The Week in Review: April 20 - April 24 This week was a decent week. Too much of the Jacks, for my taste, and because of the trial we still had lots of busy scenes--lots of plot heavy scenes--that don't lead me to much critique. But there were good things going on this week, as well as some repetition. We had hints of a stronger Alexis to come and we got closer to an answer in Lizzie's rape case. But Carly and Jason stole the week for me, even away from Luke and Helena (though they are always wonderful). His testimony about being Michael's father and her desperation at the sentencing were so wonderfully engaging. I. The Jacks It's kind of nice to have that new header with all of the family in town! A. The Parents Depart Jerry, Jax, and Dad discussed the strike further on Monday, as well as Jerry's comment that he'd get Jax out of the way if he caused trouble. The boys can't decide on how to handle the strike, remember. Jerry wants to negotiate, and Jax won't compromise with Jason (and Jerry knows it's because he hates Jason for Brenda's sake). Meanwhile, Lady Jacks asked Brenda if she could choose a life with Sonny or with Jax, which would she choose? Brenda said Jax. She said that she could see herself growing old with him and said she had grown up a lot already (her opinion). Jane then interrupted the men to make a point of returning the yacht to Brenda (she won it in the family's self-made board game when she first met Jax's parents, and they gave it to her. I sat on the mantelpiece in the penthouse when Jax and Bren were married, and then he put it in storage.). After they all left, Brenda told Jax that she didn't trust Jerry. He was down at the docks meeting somebody we didn't see (or know, apparently) who threatened him and Jax if things didn't start looking up. So this is why Jerry's so into negotiating? B. The Meeting On Wednesday, Jax had all of the players in the strike over to the penthouse for a meeting (this was weird timing, what with the Qs awaiting Tony's sentencing). After some bickering and debate, Ned outlined a compromise and Jerry offered to take it to Jason, since he had a clean slate in that department. On his way, he made a call to somebody we don't know yet. He went to the penthouse next, only to find Bobbie and Carly there. He moved into flirt mode, and Carly was charmed. Bobbie, on the other hand.... Jax made a call to the mayor. They were going to have to give in. Ned gave a press conference in the courthouse while Justus told Jason that Wentworth Shipping had caused the opposition to cave. Jason was confused, but we found out that Jerry had been on the phone with Wentworth. They would have the last laugh. It was unclear as to whether Jason overhead this or not. But he was giving the Jacks brothers the evil eye, nonetheless. C. Brenda and Jax I love that Jax has stuff to do that doesn't have to do with Brenda. I wish I could say the same for her. On Thursday, Jax was at The Outback, watching the news of Dr. Devlin's death (this is a surgeon over on Port Charles and the first victim in the General Homicide murder mystery plotline). Brenda entered and told him that she was meeting somebody about doing some national car commercials. Jax encouraged her and bought some champagne. He left; the producer came. They chatted, and Brenda went to the powder room. On her way back, she heard the producer talking to a Mr. Jax and thanking him for the tip. And we weren't supposed to know that this was Jerry's doing? That thought didn't even cross her mind. On Friday, then, she confronted Jax (back at The Outback) with what she thought she knew. He denied having set up the meeting with the producer, and she didn't believe him!!!! Ack! She threw the 10% advance she had been given at him (she got to keep it? She bought land in the rain forest??). Jerry joined his "favorite non-couple" at one point, but they didn't let him get a word in...until Jax asked Brenda exactly what had happened and she mentioned "Mr. Jax." Then they both looked at her. She ranted at him, and he was unfazed. We had to hear her declaration of independence yet again. But they wanted Brenda to take the job (I don't think Jax had anything to do with it initially, but he *was* using obvious reverse psychology, so he's not doing as she asked). Brenda bought it, though, and came back and said that she would take the job, thanking Jerry for the recommendation and assuring Jax that her being out of town will not slow down her pursuit of him. She went to make a call to the producer and overheard Jerry making a call about the assassination (he was talking about Jason and she thought it was about Jax, yawn). II. Jason and Carly A. Tony Tony fought with his lawyer on Monday, telling her again that he didn't want the insanity defense. The lawyer was insistent, and Tony gladly left for his cell. Helena, meanwhile, stopped