A Martinez Nude

A Martinez
(Falcon Crest; The Yellow Rose; Santa Barbara; L.A. Law; General Hospital; Port Charles; One Life To Live)

September 1979 Soap Opera Summaries (Part 1)

Courtesy of French Fan at SON.

All My Children

Written by: Agnes Nixon and Wisner Washam
Produced by: Agnes Nixon and Bud Kloss

Frank invited Betsy to Donna's party after Nancy turned him down. Eddie took sexual advange of a drunken Brooke, but she later told him to scram. Charles and Mona laughed that Phoebe’s been acting the saint while she's secretly playing around with Langley. Phoebe had a fit when Paul announced he's divorcing Ann, who had flashing memories of him in the sanitarium while plotting an escape. Myra cried after overhearing Nina talking to her mother's portrait and Palmer warned Myra never to mention his wife to Nina. Kelly claimed she's suffering from narcolepsy but Myrtle and Joe knew better. Tom's surgery was successful. Brooke told Mark she's pregnant. Kelly had nightmares that Linc ditched her after Eddie squealed that she’s a speed freak.

Ann escaped from the sanitarium and arrived on Phoebe's doorsteps. Nina put her foot down about Cliff to Palmer. Chuck leveled with Charlie that there's no hope for Chuck and Tara, and Charlie returned to Washington. Kelly struggled to resist her pill habit while dating Linc at a posh social function where he ran into an old girlfriend. Phoebe agreed to invest in Langley’s oil deals. Phoebe kept Ann hidden although she realized Ann's still living in the past. Brooke admitted she's not absolutely sure she's pregnant, but wishes like all get-out that she were. Nancy and Frank argued about his abuse of visitation rights with Carl.

Brooke’s pregnancy test was negative. Erica was miffed to find Betsy giving Tom a hospital back rub. Benny and Edna returned from a honeymoon in the Poconos. Claudette laughed at Eddie’s notion that he can catch Brooke romantically. Langley's marriage proposal to Phoebe was prompted by his plans to get her money. Phoebe swore him to secrecy about keeping Ann hidden. Edna called Estelle a tramp when she spotted Benny and Estelle during an innocent meeting. Wally and Betsy warned Erica to tell Tom about her disco. Myra refused to do Palmer’s dirty work in keeping Cliff and Nina apart.

Ann disappeared after searching for Paul and overhearing him and Ellen discussing their romantic ties. Myrtle told Linc that Kelly was having a breakdown after Kelly went bananas in front of Linc. Kelly has had a bad drug reaction. Eddie was put out that Brooke is only interested in sex, not his love. Myra suggested Nina see Cliff when she's at school to avoid Palmer’s wrath.

Palmer hired detective Bernard Raab, who found Cliff's former girlfriend Janice Rollins in Chicago, then tempted her with money to help break up Nina and Cliff. Erica accused Betsy of having more than a clinical interest in Tom.

Another World

Written by: Tom King
Produced by: Paul Rauch

Eileen moved back with Rita and steered clear of Joey after admitting to Morgan that she had lost her virginity to Phil. Clarice tipped off Jamie that Elaine planned an abortion. He rushed to Blaine's side. Kirk's company is in financial straits and he urged Iris to persuade Mac to sell Cory Publishing. Kirk's detective, Murdock discovered that Janice had once been kept by a guy named Howard. Murdock continued tracking down dirt on Sylvie also. Frank wasn't enthused that Janice wanted him to write an article about the plight of Vietnamese children. Mike thought Karen was bonkers when she insisted that Ted was alive. Iris feared that Vivien would return to the farm after Viv's mother died. Larry decided to enter the police academy. Sally taunted Eileen about knowing about Eileen and Phil. Paul learned he can get an annulment if Rita knew she was barren when they married.

A very-much alive Ted kidnapped Karen, who realized he's bonkers. Iris threatened to squeal about June and Jeff unless June left Kirk free to dally with Iris. Sylvie was outraged that Kirk tracked down her sister Myrtle, since the ladies never saw eye to eye. Blaine and Sally became roommates. Sally plotted with Phil to get Eileen out of town while Joey’s working in Boston where he planned to check out Serenity House. Rachel was confused by Mac's jealousy of Frank and decided to spend a few days at the artist colony. Kirk conned Iris saying he only wants to help Mac's company. Jamie wants to be responsible for Blaine's baby but doesn't want to marry her because of Cecile. Murdock discovered a scandal surrounding the death of Janice's former lover. Charlie courted Ada now that she's rid of Fred.

Myrtle told Kirk and Sylvie that she’d reveal a secret about Sylvie to the highest bidder. June agreed to put up a divorced front with Kirk but only until he got Iris’ vote at the Cory stockholders’ meeting, then Kirk must dump Iris. Rita confessed about lying to Paul before their marriage about her infertility. He insisted the marriage must end because he loves Rose. Frank searched for an Asian child whose photo he carries. Mike and Ben rescued Karen from Ted’s mad clutches. Eileen insisted to Joey that Phil didn’t do anything to make her want to leave town. Kirk blackmailed Sylvie about her alcoholism and threatened to squeal to Iris if Sylvie continues to side with mac. Frank was upset that Rachel lent moral support to Mac over Kirk’s takeover schemes. Gwen assured Mac that Willis would stick by Mac if he puts Willis on the board of directors.

Phil pressed charges against Joey who beat him up after Sally told Joey that Phil had sexually conquered Eileen. Karen and Mike headed for a new life and a wedding in Florida while Ted was committed to a prison for the criminally insane. Kirk learned from Myrtle that Sylvie had been sent to prison where she gave birth. Sylvie returned to New York after saying goodbye to a tearful Iris. Joey skipped town after patching things up with Eileen. Jim overheard Sylvie threaten to kill Kirk if he ever harmed Iris. Ben followed Karen and Mike to Florida. Rachel refused to spend a night in Frank's bed.

Kirk left Iris at his mountain retreat not knowing June was there, too. June pulled a gun on Iris but she wouldn't kill her. She's going to wait for Kirk to destroy Iris.

As The World Turns

Written by: Douglas Marland
Produced by: Joe Rothenberger

Hester stood in the garage shadows as Grant borrowed Lisa's car. Grant was injured in an accident and suspected that Bennett had tampered with the brakes. Jay warned Matt not to get hung up on Melinda who is still married to Beau. Ian admitted to Barbara that he used her to get closer to Dana. Alex departed on business after he and Val returned from their honeymoon. Val reported a missing ruby stickpin, but Tom remembered spotting one of the wedding caterer's assistants, Sheila, guiltily hanging around Kate's room. Ellen's in a funk about Dan and Dee doesn't want to return to an out-of-town school. Marcia admitted to Jeff that Doug's lost interest in her and is bait for another woman.

Grant raged at Lisa for giving Ben nett a fake alibi. Ian claimed he's throwing in the towel and arranged a divorce meeting at a lodge with Dana. Sheila was arrested for theft and Tom was appointed her lawyer, although he admitted to Barbara he doesn't trust Sheila. Ralph lamented to Jay that he's sure Mary loves Don but she won't back out of marriage because she's too decent. Ralph began making Mary suspect he hasn't reformed from his playboy days. Tom got Sheila out on bail but the police found more jewelry in her locker. Valerie went to Ecuador with Alex, but will return, leaving him there on assignment until the spring. Dan prepared Emmy and Betsy for his death. Bennett realized Lisa's not sure she trusts him now.

Ralph saved Grant from a “fixed” elevator accident after Grant was knocked unconscious by a masked person. Bob and Dana realized that Dan tricked Dana into going to the lodge, although his lawyer already canceled out. Melinda began to enjoy Matt’s attentions. Tom asked Don to take Stella’s case since she reminded him of Natalie. Grant hired a bodyguart after considering that Bennett had put a contract on him.

Kim and the children moved in with Ellen and David while adjusting to Dan's death. Lisa moved into the Inn. Bennett accused Lisa. Ian presented Barbara with a contract to do his record album cover.

Bennett refused Lisa's offer to live in Oakdale giving her a week to return to the inn. Mary and Ralph broke off their engagement. Dan told Mary that they must face their feelings for each other.

Days Of Our Lives

Written by: Elizabeth Harrower
Produced by: Betty Corday & H. Wesley Kenney

Doug fell for Lee's sympathy act and offered financial support after he inherited Byron's estate. Julie refused to see Hope. Bill dined with Maggie during Mickey's absence. Linda hired an investigative firm to tail Stephanie. Julie promised to keep mum about Stephanie being Brooke unless Stephanie hurts Bob. Steve paid court to both Mary and Lee until he learned Lee is poor as a churchmouse. Alex flirted with Maggie. Amanda had pregnancy problems after learning that her baby will legally belong to Greg even if it's Chris' child. Jordan helped Julie psychologically at Linda's urging. Mary asked Bob to hire Steve. Don became a city councilman. Chris rehired Mike at Anderson’s thanks to Margo.

Amanda was rushed to the hospital and must have a therapeutic abortion. Simpson came for his canes with the smuggled diamonds, and Steve flared at Maggie for unwittingly selling one to Tom and one to Trask. Marie admitted to Tommy that she had a disastrous affair before she entered the convent. Julie reminded Jordan of a woman he once loved and lost. Alex let Stephanie know that he's aware of her real identity. Steve retrieved Tom's cane but Trask went to Europe, and Steve failed to convince Trish to give up her diamond supply. Lee gladly accepted Doug's invitation to live under his roof. Greg arrived and learned from Tom that Amanda may have a malignancy. Alex told Phyllis he's not the marrying kind. Donna returned from Hollywood. Julie finally saw Hope and realized the child isn't repulsed by Julie's scars.

Steve intimated that Maggie and Bill are up to no good after they dined together. Cathy Breton joined the hospital cafeteria staff. Greg agreed to divorce after Amanda had a hysterectomy. Jordan convinced Doug to leave Julie alone after she got hysterical because Doug bought her a house, which she refused to accept. Since Lee is moving in on Doug, Steve expects to be her partner. Marlena learned that Samantha has a kidney problem. Trish rebid her diamonds, them was threatened by Simpson. Trish asked Margo to return the diamond she had loaned Margo to pay Earle. Maggie found Simpson in the shop and a gunshot is fired. David asked Bob for a transfer because of Stephanie.

