm gonna hurt him...do I just not care about him?"
Jason:  "I don't know.  What if I gave you a million dollars cash just to sign him over to me and leave town; you can start someplace else..."
Carly:  "I would tell you to go to hell."
Jason:  "I guess you care about him then, don't you."
Carly:  "Thanks.  You really have a million bucks in cash?"
Jason:  "Not upstairs so don't bother looking for it."

Jason was headed out to work on Wednesday.  Carly was concerned that she would be alone with the baby while Laticia was out buying him some clothes, but Jason said he wasn't leaving for a couple of hours.  She spoke of Bobbie and the irony that Michael knows Bobbie and not his mother.  She admitted that she had watched them together earlier and he said he already knew.  But he also knew that she'd come down when she was ready.  She talked about what she had done to her kid; Jason told her that it was ok she couldn't touch him but that she had to stop blaming herself for the baby's heart condition.  But she couldn't understand why she was feeling this way.  The above exchange was wonderful.

Jason:  "Carly.  I already said if you don't wanna see Bobbie I'll tell her to stop coming.  Right now she's here because I asked her to check on Michael.  She has a right to courtesy in my home, and if you can't understand that or handle it you can go upstairs while she's here."
Carly:  "I'll back off, but Jason, you know, please do not take her side against me."
Jason:  "The only side I recognize is Michael's."

Bobbie arrived then.  She and Jason talked about Michael trying to learn to roll over--too cute.  Jason had to leave, and Bobbie said she'd be glad to stay until Laticia got back.  Bobbie immediately offered the child to Carly, who made a snide remark.  Jason took her aside and told her that he had given her the opportunity to say she didn't want Bobbie there and that he wouldn't put up with her rudeness to guests in his home.  You go, boy!  He also didn't put up with her making this all about her.  He's sympathetic, but he's also got the baby in the #1 position.

She asked what he was working on, and he told her it was the dock renovation plans from ELQ and that they weren't good news.  The phone rang.  It was Brenda, who had just tried to warn Robin away from Jason (again).  She wanted to see him; it was about Robin.  Bobbie said she'd stay with the baby while he was gone and Carly agreed.

G.  Bobbie and Carly

Carly:  "You know what?  I don't think I need your permission for that!  And since it's just us girls here, why don't you tell me what this is really about?"
Bobbie:  "What what is about."
Carly:  "You being here all the time.  Are you spying for Tony?"
Bobbie:  "I'm here for Michael, at Jason's request, because somebody has to be."
Carly:  "Fine.  Then you take care of him.  But don't think that it absolves you of anything."

Once Jason left, Carly approached Michael as if she were going to pick him up.  Instead of leaving her to it, Bobbie tried to encourage her and was met with a seemingly cryptic admonition.  Now, I know that she knows it's the best thing if Carly is made to pick up that child soon.  But I don't get why she thinks that she's going to get anywhere with Carly.

But instead of trying to stay out of Carly's way, Bobbie got on the phone and called Monica.  I could have--no, wait, I did slap her.  She is a guest in Jason's house and knows that Jason doesn't want the Qs near the baby.  And the minute Jason is gone she calls Monica and invites her over?  Some people thought she was doing it for the baby's sake; others thought she was doing it to make up for not telling about the baptism.  I believe the former, with a good dose of the latter.  She knows it'll be for the best if Michael and his grandmother have some time together.  But it was a bad misjudgment on her part.

Carly came downstairs to find them together with the baby and threw a fit.  I would have too.  But Monica and Bobbie stood their ground and grew even more snippy and condescending with Carly (what amazed me was that she kept saying that she would tell Jason herself what she was doing, but she did it while he was gone and tried to hurry Monica out when she thought Jason might be due back).  Some people thought that Bobbie did it to force Carly into taking the baby from Monica.  I don't think that she thought far enough ahead to think about how Carly would react to the sight of Monica holding her child.  Carly didn't take the child back.  She rushed upstairs, full of guilt not only that she couldn't hold her child, but regret that yet another person could.  Add to that the anger that Bobbie betrayed her and caused her pain again (however unintentionally).  And the look on Bobbie's face when she left told me that maybe she realized what she had done.  But I'm not holding my breath.

