What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
On the phone in her office, Jordan tells someone that she and the PCPD appreciate their assistance. Good luck. There’s a knock at the door. Curtis comes in, and she asks if everything is okay. He says he just heard from his lawyer. Has she decided to fight the divorce?
At Charlie’s, TJ asks Molly to tell him again that she knows what she’s doing. She says she does, and he gives her a kiss for luck. She leaves, and runs into Stella outside. Stella asks if Molly isn’t joining her and TJ, but Molly says she has a really important appointment, but next time. Stella goes inside, and asks TJ, what’s up with Molly that she’s not joining them? He says, she’s a born crusader. If she thinks there’s a way to help someone, she’ll step up.
Ava joins Portia at another table, and asks how their girl is. Has she recovered from her scare at the gallery? Portia says, Trina’s no victim, so in the end she was more angry than scared that her big entrance to her graduation party turned into a scene from a horror movie. Once she got herself cleaned up, she had a terrific time. Portia doesn’t know where she gets it, and Ava says she thinks she’s looking at her.
Trina is reading in the park, when Victor/Spencer comes along. He asks if she’s reading anything good, and she says a book about mask-wearing feminists calling out misogyny in the art world since 1895, and he says, sounds enthralling. She says, they’re badass, unlike him who ghosted her on the 4th when he went in search for a bottle of water. He hands her a bottled water, and says, better late than never.
Nikolas approaches Martin at the MetroCourt, and asks if Martin got his message. Martin says he did. He was going to get back to Nikolas later today. Nikolas sits, and says, since they’re both there, does Martin have a minute? Martin says, a minute? Have a seat. What’s on his mind? Nikolas says, divorce.
Alexis babbles about the weather to a guard inside a prison office. She says, it smells good after it rains, doesn’t he think? The guard looks up from his book, and says, what? She says, never mind. She’ll just keep talking to herself. Shawn walks in, and says, or she can talk to him. She asks what he’s doing there; he’s going to get them in trouble. The guard opens the gate, and Shawn says, Henry is going to look away while he accidentally runs into her while she’s doing her daily exercise. They go into the other room, and Henry says Shawn owes him. They sit, and Alexis says she doesn’t want Shawn jeopardizing himself for her. He says he’ll be fine, but she says, nobody’s fine in here. She rubs her wrist, and he asks if it’s bothering her. She says her osteoporosis is acting up, and he asks if she’s taking anything for it. She can request medication that helps her stay healthy. She says she’s so grateful for working in the library, she didn’t want to request any special favors. She could ask Diane to help her with it, but she has no idea when she’s going to have a conversation with anyone on the outside again. He asks if solitary is getting to her.
TJ tells Stella, even though Molly wanted Alexis to take responsibility, she’s worried about Alexis being behind bars. She says, it’s hard on the whole family when a family member is in prison, especially during personal milestones, and TJ says, like graduating law school. She says, and graduating med school. He says she knows he’s been keeping in touch with Shawn. He and Molly saw Shawn the other night, and she says, that’s nice. He says, no offense, but when she says nice that way, she means anything but. It’s her right to feel how she feels, and he’ll always consider dad his father, but Shawn is too. She says, Shawn is his birth father, and it’s natural for TJ to want a relationship with him. TJ thanks her for understanding, and she says, of course (🍷). She asks how his mother is.
Jordan says, Curtis is there about the divorce papers? and he says if she has a problem with the terms, they can talk about it, although he thought they were extremely fair. She says she doesn’t have a problem with the terms. They agreed to be amicable, and she thought that’s what they were doing. He says so did he, then his lawyer told him she hasn’t delivered the signed papers, even though he gave them to her weeks ago. He has to ask, what’s the problem? She says she’s had a lot going on. The initial investigation into Franco Baldwin’s death; Peter August attempted a kidnapping, then escaped; Chase was poisoned and nearly died; there’s been an uptick in overdoses because of Cyrus, who also took the mayor hostage and shot Curtis; Jason Morgan escaped from GH, where he was shot; and she had to deescalate a situation with Cameron Webber where he could have been shot. Oh, right, then her son graduated from medical school. He says he doesn’t mean to downplay her formidable list, but how long does it take to sign some papers and stick them in an envelope?
