The Week in Review: April 13 - April 17

This week was picking up the pace for me.  I was interested in the trial, though I knew I wouldn't like the outcome, and there was some good stuff there and in other storylines.  Luke, as I thought at the end of last week, had calmed his emotions and was focusing his energy on protecting his son, rather than facing his emotions or attacking the Cassadines.  The sequence with Helena's portrait was hysterical, but that stuff was mixed with the painful scene with father and son in the park.  Lizzie and Lucky continued to charm me, even though their stuff wasn't new.  I was amused by the Qs exploding microwave, but I was disappointed still in the way they were being written.  They have become supporting characters, and they deserve better.  They're too good not to write to.  The testimonies on Friday were very good, but lots of the surrounding courthouse and grill scenes seemed like filler to get the cliffhanger timed correctly at the end of Friday.  I was most interested in the tension between Felicia and Bobbie, and hoped that we'd get some good stuff out of that the next week.  I also looked forward to the Carly/Robin confrontation on Monday.  The Jax family reunion still bored me, though Jerry made it a bit more tolerable.  And, finally, the Cassadines were more of the same.  I was especially bored with Nik and Robin--and put out with Robin in general, though not as much as some people on ratsa.  The best news from that family was that Alexis had returned.

I.  The Spencers

A.  Luke and Stefan

Luke:  "Nah, don't really go in for portraits myself.  Apart from Van Mir (sp?) and maybe Andy Warhol, nobody seems to be able to capture the essence of a person."
Stefan:  "Perhaps you'd prefer a landscape then."
Luke:  "No, what I really like are those gigantic canvases with splotches of violent color and maybe a nose over here and a...an arm over there and a couple of green lamb chops floatin' in the middle.  That's art."
Stefan:  "Still, you must admit this particular portrait does have a certain appeal."
Luke:  "Not for me."

Stefan:  "I am no closer to Helena than I am to you, which should give you some idea of how deeply I revile her."

Luke:  "Well, if you were once in love with my wife, or if you think you are now, all I can say is your taste in women is a helluva lot better than your taste in art."

Stefan:  "There was a time when I convinced myself the pity I felt for Laura--for her situation on our island--was love.  Of course I didn't act on that sentiment, and she never knew.  And when she abandoned her infant son and his father was murdered, that fantasy quickly evaporated.  The reality is that the only feeling I have left for your wife is disdain."
Luke:  "Interesting."

Luke:  "You see, in that bubbling tar pit between your mother's ears, she's got Lucky and Nikolas interchangeable and what that means is...whatever happens to one of them will most certainly happen to the other."
Stefan:  "What are you suggesting?"
Luke:  "Figure it out."

Stefan:  "Why not take the stairs as you leave?  They're much more convenient than the secret passages."
Luke:  "No thanks.  I don't wanna get hit by any more skeletons falling out of the closet."

Luke:  "You know, maybe you oughta hang her.  Or maybe you oughta save her and give her to the boy on his eighteenth birthday along with a bullet-proof vest."

Stefan:  "Spencer can be dangerous when he's afraid."

The two contemplated the portrait on Monday, with Luke commenting on his own tastes in art.  Then the camera angle changed, and we saw that it was a portrait of Helena, in young adulthood, almost nude.  Substituting blondes is certainly Stefan's style, ain't it?  But it was a nice switch, and we had seen on Friday, before he regained his composure, that it certainly surprised Luke.  Luke commented on Stefan's closeness to his mommy, and Stefan parried that he had known Kat's comment would bring Luke running to Wyndemere.  He assured Luke that Laura had done much--abandoning Nikolas, primarily--to kill any pity he had once called love.  Luke claimed that he wasn't there about Laura, but about Helena (making the switch more appropriate--the subject of Helena hiding his true concern just as this portrait was substituted for Laura's).  Luke wanted Stefan to get Helena away from Lucky.  Stefan doesn't ever like being warned, but he simply smiled at the portrait once Luke had left.  When Nikolas got back from visiting Robin, Stefan warned him to look out for Luke, who was frightened but still dangerous.  That's the best description of Luke's state of mind that I've heard yet; leave it to Stefan to see him clearly--at least this time.

Luke:  "So, he never acted on it and you never knew.  Right, baby doll?  Right?"

