GH2005: SCANDALS
A.J. Quartermaine paces in his hotel room while arguing with someone on the
phone."Yes, I understand that Justus. Hell I wasn't planning on Gina
walking in on me. No, she won't take my calls. Yes, I tried; the florist
said she threw the flowers back at him. Fine, I'll see you and Jason then."
He hangs up the phone and looks at the newspaper with disgust. The headline
taunts him. "COUNCILMAN QUARTERMAINE CAUGHT IN BED WITH CAMPAIGN WORKERS" He knew better than to turn on the TV. Veronica Bowles would be having a field day with this by now.
Nervously he twists the wedding ring on his finger and picks up the phone again. As expected he gets the machine . . . "Gina, baby please, We need to talk about this. I'm heading over to the main house now. Call me."
He hangs up the phone and heads out the door.
Meanwhile at the Quartermaine gatehouse Gina is looking at the answering
machine like it's a snake about to strike. She hears a knock at the door and
goes to answer it. "Keesha."
Keesha smiles at Gina."I saw the papers. Wanna talk with someone who actually understands?"
Gina nods and allows her in. She takes Keesha's coat and they sit on the
couch."It's still so raw you know? I can't get the image of those two bimbos
in his bed out of my head. "
Keesha squeezes her hand reassuringly."Gina, how did you end up walking in
on them?"
Gina laughs as new tears springs to her eyes. "I'll give you one guess."
Keesha groans and shakes her head"What a bastard. Nikolas arranged this?"
Gina nods."I don't know how much of this is his doing, but at the very least
he had A.J. followed and made damn sure I walked in on him and his campaign
workers. Hell Keesha I'm pushing thirty, excessively tired thanks to working
as a resident, and I see these two eighteen year old bombshells coddling my
husband and laughing at my heartache. How the hell can I compete with children?"
Keesha angrily tosses down the newspaper she was glancing at."Compete? Gina
you're a beautiful, intelligent, career woman. How the hell can those
girls compete with you? A.J. is a fool. I should know. I used to just
say it was the alcohol. But damn it Gina; he's just an ass. Do you want to
compete for him?"
Gina shakes her head."I don't know. You know, deciding to divorce Nikolas was
the hardest thing I ever had to do. Not just because I knew he'd end with
custody of Staci; no, because Nikolas was part of me. I loved him more than
I ever thought it was possible to love another person. If it had been him
I walked in on I would have probably shot everyone in the room. I love A.J.
But I don't know if I feel like fighting for him."
Keesha smiles."Homicidal thoughts, the true way of knowing you love someone.
Oh Gina, what can I do?"
Gina smiles."Wanna help me pack?"
The Quartermaine Mansion
Jason throws down the newspaper and angrily casts a look at A.J."How in the
Hell did this happen? Damn it! You're a married man supposedly in recovery
from alcohol abuse. Wanna explain the hookers and booze?"
A.J. glares at him."You really want to compare lifestyles little brother?
Are you going to have me 'taken care of'?"
Alan rises from the couch and pours himself a drink. "A.J., Jason is asking
valid questions. Christ did you even think about how this would affect Gina?"
Monica pats Alan's shoulder."Poor girl, my heart goes out to her. There will be
plenty of gossip at the hospital over this."
Justus enters the room with a look of disgust on his face. "Sorry I'm late, I
had to basically run in the back way to escape the reporters."
Jason grins."Should have had a baseball bat with you they would have run
the other direction."
Alan:"Jason!" Justus ignores him.
Emily smiles at A.J."So, will you be footing my therapy
bill this month? I mean it's only fair since everyone else who's sent
me into hiding or potential relapse has paid their share."
A.J. Collapses into his chair."Thanks for the support everyone. Christ I made
a mistake, what do you want from me?"
Jason"Your mistake has probably ruined your marriage, has shed horrible light on your career, and more importantly ELQ will suffer because of this."
Justus "I have already set in motion major damage control. There is a problem
though. Seems A.J.'s campaign workers, if that's what we're calling them
has decided to give Ms. Bowles an exclusive tell all interview tonight on
the eleven o'clock news."
