Spencer vs Cassidine #23  July 4 - August 23, 2001 - 8 hour original edit

DVD #23A  After a night of dreaming about the Cassadines, Luke was more determined than ever to break through the elevator shaft and see what was in the basement. Melissa and Roy stood by as he used a blow torch to create a huge hole in the floor. Tony came along just as Luke prepared to move the wires and see what was below them. He tried to hide his panic and told Luke to leave well enough alone. Luke refused to listen and he moved the wires. He was disappointed to see another layer of cement. It didn't look new so they all surmised that this was the foundation of the building. Tony breathed a sigh of relief, but Luke remained certain that there was more the basement than met the eye.

Helena was annoyed by Stavros's cocky attitude about regaining Nikolas and Laura. She accused him of being careless and endangering their plans. Stavros reminded her that he was the one in control and he made Helena laugh in spite of herself. In the midst of their talk, Helena received a call from Nikolas who wanted to meet with her right away. Helena met him in the park and was shocked when Nikolas wanted to know more about his father. Meanwhile, Stavros wandered through the park and Gia accidentally bumped into him. He grabbed her by the arms to steady her and said he was happy to see her.

7/5 Nikolas met with Helena. He asked her to tell him more about Stavros. When Helena questioned his curiosity, he told her that he wanted to believe that there was some good that had come out of his twisted family. Helena then proceeded to make her favorite son out to be larger than life while she put down Stefan. She told Nikolas that he should be proud that he was so much like his father. Nikolas told psycho-granny that he'd think about their conversation and would be in touch.

While skulking around the park, Stavros ran into his Gia again. He charmed her into accepting his help with her photos for the upcoming performance in the park for She-Daisy. As they sat together, he got her to open up about Nikolas and his true feelings about the Cassadines. When he realized that Nikolas had no intention of returning to his family, Stavros had to stifle his anger. He later caught up with his mother and told her that Nikolas was toying with her. She disagreed with Stavros feeling that her grandson was sincere.

A freaked out Carly wanders through the park, alone. Stavros, who had just discovered her relationship to Luke, approached her, oozing charm from every pore. He offered her comfort and whatever she needed. Carly, of course, couldn't resist the temptation to flirt back and asked him if he wanted to drive her home or just sleep with her. Stavros laughed and told her she could choose whatever she wanted!

7/6  Stavros grabbed Carly and passionately kissed her until she was able to break away and slap his face. Although he kept acting as if she really wanted him, Carly was totally outraged and repulsed by what had just happened. Of course, he vanished into thin air the minute Alexis showed up, but she felt his evil vibe and told Carly they had to leave immediately. After tracking her wayward son again, Helena chastised Stavros for behaving so recklessly. "Mother, I've been asleep far too long already." 

7/9 Helena told Stavros that Nikolas threw Lucky and Elizabeth out of his cottage. Stavros still thinks that Nikolas is leading her on. She said she still had one more test for Nikolas to see if he really was on their side.

Laura went to see Luke about his attack on Nikolas. She said he must have had a reason to hit Nikolas. Luke told her how Nikolas had come to him with a plan. He followed up by going to the PC Grill and popping Nikolas one. He said Nikolas was great and realized what was going on. He admitted that when he saw Nikolas now, he didn't see Stavros as much as Laura herself. He kissed her on both cheeks as she was leaving.

7/12 Luke hijacked the truck that was carrying a delivery to Helena. When he opened the first cargo door, he was surprised by Felicia. She proudly told him about how she had locked herself inside after the truck was loaded. Luke insisted that she go home to her family and stop putting herself in danger for his sake. Felicia refused to leave or back down, "You can't tell me what to do and furthermore, I'm helping whether you like it or not!." He couldn't hide his admiration for her when she found the truck's manifest of all of Helena's shipments. Luke was horrified when he recognized the name of chemicals that had already been delivered to her. He told Felicia that they were the same weapons of chemical warfare used in Desert Storm.

Helena put Lucky into the trance and took him to the underground hideaway. Stavros couldn't help but toy with Luke's son, threatening to kill him. However, when Stavros became too aggressive toward Helena, Lucky overpowered him. Helena explained to Stavros that Lucky was programmed to protect her against anything and anyone. Stavros mused over using Lucky to cause trouble, but Helena reminded him that they needed to stick to the plan which was to use Lucky to destroy Luke and to bring Nikolas back into the family.

