The Crystal Tree
In Appreciation

©TCT Logo by Laura G.

The Crystal Tree is a group of email friends that are fans of Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans . We were founded on February 12,1997 as a place to share our thoughts about the work of Stephen and Mary Beth, on television, film, stage and beyond.

The Crystal Tree discusses story line turn of events, magazine coverage of these actors,
when and how to show support for their individual /respective work, personal appearances by
the actors, and online/internet events.

To Join the Crystal Tree, Write to: stevenkayla4ever@aol.com

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Below is A NOTE FROM MARY BETH EVANS
On Our 2nd Anniversary:
(Thanks to Franni For Passing it Along!!)

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Congratulations!

Hello! I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish The Crystal Tree a Happy 2nd Anniversary. I would like to also thank you for your continued support of my career. I am grateful to you as well for your support of the Aliso Academy and the fundraisers that have been associated with it. It is an honor for me to have the support of such a wonderful group of people.

Love,
Mary Beth Evans
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These are some of The Crystal Tree Members' favorite Stephen and Mary Beth scenes and roles.

• Favorite scenes/memories by Becky
  

Although I love Stephen as Stefan, my favorite role would have to be
Steve Johnson. Ditto Mary Beth as Kayla. There were so many powerful scenes
between these two that it's hard to choose. When they were caught after
the explosion in Mike's lab rates pretty high with me. But, the one scene that always makes
me cry is the morning of Marlena's "death" in the house explosion, when
outside the fish market Kayla makes Steve admit that he cares for her.
Pure and total magic from both of them. When Steve looks up toward the
sky or God, I never was sure, and says "What have you gotten yourself into
dude?" wow!!!  In my humble opinion Steve and Kayla had the ultimate
love story of all time, even more beautiful than Luke and Laura's.

• Stefanie's Favorite Stephen and Mary Beth Moments
  

My favorite role for Stephen: Steve "Patch" Johnson; Favorite scene:

I thought Stephen did an excellent job with the scenes right after
he found out Jack was his brother and he could not be with Kayla. He was
shocked when Jo admitted the truth and he went and cried on the pier.

My favorite role for Mary Beth: Kayla Brady

Favorite scene: I really loved her in the deaf storyline. All of the
scenes where she is in the hospital, learning sign language, and not being
able to communicate with Steve. Those were touching scenes to me. Loved
when she was deaf and danced with Steve on the rooftop.

I would say Stephen's best scenes were always the ones dealing with
his past as a street kid, giving up his little brother Billy, finding out
about Jack, Adrienne, and Jo. Also, when he confronted his father in the
hospital. MBE's best scenes had to do with either the deaf storyline or
when she was trying to get through to Steve when he was pushing her away.

• Cindy Describes her Favorite Stephen and Mary Beth scenes
  

I think STEFAN IS THE BEST CHARACTER!!! that He has played.  He 
came and took what was a complicated and already well written character
- Stefan cassidine.. a character that was bound by the Guidlines of Guza's
Creation of the character and He took Stefan Far beyond what Guza or any
writer could have done.  Any writer would be afraid to try to write
the complicated character that Nichols has created in Stefan because it
would be impossible for Most Actors to pull it off!!!!...

Stefan as a character Is much More layered.. and full of complicated
Motivations.. While Steve Johnson was also full of many sides.. He only
had so far he could go.  But STEFAN Can continue to go into so many
different Ways.. Like only A few characters on soaps.. the Stefan character
Has as they say "Legs".. it could go on for many years.. with Many different
storylines and  possibilities..

Nothing the Stefan character could do would suprise me. I Also like
the Katherine character for the same reason!....Katherine BELL!!! is NEVER
boring.. the character stands on it's own with or without Stefan!!! It's
the kind of Character I WANT to Watch on MY SOAP!.(It must be a lot of
fun for Mary beth to play Katherine) Kat is Fiery, vicious, kind, heartbreaking,
frightening... Again a character that Has already done several transformations,
and Can continue to do many more.

