Soap Opera Digest 9/9/03

Crash & Burn

GH's Courtney Catches Jason With Elizabeth, Which Drives Her, Faith And Ric To Desperation.

It's been a rough couple of months for Jason and Courtney, and Ric and Elizabeth on GENERAL HOSPITAL. Jason and Courtney are grieving the loss of their unborn child, but guilt that she caused the miscarriage is getting the best of Courtney, who has turned to pills to make the pain go away. Liz is trying to move on with her life and as far away from Ric as possible. This week, Jason and Elizabeth are brought together under tragic circumstances, and Courtney witnesses a close encounter between the pair. By week's end, things only get worse between these tortured twosomes ... and someone gets caught in the middle.

"Courtney has massive guilt because she feels that she brought about the death of her unborn child," explains Head Writer Charles Pratt, Jr. "So that, coupled with the fact that she is convinced that Jason will not be able to forgive her for this, is causing what seems to be a downward spiral. When you keep something so painful inside like this, It can eat away at you, cause you to make mistakes and lose control."

In addition to losing control, Courtney begins to lose perspective, thanks to her pill popping. "She's certain Jason is going to leave her; why prolong the inevitable? So, she starts pushing him away now," relates Alicia Leigh Willis (Courtney). But Jason can't understand her about-face. "Jason feels guilty in his own way," Pratt notes. "He's coming to the realization that his own rigidity in some areas could have caused Courtney to make some of the decisions she has made. Courtney's problems seem to be so complex that he's fearful they're not something he can deal with." Steve Button (Jason) concurs: "At first, Jason is very upset over losing something that he never really knew he had to begin with. When he realizes that Courtney isn't getting over her grief, he wants to know what's bothering her, but she pushes him away: he figures that she has to deal with things herself. He doesn't know she taking drugs, though."

At the same time, Jason is dealing with the fact that his sister, Emily, is dying. After seeing her at the hospital, an emotional Jason visits the hospital chapel. Elizabeth encounters him there. "Elizabeth goes to the chapel to say prayers for Emily, and they meet in grief." previews Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth). "She's not going there to look for [Jason], he just happens to be there. She sees his pain and reaches out a hand to be his friend." Explains Pratt. "They come together out of their concern for Emily. It's very obvious to both that any of the feelings of a romantic nature that they had before are replaced by friendship, nothing more."

Unfortunately, an on-edge Courtney arrives at the chapel to be by Jason's side, just in time to witness him in an embrace with Liz -- and she assumes the worst. "[Her reaction] is a culmination of everything adding up." reflects Willis. "Obviously, Courtney's not thinking coherently because of the pills. But any woman who sees her fiance with another woman is going to naturally feel threatened." Courtney leaves unnoticed, but later lashes out at Liz when she shows up at the penthouse to notify Jason that Emily is out of her coma. Courtney then blows up at Jason, who assures her that nothing is going on between him and Liz. "Courtney frustration is that she feels that Jason is angry at her for losing the bay." Pratt points out.

"[Jason] doesn't know where this [anger] is coming from because he's not angry; he's filled with grief."

Carly steps in to mediate. "Carly calls Elizabeth to the park and tells her to stay away from Jason." Herbst reveals. "Liz basically replies that Jason isn't married, and if she wants to hang out with him, she will." Ric overhears and believes that Liz and Jason are involved again, and Liz doesn't correct him. "If Ric wants to think that, she'll let him think it." smiles Pratt. "She's still so angry at him, that any misinterpreted sightings or whatever, she's going to let him assume that worst to hurt him like she's been hurt."

Things go from bad to worse when Ric goes to see Jason. "Ric is obviously feeling jealous and threatened that another man has stepped on his 'territory,' so to speak," grins Rick Hearst (Ric). "So, he goads Jason, trying to find out what's going, an arouses Courtney's suspicion in the process." Afterward, a heated Ric has a nasty run-in with Faith and rejects her advances once again. Then, Carly rubs Faith's nose in the fact that Ric will always love Liz. Ric meets up with Liz, and they battle it out. "They are each going for the jugular." asserts Hearst. "Ric is livid, as is Liz. They are pushing each other's buttons to hurt each other.

Which sets up a big collision course, "Ric and Liz have a huge fight. At the same time, Courtney and Jason had a big fight and Faith and Ric have also had a fight." recounts Pratt. "Everybody is storming off somewhere in the vicinity, and Liz suddenly finds herself at the wrong place at the wrong time. It all reaches a head as everyone converges on a dark brownstone street in Port Charles." There, Liz finds herself in jeopardy. "There will be a witness to this cataclysmic event," teases Pratt, "who will affect everyone's lives."

Note: Thanks to Gemini for typing this up