Maggie was questioned by the police after Simpson died of a gunshot wound inflicted during their struggle at the shop. Steve pushed for a job at Anderson Manufacturing. Phyllis warned Bob that Stephanie may be out to take over the company – and Bob. Jordan warned Doug not to contact Hulie who agreed to another skin graft.

Amanda returned to Chicago with Greg leaving a bitter Chris behind. Margo returned Trish’s diamond to her not knowing Earle had substitued a fake.

The Doctors

Written by: Elizabeth Levin & David Cherrill
Produced by: Doris Quinlan

Greta nixed Billy's marriage proposal and he skipped town. The cult moved into Lisa's hospital room while Steve and Carolee tried to convince Lisa to leave the group. Far Wind put a curse on Steve indicating that if Far Wind lost "a child" so would Steve and Carolee. Kim rubbed it in to Missy that Luke doesn't have a choice about Kim becoming a club partner since Evan would take him to court.

Stephanie came under the influence of Far Wind and the cult. Luke borrowed from a loan shark to keep Kim out as a partner. Matt fretted about a threatened nurses' strike. Steve and John tried to de-program Lisa. Nola couldn't stand living with Barney and moved back with Mona. Carolee was in the dark about Stephanie and didn't want Steven involved with Lisa's problems because of the cult's threats.

Viveca Strand, a hospital commission inspector, didn’t want to recommend Colin’s cardiac unit because of Hope Memorial’s financial problems. Kim left town after Luke and Nola bought the remaining share of the club. John lamented to Greta about his troubles with his wife; then snatched a kiss. Nola taunted M.J. by giving Colin a photo of Jessica, which M.J. realized is Colin’s child.

Maggie warned Greta not to get involved with John since he’s still married. Barney was injured when the stove blew up at The Medecine Man. Lisa manipulated Carolee and Steve into letting her recuperate in their home. Mike treated Mary Hopkins, an overworked housewife. Madison Memorial’s fate rests with Viveca’s recommendation to the governor on the hospital’s efficiency.

Steve gave Nola until the end of October to move out of Mona's house. Carolee and Bennett searched the rubble in a house vacated by Far Wind.

The Edge Of Night

Written by: Henry Slesar
Produced by: Erwin Nicholson

It was revealed that Tobias is really Mickey who assured Paige he didn't want to kill her. But, Mickey slashed Tobias and arranged with gang member Zack to set up Steve and Paige for a hit Sarah and Raven slapped each other around over Elliott, then Sarah warned Logan that his wife is cheating on him. Nola went on a bender after overhearing Owen tell producer Eddie that she's washed up. But, Owen finally consented to direct the horror flick with Nola as star. Logan asked Draper to arrange Logan's adoption of Jamie.

Owen spotted Paige kissing Brian and reminded Brian that Paige is his real sister, not his stepsister. Mickey (Tobias) shot Zach because Mickey truly loves Paige. Steve recognized Mickey’s gun as the one that Joey had when Steve killed him and realized that Mickey had switched a toy gun for the real thing. Logan went on a campaign trip but Raven claimed she had the flu so she could rendezvous with Elliott. Eddie admitted he's always loved Nola.

Raven blamed Geraldine for having Logan return unexpectedly and fiding Raven and Elliott in the sack. Cliff was jealous that Owen is sparking up to Deborah and telling her he doesn’t love Noa. Bill rehired Steve. Logan prepared to fight for Jamie’s custody after he called it quits with Raven. Owen and Eddie planned to film the horror film in Monticello. Brian told Paige they are brother and sister and she agreed to run away with Mickey (Tobias). Mike and Nancy learned that Margo arranged for Draper’s New York job cancellation.

Steve cornered Mickey who jumped out of a window to his death while trying to escape with the money from his South American gun-running escapade. Raven left for London after putting April and Draper’s names on an adoption form for Jamie. All charges were dropped against Paige who confessed that Mickey was really Tobias.

Actor Trent Archer arrived in town and Nola planned a pre-production party for "Mansion of the Damned." She's invited Deborah whom she knows Owen is seeing on the sly. April said she'd divorce Draper if he helped Logan get custody of Jamie.

General Hospital

Written by: Pat Falken Smith & Margaret DePriest
Produced by: Gloria Monty

Laura warned Amy not to get interested in Luke. Joe, Jeff and Steve headed for Mexico where Carol is hospitalized. Mitch told Tracy he couldn't live with her since the mob might hound him about Ted's death. Tracy spotted Mitch coming on to Susan. Amy blabbed to Scotty that Laura got a job at the disco. Alan found Amy admiring his house, then consoled her after learning her father had died. Monica and her unborn baby's condition improved. Dorrie told Howard it is over between them and packed her bags. Lesley investigated whether Mrs. Kakorian had a history of heart trouble.

Cal died but not before he told Jeff that Heather knows the truth about Steven Lars. Mrs. Grant realized the game was up and beat around the bush to Peter about knowing of an illegal adoption. It finally dawned on him that she was trying to explain that P.J. is actually Steven Lars. Anne won temporary custody of Jeremy who suggested she marry Jeff. She vetoed the idea although she's been drawn closer to Jeff. Luke comforted Laura about her stepfather's death. Laura and Scotty argued about her job schedule. Bobbie avoided one of her ex-johns who's a patient. Monica returned to Alan, although the baby may have heart problems.

Peter had a coronary after Mrs. Grant revealed the P.J. / Steven Lars story. Bobbie and Roy were upset when Barry Johnson recognized her in the hospital. Lesley’s reports on Mrs. Kirkorian’s previous ailment couldn’t be proved. Rick and Monica were forced to confide to Howard about their night together after Mrs. Kirkorian’s surgery. Luke and Roy worried they’d have to eliminate Mitch to prove their mob royalty. Joe admitted his love for Ann, who asked they married.

Dorrie returned to England. Bobbie told Jessie she had once be a hooker. Peter died before he could tell Jeff about P.J / Steven Lars but he left Diana a mysterious letter. Kirkorian refused the hospital’s settlement so Rick and Monica prepared for a court battle. Monica returned to Alan upon her hospital release and accepted Amy’s offer to move in and help out during her recuperation.

Alice blamed herself for Peter's death because she told him about P.J.-Stephen Lars. Diana made quick plans to take P.J. to visit her mother in Florida.

Hall of Fame: Genie Francis

Genie Francis
2009 Soap Opera Hall of Fame Inductee

• Alice Dennison, Family
• Laura Vining Webber, General Hospital
• Patricia "Tyger" Hayes, Bare Essence
• unknown role, Glitter
• Jenny Bernard, Hotel
• Melinda Jenkins, Hotel
• Diana Colville, Days of Our Lives
• Ceara Connor, All My Children
• Ceara Connor, Loving

Eugenia Ann Francis, better known as Genie Francis to her fans, was born on May 26, 1962 in Englewood, New Jersey is probably daytime TV's most famous teen star ever.

Her father, Ivor Francis, a Canadian actor of English descent, was on the Gloria Monty-directed soap opera Bright Promise in the early 1970s, a few years before his daughter would work for her. He died in 1986 from the effects of multiple strokes. He played a brief role on General Hospital as an adoption counselor when his daughter was also on the show. Her mother, Rosemary Daley, is a former actress/model of Lithuanian descent. Genie is a confirmed Catholic. She has an older brother Ivor Jr., a younger brother Kenneth, and an older half-sister Shelley from her father's first marriage.

Genie met actor/director Jonathan Frakes while filming the television show, Bare Essence. After meeting again during the filming of the miniseries, North and South, Genie and Jonathan started dating in 1985. They became engaged in 1986, and married on May 28, 1988. The couple have two children, Jameson Ivor Frakes, born in 1994, and Elizabeth Francis Frakes, born in 1997. They have just recently moved from Belfast, Maine to Beverly Hills, California.

Genie's acting career started at the age of 13 with a guest appearance on the Aaron Spelling primetime series Family playing Alice Dennison, an unfriendly classmate of Kristy McNichol's Buddy Lawrence, in 1976. Even with only one professional acting credit to her name, she followed that with her most famous role, that of Laura Webber Spencer on General Hospital, a role in which fans got to watch her grow from a young teen of 14 into a young woman.

When Monty took over the producer position on the ailing show and decided that the dramatic focus should be on the younger characters, Douglas Marland wrote a daring story in which the confused, immature Laura took an older man as a lover. When her lover David Hamilton taunted Laura with the fact that it was really her mother that he loved, Laura accidentally killed him, and her mother took the rap for the murder.

Her ferocious, highly emotional performance at fifteen amazed her peers and, through word of mouth, hordes of teenagers were brought into the General Hospital audience. The highly melocramatic storyline was beautifully juxtaposed by a sweet, puppy-love romance with Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner). The ratings took off.

Then Pat Falken Smith, well known for her rape stories on Days of Our Lives, took over and wrote a highly ambiguous, controversial storyline in which Laura would fall in love with her rapist-seducer, Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary). The chemistry between Francis and Geary was undeniable, adn when "the powers that be" got around to calling the rap a seduction, Francis felt - and justifiably so - that her highly skilled performance as a rape victim had been negated.

The series of stories would bring her instant stardom though. A series of Luke-and-Laura-on-the-run stories would make Luke and Laura an international phenomenon and bring General Hospital unprecedented ratings. The stories sealed forever Luke and Laura as the most popular super couple in daytime history and brought them appearances on the covers of TV Guide, Us Weekly, and People magazines.

The television couple wed on November 16, 1981, with 30 million viewers tuning in to make this episode the highest-rated hour in soap opera history.

Francis was exhausted. For five years she had appeared almost daily, learing 50 pages of dialogue everyday along with her high school tudor on the set. She had no personal life at all, and felt that her whole adolescence and teenage years had been skipped. While she was in the midst of her tumultuous affair onscreen, she had not even been kissed in real life. At the peak of her success, Francis left the show in December 1982 to try her hand at primetime television and to take a brief break from the life of a soap opera actress. Her last scenes as Laura showed Laura disappearing in the fog while being trailed by a kidnapper.

