Jason: Call the cops. Tell them you shot him in self-defense.

Claudia: Oh yeah, because they'll believe me, a member of the zacchara family, because we always donate to charity -- jason: Well, we'll leave the body here and call 911 anonymously.

Claudia: No, don't -- no -- no cops, ok? No cops. Let's just dump the body in the lake, man.

Jason: Well, go ahead. Good luck.

Claudia: Don't be a bastard. I need you to help me.

Jason: Why should i help you?

Claudia: Because our fingerprints are all over this room, your and mine together, along with whatever else forensics is going to pick up. So you're in this with me whether you like or not. I owe you, ok? I always pay my debts.

Jason: Ok.

Kate: Honey, it's not too late to change the direction of your life.

Sonny: Yeah, i thought that when i made the truce and look what happened. I was wrong.

Kate: But giving up isn't the answer, sonny. You know that in your heart.

Sonny: Kate, listen, listen, listen to me. Michael accidentally picked up a gun and shot you. Why did he do that? Because he grew up with me as a role model.

Kate: I didn't die, right? And i'm the one standing here telling you that you can give your other children something different, something better.

Sonny: I believe that. I believe that you and i can be together without violence. My kids would be safe. The damage would be, you know -- look what happened.

Kate: Sonny, please just don't give up faith.

Sonny: You always said that to me. Don't give your dreams. Hope for greatness. Way back in bensonhurst all those years, and i believed you just like i believed you when you came back in my life. But it's -- it's not going to change.

Kate: You say that like it's over.

Sonny: My -- my -- my business is my reality. You can't wish it away. I tried that, and my son got shot. I'm not trying to make my life so terrible that it drives you away. My life is terrible and it's -- it's -- it's never going to change at this point.

Kate: I love you, sonny, butthat is a crock.

Nadine: So you've seen emily again?

Nikolas: Yes, she was with me when i made the decision to stop taking the drug and have the surgery.

Nadine: And she helped you make the decision?

Nikolas: She told me that i needed to go on living. Not just for myself, but for spencer as well.

Nadine: You've been hearing that from a lot of people lately.

Nikolas: Yeah.

Nadine: I guess it didn't really hit home until you heard it from her.

Nikolas: No, she's been saying it all along. The hardest part of this is knowing that i'm going to lose her forever. I just hope that i get a chance to see her one last time before the surgery so i can say goodbye to her. Oh, and thank you right now for not saying what's written all over your face, that she was never really here.

Nadine: Ah, you knew it without me telling you.

Nikolas: I've been able to see emily, to talk to her, to hold her. She's been real to me in every way. I thank God for him giving me the extra time with her.

Nadine: Emily was blessed to have been loved so deeply.

Nikolas: So was i. I'll cherish her memory for the rest of my life.

Nadine: Maybe she'll come and visit you tonight. Especially if you don't have guests. So, thanks, that was really fun.

Nikolas: Thanks.

Luke: You can't just waltz in here and pull the plug like we're a toaster. You were here opening night. You had a grand time.

Alexis: We have reason to believe the haunted star is a venue for mob activity.

Luke: Reason to believe? That's a guess.

Mac: Your patrons are at risk of becoming innocent victims of violence.

Luke: They're at risk of that every time they cross the street.

Alexis: Don't get mad. It's not personal.

Mac: We're launching a preemptive strike and shutting down the haunted star before violence can occur.

Diane: You know you have no legal grounds to shut down this establishment because it may be the potential site of potential violence.

Harper: We're closing it down on suspicion of money laundering.

Luke: How am i not supposed to take this personally, natasha?

Diane: Look, why don't you just tell your fearless fellow law enforcers to go home and come join me at the blackjack table.

Alexis: Sounds fun. I'd love to, but i'm working.

Diane: I tried.

Mac: Open up your books, luke. You need you to account for every penny.

Luke: Madame d.A., A little help please.

Alexis: Not a chance.

