Monthly Archives: July 2022

Jul16

July 15, 2022 – Carly’s Last Day At Work, On Leave, End Story, New Gig, OLTL Anniversary, So Sorry Not, Two Exits, Shocking, New House, Not Daytime, Just Over 12 Quotes & Time

Posted on July 16, 2022 by theresakp

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

There’s a knock at Carly’s office door, and she says, almost done. Drew says, then he’s right on time.

Olivia thanks her assistant Ashley for bringing something to her attention, and calls over to Nina. She wonders if she can have a word, and asks why Nina is pumping her staff for information. Nina says, she’s not pumping them for anything. She was just familiarizing herself with the operations around here. Olivia says, Nina has had her fun lording her half ownership of the hotel over Carly, but it’s got to stop. She and Ned are prepared to write Nina a check for every penny she paid, plus 3%. Nina says she’s not interested, and Olivia says, 5%, not a penny more. Nina says, Olivia doesn’t get it. Her half of the MetroCourt isn’t for sale. Sonny comes by and says, why not?

Curtis tells Marshall, Windymere is private property. If they take the launch the guards will tip off Esme that they’re coming. What they need is someone who lives there to help them out. Ava comes out onto the pier and says, hiya, gents. Going my way? Curtis says, they’re good, but maybe she can help Trina, and she says, done. Marshall says, she doesn’t even know what they’re asking, but she says, it doesn’t matter. If whatever it is, is for Trina, she’s in.

Josslyn says, Trina has to use this. This could be a real game changer. Portia walks in, and says, what’s a real game changer? and Josslyn says, new evidence that could help Trina’s case. Portia asks, what is it? Tell her; what’s the new evidence?

Oz (which we find out later is the bartender’s name) barges into Windymere, and Esme says, get out before she calls security. He says he remembers that high and mighty attitude, but he’d check himself before he called security. Because security may lead to the police, and something tells him, the PCPD will be more interested in what he has to say about her, than what she has to say about him.

At the hospital, Nikolas says he can have a plane fueled and ready by this afternoon, and Laura says she appreciates it. She can’t believe it. How much can one family take? (She’s asking that now?) Spencer comes along, and asks, what’s wrong? Laura says she just got a call from her mother in Italy, and Spencer asks if something happened to Great-grandmother Lesley. Nikolas says, the house she and Marcello lived in on Lake Como burned down. Fortunately, no one was there at the time, so one got hurt. Laura says, thank God, and Spencer says, still, that’s terrible. Is there anything he can do? Laura says, there is something he can do; actually, both of them. Spencer says, name it, and she says, put her mind at ease. They’ve both been through an awful lot in the past year. Promise her they’ll be okay with each other if she goes away.

Ava says, so Esme bought a black market phone from a bartender, and used it to record Josslyn and Cameron, and Marshall says, and incriminate Trina. Curtis says, they’ve tracked the bartender, Oz Haggarty, to Windymere. They may be conspiring to cover their tracks as they speak. She says, at Windymere… She’d love to stay and chat, but she has a witch to throw under a house

Esme says she has nothing to hide, from the police or anyone, and Oz says, impressive. She managed that with a straight face. They both know the phone he sold her is the same one she used to shoot her revenge porn. She says, he can’t prove that, but he says he doesn’t have to. That girl’s defense attorney will do it. Or at lease use the info. She asks what he wants, and he snaps his fingers, saying, what else? Cash. You. Owe. Me.

Trina tells Portia, it’s what she was saying before, that Marshall and Curtis are looking for the bartender who sold Esme the phone. Portia says she thought Trina had some new information, and Trina says, don’t worry. She has faith it will all work out. Stella comes in, and says, so does she. Faith is what we need when all of our efforts are challenged and exhausted. What else do we have?

Carly says, that’s a look, and Drew says he was going for friendly neighborhood mover. She says she can see it, although she’s out of a job, so she doesn’t know if she can afford him. He says he’s pretty affordable. In fact, he’ll move all these boxes for the cost of lunch. She says, that is affordable, although she hired actual movers; they’re going to be here any minute. He says, what? Outbid by the pros; that’s just wrong. He guesses that means lunch is off, but she says, not necessarily. But they can’t go to the restaurant because she doesn’t have a tab there anymore. What does he say to the hot dog vendor at Rice Plaza? He says, this is not a done deal, but she says, the MetroCourt has a new owner. You can’t get more done than that. He tells her, he’s just saying, Nina’s offer is still on the table. She says he knows she turned Nina down, and he knows why.

Sonny asks why Nina wouldn’t sell the hotel to Ned and Olivia. It sounds like the best solution for everyone. Olivia says, and whoever buys the hotel is going to be her new partner. She thinks she deserves some say in the matter. Nina says she thinks Olivia misunderstands her. She has no intention of selling her half of the MetroCourt to anyone. She’s Olivia’s new partner. Olivia says, not on your life, lady, and Nina says, there’s no reason this has to be hostile. She realized she needs to learn a lot about the hospitality business. She’d be really grateful if Olivia would show her the ropes. Olivia says, this is why Nina has been slithering around her hotel, questioning her staff? and Nina says, our hotel. Olivia asks if Sonny is hearing this, and he says, every word. Olivia asks what he’s going to do about it, and Nina says, nothing. Sonny isn’t going to do anything about it, because her business dealings are her affair. Olivia says, emphasis on affair, and Nina says, running this hotel is between Olivia and her, but Olivia says, wrong. It’s between her, Nina, and their lawyers. And it’s going to be a cold day in hell before Nina fills Carly’s shoes; professionally and personally. She shoots Sonny a look, and tells Ashley that she’ll be in her office. Nina looks at Sonny, but he says, don’t look at him. She brought this on herself.

Drew says he wouldn’t expect Carly to let Nina gift her with the hotel, and she says she’s glad he’s listening. Drew says, but she can accept it from him, and she says, she got herself into this mess, and has to get herself out… or not, but either way, she doesn’t want to owe anyone. He says he knew she was going to be stubborn about this, but he had to give it a shot, and she thanks him. She says, and if there is a silver lining in all this, she knows she’s not in this alone, and he says, not by a long shot. So if she won’t let him buy her half the hotel, will she let him carry a box? She says, that she will, and puts one in his hands.

Stella says, she’ll be watching to see if any of those jurors looks at Trina sideways, but Portia says, no, she won’t. She won’t be stepping anywhere near that courtroom.

Outside, Trina asks Josslyn to promise her not to say anything about Spencer being in the cemetery. Not to anyone. Not yet. Josslyn says, sorry. She can’t.

Nikolas says he emailed his attorney in Como, and he’ll put Laura in touch with a good real estate agent. Laura can help Marcello and Lesley figure out where they want to move; if they want an apartment, or want to be out in the country. For what his vote is worth (🍷 it still counts), it might not be a bad idea for them to be in town. Laura says, he’s absolutely right, and she’ll pass that along. What was it he was going to tell her earlier, something about Doc and Esme? He says, it can wait, when Doc joins them, and says, it’s handled; the Deputy Mayor will take a meeting. Laura thanks him, and asks if she can have a word with him. He says, of course (🍷), and she pulls him down the hall. Spencer says, Doc and Esme, what’s that about? and Nikolas says, Esme’s application to the psyche program at PCU. He takes it she didn’t tell Spencer. Spencer says, there’s a lot Esme doesn’t tell him, but that changes today.

Esme brings Oz into the living room, and he says he’s always wondered about this place. She closes the door, and says, people can’t connect them, but he says, too late; they already have. Did she really think he wouldn’t have an insurance policy? Ava comes into the foyer, and Esme says she doesn’t have any money on her, but she can get it to him. He says, don’t try to play him. Meet him tonight; he’ll text the location. He starts to leave, and she says, wait. Who followed him to the motel, and what did they look like? In the worst timing ever, Ava’s phone rings in the foyer. She says, hi to Avery… Yes, tonight… She’s looking forward to it too… Yes, cupcakes, any flavor she likes… Ava loves her. Ava hangs up, and walks into the living room. I’m loving Ava’s new haircut. She needs a better picture in the opening credits though.

Trina tells Josslyn, if the authorities find out Spencer left Spring Ridge, that could mean real prison; Pentenville. Admitting she was with Spencer at the cemetery the day the video dropped probably won’t even help her, but it will definitely hurt him. Josslyn says, but while Trina is tying herself in knots, deciding whether to save herself by outing Spencer as her alibi, consider this. Spencer already knows that he’s her alibi. He has decided to stay silent, so where is his compassion for her?

Laura tells Doc that she’s having major second thoughts about leaving. Now is not the best time to be leaving Port Charles. Doc says, but the recall was defeated; it’s over. She says, but is it really? There are still a large group of people out there who aren’t happy with her job performance. He says, yes, but fortunately Cyrus lost his voting privileges, and she says, but the detractors who remain still have theirs. Even though she’ll be working remotely, they could easily spin her absence as a dereliction of duty. Trina’s trial starts today, Elizabeth’s state of mind, not to mention Victor. He asks if she’s trying to talk herself out of leaving, and she says, no. She knows her mother needs her. He says, exactly. That’s why a pillar of strength like herself can carry the weight of the world on her own. So they just have to be practical. The first thing they do is go home and pack. Then they reschedule all their appointments for next week. Then he’ll call the bank and convert some currency, and she can call Lesley and make sure they don’t need them to bring anything. She says, he has everything under control, and he says, that’s what he does. She says, he’s amazing, and hugs him. She says, it amazes her how he can keep everyone’s needs in his mind. She’s so lucky to have his love and support. Which is why she hopes he understands… He says, that she needs him to stay here.

Stella says, of course (🍷) she’s attending Trina’s trial, but Portia says, think about it. The courtroom, the trial; it’s a very high pressure situation, and it’s not good for someone with Stella’s medical history. Stella says, Portia knows she loves Trina. She’s such an amazing young woman, and she feels like Trina is family now. Portia says, they love her too, and they love her support and appreciate it. That’s why they’d never forgive themselves if anything ever happened to her. Stella says, meaning she’s supposed to sit back and do nothing? and Portia says, she can pray, but she doesn’t want Stella to worry. Because Curtis, Taggert, and Marshall? They’re on it.

Marshall says, the trial is nerve-wracking, and Curtis says, that it is. They really need these leads to pay off. Marshall says he can see that, and Curtis says, he just doesn’t feel like he’s doing enough. Even if the bartender ID’s Esme buying the phone, that’s no guarantee it will secure Trina’s freedom. Marshall says, there are no guarantees in life. He should know that better than anyone.

Ava sees Esme, by herself, painting her toenails on the white couch. Esme says, something the matter? and Ava asks if Esme is alone; she thought she heard voices. Esme says she was listening to a podcast, and Ava asks if no one has told Esme that she shouldn’t paint her nails on the furniture. Esme says, nope, and Ava says, it doesn’t surprise her. Someone callous enough to destroy lives certainly doesn’t care about safeguarding fabric. Esme says, how wrong Ava is. She does appreciate what’s Ava’s. In fact, she’s so careful when she uses Ava’s things, Ava would never know. Ava asks, what the hell is that supposed to mean?

Drew asks, what are those? and Carly says, they’re pictures. She has a box of personal things she doesn’t trust with the movers. It’s mostly pictures of her kids over the years at the MetroCourt. She flips through them, and says, at the Nurses Ball and stuff. There’s Josslyn and Cam. Drew says, they’re all so young, and Carly says, there’s Morgan. His face… She tells Drew that she’s okay. There’s just a lot of memories here. Drew asks if she remembers when she hired him. New Year’s Eve, many years ago? She says she forgot about that, and laughs. He says, bartender. He made a mean martini; he still does. She says, he makes a terrible martini, and he asks what she means; he’s so talented. She says, their lives have changed so much since then. Drew says, lots of ups and downs, but they’re still here. That doesn’t mean change isn’t hard. She says she’s still working on that letting go thing, especially here. She was good at this. No matter what was going on in her life, the MetroCourt was her constant. He hugs her.

Nina asks if that’s Sonny’s way of telling her that she deserved the way Olivia spoke to her, and he says, she has to be realistic. She had to know there would be strong reactions to her keeping Carly’s half of the MetroCourt. She says, her half, and yes, she knew there was going to be resistance. He says, then why go through the hassle? Why not just give it to Olivia, and walk away? She says, power is the great equalizer, isn’t it? And she intends to keep hers. Not just for herself, but for Wiley. One day, all of this is going to be his. He asks if that’s all, and she says, isn’t that enough? He says, it’s just all this talk about power and Wiley’s inheritance. Is this just a business decision for her, or is this a way to… stick it to Carly. She asks if he thinks all she wants is revenge against his ex-wife. He really believes she’s that petty? He says, after everything she and Carly have been through, she’s going to tell him that she doesn’t want just little bit of revenge? She says, that’s not what this is about, and he says, let’s drop it then, but she says, he just accused her of being spiteful. He says, he didn’t accuse her of anything, and she says, let her remind him of something. She bought half of the hotel to give it back to Carly. So instead of standing here, scolding her, he should be lecturing his ex-wife for turning it down.

Carly looks at a photo, when Olivia comes in, carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She says, she knows Carly said she didn’t want them to make a fuss, but the staff insisted. They all wanted her to know how much she’ll be missed. Carly says, if Olivia makes her cry… and Olivia says, don’t cry; she can take them back. Carly says, don’t you dare take them back; they’re so beautiful. Thank the staff for her. Olivia says, it’s not too late for a proper send-off, but Carly says, no fanfare. The last box is almost packed, and Drew is bringing the car around. This office is no longer hers. Olivia says, it will never be Nina’s. She doesn’t know if Carly knows, but Nina has decided to remain co-owner of the MetroCourt. Carly says, of course (🍷) she has, and Olivia says, Nina may have half the hotel, but Nina will never have her loyalty. It belongs to Carly, first, last, and always. Carly says, even after she ruined their partnership? but Olivia tells her, she’d say that honor goes to her ever-lovin’ husband. If Carly thinks Olivia doesn’t appreciate everything they’ve been through here… Carly trusted Olivia as her operations manager, and backed Olivia as her partner, and loved Olivia as her friend. Carly says she’s always going to love Olivia as her friend; that’s never going to change. And Olivia is making her cry when she told Olivia not to. They hug.

Curtis says, an arrest at a demonstration shouldn’t have resulted in Marshall being held against will at an institution. Don’t worry. He’s not going to push Marshall to talk about it. Marshall fans himself with his hat, and says, in the old neighborhood, there was this guy, Bud the barber. He gave haircuts to anyone who couldn’t afford one; kids from poor families, guys with job interviews, the homeless. Curtis says, sounds like a good guy, and Marshall says, he was. He was respected. Then suddenly people started describing Bud as touched. Every now and again you’d see him wandering around, babbling to himself about some secret mission, or aliens. When the bad days started to outnumber the good, nobody wanted to get a haircut from Bud, even for free. Curtis asks, whatever happened to ol’ Bud? and Marshall says, he’ll tell Curtis what didn’t happen. Bud never got the help he needed. Being institutionalized… Maybe it wasn’t ideal. Maybe it wasn’t even fair, but he got a diagnosis out of it. Some of us wasn’t even that lucky.

Portia says, hopefully they can get the bartender to admit to selling Esme the phone, and Stella tell her to keep telling herself the truth is on Trina’s side. Portia says, but they both know, sometimes the truth isn’t enough.

Trina says she wants Josslyn to help her, but this is her trial, her future. Can Josslyn promise to let her make the decision when and if she tells Diane about Spencer? Please? Josslyn says she’ll stay silent about Spencer for now, but if it looks like Trina is going to be convicted, she’ll stand up in her seat, and tell everybody in that courtroom exactly where Trina was when that email hit those inboxes at PCU. Even if it means Trina never speaks to her again.

Esme tells Ava, she’s sorry. That came out all wrong. Of course (🍷) she respects what’s Ava’s. Ava says, Esme respects nothing. Now let’s get to it, shall we? Esme shrugs, and says, something on Ava’s mind? Ava says, yeah, Trina, and Esme says, it is incredible how many heads that girl lives in rent free. Ava says she’s glad Esme mentioned free rent. How would Esme like to go the rest of her life never worrying about a roof over her head? Esme says, in exchange for? and Ava says, her admission that she filmed the video and framed Trina. Esme says, but she didn’t, and Ava says, okay, but if Esme agreed she did, she wouldn’t have to spend a single day behind bars. She just has to sign a confession, and get herself a ticket anywhere; anywhere but here. Esme asks, what’s the catch? There’s no way Ava would be content with letting her evade justice – if she said she did it. Ava says, she’d be willing to forego justice in this instance. She cares about the greater good, and make no mistake, Trina is greater than Esme, in every way. So what’s the magic number that will make Esme do the right thing?

Laura tells Doc that she’s still worried that Nikolas and Spencer are vulnerable to Victor’s influence. Elizabeth needs him, and he’s one of the few people who can actually keep Esme in check. He tells her, say no more. If it gives her peace of mind, he’ll stay put. She says she adores him, and he says he adores her back. She says, it’s a good deal, and they hug. Nikolas says, they’re heading back to Windymere. He’ll send Laura the flight details when she’s ready. She hugs him, thanking him for coming through for her, and hugs Spencer, saying, remember his promise. He says he hasn’t forgotten. Safe travels. Spencer and Nikolas leave, and Laura asks why she has the feeling she shouldn’t go. Doc says, she’s getting on that plane, and they’ll all be here when she comes back.

Trina asks if Josslyn really thinks she’d stop talking to her bestie, just because she’s trying to save Trina’s life. Josslyn says, she’d better not, because Trina’s her bestie too, and they hug.

Stella tells Portia that she’s not naïve. She’s lived long enough in this world to know how elusive justice can be for people who look like Trina. It’s two steps forward, and one step back, but she still chooses to have hope, because not to, is to fall into despair, and she doesn’t want to live there. There’s still a fight, but she has seen some forward motion, and she has to believe that today, in 2022, that arc will bend the right way toward their girl. Portia says she prays Stella is right. Stella doesn’t know how hard she prays. Not only for her daughter to be vindicated, but to take away this anger… No, this hatred she has for that girl who did this to her baby. She doesn’t want to walk around with this bitterness, but she’s been sitting on it because Trina has so much to handle. But she knows in her bones this is more than jealousy about Trina and Spencer’s friendship. Stella asks if Portia is saying that girl targeted Trina because she’s Black, but Portia says, she was intimidated by Spencer and Trina’s relationship, but she felt the same way about Josslyn. Trina told her that Esme went after Josslyn harder than she ever did her. But who did Esme ultimately target? Stella says, that video was of Joss and Cam though, and Portia says, yes, they were the victims. And Trina was framed as the criminal, to face the criminal justice system in the midst of everything going on in this world, in this country, everywhere. Esme had to know the ramifications of that kind of action; that Trina would have a harder time with it. People pretend it’s not real, but that’s exactly what they’re doing – pretending. Stella says she knows, but there are good people with good hearts out there, and she’s clinging to the hope eyes are opening, and the world is wising up. Portia says, but not everyone wants to wise up with it, and she’s praying to God they didn’t past Diane Miller, and aren’t sitting in that jury and passing judgement on her daughter; her innocent baby girl who didn’t do any of this. She didn’t do anything wrong – Portia starts to cry – and she feels like she didn’t prepare Trina for any of this. She just feels like she failed Trina. Stella hugs her, and she cries.

Curtis leaves a message for Ava, saying, he just saw Spencer and Nikolas get on the launch. Just giving her a heads up. Call him. Marshall says, relax, and Curtis asks how Marshall can be so calm. Marshall smiles, and says, antipsychotics? I laugh, and Curtis says, he’s glad Marshall didn’t fall through the cracks like Bud. Were Marshall’s symptoms as severe as his? Marshall says, no. He didn’t have delusions or hallucinations, or problems thinking. He was prescribed treatment and meds, and if he hadn’t been, who knows? Curtis asks if Marshall is saying his arrest saved his life, and Marshall says, he’s not saying it brought doom upon him, but he’s had a long time to come to peace with it. Besides, nothing he can do now about it anyway. Curtis thanks him for talking about it, and Marshall says, there’s something about this pier. This is where they had their last breakthrough, isn’t it? Curtis says, pier or no pier, he appreciates Marshall, and he’s glad for the progress. They bro hug, and Marshall says, now they just need to make some more progress and help Trina. Curtis says, he hears that, and wonders why he hasn’t heard from Ava.

Esme says, what a hypocrite Ava is. Here she stands, trying to get Esme to admit to something she didn’t do… Ava says, come on. Don’t play a player. Esme says, Ava is unreal. Why risk everything for an employee? (I think Esme is more elitist than racist.) Ava says, Esme knows very well Trina is much more than an employee to her, and Esme says, Little Miss Perfect inspires such unwavering loyalty. Ava says she’s counting on Esme being as opportunistic as she is bitter. Tick tock; the trial’s about to start. What’s her number? Or should Ava throw one out there to get the ball rolling? Esme says, as someone who has lost their fair share of family, allow her to extend her condolences. Ava is about to lose Trina for five to ten years. Ava says, you insufferable little bitch, and Esme says, she’s finally found her family here, and all the money in the world won’t make her give that up. There is nothing Ava could offer to make her. Nikolas and Spencer come in, and Nikolas asks, just what is Ava offering?

Sonny says he doesn’t think Nina is spiteful, but when word reaches Carly… She’s going through a tough time right now. Nina asks if he hears himself. He’s more concerned about Carly than her. He says, that’s not true; he’s here with Nina right now. She says, but who’s on his mind? Before he got a divorce, he said Carly complained there were three of them in the relationship. Nina’s not so sure Carly was wrong.

Drew tells Carly, the flowers are so beautiful. Her staff really loves her. She says, the feeling’s mutual. It’s crazy. She did not set out to own a hotel, but she came to love the daily challenges; the strategizing, putting out the fires – real ones sometimes. The weddings, the Nurses Ball; she made so many incredible memories here. And she loved every minute. She’s going to miss it, a lot. He asks if she’s ready, but she says she needs a minute. He tells her to take as long as she needs. He picks up the last box and the flowers, and she says she’ll be right down. He tells her, take her time, and leaves. Alone, she says, oh wow. She looks at her name plate on the door, touches it, and slides her name out. She leaves, closing the door behind her. Geez. We don’t even get a MetroCourt Memory Lane?

Alone with Esme, Spencer asks what he and Nikolas walked in on, and she says, more of Ava’s wild accusations. She offered Esme money to admit to filming Joss and Cam. Spencer says, really? How much? She says, not enough to get her to lie; she’s innocent. He says, it’s too bad for Ava. She may have had a chance if she knew what Esme truly wanted… like him. She says, and that is…? and he says, it’s something she wants more than anything else in the world. And only he can give it to her.

Nikolas says he knows Ava wants to help Trina, but is it worth it getting into it with Esme? She says, yes, and he says, let him act as a buffer. Try to avoid being alone with her. She says, not to worry. Esme will be out of their lives pretty soon. Nikolas leaves, and Ava takes out her phone. She calls Curtis, and he asks if she caught the bartender making a deal with Esme, and she says she knows it happened. Unfortunately, she missed it. He was gone before she arrived. Curtis asks, how he could be gone? and Marshall says, the launch never returned. Ava says, there’s another way off the island. Obviously, Esme knows about it. Curtis thanks her for trying, and Marshall says, good Lord, they lost him? All right. Now what?

Stella says, Portia did a wonderful job with Trina. Why does Portia think she failed her? Portia says, all she ever wanted was to give Trina the best life she possibly could. Being a doctor, and her father in law enforcement, they were able to do that. She was proud, so proud she was able to give Trina a comfortable life. Trina grew up with a sense of security, but she lived a sheltered life. The friends she’s made, the schools she’s went to, maybe it was a little bit too sheltered. Maybe in her quest to give Trina this ideal life, she failed to inoculate Trina against the reality of being a woman of color. Stella says, Trina knows who she is, and she’s pretty savvy about the world. She knows they want what’s best for her children, but it’s impossible to completely shield them from pain and injustice. Stop torturing herself. Knowing Trina, Stella can already see Portia taught her what’s important. Portia asks, what’s that? and Stella says, to keep her head to the sky. The world’s gonna knock you down, but what matters is that you get back up, and don’t stay down. Trina’s a fighter, and whatever life throws at their girl, she’ll get back up on her feet.

Carly sighs, and looks around the lobby. Sonny walks over, and asks if she’s okay. She flashes back to finding out Nina is Willow’s biological mother, and says, she’s okay. She has her family. She leaves with Drew.

On Monday (I think), Portia asks if Curtis found the evidence they need to exonerate Trina; Spencer says he has the only proof Esme needs, if she wants it; Carly says, Esme is going to regret the day she messed with their kid; and Sonny says he’s done with talking. It’s time for action.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Skipping Town…

Laura and Alexis are taking a break from Port Charles.

Genie Francis Is Leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL… But She’ll Be Back!

Nancy Lee Grahn Won’t Be on GENERAL HOSPITAL “For a While”

🚑 Where They Went…

I’m still annoyed about their romances with Diane and Epiphany fizzling out.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/max-milo-general-hospital-derk-drew-cheetwood-157831

🦎 Voice Of a Komodo…

I always get a mental picture of the actors standing around in robes and fuzzy slippers.

GH’s Parry Shen Reveals His Exciting New Role!

💝 Happy Anniversary…

Llanview over the years.

Happy Anniversary to ONE LIFE TO LIVE — Relive Four Decades of Drama in Llanview!

💎 Yeah, Yeah…

This show is the worst this season.

https://pagesix.com/2022/07/12/kyle-richards-i-apologized-to-garcelle-for-laughing-at-erika-cursing-at-her-son/

🍊 Not a Shock…

All I want to know is, can we still see Mr. Puppers?

https://screenrant.com/rhoc-noella-bergener-jen-armstrong-exit/

🧂 A Shock…

I have to admit, I was pretty surprised too. Not that I didn’t think she was guilty, but I never thought she’d plead it.

Heather Gay And Meredith Marks Reportedly Blindsided By Jen Shah’s Guilty Plea

But of course it’s all about Andy.

https://people.com/tv/andy-cohen-shares-thoughts-jen-shah-guilty-plea/

🐉 Enter the Dragons…

The latest on House of the Dragon, along with some gorgeous photos.

https://ew.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-cover-story-game-of-thrones-enters-new-age/

https://ew.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-cover-photos/?

🏆 The Other Emmys…

This year’s nominees for the non-daytime shows.

https://www.avclub.com/emmy-awards-2022-nominee-list-1849165590

🗿 Quotes of the Week

Every time I drink, I break out in handcuffs. – guest on Dr. Phil

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. – Og Mandino

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. – Henry David Thoreau (Boy, was he off.)

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. – Henry Ward Beecher, American Clergyman and Author

To be nobody but yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. – e. e. cummings

I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare. – Dr. Maya Angelou

He’s the smartest non-smart looking person I know. – Christine Alexandra Chiu, Bling Empire

But that’s what happens. Once the human tragedy has been completed, it gets turned over to the journalists to banalize into entertainment. – Philip Roth

Ask for help. Not because you’re weak, but because you want to remain strong. – Les Brown

Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant. – Robert Louis Stevenson

The only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks. – Miss J

Disability is what we perceive. Ability is everything we believe! – Tamela D’Amico

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. – Bob Marley

Common sense is not so common. – Voltaire

🏂 Sliding Into My Own DMs Like…

Enjoy the next few days, be they a break or the same old. Meet me on Monday for soap and the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay checking yourself before you read others, and stay keeping your head to the sky. The world’s gonna knock you down, but what matters is that you get back up, and don’t stay down.

Jul15

July 14, 2022 – Trina Prepares For Her Trial, a Not So Charming Birthday Party & Suddenly

Posted on July 15, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Laura goes to Portia’s house, and Portia thanks her for doing this. Laura says, when Scotty asked her to make a statement attesting to Trina’s good character, she was more than happy to do so. She asks where Scotty is, and Trina says, actually, he’s not coming.

Curtis and Marshall approach an apartment, and Curtis says, they’ve been knocking on doors all night. If Marshall wants to take a load off in the car, he has waters in the trunk, and Marshall can kick back and listen to some jazz music on the radio. Marshall says, Curtis is talking to him like he’s some old man. Why doesn’t he go sit in the car, and listen to jazz on the radio? Marshall is going to keep knocking on all these doors, looking for that bartender. Curtis says, he forgot how feisty Marshall is, and Marshall says, not feisty, determined. Trina is like his granddaughter now. Ain’t no way she’s going to jail if he can help it. Curtis says, so they’ll keep knocking on doors until they find the bartender who sold Esme Prince the unregistered phone, and Marshall says, unless TJ and Taggert find him first. He asks if Curtis should do the honors, or should he, and Curtis knocks on the door. The bartender in question opens the door, and asks if he can help them. Curtis says, I believe you can.

Ava pours coffee, and Nikolas nuzzles her from behind. She says, good morning to him too, and he says he doesn’t suppose he could whisk her off to the bedroom. She says she wishes, and he asks where she’s off to today. She says, Trina’s trial is starting, so she’s off to Trina’s mother’s and they’re going to the courthouse from there. He says, of course (🍷); apologies for forgetting. She almost says something, and he says, what? but she says, never mind. He says, come on, and she says she was going to ask if he could maybe keep Esme from showing up in court so she doesn’t upset Trina, but she realizes that’s wishful thinking. He says, it’s not that he wouldn’t ask Esme to stay away, but he doesn’t have that kind of sway over her.

Esme comes up behind Spencer, and says, good morning. He jumps, shoving his phone in his pocket, and she says, sorry. She didn’t mean to spoil his day. He says, no; he’s sorry. She surprised him. She says, he doesn’t have to lie. She knows he’s been keeping his distance from her. First he missed the fireworks. Then when he returned to Windymere last night, he barely said a word to her. What happened? He flashes back to seeing Rory and Trina kiss.

Valentin gives Victor a mimosa, and Victor asks, what’s this? Valentin says, it’s champagne and orange juice; sorry Victor has never heard of it. Victor says, Valentin failed to do away with Laura, and is now coming after him? and Valentin says, by poisoning Victor? Don’t think he hasn’t thought of it. He takes a sip of the mimosa, and says, nope, still here. He sets it down, and closes the door to the terrace. Victor says, this isn’t some kind of a joke. May he remind Valentin… Valentin says, that Victor is holding his daughter hostage? Victor says, at a very luxurious European boarding school, with absolutely no idea it wasn’t Valentin’s decision to put her there. So. Why did Valentin want to see him if it wasn’t to kill him? Valentin says he has something in the works that will take the heat off of both of them, with no blood being spilled, but Victor says he’s afraid that’s a waste of time. Since Valentin failed to follow orders, he’s taken matters into his own hands.

Spencer tells Esme, nothing happened last night; he just has a lot on his mind. She says she thinks they both know what a lot on his mind is, don’t they? Trina’s trial. He says, that’s right. They might both be called to testify; their names dragged through the mud. Trina’s attorney and her friends will all say terrible things about them. She says, he makes a good point, which gives her an idea. Why don’t they fly somewhere for the week, avoid any possible subpoenas? Spend his monthly allowance someplace far away from here and Trina’s trial. He says, they can’t, and she asks, why not?

Laura tells Diane, the Faroe Islands? She’s never even heard of them. Diane says, it’s in archipelago in the Northern Atlantic. It’s semi-autonomous, but essentially the territory of Denmark. Trina and Josslyn come in, and Laura says, Scotty’s daughter was arrested there? Diane says, Serena is a committed environmentalist, and the Faroe Islands… Josslyn says she read about this. They have this annual hunt where they slaughter dolphins and small whales; it totaled like 1400 last year. Trina says, that’s disgusting; those poor animals. Diane says, agreed (me too). Serena got in a confrontation with some traditionalists who still support the hunt, and she was taken into custody. So Scotty is en route to the Faroe Islands, where he will secure his daughter a Danish lawyer and coordinate her defense. She knows he spoke to Trina and Portia about this, and Portia says, Scotty called her last night, explained the situation, and said Diane was willing to take over Trina’s defense. Diane says, absolutely. Scotty has done a masterful job with prepping the case, and she’s more than confident she can argue it. However, if this is all too last minute for them, she understands, and she’ll ask the court for a continuance. Portia asks how much time that would buy Trina, and Diane says, there’s really no way to predict. Judge Young might see Scotty’s disappearance as a stall tactic, and may not grant the continuance. But assuming it is granted, the trial could be delayed anywhere from three months to a year. Trina says she can’t spend a whole year with this hanging over her head.

Marshall tells the bartender, they’re friends of Jack’s. He said he was going to put in a good word for them with him. The bartender says he hasn’t heard from Jack in days, and Marshall says, they’re looking to buy some items… off the books. And Jack said he’s the man with the plan. The bartender asks how he knows they ain’t cops, and Curtis says, what if they are?

Trina tells Portia, these past few months have been hard enough. She doesn’t want to spend a whole year in limbo. She’s innocent and she wants to prove it. Actually, she wants Diane to prove it. Can she do that? Josslyn says, of course (🍷) she can. She’s defended Sonny for years, and gotten him off more times than Josslyn can count, and he was guilty every time. Laura says she’s sure Josslyn is exaggerating, but Josslyn says, no. Her point is, Diane is a rockstar in the courtroom. Trina couldn’t have anybody better. Portia says, that actually does bring up a good point. Will it go against Trina to be defended by an attorney who is… known to be… Diane says she thinks the phrase Portia is looking for is mobbed up. She can assure them that she has many, many clients who have nothing to do with Sonny or his family. Just a couple of years ago, she defended Willow Tate in a particularly tricky adoption case, and it’s ironic she’s with Michael now, but back then Willow had no ties to organized crime. Having said all that, the bottom line is, there’s no guarantee. Even with her admittedly excellent record, she’s had verdicts not go her way. She’s had clients convicted she knew were innocent. Portia says, but what about Trina’s case?

Victor says, he’s a little baffled by Valentin’s sudden outbreak of conscience with regard to their esteemed mayor. Laura has no love for Valentin. Valentin says, it’s not a moral decision. There were too many witnesses who had seen him and Laura together, including her husband. Laura would have drunk the iced tea, she would have collapsed, and all eyes would have been on him. Victor says he’s sure Valentin made the right call under the circumstances. Nevertheless, he’ll handle things from now on. Valentin says, don’t panic. Panic makes poor decisions. Victor wants Laura neutralized before she can deport him? He thinks Victor’s taken on more than he can handle. So let him suggest a change in tactics. Stop threatening him, and tell him what the hell is going on.

Ava and Nikolas kiss, and he says, is she sure he can’t tempt her? She says, how’s about a raincheck? and he says, whatever her heart desires. They kiss again.

Esme says, why can’t they leave Port Charles? and Spencer says, because he has a surprise for her. She says, really? What is it? He says, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he told her, and his phone dings. He looks at it, and says, in fact, he needs to pick something up related to her surprise. She says, how about a hint? and he says, okay, but only one. This is going to rock your world.

Valentin says, Victor stole the Ice Princess from Luke. He had Valentin plant it on Jennifer Smith. Why? None of the pieces fit. More people come out on the terrace, and Victor moves out of earshot. He says, that’s privileged information he’s not prepared to share, seeing it’s clear Valentin’s allegiance to him is solely predicated on Charlotte’s well-being. Valentin says, there’s a simple solution for that. Give him his daughter back. When Charlotte is safe, back with him, Victor will have his full allegiance, he promises. Victor says he’s afraid Valentin has to earn his trust, and until he does, Victor is keeping Charlotte as leverage. He’s also keeping details of his plan secret. Valentin says he has to find Anna before she comes looking for them. For the good of Victor’s long-term plan, let him handle Laura. Valentin leaves, and Victor says he’s afraid that’s a promise he just can’t make.

Diane says, the state can present some strong circumstantial evidence, and Josslyn says, but the evidence is the phone that Esme obviously planted. Diane says, unfortunately, she can’t stand Trina in front of a jury, and tell them Esme is a twisted little psychopath, who’s framing Trina. Laura says she can swear to that, and Diane thanks her, but says, sadly, Esme’s not on trial. Josslyn says, yet, and Diane says, it’s going to be her job to cast a negative light on all the evidence against Trina. Trina says, can she? and Diane says she does see some cracks in the state’s case, and luckily for them, they have one undeniable advantage. Trina says, what’s that? and Diane says, you. Trina is without artifice. She’s a good person and it shows, and Diane has no doubt when Trina tells her story to the jury, they’ll believe her. Trina asks what Portia thinks, and Portia says she’s in, but it’s totally up to Trina. Trina says, okay. No continuance. She goes through with her trial today.

Curtis and Marshall walk into the bartender’s, and the bartender says, hey. Marshall says, it’s all good here, and tells Curtis, there’s no need for all this hostility. He and this man were having a friendly conversation; true? Curtis says, his apologies. He was in law enforcement for a lot of years, and guesses old habits die hard. The bartender says, they’re not cops now? and Curtis says he got kicked off the force. Touchy subject. Marshall tells the bartender, like he said, Jack vouches for them. The bartender closes the door, and Curtis says, he’s a tough man to track down. They went to his apartment, he wasn’t at the bar where he works… and the bartender says, he needed to lay low for a while. Curtis says, until the trial is over, right? and the bartender says, what trial? Curtis says, the Trina Robinson trial, and you know what? He’d be worried if he were the bartender too. The bartender says, about? and Curtis says, testifying.

Diane reads Laura’s statement, and says, it’s excellent. It’s very compelling. Laura says, and every word is true, and Trina thanks Laura for speaking on her behalf. Everyone knows Laura won’t stand up for someone who’s guilty. Laura says, she woudn’t, and she wants to do everything to make right a horrible wrong. Diane says, making sure the jury knows that Trina’s family and friends are 100% behind her will go a long way in convincing that jury she’s innocent. Speaking of family, where is Trina’s father? He’s got to be in the courtroom today. Portia says, Taggert is following up on a lead. So are Curtis and his father. Diane asks if she wants to know, but Portia says, it’s best if she has deniability about what they’re doing, and Trina too. Diane says, actually, the less Trina knows, the fewer questions she’ll have to dodge on the stand, and Trina says, what if the DA’s office finds out, and they put her mother on the stand, or dad, or Curtis? Laura suggests they not worry about what hasn’t happened, and Diane says, there’s one thing she knows will happen. ADA Arden is going to attack Trina’s character, if only to undercut the fact Diane is putting Trina forth as a good kid who would never betray her friend. Josslyn says, she and Cam are going to make sure that doesn’t happen. They’re going to show the jury exactly the kind of person Trina is. Trina says she knows who she is, and she knows who her real friends are, and Laura takes her hand, saying, she knows Trina is going to do great today. She’s sorry, but she has to run. She has a meeting at the MetroCourt and she has to end up at the hospital Board. She hugs Trina, and tells her not to worry. Trina thanks her, and Portia thanks her for being there for Trina. She hugs Portia, and says, of course (🍷). Absolutely. Any time. She tells Diane, give them hell today, and Diane says, absolutely (WOTD). Laura leaves, and Diane says, well, ladies, let’s strategize.

At the hospital, Spencer smiles while looking at a document. We see it’s the DNA test, and when he turns, he bumps into Rory, dropping the paperwork. Rory apologizes, and Spencer says, watch where you’re going. Rory says, back at you, and bends to pick up the papers, but Spencer nearly dives onto them.

Diane says, a courtroom is like a theater, and a jury is quite literally a captive audience with nothing to do but listen and look. And they want to make sure the jury sees all the right things; that they see Trina taking this gross injustice seriously. That they see Portia standing behind her daughter, concerned, loving, and they see Josslyn, Trina’s dear, dear friend, who also happens to be one of the victims – not throwing attitude, not rolling her eyes, not shooting dirty looks at the prosecution. Respect is the name of the game. Portia’s phone rings, and she says, it’s the hospital; she’s not on call today. Trina says, it could be important, and Portia excuses herself. Diane says, while Portia is taking that, she’s going to check in with her office, and she leaves the room. Trina thanks Josslyn for coming by so early, and not holding it against her for ditching her last night, and Josslyn says, Trina didn’t ditch her. She practically had to force Trina out of there. She needed alone time with her mom, and Trina needed alone time with Rory. She hopes it was a good night. Trina tells her, you could say that, and Josslyn asks, how good? Trina says, they kissed, and Josslyn says, she knew it. She said Rory was into Trina, did she not? Trina says, she did, and Josslyn says, now they’ve kissed. Trina says, four times, and Josslyn asks if they’re a thing now, but Trina says, she and Rory can’t even talk about hanging out with the trial about to start.

