The teens using a Oujia board (2004)
Murder Mayhem at the Mansion, was a storyline that spanned a week and a half, broadcast in August 2004, during which numerous characters found themselves trapped at the Quartermaine mansion alongside a masked serial killer. Concurrently, the purported spirit of the recently departed Lila Quartermaine was believed to be communicating from the afterlife, offering warnings to those present.
Storyline[]
As a storm began brewing outside, Edward Quartermaine confided in his daughter Tracy Quartermaine and grandson Dillon Quartermaine about the unsettling occurrences he had experienced in the house since Lila Quartermaine's passing, convinced it was the spirit of his late wife. Elsewhere outside of Kelly's Diner, Sage Alcazar and Trent Parker, engaged in conversation about an upcoming girl-band competition. Consumed by jealousy towards Brook Lynn Quartermaine, Sage vowed to sabotage the event. Lucas Jones, Brook Lynn, Georgie Jones, and Dillon soon joined them, and Dillon shared Edward's experiences. Brook proposed conducting a séance using a spirit board, and they agreed to reconvene at the mansion. Sage assured Trent that it would be a night they would never forget.
Upon their arrival at the mansion, they were taken aback by strange moaning sounds coming from the duct-work, unaware that Faith Rosco and Justus Ward were hidden in the freezer. Faith, a fugitive, was concealed in an unused freezer at the mansion with Justus's assistance, narrowly avoiding detection by Tracy. However, Faith found herself trapped when Tracy closed and secured the freezer door, but Justus soon came to her rescue by unlocking it. During the séance, Brook Lynn called upon a spirit, and the marker on the channeling board began to move. Dillon inquired if it was his grandmother, to which the response was affirmative. Georgie then asked what the spirit desired, receiving a foreboding warning that something terrible was imminent that night. The board spelled out the word "die," leading Sage to announce that someone would meet their end overnight, just as the terrace doors flew open amidst the storm. The doors burst open, and Heather, who was seated outside, narrowly avoided being struck by lightning. Edward entered the room and confessed that he believed Lila had returned to prevent him from being unfaithful to her with the psychotic Heather Webber. Trent and Sage exited the room, with Sage attempting to persuade him that she was not to blame for the events that transpired. Brook Lynn expressed skepticism about Lila returning as a vengeful spirit. Left alone, Heather and Edward discussed the timing of their relationship, with Edward stating it was too soon after Lila's death to be with another woman. Heather reassured him that while guilt was natural, Lila would want him to find happiness. Edward then took Heather to the room across from his own to spend the night.
Drs. Alan and Monica Quartermaine attempt to activate the backup generator, only to find it was inoperative. Brook Lynn attempted to persuade the group that the entity they were dealing with might not be Lila, but an evil spirit impersonating her great-grandmother. Lucas sought to apply logic to the situation, suggesting that Brook Lynn might be subconsciously influencing the board's responses. Suddenly, a wheelchair hurtled down the stairs, prompting screams from everyone present. Monica and Alan, passing by, assumed it was a prank orchestrated by the teenagers, with Alan cautioning them against tampering with his mother's belongings. Maid Alice Gunderson announced that an accident had occurred. A gasoline tanker truck overturned about 100 yards from the driveway. The PCPD has a cleanup crew on the way however the road is impassable throughout the night. Brook Lynn advocated for the resumption of the séance, arguing it would help identify the spirit and vindicate Lila while banishing the malevolent entity. Sage and Trent opted out of participating. Dillon expressed a desire to understand the unfolding events, and Lucas jested about Dillon's feelings for Georgie until Dillon finally confessed his lingering affection for her. After apologizing once more, they reconciled and chose to rejoin the séance. Outside the room, Sage and Trent revealed their role in sending the wheelchair down the stairs and plotted further scares for Georgie. In the living room, the Ouija board indicated that jealousy was present within the house.