The combination of Kat and Bat .. Well it excites me just thinking about
it.. they don't have to be in love together to still make sparks on the
Screen.. They make sparks when they are in confict too... We feel their
Pain and We sympathize with their situations.. There is No bad guy.. and
there is No good guy with Stefan and Katherine.

My Favorite scene with Batman and Katherine is :

When  He is trying to put her out of his mind,, and she comes
to him in his mind.. saying that He should let her go, because to try to
keep her in His life would be to hurt Nikolas, and that Nik is the only
part of him that is good, that His love destoys all it touches,  and
He says that He Can't. The Time That He carries her to the window to see
the TREE!!!!! Now that was wonderfull ,, hardly any dialogue.. but Tons
of communication.

• Kecia's Favorite Scenes/Roles

Favorite Role For Stephen:  Steve Johnson

Favorite Scene for Stephen-  The Lady in Red scene.  This
scene is my all time favorite.  I think                       
that one of the reasons that I loved this so much is that it was one of
his dreams.  Steve always dreamed of himself the way that he wished
he was, both with emotions and physical appearance. Steve's dreams let
you see into his heart and let you really "feel"   how the character
was feeling.

Favorite Role For Mary Beth:  Kayla Brady Johnson

Favorite Scene for Mary Beth- Anyone of the early days of Patch and
Kayla where she was trying to pry open Steve's feelings.  Kayla 
never held back how she felt.  She was a woman who knew what she wanted 
and never gave up trying to get it.  She was blatantly                    
honest with Steve in those days.  She showed him what love was and
had me rooting for the couple the whole way!!

• Joyce's Favorite Scenes

 Favorite Role For Stephen:  Stephen Earl Johnson

 (As Steve Johnson - telling Kayla how he almost killed his father.)After
describing the scene of setting the drapes on fire while his father was       
passed out drunk he paused and then said - "I was five years old"

Favorite Role For Mary Beth:

(Kayla Brady Johnson  - when she was deaf and had just attended
her sister's  party.)  She ran out after realizing that she couldn't
cope in a social situation.   After Steve tried to get her to
write down her frustrations, she threw the paper  and pencil out the
window.  Without words, MBE conveyed the terrible isolation felt by
the hearing impaired.

• Rashelle Recounts some of her favorite scenes

My favorite scenes with Patch & Kayla were  when Kayla had
to tell Steve that his little sister had been Raped and he blamed her for
it.  Plus the stuff in Stockholm.  And when Steve told 
Kayla he loved her and took her out of Jacks house when she was poisoned
by Harper. Plus a hundred other scenes but these are the one that stick
out in my mind.

• Alison's Favorite Scenes

Favourite role: Mary Beth....Kayla Brady

Favourite role: Stephen....Steve Johnson

Probably my favourite is still the Larry and Lucy lobster evening, 
from choosing the food, to the whipped cream, Kayla’s inability to actually
eat “Larry” (still makes me laugh) and throughout her
impatience to have at the man!  Him holding her off, telling her
to be patient and everything was right in their world for that one night,
until it became the night of Adrienne’s rape and their whole world changed
again.  Stephen was fantastic in his scenes with Adrienne,  and
Mary Beth was great when telling him that his sister had been raped. 
This series of  scenes demonstrated light comedy and romance followed
by serious drama which illustrated the range which both of them possess.  It is
this element that I miss so much on GH presently.

The other one, was where Kayla finally discovers that Jack was Steve’s
brother and his reasoning behind his  rejection which resulted in
her marrying Jack.   I think the timing and the shift from anger
to compassion to love showing on Kayla’s face was wonderful, and Steve’s
pain and then joy when he realises that Kayla understands and can forgive
him was very moving and intense.  This was a really dramatic confrontation
and really was a great payoff for the viewer because we had been waiting
months for Kayla to finally find out.  The fact that they then
made love, in one of the very best lovescenes in the whole time they were
together was the icing on the cake!

