What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)

 

General Hospital

Michael finds Mike on the balcony. Mike says he’s busy. He’s getting some fresh air, since the air is getting thick inside.

Carly introduces Stella to Sonny. She won’t sugarcoat, and says Alzheimer’s is completely life-changing. The good news is, they’re not alone, and she’ll do everything in her power to help them prepare for what’s coming.

At the station, Anna tells Jordan she’ll do anything she can to help. Jordan tells her to deal with Henrik.

Griff opens Peter’s chart, remembering what Anna said about Henrik having Huntington’s disease, and Peter saying his father had it. Peter asks if Griff is ready for him.

Nina reads to Maxie from a baby magazine about women kneeling during delivery, and catching the baby with their hands. She asks if that’s a thing. Maxie just wants the office visit over. She can’t handle the what ifs; what if the baby has Huntington’s, what will she do, and how will she handle it alone? Nina says she’s not alone. Maxie says she needs a distraction. Nina looks over and sees Elizabeth arguing with Sam, and says, now we’re talking.

Sam thinks Franco knows something. She tells Elizabeth if he did anything to Drew, she’ll take him out herself. Take him out where? BA-DUM-CHH! Actually, that would solve Sam’s problem if she was minus one guy.

Jordan tells Anna she has nothing on Henrik. All she knows is he possibly paid Klein to keep Jason at the clinic. Klein has disappeared, which is no surprise, since there are arrest warrants out on him. It’s the only thing keeping the case open. She has no time or resources to prove Henrik exists, let alone to find him.

Griff is happy to report Peter has no trace of the offending protein. He can go back to his life without worrying or being concerned about passing down the gene to children he might have. Peter is thankful for Griff’s help. Griff say they have one more thing discuss. Other people in his family might not be as fortunate.

Maxie wonders if they should do something, but Nina says it looks personal. Elizabeth asks what makes Sam think Franco did anything to Drew? Sam says because Franco is known to be dangerous. Elizabeth is skeptical that Sam really cares; she cares more about Drew than Sam. Sam asks what that means. Elizabeth says it means if Drew is in trouble she’s happy to help, but Sam isn’t making it easy. Sam says Drew didn’t come home last night, and she has to find him. She thinks Franco is the only lead. Elizabeth tells her to start from the beginning.

Nelle brings up Morgan’s MyFace <snort> page on her laptop, and starts to open a box that came in the mail. Ava comes in, and Nelle tells her not much is going on. Ava thinks it’s time to access the damage from the earthquake. Nelle says it could have been worse, and hands her a report. Ava is impressed, and Nelle says Ava told her that she wanted her to take more initiative. Ava says she even opened the mail, but Nelle tells her the package is part of her plan to neutralize Carly.

Stella tells Sonny and Carly that she’s met her share of families facing the same thing, and is up-to-date in ways of coping, ways to manage the disease, and information for Mike while he can still understand. She tells them to expect memory loss and confusion. She’s not sure how long it will be before his skills are entirely gone. Sonny says it’s not that bad, and Stella says, for the moment. Right now, they can set aside the day to day, and focus on long term concerns.

Mike talks to Michael about the rose bushes. Michael says spring is around the corner; they should be popping soon, but they’re not as beautiful as his great-grandmother’s rose garden. Mike says he knows Lila. Michael says his dad planted a cutting from her, and it thrived. Mike says he’s not surprised. She has a heart of gold. Everything she touches blossoms – except that son-of-a-gun she’s married too. He doesn’t know how she puts up with him. He asks how they are, and Michael tells him that Lila and Edward passed away. Mike says, right; he knew that. Michael says it’s an easy one to forget. You can still feel their presence. That happens with people who are larger than life; they leave an impact on those they loved. Sonny comes out, and asks Mike to come in for a second. There’s someone he wants Mike to meet.

Jordan has received a request from the WSB, and she has no time for all of this. Anna says it’s her fault for pushing the bureau for updates. She didn’t think they’d push Jordan. They can’t close the file on Faison until they have more information on his son.

