(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
In a voiceover, Judith says, the only way she’s known is to fight. They’ve done so much, but there’s so much more to do. She wants to believe there’s hope, but together there’s hope. Isn’t there?
Maggie struggles to get out of the zip tie on her wrists, as the guard snoozes. She frees herself, then Gabriel, who frees Rosita, but the guard wakes up. Gabriel and Rosita jump out, and Maggie gets the guard’s gun, shooting the two troopers in front, and tossing the guard out the back. The truck crashes, and Maggie gets out, ducking down as the rest of the caravan passes crash.
Gabriel and Rosita lie in the woods, as the one of the troopers reanimates. Gabriel leaps up, shoving the zombie away from Rosita, and she slices its head open from behind. Gabriel asks if she’s okay, and she says, she’s been better. Him? He says he’s been worse. He takes the trooper’s radio, and a call comes in. The caller says, there’s been no sign of 525 and the escapees, but they found a set of boot tracks that looks like they might be 525’s. Gabriel and Rosita jet.
On the bus, Ezekiel comes to, and takes his hood off. The others slowly do the same. They hear banging, and when it stops, Ezekiel asks if everyone is all right. Kelly asks how long they were out for, and he says he doesn’t know, but his neck is still sore from the injection. Negan says, no sign of Maggie, Gabriel, or Rosita, and Annie says, the trucks are being unleaded. They stopped for a few minutes, and there was a crash. Does he think it was them? A guy gets on the bus, and tells them, welcome. Today is the day of a new beginning. The world works when everybody knows their place. Their place is at the bottom. The resources they used bring old world back sustains the Commonwealth. Their labor will be appreciated, and is their redemption; their salvation. The children safe, and if they play by the rules, they’ll see them again. They must work as one. Here, nobody has a name. There’s no need for them. He’s not going to tell them his name, and they won’t address each other by theirs. If he points to them, they’re to stand up, and go to the rear. Some troopers open the back of the bus, and he picks people out. He points to Annie, but not Negan, and Negan tells her that he’s going to get them out of here, all three of them. The guy tells those left on the bus that the others are being transported to another site. The one on the bus are going to work until the tracks are clear. If they work hard, they’ll be protected by the Commonwealth. Although they’ve been delivered from the utopia of the Commonwealth, it’s better to be here than the wasteland. One of the troopers tells them, get to work.
Maggie wanders in the woods, and sees a child zombie. She flashes back to seeing him when he was alive, and picks up a rock, but walks past him.
Gabriel asks Rosita, what’s the plan? and she says, to follow the convoy. He says, then what? There’s only two of them. What are they going to do? Knock on the door and ask for their daughter? She says, if he has a better idea, she’s all ears. She suggests splitting up, but he says, no way, he’s not leaving her, and she says, then come on. A couple of zombies come out of the woods, and Gabriel kills them, but Rosita gets knocked down in the melee. She says, her arm is dislocated, and tells him what to do. He pops it back in, which is obviously painful, and she gets up. She starts walking, and he tells her that she needs to rest. What good is torturing herself? She asks, what she always says to him, and he says, quit bitching, and move forward. They hear a train, but Gabriel says, it can’t be a train.
Daryl looks through binoculars at the train, and tells Carol, there’s six of them. Carol wonders if they should follow the train, but Daryl says, if they hang back, they’ll be fine. He sees a trooper bring Connie over, and the trooper says, he received a call, and she’s not a worker, but a Designation Two. Get her there safely. Carol wonders what the designation is, but Daryl says, they can’t bust her out, so they’ll look for the kids. She says, they should follow the train, and get everyone out at once.
They drive to the nearest junction, and Carol suggests they sit tight until the train gets there. Daryl says he doesn’t think he can, but she says, when she saw Connie get on the train, she thought the same thing he did; the cave. Does he remember what Kelly said when her sister disappeared? He says, they can’t help anyone if they’re dead, and she says, if they go it alone, they might make the same mistakes again. He tells her, all right, and she takes his hand.
Maggie hears a motorcycle and hides. A trooper stops, and radios that the crossing is clear, and there’s no sign of the escapees. He’s moving to the next stop. The zombie kid toddles toward him, and he raises his gun, but Maggie jumps out, and gives him a sharp stick to the armpit. She gets him down, kills him, and grabs his gun. Since no good deed goes unpunished, the zombie kid grabs at her. She fends him off for a while, then puts him in a hold. She cradles him for a moment, then tells him, it’s all right, and stabs him in the head. Carol and Daryl drive up.
Maggie tells Carol that they just ripped Herschel away from her. She wasn’t strong enough. Carol says, she’s just one person, but Maggie says, it’s on her. The not knowing is worse. She cries, and Carol tells her again, she’s just one person. Maggie says, it doesn’t matter, and Carol holds her as she sobs. Carol says, she barely saw Daryl after she got her job at the Commonwealth. They were doing their own thing like in the old world. After the fall, they were forced to become a family. Pamela had to come at them when they were separated. What does that say? Maggie tells her, that they scared the sh*t out of them, and Carol says, they’re not alone anymore. Rosita and Gabriel come out of the woods, and Gabriel says, they heard a train. Rosita asks where Daryl is, and Carol says, inside
In the depot, a trooper sits against the wall, covered in blood. Daryl tells him that he’s running out of time. Do something good in the time he has left. Where is the train going? He has a friend on it, and she’s Designation Two. What does that mean? He was like the trooper once, and joined the force when his family needed money. He’s guessing that’s the trooper’s story too. They took his kids, and he wants them back. He kicks the trooper, and the others come in. Carol says, the train is going to be here soon, and Daryl asks if the trooper wants to die quick or screaming. Gabriel says he knows the trooper. Every Sunday in the back pew, closest to the door. He came in late, and left early. It seemed like he wanted to talk about something. The trooper asks if God forgives people like him, and Gabriel says he wishes he knew. The trooper says he has guilt and shame, and Gabriel says, that’s because he’s a coward. He’s trying not to be, but fear can cause us to do things that make us feel shame. Or he can push to the light, and die trying to do the right thing. The trooper says he’s trying to have peace, and Gabriel says he wishes he had peace too. People remember the last thing you do. The end of a story is important. How does he want his to end? The trooper says, they punish exiles by making them do hard labor. Their friends are on railway duty. Daryl asks, where? but the trooper says he doesn’t know. He got called when the three escaped. They have to follow the train. He’s heard rumors that those in Designation Two are taken far away and never seen again. Daryl and Maggie go back outside, and he asks Gabriel to pray with him while he goes. Gabriel asks Carol to give them a minute, and takes out his Bible.
Daryl wants to get Connie off the train, but Rosita says, they’ll radio ahead. The the best way to get everyone out is them not knowing they’re coming. He says, they can’t leave her, but Carol thinks there’s a way do both.
While working on the railroad all the livelong day, Kelly tells Ezekiel, there are three guards. They can run; the troopers can’t catch them all. Ezekiel says, don’t do anything, and a trooper tells them, stop talking, and keep working. Negan says, his wife is on the bus, and the trooper whacks him with a stick. He says, they stop to eat and sleep. Keep working. Some of the group make a break for it, and Kelly starts to go too, but Ezekiel grabs her. The troopers shoot the escapees, and Negan looks supremely pissed.
There’s a train delay – zombie on the tracks. A trooper gets out and kills it. He walks over to a lever, but it won’t budge. He radios the engineer, and says, there’s stuck junction switch. Another zombie comes along, and he stabs it through one of its nostrils. The engineer radios Outpost 22, while Maggie slips on the train. Another trooper comes outside, and asks, how hard can it be? The trooper on the tracks says, come over here and he’ll show him. Daryl and Carol crawl under the train to the other side, while the troopers deal with more zombies. Maggie ties up the engineer, and a trooper comes in, saying, the woods are cleared; he’s heading back. Maggie grabs his gun, and outside, the skeptical trooper tries to pull the switch, and the other one mocks him, saying, how hard can it be? The other trooper says, it’s bent; somebody jammed it. Everybody needs to get back here now. Carol shoots at them, and a gunfight ensues, bullets pinging off of everything metal. Maggie shoots at a trooper, and Daryl comes at him, but he brings out Connie, holding a gun to her head. He tells Daryl to drop his weapon, and asks if Daryl cut the wire or shut it off. Answer him. It’s the old if you’re gonna shoot, shoot don’t talk situation, and Connie knocks his gun out of his hand, then grabs it. Daryl checks Connie out, and puts her on the train. The trooper gets away on a motorcycle, and they shoot at him, but miss. Daryl gets another bike, and takes off after him. The trooper rides into the woods, and Daryl follows. The trooper gets off the bike, and goes under a huge fallen tree branch, but even though Daryl is knocked off his bike, he reaches under the branch. He knocks the trooper down, and kills him.
Daryl and Maggie bring the engineer inside the depot, and he says his family lives in a nearby outpost. If the warden finds out he helped them – he looks at the dead trooper – he’ll end up like his friend. Daryl says, they took his children. He has a family. The engineer tells them, there’s a map in the engine room. Daryl goes to get it, and signs to Connie that he thought he wasn’t going to see her again. She signs back, she’s not going anywhere. Outside, the engineer holds a sharp stick to his throat, and tells Carol and Maggie, if he helps them, his wife and kids will die. Carol says, they’ll injure him just enough make it look like he barely got away, but he says, they’ll know he lied, and kill his family. He can’t. He’s sorry. He stabs himself in the neck, and everyone is bummed.
Gruel is served to the railway laborers for dinner, and Negan sits near Ezekiel, telling him, don’t turn around. Ezekiel asks what Negan wants, and Negan says, to get on the same page. Ezekiel says, he stayed away from Negan for years for a reason, but Negan says, he’s going to have to shelve that sh*t. Ezekiel says, melting people’s faces with irons, coercing women into marrying him, slaughtering Ezekiel’s people. That sh*t he has not forgotten. Negan says, neither has he. He probably deserves to be in a place like this. But the others don’t, especially his wife and baby. Ezekiel asks where they were taken, but Negan doesn’t know. He needs to find her; he promised. He’s coming to Ezekiel as a soon-to-be father and a man who’s led people. He’s asking Ezekiel to put that sh*t aside, and work together for everyone, Ezekiel asks what he’s thinking, and Negan says, he knows the warden’s playbook, using fear as a weapon. Ezekiel asks if he’s going to scare them into an uprising, but Negan says, that only works if you’re the one with the gun. Fear doesn’t work, but hope does, That’s Ezekiel’s thing, not his. Ezekiel says, they thrive by separating people and breaking them down. They need a spark that reaches their hearts and wakes them up. He doesn’t know how to do that; they can barely talk to each other. Negan says he can get Ezekiel a spark, but when he does, Ezekiel ought to know, he doubts he’ll getting out with them. Ezekiel asks what he means, but a trooper says, back to work. Now. Negan asks if Ezekiel is with him, and Ezekiel says, he’s with Negan… for now.
Connie signs to Daryl, asking him which way the others went, but he signs, he doesn’t know. Connie signs, Kelly is with them. She can’t lose her. Daryl signs, they won’t. He promises they’ll get her out. Connie signs, how? and Rosita says, they’re going back to the train, and getting the radio back up.
The trooper tells the railway workers to pack it in and load up. A zombie comes out of the woods, and the trooper shoots it, then tells them, move it along.
Rosita radios outpost 22, saying, the train she was on was overtaken. She’s lost in the woods, and needs help. She waits, then radios again, and an operator asks, what’s her original setback and location? Rosita says, junction seven. She’s the last one left. She needs to get home. The woman says, damn. Don’t worry. They’ll get her home. Does she still have her compass? Rosita says she does, and the woman tells her, head north through the woods until she reaches a bridge. Cross it, and go to Packard Avenue, then head south to where is breaches to Highway 30. Eventually, she’ll reach a suburban neighborhood. There’s a section shored up with walls, and she’ll see friendly faces in the guard tower. Go to the northeast gate, and they’ll let her in. She’s sorry they don’t have a spare vehicle to pick her up, but they have a convoy coming for reprocessing. Governor’s orders. Rosita asks if she just said they have a convoy coming in for reprocessing, and the woman says, word is some of the processees used to live here before the Commonwealth took over the territory and turned it into an outpost back when it was still called Alexandria. Keep eye out for hostiles, but if she has to engage, shoot to kill. Watch her six, and Godspeed. There’s silence for a moment, and Maggie says, Milton has underestimated us since day one. We’re going to get our kids, take back our home, and make it right. And Pamela will never see it coming.
Next time – 3 episodes left – Negan tries to save Annie; Rosita says, they need to go in now; Eugene’s trial happens; and Ezekiel says, this world is broken, but they don’t have to be.
Some of these are quite original. I was at Halloween karaoke last night, and the first place winner of the costume contest was a couple doing Barbie and Ken, complete with boxes. I thought they deserved it just for having to stand all night.
When you’re done trick or treating, drop by for some soap and what’s on Deck tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay doubly safe on Halloween, and stay not bitching, but moving forward.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Brook wakes up, and Chase is already up. He says he wanted to let her sleep in, and she asks why she’d want to when she could spend her morning with him. He gets back in bed, and they kiss.
On the phone at the hospital, Britt says, if an inmate needs treatment, bring her in. Just make sure she has a guard and orderly with her at all times. TJ asks for a private word, and they go where there are no people. She asks, what’s on his mind? and he says he hasn’t heard from Willow in several days. He’s starting to get concerned.
In the nook, Willow says, her one and only cup of coffee for the day, and Michael says he loves how conscientious she’s being with this pregnancy. He can’t believe it’s time for her second trimester check-up. She says she almost felt like they woudn’t get here, and he says, here’s hoping they get wonderful news today. She says, there’s a lot she wants to share with him today, when Ned comes in, saying, Michael saved him a phone call. Valentin has been missing in action for several days, so ELQ is still without it’s CEO. Is that something Michael orchestrated, or was it Drew?
Drew and Carly kiss in her kitchen, and she says, they’re back. She thanks him for helping her, and he thanks her for letting him help. He kisses her again, and I look desperately for the moss bowl 🎍, since I’m bored. He asks if she’s ready to hear some I told you so’s from their friends, and she says, all the people who said they saw sparks between them? No. She wants to hold off on telling anyone. She kind of likes having him all to herself.
Before Josslyn leaves, she asks Cameron if he’s sure Jake and Aiden don’t know she spent the night. He says, they were asleep when she got here, and left early for some pre-school activities, so he thinks they’re good. And she’s perfect. He kisses her, and says he knows this last year was rough for them, but he’s glad they’re finding their footing again… unless he’s going too fast. She says, not at all. She just remembered it’s Oscar’s birthday. He says he understands, and they walk out on the porch to find Finn.
Sitting alone in Terry’s car, Elizabeth remembers when she was a teenager, saying, she hates her family and hates everyone. Terry gets in the car, and says, Elizabeth’s mom and dad were shocked to hear from her, and more shocked to find out she was in town. Elizabeth asks if they’re going to meet with Terry, and Terry says, yes. She asks if everything is okay, and Elizabeth says, they’re at her parents’ house. She hasn’t been anywhere near them in decades. Terry says, it’s okay if she wants to go back, but Elizabeth says, no. She needs to find out the truth about what happened, once and for all.
As Brook gets dressed, she wonders why it can’t be the weekend. She and Chase could just stay in bed, and never leave this room. Still in bed, Chase says, that would be absolutely fine with him, but she’s the one who said they have to prep to meet Linc’s big pop star. Although he’d be happy to push that. She says, not on his life, but there’s no reason they can’t prep for the meeting in here. She goes to the door, and he asks where she’s going. She says, to get them some coffee and pastries. Don’t bother getting dressed.
Michael says, Valentin is a Cassadine, and they tend to go missing under murky circumstances, so what exactly does Ned think he did to Valentin? Olivia walks in with some pastries, and Ned says, called immigration; had him stopped at customs. Just like his dad did to Jax. Michael says he’s nothing like his father, but Ned says, he and Sonny are exactly alike, and Olivia says, that’s enough. Willow asks where she’s going, and Olivia says, to get reinforcements. She leaves, and Willow says, come on. It’s a big day for her and the baby. Can they focus on that?
Drew leaves, Bobbie comes in, and I see the glorious moss bowl 🎍, so all is right with the world. Bobbie asks, who was at the door? and Carly says, Drew. Bobbie says she didn’t realize they were flying back this morning, and Carly says, now that everything is reconciled with Virginia, she can focus on her family here. Bobbie says she thinks it’s really beautiful what Carly did for Virginia; scattering her ashes by the ocean. Carly says, it felt right. Bobbie coming to Jacksonville meant a lot. She knows it couldn’t have been east with that local station dredging up her past with Aunt Ruby. Bobbie says, she knows who she is, and owns her past, even the unsavory parts. She was more concerned about it being weaponized against Carly, but when she got to Jacksonville, she realized Carly already had all the support she needed with Drew.
Finn apologizes to Cameron for stopping by unannounced, but he was on his way to the hospital, and thought he’d stop by to check in. How are Aiden and Jake? Cameron says, they left already; they had some stuff to do before school. His mom asked Finn to check on them, didn’t she? Finn says, maybe. Got any proof? Josslyn says she’s going to go. She tells Cameron she’ll see him on campus, and tells Finn, it’s good to see him. She leaves, and Cameron invites Finn inside. He says, Josslyn just stopped by to drop off some books he needed before class, and Finn says, that’s his story, and he’s sticking to it? Cameron says, yeah, and Finn says, Cameron is a sophomore in college. He gets the plot. Joss spent the night here, didn’t she? Cameron says, maybe. Got any proof?
Terry says she thinks Jeff and Carolyn are going to have as many questions for her as she does for them. The coffee shop they agreed to is just around the corner, so they can’t count on traffic delays. She’ll stall them as long as possible. Is Elizabeth sure she knows her parents’ alarm code? Elizabeth says, they’ll see, but they never changed it when she was growing up, and Terry asks what she’s looking for, but Elizabeth isn’t sure. She thinks it’s one of those she’ll know it when she sees it kind of things. Both of her parents kept diaries of their years abroad. She’s just hoping it’s enough to help her connect the dots. Like how they all knew Reiko, who turned out to be Finn’s first wife. How could she have forgotten? Terry says, Elizabeth has been raising three boys, mostly by herself, along with a full-time career as a nurse. It makes sense to her why Elizabeth forgot the connection. Elizabeth says, they’re literally sitting in front of her parents’ house. There’s no way she can turn back now.
Out of the shower, Chase loses his towel and gets back in bed, striking a sexy pose. Olivia walks in, covers her eyes, blesses herself, then covers her eyes again.
Ned says, the merger was nothing more than an excuse to marginalize him, and Michael says, they offered Ned the job of COO; that’s hardly marginal. He asks if Brook can weigh in here, because her dad is going in circles. She says, just pretend she’s not here. She’s just getting a little breakfast to go. Ned asks why she’s holding two cups of coffee, when Olivia walks in, saying, it’s her bad, Chase following. She tells him, please forget she saw anything, and he says, he’s so sorry she saw anything. He thought she was – he sees everyone looking at them – Brook Lynn. Ned asks, what’s going on? and Olivia says she was looking for Brook and forgot to knock, and walked in on Chase. Ned says, in a guest room, and Brook says she and Chase spent the night together.
Bobbie says, now that they have their coffee, back to Drew, and Carly says, she didn’t ask Drew to come to Florida; he showed up on his own. And it turns out, he was exactly the friend she needed. Bobbie says, so Carly is telling her that he’s just a friend? and Carly asks what’s going on with Bobbie’s wrist here? Bobbie says, it’s nothing serious. She was on her laptop on the plane, and her carpal tunnel’s been acting up. Carly massages Bobbie’s wrist, and asks how it feels. Bobbie says, better, thanks, and Carly says she still remembers some of her physical therapy training. Now that she’s starting over, she could renew her PT license, or finish her nursing degree. Bobbie says, that’s a very different path than running a luxury hotel, and Carly says, maybe not nursing school, but physical therapy can be fun. At least until she figures out her next passion project. Bobbie says she’s sure it won’t be long before Carly finds her next inspiration.
Drew goes to the rock in Oscar’s Meadow, and says he got back just in time for Oscar’s birthday. He didn’t want Oscar to think he’d forgotten. Oscar still inspires him. When things were bleak and so hopeless, he would just think that Oscar never gave up – never – and neither should he. On those bad days, he would close his eyes, and visualize Oscar’s face; his and Scout’s. And that’s the only way he survived, and managed to see the light again, even if it shines more dimly in a world without him in it. Josslyn arrives with flowers, and hugs Drew.
Britt says, Willow is TJ’s friend, but not his patient, and TJ says, but he’s been staying in regular touch with Willow about her condition. Unofficially, of course (🍷). He knows Willow is in her second trimester, and from what he understands, that’s what she was waiting for before starting her leukemia treatment. Britt asks what he’s looking for from her, and he says he noticed Willow had an appointment this morning. He was hoping he could sit in on a consult. She says, Willow does have an appointment with her this morning about her pregnancy. If Willow wants him to be there for moral support, it’s Willow’s choice, but let her be very clear. He would be there as Willow’s friend only. He says, yes, but, and she tells him, there are no yes, buts. She knows it’s a very difficult situation. On their best days as doctors, they provide a binary option of right and wrong, but on other days, the patient is left with an option of doing the least harm. And what they might think is the most palatable outcome, won’t be the same for every patient. It might not even be the same course they’d use for themselves or advise for their loved ones. It’s what’s right for that patient. And as doctors, they might not always agree, but they must respect the patient’s choices.
Elizabeth says, it’s been so long, she can’t remember the last time she saw her parents in person, and Terry asks, how long has it been again? Elizabeth says, over 20 years, and Terry asks why Elizabeth never told her that she was hurting. Elizabeth says, how do you explain your parents put the greater good over their own children? and Terry says, she doesn’t owe anyone an explanation. Elizabeth says, not to the world, but she owes one to herself. There are way more secrets being kept from her than she realizes. She thanks Terry for helping her, for coming all this way, and giving her the space to process it all, and Terry says, sometimes all a person needs is a little space and grace. She’s got Elizabeth. Terry’s phone dings, and she says, it’s Jeff and Carolyn. They’re at the coffee shop. Elizabeth says, this is it.
Josslyn says she didn’t know Drew was back in town, and he says, he and her mom just landed a couple hours ago; he just dropped her off at the house. He knows she’d love to see Josslyn. She says she hopes she didn’t interrupt his visit, but he says, no. He and Oscar just had a nice little chat, and he was on his way out. He’ll give her some privacy. He starts to leave, then says, his son’s life was cut way too short, but it was rich and full of meaning because she was in it. He thanks her for that, and leaves.
Bobbie says she’s always admired Carly’s resilience, her fierce spirit, and especially her tenacity. Carly says, even on days Bobbie wanted to kill her? and Bobbie says, it’s not always easy being Carly’s mother. That’s something she and Virginia Benson both understood. Still, she knows it won’t be long before Carly discovers her next chapter, and she can’t wait to read it.
Chase says, this is beyond embarrassing, and Brook says, now every woman in this house has seen her boyfriend naked. Olivia laughs nervously, and says, she doesn’t think Monica has, and it’s her house. Chase says, Alan gave it to her, and I die laughing. I love an ongoing soap joke. Michael tells Chase, it sounds like he’s going to fit in fine here, and suggests they go outside. On the patio, he tells Chase, welcome to your latest super awkward Quartermaine family moment. He’s sure Chase had plenty of those while pretending to be Bailey’s father. Michael’s phone rings, and he says, it’s Aurora. He has to take this. He steps away, and Chase tells Willow, he’s sorry. He didn’t mean to make things weird. She says, no. She’s happy for him; for him and Brook both. She kisses his cheek, and he says he hopes she knows how happy he is for her and Michael. Olivia comes out, and says, that felt like a father/daughter moment. What happened to Michael?
Brook tells Ned not to get patriarchal on her. If he has issues with this going on under the same roof, there’s nothing preventing him from moving out. He says he’s sorry if he made her feel like she needed to sneak around. Did she feel that way because of his reaction to her and Valentin? She says, Ned sure had an about-face on Valentin.
Willow says, Michael had to take a work call, and Olivia asks if Willow doesn’t have a doctor’s appointment. She’ll drive Willow over, and Michael can meet them there. Text him their plan. She goes back in, and Chase says, before she goes, maybe he can be Uncle Chase to her new little one. Put in a good word for him.
Terry says she’ll stall them for as long as she can, and Elizabeth thanks her. They hug, and Terry asks if Elizabeth is sure she knows how to pick her front door lock. Elizabeth says, it’s been a while, but she used to be good at it. If she remembers, she taught Terry that skill in high school. Terry says, Elizabeth was a bad influence on her back then, but she hasn’t been that girl for a very long time. Does she think she still has it in her? Elizabeth flashes back to when she was a bad girl and smoking cigarettes, and says, she better be. She gets out of the car.
Cameron says, Finn was right before. It’s actually none of his business. Finn tells him, relax. He’s not here to give Cameron the talk; clearly, he knows the drill. And it’s not his place to tell Cameron’s mom either. Although Cameron might want to come clean at some point. Cameron says, Finn is probably right. He can’t imagine his mom is going to be in the best headspace when she comes back. Finn says he thinks she’ll be more relaxed after enjoying the spa and hotel, and Cameron says, maybe, but it might not be easy spending time in the city where Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Carolyn live. Finn says, what? and Cameron says, Finn didn’t know, did he?
Willow checks in with Britt, who says, Dr. Ashford asked to sit in on their check-up if she’s comfortable with that. Willow says, of course (🍷). TJ is her friend, and she knows he’s still deciding on a specialty. Britt says, let’s go to an exam room, and Olivia asks if Willow wants her to stick around. Willow says, it’s sweet of her to offer, but no.
Ned says he can see Brook is still upset with him about siding with Valentin against Michael and Drew, and she says, sometimes it feels like it was all for nothing. He says he doesn’t want her to ever feel that way, and she says, she also learned there’s a different side to Valentin, when they were raising Bailey together. It really proved the point to her that none of us are all good or all bad. He says he appreciates her saying that, when Drew comes in. He says he’s sorry; he didn’t mean to interrupt. Brook says, she and her father were just having a moment of understanding, but she has to grab Chase and get to work. She leaves, and Ned says, the staff expected Drew back a few hours ago. Drew says, it’s Oscar’s birthday today, so he stopped by Oscar’s marker in the Meadow. Ned says, of course (🍷). He’s sorry. He didn’t remember the date. Drew says he hasn’t forgotten how incredible Ned and Olivia were to Oscar in his final days. So for Oscar’s sake, can they find a way to put aside their differences and fix what’s broken in this family?
Cameron can’t believe his mom didn’t tell Finn that she was going to be staying in the same town her parents live in. Did he just cause trouble for them? Finn says, not at all. There’s no need to make a big deal out of this. Cameron says, it’s probably nothing, but what are the odds she’s seeking out her parents after all these years? Finn says, he doesn’t know; he wishes he did. He’s been trying to help where he can, but he doesn’t want Cameron’s mom to resent him. To be honest, sometimes he knows what he’s doing, and other times, he doesn’t get it. Cameron says he thinks he does. He and his mother struggle with a lot of the same baggage. The people they care about tend to underestimate their family and what they’re capable of handling.
Josslyn puts the flowers on Oscar’s rock, and says, she knows it’s been a while since she visited, but she carries Oscar in her heart every day. If he’s been checking in, then he knows she and Cam are together. Although with all of the recent drama they’ve been a part of kind of threw them off. Things haven’t been the same since their first time went viral on the internet. Since then, she feels like she’s in this current. Not a riptide; nothing scary. She just feels herself drifting further away from Cam. She knows she should tell him that, and they should talk through it, but if she does… She’s just so scared he won’t be able to handle it.
Cameron tells Finn, people tend to confuse their manners with being weak, fragile even. His mom isn’t weak, and when Finn tries to fix her problems, or make decisions for her because he thinks she’s a victim, it takes her back to a time in her life when she did feel powerless. And trust him. She doesn’t want to go back there again, even if that means shutting things and people out. He knows Finn’s heart is in the right place, but she doesn’t need a hero. She’s already her own hero. Finn thanks him, says, good talk, and leaves.
Elizabeth gets into the house. She hears the alarm beeping, and puts in the code. It stops.
Carly says she’s been doing a lot of thinking lately, and she and Bobbie have come a long way. Bobbie had every reason to hate her forever, yet Bobbie still found a way to forgive her, and made a place in life for Carly. She’s always heard the stories about Bobbie’s upbringing, and going back to Jacksonville, and hearing again about Ruby and her house of ill repute, she was reminded that Bobbie started off with even less than she did. Bobbie made a name for herself, and Carly admires her so much. Bobbie says, first of all, Carly needs to visit Jacksonville more often. Secondly, right back at her. Carly says she told Drew that she felt like she was in an identity crisis, literally. She was no longer Sonny’s wife, and no longer the co-owner of the MetroCourt. Who is she anymore? But sitting here with her mom, she’s more sure of who she is than ever.
Michael walks in, as Drew tells Ned, maybe they can schedule another vote on Valentin’s leadership. What they need is for Ned’s vote to switch. Then Valentin is out. Ned says, what about the role of CEO? and Michael tells Drew, forget it. Ned’s too far gone to think of family over himself. Ned says, that’s rich. Biologically, Michael is AJ’s son, but whose last name does he use? Corinthos. He’s only a Quartermaine when it’s convenient. Drew says, there’s no reason for things to get escalated here, and Ned says, and Drew. His insistence on being the nice guy is really starting to wear thin. Drew says, Ned is tired of him being a nice guy? Fine. The gloves are off, and Ned’s not going to like the moves he makes to get Ned and Valentin out. Ned asks how Drew plans to do that when he’s fighting an insider trading charge.
Carly tells Bobbie, part of the reason she felt so lost is because her name didn’t provide any answers for her. She can’t be Carly Corinthos anymore because she doesn’t want people thinking her goal is to get back with Sonny, because it’s not. She can’t be Carly Benson or Carly Roberts because… she just can’t. Bobbie asks, what’s left? and Carly says, sitting here with Bobbie, looking into her eyes, she knows what the right answer is. She’s a Spencer. She thinks it’s time she took Bobbie’s name, if it’s okay with her. Bobbie says, it’s more than okay, it’s as it should be, and they hug.
Britt says, everything looks good with the baby. Developmentally, they’re right on track. Willow says, that’s good news, right? She asks Britt, what is it? and Britt says she’s feeling Willow’s lymph nodes, as she places her hands on Willow’s neck. Willow asks, why? and Britt says, oncology isn’t her specialty, but she noticed certain areas of the surrounding tissue appear inflamed. Just to be clear, this has nothing to do with that baby, but she wants to be extra cautious given Willow’s other health concerns. Dr. Randolph is away for a few days, but Britt’s going to give her a call. Hang tight. She leaves, and Willow asks TJ what Britt is concerned about.
On the phone, Terry tells Britt, she’s kind of in the middle of something with some family friends. What’s up? Britt says, she just did an ultrasound on Willow, and the baby is fine, but she noticed inflamed tissue nearby, and swelling in the lymph nodes. Terry says, Britt is worried about the enlargement of Willow’s liver, isn’t she? and Britt says she is, but Terry’s the expert. Terry says, have Dr. Carmichael do her bloodwork, and schedule and ultrasound on her liver. She should be back by the time the results are in. Britt thanks her, and Terry looks around for Jeff and Carolyn, but they’re gone.
Elizabeth sees family pictures on the mantel, and remembers her angst when she was younger from her parents being absent, and being expected to be like her sister Sarah. She remembers things she said about her parents as an adult, how the world needs them more than the family does. She focuses on a particular picture, and says, her and Sarah, 25 years ago.
Finn runs into Olivia at the hospital, and says, if she talks to Tracy, tell her that he’s waiting. She hasn’t made a move in their virtual backgammon game in weeks. Olivia says she’s not surprised. You’d never know Tracy is retired. She still keeps getting into all kinds of trouble. She puts her hand to her forehead, and he asks if she’s okay. She says, it’s so weird. Does he ever get the feeling like someone walked over his grave? The inmate is brought in, a woman in shackles, between an officer and an orderly, and she says, hello, Olivia. Olivia turns around, and lets out a blood-curdling scream.
Brook listens at the door, and Drew asks what Ned is talking about. Ned says, it’s right there in the name; insider trading. Brook steps away, telling Chase that she thinks talking’s a lost cause. Chase says he knows something to perk her up, and kisses her. Her phone dings, and he says, go ahead. She says, it’s Linc. He wants them to meet with his pop star today. Chase says, it’s so soon, but she says he has to get to know her if they’re doing a duet. He says he’s never met a pop star; any advice? She says, don’t mess this up for them.