7/13 Laura quickly figured out what was going on when Nikolas suddenly began berating her. Mother and son put on quite a show for Helena, who was lurking in the shadows. Nikolas went on and on about being Laura's second choice, and saying that he felt used by her and all of the Spencers. He told her to leave and go back to the children that really mattered to her. Laura denied holding his paternity against him, and claimed that she loved all of her children equally. When he said he would be better off with the Cassadines, Laura freaked out and left. Helena came out of the shadows and began heaping praise on him. She commended him for finally realizing the truth about the Spencers. Helena then began belittling both Laura and Gia, declaring them unsuitable mates for Cassadine men. Gia came across the two of them while she was on her way home, and demanded that Helena leave. Nikolas persuaded Gia to go back to the cottage and wait for him there. Helena told Nikolas that if he were returning to the family, it would have to be without Gia.

Luke explained to Felicia his feeling that Tony was holding back information about Helena and her plans. After talking about Helena and Stavros's past plans he realized what he had to do next. Luke fooled Tony into walking right into a trap by calling and impersonating on of Helena's men. He was told Tony to meet Helena on the yacht. But, before he could leave the hospital, Tony had to finish his exam of Stavros. Stavros annoyed him by asking all kinds of questions about Laura and Carly. When Tony refused to give up any information, Stavros reminded him that something bad could happen to Lucas if Tony didn't cooperate. When Tony got to the Yacht, instead of finding Helena he found Luke! When Tony continued to keep quite about Helena's plans, Luke pulled out his gun and told Tony it was time to talk.

Stavros broke into Laura's house and found a letter she had written to Luke while being held captive on the Greek Island. He seethed as he read of Laura's love for Luke while she was married to him. Laura then came home and was on her way in when Scott showed up. She didn't invite him in and told him she needed time alone to think. She expressed fear over everything going on with both her sons. Scott wanted to stay with her, but she insisted that he leave. After going in, she came across the photo album and totally freaked when a photo of her and Stavros fell out. Laura then ran out to the porch and cried out for Scott, but he was gone. Before she could recover from that incident, she came across the crimson red rose and her old engagement ring from Stavros. She stood frozen in the doorway, unaware that Stavros was looming behind her from the stairs.

7/16 Outside Helena was telling Nikolas that if he was serious about being the Prince again, he had to ditch Gia. She wasn't the right type for the Prince. Nikolas told her he wasn't going to leave Gia. He said she was always telling him he was like his father and his father took what he wanted. He refused to leave Gia.

Luke kept trying to get information from Tony, who he held at gunpoint, but Tony wasn't talking. He kept denying he knew anything. Luke finally asked if he was close in what he was thinking. He told Tony about the freight elevator and how it didn't go anywhere. Tony told him it did. He did say that Luke was closer than he thought. He finally rushed out of there, fearful he would run into Helena.

With the power out, Laura was feeling spooked. She felt a presence in the house and jumped when a knock came at the door. It was Stefan, who helped her search the house and basement to make sure nobody was there. She finally asked why he was there and he told her to make amends. They had a nice conversation and she told Stefan she had dreamt about Stavros the other night and he admitted to having one too. He told her if she needed him for anything to call him anytime, day or night. She thanked him and he left. She glanced out the window and saw Stavros. She thought she was imagining things; little does she know it was really Stavros.

7/18 Luke tells Laura that things are heating up and that she should take Lulu and her mother away for a while. Laura said that she would go after Luke promised to watch after Nikolas as well as Lucky while she was gone. Stavros reemphasizes his plan to get Laura all to him self, and is still wanting to kill Luke to get him out of the way.

7/19 Though Helena warns that it's not safe or smart for him to go wandering around Port Charles willy-nilly, a scoffing Stavros reminds his mother that he's calling all the shots from now on. Later, Stavros eavesdrops from the shadows as Elizabeth urges Lucky to elope with her that very night. Alexis and Stefan face off with Helena. Stavros offers Gia a sympathetic shoulder after he finds her weeping on the wharf.

7/20 Laura went and said goodbye to Scott. The passion heated up as Scott tried to convince her to spend the night. She explained why she was worried and had to leave, and asked Scott to keep his eyes open.

Stavros corners a broken and disillusioned Gia on the docks. Although it seemed he was trying to comfort her, in reality he was trying to ascertain if Nikolas was playing his Grandmother like a fiddle, and faking his intention to rejoin the clan. She summed up the whole messy break up by quoting her mother, "Men are nothing but a booby trap on a woman's road to success." Gia insisted that Nikolas hated his family so much and none of this made sense. However, she didn't agree with Popsicle man when he suggested this was a ruse. Nikolas appeared on the dock, and Stavros beat a hasty retreat telling Gia to hold her ground. The broken Gia turned into the avenging Gia. She told Nikolas that he'd regret his actions when she was haunting him from every television and magazine. Before she could get away, "psycho-granny" showed up, smiling triumphantly. As she stormed off, Gia turned to Helena and said, "You want him? You can have him! You two are perfect for each other!"