Nikolas Cassadine, in the meantime, covertly returns Emily Quartermaine to the Q estate after liberating her from a mental institution under the control of his villainous grandmother Helena Cassadine. Unbeknownst to both of them, Helena had issued a directive for Emily to be eliminated that very night. Consequently, unbeknownst to Emily, a mysterious figure arrives at the mansion and begins to pursue her.
In another part of the mansion, Heather and Edward were engaged in a kiss when they unexpectedly fell onto the bed, only to discover Monica and Alan already there, playfully interacting. Alan confronted Edward, accusing him of dishonoring Lila's memory, while others claimed that Heather was merely interested in his wealth. Tracy entered the scene, intensifying the accusations against both Edward and Heather, asserting that Edward should be removed for his lack of integrity. The group then proceeded downstairs. Meanwhile, Faith concealed herself as the Quartermaines arrived. Felicia Scorpio, summoned by Tracy for an urgent matter, insisted on hearing Edward's perspective before making any decisions regarding his fate in the competition. Following Lila's passing, Felicia had been appointed to decide who would inherit Lila's estate, and the Quartermaines were eager to prove their entitlement. Justus, albeit reluctantly, defended Edward, leaving Faith outside. Felicia began to question Edward, while Heather requested the opportunity to speak. The atmosphere grew contentious as they all argued in front of Felicia.
Sage accused Georgie of harboring jealousy towards her; however, Brook Lynn maintained that the spirit indicated it was Lila who felt envious of Heather. Sage then turned her accusations towards both Georgie and Brook Lynn, claiming they were jealous of her—Georgie due to Dillon and Brook Lynn because of her singing talent. She made a provocative remark about Georgie's intimate life, prompting Georgie to leave in anger, with Dillon following her. Meanwhile, Sage voiced her grievances to Trent regarding Dillon's actions and expressed a desire to instill lasting fear in both Georgie and Dillon. In the boathouse, Georgie confessed her jealousy of Sage, acknowledging that it motivated her previous actions. Dillon reassured her that she was his top priority, and they shared a kiss. He expressed that she was never the issue and lamented his regret over his encounter with Sage more than anything else in his life. Sage overheard this exchange. In tears, she urged Trent to frighten them. Trent then created noises outside the boathouse, causing Dillon and Georgie to become frightened and flee to the house.
Brook Lynn was adamant about wanting to speak with Lila. Lucas attempted once more to act as the voice of reason, but after some persuasion, he consented to restart the séance. Sage posed various straightforward questions to the spirit. Lucas was taken aback to observe that the séance appeared to be effective and that Brooke was not manipulating it. When Brook Lynn inquired about her father's identity, the response was "N-E-D." Just as Lucas was about to remark that this was common knowledge, the board continued with the letters "N-O-T." She interpreted this to mean that Ned was not in peril. Georgie and Dillon rushed into the house shortly thereafter. Sage entered a bit later, and Georgie accused her of orchestrating the entire event to frighten them. Sage left, visibly upset. Trent defended her in front of the group of teenagers, asserting that she was misunderstood. He then departed in search of Sage, prompting the others to follow, feeling remorseful.
Upon reaching the boathouse, they called out for Sage to forgive them. They opened the boathouse door to find Sage lying on the ground, stabbed in the abdomen. Sage then gleefully disclosed that it was all a practical joke. Later, she confessed to having pushed Lila's wheelchair down the back stairs to frighten the other teens. However, when Trent praised Sage for her 'crazy woman act' in the hallway, she abruptly claimed that it was not her whom he had seen dressed in black. The teens were unimpressed by her sudden claim of innocence and accused her of orchestrating yet another prank. As the others exited the boathouse, Brook Lynn cautioned Sage that her antics might have attracted a genuine malevolent presence. After the remaining teens departed, Sage reiterated to Trent that it was not her he had seen in the hallway. Eventually, Sage and Trent followed the others back to the house, only to be astonished to find a large knife embedded in the center of the Ouija Board. Trent and Sage accused the other teens of having knifed the board as retaliation against them. The other teenagers, however, hold Sage and Trent accountable for the ominous board. Georgie accuses Sage of having contacted Felicia with the intention of having Georgie's mother discover her and Dillon in a romantic encounter at the boathouse, a claim that Sage vehemently denies. In response, the group decides to confine Sage in the freezer. When Trent expresses his desire to accompany Sage, Georgie erupts in anger, chastising Dillon for his constant defense of Sage. Despite the change of heart among the other teens regarding Sage, Georgie forcefully takes hold of Sage and drags her toward the freezer against her will. Subsequently, Trent attempts to persuade Dillon to check on Sage and Georgie, but Dillon declines, asserting that the two girls must resolve their issues independently.