Trina takes the water from Spencer, says, thanks a bunch, and goes back to reading. He says she’s not giving him an inch, is she? She asks why she should. He must think he’s cute or something. He says he’s been told he has a certain charm, and she goes back to her book. He asks if she’s going to ignore him now, but she says she’s trying to read. He says she took his peace offering, and she asks what more he expects. He says, forgiveness maybe. He apologized. She says, no. He gave her a bottle of water on a hot day, and he says, okay, he’s sorry. He apologizes for disappearing on the 4th. Something came up. She says, it’s no big deal. After all, they barely know each other. He gets next to her on her blanket, and says, let’s change that.
Martin says he was wondering if he’d hear from Nikolas. He got a confusing call from Scotty last week. Was he right? Nikolas and Ava are getting a divorce? Nikolas says, despite his best efforts, yes, and Martin says he’s sorry to hear that. He hasn’t known either of them long, but it seemed they were a good match. Nikolas says, they were a perfect match. They’re being stalked, and Ava is terrified. She doesn’t want to put her young daughter Avery in danger. Martin says, that’s understandable, but why get a divorce? Nikolas says, this maniac wants them apart, threatening them with twisted gifts. He has Ava scared to the point where she’s convinced if they give him what he wants, he’ll leave them alone. Martin says he heard about the gallery break-in the other night. He has to admit, fake blood in the sprinkler system is a rather grisly way to get your point across, and Nikolas says it seems to be escalating. He asks what the police said. Is the new lead enough to catch him?
Molly approaches Judge Carson, and says she’s sorry to keep her waiting, but the judge says Molly isn’t late. She’s notoriously early. Molly sits and thanks the judge for meeting with her, and Carson says she’s glad Molly decided to take her up on her offer. She’s always happy to mentor promising new talent. Molly says she hopes the time prove beneficial to both of them.
Jordan tells Curtis, it’s just one of those things. She thinks about signing the papers, and finds herself in the middle of another crisis. When she remembers to sign them, she’s already home, and the papers are at the office, and she promises herself that she’s going to sign them the next day. He says he gets it, but she also has a habit of using work to avoid personal issues. He thinks their marriage is about as personal as it gets. She tells him that she can’t say he’s wrong. She’s put off signing the papers for too long. The fact is, the two of them need to move along to whatever comes next. Maybe he already has.
Portia tells Ava, since the hostage situation, she’s been watching Trina closely for cracks, but there never seem to be any. She threw herself into her graduation, she’s focused on PCU in the fall, and she’s eighteen now. It’s not like Portia can be a helicopter mom, even though she wants to. Ava says she’s not surprised Trina is moving on; she’s so tough. Ava understands Portia’s instinct to hover. She hasn’t gotten over the terror she felt, seeing Trina standing there, covered in what looked like blood. It was such a nightmare. She had this moment of disconnect. She was telling herself that what she was seeing couldn’t possibly be real. She had that same feeling when she saw Kiki… and that of course (🍷) was real. She can’t tell Portia how relieved she was when the blood turned out to be fake. Portia says, her too, and Ava says she couldn’t bear to lose Trina. She hopes she’s not overstepping, and Portia says they’re past all that. It takes a village, right? She’s glad Ava is looking out for Trina. The college reference letter Ava wrote was so lovely, and she appreciates Ava continually encouraging Trina in her passion for art. Ava says, she’s so talented though. She has a great eye, great sensibility… Portia says, Trina told her the gallery is closed now? Was there really that much damage? Ava says, the paintings can’t be saved. She has insurance of course (🍷), but so much beautiful artwork gone. Portia says, that’s so terrible. She can’t even believe Ava is being stalked. What kind of person would want to cause that much pain?