Nikolas stopped by to say goodbye to his mother. He assured Laura that everything and everyone would be fine. When he told her about dumping Gia to please Helena, Laura begged him to reconsider. He explained that he couldn't back out now, and asked Laura to take Gia away on the Deception trip.

Once again, Stavros broke into Laura's room, bearing gifts. This time he went into her bedroom and laid out a sexy black teddy for her. On her pillow, he gently placed his signature crimson rose. He then laid back and mused to himself how wonderful it was all going to be.

7/23 Nikolas was looking at a magazine with her picture in it when Luke came in. He told Luke not now. Luke asked if his family believed he was back in the cave. He said he was making progress. "So you're telling me they are buying your act," Luke replied. Nikolas asked again what he wanted. Luke said he wanted Nikolas to find out where the dragon lady is hanging out and what she was doing. Nikolas said he would be staying on the yacht, his grandmother elsewhere. Luke told him to snoop around the yacht and spend as much time with Helena as he can stomach. He also asked Nikolas to find out where Helena was sneaking off to these days. 

Nikolas said he would do what he could but he couldn't do it overnight. "Don't screw it up," Luke told Nikolas. He turned to leave and Nikolas told him he wasn't the only one who could ask questions. Luke said to make it quick. "Laura said I could come to you for anything, is that right?" Nikolas asked. "Or were you just telling Laura that to ease her mind or get her out of town?" Luke said both. Gia came in so they pretended to be arguing. 

Stavros was still at Laura's house, being his usual creepy self. He heard someone come in and hid. Turned out to be Helena. She couldn't understand his obsession with Laura and that he still loved her. He said he hated Laura but he would have her over and over. They argued, he threatened her. They heard a noise and a while later Luke showed up. Luke and Helena were having their usual sick conversation when Stavros hit Luke over the head.

7/24 Alexis and Stefan visited Nikolas in hopes of getting to the bottom of his new behavior. To their chagrin Nikolas remained in character and insulted them as Helena would, calling Alexis illegitimate and calling Stefan the" wannabe." Both Alexis and Stefan were floored. Nikolas even kicked them both out of his cottage. Stefan left, but Alexis remained only to be insulted more. She warned Nikolas that for whatever reason he was acting in this fashion he had better be careful because it is a dangerous path. A few moments later Elizabeth entered and Nikolas told Alexis to leave. Elizabeth had just come from the Deception press conference where Gia announced to the world that she and Nikolas were over.

Stavros was pleased with himself for knocking Luke out actually he wanted to kill Luke at that moment. Helena used reverse psychology on his and encouraged Stavros to finish Luke off. She told him if he killed Luke he would become a martyr and Laura would make a shrine for Luke Spencer her heart would never belong to Stavros. He agreed that now was not the time to take Luke's life. Helena told Stavros he was brilliant and impetuous. She told him to follow her plan and Luke will end up a tortured broken man. No one will want to know him. Stavros agreed and they headed back to the lab. 

Helena and Stavros celebrated and toasted to the fall of Luke Spencer. Stavros wanted to test the virus out and see how much it would take to harm an individual. One of Helena's men came into the lab and Stavros suggested that they use him as test case. Stavros was quite please at this man's death since now they knew how much it would take to kill someone.

When Luke awoke, he used his cell phone to call Felicia. She came right away with an ice pack and her detective side. Luke was really glad to see her and to be alive. He actually wondered why he was still alive because for all purposes Helena should have killed him. Luke noticed that he held a necklace in his hands. He was unsure of whose it was but wanted more information. Felicia and Luke also noticed that there were footprints on the rug in Laura bedroom, which had, gravel and tar on them. Luke and Felicia went to his office to try to figure something out. Luke said that he had been living in his dreams lately as weird as they were. Felicia told Luke that she was going to make her dreams a reality. She said, I want to be with you and I will. I am going to find out who this necklace belongs to. Luke told her to follow her dreams. The two of them started kissing passionately. Felicia left and then Luke brainstormed for a moment and realized that tar and grave were on the roof of General Hospital. He went over there and started to look for an opening. Luke found a trap door.

7/25 Luke makes his way through the real life maze to find Helena at the end. After numerous mind games and riddles, she reveals Stavros laying in his capsule. As Luke leans down to get a better look Stavros opens his eyes and sits up. Luke is petrified.

Alexis and Stefan try to get Lucky's help in finding out what is wrong with Nikolas. While talking, Lucky gets a package with a picture of Luke in it, and hears Helena's voice telling him that "he knows what to do," Lucky immediately gets up from the table and goes to leave, but Gia interferes. 

