November 11, 1998

PREVIOUSLY ON GENERAL HOSPITAL:

BOBBIE: HAS ANYONE CALLED LAURA?

NIKOLAS: NO, NO. SHE'D ONLY WORRY. BESIDES, WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF ANYTHING BAD HAPPENED YET�

LESLEY LU: DADDY!

LUKE'S VOICE: I'M GOING TO TAKE LUCKY AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND TRY AND HASH OUT OUR PROBLEMS�.

LUCKY: DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW PATHETIC YOU'VE BECOME?

LUKE: NO, I'M DESPERATE. DESPERATE MEN TAKE DESPERATE CHANCES.

****

ANSWERING MACHINE: HELLO, YOU HAVE NO MESSAGES.

LAURA: UH-UH. NO, NO, BABY. REMEMBER WHAT MOMMY SAID? THE ANSWERING MACHINE IS NOT A TOY. YOU KNOW WHY, HON? BECAUSE IF YOU PUSH THE WRONG BUTTON, MOMMY MIGHT MISS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE EVEN FROM LUCKY OR FROM NIKOLAS. Understand? HEY, DID YOU LIKE SEEING BOTH OF YOUR BROTHERS AT THE SAME TIME AT NIKOLAS' BIRTHDAY PARTY? YOU DID?WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO IT AGAIN? OH, ME, TOO, BABY. ME, TOO. SEEING THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER WAS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE, WASN'T IT? I KNOW, HONEY.

*****

NIKOLAS: LIZ, SOMEONE'S HERE.

ELIZABETH: IS IT LUCKY?

NIKOLAS: I DON'T KNOW.

TAGGERT: MR. CASSADINE, MS. WEBBER. HOPE I'M NOT TOO EARLY.

ELIZABETH: NO, NOT AT ALL. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

TAGGERT: WELL, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR ASSAILANT, TOM BAKER, I'M HAPPY TO INFORM YOU HE'S STILL BEHIND BARS.

ELIZABETH: GOOD. THANKS. WE REPORTED LUCKY MISSING LAST NIGHT. ANY WORD ON THAT?

TAGGERT: AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.

***

(Lucky goes to open the door)

LUKE: IT'S RIGGED, COWBOY.

LUCKY: DID YOU RIG A SHOTGUN LIKE THE OLD DAYS?

LUKE: MAKES YOU WONDER, DOESN'T IT? STEP ASIDE. I'LL SHOW YOU. OH, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THIS. YOU READY?

LUCKY: YEAH.

LUCKY: YOU WERE BLUFFING.

LUKE: YEAH. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO OPEN MY EYES TO FOOL YOU.

LUCKY: THAT WAS TRICKY.

LUKE: BUT YOU KNOW WHY YOU FELL FOR IT? BESIDES THE OBVIOUS FACT THAT YOU'RE NOSTALGIC FOR THE OLD DAYS WHEN DEAR OLD DAD ALWAYS HAD A SHOTGUN HANDY.

LUCKY: YOU GOT ME.

LUKE: THIS --MAN, LOOK, THIS -- THIS IMAGE, LORDING OVER THE ROOM. THIS -- THIS CONSTANT THREAT, THIS DANGER, THESE STEEL JAWS OF UNRELENTING, INHUMAN,UNPREDICTABILITY JUST READY TO --ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

LUCKY: THE ONLY REASON YOU FOOLED ME IS I'M SO HUNGRY I CAN'T SEE STRAIGHT.

LUKE: OH. WELL, WE CAN'T HAVE THAT. IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD, YOU KNOW, GAME OF WITS, YOU HAVE TO BE IN TOP FORM. YOU WANT SOME BREAKFAST?

LUCKY: UNLESS YOU PLAN ON STARVING ME INTO SUBMISSION.

LUKE: I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

LUCKY: REALLY?

LUKE: YEAH. YOU STILL LIKE THAT CHOCOLATE-COVERED CEREAL WITH THE MARSHMALLOWS AND THE RAISINS?

