(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Trina says, what happened on the Haunted Star taught her how much she relies on everyone she loves. Even though she values her independence, knowing someone will be there to catch her means the world to her. Portia says, that’s what happens when you become a parent, and a messenger comes out of the elevator. He asks Spencer to sign for the fancyish envelope, and Trina asks what it is. Spencer says, let’s find out. He opens it, and says, it’s an invitation to the reading of his Uncle Victor’s will. Trina wonders what Victor left him, and Curtis says, more trouble.
At the station, Jordan leaves a message for TJ, saying, she feels like she’s spoken to his voicemail more than him lately. She was thinking of him, and hoping she could grab dinner with him and Molly soon. Let her know. Text if he must, but a phone call would be most welcome. She loves him.
TJ waits with Molly in an exam room, and asks if she wants anything. She says she wants him to relax. She’s nervous enough for both of them. He says he’s very relaxed, but she says, he’s such a liar. He asks if she’s kicking him out, but she says she needs him here. Her mind is racing. No matter what she tries to think about, she just comes back to the same question – what if she can’t get pregnant? He says, it’s too soon to go there; they need more information. She says she can’t help it, she’s terrified, and he holds her.
Alexis shows Esme around The Invader, and finds Sam in her office. She says, this is a surprise, and Sam says, so is this. What’s going on?
At The Savoy, Holly tells Robert, what a lovely surprise. He says, nice try, but it’s not going to work. She’s up to something. She asks what he thinks she’s up to, and he says, conspiring with Selina Wu.
Esme says she saw Sam at Spring Ridge. Sam asked her about Maggie Fitzgerald. Sam said Maggie was Esme’s former nanny, and that she was a private detective. Did Sam lie to her? Does she really work at The Invader? Was Sam just trying to get her to say Ryan Chamberlain was her father? Sam says, no. She is a private investigator, and Alexis is her mother. Esme asks if Sam’s last name isn’t McCall, and Sam says, it is. Esme says, Sam’s a Cassadine too, and Alexis says, long story. Maybe some other time. Esme says, she gets it. Sam tried to manipulate her like every other Cassadine, and Alexis wants her to believe there’s no ulterior motive in offering her this job?
Robert asks what Holly is getting involved in here. She knows what Selina Wu does for a business. What’s next? Dropping in on Sonny Corinthos? Holly says, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but he says he knows her. She likes to play fast and loose with the law. N’neka comes in, and says, excuse me. Who let them in? They’re closed. Robert introduces himself, and says he’s here on official business. Holly says, which is now over, but he says she’s not getting off that easy. Holly says, he’s right. Maybe he does need to be filled in. She suggests they go somewhere more private.
Dr. Navarro comes into the exam room, and says, as they suspected, Molly’s biopsy revealed she has endometriosis. Unfortunately, it’s severe, but Molly hasn’t complained of pain previously. Molly cries, and says, the pain has been more severe lately, but warm baths help, and an occasional missed period, like right now, but she’s not pregnant? Dr. Navarro says she’s sorry. Irregularity is common with endometriosis. Per Molly’s request, they conducted a fertility test, and Molly says she needs all of the information before making a decision about treatment, and she doesn’t want to delay trying to get pregnant. What did the fertility test say? The doctor says she’s sorry. It’s not good news. Molly cries harder.
Portia looks at Spencer and Trina walking away, and wonders if Trina will ever be free from this horrible family. Curtis says, Victor’s dead now, so there’s nothing he can do to harm Trina, but Portia says, in the meantime, Trina and Spencer are closer than ever. He says he knows she’s wary of Spencer, but he witnessed firsthand how Spencer stepped up for Trina in Greenland.
Trina says, Spencer’s his Uncle Victor tried to control him, and when he realized he couldn’t, he turned against Spencer. Nothing in this will is going to be good for him. Spencer says, probably not, which is exactly why he should deal with it now, rather than putting it off until later. If Uncle Victor had succeeded, there would be no need for this will. She says, he planned on ushering in the new age, and Spencer says, this is worst case scenario; this is a contingency plan in case of disaster. In order for this will to mean anything, Uncle Victor would have had to assume he’s A, dead, and B, his plan had failed. She says, then why let him have the last word? and he says, because if this will is Uncle Victor’s last shot at revenge, if it sets something in motion, he has to be the one to stop it.
Curtis tells Portia that Spencer didn’t care about himself; he only cared about Trina. He put himself in the line of fire to protect her. Portia says, so did Curtis, and she’s grateful to him for bringing Trina back home. He says he cares about Trina, and she says she knows he does. And Trina cares about him. She could see the look in Trina’s eye when she looked at Curtis. She thinks Curtis has a permanent place in Trina’s heart. Taggert walks on to the scene.
Trina runs to Taggert, hugging him, and he asks, how is his baby girl? She says, when she woke up this morning, he was gone, and Portia says, they were up so late last night celebrating her return, her father crashed in the guestroom. Trina says, Taggert wanted to camp out in the living room, like they did when she was little. Sorry for being a party pooper and asking to sleep in her own bed. He says he understands, especially after she’d been gone for so long, but they did do the fireplace s’mores, which is the next best thing. Curtis looks like he feels awkward, when the tech tells them, the lab’s ready for them. Who’s first?
Sam says, Esme works here now? and Alexis says, meet their new receptionist, but Esme says she’s out. She should have gone with her first instinct. I can’t believe I keep getting fooled by you people. She starts to leave, and Alexis says she’s sure Esme must be very scared, and now that she’s lost her memory, she must be so confused. But her nephew Nikolas, the father of Esme’s son, has disappeared. So her only motivation is to keep the rest of her family intact. Whether Esme likes it or not, her son is a Cassadine, and through her son, Esme is now extended family. She’s offered Esme a job so she can financially support her son. Isn’t that something any mother would be grateful for? Esme says, fine. She’ll try. Alexis says, good, and Esme says, for now. Alexis says, that’s all. Esme can go to HR and complete her paperwork, and when that’s done, she can start immediately. Esme leaves, and Sam asks, what’s going on?
Dr. Navarro says, the results of Molly’s hormone testing show that she’d be unlikely to conceive. She’s sorry. TJ says, many women with endometriosis are able to get pregnant; why can’t Molly? The doctor says, in some cases, endometriosis doesn’t mean infertility, but in Molly’s case, it’s different. Molly says, because of her condition is that severe? and Dr. Navarro says, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about how the condition affects some and not others. Her condition is severe because of where endometrial tissue occurs in the body and how far it’s spread. But the condition can also affect fertility on a microscopic level. It can change the hormonal level around the eggs as well as affect the quality. The reasons aren’t well understood. Molly says, so that’s it? She’ll never be able to have children?
Curtis says he’ll go first, and follows the tech. Portia asks if Trina is doing okay, and Trina says, yeah. She wants to do the test. Taggert says, it’s okay to be nervous, and Portia says, it’s totally understandable. Trina says she really wants to take the test and put an end to all the secrets. But what if they find out Curtis is her biological father? How do things not change? Taggert says, no test is going to tell him how he feels about his girl. She is, and always will be, his little girl. She says she hopes so, and he says, she can count on it, and hugs her.
At Pier 54, Holly tells Robert that she does need money, but not for her, for Ethan. Robert asks if he’s in trouble already, and she says, he stole from the wrong people. Robert asks, who? and she says, it’s a long list. Dictators, a hedge fund billionaire or two… Ethan only kept a little bit of it. Most of it, he gave away. He says, worthy causes he’s sure, and she says she can give him the contact information of the orphanages Ethan supports if he doesn’t believe her. He says he believes her. And believes Ethan. Ethan has a larcenous soul, but he’s not greedy. He likes the rush. So did Luke. So does Holly. Holly says, they’re people with obscene amounts of money, and they’re willing to spend it to see Ethan dead. That’s why he’s gone back to Australia to hustle enough money to pay them back. Robert says, that’s a whole bunch of problems in itself, isn’t it? and she says, that’s why she needs a large influx of cash. He asks why she didn’t come to him. He cares about Ethan, and sure as hell cares about her. She says, it isn’t as simple as asking a friend for a loan. She wouldn’t have spoken to Selina Wu. She even inquired about working for the WSB, but that wouldn’t have paid off fast enough. The only way to get these people off Ethan’s back is to compensate them, and she has to do that before they find him. He asks why she didn’t bring this to him sooner; he still could have helped her. They help each other. That’s what they do. She says she’s gotten him in so much trouble already, and doesn’t want to do that to the man she loves.