7/26  "NO! NO! This is a dream! This can't be happening!" Everything became clear to Luke as he found out that, indeed, Stavros was alive. After putting all of the clues together Luke realized that everything Helena had done, including the encrypted disks and kidnapping Lucky, was leading up to this: "An eye for an eye and a son for a son," said Helena. The two men argued about Laura and taunted each other to the point where they were about to come to blows. 

Luke overpowered Stavros and in the scuffle, he was able to pull out his knife and hold it to his archenemy's throat. As he was negotiating a trade of Lucky's life for Stavros with Helena, Lucky came into the lab, dazed and confused as to why he was there. Helena's men took advantage of the distraction and wrestled the knife away. Although Lucky was about to escape Helena triggered the mind control and kept him there. While Luke pleaded with his son to ignore "psychogranny", Helena set the next phase of her plan in motion. As she handed Lucky a huge syringe, she directed him with her now familiar command, "Take the King to protect your Queen."

7/27 Down in the lab, Helena continued to give Lucky his command to protect her, the queen. Luke tried to break the spell by begging and reasoning with him. Luke tried to bring back memories of Lucky's childhood and the memories they shared. Lucky was torn as the two powerful forces tired to control his mind. Stavros was disgusted with Lucky's hesitation and began to belittle him. Lucky reacted to that by grabbing Stavros and holding the syringe to his throat. Helena was able to persuade Lucky to turn his attention away from Stavros and onto his father. When Helena pulled out the ice princess, Lucky surrendered all control to her. Luke sat speechless as Helena once again ordered him to take the king to protect your queen. "Think about Elizabeth," Luke begged. 

For a brief moment Lucky did feel her love, but a slap in the face from Helena brought him back under her control. She ordered him one more time to follow her order, and this time he did attempt to inject his father with the syringe. However, Luke had freed his hands and was able to grab Lucky. Despite this, Lucky cried that he couldn't help it as he stabbed his father in the neck. As Luke convulsed in anguish, Lucky cried that he loved his father and was sorry. Helena spoke softly to a defeated Luke, and told him that such was the way of war. Her men then carried Luke away. Stavros and Helena complemented each other on their victory and Stavros left to celebrate. Helena told Lucky she was actually sorry that his father had to loose, but that he had done an excellent job. The show closed with Lucky all alone in the lab, weeping and begging for his father's forgiveness.

7/30 Helena's goons dumped Luke's body and placed a mickey of booze beside him.
Stavros came in and said he wanted to buy drinks for everyone, on him. Felicia commented on his generosity and he said he didn't think she would accept one unless he offered to everyone. He wanted her to show him how to retrieve his messages on his cell phone. He thanked her and found his message from Gia. He met her over at the Port Charles Grill.

Nikolas and Helena went to the yacht, his new home for now. They were talking when Elizabeth showed up and almost gave the game away. She managed to catch herself. Helena didn't appear to notice anything amiss. She excused herself and Nikolas turned on the stereo to drown out himself and Elizabeth talking. She said how worried she was about Lucky. They talked and she left. Nikolas told Helena she should program Elizabeth to fall in love with him. She thought Elizabeth could manage. He asked if she could program anyone. She asked why the interest in mind control, was he afraid she would try it on him. He asked if he would know if she had him under mind control? She told him not to be ridiculous, she wouldn't do that. He was back in the family where he belonged.

Lucky was having a drink. He turned to leave and saw Gia with a man. She was with the man she knows as Lucien Kane. She talked about her ex-boyfriend, Nikolas and his psychotic family. He got this look on his face. They were hugging when Lucky came over and ripped Gia out of his arms and was ready to punch him. Gia told Lucky to stop, he didn't even know the man. The bartender came over and made Lucky leave and not to come back or he would call the police.

7/31 Stavros was making time with his son's girlfriend Gia. It was really odd that Stavros kissed Gia. Luckily she had the good sense to pull away. Stavros was way too debonair and convincing, he said all the right things and relieved Gia's fears while implanting himself that much further into her life. Stavros offered to walk her home to her room at the hotel and invited himself in the door. He again tried to romance her but Gia pulled back and told him the timing was not right for her. Then Stefan knocked on the door. Stavros hid while Stefan pleaded with Gia for her help with Nikolas. Stavros looked on furiously as Stefan berated him to Gia. Unfortunately Gia was not in a place to offer her help so Stefan left and moments later so did Stavros. He did not miss the opportunity to kiss Gia's hands good bye.