Bobbie says, Carly Spencer has a nice ring to it, and Carly says, it really does. Josslyn walks in, and hugs Carly, saying, you’re home. Carly puts her arms around both of them, and says, I’m home.
Ned tells Drew, Michael’s mother knew about the potential merger. That’s why she bought the stock. That’s called insider trading, and it’s illegal. Martha Stewart went to prison for much less. Lucky for Michael and Drew, no one’s really looked into it, but it’s something they need to consider, and never forget. He walks out, and Michael says, Ned is bluffing; he wouldn’t go there. He has to meet Willow, but he can see Drew is worried. Don’t be.
TJ says, if she noticed inflamed tissue, Dr. Westbourne might be concerned that Willow’s liver is enlarged as well. Willow says, and that means? and TJ says, if her liver and lymph nodes are swollen, and her blood cell count has dropped even further, it may mean she’s advanced to stage 3, which may limit her treatment options. Britt says, she’d like Willow to come with her upstairs. They’d like to run some more tests.
Finn asks Olivia, what’s all this? Is she okay? The woman says, now there’s the scream she loves so much. And here she thought Olivia had gotten too classy to let her emotions out. After Olivia let her son rot in prison, and traded up to marry a Quartermaine. The officer says, sorry, ma’am. D’Archam patient. Don’t pay her any attention. The woman says, nice seeing you. Oops. I mean, I’ll be seeing you. She laughs as she’s led away, and Finn says, what’s going on? Who is that woman? Olivia says, doesn’t he know? That’s Heather Webber.
Elizabeth hugs the photo to her chest, and hears the door. She quickly puts it back, and Jeff comes in. He says, Elizabeth, and she says, dad.
On Monday, Anna says, as soon as she gets out of this cell, she’ll put Victor in his; Robert tells Olivia, she looks like she’s seen a ghost; and Elizabeth says, Jeff’s not supposed to be here.
💣 Wrong Guess Of Jacksonville…
I have to admit, I’m surprised. Not that I can’t see her in the role, but what happened to the old Heather?
I could have sworn it was the c-word, but in my defense, it was bleeped and I’m no lip reader. Ugly for sure, but it doesn’t make Kathy wrong about Erika and LisaR looking for a storyline.
I doubt this will be rebooted, but if it is, I doubt any previous cast members will be invited back. Although I did love Kameron’s stick figure graphics of the ping-pong ball show in Thailand.
I’ve seen enough horror movies to know that any weirdo wearing a mask is never friendly. – Lizabeth (Nancy McLaughlin), Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones. – Stephen King
Where there is no imagination, there is no horror. – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Villainy wears many masks, none so dangerous as the mask of virtue. – Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp), Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination and costume within. – Elvis Duran
If human beings had genuine courage, they’d wear their costumes every day of the year, not just on Halloween. – Douglas Copeland
Being normal is vastly overrated. – Aggie Cromwell (Debbie Reynolds), Halloweentown
Some people are born for Halloween, and some are just counting the days until Christmas. – Stephen Graham Jones
There is a child in every one of us who is still a trick-or-treater looking for a brightly-lit front porch. – Robert Brault
Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see. – Edgar Allan Poe, The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether
Listen to them – the children of the night. What music they make! – Dracula, Bram Stoker
Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. – Linus, Charles M. Schulz, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
🦇 Going Batty…
Decorations are ready to be hung, costumes ready to be worn, and candy ready to be put in bags. Let’s hope it makes it there. In the meantime, you have an invitation to join me for some Dead on Sunday. Until then, stay safe, stay approaching life with a sense of adventure, and stay giving a little space and grace when a person needs it.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
At the PC Grill with Nina, Sonny tells someone on the phone to keep looking. Nina suggests they just go home, but he asks what she’s talking about. They haven’t even ordered yet. She says, they can do this another night. She wants him to focus his attention on finding Lucy. He says he has his people on it; that’s the best he can do. Besides, there’s only one thing he wants to focus on – her.
Rory tells Trina, this might not be the fanciest hotel in the city, but it’s got rave reviews for its cleanliness and bedding. He hopes two queen beds work for her, and she says, in the dorms, she sleeps in an extra-long twin, so a queen bed to herself sounds fantastic. He opens the door, but there’s only one bed. Big surprise, right?
Josslyn asks if Cameron is ready to do this, and he says, is she? She says she is if he is, and he says, it’s been a while. She says, it may be awkward at first, but it’s not like they’re building a connection from scratch. Besides, she thinks he’s probably much more into this reunion than they are. The guard lets Spencer in to the visiting room.
At the MetroCourt Gardens, Chase asks what Brook would like to start with, but she’s busy looking at the email from Dante about Chase’s reinstatement. Chase says, earth to Brook Lynn. What’s got her so focused? She asks if he’s checked out the singer Linc wants him to sing with. Her social media engagement is amazing. He says, remind him what they’re doing here, and she says, they’re doing date night, aren’t they? He says, he is, but she’s not.
Having drinks at the Savoy, Felicia asks how Mac is feeling, and he says, like he never appreciated the value of a mixologist before. She says, he’s been on a boat all night looking for Lucy, and he saw Anna get arrested. They know Anna was set up, and now he’s waiting for the results of a DNA test which could change his life. He says, helluva day, right? and she says, talk to her, but he says, nothing can be resolved tonight. Search efforts for Lucy are ongoing; he’s been ordered not to interfere with ADA Arden’s case against Anna; and Cody is either his son or he isn’t. Dante and Sam come by, and Mac asks how much of that they heard. Sam says, enough to know Cody’s been holding out on them.
Britt says she thought Cody left the hospital an hour ago, but he says he thought he’d hang out and wait for her. She asks how the DNA test went, and he says, excruciating, but she says, it’s only a cheek slap. He says, the test was painless. The torture was having to fake how he really feels.
Nina says she’d love to be the object of Sonny’s focus, but it’s natural to be distracted with so much affecting their friends and the ones they love. There’s Lucy, Sasha, Ava… He asks, how’s Ava? and she says, physically, Ava is recuperating just fine, but she’s got her mind on a few things. Sonny says, if she means Nikolas, that’s a problem of Ava’s own making, but she says, Nikolas is not the only Cassadine problem. Her point is, they’re very caring people, and it’s understandable that their friends’ troubles are going to seep into their time together. He says, then let’s not let it, and she says, they can try. He kisses her, and says, they can do more than try.
Sam says, Cody might be Mac’s biological son? They saw him yesterday, and he didn’t say a word. Dante says, Cody told him earlier. He was going to tell her, but then they came here. Mac says, he and Cody had a DNA test, and should get the results in a couple of days. He doubts Cody was hiding it. Sam says, it wouldn’t be the first time, and Felicia insists they join her and Mac. She asks Sam to go to the bar with her, and Dante says he’ll have a beer. Mac says he’s still working on his, and Felicia says, they’ll be right back. Dante sits down, and Mac says, Dante and Cody are friends, right? Dante says, they went to camp together when they were kids. They lost touch over the years, but picked up pretty much where they left off. Mac says he doesn’t know Cody very well; he seems spirited. Dante says, that’s a good word for him. He’s got lots of spirit and lots of heart, like his horses.
At the bar, Sam asks what Felicia wants to talk about, and Felicia says she gets the distinct impression that Sam’s suspicious where Cody is concerned. Sam says, once a P.I., always a P.I., and Felicia asks if Sam is referring to herself or her. Sam says, both, and Felicia says, if something is troubling Sam about Cody, please tell her now before Mac and her family get any closer.
Cody tells Britt that Mac, Felicia, and Maxie all seemed so happy that they were taking the test. The agony was having to pretend he felt the same way. She says, agony, excruciating; he’s really had a rough day. He says, you try making small talk with that family, and she asks, what’s wrong with Mac’s family? He says, nothing. They’re all smiles and laughs, and cute kids, and apple pie. He bets they even have cute pets. She says, let her get this straight. His biggest beef with Mac’s family is that they’re too nice. He says, people like him don’t fit into the Norman Rockwell portrait. So when the DNA test comes back and proves he’s Leopold Taub’s kid, Mac will be thankful he got off easy. She says, every time they speak, he has a new reason he’s resistant to being a Scorpio. What is going on here? He waited an hour for her. Clearly he wants to talk. He suggests they get out of here, and she asks where he wants to go. He says, anywhere but here, and they leave.
Spencer says, when they told him that he had visitors, he didn’t expect to see them, and Josslyn asks if he doesn’t want them here. He says he didn’t think they’d want to be here, and Cameron says, a lot has gone down, but Spencer needs to know, they’re still his friends. Spencer says, he really made a mess of things, and Josslyn says, he did. He says, yet they still came, and Cameron says, yeah, dude. Of course (🍷) we did.
On the phone in the room, Rory says he specifically booked a double with two queen beds… He appreciates the discount, but he’d appreciate an extra bed more… They’d better make it right. He tells Trina, they acknowledge their mistake, and he’ll be credited for the single, but unfortunately, there are no other rooms available because of the convention. She says, what about the extra bed? and he says, they’re going to send up a cot. She needs her rest, so he’ll wait for it. She says she’s not sleepy. Let’s wait together.
Brook puts her phone in her bag, and tells Chase, no phone. No shop talk either. She pledges her undivided attention; not that it’s a hardship or anything. He tells her that she looks gorgeous, and she tells him that he doesn’t have to say that. He asks if she can learn to accept a compliment, and she says, challenge accepted. And while they’re on the topic of self-improvement, his daily diet isn’t conducive to crooning. He says he still doesn’t understand what she has against pickles, but he went to the farmer’s market, and bought only BLQ approved foods. She says, it’s the best thing he can do for his voice, but he says he did it for her. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to make her happy.
Felicia asks if there’s something specific about Cody that makes Sam feel uneasy about him. Something she and Mac need to know. Sam says, Cody’s charming and… charming, and Felicia says, but? Britt and Cody walk in, and Sam says, and here. Britt tells Cody, it looks like there’s more small talk in his future.
Josslyn says, this is weird, and Spencer says, because she’s never visited anyone in Pentenville before, right? She says, you know what I mean, jackass, and Spencer says, and just like that, they’re back to normal. Cameron says, they were worried this place would break Spencer’s spirit, but Spencer says, he’s cool. He’s practically a professional now. Josslyn says she hates seeing him here, and Spencer says he appreciates that; he hates being here. But it was worth it to try and save Trina. Even if she’s never going to know he believed in her the entire time. Trina doesn’t know, right?
In the room, Trina tells Rory, it was so cool, seeing all those families dressed up together, like The Incredibles. He says he knows it’s not as sophisticated as the art scene, but she says, it’s art, right? That’s why she loves it. The beauty of any art form is that it speaks to us; touches our souls. The mystical magical roles resonate with him the way paint on canvas does for her. It’s all good, right? He loves that she gets that, and they kiss. He asks how he got so lucky, and kisses her again.
Brook says, Chase is in danger. He has no idea the effect he has on her. He asks if she’s sure it isn’t the aftereffects of Nona’s Sicilian Thunderbolt, and she says, maybe that helped things along, but for so long, she dreamed about this. Of them together. In a way, it still feels like a dream. He says, what’s happening between them is as real as it gets.
Sonny kisses Nina, and says, for one night, can they just be the only two people on this world? She says, if he thinks they can shut out the world, she’s game, and he says, the way she looks tonight, he can’t think of anything else. She says, he’s pretty distracting himself, and he asks if she wants to skip dinner and go straight to dessert. She asks, what happened to going slowly? and he says he has no idea what she’s saying. His phone rings, and he says, he has to take it, but they’ll continue with this. He leaves, and Nina checks her makeup. Victor says, dining alone? but she says, dining with Sonny. He says, enjoy her meal, and she tells him, wait. Actually, she’s glad they ran into each other. She needs to know something. She gets up, and says, what’s going on with Charlotte? He says he doesn’t know what she means. Is there something going on with his granddaughter? She says, why doesn’t he tell her? She sent something to Charlotte that was recently returned to her, and she called Valentin to check the address of the school. He hasn’t responded, and she’s never had a problem contacting Valentin abroad before. He says he’s sure Valentin is having a lovely time with his daughter, and he doubts Valentin feels obligated to be at the beck and call of his ex-wife. She says, ex-wife and current friend. Why is Victor acting so cagey? He asks, why is she so invested in his family? Could it be perhaps because she doesn’t have one of her own?
Selina watches, and Mac tells Britt and Cody to pull up a couple of chairs and join them. Dante says, the more, the merrier, and Cody and Britt sit down. Sam and Felicia come back, and Dante says he saved Sam a spot, indicating his lap. Britt asks if Sam’s had any progress on the case, and Felicia says, Sam’s working on a case? Care to share? Britt says she found a necklace in a safety deposit box that belonged to Peter, and Mac says he guarantees that necklace won’t have a clean title. Felicia agrees, and Britt says she had the same feeling. That’s why she hired Sam to look into its provenance. Cody says, she did what now? and Sam asks if it’s a problem for him. He says, of course (🍷) not. He just didn’t realize Britt was going down that route. Dante says, if anyone is going to find out the origin of that necklace, it’s Sam, and Cody says, no doubt. Cody sees Selina looking at him, and says he’s going to grab a beer. Britt says she’ll have a Cosmo, but he’s already gone.
Brook says, she knows they spend a lot of time talking about Chase’s career, but there’s one major reason she wants this life for him. He says, it’s the leather pants, isn’t it? and she says, two reasons. She loves all the time they get to spend together; as his manager, his friend… He says, his girlfriend? His baby? His boo-thing? She tells him, never say boo-thing again, but yes, all of that. He says he loves it too. He misses policing, but he doesn’t miss a lot of his life being on hold to be a good detective. This is nice; the evening, the company, knowing he’s not on call. She says, but is it enough for him, being with her instead of chasing crime? He says, it’s more than enough, and kisses her hand.
Spencer says, Trina knows he was playing Esme to prove her innocent? and Josslyn says, she found out the day he checked into Pentenville. He says, so she doesn’t care? and Josslyn says, she was all kinds of hurt. He says he gets it, but Trina told him that she didn’t want to be friends anymore. Has she changed her mind? Cameron says, it hasn’t come up, but they haven’t really seen her. She’s been busy catching up with her PCU work since she’s been reinstated. Josslyn says, and she got offered this internship at The Chuck. So she’s finally experiencing what it’s like to work in a real museum. Cameron says, plus her mom is planning that wedding… Spencer says he gets it. He did this to himself. He’s glad Trina is living a happy life, and he’s glad she got the internship; she deserves it. And if she’s happy with that cop too, great. So be it.
Rory kisses Trina, and says he can stop, but Trina says, don’t stop. They lie back on the bed, and I get focused on the fact she’s still wearing her shoes. As Rory kisses her, Trina hears Spencer’s voice ask if she wants him as much as he wants her. She sees Spencer look at her instead of Rory, and he asks if she feels the same way. She moves away from Rory, and he asks if she’s okay. She says, she’s fine. She’s just… He says, it’s not the right time. There’s a knock at the door, and he says, that would be his bed for the evening.
Spencer says he’s hurt so many people. Josslyn and Cameron, Trina, his grandmother, Britt. And being in here doesn’t wash all of that away. He also knows he’s not the person inside these walls, but he still can’t help but hate himself for everything he’s done. Cameron asks if Spencer remembers when they were kids, and he accidentally started a fire at Spencer’s birthday party. Spencer says, of course (🍷); he’s got the skin grafts to show for it. Cameron says, despite that, why does Spencer think Cameron is on his visitor list? and Spencer says, Cameron owes him big time? Cameron says, maybe. Or maybe despite the fights they’ve been in, and all the conflicts, and no matter how they’ve hurt each other, there’s still a bond that still holds up. Spencer says, because they’re family? and Cameron says, true. He’s stuck with Spencer as a cousin, but he chooses Spencer as a friend. Spencer says, Cameron must be hard up, and Cameron says, that’s what friendship is; loving someone, knowing it’s inevitable that they’ll let you down. Spencer says, Cameron is such a sap, and Cameron says he can be that sometimes. But please, keep his head down in here. He wants Spencer to be okay and safe, so when he gets out, he’ll know he has friends waiting for him. Josslyn says, he does, and takes both their hands. The guard comes in, and says, time’s up.
Chase says, he could get back into cooking, but he’d give Brook input into the menu, the cooking, and ingredients, so she can steer him away from anything that could harm his vocals. Her phone chirps, and he says, this is killing her, isn’t it? Go ahead. She takes it out, and says, it’s his interview with the DJ at KZPC. It’s about to livestream in fifteen minutes. He says he forgot, but they can listen to it later; it just won’t be live. (I fail to see how it’s live now, but go on.) She says, sure, putting the phone back, and he says, or they could listen to it now. She thanks him, and takes it back out. He says, so much for pledges, and she says, she pledged to focus on him, and that’s what they’re going to do now.
Felicia asks if Britt thinks Faison stole the necklace, and Sam says, or did Peter steal the necklace from Faison? Britt says, she wouldn’t be surprised if the answer was yes to both. Her father was ruthless, and took whatever he wanted. And Peter was obsessed with taking their father down. If he went to the trouble of getting a special safety deposit box, there must been a reason.
Selina says, it seems like Cody is having a good time tonight, but he says, things are not always what they seem. He orders two IPAs, and Selina says, they have another game coming up; very high stakes. She needs a ringer, and he’s proven he’s the best. Can she count on him again? Mac watches them.
Nina tells Victor, her friendship with Valentin and Charlotte is one she’ll treasure for the rest of her life, but he wouldn’t understand that. He knew Valentin was his son for years, and couldn’t be bothered to send a birthday card, let alone initiate a relationship with him. Victor says, he kept tabs on his son, and she says, keeping tabs is something you do with a distant friend on social media, not with your own child. He says, it’s certainly more than she did with her own daughter. Sonny walks up, and says, Victor isn’t just rude, he’s wrong. Victor says, look, the muscle’s arrived, and Sonny tells him to apologize to Nina. Victor says, withdrawn, and Sonny says, Victor didn’t just insult Nina. Lucy is a friend of his. Victor says, then he understands Sonny’s agitation. He too is bereft about Lucy. Sonny asks if that’s why Victor was supposed to meet her before she went missing? He also heard Anna just got arrested. Victor’s fingerprints are all over this. Victor says he doesn’t know what Sonny is implying, and Sonny says, if he finds out Victor had anything to do with framing Anna, that will be the last stunt Victor pulls in this town. Victor asks what Sonny is going to do; take him out back and put two behind the ear? Sonny says he only needs one. It’s at these moments I love Sonny.
Selina asks Cody if something’s come up, when Mac joins them. She tells them to have a good evening, and moves along. Mac asks if Cody knows who she is, and Cody says, Selina Wu. He met her through Britt and Brad. She’s Brad’s aunt, right? Mac says, she’s also a notorious organized crime figure. Stay away from her. Cody asks if that’s an order, and Mac says, just advice from a friend, or a father. Cody says, good to know, and Mac says, if the DNA test comes back, and says he’s Cody’s father, they can decide what they relationship means for them. He has no expectations. It doesn’t have to be traditional, or even paternal. They’ll just take it as it comes. Sam tells Mac, Felicia’s ready to go, and Mac says, he and Cody will talk later. Mac leaves, and Sam says, Cody left so fast, he didn’t even get Britt’s drink order. She wanted a Cosmo. He asks N’neka to add a Cosmo to the beer order. He asks if Sam wants anything, and she says, the truth. He says, what now? and she asks why he doesn’t want her investigating Peter’s necklace. He asks when he said that, and she says she can read it all over him. He says, she has every right not to trust him, but he genuinely likes Britt, and he loves Dante. He’s not out to hurt anybody. She says, okay, but it had better be the truth.
Dante says he wants to talk to Britt about their last conversation, and she says, the one where he told her not to jerk Cody around? He says, yeah, that one. He might have misread the situation a little. She says, a lot. She likes Cody, and despite Dante’s best efforts, Cody likes her back. He says he guesses they both care about the guy, and she says, seems that way. He says he doesn’t know if they’ll ever be friends, but for Cody’s sake, why don’t they call a truce? She says, he’d better be worth it, and Dante says, amen.
Cameron tells Josslyn, sorry for the mess, as he quickly tries to tidy his room, but she says she’s seen it much worse. She asks if Jake and Aiden are in bed, and he says, they conveniently fell asleep before they had to pick up their leftover pizza. She says she should have grabbed a slice, and he says he can grab them some stuff, but she says she wants to tell him something. What he said to Spencer was incredible. He says he meant it, and she says she knows. He’d never say something he didn’t mean. He’s the most genuine person she’s ever met, and such a good friend to all of them, even when they don’t deserve it. He says, she does deserve it, and she says she should have told him about confronting Sonny about Dex. He says, she can be honest about anything with him, and she says, she knows, and she’ll be better. She can’t imagine her life without him. He says, she doesn’t have to, and they hug.
Chase and Brook listen to Falling Into Place, and the DJ says, the listeners just heard their guest singing his breakthrough single. She asks Chase, how is it going? and he says, all good. She says, his set at The Savoy has generated a lot of buzz, and asks how he describes his sound. He says, adult contemporary? A mix of acoustic pop and balladry? His manager is so much better at this than him. The DJ says, so she earns that 15%, and he says, that and more. He owes her so much. She’s the kind of person who elevates those around her through sheer will alone. The DJ says, good representation is hard to find. It sounds like he hit the jackpot. He says, she has no idea. His manager Brook Lynn Quartermaine is a talented singer/songwriter in her own right. She’s gifted and giving, and her passion inspires him daily. The DJ says, she sounds like more than manager, and he says, she’s his muse. He asks Brook if he blew the interview, and she asks if she’s really his muse. He says, how could she doubt it? and she kisses him.
Victor says, he gave Sonny a lot of leeway when Sonny threatened him about Spencer, but now he’s out of patience. Sonny says, there was a time he would have disappeared Victor in a New York minute, but he’s a changed man. Victor says, made over by love, are we? He wishes his son could have been reshaped by Nina’s transformative powers. Sonny tells him, don’t talk to Nina, directly or indirectly, or Victor will have to answer to him. Victor says, that threat carries a lot less gravitas now that Sonny admitted love has turned him into a pacifist, and Sonny says, some people slip up. If he finds proof Victor has anything to do with Anna, he’ll come after Victor. Trust him. I’m reminded of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, and Victor says, excuse him; he really is ravenous. He goes to his table, and Sonny says he’s sorry, but Nina says, he doesn’t have to apologize for defending her and Anna. He says, he just didn’t want to make a scene, and she says, it would have been worse if he’d handled it the way he used to. She’s in awe of his newfound restraint. He says, she finds pacifism sexy? but she says, she finds him sexy. He made it very clear to Victor that he could nail Victor to the wall without resorting to violence. Victor needs to hear that; she needs to hear that. He says he’s done with this place, and thinks it’s time to go home. He wants to go home with her. She says, definitely, let’s do it, and they leave.
Sam and Cody come back to the table, and Sam asks Dante if everything’s okay. Dante says, they’re working on it, and Cody says, that’s what he likes to hear; everyone getting along. In fact, he’d like to propose a toast. To new beginnings. They clink glasses/bottles, and Cody smiles at Britt, while Sam gives him the side-eye.
Trina asks if Rory is sure he’s comfortable, and he says, totally. She should see where they slept at the police academy. She thanks him for letting her have the bed. She’s having a good time, and appreciates him inviting her. He says, there’s no one else he’d rather be with, and she says, well… goodnight, probably not what he wanted to hear. He says, goodnight, and she turns out the light. We see an incoming call on her phone from the New York State Department of Corrections.
Spencer gets Trina’s voicemail, and hangs up. So they still have pay phones in prisons?
Cameron says, it’s getting late. He should walk Josslyn back to her dorm. Josslyn says, or she could stay over. Cameron sighs, and she says, or not. He says he really wants her to, but his mom said she can’t. He knows it sounds lame, but his brothers… She says, it’s house rules. She doesn’t want him to get in trouble for her. She sits on the bed, and he says, on the other hand, he’s not sure his mom would want him to leave his brothers home alone while he walked her back. She says, especially with all the attacks, and he says, safety first. He starts kissing her, and says, he could take the sofa, and she can stay in the bed. She says, they can both stay in the bed, and he says, for cuddling? She says, for afterward, and they get busy.
So do Brook and Chase. He asks if she’s sure this is what she wants, and she says she can’t remember a time when she didn’t want this. He says, that makes two of them, and there’s a song part. She stops for a moment, and says she’s just making sure she’s not dreaming. He puts her hands on his chest, and she says, he’s real.
Felicia and Mac are also getting busy. He says he thought she said she was tired, and she says, some detective he is.
Last, but not least, Sonny and Nina join the ranks of those getting busy. Nina thanks him for today, and he says he loves her. Does she know that? She says she does, and she loves him too.
Tomorrow, Willow asks TJ what Britt is concerned about; Elizabeth says, there’s no way she can turn back now; and Ned asks Michael if it’s something he orchestrated, or Drew?
❄️ On Winter House – the show with the worst people in reality TV, which is a real achievement – it turns out Luke was the one who left, and landed in a hotel. Newbie Jess told Paige that Luke had made her uncomfortable by not understanding her body language, but Craig’s tirade wasn’t what she wanted. I don’t understand, if that was the case, she didn’t just say, back off, nature boy, but that’s just me. Jess appreciated Craig standing up for her, but it just created drama. Paige said, Craig wasn’t wrong, but his delivery was crazy. When he gets in one of his righteous moments, there’s no calming him or changing his mind. Craig said if Luke talked to Paige again, he was going to kill Luke, and here’s where I’m confused. It seemed less about Jess than Paige, and Paige has been friends with Luke for years. Craig’s delivery is not only crazy, it’s backward.
Austin arrived, and talked about Olivia, who he was apparently still dating at the time, and who met this group. Ciara suggested a speed dating type activity so they could get to know each other, since some were old friends, but others practically strangers. One of the few good ideas anybody has come up with on this show. Kyle and Craig called Tom Schwartz, and tried to entice him to come. Despite his divorce from Katie, I think Schwartz is a decent guy. He’s just wishy-washy and unmotivated AF, which is why I think Katie wanted out. This is a long way of saying: Run, Schwartz, run! Luke was invited back into the fold, and in Craig’s interview, he said he didn’t hate Luke. He got mad at something Luke did, and it was nothing personal. Jess finally talked to Luke, who looked dazed and confused, and wondering why she didn’t tell him all this yesterday. At that evening’s outdoor drink-a-thon, Craig made a point of wearing a jersey he’d been gifted with when spending the 4th of July with Luke, saying, it was a symbol. He told Luke, things happen when we drink and explode. As my father would say, is that the royal we, or are you pregnant? In one funny moment. Luke said, we’re all on the same page, and Craig said, as long as no one is on Paige. BA-DUM-CHH! Austen came up with the idea for a sinners party, where everyone had to say something they repented about. They dressed either devilish or angelic, and Austen came as a bishop. So, they just happened to come with these clothes? I have to add, they do make some fabulous meals. Many of the reality shows have a little food porn in them for me, but on this show, the food is probably the only enticing thing.
Next time, Schwartz and Sandoval arrive; Craig continues to be an a-hole; and Paige says, Craig is exhausting.
My head is full of Halloween, but take a break with me tomorrow for some soap, a spot of tea, haunting quotes & an appropriate tune. Until then, stay safe, stay strong in both your body and mind, and stay understanding that friendship is loving someone, even though you know it’s inevitable that they’ll let you down.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nikolas asks if Victor is threatening him, and Victor says he is. At least, he’s honest. Nikolas says, for all Victor’s talk of putting family first… and Victor says he knows Helena indulged Nikolas growing up, calling him her treasured one, the Cassadine heir, but Nikolas says, indulged is hardly the word he’d use. He wouldn’t wish his childhood on anybody. Victor says, that’s exactly his point. Nikolas underappreciated the privileges bestowed on him. It’s time he expanded his horizons; looked at the bigger picture. A picture that doesn’t include Ava.
Ava says, son of a bitch! and Nina asks, what happened? Ava says, remember the confession she told Nina about? It’s gone. She shows Nina the paper that says, Missing Something??? and Nina says, that snake. The prince giveth and the prince taketh away. Ava says she’s not going to let that little weasel get away with it, and Nina asks what Ava is going to do to Nikolas this time.
Maxie meets Austin at the hospital, and he says, perfect timing. He needs a break; he needs some ice cream. Georgie is with her, and Austin says hello to her, giving Maxie a quick kiss. Maxie says she’s ready for some rocky road, and Austin says he’s ready for some classic chocolate cone; that’s him. Georgie says, chocolate’s boring (a sacrilege!), and Maxie says, first of all, they don’t flavor shame, and second, chocolate is an enduring classic. Austin says, it is, but maybe there’s something more exciting. He asks Georgie, what’s her favorite? and she says, dad knows. She asks Maxie if they can’t call him; she wants dad to come instead. Austin says he gets it. Her dad is super fun. Georgie makes a disgusted face, and Sam walks in. Georgie runs to hug her, and says, they’re getting ice cream. Sam can come too. She’ll have someone to talk to. Sam says she’d love to, but she actually has a meeting, and Georgie says, who with? My God, this child is intrusive. Sam says, her Aunt Britt, and Georgie says, boo, as Britt joins them.
Cody is lifting free weights at the gym when Dante comes in. Cody says he’s glad Dante made it. Spar a few sessions, and he can teach Dante a thing or two. Dante says, this from the guy who hides under the barroom table once the brawling starts. Dante is a trained professional. He’d mop the floor with Cody with these hands, but he doesn’t want to mess up Cody’s nose again. Cody says, they were twelve and it was a sucker punch, and Dante says, keep telling himself that. Cody asks if Dante is tuckered out from putting criminals away, but Dante says, just one innocent woman.
Lying in her cell, Anna hears someone come in, and says, Robert? Mac says, just his better looking brother, and she says she’ll take what she can get. She’s going stir crazy. She can’t just sit here while Victor gets away with murder.
Holly says, Felicia is a genius; this was a perfect suggestion. We see they’re at the nail salon getting pedicures, and Felicia says she’s surprised Holly agreed to come. She thought Holly was just humoring her. Holly says, she was, but now that they’re here, this is nice. Felicia says, Holly must be exhausted after everything she’s been through, and Holly says, it’s not every day you find yourself washed up at the Quartermaines, missing two years of your life. As for everything she’s been through, Holly wishes she knew. Felicia says she wishes Holly would stop lying to her.
Maxie tells Georgie not to boo her Aunt Britt, and Georgie apologizes. She says she just wanted to get ice cream. Britt can come too. Britt thanks her, but says she and Sam have something important to talk about. She’ll try not to keep Sam too long. Sam tells Georgie, enjoy her ice cream, and they leave. Georgie tells Austin, maybe he should stay, and help Aunt Sam and Aunt Britt with the important thing. Maxie says she’s being rude, and tells her to apologize, but Georgie says, never. Maxie says, no apology, no ice cream, and Georgie says, see? Austin ruins everything.
Dante asks what Cody was up to today, and Cody flashes back to scratching the mirror with the diamond necklace from Peter’s safe deposit box. He says he hung out with Britt a little, and Dante says, he tells Britt to do something, and she does the opposite – like Cody. Cody asks what Dante told Britt, and Dante says he told her not to jerk Cody around. Cody asks, why? and Dante says, because Cody’s his friend; Britt’s not. Cody says he knows Dante’s opinion of Britt, which is justified based on what Britt did to him and Lulu, but he doesn’t want any more help with Britt from Dante. Dante says he’ll stay out of it, and Cody says, but he appreciates Dante having his back. Cody’s phone trills, and he says, it’s just a reminder that he has to go to GH. Dante asks, what for? and Cody says, a DNA test. Mac Scorpio might be his dad.
Anna asks if Robert called Mac, but he says, Felicia called him. Can she believe it? Holly is alive. She says, it’s incredible.Dante didn’t have any details. He says he’s sorry; he doesn’t either. She says, she can’t imagine how Robert feels, and he says, why imagine when she can ask the man himself? The guard lets Robert in, and he asks if Anna’s heard the news. Holly’s come back to them.
