Brenda's Breakdown #1 October 12, 1997 - January 9, 1998: 8 hour original edit.

Jax finds Brenda and takes her back to the penthouse and gives her hot cocoa with marshmallows and a collection of Nancy Drew books. She remembers how she used to raid her sister's collection as a kid and read them on the sly. Brenda listens to Mary Mae's CD and stares pensively out the window. V arrives and her and Brenda have a nice chat about sketching and Brenda's careers. Jax comes in with a big, wrapped box. Brenda thanks Jax for her very own first edition set of Nancy Drew books. Jax figures she'll peek at the endings and Brenda admits she has done so in the past. Jax bets Brenda she can't read a book through without peeking. After Brenda goes to bed, Jax makes a mysterious phone call to someone and speaks to them about Bren.

Next day, Brenda tells Jax maybe it's time for her to leave, but Jax convinces her he wants her there while she recovers. She agrees to stay, and they begin to discuss Brenda's sister Julia. When Brenda tells him that Julia and she were never close, Jax becomes anxious. Brenda tries to guess who Jax arranged to bring to PC. When Brenda answers the door, it's Julia. "Oh, my God," Brenda gasps, "It's you." After literally slamming the door in Julia's face, Brenda turns and glares daggers at a sheepish Jax. Julia and Jax confer after Brenda slams the door in her sister's face. Julia's sorry that Brenda's so upset and plans to return to England. Brenda suddenly appears, telling her sister to wait. The three of them drink coffee and make nice. Julia remembers old times, including the Qs, "Jason was always a nice guy..." she shuts up as Brenda glares at her. That's right, Brenda agrees, he was real nice until he lost half his brain in an accident and became Sonny's henchman. And it was Jason who told her at the church Sonny was a no-show. But maybe if Julia bothered to show up herself, she'd know this! "My God, Brenda, you were about to marry a criminal!" Julia cries. Brenda's angry with Julia. Why didn't she come to Brenda's first non-wedding to Jax? Julia tries to explain the demands that kept her away from her two non-weddings. But she is sorry that Brenda was hurt so badly. Before she leaves, she spots the Nancy Drew collection, and admits that she always knew that Brenda used to snitch her books. The ladies connect for a moment.

Jax tricks Brenda and Julia into having breakfast together and beats a hasty retreat. The siblings have a powerhouse confrontation. They discuss their father and their history with glorious consistency, illuminating both of their sides realistically and believably. Julia admits that she was Daddy's chosen heir to his world, but explains that she never asked for it, and would trade it all in to have her sister back. She admits to never having defended Brenda or pointing out her strengths to Harlan, gaining a little headway with Brenda by her honesty. Julia says that she admires and envies Brenda for her fierce independence, how she always did everything her way, not caring what anyone said. Brenda responds that she always always cared. Brenda argues hotly every step of the way, flashing her anger, and needling Julia to be honest, which Julia obliges even to the point of telling Brenda that yes, sometimes she did think she did stupid things. Julia tells her that she's worked through how Harlan had controlled her own life, and that he no longer does, but that now he indeed controls Brenda's life. Julia suggests that Brenda's attraction to Sonny is because he is like her father. After Julia leaves, Brenda reels off all of her sister's faults to Jax. Julia returns and announces her impending departure; Brenda had a change of heart and kinda sorta apologized and invited her sister to stay for breakfast. They hug.

Julia and Brenda go out to dinner together at the PC Hotel Grille. Julia is shocked when she spies Luke; he's the spitting image of her onetime lover (and murderer of Harlan Barrett) Bill Eckert. Back at Jax's place, Brenda thanks Jax for bringing Julia to town. Julia appears at the door. She regrets that it's taken so long for her and Bren to get together. Jax leaves and the sisses bond over room-service cookies. Jax is chipper at breakfast and Brenda is depressed and lethargic. He suggests that she get her own place so that she can have the quiet necessary to know herself. She's open to it, but she has never had her 'own' place. Jax suggests they look at places that afternoon. Jax and Brenda check out a new house for Brenda. She rapidly falls in love with it. She decides to lease the house with an option to buy. Brenda moves into the new place. Julia stops by and they share a tearful goodbye, making lots of promises and declaring their love. Julia takes a parting shot about the sofa placement. Benda and Ned have more sweet friend stuff. She refuses any furniture loans, wanting to pick and buy it all herself. He gives her more compliments and support. She remembers the anniversary of her wedding to Jax. Ned shows her photos of Brooke Lynn and proudly brags. Brenda has flashbacks to Sonny during a music montage. Brenda decides to spend the night alone in her new place. When she feels lonely she makes up an excuse to call Jax. He offers to come over, she says no. He tells her to make hot chocolate, and look! the Magic Jax has spirited everything she could need for that into the kitchen! She's surprised. They pretend to be late night radio with WolfMan Jax and "Lost and Lonely in Port Charles." They talk about the non-anniversary. Eventually, they don't hang up, but just put the phones down.

