Nikolas is walking through the hospital and to the desk. He sighs heavily.
Nikolas: Hi.
Georgie: Hi.
Nikolas: I need to know when Stefan's Cassadine's body can be released for burial.
Georgie: The District Attorney has to sign the release. Scott Baldwin's office just called to say he's running just a little late.
Nikolas: Okay, thanks. Nikolas sighs heavily and rubs his hand over his face as Lydia approaches.
Lydia: I thought you'd be here.
Nikolas: Hi.
Lydia: It's all such a nightmare. After everything that Stefan did, I -- I don't know what to say, except I want to help you in any way I can. I can make arrangements, or if you -- you just need a shoulder to lean on.
Nikolas: And that's -- that's very generous, especially after the hell that my family put you through. Thank you.
Lydia: That was your uncle, not you, Nikolas.
Nikolas: Thanks for offering, but there's really nothing more you can do, Lydia.
Lydia kisses Nikolas on the cheek.
Lydia: Call me if you change your mind.
Nikolas: Okay.
Lydia walks to the elevator and stands walking for it to open. Emily rushes in from off camera and Nikolas cups her face and kisses her and then hugs her.
Emily: Hi.
Nikolas: Hey.
Lydia watches them jealously and then the camera cuts to Cameron and Alexis fighting over Kristina. This leads into Cameron and Alexis talking to Nikolas and Emily.
Alexis: Oh look -- two rational human beings. Walks over to Nikolas and Emily. Hi. Could you please explain to the pyschiatrist that a daycare center is not designed for children whose mothers are sitting at home alone --
Emily: Alexis --
Alexis: Dying to take care of their babies -- what?
Emily: Alexis, you haven't heard?
Nikolas: Stefan is dead.
Lucky and Skye talk about Luke killing Stefan and how Luke raised Lucky. Luke is listening in.
Nikolas and Alexis are walking in the hospital while Emily and Cameron are sitting off to the side in the lobby.
Alexis: Why didn't you call me?
Nikolas: Oh. I left you a message for you to call me.I didnt' -- I didn't want to explain what happened over the phone. I apologize. I should've just come to your apartment and told you in person.
Camera cuts to Emily and Cameron.
Emily: It was Zander's choice, and I have to respect it, Dr. Lewis.
Cameron: Maybe it's for the best. I think Nikolas is going to need you.
Emily looks over her shoulder at Nikolas and smiles sadly.
Emily: His heart's breaking, and it's taking everything he has to pretend it's not.
Nikolas: It's understandable. I think repression is in the Cassadine genes.
The camera cuts back to Nikolas and Alexis and we see a doctor dressed in scrubs spying on them. (It's LUKE SPYING). Nikolas is signing papers and the camera cuts back to Luke a lot.
Alexis: I'm not saying this is your fault, Nikolas. None of this is your fault. I'm just sorry that it had to happen.
Nikolas: I made arrangements to have him buried at Memorial Glen.
Alexis: Why don't you hold off on the details. You don't have to be fine about this. N o one expects you to be fine about this.
Nikolas: It had to happen. Sooner or later, Luke would've killed him or -- or he would have killed Luke. Who lived and died almost doesn't matter. Both their lives are over now.
Alexis: A warrant doesn't mean anything to Luke. He's used to living with them. He'll just run from the law again.
Nikolas: Hmm.
Scott approaches them at the desk.
Scott: Yeah, well, he doesn't run so fast anymore. That's why I'm going to catch him -- very soon.
The scene ends on Luke's face as he gets comfortable evesdropping.
Scott: It's just a question of days, maybe enen hours beofre Spencer's sitting in his little 5 x 7 cell.
Nikolas: Look, my only concern right now is getting my uncle's body released for burial.
Scott: I know. That's why I'm here. I know you're in a hurry.
Nikolas: I made arrangements for the internment to take place tonight, so whatever you can do --
Scott goes off and Luke leaves. Emily and Cameron approach.
Scott: I'll take care of it.
Alexis: I'm sorry, Nikolas, but I'm not going to be there. The brother I knew died a long time ago.
Nikolas: Okay. I understand., The burial will be -- will just be that -- a burial. The priest will say a few words and that will be it.
Scott comes back and hands Nikolas the papers.
Scott: All done.
Nikolas: All right, Thanks for expediting this. I appreciate it.
Scott: A pleasure.
Scott, Emily and Nikolas head off toward the elevators. Cameron and Alexis talk about the funeral and how Alexis needs to deal with Stefan's death and go to the funeral.
A scene with Luke and Skye back at Skye's cottage. Luke tells her that he's going to the funeral with Skye and that he overheard the details for the funeral from Nikolas.
Lucky and Lydia have a discussion at Kelly's. Lydia isn't going to go to the funeral and Lucky says they have to go to offer support to Nikolas. Lydia says that Nikolas is getting ample support from Emily and Lucky says its about offering comfort to someone in pain, not a contest.