Spencer leaves to try and get more information about the will reading, and Trina says, he did that so she and Portia could be alone. Portia asks if that’s okay with Trina, and Trina says she’s happy Portia is here. She knows it’s hard on her too. Portia says, the hardest part is that she had to put Trina in this position in the first place, but she’s proud of Trina’s courage. She wishes she was as brave as Trina is in the beginning. When she found out she was pregnant, she should have told Curtis and Taggert that she wasn’t sure who the father was. Then Trina never would have had to make this decision. She’s sorry. Trina says she knows they haven’t unpacked everything, and she’s still angry that Portia chose not to be honest with her, but she’s not as mad as she was anymore. Portia says, it means the world to hear Trina say that, and they hug.
Esme comes out of the elevator, and sees Spencer. He asks if she’s okay. Where’s Ace? She says, he’s with Spencer’s grandmother. She hated leaving him, but she had no choice. He asks what she’s doing here at the hospital, and she says she’s here to drug test for her new job. He says, she’s never worked a day in her life. Who would offer her a job? She says, his Aunt Alexis?
Alexis says she fully expected to get that look, and Sam asks if she has to remind Alexis what happened the last time she invited a snake into her life. Alexis says her eyes are wide open as to who Esme is, and isn’t. Esme isn’t snowing her. She really is doing this for the family. When she went to Laura’s, Esme was halfway out the door with that baby. She was going to take Ace and leave, with nowhere to go and not a penny to her name, because that’s how much she doesn’t trust Laura, Spencer, or anybody else. Sam says, Victor did try to steal her son. She knows what Alexis is doing. Alexis got her a job at the paper to keep her in Port Charles, which keeps her in close proximity to Alexis, a set of eyes… Alexis says, exactly. Laura asked her privately to help keep Esme here, so she and Spencer wouldn’t be separated from Ace. Sam says, that’s lovely for them, but Alexis is the one who has to work with Esme. What happens when this noble gesture comes back to bite her? Alexis says, duly noted. Now why doesn’t Sam tell her why she’s here? There’s a knock at the door, and the messenger has Alexis sign for the infamous envelope. Alexis says, looks like she got invited to the party too, and Sam says, she knows about this? holding another envelope up. Alexis says, Sam got one too? So did Laura and so did Anna. Sam says, Victor hated both of them, and Alexis says, he hated her too. He was never too fond of her for rejecting his call for family solidarity. Sam says, so anyone Victor disliked or downright hated was invited to the reading of his will? That doesn’t bode well, does it? Alexis says, no, it doesn’t.
Holly says she loves Robert – not just in the past, but in the present. She’s in love with him. He says, Holly… but she says, let her finish. They’ve been through so much since she returned last year. Victor taking Ethan… staging the fire in the cabin… Greenland. She hasn’t had time to dwell on her feelings, but now that Victor’s been dealt with, she realizes that she’s still hugely in love with him. She wants to be with him. She wants to devote herself to him. And them. But first she has to help her son. And if that takes her to shady places, so be it, but she refuses to pull him in. They played fast and loose enough with Scotty, but she won’t drag him down; he’s the DA. He says, yeah, and he takes those duties seriously, but there are things that are more important in life. She says she can’t keep asking him to cross the line for her; she doesn’t want to keep asking him to do that. She can handle this on her own. He says, she doesn’t have to. It’s you and me; it’s us. She doesn’t have to do it on her own, and shouldn’t have to. She asks if this is his choice, and he says, question. Where does this end?
Curtis goes to the club, and asks N’neka how everything is looking for tonight. She says, the sound system was glitching, but the technician is already on his way, and he thanks her. He asks if she’d wait for the delivery driver out back, and he’ll look over the paperwork. She gives him a folder and leaves. As he’s looking at it, Jordan comes in.
Dr. Navarro says she realizes this is a lot to process, but there are options, and Molly says, but conceiving a child isn’t one of them. The doctor says, it’s not impossible to get pregnant. Like she told them, the condition still isn’t fully understood, or how it affects fertility. Molly says, but the possibilities are slim, and TJ tells her, let’s not call it a day yet. There are still treatments. Dr. Navarro says, TJ’s right. She’s happy to discuss all treatments available for Molly’s condition, as well as alternatives to help her have a child. She’ll give them time to talk, but please don’t lose hope. They’ll find the best option. TJ thanks her, and she leaves. Molly clings to him.
Robert says, it’s a pattern with Holly. She gets involved in all these below board things with questionable payouts. If, as she says, she loves him, and doesn’t want to drag him in with her, he doesn’t get what kind of a relationship that is. She says, all she knows is that she loves him, and he says, love is certainly part of the equation, but if this is her life, and that life says she has to keep things from him, how does that work? Maybe they’re not compatible. Maybe there’s not meant to be a me and you. All he knows is, he’ll always be there for her. She tells him that he doesn’t have to say it. After all these years of fighting to make this work, maybe she missed her chance.
Curtis asks if this is official business, but Jordan says she just wanted to see if he was all right. Is that a problem? He says, of course (🍷) not; thanks. She asks if something is bothering him, but he says he’s good. She says, it’s her. What’s up? He asks if he made a mistake going through with that DNA test. He might be upending a perfectly healthy family.
Spencer says, Esme is working for his aunt? and she says, believe her. It wasn’t her first choice. He asks when this happened, and she says, Alexis was visiting his grandmother, and she was about to leave with Ace… He says, to go where? and she says she hadn’t decided yet. Trina and Portia walk over to them, and Esme says she wasn’t sure, but Laura gave her a million different reasons why it was a bad idea. She said she wanted her independence – which she does – and that’s when his aunt offered her a job. Trina asks, what’s going on? and Spencer says, Esme got a job. Esme says, as a receptionist, and Spencer says, so Alexis just offered her a job out of the blue? Esme says, she didn’t do it out of the kindness of her heart. She had an agenda, just like every other member of his family, but she can play the game too. And if she’s going to build a life with Ace far away from here, then she’ll need money. He says, wherever she goes with his little brother, he’ll be right behind her, and she says she won’t let him take Ace away from her, but he says, that’s not what he means. She can leave Port Charles. She can go to the ends of the earth, and he’ll be right there to buy a home next to her. She says, as long as she’s with Ace, she really doesn’t care what he does. Wow. I’d have popped him in the nose by now. Esme leaves, and Spencer wonders, what was Aunt Alexis thinking? but Trina says, this is a good thing.
Sam says, whatever Victor had in mind, she’s not up for it, and Alexis suggests they be grateful that Spencer and that baby are back safe, Victor’s stopped, and nobody else was harmed. Sam says she is grateful for that, and the story Alexis put in The Invader was pretty amazing. Alexi says she had help, and Sam says, from whom? Alexis says, from Gregory, and Sam says, the last time they talked, Alexis thought she’d never see Gregory again. Alexis says, he’s full of surprises. After Sam left, he showed up. Sam asks if they worked things out, and Alexis flashes back to Gregory telling her that he has ALS. She says she thought so, and Sam asks what that means. Alexis says, Gregory told her what he’s been dealing with, and Sam says, that’s good, but Alexis says, it’s not good. It’s good he told her, but she hasn’t heard from him since.