Holly asks if Felicia thinks she’s lying, and Felicia says, there’s no way Holly is okay with this, like she’s pretending to be. Holly says, of course (🍷) she’s not okay with it, but she happens to be English, and this is what anguish and torment look like in a Brit. Felicia says, Holly washed up on shore with no idea of what she’s done for the past two years. A pedicure isn’t going to fix it. They’re friends. Holly can tell her what she’s really feeling. She must feel confused, scared, angry, so many things. Holly says, all of the above, plus embarrassed. She’s always taken care of herself, and whatever happened, someone obviously got the better of her. Felicia says, she gets enough of the I’m invincible and responsible for the world malarky from Mac and Robert, and Holly says, not Anna? Felicia says, her too, and Holly says, what about Felicia? Felicia says she has her moments, but she and Mac are a team now, and what she’s learned from that is, she’s not alone. And neither is Holly.
Ava tells Nina, she’s not sure what happened. Nikolas seemed so sincere. Nina says, so Nikolas thought Ava would just keep that confession nice and neat in her purse, and not notice it was gone? That doesn’t make any sense. Ava says, Nina’s right. She doesn’t think Nikolas did this. Nina says, then who did? Ava checks her phone, and says, it’s still here. Nina says, Ava needs to slow down and tell her what’s going on, and Ava says she told Nikolas that a written confession wasn’t enough. It would much too deniable. He agreed to put it on video, so taking the written one doesn’t change anything; Nikolas knows that. Nina says, so that means someone else stole the note, and Ava says, someone who doesn’t know the video exists.
Victor tells Nikolas, they both know that Ava is responsible for Esme’s… absence. That makes her a liability and a distraction. Nikolas says he’s more distracted by his uncle threatening him, but Victor says, they’ll call it tough love. He’s saving Nikolas from himself. Nikolas says he doesn’t need saving, and Victor asks, did or did he not sleep with his son’s girlfriend? Hardly the actions of a man in control of his life. Nikolas says he made a mistake, but Esme won’t be coming between him and Ava any more. Victor says, assuming no part of Esme shows up, but Nikolas says he guarantees Esme won’t be found.
Cody says he figured, why not have the test? and Dante asks why the hell Cody didn’t say something. Cody says, it didn’t come up, and Dante says, he could have brought it up. Dante knows a thing or two about finding out you have father unexpectedly. Cody says, they don’t know for sure. That’s what the DNA test is for. This whole thing might be a mistake. Dante asks if Cody cares about which way it goes, and Cody says he’s supposed to be all positive and psyched. Everyone keeps telling him what a great guy Mac is. Dante says, he’s a stand-up guy; Cody could do worse. Cody says, like Leopold Taub? and Dante says, Cody would be Mac’s kid. Cody says, he’d also be Felicia’s stepson, and Maxie’s sort of brother, and uncle to her kids. Dante says, don’t forget about DA Robert Scorpio, and Cody says, can Dante picture that? Him with a DA as an uncle. Doesn’t it make more sense, him having Leopold as a father? An amoral bastard who teams up with Cesar Faison makes a lot more sense than the Chief of Detectives. Dante tells him not to sell himself short.
Britt talks to Monica on the phone about a patient, while Sam flashes back to asking Cody whey it was so important that he be set up with Britt. Britt apologizes, but Sam says, no problem. What is this about? Britt says she knows Sam has a colorful past. Was she ever a jewel thief?
Ava tells Nina, this is Victor’s handiwork. Part of his ridiculous crusade to tear her and Nikolas apart. She types a text, and Nina asks what she’s doing. Ava says, she’s asking Nikolas where that demon of an uncle is, but Nina says, it’s not a good idea. She blocks the door, and says, Victor is a very dangerous man. He kidnapped her Aunt Liesl; he threw Scotty out of a plane. Ava says, with a parachute, and Nina says, Maxie told her that Victor was meeting up with Lucy for some weird sunset cruise before she disappeared. Ava’s phone dings, and she says, Nikolas and his uncle are at the MetroCourt. Nina says, so Ava is going to stay far away from the MetroCourt, but Ava says she’s not going to do anything crazy. That’s Victor’s secret weapon. He uses his veneer of dignity and smarm to goad people into a frenzy. Well, not her, not today. She’s going to be an iceberg, and she’s going to sink him. Nina asks if she has to, and Ava says, Victor’s trying to destroy her marriage. Nina asks if Nikolas didn’t do that when he slept with Esme, but Ava says, she and Nikolas will never be done until she says they’re done.
Maxie tells Austin that she’s sorry. She thought inviting him would help. He says, it’s fine.Maybe this is a little too soon, but there are moments she looks like her dad. Maxie says, don’t take this personally, but since Spinelli and Ellie broke up, Georgie has it in her head that Maxie and her dad should be together. He says, Georgie’s never had that, and for what it’s worth (🍷), she and Spinelli are awesome co-parents. She says, as evidenced by their polite and thoughtful daughter. Georgie comes back, and plops on a bench with her phone, and Maxie says she wishes Spinelli was dating someone. He says, if nothing else, Georgie would have another target, but Maxie says, because she wants him to be happy; he’s such a great guy. He has a lot to offer, and if he’d stop being so stubborn, and use Society Set-Ups to get his own match… Austin says he thinks she’s putting a lot of faith in Society Set-Ups. It’s just a website with an algorithm matching people based on if they like pickleball, and prefer mayonnaise over ketchup. She says, no. It’s a lot more than that.
Holly thanks Felicia for her concern, and says she’s doing fine… as fine as anyone could do under the circumstances. It’s really scary to not know where she was a year ago or two, but she’s back among friends, and that’s given her strength. Enough about her. Felicia and Mac; tell her everything. Felicia says, Mac is the best. They’ve really been enjoying their grandchildren; Maxie has three now. And Mac is back at the PCPD. Holly says, Felicia still isn’t telling about her, and Felicia says, actually, she’s getting back into private investigating. Holly says, details, and Felicia says, she and Anna went to Austria to uncover the truth about Luke’s death. Holly says she can’t believe Luke is gone. Tell her about Victor Cassadine. Felicia says, he’s not going to forget about Holly. That was one hell of a slap. Holly says, trust her. She’s just getting started.
Mac hugs Robert, and says he’s so glad Holly is alive. Anna asks how she is. Is she all right? Robert says, physically she’s fine, but she’s got no memory of what’s happened for the last two years. Anna says, it’s awful not remembering part of your life, and Robert says, she’s not going to admit it of course (🍷). Anna asks if Jordan called him, but he says, somehow the ringer on his phone got turned off. Mac says, that’s very unprofessional, and Robert says he can’t imagine how he got so distracted. Anna says, he gets a pass. She knows what it means to him to have Holly back. He asks how he can help Anna, and she tells him, get her the hell out of here. He says, if only, and she says, the police have her gun, and Mac says, of course (🍷) it’s the same caliber and bullet casing from the gun that was fired recently. He can’t believe ADA Arden doesn’t see this for the frame-up job it is. Robert says, his hands tied are this one, and Anna says she knows. He has to recuse himself. Otherwise it will look like bias, or worse, like he’s interfering with a police investigation. He says, for now, they’ll have to wait for her arraignment, and she says, he needs to find Valentin for her. He’s supposed to be visiting his daughter in boarding school. Robert says, supposed to be? and she says, the visit was arranged by Valentin’s father. Mac asks if she thinks dear old dad set Valentin up to get him out of the way, and she says, he’s done a good job of setting her up. She can’t prove Victor is responsible for Luke’s death from behind bars, but if Victor believes Valentin is helping her, Valentin and Charlotte are in danger.
Sam asks if Britt is wearing a wire, and Britt says she’s not trying to entrap Sam; she wants to hire Sam. Sam says, to steal jewels? and Britt says she realizes how that sounded. Can they start over? She held on to the box of effects Peter left her. She finally forced herself to sort through it, and among the odds and ends was the key to a safe deposit box. This was in it. She shows Sam a photo of the necklace, and Sam says, if these diamonds are real, it’s worth millions. Britt says, they’re real enough to cut glass, and Sam wonders what the odds are it was acquired legally. Britt says, considering it’s Peter, probably not. They could have been stolen, maybe from her father, or they’re blood diamonds, or they’re from something she wants nothing to do with. Sam asks why Britt needs her, and Britt says she wants Sam to find out where they came from.
Dante punches the heavy bag, as Cody holds it, and says, Cody doesn’t deserve to have Leopold Taub as a father. Cody says he doesn’t know if Dante’s noticed, but he’s not the most upstanding citizen, and Dante says, so what? Cody’s a grown man. It doesn’t matter who his father is. Cody says, where he comes from, it matters. Dealing with a father who is dead and gone is easier than someone who’s going to judge him. Dante says, he thought Sonny was his father when he was flat on his back in a hospital bed after Sonny shot him when Sonny found out he was working undercover. Cody says, yet somehow they managed to bounce back from that? and Dante says, it took some time. He spent his life taking guys like Sonny down. But he was on an undercover job in Turkey… Cody asks if that isn’t a little out of Dante’s jurisdiction, and Dante says, he was working for the WSB at the time. He got pretty messed up over there, but Sonny would stop at nothing to get him and bring him home. So despite everything questionable about him, his father’s a good man. Cody says, he’s still a mobster, and Dante says, allegedly. Cody says he knows Dante and Sonny are close now, but does Dante think he can have that with Mac? Dante says, why not?
Robert says, Valentine can take care of himself, and Anna says she used her one call to call him, and it went straight to voicemail. Robert says, he’s traveling… and Anna says, give her his phone. She puts in Valentin’s number, and asks Robert to please just check on him. She gives him back the phone, and there’s no reception, so he goes upstairs. Anna walks to the other end of the cell, Mac following on the outside, and she says she needs to know, is Deputy Mayor Ashby involved in her case? he says he doesn’t think so; why? She says, Ashby is working for Victor, and he asks if she has any proof. She says, Lucy overheard a conversation between Victor and the Deputy Mayor, the night before she was allegedly shot.
Nina tells Ava, a huge part of dealing with Nikolas is dealing with his family. Ava is already on the fence about her marriage. Ava says, at least she’s made clear, if she chooses to end her marriage, it will be on her terms, not Victor’s, and Nina says, let’s just say Ava decides to stay with Nikolas. Has she considered what her life will be like with Uncle Victor looking over her shoulder, constantly, forever, because he’s not going anywhere? Ava says, Victor is obsessed with this vision of a united Cassadine family, and clearly she’s not in that image anymore. Nina says, she thought Victor liked Ava, and she says, he did, at first. Nina asks, what happened? and Ava says she doesn’t know. After Nikolas had sex with Esme, and she didn’t immediately forgive and forget, maybe Victor saw that she’s not easily controlled, and won’t fall in line with his agenda. Nina says, wouldn’t it be easier for Ava if she walked away? but Ava says, not yet. Not until she gets some answers. Nina steps aside, and Ava leaves.
Victor tells Nikolas, what’s done is done. It’s time to move forward, and working together, we Cassadines have a global reach. Nikolas says, their holdings are already global, but Victor says, he’s not just taking about business and money. This world is in chaos, and we Cassadines are in a position to bring order to that chaos. And order begins at home. Nikolas asks what that means, and Victor says, it means Nikolas needs supervision. Victor is going to be moving into Windymere.
Maxie tells Austin that Zelda isn’t the brains behind Society Set-Ups; Spinelli is. As he knows, Spinelli is a genius when it comes to computers and coding and all that. He developed an algorithm that matches people together, but it’s a secret. He says, secret algorithm that matches people together; got it. She says, but remember, it’s a secret. If people knew it was a front, and it was really Spinelli’s algorithm that’s matching people together, it could hurt the business, so please don’t tell anyone. He asks who he’s going to tell. He’s a little confused. Why is it a secret? Doesn’t every dating site use an algorithm to match people together? She says, Spinelli’s matching system considers the whole person, and he asks what that means. She says, she remembers it has something to do with data points or points of data, or something like that. Georgie says she wants to go home, and Maxie says, okay. Georgie knows what she needs to do before they leave. Georgie sighs, and tells Austin that she’s sorry. He thanks her for saying that, but it’s fine. He understands. He knows how important it is for her to do stuff alone with her dad, and her mom. Maybe she could think things of some things that are special that she can do with her mom and him. Georgie says, like what? and he says he’d have to think about it. Maybe she can think about it too. She says, maybe, and he says, that would be great.
Nikolas says, Victor can’t move to Windymere, and Victor asks, why not? It’s more than large enough for the both of them, especially with Ava no longer living there. Nikolas says, Windymere is undergoing a major renovation. There will be a lot of noise and no privacy. Victor says, Nikolas is exaggerating; it can’t take that long. But Nikolas says, he’s having masonry done. He had to shut off the north tower because it’s unsafe. Victor shrugs it off, and says, he’s arranged for his things to be sent over. He’s moving in tonight.
Anna asks if Robert had any luck, but Robert says, straight to voicemail. Mac says, maybe Valentin didn’t recognize the number, but Anna says, it’s a Port Charles area code, and Robert says he left a message. With any luck, Valentin will get back to them soon. Holly walks in, and says, this is insulting. She’s literally returned from the dead, and no one is talking about her. Mac hugs her, and Anna asks how she is. Holly takes her hands through the bar, and says, better than Anna at the moment. How did it happen this time? Anna says she got careless, and recruited an asset she shouldn’t have, and Holly says, Lucy? Anna says, good news travels fast, and Holly says, she forgot. Felicia is waiting for Mac. She said to remind him about an appointment. Mac says he can postpone it, but Anna says, he can’t do anything for her right now. Robert asks if it’s Cody Bell. If it is, go; it’s important. Anna says, if his brother says he should go, he should go, and Mac leaves.
Sam asks if Britt is sure she wants to know how this necklace wound up with Peter. Because right now she has plausible deniability. She can break the necklace up, and sell the pieces individually. Britt says she doesn’t want Peter’s blood money, or her father’s, or whoever’s. She’ll figure it out on her own. She’s sorry she wasted Sam’s time. Sam says she’ll take the case. Potentially stolen jewels, possibly involving Cesar Faison, how could she pass it up? They shake hands.
Ava finds Nikolas and asks, where’s Victor? He tells her not to do anything rash. She’s clearly upset. He’s just calling it as he sees it, and what he sees, Victor is going to see. So can they go somewhere more private… She says she’s not going anywhere. Not until she talks to his uncle.
Anna asks Robert, besides what was in her car, have the police found any other conveniently placed pieces of evidence against her? He says, the PCPD found an open box of bullets in her residence, and she says, don’t tell her. The same brand and caliber as the one found on the docks. Holly says, just lying out in the open? Who does that, besides people trying to frame other people? Anna asks if they’re done analyzing the drone footage, and tells Holly, the footage shows her supposedly shooting Lucy at close range. Robert says, not yet. The coat they found in Anna’s car matched what the shooter is wearing. Anna says, it’s worse than that, and he says, God forbid it should be easy. She says, the trench boat is hers; she recognized it when she saw it in her car. Victor’s people must have stolen it when they broke into her house, and took her gun and ammunition. Holly says, who’s to say it’s the same one as in the video? and Robert says, forensics. It’s covered in gunpower residue. Holly says, that’s not good, and Anna says, Victor is really bending over backwards to make sure she gets sent away for murder.
Nina leaves a voicemail for Valentin, saying, she got a message from Charlotte saying he’s visiting, and she’s very jealous. She wants to hear all about it… Things are a little weird here. Lucy is missing, and his father may be involved. She needs him to give her a call when he gets a chance.
Dante tells Cody to keep him posted, when Sam walks in. She asks if Dante is ready to go, and Cody leaves. She wonders if it’s something she said, but Dante says, not today. They kiss, and she says, he put an extra little something in that kiss. What’s going on? He says, just a crazy day, and she says she bets her day was crazier. He says, let’s hear it, and she says, Britt hired her as a P.I. He says, he arrested Anna Devane for murder, and she says, you win.
Holly says, if Anna was investigating Victor for the WSB, they should be able to intervene, but Anna says she was working alone. The cable car operator claimed responsibility for the crash, so the WSB decided the matter of Luke’s death is closed. But she’s certain Victor is behind it. Holly asks, why would Victor go to so much trouble to kill Luke after all this time? and Anna says, he wants what remains of the Ice Princess diamond. Holly says, how many people have been killed for that stupid, bloody diamon? Luke told her that Helena Cassadine put a curse on it. She doesn’t believe in curses, but… Robert says, there’s one thing they can all agree on; the Cassadines are toxic.
Ava asks if Nikolas has any idea what Victor did, and Nikolas says, Victor stole his written confession. He’s using it as leverage to make Nikolas move forward with the divorce. She says, he doesn’t know about the video, right? and Nikolas says, definitely not. She says. good. She can’t wait to see his face when he realizes his little power play has fallen flat, but Nikolas says, she can’t tell Victor about the video. If Victor knows she has a copy of his confession, she’ll become a target. Please, let him keep her safe. She asks what he thinks Victor would do to her, and he says, maybe the same thing he did to Lucy. Go before Victor comes back. They need him to believe his plan’s working, and that they’re getting a divorce. They shouldn’t even be seen talking like this. She starts to walk out, and sees Victor come in. She says, too late.
Dante tells Sam, the evidence against Anna is pretty bad, and she says, bad as in a terrible coincidence, or bad as in expert frame-up? He says, Cassadine level frame-up. He’s worried about her actually. Sam says, if he wants to scrap their plans and go home… but he says, that’s the last thing he wants to do. There’s nothing he can do for Anna or Lucy tonight. If they just go home… She says, he’s just going to think about it, and he says, exactly. He says, he’s thinking about going out with her. No case, no job. Nothing’s more important to him than them. They kiss.
Victor tells Nikolas that he’s reconsidered. He thinks he’ll postpone his arrival. Ava asks where he’s going; hell maybe? He laughs, and says he’s moving into Windymere with his nephew. She says, they’ll be practically inseparable. Nikolas is going to love that. Nikolas tells Ava, they’re done here. His lawyer will be in touch. He and Victor walk to the elevator, and Victor says he takes it Nikolas told Ava that he’s going through with the divorce. Nikolas says, yes, and Victor says, he knew Nikolas would see it his way. Nikolas says, Helena thought she could control him once too. Victor might recall it didn’t end well for her.
Georgie sees Mac and Felicia, and runs to them, hugging them. Maxie says, they were just visiting Austin, and Georgie says, her mom was visiting him; she’s just here. Maxie asks what they’re doing here, when Cody walks in. He says, here he is, and here they are. They’re all here for the test. Maxie says, he’s going through with the DNA test? and he says, too late to turn back now, but Maxie promises he won’t regret it. Georgie asks who he is, and Cody introduces himself. She says, she’s Georgianna Spinelli, second of her name, deprived of ice cream. Does he like chocolate ice cream? Cody says, chocolate’s boring, and Georgie tells Maxie, see? Mac says, the lab’s on 10; they should get going. Georgie says she wants to come, and Mac says, come on. Cody says he’ll be there in a second, and walks over to Britt at the reception desk. She asks if he’s here for the test, and he says, the moment of truth. She hopes he gets what he wants. He looks at the others, and says, if only he knew what that was.
Anna says, present circumstances aside, it’s really good to see Holly, and Holly says, present circumstances aside, likewise. Anna says, Robert was devastated when he heard Holly died, but Holly says, she’s sure he was… Anna says, no; he was devastated. Robert comes down, and says, bad news. Anna asks if there’s any other kind, and he says, her arraignment, it’s been pushed to tomorrow. Anna says, of course (🍷) it has, and he promises he’s going to get her out. She says she knows he will. Then they’ll go after Victor. Holly says, oh yes, Count her in.
Tomorrow, Josslyn can’t imagine her life without Cameron; Felicia asks if Sam knows anything troubling about Cody; and Sonny tells someone, it’s going to be the last stunt they pull in this town.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
Andy tells us, the group has a diverse set of needs. Some want a good date, and some just want good D. He asks Sutton about Sanjit, and she says, he’s still around, but they’re just friends, no benefits. He asks about Erika’s sex life, and she says she had some last night. From the reaction, you’d have thought she solved a third world food shortage problem. He asks if she has regular friends with benefits, and she says, you need a team of people, in case some are on the bench or can’t play. Alrighty then. Andy says, this season, some thought Erika was letting loose, while others thought she was losing control. We flash back to Erika being lit, and Andy asks how the montage landed. Erika says, when she saw the season, she thought, who is that? She wanted to forget the past year, and numb the pain. Andy says, Garcelle was vocal about Erika’s drinking, and asks when Garcelle became concerned. Garcelle says, after the incident with Jax. She hadn’t realized how bad it was until she watched the episode. She asks Erika, why him?Why not a grown-up? but Erika says, he wasn’t singled out. It was her being drunk and stupid, and was coming from an irresponsible place. Andy brings up Kyle and Dorit laughing about it, and says, it was unsettling to watch. We flash back to that, and Kyle says, she wasn’t there when it happened, and when she saw it, she was mortified. Garcelle says, even without seeing it, she doesn’t get what’s funny. Kyle says, she and Mauricio both felt terrible. Being a mom comes first to her. Garcelle says, yeah, but it was her kid as opposed to Kyle’s, and Dorit says, she asked Erika WTF she was doing. Garcelle says, Erika was wrong, and Erika says, she admitted that. Andy asks if Garcelle felt complete after Erika’s apology, and Garcelle says she accepted it, which isn’t the same thing. Andy says, Erika recently cleared a significant lawsuit, and Erika reads the verdict, that she had no knowledge of wrongdoing of Tom and his firm, nor did she have any participation in said wrongdoing. She says, Sutton was the first to text her congratulations (probably because she’s the only one who reads the papers), and she appreciated it. Sutton says she meant it, and Erika says she knows or Sutton wouldn’t have done it. Andy reads how much Tom’s firm has to pay out, and asks if Erika still can say there were no victims. She says, not of hers. She doesn’t share in that responsibility. Andy says, her response triggered some of the women here, and we flash back to Erika saying, she doesn’t give a f*** about anyone else but herself. Erika says, she’s in a sticky legal fight that’s layered, Andy gently explains that when she says she doesn’t care about anyone but herself, it doesn’t express empathy. Erika says, what people think is on them. It’s like when you take a breath from your own oxygen mask first. She’s helping herself, so in the future, she can help others. If I had coffee in my mouth, I would have done a spit-take. Show of hands as to who believes her?… That’s what I thought. Dorit says, that was better than what Erika said to begin with, and Erika says she felt cornered, and was disappointed in her behavior through the season. She’s in therapy for it, and doing the best she can. Andy says, Erika told her therapist she was at risk of becoming hateful and mean, and Erika says, meaner and more hateful. She didn’t have to watch to know how bad her behavior was. Andy asks if Erika is her own worst enemy, and Kyle says, absolutely. Erika says, they’ve been friends for a long time, and she needed Kyle to be more neutral. Kyle says she tried, but then she couldn’t at that moment, the way Erika was speaking. Erika says, there was only so much she could take, and Kyle says, she was out of control. Erika says, she wasn’t out of control; she was angry. Um… if GH has taught us anything, it’s that two things can be true.
Andy says, when Erika watched the show, did she see that the women were trying to help her? and Kyle says, they took heat for defending Erika. She tells people that Erika is her friend, and they have to let things ride out, but when she hears Erika speak the way she does, she can’t. Dorit asks what Erika is afraid of in showing empathy, but Erika says she has shown empathy. Andy says, it’s not landing, and Erika says, what’s not landing is ruthlessly being persecuted. She’s been berated for two years. Maybe the Dalai Lama can handle it, but not her. Andy says, a lot of viewers asked why she’d want to keep the earrings, and she says she doesn’t have them. We flash back to Erika saying, until she’s told not to, she’s going to wear them. He asks if she isn’t trying to get them back, and she says, we’re on appeal for legal reasons. Andy says, that means she’s trying to get them back, and she repeats, we’re on appeal for legal reasons. Andy tells her, they’re saying the same thing, and Erika says, they’re not, but they are, and I’m bored to death with these earrings. Andy reads a tweet from a viewer who says, they would fight for the earrings. Erika worked at being married to Tom, and deserves her baubles. Andy asks how many of the women would keep them, but there are no takers, and Dorit says, she wouldn’t want anything to do with them. He asks when Erika last spoke to Tom, and she says, last week. He asks what they’re conversations are like, and she says, it’s mostly, how are you doing? Somebody asked why she still spoke to him, and she told them, humanity. If she’s not the Dalai Lama now, she will be by the end of the show. Andy says, Ruth Madoff lost everything because of her husband, and asks if Erika ever thinks about her, but that’s a no. He asks if she misses her old life, and she says, no one ever heard her whine about it. Really? Did we watch the same show? She says she has a job and she’s working it out. She’s going to be fine. Things come and go, but she’s fighting for herself. Andy says, we’ll leave it there, and Erika asks for a tissue. Boo-hoo. Backstage, Kathy is getting dressed in pink, calling it Barbie chic. She says, Paris started it long ago. She had a Barbie birthday party for Paris every year until she was 35. She comes out, and sits next to Kyle. LisaR makes a resting fish face.
Andy says, Kathy didn’t wear her hotel slippers, but she says, they’re in the dressing room. He asks if she really schlonked [sic] through the airport in slippers, and she says, her feet hurt. We flash back to that, and Kathy’s lack of DM skills are discussed, since apparently she was putting private messages in the comment section on Instagram. Andy says, after Kathy’s avalanche meltdown, LisaR and Erika refused to let it go, regardless of how it damaged their relationship with Kyle or Kyle’s relationship Kathy. We see clips and flashbacks, and I still think LisaR knew Kathy was agitated, and did it on purpose – MY FRIEND KENDALL’S TEQUILA. Kathy asks if LisaR wants to swear on her life on a Bible, and we see more flashbacks; from LisaR saying, if she keeps it in, she’ll get cancer, to Kathy and Kyle hugging. Andy says, lots to digest and discuss. They’ll start with the tequila. A viewer says, the women promote everybody’s everything. Why can’t Kathy promote her tequila? Kathy says she didn’t think the cameras were always focused on her every time she mentioned her tequila, and we flash back to Kathy peddling her brand. Kathy says she had it in her head at Kemo Sabe (which she mispronounces even after being corrected) that there was going to be a tequila tasting of her brand. Andy asks if it pissed her off that LisaR ordered another tequila, but Kathy says, she should never get things in her head, because then she gets disappointed. She thought it was a thing for her. LisaR says she loves Kathy’s tequila, and it wasn’t her intention to hurt Kathy’s feelings, but Kathy again says she was disappointed since she was expecting something else. Kyle cries, and says, it was her fault, like everything always is. It’s not fair that Kathy got mad at her. Kathy says she apologized. She’s just trying to let Kyle know where her head was at. Andy asks if Kathy was mad at LisaR for ordering the 818 , but Kathy says, she didn’t think it was on purpose. Andy says, moving on to the final night when they went clubbing. What happened to send Kathy over the edge? Kathy says, she went to the DJ, but he had his head down and earphones on, and didn’t see her, so she got frustrated. She saw a manager, and asked if she gave him money, could they put on some songs for her and her friends to dance to? He said, no, they were way too busy; not tonight. She told him that she wasn’t a member, but in the 30 years she’s been coming there, they took requests, like they do in the south of France, London, and Paris. She thought that might have annoyed him, because he asked where she was from, and when she told him, L.A., he said, go back to L.A. So she told Kyle what happened and that she wanted to go. Andy asks if Kyle wanted to stay, and Kyle says, the reason was how Kathy speaks to her. She said, you, leave now. Kathy says she’s not proud of it, and Andy asks what Erika saw. Erika heaves a big sigh, and says she saw Kathy was upset, and asked, what’s wrong? Kathy told her, the bleeping DJ was a bleeping bleep, and walked off. I get the feeling there was a c-word in there, and Kathy says, she admits what she does, but won’t be painted as a monster. Anyone who knows her, knows she doesn’t talk like that. Erika says, anyone who knows her, knows she doesn’t lie. Kathy says she has more credibility than Erika, and a sterling reputation. Andy says, there was an HR investigation, and nothing came out of it. Kathy says, nothing came out in the press, but Erika was walking around with a $250K Cartier ring, a crocodile bag, and a fur coat that aren’t hers. Erika asks how Kathy knows that, and Kathy says, everybody knows, and Erika shows no remorse. Erika laughs, saying, Kathy is trying to save herself. She bought the coat in Aspen years ago, and the Gucci purse is old. (No word on that ring though.) Kyle says she never heard Kathy talk like that, and Andy says, LisaR took Kathy out of the club, and LisaR says, Kathy was making a scene. Her meltdown started in the sprinter. She was screaming, yelling, venting, and saying things LisaR has never heard in her life. Kathy says she recalls venting. She thought she and LisaR had known each other a long time, and they weren’t being filmed, and she could talk. Does LisaR remember telling her halfway through that she gets it, and Kathy was preaching to the choir? LisaR goes, um… She doesn’t, but Kathy said she was going to take down NBC, Bravo, the show, and have Kyle fired. In case you didn’t notice, LisaR sure danced away from what Kathy claims she said. Kathy says, that’s not true, and Andy lists all the things LisaR claims Kathy said. Dorit is a useless, stupid idiot; Crystal and Sutton are POS and should be fired; and she can’t believe she has to be around these peons. Kathy says, LisaR needs to take a lie detector test, and LisaR says, Kathy told her that she was going to destroy Kyle and her family if it’s the last things she does. Andy asks if Kathy remembers saying any of that, but Kathy says, no, she doesn’t.
Lisa fakes concern, saying, it’s so heartbreaking, and Kathy says she knows LisaR is having problems. LisaR asks, what kind of problems? and Kathy says she doesn’t know, but she’d like to talk about the text. We see the silence is golden exchange, and Kathy says, they’re not on her phone. LisaR asks if Kathy is saying she made it up, and produces her phone. She shows it to Andy, professing, she doesn’t want to go here, which is possibly the biggest crock ever. Kathy asks why LisaR says she locked herself in the bedroom, and LisaR says, Kathy was having a psychotic break. She asks how Kathy thinks she felt, hearing Kathy wanted to destroy her sister? Kathy insists she never said that, although she said other things. She said she feels dismissed, and felt like Kyle hated her. And she didn’t stomp on her glasses; she needs them. They’re in her dressing room if LisaR wants to look. Kyle says, the issue got outside of the group, and made their lives more difficult. We flash back to the whole press leak discussion, and Andy says, there was an accusation that it was from Erika. Erika says, she and Nicky had the same representation for years. Another question sidestepped. She says, she wanted to discuss it here, but Garcelle says, nothing stays within the group, especially on social media, which LisaR is doing most of. LisaR says she got a call from TMZ asking, what happened at the club? They already knew something went down. Kathy says, she wanted to make Kyle happy, and apologize on camera. We flash back to that, and Kathy says, then Kyle told her that she had to apologize to LisaR. Kathy says she was willing to talk to LisaR on the phone, but LisaR wanted it on camera. Her contract is coming up, and she needed the drama. Like how she drove LVP off the show, and what she did to Kathy’s sister. We flash back to the glass smash, and Kathy says, LisaR has had problems with everyone… Camille… the list goes on. LisaR said she’d been bullied when she’s the biggest bully in Hollywood. Everyone knows she’s mean and doesn’t tell the truth. LisaR gives her go-to, wow. This is so sad. She says, it’s between Kathy and Kyle, and they need to work it out, and Kathy says, she wishes LisaR had said that to her that night. She and Kyle love each other; they’re sisters. LisaR says, Kathy was screaming like a banshee, but Kathy tells her, she never said anyone was useless, and LisaR is grasping at straws. Garcelle says, it’s between them. Why didn’t LisaR leave it alone? LisaR says she was attacked. Kathy abused her by screaming and yelling. Andy says, LisaR has screamed and yelled at people, and LisaR says, so? once again proving she’s the one who’s unhinged, or at the very least, hypocritical. Andy says, if Kyle wants to move on, and not know specifics, when is LisaR going to let it go? LisaR says, she lets it go right here and now. Now it’s on them. She absolves herself from now on. She wishes them the best. Did you feel my eye roll? I have no doubt this will be brought up again by her, because nothing is ever let go for good. Andy says, people were questioning why LisaR was so dogmatically getting in the middle, and LisaR says she was traumatized. Andy finds this difficult to believe after everything she’s seen on the show, and LisaR says, it was in the dark. Kathy says, the lights were bright, and since it’s the first time we heard that one, yeah, probably. LisaR says, it was worse than Kim. She saw the devil, and Kathy is a f***ing monster. Kyle says, please, and Andy asks if Kyle is upset at LisaR for bringing it on the show. Kyle composes herself, and says she feels like she’s put in the middle. Her sister is her sister, and her feelings are hurt. She always gets the blame for family things when she didn’t do anything. Then when it came out in public, it made things worse and set them back. The only one who gets hurt is her. She’s upset at being put in this position. Dorit says, at the end of the day, they’re family and they’ll work it out. Maybe it will make them stronger. Kyle says, it spills into the kids, and their kids, and Andy says, Paris was liking questionable tweets. Kathy says, Paris is protective over her mother, and Kyle says she wants to be in a better place, but Kathy says she doesn’t want to talk about it now. Andy says, Farrah is getting married, and asks if Kathy’s family will be there. Kathy says she’s sure they will, and Kyle asks why Kathy is upset that she got upset. Kathy says, Kyle is acting like a martyr, and it’s not fair to her. Kyle says she’s sorry she’s emotional, and Dorit – desperate to fix things, or maybe desperate to get this over with so she can have a drink – says, Kathy wants Kyle to accept some responsibility. Kyle tells Dorit, don’t interject, and asks, what’s bothering Kathy. Kathy says, she doesn’t lie, and Kyle knows that. Kyle tells her, she said she’d never heard Kathy says those words. Kathy says, she’s shocked at LisaR, and LisaR says she’s shocked too. Kyle says, the taunting stuff on Instagram doesn’t help things, and only hurts her. Kathy says, they’re sisters, and she loves Kyle, and they hug. LisaR literally rolls her eyes, and I want to smack her stupid face. Andy thanks Kathy for joining them. He knows it wasn’t fun, but appreciates it.
