The Week in Review: February 23 - February 27 It was an inconsistent week. There were some tremendous scenes in the Spencer storylines with Luke, Lucky, and Carly. But then there were the promising-but-not-quite-wonderful Quartermaines as well as the rehash that is Brenda and Jax. I gained interest for Taggert and even Dara though, and thought Justus was a marvelous supporting player. And, finally, I was treated to a nice mid-week scene with the Cassadine men. But this week laid the groundwork for lots of big plots in the weeks to come. And I was excited. I. Carly and Jason A. ...And Grandmothers On Monday, Carly was miffed that Jason had told Robin that AJ was Michael's biological father. She doesn't trust Robin to keep that secret, and seeing Robin's behavior these days I wouldn't either. But Jason said that Robin wouldn't betray his confidence. Perhaps I was hoping that she would, at this point, to knock her off that pedestal. Monica entered at this point, much to Carly's discomfort, bringing a gift for the baby. She wanted to visit Michael, but Jason said no. She wasn't in on the kidnapping, but she's close to the other Qs who were--especially the "old man." I love that nickname, shared by Jason and Justus, for Edward. But he said that Carly could decide. Carly decided the same. Monica graciously accepted; I guess she figured putting up a fight would just make it worse. She went to join her lunch date...Bobbie. Hee! Bobbie: "So, what are your plans?" Carly: "Well, for starters, I thought I'd redecorate the penthouse. Something in white trash chic. That's what you expect from me, isn't it? Anyway, since when do you care about my plans?" Bobbie: "Since you became the mother of my grandson." The two grandmothers conferred about Michael, and Monica asked Bobbie to try to get closer to Carly, playing on her need for a relationship with her mother. I thought it was cold of Monica not to think of Bobbie's own feelings about a possible bond with her daughter, no matter what Bobbie has said on the subject. But it's for Michael's sake, of course.... Bobbie had a tense conversation with Carly afterwards, suggested that Carly should consider Monica a friend (I was sad to see that she couldn't suggest herself), and then she told Monica that it just wasn't going to work. It pained me to see her trying to negotiate between her own pain at the encounter and Monica's demands. Carly: "I just thought maybe it cramps your lifestyle. You know, the carefree bachelor life kind of bogs down under the weight of bottles and diapers and feedings. I guess I just need to hear you say it's still ok." Jason: "I love Michael. And I promised that I would watch out for both of you, and that's not going to change." And afterwards, Carly asked Jason if things were still ok. Bobbie's reminder that she might need a friend, should anything happen with Jason, left her a bit shaky. Jason reassured her, but I noted that his assurances always hinge on Michael, and I'm wondering how long it will take for Carly to notice that. B. Jason and Justus On Tuesday, Jason chatted unions and Jax with some of his men. Benny said that people were scared that Jason would side with his family over the docks. Jason saw that it was serious. He would take a meeting with the men at the No Name (Yay!! I've missed the No Name!) on Friday. And he laid out the negotiations that would have to be made with the Quartermaines--and the strike that would force them to make those concessions. Jason: "Now if you're scared or you're nervous, I don't want you to feel like you have to stay." Justus: "I've been scared and nervous since the first day I took you on as a client. But I've also had the time of my life." Justus: "I enjoy knowing who my enemies are, because it makes me appreciate my friends." Jason: "Justus, if you could, it would help me out a lot if you could just keep it to one page." Justus: "I'll write small." Justus arrived to go over some contracts, and Jason asked him what he knew about the situation at hand. Justus told him that they were worried about him being young and that they didn't know yet what kind of man he is--Sonny's clone, or his own man. Jason knew that people were planning to make a move--and that he had to make a move first. Justus said that he hadn't signed on for a war, and wouldn't stick around if things grew ugly. Jason told him that he could leave now if he wanted. Justus said that he needed a lawyer, and that he would stay on. They spoke for a while about the difference between working for Jason and working in the outside world. Justus said that on the inside, the lines were very clear, and he liked that. He went back to work. Jason asked for a breakdown of the entire renovation project. His request, above, had Justus smiling again. C. Jason and Ned Jason: "Thanks for worrying about me. But I'm not dyin' any time soon." Ned arrived, and Jason tried to brush him off. But Ned wouldn't be gotten rid of. He was there to tell Jason that Jax was about to be a big problem. He wanted Jason to take a meeting with the Qs, but Jason knew that his people would think he was selling out. At this point, I was looking forward to this political thing building to lots of good Q scenes, etc--and some more scenes with Jason and Ned, exploring the soft spot Ned has for this estranged relative. But I knew that it was destined to be cut short. But that's all I'll say right now. ;) Ned used every persuasive trip in the book--including Michael--but Jason wouldn't give in. D. Carly and Edward On Wednesday, Carly was at the grill for lunch, having just made another extensive shopping trip, from the look of it. Edward conveniently was there as well, and turned on the charm. It turned out that Carly had actually been doing some work on her plans to redecorate the penthouse. Edward even had a smooth word to say about Carly's skills coming to light once she had money. Carly enjoyed his compliments, I think, but wasn't to be (completely) snowed. She asked him what he wanted. Edward waxed sentimental about his family, lamenting the fact that he doesn't have a rightful heir. Then he declares that what he has always had in mind was Carly. And while Carly didn't know exactly what he meant, I'm assuming she'll figure out that he has his eye on Michael, already picturing him in boarding school jackets and wielding squash rackets. Lila: "You're a lovely young woman. And no fool, I think. Don't underestimate Edward." Carly: "I don't." Lila: "He'll want you to betray Jason. And if you do, well, don't underestimate me." But before Edward could further expound on why Carly was just what he'd always wanted in a family member, Lila arrived on the scene. She got Edward out of the room easily, since he didn't want to appear to be up to anything, and told Carly that she should not betray Jason. As Edward left, he had paid the waiter for calling him to tell him that Carly was there; Lila paid the same waiter as she left for the same information, giving him her personal phone number this time. Too funny. E. Jason, Jax, and Justus Jax: "Oh, and, uh, you're in my way, I hate your guts, but now you owe me." Back