LUCKY: YEAH.

LUKE: WELL, I'VE GOT IT HERE. I GOT INSTANT PASTA. I GOT MILK.

LUCKY: MILK?

LUKE: YOU BET.

LUCKY: BEEF JERKY?

LUKE: BEEF JERKY.

LUCKY: JERK.

*****

TAGGERT: YOUR FRIEND LUCKY HAS A HISTORY OF TAKING OFF WHENEVER HE WANTS TO. FOR US TO LAUNCH A SEARCH RIGHT NOW WOULD BE PREMATURE.

ELIZABETH: IF LUCKY WERE OK, HE'D HAVE CALLED ME BY NOW. ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

TAGGERT: I ASKED AROUND DOWN AT THE DOCKS. NOBODY'S SEEN HIM. I CHECKED HIS ROOM, NO SIGN OF A STRUGGLE. THE BEST WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS JUST SIT, WAIT, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

NIKOLAS: WELL, WHEN YOU CHECKED HIS ROOM, DID YOU SEE HIS BACKPACK?

TAGGERT: YES, I DID.

ELIZABETH: AND WHAT ABOUT HIS GUITAR?

TAGGERT: I BELIEVE SO.

NIKOLAS: WELL, DOESN'T THAT TELL YOU IF HE LEFT VOLUNTARILY, HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THOSE THINGS WITH HIM?

TAGGERT: WELL, IT'S TEMPTING TO THINK THAT, BUT ISN'T IT ALSO POSSIBLE THAT HE DIDN'T TAKE THOSE THINGS BECAUSE HE'S PLANNING TO RETURN?

ELIZABETH: LUCKY LEFT MY HOUSE LAST NIGHT TO LOOK FOR MY BRACELET, WHICH I LOST SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE DOCKS AND MY HOUSE. AT THE MOST, THAT SHOULD HAVE TAKEN 40 MINUTES. HE HAS BEEN GONE OVER 12 HOURS, LIEUTENANT. I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH REASON TO BE CONCERNED.

TAGGERT: HE HAS 36 HOURS BEFORE HE'S OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED MISSING. UNTIL THEN, THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO. I'M SORRY.

ELIZABETH: WELL, THEN, WILL YOU INFORM US IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING?

TAGGERT: I WILL CALL YOU RIGHT AWAY. YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT THIS WEEK, MS. WEBBER. WHY DON'T YOU GO EASY ON YOURSELF? TRY NOT TO WORRY.

ELIZABETH: SOMEONE I CARE ABOUT IS MISSING. YOU WANT TO TRY TO TELL ME HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO REMAIN COOL ABOUT THAT?

TAGGERT: GOOD POINT. I HOPE HE TURNS UP SOON.

(Taggert Leaves)

NIKOLAS: BOY, THAT WAS A BIG HELP.

ELIZABETH: WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING, NIKOLAS. WE JUST CAN'T SIT AROUND HERE AND WAIT.

NIKOLAS: I KNOW, I KNOW. LOOK, I'LL GO OVER TO LAURA'S,SEE IF SHE'S HEARD ANYTHING, AND SEE IF SHE HAS ANY IDEAS.

ELIZABETH: YEAH, DO IT. I'LL JUST STAY HERE AND TRY NOT TO WORRY.

NIKOLAS: OK. LOOK, IF HE CALLS HERE, DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT LETTING ME KNOW FIRST, ALL RIGHT?

ELIZABETH: HURRY, PLEASE.

(Nikolas Leaves Audrey's house)

****

(Felicia and Mac are kissing)

FELICIA: I LOVE YOU, TOO. OOPS.

(Taggert Walks in)

TAGGERT: SIR. SORRY I'M LATE. I HAD TO STOP BY THE HARDYS'.

MAC: IS EVERYTHING OK?

TAGGERT: I DON'T KNOW. LUCKY SEEMS TO BE MISSING.

MAC: ARE WE ON IT?

TAGGERT: NOT OFFICIALLY, BUT I HAVE MY EYES OPEN.

