V. Buy You a Drink, Ned? (1/20)
A.J.: "I want to watch you drink to my success."
Ned: "Really? What's the occasion? Finally line up all those paper clips?"
A.J.: "You know, it's amazing what you can do with paper clips with a little vision and the right amount of luck."
Ned: "So you're hard at work on a paper clip tower?"
A.J.: "Clip number one--your enormous infantile ego. Storming out of E.L.Q., sulking like a child. You know, had you stuck around and competed with me--"
Ned: "You'd be circulating your resume right now."
A.J.: "But we'll never know, now, will we, because you picked up your pride and huffed off, leaving the field all to me."
Ned: "Yes, because I wanted you to fail all on your own--which you will, of course, spectacularly."
A.J.: "Clip number two--I married Carly."
Ned: "Yes, a tremendous boon to your career. If you believe, of course, that behind every great man is a ticked-off woman who hates him."
Ned: "How many times must you fall flat on your face before you realize your limitations?"
A.J.: "Limitations?"
Ned: "Mm-hmm."
A.J.: "No. You see, I produced the Quartermaine heir. And for that, I am golden and I shall remain golden."
Ned: "Same old delusions of grandeur."
A.J.: "I don't think so. Delusions? No. You see, Jason getting on his bike and riding off into the sunset was the last piece of the puzzle I needed. I'm irreplaceable, Ned."
Ned: "If your only replacement were zippy the chimp, you'd still find a way to mess up because messing up is what you do best. It's your only true gift. Well, that and blowing hot air. So, why don't you just blow your smoke at somebody else, somebody who believes you? Because I happen to know you get most puffed up right before you crash dive back into the bottle."
A.J.: "Oh, you want to believe that. The problem is you don't anymore. Yeah, sure, you throw out the same disparaging little noises, but the fact is you're threatened and you fear me."
Ned: "Ok, so, how long have you been hearing these voices?"
A.J.: "Must be obvious to you that I'm in a position to get whatever I want. You know, you better hope that I don't wake up one day and decide that I want L&B."
VI. AJ and Carly Go Upstairs (1/21)
Edward: "You know, on the phone just now, you sounded as though you were competing with Jason. And that isn't necessary because Jason's gone, and you've won. So act like it."
A.J.: "I am."
Edward: "Then lose the chip on your shoulder. You're going to trip over it in business. A.J., it's time for you to start living your own life instead of trying to outdo your brother's."
A.J.: "Look, I am not competing with Jason any more than I'm trying to please you. You know, for once, I'm making choices based on what's best for me."
Edward: "Oh. Oh, then may I assume that you've decided how to deal with your wife, hmm?"
A.J.: "As a matter of fact, I have."
A.J.: "My wife's recent campaign for causing problems and making scenes like the E.L.Q. party the other night, well, that's Carly's way of forcing me to let her go. But I'm hoping, now that Jason's gone, things will change."
Edward: "A.J., it can't be about Jason. You grew up in this house in competition with your brother, and you ended up drunk and feeling sorry for yourself. You became everybody's victim. And if you go back into that, you are going to ruin E.L.Q. and I can't let that happen. No."
A.J.: "What are you afraid of? I've been living with Carly putting me in competition with Jason since the day she moved in here, and I haven't turned to the bottle yet. All things considered, I'm doing amazingly well. Hell, I'm still in the race. That in itself is a miracle. Imagine what I could do if I could put you down. Or even better, if you would just start cheering for me, you know, instead of yelling in my ear for everyone else to hear 'A.J.'s going down and he's taking E.L.Q. with him.'"
Edward: "Now, you know, that's the thing that worries me the most, A.J. that right when you should be victorious, you're still looking for somebody else to blame."
A.J.: "You know what? We're not going to agree on this, grandfather. What's your point? What do you want from me? You want me to promise that I'll never hit the bottle? I can't. Sobriety is one day at a time. You want me to convince you that what I feel right now is victory? Well, I can't do that, either. I'm sad. When I thought about marriage, I always envisioned one like you and grandmother have. Sure, the occasional ups and downs. But one that was about patience and admiration and respect. And instead, I ended up with a marriage like my parents. I mean, Carly infuriates me. And it's obvious that I have the same effect on her. But at the same time--god help me--I want her. And on the same level, I think she wants me. See, what people forget is that we were friends. And now maybe we can be that again. At least it's a start, you know?"
Edward: "Well, having your parents' marriage as a model is not all bad. Eccentric, perhaps. But maybe like them you can find your way, hmm? I happen to think you can."