Kyle says, once again, everything is her fault, and Kathy leaves, saying, this is a nightmare, as she goes to the dressing room. It’s really hard to tell if Kyle is overreacting or not, and she tells Sutton that she can’t sit here and do a fake toast. LisaR makes rumblings of starting sh*t again, and Dorit says, it won’t go anywhere good. What does she have to gain? That’s a good question, Dorit. The only thing she’s gained this season is unpopularity. Kyle asks if she can leave, and Andy asks (producer?) Doug what he wants to do, then says, they’ll do this quick.
He says, final thoughts. Kyle is clearly still upset, but he feels they’ll figure it out, and Kyle says she hopes so. He says, LisaR losing her mom was the toughest moment; what was it like sharing the experience? LisaR says, grieving is private; you don’t think about it being public. It’s a mindblower. My well of sympathy having dried up for her, I feel less than nothing about her grief. Andy says, Erika got some tough love, and asks how she’s feeling. She says, things are good. She’s made legal progress, and that’s all she can ask for right now. He says, Dorit had a difficult year, and asks if there’s a silver lining. She says, when she sees her kids, she’s reminded of how lucky she is, and Andy says, Crystal’s friendships were tested, but she found her voice. Crystal says, her friendships are stronger, and she’s learned lessons about herself, and the type of friend she wants to be. He says, Sutton’s name was on the tip of everyone’s tongue, and asks if her friendships are in a better place. Sutton says she doesn’t know where she stands with some of the ladies (she’s being gracious), but she thinks it will all work out. She wants to work on forgiveness, and moving on in a positive way. Andy asks if Garcelle has her eye set on a new goal, and Garcelle says she wants to have more fun. Drinks come out – Belvedere vodka with three lemons, carcass out, in a short glass. Andy says, they’ve earned their drinks, and Kyle asks if she has to. Andy says, no, and everyone clinks except Kyle who puts in a fist bump. She hugs Andy and leaves.
Five minutes later. Not being able to leave it alone for a hot minute, Dorit knocks on Kyle’s dressing room door. She says she wants to talk to Kyle like a sister, and would like to speak with Kathy in the same way. Kyle won’t get a resolution and warm feelings today, but Kyle and Kathy will handle it, and she’ll help. Outside, Kathy gets in a golf cart, and it speeds away. Still on stage, LisaR says, just f***ing unbelievable. Dorit tells Kyle, if Kathy makes her pay for the sins of others, that’s on her. What good is crying going to do? Dorit hugs her, and says, it’s been a long day; she needs rest. We see a picture of Kathy and Kyle looking sisterly, and the text says, the next time they saw each other was at BravoCon. Kyle hopes they’ll get back to a good place again – eventually.
And with that, this season is blessedly, finally over.
💭 After watching this, Kathy may or may not be capable of saying the things LisaR claims, but however she and Kyle handle their family dynamic is their business. I don’t believe for a second that LisaR was traumatized – not after the antics she’s pulled. Instead of being a real friend, and keeping her nose out of family business like Kyle begged her to, LisaR acted like a complete a-hole, including on social media. If anyone is a monster, it’s her. Erika looked like a saint in comparison. I only wish I could have stuck out my foot and tripped LisaR on her way back to the dressing rooms.
😱 Don’t Look In the Basement…
Join me tomorrow for soap and definite smack talk about that creepy House, and I don’t mean where the Addams Family live. Until then, stay safe, stay standing for something, and not falling for anything, and stay never flavor shaming anyone.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
On the phone at Kelly’s, Josslyn leaves a message for Trina, saying, she hopes Trina and Rory are having fun. She’s sure they’re having more fun than her. Cam is working and she’s trying to work on a paper at Kelly’s. Please call or text her back. Dex approaches her table.
At the hospital, Elizabeth tells Cameron to make sure his brothers do their homework right after school. She appreciates him taking care of them, especially on such short notice, and she’s sorry in advance for them giving him a hard time. He asks if they’re too cool to have their older brother taking care of them, and she says, too cool, too old, too responsible, you name it, but she’s going to feel better knowing he’s with them. Which reminds her – she takes her phone out of her pocket – Doc and Scotty are on call in case he needs them, and she’s sending him the contact info of where she and Terry will be staying. He looks at his phone, and says, got it. He looks at it, and says, she’s going to Monterey? She can’t go there.
Finn asks if Terry is excited about the big trip, and she says she is. Not a bad location for a medical conference, right? He says it’s good of her to bring along Elizabeth as her plus one, and she says she’s looking forward to getting time with Elizabeth, and of course (🍷) learning new stuff from their colleagues. He says she doesn’t have to pretend with him. He knows the real reason she and Elizabeth are going away.
At the bank or whatever it is, Mr. Lowell looks at Britt’s ID, and says he’ll be right out with her safe deposit box. She says, it’s not hers; her late brother left it to her. Cody says, it would be under Peter August, and Britt says, or Henrik Faison. Cody says, he was into names, and Lowell says, good to know, and leaves. Britt says, he was into names? and Cody says, it just came out. How is she doing? She says, she’s filled with dread, anxiety, and more dread, and he says, maybe it won’t be so bad. The place seems legit so far. She says, things were never what they seemed with Peter. He was nothing if not surprising.
Ava is shaking a martini, when Nina comes home, and says, it’s a little early, doesn’t she think? And don’t say it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Ava tells Nina that she wasn’t going to say that. It’s true though. She made herself a double, but she’s feeling generous. Care to join her? Nina says, maybe… Yeah. What’s the occasion? Are they toasting a celebration or drowning their sorrows? Ava says she’ll give Nina one guess.
Walking into the MetroCourt on the phone, Victor says, keep him apprised of the Anna Devane situation. He wants to be updated on any developments. He sees Nikolas sitting at a table, and says, in the meantime, he’ll be focusing his attention on family.
Cody asks, what happens if the box is totally empty? and Britt says, it will be an hour of her life she can’t get back. He says, she’d be free, and never have to think about Peter again, and she says, that would be nice, but let’s be real. That box probably has Jimmy Hoffa in it. Cody and I laugh, and he says, or the location of Amelia Earhart’s plane. She says, or a bar of stolen gold from Fort Knox. Whatever it is, the odds are high or very high that it will complicate her life. He says, not necessarily for the worse, and she asks if that isn’t the definition of a complication. He says, within a complication is an obstacle, and she doesn’t strike him as the kind of person to run from a challenge. She says, not her M.O., and he says, there must be a part of her that thinks whatever’s in there is worth it. or she woudn’t have come here.
Nikolas tells Victor that he hopes it’s important; he doesn’t have much time. Victor can’t imagine what’s more pressing than family, and Nikolas says, it’s on par. Victor says, then he’ll get straight to the point. He ran into Nikolas’s wife yesterday. Nikolas says, he’s aware. Ava came storming into Wyndemere, demanding to know why Victor implied he wanted a divorce. Victor had no right to go behind his back. Victor says he didn’t know he was speaking out of turn. Nikolas assured him that his divorce was being handled. Nikolas says, if Victor is going to force him to divorce the woman he loves, Victor can at least let him do it on his timetable. Victor says, Nikolas seems to be under the misapprehension that he has some semblance of control here. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Ava and Nina clink glasses, and take a sip of their martinis. Ava says, this is nice, and Nina says, very nice. It’s been quite a day, and it’s not even over with. Ava asks, what happened? and Nina says, Olivia let her have it this morning, again. It’s painfully clear Olivia is never going to accept Nina as her partner. Ava says, who cares? Nina and Sonny are going strong, and Nina’s kicking ass at the MetroCourt. Life is good. Nina says, she and Sonny had to meet with Martin this morning about Sasha. The courts were going to appoint a stranger to be Sasha’s guardian, until Gladys stepped in. Ava asks if that’s fortunate, and Nina says, it’s the best possible outcome right now. Gladys isn’t an easy person, but she genuinely cares for Sasha, and she was Brando’s mother. And Sasha was happy that it was Gladys, and not some court appointed stranger, and that’s all that matters. Ava downs her drink, and says, how about another one? Nina takes the glass out of Ava’s hand, and says, how long is this roommate situation going to last?
Terry says, don’t be mad at Elizabeth, and Finn asks why he would be mad. Violet runs in, and over to Finn, yelling, daddy! Gregory follows her in, and Finn picks Violet up. She asks if he’s ready to go buy her Halloween costume. Gregory says, welcome to his life for the past hour. He says hello to Terry, and Violet asks if Finn is ready. He says, she’s really, really early, and Gregory says he tried his best. Violet says she was too excited to wait, and Finn asks her to let him finish his conversation with Dr. Randolph, and he’ll meet them in his office. She asks if she can watch the video of Uncle Chase singing, and Finn gives her his phone, telling her, knock herself out. Violet and Gregory leave, and Finn tells Terry, he’s not mad. She realized Elizabeth could use a few days away, and found a way to make that happen, and he’s grateful. If he’d suggested the same thing, it would not have gone over as well. Terry says she doubts that, but she’s hoping this will be good for Elizabeth. Give her a chance to think, and with any luck, get her the answers she’s looking for.
Cameron says, Monterey is where Grandpa Jeff and Grandma Caroline live. Isn’t she worried about running into them? Elizabeth says, the thought didn’t cross her mind, but she doesn’t want him to worry. She went grocery shopping, but if they want to order pizza, go for it. And she knows he’s going to roll his eyes, but while she doesn’t mind Josslyn coming over, she doesn’t want her spending the night. He says, that’s definitely not going to happen anyway, and she asks if things aren’t going well between the two of them.
Dex says hi to Josslyn, and she says, hello, barely acknowledging him. He asks if this is how it’s going to be, and she asks if he still works for Sonny. He says he does, and she tells him, then yes, this is how it’s going to be. He sits down, and says, he knows they have differing opinions when it comes to Sonny. She says, the man who had him hung up on a meat hook, and he says he hasn’t forgotten. She says, so he’s just choosing to ignore it, or worse, make excuses for Sonny. He says, regardless of what she thinks of him, he’ll always be grateful to her for saving his life. She says, the life he doesn’t give a damn about. He says, that’s not true, and she says, prove it; quit his job. He says he can’t, and she says, he loves the mob so much? He says, that’s not it. It’s complicated. She tells him to please enlighten her.
Cameron says, things are fine between him and Joss, and Elizabeth asks what he meant. He says he doesn’t want to talk about it, and she says she respects his privacy, but if he wants to talk, she’s here. He says, things have been difficult since he and Joss were videotaped. They’ve been struggling to find their footing. She says, because of Esme. She hates what that girl did to them. He says, at least she’s gone now, and Elizabeth says, she should be in prison. She’s sorry for not making things easier during that time; she was dealing with her own issues… He tells her, don’t. He’s so happy she’s feeling better, and doing something for herself. She says she’s going to miss them, and he says, he’s going to miss her too. She says, when she gets back, they’ll do something fun as a family. He says he thought Aiden and Jake were too cool for something like that, and she says, probably, but she’s still the mom. He says, fair enough, and the elevator comes. They hug, and Cameron gets on, saying, he’ll see her soon.
Josslyn tells Dex to explain what she’s not getting, and he flashes back to telling Michael, Sonny had this coming. He tells Josslyn that he needs this job, and she says, because there’s not one other thing he can do for a living, other than running errands for the man who almost killed him. He asks what she expected Sonny to do, and she says, not that. He says, Sonny thought he stabbed Avery’s mom and his lawyer, and killed his cousin. Of course (🍷) Sonny took action against him. But Sonny didn’t put two bullets in his head, and bury him in the woods. Sonny didn’t kill him first, and ask questions later. He’s not happy about what happened, but Sonny apologized, and he’s choosing to accept that, because Sonny’s an honorable man. She says, Sonny has never been an honorable man. Just look at what happened to Jason.
Cody says he hopes what they find doesn’t change things between him and Britt. She says, why would it? and he says he knows how jumpy she is about her family. He hopes whatever it is doesn’t mess up the peace they’ve found in the last couple days. She says she can’t make any promises, and he laughs. He says, she can’t even agree they’ve found peace, and she says, how about this? His support has been shockingly helpful throughout this whole thing. Better? He says he’ll take it.
Ava asks if Nina is kicking her out, and Nina says, of course (🍷) not. She’s surprised at how much she loves having Ava here. Ava says, they’ve certainly come a long way, and Nina says, she loved giving Ava a place to stay while she recovered, but she’s better now. And even though Nina has plenty of space, it’s feeling less like a temporary stay, and more and more like a place to hide. Why is Ava avoiding problems with her husband?
Victor says, this outrage over the woman Nikolas loves is laughable. Do they even bother to keep score anymore? They go back and forth ad nauseum, between breaking up and some over-the-top declaration their devotion to each other. And that’s only while he’s been here. Nikolas asks why he cares, and Victor says, because it’s becoming tedious to those around them. Nikolas says he’s sorry his marital woes are rough on Victor, and Victor says, a marriage that will soon be over. He and Nikolas have an understanding. Nikolas says, things have changed since then, and Victor asks, how so? Nikolas says, he’ll learn in time, but Victor says he won’t allow Nikolas to put the rest of the family at risk with his obsession over Ave. He’s gone to great lengths to insure the future of the Cassadines. Nikolas says, so has he. Victor needs him. The Cassadine legacy is in Nikolas’s hands.
Dex says, Jason Morgan,Sonny’s former enforcer, and right hand man? and Josslyn says, and now he’s dead. That’s what’s going to happen if Dex stays in this position. He says he understands Jason didn’t die doing anything for Sonny, and she says, he died in Greece, trying to help a friend. But Jason worked for Sonny since he was younger than Dex. Over the years, Jason was shot more times than she can count. He was arrested more times than she can count. He was sent to prison. He never had anything of his own. Whenever he tried to do something for himself, he failed, because his loyalties were always with Sonny. Dex says, maybe that’s how he wanted it, and she says, of course (🍷) that’s how he wanted it. Jason never did anything he didn’t want to do. What gets her is, Jason’s justification was always how great a man Sonny was; this noble guy who loved his family, and would always take care of her mom. She and Jason were best friends; beyond. Sonny knew that. Jason would literally do anything for her mom, and not two months after Jason was gone, Sonny betrayed her mother, his family, and everything he was supposed to stand for. Really think about that. Sonny was able to betray a man who devoted his entire life to him. Who would have, and did, take a bullet for him. Sonny considered him a brother. How long before Sonny betrays Dex?
Terry asks if Elizabeth is ready, and Elizabeth says she appreciates Terry doing this with her. Terry says she’d do anything for Elizabeth, and Elizabeth says, accompanying her to find answers to long buried secrets goes above and beyond. Terry says, there is one thing… and Elizabeth says, it’s too much to ask. Terry says, not at all, but she’d be a bad friend if she didn’t say she thinks Elizabeth is making a mistake.
Finn says, sorry he’s late, but Gregory says, Halloween costume shopping can wait while Finn saves lives. Finn thanks Gregory for looking after Violet, but Gregory says, after all the time he missed out on, he values every moment with his granddaughter. Finn says, he might change his mind after this afternoon, but Gregory says, a little shopping doesn’t scare him, and Finn laughs. Gregory asks if everything is okay with Terry, and Finn says, she’s taking Elizabeth to a medical conference in Monterey. It’s a spa, so it should be nice after everything Elizabeth’s been through. Violet runs over with Finn’s phone, and asks who’s this? showing him a picture of Finn and Reiko.
Victor asks, what the hell is Nikolas talking about? and Nikolas says he can’t tell Victor yet. Victor turns away, and Nikolas says, Victor doesn’t like being left out of the loop on mysterious plans; imagine that. Victor says, Nikolas has to earn the necessary trust, and Nikolas says, why should he fill Victor in, when Victor hasn’t given him a single clue as to what he’s been up to since he’s been back? Victor says, so Nikolas wants a simple exchange; information for information. Nikolas wonders if it’s too much to ask, and Victor says, as a matter-of-fact, yes.
Ava says, Nina knows how complicated her relationship with Nikolas is. She’s not even sure she wants him as her husband anymore. Nina says, then Ava must be planning his demise, and Ava laughs, saying, all options are on the table. Nina says, she’s Ava Jerome; there are only two options. Ava is either ripping his clothes off, or ripping his heart out. Ava says, she can’t decide. She’s never been in this situation before. Nina says, Ava will get no judgement from her, and Ava says, that’s not what she’s worried about. Nina says, then what’s the problem?
Cody says he should explain something to Britt, but Lowell comes back with the safe deposit box. He asks for Britt’s key, and asks if she’s okay. She says, seeing it… now it’s real. Cody says, there’s no law that says she has to open it, but she says she does. She gives Lowell her key, and he opens the box. He says he’ll give her some privacy, and leaves. Britt tells Cody, here goes nothing. I guess this isn’t a bank, since that’s not how it’s done there.
Josslyn says, when she met Dex, she definitely judged the kind of person she thought he was. Then he kept surprising her, and doing the right thing when she least expected it. He says, now he’s disappointed her, and she says she’d be lying if she said no. He says he’s sorry, and she says, her too. Not for herself, but for him. Her mom and Jason are incredible people. They gave everything they had to Sonny, trusting he’d do right by them. Instead, he screwed them over. She doesn’t want him to be one of those people. Cameron comes in, and asks, what’s going on here? Is everything all right? Dex says he’s sorry. It’s his fault. He said something about Josslyn’s stepfather that upset her. He leaves, and Cameron asks, is that really what happened? Josslyn says, yeah, it’s fine, and he asks if she’s sure; it didn’t seem fine. Does she want him to talk to Dex or Sonny? She says, no. The truth is, she knows Dex a little better than she’s been letting on. She rescued him from Sonny. Cameron asks, how? and she says, Sonny decided to go after whoever killed Brando, and he thought it was Dex. Obviously, they know that’s not the case now, so basically, she intervened before anything bad could happen. He says, Dex was lucky she was there, and she says, for all the good it did. He says, she seems more upset about Dex than Sonny. What is it about this guy that’s got her so worked up?
Nina says, Ava doesn’t have to tell her anything she doesn’t want to, but she can see Ava’s struggling, and she’d love to help Ava if she can. Ava says, there’s a significant part of her that wants to cut Nikolas out of her life, and Nina asks why she hasn’t. Ava says, things have happened that made her reconsider, and Nina says, that’s not vague at all. Ava says, in his desperation to prove himself, Nikolas made a gesture to show she can trust him, and Nina says, it must have been a grand gesture to have Ava so conflicted. Ava says, it was inspired; she’ll give him that. He essentially gave her control over her life. Nina says, now she’s officially intrigued, and Ava says, he wrote out a confession. Nina says, to what, a crime? What did Nikolas do? Ava says, that’s just it. He didn’t do anything. She did.
Victor says, Nikolas and his son Valentin are very much alike. They both profess a desire to be kept in the loop, yet their actions exclude them from that privilege. They’re more focused on their selfish desires than the greater good. Nikolas asks how controlling his life is for the greater good, and Victor says, Ava has clouded his judgement. He’s handed her the means to his own destruction. Nikolas says, because he loves her, and Victor says, apparently more than he loves his own son.
Elizabeth tells Terry, she needs to know why she’s having these fragments of memories of Reiko. Her parents kept records of the time they spent on the Mariana Islands. There must be photographs, diaries, something to give her a clue as to what actually happened. Terry says, and there’s no chance Elizabeth can’t just ask them? but Elizabeth says, no. She needs to be in their house, alone, searching. Terry says, she doesn’t have to do it alone. Finn spent time in the islands with Reiko; it could be useful to have him with her. Elizabeth says, not until she knows what she’s dealing with. Terry says, it’s Elizabeth’s relationship, and she can do what she wants, but she was talking to Finn… Elizabeth asks if he suspects, but Terry says, no. It’s just so clear he’s all in with her, and he’s a good guy. Elizabeth says she knows. That’s why she can’t tell him. She’s afraid if she says something before she has all the information, it will ruin things between them. Terry says, or bring them closer.
Violet says she’s never seen this lady before, and Finn says, her name was Reiko. Many years ago, they were married. Violet asks if they got divorced, but he says, not exactly. It’s kind of a sad story about why they’re not together anymore. She says she wants to hear it, and he says, Reiko passed away. She asks how? and he says, she got very sick. Violet says, and he couldn’t save her that time? He says he tried, but he couldn’t save her, and Gregory says, sometimes people get so sick no matter what the doctors do, they can’t get well again. Violet says she’s sorry, and hugs Finn. Finn says he’s sorry too.
Britt picks up a velvet box, and says, it’s heavy. She opens it, and takes out a beautiful necklace that looks like something a Victorian queen would wear. She says, holy… She was kidding when she said, it might be diamonds and rubies. He says, maybe she knew Peter better than she thought, and she says she’s never seen anything like this. Does he think it’s real? He says he knows how to find out. Hand it over. She hesitates, and he asks if she has a compact. She says, why? Does he need to fix his makeup? He says, trust him; he knows what he’s doing. She gives him the compact, he opens it, and takes the necklace from her, dragging one of the gems against the mirror. The mirror is scratched, and she says, he just ruined her mirror. He says, diamonds scratch glass. It’s real, and he’s fairly certain she can buy every mirror on the planet. She wonders where it came from, and he says, he doesn’t know, but it looks like millions of dollars’ worth of jewels. He watches a lot of Antique Roadshow. She wonders where Peter would get a necklace like that, and Cody says, Peter never told her anything about it? She says, she’d remember, and he says, could he have told Maxie? but she says, no way Maxie could keep it to herself. How did Peter get his hands on this? She starts to take it, but Cody holds on, and she asks what he’s doing.
Josslyn tells Cameron, it feels like the world is upside down lately. Trina gets arrested. Brando is killed, Diane attacked, and people like Esme and Sonny get a free pass? He says, it doesn’t seem fair, and she says she wants so badly to believe in justice and doing the right thing, but it’s like the rest of the world’s not on board. He says, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s on board, and she says, it’s worth a lot. He says, her moral compass is one of the top ten reasons he loves her, and she says, only ten? He tells her, he said top ten. If he listed all the reasons he loved her, he doesn’t think the numbers would go that high. Speaking of doing the right thing, he knew about her rescuing Dex. She asks, how? and he says, Michael told him. He’s wondering why she didn’t. She says she didn’t want to involve him in Sonny’s shady dealings, and he says he gets that, but Sonny aside, he has to agree that recently, they haven’t been on the same page. Or maybe he’s off base. She says, no. He’s spot on.
Elizabeth walks into Finn’s office, and sees Violet hugging Finn. She asks if everything is okay, and Violet says, she made daddy sad. Finn says, no. She could never make him sad; just the opposite. Gregory says, they’ll meet him at the car, and leaves with Violet. Elizabeth asks Finn, what happened, and he says, Violet found an old picture of Reiko on his phone, and wanted to know who she was, and what happened. Trying to explain it to her, brought it back. She says, it made him sad, and he says, it was a sad time in his life. Reiko died in a very tragic way. She says, he did everything he could to save her, and made an amazing discovery that’s helped a lot of people. He says, it’s been a long time. He doesn’t think he was prepared for explaining it to Violet. She wanted to tell him something? She says she wanted to ask if he’d check on the boys while she’s gone. Cameron is in charge, but she’d feel better knowing he had eyes on them as well. He says, absolutely. Don’t worry about anything except enjoying her trip. They hug, and she says she’ll try.
Nina asks if this has anything to do with when Ava said she and Nikolas needed each other. She’s dying to know what Nikolas confessed to, but she’s guessing they’re all better off if she doesn’t? Ava says, it’s a wise choice, and Nina says, but obviously it’s really serious. Ava says, if it got out, that would be it for Nikolas, and Nina says, it sounds like that would be it for Ava too. Ava says, Nikolas thought protecting her would be enough to restore her faith in him, and Nina says, he’s not just protecting Ava. He gave Ava the means to ruin him. Ava says, without a second thought, and Nina says, but Ava didn’t take him back. Ava says, he had sex with Esme. How does one make up for that? Nina asks, then why doesn’t Ava deploy his confession and make him pay? but Ava says, regardless of what he did, he’d clearly lay down his life for her. She’s not ready to forgive him, but she’s not ready to give up on him either. Nina’s phone rings, and she says she has to take it, but they’ll figure this out together.
Victor says, Nikolas allowed Ava to destroy his relationship with his son, but Nikolas says, Spencer was angry at him before Ava was in the mix. Victor says, of course (🍷) Spencer was hurt and angry at Nikolas for feigning his own death, but it was the Ava component that’s really alienated him. Nikolas has essentially orphaned his own son. Nikolas says, that’s not true, and Victor asks how their last visit went at Pentenville. That’s right,of course (🍷). Nikolas never visited Spencer in prison, not once, because he’s been too busy fawning over Ava. How can he respect that? Spencer is Nikolas’s son, a Cassadine heir, but Nikolas is consumed with that woman. Don’t get him wrong. Ava is a delightful human being, but Nikolas seems confused as to what really matters – family. The kind he has blood ties with, and what clearly does not. He can help Nikolas with building bridges with his son. He has influence with Spencer, and can use it to Nikolas’s advantage, if Nikolas gets rid of Ava. Or he can use it to push them apart. Nikolas says, classic; using his son and his relationship as a bargaining chip. Victor says, trust him. It doesn’t end there
Terry says, the train is leaving, and Elizabeth says she’ll miss Finn. He says he’ll miss her too. Have a good time. She and Terry leave, Elizabeth giving Finn a last smile before they go.
Josslyn says, so they’ve been a little out of sync, and Cameron says, more than a little, but she says, it’s no wonder. Ever since the sex tape got posted, they’ve barely had a chance to come up for air. He says he knows. It’s a miracle they’re still together. She says, anyone else would have cracked. He’s her best friend. He says, and she’s his, but he misses his girlfriend. She says, she misses him too, and he asks what they’re going to do about it. She says, they’re going to plan something. Just them as a couple. He says he’s in, and they kiss.
Cody tells Britt, sorry about the whole freezing up thing. He’s never held something so expensive before. She says, Peter probably stole this; it could be evidence in a crime. He says, that’s a big assumption, and she says, most likely an accurate one. He asks if she’s going to get it appraised, but she says, thanks to him, she doesn’t have to. She calls to Mr. Lowell, and tells Cody, besides, it will be safer here until she figures out what to do with it. Lowell comes back, and she thanks him. He says, of course (🍷). They’re open 7 days a week for any future needs. Definitely not a bank. Britt asks if Cody is coming, and he says, is she sure she doesn’t want to take it with her. What if she loses the key? She says, she’ll put it in a safe place, and sticks in her bra, telling him, what? Her mother taught her
Ava looks at the envelope, and flashes to Nikolas giving it to her. She takes the paper out, and opens it. All it says is, Missing Something???
Nikolas says he’s done with this conversation, but Victor grabs his arm, and says he’ll decide when they’re done. Nikolas asks, what else can Victor possibly say to him? Victor takes Nikolas’s written confession out of his jacket, and says he’s been keeping this close. He thought it might be useful if Nikolas needed some added incentive to do right by his family. Nikolas will do exactly as he says, and divorce Ava, or one way or another, he’ll take Nikolas out.
Tomorrow, Ava tells Nina that she and Nikolas aren’t done until she says so; Victor is moving into Windymere; Anna tells Robert to look out for Charlotte’s safety; and Holly says she’s just getting started.
No clue why I thought the God-awful Winter House was on tonight, especially since it’s on Thursday. No doubt, I have Beverly Hills avoidance. Tomorrow, the rest of that mess, along with the usual soap. Until then, stay safe, stay more concerned about what’s on the inside than the outside, and stay believing in justice and doing the right thing, even when it seems like the rest of the world’s not on board.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Anna opens the lower compartment of her trunk, and finds a gun. After examining it, she puts it back. She also finds some black clothing, and flashes back to watching the video of Lucy getting shot.
Drew and Carly kiss on the beach, as the camera wildly pans around them, and I feel a little dizzy.
Nina sees Sonny at the hospital, and says, she knows they’re here for Sasha, but has he heard anything about Lucy? Was she found? Is she okay? He says he wishes he had good news, but there’s no word yet. He knows it looks bad, but you can’t bet against Lucy Coe.
In a conference room, Sasha tells Martin, they don’t have to discuss this now. She knows he’s focused on Lucy, as he should be. He asks if she’s kidding. He’s doing this for Lucy. She’d give it to him if she knew he was neglecting a client, especially if that client’s Sasha. Sonny and Nina come in, and Sasha thanks them for coming. Martin said the judge made a decision about her guardianship, and she asks him to tell her.
Scotty tells Felicia that he’s going nutty, and Serena’s going out of her mind. Felicia has to give him something to take back to her. Felicia says she’s been texting Mac constantly for updates, but there’s just no news other than what they already know. Two shots fired, and no sign of Lucy anywhere. He says he can’t believe this is happening. He’s going to hire his own divers, and have them look. She says, Mac and Anna are doing everything they can, but he says he feels in his gut Lucy is alive, and there’s always miracles. She says, he’s right, and they walk into the MetroCourt Gardens, seeing Holly and Robert at a table. Felicia tells him, what was he saying about miracles?
Jordan says she has a job to do, so if Arden doesn’t mind… Arden says she does mind. Victor Cassadine has a team of lawyers who are salivating to sue for unlawful arrest. Jordan says, that’s going to be difficult, considering she didn’t arrest him, but he is a person of interest in Lucy Coe’s disappearance. Arden says she didn’t see him in that drone footage, did Jordan? and Jordan suggests she call Arden’s boss and see if he agrees. Arden says, do not involve DA Scorpio, but Jordan says, it is his case, not Arden’s. Arden says, with all the evidence against his ex-wife and the mother of his child, Robert will have no choice but to recuse himself. Jordan says, they’re in the very early stages of the investigation; it’s way too early to be talking recusal. Just to be clear, the evidence they have at this point is all circumstantial. Arden says, we’ll see, and leaves.
Drew says, that felt different, and Carly agrees. He says he means in the best possible way, and she says, what now? He asks if she means right now, or the big picture? She says, both, but mostly right now, and he says, now they head back to Port Charles. She says she knew he’d say that, and he wonders why she asked. She says, on the off-chance he wouldn’t, and he asks if she doesn’t want to go home. She says, she does; she misses her kids like crazy. She’s just reluctant to go. She found something in Jacksonville that made her not want to leave. He asks, what? and she says, you.
Anna puts everything back the way it was, closing the trunk and stuffing her gloves in her pocket. Dante comes along, and says, she’s still here. Did Jordan cut Victor loose? She says, she had no choice. He lawyered up, and he’s convinced he got away with murder.
Jordan says, Arden is putting a lot of stock in what could be considered falsified evidence, and Arden says, Jordan is giving her friend Anna a whole lot of specialized treatment. Jordan says she’s using the discretion of her office, and Arden says, an office Anna Devane occupied for how many years? She’s been with the PCPD off and on since the 80s. Jordan was her hire, wasn’t she? Jordan says, in the beginning, and Arden says, maybe Jordan’s discretion isn’t so professional after all. How many people in this department, from the old timers to the officers who’ve got five years in feel loyalty to Anna Devane? How many would be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt? Or turn a blind eye? Or actively steer the investigation in another direction? There’s a case here, and she intends to prosecute it. Because she didn’t learn from the last one where she was way off base because of doctored evidence. Jordan calls Robert, and tells him to call her when he can; it’s important. Mac asks, what’s got the ADA all fired up now? but Jordan says, first things first. Any news from harbor patrol? He says he was on a police boat all night and most of the day. They came up empty. She says, no sign of Lucy? and he says he was hoping she had better news. She says, they have a suspect, but he’s not going to like who it is.
