Kirsten Storms as B.J. Jones (2009)
What if B.J. had Lived? was a special stand-alone episode of General Hospital which aired on February 24, 2009. In this episode, Maxie Jones envisions an alternate reality in which she died in 1994, thereby enabling B.J. Jones to continue living. Kirsten Storms portrayed the character of B.J. in this alternate scenario.
Storyline[]
As Maxie sat on Damien Spinelli's bed, they engaged in a conversation about B.J. Jones and the heart that Bobbie Spencer and Tony Jones had donated to her. On an ordinary day, B.J.'s parents had placed their daughter on the school bus, unaware that an accident would occur, leaving them without their daughter in a conscious state. Nevertheless, Tony and Bobbie did not hesitate to provide Maxie with an opportunity for life. Maxie contemplated whether the world might have been a better place had B.J. survived instead of her. While Spinelli turned to fetch a blanket, he expressed how much she meant to him, emphasizing that his life would be profoundly different without her presence. Upon turning back, Spinelli discovered that Maxie had fallen asleep, missing his heartfelt words. During her sleep, Maxie dreamt of visiting a graveyard. To her astonishment, she came across her own headstone, marked with a date of death from 1994. In that moment, she was about to discover what life might have been like had B.J. lived and Maxie had not.
As Maxie observes the dream, she discovers that B.J. is alive and thriving, engaged to Matt Hunter. B.J. is also pursuing a medical degree with aspirations of becoming a cardiologist, driven by the hope of finding a cure for the illness that claimed Maxie's life. Meanwhile, Lulu Spencer is employed at Kelly's Diner and harbors a deep bitterness towards life, expressing her disbelief in love. Her interactions with Spinelli are marked by rudeness. When Johnny Zacchara enters Kelly's, Maxie anticipates that he and Lulu will mirror their real-life relationship. However, Johnny's purpose for visiting is to offer Lulu a position at his strip club, which she vehemently rejects, hurling insults at him.
In this alternate reality, Mac Scorpio is no longer the commissioner but a regular patrolman struggling with alcoholism. He enters Jake's bar during the day and requests a drink, despite Coleman Ratcliffe reminding him of his previous commitment to sobriety. Mac retorts that it is the anniversary of a little girl's death, who could have been his stepdaughter, and insists on having his drink. Maxie then witnesses Robin Scorpio visiting her grave, where Robin expresses that life seemed to halt with Maxie's passing and that she continues to live with Mac. Robin appears unable to advocate for herself and lacks motivation for change. Later, Monica Quartermaine expresses her regret to Robin for not being able to save Maxie's life.
Carly Spencer was married to Patrick Drake instead of Robin. Although Tony had cheated on Bobbie with Carly, he ultimately married her. During her marriage to Tony, Carly was unfaithful, engaging in an affair with Patrick. Despite her betrayals, Carly successfully extracted a significant sum from Tony during their divorce, which she used to finance Patrick's medical school tuition. Both Carly and Patrick appeared discontented in their marriage. Carly expressed her dissatisfaction to Patrick, citing her desire for children, but Patrick countered that Carly was unfit for motherhood. As the chief of staff at General Hospital, Patrick was rumored to be planning layoffs due to budget constraints. Monica, Bobbie, and Robin searched his office for information regarding potential staff reductions, especially since Patrick had terminated several employees the previous year. When Robin presented a report to Patrick, she confronted him about the rumors. Patrick reassured her of her job security, acknowledging her competence. However, Robin remained worried about the fate of other staff members. Patrick then opened the door for her to exit, asserting that his role as chief of staff and surgeon equipped him with the skills necessary to handle any situation that arose.
After contacting Epiphany Johnson and leaving a message regarding her availability to work that afternoon, B.J. unexpectedly collided with Spinelli, causing both him and his laptop to tumble to the ground. He immediately expressed his distress, stating that the programs on the laptop were irreplaceable. In an effort to console him, B.J. proposed to bake a cake for Spinelli, hoping it would lift his spirits. For the first time in Maxie's dream, Spinelli smiled and appeared genuinely happy. He inquired about her motivation for such a gesture, to which she replied that she believed it would bring him joy. Baking was a skill she had cultivated as a means of relaxation, having started when she was a young girl. Although she and Spinelli were not well acquainted, she confided in him that it marked the anniversary of her cousin's passing. The last occasion she had seen Maxie was when BJ had baked a chocolate cake for her and delivered it to the hospital.