• Alia's Favorite Scenes/Roles
  

Favorite Role for SN: Stefan, because (shallow) he looks much better
with a goatee and w/out a patch. Favorite Scene: The day before the Baccanilla,
when Stefan sat in the bench with Katherine, and she said something like
wanting the best life, and he hugged her tightly and said, "no doubt, the very
best life." It stands out because it was the only scene I liked after Guza-vision,
and Stefan was ironically deeply sincere about it.

Favorite role for MBE: Kayla

Favorite Scene: The scene when Kayla got drunk tops my list. 
Also when she was reciting her wedding vows after deafness, never seen
better acting than that.

• Phyllis's Favorites!

Stephen's  character:  Steve

Mary Beth character:  Kayla

I know at times Stefan and Katherine have more depth, and more range,
but I react to Steve and Kayla on an emotional level no matter how many
times I watch their scenes, so those are the characters that stick with
me.

I decided to pick a favorite scene that no one else has, and it's a
favorite for both of them.  It's when they're on the run, after Justin
and Adrienne find them at Honeymoon Haven and they're in the woods before
heading to California.  Steve is standing alone deep in thought and
Kayla comes up behind him.  She reaches around to hug him and he accepts
it and he asks if she really believes they'll ever be together.  She
responds yes and it's at this point that he really begins to believe her. 
It really showed the level of trust he finally had for her and her absolute
faith that they would be a happy couple.

My other favorite scenes are the ones in CA when Steve tells Kayla about
his childhood while they're standing at the statues.  Very emotional,
his telling the story and her listening.  Stephen and Mary
Beth made those scenes so real.

 

• "Cisco" On Her Favorites

I LIKED THEM AS STEVE AND KAYLA BEST, B/C HAD MORE AIRTIME.  I
LOVED WHENEVER THEY GOT A CHANCE TO PORTRAY EMILY AND GIDEON TOO! THEY
BOTH WERE EXCELLENT THERE TOO! OF COURSE, I LOVE THE STORYLINE W/BATMAN
AND KATWOMAN TOGETHER TOO. LOL, SEE, I CAN'T DECIDE. I JUST LOVE TO SEE
THEM BOTH GET AIRTIME AND ENJOY THEIR ACTING SO MUCH.

OK, STEVE AND KAYLA TOGETHER. I LIKED THE FANTASY SCENE W/STEVE IMAGINING
THAT KAYLA WAS PREGNANT. THAT WAS A VERY SWEET AND WONDERFULLY DONE SCENE
B/C THEY GOT TO AD-LIB IT AND YOU COULD SENSE THEIR EMOTIONS IN THAT SCENE.
SHE REACTED WELL WHEN HE SURRPISED HER W/THE "MOBY DICK" REMARK, LOL. I
KNEW SHE WAS SURPRISED BY THAT AND READ SOMEWHERE SHE SAID SHE WAS SURPRISED
HE KNEW THAT, LOL, LOL.

SECONDLY,  I LIKED THE DEAF STORYLINE B/C IT SHOWS THAT THEY DON'T
NEED WORDS TO CONVEY THEIR FEELINGS AND THE AUDIENCE SEES THIS, BEAUTIFULLY
ACTED, SUPERB JOB. I LOVED IT!

THIRDLY, I LOVED STEVE AND KAYLA'S WEDDING, SO BEAUTIFUL! I WISHED
WE'D GET A STEFAN AND KATHERINE WEDDING SOME DAY TOO! WE CAN DREAM,

YES WE CAN! :-)

FINALLY, IT WAS FUN TO SEE THEM PORTRAYING EMILY AND GIDEON, SHE WAS
FEISTY, STANDING UP FOR HIM AND GOING TO HIS RESCUE WHENEVER SHE KNEW THAT
GIDEON WAS STILL ALIVE. THE LOCATION SHOOT WAS WONDERFUL TOO.

AS, BATMAN, STEFAN, AND KATWOMAN, KATHERINE, I LOVE THAT THEY ARE GETTING
TO PLAY TWO STRONG CHARACTERS W/FEISTINESS.