Next day, Jason arrives on Brenda's doorstep and forces himself inside. They verbally duke it out. Brenda warned him to stay away from her or she'd call the police. Outside on the porch, Jason phoned some goons who were watching Brenda. He warned them not to let her see them. Ned comes by and suggests that Brenda goes with him to the Outback to check out Dara's singing and maybe sign her to L&B. Brenda is afraid she may run into reporters but decides to go anyway. Brenda asks Ned about his life. Ned deflects the question and denies that 'anyone' is on his mind. Dara sings and later Brenda tells her that she is interested in signing her. Meanwhile, a blonde slithers up to Bren and starts gushing. She then segues to bitchy, insulting and mean by wondering how Brenda feels about the man who ruined 2 weddings and abandoned her at the alter. Brenda snarls at her to get out of her face. The woman introduces herself, Joyce Barry reporter, and begs for an exclusive interview. This is like a match to the gas and Bren lights into her like a pro. Brenda finishes her off by threatening her and her paper with a lawsuit if they print one word about this conversatio. Ned comes back and Joyce scurries away. Brenda declines his help and says she can take care of herself.

Brenda gets a new lamp. She decides the new couch is ugly and will go. She and Jax discuss the couch, the future of L & B Records, Dara, Brenda's relationship with Ned. Then Jax switches the topic to Sonny. Brenda fills Jax in on her blow-up with the nosy reporter, but dismisses his idea that she should be more careful in avoiding them. She announces she'll go where she wants to go, do what she wants to do. What she wants to do is decorate her home, get L & B going, and maybe get back to modeling for Jax Cosmetics. Just then, Lucy knocks on the door. First thing she notes upon crossing the threshold - lose the couch. Second thing, she wants Brenda's answer: will she or won't she model for the Christmas campaign. Brenda bristles at being pressured into a decision. So Lucy backs off a little, but points out that Christmas is just over a month away. Brenda eventually decides to take the modeling gig.

Lucy sends over a woman over to do Brenda's hair and makeup, testing some ideas for the Jax Cosmetics winter campaign. Unknown to Brenda, this woman had contracted with the publisher of a tabloid newspaper to find out information about her breakup with Sonny. The woman had a tape recorder and drew Brenda out in conversation about everything that had been going on lately. Later on, Brenda overheard her phone the publisher to say she had gotten the "goods". Brender is furious that Angel the hairdresser taped Brenda pouring her heart out. Angel could get $10,000 from the tabloids with such dirt. Grabbing the girl's arm and squeezing, she makes Angel apologize, cowering and pleading to be released. She finally lets the girl go and Angel mutters "You're sick!" Brenda hisses that she'll show the girl what sick really is if a word of their discussion shows up in print. Angel runs out as Jax enters.

Ned picks up Brenda at her house, noting the renovations she's begun, and they head to the Outback again to talk to Dara. Meanwhile, at a table, with Ned popping in & out, Brenda uses all her skill to get Dara signed with L&B. Dara refuses, citing her career as D.A., not wishing to split her focus. Brenda offers only local gigs and no travel, playing small nightclubs and focussing on the CD, like Mary Mae's deal. Dara is hooked, but still hesitant, so Brenda offers a handshake & verbal agreement, to which Dara feels comfortable committing. Brenda is sitting in a still-nice cottage, but the place is full of decorator's supplies. Later, Brenda is on the phone talking L&B business and Jax comes in. Wyndham's delivers a box. It's a wedding present for Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Corinthos. She burns the monogrammed sheets after Jax leaves. Mike invites her to the Scanlon family Thanksgiving dinner. Brenda declines, and they start to talk about the Sonny factor in their relationship. Brenda tries to reassure him that he's more than the father of the man who jilted her, filled him in on her doings, and promises to keep in touch with him. She mentions the possibility of spending the holiday in Europe. She later admits to Jax that it was something she told Mike to escape dinner at the Scanlons, but Jax offers to take her for real. She turns him down, and instead invites him to a homecooked Thanksgiving dinner by Brenda Barrett. Jax expresses doubts that she'll be able to carry it off, but accepts. Brenda nixes the idea of a contingency plan. Music montage.