Monica was snippy with Bobbie when she tried to get her to leave before Jason got back.  But she apologized and Bobbie told her that she would do all she could to bring Monica together with Michael.  When Jason arrived, Monica said that she had barged in and refused to leave when Bobbie asked her to.  I don't know if Jason believed it or not.  Bobbie just repeated her admonitions that Carly's behavior was unhealthy for both her and Michael.  Jason had to go to work and Bobbie said she'd stay.  And this time, the episode ended with Carly looking on as Bobbie rocked Michael and sang him to sleep.  Nice.

H.  Jason and the Godparents...and the Qs

On Thursday, Jason and Michael met Emily and Mike for dinner at the Grill (convenient, since there was a party upstairs at the same time :)).  Emily insisted on paying, and they let her...after some teasing.  Emily was worried that Carly was at home by herself while they were out with Michael--sweet!--and Jason said that she hadn't wanted to come.  This is one of the most mismatched groups of people I've seen, but they're so wonderful together.

Emily:  "It's my party, Dr. Jones.  It's private."

Meanwhile, Virginia Benson was checking in--or trying to.  She dropped something and Tony picked it up for her.  Later, she approached him in the bar and told him he was good luck, since they had found her reservation immediately after he had helped her.  They settled in for a chat and a drink.  Tony was grumpy because he had been driven away from Jason's table.  He drank while Virginia spoke of her daughter.  And the dramatic irony grew thicker.

Emily:  "A baby book."
Jason:  "What's that?"
Mike:  "Eh, it's a tiny little book about yay big."

Back at the baby's table, Emily plans to make a baby book for Michael.  Jason doesn't see the point, of course, but Emily insisted.  The staff announcing that the roads are closed and the power is going out interrupts everybody.  And the stage is set for Friday.

The banter and squabbling continued on Friday as everybody ended up in the Grill, including AJ and Keesha.  They chatted with Tony, who was still sitting with Virginia at the bar and commented that at least Carly wasn't there.  Virginia asked who Carly was.  They gave her the short answer.

Mike:  "You know, Jason has the world's greatest poker face."
Jason:  "I don't know what you mean."
Mike:  "See what I mean?"

Before that, though, there was a fun exchange with Emily hustling Mike and Jason into thinking she'd never played poker before.  Too cute.  And there was an encounter with Edward, who was complaining so loudly that the baby was in the saloon in the middle of the night that he woke him up.

I.  Bobbie and Carly

Carly:  "Do you have any idea how much I enjoyed not seeing you for the month that I was gone?  Can you even imagine what a pleasure it was having you out of my life?"

The main players had yet to arrive at the Grill on Thursday, however.  Mother and daughter were still at the penthouse, noting the storm and squabbling.  Bobbie had arrived to interrupt Carly's reverie about not being able to hold the child with the same question Carly was pondering: "Why haven't you held your baby?"  Bobbie was actually surprised that Jason took Michael out in the storm, but Carly insisted that there was nothing wrong with it.  More of the same ensued--accusations and sarcasm from Carly while Bobbie tried, at times in vain, to hold it together and offer help.

