GH2017.43 Father Knows Best

On the Cassadine jet, there is a discreet beeping noise in the master cabin
at the rear of the plane. Nikolas picks up the phone and acknowledges the call.
Nik: We are within fifteen minutes of having to land. ( Running his hand
down her bare back)
Brooke: (As if coming out from under a spell) Oh Great! I am a mess. ( She
bounds out of the bed and into the nearby bathroom gathering clothes as she
goes)
Nik: I think you look great. No one will notice
Brooke: ( looking at him like he is crazy) My mother has five kids do you
really think she wouldn't notice? ( Looking in the mirror) She'll know. I
think you found a cure for my fear of flying.
Nik: (coming up behind her and running kisses along her shoulder.) How about
landings? No one knows you were arriving so early. Relax Brooke, we have
plenty of time.
Brooke: Call me old fashioned but if we are going to be in a wreck I'd just
as soon have my good underwear ON. Now get out of here and let me get
dressed. ( She turns and starts swatting at him good naturedly until he
leaves and shuts the door behind him. Looking in the mirror, she says to her
reflection) Brooke Lyn Ashton, Honey you have some explaining to do. And
not just to ma. (Quickly she cleans up and dresses still brushing her hair
as she rushes out to the main cabin. Swiftly she takes the seat beside Nik
and buckles in. He offers her his hand which she takes gratefully pulling
it close to her and waits for the plane to meet the earth.)
As the plane rolls into the terminal, Brooke's breathing returns to normal
and she looks around seeing things she hadn't noticed before.
Brooke: This is just great I look like I just crawled out of bed and you
look so pretty you could have stepped off a wedding cake.
Nik: (grinning at her) I'm more than willing to get a little rumpled if
you are?
Brooke: Well I can tell you are feeling good. If I knew that it was lack
of sex that was killing your sense of humor I would have let you seduce me
weeks ago.
Nik: Cassadines don't have a sense of humor. We are grim and depressingly
serious at all times.
Brooke: Right. Remember your daughter has slumber parties over at my
apartment and I have been spending a lot of time with your uncle lately.
Now that man has a twisted sense of humor . . . Really Twisted. Let's go
to Gramma's house. Then you can see my family in action.

The Cerullo house: A tall brick townhouse that is well-maintained but shows
that it has been standing for many years. The Morgan's car is already
parked out front. Anna and Michael are playing on the sidewalk with the
neighborhood kids.
Nik: This is not what I expected.
Brooke: Pop tried to get them to move to a bigger place. But they wouldn't
they like the neighborhood. So instead he kinda did a remodeling thing.
Pop figured he owed it to them cause he had been using Gram and Gramps for a
base all the years they were touring and the kids were all living here when
we weren't on the road. Come on I'll show you around. (She cheerfully
calls out to the neighborhood kids who are making catcalls about her and her
"boyfriend". Before they enter the hallway and are met by Mrs. C.)
Gloria: Why didn't you call from the airport? Your grandfather would have
come to pick you up. Are you going to introduce me?
Brooke: I have your present out in the car Birthday Girl ( she kisses her
gram and hugs her.) This is Nik Cassadine. His uncle is the one that
paints. Remember that show I took you to?
Gloria: Wonderful work. It's like he looks into the souls of the people he
paints. You must be very proud of him.
Nik: Very. He kept his painting secret for many years. For twenty-five
years I never saw a brush in his hand, and now he is famous for it.
Gloria: Let me take your coats.
Brooke: Gram, this is your day; what are you doing answering the door and
taking coats? Where is everyone?
Gloria: Grampa found a baseball game. Jason and Ned are out looking at the
barbecue pit he put in the backyard. Lois and Robin kicked me out of my own
kitchen and the girls are down in the music room with the door locked.
(Just then Jason walks through on his way to the front to check on the kids.)
Jason: Hello Brooke (kisses her cheek, then turns to Nik ) . . .
Cassadine. I was just about to check on my kids. Why don't you join me?
Nik: Very well I guess I'll keep my coat afterall. Mrs Cerrullo it is a
pleasure to meet you.
Gloria: Well you are staying. I have your room made up. Have since Lois
told me you were being kind enough to fly our girl down here. I've flown
with her before. you are a brave man. (not waiting for an answer she walks
off with her arm around Brook's waist filling her in on the neighborhood
gossip and her grandfathers' new satellite dish)