Soon after, she landed a contract from CBS which included two big-budget TV movies and a series pilot. She landed the starring role in the made-for-TV movie, Bare Essence. The movie received high ratings, putting an end to the speculation that a former daytime actress could not lure a large primetime audience. When the movie was opted for a weekly series by NBC, she found herself starring in her own series. Sadly, Bare Essence, was not a success, being unable to capture the impact the movie had made, most in part due to lethargic writing that never was able to showcase the talent Francis had at all.

She decided to take time off to study and moved to New York, also hoping to launch a career on the stage. Genie had remained a fan favorite and viewers of GH wanted her back. GH offered a huge salary for thirty appearances and despite her desire to work on the stage, she agreed to come back. Fans were delighted when she returned to General Hospital on November 14, 1983. Her return was brought about to coincide with the departure of Luke when Geary decided to leave the series. During her first week on the show, the ratings jumped, adding three million viewers to the GH audience. When her limited run ended, Francis stayed true to her theater ambitions and returned to New York. She would return to General Hospital for one more brief visit in November 1984, but her work during this time was mostly on the stage and in primetime television.

She co-starred in the hit ABC miniseries, North and South (Books I and II), as the good Southern sister, Brett Main. Genie's extensive television work also included recurring appearances on Murder, She Wrote. Later she was seen in the television movie, Perry Mason and the Case of the Killer Kiss, and in Heaven and Hell, the third North and South installment.

She also was lucky in finding work on the stage where she has appeared in Crimes of the Heart and See How They Run. In 1991, Ms. Francis appeared in the Williamstown Festival Theater production of Defying Gravity. That same year, she made her New York City debut in The Baby Dance at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Greenwich Village. She also appeared in a Comedic Curtain Raiser at Manhattan Class Company for their festival of One Acts, called "The Group."

Through the years, other daytime soaps have pursued Francis because of her tremendous popularity. She appeared on Days of our Lives as Diana Colville from 1987 to 1989 and on All My Children as con artist and incest victim Ceara Connor Hunter from 1990 to 1992. She reprised her role as Ceara on Loving in November 1991. She then returned to GH in 1993. In 1994, when Francis fell pregnant with her first child, the pregnancy was written into the show and Genie took six weeks off for maternity leave. However in early 1997 when she fell pregnant again, she took a much longer absence from the show, staying away for nearly a year and a half.

In September 2002 she abruptly left General Hospital following ABC's refusal to work out a contract she wanted.

In June 2006, Francis began negotiating with the casting directors on the show in returning to the role of Laura Webber Spencer for a limited run through November. She returned to the show with spectacular fanfare to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding. The magic of Luke and Laura was recaptured, and the reunion garnered the show more publicity than it had seen in years. Though she reprised the role for only one month, Francis's stint was so successful that she garnered a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, which she ended up winning in June 2007. "Oh my goodness!" she said. "Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed. I've waited 31 years for this moment."

In December 2007, Francis had a starring role in the Hallmark Channel movie, The Note, which earned her critical acclaim.

Genie Francis returned to General Hospital in August 2008 to reprise her role as Laura Webber Spencer. Francis told the AP, "It's a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it's kinda cool this is full circle. It's nice to come back for visits. General Hospital is my home." She continued, "I would stay on, but General Hospital honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," said Francis. "They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It's not entirely up to me. I'm thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn't, you can be sure I wouldn't get to come back for these visits." Laura's character was written off as returning to France for treatment for her illness.

Lynda Hirsch on Soaps -- Gossip

Source: Creators.com

There is moving: "One Life to Live" is moving a few blocks away from its current studios. And there is moving: After 39 years in New York City, "All My Children" is heading to Los Angeles. ABC, which airs the shows, has given several reasons for the move. The network felt it needed more space. The L.A. digs will give the show twice as much room. The show is also going high definition, which is easier to do in L.A. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons is that it is easier to work with the unions in L.A. than in N.Y.C. While New York is desperate to keep productions in town, it is hard to do because of the cost. In primetime, many shows are produced in Vancouver because the American dollar is worth more over there. Yes, there still is one place where you can get a few cents more for your dollar.

In the job market, companies move all the time — many across the country, some out of the country. Just ask any autoworker. With moves, jobs are always lost. It will be the same with the moves of "AMC" and "OLTL"; cameramen, sound engineers and directors will be looking for work.

As for the actors, the folks at "OLTL" have it easier. The studio is just at a different subway stop or a farther cab ride. Not so the "AMC" thespians. They all have a major choice to make. According to Thorsten Kaye (Zach), they have been given one week to make the choice. Some of the actors can commute, but trust me, flying from New York to L.A. every week is not easy. I know; I did it for several years as a movie critic. Once a month — doable. When I had to do it every week — not so doable.

Actors are talking to real estate agents on both coasts. Buying in this market may be easy but selling not so much. Los Angeles and New York are truly two different worlds.

Nothing against L.A., but really, is life in a car? The weather may seem perfect, but getting anywhere is very imperfect. Unlike New York City, no one hangs out anywhere. Unless hanging out at the mall is one's idea of hanging out. In Manhattan, need to go somewhere? Hail a cab. Hail a cab in L.A.? A cabbie will drive by thinking you are doing some type of street performance. For some actors, the move will be good because they do not have to choose between going up for L.A. auditions and working their soap at the same time. For actors who love stage work. it is not so great. Los Angeles has two major theaters that usually produce touring company shows of major hits. In L.A., Broadway is the name of a now defunct department store. While there are some other theaters, most are small and many are in strip shopping malls.

When "AMC" moves in December, it means only two soaps will originate from New York City. Actually, only one — "As the World Turns" is produced in Brooklyn, N.Y. So that will leave "OLTL," which takes over "AMC's" old studio. Time was that every soap came from N.Y.C. ABC broke that tradition when it created "General Hospital." When the list of soaps produced in L.A. grew, a friendly rivalry started among actors on both coasts. The joke used to go: Want a great dressing room? Work on an L.A. soap. Want good acting work on one in New York? The dressing rooms are still better in L.A. The acting is now equal.

One "OLTL" performer who is officially going to be making the cross-town move is Robin Strasser (Dorian). The actress has signed a new contract. Strasser has agreed to another pay cut. Last time she signed a contract, she said she had to take 67 percent less. This time, she is not saying how much. She does say that everyone on the show has taken a pay cut, but she does not think they took the hit she did.

Soap Summaries: Week of August 2 through the 7th

Source: Creators.com

ALL MY CHILDREN: Jake and Amanda put their plan in motion by convincing David that Amanda can't have any more children. Amanda and Jake look forward to being a family once they "adopt" a baby and are able to bring Trevor home. Tad, Taylor and Amanda come clean with Opal after she spots baby Trevor at the house. Opal agrees everyone did the right thing in keeping David away from the baby but thinks Jake's plan has flaws. Taylor realizes that Krystal still loves Tad, but Krystal states she just wants him to be happy. After asking Scott to move into the mansion, Adam proposes to Annie. JR struggles to contain his anger and disgust when Adam announces Annie agreed to marry him. In front of Liza and Jesse, Kendall unburdens herself by confessing to having killed Stuart in a taped statement. Stuart's ghost appears in front of Kendall, telling her they can all be at peace. Zach gives an impassioned plea for leniency at Kendall's sentencing hearing. Scott also makes a statement at the hearing, invoking Stuart's memory as he tells the judge his father wasn't a vindictive man. At Annie's urging, Adam asks the judge to go easy on Kendall. Marian lays into Kendall and wants her to pay dearly for killing Stuart. Marissa is the unintended victim of Marian's quest for revenge against Kendall. Liza's heart breaks for Marian as she's led off to a psychiatric facility. Colby makes it perfectly clear she wants nothing to do with either Annie or Adam.

SNEAK PEEK: Liza rejects David.

AS THE WORLD TURNS: Damian offers Meg a consulting job. Meg and Lily shoot insults at each other over their love lives. Accepting the job, Meg falls into Damian's arms. Barbara's upset when she discovers Paul's been giving his fortune away — specifically, she's horrified that he would finance Emily's new paper. Paul invites Emily and Hunter to work on the paper from Fairwinds and to move in. Paul and Emily wake up in each other's arms. When Emily takes off for work, Paul is greeted by two men in white coats. Paul quickly learns that Barbara has had him committed for his strange behavior and is taken to the hospital. Emily sneaks Paul out of the hospital in a dog crate. Paul, hiding in the Fairwinds wine cellar, discovers James' old wine-tasting journal. Henry looks through Audrey's suitcase to find an envelope with obituaries and a journal entry that mentions the name Jay Stanhope. Henry becomes convinced his mother is a serial killer. Jay and Audrey are in cahoots. When Teri turns him down, Brad asks Janet to work on "Oakdale Now." Alison tells Casey she's concerned about Bob, and thinks he's having occasional memory loss. Bob instructs Alison to administer a specific dosage of a medication to Riley, which turns out to be too high. Unaware that Riley is really Adam, Tom asks him to move out.

SNEAK PEAK: A baby is missing.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Still in shock from Brooke's appearance and her explanation of the recent events that took place, Ridge is torn about how to handle the situation. Stephanie and Donna go head to head when they each take opposite sides on Ridge's choices. Ridge takes the blame for the fiasco at his and Taylor's wedding. Stephanie confronts Brooke about the scene she had caused at the beach house, while Brooke has a few harsh words in return. Brooke returns from her leave of absence in order to begin a new chapter in her life. Taylor attempts to stay confident that Ridge will not succumb to Brooke's persuasiveness now that they are working together. Katie comes up with a new publicity campaign that she feels will save Forrester Creations. Unfortunately, Eric will have to make a few substantial sacrifices to proceed with the campaign, allowing Donna to become an object of male desire. Owen becomes territorial with Jackie when he notices some chemistry between her and Whip.

SNEAK PEAK: Bill is up to no good.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Daniel tells Lucas when Chloe wakes up, she and Daniel will be together. Lucas is unable to forgive Chloe. Victor pays Daniel's sky-high bail and tells Daniel why he thinks Kate tried to kill Chloe. Chloe has a slight beep of brain function as she whispers "Daniel." Arianna completes a drug deal with Troy. Philip learns one of his men has been shot. Bo and Philip go to the hospital where Carlo dies. Stephanie tells Philip he is not a bad man. Stephanie tells Roman she was right to break up with Philip but misses being in love. Roman assures her the right man is out there; she just has to let him in. Stephanie decides to give Nathan a chance, unaware that he is interested in Melanie.