Holly says she always thought one day it would be their moment, but Robert says, it never is. She says, and it never will be, and he says he’ll always love her. Nothing’s ever going to change that. He takes her hand, and she cries, saying, but you’ll always be you, and I’ll always be me. She so wishes he was wrong, but he’s not. Love can’t fix this. He says, what now? and she says she has to help her son, one way or the other. He asks how she’s going to do that, and she tells him not to ask questions he doesn’t want the answers to. But she’ll take care of it. He doesn’t have to worry about her. He says, too late.
Sam asks if Gregory and Alexis got into another fight, but Alexis says, they didn’t. In fact, after he told her what was wrong with him, she thought he’d be more accepting of her help. From what he told her, he could use the help. Sam assumes he swore Alexis to secrecy, and Alexis says, he asked her not to tell anyone. Sam says she won’t pry, but it must be pretty hard on Alexis, and Alexis says, what’s hard is, she doesn’t know if this radio silence means he’s in some kind of trouble. Apparently, she’s the only one who knows about this, but if he doesn’t tell her, how can she help him? Sam asks if she tried to talk to him, but Alexis says she’s not comfortable doing that. Sam says, why not? and Alexis says, because he insisted she respect his privacy. Sam says, she can respect his privacy without ignoring him, and Alexis says, if she recalls, Sam is the one who told her to trust him, and if he needs her, he’ll reach out. Sam says, he did.Didn’t that change everything?
Spencer says, if Esme can afford it, she’ll disappear with his brother, and Trina says, or the job can be the reason she stays. The longer Esme stays in Port Charles, the more time he has to convince her that his brother needs him. He and his grandmother can show Esme how important it is for Ace to have a support system. He says, what about Trina? The more Esme is involved with his family, the more Trina is exposed. She says, don’t worry about her. She’s gotten used to having Esme around. Portia listens, and Trina says, Esme will always be part of Spencer’s family, job or no job. That’s part of the deal when you have a family. He asks if he’s told her lately how amazing she is, and she says, about a thousand times, but he can tell her again. Portia doesn’t look thrilled as Spencer kisses Trina’s hand. Taggert asks, what’s wrong? and Portia says, just history repeating itself. This time she’s ready for it.
Jordan asks how Curtis is responsible for what happens to Trina’s family. Did he push for the DNA test? He says, no, Trina wanted that, and she says, then why is he blaming himself? He says, because he’s the complicating factor. Everything was perfect between Trina and the people who raised her. They had the perfect, stable dynamic for twenty years, and here he comes, complicating things. Jordan says, their so-called stable dynamic was already complicated, and not because of him. Portia made her choice, and right or wrong, it’s what she needed to do at the time. But with the revelation that she doesn’t know who Trina’s biological father is, that dynamic was bound to change. Curtis says, but it doesn’t have to. Taggert is always going to love Trina as his daughter, and Trina is always going to love him as her dad. So wouldn’t the best outcome be for those results to show he was her biological father? If that’s the case, Trina can go on living her happy life. Jordan says, spoken like a true father, and he says, honestly, he just wants what’s best for Trina. But selfishly, he wants those results to show that he’s her father. He wants that so bad, it hurts. The only thing that would hurt worse is finding out he’s not her father.
Molly tells TJ that she’s sorry. She feels silly. He says, she just had a bomb dropped on her. Of course (🍷) she’s upset. She says, but she’s a logical person. Her brain completely understands that they can still have a child, and they’ll love that child whether she carries it or not. He says, they will, but her brain isn’t her heart. Her heart is broken. She cries, and says she feels like she just got hit with a baseball bat. She came expecting the worst, but when Dr. Navarro actually said the words, it’s unlikely you’ll get pregnant… He says, it’s not impossible, and she says she told herself it didn’t matter either way. They’re non-traditional people, and if they have a baby by non-traditional means, no one would be surprised. But she thinks it took finding out how unlikely it would be for her, to realize how badly she wanted to be pregnant; how badly she wanted to carry his baby. She cries and says she’s sorry. He puts his forehead against hers. and says he can’t imagine what she’s going through, but they’re here together; he’s with her. They’ll figure this out.
Alexis wonders how she can insert herself into Gregory’s life, and let him come to her at the same time, and Sam says she’s not telling Alexis to press him to talk. She’s just saying Alexis can reach out without being intrusive. She can just call. Send a text or a voicemail letting him know she’s there for him if he needs her help. Alexis asks if she means act like a normal grown up. How did Sam get to be so grown up and so wise? Sam hugs Alexis, and asks, what is normal anyway? It’s in her DNA.
TJ tells Molly that Dr. Navarro downloaded a bunch of information on endometriosis for them to look at… Whenever she’s ready. She asks if it’s okay if she’s not ready yet, and he says, more than okay. Like Dr. Navarro said, she has a lot to process. Molly says, they both do. He doesn’t have to just make this about her. He says he’s thinking positive. They can, and they will, expand their family. She says, just not in the way they thought they would, and he puts his arms around her.
Holly says she should go, and Robert says, right now? She says she wishes they could shut out the world, but they can’t. Letting go of him is going to be the hardest thing she’s ever done… It’s what they both need. She truly wants him to be happy, and she thinks the best is yet to come for him. She kisses his cheek, but it turns into a romantic kiss, and she tells him goodbye. He tells her to take care of herself, and she says she always does. She leaves the pier, and Robert says, goodbye Holly.
Spencer asks if Trina is ready for the DNA test, and says he’ll walk her. They leave, and Taggert says he’s just as upset as Portia is about this, but no good is going to come of her continually talking to Trina about Spencer. Portia says, this is beyond talking, and time for action. He asks what she’s saying, and she tells him that she’s not standing by and watching Spencer take their daughter down. She wants to make sure Spencer is out of Trina’s life for good.
Jordan tells Curtis that she’s sorry, but if there’s one thing she knows, it’s that Curtis Ashford is strong enough to weather whatever comes his way. And he won’t have to go though it alone. She takes his hand, and says, he has so many people who love him, and they’ll be right by his side, no matter what. They stare at each other for a moment, then kiss.
Tomorrow, Sasha tells Nina that she’s taking charge of her life again; Scotty tells Obrecht that he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise; Josslyn says she’s about to take Sonny up on that offer; and Portia tells Taggert that Jordan did that deliberately.
👯♀️ Footstep Following…
Now that they mention it, there’s quite a resemblance.
It’s on the Today show, in the New York Times. Scandoval has reached every corner of the globe. Sandoval: Every woman wants to spit on him, and every man wants to distance themselves.
Let us join together tomorrow for soap, tea but no VanderSympathy, words to think about, and music for May. Until then, stay safe, stay not hogging the remote, and stay not asking questions you don’t want the answers to.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Anna comes downstairs, and Valentin is gone, but there’s a huge bouquet of roses. She looks at the card, and reads, my darling Anna. Back to work at ELQ, but every day I wake up beside you is heaven. Love, Valentin. She holds it to her chest, and there’s a knock at the door. Holly says she’s sorry for not calling. She hopes she’s not interrupting, and Anna asks if it would have stopped her anyway. Holly says she’s afraid not. She really needs Anna’s help. Anna asks how she can refuse Holly anything after what she did to bring Victor down, and Holly says she hopes Anna means that, because she needs a job.
Felicia and Mac have breakfast at the MetroCourt, and Felicia asks if he knows how much she lives for this. He says, coffee and croissants? but she says, quality time with her husband. She closes her eyes, waiting for a kiss, but he’s looking at his phone. She asks, what happened to the romantic man she married? and he says he’s sorry. He sent about a dozen messages to his brother, and Robert hasn’t bothered texting him back. She says, Robert’s had his hands full lately, and he says, with what? Diane walks in, and Mac asks if she’d mind joining them for a moment. She says, of course (🍷). What’s it about? Mac says, his brother.