to chat with the lady lawyer. She then went to see Alexis. Later, Tony told the lawyer to play it his way or drop the case. She left. Tony grew angry, then asked to make a call. B. Carly and Robin Robin: "The blame starts with you, Carly. You created this." Carly: "Tony is upset because he's not Michael's father, which means he can't take him away from me legally." Robin: "Well, if you want to get into anything about Michael's father, I'm game." Carly: "You listen, ok? Jason is Michael's father. He loves taking care of him. And he knows the truth. We are part of his home, and I know that because every time I've asked him if he wants me to leave, he's made it very clear that that is the last thing that he wants. Now let me ask you something, Robin. Just because it's not safe for you and Jason to make a baby, are you jealous of mine?" While Bobbie asked Jason to speak to Robin outside, Carly was inside letting Robin have it on Monday. She had hurt Jason; she had thought Tony was wrong when she went to the cabin; she thought it was ok for Tony to take Michael to replace BJ. Tony thought that her child was his, she said, and Robin replied that Carly had been the one to tell him that in the first place. She laid the blame on Carly--not for the kidnapping, exactly, but for starting the ball rolling. Now, at this point, I grew angry. I know that Robin was harmed just as Carly was. I know that she's on the defensive because of what she's doing. I know that she thinks she's right for defending Tony and Carly's usually wrong. But to blame the mother for the kidnapping of her own child?! She didn't quite get there, but it was what she meant. And my hackles raised right along with Carly's. Tony and Carly are both at fault. But when does Tony get to stop excusing everything he does by way of Jason and Carly? This scene began a new wave of Robin v. Carly posts on ratsa, some of which seemed very black and white, and lots of which lambasted one character or the other. The thing I like most about Robin and Carly fights, as I've said, is that they're both correct--they both speak the truth about the other. And Robin was right in what she said, though I fault her timing. Carly was wrong to light into her, though I can understand her anger and disappointment. These scenes are well written and well executed. It just comes down to the fact, for me, that I adore Carly and am bored by Robin. And so in an emotional scene, even if I can see and appreciate both sides, I'm going to cheer for Carly. One of the complaints about Robin is that she is perfect--or written, currently, as if she is. I think that's mostly right. I think we see her faults in scenes like this: her desperation to believe the best about people, her anger at Carly that makes her speak harshly to her, her jealousy, etc. But I want more scenes of her realizing that Carly is right, and more scenes of her expressing her anger--and not just at Carly, but at Jason and Tony and Mac, etc. She holds too much in and only lets it loose on Carly, the easy shot. But we aren't shown her faults clearly, and so many other people tell us that she's infallible that we start to believe it. Remember her as the whiny teenager going behind her Uncle's back to see Stone? I want more of that. More of a girl who wants to do right but can't, who is driven by her passions and Uncle Mac be damned, and who isn't always composed and calm or worried about what other people will think. But back to the scene. Robin told Carly that she was building Michael's life on lies, and Carly replied that she was just jealous. As it really got good, Jason interrupted and told Carly to lay off. Of course, he had heard Carly yelling, but nothing from Robin. Sigh. Carly resented him taking Robin's side automatically, and I did too. This is the thing that doesn't help me sympathize with Robin. Everybody else takes her side, even when she is just as much to blame for that conversation escalating into a fight as Carly was. Everybody immediately assumes that she is in the right and Carly's in the wrong, and I get tired of that attitude, which is not Robin's, I think. Jason sent Carly home. Afterwards, Bobbie quietly reminded Robin how much Tony had hurt so many people. Partly, she wanted to explain Carly's behavior. But then she asked Robin to think about her testimony before she took the stand again. C. Carly and Jason Back at home, Jason scolded Carly again. He laid down the rules: 1) never question him or his loyalty to Michael, 2) never try to turn him against Robin. He could turn her out for that. Carly reminded him (and good for her) that if she left, she would take Michael with her. It didn't affect him as she hoped, and when he walked away, she was crying. Bobbie came by to ask how things were, and Carly insisted they were fine. Bobbie then suggested that she bring Lucas