The Spencers

The Mixed Marrieds

The Quartermaines

The Cassadines

Roy and Hannah

Sonny Corinthos

Elizabeth Webber

The Scorpios

The Scorpios

• Mac goes to Luke's office to tell her that Chloe's been hit. He knows that she'll be there. (2/1)
• Dara tells Mac that Helena may be behind Chloe's hit and run, but he won't make a move without proof. He'll let her investigate, though. Felicia comes to Mac's office to tell him that she's going to Chicago to do research on Lila's book. Mac knows she's lying, but lets her go. (2/3)
• Felicia takes a break from Luke and his shish kabobs to call Mac. When she won't give him a phone number, he knows that she's with Luke. Nikolas is in the office at the same time, asking Mac to talk to Elizabeth about Sorel, which he does. (2/8)
• When Laura comes fishing, Mac tells Laura that Felicia's out of town. He puts two and two together and has somebody find out if Luke's out of town as well. (2/9)
• Mac asks Roy some questions about Luke and Felicia's trip. (2/15)
• Mac surprises Laura with his attitude about their spouses' trip. After Felicia refuses to come home, Mac visits with Kevin about what's going on. (2/17)
• Mac has to explain Felicia's absence to Maxie. (2/21)
• Mac goes to Laura's house. They talk again, and she asks him not to jump to any conclusions. (2/22)
• Mac runs into Laura and Tony and asks Laura to bring Lulu and come over for dinner. He doesn't know that Tony's figured out something may be going on with Luke and Felicia, and he says that Felicia's out of town doing research. Later, when Mac is remembering all the times Felicia lied to him, Laura tells him to hang onto the possibility of family, so that he doesn't have to watch his fall apart like she watched hers. (2/23)
• When Mac takes out his anger at Luke and Felicia on Roy, Bobbie jumps to his defense. (2/25)

We don't have much to say about Mac yet, and that's unfortunate, though we do talk about him also a bit in the Spencer section. We were at the beginning of what would be some really great Mac stuff, but the big confrontation hadn't come yet. In the meantime, I kept wishing for more Mac, more of his side of things, especially when we got the phenomenal scenes with Kevin. As it was, John J. York continued to impress me, and I found myself more and more on Mac's side. And still wanting to see more of Mac!

Though I complain some, below, about Laura's reactions to their conversations, I adored Mac in each and every one of them. It intrigued me that he would go to her, and I really appreciated getting to hear his side of things. And as he grew angrier and more vocal about it in the weeks to come, he was even better--and York's performance was fantastic, even when we saw basically the same scene multiple times as Mac and Felicia fought.

My favorite scenes, however--and this shocked me, because I rarely like scenes with kids all that much--were the ones with him and Maxie fighting about the blouse. Not only was the writing for both of them extremely realistic, I just adored Mac for trying to make things right for the girls and not expose them to his anger at Felicia if he could help it. That scene in particular would stick with me as Felicia began accusing him, later, of turning her girls against her, and I was very glad we'd seen it.

I. Mac Meets with Dara (2/3)

Mac: "Do you really want to take another trip to Cassadine land?"

Mac: "And don't -- whatever you do, don't turn into Luke Spencer and make anything that happens in this town about the Cassadines. Before I can commit this department to a full investigation, I want you to make sure that you bring me some hard evidence."

II. Felicia Tells Mac She's Leaving (2/3)

Mac: "I never knew research took so long."

Mac: "Thank goodness for betty."
Felicia: "I'll call every day."
Mac: "Ok. Felicia? Are you sure you want to do this?"
Felicia: "Yes."
Mac: "What about the girls?"
Felicia: "When the book is finished, I'll spend more time with the girls."
Mac: "They'll miss you and so will I."
Felicia: "And I'll miss you and them. Let me do this."
Mac: "I really don't have a choice, do I?"
Felicia: "This is the last time, I promise."
Mac: "You do whatever you have to do."

Felicia stands as close to Mac to give him the news as she had just stood with Luke. He turns and walks away, she follows, and he turns back to her. He knows that she's lying, but he just keeps letting out the rope with which she gleefully hangs herself. As she left, she was happy--but not as happy as she had been going out of Luke's office to come and tell Mac that she was leaving again.

III. Felicia Phones Home (2/8)

Mac: "Hey, you know what? Why don't you give me a phone number where I can reach you, and I'll have the girls call you tonight."
Felicia: "You know, it's kind of crazy here. Maybe it's better that I just call you."