Robert tells the desk sergeant that he’s expecting something from Judge Thomas, but the sergeant says, there’s nothing here marked DA Scorpio. Robert says, then he’d expect a degree of initiative at this point. They can track it down. It’s important. Dante asks, what’s going on? and Robert says he put in for a warrant; it should be here by now. Dante says, maybe he can look into it. What’s the warrant for? Robert says he’s pursuing a violation of the RICO act, and Dante says, racketeering, huh? Robert says he prefers to call it enterprise corruption, and Dante asks if he’s familiar with the location of the alleged operation. Robert says, you can hardly miss it. It’s got a big sign above the door that says, The Savoy.
Curtis does some paperwork at the club, and gets a text from Agent Hursley: Offer still stands. The WSB wants you. Selina sits down across from him, and says, welcome home, stranger. Where’s the tickertape parade in his honor? He says, The Savoy’s closed. All he wants to do this morning is go over last night’s receipts, and she says, so it’s back to normal, is it? She can’t blame him after what he’s been through. TheInvader painted quite a vivid picture. But look at the bright side. He may be rewarded for his heroism, and she doesn’t mean a key to the city. He asks what she does mean, and she says, from what she understands, his reward might be a brave and beautiful daughter.
Trina tells a lab tech that she’s been waiting for an hour to take a DNA test, and the tech apologizes, saying, it shouldn’t be too much longer. Trina says, that’s what she was told half an hour ago, and Spencer appears. He says he’s sure they can find a way to expedite the process. Trina is way too fine of a person to mention this, but her mother actually works at the hospital – Dr. Portia Robinson. Trina says she’s not looking for any special favors, and Spencer says, but they’ll take them if she has them. The tech says she’ll see what she can do, Spencer thanks her, and she leaves. Trina says she doesn’t need him fighting her battles, but he says he thought they agreed they’d fight for each other back on the Haunted Star.
Ava meets Portia at the MetroCourt, and says she came as soon as she could. Portia said she wanted to talk about Trina. Is she okay? Portia says, she’s fine, and Ava says she’s so relieved Trina came through that nightmare in Greenland without so much as a scratch. Portia says, by some miracle. That’s why she asked Ava to meet her here today. She plans on keeping her daughter safe and sound. Ava says she’s all for that. How can she help? Portia says, that’s exactly what she wanted to hear.
Laura invites Alexis into the apartment, and thanks her for coming over. She could use all the help she can get right now. Alexis says she understands, and give her a gift for Ace. She assumes he might be a bit tired after the adventure in Greenland. Laura says, he’s doing absolutely fine. It’s his mom who’s turning out to be quite a handful. Alexis asks if her memory has come back yet, but Laura says, no. It’s not about that. They sit down, and Laura says, she and Doc have done everything they can to make Esme feel at home here. To be honest, she thinks Spencer’s done the same thing, but… Esme comes out from the back, and heads for the door, and Laura says, look who stopped by? It’s Ace’s Aunt Alexis. Esme says she’s sorry. It’s a bad time; she and Ace were just leaving. Laura asks where she’s going, and Esme says, does it matter? Anywhere but here. Laura says she realizes the apartment doesn’t afford Esme much privacy, but she can’t just take off for parts unknown. Esme says, why not? She has her baby; he’s all that matters to her. Plus, the charges pending against her were dropped, so what’s to stop her? Laura says, let’s start with, where is she going, and how is she going to get there? She doesn’t have a car. And how will she pay for all of it? Esme says she has a trust fund, and Laura says, which she doesn’t have access to. She remembers that, right? Esme says, right. Her trustees pulled the plug because of people saying she’s a terrible person, but they can’t keep her money from her forever, can they? Alexis says, it’s complicated, and Esme asks, why? She’s not the same person she was when she did those things. They have to give her what’s hers, right? Laura says, yes, but in the meantime, she has to think about her baby. She has to put his needs first. Can she do that? Future Oscar contender Baby Ace starts crying.
Trina says, she and Spencer were fighting for their lives on the Haunted Star. She’s just trying to take a DNA test and get to her afternoon classes. She doesn’t know why it’s taking so long. All they’ve got to do is swab her cheek, and compare the DNA with the DNA tests from Curtis and her father. It’s not a big deal. Spencer says he thinks if Curtis turns out to be her dad, it is a big deal. Trina says, if that’s the case, Curtis will be her biological father. No matter what the test says, Marcus Taggert will always be her dad. Spencer says, she’s still facing the possibility that she could be Curtis Ashford’s daughter.
Curtis asks what gives Selina the idea that he and Trina… She says, could be related by blood? It’s not exactly a state secret. Especially if one knows people who know people who work at the GH lab. He says, right. Her nephew used to work there. She tells him, Trina is a lovely young woman. Also very brave, given everything she’s been through; being arrested, going on trial, only to be acquitted. Not to mention the latest adventure they shared on the high seas. To learn he was her biological father would be a very happy ending to that story… but perhaps he doesn’t want that.
Portia says, Trina thinks of Ava as a wonderful mentor, and Ava says she’d like to think she and Trina are friends as well. Portia says, that’s why she asked Ava to meet with her this morning. She’s wondering if Ava could help her out with Trina. Ava says, so she and Trina haven’t patched things up yet? and Portia says, when Trina came back from Greenland, she got a nice, big hug. That was wonderful, but after the initial reunion, things are still strained between them. So Trina’s not going to listen to her or her input. She’s concerned about some of the choices Trina’s making, and thinks Trina is going to get into trouble. Ava says she’d love to help if she can. What choice is Portia referring to? Portia says, the one Trina made to be with Spencer Cassadine.
Diane tells Mac that she doesn’t keep tabs on Robert outside the courtroom. She doesn’t know what he does. Mac asks if she spoke with him this morning. He understands they’ve been texting a lot. Diane says, he means about the pending case? and Mac says, of course (🍷). What else would he mean?
Dante asks why the DA’s office is interested in Curtis’s nightclub; it’s a legit operation. Robert says he’s not accusing Curtis of anything, except maybe a questionable choice of friends; one of them being Selina Wu. Dante asks if Curtis and Selina are in business together, and Robert flashes back to seeing Selina with Holly. Dante asks if the chief knows about this, and Robert asks an officer, where’s his warrant? The officer says he’s sorry; it’s not ready yet. Robert slams his hand down on the nearest desk.
Anna asks what kind of job Holly is looking for, and Holly says she was thinking about getting back into the spy game. She was hoping Anna could put in a good word for her at the WSB. Anna says, that’s what got Holly involved with Victor in the first place. Robert nearly lost his mind with grief searching for her; from here to Monte Carlo, from Monte Carlo to forever. Holly says, happily, Victor is dead, and Anna says, but they both know there are other people out there like him. Why would she want to put herself through that, not to mention Robert? Holly says, the last thing she wants would be to hurt Robert, and Anna says, so stay out; stay safe. She can assure Holly, the rush of espionage is not worth the downside. Holly says she doesn’t want the job for the rush. She needs the money.
Anna sets a tea service on the coffee table, and Holly says, a proper tea! As Anna pours, Holly says she needs money to help her son. Anna says, Ethan’s in trouble again – already? and Holly says, her son has a bit of a Robin Hood complex. Anna says, he steals from the rich and gives to the poor? and Holly says, minus a small commission. Some of the rich he’s robbed from aren’t very happy. They either want the money back, or they want Ethan killed. So he’s gone back to Australia. He knows the players there; they have deep pockets. Her son is better at cards than anyone she’s ever seen; better than her and his father. But if he makes enough to pay back the people who want to kill him… Anna says, he risks making another loser who’ll want revenge, and Holly says, if she doesn’t settle his debts, her beautiful son is a dead man walking.
Diane tells Mac, let’s just say, Robert has some issues he needs to work out, and Mac says, what kind of issues? She says, if he wants answers to questions like that, he’ll have to ask his brother. She leaves, and Mac says, there’s more to this story, and he’s going to get some answers. Felicia says, Diane is right. He needs to talk to his brother. Ask Robert what’s going on.