The bartender says, testify? About what? He never heard of this Trina Robinson. He has nothing to do with her. Curtis says, then his mistake. They’re here to buy an unregistered phone. But this upcoming trial is all over the news, and an unregistered phone factors into the case. So he assumed, since the bartender’s the local seller, the cops are looking for him. The bartender says, funny thing. Curtis isn’t the first person to ask him about that phone. Unfortunately, he’s all out of inventory. Curtis says, so he doesn’t think he should be selling anything right now, and the bartender says, he’s got that right. Nice not knowing you. Curtis says they can see themselves out, and Marshall says, but… Curtis says, they’ll tell Jack he said hi, and they leave. In the hallway, Marshall asks, what was that all about? Now they’ve learned nothing. Curtis says, actually, that went according to plan.

Josslyn says, the jury is going to realize Trina had nothing to do with making this video, and she and Rory can do whatever they want. Trina says, that’s the difference between her and Josslyn. Josslyn has total confidence that she’ll be found innocent, and she knows there’s a chance she won’t. Then what does her future look like? Prison? Josslyn asks if she’s told this to Rory, and Trina says, he knows she needs to find out what happens with the trial first. Josslyn says, then what’s wrong with that? and Trina says, nothing. She wants to trust him, but she’s been trusting the wrong people lately. Josslyn says, what if Rory’s the right person? Portia comes back downstairs, and Diane asks if she has to go to the hospital, but Portia says, it was just a nurse who wanted confirmation on a change of medication for one of her patients; it’s fine. Let’s get back to Trina’s case. Who else can attest to Trina’s good character? Diane says, let her focus on the legal options. Portia can keep Trina focused; keep her from falling apart. Portia says, her daughter doesn’t fall apart, and Diane says, of course (🍷). She appreciates that Trina has such a strong support system. Portia asks, what happens to Diane’s clients when they don’t have a great support system? and Diane says, they’re getting a little off-topic. Portia says, her daughter is fighting for her future here, and she needs to prepare for every eventuality. Diane says, of course (🍷). The pressures of a trial, and the possibility of being wrongfully incarcerated could break anybody, and especially when you factor in stressors that could bring psychological issues to the surface.

Laura sees Valentin on the terrace, and he says, she’s not stalking him, is she? She says, hardly. She has a meeting here with her Deputy Mayor, but she’s glad she ran into him. There’s something she’d like to discuss with him. He says, please, and she says, the other night when he spilled that drink on her, what was really going on there? He says, she’ll have to forgive his clumsiness, and make sure she sends him the dry cleaning bill, but she says, he’s never clumsy; he’s always in control of himself. He has impeccable manners, so either he purposely spilled that drink on her, or he’s under incredible strain. Which is it? He says, his coordination really hasn’t been the same since he left the hospital, and she says, the only times she’s ever seen him really rattled is when it’s had something to do with Charlotte. Is there reason for concern? He says, if there were, she’d be the first to know. He will always prioritize Charlotte’s well-being, no matter what the cost. She says she doesn’t doubt that, and we see a sniper setting his sights on her. She tells Valentin that she misses Charlotte a lot, but she does seem to be enjoying her time in boarding school. Probably just as well she’s not in Port Charles right now. Valentin says, that was his rationale, but he’s surprised she agrees, and she says, she knows Charlotte got very close to the Quartermaines when they were living at their house. Now that he’s fighting with them about ELQ, she thinks it’s best Charlotte isn’t here to get caught in the middle of all that. He says, the Quartermaines have nothing to worry about. Under his watch, ELQ will continue to grow, and profit. She says, except he’s maneuvered them to fight with each other (like that takes a lot), and he looks up, seeing the sniper. He grabs Laura, pulling her across the room, and she asks, what the hell is wrong with him?

Marshall says, Curtis told their one and only lead that they suspect him of selling a phone to Esme. That’s a good thing? No. Curtis says, it was a long shot getting this bartender to give them anything. They need proof that he sold the phone to Esme. So people are asking questions, and he’s feeling the heat… Marshall says, bam. He’s going to have some questions of his own for the buyer. Curtis says, and hopefully lead them to him… or her, and Marshall wags his finger at Curtis, smiles, and says, boy… They hear something, and jet around the corner. The bartender comes out of his apartment, closes the door, and leaves. Marshall and Curtis nod to each other.

Portia asks if stress caused any of Diane’s other clients to develop previously undiagnosed mental issues, and Diane asks if Portia is actually concerned Trina won’t be able to handle the pressure of this trial, but Portia says, no. She’s just getting the facts. Remembering when she was in medical school, her psyche rotation. They didn’t really go over stressors. Diane says, anything she’d tell Portia would be purely anecdotal, and Portia says, but the psychological stress of a trial, that could bring about some serious mental issues. Diane says she gets it. Portia’s daughter has been unjustly accused; of course (🍷) she’s worried. But as they’ve already talked about, Trina’s got this astonishing support system, and there aren’t any family medical issues to worry about, right?

Spencer tells Rory, he’ll get them, and gathers up the paperwork. He asks if Rory is here to make another unjustified arrest, but Rory says he’s taking a witness statement. What about Spencer? Spencer says, it’s none of his business, and Rory asks if he’s sure about that. Spencer says he is, because Rory has done enough to insert himself into his life, and Rory asks what that means. Spencer says, forget it. Have a lousy day. He starts to walk away, and Rory says, that’s Spencer’s M.O., isn’t it? He talks tough, but when it comes time to step up, Spencer walks away. Spencer says, sometimes walking away is the best option. Instead of further complicating people’s lives. But Rory wouldn’t know a thing about that, would he? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have kissed Trina last night.

Esme is texting, when Nikolas walks in. He says he’s sorry to startle her, but he was looking for Spencer. She says, Spence had to run out. She doesn’t know where. He asks if everything is okay, and she says, Spence says he’s working on a surprise for her, but she thinks he’s just using it as an excuse to get away from her and deal with his feelings for Trina. Does she sound like a broken record? He says, she sounds like someone in pain (ugh), and she says she suggested they fly off to someplace romantic, but it’s not to be. He says, but she’s still hanging in there? and she says, of course (🍷). She loves Spencer. Nikolas says, that’s all the more reason not to tell Spencer what happened between them, and she says, then there would be no hope of salvaging her relationship. To say nothing of Nikolas’s marriage to Ava, and his relationship to Spence. He says, the fallout would be monumental, and she says, especially as long as they’ve kept their little secret under wraps.

Ava says she’d ask how Trina is, but she thinks she already knows, and Trina says she’s actually feeling a lot better now that Ava’s here. Diane tells Josslyn, once they’re in the courtroom, she has to keep her personal feelings about Ava off her face, and Josslyn says, don’t worry. She’s a pro at doing that by now. Ava says hello to Diane, and asks if she’s joined Trina’s defense team, and Diane says, she is the defense team. Scotty got called out of the country on a family emergency. Portia says, Miss Miller has agreed to take Trina’s case, and they’re very grateful, and Trina asks if Diane is calling Ava as one of her character witnesses. Diane says, no, Ava’s name is not on the list Scotty provided, and Ava says, she offered, of course (🍷), but Scotty was concerned her testimony wouldn’t have the desired effect, given certain elements of her history. Trina says, the important thing is that Ava is in court with them, and Josslyn asks if there’s anything else she can do to help. Trina says, Josslyn testifying on her behalf is enough, and Diane says, the evidence against Trina is circumstantial. No one saw her make the tape; no one saw her post it. So their best shot at convincing the jury that act was completely against Trina’s character. She tells them that has to appear before Judge Young and finalize the attorney substitution, and tells Trina, just remember, all they have to do is prove reasonable doubt. Portia says she’ll walk Diane out; she has a few more questions. Diane and Portia leave, and Ava says, but reasonable doubt isn’t Trina’s only option, is it? Josslyn asks what Ava is talking about, and Ava says, months ago, Trina told her that she has evidence that proves her innocence; evidence that she’s been keeping to herself. Ava thinks it’s time Trina told them what that evidence is, consequences be damned.

Valentin says, sorry. He didn’t mean to manhandle Laura. The sniper tries to get a bead on her again, and Laura says, if Valentin is keeping something from her, and especially if it has to do with Charlotte… He says, it’s just that he’s missing his daughter, and Laura’s phone dings. He asks if there’s a problem, and she says, uch. Yes. Her Deputy Mayor. There was a miscommunication, and she’s waiting for Laura with the hospital Board over at GH, so she has to go. Take care of himself. He says, you do the same, and she leaves. He walks away, and looks up at the sniper, making a cutting motion with his hand.

The bartender goes to Pier 54, and the ferry blows its horn. He practically flings himself onto it, and Curtis and Marshall come out onto the dock. Marshall says, he’s leaving town, but Curtis says, that dock is for the launch to Windymere.

Nikolas tells Esme, let’s hope the truth never has to come out. It happened, it’s over, let’s move on. She asks if there are any updates on her being able to see Ryan Chamberlain again, but he says, sorry. Spring Ridge wasn’t impressed by him throwing the Cassadine name around. She says, so there’s nothing else he can do? and he says, he has some connections on the GH Board of Directors. It’s possible they may have enough sway to override Doc. She thanks him, but he says, it’s a long shot. She says, it’s something, and it means the world to her that he even tried. She throws her arms around his neck.

Josslyn asks Trina what evidence Ava is talking about, and Ava says she doesn’t want to betray Trina’s confidence, but this is too important to keep a secret, right? Ava tells Josslyn, Trina told her that she has proof she didn’t send the tape of Josslyn and Cam to the PCU student body, but by bringing that evidence to light, she would also bring down an innocent party. Trina told her that she’d tell Scotty if her case went to trial. Well, here they are. Josslyn says she can’t believe she’s saying this, but she agrees with Ava, and Trina says, it’s not a magic bullet. It might be just wishful thinking on her part. She touches her throat, and says, oh my God. My necklace; the one my dad gave me on my eighteenth birthday. She wanted to wear it at the trial. She tells Ava that she bets it’s at the gallery, and Ava says she has it; she brought it to Windymere for safekeeping. She’ll go get it for Trina. Trina says she’ll owe Ava a thousand favors in return, but Ava says, just one. Tell Diane what she hasn’t told the rest of them. Ava leaves, and Trina asks Josslyn, what’s that look for? Josslyn says, Trina just very conveniently changed the subject to get Ava to leave. Why didn’t she say anything about finding evidence that could help her? Trina says, because it doesn’t conclusively prove her innocence, but Josslyn asks if she doesn’t think that’s for Diane and the jury to decide. Can it help her? Trina says, it might, and Josslyn says, Trina’s best friends and her family, and everybody who cares about her is going to bat for her, and this is how she thanks them? By holding back? What’s wrong with her? Trina says she has an alibi for when the sex tape was posted. She was with someone. Josslyn asks why Trina didn’t say anything before. Who was she with? Trina says, Spencer.

Rory asks what business it is of Spencer’s what he and Trina do? and Spencer says, it’s not like they tried to hide it. He was crossing through the park on the 4^th of July, and he saw the two of them having a picnic. Rory is such a hypocrite. He comes off as Officer By-the-Book, and then he turns around and kisses a defendant about to go on trial. Rory says, he knows the rules; he’s not breaking any of them. Spencer says, no, just bending them into pretzels, and Rory says, Spencer’s obviously not worried about his career, so this is about Trina. But Spencer has a girlfriend, so why does he care who Trina spends her time with?

The bartender knocks on the front door of Windymere, and Esme opens it. He says, she got his text, and she says, only to say he was coming. What is he doing? He says he wants to know why everyone in town is asking questions about her.

Marshall says, Windymere, isn’t that where Esme Prince is? What are they waiting for? Why don’t they catch up with the bartender? Curtis says, Windymere’s private property. If they catch the launch out there, the guards will tip Esme off that they’re coming. What they need is someone there who can help them out. Ava joins them, and says, going my way?

Josslyn asks if Trina was visiting Spencer at Spring Ridge. She doesn’t understand. There would be a record of Trina’s visit. Why keep something like that a secret? Trina says, because she wasn’t at Spring Ridge, and Josslyn says, but Spencer was still serving his sentence when the video came out, so… Oh my God, that privileged little tool. Trina says she called him worse, and Josslyn says, Spencer wasn’t at Spring Ridge, right? Trina caught him, and he won’t come forward to give her an alibi, because then he’d be busted for violating his sentence, and then he’d probably get sent to Pentenville. God, what a coward. Trina says, it’s not like that. Besides, the prosecution can always accuse her of scheduling the release of the sex tape at the time. She didn’t actually have to physically post it at the time it was sent. Josslyn says, it still gives her reasonable doubt, and Trina says, she’s been sitting on this for months. She told herself she would only use it if it seemed like she was going to be found guilty. Josslyn says, Trina has to use it. This could be a game changer. Portia comes in, and says, what’s the game changer?

Spencer tells Rory, he doesn’t care who Trina spends her time with, but Trina was a good friend to him at one point, so if Rory hurts her, he’ll answer to Spencer. Rory says, last he checked, he’s not the one who hurt her, and walks away.

On the phone, Valentin says, a sniper? Are you insane? He told Victor that he could handle Laura. Victor had his flunky, the assistant mayor, lure Laura out here. That set up was so obvious, he should have hung a banner. Victor says, the situation was well in hand. Valentin should have stayed out of it. Valentin says, killing Laura is the wrong play. How many fires did Victor have to put out when Luke died? Does he think Anna and the PCPD won’t go to the ends of the earth to prove that Victor killed Laura as well? There are other ways to neutralize Laura; ways that don’t involve spilling blood. Victor says, how exactly does Valentin propose they do that? and Valentin says, it’s already done.

Laura sees Nikolas at the hospital, and asks if everything is okay. He says, everything’s fine. In fact, he’s glad he ran into her. He wanted to update her on everything that’s been happening between Doc and Esme. Her phone rings, and she says she has to take this, and steps away. She asks how her mother is doing… What?… Oh my God, no.

Tomorrow, Portia says Stella won’t be stepping anywhere near that courtroom; Ava walks in on the bartender talking to Esme; Josslyn tells Trina that she’s sorry, she can’t; and Sonny tells someone that they brought this on themselves.

Southern Charm

Austen talks to his parents Wendy and Tom on the phone about them moving. In Austen’s interview, he says, they decided to move 45 minutes outside of Charleston, so they’re selling his childhood home in Charlotte. He tells his mom that he hopes to grab some things. He’s been getting daily phone calls from his dad, telling him what he’s found. Wendy says, they have a bin of Austen’s childhood stuff that they can’t throw out, and in his interview, Austen says, it’s tough to say goodbye to the home he grew up in. His first kiss, high school parties he shouldn’t have been having, sneaking out. What doesn’t he think about when he thinks of his childhood home? It means everything to him. He just wants get it done, and not think about Christmas. Wendy says she saw Madison got engaged, and asks how Austen is feeling. Austen says, sorry for the poor son-of-a-bitch, and asks how Wendy feels. Wendy says she wishes Madison well. and Tom says, they’re glad it’s not Austen. Wendy tells Austen to put it in his rearview mirror, and Austen says he’s successfully moved on.

Patricia tells Whitney, it’s that hour. Champagne, please. Whitney says, the whole bar area is a mess, and Patricia says, they need to reorganize. Without Michael, she doesn’t pay attention. Whitney says, their supplies are dwindling, and Patricia says, Venita and Madison are coming over for drinks. He takes some champagne out, and Patricia says, she likes hers in a coupe; they’re more elegant. Since all I know about a coupe is that it’s a style of car, I’m confused. Whitney suggests they go out on the piazza, and Patricia says she should have gotten a bartender. This is clearly beyond. In Patricia’s interview, a producer asks her, how does Whitney fare as a bartender? and she tells them, let’s just say this; we’re a little more casual now. We flash back to Patricia saying, this is the proper way to make a martini, and Michael making one. She says, he has the magic martini touch. Madison arrives, and Patricia remarks on how beautiful she looks, and says, all the women in this town make an effort, and here’s Whitney in a grey T-shirt. He says, who cares? and Patricia says, she does. Venita joins them, and Patricia tells Whitney to look at how beautiful they are. Whitney says he’s the new Michael, and Madison asks where his apron is. Patricia says, it would cover the grey T-shirt. She checks out Madison’s ring, pronouncing it nice and big. In Madison’s interview, she says she knew she was going to lock Brett down as soon as she looked at him. She fell in love instantly. She tells Patricia that Brett planned the proposal with her son Hudson. Her mom always said, when you know, you know. Patricia says she got married after three months, and Venita asks how long it lasted, but Patricia can’t remember which one it was. Madison tells Patricia that she and Venita are doing a joint birthday party. It’s going to be a solo girls event. Super girly, pink and florals. Madison says, the joint birthday party is a true test of friendship.

Taylor rides her bike, while Shep skateboards next to her. They stop at a restaurant for date night. Taylor says, the table looks as barren as her ovaries, and Shep says, they had a scare, but now they’re out of the woods. For three days, he was getting ready to figure out how to change his life drastically. In Shep’s interview, he says, for three days, he was thinking, shoot me, and we’ll see where it goes. It was downright terrifying. He says he thinks she’s being flippant about his emotions, and she says, he didn’t even ask how she felt. He just thought they had a scare. He’s never said anything to the effect that, if things happen, she can trust him to be there; faithful and supportive. He asks where she thinks he’s going? What does she think he’s doing? We flash back to the Reunion, when Shep said he’d exchanged texts with an old flame, and kissed someone. In Taylor’s interview, she says, Shep is clearly not safe bet. If she was pregnant, she’d want the right steps taken, which would be marriage. She doesn’t know if Shep would step up to the bat [sic]. She tells him, that he’d said he didn’t want to get married and settle down, and he says, if he’s told what to do, he does the opposite, but he wants her. She asks, what if she wants those things later in life? and he says, they’ll cross that bridge when they come to it.

Kathryn and Olivia meet for lunch. Kathryn thanks Olivia for being her date; she needs to be with someone who sees her in a positive light. Olivia hasn’t been bitten by the Charleston bug. Olivia says she hopped on some people at Naomie’s party, and we flash back to that, Kathryn thanks Olivia for having her back, and Olivia says, they have to take down the mean girls. Kathryn asks about Austen, and Olivia says, she’s attracted to him since he’s tall, but they’re taking baby steps. Olivia asks how it’s going with Chleb, and Kathryn says, after her party, they got in a big fight, and he was gone for six days. She invited him to dinner, so he could hear what she needed. She was trying to get him to open up about their issues, but it didn’t go over well. We flash back to that, and she says, they broke up. In Kathryn’s interview, she says she’s at a point in life where’s she’s looking for her forever person. She needs someone who’s looking at the big picture with her; the five and ten year plan. She tells Olivia that she needs a partner who can open up to her, support her, and listen to feedback. Chleb reacts like an athlete, and shows no emotions.

Meanwhile, Chleb is with cousin Chelsie, and says he appreciates the last couple of days. Chelsie gives him a drink, and Chleb asks if it’s 1000 proof. Chelsie says, he had to get Chleb right, and Chleb says, he’s concerned. Kathryn is in his head. They haven’t talked for the past few days, and they’d been going out a year and four months; it’s been a minute. He’s confused. In Chleb’s interview, he says, when he and Kathryn started dating, everything was happy. He felt like he was destined to be in her life. He misses her, being close to her, hugging and kissing her. He loves her. He tells Chelsie that he didn’t want to break up, but he has a hard time showing emotion. Kathryn wants him to have a sad face, and thinks he doesn’t care, but he does. He just doesn’t know how to show emotion, and nothing gets settled. Chelsie asks if it’s worth it, and Chleb says he’s trying to figure that out.

Madison calls Kathryn, who says she’s working on Halloween crap for her kids. Madison says her son is a total boy. He wants the scary stuff, and she wanted him to be an elephant. She asks if Kathryn wants to come to a garden party. She and Venita are hosting a party for their birthdays this weekend. It’s going to be super girly; no boys. Kathryn says she’d be happy to come, but does Venita want her to come. In Madison’s interview, she says she thinks the issues Venita and Kathryn have will linger, but it’s a joint party, and she didn’t ask who Venita was inviting. She tells Kathryn, from what she knows, Venita wants a clean slate with everyone, and to just have a good time. Kathryn says, then she’s excited, and Madison says she was hoping Kathryn would ask Olivia. She doesn’t know Olivia that well. Kathryn says, Olivia is awesome. Madison will love her.

Austen meets Craig at the golf range to practice. Austen tells Craig that he has a meeting with Harris Teeter from North Carolina this week, and it will increase the production of his company 10X. Then he’s saying goodbye to his childhood home. He’s going to need emotional support, and some help moving furniture. Craig says, moving furniture sucks, but Austen says, it’s not a lot of furniture, and Craig says, okay, he’ll come. He says, look at them. They’re both in healthy places in their lives, and business is going well. He’s in a relationship, and he’s happy Austen is over his ex. He is over her, right? It was a terrible time for all of them. Austen assures Craig that he’s over Madison, and Craig says, Olivia is cool. Austen says, she’s also chill. She’s levelheaded and tall. He thinks tall people go with the flow. Short people are angry little demons. He says he and Olivia hang out with Shep and Taylor a lot, but he doesn’t want to fast track anything. Craig says if he’s getting any vibes to the contrary from Olivia, and he says he thinks she’s confused as sh*t by him. He decides to text her about meeting for drinks, and they discuss one sentence for ten minutes. A decision is finally made, and Austen asks if he should put a period on the end, but Craig says, no punctuation, please. It’s worse than emojis in a text. Austen says, they’ll get out of the city for a while, and Craig suggests he tell Olivia how he feels, then run.

Madison gets to the party venue first, and is met with champagne. There’s a gorgeous table set outside, and Madison says, this is perfect. She tells event planner Erica that she did so good. She outdid herself, and Madison is speechless mad. Venita joins her, and sees the place settings for Kathryn and Olivia. Madison says she thinks it will be good; she’s hoping for positive vibes. In Venita’s interview, she wonders, if Madison knows how she feels about them, why invite them and not tell her? Whose side are you on? We see a clip of Venita and Madison discussing the guest list, with no mention of Kathryn or Olivia. They get dressed, and Madison says, let’s party, birthday girl. It’s Libra season. Venita asks what made Madison decide to invite them, and Madison says, Kathryn invited her to her party. She doesn’t know Olivia, but figured Kathryn would want her there. Venita says, it’s fine, and Madison says, Venita can change it if she feels some type of way. In her interview, Venita says, how non-Southern belle. She’s not pulling a Madison on Madison. Madison uninvited Austen to his own birthday party. We flash back to that, and Madison tells Venita that they’re going to have fun, and in Venita’s interview, she says, Madison can push buttons, but it never crossed her mind that Madison would try to push hers.

Outside, Madison and Venita toast each other, and the guests begin to arrive. Everyone gushes over Madison’s ring, and someone asks how Brett proposed. Venita looks left out, and says, like they haven’t heard it 500 times. In her interview, she says, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, making fun of Madison’s ring admirers. She says, it’s my party.

M-m-m… deviled eggs. Leva tells Madison, this looks like the vibe for her shower too, and Madison says, maybe this is her shower, pissing off Venita more. Guests continue coming in, and the temperature reaches 84 degrees. Fans are passed out, and Leva tries to use the analogy, birds of a feather flock together, and says everything but. Venita asks Leva how she deals with Kathryn; the stuff on her heart is still there. She’s thinking of asking Kathryn for a one-on-one chitchat, and Leva says, heal it up.

In the car, Kathryn asks if Olivia is excited about the party, and Olivia says, she’s making more of it in her head. Kathryn says, Olivia had her back, and when they try to take away Olivia’s voice, it makes her feel bad. Olivia tells Kathryn not to get triggered, and Kathryn says she’s not a dramatic person. I choke on my coffee. When they arrive, Venita admits Kathryn kills the theme with her pink hair. Madison talks about her engagement, and Kathryn says, mom to mom, she knows it’s hard to find someone. She’s happy for Madison. Leva tells Naomie, might as well say hi, and in Naomie’s interview, she says she’s tired of being the bigger person. She doesn’t want to be the bigger person. Naomie tells Olivia that she feels like they should chat. There’s unexplained history with her and Kathryn that Olivia doesn’t know. There are three sides to everything. Olivia says, she was trying to make it clear that she wasn’t coming in on sides, but out of decency. Naomie says, she respects that, and also that Olivia didn’t back down. Any problems with Kathryn have nothing to do with her. Olivia says she’s happy to move forward, and Naomie says, now they can move on. But in Naomie’s interview, she says she appreciates it, but sorry, she doesn’t trust Olivia. Marcie asks Olivia how it’s going with Austen, and Olivia says, they had a group date with Shep and Taylor, and they have another date tomorrow. Marcie says she wants to see this transpire. Leva asks Kathryn about Chleb, and Kathryn says, they broke up. Leva says, that’s sad, but Venita suggests they enjoy themselves, and manifest happiness and peace. Leva tells a story about her son playing tennis in a competitive way, then being distracted by a butterfly, and Kathryn says, the innocence of children is refreshing. They raise kids with the same problems they have, and the system works against changing that. In Venita’s interview, she wonders if Kathryn is just saying this for show. Venita is concerned that Kathryn’s small actions might trickle down to her kids, and she asks Kathryn if she’s taught her kids about not using the monkey emoji. Kathryn says, of course she has, and Venita says, that’s refreshing, since in a moment of anger, it’s easy to spread that to children. She wants to get to know Kathryn better, and have a relationship, but she needed to make sure that wasn’t happening. Kathryn says, absolutely not, and Venita says, they can cheers to that. She and Kathryn clink glasses.

Patricia pulls up in her Rolls Royce, with Whitney playing chauffeur, Kathryn tells Olivia that she and Venita talked, but she doesn’t know what to think. Patricia shows Madison how to feature her ring while holding a glass, and everyone sits for lunch. Venita wants everyone to take a second, and open their gifts. It’s a pair of earrings, and Venita says, in case they don’t have garden-themed earrings. Both Marcie and Patricia don’t have pierced ears, and Patricia tells them, her mother always said loose women have pieced ears. Madison tells Olivia that she thinks they’ll hit it off. Venita thanks everyone for coming, and Madison says, there’s nothing better than champagne and cupcakes. Patricia says, her motto is, eat, drink, and remarry, and announces to the table that she’d like to put forth from this time forward, no drama, and a clean slate. She’s never had a clean state, but starting now, here’s to whatever. Because having no drama is impossible, Leva says, there might be people at this table who have issues. So in the spirit of realness, let’s fix it. All these big feelings are being swept under the rug, and they should address some of them. Venita says, let’s do one and done. You first, then you, and she points at Olivia, then Kathryn. Kathryn asks if that’s a challenge, and says, they’re supposed to be adults, and trying to have results. Venita says she’d like to have a conversation with Kathryn second, but would she like to go first? Kathryn says, Venita is being condescending, and Naomie – apparently not learning her lesson from last time – says, Venita didn’t mean it like that. Kathryn tells her, f*** off, and Patricia says, no F-words, please! Venita says if she didn’t want to fix this with Kathryn, she woudn’t have said anything. What does Kathryn need to get back to this? Kathryn says, she doesn’t need sh*t, and Venita says, got it.

To be continued…

👟 Taking It On the Run…

Have a looksee tomorrow at some soap, what’s in the teapot, things other people said, and something from the music catalog in my mind. Until then, stay safe, stay hungry for more, but not at the expense of others, and stay not panicking. Panic makes poor decisions.

Jul14

July 13, 2022 – Carly Rejects the Offer, Erika’s Drinking Is Becoming a Problem & Beach

Posted on July 14, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha opens her eyes, and Brando says, hi, beautiful. She asks if she missed the fireworks, and he says she sure did. She says, that means he did too, but he says, being here with her, he ain’t missing nothing. She asks if she’s told him that he’s the best husband in the entire universe, and he says, no, but he just wants her to get better so they have decades of 4^th of Julys ahead of them. She says, now that they’re past the worst of it, be straight with her, how bad is the fallout?

On the phone at the hospital, Portia says she called weeks ago to make an appointment with a genetic specialist. It was rescheduled and she wants to see if she can be fit in as soon as possible. It’s urgent. Curtis comes in with Marshall, and says, urgent? What’s going on?

Rory asks if he can make a confession, and Trina says, he’s the cop, not her. He says he’s been wanting to do that for a long time.

Sonny asks who bought Carly’s half of the hotel, but Olivia tells him, the real estate agent woudn’t say. She should have just gone with her gut. She offered to buy Carly’s half of the hotel, but Carly turned her down flat. She should have ignored Carly and done it anyway, and they wouldn’t be in this situation right now. He tells her not to blame herself, because Carly’s independent to a fault. Olivia says she knows that, but why couldn’t Carly have just said yes to her or to him. Now they’re stuck with some buyer who’s clearly not going to let Carly keep it. They see Drew, and Sonny says, unless she has a guardian angel.

Nina tells Carly that she just bought Carly’s half of the MetroCourt; she just closed the deal. Carly says, Nina is unbelievable. Her petition to visit Wiley didn’t go her way, so she’s going to stick it to Carly and her family, and take away something else she loves? Nina says, just the opposite. She didn’t buy the hotel for herself; she bought it for Carly.

Portia says, this was a consult for a patient, and Curtis says, an urgent consult. She says she may have overstated just a bit, and Marshall says he bets that gets a quicker result. She says, it certainly does, and asks, what brings them by GH? Certainly not a fireworks mishap she hopes. Curtis says, nothing like that. He just wanted to give her an update. She asks if he found evidence that Trina was set up, and he says, no, but thanks to Marshall, they have a lead.

Trina says, Rory’s been waiting a long time to kiss her? She’s glad he finally did. Unless… He says, what? and she says she told him that she wanted a distraction. Was that all that was? He says, definitely not… actually, maybe… He doesn’t know. They should probably check and make sure, doesn’t she think? She says, it’s the responsible thing to do, and he says, exactly, kissing her again.

Brando says, the only thing Sasha needs to worry about is resting and recovering, and she says, so it’s that bad, but he says, no, it’s… She says she’s so embarrassed, and he asks, why? She says she had a breakdown on live television. Doc is holding her here. Maxie and Lucy must be fielding all kinds of questions. He says, they’ve got it covered, but she says she feels awful. This is the second time she majorly messed up; it’s not fair. Gladys comes in, and says, can they believe the cafeteria ran out of hot dogs on the 4^th of July? and Brando says, that has to be illegal. Gladys says, Sasha is awake. How is she feeling? Brando says, she’s stressed, so please tell her, everything at Deception is fine, that Lucy and Maxie are handling PR, and everything will be back to normal in no time. Sasha says, it’s her mess. She should be there to clean it up. Gladys says, it’s being handled, and everyone is far more concerned about Sasha. Sasha says, this time out was much needed. She feels much better now. Tomorrow, she goes home, and it’s back to business as usual. Brando and Gladys exchange glances, and Sasha asks, what’s that look? Brando says, they’ll talk about it tomorrow, but Sasha says she wants to talk about it now. Is something wrong? What aren’t they telling her?

Olivia asks how the kids liked the fair, and Drew says, they loved it. They’re back at her place now, safe and sound. She thanks him for taking them, and he says, it was fun. He asks if Carly is around, and Olivia says she hasn’t seen Carly for a minute, but she’s sure Carly is around somewhere. Sonny says, they heard someone bought Carly’s share of the MetroCourt, and Drew asks if they think it was him. Sonny says, was it? and Drew says, he kind of wishes it was. He thought they had more time to strategize. Sonny says, Drew’s been doing a lot of that lately, strategizing on Carly’s behalf, and Drew says, but it hasn’t been doing anybody any good, has it? Olivia asks if they’re going to clue her in, or keep speaking in code, and Drew says, he tried to sell Nina Crimson, so he could reimburse Carly so she could keep the hotel. Olivia says, that’s a great idea, and Drew says, unfortunately not great enough to work though. Sonny says, but Drew had to try, and Drew says he did. Carly woudn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for him.

Carly says, Nina bought her half of the hotel, and Nina says she did, to give it back to Carly, no strings attached. Carly tells her, she doesn’t know what to say, and Nina says she doesn’t have to say anything. Nina doesn’t think it’s right that Carly lost everything just because she was trying to help her son. That’s not fair. Believe it or not, she just wanted to do this for Carly. Carly says, if Nina is sincere… Nina says she is, and Carly says, then something’s in it for her. What is it? Good PR? Does Nina want to reinvent herself being her financial savior?… Oh, Nina is just praying Wiley finds out about this one day. Nina says, no. She understands what she did to Carly’s family is unforgiveable, and Carly says, so Nina is going to give her back her hotel, and it’s going to make up for everything? but Nina says, no. Nothing she could ever do will fully repair the damage she caused Carly. Carly says, Nina means ripping her family apart, and turning Sonny into a man his kids don’t even recognize? She can never repair that. Nina says, okay. So Carly agrees she owes her. Carly says, hell yeah, Nina owes her, and Nina says, then let her do this

Portia asks, what’s the new lead? and Curtis says, one of Marshall’s band members, Jack, got the name and address of the bartender that Trina and Josslyn found. He’s the same man who sold Esme that burner phone. Portia says, the one that was planted in Trina’s bag; that’s wonderful. Curtis says, but when they went back to the bar and his apartment, he was nowhere to be found. Marshall says, they figure he’s lying low because the cops were called to The Highsider. Portia says, he hasn’t been back to work since then? and Curtis says, no. Shady, right? She says, very shady. But what if they don’t find him? It’s just another dead end. Marshall tells her, don’t lose faith. He and Curtis are nowhere close to giving up on exonerating Trina. Curtis says, there’s already another plan in motion.

Brando says, they need to discuss treatment options for when Sasha is released, and Sasha says, treatment options? She already told them, she’s feeling so much better. She was stressed out. Under normal circumstances, she would have been fine, but putting a baby carrier that soon after Liam’s death was not normal. He says he gets that, but she hadn’t seen the baby carrier yet when she took those pills. She says, the pills; he found them on her after he brought her in here. That was just a one-time thing to help her deal, she swears. He says, that wasn’t just a one-time thing, and Gladys says she told him the truth, that Sasha used uppers to get through the IPO. Sasha says, because she was stressed, and Gladys says, she told him that too. Sasha asks if Gladys also told him that she stopped, and Gladys says she’ll let them talk. She leaves, and Sasha tells Brando, listen to her; she’s okay. She doesn’t need any more treatment. He says he loves her and he’s worried about her, but she says, he doesn’t have to be. She’s done with the pills. He has to believe her. He says he wants to, more than anything in the world, but he can’t.

Olivia tells Drew that he can’t blame himself, but he says he set the whole thing in motion. He met with an executive consultant, who pitched him the idea of merging ELQ and Aurora. He thought it was a great idea. He got on board; he got Michael on board. Pitched it to Ned, which turns out was a big miscalculation. Olivia tells him, she thinks the less said about Ned switching sides, the better, and he says, in order for the strategy to work, he had to inflate the stock value of Aurora, which is a legitimate tactic. Had the merger gone through, the stock would have helped it’s value. With that said, he never should have let Carly get involved. Sonny says, as if Drew could stop her, and Olivia says, once Carly sets her mind on something, that’s it; they all know that. All they can do is support her and she’s going to need a lot of that right now. She’s got some tough times ahead of her. Dex walks in, and tells Sonny, the car’s ready; visiting hours are going to be over soon. Sonny thanks him, and says he’s going to check in on Sasha and Brando. Olivia asks him to give Sasha her best, and Drew says he heard what happened; it’s so awful. Sonny says, Carly isn’t going to take his help, but if she needs anything, he’s here. He leaves, and on his way out, his phone rings. Sonny thanks Brick for calling him back, and says he needs Brick to check some information for him… Yeah, right away.

Carly says, now, after months posturing, Nina wants to do what’s right now? and Nina says, that’s not fair. Carly says, Nina wants to talk fair? and Nina says, ever since she… we got back from Nixon Falls, she’s been trying make up for her mistakes. Carly asks if that’s what Nina calls sleeping with her husband, and dragging them all to court just so she can force herself on Wiley? Nina says, he’s her grandson, then composes herself, and says, can they try to think about this practically? She knows there’s nothing she can do to balance the scales, but maybe this will top it a little bit more toward the middle, and that’s all she wants. Carly says she’s sure Nina believes that. She’s sure Nina has convinced herself that she’s trying to make amends, because the truth is far less flattering. Nina bought her half of the hotel, so Sonny couldn’t. Um… wait a minute. Sonny tried, and Carly said no, so what the what? Carly says, Nina and Sonny have been inseparable lately. She’s sure Sonny told Nina that he was going to offer to help her. Nina says, he did, and Carly says, and that just kills Nina, doesn’t it, knowing Sonny ran to her rescue? but Nina says, it didn’t kill her. She expected it actually. She knows Carly and Sonny will always be connected. That’s what happens when you share children. Carly says, funny Nina mentions that, because Michael is Sonny’s son, and yet Sonny sat in that courtroom and listened to Nina’s lawyer attack Michael, and he did nothing. That is why she’s turning down Sonny’s offer to help her, and she’s turning down Nina’s. Nina had her attorney accuse Michael of being violent towards women, and nothing could be further from the truth. Thank God the judge could see through Scotty’s lies, and thank God Michael kept his cool and defended himself, but the fact that it happened at all is on Nina. What Nina did to her family, sleeping with her husband, that’s nothing compared to what she did to Michael. Carly will never forgive her for what she did to Michael in that courtroom. She’d rather crawl on broken glass than take anything from Nina. Nina says, Carly is such a saint, and Carly’s attorney attacked her for all the things she’s done in her past. She had to do what she did; Carly backed her into a corner. Carly puts her finger in Nina’s face, and says she doesn’t care. She doesn’t care if Nina believes her own lies, and doesn’t care if Sonny believes every single word. Nina can’t come in here, and cry a little, and say pretty things, and give her back her hotel, and expect everything to be okay. She opens the door, and says, this place is Nina’s. She’ll be out by the end of the week. Nina leaves, and Carly slams the door behind her.

Drew says he’s really sorry he cost Olivia her business partner, but she asks if he heard her; it’s not his fault. He says, she honestly doesn’t blame him, not even a little bit? and she says, things might have gone a little different, had Michael not tried to drive Ned out of the company… He says, the intention was never to ice out Ned, but she says, by the time they told Ned about the Aurora merger, it was done deal, with no place for him in the family business. Drew says, that’s not true, and she says, no place he wanted. Drew says, so Ned, the guy who led the charge to reclaim ELQ for the Quartermaines, sided with Valentin? She can’t be okay with that. She says she stands by her husband, and he says, fair enough. She says she just wishes the members of this family weren’t always at odds with one another, and he says, it seems to be the Quartermaine way, even before the vote. He told Michael the merger would be the thing to cement his place in the family. She says, he got that right; he’s a Quartermaine through and through. He says he was trying to protect the family from Valentin, and she asks how that worked out for him. He says, not great, but it’s nobody’s fault but Ned’s. What Ned did was incredibly selfish, and it burned a lot of people in the process. She says, Drew got burned by the Quartermaines for the first time. Don’t worry, it won’t be the last. Welcome to the family.

Curtis says, he was able to use one of his P.I. connections to access the known associates of the bartender. They should have the names and addresses any minute. Portia says, and he thinks that’s where the bartender is? and Curtis says, that’s the hope. She says, but why? and Curtis says, because he knows he’s connected to the crimes Trina is accused of. He’s sure the bartender is scared if he gets drawn in, it will be trouble for him. Marshall says, and who knows what else might be unearthed from his past? and Curtis says, so if they can get this bartender guy to admit he sold the phone to Esme, it could blow this case wide open. Portia says, the trial starts tomorrow, and shakes her head. Curtis’s phone rings and he says, here he is, right here. He steps away, asking, what’s he got? Portia thanks Marshall for trying to help Trina, and he says, she raised a wonderful young woman. The fact that she’s got all these people willing to go to bat for her is a testament to that. She says she prays it’s enough, and they can end this finally once and for all. He pats her arm, and says, of course (🍷).