Emily rises from her chair."I'm moving into the dorm, call me back home when
we aren't the Kennedy's anymore. (She passes by A.J.) Later Teddy."
A.J. groans. "Anyone else have any pot shots they want to make? I'm not the only one to bring scandal on this family."
Jason smiles. "True, it is definitely a family specialty, but you've worn out
your credit limit. I expect you to clean this up A.J.. Justus and I have
worked way to hard to bring ELQ back together; we won't let you blow it."
The Gatehouse
A.J. opens the door gingerly and calls out for his wife."Gina? Gina,are you
here?"
Gina walks into the livingroom with her arms crossed over her chest."I told you
I didn't have anything to say to you."
A.J. walks toward her and as he reaches to touch her shoulder she jerks away.
Gina"Don't touch me! Don't you dare touch me! Touch your whores A.J."
He looks at her in bewilderment. Never before had he seen her so angry.
A.J."When I couldn't find you last night I grew worried. You left before I could
explain."
Gina snorts."I left before you had time to put your pants on. I went for a
drive."
A.J. Walks over to the couch and sits."Gina, I love you and I'm sorry. I don't
know what happened. I got drunk and the next thing I knew"
He is interrupted by the sound of a vase slamming into a wall.
He turns to face Gina, who is shaking with anger."YOU GOT DRUNK? THAT'S YOUR
EXCUSE FOR THROWING AWAY OUR MARRIAGE?"
A.J. walks toward her and she backs away."Don't come near me! I'm leaving A.J.
I've called Lucky; he's taking me out of this mad house so that I can think!
I need time. I need space and time to think about what's happened."
A.J. nods reassuringly. "I understand. You don't have to leave though. I'll
move into the spare bedroom, or back to the mansion."
Gina shakes her head. "I need space A.J. Real space! I am still numb so to speak.
I can still see your bimbos laughing at me. I can still see the empty vodka
bottles and I can still see you with them! And until I can wash that scene
from my immediate vision I would prefer not to be anywhere near you!"
They are interrupted by a knock at the door. Gina answers it and Nikolas walks
in."I'm sorry I left word that he wasn't to be able to bother you."
A.J. snarls at him."Get out of my house Cassadine. My wife and I are talking."
Nikolas looks at the vase and then at A.J."You throw this at her? You son of
a... "
Before he can reach A.J. Gina places herself between them. "I threw the vase,
Nikolas. Please leave. I can handle this."
Nikolas looks into her pleading eyes and softens but refuses to move."Let me
take you out of here."
Lucky Spencer walks into the room."Won't be necessary; I'm here to drive her."
He smiles at Gina who runs to hug him. "Door was open so I came in. Ready to
vacate?"
Gina nods and leaves to get her things. Lucky walks over to Nikolas and together they stare at A.J. angrily.
A.J. paces as he meets the glares from the sons of Laura Webber. Their
hate-filled stares are eerily similar, almost identical. In fact, A.J.
realizes this is the first time they look like brothers to him.
Lucky turns to Nikolas and whispers. "I think it would be best if you vacate
as well. Murder charges are hard to beat, even for Alexis-- the wonder woman
attorney at law."
Nikolas nods curtly. "I understand what you're implying but I have a few
things to discuss with Quartermaine. You will take care of Gina for me?"
Lucky nods. "Man, this has your scent all over it. If I find out, you had a
part in her breakdown there's going to be hell to pay."
Nikolas stiffens."I don't need your threats little brother. Take care of Gina
for me, we'll discuss this later."
Lucky lights a cigar and smiles cockily. "I hear you, but I hope you hear me.
I ain't Stefan, I'll kick your butt when you need it. (Hushing when he sees
Gina enter) I gotta go. Mind that temper, and remember no body no crime."
Lucky throws A.J. another glare and takes Gina's bag. Gina turns to Nikolas.
Gina:"I think you should leave."
Nikolas shakes his head. "A.J. and I need to talk."
Gina eyes her ex-husband then her husband and decides to let them air out their
differences alone. She follows Lucky out of the house leaving A.J. and
Nikolas glaring at each other.