As we opened the Scorpio scenes today, Mac was standing at the window with his face in his hands. He was in a turtleneck, and I have to say that even though some people complain about his old picture in the credits in that turtleneck, I always enjoy him in them. *G*

IV. Mac Questions Roy (2/15)

Roy: "Believe it or not, I'm being straight with you, commissioner. I don't know if your wife is with Luke."
Mac: "Whenever Felicia leaves town, Luke's never far behind."
Roy: "Yeah. Well, it could be a coincidence."
Mac: "Oh, yeah, could be. Right. Well, you know what, Roy? The next time you hear from Luke, you give him a message from me. Tell him to tell Felicia that the girls need their mother and I need my wife."

V. Mac and Laura Discuss Their Spouses (2/17)

Laura: "I take it Felicia's not back yet?"
Mac: "I take it Luke isn't, either."

Mac: "Luke and Felicia both took off at the same time. I mean, Felicia's supposedly working on Lila's memoirs. But, you see, that's just code speak for being with Luke. I've learned that one all too well."
Laura: "Mac, maybe they have a good reason. I know that Felicia loves you. I don't think that she would deliberately jeopardize your family."
Mac: "I appreciate what you're saying, Laura. I just wish I was hearing it from Felicia instead."
Laura: "I know. And you will, I think, when she comes back."
Mac: "What about you? Does it bother you that Luke and Felicia are together?"
Laura: "You know, we're separated, we're getting a divorce. He can do what he wants to do."
Mac: "Sure about that?"
Laura: "I'm running late. I should be going. I'll go get my daughter."

VI. Felicia Phones Home (2/17)

Felicia: "I'm hard at work on my research."
Georgie: "How long does research take?"

Felicia: "Hi, Mac."
Mac: "So, how's Luke?"
Felicia: "I -- I know we have some things that we have to discuss."
Mac: "We can't discuss this on the phone, Felicia. You have to come home now."
Felicia: "I can't do that, Mac."
Mac: "Why not?"
Felicia: "I can't explain that right now, but I have a very good reason."
Mac: "The girls miss you."
Felicia: "And I miss them. And I miss you, and I love you."
Mac: "Don't tell me, Felicia. Show me. Come home now."
Felicia: "I can't. You just have to give me a little more time."
Mac: "Now let me get this straight. I asked you to come home, and your answer is no. Does that about cover it?"
Felicia: "Oh, Mac."
Mac: "I will tell the girls that you'll call them tomorrow."
Felicia: "Mac -- Mac?"

VII. Mac Confides in Kevin (2/17)

Mac: "You didn't have to break land speed records getting here."
Kevin: "You sounded like hell on the phone. What are you doing home in the middle of the day anyway?"
Mac: "Someone's got to be here when the girls get home from school."
Kevin: "Where's Felicia?"
Mac: "She's busy -- having an affair with Luke Spencer."

Mac: "I keep going over it and over it in my mind. I don't know why I didn't see it coming. Was I that blind? That complacent? Is that what happens when people get married? You know, do you just become oblivious to what's going on with your partner? It doesn't make any sense."
Kevin: "Listen, I -- I'm coming in halfway through here. Could you start from the beginning?"
Mac: "The beginning? The beginning. Well, I guess in this house that would be Lila Quartermaine's memoirs. But -- no, but the beginning -- the beginning really is when lucky Spencer died and Luke and Laura basically split up. You see, because that left poor Luke all alone in the world -- hurting, vulnerable, you know, like some poor, pathetic animal that my wife felt compelled to help. Anyway, I was working at the station. She was working on her memoirs. And she comes across something mysterious in Lila's past. And that's when Spencer was brought onboard, you see? But to help him -- now, to help him with his deep-seated pain."
Kevin: "Well, in all fairness to Luke, losing a son --"
Mac: "I don't want to be fair to Luke Spencer, Kevin. I was fair to Luke, and you know how he repaid me? By stealing my wife. I didn't object to Felicia using the book as a way to distract Luke from his loss. I felt bad about lucky, too. I was glad she was able to help this guy, you know, until -- until he nearly got her killed."
Kevin: "The Quartermaine crypt."
Mac: "Yeah, the Quartermaine crypt, yeah. They were trapped in there together. They thought they were going to die. Oh, that happens a lot to them. Anyway, when I finally found them, something was different, Kevin. Now, I didn't pick up on it at the time. Boy, now that I look back on it -- guess it's true what they say about hindsight. Anyway, from there, things just escalated. She couldn't stay away from the guy. The next thing I knew, they took off to Mexico looking for Faison, except I didn't even know about it because you know why? Because Felicia lied to me. She flat-out lied to me. 'More research.' This book."
Kevin: "Ok, I can certainly understand why you'd be angry and suspicious, but I still haven't heard any concrete evidence that Felicia had an affair. And, frankly, if I did see some, I'd have a hard time believing it. I've known you and Felicia for a long time. I've seen you go through ups and downs and go the distance. And, frankly, I think that's why you called me -- because you're looking for affirmation. Well, here it is, Mac. Felicia loves you. All the appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, there has to be some other explanation."
Mac: "Well, buddy, that's exactly what I thought. You see, that's what I thought. But Faison -- boy, you really got to hand it to that creep, because, you see, he was observant. In fact, I think it's safe to say that he saw everything very clearly. You see, he saw what was going on right in front of my eyes, Kevin, and he wanted to make damn sure that I saw, too. So he sent me a tape, a videotape, of that concrete proof you're talking about. A videotape of Luke Spencer and my wife making love."

