Volume I, Issue iv

December 1998

GH in Review: November by Amy McWilliams

View a section by clicking on the links below, or read the entire review by scrolling down. The review takes up 5 separate pages, but the navigation at the top and bottom of each remains consistent.

General Hospital

The Spencers

Lucky and Elizabeth

Bobbie

Luke and Laura

Jax, V, Ned, & Alexis

Carly/Jason/Robin

The Cassadines

The Quartermaines

Mac and Felicia

General Hospital

Lucky and Elizabeth

• Tom locks Elizabeth in the darkroom with Emily. Emily knows something's wrong, and Elizabeth tells her that Tom is the man who raped her. Emily tries to comfort her and break them out of the room. Lucky and Nikolas come to the studio, having figured out that Tom's the blackmailer, and hear Emily banging on the door. Tom arrives before they can escape, however, and holds them at gunpoint. Nikolas and Lucky charge him and Liz ends up with the gun. She holds it on Tom, but in the end takes the phone and calls the police. (11/2)
• Liz thanks Lucky for saving her, but he tells her that she was strong. He promises to be there for her always as she remembers it's now her birthday. She kisses Lucky and tells him that she's excited to look towards the future. (11/3)
• Lucky brings Liz, who stayed over that night, a cupcake with a candle in it for her birthday. They prepare to celebrate, and Bobbie calls to say she's bringing over Liz's test results. Liz tells Lucky about the HIV test, and when Bobbie arrives, they're all pleased to find that she's negative for HIV. Bobbie's happy but surprised to hear that the rapist was caught. After she leaves, Lucky gives Elizabeth a charm bracelet. They kiss as we hear the sound of Lucky's song for her. (11/4)
• When Lucky takes Liz home from Nik's party, she realizes that she has lost the bracelet he gave her. He tells her that he'll go to find it. While he's gone, Taggert comes by to let her know that there's not enough evidence to try Tom for her rape, only for the blackmail and other charges. (11/9)
• Liz grows afraid for Lucky when she can't reach him by phone and he hasn't come back. She calls Nikolas, who comes to the house. Bobbie helps them look, and says to keep her posted. (11/10)
• Laura comes to visit Lucky. (11/20)
• After Lucky gets home, Liz tells him about the lack of evidence against Tom for rape and he tries to comfort her. (11/20)
• Emily comes to the station unfazed by the press of the press, but Liz is hopeful that there's good news about Tom. Taggert talks with them about Tom's upcoming trial, warning them not to expect a long jail sentence. Liz asks to speak to Tom, hoping she can get him to confess, apparently. Tom and Lucky warn her against it, but she insists. Tom lets her know again that he raped her, but not in any way that would prove his guilt. An agitated Liz runs from the room into Lucky's arms. She's determined to see Tom in jail, and Lucky promises to help her. (11/24)
• Lucky gives Liz a surprise dinner at the club, which was closed for inventory. He had ordered out, he has to admit, but Liz doesn't care. Lucky asks her to go steady, making official what they both already knew, and he asks her to dance as he sings "My Girl." (11/25)

It's interesting to me that I classify this, which started out to be Emily's story, under the Lucky and Elizabeth section. It came to be, however, all about Elizabeth with the revelation that Tom was Liz's rapist. I wasn't hopeful about this storyline in the beginning, as I've said elsewhere, but what came out of it was golden: Lucky and Nikolas bonding together, Liz facing down the man who raped her and having to find peace again.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the fact that we had to "solve" the rape at all. I liked that it was left open-ended, and I thought that the convergence of the two crimes, while it made sense, was unbelievable in a way because of Brenda. Just because she died, they were free to turn Tom into a criminal. But I saw this same actor as Tom deal with Brenda all those times. He was always gentle and polite, and after her breakdown he was supportive while still getting the job done. When Emily first started modeling, he was the same with her. This was a rewrite, not just of Tom, but of Brenda as well. Now we're supposed to assume that she trusted this pervert implicitly for all these years? That she had no inkling that he was capable of this? The actor who plays Tom was absolutely wonderful, and I'm glad that he got the chance to shine so well in his scenes after the revelation. It was further proof that the casting at GH is incredible. I simply didn't like the ending.