EJ visits Grace's grave for the first time on her and Sydney's 6-month birthday and is infuriated when he sees the name "Brady" on her headstone. Nicole watches unseen as EJ smashes the old headstone and damns Sami. Chad and Kinsey reset their plan to break up Will and Mia, while Will confides in Mia he's upset about Chloe cheating on his father. Mia painfully admits to Will she's not a virgin and that Chad was her first lover. Will professes his love for her.

SNEAK PEAK: Sami and Rafe call it quits.

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Sam easily fall back into their comfortable, familiar pattern as they head south in their search for Michael and Kristina. Kristina remains consumed with guilt as she and Michael make their way to the Mexican border. Jerry informs Claudia he has no intention of calling off his search for Michael because he wants to use the boy as bait to get to Jason. Jerry comes to Michael and Kristina's rescue. Sam closes in on Michael and Kristina. Jax supports Carly's decision to have Michael move back in with them once he comes home. Sonny tells Claudia he wants her to come home. Dominic is shocked when he walks in on Olivia and Johnny in a compromising position. Alexis is arrested for the murder of Brianna Hughes. Robin sets out to prove her innocence. Ethan tells Rebecca he needs her in his life but she rebuffs his advances, stating she wants to see where things might lead with Nikolas. Spinelli shows up at the Scorpio family dinner to ask Mac for Maxie's hand in marriage.

NEXT WEEK: Maxie says yes.

GUIDING LIGHT: Phillip reveals to Alan that the owner of the cafe they've arrived at is the widow of the man who took his place in Vietnam. Alan goes into the diner and tells the man's son he knew his father. Phillip tells Alan he has a progressive and incurable disease. Phillip tells Ed that if he can't help him, he'll find help somewhere else. Shayne and Dinah wed. Dinah tells Mallet he can't turn Marina in because Dinah is the one who killed the man. Mallet warns Dinah that Frank knows she's the killer and says she's not safe. Dinah stops Shayne from planning the spontaneous honeymoon and admits the cops are after her because she killed the man she thought was Edmund. In the woods, Jeffrey, feverish and weak, talks to Reva's photo to keep himself going. Jeffrey collapses just before reaching a remote cabin. A man walks over to Jeffrey's lifeless body — it's Jonathan. Jeffrey comes to and warns Jonathan that Edmund wants to destroy everyone Reva loves. He explains that he needs to let Edmund think he's dead so he can get an advantage on him. Jeffrey tells Jonathan that he's doing a good job with Sarah. Jonathan gets a menacing call from Edmund.

SNEAK PEAKS: Edmund strikes.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE: Rex warns Schuyler to stay away from Gigi. Gigi offers Stacy money to get an abortion. Stacy accuses Gigi of being afraid that Rex will end up leaving her once the baby is born. Alone, Stacy collapses in pain after her and Gigi's heated confrontation. Realizing the baby is the only chance she has to hold onto Rex, Stacy decides not to tell him she suffered a miscarriage. Rex is furious when Gigi confesses she offered Stacy money to have an abortion. The tension mounts between Rex and Gigi when he admits he won't abandon his child, but they eventually end up in each other's arms, resolved to the fact they have a long road ahead of them. In front of Blair, Todd declares that he wants to be with Tea and only Tea. Nora locks eyes with Bo while sharing a last dance with Clint. Viki's thrown for a loop when Charlie suggests expanding their family. Asher and his boss, Serge, surprise Cole in his apartment. Serge plants a listening device in the apartment. John later tells Starr that she and Cole can't see or talk to each other until this assignment is completed. Layla defends Fish when Cristian wonders if he's gay.

SNEAK PEAK: Blair searches for Tea's secret.

YOUNG AND RESTLESS: Ashley tells Victor to give her some space because she needs to work out how he could be so cruel to her and her family and then say it was for her benefit. Paul is crushed when Nikki says she cannot marry him. Nikki admits to Victor that she is still in love with him; that he is the only man she has ever truly loved. Alone, Victor admits that he does still love Nikki. While waiting in the road at the ranch in the rain, Nikki is a deer in the headlights as Ashley's car comes barreling down the road and skids off the road. Adam admits to Heather he had a one-night stand with Rafe. Mary Jane is stricken when she realizes that Zapato ate her stuffed cat. Mary Jane drugs Jack's drink. Drunk and delirious, Jack makes love to Mary Jane, who he believes is Sharon. Daniel tells Amber that the reason they are breaking isn't because she slept with Deacon but because he can't take her constant lying. Billy tells Chloe that he can never forgive Jill for choosing Cane, a con artist, over him, her own son. Kay tells Jill that spoke to Billy on her behalf and asked him to forgive her. Kay also admits that she should have forgiven Jill years ago for everything that happened with Phillip because the truth was that her relationship with him was never as strong as Kay believed. Sharon is arrested for grand theft after she steals a ring that is identical to the one Nick gave to Phyllis.

SNEAK PEAK: A death in the family occurs.

Lynda Hirsch Summaries: Week of July 27 to July 31, 2009

http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/fashion-and-entertainment/lynda-hirsch-on-soaps/lynda-hirsch-on-soaps-summary-2009-08-01.html

ALL MY CHILDREN: Frankie, Angie and Jesse are devastated when Randi loses the baby. Zach sets Annie up to make it look as though she fired a shot at Adam and then slips off into the night unseen. Adam has Annie arrested, but Scott thinks she might be telling the truth when she claims someone set her up. Kendall is certain that she was the one who killed Stuart and has been repressing the memory. Jesse knows Zach framed Annie to protect Kendall and the two men tacitly agree to keep each other's secrets. Kendall tells Ryan she killed Stuart and confirms that Zach set Annie up to take the fall for her. Jake warns Amanda she can't keep running to Taylor's to see Trevor or else David might get suspicious. Taylor and Tad's talk about finding the right person to be with leads to a kiss. Krystal admits to Tad that she's bothered by the fact he's seeing Taylor but says she's happy for him.

SNEAK PEEK: Kendall is sentenced.

AS THE WORLD TURNS: Janet's little sister, Teri, comes to town, becoming Sage and Parker's nanny. Liberty returns from Chicago, claiming the internship program ran out of money. She admits to Parker she was fired for making too many mistakes. Brad learns Kim won't employ him without a co-host. He and Henry try to convince Kim to take Vienna back so Brad can work. Kim thinks the audience won't respond to Vienna anymore, but that they will respond to Henry. Henry leaps at the opportunity to co-host, but Brad helps him see that it would ruin any chances of him reuniting with Vienna. Henry dejectedly returns home, only to find a bouquet of flowers with an apology note. Henry's thrilled and thinks Vienna's returning to him, but when he opens the door, he finds it's actually his mother, there to help him recover from the loss of Vienna. Brad and Katie finally get their romantic alone time. Henry finds Audrey rifling through his things, certain she's after his money. He brings her over to Brad and Katie's to stay out of trouble, while he goes and has his account numbers and passwords changed. He gets back to his hotel room and sees it turned inside out, and is furious with Audrey — only it's not Audrey, but Vienna, who has comes back — at Audrey's insistence, no less. Henry makes love to Vienna. Meg admits Paul's been acting the way he did when she fell in love with him. Paul's grateful, but admits he's not going to have surgery to return his memories. Meg returns to Damian, upset over the fact that the new Paul doesn't want her. Damian says that Paul doesn't know what he is missing and the two begin to make love. Lily, Damian, Lucinda and Holden argue over whether Luke should work for Damian or Lucinda. Lily's increasingly uneasy with her feelings for Damian. Tom is worried Riley and Margo are having an affair.

SNEAK PEEK: Noah confronts Mason.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL: Pam takes a fancy towards Whip and makes a drastic change to show him just how much. Stephanie and Jackie agree to put aside their torrid past and become friends. Taylor asks Stephanie to be her matron of honor. Eric questions Ridge about his feelings for Brooke and his intentions with Taylor. This line of questioning gets Ridge's mind swirling with wonder of where his heart truly lies. A visit from a relentless Brooke makes Thomas and Steffy fear that she may ruin everything between Ridge and Taylor. Unaware that Steffy has been intercepting her messages, Ridge confesses his hurt to Eric that Brooke hasn't tried to talk him out of marrying Taylor. Meanwhile, Brooke waits on the beach for Ridge to arrive for their happy reunion. She takes off on her horse to find him before he marries Taylor.

SNEAK PEEK: A wedding is interrupted.

DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Daniel is brought to the police station in handcuffs. Lucas learns Daniel and Chloe were lovers. Lucas continues his confrontation in jail with Daniel, refusing to believe Daniel's assertion that Kate poisoned Chloe while also framing Daniel.

Although Victor thinks Katie is the culprit, he does not want to hurt Phillip by painting his son's mother as a murderer. EJ questions Nicole about Sydney. Rafe tells Sami he crashed a car into a tree and the impact killed Emily. Rafe tracks down Meredith and it becomes clear that she feels there is more to the story of Emily's "accident." She insists that Rafe is hiding information and is completely responsible for her death. Rafe states he will not lose Sami because of his past, and goes home to her. Back at the Salem Inn, Meredith opens the door to the person who brought her back to Salem ... Stefano!

SNEAK PEEK: Stephanie comforts Phillip.

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Sam questions the way Alexis is parenting Kristina. Alexis is stopped short when Sam reveals she thinks it's possible that Kristina might have caused Claudia's accident. Claudia vows revenge on the driver responsible for the crash that caused her to lose the baby. Michael decides he has no choice but to run away in order to spare his family any more anguish. A guilt-ridden Kristina tells Michael she's running away with him. Olivia admits to Johnny that she's known about Claudia's role in Michael's shooting for months and explains why she never told Sonny. Edward keeps Nikolas away from Rebecca. Rebecca rebuffs Ethan when he says he wants another chance with her. Lulu helps Maxie derail Spinelli as he's about to ask Mac for Maxie's hand in marriage.

SNEAK PEEK: Jerry's after Jason.