It's evening, the gate to the cemetary opens and Nikolas is there. He walks over the the casket and looks at it. He's so hot. He walks around the grows and moves a bouquet of funeral flowers over from the side of the gate, closer to the casket. He pauses and just stares at the casket, lost in thought.
The groundskeeper is setting up the plot and Alexis walks into cemetary. People are lined up against the gate and Alexis walks up to Nikolas and they hug.
Nikolas: Hi. I'm glad you changed your mind.
Alexis: He snuck dessert up to my room against Helena's orders. He told me I was brilliant and sent me to college when Helena thought that I could never do it. I came to say goodbye.
Nikolas: Oh.
Scott comes in through the gate.
Alexis: When did Scott Baldwin show up?
Nikolas: I don't know. Excuse me.
Nikolas walks over to Scott.
Nikolas: I'm sorry, this is a private gathering. I'd prefer no police.
Scott: Well, I would prefer to catch Luke Spencer, and he's not goign to miss this shindig.
Nikolas: Just don't interfere.
Scott: Yeah, okay.
Nikolas walks off and the camera pans on Liz and a full-uniformed Lucky watching Ric. Ric and Scott discuss having everything set up to catch Luke. Everyone watches as Skye comes in with a black-cloaked figure. They all assume that it is Luke. Skye and the person sit down. The camera pans between Ric/Scott, Lucky/Liz and then Skye and the figure sitting in the chairs.
Ric: If it isn't Luke Spencer in the flesh. Give him an A for effort.
Lucky: Dad must be losing it if that's the best he can do.
Skye: Oh, God, everybody's staring. Why did I let you talk me into this?
Scott walks over to Skye and bends down beside her.
Scott: Skye Quartermaine. How nice of you to show up. I didn't know you knew Cassadine. Did you two date?
Skye: I'm here to support Emily.
Emily: You are?
Everyone turns as a woman comes through the gate in all her glory. It's HELENA.
Helena: Well, good evening, everyone.
Ric has since joined Scott beside Skye and the figure.
Ric: Who the hell is that?
Scott: That's the Queen Bee.
Helena: Well, why is everyone so surprised? Didn't you know I would come? Oh, honestly. Someone has finally accomplished what I have been trying to do for years. And perhaps I should thank that person who is responsible. Helena turns to the cloaked figure. Brava. I love the veil. Well , would everyone please stop staring? I gave birth to Stefan Cassadine. I couldn't possibly miss seeing him put into the ground.
The camera tags on Nikolas' face as we go to a commercial.
Helena sits down as Nikolas approaches her.
Nikolas: Hello, Grandmother.
Helena: Nikolas, my darling.
Nikolas: I didn't realize you'd be attending.
Helena: Well, I'm here to offer you my support.
Emily walks over to stand beside Nikolas.
Emily: He doesn't need support or anything else from you.
Helena: Well, I see you haven't managed to lose your little friends.
Nikolas: Emily's right. You're not welcome here.
Helena: My darling, I haven't been welcome anywhere since before I can remember. Nikolas, I lost your father and my precious Mikkos to the Spencers. I've mourned them both for years. But, please, would you deny me the opportunity to celebrate this, now that Luke has finally gotten something right?
Lucky rushes up to stand beside Nikolas and face Helena.
Lucky: Get out!
Helena: Well, Lucky. Lucky, what a pleasure to see you and all dresseed up in your impressive uniforms. My, what shiny buttons.
Liz: Aren't you supposed to be in a convent in Antarctica?
Helena: Nuns and penguins, penguins and nuns. It's all black and white. Oh, they're not much fun at all. Especially this time of the year.
Lucky: How did you find out?
Helena: You can practice your interrogation skills on some else, Cadet Spencer. This is a Cassadine funeral. I am the Cassadine matriach, and I every right to be here
Nikolas sighs and drops his head.
Nikolas: Okay. You have permission to stay for the service but not after. There is nothing for you here.
Nikolas walks away and escorts people to sit down. Helena gets up and starts in on Lucky about Luke and Laura nad how handsome Lucky is. The discuss that it's Luke in the dress. Helena then walks over to Alexis and throws all her past indiscretions in her face, including the birth of a daughter, the stabbing of Luis Alcazar and not being able to defend Stefan. LOL! Helena brings up the Dobson~butler escapade and then Cameron interrupts. HAHA...Alexis leaves and Helena throws up Peter's death and Zander's life iin Cameron's face. Nikolas leads Helena to her chair and sits beside her.
Priest: Good evening. We are gathered this evening to mourn the passing of Stefan Cassadine, cherised son, loving uncle, devoted brother. May you all find comfort in your time of loss. May the memory of Stefan sustain you in your grief.