*****

(Laura hears knock on door and answers it. It's Nikolas)

LAURA: NIKOLAS, HI.

NIKOLAS: HI.

LAURA: OOH, I WAS JUST ON MY WAY OUT. I'M GLAD I DIDN'T MISS YOU.

NIKOLAS: OH, ME, TOO.

LAURA: OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOUR SISTER IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR. COME ON, LET'S GO SURPRISE HER.

NIKOLAS: ACTUALLY, ANY OTHER DAY I'D LOVE TO, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT WE NEED TO DISCUSS. I LEFT YOU A MESSAGE LAST NIGHT. YOU DIDN'T GET IT?

LAURA: NO. OH, NO.

NIKOLAS: HAVE YOU HEARD FROM LUCKY SINCE THE PARTY LAST NIGHT?

LAURA: WHAT HAPPENED?

NIKOLAS: WELL, HE'S --HE'S MISSING.

LAURA: WHAT?

*****

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

LUKE: LUCKY, OPEN THE DOOR.

[KNOCK]

LUKE: COME ON, YOU GOT ME. THAT WAS A REAL GOOD MOVE. ALL RIGHT, SCORE ONE FOR DALLAS.

(Lucky takes out cell phone and dials a number)

LUCKY: HEY, IT'S ME. I'M OK.

ELIZABETH: OH, LUCKY, THANK GOD. WHAT HAPPENED?

LUCKY: MY DAD'S BACK IN TOWN. HE WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH ME. LET'S JUST SAY HE PERSUADED ME.

ELIZABETH: ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

LUCKY: YEAH, YEAH, I'M FINE. IT'S JUST THE SAME OLD STUFF OVER AGAIN. LOOK, ELIZABETH, I'M SO SORRY.I KNOW YOU MUST HAVE BEEN SCARED.

ELIZABETH: TRY TERRIFIED.

LUCKY: ANYONE ELSE KNOW I'M GONE?

ELIZABETH: YOUR AUNT BOBBIE AND THE POLICE.

LUCKY: YOU CALLED THEM?

[KNOCK]

ELIZABETH: NO USE. WHAT'S THAT NOISE?

LUKE: LUCKY! OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!

LUCKY: HIM.

ELIZABETH: HE SOUNDS FURIOUS.

LUCKY: YEAH, WELL, HE'S HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE ADJUSTING TO OUR SITUATION.

ELIZABETH: YOU'RE NOT FIGHTING WITH HIM, ARE YOU?

LUCKY: NO, I DON'T THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S NOT LIKELY.

ELIZABETH: GOOD. LUCKY, YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHERE

YOU ARE BECAUSE --

LUCKY: HEY, HEY, I FOUND YOUR BRACELET.

ELIZABETH: YOU'RE KIDDING. WHERE?

LUCKY: THE DOCKS. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS JUST SITTING THERE WAITING FOR ME TO COME AND GET IT.

ELIZABETH: THAT IS SO GREAT. OK, LUCKY, YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHERE YOU ARE BECAUSE I --LUCKY? HELLO? ARE YOU THERE? LUCKY?

******

(Luke steals phone from Lucky)

LUKE: GIVE ME THAT. SMOOTH MOVE, SLICK. I GUESS YOUR PATHETIC OLD MAN TAUGHT YOU A THING OR TWO,AFTER ALL, DIDN'T HE?

LUCKY: EVERYTHING I KNOW THAT HAS ANY VALUE OR SUBSTANCE, I DIDN'T LEARN FROM YOU.

LUKE: YOU REALLY MISSED ME, DIDN'T YOU?

LUCKY: ARE YOU CRAZY?

LUKE: NO. YOU HAD ME HERE. YOU HAD ME TIGHT IN THAT PANTRY. ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS GET THE KEYS TO THE CAR AND WALK OUT. WHY DIDN'T YOU?

