The Quartermaines (cont.):

Alan: "So you've deigned to show up."
Stefan: "I'm sorry?"
Alan: "For what? Your unexplained absence during the nurses' strike, for placing us at the mercy of ax-wielding accountants, or possibly for leaving me to shoulder your burden?"
Stefan: "You know, Alan, I don't give a damn about your problems or the hospital's. Did you think I pulled this mismanaged infirmary from the edge of ruin out of the goodness of my heart? The sole reason I ever tossed a dime your way was to please my nephew. Now, if the hospital continues to be problematic, I'll withdraw my funding entirely."

Alan: "How dare you treat general hospital like it was one of your investments. There are people's lives at stake."
Stefan: "The matter is obviously of great concern to you, Alan. Perhaps you should consider dipping into the Quartermaine coffers."
Alan: "If you want to withdraw your funding and resign from the board, go right ahead. I welcome the headache of finding alternate funding."
Stefan: "It's touching the way you fawn over your benefactors. I will review my accounts, and I'll be in touch about the future of any Cassadine support."

Amy: "I was so thrilled with these scenes. In the beginning, Stefan never cared about the hospital. It was only a way to get Laura to ask him and Nikolas to stay in town. And I've never been sure that it's truly meant anything more to him, outside of an abiding respect for Nikolas's concerns.

"As for Alan, I was applauding him all the way. I used to love his scenes with Stefan, back in 1996 and even into the Culliton days of the blackout (Que Sera, Sera, anyone?). More, please!"

Alan: "I'd hold off on your applause. I may have just lost general hospital its operating budget."
Rae: "No. You made such a stand for your patients, and you weren't swayed even a little bit to politics. You stood up for what you believed in, and for that, I think you do deserve a little applause."
Alan: "It is so nice to have someone who appreciates me, really. Oh, pardon me. My friend here would like to have a look at the books you have on the cart, and if there's anything that she would like, please just let her have it. Thank you."
Rae: "You're a wonderful man. I don't know how I'm going to thank you."
Alan: "I just wish you luck on whatever you're looking for. I'll see you later."

Rae: "No, I haven't found the book, but you know, Tony and I just had a conversation about his hand He's going to have the corrective surgery."
Alan: "That is so great. I mean, this hospital is in your debt. That man's one of the most talented neurosurgeons around."
Rae: "Really? He is?"

Monica: "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need my husband."

Alan: "Monica, you're not going to start on one of those jealous rampages again, are you?"
Monica: "Me on. Do not insult my intelligence. Now, we have been together for too long. I know all the signs, and you know I know."
Alan: "What signs? I have no idea what you mean."
Monica: "Ah, give me a break."
Alan: "Monica--"
Monica: "You are as guilty as they get, mister. Admit it."
Alan: "Just stop acting paranoid, ok?"
Monica: "Aha, do you see? Ever time you call me paranoid, I'm right."

Audrey: "Well, it looks like the truce is over, though it lasted longer than usual this time."
Amy: "You know, it's scenes like that that make me glad I'm single. Well, maybe not."

VIII. Busted at the Bank (4/20)

Emily: "Ok, but there's no problem, right?"
Alan: "There's a very large problem, Emily. Would you mind telling me what you're up to?"

Monica: "What investment?"
Emily: "Juan's singing career."
Alan: "You've got to be kidding."

Monica: "Look, I am not interested in Juan's talent or his lack of talent. What I am interested in is that you lied to the family, not to mention the bank."
Alan: "You've also proved that Juan's a bad influence."

Juan: "Dr. Quartermaine, both of you, please don't blame Emily. This is my fault."
Alan: "We're well aware of that."

Juan: "Hey, you went to all that trouble because you think I'm good. That matters more than anything, ok?"
Emily: "So you're not going to say 'I told you so'?"
Juan: "Oh, I'd never say that. I'll probably think about it a lot on the way home and every night you have to be in at 6:00."
Emily: "Be quiet."