Thanksgiving - Brenda had a little trouble defrosting the already-stuffed but still-frozen turkey in the microwave. They have marshmallows and Brenda has the great idea to make s'mores with frozen graham-cracker crust and the chocolate torte he brought."Brenda, DON'T BAKE!" he pleads. They end up eating the s'mores. Another day, Brenda and Jax were dining at the Outback; Ned and Lucy arrive almost simultaneously. Lucy and Brenda go over details for the upcoming Jax Cosmetics shoot, and Lucy proposes the idea of a coinciding TV special "The Life of a Supermodel." Brenda is lukewarm, at best, about the idea. After all, she hadn't done any modeling for a year, so how could she possibly be super? The only super thing she'd done lately was getting dumped. Lucy flatters her and asks her to reconsider, tells her the renowned producer is on his way. When he arrives, he pulls out some of her previous stills to give her an idea of what he was going for, and all was fine until one of them turned out to be a picture of Brenda with Sonny. Sure enough, that part of her story was what he wanted to focus on.

Brenda's with the Q's at Luke's Club for his welcome home party. there's the table with Brenda and some of the Qs. Suddenly, gunfire erupts. After the mayhem, Brenda stares at a fallen figure in amazement. "Sonny", she breathes. Luke turns the person over--it's Nik, thrashing about and choking for air. Jason perfroms a tracheotomy on the kid with a pocket knife. Jason is later arrested and Brenda starts flailing at him.

Next thing, Brenda is at her photo shoot, they begin her prep while interviewing her. Jax shows up with flowers. As the flashbulbs go off, Brenda seems more and more skittish as Jax looks on with growing concern. Jax leaves. The photo shoot continues; a bulb pops scaring an already nervous Brenda. Suddenly Brenda starts to see images of Jason in a blood-stained shirt repeating a phrase Sonny had used when he left that a photographer unknowingly also used. She freaks out destroying the set and threatening the staff with a tripod. Lucy's assistant calls for help once Brenda drops the tripod she's been using to keep the others at bay. The photographer tries to calm her when she grabs a camera away from someone. Lucy arrives on the scene. "Keep away from me," Bren tells them all. Lucy slowly comes forward and gets Bren to calm down. Holding her hand, Lucy starts to lead her away. The EMTs arrive and one asks "Is this the patient?" Brenda freaks out and tries to run away. Frank Scanlon, the EMT, holds her in bear hug to keep her from escaping while she struggles and screams. Lucy pleads with Frank to let her try to talk to Bren. Lucy calms her and calls her Doc, explaining things to him on the cell phone. Kevin tells her that Brenda needs to get to GH as soon as possible so that she can receive help. Frank gently places the wrist restraints on Brenda and Lucy plans to ride with her to the hospital. When Jax arrives later, he finds the place darkened and shut down. Lucy's call alerts him to Brenda's breakdown.

At the GH psych ward, Brenda is in her own little world. She asks Lucy if the nurses work for Sonny. "Stay out of my room," she screams at one of them. "I know you want to kill me!" When Jax arrives, she is screaming and struggling with the attendants. Jax rushes to Brenda's side and says that he won't let Sonny hurt her. He then calms Brenda. Jax then talks to Lucy about damage control. Lucy worries that Star-TV will air the Brenda Breakdown footage. Jax pressures the show to pull the story. Jax has a brief conversation with Brenda's doctor about when she can be released, and then sits with a sleeping Brenda. Jax and Julia discuss Brenda's condition with Dr. Rogers. Jax informs him that a second opinion, a doctor from NY is coming to see Brenda, Rogers leaves. Alan stops by and offers to help. Jax thanks Alan for the help but oh so subtly implies that Alan's further assistance will not be necessary. Alan asks why and Jax says that he blames Alan and his poor follow up treatment for Bren's drug addiction which started this down-ward spiral. Alan tries to defend himself, and Jax brushes him off and walks away. Alan looks stricken and fingers his pill bottle. Julia comes out of Brenda's room in a panic. Jax brushes by her and enters Brenda's room. Jax talks to Bren about getting away to New Orleans soon. Bren asks for her Nancy Drews. Julia suggests that Bren should stay at GH and Jax suggests Julia go take a nice shower and rest. Bren asks Jax to get her home for Christmas.