Back at the club, in the most chilling scene I've seen in a long time, Luke held a photo of him with Laura.  He knew that Stefan's calm denial was hiding something.  As he spoke the above lines, it was clear that he was finding a way to get past the pain and guilt he was feeling, not only by pushing some of it off on the Cassadines, but by reaching the point where he was willing to blame Laura for something.  He might not for long; I expected him to reign it in.  But I also suspected that he would stop seeming so beaten.  And as Keeper of the Outdated Endearments, I *loved* this use for them.

B.  Lucky

On Tuesday, Lucky went through Helena's drawers, so to speak.  She entered, told a story about treason in ancient Rome, and started asking questions about Tony's upcoming court date and the Spencer's reactions.  Lucky just talked about how sad he was for Lucas, and said that he hoped that they would just tell him the truth.  It made me wonder if he had found Luke's bugs, for Luke was show listening in and reacting to Lucky's comments.  Perhaps Lucky just suspected they were there.  But the fact that he didn't let Helena know his thoughts meant that 1) he didn't trust her and 2) he wasn't helping her hang his father, both of which were good.

She asked him to steal something from his father's safe, as a little test I assumed.  Hearing that, Luke left so that his son would have a clear shot.  Lucky entered, quietly, and hesitated a minute before running the combination and looking around for something to take.  It did my heart good to see that moment's pause, and it did me one better to see him refuse everything and instead take some papers from the desk.  They turned out to be beer invoices.  Well, Helena hadn't said what to take!  She was amused with his choice, and Luke looked a bit relieved for the same reasons I was.

C.  Luke and Nikolas

Luke:  "Is it ticking?  It's a good sign if it isn't."

Luke:  "Oh-ho my God!  Mama mia.  Holy moly mother of pearl."
Claude:  "Friend of yours?"
Luke:  "No way, man.  Ha.  What're we gonna do with this?  Drive a stake through its heart?  Maybe put it in the alley, let the city pick it up?  No.  Claude, hang her high.  Right there above the fireplace."
Claude:  "Will do."
Luke:  "Man, if that don't get 'em drinkin' doubles, nothin' will.  And it'll work, too, to keep the Cassadines outta here.  Better than that roach motel."

Luke:  "Hey, Mr. Art Appreciation 101, what do you think of it?"
Nik:  "Is...is that?"
Luke:  "You know it, baby.  It's Helena...in all her luscious, pink-cheeked glory.  Heh-heh."

Luke:  "So what d'ya think?  I just mounted her."
Nikolas:  "Where did you get it?"
Luke:  "A gift from Uncle Stiff."

Luke:  "Oh, don't be ashamed of your heritage, my boy.  Or didn't you know your old granny entertained half the Turkish army before Mikkos hosed her off, washed her up, and marched her down the aisle?"

In a move that even Luke could appreciate, Stefan's gift to Luke arrived on Wednesday.  It was the portrait of Helena.  That was a beautiful move, with Stefan giving Luke the portrait he didn't want and setting up his mother at the same time.  Luke ate it up, and had Claude hang it up over the mantelpiece.  Too funny.  Nik stopped in later, wanting both to apologize for telling Lucky (he hadn't imagined Lucky would work for Helena) and to thank Luke for helping to save his life--although the second one came out seeming unplanned and a tad sarcastic and Luke again say that he wished Nik dead (before he could tell Lucky, of course).  The timing on this was utterly contrived, especially after that scene on the parapet where Luke threatened him.  Yes, Nikolas just thanked Jason--and it's been a long time, hasn't it, in coming?--but his presence made no sense to me.  I explained it away as Nikolas trying to smooth things over in a similar way to what Kathy was trying, and I thought that he really did feel badly about Lucky.  But Luke would have none of it (people were surprised at this?), and Nikolas ended up angry, especially when he saw Luke's new acquisition and heard that Stefan had given it to him.  As he left, he dropped the news of the new portrait of Laura at Wyndemere.

Later, the customers were...appraising the new art when Bobbie arrived to talk to Luke about her upcoming appearance at Tony's trial.  After going through a long discussion of her feelings about and memories of Tony, she admitted that she wanted him to go to jail for 40 years--the maximum sentence.  Luke told her that Helena was now involved, and that she should beware that Helena would try to get Tony freed so that she could use him against the Spencers.  He asked Bobbie to talk to him about it, but she refused.  At this point, I thought he position was totally justified, and if were the judge I would have ruled with her.  Tony is sane, was sane, and is and was guilty.

