In the Quartermaine living room, Luke takes the top off the brandy decanter. He slams it down and pours himself a drink. Surprised by the noise, Edward sets down the newspaper that prevented him from seeing Luke arrive.

Edward: Hey -- how the hell did you get in here? (Gets up from the couch) I swear, this is the second time today that somebody has just waltzed in here like we were having open house. (He opens the door and yells) Dobson!

Alexis heads across the foyer to the living room but stops short when she hears Luke's voice.

Luke: Edward, chew your servants out on your own time. You and I have business to discuss.

Just as Alexis turns to escape, Alice rushes up to her.

Alice: You can't ignore Mr. Quartermaine like that. He might fire you, and I couldn't bear it if you weren't here.

Alexis: (As Dobson) Conflict of interest, Alice. I'm on an errand for Mrs. Quartermaine. Could you possibly forget that you saw me?

Alice: I'd do just about anything for you.

Skye storms in the front door.

Skye: A.J., Get in here! (She slams her purse on the table)

A.J.: (Coming from another room) Hey, hey, hey, relax. You're starting to sound like --

Skye: How can you be so petty?

A.J.: What? Would you elaborate, please?

Skye: (Angrily) Look, you want to hate Jason, that's fine. You go right ahead. You torture him, you hassle him, you do whatever you got to do to make his life miserable. But Courtney? The way that you ambushed her like that? I mean, that was really low, even for you.

Ned walks into the foyer from the living room.

Ned: What way?

A.J.: I did a good thing.

Skye: Uh --

Ned: Define "good."

A.J.: In the fun and excitement of it all, Carly forgot to invite Courtney's mother to her shower, so I flew her up -- at my own expense, I might add.

Skye: Oh, after calling the owner of the strip club that Courtney used to work at and inviting some of her former co-workers? Oh, and did I forget to mention that he got Janine good and drunk before dropping her like a bomb at the shower? (Alexis walks down the stairs and stops mid-way to listen in) That poor girl was completely humiliated.

A.J.: Oh, you're not buying this sudden transformation into a sympathetic heroine, are you, Ned? Please.

A.J. walks out.

Ned: I don't know why I'm still surprised by A.J.'s antics. I mean, he's nothing if not consistent.

Skye: Believe it or not, I -- I empathize with Courtney. I know what it's like to be humiliated by your mother. I was watching that girl. I swear, she looked like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Then -- I don't know -- I flashed forward years from now, Kristina on some important day and her lunatic mother coming in, ranting and raving. (Alexis puts her hands on her hips) Who knows how far gone Alexis is going to be by then?

Ned: Kristina will always have me. And now she has you looking out for her. (Ned touches Skye's back and she turns around to him) I think we're going to make a pretty damn good team.

Skye: I think we already do.

They lean in and kiss as Alexis about jumps out of her shoes on the stairs.