by the penthouse sometime to see her. Carly was thrilled. Meanwhile, Jason went back to the courtroom to find Robin still there. He asked her, sincerely, to explain why she defended Tony; he wanted to understand, and he didn't. She explained her position to him, and he still didn't. She told him that somebody could say that he was doing the same thing as Tony--keeping him away from his father because he thought he would be a better caretaker for Michael. Of course, the difference is that the momma made that choice, and Robin capitalized on that to heap more blame on Carly. Jason grew a big angry at the comparison, but he said that it didn't matter. What would happen would happen, regardless. And I hoped Robin knew what he meant. D. The Trial At the courthouse on Tuesday, Bobbie and Monica agreed that it would be a great relief when Tony was put away. Monica couldn't understand how people could forgive Tony, and glared over in the direction of Felicia and Robin. Personally, I was hoping Monica would go off on one or both of them. She hasn't been on a good rant in a while. But Felicia and Robin were telling themselves they had done the right thing. They knew the real Tony Jones (but can't they allow that he needs to be punished somehow for what he's done?). Mac and Dara were discussing Robin's testimony as well. Dara said that it had really put a dent in the case--she was almost in tears. She was also worried about how damaging Taggert's behavior would be to their case. Mac announced that he would change things when he was back in charge. Inside, we found that AJ had already testified (bravo for them telling us but not showing, this time--trials can become too long). Alan praised him and Carly thanked him, saying that she knew he didn't have to do it. AJ said that the baby belonged with his parents and he had just told the truth. Jason arrived at this point, followed by Edward and Ned. Edward was glad that AJ had established premeditation and still kept the family out of it. Ned was more cautious, knowing that the lawyer would bring some surprises. Of course, following that heavy-handed irony, Alexis stepped into the courtroom as Tony's new lawyer. Ned was speechless (and that takes some doing). Edward yelled at her that she was fired. Alexis didn't want Tony to take the stand, but he insisted and she called him. Her first question did away with any chance for the insanity defense. She asked him point blank if he had been insane when he kidnapped Michael, and he said he wasn't. He told an extended version of the story he told Luke in jail. Becoming a father had been a rebirth for him. And he had invested his whole life--found his whole life--in the promise of that child. He took care of Carly and the child (Carly commented to Jason that he had made her work up until the last minute). He claimed that he loved Michael from the first moment, and that the announcement that he wasn't the father couldn't make him stop. He had felt like he had lost another child. He moved on to the danger he felt the child was in, and at this point Mac leaned up and asked what was going on. Dara told him they looked like they were going for "custodial interference"--maximum sentence one year. Mac was not at all happy. I wasn't either, since that doesn't take into account Robin at all, it seems to me. Meanwhile, Tony went on and on about Jason's life. He asserted that he was trying to save Michael's life. Alan took a pill as Jason took the stand. Alexis fished around for his criminal activities or any sign that his life is dangerous, but he dodged them all. She even pointed out that he had named Michael after Sonny Corinthos, who had 23 arrests on his record. Dara said that those were nuisance arrests and they proved nothing. Justus sent a note up, via Taggert, telling her to get Jason to show that he loves Michael. As if she wouldn't know to do that! Mac saw the exchange and told Justus to stay away from Dara. Justus: "Now if she asks you anything about business you just plead the Fifth Amendment." Jason: "My favorite one." Next, Alexis called Jason to the stand. Dara protested, since he wasn't on the witness list. Justus told Carly that Alexis was going to try to prove Jason was an unfit father. The above exchange cracked me up. Alexis: "Mr. Morgan, what would you call a large, muscular gentleman that accompanies your son every time he leaves your home?" Jason: "Uh, that would be Rinaldo." [Ed. note: Yay!] Jason: "Uh, well, he's...he's had a fever...twice. One night it got so hard for him to breathe he, uh, he couldn't fall asleep. So I made a tent out of some bed sheets and got under there with him and...and a humidifier and, uh, some, some stuffed animals. We stayed up most of the night. I don't...I don't know too many stories. I can't sing. So I just, uh, talked...to Michael about what we'd seen that