Trina asks where they begin, and Spencer says, she likes art. Who’s her favorite artist? Other than guerilla feminists. She says, there’s too many to list. Before this book, she was reading Vermeer and studio method influences on twentieth century art, and of course (🍷) there’s David Driskell and Ray Reardon. He says, very well-rounded, and Trina says she loves art and art history. She’s majoring in fine arts. He says, at PCU, and she says, and at the Jerome Gallery. He says, where she got the… and she says thanks for reminding her. She’d almost forgotten. He says, sorry, and she says, what about him? What’s his deal? He says, kind of a large question, and she says she’s never seen him around before last week. Did he just move here? He says he has a place on Pierpont; it’s a studio. She asks if he lives by himself, and he says, we’re all we have in the end. She says, deep, and he says, so, PCU, fine arts; he sees she’s digging in. She says, they have a great art history program. Does he have a problem with art? He says, not at all. He likes art. The Museum de Some-French-word-I-don’t-catch in France is one of his favorite places of all time. Who’s her favorite impressionist?
Shawn says, solitary is tough, even for the strongest of personalities, and Alexis says, it’s ironic. She used to fantasize about having a place to go to where she could just have peace and quiet. Then when Julian and the girls are gone, and she’s all alone in the house, does he know what she did with that peace and quiet? She drank so she could make the time go by faster, because silence is not peaceful; it’s oppressive. And there are no windows. She starts to panic, and says there are no windows in her cell; none. Does he know Star Wars, when they’re in the trash compactor, and the walls keep closing in, and in, and in, on them. That’s a movie, so the walls were actually closing in on them, but she’s in her cell and the walls are stable, solid, bare, but she thinks they’re moving. She starts to cry and hyperventilate, and he tells her, calm down. Look at him. Focus on him.
Judge Carson asks if Molly is sure she doesn’t want a cocktail. Pinot? Molly says she’d better not. She still has work to do, and she really doesn’t drink much. Carson says, because of her mother? It’s probably prudent. Looks like they’re keeping Molly busy at the DA’s office. Molly says, yes, and she has so much to learn. Any free time she has, she’s going over old case files, researching precedents… Carson says, that’s industrious. She must be familiar with the County Clerk’s office by now. Molly says she is, and some of Carson’s old cases too. Carson says she guesses over the years she’s had a few cases that were precedent setting, and Molly tells her, she’d say so. As well as stretching the parameters of some of her felony cases. Carson says, stretching? and Molly says, in certain cases, Carson gave out maximum sentences, even when the defendant showed remorse. Carson says, the operative word being, shown. Some defendants are excellent actors, particularly during sentencing. It’s her job to protect the community. Molly says, especially when the defendants are Black?
Martin says he thought Nikolas heard. They found a footprint from the perpetrator. It’s a very unique footprint. They’re confident they can match the boot treads. Nikolas says he hadn’t heard. How did Martin find out? Martin says Nikolas isn’t the only person who has his sources, and Nikolas says, this changes everything. He has to go. Martin asks if he’s going to call about his divorce, and Nikolas says, there’s not going to be a divorce.
Trina tells Spencer that she’s not only about art. Her mom is a doctor, and she used to read her mom’s medical books. Spencer says, it sounds like a fascinating childhood, and she says, it was colorful. What does his mom do? Does she work, or is she a society mom? He asks why she’d think that, and she says she had him pegged as a trust fund kid; a studio on Pierpont. He says his mom died when he was little, and she says she’s sorry. She didn’t mean to be insensitive. He says, it’s a perfectly normal question. He hates that the answer always stops the conversation cold. He never really had a mom growing up, so he doesn’t know what he’s missing, right?
