NIKOLAS AND EMILY
TYLER | NATALIA

Happily Ever After?
ABC Soaps In Depth
November 23, 2004

On The Cover: Nikolas, Emily and Connor Picture ~ "Connor's Evil Plot: Will Nikolas Lose Emily?"

Connor casts a dark shadow over Nikolas and Emily's future

Maybe it's gazing into those dreamy eyes that look surprisingly similar to Nikolas' that has Emily not just sympathizing with Connor but warming up to him. This week on GENERAL HOSPITAL, Connor is drawn to Emily as Nikolas searches for a way to get his body double not to trun him in as Helena's killer and instead hit the road. But will Nikolas' desperate move prove to be a life altering mistake?

Nikolas And Connor Strike A Pact
Connor makes Nikolas a deal -- he'll keep quiet about witnessing the prince push Helena off hte cliff if Nikolas funs his escape to Canada to dodge charges of being a deserter. Although Nikolas isn't thrilled with the idea, Emily convinces him to go along with the plan. "Emily thinks they could do a quid pro quo kind of thing," says Tyler Christopher, who's tackling the dual role of Nikolas and Connor. "She thinks she can use it to her advantage to help keep Nikolas from getting indicted for Helena's murder. She's beomce sympathetic to COnnor. It's in her nature. That's who she is. She's one of those people who thinks she has to save everybody from themselves."

Connor Gets Inside Crazy Mary's Head
Nikolas finds Connor's kind words about his dead wife, Mary, hard to swallow. After Nikolas heads out, Emily opens Mary's diary and reads a few passages to Connor. Affected by his wife's own words, he pays his respects at her grave, where he blames himself for her ruin, only for Emily to find him and attempt to convince him that it's not his fault. They return to Wyndemere, where she continues to read to him. Her calming voice and comforting words touch Connor, who makes an implusive move that startles her.

"It's a reality check," explains Christopher. "He doesn't buy into it at first. But then he starts to realize his responsibility in it all. The way he feels about Mary being dead, he starts to understand how she must have felt thinking that he was dead. Because of Mary's behavior pattern before this all started, he goes on to say that even while they were together, she was very codependent upon him for everything and that she would freak out every time he had to go away. So he understands how she probably arrived at killing Sage and trying to kill Emily."

Connor Pulls A Fast One!
Meanwhile, Mac is putting the pieces of the puzzle together and is getting a clear picture of Nikolas and Emily's part in covering for Connor, who he believes witnessed Helena's death. Mac later pays "Nikolas" a visit but instead gets Connor pretending to be the prince. And he pulls it off! Mac leaves never guessing that the wool was being pulled over his eyes.

Connor confesses to Nikolas that he wasn't exactly gentlemanly toward Emily, apologizes profusely and agrees to leave for Canada that night. But when no one is looking, Connor takes drastic steps to insure that his recovery suffers a backslide. As he continues to nurse his wounds at Wyndemere, he again turns the charm on Emily who, this time, doesn't turn the other cheek! Nikolas sees through him and knows how to stop his look-alike in his tracks even though it could cost him everything he owns... including his own freedom!

"According to Emily, she sees right through Connor's armor and sees this person who was in love with his wife and has been grieving," says Christopher. "Nikolas doesn't see the same Connor that she does... and I don't know that that tide will ever shift."