Dante says, whoever shot Lucy, it’s just a matter of time, and Anna says, she needs to share something with him. He says, the woman who washed up at the Quartermaines, and she says, Jordan told her it’s not Lucy. He asks if she knows who it was, but she says, no. He says, she’ll never believe it. It was Holly Sutton.
Felicia and Scotty go over to Holly and Robert, and Felicia says she doesn’t believe what she’s seeing right now. Scotty wonders if they died and went to heaven, but Holly says she doesn’t think they’d let him through those gates. Felicia hugs Holly, and Robert tells her, careful; they just fished Holly out of the lake. Scotty asks if there’s a hug for him, and Holly says, always, hugging him. Robert says, he wants to take her home to rest, but Holly says she doesn’t need to rest. She needs faces, people, especially the people she missed so much. Felicia says, not as much as they missed her. Where has she been, and how did she end up in the lake? Robert says, her memory is fragile right now, and Holly says, that’s a kind way of saying, it’s all a fog. She doesn’t remember much about the last two years. Scotty says, poof! She’s just back in Port Charles with no clue? She says, that’s the gist of it, but Felicia says, now that Holly is home, she’s sure everything will come back
Martin says, it’s Sasha’s right to contest the decision, but she should know it could take months, and Sasha says, the decision being? He says, Brando’s death makes it even more imperative that she remain under the guidance of a guardian, and she says she can’t imagine it being anyone except Brando. Who did the judge choose? He says, that’s the thing. He’s sorry, but seeing she has no other living relatives, it will have to be a court-appointed guardian. She says, he means a stranger? and he says he’s afraid so.
Carly tells Drew, when she left Jacksonville in her 20s, she thought she was going after everything she wanted. In retrospect, she wasn’t really running toward anything; she was trying to escape all the mistakes she made here. He says, the funny thing is, she ended up with a lot of what she wanted, and she says, she did. She figured out who she was at her core, and that was huge. But she never realized she was running away. Now she’s able to admit that. He asks if she’s afraid if she leaves now, somehow she’ll lose that clarity, and she says she’s afraid if they leave, it’s going change them; how they are together, the ease between them. She can talk to him about everything and nothing. She loves being with him, and she’s afraid to lose that.
Sonny says, so Sasha’s life and day-to-day decisions are going to be left in the hands of a stranger? and Martin says, that’s correct. Sonny says, that’s not happening, and Nina says, they can fight it. Sonny says, and they’ll win, because if Sasha needs a guardian, he’s in. Nina says, so is she. They’re here to help in any way possible. Martin says, no disrespect intended, but the court will never sign off on somebody with a criminal record, and Nina says, there has to be something they can do; someone else to step in. Gladys walks in, and says, there is. They’re looking at her. I’m wondering why the judge didn’t appoint Gladys right away.
Mac asks where Anna is now, and Jordan says, she believes she was framed. He says, of course (🍷) she was framed, and Jordan says, she went looking for evidence to prove it. He says, obviously. He gets Anna wants to clear her name, but he’s surprised Jordan let her walk. In a good way, Jordan is usually about playing it by the book. She says she still is. That so-called incriminating video may have convinced the ADA, but to her, it screams set-up. And whether or not Anna has it in her to kill Lucy, she doesn’t for one second believe Anna would do it in such a stupid and obvious way. There’s something else going on here. Mac says she’ll get no argument from him, and she says, and in the rush to declare Lucy dead and charge Anna, people seem to be missing the fact that Lucy’s been missing less than 48 hours, and they have no body.
Holly asks why Robert didn’t tell her Lucy was missing, and Felicia says, he was probably too busy pinching himself to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. He says, it’s still sinking in, and Holly says she’s so sorry. What happened? They’ve all wanted to tear Lucy’s hair out at some point – she knows she has – but wanting to kill her. Who would go to those lengths? Victor walks in, and Scotty suggests they ask him.
Anna says, Holly’s alive? and Dante says he saw her in the flesh. Anna says, that’s incredible. She has to call Robert. He says, Robert already knows, and she says, that’s probably why she couldn’t reach him. He says, Robert was one of the first on the scene when the Quartermaines found Holly in the boathouse, and she says, he must be so happy. Damte says, it was a wild reunion, and she asks if Holly is all right. Where has she been all this time, and why didn’t she contact them? He says, her mind seems kind of fuzzy on the details, but they checked her out at the hospital, and she seems fine. Anna says, maybe it’s a sign, and he says, of what? She says, if Holly can be found, maybe so can Lucy. She’s going to see for herself. She goes to her car, but Arden comes by with an officer, and says, Anna’s not going anywhere.
Drew says, looking back on life, it’s a trip, isn’t it? and Carly says, sometimes fun; sometimes not so much. He says he had a similar experience as she did. He joined the Navy right out of high school. Now he realizes he was just looking for a home, and he found that. Those guys are his brothers in every sense of the word. It did fill a void for a little while. She says, but the void’s still there, and he says, after everything that happened, after thinking he was Jason, everything became so clear to him. His whole life he’s just been looking for who he was, where to belong, someone to belong to. She asks if he doesn’t think he found it in Port Charles with the Quartermaines, and he says, yeah, but where he really feels it is with her. He doesn’t want her to think he’s looking to her to be the answer to all his problems. That everything is just going to slide into place, and be happily ever after. She says, good, because happily ever after doesn’t exist, and certainly not with her. He knows her, and inevitably, she’ll get fired up about something, and go tearing off to God knows where, doing God knows what. He says he knows and he’s okay with that. Remember the conversation they had in her kitchen after the Quartermaine picnic? She says, of course (🍷) she does, and he says, she told him that she was scared to see the end before it had even begun. After their time here, does she still feel that way? She says, no. What they have feels solid. He says, in a way it didn’t before, and she says, she guesses Jacksonville not only changed her, it changed them. He says, doesn’t that tell them all they need to know?
Gladys apologizes for being late; stuck in traffic. Sasha tells her, Martin was just filling them in on the judge’s decision. Gladys says she figured as much; a court-appointed guardian? Nina says, Sasha’s not too happy about it, and Gladys says, and Sonny and Nina are out because of their… history. That leaves her. Sonny asks if she’s serious, and she says, he’s the one who told her it’s time to step up and be here for her family. Somebody has to do what Brando wanted, so why not her?
Mac looks at the video, and Jordan says, well? He says, it looks like Anna with a gun, but there has to be another explanation. The video is doctored or… She says, something. He says, this much he knows. No way in hell did Anna lure Lucy to the docks, and shoot her in cold blood. Jordan says, which means someone else did, and set Anna up to take the fall. He says, in other words, Lucy may be the victim, but Anna was really the intended target. She says, exactly, and he says, she knows who’s after Anna, doesn’t she?
Victor apologizes for the interruption, but asks Robert if he has an update on Lucy. Scotty says, Victor is the one who should know, since he’s been spending all that time with her, and Victor says, if only he could. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to find her, so if anyone has any idea how he can help, please let him know. Scotty says, Victor will be his first call, and Victor goes to his table. Holly says, Cassadine? and Robert says, Victor. Scotty says, the rottenest apple in the whole barrel, and Felicia tells Holly, and that’s saying something. Holly says, he seems sincere about wanting to find Lucy; why were they hostile to him? Felicia says, because they think he’s behind Lucy’s disappearance, and Holly says, that suit doesn’t scream cold-blooded killer to her, but Felicia says, looks can be deceiving. In fact… Robert shakes his head, and Holly tells him, don’t give Felicia that look like she wouldn’t catch it. What has that man done?
Dante asks, what’s going on? and Arden says she has a warrant to search Anna’s car. A warrant has already been issued for her home. Officers are on their way as they speak. Anna says, that’s very efficient, and Arden says, when the system works, it works. Anna says she knows Jordan didn’t sign off on that, and Arden says, fortunately, she’s not judge and jury. Dante says, funny. He was going to say the same thing about Arden. Arden says she admires his loyalty, but it’s misplaced. His former boss is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Lucy Coe. Dante laughs, and says, that is insane. Arden says, maybe, maybe not. Let’s take a look and find out. Anna pops open the trunk, and the three of them look inside like there’s an extinct animal living in it. Maybe a baby triceratops.
Walking on the beach, Carly says, Drew was right about everything. Not only is what they have worth pursuing, she wants it. But she wants it because it’s something she chooses, not because it’s something she’s hiding in. He asks if she feels like hiding, and she says she feels like he’s the best thing that’s happened in a long time. She doesn’t want to mess it up because she doesn’t something stupid or makes a dumb mistake. He says, she won’t, and she says, make a mistake? but he says, no. She won’t lose him over it. She asks how he knows, and he says he just does. Zzzz… Wake me when they’re done with this conversation.
Sonny says, when he told Gladys to step up her game, he didn’t mean she should take on this kind of responsibility, but she says she wants to take on this responsibility. She wants to be here for Sasha, since Brando can’t be, and help her through this awful time. Nina says, keep it in the family? That’s good, right? Sasha says, that’s very good, and takes Gladys’s hand across the table. Gladys says, she’s not Brando – no one is or could be – but she promises to give it her best shot. Sasha says she knows Gladys will. The last thing she wants is a stranger telling her what she can and can’t do, so is it a possibility for Gladys to be her guardian, even though she’s not technically family? Martin says, it’s not the worst idea in the world.In terms of succession, New York State doesn’t distinguish between the mother and the mother-in-law. The judge might be persuaded to see it in the same terms, provided Gladys is a suitable option. Nina says, what’s the worst that could happen? They say no. Gladys says, then it’s decided. Unless Sonny thinks she’s not up for the job.
Jordan tells Mac, Anna is convinced Victor set her up to cover his own tracks. It’s a win-win. He gets rid of Anna and Lucy in one shot. Mac says he thought Victor liked Lucy, and vice versa. Felicia told him they were all over each other when Martin was out of town. She says, they were, but according to Anna, it was all an act on Lucy’s part. Lucy was working for her, trying to get an angle on Victor to connect him to Luke’s murder. Problem is, Lucy went a little rogue. He says, sounds about right, and Jordan says, Anna tried to call her off… He says, but Lucy being lucy, she didn’t listen. So Anna thinks Victor found out and turned the tables. She says, Victor denies it of course (🍷), but if that drone footage can’t be disproved… He says, Victor gets away with murder – again.
On the phone, Victor says, warrants have been issued already? That’s impressive. Remind him to make a sizable contribution to ADA Arden’s campaign if she should decide to run for a higher office.
Robert thinks it’s enough excitement for today, and wants to get Holly home and put her to bed. Felicia says, really, and he says, while he sleeps on the couch. Holly says, this is the worst example of deflection she’s ever seen attempted. What is so terrible about Victor Cassadine? Scotty says, where should he begin? and Felicia tells Robert that Holly’s not going to stop asking. Holly says, like a dog with a bone, and Robert says, an elegant, sweet, loveable dog. Felicia says, Luke is gone, and Holly says, gone, as in… Robert says, yeah, gone, and Felicia says, they had no reason to believe Victor was responsible. They thought it was an accident… Scotty says, accident, my foot. They all know it was premeditated murder. Holly says, she can’t believe it. Luke, of all people. How can that kind of energy cease to exist? Robert says, they’ll talk about it at home, but Holly says, she’s not going anywhere just yet.
Arden comes into the station with Dante and Anna, and Mac says, she can’t just go around harassing law abiding citizens to high-profile the case. Arden says, he may want to rephrase the law abiding part when he sees what they found in the trunk of Anna’s car. She shows him a bag with the gun in it, and Dante says, which Anna showed them voluntarily; she popped the trunk herself. Arden says, also, here are the clothes the perpetrator was wearing at the time she shot Lucy Coe, and Dante asks how she knows what they were wearing. Arden says, from the footage, and as Mac will see, she bears an uncanny resemblance to Miss Devane. Jordan says, footage that hasn’t been verified. They don’t know if anything on there is real. Dante quietly tells Anna that he has to take care of something. They’ve got to play by the rules. The system is working against her, but the advantage they have is, they know someone set her up. They’re going to fix this. Trust in that. Seriously. Does anyone think Anna would be this stupid? Although it was stupid of her not to drive the car somewhere else to look it over.
Drew says, Carly’s not going to lose him, because he understands the true meaning of what she’s lost, and the weight that comes with it. He was lost for over two years. It’s not like a fight or break-up or differences you can’t work through. When you lose something, it’s gone, and if by some miracle, you get it back, it’s never the same. The time you don’t have together, and the time you couldn’t reach out and hold someone you love, you don’t get that back. But loss does teach you the difference between what you simply like and value, and what is truly irreplaceable. She’s irreplaceable. There’s nobody like her, and no one is to him what she is to him. That’s just a fact. They kiss.
Sonny says he thinks Gladys would make a great guardian, but since she’s throwing his words back at him, he also told her, they’re all in this together. Nina says she hopes that includes her. She knows she’s no technically family either, but part of her will always think of Sasha as the daughter she never knew. Sasha says, she’s honored, even though she doesn’t deserve it, and Nina says, if life was about deserving, the people in this room would all be in trouble. She loves Sasha, and will always be here for her. Sasha says she loves Nina too, and they hug. On the phone, Martin says, let him know as soon as possible, and Sasha says, Lucy? but he says, no, nothing yet. You know what they say, no news… Right now, he has to be honest. He feels pretty lousy. Sonny says, they’re all pulling for her, and Sasha hugs Martin.
Mac tells Anna that she doesn’t have to say anything without a lawyer, and Arden says, she seems to have the silent thing down pat. Jordan says, silence is not an admission of guilt, or didn’t they teach the Fifth Amendment when Arden went to law school? Arden says, what she was taught was to follow the evidence, and that’s all she’s doing – her job. Mac says, they don’t know how the gun and those clothes got in Anna’s car. Someone planted them. It had to be Victor.
Dante goes the Gardens and asks if Robert has heard from Anna, but Robert says, his phone hasn’t made a peep all day. Felicia asks if it’s about Lucy, and Dante says, Lucy still hasn’t turned up. The ADA is convinced she’s got her shooter. Scotty says, of course (🍷) she does. She works for Robert, but she’s always jumping to conclusions. Robert asks, who does she suspect? and Dante says, Anna.
Anna says, Arden is falling for it. Just like he knew she would. Arden sees that, doesn’t she? Arden says, Jordan knows what needs to happen, and Jordan tells Officer Williams to take the evidence to forensics to be analyzed. Arden says, Mac has more than enough to arrest Anna, and knows it. Do his duty, or she’ll find someone who will.
Robert says, Arden is investigating Anna for shooting Lucy? and Felicia says, that’s ridiculous; it’s a set-up. Dante agrees, and Scotty says he’d bet the farm on who’s behind it. Holly says, excuse her, and stomps over to Victor’s table. Robert says, dammit, and Victor gets up, saying he’s sorry. He doesn’t believe they’ve met. Holly says, consider this their introduction then, and slaps him across the face.
Carly says she loves this. The ocean is so incredible. It’s amazing how it can make you feel so small in the face of such vast beauty. You’d think it would make you feel the opposite, but it’s empowering. He says he feels it. Such a big part of the year was spent sweeping away all the stuff that doesn’t matter, and letting go of everything that happened to him. It was a nightmare, but he survived. It’s over, and it shaped him into who he is, like this experience shaped her. She says, 100%, and he says, it’s not like they’re going to lose sight of themselves. It’s not who they’ve become; it’s who they are. This is us. She says she thinks she’s going to like them a lot, and he says, he already does, and kisses her.
Martin says, he’ll officially petition to have Gladys appointed as Sasha’s guardian, and Sasha thanks him. Nina thanks him too, and says she can’t imagine how distracted he is, and he’s here getting things done. He says, with any luck, at least they’ll have one happy ending. Sasha tells Martin, don’t lose hope, and he says, to better days, little one, and leaves. Gladys asks if Sasha is ready to go home, and Sasha hugs Sonny and Nina, who says, she’s got this. Gladys thanks Sonny for everything, and she and Sasha leave. Nina says she’s so impressed. With everything Sasha’s had to go through, she still has empathy for Martin. Sonny says, it gives him hope that she’ll get through this, and Nina says, Sasha is going to get through this. Because she has them. He says, damn straight, and kisses her.
Holly tells Victor, that was for Luke Spencer. The next one will be for Lucy Coe and Anna Devane. Robert runs over, and says he thinks she made her point, but she says, there’s a lot more where that came from. Robert pulls her away, and Victor says he’s tempted to press charges. Dante says, for what? He didn’t see anything. Victor sighs, and Felicia says, she was checking her email. Scotty says he should throw his drink in Victor’s face, but he doesn’t want to waste good vodka. Victor’s day is coming. Tick-tock. They all move along, and Victor’s phone rings. He says, give him some good news… Yes. He thought their little surprise package would pay dividends. Now how about casa Devane?… The search is underway? He almost feels sorry for Anna. It would be such a shame for them to find something in her own home that would put her away for the rest of her life.
Arden says, it must be nice to be Anna. Defenders and special treatment wherever she goes. A crime was committed. It’s her job to prosecute the case. End of story. Mac asks if she doesn’t recognize a frame job when she sees one. Or is she just another name on Victor Cassadine’s payroll? She says she could have his badge for that, and Anna tells him not to fall on hid sword for her. He says he’s not arresting her, and Arden says, she’ll have no choice but to report him to internal affairs. Anna tells Jordan, just do it. They’ll figure it out later. She rolls up her sleeves, and Jordan handcuffs her and reads her rights.
Tomorrow, Josslyn asks Dex, how long before Sonny betrays him; Finn says he knows the real reason Elizabeth and Terry are going away; Nikolas tells Victor, the Cassadine legacy is in his hands; and Britt says, here goes nothing.
Below Deck Mediterranean
Valetta, Malta. Natalya and Kyle continue to argue tells Kyle to calm down, and he tells her to face her f***ing sh*t. Tasha tells them, stop, and walks Kyle away from the table. She knows he’s not trying to be a knob, but… He says he’s not apologizing again. Storm says Natalya didn’t tell him the captain got involved. It didn’t seem like a big deal; it was a chill vibe. She’s been super off to him, when he’s only been nice to her. He leaves to have a smoke, and in Tasha’s interview, she says, she feels like everything exploded into big drama. It’s becoming a sh*tshow, and she needs to stop it, but she doesn’t know what to do. Kyle tells Tasha that he will not shut up when he’s being attacked, and in Reid’s interview, he says, one thing he learned in conflict was, if an argument happens in public, deal with it later. Kyle and Tasha come back, and Natalya tells him that they were friends, but now they’re just colleagues. Kyle says, they were never friends; she’s never even asked about his life. Reid tells Kyle to just block it out, and say, cool. In his interview, Reid says, he has no idea what this is about, but when he was in college, people would get drunk and fight, and he’d try to lessen the tension. Tasha says, she and Natalya need to be holding the peace, but Natalya says, it happened at work. It’s Tasha’s role to tell Kyle that he can’t call her a bitch. In Natalya’s interview, she says, if the chief stew doesn’t want it to happen outside of work, handle it during working hours. Courtney suggests they go get tequila, which will certainly solve things, and they go to a pub. Kyle says, after this season, he and Natalya will never have to see each other’s faces again. Natalya says, Tasha hasn’t stood up for her, and isn’t addressing this, but Tasha says, they’re adults. Natalya says, Kyle called her a bitch during work hours, and the captain heard it. Which isn’t true, what the captain heard was Kyle telling Tasha about it. Kyle tells her, he’ll say it again with pleasure.
Natalya leaves the table, and Storm comes back. He tells Mzi that he found a McDonald’s for him. He ordered six hamburgers, and then they said they were closed. Mzi says, Storm needs to talk to his woman, and Courtney tells Natalya to go back with Storm, but she says she doesn’t think he wants to. She wants to put knives in Kyle’s pillow, and Courtney says, she saw Kyle apologize, and Natalya accepted it. She wonders what happened. At the table, Reid suggests they talk about something else, and I feel sorry for him. He seems halfway normal and doesn’t realize these people are five-year-olds in adult bodies. Courtney tells Storm to shut up; he’s going home with Natalya, and she puts them in a taxi. Natalya digs in her bra, pulling out what looks like maybe a received letter and envelope, and a lottery ticket. She hands them to Storm, and he asks what it is. She says, it was in her bra, explaining nothing. Even worse, they never revisit this. WTF? Courtney tells Tasha, whatever is going on, the situation needs be resolved, and they need to have professionalism. Kyle can’t speak like that. Tasha says she’ll deal with it tomorrow. Reid moves to the other end of the table with Dave, saying, he knows they don’t have much to talk about, but he doesn’t want to be in the middle of that. In Storm’s interview, he says he’s frustrated to see Natalya like this. He still cares, and wants to make sure she’s okay. They cuddle in her bunk. I’m so sick of some of them. and long for the days of Captain Lee, Kate, and Chef Ben.
They leave the restaurant, and Dave walks with Tasha. He says, they only have 10 more days. He starts asking about her boyfriend, and in his interview, he says, he should probably give up this point, but he thinks there’s hope; he can’t help it. Tasha tells him, it’s been sh*t enoughtonight, and the crew gets in the taxis. They get back to the boat, and Dave sends a sweet dreams text to Tasha. Then he’s off to the races with wishing it were better between them, it’s hard loving her, and it sucks between them. Tasha tells Kyle, some people have serious issues, and he says, they’ll deal with it tomorrow. He’s not playing the victim, but he did feel under attack. Courtney tells Natalya that she needs to speak to Kyle.
In the morning, Captain Sandy says, the wind is terrible, and Kyle thinks he’s still drunk. Tasha texts Dave, thanking him for caring, but asking him to please text only work related things. In his interview, Dave says, fair enough, but the next couple of charters are going to be sh*t. In Tasha’s interview, she says she wants him to realize there are boundaries. She doesn’t want to go back in the mess they were in before. We flash back to that, and she says she’s got enough on her plate. It’s the last thing she wants. The captain says, the wind is going to be over 30 knots, and the swell is a massive bummer. She calls Tasha, Dave, and Storm for the preference sheet meeting.
Captain Sandy says, it’s charter 8, and they’re all still together; they’re a strong team. The primaries are Garold and Katharine, who own a 58 foot sailing yacht. They’re celebrating their 25th anniversary, and want the crew to tend to their every need. Their youngest daughter Lila is a yacht broker, and will be celebrating her 21st birthday. Dave says he’ll smash out some sushi when they arrive, and do a Spanish theme for the anniversary dinner. The captain says, they spend summers jet skiing and snorkeling, and want all the toys out all the time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like they’re getting off the dock. In Captain Sandy’s interview, she says, there’s a major weather system that’s not going to change. There’s no way they’re getting off the dock. It’s so rough, they’ll have no protection in this weather. She tells them, the pressure’s on, like they don’t already know. Tasha says she’s having the meeting she would like to have had yesterday, and the stews sit at a table. Tasha says, what happened when they were out was because people get alcohol in their system, and things are heighted. There was no need for shouting. Natalya says, Kyle called her a bitch, and got so hotheaded, Captain Sandy stepped in and said it’s not appropriate. Again, not exactly what happened. Kyle says he was 100% wrong, and it’s on him, but Natalya says, after he apologized, he called her a bitch again, so his apology means nothing. Kyle tells her that he said it to her face, and she says, he said it in front of the crew; it’s not appropriate. Kyle says, Natalya has attacked him and his profession, and said, he and Tasha are unprofessional. Tasha says, Natalya said she was a bad manager, that she can’t manage her time, and she’s unapproachable. And Tasha said it behind her back. Things are said in the heat of the moment, and she understands; they’ve all said something. But going forward, if one of them feels something is upsetting, or needs to change, they need to speak about it first; not let it make them angry down the line. They can try to make it better. Natalya agrees, and Kyle says he’s not blowing smoke up Natalya’s ass, but it’s the facts. He’s genuinely apologetic about his use of words, and has no excuse except he’s exhausted. He tears up, and she laughs and hugs him. He says he’s going to miss her, and Tasha comes in for a three-way hug. She suggests they hit the refresh, and in Kyle’s interview, he says he was defending himself with Natalya. He was bullied in school, and had a tough time. With Natalya, he wasn’t thinking about where she might be coming from. Natalya says, new rule; no talking sh*t. Kyle says, but he loves talking sh*t. They just won’t talk sh*t about the interior. They don’t want to change too many things.
Tasha makes coffee, and provisions come in. The captain announces the guests’ arrival at 12 o’clock. The guests come up the dock, and Captain Sandy welcomes them to their home away from home. Tasha will show them around, and then she’ll have a chat with them about the weather. Katharine says, at least it’s sunny, sounding hopeful, but the captain says, they’re not leaving the dock. They’ll talk inside. In the captain’s interview, she says, they see the sun, and there isn’t much wind, but outside the port, it’s bad, and wind brings waves. Tasha says, the guests look angry about not leaving, and Kyle says, it’s a bummer. The guests are given champagne, and the tour. Birthday girl Lila already seems like she’ll be a pita, whining about how she wants the ocean. In Tasha’s interview, she says, it’s a test. They had a chief stew that was constantly testing them. He would put gum on an apple in the fruit bowl to see if they were checking the fruit bowls. The captain shows Lila the screen, and she agrees, it’s bad. Captain Sandy says, it’s dangerous. They can’t leave, but the minute it lays down, they’ll take off. Kyle tells Dave, 30 minutes to lunch, as Tasha searches for mint. She says, last charter they had a bunch of mint, but Dave says, it wasn’t used. All I can think is, it’s not like it’s expensive or difficult to grow; what’s his problem? She says, she can’t help what the guests want, and he gives her attitude. She tells him to stop being sh*tty. She has no time for it. He pretends not to know what he’s doing, and she says, he’s been rude to her all morning.
Tasha says, Dave won’t communicate, when she’s going out of her way to be helpful. Captain Sandy shows Storm the waves on screen, and says, they can be deceiving because you can’t see the swell. Storm says, he’ll have Courtney take out the tender to check the other side of the marina, and tells Mzi to go with her to see how the swell is. They head out, and Courtney asks if he’s sure it’s safe. In Courtney’s interview, she says she’s never been in a tender with a swell this bad. All she can see are massive f***ing waves. Holy sh*t. The guests sit for lunch, and Storm tells the captain that it’s not safe, while Courtney tells the other deckhands how scary it was. Storm suggests they get the guests to shore for a museum tour or something, and in the captain’s interview, she says, it’s bad timing. They have super active guests who are into water sports. They have to think of something or they’re screwed. Storm calls provider Rico, and leaves a message asking if there are any things the guests can do in town. Kyle serves, and one of the guests says, it looks beautiful. Kyle says, thank you, but what about the food? Storm tells the guests that cannons are set off every day at St. Peter Paul Baston, and a private tour has been arranged. Courtney and Reid go with them, and Storm cuddles with Natalya in her bunk. In Natalya’s interview, she says she’s been so stressed lately with the interior, it’s nice to have Storm to cuddle with. On shore, primary Ben asks if Mzi thinks they’ll get off the dock tomorrow, and Mzi says he thinks so, even though he clearly doesn’t know.
The view is spectacular, and Ben says, they’re not in Alabama anymore. Katharine wonders if they’ll be able to go out, and in Courtney’s interview, she says, it’s hard to keep them entertained for 12 hours. It’s not a great situation. The cannons are fired, and there’s applause. Katharine says, very cool, and the cannon guy asks if there are any questions. She asks if he thinks they’ll get off the docks tomorrow, and he says, oh yeah, like he knows. I don’t know why guests always think repeatedly asking will make it happen faster. On the boat, the stews create a Spanish theme to match the food. Dave says he’s making chicken and prawn paella, and he’s doing as many starters as he can. Tasha practically has to extract the information from him, and asks if he’s okay. He says, not really, and in his interview, he says, he’s having a hard time processing that there’s no chance. The thought was so dumb. It’s stupid, and he wants to run away. I look up his age, and he’s 35 not 15. The guests come back, and Tasha tells Natalya about Dave’s incessant non-work messages, and how she told him to stop. Natalya says, Tasha is hanging in, and doing good in maintaining. The guests are greeted with sangria, and decide on an 8:30 dinner. I’m not liking daughter Lila much; she’s a real brat. Natalya tells Courtney that Dave is being short with Tasha, and Captain Sandy checks out the table, impressed with Tasha’s rose napkins. In her interview, she says, interior is pulling out all the stops; the setting, the theme, all the courses. It’s a lot of pressure for the chef. They’re all committed to keeping the guests happy, and that makes her happy. There are silver mylar balloons in numbers 2 and 5, and the guests get excited over them. Go figure. Courtney tries to help serve, and Dave is vague with her. She says, he’s in a mood, and it’s not good. He makes a million appetizers… excuse me, starters, and grumbles about too many people asking him questions. In Tasha’s interview, she says, Dave is being unprofessional, giving her the cold shoulder because she set boundaries. Their job is communicating, especially with these guests. Lila whines that dinner is taking too long a time, and Katharine tells her to pace herself. Lila says, if they were in a restaurant, dad Ben would be wondering what the hell is going on. Katharine says, it’s fine. Storm has been there helping with service, and tells Kyle, they’re not stoked. Lila goes to the bathroom with her sister or friend or whatever she is, and says, she’s annoyed. It’s embarrassing. It’s supposed to be five-star, and it’s slow, and no one said anything. She’s an asshat. There, someone said something.
Captain Sandy wonders who’s complaining, and Katharine says, positive thoughts about getting off the dock. Tasha and Dave set up the paella on the bar inside, and in the captain’s interview, she says, she senses major tension between Dave and Tasha. She’s not sure why, but she’s going to keep an eye on them, and see it stays at this level. Lila wails that she doesn’t think this is seven-star, bumping the rating up by two. Or down, depending on how you’re looking at it. Kyle tells Tasha, the daughter is complaining on the father’s behalf, but Tasha tells him not to say anything until after service. In her interview, she says she feels like telling Dave now, but paella won’t help the situation, and it will take 45 minutes to make more. These guests clearly don’t want to wait. Ben says, it’s not the best thing Dave has made them, Lila says, she’s not hungry anymore, and I wonder if they were doing drugs in that bathroom. Tasha tells Dave that the guests are happy, and everyone heads for bed. Like the junior d-bag she is, while passing the galley, Lila says, dinner was amazing… and when she passes the corner, adds, kind of. Reid thinks she’s hot, so he obviously doesn’t care about personality. Mzi doesn’t see them getting off the dock tomorrow, and they clean up.
Kyle heads down the stairs, balloons in one hand, dishes in another, and we don’t see it, but he takes a tumble. Yeah, I don’t like that staircase. I can’t even imagine drinking then going down that staircase. Kyle lies at the bottom, face down, and calls for help. Natalya runs up, and radios for Captain Sandy to come to the pantry.
To be continued…
🥁 Marching To a Different Drummer…
Meet me here tomorrow for soap and a Winter House read. Until then, stay safe, stay tipping as well as you can, and stay understanding, when you lose something, it’s gone, and if by some miracle, you get it back, it’s never the same. But loss does teach you the difference between what you simply like and value, and what is truly irreplaceable.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
The Walking Dead
In a voiceover, Judith says, her mom once told her, the only thing more dangerous than the dead is the living. But if not for the living, we might as well be dead. The only people we can count on; not just about words, but actions. Having the strength to put someone’s life above your own. If you’re willing do that, maybe we can get back a piece of what we’ve lost.
Carol takes some loaves of bread from the bakery racks, and turns around to see Ezekiel. She says she thought she recognized his footsteps, and he says, she knows him too well. She tells him, they already said goodbye, but he says, think of it as a friendly talk before she leaves. He thought she might be able to use some extra medical supplies. She thanks him, going back to her task, and says she left him some of the bagels he likes in the back. When she turns around again, he’s gone. She calls to him, asking where he went, when a couple of guys come out. She throws the baker’s rack to the ground, blocking them, and runs out the back, throwing down other rack as she goes. She runs outside, and away.
Carol hides as troopers come by. After they pass, she quietly runs to the meeting place. She sees the empty wagon, and boxes of supplies everywhere. She bends down and sees blood on the ground, and the lock on the door has been broken. Inside, a big dude has Daryl on the ground, and is strangling him. Daryl reaches for a nearby gun, but dude pulls him away. Daryl digs in dude’s eyes with his thumbs. A few feet away, the corpse of another man reanimates, as Daryl continues to struggle against dude, who is now banging Daryl’s head against the cement floor. Carol finally gets inside, and pulls dude off of Daryl, and the zombie newbie finishes him. Daryl stabs the zombie and dude in their heads, and Carol tells him, they took everyone.