day, about what we'd do tomorrow...and somethin' happened." Dara: "Can you tell the court?" Jason: "Ya. Right, uh...when I was promising to take him to the park, maybe buy a pretzel...and feed it to the pigeons...Michael reached up and touched my mouth. And he looked at me like he finally figured out that I wasn't just...a big pair of hands that brought him food or picked him up, that I was actually a person...like him. And that's when I think he knew...who I was and that I'd take care of him no matter what. And then sometime before morning he fell asleep. And then I fell asleep listening to him breathe." In the best testimony of all, Dara began by asking Jason the prices of all of Michael's things. He knew them all--and more about diapers than I would ever imagine. He knew doctors' numbers, health records, etc. And Jason then spoke of his time with Michael. It was beautiful, and the pained look on Robin's face made her previous behavior almost worth it. Carly just smiled. Most of all, as one ratsa-er noticed, Jason's testimony was a strong contrast to Tony. Tony talked about himself--what the baby did for him, how he felt, etc. But Jason was instead focused on Michael's wellbeing. And in a fair courtroom, that would have done the trick indeed. Alan went out to take a pill with Taggert on his tail. Monica went out, thinking he was emotional, as she was, because she saw her old Jason on the stand, loving Michael. Sigh. I know that Monica doesn't get to see the Jason we see, but I'm tired of scenes like this. Inside, Jason continued, talking about the night he found Michael. She asked why he didn't kill Tony? The defense would have us believe that he's a killer. Jason said that he didn't want to go to prison because he'd be away from Michael. The prosecution--and the defense--rest. Everybody was confident that Dara had proven her case and that Tony would end up in jail. Alexis left last. Ned stopped her on her way out, angry as hell and demanding to know what was going on. She said that she could explain...later. Ned said that she'd have all the time she wanted. But he wasn't interested. Luke stood by and gave her a knowing look, and then left her alone. She looked miserable, and I was hoping that this was the thing that would push her to fight back against Helena. While the cowering was in character for a while--Alexis wanted to punish herself--the Alexis I know wouldn't stand still for this. She'd go out fighting. E. Bobbie and Carly Justus and Jason talked about the strike and the trial on Wednesday's show. Justus was confident that Tony didn't have a chance after Jason's testimony. Meanwhile, Bobbie had brought Lucas to the penthouse to visit Carly. Before he left, Jason had be concerned, but Carly was confident that things would be wonderful. She had bought all manner of snacks and juices that Lucas could have. And Lucas did well. He and Carly got along so well that she told him that she was his sister, despite Bobbie's earlier instructions not to. It was a weird sequence, and the set up was obvious. We haven't seen anything of Lucas since, and Bobbie's never mentioned it, really. I was hoping that we'd get a scene where Lucas mentioned to Tony that he was going to see his sister. No such luck. This was filler, I suppose. It did show how desperate Carly was to claim family. Bobbie was put out, of course. She explained to Lucas what Carly meant, but when he was out of the room (seeing his nephew--he was excited about that) she noted how hard it would be to answer all the questions he would have. Why was his sister kissing his daddy, anyway? Carly realized then that Bobbie's reasoning hadn't been that she didn't want to admit that Carly was her daughter, but that she was putting Lucas first. Duh. As they left, Bobbie noted to Lucas that next time they could bring Monica. Oh, and she was doing so well. That just peeved me. F. The Verdict Jason: "He's gonna pay. You don't have to worry about that." Most of Friday took place at the courthouse. Tony's trial was over, and everybody was there waiting for the verdict. Jason "told" us over and over, as he had before, that he would take care of Tony Jones no matter what the outcome was, but Carly was still counting on the legal system. He left to talk to Justus, and Carly talked to Bobbie. She wanted to know how Lucas was, and Bobbie said that he had asked some tough questions but that it wasn't too bad (and that's really all we've ever heard about it!). Felicia and Bobbie exchanged words, and then Carly came to her mother's defense. Felicia put it back on Carly, saying that she was the one who'd hurt Bobbie the most this year. Bobbie also fought with Monica, who was angry that Bobbie was getting to visit Michael (she found out from Carly, who took pleasure in repaying Bobbie's announcement to Lucas that they'd bring Monica on their next