at the penthouse, Jax arrived to talk to Jason. He told him that Sam was a threat. And the reason he was telling was, he said, because he cared about Robin. I don't think Jason bought it, and it was at this point that Jax announced that Jason now owed him, making his motives perfectly clear. And it was also perfectly clear that Sam was never going to live past the next handful of episodes. Afterwards, Jason discussed the situation with Justus and asked him to drop in on a meeting to gather information. Justus had no problem with this, or with lying to Sam about what he knew; working for Jason is still more honest than working for ELQ. There's been some talk about Justus and his new job lately, and I want to note that I think Justus is definitely justifying his new job and how good it makes him feel. He always considered the job at ELQ some kind of punishment for the Damien Smith murder, and now that he has escaped it, he has to continue to paint it in an awful light (even if it is truly awful in its own merits) because he can't admit that what he's done is punish himself in yet another way. Even though he's enjoying his new job, he knows, I think, that there's something wrong about it. So he has to praise it over and over--focus on the selfishly good things about it--so he won't see that he's putting himself in a position where he could do something punishable by law again. It's almost as if he wants to get caught and punished because he kept himself from being punished over the DS murder. He's gone from one form of self-punishment to another, and this one could end up worse. It's going to be fascinating to watch--but I hope they don't let his choices catch up to him too soon, because I love Jason and Justus together. F. Carly, Jason, and Justus Carly arrived home and asked Jason about the redecorating. He wasn't enthusiastic. She tried to tell him about Edward, but he was distracted, and when Justus returned, he asked her to leave them. Justus: "See, it's all theater, Jason, theater--it's about symbols." Justus told Jason not to meet with the union on Friday because his life would be in danger. Jason asked Justus what he had done wrong, and again Justus told him that it was a matter of perception--they saw Jason as a soldier, not a leader. He spoke of how he dressed in law school and learning the lesson that the clothes make the appearance of the man. Jason wasn't happy about it, but he heard him. When Carly came downstairs, Jason asked if she would help him. And their exchange had me laughing out loud. As Roser described it in her update: With great earnestness, Carly says, "I'd do anything for you. I swear, I would kill for you." With equally great earnestness, Jason asks, "Would you shop for me?" I couldn't wait. G. Carly and Jason...and Brenda Carly: "You want to take care of a dead body, call Rinaldo. You want to take care of a living one, call me." And on Thursday, the shopping began. Jason was a bit reluctant, but Carly bolstered his willingness, if not his enthusiasm, and headed him off to Wyndham's. After a wonderfully fun montage of Jason trying on suits and rolling his eyes, they found the perfect suit (the music was that "What a man, what a man, what a man, what a mighty fine man" song). Carly: "Why don't you shut your mouth?" Brenda: "If Jason really loved you, or his baby, he wouldn't put you two in danger like this, would he?" Carly: "Well, why don't you look. If...if you go back to shopping and you try really hard I'm sure you can find yourself a nice, fashionable straight-jacket in your size." Jason: "Carly, it's not worth it." Carly: "Jason, I don't know what you think you owe her, but I don't owe her anything except what she has coming." Of course, Brenda didn't think so. She arrived just in time to see this, and announced that Jason was a wannabe. Of course she can't simply roll her eyes and go on about her business. No, she has to tell Jason over and over the same thing, and I have to hear it. Don't hurt Robin; you're trying to be Sonny; you suck. Lucky for me, Carly wasn't going to put up with it either. After Brenda left, Carly apologized for what she had done to him, and to Robin. He told her that Brenda would hate him no matter what, and offered to pay for the clothes. Carly didn't want money; she simply wanted the chance to do something for him after everything he'd done for her. H. Jason Jason: "I'm in charge or I'm not, and if I'm not, I'm dead." On Friday, Jason prepared for his meeting about the unions. Justus had updated Jason's will which provided for Carly and Michael, but he asked Jason not to go to the meeting; he didn't want Michael to grow up fatherless as he had done. But Jason knew that he had to go. He had to prove he was in charge, because if he didn't, he'd be dead whether or not he went to the meeting. So Justus asked to go with him. Jason said that it would only be a sign of weakness for him to have somebody speaking for him, and that it would only put Justus in danger. He called in Rinaldo and Johnny to witness the new will. Terry did me the great favor of transcribing Jason's next scene (although I did fix a couple of minor errors and add my own punctuational interpretations). He stood, holding Michael, and spoke one of the most moving monologues I've heard on GH in a long time. It was simple, understated, in Jason's straightforward style, which I love so much. But it was also filled with emotion. "Maybe I might die tonight. Now if that happens, I won't be comin' home any more. I won't hold you, or talk to you, or even be able to watch you try and roll over. And let me tell you somethin'; you're getting really close. Any day now. "Dead...it's like goin' away. It's the one thing a person can't come back from. But that doesn't mean I left you...or chose my job over loving you, because there were things that were decided before you were born...that make me have to go tonight. There you go. Good boy. Now you see, in this business, you have to face things. You can't say, uh, 'It's not what I wanted,' or 'I changed my mind,' or 'I have...I have a kid now.' "Anyway, I might not die. I'm pretty sure I won't. But I tell ya everything and I always tell ya when I'm comin' home. Tonight I can't. I'm leaving you and Carly a lot of money, but in case she decides to tell AJ the truth or take you to the Quartermaines, never believe they own you, Michael. You belong to yourself. "You know, when Carly said she was giving you to me, I almost said I...'You can't give one person to another.' I know now what she meant. You are the greatest gift I ever got...not because you belong to me. Because I had the chance to know you at all." Carly: "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I don't lie to you because I trust you?" Jason: "I trust you, too. Sort of." Carly returned at this point, worried about the meeting but trying not to appear so. She instead complimented him on his suit (I wondered that they had just bought one), and told him that he needed to spend more money on himself. He noted that she liked being rich, and she responded that she liked better not having to lie anymore. Jason