Griff says Peter mentioned his father’s condition came as a surprise. Peter says what remained of his family died with his father. He had a brother he never knew, who passed as well. Griff looks worried, which was his specialty after med school.

Sam says Drew wasn’t at work, he’s not at the Quartermaine’s, and he’s not answering his phone or texts. Elizabeth asks why she suspects Franco, and Sam tells her the last thing Drew told her was that he was dealing with Franco, and he’s been missing ever since. Elizabeth says it sounds like Franco is the one in danger.

A doctor comes out to tell Maxie that Kim was delayed, but she has the test results.

At the MetroCourt, Andre asks Anna how it went. She wants to drink some tea before she fires off a tirade to the idiot who sent a request about Henrik to Jordan. Instead of actually doing something useful, someone from the bureau decided to push for an update from the PCPD, who don’t even have proof Henrik exists. She says they’re either incompetent or lazy, and they’ll either be demoted to mail clerk or vaporized. Andre is more worried about her, and what the search is doing to her.

Elizabeth tells Sam that she hasn’t seen Franco since last night, but she wasn’t expecting to; they got into a fight. With all the Jim mess, and the memories of their childhood coming to the surface, she figured he was holed up in his studio. Sam starts to get stupid, and Elizabeth says she’s not doing this. She doesn’t care who went after who; she’s going to find Franco. She leaves, and Sam follows. Why so much makeup today, ladies?

Nelle tells Ava that she and Carly had a bit of a reconciliation over the baby. She explains what happened during the earthquake, and how Carly calmed her down. Ava says, will wonders never cease, and Nelle says, with Carly they do. She couldn’t wait to undermine Nelle again. Her apartment was trashed, and Monica insisted she stay at the Quartermaines’. Ava says she must be thrilled, living under the same roof as Michael. Nelle says she had no time to enjoy it before Carly badmouthed her. Ava says she might as well back off, and Nelle asks if Ava thinks she should let it go. Ava says, no. She’s just saying there are worse ideas. Nelle wonders if Ava was hit on the head in the earthquake, but Ava says maybe it’s in her best interest to play nice. Carly can be a formidable adversary. If her plan fails, Carly will come after her, no holds barred.

Mike is introduced to Stella, who says Sonny is almost as handsome as his father. Mike asks how they know each other. Stella says she asked to meet him; they need to discuss his diagnosis. As the disease progresses, he’ll be unable to make decisions, and they need to seize his clarity now and make those decisions before it’s too late. He asks what happens if, down the road, he doesn’t like the decisions they made today? Carly says she and Sonny are there to help. Sonny asks Mike to sign a paper that allows them to handle his affairs. Mike says it’s power of attorney. Sonny wants him to sign his life away?

Sonny says he’s not signing his life away, and Mike says just the ability to control it. Sonny already cost him his job. Sonny says he missed a delivery. Mike says Sonny called him there. He had a job, and a woman he cared about, and ever since Sonny arrived, he’s had nothing. Now Sonny wants him to sign his rights over. Michael says he knows Mike misses his neighborhood, but he’s here because his diagnosis is getting worse. He has to plan for his future. Mike says, easy for Michael to say; he has a future. Michael says he had to pick a guardian for his unborn child in case something happens to him. Mike asks who he is in this situation? Michael or the helpless child? He’s still a man, and won’t have any of them telling him any different. He walks back out on the balcony, and Sonny tells Carly to let him go; it’s on him.

Elizabeth and Sam go to the station. They tell Jordan about Franco and Drew being missing. Jordan asks if it’s been since the earthquake. Elizabeth says they survived the quake, but she’s not sure they’ll survive each other.

Anna tells Andre that she’s frustrated. Henrik has no idea he might have a fatal genetic illness, and she feels the need to warn him. Andre thinks she should take a step back and review her course of action. If she finds him, she could put herself and her family at risk.

