What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Portia tells Jordan, they’re getting down to the nitty gritty. If that’s the case, then Jordan owes her an answer. If she doesn’t tell Curtis about Jordan’s theory that he’s Trina’s biological father, is Jordan going to tell him herself? Jordan says, believe it or not, she doesn’t want to blow up Portia’s relationship with Curtis. She and Portia may never become the best of friends, but she wants Curtis to be happy. Portia says, so does she, and Jordan says, then Portia can see she’s right. It’s up to Portia to tell Curtis herself.
Marshall and Epiphany come out of the elevator laughing, and see Curtis. Curtis asks if Marshall is here for a check-up, and Epiphany says, her break is over. She’ll see him later. She leaves, and Marshall says he’s not here to get checked out; he’s here to help. Thanks to Epiphany, he’s been asked to provide some music therapy to the GH patients. Curtis says, that’s a good idea. Maybe Marshall can start right here in this room with a patient who’s lucky to be alive.
Ava tells Trina, she knows this is upsetting. Let her explain. Trina says, no need to explain. Working side by side with Ava kept Trina going during her trial. It gave her something to focus on other than her fear of being found guilty and sentenced to prison. She intends on working at that gallery until Ava is back on her feet. Ava takes Trina’s hand, and says, listen to her. Whoever did this to her, whoever put her in the hospital, is still out there. As long as she’s a potential target, she’s got to close the gallery. It’s just not just not safe there right now; not for her and not for Trina.
Cody tells Maxie, he never said he wanted Leopold Taub to be his biological father, and she says, from what she understands, Leopold Taub was a misogynist tyrant. Mac, who raised her as if she was his own daughter, is the absolute best. So she thinks, if Mac was his dad, it would be a huge step up for him. Cody says he’s always lived life on his own terms. No strings; no expectations. So let’s just say the last thing he needs is a cop for a dad. She asks, what’s Mac’s job have to do with it? and Austin says he thinks it has to do with everything.
Sam says, so Spinelli is behind Society Set-Ups? and he says he’s doomed. He’s destined to rot in a federally funded supermax. She tells him, calm down. Everyone knows he’s prone to exaggerations. So he used his cyber skills to create a matchmaking service. There’s nothing illegal about that. He says, except when there is. His one and only child is going to be seeing daddy on visitation days. And trust him when he says orange is not the new black. She tells him, stop, please. Tell her everything, and start from the beginning. He says, before or after he violated the computer fraud and abuse act?
Sonny says, he asked Michael a question. What does he care what happens to Dex? Michael says, he was on the scene either before or after all three attacks, and Sonny says, and the point is? Michael says, they both know what Sonny does to someone he suspects is targeting his friends and family.
Carver says, as Dex can see by his tools, he has options. Dex can answer his questions, and they can proceed the easy way, or Dex can play tough guy and keep evading, and they can do it the hard way. It makes no difference to him. He holds one of the knives, and says, sooner or later, Dex will start talking. Dex looks at the knife.
Austin says, to be clear, he’s not taking any sides here, but he knows what it’s like to come from a family you have to look up to… or look down, one of the two. Cody says, see? He’s not the only one leery about family. Maxie says she assumes Austin is talking about the Quartermaines. She knows they treated him unfairly, but isn’t he still guided by the memory of his father? Austin says, sure, and other things, and she says, they’re going to circle back to the other things later. Her point is, if Cody gives Mac a chance, he won’t regret it.
At the hospital, Felicia tells Mac, she takes it there are no updates on Diane Miller, and he says, she’s still in surgery. She says, he’s been here for hours, come home with her, but he says he can’t do that. She takes his hand, and says, okay. How can she help him? He says, if she really wants to help, tell him what happened after he got the call about the attack on Diane, and left her at the MetroCourt with Cody Bell. She says she has a better idea. Come on.
Portia asks Jordan, what exactly is she supposed to tell Curtis? That according to Jordan, he may be Trina’s biological father? Curtis asked her that question years ago. Jordan asks what Portia told him, and Portia says, she told him no, he wasn’t. Jordan says, and Portia knows that for a fact? and Portia says, what she knows for a fact is that they wouldn’t be the only ones affected by such a thing. Trina is Marcus’s whole world. Jordan says she realizes that, and Portia says, does she really? Because when things were bleak with Marcus, the thought of Trina is the only thing that kept him going. And Trina adores him. She remembers how bad Trina was grieving when she thought he’d been killed. She will not turn their world upside down because Jordan keeps inserting herself into her life. And Curtis’s life, when he’s made it clear Jordan has a minimal role in his.
Marshall buffs his clarinet, and Curtis says, look at that; good as new. Marshall says, even better. Those punks who tried to steal it from him did him a favor. Leon Purdie. He fixed her up some kind of good; look how she shine. Wait until Curtis hears how she sounds, sweeter than Tupelo Mississippi honey. Curtis asks if they’re still talking about the clarinet, or is Marshall talking about Epiphany? Marshall says he barely gets to see that woman. She’s busy studying for them MCATs. Curtis says, the way Epiphany was smiling at Marshall when they walked in, he doesn’t think she’s ever too busy for him. Marshall says, what about Curtis? He figured by now, he and Portia would have set a wedding date. What’s the hiccup?
