Outside at Kelly’s, Elizabeth is “reading” paper.
Ric: Elizabeth. What are you reading?
Elizabeth: I can only see the headlines.
Turns the paper around and shows him the headlines. FUGITIVE STEFAN CASSADINE WANTED FOR MURDER
Elizabeth: Nice work, Counselor.
Ric: I – I didn’t help Stefan escape.
Elizabeth: But, you got him released.
Ric: Well, Stefan is a client. He asked me to represent him and I accepted. It’s not a requirement to like the client in order to defend them.
Elizabeth: The guy killed somebody, Ric. Oh yeah, and he tried to kill my best friend.
Ric: Yes, I know that, and I’m sorry. But the fact remains; Stefan has the right to an attorney, same as anybody. That’s just how the system works and I am part of that system.
Elizabeth: You know, actions have consequences. If the hurts someone else, you’ll be partly responsible.
Zander is drinking coffee at Kelly’s counter when Lydia comes down the stairs.
Lydia: Have you seen Lucky?
Zander: What? Uh – no.
Lydia: How about Nikolas?
Zander: I try not to keep track of the guy.
Lydia: Well, maybe you should. He’s probably in front of your fireplace making love to your wife.
Zander: Oh - right.
Lydia: Yeah. Nikolas filed for divorce. He’s leaving me for good.
Zander: Lydia. He’s been threatening that for a while now.
Lydia: Well, it’s done now. Nikolas is finally free to be with Emily.
Emily comes in from the front door and overhears Lydia.
Lydia: So, if I were you, I’d keep a closer eye on the little wife.
Emily grabs Lydia’s arm and spins her around.
Emily: And if I were you, I’d get out of my husband’s ace.
Luke: Where is he?
Nikolas: If you're referring to my uncle, Luke, I still have no idea where he is.
Luke: Why do you insist on putting off the inevitable?
Nikolas: I'm not going to help you kill him, Luke.
Luke: Nobody's asking you to help.
Nikolas: Look, what he did was unforgivable, but I'm not --
Luke: What he did was kill a decent, young woman. But you never cared anything about Summer. Youalways treated her like a whore.
Nikolas: What happened to Summer was wrong, okay?
Luke: Yeah, it was wrong. I wonder if you'd feel a little more passionate about it if it had been Emily at the bottom of that cliff.
Nikolas: Okay, if you leave now, then we can avoid any further complications.
Luke: Well, why don't we just call in the cops? Lucky, come on down! You've been following me for two hours.
Lucky: I'm not going to let you hurt Nikolas.
Luke: I'm not talking about him.
Lucky: I'm not going to let you try to kill Stefan, either.
Luke: Stop me.
Ric: Clients haven’t exactly been beating on my door lately.
Elizabeth: You don’t need the money.
Ric: I need to work. What else have I got to do?
Elizabeth: You can help people, Ric. Of course, that’s the last thing that occurs to you.
Lydia: I guess I hit a nerve.
Emily: You said you loved Nikolas.
Lydia: So, I can’t talk to his one and only this way? Is that what you’re saying?
Emily: All right. Look, attacking us isn’t going to win you any points with Nikolas?
Lydia: Nikolas will never have feelings for me. Period. I never had a chance. And now he’s filing the divorce papers. Our marriage will legally be over. That hurts. But what hurts more is knowing that you’re the reason. Just once, I would like someone to look at me the way that Zander and my husband look at you.
Emily: Look, Zander and I have our own life now. We need you to stay out of it.
Lydia: She’s not even surprised by the news. Did Nikolas give you the heads up before he dumped me?
Zander gets up to stop the women. Lydia turns to Zander.
Zander: Okay, uh – yeah, that’s enough, Lydia.
Lydia: You know, you seem like a really nice guy, and you obviously lover her so much. But one day, when you wake up and realize that Emily doesn’t love you the same way, it’s going to hurt like hell.
Lydia leaves.
Emily: That nasty pixie-haired little, skinny --
Zander: Okay, was she right?
Emily: About what?
Zander: How long have you known that Nikolas was filing for divorce?
Luke: I don't even know you anymore.
Lucky: I'm still your son, so let's go.
Luke: No. Not until Nikolas coughs up Stefan’s location.
Lucky: Nikolas already told you he's not protecting Stefan.
Luke: Oh, really? Well, when did Nikolas start eating fast food, huh? Unless he's trying to feed somebody without the servants knowing about it?