I LIKED WHENEVER STEFAN CARRIED KATHERINE TO THE WINDOW TO SEE THE CRYSTAL
TREE AND WHEN HE GAVE HER THE CRYSTAL TREE NECKLACE. I LOVED THE POOL AND
CORVETTE SCENES TOO. AND, OF COURSE THE SERENITY SCENES WHENEVER KATHERINE
AND STEFAN FINALLY "MADE LOVE". ALL WERE WONDERFULLY ACTED BY BOTH OF THEM.

MOSTLY THOUGH, I AM JUST GLAD WHENEVER THEY GET AIRTIME.

• Liz's Favorite Scenes

Favorite Role For Stephen: Steven Earl Johnson

Favorite Role For Mary Beth: Kayla Caroline Brady-Johnson

****Favorite Stephen scene:

I have SO many its really hard to choose.

If I have to pick one scene,or episode that showed his talent it would
be the day Kayla told Steve that Jack- his brother, Billy- had raped her.
That episode broke my heart. One look at Steve and I start bawling! This
was the brother Steve had sworn to protect his whole life, even sacrificing
the love of his life so that his brother may have a will to live.

Just before he found out Kayla had been raped, Steve and Kayla had exchanged
personal vows and Steve was so optimistic about the future- for the first
time in his life.  When Kayla revealed the truth, Stephens performance
was SO intense- the depth of Steve's grief was felt without words. To this
day I can not watch that episode without tearing up. It was poetry in motion.

Other favorite Stephen scenes: Kayla removing the patch- the man SHOOK!!!!!
I had never seen anything like that in my life: it seemed so real. 
Also, Steve rescuing Kayla after he found out she was being poisoned by
someone at the Deveraux mansion- he broke down and cried right there, before
our eyes. Steve and Kayla in the park of course. Stefan being confronted
by Nikolas regarding his paternity is another favorite. And Stefan coming
to Serenity to reunite with Katherine, to tell her he loves her. <Sigh>

****Favorite Mary Beth Scene:

Again,  I have a few!!! I guess I will go with a sentimental favorite,
an episode I used to watch with my grandma. We would just CRACK up every
time!! The scene: Kayla getting drunk. I dont think I have EVER seen anything
funnier on television than the Kayla getting drunk episode. From pinching
Steve's butt (my grandma would just cackle when she saw that), to the striptease,
to "pinkies are cold"...what a classic, show and memorable performance.

I also loved all of Mary Beth's scenes as fiesty and fiery Emily, the
day of Steve and Kayla's wedding, and the day Kayla had to tell Steve that
Jack raped her- I cried like a baby. I loved when Katherine slugged Stefan (he
was being cruel to her because he thought she was his sister Natasha).
And all the stuff the week of the Bacchanalia ball (and the scene on the
parapet).

Mary Beth really makes you feel so much for her characters, in such
subtle ways. Kayla was such a nice person, but she wasnt so "sickeningly
sweet" or self righteous; she just seemed like the girl next door with
out of this world adventures- you could always relate to her. Katherine
has her flaws and makes mistakes, but Mary Beth always gets to the core
of her character's vulnerability, no matter what the story.

• Linda K's Favorite Scenes/Roles

Favorite Role for Stephen: Stefan on GH

Favorite Scene for Stephen: 1997: Stefan visiting Kat at Serenity: he was so humble, sincere as he proclaimed his love.

Favorite Role For Mary Beth: Katherine on GH

Favorite Scene for Mary Beth: 1997: When Stefan pretended not to care for Kat and she was just mad at him at Wyndemere, slapping him. Kat showed spunk, strength, hurt all together.