visit, I think--ha!). Bobbie promised that she was trying to help Monica, but I was so irritated that Monica was taking her frustration out on Bobbie, who's been so giving to her about the whole thing. Ned: "After today, I have no reason to think of you at all." Taggert quizzed Alexis about the meeting in chambers that morning, but she said nothing...and Ned said nothing to her. She pleaded with him not to hate her, but he replied coldly, above. Meanwhile, Robin and Jason talked, and she told him that while they weren't on the same side, all that they both wanted was Michael's safety. She was convinced they had it. Jason assured her that Tony would get nowhere near Michael. She thought, I assumed, that he was talking about the sentence, but he meant something more sinister. Geez, people, this guy is a mob boss! Put on your thinking caps! Again we had Robin and Felicia bonding over their actions, but Robin knew that they were going to face some anger if Tony got a light sentence. Felicia said in a very corny way that they'd get through it together (actually, we heard very little about that once the trial was over as well--nobody seemed to remember, other than Bobbie). She and Robin talked about Tony and they intercut that with Bobbie and Monica's conversation of the opposite opinion. Everybody was convinced that Dara had won the case... Luke: "Did it start yet? Or is there still time to get popcorn?" Luke: "So, how's my boy doin'? Have you made him chief assassin yet, or his he still clawin' his way up the corporate Cassadine ladder?" Helena: "This is no time for trivialities, Luke. I'm here to watch a trial." Luke: "Because I'd really like to shake the bejeweled hand of whoever it was who put those two in contact with each other." Helena: "No touching, Luke. We're in public." Luke: "You're not gettin' soft on me, are you, Helena?" Helena: "Oh, Luke. You of all people should know how I despise that word." Helena arrived, stunningly cool and calm. She sat in the next to last row, and Luke slid in behind her. The best lines of the day came from them, of course! Tony finally entered, and smirked that smirk I hate so much at Carly. The judge announced that he had a verdict and cautioned against courtroom interruptions (I would have taken that as a bad sign, but I suppose happy people could be just as vocal as angry ones). He announced the plea bargain--second degree custodial interference. What the hell happened to the Robin kidnapping?!?! Was he interfering with Mac's custody? Sigh. Carly was stunned into silence, turning in disbelief to Jason. He knew the truth--that somebody had gotten to Dara. Jason said that he would have to make some arrangements after the sentence was delivered--how many clues did the girl need that Jason was going to take care of Tony Jones?? If I were her, I would have turned to him and told him to do it. We turned to sentencing, and the sentence of community service goes over without a hitch. No therapy, no nothing. Lots of people got really loud at that point. And in the middle of it, Tony SMILED THAT DAMN SMILE and Carly, tears streaming down her face, started muttering "no." Jason left the room with Justus (Appeal, maybe? Well, only the first step, perhaps. Or just a way to get Justus out of the room.). Mac confronted Dara. And Carly watched as Tony embraced Felicia and Robin who were SMILING! Tony SMILED AGAIN (if I were to be MHGC Tony, I would be Destroyer of His Smirk, but I'm not) and Carly crossed the room, screaming, "You bastard!" Taggert moved to block her, but turned when Mac called, and Carly got her hands on his gun. At the end of the episode, she fired at Tony. I know this was a way to write Sarah Brown's maternity leave, but man, it was good. I was crying and angry all at the same time, and the direction and performances were all right on. A very effective scene, I thought. III. The Cassadines A. Alexis When Helena showed up at Alexis's hotel room on Monday after talking with Tony's lawyer, Alexis wasn't happy to see her. Helena told her again that she wanted her to free Tony Jones; she never said why, exactly, but I figured it was yet another apple that fell from the Spencer tree that she wanted to pick up. And perhaps she would have use for a doctor on her side? Alexis wanted to know as well, but Helena simply reminded her (again) that her life was on the line. Now, I adore Helena. And I enjoy every scene that she's in. But after she's off the screen, as I'm writing these updates, I decide that I want to know more about her motivations and schemes. They've never really explained what she's about; we only see what other people think that she's up to, and several times things she's started out with have just been dropped. Let her explain herself, and let us enjoy being in on the workings of her mind. Alexis had been disappointed at seeing