Nikolas: Maybe -- maybe it was a test to see if you'd follow me, and you did.
Luke: You set me up.
Lucky: We needed to, Dad. I need to get you off the streets.
Luke: Oh, all right, well, let's go. Arrest me.
Lucky: It's for your own good, Dad.
Luke: We both know I could be out of the county by the time you reach the car.
Lucky: Don't fight this. Cuff him.
Luke: No, no, no, wait a minute! If you're going to arrest me, you cuff me. And when you do, you're no longer a son of mine.
Lucky: I'm not going to stand by and watch you ruin your life. You have been charged with trespassing on private property. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.
Luke: Yeah, all right, just get me the hell out of here.
Nikolas: I'm sorry.
Lucky: Don't be. My father's never been good to you, and you helped him regardless.
Nikolas: If I get a lead on my uncle, I'll call you.
Lucky: He's still going to have to go to prison, Nikolas.
Nikolas: Mm-hmm.
Lucky: Not just for what he tried to do to Emily.
Nikolas: I understand. If my uncle's not safely locked away, your father's -- your father's going to kill him. I understand that. But the problem is my uncle also understands that. He knows he has nothing left to lose.
Lucky: Stefan's planning something, and you know it's going to be bad.
Nikolas: Yeah. The question is, who's his next victim?
Zander and Emily are now sitting at a table at Kelly’s. Penny was giving them coffee.
Emily: I didn’t know Nikolas had filed for divorce until just now when Lydia told you.
Zander: He hasn’t called you?
Emily: No. Do you think I’m lying?
Zander: You’ve lied about Nikolas before.
Emily: Zander, this isn’t about me or you at all. It’s about Nikolas and Lydia. His uncle betrayed him, and he was –
Zander: And you don’t’ want to see him get hurt. Is that it?
Emily: Of course not. He’s my friend.
Zander: Well, that’s an easy lie to hide behind.
Emily: I don’t understand why you’re doing this.
Zander: Because, I have nothing left if I don’t. So be honest with me, Emily. Would you rather be right here now working on this, or would you rather rush off to make sure Nikolas is okay?
Emily: That’s not fair, Zander. I care about you both.
Zander: No. Emily, I cared about Elizabeth. I cared about Carly. But I only loved you. Now, I know that’s inconvenient for you now because you can’t be with who you want to be with.
>Emily: That is not true.
Zander: You’re not jealous because I hooked up with Carly. You’re not jealous because I hooked up with Elizabeth. You’re relieved because it gives you the ammunition to walk out on this marriage.
Emily: Then why am I still here?
Zander: Because you want me to do it. That way your conscience cane be clear and you can say that you tried, even thought you never did. Even though you married me when you loved Nikolas. It can’t work, Em. I don’t – I don’t want this anymore. Our marriage is over.
Lucky: Nikolas signed the complaint.
Scott: There you go—signed, sealed. We’re holding you on breaking and entered without bail. Keep you off the streets and out of the bars.
Luke: What the hell is the matter with you two? You both know that Stefan and his brother tortured Laura for years. Summer comes alone, he offs her. And now you think a nice, cozy little cell is going to make him pay for that? He’s not even going to go to prison!
Scott: Oh, yes, he will, Spencer.
Luke: You’re confident; you can handle this slick new lawyer of his?
Scott: Ah, Lansing’s a weasel.
Luke: Are you even bothering to look for Stefan?
Lucky: Baldwin, I need a moment with my dad.
Luke: Absolutely Lucky, just remember that you’re on my side now.
Lucky: I’ve always known what side I’ve been on. That’s never changed.
Scott: Okay, two minutes.
Luke: You know, I think he’s going to let me go and handle this my way.
Lucky: You know what? You’re damn right. He wants you to get out of here. That way, Stefan dies, and you go to jail for life.
Luke: No jail has ever held me.
Lucky: Dad, I became a cop to end this. Stefan will pays for what he’s done just like anybody else would – legally.
Luke: The only way Stefan is ever going to pay is by drawing that last foul breath.
Zander and Emily are still sitting at Kelly’s
Zander: When you left, I tired to move on, but nothing – nothing I felt for Carly or Elizabeth ever came close to how much I loved you. You’re the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about before I go to bed. And then I dream about you, Only you. Across the miles or just across my bed. You’re my life, Emily, I don’t want anyone else. And it used to be the same way for you, but not – not anymore. The truth is you loved me once, but now you just – you just care bout me. That’s right, isn’t it?