Rory says, it’s official; not a distraction. Her? Trina says, definitely not a distraction. She really likes him. He says he likes her too, a lot, and she says, he’s obviously a great guy. He says, oh no, here comes the but, and she says she really wanted him to kiss her. She enjoyed it and doesn’t regret it, but… He says, see? and she says, this can’t happen again. He says, does she mind if he asks why? and she says, it’s complicated. He’s so awesome to her and her friends… except for the time he arrested Spencer and Cameron… He asks if she’s backing off them because she’s still hung up on Spencer.

Sonny asks Gladys, how’s Sasha? and she says, thank God he’s here. She messed everything up. He asks what she means, and she says she knew Sasha was struggling. Sasha asked her not to tell Brando, so she didn’t. If she’d been up front with him, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad. He says, she thought she was helping her daughter-in-law, but she says she only made everything worse. He says, they can only do what’s best in the moment. If you ask him, all she’s done is step up for Sasha. She asks, then why does she feel like she’s failing Sasha? but he says, she’s not failing; she’s trying. That’s not failing. Does she know who would be proud? Mike. She says, he thinks so? and he says, he knows so, hugging her. Aww. He’s being the other Mike.

Brando says, Sasha told him that his mom was overreacting about her using again, and Sasha says, she was. Like Gladys said, she just needed some help to get through the IPO. By the time Gladys found out, she’d already stopped using. He says, the point is, she lied to him. He doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do with that. She says, she lied to him because why worry him over nothing? She didn’t want to start their life together that way. He says, which brings him to the next question. Was she using drugs when they got married? She says she was not high during their ceremony. She did take some pills the morning she proposed, but that doesn’t change anything. He asks how she can say that, and she says, pills or not, she wanted to marry him, more than anything. Being his wife makes her so happy. He makes her so happy. He says, she makes him happy too, and she says, those drugs have nothing to do with her feelings for him. She just needed a little something extra to help with the stress and the pressure, but it’s over now. Brando takes her hand, and says, he’s an addict too, remember? The road to sobriety isn’t a straight line. She had a set-back. She says, that’s all it was, a set-back, and he says, he’ll be there to help her get through it, and make sure she’s fully comfortable with the rehab plan. She says, rehab? and he says, she can’t snap her fingers, and think she can get herself back on track. She says, she was stressed, and he asks if she thinks this is the last time she’s going to feel that way. There are therapists who can help her deal with those triggers. She says, okay, she’ll go to therapy, and he says, rehab therapists. She says, she just wants to go home with him, and he says, she needs more than he knows how to give. He cares about her too much to pretend otherwise. He’d ask her to do it for him, but they both know it’s something she has to do for herself. Gladys pops in, and says, Sonny is here, but she can tell him Sasha isn’t ready for visitors. Sasha says, Brando should go talk to him. Thank him for coming, but tell him she’s not ready. Brando asks her to think about what he said, and leaves.

Sonny asks how Brando is holding up, and Brando says, he appreciates Sonny coming by, but now is not a good time. Sonny says he understands, and asks if there’s anything he can do. Brando says he wishes Sonny knew how to get through to Sasha, and Sonny says, Brando will figure it out. Just keep showing her that he loves her, and he’s going to be by her side. Eventually, she will start listening.

Trina tells Rory, she and Spencer were never together. Spencer has absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on between them. Rory asks what that is exactly? and Trina says, let’s be real. Her trial starts tomorrow, and she’s no closer to proving Esme set her up. If she’s convicted… He says, that’s a huge if, and she says, if she is, what future can they possibly have?

Drew says, Olivia definitely loves her husband, and she says, damn right she does. He says he just hopes she sees he was trying to do what was right by the family. He didn’t deserve what Ned did. She says, that’s the thing. It’s not about who deserves what. These are Quartermaines. He says, for better or worse, and she says, a lot of times it’s for the worse. Do they love each other? Yes, they do, but they just can’t help giving in to their worst impulses. He says, he thought they could come together against Valentin. Instead, Ned turned against them. She says, that kind of thing is going to happen again and again. And when it does, Drew has a choice to make. He can either hang on to his bitterness and drive the family further apart, or choose to forgive. You bring together the people you love. He says, until the next time someone stabs you in the back, and Olivia says, that will happen. That’s just the way it is. She wishes that wasn’t the case, but she can accept it. So can he. Carly comes in, and Olivia asks how she’s doing, hugging her. Carly says she doesn’t know. The most surreal, twisted thing just happened.

Sonny tells Brando that he’s got go; he’s sorry. Is Brando going to be all right? Brando says, he thinks so, and they hug. He thanks Sonny again for coming, and Sonny goes to the elevator just as Nina is coming out.

Nina says she’s here to check on Sasha. She’s guessing that’s why he’s here too. He says he wants to talk to her in private, and tells Dex to give them a minute. She asks if something is wrong, and Sonny says, come on, taking her hand and walking her down the hall. Dex sits next to Brando, and says he’s sorry about Brando’s wife. Brando thanks him, and Dex says, she’s going to be okay. Brando says, no offense, but Dex doesn’t know that, and Dex says, the odds look good with the support system she’s got. Between Brando and Sonny, they’ll get her through whatever’s going on. Brando says he wishes he had Dex’s confidence, and Dex says, Brando’s a vet, right? Brando says, Marines; he fought in Iraq. Dex says, so Brando’s seen and experienced some rough stuff, and he’s still here. Brando says he heard Dex is a vet too, and Dex says, Army; Afghanistan. Brando says, whereabouts? He had a buddy who was stationed in Bagram for a while. Dex says, they were there too, which isn’t that big a coincidence, since most of them got sent there. Then they sent them to Kandahar. Brando asks how many tours Dex did, and Dex says, just the one.

Sasha says she needs Gladys to have her back on this. Gladys saw how she stopped taking the pills the first time. Gladys says, she didn’t stop for long, but Sasha says she’s learned her lesson. She can’t push herself at work anymore. Going forward, she’s going to make a point to take more downtime. Gladys says, Sasha is acting like it’s no big deal, and Sasha says, it isn’t. Gladys says, Sasha had a break in reality on national television, and Sasha says, that part was a big deal, but that was an isolated incident. They forced her to model a baby carrier. Gladys says, all right. So Sasha is just going to go through the rest of her life being triggered by infants and anything related to them? It’s clear Sasha hasn’t processed losing Liam, not to mention everything she’s been through since. Why is she fighting this? Get the help she so obviously needs.

Marshall and Portia sit down, and Marshall says he’s been meaning to thank her. She says, for what? and he says, for allowing him to stay with her and Curtis. He’ll be out of their hair as soon as he’s able. She says, there’s no rush, and he says, it’s a hell of a time. With Trina’s trial, and now all this… She says, it’s fine. They love having him. He thanks her, and she says, there’s something she wants to tell him too. She’s well aware of the stigma of mental illness, even to this day, and it took a lot of courage to open up to them about his diagnosis. He says, better late than never, and she says, she thinks so. Doesn’t he? He says he’s grateful things are finally okay with him and his son, and she says, schizophrenia usually presents itself in the early 20s, so he must have been living with symptoms for a while before he realized what they were. He says, mainly paranoid, thinking the government was watching him. And actually, that wasn’t going on that long before his arrest. She says, paranoia was his only symptom? and he says, it’s possible he wrote off some other things, but he doesn’t think anything abnormal. Curtis comes back, and Portia says, please tell her that his contact found something that can help Trina.

Olivia says, Nina bought Carly’s half of the hotel? and Carly says, as a gift for her. Isn’t that sweet? Drew asks, what’s the angle? and Carly says, there are tons. Mainly she wants to ease her conscience for the hell she unleashed on Carly and her family, but as always, all roads lead to Wiley, so she’s sure Nina is just doing this to ingratiate herself with him. Olivia asks what Carly said, and Carly tells her that she said hell no. Olivia says she figured, and Carly asks if she’s surprised. Olivia says, no, but part of her wishes Carly had taken Nina up on it. Carly says she’s sorry. They were partners, and she made a decision that left Olivia twisting, but no matter how bad she feels, she can’t accept Nina’s offer; she won’t accept Nina’s offer. Olivia says she sympathizes; she gets it. It’s just the thought of running this place with her… She’s got to go. She promised to tuck Leo in. Carly tells Olivia to kiss him for her, and Olivia says, of course (🍷). They’ll talk tomorrow. She leaves, and Drew says, Carly is committed, he’ll give her that. She said she was going to dig herself out by herself, and look at her; offer number three turned down flat. Carly says, Nina accused Michael of being violent towards women in open court. She could be starving and destitute, and she wouldn’t accept a damn dime from that woman. He says he gets that. So what’s the plan now?

Nina tells Sonny, stop freaking her out, and he finally stops walking. He asks if she bought Carly’s half of the MetroCourt, and she says, yes, and she’s actually surprised he didn’t beat her to it. He says, Carly doesn’t want his help. Why? She says, why did she buy Carly’s half of the hotel? She wanted to give it back to Carly. He says, and? and she says, Carly accused her of being self-serving. Sonny asks, can Nina blame her?

Curtis says his guy emailed him a list of all the known associates of the bartender, and the addresses. Taggert is going to help him check them out. Portia says, that’s wonderful, and Curtis says, by tomorrow morning, they should have all the evidence they need to fight these charges against Trina and end this ridiculous nightmare. Marshall says they should get started, and Curtis says, it’s late. He suggests he take Marshall home and he’ll get started on the leads himself, but Marshall says, not happening, and Portia says, really? Marshall says he’s lost enough time with his family. He doesn’t intend to waste anymore, and she and Trina are part of that family now. Curtis says, how do you argue with that? Marshall says, you don’t, and they leave.

Rory says, everything will work out, and Trina asks how he knows. He says, because he has faith they’ll get the answers they need to exonerate her, and she says, that means more to her than he knows. But until the trial is behind her… He says, she’s going to take life one day at a time? and she says, it’s more like hours at this point. He says, so how about for the next couple of hours they just enjoy the here and now. No worrying about the future or what tomorrow will bring. Her, him, and the pleasure of each other’s company. What does she say? She tells him, she says yes. They hold hands, and look up at the sky. He asks if she knows anything about the stars or constellations, and she says, just that they’re beautiful. He says, they really are, and they gaze at the stars.

Sasha asks if Gladys knows how frustrating it is to keep telling people you’re fine and no one believes you. She doesn’t need to be shipped off to rehab. Gladys says, they just want what’s best for her, and both Brando and Doc think she would benefit from more specialized treatment. Sasha says, and it doesn’t matter what she thinks? and Gladys says, of course (🍷) it does, but maybe it’s a good idea to get some outside opinions; not to mention, professional ones. Sasha says she appreciates them trying to help, but they’re wrong. She does not need to go to rehab, and in 24 hours, it won’t be anyone else’s decision but her own.

Dex tells Brando, he enlisted right after high school. He doesn’t regret serving, but he almost died so many times, he lost count. Brando says he knows what Dex means. A guy near you that dies, and you didn’t; is there a reason, or was it just random? Either way, what are you supposed to do with the life you got to keep? Dex says he decided not to tempt fate. When his tour was up, he got out. He’s going to grab some coffee. Does Brando want anything? Brando says, no, and Dex leaves.

Carly says she doesn’t have a plan, but hell will freeze over before it involves Nina Reeves, and Drew says, copy that. She decided what was important to her, and she stuck to it. That takes guts. She says, or a serious stubborn streak, and he says, that too. She says, it’s just that her family is really all she has right now. She’s not going to risk losing them for anything or anyone. He asks if they need to do another toast to rising again, and she says she’d settle for just finding her way. Right now she’s feeling really lost, and she doesn’t like the feeling because it’s foreign, and it’s scary, and it’s not her. He says he knows, and holds her.

Nina says, she expects Carly to think the worst of her, but not Sonny, and he says, that’s not what he meant. She and Carly have been going at each other’s throats; that’s their history. Why wouldn’t Carly think she’s self-serving? Nina says, he has a point, but Carly’s not 100% wrong. She bought Carly’s half of the MetroCourt because she was trying to repair some of the damage she caused. He asks if she’s being serious, and she says, yes. Which would not only make her feel better, but she wanted to maybe make things easier for them to move forward. All that pain. Wouldn’t it be nice if it was behind them? He says, it is better she bought it than someone else. They can’t undo the past; they can only make peace with it. She says, has he? and he says, he hasn’t been clear with her lately; things have been up in the air. But he does want to be with her. Whatever it takes; wherever it leads them. He’s all in. She touches his face, and he kisses her.

Tomorrow, Ava says, it’s time Trina told them what the evidence is; Laura asks if she has reason for concern; Victor says, since Valentin failed, he’s taken matters into his own hands; and Spencer tells Esme that something is going to rock her world.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

When we last left, LisaR was demanding if Sutton called Diana an MF’er and soulless. Sutton says, Diana was mocking her miscarriages, and we flash back to Diana saying, here we go with the big blue. Teary at the end, blah-blah-blah. LisaR says, all she heard about was the MF’er and soulless. Garcelle says, LisaR wasn’t at the party, and Erika says, LisaR talked to Diana. Sutton says, she and Diana had started to connect, but LisaR says she doesn’t think Diana got the same takeaway. Sutton says, for her, it felt real, and in Sutton’s interview, she says, they left the conversation in a good place, she thought. We flash back to that, and Sutton says, she was trying to relate to Diana. Kyle says, Diana thought her apology was phony, and that’s where she stepped in. Garcelle says, Kyle jumped ship pretty quick, and we flash back to the party, and Garcelle saying, Diana has a chip on her shoulder that has nothing to do with her, followed by Kyle saying, Diana does not have a chip on her shoulder. Kyle says she’s not jumping ship; they’re all on the same ship. Garcelle insists it felt like Kyle jumped ship, and in Kyle’s interview, she says she makes her own decisions based on how she feels. She doesn’t know where this is coming from. Maybe from the last 11 seasons, where Kyle’s feelings jumped ship every five minutes? They go inside, and mess with Sutton’s phone, finding her a match on Bumble. Sutton says she’s not looking to find a date on Bumble, and in her interview, she says, she’s not here to chat. She wants to see them face-to-face, in a crowded room, with Josh stalking her so it doesn’t get rapey. It happens. Someone says, they have a taker, and Sanjit appears on Sutton’s phone. They all say hi, passing the phone around, then put the phone in Sutton’s face. In her interview, Kyle says, it’s a recipe for disaster, but a fun disaster, and one she wants to be part of. Sutton says she likes Sanjit; he’s normal and smart. She tells the women, don’t scare him. Not until they’ve had at least one date. She apologizes to Sanjit, who seems to be a good sport, and they plan to talk later. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, not that she’s watching Erika, but she said she was going to have one drink. We flash back to Erika drinking, and Garcelle holds up three fingers. She asks if she and Erika can have a conversation, and Erika says, sure. Garcelle says, they were having a good time at her birthday, and Erika’s liquor level was beyond, but under no circumstances should she curse out, not just a kid, but her kid. In Crystal’s interview, she says, as a mother, she completely understands. Erika owes Garcelle a genuine apology. We flash back to Crystal hustling Jax away from Erika at the party. Erika says she agrees and takes full responsibility. She was sh*t talking, and treating the teenagers like adults. It was wrong, but it didn’t come from a bad place. It wasn’t vicious, but it was wrong. Garcelle says, seeing her on the boat in Mexico, then seeing her at the party, Erika needs to balance her meds and her cocktails. Erika says she’s on a new med that makes her sleepy, and Kyle jumps in, saying she’s never seen Erika lose her composure, so she should be cut some slack. Garcelle says, this is what she means by jumping ship. She’s having this conversation with Erika; she’s not talking to Kyle. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Garcelle isn’t 100% wrong, but is she happy Erika is letting her hair down, and not being as guarded? Absolutely. I guess it doesn’t occur to this dimbulb that Erika’s reasons for drinking like that might not be good. Sheree (not that one) says, in this moment, Garcelle needs Kyle to be neutral, and Erika admits to having a few too many sneaky margaritas. And before she insulted Garcelle’s twins, she’d complemented them, saying how well-spoken they were, and not acting like teenagers absorbed in their phones. Sutton says, they were raised right, and Erika says, it’s a testament to Garcelle, and I think, nice move. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, it’s great when a stranger compliments you on your parenting, but even better when it’s a mom who knows what it’s like doing it alone. She’s still annoyed, but Erika scored a point. I’m actually surprised Garcelle isn’t thinking like me. Not only did Erika know she’d score a point, she steered the conversation in a different direction. Erika says she’d still do Oliver, and Sheree says, her too. Garcelle says she’ll have to watch both you heifers, and she’s not bringing him around anymore.

I miss what store it is, but it’s like athletic shoe world, a massive wall of shoes, and shelves upon shelves of shoes. Garcelle is there with Jax and Jaid, and in her interview, she says, labels are important, more to some than others. We flash back to a Dorit head-to-toe designer moment, and Garcelle says, Jaid is all about fashion, but Jax couldn’t care less. She sees a pair that are $2200, and tells Jaid, move away from the Diors. She sees a pair for $9800, and in her interview, she wonders, what does it do? Does it do the dishes? The laundry? She tells Jaid that he can’t go over $500, and in her interview, she says, she never in her life thought she’d pay $500 for a pair of shoes. When Jaid was 11 and asked for Gucci, she told him, absolutely not. We flash back to 2019, and Garcelle tells her sons, get a job, and Jaid says, but we’re 11. She says she can’t address her life now; it’s too big. She would never have thought of it. We flash back to some Garcelle moments, and she says, coming from where she does and now having money, she’s proud of what she’s able to do. Jaid picks out a pair for a conservative $300, and in her interview, Garcelle says, when she and Mike broke up, the odds were against her; an older mother with two babies, who didn’t have much. People thought she wouldn’t be able do it. Jaid keeps looking and finds a Yeezy pair for $650. In Garcelle’s interview, she tells us, she’s proud to say she raised three solid young men, who are sweet and compassionate. They deserve a splurge now and then.

It’s Christmastime in Beverly Hills, and we see all the lights. It’s also Hannukah at Kyle’s house. Mauricio dances in, and you know he’s high. Dorit and her kids join them, sans PK, who’s working in London. In Dorit’s interview, she says, it brings back scary thoughts. PK was in London when the home invasion happened, but it’s very important that she keep things normal for her kids, She’s grateful for Kyle being around the corner. It’s a safe environment, and keeps her anxiety at bay. Mauricio’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law arrive, and in her interview, Dorit says, Hanukkah is probably her favorite holiday. She grew up with the Jewish traditions, and now she wants her kids to experience them. One of the boys tells the Hanukkah story before they light the candles, and it’s very cute. In Kyle’s interview, she says, growing up, she didn’t know what the Jewish traditions were, but when she made a commitment to the faith, she wanted to bring them into her home, and celebrate the holidays. Seeing Dorit happy, relaxed, and enjoying Hanukkah makes it mean a lot more now to have these special moments with friends and family. Mauricio tells Dorit that they’re her second family, and Dorit says she’s grateful.

Diana’s son Innis comes by with his girlfriend Ava. Innis says, Diana’s dream is to have him live across the street, and in Diana’s interview, she says she loves having a full house. Her father was an orphan, and had no family. He talked about his loneliness, and how special family is. Losing her brother, she understood that time with her kids is irreplaceable. Ascher (her fiancé? Her husband? I forget) wonders if it’s a culture thing that Diana doesn’t want her kids to go anywhere. Diana says, growing up, there were a bunch of cousins, and everybody had a plot of land. Innis says, it’s an American thing for kids to move away, and in her interview, Diana says she’s glad her kids have seen how the rest of the world lives. They’re lucky to be able to visit her parents in Bosnia. They taught her kids the language and culture. Her daughter Eneya lives in England, where she does horseback riding. Eneya is different from her; she’s allergic to horses. They call Eneya, who says she’ll be riding for Bosnia in March. Her dad is with her, and Diana says, she has a good dad, and in her interview, she says, she selfishly loves having her family with her. She’s hoping Eneya rides in California, so they can spend time together. Her home is important; she likes it to be warm and welcoming. Despite some people thinking she’s rude and cold, her family wouldn’t agree she’s cold. Rude is questionable. See? I want to like her, but…

Kyle meets Garcelle and Sheree for lunch. Sheree talks about going to Sutton’s boutique, and says, they sat and had some girl talk. She’s trying to understand, and Garcelle says, she’ll catch on. Garcelle tells Kyle that she was having a one-on-one with Erika, and wanted a moment with her. It’s not about not wanting Erika to have fun. Erika’s drinking is becoming a lot. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, Erika suggested a threesome to her older son, told her younger son to f*** off, and almost fell off the boat. We flash back to all those things, and Garcelle says, that’s not just, she’s a little tipsy, get her an Uber. What more does Kyle want it to be? Kyle says, Erika was being free and letting her hair down, but Garcelle asks if Kyle doesn’t think it could lead to alcoholism. Doesn’t she think it’s a problem? Kyle looks at her like Garcelle has two heads with her mouth hanging open, then says she thinks that’s dramatic. Garcelle asks if she doesn’t think Erika drinking when she takes meds is a problem, and in Kyle’s interview, she says she does have past experience on this topic. We flash back to the infamous limo scene, and LisaR saying, Kim is close to death. Kyle says she’s learned from those experiences, and those kinds of words hurt people. Apparently she can’t tell the difference between dramatics and actual concern. Garcelle says, Erika said she was on new meds, and Kyle says she takes Lexapro, but it’s a small dosage. It’s not a big thing. Since she doesn’t add something like, Erika’s on the same meds, I don’t know if this applies, or she’s just talking out of her ass. Sheree says, someone saying what Erika did to someone’s sons is a person not in control, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says she dealt with Oliver’s addiction, and watching someone going down a dark path is hard, especially someone you love. Erika’s not at that point, but she thinks they need to do something before it gets bad. Sheree says she sees both sides. Erika’s been through a lot and she’s bringing the wall down, but Garcelle’s point is valid too. Garcelle says, it could be dangerous. If they see a problem, she thinks they should nip it in the bud.

Diana and assistant Lia are on a mission to get rid of Diana’s storage. Lia says it seems overwhelming, but it’s not that bad. We see pictures of Diana with Elton John and Lady Gaga, and in her interview, she says she lives a big life. She goes to a lot of parties, and has a lot of friends. A producer asks, what’s the craziest thing that’s happened at one of her parties? and she says she had a rock star beat up a prince. But she’s not going into names. Lia suggests, except for what she wants to save for her daughters, she donate the rest, and in Diana’s interview, she says, to help others is a huge honor. When she was a refugee, she was on the receiving end. Her parents were at the mercy of charities for years. She gets involved in things she doesn’t even understand, but as long as it helps someone, she’s in. That’s nice, but if she doesn’t understand it, how does she know it’s really helping someone? Erika comes over, and they give each other not-a-fake hug. Erika drools over the clothes and accessories, and in her interview, she says, there’s easily a million bucks in this room. She had things like this her entire adult life, and right now life has changed for her. She doesn’t feel jealous or bad. Life can’t be solely pinned on the value of material things. If she wants something, she can get it. She’s not broke broke. She sold a lot of her collection, but it’s fine. I dunno. It sure sounds like it’s really not. Erika says, Diana missed Sutton’s party, and Diana says she woke up feeling like her head was going to explode. Erika says, it was a topic, and they have champagne. She says, Sutton told them at the table what happened at the party, leaving out the part where LisaR brought the topic up. Diana says, she thought she’d seen it all, then met Sutton. Why does Sutton want to not like her? Erika says she got in trouble last year. Garcelle and Sutton were her biggest critics, but Sutton pulled the worst out of her. Diana says, in the first five minutes she was in the group, Sutton had a fight with nearly everyone; it can’t be her. In Erika’s interview, she says, Sutton poked a major f***ing bear. Sutton might think things are good, but they ain’t with Diana. She doesn’t think Sutton can survive that confrontation. She says she told Sutton that she thought she and Diana got off on the wrong foot, but she can fix it. We see a clip of Erika telling Sutton to give Diana the benefit of the doubt. Sutton says, she doesn’t tell a lot of people about her miscarriages, and Diana made fun of her. Erika tells her, try again. Erika tells Diane that Sutton was sh*tty to her, and she didn’t swipe it under the rug, but she can live with it. Diana asks how she learns to forgive and forget, but Erika says she doesn’t.

In Kyle’s interview, she says, when you’re born and raised in L.A., and it’s 90 degrees on Christmas, you get desperate for snow. She doesn’t have it, so she’s going to create it. We see a snow machine pumping snow into her yard. She calls Erika, and says she had snow brought to the house. She wishes Erika could be here tomorrow for the Children’ Hospital benefit with Jamie Lee Curtis. Erika says, Diana’s on her way to lunch with Sutton, and Kyle says, that’s interesting, twirling her mustache. In Sutton’s interview, she says, she’d thought she and Diana ended on a good note, but LisaR inserted herself, so now she’s going straight to Diana. She calls Garcelle from the car, and says she thinks Diana will be tricky. Garcelle says, you can’t be in this group and hold a grudge because someone yelled at you. Sutton says she can come across as harsh, but she’s complex, funny, witty, and a good friend. She promises to give Garcelle a full report.

Sutton and Diana hug, and I don’t know about fake, but it seems halfhearted. Diana asks what they do, and Sutton says, have some lunch and talk about what they need to talk about. She wonders where to start, and Diana suggests the beginning. Sutton says, they can Sound of Music this, but since she wants to go back, Diana had said her words were clumsy before she even knew Sutton. We flash back to Diana saying that, and Diana says she was trying to give Sutton the benefit of the doubt, thinking she doesn’t mean to hurt with her words. But she’s changed her mind. She thinks Sutton means what she says. Sutton says she’s there to make peace, and come to an understanding. She doesn’t want Diana to be mean and shoot daggers. She wants to be civilized. Diana says, the way Sutton provoked her at the party was inappropriate, and Sutton says, it was wrong of her to be sarcastic. Diana says, some things aren’t up for sarcastic remarks. Sutton says, what she did wasn’t right, and she’s willing to say that, but she needs Diana to say that what she did wasn’t right; mocking Sutton’s miscarriages. Diana says, it’s how Sutton said it, but Sutton says she was sincerely trying to bond, and Diana is rolling her eyes. Diana says, Sutton isn’t genuine, and she feels like she needs professional help to communicate with Sutton. Sutton says, if Diana doesn’t think she’s sincere, Diana has a problem. She doesn’t share her miscarriages with many people. Diana says, Sutton threw it in there like she was raising Diana two. It’s too heavy of a subject. Sutton says, how dare Diana? and Diana says, everything goes back to Sutton. Sutton says she was speaking on behalf of all women who have miscarried, and Diana asks if she’s the world’s miscarriage spokeswoman. Sutton says, Diana is delusional, and Diana says she gave Sutton the fakest hug in her life, and Sutton thought it was sincere. She couldn’t wait to shake Sutton off. Sutton asks, who’s fake now? and Diana says she is. In Sutton’s interview, she says, Diana has a problem with herself. She’d choose dealing with Erika over Diana, Sutton says she had no idea, and it was sh*tty of Diana. Diana shrugs, and Sutton says, shame on her. Diana says, for what? Not letting Sutton walk on her and abuse her? Huh? Diana asks if Sutton thinks she can provoke someone, and yell and say mean things, then hug it out 10 minutes later. She cut Diana deep, and if Diana said it was all good, it would be fake. Sutton asks if Diana wants to move on or not, and Diana says, tell her how to move on in a way that’s not fake. Who is Sutton? Sutton says, she’s reactionary. She’s a hot head, but she’s a good friend, and loyal to the end. Diana says, so you say, and Sutton says, so I know. They go back and forth for a few rounds with that, and Sutton finally says she doesn’t know what to do. They’re playing ping-pong. She gets up and says she’s going to go. She has lots of Christmas cards to do. They can be pleasant at Kyle’s thing. Diana agrees, saying, it’s a charity event, and Sutton leaves.

I swear, I’m starting to need Tums or something during this show.

Next time, Jamie Lee Curtis; Crystal struggles with her eating disorder; Kathy returns; and Erika drinks… and drinks… and drinks.

🍝 On Top of Spaghetti…

Come on by tomorrow for soap (she says with trepidation) and something to Charm you. Until then, stay safe, stay doing your part for the environment, even if it’s just carrying a candy wrapper around in your pocket forever rather than littering, and stay knowing we can’t undo the past; we can only make peace with it.

Jul12

July 12, 2022 – Another Preemption, Chefs Ranked On Deck, Guilty in Salt Lake & Sunny

Posted on July 12, 2022 by theresakp

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yep. Another day of hearings, another preemption. And if you don’t know, now you know.

GENERAL HOSPITAL Is Prempted Today

The other soaps.

https://www.soapoperanetwork.com/2022/07/another-round-of-preemptions-to-impact-daytime-broadcast-shows

🌴 Taking the rest of the day off, or at least switching job gears. But here are a couple of nuggets.

🍳 Rate the Chefs…

Several of them were pretty bad, but IMO Leon was the worst. Repeat dishes, nasty remarks, attitude on attitude, not finishing the charter when he was let go. The best thing about him was, when he walked off, Ben replaced him. Not that Ben isn’t moody, but he’s a whole lot of fun.

https://www.monstersandcritics.com/tv/reality-tv/below-deck-med-below-deck-chefs-ranked-worst-to-best/

🧂 Shah Shame…

Her attorney says, she’s a good woman who crossed the line. Please. Seems to me she crossed a lot of lines. And you’d think if she was smart, she might have been a little more low-key on the show, but I guess thieves never think they’ll be caught.

https://people.com/tv/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-jen-shah-still-filming-after-guilty-plea/

Andy weighs in. At least she’s honest? They forgot to add finally.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1337638/andy-cohen-shares-his-thoughts-on-rhoslc-star-jen-shahs-guilty-plea

🌞 It’s Only a Day Away…

Check in tomorrow when we’ll hopefully have soap, as well as a report on those horrible Beverly Hills diamond holders. Until then, stay safe, stay never letting others limit you, and stay not crossing any lines where you’ll ultimately be pleading guilty.

Jul12

July 11, 2020 – Cody Meets His Match, Drama Queen on the Med Deck & Tree

Posted on July 12, 2022 by theresakp

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dante wakes up in a chaise next to Sam at the pool, and says, they’re losing sun. How long was he out? She says, about an hour. It’s been a glorious day in the sun. He asks, thanks to Drew, and asks if they had any SOS calls, checking his phone, but she says she thinks with Drew’s Navy SEAL training, he can survive a day with Rocco, Scout, and Danny. He says, don’t forget, they have a sleepover at the Q’s tonight too, and she says, ouch. All for this? They may have pushed it a little. He says he thinks they’re in good hands. Plus it gives them a chance to focus on nothing but them.

At the MetroCourt Gardens, Esme suggests she and Spencer snag a spot on the roof terrace to watch the fireworks, but he says, they’re already pushing it by being here. Carly banned them from the pool, remember? They could go to the park. She says, but it’s so much better on the terrace, and he says, which is reason number two to skip it. Joss, Cam, and Trina are probably already out there.

At a table by the pool, Trina tells Josslyn, sorry. Maybe coming to the pool was a bad idea. She can’t seem to get out of her own head. Josslyn says, her either. She can’t help thinking about the trial starting tomorrow. Trina says, it feels like it’s been looming over her for so long. Part of her is glad it’s finally happening, but she hate the thought of listening to that ADA trash her to the jury. Josslyn tells her, don’t worry about that. The jury is going to hear from her and Cam too. They’re the victims and they’re testifying on her behalf. That’s got to outweigh anything that over-eager ADA has prepared.

Valentin goes to Nina’s office, and says, this is how they’re celebrating the birth of the nation? When she called, he hoped she was meeting him with hot dogs and a marching band. She kisses him on the cheek, and says, the marching band was booked. She’s super busy, and he’s busy too. Congratulations on getting over on Michael and Drew, and maintaining control of ELQ. He says he thought she’d be pleased, and she says, pleased? Someone finally told Michael that he can’t get everything he wants? Absolutely. He says he was thinking more along the lines of Carly.

Money manager Reggie tells Carly that he doesn’t like what she’s proposing. Is she comfortable assuming more debt? She says, no, of course (🍷) not, but from what he’s telling her, she has no other option. She has to secure a loan to buy back her half of the MetroCourt. He says he’ll make some calls, but prepare herself. The interest rate on such a large loan is going to be quite high. Olivia comes in, and says, a loan? Is Carly out of her mind?

In the park, Maxie tells Austin, this is the perfect place to watch the fireworks. Port Charles always puts on the best show. No offense to Pautuck’s lightning bugs. He says, none taken, and she’s probably right. She says, he’s not even going to defend his home town? and he says, what’s the point? He’s a lucky guy. He’s here enjoying the holiday, and he’s so happy to be with her. He takes Maxie’s hand, and we see Britt is sitting with them. She says, kill me now.

Cody sits on the chaise next to Dante, and says, what a day. He can’t wait for the fireworks. Dante asks if he means the ones the city puts on, and Cody says, unless Dante has some cherry bombs hidden somewhere.

Temp Michael and Willow walk into the MetroCourt Gardens, and Michael says, his mom must be in her office. Willow suggests they go; she’s kind of tired. He says, they don’t have to stick around for the fireworks. They can grab Wiley, and watch them from the house. She says she’s a little tired, but just because she’s pregnant; nothing to worry about. He says, worried? He’s on top of the world, and she says she’s right there with him. Sonny walks in, and he and Michael lock eyes. Michael tells Willow that his mom might be in the restroom. Why doesn’t Willow look for her there? She says, fine, but first… She leads him over to Sonny, and Sonny says he’s glad to see her up and about. How’s she feeling? She thanks him, and says, much better. He asks if they found out why she fainted, and she says, yes. There’s something he should know.

Olivia says, please tell her that she misheard that. Carly can’t possibly be considering taking out a loan when she’s so deep in the hole, she can’t even see daylight. Carly says she knows it’s a big risk, but it’s the only way she can buy back her half of the hotel before Stillwater Venture Group gets better offer. Olivia says, and this is the only way. Carly can swallow her stubborn pride, and let her friends help her. Carly says, unless pride is the only thing she has left.

Valentin says he didn’t realize how heavily invested Carly was, and Nina says, it was a surprise all right. He says, they’ll just file it under unintended collateral benefits. When he stayed in power, Aurora stock tanked, and Carly lost big. Nina says, don’t expect a standing ovation, and he says, don’t tell him she’s softened toward Carly. She says, not her, but Sonny has.

Sonny says, Willow told him she’s fine; he hopes she’s better. She says she is, and she’s been meaning to thank him for his help at the pool. She understands he caught her when she fainted, and even went to GH to make sure she was all right. He says, of course (🍷). She’s family. Michael says they should get going, and catch up with mom. Willow thanks Sonny again, and they leave.

Britt says she’s out of here, and Maxie asks why; she said she’d stay. Britt tells her, she said she’d come for the picnic. Now that’s over, and sitting here watching them make goo-goo eyes at each other all night isn’t what she signed up for. Austin says he wonders what happened to all the other people, and Maxie says, they had no way of knowing no one else would show up. Britt says, maybe they had better things to do, and Maxie says, they still had fun, didn’t they? Britt says, so much fun, but now it’s time to leave. Spinelli struggles in, pulling a cooler, and says, celebratory greetings, friends. Apologies for the late arrival. Maxie tells Britt, look! Spinelli! and Spinelli smiles.

Dante says he doesn’t know what Cody is talking about. He’s an officer of the law. Cody says, how things change. Dante was the one who snuck fireworks into camp; impressive fire power. Dante says, it was. Cody was actually the one who told the counselors it was the Gallagher twins. Cody says, please don’t tell him that with maturity comes remorse, and Cody says, hell no. Those two little punks? They’re probably Wall Street hot shots by now. Sam comes back, and says, look who’s here. She asks what they’re talking about, and Cody says, illicit firework stories; got any? She says she pleads the fifth, and Cody says, good woman.

Trina says she should go, but Josslyn says, forget it. She won’t let Trina go back to her room and obsess about the trial. Trina says, she should obsess in public? and Josslyn says, she gets it. It’s like this black hole that’s a gravity well, and you try to think about other things, but somehow it all connects back to the trial and keeps pulling you down. Trina says, that’s it exactly. She’d give anything to forget about the trial, even for an hour. Rory joins them, and says, easy. He can make that happen.

Esme says she doesn’t see how Joss, Cam, and Trina have anything to do with their plans for the evening, and Spencer says, the last time she and Joss were face-to-face, they both ended up in the pool. Trina’s trial is tomorrow, and he’s sure emotions are running high. He’d rather avoid another confrontation… for her benefit. Carly’s probably up there anyway; she’d throw them out. Esme doesn’t need the aggravation. She says, so considerate, always thinking of her, and he says, night and day. She kisses him, and Sonny clears his throat, getting their attention. Esme gasps, and he says he’s glad he ran into them.

Spinelli wonders, where’d everybody go? Don’t tell him they departed before the fireworks? Maxie says, her mom and Mac took the kids home. They played so hard, they could barely keep their eyes open. Austin says, everyone else was pretty much a no-show, and Spinelli says, no Terry? No Amy? and Austin says, no. Spinelli says, Epiphany? and Britt says, no one; just the three of us. Spinelli says he’s sure a good time was still had by all, and Britt says, it was a blast. Now that Spinelli is here, the party can continue. Thanks for inviting her. She jets.

Sam asks how the job is at the Quartermaines’, and Cody says he loves it. She says, Danny keeps going on about how Leo just loves Comet, and she tells Dante, Comet’s one of the horses. Cody says, the Quartermaines couldn’t have picked a better horse for Leo. He’s calm, steady, he’s almost impossible to startle. The other day, Cody accidentally knocked over this metal bucket. It was so loud, it sounded like a firecracker going off. A couple of the horses shied, one started going crazy in its stall. Comet barely even noticed. Half the time, he pretends that he’s asleep, except when Leo is there. When Leo’s there, he’s totally engaged; he’s focused. Leo will groom him, and he’ll suddenly connect. Sam says, don’t let Leo get it in his head to take Comet out solo, but Cody says, another thing about Comet. If Leo were to hop up on him alone, no one grabbing the lead rein, he’s not going anywhere. That horse is smarter than most of the dudes he knows. Dante tells Sam, this guy is basically half-horse… Smells like one too. Cody says he took a shower after work, and smells his shirt. He says, oh my God, I’m sorry, and they laugh.

Trina asks what Rory is doing here, and he says, looking for her. Does she have plans for watching the fireworks? She says she was planning on taking off. He says he knows it’s short notice. Being one of the newbies, he had to work crowd control for the parade, and wasn’t sure he’d be done, but he’s free now and has plenty of time to take her mind off tomorrow. Trina asks what he has in mind, and he says, dessert in the park while they watch the fireworks? Josslyn tells Trina, go, but Trina says she doesn’t want to leave Josslyn all alone. Josslyn says, go, and she’ll hang out with her mom; she hasn’t talked to her in a while. This is Trina’s chance to escape gravity well. Rory says, sorry? and Josslyn says, Trina will explain. Take her, please. Rory says, Trina heard her girl. How about it? He promises to be as distracting as possible.

Esme says, please, Mr. Corinthos. You promised Laura you wouldn’t kidnap me again. Sonny says, first of all, he didn’t kidnap her, and Spencer says, he woudn’t have to. He had one of his people do it for him, but Esme’s right. His grandmother assured them that she had his word Esme had nothing to fear. Sonny says he did and she doesn’t. He just wanted to give Esme the opportunity to tell the truth, and since she doesn’t want to tell the truth, she’s smart to stay away from him. Ain’t that right, Esme? Will she do him a favor? Can she give him some time with his nephew? Spencer suggests Esme go to the park, and find them a good space to watch the fireworks. She tells him, be careful, and he says he’ll join her soon. She leaves, and Spencer asks what he can do for Sonny. Sonny asks Spencer, what the hell has happened to him?