D.  Lucky and Lizzie

Lucky and Liz talked at Kelly's on Thursday.  He was worried what Sarah thought of his staying with Liz.  Liz noted that if she was worried, it was only because Lucky was staying in her room and not Sarah's.  Ha!  She noted that the only reason Sarah was harsh with Lucky is that she's angry that he hasn't asked her out yet, now that Nik broke up with her.  Lucky, like the smart boy he is, announced that he and Sarah weren't meant to be.  Liz was still worried about work, and Lucky encouraged her.  They both repeated their fear that they were to blame for the rape.

Bobbie entered, and Lucky wouldn't tell her where he was staying.  She was headed to the trial, but she asked after Liz and suggested that Lucky suggest a support group.  Bobbie told Elizabeth that Gail Baldwin had helped her, and Liz agreed to let her make the appointment.

Sarah came in next and flirted with Lucky, who was cold to her.  Mr. Murty then came in.  He was worried about Sarah's worsening performance at school and told her that she had to come in to his office after school until she got her grades back up.  At one point, he said to her, "Not another word," and Liz froze.  She remembered that the rapist had said "Not a word."  And we had another suggestion that the rapist was going to be Mr. Murty.  I was his FGC when he was teaching the Brontes, but I dropped him when they changed the actor and haven't picked him back up.  Gee, you would know that the one English teacher on the show would turn out to be a rapist.  :)

II.  The Quartermaines

A.  Alan

Monday found Alan haggling with the drug dealer over his painkillers.  He kept hedging, needing assurances, and the drug dealer threatened to leave.  Edward wanted to buy only a couple of pills, but offered to pay for the whole bottle.  But in the end, he took the bottle, gulped what looked like half the bottle, and began to weep.  Alan's drug addiction hasn't been a good storyline for me thus far, but Stuart Damon has been amazing.  These scenes themselves were a bit repetitive over a few days, but Damon was excellent.

Taggert:  "You're on your way to hell, Dr. Quartermaine.  And I'm buying the ticket."

Outside, Taggert chatted with the drug dealer.  They had a deal: the dealer would stay out of jail as long as he kept his mouth shut about Alan--but kept Taggert informed.  Then Taggert went into the room and looked down at the drugged Alan and said the above line.  I wondered if Alan's his way to Jason, or if he's just after Alan for his own sake.

B.  The Kitchen from Hell

Edward:  "Oh, no, look!  Frozen mini corndogs.  Mmmm.  And Cajun Buffalo wings.  They're fascinating."

More of the Qs as slapstick comic relief came on Tuesday.  They all looked confused at their respective appliances until AJ brought take out.  Edward, though, insisted on making his own, and it was actually quite funny to see him, in the middle of a rant about the docks with Ned, put metal in the microwave after they had warned him not to.  Crack me up.  I loved that Ned just cruised through the middle of it all, amused, and not offering any help.  Emily was similar, though she looked concerned.  And Lila seemed to be smiling a lot as well.  In the middle of the melee, Alan arrived.  He told Monica that he was better, and that he would rearrange his schedule to avoid stress as much as possible.  She seemed to buy it and not notice the glazed look in his eyes.  She encouraged him to reconnect with Emily.  Then he popped a pill.  Keesha and AJ talked at one point about Justus, as well as Michael and the trial.

C.  Ned

Ned:  "Now then.  Where were we?"
V:  "Um, you were just trying to get me to take your side against Mr. Jax by comparing me to Mata Hari, a woman with an iffy reputation who was shot for espionage.  An interesting approach."
Ned:  "Did it work?"
V:  "Well, the dinner was excellent, and the flattery was very nice.  On the other hand, Mr. Jax never thought he could buy me with a couple of compliments and the house special.  But it was a lot of fun to watch you try."

On Wednesday, V joined Ned at the PC Grill to talk about the strike.  He was charming, and she was charming, but V would not be used as a route to her boss or as a source of information for Ned.  In the middle of their conversation, he took a call from Alexis, who said that she was going to be later getting into town than originally planned.  She didn't tell him the truth, that she was going to pick up a package for Helena in Greece.

III.  Carly and Jason

A.  Carly and Jason

So much for Carly's promise not to create any more fantasies.  On Monday she continued her...approach, kissing Jason until he woke up and made her stop.  She wanted them to take it to the next level, since they had become so close, but he didn't want to ruin their friendship--he's seen what happens to people she shares a bed with.  She reminded them of their past; he told her that they had begun to fight.  She declared that the bottom line was Robin.  That's ok, she could have his heart and Carly could have his body, she suggested.  But that dog ain't gonna hunt.  Jason wanted the status quo.  Carly apologized, but was almost in tears.  Yet again, she had taken the existing situation and made more of it than it is.  And again she's disappointed.  Our poor girl.

