Maxie: I know, clarice, but kate said the mock ups were on your desk in manhattan and we were just waiting for the copies. Thank you so much. I really owe you. I know. What are you doing here so early?

Lulu: My job. Is that a problem for you?

Maxie: Hello?

Luke: Well, tell mr. Zacchara that this deposit is as safe as the last one, and the problems with law enforcement will be cleaned up in no time.

Luke: Ah -- yeah.

Tracy: Well, look who's got his hand in the cookie jar.

Johnny: Oh, my God. What happened? Where were you?

Claudia: I called you as soon as i could.

Johnny: I almost killed sonny corinthos last night. I thought he got to you.

Claudia: Someone tried to kill me last night, johnny, but it wasn't sonny.

Anthony: [Chuckles] so who won?

Logan: I'm still standing.

Anthony: I haven't seen a good brawl in years.

Logan: It was just a bar fight.

Ric: Ok, let's go over what to expect in court. It's not a formal trial. There is no jury, but there is a --

trevor: There's no need to waste our time, richard. I already briefed my client.

Anthony: Can we save the dysfunctional family moment for after the hearing?

Trevor: Hold on, anthony. Ric and i are not your problem. What you've got to worry about are your own children.

claudia: I stayed the night at the cosmopolitan hotel. There was no way i was going to stay in daddy's house last night.

Johnny: You need to tell me everything.

Claudia: I went to visit him at the hospital. And i guess while i was there visiting, somebody tampered with my brakes. My car went over the bluff near the lookout. And then, this guy chased me through the woods, tried to shoot me. But i got away.

Johnny: This is exactly why he can't get out.

Claudia: Yeah. I'm already working on that.

Ric: This wasn't our deal, anthony.

Anthony: I'm looking for my best chance at freedom and all you can worry about is our deal?

Ric: I told you that i would take care of it.

Anthony: I need all the sharks on my side of the pool. I may never get this chance again.

Ric: You wouldn't have a chance if it weren't for me.

Anthony: Duly noted. There will be a little somethingextra in your christmas bonus.

Trevor: Don't be petulant, richie. It's a win-win all the way around.

Anthony: That's right. He may be a lying, backstabbing, low life snake, but trevor's always been a brilliant lawyer. Now, i'm sure you're very good, too, but you're a question mark.

Trevor is a known commodity, so he stays.

Ric: And just for fun, you're going to pit me and my father against one another so we can battle it out to see who's going to be your consigliere, right?

Anthony: You're learning very fast.

Diane: The woman of the hour. Are you nervous?

Alexis: Yeah, i'm not going to lie to you. A little bit. He's very determined to get the crazy man off.

Diane: Then you just have to be more determined.

Alexis: Any ideas?

Diane: Mm-hmm -- me. I am here to offer you my services as second chair.

Alexis: You are so funny.

Diane: I am so serious.

Alexis: Oh, well, that's really awkward. No, i'm doing it myself.

Diane: What is this? What is this, some sort of knee-jerk reaction? Heaven forfend anyone like me actually can help alexis davis, lone wolf, d.A.? If you could just put your texas-size ego aside for one second, you would realize that you and i could kick some serious ass.

Alexis: You are sonny's attorney.

Diane: Well, at least i never slept with him.

Alexis: You're still tainted by your association with him.

Diane: Alexis, you don't have to defend the city of port charles all by yourself, but your options for help are limited. I mean, tell me you don't want one of the flunkies that ric has hired in here backing you up?

Alexis: Who says i need anyone?

Diane: The facts of the case. Anthony zacchara went nutty as a fruitcake the night of the black and white ball. He went on a bloody rampage that left three people injured and one person dead. Now, ric is about to argue that zacchara lacked the requisite mens rea to commit these crimes That is cause for being declared not guilty by reason of insanity.

Alexis: I know what ric's going to argue, and he can't necessarily back it up.

Diane: Hello, can i finish?

Alexis: If you ever will --

diane: Now that zacchara is sane by documentation --

alexis: Dubious at best --

diane: Yes, of course it's dubious, but ric has got an entire medical team willing to testify to that dubious fact, which means that anthony zacchara could walk out of this courtroom a free man. That is not a risk you should be willing to take.

Alexis: I know that.

Diane: Well then, fine. Then give your pride a rest and be realistic. You could use me.

Alexis: As soon as you admit that you're here on sonny's orders.

[Phone rings]

maxie: Lulu, answer the phone.