A.J.: "That was sort of a cheer. I think we can, too. Someone has to make the first step, and it won't be Carly, so it'll have to be me. And the time is now."
Carly: "I was at the grill with Bobbie. You can actually call the maitre d' and check if you like."
A.J.: "I didn't ask."
Carly: "I didn't give you a chance, did I?"
A.J.: "Carly, I'm only waiting here because you're my wife, the roads are icing up out there, and I just wanted to make sure you made it home safe."
Carly: "Well, here I am."
A.J.: "Yes, you are. So how's Bobbie?"
A.J.: "So--so what do you say? Could I interest you in a truce?"
Carly: "Define truce."
A.J.: "Well, we--you know, we find a--we make a renewed effort to treat each other with respect, try to act like adults. What?"
Carly: "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."
Carly: "Jase. I can't believe I'm in this situation again. I don't even have you here to tell people you're my baby's father. Certainly can't tell Sonny it's his, so what does that leave? Leaves A.J. Guess I'm just going to have to make him think it's his. Don't have a choice. Not really."
Carly spoke to the same photo of Jason and AJ in the living room as Monica had held before, I believe. Nice touch, that. When she said she didn't have a choice, however, I smiled at the Spencer mantra. As AJ comes in, she picks up the photo of Michael that sits beside, pretending that it was the one at which she was looking.
A.J.: "Yep, I did. And you know what? It gave me a chance to think about what you said--not just about wanting a truce, but about happy--how happy you would be. I mean, I have to admit I'm surprised."
Carly: "Well, A.J., things have changed for both of us."
A.J.: "You mean Jason?"
Carly: "Yeah, Jason. But, you know, I mean, we both made mistakes, you know, where Jason's concerned. We both have these little tempers."
A.J.: "That's true. That is true. But like I said, I am willing to do whatever it takes to make things better between us. I am."
Carly: "Really?"
A.J.: "Yeah."
Carly: "Whatever it takes?"
A.J.: "Now, Carly--no tricks, no games."
Carly: "I'm not playing games. What do you want?"
A.J.: "I want to go upstairs. You want to go upstairs?"
Carly: "Oh."
A.J.: "Really?"
The minute AJ touches her cheek, Carly moves in close. She smiles at him, then takes him by the hand and they go upstairs. I have a theory that we only see extended play sex scenes for true loves or true betrayals, so I had my eyebrows raised as to what we would see when they got upstairs.
From Terry's Update: "AJ is on the phone, barking at a union leader. 'That's my final offer,' he says, which brings 'that's my final answer' to the minds of many. Edward comes in, and gives him a lecture about being his own man and not trying to compete with Jason, who is, after all, gone."
"AJ tells Edward that Carly is trying to force him to let her go, but now that Jason's gone, he thinks she'll change her tune. Edward wants him to stop competing with Jason, which is what drove him to the bottle in the past. AJ doesn't appreciate Edward's lack of confidence in him. AJ compares his own marriage to Monica and Alan's, saying that while Carly infuriates him, he still wants her, and thinks that runs both ways. (Notice he does not say he loves her, but that he wants her.)AJ says its up to him to take the first step to patch things up."
"Carly, arriving 'home,' is jumpy in conversation with AJ, but he's conciliatory. He asks for a cease-fire, a truce. Carly says, 'You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.'"
"Carly is talking to Jason's picture about her predicament. She says she has no choice but convince AJ she's carrying his baby. AJ reenters the room and they discuss their truce. Things have changed since Jason left, they agree, and AJ says he'll do whatever it takes to make his marriage work. Carly laughs seductively and he invites her upstairs. They head up together."
VII. But Nothing Comes of It (1/24)
A.J.: "So, when was the last time you invited me in here?"
Carly: "You mean as opposed to you just showing up?"
Carly: "So, maybe we should have gone on a date or something first. I don't know."
A.J.: "You know, we--we really haven't dated much, have we?"
Carly: "Not when you stop to think about it."
Carly: "I know I'm not the easiest person to get along with sometimes."
A.J.: "We had something good once. Maybe we can have that again."
Carly: "I'd like that."
A.J.: "Hey, you know what? There's no rush."
Carly: "Who's rushing?"
A.J.: "I'm in this for the long run. We have plenty of time."
Carly: "Hey--haven't we wasted enough time already?"
A.J.: "Yeah. But if you're going to change your mind in five or 10 minutes from now, I'll leave right now. No harm, no foul."