Alexis made another effort to rescue Nikolas from Helena. Unfortunately the surprise was on her when she showed up at the yacht and saw her mom's necklace. She told Helena she was taking it, but Helena threaten Alexis. She looked to Nikolas for support but he denied her and sided with Helena. Alexis pleaded with Nikolas to walk away now before it was too late. She told him that she knew that something must be up because this was not the Nikolas that she had grown to love. Nikolas kicked Alexis off the yacht. After that comment, Helena too became suspicious. Nikolas covered well and told her that he really did not care about Helena's feelings

8/1 Alexis is caught by Helena holding her mother's necklace. After Helena torments Alexis about her mother's death, Alexis leaves the Yacht, but not before swearing to take her down personally.

DVD #23B  8/2 Felicia stopped at Luke's apartment but found Lucky there instead. It was Lucky's dazed revelation that he had "taken the King to protect the Queen", that led Felicia to Helena. She left him in a crumpled heap, stunned by everything that had happened.

Both Elizabeth and Felicia confronted Helena. First Elizabeth paid a visit that was anything but friendly. She demanded to know where Lucky was and what Helena had done to him. Of course, Helena was anything but threatened, and advised Liz to forget about Lucky and concentrate on Nikolas. This, of course only infuriated Elizabeth more. When the confrontation became physical, with Liz trying to grab Helena, "the visit" was over with Liz leaving the ship as Felicia was coming on board looking for her own Spencer man! Felicia told Liz that she had found Lucky at Luke's, and that she should go there right away. Of course Helena found this even more amusing and relished in riling Felicia up by referring to Luke in the past tense. When the games became boring, Helena actually gave up a clue that would lead everyone right to Luke.

Liz went to Luke's apartment and found Lucky. Unfortunately, her relief turned to despair when she realized that Helena's programming had Lucky totally twisted. He begged he to leave him and never come back because he couldn't protect her. 

8/3 Alexis and Stefan showed up with Taggert and a court order trying to stop the sale of the necklace. The women's argument escalated to the point where Alexis lunged at Helena and the two of them had to be pulled apart. Taggert diffused the argument and told Helena he wanted to see it. While all of this cat fighting was going on in one room, there was a mysterious figure lowering himself into the other room where the jewels were. The thief was able to avoid the laser beam alarm, get the necklace and hoist himself back up and out of the room. Nikolas stormed out, Stefan smirked with glee, Helena pouted and Alexis smiled until Taggert announced that the necklace was missing.

Elizabeth felt her heart shatter as Lucky insisted that they could no longer marry. Although she tried to appeal to his sense of loyalty and commitment, he couldn't break out of the trance he was in. The more she pleaded, the more fixed he became. When he got loud and aggressive with her, she finally agreed to leave. He wept in anguish but she decided there was no time to waste on weeping.

Following Helena's tip, Felicia went down to the docks where she found an unconscious Luke in a heap by the garbage. Her relief turned to rage when he woke up a raging jerk. He pushed all the right buttons, telling her she was nothing more than a roll in the hay and a major distraction. He ridiculed her investigative skills and told her he was tired of cleaning up after her. She denied using him to get even with Mac and accused him of using her. While all of this was going on, Luke's "spirit" came out of his body (definitely one of his best stunts yet...) and began chastising him (Luke) for his behavior. "You don't deserve her, you ass! Tell her you're sorry, or I'll kill you!" he told himself. Although she began to suspect that Helena had administered mind-altering drugs to him, she let her ego and pride get the best of her in the end. She told him she was through with him and stormed away. After she left, he went home, dazed and confused, talking to himself about how he had to stick with wine and song, but leave the women alone. His lighthearted mood quickly changed when he opened the door and found his son sitting there.

The mysterious thief is shown sitting at a desk and admiring the necklace while he removed his ski mask. The camera panned up from the necklace to the face of Jax!

8/6 Helena and Alexis were of course each accusing the other of stealing the necklace. Helena demanded Taggert arrest Alexis and vice versa. He was fed up with all the Cassadine fighting. He said it was now a crime scene and he wasn't arresting anyone. Helena threatened that Alexis could end up the same way as her mother.

Drugged Luke was rude to Lucky. Lucky asked if Helena got him too. The other Luke was trying to reason with the drugged one, but to no avail. He was drinking and being a pain. Helena, instead of actually killing Luke, has given him a drug, when mixed with alcohol, makes him an obnoxious drunk, which will alienate all his friends and family. This is her big plan, to make him lose everyone he loves by chasing them away. He had finally hugged Lucky when Lucky was ripped from his arms by a couple of thugs and dragged off and tied up somewhere. Helena came to visit Luke to gloat. 

