Friday, October 13, 2006
A shocked Carly opened the door to Jack just before the room service guy arrived with the champagne for "Mrs. Frasier," which certainly made Jack raise an eyebrow. He came right in and nosed about, cop-like, while reporting his sighting of Simon with Spiro. Carly defended Simon and revealed that Lucinda is his investor and — in response to his expression of concern for their kids' safety — snapped, "This is rich, Mr. 'My new friend Eve is a serial killer' is gonna lecture me on the company I keep." Jack, in turn, had the nerve to imply that Carly introduced Simon to the loan shark, based on her past impulsive problem-fixing schemes, which was just about enough for her. She asked him to leave, noting that he's just jealous. That's when Simon arrived, and also denied a connection to Spiro. Jack wasn't really placated, but left anyway. "Tell me Jack is wrong," Carly then asked her partner tentatively. Simon lied that he has nothing to do with the thug, and at least had the decency to look guilty when he gave the shaken woman a comforting hug. After all the ruckus with Jack, she confessed that she felt silly. He lightened the mood by wolfishly asked her to explain why she was sneaking into his room; she admitted that she was jealous of the idea of him with another woman. He assured her that he didn't have sex with that other person and that he's actually crazy about her. Within seconds, they were seriously making out, accidentally knocking over the briefcase in the process. The money spilled out and Carly flipped out, pummeling him with cash. "I am not so hot for you, Simon, that my brain has turned to mush," she yelled, calling him a con artist and ordering him to get Spiro out of her life.

Luke insisted on bringing a nervous Jade to the hospital, where the doctor diagnosed a virus. Luke seemed perplexed about the doc's lack of concern for the baby and questioned him about the medication's effect on expectant mothers. "But Jade isn't pregnant," responded the doctor. Luke confronted Jade about it, angrily refusing to accept her attempts to cover her lies until she tearfully admitted the truth. At the same time, Will listened to a message that Luke had left him earlier, summoning him to the hospital.

Will arrived at Crash in time to spot Gwen attempting to "move on" by hanging out with Elwood and Gil. "Does it ever freak you out how much Elwood looks like Alex?" asked Gil (who's gotten cuter) in a nice continuing nod to the fact that INTURN winner Alex Charak played both characters. Gil made an effort to not treat late arrival Maddie like a freak, possibly because he (like Elwood) was smitten with the now-available Gwen; both eventually scored a dance with her. It's unclear whether Gwen saw Will lurking over at the bar while she talked with Maddie about her fun new single life, but he was moping off when another teen taunted him about his scholastic failures, causing Gwen to chase after him. "The only thing that's important to me right now in my life is you; everything else is a distant second," admitted her depressed ex before leaving.

A flustered Lucy was on the defensive until Dusty told her to shut up, then apologized. She thanked him for that, then gave him a bit of a hard time when he asked her to dinner before eventually accepting; a displeased Barbara watched them go. They ended up eating in the car outside of Al's, where Dusty thanked her for her friendship. "Is that all we are Dusty — friends?" she asked. Her answer was a tender kiss, but Dusty admitted that he wasn't quite ready for a new romance.

Craig and Emily were having dinner at the Lakeview to celebrate their new partnership. They discussed the stem cells from her baby that saved Johnny, which gave Craig an idea: a foundation to promote stem cell research. He tried pitching the "Jennifer Donovan Research Foundation" to Kim and Bob, who had fortuitously just arrived, but they weren't exactly receptive. "You must be out of your mind if you think Jennifer's family would allow you to use her name on anything connected to you or your money," said Kim. Still, Bob reluctantly suggested that he submit the proposal to the hospital board if he's really determined. It didn't go unnoticed to Em that a major side benefit for Craig was how much the foundation — especially its name — would annoy Dusty and Paul. Bob and Kim reported instantly to Babs, who vowed to "fight him with [her] last breath."

Thursday, October 12, 2006
Carly and Lily are totally friends again! After Simon nervously sent Carly away (making her guess that he was covering the fact that he had a woman in his room), she hightailed it to her ex-cousin-in-law/crime cover-up cohort Lily's house to girl-talk about Rose's visits and physical therapy before turning to the end of the other Snyder marriage and eventually, Simon. Lily, to her credit, actually called the man for whom she once almost left her soul mate husband a "good guy" — which is more endorsement than anyone in town has managed so far, what with all of their distorted memories. Carly noted how adorable and hot and exasperating he is, and how the thought of him with another woman had made her jealous, so there's definitely an attraction there. "Go for it," was Lily's refreshing advice. At the Lakeview, Jack spied Simon trying to chase off the loan shark he recognized, while Carly was taking some immediate action on Lily's advice: after bribing a bellboy to let her into Simon's room, she ordered champagne and strawberries, which is universal code for "somebody's getting lucky tonight." She was actually practicing her seduction (as if Carly Tenney needs any help with that), when Jack knocked on the door; she opened it in surprise.