IX. Do Moths Eat Leather Pants? (4/21)

Alexis: "So, have you tried them on yet?"
Ned: "No, they're still hanging in the closet. But I'm not worried about them fitting."
Alexis: "I don't know. I'm thinking maybe you should, you know, try them on. You wouldn't want to get up there in front of all those screaming fans and have, you know--"
Ned: "Have my leather pants split open?"
Alexis: "Well, that would depend on where they split."
Ned: "I could see the audience getting into that."
Alexis: "You know, there are just some things that I really don't want to share with your legions of fans. And knowing you, if you got a lot of applause for it, you'd incorporate it into your act."
Ned: "Oh, yeah. Well, you can relax. My return as Eddie Maine is a one-time gig. And after that, I'll just wear my black leather pants for you."
Alexis: "Thanks."

Alexis: "I think you're making a huge mistake just thinking of this as a one-time deal because you just--you're just closing your mind to all the possibilities. You might like being Eddie Maine again."
Ned: "You want the truth?"
Alexis: "Always."
Ned: "I'm terrified. Eddie was part of a different time and place--my marriage to Lois, Brenda standing in the wings cheering me on, crazy tours at obscure colleges in upstate New York. I mean, I can wear those pants again, I can sing the songs, but I can never be that man again. Those dreams are over."
Alexis: "Yeah, but you have new dreams now. You're going to turn L&B into a success. And if Eddie can help you do that, then use him."
Ned: "Why are you so adamant about this?"
Alexis: "Because, recently, I've been getting in touch with my inner groupie."

X. Strike Two (4/21)

A.J.: "Mike--I need a favor."
Mike: "Yeah, well, try a friend."
A.J.: "I'll pay you."
Mike: "I'm liking this less and less."

A.J.: "All I want to do is see my son, mike. Just see him."
Mike: "Then contact Carly."
A.J.: "Carly and sonny hate me."
Mike: "Yeah, well, I'm not too fond of you, either, pal."

Mike: "Michael is my godson. He was named after my son. You seriously think you can bribe me to hand him over to you?"
A.J.: "All I want to do is see my son. My son, mike. I'm his father, all right? How hypocritical is it that sonny, whose wife and unborn child were killed by a bomb meant for him, yet it's safer for him to be around my son than me? This guy's got the feds investigating him, but yet he can raise my child and I can't even see him?"
Mike: "Want to see your kid?"
A.J.: "Yeah."
Mike: "Go to the courts because I can't help you."
A.J.: "Thanks a lot."

Amy: "I'm tired of AJ and his whining about being so put upon. Even the people who think AJ should see his child, and who are mad that Michael was taken away, know that the leverage Sonny has over him will keep him from any court-ordered supervised visits. At this point, AJ has brought his separation from Michael on himself (though Carly and Sonny and a great many others are also to blame). He has repeatedly refused to arrange for joint custody, or some other arrangement, choosing instead to torture Carly and get back at Jason. When all of that backfired, he's now left with making the rounds of possibly sympathetic people to wrangle or bribe some time with his son. He's not taking responsibility and doing anything to make this better. So I still have little sympathy for him. At the same time, I get real tired of his family. Go figure."

XI. A Typical Family Dinner Out (4/24)

Edward: "Well, Lila, I trust that your infatuation with Mr. Corinthos is finally over."

Lila: "You egged him on, dear, and so did you, Edward."
Edward: "There you go defending him."

Monica: "Well, now that you've gotten what you were looking for, can we look forward to you leaving town soon?"

Rae: "Well, as a matter of fact, Monica, I've been thinking about staying in Port Charles--permanently."
Monica: "I wonder why."
Alan: "You never said anything."
Monica: "You just thought she was a brief one, didn't you?"

Edward: "I knew that we should have eaten at home."

I do enjoy Monica's reactions to Rae: she just rolled her eyes, while Rae, for her part, kept that big smile plastered on her face. Too fun!