Shawn tells Alexis to focus on him, and asks if she can breathe with him. In for four, out for four. Got it? Let’s try it. They breathe together, and Alexis calms down. She says she thought she was having a heart attack, and he says he’s had panic attacks himself; they’re not fun. She says, it was scary, and he says she’s not alone. Try to remember that. She says she always admired that about him, and he says, breathing or counting? She says, he’s stable, and he makes people feel safe. He made her feel safe, even when she knew he was working for Sonny. He says they do go way back, and he’s glad she trusts him. She says she does, and wants him to tell her what’s going on. He says he knows her, and he doesn’t want her to freak out. She suggests he just tell her what’s going on, and he says he told Molly that Alexis’s stay in solitary might be thanks to Judge Carson, and she says, what?
Carson tells Molly, that’s a loaded statement. One could even call it an allegation. She should exercise more restraint in commenting on things about which she knows nothing. Perhaps she was mistaken in thinking Molly showed promise. Molly says she’s sorry… Actually she’s not sorry. It’s all there in the record. On comparable charges Carson routinely gave non-white defendants longer prison time than their white counterparts. That is not justice. Carson says, young lady, I’ll remind you that you’re speaking to a judge, and Molly says, a judge that exerted pressure to keep her mother in solitary because her mother is on to her. Carson says perhaps she should let the DA’s office know the disrespect she’s shown a prominent judge; they’ll see it as a liability. Molly laughs, and says she’s not afraid of Carson. And she has no respect for a judge who can’t or won’t act impartially. She’s trashing the very system she’s sworn to uphold, and Molly and her mother are going to stop her. Martin comes by, and says, excuse him. Is there a problem?
TJ tells Stella that his mom is doing well. Busy, as always. Stella says she’s so glad Jordan got that devil Cyrus Renault, and put him behind bars once and for all. He says, everyone is sleeping better now that Renault’s locked up, and she says, Jordan and Curtis make quite a team. Are they talking? He says, they talk. Why does she ask? She says, any talk of reconciling? but he says he doesn’t know. He doesn’t think it’s very likely since they just got divorced. She says, you never can tell. There’s always hope.
Curtis says, Jordan thinks he moved on? and she says she knows from Portia’s statement that he called her the night Cyrus took Portia and Trina hostage. Thank God he did. If he hadn’t reached out, that night might have had a very different ending. It also pointed to maybe a connection between him and Portia. He says, it’s true. Over the past few months, he and Portia have been spending a lot of time together. That’s why he called her that night. They kissed, and honestly, it just brought up a bunch of questions. Jordan says, he’s single, Portia’s single, so… He says she didn’t know about it? and she asks how she’d know. He says he saw her talking to Portia at Trina’s party, and she says, they talk all the time. Why would he assume they were talking about him? He says, because Portia’s been sending him mixed signals, and he thinks it’s because someone warned her away from him. She says, and he thinks that someone is her?
Ava promises Portia that she can keep Trina safe, especially now that she’s doing what that maniac wants, and getting a divorce. Portia hates that Ava is paying such a high price, but she does understand. When Cyrus had his gun trained on Trina, she was prepared to do anything to keep her safe. Ava should focus on keeping herself safe too. Nikolas walks in, and says he apologizes, but he has to speak with Ava. Portia says she has to get going, and leaves. Nikolas asks if Ava minds if he sits down. She says, only if he’s brought divorce papers, and he says, the PCPD has a lead on the stalker. It’s only a matter of time before he gets caught. She says she’s not having this discussion with him again. She can’t keep living like this. She sent Avery to live with Carly. At least there, she knows Avery is safe, but she doesn’t want to be separated from her child. She doesn’t want to look over her shoulder, afraid of what might happen next. Nikolas says, that’s no way to live, so – he takes her hands – run away with him.