Trina tells Ava, her dad taught her to stand up bullies, and her mom has never been afraid to do the right thing, no matter what the cost. Ava says, that’s very commendable, but they’re not talking about a schoolyard bully here. They’re talking about a killer. She could never live with herself if something happened to Trina. Trina says she gets it; there’s a dangerous person out there. But she carries pepper spray with her, always, and never misses any of her classes at PCU. Why is the gallery any different? Ava says she forgot to tell Trina the exciting part. She takes Trina’s hand, and says she helped Trina get a different internship. Trina says, what internship? and Ava says, only the most prestigious one offered by the Port Charles Museum of Fine Art. Trina says, the Murphy-Katz Foundation Fellowship? and Ava says, mm-hmm. Trina says, at The Chuck? She was too late to apply; she couldn’t have gotten it this year. Ava says, well, this letter says differently, and hands Trina an envelope.
Dante goes through a folder, looks at a rendering of the hook, and frowns.
Sonny tells Frank to take a break, and asks if Michael is telling him that he can’t protect his own family right now. Michael says his problem is with how Sonny is protecting his family, and Sonny says, Michael has made it clear how many times he doesn’t want Sonny in his life. Unless he’s rethinking that, then they can talk. Michael shakes his head, and Sonny says he figured. But make no mistake the kind of father he’s going to be taking back. He’s the kind of guy who’s going to make sure his family’s safe, no matter what Michael thinks. He’s going to make mistakes. Michael doesn’t have to agree with everything he does, but he is who he is, and he’s going to do what he’s always done. And that’s make sure Michael, Willow, the kids, and Carly are safe. He’s going to make sure nobody he cares about again is left to bleed. And he’s sorry, but he doesn’t give a damn if that offends Michael’s delicate sensibilities.
Cody says, he and Maxie have clearly led very different lives. In his experience, when someone promises something that’s guaranteed, that just means you’re going to be disappointed, every single time. Austin’s phone dings, and Maxie says, let her guess. The hospital needs him. Austin sees a text: You know what you have to do. He says, something like that. He has to go. He tells Cody, hang in there. He understands, sometimes family can be a pain. He opens the door, and Felicia is there with Mac. She says, they know it’s late, and don’t want to wake up the kids. Is this a bad time? Austin says, he thinks that depends on who you ask, and leaves. Mac says, they just want… He sees Cody, and says, oh, you’re here.
Sam says, now that she knows Spinelli’s not exaggerating, and might be in real trouble, can he please back it up and walk her through it? He says she may understand this better than anyone. He and Ellis just parted ways, and Jason was killed. He’s self-aware enough to know he’s quirky and not everyone’s cup of tea, but losing two of his guiding lights in such a short span, he was lost… and lonely. So those dating websites and apps he mocked when he was with Ellie, he suddenly fell prey to, but no one he met was… She says, quite the right fit? He says, so few people have actually read Stephen Hawking or a Wordsworth poem. A true connection is incredibly rare. She says, she and Dante know how incredibly lucky they are to have found each other, and he says, alas, he hasn’t had the same good luck. So he built a better mousetrap, if you will. He wrote an algorithm that takes a subject’s personal data and transforms it into a unique, completely objective profile, and it matches them with their mathematically perfect fit. She says, she may be lost here, but it sounds like an amazing matchmaking service, and he says his invention may be worthy of a Nobel Prize for love. If only… Sam says, if only what? How is he breaking any laws? He moves closer to her, and says, he realized, in order to find someone’s perfect match, he needed to cast a wider net of possible matches. What good would it be if someone’s perfect match wasn’t a member of Society Set-Ups? In order for this to work, he had to have access to the digital footprint of the lovelorn all over the world. She asks if he’s saying he learned how to hack everyone? He says he’s equally proud and somewhat horrified by his invention that he calls Cupid’s Arrow. The program can penetrate every password, every firewall, so that he can learn every aspect of someone’s life. Not just their favorite color, and yes, their social security number and bank account, but what kind of ice cream they prefer, what teams they root for, who’s online at 3 am; literally every aspect of someone’s life. She says, wow. Spinelli… you’re screwed.
Curtis says, he and Portia hit a few speed bumps on their way to the altar, and Marshall says he hopes Curtis isn’t considering letting that girl go. Curtis says, of course (🍷) not. It’s just that technically, he and Jordan are still married. Marshall asks how that’s possible, and Curtis says, there was a mix-up with the divorce papers; they never got filed. Once it’s worked out… He’s got to go. Good luck with the music therapy. Curtis leaves, and Epiphany asks if everything is okay. Marshall says he doesn’t know. You tell me.