Rae: "She's upset."
Lila: "Think nothing of it, dear."
Edward: "No. Fighting is a family sport. But tell me something, lady--are you having an affair with my son?"

Edward: "You see, he is hopelessly in love with his wife."
Alan: "I am not in love with her. I can take her or leave her."
Lila: "Oh, we know, dear. We know."

Alan: "I don't have a marriage, just a bad habit I can't break."

Lila: "Nice to have seen you, dear."
Rae: "Yes, thank you. You, too. Are your family gatherings always like this?"
Alan: "Yeah. Why?"

Alan: "We'd already gone a few rounds before you got here."
Rae: "Is the anything I can do? Is there?"
Alan: "Yeah--go upstairs with me. Let's at least be guilty as charged."
Rae: "You know what? You're a one-woman man, Alan Quartermaine. And that is a wonderful thing."
Alan: "For all the good it does me. You've seen how my love life works."
Rae: "Oh, love. Love isn't known as cool, calm, and collected. You know that."

X. No Moths In Sight (4/24)

Ned: "Ok. So I guess--we're settled on the wardrobe?"
Alexis: "You've been working out."

Ned: "What is up with you? It's just leather."
Alexis: "Oh, I know, but Eddie Maine just drives me wild."

Alexis: "It's true what they say about rock stars."
Ned: "We're famous for our long encores."

Alexis: "I'd hate to see Eddie relegated to the closet."
Ned: "Well, he could be brought out for private parties."
Alexis: "Oh."
Ned: "For the right price."
Alexis: "I'd like to call a meeting."
Ned: "Negotiate me."

We start with a shot of Alexis on the bed, and pull back for a view of the leather pants. She plays Eddie's music as she pushes Ned onto the bed.

XI. Perspective (4/25)

Alan: "I'm so embarrassed."
Rae: "No, don't be. Don't be. You know what? I'm starting to feel like a femme fatale here."
Alan: "You think my marriage is dysfunctional?"
Rae: "I think it's functioning on certain levels very well. You have a passionate connection. Passion's good, all right? You feel better?"

Monica: "My two least favorite people in the world, but no one should go through this."
Alan: "Losing a child's got to be the ultimate hell."
Monica: "Mm-hmm. You didn't sleep last night."
Alan: "Neither did you."
Monica: "Are we going to lose A.J.?"
Alan: "Our son will get through this. Now you have to tell me."
Monica: "I don't have any control over A.J., so I take it out on you."
Alan: "You're scared. So am I."
Monica: "Forgive me for behaving like a maniac."
Alan: "Maniacal behavior reduces stress."
Monica: "Not for the other person."
Alan: "I'm used to it."
Monica: "I love you, too."

XII. Strike Three...Why Isn't He Out? (4/26)

Taggert: "Why would you want to help this jerk?"
Hannah: "Because I was where A.J. is."

Hannah: "No, I just--I would like to drive him home."
Taggert: "You know, this isn't really the way I pictured this evening ending."

Taggert: "A.J.'s not your problem."
Hannah: "Well, tonight I'm making him my problem. Thanks for understanding."
Taggert: "I don't."

Hannah: "I'd like to drive you home."
A.J.: "Uh, I don't need a babysitter. But thanks anyway. And I'm not drunk. I'm in complete control. This just helps me feel better."
Hannah: "Well, then make me feel better and let me drive you home."
A.J.: "Stubborn, aren't you?"
Hannah: "So I've been told."

AJ is at Jake's when Hannah sees him, and the over-use of this set (it used to be known as a scummy kind of place, until we needed it for group situations and accidental meetings and Laura's nights out) seemed to dull the irony that AJ would go back to the place Jason used to live, the place where he and Carly conceived Michael on that ill-fated night.

When AJ greets Hannah and Taggert, he comments that she's "traded up." That's the same phrase that the racist at Luke's used to start in on her date with Taggert, and I thought the connection was an unfortunate one.

