(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nowhere to be found today. I officially gave up somewhere around 9 pm. We’re two days ahead anyway, so pour yourself a cup of tea, sit back, and check out what’s happening in the world of entertainment.
💸 Not Buying It…
I don’t think Franco is going anywhere. I think somehow the radiation will work, or it’s not what they thought, or he’ll stay alive long enough for them to find a cure. Or maybe he’s really his psychopathic twin brother, escaped from Pentenville. Oh wait. That’s Doc.
It’s a nice theory, but the reason they’re throwing his name around is because Sonny is presumably dead, and being pseudo buried next to him. Mike’s name has come up just as often.
Was she drunk again? Or just that desperate for attention? I find it difficult to believe she used similar wording to his alleged abuse, and was ignorant of it.
It was in 1964 when the author James Baldwin reflected on the shortcomings of his education. “When I was going to school,” he said, “I began to be bugged by the teaching of American history because it seemed that that history had been taught without cognizance of my presence.”
Baldwin’s thoughts echoed those of many before and after him. Half a century earlier, when Carter G. Woodson had the same frustration, he set the foundation for what would become today’s national Black History Month, observed each February.
It is mental slavery to cling to things that have stopped serving their purpose in your life. – Chinonye J. Chidolue
Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it. – Ann Landers
There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them. – Ray Bradbury
My patience is getting so thin, it’s transparent. – Captain Lee Rosbach, Below Deck
That food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison. – Ann Wigmore
Before you become too entranced with gorgeous gadgets and mesmerizing video displays, let me remind you that information is not knowledge, knowledge is not wisdom, and wisdom is not foresight. Each grows out of the other, and we need them all. – Arthur C. Clarke
Today stretches ahead of you waiting to be shaped. You are the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to you. – Steve Maraboli
Us Americans are not loud. We just talk in stereo. – Robert Springs, 90 Day Fiancé: Pillow Talk
But instead of spending our lives running towards our dreams, we are often running away from a fear of failure or a fear of criticism. – Erin Wright
I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all. – Simone Biles
✍🏽 Signing Off…
Heading off to do some copywriting for an interview with Billy Vera. If you don’t know who he is, you should. He’s part of entertainment history in a million different ways. Watch for his upcoming interview at https://mupoentertainment.com. Here’s to having an entertaining weekend, no matter if you’ve been working, in your PJs, or working in your PJs. And don’t forget to stay safe, stay being surprised by life, and stay supporting at least one cause other than your own.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
🤫 Oops, I snagged it again.
General Hospital
Michael looks at the funeral program, and walks into the church. He looks at all the flowers, and Sonny’s picture. Willow takes his hand. Josslyn and Trina come in next, and Josslyn hugs Michael. He asks how she’s doing, and she says, Sonny was his father; how’s he doing? He says he’s glad everyone’s come together to honor Sonny, and she says, that’s an evasion. How is he really? He says, it feels like a bad dream, and yet, very real. She asks, where’s mom?
Carly tells Jax, she’s not going to think about Nelle, or that night on the cliff. Nelle is dead, and that night can die with her. Nina listens from outside the door, and Jax says, he never wants to think about Nelle again, but it’s not that simple. He hates keeping things from Nina. Carly says, it’s too late to rethink things, and he says he understands that. No one can ever know Carly was there the night Nelle went off the cliff. Carly says she still has nightmares about that night; Nelle calling out for help, seeing her hanging on for dear life. She really wanted to help, but she thought it was a trick. When she realized it wasn’t, and reached out to help her, Nelle just couldn’t hold on. Nina looks horrified.
Alexis chugs her vodka nip, gets herself together, and turns around to see Molly in the doorway. Molly asks if something is wrong, but Alexis says she had trouble finding her phone. They can go now. Molly says she forgot her scarf, and Alexis finds it on the couch. Molly says, before they go, she knows how rough today is going to be for Alexis, and that Sonny’s death will make it that much harder for her not to drink. She’s grateful Alexis is hanging in there. Alexis takes the empty nip out of the cupboard, and hands it to Molly, saying, here you go. Sam and Kristina come in, wondering what’s taking so long. Molly says Alexis was just showing her a bottle she’d missed before, and Kristina asks if Molly caught her, but Molly says, she confessed. Kristina says, and she drank it? and Alexis says, yes. She made it through one day, right? Go ahead let her have it.
At the hospital, Laura tells Brando, she can’t believe his boss didn’t have the decency to let him attend his cousin’s funeral. Cyrus walks in, and says, is that right? What kind of a heartless bastard would do that?
Lenny tells Sonny that he has some errands to run, but won’t be long. Some of Phyllis’s chili is in the fridge, and Sonny can help himself, but just so he knows, she’s real proud of it, so don’t tell her how to improve it. Sonny thanks Lenny, and Lenny asks if Sonny is okay. He hopes Sonny isn’t still thinking about the run-in with Officer Finchley. It’s over; move on. Sonny says, it’s not that. He doesn’t let cops bother him. Lenny says, just today, or in general? He can see Sonny has something on his mind. Any chance he remembers something about who he is?
Dante tells Olivia, he doesn’t see Alexis there, and she says, not yet, but she’s sure Alexis will be there. He wonders if they’re gong to be avoiding her all day, and Olivia wonders why Dante is still defending her. Dante says she wasn’t aiming for him, and Olivia says, but Dante almost died to save Franco. She knows we’re all God’s creatures, but… He tells her not to make a big deal out of it. He saw someone who needed help, and jumped in. It just happened to be Franco. She says, her son, the saint. Sasha walks in, and goes over to Michael. He thanks her for being there. She tells him she’s so sorry about his father, and Willow says she’s going to see if there are any last minute details she can help with. She’s glad Sasha is there. She leaves, and Sasha asks Michael if her being there is really okay. He says, of course (🍷) it’s okay. They’re still friends, aren’t they?
Jax tells Carly, considering the horrible things Nelle has done, anyone would have been suspicious. It’s not her fault for hesitating. Anyone would have hesitated in her place. She says, he’s right. Just like he was right for her not to admit to the police that she was there on the cliff when Nelle fell. And that’s all she’s saying about it, because today is about Sonny, and finding a way to say goodbye. Jax says he’s there for her, whatever she needs, and they hug. They hear someone outside the door say, can I help you? Father Reyes comes in, and says he’s sorry to interrupt, but someone is looking for them.
Sam says, so Alexis drank it, and fessed up to Molly without her even asking, and Molly says, pretty much. Kristina says she’s not going to judge Alexis. She’s just going to say she hopes Alexis gets better. Molly says, her getting better is all any of them want, and Sam says, recovery isn’t a straight line. There are going to be bumps along the way. Alexis says she knows. Day one? Molly tells her, keep it simple. Aim for day two. Sam says they just want Alexis to know that they love her, they’re here for her, and they’re going to do this together. They want her happy and healthy, and around for a really long time. Alexis tries to smile, goes to the cupboard, and takes out two more unopened nips. She hands them over, saying, they can get rid of those too. They have a Davis group hug.
Dante says he keeps expecting Sonny to walk through the doors, and Michael says he knows. Every time someone walks through the doors, he expects it to be Sonny. It’s just that it’s so different not knowing for sure. Morgan’s service was the same way. Dante says he knows, and Michael says, they felt Grandpa Mike there, but obviously it wasn’t the same. Dante says he still regrets not being there for the service, and Michael says, Sonny told him how much Dante coming back meant to him. He was never happier than when all his kids were around.
Jason asks Carly if everything is okay, and she says she just wanted to go through the service with Father Reyes. He asks if she minds if he stays, and she says, no. She asks Father Reyes if it will take long, and he tells her, just a few minutes. He leaves to get his notes, and Jax says he should go; he’ll leave them to it. Jason closes the door behind Jax, and asks how Carly is holding up. She says, she doesn’t know if she can do this, but she will. He tells her that she’s not alone. Everybody who’s there is there for Sonny, but they’re there for her too. She says, just not the person she needs the most.
Sonny tells Lenny that he hasn’t remembered anything specific, except how to make sauce and handle a gun. Lenny says, and not to sweat the cops, and Sonny laughs. Lenny says, Officer Finchley might have given Sonny a hard time, but he’s a good guy. Sonny tells him, if he says so, and Lenny says he does, but the robberies have Finchley on edge, and they’ve caused him to be suspicious of Sonny. He’s sorry about that. Sonny says, Lenny was suspicious of him in the beginning, but now they’re sharing Phyllis’s best chili. That’s a step forward. Lenny says, huge, and tells Sonny that he has to go. He suggests Sonny put on some music. It will perk him up.
Nina goes to Nelle’s grave, and says, it’s me, your mother. She kneels down, and says she hates that they didn’t get time together as mother and daughter. It was such a cruel twist of fate, discovering Nelle was her child only after Nelle was dead. But as it turns out, it wasn’t fate that took Nelle from her; it was Carly.
Cyrus says, and here he’d thought that Laura acknowledged he has a heart. She asks if he’s talking about his little walk down Memory Lane the other day. All that proved was that he had a childhood, and she knew that already. The real measure of a man isn’t his distant past, but his present actions. Why would he keep Brando from attending his cousin’s funeral? He says, that was never his intent. All Brando had to do was ask. She says, like he wouldn’t see it as an act of disloyalty, and he asks if that’s the kind of game she thinks he plays with his employees. She says, not just him; men like him. He asks what kind of man that is, and she says, narcissist. He thought she was going to say gangster, didn’t he? He says, perish the thought – I smile, because these two are great verbal sparring partners – but thanks for reminding him about his colleague’s funeral, and his relationship to Brando. He says Brando is going to accompany him to All Saints Chapel, so they can pay their respects to the late, great Sonny Corinthos. She says, oh no. Hell no.
Michael asks how Carly is doing, and she says she knows having the funeral is the right thing. It sends a powerful message, and keeps them safe. That’s what’s getting her through this. That, and knowing how many people loved his dad.
Spinelli throws himself at Jason, hugging him, and says his most heartfelt condolences on this solemn day. Sonny did not suffer fools, and yet, he allowed Spinelli to bend his ear on many an occasion. Diane has come in too, and she laugh/cries at Spinelli’s words. Spinelli says, despite Sonny’s alleged occupation, he truly believes Sonny did more good in his life than harm. His passing leaves a void in the universe. Diane says, a lot can be said about the man. Despite choosing a profession that often required attorney/client privilege, and not always having the purest of motives, Sonny managed to touch people’s lives in a very positive way.
Nina says, Carly was there when Nelle fell; she knows that now. Carly could have saved her, but she didn’t. And Jax lied about it. Not just to the police; he lied to her. All his fancy talk about protecting her from the pain of losing a child, it was just to protect Carly. He would have let Nina spend her entire life not knowing Nelle was hers, just to make sure Carly was never punished for letting Nelle die.
Sonny polishes glasses as he listens to some oldies. There’s a knock at the door, and he turns around to see a woman in the doorway, her face obscured, but what we can see looks like Carly. He approaches, and he’s suddenly in a wooded garden. He asks where she went, and sees her back turned to him. He asks if she’s looking for him. She keeps walking, and he tells her, wait.
Laura says Cyrus is not going to Sonny’s funeral, but he says he wants to pay his respects. She says, no he doesn’t. He wants to rub it in Carly and Jason’s faces that Sonny is dead. He says, not at all, but if he did, could she blame him? Jason abducted his mother just to see him suffer. She tells him, stay away from that funeral, understand?For Sonny’s family. He says she means his wife. Carly and Jason are – excuse the expression – thick as thieves. He’s sure Carly knew about his mother’s abduction. She says, then for the rest of Sonny’s friends and family, and for his children. Of course (🍷) he must suspect all of them too. He says he took time out of his very busy schedule to attend the service. He supposes if there was something to occupy the gaping hole in his schedule, he could forego the funeral. She asks what he wants, and he says, have coffee with him. Let’s get to know each other. She says, so that’s the price for Sonny’s family to grieve in peace; that she misses the funeral, and has coffee with him instead. Brando looks amused, and Cyrus says, if it’s amenable to her. She says, it’s fine with her, and he says, excellent. He tells Brando, Laura is right. He shouldn’t miss the family gathering. Call Ruiz to fill in, and he can go. Brando thanks him.
Molly tells Alexis that she made some tea, and Alexis says, just what an alcoholic wants to hear on day one of recovery. Molly asks if she wants a different tea, but Alexis says, it’s fine. Molly is there with her, not babysitting her. They sit, and Molly asks, what’s her defense strategy? Molly knows Martin wants Alexis to plead diminished capacity. Alexis says, or temporary insanity, and Molly says, she doesn’t agree? Alexis says, it’s definitely the best defense, and what she’d recommend, and Molly asks, then what’s the problem? Alexis says, that she prided herself on being unbreakable, and here she is, broken. It’s a matter of public record, and truthfully, the only thing it makes her want to do, is drink more.
Sam tells Jason she’s so sorry, and hugs him. He says he’s really going to miss Sonny, and she says, they had a long history together. He tells her that he still can’t believe it. He asks if Molly and Alexis are there, but she says her mom was feeling sick, so Molly stayed with her. He says he’s glad she’s there, and she says she wanted to be there… for him.
Standing at the entrance, Brando tells Carly, he’s so sorry for her loss. He and Sonny didn’t know each other long, but Sonny taught him the lengths people will go to for family. Kristina says, he clearly didn’t learn much if he’s still working for Cyrus, and Carly tells her, Brando is her family too. She thanks Brando for his condolences, and says they’re all Sonny’s family, and they’re going to get through this together.
Jax asks how Josslyn is holding up, and she says she’s okay… she thinks. He thanks Trina for coming, and she says, that’s what best friends are for. He says, the ceremony is about to start, and they sit. Brando approaches Sasha, and she wonders if Cyrus is there. He says, he was threatening to come, but the mayor took care of it. Sasha says, thank God. She wondered if Brando would be there, and he says, he’s Sonny’s family, but she says she’s surprised Cyrus let him come. Unless he sent Brando as a spy. Brando is sure he’ll expect a recap, just out of curiosity. She says, of course (🍷). Why else? He asks if he can sit with her, and she nods.
Michael finds Carly outside, and says, it’s time. Is she ready? They go inside, and organ music plays. Father Reyes says, they’re here to celebrate the life of Michael Corinthos Jr., better known to all of them as Sonny.
Dante reads the 23rd Psalm (the Lord is my shepherd…), and we see everyone’s sad faces.
Still at the hospital, but with a to-go cup of coffee, Laura tells Cyrus, he has until she finishes her coffee, but she’ll sip it slowly. He wonders where to begin, and she says, at the beginning. She’ll let him know if he has to fast forward. He says he knows she killed a man, David Hamilton, when she was just a teenager, and she says, it was a horrible accident. David said some hurtful things to her, she lost her temper, she shoved him, he hit his head, and he died. She’s regretted it since that day. He says he understands. He and his father had just had a terrible fight. He got in the car, when his father stepped in front of him, and in his agitation, he stepped on the gas instead of the brake. Laura asks why he keeps telling her this. Why even bring it up? He tells her that he wants her to see things from his perspective. Would her life have been different if her family had thrown her out at 17, and turn their backs on her, the way his did to him?
At the pulpit, Kristina says her father was always there for her. She was terrified when she came out to him; he could be so Catholic. He gave her so much love and support, she wishes she could have trusted him to tell him sooner. She loves him. She’s not going to say goodbye.
Next up, Michael says, his dad taught him to face a tough situation head-on. Whenever he needed anything, his dad was always there. He cheered the loudest when Michael had an accomplishment, and when times were tough, was a shoulder to lean on. He’s going to miss that shoulder.
Nina says Nelle is so alone there, just like she was in life. It breaks Nina’s heart to know her daughter was struggling all by herself to find a way. Unlike Carly, who always has people tripping over themselves to make sure she gets what she wants. Carly wanted Nelle gone. Nelle came to her and asked for help, but instead of helping, she turned her back on Nelle, and believed Carly. But no more. She promises that she’ll get justice for Nelle. Whatever it takes.
Carly looks at Jason. He shakes his head, and she gets up. She thanks everyone for being there. Those of them who Sonny loved were truly blessed. Sonny loved big, intense, and loud. How do they say goodbye to a man like that? She knows she can’t. He’s always going to be with her in his children’s eyes, and smiles, and laughter. And he’s going to be in her heart forever, and in the memories of his friends and family. They won’t ever forget him. She looks at his picture near the flowers.
Sonny says, don’t go. He knows her, doesn’t he? She turns, but we still don’t see her face, and they’re suddenly hugging. He says he missed this. He missed her. He never wants this to end.
Lenny comes back to the Tan-O, and asks if Sonny is okay. Sonny yawns, and smiles.
Alexis tells Molly, she wants to get sober more than anything, but she doesn’t know how. She just wants to drink all the time, and it’s pathetic. Molly says Alexis is still the strongest person she knows, but strong doesn’t mean perfect. She stumbles, but so does everyone. Alexis says, she almost killed a man. Shouldn’t she pay for that? Molly asks, how? and Alexis says, maybe she should change her plea to guilty.
Laura asks what Cyrus wants her to say; that she would have made the same choices, or gone down the same path? He says, his mother threw him out; she refused to speak to him. What did Laura’s mother do when she found out Laura had killed the late, unlamented Mr. Hamilton? She says he knows what her mother did. She took the blame to protect Laura. He says, but she didn’t go to prison. Neither of them did. Laura says, because she was traumatized, she’d blocked it out completely, but when she remembered, she confessed. Because of her age, she was put on probation, and later it was ruled an accident. He says, what if, instead of protecting Laura, and buying her the time she needed to recover, her mother had told the police she’d killed David Hamilton in cold blood? Does she think her life would have been as good as it’s been? She admits, no, it wouldn’t.
Sonny tells Lenny, he must have dozed off. Phyllis said the meds might make him drowsy until they found the right dosage. Lenny laughs, and says, it’s just like him. Sleeping on the job, and everything is still ready to go. Sonny says he was listening to the radio. He heard a song, and had a dream. Lenny says, it must have been some dream.
At the cemetery, where there are surprisingly few people, Father Reyes says, as they lay Sonny’s soul to rest, beside his much loved father Mike and his son Morgan, he’ll lead them in prayer. In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through His Son Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God, Michael Corinthos Jr., Sonny to his loved ones. Earth to earth; ashes to ashes; dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord shine His face upon him, and be gracious to him. The Lord lift up His countenance upon him, and give him peace. Amen.
Everyone places white roses on the grave. Olivia kneels, and starts to cry. Sam hugs Diane. Carly is last, and she says she loves him. Nina watches, and Jax turns to see her really pissed off face. I say, ooh, out loud.
Molly tells Alexis, the question is, how does sending her to prison instead of rehab benefit anyone? It doesn’t. Alexis says, so if Molly were standing in front of a judge… Molly says she’d argue that locking Alexis away would only hurt the community. Alexis asks, how? She wouldn’t be supporting the liquor stores and the bars? It’s not like she’s been an asset to citizenry. Molly says, even without a law license, Alexis can still consult, and volunteer, and lots of other things she knows are out there, but none of that will be available in prison, where she knows substance abuse runs rampant. Therefore, Alexis needs to fight this and win. The defense rests. Alexis says Molly is going to make a helluva lawyer, but does she want to know something? Molly says, of course (🍷), and Alexis says, the one thing she wants more than anything, is a drink. Molly puts her arm around Alexis, and leans her head on Alexis’s shoulder.
Laura says, it must have been horrible for Cyrus to be out on the streets alone at 17. She does know what it’s like to be desperate, and she’s done her share of shameful things. He says, exactly. They’re not so very different. She says they’ve both made regrettable choices, but the difference is, she considers hers mistakes; he considers his achievements. He rolls his eyes, and she says, he chooses to live off of people’s weaknesses. She chooses family and community. She chooses love.
While the mourners hug Carly, Jax reaches for Nina, but she backs away from him. He says he didn’t expect to see her there, and she says she was at Nelle’s grave. She walked over there because she was hoping to find him. They need to talk. He says he has to go to the reception, but he can talk after. She says, it has to be now, and he tells her, Josslyn needs him. She says she’s sure Carly needs him too. He says, yes, but can’t they talk afterward? She says, no. They’re going to talk right now. She’s starting to get loud, and everyone is starting to look in their direction. Jax says he can’t right now, and she says, she knows what he did. Carly looks at Jason.
Lenny asks what Sonny’s dream was about, and Sonny says, he’s not sure, but he was happy. He didn’t want it to end. Lenny says, what is it? and Sonny says, I remembered someone.
There was no preview, but we’re two days ahead. I always take preemption as a challenge.
🍹 As I’d thought, Southern Charm Secrets Revealed showed nothing secret, and wasn’t very revealing. It was still enjoyable though. The Secrets Revealed shows are always more lighthearted, as they show everyone actually getting along and having a good time. Stuff that was left on the cutting room floor, since they want conflict for the show. Some of the highlights were: Danni selling her engagement ring, since things didn’t work out with her fiancé (I hadn’t known this – see below), Kathryn getting hair extensions, the guys playing virtual beer pong, and a 7th anniversary party for Republic. Apparently, the cast has lived a quarter of their lives at the restaurant, and it brought back a lot of memories. Leva said she’d expected to do well, but hadn’t expected it to be The Peach Pit. Even Madison seemed surprisingly human.
🏖 The horrible, horrible cast of Summer House had a roller skating party, and Luke finally showed up, along with someone he’d had a little something with in the past. Hannah, the only person I like on this show, had thought she was having a thing with him, but he stuck her in the friendzone, after gushing about how much he loved her and wanted her in his life. Both girls confronted him, and Hannah got the short end of the stick, with Luke saying they’d never dated in the first place, and acting like they’d just been good buddies. Even worse, I’m pretty sure new old squeeze Ciara won’t care, and she’ll be sleeping with Luke, while Hannah is stuck in the house with them. I felt embarrassed for her, and it only confirmed once again, how awful the people on this show are. Ptooey!
I was blessed to see Christopher Plummer, along with Brian Dennehy in Inherit the Wind on Broadway several years ago. It was phenomenal. Who better to pay his respects than Captain America?
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of NegroHistory Week, the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
I’m off to squeeze in some copywriting for https://mupoentertainment.com/. Give us a click, and while you’re there, check out my work on the interview with Jane Badler on MUPO & Friends. You might remember Jane from the 80s sci/fi classic V, as chief lizard Diana, out to make earthlings he slaves… or her dinner. No matter what planet you’re from, stay safe, stay humane, and stay keeping it simple.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Well, my secret sauce source had it posted for a hot minute, but it was taken down quickly before I could get to it. So take the day off. If you were preempted on February 9th, you can find that episode at:
If it’s on tomorrow, I’m guessing that’s the one it will be. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to investigate the whereabouts of the next episode. Just for the record, George Stephanopoulos sounds like he’s the commentator at a golf tournament during this thing.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City – The Reunion – Part One
I hate reunions, since they always turn into a screaming fest. Old stuff is brought up that everyone forgot about, and they get mad all over again. Ugh. Since these women are first timers, I hope it doesn’t mark them for life.
The set was decorated as a winter wonderland, and the women were wearing sparkles to match. Andy congratulated them on a wild and wonderful first season well, daring to give it two thumbs up. He was no doubt referring to Heather saying her thumbs up to Lisa was really a f*** you. Later, Lisa said it was the intention behind it, since no one on the planet has ever heard of that being a thing. We found out Heather got a supportive DM from Rihanna, telling her to keep it real, so that was pretty cool. We flashed back over the season.
Meredith said Jen had picked on Brooks via social media, when she’d clearly flashed the kids at Meredith’s house, and Andy said they’d get to the vagina later. Lisa talked about Jen’s dual birthday for her and Meredith, and how Jen make it about her. Then, Heather and Lisa got into it, each saying the other was dismissive. Heather kept interrupting, and Lisa complained she wasn’t getting a chance to talk. Andy wanted to move on, but Lisa said they weren’t going to move on. So she and Heather talked at the same time, we heard nothing, and finally moved on. Mary’s fashion was called into question, but I love her look, so I moved on. It reminds me of the crazy combos I wore in the 80s, and is similar to Sutton’s style on RHOBH.
We took a trip down Jen Memory Lane. It was hard for me and Heather to watch her talk about her father’s death. We found out that both Mary and Heather’s fathers had also passed away last April. They talked plastic surgery, and Whitney joked that her boobs were natural. We all laughed. Jen talked about her Shah Squad, and said a lot of them worked for her various companies. Andy asked what the blip she actually did, and she said she owned a direct response marketing business. Then she said a bunch of stuff about things like algorithms. The bottom line is, they create things like pop-up ads. She talked about Coach Shah (aka Sharrieff), and how his job was such a headache for her, with him being away all the time. She said, even though it was what she signed up for, she hadn’t expected to be so lonely, so she’d held a lot of anger in. Andy asked if something had happened in the past that caused Jen to think she couldn’t talk to Sharrieff, but we never really got an answer on that. She said he’d been in Washington when she called to tell him that her father died, but he didn’t rush to her side. Even when he was home, it would be only for a day, so she didn’t feel she could dump on him. A viewer said she was a little old for tantrums, and Jen said the year had been a lot. It was a lot for me too, but I didn’t freak out at my own party, and throw glassware.
Jen was asked why Mary triggered her, but she said it was just the hospital smell thing. She finally apologized to Heather for getting her drunken ass in the car after the party freak-out, but Andy wasn’t so sure it was sincere. He thought it was suspect that it took her a year to apologize, but Jen said she realized when she saw the show. Heather said it felt like Jen had been trading up, and tossing her aside for Meredith and Lisa, but Jen insisted that wasn’t the case. Heather said she’d always be a friend regardless of how she was treated, and Mary told her, if you’re a friend to someone, they should be a friend in turn. Sounds correct to me. Jen told Mary to take her own advice, but Mary said she didn’t want to be friends with Jen.
Then came the vagina. Meredith said she wouldn’t have talked about it if Jen had admitted she’d made the kids uncomfortable. Jen acted shocked that the kids had seen her hoo-ha when she did high kicks on the sofa with no underwear. On second thought, she probably was really shocked, since I don’t think she focuses on anyone but herself for the most part. Jen said the only time she’d ever seen Brooks uncomfortable and pissed was when he caught Meredith smoking. To her credit, Meredith didn’t get up, call Jen a bitch, and pop her one, since we all know Jen only said it to make Meredith look bad. No judgement here. Andy asked if Meredith was a secret smoker, and she said, once in a while. Mary said it was her business, and I said, amen. Jen then moved on to say Meredith had asked her to sleep over afterwards, apparently forgetting Meredith canceled that date. Meredith said Jen had passed out at her house. The tracksuit line of one design was discussed, and Andy announced he wanted one. He asked if the women were more understanding about Jen, after knowing her motives. They said they’d always been sympathetic, but Mary said they were supportive of Jen talking smack about her. Lisa insisted she was kind to both of them, and she’d encouraged Jen to make up with Mary.
Andy said, according to the women, Lisa loved Lisa, and we flashed back to her contribution to the season. Melissa from Michigan asked if Lisa’s ambition was more important than family, and we flashed back to Lisa declining her kids’ call when she was at Sundance. Lisa said she had a nanny, and a husband who was actually involved in their kids’ lives. She started crying, and said her kids were everything to her. Andy said he had just been thinking Lisa was so unemotional, and wondered what her vulnerabilities were. Mary suggested that Lisa had a stick up her butt, and Lisa said she thought people misinterpreted direct as cold and bitchy. Whitney said Lisa didn’t see herself as rude and condescending, but it landed that way with some people. Heather said Lisa acted like things were a gift, that should really just be common human interaction. Mary said she was also accomplished, and didn’t make people feel less than. Lisa begged to differ, and said Mary was condescending to Jen and the people in her church. Mary said no one was bringing up Lisa’s alcohol, so don’t bring up her church. She said she wasn’t confrontational, and everyone could always learn something. She asked if Whitney felt less than, and Lisa said Whitney was too busy kissing Mary’s ass to feel that way. Heather said Mary could be harsh, but she wasn’t mean, and Meredith said she thought it was how they interpreted each other as individuals. They all had different dynamics. Andy brought up Whitney complaining to Lisa about the bartenders at her event, and Whitney brought out receipts of badly Xeroxed text messages, that Andy couldn’t even read. Well, it was her first time.
Andy asked Jen if everyone had an incorrect picture of Lisa, and Jen said it was a communication style. Lisa said Heather had called her a bitch and a mean girl, and Heather says she thought Lisa was rude, dismissive, and manipulative. Lisa, running out of words, said, no, you. Jen said Lisa felt misunderstood, and Lisa said she had only so much energy to give to a friendship. She said her DMs had been flooded with nasty comments because of how Heather portrayed her. Heather said she’d done it to herself.
Next time – Part Two – the hospital smell is discussed, Lisa refuses to apologize, and Jen points her finger at Mary.
⛪️ Mary Crosby was a guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and despite her weirdness – or maybe because of it – I like her. She proved herself to be a good sport too, when Bridget Everett dubbed her Glory to God T*tties.