B.  Tony's Upcoming Court Date

Down at the station on Tuesday, Dara thanked Jason for his deposition against Tony.  Ned came in to protest the strikers on Q property.  Justus, meanwhile, offered Dara help on the sly for the case against Tony while some tabloid lawyer came in and offered her services to Tony.  But she wanted to use a temporary insanity plea, and Tony wouldn't hear of it.  He would rather go to jail than lose his license to practice medicine (ya, that'll come in handy in the pen, Tony).  She told him that he had to avoid jail, since Jason would have friends in there.  Outside, Justus was telling Dara that the odds were on the insanity plea.  While that was going on, Ned tried to get Jason to stop the strike, and Jason said that he would not stop it until he got what he wanted.

The lawyer left her card, telling Tony to think about what she had said.  Once she was gone, Helena arrived, offering her help.  Tony refused her as well, but he took her card as well, which she left sitting on the bars before she left.  Luke arrived after Helena had left; he knew she had been there and warned Tony away from her.  Tony decided that it was a selfish move on Luke's part and would pay no heed.  He was just ranting about Cassadines.  Once Luke had left, Tony rubbed the two cards together and chose one.  Meanwhile, Dara agreed to accept help from Justus.

C.  Tony's Trial

I think this was a trial and not a hearing, but I'm not sure.

On Thursday, Robin was worried about testifying against Tony.  She didn't want to be the one that sent Tony to jail.  Brenda tried to convince her to tell the truth; she believed that Tony should be punished.  Robin said that Tony felt horrible about what he did to her, but Brenda pointed out that he hadn't let her go.  Brenda headed off to see Jax, once Robin said she'd be alright, and Dara came to pick Robin up.  Robin told Dara that she didn't want to testify--declared that she wouldn't (how ignorant is she?) and Dara tried to be patient but told her that she would testify or would be arrested.  Dara went to court, leaving Robin behind.

Meanwhile, Mac and Felicia were eating at the horribly under-staffed PC Grill.  Mac was worried about Robin and angry with Tony.  But Felicia announced that she was going to be a character witness because of Tony.  She didn't want Tony to be without some support, and felt that the man who had saved Maxie's life cannot be all bad.  I was glad to see her compassion, even though I think that the death of that child and the life of another cannot be the end-all-be-all explanation for everything in their lives forever.  Robin, on the other hand, was driving me nuts.  In the middle of their discussion, Jax came to the table and offered Mac the Police Commissioner's job--something about the previous commissioner resigning because of marital difficulties....  Mac didn't' give an answer yet.

At another table, Keesha and Justus had the same conversation they've been having since he started working for Jason.  At one point, he went to talk to Dara (flirt with, more like) and AJ entered.  They had spent the night together in a room at the hotel, and went back upstairs for a reprise before the trial.  Yawn.  They weren't telling anybody about their reunion, which is why Keesha had lied to Justus about why she didn't answer the phone the night before.  Meanwhile, Justus tried to give Dara some information, but she turned it down.  After he left, Mac came over, worried about the way Taggert had handled the case, not getting Tony treatment for his arm immediately.  He started making declarations, and it was clear that he'd take the job.

Later, everybody arrived at court.  Taggert was confident, but Justus reminded him of the lack of medical care.  Felicia told Bobbie that she was going to be a character witness and Bobbie blew up at her, telling her that Tony had said that he was going to take Lucas too (he didn't say that; he said he had thought about it).  Felicia couldn't believe it--wouldn't--and Mac continued to try to persuade her not to testify.

Tony and his lawyer arrived, and Mac commented on her as being the lowest kind of lawyer scum.  AJ and Keesha entered, flushed.  Mac asked Dara where Robin was; Dara said simply that she hoped everything would be ok.  Dara entered the courtroom and Mac called Jax and said he wanted the job.  He wanted to be able to do something about the crimes in this town.  Everyone entered the courtroom, and then, after the doors closed, Robin appeared, sighed, and entered as well.