Jordan says, for the record, if she had a problem with Curtis seeing Portia, she wouldn’t have gone to Portia. She’d say it to his face. He says, duly noted, and she says, not that who he sees is any of her business at this point. Now if he’ll excuse her, she has to get back to work, but don’t worry. She’ll sign the papers, and get them over to his lawyer asap. An officer comes in with a file Jordan requested and apologizes for interrupting. Jordan says she didn’t; they’re done here. Curtis leaves, and Jordan looks at their wedding photo, then puts it upside down in a desk drawer.
Spencer asks what Trina does for fun around there, other than read art books. She says she likes the beach. Has he been there? He says, she calls that a beach? and she asks if they have another name for sand meeting water where he comes from. He says, la plage, and she says, a beach by any other name is still a beach. He says she seems fond of hers; maybe they should go sometime. She says, formidablé, and his phone dings. She reaches for it, and he shouts, stop! startling her.
Alexis says, Shawn told Molly that she’s in solitary and Judge Carson is involved? Her baby daughter. He told her that Alexis is being persecuted while she’s incarcerated; is he insane? Dammit! Henry hears, and says, settle down. Alexis pulls Shawn to the other side of the room, and says he knows how Molly is, as determined as she is naïve. She thinks justice triumphs, and she will go charging into this fight, and it will ruin her law career before it even gets started.
Molly tells Martin, there’s a problem, but he says he was speaking to the judge. He asks if Carson is all right, calling her Naomi, and she says she’s fine. She shouldn’t have lost her temper, but this girl is making outrageous accusations. Molly says, the facts are plain as day if you look in the right places. Case in point, Shawn Butler is serving a 20 year sentence for attempted murder, while Judge Carson has given white defendants minimal prison time for the same charge. Martin says, young lady, that is no way to talk to her honor, and Carson says she’ll defend her record any day. A more seasoned lawyer would know that each case has to be evaluated on its individual merit. Looking at a bunch of sentences means nothing. She asks Martin why she’s even having this conversation. This girl hasn’t even passed the bar yet. Martin says Molly is obviously impetuous like her mother. He believes the case she’s looking at is her husband’s father. Molly says, domestic partner, and that is not the point. Carson says she thinks they’re done here. Just know that the DA’s office and the Bar Association will be made to understand Molly’s slanderous attacks on her reputation. Martin says, if he were Molly, he’d leave while he still had a job, and Molly says, gladly. Just so he knows, everything she said is true, and she’s going to prove it. She walks out.
Ava says, after everything she’s shared with Nikolas – her fear that this maniac might target Avery to get to her – does he think running away is going to change anything? He says they can take Avery and disappear. She always wanted a yacht, right? He’ll get a luxury cruiser, and they can sail for a month or so, until they get to Cassadine Island. They can wait there until the stalker gets caught. She says, and if he’s not? and he says, then Avery grows up on a Mediterranean island. She says he’d walk away from Windymere, after everything he did to get it back. He’d leave Laura. He says he’ll find a way to keep in touch with his mother, and can’t worry about the rest. He can’t lose her. He’ll keep telling her until she believes him that he’ll do anything to save this marriage, even if it means losing everything.
Trina says she was going to give Spencer her number, and he apologizes for being abrupt. He says, it’s locked, and unlocks it, handing it back to her. She puts her number in, and says she sent herself a text so she has his too. Is that cool? He says, formidablé. Portia calls Trina’s name, and comes out into the clearing. Trina says she didn’t realize it was so late, and Portia asks if she’s ready for dinner. She tells Spencer that she’s Trina’s mom Portia, and he says, how do you do? He’s Victor. Trina says she should have introduced them, and Portia asks if he’d like to join them for dinner… unless he’s expected at home. Trina says, mom, and Spencer thanks her for the invitation, but he has to get going. It was a pleasure meeting her. He tells Trina that he’ll see her later, and leaves. Portia says, so… Victor, huh? and Trina rolls her eyes.
