Nikolas: Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: Hey, Nikolas.
Nikolas: Hi.
Elizabeth: Thanks for coming.
Nikolas: Why did you need to see me?
Elizabeth: Oh, well, I got the feeling at the PCPD that you weren't telling me something and I need to know the truth. Ric is helping Zander set you up for murder, isn't he?
Lucky: Anything new on the Cody McCall murder case?
Brian: You would know more than I would.
Ric: Actually, he wouldn’t. Especially since I took him off the case. Exactly what part of that order did you not understand?
Ric: Officers don't get to choose the cases they're on, Lucky.
Lucky: And A.D.A.'s aren't supposed to be framing innocent people. You're supposed to be investigating that Cody McCall murder case and all you're doing is railroading Nikolas.
Brian: Lucky, you have every right to be frustrated. Cassadine’s your brother and you want him to be innocent.
Lucky: No, he is innocent.
Ric: Lucky, there's evidence against him.
Lucky: That's convenient, isn't it?
Brian: We're all on the same side here.
Lucky: No, like hell we are. I gave you, Lansing, a description of that murder suspect and a list of all his aliases, and you have done nothing with it!
Ric: Well, you know what, that's the way the system works, Lucky. I'm sorry it's not working the way you want it to. Hounding me for results that aren't going to happen isn't going to help anybody, so my advice to you is you've been officially taken off this case, you'd better stay away from it.
Lucky: Yeah or what?
Ric: Or I’ll have your badge.
Brian: You told me to bury that A.P.B. I never should've done that. Look, my goal was to bring down Morgan and Corinthos, not frame an innocent man for murder.
Nikolas: I can't honestly say what Ric is doing or why, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: But you have suspicions?
Nikolas: Well, I can't assume anything unless there's proof.
Elizabeth sighs.
Elizabeth: Zander's been stalling about giving up his parental rights and now I know why. He wants something in return.
Nikolas: That's between you and Zander.
Elizabeth: Unfortunately, Nikolas, you're in the middle. See, Zander thinks he can get Emily back if you're out of the way, and I'm -- God, I'm pretty sure that he's blackmailing Ric to frame you.
Nikolas: Well, has Ric told you anything about that?
Elizabeth: No, no. I just have a really bad feeling about this.
Nikolas: I'll keep my eyes open, okay?
Elizabeth: Nikolas, listen, you're -- you're my friend and I just -- if Ric is -- God, if he is trying to send you to jail for something you didn't do, I'm going to do everything I can to stop it.
Nikolas: You can’t.
Ric: I'm not framing Nikolas. I buried that A.P.B. because I didn't see any reason pursuing it.
Brian: So since when does the D.A.'s office tell the police who is and is not a viable suspect?
Ric: Well, it's a judgment call, detective. We make them all the time.
Brian sighs.
Ric: Why the hell are you so tense?
Brian: Just trying to do my job.
Ric: Good, see that you do it on Friday night.
Brian: Everything's set. Faith hasn't been seen around, but we've confirmed that her people are planning to hijack the Corinthos-Morgan shipment.
Ric: You got your people in place?
Brian: Yeah, my team will intercept the shipment and catch Morgan and Faith's people in the act of committing a felony.
Ric: And you're prepared for the fallout?
Brian: You're going to have to me more specific.
Ric: When Jason goes to jail, your relationship with Courtney will be over.
Brian: Courtney will be angry, but eventually she'll realize I did what I had to do.
Ric: Our main goal is to get Morgan and people like him off the streets. Courtney can't get in the way of that.
Brian: No one wants Corinthos and Morgan in prison more than I do. Nothing's going to screw this up.
Nikolas: As far as I know, Ric’s just doing his job.
Elizabeth: I hope to God that's true.
Nikolas: He's got a lot to look forward to. I don't think he'd risk throwing it all away by lying to you.
Elizabeth sighs.
Elizabeth: That's just it -- he would do just about anything to protect me and the baby, and maybe that includes being blackmailed into helping Zander.
Nikolas: Look, Zander would love seeing me go to prison, but that has nothing to do with Ric. He -- he blames me for Emily leaving him and he's determined to make me pay however he can.
Elizabeth: I don't know why I ever got involved with him. Should've just gone home with Ric that night.
Nikolas: Elizabeth, you are pregnant with a child that you and Ric both want and the best thing you can do for your baby is to keep it away from Zander.
Elizabeth: But what if I can't?
Nikolas: You find a way. Destructive people like Zander can do a lot of damage to a child.
Elizabeth: I guess you would know, huh?
Nikolas: Look, you can't let Zander stake a claim to your child. That -- that's important. Now is the time to do whatever it takes.
Nikolas: You take care of yourself, okay?
Elizabeth: I'll do my best. Thank you for understanding.
Ric: Hi.
Elizabeth: Hey.
Ric: What did he want?
Elizabeth: Well, I -- I asked Nikolas if you were framing him.
Ric: Well, you know, Nikolas is desperate. He'll say anything.
Elizabeth: Why are you assuming he said yes?
Ric: Well, he -- he's desperate to prove his innocence.
Elizabeth: Apparently, not desperate enough to attack you. Nikolas told me to trust you, that you're only doing your job. I can't imagine why he would cover for a man who's trying to convict him for murder, but he did. Didn't he, Ric?