D.  Tony's Trial, Day Two

Back at the courtroom on Friday, Edward marshaled the Q forces, making sure they had their stories straight and reminding them not to mention their recent attempt to get Michael into their house.  Emily couldn't believe it.  She went to talk to Robin, and they talked about testifying.  Bobbie and Dara talked about the trial so far; Bobbie still couldn't believe Felicia was testifying.  But she was testifying herself, and was determined to set the record straight.

At the grill, Jason and Carly were having a meal and laughing at the Qs substitute help.  Ha!  They talked about Edward and the strike, and then turned to talking about Tony.  Carly was convinced that Tony would go to jail and that Robin's testimony would put him there (she was in love with Jason, after all), but Jason told her that the law was just business.  There were no promises.  She told him that this would be the case that would change his mind.  And the foreshadowing began in earnest.  At another table, Felicia and Mac celebrated his reinstatement as Commissioner.  But the talk turned to the trial and Felicia left, not wanting to hear his opinion any more.

Back at the courthouse, Reggie brought a picnic for the Qs.  Mac entered and told Robin about his new job.  They all went into the courtroom and Tony entered.  Carly smiled and told Robin to do her worst, but Jason said that she should just tell the truth as she knows it.

Felicia:  "The decisions I have seen Tony make have often been heroic."

Robin:  "We were never in any danger."
Dara:  "Move to strike.

Dara:  "Did the defendant know what he was doing was wrong?"
Robin:  "I think that he considered it the lesser of two evils."

Judge:  "You've been called as a witness, not an advocate."

Carly:  "Jason, does she know what she's doing?  Course she does.  Damn her."

Felicia's testimony was first.  She told the story of the heart transplant, and Bobbie's face softened a bit.  But Dara pointed out that the fact Tony could make a rational and giving decision under stress meant that he was not insane.  Robin took the stand next, and Dara informed the court that she would be a hostile witness.  The audience was floored.  Robin made every excuse in the book for Tony--that he wasn't thinking straight, that he loved Michael, etc.  She played down her bad time locked in the back room of the cabin, and I longed for her to remember how desperate and scared and sick she was.  But Robin cannot bear to lose another person.  She cannot bear for something else that she thought she could count on to be gone.  So she gave a testimony designed to keep Tony out of jail and get him some help.  I appreciated her ability to forgive, but she was simply being naive.  She spoke out of turn, putting herself almost in contempt of court, and she didn't trust the lawyers to make the arguments.  She volunteered information instead of simply answering.  Robin is not stupid about the law and the court system, but she was sure acting like it.  Moreover, I didn't know how she could have looked in Tony's face all of those times and not seen that he was dangerous--she just didn't want to.  Finally, I just want Robin to admit to herself that most of what she does is selfish.  She has bought everybody else's picture of her as an extremely good person, and people on ratsa were not pleased with her almost over-compensatory defense of Tony.  Tony just smirked that smirk that I hate so much, taking a chance to look around the room and pat himself on the back.  He wasn't happy with his lawyer's questions, though, which were clearly designed to start building an insanity defense.

Bobbie:  "I know more than anyone what Tony has gone through.  Because I went through it too when our daughter BJ died.  But every parent who has lost a child does not turn into a kidnapper, or held hostage someone who is so sick she requires hospitalization.  And it really makes me sick to hear BJ's death used as a justification for any of this.  Tony stole a baby out if its stroller because he didn't like the parents God gave that baby.  He egotistically decided that he knew better than God.  How dare you!  How dare you or anyone else for that matter try to lay that on BJ!  How dare you."

Outside, Justus asked Taggert to give Dara a note for him.  Taggert didn't want to, but when Justus told him that it was about the case, Taggert agreed.  At the same time, Dara took Bobbie to the stand.  She rocked.  Bobbie told the court that she was afraid because Tony had given her reason to believe that he was going to take her son as well.  She attested to Robin's medical condition and said that Robin was deceiving herself if she thought she couldn't have died from that experience.  She pointed out that she had lost BJ as well and that she hadn't become a kidnapper.  Tony had no right to use BJ as his excuse for everything.  Again, the cross shows that Tony's lawyer is going for temporary insanity.

Meanwhile, Helena stopped Robin outside and asked about her testimony.  Brenda entered and Robin left Helena unanswered.  Inside, Helena spoke to Tony on his way out, reminding him that she was there.  He asked her to get him out of there, and Helena made the call to Alexis.  Back outside, Felicia and Robin pat each other on the backs, thinking that they did the right thing.  The Qs contemplated a civil suit if Tony got off (what happened to that idea?) and Alan took some pills.  Taggert noticed and offered him some water.  Crack me up.  Bobbie and Monica patted themselves on the back too, convinced that they were going to win.