8/7 Gia called Stavros. She asked him to attend an event with her; he agreed.

Lucky found out who kidnapped him, and it turned out to be Elizabeth. He was shocked but relieved that it was her. Elizabeth told him she received help but could not reveal her source. Lucky was glad and content for now to continue with Elizabeth.

Helena found Luke in his apartment just wasting away due the drugs Lucky gave him. She was quite pleased with herself and boasted to Luke because he was helpless to do her any harm. Luke did try to pump Helena for information. He could be focused when it came to Lucky, but it was still difficult. Luke's alter ego was still present and coaxed him into trying to seduce Helena but Stavros showed up and the plans had to change. Stavros tried to pump Luke for information too, but Luke was either reluctant or unable to provide Stavros with any information regarding Nikolas or their plan. Stavros left with the satisfaction that Luke will never be the man he used to be. 

8/8 At the Cassadine auction, Gia discovers that Helena hired her to be the guest auctioneer, not Nikolas. When she threatens to walk out, Helena threatens to sue her. Unaware that Helena is watching, Nikolas almost reveals his plan to fool Helena. 

8/9  "Sane Luke" is giving the "wacked out" Luke instructions on what to do at the auction. Meanwhile, Helena was in the security control room observing her grandson with Gia. When Stavros joined her, he couldn't resist taunting her with the fact that it looked like Nikolas was playing her for a fool.  When Nik apologized for the way he treated her, Gia accused him of claiming he pretended to love her simply to get her in bed. When Liz came in, Gia laid into both of them, telling them they were perfect for each other since they were a couple of liars. He defended Elizabeth as Gia ripped her to shreds. When a messenger dropped off a diamond necklace for Gia from "Lucien", she rubbed it in Nikolas's face.  

Helena was gleeful over what she saw, but Stavros insisted that she was deluding herself.  She was stunned when he told her that he planned to attend the auction with Gia as his date. He relished in the fact that Helena was freaked and revealed that he was only kidding. However, he did swear to prove that Nikolas was faking. He also told her that it was time for him to seek revenge on his "faithless" brother.

The auction opened with Helena giving a speech. However, she was interrupted by a belligerent Luke. He asked her to tell the crowd about the medical "experiments" she's been involved with down in the basement. Despite his behavior, Helena didn't want Taggert or Mac to arrest Luke. He continued to disrupt the auction by revealing to everyone that Nikolas was a "spy" who would bring the Cassadines down. The show closed with Luke telling Helena that she should go down to the laboratory and "make another spy."

8/10 At the auction house, Luke continued his drunken rant against Nikolas. He told Helena and all assembled that Nikolas was plotting against the Cassadines and planned to bring the family down. Nikolas responded by punching Luke out. Helena finally ordered Mac and Taggert to remove Luke from the auction even as Luke continued to lash out. Alexis offered to represent Luke in court and asked to know the truth about Nikolas and Helena. Luke declined her offer and remained unclear about Nikolas and Helena's association. Taggert handcuffed him to the wall and went to get a squad car to take Luke to the police station. Luke's inner voice urged him to get away before he ruined everything. When Taggert returned, Luke was gone.

Stefan approached Nikolas and offered him support if Luke's claim was true. Nikolas scorned his uncle and said that Luke lied. Nikolas still wanted nothing to do with Stefan and publicly humiliated him. A rejected and dejected Stefan left the auction house and Chloe followed him outside. Seeing his pain, Chloe sat with him and took him in her arms. She suggested that it was time that he leave the Cassadines behind once and for all. Stefan told her that the only way he could do that was if she was by his side. Declaring his love for her, Stefan proposed marriage while a hidden Stavros eavesdropped on the conversation.

Helena tried to reassure Stavros that Nikolas was on their side, but Stavros didn't buy it. He told his mother that she was a fool if she believed that Nikolas suddenly loved her after having been raised his whole life to hate her. He told her that he would take care of the situation with Nikolas and ensure his son’sloyalty through his own means.

Hoping that Luke's claim was true, Gia interrupted Nikolas' conversation with Liz to confirm her belief. He denied that he was secretly plotting against the Cassadines and told Gia that she was delusional. Gia begged him to tell her the truth and said she would stand by him no matter what. He tried to hide his pain as he told her that she didn't matter to him anymore and asked her to leave him alone. Struggling to contain her emotions, Gia returned to the auction and gave a command performance as an announcer.

During the auction, Alexis bid on an Asian statue, much to Helena's surprise. Ned stopped Edward's attempt to bid against her because he saw how much Alexis wanted the statue. Once she had it in her possession, Alexis approached Helena and reminded her how much she had loved the statue as a child. As Helena watched, Alexis smashed the statue to bits and declared that she would do the same thing to Helena if she continued to try to hurt anyone she cared about.