Pamela talks to some people in her office, and tells them, they have the enemies of the state situation in hand, and have suspended entry into the Commonwealth. A woman tells Pamela that she’s glad their contribution to the Common is not in vain, so apparently, they’re snitches. She says, on a personal note, she’s so sorry about Sebastian. Her daughter is distraught. To lose a child is unthinkable. Pamela says, worse than death, but Sebastian will always be with her. Yumiko charges in, and whacks the guard in the face when he tries to stop her. Pamela says, there’s no threat, and he backs off. Yumiko tells Pamela to say goodbye to her guests, and tell her what the hell is going on. She’s not leaving until she finds out. Pamela says, they were just wrapping up anyway, and thanks them. They leave, the guard following, and the look on his face is priceless, like, he can’t believe it. Pamela tells Yumiko that her friends have been removed, and Yumiko says, like the hundreds of others she made disappear? Pamela says, her friends caused rebellion and openly defied the law, and Yumiko says, as if Pamela had any respect for the law. Pamela says, that’s why she hired Yumiko. When justice has prevailed, order will be restored. She wants to assure the citizens that there will be an impartial trial for the man who killed Sebastian. They need to see justice will be served, and who better to bring impartial justice than Eugene’s friend? She wants Yumiko to prosecute Eugene on behalf of the Commonwealth. Yumiko says she’ll be signing his death warrant in a kangaroo court. Pamela says, then there will be no reunion with her friends. And she needs to consider how her actions will affect her brother. Pamela is going to hold a press conference announcing the prosecution. Don’t be late.
Daryl tells Carol that they were jumped; they even took Dog. What?! DEATH TO PAMELA AND THE COMMONWEALTH! Daryl says, the have to find Mercer, but Carol asks if he doesn’t think he’d turn them in. There is one other person… He says, Hornsby? and she says, who knows what dark sh*t goes on? She knows where to find him, but it’s not going be easy. He says, when is it ever?
Yumiko goes to the hospital, and finds Tomi finishing with a patient. The patient leaves, and Yumiko says, her friends were taken. All of them have removed on Pamela’s orders, and she’s demanding Yumiko prosecute Eugene or she’ll never see them again. He says he imagines Pamela will threaten him too, but Yumiko says she’s not going to let that happen. He says, Pamela expects her to fold. If she doesn’t, what happens to her? Yumiko says she doesn’t know, but there has to be another way. Tell her what to do. He says, it’s not what she wants to hear, but the best way to protect everyone is to give Pamela what she wants. She says, he means sacrifice Eugene? And he asks, what choice does she have? Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and Pamela is still standing. Justice isn’t waiting around the corner. She says, so she should just accept it? but he says, it’s not acceptance; it’s survival. It’s what her friends would want for her.
Connie grabs Yumiko as she’s walking past, and pulls her into a supply room. She signs that they were ambushed, but she stabbed one, and got away. Kelly is already gone. Yumiko signs back that if Connie hadn’t run, she’s be in the same situation. Connie signs, the man she stabbed needs medical attention. That’s why she came here. Yumiko looks through the grating into the next room, where she sees the guard Connie stabbed. Connie signs that she’s going to follow him when he’s released. He could lead her to her friends and her sister. She’s not going without Kelly. Yumiko signs, it’s too dangerous, but Connie signs, she’s not asking permission. Yumiko signs that they’ll be looking for Connie, but not her. She’ll do it. It’s the best chance they’ve got. Connie signs, if he spots her… Yumiko signs, they’ll know the two of them spoke, and Connie signs that she has faith in Yumiko. They hug, and Yumiko leaves.
A trooper walks up and down the rows of cells, as Carol slips around. She makes a noise, and when he investigates, she shoots him with an arrow. Daryl knocks him out, and ties his hands behind his back. Carol takes the trooper’s keys, and she and Daryl look through the cell windows. Carol finds Lance, who’s mumbling about there being a path. They open the door, and see Sebastian, wallowing in blood and guts, and growling. They’re like, WTF? and Daryl stabs Sebastian in the head. Lance turns his coin as he says, there’s always a path; there’s always a way out.
Daryl grabs Lance by the throat, and asks, where did she take them? Lance starts to scream, and Daryl puts his hand over Lance’s mouth. He’s about to punch Lance, but Carol stops him. She gets close to Lance’s face, and tells him to look at her. They can’t leave him alive. Tell them where their friends are or he’s dead. She puts a knife up to his face, and he shakes his head. Carol looks at Daryl, who nods, but Lance says, he’ll show them. He gets that they don’t trust him, but knows a way out of the city. Daryl asks what’s on Lance’s ankle, and Lance says, a radio frequency monitor. It’ll be set off if he leaves. Daryl will have to cut off his foot. Is Daryl going to carry him? Carol says, get ready to run, and Lance says he needs to do something first.
An alarm blasts as they run. Troopers shoot at them, and Daryl shoots back. They keep running, and Daryl tells Carol to get Lance out. She says, not without him, but he says he’ll figure it out. She and Lance go out the door, Carol exchanging a last glance with Daryl, who goes back to shooting at the troopers.
The guard leaves the hospital, and Yumiko follows him. She looks around to see if anyone is following her, and the guard stops. She continues to walk past him, and he watches her. Pam tells her new assistant that the optics of the press conference are critical if they’re going to regain the people’s trust. Moving forward, being transparent and open is the way. She mistakenly calls her assistant Max, and corrects it to Kathleen, apologizing. She tells Kathleen the Commonwealth Army should be there, but in the background. They want a peaceful return to law and order. A police state might stir up lingering resentments. Her phone rings.
Pamela walks with some troopers to Lance’s cell. She sees the now really dead Sebastian lying in a bloody mess. Lance’s coin peeks out of the mess, and she picks it up.
Lance and Carol walk up a hill, and Lance says, it’s a couple miles up. He never realized how much the Commonwealth looks like a prison from the outside. She was right to leave Daryl behind; he was slowing her down, like everyone. She asks what he means, and he says, she’s not like most people. She thinks ten steps ahead. Who else could have done what she just did? He hopes Daryl is all right. Carol trains her gun on him, and says she knows what he’s doing. He says he’s just making conversation, and she asks where they’re going. She’s done with his mind games. He says he’s not lying, but she says, he doesn’t give a sh*t what happens to Daryl. He says, he was just locked in a cell, and forced to feed Pamela’s son his colleague. Do it. Good luck find her friends. She takes off into the woods, and he follows. They duck down, and a jeep and two motorcycles with troopers come down the road. They stop, and one of them says, check the tree line. Lance tells Carol, he knows how to lose them. Come on.
Yumiko visits Eugene’s cell as a guard watches, and he says he can’t believe they’re gone. Yumiko says, Connie is trusting her, and she can’t let her down. She doesn’t think she has a choice but to do what Pamela is asking. With tears in his eyes, Eugene says if that means prosecuting him to the full extent of the law, he accepts his fate. He made his choices and bed, and now he must lie in it. But what if Pamela reneges on setting their kidnapped compadres free? She has to do something. Yumiko says, Pamela has all the leverage, and Eugene says he has to admit it appears that way, but he has to believe it’s something they can do. If it isn’t, then their friends are truly gone, and that’s a beast of burden he can’t live with, even in the truncated time he has left. She says, it’s not his fault, and he says, the one thing they can do is return the unwavering faith their friends have had in them, and trust that no matter how bleak, it’s not the end. He knows that’s not much coming from a soon to be convicted felon, but maybe it’s something. She puts her hand on his through the bars.
Lance and Carol walk across a field to a building, and Carol asks if he expects her to follow him in there. He says, she will if she doesn’t want to get caught. In the early days, this was a Commonwealth infrastructure repair project, but considered too unstable. He meant what he said; he hopes Daryl is okay. It’s hard to find someone who will do anything for you. That’s how he felt about Pamela, and thought she’d eventually feel the same. He helped her build and run the Commonwealth, and let her take the credit. Bringing them and the other communities in was mishandled, but it was never enough. Nothing he could do would change how Pamela saw him, her chauffeur’s son. There was something he wanted to ask Carol; what comes after? She says, after what? and he says, the unrest. If Pamela doesn’t survive, there will be a power vacuum. History shows that civilians suffer most in a revolution. She holds the fate of the people in her hands. She says, find her friends first, then they’ll discuss it, but he asks if she’s going to let the Commonwealth burn. She says, it’s not her problem, and she says, so she gets what she wants, and leaves them behind, him too? What about the kids? Is she going to deny them the only chance for the kind of life they took for granted? Shouldn’t the next generation be better than the one before? If not, what’s the point? They go inside, and Carol shines the flashlight around. Lance asks if that’s skin, and they hear zombies coming. One gets Lance down, and Carol grapples with it, the flashlight getting kicked away in the process. She bashes its head in, and we hear more coming. She shoots one, and another grabs her. She wrestles with it, and pulls the skin from its face, which is pretty cool. Underneath, it’s creepy looking, like a skeleton that still has muscles on it, and eyeballs in its sockets. She pushes it back, and shoots it. She looks at Lance, who has been no help whatsoever, and he says, sorry, the lights were out. She tells him to run, and they take off, zombies coming behind them. They run outside, and there’s a line of troopers. On says, drop your weapons. Radio back that they’ve been found. If they put up a fight, take them down. Daryl comes up behind them, and shoots them all. Carol and Daryl look at Lance.
Before the press conference, Pamela says she’s glad to see Yumiko, but Yumiko says she didn’t have a choice. Pamela tells her, Connie was picked up, and placed with the others. She admires Yumiko’s loyalty for her people, and hopes someday Yumiko understands why they need to do this. Yumiko says, Pamela is doing it for herself, not to restore peace. Giving Yumiko her speech, Pamela says, these are her words, but Yumiko says, they’re not. It’s bullsh*t theater. Pamela says, just make sure she knows her lines. The people gather, and the announcer says, they’re moving forward in prosecuting Eugene for the tragic events on Founders Day, including Sebastian’s murder. He introduces one of the Commonwealth’s most accomplished attorneys, Yumiko Okumura. Yumiko goes to the microphone, and tells the crowd that she wants to start be saying, it’s a privilege to be part of the great shining city, the Commonwealth. Not long ago, she was part of a group that was lost to the ravages of the outside world; they were left with nothing. Pamela welcomed them, and gave them the incredible gift of a second chance, to live life before it was gone. For her, this meant being a lawyer again, an opportunity to uphold the sacred ideal of the old world – justice. Eugene was part of her community. He was… someone she grew to know well over the years, someone she could trust. The events at the Founder’s Celebration have shaken her to her core. But they also renewed her belief that, regardless of the personal cost, they must always seek justice if they’re to preserve who they are as a people. Before she continues, she’d like to thank someone who means the world to her, and the people of the Commonwealth, their thoracic surgeon. She asks Tomi to stand up, and everyone applauds. She says, Tomi is an invaluable, irreplaceable member of the community, who always wants what’s best for her and the people of the Commonwealth. So she wants to take a moment to thank him. There’s more applause, and Pamela mulls this over, probably realizing that Yumiko just made her brother’s existence very public, and if he disappears now, it will be very much noticed. Yumiko says, she’d also like to thank her people for always having faith in her. She’d like to show them that she has faith in them by honoring the pursuit of justice. So she’s announcing her intent to defend Eugene, who’s been wrongly accused. They look forward to their day in court. They crowd doesn’t seem to hate the idea, and there’s applause. Yumiko drops the mic papers in front of Pamela, and says, there’s your speech.
Daryl watches through binoculars, and says, it’s cool. There’s just two walking the perimeter. Lance says, Daryl should have no problem taking them out, and Carol says, then what? Lance says, he knows there’s a supply train and the route, and Carol is surprised to find out the Commonwealth has a train. Lance says, it was part of the plan; the vision to expand the Commonwealth. They were going to reach out, connecting with communities all the way to the sea. Carol says, connecting or conquering? and Lance says, they have to move before dawn. Daryl says, they will, but Lance won’t. Lance says, they can’t get there without him, but Daryl says, they can; that train. Carol says, they’ll just wait for it to come, and see where it goes. Lance insists they need him. He talked about creating a better future, and he knows Carol heard him. She says, that’s because he wouldn’t shut up. He says he helped build the Commonwealth, and together, they could make it better. A place where everyone could truly have a shot. Where here, you aren’t defined by who you are, but who you become. It will be a new age, where everyone will start again. Daryl says, not Lance, and Lance asks if Daryl is just going to kill him after everything he’s done for him. Carol says, he can run, and Lance says, where? She says, it’s up to him. All he gets is a chance. Daryl says, it’s more than he deserves, but Lance says he made a mistake. That’s not who he is anymore. That guy died in a cell. He won’t make it out here. Daryl says, good, and I laugh. Carol says, Lance is a smart guy. He might survive. Lance begs them to just hear him out, but Carol says, they’ve heard enough. Daryl moves toward Lance, and Lance starts to walk. As he passes a trooper jeep, he grabs a gun out of it, but by the time he aims it, Carol’s already shot him in the neck with an arrow. Carol and Daryl get in the jeep, Lance lying there gurgling blood as they drive away.
On a bus, a trooper injects hooded prisoners in the neck with something that’s keeping them out of it. We see the bus traveling with a caravan of jeeps leading the way down the road.
Next time, it’s the first day of new beginnings; Negan tells Ezekiel they’ve got to work together; and Ezekiel says he’s with Negan.
Halloween is almost here, and I’m ready. Mostly. I got my candy for goody bags early, since I found out the hard way they run out of Mini Tootsie Pops on Amazon real quick. And big kids like them too. This year’s theme: Hocus Pocus. Float on by tomorrow for soap and what’s on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay leaving it cleaner than you found it, and stay remembering, no matter how bleak, it’s not the end.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
In Jacksonville, Carly and Drew walk on the beach, Drew carrying the urn with Virginia’s ashes. He says, it’s so beautiful. There’s no rush. She can take as much time as she wants. They can come back tomorrow if she wants. She says, that’s okay; she’s ready.
Robert goes into the boathouse and says, oh my God. Holly is there wrapped in a blanket, and says, hello, Robert. He says, Holly? (like she might be someone else) and she says, it’s me. He kneels down and asks if it’s really her. She says, don’t tell her she looks so awful, he didn’t recognize her (like she doesn’t look like she did 20 years ago), and he says, it’s really her. She’s the most beautiful sight in the world. He hugs her.
Sasha tells Maxie, no one matching Lucy’s description was brought into the ER. Maxie asks if it’s a good thing, or a bad thing, and Sasha says she doesn’t know. On one hand, it could mean she isn’t hurt… Maxie says, but where is she? She’s been worrying non-stop since she got that call from the police. Sasha wonders why the police would be looking for Lucy. Maxie says, Dante was being intentionally vague, giving her that whole, I can’t discuss an ongoing investigation thing. He just wanted to know if she’d heard from Lucy. Austin joins them, and says he got Maxie’s weird text; what’s going on? Maxie says, Lucy’s missing.
Chase meets Brook at the Quartermaines, and asks if everything is okay; he saw the patrol car out front. She says, they found a woman in the boathouse, and he says, that doesn’t sound creepy at all. She says, they were hoping it was Lucy, since no one’s heard from her since yesterday, but Michael and Willow were just here, and apparently, it’s Robert Scorpio’s dead wife. Just another day at the Quartermaine’s.
Holly says she’s missed Robert too. Why does he look like he’s seen a ghost? He says, they all thought she was dead, and she asks why anyone would think that. He asks where she’s been for the last two years.
Victor’s attorney, Roz, says, this is so typical of Anna Devane. Everybody knows she’s made it her life’s work to send Victor to prison. Victor says he’s counting on that.
Jordan, Anna, and Martin look at the drone footage, and Jordan says, there’s Lucy. She turns, reacts, then she’s shot. Martin says, by Anna, but Anna says, she wasn’t there. Martin says, that screen says otherwise, and we see the shooter’s face. It’s Anna’s face, and she says, there’s an obvious explanation, but Martin says, she’s a murderer. She says, no. She’s being set up.
Holly tells Robert, she doesn’t know; everything is mixed up. She was on a boat… she thinks. He says he’d like to have her checked out for a concussion, but she says she’s fine. He says he’d like a doctor to tell him that. Shall we? On the side, Olivia asks how Holly got into their boathouse, but Ned says, her guess is as good as his. Dante comes in, and says, the ambulance is on the way. Holly says, ambulance? and Robert says, hospital, medical people, stuff like that. She says she just needs dry clothes and a shower, and he says, and a guy with an MD after his name. This is not negotiable. She says, still as stubborn as ever, and he says, look who’s talking. Dante introduces himself, and asks if she knows how she got to Port Charles. Olivia says, her last known location was Monte Carlo, and Holly says, she has no idea. Robert says, GH, now. She says, fine, but no ambulance. Where’s his car? He asks if she’d like to drive, and she says, is he kidding? They drive insane in this country. (Agreed.)
Austin says, if Lucy’s brought in, he’ll let Maxie know as soon as possible, and Sasha says she can’t stand to lose anyone else. Maxie tells her, it’s too soon to be thinking like that. Do they know anyone who’s tougher or more resilient than Lucy? Sasha says, no, and Maxie says, she’s a survivor. They have to think about that, and think positive. Mason comes along, and Maxie says she didn’t know he was still in town. She introduces Sasha, and Austin suggests they head home. He’ll give them a call if there’s any change. Sasha says, the thought of going back to her apartment is… and Maxie asks, when was the last time she ate? Sasha says she’s not hungry, but Maxie says, that’s not going to work for her, and steers Sasha toward the cafeteria. Austin says, Mason can’t be here, and Mason says, Austin keeps saying that like it’s his choice. They both know it’s not up to either one of them.
Anna says she didn’t shoot Lucy, and Martin says, they just watched her do it. She says, it’s not her. Jordan joins them, and says, the woman found at the Quartermaine boathouse wasn’t Lucy. Martin says, if Lucy is gone, it’s because Anna killed her, and Jordan tells him to keep his voice down. He asks why he should, and she says, he’s a lawyer. Of all people, he should know video footage can be altered. Anna says, it’s fake, and he says, of course (🍷) she would say that. Jordan asks if he really thinks Anna would shoot Lucy at point blank range, and Anna adds, and stand here and watch a video of it? Martin says, Anna is a lot more complicated, and maybe cold-blooded than she gets credit for, and why not? She’s a trained WSB operative, and he’s sure wrongfully accused is the first song they teach you in spy school. Anna says she knows he’s upset; she is too, but he needs to take a breath. She would never do anything to hurt Lucy. He says, don’t tell him to calm down. The last time he saw Lucy, she was storming off to confront Anna. Now Anna’s here and she’s not. So what happened on that pier? Lucy wouldn’t give Anna what she wanted? She threatened to turn things around, so Anna got rid of her. Anna says, this is all Victor, and Jordan says, wait here. She heads for the interrogation room, Anna on her heels. Roz says, finally, and Anna moves past Jordan, asking Victor, where is she?
Carly and Drew walk on the beach, as the cameraman perfects his crane shots. They get to a cliff, and Carly says, this is it.
Olivia tells Ned, Holly is a gutsy lady, but she could tell Holly was scared. Couldn’t he? He says, not remembering things that happened to you is scary, and she says she hopes Holly is all right. Did he see the look on Robert’s face when he saw her? Ned tells her, go to the hospital. Robert’s her friend, and could obviously use some support right now. Holly’s reappearance is a lot to wrap your head around. Besides, he can tell she’s dying of curiosity. She kisses him, they exchange I love yous, and she jets.
Mason says, he and Austin both answer to a higher power, and Austin says, God? Mason says, as far as they’re concerned, it might as well be. Face it, family’s forever, especially theirs. Robert wheels Holly out of the elevator, and she says, for the last time, she doesn’t need a wheelchair, and he says, for the last time, he wants a doctor to tell him that. And he thinks they found one. He wheels her over to Austin, who asks if he can help them. Robert says, this woman was found wandering on the Quartermaine grounds, but Holly says, she’s not this woman and she wasn’t wandering. Robert asks what she was doing there, and she says she doesn’t know. He says, memory issues. He’s concerned there might be a bit of damage there. She says she doesn’t want to be examined; she’s scared. Robert says he’s going to be with her every step of the way, and if there’s something wrong or there’s a problem, better that it happens here. She agrees, and introduces herself to Austin.
Carly says, this is her mother’s favorite spot. She would sit and watch Carly down below, catching hermit crabs. He says he can see it. Little Caroline, running around on the beach, not a care in the world. Scrambling over the rocks with a bucket. Did she ever try to take one of the crabs home as a pet? She says, she would show them to her mom, who would act impressed and amazed, and then they’d put them back because her mom said, this is their home. Then she would joke, and say, maybe one day it would be her home too. He says, now it will, and Carly says, it feels right. Laying her mother to rest at the ocean. There’s nowhere she’d rather be.
Chase wonders where Holly came from, and asks Brook if the Coast Guard found a boat nearby, but Brook doesn’t know. She brings him inside, and asks where he was this morning. He says he had an engagement with his niece, and she says, aka a tea party. She hopes Violet realizes she was having tea with a rock star. He says, let’s not go overboard, but she says, it’s not an exaggeration. Has he been following his social media accounts? He says, not really. Does that mean his set at The Savoy went well? She says, it didn’t go well; the people loved it. The video she posted has over 100,000 views already. This is huge. He’s going to be the next big thing.
Victor asks, what’s happened? Don’t tell him they found Lucy’s body. Anna says, so he killed her, and Roz tells Anna to watch her tone with her client. Jordan says, there’s no sign of Lucy’s body in the harbor. Tell them where she is. He says he doesn’t know, and Anna says, he’s lying. Jordan says, they watched the footage, and Anna says, his little show. He arranged for a drone to fly over the docks… Victor says, Anna’s become completely unhinged. Will someone tell him what’s going on here? Jordan says, they have a video of what appears to be a woman firing two shots at Lucy Coe, and Victor pretends to be mortified. He says he was clinging on to some hope that she was alive, and Anna flies around the table, but Roz blocks her from getting to Victor.
Maxie asks how Sasha is doing, and Sasha says, some days she feels like it’s going to be okay. Other days, she hangs out at the hospital because she doesn’t want to be home without him. Maxie says she remembers that. One of the worst parts of grief is that it’s not a straight line. It ebbs and flows, and she just wanted an end date. It’s unfortunate it doesn’t work like that. She’s here if Sasha wants to talk. Mason comes by, and says he was hoping to chat with Maxie before he leaves. He needs a favor.
Chase says, so Holly has zero memory of what happened, and Ned says, she doesn’t even know how she got to the US. Brook calls Chase over to show him the comments from his latest performance. That voice, those yes. I’m officially dead. Where can I get this song? Never mind the song, where can I get him? Chase says, that’s embarrassing, but Brook says, it’s incredible. They have to release the single by the end of the week, and an entire album by the end of the month. They have to give these people something to buy. Don’t worry; he’ll still be able to perform live. She misses that feeling of being in the spotlight, in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s the studio calling about the session she booked. She steps out to the patio, and Chase tells Ned, Brook’s really in her element. Ned says, Brook’s having the time of her life. How about Chase?
Olivia gets to the hospital, and asks Robert how Holly is. He says, Austin is in with her now, and she asks how he’s doing, when Austin tells Robert he can come in. Robert says, well? and Austin says he thinks she’s great; no double vision, no headaches. No case of hypothermia. Holly says, this blanket is doing the trick, and Robert asks when she’s going to be admitted. Holly says she’s not, but Robert says he wasn’t asking her. Austin says, how about if he orders an MRI, and when he gets the results, they can discuss. Does that sound fair? Holly says it does, and Austin leaves. Robert sits down, and asks if anything has come back to her, but she says, not yet. He asks, what’s the last thing she remembers? and she says, it’s all so foggy. She was working for the WSB, and investigating a casino in Monaco. He says, Monte Carlo. He and Ethan turned the place upside down looking for her. She asks how Ethan is, and Robert says, last he heard, Ethan was pretty good, but he’ll be better once he knows his mother’s alive. She says she wants to hear his voice, but she has no way of reaching him. He gives her his phone, and says, it’s on him. He has to talk to Olivia about something. He leaves, and Holly looks at the phone.
Anna is hustled out of the interrogation room, and Jordan says, she needs to pull it together unless she wants to be arrested for assault. Anna says she just couldn’t stand looking at his smug face for one more second, and Jordan says, Anna is a professional; she knows better. Cool down. Anna tries to follow Jordan back in, but Jordan says, uh-uh. After that little display, Anna is out of this. Jordan goes in, and Roz says she wants Anna arrested. Jordan says, for? and Roz asks if Jordan didn’t see what Anna just did to her client, but Victor says, now is not the time. A woman is missing, possibly dead. Roz says, the shooter is female? and Jordan says, it looked that way, but they still have to analyze the footage. Victor says he assumes her tech experts are working on that. Lucy’s attacker has to be identified. In the squad room, Anna leaves a message for Robert to call her back as soon as he gets this. Victor has made his move. He’s trying to frame her for Lucy’s murder. Anna picks up the laptop to look closer, but Martin runs in with ADA Arden, and says, that’s tampering with evidence. Arden asks if this is the surveillance footage, and Martin tells her, watch it. Then have this woman arrested for murder.
Carly tells Drew, she hates that she lost fight to save the cemetery, but thinks Virginia would love being part of the ocean she loved so much. He says, two things can be true at the same time, and she says she’s beginning to see that. He says, life is quite the ride, and she says she hates that her mother’s life was cut short. She didn’t have the opportunity to say so many things she wanted to say. He tells her, it’s not too late to say them now. Go ahead. She takes the urn, and walks away from him. She says, Virginia, you were a good mom; you were a great mom. I’m so sorry I didn’t always make you feel that way. I wish I could say this to your face. I wish you could know my kids. I wish you could be a part of our lives, but we can’t go back, no matter how bad we want to. I hope you’ve been at peace, and I hope you continue to be. I love you, mom. She walks to the edge of the cliff, and pours out the ashes. The wind takes them out to the ocean.
Anna tells Martin, so he’s alleging she followed Lucy to a public pier, and shot her in full view of anyone who might come by. He just said she went to spy school. So surely she’d have had a more clandestine method to eliminate someone at her disposal. She basically put herself out there to get caught. Does he see that this doesn’t make any sense? He says he sees the woman who blackmailed him. The same woman who, when he refused to spy for her, threatened to destroy his life. She uses people any way she has to, to even the score in her petty grudges. With people like her and Victor, that gets dangerous real fast. He watched his own brother do it for years. When the stakes get too high, when something goes wrong, someone like Lucy gets in the way, she’s got to get rid of the problem permanently. Jordan comes out, and asks Arden, what’s going on? Arden says, nice of her to join them, and Jordan says she was questioning a suspect. Arden says, she can tell Victor that he’s free to go.
Olivia asks how long Austin said the MRI would take, and Robert says, he didn’t. She says, he didn’t answer her question from before. How is he holding up? He says, she means with his deceased ex-wife turning up alive and well? It’s overwhelming, in a nice, warm, fuzzy way. She says, it’s a miracle. Now he gets the chance to say all the things he didn’t think he’d have a chance to say.
Dante tells Austin, he was wondering if he could get an update on Holly, and Austin asks if Dante is family. Dante says, no, and Austin says, then Dante knows he can’t tell him anything. Dante says, it’s for the investigation. He doesn’t need details. Are they going to be admitting Holly? Austin says he’s recommending she stay for observation, but you can’t make a patient stay against their will. Dante says, what about that memory loss thing? and Austin say, so much for no details. There doesn’t seem to be any physical reason for Holly’s memory loss.
Chase tells Ned, singing at The Savoy was great; connecting with the audience, getting lost in the music. Ned says he’s sensing a but, and Chase says, he spent the whole time waiting for it to be over. He enjoys singing… Ned says, but it’s not his passion, and Chase says, he enjoys making people happy, and who doesn’t love a crowd cheering for them? But at the end of the day, it’s not making a real difference. Ned says, like he would be if he were on the force, and Chase says, exactly. He wants nothing more than to be a part of that investigation, and find out who’s going around attacking people with a hook. He wants to take that killer off the streets. Ned asks if Brook knows about this, and Chase says, managing him means so much to her, and he can’t be a cop right now, which is entirely on him. He lost his cool, he punched Linc, and now he’s paying the price. Ned thanks him for defending his daughter’s honor, but Chase says, no thanks needed. He regrets the outcome, but he can’t say he wouldn’t do it again, which is why the suspension is totally merited, but it doesn’t make him miss being a cop any less. It’s pointless focusing on something he can’t have. He needs to focus on something he can control… for Brook’s sake.
Brook finishes talking to the studio, and sees an email from Dante. The subject says: Letter of support to get Chase reinstated. She deletes it, and the phone rings. She says, hello, Linc. What can I do for you?
Maxie says she’ll be glad to help Mason if she can. What does he need? He asks if she can talk some sense into Austin, and convince him to come home to Pautuck for Thanksgiving. They miss him something fierce. Austin walks up behind him, and Maxie says she didn’t mean to take Austin away from his family, but Austin says, she’s not taking him away from anything. He’s right where he wants to be. Maxie would be welcome too, of course (🍷), and her kids; Georgie, James, and Bailey, right? She says, that’s impressive, and Austin asks if Mason didn’t say he had to be on the road. Mason says, always looking out, and tells Maxie, think about Turkey Day. Austin says he’ll walk Mason out, and Mason says, gobble-gobble, as they leave. Sasha says, he’s an interesting guy, and Maxie says, yeah… Are they cannibals??? I’m intrigued.
Victor thanks Arden for her interest in this case, and Arden says, as soon as she was made aware, she knew it required her attention. Anna tells Jordan, she’s got to get out of here. If Victor set her up – which she believes he has – he’s not going to stop with the drone footage. There’s going to be other false evidence out there against her. Jordan says, go, and Anna moves to the door, but Martin says, no. There’s no way Anna is walking out of here. Jordan says, Agent Devane isn’t under arrest. But don’t leave town. Anna says, understood, and leaves. Martin says, isn’t that sweet? Does Jordan give all her friends preferential treatment, or only the guilty ones? Victor says he’s not following. Does Martin think Anna did something to Lucy? Martin says he knows she did. You can see it plain as day on that video. Victor says, the Commissioner failed to mention that, and Arden says, since Jordan’s judgement is clearly compromised by her relationship with Anna, it’s her opinion Jordan be removed from the case.
Drew asks if Carly is okay, and she says she’s feeling so many things; mostly free. When she thinks about that emergency landing in Jacksonville, she was so frustrated. She just wanted to get where she was going, and that’s exactly what happened. Her mother needed her to be there, and she needed to be here for her mother. He says, divine intervention, and she laughs. She says, it gave her closure with Virginia, and reminded her of who she is, and what’s important to her. Her family and her friends… He says, hermit crabs, and she says, hermit crabs, and him. She’s been focused on everything she’s lost in these past couple years, and it’s been a lot, but she’s also gained something. He asks, what’s that? and she says, him. He dropped everything to help her. He slept on a really bad couch. He says, the couch was not so bad, and she thanks him for helping her. It meant so much to her. He says, it meant as much to him. Watching her face her past made him take a good look at his own life. She says, what did he see?
Holly is wheeled back to the exam room, and Olivia and Robert join her. Robert asks, how’s the head? and Holly says, still attached. He suggests she give Ethan a call; maybe he’ll pick up now. Olivia says, not exactly the kind of message you can leave in a voicemail, and Holly says, sorry, she is? Olivia apologizes, and introduces herself, saying, she was at the boathouse earlier. She brought Holly some clothes for later. Holly says, that’s really thoughtful, and Olivia says, of course (🍷). It’s so wonderful to finally meet Holly. Although Olivia feels like she already knows her. She was in Monte Carlo with Robert and Ethan when they were looking for Holly. Holly should have seen what Robert went through to find her. She’ll let Robert tell her, but it was really something else. Holly says, he did all that for her? and he says he doesn’t know why she’s so surprised. He’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Brook comes in and tells Chase, they did it. They got him. She just knew this would work. He says, feel free to fill him in anytime, and she says, Linc called. He took the bait.
Austin tells Mason, do not involve Maxie in this, but Mason says, he’s not; Austin is. Because he deluded himself into thinking he can keep Pautuck separate from his life here. He can’t. In all honesty, Maxie and her kids would do better to stay as far away from Austin as possible.