Ric: You're right. I am framing Nikolas so that Zander will give up the baby.
Elizabeth: Nikolas is one of my best friends. How could you frame him for murder?
Ric: I didn't have a choice.
Elizabeth: Oh, yes, yes, yes, you did, you did.
Ric: Zander said he would relinquish his rights to the baby if I got Nikolas convicted of murder. I needed that signature, Elizabeth, all right? I've been stringing him along.
Elizabeth: Oh God, I can't believe I'm hearing this.
Ric: Look, Zander’s trying to hold the paternity of his child over our heads for the rest of our lives. Is that what you want?
Elizabeth: No, God no, of course not. But nothing justifies sending Nikolas to jail for murder!
Ric: I'm not going to let that happen.
Elizabeth: How can I trust you after what you just did? You know, I could never be happy knowing that we had done something terrible to get the family we want, but you could. You could because it's always been the same for you -- the end justifies the means.
Ric: No, that's not true. Listen to me, I figured out a way to cover for Nikolas, okay?
Elizabeth: You know, I don't want to hear how you intend to lie, coerce, maneuver.
Ric: No, you --
Elizabeth: This is -- this is the side of you that I’m afraid of, Ric. This is the side that I never wanted to see again.
Ric: Elizabeth, you need to listen --
Elizabeth: Don't touch me.
Jason: Emily asked me to get you that information on Ben Rogers?
Nikolas: Right, right. What did you find?
Jason: Okay. Apparently, he followed Sam McCall to the airport, but Sam got on Sonny's plane. The plane landed on an island called Azure Key.
Nikolas: Oh -- right, which tracks with what we already know. Azure key's where the treasure is.
Jason: Maybe Sam went after it.
Nikolas: Any idea where Ben is now?
Jason: Yeah, he flew to the Caribbean the next morning under an alias and he chartered a boat to Azure Key.
Nikolas: Well, you better warn Sonny. Ben's already killed one person over that treasure.
Jason: Azure key's been hit with a hurricane. Communication's been down for the last couple of days, but as soon as I get through, I'll give him the information.
Nikolas: Okay.
Lucky: What's going on?
Phone rings.
Jason: Yeah. Really? Okay. No, no, no, I'll take care of it. All right, I got to go.
Nikolas: Let me know if you hear anything.
Jason: Yeah, I will.
Nikolas: Thanks.
Nikolas: According to Jason, Ben has definitely gone down to Azure Key to find the treasure.
Lucky: I'll put in a call to local authorities.
Nikolas: No, no, no, no, no. I'd rather stay away from official channels if we could.
Lucky: Nikolas, this is our chance to nail Ric. If he impedes this investigation, it's proof he's trying to nail you.
Nikolas: I know, but Ric’s being blackmailed by Zander. It's not Ric’s fault.
Lucky: So what? It's still illegal.
Nikolas: Right, well, he's -- Lucky, he's just doing it so he and Elizabeth can keep the baby, that's all.
Lucky: Nikolas, if this is about wanting Elizabeth to be happy, I want that, too. But Ric is an officer of the court. There's other ways to nail Zander, okay? You know what, I’m not cutting him any slack.
Nikolas: Okay, okay, just -- just give me some time, okay? Zander's the one I want to expose here.
Lucky: Okay. You just let me know if you need any help.
Nikolas: All right, thanks.
Phone rings.
Nikolas: Hello?
John: Mr. Cassadine?
Nikolas: Yes?
John: It's John, the groundskeeper.
Nikolas: Well, hello John. What can I do for you?
John: I just saw a man sneaking into Wyndemere. Do you want me to call the police?
Nikolas: No. No, I'll handle it myself. Thank you.
Ric: Glad you called.
Elizabeth: Well, I ran off without giving you a chance to explain and that -- that wasn't fair.
Ric: Elizabeth, um -- I'm not going to let Nikolas go to jail.
Elizabeth: Well, how can you stop it? The case is already going to trial.
Ric: I already have a deal in place with Alexis Davis. Once Zander signs over his rights, I'm going to tank the case against Nikolas. I've already agreed to let her prove that he's innocent.
Elizabeth: Why didn't you tell me what Zander was doing?
Ric: I didn't want you involved.
Elizabeth: I'm already involved, whether I like it or not. I mean, the guy's using my baby to blackmail my husband.
Ric: No, you've suffered enough already and I didn't want us to give up our chance for a family.
Ric sighs.
Ric: Look, I know that I'm no boy scout, all right? I know that what I have done is questionable to say the least, but I love you, Elizabeth, and I -- I thought that what I was doing was the best for everyone.
Elizabeth: I absolutely hate that you lied to me -- again. And somehow I don't think it's right that you're manipulating Zander -
Ric: If there was another way, I swear to you I would do it.
Elizabeth: But I believe you and I know all this time you've been acting out of love for me and the baby which is -- is pretty amazing considering that this baby isn't yours. I brought Zander into our lives and I'm going to try really hard not to judge.
Ric: Come here. How do you do that? Hmm?
Elizabeth: Do what?
Ric: Always just see the best in me, even when I don't deserve it?
Elizabeth: Oh God, I don't know. I guess I'm in love with you. But you will make sure that Nikolas does not go to jail?
Ric: I promise.
Elizabeth: All right. Then you do whatever you can, because we need to protect our baby from Zander.