As we go through Black History Month, we’d be remiss in not celebrating the various creators behind the pen who brought their vision to the page. Icons like Batman, Green Lantern and Plastic Man may have been created by white writers in the 1930s and ’40s, but the breadth of imagination in maintaining those heroes was augmented in no small part by creators of color, without whose influence the DC Universe would be a far less interesting world to visit. While there are many, many heroes of comics this list could cover—from Trevor Von Eeden‘s pioneering work on Black Lightning to Damian Scott‘s unforgettable run on Batgirl, let’s zero in on five particular Black creators and their contributions to DC’s long history… https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/02/04/making-their-mark-five-iconic-black-dc-creators
🛌🏽 Taking It To the Sheets…
Not much going on in Bravoland tomorrow. Southern Charm Secrets Revealed, in which nothing will be very secretive or revealing, and the terrible people invading the Hamptons on Summer House. The good news is, they had to be quarantined, so at least they didn’t inflict their awfulness on outsiders. But I’ll make sure to have a pot of tea ready, so until then, stay safe, stay unruffled, and stay not being so direct that people misinterpret it as cold and bitchy.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
🤫 I found it elsewhere. Shhh…
General Hospital
Everyone gets ready for Sonny’s funeral while sad music plays. Carly puts on her wedding ring set, and we see a picture of them together.
Lenny asks how Sonny is doing, and he says he’s fine. He’s getting used to the pills Phyllis gave him. Lenny says Sonny misses Phyllis almost as much as he does. Sonny smiles, and the phone rings. Sonny answers, and it’s Phyllis, who asks how he’s doing. He says he thinks there’s an echo in there, since he just had the same conversation with Lenny. He’s fine, but can she hurry up and get home? Lenny is driving him nuts without her. She laughs, and says she’ll do her best. Nina comes out, and Phyllis says she has to go. Tell Lenny she’ll talk to him later, and she wants the two of them to behave. Sonny says they’ll do their best, and hangs up. Lenny asks if he’s chopped liver, and Sonny tells him, relax. Phyllis is calling him back. Trooper Finchley comes in, and Sonny says they’re closed. Finchley tells Lenny he’s there on business, and Lenny says, what’s the trouble? Finchley says, him, meaning Sonny.
Alexis’s daughters arrive at her house, and she answers the door wearing her bathrobe. Sam tells her to get dressed. Sonny’s service is in an hour and they don’t want to be late. Alexis thinks it’s better if they go without her, but Sam says, no; they’re going as a family. Alexis thinks they’d be better received without her, but Kristina says she doesn’t care how they’re received. She’s saying goodbye to her dad, and wants Alexis with her.
Jax finds Josslyn, and she says she’s really glad he’s there. They hug, and he asks how she’s holding up. She says she’s really sad that Sonny is gone. He says, of course (🍷) she is, and she says, it made her realize how lucky she is to have her dad. They hug again.
Olivia hugs Dante, and says she couldn’t get through this day without him. She tells him, it’s strange. Someone with an imprint as big as Sonny’s is just… gone. Dante says, he’ll be missed, and she says she’s sorry he didn’t get more time with his father. He says, him too. She says she means now too, but she was talking about when he was a kid. Growing up without a dad. It didn’t have to be that way, but it was, and that’s on her.
Michael comes downstairs with two ties in his hands, and Willow asks if Sonny didn’t love blue. Go with that one.
Carly can’t get her necklace clasped, and says, dammit! There’s a knock at her door, and it’s Jason. She says she doesn’t think she can do this, but he says, yes, she can.
Dante tells Olivia, maybe he and Sonny were meant to meet later in life. If they’d met earlier, maybe they wouldn’t have been as close as they were. He never wants to hear her questioning the decisions she made again. She and Sonny are his parents, and he’s forever grateful. She says she’s the grateful one. She wishes she could go back in time and tell that terrified fifteen-year-old that everything is going to be okay, that her biggest mistake would be the greatest thing that ever happened to her. He scares her half to death, being a hero, and taking syringes meant for someone else. What was Alexis thinking? He says, she wasn’t, and Olivia says, Alexis could have killed him. He says, but she didn’t. She even came to the hospital to apologize. Olivia says, knowing him, he forgave her, but she has to be honest. Him, and God, and everyone else can forgive Alexis, but she won’t.
Michael says he thought Willow had class today, but she says she told her advisor there was a death in the family. That’s what they still are, right? She wouldn’t be anywhere else. He says he’s glad she’s there, and asks if she thought any more about his proposal. She says, moving into the gatehouse? He says she’d have her own space and still be close to Wiley. She says she thinks it’s a great idea; the perfect solution. She thanks him for the offer, and he says she’s amazing. She says he is too… for an ex-husband. He says, she played the ex card, and she says he gave her the opening. He says he did, and laughs.
Finchley asks if Phyllis is around, and Lenny says, she’s out of town, but they haven’t had any trouble with Mike (Sonny) since Finchley picked him up outside the hardware store. He was off his meds, but everything is fine now. Finchley asks if Lenny is sure about that. Lenny asks, what’s going on? and Finchley says someone robbed the hardware store. Fred had to close down. It’s not the only store that was hit, and it made him wonder if Phyllis’s stray is responsible.
Nina thanks Phyllis for coming on such short notice, and Phyllis says, Mike convinced her; the man Nina spoke with on the phone. She’s glad she came. It warms her heart to see Nina so successful and happy. Nina says she’s one of those things, and Phyllis says she thought Nina would be over the moon, now that she found her daughter. Nina hands her the picture of young Nelle, and Phyllis says, adorable. She’s even wearing the necklace. She must be grown-up by now. If Nina wants confirmation that she’s her daughter, why not just ask her? Nina says she would if she could, but that girl is dead.
Josslyn tells Jax, when he or her mom leave a room, there’s a part of her that wants to yell out, don’t go, because, what if something terrible happens? She’s so used to not being that person; the one who’s always afraid and anticipates the worst. He says she should never be that person. People say Josslyn is a lot like her mother, but she’s a lot like him too. She understands in ways her mother never has, how to play the odds. It’s true the world is full of horrible things that could happen, but they probably won’t. She says, so the odds are in her favor, and he says they are. If that’s not enough comfort, maybe this will be. All the people she’s lost, wanted her to live life to the fullest. Life isn’t like money; you can’t save it up to use at a later date. You have to use it while you have it, which is why we say, live in the moment. She can grieve and feel the fear, it’s healthy and normal, but never give into it. That’s a waste of a life.
Carly says she has this part of her that, even when life is horrible, she can find it inside, and it helps her push through. This morning, she made coffee and played with Donna, then she came up to take a shower. When she got out, she looked in the mirror, and thought about the day. She thought about the funeral, and the gravesite, and the service with no body. Yet she has to say goodbye. Acknowledge that Sonny is gone, and put an empty casket next to her son who’s gone, and Sonny’s father who’s also gone, and she couldn’t find it. She couldn’t see herself standing there doing that. This part of her isn’t there, and she needs it to be. It’s the only way she knows how to move forward. She’s got nothing, not even a plan, so she sure as hell hopes he does. He says, if she has nothing, why is she dressed and ready to go?
Phyllis says, the daughter Nina has been trying to find is dead? and Nina says she didn’t want to tell Phyllis over the phone. She’s not even 100% sure that Nelle, the girl in the picture, was hers. That’s why she needs Phyllis to confirm it. Phyllis asks how she died, and Nina says, it was a terrible accident. She was running from the police, and fell off a cliff. Phyllis says, oh my God, and sits down. She says, when she thinks of all she did for Nina’s mother… giving that baby away to protect her mother…It was hard enough to learn it was all a lie, but now to hear the kind of life she had and where it led her… Nina says, it’s not Phyllis’s fault, and there’s a slight chance her baby didn’t grow up to be Nelle. Phyllis says she’d do anything to ease Nina’s mind, and hers. Nina says, maybe she can.
Alexis says she knows better than to argue with the three of them, so she’ll put on something appropriate. Molly asks if she needs help, but Alexis says she can manage. Alexis goes upstairs, and Molly wonders if she could be any more obvious. She might as well have said she didn’t trust Alexis not to sneak a drink. Kristina says, well, she doesn’t, does she? Molly says, no. She stopped by last night to make sure there were no more vodka bottles in the house. She hated doing it. Sam says, it was for her own good, and Kristina asks what the future lawyer thinks the chances are of Alexis snagging a sympathetic judge or jury. Sam says, her honest opinion, and Molly says, given her history of alcohol abuse, and her attack on a decorated ex-cop, not good.
Lenny says Finchley has the wrong man. No way Mike could have pulled those robberies. Finchley says Lenny has known Mike less than a month, and he’s willing to vouch for him? He doesn’t know who he is or where he comes from. Lenny says he knows Phyllis, and she believes in Mike. Sonny says he doesn’t need anyone speaking for him, but Lenny says, take it easy. He tells Finchley, Phyllis said he’s still adjusting to the meds. Finchley asks Sonny if the meds are supposed to keep him from doing things he’s not supposed to be doing, and Sonny tells him, Phyllis says he needs them. Ask her. Finchley says he’s asking Sonny. Where was he at 11:45 last night when Harper’s Hardware was robbed?
Jason says, the piece Carly is talking about is the first thing he saw in her. He guesses you could call it being a survivor, but it’s more than that. It’s the absolute refusal to quit. Of course (🍷) she’s feeling empty right now. She lost a man who loved her when he didn’t want to, and she didn’t want to love him back. She says Jason knows who Sonny was at his core; what made him wonderful, and infuriating, and unique. She knows you’re supposed to say nice things about the dead, especially at their funeral, but Sonny was complicated, and not always in a good way. Often not in a good way. She just can’t see her life without him. Jason says he knows. He thinks they’re going to be walking around with huge holes in them; holes they can’t expect to be filled. Not right away, and maybe never. But she’s dressed, and she’s standing, and she’s ready. She’s going to get through this, because there is no other option. This is the life they made, and she has to come through for the people who love her, because that is her. She never fails people. She says she’s been standing beside, and pushing against, and arguing, and falling back in love with Sonny for so long, she doesn’t know who she’ll be without him. He tells her, let’s just get through the next few hours. Get through that, and don’t bite anybody’s head off who says something about Sonny, because they’re just trying to be kind. She says she’s just going to picture Sonny standing there with that smug look on his face. He loved being the center of attention. Jason takes her hand, and says, one more thing. Sonny wouldn’t have lasted this long, or had this family, if it wasn’t for her. She made his life whole. He thanks her, and she hugs him. They go downstairs.
Lenny asks if Finchley is trying to turn Mike into some kind of criminal mastermind. Maybe he’s got a whole mob working under him. Sonny and I laugh, and Sonny says, anything is possible. Finchley says, so, last night? and Sonny says, he worked late locked up after Lenny and Phyllis left, then went to bed. It was nice. Finchley asks about the pills Sonny is taking, and Sonny says Finchley can look at the bottle and see how many he’s taken, and check the prescription. Or Finchley can take him to jail, and let the real perp keep ripping people off. It’s up to him.
Josslyn asks if Carly is okay, and Carly says she is. Josslyn says she was having a little bit of a rough time, then her dad showed up, and Carly knows how it goes. Carly says her father is pretty incredible.
Nina tells Phyllis, she’s the only person who can identify the man who raised her daughter. Does she think she could recognize him? Phyllis says she doesn’t know; he’s probably changed a lot since then. Nina says, no. Would she recognize him at the time she gave him and his wife her baby? Phyllis says, without a doubt, and Nina hands her the picture, saying, his name is Frank Benson. Phyllis wishes she could tell Nina different, but he’s the one who drove up in that big black car. She handed the baby to his wife, and they left. She’s sorry. Nina says, don’t be. She knew in her gut. Phyllis just removed that last shred of doubt. Nelle really was her daughter and they lived in the same town for years. Phyllis says, she lived in Port Charles? and Nina says, yes. She was a very troubled woman, and did a lot of terrible things, but what if she wasn’t like that because she was intrinsically evil? What if she was like that because she didn’t have anyone who loved her? Nina tears up, and says, she didn’t have a mom who loved her. Nina wishes she would have known. It might sound irrational, but when Nelle died she was haunted by the idea that Nelle must have been a good person at one time. Like there must have been a chance that was missed. She holds up the photo, and says, this girl. If there was someone who was just there for her. It should have been her. Phyllis asks if she can call someone for Nina. That handsome man of hers, Mr. Jax? Nina says, no. Jax won’t help her. Phyllis asks if she’s sure. He struck her as a very capable man. Nina says, he’s very, very capable, but he suspected Nelle was her daughter and chose to keep it a secret.
Josslyn asks Carly if there’s going to be any trouble because it’s Sonny’s funeral, and Carly asks, what kind of trouble? Josslyn says she doesn’t know. People who might take advantage of the fact they’re all distracted? Carly says, Jason has it handled, but she has to get to the church, and go over the reading they decided on. She asks Jax to give her a ride, and says Josslyn can go with Jason later. Jax leaves to warm up the car, and Carly says she forgot her necklace. Josslyn offers to get it, and when she’s gone, Carly says she needs Jason to do her a favor. She needs him to reassure Josslyn. Don’t lie to her, but tell her everything is going to be okay. He says, sure, of course (🍷). Josslyn brings down the necklace. They hug and Carly says she’ll see Josslyn in a while. Josslyn says she loves Carly, and Carly says she loves Josslyn too, so much.
Kristina asks Molly how they can improve Alexis’s chances, and Molly says, first and foremost, they can help her stay sober. If her attorney can demonstrate diminished responsibility, and the judge sees true remorse, it could lessen her charges, or lead to a suspended sentence. But if the judge has an inkling that Alexis’s sobriety is just a stunt and she has no intention of giving up drinking… Sam says, then any claim of remorse would seem bogus, and they’ll throw the book at her. Alexis listens from the stairs, and Kristina says, so basically, it’s all on mom. Molly says, pretty much. Which is a real problem, since they haven’t been able to rely on her for months.
Lenny tells Sonny, no one is accusing him of anything, but Finchley says, sure sounds that way. Sonny tells him, take him in, or get off his case. Lenny tells Finchley, give him a break. Phyllis says he’s still adjusting. Finchley says he has a gut feeling, and his gut’s never wrong, but Lenny says Finchley can’t arrest Mike based on a feeling. Finchley says he should have gotten prints when he had Mike the first time. Then they might have a clue as to who he is.
Josslyn tells Jason that she wants to be okay for her mom and dad. They sit, and Jason says they want her to be okay for her, because they understand what she’s going through. She says her mom asked him to stay and talk with her, didn’t she? and he says, if it makes her feel better, he can take her though all the security measures he’s put in place. She thanks him, but says she doesn’t need to know. If anyone can keep them safe, she knows it’s him. It’s not about one particular thing; it’s about the big thing.The fact we can’t control life. He says, that’s true. There are no guarantees nothing bad will happen, or that you’ll never lose someone. It’s just not possible It’s life. What is possible is to live, and not shut down. And be open to whatever comes next, knowing you can’t control the outcome. If you can accept that, you can find a lot of freedom. She says he’s obviously accepted that, and he says he thinks her mom and dad have too.
Jax tells Carly, now would be a good time to tell him why she wanted Josslyn to stay behind with Jason. She says, because Josslyn is terrified. She thinks bad things are going to happen because she’s lost so many people. It’s just not right. He says he and Josslyn talked about it. He tried to convince her bad things probably weren’t going to happen, and thinks he got through to her. He’s still worried about her. It’s more than anyone should have to go through, especially at her age. Losing Dev to a random, violent crime, and a few weeks later, Sonny, who was like a father to her. Carly tells him, go ahead; he’s more than earned it. He says, what? and she says, it’s everything he didn’t want for their daughter. Everything he warned her about. The cost of Sonny’s life, and she dragged Josslyn right into it, so he has every right to unload on her. He says he’s not going to do that. He and Sonny had their differences, but Carly loved him, and he’ll always respect that.
Nelle tells Phyllis, for the record, Jax didn’t know Nelle was her daughter until well after she died, so she can’t blame him for any time they missed out on, but what hurts is that he kept it from her. He didn’t give her the credit that she’d want to know[ that she needed to know. Phyllis asks why she thinks that is, and Nina tells her that Jax said he didn’t want to hurt her. He didn’t want her to beat herself up for the person Nelle turned out to be. Basically, that adds up to him thinking she wasn’t strong enough to take it, but what really gets her is, she has a grandson. Phyllis gets excited, and Nina says, he’s the most beautiful little boy. His name is Wiley. Phyllis says, that’swonderful news, and Nina says they have a chance to connect; a little piece of her daughter. She can still make an impact. Phyllis says, that’s a beautiful grace to come out of all this, and Nina says, it is, but Jax didn’t see it that way. The man she loves, the man she opened herself up to, didn’t consider that in keeping this secret, he was keeping her from her own flesh and blood. Phyllis asks if it was a conscious decision, and Nina says, no. He was just caught up in everything else, but it should have occurred to him. Phyllis says, absolutely. Jax made a terrible mistake, but it doesn’t seem like it was calculated or made out of malice. She wonders if, given time… Nina says, he would have realized about Wiley and told her? He would have. Because that’s the kind of man Jax is. Just because he made that choice now, doesn’t mean he’d make it forever. Phyllis says, Nina said she loved him, and Nina says she does. Phyllis says, then don’t give up on him.
Michael and Dante toast to their dad, and Dante asks if Michael is okay. Michael says he is, and Dante? Dante says their father was far from perfect, but he cared. Michael says they’re lucky Sonny gave them each other, and they hug. Olivia comes in with Willow, and starts to cry. She says, it would make Sonny so happy to see them together, bonding. Dante tells her, easy on the tears.There’s going to be plenty of time for tears. Michael wants everyone’s vote on his tie, and they all agree with Willow on the blue.
Alexis joins her daughters, and asks how she did. Molly says, love the dress, love the shoes, and love the woman who’s wearing them. Alexis says, not as much as she loves the three of them. She asks how Kristina is holding up, and Kristina says, she’ll be okay as long as she has them. Sam says they’re here for Kristina, and Molly says, just try to get rid of them. Alexis says she left her phone upstairs, and suggests they wait in the car; she’ll be right there. As soon as they’re out the door, she changes course, takes a nip of vodka out of the bookcase, and chugs it. She turns around to see Molly.
Willow asks if Michael is okay, and he says he was just remembering it was his dad who taught him to tie his first tie. He was struggling, and wanted a mirror, but his dad said, a mirror wouldn’t always be around, and he had to learn to do it without one. She says, good advice, and he says, his dad’s usually was. She says, it looks perfect…almost, and straightens it. He says, now it’s perfect. He takes her hand, and they leave.
Jason tells Josslyn, her mom and dad want to promise nothing will ever happen to them, and he wants to do that too, for the people he loves, but he can’t. The only thing he can promise is to do his best, and live his life to the fullest. It’s the only promise they can keep. Josslyn says, her dad said it different, but it was pretty much the same message. Stepping outside of the house is still scary. He says, it is, and most people wouldn’t be brave enough to do it, but she is.
Lenny tells Finchley, Phyllis trusts Mike and so does he. Finchley asks where Sonny got the coffee he’s drinking, and Sonny says he’ll make a fresh pot. Lenny says he has some work to do, and goes to the back. When he’s alone, Finchley takes the mug Sonny was using, and switches the coffee to another one.
Jax tells Carly, there were many times he wished Sonny gone, but that was never a solution. Their lives were too intertwined. Carly loved Sonny, and their daughter loved him. Right now he just wants to be there to help them through this. Carly says she’s so grateful, and he says he’s grateful Josslyn is still with him, and he can be her dad. Carly says, it makes such a difference to have both parents in your life, and he says, it makes a big difference to have your kids in your life too.
Nina comes into the church, looking for Jax, and a woman tells her, he’s in the waiting room. Jax tells Carly, when he thinks about her losing Morgan, and Nina losing Nelle, he’s grateful he’s not going through that. She asks if he was able to talk to Nina, and he says, no. She still won’t hear it. He doesn’t blame her. Carly says, she felt horrible. She wanted to come up with a plan to get them back together, but she didn’t have it in her. He says, one step at a time; her focus is on Sonny. Carly says she’s not going to think about Nelle, or what happened that night on the cliff – Nina listens from outside the door – because Nelle is dead. Let that night die with her.
There was no preview. I’m not sure if this will be on tomorrow; it will be preempted, but I’ll still be able to watch online; or it’s going to be like the first time around, and we’ll be out a few days. You’ll know when I do.
🤷🏽 Could They Be More Vague…?
The soaps could be preempted. Maybe. But they’re not sure when.
Chicago native and national treasure, Ella Jenkins, has been called The First Lady of Children’s Music and no wonder – her music is delightful! Many of her songs feature call and response, chants, and are very interactive. Start your morning with You’ll Sing a Song and I’ll Sing a Song, and set a sweet tone for your day.
Other ways to celebrate Black History Month with your little ones:
For once, I’m getting to bed early, dammit. Which actually means before 3 am for me. No matter what early is for you, stay safe, stay respectful of one another, and stay being open to what happens next, but knowing you can’t control the outcome.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Terry tells Franco, the technician will make sure his head is immobile. The treatment is painless, but some people experience side-effects, like fatigue or nausea. Franco says he could stand to lose a couple of pounds. Holiday baking. She says he may lose his hair, and he says, now she’s going too far. Elizabeth says, whatever it takes, they’re doing this.
Valentin tells Peter, Franco is channeling Drew’s memories, which means they’re resurfacing. Peter says all he knows is that Franco’s tumor has returned, which makes him a potential threat. Valentin says, Peter didn’t feel like that when burst into the OR to save Franco, and Peter asks what he’s getting at. Valentin says he’s just playing with puzzle pieces to see what fits. Not long ago, Peter came to him concerned that he’d crossed Jason. Peter’s life is about to unravel, and he’s acting like he doesn’t realize it.
Anna asks Britt where her mother is, and Britt says, she’s in prison, where Anna can’t shoot her. She’s sure Anna has plenty to do other than sic Finn on her. Doesn’t she have wedding plans? Anna asks if Britt was in contact with Obrecht through a phone call or a letter, and Britt says she has a hospital to run. She has nothing to do with her mother. Anna says Britt was convinced Obrecht was guilty when she was convicted, but she told Finn she didn’t know, and thought Obrecht might be innocent. She’s wondering what changed Britt’s mind.
Josslyn puts flowers on Mike’s grave, and says, they’re for him, so he knows she loves and misses him. Carly puts flowers on Morgan’s grave, and says she’s sure his dad and Mike are with him, and she hopes they’re happy together. They’re missed so much. Say a prayer for them tomorrow. It’s Sonny’s funeral, and it’s hard to say goodbye.
Sonny answers the phone, Tan-O, Mike speaking, and Nina asks if he said it was the Tan-O. He says yeah. What can he do for her? She asks what he said his name was, and he says, Mike. She asks, Mike who? and Sonny looks puzzled.
Josslyn asks if Carly really thinks Morgan, Sonny, and Mike are together, and Carly says she does believe that. It’s the only thing that makes it bearable. What about Josslyn? What does she believe? Josslyn says, Oscar told her to look up at the night’s sky, and he’d be there, but they don’t know much about the afterlife, do they? Carly says, all they can do is hope for the best, and Josslyn says she likes thinking of them all together. She hopes someday, years from now, she and Carly will see them again. She and Carly hug.
Sonny asks if Nina would like to place a delivery order, and she says, no. She’s looking for Phyllis Caulfield. Is she there? It’s Nina Reeves calling. He tells Phyllis, and she takes the phone. Nina thanks Phyllis for taking her call, and Phyllis says she can’t tell Nina how often she thinks of her. How is she? Nina says, fine, but she has some news. She thinks she knows who has the other half of the necklace. Phyllis says, she found her daughter? and Nina says, she’s almost certain. Phyllis says, wonderful!
Elizabeth tells Finn that she was hoping to see him, and he says it’s good to see her and Franco. He asks if everything is okay, and Elizabeth says she just wanted to let him know they can’t go to the wedding. Finn says, okay, but they’ll be sorely missed. Do they want him to pass their regrets along to Maxie and Peter? Or are they the reason for not coming? Elizabeth says, obviously, and Franco says, mostly Peter. Elizabeth says they wish Finn, Anna, and Maxie well, but she can’t say the same for Peter. He published Franco’s medical records, and now people think Franco is a maniac. Finn says he understands. He hopes everything turns out all right. Elizabeth says she still can’t figure out how Peter got records he never should have had access too. In all her years there, she’s never seen it happen. Finn says, it was a security breach, and Franco says he knows who did it.
Peter tells Valentin, he’s about to marry the mother of his child, and Valentin says that’s why Peter can’t be in denial any longer. He knows Peter arranged for Drew’s abduction, and if Franco remembers more, the memories will be like dominos tipping. Then Maxie will be forced to learn the truth about him.
Britt says she lets her guard down for one second and Finn runs to Anna like Chicken Little. Anna asks what convinced her of Obrecht’s innocence? When Obrecht left, Britt thought she was guilty. Britt says her mother didn’t leave; she was hauled off because of Anna. Anna says, semantics. Britt must have made contact with her, and Obrecht pleaded her case. Britt asks if Anna thinks she’s not capable of coming to her own conclusions, and Anna asks, based on what? Britt says she doesn’t have to answer; she has a hospital to run. Like she told Finn, she doesn’t know where Obrecht is. Anna says, that implies Obrecht is no longer in prison, and they’ve made contact. Where is Obrecht now?
Someone looks over The Last Will and Testament of Alexandra Merrick.
Phyllis says she’s prayed for this, but Nina says she’s not 100% sure she found her daughter. Before she goes further, she’d appreciate Phyllis’s input. She has pictures of her daughter’s possible adoptive father, and some other bits of information. She’d love to run them by Phyllis, and can arrange to fly Phyllis to Port Charles, whatever time works for her. Phyllis says she’d love to help, but it’s not a good time for her to go away. Can they do it online? Ava stands quietly by the door, and Nina says she wanted to talk to someone face-to-face; someone who remembered and knew her daughter as an innocent baby, who won’t judge her or her daughter. Phyllis says she hears Nina, but things there are a bit complicated. Nina says, of course (🍷). She realizes what she’s asking is very presumptuous, and an imposition. She didn’t think it through. Phyllis says, it’s okay; Nina doesn’t have to apologize. Nina says she’ll figure out something, and thanks Phyllis, telling her to enjoy her evening. Ava knocks on the door, and says she came by to see if Nina wanted to get a drink at the MetroCourt, but Nina says she thinks she’s going to avoid the MetroCourt for a while. Ava asks if Nina wants to tell her what’s going on, and Nina says, she didn’t hear? She thinks she found her daughter. Ava tells Nina that she’d say congratulations, but Nina doesn’t seem like she’s celebrating. Nina says, her daughter was Nelle Benson.
Josslyn asks if Carly has ever been to Nelle’s grave, and Carly wonders why she’s asking. Josslyn says she knows Nina put Nelle in Woodlawn. She hates the idea of Nelle being in proximity to their family, and Carly says, she does too. Nelle is buried on the other side of the cemetery. Josslyn says she knows Nina had the best intentions. She obviously believes everyone has the right to a decent burial, even people like Nelle, but no matter how far away Nelle is, it seems like their family can never escape her. Carly says she understands how Josslyn can feel that way after what Nelle did to their family. Josslyn says, she’d never wish death on anyone, but she’s glad Nelle is out of their lives. She’d be relieved if she never heard Nelle’s name again. Carly says, she will. She’s going to hear Nelle’s name over and over again, because of her and Jax.
Britt says she thought WSB agents were trained to be dispassionate, analytical, and cool-headed, but Anna’s pursuit of her mother has been personal, including the trumped up charges. Why? Anna says Obrecht poses a threat to her family, and she needs to know where Obrecht is. Britt says, if she’s missing, wouldn’t Anna’s own agency provide the answer?
Peter says, it’s been months since he told Valentin about the part he played in Drew’s abduction. Why bring it up now? Valentin says, all he knows is, if Obrecht is in town, she’s going to maintain Peter framed her for Drew’s death and the attempted murder of Franco. Peter killed the assassin, which begs the question as to why Peter needed to silence him. Peter says he should go, but Valentin says he’s trying to help Peter. If there’s any merit to Obrecht’s proof that Peter framed her, Peter’s life is going to explode. He’s going to lose Anna and Maxie. Peter says, yes. Obrecht is telling the truth. He did frame her.
Phyllis looks out the window at the rain, and Sonny asks how it’s going. Phyllis says, fine; there’s a storm tonight. He says, ever since she took the phone call, she’s been in another world. Does she want to talk? Before she says, no, she’s always checking in on him; he’s just returning the favor. She says, he might not remember who he is, but he sure knows how to use those dimples. Okay, she’ll tell him. The call was from a former patient; a woman she took care of long ago when she worked in the city. She was in a coma, and pregnant with a baby girl. Her mother told Phyllis that the patient’s husband was responsible for her coma, and she didn’t want him to know about the baby, since he was abusive. She’d arranged for a private adoption, and had Phyllis take the infant to the adoptive parents. She recently learned it was all a lie. Nina’s own mother had put her in the coma. Sonny says he’s sorry, and she says she feels terrible for her role in depriving Nina of her daughter. Sonny says Phyllis was lied to; it’s not her fault. He hasn’t known her long, but he knows she’d never hurt another living soul.