They saved it, however, not only with the performances by "Tom," but the performances by Becky Herbst as well. We had seen her go through this process before, after she realized Murty wasn't her rapist. Somehow this didn't seem like mere repetition, though, and the writers did a good job of bringing out new things about Liz's reaction to the rape--Lucky's too. Am I (or are the other editors) perfectly happy with the Tom-as-rapist ending? No. I do like, however, the things that have happened in December. It's an ending, but not a neat and tidy one, and I appreciate that.

Elizabeth: "You raped me."
Tom: "Yeah. Sometimes I like pictures; sometimes I need that hunt. You can understand that, can't you? Huh? Oh, maybe you can't. God, it was so beautiful between the two of us, you know? So sweet, so great. Did they remember to tell you that it wasn't your fault? Because that's important. That's really--"
Elizabeth: "Help me! Somebody help me!"

The psychology of photography and of these crimes is actually really smart. The masculine gaze, the feminine subject--literary critics would be proud. What I liked even more, however, was Tom's parody, almost, of the act and treatment of rape. His lines above, "Did they remember to tell you that it wasn't your fault?" was so twisted and so unexpected--I loved it. Very nice.

Elizabeth: "It just still makes me feel sick. It took months for me to wash him off. And now that he's touched me, I just feel dirty again."
Lucky: "You're not. Look at me. You're beautiful. Even Tom can't change that. And he'll never have another chance to try."

Elizabeth: "You know, Lucky, you were the only person who was as angry about the rape as I was. Has that gone away?"
Lucky: "Not even a little. Just--just has a face and a name now, you know? It's not just floating around in here, eating me from the inside out any time a stranger looks at you a little too long."
Elizabeth: "I didn't know."
Lucky: "I wasn't going to tell you. I mean, you had enough on your mind."

Lucky: "Ok. What do you think courage is? Do you think it's not giving a damn whether you live or die? Or thinking of nothing else but doing the right thing anyway? I'll give you a hint--it's what you did. I know you don't see it that way right now, but--"
Elizabeth: "I like your version a lot better than mine. But I know where I'd be right now if it wasn't for you. You protected me, Lucky, just like you said you would. Thank you."

Lucky: "You said so yourself, there was no right or wrong in that, only what was right for you."
Elizabeth: "What was the most right for me was trusting you. It's the best thing I've ever done because you're the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Lucky: "See how much we have in common? Because you're the best thing that's ever happened to me, too."

Elizabeth: "What if I am H.I.V.-positive? What am I going to do?"
Lucky: "Well, first thing to remember is that you wouldn't be alone."
Elizabeth: "You say that now, but--"
Lucky: "Elizabeth--I'm not going to abandon you, no matter what--not ever. Now, the first thing we'd do is speak to Robin. She's been there. She could help us out, give us some guidelines. We'll handle this."

Lucky and Elizabeth continue to be wonderful. So wonderful that I almost wish for more conflict! Not between them, but around them. I suspect the Spencer/Cassadine storyline will bring that soon enough. As it is, all of the conversation above was lovely, and even though they've said these things before I don't seem to notice that when I watch them. I love their discussions of strength and courage--their definitions, and their mutual dependence on each other. I also like that, with this ending, Lucky has the chance to protect her--to be there when she needed him. He does that every day, but he couldn't protect her from rape, and he tried desperately hard to do that when they thought Murty was the rapist. This time he was there, and that has to go a long way to helping them both overcome this.

Bobbie: "I know you don't want to hear this, but I think you're a good big brother."
Nikolas: "I don't mind."

Laura was to say something similar later. I liked this quiet, subtle way that Nikolas let these two women know that things were ok now between him and Lucky. He couldn't say more yet, but he could point out that he didn't object to the word "brother."

Laura: "Hi." Lucky: "It's you."
Laura: "Were you expecting somebody else?"
Lucky: "No. No, no. No. Come on in. Glad to see you."
Laura: "Oh. Thanks."
Lucky: "Is that my coat?"
Laura: "Yeah. I thought maybe you could use it. All the weather reports said that it was going to get really cold."
Lucky: "Mm-hmm. Thank you."
Laura: "You're welcome."
Lucky: "You didn't have to make a special trip."
Laura: "I wanted to see you, Lucky. We haven't had a chance to talk about what happened in the cabin."
Lucky: "Right, well, we went up there, dad got hurt--it's like a circle-type thing, mom."
Laura: "And in between?"
Lucky: "He wanted to make things right."
Laura: "Well, that sounds pretty straightforward. Almost predictable. No surprises?"
Lucky: "Oh, you mean did I tell dad about you and Stefan Cassadine?"