GUIDING LIGHT: Phillip reveals to Alan that the owner of the cafe they've just walked into is the widow of the man who took his place in Vietnam. Dinah and Shayne wed. Dinah tells Mallet he can't turn Marina in because Dinah is the one who killed the man. Frank tells Mallet he overheard Dinah. Mallet helps Dinah flee the country. Alan confronts Phillip about the fact that he's dying. Phillip admits his disease is progressive and incurable. Suddenly, Alan's demeanor shifts and he accuses Phillip of lying to him. Phillip is desperate to find a cure. In the woods, Jeffrey, feverish and weak, talks to Reva's photo to keep himself going. Jonathan finds a lifeless Jeffrey. Jonathan lays Jeffrey down and reassures Sarah that Jeffrey is a good guy. Jeffrey starts to come to. Jeffrey tells Jonathan he's not going home yet and is going to stay "dead." Jonathan gets a menacing call from Edmund.

SNEAK PEEK: Edmund makes a vow to Lara to make Reva's family suffer.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE: Stacy tells Gigi and Rex she is pregnant. Rex lets out all his anger over the fact Gigi felt she had no other option but to lie to him, despite how noble her intentions were. Gigi takes full responsibility for everything that's happened between her and Rex, even his sleeping with Stacy. Bo and Nora are locked in a kiss, unaware that Matthew is watching them. Matthew tries to blackmail Bo and Nora into signing the consent form for his surgery, threatening to tell Clint if they don't. Nora admits she's confused about her feelings for Bo when Rachel presses her. Nora argues she shouldn't hurt Clint by canceling the wedding when Bo hasn't come right out and said he wants to be with her. Tea tells Todd she won't be used as a pawn in his games with Blair and returns the key he gave her. Cole tells Ashe he is ready to deal drugs. Marty tells John she wants to move forward with him. Jessica thinks she has seen Nash.

SNEAK PEEK: A hellish wedding occurs.

YOUNG AND RESTLESS: Billy and Mac make love for the first time. Cane tells Lily that the oncologist was able to harvest a few eggs during her surgery and Lily is overwhelmed with joy. Cane promises to stay by Lily's side for as long as she wants him there. Jill brings Cane to Chloe's party and asks everyone to accept that Cane is going to be a part of her life. Jack starts to put the pieces together and realizes that Victor may be behind bringing Mary Jane to Genoa City. Nick and Phyllis renew their vows. Sharon admits to Jack that the baby isn't his; its Nick's. Billy reveals to Ashley that Victor set up Colleen so she would have to resign from the Newman board of directors. Ashley has a hallucination of Sabrina telling her that Victor is after her and her baby. Later, Victor finds a frightened Ashley screaming that Sabrina told her she was going to die because of him.

SNEAK PEEK: A tragic accident happens.

Hall of Fame: Denise Alexander

Denise Alexander

2009 Soap Opera Hall of Fame Inductee

• unknown role, Perry Mason
• Lois Adams, The Clear Horizon
• unknown role, General Hospital
• Emily Sanders, Ben Jerrod
• Lorna Hill, General Hospital
• Susan Hunter, Days of Our Lives
• Dr. Lesley Wiliams, General Hospital
• Gail McLain, Hotel
• Mary McKinnon, Another World
• Sister Beatrice, Sunset Beach

Denise Alexander (born November 11, 1939) is best known to modern audiences for her role as Lesley Webber on General Hospital, a role she created in 1973. She has been called at times the most consistently popular actress in the history of television soap operas.

Born on Long Island, New York, she moved to Los Angeles when her father, Alec Alexander, an agent who handled at that point such notables as Frank Gorshin and Sal Mineo, decided to make the switch from the east to the west coast.

Alexander began her career as a child actress performing in radio shows such as A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I Remember Mama, The Marriage where she played the daughter of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, and the radio soap opera Perry Mason. A successful child actress, Alexander racked up literally thousands of performing credits on TV and radio, 5000 in radio alone, by the time she was a junior at UCLA where she majored in English. On the stage, she starred on Broadway as Evelyn Munn in the revival of Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour and appeared with Ethel Waters in A Member of the Wedding. She made her feature movie debut at age fourteen in the John Cassavetes film Crime In The Streets in 1956. Television began to claim her almost exclusively, and she eventually guested in over 200 shows, including Father Knows Best, I Remember Mama, Ben Casey, Twilight Zone, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, The Virginian, The Danny Kaye Show, and Combat.

On daytime television, she got her first regular job in 1960 portraying Lois Adams on The Clear Horizon for two years. She next appeared in daytime on the pilot episode of General Hospital on April 1, 1963; the name of her character is unknown. Next she would have a shorter stint as Emily Sanders on the short-lived NBC soap opera, Ben Jerrod, which had debuted the same day as General Hospital.

Alexander took a brief reprieve from acting and tried to sell real estate. Her return to acting happened in 1965, again on General Hospital for a short stint, this time as Lorna Hill.

Alexander first came to fame in the soap opera genre by playing Susan Hunter Martin on Days of our Lives a role she created in March 1966. A popular actress, much of the show's early success had to do with Susan's rivalry with Julie Olson (played the longest by Susan Seaforth Hayes). She became so popular in the role that she was frequently at number 1 in the most popular fan poll of the time conducted by Daytime TV magazine; twice being named Best Actress of the Year for 1972 and 1973. For seven years, her character was involved in a never-ending series of melodramtic turns -- mental instability, serious illness, rape, murder, etc. -- but Alexander tore into the role with exquisite emotionalism and gothic beauty that kept viewers riveted.

In 1973, Susan Martin was written out of the show temporarily when the Days casting office hit a snag renewing her contract and the contract lapsed. ABC Daytime rushed to offer her a then-unheard of salary/perks package to join General Hospital. When Susan Martin finally returned to Days, a new actress was playing her.

A few months later, she started on General Hospital, playing the role of Dr. Lesley Williams, which would become her longest-tenured role in daytime. At the time of her move to General Hospital, she received the highest salary every paid to a daytime actress.

For several years, the character of Lesley lacked direction. She was burdened with frigidity, a psychopathic husband, and a child that aged ten years overnight. It seemed for at least awhile that General Hospital just didn't know what to do with the character. That all changed as Alexander as Lesley proved pivotal to the show's comeback in 1978 after the late Gloria Monty took over as producer. In a storyline written by the late Douglas Marland, Lesley took the rap for her daughter's murder of David Hamilton, culminating in Lesley's trial for murder and the alienation of her husband Rick. Alexander's performance in this plotline and in the subsequent Rick-Lesley-Monica triangle was just as important as the Luke and Laura love story in bringing General Hospital to number one in the ratings. This culminated in her once again being named Best Actress of the Year by Daytime TV magazine in 1980.

In a 1981 People Weekly interview, Alexander spoke about her General Hospital boss, calling the late Gloria Monty "a wonderfully bossy little lady."

Alexander stayed with the show for eleven years, choosing to leave after tense contract negotiations in 1984. She last appeared in March 1984. Fans were outraged when her character was not just written out but killed off in an automobile accident, leaving little chance of a return to the show, especially since at this time returns from the dead were not standard fare in daytime dramas. Fans picketed the ABC studios. General Hospital's ratings which were already declining continued to do so after her departure.

In 1986, she was offered a big salary to portray the absent McKinnon matriarch, Mary, on Another World. The role was created by Margaret DePriest who had written for General Hospital years before, and had worked with Alexander there. When the commute from her home in Los Angeles to Another World's studio in New York City proved to be difficult for her, she left in 1989. In 1996, she returned to General Hospital and has played the character of Lesley on a recurring basis. In 1997, she began appearing for a few months as Sister Beatrice on the NBC soap opera, Sunset Beach.

Outside of soaps, she has produced for both network and cable television, spoken as guest lecturer/speaker to groups from charities to civic groups to college audiences. She has also worked as a photojournalist for Ladies Home Journal and other magazines. For the Katherine Hepburn film Olly, Olly, Oxen Free, directed by her longtime companion Richard Colla, she served as still photographer and production coordinator.

In 1982, she also co-produced and co-starred in Shaft of Love for Showtime Cable Network. The soap opera comedy featured such daytime favorites as Tony Geary, Kin Shriner, Morgan Fairchild, Ed Nelson, and Susan Flannery.

Besides her wins as Best Actress mentioned above, Alexander holds the record as being the performer with the most appearances in their monthly Top 10. She received one Daytime Emmy nomination in 1976 as Best Actress for the role of Lesley.

GH: So Far in 2009

December 29, 2008 to January 2, 2009: Sonny won't agree to end his association with the Zaccaharas because Jason won't agree to hand him back the organization. Sonny and Carly encounter each other in Michael's hospital room and both forgive the other for what happened to their son. Seeking closure, Jax questions Sam about the last moments of Jerry's life. Robin and Patrick's wedding goes off without a hitch. With the power out at the Metro Court on New Year's Eve, Carly walks up 25 flights of stairs to find Jax sitting by himself in the restaurant. Jax tells Carly all the reasons why he admires her and the chemistry between them is undeniable. Nikolas tells Nadine she's the best thing that's happened to him this year before leading her to bed. Luke closes the Haunted Star to spend the evening alone with Tracy. They embrace. Claudia suspects Anthony might be planning on double-crossing Sonny. Sonny walks in on a close moment between Jax and Kate. Claudia fears Sonny will find the DVD when it starts to fall from its hiding place. Kate struggles to put Sonny behind her. Johnny goes on a series of job interviews, all of which go horribly. Johnny's day gets even worse when Lucky shows up to arrest him. Spinelli panics when he discovers that someone has hacked into his computer. In the park, Spinelli meets Winifred, his female counterpart. Maxie later catches Winifred spying on Spinelli. Things remain tense between Sam and Lucky.

January 5, 2009 to January 9, 2009: Claudia throws herself at Sonny to distract him from finding Jerry's incriminating DVD. In order to see if she can be trusted, Ric confides to Claudia that Anthony framed Johnny for assaulting a man so that Johnny would have to turn to the family for help. Lulu seethes when Lucky arrests Johnny for assault. Sonny gets Johnny out of jail. Nadine wants nothing to do with Equinox, the company that holds the patent to her aunt's invention, after learning they manufacture weapons. Nadine tells Nikolas that her first love was killed in the Iraq War and she would never participate in anything that could cause more deaths. Jax offers Olivia a job as plant manager at the hotel. Luke and Bobbie talk about rebuilding Kelly's and decide to preserve the same look and feel in honor of Ruby. Robin suffers from mood swings and isn't ready to be intimate with Patrick. Spinelli is furious when he realizes Maxie slept with him to keep him away from Winifred. Carly implores Sonny not to start a war with Jason. Carly accuses Sonny of being jealous when he becomes angry over the fact she always takes Jason's side.