reminded her that she couldn't get away with it anyway, at least with him. She told him that it was because she trusted him. He turned to leave, and she simply said, "I'll see you." Mike: "I lost one son this year. He told me that he loved me and then he disappeared." Mike: "You treat me with respect. Made me godfather to your son. And gave me a place in your life that Sonny never would. Now I won't let that go, and I won't lose both of you!" He went to see Mike at Luke's next, and told him to watch over Michael if he didn't come back. Mike was angry, and insisted that Jason not die because he had already lost one son this year. Jason said that he had to do this, and asked Mike to teach Michael that he could be whatever he wanted to be. And he asked Mike to tell Robin that he loved her. I love Mike and Jason together, and was glad to see Jason speak to him before he went off to possible death. At the end of Friday's episode, Jason arrived at the meeting and Sam announced that Jason was being replaced. I. Carly and Robin Meanwhile, Carly was making a stand of her own. Robin arrived, asking to talk to Jason, but when Carly asked her to leave a message, Robin announced that she was going to tell AJ the truth. Personally, I think she came there to tell Carly exactly that, and I wish she would just admit it. Carly let fly on Robin, and told her that Michael was Jason's son in every way that matters. Robin countered that she knew how much Jason loves Michael and didn't want to see him get hurt when Carly dumps him. Carly said that she would never take Michael away, and Robin called her a liar. Actually, I don't think Carly can imagine taking Michael away. She's too caught up in this fantasy of family she's got going on--the newest one in a series, might I add. But Robin speaks the truth here. There's no way we can count on Carly not to give up on this fantasy as violently as she was forced to give up on her last several. Carly: "I don't care what you think or what you do. Jason, Michael, and I are a family, and there is no way that I'm gonna let you break us up." But Carly spoke the truth as well. She told Robin not to try and tell Jason how to raise their child, and announced that she would never let Robin tear them apart. Robin should take heed. II. The Cassadines A. Nik and Robin Monday found Nikolas frustrated about his lack of progress with Robin suggesting a break. When they resumed, Nik read a passage about a woman's beauty, gazing at Robin all the while. Clearly something was supposed to be going on between these two, whether friendly or more than. I was bracing myself for another teenybopper triangle, but had hopes in Guza that we wouldn't suffer much. More frustration and encouragement ensued, and then Robin spoke of Jason (though not by name) and how some people are injured and go on with their lives despite the fact that even treatment can't help them. She asked Nikolas how much he wanted to improve. B. Stefan and Katherine Stefan: "In my life, I've loved only one woman." Meanwhile, Katherine and Stefan arrive at the overlook to find her surprise--the bench recommended by Alexis and so easily accepted by Katherine. Stefan's face was, for an instant before the cold control attempted to come down, shocked. He noted that Alexis was the only person to have ever given him presents on his baptism day, and I hoped (beyond hope?) that he had put two and two together and saw this gift for what it was. But he simply said that he was thrilled and that it reminded him of Greece. Kat wondered out loud whether it reminded him of anybody, and Stefan told her that he had only loved one woman. Since Katherine was the one to confront him with his feelings for Laura last year, I'll just assume her current stupidity caused her to assume he was speaking of her. But he flashbacked to Laura sitting on that bench overlooking the sea before he kissed Kat. And we knew of whom he was thinking. On Tuesday, Katherine breezed into the room, looking for Stefan. He said that he had been out admiring the view from his new stone bench. She said that she wanted to go to Greece with him, to see the place of his memories; he dodged the question, saying that there were many places that he wanted to see with her--places they could make their own. Nice avoidance. C. Nikolas and Stefan Nikolas entered and Kat raved about his progress with Robin. Stefan was not at all pleased. He asked Nikolas if he planned to continue with Robin, and when Nik said yes, he told him of the "history of bad blood" between the Scorpios and Cassadines. Personally, it's one of the reasons I'd be behind a Nik/Robin pairing--another chance for the Cassadines to have a plot outside of the Spencers. They used to, when Stefan was involved in the hospital, but with the bad writing, even that fizzled. Stefan: "You were a remarkable child. I admired you then, as I admire you now." Nikolas was not impressed with the litany of Scorpio crimes. Stefan said that he wasn't concerned by Robin, but by her ties with Jason. Nikolas didn't care about that either, and Stefan let him have his way. He spoke of Nikolas's lonely child and the stories he wrote--some of the most entertaining Stefan had ever read, he claimed. So sweet. He turned to leave Nikolas to his reading, and Nikolas asked him to stay. And I was pleased to see that Katherine was nowhere in sight to ruin the moment. I was pleased that Nikolas asked Stefan to help him, and I was more pleased that he was willing to do so only when Kat wasn't there. Stefan really does understand Nikolas better than Kat--and I was glad to see that fact rewarded. Stefan: "Why would you ask that? Because of the lies Helena fed you? Now you listen to me very carefully, Nikolas. Laura and I were friends at one time. Nothing more. I suspect I will always have a measure of feeling for her simply because she's your mother. But she is weak, self-centered, and she has hurt you time and time again. For that I do not forgive her." We had a cute scene where Stefan tried to get Nikolas to do another chapter but Nikolas insisted on resting. It was clear to me that Stefan was so excited to be working with Nikolas--so excited to see Nikolas's initiative and progress--that he was pushing. Stefan spoke of memorizing French poetry and using it in his letters. Nikolas asked to whom he sent poetry--was it Laura? Stefan grew very adamant and insisted again that he felt little for Laura. Kat arrived at this point, and, sending Nikolas out to speak to the groom (pushy), asked if there were something wrong with Stefan. He gave her no details, and she went to make a call. Later, she found Nikolas in the basement looking at those old stories that he had written. After she left, he found the portrait of Laura that Stefan had had commissioned and delivered. Stefan: "Nikolas, something you may not have known. Your father would meet your mother there. At that very spot." Nikolas: "My father? Or you?" Nikolas: "She knew. She knew and didn't care." Stefan: "Not true, Nikolas. I have admitted to you I was wrong...to ever make you believe your mother had no feeling for you. She does." Nikolas: "Maybe hate. She hated my father." Stefan: "But did you ever hear Laura say she hated him?" Nikolas: "No." Stefan: "No. You see, this is what Luke and Lucky must believe. Like children, they depend on certain mythologies." Stefan: "You were a child of love, Nikolas. And that is Laura's last, most desperate secret." On Wednesday, Nikolas sat alone on the new bench. Stefan joined him, and they spoke of Greece for a while. Stefan remembered Laura again, but he talked of Nik's father, never calling him by name. We knew he was speaking of himself, not Stavros. He told Nikolas that his father wasn't an ogre, and I didn't know if Nik would reconcile this with the other stories he'd heard by Stefan's love for his brother despite everything--or whether he'd start to wonder. But while I wasn't sure I liked Stefan giving Nikolas a false picture of Stavros, I loved this scene. In the end, Stefan told Nikolas that he had been a child of love, and that this was Laura's final secret. Nikolas returned to the cellar to see the painting, then, and ponder his parentage. It had to have relieved him to know that he was not born in rape. While he never spoke of it, I think he has always been hurt by that fact. Stefan found him there, and hid his surprise. I found it quite telling that both men, after that conversation, would feel the need to see that painting--the stand in for Laura in their lives, the image where they cannot have (or bear) the reality. Nikolas asked about the painting, and Stefan said he had had it commissioned for Nikolas, but had decided that Nikolas wouldn't want to see it just now, since he was estranged from his mother. III. The Spencers A. Lucky and Liz Sarah: "Lizzie, tell me what you need...anything, I'll do it." Liz: "I need to go back in time. Think you can swing that?" Liz and Sarah were still outside Kelly's as Monday opened. Liz begged Sarah not to tell anybody--especially Audrey--that she had been raped. She can't forget that event--that man--but would not go to the police when Sarah asked her. It was so painful to hear her retell that story again in that quiet, scared voice. I'm cheering for her to find her way back into her strength. And inside, Lucky jumped to his dad's defense against Bobbie, saying that no matter what Luke has done, he's always done it to protect his family. This seemed a bit over the top, since Lucky knows Luke acts on his own self-interest a lot of the time (though his self interest is heavily invested in his family), but since he was defending his dad, exaggeration was to be expected. It's a Spencer trait, after all. I might have been worried that this kind of dramatic irony would drag out too long--would be too forced, too obvious. But I didn't worry. Jackson and Geary were playing it perfectly--as well as Zeman--and I was looking forward to (as well as dreading) the blow up. Of course Lucky had Luke's lies to Bobbie in mind. Bobbie, however, remained silent, on that subject and on all others. And Luke told Lucky that while he was thankful for the defense, Bobbie was entitled to her feelings. B. Luke Bobbie: "How does it feel to be a hero?" When Lucky headed out to check on Liz, Bobbie asked Luke the above question. And she's right. Luke never intends to be a hero--always refuses that title. But the one person he'll tolerate--encourage--making him a hero is Lucky. And Lucky has done so. Lucky came back in when he found Liz and Sarah gone. He had to do something, so he was headed to the park to look for the bracelet. Luke went with him. Once there, Lucky began to talk about finding Liz, but Luke was remembering another night. And as painful as it was to watch, to realize that yes, they were going to do this, I was thrilled to see Luke's black and white imaginings--flashbacks, to us--of Laura, weeping, crouched at that very fountain where the police found her after the rape. Lots of people pointed out the contrast between Stefan's flashback to Laura and Luke's. I absolutely loved the parallel, and while some would say that Stefan came out looking better, or with an advantage, since his memories are sweet, I say that it's just about even. Luke has the real Laura--the Laura that comes with bad memories as well as good. And I trust that no matter what happens they'll be able to work their way back to each other because of that reality. But Stefan only ever has a small set of memories of a Laura he half-knew, half-created on the shores of that Greek Island. His fantasy didn't last then, and it won't carry him through now. Did Stefan and Laura share feelings? Love? I think so. But he never saw her clearly--is only beginning to, now that he's moved to PC. And I note that he very rarely likes what he sees. And as for Laura, to paraphrase one of my favorite movies, the love she had for Stefan was as a moon-cast shadow to the love she bears Luke. Lucky to Sarah: "It doesn't change the fact that Elizabeth was raped or that the guy's probably going to get away with it. God, I hope he's miserable, eaten from the inside out for what he's done." At the end of Monday, we cut from Lucky's above line to Luke sitting alone in the park, thinking of Laura (I couldn't resist). Geary's face always moves me, no matter what Luke's emotions, and this look tore out my heart. I turned off the TV and called my broker to buy more stock in Kleenex... C. Lucky and Liz Lucky found the bracelet and went to the Hardy house to take it to Liz. Meanwhile, Sarah had brought her home and offered to tell Ruby that Liz was feeling ill. Audrey had entered and asked about the bracelet. Liz stumbled through an explanation that the clasp had broken and that she had taken it to be repaired. Audrey didn't understand why Liz was so upset. When Lucky arrived, Audrey overheard their conversation and confronted Liz about lying to her. Liz was forced to tell her about the rape, and Audrey simply listened, stunned, before telling her to try to forget what had happened to her. Some may have been confused at Audrey's response, but people on ratsa reminded us all that Audrey had been a victim of marital rape about 30 years ago. And while some would complain that the Liz rape was merely a plot device to bring up the Luke and Laura rape, I was fascinated by the way that this was bringing in so many characters and so much history. Terry pointed out that we were getting several generations of responses to rape--and to the particular rapes GH has in its history--and I was enthralled to see the beginning of what I hoped would be a complex retelling of several past events. If the L&L rape takes center stage, it's only because it is the most-debated event on the show and involves one of the most-loved couples. And what a story arch, as one soap magazine has said--almost twenty years from beginning to now. Someone asked on ratsa if we'd choose to not have the rape or to have it as it was. I wouldn't have had it any other way. It makes sense to me that L&L have shoved this under the carpet and are only now, because of circumstances, having to face it again. And wouldn't trade anything for the chance to watch Geary play this end of the storyline. But I get