Ava gets up, and tells Nikolas that she appreciates the gesture. She starts to leave, and he follows her, saying, it’s not a gesture. They can do this. They can take Avery and disappear. She says, running away won’t work. She can’t take Avery away from everything she’s ever known. She just lost her uncle, and her father, and her grandfather recently; all of whom she loved. She can’t take Avery away from her brothers and sisters. It’s just much too much disruption. He asks if it’s out of the question to fight for their marriage, and she says, it’s out of the questions to put Avery at risk just so they can be together. He might be willing to risk it. He might be able to dismiss the stuffed bear as some kind of prank, but she knows that if the stalker got that close to Avery once, he can do it again. She can not and will not take that risk. If he loves her, he’ll help her. He won’t fight her on the divorce, and he’ll agree to it to help expedite it. He says it seems he doesn’t have a choice. He’ll have Martin get the ball rolling on the divorce. They’ll file the paperwork, fill it with lots of boilerplate, negotiate everything from the division of property to a financial settlement. He’s sure Martin and Scotty can find plenty of ways to stall for time.
TJ tells Stella, he loves Jordan and Curtis, and hopes they work things out, but he’s pretty sure that ship has sailed. They’re both committed to moving on. She says, with other people? and he says not that he knows of, but it’s bound to happen at some point. He thinks she needs to accept that his mom and Curtis are over. She tells him, life takes many new twists and turns. Hasn’t he ever heard that saying, it ain’t over til it’s over? He asks what she did.
Carson tells Martin that she contributed to the African American associations and charities. She even had a Black roommate one semester in college. How dare this girl accuse her of bias or question her commitment to the law? He says, it’s outrageous. He can only surmise that Molly is prone to her mother’s unique instability. She says, so it would seem, and he says, seem? He’s known the judge for 20 years, and they travel in the same circles. He’s always known her to do what’s right. If Molly could look at this situation calmly, she’d see that the law isn’t only what’s written in the penal code. It has to adapt to social mores, lend itself to… interpretation. She says, absolutely. She has to evaluate each defendant not only on the basis of their past record, but how they were brought up, and what they’re future is likely to be. Some people only respond to incarceration, and that’s just the sad truth. He says he knows exactly what she means.
Shawn says he only told Molly because she’s already involved. She’s the one who brought Alexis the records. He wanted to warn her to stay away from Judge Carson. Alexis asks if he thinks Molly took is warning and is going to listen to anything he said, and he says he told her to take it to Diane and let her handle it. Alexis says, she’s not going to let it go. She’s not going to tell Diane; she’s going to keep it from Diane. She’s going to go in there, and try to rectify it herself, and Alexis can’t even go to her and try to talk some sense into her. Alexis starts to get wound up again, and says she has to get out of there. She has to get out of solitary.
Trina says, Victor is just a guy she knows. Don’t give him the third degree. Portia says she doesn’t know what Trina is talking about, and Trina says, all those questions about his family; she scared him off. Portia says all she did was invite him to dinner, and Trina says, then she asked if he was expected at home. Could she be more obvious? Portia asks if Trina is interested in this guy. He sure seemed interested in her. Trina says, he did? She means, he’s okay. He seems nice. Portia says, and hot, and Trina says, mom! Portia says she’s not blind. Where’d Trina meet him? Trina says, he works at The Savoy. If Curtis trusts Victor enough to hire him, then Portia can trust him too. Portia says, oh really? So this boyfriend’s for hire now? Trina says, my God, and Portia says she’s teasing. She can’t help but be interested in any boy who puts a smile on Trina’s face.
Spencer went to the cemetery, and looked at Mike’s gravestone.
Ava tells Nikolas, no stalling, no dragging things out. Do not fight her on this. He says he’s not, but she says he’s certainly not cooperating. What is it going to take? Something tragic to happen? She’d never be able to forgive herself, and she certainly wouldn’t be able to forgive him. He says, all right. He’ll tell Martin to make a quick divorce. Don’t worry. She says she won’t, once this is done. He touches her arm, and says he’s only doing this because he loves her. She says she knows. She loves him too. She leaves.
