Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives ...

Okay, Okay, I know that Michelle and Jesse had this fascination with Romeo and Juliet but it just never really worked. The only real similarity was that they fell in love at almost first sight, but really, the "two different (houses) worlds" plot (Jesse's dad hating the Bauers) never rang true and was dropped pretty quickly.

I like to think about the Guiding Light writers sitting there trying to figure out how to make Michelle and Jesse's Romeo and Juliet theme work with some new storyline and one of the writers (perhaps [writer Michael] Conforti) saying, you want Romeo and Juliet? I'll give you a real Romeo and Juliet story.

Enter Danny and the Santos Family. Worlds apart from the Bauers and their circle of friends in Springfield. Worlds apart from anyone Michelle had ever known before. I haven't been able to shake what cousin Ray said of Danny the day of the wedding. You were a "regular Romeo," said Ray. Well, that was before Mick's death, said Danny. I say it was before Michelle and that now we may be getting the Romeo of Romeo and Juliet.

Remember how agitated Danny got at Jesse and Michelle and the Romeo and Juliet business? Didn't he call the characters "stupid" for throwing away their lives? Ah, Danny, what is it you're doing now? Tossing down those shots of tequila and losing control, stealing Mama's ledger and surely incurring her wrath, putting Michelle's safety above that of the Family. Dangerous stuff for a Santos ... and why? I'll give you a clue, Danny-boy ... she's blonde, she can't stop looking at you and she keeps fumbling with her finger.

Love. Love has consumed Danny of the House of Santos ... and it's just about to do the same to Michelle of the House of Bauer. Danny knows it can't work. "We don't belong together," he already admitted. Michelle knows it -- her brain tells her she can't live with someone who's involved in the things the Santos Family do every day. Even if they admit their passionate feelings for each other, what good will it do? Where can it lead but to an inevitable dark clash of two worlds.

Call me crazy ... but the atmosphere of Manny has been foreboding from the start (kind of like the "star-crossed lovers" phrase is right there in the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet). I am loving every second of the story, but cannot shake the feeling that the writers are playing out the bard's themes of love (Danny & Michelle) and hate (Carmen vs Michelle), order and goodness (the Bauers) versus darkness and evil (the Santos Family) and they're doing it with this wonderfully romantic storyline -- one whose ending I don't even want to think about.

Liz M