Nina tells Ava, that Jax and Carly said they were protecting her; that’s why they stayed quiet so long. Ava says, that old song, and Nina thanks her for not saying, I told you so. Ava told her that Carly and Jax had an unbreakable bond, but she was hoping to prove Ava wrong. Ava says she doesn’t know Jax, but what she knows, she doesn’t like, and she trusts Carly about as far as she can throw her. When the Corinthos clan turned against Nelle, Ava gave her a job. Nelle reminded Ava of herself, and she was pregnant at the time. Nina says, that’s right; Nelle worked at the gallery, and Ava says Nelle was motivated and competent. She was fond of Nelle until Nelle blackmailed her. Nina says she hired Nelle against Carly’s wishes too. She was engaging, and so intelligent. Nina didn’t think it was an act, but that Nelle was being the person she wanted to be. Ava says, of course (🍷) those attributes were part of who Nelle was, or who she would have been, but keep in mind what Nelle could do, and what she did.
Elizabeth asks if Franco thinks he knows how his records were accessed, and he says he knows for sure. He went to confront Peter, and Britt was accusing Peter of using her to access his files. Finn says, maybe, but he doesn’t trust them, and Elizabeth says she doesn’t either. Finn says Elizabeth’s instincts are usually good. He’s sincerely sorry about what happened, and wishes Franco good luck with the radiation. If he can do anything to help, let him know, but Franco is in good hands with Terry. He leaves, and Terry joins them. Elizabeth tells her that they need a few minutes, and Terry says, it’s not going to be a problem. The technician scheduled is refusing to treat him.
Peter tells Valentin, he’d made a mistake hiring the hit man. He tried calling him off, but couldn’t, so he saved Franco and Andre. Valentin asks, why Peter needed them dead. Why were they a threat? Peter says, Andre wanted to recover Franco’s memories, but said the procedure would risk reinforcing Drew’s memories instead. Valentin says, then he could reveal Peter’s pivotal role in Drew’s disappearance. Peter wasn’t an innocent pawn; he was an integral player, and responsible for Drew’s death. Peter says, Obrecht is sadistic, and held him captive, and Valentin tells him to answer the question. Peter says, yes. He had Drew killed. He made arrangements for Drew’s plane to be sabotaged. Valentin says Peter is right to be afraid of Jason. He stole years of Jason’s life, and Peter is responsible for the death of Jason’s twin brother because he got too close to the truth. Peter says, yes. He did that all of that and more.
Anna tells Britt, the WSB wasn’t forthcoming about Obrecht’s whereabouts; there’s some level of secrecy about Obrecht’s release she has yet to comprehend. Britt says, they’ve shut Anna out. Wow. Interesting. Anna has always been a hot shot at the WSB; their go-to agent. What does their silence tell her? Maybe they don’t trust her anymore. That’s tough, but instead of using her for intel, why doesn’t Anna look at herself, and figure out why the WSB left her out in the cold.
The mystery person sets the will down on the desk, and picks up a flashdrive. They pick up an envelope that says, For Peter, and put it into a manila envelope, along with the drive.
Ava tells Nina, Nelle was a broken person who couldn’t be fixed. She was violent. She killed her fiancé, and tried to kill Michael. People tried to love her, but she took their love and twisted it, making something ugly out of it. Nina had to tell the court to protect an innocent child. Nina says, who protected Nelle? She was an innocent child.She was raised without love, and had an abusive father. Whatever role her mother played, she was out of the picture by the time Nelle’s father sold her kidney. She and Ava both know what it’s like to be physically and emotionally upended by their mothers. Ava says Nina’s mother was a nightmare, and Nina wonders if the drugs her mother gave her while she was pregnant with Nelle didn’t impact Nelle’s brain development and cause her psychosis. Ava says, there’s no way to know, and Nina says, because her mother gave Nelle away. If she hadn’t, Nina would have had Nelle, and maybe there was a chance she would have gotten help. Ava asks if Nina has heard a word she’s said. There was nothing Nina could have done. Nina says, it’s too late for Nelle, but it’s not too late for Wiley. She’s going to be a constant presence in his life. She failed her daughter, but she’s not failing her grandson.
Carly tells Josslyn that she and Jax wanted to spare Nina the pain of finding out her daughter was dead. Josslyn says, and grew up to be Nelle. Carly says, it’s a lot for Nina to process, and she’s furious they didn’t tell her they’d found the necklace. Josslyn says, her poor dad. He’s crazy about Nina. Can’t he make her understand? Carly says, he’s trying. Carly prays once Nina has calmed down, she realizes he was just trying to protect her because he loves her. Josslyn says, no matter how hard you try to keep your loved ones safe, sometimes you can’t.
Sonny says Phyllis has no reason to feel guilty, and she tells him, Lenny says she’s gullible. It really bugs her, but in this case, he was right. She took Madeline’s word, and handed off Nina’s baby to a total stranger. A few months ago, she was contacted by a P.I. Nina recovered, and was desperate to find her child. Nina wanted to see her, but she couldn’t tell Nina much. Now Nina thinks she found her daughter. Sonny says he saw Phyllis light up at the news, and she says, it makes her so happy. He says, so why doesn’t she want to see Nina? Is it because of him?
Terry tells Franco and Elizabeth, the technician has a cousin out west who read the article, and the article brought it back. Elizabeth says, brought what back? and Franco says, when he was the other guy, he hurt someone they care about. Terry says, the technician refuses to come near Franco. It’s unprofessional, and unacceptable, and she’s already filed a report with HR. There’s another tech on the way. Elizabeth says she’ll wait there, and Terry says, she’s got this. She’ll take good care of him. She leads Franco away.
Elizabeth sees Britt, who says she heard about the problem with the radiation tech. Elizabeth says, no thanks to Britt.
Valentin asks, why? What did Peter hope to accomplish? Peter says, originally he wanted to beat his father at his own game. Acquire his father’s wealth and power, and leave him with nothing. He didn’t care who he used, Valentin says, Peter redeemed himself, but Peter says, the past caught up to him. He kept putting fires out, and doing damage control. Valentin says, now Franco is hearing his voice. Drew’s memories aren’t another fire he has to extinguish. Why did he put Franco’s medical records in The Invader? Peter says he wanted to discredit Franco, so anything he said would be the raving of a madman with a brain tumor. Valentin says, discredit? and Peter says Valentin wanted answers, and he gave them. It feels good to let it all out. Now Valentin has to be honest. What is he going to do with the information?
Finn runs into Anna, and says he didn’t know she was there. She says she was just rattling Britt’s cage about Obrecht, and he asks why she’s the one who looks shaken. She says Britt implied the WSB doesn’t trust her and that’s why she can’t get information. He asks if they’d do that, and she says, perhaps, because of her closeness to Peter. He says, that means they suspect Peter of something, but she says she doesn’t need them. She’s not waiting for Obrecht to strike. She’s going after Obrecht herself. He asks, when? and she says, right now.
Phyllis asks Sonny how they’re fixed for ice, and Sonny says, everything is good. He’s taking his medication, and doesn’t need her to supervise him. She tells him, the doctor said to watch how he reacts, and he says, it’s been good so far. He’s been a little down, but other than that, he’s fine and doesn’t need her to hover. She asks what if his depression gets worse, or he gets energized? He tells her to deal with her patient; it’s a day, not a week. The last thing he wants to do, is keep her from what she does best; taking care of people.
Ava tells Nina, take it from her, getting access to a Corinthos child is easier said than done. Nina says, Wiley is her family, the only part of her daughter that she has left. They can’t keep her from family. Ava says Nina needs proof, and Nina say she was just on the phone with the nurse who delivered her baby to the adoptive family. She’s going to have her ID a picture of Nelle and her father. Ava says, that’s not enough to prove Nelle is Nina’s daughter, but Nina says, it’s enough reason to have a DNA test done on Wiley. Ava says, this could be the beginning of a long ugly fight. Before Nina pursues this further, think about who Nelle was and the things she did, and ask herself, does she really want to know if Nelle was her daughter. Nina’s phone rings, and it’s Phyllis.
Elizabeth says, it’s all Britt’s fault; she gave Peter access to Franco’s medical files. Britt says she’d never do that, but Elizabeth says Britt was definitely angry when Franco saw her in Peter’s office, and Franco was under the impression she was responsible for the information being released. Britt says, there was a security breach, and as Chief of Staff, she’s ultimately responsible for what happened. Elizabeth says, how convenient. She’s taking responsibility while distancing herself. Britt says she’s truly sorry for the pain and chaos Peter caused, but she wasn’t willingly involved. She’d never wish what happened to Franco on anybody. Elizabeth asks if that’s an apology, and Britt advises her to take it before Britt takes it back. Terry comes out, and Elizabeth asks how Franco is.
Valentin tells Peter, when everything comes out, it will destroy Anna. She may even be considered an accomplice because of her association with him. Peter asks if Valentin thinks he doesn’t know that, and Valentin says, what about Maxie? The longer this goes on, the harder she’ll fall. Peter can’t sustain this kind of damage control. He can’t kill everyone who discovers the truth. Peter says he never wanted to, and Valentin says, then just stop it. Confess, and Obrecht has no power over him. Peter says he can’t. He’s marrying Maxie in a few days, and they’re bringing a baby girl into the world. He wants to give his daughter a happy loving family life, unlike what he had. She deserves that, and he’s desperate for his mother to know she was right to believe in him and have faith in him. Valentin says, what about him? He knows the truth now. If he keeps Peter’s secret, he’s an accomplice. Why should he stay silent when he knows how bad it will hurt Anna and Maxie? Peter says he’ll make it work for them. If Valentin can’t keep his secret for him, please do it for them. Don’t break their hearts. Valentin nods.
Finn says, Anna wants to leave town now? and she says she has to find Obrecht. He says when they’d just gotten engaged, they had to deal with Alex. Now she wants to split before the wedding? She says she has no choice. If Obrecht is out there, she’s got Peter in her sights. She’s gone after Peter before. How comfortable would she feel, getting married without knowing where Obrecht is? She let her guard down with Alex, and Alex nearly killed Finn and kidnapped Maxie. She’s not letting it happen again. He says if he can’t talk her out of it, and she’s really going, he’s going with her.
Terry tells Elizabeth, the procedure is underway, and so far, so good. Elizabeth says she’ll wait for Franco to come out, and leaves. Terry says she has a sensitive matter to discuss with Britt. The technician refused to treat Franco. Britt says, she already heard from HR, and thanks Terry for reporting it. The tech has been put on suspension, and will be terminated. She can’t have the staff determining who is and isn’t worthy of treatment. Terry completely agrees.
Valentin tells Peter, Obrecht has been released from Steinmaur, and they have no idea where she is. Peter is concerned she’s going to exact revenge, and Valentin says he’ll handle Obrecht. Peter says he needs Valentin’s word that he’ll keep what Peter told him to himself. Can he count on Valentin to do what he promised? Valentin says he’ll do whatever is in his power to make sure no pain is inflicted on those they love the most. He leaves, and Peter thinks about that. I would too, since Valentin didn’t exactly say he’d keep the secret.
Anna says Finn doesn’t have to come; he’s still recuperating. He says he was cleared to be at work, and she asks, what about Violet? He says Violet will be upset if anything happens to Anna, so for Violet’s sake, he’s going to watch Anna’s back. His father has been begging to spend time with Violet, so he’ll love to stay with her. They have to make this quick; what else has she got? She says she doesn’t know what she’ll encounter, and he says he can take care of himself. He suggests they not waste time arguing. The faster they handle Obrecht, the better, and he’s not keen on surprises. Anna says, not after her sister. She’s not taking any chances. Obrecht is no Alex, but she’s every bit as lethal.
We see the return address of D. Merrick V. on the envelope.
Ava asks if Nina wants to hear her advice, and Nina says, go ahead, but there’s no guarantee she’ll take it. Ava tells her, think long and hard about meeting Phyllis. If she can’t confirm Nelle is Nina’s daughter, how is she going to feel? And if she can, what does that mean going forward? How is Nina going to grapple with the missed chances in Nelle’s life? Nina says she has to pursue this. In her heart, she knows Nelle is her daughter. Nelle had a child, and what Nina lost with Nelle, she can make up for with Wiley.
Josslyn tells Carly, she was thinking about how people lie or keep secrets in the name of protecting the people they love. The lines feel blurred; they’re actually protecting themselves. Like how Jordan lied about Trina’s father. Trina is struggling, and she understands why. Carly says Josslyn is right. They set out to protect someone, but do a fair amount of protecting themselves. Sonny is a perfect example. He’d do anything to protect the people he loves, but he’s also protecting himself from watching them get hurt. Josslyn says she’s sorry Sonny is gone. She knows how much Carly loved him, and she did too. Carly thanks her for saying that. Sonny loved her so much. Carly knows it doesn’t feel like it now, but knowing they have that love, and remembering how much he meant to them, will help them go on. They leave the cemetery.
Phyllis tells Sonny, it’s all set. She’s going to Port Charles. She hopes she can confirm her patient found her daughter. Sonny is glad, and she thanks him for convincing her. He’s glad he helped, and says, maybe at some point, she can help him figure out who he is. She says, if Nina could find her daughter after all these years, there’s plenty of hope for him.
Tomorrow, Nina meets with Phyllis, Jax says the odds are in Carly’s favor, and Sonny tells Lenny to get off his case.
Five Islands Harbour, Antigua. We backtrack to Daniel (finally a name) telling James and Ashling that it’s their vacation, not his. He’ll go downstairs, and leave them alone. He leaves, mumbling that he’s being given a bedtime, and they’re limiting his alcohol. In Ashling’s interview, she says, he was beyond wasted. As soon as you cross the line of safety, you’re out. She could get in trouble with Francesca, the captain, and possibly Daniel’s parents. Daniel tells David, the crew’s whack, bro. James says Ashling is adorable, and they call it a night.
March 12 2020. Rachel starts the day by cursing out the toaster. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, yesterday was the worst day ever. She was almost fired, and James didn’t acknowledge her birthday. A stranger would be willing to give her a kiss. Not that she wants a stranger to kiss her. She’s just saying. The guests start to get up, and Francesca tells Izzy that she feels the need to be there for service. She doesn’t trust Elizabeth. In Rachel’s interview, she says, sh*t rolls downhill, and she knows where it’s coming from. We flash back to the mahi mahi issue, and Rachel bitches that she has to troubleshoot when the chief stew is supposed to do that. She tells Elizabeth that she feels like she’s in kindergarten.
Izzy gives Rob a short list of chores, and Eddie goes to the bridge. He asks Captain Lee how it’s going, and the captain says he pulled up the news. There are 938 cases [of covid] in the US. Eddie says, that exploded, and Captain Lee says, and 29 deaths. Some people get it, and don’t know they have it. In his interview, Captain Lee says, things are getting serious. Everything on the news is about corona, and he can’t wrap his head around it. They’re lucky there are no cases on the island, but it’s scary stuff. Izzy tells herself to smile through the pain. Rachel says, ask for pickled quail eggs, you shall have quail eggs. Jackie tries to get Rob to do a yoga pose, and he says he has to find inner peace.
James asks how Elizabeth is, joking that they haven’t talked in so long, he forgot her name. In his interview, he says it was Elizabeth’s birthday, and he didn’t even give her a kiss. At 30, you wonder where your life is going. At 26, he’s in the prime of his life. I hate to tell him, but technically, as a man, he passed that nearly ten years ago. A producer asks why James doesn’t tell Elizabeth that this isn’t going anywhere. He says, she’s smart enough to know what’s going on. Surely. The producer says, don’t call her Shirley. Not really, but it was the perfect opportunity. Izzy tells Rob, she could put Jackie’s bra on her head, and it would be a perfect fit.
Daniel tells a couple of the adult guests (not his parents) that he drank half a bottle of Hennessey when he was cut off. In the crew mess, Ashling tells Elizabeth that he was blackout drunk, and wanted to get in the hot tub. Daniel says, he was told no, and Francesca overhears. He says they told him the hot tub was draining, but he went upstairs and it wasn’t. Francesca asks who told him that? and he says, Ashling and James. He was made to feel not welcome. She says she’s so sorry. Ashling tells Elizabeth, he probably won’t remember anything.
Daniel tells Francesca that he was told it would be better for all of them if he went to bed. She asks if he was really told that, and he says he was, but she doesn’t think so. Ashling tells Elizabeth, Daniel is a spoiled brat, while Daniel tells Francesca that he was made to feel not welcome. He wanted to stay up, and he was upset. The crew members said they couldn’t go to bed if he was still there. Francesca asks Ashling, what happened? and Ashling says, he was wasted. Francesca tells her he claimed they told him that he should go to bed; did they? Ashling says, they took the alcohol away because Daniel was plastered, and wanted to jump on the tender. They almost had Delores 2.0. We flash back to Delores jumping into the water, and Ashling says she’s surprised he remembered. Francesca says he didn’t tell her anything about the tender. Yeah, like that would happen. In her interview, Francesca says, now that she’s heard the story, the law would have definitely been on their side. She trusts Ashling if she thought he had too much to drink, and it became a safety issue. She’s on Ashling’s side, and gives her 100% backing.
Izzy and Rob inflate the slide, while Francesca takes breakfast orders. Daniel whines to his parents about being forced to go to bed, but dad David says, good. He should be thinking about work, not play; that was smart. In Ashling’s interview, she says, thank God. Francesca asks Ashling to go on the excursion, and in her interview, Francesca says, her expectation of Elizabeth is zero. She can’t wait to say she’s letting Elizabeth go. Breakfast is served, and Francesca tells the guests they’re going to be swimming with stingrays, and going to a private island, where they’ll set up for lunch. Rachel tells Francesca that she needs condiments, and what to pack for the picnic. Francesca tells Elizabeth that she’s going to stay on the boat, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she says, surprise, surprise. It’s pure punishment, clearly. One of the guests says their Japan trip and European trip was canceled. One of the guests thinks it’s the democrats blowing it out of proportion because they want to mess up the election for Trump. (I look into my fictitious camera blankly.) Rachel wants ice packs, but can’t seem to get them, and says she’ll do what she can to see the food doesn’t rot. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Rachel isn’t happy with the interior. Hopefully, she doesn’t stab anyone. She’s she type of person who would. Rachel tells Elizabeth, this bitch can make it work. She’s effing over this sh*t.
Eddie drives the guests on the tender to Jolly Harbour. On the boat, James tells Elizabeth, it’s just them, and in the taxi, Francesca asks Rob if he thinks Elizabeth and James will sleep in another guest cabin. Elizabeth asks if James missed her last night. He nods, looking pained, and she says it was so hard not to celebrate her birthday. The day started wrong. In his interview, James says he doesn’t want to tell her that it’s not going anywhere. It may hurt her feelings, so he’d rather keep it going. Avoid and run away. As long as the cabin thing doesn’t come back to bite him.
In the taxi, Daniel says he wants to go back to the boat. In Ashling’s interview, she says, ugh. Here we go. Captain Lee notices a ton of dishes in the galley sink, and in his interview, he says, is she sh*tting him? Why can’t Elizabeth deliver.? There are things she should know. Maybe her energy broken again. He politely asks if Elizabeth will do him a favor, and knock out the pots and pans, so the galley is clean when Rachel comes back. Eddie tells the captain, time flies when you’re in hell, and they laugh. Daniel says he needs a lot of drinks of liquor, and Francesca tells him, after lunch. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, she’s stressed about Francesca, and James is being weird. With her ex, everything happened fast, because her head was in the clouds. She learned the hard way. Maybe she should pull back. She’s feeling pretty rough right now.
The guests are taken to a stingray habitat. On the boat, Elizabeth asks the captain if she can use the slide, and he says, as long as her stuff is done. At the habitat, the guide says, they have about an acre and a half. The rope is only on the surface, so the stingrays come and go as they please, and leave when they’re ready. Jackie tells her sons that they’re scaring the stingrays away, since they’re acting like a-holes as always. The stingrays are very cool, and I want one. On Laviscount Island, Izzy and Ron set up for lunch. Elizabeth uses the slide a few times, then stays in the water. Eddie tells Elizabeth that the current is strong, and asks if she’s a mermaid now. Elizabeth says she’s working out, and Eddie tells James that she’s weird. In Eddie’s interview, he says Elizabeth will probably name her first born something like Moonbeam or Star Child. Or Crystal Good Vibes. Crystal will be a stripper. Izzy tells Rob that she has to inflate Jackie’s Versace innertube, and he says she’ll never miss it if she doesn’t see it, but Izzy says she kept talking about it. In Izzy’s interview, she says, when a guest specifically asks for something, it’s a priority. She tries to inflate the innertube with a pump, and says, so extra. She tells Rob that she can’t get it. Rob says, just tell her it’s a knock off, and it doesn’t work. He helps Izzy, and gets it inflated.
Rachel asks if Francesca brought condiments, but that’s a no. Because she’s too stupid to understand they go with hot dogs. Rachel says she thought they’d bring the condiments; she only brought specialty stuff. In Francesca’s interview, she says, Rachel can’t admit when she’s wrong. She’s been walking on eggshells, since she doesn’t want Rachel to leave, but f*** you. She’s over it. Um… Rachel did tell her to bring condiments, so who can’t admit what? I really don’t like Francesca at all. I only marginally liked her at the beginning, but now I’m at zero.
Jackie wants to check out the tortoises on the island. In Rachel’s interview, she says, she told Francesca to bring condiments. We flash back to that, and Francesca even repeats what Rachel said back to her. Rachel says, not only does the lack of communication f*** her, now it’s super annoying. Elizabeth goes back to work, while on the island, we see giant tortoises and baby tortoises. The guide says they also have iguanas. Izzy goes to the snack bar, and asks if they can spare some ketchup. Jackie asks if the tortoises bite, but the guide says they’re very friendly and social with each other. Jackie says she wants a tortoise. In Izzy’s interview, she says the galley and interior need to communicate more, so sh*t like this doesn’t happen. Now they have ketchup. In a Homer Simpson moment, David says, hot dogs… mmm… good. Francesca tells Ashling that Rachel said she was going to make condiments, and now she’s shifting the blame. In Ashling’s interview, she says she doesn’t know who’s wrong, but the tension is intense. It’s really awkward. The guests head back. While cleaning up, Ashling burps, and Rachel says, it’s the most uncouth thing she’s ever heard Ashling do; she’s very proud. Ashling burps even louder.
Captain Lee radios Elizabeth to have cold towels ready for the guests, and Elizabeth greets them with a tray of towels. Rob tells James that he thinks the beach day went according to plan, but Izzy micromanaged a little bit. Francesca tells the captain it was a success, and the lunch was fabulous. The guests use the water toys, and Jackie takes pictures. Rachel discusses dinner with Francesca.
Izzy wants a quick talk with Eddie, and tells him that Rob is being passive/aggressive. He’s been saying it’s a dictatorship, and got snarky when they were bringing in a jet ski; he wouldn’t get off. She had a conversation with him, and asked if he was offended that she’s the lead deckhand, but he said he didn’t care. He said, the title didn’t mean anything. We flash back to Rob saying she didn’t get promoted to captain, just lead shammy. She asks Eddie how to handle it, and Eddie says lead deckhand does mean something. He tells her to let Rob know that if he keeps up the attitude, and keeps coming at her, either get TF off, or say what he feels. If it continues, let him know and he’ll get involved. In his interview, he says, for women in the industry, respect isn’t as easily earned. Izzy is an extension of him, and if they don’t take it seriously, he’ll give them something to take seriously. He won’t fire them, but he can make their lives a living hell.
David tells Ashling that they’d like to invite the captain to dinner. Ashling tells Francesca, who asks the captain. He says, it’s his pleasure, and Francesca suggests to Ashling that they go all out, and use candles. Rachel asks if anyone is available to make holes in coconuts. Surprisingly, not one person makes a joke, but Rob says he has a license for that, and will be right there. The table looks very pretty, with candles in lanterns as part of the centerpieces. Jackie wears a sash and tiara, and gives the stews tiaras. She goes to the galley to give one to Rachel, telling her that she’s a princess. The captain sits down to dinner with the guests, and in Rachel’s interview, she says, the Queen might be spicey, but David is a simple eater. (However, David also receives a tiara.) She’s doing Thai versus American steakhouse; family style, as long Francesca doesn’t f*** it up. David tells Captain Lee that his staff is incredible. Jackie says she wants to steal them, and the captain asks if she can until he’s done with them.
Rob and James chat on deck, and Rob says, just a couple of guys polishing rails. At the table, one of David’s sons says he wrecked a Corvette when he was a baby. Captain Lee says, not many people can make that claim. Elizabeth hugs James, and says she’s been wanting more than a hug. James says, work has been stepping up, and it’s hard to find time. Elizabeth says she wants to ask him about his feelings. In her interview, she says she knows he has his guard up, and it’s scary. She wants to know how he feels. She needs to hear from him because she’s feeling things. James asks if she believes in long distance relationships, and she says, no. He says, there you go, and she asks if he believes in crazy situations. She’s open to travel and having new adventures; it’s how she rolls. In James’s interview, he says, he’s literally in a trap with this conversation. Talking about feelings makes him want to jump off a cliff. Elizabeth says, maybe they can travel somewhere together, then they’ll end up hating each other and saying goodbye.
David says, Disney and Universal are shutting down. In the crew mess, Elizabeth tells James that her schedule is pretty open, and in Ashling’s interview, she says, are they kidding her? Elizabeth needs to choose work first, over playing with her boy. Get your sh*t together. Elizabeth asks if James wants to talk later, but he says he’ll be hiding somewhere. A palate cleanser of coconut water is served to the guests. Francesca asks Elizabeth for a hand in the pantry. Elizabeth asks if she should finish the cabins first, and Francesca says, yes, but she’s obviously irritated. I’m not sure why. James goes to the pantry, and starts washing dishes. Elizabeth joins him, and Francesca says, clear the pantry first, then the galley. Daniel announces that more people have died from coconuts falling on their heads than shark attacks. Elizabeth asks James to tell her what they are, and James says, or they’re not. Is that the answer she’s looking for? She says, not at all. Francesca tells Ashling that Elizabeth and James are chatting in the pantry, and James tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t have this conversation until three or four months in. Elizabeth says she needs to know his intentions. Francesca bursts in, and tells Elizabeth, go to bed. She leaves again, and Elizabeth tells James that if he’s into her, act into her. He says he doesn’t want to get in trouble, and like a boomerang, Francesca is back, and says, stop talking, and go to bed. She tells James, finish the job. In her interview, Francesca says, how many times does she have to tell them to get their work on? She’s done. Things are changing around here. Francesca tells James, finish the pantry now. Downstairs, the captain thanks the guests for another delightful evening. David thanks Captain Lee for joining them. Another guest says they love spending time with him.
In the morning, Elizabeth sets the table, but true to form, Francesca points out that they only use one fork in the morning. Elizabeth says she doesn’t usually do mornings, and didn’t know. She asks if Francesca wants to keep the extras there, but Francesca has her back to Elizabeth and ignores her. Elizabeth nods and leaves. In the galley, Rachel and Izzy arrange something for Elizabeth’s belated birthday. Izzy says, no one deserves a crap birthday. Rachel pushes the French toast for breakfast, and one of the guests says it’s the best French toast they’ve ever had. Daniel whines that a stew usually packs for him, as he shoves stuff into his suitcase. The boat docks.
The captain radios the crew to get into their whites and meet on the aft deck. Jackie tells Rachel that she gained five pounds. It was the best vacation they’ve ever had. David tells Captain Lee that his kids want him to buy the yacht if he comes with it. The captain says, if they buy it, he’s there. David gives them the tip envelope, and they leave. James says, another happy customer. The captain tells them to be in the crew mess in five.
At the tip meeting, Captain Lee says, they have number seven in the books. It was a tough start, but they performed well. The tip is… I swear Captain Lee says, $18,500 a piece, but I think he meant total, since they’re not jumping up and down and ditching the final charter. He tells them, now isn’t the time to toss in the towel. Rachel and Francesca need to go over things communication-wise. He doesn’t want to have a repeat of day one. We flash back to the mahi mahi debacle again, and the captain says he wants to see Francesca on the bridge. Everyone else, get back to work.
James and Rob have a contest to see who can hold their breath the longest. Rachel tells Elizabeth, Francesca f***ed up on service. Francesca says, it’s the last day for Elizabeth. James wins the contest, and on the bridge, Captain Lee suggests he and Francesca talk about the elephant in the room. Where is her head at? Francesca says, there are too many slip-ups, and the captain says he has someone lined up, but can’t 100% guarantee they’ll get there because of travel restrictions due to the health issue. The may have to do charter eight down one. How does she feel about it? Francesca says she has no choice, and Captain Lee calls Elizabeth to the wheelhouse. James says, someone’s in trouble, but Izzy says, no way.
The captain says Francesca wants to talk to Elizabeth, and Francesca says she’s been putting in energy and checking up on Elizabeth every charter. Her sleeping in the guest cabin was the final straw. She’s come to the decision to let Elizabeth go. Elizabeth says, what?
Next time, the Finale – Rachel has an issue with service, the captain tells Rachel to stick it out, Elizabeth tries to talk to Francesca, Izzy says Rob has a PhD in passive aggressiveness, Elizabeth says she believes in karma, the virus gets worse, and Captain Lee says they have a situation.