After getting caught up to speed, Gail sees her new patient. When she is consious, Brenda insists that the people at the photo shoot were there to hurt her. Gail reports to Jax on her condition, and said that Brenda could be out by week's end, if she improves. Jax waits while Brenda paces feverously as the doctors review her case. Jax tries to reassure Brenda they won't commit her since they need Julia's approval, and she can't be found. Brenda is called in to see the doctoral inquisition. They ask her to describe what happened at the photo shoot and whether she feels she's in control now. As the questioning continues, Brenda begins to zone out. When the doctors finish with their questions, they ask that Brenda be escorted back to her room while they confer [bad sign]. As she's going, she sees Julia and Jax chatting while filling out a form. Fearing Julia is having her committed, Brenda makes a mad dash for the stairway leaving Jax behind. The attendants catch her on the stairs and restrain her, screaming. An ashen-faced Brenda sits staring blankly on a bed in a barren room in stark contrast to the glamorous look of the photo shoot we saw last week. Brenda's doctor explains to Jax why releasing her would be a bad idea. He breaks the news to Brenda, who doesn't take it well. Jax goes doctor shopping to get her released. Jax approaches Alan and asks him to do some leaning to her released. When Alan refuses, Jax threatened to complain to the psych review board about Alan's remarkable similarity to a PezDispenser when it comes to prescription drugs, and how that quality helped lead Brenda to her current state. Not surprisingly, Brenda is suddenly free to go home.

Upon arriving home, she finds a lit Christmas tree waiting to be trimmed. Dave Koz plays "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" for a montage of GHers including Brenda and Jax decorating her tree and cuddling. After Christmas, Julia babies Brenda while they rehash their father's psychological mistreatment of Brenda. Julia wants Brenda to return to London with her. Brenda tells Jax and Julia that she feels more at home in her new house, rather than going off to London. Julia decides to return to London, and Jax volunteers his plane. After Brenda steps out of the room, Jax tells Julia he has arranged for a nurse to stay with Brenda. Brenda interviews the live-in nurse and suggests she start immediately. Julia splits for London. Julia leaves for London.

Jason comes to see Brenda at her home. He apologizes for anything he might have done that caused her breakdown. He tells her he understands her need to get out of the hospital. She asks if Sonny sent him, when he answers no, she says now he thinks he has everything of Sonny's, money, organization, power, but he's wrong, then staring into his eyes she slowly reaches up to touch his face. After he gently removes her hand, she draws her lips sensuously close to his till they just meet. Jason pushes Brenda away. What does she think she's doing?Jax bursts through the door and punches Jason's lights out. Jason punches back and the guys go at it, knocking over the Christmas tree as Brenda drifts over to the sofa, rocking back and forth. As the guys tussle, a crystal ornament gets crushed underfoot. Brenda is in a daze. Jax realizes that Brenda is out of it. He kicks Jason out and tells Brenda everything is going to be all right. As he starts cleaning up, he keeps talking, eventually reminiscing about their "honeymoon". Those were the best times he ever had. He can't put the angel back on the tree as it was smashed in the fight. They'll find something else instead. Brenda hands him her angel necklace. She confesses that she came onto Jason. She wanted to send Sonny a message. She knows that Jason knows where he is. It would be the ultimate revenge on Sonny: "He can't destroy me because I will destroy myself first." She tells him "I think I'm losing my mind."

Brenda tells Jax of her restlessness, then completely backs off and attempts to allow him his delusion that everything's fine, except that she really doesn't feel like being around any crowds on New Year's Eve. She encourages him to take care of any wrapping up that needs to be done at his office, then blanches a little when he takes her up on it. Later, Robin calls. Brenda doesn't recognize her voice right away and doesn't speak until she realized who it is, then lies and blames the phone for the silence. In the middle of catching up, Robin announces that "Star TV" is available to her, and wants to know when Brenda's special will be on. As Brenda was about to explain why the show wouldn't air, Jax returns, and anything she might have started to say turns pretty vague. She gets off the phone and Jax presents her with his little box of party favors: hats, noisemakers, etc.