Trina reads, the Port Charlies Museum of Fine Art is pleased to offer you a Murphy-Katz Fellowship for the fall semester at PCU. She doesn’t know how to thank Ava. Ava says, it’s her pleasure; it’s her honor. But it wasn’t originally her idea. Curtis set all of this in motion. Curtis walks in, and Ava says, he’s one Trina should thank.
Dex tells Carver, he didn’t do this; let him go. Please. I’m kind of surprised Dex is so naïve he thinks he can beg this guy for anything. There’s a knock at the door, and Carver rolls his knives back up, and answers. Frank comes in, and says, let him guess. Their guest wants an upgrade. Carver says, more like an early checkout. Frank says, Dex isn’t going anywhere. So what does Carver think? Time for a break? Carver says he could use some fresh air. Really? I want his job. He scared Dex with words for ten seconds, and now he’s going on break. He and Frank leave.
Michael says, Sonny’s not protect anyone by finding a convenient scapegoat. Some unlucky guy he can blame based on flimsy circumstantial evidence. But he feels like a hero, showing the world he’s willing to throw his associates to the wolves. But that doesn’t make him right. Sonny says, it also doesn’t make him wrong, unless Michael knows something he doesn’t. Why does Michael think Dex is innocent?
Mac asks if Felicia knew Cody was here, but she says, no; absolutely not. This is not an ambush. She just thought a visit with Maxie would take his mind off the investigation. Cody says he was just leaving, unless of course (🍷) the Chief of Detectives still considers him a suspect. Mac doesn’t say anything, and Cody says, okay. Felicia asks him to wait, and Cody turns around. Felicia says, Mac asked her what happened after he left the MetroCourt and she was still there with Cody. The truth is, they talked. Mac says he’s listening, and Maxie says, this is Cody’s chance. Man up. Cody says, fine. When he found out Mac was asking questions about him, he assumed it was because Mac was trying to nail him for attacking Ava Jerome, but then, thanks to Mac’s wife – she tells him to call her Felicia – he realized Mac was asking questions because he used to be involved with Dominque Stanton, who was his mother. And Mac wanted to know… Mac says, if Cody is his son.
Amy asks what Austen is doing at the hospital. She didn’t see his name on the work schedule. He says he’s covering for somebody; he forgets who. He excuses himself and goes over to Mason, who’s sitting on bench. He says, Mason doesn’t get to summon him like this. He doesn’t work for Mason. Mason says, Austin is right. He doesn’t work for him, but they have the same employer. Austin says he quit that, but Mason says, that’s the thing about a family business; you don’t get to quit. Tonight it’s his turn to do the heavy lifting.
Jordan wonders if Portia has asked herself what happens if she says nothing, and Portia says, things will go on as they have been. Jordan says, that’s wishful thinking. Curtis doesn’t just share a home with Portia; he loves Portia and her daughter. Portia says, which means nothing has to change, and Jordan wonders if Portia’s asked herself what happens if Curtis finds a reason to suspect Trina is his daughter too. Portia doesn’t have to answer Jordan’s questions, but she won’t have that luxury with Curtis. She knows from her own experience how Curtis deals with secrets and lies. Don’t repeat her mistakes. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but one day this will come back to haunt her. Portia tells Jordan to stay out of her business. She’s going to handle her life her way. Jordan says she can’t predict what will happen if Portia comes clean with Curtis, but she knows for sure what will happen if Curtis finds out on his own, and Portia leaves.
Curtis asks if Ava told Trina about the Fellowship, and Ava says she did; she couldn’t wait. She needed something to lift Trina’s spirits after telling her that she’s closing the gallery. Trina tells Ava that she doesn’t know what to say, except thank you, and Ava says, like she told Trina, it was a team effort. Trina says her mom never told her that Curtis was into art before, and he says he’s more into keeping her safe. She asks what that means, and he says, he and Ava had a conversation about how the gallery lacks proper security. Such is not the case at The Chuck. Trina asks if Ava minds if she and Curtis step outside to talk, Ava says, of course (🍷), and they leave. In the hallway, Curtis asks, what’s up? and Trina says, she appreciates the opportunity, but can’t accept the Fellowship. She hands the letter to him.
Michael says he barely knows Dex, but he’s seen how he acts around Sonny, and Sonny asks, how’s that? Michael says, like a dog who’s been in the shelter for too long, and now he’s eager to please Sonny. So killing Brando makes no sense. Sonny says he doesn’t know. There a few people who he’s done good things for who have turned their back on him. They’ll see how it shakes out. Michael asks what he means, and Sonny says, he wants the guy with the hook, and Michael says, exactly. Not some wannabe who’s willing to deck Michael for talking back to the boss. What if Sonny targeting Dex leaves the killer out there with a free pass? Then someone else from the family Sonny claims to love is next on the list.