Bobbie:  "I am so sick of you assuming you know how I felt about my daughter because you do not!  You've invented some history that's stupid and wrong.  But I'm gonna tell you what.  Since you obviously can't get it out of your mind or you wouldn't manage to throw it in my face every chance you get, here are the facts.  So you listen up.  I was a sixteen-year-old hooker, pregnant by an unnamed John.  My Aunt Ruby urged me to have an abortion, but I guess I wasn't tough like you.  Because the moment I found out that there was a child inside of me, I fell in love.  I couldn't abort her, but I knew I couldn't keep her.  I could barely take care of myself.  And look how I did it.  But you know something?  The entire time I was pregnant, I got to be my baby's mother.  And sometimes when I look back I think it was the purest time in my life.  Just me and my pretty little girl.  See, I always knew she was a girl.  And boy was she pretty.  I remember everything about when the nurse put her in my arms.  There was, um...these Venetian blinds on the left side of my bed and the slats were halfway open and I could see the sunlight coming through.  And I saw the dust motes dancing around in the air and across the room there was this bureau and it had a Tiffany lamp on it that my aunt had brought in to, uh...soften the atmosphere.  And it had a silk scarf draped over it.  And the head..bed had bars on it that came up.  Except they were down when I held my baby.  ...She was perfection.  I couldn't believe I'd made her.  She was making these little sounds and, um, she was just squirming all around, you know, like she didn't know what to do cause all of a sudden she had so much room and she didn't know where to put her arms and her legs.  I touched her everywhere.  I touched her face; I touched her shoulders.  And her legs and her toes.  And when I got to her hand...her right hand...she grabbed my finger and she held on to it so tight.  It was as if she called me mama.  And that was it.  They took her away and I never saw her again.  The ache in my heart, that I will take to my grave.  Those are the facts.  So honor the reality next time you wanna bludgeon me with what an awful mother I am."

Finally, Carly couldn't take it any more and threw Bobbie's child up in her face again--the child she gave away.  She announced that Michael didn't need a groupie, and when Bobbie insisted that she wouldn't leave him without a woman's love in his life, Carly lashed out.  She said that Bobbie had left her child and that if she wanted, Carly could show her exactly how much damage she had caused.  Bobbie got angry.  But she set the record straight, calmly and evenly.  She tells about holding the child and falling in love with her in that instant (and we'll forgive the rewriting; at another point Bobbie had told Laura that she never even got to see her baby).  She spoke of giving her away and thinking of her every day since.  It was a moving story, and I applauded the director, who had Zeman turn away from Brown as Bobbie spoke of losing the child--the child who was right there--as Carly shed tears at hearing her mother say she loved her and thought of her always.  While the party was filler, to my mind, these scenes were golden.

Carly:  "Bobbie...I want my baby."

Carly:  "And you believe me..."
Bobbie:  "Believe me.  Ha.  Carly, on a night like this it's the only excuse I would believe.  Come on.  We'll take my car; we'll cross our fingers."

Bobbie:  "I won't lie to you.  I'd kill for a one horse open sleigh."
Carly:  "Why are you doing this, Bobbie?"
Bobbie:  "Because...twenty some odd years ago I had only two choices.  To keep my baby or to love her.  I couldn't do both.  But you can, Carly.  And I'm going to see that you have that chance.  We'll make it to Michael tonight.  And after that, it's up to you."
Carly:  "I'll never forget this."

And as the power went out and Bobbie set out to look for candles, Carly announced that she wanted her baby.  On Friday, she insisted that hearing Bobbie talk about her child made her want her own baby.  She wanted to go to him now.  Bobbie didn't even blink once.  She simply got her keys and said she'd drive.  They got stuck in the obligatory snow bank, but finally arrived at the grill after some tentative heart to heart and a walk in the snow.  It was nice to see them have this one small moment of calm conversation.

J.  Tony and Lorraine

Down at the bar, Lorraine had approached Tony and propositioned him.  They went upstairs to his hotel room (he was staying there, having left Carly's apartment).  Lorraine immediately made the move towards sex, but Tony headed off into this rambling as if he were Carly, I think, protesting that sex would be wrong.  He grew increasingly violent and made less and less sense.  But it came down, I think, to him not allowing Lorraine to have control over him the way Carly had--he saw her as making the same kind of move Carly had made and was letting her know that he would not be controlled.  The writing didn't work for me as well as it did for others--I was left wondering about the thought process or the psychology the writers wanted us to follow.  But Brad Maule was utterly convincing as Tony-on-the-edge.  Or over it.  In the end, Lorraine announced that she had no idea what Carly had ever wanted from him.  He said that he didn't understand that either.  I'll give this to Lorraine.  Tony was scary, but she never seemed scared.  She held it together, waited him out, and got in the parting shot.

K.  The Revelation

Jason:  "Is there something wrong?"
Bobbie:  "No, Jason.  Something is finally right."
Carly:  "I'm here for my son."