Nina gives Valentin something to drink, and says, Sonny’s first instinct, once again, is to rush to Carly’s rescue. She’s the one who asked for the divorce. He shouldn’t feel guilty, but he does, and that guilt is making him feel responsible for Carly’s financial misfortune. Valentin says, well, he shouldn’t. She took the risk, she rolled the dice, and she lost. That’s not Nina’s problem. Nina says she’s sure Michael and Willow will blame her for everything, like they do all the time. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and sorry hear she lost her petition for visitation with Wiley. She says she doesn’t absolve herself of the mistakes she’s made, lying about Sonny when he was in Nixon Falls, but losing her grandson is an unbearable price pay. He says, soon enough, Wiley will be making his own decisions, won’t he? and she says, she’s holding out hope, but what are the chances he’s going to choose to get to know her, hearing how she’s the schemer who blew up his family? She’s tired of being the villain all the time. He says, maybe it’s time to change that.

Carly says she doesn’t appreciate Olivia barging into her office and making her second guess herself. Olivia says, she didn’t barge; she entered with urgency, because she cares. She doesn’t want to see Carly make another mistake that she’s going to regret. Reggie says, maybe he’ll wait outside while they confer, and Carly asks him to look into the loan, and let her know their best terms, and she’ll make a decision. He leaves, and Olivia says she’s only trying to help. Carly says she knows, and she’s sorry she snapped at Olivia. She’s angry at everyone; she’s angry at herself. Helping Drew and Michael is a great thing, but as usual she took it too far. Olivia says she talked to Ned. He’s completely behind the idea of buying Carly’s half of the hotel and holding onto it until she can buy it back. Carly thanks her, but says, she has no idea when that will be. Olivia says, however long it takes. She doesn’t care. Michael and Willow come in, and Olivia says, look who’s here. She asks Michael to talk some sense into his mother. Carly tries to stop her, but Olivia continues, saying, talk some sense in to your mother. Tell her the only idea that makes any sense is Olivia buying Carly’s half of the MetroCourt. Michael says, she’s selling her half of the hotel? and Olivia says, he didn’t know? She has a big mouth; she’s sorry. Carly says she didn’t have a chance to tell her family her plan, and Olivia says, or maybe she knew that her family wasn’t going to agree with her. Please, think long and hard about her offer. Please. She leaves, and Carly asks if Willow is okay; any more dizziness, fainting? Willow says, like she told Carly on the phone, she’s doing great, and Carly says she knows, but she felt like Willow was holding something back. Michael says, Carly is deflecting. What were she and Olivia talking about? He knows she took a financial hit when the Aurora/ELQ merger fell apart, but she can’t possibly be thinking about selling her half of the MetroCourt. Carly says, she can’t… because it’s already gone.

Spencer says, he’s the same as he’s always been, and Sonny says, really? He heard Spencer made a deal with Ava to loosen the purse strings on his trust, and he heard Spencer quit Kelly’s, and Spencer lost all his friends because of his shifty girlfriend. Loyalty and friendship are very important. He doesn’t take that lightly, and Spencer shouldn’t take that lightly. Spencer asks if that loyalty shouldn’t extend to his girlfriend, and Sonny says, his girlfriend is a liar. She made a sex tape on Josslyn and Cam, and framed Trina. They can’t forget that, can they? Spencer says, as long as the evidence proves otherwise, he’s staying by Esme’s side.

At the park, Rory opens a container, and Trina says, brownies; pretty basic. He says, not his brownies, and she says, so his amazing, stupendous, spectacular dessert is brownies. He says, try one. He made them himself. She says, they’re not special brownies, are they? (ha-ha; I was thinking that too) and he says, remember? I’m a cop. Just taste. She takes a bite, and looks at him, saying, oh my God. This is amazing. He says, and stupendous and spectacular. Best brownies she’s ever had, right? She says she’s in heaven. She’s sorry she doubted him. He says, it’s okay. Maybe she’s used to being let down. She can count on him. He won’t disappoint her.

Austin’s phone rings, and he says he’ll be right back. He leaves, and Spinelli says, Britt left in a hurry. Did he miss something? Maxie says, no; she was angling to leave the entire time. She’s actually a bit worried about Britt. He asks, why? Hasn’t she had any more matches? Maxie says, Britt hasn’t mentioned any, but she’s trying to stay positive with Britt about the whole Society Set-Ups thing. She’s afraid Britt’s soured on the idea, especially after the whole pool incident. She thinks Britt’s given up on dating altogether. He says, maybe that’s for the best for now, and she asks why he’d say that.

Cody brings Dante and Sam something to drink, as Britt walks in. She takes a look at them, and keeps walking. Cody says he forgot the napkins. He’ll grab a menu too, for appetizers. He goes over to the bar, and Britt says she doesn’t really need this right now. He says, good evening to her as well. He’s just here to get a menu and some napkins. Happy 4^th, by the way. She asks if he wasn’t bragging that he had access to the Quartermaines’ pool? Why isn’t he there? He says, because he’s here, hanging with his friends, and she says, great. She’s sure Dante told him to stay away from her. He should listen. He asks what makes her think she knows what he and Dante talk about, and she says, because Dante hates her guts, for good reason. She hands him a menu and napkins, and says, bye, but he asks why he should leave now that he’s met his match?

Olivia asks if Sam and Dante are enjoying the holiday, and Sam says, yes, very much. She thanks Olivia for letting the kids crash at the Q’s, and Olivia says, no problem. Drew wore them out at the fair, and the nanny is an expert at getting them down. No work for her. Although she will be doing all the work around here pretty soon. Dante asks what she’s talking about, and she says she guesses she can tell him; he’s family. Carly lost her half of the hotel. Sam asks if it’s because of the drop in the Aurora stock, and Olivia says, she leveraged her half of the hotel, and now she can’t cover what she lost. And the woman is too damn stubborn to let her help. Dante says, Olivia is pretty stubborn too. Don’t let Carly tell her what to do; do what’s right.

Nina tells Valentin, she’s kept a low-ish profile, and she’s tried to make ~~almonds~~ amends to Sonny’s family. But when that didn’t work, she wanted to focus her attention on restoring her public image. That Invader article didn’t help at all, but she’s just going to keep trying, and maybe it will pay off in ten years or so. He says he’s no stranger to the court of public opinion. He tries not to pay too much attention to it. As long as Charlotte’s all right, the rest of the world can go hang. She asks if that includes Anna, and he says he admits there are certain people whose opinion matters to him; Nina is actually one of them. Nina says she’s glad they get to be friends. She forgot to tell him, Charlotte emailed her, and included pictures of her equestrian event. She’s ribboned? He says, she’s pretty competitive, and Nina says she never would have predicted it, but this boarding school seems like a really good fit for her. He says, seems that way, and she says she’s still surprised Charlotte wanted to live away from home, and that he could bear to see her go. He says he’ll do what he has to, to make sure Charlotte is okay, whatever the cost to him.

Carly says, Stillwater intends to put her half of the hotel on the market, and Willow says, that’s terrible, but Carly says she’s going to buy it back. Michael says he knew it was a mistake for her to buy in, just like it was a mistake to include Ned. Carly says, this is why she didn’t want to tell him. It was her decision to bet on the merger between ELQ and Aurora, and it didn’t happen, so she has to suffer the consequences. Michael says, so now she’s going to take out a loan. What’s she going to use as collateral? The house? No. Just let him give her the money, or he’ll buy her half and sign it over to her. She says, no. She knew he’d do that, and she loves him for it, but she just wants her family to be happy and safe. That’s it… What’s going on? She saw the look. Did something happen with Willow when she was in the hospital? Willow says, they hadn’t planned on saying anything this early… Michael says, he and Willow are having a baby. Carly gets all excited, and hugs them both.

On the phone, Austin says he was only in town for a couple of days; he’s not in Pautuk… Now they need to live up to their end of the bargain. Don’t contact him again.

Trina tells Rory that she was around six or seven, and was convinced her dad was a magician, and of course (🍷) he encouraged her. That 4^th of July, he had a real wand, and he’d point it at the sky, and say, presto. The sky would light up with fireworks. He probably heard the whoosh when they sent it up, but she didn’t, and thought, wow, her dad is magic. She could use some of that magic now… She’s so sorry. She’s really trying not to think about the trial. He takes her hand and says, she can’t ignore reality; he doesn’t expect her to. He just wanted her to have a few moments where is wasn’t the only thing she thought about. She says she appreciates his efforts, but he says he wishes he could do more. She moves closer to him, and says, he’s doing just fine.

Carly asks why they didn’t tell her, and Michael says he thinks that’s what they’re doing right now. Willow says, keeping quiet is so much harder than she expected, and she certainly didn’t want Carly worrying she was ill. Carly says she’s so happy they told her. She really needed good news today. Josslyn walks in, and says, her too. What’s the good news? Willow says she’s pregnant, and Josslyn congratulates them and hugs them, saying, she’s going to be an auntie again. Reggie comes to the door, and says he has those numbers for Carly, and she tells the others to go to the Garden and she’ll meet them. Michael says, they’re still not done talking, and they leave. Carly invites Reggie in, and says, well?

Maxie says, she thought Spinelli was the champion for love and romance these days. He thinks it’s better for Britt to be alone? Spinelli says, alone is better than being with the wrong person. Austin returns, and Maxie asks if everything is okay. He says, it was just the hospital, and Spinelli says he thinks he’ll take his leave, but Maxie says, he just got here. Spinelli says, they should have an evening alone together. Farewell. He drags his cooler back out, and Maxie wonders, what’s up with him?

Sam wonders if Carly is coming back, but Dante doesn’t know. He asks if it matters, and she says, as much as she loves hearing stories about his outlaw past, she wants to go somewhere private to watch the fireworks, just the two of them. He asks if she has a place in mind, and she says she does. She was thinking, the view from her bedroom is spectacular, and he says he happens to know that for a fact. She says, the harbor lights up, and it’s so beautiful. She was thinking it would be incredible. He says, it probably would be incredible. Does she want to get out of here? He kisses her, and they jet.

Nina says, Valentin didn’t tell her what he wanted to see her about, and he asks if Victor has approached her. She says, no, why? and he says, Victor is determined to stay a part of his life. So much so, he’s reaching out to the people closest to him. She says, not a fan, and Valentin says, stay away from him. He’s a dangerous man, and Valentin doesn’t care how devoted he seems to be. She says, duly noted, and thanks him for his concern. It’s actually refreshing not to be the perpetually guilty one. He says, she doesn’t care that much what people think, and she says she doesn’t, but Wiley is a different story. She’s never going to be considered a saint, but she does want to be than the woman who destroyed Wiley’s family. Valentin says he knows a way she can balance the scales.

Sonny says, Spencer wants to be a better man, and have a better life? He respects that. Spencer says, but Sonny doesn’t respect him now, and Sonny says, Spencer is living at Windymere, standing with his girlfriend, he quit his job… is this about money? Spencer’s got to tell him. Spencer shakes his head, and Sonny says, tell him; what is it? Spencer says he’s still trying to be better. Sonny, of all people, should know you have to do what’s in your heart, not what other people are telling you to do. He knows how it looks, but he swears on his mother’s memory, he’s doing the right thing. He loves Sonny, and would never ever do anything to hurt or disappoint him. Sonny says, okay. He guesses time will tell. Just be careful. Understand him? Sonny leaves, and Spencer says, time’s running out.

Cody says, Britt feels it too, right? There’s something between them. She says, he’s delusional. He’s clearly fallen off a horse one too many times. He says, the first thing they teach you in riding is how to fall off a horse, and she asks why he’s pushing this. He can’t be that hard up for a date, and he asks if she just called him handsome. Charming? A catch? She says, he’d do in a pinch, and obviously, he keeps up with his physique. He thanks her for noticing, and says he feels she’s easy on the eyes as well. He bets if she didn’t treat every conversation like a prizefight, she’d have her pick of men. She wonders how she can put this… He’s not her type. He says, obviously, dating her type hasn’t worked out for her, and she says, he’s relentless. He says, she doesn’t know the half of it; he has a lot of stamina. If she really wants to be alone, he’ll respect that, but he thought they could have a few laughs and try to enjoy each other’s company for a change. She says, one date, and he says, sweet, let’s go, but she says, not tonight. She’ll find him on Society Set-Ups. He says he’s looking forward to it, and leaves.

Carly asks if that’s really the best offer she can get, and Reggie says, unfortunately, news of her sizeable investment in Aurora has made the rounds. The lenders know she’s over a barrel. She says, and sharks smell blood in the water, but it’s just business, right? He asks what she wants him to do, and she says, she just got the best reminder in the world that there are more important things than money. She can’t risk her house; she can’t buy back her half. She guesses she’s no longer co-owner of the MetroCourt.

As they lie in Sam’s bed, Sam asks Dante to tell her more about the cherry bomb capers. He says, it was his second summer at camp, and he was trying to make up for his first summer at camp. She asks, what happened? and he says, he was doing pretty good for a city boy out in the country, when the 4^th of July rolled around. In his neighborhood, come 4^th of July, everybody’s out in the street; the Falconaris, the Cerullos, the entire neighborhood. And there he was in this place he didn’t want to be in, surrounded by people he didn’t want to be surrounded by. So he found a spot by himself, and started to break down about everything. Then Cody comes looking for him, and he told Cody the whole thing, about his aunts and uncles and cousins and his grandmother, and the food, and the stickball games, and the fireworks. Even Cody started to get sad, thinking about their situation, because he said it sounded like the coolest 4^th of July ever. She asks if the two families still get together, and he says, they’re probably out there, 100 tables strong, still in the street as we speak. She asks him to promise they’ll take the kids next year, and he says, it’s a date. She kisses him as the fireworks begin, and they watch through the window.

Carly starts to leave her office, but just puts her forehead against the door. There’s a song part, as everyone watches the fireworks. At the pool, Britt looks at Cody, who raises his glass to her. In the park, Austin and Maxie watch, lying on a blanket. Esme texts Spencer: You’re missing the fireworks! Where r u??? Rory and Trina kiss. Finally.

Cody sees Spinelli walk into the pool area, and says, my man. Come. Join him. He’ll let Spinelli buy him a drink. Spinelli asks, why, pray tell, would he do that? and Cody says, to celebrate his date with the lovely Dr. Britt Westbourne. Thanks for setting that up. He claps Spinelli on the shoulder, making him jump, and Spinelli says, Cody didn’t give him much choice. Cody says, Spinelli doesn’t want everyone to know matchmaker Zelda’s just a front, and the real man behind Society Set-Ups is Damien Spinelli. Spinelli tells him to keep his voice down, and Cody says, once that came to light, it wouldn’t take long for everyone to figure out how he matches one lovelorn sucker with another. He’s doing Cody a solid. Spinelli says, Cody got what he wanted. Spinelli engineered his match with Britt. Their business is concluded. Buy his own drink. Spinelli walks away.

Josslyn, Willow, and Michael go back to Carly’s office, and Josslyn asks why she didn’t come down. Carly says she got caught up in a few things here, and she kind of wasn’t feeling it. Michael says, they’re going to figure out something that doesn’t involve Carly taking out another loan, and Carly says, okay. He says, they’ll talk tomorrow; they’ll drop off Josslyn. Carly tells Willow, congratulations again, and everyone exchanges I love yous. They leave, Carly’s smile disappears, and she says, oh my God.

Maxie tells Austin, what a perfect night. Clear sky, not too muggy… Austin is lost in thought, and she says, should they have some more wine? He says, sounds nice, and she asks, where was he? Is everything okay? He says, everything’s fine. It’s just… some old memories, that’s all. She says, such as? but he says, nothing. He’s much happier being here in the moment with her.

Rory says, Trina is just so beautiful… If he overstepped… She says, he didn’t. They kiss again, just as Spencer is walking into the area. He sees them, and leaves quickly and quietly.

Britt takes out her phone, bringing up the email from Society Set-Ups. She hesitates, then accepts her match.

Olivia sees Sonny having a cup of coffee, and he says, why the face? She says, he knows about Carly and the hotel? She offered to buy Carly’s half and sell it back to her, but Carly’s too stubborn to let her help. He asks if she’s surprised. She wouldn’t let him help her either. She says she was going to do it anyway, but someone beat her to it.

There’s a knock at Carly’s office door, and Carly says, come in. Nina walks in, and Carly says, get out. They have nothing to talk about. Nina says, that’s not true.

Tomorrow, Trina tells Rory, this can’t happen again; Nina asks Carly to let her do this; Sonny wants some information checked out; and Sasha asks Brando how bad the fallout is.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Ugh. I hate when it’s all new people and I have to learn their names. Even better, this season there’s a Natasha and a Natalya – and they look alike. I don’t even mean similar. They could be twins. Moving on.

Captain Sandy says, they’re going to Malta this season. It’s a new place with a new boat, and new department heads. Challenge accepted. We see a preview of the coming season.

Grand Harbour Marina, Malta. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, Malta is a small country off the coast if Sicily; a little piece of paradise, undiscovered by the superyacht industry. Chief stew Natasha (who later introduces herself as Tasha, so we’ll go with that) arrives first, and the captain says she loves that Tasha has had a lot of experience. In Tasha’s interview, she says she’s been in yachting almost 10 years. She likes to lead by example, which she knows sounds super cringe. Bosun Raygan and Chef Dave are next, and we find out Dave and Tasha have worked together before. Captain Sandy tells Raygan, it’s nice to have a female bosun again, and in her interview, the captain says, she tried to get Malia again, but she’s Chief Operating Officer on another vessel. But someone once gave her an opportunity, so she wants to extend it forward. In Dave’s interview, he says he and Tasha are good friends. They get on like a house on fire, and her smile is unreal, so yeah… He says he’s trying to dig himself out of this hole. Hmm… a boatmance?

Raygan examines the boat, and Dave meets the captain. In his interview, Dave says, he’s been in yachting for 8 years, and owns his own restaurant in the south of France. He’s won the British Ski Championship, done skydiving, and climbed Mt. Everest. He’s cheated death so many times, it’s a joke. Deckhand Jason, and stews Natalya and Kyle show up. Natalya remarks that she and Tasha could be twins, and seriously, they could. In Raygan’s interview, she says, she was born in Essex, but moved to Turkey when she was 12, because her parents had a business there. It’s a Muslim country, so she calmed down, but she’s loud when she goes to Essex. They divvy up the cabins, and Captain Sandy calls Mzi, who’s the only repeat this season. In the captain’s interview, she says she saw potential and growth in Mzi. Bringing him back and watching him flourish will be incredible. He referred his friend Storm, who will also be a deckhand, but unfortunately, they’re both stuck in quarantine for another day. Mzi says, they’re being released at 8 pm, and Captain Sandy says, that’s a bummer. Tasha and Dave decide to share the one co-ed cabin, and in Dave’s interview, he says, it’s cool. He doesn’t know what to say. The captain radios the crew to meet in the main salon for the welcome meeting.

The captain tells the crew that the boat is a hybrid, a Motor Yacht Home; futuristic, white and stainless, and ultra-modern. She explains, they have two deckhands that are still in quarantine. It’s going to be challenging, since they have to pick up a charter tomorrow. With the turnaround time, it’s a disaster. In Raygan’s interview, she says, just her and Jason; that’s bad. Captain Sandy says, she likes the crew to help each other, and she’s there for them. They’re adults, and she expects them to act like it. She doesn’t tolerate hate comments or sexual harassment. If you fall in love, that’s not harassment. She introduces, Chief Officer Ray and Chief Engineer Carlos, and says they’ll be helping until the deckhands come. In her interview, she says, it’s been a while since she’s had a whole new crew, and we flash back to previous seasons. She says, how they handle pressure and can lead is critical. There’s no room for error. They ready the boat, except for Raygan, who goes for a smoke. In Tasha’s interview, she says she’s not a scream-in-your-face chief stew. She’s worked a 107 meter boat, with 10 stews under her. She’s worked with people who scream and swear, and she doesn’t like negativity. When her parents divorced, she was the peacemaker. She tells Kyle and Natalya, she doesn’t think they need ranks, and Kyle jokes that he deserves his rank. In Kyle’s interview, he says he was a service queen from the get-go; an extreme personality and extreme service. He grew up around 18 cousins, and had to stand out. Provisions come in, and Kyle says, this is the most meat he’s ever handled. He’s no Josiah, but he might turn out to be fun. Jason says he’s not used to a mega-yacht, and in his interview, he says, his perception was incorrect. He did commodities training, and when his company was bought out, he was like a divorcee with a new lease life, and went into yachting. He’s one of the wild cards for sure. The captain calls Tasha, Dave, and Raygan for a preference sheet meeting.

The primaries are Billy, who has an ad agency, and his fiancé Chris. They met in Japan, and will be celebrating their anniversary with a Japanese themed evening. They’d also like a local drag performer to come out, and have an all-out drag night. They also expect all the water toys. Captain Sandy says, it’s a bummer (her WOTD) that their slide is still in customs. They need to pull out all the stops. Chef Dave reads that they like a lot of seafood, and beets taste like dirt. He says, you can’t beat a root, which the captain finds funnier than I do. She says, Ray will be helping when they pull out of the dock, and in her interview, she says, being down two deckhands, it’s a safety issue. She needs the Chief Officer to call out distances; they need the support. Natalya says, on her last job, she was the sole stew, and it was lonely. She was every department, and she’s super excited to have 8 crew members. Raygan sits on the dock, having a smoke, while everyone else readies the boat. The crew goes to bed early.

In the morning, Tasha tells Natalya that Dave brought her coffee. Natalya wonders if there’s romance, but Tasha says, they’re just like Musketeers. In her interview, she says, she just went through a break-up, and she’s focusing on herself. Captain Sandy thanks Jason for working so hard, when the floating dock arrives. Jason tries dealing with it himself, and the captain wonders where the bosun is. She ends up helping Jason herself, and I’m thinking Raygan seems lazy. In Kyle’s interview, he says he grew up in South Africa, where it’s not popular to be a homosexual. Plus, he went to an all-boy’s school, and hid being gay. He had a relationship for 12 years that was kept secret, and it damaged him, but he likes to make humor out of an uncomfortable situation. Don’t look at the gay guy, look at the funny guy. He tells Natalya that he wants to get married and have kids one day. They need to get all the provision boxes out of the guests’ site, and Kyle says, wherever you find a hole, fill it. The captain radios for the crew to get in their whites.

The guests arrive while everyone is still getting ready, but somehow they manage to be lined up in time. Captain Sandy tells them, welcome to Motor Yacht Home. Their goal is to make it their home, and give them the best holiday. They’ll head out as soon as the luggage is on board. Tasha says, they have blue Jolly Rancher shots (gag), as well as champagne. She gives them the tour, and it’s definitely a different boat design than we’ve seen before. Raygan tells Jason, the suitcases are too heavy for her, and in his interview, Jason says, she could help. The luggage is on board, and Tasha confers with primary Billy to have their fabulous Italian luncheon at 3. Sandy says, they’re ready to depart, and in her interview, she says, the current in this marina pushes the vessel starboard, and the dolphins (markers, not to be confused with the sea creatures) are really close. They get out of the marina, and Ray says, slow and easy wins the race. In Dave’s interview, he says he follows the preference sheet, but not recipes. He’s always bouncing ideas against himself. He shuts his eyes and envisions the plate.

Jason says he’s lifting more than everyone, but Raygan (who’s not lifting anything) says, he’s just not used to it. In Jason’s interview, he says, he’s trying to bite his tongue. He stands by his work ethic, but it’s easier to take it on the chin. Raygan tells him to get the toys out, and Jason says, she couldn’t lift a bag, but she has energy now. They eat, and Jason says, there’s only one of him. Raygan says, that’s because the other deckhands didn’t come. Dave tells Tasha that lunch is a family style Italian buffet, and she seats the guests, as Jason struggles with the water toys. Tasha tells Dave the food looks beautiful, and he says, she looks beautiful. Lunch is served, and the guests pronounce it delicious, although Billy says, it’s very peppery. Captain Sandy radios Raygan, telling her to get the toys out, and in her interview, the captain says, it’s difficult having the toys in the hull of the boat, but it’s so the guests don’t see behind-the-scenes work. It’s magic. You step outside, and the toys are there. The food keeps coming, including beef cheeks (Chef Leon would approve) made with cinnamon. Billy whines about the cinnamon, telling Kyle, it’s like his kryptonite. Kyle tells Dave that he hates to be the barer of bad news, but he needs some beef without cinnamon. Billy demands to look at his preference sheet, but when it’s produced, he can’t believe he didn’t put no cinnamon on it. In Natalya’s interview, she tells us that she can’t pronounce cinnamon or ambulance, and demonstrates. In Dave’s interview, he says, the first lunch is important, and sets the tone for the charter. And the beef wasn’t seasoned with cinnamon, it was just sticks to give it aromatic flavor. But if the guest doesn’t like his food, he’ll keep going until they do. Billy says he can still taste the cinnamon, and guest Twanna thinks they should be in the water.

Billy wants a Seabob, but one isn’t available, and Raygan suggests a kayak, but he says, that’s too much exercise. He tells Kyle that he’s not sure Raygan is his favorite. She gave him a stank face, and he thinks she hates him. In Kyle’s interview, he says he thinks Billy has had one too many, and he’s going to be overdramatic about everything, but at the end of the day, he’s the guest. Chris complains that Raygan is being a stupid bitch to him, and treating him like he’s stupid. Captain Sandy wonders what’s going on, and Billy says he’s irritated. He’s sure they think he’s a drama queen… but the captain ~~lies~~ assures him that no one thinks that. He says, Raygan wouldn’t put the slide out, and Captain Sandy explains, it’s in customs. Billy says, well, make up for it then, instead of realizing he is stupid. The captain says, they’re without two crew members, and Billy says he’s in customer service. Raygan isn’t rude, but she’s not warm and fuzzy. The captain says she’ll take care of it, but tells him, using the WaveRunner and drinking can’t happen. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, she’ll shoulder the complaint, but she’s concerned about Raygan not getting the toys out. They need to work with what they have. She should have communicated, and not blindsided the client. Billy says, the captain is hands-on, and she says, that’s how she started; she didn’t start out driving a boat. In Tasha’s interview, she tells us, people say if you don’t laugh, you cry. She also doesn’t have time for it. The guests get in the water, and Raygan takes primary Chris for a ride. Using a paddleboard, Billy says he’s like a dolphin.

In Dave’s interview, he says, it’s not like he has all day to prep, but he puts pressure on himself. He grew up poor, and started working at 13. He’s afraid to fail. The dinner table is decorated, and Natalya steams the guests’ clothing. The guests come out, and Billy asks if he’s the only one wearing suit, and says the other guests are trash. Mzi and Storm are on their way, and Captain Sandy freaks over how disorganized everything is. The guests are seated, and Wagyu beef with wild mushrooms and mashed potatoes is served. I want some very badly, but Billy is already making faces. He tells Kyle that it’s more rare. More rare than what, he doesn’t say, but he wants it cooked more. Kyle takes his plate, and Billy says he can’t believe he had to send it back. Kyle tells Dave that he’s sorry. It’s perfect, but Billy wants it cooked more. In his interview, Dave says, you can eat Wagyu raw. It’s ridiculous.

Billy whines some more about how his steak wasn’t medium, and guest Crystal says, it was like it was a mooing cow, not exaggerating too much. Mzi and Storm arrive, and Captain Sandy says it couldn’t be better timing. She takes it back. It could have been yesterday. Billy gets his new steak, and the captain says she’s so happy. She meets Storm, who says, it’s been a long 14 days. She says she’s happy to have Mzi back, and in Mzi’s interview, he says, it’s like breaking out of prison. It seems like they’re chilling, but quarantine isn’t easy. He wants to hit the ground running. The captain says she’ll give Mzi the lowdown, and he can relay it to Storm, who she wants to start sorting out the mess; it’s a safety issue. Raygan goes for a smoke, which seems to be the only thing she does. Billy puts his placemat on his head, and in Storm’s interview, he says he’s a dirtbag pirate. Some people don’t enjoy him, but if everybody likes you, you’re doing something wrong. Dessert is served, and everyone loves it. In Natalya’s interview, she says, Storm is pretty fit.

Tasha and Kyle get dressed in drag, and discuss the drag themed evening. In Mzi’s interview, he says, Storm is a childhood friend. When Storm was 13, he looked 18, and they were petrified of him. The same mustache he has today, he’s had since he was 13. Drag queen Trihanna Wilde arrives, and in Tasha’s interview, she says, theme parties are her strong point. When she was growing up, they had no money, and her grandma would treat them to the theater. She wants to make other people feel how she felt as a child; it’s magic. Trihanna does a show, and in her interview, Tasha says, thank the Lord they pulled tonight together. She’s happy that they guests are happy. She says she’s had two long term relationships on boats. It’s nice to share a cabin, and blow off steam, and you can trust the other person won’t say anything. She asks Dave if he wants to hook up, and he nods.

Captain Sandy consults a chart, and says, they’re going to have a swell. In her interview, she says, every bosun should have their watch schedule on day one. She wants to see it and approve it, so she’s comfortable with who’s on anchor watch. She asks Raygan for her schedule, and tells her, the tender should be in the water. The toys are a priority, and she wants the tender and WaveRunner out. In Raygan’s interview, she says, the last boat she worked on was a private yacht, and it was more relaxed. This is the most demanding job she’s had in a long time. Well, that’s obvious. The captain tells her to get the tender in the water, and get the schedule done. The guests get ready to go in the water.

Around noon, the guests are back on board, and things start rocking. Captain Sandy realizes they’ve lost their stabilizers; they’re malfunctioning. Everything starts falling, and Crystal wonders what’s happening. The boat rocks like crazy, and the captain radios for all crew to hold onto everything. Everything is just crashing everywhere, and it’s worse than Sailing Yacht. A guest asks where the lifejackets are.

To be continued…

🦋 Catch You Later…

Join me tomorrow for soap, and who knows what else. Below Deck Down Under is on in the evening, and although I’ll no doubt be watching, too many Decks spoils… something. So until then, stay safe, stay fighting the good fight, whatever that is for you, and stay knowing that, being alone is better than being with the wrong person.

Jul9

July 8, 2022 – Victor’s Plan Fails, NYC Sale, Awful Humans, Charm News, Disgusting Weasel, Where They Are, About Plath, Spicey, What a Doll, Good Deed, 8 Of Quotes & Under

Posted on July 9, 2022 by theresakp

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase calls Brook just as she’s walking into the pool area. He says, don’t hang up. He thinks they need to talk. She says, no time like the present, and he realizes she’s right there. She comes over to where he’s sitting, and he wonders why it feels like déjà vu. She says, maybe because they apologize to each other two or three times a day. You’d think they’d be used to it by now. He says, maybe that’s it, and she says, since they’ve played this scene before, could they just fast forward to the part where they’re friends again? He says, they could, but he doesn’t know if they should.

Alexis says, Gregory’s op ed is less of an opinion and more of a hit piece. The Invader’s interjection of opinion into the reporting of facts is not only lamentable, but an ethical slippery slope? He says, she issued a challenge; he accepted. Now the question is, can she set her ego aside and accept his? She says, his ego? and he says, his challenge.

Finn says, what does Doc mean, Elizabeth is gone? and Doc says, Finn just missed her; she checked herself out. Finn asks if that’s a good idea, but Doc says, she came of her own volition. She had the power to leave any time. Finn asks if Doc is saying Elizabeth left against his recommendation. Then Doc knows as well as he does that’s a mistake.

Terry asks if Britt can look at this, holding out her tablet, and Britt asks if it’s boring. Terry says, yes, and Britt says, then she lives for it. She takes the tablet, and Terry says, Epiphany made some last minute changes to the nurse’s rotation. Also, she wanted ask Britt about that Society Set-Ups mixer. Britt says, oh God, what now? A new GIF from another angle? Terry says, nothing like that. She was so impressed with the clientele, she signed up. Britt hopes Terry has better luck than she did, and asks if they have enough coverage for tonight. Elizabeth joins them, and says, problem solved. She’s back and reporting for duty. Where do they need her?

Olivia comes into the stables, and Cody says, Mama Falconari. She says, it’s Quartermaine now, and he says he knows, but he’s thought of her as Mama Falconari for all these years, so he hates to break tradition. She says, then don’t; she answers to both. He asks, what can he do for her? and she says, he already has. He’s made a forever friend in her son Leo. He says, Leo’s a great kid, and she says, he can’t stop raving about Cowboy Cody, and how he can answer any question about horses. He says, it’s nice to have an appreciative audience, and she says, it’s funny. He grew up making trouble with her one son, now he’s showing the ropes to her other one. He says, handling horses is a lot like getting to know people… Sometimes it’s a lot easier. She says, in regard to her son Leo, horses are a lot smarter than the men in her life, and Ned walks in.

Valentin comes into the MetroCourt Garden, and sees Laura texting. He says he’s glad he found her. Does she mind if he joins her? She says, not at all, and he sits. She asks if Charlotte is all right, and he says he believes so; why wouldn’t she be? She asks why else he’d be seeking her out, and he says, Charlotte is healthy and safe, and he promises there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to make sure she remains so.

On the phone, Anna says, C-A-S-S-A-D-I-N-E, first name Valentin, as Victor lurks around behind her. She says, he was recuperating at their clinic several weeks ago. She knows they wouldn’t normally release that kind of patient information, but this is an ongoing official investigation with the WSB… Yeah, she can send over her credentials immediately. Could they please have the director call her back at this number… She thanks them, saying, she appreciates it. Victor says, good morning, Agent Devane, and she asks if he’s stalking or lurking. He says, out for a morning constitutional is all, and she says, an agenda-free stroll. Why doesn’t she believe him? He says he would have announced himself, but he saw she was preoccupied investigating his son.

Brook says, Chase doesn’t want to be friends? but he says, of course (🍷) he does, and they are. She says, okay, then what? and he says he just thinks they don’t bring out the best in each other; that maybe their friendship, as much as it means to both of them, isn’t healthy. She says, he may have a point. The pattern they’ve fallen into with all the fighting and apologizing. Not to mention it made him punch someone. You could say it’s… He says, childish? Co-dependent? She tells him, she was going to say tricky. Forget about being a cop; he could work for Webster’s. He asks how she’d benefit from that, and she says, ouch. He says he’s sorry, but she says, don’t be; she deserves it.

Gregory says he realizes Alexis hasn’t had time to do more than skim the op ed, and she says she can’t wait to sit down and take it all in. He says, the gist of it is, The Invader coverage blurs the lines between objecting reporting and editorializing. He challenged her staff to commit to objectivity at all costs. She says, first of all, The Invader is a newspaper, not a wire service, and he asks if she’s saying only wire services can be objective. She says, secondly, the newspaper has to have a point of view, and he says, still, The Invader is miles ahead of where it was when Peter August was at the helm. She asks if he’s damning her with faint praise, but he says, not at all. The Invader can become a journal not unworthy of respect, and she says, as an editor, she needs to point out the double negative, but he says he used it for effect. She says, sure he did, and he says, still, as far as The Invader has come, there’s still room for improvement – for both of them. She says, he’s just chock full of suggestions – she points to her phone – thousands of words of them, most of them scathing. He says, listening to her now, he’s reminded of a criticism he omitted, and she says, there’s more? He says, her penchant for hyperbole, and she says, you know what she thinks? He says he’s eager to hear, and she says she thinks the good professor is so accustomed to dusty dry tomes, and just isn’t used to contemporary journalism. He says, and if he may? and she says, by all means. He says he concludes, the humble – that’s irony, by the way… She says she recognizes it, and he says, the humble editrix is unused to being challenged.

Doc says, Finn knows he can’t discuss specifics of Elizabeth’s treatment, and Finn says, he doesn’t need to explain doctor/patient confidentiality to him. He doesn’t want the details; he just wants Doc’s honest determination. Did Elizabeth discharge herself prematurely? Doc tells him, look, all he can say is, if a patient no longer wants intensive therapy, it’s their call. As for Elizabeth, he takes heart in knowing she has a good support system at home. Finn says, as long as she doesn’t push everyone away, and Doc says, then he’s afraid it’s going to take time and patience. Finn says, he’ll hang back. He’ll give her time. It seems like that’s all he’s doing these days, but how does he know if he’s giving her the space to heal or the room to relapse? Doc says, he doesn’t.

Terry says, Elizabeth didn’t tell her that she was coming in today, and Elizabeth says, it’s time; she’s ready. Britt says, it’s good to see her, and Elizabeth thanks her, saying, it’s good to be seen. So how about it? Put me in, coach. Britt says she’d be happy too, as soon as she hears from HR that Elizabeth is cleared, and Elizabeth suggests they skip the red tape. It sounds like they’re shorthanded. Britt says, while she loves the enthusiasm, the hospital has policies, protocol where… Elizabeth says she knows what protocol is. She’s worked here longer than Britt. Terry says, hang on, Biz, and Elizabeth says, Britt was probably hoping she got rid of her for good. Britt says, actually she was hoping Elizabeth had a speedy recovery and returned to work soon. She’s an excellent nurse, and yes, they are short-staffed. Elizabeth says, then what’s the problem? and Britt asks if she needs flash cards. If Elizabeth wants to come back, then she needs to be cleared by HR. So go to HR and get cleared. Elizabeth says, this is so like Britt. She’s sure Britt has convinced everyone else that she’s turned over a new leaf, but she can see pretty clearly, the Britch is back, and bitchier than ever.

Victor asks what possible reason Anna could have for looking into Valentin’s private medical records, and Anna asks if he’s ever heard the quote, we don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are. He asks her point? and she says, given his villainy, it makes sense he would ascribe nefarious intent to others. He says, cynicism is an ugly look on such an attractive woman, and she says, so is misogyny on such a dapper man. Yet here we are. He laughs, and says, she’s such a joy, and she says she tries. He says, always a quick rebut, and the appropriate literary reference. The question, however, remains, does Valentin know she’s a spy, in and out of the bedroom? She says, yes; why? He says he’s asking as a concerned parent. What exactly is the nature of her relationship with his son? She asks, what exactly is his?

Laura tells Valentin, she doesn’t say this often enough, but she’s actually grateful that Charlotte has him to watch out for her. He says, that’s nothing he’d expect to hear her say, and she says, they’ve had their difficulties in the past, but she can’t deny he’s an excellent parent. He thanks her, and says, coming from her, that means more to him than he can express. She says, if this little visit isn’t about Charlotte, to what does she owe the pleasure? and he says, just a drink between friends. He tells the waiter that he’ll have a bloody Mary, and Laura says she’ll have an iced tea. The waiter says, coming right up, and Valentin says, just an iced tea? She says, day drinking is not a good look for the mayor, especially after an attempted recall, and he says he’s glad that ridiculous attempt to oust her failed. She was a wonderful mayor, and Port Charles thrived under her leadership. She asks, why does he talk about her tenure in the past tense?

Brook says, when she offered to manage Chase’s singing career, she really did it to help him, and he asks, what percentage was to help him? She says, 90, and he looks at her. She says, 85, hand to heart, and he says he believes her. She says she hates that he’s out a paycheck, for defending her honor – again. He says, his actions were his own, and she says, but she put him in the middle of her mistakes… and two guys anyone would want to punch. He says, that is true, and she says, so even though it wasn’t her main goal when she was pitching the idea to him, the revenge part kind of slipped in. He says, so it wasn’t always there in the back of her mind? and she says, of course (🍷) it was. He says, then why not come out and say it; tell him the plan from the get-go. She says, because she didn’t want him to think she was using him, and he says, was she? She says she’s a Quartermaine. Self-interest is kind of in her DNA. She puts her hand on his knee, and says, on her word, nothing is more important than helping him.

Ned says, Olivia? and Olivia tells Cody, and here’s one of those men right now. Ned says he’s been looking for her. Can he speak to her about something? Cody says he’ll leave them alone, but Olivia says, they wouldn’t dream of interrupting his work, and tells Ned, she was just thanking Cody for being such a good friend to Leo. Ned says, Leo seems to think Cowboy Cody stepped straight out of a John Ford Western, and Cody says he’s lived a lot of places. Home is wherever you hang your hat. Ned says, about that. Since Cody will be interacting with his son, he took the liberty of going over Cody’s employment history. Seems like he doesn’t stay in one place for long. Should they already be looking for a replacement? Olivia says, Ned… and Cody says, no worries, Mama Q. He has been bouncing around for a while, that’s true, but their kind employment has gotten him doing exactly what he wants to do, exactly where he wants to do it. Don’t worry. He’s not going anywhere.