Curtis goes into Charlie’s and asks Stella what she’s been up to. She says she was just with TJ, and they were talking about how Curtis and Jordan still have some unfinished business. He says he wasn’t aware TJ knew about his and Jordan’s business or their divorce, and she says, that’s just it. After everything he and Jordan have overcome to be together, and she includes herself in that, they can’t just quit on each other. Given the time, they can work it out. He asks what she means by given the time, and she says, only that he and Jordan are together, and she’d say that to anyone. He says he has the feeling she already did.
Alexis says, this is partly Shawn’s fault. He knows he shouldn’t have told Molly. He says, because keeping things from Molly always works out so well. She hadn’t been able to reach Alexis. She was going to find out. He wanted Molly to watch her back so she didn’t rush into anything blindly. Molly might be idealistic, and even naïve, but she’s still smart. Smart enough to avoid trouble like Judge Carson, now that she knows about her. Alexis hopes he’s right. She has to believe that because she really has no other choice. He tells her, remember, Molly’s got people to lean on, and at this moment, she needs Alexis to work on herself. Focus on getting out of solitary. Can she do that? She says she doesn’t know, and he says, if she gets anxious, close her eyes, focus on her breathing, and stay in the moment, one breath to the next. She says she’ll do her best, and Henry says it’s time for them to go back to their cells.
There’s a knock on Jordan’s office door, and she says, come in. It’s Martin, and she asks if he has something for her. He says, only a recording of a very incriminating conversation with Judge Carson. We see Molly and TJ are in the office, and Molly says, the dishonorable Judge Carson is going down.
Tomorrow, Curtis asks where Stella gets off telling Portia something like that, Jordan asks what Molly wants her to do, Maxie asks what someone is doing in Port Charles, and Carly is going to let Jason break the happy news.
🗯 What I Should Have Said…
A teeny bit late, but saying goodbye to the old, and welcoming the new. Spencer is all Rico Suave now.
Million Dollar Listing New York
We learned KJ had moved to Rye when she was 11, and had her first listing there. NYC had been hit hard with covid, and people were moving to places like Rye. She didn’t usually sell outside NYC, but thought it was a unique opportunity to use her skills in another market, plus, it was her home town. She joined agent Kim at the property, where they met with owners Ravi and Lisa. KJ said she wasn’t used to so much green, and she didn’t mean money. The house was 5700 square feet, with 20 foot ceilings, 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, and ¾ of an acre. The kitchen was massive, with Miele appliances, and the primary bathroom had a jacuzzi and heated floors, but the coolest thing was a secret passage from the upstairs into a bedroom above the garage. In KJ’s interview, she said one of her greatest strengths was her honesty with sellers. They needed to hear from an expert what modifications had to be made for the property to sell. She told the couple what she thought needed to be updated, and believed $3.8 million was the highest they could go (her potential commission being $114K). The owners agreed, but hoped for a bidding war.
Fredrik was driving his convertible Bentley in L.A., but said he was in constant communication with his team in NYC. The 10th Avenue property was a test to see if the bi-coastal thing would work. If you remember, Fredrik participated in the showings as a robot – i.e. an iPad on a stick – and he said the showings were a massive success. He got two offers, one of $6 million and another just under that. He thought any offers were an accomplishment considering the market. He grooved to the stereo in his car, saying, since nightclubs were closed, the car was the new dance floor. He drove to Palm Springs to visit property owner John, and the temperature was 116 F. I will never, ever live in Palm Springs. He’d sold John the apartment in 2009, but John was retiring with his partner, and Fredrik wanted to do his best for him. He explained that NYC wasn’t doing too well, plus it was an election year, and no matter what, the uncertainty affected the market. There was also the pandemic, and around 40,000 apartments available. If he wanted to sell now, Fredrik thought they should entertain the offers. They’d asked $6.95 million, and John said he was disappointed. He’d hired Fredrik because he was supposed to be the best, but it looked like he’d be losing money. Fredrik called the two brokers involved, and the best he could do was get the $6 million as a firm offer. John decided to wait it out. BTW, Fredrik and Derek’s twins certainly grew.