Jordan says she’s following the evidence without making assumptions. Arden saw the video. Can she say, without question, that the shooter is Anna Devane? Arden says, without question? No. Jordan says, she’s sending the video to IT. They’ll do their best to see if it’s been altered in any way. Victor thinks it might be worth mentioning that whenever he was with Lucy and Anna’s name came up, Lucy was visibly uncomfortable. Martin agrees, and Victor says, he didn’t think anything of it at the time, but now he’s wondering if Lucy might have been afraid of Anna. Roz tells Jordan to add that to the evidence she’s following, even though it’s hearsay. Jordan asks if Victor is willing to make an official statement, and he says he supposes so. Arden asks if this means Jordan’s changed her mind, and Jordan says, if the shooter in the video proves to be Anna, she’ll reassess. Martin says he can’t listen to any more of this, and walks away. Jordan says, until then, nothing links Anna to Lucy’s presumed death
Anna puts on gloves, and opens her car. She wonders where evidence would be planted. She feels around the seats, and looks in the glove compartment.
Drew tells Carly, the life he came back to a year ago, wasn’t the one he left, and it took him a while to see it, but there’s beauty in that. She says, in new beginnings. He says, a new beginning for both of them, and she says, new beginnings can be scary. He says, they can, but they also can be exciting and hopeful, and full of possibility, and she says she likes the sound of that. He says, so does he. He smooths her hair back from her face, and asks, is this okay? She says, yes, and he doesn’t have to ask ever again. He kisses her, and we get a spinning crane shot like the one at the end of The Beastmaster when Dar kisses Kiri.
Sasha sees Martin at the hospital, and says she didn’t realize he was back in town. Has he heard from Lucy? He says, nothing, but he’s not giving up until they find her. He was actually here to check the ER. He knows it’s futile… She says, but better than sitting around waiting. He asks how she’s holding up, and she says she’s taking it day by day. It’s hard to think beyond that. He says he heard from the judge, and has an update on her future.
Brook tells Chase, right after she got off the phone with the studio, Linc called. He said he wants Chase to do a duet with one of his rising stars. Brook’s actually heard of her; she has a pretty big following. She thinks she has the perfect song for them to sing together. It will be huge boost for Chase’s career. He says, and one step closer to exposing Linc for the predator he is, and she says, that too. He says, this is really happening, and they hug.
Holly says she’d like to change into these clothes, but Robert says, she won’t be needing them, because she’s staying. Holly says, she’s not, and Olivia wisely says she’ll leave it between the two of them, and gets the hell out of there. Holly tells Robert, Austin said she’s fine, but he says, Austin never said anything remotely like that. She says, she will be once she’s had a long bath and a decent meal, neither of which she’ll get here. He says, he’s not going to win this one, is he? and she says, when does he ever win with her? She assumes the MetroCourt is still around, and he says, it is. She says, perfect. She’ll need a full English breakfast, and some tea, preferably with whiskey in it.
Arden says she’s sorry the police wasted Victor’s valuable time, but Victor says, all that matters is justice for Lucy. As the Commissioner said, just follow the evidence.
Anna looks in her amazingly neat trunk, taking out the few things in it. She lifts the bottom, where there are blankets stored underneath. Underneath the blankets, she finds a gun.
On Monday, Sasha says, the Judge made a decision on her guardianship: Mac says. Lucy may have been the victim, but is Anna the real target; and Anna tells Dante that there’s something he needs to know.
💕 And It Feels So Good…
Who Holly is, for those needing to catch up, and the feelings about her return.
This does not compare to Teresa Giudice’s situation. I’m not a Teresa fan by any stretch of the imagination, but even I can see she was just a moron whose husband said, sign this, and she did. Jen is a whole other level of thief.
Andy isn’t going to be happy until there’s a lawsuit. And not that any of these cretins with money are any kind of role model, how did it get to be okay to throw drinks on people, shove them, and throw whatever is in front of you at them? I’ve noticed a lot of drink throwing on 90 Day Fiancé lately too. It’s not okay. Stop it. And if you do it to me, you’d best run fast.
Many things—such as loving, going to sleep, or behaving unaffectedly—are done worst when we try hardest to do them. – C.S. Lewis, Studies in Medieval Literature, compiled in Words to Live By
What are you waiting for? How long will you keep waiting? Don’t sit back and wait for life to happen to you. Have a plan and take the needed steps to create what you want. – Steve Maraboli (Dude is a real taskmaster.)
Healing comes from taking responsibility: to realize that it is you – and no one else – that creates your thoughts, your feelings, and your actions. – Peter Shepherd
We can have peace if we let go of wanting to change the past and wanting to control the future. – Lester Levinson
Dare to be true: nothing can need a lie: A fault, which needs it most, grows two thereby. – George Herbert
Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong. – Ella Fitzgerald
A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success. – Elbert Hubbard
This adoration of an artist as a lone genius is quite misled, I think, because they are very much part of their time and their community. – Hannah Gadsby
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it. – Benjamin Franklin
Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. – Marie Curie
I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people. – Isaac Newton
🛣 Easing On Down the Road…
See you when the bell tolls for the Dead. Until then, stay safe, stay getting all the facts before picking a side, and stay not being frustrated by emergency landings. Sometimes they get you where you’re going.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nina and Sonny are kissing at the MetroCourt Garden, and Nina says, if they keep this up, she won’t get any work done. He guesses he can’t convince her to play hooky, and she says, his powers of persuasion are incredible, but they’re both busy people. His phone rings, and he steps away to take the call. Nina sees Olivia, and suggests Olivia take some time off, and let her handle things. Olivia says, thanks, but she’s all set, and Nina says, they’re partners, aren’t they? And for the most part, things have been going well, right? Olivia commends Nina on handling the details of Brando’s memorial, but says, why don’t they quit while they’re ahead? Let her buy Nina out before the whole thing gets real nasty, because they all know that’s where this is headed.
Holding a rose, Marshall approaches Epiphany at the hospital. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says she’s been studying for the MCATs for almost a year, does she think he wouldn’t show up on her big day to wish her luck? She says it’s good he’s here, because if she crashes and burns on these MCATs today, she’s holding him personally responsible.
Portia, Curtis, and TJ share a table at the Garden, and Portia says she realizes Curtis has some last minute details to settle before they pick a date, but some of these venues are booked years in advance. She feels like everyone is marrying their fiancé in the next 18 months. Curtis asks what TJ thinks, but TJ’s face is in his phone. Portia says she bets TJ and Molly have dozens of wedding invitations on their fridge, and Curtis asks what TJ thinks. TJ looks at a text from Willow: Checking in. R U OK after run-in w/ Nina @ the funeral? Portia says, TJ? and he says he’s sorry. What was the question? Curtis says he guesses now the question becomes, who is more interesting than them?
Michael finds Willow on the patio, and says he thought she had a shift this morning, but she says, Terry gave her a few days off. He says he’s glad Terry is being so accommodating with her pregnancy.
On the phone, Ned says, he’s Chairman of the Board. Valentin can’t just drop off the face of the earth and leave him holding the bag. Call him. Michael comes in with Willow, and says he’s sorry Ned is having trouble with Valentin. Ned says he bets. Have Michael and Drew been able to stop the Aurora stock from freefalling? Michael says, ages ago. At least he and Drew know they can trust each other. Is that how it is with Ned and Valentin?
At the station, Jordan thanks Victor for joining them, and he says, the officer told him that she might have some questions for him about what happened to Lucy Coe. She says she does, and he says he’s more than happy to answer once his attorney gets here. She tells him to wait in the interrogation room, and when he’s gone, Robert says he supposes it’s too much to hope Victor confesses, but Jordan says she doesn’t think there’s much to confess to. Anna says, the evidence suggests otherwise, and Dante says, he had a date with Lucy before she disappeared. They’re well within their rights to hold him for questioning. Robert says, he’s got an alibi, and Anna says, of course (🍷). He’s always got other people doing his dirty work for him. Jordan asks Anna to walk with her a moment, and they leave. Jordan tells Anna, when she first got back on the job, Anna and Laura confided in her that they were working together to find out who killed Luke Spencer, and Victor is up to some grander scheme. As her friend, Jordan has given Anna space to handle that investigation, but as Anna’s colleague, she needs to make sure Anna’s vendetta isn’t clouding her judgement. Anna says, it’s fueling her resolve, but she sees everything clearly, and Jordan says, then she has to ask. Does Anna think Victor could have murdered Lucy? Anna says, absolutely.
A woman (who we assume is Lucy) lies on the edge of the beach, face down, half in the water.
Trina comes into the station, and says she thought Rory was meeting her at ten. He looks at his watch, and says he didn’t realize the time. She asks if he at least packed, and he says he did. She says she thought he couldn’t wait for their weekend getaway, and now he’s distracted. He tells her, things got pretty swamped here last night; long story. She says, if the safety of the citizens of Port Charles is at stake, she can’t really drag him away from his duties. So if he needs to postpone, it’s fine. He says, that’s the furthest thing from his mind, and she says, great, let’s go, but he asks if she’s sure. She was ready to call it real quick. Does she not want to go away with him?
Nina asks where this is coming from. Olivia just got done saying she was doing a good job. Olivia says she’s not doubting Nina’s adaptability or business acumen, but in order for this partnership to work, they have to trust each other, and there’s no way she’s ever going to trust Nina. Nina says, so much for being civil, and Olivia says, this is her civil. When Nina kept Sonny from all of them, she didn’t just hurt Carly and Sonny’s kids; Nina hurt everyone who cares for him. She and Sonny share a first born son. They share a grandchild, so it includes her. Sonny may be okay with Nina, but that doesn’t mean everyone else will be. So why doesn’t Nina let Olivia buy her out of this hotel, for everyone’s sake, and they can all move on with their lives. Nina says, sorry, no deal. Olivia’s stuck with her. Sonny asks if everything’s okay here, and Olivia says, peachy. She’s going to let Nina take care of all this. It turns out she needs a breather after all.
Portia wants to get to the hospital early, so she can wish Epiphany good luck on her MCATs, and Curtis says, it’s great Portia helped Epiphany prepare. He knows Portia’s support means a lot to her. Portia says, Epiphany is her friend, and she’s important to Curtis’s father, so her pleasure. She leaves, and Curtis asks why TJ is so happy all of a sudden. TJ says, this family. They’ve had their ups and downs, but he can’t say how grateful he is that Curtis and Marshall settled in a good place. It’s a huge 180 from last year. Of course (🍷) he’s sure it helps to understand the burden Marshall was carrying.
Marshall asks, how is Epiphany tanking the MCATs – which is not going to happen, by the way – his fault? She says, he walked into this hospital, her hospital, a year ago, and got her to open up about how her entire adult life she’s had this fantasy about going to med school, becoming a doctor after decades of nursing. He encouraged her. Why would he do that? Who goes up to total strangers and encourages them? He says, someone had to, and he’s glad it was him.
Martin arrives at the station, and says he got Dante’s call. Dante asks if he’s heard from Lucy, and Martin says, no. Why does he ask? Robert says, it seems she’s gone missing. Dante says, she was last seen on the docks; there were signs of foul play. Martin asks, what kind of signs? and Dante says, there was evidence that a shot was fired; a bullet casing was found on the pier.
Jordan says, Anna needs to level with her. What exactly did Lucy get mixed up in? Anna says, Lucy was helping with her investigation into Victor. She just needed one piece of information, but Lucy was getting in over her head. Anna tried to pull her out, but forgot how stubborn Lucy can be. Jordan asks how hard Anna really tried to pull Lucy out, and Anna says she brought Martin back here. She thought that would at least limit Lucy’s ability to see Victor. She thinks it was too late. She might have cost Lucy her life. Jordan’s phone rings, and she says, Coast Guard Search and Rescue. Maybe they found evidence that Lucy’s alive.
The woman on the shore moves her hand a little.
Sonny says, this thing with Nina and Olivia isn’t working, and Nina says, Sonny warned her this would happen if she bought into this place. He says he was hoping he was wrong, and she says, Olivia pretty much came out and said she’d be a good partner. He tells her, that’s a step in the right direction, and she says, if she hadn’t done what she did to his family. She looks at TJ, and says, even though she’s looking out for them now.
Curtis says he’s sure it wasn’t easy for TJ’s grandfather to open up about his diagnosis, especially to him. He made a point that he didn’t want to hear Marshall’s excuses about why he abandoned Curtis and TJ’s dad. It never occurred to him how difficult it was to make that decision then, and trying to own up to it now. TJ says, the world has changed since Marshall found out about his schizophrenia. He comes from a time when, if you admitted you had a mental illness, that was considered weakness, a source of shame. That was ridiculous, but Curtis knows how much courage and strength it takes to reach out. Curtis has certainly helped enough people, and TJ is sure he wouldn’t hesitate to rely on family. Curtis says, here’s hoping, and TJ says he hopes Curtis doesn’t mind him asking, but have he and Portia talked about having kids? Curtis says, there’s a lot to consider first, and flashes back to Portia saying there’s no reason to worry about Curtis having a predisposition to mental illness, and Curtis saying, the only reason he’d be tested is if he decided to have children. Nina and Sonny approach their table, and Nina says she hopes they’re not interrupting.
Epiphany tells Marshall, it was a pipe dream. Something to think about when she was bored or fed up with arrogant doctors. The point is, she was happy. She liked the road she was on, and dreaming of the road not taken. Now she’s at a fork in that road, and it’s all his fault. Marshall tells her, all he said was, if going to medical school is something she wants to look into, she should. She says, he called her Dr. Johnson, and now… All these years, she could say to herself, she would have been a great doctor, especially compared to some of these arrogant yahoos. It was something to dream about, to comfort herself with. He asks, how is it going to change? and she says, if she bombs these MCATs, the dream is over. No more imaginary genius doctor. She’ll just be a real life failure.
Dante tells Martin, it’s the early stages of the investigation. They don’t want to get locked in a theory, and miss something important. Jordan and Anna come back, and Martin asks if there’s any news about his Lucy. Jordan says, the Coast Guard finished their preliminary search, but almost a whole day has passed. Martin says, so his Lucy is presumed dead? He doesn’t accept that, not without sufficient evidence. A single casing doesn’t prove anyone’s demise, and what proof do they even have that she was on the docks, much less in the water? Jordan says, they found Lucy’s shoe, and he says, for the sake of argument, say it was Lucy’s. Is it not equally plausible that somebody fired one shot and missed, and Lucy got away? She was running and lost a shoe in the process. Jordan says she has teams in the cities, seeing if Lucy is hiding out anywhere, and Martin sees Victor in the interrogation room. He asks, what exactly does Victor have to do with it? and Robert suggests the go for a walk. Dante says he should let Scotty know. He and Lucy share a daughter. He leaves, and Jordan says, they should notify Lucy’s business partners. Does Anna want to handle that? Anna flies into the interrogation room, and Jordan follows her. Victor asks what he can do for Anna, and Anna says, listen to her. Even if they never find Lucy’s body, this will escalate into a murder charge, and he’ll be the number one suspect. He says he doubts it will get that far, but Anna says, she hopes it doesn’t. Because one way or another, she’ll make it her business to destroy him. Jordan says, Anna… and Anna says, and Victor will wish it had gone through the court. So her suggestion is, he start talking.
The woman sits back on her knees, breathing heavily. She hauls herself out of the water, and walks inland.
Ned tells Michael, is Valentin unscrupulous and immoral? Obviously. Is he good for ELQ’s bottom line? Unquestionably. Michael says, compared to what the bottom line would have been had the ELQ/Aurora merger gone through? Willow watches, and Michael says, Ned isn’t in any position to lecture him about business. Olivia comes in, and asks Willow, what’s going on here? Willow says, Ned versus Michael, round 72, and Michael says, Ned was leading the charge to keep ELQ in the family. Then when he couldn’t be CEO, he changed his tune really quick. Ned says, Michael tried to drive him out of ELQ by offering him a figurehead position. Michael says, Drew was the obvious choice if the merger happened, and Olivia tells them, stop, both of them, but they don’t listen. Michael says, Drew was taking the biggest risk; he owned the largest block of stock; that is how business works. If Ned cared about ELQ as much as he says he does, Valentin would gone. Willow starts to buckle, and Olivia asks, what’s wrong? Willow starts breathing heavily, and Michael asks if she’s okay.
The woman walks to the Quartermaine boathouse, and goes inside.
Marshall asks if Epiphany is done. Now take that energy and passion, and focus it on medicine. Focus it on helping people, and being the best at what she does. She knows she is, and she loves it. She asks if he’s accusing her of the sin of pride, and he says, there are worse reasons to go to hell. She laughs, and says, only a jazz man could talk about perdition like that. He’s a terrible influence. He says, if he was going to influence her, it would be to set aside her fears. She’s not just a nurse. She’s Epiphany Johnson. She knows all; she sees all. Fear runs from her and hides. She’s been up since the crack of dawn studying; she’s got this. She thanks him for the encouragement, but he says, he’s just stating facts. She says, what if she doesn’t pass? and he says, so what?A valiant effort is not a failure. It’s brave and courageous, and makes him so very proud of her. Portia runs in, and says, good; it’s not too late. She wanted to wish Epiphany luck, not that she’s going to need it. Epiphany thanks her, and says she couldn’t have made it without Portia. Portia says, yes, she could, and she’s got this. Epiphany says, she guesses she should get down there, and Marshall tells her, good luck. She leaves, but then comes back, giving Marshall a quick kiss before racing off. He touches his lips, and looks at Portia.
Michael asks if it’s the baby, but Willow says she just needs some air, and goes outside. Olivia asks if Michael and Ned are proud of themselves.
Curtis hugs Nina, and asks how she is. They keep missing each other. She says, they have to catch up one of these days. How did Chase’s show go? Curtis says, he brought the house down, and she says, that’s wonderful. Curtis asks to speak to Sonny in private, and Sonny says, lead the way. They go where there are less people, and Sonny asks, what’s on Curtis’s mind? Curtis says, he’s aware that Sonny knows about his father’s medical condition, so Sonny will probably understand where he’s coming from. He’s been doing a lot of reading about genetic counseling, and he saw there are tests to determine if a person has a predisposition to Alzheimer’s. He’s not asking Sonny to divulge his decision, but he made a decision not to find out about certain risk factors that could affect him, and he wonders if he made the right choice.
Trina says, of course (🍷) she wants to go away with Rory, but a comic book convention was never on her bucket list of things to do. She’s sorry. He says he gets it. Not everyone is into comics, but those of them who are can be a little enthusiastic, and that enthusiasm can be overwhelming. (I have been to many a convention, and I concur.) She says, which she totally gets, which is why she’s going. He made such a huge effort to learn why she loves art and history. He says, there was no effort. She made it interesting. She says, that’s why she knows he’ll help her to see why he’s so passionate about a highly different art. Dante asks to speak to Rory before he takes off, and Rory tells Trina, he’ll be right back.
Victor’s lawyer walks in, and asks why members of law enforcement are speaking with her client before she got here. Anna says, they were just having a friendly chat, and the lawyer says, she hopes nobody said anything that could even be remotely construed as coercing a confession. Victor says, they were just catching up, and she says, her client will be happy to answer any questions after they’ve spoken privately. Is he being charged with something? Jordan says, not at the moment, but they’re within their rights to keep him here for 24 hours. The lawyer says, if he’s going to be held that long, they’ll need some water… so they can dust the glass for prints; nice try. Anna says, he was head of the WSB. Doesn’t she think they have his prints? She says, Anna makes a fair point. She’s treating him to the vending machines anyway. Jordan says, then she’ll have to get one for the whole class. Victor gets up to go with her, and says, don’t look so worried. He promises he won’t make a break for it.
Robert tells Martin, for what it’s worth (🍷), until there’s proof, there’s always hope. Martin says, he knows, and for what it’s worth (🍷), if Lucy is alive and well, he’ll never take her for granted again. And he’ll also make who did this pay… dearly.
Willow walks to the boathouse, because she’s really stupid. She leans against the fence, and sees reddish wet footprints leading inside.
Ned says, it wasn’t his intention to upset Willow, but Michael started it. Michael says, it started when Ned betrayed the family. Olivia tells them to stop. They sound like a couple of children on the playground; you started it, no you started it. She’s been part of this family long enough backstabbing and lying to make the Starks and the Lannisters think it’s over the top. But business aside, they always come back together, because they’re a family. It’s about time they start remembering that.
Willow approaches the boathouse door, because she’s really, really stupid. She opens the door, and says, Brook? She goes inside, sees the woman, and screams. She runs back to the house, and Michael meets her on the patio. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she was by the boathouse. There were footprints coming from the lake, and what looked like drops of blood. She went into the boathouse, and there was a woman. She couldn’t see the woman’s face, but could it be whoever killed Brando? Ned says he’ll call Dante, and asks Olivia to call security. She says, of course (🍷), and sees Michael grab a hefty meat tenderizer, and head out the door. She asks where he’s going, and he says he doesn’t want to let them get away. Olivia runs after him, asking if he’s crazy.
Jordan says, Victor’s alibi is rock solid; they’ll have to release him. She could have a plainclothes officer tail him… Dante comes in, and says, Ned Quartermain just called. He said a woman wandered in from the lake, and is trespassing on the property. Anna says, oh my God, is it Lucy? but Dante says, they didn’t get a good look at her. He wants to send a squad car, but Jordan tells him to check it out personally. Anna starts to leave with him, but Robert says he wants her to stick around, and keep an eye on Victor. He’ll report back to her. He follows Dante out.
Nina sits down, and says, TJ, but he says, Dr. Ashford. She says she wants to apologize if she was too direct at Brando’s funeral. He says, when she warned him that people would start to spread rumors about Willow and him, it seems the only person doing that is her. She says she’s sorry if it seemed out of line, but he says, it was out of line. But he’s not one to hold a grudge, so he’ll accept her apology if she stays out of his business, and Willow’s. She says, Willow and Michael are her business because they’re her grandson’s parents. So if something is happening that she should… He says, she’s got it all wrong, and she says, please enlighten her, because it seems every time she sees him with Willow, there’s a lot more going on than being friends. What’s really happening between them?
Curtis says he’s not trying push Sonny. He just needs Sonny’s wisdom, experience, and insight on his decision. Sonny says, he considered getting tested to see if he had the gene for Alzheimer’s, but didn’t want to go through with it. Not knowing or knowing’s not going to change the outcome, and he didn’t want to keep waiting for it to happen. Curtis says, so Sonny is telling him that he made the right decision, and Sonny says, if Curtis had schizophrenia, he would have shown signs by now. Curtis says, it was about getting facts so he could make decisions about his family, and Sonny says he doesn’t know what Curtis’s plans are, but if they’re what he thinks they are, there’s Curtis’s answer.
Portia says, rather cozy, and Marshall says, that kiss? He’s a jazz musician. This kind of thing happens all the time. She laughs, and says, it must be so difficult for him, but he says, he barely notices it. She says she knows they’ve been seeing each other, but it seems like they’re getting serious? He says he wasn’t going to broach something like that on her day, and she says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she thinks he’s good for Epiphany. He says, she’s been good for him too. For so long he’s been worried how his family, the people he’s closest to, would react to his diagnosis. Then here comes this woman, someone he just happened to meet, and she couldn’t have been more supportive. He finally learned it’s best to get these things out in the open right away. You can’t live with some huge secret that could undermine your whole relationship.
Anna asks Jordan if there’s anything, and Jordan says, there’s no security footage from the docks, but a flight path was logged for a drone last night. The New York State Division of Tourism was shooting aerial footage by the lake. Maybe they caught something, and they can get some answers. Victor comes back with his lawyer.
TJ says he won’t explain his relationship with Willow to Nina. He doesn’t owe her any clarification, and neither does Willow, because it’s none of her business. She says she knows he believes that, but she doesn’t believe that. He says she already has a reputation for coming between people. Don’t allow that to be truer than it already is. Sonny comes back and says, Curtis had to go; he’ll catch up with both of them later. TJ says, he’ll see Sonny later, gives Nina a look, and leaves. Nina says, it looks like she and Sonny both have busy days ahead… He asks, what was that with her and TJ?
Olivia runs after Michael, yelling, stop! Don’t be stupid! They get to the boathouse, and he tells her, stay back. He grips the tenderizer, and kicks the door in. Olivia says, oh my God.
Jordan tells Anna that the drone footage was sent in its entirety. Once the time frame is isolated, she’ll bring it out, and they’ll review it together. Martin asks where Robert and Dante are, and Anna says, there was an incident at the Quartermaines. It may or may not be related to Lucy’s disappearance. They’ll know more soon. She asks how he is, and he asks if she really cares. She does realize none of this would have happened if she hadn’t blackmailed him. He would have never left town, and Lucy would have never ended up in Victor’s crosshairs. She says, it is a bit more complicated… but he says he doesn’t think it is. The last time he was with Lucy, she told him what was going on. She told him that she and Anna were at odds. It wasn’t just him with Valentin, Anna was leaning on Lucy, and got her wrapped up in some misguided attempt to take down Victor. How desperate did Anna have to be? How obsessed to involve Lucy in something like that? Anna says she really regrets involving Lucy in this, and he asks why she involved Lucy in the first place. She says, the risks were not that great, and he asks, what are the risks? What was her goal? She looks away, and he says, there it is. There’s more to this than she’s willing to tell him, and he wants to know why.
Epiphany goes into the room where the MCATs are being taken. She sits in front of a computer, and says, here goes nothing. She sees the first question, and quietly laughs to herself.
Curtis sees Portia at the hospital reception desk, and she says she didn’t expect to see him so soon. Marshall says, if he’s there to wish Epiphany luck, he just missed her. He says, no. Epiphany’s got this, but he wishes her well. He came to see them. Portia asks, what’s going on? He says he was doing some thinking, and he’s changed his mind. He wants to explore genetic counseling after all.
Rory tells Trina, he’s now officially all hers, and she says, it’s about time. He takes her bag, and heads out. She hesitates for a moment, then follows him.
Sonny tells Nina, he’s known TJ since he was a little kid. He can’t imagine what they’d be disagreeing about. She says, just add TJ to the long list of people who aren’t her biggest fans. She shouldn’t be surprised. It turns out, TJ is quite close to Willow.
Dante and Robert arrive at the boathouse, and Dante asks Michael if the woman is inside. Michael nods, and says he’d like to get Willow home. Dante tells him to go, and Olivia comes out. Robert asks if it’s Lucy, but she says, no, it’s not. But before he goes in, he needs to prepare himself. He says, for what? and she says, he needs to see for himself. And I know who it is. My bad for thinking it was Lucy yesterday, but in my defense, that’s what they wanted me to think.
Anna asks Martin to put his trust in her. She knows it’s a lot to ask, and he says, what a sublimely English gift for understatement she has. She says she’s going to do everything in her power to bring Lucy home safely, and he says, what if that no longer possible? She says, then she’ll go after whoever is responsible, and bring them to justice. Jordan comes back, and says, she has the footage queued up to the hour of Lucy’s disappearance. Anna says, Martin may not want to see this, and he says, why? Because he’s just a civilian? He’s staying. Jordan says, the drone is hovering over the lake, but she can zoom in. They see Lucy standing at the pier, and discovering she isn’t alone. They see her holding up her hands, backing up and getting shot, and then falling into the water. Martin says, Anna…?
Victor’s lawyer says, tell her they won’t find any evidence connecting him to this woman’s disappearance. He says he wouldn’t worry about that. He trusts Robert and Anna will be far too distracted to worry about little old him.
Robert and Dante go into the boathouse, and Robert says, oh my God. Ned is there, and we see Holly wrapped in a blanket. She says, hello, Robert.
Tomorrow, Sasha asks Maxie why the police would be looking for Lucy; Robert asks where Holly has been for the last two years; and Drew kisses Carly.
🏂 Congratulations to Winter House for adding an even worse housemate to the cast of awful people who were already in the house. Sadly, I’m talking about you, Craig from Southern Charm. I don’t know if it’s the juju in the house that has made him awful, or he was always this awful and I didn’t notice. Or maybe he’s just awful when he drinks. Some people just shouldn’t, and even girlfriend Paige called him off his rocker and a toddler when he drinks.
And while we’re on the subject, shotgunning a beer when you’re over the age of 21 is really unattractive. Actually, it’s unattractive at any age, but expected from one barely out of their teen years. Giving the finger in a photo doesn’t do you any favors either. And I don’t say that because it’s profane. It’s old. Yawn… So what else can you do?
Craig came in hot, apparently having stayed on a Luke owned property, and nearly blowing the place up. Luke was storying fireworks in the same room Craig was staying in, and Craig thought they were a welcome present. Stupid + awful = disaster. Maybe I keep watching this because I hope I’m being punked. Seriously, how can young professionals – <choke> their words, not mine – in their 30s behave the way these people do? Two nights of broken glass on the floor from the previous night’s party is bad enough, but when asked to pitch in with the cleaning, Craig pitched a hissy fit instead. He told everyone that he made his money so he could not do what he didn’t want to, so why couldn’t he pay a cleaning crew? That seemed fine with everyone, except it was Sunday, and they needed this sh*t cleaned up now. Craig also likes to act like a big shot with his new pillow money. In the first episode, he paid his way into a better room. With hundred dollar bills. Even newbie Kory, Craig’s old college buddy, said Craig’s delivery was always wrong. And the drinking games. So many drinking games.
There were a few fun moments in the snow, and pairing people up by handing out matching costumes that were a half of something, like an avocado and a PB&J sandwich, than playing various non-drinking games. But this is one house that can’t have nice things, and Craig managed to ruin the entire season by episode 2 by acting like a total asshat when he thought Luke got too familiar with Paige by petting her hair. It was an innocuous old friend gesture, but Craig went apesh*t, saying, Luke was making all the girls uncomfortable. Luke finally walked away from the situation to call his sister and vent, waking her up at nearly 3 am. (Again, he’s nearly 40.) Craig stomped around and demanded Luke be banished from Vermont, even though he’s the new guy. He said if Luke didn’t go, he would, and started packing. It looked like Luke was packing too, and someone pulled their car out, but we didn’t see who. It just said, to be continued. My only thought was, they’d both been drinking like fish. Production better get on that. But if Paige was smart, it was her. She deserves better than the Pillow King.
🚢 Abandoning Ship…
Come visit with me tomorrow for soap, spilled tea, a quote or ten, and music scented with Halloween. Until then, stay safe, stay unflappable, and stay remembering, a valiant effort is not a failure. It’s brave and courageous.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nikolas tells Ava, it’s not a good time, but she breezes past him, saying they have a lot to talk about. He suggests they meet at the PC Grill later, and she says, how about now? but he says, she can’t be here.
Esme works at the lock with the picture wire, but is unsuccessful. She says she doesn’t know how big the baby’s brain is yet, but they need all the help they can get. How are they going to get out of here?
Spencer picks up some torn pieces of paper from the library floor, and Cyrus comes in and says, tear-aways. Men tear pictures of women out of men’s lifestyle magazines. He shrugs, and Spencer says, that’s pathetic. Cyrus says, prison is a lonely place. The magazines are full of holes. Spencer says, just like Cyrus’s redemption story.
Kristina meets Sonny and Dante at the MetroCourt, and apologizes for being late. She had to train the manager who’s going to sub for her. Sonny asks if she’s looking forward to her trip, but she says, it’s not a trip; it’s a management incentive. Sonny says, they’re overdue for a family meal, and Kristina asks which guard Sonny has today. Frank, or is Dex back?
Alexis says, Diane scared her, and Diane says, Alexis doesn’t scare easily. Alexis says she’s always scared. It’s just manifested as righteous indignation. Diane asks if it was Alexis’s fear that made Alexis goad her attacker.
Robert calls Anna, and asks if she found Lucy, but Anna says, no, and she doesn’t like it. The reminder on Lucy’s calendar was a sunset cruise leaving from Pier 47, but there’s no sign of her or a boat. Anna hears the shots from Pier 55, and runs toward them.
Sonny says, Dex is back, and Kristina says, thank God Sonny finally backed off Dex being a person of interest. She tells Dante, it made no sense whatsoever, and Dante says, it kind of did, but they’ve since found evidence that points them in a different direction. She says she told them. For a minute there, she thought Sonny lost confidence in Dex too. Sonny says, for a minute there, he did.
Alexis says, Diane read the open letter in The Invader, and Diane says she’s been very busy, but managed to find time. Alexis says, when she saw Diane on that garage floor, she wanted to do something. She wanted to get the attacker, smoke him out, goad him into slipping. Diane says, her; the attacker was a woman. Alexis says, good job in keeping her presence of mind to make the partial ID. She thought the open letter was a good idea at the time, but now there’s been another attack, She didn’t mean to provoke… Diane says, objection, counselor; that’s speculation.The real killer doesn’t need to be provoked. She wasn’t the first victim, and she won’t be the last. Alexis made a valiant effort, and she appreciates it. Alexis says she would hate it if she was responsible for anyone else having to go through what Diane did, but Diane says she’s still standing… lying, sitting. And besides having time to read Alexis’s profound journalism, it’s given her a chance to put things in perspective. Like if she’s living her life to the fullest. Maybe there’s something out there she’s been missing. Robert stands in the doorway, and says, ka-nock, ka-nock. Now there’s a sight for sore eyes.