Lulu: Sure. Kate howard's office. Kate, good morning. Yes, maxie's here, but she's all tied up. Yes, jean paul confirmed this morning. He's looking forward to seeing you. The mark-ups haven't arrived yet. Have they, maxie? No, they haven't arrived. Yeah, i don't know. Maxie said she had it all covered.

Maxie: Give it-- kate, maxie. I spoke with clarice. There was some sort of mix-up with the mock ups, but i'm totally on top of it.

Kate: Well, if you were on top of it, they'd be here by now.

Maxie: Oh, hi.

Kate: Hi. Do i need to go over again how i feel about excuses?

Maxie: No, i got the excuses.

Kate: Look, i don't know about what other people do with their assistants, but i expect my assistants to be organized, pristine. I expect their desks to be as tidy as that one, so that when i hire your replacement, they can step in without missing a beat.

Lulu, get me celeste at maha chang.

Lulu: Got it.

Kate: Oh, and get me the mock of the layout so that i can go over the --

maxie: I could get celeste. She really likes me.

Kate: You can get me coffee.

Lulu: Half-caf, non-fat latte with cinnamon and low-cal sugar. The blue, not the pink.

Tracy: You are already being audited. This will get you thrown in jail.

Luke: Hey, this is such a simple job. It's a little job for cons and grifters. I can do this in my sleep.

Lucky: Do what in your sleep?

Luke: Get this old tub solvent again.

Tracy: Daddy's playing with fire again.

Lucky: That's why i'm here.

Luke: Alexis davis has already done her work. She doesn't need to send my son to drive in the last nail in the coffin. So what if the mob uses the star to settle their differences? It's publicity, you know? Publicity is great, all publicity, as long as they spell my name right.

Lucky: Well, i'm not here as a cop. I'm here to let you know that anthony zacchara's hearing is today, and if he gets out, well, it's going to hit the fan from all sides.

Luke: I know how to duck.

Lucky: I'm saying, as much as i hate seeing you leave town, this might be a good time.

Epiphany: Yes, i'm so sorry, we're a little short-handed up here today. I will get those to you right away.

Elizabeth: I'm really sorry.

Epiphany: Is this your idea of running a little late?

Elizabeth: Jake was up all night with an earache, and cameron decided to start his day off by hiding from me. And then there was a change of plans and i had to bring -- my kids here. You don't want to hear this. I'm really sorry, epiphany. It won't happen again.

Epiphany: I know how hard it is to be a single mother, and we're trying to make it as easy as we can on you by having, you know, on-site daycare, flexible schedules, but it is not on the other nurses to cover for you. I'm sorry that jake has an earache, but we are dealing with life and death up here.

Elizabeth: I understand.

Epiphany: Do better than that. If you're having a problem balancing your life and your job, something needs to be adjusted. Now, i'm going to take these down to radiology, where they should have been half an hour ago.

Nikolas: You made it.

Nadine: I never turn down an invitation to ride.

Nikolas: Oh, i'm glad there's something out here that appeals to you.

Nadine: I'm sorry for bailing on you last night.

Nikolas: No, no, it's all right. You made the right decision to leave. I was definitely preoccupied thinking about the surgery and all it means to have it.

Nadine: Did you spend the night talking it over with emily?

Nikolas: No. No, she didn't show up.

Nadine: Don't worry. She'll show up. She always appears sooner or later.

Nikolas: Not after the surgery, she won't. You do realize once i stop hallucinating that my life is pretty much uninteresting.

Nadine: Well, saddle up, your highness. I feel like riding.

Ric: No, you know what, forget it. I'm not interested in getting in a pissing contest with my father. Besides, he cheats.

Trevor: Come on, richie. You've got good instincts and you've done some really fine work preparing the petition and collecting all those medical documents. How about i take it from here on out?

Ric: You know, i got the ball rolling, trevor. If it had been left up to you, anthony would still be rotting in a prison hospital.

Anthony: Easy, richard. You've got my gratitude. Now i'm giving you the opportunity to humiliate your father by beating him right where he lives. You're going into that courtroom and showing him that you're a better lawyer than he is. Unless you're not. Maybe you're not up to the old man's standards yet. Maybe you're afraid that he's still better than you.

Ric: Ok. Yeah, i'll go ahead. I'll do it. If my father comes along for the ride, all the better. But just realize one thing after this, anthony. I'm the one that's going to get you free. And i'm the one you're going to owe.

Anthony: Kids.

Alexis: You know, i'm already handicapped because i'm the mother of sonny's child.

Diane: And ric. Let us not forget that he is opposing counsel. This whole thing screams "conflict of interest."