As Emily and Nikolas engage in their romantic planning, a menacing figure clad in black observes them from the closet. Concurrently, a heavily armed Faith enters Emily's room to seek refuge. Faith asserts that it would be extremely dangerous for her if Emily's brother Jason Morgan were to find out her location, indicating that neither Nikolas nor Emily will leave the room alive. In an attempt to negotiate, Emily offers to assist Faith in escaping the country, but Faith remains skeptical of Emily's intentions. Suddenly, Emily feigns the sighting of Jason outside the window, allowing Nikolas to seize Faith's gun while she is momentarily distracted. Although Emily is filled with dread when the gun discharges, Faith drops her weapon and flees, with Nikolas and Emily in hot pursuit. Later, they uncover Faith's hiding spot within the freezer. Emily departs to alert her family about Faith's presence in the house. However, once Emily is gone, the intruder approaches Nikolas from behind and renders him unconscious.
In the candle lit sitting room, Tracy attempts to convince Felicia to disqualify Edward due to his involvement with Heather. Justus counters Tracy's argument by asserting that Lila would have wished for Edward to continue with his life. Ultimately, Felicia declares her decision to eliminate Tracy from the competition instead. The atmosphere shifts when Heather unexpectedly appears, seemingly channeling Lila's spirit. Initially, the group suspects Heather of deception until "Lila" references "Scarlet Ribbons." Felicia clarifies that Scarlet Ribbons was the name of the first rose planted in Lila's inaugural rose garden, and Lila had previously informed Felicia that if she ever attempted to reach out, she would use the code phrase "Scarlet Ribbons." Tracy accuses Felicia and Heather of collusion, demanding their immediate departure from the house. However, Edward and Felicia persuade the group to allow Heather another attempt to "contact" Lila, to which Heather consents. As Heather begins to issue a warning about impending danger, Alice investigates the adjoining room after hearing noises from Faith. Just then, Emily arrives and instructs Alice to check near her room. Once Alice leaves, Faith makes a frantic attempt to escape through the front door, but Justus intervenes just in time, seizing Faith before she can flee. Emily enters the sitting room just as Tracy demands that "Lila" reveal who she believes should inherit her fortune, preventing Emily from warning Alan and Monica about Faith.
As Tracy speaks, the storm brews outside; lightning strikes, thunder rumbles, and a gust of wind extinguishes all the candles, causing the backup generator to fail. Once the candles are re-lit, it becomes apparent that Heather is missing. Tracy insists that Heather is merely staging an act to influence the distribution of Lila's wealth. Later, Emily manages to speak with Monica privately, informing her about Faith while cautioning her not to disclose Nikolas' presence at the mansion to the authorities. Concurrently, Justus tells Faith that he has arranged for their escape from the country and advises her to remain composed. He leaves Faith in a nearby bedroom to finalize his plans. Meanwhile, Felicia stumbles upon Dillon, Trent, Brook Lynn, and Lucas gathered around a Ouija Board. The teenagers explain to a shocked Felicia that Georgie has taken Sage to the freezer to confine her. Just then, Georgie arrives at the freezer with Sage and locks her in. In another part of the house, the cloaked intruder enters Emily's room and seizes the gun that Faith left on the bed. When Georgie rejoins her friends and confirms that Sage is locked in the freezer, Felicia insists that they all accompany her to rescue Sage.
