What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & recaps from today’s real time TV watching)

General Hospital — Thursday

Maxie and Nathan are getting busy. Maxie suddenly says she knows the truth about Claudette and she hates him. It’s just a dream.

IRL, Maxie tells Griffin she has a proposition for him.

Parker shows up at Alexis’s house. Kristina tells her to leave and Parker says it’s not that simple.

Hayden goes to Diane’s office and sees Nicholas sitting there.

Laura finds Elizabeth on the laptop and asks why she’s so upset.

Griff asks how Maxie’s ankle is and she says she didn’t even have to swear off heels for 24 hours. She tells him about the success of the real woman Crimson issue. She says it looks like the real men issue will be a go. He says he already told her that’s not his thing. She asks what’s up with him and why he’s being chilly. He says it’s because of her boyfriend.

Michael goes to Anna’s house and asks if there are any leads on Carrrlos. She says she doesn’t have anything. Michael is concerned that Anna might be tempted to use deadly force where Carrrlos is concerned.

Nicholas says Diane was filling him in, but Hayden can do a better job. Diane says Hayden assured her she was acting on Nicholas’s behalf and she was surprised to find out he had no knowledge of the ELQ transfer to her name, or that he would be against the idea. Nicholas asks to speak with Hayden alone. Hayden tells Nicholas she can explain, and he says he bets she can’t.

Lulu and Laura talk to Elizabeth about Helena’s will. Laura says all of her bequests had a riddle attached. Elizabeth says she hopes Laura tossed the key away, but Laura says she’s done some investigating and hopes to find out what it means.

Kristina asks why Parker is the one who’s married, yet she keeps showing up at Kristina’s door? Parker tells her about Max sniffing around and that it’s making her nervous. Kristina says she put a stop to it, so Parker has nothing to worry about. Parker says Kristina apparently hasn’t told her parents about her feelings and asks if she’s still struggling. Kristina asks why Parker just doesn’t admit she hates her, but Parker says far from it.

Griff says something about avoiding beautiful women and that he stays away from what he can’t have. I totally don’t get any of what he’s telling Maxie.

Anna says Carrrlos was with a woman at the last sighting, and she supposes it was Sabrrrina. .Michael says he tried calling her, but hasn’t heard back, so he assumes she’s still with Carrrlos. He’s concerned that Sabrrrina is being coerced into staying with him.

Laura tells the girls about her research on the key. Lulu says whatever it opens, she doesn’t want what’s inside. Elizabeth agrees and is thinking maybe Jake never needs to see the book Helena left either. Laura says she’s aware the key might open something horrible.

Nicholas says if the documents are executed, Hayden gets ELQ and can do what she wants with it. She says everything she did was for him and she can prove it.

Anna says every time she feels like she’s getting her bearings again, new information comes in. She says she’ll give Michael all the non-confidential information she has. He says they all would have been better off if someone had killed Carrrlos while they had the chance.

Michael leaves and runs into Griffin on the porch. Anna says he’s right on time and she has tea. He says she seems upset.

Nathan comes to the hospital and Maxie tells him about her conversation with Griffin and how he seemed to be holding something back.

Hayden says she had the papers drawn up in case the Quartermaines win the lawsuit. She says she was picking them up, but only his signature would have made them valid. He says her strategy is brilliant, but wonders why she kept the documents a secret. She says they all have their secrets and the beginning of their marriage was chaotic. She thought she’d wait until it was necessary for him to sign them. He says you can never be too prepared and thanks her for her concern and ability to think ahead. She says if it wasn’t because of the documents, why was he at Diane’s? He says to change his will.

Laura says not every encounter with Helena is toxic and she needs this final closure. Lulu asks where she’d even start looking and Laura says she has a good idea.

Parker says she was angry because Kristina threatened her career and marriage, but she never hated her. She wanted to reach out to her after the wedding and make sure she was okay. Kristina says it sounds like Parker really cares and she says she does. Kristina says Parker is giving her mixed messages and asks why Parker won’t leave her alone.

Maxie says Griff intimated that he found her attractive and didn’t want to be near what he couldn’t have. Oooh, I’m getting this now. Nathan says it’s his last day of medical restrictions. Maxie says he should be in bed and he says that’s what he was thinking. They leave.