Luke took Will to task for not being supportive enough of Jade. Will matter-of-factly detailed the extent of his planned involvement with the mother of his child, and pointed out that he's been pretty darn helpful, considering the circumstances. While they talked, Jade sort of flitted in and out between dramatic attacks of "24-hour morning sickness" that were plaguing her. Luke, having had some experience with prickly pregnant princessy-types, volunteered to stay with her until she's better. When she got more feverish, he wanted to call a doctor, but she forbade it.

At the Lakeview, Dusty's amusing day player bodyguard Chaz had already been put on edge by having to babysit Johnny when Barbara entered, wearing a blindingly bright white blazer. She promptly went into protective grandma mode, jumping on his back before being wrestled to the floor ... and quite enjoyed the tussle, actually. Babs flirtatiously introduced herself to Chaz, then got down to the business of nagging Dusty about Lucy, who was downstairs resisting Lucinda's suggestion that she boast to Dusty that she's the one who busted Craig. No worries: Jack did it for her, making a special stop by Dusty's suite to give Lucy all the credit for Craig's impending exit from the Lakeview. A grateful Dusty gave his ex a call, and asked Babs to make herself scarce. When she arrived, Lucy immediately started defending herself for whatever he was going to accuse her of next. "Wanna shut up?" he roared, very Dusty-like.

Upon spying Meg and Paul making gushy wedding plans at Java, Emily was about to hum her way home when she ran into Craig, who gave her an impromptu lesson on smiling through her pain and using psychological manipulation to get what she wants. In other words, "Craigisms 101." Taking the tearful Em under his wing, he strode into Java and started hitting Paul and Meg where it hurts, by bringing up his engagement gift, which the bride-to-be neglected to report to her fiancé. Once that clever little bomb was dropped, Craig and Emily settled in on a sofa across the way to continue his teachings: "You see, this is better than shouting fire in a crowded theater. Look at them: itching with paranoia," he lectured to his Grasshopper. Henry then arrived and after exchanging semi-pleasantries with his former brother-in-law, took Em to task for her apparent new dealings with the devil. Though he declared his friendly love in the process, she still considers Henry a traitor and coldly told him to mind his own business. Craig then sent him on his way before a real estate agent arrived with the papers he needs to buy back Fairwinds, because he's very Stenbeckian now. "Even you wouldn't dare," whined Paul, but Craig noted that there's nothing he can do about it. Meg later counseled Paul not to worry about the things he can't change, while back at Java, Emily agreed to sign on as Craig's partner and co-owner of The Intruder. "I want to know what it's like to be you," she said. Must be graduation time.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Holden offered Jade whatever she wanted to hand over any info she had about Theresa; all Jade wanted was to not have to endure his insulting assumption that she would demand some reward in exchange for her help. She gave him her last known phone number for Theresa and Holden sincerely apologized and thanked her. Lily and Lucinda were bickering about whether a search for Theresa is in Lily's best interests considering her delicate health when Holden returned. "Dad, I'm so glad you're home. These two have a way of making me terminally confused," said Luke. "Welcome to my world," responded a grinning Holden, who could not have been more endearing today. In fact, all of the Snyders were on fire (not literally), what with the snappy dialogue and nice chemistry between Lucinda, Luke, Lily and Holden, who also took a moment to make sure that Lily wants to pursue Theresa so quickly after her recovery.

Gwen didn't like the idea of second-guessing Jade's claim to be pregnant because it reeks of desperation, but Will thought their marriage was worth a little fighting. He even called to check on Jade at her doctor's office, but they confirmed that Jade just left her appointment. Will was still suspicious, but Gwen suggested to Will that maybe their lives are taking different paths now, and she's tired of all the heartache. Still, she was very clearly affected by her husband.

Maddie and Casey were having a fine time until he got rid of a returned Elwood and locked the door, causing her to freak out slightly. Casey quickly realized his error and tried to soothe her, but it turned out she was mostly rattled by how much she wants to be alone with him because he makes her feel so comfortable and safe. Before long, they were sharing a tender kiss.

"Silent treatment, huh? Your mother would be so proud," Craig joked when Lucy walked into the Lakeview with a sour puss. She soon softened toward her Daddy, urging him to be more careful about his health — and avoid his enemies. Craig then went into a coughing fit; once Lucy was sure he seemed okay, she left, but spied him creepily slurping up wine later and made a phone call.