• Kathy J Describes a Favorite scene

THE SCENE I THINK IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST OF ALL TIME IS WHAT I CALL THE
"INVOLVED SPEECH".  IT WAS THE DAY THAT "PATCH" SAW THE RING THAT
JACK HAD PURCHASED FOR KAYLA, AND REALIZING THAT HE HAD TO GIVE UP HIS
"KAYLA" TO MAKE HIS DYING BROTHER HAPPY. THEN JO. THEIR MOTHER, TELLS "PATCH"
SHE DOESN'T  WANT HIM INVOLVED -

WELL, STEPHEN GAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFE TIME, THE EMOTION IN HIS
VOICE WHEN HE SAYS

 "YOU DON'T WANT ME INVOLVED, YOU DON'T WANT ME INVOLVED JO, HE'S
MY BROTHER FOR GOD'S SAKE, YOU KNOW I REMEMBER ( LONG PAUSE) THAT DAY WHEN
THEY TOOK HIM AWAY FROM ME AT THE ORPHANAGE, THEY TOOK AWAY EVERYTHING
THAT I HAD IN THE WORLD -- IT JUST KEEPS PLAYING OVER AND OVER IN MY HEAD
EVERYDAY, I  REMEMBER, SO I THINK OF MY BABY BROTHER EVERYDAY - 
I'VE     WONDERED ABOUT HIM , I WONDERED IF HE'S 
HAPPY, I WONDERED IF HE'S  LONELY, I WONDERED IF HE'S HURT ---- WELL
NOW I KNOW".

YOU COULD ACTUALLY FEEL THE EMOTION IN HIS BODY RADIATE ACROSS
EVERY TELEVISION SCREEN.   YOU ACTUALLY COULD FEEL THE EMOTIONAL
TURMOILL INSIDE OF HIM PART RAGE - PART RESIGNATION.

NOW IF THAT WASN'T DRAMATIC ENOUGH - "PATCH" ACTUALLY ADMITS HIS NEED
AND LOVE  FOR KAYLA - THEN HE WENT ON------

"HE'S  LAYING IN A HOSPITAL , MAYBE DYING - MY BABY BROTHER 
IS DYING  AND HE LOVES THE WOMAN THAT I LOVE HE NEEDS HER AND SHE'S 
THE ONLY PERSON THAT I'VE  EVER LET MYSELF NEED,  SO HOW MUCH
MORE INVOLVED DO YOU THINK I CAN BE".

YOU CAN JUST FEEL THE STRUGGLE WITHIN HIMSELF - KNOWING THAT HE WANTS
KAYLA BUT WANTING HIS BROTHER TO BE HAPPY TOO.   AS A FAN, YOU
ARE PRACTALLY SCREAMING AT THE TELEVISION TO TELL HIM NOT TO SACRAFICE
ANYMORE FOR JACK - BUT HIS "GUILT " FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PROTECT HIS BROTHER
AS A CHILD GETS THE BETTER OF HIM AND HE GIVES UP THE ONE AND ONLY TRUE
PURE THING IN HIS LIFE, KAYLA.  YOU JUST CRY AND CRY FOR HIS PAIN
- FOR THE ANGUISH HE MUST  FEEL -  YOU CAN AMOST HEAR HIS HEART
BREAKING - IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ONE SHOW - STEPHEN CONVEYED THAT IN
JUST ONE LITTLE SHORT SCENE - AND HIS ACTING WAS MAGNIFICIENT .

• Ashley's Favorite Stephen and Mary Beth Moments

My favorite role for Stephen is Steve Johnson.

Favorite scene: So many so choose from...

One of my favorite scenes was when Steve finally let Kayla take off his
patch when she had found him beaten. She was the first person, since he
was in the fight with Bo when he lost his eye, to do this. And after
returning from buying him medication, she spent the night in his chair
in his apartment, and Steve came over and covered a sleeping Kayla with
a blanket.

My favorite role for Mary Beth is Kayla Johnson.

Favorite scene: Again so many to choose from...

The storyline where Kayla was deaf showed Mary Beth's wonderful acting.
It's hard to choose only one scene from that storyline. I loved how
Kayla got her hearing back at Steve's and her wedding. It was very
sweet!

To all My "Crystal Tree Pals!":

What a wonderful thing it is to read
your emails everyday and share opinions on the show.

I hope we get many more WONDERFUL
romantic storylines for our favorite daytime couple today, Stefan and Katherine.

All the best to you all

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
Liz
Proud Founder
The Crystal Tree

These are two of the great poems I have read by TCT members- SUCH a creative bunch of people!!!