After speaking to Dara, Justus checked in with Jason and had to admit that Robin's testimony really did hurt their case.  Carly promptly accosted Robin, demanding to know why she had done it.

IV.  Jax and Brenda

Jerry:  "It's not catchin', is it?"

Jax:  "If it looks like I'm falling in love with Brenda again, I want you to take me aside and beat some sense into me."
Jerry:  "It'll be a pleasure."
Jax:  "Get me out of town, break my legs, or shoot me if you have to.  I don't care.  But don't let me propose to her.  Alright?  We got a deal?"
Jerry:  "Got here just in time, didn't I."
Jax:  "Ya.  Not a moment too soon."

On Monday we had more of the meeting of the two brothers--Jerry's in town and Jax isn't happy about it.  Jerry was there to pay a debt, and he punched Jax for stealing Ashley.  A typical sibling fight ensued, and I thought what a fun first scene that must have been.  Later, they tumble laughing (or almost laughing) onto the sofa and admit that Ashley's too self-centered.  But Jax was angry that Brenda had been hurt in the shooting because Jerry had gone after Jason without asking Jax.  The bookie then knew whom to pay; Jerry explained that he had found out that Mitch was going to assassinate Jax, so he bought out the sniper and had him train his sites on Jason.  He claimed that he didn't request Jason dead, just out of the docks deal.  We weren't supposed to believe him, and Jax didn't either.  The talk turned to Brenda.  Jerry knew that Jax was still in love with her, and Jax admitted that he was, but he wasn't going back to her because she had broken his heart.  He told the story, and Jerry grew irate with Sonny--and Brenda, for that matter.  Jax told him that he wanted him to do whatever it took to keep him away from Brenda.  Jerry agreed.  Now, from this first appearance, Jerry seemed fun and smart and roguish--just the way I like them.  It helped that he didn't like Brenda and livened up Jax.  But I reserved my approbation until I had seen a bit more of him.

Jerry:  "If he dusts her for prints, I'll be in real trouble."

On Wednesday we began with Bobbie going out the back door of the PC Grill to avoid the strikers and coming across Jerry Jax climbing down a fire escape.  In a series of half-flirtatious, half-teasing lines he told her that he'd been with the Police Commissioner's wife.  She seemed unimpressed and interested all at the same time.  And he didn't seem uninterested himself.  Now, I might like an affair with these two, depending on how well I turn out to like Jerry Jax.  At least he'd be fun, but I don't want Bobbie to get hurt.  And I suspect that she might fall in love, even if she didn't intend to.

Jerry next encountered Brenda in the hall outside Jax's door, who tried to brush him off to no avail and told him she was waiting for her boyfriend, his family, and his brother, whom she had never met before.  It was clear that each knew who the other was, and the scene was quite amusing.  Jax opened the door to find Jerry with his arm around Brenda and Brenda's eyes wide.  We had more of the same, and Jerry told Jax that he had taken care of the Police Commissioner.  More about the strike and Morgan followed.  They had lunch at the grill and talked business.  Afterwards, Jerry told Jax that he was upset that his feelings for Brenda were the main obstacle to a compromise with Jason.  Later, he told Brenda exactly what Jax had asked--that he be shot before he went back to Brenda.  Brenda batted her eyes and said she'd shoot him herself if he didn't.  And actually, I like Brenda in scenes with Jerry more than Jax, because she's like her old self--the one that used to verbally battle with Sonny.  I'll credit Jerry with making the scenes in this storyline more tolerable.  Jerry asked her to dinner, but she was eating with Mom and Pop Jacks.

On Thursday, Jax asked Brenda to get his parents out of town.  He told her that the dynamics were too explosive with all of his family in town, but I noted that he wasn't trying to get Jerry out of town.  Brenda, I think, had it right when she said that he didn't want his parents around because they were on her side.