Sam says, shut Society Set-Ups down now before it’s too late, and Spinelli says he knows it’s the right thing to do, but his program actually works. She should see some of the testimonials that come across Zelda’s desk… Okay, his desk. Zelda’s just a figurehead; it’s not even her real name. People are grateful, they’re happy, and they’re satisfied, romantically, and in every other way because of him. She asks if the money is that good, and he says, yes, but it’s not just that. He feels like in some small way he’s helping to change the world for the better. She says, why doesn’t he tell that to Britt Westbourne and her string of losers? and he says, that was an earlier version, a beta version. He’s refined the program. She tells him, so he’s saying Britt’s perfect match is Cody?
Mac says, it took him a while to accept the possibility Cody could be his son, but he’s not afraid anymore. It sounds like Cody is; why is that? Cody tells him, who says he’s afraid? and Mac says, he’s been a cop long enough to recognize when somebody is hiding something. Maxie says, come on. Mac can’t seriously think Cody is some serial killer? Mac says, he’s not accusing Cody of having a hook up his sleeve, but he is a card player, right? Cody asks, who told him?… Yeah, if the stakes are high enough he’ll play. Mac asks what he’s playing for now, and Cody says he’s had enough of this. He starts to leave, and Felicia says, Cody could do worse than be a member of this family. As Maxie. Maxie says, they’re all right… She’s kidding; they’re the best. And there’s more of them. Felicia asks what Cody has to lose by finding out.
Austin tells Mason, when this is over, he’s done, understand? Done is done. All his debts will have been repaid. Mason says, it’s cute that Austin thinks it works like that. Amy calls over to Austin, and Mason says, showtime. Austin comes over to a man who’s waiting, and tells Amy, let’s get this gentleman into an exam room. She says she’ll call for an orderly, but Austin says he’ll take the man himself. Can he walk? The man says he thinks he can manage. He asks the man’s name, the man says, Gordon, and Austin leads him away as Mason watches.
Curtis tells Trina, the Murphy-Katz Fellowship is very prestigious, but she says, that’s not the issue. She can’t leave Ava right now; the gallery needs her more than ever. He says, Ava is going to close the gallery until whoever attacked her is caught, so what’s this really about? She sighs, and says, he didn’t ask her first, and he says, that’s fair. He was Trina to do something nice for her while keeping her safe. Ava realizes the guy with the hook is still out there, and it’s not safe for either one of them. She says she understands he meant well, but why didn’t he talk to her first? She’s a sophomore in college. She lives at the dorms. She’s not a kid. He says he understands that, but all he could think about was her working late nights at the gallery with no one to look out for her. Portia comes down the stairs, and Trina says, she looks out for herself. She knows he had good intentions, but he doesn’t get to make decisions about her life. Her dad doesn’t even get to do that anymore, and he’s certainly not her dad. Trina turns to see Portia.
Dante pours through a file, and Jordan asks, how’s it going? He says, good. He was just going over the forensics report, does she know how much blood Ava lost? She says, about one and a half liters? and Dante says, her attacker would have been covered in her blood. She says, that’s her assumption. Is this about a potential suspect? He says, Dex Heller, and she says she thought Dante questioned him. He says, he did, and he doesn’t think Dex is their guy, but there was that sound that Brando said he heard right before he was stabbed. He hands her a paper from Brando’s folder, and she says, some sort of metallic clicking. What about it? He says, Josslyn heard the same thing in the alley behind Charlie’s.
Dex moves the cart toward him with his foot, and kicks the knife roll to the floor. He keeps working at the rope around his wrists (my bad. The rope is black and I thought it was duct tape.) He’s suddenly doused with water, and Carver says, Dex is working too hard. It could be the death of him.
Sonny tells Michael, Dex is his employee. If he’s innocent, he has nothing to worry about. Ray says, Josslyn is here, and Sonny says, let her in. As she walks in, Josslyn says she told Ray he’d let her in. She hugs Michael and says she’s happy he’s here. She tells Sonny that she needs to see Dex.
Cody says, funny how he might be part of a whole new family. It’s a lot to take in. He missed out on a lot growing up; things he wanted and couldn’t get. As soon as they seemed like they were within reach, they either turned out to be wrong or a complete disappointment. So he doesn’t know if he wants to go down that road again. Maxie says she knows she’s not completely objective here, but he could do a lot worse than being related to Mac. If he is a part of this family. She stands between Felicia and Mac, putting her arms around them, and Felicia says, and she’s completely prejudiced, but he couldn’t do better than being a part of this family. Cody says, the three of them look pretty cozy, but still… Maxie says, but still what? and he says, what difference does knowing make? Maxie says, it makes all the difference in the world.
Ava asks Epiphany, what’s the latest? When is she going to get the hell out of here? Epiphany says, she’s anxious to get home, huh? and Ava says she doesn’t even know where that is. Epiphany tells her, they say home is where the heart is, and Ava says, for now she would settle for a breath of fresh air and a bit of moonlight. Epiphany says she thinks that could be arranged. Would Ava like a little light jazz music going in? Ava says, it sounds heavenly, and Epiphany laughs on her way out the door.