While Alan and Tracy are in search of Heather, they encounter Alice, who claims she has not seen Heather. However, once Alan and Tracy depart, Heather emerges from her hiding place and expresses her gratitude to Alice for informing her about overhearing Felicia and Lila discussing "Scarlet Ribbons." This information allows Alice and Heather to ensure that Edward is the one who inherits Lila's fortune. Edward arrives and overhears part of their discussion, questioning Alice about her lie concerning Heather's presence. Heather defends Alice, explaining that she merely found her in the room. Edward dismisses Alice to speak with Heather privately, inquiring why she has been avoiding him. She admits to being frightened by Lila's spirit and expresses confusion over how she could have been possessed without any recollection of it. Edward comforts Heather with a hug. Alan and Monica enter, visibly appalled by Edward's belief in Heather's innocence and his assertion that Lila's spirit was channeled through her.
Meanwhile, Emily arrives at the boathouse and finds Nikolas, who quickly recounts that he was struck on the head but discovered the freezer door ajar upon regaining consciousness, prompting his return to the boathouse. Emily tells Nikolas that she thought she saw someone moving outside the house, to which Nikolas speculates that it could have been Helena. As Nikolas and Emily huddle together for warmth, Faith approaches the boathouse, brandishing a knife.
Upon opening the freezer, Brook Lynn discovers Sage lying face down on the floor and initially assumes that Sage is merely pretending, as she has done in the past. She instructs Sage to rise, asserting that they will not be fooled by her act of playing dead. Felicia is the first to notice the blood and bends down to check Sage's pulse. Turning to Georgie, she solemnly informs her that Sage is truly deceased. Overcome with horror, Georgie screams and laments her decision to lock Sage in the freezer alone. Felicia attempts to console her, assuring her that Sage's death is not her fault. Nevertheless, Georgie continues to feel a sense of guilt, claiming that she effectively caused Sage's demise. Tracy enters with a candle and overhears Georgie's anguished remarks. She confronts Georgie, stating that she has confessed to Sage's murder, along with the other witnesses present. Dillon intervenes, urging his mother to leave Georgie and them alone. Tracy, however, remains adamant, informing them that the police will be arriving shortly. Felicia insists that Tracy should leave Georgie alone, reiterating that she is not responsible for Sage's death. The group then ascends to the atrium.
Edward is informed of a murder that has occurred on the premises, with Sage identified as the victim. The group casts accusatory glances at Heather. Brook Lynn reprimands Tracy for her allegations of cold-blooded murder against Georgie. Commissioner Mac Scorpio arrives and approaches his stepdaughter Georgie to offer her comfort. He inspects Sage and the crime scene with Felicia by his side, asserting that there is no possibility Georgie would have killed Sage, but he needs to question her regarding any observations she may have made after confining Sage in the room.
Mac instructs Dillon, Lucas, Brook Lynn, and Trent not to leave the premises. Trent becomes frustrated with Lucas, Brook Lynn, and Dillon for defending Georgie, suggesting that Georgie might have lost control and unintentionally harmed Sage. Dillon firmly rejects this notion and tells Trent to leave her be. Mac takes Georgie into another room to inquire about the events that transpired. Georgie reveals that she became exasperated with Sage for conspiring with Trent and engaging in frightening games, leading her to drag Sage to the freezer room and lock her in as a lesson before going upstairs. Meanwhile, Brook Lynn proposes that the teens attempt to contact Lila's spirit using a Ouija board to inquire about Sage's murderer. Dillon, Trent, and Lucas reluctantly consent to this idea and proceed with it. The Ouija board begins to spell out Emily's name, prompting Trent to interrupt their séance with his objections.
