Helena gleefully monologues to her frozen son Stavros Cassadine (2001)
In the summer of 2001, Helena Cassadine set the stage for a final showdown with the Spencer family in a plot titled Endgame. This narrative featured elements of bio-terrorism, with Helena and her son Stavros Cassadine, serving as the main antagonists. However, in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the producers swiftly modified the narrative from the plan to blow up GH due to concerns that it might be perceived as too violent. Consequently, Stavros, who had returned from the dead, was written out of the series. The long-running Spencer-Cassadine feud forms the basis of the story for most of the year.
Storyline[]
Helena reveals her plan to a captive audience (2001)
Helena Cassadine begins using "the Ice Princess" to control and brainwash Lucky Spencer. She forced Lucky to infect Lucas Jones with a bio-toxin, then bargained with Lucas' father, Dr. Tony Jones, promising a cure in exchange for his help in reviving her son. Confused and desperate, Tony helped resurrect the cryogenically frozen Stavros Cassadine, concealed in a secret lab under General Hospital.
Helena also ordered Lucky to give Luke Spencer the bio-toxin to slowly destroy his mind and thwart his resistance. Lucky's girlfriend, Elizabeth Webber, was pivotal in freeing Lucky from Helena's control. Meanwhile, Helena had Stavros try to kill Stefan Cassadine and frame Jasper Jacks, but Stavros instead killed Chloe Morgan, (who discovered that he was not "Lucien Cane" as he's been claiming) leading to Stefan's arrest. After being cleared, Stefan sought entry to Helena's lab but was captured by Stavros. Helena disclosed her secret project to Nikolas Cassadine, introducing him to his father, Stavros. She intensified her plot by abducting Alexis Davis and Bobbie Spencer, along with Stefan. Nikolas led his mother, Laura Spencer, to the lab, only to be seized by Stavros, who also took Nikolas' girlfriend, Gia Campbell. Tony worked to duplicate Helena's antidote for Lucas' toxin, which was successful, allowing Luke to rush to the lab to rescue his family. He faced Stavros but was subdued. Concurrently, Jax, Roy DiLucca, and Scott Baldwin launched a rescue, finding the cave's entrance.
In the lab, Helena gathered the hostages, including Alexis, Stefan, Bobbie, Luke, Laura, Roy, Scott, Jax, Nikolas, Gia, and Lucky. She revealed Lucky as her ace, not knowing he'd broken free from her control. Chaos erupted, and a battle against Helena's forces ensued. An alarm signaled an imminent explosion, prompting a frantic escape. All but Luke fled, while Stavros freed Nikolas and Gia. Luke and Stavros clashed once more, ending with Stavros falling into a deep shaft, laughing all the way down. Luke then joyfully reunited with Laura. Helena almost eluded capture but was apprehended by Mac Scorpio. Stefan severed her funds, ensuring her detention. Yet, Helena remained hopeful, even as Marcus Taggert exposed the limited physical evidence against her.
Trivia[]
- Endgame was initially a storyline crafted by Anthony Geary, which he presented to the producers for adaptation into the series. However, Geary later revealed that head writer Megan McTavish made numerous modifications to his original script, resulting in a final product that diverged significantly from his vision. Geary remarked "In December of 2000, my writing partner, Irene Suver, and I delivered an 80-page document to ABC entitled 'Endgame'. It was a story to end the Spencer-Cassadine 'war' once and for all, and to move us out of the morass of the past. Now there seems to be some confusion regarding the authorship of the story currently airing on General Hospital. That storyline is the sole creation of the current writing staff, and bears no resemblance whatsoever to 'Endgame'."[1]
- After plummeting into a seemingly endless abyss and being declared deceased, Stavros inexplicably reemerges, alive and well, once more in 2013.