Portia says she doesn’t know what she just walked in on here, and Curtis says, just a difference of opinion. Trina says, Curtis was trying to help her, which she appreciates, but it wasn’t his decision to make. Curtis says he understands why Portia’s daughter feels this way, but he’s not going to apologize for wanting to keep Trina safe. If he overstepped his boundaries, he’s pretty sure that’s what her dad would have done. When he and her mother finally tie the knot, he’s going to be her stepdad. And honey, that comes with responsibilities.
Jordan asks if Dante thinks Dex’s dog tags could have made the sound Josslyn and Brando heard, and he says he thinks it’s a possibility. On the other hand, Joss is pretty positive that when Dex found her and Ava at the Quartermaines, he was wearing a clean white T-shirt. If he was Ava’s attacker, he would have been covered in blood. She says, what if he ditched his clothes? and he says, he thought about that, so he has people recanvassing the Quartermaine property. He’s also got a search warrant to check Dex’s apartment. She says, he doesn’t sound optimistic, and he says, the timing is off. And Joss is pretty positive that Dex didn’t do it. She asks if Josslyn has proof, but Dante says, she has good instincts, and he thinks in this case her instincts could be right.
Sonny tells Josslyn to have a seat, and they sit in a booth. He asks why she wants to see Dex; who is Dex to her? She says he found her and Ava when Ava was stabbed and bleeding at the Quartermaines. She screamed for help, and Dex was the first person to show up. He said they had to get Ava to the hospital, that they didn’t have time to wait for an ambulance, and that’s the difference that saved Ava’s life. She heard he left the PCPD with Sonny. Sonny says, she knows Dex works for him, and she says she also knows Dex was near all three of the attacks, but he’s not the person Sonny is looking for. Sonny asks, what makes her so sure? and she says, when Dex came over to help her with Ava, he was wearing a clean white T-shirt. Of course (🍷) when they got to GH, they were both covered in blood, but if Dex had been the attacker, he would have had blood on him from the start. Sonny says, he could have changed his clothes, but she says she doesn’t think he had time. She found Ava moments after she’d been attacked, and Dex showed up a minute later. He didn’t do it. He didn’t do it to Ava, Brando, or Diane.
As he wipes one of his knives off, Carver asks Dex, where were we? Right. Dex was going to answer some of his questions. He walks closer to Dex, and Dex kicks him in the stomach. Carver falls back, slamming against the door.
Epiphany brings Ava out of the elevator, and Ava says, there’s a full moon tonight. Epiphany says she bets it’s shining over Spring Harbor too, but Ava says she doubts it. Nothing ever shines bright over there; not for long anyway. Near the door, Marshall plays his clarinet, and Ava smiles sadly.
Trina guesses she has a lot to think about, and Curtis says, please don’t turn down this opportunity because she’s mad at him, or because he tried to help her. She says, noted, and leaves. Curtis tells Portia, be honest. Did he overstep? She says she doesn’t really know… and he says, she knows he likes Taggert. He’s not trying to take Taggert’s place. He just wants Trina to know she can count on him too, as they start to build their family together. They hug, and Portia flashes back to Jordan saying, she knows from her own experience how Curtis deals with secrets and lies. Don’t repeat her mistakes. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day this will come back to haunt Portia.
There’s a knock at Jordan’s office door, and she says, come in. Dante says he wanted to let her know he’s taking off for the night. But he’ll have his cellphone handy if she needs him for. She says, there’s nothing more they can do tonight, except hope Diane wakes up, and tells them something. She’ll see him in the morning. He says, goodnight, and leaves.
Sam asks Spinelli to tell her the truth. If his algorithm is so foolproof, how could it match two obviously mismatched people like Britt and Cody? He says, his program’s not at fault. Forgive him. He knows Cody is an old friend of Dante’s, but Cody coerced him into matching him with Britt. And he’s not sure Cody’s reason are entirely romantic.
Felicia says, there’s only one way to answer the question of whether Mac and Cody are father and son, but they both have to agree on it. Maxie says, it’s time for the DNA test.
As he puts gloves on, Austin asks Gordon, before they start, is there anything he needs to know about Gordon’s medical history? Mason walks in, and says, Austin doesn’t have to worry about doing the doctor motions. He knows what to do. Austin tells Gordon to lie down, and he does. Austin gets a syringe ready, and says, lucky him. He’s not going to feel a thing. I’m hoping they’re vampires or something, but I doubt it.
Sonny says it’s nice of Josslyn to look out for Dex. He’ll let Dex know the next time he sees him. He asks if Ray will drive Josslyn to Carly’s, or her dorm, or wherever she’d like to go, but Michael says he’ll make sure his sister gets home safe. Ray lets them out, and Michael lingers for a moment, looking around, but leaves.
Carver says, Dex surprised him, but it won’t happen again, and Dex says, stay away from me, freak. Carver says, Dex has a somewhat limited range of motion, and he can always call for back up. At times, he really enjoys his work; this is one. There’s a knock at the door, and Carver rolls his knives up again, and opens it. It’s Sonny, and Carver asks, what’s going on? Sonny says, they’re in a holding pattern. He’s doing some fact checking. Stay on call. Carver says, understood, closes the door, and tells Dex, saved by the bell… for now anyway. But don’t worry. He’ll be back to finish what he started. He leaves, and in the restaurant, Sonny ponders.