LUCKY: I HAD TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

LUKE: IT'S A CELL PHONE. YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT

ON THE RUN. YOU COULD HAVE MADE IT FROM THE CAR. NO, YOU WANT TO BE HERE. WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, LUCKY, YOU WANT TO BE HERE.

*******

LAURA: OK, FROM EVERYTHING YOU'VE TOLD ME, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE HE'S HURT OR HE'S IN TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. I'VE GOT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

NIKOLAS: AND THE BAD?

LAURA: WELL, IF LUCKY DECIDED TO GO SOMEWHERE, HE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST CALLED LIZ TO LET HER KNOW. SO I THINK IT MEANS HE WAS TAKEN AGAINST HIS WILL.

NIKOLAS: NOT A VERY COMFORTING CONCLUSION, IS IT?

LAURA: NO. THE QUESTION IS, BY WHOM?

NIKOLAS: COULD HAVE BEEN ANYONE.

LAURA: I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT. LUCKY HAS INCREDIBLE INSTINCTS FOR DANGER. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY TOUGH FOR THE AVERAGE, RUN-OF-THE-MILL MUGGER TO SNEAK UP ON HIM.

NIKOLAS: WELL, WHAT IF --WHAT IF THEY HAD A GUN AND JUMPED HIM FROM BEHIND OR SOMETHING?

LAURA: OK, LOOK, I'M NOT ELIMINATING THAT AS A POSSIBILITY. I JUST --I DON'T KNOW, I HAVE A GUT FEELING -- I HAVE A GUT FEELING THAT IT WAS SOMEONE HE KNEW.

NIKOLAS: WELL, YOU KNOW, LUCKY WAS PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING LIZ'S RAPIST IN JAIL. YOU THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE CONNECTED?

LAURA: MAYBE SO. HAS THAT RAPIST BEEN RELEASED?

NIKOLAS: NO.

LAURA: THEN IT COULD BE FRIENDS OF HIS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NIKOLAS: YEAH.

LAURA: WELL, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT YOU AND EMILY AND ELIZABETH WOULD ALL NEED PROTECTION. OH, MY GOD. I'M GOING TO CALL JASON. HE MIGHT HAVE SOME CONNECTIONS THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US OUT.

NIKOLAS: I'VE NEVER SEEN YOU LIKE THIS BEFORE.

LAURA: LIKE WHAT?

NIKOLAS: YOU'RE SO INCISIVE AND FOCUSED. I MEAN, MOST PARENTS WOULD BE FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW.

LAURA: I AM. BUT I'VE HAD YEARS OF PRACTICE. AND THIS IS WHAT A MOTHER DOES WHEN ONE OF HER KIDS IS IN TROUBLE.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

NIKOLAS: I'LL GET IT. HEY.

ELIZABETH: HEY, NIKOLAS. HI, MRS. SPENCER.

LAURA: HI.

NIKOLAS: WHAT'S UP? HAVE YOU HEARD FROM LUCKY?

ELIZABETH: YEAH, I HAVE.

LAURA: OF COURSE.

ELIZABETH: LUCKY SAID HE'S ALL RIGHT, THAT HIS FATHER CAME BACK INTO TOWN AND WANTED COMPANY OR SOMETHING.

NIKOLAS: DID HE MENTION WHERE HE WAS?

ELIZABETH: HE WAS ABOUT TO AND --

LAURA: AND WHAT?

ELIZABETH: AND THERE WAS A BIG CRASH, AND THE LINE WENT DEAD.

LAURA: WAS LUKE THERE?

ELIZABETH: YEAH, I COULD HEAR HIM YELLING IN THE BACKGROUND. I TRIED STAR 69 TO CALL HIM BACK, BUT THERE WAS NO ANSWER. YOU DON'T THINK LUKE MIGHT --

LAURA: NO, NO, NO. LUKE DID NOT COME BACK TO TOWN TO FIGHT WITH HIS SON.

NIKOLAS: WELL, HE WAS PRETTY ANGRY WHEN HE LEFT TWO MONTHS AGO. WHO KNOWS HOW HE FEELS NOW.