Mac: Let's go, everyone out.

Luke: Ladies and gentlemen, i apologize for this gross inconvenience. We'll re-open as soon as we get this minor legal thing sorted out.

Ric: For what it's worth, i do admire what you are trying to do.

Alexis: That's an empty gesture. Because if you get anthony zacchara released, you know that the violence will escalate.

Spinelli: The jackal does not pay empty compliments. Maximista has a unique and fascinating way of seeing the world.

Maxie: Well, that's a little ironic coming from you.

Spinelli: Sorry, i don't understand your cryptic remark.

Maxie: Well, you have a very weird perspective. I mean, you're off in your own cyber world while the rest of us are millions of miles away.

Spinelli: I'm not a freak. I actually function quite capably and i have deep felt emotions.

Maxie: No, spinelli -- i'm sorry, i didn't mean that as an insult. I'm just trying to tell you that i think you're actually kind of fun to be around.

Spinelli: Fun?

Maxie: Yeah, you know, you're never boring. And i kind of like it when you go off on all those weird tangents. I mean, you look at everything the way nobody else would. And that would give me the opportunity to be like, hey, i never thought about it like that. I think that's kind of cool.

Spinelli: Maximista approves of the jackal.

Maxie: Sometimes, when you're not driving me crazy. I guess i've never really had a friend like you.

Spinelli: It's intriguing, is it not, how two such diametrically opposed individuals can mesh into a cohesive unit?

Maxie: If you are trying to tell me that we work well together, i agree with you.

Spinelli: And cohesiveness can extend beyond a work environment.

Maxie: Are you talking about that one time we got stuck in the sewer and that grate was coming down on me? That was so gross. How come we always get caught in disgusting places together?

[Knock at door]

Lulu: Hey, spinelli, you want to hang out?

Maxie: I'm sorry, but spinelli and i are busy.

Kate: You're making a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nothing can change, the violence is endless.

Sonny: I'm just stating a fact.

Kate: Sonny, you can end this right now by refusing to fight. Honor the truce, focus on your legitimate business.

Sonny: And ignore what -- that my son was shot? Is that what you're asking me to do?

Kate: It's a lesson, sonny. It's the worst possible cautionary tale, that violence solves nothing.

Sonny: I know you're trying to help, but you're not helping me right now.

Kate: It only destroys, sonny.

Sonny: You're not helping. You're making things worse.

Kate: You think that because the truce didn't work right away, then it's all over -- what? Sonny, when has anything ever come easy for you, right? It's a challenge. You thrive on challenges.

Sonny: You don't know how my business works.

Kate: I know that you are one of the strongest, most determined people i have ever known. You can do anything, sonny, anything you set your mind to.

Sonny: I cannot control myenemies. No matter what i do, i can't keep the people i love safe.

Kate: Sonny, we could have stayed in bensonhurst, right? I could have been a beautician. You could have been a mechanic. But we wanted bigger things. Instead of assuming that things couldn't change, we went out and we changed them. And you can do this right now, you can choose not to escalate the violence. And if you don't, that is also a choice.

Sonny: Uh -- no, no, no, i can't do this right now. This is just not right. I've got to be somewhere.

Kate: Ok, are you listening? Are you going to tell me you're going to think about this?

Sonny: Listen to me -- you can stay here until i get back, ok? It's up to you, but i've got to go.

Lulu: I'm here to see my friend, so why don't you take a hike?

Maxie: Is something wrong with your hearing?

Spinelli and i are busy.

Lulu: You're using him. It's cruel and manipulative and very typical of you, maxie.

Maxie: Spinelli, it's up to you. Would you like lulu to stick around and help us with our project?

Spinelli: Present circumstances necessitate the strictest secrecy. Although i would love to imbibe in orange soda with the blonde one i should focus my energies on the task at hand.

Maxie: What spinelli is trying to say --

Lulu: I know what spinelli is trying to say. I speak spinelli a hell of a lot better than you do, maxie.