Laura: "If you're referring to the day that you caught me drying my clothes at Wyndemere, we have been over that. And frankly, I don't see the point in going over it again. Besides, you know, Lucky, it kind of falls under the heading of what's your father's to deal with and to accept--not yours."
Lucky: "You're right. Which is exactly why I didn't mention it to him. I mean, if there was any lesson to be confirmed from the mountain, it's that you and dad have your thing and I have mine, and we don't necessarily have to agree."
Laura: "And you're fine with that?"
Lucky: "I've said so for a long time."
Laura: "Yeah, I know, but now it seems like maybe you mean it."
Lucky: "It's kind of draining being ticked off at your parents. It takes up a lot of time, you know?"
Laura: "Yes."
Lucky: "I've got other things to do."
Laura: "Was that a hint?"
Lucky: "No. No, I don't mind seeing you."
Laura: "Ok. Well, I don't want to push my luck. Ooh. I love you. Wear the coat."
Lucky: "I will."
Laura: "Thanks."
Lucky: "Mom?"
Laura: "Yeah?"
Lucky: "Dad's no dummy. He's going to figure out things have changed between you and Stefan."
Laura: "Then I'll tell your father what he already knows--my husband is the only man I love. Good-bye, Lucky."
Lucky: "Bye."

Lucky took a stab at his mother again, but he backed off quickly and I almost thought that he wanted to help her avoid more conflict in his encouragement to set things straight with Luke. It's the hints he gives that he wants a unified family again that prove to me that his journey through this aftermath isn't yet done (aside from that last big secret hanging over his head as well as Nik's). It's interesting to me, though, that he seems still to hold his mother at fault, somehow, not only in the present but in the past, too. He's had it out with his father a few times, and I'm wondering if he'll have similar scenes with his mom so that they can come to peace about her choices regarding the rape as well. They haven't talked about it in a while, and now that Liz is finding peace, I'd like to see a scene where they all sit down together and talk about it: Lucky, Liz, and Laura.

Elizabeth: "Lucky, everything you're saying to me makes complete sense if anyone ever hurt you, I'd want them banished from the galaxy as well. But you have to trust me. I have to do this."
Lucky: "I'm still not hearing why."
Elizabeth: "Tom took something away from me. I need to take it back."
Lucky: "How is that going to happen? I mean, what do you think he's going to do, Elizabeth, apologize?"
Elizabeth: "It doesn't matter what Tom does. He's not the point. I am. Tom had all the power when he grabbed me in the park that night. And afterward, when I felt dirty, he was in charge. When I couldn't sleep, when I jumped at any little sound, when I couldn't let you kiss me, when I was obsessed with trapping Murty, he was still in control. When he locked me in the closet, when he threatened us with that gun --"
Lucky: "Yeah, but you grabbed Tom's gun. You held it at him. Where was the power there?"
Elizabeth: "Lucky, I was numb. I could barely speak. I wasn't who I am now."
Lucky: "Yeah, but when we go to court --"
Elizabeth: "In court, they won't let me say the truth out loud. I want to be able to stare Tom straight in the eyes and tell him who he is."
Lucky: "Ok. Can I come with you?"
Elizabeth: "I love that you want to stand by me, I adore that about you--I really do--but this is major that strong enough to be able to do this on my own. I can. And the thing is I have to."
Lucky: "Strength is not your problem. The problem is you're as stubborn as any Spencer ever born."
Elizabeth: "Whereas you only feel comfortable with the wishy-washy types?"
Lucky: "Well, if you need anything, I'll be right outside the door. Just yell, ok?"
Elizabeth: "It's going to be ok. Don't worry. I'll be fine. I want to see Tom. Can you make it happen?"
Taggert: "Only if the prisoner agrees. Even low life forms have the right to decline visitation. My guess--he'll be up for it. But don't see that as a positive sign. Say what you got to say to the jerk and get out of there before he has a chance to mess with your brain."
Elizabeth: "He doesn't have the power anymore."
Taggert: "Tom Baker is a sicko who gets his kicks out of messing with young girls' psyches. Can he touch you? No. But getting to you? That's another thing."
Lucky: "Maybe we should rethink this."
Elizabeth: "Lucky, I've made up my mind."
Taggert: "I'll be in the room with her. I'll be watching the whole thing go down. I won't be able to hear what they're saying, but 's not like she'll be completely alone."
Lucky: "Does this have to happen today?"
Elizabeth: "I have to do it now."