Tomorrow, Brook tells Chase, everything they’ve been working for is riding on tonight; Ava says, there’s something she and Elizabeth need to settle; and Victor visits Spencer and says, my God, what happened to you?
Southern Charm
It’s Christmastime in Charleston, and Craig is excited. He tells his employees, the tree is permanently on for the season. He tells them about the gala, and says he hopes they don’t get sick of Christmas music too soon. Everyone shops for what to wear to the party, and Olivia calls Leva, who’s setting up her new office. Olivia asks how she’s doing, since she didn’t go on the trip. Leva says, it was like she didn’t have the energy, and she wanted to be home with her kid. She heard bits and pieces from Naomie. Olivia says, the moody tornado named Craig got mean, and Leva says, that’s another reason she didn’t want to come. Thanksgiving hurt her feelings. When Craig goes for Naomie, she’s innately protective, but she doesn’t want to fight. She doesn’t think you should talk to people like that. Olivia asks if she’s going to the Winter Wonderland party. Olivia wants to have a good time, and dip in one piece, but Leva thinks that’s wishful thinking with this group.
Paige and Craig have cheese and wine before the fire, and he shows her mockups for the event. In Craig’s interview, he says he loves Christmas, and he’s dreamt about having a company big enough to have a company Christmas party. Paige asks if he’s doing a seating chart, but he says, no. Almost everyone knows each other, and they’re grown up enough to pick where to sit. Paige says, a seating chart is a way to control the chaos, and avoid random situations like Madison sitting with Olivia. She also wants the people around her to be who she wants. He tells her that he uninvited Naomie, and she says, she feels like if he doesn’t invite Naomie, it will become a bigger thing. She thinks it’s harsh, and makes him look petty. In his interview, he says he wants the gala to be happy and a celebration, and not deal with sh*t from the past. Paige thinks Craig should call and reinvite Naomie. It will be an olive branch, and show they can co-exist, but don’t need to be friends. Craig says, if Naomie wants to come, fine. They don’t need to interact.
Naomie and Madison visit Patricia to try out a chambong. In Patricia’s interview, she says, she’d never heard of it, but a friend gave it to her. You drink it all at once, and she thinks Madison is the perfect person to do it with, but she never gets high on champagne. She’s sure she could do five of them, and it would have no effect. Whitney joins them, and Patricia says she wants to see the girls do one first. They practically inhale the champagne, and Patricia says, it’s just a gulp. Whitney says he can’t look. Of all the indignities he’s suffered, this raises the top spot. They have some caviar, and Whitney dips his cracker into it. Naomie remarks that he treated the caviar like it was salsa, and they do another chambong. Patricia says, it’s a piece of cake, and Whitney hands them normal flutes of champagne, telling them, have fun, and getting out while he can. Naomie gets a call from Craig, who says he’s been going over final things for the winter gala, and he’d love for her to come. He’s sorry for the way he said those things. He should never elevate or raise his voice to anyone, let alone her. She’s more than welcome to come. She says she feels like they’ve had this conversation before, and it’s going to happen again. She doesn’t want to put herself in that kind of situation anymore. He says, it’s up to her, but he wanted to clear the air. She thanks him for calling, and he says he’ll see her if she comes. Patricia sits on the floor and says, don’t mind her. Madison asks what Naomie is going to do, but Naomie says she’s still not 100% sure she should go. Patricia says she would. Naomie’s friends are going to be there, and um… She thinks the champagne hit her and Madison says, they’re litty titty, about as lit as the Christmas tree. Patricia says she prefers sh*t faced, and Madison says, that works too.
Craig and Paige check out the venue, and agree it looks good, like an upscale prom. Craig thanks his business partner Amanda for doing this, and she shows them around. She asks where he wants everyone, but he says, it’s not like an event where no one knows anyone. They’re all friends. Amanda says, as long as he doesn’t think it will create drama, but Craig thinks having a seating chart will. She says, whatever keeps it calm, peaceful, and lovely, and Craig says, with this group, who knows? Little Craig! Taylor shows her dress to Shep, and they look at his rental tux. They go out on the patio, and Shep says he wants to talk. He’s genuinely happy, and thinks she is too. There are things he needs to work on. They’ve talked about it, and he wants her to be there with him. She says she will, and he says, her love and encouragement mean the world to him. He feel positive about her in his life. He likes not knowing what the future holds, but likes being with her not knowing. Everything that’s happened so far has gotten them here. It’s like a dream, and she’s the star of his dream. He wants to go places and have adventures, and what better way than with her? It sounds crazy, but he’s been thinking about it. Um… She waits, and he says he loves them together. He wants her to quit her job. He’ll take $30K of his money, put it in a joint account, and they’ll travel the world go until they run out, and then they’ll come home. Disappointment hangs heavy on all of us, except clueless Shep. In Shep’s interview, he says, traveling is the ultimate barometer. Bill Murray gave a speech here, and said, if you love someone, travel to places that are hard to get to and hard to get back from. If you still love each other when you get back to the airport, ask her to marry you. He tells her that it’s an investment in their future, but she says, that’s a lot. She doesn’t want to look like she’s traveling on his dime; she likes her independence. He says he knows it’s a leap of faith, but she’s into faith, and he thinks it will benefit their relationship. In Taylor’s interview, she says she thinks it’s every girl’s dream, but if Shep wants her to uproot her life and put all her eggs in one basket, she’ll have nothing to lean on except him. She doesn’t know how she feels about that. She tells him, it’s a lot to unpack, and she thinks she should think about it. What a d-bag Shep is.