When Monica bid on a beautiful bracelet, Alan shocked her by bidding against her and buying the bracelet for Skye. Edward bid on a ring for Lila, and it seemed that he had won it, when a voice called from the back of the room with a million dollar bid. Everyone's mouth fell open when they saw Jax standing in the doorway. 

8/13 Jax put a stop to the bidding today with his $1 million bid for the ring. Everyone stared at him with different reactions. He asked to continue the bidding and he got the ring. He proceeded to say that he would buy everything else that was left. Helena took him to another room to discuss the details. She was pleased to see him. He gave her a sizeable check to pay for the rest of the items. He asked if she had run over anyone lately. She said she wasn't aiming for Chloe, it was an accident. She told Nikolas to announce the auction was over and he did so. 

Stefan had asked Chloe to marry him. She couldn't give him an answer yet. She said she cared for him but she had to think about it. While they were talking an alarm went off; a distraction set by Stavros to get Chloe alone. He asked if Chloe had thought about his business proposal and she said she had but didn't have an answer yet. He mentioned having business with Stefan and said a name of a company, the Caracas Group. 

Elizabeth was asking Nikolas if they were going to go search the yacht. Nikolas told her he had already searched and found nothing. She mentioned some desk or cabinet that Laura had mentioned. Gia came upon them and made a snide remark. Nikolas is really hurting about the way he is treating Gia and will he ever get her back after all is over and done with?

Luke went to see Bobbie and asked her to hide him. He was acting strange one moment with delusions and the next he almost seemed lucid. Taggert tracked him down and was going to arrest him but Bobbie begged him not to. She was worried about him. He was talking about when they were young and went to live with Aunt Ruby. He said she could help and Bobbie told him Aunt Ruby has been gone for quite a while. Tony came by and Bobbie asked for him to take a look at Luke. He went over to Luke and he knew that Luke had been given the toxin. He said he was sorry but he would find the antidote if it took him forever. He told Bobbie he wanted Luke in the hospital in the morning. She said she would get him there but Luke had taken off again. 

8/15 "Lucien" lends a miserable Chloe a sympathetic ear. 

8/17 Fearful that Helena's programming is beginning to take hold once again, Lucky hollers for Elizabeth to return. Aboard the yacht, Nikolas tries a new ploy to coax details out of his grandmother.  Lucky entreats Elizabeth to release him before he goes stir crazy. 

8/20 Nikolas had brought Helena to Lucky, still trying to prove his loyalty to his family. He picked a fight with Lucky and was asking Helena about her programming. He asked her to program Lucky to forget Elizabeth as he wanted her for himself. Elizabeth was hiding, listening to all this. Helena wiped all Lucky's memories of Elizabeth from his mind. When will all this end? After Helena left, Elizabeth came out and sat by Lucky. He just stared blankly at her.

While Stefan was sleeping Stavros whispered the name Caracos, meaning worthless boy. He said he was the prince and would have it all. Stefan all of a sudden jerked awake, sensing a presence but Stavros had left. Stefan found a model ship destroyed. He heard a noise and turned around but it was Alexis. He yelled for Mrs. Lansbury and demanded to know what happened, how this stuff ended up in this room. She didn't know and Alexis asked if she could get them some tea, taking Stefan to task for barking at Mrs. Lansbury. He told Alexis that he felt Stavros in the room but she assured him Stavros was gone.

'Lucien Kane' went to see Gia and apologized for not showing up at the auction the night before. She was going on about the crazy Cassadines, mentioning Stavros. He convinced her she should sue the Cassadines, especially Nikolas, for mental cruelty and lost wages. She said she didn't lose any wages but he said wasn't she offered modelling in New York that she turned down because of Nikolas; she could be rich. She went to Wyndemere to confront Stefan. 

8/21 Gia arrived at Wyndemere and surprised both Alexis and Stefan with her threat to sue Nikolas and the Cassadines for loss wages, and fraud. But what really stunned Stefan and Alexis was the broche that Gia was wearing. It was a Cassadine family heirloom engraved with the letter Z (in Greek). Stefan knew it was Stavros, but Alexis kept telling him not to let Helena get to him like she had tried to do to her. Alexis made perfect sense, but Stefan still felt that Stavros was around in some way. Meanwhile, Stavros was in the secret passageway listening in on the entire conversation and chuckling in that sick way he does.