I found Elizabeth's reasoning, as well as Lucky's, fascinating. Better yet were the scenes where she went in to face Tom. I'm wondering if the extreme version of rapist shown here is going to help Lucky at all differentiate between what happened to Liz and what happened to his mom. These scenes came after the scenes at the cabin, but they seem to reinforce them in some way, rather than threatening to make Lucky angry at what Luke did to Laura all over again.

Elizabeth: "I know. I always feel protected when you're around."
Lucky: "I'm glad. You know, it's strange, but when I'm with you, I feel the same way."
Elizabeth: "Protected?"
Lucky: "I told you it was strange. I don't mean that you would beat somebody up if they got on my case. Although, I've seen you mad, and I don't doubt that u could. It's just that I grew up on the run. I don't know, I guess what I'm trying to say is I finally feel safe with you."
Elizabeth: "You have no idea how much that means to me--hearing you say that."
Lucky: "Yeah? Maybe I'm on a roll, then. I have a confession to make."
Elizabeth: "Ok."
Lucky: "You see, something's been rolling around in my head, and I can't ignore it anymore. It's impossible for me to imagine wanting to be with anyone else. And I was kind of hoping maybe you'd consider being my girl--officially."
Elizabeth: "Lucky, I already am."
Lucky: "Then that's a yes?"
Elizabeth: "Yeah. Yes. What are we doing?"
Lucky: "Dancing."
Elizabeth: "Lucky, there's no music."
Lucky: "Wait, wait. You hear that?"
Elizabeth: "No."
Lucky: "Shh, shh. Listen. There it is. 'I've got sunshine...' you hear it?"
Elizabeth: "Yeah."
Lucky: "'...on a cloudy day. When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May. I guess you'd say what can make me feel this way? My girl. Talking 'bout my girl--my girl mm-hmm..."

This sequence was lovely...and not just because of the cheese fries. *G*

Bobbie

• Bobbie comes home to Jerry's arrangements for a romantic dinner. The subject turns to Luke, and she warns him not to say anything against her brother. Jerry tries to persuade her to go to the Caribbean with him (and Lucas, of course). He takes a call from Stefan, who wants concrete evidence against Luke, and Jerry worries that he'll lose Bobbie because of this job. (11/19)
• Luke goes to Bobbie's house to have her check on his leg. He fills her in on the family reunion and she tells him about Jerry's canceled trip (he's gone to Monte Carlo for Jax). Luke wonders where Jerry got the money and from whom...for what. (11/20)
• Luke and Bobbie chat on the docks about Jerry. Bobbie encourages him to work things out with Laura. They're both interested in the meeting down the way between Stefan and Tony, but Luke asks her not to go over there, saying that Stefan wouldn't have power for long. Bobbie can't stand it, though, and goes to confront both of her ex-husbands. She warns Stefan not to help Tony take Lucas away from her. Afterwards, Bobbie asks Luke what's going on, because this wasn't about Tony or her. (11/24)
• Jerry goes to Bobbie's and she refuses to speak to him. Finally he tells her that he went to Monte Carlo for Jax. She softens, but is still angry for Lucas's sake. They do begin to make up in the end--and make out. (11/25)

Bobbie: "Jerry, a lot of people have come and gone out of my life. But the only person who has consistently been there for me is my brother, Luke. And no matter how angry I may get at him and no matter how outrageous his actions, he always acts out of love, and he always does what he thinks is best, especially when it comes to anyone trying to mess with the Spencer family, like Stefan Cassadine. Now, I never told you why there was this blood feud that was going on between Luke and Stefan. But believe me, it goes way back. And Luke is not necessarily the villain that he may appear to be. And if anyone like Stefan ever tries to tell you otherwise, they've got a little problem with short-term memory. So the point is my brother is my brother, and he would stand beside me to the death as I would for him. His enemies are my enemies and vice versa. And besides, you're the last person I would expect to see casting stones about what people deserve."
Jerry: "That's quite a testimony. I love how passionate you get when you care for someone. I got a little taste of that myself when you defended me before that shrink that your ex summoned us before. The last thing I want is to offend you, and I certainly wouldn't want you or your brother to place me in the enemy category. So, I'm sorry. And you're right. And I hereby set aside my bag of stones."
Bobbie: "Apology accepted."