On Friday, Jerry commented on Felicia and told Jax that PC was the place for him because of all the good-looking women.  Jax gave him some coffee made by the replacement staff.  Ewww.  The parents and Brenda entered, and Brenda spoke to Jason, telling him not to make things hard for Robin at the trial.  Then she returned to John and Jane and they discussed--what else--Jax.  John announced that they should leave town so as to not cramp Brenda's style or send Jax further away because of their united front.  Meanwhile, Jerry pushes for negotiation and Jax wouldn't compromise.  At the end of the episode, John and Jerry talked about the shooting.  Dad knew the score, and knew that Jerry had changed the target to Jason.  Jerry said that Jax didn't know that he wanted to kill Jason, and said that he would keep Jax out of the way.  Jax arrived, heard the last line, and asked how.

V.  The Cassadines

A.  Nikolas and Robin

Nikolas came to visit Robin in the hospital on Monday, bringing a huge bouquet and a book of French fairy tales.  She thanked him for his part in saving her, and they both agreed they were glad that the other had come through their life-threatening experiences.  Brenda interrupted, beaming about Jax and the fact that his parents were on her side.  Robin was hesitant.  But after Nikolas left, Brenda started giving Robin knowing looks about Nikolas.  Sigh.  Later, Robin slept with Nik's book on her chest and Jason came in to look in on her.  He was clearly only visiting her when nobody else was there and he knew she was asleep.

On Tuesday, Nikolas came back and read her fairy tales.  They talked about them a bit, and Robin said that she was happy to be getting out of the hospital soon.  She wasn't, however, happy to receive a subpoena from the prosecution.  Nik and Robin agreed to a picnic and hike once she was home.  And as he left, he ran into Jason.  He thanked him for saving his life; Jason reminded him that Luke helped too, good ol' factual Jason that he is.  He told Jason to go in and see Robin, but he hesitated--and Nik noted that.  But he stayed too long and Robin came out for her "walk around the block."  They chatted for a minute, nothing major, and she asked him to stay.  He declined, saying that he had to be somewhere else.

B.  Katherine and Stefan

More of Kathy's whining and Stefan's coldness on Wednesday.  She knew why he was upset with her--because of her visit to Luke.  She explained herself some more, none of it convincing, and he replied that yes, he was angry that she had tried to protect the family without asking him.  He was the family's protector, and he didn't need her to speak for him.  But the anger passed quickly (I wished the flirting had passed as quickly), and I assumed Stefan was trying to simply keep the peace.  I'm waiting for the day that he simply lets himself be angry with her.  With all the box-of-hair things she's done to him, all the times she clearly drives him batty (no pun intended), I can't believe how tolerant he is--and how easily he goes back to her bed.

C.  Nikolas and Stefan

Nik came home from Luke's and confronted Stefan about the gift.  Stefan was unconcerned, though he apologized for offending Nikolas.  He wasn't happy, though, to hear that Nik had told Luke about the new picture of Laura.  Stefan managed to compose himself (I laughed that the man of secrets was having them spread by everyone around him) and asked if Nik would be alright with Laura coming home.  Nikolas was only concerned with her anger at him for telling Lucky--and for what Lucky's anger would do to her.  But Stefan was looking forward to it.  Of course, I think he reveled in the thought that he would be the one to bring Laura home, and he also knew that it would cause chaos in the Spencer household.  Perhaps he thought that this would make her leave Luke?  But I thought that Nikolas's reactions and motivations were much more admirable than Stefan's.  Nikolas has repeatedly showed himself to be maturer and less selfish than Stefan.

Kathy entered, trying to convince him to come back to bed, and he told her that he was going out of town on business.  Later, Nikolas told Stefan that he approved of the plan to bring Laura home.  Stefan asked him not to tell Katherine, who might tell Luke.  Crack me up.

D.  Helena and Alexis

Helena called Alexis, meanwhile, and told her to pick up a package at the Greek Island on her way back to Port Charles.  It was the first scene for Nancy Lee Grahan after maternity leave, and it was nice to see her!  Alexis didn't want to do it, but of course there's that little matter of Helena's death threats.  When she got back to PC on Friday's episode, she ran into the hotel room to answer the phone because Ned was leaving a message.  She didn't make it, but played the message back and smelled the flowers he had sent.  Helena entered, however, and asked who was on the phone.  Alexis said it was nobody important, and Helena didn't look convinced.  Helena asked talked about the trial and asked Alexis about Tony.  Alexis told what she knew, and Helena said that she admired Tony's initiative.  She doesn't want Tony in jail for 40 years; she wants Alexis to defend him.  She left, telling Alexis that Lucky would be by to pick up the trunk she had requested.  I was hoping for a Lucky/Alexis scene, but no such luck.