Alexis: Oh, shut up.

Diane: Why don't you just recuse yourself from this whole sorry mess and appoint me special counselor? Because you do not want a hearing this important handled by that idiot, scott baldwin.

Alexis: I'm the d.A. I know how to argue this. I'm going to call --

diane: Claudia zacchara to the stand.

Alexis: That's right.

Diane: That's right. Well, fine. Why not call the daughter of the defendant? Who knows him better than his own child?

Alexis: Well, she's a witness to his outbursts during the years where he's supposedly sane, and she did claim that he tried to kill her as recently as a week ago.

Diane: It's a good start. But -- you still need me. And when you realize that fact, i'll be right here.

Claudia: I'm going to tell that judge all about how daddy tried to shoot your mom and how he shot her, and --

johnny: Don't waste your breath. Trevor cleared that up years ago. An intruder shot my mother. Case closed.

Claudia: There's no statute of limitations on murder, john. Considering my car was tampered with shortly after daddy threatened me, i should be able to convince the judge that anthony zacchara is as dangerous as ever. Let's go.

maxie: Do you have a stapler?

Lulu: Yes, i do.

Maxie: [Huffs] don't overexert yourself.

Lulu: I'm busy. Return it to my desk when you're done.

Maxie: [Huffs] oh, i got my desk all cleaned. Ok. How was your date last night?

Kate: How is that any of your business? I tell you what? When we're at work, i won't ask you about your personal life and you won't ask me about mine. In fact, when we're at work, it's the only life that exists. Speaking of which, i'm expecting a handbag from jules sometime before noon.

Maxie: I got it on my way in this morning. That's why i was late. I also picked up the new fall hosiery line for you. And the mock ups just came in.

Kate: Better, maxie. Lulu, any e-mails?

Lulu: Henri-laurent finally answered. He attached a budget.

Kate: Good, i need that. But before you get to that, get me the most recent draft of "the men who won't commit."

Lulu: Oh, there's a draft with red pencil, but i don't think it was incorporated.

Kate: Ok. Let me see.

[Computer beeps]

kate: Lulu, that email?

Lulu: It was right here.

Kate: Excuse me?

Lulu: I don't see it. I had it up --

kate: Well, find it, lulu. It didn't just walk away.

Lulu: Maybe somebody deleted it.

Kate: Just get it back.

Lulu: I'm not sure that i can.

Kate: Figure it out, lulu. Maxie, did angelina call back about the cover shoot?

Maxie: About the red dress? No, but i left a message.

Kate: Ok. Come in my office. We'll try to track her down.

Maxie: Ok.

Lucky: Hey.

Elizabeth: Hi. Was i supposed to call you?

Lucky: No, why?

Elizabeth: Oh, i thought maybe you went to gram's to see the boys. There was a change of plans and jake was up all night with an earache. And so, i have them here at daycare. You really should go see them.

Lucky: Yeah, i'll stop in.

Elizabeth: Ok.

Elizabeth: Oh, thank you.

Lucky: Hey --

elizabeth: Yeah?

Lucky: Are you ok?

Elizabeth: I was late getting here again and epiphany's all ticked off at me.

Lucky: Epiphany. Well, she's ticked off at somebody all the time. Listen, you know what? Why don't i take cameron and jake on saturday and give you some time off.

Elizabeth: Saturday? I thought you had a yankee game?

Lucky: Yeah, but i'll get harper to give the ticket to somebody else.

Elizabeth: No, i'm not going to let you do that. Besides, i can use some quality time with my boys.

Lucky: Are you sure? Because i don't mind.

Elizabeth: Come on. I'm not going to let you give up dugout seats to make my life easier. I'll be fine.

Tracy: You know things are bad when your own son tells you to get out of town.

Luke: "Bad" doesn't bother me. I never turn and run because things got hot. Never have, never will, and look at me. I'm still dancing.

Tracy: You are not as fleet of foot as you used to be. And one day, you're going to get caught in the crossfire and i'm going to be the merry widow.

Luke: I see right through you, wife. The reason you want me out of here is you want to close the haunted star again.

Tracy: I don't give a crap about this tub.

Luke: Well, then you just want to keep me in your monetary mercy.

Tracy: Luke, everything is not always about you.

Sam: Luke, hi.

Luke: Hi.

Sam: Sorry, but you're just the man i'm looking for. I have a proposition for you.

Tracy: Ha! I bet you do.

Luke: You have my full attention.

Sam: Ok. As you know, i am one hell of a card player, and i would like to prove it by coming to play for you.