Griff says he read that Duke was running Sonny’s organization when he died. Anna says that’s true and shows him a photo album. They go through the photos. Griff says they both look very happy. He says Anna must have had some conflict, being in law enforcement. She says their love was stronger than their differences and at the end, thought they should be together no matter what. They were about to leave town and she was meeting him at the pier at midnight. She starts to cry and tells Griff how she found Duke.

Laura says she’s starting in the attic and Lulu freaks out. She says she shouldn’t face what Helena left her by herself, so Lulu is going with her. Laura asks why Elizabeth is so quiet. Elizabeth says sometimes it’s better to know the truth even if it’s painful, which isn’t an answer. Lulu says they’ll leave a trail of bread crumbs.

They go upstairs and Elizabeth gets back on the laptop.

Nicholas says because of the prenup, if anything happens to him, Hayden won’t get what he feels she should. She asks if finding out about the papers has changed anything. He says no and they hug. Diane comes in and says it’s a better outcome than she thought it was going to be. Hayden says she’s leaving to let them conclude their business, and she’s leaving the papers. I’m not sure if I’m buying what Nicholas is saying though.

Griff says he’s glad Duke was trying to get out of the mob when he died. Anna says it was a difficulty for him, wanting to do the right thing, yet wanting the excitement and not trusting the law. Anna says he was a good man and she loved him with all her heart. She wishes he was there to meet Griffin and that he’d be over the moon to know he had a son. She says she wants there to be closure as far as Carrrlos goes, but there is none. Griff says real peace comes from forgiveness, but Anna says she could never forgive Carrrlos because he had no remorse. Griff says forgiveness is a gift from God. She says it’s a lovely sentiment, but doesn’t apply to her.

Lulu asks if Nicholas feels a Cassadine obligation to keep the attic as creepy and ominous as possible. It’s cobwebby and crowded with stuff. Amazingly, Laura finds a trunk in like two seconds.

Diane asks if Nicholas needs anything else from her. He asks what Hayden told her when the documents were originally drawn up. She confirms what Hayden said, and that it’s an effective strategy providing you trust the person you’re dealing with. She tells him not to sign the documents if he’s having any doubts about Hayden.

Hayden comes back to Windemere. She tells Elizabeth she should be packing, because when Nicholas gets home, he’s going to show her the door. Elizabeth says the only one leaving is Hayden, and she’s not coming back.

Parker asks Kristina if she needs to talk and Kristina tells her to just leave. Kristina says she doesn’t know who she is or what she wants, and Parker showing up just makes things worse. They kiss. Well, that’s not going to help anything.

Michael talks to Felix, who says since Sabrrrina had the baby, she hasn’t been communicative. Michael says Carrrlos is alive and Sabrrrina is with him. Felix says he should have realized what was going on. Michael says there has to be a way to find them and he has some ideas.

Maxie and Nathan are basking in the afterglow. She asks Nathan if he was jealous of her talking about Griffin. He says maybe a little. She says a little jealousy can be attractive.

Anna says she doesn’t want to talk about the bad stuff, she just wanted to share memories of Duke with Griff. He asks if there’s anything she wants to unburden herself of and she says he asks too many questions, and who is he really?

Nicholas tells Diane they’ll leave the will as is for now.

Elizabeth asks Hayden who she really is and calls her Rachel Berlin.

Laura puts the key in the trunk lock.Voila! It’s a fit.

Tomorrow, Nicholas confronts Elizabeth and Hayden, Kristina questions Parker’s motives and Carrrlos makes an appearance.

General Hospital — Friday

Griff says he knows pain and grief when he sees it and he thought Anna could find some peace in talking about it.

Carrrlos calls Paul. All Paul wants to hear is that Carrrlos is coming back to Port Charles.

Sonny brings Epiphany some flowers. She says she’s mad as hell about him lying to his family.

Parker steps back and says this can’t happen.

Elizabeth says everyone knows who Rachel Berlin is. She and her father were all over the media, along with the financial scandal. Elizabeth says she knows Hayden is Rachel, and Nicholas is going to know too.

Lulu reminds Laura of Pandora’s Box and how it unleashed all the evils into the world. Laura says there was hope at the bottom though. She opens the trunk.