Emily: "Have you been drinking?"
A.J.: "You can smell my breath."
Emily: "You can't smell vodka."
A.J.: "I need your help, Em, ok? I want you to arrange it so I can see Michael."

A.J.: "Em, I want to see Michael."
Emily: "Well, then why don't you stop drinking and prove you deserve to?"
A.J.: "Prove I deserve to? I'm Michael's father, Em. I've never hurt him. I want to see him, to play with him, you know, to--"
Emily: "I don't think I can help you, A.J."
A.J.: "We were friends--weren't we? Is it because he--he named you Michael's godmother? Because I would've done the same thing if I had the chance."
Emily: "Why do you insist on going backwards? A.J., don't you remember the prayer? 'Have the wisdom to know the things you can't change and to change the things you can.' And you can get sober."
A.J.: "Oh, yeah, right. And then what's the next hoop, Em? Huh? Because with me, there's always something else I got to do to get this family's love. Hey. You love me?"
Emily: "Yes."
A.J.: "Have I ever asked you to prove it? Help me, Em. Help me see Michael. Sonny and Carly never have to know about it--never. Come on."
Emily: "No, A.J."
A.J.: "If Jason walked through that door right now with a bullet in him, on the run, and asked you to help him see Michael, would you? Don't kid yourself, Em, all right? This isn't about keeping Michael safe. It's about loving one brother more than the other, about keeping Michael away from me in Jason's name! To hell with you, Em. To hell with all of you."

Emily: "I just want a normal family for, like, five minutes. Is that so much to ask for?"
Juan: "No."

Emily: "I'm so confused right now. I mean, I--I love A.J. so much. And I know that Michael is his son, but I want to do what's best for Michael, you know? Does that mean living in this crazy house? Is that something I would want to wish on anybody? Not that having Carly as a mother is anything better, but--"

Juan: "Have you ever been able to change the way your family fights or A.J.'s drinking?"
Emily: "No."
Juan: "Well, maybe it's time you tried that serenity thing for yourself."
Emily: "Thank you."
Juan: "Know what? We need to be alone somewhere. I mean, I don't like doing things and always worrying that your mom or your dad or the maid or somebody's going to walk through the door."
Emily: "I know the perfect place we can go tomorrow after school."
Juan: "Where?"
Emily: "You'll see."
Juan: "Ok. Till tomorrow, then."

XIII. The Drunk Strikes Back (4/27)

Edward: "Oh, no, no, no, no. Stay a while. Why don't you fix yourself a drink. I understand you have something to celebrate. It isn't every day that a man can make a fortune by selling out his own family."

A.J.: "I wasn't trying to keep it a secret. Now, what's the big deal, anyway? All I did was sell a piece of ELQ you sold me, a human being, out every day of my life."

A.J.: "Hey, you want to know the truth? I plain don't care enough one way or the other to waste energy plotting out ways to get back at you. You see, I made a deal with Jax because I stood to benefit. And it was refreshingly straightforward--cash for stock. Lots of cash, by the way. So, you see, I really am a true Quartermaine. I know how to put myself first. Why shouldn't I? I learned from the master, didn't I?"

Edward: "Oh, god. You give a new meaning to the word 'ingrate.'"
A.J.: "Wait--you want me to be grateful? For taking away everything that ever mattered to me? Ok. I think I can manage that because for the first time in my life I've got nothing left to lose. And I have you to thank for it. You're a hell of a guy, grandfather."

Lila: "I miss you so much, my darling. Won't you come back home, sort things out here with your family?"
A.J.: "You know I hate to refuse you anything, but it's best this way."

Lila: "Edward, this family is splitting apart. You have to do something about it before it's too late."
Edward: "That's what I intend to do, Lila."

In these scenes, I notice that AJ is no longer wearing his wedding ring, and I wonder when he took it off. I had been expecting a big scene about it.

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