Britt tells Elizabeth, that’s enough, Nurse Baldwin. Clearly she’s still under duress. So leave now, while she still has a job. Elizabeth says, Britt can’t fire her; she’s union. Britt says she doubts Elizabeth’s union rep will come running to her defense, and as Chief of Staff… Elizabeth says, Co-Chief, and asks Terry if she’s going to let Britt threaten her like this. Terry says she’s sorry, but she has to agree with Britt. Elizabeth’s out of line.

Victor says, if Anna is curious about the deepening bond he has with his son, why ask him? Ask Valentin. Anna says she knows what Valentin’s intentions are when it comes to Victor; now she wants to know Victor’s. What does he want with Valentin? He says, what any parent wants. To see their child excel; to uplift and exalt the family. Most of all, to make him proud. Anna says, okay, and he says, she seems confused. She says, the relationship Victor is describing doesn’t sound reciprocal. It sounds like he’s using Valentin. And knowing what Victor is capable of, compels her to ask, to what end?

Valentin tells Laura that he’s sorry; he misspoke. He meant say, she is a great mayor, and Port Charles continues to thrive… With all the machinations of ELQ, he’s not sleeping. She says, she’s not going anywhere, and he says he hears the all-stars gathered at Charlie’s to celebrate her. She’s much loved and very respected. Her phone rings, and she says she has to take this. She steps away, the waiter brings the drinks, and Valentin puts something powdered in her iced tea that’s probably not Splenda. After he’s done, with convenient timing, she comes back, telling him, it was Doc. A patient canceled, so he’s on his way over. Valentin says, he certainly won’t be a third wheel, so until Doc arrives, they should make the most of their time. They clink glasses, and as Laura is about to take a sip, her phone dings. She says, what a coincidence; it’s Charlotte. He asks if everything is all right, and she says, everything’s fine. Charlotte was just thanking her for the care package she sent. He says, he wasn’t aware Charlotte needed anything, and she says, it was hardly disaster relief. It was just the new book by her favorite author, and a couple little other fun things she thought Charlotte might enjoy. He says she’s sure she appreciates it, and Laura says, Charlotte’s mother is still not able to be present, so she tries to fill the void when she can. He says, Charlotte’s lucky to have her, and she says, and him. And Charlotte’s not the only lady in his life that feels that way. Anna seems to have grown very fond of him.

Victor says he’ll tell Anna what his plans are for Valentin, provided she tells him why the furtive call to check up on him. She says she’ll never explain herself to him. They can remain mysteries wrapped in riddles inside enigmas forever. He says, it’s obvious to him that she and Valentin don’t know each other nearly as well as they claim to. Nor do they trust each other, which is a pity. Because without trust, she’s nothing more to Valentin than a comely diversion.

Gregory says, for someone who takes issue with his subjective opinion, Alexis certainly prints a lot of them, and calls it hard news. She says, her paper takes stances on vital issues alongside fact-based articles, like the fact-based articles they did on city hall. He says, so will The Invader next be printing an interview with the exculpated mayor? and she says, she doesn’t see why not; they printed the petition against her. He says, she’s still relatively new to journalism. It’s a subject he teaches at university level. She says she’s sure it’s easy for him to sit on his high horse behind ivy walls, but while he’s talking about journalism theory, some of them are out in the field doing actual reporting.

Brook says she’d hoped Chase would see that his intentions were sincere, and when he didn’t… He says, she thought he was overreacting, and she says she did, until she talked with her dad. He helped her see that she probably should have run the whole plan by him, including the revenge plot. He says he also talked to his father. His father and brother urged him to give her the benefit of the doubt. She says, they did? and he says, they saw she was just trying to help him, and… She says, and what? and he says, they don’t seem to think her proposition is as crazy as he does. She gets up, and says, great. Then it’s settled. They move forward with her plan. He says, whoa. Pump the brakes, Quartermaine.

Elizabeth says she can’t believe Terry is taking Britt’s side, and Terry says, Elizabeth knows if she’s on anyone’s side, it’s hers. Elizabeth says, then let her come back to work, but Terry says, no; she’s not ready. Elizabeth says she’s fine. She just can’t stand the way Britt acts like she’s queen of this place. She’s Co-Chief of Staff, not God. Terry says, she is, and Britt asked Elizabeth to go to HR, the same as she would have. Elizabeth says, she was at that clinic voluntary. Why does she need to go to HR? Terry says, for liability purposes, she still needs medical clearance. Did her doctor at Shadybrook sign off? Elizabeth says, she signed herself out, which is her right, and Terry says, it is her right, but was it right for her? Elizabeth says she appreciates Terry’s concern caring for her doesn’t give Terry the right to question her decisions. She shouldn’t have to justify herself to anyone. She turns around and sees Finn.

Chase says he hasn’t agreed to Brook’s pop star scheme, and she says, but he will. It’s inevitable, so why waste time? He says, it’s doubtful it’s going to do either of the things she wants; get him paid or give Linc what he deserves. She says, maybe not, but they don’t know until they’ve tried, and he says, he’s not the pop star she’s envisioning. She says she’s not suggesting they put him in a Spandex onesie and throw glitter all over him, and he says, he doesn’t think the PCPD will value a singing detective as much as she does. She says, if after his suspension, he wants to go back to being a detective, she’ll totally support that. But while he’s in limbo, why not take the road not traveled? Maybe this setback will lead to a new passion. He says, a new passion can be a risky proposition, and she says, but the rewards could be greater than they ever dreamed.

Gregory says he didn’t write the op ed to insult Alexis. In fact, he admires what she’s done in such a short time. She thanks him for that, and says, she’s sure he understands that in the era where news is a click away, she has to distinguish the paper. He says, when she reads what he wrote, she’ll see he doesn’t fault her for that. He merely offers constructive ideas to help maintain integrity in reporting. She says she’ll read the whole op ed piece, put her wrath aside, and let him know if there’s a place for it. She starts to leave, and he says, if she stands by her vision for The Invader, she won’t have a problem printing every word.

Olivia says she’s glad Cody is sticking around. She’d hate for Leo to lose him. Cody says he’d hate to leave behind a brand new friend. Leo is stuck with him. Ned says, that’s good to hear. They’ll let him get back to work. Cody goes in the back, and Olivia asks if Ned is planning on alienating every single person in this house this week. He says he guesses he could have been a little more tactful, and she says, he couldn’t have been less. He says he was just looking out for Leo, and she says she knows that. He says, it looks like he’s been inconsiderate and self-centered all around, and she says, if that’s the road he wants to go down, she’s not going to stop him. He says, and because she deserves to hear this as often as possible, he should have looped her in on his decision making process about his ELQ vote. She says, yes he should have. It’s not like she’s asking for veto power over all his business decisions, but she does expect communication in the marriage. And she’s just going to pray for peace in this family. He says he let her down and he know that; he’s sorry. Now he needs to know they’re okay. She puts her arms around his neck, and says, they’re a team. If they stick with that, they’ll be fine. She kisses him, and he asks if there’s something else bothering her. She says, he picked up on that, and he asks if it’s anything he should know about. She says, things may be fine at home, but at work… it’s all falling apart.

Britt thanks Terry for the back-up, and says she knows Elizabeth is Terry’s friend. Terry says, Elizabeth is her best friend, and Britt says, great. Maybe Terry can tell her what the hell is going on with her BFF.

Elizabeth walks with Finn, and he says, she looks good. She thanks him, and says she feels good. The pills are out of her system, so no more sleepwalking. He says, that’s a great start, and she says, start? She was at that clinic for weeks. She did the work, and she’s better. Believe her, if she felt like she was a danger to herself, her boys or her patients, she’d still be at Shadybrook. He says, he knows how committed she is to the people in her life. He thinks they’d just like to return the favor. She says she knows, and he asks, then why didn’t she tell anyone when she discharged herself? Or was he the only one who didn’t know?

Anna says, Victor doesn’t know the first thing about her and Valentin. They go back decades, and unlike Victor, his concerned father, she’s been there for him. He says, this isn’t a competition, and she says, if it were, he’d lose. He says, the difference is, unlike her, he trusts Valentin. He relies on Valentin to do what’s expected of him. She says she trusts Valentin too. She just doesn’t trust the people around him. He says, that makes two of us.

Valentin says, Anna spoke to Laura about him? and Laura says, she did. He says, anything she can repeat? and she says, it seems Anna has found a kindred spirit in him. He asks if that’s what she said, and Laura says, it’s not so much what she said, but how she said it, or how she didn’t say it, as the case may be. She does seem to have found the good in him. He says he told Laura it was there, and she says, he did. He seems to get Anna in a way most people don’t; kindred spirits. She just hopes Anna’s faith in him isn’t misplaced. She’s about to take a sip of her tea, and Valentin reaches for the pepper mill, practically shoving it in her face, so she spills her drink. She gets up, brushing herself off, as Doc comes in.

Alexis says, as she told Gregory, The Invader welcomes all viewpoints, even his. She’s sure after it’s proof read, it will be submitted into the next issue. He says, good to hear. Print and digital? She asks, exactly how many platforms does he need? and he says, it’s easier to read the commentary online; he likes the readers chiming in. She says, so he’s pretty sure the feedback will all be in his favor? and he says he suspects many will agree, with tweaks, The Invader is on its way to being a great source of information. She says she suspects the readers will already attest to what they’re doing right, and he says he looks forward to reading their reactions… providing the feedback is uncensored. She asks, what the hell is that supposed to mean?

Anna’s phone rings, and she says she has to take this. She steps away, and Director Gibson says they received her credentials, and he can confirm Valentin Cassadine was a patient there. Anna thanks him, and says, that’s what she needed to know, but he says, however, his convalescence didn’t occur on the dates she provided. According to their records, he discharged himself after a week. The end date she provided… She says, exceeds that by a lot, and he says, exactly. He’s sure she can’t divulge the nature of the investigation, and that’s fine, but his priority is that the clinic not be held liable for any health implications caused by his early departure. She says, that won’t be a n issue, and he says, great, and asks if there’s anything else he can help her with. She says, no. He’s helped her more than he knows. Victor approaches her, and says, problem? but she just walks away.

Valentin says he’s so sorry, and tells Laura to send him her dry cleaning bill. She says she will, and Doc asks, what happened here? Valentin says he’s afraid Doc arrived to witness a rather inelegant lunch with the pepper. He tells the passing waiter, another iced tea, and says, as he was telling Doc’s wife, he hasn’t been sleeping well, and it’s made him clumsy. Doc says he’s never known Valentin to be clumsy before, but Valentin says, it happens. He apologizes. He looks at Laura, and says he’s so very sorry, and she says, just when things were going so well. Valentin jets, and Doc asks, what’s all this about? She says she wishes she knew. She’s just as confused as he is. Valentin asked to join her, and they had a surprisingly civil conversation. Doc says, he’s about as social as he is clumsy, and she says, today he was both. Doc asks why he doesn’t believe any of it, and she says, because he’s keenly perceptive and smart. He thanks her and kisses her hello, and she asks how things are with him. He says, today could have gone better, and she says, it’s not even lunchtime yet. (I know the feeling.) Is it Elizabeth? He says, she left Shadybrook, and Laura asks if she was his patient cancelation. He says, yeah, and she asks if she should be worried. He says he wishes he could say no.

Terry tells Britt that she’s sorry; Elizabeth’s not like that. Britt says, Elizabeth has been downright hostile to her since they met, and Terry says she knows they never liked each other. Britt says she was terrible to Elizabeth; to everybody. She earned all of her lovely nicknames, but now…? Today, this? Terry says, she’s been going through a lot, and Britt says, she understands, but her time away didn’t seem to have helped at all. Elizabeth seems to be the same… Terry says, again, best friend, and Britt says, challenging personality she always was. Whatever Elizabeth has going on, she can’t bring it to work like that. Terry says, agreed. She just hopes Elizabeth is okay. Britt says, oh, she’s in fine form.

Elizabeth says she’s sorry she didn’t tell Finn, but he says, it’s okay. He was just trying to figure out why she left him out of the loop. He knows he had a little trouble giving her the space she needed to heal, and for that he’s sorry, but he thinks he’s gotten better with that. She says, he has, and he asks if this is the way she wants things going forward; she doesn’t need him around? She says, no. She asked for distance when she was at Shadybrook because she had a lot to work through. She knows he wanted to be there for her and help her, and he did, by allowing her to have the space she needed to take this journey and figure things out on her own. He asks, how’d that go? and she says she learned a lot. The most important thing she realized is, her life is just better with him in it.

Brook and Chase almost kiss, and Brook says, so for what it’s worth (🍷), she thinks he’s the It Factor, and she knows Linc agrees. He says, two people; that’s quite the niche fan base. She asks him to give her his phone, and he does. She says, check this out, and she shows him the video of him singing. She says, whether or not he wants to be a recognized performer, he’s well on his way.

Ned says, if he’d known Carly had invested so heavily in Aurora… and Olivia says she didn’t even know until the morning of the vote. He says, anyway, it’s not going to be a problem, but she says she might end up owning he hotel with some oligarch who’s laundering his money; it’s a problem. He says, not if they buy Carly’s half of the hotel and give it to her, but she says she already floated that idea; it’s not going to happen. Carly said, no dice. He says, not even if they sell it to her at the same price she purchased it? and Olivia says, the history between Carly and the Quartermaines is too much; forget about it. He says, it’s going to be okay. The best partnerships cannot be torn apart. They’re proof of that. He kisses her, and they leave.

Elizabeth says she knows she kept Finn at arm’s length, but it was never meant to hurt him. He says he knows. He can be thick sometimes, and wanted to help. It took time for him to realize she needed some distance, and that’s on him. She asks, what if she told him what she really needs is him? and he says he’d probably tell her that he’s the luckiest guy on the face of the earth. Is she sure? Because everything that was wrong with him before is still there. He’s working on himself, but he has a long way to go. Is she sure she wants all that? She says, all of it, and they kiss. She says she’s sorry about everything she put him through. She promises it’s all behind them, and he holds her.

Cody puts away a saddle, and his phone chirps. A message from Society Set-Ups says they’ve found a match for him.

Britt looks at Elizabeth and Finn, and tells Terry, apparently, there is a lid for every pot, even the cracked ones. Terry says, if that’s true, maybe there’s hope for Britt yet (BA-DUM-CHH!) and walks away. Britt’s phone dings, she looks at it, and says, okay Society Set-Ups. Let’s see what unpromising loser you insist is my perfect match. She sees Cody’s name and photo, and sighs.

Alexis says, first Gregory maligns her leadership of the paper, and now he’s questioning her integrity? He says, he’s merely pointing out how tempting it is to confirm our own biases, and she says, she’s convinced the readers will reject his narrow suppositions. He says, care to make it interesting? and she says, like a bet? He says, unless she’s not as confident as she’s pretending to be, and she says, now his strategy is to call her chicken? She didn’t know they had playgrounds at universities, because that’s clearly where he picked up his tactics. He asks if his tactics are working, and she says, no, but she’ll take his idiotic wager. She’s in. He says, great. What are the stakes? She says, besides the massive hit to his ego? If the readers support him, then she’ll entertain his archaic notions. He says, is that all? and she says, he’s got her time and attention; take it or leave it. He says, done. And on the off-chance the readers side with her? She says, he’ll promise to pipe down, and stick to enlightening young minds. He says, it’s a bet, holding out his hand, and they shake.

Chase looks at the video and says, he can’t believe this. She says, they have to credit Leo. He’s the first one who liked the performance, and it sort of blew up from there. Chase asks how it has so many views, and she says she has an intern at Deception watching it on repeat, and he says, she does? She says, no. The numbers are all him. Face it. There’s an audience who wants him. All they have to do is cultivate it, and monetize it of course (🍷). He asks where they start, and she says, is that a yes? He says, it’s not a no, it’s a how. She says, don’t stress the details. By the time she’s finished these numbers will look quant in comparison. Leave it to her. She’s going to make him a household name.

Anna walks into the MetroCourt Garden, and Laura asks if she forgot something. Anna says she was looking for Valentin. He’s not in his room, so she thought she’d try here. Doc says, her instincts are good, but she just missed him. Laura says she doesn’t know where he went, and Anna says she was going to ask him something, but now that she’s here, she’s changed her mind. Laura asks if everything is okay, and Anna says she’s not sure, but she intends to find out.

Back in the park, Victor asks Valentin, is it done? but Valentin says, no. Laura remains in perfect health. Victor asks, why, pray tell, is that? and Valentin says, because he failed. Victor says, that’s a pity. He’s sure by now Valentin is aware, failure is not an option.

On Monday, Cody asks Britt why he’d leave, now that he’s met his match; Maxie asks why Spinelli would say something like that; and Carly says, it’s her only option.

🗽 Moving It Nice…

I’m not sure what her selling the apartment has to do with RHUGT. Doing it for an extra tag?

https://nypost.com/2022/07/01/dorinda-medley-sells-longtime-nyc-home-amid-ultimate-girls-trip-beefs/

💎 Those Horrible, Horrible Women…

This episode turned my stomach. I’m not sure which incident pissed me off more. Kyle accusing Sutton of lying about her miscarriages…

https://screenrant.com/rhobh-kyle-richards-apologizes-sutton-stracke-miscarriage-accusation/

Or Erika cursing out Garcelle’s son – after she hit on Garcelle’s other son. At least Oliver was of age, but still.

https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/erika-jayne-cursing-at-garcelle-beauvais-son/

🍹 Bring On the Charm…

This doesn’t sound much different from what we saw.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1337327/why-southern-charms-kathryn-dennis-and-chleb-ravenell-really-split

I was stressed too. I even said, no one makes/receives calls while they’re not driving?

https://decider.com/2022/07/08/southern-charm-fans-stressed-watching-cast-drive-phones/

🍸 As the Stomach Turns…

Whenever I see his name, all I can think is, that little troll. How dare he have done this to her and that cute little baby?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10996103/Scheana-Shay-blasts-Lala-Kents-ex-Randall-Emmett-reacts-allegations-against-him.html

⛴ While Surfing…

Actually, I was watching reruns of the first seasons, and thinking about what an a-hole Adrienne was. Then I stumbled on this.

Former ‘Below Deck’ Stars: Where Are They Now?

🏞 Meanwhile, In the Middle Of Nowhere…

All about Plathville, and a little speculation.

https://www.thelist.com/176645/the-untold-truth-of-tlcs-welcome-to-plathville/

https://screenrant.com/why-welcome-plathville-fans-suspect-kim-plath-unfaithful/

👠 Still Posh…

I love her. Can you imagine a woman being intimidated into getting on a scale in public today? Me neither. But she did end up winning at life.

https://people.com/health/victoria-beckham-recalls-being-forced-to-weigh-herself-on-live-tv-after-giving-birth/

https://people.com/health/victoria-beckham-says-being-thin-is-old-fashioned-talks-new-health-and-fitness-journey/

https://people.com/sports/david-and-victoria-beckham-mark-their-23rd-wedding-anniversary/

🩰 Outside the Dreamhouse…

All about the Barbie movie. I can’t wait.

https://people.com/movies/margot-robbie-celebrates-32nd-birthday-pink-barbie-cake-on-set-greta-gerwig-movie/

https://people.com/movies/barbie-movie-set-pictures/

https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/a23638293/margot-robbie-barbie-doll-film/

👍 Ending On a Good Note…

I’m not a Hallmark kind of person, but I still appreciate kindness.

https://nypost.com/2022/07/07/paul-rudd-reaches-out-to-bullied-boy-after-classmates-didnt-sign-yearbook/

👄 Quotes of the Week

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King Jr.

Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering. – Santosh Kalwar

Time changes everything except something within us which is always surprised by change. – Thomas Hardy

The four hardest tasks on earth are neither physical nor intellectual feats, but spiritual ones: To return love for hate; to include the excluded; to forgive without apology, and to be able to say, ‘I was wrong.’ – Unknown

Faith is daring to put your dream to the test. It is better to try to do something and fail than to try to do nothing and succeed. – Robert H. Schuller

Judge a man by the reputation of his enemies, and the character of his friends. – K@$H

Above all else, go with a sense of humor. It is needed armor. Joy in one’s heart and some laughter on one’s lip is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life. – Hugh Sidey

You can roll manure in powder sugar, but that still doesn’t make it a jelly donut. – Berta (Conchata Ferrell), Two and a Half Men

👡 Shuffling Off This Internet Coil…

Enjoy formerly known as the weekend, but come back for soap and some Deck when it’s over. Until then, stay safe, stay giving without expecting a return, and stay keeping in mind, we don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.

Jul8

July 7, 2022 – Valentin Tells Victor About Laura’s Plans, Kathryn Makes a Decision & Incense

Posted on July 8, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase gets out of the pool, and a girl waits with a towel. She says, he looks like he could use some help.

Brook comes into the nook, and sees Ned. She says she thought he would have left for the office already, but he says, since he’s the new Chairman of the Board, his office is wherever he is. She says she’ll let him get to it then, and heads for the shower, but he tells her, wait. It might help if she talked about it. She asks, what’s there to talk about? He made his choice by siding with Valentin. End of story. He says he wasn’t referring to ELQ. He thought there might be something else that’s upsetting her. She says, like what? and he says, like her friend Chase.

Chase says, thanks for the offer, but he already has a towel on his chair. She says, he’s spoken for. Gotcha. Finn walks in with Gregory, and she tells Chase, in case he changes his mind and wants a fresh one, she’ll be over there. She leaves, and Finn asks if that young lady was hitting on Chase. Chase says, what? No. She just asked him if he wanted a towel. Chase goes back to his chaise (ha-ha), and Gregory asks Finn, what do you think, doctor? Finn says he thinks there’s only one possible diagnosis; his little brother has it bad. Chase tells Gregory to let his big brother know there’s currently no one he has it bad for, and Gregory asks, what happened to Brook? Chase says, that’s a non-starter, and Finn says, since when? Chase says, since she decided to make him a pop star.

Elizabeth works on a jigsaw puzzle, when Doc comes in, and asks how she’s feeling today. She says she’s making progress… on this puzzle. He says, sorry for the interruption, but she has a visitor. She says she thought she made it clear she didn’t want to see Finn, and if it’s Laura, she knows Laura means well, but not today. He says, it’s not Finn or Laura, but he thinks it’s someone she’s going to want to see. Jake walks in, and Elizabeth hugs him.

Anna, Alexis, and Laura are at the MetroCourt Garden, and Anna lifts her glass of orange juice. She says she’s going to pretend this is champagne, and toasts to Laura’s success in fighting the recall campaign. Alexis says, to their once and future mayor, and Laura thanks them. They clink glasses, and Laura says, and thank you to The Invader for the editorial support. Alexis says, The Invader wasn’t the only voice of support. Once the people of Port Charles found out what was at stake, they were bending over backwards to defeat that recall. Anna says, absolutely, and Laura says she’s so grateful to everyone who stood up for her. Now they have to just keep going to make Port Charles a kinder, safer, better place to live. Alexis asks why she has the feeling Laura has that planned already, and Laura says she does. And she wants to start by eliminating a clear and present danger.

In the park, Victor tells Valentin, does your heart good, doesn’t it, to think of the wonderful future that lies ahead for these happy carefree children? Valentin says he never pegged Victor as an optimist type, but Victor says, the Cassadines were put on this earth to shape a better future. Not just for ourselves, but for all mankind. Valentin says, and Victor believes that? and Victor says, he won’t always be here to lead the family. He wants to know, when the time comes, there’s someone worthy he can pass the torch to. He knows Valentin has been having a crisis of conscience recently, which is why he got rid of the family ring. So he wants Valentin to consider this – he hands Valentin another ring – its replacement. Valentin thanks him, and says he has something to give Victor too.

Chase says, since his future as a detective is so uncertain, Brook pitched him a new career, as a professional singer. Gregory laughs, and Chase says, it’s absurd, right? In her mind, it’s goodbye PCPD, hello American Idol. Oh, and he pretty much buried the lead; Brook wants to be his manager. They look at him, and he says, that’s the reaction he had. She wants to pull the strings while he dances to her tune. Finn says, he dances now too? and Chase says, the point is, he told her that he’s not interested. Gregory says he has to admit going from cop to singing dancing pop star isn’t the most logical progression, but Brook has written songs before. Is he not even willing to consider her idea? Chase says, Gregory doesn’t get it; that’s not what’s happening here. Gregory’s first impression of Brook was the right one. Gregory says he’s confused. The other day when he was so hard on Brook, Chase convinced him that he was wrong. What’s changed?

Brook says she knows Ned and Chase have had their issues in the past, but Ned doesn’t need to worry about that anymore. Ned says, why is that? and she says, because when it comes to her and Chase, there’s nothing there. He says, really? The way he heard it, Detective Chase has been suspended for a second time, and just like the first time, he landed in the Commissioner’s doghouse for defending her honor. If it happened just once, you could chalk that up as an accident, but twice? She says, who asked him to defend her honor? Certainly not her. Does Ned think she enjoys being the reason Chase keeps losing his badge, because she hates it. He says, even if it proves Chase still cares about her?

Chase says he’s admitting he’s wrong. Why is that so hard to understand? Finn says, as a general rule, the guys in their family usually don’t admit when they’re wrong, and Chase says, there’s a first time for everything. He actually agrees with Gregory’s original assessment of Brook. She just keeps getting herself into these difficult situations; first it was Valentin, now it’s Linc. He’s the one who plunges in to rescue her, and he’s the one who pays the price. Gregory says, some people would call that heroic, and Finn says, doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result is also the very definition of crazy. Is it possible Chase is crazy about her? Chase says, if Finn has such keen insights on what makes people tick, why doesn’t he save them for someone who needs them? Finn asks if he’s referring to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth asks how Jake got here, and he says, it was Doc’s idea. Doc says, guilty as charged. He realized how badly Jake wanted to see her, and figured she’d want to see him, so he drove Jake over, and he’ll drive Jake home. Jake says, Doc can drive them both home. Please. All she has to do is pack her stuff and come home.

Alexis asks if Laura would care to elaborate on the danger, but Laura says, not at this time, but when she’s ready, The Invader will be the first to know. Right now, she and Doc have their hands full trying to wrangle Elizabeth’s sons. Don’t get her wrong; she’s not complaining. The house is so crowded now, but it’s never been so full of life. Even Cameron is making excuses to stay over. Anna says, since he’s the oldest, he probably feels responsible for Jake and Aiden, right? and Laura says, he does. He’s a very conscientious young man. She’s very proud of all her grandchildren. Anna says she hopes Elizabeth comes back soon, for both her sons’ sake and Finn’s, and Laura says, that’s what they’re praying for. In the meantime, she’s very grateful she has Doc to help her navigate the madness. Anna says, Laura is so lucky to have a partner to help with all that; the work and the fun. Laura says she hears what Alexis isn’t saying. It’s okay. A lot of people aren’t sold on having a partner. Alexis says, a lot of people don’t have a prince like Doc. For them, it’s mostly frogs. Anna says, and sometimes someone with a little of both.

Valentin puts on the ring, and Victor asks, what’s wrong? Does it need to be fitted for him? Valentin says, it fits, and Victor says, Valentin was born to wear this ring. It represents everything their family has meant through the ages, and will continue to mean for days to come. So, Valentin had something for him? Valentin says, Laura is working on having Victor deported.

Brook tells Ned, if Chase really cared for her, he wouldn’t have accused her of using him to get back at Linc. Ned says, Linc? He thought Linc was out of the picture for good, but Brook says, unfortunately, he’s like acne; just when you think he’s gone, he’s back. But this time she had a plan to stick it to Linc. Chase got upset because she didn’t discuss it with him first. Ned says he guesses it runs in the family. Olivia read him the riot act about voting to keep Valentin as CEO. She claimed he only voted that way to punish Michael and Drew. Brook says, didn’t he? and he says, his big mistake was cutting Olivia out of the decision. He should have trusted her with this thought process, and they should have made the decision together. Instead, he acted alone, unilaterally, and she felt completely blindsided. Maybe that’s what happened between Brook and Chase.

Chase apologizes to Finn, saying, that was a cheap shot, but Finn tells him, it’s okay. He’d be happy to share his insights with Elizabeth, but she’s made it pretty clear she doesn’t want to hear them. Chase says, again, he apologizes. He should probably just take his foul mood and leave before he says something even more thoughtless, but Finn tells him, sit back down. He’s not getting off that easy. Gregory says, the two of them spent years avoiding each other, and Finn says, that’s mostly on him, avoiding not just Chase, but Gregory as well. Gregory says, think of all those family dinners they missed, where they didn’t get to experience what other families do, and Finn says, say a blessing, then criticize each other until dessert? Gregory says, since they’re making up for lost time, what’s wrong with Brook making Chase a pop star?

Elizabeth tells Jake, she wishes it were that simple. She came here to figure out what was troubling her, and until she does… She looks at Doc, and he tells Jake to remember what they talked about on the ride over. He wants his mother to get better, right? Jake says, of course (🍷) he does, but why can’t she do that at home? Elizabeth says, it helps her knowing Jake is there with Aiden, and Cameron is there supporting both of them. And even though Cameron is away at college, he needs Jake as much as Jake needs him. The same goes for Grandma Laura and Grandpa Kevin. They all just need to stick together. He says, even her mom and dad? and she says, what about them? He says, they’re family too, right? Does she think they can pitch in and help?

Alexis says, when the conversation turns to relationships, that’s when she goes to the pool. Laura says she guesses Alexis is going to do a follow-up on the Society Set-Ups debacle, and Alexis asks, why is it so hard for anyone to believe she takes breaks? She’s going to the roof. She’s going to get a little vitamin D, a little sun, and ice tea, and she’s going to read her book for 20 minutes. She gets up, says, it’s been fun, and tells Laura, congratulations. She leaves, and Laura asks, what’s going on with Anna? Anna asks what she means, and Laura says, she had that I know something you don’t look on her face a while ago. Tell her. How things going between her and Valentin?

Victor asks if Laura herself told Valentin these plans she has for him, but Valentin says, no. Martin Grey, Laura’s brother, told him that Laura is working with contacts in DC to have Victor deported on grounds of moral turpitude. Marty says, it’s only a matter of time. Victor says, no doubt Valentin told Marty to advise Laura to back off, but Valentin says, there’s no point. Laura’s determined and she has resources. He’d say it’s time for Victor to find a new base of operations, but Victor says he can’t possibly consider leaving. Valentin says, Laura’s giving him no choice, and Victor says, if he didn’t know any better, he’d think Valentin wanted him to go. Valentin asks, since when does Victor care what he wants? and Victor says he thought they’d worked through all this. Certain measures had to be taken for certain people – obstacles – to be removed, and that meant certain other people had to be implicated. Now all that was achieved, thanks to a certain dashing naval captain. Valentin says, Victor made his expectations clear. At the time, compliance was the only option, but things change. Victor says, do they? Why is that? Valentin flashes back to telling Anna that his intentions are very serious, and he says he can tell Victor, but he’s not going to like it any more. Suffice to say he’s done everything he can for Victor. Victor says, well, that’s a pity. Not just for himself; Valentin’s daughter is going to be very disappointed.

Brook says, her problems with Chase are nothing like Ned’s and Olivia’s. They’re not married; they’re not even a couple. He says, point taken, but he and Brook aren’t really that different. They’re both willful and ambitious. Brook says, she’ll give him that, and he says, they both wear their hearts on their sleeves, which translates easily into getting hurt, then makes them lash out and hurt other people, even people who matter the most to them. She says, they have another thing in common; their love of music. It was stolen from her, first when Nelle attacked her, and then again by her lying scheming manager. He says, so she was going to use Chase to get back at Linc, and she says she thought she and Chase could help each other. She could bring out his talent until some big producer came along, and then Chase’s career would be off and running. Ned says, and then Linc would be out of the picture for good, and she says, something like that. But does he know what Chase said to her? He says, he can guess. It probably sounded a lot like what Olivia told him – this is all about you.

Chase says, the whole thing is about Brook and her need to get back at her sleazy ex-producer, and Gregory says, and in the process, Brook could help Chase? Chase says, that depends on how you define help. She wants to turn him into a pop star, and even if there was the slightest chance of that happening, it was never on his list of prospective careers. In fact, it’s pretty much opposite of everything that interests him. Gregory says he’s not so sure that’s true, and Chase says, now he doesn’t know what interests him? Gregory says he’s simply pointing out that Chase couldn’t be as good at performing like he did at Nurses Ball if some part of him didn’t enjoy it. Alexis goes to the pool bar, and Gregory tells Finn to talk some sense into his brother. Finn says, me? and Gregory goes to the bar. He asks Alexis if she’s looking for a headline, but she says, The Invader doesn’t do headlines; they cover the news. Where’s his granddaughter? Too bad she’s not here; she brings out the best in him. He says, then she hasn’t seen his best yet. At the table, Finn says, on one hand, it’s very weird, but what’s so wrong with Brook believing in Chase? Believing in his talent, and wanting something for herself. Chase says, despite dad’s little pep talk, he’s not a singer; he’s a cop. That’s what he does. That’s who he is. What Brook is doing suits her own needs for her own reasons. What is he supposed to do? Just go along with it, no questions asked? What would Finn do if this happened to him?

Elizabeth says she can’t believe her parents went behind her back again, and asks what Jake told them. Do they know she’s here? Jake says he didn’t tell them anything, he promises. He didn’t answer their email. He knows how she feels about them, and wouldn’t want to do anything to upset her. She says, he doesn’t upset her. Just promise if they try to contact him again, let her handle it. He promises, and Doc says, before they go, he’d like to talk to Jake’s mother a minute alone. Would he mind waiting in the car? Jake says, that’s fine, and Doc says he’ll walk Jake down and be back. Jake hugs Elizabeth, and asks if she’s mad at him, but she says, never. He says, then come home soon, and she says she’ll see him soon. Tell his brothers that she misses them. he says he will, and leaves.

Anna tells Laura, it’s no secret that she and Valentin have a history. She feels like she’s known him forever. The thing is, he’s still a bit of a mystery to her. Laura says, it should give Anna a certain amount of trepidation, and Anna says, you’d think it should, but it hasn’t at all. She thinks it’s because they’ve both been burned so much in the past, and Laura asks if that wouldn’t make her more cautious. Anna says, perhaps. The only thing she would say is, since Valentin was in the clinic, he’s changed somewhat. Laura says, for the better or the worse? Isn’t there an alarm going off in Anna’s head right about now?

Valentin asks, does Victor think he can buy his loyalty with a ring? Victor is keeping his daughter from him; he’s holding Charlotte hostage. She just doesn’t realize it. She’s adjusting to life in a boarding school Victor put her in, and only Victor can take her out of. Valentin can text her, and talk to her by phone, but he’s not allowed any physical contact, and Victor expects Valentin to bond with him? Let’s make one thing very clear, dad. He’s done everything he can to keep Charlotte safe, but if Victor threatens her again, not only will Victor not get what he wants, Valentin will cut his throat. Victor tells him, well said. Spoken like a true Cassadine. Don’t you worry. Charlotte’s life is almost as precious to him as it is to Valentin. Valentin says, no it isn’t, or Victor wouldn’t be treating her like a bargaining chip; that’s all she is to him. Don’t think he doesn’t know that. Now are they done here? Victor says, not quite. While he’s very grateful to Valentin for letting him know what Laura has in mind for him, he’s now counting on Valentin to help him spoil those plans. One way or another, our beloved mayor is going to be leaving office. Now if Valentin is going to be the son he can trust and a loving father to Charlotte, he’ll help Victor by doing exactly what he says.

Laura asks if she has to remind Anna that Valentin fought Lulu tooth and nail over custody of Charlotte. Really he’s been a threat to her family since he showed up in Port Charles. And now he’s embraced his father, even though he knows full well what Victor is capable of. Anna says, she knows. Laura is right on every count. Maybe it’s because she knows who and what he is, that it makes her feel oddly comfortable with him. Laura says she doesn’t want to see Anna walk into a trap, and Anna says she understands; Robert warned her too. Laura says, and yet… and Anna says she doesn’t know; she just feels comfortable with him. What does that tell Laura? Laura says, it tells her, things are worse than she thought.

Brook says he sees Ned’s point. She probably should have included Chase in the process, instead of going to him with a finished idea, like everything was already decided. Ned says, that would have been a good start, and she says, it just felt like such a win-win. She wrote some really good material while she was under contract with Linc; personal songs that have a lot of meaning for her. Sometimes she even dreams in music, and when she wakes up, she has a tune stuck head, and she realizes that’s one of the songs Linc owns. He can sell it, he can rework it, he do whatever he wants to it, and there’s absolutely nothing she can do. What is she supposed to do, just give up? Ned tells her, he’s not saying that; far from it. He takes out his phone, and says, just look what Leo posted on his social media. Someone recorded Chase singing her song at Leo’s birthday, and posted it. Leo got the ball rolling by liking it, and linking it on his social media. And now thousands and thousands of likes. That’s how good her song is; that’s how good Chase is singing it. She looks at his phone, and laughs, saying, he’s not kidding. This post has over 50,000 likes, and people keep reposting it. Damn. She’s talented… What she meant to say is, she and Chase are talented.

Alexis says she’s disappointed. She was hoping Gregory would take up her challenge to write that op ed piece in The Invader. He says, about that… and she says, no worries at all. Just to be clear, no pressure. She just thought it would be fun to read about his perspective rather than hear about it. She sees he’s with his two boys. She doesn’t want to keep him. Big fan of both of them. He says, so he hears. In fact, if memory serves, she had a hand in bringing Finn and Chase together. She says she did what she could, and he says, then consider this a sincere, if tardy, thank you.

Chase says he’s sorry for comparing his and Finn’s situations. What Elizabeth is dealing with is so far beyond bickering with Brook. Finn says, that’s all right, and Chase says, any updates? Finn says, Elizabeth is convinced the only way she’s going to find any answers is if she does it on her own. She’s been pushing him away, and he’s starting to think he’s part of the problem.

Doc says, Jake’s in the car, and Elizabeth asks, how is he? Doc says, at the moment, he’s engrossed with his phone, but overall, he’d say Jake is a bit confused. She says, he’s not the only one. Ever since Franco died, it’s been non-stop confusion and chaos. Everything changed. She just loved him so much. Doc says he knows, and he knows Franco loved her too, but he thinks Franco would want her to move on with her life and find some happiness. She says she feels like maybe she moved on too quickly, and he says he understands. Be that as it may, he couldn’t help notice her reaction when Jake mentioned her parents. She says, what about them? and he says, clearly they’re a trigger for her. She tells him, if he says so; he’s the professional. He says he is, but Jake saw it too, and she asks what he wants her to say. Where have her parents been all her life? Absent, missing, focused on more important things. They weren’t here when she graduated from nursing school, when she got married, or when she had their grandkids. He asks if they offered any support when Franco died, and she says, they sent flowers, which was more than she expected, or wanted. He asks what she does want from her parents, and she says she wants them to respect her wishes and stay away from her kids. Cameron is older, but Jake and Aiden are at impressionable ages, especially Jake. He’s alone and vulnerable… Doc asks if that’s how she felt at Jake’s age, alone and vulnerable? and she asks what he’s implying. He says he’s not implying anything. She said it herself. The thought of Franco fills her heart with love, but the mere mention of her parents brings on a different reaction entirely. Is it anger? Is it fear? She says, forget her parents. They’re nothing to her. Nothing! She wipes the puzzle off the table onto the floor. She tells Doc that she’s sorry, but he says, no. He’s been waiting for her to do something like that. She says, embarrass herself? but he says, no. Look inside herself. Not in those comfortable places where we usually exist, but in those dark and winding ones that make us uncomfortable. She asks what he knows about dark and winding, and I laugh because I know what he’s going to say. And he does. He says, his twin is Ryan Chamberlain; he knows a thing or two. Clearly her relationship with her parents is… She says, there is no relationship with her parents. She already told him. They handed her and her sister off to her gram when she was a teenager. And when she didn’t turn out to be what they expected, or wanted, they washed their hands clean of her. Other than her gram, she’s been on her own ever since, and never looked back. he says, then has she really left that behind, or has it followed her everywhere she went? Buried deep, but it still haunts her, and he doesn’t mean Franco’s ghost; something much scarier. She says, like what? and he says he’s afraid only she can answer that question, but he’ll do everything he can to help her find the answer. She says, he really wants to help her? She’ll tell him how.