Esme tells Laura, Ace is her whole world. There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him, but she also needs her freedom, and her independence. Living in a place where people are constantly looking at her sideways and waiting for her to commit a crime is suffocating. Laura says she can appreciate that, and promises Esme’s life is going to get better. She just has to be a little patient. Esme says she has been patient. Laura and Doc have been very generous to let her and Ace live here for free, but that also means Spencer is constantly looking at her, and making her second guess every decision she makes with her son. When does she get to live her life on her own terms? Alexis says, perhaps there’s a way to make that happen. If Esme truly means what she says.
Portia tells Ava, to be clear, she doesn’t think Spencer is going to follow in his great uncle’s footsteps. She doesn’t think he’s interested in world domination. To her, it seems like he follows in the footsteps of his father. Just like Nikolas, Spencer is entitled. He’s reckless. And what’s of most concern to her is the content of his character. Just like his father. What kind of man sleeps with his son’s girlfriend? A Cassadine. Someone who’s entitled, spoiled, oblivious to consequences. That’s why she’s so afraid for Trina. Ava says, for what it’s worth (🍷), if Nikolas didn’t come back to town for the birth of his own son, she doesn’t think he’s coming back at all. So his influence over Spencer is done. Portia says, it’s too late. Spencer’s already had 18 or 19 years of bad parenting. The damage is done. Spencer is who he is, and he’s a danger to Trina. She throws all common sense out the window, which she never used to do. And she jumped on that damn boat, and almost died. Portia needs Ava’s help to make Trina see reason. Ava says she understands. She has her own regrets about becoming involved with the Cassadine family. She loves Trina, so she has to be honest with Portia. She thinks Portia would be smarter to not move against Spencer.
Curtis asks what Selina is implying, and she says she’s not trying to suggest he wouldn’t be proud to call Trina his daughter. The way she sees it, it’s not who Trina is that’s the issue. It’s the strings that bind her to her mother. Does he really need that complication in his life right now? He tells her to spit it out. What is she driving at? She says, as she told him, she has access to the labs at GH. She can make that DNA test result go any way he wants.
Curtis asks why he’d tamper with DNA results. That’s just compounding one lie with another. Trina is a wonderful young woman who he loves very much already. Selina says, all true, but he used to be a risk taker; a man who lived on the edge and liked it. Perhaps he felt that kind of rush again while playing the hero in Greenland. She’s sure the WSB was impressed he could do something they couldn’t. Maybe he thought having a daughter would get in the way of that. He looks at the text on his phone, and she says, that’s true, isn’t it? He looks at her, and she says, then why let anything, or anyone, tie him down?
A messenger goes over to Ava and says he has a delivery for her. She signs for it, and he gives her a fancyish envelope. She sticks it under her bag, and Portia says she guesses she’s a little surprised Ava doesn’t want to support keeping Trina away from Spencer. She figured Ava of all people would understand what a wrecking ball that family is. Ava agrees the Cassadine family can be bad news, and understands Portia’s concern, and Portia says, but Ava won’t help her make Trina see the light of day. Ava says she sees a different side of Spencer. He’s changing; he’s maturing. He took a principled stand when it came to his baby brother. She understands why Trina feels the way she does, and that’s why she can’t help Portia. If she has any advice at all, it would be for Portia to leave it alone and let Trina make her own decisions about her life.
Trina tells Spencer that Curtis will always be in her life, no matter what the test results show, and he says he wishes he could say the same about Esme. Trina tells him that she has to say, after Dr. Gatlin-Holt checked out Ace, and gave him the thumbs up, watching Spencer walk out with Laura and Esme and Ace, it kind of looked like it. Spencer says, that they were a family. Trust him. They’re not. He’d give anything for Esme to let go and relinquish the responsibility of raising his brother to him. Trina says, despite everything Esme’s done to her, she can’t help but feel for her. She doesn’t remember who she used to be or how she acted, and if you think about it, Ace is all she’s got. He says, Trina Robinson, you’re a genius, and Trina thanks him, wondering what she said. He says, right now, Ace is all Esme has, and she has to open her eyes and expand her horizons, broaden her worldview. As long as she’s solely focused on Ace, she’s never going to give him up. Trina asks, how? and he says, somehow they’ll have to get Esme to come to that conclusion on her own.
Esme tells Alexis that she meant every word of what she said. She wants to stand on her own two feet. She wants to make her own choices, and decide where and how she wants to live. Alexis says, what if she can make that happen? and Esme says, Alexis can help her get her hands on her trust fund? Laura says she doesn’t think that’s what Alexis means, and Alexis says, that’s not what Alexis means. She’s not offering Esme a free ride; she’s offering Esme a chance to gain the independence she craves. Esme asks how she’d do that, and Alexis says she has an opening for a receptionist at The Invader. Esme says, a job answering the phones? and Alexis asks if Esme has a college degree or any work experience at all. Esme says, no, and Alexis says, then it seems like a very appropriate job for her to start. Unless of course (🍷) all that talk about standing on her own is just talk.
Robert tells Dante, this isn’t a fishing expedition. As DA, it’s his job to investigate any hint of criminal conspiracy. Dante says, with all due respect, as cops, they do the investigating and he does the prosecuting, and Robert says, let him give Dante a refresher course in the chain of command. He sits on top of it. Dante says, and the judge that has to sign off on his warrant? Robert says he’s going to find the damn judge right now, and leaves.
Mac tells Felicia, come on. They’ve always been honest with each other. What does she know that he doesn’t? His phone rings, and he asks Dante, what’s up? Dante says he’s calling about Mac’s brother, and Mac says, what about his brother?… Thanks for letting him know. Felicia asks, what is it? and he says, that’s what he needs to find out, and jets.
Anna says, Holly isn’t the only one who cares about Ethan. Robert regards him like the son he never had. She’s sure Robert would help in a heartbeat. Holly says she’s sure he would, but if she involved him in Ethan’s not quite legal activities, he’s a respected District Attorney. The scandal could bring him down, and she’d never do that to him. Anna says, Robert still means that much to her? and Holly says, yeah. From the moment she realized she loved Robert, she always has, and always will. Anna says, so tell him about Ethan, and let him make the decision whether to become involved or not, but Holly says, it’s not as simple as that. There are things she doesn’t want Robert to know… for his protection. And if she’s honest, for her own. It’s like what Diane Miller said… Anna says, she spoke to Diane about Robert? and Holly says, Diane asked her why she thought things would work out between her and Robert this time when they never have before. Anna says, she has a point. She also has a horse in the race. Holly says she’s keenly aware, and Anna asks if she’s going to drop out of the race and let Diane win.
Holly says she and Diane are too smart and self-reliant to stoop to pulling out each other’s hair over a man, even if that man is Robert Scorpio. The last thing she’d want to do is hurt Robert by damaging his reputation, and if she ends up having to take another path to get the money to help her son… Anna asks if there’s another path, and Holly says, there’s always another path. Although sometimes she’s taken it and lived to regret it. Anna says she remembers, and Holly asks if Anna will help her get her foot in the Bureau’s door before it’s too late. Anna says her influence over there is limited. They replaced Frisco because he refused to give the order for the airstrike over the island. She just got back from a debriefing in London, and the new director isn’t enamored of her or anyone associated with Frisco. But she still knows some people and can make some calls. She thinks she’d be careful about taking that other path if she was Holly.
Robert comes back to the squad room, saying, the judge won’t sign off on the warrant. He sees Mac, and says, let him guess. Detective Falconari called up baby brother, who makes a beeline for the station. Mac says, Detective Falconari was just doing his job. Let’s have a talk. They go into the interrogation room, and Mac says, Robert can forget about the warrant; The Savoy’s off limits. Robert says, they both know Wu is a regular customer in there, and he has reason to believe Holly’s in trouble. Mac says, and Robert is coming to the rescue, and Robert says, Mac knows what she’s like; she’s her own worst enemy. Now if he can just intervene… Mac says, if he intervenes, Robert is going to screw up all the surveillance he put in place to get the goods on Selina Wu. Robert asks why he wasn’t informed, and Mac says, he’s telling Robert now. Stay out of it.