Kevin: "Ok. The tape. What did Felicia say about it?"
Mac: "She doesn't know I've seen it."
Kevin: "You didn't mention it to her?"
Mac: "I was hoping she'd mention it to me, Kevin -- you know, that my wife would see fit to tell me that she's rolling around with Luke Spencer."
Kevin: "I'm sorry, Mac. I just find that hard to believe."
Mac: "I know what I saw."
Kevin: "I'm sure you did, but you just say it with so much certainty like there's no room for doubt. Everything you've told me about Faison tells me that he's exactly the kind of man who would manufacture a tape, especially if it hurt you."
Mac: "The tape is not manufactured. I sent it to the police lab looking for edits. The tape is clean."
Kevin: "But you didn't ask her."
Mac: "I asked her again and again and again if there was anything else she wanted to tell me. You know, I gave her every opportunity."
Kevin: "So in other words, you did everything but ask her if she was having an affair."
Mac: "That's right, Kevin, and do you know why? I mean, maybe I am just an old-fashioned throwback, but I expect honesty from my wife because then that's something we can fix. It's our problem. If it's her dirty little secret, we're in trouble. And you know what, Kevin? Frankly, I'm -- I didn't invite you over here to listen to you defend Felicia."
Kevin: "I'm sorry if it sounds like that. It's just that -- Mac, I've been where you are. Not in the specifics, but I caught Lucy in a lie and I took a stand, and I lost her. Now, I'd hate to see that happen to you. All right. Let's assume the worst -- that Felicia slept with Spencer. What if it was something that you could forgive once you heard her side of things? Don't you think you owe her the chance to explain? But more important, don't you owe that to yourself?"
Mac: "I -- I confronted her on the phone before you got here. She didn't deny being with Spencer. And when I asked her to come home -- when I told her that her girls needed her, that I needed her, you know what she said, Kevin? She said no. As far as I'm concerned, that's all that needs to be said. It's done."
Kevin: "I'm sorry, my friend."
Mac: "So am I."

Amy: "Something feels better with the show, but there are still things that are wrong. You can't have a beautiful scene with Mac and Kevin and not have me wishing that we had more Mac all along, for a very good example. And oh, how scenes like this make me miss Kevin and Lucy over here on GH."

"And, of course, Kevin's situation with Lucy worked in beautifully here. It was great to see his feelings on losing her, even a little bit. But I was distracted by the fact that that layer would be lost on a bunch of people who don't watch Port Charles, and the thought that probably there would be no significant mention of this conversation over on Kevin's side of the world."

VIII. Mac Faces Maxie's Questions (2/21)

Maxie: "Which blouse looks best? This or this?"
Mac: "They're both fine."
Maxie: "Well, which one looks stupid?"
Mac: "Are they clean?"
Maxie: "Which one?"
Mac: "Either one. Look, did you finish your homework?"
Maxie: "You want me to look like a geek, don't you?"
Mac: "Maxie, they're two nice shirts. Flip a coin in the morning."
Maxie: "You don't even care."
Mac: "Hey. Look, I've had a hard day. I'm sorry. Look, let me see the shirts again."
Maxie: "Forget it."
Mac: "Please let me see the shirts."
Maxie: "They're blouses."
Mac: "Let me see the blouses?"
Mac: "That one."
Maxie: "You're just saying that so I'll leave you alone."
Mac: "Then wear the other one, Maxie."
Maxie: "I wanted to ask mom, but Georgie grabbed the phone and she gave it to you. And you told us told us to go do our homework."
Mac: "Why didn't you say something?"
Maxie: "You just wanted us out of here."
Mac: "If I'd have known you wanted to talk to her --"
Maxie: "Can we call mom back?"
Mac: "I don't know where she is."
Maxie: "Why doesn't she want to be here with us?"
Mac: "She will be, ok? As soon as she's finished with her research."
Maxie: "That's a lie. Why did you say, 'How's Luke?'"
Mac: "You were listening?"
Maxie: "Yeah, from over there. You asked mom to come home, and she said no. Why?"