January 12, 2009 to January 16, 2009: Jason rushes to the police station after Maxie tells him about Spinelli getting arrested by the FBI. Agent Rayner tells Jason that they won't press charges against Spinelli if Jason serves as an undercover operative and gathers enough evidence to bring Sonny and Anthony down. As he watches Spinelli about to be transferred to a federal prison, Jason agrees. Patrick is concerned for Robin, who refuses to entertain the idea she might be suffering from postpartum depression. Robin thinks all her problems will be solved if she and Patrick move out of their small apartment and into a bigger house. Robin makes a quick exit when Emma starts to cry, and asks a baffled Elizabeth to look after the baby. Robin questions Jason what it was like when Carly suffered from postpartum depression. Kate clashes with Claudia when she catches her searching Sonny's bedroom for the incriminating DVD. Claudia finds the DVD and begins to watch it, unaware that Kate is spying on her from the terrace. Lulu has to borrow money from Carly to make her half of the rent. Johnny is turned down for a job as an orderly at the hospital. Alexis supports Sam's decision to become a private investigator, but Lucky isn't as accepting. Maxie has met her match in Matt, who asks her out on a date. Nikolas confides to Alexis that he still misses Emily.

January 19, 2009 to January 23, 2009: Sam remains adamant in her desire to infiltrate Anthony's inner circle in order to help Jason and Spinelli. Jason doesn't want Sam to get involved, but she sticks to her guns and later approaches Ric. Robin playfully admits to Patrick that Matt reminds her of him when they first met. Johnny continues to lie to Lulu about having a job at the hospital. Spinelli and Maxie find Johnny sweeping up at Jake's and agree to keep his secret. Claudia warns Sonny he's close to losing everything he's worked for unless he placates Anthony by making a move against Jason. Matt flirts with Rebecca, who's a dead ringer for Emily. Nikolas admits to a sympathetic Robin he's still not completely over Emily. Jason finds Spinelli trying to hack into the FBI database in order to find out the deal Jason made with them. Patrick realizes there's a disaster in the making at the hospital. Carly tells Patrick she thinks Robin is suffering from postpartum depression.

January 26, 2009 to January 30, 2009: Thanks to Spinelli's hacking skills, he and Jason discover Earl Bragg purchased deadly cargo and he's been taken to General Hospital after crashing his rental car. As Patrick's about to leave the hospital a patient is rushed in, but Matt volunteers to take over so Patrick can get home to Robin. Matt prepares to operate on Earl with Elizabeth, Monica and Leyla as part of the team. After taking a look at Earl's X-rays, Patrick makes a frantic dash to the operating room to try and stop Matt, but he's too late to ward off a catastrophe in the making. Patrick springs into action when he sees what's happened in the operating room. Matt insists that Patrick, now wearing a HAZMAT suit, rescue the others first. Patrick isn't aware that anesthesia is also being released into the room. Claudia tries to seal off the air ducts. Jason sees Elizabeth and Monica being taken out of the room, both unconscious. The situation at the hospital grows increasingly dire. Rayner orders Patrick to place the entire hospital under quarantine. Luke catches a young Australian guy named Ethan breaking into the Haunted Star. Nikolas pours out his heart when he visits Emily's grave on her birthday, admitting he still loves her too much to move on with Nadine. Nikolas gets a glimpse of Emily's look-a-like at the hospital.

February 2, 2009 to February 6, 2009: Someone wearing a HAZMAT suit steals one of the spheres of poison from the operating room. Jason realizes one of the spheres is missing. Spinelli warns Jason, Patrick and Sam they can't let the FBI get their hands on the remaining spheres because they will only return them to Equinox. Everyone remains unaware that gas is still leaking in the operating room. Matt blames himself for what happened, but Patrick assures him it wasn't his fault. Anthony plans on killing Claudia to ensure her silence, but is thwarted by Sonny's arrival. After Sonny leaves Claudia's room, Anthony makes another attempt on her life, but she's able to alert the staff. Trevor sees that Anthony can walk and realizes he shot Kate. Claudia's poised to tell Sonny the truth about Anthony. A lethal Sonny confronts Anthony after Claudia explains how and why Anthony shot Kate. Jason tells Sonny he needs Anthony alive, but Sonny refuses to back down. Anthony takes off after Sonny knocks out Jason. Robin forces herself to touch a crying Emma and is horrified to discover she's burning up with a fever. Despite the storm outside, Robin decides to take Emma to the hospital and carefully starts driving through the snow. Patrick panics when he listens to Robin's message and learns she's on her way to the hospital with Emma. Tracy collapses after going off on Patrick. Luke and Ethan bond.

February 9, 2009 to February 13, 2009: Panic and chaos take over the hospital as the fire spreads after the explosion in the operating room. Carly tells Sonny that Trevor has one of the spheres of poison. Another explosion engulfs the corridor just as Sonny is about to shoot Trevor. Ric tries to reach out to Trevor before being evacuated, but Trevor spits in his face. Sam chases Trevor to the roof, where he threatens to drop the poison sphere over the side of the building. Patrick and the others begin evacuating the patients from the hospital. Sam and Jason realize the only way to evacuate the patients is to take them up to the roof. When a blizzard stops the helicopters from landing on the roof and rescuing the evacuees Jax tries to use his own helicopter. Elizabeth can't believe her eyes when she thinks she's seen Emily. Nadine overhears Nikolas voice his undying love for Emily to Monica. Monica and Edward beg Nikolas to find out if Rebecca has any connection to Emily. Lulu refuses to leave Tracy's side and it's very evident how much they care for each other. Robin sends Emma to Mercy Hospital for treatment. Learning her baby is critically ill, Robin goes to the hospital. Robin is overjoyed as the baby starts to improve while she is holding her.

February 16, 2009 to February 20, 2009: Kate isn't pleased to see Claudia in Sonny's arms. At Mercy, Kate taunts Claudia over the fact she knows about her role in Michael's shooting and threatens to tell Sonny whenever it pleases her. Kate vows to Olivia that she'll make Sonny and Claudia pay for what they've done to her. Claudia happily agrees to stay married to Sonny. Sonny dismisses Rayner's threats, certain he'll never face any criminal charges. Rayner warns Sonny that someone will pay for Anthony's crimes. Anthony is still missing. Jason manages to rescue Sam from the rooftop, Johnny finds Maxie and gets her to safety. Lulu is greatly relieved when she sees Johnny carry Maxie out of the building. Nikolas tells Monica and Edward he's convinced Rebecca's somehow connected to Emily. Robin feels like herself again and is happy to be able to hold Emma without fear. Patrick is hailed a hero for his efforts during the hospital crisis. After returning home, Patrick is finally reunited with Robin and Emma. Robin becomes unsettled when Emma starts to cry, and asks Patrick to feed her. Jax and Carly can't keep their hands off each other. They tell an elated Morgan they're not getting a divorce. Winifred warns Jason that Spinelli still faces jail time if Anthony isn't found. Sonny proposes that he and Jason work together to find Anthony. Lucky and Sam have an amicable parting.

February 23, 2009 to February 27, 2009: Jason tells Sonny that once they've cleared Spinelli, Jason will give the business back to Sonny and return to acting as his enforcer. When Bernie suggests the men may not want to go back to working for Sonny, Sonny is adamant he will retake his business. Kate warns Claudia that one day she will connect Claudia to Michael's shooting. Sonny rejects Ric when he offers to help him run the business. Nikolas shares his and Emily's love story with Rebecca. Rebecca gets a job at Kelly's. Rebecca and Lucky are becoming friends. Robin plans to hire a nanny and return to work. Anthony threatens to shoot and kill Claudia, unless Sonny meets his demands. Anthony taunts Claudia over the fact she's developed real feelings for Sonny. Sonny admits to Jason he's worried about Claudia. Tracy agrees to post Ethan's bail, but is content to let Luke rot in his jail cell. Carly and Jax plan to prove Percy, the man who plans to marry Lady Jane, is a con artist. Ethan charms Tracy, who suggests Luke give him a job at the Haunted Star.

March 2, 2009 to March 6, 2009: Sonny risks his life to save Claudia and successfully dismantles the bomb Anthony strapped her to. Meanwhile, Jason gets the drop on Anthony. Maxie and Spinelli share a heartfelt goodbye when they believe he'll be shipped off to a federal prison at any moment, but their fears are eased when Jason delivers Anthony to Rayner. Sonny and Claudia share a passionate kiss after their harrowing ordeal. Rayner ups the ante with Jason by demanding he now deliver evidence to use against Sonny. At Kelly's, Alexis accuses Nikolas of harassing Rebecca, who ends up defending him. Lulu is frustrated that Johnny's family still has a hold on him. Alexis tells Nikolas she found no evidence that Rebecca is even remotely related to Emily. Nadine realizes her time with Nikolas has come to an end. Edward announces to Monica and a less than thrilled Tracy that he's invited Rebecca to move into the mansion. Robin goes to the Haunted Star for a drink and lies to Ethan, saying she doesn't have any children. Robin feels guilty for not being able to mother Emma. Ethan rubs Lulu the wrong way. Patrick overhears Robin telling Sonny she's going back to work full time. Claudia narrowly escapes being discovered by Carly in Michael's room. Carly is touched by Jax's love for her and Michael. Sonny advises Jason not to go after Spinelli in order to give him the chance to live his own life. Maxie is horrified when she reads the goodbye note Spinelli left for Jason. Meanwhile, Spinelli, with Winifred by his side, makes it his new mission in life to use his cyber skills to right the injustices in the world. A mysterious woman spies on Spinelli.