Felicia sits with Diane, who’s trying to do paperwork, and says, Mac is really worried about his brother. Diane says she’s sorry about that, but she has to get through these notes before she goes to court. Felicia says, don’t try so hard. She knows Diane cares about Robert. Diane says, absolutely. There’s a professional respect. Felicia says, she and Robert go way back, and Holly is a good friend of hers. Diane says she’s well aware. Felicia was with Holly last night when Holly came to her table to have frank discussion about present circumstances. If she didn’t say it then, she wants to thank Felicia and Alexis for letting them have that conversation in private. Felicia says she’s not sure Diane understands the present circumstances. It’s time she did.
Ava tells Portia that Trina is going to come around. But she’s also seen the way Trina looks at Spencer. She’s heard the way Trina talks about him. She was already smitten before everything that happened in Greenland. Painting Spencer in a bad light is just going to make it more difficult for Portia to heal her relationship with Trina. Portia says she’s Trina’s mother. If she sees Trina in a situation that’s bad for her… Ava says she’s just trying to give Portia the benefit of her regret. Please don’t push Trina away. Do better than I.
Spencer tells Trina, fortunately, his grandmother has a way with Esme, so she can encourage Esme and help her begin to search for things that will fulfill her other than Ace. He stops, and says he really is self-absorbed. Here he is, going on and on about his problems while she’s waiting to take a test that could literally change her whole life. She takes his hand and says, she’s grateful for the distraction. If he has problems, she wants to hear about them. He says he wants to hear about her problems, since it looks like they’re stuck together. She says, looks like, and he says he wouldn’t have it any other way. She says, neither would she.
Curtis says, if Selina is offering to fix the DNA results, there must be something in it for her, and she asks when he became so cynical. He asks why she doesn’t just admit it. She doesn’t give a damn whether he’s Trina’s father or not. She just likes having something over him. She asks what else she needs. She already has their little game in the back room; payback for putting his father’s arrest record in his hands. Whether he likes it or not, the two of them are joined at the hip. He says, for now, but hear him clearly. Do not do him any favors by doctoring those results. He gives Selina her tab from last night, and leaves.
Esme asks if Laura put Alexis up to this. Is it her way of keeping Esme in town, by chaining Esme to a desk so she can never leave? Laura says, some people might see it as an opportunity. She did when she was asked to answer phones for ELQ when she was Esme’s age. They hear Ace crying over the monitor, and Esme goes to check on him. Laura tells Alexis, it’s a great opportunity for her. She can put down roots. She can make a home for herself and her son, with her son’s family’s assistance of course (🍷). Alexis asks, so why does Laura look so worried? and Laura says she is worried, but not about Esme. She’s actually worried about Alexis. Esme may not currently remember the terrible things she’s done, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she can’t revert back to her old behavior. Alexis says she’s very well aware of that, which is why she was worried about Esme living here with Laura. Laura says, what choice did she have? Esme holds the fate of Laura’s grandchild in her hands. Alexis says she knows that, which is why… Esme comes back, and says she’s thought about Alexis’s offer, but Alexis says, there’s no rush; take her time. Laura says, she doesn’t have to decide now, but Esme says, except she has decided. She’ll take it.
Curtis comes out of the elevator, and flags down the lab tech. He says he’s having some tests done today, and his question is, how is the lab security system? How secure are they that no one can tamper with the DNA results, and what safeguards do they have in place? Trina comes over to them, and the tech says, why all the questions? Trina asks if there’s anything wrong, and Curtis says he just wants to be sure the results are accurate. Trina says, thanks for his concern, but she hasn’t even been tested yet, and the lab tech says, it won’t be long now, and tells Curtis, and it will be accurate. She leaves, and Curtis says, sorry he stuck his nose in, but Trina says, that’s okay. He has a nice nose. He wonders if it runs in the family.
Ava says she’s not telling Portia how to parent. She’s just hoping Portia can learn from her mistakes. Portia says she appreciates hearing Ava’s perspective, but she can’t stand by and lose Trina. Ava asks what she’s going to do, but Portia says she doesn’t know.
Felicia tells Diane, Robert and Holly have thirty plus years of history, but that doesn’t mean he’s willing to upend his life to be with her now. Whatever’s going on with Diane and Robert… Diane says, there’s nothing going on with her and Robert, except a court date, which she has to keep. Felicia says, Diane is the ultimate professional, but she knows the signs. Diane cares about Robert. Diane says, and Holly Sutton is the love of his life. End of story.
Robert says he has no interest in compromising the PCPD’s surveillance of Wu, and Mac says, then stay the hell out of it, but Robert says he can’t do that. He walks out, and asks, where’s his warrant? Mac says, he can wait until hell freezes over, and Dante suggests they sit down and discuss this. Robert says, screw the warrant, and walks out.
Anna is cleaning up, when there’s a knock at the door. A messenger says he just needs a signature, and Anna signs. He gives her the same envelope Ava got, and when she goes back inside, she opens it.
Alexis tells Esme, the salary is what it is, but she gets healthcare benefits, and daycare. Esme asks if that means Ace can come to work with her. She won’t have to leave him with Spencer and Laura? Alexis nods, and Esme hugs her, saying, thank you so much.
Portia comes into the hospital, and sees Trina with Spencer and Curtis. Trina says, they’re just waiting to get their DNA tests, and Curtis tells Trina, remember, whatever happens, she’s not alone. Spencer says he’ll make sure of that, and Portia says, then they’re all in agreement. Trina comes first. Always.
Ava gets up, and remembers the envelope under her bag. She opens it, and reads what’s inside.
Esme says she can’t wait to tell Ace that mommy got her first job, and thanks Alexis. This is the first step on their road to independence. She goes in the back, and Alexis says, looks like she’s got herself a receptionist. She asks, what’s that? looking at the envelope in Laura’s hand, and Laura says she doesn’t know. It was just delivered by messenger. Alexis says, that’s old school, when Laura’s phone rings. It’s Anna, who asks if Laura just got an envelope delivered to her by messenger. Laura says, just this very moment. How did she know? Anna says, because she got one too. It’s an invitation to the reading of Victor’s will.
Felicia says, Robert and Holly are her friends. She just wants them to be happy. Diane says, then there’s nothing left to say, is there? Felicia says, just this. Seeing Robert with Diane, and knowing his very complicated history with Holly, she’s not so sure where their happiness lies.
Robert walks into The Savoy, and Selina says, if he’s looking for Curtis, he just left. Robert says, actually, he’s looking for her, and she asks what she can do for him. He asks, what’s the hold she has over Holly Sutton? and she says she suggests he ask the lady herself. Holly walks in, and Selina leaves.
Tomorrow, Curtis wonders if he made a mistake going through with the DNA test; Esme asks if Alexis doesn’t have some ulterior motive for giving her this job; and Holly asks what exactly Robert thinks she’s up to.
Vanderpump Rules
In the future words of Schwartz, this is very bad.
NYC – March 1, 2023 –Watch What Happens Live. Scheana and Raquel are guests and Andy asks, who is hotter; Schwartz or Sandoval? They both say, Sandoval. A producer asks if Sandoval is ready to talk, and he says, no. Scheana was doing WWHL, and his band was performing at TomTom in LA; their single was being released. His phone fell out of his pocket, and a woman gave it to Ariana for safekeeping. In Ariana’s interview, she says, call it women’s intuition or a lightbulb, but she felt like she needed to look at it. She found a screen recording of them on a FaceTime, and her stomach dropped into her ass. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, normally, he would have deleted it, but it had been a busy day. He got himself and Ariana outside… Ariana says she called Raquel and said, if Raquel ever gave a sh*t about her, tell her when it happened. In Scheana’s interview, she says, Raquel told her that she and Sandoval were having an affair for the past seven months. Sandoval says, what he did was f***ed up; there’s no excuse. He loves and cares about Ariana, but doesn’t think they’re happy. Ariana says she learned there were evil people in the world, and sometimes they’re the people closest to you and you have no idea. We see the gossip headlines.