LAURA: HE WASN'T ANGRY WITH LUCKY. THAT I KNOW FOR A FACT.

ELIZABETH: LUCKY HAS A LOT OF RESENTMENT TOWARDS HIS FATHER. EVEN IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO HURT HIM, LUCKY COULD PROVOKE HIM INTO DOING IT.

LAURA: WELL, HE COULD TRY.

NIKOLAS: YEAH, ALL LUCKY WOULD HAVE TO DO IS TELL LUKE THAT HE, HIS SISTER, AND HIS MOTHER CAME TO WYNDEMERE FOR MY BIRTHDAY PARTY. GIVEN HOW HE FEELS ABOUT MY UNCLE, HE'D GO NUTS.

ELIZABETH: SHOULD I CALL LT. TAGGERT?

NIKOLAS: YEAH, TELL HIM THE SITUATION'S CHANGED, AND HE SHOULD START SEARCHING FOR LUCKY IMMEDIATELY.

ELIZABETH: RIGHT.

LAURA: NO, NO, NO, WAIT. I WANT YOU BOTH TO HEAR THIS,ALL RIGHT? NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE IS PROVOKED OR WHAT HE HEARS, LUKE WOULD NEVER HARM HIS OWN SON.

NIKOLAS: ARE YOU SURE THAT'S A CHANCE YOU WANT TO TAKE?

LAURA: THERE'S NO RISK HERE. BELIEVE ME.

NIKOLAS: ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT. BUT I STILL THINK WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET LUCKY AWAY FROM LUKE.

LAURA: WELL, UH --MAYBE SO, BUT IT IS A FAMILY MATTER, AND I DO NOT WANT THE POLICE INVOLVED.

ELIZABETH: WE'VE ALREADY CALLED THEM.

LAURA: I KNOW THAT. I KNOW. NIKOLAS TOLD ME. NIKOLAS, I THINK THE BEST THING FOR YOU TO DO RIGHT NOW WOULD BE TO CALL TAGGERT AND TELL HIM THAT LUCKY HAS BEEN FOUND.

NIKOLAS: WHAT IF HE ASKS FOR DETAILS?

LAURA: JUST TELL HIM THAT THE SPENCER FAMILY PREFERS TO KEEP IT PRIVATE.

ELIZABETH: WOULDN'T IT BE SAFER TO --

LAURA: NO. NO, IT WOULDN'T BE SAFER.

NIKOLAS: OK, WELL, I GUESS THAT'S THE NEXT STEP. COME ON, I'LL TAKE YOU HOME.

ELIZABETH: NO, THAT'S OK.

NIKOLAS: YOU SURE?

ELIZABETH: MM-HMM.

NIKOLAS: ALL RIGHT. CALL ME AT HOME IF YOU HEAR ANYTHING.

ELIZABETH: OK.

LAURA: NIKOLAS?

NIKOLAS: YEAH?

LAURA: THANK YOU FOR LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR BROTHER.

NIKOLAS: WELL, I HAVE A FEELING HE'D DO THE SAME THING FOR ME.

(Nikolas Leaves)

LAURA: ELIZABETH, YOU CAN STOP WORRYING. LUCKY IS GOING TO BE FINE.

ELIZABETH: I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN STOP.

LAURA: YOU CAN. I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

******

LUCKY: THE ONLY REASON I MADE THAT CALL IS BECAUSE I KNEW SOMEONE WAS WORRYING ABOUT ME, AND I WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.

LUKE: THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE A GOOD HUMAN BEING.

LUCKY: YEAH, IT'S CALLED CARING ABOUT WHAT THE OTHER PERSON THINKS. EVER HEAR OF IT?

LUKE: YEAH, I HEARD.

LUCKY: COULD HAVE FOOLED ME. YOU SPLIT, YOU DECIDE TO GO. WHAT HAPPENS IF LU LU MISSES HER FATHER, OR YOUR WIFE GETS LONELIER. MAYBE YOUR SISTER NEEDS SOMEONE TO BAIL HER OUT OF A JAM. YOU SATISFY YOURSELF FIRST, WORRY ABOUT THE REST LATER.