ahead of myself. Sarah: "She told me that she was raped. God, it's so awful. I mean, how could this happen?" Lucky: "Me." Outside, Lucky ran into Sarah. Each one realized that the other one knew, and when Lucky began to blame himself for not going to the dance with Liz as he had promised, Sarah decided that it was then her fault. It was supposed to be a nice gesture--Sarah taking on her share of the blame--but the fact that it was only now dawning on her that she might have a share annoyed me. Lucky then said that neither of them could change what had happened--as if to comfort her, because I don't think he believes that completely. D. Luke and Lucy on PC On Tuesday morning, we had a little extra bonus treat. Lucy was ailing from a poison Rex Stanton gave her before they sent him up the river, and Luke stopped by to see her. It was about damn time. Luke and Lucy are one of the best friendships on GH, and with Lucy over on PC, we never get to see them together anymore. Now, if they had wanted to make me really happy, they would have had Lucy visit Luke or vice versa to tell him she was ok. But no such luck. We did, however, get the other moment many of us had been waiting for. Luke ran into Scotty on his way to see Lucy, and the moment was just perfect. Not overdone, but funny and hesitant--two people who've been angry with each other so long that they could just drop it if they weren't so stubborn. But the question with which Scotty greeted Luke proved that the timing of the crossover was just perfect. Scott: "How's Laura?" Luke: "None of your business. How's Lucy?" Scott: "She's fine." Luke: "Fine? I hear she's knocking on heaven's door because of some harebrained scheme of yours." Scott: She was trying to save my daughter, Luke." Scott: "Don't you think that I would give every penny I've got to save her life?" Luke: "All I know is that she deserves a better friend than you or me." Scott: "Thank you." Scotty was getting on the elevator as Luke was coming off. They literally ran into each other, and Scotty begrudgingly asked Luke to push the button for him, since Luke wouldn't get out of his way. Luke slammed it, still standing in his way (too funny!). Then Scott asked after Laura--precisely the wrong question to ask Luke at this point in his life. Luke returned the favor by pointing out that this was Scott's plan. Luke is unimpressed with either Scott's protestations that Lucy did it for Serena or that the interns are working on her case. Lucy: "I'm gettin' really really scared." Luke: "Don't be scared, darlin'. You ain't gonna die. I won't let you." Luke: "I don't do good-byes, dumplin'. Especially to the only woman I ever considered leaving my wife for." Lucy: "You never even looked twice at me." Luke: "Oh, I looked. I've been looking for a long time. The hard part was looking away." Lucy: "Doc, cou..could you just give us a minute please?" Kevin: "After an opening like that, I don't think so." Lucy: "What if I promise to be very very good?" Kevin: "Well, then I'll have to flat out refuse. Every time you promise to be good around Luke it always ends with kidnapping and bullets." Luke: "Not this time. I promise. No weaponry." Kevin: "Oh, well, if you put it that way." In the hospital room, Lucy asked Kevin when she'd get the antidote and he had to tell her that the antidote Rex had sent them to find turned out to be more poison. She was losing hope and becoming very scared, despite Kevin's attempts to reassure her, and when Luke entered the room, Lucy was convinced he was the seventh sign of the apocalypse. He told her that she wasn't going to die and that he wasn't there to say goodbye. I think that's right. I can picture Luke, after the Monday flashback, deciding he needed to see Lucy and finding out (if he didn't already know) about the poison and going to the hospital to give them both a much-needed dose of their mutual admiration society. Lucy rose to the challenge, smiling even as she protested his flirting, and managing to get him to reassure her that he found her desirable. Did I mention that I love these two together? Luke: "What is this hospital gown? You told me you never wear anything off the rack. I mean, where's your...where's your black negligee, darlin'? I bet you don't even have your garter belt and hose on under here. With all these fine young interns and all those tired old ex-husbands of your swarmin' around, what are you tryin' to do, let everybody off their pretty little hooks?" Lucy: "You are the biggest flirt in the whole world." Luke: "Me? You think?" Lucy: "I was workin' him big time and...look where it got me." Luke: "Flat on your back. Works for me." Lucy: "You realize something, don't you? I was beat by a man. Swore I never would be. I thought it'd be Bobbie, at least, or maybe Katherine, you know." Luke: "The only thing that's happening to you is you jumped in over your head. And a big shark took a big bite outta ya. And it hurt, and you're bleeding badly. But you're not gonna die. You're gonna survive. Cause as long as you do, I will." Lucy asked Kevin to leave them alone together, and he teased her a bit as well before he left (throughout all of it, her eyes never left Luke's face). Luke continued to tease, but Lucy grew serious. She was upset that Rex had beaten her, and was convinced that this was the end. Luke protested, and his line above proved to me that he was there not only for her, but for himself. And in the long dark road ahead of Luke, I hope that we get to see him and Lucy together at some point again. Luke: "Better I should drink that." Lucy: "No. Forget it. I am not spending eight dollars a bottle on rum just so you can get drunk on it." Luke: "Think of it as anesthesia!" Lucy: "Look, I am saving your life here, so you just shut up and be grateful!" Luke: Screams... Luke: "Lucy shut up. Your life could depend on it." But for now, we got to see them as they once were. We saw a flashback to Puerto Rico, when Luke took a bullet for Sonny (and Brenda) and hid out in Lucy's room. She chugged rum into his wound and they managed to squabble even then. The other one was from the time when Lucy was trying to get back at Damien Smith, who had gone after her cosmetics company (one of them) with the help of Joe Scully. Lucy was tied up in an office/warehouse and Luke came to get her. Luke: "You are one beautiful woman." Lucy: "And you are one very very good friend." Luke: "That's why I'm not gonna let you go anywhere. You're gonna get better. You're gonna take me out to dinner. I'm gonna buy us the finest...finest champagne you've ever tasted. And we're gonna toast and drink and dance and laugh. And then we'll see. There's an awful lot of unfinished business between you and me." Lucy: "You are so right." After they remembered (and I might have preferred hearing them talk about those days than seeing them--though that was awfully fun), Luke told her that she had to get better because they had unfinished business between them. And I was crossing my fingers that once she was better he wouldn't let her off that hook--or she wouldn't let him off. Either way would be great, but so far (and you see