Chase says he knows Finn doesn’t like when he gives him advice, but he’s going to. Finn needs to turn his situation with Elizabeth around. Finn says, meaning? and Chase says, be direct. Ask her what the problem is, and see if she can articulate what’s troubling her. Finn says, for once, that’s not actually terrible. It’s pretty good. Tell dad he’ll catch up with him later. Does Chase mind if he says something? Don’t worry so much about what Brook wants. Ask himself what he wants.

Alexis tells Gregory, she remembers it was like pulling teeth to get those two to talk to each other. She wonders where they got their stubborn streak. He asks if she’s implying he can be stubborn, and she says, nothing wrong with being opinionated. He says he can’t believe she’s still upset about his critique of The Invader, and she says, she’s not upset. Does she seem upset? She was just wondering why he chickened out of writing that op ed piece. He tells her, as he started to say earlier… Her phone dings, and she says, lookee here. It’s a text from her op ed editor. She reads it, looks at him, and says, just in time. He smiles.

Ned tells Brook, nobody makes it alone. She wrote that beautiful song, Chase performed it really well, but it was her little brother’s initiative that caused it to be an internet sensation. Doesn’t that tell her something? She says, yeah. It tells her that Leo should be Chase’s manager and producer, and Ned laughs. He says, maybe one day. After he becomes the next Jacques Cousteau, or saves the world, whichever comes first. Brook says, the kid’s got some big plans, and Ned says, in the meantime, he thinks she has some fences to mend. She says, what if it’s too late? and he says, would that stop her? She says she needs to shower and change before she makes things right with Chase. And Ned needs to double Leo’s allowance.

Anna says she appreciates Laura’s concern, and promises, whatever happens with Valentin, she has her eyes wide open. Laura says, okay, and Anna reaches for the check, but Laura says, her treat. Just to clarify, she’s not telling Anna how to live her life. She’s reminding Anna that she said Valentin had changed when he came back from the clinic, but she didn’t tell Laura if it was for better or for worse. Anna says, it’s kind of a little of both. When he shows up, when he’s present, he’s very attentive. Laura says, and more committed to his father, and Anna gets up. Laura tells her, love can be intoxicating. Don’t let it rob her of her better sense. Trust, but verify. Anna says, okay, they exchange I love yous, and Anna leaves.

Chase is sunning himself, and looks over to see towel girl on the next chaise. She waves to him, and he gives her a weak smile. He takes out his phone, and calls Brook. She answers as she’s walking into the pool area, and he says, don’t hang up. He thinks they need to talk. She says, no time like the present, and he looks over, seeing her.

Doc is putting the puzzle away, when Finn dashes in. He says he needs to see Elizabeth, and Doc says, he’s sorry, but… Finn says, the last thing he wants to do is force himself into this situation, but he’s not just some guy who cares about Elizabeth. He’s a doctor, and before Doc goes, wrong specialty, just remember denial can be infectious too. Please take him to her. He just wants to help. Doc says he’s sorry, but Elizabeth’s gone.

Gregory asks if Alexis’s text said something interesting, and she says, the latest submission to the op ed page. He says he tried to tell her earlier, but he’s guessing she was the star of her high school debate team; she didn’t really give him a chance. She says, no need to explain. Turns out he’s accepted her challenge after all.

In a woodsy section of the park, Anna is on the phone. She says she’s calling regarding a former patient of theirs. Victor stands behind her, and he’s so obvious, I can’t believe she doesn’t notice. She says, his name is Valentin Cassadine.

Valentin walks into the MetroCourt Gardens and sees Laura still at the table, texting. He says he’s glad he found her. Can he join her?

Tomorrow, Britt says she hopes Terry has better luck than she did; Ned asks Cody if they should be looking for a replacement; Victor asks Anna what her relationship is with his son; and Laura wants to know why Valentin is talking about her mayoral tenure in the past tense.

Southern Charm

Shep takes Little Craig to play in the park, and meets Pringle. They bro hug, and Shep says, they need to watch Little Craig. When he was there with Danni, it was a disaster. We flash back to Little Craig going into the river, and Shep says, there’s a Jekyll and Hyde in there. Pringle says, like Craig and Austen.

Craig calls Paige from his car, and says he doesn’t know what to do about the Austen situation. Austen was trying to figure out if the time he and Naomie hung out overlapped when he was seeing Paige. We flash to Naomie telling Craig what Austen said, and Paige says, it’s mean to say to any girl. Craig says, Austen wants people to have a problem with him. He doesn’t know if he wants to stay friends. Paige says, the day Austen stops having Craig’s back, is the day he stops being a friend, and Craig says, that already happened.

Shep tells Pringle that he doesn’t care where you are in life; you need to foster friendships. He thinks he should invite the boys over for a barbecue, and Pringle says, let’s get the band back together. Paige tells Craig, if he and Austen don’t talk, their issues will just fester. Regardless of the outcome, he’ll feel better. Pringle asks Shep how Taylor is, and Shep says she gave him a scare. She said she was late, and for three or four days, he thought, f***; this is it. Fortunately, it was a false alarm. Pringle says, it’s an eye-opening event, and in Shep’s interview, he says he likes the autonomy, and doesn’t want it to come to an end. He asks how old Pringle was when he had his first kid, and Pringle says, 35. Shep says, when he was 35, there was no way he could have had kids, and we flash back to Thomas telling him that Kathryn is pregnant. Pringle asks if Shep wants kids someday, but Shep says he doesn’t know if he has that yearning. Once you have them, your life is gone; it’s like you played life wrong. The more it becomes a talking point with Taylor, the more he disengages. Pringle says, if Taylor wants kids, at some point, Shep will have to figure that out, and Shep says, why screw with it when it’s working? His life isn’t set in stone; he doesn’t know where he’ll be 6 months from now. Pringle says, if you have a kid you will.

Taylor meets Marcie for baby shopping, and Marcie shows her the latest ultrasound. Marcie says, she looks like John, holding up a picture of her husband for comparison, and by God, she does. Marcie asks if Taylor can imagine a baby Shep. Have they talked about it? Taylor says they had a scare, but she’s not pregnant, which is fine. Her family is traditional and religious, and she’d rather be married. Marcie thinks that concept in Shep’s head is foreign. It’s weird, since their family is also traditional, and it’s like, where did things go wrong in Shep’s brain? In Marcie’s interview, she says she thinks Shep is afraid of commitment. Nobody in their family has ever been divorced. She respects that they do it for the long haul, and believes Shep would be looked down on if he ended up divorced. Taylor says, at some point, she wants Shep to think about being serious, and if they can’t get there, unfortunately, they’ll have to go their separate ways. Marcie says, you can’t be a kid forever.

Madison (bleh) meets Venita for lunch. I think. It’s light outside. Madison says, their birthdays are coming up, and Venita says, Madison’s has passed, but as Libras, they celebrate all month. That’s a new one on me, but I’m Sagittarian. We celebrate all year. Madison says, one of her clients has a house, and will let them use it, and Venita says, they should do a joint party, which I thought was what Madison was implying in the first place. Madison tells Venita that she’s in love, and boyfriend Brett makes her want to be a better person. Wow. Now there’s a daunting task. In Madison’s interview, she says she and Brett met when she was at a bachelorette party. They made eye contact, and fell in love. She thinks he might be the one. She tells Venita that Brett has BDE, and asks if Venita is dating anyone, but Venita says she’s hyper-focused on her career. She can’t have someone in her space. In Venita’s interview, she says she’s had issues with boundaries in past relationships. She found out through her Instagram DMs that her ex had cheated. She has lots of guards up. She says, it was nice to see Madison and Austen getting along, and we flash back to them at Leva’s party. Madison says she’s retired from drama, but Kathryn’s party was interesting. She saw people screaming, and wondered what was happening. Venita says, Olivia was screaming at her when she was trying to help Naomie. Another wow. Exaggerate much? Olivia wasn’t even loud, although the other women were loud with her. Madison says she felt bad when she saw Olivia get attacked. Now I’m even more irritated, since I agree with her. Venita insists Olivia wasn’t attacked, but Madison says, they all caught her off-guard. Venita tries to fix this by saying she’s too much of a fixer, and was just trying to help. Madison tells her, Naomie speaks five languages; she’s not a dumbass. She’ll figure it out. In Venita’s interview, she says, Madison makes a good point. She’s not sorry for what she said, but the way she said it. Her communication skills aren’t always great. Madison says, if Olivia’s got thick skin, she’ll survive.

Olivia and mom Robin have wine and cheese. Their yorkie whines for some cheese, and it’s the cutest thing. They talk about Olivia’s parents being married 35 years, and Robin says Olivia will meet someone like her dad, but Olivia says she doesn’t know if there’s any more of dad out there. In Olivia’s interview, she says, her parents are a cohesive fit, and never got out of their honeymoon stage. Olivia tells Robin that Austen wants to Netflix and chill, and Robin says, he’s got the wrong girl. Olivia says, they’re in a feeling-it-out place, and in her interview, she says she wants someone sweet and considerate. She shouldn’t be Ubering. Pick her up. Olivia tells Robin about Kathryn’s party, and says, there was a bit of a hiccup with the girls. Robin says, as long as Olivia is being nice, don’t worry, but Olivia says, the conversation could have gone better. She was like, exit stage left. It doesn’t need to be an ongoing issue. In her interview, Olivia says, she’d rather walk away, and say what she needs to later, than say too much in a hurry, and get herself in trouble. She was put off by it, and she’s not done with Naomie and Venita just yet.

Whitney drives Patricia to the farmer’s market, and he tells her, the champagne is cooling in the back. He says, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, and insists Lauren Bacall said it. Patricia says, Betty Davis, and we flash back to her seeing Whitney’s old loft apartment, and saying, what a dump. They argue about it, and Patricia bets him $1000. We don’t see it, but I assume he looks it up on his phone, because he says he’ll write her a check. She says she wants cash. They also either didn’t show it or Patricia missed it; the quote is, fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night. Whitney says, it he feels like Driving Miss Daisy, and Patricia says she misses Michael. Whitney does too. Michael’s stroke after the unexpected loss of his dad; it was a horror show. We see a picture of Whitney and his dad Lon, and in Patricia’s interview, she says, he was a nice, kind, brilliant man. They were married 15 years, then divorced. He needed a corporate wife, and she was selling paintings to museums and traveling. They stayed friendly. She adored him and he was a great father. We see a video of him and Whitney, and she says, he was a fabulous man; attractive in every way. She tells Whitney, at least he was only ill with leukemia for a few weeks. They get to the market, and Patricia is unsure what winter squash is. She says, the domestic arts elude her, and in her interview, she says, Whitney cooks, but he’s vegan. It’s hard to make vegetables exciting every night. Does she want another cauliflower steak? No. She misses Michael, and wants bacon. We see a clip of Michael taking her to McDonald’s and her saying, don’t tell Whitney. Michael says, Whitney is the first person he’s telling. After shopping, they get back in the car, and Patricia says she’s going to open the Bible – i.e. pop open the champagne.

Craig calls Austen from the car, and says he was wondering if Austen wanted to meet up. Austen says he’s on Pitt Street, and Craig says he’ll meet him there. He hangs up, and says, it’s on. It’s amazing how middle school dramatic these dudes are. They meet at a park, and Craig says, he’s kind of bummed. He feels a disconnect, and thinks they should talk. Austen asks why Craig keeps pushing him away, and Craig says he feels like Austen keeps tearing him down. Austen says he’s a champion for Craig, and this makes no sense. Craig says, Austen was inquiring about the timeline of his hooking up with Naomie, but Austen says he doesn’t care about that. Craig told him that it didn’t happen, and he felt like an outsider. It made him look stupid. Craig says, if Austen had found out he cheated, what would he have done with the information? I’m surprised Craig isn’t bringing up Austen actually saying something to Paige in the first place. Austen agrees that it’s none of his business, and he shouldn’t have put his nose where it didn’t belong. Craig says, it seems like there’s underlying hared. What’s the resentment about? Austen says, Craig has been a sh*tty friend. He uses their friendship when it’s convenient. Craig asks when he did that, and Austen says, Craig hung out with him when Craig was single and didn’t want to be alone. We flash back to them hanging out over the years, and Austen says, then Craig found a girlfriend and bailed. In Austen’s interview, he says, even though they’re not dating, it’s the longest, most steady relationship he’s had in years. Craig asks why he should hang out with someone who throws him under the bus, and Austen says he doesn’t want to be that kind of friend. Craig says he’d love to rekindle their friendship, but asks Austen to try not to do anything to sabotage his relationships. Be nice and kind, and keep moving forward. Austen wonders if they should hug, but Craig says, they never have before, and the whole thing ends awkwardly and hugless.

Chleb’s mom Debbie calls Kathryn while Kathryn is driving. Is anyone not in the car when they get/make a phone call? In Kathryn’s interview, she says, Debbie brings maternal energy to her life. Since she lost her mom, it’s nice to be bonding with her boyfriend’s mom. She tells Debbie that when she has the kids, Debbie has to come over. She says she hasn’t seen Chleb since he left five days ago after their fight, and in her interview, she says, they had a fight over nothing. For him to leave triggered her abandonment issues. She tells Debbie that she doesn’t know if she and Chleb are growing toward the same thing. He’s not making the effort she wants him to. Debbie says, Chleb does care. He told her that he was trying to be there for Kathryn, but doesn’t know what else to do. Kathryn says she’d love to have a conversation with him, and Debbie suggests Kathryn make a dinner peace offering. Light candles, and suggest a do-over.

Shep invites friend Tony over for the barbecue, and tells him, the last barbecue was a disaster. We flash back to Craig not knowing how to grill when he said he did, and Shep tells Tony that he’s in charge. Shep takes some tuna out of the refrigerator, smells it, pronounces it funky, and makes the executive decision to jettison the tuna. The guys all come with something to contribute, and Chleb says he’s been laying low, chilling, keeping his head clear. Craig brings a bottle of rum, and tells Shep that he thinks Madison (ugh) is engaged, and is about to announce it on Amazon Live. He doesn’t think Austen knows, hence the rum. Shep says he thinks Austen will be indifferent, but freaked out deep down. Craig thinks Austen is in denial, and beleives he and Madison are still getting back together.

Pringle says, they’re ready to start grilling, and Craig says, Pringle has impressive meat. Shep tells Austen and Chleb about Taylor being late, and how he doesn’t want kids. In Chleb’s interview, he says he doesn’t know why Shep isn’t using protection. Pull out and pray is not reliable. Austen wonders what if Taylor eventually tells Shep that he wasted years of her life. Olivia wants to go to Australia for several months, and Taylor can’t go. Shep says, she can go for a couple of weeks, and I wonder if he’s her keeper. I think Taylor should dump him pronto, but I’m pretty sure they’re not together anymore. Shep says he knows people who have dated for five years, then realize they don’t want the same things. Austen says, Shep and Taylor’s goals and life aspirations are different, and Shep says, his life is a moving target. He doesn’t know what he wants. Austen says, it’s going to get to the point where Shep will have to sh*t or get off the pot, and in Austen’s interview, he says, Shep won’t compromise. It took him forever to find someone who would tolerate him because he’s selfish. They guys eat, and then decide to play cornhole. Shep says, the professionals spin it, and nearly beans Little Craig, who grabs a cornhole bag and shakes it. There’s a hole in it, and it’s game over. They sit down, and Craig’s phone dings. He tells Austen that his ex is doing something crazy online; she says she has big news. We see a video of Madison, who says she’s been trying to keep this in. She is gaged [sic]. She flashes her ring, and says, he did good. Austen says, poor bastard; a life of servitude to Medusa. Someone asks Madison about her exes, and she says, the ex who means the most to her is her son’s father, and he’s happy for them. He’s the only ex who’s meant anything to her. In Austen’s interview, he says, everything Madison does is a subtle jab at him. As if he needed more reason not to have her in his life. Shep what percent they have of making it to the altar, and in Shep’s interview, he says he hopes Austen feels relieved. He didn’t dodge a bullet; he dodged a cannonball. In Craig’s interview, he says, for a long time, Madison and Austen thought they’d end up together. Austen is starting to realize that chapter is closed. Shep says, Madison upstaged his barbecue, but it could be Austen. Chleb asks how Austen was with the stepdad role, and Austen says, he took Madison’s son to school and things like that, but his dad was very present. Chleb says, Kathryn has her kids every other weekend, but he works weekends, so he doesn’t get to see them much. Craig says he thinks Kathryn is nervous that if she gets more custody, Chleb will leave. We see a clip of Kathryn telling Craig that she has this turmoil with Thomas, but when she tries to talk about it, Chleb thinks she’s being dramatic or she gets a blank stare. Chleb says, Kathryn is a good mom, and Craig thinks telling her would go a long way. Chleb says he hasn’t been home for a few days. He’s been staying with his cousin Chelsie. His mom tells him to fix it, and it weighs on his heart. Shep says, Kathryn can burn a bridge like no one else, and Craig suggests they sit down and try. Chleb says, they’re supposed to have dinner tonight, and in his interview, he says, it was a little argument little gone too far. They should be able to work through it; he loves her. Shep says, Chleb has a lot going on. His head is still processing Madison.

Kathryn is still cooking when Chleb comes in. She says, he’s been gone almost an entire week. Where has he been? He says he was staying with Chelsie, and she says, he just ghosted her. He says, they got in a fight, that’s all, and in Kathryn’s interview, she says she thought Chleb was her forever person. Now she feels like he has one foot in the door and one foot out. She asks if he wants to be with her, and he says he came to make up. She asks what he planned to say, and he says, he wants to come home; he loves her. Kathryn says she feels he lacks empathy about what’s going on with her, and he says, it’s always about her feelings. She says she’s the only one opening up. All she does is try to understand him. Chleb tells her to listen to him. He loves her and wants to make it work. She says, she can’t have him react to a problem by abandoning ship because he doesn’t want to deal. He says he needed space, but he’s here now; let’s talk. She says, is he kidding her? She doesn’t know if she can. She suggests they sit and have dinner, and they both push their food around for a moment in silence.

Kathryn asks if Chleb thinks they can make this work, and he says, he’s obviously trying to make it work. Kathryn over the last several days, she’s thought about what she needs and isn’t getting. She feels he’s emotionally unavailable, and she hasn’t seen him taking the steps to fulfill the role she’d like someone to fill. He says, it’s hard to fill. He didn’t know what he was getting into (he’s never seen the show?), and she threw the kids at him three months in. When he sees the battle she has with Thomas, it makes him pull back. It’s a lot for somebody to go through. Kathryn says she’s got two kids and an ongoing custody battle. If he’s overwhelmed emotionally, maybe he shouldn’t be in a relationship. She’d thought they were building a solid foundation for a solid future, but it’s not working. Chleb thinks she should calm down and clear her head, but she says she can’t try if he’s not trying. She thinks it’s best for them to go their separate ways. In her interview, she says, after who she’s dated historically, her requirements were be kind and be a good human, but sometimes it’s not enough. Chleb says, this tough for him; he’s going to grab some stuff. As Kathryn tosses out dinner, I feel sad. They both quietly cry, he leaves, and she blows out the candles.

Next time, Craig says, punctuation is worse than emojis in texts (good to know); Chleb says he doesn’t know how to show emotion; Taylor confronts Shep; Madison (ugh) has a birthday party for Venita; Patricia proposes a clean slate, but no f-words please.

🛶 Denial Ain’t a River…

Come sit a spell tomorrow for soap, tea, quotes to ponder, and music to listen to. Until then, stay safe, stay engaged with the real world, and stay trusting, but verifying.

Jul7

July 6, 2022 – Sonny Gets a Refusal, New Low In Beverly Hills, Excuses & Given

Posted on July 7, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Drew says he did something, and Carly’s not going to like it. She says that’s her favorite opener to any conversation, and he says he wishes he had a different one. She says, lay it on her, and he says he had an idea to mitigate the financial hit she took on Aurora stock, and generate enough capital for her to hold on to the hotel. She says, that doesn’t sound too bad. What part is she not going to like? He says, the whole plan is contingent on Nina.

Sonny asks what Carly did, and Nina says she’s sorry; she just assumed he already knew. He says, knew what? and she says, Carly invested heavily in Aurora, and when the merger didn’t happen with ELQ, she lost quite a bit of money. He asks, what’s quite a bit? and Nina says, she lost her half of the MetroCourt.

At the stables, Willow tells Michael that she loves horses. When she was a little girl, she had one. Technically, he wasn’t hers, but she loved him like he was. He says, she’s been holding out on him; he didn’t know that. Just say the word and he’ll get her a horse of her own. She thanks him, but says, they should probably wait a little bit. She’s pretty sure horseback riding isn’t a recommended prenatal activity. He says, right, she’s pregnant, and she says she is. He says, with their baby, and she says, that’s correct. He says he doesn’t think he’s ever felt so grateful in his life, and she says, her either. They kiss, and Cody comes to the door, clearing his throat. He apologizes, saying, he’s never been known for his timing. He’s the new stable hand, Cody Bell.

At the hospital, Doc says he appreciates Britt’s help with this, and she says, it’s the least she can do after his clutch play at the all-star game. He says, it was pretty clutch, wasn’t it? It was fun. She says, probably because they were there for a good cause. No cynical ulterior motive behind it. He says, as opposed to… and she says, that nightmare – air quotes – charity mixer – end air quotes – Society Set-Ups put on. He says he hadn’t heard about that, and she says, he might literally be the only person. He asks what he missed, and she says, just the lowest moment of her life that now resides on the internet for all of eternity.

Flora holds up her papoose, and says, it keeps the baby secure, promotes mother/child bonding – Felty snaps more pictures – and it’s so easy to use, which many of you moms know, isn’t always the case. She asks Sasha to help her demonstrate, and Brando says he has to stop this, but Lucy says he can’t. This is live TV; he’ll only humiliate Sasha. Haven suggests Flora demonstrate it herself, but Flora tells Sasha, don’t be intimidated. It goes on in three easy steps. Haven says, it sounds amazing, doesn’t it Sasha? and Sasha says, it sure does. Please show her how it’s done. Flora puts the papoose on Sasha, and tells the viewers that she can’t say enough about the benefits of carrying your child close to your body; it actually soothes them. Maxie tells Lucy, this is more than Sasha can or should handle, and Lucy asks what they’re supposed to do. Maxie walks in view of Haven and waves her arms, but no one pays attention, and Haven asks, what inspired Flora to create this baby carrier? Flora says she just couldn’t abide some of the contraptions she saw well-meaning parents toting their babies around in. She knew she could come up with something better. Haven says, and she did. She asks if it’s Sasha’s first time wearing a baby carrier, and Flora says, she put it on like an old pro. Sasha says she might have practiced with another product, but this one is much simpler, and Flora says, now they’re going to show everyone how securely it holds the baby. She takes a doll out of the box, and asks if Sasha is ready for her little bundle of joy. Haven asks if Sasha is ready for the baby.

Britt tells Doc, she might have had a few too many cocktails; they were free. He says, understood, and she says, there she was, holding court about the romance industrial complex, when out of nowhere, a skydiver came down and knocked her into the pool. She could have drowned under that stupid parachute. He says she seems no worse for wear, and she says, maybe, but it was ugly, and now it’s a GIF; a never-ending reminder. He says, hardly ideal, and she says, no, it’s not. He says he takes it she’s cut all ties with that particular dating service, and she says, you would think, wouldn’t you? But no, she’s decided to give Society Set-Ups another try. It’s not their fault they hired a shoddy skydiver with lousy aim. He says, actually, that’s exactly what they did, when an orderly comes out, and tells Britt that a patient left this behind after an exam. He shows her Cody’s belt, and says, Britt was listed as a contact on his paperwork. She says, he’s got to be kidding.

Michael introduces himself and Willow, and Cody says, Olivia told him that they were going to show him around. Willow says she thinks the term Olivia used was, get him settled; make him feel at home. Michael says, always a mother hen, and Cody says, it’s a nice set-up. Michael says, Cody’s room and bathroom are upstairs. There’s a boathouse and a pool on the premises, so Cody can use either for his leisure. Cody says he appreciates the hospitality, and Willow tells him, Olivia said he and Dante went to summer camp together. Cody says, glory days. He thinks he’s actually the first person to get Dante up on a horse, and Michael says, and the last. Cody says, probably. He can’t even picture it. He asks if Michael and Dante are close, and Michael says, yeah. They’re half-brothers through adoption; it’s complicated. But since Cody and Dante are old friends, it’s no surprise Olivia trusted him with the family horses.

Nina tells Sonny, she guesses Drew feels guilty because Carly lost all that money investing in the success of Aurora. He’s trying to raise capital, and even asked her if she wanted to buy Crimson outright. Sonny says, and? and Nina says, she turned him down. She doesn’t feel it’s right to take advantage of Drew’s sudden reversal of fortune. She knows what he’s going to say. He says, doubtful, and she says she didn’t say no because the outcome would have benefited Carly, but he says, that’s not what he was going to say. She tells him, she said no because if she pays what Crimson is truly worth, she’d have overinvested in herself. He asks what that means, and she says, he knows she loves her magazine, but investing in print media right now is really risky, and there’s no guaranteed long-term return. Plus, on top of that, she doesn’t want to be editor-in-chief and owner. She wants Crimson to be taken seriously; not viewed as some vanity project for a real estate heiress with nothing better to do. Those are her reasons for saying no. He says, very astute, and she thanks him. He says, she clearly has a head for business. Carly used to as well. It looks like something has clouded her judgement.

Carly says, Drew is right. If Nina’s involved, she doesn’t like it. Drew says, don’t worry; it didn’t happen. Nina wasn’t interested. She says, in what exactly? and he says he offered to sell her Crimson. Carly asks, why? and he says, so he could use the proceeds to reimburse Carly for her losses. She asks if Crimson isn’t the most profitable title in their print division, and he says, yeah. She says, and Aurora’s stocks have flatlined, and he says he’s aware. She says he’s going to need every asset to stay in business, so why on earth would he try to sell his best one? He says, because he got her into this and it’s on him to get her out.

Willow introduces Cody to horse Comet, and Cody tells the horse, nice to meet you. She says, Comet belongs to Leo Quartermaine, and Cody says, Olivia told him that her son’s on the spectrum. He can’t imagine anything better than horses to help with a kid. Help anyone for that matter. Horses are a lot like people They have individual personalities, and when you gain their trust, it’s a bond like no other. Sorry. He gets sentimental when he talks about these things. Willow says she doesn’t blame him, and Michael says, his understanding of horses will be great for Leo. They’re glad to have him. Cody says, not half as glad as he is.

Carly wonders if she asked Drew to come to her rescue, and he says, is that what she heard? She says, yeah, and he says, the failed merger is on him. When the executive consult suggested it, he jumped at the idea. He pitched the idea to Michael, and they developed a strategy around it. She says, and Ned betrayed them, but he says, he should have seen that coming. Because in-fighting is what the Quartermaines do best. He should have at least factored in the possibility that Ned would turn. He and Michael probably wouldn’t have mentioned the merger to Ned in the first place. She says she doesn’t believe that because it would make him like Ned, who’s exactly like Edward, and they had this discussion. He’s Lila. He’s Lila’s side of the family. He says, maybe he needs to lean more to Edward’s example; look where his high ideals have gotten him. She tells him, don’t do that. Don’t take responsibility for her choices.

Nina tells Sonny that she’s surprised too, that Carly would risk her stake in the hotel. He knows as well as she does, that Carly and Olivia made the MetroCourt a five-star destination; it’s a huge success. He says, it’s definitely a bad business move, which makes him think Carly’s investment move isn’t just about business. Michael’s lashing out at him, and Carly wants to back Michael, so she overinvested. She asks how he feels about that, and he says, that Carly’s been drawn into Michael’s vendetta? Not good. He’s just trying to live his life, but he’s not going to let her twist. Nina says, of course (🍷) not, and he says, Carly is the mother of his children. She says she gets it, and knowing him, she’d expect nothing less. He thanks her for understanding, and says he’ll catch up with her later. She says, sounds great, and he leaves.

The stage manager holds Maxie back, as Flora says the doll (now in the carrier on Sasha) weighs 15 pounds, but the carrier can hold 8 to 33 pounds; ideally covering infancy to age 3. Flora (who I consistently want to call Luna) asks Sasha to move a little bit, and Haven (who I consistently want to call Morgan) says, it looks secure. The stage manager keeps Maxie, Brando, and Lucy at bay, while Flora and Haven go on about the benefits of the carrier, and Sasha moves very slowly across the stage. Haven asks Sasha how it feels, and Sasha suddenly sees a real baby in the carrier. She says, she knew it couldn’t be true. Sweetheart, you’re alive.

Carly says, she knows Drew doesn’t mean to sound condescending, and he says, but he does. She says, it’s not his fault she bought all that Aurora stock. In fact, he went out of his way to discourage her, and she didn’t listen. In true Carly fashion, she went all in. He says, but this place… and she says, she knows. It’s heartbreaking, the thought of losing it, but it’s her loss, and it’s her fault; certainly not his. Sonny walks in and asks if she’s got a second, but she says she’s in the middle of something. Drew says, it’s okay; they’ll talk later. He leaves, but forgets his phone, and lingers outside. Sonny says, he heard she could lose her half of the MetroCourt, and she asks, who told him? Olivia? Nina? It doesn’t matter; the public will know soon enough. He says, they don’t have to. That’s why he’s here. Let him help.

Michael asks what Willow thinks of Cody, and she says she thinks he’s charming, and he knows it. Michael says, not more than him, but she says, never. He says, he likes Cody, and she says, her too. She doesn’t think you can fake how you feel about horses. It’s clear to her that Cody’s care and concern are real, and what he said about gaining their trust… She remembers how special that felt; that bond she shared with Hector. He says, Hector? and she says, he was an old cow pony, and he’d been through God knows how many riders, but she was 12, and fell in love with him. She gave him so much attention, it was ridiculous. And he came to the fence when she whistled for him. Other people would try, but he would only amble over for her. He asks, what happened to Hector? but she says she doesn’t know. When her mother became disenchanted with that community, they moved on. She got to say goodbye to him and give him one last apple, but that was it. She never saw him again. He asks how many times they moved, and she says, too many to count. He says he’s sorry. It’s not going to be that way with their kids; not Wiley or their new baby.

Cody says he’ll tell Comet a secret, if Comet will keep it between them. He’s a hustler. He’s in it for the money, but what he really wants is a place of his own, where no one can steal what he loves… assuming he ever lets himself love anything again. Britt walks in with his belt, and says, lose something?

On the phone, Nina says, just call her when it’s done… Thanks. She hangs up, and says, Sasha. She turns on the TV, as Sasha is saying, my baby boy, I’ve missed you so much… Liam.

Flora asks if Sasha is okay, and Sasha says, she’s perfect. Her sweet Liam. She almost forgot how beautiful he is. Brando says, that’s it. Stop the show. He walks onto the set, and Sasha says, it’s Liam. It’s okay; their son is here with her. He says he sees, and Felty tries to take pictures, but Lucy gives him the bum’s rush, saying, get out! Get out! Brando asks if Sasha knows where she’s at, and she suddenly freaks out, and says, where’s Liam? He tells her to look at him, and she cries as he holds her. Lucy and Maxie cling to each other.

Okay I just have to say it do you mean no one knew about the loss of Sasha’s baby? She was also the Face of Conception. Where do they think the baby went? This is pissing me off big time. I also doubt some big-time host would be so unprofessional.

Sonny tells Carly, it’s not a time to be proud; use her head. She asks what her head is telling her, and he says, she waived her claim to any community property, and walked away with just the house when she had every right to those assets. He’s going to have his accountant valuate them, and she’ll get what she should have gotten in the beginning, 50%. She says, no. They’re divorced. She got exactly what she wanted; what they agreed on in the settlement. She wanted the house and nothing more. He says, nothing more from him? Is she going to be that stubborn, and let her anger keep her from what she’s owed when she needs it? This is the MetroCourt; it’s her baby. She says, it’ll be fine, and he asks, how? She says she doesn’t know; she’ll figure it out. She doesn’t want to talk about this anymore. He says, okay, if that’s how she wants it, and she says, it is. Drew listens, and Sonny says, he just wants to say one thing. There’s going to come time a when she’ll have to come here and pay to sit at the pool she used to own. He offered; she turned him down. He walks away.

Flora tells Lucy, she’s so terribly sorry. She had no idea Sasha lost a child, and so recently. Haven strides over, and tells Flora, don’t apologize. Any responsible representative should have been able to improvise when Flora dropped in. Lucy assured her that Sasha was camera ready, that those problems with emotional instability and drugs were behind her. Lucy says, excuse me? It was never stated anywhere that Sasha was required to promote a baby carrier. They would never have agreed to it in a million years. Flora says, of course (🍷) not. She can’t imagine how much pain Sasha’s in, and Haven says she doesn’t have to imagine; Sasha just showed their entire viewership. Lucy says, Haven really has no heart, and Haven says, their fans tune in to enjoy themselves, to be cheered up; to escape from the hum and drum of the mundane and maybe acquire some beautiful and useful things. Right now, they’re showing reruns. This is a nightmare. People are calling in for items that were sold out months ago. This is a disaster, and it’s all Lucy’s fault. So buckle up, sweetheart, because Home & Heart is going to sue. Selina appears, and says, she’d strongly advise against that.

Michael says, while they have their flaw, and they are many, the Quartermaines are a settled family. She asks what he means, and he says, when Alan bought this property and built the house and gave it to Monica… Willow says, he did? She’s kidding. He laughs and says, Port Charles has been the Quartermaines’ home, and it’s going to be their children’s home… If she wants it to be; they’re not mandated to live here. She says she knows, and he says, their hearts aren’t going to break like hers did. They’re not going to have to leave what they love behind. She says she never dreamed in a million years that she’d get to live somewhere so beautiful. The lake, the homes, the gardens; it’s all so breathtaking. But the buildings and property mean nothing without the people in them. Her home is with him, Wiley, and Wiley’s little brother or sister. They could live in a bunker for all she cares. He says, this is better, she says, much better, and he kisses her.

Cody thanks Britt for bringing his belt back. It’s one of his prized possessions. He got it at a rodeo in Cheyenne. She says she can see how much it means to him, seeing he left it behind in an exam room, and he says, so sorry for being a tad distracted. Not knowing where you’re going to live, or where your next meal is coming from can do that to a guy. She says he seems to have solved that problem, and he says, sure did; room and board included. Comet whinnies, and he says, and he gets to work with the horses; it’s a win-win. He pets Comet, and says, right, bud? She asks, is it’s just her, or are horses fonder of him than humans? and he says, only certain humans. She says, like the ones who left him beat up in that alley? and he says, that was all a misunderstanding. She says, a misunderstanding that cracked his ribs? and he says, and look at him now; gainfully employed and doing what he loves. There’s a pool here, and a boathouse, and apparently, he’s allowed to use both. She says, living the good life. She’s out. That belt was her last goodwill gesture. For future reference, she’s not his emergency contact. He says, who else was he supposed to put down? (Um… Dante?) and she says, she barely knows him, and wishes she didn’t know him at all. She starts to leave, and he says, no wonder she has to rely on a matchmaking service. She comes back, and says, what was that? He says, her interpersonal skills could use some work, and she says, don’t put her name on his paperwork again. He says he’s sorry, and she says, which part? He says, all of it. He owes her big time for helping him in that alley, and now returning his belt. He just… actually, he thinks he has the perfect way to repay her.

Willow says, it’s amazing how different it feels this time, and Michael says, being pregnant? She says, the love is just as strong, but when she realized Shiloh had gotten her pregnant, she was so scared and so desperate to save her baby, every decision was about making sure Shiloh didn’t find him. Michael says, so she gave him up. It’s the bravest thing she could have done. She says, and the hardest, but now she gets to experience the good parts; the excitement and the dreams for his or her future. Because this time, she gets to be a part of that future. Their baby, conceived in love. He says, losing Jonah will be a heaviness they’ll always carry, but it’s also a reminder of how blessed they are. She says, with Wiley, and now this little one on the way, how lucky are they? He says, the luckiest.

Brando brings Sasha into the hospital, while Maxie follows, and Sasha says she swears, Liam was right there in her arms. Brando thanks Doc for meeting them, and Doc says, of course (🍷). He asks Sasha how she’s doing, and Maxie says, she was asked to demonstrate a baby carrier on live TV. Brando says, it was just too much for her after losing their son, and Doc asks if there were any indications before the broadcast that Sasha was struggling. Brando says, nothing that stands out to him, but his mom has been concerned Sasha was using again. Maxie says she doesn’t know if this is protocol, but here’s her purse. She hands it to Doc, and Doc says, he’d need the spouse’s permission to open it. Sasha says, no, please, just give it to her, but Brando tells her, it’s okay. He tells Doc that it’s okay to open it, and Doc takes out the pills. Sasha cries.

Sonny goes back to Nina’s Crimson office, and finds her crying. He asks, what happened? and she says, Sasha was doing an appearance on live television and had a complete meltdown. It was awful. Sonny holds her as she cries.

Carly looks at the pool and gets weepy. She sits at the edge, puts her feet in, and cries. Drew comes in, and holds out a beer. She takes it.

Cody asks if Britt likes to ride, but she says, no. He asks if she’d like to think about it for a minute, and she says, sure… yeah… no. He asks if she’s ever tried, and she says, when she was a kid. She ended up on her butt, and realized it’s one of those things that looks better in the movies than it does in real life. He says he can’t even begin to tell her how wrong she is about that, and she says, yet he just did. He says he can teach her to ride so she’ll love it, but she says she’s all set, thanks. He says, it will change her world, and she asks if he didn’t hear her say she didn’t want to. He says, what he heard was that she’s afraid to. Those are two very different things. Does she know the expression, get back on the horse? She says, everybody knows that expression, and he says, the only way to conquer your fears is try again. Lucky for her, he’s an experienced teacher. She says, he’s had this job all of 10 minutes, and he’s already offering lessons on a property and horse he doesn’t own. He says, excuses, excuses. If she’s ever willing to push past her cowardice and rise to the challenge, she knows where to find him. She says she’ll do that, and leaves. He tells Comet, she likes me. I can tell.

Selina says she admires Haven’s commitment to simplicity and sustainability, and apologizes for this unfortunate accident. Flora says she’s the one who should be apologizing. Had she known that poor woman had lost a child… Selina says, but she didn’t, through no fault of her own. Flora says she thinks she might take a break from Home & Heart altogether, and walks away. Haven asks who Selina is, and what she’s doing here, and Selina says, she’s a shareholder in Deception. Haven asks how she got access to the studio, and Selina says she was watching the broadcast and saw how Haven mangled the situation. Haven says, please. She did everything possible to stave off this disaster; one that Deception created. Flora is their biggest seller. Her appearances are always best sellers. She’s sure Selina realizes that’s a little more revenue her company has just cost them. Selina says, that’s nothing compared to the negative publicity Haven will receive when Deception calls her out for the callous treatment of a grieving mother. The way she sees it, Haven has two option. One; Deception can thank her for her support, and laud Home & Heart for its kindness. Or they can file suit for damages because Haven didn’t do her homework and subjected Sasha to emotional duress. Which works better for her? Haven says, please give Sasha her best wishes for a very swift recovery, and Lucy tells her, don’t you worry. I sure will. Haven leaves, and Lucy tells Selina that she’s actually speechless. Selina just saved their bacon. Selina says she was dismayed when she saw Sasha’s meltdown. She paid good money for her Deception stock. She expects an equally good return. Keep better control on her talent, or there will be consequences.