LUKE: YEAH, IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO THIS, DOESN'T IT, LUCKY?

LUCKY: YES, IT DOES. ONLY, UNLIKE YOU, I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW MYSELF TO FORGET --EVER.

LUKE: YOU KNOW, I WAS PRETTY BUSY THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TAKING CARE OF PERSONAL BUSINESS THAT I PUT OFF FOR AWHILE AND IT HELPED ME BECAUSE IT GOT ME AWAY FROM ALL OF THIS. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THIS, REALLY. AND WHEN I DID, I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU.

LUCKY: NO, THAT'S BULL.

LUKE: NO, IT AIN'T BULL. IT'S THE TRUTH. ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT OVER AND OVER WAS WHY -- WHY SOME FOSSILIZED JURASSIC CRIME I COMMITTED A MILLION YEARS AGO AGAINST THE ONLY WOMAN I EVER REALLY LOVED -- WHY DID THAT HAVE TO BE DUG UP AND RE-EXAMINED? AND WHY DID MY SON HAVE TO DO THE DIGGING? AND WHY DID IT HURT HIM SO MUCH? SO MUCH THAT EVEN NOW, AFTER YOU'VE TORTURED ME AND YOUR MOTHER WITH STUFF WE REALLY DIDN'T NEED TO REMEMBER -- WHY CAN'T YOU LET IT GO?

LUCKY: YOU AND MOM THINK TELLING ME ABOUT IT MAKES IT OK. FIRST OF ALL, THE ONLY REASON YOU EVER MENTIONED IT TO ME IS BECAUSE I FOUND OUT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE. AND, SECOND, IT DOESN'T.

LUKE: NOBODY SAID IT WAS OK, LUCKY. IT'S NOT OK. IT WAS AN UGLY, TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE THING, AND I'LL ALWAYS REGRET IT. BUT THE PAIN I CAUSED BELONGS TO YOUR MOTHER AND ME, AND NOT TO YOU.

LUCKY: YOU MADE YOUR LIFE A LIE. YOU WANTED ME TO LIVE IT WITH YOU? I CAN'T DO THAT. I JUST CAN'T.

LUKE: ALL RIGHT, I HEAR THAT. I HEAR THAT LOUD AND CLEAR. BUT, SON, YOU'VE GOT TO LET GO OF THIS -- THIS MUCH HATRED. AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY, IT'S HATRED. IT CAN ONLY END UP HURTING YOU.

LUCKY: THAT WOULD MAKE YOU REAL HAPPY, WOULDN'T IT? THINKING I WAS ALL DOUBLED UP IN PAIN FROM FINDING OUT MY FATHER WAS A RAPIST AND A LIAR. YOU'RE WRONG. I'M NOT HURTING. NOT ANYMORE. I HAVE A LIFE THAT I LOVE. IT JUST DOESN'T INCLUDE YOU.

LUKE: LET IT GO. SON, PLEASE. PLEASE LET IT GO. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. ALL THIS ANGER, ALL THIS RAGE, LUCKY, IT'S TYING YOU CLOSER TO ME.

******

(Nikolas walks into his house and runs into Stefan)

NIKOLAS: HEY. LUKE SPENCER'S BACK IN TOWN. HE'S KIDNAPPED LUCKY, AND NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE.

STEFAN: HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?

NIKOLAS: WELL, LUCKY CALLED ELIZABETH, BUT THEY GOT CUT OFF BEFORE HE HAD A CHANCE TO TELL HER WHERE HE WAS.

STEFAN: NIKOLAS, I WANT YOU TO STAY OUT OF THIS. LUKE SPENCER IS VIOLENT AND UNPREDICTABLE.

NIKOLAS: I KNOW. THAT'S WHAT CONCERNS ME. I MEAN, I WANTED TO BRING THE POLICE IN ON THIS, BUT LAURA INSISTED ON CALLING IT A FAMILY ISSUE.