When Carly and Bobbie arrived, Carly went to Jason and told him that she was there to see her son.  Jason didn't seem to have a reaction, but I suspect that he might have been worried.  Of course this secret was destined to come out in front of a squillion people.  As TJ would say, the bigger the secret, the bigger the audience.  But the moment was still quite moving, and the cameras came in really tight on the faces of the two women so you did, almost, forget there were people there.

Bobbie:  "Take him Carly.  Cause once you do, you're never gonna wanna let him go."

Carly:  "Hi...hi Michael.  It's me.  It's mommy."

Bobbie:  "What?  What is it, Carly?  You can tell me."
Carly:  "Ya.  I think I can.  Bobbie...I'm your daughter.  I'm Caroline."

Bobbie was the one to hand the baby into Carly's arms.  Carly was still hesitant, but once she held Michael and he didn't cry, you could see the relief in her face.  She looks at Bobbie with new eyes in that moment.  And when Bobbie asked her what she was thinking, Carly decided that she could tell her.  After a look at Jason, she announced that she was Caroline, Bobbie's lost daughter.  We ended with a close up of Bobbie's shocked expression.

And I couldn't wait until Monday.

II.  Brenda and Jax

A.  ...and Ashley

On Monday, Brenda showed up at the PC Grill to find Jax there angrily hanging up on Jerry--he complimented her ponytail.  :)  She promptly sat down and struck up a conversation, asking him to eat dinner with her, but Ashley arrived to announce that Brenda was in her seat.  Brenda was stunned, but covered well.  I was just praying that Ashley left soon so I wouldn't be subjected to much more of her snottiness or to a catfight or other geometric configuration.

Jax asked Brenda to stay, however, and I have no idea whether he did that to make it seem like he wasn't on a date with Ashley or because he was trying to help Brenda save face at being called on her seat hijacking.  Whatever the reason, it wasn't a good idea, and he should have known.  Ashley continued to share modeling advice amidst the not-so-concealed slams at Brenda.

Brenda:  "Any woman that had a chance to be with you would be a fool to let you get away."

Left to themselves at one point, Brenda spoke to Jax about her career (and he gave her a box of cookies).  She admitted that it was harder than she thought to find a job, but declines his ever-ready offer of help.  Good for her.  Unfortunately, I have this feeling that B's gonna spend more of her time pursuing Jax than she is pursuing her career.  She told Jax that she wanted to see him happy in his own life, rather than spending all of his time worrying about her, but she didn't mean it.  It was quite clear that she was jealous of Ashley.  She told him again how special she thought he was.

And to be truthful, Brenda hasn't been driving me up the wall as much these days.  If it takes a breakdown to get to that point, then I'm glad we had those repeated scenes of scissors and mirrors, etc.  I'm not looking forward to such a quick return to Jax&Brenda, the co-dependent unit, but I trust in Guza that he can give them both strength and independence even as he puts them back into a romance.

B.  Brenda and Robin

Brenda:  "I don't want you to be made at me."
Robin:  "I can't be mad at you for wanting to protect me.  But your experience is not mine."
Brenda:  "I hope not."

On Wednesday, Robin filled Brenda in on the reception.  Brenda said that she was feeling better and wanted to be Robin's friend.  That's all well and good, but Brenda insisted a little too strongly that she knew what was going on and how she felt.  Robin talked about the "other Jason" who was so comfortable filling Sonny's shoes (at least she was realizing that she doesn't know him completely); Brenda chided her for not putting Jason out of her life like she said she was going to.  Robin tried to explain (although Brenda was right about that) that the things keeping them apart were still there, but Brenda began to wax philosophical on what it feels like to be in love with a mobster.  Suddenly, it was all about Brenda and Sonny.  Robin insisted that they were over; Brenda insisted that she was lying to herself.  And Robin actually got a little snippy with her--now, that I'd like to see.  But she simply backed off.

C.  Brenda and Jason

Brenda:  "I think pretty soon Robin isn't gonna be able to recognize herself.  And she's gonna start lookin' a lot like me and I would have to assume that you would hate that."
Jason:  "Ya, I would."

Jason:  "We're done."