Maxie tells Nina she has to call her family. Nina sits on the couch and weeps. Griff sees her, and asks if she’s okay. She says Maxie had the baby tested for Huntington’s disease, and just got the results.

Peter sees Maxie, and asks if she’s all right. She says she just got the results, and the baby doesn’t have Huntington’s disease. He hugs her and says, that’s great news. It was really good of them to make us think the opposite for a while.

Sam tells Jordan that Drew said he was going to see Franco. The last time she heard from him, he said he was dealing with Franco, and hung up. He’s been gone ever since. All they know for sure is that Jim told them an incident happened between them when they were kids. Jordan asks what the hell does this have to do with Jim?

Andre tells Anna that it’s more likely than not Henrik was Faison’s accomplice. Her investigation might not end there; who knows what plots he might be involved in? He doubts Henrik would welcome a visit from a WSB agent, even if it’s his mother. If he’s anything like Faison, he could harm her. She says she has no way to know if he’s evil incarnate or blameless, or like most people, somewhere in the middle. Until she has proof otherwise, she’s giving him the benefit of the doubt. Andre wonders if she’ll turn him in if she does get proof.

Nina tells Griff that she doesn’t know what Maxie would have done if the baby had Huntington’s disease. Griff is thrilled; they need a breather. Nina says it feels like the first time she can breathe since Nathan was killed. She was so angry, and remembers running past Peter, wanting to kill Faison. Thank God that Valentin was there, or she probably would have been arrested. Griff wonders what Peter was doing there. Nina says he was at Crimson with Maxie, and thinks Faison tried to shoot him, but she really doesn’t know.

Maxie asks what Peter is doing at the hospital. He thought she might need support, but she says Nina came with her. He says Nina has been way protective, and he doesn’t want to intrude. Maybe they shouldn’t tell her. In the most perfect soap timing of all, Nina is suddenly there, and says – let’s all say it together – don’t tell me what? I laugh.

Nelle asks if Ava is advising her to back off, but Ava says she’s advising other tactics. She’s living under Michael’s roof. Nelle says until Carly convinces him to show her the curb. Ava tells Nelle it will just make Carly look bad. Sit back, and let Carly do her job for her. Nelle says she can’t let Carly take away Michael and the baby, but Ava asks why rock things when she’s close to getting everything out of the way? Nelle says she’ll have everything when Carly is out of the way.

On the balcony, Mike tells Sonny that everyone is looking at him funny, like he’s the only one not in on the joke. Sonny says everyone is working together. Mike says, to sign away his independence. Sonny says it just allows them to take care of him when he can’t take care of himself, and that day is going to come. Unless Mike is afraid to trust him. Mike says Sonny knows better. He’s afraid the day will come when he doesn’t know anything. The way Sonny sees it, is when that day does come, he’ll either face it alone or not. They’re all he has, so let them take care of him. He’d do the same for them. Mike starts to cry. Sonny cries. I cry. This guy is killing me.

Carly wishes they’d been more prepared. Stella asks how you prepare someone to lose control of their life? How do you prepare for a family member disappearing before your eyes? It takes its toll, but by doing this, they’re taking effective action. They’ll help Mike get his ducks in a row, clean up his finances, and walk him through the long-term care decisions. She leaves to get some brochures from her car. Michael reminds Carly that he’s there; they don’t have to handle it alone. Carly says he has a baby on the way, and the baby’s mother to deal with. She’s sure Nelle is milking it for all it’s worth. He tells her that she’ll be happy to hear he has a date, but don’t expect wedding bells. She says Nelle will lose it when she finds out, but he thinks maybe it will help her understand that, aside from the baby, they have separate lives.

Elizabeth tells Jordan that she told Franco not to come home, but he missed his art therapy appointments, and no one has seen him. Jordan tells them that Jim is involved in another matter that she’s trying to connect him to. Sam asks if it could be a link. Jordan says find Franco and Drew, and talk to them. She’s not going to assign a detective to find two grown men. Sam says she guesses this means they’re on their own. Jordan tells them to be careful when it comes to Jim. Don’t trust a word out of his mouth. Elizabeth and Sam look at each other.