how behind I am) we've seen nothing more of the Dynamic Duo (not to be confused with The Super Siblings). Lucy: "I think that all this is happening to me because I just haven't been a very nice person." Luke: "Oh, Sister Luce. Tell Father Luke all your sins." Lucy: "Well, Father Luke, there's been so many I don't know where to start." Luke: "Well...tell me the sins that you think were so bad that this is some kind of celestial spanking." Lucy: "Would you stop? I'm really serious. I've done some pretty horrible horrible things." Luke: "Ok. You've done some horrible horrible things. But you've also done some pretty decent things. You've raised millions of dollars single-handedly for this hospital through the Nurses' Ball. You've brought an incredible amount of joy and laughter into people's lives while you did it. I mean, that strip of yours last...last year, oh baby, the town's still talkin'! It raised thousands of bucks and gave me a very nice...very nice trophy for my bar." Lucy: "OK, listen, you gotta keep that shoe...above the bar, ok...remember me by." Luke: "That shoe will stay right there until you come in and give me a more personal article of clothing to use as a flag over my bar." Kevin: "How's it goin' in here?" Luke: "Uh, good. I finally got her to admit the only reason she fell into your arms is my wife wouldn't let me outta the house." Kevin: "I wonder why." Luke: "Well, you take care, my sweet. I'll see you soon. Hey, we got a date, remember." Kevin: "Thanks for coming." Luke: "Take care of her, Doc." Next, Lucy announced that she was dying because of the bad things she had done, and Luke pointed out the good, leaving the bad in the past. Lucy asked him to keep her shoe up over the bar to remember her by. (For those who don't remember, Luke told the basic story, but during one Nurses' Ball, Lucy did a striptease, auctioning off articles of clothing to recoup some of her losses on the evening (Kat!) and Luke kept Felicia from getting the pair to the shoe she'd already bought. He hung it up over the bar.) But still he wouldn't hear it. Kevin returned, and Luke kissed her on the forehead. I love that he calls him Doc. Lucy and I began to cry harder at this point, and Lucy told Kevin that Luke didn't want to say goodbye. He seconded that emotion, but Lucy told him that had to. I feel badly, leaving the Kevin and Lucy story hanging, but life just isn't long enough for me to write about PC as well. Suffice it to say that Lucy got better and she and Kevin are now on to another trauma. E. Bobbie and Liz Liz is back at work on Thursday, and we got a quick glimpse of Ruby. Bobbie came in and asked Liz how she was, seeing immediately that Liz was skittish. Liz told her that Audrey wasn't being any help even though she had told her about the rape, and Bobbie thinks that it's odd. Liz was worried about what the kids would think, and told Bobbie that she had been a virgin. Bobbie consoled her, saying that rape was about violence, not sex, and that it didn't matter to her virginity. But Liz was understandably upset that she hadn't had her first sexual encounter with somebody of her own choosing--somebody nice. Bobbie suggested testing again, but Lizzie didn't want to face up to the possibility of AIDS. Sarah interrupted them, asking how she was, and Liz again said that she was convinced that everybody would know. Emily arrived at that point, giving Liz sympathy, and Liz was horrified until Emily said something about her bout with the flu. Bobbie takes Liz to the side again, and Sarah sits down with Emily, who is suspicious of Sarah. Next, Audrey arrived with her denial, horrifying Bobbie. Liz said that she would have the tests done, and asked Audrey to accompany her. Audrey said that she was too busy, and left quickly. Now, ratsa-ers had already reminded us all about Audrey's own spousal rape, but at this point there was no explanation from Audrey, and her behavior was confusing. But I wasn't angry with her; I just felt for her not knowing what to say or do. Her history made it all clear to me. Lucky: "Is Elizabeth alright?" Sarah: "Just brave. Incredibly brave. Alright's gonna take a little while." Lucky: "I was just asking my dad what kind of man could do that...ever." At the end, Lucky arrived to check in on Liz. With his question we cut over to that last shot of Luke... F. Lucky and Luke Lucky: "Then I gotta do this thing on Silas Marner." Luke: "Who?" Lucky: "I dunno. Some ol' sailor I don't care about." Lucky: "You know, she took a little gettin' used to. But I tell you the thing I liked about her the most from the start was that she had guts. More guts than brains sometimes, but I never saw her back down from anything or anyone. And now? She's somebody else." Meanwhile, over at the club, Lucky was complaining about school to his Dad. The subject, as always, turns to Liz, and Lucky announced that he wanted to catch the guy so that Liz could stop being so nervous. She wouldn't talk to him about it, and that frustrated him. He asked Luke for his help to find the guy. Luke was hesitant, trying to get Lucky to think things through, but Lucky continued on about not understanding the guy who would do this to Liz. And the more Lucky ranted the quieter Luke got. It was as if he was simply taking everything Lucky had as a form of self-punishment, not willing to force his pain onto his son. Sure, he doesn't want Lucky to hate him--and he sees how Lucky will react. But I think more importantly he doesn't want Lucky to have to deal with this thing that's been eating at him all of these years. Because despite his protests, and despite periods of time where perhaps he didn't think about this at all, he's never lived his life out of the shadow of this event. It colors and constructs his relationship with Laura and his understanding of himself. Luke: "I, I think that at that moment it didn't matter who Elizabeth was. He was outta control." Lucky: "How can any man do this to any woman and go on living with himself? Go on living at all?" Luke: "I'm sorry Lucky, I...uh...well, your question got to me. Like the big questions do. Look, son, this is not about men, it's about one man and what he did to one young woman. And bein' men, it doesn't give us special insights into this one guy. See, sometimes...it makes you even dumber, because having power and influence you take it for granted, maybe, and sometimes you...you don't always show wisdom or restraint. But this happened. And I don't know why it happened. But it happened...to Elizabeth, not to you. And no matter...how...how much you feel it you cannot take this experience away from her." Luke: "What she needs is she needs to run the show called Elizabeth Webber. And if that means that she needs to...deny that any of this ever happened, then you have to let her do that." Lucky: "Nobody should do what he did and get away with it. Nobody." Luke: "The man who raped Elizabeth will be punished, Lucky, you have to believe that. It'll be cause and effect, or momentum, or karma...." Lucky: "Dad, I'm not talkin' that kind of punishment. I'm talkin' about bars and chains and bread and water. After