Ava asks Nikolas if Uncle Victor is telling the truth; he said Nikolas was going to divorce her. He steps away from her, and she asks if he was going to tell her, or was she just going to answer the door one day at Nina’s, and be served with papers? He says, it’s not what she thinks, and she says she doesn’t know what to think. She thought he wanted to work on things. He says he does, and she asks why Victor thinks otherwise. He flashes back to Victor demanding he divorce Ava, and says, Victor probably got the wrong idea because he’s been so cynical about their chances. It’s not like she’s been giving him hope. She asks if he thinks he deserves it, and he says, probably not, but he will spend the rest of his life trying to win her back, and won’t let anyone stand in his way.
Esme says she knows she’s asking a lot of the baby, but they’re the only reason Nikolas hasn’t wrung her neck. She tries the wire on the lock again, and says, you’re my ace in the hole, kid, and your daddy knows it. That’s why he’s trapped them in there. She really knows how to pick them. Just wait until you meet your brother Spencer.
Cyrus says, Spencer has every right to be skeptical. In his previous life, he was a scoundrel by every definition, but he’s no longer that man. Spencer says, he’s reformed, and Cyrus says he was faithless once too. Spencer says he has faith, just not in men who say one thing and do another. Cyrus says, like Spencer’s father, or Spencer, and Spencer says, Cyrus doesn’t know him. Cyrus says, we’re family, but Spencer says, no. He’s a Cassadine. Family is simply a means to an end with them. Cyrus says, that saddens him because he values family greatly. Martin and Laura… Spencer tells Cyrus not to say his grandmother’s name, and Cyrus says, he merely meant to convey his regret in pushing away the two people he’d like to get closer to. In Spencer, he sees an opportunity to make almonds amends. Spencer says he’s sorry, but the adopt-an-inmate program has been discontinued, and Cyrus laughs. He says he notices Spencer’s uniform isn’t his size, and heard his bedding went missing. He can endure this hazing or let Cyrus look out for him. Book comes in and says, careful. If Spencer relies on this old man, he won’t last ten minutes in this place. Is this guy new or just stupid? Not to mention, Cyrus looks like he could easily take most inmates on.
Anna calls 9-1-1, and says, shots fired on Pier 55. She walks out to the dock, and sees a shoe near the edge. Victor calls to Lucy, and runs onto the pier. He says, is that Lucy’s shoe?
At the MetroCourt, Alexis nearly runs into Dex, and says, he works for Sonny, doesn’t he? He says he’s working right now. Sonny is having dinner with her daughter. She says, Kristina’s here?
Dante says he’s sorry, but duty calls. A raincheck on the family dinner? He says goodbye to Sonny and Kristina, and leaves.
Anna asks what Victor is doing here, and he says he might ask her the same thing. She says she heard shots, and he says, as did he. He was on his way to meet Lucy at Pier 47, when he heard the shots. He told his driver to pull over in case someone needed assistance. He doesn’t see anyone here but Anna. Anna says, she was at Pier 47, and Lucy’s not there. Victor wonders where she could be; she’s not answering his calls. Anna shines her flashlight around, and he says he hopes nothing’s happened to Lucy. He’ll feel so responsible; he’ll never forgive himself. Anna says, is he responsible? and he says, it’s his fault she was out here all alone. He was late, and if that shoe’s any indication, she was waiting at the wrong dock. He calls Lucy again, and says, still voicemail. He’ll call the PCPD. Anna says, she already did, but he says he wants to make sure they’re en route. She says she’ll call the harbormaster.
Book tells Spencer, prison is all about partnerships, and Spencer says he’s just trying to keep his head down. Book says, he can go that route, but the attention he’s getting won’t stop at his fluff and folds. He adjusts Spencer’s collar, and Cyrus says, take your hands off him. Book says, it’s all in who you know. Isn’t that right, old man? Spencer might think he has it made, but those Corinthos guys can’t be everywhere all the time, and the best he’ll get aligning himself with this prehistoric pusher is an extra helping at mealtime. Cyrus asks if Book thinks Spencer should align himself with his lot, and Book says, no one can look out for Spencer 24/7 in a place like this. It’s dangerous and random. Spencer asks what he wants, and Book says he wants his work assignment back. Spencer asks where he is now, and Book says, laundry. Spencer looks at Cyrus, and says, mystery solved. Book says, what does Spencer say? Spencer gets his protection for his old gig back?
Ava says, Nikolas would fight for them? and he says, clearly she wants him to. She moves closer as if she’s going to kiss him, and says, how arrogantly presumptuous. Nikolas tells her, admit she still loves him and doesn’t want to give up on them any more than he does, but she says she admits nothing. He asks why she’s here. The minute she thinks he’s going to throw in the towel, she shows up. She tells him not to flatter himself, and he asks if she has another reason to be here. She says she does. She has to take inventory when she closes the gallery, and left some files in the tower. So she’ll go get them and they can continue this conversation when it’s more convenient. He says she can’t go up there, and she asks, why not? What’s really going on around here?
Robert says he didn’t mean to chase Alexis off, but Diane says, he didn’t. They had a long and lovely visit. Did he capture her assailant? He says, not yet, but he thought he’d see how she was doing. He went to the ICU, and they told him she’d been upgraded, which he expected, her being a tough cookie and all. She says she tries. She guesses this is the universe’s way of telling her to slow down, and he says, it’s too bad the universe can’t give us these messages in a less painful way. She asks what she can do for him. Does he have more questions for her? He wonders if any details have crossed her mind; it could be totally insignificant. She says she’s tried, but aside from the fact it was a woman with jangly bracelets, the only things she can remember is her life flashing before her eyes. They say that happens, and it’s true. He says he’s been there, once or twice.
Anna asks why Victor and Lucy were meeting, and Victor says, they were going on a sunset cruise. She says she doesn’t see a boat. Why does he suppose her shoe is here? He says he hasn’t a clue, and asks what brought her to the docks? Anna says she told him, and Dante comes in with some officers. He tells Anna that he got a call about a missing or abducted person. Does she know anything about that? She says she believes the shoe belongs to Lucy Coe; they found it there. Victor says, to be accurate, Anna Devane found the shoe. He arrived shortly after the gunshots. Dante examines the shoe, and Anna says, two gunshots in rapid succession, from a small caliber weapon. She can’t be sure of the precise origin, but if Lucy’s missing… Dante says, is Lucy missing? and Victor says, it would seem so. They were supposed to meet here, and Lucy’s nowhere to be seen. His calls are going to voicemail. Dante tells an officer to cordon off the area, and get CSI and forensics down here. They also need an underwater dive. Victor asks what Dante thinks happened, but Dante says he doesn’t know, but he’s going to find out, and then so will Victor.
Esme fails at lockpicking again, and throws books and paintings around the room. She screams at the top of her lungs, then flings herself on the bed, pounding on it, and throwing a tantrum.
Nikolas tells Ava, a pipe burst in the north tower. It’s not safe to go up there; it’s a mess. She says, all her files will be ruined, but he says, don’t worry. Everything was boxed up and moved to a different area; there’s no damage. When the tower is structurally sound, he’ll grab her files and get them to her. He hustles her to the door, and she asks if he’s trying to get rid of her, but he says, it’s just the opposite. He has to get back to check on how the work is coming. She says, it’s night, and he says he has to meet the foreman in the morning, and likes to be hands-on. She says she’s meeting Nina for dinner anyway. About what Uncle Victor said… He says, nothing can be further from the truth. There is no third party intervention needed. He wants her; the ball’s in her court. She says, all right then, and leaves.
Spencer tells Book, it’s a tempting offer, but he thinks he’ll watch his own back. Spencer heads back to the shelves, and Book tries to follow, but Cyrus blocks him. He says, Book heard his nephew, and Book punches Cyrus in the jaw, but Cyrus is hardly fazed.
Esme continues to pound on the bed, then sits up, wondering, what was that? It felt like butterflies. Is the baby moving around or just giving her indigestion? Either way, she supposes they’re right. She can’t give up now and start feeling sorry for herself. She won’t give up. We won’t give up. She picks up the wire, and works at the lock some more. It opens, and she says, we did it. Let’s go see your grandfather. She steps out, and Nikolas is there. He asks if she’s going somewhere.
Sonny tells Kristina, he’s proud of all his children, Michael included. Even though they’re not blood related, Michael is the most like him, and the first child he raised. You think you know what it’s like to be a parent until you become one. She asks if things are still tense between him and Michael, and Sonny says, tense is an understatement. He thinks it’s over, but Kristina doesn’t believe that. She says, Michael is hurt and angry, but underneath all of that, Michael loves him and he always will. He says, like her and Alexis, and Alexis walks over to their table. Kristina asks if she’s heard from Diane, and Alexis says, Diane is out of the ICU, and recovering by leaps and bounds. Sonny says, that’s good to hear, and tells Alexis, have a seat. He has to take care of something. He leaves, and Alexis sits down. She says she’ll just sit for a bit. She doesn’t want to take time away from Kristina’s dinner with her dad. Diane said Kristina called; that was thoughtful. Kristina says, Diane is Alexis’s best friend, and Alexis says, and she also saw the flowers Kristina sent to Brando’s memorial service. Kristina says she’s sorry she had to miss it, but she’s going out of town, and couldn’t take time off before she leaves. She’s sure Alexis thinks her slinging drinks and wings isn’t as important as her cousin’s funeral.
Cyrus tells Book, the Bible says, if someone smite thee on thy cheek, turn to him the other one, and Book says he’s glad God approves. He raises his hand, and in a second, Cyrus has that hand twisted behind Book’s back, and Book up against the wall. He says, it also tells us to put on the full armor of God, so ye can stand against the wiles of Satan. He lets Book go, and says, move… on. Book says, and if he doesn’t? Is Cyrus going to drop the spiritual act, and do what? Cyrus says, only God can judge him, when a guard walks in and asks if there’s a problem. Cyrus says, Book’s got a shiv, and Book says, he doesn’t. The guard reaches in Book’s pocket and takes one out. He says, looks like Book earned solitary confinement, and hustles him out, as Book wails, it’s not his. Like no one in prison has ever said that. Cyrus asks Spencer, now what were we discussing before we were so rudely interrupted?
At the docks, Dante talks to Victor, and Anna leaves a message for Valentin. She says, when he gets this, he needs to call her immediately. It’s about Lucy. Victor asks if she’s calling his son, and she says, it’s none of his business. He says he is right here; he does have ears. Anna says, and Valentin’s unreachable, as Victor knows. It’s such a coincidence, isn’t it, that Valentin is in Switzerland when all of this happening? He asks if she’s accusing his son of something. Charlotte has an equestrian event, and she’s like her father there. That’s the only reason Valentin is there. She says, it’s understandable, given how long it’s been since he’s seen her, and he says, what’s less understandable is Anna feeling the need to loop Valentin into Lucy’s situation. She says, Valentin is a major shareholder in Lucy’s company, and he says, yes, of course (🍷). He underestimated how heavily Valentin is invested in Deception. Dante joins them, and says, officers are checking Lucy’s home and office. Victor’s driver corroborated his story. Victor says, so he’s free to go? and Dante says, he can leave the pier. He doesn’t think it would do Victor any favors to leave town. Victor says, of course (🍷) not. Please let him know if they find out anything. It’s all so troubling. He does hope Lucy didn’t meet with foul play.
Nikolas says he should have known how enterprising Esme could be, after she stalked Ava, framed Trina, and seduced him. She says, it didn’t take much to seduce him, and she may be enterprising, but he isn’t remotely equipped for this. Does he think he can shove her in a room for six months with no preparation or planning? What is this, amateur hour? Like father, like son. He tells her, shut up. She’s taken everything from him. She blew up his marriage, his son is in Pentenville all because she came into their lives. He’s so sick of her. She asks what he’s going to do to her; she’ll scream. He tells her, go ahead. Nobody’s coming for her.
Sonny asks how Dex is holding up, and Dex says, good. Sonny asks if he wants to take off for a couple hours. Dante left, and he just ordered with Kristina, but Dex says he doesn’t mind staying. Sonny says he wants to thank Dex for not holding what happened against him. Mistakes were made; Dex was treated unfairly. One good thing that came out of this is, Sonny knows how strong and discreet Dex is. That’s very important in this business. Dex says he hopes he’s proved his loyalty, and Sonny says, loyalty is very important, and rare, and he doesn’t take it for granted.
Victor sees Ava at the MetroCourt bar, and says, twice in one day; what a delight. She says, for him, and he says he’s sorry. Has he offended her in some way? She asks if he’s forgotten the glad tidings he brought her earlier, about her husband’s plans to divorce her? He says, no, but he’s a little surprised at her reaction. Nikolas betrayed her. He would have thought she’d want to be rid of him. She says, they’ve been over this several times, but she’ll try it again. Her marriage is none of his concern. He says, of course (🍷), but allow him to be candid for a moment. As much as he cares about Nikolas, he’s hardly her equal.
Spencer asks if Cyrus set Book up, and Cyrus says, that’s one way of looking at it. Spencer asks if Cyrus knew the guard was coming back or was that just luck? Cyrus says, he believes in blessings, not luck, but he does have connections Book knows nothing about. People often mistake bluster for power, but real power is much quieter. Spencer asks if the Bible doesn’t also something about bearing false witness, and Cyrus laughs, saying, apparently, God isn’t through with him yet. It’s hard reconcile sometimes, but there’s a spiritual world and there’s a real world. It’s not his job to take Book off this planet, but he can remove him from Spencer’s sphere, at least temporarily. Maybe he’ll think twice approaching Spencer next time. Spencer supposes he should thank Cyrus, but Cyrus says he’ll settle for the benefit of the doubt.
Diane asks if all of Robert’s injuries are work related. He doesn’t have a scar or broken bone from something more pedestrian? He says, there was a scar after his cancer surgery, but he’s not letting her see it until she buys him dinner, or maybe vice versa. She tells him, don’t make her laugh. Point taken, and point made. He’s no stranger to brushes with death. Before this, the closest she came was a broken pinky toe sliding into third in elementary school. He says, she was a tomboy? and she says, not so loud. People think she’s classy. He says she gets brownie points because someone came after her with a hook; that never happened to him. She says, it’s not a thrill she recommends, and he says, he remembers the times he thought he was going to die. He felt very uncomfortable with that vulnerability. She says, perhaps that’s why they have empowering jobs, and he says, or perhaps they’re just as tough as old boot leather. She says, in any case, coming face-to-face with her mortality was sobering, and he says, we are not now that strength… She says, which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are; one equal temper of heroic hearts, made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. (Ulysses, Alfred Lord Tennyson)
Anna tells Dante, she was looking for Lucy on Pier 47, and heard two shots. They seemed to come from this direction, and she arrived on the scene a few minutes later. No one was there, and something caught her eye; the shoe. She can’t swear it’s Lucy’s, but it’s definitely her style. Dante says, back up. Why was she looking for Lucy in the first place? She says, she was worried for Lucy’s safety, and he says, why? It can’t be a coincidence that she and Victor were on the same dock. She says, it’s not. She believes Victor knew Lucy was going to be here, on Pier 55, not Pier 47, where she was informed Lucy would be. He says, informed by who? and asks if she thinks Victor had something to do with Lucy’s disappearance. She says she does. She can’t prove it, but yes. He says he trusts Anna’s gut. So assuming Lucy’s missing, why would Victor target her? She says, Lucy was working for her to get information out of Victor so she could take him down. Before Dante can say anything, she says she knows. She was trying to get Lucy to stop, but she refused. She called Lucy’s office to find out who she was, and they said she was going on a sunset cruse with Victor, leaving from Pier 47. She came to try and extract Lucy from the situation, but then she heard the shots, and came here, and found the shoe. He says, so she thinks Victor’s on to Lucy? and she says, an hour ago, she had no reason to think so, but now, she believes Victor found out somehow, and he’s done something about it.
Kristina tells Alexis, she knows. Why become a better manager when all she manages is a pub? Alexis says, Kristina’s job is important to her, and what’s important to Kristina, is important to Alexis. Kristina says, but it’s just a job, not a career, and Alexis admits that she’s sometimes questioned how Kristina goes about things, and Kristina says she’s not even going to pretend she doesn’t know why. Alexis says, but she sees Kristina being responsible and enthusiastic. She’s being recognized for doing a good job, and seems happy. Kristina says she is happy, and Alexis says, that’s what’s most important. She never wants Kristina to think she’s not proud of her. She’s so proud of Kristina.
Sonny tells Dex, he had the best working for him; dedicated, steadfast, but he’s gone now. Dex says he knows he can’t fill his shoes, but he’d like to try, and Sonny says, Dex kept his head, and came through for him. He needs a lieutenant he can trust. Dex says, he’s Sonny’s guy. He thinks he’s ready for a new challenge. Sonny asks if Dex can think of anything more important than protecting his family, and Dex says, no, sir.
Cyrus says he’d like to get to know Spencer better, but perhaps he’s asking too much. He starts to leave, but Spencer says, wait. This just arrived this morning. He picks up a book, and says, this is WilliamTyndale’s 1534 translation of the New Testament. Cyrus says, that’s the seminal version. It contains his prefaces and his notes. Spencer says he hasn’t logged it into the system yet. It’s Cyrus’s if he’d like it. Cyrus says, bless you, taking the book. Spencer says, it only seems fair; a book for a Book. Now he doesn’t owe Cyrus anything. Cyrus says, he never did.
Esme pounds on the bathroom door and yells, as Nikolas removes everything from the room. She says he can’t leave her locked in the bathroom, and he asks, who’s going to stop him? She says he’s made his point. She shouldn’t have tried to leave when he was just trying to help her. He says he’s clearing this room. She’s lost her privilege of luxury. For the sake of the baby, he won’t make her sleep on the floor, but she’ll have little else. She tells him, do this, and he’ll be sorry, and he says he’s already sorry. She screams, let me out!
Diane says she didn’t peg Robert as a lover of poetry, and he says, nice to know he has some surprises left. She says, it will be no surprise when he catches that killer, but please make it soon. He says he’s doing his best to make things safe for her, and gets up. He says he does like sparring with her in court, and she says, it’s going to be a while before they do that again. He says he guesses he’ll just have to come in here and spar, and she says she looks forward to it.
Victor says, he really does care for Nikolas, but he’s aware of Nikolas’s limitations. Frankly, she’s too much woman for him. She asks, what’s that supposed to mean? and he says, he thinks she knows, but he’ll spell it out for her. She’s full of life, vivacious, beguiling, a force of nature. He hates to see such a woman wasted on the wrong man. She says, not that it’s one iota of his business, but who pray tell, is the right man? He says, one who would repay her loyalty with devotion of his own, and she asks if he has someone in mind. He says, as the Americans say, he should stay in his own lane. Let it suffice to say, he does know the crushing disappointment of putting your trust in the wrong person. They both deserve better. She watches as he leaves.
The forensics team works at the pier, and Anna tells Dante, if Victor is onto Lucy, then he’s onto all of them. Which means this investigation is compromised, and Victor won’t be charged for his crimes. Dante says, she means Luke Spencer’s death, and she says she should have never done this. She should have never enlisted Lucy to work Victor. She was trying to keep Lucy safe. He says, for all they know, she still is, and Anna says, what are the odds of Lucy leaving a designer shoe on the docks willingly? They have to assume Victor has figured it out, and he’s dealt with her. They know what he’s capable of. Dante says, and they know Lucy, and know what she’s capable of. Lucy is relentless. If anyone can survive Victor, it’s her.
Lucy pulls herself out of the water, and onto a rocky shore, where she passes out.
Tomorrow, Martin asks if there’s any news about Lucy; Epiphany is holding Marshall personally responsible; Anna tells Victor that she’s making it her business to destroy him; and Willow sees something that makes her scream.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills – The Reunion – Part 2
We jump right in because we were already there. Garcelle says she doesn’t hate Diana. She just wants to be left alone. She doesn’t want Diana posting about her and harassing her on social media. Diana says, Garcelle called her evil, and Andy asks if that wasn’t after Diana called Sutton the c-word. We see a clip of the after-show, where Garcelle calls Diana’s behavior evil, and Diana asks, what’s worse, calling someone the c-word or evil? LisaR says she calls herself the c-word, and finally we agree on something. The consensus is that evil is worse, because this is bizarro world where everything is topsy-turvy. Andy asks if Sutton needs to say anything to Diana, or clear anything up, but Sutton says she’s clear on their non-relationship. Diana says she’s disappointed and hurt about Garcelle, and Garcelle laughs, saying, it’s always her. Diana says, no one in the group would go after Garcelle’s sweetheart son, and Garcelle is stone-faced, which she is throughout a lot of this show. It totally beats all the weird faces the rest of them keep making. Andy says, Diana filed a lawsuit to force the revelation of who’s behind the bots. Andy asks who it’s filed against, and Diana says, John Doe. Andy asks, whose job is it to uncover the name? and Diana says, her lawyers are going to be busy. Which means it’s them? Andy asks Garcelle’s reaction to the lawsuit, and she says, good. Erika says, Diana has good intentions good. Garcelle is hurt. Garcelle says, she’s hurt, but she’s not putting things on social media about Diana, and Andy asks, what kind of stuff is Diana posting? Garcelle says, she doesn’t want to fuel it anymore; she’s good. Andy thanks Diana for rallying to join them, and it’s goodbye. Several cast members hope to God they’re breaking for lunch. Behind the scenes, LisaR picks at an energy bar, and says, it’s sad. The bot thing causes division in the group. She and Erika agree that’s the reason behind it. Sutton hangs out with Garcelle, who points out that Sutton’s socks have her dog Waylon on them. Sutton says, Garcelle did great with Jax talk, and Garcelle says she’s not going to stop until she knows who bought the bots. She’s glad Sutton and Crystal have been able to move on, and Sutton says, it was nice to see some support. In another dressing room, Dorit tells Kyle that Crystal is struggling to admit she wasn’t telling the truth to cover her ass. We flash back to Kyle saying, there was no real dark story, and Kyle says, if you don’t tell the truth, you can’t keep your story straight.
Andy welcomes us back, even though we haven’t gone anywhere. They talk about Kyle’s tattoos, all of which are boring because Kyle is boring. Andy says, for 12 seasons, Kyle has shared her life, which has gotten more fabulous with each season. We flash back over Kyle’s most recent season, and not all of it is boring. Some of it is stupid. Andy asks if Farrah has set a date, and Kyle says, not yet, but they want to get married in La Quinta. Andy says, the bride’s family foots the bill. He assumes they’ll spare no expense. Kyle says, Farrah doesn’t want anything over-the-top, but it’s their first, and they have to go as big as Portia’s Bat Mitzvah. We see a clip of that, and Andy moves on to rumors of Dorit cheating with Mauricio. Apparently, viewers read something into a three-way hug between PK, Mauricio, and Dorit. We see a clip of it, and the thought of it being anything other than what it is, is stupid beyond belief. Erika says, when she was at the World Cup in Berlin, a guy asked if she and her friend were in porn, and his name was Paul Kemsley. Dorit says, he was being an ass, but Erika says he was just being his sassy self. Andy says, Garcelle’s hustle never stopped. She had a book come out, bought a beach house, and a Birkin. Mazel. We flash back to the Birkin party, my favorite line being, does it come with money in it? Andy asks, who owns one? and everyone except Erika raises their hand, and she says, it’s not her thing. Andy says, Garcelle’s book has a chapter on Bill Cosby, and she says, he called her modeling agency, and asked for number. They asked her, and at the time, he was huge. She’d just turned 18, and got a small part on his show. He invited her to his townhouse to work on her acting, and gave her some Sambuca. She took a sip, and it didn’t feel right being there, so she ran. The name of the chapter is, Listening to Your Gut. Andy asks if Erika skimmed Garcelle’s book before chucking it in trash, and we see the post with it in the garbage. LisaR says she was the one who threw it in the trash.
LisaR says, she and Garcelle had a handshake agreement; the kids were off limits. Garcelle mentioned Amelia in the book, and not in a positive light. It turns out to be just a rehash of a moment on the show where Garcelle asked if LisaR thought her body image affected her daughter. LisaR says, it didn’t have to be in the book, and Garcelle says, LisaR read it, and the next thing she knew, LisaR’s lawyer called her manager. LisaR says, then it got hot and heated, and Garcelle says, it was a week until publication, and they decided to print a second edition where the reference was removed. LisaR says she was good with that, and had only sent the video to the group chat. One that Garcelle is not privy to, but Erika chose to post it. Erika says, Garcelle also used her remark about Erika not needing her to make herself look bad to promote the book. She’d posted the clip on Instagram, and said, another way to make yourself look bad is not buy her book. There’s a big discussion on recycling, which apparently was an issue after this staged photo was posted. Andy says, even LVP weighed in, saying Garcelle should have sent Erika a scratch and sniff book so she’d understand, which I think is pretty funny. Erika gives a nasty retort that I’m not breathing life into. Andy brings up Oliver working for LVP in Las Vegas, and Garcelle says, LVP was having an event for Haiti, and she was invited. It was the first time they met, and she knew Oliver was looking for a job. Andy asks how recently Garcelle saw LVP, and she says, pretty recently. We see the headline about them filming together, and LisaR says, wow, like this is some betrayal. They take a break, and talk more about recycling.
Once again, we’re welcomed back, and Andy says, Lois was beloved by family, friends, and fans, but LisaR’s anger took over. Was it excusable or out of line? We see clips of Lois, LisaR talking about Lois’s death, the group cheersing Lois, then on to the anger. We see Sutton’s interview, where she said, it would take an exorcism to get the soap actress out. We flash back to LisaR’s breakdown, and the poor strangers at the table. Andy asks how it’s been, and LisaR says, it’s hard to come do the show, and maybe it would have been better if she’d taken time off. She’s done the best she can, and she’s sorry for being a crazy maniac, screaming, and doing what she did. Andy says, there was a memorial in July, and LisaR says, waiting to put Lois to rest was difficult, but Lois had asked them to wait until the summer. She left a lipstick print on Lois’s urn. They talk about Lois’s belongings, and a viewer wonders if LisaR is using others as a scapegoat for her grief. LisaR babbles that she’s never been so all over the place, and Andy asks if she’s talking to a therapist. She says she has from the beginning, which is worrisome. Erika says, they’ve talked privately, and it’s hard for LisaR. Andy asks what Lois made of LisaR on the show, and LisaR says, she never judged. She never made LisaR feel bad or less than. I wonder, then why does LisaR dishonor her by doing that to other people?
Andy asks if Sutton’s clumsiness is an asset or liability, and we flash back to Sutton’s awkwardness throughout the season, and LisaR and Erika talking about Sutton. A viewer suggests that Sutton reacted differently to Dorit’s home invasion because of her past, and her father committing suicide. Kyle says, it felt flippant, and Sutton says, it’s the worst thing she’s ever said in her life, and she’ll regret it until the day she dies. Dorit tells Sutton that it feels like that’s what she needed, and they’re good. A viewer says, Kyle got so physical with Sutton at Garcelle’s party, but she didn’t like it when Brandi shoved her down the stairs. We flash back to that, and it’s still good for a laugh. The surprise on Kyle’s face is priceless. Kyle says, the two things are very different, which they always are when it’s her. She says she didn’t hurt Sutton, but Sutton says, Kyle pulled on her aggressively, and immediately went to Diana’s side. Andy says, Kyle doubted Sutton’s miscarriages, and Kyle apologizes. Andy asks if Sutton was making it about herself or relating, and Kyle says, she gets now that Sutton was trying to relate. Andy asks Garcelle if Sutton makes things about herself, and Garcelle says, if she’s being honest, a little bit. Andy asks Erika why she considers Sutton a liability, and Erika says, she obstructs them getting to know Garcelle. Sutton wonders if the same can’t be said for everyone, and Andy asks if Erika is a liability to LisaR. Garcelle says, she never hustled Sutton out of a party to protect her, and we flash back to LisaR shoving Erika toward the door at some party, I forget which one. Erika says, we’re all different, hooray, and I have no idea how this applies. Crystal says, the others protect each other more than they claim Garcelle and Sutton do. We go over the sauce and the Elton John thing for the billionth time. A viewer suggests that Sutton does not want LisaR as a friend, and Sutton says, LisaR has shown that she hates her. LisaR says she doesn’t hate anyone, but Andy says, Sutton was a bit of a punching bag for her. LisaR says, Sutton pisses her off, and Sutton says, even after filming, LisaR came after her on social media. LisaR goes back to her tired excuse of, she had a rough season, and Sutton says, LisaR didn’t do it to anyone else but her. She doesn’t consider LisaR a friend; how can she? Viewer Andrea from San Francisco says that LisaR’s behavior toward Sutton at the wine tasting was disgusting, especially after accepting Sutton’s apology. Andy says, LisaR and Sutton’s lunch was fun, and we flash back to that. Sutton says she talked to LisaR during the time Lois was in hospice, so when she was getting yelled at repeatedly, she kept thinking, did LisaR not remember? She was a good steady friend, and turned into a dead horse. She was giving glue to every elementary school in L.A. She needs an apology. LisaR says she’s sorry, and Sutton says, it was a pattern. LisaR says she’s sorry she took her pain, anger, sadness, and fear out on Sutton. Dorit says she doesn’t get the glue analogy, and it has to be explained that they make glue out of horse’s hooves.
Andy says he’s spoken to LisaR privately, and said her social media is disastrous. She has no impulse control, and makes trouble for herself with posts she later deletes. Dorit says, it’s like getting a thrill for people with no impulse control, and Andy says, even if it’s negative? LisaR says she doesn’t like the negative, but yes. Andy says, she posts sh*t, and he’s like, what is she doing? She blaming production for the bots. LisaR says, she was expressing stuff, and Andy says, production was upset. She says she doesn’t always think it’s bad when she’s doing it. She’s a work in progress. I hate that phrase because it sounds like what it is, an excuse, and Andy says, it’s in her control. She says she knows that; give her a chance. He asks if she’s had any thoughts about giving social media up for a time, and she says she tried. A viewer says she needs to be put on pause, and LisaR says, put her on pause. She doesn’t care. She sips her drink with her Creature of the Black Lagoon lips, and Andy says, there was a post she deleted that said, when they fight with Garcelle, they’re called racists. I’m not afraid of you ho’s. LisaR says, she was talking to the trolls and haters, and Garcelle says, sometimes what is said is perceived differently when comes to them. It could have undertones that are racist or microaggressions. Crystal says, that’s how she felt about the Sutton conversation. It wasn’t Sutton’s original intention, but it’s how she felt. Kyle says, this is different, and Crystal says, Kyle has to stop. Kyle says, Crystal said something was real that didn’t exist. Garcelle says, people don’t realize the impact, and Crystal tells Kyle to stop making it about how she experiences it. It’s her truth. Kyle doesn’t understand it, and never will. She doesn’t want to get in trouble. Andy says he thinks Kyle and Crystal are talking about two different things, and Dorit ends this nonsense by asking if anyone feels anyone in the group is racist. It’s a hard no from everyone, and Dorit says, they have a lot to learn. Erika says, things are changing, and it’s subtle, yet the consequences are big.
Andy tells them, what’s going to happen is, they’re going to do one more package, take a break, then bring Kathy out. Everyone suddenly needs a drink, and a limo pulls up outside. Kyle asks where Kathy is sitting, and Andy says, next to him. Kyle can’t believe she’s having coffee at this hour, and says, she’s f***ed. Kathy gets out of the limo in her PJs, robe, and slippers. Inside, LisaR paces, babbling about the truth. In her dressing room, Kathy says she brought her tequila.
Next time, the conclusion. Thank you God. LisaR talks about being traumatized; Erika doesn’t talk about the earrings because it’s on appeal for legal reasons; Kathy’s big entrance; Kathy says LisaR said, I get it. You’re preaching to the choir; and Kyle says, the only one that gets hurt is her.
🚤 I was watching Andy’s Mystery Door panel at BravoCon on Watch What Happens Live, and Captain Lee looked obviously uncomfortable. Like if he could disappear, he would. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look so uncomfortable. I guess it helps pay the bills. It all looks chaotic, and makes me glad I wasn’t there.
🧳 Packing It In…
Drop by tomorrow for soap and possible smack talk about Winter House. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering it ain’t over ‘til it’s over, and stay not mistaking bluster for power. Real power is much quieter.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 