📣 Just my opinion, but I don’t see what Elizabeth has done that’s all that bad, besides sleeping in the guest cabin. And I might point out, he got called on the carpet, but then it was forgotten about. They have one more charter, and frankly, I think it’s despicable that Francesca is firing her at this point, especially since they know places are being starting to be shut down because of the virus. What if she gets stuck in freaking Thailand? Francesca has been gunning for Elizabeth since nearly the beginning, treats her badly, and this is obviously a personal issue. And Ashling is her phony lapdog. Like Elizabeth with the stranger’s kiss, just saying.
📌 That’s a Fact…
One in four cowboys was Black, despite the stories told in popular books and movies. In fact, it’s believed that the real Lone Ranger was inspired by an African American man named Bass Reeves. Reeves had been born a slave but escaped West during the Civil War where he lived in what was then known as Indian Territory. He eventually became a Deputy U.S. Marshal, was a master of disguise, an expert marksman, had a Native American companion, and rode a silver horse. His story was not unique, however.
In the 19th century, the Wild West drew enslaved Blacks with the hope of freedom and wages. When the Civil War ended, freedmen came West with the hope of a better life where the demand for skilled labor was high. These African Americans made up at least a quarter of the legendary cowboys who lived dangerous lives facing weather, rattlesnakes, and outlaws while they slept under the stars driving cattle herds to market. While there was little formal segregation in frontier towns and a great deal of personal freedom, Black cowboys were often expected to do more of the work and the roughest jobs compared to their white counterparts. Loyalty did develop between the cowboys on a drive, but the Black cowboys were typically responsible for breaking the horses and being the first ones to cross flooded streams during cattle drives. In fact, it is believed that the term cowboy originated as a derogatory term used to describe Black cowhands.
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(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nina puts the necklaces together, and looks at Nathan’s picture. She asks him, what is it about their family? All the time she spent looking for her daughter, and she was right in front of her, begging to be seen. She was Nelle’s last chance. She won’t let down another child in their family. Jax knocks at her office door, and comes in. He says she hasn’t been returning his calls or texts, and asks her not to shut him out.
Jason tells Carly, it’s all set, and she asks if he thinks it’s going to work. He says, it might not be exactly what Martin wanted, but it’s what he’s getting.
The hostess at the MetroCourt slides a box over to Martin at the bar. He asks what it is, and she says, he’s Martin Grey, right? He says, maybe, and she says she’s seen him there often enough to know his name. The package was delivered for him. He opens it, and takes out a phone with a post-it note on it that says Florence.
Chase goes to Sonny’s place, and Michael answers the door with Willow. He asks if it’s official business, and Chase says it’s about his father’s funeral.
Sonny wipes down the bar at the Tan-O, and Phyllis asks how he’s doing. He says he’s kind of down, but the meds are making him feel calm; not amped up like he was. She asks if he feels more like his old self, and he says, he wouldn’t know that, because he still doesn’t know who he is.
Finn goes into an empty examining room at the hospital, and closes the blinds. He opens a briefcase and takes out a swab. He swabs his mouth, puts it in an envelope, and seals it, putting it back in the case. He takes it to the reception desk, and a tech tells him, the lab called. He wanted some tests run? He gives her the envelope with the swab, and another with Chase’s water bottle in it. He says he needs the DNA results as soon as possible, and she says, he’s got it. He turns around and sees Jackie, and walks away. She follows him, asking him to wait.
At Nathan’s grave, Britt asks if he enjoyed their little visit earlier. Her, Nina, and Maxie, all there to pay their respects. They easily could have gone down a dark path, like the three witches in Macbeth. Not that he ever struck her as a Shakespeare buff, but she thinks he knows what she means. Instead of going dark, the three of them formed kind of a sisterhood, united by their love for him. They made pact have each other’s backs, and she’ll need that, now that the dark prince seems to be on the rise. Peter shows up, and says, sorry. He didn’t know anyone was there. She mumbles, speak of the devil.
Anna says, the memories Franco received were from Drew’s life before he came to Port Charles. Valentin says, if Kirk was right, and Franco is hearing voices from the memory transfer, that means Peter knew Drew years ago, when Drew was still in the military. Anna says, if that’s true, why didn’t Peter ever say anything? and Valentin says, he doesn’t want them to know. Obviously, he’s been lying to them.
Phyllis says, Sonny still can’t remember anything? and he says, not since he woke up in the woods. She says, the fall into the river was bad enough, combine that with lack of sleep and a racing mind, no wonder his body and brain were exhausted. Maybe after a few days on the medication, when he’s rested, his memory will return. He hopes so. He doesn’t like feeling like a blank slate. Lenny comes in, and she says maybe Sonny and Lenny can look for any missing persons notices they missed at the trooper’s station, but Sonny says he doesn’t want anything to do with cops. Sonny walks off, and Lenny asks, what the hell was that?
Chase tells Michael, there will be extra cops on the streets and on the docks the day of Sonny’s funeral. Jordan wants them to know, if anyone causes trouble, the PCPD will be there to handle it. Michael says he’ll pass the message along, and excuses himself, saying he has to talk to his mom. Chase tells Willow, Michael isn’t the only reason he stopped by, and she says she didn’t think so. He says, it’s the worst timing. Michael losing his dad while they’re trying to figure things out. He says, that sounded horrible, but he misses her.
Michael tells Carly, Chase had a message from the PCPD. Jordan is going to have more police presence on the street for his dad’s funeral. It felt like a warning. Jason doesn’t think it’s a bad idea to have more police presence, but he doesn’t think there will be any trouble. Michael says, it feels surreal talking about it. He went to the site, and saw where the bridge collapsed. He knows his father is gone, but a funeral seems too final. Jason says, it feels too soon, especially since they didn’t recover Sonny’s body. Michael says, it’s not his place to say, and Carly says, it feels too soon to her too.
Britt tells Peter that she should talk to Nina about putting in a pop-up gift shop, for those making the pilgrimage there to find a piece of Nathan’s goodness to take with them. She asks if he thinks it’s too commercial, and he says he thinks it’s too tacky, but that’s not why he’s there. She asks why is he at their brother’s grave.
Anna asks why Valentin always jumps to the worst possible conclusions, and he says, Peter lying isn’t the worst possible conclusion. She says, the picture of Peter that’s coming into focus isn’t flattering, and he says they need to plot this out, and see where it leads. She says, she almost doesn’t want to, and he tells her, he says, for the purpose of this hypothetical, Franco is hearing Drew’s voice because he and Peter crossed paths while Drew was still in the military. Anna says, Drew disappeared from his post while he was stationed in Afghanistan, and Valentin says, how long between the abduction and the memory transfer? Maybe Drew and Peter interacted then. Anna says, which means Peter played more than a minor role in the crimes that were committed, and Valentin flashes back to Peter saying dead Helena was trying to expose his part in Drew’s abduction in Afghanistan. Anna wonders what Valentin isn’t telling her.
Jax tells Nina that he apologizes. He was wrong. For what it’s worth (🍷), he was protecting her. He didn’t know how to tell her that the daughter she was searching for was Nelle. What would be worse, knowing the pain Nelle inflicted or that she was already dead? Either way, Nina would be devastated. She says he should have respected her, and trusted she wasn’t a frail butterfly, who needed to be protected from the harsh truths of life. He should have told her everything. Instead, he let Carly convince him that not telling the truth would be better for her, when it was actually better for Carly. He got caught up in Carly’s hatred for Nelle, and the non-stop narrative of how evil she is, and how she doesn’t have a chance of redemption. She knows who Nelle was, and the atrocities she committed, but he knew the connection she felt for Nelle, to the point where she made sure Nelle got a decent burial, and she had no idea she was burying her own daughter. Jax swears, at the time, he had no idea, but she says, then he did. He had a choice, to help her deal with the news that her daughter was this troubled woman, who died before she had the chance to give her love, or to help Carly keep a secret. And he chose Carly. A tear rolls down Nina’s cheek.
Peter tells Britt, he came there to tell Nathan that he’s going to do right by Maxie and James, and he’s going to be a good husband and father. She says, as good as Nathan? and he says, Maxie loves him. She says, that didn’t answer the question. Will he be as good as Nathan? If you ask her, that’s asking the impossible.
Carly tells Michael, she agreed to the funeral for the same reason Jordan is putting on extra cops; as a safety precaution. Michael asks how that works, and Jason says, Sonny’s disappearance created a vacuum in the business, which is creating instability. Michael says he gets it. A change in management leaves the company vulnerable to a takeover. Carly says, it will show any potential rivals that the territory is secure, and Jason says, the service is to honor Michael’s father, but the timing is to send a message that Sonny is gone, and he’s in charge.
Martin pushes a button on the phone, and says, hello, mother?… He can’t tell her how good it is to hear the sound of her voice. How is she?… He knows the move to the new place must have been a surprise. Is she comfortable, and are they taking good care of her?
Jackie follows Finn in to an examining room, and says she can keep following him all day. He asks, what’s the alternative? and she says, take a minute to talk to her. He says, usually when someone tells him to go to hell, he assumes that’s the end of the conversation. She says, she lost her temper; she’s sorry. He asks what she thinks they have left to talk about, and she asks him to dial back the animosity; she’s not his enemy. At least she doesn’t want to be. He says, all he wants is some answers. He needs to know if Chase is his son or his brother. She asks if he’s thought it through. Does he really need to know? Has he considered that if he goes through with this, it could destroy Chase’s entire life?
Valentin tells Anna, what did or did not happen when Drew was abducted, it was a full five years before Peter came to Port Charles. Peter may be downplaying his involvement, but which one of them hasn’t glossed over a detail or two? Besides, it all hinges on Kirk’s theory, and they can’t interview a dead man. Anna says, that brings her to her other concern. How or why did Kirk transfer Obrecht from Steinmaur to one of his less secure facilities in Geneva? And why are her whereabouts classified? He says, it’s above Anna’s paygrade; that must be humbling. She tells him, if Obrecht is out, she’s going to be coming for Peter. Valentin has to talk to him, and try to prove what she’s beginning to suspect is wrong.
Britt says, Peter is nothing like Nathan. He’s more like their daddy dearest. What’s the saying? Something about an apple and a tree… He says he’s nothing like their father. There’s good in him that comes from his mother. She says, maybe Anna didn’t save him as much as he thinks, because he’s a helluva lot closer to their father than Anna or Nathan. As Britt leaves, she mutters that she hates telling her mother she was right. Peter watches her go.
Jax tells Nina, misguided or not, it wasn’t about protecting Carly, but protecting her. Nina says, but who protected Nelle? Her mother sent her beautiful baby to a man capable of ripping out her kidney and selling it. Good God, Nelle lacked what she needed in life because Nina’s mother deprived her of it. Then Nina testified against her. She betrayed her daughter, the only child she’ll ever have in her life. She walks away from him.
Michael tells Carly, Nothing meant more to his dad than family. If having the funeral now makes it safer, especially for Josslyn and the girls, Sonny would be all for it, and so is he. Carly asks, what about the other kids? They must have questions. Michael says, Dante has been distracted since he got stabbed with a loaded syringe, but he talked to Kristina. Carly asks if she objects, but he says she knows Carly and Sonny were married, and supports her decision. Carly says she knows it’s the right choice, but she hates it.
Lenny tells Phyllis, Mike (Sonny) doesn’t know who he is, but he sure as hell doesn’t like cops. He wonders if Sonny is a criminal. What are they getting themselves into? She says, the trooper wasn’t exactly friendly when he brought Mike home. It makes sense he’d prefer to avoid them. Lenny says, it’s not his home; he’s just staying with them. They still don’t know anything about him. She says, that’s enough, and asks if Mike hasn’t proven already that he’s a good guy. He defended them when a guy tried to rob them, and he’s helping without them asking. Lenny says, because he’s bipolar and off his meds, but Phyllis says, even on medication, he almost single-handedly restored their kitchen. Lenny wouldn’t know a blessing if it smacked him in the nose. Sonny joins them, and he says he hears what they’re saying, and he’s sorry he’s frustrated, but there’s something about the trooper that doesn’t feel right in his gut. They’ve been nothing but kind to him, and he doesn’t want to be a burden. He’ll pack up and move on. Lenny says, no. He’s not going to let Sonny do that.
Sonny says, Lenny won’t let him leave? Lenny says, what Sonny does is his business, but he’s not the kind of man who would let Sonny run off without properly compensating him for his hard work. Sonny says they don’t owe him anything. They provided for him, gave him food, and a place to stay. If anything, he owes them. He doesn’t want to be a burden. Lenny asks, who said he was a burden? There’s not much money, but there’s plenty that needs doing. As long as he’s willing to work hard, he’s doing them a favor. Phyllis says he needs to time to get back on his feet, and if he stays, she can monitor his medication, and make sure he’s getting the proper dosage. Sonny says, okay. He’ll stay, but he has conditions. He’s tasted their sauce, now they have to let him make his own.
Carly tells Michael and Jason, she went over the arrangements with Father Reyes, and he’s been wonderful. Sonny’s headstone will be placed with Mike and Morgan. She knows the importance of ritual and saying goodbye. They’re probably not going to recover Sonny’s body, and this is probably the only closure they’re going have, but it’s hard. She keeps thinking of all the places Sonny isn’t going to be, and all the experiences he’s not going to have. There’s this gaping hole inside. Michael says he keeps expecting Sonny to walk through the front door, and Jason says, him too. Michael says, it’s not like this wasn’t a possibility, given Sonny’s line of work. He’s not so naïve to think it might not catch up with Sonny, but now he wonders what he’s going to do without him. Carly says, they’ll do what his father would want. They’re going to keep going.
Martin says, his mother really thinks the food is that much of an improvement over Mountain Landing Long Term Care?… Noted. He must say, it does his heart good to know the nurses there are spending so much time with her… Agreed. A phone call is wonderful, but doesn’t take the place of an in-person visit… Wonderful. He’ll be seeing her as soon as he can. She knows how much he loves her. I love Martin right at this moment.
Jackie says, there has to be a way to make peace that doesn’t destroy Chase’s happiness. Clearly, Chase loves Finn. He loves having an older brother, and being an uncle to Violet. Why risk throwing that away? Finn says, in his heart, he believes Chase is his brother, but if he turns out to be Chase’s dad, he doesn’t know if he’ll tell Chase, for all the reasons she mentioned. He nearly died recently, and it hit him. If this is all the time he has left, he wants to know if Chase is part of the legacy he’ll leave behind. Jackie asks if Chase isn’t still part of Finn’s legacy as his brother, and Finn says being father to Violet changed him; it changed everything. If Chase turns out to be Violet’s brother, if something happens to him, it would be comfort to know his children had each other.
Peter talks to Nathan’s headstone, saying, he’s sick and tired of the non-stop comparisons to Nathan. He’s tired of Maxie’s love being questioned all the time. Trust him, his dearest brother, once he’s Maxie’s husband, he’ll make sure Nathan’s ghost is relegated so deep into the past, he can assume his rightful place as a distant memory. James already looks at Peter like his father, and soon Maxie herself will think of him as James’s dad. Valentin appears, and says, that’s very touching.
Jax tells Nina, she didn’t betray Nelle. She told the truth under oath. An innocent child’s life was in play, and they all did their best to protect Wiley; Willow, Michael, Carly and her. Nina says she never questioned Carly’s love for her family. She’s been supportive of the way Carly and Jax co-parent, but what hurts is, Jax couldn’t look past what Carly needed to what she might need. When Nelle died, there was no more threat to Wiley, but Carly still pressured him to keep the secret, and does he see what that would have cost her? He says he’s not following. By the time they put the clues together, Nelle was dead for months. She says, her daughter is dead and there’s nothing she can do to change that, but Wiley is still alive. Doesn’t he see that keeping her in the dark about her connection to Nelle could have kept her from a lifetime with her grandson?
Jax says this is going be hard to believe, but it never occurred to him that she was Wiley’s grandmother too. He’s sorry. If he’d known that, he would have told her the truth right away, no matter how hard it was. He swears. Nina says, it sickens her to say this, but she doesn’t trust him. If she can’t trust him, she can’t share the decisions she’ll be making about her grandson with him. Jax says he’s scared about where she’s going with this. She’s pushing him away, and she doesn’t have to, he promises. She tells him not to make it harder for her. Just go. He says, please, but she turns her back to him. As he walks out the door, he keeps trying to say something, but has no words.
Valentin says he didn’t expect to find Peter there. Quite a show of devotion considering… Peter says, what? and Valentin says, Peter and Nathan were brothers, but Peter barely knew the man. Peter says, Nathan was important to Maxie, and Maxie is important to him, and Valentin says he’s impressed. Peter has worked hard to be an honorable man. Still, a few stray strands of truth are unraveling. Peter asks what he means, and Valentin tells him, Obrecht’s whereabouts are unknown. Peter says, she’s supposed to be locked away in Steinmaur, but Valentin says, she was transferred, and now she’s off the grid. Peter asks if Valentin thinks she’s coming for him, and Valentin asks if she has reason to.
Anna goes to the hospital, and says Britt is just the person she’s looking for. She could use Britt’s professional opinion about a person missing under a doctor’s care. She’s prone to self-aggrandizing, fantasy and delusion, and she’s suddenly gone missing. Britt says, she’s a doctor, not a P.I., and Anna says, but what does she think about this individual? Is she safe out there, or should the authorities be notified?
Jackie tells Finn, Chase raves about Violet. If he was her brother instead of her uncle, those feelings wouldn’t change, but he’d be devastated to lose his brother. She sees how much Finn loves Chase too. Finn says he convinced himself that he didn’t need family; he didn’t need anyone. Violet and Chase proved him wrong. She says, let that be enough. Please. Chase wanted a functional, loving family his entire life, and now he has three family members; his mother, his father, and his brother. Finn says he told her, it’s long shot, but if it turns out he’s Chase’s dad, he doesn’t know if he’ll tell Chase. She says she doesn’t think he could keep it a secret for long. Then what? Everyone Chase knows, loves, and trusts won’t be the people he thought they were. It will completely tear his life apart. Chase comes in, and says, look at this. They’re both in the same room, no one is bleeding, and nothing is on fire. Isn’t that great?
Jason asks if Carly is sure she wants to do this; he can handle it. She says, no. She wants to be there. She opens the door to Martin, and says, Mr. Grey. How good of you to come. She invites him in.
Phyllis gives Sonny a bag, and says, fresh tomatoes, just like he requested. He drives a hard bargain. Sonny asks if Phyllis is sure Lenny is okay with him staying, and she says, trust her. He would be out of there in a heartbeat if Lenny wasn’t. And his work isn’t charity. They need help. If she’s being honest, it’s a relief knowing he’ll be there if another customer problem. He says she has his word. No one is going to rob her and Lenny again as long as he’s around. She says, he may now know much about who he is, but she has the gut feeling that he’s certainly a man of his word. Sonny wonders if he can ask her about something that’s been bothering him. She says, sure, and he says, obviously he doesn’t know who he is, but there are people out there who do know. How come they’re not looking for him? Phyllis takes Sonny’s hand, and asks, how does he know they’re not?
Britt tells Anna that she doesn’t speculate on hypotheticals, but Anna says, this is very real, and potentially dangerous. Unless Britt helps. Britt asks, how? and Anna says, tell her where Obrecht is, and she promises she won’t shoot Obrecht on sight.
Valentin dusts off Nathan’s tombstone, and says, it’s come to his attention that Franco Baldwin can place Peter at the scene of a crime. Peter says he doesn’t know what Valentin is talking about, and Valentin says, let him clarify. Franco is channeling Drew’s memories, and they’re resurfacing. Peter says, all he knows about Franco, is his tumor is resurfacing, which makes him a potential threat. Valentin says, Peter didn’t seem to feel that way when he burst into the operating room to stop the man sent to kill Franco. Peter asks where Valentin is going with this, and Valentin says he’s just playing with puzzle pieces to see what fits. If Franco Baldwin, Drew Cane, Jason Morgan… Peter says, what about Jason? and Valentin says, it wasn’t that long ago, Peter came to him, frantic that he’d crossed Jason. What did he mean by that exactly?
Jackie says, look at Chase, with his smart mouth. She and his brother are grown-ups. They can still manage to have a polite conversation. Chase says, anything he should know? and she says she’s just following a lead. She thanks Finn for the talk, says goodbye to Chase, and leaves. Chase tells Finn, he’s sorry, but did some minor miracle just happen? They sounded almost friendly. Finn tells him, focus on the almost part, and asks him why he’s there. Chase says he just thought he’d thank his big brother for his moral support. Finn takes it they’re talking about Willow, and it went well. Chase says, it did. He just left her, and she said they had more than a chance of a future together, and it’s all because of him. He pulls Finn into a reluctant hug, and says, thanks, man.
Michael says there’s something he and Willow need to talk about. She says, sounds important, and he says, it is. They talked about her moving out… She says, and he has safety concerns because of Franco’s medical condition. He says, now they have one more reason to worry, and she says, he means Chase’s message. Telling them there will be more police in the streets wasn’t exactly subtle. He says, so she caught that too, and they sit. He tells her, he and his dad lived very different lives workwise, and their business lives never crossed paths. She says she knows that, and he says, but he’s Sonny’s son, and has his name. Since his father was a don (there, he said it), there will be people out there expecting Michael will take over for Sonny, and they might not want that to happen. She asks if he’s in danger, and he says, he doubts it, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be careful. He wonders if she’d consider moving into the Quartermaine gatehouse. Wiley will have easy access to both of them, and she’ll be safer there. Will she at least consider it?
Martin tells Carly and Jason, he had a very nice conversation with his mother earlier. He was gratified to find out that, not only the food, but the nursing staff is a marked improvement from her last location. Carly is glad Florence feels well taken care of, and he says, as is he. He’s aware that tomorrow is her husband’s funeral. Out of respect for her loss, he’s backing away from seeking his mother’s freedom, for now. In the meantime, he hopes she and Jason understand, one fragile old woman can’t hold the peace of Port Charles for long. Jason and Carly look grim.
Jackie goes to the reception desk at the hospital, and says she’s looking for an old friend of hers – Bobbie Spencer. The reception nurse says, she’s sorry; Bobbie no longer works there. Jackie says, too bad. She was hoping to catch up with Bobbie. Does the nurse know where she’s working now? The nurse says, last she heard, Bobbie was working for a private patient in Vermont. Jackie says, Vermont is so beautiful. She loves Vermont.
Nina looks at the necklaces, and puts one on. She makes a call. Sonny answers, the Tan-O. Mike speaking. Nina is like, whaaat?
On Monday, Nina asks Sonny what his name is again, Elizabeth asks if that’s an apology, Valentin says he has his theories and wants to hear Peter’s, and Josslyn tells Carly that she feels like their family can never escape her.
💦 I Understand…
It got to the point where I would just see Max Gail and want to cry.
The History Channel is honoring Black History Month with a slew of great programming like, Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage, premiering Wednesday, February 10th at 8 pm. Founded in 1940, when the U.S. military was still racially segregated, the Tuskegee Airmen fought for their country overseas and against racism back home. Now, exclusive interviews with Brig. Gen. Charles McGee and other surviving airmen detail the struggles they faced as America’s first all-Black flying squadron. Join executive producer and narrator Robin Roberts and see how the Tuskegee legacy has lived on to inspire a whole new generation of activists and civil rights leaders.
🔖 Quotes of the Week
Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people. – Spencer Johnson
If you’re trying to achieve, there will be road blocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. – Michael Jordan
Success or failure depends more upon attitude than upon capacity… successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed at the positive results. – DuPree Jordan, Jr. (Getting out my tiara…)
Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness. – Earl of Derby (I don’t have time for illness either.)
Sometimes you have to do what you don’t want to do to maintain the life you’ve created. – Judge Lynn Toler in explaining to a man why he has to work to feed his children (sigh).
Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change. – Wayne W. Dyer
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength. – Corrie ten Boom
Dream as if you will live forever; Live as if you will die today. – James Dean
Think before you speak. Read before you think. – Fran Lebowitz
No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they’d die for. – Martin Luther King Jr.
Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there. – Will Rogers
The past has no power over the present moment. – Eckhart Tolle
It is confusing. – Jessica Simpson to Subway, amid claims it doesn’t use real tuna in its sandwiches. (Do I want to know what it is?)
When people don’t express themselves, they die one piece at a time. – Laurie Halse Anderson
It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. – Confucius
Whatever you are, be a good one. – Abraham Lincoln
I think covid’s biggest lesson is that a lot of people need to get a hobby secondary to going out drinking. –on Twitter @MILFWEEED
⚙️ Switching Gears…
The weekend is here, otherwise known as that thing we looked forward to before we couldn’t go out anywhere. Restrictions are lifting, but we’re not quite there, so feel free to go somewhere in your mind. Hey, at least it’s free. And while you’re there, stay safe, stay quick-witted, and stay not putting yourself in a position to wonder if someone is your brother or son.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sam comes into Dante’s room, and finds him getting dressed. She asks if he said anything about checking himself out, and he says he has a job to do. Sam says, he means to tell her that Peter can’t live without him for a couple of days, Franco or not? Suddenly, Dante keels over. Sam catches him, and calls for help. Franco and Elizabeth run in.
Walking into the MetroCourt, Jason tells Carly, they have to figure out a way to tell Martin about Florence, without them losing their leverage on Cyrus. She says, then she can concentrate on the other million and one things that need her attention. He asks if she’s sure Nina isn’t going to be a problem, and she says, Nina isn’t going to be a problem. She just wants to get this Martin thing taken care of, so she has one less fire to put out today. Scotty comes in, and says, trust him. Today’s not the day. Jason heaves a sigh.
On the phone at the bistro, Jax leaves a message for Nina, saying he knows she’s upset. They should have let her know they minute they realized Nelle was her daughter. Can they talk about this in person? If not, send him a text to let him know she’s okay. He’s worried about her.
Nina walks into the cemetery, and sees Maxie. She says she knew she wouldn’t have this place all to herself, and Maxie says, where else would she be? Nina puts her arm around Maxie.
In the ring at the gym, Chase tosses Gregory a headguard, but Gregory says, it won’t be necessary. They’re doing a little light sparring; emphasis on the light. Chase says Gregory has to protect that face. He doesn’t want to give his mom any reason not to get back together with him.
Finn tells Anna, he doesn’t know if he can do this. She says he can. As operations go, it’s pretty simple. All he has to do is get a DNA sample, and they’ll have the means to determine whether Chase is his brother or his son. She thinks he can pull it off. He says, if he even wants to, and she says he doesn’t have to run the test; nothing has to change. He can go on living like before. He says, never knowing whether Chase is his son? and she says, he has to ask himself, can he live without knowing?
Maxie says she wasn’t sure she was going to see Nina for a little while, and Nina asks, why not? Maxie isn’t the one who lied, and she’s the fool who shunned the only child she’ll probably have. Maxie tells her, don’t say that. Nina had no idea Nelle was her daughter. Nina says she didn’t come there to talk about her issues. What kind of sister would she be if she let her problems get in the way of honoring her brother? Britt arrives, and says, what kind indeed? Room for one more?
Finn says, if someone had told him a couple of years ago that he and Chase would be on speaking terms, let alone Chase would be his best man… Anna says, he would have laughed out loud. He says, he and Chase have nothing in common. Chase likes ice fishing. She says, don’t knock it until he’s tried it. Watching him and Chase interact is moving; the respect and trust. He wonders why he’s risking that. What does he have to gain by knowing? She asks what he has to lose, but he says, what does his dad what have to lose? Gregory loves being Chase’s father, and Chase is excited to reunite the family. What does Chase have to lose? Anna says he’s asking all the right questions, and Finn says, the problem is, there are no answers that lead to a good decision. She says, it’s his choice. It’s not so much about getting to the truth, as what he does with the information when he has it. No one is saying he should upend his life. Just because he knows the truth, no one else has to. He says, if Chase is his brother, he doesn’t need to know. If it turns out he’s Chase’s father, is it worse to know and say nothing?
Chase instructs Gregory on boxing, and Gregory asks if Chase thinks it’s his first time in the ring. He got tips from the greatest. Chase says, from Mohammad Ali? Please. Gregory asks if he’s read his mother’s interviews, and Chase asks if Gregory tagged along. Gregory says, being Mr. Jackie Templeton has it’s privileges. Chase says, last he heard, they haven’t signed the divorce papers. This means there’s hope for them, right? There’s marriage counseling; maybe Gregory can fix it. Gregory says he’s not sure there’s anything left to fix.
Sam tells Elizabeth that Dante is planning on checking himself out, but Elizabeth says a doctor has to sign off on it. Dante asks if it’s a hard and fast rule, and Elizabeth says, he can leave, but she can’t just let him walk out. Did he call Olivia? Dante says, she has a lot on her plate. Can’t Elizabeth bend the rules? Elizabeth asks if he wants her to get fired, and Dante says he wouldn’t be there if not for Franco, and suggests Franco do it, but Elizabeth says, Franco is busy. He can’t take responsibility. Sam says she’ll do it.
Carly tells Scotty that she has no patience for him today. Scotty says, he does want to give her his condolences, and tells her that he’s sorry for her loss. Sonny lived by the sword, and died in a river in New Jersey. Carly says she’ll talk to Jason later, and walks away, and Jason asks why Scotty talks so much. Scotty will probably forget what said, but Jason won’t. Scotty tells him, funny he should say that to the guy who holds his miserable, stinking, wasted, thug life in his hands.