Ariana meets with her friend Meredith, and says she’s gone from hating Sandoval to feeling indifferent. She drinks from a bottle of wine that she and Sandoval got on their first trip together, and Sandoval drifts through the apartment like a ghost, sighing. He asks if Ariana wants anything, and she says, for him to die. I second that. She says he hasn’t said he’s sorry for what he actually did, and he says, every time he tries to apologize, it makes her more angry. She says, then let her be angry, and he says he didn’t want to hurt her. She says, yet he continued to do it over and over. She’s been with him nine years. She loved him when he was wearing combat boots and skinny jeans, had no money, and was driving a 1997 Honda Civic. Now he has money, a bar, and a band, and a girl acts enamored of him, so he can’t help himself. That’s what he wants; someone to gas him up. Raquel is searching for her identity in men, and is willing to stoop so low to f*** one of her best friend’s life partners. Does he think she’s a good person? Sandoval says, it just happened. He and Raquel became really good friends, and he was seeking what he wasn’t getting. He knows it was selfish. Ariana says, that’s the nicest word it is, and Sandoval says, he and Raquel became friends first… Ariana says she doesn’t give a f*** about Raquel and their friendship; it’s bullsh*t. Sandoval whines that it’s not; it’s real. They trust and respect each other. Ariana hasn’t respected him in a long time. Ariana says, so she’s the scapegoat, and Sandoval says, he’s trying to get her to understand. It’s not about f***ing; it’s about a connection. They were giving each other confidence. His and Ariana’s relationship wasn’t the same. They were separated all the time and had no sex life. He lost his mojo. Ariana says, so he f***ed her friend to get his mojo back, and Sandoval says, when he turned forty, he thought, this can’t be the rest of his life. She says, that’s normal, and why you go to couples therapy to figure out if you should stay together or break up. Sandoval says, she pressured him to stay in the relationship. He wanted to end things. She says, if that’s true, he shouldn’t have been in her bed. He’s a coward. He says, it’s not about stroking his ego or looks. It came from something much deeper. They became each other’s support system. Ariana says, don’t talk to her about deep connections. It’s disgusting. He says he’s seeing Raquel tomorrow, and she asks, why not just say no? She was ride or die for him, and had Raquel’s back while Raquel was smiling in her face. It’s God awful and disgusting. She regrets every moment she stood up for him, defended him, and supported him. She wants him to feel that in his soul. She stood by him, and loved him, and was ready to build the rest of her life with him. She wants him to know how she feels. She regrets ever loving him. She asks if he has any last words before they never speak again, and he says he never thought this would happen. He thought they’d be together forever. Ariana says she would have followed him anywhere and changed whatever he was unhappy with. She was 100% committed to him. He cries and asks, what the hell is wrong with him? She can think what she wants, but they had some good times. He goes upstairs. I’m alternately sad and furious throughout this whole exchange, and if Sandoval was in front of me, I’d slap his emo tears off his stupid face.
Sandoval goes to Schwartz’s place, and Schwartz says Sandoval is the most reviled man in America. This is very bad. Sandoval cries and they hug. Schwartz says, he’s not going to beat Sandoval while he’s down, and Sandoval says he’s sorry. Schwartz says, Sandoval had a game plan; he just didn’t put it in motion. Schwartz & Sandy’s went from 4.1 stars to 1 star. In Schwarz’s interview, he says he’s exhausted in his soul. He put everything he had in there, and to think it could fall apart because of Sandoval’s affair is soul crushing. He tells Sandoval to do a post, explaining that he’s not complicit. He told Sandoval to tell Ariana. Sandoval says he wanted to, but got the vibe Ariana didn’t want to know. I hope I make it through this show, since this a-hole gets more ridiculous by the second. Schwartz says his world has been turned upside down, and Sandoval says, he and Raquel had a deep connection after guys night. Nothing happened that night, but the next day, they went to The Abbey, took shots, and kissed. He felt something he hasn’t felt in a very long time. Is he reading from the Little Book of Clichés? In Sandoval’s interview, he says, he and Ariana started to grow apart. They’ve had issues for about five years. We flash back to Jax saying he thinks their relationship is a façade, and Sandoval tells Schwartz that he’s in a relationship where there’s been nearly zero intimacy. He went to therapy. He loves Ariana. He’s been with her a long time, but they’re not there. Schwartz says, it’s relatable, but Sandoval had the multiple opportunities to tell Ariana. He told Sandoval last week to tell Ariana before it came out and humiliated them both. Sandoval says, he and Raquel had to be on the same page. Ariana didn’t ask questions. All she had to do was follow him. I have no words, and Schwartz tells him not to put that responsibility on her. He’s upset with Sandoval. Just being his friend and business partner is getting Schwartz canceled.
A few friends are with Ariana at her apartment, and she says, Lisa offered her a place to stay. Scheana comes in, hugs Ariana, and cries. She says, Ariana doesn’t deserve any of this, and I find myself tearing up. Scheana asks, who are they? and Ariana says, they are evil, insidious people. Scheana says, it’s not like it was an oops. It was a full-blown affair. Katie arrives, and hugs Ariana. Scheana says they’ve agreed to put their sh*t aside, and in Katie’s interview, she says, it’s the first time she’s seen Scheana since they were in the hotel lobby at Scheana’s wedding… her vacation. But what Ariana is going through is bigger. Ariana tells them about going to TomTom and finding the screen recording of Raquel and Sandoval on FaceTime from the night before. They were at Schwartz’s. Katie is like, what? and Ariana says, she called Raquel and made Raquel tell her when it started. Raquel said, right after the girls trip – right after Charlotte died. She said they kissed, but Sandoval eventually told her that they’d f***ed in the car that night, and Ariana had to let him in because he didn’t have his key. I didn’t think I could hate him more, but I manage to, and Ariana says, her emotions were all over the place, and Sandoval got angry at her. Scheana says she had so much rage. She was so angry, she shoved Raquel away, telling Raquel to get the f*** away from her. Her nail might have scratched Raquel, and Raquel called Schwartz, saying Scheana punched her. In Scheana’s interview, she says, it’s scientifically impossible for her to form a fist. Her nails would break. Katie says, Schwartz hinted at something when they were at Bravocon, and in her interview, she says, Raquel was wearing a TomTom hoodie with nothing on under it, and she thought it was about Raquel and Schwartz. Katie was poking at Schwartz, saying Raquel was following him like a puppy, and he said that wasn’t what it was about. Raquel wasn’t there for him. It turns out she is a fangirl – of the other Tom. Katie says, Schwartz knew, and she wants to draw blood. Logan breaks the penis flute over his knee.
James tells Ally that he’s a nervous wreck. How could people he’s so close with do this? He’s not mad at Raquel so much as he’s mad at Sandoval. In James’s interview, he says, Sandoval is the definition of a backstabber. In a sense, he looked up to Sandoval. We flash back to Sandoval saying he’d never betray James or Raquel. James cries, and says, it’s just a waste of his friendship on such a POS. Lala and Katie come over, and Lala says, there was a point in time when she thought they were looking at the wrong Tom, and we flash back to Lala saying, he did it to Kristen with Ariana. Now he wants the sloppy drunk who’s fun. She thinks Sandoval got off on sneaking around. She doesn’t think it was the first time. It has comfortability. In Lala’s interview, she says she thinks he’s been hooking up with a lot of people. A few years ago, there was a rumor about Sandoval and Billie Lee. She thinks they should open that cold case back up. James decides to call Raquel, and asks how she feels. Raquel says, sh*tty, and James asks if she and Sandoval are an item, but she says, no. He asks, how about losing every single person she thought liked her in Los Angeles? and Raquel says, it’s definitely eye opening. He says, she lied to everyone’s face. She trashed the friendships she was building for Sandoval’s stinky 40 year old c*ck. Raquel says, James is the last person she needs to explain herself to, and Ally starts to gesture for him to hang up. In his interview, James says he’s striking back. It’s all he’s wanted and needed. Sorry not sorry.