Maxie: Good, then you know he's trying to tell you to take a hike.

Spinelli: No, i did not express that desire in such harsh or unflattering terms.

Maxie: Spinelli, you don't want her working here with us, do you?

Spinelli: The blonde one's company will be most enjoyed once the project --

Lulu: Yeah -- no, i get it -- you're busy, and i will come back later. I just want a word with you outside.

Logan: All right, guys, that's enough.

Johnny: I got it from here.

Logan: Oh, johnny -- johnny, your father's not gonna be happy about this at all.

Johnny: You think just because you wash him, wipe him, and wheel him he's got some sort of allegiance to you?

Logan: Johnny, johnny, your father, he trusts me.

Johnny: He does?

Logan: Yeah.

Johnny: Then maybe you can give me the answers i need. Where's my sister? What did my father do with claudia?

Logan: Let me think -- i don't really know.

Logan: [Moaning]

Johnny: Wrong answer.

Claudia: It's been a hell of a night. Thank God one thing is working out.

Jason: Wait, wait, wait.

Claudia: Seriously? What, you're going to make me walk back to town, big guy?

Jason: No, no, no -- i'm going to check to see if the bike's rigged to explode.

Claudia: What makes you think he even saw it?

Jason: Well, the shooter was watching the car crash, wasn't he? He could have seen which direction it came from and retraced my steps.

Claudia: Ok, knock yourself out. Wait, listen, if -- do you have any last words you want me to give to anyone in case you blow it?

Jason: Yeah, if i die, sonny is going to assume that you had me killed, and he is going to hunt you and your brother down and kill you both.

Claudia: You know what -- you're not the most cheerful person that i've ever met.

Jason: I'm telling the truth.

Claudia: Fine -- say it with a little black humor, crack a smile for God's sake, it's an absurd moment.

Jason: This is your choice. You want to walk or you want to wait?

Sonny: Slow night?

Luke: The slowest, man.

Sonny: Yeah?

Luke: I'm closed by order of district attorney alexis davis. She swept in here and jumped on my business with both feet, flanked by bubba and a couple of yahoo cops.

Sonny: Why would alexis want to close you down?

Luke: Well, some misguided attempt to clean this town up. So she trumped up some phony audit. Now i have to keep track of every penny.

Sonny: I hope you haven't been laundering johnny zacchara's money.

Luke: Uh, i got the first deposit today. So will you join me in a shot of the best hooch in town?

Sonny: I'd love to, but i don't think that's a good idea right now. I just came to give you a head's up. Johnny zacchara tried to kill me tonight. And lulu was right there as he pulled the trigger.

[Knock at door]

Kate: Dr. Devlin, what are you doing here at this time of night?

Ian: I was looking for you. I went over to your house first, then i realized you might have walked over to mr. Corinthos' to pay him a visit. How fortunate for me that he decided to leave when he did.

Kate: What is this about?

Ian: Michael -- i'm the one who shot him.

Lulu: You are such a user.

Maxie: Speak for yourself.

Lulu: You have been stringing spinelli along for weeks, and he doesn't have a clue. He's too sweet and trusting to see you for the skank that you really are.

Maxie: I would never manipulate spinelli.

Lulu: Really, really -- playing girl detective, having him work on mysterious projects to make you look better at your job.

Maxie: Spinelli asked for my help, and fyi -- you're the manipulator. You played on spinelli's crush on you, and then you dropped him like a bad habit the second you got a hold of johnny zacchara.

[Computer beeps]

Lulu: I would never hurt spinelli.

Maxie: Too late -- you already did. And you probably didn't give it a second thought until you saw spinelli with me.

Lulu: You're just using him as a substitute boyfriend.

Maxie: A what?

Lulu: You're not clinging to any other guys at the moment, so why not spinelli? He's attentive, he never criticizes, he lets you talk about yourself ad nauseum.