Helena because she had been expecting Ned, who arrived next. They kissed. She wouldn't give details on her trip, but asked questions about Tony's trial. Ned was absolutely disgusted at Tony, and at anybody who could defend him for what he did (a very convenient opinion). He then carried her to the bedroom, where she dreamed aloud of a place where nobody could ask anything of them. He promised her that they wouldn't have to keep their relationship a secret much longer (that didn't follow, did it?). As Ned slept after making love to her and she gazed at him, Helena called. Alexis answered and quietly took the instructions that she was to take Tony's case by the next day. She knew then that this was the last night she would spend with Ned, so she made good use of it.... Wednesday was a bad day for Alexis, who not only had to face a guilt trip from Bobbie, but also was hung up on by Ned. Sucker for punishment lately that she is, she went and sat in his car and waited for him. He gave her five minutes, and she explained very little indeed. Ned was the most peeved that he had told her nothing about it beforehand--that she had made him be surprised with everybody else. She said it was for his own sake, but he didn't believe it. B. Nikolas and Robin On Thursday, Nikolas found Robin at the courthouse, just sitting by herself. Clearly this was all wearing on her, and she was worried about Tony and Jason. She asked about Alexis, but Nik didn't have an answer. Instead, he asked her to dinner at Wyndemere to get her mind off things. Unfortunately, Kat interrupted with the news of Devlin's murder. She told Kat about the fallout after her testimony, and Kathy AGAIN makes it about her by saying that she felt the same way when she got back together with Stefan. Do what you think is right, she said. Too bad she can't stay for dinner. Ya, Kat. That's just what they want. Great maker, I can't STAND that woman. Later, Robin and Nik looked at family pictures. This time, Helena interrupted. Nikolas let her up to the house only so he could throw her out--proving, he hoped, that he was not just following Stefan's instructions where she was concerned. And, finally, Nikolas thought he'd got another opportunity to teach a cute girl to fence, but Kat came back! AHHHHHHHHHHHH! I suppose MBE didn't have enough screen time that week and they had to write her in to some scenes. But there was no point for Kat to be there. C. Alexis Luke: "One day Helena will ask you to do something that's going to turn your stomach." Alexis: "That day has already dawned." On Thursday, Helena checked in with Alexis about Tony's defense. Alexis was irritated with her, but said that things were going as well as possible. Helena then handed her a folder containing that fax of Dara's...for insurance. Alexis was not happy, but Helena insisted that she take it and use it. As Alexis sat on the bench pondering the file and her lot in life, Luke came up silently and read over her shoulder. As he spoke, she jumped, and then she told him about Lucky (what, three people have told him and none of them though he knew? Well, Jason probably did; he was offering backup.). And the lines above made me smile, because I was very happy to see that Alexis had reached the point where she was ready to fight back. But she wasn't fighting yet. She went to see Dara, who quieted down when she saw what was in that folder. You know, with the world knowing that Lucky was working for Helena, I'm wondering if Dara couldn't have followed the trail back some distance. Ah, well. D. Helena Kat: "So you can rest assured...if he let you have it, it's because he sees you for the loathsome creature that you really are." Helena: "You will regret that." Meanwhile, as Helena was leaving Wyndemere, she encountered Kathy and they had another spat about Nikolas. As Kat left, Helena said she would regret it. I was hoping beyond hope that this would be the threat that she made good on. IV. The Spencers A. Lucky and Helena Lucky was again snooping around the yacht on Tuesday until he heard Helena approaching. Luke listened while she told Lucky that she wanted him to break into Dara's office. He hesitated, wondering if she was trying to embarrass his father by having him arrested--only the jail part of that bothered him, he claimed--and she said that this wasn't a test. At the office, Liz found him picking the lock. She tried to talk him out of it, but he told her that he had to. He opened the door and left her the hall. As she stood there, wondering what to do, Garcia approached. She redirected his attention by telling him that she wanted to talk about her case. She had remembered what the rapist said and he took her to write it down. Inside, Lucky heard everything. He found a piece of paper which we couldn't see clearly yet, I think. When the hall was clear, Luke stepped out of the