Brenda called Jason and asked him to come speak with her about Robin.  He came, but he was not happy to be there.  Brenda started in on Robin spending time with Jason and the danger she was in of being involved with Jason and of turning out like Brenda.  And indeed, it was in the terms of her relationship with Sonny.  She told him to let Robin go.  And in the most ironic line of all, Brenda told him to tell Robin that he didn't love her--tell her whatever it took to get her to stay away from him.  Jason noted that she was telling him to hurt Robin on purpose, but I wanted him to note that it sounded like what Sonny did to her.  But he wouldn't give up Sonny's truth to Brenda, as much as I'd want him to.  Jason refused and Brenda threatened.  Jason simply pronounced them done and left.

D.  The Party

Ned:  "Well, to be honest...snow always makes me wanna cuddle."
Brenda:  "Awww.  I'll cuddle with you."
Ned:  "Thank you."
Brenda:  "Oh, well, you know what, I think your evening has just looked up."

On Thursday, Jax welcomed guests into his home as he tried to stir up support for the dock renovations.  He commented at the irony of socializing with Mac--Jimmy was a bit confused.  Meanwhile, the Qs noted the irony of socializing with Jax :), as Edward commented on the surroundings and Ned raised a proverbial eyebrow at Ashley.  V. and Felicia plotted to get "Mac's" fingerprints on a glass--the best scenes of the party, with several glasses and V's professed crush on a busboy.  Dara and Justus made an appearance but were not happy to be there; she cautioned him again and he told her everything was legal.  Ned consoled Brenda about Ashley, but she said she was fine.  He was fine too, when Alexis arrived.  Somehow Brenda knew about Alexis, though I don't know when that happened.  But she was happy to tease Ned a bit about it...though he didn't mind at all.  Brenda wasn't fine, though, and took the first chance to leave with Ned and Alexis after a run-in with Ashley.  Alan and Monica were also there, talking about Carly.

Finally, except for the fingerprint scheme, which was a hoot and a half, I was disappointed with the first leg of the party.  It seemed filler, to make the upcoming revelation fall soundly at the end of Friday's show.  Or maybe I was just impatient.

III.  The Quartermaines

A.  Edward

Monica:  "The woman is a pathological liar!"
Edward:  "Well is that such a fault?"

After being booted from the reception, Edward announced his new plan.  They would befriend Carly just long enough to get near the baby, and then they can pay her off and keep the child.  Nobody is anywhere near as enthused as he is.  But it was a hoot to see the family correct him when he refused to use the child's name.

B.  Emily

On Tuesday, Emily met up with Sarah at Kelly's.  Sarah was sulky about Nikolas, and Emily listened without telling her that she was on her way to see him.  She was picking up scones (Mrs. Lansbury should be offended), and Sarah noted that they were Nik's favorite.

Emily:  "I come bearing scones to fortify our strength for fencing lessons and speech!"

Emily knew that, because she was picking them up for Nik, of course.  She entered as he was practicing fencing in the conservatory (love it)--actually, he was hiding and jumped out and surprised her--and she knelt before him, raising the scones up to him as if she were a page returning from an errand for the king--it was way too funny.

Sarah:  "No.  No, it's not like that.  He wouldn't be interested in her that way."
Lizzie:  "What is that?  The classic example of overconfidence?  Or a blanket dismissal of the possibility that any dark-haired younger citizen of the world could have any sex appeal or pose any sexual threat whatsoever to an older blonde person?!"

Emily:  "I am the worst fencer!"
Nikolas:  "The worst."
Emily:  "Oh!  I'm so bad I cured you!"

But meanwhile, Sarah was suspicious and talked about Nik and Emily to Lizzie, who volunteers to go out to Spoon Island with her and spy on them.  Oh, ya, this is exciting.  They go out to see Emily and Nikolas laughing and fencing around the room, and Sarah decided that she is losing Nikolas.  That scene--and not the lurkers outside--was great fun.  Emily laughing infectiously and Nikolas relaxed and actually seeming a bit like a teenager.  Two friends--and I'm glad we're seeing that friendship again.