Brando asks how long Sasha’s been taking the pills, and she says, it was just to help her through; just a few. She’s sorry. He says, don’t be sorry, but she says she shouldn’t have lied to him. She’s just so tired. Can they go home? He asks what Doc thinks, and Doc says he recommends keeping Sasha for observation. Brando asks, for how long? and Doc says, they could start with a 72 hour hold. Brando tells Sasha, Doc thinks she should stay at the hospital for now, but she says, no. She wants to go home. She’ll be better; she promises. Doc says, as her husband, Brando can authorize the hold, and Brando asks if Doc thinks she needs it. Doc says, he does. It’s the best first step to starting to heal. Maxie says, they can trust Doc; he’s the best there is. Does Brando really think it’s safe for Sasha to go home? Brando says, okay, and Doc says he’ll take Sasha to her room. An administrator will walk Brando through the paperwork. Sasha reaches for him, and says, no, don’t leave her. She wants to go home with him. She doesn’t want to be here. She wails, please, as Doc wheels her away.

Nina tells Sonny, Sasha was demonstrating a baby carrier. The carrier had a doll in it, and when Sasha looked down, she started talking to Liam. She insisted that her little boy had come back to her. Heartbreak is not strong enough a word. Sonny says he’ll call Brando, but she says, Brando was there; he came from behind the camera to help her. Nina talked to Maxie, and Sasha’s at GH right now. He says, that’s good; they’ll know what to do, right? She says she’s just grateful Brando is there to support Sasha. She knows what that grief is like, waking up and finding out that your baby is gone. And she felt that feeling again when she found out Nelle was her daughter, and it was too late to help her. She cries, and Sonny says, Nina didn’t have anybody to help her her grieve. It’s okay. She doesn’t have to be alone anymore. He’ll be there for her every step of the way. He holds her while she cries.

Drew puts his feet in the water, and Carly says, he wasn’t supposed to see that. He says, nothing wrong with a good cry. He would even venture to say it helps. She asks if he cries a lot, and he says, all the time; every chance he gets. She says she put so much of herself in the MetroCourt, it’s hard to say goodbye. He says, but she didn’t have to. He forgot his phone earlier, and when he came back for it… She says, he heard her talking to Sonny. He asks why she turned Sonny down, and she says, does he really have to ask that? He says he guesses he doesn’t, and she says, it’s her problem. It’s her responsibility, and she’s certainly not going to let Sonny bail her out. Drew says, it wouldn’t be a bailout; she’s entitled to those assets. She says she doesn’t want them. Not after what Sonny did at the hearing. He comforted Nina after her attorney attacked his own son. That’s not a man she knows, and certainly not a man she wants to be indebted to. She’ll figure something out… He thinks she’s an idiot, doesn’t he? He says, that is literally the last thing he thinks. Carly Corinthos may be down, but she’s never out. She says, some people might say the same thing about him. he raises his bottle and says, to her. She says, to us, rising again. He says, hear, hear, and they clink bottles.

Brook asks Ned if she’s just supposed to just give up; Laura tells Anna, she’s got to start eliminating a clear and present danger; Gregory says, Alexis hasn’t seen his best yet; and Victor says he’s counting on Valentin.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Garcelle’s party is still going on, and Erika wants to know where her drink is, while Kyle horns in on… whatever is going on with Sutton and Diana. Kyle tells Sutton that she can’t say Diana is soulless; she just lost a baby. Like one of those things must cancel out the other. Sutton says she’s sorry Diana lost her baby. She understands because she’s lost two. Kyle says, she’s never heard that before, and Sutton says she had two miscarriages. It’s a personal thing. Kyle says, she loves Sutton, but that feels like bullsh*t. Sutton says, Kyle is being strange (as compared to what?), and Kyle says, Sutton’s not being honest. She lost two babies out of the blue? Sutton says she was trying to reach Diana on a human level. Does Kyle want her to have compassion or not? Diana says, Sutton called her soulless, and Sutton says she was reaching out to say she was sorry, and Diana blew her off. Diana says, I see you, like she’s some kind of wicked witch, and Sutton says she’s being real. Kyle literally grabs Sutton, and comes short of shaking her. My mouth literally falls open. Kyle tells Sutton not to talk to Diana like that, and Diana laughs. This is apparently a thing with Diana. She laughs to show her superiority, but IMO, it’s creepy. In Diana’s interview, she tells us, like the Americans say, Sutton has hit a new low. I tell her, the only new low here is this entire show and it’s only five minutes in. Sutton says, Kyle is saying she didn’t know about her miscarriages, and Kyle says – wait for it – Diana lost a baby. Sutton didn’t. Maybe years ago. We don’t know. WTF??? In Sutton’s interview, she says, Kyle is insinuating she’s lying. It’s breaking her heart, and disappointing her about the friendship. Sutton says, Diana was looking at her like she was the devil, and Diana says, is she? Sutton says she’s so sorry, and Diana says, it’s all good. It takes time to know people. In Diana’s interview, she says, with her understanding of human nature, she feel something is off with Sutton. Until she figures out what it is, it’s best not to poke her. She does that weird laughing thing, and says, it’s all good. Sutton hugs her, but she just makes a snoring noise and doesn’t hug back. In her interview, Diana says, a fake hug. Bleh. Kyle says she can’t with these two, and leaves. I can tell Diana, who has less understanding of human nature than she thinks, what’s off with Sutton. One, her father committed suicide, and this has affected her a lot more than she lets on, because two, she’s a Southern belle, and approaches things differently. The same way say, someone from another country like Bosnia might look at things differently. And three, probably the most important, these idiot women are making her a nervous wreck.

Kyle goes back to where the others are sitting, and says, Sutton and Diana are fighting. Garcelle asks if Sutton is crying, and Kyle says, always. Diana and Sutton both try to escape in different directions, but Crystal intercepts Diana, who insists she’s great, and jets. Sutton tells assistant Joshua, get the f***ing car. Erika calls Garcelle’s son Oliver over, and says he’s hot. Garcelle says, they’re going to eat him up, and Erika throws her leg in the air. Dorit says, Erika is trying to hit on Garcelle’s son, and Erika asks if he’s married. Dorit says, he has four children, and Erika suggests he have his baby momma contact her in her DMs. They can have a threesome. Alrighty then. She tells him, be a man, and sit down. He comes over to them, and she says she just wanted to bullsh*t with him. Garcelle says, let’s go, rounding up her crew, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says she gets it. Erika is letting her hair down and having a good time, but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s more like time to reassess her life. It doesn’t feel okay. Everyone is picking up the flowers, like they sometimes do at a reception, and Garcelle tells her son Jax to get them. He comes over to the table, and Erika tells him, get the f*** out of here. In Dorit’s interview, she says she knows Erika drunk and joking around, but Garcelle’s son is 14. Jax tells Garcelle that he just got violated (would Crystal agree?), and tells Garcelle what Erika said to him. Garcelle is like, she said what? but he says he’s okay. She tells him, hold on, and goes back to the table. She says Erika hurt her son’s feelings, and it’s not okay to talk to him like that. In her interview, Garcelle wonders how many of her family members Erika is going to go after tonight; first Oliver, now Jax. She’s done. She tells Jax, that’s not okay, and he says, it’s fine, but she says, it’s not fine.

Garcelle has two more shows of The Real left, and meets with her hair stylist Robear. He says, her birthday party was lit. Kyle was mopping the floor. We see a clip of Kyle doing the splits, and Garcelle says, it was so much fun. On the way home, Olivier said his brothers had aged years in one night. One corner was the good corner; then there was the Erika Jayne corner. Erika’s got to figure out her meds and cocktails. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, on the way home, she explained that Erika was drunk, and not paying attention to what she was saying. She’d like for Erika to apologize. She was wasted in Mexico, and wasted at Garcelle’s party, and Garcelle is sick of her. Robear says he loved seeing Erika lit, and Garcelle says, maybe he did…

Crystal brings Dorit to a session with her self-defense trainer Rashad. In Crystal’s interview, she says she’s never been in a situation like Dorit, and Dorit is holding it together incredibly well, but trouble always catches up. She introduces Dorit to Rashad, and Dorit says, she’s a big believer in having the tools to defend herself. Rashad says he’s going to go through some simple self-defense moves, and they do some stretching first. Dorit tells Crystal that PK is leaving for London, and he was in London when the home invasion happened. Crystal says, it must be triggering, and Dorit says she has to get used to it. It’s still very raw, but for her kids, it’s a normal day. In her interview, Dorit says she doesn’t know if it makes any sense, but she can feel the trauma in her blood. Fear, anxiety, rage, hurt, and sadness. Rashad tells them to go for the eyes, and use their nails, but in her interview, Dorit says, even though she’s visualizing her attackers, she doesn’t think she’d hurt anyone. Rashad says, her inner strength is there.

Kyle and Sutton meet for dinner. I can tell you something else about Sutton; she’s more forgiving than I am. I’d be telling Kyle… take a hike. Sutton says her house is driving her insane. She hasn’t passed inspection yet. She will, but she’s waiting on a stove hood. Kyle says she wants to talk about the party, and Sutton says, Kyle came in halfway through a strange conversation she was having with Diana. Kyle asks how it was going, and Sutton says, not well, but it was just the two of them, and she wasn’t at the part she wanted to discuss with Diana. Kyle swooped in and was harsh with her. Kyle says, Sutton was talking about her miscarriages, and Sutton says, Kyle didn’t understand what they were talking about. She’d apologized first. Kyle says, she doesn’t think Sutton made it up, and Sutton says, and don’t push her. Kyle says, it was a knee-jerk reaction. She was just coming off some odd behavior on Sutton’s part, and she’d thought it was convenient timing. Sutton says, she was relating to Diana on a visceral level, and Kyle says she apologizes. Sutton tries to interject, but Kyle says she’s sorry she was insensitive; she’s apologizing. Sutton says, that means a lot to her. She’s a loyal friend. Kyle says, she doesn’t know, she’s seen moments, and Sutton says she told Diana that she was right. Kyle says, it’s hard to apologize to Sutton, since she doesn’t shut up, and Sutton tells Kyle to give her some love, hugging her. WTF? over and over.

The day before Thanksgiving. Kyle tells Mauricio that she needs to buy another small turkey, since Alex and his mom are coming. Their family is expanding. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Farrah and Alex had been dating a few years, and it was definitely time they got engaged. What are they waiting for? Kyle tells Mauricio that she’s going to make the top floor a playroom for the baby, but the baby will sleep with them. In her interview, she says, they were fortunate to have their grandmother living with them. She helped with transport when she and Kim had to be on film sets, and she grew up close with her grandmother. She’s not going to live with her grandchildren, but she wants a close relationship. She’s really going to be annoying. Is she kidding? She’s already annoying

We see some quick clips of everyone’s Thanksgiving. Garcelle and sons are dishing out Thanksgiving dinner at the Los Angeles Mission. Dorit’s father joins them for dinner, and Crystal also celebrates at home with her family. At Kyle’s, there’s also an anniversary for Kathy and Rick, and unaccountable Teddi is there.

LisaR visits Diana. It’s no surprise they’re friends since they’re both fake as hell. LisaR asks about Thanksgiving, and Diana says, it was Eli’s birthday. We see clips of that, and I have to admit, as much as I’m disliking Diana, that baby is very cute. She tells LisaR, when the party was over, she wanted everyone back, and in her interview, she says, Eli is a party animal. She loves ABBA, Dancing Queen in particular. Diana asks if LisaR hears the hummingbird; you hear them before seeing them. LisaR says, that’s Lois. She’s been invoking Lois a lot, even as an excuse to be nauseating (see below). She tells Diana that the holidays are hard. You don’t think about that when a death happens. Every day is different, and she’s processing differently every moment. She was in NYC for Harry’s show, but she only did it for him. She asks how Garcelle’s party was, and Diana laughs. She says, the party itself was good fun, but then Sutton caught her, and did her Sutton thing. She makes faces, and made one when she asked if Diana wasn’t on bedrest. In LisaR’s interview, she says, she knows that look. We flash back to Sutton saying she’d never something or other, and giving LisaR a pointed look. Diana says, Sutton called her soulless and a mother***er. If a foreigner literally translated that, it would seem stupid. Kyle was trying to tell Sutton that Diana had lost her baby, and Sutton said she’d had two miscarriages. It wasn’t like she was saying she understands, but like they were at a gambling table, and Sutton was raising her two miscarriages. LisaR says, narcissistic, and Diana says, Sutton is a grade up from that. In her interview, Diana says, how can someone behave like that and not understand they’re hurting others? It’s not empathetic. She tells LisaR that Sutton brings her down to her level. The next trip, they can go commercial. See? This is like a little I-have-lotsa-money dig, as well as obviously not knowing Sutton has enough money to get a PJ.

PK and Dorit go to Kyle and Mauricio’s for dinner. Kyle and Dorit discuss house décor, and Dorit says she wants to move, but Kyle says she doesn’t want Dorit to move, since they live close by. She was almost ready to move after the burglary, even though it wasn’t as bad as what happened to Dorit. We flash back to Kyle talking about it at the Reunion, and she tells Dorit, that she feels comfortable and happy now, and Dorit will too, in time. Dorit says, Kyle is the biggest reason she wants to stay, and in Dorit’s interview, she says she’s sure she’ll feel better eventually, but as for still feeling like she wants to move, she doesn’t know. Kyle tells them about Erika telling Jax to f*** off, and Mauricio thinks it’s great. He likes seeing Erika more relaxed. Dorit says, she agrees 100%. She gives Erika a major pass, but then again, it wasn’t her child. What’s wrong with these people??? Dorit says she doesn’t remember a time she saw Erika that loose. In Kyle’s interview, she says, the first few years, she wished Erika would loosen up. We flash back to a million years ago, when Kyle was questioning whether or not Erika was having fun. She says, clearly, Erika has been holding a lot in. Seeing this side, even if it’s not her best side, at least it’s genuine. PK says, Erika is entitled to a blow up.

Sutton gets ready for her party, and in her interview, she says she thought it would be fun to have everyone over to see her new house, even though it’s not anywhere near done. It’s been two years and a lot of money, and she’s proud of what she’s doing. Garcelle’s friend Sheree (not that one) meet before the party at Garcelle’s house, and Garcelle asks if Sheree is ready for a luncheon with the ladies. Sheree says, as much as she can be, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says she’s known Sheree for so long, it’s easy. They have a great time, and there’s no judgement, although Sheree will call you out if she needs to. She tells Sheree that Erika was crushing on Oliver, and talking threesomes, She asked Jax to pick up some flowers, and Erika told him to f*** off. She told Erika that she can’t talk to her son like that, but she wants to discuss it when Erika is sober and can hear her. It’s happening today. Sheree asks how old Jax is, and Garcelle says, he just turned 14. Sheree is like, oh no, and in her interview, Garcelle says, Erika was drunk, but it’s not an excuse. She doesn’t know if Erika is used to talking to people like that, but Erika’s not talking to her kid like that.

Sutton says, her yard is a mucky mess, and in her interview, she says, contrary to popular belief, it does rain in southern California. She’s trying embrace that not everything has to be perfect, but why does it have to rain on her party? Joshua says, someone’s here, and she says, let the fun begin. LisaR says she’s always the first one, and tells Sutton that her house has great energy. She loves the vibe. The others trickle in, and we get a semi-tour of Sutton’s house, which has Christmas decorations up, and of course everything is beautiful. Property manager Avi plays waiter, and Garcelle postpones having alcohol, saying, she wants to be clear before she talks to Erika. In Erika’s interview, she says she’s not worried about Sutton’s house; she’s worried about the Haitian mom she offended. We see a clip of Erika and Crystal on a hike, and Erika telling Crystal that she was sh*t talking, and treating the teenagers like adults, but Jax is 16, and no baby. Crystal says, he’s 14, and Erika says, that’s a new perspective. Back at Sutton’s party, Sutton is explaining her house was built in 1930. Erika arrives, and everyone is loving her leopard coat. I don’t think it’s real leopard, but who knows? Erika says, they’ll have to fight her for it. Erika says she’s only having one drink; one and done. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, they’ve all had many a drink. How you behave is really who you are. Erika sidles up, and Garcelle asks if they’re waiting for Kyle; Diana is sick and not coming. Sutton gives them the kitchen tour, where they have caviar and oysters, and I’m jealous. Kyle arrives last, and they head outside for lunch, Sutton apologizing for the muck. LisaR makes a huge fuss about her ridiculously expensive shoes, and Kyle tells Joshua, it’s like a swamp. In LisaR’s interview, she says, it’s a symbol for Sutton. A beautiful table that gorgeously set, sitting in the muck; that’s Sutton.

LisaR asks Joshua for flip-flops. They’re dealing with a swamp, and she doesn’t want to ruin her shoes. Joshua passes out heel covers and flip-flops to those who want them, but Kyle says she’ll walk on toes. In her interview, she says, she’s not about change into flip-flops with her look. She’ll deal with the mud later. LisaR calls to Joshua that she might need a coat with the flip-flops; something chic. Joshua brings out an armful of furs, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says, that’s luxury. You get a fur coat, and you get a fur coat, a la Oprah. LisaR asks how Dorit has been, and Dorit says, there have been certain challenges can’t seem to overcome. She can’t drive. Garcelle asks how Dorit correlates that, and Dorit says she can’t be alone. She used to value her alone time in the car, but she’s not comfortable. In Dorit’s interview, she says, you know when you’re not in control of your own emotions, and when you’re vulnerable like that, you don’t put yourself in situations where you can hurt yourself or someone else. Dorit says she hasn’t taken her kids to the park, and won’t let them go. Sheree says, it’s a small moment in time, but worth it to take care of herself. In her interview, Dorit says, she hopes this mama bear can continue to allow her kids to live normal lives, despite what mom went through. Garcelle asks if Sutton knew Diana wasn’t coming, and Sutton says, no. LisaR says she spoke with Diana, and we see a clip of Diana telling LisaR, it’s one thing when your doctor tells you bedrest, but another when your body tells you to lie down. Garcelle says she calls that rude not to tell the hostess you’re not coming, and Kyle says she texted that she’d be late. Gold star for her. Sutton says she appreciated that. She doesn’t like passive/aggressive behavior. LisaR asks if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black, and Sutton says she doesn’t act passive/aggressively. LisaR asks if she called Diana a motherf***er and soulless.

Yep, new low.

Next time, a $9800 pair of sneakers; Garcelle says, Erika’s drinking is becoming a lot; Sutton explains the conversation with Diana, and LisaR says, Diana didn’t get the same takeaway; and Sutton meets with Diana.

👠 Can’t Help Herself…

Then after the apology that was nothing but an excuse, she called the naysayers hoes. Is this really how she’d like Lois to live on?

https://people.com/tv/lisa-rinna-says-grief-over-mom-lois-death-caused-online-rants/

🤸🏽‍♀️ While the Gettin’s Good…

Come by tomorrow for soap and some Charmers. Until then, stay safe, stay never saying it’s not that bad to anyone, and stay remembering that buildings and property mean nothing without the people in them.

Jul6

July 5, 2022 – Drew Makes Nina an Offer, Legacy Role, Changing Roccos, an Engagement, Celebrating, Post Yachting, Real Friends & Bikini

Posted on July 6, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha, Maxie, and Lucy dash into the Home & Heart studio. Sasha says, they’re finally here. It looks smaller than it does on TV. (It almost always does.) Lucy asks someone to pinch her so she knows she isn’t dreaming, and Maxie obliges, but Lucy yells, ow! That’s kinda hard. Maxie says, now Lucy knows she’s not dreaming, and Lucy tells her, admit it. She’s just as excited about this, and Maxie says, is Lucy kidding? Getting to show their products on Home & Heart? This show is like the holy grail of makeup sales. Lucy says, that’s why Enchanted Cosmetics makes a killing every time they nab a time slot. Sasha sees Felty, who holds up his press pass, and Maxie wonders if they’ll see Erica Kane. Lucy says she’d just die; she’d keel over. Maxie says, not before they make a killing and count their profits, which will be huge. Lucy says, of course (🍷). That is if their beautiful face of Deception is up to the task. Maxie asks Sasha if she’s got this, and Sasha says, absolutely; let’s do this. Felty lurks around.

Brook and Chase grab a table by the pool, and she says, they need to talk. He says, lately, every time they talk, his life goes sideways, and she says, she’s sorry. But not anymore. Drumroll please… Today is the day she changes his life.

Josslyn asks Cameron, what’s wrong with him? but he says, wrong? There’s nothing wrong. Why would there be anything wrong? Trina says, maybe because he keeps saying the word wrong, and Josslyn says, it’s his whole vibe. Trina says, look at his face, and he says, that’s just the way his face is. Josslyn says, it’s not his usual open and honest Cam face, and she wonders why.

Spencer tells Esme, what is he doing here? He’s looking for her, of course (🍷). He takes her hands, and she says, well, he found her. Now what is he going to do with her?

At the MetroCourt bar, Britt watches Dante, Cody, and Rocco balance spoons on their noses at a table. Spinelli comes in, and says, how serendipitous. He was hoping to avail himself of her counsel. She asks if he’s pregnant, and he laughs, saying, he never noticed how humorous she is. No, his problem’s not physical. It is in fact… roman…tical.

Cody says he gets another shot, and balances his spoon, but Dante says he’s not giving Cody the crown. Cody tells Rocco that his dad is afraid they’re making a scene, and Dante says, they are, and it is kind of a classy restaurant. Cody says, Rocco’s dad wasn’t always so classy. He used to be a hell raiser. Rocco asks if Cody is sure, and Cody says he taught Dante everything he knows, but Dante says, nah.

Nina walks into her office, and someone is sitting in her chair. She says, her assistant didn’t tell her that she had a visitor, and the chair swivels around. She sees it’s Drew, and asks if she can help him. He says he doesn’t think that’s going to be necessary, but he can help her.

Olivia says she understands Carly not wanting to take money from the Quartermaines, but what about her ex-husband? She’d say Sonny owes Carly a favor or 500. Carly sees that Sonny has come in, and tells Olivia, don’t say a word, but Olivia says, he’s going to find out. Carly says, okay, let him find out, but not now. Sonny walks over to them, and Olivia says, she’s going to go take care of that… thing, and jets. Sonny says, Olivia beat it out of here quick. She didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire? Carly says, the crossfire? and he says, or whatever bad news she’s going to tell him.

Chase tells Brook, his life doesn’t need changing; he just wants it back. The life he had when he was a police detective. She says she gets it. Things look bad now, but being temporarily barred from the PCPD is just that – it’s temporary. He will get his badge back. Until then, there are other ways to be productive. He says, like what? and she says, like a career change.

Felty comes up behind Sasha as she’s looking in the mirror, and takes a picture. She stomps off, and goes to the display table. She tells Lucy and Maxie, the selection looks great, but it needs to be rearranged. They’ll segue from lipstick to their cutting edge lip plumper to the lash lift, and they’ll probably go eyeshadow after that. ~~Morgan Fairchild~~ Haven De Haviland walks in with her assistant, and says, it’s not going to work. Can she have her 5 o’clock changed to 6 o’clock? She thanks her assistant, and Lucy says, Haven De Haviland. Okay, deep breath. She has to tell Haven that Haven is absolutely her idol. She curtseys, and Maxie says she never misses a chance to watch Haven. Haven thanks them, and says she’s a big fan of Deception, and the sales they’re about to rack up. And here’s the Face of Deception herself. She shakes Sasha’s hand and says, it’s an honor, but Sasha says, the honor is all hers. Felty suggests they take some photos for the fans, and as he snaps away, Maxie tells Lucy, Sasha told her that she hired some publicity for Deception. Felty says, how about one with just Sasha and Haven? and takes a couple of photos. Sasha tells him, that’s enough for now. They’ll take more later. She leaves, and Felty says, how about some of the queen on her throne? and Haven says she likes the way he thinks. Lucy asks Maxie, is it just her, or is something just a little bit off with Sasha?

Britt says, Spinelli would get better romantic advice from an amoeba, and he asks if he can draw on her experience then, specifically her experience with Society Set-Ups. She asks if the sermon at the pool didn’t tell him all he needed to know, and he says, Maxie told him she received six months of free service after her incident with the skydiver. She’s had no success since then? She says she’s been busy washing her hair, and he asks, why she doesn’t partake. She says, Society’s match-ups are either duds or no-shows, and he says, that’s unfortunate. He’d hoped if things had turned around for her, they’d bode well for him. She says, if he’s thinking of joining, don’t, and he says, it’s too late. He’s already scheduled date number three with match number one. He shows her a picture of a beautiful woman on his phone, and says, here she is; Brandi. Yeah… no.

Olivia comes into the restaurant, and Dante introduces her to Cody. She says, the Cody? Cody Bell from camp? Cody says, the one and only, and hugs her, picking her up off the floor. He says, Mama Falconari, and she asks Rocco if he has any idea how many calls she got from their camp counselors about all the mischief these knuckleheads got themselves into. Dante says, this guy’s apparently turned over a new leaf, and Cody says, trying to at least.

Cameron says, his mom is sick, he has to take care of his brothers, he’s working two jobs, and he’s still getting creepy texts from randos about his sex life. So stop overthinking his Cam face. Josslyn says she’s sorry, but he says, no, he’s sorry. It could be worse, right? He’ll quit complaining. Josslyn says, he wasn’t complaining, and Trina says, he was just describing what’s going on with him. Josslyn says she wishes he’d do more of that instead of bottling it up, but he says, trust him. She has no idea how much he’d like to unload, and she says, why doesn’t he?

Spencer says he was thinking of going on a picnic, but Esme says she hates ants, and suggests they go back to the pool. Spencer flashes back to Cameron telling him, go to the pool first, sit with Joss, and don’t leave him hanging. He tells Esme, the pool scene is so bougie, and she says, or they could fly to Manhattan, get a suite, and go out, or… stay in. He says, tempting, but let’s enjoy what’s left of the sun, and she says, the pool it is.

Carly says, Donna’s fine, and Sonny says, and everything else in her life is irrelevant to him? She says, those were the terms they agreed on in their divorce, and he says, all right. If she reconsiders, she knows how to reach him. He leaves, and she seems puzzled that he gave up so easy. Because she always wants it both ways.

Nina says she doesn’t see Drew in these offices much since he took over for Jax (who?), and he says, she runs a tight ship; profitable, and he doesn’t like to micromanage when business is going well. She thanks him, and says, yet he’s here to offer her some help? He says she makes his help sound like a different four-letter word, and she says, he made it clear what he thinks of her, so it’s making her wonder if his help would be beneficial. He suggests they leave Sonny and Carly out of this. It’s not personal; this is just business. She says, but she’s hearing his business isn’t booming these days, after the Aurora/ELQ merger that didn’t happen, and he says, Valentin did get ahead of him and Michael. She asks what that means for his future, and he says, the stock is going to recover eventually; so will Aurora. Maybe even faster with a change at the top. She asks if he’s stepping down from Aurora, but he says, no. The shareholders aren’t very happy with him, so he does have to make some moves to placate them. She asks if his first move is to replace her at Crimson, but he says he has no intention of replacing her. He does intend to off-load Crimson. The shareholders will respond very positively to the sudden cash infusion from selling the magazine. She tells him, good luck to him, but please communicate to the future purchasers that her contract indicates she has independence; she can run the magazine how she sees fit. He says, they can avoid that issue altogether if she buys Crimson herself.

Sasha walks backstage, when Felty ambushes her. He says, no worries; he’s not going to take her picture. It wouldn’t be the most flattering. She asks what he wants, and he says he was about to ask her the same questions. Does she need more pills? She says she’s good, and walks away. He asks if she’s sure. It’s going to be a long day.

Haven sees Sasha, and says she assumes Sasha got her script notes. Sasha says, start with lipstick… and Haven says, keep it personal. Give their viewers a confidential glimpse into her life; make them feel like they’re in the know. Maxie and Lucy join them, and Haven says, but don’t get so specific she loses her appeal. Keep it warm, but not too effusive. Sasha has to maintain her credibility. Give the viewers something to aspire to, but don’t come off as conceited. Lucy says, their Sasha is never conceited, and Maxie says, Sasha’s got this, right? Sasha says, of course (🍷), and Haven tells them, just remember what Erica Kane always says… Lucy says, remember to have fun, and Maxie adds, and sell, sell, sell. She and Lucy high-five, and Haven tells Sasha, they’re on in 15, so just take deep breaths and don’t smear her lipstick. She asks Lucy to go over the products with her one final time, and they leave. Maxie asks how Sasha is doing, and Sasha says she’s good; maybe a little dry. Maxie says she’ll go find Sasha some water, and when she’s gone, Sasha goes in her bag, digging out the pills. Brando comes up behind her, and says, need a boost?

Josslyn asks why Cameron can’t unload like he wants. He knows she’s not going to judge. He sees Spencer come in with Esme, Spencer giving him a little shrug. He tells Josslyn, some people have it harder than him, and Trina says, like her? Don’t go there. She doesn’t have a monopoly on problems. He doesn’t have to strong or silent on her account. He asks if just strong is okay, and Josslyn says she’s fine with that, kissing him. Trina sees Spencer and Esme heading their way, and says, incoming. Esme says, isn’t that sweet. One last hurrah before the trial of the century?

Olivia says, Sam told her that Cody might be sticking around, and he says he might be. Her son has a couch with his name on it, just until he gets some gainful employment. Dante says, Cody can stay as long as he wants; they’ve got plenty of room. Olivia says, Dante told her that Cody has a way with horses, and Dante says, this guy wants to own his own ranch. She says, really? Her family happens to be looking for a new overseer for their stables. Cody says he’d love to hear more, he promises. He’s not trying to be rude, but he has to check on something real quick. Excuse him.

Britt says, this is Brandi, and Spinelli found her on Society Set-Ups? He says, Society Set-Ups found them. It’s probably too good to be true. If Society Set-Ups can’t find a match for someone as eligible as Britt, what success can he hope to achieve? Cody grabs Spinelli by the shoulders, and says, take heart. There’s hope for all of us, even the hardest of hard luck cases.

Chase tells Brook, he burned through his savings during his last suspension. He thought he aged out of ramen when he turned 25. She says, there’s an age limit for ramen? (Never!) He says he guesses he could go into private security, and she says, he would look hot in an all-black suit, but she can’t see him turning the other way when his billionaire boss does something shady. He says, then what? Should he become a P.I. and drive around PCU in a golfcart, busting underage drinkers? She tells him, she didn’t say job change; she said career change. He’s qualified for way more than cop without a badge work. He has assets. He says he’s not doing a Magic Milo act, but she says she’s not referring to his body; she’s referring to his voice.

Carly orders a glass of house white from the pool bar, and Cameron says, let him get Josslyn a fresh drink. Anyone want anything? No? Good. No trouble while he’s gone. People don’t come here for drama, but for diversion. He pats Spencer on the shoulder, and Spencer says, I hear you. Cameron leaves, and Esme says, if it will make Josslyn and Trina happy, she’ll move to the other side of the pool, and take a break from Trina’s constant puppy dog eyes at Spencer. Trina says, no drama, and Josslyn says, Trina sees right through Esme’s boyfriend as if he’s not even there. Meanwhile, Esme can’t seem to keep her hands to herself. Did she tell Spencer how she was all over Officer Cabrera the other day? Spencer asks what she’s talking about, and Esme says, Joss is just making up stories because it’s Trina who’s into Officer Cabrera, managing to contradict herself in less than a minute. The thing is, he’s just another guy who wants nothing to do with Trina. Trina laughs, and moves toward Esme, but Josslyn stops her. Cameron goes to the bar, and Carly asks how he’s doing. He says he’s doing okay, and she asks, how’s his mom? Has he been to Shadybrook to visit her? He says, a couple of times, yeah. Actually, he noticed she has lipstick on her teeth, and she says, we can’t have that, and thanks him, wiping her teeth with a napkin. Cameron looks at Spencer, and Josslyn says, Spencer needs to get his girlfriend under control. Spencer tells her, back off. The porno queen of PCU is in no position to judge anyone. Josslyn asks what he just called her, and Esme says, he called her the porno queen of PCU. Josslyn pushes Spencer into the pool, and Carly says, dammit. Josslyn tells Esme, she heard him the first time, and Esme says, hear this, you bitch, pushing Josslyn in. Trina says, the only bitch is Esme, and pushes Esme in. They splash water at each other, and it actually looks like a lot of fun.

Nina says, Drew wants to sell Crimson, and he wants to sell it to her, and Drew says, she has the institutional knowledge, and she has a great track record. She can take her chances with a new boss, or she could be her own boss. She says, how generous, and thanks him for coming to her first. He says, there is a deal to be made here, and she says, a deal that may just be too good to be true. Why does she have the feeling there’s another angle?

Spencer says, Josslyn pushed him in the pool again, and Josslyn says, please. He and Esme both deserve it. Carly walks over to the pool, and Cameron eyes the napkin she used.

Britt says she doesn’t recall asking Cody to weigh in on her love life, but he says, actually, he was referring to his love life, or lack thereof. She says, but he’s such a great catch; accident prone, uncouth, poor… He says, what’s not to love? and tells Spinelli that he’s free if Spinelli wants to talk riding lessons. Britt asks, since when does Spinelli ride? and Spinelli says, since Brandi suggested it for their third date. Britt asks if Cody wasn’t planning on riding out of town, but he says, not anymore. He’s sticking around. Yippee-ki-a.

Sonny walks into the restaurant, and Rocco goes over to hug him. Sonny messes up Rocco’s hair, and says, now he likes it a lot better. He asks, what’s going on with Olivia’s business partner, and Olivia says, that’s none of his business. He asks if she’s looking out for Carly, but she tells him to worry about his own life, not his ex-wife’s. Dante asks if Sonny wants to join them, and Sonny says, he’d love to, but he’s got a meeting. He tells Rocco to remember their rematch with the video game. Rocco ain’t beating him. Sonny leaves, and Dante says he thinks Rocco will beat him.

Brook says, listen… and Chase says, when she starts making sense, he’ll listen. She says, but he’s a good singer, and he says, for charity events and Nurses Balls, maybe, but he can’t support himself. Does she know how long professional singers train before they sing in front of a paying audience? They’re entire lives. Does she know how much training he has? Zero, zilch, nada. She asks if he knows how many audiences pay to hear autotuning and lip syncing, and he asks which one he is; Chris Martin or Milli Vanilli? She says, he’s Harrison Chase, and he has what it takes… mostly. He says, mostly? and she says, it takes more than pure talent. It takes personality, charisma, tight clothes, not to mention the B Factor. He says, the B Factor? and she says, B is for Brook Lynn. She’ll be his manager.

Sasha says, Brando surprised her, and he says, good surprise or bad surprise? She says, good surprise of course (🍷). She thought he was backed up at the garage. He says, he was, but he ran into Michael, who told him about Willow going to the hospital, and he realized he couldn’t be away from her on her big day. Any day really. Sasha asks if Michael said how Willow was, and he says he’s guessing much better because Michael was in a damn good mood. Sasha flashes back to overhearing Deanna order an OB consult for Willow, and she says, of course (🍷) he was. Brando asks what she means, and she tells him to wish her luck. He says he’ll do her one better, and kisses her. He says, good luck, and leaves. She says, one minute, takes the pills out of her purse, and pops one.

Haven tells the television audience, good afternoon. She introduces herself, and says she’s the host of A Little Bit of Haven. Today she has a wonderful guest; Sasha Gilmore, better known as the Face of Deception. She welcomes Sasha, and says she’s so excited to hear about the amazing products from Deception. Where would Sasha like to start? Sasha just looks around like she’s not sure where she is, and Haven says, Sasha?

Cody asks, is it done? and Spinelli says, everything is prepared as he required. Cody pats Spinelli on the back, causing him to spill his drink, and says, good man. Spinelli says, hardly, and Cody says, come on. Don’t be sad. When all is said and done, the payoff is going to be Powerball sized. He just needs to be real cautious… Spinelli says, stop. He need hear no more. Their business is concluded. Cody says his feelings are hurt. Hasn’t he been taking good care of Spinelli, keeping his secret? Spinelli says, it’s called extortion, and Cody says, extortion is more impactful when the party being extorted is innocent, which Spinelli is anything but. Sonny joins them, and says he’s sorry he’s late. Who’s Spinelli’s friend?

Brook tells Chase to take his best shot. Tell her all the ways she’d be a horrible manager; how it would never work, blah-blah-blah. He says, actually, it’s the first sensible thing she’s said. If anyone can make him a star, it’s her. Reality though? Picture him on a stage at some sleezy bar where peanuts stick to the ground, for a paycheck that doesn’t pay his rent. She says, that’s the beauty of her plan. If this thing works, he’ll make bank quick, or at least enough to cover his expenses until he finds out when he can get his badge back. He asks how they’re going to pull that off, and she says, he’ll never have to set foot on a real stage. All they have to do is present an aura of success, enough to attract a real manger; one who will pay through the roof for his contract. A manager like Linc.

Now out of the pool, Josslyn says, Esme ripped her hair out. Esme says, come closer and she’ll rip out some more, but Carly gets in between them, and says she doesn’t think so. She tells Spencer that she wants him and his girlfriend to get the hell out of here. They’re banned from her hotel. Out. They leave, and she looks at Josslyn.

Drew says he took the liberty of drawing up buyout if Nina is interested. Obviously, it’s just a bunch of legal jargon, but if she buys Crimson, she takes control of the magazine, and her destiny for that matter. But the only way this happens is fast. Have her lawyers take a look at it, but don’t take too long. He holds it out, and she doesn’t take it, so he tosses it on the desk. He leaves, and she picks it up.

Drew is about to go into the elevator, when Olivia comes out of it. She asks if Nina is in her office, and he says he just left her. She asks him to hold on one second. Carly told Olivia about her situation regarding her stake in the hotel. She’s been wracking her brain trying to figure out a way to keep Carly in business, and can’t think of anything. She offered to float Carly a loan, but she can’t finance it without help from Ned. He says, Carly probably wouldn’t allow that anyway, and she says she learned that the hard way. Any ideas he’d care to share? He says he has one, but it’s not a sure thing yet, and he doesn’t care to share. She says, remind her never to play the market with her half of the MetroCourt. This place is like a second home to her. It kept her sane even with all the craziness with the Quartermaines. She can’t imagine losing it, and she’s sure Carly feels the same way. Nina comes out, and says, Drew forgot his briefcase.

Sasha tells Haven, yes, the products; the Deception products she means. She knows she saw them here somewhere. Haven says, before she tells them about the products, why doesn’t she tell them how she got involved in Deception? Maxie gives Sasha two thumbs up, and Brando mouths, I love you. Sasha takes a breath, and says, beneath the Face of Deception is someone who’s incredibly nervous. She can handle a photo shoot, no problem, but being here live, in front of millions of viewers has thrown her. Haven says she remembers her first day on the set. She couldn’t stop clearing her throat. They laugh, and Haven says, they have their first caller. Please, rescue us from ourselves. Gladys asks if they can hear her, and Haven says, they can. What would she like to say to Sasha? Is she familiar with Deception’s products? Gladys says, is she? She’s seen Miss Gilmore’s face in magazine ads, and now, watching her on TV, she is gorgeous. She’d pay anything to look like Sasha. Haven says, that’s nice of her to say, and Gladys tells Sasha, she’s not getting any younger. Can Sasha tell her how the lip plumper works? Sasha says she sure can, and gets up, going to the display table. She picks up the product, and says, Deception’s lip plumper was designed by makeup specialists who understand the needs of a maturing woman. It’s state of the art; there’s nothing even close to it on the market. This color, pink rose, is her personal favorite.