Johnny approached the Waterfront and discovered B.J. and Spinelli engaged in discussion. He inquired whether the computer expert was bothering B.J., to which she defended Spinelli, questioning Johnny's tendency to be rude. Johnny explained that Spinelli was one of his employees and occasionally mis-communicated with others. B.J. asserted that Johnny did not intimidate her, even after Spinelli mentioned that Mr. Zacchara was the leader of the mob in Port Charles. She admonished Spinelli for working for someone like Johnny Zacchara, suggesting he should feel ashamed. B.J. then returned to Kelly's with samples of healthy menu options. She had spoken with Mike about introducing a heart-healthy menu in honor of Maxie. Bobbie had the final decision and expressed satisfaction with the Campbell's soups that her daughter had selected, which were the episode's sponsor.
B.J. later arrived at Jake's and encountered Mac. She felt disheartened by his apparent progress in Alcoholics Anonymous. Although Mac claimed he was only consuming soda water, B.J. chose not to engage in a dispute. Her primary interest lay in conversing with her half-sister Carly, who was playing pool in a corner. B.J. informed Carly of their cousin Maxie's untimely death, noting that she never had the opportunity to realize her childhood aspirations. While Carly was alive and well, she seemed to be squandering her life in a bar. B.J. attempted to inspire Carly, but the conversation turned painful, culminating in Carly throwing a pool ball at B.J. as she departed. Spinelli returned to Kelly's and purchased a cupcake from Lulu, which was an unusual choice for him. Lulu inquired about the reason for this change. Spinelli recounted the story of B.J. bringing a chocolate cake to Maxie in the hospital, expressing his belief that bringing a chocolate cupcake to Maxie's grave-site would earn him some positive karma. He invited Lulu to accompany him, but she firmly stated that it would be a waste of time, as Maxie had been deceased for quite some time.
At GH, as Robin exited Patrick's office, Monica approached her to inform her that the bartender from Jake's had called regarding Mac. Without hesitation, Robin left the hospital to pick up Max. Upon her arrival at Jake's, she settled the bill and assisted Mac as he stumbled to the car. As Robin and Mac departed, Carly noticed Johnny entering the establishment. Coleman attempted to divert Carly's attention, fully aware of the mobster's perilous nature, but Carly remained undeterred and approached Johnny to challenge him to a game of pool.
B.J. arrived at Maxie's grave-site and shared with her the achievements she had made in her life. Despite this, B.J. still felt the absence of her cousin and lamented the unfairness of one life being lost for the other to continue. Maxie concurred, expressing that it was indeed unjust that B.J. had died while she remained alive. Shortly thereafter, Spinelli arrived at the gravesite with a cupcake, and B.J. was touched by Spinelli's considerate gesture.
During the end montage, Patrick terminated Bobbie's employment at General Hospital. Meanwhile, Carly and Johnny shared a dance at Jake's, culminating in Carly leaning in for a kiss. However, Johnny recoiled and laughed, prompting Carly to attempt to slap him. He seized her hand and exited the bar with her. Back at Kelly's, while sweeping, Lulu discovered a piece of paper on the floor, which turned out to be the phone number for the strip club owned by Johnny. In another scene, Robin brought Mac home to the Scorpio House, where he subsequently collapsed after a night of heavy drinking.
The following morning, Maxie awoke, astonished that she had slept through the night. Spinelli informed her that he had taken the couch, implying that she had ejected him from his own bed. Maxie expressed her gratitude to Spinelli, acknowledging how fortunate she felt to have him in her life, reflecting on the importance of appreciating one's existence. After her dream, Maxie visited B.J.'s grave. She had often believed that the world would have been better had B.J. survived and she had perished instead, but she had never fully considered the impact of her own life on those who loved and needed her. Although B.J. likely would have pursued a career as a cardiologist and achieved great things, Maxie remained committed to advocating for heart health awareness. She hoped that some women would read about her in Crimson Magazine and be inspired to get their hearts checked after seeing her at the Campbells' ball. Before departing from B.J.'s grave, Maxie vowed to honor the life and heart that B.J. had bestowed upon her.
Trivia[]
- The spirit of B.J. would make a one-day return to Port Charles in January 2024, taking on the guise of "Angela Brighton" following the death of her mother, Bobbie Spencer.