C.  Alan

Alan:  "Unfortunately the choices that he makes now are going to effect the foundation of his child's life."
Robin:  "Well they're his to make.  Not mine and not yours."
Alan:  "Told me off, didn't ya.  Oh God, I would have loved for you to have been my daughter-in-law."

On Wednesday, Amy found Alan slumped over the steering wheel of his car in the parking garage at GH.  She screamed and pounded until he awoke and told her a story to pacify her.  Robin arrived on her way to an appointment and said he looked terrible and asked if there was something wrong.  More worrying and more storytelling.  They talked about time passing and her health...and Jason.

Monica:  "Well, I guess you're lucky you found a room available."
Edward:  "Oh, I didn't.  I had one vacated."
Monica:  "You threw a guest out in the middle of a blizzard?"
Edward:  "Why not?  I own the damn hotel."

On Friday, the Qs settled in for the duration of the blizzard.  Edward put Lila in a room, and the rest of them went down to the grill.  I had to include this because of the above exchange, which was a scream.

IV.  Mac and Felicia

A.  Felicia and Jimmy

On Tuesday, Felicia and Jimmy were eating at the PC Grill.  She noted again that he seemed like a stranger to her, and he tried to convince her that he was simply better than ever.  He was clearly upset by her concern and disappointment, and had all the romantic trappings sent away.  They talked about going back to the way it had been, and he said it would be hard.  And when he went to take a phone call, Felicia noticed that he put his fork down differently than Mac does.  Her brow furrowing was interrupted, however, by Robin, who had come to talk to Mac about Jason and Carly.  When Jimmy returned and brushed off Robin, saying that he and Felicia are in the middle of something, both women exchanged a look and Felicia was clearly suspicious, as well as angry.

B.  Kevin

On Wednesday, V and Felicia compared notes again and discussed observational skills.  The news?  Mac and surfer tunes.  More of the same followed: Jimmy trying to cozy up to Felicia and Felicia getting him to whistle...you got it...surfer tunes.  Felicia made a phone call.

It was to Kevin!  YAY!  She admitted to him that she was uncomfortable asking him for advice, and knew it was a bad time.  But he was the one to ask about Mac.  I was just glad to see Kevin, and I was interested in watching the Kevin/Felicia dynamic, which has been so long absent.  A bit distant and a bit regretful at the same time.  Lucy had just married Rex Stanton over on PC (to get dirt on him--proof that he had kidnapped Serena), and didn't want to talk to her about it--but not because of the reason she thought.  Because he couldn't tell her the truth and was lying to her again.

Kevin:  "Well, not to take anything away from your concern, but unless you're going to call the fashion police it doesn't sound very extreme."
Felicia:  "These things never do at first."
Kevin:  "You're right."

Jimmy:  "But look, if she can dump you without a second thought and get hitched to some guy that she knew, what, for twenty minutes, who the hell needs her?"
Kevin:  "That's one way to look at it, alright."
Jimmy:  "Come on, babe, it's the only way."
Kevin:  "Did you just call me babe?"

They moved on to the subject of Mac.  She described the changes and the weird feelings she was having.  Kevin was confused, then wrote it off as Mac facing his mortality in the death of James...until he sat down to talk with Mac himself.  They spoke of Lucy, and Mac said, "I warned you."  Huh?!  Mac was completely flippant.  (And I wonder if "babe" is better than "bub"...it was fun to see JJ and Jon play this scene.)  Kevin then asked why he hadn't returned any calls, but Jimmy said he had been busy with Felicia.  And he said that Kevin should just move on.  Suffice it to say that Kevin was persuaded that there was something different.  But he was still convinced it was Mac facing his own mortality.  He hesitated, and then he said that perhaps Felicia was the one with the problem because of her past with Ryan and Kevin.  Instead of getting angry, she said that she had thought of that--it's why she called him for a reality check.  But if Felicia's got Ryan on her mind, why has she not thought that this might be a double as well?

Felicia:  "I don't know what she's thinking."
Kevin:  "I wish I could say the same."

Felicia said another word of comfort about Lucy, and Kevin thanked her for it.  Then he left and Felicia went back to Mac.  With one word from Jimmy, Felicia turned to V and asked her to work with her on a case.  Mac was the target.  And my faith in her was somewhat restored.  I can't wait to see V and Filly on this one.  Ha!