The front steps. Nik watches as Jason sits down on the stoop before joining
him. Jason keeps a watchful eye on his kids while talking to Nik.
Nik: Now I know where Brooke gets it. Her grandmother is a force to be
reckoned with.
Jason: You haven't met Lois yet. And I think that Robin has become an
honorary Cerrullo. She is starting to get as bossy as they are. But their
men are happy. You'll see that tonight. They get in your blood and you
never get them out.
Nik: (Growing solemn) I'm familiar with the type.
Jason: You are thinking of your mom. Yeah, she has something. But Laura
has always rolled with the punches. She bends. You may hear her crack on
occasion but she never breaks. Lois punches back. She has a vision of the
way things are suppose to be. How to make things "right" and she'll fight
for it.
Ned: (who had just walked out intime to hear the last comment) Talking
about my wife again?
Jason: And the influence she has on mine.
Ned: I met your uncle but it has been years since we have seen each other.
I'm Ned Ashton. (He extends a hand that Nik takes)
Nik: Nikolas Cassadine. It is a pleasure to meet you again. I've been
hearing quite a bit of your music since my daughter started hanging out with
Brooke.
Ned: I think Lois will be disappointed that you didn't bring Staci with
you. Brooke has mentioned her in her mails to Lois. ( Growing serious)
Jason was telling me that there may be another take over in the works for
ELQ from J&J.
Nik: What is going on feels personal, but it is not specifically targeted
at ELQ. They are using Yagi too.
Jason: Yagi used to belong to ELQ. I wouldn't put anything past Jacks.
Ned: (incredulous) Jax is back in Port Charles?
Nik: Yes, but I don't think Jerry would allow himself to be shot in order
to maintain a cover for a business takeover. Sounds as if that would be
stretching it. My uncle filled me in that there is a terrorist component to
this.
Ned: (clarifying) But Jasper Jacks has not been seen around Port Charles.
Jason: He knows better than to be around me. He and I won't breathe the
same air for long. That doesn't mean that he wouldn't pull the strings from
a distance. I was wondering if you had any information about him. Any word
that he is moving in our direction? (Just then Anna comes running up with a
scraped knee her eyes starting to tear up)
Anna: Daddy, I fell down. I hurt my knee.
Jason: Yep, you surely did. But I don't see any blood. Is your leg gonna
fall off?
Anna: NO, silly.
Jason: Well then you better stop crying or your face will freeze like that
and you won't be able to make a smiley face til spring. (Anna wipes her
eyes) Do you want to go inside? (She shakes her head) Do you want to give
me a kiss and then go play some more? (She nods, kisses her father and then
goes back to the play-- her knee not hurting so much anymore)
Nik: I am amazed. You seem so calm. I remember when Staci was kidnaped I
wouldn't let her or Lu out of my sight for weeks.
Ned: It was one of the things I was happy to give up when I left ELQ. The
limelight that surrounds the family makes the kids targets. Even touring as
chaotic as it can be, Lois and I were always with the kids or they were
here with her folks. The third generation in this house. This whole
neighborhood is a fortress where children are concerned. Any unknown adult
is questioned.
Jason: I can't make my kid a prisoner because of what some sick son of a
bitch did to her. I can just make sure he never does it again.
Nik: Alexis and Keesha did a great job with that.
Jason: They were motivated. But Mr. Saunders and I haven't had our dance
yet. (Ned and Nik begin to sense the rage that boils under the surface of
Jason)
Ned: Cuz, I didn't hear a thing.
Nik: And if I had-- the only thing I would do would be recommend a good
lawyer but I think you already know her.
Jason: I won't need a lawyer; time is on my side now. But the timing on
this weapon thing and a Jacks showing up in PC. I don't like it. Justus is
looking into any government movement on this. This could be the excuse they
need to start snooping around.
Ned: You sound like the bootleggers of old complaining about the revenuers.
Nik: Bootlegger? Revenuer? What are those?
Ned: That is right you weren't born in the US. About 100 years ago the
government tried an experiment in alcohol education. They banned it. They
were the ones that got the education however. As soon as it was made
illegal people started making money off it. Either distilling their own or
bringing it from Canada. Even after the government gave up, legalized and
started taxing it, the routes stayed in place. There was still a profit
avoiding the taxes. The Government had a fight on their hands trying to
track the illegal booze this time to collect the revenue or taxes on the
liquor. Anyway it seems that is why Mrs.C. had such a soft spot for Sonny
seems her father used to make some extra cash running booze in the good old
days. ( Ned starts to laugh) Of course all that stopped as soon as he
married her mother. The women in this family like a good fight but they
circle the wagons when it comes to their own family being in danger.
Jason : I think we have been out here long enough. The kids should be cold
even if they don't know it. (He whistles using two fingers. A shrill tone
that has his kids dropping their stuff and calling out goodbyes to their
friends ( and sets the dogs howling for two blocks)) Come on . I know that
your mom has a snack and hot chocolate for you in the kitchen. (the
children race inside Jason calls after them) Anna, have your mom look at
your knee.
Ned: Nik, why don't I take you up to the room you'll be staying in? It
will give you a chance to get out of that coat finally. (Together Nik and
Ned walk upstairs. This is my daughter Bridgette's room. She doubled up
with one of the other girls.)
Nik: I don't want to put her out. I can stay in a hotel.
Ned: My mother- in-law would skin both of us if you even suggested it. I
'll see you downstairs.

Nik enters the room and shrugs out of his coat which he lays over a nearby
chair. from a Door he can hear a humming noise that he decides to
investigate. As he opens the door he sees Brooke reclinging in a bubble
bath her eyes are covered by a washcloth.
Brooke (eyes still closed): Bridgette, shut the door preferrable from the
outside!
Nik: Well maybe I won't get a hotel room after all. isn't it interesting
that your father would give me this room.
Brooke: (sitting up abruptly and then ducking back down just as fast) So
you think that my family is setting us up too?
Nik: Too?
Brooke: How are you feeling?
Nik: Great. Why do you ask?
Brooke: Because I think you are going to be very mad at me for the bargain
I made with your uncle. I thought I was doing the best thing for us but now
I don't think you would agree.
Nik: (Leaning against the wall) Why don't you stop beating around the bush
as the americans say and tell me what bargain you made with my uncle.
Brooke: Stefan swore that he would not interfere in your or my love life
ever again.
Nik: Sounds good so far. in return for what?
Brooke: Wearing a certain perfume on the airplane.
Nik: ( laughing) That is all? A perfume?
Brooke: You think this is funny. Think back to the way you acted on the
plane, Nik. I don't think he told me everything about that perfume. My bag
is over there will you get it for me?
Nik: I think that you are imagining things. ( but he hands her bag. With
wet fingers Brooke finds the vial and then drying a spot on her wrist
applies a few drops and then waits a moment before waving her wrist in Nik's
direction.)
Brooke: Smell ( Nik inhales deeply and feels his body tightening in
response. He drops her wrist and steps back) I want you to call your uncle
and find out just what he has done to us.