Luke: "Hi. Well, I wasn't expecting welcome-home banners and a cake, but a little smile and a "hey" might be nice."
Bobbie: "Well, not until I decide whether you're getting a left hook or a hug."

Bobbie: "Oh, this is going to be good."
Luke: "Oh, you want the whole story, I take it? Well--you know how I hate recap. How much do you already know?"
Bobbie: "You kidnapped Lucky. You kept him hidden in the woods. Nobody knew where you were or what you were going to do."

Bobbie: "Ok. Jerry invited us to the Caribbean."
Luke: "Jerry? Isn't that sort of like going to the beach and taking your own shark?"

Bobbie: "Luke, Jerry is someone I happen to like very much. I really wish you wouldn't think the worst of him."
Luke: "All right, I'll see what I can do about that. But you tell me this--if Jerry's persona non grata in the financial world, who's going to hire him?"

All of this, of course, lays the groundwork for the revelation that Jerry worked for Stefan. What I found amusing, however, was the contrast between Bobbie's request that Jerry not speak ill of Luke and her similar request to her brother. Ha!

I also loved Bobbie's take on Luke's taking Lucky to the woods. The super siblings are often very practical, when you might anticipate hysterics. The tense, dramatic scenes come with Laura or Stefan, but Bobbie and Luke are actually quite calm and matter-of-fact around each other most of the time, even when they're discussing the very topics that would have them throwing fits when others are around.

Bobbie: "Ferris wheel on pier 25, huh? Did you think you would live to see the day?"
Luke: "I haven't, Barbara. It's closed."
Bobbie: "Well, you know, they did keep it open till mid November. You were just a little too busy kidnapping your son."
Luke: "Oh, great. Did you ask me here to slap me around?"
Bobbie: "No, I asked you here for a reality check."
Luke: "Oh, sorry, you're out of luck. My reality's a bit flexible to check. Better slap me around."
Bobbie: "You're safe for now. The reality check's for me."

Luke: "Ah. Sibling rescue mission. You know about those."
Bobbie: "Yeah, but, you know, it's such an easy line to buy, and I've already bought so many."
Luke: "Well, what's the point, Barbara?"
Bobbie: "If Jerry comes back with a simple "I'm sorry," maybe I'll give him the befit of the doubt. But if he comes back and he's going to try to snow me with this blizzard of gifts-- [gate rattles] Then I'm going to know he's full of--"

Bobbie: "A few nights ago, I had insomnia and I channel surfed for hours. So I finally found myself riveted to this old-time thriller where this seamstress turned her ex-husband into a pincushion."
Luke: "Hmm. I had a near-sighted tailor sew up my fly once. That was gruesome. I think Tony would make a good voodoo doll with pins sticking all through him. I mean, zombies don't carry much weight in court anymore, do they?"
Bobbie: "Oh, why am I laughing?"
Luke: "Well, why not? He's got as much chance in a custody case as a popsicle in hell."
Bobbie: "Like I said, you have been away too long.

Luke: "So, tell me about this Ferris wheel. Is it--hey, Barbara, just let it go. Let--barb--Barbara --"
Bobbie: "Well, congratulations. You have managed to destroy the one illusion I had left about you."
Stefan: "Is there a problem, Barbara?"
Bobbie: "You know damn well there's a problem. Why would you give this misfit the time of day?"
Tony: "Yes, when you could be spending time with the gentle folk who bankroll organized crime."
Bobbie: "You had one redeeming quality--your love for Nikolas. I know you know what it means to protect a child, so why would you help this lunatic wrangle his way back into my son's life?"
Tony: "Our son."
Stefan: "Forgive me, Barbara, but I have no desire to become involved in another Spencer domestic dispute. The inner workings of your family are frankly repellent to me. Excuse me."
Luke: "Repellent? Then why don't you keep your big, sharp teeth out of it? If you've given up on Spencer blood, maybe that's a good thing. It's a real good time to do that."
Stefan: "Finally, we're in accord. An historic moment."
Luke: "Ah, yes, history--the facts beneath the gloss, the grimy facts that back up your plumbing and eventually burst your pipes like sewage."
Stefan: "You know, the philosopher Spengler believed that civilizations are built on that inconspicuous underground apparatus."
Luke: "Hmm. And Gumpen McCre[?] always said, "if you can't flush it, use a shovel."
Tony: "Luke, good to see you. I didn't know you were back. I know that's a non sequitur, but I seem to have lost the thread here."
Bobbie: "Stefan, why would you allow yourself to be manipulated by Tony?"
Stefan: "No one manipulates me, Barbara."
Tony: "Nice to see you."
Luke: "Yeah."
Bobbie: "Would you mind telling me what that was all about?"
Luke: "You started it."
Bobbie: "Well, maybe I started it, but you took it someplace that I couldn't go. This wasn't about Tony and Lucas and me. We suddenly became bit players in a Luke/Stefan drama. Now, what is going on between the two of you I don't know about?"