March 9, 2009 to March 13, 2009: Carly, Sonny and Jax watch as Michael is wheeled into the operating room. Patrick gives Jax and Carly the sad news that Michael's condition remains unchanged and he isn't a candidate for the experimental treatment. Carly gives up hope that Michael will ever recover, but won't give up on her love for him. Cassandra reveals her plan to Spinelli, explaining she's an art thief and he's going to unlock a vault for her so she can steal a valuable painting. Spinelli is reluctant to help Cassandra, but she remains one step ahead of him as she thwarts his escape attempt. Maxie arrives in California and learns from Winifred that Spinelli fell into the clutches of a femme fatale. Johnny surprises Lulu when he tells her he rented the vacant garage and is going to open his own mechanic shop. Elizabeth and Lucky agree it's best if they didn't try to get back together. Matt infuriates Robin when he mentions postpartum depression. Robin accidentally leaves Emma asleep in her carrier at Kelly's when she's called off on a hospital emergency. After finding an unscathed Emma, Robin decides not to tell Patrick what happened. Lucky takes an immediate dislike to Ethan and has a problem with Luke and Tracy dealing with an admitted con artist. Luke and Lucky's relationship hits a sour note. Nikolas struggles not to be jealous of Lucky's friendship with Rebecca.

March 16, 2009 to March 20, 2009: Robin ends up at an out of town bar and re-invents herself, claiming she's single with no children. Spinelli panics when Maxie says she'll end up sleeping with Johnny if Spinelli goes into hiding. Winifred volunteers to destroy the FBI's evidence against Spinelli. Carly tells Jason about her newfound outlook on life and how supportive Jax has been. Jason is furious when Rayner issues an APB on Spinelli listing him as armed and dangerous. Alexis confronts Rayner about his threat to make sure Sam never gets her P.I. license. Nikolas lets Lucky know he doesn't like the idea of him spending time with Rebecca. Claudia asks Johnny to come to her and Sonny's mob summit, but he refuses. Johnny later gives Sonny an ultimatum, saying he'll attend the meeting and show his support if Sonny divorces Claudia. Jason has no choice but to do Rayner's bidding and wear a wire to Sonny's mob summit. Ric pulls the rug out from under Claudia when he reveals he knows her secret. Jax realizes Jerry's part in Michael's shooting.

March 23, 2009 to March 27, 2009: At Sonny's mob summit, Jason purposely gets rough with Ric so that Ric's beverage will go flying and ruin the wire Jason's been forced to wear. Sam puts herself at risk when she decides to use Rayner's ID to break into the secure storage area to steal the evidence against Spinelli. A seething Rayner learns he no longer has anything to hold against Jason and Spinelli, but vows to find a way to bring them down. Winifred tells Sam and Spinelli she's been forced to resign from the FBI. Sam is caught between a rock and a hard place when Spinelli suggests he and Winifred will join her in the private eye business she's planning to open. Ric has Claudia under his thumb when he reveals he has Jerry's DVD incriminating her in Michael's shooting. Jax admits to Carly that Jerry is alive, but doesn't reveal anything else. Robin enjoys spending time with Brad, but pulls back when things start to heat up. Patrick arrives at Robin's motel to confront her and mistakenly thinks he's witnessed Robin and Brad sharing a kiss on the lips. Robin admits she's suffering from postpartum depression. Jason helps soothe Robin.

March 30, 2009 to April 3, 2009: Claudia scrambles to hide a drugged, passed-out Ric when Sonny knocks on her bedroom door. Johnny and Maxie manage to get Ric out of Sonny's undetected and drop him off at the hospital. Ric vows to make Claudia pay for what she did to him. Carly gasps when she thinks she sees Michael's hand twitch. She remains convinced Michael is on the road to recovery even though Patrick claims his hand movement was merely an involuntary muscle reflex. A guilt-ridden Jax destroys the DVD Jerry sent to him. Sam assures a concerned Jason she'll look out for Spinelli when they go into business together. Rebecca receives a cryptic phone call. Alexis is worried Nikolas is becoming obsessed with Rebecca. Nikolas convinces a frightened Rebecca to have the biopsy. Maxie flirts with Ethan when he drops by to return Lulu's coat. Lulu overhears Maxie telling Johnny that no one will ever find out what really happened. Johnny is incredulous when Claudia asks him to join Sonny's organization to act as her spy. Johnny begins to choke the life out of Ric when he threatens Claudia. Robin reluctantly attends her first therapy session and makes the painful confession that maybe she really doesn't want to be a mother after all. Robin balks at the idea of taking antidepressants like her psychiatrist recommends and turns to Sonny for advice. Sonny understands how Robin feels, but tells her taking medication helped greatly in treating his bipolar disorder. Claudia feels the only way she'll be able to hold on to Sonny is to have his child, and takes steps to do just that.

April 6, 2009 to April 10, 2009: Claudia overhears Jason telling Sonny there's evidence that Ian Devlin wasn't acting alone when he shot Michael. Patrick rescues Robin from the water and has her taken to Mercy. Patrick confronts Robin over the prescription slip she ripped up. At Patrick's urging, Robin reluctantly takes the pills her therapist prescribed. Matt flirts with Maxie, who claims she wants nothing to do with him. Carly inadvertently intercepts Jerry's phone call to Jax. Tracy's wheels start spinning after seeing Ethan's weathered photo of Luke and Robert in their younger days. Tracy tells Ethan she suspects he has a hidden agenda and isn't pleased by his interest in Lulu. Nikolas kisses Rebecca. Carly has another dizzy spell, which leads Olivia to wonder if she could be pregnant. Johnny devastates Lulu with his confession that he and Maxie almost slept together. Lulu and Johnny call it quits. Maxie and Johnny are both remorseful over having hurt Lulu. Maxie impulsively kisses Johnny just as Spinelli arrives to see them.

April 13, 2009 to April 17, 2009: Sonny warns Claudia that nothing will save her if he finds out she had anything to do with Michael's shooting. Carly has a consultation with Kelly, who gives her the upsetting news that she could experience severe and even life-threatening complications if she were to become pregnant. Nikolas and Rebecca celebrate over ice cream at Kelly's after learning she doesn't have cancer. Alexis suspects Rebecca could be connected to Helena's return and shares her theory with Nikolas. Helena pays Nikolas and Rebecca a visit at Wyndemere. Lulu clashes with Ethan. Tracy becomes even more convinced that Ethan could be Luke's long lost son. Ric returns home, only to come face to face with a dangerous Jerry. Having reached his breaking point, Patrick publicly accuses Robin of being unfaithful. Robin wants to stop taking the antidepressants immediately, but her doctor warns her against it. Spinelli's heart is ripped apart when he sees Maxie kissing Johnny. Spinelli tells Jason he found proof that Jerry is alive and has been siphoning money from Ian Devlin's account. Jason takes the information to Sonny, who wants Jason to find and kill Jerry for what he did to Michael. Jax discovers Jerry at Michael's bedside.

April 20, 2009 to April 24, 2009: Carly learns she's pregnant, but her joy is tempered by the fact she might have to terminate the pregnancy if she tests positive for the life-threatening condition Kelly warned her about. Jax implores Jason to never let Carly know about Jerry's role in Michael's shooting because the stress would surely jeopardize her pregnancy. Spinelli gets a lead on Jerry's whereabouts. Claudia orders a hit on Jerry. Jerry and Jason are both injured in the explosion, but Jason is in worse shape. Jerry feigns unconsciousness as Jax points out all the pain he's caused. Claudia thinks she's out of the woods when she discovers that she's pregnant. Ric guesses that Claudia's pregnant and implies it could be his baby. Nikolas remains suspicious of Rebecca after catching her with Helena. Alexis is certain that Rebecca is in cahoots with Helena and makes a bold move when she pulls back Rebecca's hair to reveal her plastic surgery scars. Ethan has a run-in with Helena, who surprises Luke when she says she's certain Ethan is his illegitimate son. Tracy shares her theory about Ethan with Luke. Already having spoken to Dr. Brown, Patrick is heartsick when Robin lies and says she kept her therapy appointment as planned. Maxie is desperate to get Spinelli back into her life.

April 27, 2009 to May 1, 2009: Jason becomes even more convinced of Claudia's guilt after questioning her about the car explosion. After sharing his suspicions with Diane, Jason comes to the conclusion that he can't say anything to Sonny, as the innocent child Claudia is carrying is the one who would end up suffering the most. Ethan flatly refuses when Luke asks him to take a DNA test to determine whether or not they're father and son. After an intervention, Robin agrees to get in-patient help for her postpartum depression. Matt arrives and tells Patrick he's moving in to help with the baby but soon finds himself overwhelmed as well. Jax implores Jason not to tell Carly about Jerry's role in Michael's shooting, as he's afraid the added stress could kill her. Maxie comes up with a plan to try and get Spinelli back. Maxie finds herself in danger when her scheme backfires.

May 4, 2009 to May 8, 2009: Jason shares his dilemma with Sam as he explains he believes Claudia was involved in Michael's shooting but doesn't think he should share this knowledge with Sonny. Patrick and his team begin Michael's surgery. Michael suffers a crisis on the operating table. Johnny comes to Maxie's rescue when she's attacked for real. Although she's attracted to Johnny, Maxie tells him Spinelli is the one she really wants. Maxie is crushed when Spinelli rejects her. Lucky and Elizabeth confess they still have feelings for each other. Rebecca tells Nikolas nothing happened between her and Lucky. Elizabeth and Lucky both take responsibility for their past problems as they decide to make another go at it. Nikolas is furious when he discovers Alexis trying to bribe Rebecca to leave town. Luke hopes Ethan turns out to be his son, but Ethan doesn't share that dream.

May 11, 2009 to May 15, 2009: Nikolas defends Rebecca to Alexis, who comes to realize just how smitten he's become with her. Luke watches closely when Tracy overreacts to Lulu cozying up to Ethan. Lulu tells Ethan that Luke put her up to flirting with him and wonders if he knows the reason behind it. Jason unburdens himself to a supportive Sam and both are glad they can be friends again. Alexis accidentally walks in on nearly naked Nikolas and Rebecca. After his call to Holly is abruptly cut off, Luke and Ethan come to believe she's in danger somewhere in Singapore and head off to rescue her. Certain that Holly is pulling a scam on Luke, Tracy decides to follow him and Ethan to Singapore. Ric warns Claudia he's going to stake his claim to her baby if it turns out that he's the father. Believing Michael's surgery failed, an anguished Carly collapses.