Nelle takes out the scarf like Morgan is wearing in his profile picture. She messes it up, putting mud on it. She cuts her hand open with a pair of scissors, and puts her blood on it. She says this will hurt Carly more than it hurts her.

Stella brings in the brochures, saying they might not need them for some time, but they all have resources for Alzheimer’s care. Mike comes back in, and picks up the paper. He signs it, using Michael’s back as a board. He tells Michael to do them both a favor. Live a long, full life, but don’t get old. Everyone smiles.

Sonny thanks Stella for her patience. She says he’s the one who made the effort. Sonny says it was relatively painless. Stella tells him they got through it, but the hard part starts now. Stella says, it’s a hard road, and she’s referring to him. The confusion and feeling of powerlessness; the unreliable memory will bring up things he thought were buried for good. She says support is available, and Sonny says he’ll be fine. Stella says he’d rather die than accept help; she’s met his kind before. She tells him that Alzheimer’s bends to no one’s will, not even his. He can’t help his father if he can’t help himself. He should take support when it’s given.

Elizabeth tells Sam that Franco isn’t the only person who doesn’t trust Jim. She thought something off; if only she hadn’t been distracted. If only she was here. I’d punch her. Saying this after she couldn’t wait to tell Elizabeth what Jim had said, and acting like it was the gospel truth. Elizabeth says she’s coming with Sam, but Sam says she works alone. She said that to annoy me even more, since she followed Elizabeth there. Elizabeth says they don’t have to like it, but they’re on the same side. Sam says once they find Franco and Drew, she’s on her own.

Nina asks Peter and Maxie what the big secret is. Maxie says they might as well tell her. Peter was there to talk to the doctor about getting a vasectomy. Nina says Crimson is doing an article on them, and he says that’s what started him thinking about it. Nina tells him they’re doing before and after interviews, but he says that he decided it wasn’t for him, so he’d be useless. Maxie says there’s plenty else he’d be good for, and Peter raises an eyebrow. Me too. What does she mean by that? Was that an innuendo?

Anna tells Andre that she did everything to cover her tracks, and failed. Then she paid the price. Whoever Henrik is now, she’s the one who put his life on course. She gave him up and walked away, never looking back. Andre says she didn’t know Faison found him, and she’s not responsible for how he grew up. The same way she’s not responsible if he has the gene. She says it’s on her to find him. When she does, she’ll figure out what comes next.

Griff looks over some charts, comparing them. He calls Brad, and says he needs a rush on a paternity test.

On Monday, Brad asks Griff why the test is so important, Sam and Elizabeth find Jim, and Jason wants to know why Anna is interested in finding Henrik.

👪 Tonight, on Relative Success with Tabatha, Tabatha tackled a real estate office. Sadly, the married couple who ran the business decided it was time to call their relationship quits, but on the upside, the business made a huge turnaround. Tabatha might have had only half the success, but it’s good to show the viewers that you don’t always get a completely happy ending.

🍸 Quotes of the Week

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. – Mahatma Gandhi

Pedestrians were seen stopping their cars…  – Essence magazine article – what’s wrong with this picture sentence? Hint: Note the meaning of the first word.

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. — Thomas Alva Edison

It’s impossible to get rich in politics unless you’re a crook. – Harry Truman

Do you ever feel like you’re not accomplishing anything? *** I think I’m in touch with that emotion. – Wendy and Billy, respectively, St. Elmo’s Fire

🍀 Be O’Careful Out There…

Although, hopefully, your town isn’t like NYC, where I’ve seen people throwing up on the curb at 11 am.

🌍 St. Patrick’s Day in Moscow…

🐄 There is No Cow in Moscow, So…

 Enjoy Your O’Weekend and…