office across from Dara's. He was still keeping an eye on Lucky. Personally, I wondered if he got a secret kick out of the fact Liz was helping in the scam--once it was over and all was well. But he stepped back out of sight as Liz returned, knocked, and left with Lucky. Back at the docks, Liz and Lucky admit that they enjoyed their little foray into the illegal. She had even forgotten about the rape for a minute and for that, he said, they should break the law every day. Crack me up. Juvenile delinquency as therapy. She was worried about Lucky, though, and he had to reassure her. He couldn't tell her much because he wanted to keep her out of it. He's just looking for information on his family, and that's all he'll tell her. She said that she would wait for him. Luke hid, still out of sight, looking on. Lucky gave Helena the paper and she paid him. She was quite pleased with what he had selected. Lucky asked what she wanted with Dr. Jones, but she wouldn't wasn't about to tell. When she asked him if anybody followed him, he said nobody that he didn't want to had done so. I didn't know if that meant that he knew or suspected his dad was around, but I thought that maybe he knew about the bugs by now. And he was clearly speaking about Elizabeth. He rejoined her and told her that they were going to celebrate. He had been a bit worried, after all. Meanwhile, Helena traced the hearts Dara had drawn all over the piece of paper--a fax of strategies from Justus. How very very lame. B. Luke Luke: "I'm the only guy in the neighborhood who got my, uh, garbage picked up regularly, thanks to you. You didn't come here to talk trash; what's up?" Luke: "What d'ya think I'm doin' here, listenin' to books on tape? I'm monitoring my son's education. Thank you for not asking why he's hangin' with the enemy." Jason: "None of my business." Luke: "How does the world keep lurching forward when all these idiots are walking backwards?" Luke was listening in on Helena's yacht on Thursday when Jason arrived. It was so long since we've seen the two of them together! Luke thanked him for the garbage pickup and moved on to business. Jason was there to inform him that Lucky was on Helena's yacht. Luke noted the listening device, but asked Jason to put a couple of guys on Lucky (so he wouldn't wear himself out following him around?), both to watch him and to find out where he was sleeping. Jason also wanted to know if Robin was safe with Nikolas--because of Helena, mostly. Luke warned him again that the Cassadines were dangerous, and didn't consider Nikolas any different than the rest of them. Luke had to go out front and deal with a supplier, and then he had to go out for a second to check on Lucky. Meanwhile, Mike came by and chatted with Jason about Michael. Jason told him that he wasn't convinced that Tony would be going to jail, and assured him that it wouldn't matter. Again with the threats--yeehaw! Mike told him not to put revenge ahead of Michael. Luke returned (no Luke and Mike?!?!?!) to find Jason had finished the books and taken care of the supplier--so to speak. After Jason left, Luke checked the sound at the yacht and heard Helena say Laura's name. She was opening the trunk that Alexis had brought back from Greece. C. Liz and Lucky While Brenda and Jax and Jerry disagreed on Friday, Liz and Lucky sat across the room discussing the rapist. Liz wasn't sure they could ever catch him, but Lucky was confident enough for both of them. Liz looked for excuses--that it was difficult, that it was dangerous, etc. But Lucky reminded her that they had a place to start with the spicy soap she remembered. Liz made a call at one point to Gail, saying that she was holding it together but was still upset about things. Lucky had gone, and when she got back to the table, she ran into Mr. Murty, who offered his handkerchief...which smelled of spicy soap. She looked utterly horrified. Lucky had gone back to the yacht, and this time he definitely found the bug. I don't know if he knew they were there or not; he might have only suspected. But Helena found him holding it and thought he was planting it. And then Luke's connection went dead. V. Mac and Felicia On Wednesday, Jax sent V off to a day at the Deception Spa for Secretary's Day. She met Jerry on her way out, and did not approve. Jax might not have sent her if he had known that Mac and Felicia would show up there (weird scene) and ask her to take a job in his new regime as Commissioner. He wanted her to come back to the force as a detective (I hoped beyond hope, it seems so far, that this would mean that we'd get scenes with V and Garcia and Taggert) on some special task force. She initially turned it down out of loyalty to Jax, but they talked her into thinking about it. Later, at the courthouse, she told Jax about the offer and he encouraged her to take it. She did.