Scotty tells Jason that he had a conversation with his son about a cockamamie plan to have himself killed if the tumor makes him nuts. Does that ring a bell? Jason asks why he’d care about what Scotty and Franco talk about, and Scotty says if something happens to Franco, he’ll make sure Jason spends his life in a hamster cage. Jason says then he better watch his step. Jackie comes in, and says, Scotty Baldwin, as she lives and breathes.
Dante says he doesn’t want Elizabeth to get fired. He won’t take off without an escort. Franco doesn’t have to babysit. Franco says, Dante saved his life. What thanks would it be to let him die today; maybe fall down and crack his head open? He asks why Dante did it? Old body reflex from being a cop? He’s just compulsively heroic? He really wants to know. Dante doesn’t say anything, and Franco asks if his gratitude is boring Dante. Dante says, he doesn’t know. It’s just something he had to do. Sam comes back, and he says, ready? She says, Elizabeth filed his release form, and they leave. Franco watches them, frowning.
Valentin thanks Anna for meeting with him. It was good of her to agree, even though her fiancé finds him despicable. She tells him not to needle her; she has no patience for it. He asks if she’s found any answers about Dante, and she says she has, but the answers have given rise to more questions.
Carly meets Jax at the bistro, and he says he took the liberty of ordering her a vanilla latte. She asks how he’s holding up after last night, and he says he’s a bit of a mess. She says he hides it well, but she can see how it’s affecting him. He says he and Nina were just starting to build something. They were turning a corner, and Nina had finally let go of her dream of finding her child. Now she knows the truth, and he can justify it a million different ways, but the bottom line is, he betrayed Nina’s trust, and broke her heart. Carly says, it seemed like the right thing to do, and he says, not anymore. She asks where Nina is and if they’ve talked, and he says, no, but he knows exactly where she is.
Britt says she hopes Maxie and Nina can stand one more, and Maxie says, Nathan loved Britt. Of course (🍷) she can stay. Britt looks at Nina, and says she can come back later, but Nina says, no. Of course (🍷) stay. Britt was gone from Port Charles so long, she forgets Britt and Nathan were close. Britt says, so close, they almost slept together before they realized they were siblings. Another branch on their twisted family tree. Nina says, it’s only getting nuttier, and Britt asks if she missed something. Nina says she just learned about another addition to their sweet family, and Britt says, congratulations. Are Nina and Jax adopting? Nina says, no, but does Britt remember the daughter she was looking for? She just learned it was Nelle Benson. Britt says, baby switching Nelle Benson? Just when she thought their family couldn’t get messier.
Chase and Gregory leave the ring, and Chase says he regretted letting Willow go for months. Gregory can avoid it before the divorce. Pull out all the stops; weddings bring out the best in people. Gregory says he doesn’t think Finn’s wedding is the proper place for him to resuscitate his marriage. Chase says, ask mom to dance. See what comes of it. If he wants to save his marriage, he has to put in the effort. That’s what he wants, right? Gregory says what he wants doesn’t matter if Jackie doesn’t want it too. Chase asks him to explain how he and Jackie got there in the first place. Finn stands by the ring, listening.
Gregory tells Chase, he doesn’t have an easy answer. Over time, couples settle into a routine and take each other for granted. You lose curiosity about the other person. It’s no one’s fault; you drift apart. Chase asks if paddling back is out of the question. Is he even going to try? Gregory sees Finn, and says, right on time, a referee. Finn asks if boxing is over, and Gregory says Chase was coaching him in the art of romance. Chase says he was telling their dad to get off his ass, and pull out all the stops to win his wife back while he still has a marriage. Finn says, it’s none of his business, and Chase says, excuse him for wanting to help. Finn says, did their dad ask Chase for help, or did Chase just push it on him? Chase says, that’s funny, because he doesn’t remember asking for Finn’s help in regard to Willow, but he offered it. Finn says, as he recalls, Chase shut him down pretty good, and Chase asks if he means like father like son.
Scotty says, Jackie Templeton, and Jackie says, in the flesh. Why don’t they get a drink, and catch up? Scotty says give him two minutes, and Jackie tells him that her sister was asking about him. She’d wondered if anyone had snapped him up. Scotty says, many have tried. Her sister was asking…? Jason starts to wander off, and Scotty says, they’re not through. Jackie steers him toward the bar, and says he’ll thank her for saving his ass. Jason sees Dante come in with Sam.
Jax tells Carly, he’s sure Nina is visiting her brother’s grave; it’s the anniversary of his death. Carly says she didn’t realize, and asks if Jax shouldn’t be with her. He says he tried to reach out, but he’s not going to impose on Nina mourning her brother’s death. She says, it’s not an imposition. Nina could use the support, coming off of finding out Nelle was her daughter. He says he knew, and didn’t tell Nina, but Carly says he was sparing her the grief. He says that’s one of his thousand justifications, but the bottom line is, he had no right to play God with what Nina could handle. Carly says, it’s not certain. There was no DNA test. He says, a DNA test would have confirmed it, but it’s a foregone conclusion. Nina went through Nelle’s things, and found a photo of a little girl wearing the necklace. There was no mistaking it. She says, then there’s nothing left for them to do, except make sure Nina doesn’t push it further.
Nina wonders what Jay would think of their family right now, and Britt says, about the same as he did when he left them; pain and disfunction wherever you look. Nina says she can’t argue with that. Madeline died in prison, and Obrecht is there too. Britt is connected to a reputed drug trafficker. Britt says, a philanthropist, slash, reputed drug trafficker. Nina says, and her boyfriend lied to keep her from finding out the truth about her daughter, but she did anyway. Britt says, sounds bleak, but Nina says they have Maxie’s wedding to look forward to. Maxie is going to start a new life with Peter. They love and adore each other and the kids, and have another little one coming. Nothing but blue skies, right? Britt says, or is paradise not what it’s cracked up to be?
Valentin says, all he wants to know, is if Dante can be trusted around Charlotte, but Anna says she has no answer for that. Dante was housed in a WSB psychiatric facility in Geneva, and under the care of a Dr. Kirk, who was allegedly treating him for PTSD. He asks, why allegedly? and she says, Kirk worked for a specialized unit. It would be rare for him to treat someone for that. Valentin suggests they reach out to Kirk, but Anna says, they can’t; he’s dead, murdered. He asks if it was before or after Dante was released, and she says, after. The WSB chalked it up to a mugging, but no perpetrator has been apprehended. He says, too much of a coincidence, and she says, especially given Obrecht was also his patient. He says, she’s in Steinmaur, but Anna says, Kirk had her transferred. He says, now Kirk is dead, and Anna says, now Obrecht’s file is classified to where it’s above her clearance level. Valentin says he hadn’t realized clearance went that high. She says, Franco had a preliminary consultation with Kirk, then Dante saved his life. Why would he do that? He has no use for Franco. Why go out of his way to save his life? Valentin says, Kirk was treating Obrecht, Franco, and Dante. Other than that, what’s the connection? Anna says, it’s got to be Peter.
Gregory asks if Chase is worried he’s going to turn out like his old man. Chase says he doesn’t mean that, and Gregory knows it. Gregory says he realized early on that he fathered polar opposites. His first born was aloof, particular, and preferred books to people. Which didn’t prepare him for the second, who’s a motor-mouth morning, noon, and night, like the world’s friendliest puppy. He never met anyone he didn’t like, and always wanted to play. Chase asks if that’s how Gregory sees him; he’s a cop. Gregory says, everyone loves puppies. It’s a compliment; and he got it from his mom. He recognizes his standoffish qualities in Finn. Chase guesses he’s his mother’s son, and Gregory says he’s lucky to have both of them. He hopes they won’t repeat his mistakes, and trusts they won’t end up like their old man.
Elizabeth asks Franco if he talked to Dante. Franco says he got no answers, and no explanation as to why Dante would risk his life. She says, he’s looking for a complicated answer, when simple makes more sense. Dante is a good guy, and did a good thing for another good guy.
Jason asks how Dante is feeling, and Dante says, ready for his next life-threatening injury. Sam says Dante was told to take his time before going back to protecting Peter. Dante says, that job falls to whoever is next. Peter fired him.
Jackie asks why Scotty was provoking Jason, and Scotty says Jason doesn’t intimidate him. Jackie says from what she learned in her research, he should, and Scotty asks what she thinks she knows about Jason. She says he was Alan and Monica’s golden boy until AJ caused an accident. Afterwards, Jason worked for Sonny, and was considered the best enforcer in the business; he flourished at it. Sound correct? He says, yeah, but she left out before the accident. Jason had a closet full of sweaters and tennis rackets. She says, Scotty left out the part about how, currently, Jason has serious beef with Scotty’s son. What’s that about?
Carly tells Jax that Nina would just rewrite history. She already thought Nelle could be redeemed before she found out. Nina could push the investigation, and they know how eager that cop was to build a case against her. He says, there is no case to build; she didn’t kill Nelle. She says, she knows, but could she have done more to save her? Nina would think so, and she doesn’t need extra scrutiny. She has to focus on her family, and keeping Cyrus at bay. Jax says, not to mention she has a hostage situation.
Maxie says she’s madly in love with Peter. They have a beautiful family, and a baby on the way. She’s sure Nathan would be happy that she fell in love again. Britt says, no offense, but she’s not exactly radiating joy. Be honest. Is it Peter? Maxie says, Peter isn’t the issue, and Nina says, but there is one; what is it? Maxie says, Dante, and Spinelli, and Robert, and Jason, who’s rarely wrong, but he’s wrong about this. She’s told them over and over that Peter is a good person, and she loves him. Here she is, on the verge of her wedding, and all she’s doing is looking for warnings or worried looks about her fiancé. What does she have to do to get acceptance? Britt says, marry someone else?
Gregory steps away to refill his water bottle, and Finn tells Chase to let their dad fix things on his own. Chase wonders if Gregory is capable of it, and Finn says, the point is, it should be his choice. If he decides confide in Chase, it’s up to him. Chase says, he’ll regret giving up without trying. Look at what Finn and Anna went through to come together, and he’s doing his damnedest to fight for Willow. Gregory needs to face it, and fight. Finn says, maybe it’s not in him, and Chase asks who they got it from then. Finn says, maybe each other.
Scotty says Jackie is trying to get him to say something about his son to use in a story, but she assures him that she’s not pumping him for information. She’s sorry it took this long to get in touch. They should do it again; get the 80s gang back together. Who else is around? He says he prefers one on one, and she says they’ll make a plan. She’ll give Robert a call, and Scotty can invite his ex. She’d love to know what Bobbie is up to.
Carly says she doesn’t know what Jax is talking about, and he says, Jason had Cyrus’s mother abducted from a healthcare facility in Vermont. It doesn’t ring a bell? Even if she didn’t help, she knew about it. She wonders why he’s asking, and he says, Valentin brought it up at Sasha’s TV shoot. Valentin was trying to make trouble between him and Nina. She tells him not to let Valentin bait him, and he tells her, that’s what Nina said. She said he should let Carly do things her way. She’s not only the woman he loves and lied to, she’s also Carly’s ally. Carly says, is, or was?
Maxie says, now Britt has a problem with her marrying Peter? Britt tells her, she didn’t say that, but Maxie says, she kind of did. Nina says Peter is Britt’s brother, and Britt says she knows exactly who Peter is. So does Nina, and so does Maxie. He’s the son of a Eurotrash murdering monster, and people will always see his father when they look at him. Maxie says Faison is Britt’s father too, and Britt says, exactly. She sees the way the world looks at her. If Maxie thinks after marrying Peter, people are going to forget where he came from, and line up to like him, she’s bound to be disappointed. Nina asks if Maxie really needs the world to bless her marriage, and Maxie says, ofcourse (🍷) not, but it would be nice to have a smidge less grief about it. Nina says they can do something about that.
Anna tells Valentin, Dante works for Peter as head of security. Peter saved Franco’s life from an assassin who tried to kill him in the OR.The connection between Obrecht and Peter is obvious; she hates him. She blamed Peter for Nathan’s death, and framed him for her crimes. Valentin asks why Franco met with Dr. Kirk, and Anna says, Doc referred him because he was hearing Peter’s voice in his head. Kirk thought Peter’s voice had something to do with Franco being imprinted with Drew’s memories.
Franco tells Elizabeth, it still doesn’t add up. Why would Dante have the instinct to save his life? There was a time Dante would be gunning for him, not helping him out. She says, those days are over, and they’re not coming back. They need to make sure of that today. Franco says he can’t it put off any longer. Terry texted that she’s waiting in oncology. He asks if Elizabeth will still want to make out with him if he loses his hair from radiation, and she says he’s saying that like it’s his best quality. They get in the elevator, and he says he knows it’s his body. The only reason she loves him is his bod.
Chase’s phone rings, and he says, it’s the station; he has to take it. He steps away, and Gregory says he’s glad he and Finn have a moment alone. He hasn’t been completely honest when he says he wasn’t worried about them turning out like him. Finn always sees the world the way it is, good and bad. Chase is trusting, which is a strange thing to say about a cop, but he was relieved when he heard Chase was moving to Port Charles. He’s happy Finn decided to step up and kept an eye on him. Finn says, despite the time and distance he put between them, and Gregory says, what’s a little time and distance between brothers? Chase says he has to get to work, and Gregory leaves with him. Finn looks in the garbage can, and takes Chase’s water bottle out.
Scotty tells Jackie that Bobbie’s in – kind of. She says, good. As fallings out go, it’s kind of impressive. He says he inspires that in people, but as soon as he mentioned her name, Bobbie stopped yelling, and said she’d love to see Jackie as soon as she’s back in town. Jackie asks if she’s traveling, but Scotty says it sounds like a job. Jackie says she thought Bobbie worked at GH, and he says she did, until Cyrus became Chairman and took over. He fired her. She’s out now taking private nursing jobs God knows where. There should be a law about that.
Valentin says, so it has to do with memory mapping? and Anna says, Kirk’s theory was that they were left over memories from Drew. Jackie calls Valentin, and says she has a potential lead on Florence. He says, good luck finding her, but she’s going to do it without him. He has a pressing matter that needs his full attention. He hangs up, and tells Anna that Drew would have known Peter’s voice from working at Aurora, but she says, no. They were memories of Drew’s life before he came to Port Charles. He says, if Kirk was right, and Franco is hearing Peter’s voice from the memory transfer, that means Drew and Peter met years ago when Drew was still in the military. Anna says, if that’s true, why has Peter never said anything?
Sam says, Peter fired Dante? He kept saying he needed to get back to work. Dante says he must have meant to look for a job. Jason asks if there was a security breach, and Dante says Peter told him that it complicated things. Jason asks, how? and Dante says he got the idea Peter thought he didn’t want him to marry Maxie. It’s just a hunch. Sam says she’ll buy him lunch, and they go to eat.
Nina says, no one has the right to judge Maxie, and she shouldn’t have to face it alone. She proposes a pact; the three of them, in honor of Jay and each other. They stand together, united, no matter who, no matter what. Attackone – she takes Maxie’s hand – attack all. Maxie holds out her hand to Britt, who takes it. Maxie says, ladies, officially have chills. Britt says she never had female friends before, and Nina says, not just friends. They’re family.
Carly says it started when she lied to the cops about being at the cliff. She had no idea Nina was involved, and Nina could blow up everything with the truth. Jax suggests Carly call Diane and get ahead, just in case there are any changes. She asks if he’s going to work things out with Nina, and he says he’s going to try.
Maxie says she never thought she’d come to Nathan’s grave, and leave feeling better. Britt asks Nina where the rally-the-troops speech came from, and Nina says, them; her family. When she woke up today, she felt more lonely than when she woke up in the hospital after losing years and her child. Then they reminded her, they’re all connected; they’re family through Jay. She’s connected to someone else too – her grandson. Maxie says, Wiley, and Nina says, with all the drama, that fact went over her head. They gave her clarity. Nelle is gone, but Wiley isn’t. She missed her chance to know her daughter. She’s not going to make the same mistake with her grandson.
Tomorrow, Jackie says she’s scared of where this is going, Valentin says someone is obviously lying, Britt asks why Peter was at Nathan’s grave, Sonny has conditions, and Carly asks Jax if he thinks it’s going to work.
Southern Charm – The Reunion – Part Two
Andy said, hide your girlfriends and lock your liquor cabinets, the newest cast member is single and ready to mingle. He introduced John Pringle, and asked Madison what her impression had been of him. She said, overall, he was a gentleman, and wasn’t too inappropriate with her. Pringle talked about how he landed in Charleston, and said he’d tried San Diego, but came back to where he had the support of family and friends. Craig brought up how Pringle was always saying how much he missed his kids, and asked, why he left, since he trades off the computer. Pringle said something about taking an opportunity across the country, and making his kids’ lives better, which didn’t exactly answer the question regarding him doing business online. He said it was the hardest decision he’d ever made, and had a lot of guilt, but come at him about his kids and he’ll wake TF up. I wasn’t sure if that was directed at Craig, who’d made it clear it was an honest question, or just a general comment. Pringle said his ex was supportive, which everyone found impressive, and we flashed back to her visit. Leva wondered if they’d ever get back together, and he said she was amazing, but it wasn’t in the cards. Andy asked Austen about Patricia trying to get Madison to trade up, even when they were still together, which obviously didn’t sit well with him. Austen said when they weren’t filming, Patricia liked them together, but once they started filming, Patricia pawned Madison off on the first drunk that came along. Ouch for Pringle. Madison said Patricia had never done her wrong, but Austen on the other hand… Austen said Patricia paid her, but Madison said Austen was just mad because her income from Patricia was more than he made in a year. Pringle said Patricia knew it would be incendiary. (Hey, she’s bored in that house with Michael and the dogs.)
Madison announced she’d had a complete mommy makeover six weeks before, and said Austen hadn’t seen it, but Austen begged to differ, and Craig confirmed that. Craig said Austen and Madison had slept together since then, Madison dated multiple people, and she was a horrible person. I can’t attest to the first two, but we’re definitely in agreement on the third. Madison told him to keep it up; she had some things on him. I rest my case. Craig said she weaponized everything, and she told him to fix his hair. The Kirstin Cavallari/Jay Cutler thing came up, and Madison scrolled through her phone like an MF’er. Danni just kept saying, oh my God. Andy read a DM from Jay Cutler, asking if Madison recommended any good restaurants in Charleston, and Leva wanted to know if Madison had recommended hers. Points to her being business minded among the dreck. Craig said Madison was a terrible person and trashy, which triggered Kathryn, who told him not to use those words. She was called trash for years; why he was being a douche? We found out that Madison had split from her ex because she was trying to build an empire, while he wanted to live life day by day. No surprise there. I suddenly missed Chelsea, who was a real human being. Austen said he’d opened up a new world for Madison, since she’d complained that all she did was go to work and go home, but Madison said their relationship had been nothing but fun. When it stopped being fun, she wanted out. Okay… Craig said, then let Austen go, and Madison said she’d taken Craig’s advice. Shep said she was manipulative, and Madison said she’d been nothing but nice to Shep, and would hate for that to change. Shep asked if that was a threat, and there was a bunch of loud back and forth.
When things calmed down, Andy asked about Austen’s beer, and Austen said once his beer moved to cans, everything changed. He’d met with Leva’s husband not long ago. Leva said she was the one who’d arranged it, but she was pissed now because Austen had taken issue with something she’d said on Watch What Happens Live. We saw a clip from a game called Charming or Alarming, and Leva said she found Shep’s penchant for dating younger women alarming. Afterwards, Austen had said she was the biggest sh*t talker he knows. She said she wished he could control his emotions, and not pop off like a crazy person. Austen asked if she was saying that she didn’t want to do business with him now. She said she didn’t know, he ended up apologizing, and all was well. Andy asked Madison if she thought Austen had grown as a businessman, and Craig – who just can’t help himself – said Austen’s beer was now in stores, while Madison rented a chair in someone else’s salon. Andy told Craig to stay out of it, and read a question from Robert from Boston, asking if Madison picked guys she had the upper hand with, and she said 1000%. Austen said, in watching the show, he realized Madison didn’t care about him, and never had. His friends had been telling him that for years. He was effing done. She was like a monster, and if she didn’t have a son, her heart would be non-existent.
Andy said when the show started, Kathryn was living with Thomas, and asked Kathryn what it was about Thomas that kept pulling her back. She said it was hard to shake the thought of them being a family unit. Pringle said when you’re with your ex, the reasons you got together in the first place come back. Kathryn said, the door was closed. Pringle asked Kathryn if she and Thomas had hit their stride co-parenting, but she said, no. Thomas was suing her for custody again. It was unclear why, but she thought it was because he was moving. She hadn’t seen his new baby, and had never talked to his baby mama. She said Kensey had a crush on Chleb, and Andy asked what was different about Kathryn’s relationship with him. Kathryn said he was supportive, and more like a teammate. She better understood how a good relationship was supposed to work. Andy said viewers questioned the timing. They said she was trying to course correct. She said Chleb hadn’t thought the monkey emoji was racist, but explained to her why it might be to other people, then they went through that whole thing again. Leva said she’d tried to help Kathryn, but Kathryn thought Leva tried to isolate her, and make her storyline bigger by riding on her mistake. Leva said she’d gotten death threats, and Kathryn said it was hard for her, and she was doing her best. Leva said she never said Kathryn was racist, but her actions were tone-deaf. Madison looked bored, since it didn’t have anything to do with her. Leva said it started with their voices, not hers.
Kathryn said it had been very difficult, and started to cry, but Leva calmed down, and gently explained why Kathryn had been tone-deaf. Andy asked about Danni and Kathryn’s friendship, and Danni wanted Kathryn to answer. Kathryn said they’d visited, and it was like old times. Danni said she didn’t hold grudges, but if she didn’t agree with something, she’d say so. They discussed the racist actions of their ancestors, and Craig said the extra L was added to Chleb’s last name to separate that branch of the family from the Ravenels who’d owned them. Shep said it was important to raise awareness by protesting, but to change the system, you had to change the people in power who wanted to keep it that way. Pringle said you also had to raise your children right, and Leva said those who were ahead of people who had been oppressed, had the responsibility to help those who lagged behind. Kathryn said she was becoming more cognizant. Watching Leva’s reaction to the Calhoun statue being taken down was cool. It made her more aware, and she genuinely wanted to make it right. Austen admitted he needed to grow and learn, and Leva said she wanted them to understand that they lived in a bubble of freedom; for example, they didn’t have to worry about one of their sons going out while wearing a hoodie. They all had to be sensitive, kind, and empathetic.
During a break, Kathryn approached Leva, and said she wasn’t the best with words, but wanted to articulate that she cared. She wanted Leva to understand that, and Leva told her, just speak from your heart. You can tell Leva is a mom, the way she talks to Kathryn.
Andy said there was still a lot of unfinished business, but one thing they’d learned is that you never stop doing the work. He wanted to know how the year had changed everyone as people, and Danni said she’d become enlightened about white privilege. It was an awakening, in a good way. Pringle said he discovered he was more offensive than he thought, then asked Andy to come back to him. Austen said he regained control of his own happiness and narrative, and Andy asked if he and Madison were going to cut the infinity loop of terror; their co-dependent and toxic cycle. Madison said she got to know her worth, and what she deserved in a relationship moving forward. Andy couldn’t decide if he thought it was totally over. Andy said Kathryn had a big year, and she said she’d learned, when conflicts happened, instead of going on the defense, she needed to accept humility and what she had to learn. Shep said he could sum it up in one word – Taylor. Craig said he was hungry (metaphorically… I think). He wanted more, and was going to keep trying to make as much money as possible. Madison got up and sat next to him, putting her hand on his leg. Just kidding. He said he was still going to stick up for his friends, but he learned you could only give so much of himself before you had to stop caring. Leva said she was grateful. So many lives had been lost, and every day wasn’t guaranteed. Since this had somehow turned into future resolutions, Pringle said he was going to drink less and quit hitting on guys’ girls. At first, Andy thought Pringle was saying that he was going to quit hitting on guys, and frankly, I thought the same thing.
Glasses of beer were brought out, and Andy asked Leva to give the toast. She toasted to health and happiness, and everything they had. She said they were a lucky bunch, and what made them lucky was their friendships. She said, cheers to sharpening friendships, and being charming while doing it. Shep suggested the next Reunion be at Andy’s apartment.
Until next time, ya’ll.
🏖 This season on Summer House, everyone is still just as awful, but they’re quarantined together for six weeks, working from the Hamptons house as well. This sounds like a true nightmare. Right out of the gate, Carl said when he’d tested positive for covid, he thought he was just hungover. To his credit, he decided to sober up after he met friends for dinner, and was already so wasted, he couldn’t stay conscious. Hannah, one of the few likeable people, thought she had a thing with Luke, until he said he was bringing a female friend with him. Unless she’s his cousin or something, we all know what that means.
Most people think of Rosa Parks as the first person to refuse to give up their seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. There were actually several women who came before her; one of whom was Claudette Colvin.
It was March 2, 1955, when the fifteen-year-old schoolgirl refused to move to the back of the bus, nine months before Rosa Parks’s stand that launched the Montgomery bus boycott. Claudette had been studying Black leaders like Harriet Tubman in her segregated school, those conversations had led to discussions around the current day Jim Crow laws they were all experiencing. When the bus driver ordered Claudette to get up, she refused, It felt like Sojourner Truth was on one side pushing me down, and Harriet Tubman was on the other side of me pushing me down. I couldn’t get up.
Claudette Colvin’s stand didn’t stop there. Arrested and thrown in jail, she was one of four women who challenged the segregation law in court. If Browder v. Gayle became the court case that successfully overturned bus segregation laws in both Montgomery and Alabama, why has Claudette’s story been largely forgotten? At the time, the NAACP and other Black organizations felt Rosa Parks made a better icon for the movement than a teenager. As an adult with the right look, Rosa Parks was also the secretary of the NAACP, and was both well-known and respected – people would associate her with the middle class and that would attract support for the cause. But the struggle to end segregation was often fought by young people, more than half of which were women.
As another week comes to a close – or 7 sunrises and sunsets, depending on your perspective of time these days – we pin our hope on sunnier days, both in temperature and temperament. It hasn’t been an easy road, and we’re still on it, but at least we have plenty of company. So stay safe, stay occupied, and stay accepting humility and what you have to learn.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Jackie introduces herself to Jason at the MetroCourt bar. She says she’s doing a follow-up on the bombing at The Floating Rib. She heard that when it happened, there were people who thought he was trapped inside; he’s lucky he wasn’t. Julian Jerome was linked to the explosion, and speculation is that he was the intended target. Does he care to comment? Obviously, she doesn’t know him.
Jordan tells Cyrus, she can’t snap her fingers and get his mother back. She has no proof Jason took his mother. If she did, she’d move heaven and earth to get her back. He says, would she? and she says that’s a major difference between them. She’d never take part in a kidnapping. He says, think of it as a hostage negotiation. If Jason returns his mother, he’ll make sure Taggert goes free. It’s a simple exchange. His dear mother for Trina’s father. After all Jordan has taken from Trina, how can she deny Trina this?
Trina brings coffee to the hospital for Portia, and Portia asks why Trina is buttering her up. Trina says she just thought Portia would like coffee while they talk. Portia says, about what? and Trina says, her dad.
Alexis looks in the meeting room, and leaves. In the hallway, Curtis says, if she’s looking to fix her pain, she’s more likely to find a solution in there than out here. He goes in.
Dante wakes up, and sees Maxie. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, only him, from a hospital bed, would ask her if she’s okay. Since he did, she thought he knew better than to scare a pregnant woman. He says he’s sorry, and she says, obviously, she forgives him. The question is, can he forgive Peter?
Laura goes to see Carly, and Carly says her message sounded urgent. What’s up? Laura says they’ve been friends a long time; too long to dance around a subject. Carly agrees, and Laura says she has to ask Carly a question, and she really wants the truth. Where is Jason hiding Florence Grey?
On the phone, Valentin tells Martin, it’s true. At long last, Nina knows Nelle was her daughter. Martin says, my God. It must be torturous for poor Nina. Valentin says, it gets better. Jax knew for months. Martin says it’s going to cause a veritable chasm in the fortress of the affections, and Valentin tells him that Jax managed to get her to stop the inquiries about her daughter. He advises Martin to stop the exposé regarding his, but Martin says Valentin has come up with no alternate solution in getting his mother back. Valentin says he’ll be there shortly to explain. We see Valentin is leaving flowers at Nathan’s grave.
Maxie tells Dante, what Alexis did wasn’t Peter’s fault. When he published the article, she was proud of his big scoop. Now she’s thinking it wasn’t a smart move. People are saying Peter deliberately incited everyone to panic. Dante says he doesn’t think they’ve ever had a conversation where Maxie wasn’t defending Peter, and she asks if they can get past it. He says, they can, and she asks if he can accept Peter. He says he doesn’t know Peter, and Maxie says, he knows she loves Peter. Dante says Peter stepped up with a job for him, and she says, then what is it? Why does he have a hard time with Peter? He says, Peter is Nathan’s half-brother. That’s why.
Monica leads the AA meeting, and tells everyone, good morning. She’s Monica, and she’s an alcoholic. Everyone says the obligatory, hi, Monica, and she thanks them for coming. She says, it takes strength and courage. Coming there isn’t always easy. Why don’t they start?
At the PCPD, Brando takes out his phone.