Emily: Zander, you’re my first love.
Zander: I used to think that, too. But I found out that’s not even true, either. What you wanted all along was your prince.
Emily: I know I’ve been confused, and I was honest about that.
Zander: So, be honest with me now. Be honest with me now.
Emily: I am. I love you. I love you, Zander. I choose you.
Zander: Forever?
Emily: Zander, please. I can’t – I can’t lose you.
Zander: I deserve better.
Zander gets up and leaves Kelly’s
Stefan: I knew you'd come.
Nikolas: You need to leave the island.
Stefan: So many people want me dead. Where do you suggest I go?
Nikolas: I don't care. Just stay away from the people I love and never contact me again.
Stefan: I'll leave by morning.
Nikolas: I want you to leave now.
Stefan: I can't travel in broad daylight, Nikolas.
Nikolas: Fine, then you'll leave at nightfall.
Stefan: Nikolas, just give me a moment. For all the years I've given you, you're the best thing I've ever had in my life. I hope that someday you'll be able to forgive me and allow some part of me back in your heart.
Nikolas: We all want things we'll never have.
Nikolas leaves the tunnel and walks over and sees the tied up Lydia. He strokes her face and takes the gag from her mouth..
Stefan: I’m sorry about this. My plan solves all our problems. You and Nikolas will get the inheritance, and a part of me will be part of Nikolas.
Nikolas: Em?
Emily: Hey.
Nikolas: Um -- there's something that I think you should know.
Emily: I already do. You filed for divorce. Lydia was here.
Nikolas: What's wrong? Did she upset you?
Emily: I can handle her. Zander was the real target.
Nikolas: I -- I don't understand.
Emily: Lydia warned him to lock me up before you had the chance to get to me.
Nikolas: How did he react to that?
Emily: He bought her whole line. We fought. The funny thing is I came here to tell him the good news.
Nikolas: Do you want to tell me?
Emily: I want to stop second-guessing myself. I want to stop hurting Zander and you. Lydia and Zander both believe that you ended your marriage to be with me. So I need to know -- did you?
Lucky comes into the tunnels and finds Lydia.
Lucky: Lydia. He rushes over to untie her.
Lydia: It’s Stefan. He’s really lost it. He wants to get me pregnant with his baby.
Lucky: Okay, it’s all right.
Lydia: He says we can pass it off as Nikolas’. Lucky is clonked on the head by Stefan and passes out. You could have killed him.
Stefan: Don’t worry about him. I’ll take care of him. Give you more time to think. Please, focus on the potential rewards. It’ll be all right. It’s okay.
Meanwhile, Ric has become the Assistant District Attorney and Luke has escaped from jail.
Lydia: Stefan, this isn’t the answer. Nikolas is paying the loan back.
Stefan: By borrowing money from criminals. It’s unacceptable. The Cassadine Prince is his own master. This is the only solution.
Lydia: Nikolas will hate you. Do you want that?
Stefan: He’s already turned against me. But Nikolas will love this child. Perhaps through him I can be redeemed. Our baby will be conceived with purpose and with all the beauty that that dictates. I promise you. It’s the only way to save the one that we both love.
Nikolas: I love you. And I want to be with you so bad. But even if I didn't, I couldn't be with Lydia because -- because I'd be proving my uncle right. I'd be doing what he wanted. I mean, Lydia and I could never be together, regardless.
Emily: It's different for me and Zander. We have so much history, you know?
Nikolas: Then fight for him if he's the one you want to be with. He certainly wants to be with you. But I want to be with you, too. And the only one who can't seem to figure out what they want is you.
Emily: I'm sorry, I didn't –
Emily gets up to leave and Nikolas stands and stops her.
Nikolas: No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This is exactly what I wanted to avoid. Okay, you've already been through so much, you're just getting stronger. I'm sorry.
Emily: No, that's exactly what I came here to tell Zander. Dr. Andres found a new chemo treatment for me, but to start it I have to have my immune levels checked again.
Nikolas: But you're out of the hospital. Your white blood count is up, right?
Emily: I have to be fully recovered before I can do the treatment.
Nikolas: You will be. I'll help you. I'll help you.
Nikolas brings Emily into a hug and kisses her forehead. They stand there and Zander comes into Kelly’s and stands in the doorway watching them.