I. My Husband, Casanova (1/18)
We opened this day with a shot of Monica looking at a photo of Jason and AJ together.
Alan: "Oh, Gertrude. Where have you been all my life?"
Monica: "Are you--"
Alan: "What?"
Monica: "Are you actually going to say that?"
Alan: "How did you like it?"
Monica: "Well, I'm just glad you have a very good coach."
Alan: "No, seriously. If you didn't know me and you walked into a room, would you notice?"
Monica: "See, Gertrude drools over you as it is."
Alan: "That's not the question."
Monica: "You really want to get out of this, huh?"
Alan: "How do you know that we can really trust Ned?"
Monica: "Oh, forget Ned. Listen, one false move and we just blab to Gertrude and to Edward and--what are you reading?"
Alan: "Nothing."
Monica: "Let me see."
Alan: "You see, it's boring. It's about hospital administration."
Monica: "Coach Monica speaks."
Alan: "'Coach Monica speaks'?"
Monica: "One of the rules is when a woman asks a man to show her what he is reading, he automatically says, 'Well, certainly, my darling.'"
Alan: "Well, certainly, my darling. How'd you like that?"
Monica: "Hand it over. '10 Steps to a Successful Seduction.'"
Alan: "Now you're going to say something rude, right?"
Monica: "Did you write this behind my back? I mean, because you could've."
Alan: "Do you have any idea that I love you with all my heart? Do you know that?"
Monica: "10 steps. You know, I have this feeling it's going to take about 110 with Gertrude."
Alan: "Go ahead, pick a step--any step."
Monica: "Step nine."
Alan: "Step nine. Hmm."
II. My Wife, The Disappearing Woman (1/18)
A.J.: "Have either of you seen Carly?"
Monica: "Well--thankfully, no."
A.J.: "She should've been home by now."
Monica: "A.J., come on, now. She's out of control. I mean, you saw it. She almost cost you your job at E.L.Q. the other night. Honey, why don't you just let her go?"
A.J.: "You know, all I wanted was to have my own family."
Edward: "Why aren't you in bed with your wife? Or is Carly even here?"
Edward: "You're not going to dismiss me from my living room, A.J."
A.J.: "Actually, it's my mother's living room, and it's been a very long day, grandfather."
Edward: "You know, I think that Carly has all the makings of a fine Quartermaine."
Edward: "Mm-hmm. Putting out fires is a good skill to have. And with Carly around, you're going to get plenty of practice."
A.J.: "For what? For what? Maybe she's just not worth it."
Edward: "A.J., women are the backbone of this family. A woman owns this house. And a woman owns my heart. That's something that Ned could never understand, and that's why I don't think he'll be able to keep a marriage together. But I think you can. Mm-hmm. And that's what I'm looking for at E.L.Q."
A.J.: "I won't let you down."
Edward: "See that you don't."
A.J.: "How's Jason?"
A.J.: "You and Jason have a little spat? You look awful."
Carly: "Thank you. Good night."
A.J.: "Isn't this getting old?"
Carly: "You know what I want."
A.J.: "And you know I'm never going to give it to you. Good night, Mrs. Quartermaine."
III. Monica Tells the Family that Jason is Gone (1/19)
Edward: "A.J., I have met all kinds of people in the business world. You know, the kind who give you 50%, 60%, 110%. Right now, you are languishing in the low 30s."
Edward: "Well, Jason negotiated the compromise the last time. And if this is too much for you--"
Edward: "You think I can't convince Jason to help us? Oh, while the rest of you are fawning all over him, I get results."
Monica: "Not this time, Edward. Because Jason has left town for good."
Edward: "No, you must have misunderstood his meaning, because Jason would never leave this town with little Michael here."
Monica: "Deny it all you want, Edward. Jason is gone."
Edward: "Well, then why didn't you tell me immediately? We might've been able to stop him."
Monica: "Because I promised I would wait."
Edward: "Was he in trouble? Was he running from the law?"
Monica: "No, he wasn't."
Edward: "Well, then why would he leave Port Charles? This is his home. And everybody who loves him is here."
A.J.: "I guess he finally realized he was never going to get what he wanted."
Edward: "Oh--"
A.J.: "Instead of dealing with it, he ran."
Edward: "Oh!"
Monica: "Your brother felt that it would be better for a lot of people if he left."
A.J.: "For once, I agree with him."
Monica: "He did that for Michael. Somehow he got it into his head that it--it would be good for Michael if he went away. That's how much he loves him. Now, you don't have to agree with me, but you at least have to respect that."
Edward: "Look, that is enough. Arguing amongst ourselves is going to accomplish nothing. We have to find out where Jason went and we just bring him back."
Monica: "You don't get this, do you, Edward? He doesn't want to be here."