Jordan says, Cyrus wants to swap family members like chess pieces, and he tells her not to confuse his pragmatism for lack of emotion. He’s sure the pain he feels is equal to Trina’s. If there’s an exchange, they both win. She says, it won’t stop the Federal charges against Taggert, but he says, they have no case without cooperation. It won’t be the first time he refused to work with the Department of Justice.
Jackie says she heard Jason was the strong, silent type, but it works out; she’s a helluva talker. She’s also an investigative reporter, and she’s wondering who would want to blow him up. Julian isn’t the big fish he used to be – or wasn’t the big fish he used to be. Her sources say he wasn’t acting on his own orders, but on Cyrus’s. When she hears that, things make more sense. Doesn’t he agree? Jason’s phone rings, and he says excuse him. He steps away, and she says, he speaks. It’s Brando, and Jason asks, what’s up? Brando says they have a situation.
Carly tells Laura that she’s right. Their history deserves honesty. Laura wants them to be on the same page about Cyrus’s mother. Carly says, Cyrus is a dangerous criminal, and doesn’t give a damn about the pain he inflicts on others, including both their families. If his mother is missing, it’s probably because someone wants their loved ones safe. Laura says Carly has to tell Jason, that’s not the way to go. Carly says she can’t do that . Laura says, Carly won’t intercede? and Carly says, whatever Jason did or didn’t do, his instinct is to protect their families. If he thinks something will help, she’s not going to undercut him. Laura says she gets it. Jason has to hold the fort, and needs leverage over Cyrus, but Florence has two sons. Carly says she remembers Martin from Wiley’s custody suit, and Laura says, so she knows he’s a very good lawyer; well-connected, with a long reach. If they’re not careful, Martin could be their undoing.
Jason asks Brando, what’s going on? Brando says, Cyrus is at the PD on a mission to find his mother, and Jason says, that’s difficult. Brando says he figured Jason would want to be involved. He doesn’t know what to do.
Cyrus tells Jordan, lacking a testimony, the Feds have no proof of Taggert’s alleged crime, but she says, those are not the only charges. He says, surely she can handle Taggert faking his death. She can be a hero; it’s a nice twist. She can return him to his family, even though she was the reason he was taken away. She says, Cyrus’s revenge trumps everything. Is she supposed to believe Taggert won’t disappear? He swears on his mother’s life, no harm will come to Taggert by his hand.
Portia tells Trina, what she finds acceptable is up to her. Trina asks if it’s okay if she’s still mad at her dad, and Portia says, it’s not up to her if Trina is mad or not. They sit, and Trina says she’s worried about her dad being in jail all alone. She wants to see him. Portia says, okay. Of course (🍷) she’ll set up a visit, and Trina says she hates it; seeing him in a cell. She told everyone that her dad was one of the good guys. She recruited Josslyn to help her clear his name. Her dad was her hero, and he’s not a hero. Portia says, and she’s mad at herself for still loving him. Trina says she really does, so much. Portia says she knows, and holds her.
Curtis says he hasn’t been to one of these meetings in a long time, but it’s been longer since he had a fix. He’s questioning if he’s put his faith in the right place, and challenging his sense of purpose. It’s hard some days. He wakes up angry and uncomfortable in his own skin. He came today to remind himself that he’s not the man from years ago who couldn’t move forward without a fix, and false confidence. He came to reconnect to that promise. Even though everything in his world is crumbling, he worked his ass off to get there, and he won’t give up on the man he’s become.
Jason comes back to the bar, and Jackie says, Cyrus and his family are accusing Jason of kidnapping Cyrus’s mother. The motive is obvious; retaliation for attempting to kill him. It makes sense, but she did her research. Kidnapping an elderly woman seems off-brand for him. Although nothing seems to stick anyway. He was tried twice for murder with no convictions, and been arrested for countless other crimes, but one thing he’s never even been suspected of is targeting innocent people. She’s offering to help him change that. Does he want to deny it, and clear his name? Martin approaches, and tells Jackie, they have pressing business. She asks if it can wait, but he says it can’t. Jason gets up and starts to walk away. She says, really? He has nothing to say? He says, no comment, and keeps walking. She says, what the hell was that?
Jordan tells Cyrus, they’ve gone over this before. Vermont is out of her jurisdiction. He asks if Jason is out of her jurisdiction. She knows, as he does, that Jason has his mother. She says she needs proof. She’s all too familiar with how it feels, missing a loved one; the sleepless nights, the constant worry. Torturous, isn’t it? If she could help, she would, but she can’t. He advises her to proceed with caution. He swore he wouldn’t hurt her friend, but if any harm comes to his mother, there’s not a person she loves who will remain standing. He leaves, and she takes out her phone.
Laura tells Carly, Martin is worried about his mom. She doesn’t blame him for reaching out. He’s desperate, and just wants his mother brought home safe. He knows people. Carly asks, people like who? and Laura says, the media for one, and he knows people in law enforcement. Carly says, and his half-sister is the mayor. Laura asks if they can find a way to compromise, a way to reassure Martin that she’s safe, so he’ll calm down, and Jason cold focus on Cyrus. Martin is an innocent man. Carly says, supporting a drug trafficker, but Laura says, inadvertently. Carly wonders if they can trust Martin, or will he share the information with his brother? Laura says, it’s a definite risk, but one they can afford to take. Her phone dings, and Laura says, the Commissioner wants see her. Please think about what she said. Carly tells Laura that she will.
Jackie tells Martin, she’s confused. She was under the impression the exposé was urgent. Martin says he misspoke; there’s no need to waste her time chasing empty leads, and Jackie says, Martin must be relieved to have his mother home safe and sound. Why does he want to scrap story? She’d love to talk to his mother. Martin says, that’s not possible; she’s simply unavailable. Jackie says, she’s still missing. His obvious discomfort leads her to believe Martin doesn’t know where she is. He says, conjecture, and she says, is it? Martin came to her terrified about his mother’s well-being, and practically begged her to help. When she did, he pulled a turnaround, and said his mother was fine, with zero details of explanation. Valentin approaches, and Martin says, please join them. Jackie says Valentin can watch the latest runaround his attorney is attempting to give her. Valentin sits down, and says Martin’s mother is still very much a hostage.
Peter listens outside the door, and Dante asks if Maxie forget that he saw her and Nathan fall in love. She says she didn’t forget. When she thinks about that time, she thinks about the four of them – her, Nathan, him, and Lulu. It was perfect. Dante says, it was, and she says, then Nathan died. She thought she’d never have those feelings again. Then came Peter. Peter was always there, holding her up, and keeping her going, when she didn’t think she could. He gave her everything, and asked for nothing. He gave her space to heal and grieve, and little by little, she fell in love with him. Dante asks what it was like when she found out Peter was Nathan’s half-brother, and she says, it was surreal, but also comforting. Dante wonders if it isn’t Peter’s connection to Nathan that Maxie is drawn to, and she says, Peter isn’t a stand-in. He says he’s not suggesting that, but she says it sounds like he is. She thinks as far as Nathan’s death goes, Peter convinced her to have a different perspective. He says, for her, Peter is the closest thing to Nathan, and she wants to let him in. She says he’s wrong, but he says, is he? She says she doesn’t love Peter because he’s Nathan’s brother. She loves the man he’s become. Peter walks in, and asks if he’s interrupting.
Maxie asks what Peter is doing there, and he says, checking on his head of security. Dante says he’s fine, and expected to make a full and fast recovery. Peter asks how Maxie is, and she says she was just worried about Dante. He knows how the pregnancy hormones are. Peter tells Dante, he’s lucky to have a good fiend in Maxie, and Dante says he knows. Maxie says she should go; she has a thousand and one things to do for the wedding. Peter says he’ll walk her out. The walk to the elevator, and Peter asks, what was going on? It was clearly more than Maxie being worried about Dante. She says she wishes people could see Peter the way she does, and accept and love him. He asks if Dante said something, and she says, he means well, and wants her happy, but she is happy. Peter, Georgie, James, and the baby are everything. He says, as they are to him. The elevator comes, and he says he’ll see her at home.
Portia tells Trina, two things can be true at once. Her father is a courageous man, who loves her with all his heart, but he’s a complicated man, who had to lie. Trina says, it’s a lot to process, and Portia says, especially all alone. Does she want to see her dad? Trina says she thinks she does, and Portia says, it’s her call. When Trina feels ready, she’ll contact Jordan and set up a time. Cyrus approaches, since he just can’t seem to learn, and says he apologizes for interrupting. Portia says, if he has to apologize, don’t do it. He says he just came from the police station, and offered not to press charges on Taggert, but Jordan turned him down. Portia tells Trina, go home; they’ll finish talking there. Trina hesitates, and Portia says, it’s okay; she’ll be right behind her. When Trina is gone, Portia says she told Cyrus to stay away from her daughter. He’s toying with Trina’s hopes again. He says, he offered to withhold his cooperation with the DOJ; without cause, they can’t prosecute. Jordan declined. If her daughter’s emotions are being toyed with, take it up with Jordan.
Monica thanks Curtis for sharing, and asks if anybody else would like to share. Alexis gets up, and says she’s Alexis and she’s an alcoholic. The group says, hi, Alexis, and she says, it sounds so pat, so cut and dried. It’s not though. They all know that. Her addiction is ever-present. It’s all over her, everywhere. It’s there when she wakes up and when she goes to bed. The only time it rests is when she does, but the next day, it picks up and starts over. It’s in her head, like it has its own personality, like it’s a grifter. It keeps showing up and wanting more and more at the expense of everybody else. She sits, and says she managed to stay sober quite a while; long enough to like herself again, and see world with color in it again. Then bad things happened – not like nothing bad happens to them – and she gave up. She didn’t care at all, and that’s what addiction feeds on – weakness. She’s weak. Curtis looks at her proudly, and she says, she’s just being honest, but she doesn’t even know if she cares now. She doesn’t know if she wants to stop drinking. It appears she’s lost everything she cares about, and she knows she should care about it, but she needs help to stop drinking.
Laura tells Jordan, Jason has Cyrus’s hands tied, but it won’t last. They need to make the most of the moment. Jordan says, no argument from her, but how do they do it; nothing sticks. Laura says, they traced the bomb to Cyrus, but there’s no actual proof. Jordan says there’s nothing to connect him to the warehouse shooting either, and Laura says, or the influx of drugs. Jordan says she spent years undercover trying to convict Cyrus, and they know how that turned out. Laura says there must be a thread they haven’t pulled, and Jordan says she’s open to ideas. Laura wonders what they have in Port Charles that’s not like in any of Cyrus’s other territories. What’s different? Jordan says, the hospital. That’s a first. Laura says, that’s it. There has to be something he’s doing there that they can use against him.
Jason goes to Sonny’s, and asks Carly if everything is okay. She says, yes and no. Laura came by to discuss the Florence situation. She thinks they should change course, and give a little where Martin is concerned. He’s not Cyrus. He’s just a guy worried about his mom. Jason says he saw Martin at the MetroCourt with Jackie. Before he showed up, Jackie was asking all kinds of questions about his involvement in the kidnapping. She says, that’s like what Laura was talking about. She’s not just worried about Cyrus. Jason asks if she’s talking about bringing Martin in, and she asks what alternative they have. They can ease Martin’s fear, and reassure him that no harm has, or will, come to his mother, and then focus on Cyrus. He tells her that what she’s saying makes sense, but if they go too far, and Martin tells Cyrus, Cyrus will know they’re bluffing. It’s a fine line he doesn’t want to cross. The only reason Cyrus isn’t doing anything is because he fears his mother getting hurt. Fear is the only leverage they have. Bring in Martin, and it could blow up. Carly says, if they don’t, it could still blow up.
Valentin tells Jackie, discretion might be nice, and she says, about what? He says, a delicate situation requires precise communication to avoid unfortunate consequences. She says, tell his friend, and he says, communication isn’t Martin’s strong suit. She says, right, and his mother is still missing, aka an innocent woman. Valentin asks if that’s the kind of story she’s writing; fluff, a flash in the pan tabloid piece. She asks if he has something else in mind, and he says, as a matter-of-fact, he does.
Curtis tells Alexis, that took guts, and Alexis says she was terrified. He says, unfortunately, that’s how it works, and she says she doesn’t know if she can do it. He says she will, and when she does, she won’t be alone.
Peter goes to Dante’s room, and Dante says, he’s back. Peter says he wanted Dante to know he’s glad he’s okay. Dante thanks him, and Peter says he wanted to check and make sure Dante was coming to the wedding. He is family to Maxie, and him too, in a sense. After losing Nathan, the more he thinks how important Dante is to his soon-to-be wife, and he thinks he’s making a mistake.
Laura tells Jordan, Cyrus went to great lengths to disenfranchise the hospital employees that have been at GH the longest. Jordan says, Monica and Bobbie, Elizabeth and Epiphany, and Laura says, Doc keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s the ones who will fight for the integrity of the hospital at any cost. Jordan says, unlike Britt, and Laura says, maybe that’s the key. Not what Cyrus is doing, but who he’s doing it with. Jordan says, which begs the question, who’s getting their hands dirty?
Laura asks if Walker, Cyrus’s second in command, didn’t disappear, and Jordan says, without a trace, and no body was ever found. She wonders if Cyrus could possibly be grooming Britt, but Laura thinks it might be his driver Brando. If she and Jordan can get to them, they can get to Cyrus. Jordan asks if she thinks they can get Britt and Brando to turn, and Laura says they’ll give them no choice.
Jason tells Carly, no telling Martin, but he’s not saying they can’t figure out how to make it work. Carly says she’s sorry for talking to Laura without telling him, but he says it’s nothing he wouldn’t have done, if lying wasn’t working to his advantage. She says, he’s not mad? and he says, no. He sees why she did it, but she can’t just act. They need to be on the same page. If she goes rogue, he has to play catch up, and do damage control. Just like with Sonny’s funeral. They both hate it, but they talked about the advantages and disadvantages, and made the decision together. She says she gets it. It makes sense in theory. There’s just a lot going on. He says he knows; just tell him first. She says she’s worried about the Nina situation, isn’t he? He says, she’s not? but she says, it’s out there. Nina knows everything about her daughter that was kept from her. She’s handling it. He asks if everything is okay, or is she going to do something crazy that will come back to bite her? She tells him, stop. Everything is fine. He doesn’t have to worry. He says he’ll remind her that she said that, but she says he won’t have to.
Jackie says, if there’s a bigger story, now’s the time, and Valentin says, it’s not so much the story as her role in it. Helping to rescue Martin’s mother, she’ll step out of her role as an observer, and into the hero role. How does that sound? She says, intriguing.
At the hospital, Curtis asks if Portia is okay, and she says, no, she’s not. Elsewhere, Cyrus tells Brando, he’s growing increasingly impatient about his mother’s return. He wants answers, and Brando needs to get them. Brando says, so far, he’s come up empty, and Cyrus says, Sonny’s family took his mother, and it’s on him to get back in their good graces, and bring her home. He hasn’t seen that, and he’s disappointed. Brando says, yet Cyrus trusts him, but Cyrus says he doesn’t want to.
Monica hands Alexis a chip, and Alexis says, one day sober. Monica wishes she could tell Alexis that tomorrow will be easier. Alexis says she hasn’t experienced easier in a long time, and Monica says, one foot in front of the other. It sounds trite, but it’s not. Don’t go by days; go by hours. Alexis says she knows. Small goals are easier to achieve.
Peter says he can’t have Dante working for him; it’s too complicated. Sorry, but he’s fired.
Maxie sees the flowers on Nathan’s grave, and says, Nina must have been here. She’s sorry she hasn’t come to see him a lot recently. She’s kind of been all over the place. She misses him, and she’s so confused right now. What if Dante is right, that a huge part of the reason she’s drawn to Peter is because he’s Nathan’s brother? What if she needed love in her life that much, she couldn’t see Peter clearly? She still can’t. She wishes Nathan was there. She misses his voice and his smile, and the amazingly cool way he dealt with things. She cries, and says she doesn’t know what to do right now. She wishes he did.
Tomorrow, Chase asks if there’s still hope, Valentin asks Anna if she has answers about Dante, and Jason tells Scotty that he won’t forget what Scotty said.
The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City
We took a brief trip down Memory Lane, with each of the women flashing back to a particularly annoying painful moment. Heather’s grand re-opening for Beauty Lab & Laser was in two days. In her interview, she said it was their coming out party. She wanted everyone to see it and give them the credit they deserved, but it had to be finished. The party needed to go off without a hitch. One of the workers asked what was a priority, and she said, everything. Whitney came by, and Heather said, welcome to the jungle, which seems to be her catch-phrase. Someone needs to tell her, it’s not 1987. Neither one of them had talked to Jen since Vegas. Heather didn’t want to deal with any deep-rooted issues at the party, and in Whitney’s interview, she thought Heather should uninvite Jen unless she had a reason she wanted to tank her grand opening.
Jen met with Lisa at a bar. Lisa thought the trip was a lot, and Jen said she was the only one who reached out. In Lisa’s interview, she said Jen burst into tears when she’d seen her in Vegas, and she’d suggested they meet up back home and talk. Jen swore she didn’t talk about Lisa, but Lisa said what Jen thought of as a flip, funny remark was a statement to someone else. Jen said she was that way because she had to be. When she came to Utah, it was all white people, and she had to be defensive and prepared to fight. Lisa said she didn’t think Jen was out to hurt anyone, and Jen said it hurt her to see her friends hurting. Hearing what everyone thought, she had no idea. In her interview, Jen said she was hurt by Heather, who she thought understood her. Lisa asked if Jen was going to Heather’s grand re-opening, and Jen said she wanted to be supportive, but wondered why Heather had never spoken to her about how she’d been feeling. Lisa said when Jen came in hot, she left herself open to more criticism. In Jen’s interview, she said she had the same problem in her marriage, and if she wanted them to hear her, she might have to take it down two notches. Lisa suggested Jen not say everything she thought.
Meredith and Seth were in a great place, and Meredith said it took a lot of work to get there. She was excited to move forward, but knew it wouldn’t always be all positive. She told Seth that Vegas was toxic. She’d never seen such volatility in her life, and there was speculation about their marriage. Seth said whatever happened, happened. They worked hard to save their marriage, and it was nobody else’s business. Meredith thought the women were deflecting, so they didn’t need to focus on their own relationships.
Whitney met her dad at a salon/cosmetology school. He’d completed rehab, and was almost done with 90 days of sober living. He had the opportunity to be instructor at the school. It was his first day working as a sober, functioning man, and he did a cut demonstration on her for a class. In her interview, she said she was glad she’d followed her gut, and helped him. She hoped it wasn’t too good to be true; she’d been let down before. He told her, doing it gave him an income and confidence, and Whitney felt like a proud mama.
Meredith stopped by the old Beauty Lab, where there were tons of boxes everywhere, and Heather said they had movers coming tomorrow. Meredith said Vegas was disappointing and disheartening. She had compassion for Jen, and it made her sad to see her suffering so much, but she’d behaved so badly. In Meredith’s interview, she said Jen had hurt her family. If she’d done that to Jen, she could imagine what would happen. Heather said, to move forward, she’d need a clear apology. It’s what she wanted and needed. If her daughters had a friend like that, she wouldn’t tell them to try and be understanding. In Heather’s interview, Heather said she’d felt like that in her marriage, and she wasn’t going to put up or shut up like she had then.
Lisa met with Sydney her marketing coordinator, and John brought their sons to the meeting. In her interview she said, she might not be good at cooking hot dogs, but she was good at inspiring her children to build things. Geez, even I can make a hot dog. She says she’d created mini moguls. She and John had invested money in Fresh Wolf, and believed in what they’d created. The kids did a small presentation, and Lisa said Fresh Wolf had given them the opportunity to spend time together.
At Faith Temple, Mary directed choir practice. In her interview, she said, in addition to being the first lady, she was also the choir director. Church for her was a place of rest, and the love should always flow. Mary believed if her grandma saw her today, her grandma would be her number one cheerleader, and tell her to keep up the good work.
Sharrieff was looking for brownie points, and maybe some other perks from Jen, and had her meet him for salsa dancing. In her interview, she said she’d been asking him for years. We flashed back to her asking him to be there for her, and she said he was putting in more effort than he ever had. She was suspect of him planning it on his own and was sure he had help. He also had a rose petal covered table, set up in the studio, with champagne and chocolate confections. He’s actually a very good dancer, and in her interview, Jen said Sharrieff had been in a dance group in high school. After the dancing, Sharrieff kicked out the instructors, and they drank the champagne. In her interview, Jen said she never hid who she was, and Sharrieff had been there for her. She apologized for treating hm badly, or in a way that was resentful. She said her heart was good, but she didn’t know how to interpret that. She told him that her intentions had been good toward the women, and he told her to acknowledge her shortcomings and what she had to work on. What would never change is the love he and her family had for her. In Jen’s interview, she said she wished her friends could see her heart and intentions the way Sharrieff did. She was going to be the best version of Jen Shah that she could.
Everyone got ready for the Beauty Lab re-opening, and Heather got glammed up. Whitney told her, the higher the hair, the closer to God. Everything looked pink and gorgeous, including Heather. There were even fluffy pink cocktails, and a cotton candy machine. In her interview, Heather said it exceeded her expectations. A week ago, she wouldn’t have thought they could pull it off. Even the stanchions – what the velvet ropes are called – were pink. Billy, aka Heather’s ex, made an appearance, and was impressed. They took a family photo with the girls, and in Heather’s interview, she said it wasn’t normal to invite your ex to something like this. Welcome to Salt Lake City, where nothing really happens unless your ex gives it the stamp of approval. He told her it was amazing, and Heather felt like she was closing the door on that chapter, and was no longer willing to be defined by her failures. She could tell her daughters that you didn’t need a man to be successful, although you did for some other things to be discussed at a later time. Billy joked that she could support him. He’s loaded in case you didn’t know. Meredith was wearing chainmail over her face a la Lady Gaga, and said it was her glam fashion forward protection, to ward off the nastiness she was sure was coming her way. It was high fashion that people in Utah wouldn’t understand. In Mary’s interview, she admitted she didn’t get it. She just thought maybe Meredith’s makeup was off, so she threw a mask on to hide her face.
Meredith asked how Lisa was, and Lisa told her, since Vegas, she’d settled things in her own mind. She’d met with Jen, and understood the dynamic. She thought Jen was insecure and trying to prove stuff. She heard Jen. In Meredith’s interview, she said she was surprised Lisa sought someone out who was trying to harm her family. Meredith told Lisa, when they’d spoken, Lisa said Jen was toxic. Lisa said she wasn’t committing to a relationship, and Meredith said Lisa could be friends with whoever she wanted. In Lisa’s interview, she said she hoped everyone would extend the same courtesy to her. She told Meredith that she was still processing, and Meredith said she had no problem with Lisa being friends with both her and Jen, but she needed her own space.
Whitney and Mary inhaled oxygen, while doing some kind of aroma therapy. Whitney told Mary that she’d apologized to Jen, and Jen accepted, but then decided to come after her in Vegas. When Mary was no longer in the line of fire, it was her. Mary said it wasn’t okay, and wondered if Jen was coming, but Whitney didn’t know.
Jen arrived, and Heather was excited she’d made the effort to show up and endorse the business, but a lot of sh*t had gone down. As much as she wanted to forget about it, she couldn’t. In her interview, she said she didn’t know if Jen was there to support or sabotage her. That was the double-edged sword that was a friendship with Jen. Whitney told Jen they hadn’t had the opportunity to talk after Vegas, but she hadn’t gotten the result she’d wanted from talking to Jen previously. She didn’t want to be treated poorly, or have toxic friends. In Jen’s interview, she said she was going to Michele Obama her way through the evening. When they went low, she’d go high. Whitney said she felt like she was Jen’s punching bag or scapegoat, and Jen said she realized not everyone understood or appreciated the way she reacted; she was working on it. She was dealing with a lot, and she was sorry she’d reacted that way. Whitney had said a lot of things that were hard to compromise on, like family, and that’s why she got so mad. Whitney thanked her for the apology, and in her interview, said she was shocked that Jen was staying calm. In Jen’s interview, she asked if she could just apologize and move on. There were cookies she wanted to get to. She was hungry.
Heather thanked everyone said it was a big night for them. She’d recently come out of a divorce and working though stuff. The new location was huge, since they’d hidden their success. They tried to stay humble, but it was difficult. She was slowly spreading her wings. She said she loved them, and was grateful for them. In her interview, Heather said she took some of the things that went wrong in her life, and made something good out of it. She was no longer a struggling single person. She was a success, and an example for her daughters. There were lots of hugs.
Meredith said anytime she’d ignored bad energy around her, it had always been a disaster. Jen sought her out, and asked how she was, then apologized. Jen said she loved Meredith, and whether Meredith heard her or not, she cared a lot about her. Getting between marriage and family was not acceptable, and she shouldn’t have entertained the discussion. She said she’d never do anything to hurt Meredith or her family. She got teary, and said it was absolutely no one’s business. In Meredith’s interview, she said Jen crossed a line, and the damage was done. The relationship would probably never be the same. She told Jen that she needed protect her positive space. She appreciated what Jen was saying, but needed to see actions over time to back up the words. In Jen’s interview, she said she was surprised that Meredith wasn’t accepting her apology. In her head, she’d tried to support Meredith, her family, and kids, but maybe it was the situation. She wanted nothing but the best for Meredith, and would be there if Meredith needed her. Meredith hoped Jen found a space that worked for her, but said she needed to protect hers. Heather approached them, and Jen said she’d apologized to Heather and Meredith. Heather said she felt they needed to talk, and Meredith, looking for an out anyway, said she’d give them room.
Jen said she was proud of Heather, and Heather said she felt like Jen was proud. They’d been through a lot together, but she was pissed in Vegas. At the hypnotist, Jen said she didn’t trust Heather. We flashed back to that, and Heather said it was like taking a sledgehammer to her. She asked Jen, why? and Jen said, because of what happened. Heather said, because she told Jen that she was out of line? and Jen said she was blindsided. Heather said Jen came at her, pushed her, and stormed off, and there was no apology. It was bullsh*t, and people were shocked that she still wanted to be friends with Jen. In Lisa’s interview, she said, Heather’s re-opening was a major accomplishment, and don’t wreck it with a fight. Have more tequila. Heather said she was an apathetic fool who worshipped Jen, and did what she could to keep the friendship, but Jen was sh*tting on it. She couldn’t move forward without an apology. Jen told her, no matter what she said, it didn’t matter, but Heather said Jen needed to own it. Jen hadn’t shown up for her.
Lisa asked what Heather meant, and Heather said she loved Jen despite everything. Jen had yelled at her, and threatened her in Vegas, but she showed up at Jen’s room, even though she wasn’t on the payroll. In Heather’s interview, she said, it had the opposite effect. Jen should have shown up as a friend, and instead said she didn’t trust Heather. It was like a big F-U. So what had the friendship been? Jen admitted not being a good friend, and apologized to all of them. She said she knew she had to change, and she was going to work on it. Her intentions had never been to hurt them, especially Heather. Whitney told Jen that Heather wanted her to say what she was sorry for, but Jen didn’t know. Lisa told Heather that she needed to clarify when Jen wasn’t showing up, and Jen said, she didn’t know when something was an issue. In Jen’s interview, she said she loved Heather. She’d tried make Heather feel important, and had made an effort to give her a private shopping event in Vegas. She did things for Heather that she didn’t do for anyone else, and didn’t understand how Heather saw it differently. She told the group that she owned it, even though she didn’t understand. Lisa said it was a big night, and they should agree to disagree. In Whitney’s interview, she said, it was like some twisted Mormon power struggle. Heather asked if Jen thought she’d been a good friend, and Jen said, no. Heather asked if she could be a good friend going forward, and Jen said she could. She was sorry, and knew she needed to work on things.
In her interview, Heather said it had been a process, figuring out who she is, and where she wants to go. As a Mormon, you have to behave a certain way, and be a certain way, and be a certain type of person. To be accepted and loved, you had to be a good Mormon, but it was hard. She learned from her friendships that she could be accepted for who she is. We flashed back to all of the insane moments this season, and in Jen’s interview, she said she loved Heather and had her back. The finale text said that Jen and Sharrieff had been spending more time together – FaceTime. We read that Whitney had been focused on her dad, and was now focusing on herself, and a new skincare line. Mary was reorganizing her closet; getting rid of some clothes, and keeping the skeletons inside. Lisa had scheduled a family bonding trip to Mexico, but if a business opportunity came up, she wouldn’t say no. Meredith and Seth were back in couples therapy to help their communication, but when the topic of moving to Ohio comes up, Meredith disengages. Heather was still a non-practicing Mormon, and still searching for the perfect man, and meatball lollipop.
Next week – part one of the three-part Reunion – lots of drama and finger pointing, and Jen walks.
🥳 Jeff Lewis was the only guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight. FYI, Zoila is taking care of Monroe on Fridays and Saturdays. The Word of the Night was you, and they said it 44 times. If you were playing their drinking game, I think you might be dead.