STEFAN: WELL, AT LEAST SHE'S CONSISTENT.

NIKOLAS: I'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND IT. LUKE KIDNAPS HER SON, AND YET SHE STILL DEFENDS HIM.

STEFAN: HER LOYALTY TO SPENCER REMAINS AN ENIGMA TO ME AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

NIKOLAS: NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU KNOW PEOPLE WHO CAN MOUNT A SEARCH FOR LUCKY. I WANT YOU TO CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY.

STEFAN: OUT OF THE QUESTION.

NIKOLAS: WHY?

STEFAN: I WILL NOT INTERFERE IN LAURA'S MARRIAGE. THAT IS HER WISH.

*****

LAURA: COME ON, SIT DOWN. MY MARRIAGE TO LUKE HAS BEEN MANY, MANY THINGS. IT'S BEEN VERY ROMANTIC, AND ADVENTUROUS, AND EVEN LONELY AT TIMES. BUT I'LL TELL YOU, NOBODY CAN MAKE ME LAUGH THE WAY HE DOES. OR CRY, FOR THAT MATTER. AND EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF MARRIAGE, HE STILL HAS MANAGED TO SURPRISE ME. BUT THERE'S ONE THING THAT I KNOW FOR CERTAIN -- LUKE WOULD NEVER, EVER HURT ME OR ANY ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.

ELIZABETH: YOU TRUST HIM THAT MUCH?

LAURA: YOU KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT LUCKY -- THAT'S HE'S ALWAYS PROTECTING YOU, EVEN WHEN HE'S NOT AROUND?

ELIZABETH: YEAH.

LAURA: WELL, YOU KNOW THE KIND OF SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT CAN GIVE YOU, THE PEACE OF MIND?

ELIZABETH: I DO.

LAURA: OK. MULTIPLY THAT FEELING BY ALMOST TWO DECADES OF MARRIAGE, TWO KIDS, A THOUSAND ADVENTURES, AND MOMENTS OF INCREDIBLE LOVE.

ELIZABETH: I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT.

LAURA: I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, ELIZABETH. LUCKY IS GOING TO BE JUST FINE. LUKE WOULD DIE BEFORE HE WOULD EVER HURT HIS OWN SON.

*****

LUKE: YOU AIN'T THINKING OF LEAVING ME, ARE YOU?

LUCKY: WHY DON'T YOU GET OUT OF THE WAY AND FIND OUT.

LUKE: HA. NOPE, NOT UNTIL WE GET THIS SETTLED.

LUCKY: THERE'S NOTHING TO SETTLE. AND I'M FED UP WITH YOU HASSLING ME ABOUT IT.

LUKE: YOU MADE ME A HERO, LUCKY. OH, I LET YOU. I EVEN ENCOURAGED IT, I GUESS. BECAUSE YOU'RE MY SON, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU RESPECTED AND ADMIRED ME. BUT YOU MADE ME THE HERO. IT WAS IN YOUR EYES THAT THAT MYTH WAS BORN. AND I KNEW ONE DAY I'D FALL OFF THE PEDESTAL YOU HAD ME ON. I JUST NEVER IMAGINED THE FALL WOULD BE SO HARD OR SO FAR. I'M SORRY, SON. I'M NOBODY'S HERO. I NEVER WAS. I'VE DONE DESPICABLE THINGS, UNFORGIVABLE THINGS. BUT I'VE ALSO TRIED TO --TO --AH, FORGET IT. I'M A MAN. LUCKY, I'M JUST A MAN. IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT OR ACCEPT IT, THEN WE'VE LOST. WE'VE LOST SOMETHING PRECIOUS --BOTH OF US

****

On the Next General Hospital...

STEFAN: SPENCER HAS A GIFT FOR DISAPPEARING.

NIKOLAS: YOU KNOW HIM SO WELL, YOU COULD HELP ME.

I copied this transcript from my own GH tape. Nobody sent this to me, or gave it too me.