Edward: "Well, he was confused and he aced without thinking. We have to find him and show him how much he's needed. And then he'll realize he's made a terrible mistake."
Monica: "Jason is gone."
Edward: "I refuse to accept that. I cannot believe that this has all been for nothing, damn it."
Monica: "I don't know why you are so shocked at Jason's leaving, Edward. You haven't said a kind word about him in years."
Edward: "So what's your point?"
AJ's face lit up at Monica's news. I couldn't decide if he was doing it for effect, or if he actually believed that Jason's departure would solve all of his problems. Maybe a little of both, but he was immediately faced with Edward's strong negative reaction to the news.
A.J.: "Tell me why you're upset."
Edward: "I shouldn't think I'd have to. Isn't it obvious?"
A.J.: "No, it isn't."
Edward: "Look, I have been angry at Jason for a long time. But just the same, I would still prefer to have him here."
A.J.: "Did you actually think that you could lure him back to the family?"
Edward: "At times, yes, mm-hmm. Yeah."
A.J.: "And then what? Huh? Put him in a cute little suit and send him off to work at E.L.Q.? Train him to, what, take over the--the accounting department? Or, hey, maybe even my job?"
Edward: "Well--I--I hadn't taken it that far."
A.J.: "Jason was never coming back. If anything, he was moving farther away. Just like Ned. Poof. All your golden boys have suddenly disappeared in front of your eyes. Do you realize that Ned would rather run some rinky-dink little record company than a conglomerate like E.L.Q.? Ned sides with--with anyone who's against you. He mocks everything that--that you believe in. You got no one left. Except there is still one person who still cares about what you think."
Edward: "You?"
A.J.: "Me. You need me. And it's time you realize it."
Edward: "You've benefited from Ned's groundwork. All those deals that he set in motion--they're no longer on the table, and I don't see anything to take their place."
A.J.: "Would you like to know why?"
Edward: "Sure."
A.J.: "It's impossible to operate while waiting for the axe to fall. It's true. Every day I walk into that office, I wonder if it's going to be my last. Every time the phone rings, I wonder if it's you telling me to pack my things, that Ned's in and I'm out. So, yes, I have been a little tentative, grandfather. But that's because I haven't had your full confidence."
Edward: "Do you have any idea how much I love that company? I have poured my heart and soul into E.L.Q., and I'll be damned if I'll give it to anyone who doesn't share my passion for it."
A.J.: "Look, I'm--running E.L.Q. means everything to me, all right? Come on. Give me my chance. Let me show you what I can do."
Edward: "All right. You've got it. Full reign. I'll--I'll support your decisions and give you whatever help I can."
Edward sat on the footstool and AJ stood above him. That made Edward look so beaten. But AJ actually believed that he had gotten what he wanted--a chance from Edward. Of course he'd be disappointed.
Monica: "Hey, I--I know he didn't say good-bye to you, either. Please, please don't take that as a statement of how he felt about you."
Alan: "Monica, please don't make excuses for Jason. We were not on the best of terms when he left. Do we--do we still have that film of his 3rd birthday party?"
Monica: "Yeah, somewhere."
Alan: "I'd like to see it. We had such hope for his future, didn't we?"
Monica: "I'll have Reginald look for it tonight."
Alan: "You remember people used to ask him 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' and he would say, 'I want to be a doctor just like my mommy and daddy.' and he would have made it except sometimes things happen on the way to the future, don't they? Fortunately, you and Em were able to stay in close contact with him. I never could. Jason didn't have to say good-bye to me. We said good-bye a long time ago."
Monica: "A.J. is just determined to prove himself to Edward. He wants the love and respect that Jason got, and he's going to do anything to get it."
Alan: "You're a wonderful mother, Monica. And you're an incredible wife."
Monica: "What a nice thing to say."
Alan: "I only wish that A.J. could know what it's like to be married to someone like you--loyal, intelligent."
Monica: "Madly in love with her husband."
Alan: "Oh! Especially that."
Lila: "I see you've heard about Jason."
Edward: "Mm-hmm. I've always assumed that Jason's love for Michael would keep him tied to us. Hmm. Obviously, I couldn't have been more mistaken."
Lila: "He believed leaving was the best for Michael."
Edward: "Well, why didn't you tell him he was wrong? I'm sorry. I'm--excuse me. Oh. I know you love that boy."
Lila: "You love him, too, Edward."
Edward: "You know something? Jason reminds me of you. He's gentle and--and he's kind. But he is completely willful and he does exactly what he wants to do and he doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks. Before the accident, he--he understood his place in the family. But afterwards--well, you know, the doctors felt he would need to be institutionalized. Huh. But he just laughed in all of our faces and went out and built a life for himself. And why didn't I tell him that I was proud? I should have been honest instead of trying to manipulate him."
Lila: "Jason understands you very well, Edward."