📌 That’s a Fact…
NAACP: On February 12, 2019, the NAACP marked its 110th anniversary. Spurred by growing racial violence in the early 20th century, and particularly by 1908 race riots in Springfield, Illinois, a group of African American leaders joined together to form a new permanent civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). February 12, 1909, was chosen because it was the centennial anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
😴 Head Hitting Pillow In 3… 2… 1…
I see Friday on the horizon, which only means I get to switch jobs, but at least I can sleep later. Whether a weekend means free time, more work, or it’s meaningless, stay safe, stay adventuresome, and stay accepting everyone for who they are.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Laura is talking on the phone about Rocco at the MetroCourt, when Cyrus approaches. He says he didn’t mean to eavesdrop, and she says, of course (🍷) not. He says he heard about her former son-in-law. It’s a dangerous world, although with their family, it seems to be the rule rather than the exception, doesn’t it?
Sam visits Dante, who asks what he’s doing there. She says, he doesn’t remember? and he says he feels like he was hit by a truck. She says, close. He was stabbed with a loaded syringe. He says, by who? and she says, her mother.
Martin meets Alexis in Jordan’s office, and tells her, it’s just a formality. Bail was posted, so she’s now a free woman. She says it hasn’t been that long since she was disbarred; she knows the drill. He says he’s sure she remembers extenuating circumstances as well, and she says she appreciates the effort, but she wants one thing no defense attorney can give her – a drink.
At the MetroCourt with Maxie, Peter tells someone on the phone that every word he printed is the truth. It’s a first amendment issue, and as his attorney, they need to fight any attempt to suppress the story. He hangs up, and asks Maxie, what’s wrong? Is it the baby? She says both she and the baby are fine, and he says, then what? She says, nothing. She just can’t help thinking if it wasn’t for his big scoop… Never mind. He says if she wants to say something about the article, go ahead. She says if he hadn’t written it, Alexis wouldn’t have gone after Franco, and accidentally stab Dante.
Franco knocks on Scotty’s apartment door, and says, dad, open up. Obrecht grabs him and drags him into the apartment. She asks if he was followed, and he says, other than the usual villagers with torches and pitchforks, probably not. She says, good. It would complicate the situation if she were discovered. He asks when she’s going to get the voices out of his head like she promised? She says she’s working on it, and he says, so was Dr. Kirk, and he wound up with a knife in his chest. She says, with a man like that, it was bound to happen sooner or later. He says, Dante didn’t deserve a syringe in his sternum, and she asks how that’s relevant when the syringe was meant for him. Peter has convinced everyone he’s a homicidal lunatic. He says he noticed, and she says, they have to access Drew’s memories while there’s still time.
At the hospital, Anna tells Doc, not only were Dante and Obrecht being treated by Dr. Kirk, she has reason to believe Obrecht is no longer in WSB custody. She could be anywhere. Doc asks if she thinks Obrecht came back to Port Charles, and she says, it’s as good a place as any. She asks how Dante is, and he says, almost fully recovered. She says, thank God. It’s probably too soon… He says she wants to talk to him, and she says she feels that somehow he’s at the center of all this. Maybe if she talks to him… Elizabeth interrupts, saying, she wanted to let Anna know, her husband is lucky to be alive, no thanks to her son.
Laura tells Cyrus, they may be related, but they’re not family. He says, wow. And she accuses him of being cold. She says her daughter is in a coma she may never recover from, so forgive her, but where he’s concerned, she’s all out of warmth. He says she thinks he’s unfeeling, but if he were this unfeeling monster, would he keep this reminder of the family who turned their backs on him? He puts an envelope on the table.
Martin says he won’t remind Alexis that it was her drinking that got her into this mess. She thanks him for not reminding her, and he says, the state of her intoxication at the time of the alleged attack, as well as the intended victim’s history of violence, more than qualifies for extenuating circumstances. She should walk. Jordan comes in, and asks if his defense is really throwing his client under the bus as a hopeless drunk. Alexis asks if that isn’t what Jordan, and everyone else, is telling her that she is?
Maxie says she doesn’t blame Peter, but has he seen the social media reaction? People are scared to death. He asks if she thinks he shouldn’t have printed it, and she says, no… She doesn’t know… Maybe.If Franco becomes a danger, yes. Alexis is a level-headed person when she’s sober, and she tried to kill Franco. Part of her feels that if Peter had sat on the story, Dante wouldn’t be in the hospital. He says, Dante is fine, and knowing Franco’s history, who knows how many people were saved by him warning the public?
Franco asks where his dad is, and Obrecht says she and Franco have the opportunity to discuss what needs to be done, and Franco says, what needs to be done is he should be getting some body armor, now that Peter turned him back into Public Enemy #1. She says, he’s fine; Alexis missed. He says, and Dante saved his life. Explain that to him. Dante hates him. Why would that guy do that? Obrecht says, once a cop, always a cop. Who knows?The important thing now is regaining Drew’s memories. Her duplication of Kirk’s methodology is taking longer than she thought, but since Doc is treating him, why not turn that to their advantage? Maybe hypnosis will help him regain the memories, and they can find out why he’s hearing Peter’s voice. He says he’ll give it a shot, and she says, he needs to do it as soon as possible, before someone else comes after him who might not miss.
Doc tells Anna that he has to return some calls, and escapes. Anna says she understands Elizabeth is upset, but she doesn’t think it’s fair to blame Peter for Alexis’s actions. Alexis has been struggling with her drinking lately. Elizabeth agrees that Alexis’s judgement was impaired, but Peter decided to plaster Franco’s private medical information across The Invader. Anna says she respects Elizabeth, but what does she expect Anna to do? Peter is a grown man. He’s not going to listen to her. Elizabeth says the reason she wanted to talk to Anna was, she appreciates the wedding invitation – she loves Finn and Violet – but Peter declared open season on Franco. It’s no longer safe for them to attend. Anan says, Peter had an obvious error in judgment, but didn’t Peter save Franco’s life when Obrecht tried to have him killed? Elizabeth says, it makes you wonder who the real Peter is. The guy who rescued Franco, or the guy who put Franco’s life in danger to get ahead.
Sam tells Dante, her mother had been drinking when they heard the news about Franco, and was terrified Franco would come after her again. Sam wanted to confront Franco herself, so she came to GH. Her mother insisted on coming along, and kind of snapped. She disappeared, and found a loaded syringe. She lunged for Franco, but Dante jumped in front of him. Dante says, and here he is. She says, the syringe was loaded with lidocaine, and it’s really bad when it’s injected close to the heart. She’s sure Portia will fill him in on the details, but the good news is, he’s going be okay. He asks, what happened to Franco? and she says, her mom missed, so he’s fine, but she doesn’t get why he would risk own life to save Franco.
Anna tells Elizabeth that she’s sorry about the article, and Elizabeth says, Franco is experiencing none of the same symptoms he had before; they’re entirely different ones. Peter didn’t even bother to investigate. He just twisted facts that he never should have had access to, and now Franco is a target.
Franco tells Obrecht, he has a few problems. One is going to kill him, and one will make him crazy before it kills him. Obrecht says, normally, she wouldn’t recommend talk therapy, but Doc and his homicidal twin were also involved with the memory transfer experiment. That could be useful. Franco says, until she can help him, maybe Doc is their best hope; here goes nothing. He gets his coat, and she tells him, be careful. They have to assume Anna is working closely with Doc. If the scarecrow realizes that Drew’s memories could incriminate Peter, ask himself, who would Anna rather see go down? Him or her son? Franco leaves, and Obrecht sits and thinks.
Peter tells Maxie, he knows it was a very controversial decision. His legal department agrees with her, but it’s his obligation to tell the truth. She says, yes, but he could have thought of a little less of a ripper strikes again headline. He says, The Invader is also in the business of making money, and she tells him, she hated the man that Franco was, and has no interest in knowing the man he’s become. He asks, why defend him? and she says she knows what it’s like to defy people’s expectations of you. From what she’s seen, Franco is nothing but a devoted husband and stepdad. Peter says he’s sure Franco is – until the ticking time in his head goes off, and Franco becomes the city’s worst nightmare.
Laura asks Cyrus what it is, and he says it’s a photo from his childhood – yes, he had one. Now let him ask her if she has the courage to look at it, and risk seeing her sworn enemy in a different light. She looks at the photo, and says, Gordon. Of course (🍷). They look so happy. Cyrus says he’s the one making rabbit ears over his baby brother’s head. She says, making trouble behind Martin’s back; she’s not surprised. He says, this is his family, and Martin’s, and hers. They’re all each other’s flesh and blood. She puts the picture on a table.
Martin says, in case the news hasn’t graced Jordan’s desk already, Alexis already entered a plea of not guilty. Jordan says she’s happy to hear it, but she didn’t ask Alexis to come to her office as the Commissioner. She wants to speak to her as a friend. Alexis asks if Jordan warned Molly and TJ. She started to call them about 12 times, but she doesn’t suppose they want anything to do with her. Jordan says they’re worried about her; they all are. How is she? Alexis says she’s sober, and Jordan says, good. Alexis says she doesn’t like it. She didn’t like it when she looked in the mirror. She took a good long look, and didn’t recognize herself. She realized she’s used up her get-out-of-jail-free cards, and there’s not much left. Why doesn’t she just face what she’s done, and change her plea to guilty, and face the consequences.
Dante tells Sam, if he knew why, he’d tell her, and she says, Robert told her that Dante’s cop instincts kicked in. Dante says he doesn’t think he has any, but thanks for checking in on him. Anna comes by, and Dante says he’s surprised she doesn’t want to give him hell for saving Franco. She says she did want to ask him about that, and Sam says, she just did. Anna says, and? Dante flashes back to Obrecht clicking the pen, and saying, Franco is the key to Peter’s guilt. It’s up to Dante to protect him at all costs. Anna asks if there’s something Dante wants to tell them.
Dante says he’s the type that runs into trouble, when anyone with good sense would run away, and Anna says, that’s the definition of a hero. She’s glad he’s okay. He thanks her, and she says she’s sorry. He says, for what? and she says, for the reason Alexis got so… Sam says, crazy? and Anna says, excited. It was because of an article Peter ran on Franco. He says, it’s not her fault, and she thanks him for that. She says she just wanted to check in on him; they’ll catch up later. He says, he looks forward to it, and Anna tells Sam, it’s good to see her, and leaves. Sam guesses that leaves only one person to blame.
Martin tells Jordan, his client was speaking hypothetically; there’s no way she should plead guilty. Alexis says, right now it’s 70/30 against, but that could change. Jordan says, her concern isn’t Alexis’s plea right now. Her concern is that Alexis stop self-destructing. Jordan’s phone rings, and she says she’s on her way. She tells them, she needs to see someone in the squad room, and they can use her office for as long as they need to. She leaves, and Martin says, Alexis has been on a collision course with herself for some time. She asks why he’s acting like he knows her; he doesn’t. He’s just Valentin’s hired gun. He says he wouldn’t be so dismissive of Valentin; he posted her bail. She suggests he ask for a refund, and throw her back in jail where she belongs. Martin tells her, get over herself. Does she have any idea what some people would give to be reunited with their loved ones? And she’s throwing it away with both hands. It would serve her right if he threw her to the wolves. She asks why he doesn’t, and he says, unlike her, he’s proud to be an attorney, and he’s going to do his damnedest to defend her, whether she likes it or not.
Cyrus tells Laura, the photo is hers to borrow. She can’t keep it, but he can have it scanned if she likes. She says she knows what he’s doing; he’s incredibly transparent. He says, be all means, enlighten him. Explain his sinister ulterior motive. She says he knows how much family means to her, and he’s playing on that to get her to do more to get his mother home. He says he knows she feels she has no reason to help him, and blames him, however wrongly, for taking her daughter from her. She says, then why the nostalgia? and he says, it’s her father. She says, they never met, but he says, the connection is still there. There’s nothing she can do to change it. She says, there’s nothing she needs to do, and he says, true, but have another look at the picture. This is their family, before everything went wrong. She takes it from him, and he walks away. She looks at it again.
Peter tells Maxie, they’re so close to the wedding and welcoming their daughter into the world. He would never do anything to spoil that. She says she knows, and he asks if she ever thinks about how far they’ve come to get to this moment. She says, all the time. What hits her is how three years ago, they were strangers. She was married to Nathan, and in a moment, everything changed. Faison shot Nathan, and not long after that, Nathan died.
Elizabeth apologizes to Doc for barging in on his conversation with Anna, but he says, it’s quite all right. Franco comes into the hospital, and says, this is convenient. He was about to beg Doc for a session. Doc asks why he needs one, and Franco says he keeps hearing Peter’s voice in his head, talking to Drew, and he has a lot to say. Anna listens from around the corner.
Anna joins them, and says, sorry. She didn’t mean to… Franco’s been hearing voices? Are those the symptoms Elizabeth was talking about? Elizabeth says, yes. Not dark, homicidal impulses. Voices. Anna asks how Franco can be sure it’s Peter, and he says he knows Peter’s voice. Anna asks if it’s because of the tumor, and Elizabeth says, they thought so at first, but Dr. Kirk thought it was something else. Franco says, Kirk thought it didn’t have anything to do with the brain tumor; that it was Drew’s implanted memories.
Maxie tells Peter, when Nathan died, she wanted the world to stop, and there he was, refusing to let her give up. He was a real pain in the ass. He says, he knows what Nathan meant to her. He sees it in her every time she’s with James, and of course (🍷), he wonders if he’ll pale in comparison. Nathan was a genuine hero; someone you could look up to. He hopes he’ll never let Nathan down. Maxie says, she knows he won’t.
Martin approaches Laura at the MetroCourt, and asks where on earth she found the photo. She says, his brother, and he says, pulling at the old heartstrings? Pure manipulation, meant to spur her to action, in the hopes of her tracking down their poor mother. She says she told Cyrus that he was being ridiculously transparent. Martin says, utterly. So, did it work?
Cyrus goes to Jordan’s office, and says they need to talk. She says, if it’s about the search for his mother, there’s nothing she can do. And thankfully, nothing she has to do. There’s nothing he has on her. He says she’s broken free from him, so she can reclaim her integrity and the love of her husband. How is that working out for her?
Dante tells Sam, he’s not exactly happy that her mom plunged a syringe in his chest, but if anyone understands the desire to kill Franco, it’s the two of them. Sam says, true, but it wasn’t them; it was her mother. Her mother is starting to worry her – a lot. She’s inclined to take the kids and run as far and as fast as she can. Dante says she doesn’t mean that, but she says part of her does. He says he’s on to her. She came there last night and today, because she wants to make up for what her mom did. She tells him that he’s a detective. Don’t do that shrink stuff with her. She just wishes she could help her mom in a way she’d accept. They hear the guard telling someone they can’t go in; he knows who she is. Alexis walks in, and the guard says he’ll escort her out, but Dante says he’s got this. He has a bodyguard in case things get crazy. The guard closes the door, and Sam tells Alexis, she shouldn’t be there. Alexis says she knows. She’s practically begging to be arrested again. Sam asks if that’s what she wants, but Alexis says, no. She wanted to see if they were both okay.
Alexis says she just wanted to tell Dante how sorry she is, and how much she regrets what she did. Dante says he was cop for a long time. He knows good people, and decent people do stupid things. Things they wish they could take back. He’s not the one she has to make it up to. Sam says he doesn’t have to do this, but he says he wants to. He thinks they should fix it before it’s too late.
In a wig, glasses, and mask, Obrecht looks at the Patient Services Directory on the GH server. She puts in Dante’s name.
Anna asks about the time Franco was in Geneva, and he says he saw Dr. Kirk once. He had one consultation before Kirk ended up on the wrong side of a knife. She asks if Dante had left by then, and Franco says, Dante was a patient? That’s a pretty big coincidence. Doc says, probably, and Anna says, what about Obrecht? She was also a patient. Kirk decided to treat her after she was released from Steinmaur. Did he not know any of that? Franco says, as far has he knows, Obrecht is still in Steinmaur, and as far as he’s concerned, she can stay there. He thought she was his friend, and she tried to kill him. Can he have that session now? Elizabeth says she wants a conversation with him first. They step away, and she says she’s going to ask him a question he needs to answer honestly. He’s seen Obrecht, hasn’t he? Alive and well, and out of prison. Franco reluctantly says, yeah… and she asks how he could have seen Obrecht and not told her.
Drying her eyes, Maxie tells Peter, they need to stop having meaningful conversations for a while. It’s hard to tell if it’s regular hormones or third trimester hormones. She doesn’t want Dante to see her like this. He asks if she’s going to the hospital, and she says she owes it to Lulu to check on him. Peter says to give Dante his best, and she leaves. Peter makes a call, and says they have something he needs, and he needs it now.
Laura tells Martin, she wishes she’d never seen the picture. She didn’t need see her father with his happy little family. Martin says she’s part of that family too, should she so choose, even if she’s not in the photo. Laura says she’ll tell Martin what she told his brother. Martin says, their brother, and she says, to her, family is much more than flesh and blood. It’s more than DNA. It’s definitely something she won’t share with Cyrus. Martin asks if she’ll share it with him. Because if there’s the slightest chance, he needs to know what she’s doing to put mama back in the picture.
Jordan tells Cyrus, not that it’s any of his business, but… Wait. It isn’t any of his business. He says, never wait until tomorrow to atone for your mistakes, for tomorrow may never come. She says she can’t tell if it’s a veiled threat or he’s sincere. He says, in the past, he’s used the stick to get what he wants, but today he’s using the carrot. She asks what the carrot would be, and he says something she wants nearly as much as he wants his mother back.
Alexis says she appreciates what Dante is trying to do, but he says, don’t tell him; tell Sam. Alexis says she knows there’s nothing she can say. She’s burned every bridge, and she doesn’t think there’s any earth left to scorch. She tells Sam to stay and take care of her friend and herself. She’s just going to go. She leaves, and Sam thanks Dante for trying. He tells her not to give up on her mom.
Alexis gets in the elevator, and Sam follows her. Sam says, going down? and Alexis says, it certainly seems that way. Sam says, it’s her call.
Obrecht goes to Dante’s room, and congratulates him for saving Franco’s life. He tells her, he’d like to say it’s his pleasure, and she says, however,the mission is not yet completed. There is more they must do to stop Peter, and he’s the man to do it.
Dante says, Obrecht was exonerated, and there’s no smoking gun. There’s no evidence suggesting Peter framed her. He covered his tracks too well. She tells him, keep looking, and he says he plans to. He wants Maxie and James away from Peter as much as she does. He’s digging. Obrecht says, dig faster. Anna already suspects she’s out of prison, and mustn’t know she’s back in Port Charles, if they’re to stop this wedding. If Maxie walks down the aisle, she and Peter will be bound in ways that can never be undone. I guess Obrecht has never heard of divorce. She clicks the pen, and tells Dante he’s to do what he must to complete the mission. It’s up to him, but Peter and Maxie must never be allowed to say I do.
At the reception desk, Maxie asks what room Dante is in. Because this is GH, where there are no visiting hours, and anyone can just wander around where and when they feel like it.
Peter thanks a man for meeting him at the MetroCourt, and the man says he wishes all of his clients were as discerning as Peter. He shows Peter a set of wedding rings, saying they’re the ones Peter selected. Do they speak to him? Peter says, fluently. They say, ‘til death do us part.
Maxie goes to Dante’s room. She finds him sleeping, and says she’s not going to wake him. She just wants him to know how happy she is he’s okay. Lulu really needs him, and she needs him too, as her friend; her once and hopefully future bestie-in-law. She needs him at the wedding. She kisses his forehead, and Obrecht looks in through the window.
Laura tells Martin, Cyrus’s attempt at manipulation backfired. All he did was remind her of what was taken from her. Martin says, Lulu, and she says, of course (🍷); he understands. On the other hand, she understands him to be a completely innocent bystander. He asks what she’s saying. She won’t help Cyrus, but she’ll help him? He’s completely comfortable with that. She laughs, and says, Florence is his mother too, and neither one of them deserves to get caught up in this mess. She can’t make any promises, but she’ll do what she can to bring his mother back to him.
Sam and Alexis go into a room where there are chairs placed in circle. Alexis says she remembers this feeling; the feeling of not wanting to be there, and desperately wanting a drink. She doesn’t think she can do this. She’s sorry. Sam asks if she actually has not hit rock bottom yet. How many people does she have to hurt before she realizes she needs help?
Jordan tells Cyrus, she can’t just snap her fingers and get his mom back. He tells her to consider it a hostage negotiation. Let Jason know, if he returns Cyrus’s mother, Cyrus will see that Taggert goes free.
Franco tells Elizabeth, here’s the skinny. Obrecht was exonerated, and she had nothing to do with trying to kill him. Elizabeth says, Obrecht told him so, and he believed her. He says, of course (🍷) not, but there’s proof. The WSB believed her and released her. They’ve been working hard to find who framed her, and she’s been really helpful to him since Kirk died. Elizabeth asks when he’s going to learn that Obrecht is only out for Obrecht. If she’s helping him, he has to ask himself, what’s in it for her? They’ll deal with Drew’s memories later, but right now, they need to focus on treating the tumor and saving his life.
Anna tells Doc, first they find out, Franco was referred to Kirk as a patient. Then the find out Dante was also his patient. Doc says, then Obrecht. She asks, what’s the common denominator? and he takes it that there wasn’t enough unredacted in the files for her to crosscheck. She says, no. She does know that Obrecht is free, Dante is still suffering from PTSD… He says, and Franco is hearing Peter’s voice in his head. She says, they’re getting closer to understanding how it all fits together. They just have to keep looking. He says, no matter where it leads? and she repeats, no matter where it leads.
Tomorrow, Portia asks why Trina is buttering her up, Maxie asks Dante if he can forgive Peter, Laura asks if she and Carly can’t compromise, and Jason says Cyrus’s fear is their leverage.
📌 That’s a Fact…
Heard on the internet: This month, AV Club is going to highlight some of the programming from various and sundry networks and streamers that are tied to Black History Month. First up is Amazon. Prime Video’s Amplifying Black Voices page will, beginning today, feature a curated collection of titles to honor Black History Month across four weekly themes- Black Joy (week 1), Black Love (week 2), Black History Makers (week 3) and Black Girl Magic (week 4). All titles will celebrate the voices of Black actors, producers, writers, and filmmakers. There’s also a watchlist from One Night In Miami director Regina King, which naturally includes One Night In Miami.
🧼 Adding Some Soap…
A soap star and two V.C. Andrews films? My head might explode. V.C. Andrews’s All That Glitters and HiddenJewel, starring Kristian Alfonso (ex-Hope, Days of Our Lives), will premiere on Lifetime on Saturday, March 27th and Sunday, March 28th, respectively at 8 pm ET.
I can’t seem to keep track of the Dallas Wives. I have a Tuesday night Zoom meeting at the same time, and for whatever reason, Bravo doesn’t rerun it. Although they do run endless episodes of Chrisley Knows Best. Again, why is that guy famous? While you’re figuring that out, stay safe, stay changing it up when you can, and stay using neither the carrot nor the stick. We’re not donkeys.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Anna knocks on Finn’s office door, and asks if he heard about Dante. He says he heard Alexis went after Dante with a syringe, but he’s going to be all right. Anna says she needs Finn’s help.
Elsewhere in the hospital, Nikolas tells Laura, poor Rocco; first his mom, now this. She says she’s worried about Dante’s mental state, and Anna is concerned. Anna doesn’t think he was properly treated for PTSD. Nikolas says, maybe Rocco should stay with Olivia long term, but Laura says Dante has never been anything but loving with his son. She doesn’t think it’s necessary. He says, if Rocco needs anything, let him know, and she says she’s happy to hear him say that. His life seems to be back on track, and he seems so much happier. He says, most of the credit goes to Ava, and Laura says she’s glad things are going well so well. He says, they’re going so well, he asked his wife to marry him.
Trina and Ava meet at Kelly’s, and Ava says she’s missed Trina at the gallery. What’s she been up to? Trina says she’s been thinking about what Jax and Ava said about what her dad did, and why he did it. She’s not up for a visit yet though. Ava says she’ll figure it out, and Trina asks, what about Ava? She seems good. Ava says, almost too good.
At the counter, Scotty tells Cameron that Ruby would have had his head for not wearing an apron, but Cameron says he’s fine without one. Franco comes in and says, self-awareness is good. He asks why Scotty is there, and Scotty says, it’s better than an empty apartment.
Obrecht drags Britt into an apartment, and Britt says, nice. Who’s place is it? Obrecht asks if she’s sure she wasn’t followed, and Britt says she’s sure. She tells Obrecht that she’s swamped at the hospital, and to get to the point. Obrecht asks if she saw the piece in The Invader, and Britt says she did. Obrecht asks if she gave Peter access to Franco’s medical information, and Britt says, kind of. Obrecht tells her that she can’t trust Peter, but Britt says she already knows that.
Jax tells Nina that he can’t lie anymore. What Carly said wasn’t how it happened, and she needs to know the truth. Valentin says, it sounds like Carly left some things out, and Nina says, what truth is he talking about? Jax says he went to Carly about the possibility of Nelle being Nina’s daughter, but it wasn’t last night. Nina asks when it was, and he says, months ago.
Anna tells Finn, she tried to access the WSB records, and was completely shut down. She did find out Obrecht’s doctor was Warren Kirk. Has Finn heard of him? Finn says, never, and she guesses it doesn’t matter now; he was killed. Doc knew Kirk by his reputation. He was doing cutting edge neurological research. Finn says, Kirk treating Dante’s PTSD is useful, but not exactly cutting edge. She says Doc got Dante’s files, but they were completely redacted. Then she found out Obrecht was Kirk’s patient. Finn says, it sounds like more than a coincidence, and she says, exactly. She got the runaround from the WSB, but she has an unofficial contact at Steinmaur. Her phone rings, and she says, that’s them now.
Obrecht asks if this is Britt’s way of humoring her, but Britt says, no. It’s her way of saying Obrecht was right about Peter. Obrecht asks if she’s seen Peter’s true nature, and Britt says she has; he used her. He asked her to log in to the GH server, knowing full well she has access to everything. Then he asked her to walk away. Obrecht says, and Britt did what he wanted? and Britt says, to test him. She wanted to see what he was up to. She came back right away, but apparently, he got what he wanted, and now Franco’s medical records are splashed across the Invader website. Obrecht says, and Franco was attacked, which is precisely what Peter wanted. She asks if Britt confronted that weasel, and Britt says she told Peter that she didn’t appreciate being used. Obrecht asks what excuse he gave, but Britt says, he didn’t bother with excuses. He threatened her. Obrecht says, no one threatens her Britta.
Laura says she’s glad Nikolas wants to marry his wife, but she’s a little surprised. He says, it surprised him too, but a lot has changed with them. Laura says Nikolas stood by Ava during the situation with Julian, and after Julian’s death. Now Sonny is gone, and they have Avery. She can see where those things would make them feel closer, and where they might really want to marry for real. He says he and Ava always had a connection, ever since they were seated next to each other on the overseas flight. Laura says, when he was on run, and had framed an innocent man for his murder. He says he’s not proud of what he did; he’s just saying they felt something even then. Even with the craziness all around them now, they find stability with each other.
Trina says she’s glad Ava and Nikolas are getting along better. She wants Ava to be happy. Ava thanks her, and says she is. As Trina knows, she and Nikolas started off on the wrong foot. They weren’t exactly their best selves. Trina asks how Ava got past it. She knows her dad loves her, and wants to protect her, but she can’t get past the pain and hurt. All she wanted was to have him back, and now that she does, she’s so confused. Ava says, no one can hurt you like someone you love; it makes you vulnerable, and that takes courage. Trina says Ava was brave enough to let Nikolas in. It was worth it, wasn’t it?
Franco says he has something to tell Scotty and Cameron before they hear it from someone else. Scotty says, something happened? and Franco says, he’s fine. Scotty says, out with it, and Franco tells them, there was an article about him in The Invader. Scotty says, that rag sheet. How did they get his medical records? He should sue. Does he want to sue? Franco says he’s not ruling it out, but there was a reaction. Cameron asks, what kind of reaction? and Franco says, someone tried to kill him tonight.
Nina says, Jax has known for months that Nelle was her daughter? He says, he suspected it. They saw Avery wearing the necklace before Thanksgiving. Carly says, they didn’t know for sure, and Valentin says they knew Nelle had been hiding in the cabin with Wiley. Did they think it was a coincidence? Carly says, even if Nelle lost it, that doesn’t mean she was Nina’s daughter. She could have found it, or even stolen it. Nina says, Carly is right. They couldn’t have known, but that’s not the reason why Jax didn’t tell her, is it? Jax says he believes Nelle was Nina’s daughter, and that’s precisely why he didn’t tell her.
On the phone, Anna asks, when?… On who’s authority?…Are you certain?… Okay. She thanks them, and says she appreciates it. Finn says, no good? and she says, Kirk facilitated Obrecht’s transfer to a WSB clinic in Geneva months ago. He wonders what the point a transfer to a mental health facility is, and she says, Obrecht got to him. Bribed him or threatened him. Finn asks if Anna thinks Obrecht murdered him.