Ned phones Brenda and invites himself over for a visit. Jax walks in on her end of the conversation and is surprised that Brenda was up for some company. They discuss how much Brenda enjoys talking to Robin. Brenda tells hi m that she felt uncomfortable with Nurse Carmen in the house and wanted to get rid of her. He told her that he was going to be out of town for overnight so would she please hang onto Carmen for just a bit longer? She agrees. However, after Ned visits she told Carmen that Ned would be returning to spend the night so Carmen could go on home.

During Ned's visit we learn that Brenda's financial advisor is missing in action. After a few calls, Ned determins her so-called advisor, having her total power of attorney, has apparently skipped town with all her money. Later on, Ned assures Brenda that he and Justus would be on the trail of the financial guy. Jax arrives in Paris and seeks out Robin, presumably to bring her back to Port Charles for Brenda. Meanwhile, Brenda is humming a child's tune and uses those above-mentioned scissors to cut her face out of all her pictures. She burns each cut out, throwing the remains in the fireplace. She receives Jax's phone call, telling her that he's bringing her a surprise. The camera pans to a framed photo of her with a her face cut out. Jax admits to Robin that he was wrong for getting Brenda released from the hospital. She just wasn't ready. Now he is trying to make amends by bringing Robin home.

Talk gets around to Jason. Jax compares him to Sonny, while Robin defends him. Another music montage with a scene of Brenda greeting Robin at her front door. Brenda welcomes Robin half-heartedly into her home. She makes it clear that Jason is not welcome in her home. Robin has no problem with that but is puzzled by Bren's obvious suspicions. Brenda tries to explain her psychotic episode to Robin. She still sounds fairly paranoid. Robin asks Brenda about the mutilated picture. Brenda explains that she was destroying her model image, that the only thing Sonny ever wanted her for was as a trophy. Robin tries to explain and defend Sonny. So Brenda assumes she is spying for Sonny. Robin calls Felicia while Jimmy (the fake Mac) is there and he, of course, has no idea who she is until she calls him uncle. Then, lucky for him, she hears Brenda, gets cryptic and hurries off the phone thereby increasing Brenda's paranoia threefold.

Next visitor is Emily, bringing a gift and trying to find out how Jason could possibly be the father of Carly's baby. Brenda makes an inappropriate joke about being "tied up" lately and laughs wildly. When Robin returns from the planned meeting with Mac, Brenda is convinced she's really seeing Jason, and insists "you don't have to lie to me". She then tries to convince Robin how awful Jason is. She lies about Jason kissing her, not the actual way it happened. Robin doesn't know how to respond to her but has a difficult time hearing the Brenda attack Jason.

Next, Ned shares with Brenda not only broke but she's being sued by Star TV because she didn't finish taping their special. Robin and Ned are shocked when Brenda says she is happy that she has no money, no career, because now she is free of all her cares. Robin makes a hasty call to Jax and alerts him about Brenda's bizarre response to Ned's news. Brenda comes in just after Robin hangs up and thinks she has been on the phone to Sonny. After Ned leaves, Brenda accuses Robin of betraying her trust by phoning Sonny.

Brenda visits Lily's grave. Brenda returns home to find Jax making a fire. He tells her he must go away for a week or so. She tells him about being at Lily's grave, not realizing that he heard much of her "discussion" with Lily. She realizes that it could just as easily be her in that grave. She's glad to be alive, and glad that Jax is her friend.

Brenda takes steps to repair the damage she caused ambushing her loved ones. Robin accepts her apology and admits her own desire to stay in Port Charles and agrees to move in with Brenda. Then Brenda calls Jax to apologize, and is shaken by a reporter at the door pretending to deliver flowers, he asks how she feels to know that Lucy Coe is replacing her as the Face of Deception.

Brenda wisely asks Gail to pay a housecall. She tries to convince Gail that she has clearer self-awareness. Brenda calls Lucy and asks to talk to her about her future with Deception.

**The End**