Mac: "Look, I don't know w Felicia won't stay home. I wish I did. But I know it's not because of you and Georgie."
Maxie: "Is it because of you?"
Mac: "I don't know that, either."
Maxie: "Did you get in a big fight or something?"
Mac: "No."
Maxie: "I mean, doesn't it seem like she'd rather be with anybody else on this whole planet rather than us?"
Mac: "Sometimes."

Maxie: "I mean, it's embarrassing if your own mom doesn't like you."
Mac: "Your mom loves you. She loves you and Georgie."
Maxie: "What's she supposed to be researching anyways? Is there really even a book?"
Mac: "There's a book. There's a book."
Maxie: "Don't you wish mom was here right now?"
Mac: "Yes, I do."
Maxie: "We'd all be laughing. You'd build a fire. She'd brush my hair. And Georgie would tell some ridiculous joke. She'd completely mess up."
Mac: "Yeah, well, she's pretty cute when she does that."
Maxie: "Yeah. We'd have hot chocolate."
Mac: "Do you want some hot chocolate?"
Maxie: "We're out of milk."
Mac: "You want some chips?"
Maxie: "They make my face break out. Don't you miss those cookies mom makes with the oatmeal and the raisins?"
Mac: "Yeah, I sure do."
Maxie: "Don't you wish we had a whole big batch of them right now?"
Mac: "Mm-hmm. Yep, I wish we did. Come here."

IX. Mac Talks to Laura (2/22)

Mac: "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I don't even know why I'm here."
Laura: "Wait, wait. I know why you're here. You love your wife and you're hurt, and you're trying to figure out what happened."
Mac: "I've known for a while. You know, I even have evidence that they were involved. But to hear Felicia admit that she left town with him --"
Laura: "I'm sorry. Did she offer any explanation?"
Mac: "I didn't want to hear it. I mean, all that mattered to me was that I asked her to come home and she refused. Felicia reached out to Luke after lucky died. I mean, according to her, it was to try and help him. But, Laura, it has gone way past that. I'm certain of it."
Laura: "Well, for whatever it's worth, I do know that they're not on a pleasure trip."
Mac: "How?"
Laura: "When Luke called, I could tell by the tone in his voice that he's working on something very important."
Mac: "Felicia said the same thing."
Laura: "Ok. Ok, so, you know, maybe that means something. Maybe it doesn't. I don't know. It's possible that she is telling the truth and that she and Luke are just off on some adventure together and that's all there is to it."
Mac: "You know, Felicia used to go off on adventures with me."
Laura: "Yeah, I know the feeling."
Mac: "Thanks for listening. I'll try not to bother you again."
Laura: "Please. You're not bothering me. You're welcome to come by any time, for any reason."

X. Laura Tells Mac to Fight for His Family (2/23)

Laura: "How are you really?"
Mac: "Manage to get through my days. I mean, I focus on work and the girls. But it sneaks in. It's just not something I ever thought I would have to deal with. Felicia and I -- we were so careful. We took so much time getting together. I never thought it would fall apart so fast."
Laura: "Don't give up so easily. Please, take it from someone who watched her family dissolve around her. A family is worth fighting for."

Amy: "In these scenes, I see Laura grow sad, but I keep thinking that she identifies with Mac, because she says, 'I watched my family dissolve.' That places her on the outside, watching, rather than at the root of the problem. And though she shares culpability--I'm not blaming her completely--she seems still to refuse to understand that she was a big part of what tore her family apart. It's making me angry! She should not be identifying with Mac, as a spouse whose spouse has run off on an adventure with somebody else. She should identify herself with Felicia, who trusts that her family will remain in tact and her husband will understand even as she keeps another man on a string, using excuses and secrets to get by and put off making a choice that she doesn't want to make."

XI. Guilt By Association (2/25)

Bobbie: "Mac -- how many years have we been friends? And how many times have I said 'right now'? This is really important, ok? It won't take very long."

Mac: "I am interrogating a suspect."
Bobbie: "You're badgering Luke's partner because you're angry with Luke."

Mac: "You want me to wait for all the details of my wife's affair? Thank you very much, but I think I'll skip that."
Bobbie: "Well, Mac, there could be a very good explanation."
Mac: "What? What could that be?"
Bobbie: "Look, I'm not defending Felicia or Luke. I'm just saying why don't you wait, and we'll see if there's something that can explain the whole mess."

Bobbie: "You're turning into somebody we don't know, somebody who's abusing his power. That is not the Mac I know."
Mac: "No, it didn't use to be."
Bobbie: "It isn't now."

Bobbie: "I hope everything turns out the way you want it to."
Mac: "Don't count on it. I'm not."

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