The camera pans and looks at all the main characters, focuses on Scott and then ends the scenes.
The camera pans from Nikolas onto the priest.
Priest: Please accept this our prayers on behalf of this departed soul and grant him entrance into the land of light and joy in the fellowship of thy saints. Amen. The priest turns back and faces the crowd. Would anyone like to share a remembrance? Camera pans focusing on the crowd. Family? Camera pans again. Friends? Camera pans again. No one? The camera contines to pan and lands on Helena.
Helena: Well, fine. Anything to get him into the ground more quickly. Gets up and goes to the front. Well, Greetings to everyone. It's been quite a while, but I see that that thigns have not really changed. Stefan is still a disappoinment. Even his own funeral is getting dull. But then, Stefan was a dull boy. Well , what does a mother say about the second son? That he was second-rate in every way, that he wasted his life loving a woman who never returned his --
Nikolas: His life wasn't a waste. Helena stops in mid-speech. Sit down. Helena sits down. My uncle devoted his life to a family which did not respect him, to dreams which had zero chance of coming true. He devoted his life to me. I loved the man who raised me, the kind man who gave me the benefit of every doubt, whose greatest crime was to love my mother and forsake all others when she couldn't do the same. And who, in the and, made terrible and desperate decisions to keep his dreams for me alive.
Nikolas gets up and faces the crowd as he does up his suit jacket.
Nikolas: Thank you all for coming. Thank you.
Emily rushes up and goes and hugs Nikolas. Emily pulls away as Alexis approaches and hugs Nikolas. Skye and black-cloaked figure go to leave and Scott pulls the black hood off of the guy. It's Dillon. Everyone is shocked and wants to know wehre Luke is. Lucky asks that question and then, we see Luke dressed as a hobo, behind the gate, behind Lucky's shoulder, ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS in the lantern. HEE!
Scott interrogates Dillon about what he's doing at the funeral. Dillon tries to say that he's making a film and Scott is ticked. He's interrogating Skye and wants to know why Skye and Dillon are here. LMAO! We can see Luke in the background. Alexis confronts Skye and says she knows that Skye was waiting for Alexis to lose it. Nikolas asks them both to leave and Scott grabs Dillon's bag and pulls out a camera. Scott says he knows that Dillon is working for Luke, Skye seems outraged.
Skye and Dillon head out and then Ric and Liz have a discussion trying to catch Luke. Liz says that Ric should respect Nikolas' grief and just go, Ric ssays he will if that what she wants. Lucky comes up to her and asks her if she wants to go. Helena stops them and warns Liz not to stumble. They leave.
Nikolas: You need to leave now.
Helena: Well, it was a lovely service, wasn't it? You know, that Quartermaine boy was really lovely in that dress.
Nikolas: Go on back from where you came from, Grandmother.
Helena: Well, just a few quick errands. I'll be gone.
Helena walks off and stops in front of Cameron and Alexis. Lydia watches them.
Cameron: Here's my card. I'd be happy to refer you to a competent therapist.
Helena: When our dear Alexis stabs you in the back -- and she will -- you might comfort yourself with this thought -- treachery lives in the genes. Someday Alexis' own daughter will betray her, and perwsonally, I can't wait. Helena rips up the card. I so adore symmetry.
Alexis: Let's go.
Helena walks to the casket and puts her hand on it.
Helena: Oh, Stefan. You couldn't even be a star at your own funeral. Helena turns and walks close to Lydia. I used to shoot skeet with your grandfather. He would be so disappointed to see your lack of cleverness and perseverance, not to mention style.
Helena walks out, Nikolas has watched the exchange between Lydia and Helena. Lydia sighs and walks out. Nikolas sighs heavily and walks up to the casket. Emily comes up to him from behind.
Emily: I thanked the priest, and I sent him home. Do you need some time alone?
Nikolas: No. No, I've said all I needed to say.
Emily: Well, let's go.
Nikolas: Okay.
Nikolas wraps Emily in an arm and they walk out, pausing so Nikolas can grab Emily's coat and wrap her in it. They leave and Luke the hunchback, comes in. Takes off the hump.
Luke: Well, the hump fooled them. Even your dear old mother fell for it, and god knows she's no stranger to deformity. How does that old joke go? "Knock, knock." Luke knocks on casket for sound effects. You say, "Who's there?" "Luke. " "Luke, who?" "Luke, who's dead. It ain't me." Manical Luke laughter ensues.
Luke is talking to the open casket of Stefan. Checks to see if he's dead by oking him with a shovel. Luke sits on the casket, he's going to bury him. Luke doesn't understand why he has an empty feeling inside, like it's the end of an ancient feud or a hollow victory. Discovers its because he didn't have lunch. Luke closes the casket and turns around to see Nikolas reapproaching.