Kristina says talk about mixed signals and I agree. Parker says the kiss wasn’t why she came there. Kristina asks if Parker likes seeing her embarrass herself. Parker says she needs to figure out her feelings in her own time. Kristina says Parker didn’t land on her porch by accident and she must have wanted something to happen between them. Again I agree. She could have just called.

Epiphany says she bets Carly was mighty pissed about Sonny lying. Sonny confirms that. He thanks Epiphany for keeping his secret. She says she had no choice because of staff/patient confidentiality. Sonny says he thought it was because she liked him. Epiphany says Sonny flatters himself and she got into trouble with Dr. Monroe. He’d asked for a patient evaluation and could probably tell in 10 seconds that Sonny could walk.

Paul says the deal remains the same. Carrrlos comes back to Port Charles and testifies against Julian in exchange for immunity.

Anna tells Griff if he’s thrown in with Paul, he’s made a mistake. Griff says there’s no conspiracy going on. Anna throws out some theories, but Griff says he’s who he says he is and he wants her to run a DNA test. He wants Anna to trust him.

Lulu says all that’s in the trunk is a book. It’s a textbook. An introduction to law enforcement and criminal justice that belonged to Scotty.

Hayden says fine, but she’ll tell Nicholas. Elizabeth doesn’t trust her. She begs Elizabeth to let her handle it. Nicholas comes in and asks what’s going on.

Griff gives Anna the teacup he was drinking out of. Griff says he’s sorry she thought he was trying to get her to confess something. He says it’s clear that something is weighing heavy on her. He says she should try to find a way to forgive herself.

Paul says there’s nothing pretty about life on the run. Carrrlos says it’s his life. Paul says he can be free if he comes back. Carrrlos says the only way he and his family can be safe is if he stays away. He adds that Sonny would like to dance on his grave.

Griff is late for his appointment with Sonny. Epiphany says that he’s usually conscientious and must have a good reason. Sonny balks at her making an excuse for anyone and asks if she’s in love. She says the only one she loves is Milo.

Lulu asks what the connection is between Scotty and Helena. Laura says Scotty has no connection to Helena, other than handling her will. She says Scotty was in law school when they were first married. She bought him all kinds of law books and ended up getting them in the ditch financially. Lulu asks what she did to get them out, and Laura says she took a job at the disco…where she met Luke.

Hayden says Elizabeth is still in love with Nicholas and trying to spin lies. After some argument, Elizabeth says that Hayden’s name is really Rachel Berlin and her father is the infamous Raymond Berlin, who bilked his clients out of millions. Nicholas asks Hayden if it’s true.

Hayden says yes. Nicholas says her father isn’t dead then. Hayden says that he did have a heart attack, but recovered. He says she told him her mother was dead too. Hayden says she wanted nothing to do with them, so they were dead to her. She says she did everything she could to escape her reputation. Nicholas says she also escaped prosecution for her part in her father’s crimes. I’m re-hating Elizabeth right now.

Lulu says the treasure hunt is over. Laura says she wants to stop playing games with a dead woman and throws down the book. Lulu sees something fall out of it.

Parker says she is attracted to Kristina, but she loves her wife, and being attracted to someone doesn’t mean you have to act on it. She says she realizes how Kristina must have felt led on, and she should have called instead. She says Kristina has to figure out what it is she wants. Kristina says she wants Parker. (You go, Glen Coco!)

Carrrlos says Anna and Paul want him dead. Paul says Anna would rather see Julian in jail. Carrrlos says Paul has already proven he can kill, despite what Sloane had done, and he wants to stay far away from him. Paul asks why he called, and Carrrlos says his payment is late. He tells Paul he’d better get the money asap and to say hello to Anna for him.

Anna knocks at Paul’s door and asks if he’s any closer to finding Carrrlos.

Griff shows up at the hospital. He tells Sonny sorry he’s late, but he was talking about Duke to Anna. Sonny says Anna usually doesn’t open up about her personal life. Griff said she probably made an exception because he’s Duke’s son.

Kristina says up until she met Parker, she thought she knew who she was. When they clicked, she couldn’t stop thinking about her. She says the labels don’t matter. All she knows is that she wants to be with Parker. Parker says it’s all the more reason. She’s probably had feelings for women before, and Parker is safe because she’s unattainable. She says she’s sorry for all of it and Kristina should explore that side of herself without fear and shame. And without her.

