Daily Updates

Port Charles Update for Tuesday, 2-Apr-2002

Author:	TammyR
Posting date:	Tue, 02-Apr-2002 2:51:22 PM PST

I want to start off by saying today’s episode of PC was one of the most powerful ones I have ever seen – and since I have watched PC since the beginning, that’s saying a lot. Amazing performances by each and every actor – very real character-driven emotions everywhere and an episode that made quite an impact (at least with me) – all without the help of angels, vampires or other such stunts. And isn’t it nice that the only characters on today were PC’s own......

The episode starts off with Lucy and Kevin at the Lighthouse (extremely shallow note – man but Kevin was looking fine today). Lucy sits by a very busy Kevin on the couch and notes he never came to bed last night. Kevin was busy being busy – he’s helping Ian plan the memorial service, he’s immersed in paperwork so that Ian doesn’t have to be. Kevin is the best man Lucy’s knows (such a smart girl Lucy is) but she wants to know who is taking care of him while he’s busy taking care of others. Kevin, in his closed-up emotionally-buttoned best insists that he is fine. Lucy knows no one is fine – Eve is dead.

Chris is sitting down and having himself a martini or two. Or three. Jack pops in the on-call room, wanting to know if Chris needs company. Chris wants Jack to join him, before breakfast asks the suddenly straight-laced Jack? Jack attempts to sit, but Chris stops him – not that seat. That chair is for the lady. Chris grabs Jack a coffee cup, pours martini and many olives and announces that if Jack is staying around he is going to have to drink with him. Jack obliges.

We then move to a picture of Ian, Eve and Danny and to Ian asleep on the couch. Danny is crying, Ian wakes looking for Eve – and realizes he is there alone with Danny. Ian picks Danny up, cradling him as he informs him that Daddy has him but he knows that Danny wants Mommy. So does Ian. (You get the feeling that Ian was asleep on the couch because he couldn’t face the bed - and in case you missed today’s show – Thorsten is breathtaking in his ability to play Ian’s lonely lost soul). We are now in Allison’s Nana’s attic where, speaking of beds, Allison explains to Rebecca that she slept there tonight because she couldn’t face Lucy’s house without Rafe. She is chatting away with Rebecca when suddenly she sees the lit candle, the candle she knew she blew out the night before, the candle that is still intact even when it burned all night long. And Allison who has seen vampires and other dark forces thinks – gee this is probably a good thing. Uh-huh.

Wait – there is Eve – in the credits. Along with Gaby, Scott and Lucy’s missing daughter Serena. It’s like old home week, without the home....

Back at the Lighthouse, Kevin insists that he knows Eve is dead. He’s ready to go to Ian’s, maybe they should pick up some coffee (no denial going on here.) Lucy wants Kevin to talk to her. Kevin flashes his polite face and tells Lucy to go ahead, talk. Lucy does – she is feeling anger at someone so young and vital being taken away. She is feeling sad for mother-less Danny. She is feeling guilty for all the tricks she pulled on Eve throughout the years and she is feeling glad that before Eve died she and Eve were able to put all the bad stuff behind them. So what does Kevin feel? Kevin feels that Lucy should just drop it. Lucy is in agony over Kevin’s denial of emotion – he was married to her. No, Kevin says (angsty Kevin, my heart patters even though I know it’s wrong) no, she was married to Ian so drop it.

Allison picks up the candle and we are oh-so-subtly reminded it’s the candle that has “love” written on the bottom of it. There’s a knock on the attic door and Ally hides the candle and the portrait – but it’s not Nana at the door, it is Livvie. Livvie tries to be sorry for what Allison is going through, but it’s because she doesn’t like to see Allison unhappy (and despite what most people may think, I believe Livvie is really trying to be Allison’s friend here.) Livvie informs Allison that Eve was killed, Allison realizes Eve was the fifth chair and explains the whole chair concept to Livvie. Allison wants to go see Ian, explain to him she understands what it feels to lose someone you love. Livvie wants to know if Allison has completely lost it – how can she compare her fantasy boyfriend to losing a wife and a mother? Allison responds by slapping Livvie – hard.

Ian’s phone is ringing but Ian isn’t answering it. Instead he is looking for the box that Eve gave him before she died. Eve’s voice comes on the answering machine; Ian is momentarily taken aback but very determined to focus on finding that box. So much so that when Colleen leaves him a message he barely lets it register. There’s a knock on the door and Ian wonders why people can’t leave him alone, but when he hears Kevin’s voice he opens the door. Ian explains in his lost way that he can’t find the box; Lucy takes Danny from him. Ian explains that Eve trusted him with the box and then Ian collapses to the floor, Lucy’s heart looks like it is breaking for him. Kevin kneels down on the floor beside him, reaching out to him, and tells him not to worry that they will help him find it.

Livvie notes in a rather shocked way that Allison has indeed hit her. Allison admits same but hey Livvie made her mad. Allison points out that it doesn’t matter who is hurting most, pain is pain (as she just aptly demonstrated.) Allison and Livvie quickly move to “I am sorrys” and they hug and make up, Allison even introducing Livvie to great-great-great-grandmother Rebecca (Livvie is not the least bit stunned that Rebecca looks remarkably like her Dad’s old girlfriend.)

Chris is explaining to Jack what a sucker Eve was for him and how he tried to get her to marry him. Maybe he should have pushed it, maybe if he had – don’t go there Jack warns. Jack wants to take him home but Chris insists he is just fine and for some strange reason Jack decides to believe him and leaves him there. Chris isn’t alone though, he pulls up the chair he refused to let Jack sit in, I’m with my best friend. (And I am reminded again of what a gift Chris and Nolan are, and how shabbily tptb treat that gift.)

Ian still can’t find the box but he does find a picture he took of Eve at the beach. She was so alive, alive one moment and then – Lucy gently informs him that Eve is not gone. Ian – doing his best to restrain his emotions – doesn’t need anymore platitudes right now, he can’t handle it. The only comfort Ian wants is Eve in his arms, and if Lucy can’t give him that –

Back in the attic Livvie has taken a fancy to the blue candle and Allison gives it to her. Livvie leaves to meet Jack after they reaffirm their friendship. Allison thinks Eve is lucky to have a tour guide like Rafe (actually Eve has Amy – lucky girl - ). Allison realizes she forgot to see what was written on Livvie’s candle (I bet it wasn’t “good times ahead”) but she does find the candle marked comfort. She heads out with the candle, blowing her love candle out again.

And candles move very fast – because there it is at Ian’s door, there’s no card. Lucy and Kevin say their good-byes; Lucy stops Kevin outside Ian’s door. Look at me. Kevin again begins his I am fine mantra, but Lucy isn’t being shut out this time. Lucy doesn’t need Kevin to be strong what she needs is him to let go. Grieve for her, grieve with me. Lucy grabs Kevin and holds on – Kevin holds on to his stony resolve for a few seconds and then crumbles into tears (I told you today was a powerful episode, Lynn and Jon – simply amazing.)

Inside Ian’s apartment, the candle is lit and Ian is talking to Eve’s picture, wanting her to walk through the door. He finds the box, on the couch, where he looked a hundred times. He opens it –there is a watch and a note. The note says, “To remember the lives you nurtured instead of the ones you lost. All my love, Eve.” Ian can feel Eve now – and once again we see the candle.

Allison heads back to the attic and finds all Rebecca’s stuff gone. Nana explains they were trash and have been given away to charity (who apparently likes trash.) Allison wonders why Amanda hates Rebecca so much – Nana announces Rebecca was a witch and cast a spell on everything she touched. And with that cheery thought, this episode was over.

Tammy (keeper of Kevin's black jeans)