Everyone gets ready for the party. Austen has underwear that looks like a tux, and he says, it makes his d*ck look huge. Craig says, Paige looks like a hot Cindy Lou Who. They go to the venue, and Paige tells him that he should be proud of himself. In Craig’s interview, he says his mind is still processing a lot. There are a lot of images going through his mind right now. We flash back to his pillow fails, and Naomie telling him that it’s stupid. He says, a lot of people that doubted Sewing Down South are going to be in this room tonight. It’s a little bit fun to be like, ha-ha. Who didn’t believe in him? Look at this. Venita arrives with friend Tati, and everyone admires each other’s outfits, especially Marcie, who looks fabulous two weeks after giving birth. Olivia calls Austen from the limo, and he says, this is how he always dreamed it would be; her picking him up for a big party. She tells him, his chariot awaits. In Austen’s interview, he says, he likes Olivia a lot, and thinks they can be something. He says, tell Robin she ain’t coming home tonight. At the party, Madison brings best friend Erika, and Marcie shows off pictures of Baby Edie. She says, Edie is a sweet baby, but people are saying, just wait. Craig tells Whitney that he invited Whitney’s girl. Whitney says, that’s magnanimous of him. Shep says he heard Patricia got drunk with the girls, and Patricia says she got sh*t faced. Shep says, welcome to our world. Craig says he’s taking it all in, and Austen says, a lot of people are eating crow at this moment. Naomie comes in with the other Madison, and in his interview, Craig says he has to laugh. Naomie thought him leaving law to sew was the biggest clown idea ever. Now she’s walking into his company Christmas party. I hate to tell him, but having a company party doesn’t mean you’ve made it. He thanks her for coming, and apologizes for the disinvite. He tells her, no one is on the blacklist, and in Naomie’s interview, she says, it feels awkward, but she came on the principle that she’s not allowing Craig to force her out of a friend group they’re both in.
Craig mingles, and everyone is astounded at how Marcie has bounced back after having the baby. Naomie goes to the bar, and Venita follows her. She says she’s happy Naomie came, and Naomie says, it was dodgy there for a second. Venita asks how they are, and Naomie says, they’re good. She drifts away, and Venita tells Tati that she thinks Naomie is avoiding her. Tati says, 100%, and thinks Venita needs to pull her, as uncomfortable as it is. Kathryn arrives with friend Jake, who she calls her new best man. I have no idea what that means, but I don’t think it means boyfriend. Craig tells Leva his ideas are impulsive, but he knows they’re going to work, and she says, ideas are the easy part. Marcie talks babies with Kathryn, then asks Taylor if she’s going to travel with Shep. Taylor says she has a house with a mortgage she needs to pay, and Marcie suggests she rent it out. Taylor says, it’s a lot, but he gears are turning. Shep tells the guys that he wants to show Taylor the world until the money runs out; then they’ll come home. Craig asks, then what’s next? When the money is gone, Taylor doesn’t have a job, and has no independence. Shep thinks it’s a great step. Venita asks Naomie for a second, and says she cares about Naomie, so cut the sh*t. If Naomie thinks she’s being a pet, tell her. Naomie says, another time, but Venita (as usual) keeps going, saying, they’ve known each other a long time. Naomie says, but it’s not a deep friendship. She was in an uncomfortable position at dinner, and Venita did nothing because she only cares about herself and how she feels. She’s being honest. Venita says, don’t shut her down. She’s coming to Naomie as a friend, and Naomie is walking away. Naomie says, right now, they’re not friends, and in Naomie’s interview, she says she was feeling hurt and attacked at the dinner table, and Venita showed her true colors. In Venita’s interview, she says, she and Naomie have history. It’s not going to be an easy one to get over. She hugs Tati.