Ryan was involved with developer Avi’s 138 unit, humongous building in Brooklyn. In Ryan’s interview, he said it was going to be the most luxurious new development project Brooklyn had ever seen. Avi was tough, but Ryan said he was nothing if not persistent. He’d sent Avi a tree because he wanted to grow the relationship, along with a video marketing the building as if they were already hired. He told us, play it like you’ve got the money in your pocket. It worked, because Ryan got the building. He had a lively discussion with driver Yuriy about how many floors it was, Ryan explaining it was 21 floors, and Yuriy insisting it was 155. Ryan said Yuriy had to work on his Russian counting. The building façade was now entirely up, and inside, the rooms had been formed. Ryan had been worried the project would stop after non-essential workers had been non-working for four months. His potential commission was a heart-stopping $9 million, but dropped to $0 when Avi told him to put it on hold; they were possible doing rentals. He told Ryan the election was bringing nerve to market, and covid was still very real. They had decisions to make, and might have to pivot. Where was Brooklyn going to be in a year? Ryan was sure the market would bounce back, but Avi wasn’t budging.
KJ set up a picnic for potential buyers and brokers, so they could wait in the backyard comfortably, while waiting for their private tours. She said when she was growing up, she didn’t know what her career path would be, just that it would be fabulous. We saw a lot of old photos.
Fredrik said having twins and a big-ass career was a lot. He had one phone for the East Coast, and another for the West Coast. He approached Derek about possibly having more kids, but Derek thought life was going by too fast as it was, and they hardly had time together. In Fredrik’s interview, he said he understood, but didn’t want to look back and think coulda, shoulda, woulda. We flashed back over their journey to parenthood, and Fredrik told Derek, he’d finally found some friends on his level with the twins. Derek said he just didn’t want their life to get too complicated, and Fredrik said if Derek wanted simple, Derek shouldn’t have married him.
The owners had taken KJ’s advice, and she said the small changes would make a big difference. The picnic was set up, and it was adorable, with round blankets that had picnic baskets in the center. KJ said there was no comparison to the space you got there to what you’d get in the city. It was lush, private, and large, and what New Yorkers wanted to move to. Kim entertained in the backyard, while KJ did the showings. KJ’s mom, with the unfortunate name of Karen, came along with some buyers as their interior designer. In KJ’s interview, she said her mom had been in the business for 38 years. Tyler brought a couple who were his clients, and in her interview, KJ said before the pandemic, she and Tyler weren’t the best of friends. We flashed back to that, and KJ said that during quarantine, Tyler had FaceTimed her and apologized. We saw a clip of their conversation, and in Tyler’s interview, he said it had been his ego talking.
KJ said her mother had a lot of opinions, but she just let her talk during showings because it was usually going in the right direction. Sometimes she even paid her mom commission. She thought it was a great event. It had showcased the property well, everyone had a good time, and they had perfect weather. She’d gotten incredible feedback, and hoped for an offer.
Fredrik said the $6 million wasn’t the best offer, but in this market, it was. John rethought things, and decided it was the best they were going to get in the near future. It took him like ten minutes to spit it out. Fredrik’s commission was $180K, and he was thrilled with his first deal in NYC from L.A. It made him a true bi-coastal hustler, and his rap name was Six Percent.
Next time, Steve has a farmers market at Artemis Farm, a client is unhappy with Fredrik, and a germophobe doesn’t want to live where someone has lived before. Shades of Teresa from RHONJ.
🐎 Happy Trails To You…
It’s that time again, the end of another work week, or five sunrises and sunsets for those who are in non-work mode. Tea time tomorrow, Friday soap, and whatever quotes I’ve picked up. For right now, stay safe, stay extraordinary, and stay calling out the dishonorable.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 