that, if he wants to throw in a guilty conscience, no problem." Luke: "Look, don't do that. Don't ever take another man's crime as your own. There is one man responsible. One predator. It's not you; it's not Elizabeth; it's not even my fault. And if it hadn't been her, Lucky it woulda been some other young woman. Who didn't deserve it any more than she did. Are you gonna feel guilty about her too? Just this one guy. This one coward. He is responsible. The man who used your friend to feel better about himself for one insane moment in his miserable life." At one point, Lucky stopped and realized how quiet his father had gotten, and noted the look on his face--the way he was looking at him. He asked what was wrong, and I thought for just a moment that he was going to tell him. But instead, he spoke in generalities. He told Lucky that men are sometimes dumb, and they take power for granted. He reminded Lucky that this happened to Liz, not to him. And she needed to be the one in control. And I think he was thinking of Laura's reaction and denial throughout. But Lucky was looking for a way to do something to assuage his own guilt. Luke called him on that as well, telling him to give up his guilt. But in his description of that rapist, his thoughts about himself kept seeping through, both as he separated the blame for this crime from his own blame and as he expressed his understanding of what was in that other rapist's mind. By this time, I was crying right along with Lucky, who vowed to help build Elizabeth up if he couldn't bring the guy down. He left his dad with this: Lucky: "You know, I just hope I always treat women the way you've treated Mom." Luke: "I hope you do a lot better." In the first of several scenes that would utterly break my heart, Luke sat in the office, alone, with his feet curled up under him and covered by his shirt as if it were a blanket. He looked shell-shocked, guilty, and in great pain. And when Luke cries, there's no way on earth I'm not going to go through a mound of Kleenex. It had begun in earnest with this scene. It was inevitable that Lucky would find out, and it was inevitable that Luke and the rest of his family would have to deal with this. The performances were already beyond terrific, and I was willing to bet that this could be my favorite GH storyline of all time--or at least one of the top few. And yet the thing that was so tremendous about this was that it wasn't isolated. The Luke point of view was always going to be the one I cared most about, but the set up was wonderful, with this affecting all the Spencers, all the Webbers, and all the Cassadines. It was crossing generations and encompassing different forms of rape and different attitudes towards it. And it would only get better. G. Bobbie and Luke Bobbie: "Is something wrong?" Luke: "No. Yes. It's my kid." Luke: "Have you lost your mind?" Bobbie: "No. But what if you lose your son? It could happen, you know." Luke: "Oh, I don't think so." Bobbie: "Secrets have a way of tripping you up Luke. Especially the ones you thought were dead and buried. And sometimes the older the secret, the bigger the wallop. Don't you know that by now? Don't we all?" Luke: "I'll tell you what I know by now, Barbara. It serves no purpose for my son to hear that his father raped his mother...a million years ago. Why would I hurt him like that? It's none of his concern." Luke: "I don't ask forgiveness." On Friday, Bobbie showed up, looking for Lucky. There was little sign of their recent argument, perhaps because she was worried about him and his son. She updated him on Lizzie's plan of action, and Luke hoped that the fact that the police were now involved would make things easier for Lucky. He talked about his worries about Lucky, and Bobbie asked him again if he should tell Lucky the truth. Last time she suggested this, I thought that she was, in anger, out to see Luke get punished for something. But it was clear that this time she was simply looking out for Lucky--and for Luke. She pointed out that if Lucky hears it from somebody else, it will be worse. Luke still wouldn't hear of it. There was no purpose, as far as he could see, to him telling Lucky. Bobbie had spoken her mind, so she let the issue drop. And just like the saying sorry, I look forward to painfully watching the day Luke Spencer asks for forgiveness from Laura. And from his son. H. Bobbie and Liz She went to take Liz for her examination at Mercy. Lucky had seen her before, at Kelly's, and offered to go with her as well, but she turned him down. These scenes were very well done, from Bobbie holding Elizabeth's hand to the explanations and instructions given by the doctor. I. Lucky and Luke Unfortunately for Luke, Lucky came back on Friday for another round of dramatic irony. He was turning to his father for support, for a sounding board, for advice, but his father could barely give it. Again he just stood mute while Lucky ranted, and again I was crying by the end of the hour. Perhaps it's a good thing we have Brenda and Jax after all. They just make me roll my eyes. IV. Mac and Felicia Mac arrived at The Outback and greeted Maxie, who assumed that this was the sign that she should leave them alone. After she went off to see the chef, Mac and Felicia compared notes about Tess and he noted that Felicia wasn't wearing her engagement ring. Felicia said that she didn't want to tell the girls about the engagement, because it would just hurt and confuse them when she told them it wasn't going through. This was clearly the beginning of the writers pointing out all the reasons that Mac and Felicia should be together, and not for pretend. Maxie commented on Mac's strange behavior, and Mac replied that he would work at being himself. Tess arrived just in time to make a snide comment about that--thinking it was Jimmy still under cover. Small talk ensued. Felicia left, and Tess quizzed "Jimmy" about his behavior and his cover. He told Tess that they were engaged, and Tess called him an idiot. He said that this meant he needed more information; Tess told him to back off. When he pushed, she gave him vague answers, claiming that he wasn't the one that would be hurt. I figured that she was lying through her teeth, and hoped that Mac agreed. When Felicia came back, Tess asked to see the ring--which Felicia couldn't find quickly enough to avoid suspicion. Tess received a phone call. Claiming it was a bad connection, she headed to the pay phone. Meanwhile, Mac told Felicia that he was now convinced that this scam was about murder. Felicia wanted to go to the cops, and Mac talked her out of it. V. The Quartermaines A. Jax and Ned Jax interrupted Ned's lunch at the Grill on Tuesday and demanded that Ned do something about Jason. He wasn't impressed that Ned hadn't met with Jason yet, and insisted that they move without negotiating with Jason for his approval. He was determined to take Jason out of the project altogether. Ned was adamant that Jax was going to get them all into trouble, but Jax insisted that he could take Jason out of the picture, accusing Ned of being soft when dealing with Jason. They continued to