Nikolas resolves to turn himself in after learning of Sage's murder and realizing that Faith remains at large. Initially, Emily opposes this decision; however, she eventually considers his argument regarding her mother Monica's potential concern for her safety if she does not return soon, which could lead Monica to suspect that Nikolas has kidnapped her and subsequently alerted the authorities. Together, Emily and Nikolas approach Mac, informing him that Faith had confronted them with a firearm and that Sage had unexpectedly entered Emily's room but had agreed to act as though she had not witnessed anything. Mac finds himself uncertain about whom to trust and accuses Nikolas of Sage's murder, even extending his accusations to Emily after Nikolas mentions being struck on the head while investigating the freezer room in the basement. Mac insists that every individual is a suspect at this juncture and inquires about Heather. They explain that Heather has been channeling Lila's spirit, although this account is met with skepticism. Mac speculates that Heather may have ventured into the basement in search of Lila's documents and encountered Sage, whom Heather might have killed to prevent her from revealing the scheme to the family. Meanwhile, Justus grapples with whether he can trust Faith, who claims she did not murder Sage Alcazar and merely discovered her body while visiting her hiding spot in the old freezer room. He questions her about the butcher knife she is holding, to which Faith responds that she is fearful of the killer on the loose and also of storms. Justus informs her that he must make an appearance, as lingering too long could raise suspicions with the police. Faith implores him not to leave her alone in the room during the ongoing storm. Justus then arrives and inquires with Mac about the situation, feigning ignorance regarding Sage's murder. Emily and Nikolas inform him that Faith is somewhere nearby and has threatened them with a firearm. Mac inquires if Justus has any knowledge of Faith's whereabouts. Justus fabricates a story and Mac regards him with suspicion.
Meanwhile, the actual murderer, clad in dark attire and donning a Halloween mask, enters Emily's room, rips a photograph of Emily and Nikolas in two, and shatters the frame. The assailant hears a sound from outside the room. Brook Lynn ascends the stairs towards Emily's bedroom, intending to warn her. The killer prepares to attack should anyone enter the room. Downstairs, the group hears a piercing scream. Justus identifies it as Faith's cry. He rushes upstairs to find Faith injured from the from the masked killer but still alive. He carries her downstairs for Alan or Monica to examine.
While Brook Lynn was upstairs under the watchful eye of the assailant, Trent, Lucas, and Dillon arrived to escort her downstairs. Dillon lingered for a moment and was subsequently attacked; fortunately, he sustained no injuries, and the assailant escaped. Upon returning downstairs, Dillon reported the incident. Mac instructed Felicia to keep everyone in one room while he conducted a search of the mansion. In a conversation with Emily, Nikolas expressed confusion over why the assailant had spared him, merely rendering him unconscious. They speculated that Helena might be involved. Nikolas resolved to assist Mac and successfully persuaded Felicia to allow him to join. Meanwhile, Mac discovered a torn photograph of Nikolas and Emily upstairs. In another part of the mansion, Tracy, Monica, and Alan proposed that everyone attempt to escape by boat, but Felicia insisted they adhere to her husband Mac's directives and stay put. In a moment of misunderstanding, Mac fired at Nikolas, believing him to be the assailant, but missed. Felicia rushed to their side, and Mac instructed Nikolas to return downstairs with her. Tensions rose between Tracy and Felicia regarding Georgie and Dillon, with Tracy attempting to blackmail Felicia by threatening to reveal Georgie's prior actions unless Felicia granted her Lila's inheritance. The assailant overheard Mac calling for backup, contingent on favorable weather conditions. Shortly thereafter, Alice was taken aback to discover a bloodied badge at the front door, which Felicia recognized as belonging to Mac.
Everyone opted to find something to use as a weapon and the group dispersed. Faith proposed to Justus that this was their opportunity to escape. Brook Lynn and Lucas scoured a room while having Trent keep watch in the hallway. As Brook and Lucas were forming a connection, Trent unexpectedly entered the room, a gardening claw embedded in his back. He collapsed to the floor, lifeless. Felicia arrived shortly thereafter, accompanied by Mac, who appeared to be unscathed. Mac speculated that the killer had deliberately placed the badge outside as a ruse to instill fear and create division among them. With the weapon lodged in Trent's back, Brook pondered whether the killer was now unarmed. Meanwhile, the killer discovered a knife near the boathouse and seized it. Soon after, Nikolas and Emily were informed that the killer was cornered in the boathouse. Nikolas instructed Emily to remain in her room while he ventured outside to assist. Unbeknownst to her, Emily was being observed by the killer, who was concealed in the closet. The others soon realized that it was actually Faith who was in the boathouse. Alice, Edward, and Heather were exploring the mansion together when Heather appeared to be overtaken by Lila's spirit once more, warning that Emily was in peril. Edward dashed away in haste. Alice was taken aback by what she perceived as Heather's "performance," but Heather insisted that she was not feigning this time. In her room, Emily confronted the masked killer. A struggle ensued, with the killer attempting to stab her. Ultimately, Emily managed to seize the mask and remove it from the killer's face, revealing Mary Bishop.