May 18, 2009 to May 22, 2009: Sonny shares an emotional reunion with his son. Michael questions why neither Sonny nor Carly were with him when he woke up and doesn't remember the shooting. Michael doesn't hide the fact that he's angry at Carly for not being there when he woke up. Jax warns Michael not to upset Carly, revealing she's pregnant. Michael asks if Carly is having Jax's baby as a way to replace him. Tracy sees red when she finds Holly with Luke. Holly and Tracy draw battle lines over Luke, with each woman declaring she wants him for herself. Ethan stuns Lulu when he tells her he might be her brother. Alexis grills Rebecca about the time she spent in Greece, still certain that she's working with Helena. Rebecca gives Alexis two weeks to dig up any dirt on her, saying she'll keep her hands off Nikolas during that period. Alexis asks Rayner to do a background on Rebecca and he agrees under the condition that Alexis go out with him. Johnny and Olivia end up in bed together and share an easy chemistry. Spinelli bugs Kate's office to find out why she's sabotaging Crimson.

May 25, 2009 to May 29, 2009: Edward clashes with Sonny and Carly when he insists that Michael will be coming to live with the Quartermaines. Michael has a major outburst and is troubled by the changes he sees in himself, but Jason does his best to ease Michael's worries by sharing his own experiences of what he went through after his accident. Robin is released from her in-patient treatment facility and reunites with Patrick at the restaurant they had planned to meet at once before. Patrick and Robin are a bit tentative with each other at first, but both are clearly still in love. Robin has no trouble bonding with Emma and is thrilled to have her daughter in her arms. Maxie denies her feelings for Johnny as she tries to convince herself that Spinelli is the right guy for her. Olivia and Johnny have no regrets about having slept together. Fearing Sonny's wrath for Johnny having slept with Olivia, Claudia gives her brother a gun for his own protection. Sonny later drops by the garage with a warning for Johnny to keep his distance from Olivia. Jason teams up with Sam to determine the truth about Claudia's role in Michael's shooting once and for all.

June 1, 2009 to June 5, 2009: Holly reveals that Luke is Ethan's father. Johnny warns Claudia that Jason has a tape-recorded conversation of her ordering the hit on Jerry. Nikolas and Rebecca make love. Rayner tells Alexis that Rebecca didn't grow up with her biological parents because she was adopted illegally on the black market, but he isn't sure whether or not she knows about it. Johnny shocks Claudia when he makes it clear he'd throw her to the wolves if she did anything to harm Olivia. Jax can barely contain his loathing when Claudia seeks him out, claiming that Carly is trying to worm her way back into Sonny's life. Claudia continues to cozy up to Michael as she subtly tries to turn him against Carly. Carly confronts Claudia after overhearing her talking to Johnny about Michael and the two women end up in a precarious situation. Patrick is worried when Robin says she doesn't want to come back to work full time because she can't be away from Emma. Kristina feels as though Sonny never has time for her.

June 8, 2009 to June 12, 2009: Carly and Claudia fear the worst after taking a tumble down the stairs at the hospital. They are thrilled when they learn both their unborn babies are safe. Sonny grows suspicious of Ric's concern for Claudia and the baby. Sonny returns and tells Claudia he wants her to have a paternity test done to make sure he's the father of her baby. Rebecca and Ethan recall how they first met and cooked up their scheme. Nikolas finds Ethan and Rebecca together. Rebecca feigns shock when Nikolas presents her with solid proof that she's Emily's twin sister. Maxie gives Spinelli the go-ahead to keep digging into why Kate is leaking confidential Crimson information to the competition. A defensive Matt spurns Patrick and Robin when they try to reach out to him after his patient Brianna Hughes (Mayor Floyd's mistress) dies during surgery. Diane reveals her family is planning to sue Matt for malpractice.

June 15, 2009 to June 19, 2009: Remembering that he could easily be the father of the child she's carrying, Sonny tells Claudia he doesn't want her to leave. Claudia and Michael continue to enjoy their easy rapport. Jason comes to Sam's rescue when he finds her being harassed and is completely unaware that the man he rendered unconscious is an undercover cop. Although Michael agrees to go back to Carly's, things remain tense between him and his mother. Michael confesses to Kristina he fears he might act out and end up hurting someone he loves. Diane later informs Patrick that he's going to be named in the malpractice suit along with Matt. Tracy grows suspicious when she finds Ethan and Rebecca with their heads together. Claudia takes steps to have Jason eliminated when he and Johnny attend a business meeting together.

June 22, 2009 to June 26, 2009: Jax is forced to restrain Michael after he comes perilously close to harming Carly. Carly is forced to agree with Jax that Michael can no longer live with them. Jason and Johnny narrowly escape an ambush by a group of snipers in the woods but manage to kill all but one of them. Morgan is grabbed by the sniper after sneaking out to go to Sonny's. Michael and Carly head into the woods from opposite directions looking for Morgan. Carly finds Morgan being menaced by the sniper and Michael soon comes upon the scene. After defending themselves, Carly manages to convince Dominic to just take off without harming her or her kids. A wounded Dominic makes it to Sonny's, where he tells Claudia that the hit went awry and she has to help him. A panicked Claudia hides Dominic in her bedroom. Michael becomes angry when Jason refuses to entertain the notion of letting him get involved in the mob. Sam notices that Alexis is placing a lot of pressure on Kristina. Patrick and Robin meet with the mayor, who insists he didn't kill Brianna because he truly loved her. Robin and Patrick return to the hospital to witness Andrea attacking Matt, accusing him of ruining her husband's career before slapping him. A scheming Ric tells Andrea things are back on track after Patrick and Matt hire him to represent them in the malpractice suit. Carly surprises Monica and Edward by announcing she wants Michael to come live with them. Edward suggests that Jason could make things easier for Michael if he moved back in as well.

June 29, 2009 to July 3, 2009: Carly tells Sonny she wants Michael to live with the Quartermaines. Jason explains to Edward why he can't move back into the mansion with Michael. Alexis faces the press after Mayor Floyd announces they had an affair. Diane proves to be a good friend to Alexis. Spinelli tries to keep a seductive Maxie at arms' length, reminding her that their previous lovemaking only led to heartache and remorse. Rebecca agrees to move into Wyndemere but has to make a hasty getaway when Ethan threatens to go there if she doesn't meet him in her room. Ethan accuses Rebecca of actually wanting to be with Nikolas, but she assures him the con is still on. Lulu and Nikolas don't realize they're both being set up for a fall, as they both think Rebecca and Ethan are misunderstood. Coleman asks Spinelli and Maxie for ideas on how to make Jake's more profitable. Spinelli plans to serenade Maxie at the new karaoke night at Jake's. Spinelli, however, sounds awful while practicing his singing in the shower.

July 6, 2009 to July 10, 2009: Sonny orders Jason and Johnny to eliminate the Zacchara gunman who menaced Carly and the boys. Johnny leads Jason to a Zacchara hideout in the woods and they kill the two gunmen who are there, but Dominic has fled. Sonny tells Michael he's forbidden to drive until he gets his license and is thrown for a loop when Carly presents Michael with a temporary permit. Andrea plants stalker-like e-mails on Alexis' computer, which make it seem as though Alexis is obsessed with Mayor Floyd. Alexis learns she's been suspended from her position as district attorney. Lulu forces Lucky and Ethan together when she convinces them to join her for karaoke night at Jake's. Ethan's upset when he learns Rebecca is moving in with Nikolas. Ethan demands that Rebecca start getting money from Nikolas immediately or he'll expose her duplicity. Ethan becomes angry when he finds out Rebecca refused to take money from Nikolas. Jason pays Anthony a visit in prison. Anthony lies to Jason, claiming he has nothing to do with the current strife between Sonny and the Zaccharas. Jason is left speechless by the sight of Sam in the sexy outfit she's wearing for her undercover work.

July 13, 2009 to July 17, 2009: Sonny knows he's gotten under Olivia's skin when she responds to his kiss. Olivia protests a bit too much, insisting to Sonny she'll never sleep with him. Olivia later asks Dominic (Dante) to leave Port Charles. Claudia's temper flares when she notices Olivia's lipstick on Sonny's shirt collar. After a disastrous start, Spinelli finds his voice and sweeps Maxie off her feet when he takes the stage at Jake's. Maxie and Spinelli return to his room and make love. Maxie is blind-sided by Spinelli's impromptu marriage proposal. Jason advises Spinelli to take things slowly with Maxie. Ethan threatens to tell Nikolas everything unless Rebecca comes up with $10,000 sooner rather than later. Edward agrees to give Rebecca the loan she asks for in exchange for her moving in with the Quartermaines. Robin still thinks the mayor's wife could be responsible for Brianna's murder. Carly is thrilled when Jax takes her to their new house. Kiefer becomes violent when Kristina rebuffs his advances. Claudia gets the results of the paternity test and starts out for home in her car. Carly searches the side of the road for Morgan's missing medallion. Michael becomes enraged when another car speeds past him. After returning home from having a few glasses of wine at Olivia's, Alexis heads out for a drive.

July 20, 2009 to July 24, 2009: Claudia gets in a horrific car accident trying to avoid a reckless driver. Carly, who happens to be close by, pulls Claudia from the wreckage. Meanwhile, Johnny walks in to see Sonny and Olivia kissing. Johnny informs Sonny that tests confirm that Sonny is the father of Claudia's baby. Sam and Jason suspect that either Michael or Kristina could have caused Claudia's accident. Robin and Patrick inform Claudia and Sonny that Claudia's suffered a brain injury. Robin and Patrick explain that medication would be the best course of action to treat Claudia's injuries, but it would most likely result in a miscarriage. Not wanting to risk the baby, Claudia opts for Matt to perform brain surgery. Claudia and Johnny rejoice that the procedure was a success, but their joy is short lived when Kelly tells them the baby did not survive. Alexis admits to Sam that she had been at the Mayor's house and got into an ugly fight with his wife, which was caught on security cameras. Alexis asks Sam if she and Spinelli could find a way to erase the footage. Sam realizes Alexis would have been on the road at the time of Claudia's accident. Michael tells police he caused Claudia's car wreck. Kelly orders Carly to bed rest, warning her to avoid stress at all costs or risk suffering a potentially fatal stroke. Maxie asks Spinelli to wait on an answer to his marriage proposal.