bicker, and Jax made the same point that Benny was making to Jason--that Jason was a Quartermaine. Jax, however, said that this is what was making Ned soft on Jason, while Ned claimed that Jax was being hard on Jason because of Brenda. We saw the same man that was in the meeting with Jason get into a limo, very nervous about being seen. He was joined shortly by Jax. After some back and forth, the guy (we found out his name was Sam) agreed to work with Jax, provided Jax could meet his price. Next, Justus arrived. Jax was offering him a very lucrative contract to come to work for him--to get him away from Jason. Justus ridiculed him for thinking that he could buy anything and anybody he wanted; Jax said that he'd meet any price he named. Jax claimed that this was because he was a good lawyer; Justus wasn't buying it. He knew it was all about Jason and the docks. B. Emily, AJ, and the Family from Hell AJ: "I have spent so much time wondering, 'Why am I a drunk?' When the real question is, Why aren't we all?" Alan: "Let me tell you something, Ned. I don't care if AJ goes into the office every single day and stares at the reflection in his shoes. That is his prerogative. ELQ is owned by this family; it exists at our pleasure." AJ: "So wait a minute. I...I...I may be hopeless and incompetent, but that doesn't matter because it's my birthright? It's so nice to be defended." There was a scene with the Qs at the opening of Wednesday's show that was supposed to be typical Quartermaine bickering but rang a little hollow or boring in places. The family had entered the living room and started ordering drinks, ostensibly to celebrate AJ's first day at ELQ. AJ, however, asked them not to drink to him. Of course, Ned promptly raised a glass to that sentiment and Alan moved to drink as well, totally out of it, until Monica stopped him. Ned: "We want you to get good grades, but not to be clever." Emily then launched into this rather forced sounding speech about the "culture of abuse" at the Quartermaine household, to which Ned made a teasing response. I don't know, but there was something about the out-of-it-ed-ness of Alan and the preaching of Emily and the non-response from her loving family that ruined these scenes for me. But perhaps that was the point--that the family can't even maintain their standard level of bubbly bickering with these substance abuse problems hanging over their heads. And they don't even realize that things are different, perhaps, while we do. Of course, it may just have been bad writing or execution, but I prefer the answer that gives them some credit. C. Ned, AJ, and Jax As Ned and AJ went back and forth in their usual way, Edward and Lila returned. Jax arrived about the same time, wanting to talk business. Alan headed off in search of dinner, and the women went with him while the men talked business. Jax told them of his move with Sam--that he had made promises and then turned the guy over to Jason. The Qs were worried about a mob war and the possible danger to Jason, but Jax coldly noted that no matter who won, they would think they owed it all to him. VI. Dara and Taggert Wednesday found Dara eating at the PC Grill and doing paperwork over dinner. Taggert arrived to speak his mind on Justus. Suffice it to say they don't agree. He was crass, crossing the line between flirting and sexual harassment several times, but I think his point was that Justus was all charm and correctness on the surface with nothing underneath while he himself, while unpolished on the surface was a better man underneath. He noted that Dara couldn't see the substance for the style. And I was beginning to like Taggert, for both the substance *and* the style. VII. Brenda A. Brenda and Robin On Thursday, Brenda made plans to surprise Jax. Robin was concerned about the cost, but Brenda was planning to max her credit cards and other wise moves. She had her budget pared down to the bare minimum so that she could spend all of her money on Jax, to court him in the same style that he courted her. The fact that she thinks this is necessary loses her points in my book. And I didn't think that was possible. Jax arrived to see Robin (sorry, Bren). Brenda headed off to do her shopping and Jax apologized to Robin about bringing her back to this stuff with Carly and Michael. He offered to send her back, but she refused. She wanted to come home, and she wanted to be with Brenda. This wasn't his fault. Brenda returned after Jax left, and she told Robin that she had seen Carly and Jason. She apologized again for the way she had treated Robin when she had her breakdown. Of course, she still believes that Robin is in exactly the same state that she had been with Sonny. Sigh. B. Brenda and Jax Jax: "I only like surprises when I'm giving them." Friday brought Brenda's big surprise. Robin met Jax at the door and directed him to make himself at home with the expensive spread Brenda has laid out for him--even his computer is there for him, should he need to work. It was clear that this wasn't going over very well with Jax, who admitted to not liking surprises. He also didn't like Brenda spending all of this money on him. Meanwhile, Brenda was on the set of her new commercial. The sponsor had decided to do print ads as well, and had hired a photographer to do those shoots at the same time. Of course it was the same photographer who had been at the ill-fated Jax Cosmetics Christmas shoot. We had an amusing moment when Brenda looked shaken and the guy asked her if she wanted her pills--as if he suspected she would break down again. Well, amusing in a perverse kind of way, but the look she gave him was humorous. Back at the house, Jax got a call asking him to comment on Brenda's new career move, and he of course showed up on the set. And so she made it through the shoot not on her own power, but with Jax's support. Sigh. And we had to suffer through a bit of mush along the way. Ick. As Terry noted in her update, it must be something about those Genie hairdos, since the last time somebody wore one was Katherine at the Nurses' Ball where she was being equally icky and codependent about Stefan helping her to walk again. After the shoot, Jax and Brenda went back to her house to have champagne in front of the fireplace (Terry notes, "your updater assumes the references to the fabulous "clink-boom" episode are deliberate") and celebrate. She announced that the happiest times in her life were with him and that she wants him back. Kissing ensued, then Brenda gave Jax the same ultimatum he had given her: "Marry me now or you will never see me again." Of course, Brenda doesn't have the will to pull that one off, and I was quite confident that Jax would call her bluff come Monday. I'm just totally bored already with this storyline. The fact that Brenda's trying to recreate Jax's approach not only means that we've seen it before, but proves to me that she's learned very little through her breakdown. She seems to me to be the same woman she was before--dependant on a man for her well-being, hung up on money, and full of illusions of perfection. I was settling in for a long, boring ride.