Edward: "Mm-hmm. And he despises me."
Lila: "No. It's possible to love someone who frustrates you. I've certainly managed."
Edward: "I know that. And I thank god for it every night. Hmm. I love you so much, Lila dear."
Lila: "I love you, too."
Edward: "Even though I brought this family business to the brink of ruin? You know, A.J. rightly said that he's the only thing I have left. So I promised to give him a real opportunity to prove himself as a C.E.O. not that i think he'll succeed. But--but I owe him that, at least."
Jason: "Look, Carly, you have to understand that I can't--I can't love you the way you want me to."
Carly: "A.J., if it's all the same to you, I'd really like to be alone right now."
A.J.: "Not until you hear me out."
Carly: "Um--I really think we'll fight much better later."
A.J.: "Well, I assume that Jason told you he was leaving?"
Carly: "So?"
A.J.: "So--look, I want to discuss what that means to us."
Carly: "Fine. Discuss."
A.J.: "Well, grandfather has promised me a fresh start at E.L.Q. he's given me every opportunity to prove myself, and i want to make you that same offer."
Carly: "What, are you out of your mind?"
A.J.: "Well, you can accept my offer or choose the alternative."
Carly: "Which is what?"
A.J.: "Leave! But Michael stays here."
Carly: "All right. You win. Are you happy?"
A.J.: "We can both win here, baby. It's up to you."
I think that AJ really did think that he could pull his life into some semblance of happiness with the news that Jason was gone. I couldn't understand how he thought he was doing everything he could with Carly when it was so clear she was giving in only because she had no other alternative. I couldn't understand how he called this winning, and said he'd done everything he could to make Carly happy.
Carly was sitting on the end of the bed taking off her boots at the beginning of this scene. The end of that bed has become for me a symbol of her feeling of oppression in the Quartermaine house. She sat there when AJ has leaned into her, threatening Ferncliff. She sat there waiting for the results of her pregnancy test. She sat there in the episode just previous to this as AJ came close to finding the pregnancy test in the wastebasket. Time and time again AJ and Carly have had disturbing, threatening scenes there, or scenes of entrapment--sometimes with him almost pinning her to the bed in that very spot. And when they began to make love later, she would sit him in that very spot and wrap her arms around him.
IV. Emily, We're Getting a Divorce (1/20)
Alan: "Can you think of anything more unpleasant than having Gertrude for a stepmother?"
Monica: "Gertrude for a wife."
Alan: "Maybe we should rethink this."
Alan: "Emily will think we're totally deranged."
Monica: "Emily knows that we are."
Emily: "So, are you hallucinating, or am I?"
Monica: "I know. It all sounds very absurd. But believe me, it is foolproof."
Emily: "Right. Which usually means it only makes sense to you guys."
Emily: "Why can't someone else marry Gertrude?"
Alan: "For what, her charm? Her wit?"
Monica: "Her generous heart? Her fun-loving spirit?"
Emily: "Yeah, you got a point."
Emily: "So, who's going to believe that you dumped mom for Gertrude?"
Monica: "Well, actually, I'm the dumper."
Alan: "I never agreed to be the dumpee."
Emily: "You guys argue all the time, which means you're really going to have to go for the jugular to sell this."
Alan: "Oh, we can do that."
Monica: "And I can break things. There is a vase I've wanted to smash for a long time, and that monstrosity up on the third--oh--"
Alan: "Oh, you start breaking stuff like that, you could hurt someone."
Emily: "So, does this mean that I can maybe smash the end table upstairs?"
Monica and Alan: "No."
Monica: "So, do you think that we are out of our collective minds?"
Emily: "I think you are totally bizarre. But why change that?"
Alan: "I'm not sure how to take that."
Monica: "Oh, I think we'll take it as a thumbs up and be glad."
Emily: "Hey, you know what I think? I think that I should totally freak out and be totally bummed that you guys are getting divorced and that I stay out all night and I don't come back during curfew and I'm gone for days--"
Alan: "Just stop right there."
Monica: "Don't even think about it."
Alan: "Nice try. Very smooth."
Monica: "So, now all we have to do is lacerate each other in public."
Alan: "That's all you have to do. I have to pour out my wounded heart to Gertrude."
Monica: "So, you with me?"
Alan: "I am total and utterly riveted."
Monica: "That was an insult to my intelligence, trying to kiss me to shut me up."
Alan: "Excuse me for trying."
Monica: "Trying to hide our problems under a hug. Phony kisses aren't the answer."
A.J.: "It looked pretty real to me."
Monica: "Oh, fine, take your father's side."
A.J.: "You know what? I have marital problems of my own. You guys are on your own with yours."
Alan: "Nice save."
Monica: "Close."
Alan: "Too close. This is going to be very hard."
Monica: "Mm-hmm."