C.  The Escape

Thursday's party appears above in the Jax section.  On Friday, V and Felicia had trouble getting a minute alone away from Mac to compare the fingerprints.  Meanwhile, the real Mac got free from the handcuffs while Tess was gone and took off, headed to PC to find out what was going on and warn Felicia and make sure she was safe.

Back at the PC Hotel, Felicia and Jimmy took a walk down the stairs alone...but interrupted by Edward Quartermaine, who was headed down to the lobby and grumbling all the way.  Too cute.  Once he was gone, Jimmy proposed yet again, this time in private.  And this time, Felicia agreed to marry him.  Of course he was thrilled, not realizing that she was only saying yes to go along with him until she could prove he wasn't Mac.

Felicia:  "So you mean the person that I just got engaged to..."
V:  "...is not Mac Scorpio and never has been."

Jimmy took her into the Grill to announce to everyone that they were getting married.  Felicia let him, trying not to grimace when he pawed her in public.  Everyone else was thrilled.  Well, as thrilled as they could be given the snowed in circumstances.  V was off looking for a spot to compare the fingerprints.  She did so in the stairwell, and then rushed to Felicia to tell her that "Mac" was an imposter.

Mac:  "Congratulations.  You must be beside yourself."

And upstairs--though we don't know how he got there or how he knew to go to the hotel or how he knew on which floor to find Jimmy--the real Mac arrived and tackled Jimmy to the floor.  Nice entrance.

V.  The Cassadines

A.  Katherine

The two Cassadine women, of whom I am so fond, met at the PC Hotel lobby on Thursday.  Helena informed Alexis of her progress with regards to two women.  First, she is looking for Laura.  Second, she wanted Alexis to find Katherine and give her a present.  Alexis was not sure she could pull it off, but Katherine conveniently arrived just after Helena left (made me suspect Helena's got a very close eye on Kat).  Alexis attempted to make nice with Katherine; Katherine was rude and distrustful.  Alexis simply left the package on the sofa and went away.  Katherine left...but not without taking the package.

I have to note that Guza's sure writing Katherine stupid.  Aside from the brief glimmers of hope I had last week when Katherine expressed some slight concern for Alexis's well-being in her questions to Stefan, she's been playing dismissive to the hilt, while at the same time seeming greedy and...I'll say it again...stupid.  If you've just professed your profound distrust of Alexis, why do you accept her present?!?!  Yes, Guza has left Stefan and Katherine together, but he's doing a wonderful job of pointing out her blind spots and poor judgment.  At this rate, Stefan can't maintain an idealized version of her for very long without making some huge excuses for her actions.  And the tension will grow.

B.  Stefan

Back at the castle, a package had just arrived for Stefan.  He began to unwrap it, stopping when Katherine entered.  She was thrilled with the surprise she had for him...the dress Alexis had given her (though she didn't say that).  He was stunned.  But not in a good way.  He sent her to the guesthouse to wait for him and then unveiled the portrait.  It was of Laura, wearing the same dress.

This unveiling led to much discussion, since it was not the portrait that had been burned before, and was also not the same dress we had seen Laura in on the island.  Terry, especially, hoped that answers about the origin of the portrait were forthcoming.  I just hoped that Kat would find it in the basement soon.

But Stefan's uncomfortableness with Kat in the dress told us all that Helena had scored a direct hit.  His kiss elicited from Katherine a comment that indicated something was different...and not in a bad way.  I think he kissed her while allowing himself to imagine it was Laura, stepped out of the portrait again just as she did when she sat below the first portrait of her that hung in Wyndemere.  I loved that Guza was reminding Stefan that his love of Katherine was not easy and did not mean that Laura was gone from his mind.  On the contrary, the Laura substitution was manifest clearly for all to see.

One final note from Jan Yarnot, who did the update for these scenes: "Your Fearless Updater notes that the bird-of-paradise floral arrangement is back in place.  Take THAT,  oh pushy one!"  Crack me up.