Mary informed Emily that she intended to rescue Connor Bishop from her. Emily attempted to persuade Mary that Nikolas was not a threat. However, Mary insisted on referring to him as Connor and issued a threat to Emily. She confessed to murdering Trent, believing he was colluding with Emily to keep Connor captive, and she also killed Sage, mistakenly thinking she was Emily. A struggle ensued between them. The teenagers were overwhelmed with remorse, each haunted by their own recollections of the events that preceded the murders. Nikolas and Mac, along with the others, entered the boathouse to find Faith. Upon realizing that the murderer was not present, they all reconvened in the house, where a heated argument ensued in the hallway. Justus decided to step down as Faith's legal representative. Mac and Felicia took Faith to the freezer, intending to implicate Justus as her accomplice. Lucas admitted Nikolas into the house, where Nikolas cautioned everyone to remain in the room and stay together. He entered Emily's room only to find her lying on the floor. Fearing the worst, he felt a wave of relief upon discovering she was alive. She informed him that Mary was the killer and recounted the events that had transpired. She described Mary as completely unstable. Nikolas grappled with the reality of Mary's madness, and they proceeded downstairs to inform the others. Together, Nikolas and Emily relayed the details of the confrontation between the two women and the background of Mary's violent rampage to Felicia and Mac.
Power is back on (2004)
Georgie and Brook Lynn inquired of the spirit board regarding the identity of the killer, which spelled out "widow." Dillon joined their conversation, expressing concern over Lorenzo Alcazar's potential reaction to his niece's demise. Brook Lynn suggested that it would be more prudent for her mother Lois Cerullo to inform Alcazar, as they are close, rather than him learning the news from another source. At that moment, Mary appeared at the window, smiling. The group rushed to inform the others about their sighting of Mary. In a fit of rage, Nikolas threatened to kill Mary in front of everyone present. As the power was restored, Mac, Nikolas, and Emily proceeded to the boathouse in search of Mary. Heather claims fatigue, prompting her and Edward to ascend upstairs. Alan and Monica attempted to persuade Felicia that they had atoned for their past actions and should be reinstated in the inheritance contest. Justus hurried to Faith, who cautioned him that the entire situation was a trap. He acknowledged her warning but explained that Mac and Felicia were currently occupied, making this their only opportunity to escape. Despite Faith's reluctance to have him risk everything for her, he remained resolute, and they fled together. Lucas offered consolation to Brook Lynn, commending her for handling the situation with fortitude and bravery. She admitted that her initial impression of him as an idiot had changed. At the boathouse, Nikolas confronted Mary, who continued to refer to him as Connor, insisting that she had done everything to safeguard him. In a moment of aggression, she threatened Emily and lunged at her with a knife, prompting Nikolas to grab Mac's gun and fire. Mary would ultimately survive the initial encounter and be transported to General Hospital, where she met her demise after Lorenzo Alcazar tampered with her medication.
Trivia[]
- The storyline was described as an effort to attract viewers of NBC's soap operas during the broadcast of the 2004 Summer Olympics on the competing channel NBC, particularly because of its resemblance to a serial killer plot featured in the rival NBC soap opera, Days of Our Lives.
- These episodes also featured the concluding days of the theme song "Faces of the Heart," which was last utilized on August 27, 2004. Additionally, it signified the introduction of the remixed version "Sirens," which replaced it and premiered on August 30, 2004.