Elizabeth rushed out to Lucky's side to try to bring him back from Helena's most recent programming. It was too late. Lucky did not remember loving Elizabeth at all. The strange thing however when Lucky turned around to look at the light (looking similar to a diamond) and once Nikolas walked in he changed again. Lucky started to reel on Nikolas and all his tricks to get Elizabeth. He told them both that he wanted nothing to do with Elizabeth and she belonged to Nikolas now. Elizabeth told him that she would never give up on him. He told them both to leave him alone and for Elizabeth to stop being touchy with him. She asked for a moment alone with Lucky, Nikolas refused at first and told Elizabeth to just go with him. Elizabeth asked again for a moment so Nikolas walked outside. Elizabeth tried again with Lucky to no avail. Lucky told her that if she did not leave then he would. 

Nikolas blocked his exit so Lucky whacked him one hard. Nikolas and Elizabeth tried to run after Lucky but they had no chance of catching him. Lucky ended up on the pier and running into Gia. He told her that he had broken up with Elizabeth and she should walk away from Nikolas too. He said that he could help her and then Lucky kissed Gia. Meanwhile back at the hide out, Elizabeth revealed to Nikolas that it was a large uncut diamond that Helena used to reach the deep levels of Lucky's brain and program Lucky. After describing it, Nikolas knew that it was the Ice Princess; he told Elizabeth that they would have to steal it from Helena.

Jax showed up at Helena's door at the Port Charles Hotel. They exchange repartee. Jax divulged that there is some changes coming Helena's way and she will not like them. Jax told Helena that he was upset because Helena was bothering Alexis. Helena told him that it wasn't her. She had no intention on harming Alexis in anyway and asked why was he so concerned with that loft. Jax explained that he had taken over some overseas interests of the Cassadines and if Helena would not leave Alexis, then he would have to do some real damage. Jax kissed Helena's hand and excused himself. Stavros arrived and told his mother that he would not handle Jax because it was beneath him. Helena said she would handle it and left. Then Stavros left with champagne and glasses. A dark image entered the suite. It was Jax (the cat burglar).

8/22 Shocked by Lucky's kiss, Gia asked what had gotten into him. Lucky claimed he wants to start his life over and he is no longer in love with Liz. He says he just wants to have a good time and forget about everything else. He then tells her he is going to enter a car race as she worries he is trying to get himself killed. As he is about to leave Gia hops into Nikolas' Jaguar and says he is not going anywhere without her.

In Helena's hotel room, Jax is searching for things when he hears her keys in the lock. He hides in the terrace while Stefan arrives and accuses Helena of trying to Gaslight him. She claims innocence at first but soon realizes what is going on. As Stefan talks about the broken toy boat that Stavros smashed when he was a little boy and accuses her of duplicating the incident, she realizes Stavros is the one behind the head games. She then laughs as she tells Stefan he will be ruined but not by her.

At the Grille, Stavros lurks in the corner watching Liz and Nikolas discussing their plan to steal the Ice Princess from Helena. After yelling at a waiter for making him wait four minutes for a table, asking him, " Don't you know who I am?" The waiter apologizes for the wait and seats him. Soon Chloe meets him for dinner. She states she is on to him and wants to know why he hides whenever any Cassadines are around as well as why Stefan has no memory of him yet he knows so much about Stefan. Stavros claims to have had Stavros' background checked. He then tells her of a time when Stefan accidentally killed a peasant woman in Greece and was never brought to justice. He also tells her of how Stefan once slept with another mans wife. Chloe then told "Lucien" that she did not care about his problems with Stefan.

At Liz and Nikolas's table, the pair discusses who will be the one to take the Ice Princess. Nikolas wants to be the one to do it but Liz states that he will need to distract Helena. He calls his grandmother and invites her to dinner while Liz changes into a maid's uniform to sneak into the room. When Helena shows up at the Grille she tells Nikolas that she cannot stay as she has business to take care of. Afraid she would head back to her room Nikolas ran after Liz to tell her. When telling her that they had to go because of Helena, Liz said no. Suddenly they hear a noise in the hallway. 

8/23 Jax catches Elizabeth and Nikolas breaking into Helena's suite and guesses that they're after the Ice Princess. Nik is pretending that he is the Cassidine heir in order to gain Helena’s trust and help his brother. Helena walks in to find Liz dressed as a maid, Nik, and Jax in his cat burgular outfit. Liz admits she entered to look for clues as to Helena’s hold over Lucky. She says Nik came in and found her there, and the two of them fake a fight. 

Intent on preventing Lucky from making another stupid mistake, Gia tosses the keys to Nikolas' Jaguar into the bay to keep his brother from drag racing. She then takes him back to her hotel room to keep him out of trouble.