Patricia says, they’re just here for cocktails; she has to go. Whitney says he’ll drive her, and then come back. Craig notices seats have been claimed with purses, and says, maybe they should have done a seating chart. Um… yeah, since everyone is really confused. Craig shuffles people around to seat Austen with Olivia. He moves some more people, and Naomie says, it’s so annoying. Craig says, she didn’t have to come, and Naomie thanks him for making her feel awkward. He says he can only do so much, and in Naomie’s interview, she says, one would think even if there’s no seating chart, there would be room for people at the table. She feels it’s tit for tat. He’ll invite her to the party, but she can’t sit with them. It feels fishy. In Leva’s interview, she says she’d never have an event with a seating chart. It’s like Craig is deliberately making his ex-girlfriend feel stupid. She, the other Madison, and Naomie sit at their own table, and Leva says she wonders why she’s friends with some people; they’re f***ing toxic. Craig tells Shep, they’re throwing a hissy fit, and Shep says, it’s the seating. In Craig’s interview, he says, this is his party and he’ll have fun if he wants to. They’re trying to keep him from having fun. He tells Shep, it’s fine; they can sit by themselves. The food is served, and Craig says, sh*t happens. Madison says, Leva (who is wearing a midriff-baring outfit) didn’t get the memo. It’s Winter Wonderland not slutty ho. WTF? She and Kathryn talk smack about Leva, and Olivia says, she doesn’t like the mean girl energy. How about 14-year-old mean girl energy? That wasn’t even a sophisticated insult. Shep asks Taylor to say the blessing, but she passes the ball back to him. He wonders if they should hold hands around the table, and they awkwardly do. He says, God… um… Are you listening? Thank You for all the friends here, and thank You for the beautiful setting, and wonderful drinks and food. Shep asks that they all be happy, and get to the new year, and have an even greater new year after that. Long time, no see, God. Leva says, it’s the dinner from hell.
Craig gets up, and tells the room that he’d like to say a few words to the people from his past, his present, and the people who will be in his future. He thanks the people who helped turn his vision into a brand, and says, Shep said he was an idiot, but stuck with him and pushed him through. Shep says he’s welcome, and Craig thanks them, and says he loves sharing what he’s built with everyone. Everyone applauds, and Olivia says, he didn’t thank the wife. Naomie gets a drink, and sees Whitney. She tells him that she probably should leave; it’s awkward. Taylor and Shep come close to arguing over whether dessert is crème brûlée or flan. Leva tells Amanda that Craig is out of line, and Craig whines that Leva is talking to his business partners, Amanda and Jerry. He yells over that Amanda doesn’t have to talk to her. Leva can leave. She’s acting like a child. It’s his business and she’s making it about her.
I realize I have the same sparkly reindeer that are in one of the displays. Craig says, Leva threw a hissy fit, as he throws a hissy fit, and she says, he’s so rude. He tells her, if she’s not happy, she can leave. In Leva’s interview, she says, he’s not Elon Musk. Keep it real. People who have put their blood, sweat, and tears into a business, aren’t screaming at a business gala. He looks like an a-hole. She tells him that he went from 0 to 100, and he says, no, you. She says, everyone here has seen him go from 0 to 100, and he says he’s kindly asking her to leave. Why is she at his party? She wasn’t invited. She says she has a business on the same street, and she’s talking to the people who actually run his business, which is not him. She calls him a clown, and he says he’ll have security escort her out. She says she’s leaving. He says he’s sorry it got to this point, sounding like someone’s dad, telling her, go home, go home, and pointing at the door. She asks if he wants her to run, and calls him a loser as she leaves. He says, what an embarrassing way to go out, totally ignoring the fact that he just embarrassed himself all over the place. What was it Naomie said about his self-awareness? Oh yeah, he has none. Paige says, it was rude of Leva. That’s Christmas. Madison says, it was awesome, and Olivia says she’s such a bitch, and gets up. She tells Madison, good talking to you, and when Madison says, you too, Olivia gives her the finger as she leaves. Naomie follows, and they see Leva outside. Naomie asks if Leva needs someone, but Leva says she’s done, and keeps walking. Naomie tells Olivia, they can’t force her to stay.
Ten minutes later. Whitney sings Silent Night badly into a microphone, and Olivia tells Austen, she loves this band. Shep says he doesn’t understand, and Taylor thinks maybe it’s telling them to get out of the country.
Three months later. We see Shep and Taylor posting on Instagram about their trip. The text tells us that Shep convinced Taylor to quit her job. But when they returned to Charleston, there was trouble in paradise. We see headlines saying, Shep and Taylor broke up after two years; he refused to commit; it’s assumed he was unfaithful. We read, good thing Shep never deactivated his dating profile, and we see that too. Good luck to whoever gets stuck with him next. Taylor deserved better, and I hope she finds it.
Next time, the Reunion, Craig rips his pants, and he doesn’t wear underwear; Andy says he heard Austen was boring in bed; Madison says, Thomas and Olivia once hooked up, and Olivia asks if she pulled that out of her fake ass; Madison tells Venita, f*** you; Kathryn throws a mini fit; and Taylor says, there were 300 whores, and she’s the whore who stuck around. I see Madison is just as delightful as she was the last Reunion.
🚶🏽♀️ Emigrating the Building…
Make a return appearance tomorrow for soap, tea for as many as you’d like, words to take heed of, and something to listen to. Until then, stay safe, stay treating all people with dignity, and stay making a seating chart. It’s a way to control the chaos, and avoid random situations.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 