Maxie: Wow, you really are jealous.

Lulu: You're just playing him for a fool, maxie.

Maxie: Give the guy a little credit. He's 10 million times smarter than you'll ever be.

Lulu: Well, i see you for what you're all about -- he doesn't.

Maxie: Here's a history lesson, lulu. You dumped spinelli, and now you're showing up way after the fact because you want him back. But you can't have him. We're busy working on something together and we didn't invite you.

Spinelli: Hey, the jackal has a satellite uplink and has programmed the gps. We should know dr. Devlin's whereabouts at any moment.

Maxie: Spinelli, you're amazing. Good job.

Spinelli: Thanks.

Logan: Johnny, that was a big mistake sending your guys away.

Logan: This isn't about your father. This is about lulu. You know she still cares for me.

Johnny: Let's talk about your boss, ric lansing.

Logan: Johnny, i work for your father.

Johnny: You better tell ric that if anything happens to my sister, i'll make sure he disappears as well. And my father -- without his attorney, he'll be locked up for the rest of his life. That's the message. Anything happens to claudia, ric
pays -- capiche?

Claudia: Are you gonna be done sometime this month?

Jason: If you want to walk back on your own, go ahead.

Claudia: What, in these heels? No explosives?

Jason: Not that i can find. You might want to step back.

Claudia: Well, you said that if you blow up, sonny's going to kill me. I'd rather save myself that indignity and get it over with.

Jason: It's your call.

Claudia: We live or die together. Let's go.

Jason: I'm trying to leave right now.

[Engine revs]

Luke: You know, i would not try to defend john zacchara. He's my business partner, not my friend. But i don't think he's stupid enough to try and whack you with your kid standing right there.

Sonny: Maybe, but he definitely tried to kill me tonight, and i am going to retaliate. And it's going to get ugly.

Luke: Well, i thank you for the heads up. I'm afraid there isn't a hell of a lot i can do about it

Sonny: Well, the reason i'm saying this is because, you know, lulu's close to johnny and the safety and all that thing, you know?

Luke: Yeah, God -- i've told her over and over again not to stand in the middle of mob hostilities. But, you know, she's not a baby. She's got to live her life the way she wants to live it.

Sonny: You know what? As a father who has a son lying in the hospital who's never going to wake up -- i'm telling you, it's a slow walk through hell. But you know michael got caught in the crossfire, and i'm going to have to carry that on my soul for the rest of my life. I wouldn't wish that on anybody, certainly not you.

Kate: Why on earth would you shoot michael?

Ian: I don't have time for a philosophical debate on the random nature of ricochet bullets. Sonny wants revenge, and i don't want to die.

Kate: Maybe you should have thought of that before you put his little boy in a coma.

Ian: I'm betting my life,literally, that you don't want to see sonny commit murder. So, i have a proposal for you -- you give me $1 million tonight, and i'll disappear.

Kate: You shot a boy trying to kill the man that i love, and now you're here asking me for help? Why don't i just go to the police? Or are you going to kill me, too?

Ian: Hey, once you've shot a child, why pretend you have any scruples whatsoever? But killing you would exponentially increase the amount of people who want to kill me. As i believe i mentioned before, my point is i want to live. So do we have a deal? Or do i leave a posthumous statement that sonny corinthos had me murdered?

Kate: I think it would take more than a letter to convict sonny of murder.

Ian: You have a point. The wheels of justice do tend tospin rather slowly. The whole matter could be tied up in appeals for years. Why don't i just do away with the red tape all together and kill sonny myself? Just do it and get it over with.

Kate: I'll wire you the money. Where do you want it?


Announcer: On the Next "General Hospital" --


Nikolas: I knew you'd come back to me.

Ric: I'm the one who's going to get you free.

Claudia: Anthony zacchara is as dangerous as ever.

Judge: All rise.

Alexis: Has your father ever threatened your life?