Spinelli introduces Cody to his close, dear, very personal friend, Sonny Corinthos. Perhaps Cody has heard of him. Cody says, as in Corinthos Coffee? and Sonny says, the one and only. Cody says he’s actually friends with Dante. They went to summer camp way back when. Sonny says, no kidding, and Cody says he’s got some old photos if Sonny ever wants to take a look. Sonny says, maybe one night Cody and Dante could come to dinner, and they can go through the album. Cody says he looks forward to it. Dante knows how to get in touch with him. He grabs Spinelli in a bro hug, and says, well played. You got game, kid. He leaves, and Sonny asks what kind of trouble is Spinelli in with Cody. Spinelli says, there’s no trouble with Cody, and Sonny says, he’s got nothing to do with this wardrobe upgrade, the fact that Spinelli is spreading money around, that he’s hinting he’s doing things, but doesn’t say what. Spinelli says, he’s the skydiver that fell into Britt Westbourne at the pool… and Sonny says, just answer the question. Spinelli called him here for drinks, and introduced him to this guy. Spinelli didn’t want him to know they were close? How bad is it? Spinelli says, it’s handled; there’s nothing to worry about. Sonny says, if Spinelli doesn’t want to tell him, it’s none of his business, but his business is his name, and when Spinelli drops it, he needs to explain why. He’s going to take a raincheck on those drinks. Think about it. Sonny leaves, and Britt comes back in. Her phone rings, and she sees it’s Zelda. She asks, what’s up?

Dante tells Cody that he’s got the tab, and Cody says he’ll pay Dante back. Dante says, if Cody wants to pay him back… and Cody says he knows; get off his couch. Dante tells him, he was going to say, if Cody wants to pay him back, hook Rocco up with a horse riding lesson. Cody says, maybe he can do better than just one lesson. Did the job Dante’s mom mentioned include room and board?

Chase says, Linc owns Brook’s songs. He punched Linc in the face. Linc isn’t going to want anything to do with them. Now Brook wants Linc to manage him? What’s that about? She says, Linc is dirty. Once he buys out Chase’s contract, Chase will be in the perfect position to get the goods on him. Chase says, so the PCPD can arrest him, and she says, don’t be so conventional. Then they can really blackmail him into relinquishing her songs. She sees Chase’s face, and says, not really. She means… He says he knows what she means. She doesn’t want to help him at all; she wants to help herself.

Sasha thanks Gladys for her purchases, and hopes she enjoys them. Gladys says she knows she will. That’s why she bought two of everything. Haven says, and Gladys isn’t the only one buying Deception’s products. They’re in danger of running out, so the viewers need to make those purchases while they’re still in stock. Brando gives Sasha two thumbs up, and Maxie says, Gladys will be excited; she’s finally getting a raise. Haven says, they have a surprise guest. Please welcome their star seller, Flora Gardens. Flora runs onto the set, and Maxie says, this wasn’t in the script, and Lucy says, let’s see what Sasha does with this. Flora says, with Deception products on sale, she couldn’t resist showing up early, and Sasha asks if she’s up for a makeover. Flora says she couldn’t… except she really wants to, and Sasha says, they should always start with a fresh canvas, which means Fresh Glow for the face. It’s a mild cleanser that softens the skin and makes it receptive to all the natural ingredients… Maxie tells Haven’s assistant that if they need more Deception products, they’re in the stockroom, and the assistant thanks her, but says she’s getting ready for Flora’s segment next. Maxie asks what she sells, and the assistant says, a whole range of products. This one’s really sweet. Maxie looks in the box, and gets an uh-oh look.

Nina says she wasn’t aware she and Olivia had an appointment, but Olivia says she came to see Nina’s assistant. Nina says, her assistant isn’t here; she’s at lunch. Can she help Olivia with something? Olivia says, from now on Nina’s invoices for rent and business lunches will be coming from her office, not Carly’s, so all payments should go to her. Nina says, anything for Carly, and Olivia says, thanks. She gets in the elevator, and Drew holds out his hand for his briefcase. Nina says, so now she knows why Drew is selling Crimson, and he says, she’s got him. Why is he selling Crimson? She says she thinks he wants to cover Carly’s bad bet on the merger. She stands to lose her half of the MetroCourt? Why didn’t Drew just tell her? He says, because he knew she would have rejected him if he did. Unless… She says, unless what? and he says, unless saving Carly is an opportunity Nina just can’t pass up. What does she say?

Josslyn thanks Carly for backing her, but Carly says she wishes she didn’t have to. Things are going to get worse now that she’s banned them from the hotel. Josslyn says, it’s not about them. There’s something else going on. What is Carly so stressed about? Carly says, life is stressful. Just go home and cool down. That would make her happy. Josslyn says, but… and Carly says, but nothing. Go. Carly leaves, and Trina tells Josslyn, let’s go before someone pushes me in the pool. On their way out, Josslyn says, wait. What happened to Cam?

Outside, Cameron asks Spencer if he got it, and he says, when Esme wasn’t looking. Please tell him that stealing Josslyn’s hair was worth making a lifelong enemy of his oldest friend. Cameron takes out a plastic bag with the napkin in it, and says, he’s not proud of it, but he told Josslyn’s mother she had lipstick on her teeth. So now they use her saliva as a DNA sample. Spencer says he hopes Cameron is right. This needs to fool Esme into thinking he knows who her biological mother is. Cameron says, so they can save Trina from prison. Esme comes out, and Spencer hides the samples behind his back. She says she’s so wet. She needs to get back to Spoon Island for some dry clothes and a hot shower. She asks if Spencer is coming, and Spencer says, she leads, he follows.

Brook asks why Chase doesn’t understand that she’s trying to help him, and he says, getting her songs back from Linc is just an added bonus? She says, actually, it just occurred to her right now, and he says, that’s because it takes a detective to connect the dots. Too bad he may never be one again. He walks off.

Britt tells Zelda, sure; send her the profiles… Yes. She promises to look them over. No promises beyond that though. Spinelli joins her, and she says she just told Zelda that she’d give it one more chance… One. He says he has a strong sense her luck is going to change, and she asks if he’s psychic now. He says he’s not jesting. He thinks this go-around with Society Set-Ups will be the charm. Olivia walks up with Cody and Dante, and tells Cody that he’s going to love the stables. The Quartermaines take excellent care of their horses. Britt asks if Cody’s found a new home, bedding with horses, and Dante says, Cody is going to run the Quartermaine stables. Cody says, and get a penny to his name, but Britt says, still accident prone and uncouth. He says, but not broke; one improvement at a time.

Sasha asks if the viewers are ready for the final results of Flora’s makeover, and Haven says, oh yes. Sasha says, ta-da! and Flora turns around. She looks in the mirror, obviously pleased, and Haven says, how marvelous. Maxie tells Lucy, they may have a problem, and Flora wonders how she can repay Sasha for making her look so beautiful. Haven says she’s sure Flora has a token of her appreciation handy, and maybe a sneak peek at her upcoming sale. She just happens to have it right here. Flora says she has a must have gift for all the ladies out there who are expecting. A one-of-a-kind baby papoose. She takes it out, and she and Haven gush over it, while Sasha looks troubled, and Maxie, Lucy, and Brando quietly freak out.

Sonny goes to Nina’s office, and says, sorry he’s late. Spinelli invited him to have drinks, and he ran into Carly. Nina says she can’t imagine how that went. She really did it this time, didn’t she? He says, what did she do?

Drew finds Carly with her feet in the pool, and she tells him, take off his shoes; the water’s fine. He sits on a chaise, and she asks, what’s wrong? He says he did something, and… she’s not going to like it.

Tomorrow, Cody thinks he has the perfect way to repay someone; Nina says, those are her reasons for saying no; and Brando says he has to stop this.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 It’s a Family Affair…

All I have to say is, he’d better get his sister an invite to the set.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/josh-kelly-reveals-why-being-on-general-hospital-is-so-special

👴 Aging Fast…

Seems like just yesterday, Rocco was a toddler. Oh, wait…

Finn Carr Is the New Rocco on GENERAL HOSPITAL

💍 Permanent Plus One…

Fake Nurse Chloe is getting married.

Kimberly J. Brown Is Engaged to Daniel Kountz!

🎇 They’re a Firework…

How the soap stars celebrated Independence Day.

See How Your Favorite Stars Celebrated the Fourth of July!

⛵️ Bleh…

It’s no surprise. Too bad Jax is already married. They could be the most awful couple on the face of the earth.

https://people.com/tv/ashley-marti-made-more-money-on-onlyfans-than-below-deck-sailing-yacht/

💸 Knowing Their Friends…

But I still don’t know what they do or did for a living.

https://okmagazine.com/p/todd-julie-chrisley-real-friends-during-trial/?utm_source=Jeeng

🌪 Twisting the Night Away…

Tomorrow, we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming… I think. So join me for soap and the lowdown on Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay unplugging once in a while, and stay always making improvements, even if it’s just one at a time.

Jul2

July 1, 2022 – Spencer Tests His Story, If They’re On, Returning, New Gig, Salem 2, Woe Is NeNe, an Ending, a Sequel, a Holiday, a Dozen 4th Appropriate Quotes & Egg

Posted on July 2, 2022 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt Garden, Ava asks if Scotty has everything, and he says, two quickie divorces, hot off the presses. She thanks him for being so expedient, and asks if he has the division of assets from Nikolas’s lawyer. He says he does; 50/50, right down the middle. He has to say, she turned a nice profit here, but Ava says, she told him before, this divorce is just a gesture. Nikolas wants to prove how much he trusts her by giving her half of everything. Scotty says, ain’t love grand? but she says, that’s not funny. He says he’s not trying to be funny. Once she signs these papers, she’s going to get half of what Nikolas has, and there isn’t a damn thing he can do about it. Nikolas joins them, and says, which is exactly why they’re doing this. Their marriage, which started with blackmail and mutual distrust, is a thing of the past, and the only thing that will remain is their love. He kisses Ava’s hand, and Esme watches from a distance. She flashes back to… I don’t want to talk about it, okay?

Spencer comes into Kelly’s and tells Cameron, take a break. Cameron says, no can do. They’re short-staffed since Spencer quit on zero notice. Spencer says he’s sure Cameron can spare five minute; this is important. Cameron says he could argue that work is important, not that it means anything to Spencer. Spencer says, wow. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but he’s sure Cameron’s mood is going to improve when he tells Cameron about how he’s going to help Trina. Cameron asks if he has proof Esme filmed him and Joss, and Spencer says, no, but he has the next best thing. He found out who Esme’s biological mother is.

At the pool, Gregory tells Finn that Chase will be there in a little bit, but in the meantime, does Finn have any updates on Elizabeth? Finn says, she called and they talked briefly, and Gregory asks if she said anything about Finn visiting her, but Finn says, no. Gregory says he’s sorry. He knows how difficult it is for Finn to bide his time while Elizabeth is struggling. Finn says he’d do anything for her. He has to respect her wishes and stay away. Chase arrives, and Finn says, it’s about time. Chase says, sorry; he overslept. Gregory says, Chase better get that out of his system before he goes back to work at the PCPD, but Chase says, that’s not happening as soon as Gregory thinks. Gregory asks, why not? and Chase says, his suspension has been extended.

Trina meets Josslyn by the pool, and asks if she’s been waiting long. Josslyn says, no complaints. She’s actually been enjoying the downtime. Carly comes in, and Josslyn asks, what’s wrong? She seems distracted. Carly says she’s just dealing with some stuff right now, when Olivia joins her, and says she’s so sorry. She had no idea this was going to happen.

On the phone, Lucy asks how much time they get… Really? It’s not a lot, but they’re going to make it work. They’re so excited about this opportunity, truly… Of course (🍷). She hangs up, and tells Maxie, that was their segment producer, and she got to talk to the on-camera talent. Maxie says, Lucy spoke to Haven herself? What did she say? Did she love the Deception products they sent over? Lucy says, she loves, loves, loves it; she’s a big fan. She’s going to wear our Femme Fatale lipstick on air today. Maxie says, that’s amazing, and Lucy says, but she had a few teeny tiny changes she wanted to make in the order of the products. Lucy promised her it would happen, but it’s going to be really tight. Deception is going live in two hours on TV, and Sasha’s not even here yet. Maxie says, it’s fine; she’ll call Sasha.

At the Bistro, Sasha’s phone rings, and Maxie asks where she is. Sasha says she just stopped to get some coffee, and Maxie says, now is not the time for coffee. It’s almost show time. They have some product to move – STAT. Sasha says she’s on her way, and Felty says, she’s not leaving early, is she? Sasha says, yes, she’s leaving. What they agreed on was a mistake. He says, really? Because he thinks he has exactly what she needs. He takes a little bag of pills out of his pocket.

Sonny finds Brook at the park, and they hug. She says she can’t remember the last time they talked, and he says, when she asked to meet him, he knew she wanted something. She says, how dare he? She wanted to know how he’s doing. He says, as she can see, he’s doing good. Now tell him what she wants. She says, fine; she’ll get to the point. She wants him to take care of a sleazeball named Linc Brown.

Cameron asks how Esme’s biological mother can help them with Trina, and Spencer says, Esme has always wanted to know where she came from, and why her parents gave her up for adoption. Cameron says, which has nothing to do with Trina or revenge porn, but Spencer says, it will. Once he tells Esme that he found her biological mother, he’s not going to give her any information until she admits she made the sex tape. Cameron says, but she’s not going to do that; it will land her in jail. Spencer says, his plan is for Esme to record her confession. He’s going to give her a chance to skip town before he turns the recording over to the police. It’s known she was at the cabin before the sex tape was made, and she was on campus when it was uploaded. Her confession is going to cause reasonable doubt in Trina’s case. Cameron says, that might work, and Spencer says, it will work, but Cameron says, wait. Esme’s been looking for her biological mother for years, and boom, just like that, Spencer finds her? That’s pretty convenient. Spencer says, he didn’t find her; his Uncle Victor did.

Esme ducks away, and Scotty says, Ava and Nikolas have the weirdest marriage and divorce he’s ever heard of. Ava doubts that, and Scotty says, well, okay. Maybe it’s not the weirdest, but it’s up there in the top ten. Ava asks, where’s Martin? and Nikolas says, he’s running late, but they don’t have to wait. Scotty can walk them through the key points. Ava says, Nikolas knows his lawyer has to be here to look over the divorce before he signs it, but Nikolas says, don’t worry. Shall we begin? Scotty hands them the papers, and says, this is just your standard no-fault divorce, when Esme appears, and says, divorce? But she thought Nikolas wasn’t going to tell Ava.

Carly suggests she and Olivia talk about this somewhere else, like the gardens, and Josslyn asks if everything is okay. Carly says, it’s great; they’ll talk about it later. She and Olivia leave, and Trina says she doesn’t know; that sounded more like bad news. Josslyn says, it’s just business. As long as everybody in the family is okay, they can handle whatever the new issue is. Trina says she knows what Josslyn means. Her family has really stepped up with her. Believe it or not, her mom wasn’t even upset when Trina told her about them going to the biker bar. She said she supported Trina for taking steps to help herself. Josslyn says, that’s awesome. She just wishes that stupid bar fight hadn’t broken out, so they could talk to that bartender some more. Trina says, Curtis is looking into it. He said the bartender hasn’t been there since that night. Josslyn says, Curtis? and Trina says, he took over the investigation. Josslyn says she’s glad to hear it. She hates to say it, but they’ve run into another dead end. Trina says, maybe, but like she told Josslyn, Curtis is on it. Even if the bartender doesn’t pan out, something will. She swears she’s not going to let Esme get away with this.

Sonny tells Brook, he’s surprised Linc slithered his way back into town. What’s he done now? She says she thought she put Linc in her rearview mirror when Valentin bought out her contract, but unfortunately, Linc still owns the rights to her songs from when he was her producer. Okay, I guess that answers that question, sort of. She says, he’s selling her songs to push dog food and paper towels, using her beautiful love songs as jingles… But that’s not the reason she asked to talk to him. She’s here because of Chase.

Finn says, Chase’s suspension was extended; he has questions. Gregory asks if this is why Chase was upset the other day when Brook called him, and Chase says, yeah. He’s suspended until the Civilian Review Board investigation is completed. Gregory says, there’s a civilian complaint against Chase? and Chase says, Linc Brown filed one yesterday. Gregory asks, who’s that? and Chase says, Brook’s sleazy former producer. He used to harass her all the time when she was under contract, and his behavior hasn’t gotten much better. They got into it at The Savoy the other night. Finn asks what Chase did, and Chase says, he punched Linc in the face. Gregory says, he punched someone else, even though he got suspended for it the first time? and Finn says he’s sure the guy provoked Chase. Chase says, he did, but Gregory says, still, was it worth potentially getting kicked off the force?

Felty asks if Sasha brought the credentials that make him the official Deception photographer for today’s appearance on the Home & Heart Channel. She says she did, but she changed her mind, and he asks, why? All he’s looking for is access, and the publicity will be great for Deception too; it’s a win-win in his book. It’s not like they’re breaking any laws. (Um…) He holds out the bag, and says, everyone needs a pick-me-up now and again. Why is she so uptight about it? She says she doesn’t recognize those pills; what are they? He says, they’re prescription. They’re perfectly safe. They got him through Fashion Week last year. It’s great stuff. Trust him. If he can be frank, she looks a little run down, like she could use a boost. She says, all he wants are backstage photos, right? and he says, that’s it, and she wants these. So – he slides them over to her on the table – do they have a deal?

Esme says, Nikolas and Ava are getting a divorce? This is awful. Ava asks what Nikolas didn’t tell her, and Esme says, it’s just that she just thought… and Nikolas says, Esme. He and Ava are getting a divorce, but they’re still a couple. Esme’s head explodes. Not really, but that would be funny. He says, they’re still together. Their love for each other hasn’t changed. Ava asks what Esme thinks Nikolas wasn’t going to tell her, and Esme says she knew he was contemplating getting a divorce, but she also knew he wanted to fight for their marriage, and agreed to a separation. That’s all. Ava asks Nikolas, is that correct? and Nikolas says, both Esme and Spencer noticed the toll their rift has taken on him. Esme says, he’s been so upset, and Ava says she knows Spencer would be delighted if they split up for real. Is Esme saying she doesn’t feel the same? Esme says, deep down, Spence wants his dad to be happy, and you make him happy. Nikolas thanks her for her concern, and says, but she did interrupt something. Esme says she’s sorry, she’ll go, but first, can she have a moment with Mr. Cassadine?

Olivia tells Carly, she had no idea Ned was thinking of siding with Valentin. If she had, she’d have told Carly immediately. Carly says, there’s nothing Olivia could have done, but Olivia says she still feels terrible. She knows the news of the Aurora/ELQ merger being dead tanked Aurora’s stocks. How is that going to impact Carly with the hedge fund? Carly says, it already has. Not in a good way, but she’ll figure something out. Olivia says, my God. Could Carly lose her half of the MetroCourt?

Chase tells Gregory, Linc mouthed off to Brook in a really crude and cruel way, and he didn’t take the time to think about the consequences. Yeah, he decked Linc, but a cop shouldn’t go off the handle like that. Finn says, Chase is a good cop, and that should count for something, and Gregory says, they know how much Chase loves his work. Chase says, he’s right, but as Jordan said to him, it’s part of law enforcement’s job to keep his cool in tense situations, and twice now, first with Valentin, then with Linc, he hasn’t been able to do that. He can’t believe he’s back here again. Gregory says, back here? and Chase says he almost lost his career because of Janelle. It took him years to rebuild it. Finn says, that was a completely different situation, and Gregory says, when Chase was young, he didn’t know any better. Chase says, different circumstances, yes, but his reaction proves he follows his heart, and Gregory asks if that’s what Chase was doing when he defended Brook, following his heart?

Cameron says, Spencer got his Uncle Victor involved? That guy’s bad news. Spencer asks if he’s serious. Cameron is the one who’s constantly complaining his plan is taking too long, and says he doesn’t like lying to Joss. Cameron says he doesn’t like lying to Joss, and Spencer says, neither does he, so he went to someone who could get them results. His Uncle Victor is the former director of the WSB. He has the right connections to access privileged information. Cameron says, that makes sense. So what did he find out? Spencer says, Esme told him that she was left in a church when she was a baby. She later contacted that church, but the priest insisted he had no knowledge of the woman who left the baby. Cameron says, great, so dead end, and Spencer says, that’s what Esme thought. But then, Uncle Victor’s people tracked down the nun who said she remembered Esme being abandoned. They convinced her to share the name of the mom who abandoned her child. Cameron asks how they convinced her, but Spencer says he doesn’t know. Uncle Victor didn’t give him any of the details, but his people tracked down Esme’s biological mom. She lives in Portugal now. Cameron says, so that’s it? Esme’s not going to risk prison for a name and an address based on information she doesn’t even know is legit. Spencer says, of course (🍷) not. That’s why Uncle Victor got DNA.

Maxie tells Lucy, Sasha was only stopping for a coffee; she should be here by now. Sasha dashes in, and says, sorry; she lost track of time. Lucy says, that’s okay. Here you are; that’s all that matters. They really need to get started, because there’s a lot to go over before they head over to the TV studio. Sasha says she thought they settled everything last night. She’s been going over her notes; she knows them backwards and forwards. She sees them exchange a look, and says, what? Maxie says, the Home & Heart people called, and the host had some ideas about their line-up. It’s good news really. She’s very excited about their products. She just wants to start with the lipstick instead of the eyeshadow, so she and Lucy reworked the presentation. Lucy says she’ll get the script, and it will give Sasha time to memorize all of it. Lucy runs out, Maxie following and saying, make sure it’s version 3 not version 2. Sasha takes the pills out of her bag, but hears Lucy saying, got it right here, and puts them back. Lucy and Maxie return, Lucy holding a stack of cards. She hands them to Sasha, and Maxie tells her, the changes start on card one.

Carly understands Olivia’s concern about getting a partner she disagrees with, but Olivia says, she doesn’t care about that… Of course (🍷) she cares a little bit, but that’s not the main thing. This hotel is their scene together. Carly has put so much of herself into this place. The renovations, the pool, the garden, that’s Carly, that’s all her energy, and them together. Olivia doesn’t want to lose the spirit. Carly says she doesn’t want to lose the investment. When she invested in Aurora, it never occurred to her that the merger with ELQ wasn’t going to happen. She loves running this place with Olivia. She can’t imagine not coming here every day. Olivia says, that settles it. She’s buying Carly’s half of the hotel.

Ava asks what Esme has to say to her husband that Esme can’t say in front of her? and Esme says she was just planning a surprise for Spence this afternoon. She didn’t think Ava would be interested. Nikolas says he’ll be right back, and leaves with Esme. Ava asks if any of Scotty’s police contacts have given him anything that could help Trina’s case; some piece of evidence that they haven’t mentioned yet? He says, no. That Esme, she’s covered her tracks very well.

Outside, Nikolas says, okay, Esme has his attention. What is this surprise she’s planning for Spencer? Esme says she was planning on taking him on a day trip to the mountains. Would it be okay if they borrowed Nikolas’s convertible to take in the scenery? He says, of course (🍷), but she could have asked him that in front of Ava. She says, the truth is, she pulled him away because she needs his help.

Trina says she totally forgot to tell Josslyn who she saw here last night, and Josslyn says, who? Someone from PCU? Trina says, Rory, and Josslyn says, Officer Invisible was here at the pool? Trina says, with Esme, and Josslyn says, what? Has she found a new victim to prey on? Trina says, no. Rory let her know that Esme sat beside him. Trina didn’t like it at first, but Rory totally put Esme on notice. Esme knows that he’s on to her.

Spencer says, his Uncle Victor’s people got a DNA sample from the woman they believe is Esme’s biological mother, and he got a sample of Esme’s DNA, and he had GH run a paternity test. Cameron asks if Spencer just ordered a DNA test like he orders a hamburger, and Spencer tells him, what can he say? Money talks. Anyway, this woman in Portugal is Esme’s real mom. Cameron says, that’s huge, and Spencer says, this information is going to be way more valuable to Esme than just sticking it to Trina. Cameron says, Spencer found a way to save Trina, and Spencer asks if he really thinks so. Cameron says he was skeptical at first, but Spencer convinced him, and Spencer says, good. He hopes Esme falls for it as easily as Cameron did. Cameron asks what he means, and Spencer says, it’s all a lie. He made the whole story up.

Chase tells Gregory that he’s not following his heart to Brook; she’s his friend. Gregory says, he just means Chase went above and beyond for Brook. He pretended Bailey was his daughter, he punched Valentin and now this Linc to defend her. Chase says, this is nothing like Janelle. He spontaneously stepped up to say he was Bailey’s father. Brook never even asked, and as for punching those two losers… He knows he shouldn’t have done it, but in the moment, he couldn’t stand them insulting Brook. But those were his reactions. Brook in no way asked or wanted him to be involved. Gregory says, just to be clear, he’s not criticizing Brook. He knows Chase cares about her, and Brook cares about him. He was impressed when she reached out to him the other day to let him know Chase needed cheering up. Chase says, it’s funny. Brook tries to downplay her good qualities. She likes to hide behind her rich girl persona, and tough New York City attitude. He actually almost hit Linc a few weeks ago, and she beat him to it. Just another sign that he can’t control his temper. Finn says he’s used a lot of words over the years to describe Chase, but bad temper never came up. Gregory agrees. He’s always described Chase as passionate. He always has been. Even as a kid, Chase stood up for the little guy. It’s in his nature. Chase says, that was always his goal, but he has to figure out another way to do it.

Brook tells Sonny, Linc was totally disrespecting her. He was treating her like garbage, then he grabbed her arm. That’s when Chase stepped in and punched him, which in her opinion Linc completely deserved. Only thing is, Chase is already on suspension with the PCPD for punching Valentin a few months ago, who was also saying horrible things about her. So now, Chase is on suspension again, or still, or whatever. The bottom line is, Chase might lose his job. Sonny says, because of Linc, but she says, no, because of her. She can’t let that happen. Chase is a great detective, and really loves what he does. Any chance Sonny could have a, quote unquote, talk with Linc; get him to recant his complaint against Chase? Sonny says, as much as he’d love to, he’s sorry; he can’t do that. She asks, why not? Because Chase is a cop? That’s no reason not to help. Sonny’s son Dante is a cop. He says, she misunderstands him. If he gets involved, word’s going to get out; what did Chase do to deserve a favor from him? They’re going to see him as a dirty cop. She says she didn’t think about that, and he says, the best thing Chase can do is just go through the process, and hope it comes out in his favor.

Maxie tells Sasha to remember, they want their customer to feel empowered, and Lucy adds, strong, independent, and like she can do anything. Maxie says, or be anyone, but Lucy says, no, not just anyone. She wants to be Sasha. Sasha asks what that means, and Lucy says, it means Sasha is the ideal. She’s the Face of Deception. Maxie says, she’s strong, and Lucy says, but relatable. Maxie says, fearless, and Lucy says, but never ever harsh. Maxie says, Sasha just needs to relax and be her own natural and charming self. Let them see who Sasha really is. Lucy says, not totally though. She has to maintain an air of mystery. Sasha jumps up and says, stop it! They stare at her in disbelief, and Sasha says she’s sorry for snapping like that. It’s just that she put so much time into memorizing the original order, she just needs a minute to get the last minute changes. Lucy says, it’s really okay. They understand this is a lot. Maxie says, if they let their enthusiasm get away from them, they’re really sorry. Is Sasha sure she’s okay? Sasha says, she’s just a little nervous, that’s all, and Maxie says, who wouldn’t be? Lucy says, her butterflies have their own teeny tiny little butterflies, but it’s going to be okay. Sasha is going to be absolutely magnificent. Sasha thanks them for all their faith in her, and Maxie says, she’s got this. Lucy says, absolutely, and never forget, they are always by her side. Sasha says she knows they’ll be with her in spirit, but physically they’ll be standing behind the cameras. She’ll be the one in front of them.

Cameron says, so everything Spencer told him about Esme’s biological mom is a lie? and Spencer says he has no idea who Esme’s real mom is. Cameron asks, what the hell is Spencer doing? and Spencer says he had to test his story before he used it on Esme. He needed to know if it sounds believable. Cameron says, he’s an ass, and Spencer says he’s sorry, but he only gets one shot at this. As soon as he demands Esme confess to this, she’s going to know he believes Trina and not her, and it’s game over for him. Cameron says he sees Spencer’s point. For what it’s worth (🍷), Spencer’s story is good. Spencer asks, what part convinced him? and Cameron says, the DNA test. Can Spencer’s uncle fake one for him? Spencer says, no, not exactly. That’s where Cameron comes in.

Nikolas asks what kind of help Esme needs from him, and she says, it’s her internship at Spring Ridge. Her work there has convinced her that she definitely wants to major in psychology, and figuring out why people do what they do. It’s fascinating stuff. He says, she still hasn’t explained why she needs his help, and she says, Doc was being completely overprotective, and managed to convince the administration that they should terminate her internship. She knows he thinks he’s acting in her best interest, but he’s not. She’s hoping Nikolas can get her internship reinstated. Nikolas says he’s not sure how he would go about that, and she says she knows he has connections at Spring Ridge. After all, he’s the one who got Spencer and Alexis released early, right? She hates to bother an important man such as himself with something so small, but can he do this… for her?

Olivia says, she’ll buy Carly’s half, so she’ll own the entire hotel. Carly can pay her back slowly, like an old-fashioned instalment plan. Carly says, that’s a very generous offer, but does Olivia have the liquidity to buy her half? Olivia says she’d have to talk it over with Ned… and Carly says, no.

Spencer asks if Cameron doesn’t think it’s pretty genius, but Cameron says, no. Not genius. And not something he wants any part of. Spencer says, it’s not a big deal. All Cameron has to do is get DNA samples from Joss and her mom for him to have tested. Cameron says, is that all? and Spencer says, it will give them a genuine mother/daughter test result, and Esme can go to the lab and confirm it herself. Cameron asks what Spencer expects him to do; hug Carly, and snag a couple hairs? That’s not suspicious at all. Spencer says, don’t be so dramatic. He can snag it from a glass she drank from. Where is Josslyn anyway? Cameron says he’s supposed to meet Joss and Trina at the MetroCourt pool after his shift is over, and Spencer says, that’s so good. Carly is almost always working at the MetroCourt. Cameron can get both of the samples today. Just let him know when it’s done. Cameron says, oh no. If he’s doing this, then Spencer is doing it with him.

Ava says she can’t believe Scotty hasn’t found anything to tie Esme to that sex tape. That little fiend torched her car, and threw in Kiki’s GH badge just for kicks; she’s got a devious mind. Scotty says, she’s devious, but she covered her tracks well. Now let’s get back to what’s at hand here. Sign the papers. They’re going to need a witness… She says she’s going to wait for Nikolas to get back, and Scotty says, she told him Nikolas wanted this, as does she. Was he wrong? She asks if it really matters. He’s banking billable hours no matter what. He says he’s always been there for her, hasn’t he? He cares about her, and she knows that. How could she say that to him? She says she’s sorry; she does know that. She’s on edge because she’s very concerned about Trina, and she’s just being silly. She looks through the papers, and Scotty says, silly how? She says she can’t help thinking she and Nikolas are tempting fate. That this divorce isn’t going to be the fresh start he wants it to be; that it’s going to be the end.

Nikolas says he’s not even sure how he can help Esme. As she knows, Doc is married to his mother. This’ll get back to her, and it could be bad. She says, he’s right. She guesses this is what she deserves anyway. Losing her internship, she means. This is her punishment for sleeping with her boyfriend’s dad. He says, no, that’s not how the world works. She’s just feeling guilty like he is, because they should never have been together. But he’ll prove it to her by helping her get her internship back. She throws her arms around him, and says, thank you so much.

Olivia says she really thinks she can convince Ned that buying Carly’s half of the hotel would be a great investment, and Carly says, maybe Ned would go for it, but she won’t. Ned double-crossed Michael and Drew, and hung them out to dry. They’re scrambling to save Aurora. They’re not going to take Ned’s money, even if he’s in partnership with Olivia. Olivia asks if Carly believes Drew and Michael would think less of her, but Carly says, she would think less of herself. Olivia asks, what’s next? What is Carly going to do?

Nikolas comes back to the table, and Ava asks, where’s Esme? He says, she took off, and Ava says she didn’t think Esme would be hitting Nikolas up for money. Spencer’s allowance is more than enough for the both of them. He says, Esme never brought up the subject of money.

Josslyn and Trina sit with their feet in the pool, and I’m jealous of the random guy who swims past. Trina says, Esme asked Rory if he knew someone who could help her get her internship back at Spring Ridge, and Josslyn says, hello. What does it tell you that Esme’s too crazy to get an internship? Trina says, that’s her point. Rory claimed he knew someone, and offered to put the name and phone number in Esme’s phone, but she woudn’t hand it over. Josslyn says, there must be so much incriminating data on it, and Trina says, exactly. There is no way Esme is going to let a cop hold it, even for a minute. Rory just out maneuvered her. Josslyn says, nice work, and Trina says, right? Especially when Trina got here, and saw them together. For a second, Trina thought Esme was winning him over. Josslyn says, there is not a chance. Officer Invisible is way too into Trina. Trina says, maybe, and Josslyn says, and Trina is into Rory, right? Trina says, maybe.

Spencer says, if he goes with Cameron, that’s only going to make it worse. Cameron says, how convenient, and Spencer says he means it. He can’t go near Joss or Trina; they hate him, especially Trina. Cameron says he guesses Spencer is right about that. Maybe they could use that to their advantage. Spencer asks, how? and Cameron says, this time, Spencer is going to have to trust him. He has an idea.

Finn says he’ll support Chase in any career path he chooses, but he still thinks the PCPD is shooting themselves in the foot to give up on a detective as good as Chase is. Chase says he doesn’t know if they’ll have a choice in the matter, and Gregory asks how long the investigation takes. Chase says he doesn’t know, but he knows he’s suspended without pay, and he’s going to have to find another job… at least a temporary one. He can’t imagine anything that would satisfy him as much as detective work, and Gregory says he thinks Chase needs to fight for the job he has, the job he loves. Finn says, in the meantime, Chase might want to stay away from this Linc Brown.

Sonny tells Brook that he has to cut this short. He has to go to the MetroCourt to meet Nina. She asks if he and Nina are an official thing now, and he says, just kind of dating. Brook says, as long as Nina makes him happy, and he says, it’s nice of her to say that, since not a lot of people feel that way. She says she’s sure. There’s really nothing he can do for Chase? He tells her, like he said, Chase is a smart guy. He’ll get another job. A lot of former cops are doing security. She says, like ~~Paul Blart~~ a mall cop? and he says, not like a mall cop. Like a security consultant, like a bodyguard… She says, that doesn’t sound much better, but he says, listen. Chase is going to find another job. He’s sorry he can’t make Linc sing like a canary, but the Review Board… you never know. She tells him that he’s a genius, and hugs him, saying, thank you so much.

Ava asks if Nikolas is signing the papers now, and he says, that’s what they’re here for, isn’t it? She says, Martin Grey isn’t here. Nikolas shouldn’t sign any legal documents before his lawyer looking through them first. Scotty tells Ava, hold on a second. He’s offended. Does she think he pulled some sort of a fast one when he drew up these papers? Nikolas tells Ava that he wants to do this for her, to prove to her that he has no doubts they’re going to be together forever, which turns into a Rick Astley earworm for me. She says she appreciates the gesture, but there’s no need to take it this far. They don’t have to rush through this divorce. Scotty says, the two of them are working his last nerve. He has to go to court, so are they going to sign these papers or not? Ava takes Nikolas’s papers, puts them on top of her own, and hands them to Scotty. She says, not, and tells Nikolas, let’s go home.

Finn says, Chase’s only defense with the Review Board is, the punch was in the heat of the moment, he wasn’t thinking, and he’s sorry. Chase says, but he’s not sorry, and Gregory says, what? Finn tells Chase, he can’t say that, and Chase says he knows. He needs to convince the Review Board that he’s very remorseful, and for his own self-preservation, that he won’t go anywhere near Linc. Brook comes in, and Finn says he has to get to the hospital, and Gregory has… Gregory says he has to work on his book. Chase may as well stay and enjoy the pool. Finn echoes, enjoy the pool, and they leave. Chase takes his shirt off, and Brook walks up, saying, she was looking for him.

Walking into the pool area, Cameron says, before they go any further, he wants to make sure Spencer’s good with the plan. He’s going to go to the pool, and Spencer’s going to go a few minutes after to create a diversion. Okay? That’s when he’ll get the DNA samples from Joss and her mom. Spencer says, look, there’s Carly over there with Olivia, and they see Carly and Olivia talking at the pool bar. Spencer asks what they do now, and Cameron says, he’ll go to the pool first, and sit with Joss. Promise to not leave him hanging? Spencer says he’s got Cameron’s back; he promises.

Lucy says, it’s time to go, ladies. Fame, fortune, and Home & Heart await. Maxie says she’s so excited about what this means for the future of Deception, and Sasha says, it’s huge. Lucy says, on three, group hug – three! They hug for a moment, and Lucy says, break. Let’s go. They start to leave, and Sasha says she forgot something. She’ll catch up with them downstairs. Lucy and Maxie continue on, while Sasha goes back in the office, and takes a pill.

Cameron walks over to Josslyn and Trina, and Josslyn asks if he’s finally taken some time to do nothing. He says he’s here; are they going to save him a chair? Josslyn asks, what’s wrong?

Spencer looks at his phone, and says, that’s long enough. Time to go to the pool. He walks in, and runs into Esme, who asks what he’s doing here.

Olivia asks Carly, what’s next? What’s her plan? Carly says she doesn’t know, and Olivia sees Sonny walk in. She says she understands Carly not wanting to take money from the Quartermaines, but what about her ex-husband? Maybe he owes Carly a favor or 500. Carly turns around, and sees Sonny.

Next week (I assume Tuesday), Brook says, today is the day she changes Chase’s life; Nina asks Drew why she has the feeling there’s another angle; and Sonny asks, how much trouble is Spinelli in with Cody?

🎉 Soap Holiday…

Which soaps are on Independence Day. GH is not.

Find Out if Your Favorite Soaps Will Be on the Fourth of July

🏥 After a Not-So-Brief Hiatus…

I’m still annoyed that there was no real follow-through on the Parker romance.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/lexi-ainsworth-returns-to-general-hospital

🎭 Interesting…

It’s not GH, but it looks worth investigating.

Anthony Geary Returns to Acting!

💻 Direct From Salem…

Find out what’s to come for Beyond Salem.

Peacock’s BEYOND SALEM: CHAPTER 2 Trailer Released

https://ew.com/tv/days-of-our-lives-beyond-salem-chapter-2-trailer-bo-and-hope-return/

👜 Bloop…

Nothing like middle school antics.

https://pagesix.com/2022/06/29/nene-leakes-why-wendy-williams-had-my-talk-show-with-tom-arnold-killed/

https://pagesix.com/2022/06/29/tom-arnold-claims-wendy-williams-axed-his-talk-show-with-nene-leakes/

It’s always somebody else’s fault.

Nene Leakes is “Negotiating” Settlement With Bravo and Andy Cohen, Plus RHOA Alum Says She Shouldn’t Be Dragged Into Lawsuit From Boyfriend’s Wife

👩🏼‍🌾 Reality Did Them In…

I actually didn’t see this coming, but it’s not surprising.

https://people.com/tv/welcome-to-plathville-kim-and-barry-plath-end-marriage/

🧹 Another Spell On You…

The Sanderson Sisters return.

https://ew.com/movies/hocus-pocus-2-trailer-teaser/

But not the cat.

https://ew.com/movies/jason-marsden-not-returning-black-cat-voice-hocus-pocus-2/

🎇 Celebration…

Another NYC festivity that’s better watched on TV. But if you must go, for God’s sake, don’t drive. It’s a madhouse when it’s over.

https://www.macys.com/social/fireworks/

🌠 Quotes of the Week

A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus. – Martin Luther King Jr.

In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same. – Albert Einstein

There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution. – John Adams

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation. – James Freeman Clarke

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope. – Winston Churchill

The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous. – Frederick Douglass

The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree. – Thomas Campbell

America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination. – Harry S. Truman

No other date on the calendar more potently symbolizes all that our nation stands for than the Fourth of July. – Mac Thornberry

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. – George Washington

Independence now and forever! – Daniel Webster

🎆 You’re a Firework…

Whether it’s a long weekend, working weekend, or no weekend, it’s still the birthday of a nation, something to be appreciated. Since Monday is officially the 4^th, there’s no regularly scheduled program, but pop by for some (hopefully) soap and tea on Tuesday (technically Wednesday). Until then, stay safe, stay safer if you’re around fireworks, and stay be grateful for your independence, even if it’s only in your mind.