Britt tells Obrecht, don’t do anything drastic. She doesn’t want Peter dead. She just wants him to pay for framing Obrecht. Obrecht assures Britt that Peter will regret crossing her, and Britt asks, what’s the plan? Obrecht says, none of her busines; stay out of it. Britt wants to help prove Obrecht’s innocence, but Obrecht says she can’t take that risk. When Peter is backed into a corner, he becomes more dangerous. Like his father, he’ll strike anyone who gets in his way. The thought of losing Britt like she did Nathan…
Scotty asks Franco if Alexis was liquored up, and Cameron says, this means Franco is in danger. Scotty says, if it’s not Alexis with a syringe, it will be some crackpot or crazy person with a knife or a gun. At least now he’s ready, and can be on guard. Cameron suggests Franco get a bodyguard, but Franco says he’s going to stop them there. They don’t need to worry.
Nikolas tells Laura, Ava isn’t the ice queen everyone thinks she is. It’s a façade she wears to protect herself. Laura says, she’s his mom, so she has to ask. Does he trust Ava? He says he does. He understands her in a way he never did before. She wants a home and a family. She was given away by her mother, and grew up in foster homes. She didn’t have a Laura to show her what family could be, and he wants to give her the sense of family she deserves. Laura says, that he deserves too.
Trina goes over to see Cameron, and Franco tells Scotty that he scared the kid half to death. Scotty says, Cameron is right; he should get a bodyguard. Ava comes in, and asks if she can have a word with Franco, and Franco says, Scotty was just leaving. Scotty says he’s leaving Cameron a twenty; so long. Ava tells Franco, she read the article in The Invader. Is it true? Is the tumor changing his personality and behavior? He says he doesn’t feel that, and she asks if he thinks it might have been him who painted over her portrait. He tells her that he can’t say for sure, but it’s the only option that makes sense. He’s sorry. She says she doesn’t care about that; she cares about him. She worries, and doesn’t want him going back to that dark place. He says, trust him. He’s on the lookout for anything he does, but he hasn’t done anything, so that’s something. Why doesn’t Ava quit being miserable, get on with her life, and divorce Nikolas. She says, the thing is, she doesn’t want a divorce anymore.
Jax says he realizes Nina feels betrayed. He did that, and he’s so sorry for hurting her. By time he knew Nelle could be her daughter, Nelle was already gone, and it was too late to have a relationship. Valentin says Jax withheld information, and had Nina stop looking because she might find out the truth, and expose his lie. Carly says, this has nothing to do with Valentin, and Jax takes Nina’s hands. He says she told him that she was at peace, knowing her daughter had a happy life. He thought it was better for her to keep believing that, but he was wrong. He lied, and he shouldn’t have, but he did it because he loves her. Valentin wonders how that’s different from what he did. All he wants is for Nina to be happy. Carly says, Jax didn’t pay someone to pose as Nina’s daughter. He didn’t want Nina to know she was a psycho. Nina says, Nelle wasn’t a psycho; she was damaged. If she’d had anyone who cared about her as a child, her life would have been different. She didn’t have anyone who cared or loved or understood her. That’s why they had a connection. Carly tells Nina, stop. None of that is true. Nelle slashed Brook’s throat, kidnaped Wiley, and took off with him. Nina says, Wiley was Nelle’s son, and she loved him. She didn’t want to be cut out of his life, and she wanted a different life. She had a vision board. Did Carly know that? Carly says, and a rap sheet filled with horrific crimes. Nina has to see who she is. Nelle was a compulsive liar and manipulator, incapable of love. Nina said so herself on the stand at the custody hearing. Nina says, it was her. She was the one who took away her daughter’s only hope of being a mother to her child.
Anna tells Finn that Obrecht’s file is classified, and there’s no information available. She couldn’t even get the name of Obrecht’s new doctor. She wouldn’t put it past Obrecht to murder Kirk, but what benefit would it be to her? He was obviously useful. Finn says, unless he outlived his usefulness, but Anna wonders if that’s how Obrecht would take advantage of her newfound freedom. Finn asks if Anna thinks she had a contact on the outside, but Anna doesn’t know who. She wasn’t on good terms with Nina or Maxie, and now she has no friends. He says, but she has a daughter.
Obrecht says, that swine took her Nathan, and her freedom be framing her, and Britt asks why she has to stay out of it. Peter is too much like her father to walk free. Obrecht promises her that Peter’s days are numbered. Britt tells her, whatever she says. Where did she find this place? Britt sits on the sofa, and pulls a tie out from behind a pillow. She asks if Obrecht is living with a man. Does she have a boyfriend? Obrecht tells her not to change the subject; it’s rude to ask personal questions. Scotty walks in, and Britt laughs. He asks what she’s doing there, and Britt says, wait. This is his apartment? Obrecht says Franco is Scotty’s son, and the three of them have joined together against Peter. Britt asks who else knows Obrecht is there, and Obrecht says, Britt, Scotty, and Franco. She’s helping treat Franco. Britt says, good. What is she helping Franco’s father with? Scotty says, let’s go. Do not come back. He doesn’t want her followed. Britt leaves, and Scotty asks Obrecht, who’s the dummkopf now? Is she trying to get them killed?
Nikolas says, he takes it Laura isn’t close to Ava, and Laura says, they get along. She’s seen Ava through some dark times. She asks if Nikolas believes Ava can love him unselfishly, and he says believes she can and does, and he loves her. She says, then she’s happy for both of them, and he thanks her, saying, her approval means everything. Laura asks what he has planned. Are they having another wedding? He says, not exactly. She hasn’t said yes to his proposal.
Franco asks Ava if she and Nikolas are together together, and she says they are. He asks if she thinks they have a chance, and she says she doesn’t know. Love never worked out for her before. He says, she only needs once, and she says he asked her to marry him for real. He asks if she blew Nikolas off, and she says, not exactly, but it was at a gym; not the best setting. He says, the art therapy room, on the 10th floor at GH; that was the moment. He knew he loved Elizabeth from the bottom of his soul. He looked at her, and knew he loved her with all his heart, and wanted to spend every minute of the rest of his life with her. Ava says, they’re talking Nikolas. How does she know he’s serious? Franco suggests she’s overthinking it. Maybe Nikolas loves her no matter what. What is she waiting for? Stop getting in her own way, and be happy. Life is short.
Nina says if she hadn’t testified, Nelle wouldn’t have been at the cabin with Wiley, but Carly says Nina’s testimony wasn’t the only reason Nelle lost custody. There was plenty of evidence proving her to be unfit. Jax says, Carly is right. There was nothing Nina could have done to save Nelle, even if she’d known Nelle was her daughter. Valentin says he doesn’t know that. Michael said it himself; he never saw Nelle wear the necklace. Nina says she didn’t wear hers for years, but Valentin says, Nelle was a manipulator. It’s possible she got ahold of the necklace and was planning on pretending to be Nina’s daughter. Nina says, there’s a way to prove it one way or another. She has Nelle’s things. She gave Nelle a burial, and was given her personal effects. There in a storage closet at Crimson. She heads for the elevator, and Jax starts to follow, but she tells him, no. She can’t deal with him. He says he can’t let her go through this alone, and Valentin says, she’s not alone. Carly tells him, this is between Jax and Nina, and he says she’s right. He doesn’t have to watch Jax’s handsome self. He knows the outcome. That relationship is over.
Carly says she bets Valentin thinks he can wiggle his way back into Nina’s life, and recapture her like a hostile takeover. But it doesn’t work that way in relationships. He says he and Jax did the same thing. Jax lied, except he used a charming accent. Why would Nina forgive him? She says, because Jax is a good man, and they both know that’s something Valentin will never be. I beg to differ, but okay.
Nina looks thorough the box of Nelle’s things, when Jax knocks at the door. She tells him, go away, and he says he won’t say anything. She says, good. There’s nothing more for him to say. He tells her that he doesn’t want her to do this alone, and she pulls out a stack of letters.
Obrecht asks if Scotty is hungry. She can heat up some schnitzel. He says, no schnitzel. She was supposed to hide out, not hold family reunions. She says she wanted to warn Britt about Peter, but Britt already uncovered his true nature on her own. He asks if Britt knows she’s been exonerated, and Obrecht says she’s an innocent woman. He says, there’s nothing innocent about her. She barely got out, before she killed Kirk. She says, he killed Kirk, and he says he did it protecting her. Kirk was coming at him, and he still has nightmares, seeing the switchblade sticking out of Kirk. She says, that’s why she had to protect him, and help him with the body. He says, that’s why they’re palsy-walsy now, but she can’t be too cautious. She says, they’re running out of time, and he asks if she thinks the WSB is after him. She tells him to concentrate on Peter. She’ll make some calls to make sure what happened in Geneva, stays in Geneva.
Britt arrives back at the hospital, and says, Finn paged her. What’s going on? He says he needs her to sign off on his overtime request for his lab assistant. She says, he paged her to sign a form? He says, her rules, not his, and she says she rushed back for this? He says he didn’t know she was out; her assistant said she was working. She asks why he’d interrupt her work, and he says he was being compliant. He thinks those are questions she should ask herself. How long is she going to punish him for his part in her forcing her mother back to Port Charles? She says he forced her to betray her own mother, and it was awful. All in the name of justice, and the charges were dropped. He says Obrecht skated, then tried to kill Andre and Franco. Now she’s facing real justice. Britt says, she didn’t do it.
Trina tells Cameron, she can’t believe Mrs. Davis is so extremely seriously messed up. Cameron is worried other people will want vengeance, and she says, it’s too bad. Franco is nothing like that now. Cameron tells her, that’s not what The Invader says. They want people to be afraid of Franco.
Laura asks Nikolas, what’s going on? Is Ava playing games with him? He says, no games, and she asks why Ava didn’t accept. He says he doesn’t think she took it seriously. He sprung it on her at the gym, and didn’t even have a ring. She says, there’s something to be said for spontaneity. To be completely honest, Doc did the same thing, but she wanted something more special. Then he kept tricking and teasing her until she gave up. That’s when he proposed. Nikolas says he’s ready this time, and has the perfect ring, a Cassadine heirloom. Now he has to find the perfect time. Ava runs in, and says she’s so glad he’s still there. Yes. He says, yes what? and she says he asked her a question before not ready to answer. She’s ready now, and the answer is yes. He says, no. That’s not how they’re doing this. Ava’s smile falls.
Finn says Britt’s mother hired an assassin to kill Franco and Andre, but Britt says, she was manipulated. There was no evidence. He asks if that’s what Obrecht is saying, and Britt says she hasn’t talked to her. She doesn’t even know where Obrecht is. She signs the form, and gives it to Finn, telling him that she’d appreciate going back to work now. He thanks her, and says, it’s always a pleasure. He goes over to where Anna has been listening, and Anna smiles.
Cameron and Trina go back out to the counter, and Franco says, looks serious. She says Cameron told her what happened, and she hopes he gets a bodyguard. Josslyn has one, and it’s cheaper than ride share. He says he’s glad it’s working out for her, but this is an isolated incident. It’s never going to happen again. Cameron wonders how he can possibly say that.
Ava asks if Nikolas changed his mind, but he says, no. He wants to do it right. She asks what he means, and he looks at Laura, who says, don’t mind her. She steps aside, and Nikolas gets down on one knee, while the nurses watch. He says they shouldn’t work, but they do. It’s not the best place to start a proposal, but the truth is, they both know they value the truth, even if they don’t always show it. They guard who they are fiercely, and have to be protective, but he sees her, and thinks she sees him too. He loves everything about her; her passion, her intelligence, her strength, and her style. He wants to spend the rest of his life with her, and that’s his truth. He’d be the happiest man in the world if she’d be his wife.
Valentin tells Carly, Jax lied about Nina’s daughter; that cuts to the core. Their love was ten times what Nina feels for Jax, and she forced herself to walk away. Carly asks if he’s kidding. Nina ripped him to shreds at the wedding, and left him in the dust.
Nelle looks in the box, and tells Jax, Nelle spent her life thinking she should have a ton of possessions. Now her life has been reduced to a little box of things. She opens a jewelry box, and takes out photos. She looks through them, saying she never saw them before. She takes one out, and cries. We see it’s a little girl wearing the necklace.
Franco asks if he can give Trina a ride home, but she says she’s meeting her mom for dinner. He tells Cameron that they can talk more at home, but he doesn’t need to worry. Cameron says, cool, and tells Franco that he’ll meet him outside. Franco says he’ll warm up the car, and leaves. Trina says she knows that look. What’s Cameron planning? He says he doesn’t know… something. No matter what, he’s going to keep his family safe.
Scotty says he knew it. He’s on the WSB’s most wanted list. Obrecht says, they know nothing. As far as the world is concerned, Kirk was the victim of urban violence. He asks why she’s acting so strange then, and she says, Kirk’s files, including hers, were requested by and sent to Doc. Scotty wonders why he’d want them, and she says, Doc is just a puppet, with Anna pulling the strings. Scotty says, he’s a big dumb puppet. What does she mean, they’re running out of time? She says, Anna is on her trail.
Anna says, so good, Agent Finn. Britt would never open up to her like that. He says he’d do it again. Anna says, Britt touting her mother’s innocence means they’ve been in contact, and Finn wonders if Obrecht has phone privileges. Anna says, maybe she’s not at the clinic anymore. Maybe classified is code for released.
Nikolas shows Ava the ring, a gigantic, Elizabeth Taylor worthy, square diamond. He says, Ava Jerome Cassadine, will you marry me… again? For real. She says, yes she’ll marry him, and everyone watching applauds. He puts the ring on her finger, and everyone is happy and smiling. They hug, and Laura nods at Nikolas.
Valentin tells Carly, he doesn’t understand why she’s not thrilled Jax is on the open market again. Jax is her fallback, and since Sonny is dead, her bed must be cold. Maybe Jax could warm it up. She smacks him across the face, and tells him to get the hell out of her restaurant now.
Nina tells Jax, Nelle had the necklace when she was a little girl. She shows him the photo, and says, Nelle didn’t steal it from anyone; it was hers. It’s true. Nelle was her daughter. Can he just go? He says he’s sorry. He doesn’t want to leave, but it’s her decision, so he respects that. She says he needs to just go, and he says he’s not going to give up, okay? She touches the picture, and Jax goes to the door. He looks back, but doesn’t know what to say. He leaves, and Nina says, her poor baby girl. She cries, and says, you were right there and I never knew. She hugs the picture to her chest.
Tomorrow, Anna asks if there’s something someone wants to tell her, Peter asks why Maxie is defending someone, Elizabeth wonder who the real Peter is, Obrecht says they have to access Franco’s memories while there’s still time, and Dante wonders what he’s doing in the hospital.
Below Deck
My Seanna heads for Jolly Harbour, while Francesca and Elizabeth go back and forth about what sleeping in a guest cabin means, and if it actually involves sleeping. Francesca says Elizabeth keeps arguing with her; what’s wrong with her? In her interview, Izzy says she feels like she’s at the U.S. open, watching them. Francesca says she’s had enough, and walks out. Rob says, sprinkles? and shows Izzy and Elizabeth some bread with sprinkles on it. Izzy says, oh my God, fairy bread, which is something I’ve never heard of. Elizabeth tells Eddie about Francesca speaking in an abrupt way to her about being in the guest cabin. She’s calling her energy healer. Rob says, she’s a gentle soul. On deck, Elizabeth calls her spiritual advisor, and asks if she can get some virtual healing. He babbles about past lives and negative energy, then he chants. Elizabeth takes some deep breaths, and everything is okay now. The captain sees Elizabeth, and asks how she’s doing. She tells him, good, and says she just spoke to her energy healer. In the captain’s interview, he says, is her energy busted? Did she break it? Elizabeth goes to bed.
In Francesca’s interview, she says Elizabeth was talking back to her, and it wasn’t respectful. She’s disappointed in herself. She should have been more stern from the start, and not given so many chances. She really doesn’t know what to do. In the morning, Eddie raises the flag, which is not a euphemism for anything. Izzy asks Elizabeth how it feels to be 30, and James says he could hear her and Francesca over his headphones. Rachel talks to herself, saying she’s got Alzheimer’s like a MF’er. In her interview, she says, the guests are polar opposites, which seems like something they’d laugh about. Rob asks Izzy where they should start, and she says, if they’re five years old and need direction, they can start at the crow’s nest and work down. In Izzy’s interview, she says, Rob is acting like a petulant twat, and it doesn’t help. James tells Izzy that he’s just kidding, but she says, it doesn’t help. He says he gets softer throughout the day, which is a double-entendré. Francesca calls Elizabeth to the Sky Lounge.
Francesca tells Elizabeth, she was so disappointed last night. Elizabeth says she wants to be professional, but Francesca doesn’t see any of that. She needs to bring that game every day, and not be sleeping in a guest cabin; it’s not her yacht. She doesn’t like Elizabeth’s attitude, and how Elizabeth is looking at her with an attitude. I actually have no clue what she means here, since Elizabeth isn’t looking at her any particular way. Project much? James is washing windows on deck, and Eddie suggests he not look in that one. Francesca says she’s pissed off, and it’s the final straw. She tells Elizabeth to finish the cabins, and take charge of the laundry. In her interview, she says she doesn’t know why Elizabeth keeps pushing her buttons. Elizabeth needs to go. She’s had enough. Francesca gets weepy, and I have zero sympathy.
Provisions come in. Francesca doesn’t want to deal with anything, and in Ashling’s interview, she says she feels terrible. Francesca is Elizabeth’s superior, and Elizabeth has to listen and help. She’s tired, and Francesca is tired. She’s done with Elizabeth. Izzy asks if James is going to surprise Elizabeth on her birthday, and in his interview, he says he’s not Elizabeth’s boyfriend, but he’ll do his best as a friend to make sure she has a good day. He didn’t come there to stress, and birthdays are just reminders of how many fewer years you have left to live. Francesca tells Captain Lee about James and Elizabeth using the guest cabin, and he says, it’s an effing no-no. In his interview, he says he has no patience left. F*** this sh*t. He asks Eddie what James is doing, sleeping in a guest cabin without asking. If James wants to play hide the salami with his girlfriend, he doesn’t care, but not in their effing bed. Eddie radios James, and tells him that he’s only going to say it once. If James sleeps in a cabin again without asking permission, he can pack his sh*t and leave. That was a major f*** up. In James’s interview, he says he doesn’t think Eddie is being unfair, but would he do it again? No question. Yes, of course. Captain Lee says he’s sure Francesca had a similar conversation with Elizabeth, and Francesca says she doesn’t want to work on the yacht with Elizabeth. How mature. In his interview, the captain says, they’ve been down this road before. We flash back to him telling Francesca, sometimes the devil you know is better than the one you don’t. He can’t afford for the chief stew to walk out. He tells Francesca that he can’t promise he can get someone this late in the season, but he can try. Francesca says, as soon as he gets someone, she’ll let Elizabeth go.
Izzy tells Rachel that it’s Elizabeth’s birthday, and she’s been upset all day. Rachel suggests making a chocolate cake, with chocolate whipped cream. Eddie tells the deck crew to take a break. He asks if Izzy is okay, and she says, it’s a hostile work environment. James is acting like a complete child. He tells her, rise above, and don’t buy in. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she hopes James does something special for her birthday. Something super cute and romantic. She needs some cuteness in her life. James slurps his cereal as he sits next to Elizabeth in the crew mess. In her interview, she says, right now, it sucks, and James burps. Francesca tells Ashling that she talked to Elizabeth. She says she’s not a bitchy chief stew, which I think is debatable. Ashling says, it’s annoying. It’s only them working on laundry, housekeeping, and service. Ashling gets weepy, and says, Elizabeth doesn’t give a sh*t. Again, zero sympathy. James tells Rob that he won’t get caught next time. Francesca tells Ashling, just between them, she’s getting someone else after this charter. The situation is temporary now. Ashling thinks they could handle it without Elizabeth; just push through it. I’m not saying they’re wrong, but I also think Elizabeth needs better direction, and she does do some work. Francesca is handling this all wrong. For one thing, she shouldn’t be discussing it with Ashling.
March 11, 2020. Elizabeth tells herself to rise above the bullsh*t. Rachel tells Francesca that she wants to do a Thai/Vietnamese thing for dinner, and asks if Francesca is all right. Francesca says she’s good. She finds Ashling, and tells her that Rachel is doing an extravaganza. In her interview, Francesca says, as much as she’d like to get rid of Elizabeth, the guests are used to super yacht style service all the time. It’s not worth the risk to be down right now. She says she thinks Ashling will gel better with these guests. At least they’re working toward something. James tells Izzy that her ass is looking good, and the captain tells everyone to get in their whites.
Francesca tells Ashling, the kids are twenty, and technically, can’t drink in America. The guests arrive, and Eddie notes that David has sweet tea in a Styrofoam cup. In his interview, he says, he loves that old-style sh*t. The captain welcomes the guests to Antigua, and tells them, Francesca will give them the tour, then they’ll get off the dock. David lies down on one of the beds, telling everyone that he’s trying it out. While bringing on the luggage, Ashling notes Jackie’s $10K Vuitton bag. James says, so much Louis. David wonders what the poor people are doing. Ugh. The boat heads for Five Island Harbour, and Eddie tells Rob, drinking is age 18 on the islands. The kids will probably get wasted, and then throw up on deck. Rob is like, yay.
Izzy drops anchor, and the captain says, nice job. David and Jackie take some of the other guests along with them to the bridge. David tells Captain Lee that he raised 14 children, and wore out three wives. He asks if the captain has any children, and Captain Lee says he has four. They had five, but one of them passed away from an opioid overdose. David says his daughter died from an OD, and in June it will be five years. Jackie says, it’s devastating, and the captain says, he’ll think he can get over it, but knows he won’t. David tells him, he never will, but it will get better, and in Captain Lee’s interview, he says, everything is still fresh and raw. He can’t imagine surviving something like this. It’s hard. Jackie hugs him, and he gets teary when they leave. So do I.
Captain Lee is invited to join the guests for dinner. The primaries’ sons flirt with Ashling at the bar. They think the media is blowing the virus out of proportion. Francesca tells Rachel that the captain is having dinner with the guests, and takes lunch orders. Elizabeth tells Ashling, even if it wasn’t her birthday, she’d still be pissed. She went to a guest cabin, but it’s not fun being spoken to in a certain way. Ashling tells her, try not to think about it, and I want to smack her. Eddie gives instructions to one of the sons about a motorized surfboard, and Izzy is given Jackie’s designer innertube to blow up. In Izzy’s interview, she says she doesn’t think Jackie needs a floatation device. She indicates her boobs, and says Jackiehas two flotation devices right there. Izzy and Rob ask if James gave Elizabeth a card (that’s a no), and Eddie looks up their signs. In James’s interview, he says he needs to do this and needs to do that. In his head, he likes her, but it’s a lot of effort. An effing card is a lot of effort? This guy is such a loser. I can’t understand why anyone is interested in him. Eddie says according to their signs, they don’t belong together. Francesca gives Rachel the orders, and in Rachel’s interview, she says Francesca’s communication is lacking. Sorry, you suck. Rachel goes to an upper deck to grill octopus, when Francesca hunts her down for another mahi. In her interview, Rachel says she doesn’t know where the f*** this is coming from, but there’s no excuse. In Francesca’s interview, she says, it’s Rachel’s fault, but this is no time for her to freak out. The Queen of Versailles is waiting for her fish. Rachel wonders why the service isn’t up to par, and we flash back to all the times she was left waiting on them. She says she’s over it.
Rachel sings, Rachel is going to lose her sh*t, and the guests want more mahi. Rachel tells the captain that things got mixed up. She’s had problems with food being expedited more than once, and they need to have a conversation about service. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, Rachel has a wild hair up her ass, and he doesn’t need it. Francesca says she wrote it down, and tells Rachel the guests are loving the fish. The captain asks Francesca about communication with Rachel, and Francesca shows Rachel where it shows five orders for mahi. Rachel notices two orders are on the same line. In Rachel’s interview, she says, maybe she’s wrong, but she sees four orders on the ticket. She doesn’t know how to speak with Francesca, and it’s driving her nuts.
Izzy says she’s so not surprised that the boys aren’t taking her seriously, and they’re making jokes. Rob is a petulant child, and he’s 32 years old. Francesca goes over dinner with Rachel. In Ashling’s interview, she says, the whole world is losing people every second of every moment. The virus is becoming full-on and real. Izzy wonders what happened to the cake. The captain tells Eddie that, unfortunately, the primaries lost their oldest daughter, and he hopes the dinner conversation is lighter. Part of him is looking forward to it, and part of him is dreading it. Bringing up the memory is like ripping a Band-Aid off again, and he’ll have to deal with it. Elizabeth talks to her friend Kim on the phone, and says, it’s the most depressing 30th birthday ever. She feels like sh*t. In the galley, Rachel says she thinks dinner is going to be amazeballs.
Rob tells Izzy, it’s not like she got promoted to captain. She got promoted to lead shammy . In Izzy’s interview, she says, you only hear about the old salty sea dogs – men – and not about the women who work on the sea. At the dinner table, Jackie says the wine is a $1000 bottle from their cellar. One of their sons announces that Tom Hanks and his wife have covid, and David says, it’s no worse than the flu. A guest looks at her phone, and says, international travel has been suspended. Izzy feels bad that Elizabeth didn’t even have a cake, and asks Rob if they should make a fairy bread cake. In her interview, Izzy says, Rachel was supposed to make a cake, but had no time. Everyone should have a cake their birthday. She, Rob, and James work together, and make some weird stack of buttered bread with sprinkles, and drizzle chocolate all over it. James says, it’s the hardest they’ve worked all day.
The captain joins the guests, and says he has a hunch they’ll be having a few conversations. David says they’re both in a club they don’t want to be in. They’ve learned how to cope. Captain Lee says he needs to learn those skills. David asks him how his son’s drug use started, and Captain Lee says his son had demons he couldn’t fix. It was a terrible feeling to have as a father. David says, you feel helpless, and the captain says, it helps to talk to someone who’s been there. They know how he feels, and how to do it. Jackie says, the first six months were a blur, and David asks how the captain’s wife is coping. Captain Lee says, not well. Josh was the only product of his wife and himself. David says, that’s tough, and the captain needs a minute. Francesca asks how it’s going, and he says, it’s okay, and keeps walking. Ashling tells Eddie that they were talking about the captain’s son, and he walked out, taking deep breaths. At the bridge, the captain takes more deep breaths.
The captain tells himself, try to pull it together. James radios Elizabeth, asking her to come to the crew mess, and they give her the makeshift cake. She says it’s the best cake she could have asked for, and she appreciates it. James eats a huge chunk, and says he feels sick. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, call her delusional, but she’s hoping James comes through with a kiss. Okay. She’s delusional. This guy is a d-bag, and deliberately ignoring her birthday. The captain tells the guests that he’s sorry; he needed a minute, and Jackie says, so did a few other people. He says, every day is a battle; a struggle. David says, they’ll help him through it, and Jackie says if they don’t talk about it, it doesn’t help anyone else. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, sometimes you have to confront the elephant in the room, as tough as it may be. He doesn’t believe in closure; there is no closure. But given enough time and assistance, he can develop skills to cope better. He has people who depend on him to take care of them. Maybe observing how Jackie and David cope, he can help his wife and the rest of the family. Jackie says Captain Lee is family now. Francesca tells Elizabeth, happy birthday, and goes to bed. Elizabeth says, finally. It’s been a sh*tty day. She goes to the crew mess, and says, goodnight. James just tells her, goodnight, and she walks to her cabin, saying, WTF?
Francesca asks Ashling if she’s uncomfortable serving the boys, and tells her to call James if she needs back-up. In Ashling’s interview, she says, the boys are drinking loads. She’d be asking for a glass of champagne. James looks for his Baby Ray’s sauce in the refrigerator, and Izzy finds it in a millisecond. Eddie asks how she did it. He was looking for 20 minutes. She says, a woman’s look. Ashling asks James to help with the dishes, and getting the sons to go to bed. No jacuzzi, no nothing. One of the sons suggests jumping off the boat, and we flash back to Delores. Ashling tells him, no, and in her interview, she says she feels like a babysitter. Next, he suggests taking the tender, and she says she thinks a good idea for them to go to bed, so they can be up for breakfast. David Jr. goes to bed, while Daniel says he wants to use the hot tub, but Ashling says, it’s out of order; it’s draining. In her interview, she says, it’s a white lie. She doesn’t know if it’s going to come back and bite her in the ass or not, but she’s keeping him safe. He goes upstairs anyway, and says, it’s effing full and hot. He’ll take another vodka. Ashling says, no more alcohol, and he says they’re here to make his vacation as good as possible, and they’re limiting his alcohol. He says he wants them to enjoy themselves too. It’s their vacation, not his. Ashling says, no… and he finally gets up. He heads for his cabin, saying he’ll make them breakfast in the morning, and they can go in the hot tub. James wonders if he’ll be back, and Ashling says he drank half a bottle of Hennessey. As he closes his door, Daniel says, the crew is whack.
Next time, swimming with rays; the captain says the virus is scary stuff; Eddie says if the deckhands don’t take Izzy seriously, he’ll give them something to take seriously; Francesca says Rachel can’t admit when she’s wrong; and Captain Lee calls Elizabeth to the wheelhouse.
⛵️ Below Deck Sailing Yacht will begin its new season on March 1st.
The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
❄️ Snow Day…
Living near the ocean means less snow. Like Charlie Brown and his trick-or-treat bag of rocks, all we get is a bunch of rain. But it’s almost a given that every February, we get one good blast. It came early this year. Whether you got snow or no, stay safe, stay dry, and stay not getting in your own way. As Franco said, life is short.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 