Caught with the loan shark, Simon first feigned ignorance, then insisted to Carly that he and the wiseguy had just been chatting about a possible future business venture. He then flirtatiously thanked her for her obvious concern; she made it clear that if Simon does business with Spiro, he's done doing business with her. He lied that that wouldn't happen. They flirted some more on the way to the Lakeview, where Carly then marched into the dining room on some business, but stopped in her tracks when she spotted Craig, who noted that everyone's been on their moral high horses since he came back to town (his conviction was overturned because of lack of evidence, by the way). "Come on Carly, surprise me," he snarked, so she tossed his wine at him. "I've been gone too long. I forgot how literal you were," he responded, mopping his brow. She refused to meet his glib level, using her first Rosanna mention in long while — in conjunction with a Gwen mention — to make her point. He responded by wheedling the news of her impending divorce out of her. She countered with a promise to make his life hell. Carly was shaking by the time she finished, and was calling Jack when he walked in; she told him she could handle the problem herself. Meanwhile, all of the flirting and fibbing to Carly had made Simon late for his appointment with a cranky Spiro, who handed over a briefcase of cash but warned him that his payments had better be more prompt, or else. Down in the dining room, Lucy called Craig on his phony coughing fit and informed him that she has therefore taken action. Cue Jack, who arrived to tell Craig that now that he's healthy, he has 24 hours to submit a forwarding address, or he's going back to jail.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Lily came home to her happy family, and immediately started fretting about finding Rose's daughter, Theresa. Holden, Luke and Lucinda tried to convince Lily to take it easy for a bit, but that only distressed her more because she's worried about what she'll tell Rose. That statement only caused some alarm among the family, but Luke noted that he read on the Internet that brain "signals get crossed" when coma patients wake up, hence Lily's visions of her late sister. "Fine, I'll take ‘the Internet's' word for it," huffed Lucinda hilariously.

Carly showered Simon with praise and pride because of his quick work in tapping Lucinda as a new investor, making him feel even guiltier for lying about being out of money. Carly then made plans to bring some flowers to (her old crime cover-up cohort) Lily, and Simon asked her to send his best wishes (to the woman with whom he was once in love) and we nearly passed out from delight over the rare nod to past character connections. Carly took off, and Simon started making calls. Wasn't he obscenely wealthy just a few weeks ago? You'd think he'd have made a few investments of his own (aside from in Gwen's surely bright future). Finally, he called a sketchy loan shark.

Carly arrived at Lily's, where she ran into Lucinda and they danced around the investment subject without ever realizing that they both were talking about different outcomes. "What on Earth has possessed you — besides Simon Frasier?" asked a confused, amused La Walsh. Before they could clear up the misunderstanding, Lily rolled up to accept her flowers and well wishes and also to hear the bad news about Carly's separation from Jack. "That doesn't make any sense," said Lily, who's quite the Carjacker, it turns out. After Carly left, Rose (sure enough!) paid a visit from the big casino in the sky to browbeat Lily for enjoying family time when Theresa's still out there somewhere, although frankly Rose (ghost or no) should turn a little of that heavenly spotlight of shame on herself because we never saw her try to track down that kid when she was alive. Lucinda pulled Luke and Holden aside to worry about Lily, who will go nuts if she has to wait six months for a court order to find Theresa. Holden ran off to ask Jade for her help.

At Java, Carly caught Simon with his shady new friend. She recognized the guy as Spiro, a loan shark with mob ties from one of Jack's cases, and confronted Simon about it.

Will, in Best Father-To-Maybe-Be Ever mode, sweetly offered to go to the first sonogram appointment with Jade, but Paul showed up to report that Craig's back. In a long overdue talk between the brothers, Will confided to Paul that Gwen left him and Jade's pregnant and Paul finally broke it to him that his baby niece had died at birth. A contrite Paul counseled Will to do whatever it takes to make it work, so that he can hold on to both Gwen and the baby. In the two scenes it took them to have their conversation, Jade managed to return with her sonogram, which should have been Will's first clue that something's up. Instead, Will noted the disparity between the sonogram, which has a logo from Memorial Hospital, and Jade's story that her doctor was at the Free Clinic. Although last we checked, the Free Clinic (established by Dr. Ben Harris) is part of Memorial. Whatever — Jade provided a fairly decent excuse (she switched doctors), which Will appeared to accept.

At the Lakeview, Craig ran into Gwen and sighed his way through an attempted excuse/apology for switching the babies. She wasn't hearing it and slapped him, but the strike was unfortunately mostly off-camera. Casey arrived in time to spot the carnage, and warned his uncle to stay away from Gwen. Emily then showed up to discuss The Intruder; Craig wants her to (continue to?) run the paper for him and also be part owner. She was skeptical, but he swears that he not only likes her, but trusts her. Em agreed to consider the offer.

At the weirdly empty and quiet Oakdale University dorm, Casey was comforting Gwen when they smelled something cooking across the hall. Turned out Maddie had showed up to help Elwood fry up some bratwursts on the hotplate. "Fun" "college" times ensued until they sent Elwood off so that Casey and Maddie could have some time alone to have a food fight. Gwen went back to her room, where Will was waiting to tell her that he's suspicious of Jade.

Monday, October 9, 2006
Happy Columbus Day from the editors of Soap Opera Digest and Weekly. Our offices are closed today in observance of the holiday. Our daily recaps will resume Tuesday, October 10.

2005 recaps