Bobbie: "No, no, no, no, no. The topic of the day is you and Stefan."
Luke: "We've decided to stop seeing each other."
Bobbie: "Don't do that. Don't make jokes."
Luke: "It's my job."
Bobbie: "Ok. I have a few things that I want to say about you and Laura and Stefan."
Luke: "All right. I take it my wife has been frequenting Spook Island since I've been gone?"
Bobbie: "I don't keep tabs on Laura."
Luke: "Oh, there's a direct answer."
Bobbie: "Ok. I gather she's been making an effort to spend some time with Nikolas, but I happen to think that's a pretty good idea."
Luke: "Yeah, well, I'm sure Vlad the Impaler agrees with you."
Bobbie: "Luke, don't do that. Laura loves you very much. She always has. Don't let Stefan into your marriage."
Luke: "Sage advice, Barbara, but a trifle late."
Bobbie: "You know, this isn't just about you and Laura. You have kids to think about now."
Luke: "That we do."
Bobbie: "So keep focused on what really counts--your marriage and your children--because that's what matters the most."
Luke: "Yeah. My kids. Well, come on, little sister. I'll walk you home."

The scenes at the docks were beautifully done--the writing, the change in focus, the philosophy, the staging. The history between all of these characters meant that there weren't clear sides, even though there appeared to be at first glance. And, as always, Bobbie may criticize Laura, but she also realizes that the only way Luke will be happy is to be with her, so she encourages him to make the peace. Interestingly enough, the thing she doesn't know is that Nikolas is Stefan's child. And he doesn't tell her.

Jerry: "He still hates me. Maybe a little bit less. Look, I wish I could say to you that this will never happen again. But I can't. If Jax needs me, all other bets are off."
Bobbie: "Well, I guess we just found something else we have in common."

Of course Jerry did come with too many gifts, and Bobbie wasn't inclined to forgive him, primarily for Lucas's sake. He had the one excuse that she would understand, however, and that was that he did it for Jax. Of course both of these characters are loyal to their brothers; that's well established. There's been so much talk, however, about that loyalty that it's made me think that they're both holding that card as an "out" to their relationship. They're growing closer, and more and more trust and vulnerability is required of their relationship every day. Yet both of them may not believe that it will work out; they may assume it will fail, or, subconsciously or not, they may want to be the dumper rather than the dumpee. Whatever it is, they're making it very clear to each other that there is a greater loyalty--loyalty to a brother--than their commitment to each other. Interesting.

Bobbie: "I win again."
Jerry: "If I'd known you were such a card shark, I'd never have agreed to strip baccarat."
Bobbie: "Well, you know, I--I learned all my moves from my big brother. You want to know what else he taught me?"
Jerry: "What?"
Bobbie: "Whenever you're winning, you always do something to make sure the other person stays in the game."
Jerry: "For instance? [she kisses him] He's a smart man, your brother."
Bobbie: "I'm having this big crowd of people over tomorrow night for Thanksgiving dinner. I'd really like it if you'd attend."
Jerry: "Not half as much as I'd like to be there."
Bobbie: "If you're trying to get my clothes off, you got a lot of catching up to do."

Of course, they're also just plain fun. I was sad that the strike meant that we didn't get to see Thanksgiving dinner, but I'm holding out hope for Luke and Jerry at the same table on Christmas when Tony comes to visit...