Carly: "You know what? You've been watching too much basketball, honey."
This is where Carly maneuvers AJ to that same spot on the bed.
A.J.: "This is--were you thinking of him?"
Carly: "My god. Oh, A.J., can we just leave Jason out of this, please?"
A.J.: "You tell me."
Carly: "Well, jeez, you know, we've had some issues, and I'm trying to work through them, that's all."
A.J.: "Right, right, and this is the fastest way to do it, right?"
Carly: "No, this is the most fun."
Carly: "Oh, that's--ok, so, what's going to be the threat of the evening then? You don't like the way I do it, so you're going to send me to Ferncliff?"
A.J.: "Oh, come on, who said anything about Ferncliff?"
Carly: "That's right, ok. Well, just skip straight to Michael then. I got it. Ok? I make love to you with my eyes closed, and so, therefore, I'm an unfit mother. Right? Hey, it might hold up in court. You probably still have time to call your lawyer."
A.J.: "Oh. What was I thinking? I guess a truce was just a little too much to ask for."
Carly: "Wait a second, ok? Why are you doing this?"
A.J.: "Because I want a wife. I want a real wife."
Carly: "Well, m--sorry, you got me."
A.J.: "I'm not here to make you feel better because Jason walked out."
Carly: "I got that."
A.J.: "He left you, just like I told you he would. And now I'm all you got left, and you can't handle that, can you? That's why you have to close your eyes and pretend that you're with him."
Carly: "You know what? That is so unfair."
A.J.: "You want Jason? Go on. Go try and find him. But Michael stays here. And don't come back."
Carly: "I'm not leaving, A.J. Why don't you get that? I actually want this to work."
A.J.: "Do you want me, Carly?"
Carly: "Yeah."
A.J.: "Make me believe it. Make it true."
Carly: "A.J., wait."
VIII. AJ Confides in Lila (1/25)
A.J.: "Me, too. You know, for the first time in a long time, I thought things were getting better between us. You know, I--it'd be so much easier if I didn't have feelings for her. Then I wouldn't care what she does or who she sees. Because I want to believe that we can be happy. But Carly has this thing about wanting what she can't have. Even now. Even now that Jason is completely out of her life, she's eating herself up over this guy. Why? Why can't she be happy with what she has?"
Lila: "Maybe she will, dear, in time."
A.J.: "I don't have time, grandmother. Grandfather's finally given me an opportunity to run this company the way I see fit. And if I blow it, or better yet, if Carly blows it the way she did with the European partners, I'm out and Ned's back in. And I can't let that happen."
IX. Ned Comes for a Nice Family Visit (1/25)
Ned: "So you're admitting it?"
Edward: "Well, you know I was responsible for it, so why fight it? Sure, I sank your distribution deal, and I'll sink any other deal you try to make that benefits L&B."
Ned: "You'll destroy my company."
Edward: "Mm-hmm. That's the point. Don't try to dust yourself off and start a new business because I'll come after that, too."
Ned: "And you think this is supposed to make me want to work with you?"
Ned: "There is no halfway with you, grandfather."
Ned: "You kicked me out of E.L.Q., and I told you then that I wasn't coming back, and I'm going to keep that promise."
Edward: "You'll be back. You're a Quartermaine. You need us. And you need E.L.Q., buddy."
Monica: "What was that all about?"
Ned: "Give you one guess."
Monica: "Edward wants you back at E.L.Q. well, i hope the next thing you're going to say is that you told him no."
Monica: "Now, we had a deal, remember? I'm not going to let Alan marry Gertrude the piranha for no reason."
Ned: "Monica, I used to have A.J.'s job. Now, it didn't make me happy then, and it's not going to make me happy now."
Ned: "Monica, I finally found something that's more important than profit margins. I have a job that truly makes me happy."
Monica: "Well, good. You stay with that job. And, actually, it's the first time I have seen you happy."
Ned: "Now, are you just saying that because you think it's true or because you're trying to protect A.J.?"
Monica: "Both."
Alan: "The woman is out of town, and I don't appreciate you checking up on me."
Monica: "Well, actually, we're not discussing Gertrude."
Ned: "But maybe we should because I'm beginning to wonder why we thought it was possible that Gertrude could even fall in love with you in the first place."
Monica: "Well, maybe because he is so sensitive and sexy and any woman would love to meet him."
Alan: "'Maybe'?"
Monica: "She's going to fall in love with him. Why not? I did."
Ned: "This I can miss."