Griff tells Sonny about the DNA test. Sonny brings up how they first met and how easy it was to talk to Griff. He tells Griff what a wonderful guy Duke was and that’s probably where he gets it from.

Anna tells Paul about how she thought Griff was trying to get her to confess something. She says nothing with Carrrlos has been resolved and she feels that it’s making her paranoid. She says she’s going to use her own resources to bring Carrrlos in.

Laura says she’s giving in. Lulu says she might want to rethink that and shows her the book. An old wrist corsage is sticking out of it. Laura says it’s from a formal she went to with Scotty. Lulu asks if anything unusual or special happened. Laura says no, except it was the last happy time in their marriage. Laura says they were young and in love, but it was before Helena, so why would she point Laura in hat direction?

Nicholas says Rachel’s clients want restitution. Elizabeth says Hayden reinvented herself so she could hang on to the money. Hayden says she lost everything and did what she could to survive. Elizabeth said she could have gone anywhere. Hayden says she was in Beecher’s Corners when Rick approached her about pretending to be Jake Doe’s wife. She says she couldn’t pass up the money. Nicholas says she must have been very happy to meet him, a prince who’s loaded.

Laura thinks there must be something else in the trunk. Lulu says what if there’s another key and another lock and another trunk and it keeps going. She says who knows what Helena meant by “you’ll find what you lost.” It could be like Rosebud from Citizen Kane. Laura finds nothing else and starts to thumb through the book.

Hayden tells Nicholas they should talk alone. Nicholas says no wonder she had the papers drawn up. He asks if she was going to use ELQ to pay back the clients or ingratiate herself back into the financial world. She says she had no clue what her father was doing. Nicholas says even if that’s true, why didn’t she just tell him instead of letting Elizabeth figure it out? Hayden says that she was afraid the marriage would be over before it began.

Paul asks if she’s willing to sacrifice everything to put Julian and Carrrlos behind bars. She says she wants justice for Duke and doesn’t care if she loses her own freedom in the process.

Sonny says Duke would have been hella proud that he had a son. Griff says it wasn’t in God’s plan. Sonny says God had nothing to do with it, that Carrrlos shot him. Griff says he’s going to tell Sonny the same thing he told Anna; he should forgive the man who killed Griff’s father.

Anna says there’s no guarantee anything Paul will do is going to help. She says he has his own best interests at heart and she can’t allow her own desire for freedom to get in the way of justice anymore. She tells Paul they’re done and leaves.

Paul calls someone and says he has a juicy tip, but they didn’t hear it from him. He says the PCPD made a mistake identifying Carrrlos’s body and he’s still alive.

Griff says he’s been angry and he let bitterness fester in his blood until he realized forgiveness would set him free. He says violence isn’t going to bring Sonny peace or honor Duke. He says to leave Carrrlos in God’s hands and rise above revenge.

Kristina asks what she’s supposed to do with her feelings. Parker says part of Kristina’s confusion is because of her, but because she’s not attainable, not because she’s a woman. She says sexuality is just part of the extraordinary woman Kristina is becoming. They hug and Parker says good-by.

Laura sees letters circled throughout the book. Lulu says what if it’s even more complicated and it’s encrypted. Laura says she’ll figure it out and now she has all the pieces of the puzzle.

Elizabeth puts in her two cents and Hayden asks her to gloat in another room. She tells Nicholas to be careful and leaves. Hayden says she was ashamed and humiliated and needed to be someone else. She says all she wanted, and still wants, from Nicholas is to love and be loved. She says the one big truth is that no matter who she is, she loves him. Oh come on, Nicholas.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth tells Laura all hell is breaking loose, Nicholas wonders what else Hayden is lying about, and Paul wants to renew his relationship with Ava.

The People’s Couch Quotes of the Week

Every time I see his head, I think it’s computer generated. — Budd, referring to Todd Chrisley on Chrisley Knows Best.

The blonde always wins. — Brandy, referring to The Bachelor.

Is this The Bachelorette or The Bachelor? — Sue, referring to The Bachelor. I think.

If he’s this torn, how is he gonna decide? Is he gonna have a talent show? — Mackenna, referring to The Bachelor.