Alan: "What did himself want?"
Monica: "It wasn't himself. It was Edward. Remember the chance that he promised A.J.? Well, it doesn't exist."
Monica: "Ok. Well, I will check in on her. But you can trust me--there's nothing wrong with Carly that throwing her out of the house wouldn't cure."
X. Alan's Date with Gertrude (1/26)
Monica: "You look irresistible."
Alan: "Want to get a room?"
Monica: "I'd love to. But you're going to be too busy seducing another woman."
Alan: "Please don't keep reminding me."
Alan: "What happens if Gertrude doesn't want any part of me? What happens if I've lost my touch?"
Monica: "Excuse me, but you have been seducing women behind my back for years. I'm sure you haven't forgotten."
Alan: "No, that's exactly the point. When I was cheating on you before, I did it behind your back. Now that you're on the sidelines cheering, it's kind of lost the excitement."
Gertrude: "You know, there are some women--names aren't important--who like to keep their men down. It gives them a feeling of power, or at least the illusion of it."
Alan: "That is so perceptive of you. You must be a great student of human behavior."
Gertrude: "Oh. I find nothing more fascinating than people. Especially certain people."
Gertrude: "Well, your children are grown now. Perhaps you should make plans for the future."
Alan: "As in?"
Gertrude: "Well, finding a woman who makes you her first priority."
Alan: "Thank you so much for listening to me. No, hearing me. It's been such a long time since I've had a woman do that for me."
Gertrude: "Edward! Well, what are you doing here?"
Edward: "I own the place. And you?"
Edward: "Alan is cheating on Monica again."
Lila: "Oh, dear. With whom?"
Edward: "With Gertrude. I saw them at the grill today practically nuzzling each other over the breadsticks. You mark my words. He is going to seduce her. Should have seen it coming, though, the way he's always complimenting her, taking her side on every issue. It's just his sick need to control unsuspecting women. Well, I am going to put a stop to it before it goes too far because I'm not going to have the members of my family thrown into a turmoil because Alan can't keep his pants on."
Monica: "So, Edward, what were you saying about Alan's pants?"
Monica: "Well, Alan said he was having lunch at the grill, and if I hurry, I can catch up to him."
Edward: "Oh, no, no, no. No, no, my dear, no, no. Here, have a seat. That would be a huge mistake."
Monica: "Excuse me, Edward, but I do not need you to tell me how to run my marriage."
Alan: "What is this about running my marriage?"
Alan: "Will you excuse us? My father has a need to relate."
Monica: "Don't expect much."
Alan: "We were only having lunch."
Edward: "Yeah, you were the dessert, Alan. I could see it a mile away."
Alan: "You may not understand this, father, but everything I do is for my children."
I loved these scenes, with Alan and Monica stringing Edward along. It was one of the reasons I was so put out with the weak ending to the mixed marrieds storyline--we didn't get enough of Mike when he was in on the sting, and we certainly didn't get enough from Monica and Alan. They went right back to fighting about their children. Ptttth.
XI. Taggert Catches Emily and Juan (1/26)
Juan: "You know, it's not that big, but it's comfortable."
Emily: "Huh."
Juan: "I meant the room."
Emily: "Yeah. I know."
Juan: "Never. You know, I care about you. I--"
Emily: "I feel the same way about you."
Juan: "You don't have to be scared. Nothing's going to happen unless you want it to."
Emily: "I--"
Juan: "I'm sorry. Did I hurt your arm?"
Emily: "No, no, no, no. No. It wasn't my arm. Your hands were just cold. That's why I jumped."
Juan: "So it's ok if--if we do more than just kiss?"
Emily: "Yeah. Yes. This is just, like, kind of weird. I mean, I--I've never done anything like this before, you know."
Juan: "Well, I'll tell you a secret. I haven't gone much further myself."
Emily: "Are you kidding?"
Juan: "Well, it's not a problem for you, is it?"
Emily: "No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's better that way--that we don't have to, you know, rush into things."
Juan: "Well, that's fine with me. I like feeling close to you. Especially like this--alone. But, we don't--we don't have to rush into anything."
Taggert: "Juan, you stole my fleece academy sweatshirt again? Ahem. Um--this is not good."
The scene with Emily staring at the bed was so That Touch of Mink, I almost wished we were in for a series of scenes like the ones in that movie, where Doris Day imagines everything as a bed for fear of what people are thinking of her, off on a weekend with Cary Grant. (Love that movie, by the way. Check it out if you have a notion.)