Sandoval goes to Raquel’s place, and she says, it’s been rough. He toasts to being in hell where they belong, but she says, they’re just two people who were friends and had feelings for one another. He says, it came out of left field while he was trying to hook her up with Schwartz. After Sandoval makes a Freudian slip and calls her Ariana, Raquel says she had to tell her family. He says, her mom hates him, and she says, a little bit. She asks about his family, and he says, they love her. Raquel reminds him that they said they wouldn’t do this if they didn’t think it was worth it, and he says, it’s not ideal. They agree not to kiss in front of the cameras, and in Raquel’s interview, a producer asks why she thinks it happened. She says she was curious to know what it would be like to be physical with someone she loved. So… she didn’t love James? She knew she loved Sandoval as a friend, and never had sex like that. She should have removed herself from the situation, but didn’t have the willpower. He looks at her eye, and says, Scheana said, I punched that bitch. Raquel says she took it like a champ. She thought, is this her karma? She feels isolated, and only has him, her parents, and her sister who have her best interests at heart, and even he’s questionable. She put her life on the line for someone who would cheat on someone they love so much. She doesn’t want to be blind about it, and he says he’d never do this if there wasn’t something there. In Sandoval’s interview, he says he can’t predict the future. Maybe they’ll work out; maybe they won’t. But he felt hope and like his best days weren’t behind him. Maybe it’s just the beginning. Raquel says, they f***ed up, but it’s a learning experience. The text says, after filming this scene, Raquel turned off her phone and wasn’t seen for weeks.
Puffy! Ariana goes to Lisa’s house and cries. Lisa hugs her and says she’s sorry, but I fully believe Puffy and the ponies will make it okay. Ariana says she’s trying to lean into her anger. It keeps her from dry heaving. Lisa says, it’s no consolation, but none of them suspected anything. She asks if Schwartz knew, and Ariana says, it took him until this morning to reach out. He said he didn’t want to kick a friend when he’s down, and Lisa says, he deserves kicking, but apparently, Raquel disappeared off the face of the earth. Ariana says, Raquel should move and change her name back to Rachel. She’s not welcome in this town. In Lisa’s interview, she says, she didn’t think Raquel was capable of secretive sneaking around, and Ariana tells Lisa that Raquel ingratiated herself into her life and pretended to be her friend. In her interview, Lisa says she knows Ariana and Sandoval’s physical connection wasn’t what it should be, and along comes the beauty queen. It was too much to resist. Ariana says she hates him so much, and Lisa says, it’s normal. It will take a long time, but she’ll get through it, and there will be something beautiful for her.
Schwartz brings the dogs to Katie’s fresh from the salon, and Katie asks if he can sit and talk. He asks how Ariana is. He sent her a text; he feels bad. She asks how long he’s known, and he says, about a month, but she doesn’t believe it. In Katie’s interview, she says, the Toms have always had each other’s backs. They cover and lie for each other, like they did with Jax. We flash back to that, and she says, they’re each other’s true disgusting lovers. Katie reminds Schwartz about his comment at Bravocon, and Schwartz insists he didn’t say that, but he did tell Sandoval what he needed to do. Katie says she knows them well enough to know Sandoval’s ego wouldn’t take Schwartz pursuing a girl he liked without it not being a set-up. Why not shock everyone and tell the truth for once? Schwartz says he knew about a one night stand after guys night. Sandoval said he tried to communicate with Ariana, and tried to break up, but sometimes he’d change his mind and say he still loves her. Katie asks why Schwartz didn’t encourage him to do something, and Schwartz says he didn’t do anything wrong, and now he’s worried about the bar. Katie says, f*** the bar. He’s been Sandoval’s bitch boy, and now he’s going to lose friends. Schwartz says he’s just a dude trying to get by, and Katie says, he sounds like a country song.
Ariana receives a sh*t ton of flowers. Kristen comes over, and they laugh about our ex-boyfriend. We flash back to Kristen telling Ariana that she wins, and in her interview, saying, Ariana wins sharing a bed with the best liar she’s known. Ariana says, a lawyer from Sandoval’s camp said their relationship was one of companionship and convenience, not love and romance. Kristen says, he’s comparing it to the joke of relationship he had with her. That was convenient. Ariana wonders who this person is. It took her nine years to figure it out. Years she could have spent not defending him for Kristen’s sake. Kristen says, forget her. Ariana did her a favor. They go outside, and Ariana writes down what doesn’t serve her well, and lights it on fire. Kristen says, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Life is beautiful, so slay we must.
Sandoval goes to Villa Rosa, which he doesn’t deserve, and we see Puffy! which he doesn’t deserve. He thanks Lisa for seeing him, and she says she doesn’t feel like it’s a hug worthy moment. It’s raining, and she says, the weather has also set the tone. She says she’s heard so much and she doesn’t understand. He says he didn’t want to hurt Ariana, especially since she has a hard time trusting. Lisa asks what he thinks she’s going to have now, after he slept with one of her best friends. He says he had every intention of telling her before the Reunion, and we flash back to Ariana defending them. Lisa says, they look terrible in retrospect, and Sandoval says he’d love to have a conversation with Ariana when she’s not angry. In his interview, he says he’s conflicted about being honest, since the details might hurt Ariana more, and he tells Lisa that he doesn’t know if he’ll get the chance. He cries, and she tells him to take a moment. He says, they’ve always protected each other, and for that to be their last conversation is hard for him to handle. He hyperventilates and sobs, and the mother in Lisa has to tell him to stop; it will get better. She knows it’s been too much. In Lisa’s interview, she says she’d never do anything but condemn what Sandoval did, but she can’t turn her back on him. At some point, maybe the pain will ease. Sandoval says he wants Ariana to be happy and get the love she deserves, and Lisa says, from someone else. Sandoval says, she deserves more, and Lisa says he’s not a bad person, but he did a bad thing. She wants to make sure he knows that.
Charli, Katie, Lala, Scheana, her sister Cortney, and Ariana meet for drinks. Everyone except Ariana is in black, and Charli says, the death of Tom. Lala says, stupid question, how is Ariana doing? and Scheana says, they’re here to support her. She could never imagine what happened today. In Scheana’s interview, she says she got a call from her publicist who told her that Raquel filed a temporary restraining order. She couldn’t believe the person she took under her wing is now taking things to a legal level with her. Scheana says she’s been a mom and sister to Raquel, and Katie says, Scheana gave Raquel a place to live. Scheana says, that she paid for, and Ariana says she can’t wait to be lightyears away from this. Katie says she asked Schwartz about it, and he told her that Sandoval said it was one time and he believed him. Ariana says she came to the bar opening, and he acted like her friend. Katie says, Schwartz may come by, and in Katie’s interview, she says, Ariana and Schwartz have a long-standing friendship. He even asked her to be a groomsmen at their wedding. He owes her more than a stupid apology text. Schwartz arrives, and Ariana says, no one wants to talk to him, but they can speak privately. In Schwartz’s interview, he says he feels bad. Ariana and Sandoval had an unspoken pact to never humiliate other person on the show and in life. He thinks too much karma built up, and it’s vengeance on Sandoval.
Ariana tells Schwartz that if she hears about Sandoval feeling down or that Schwartz is feeling bad for him, she’s walking away. Schwartz says he’s not here to advocate for Sandoval. He’s pissed at Sandoval, who exploited his kindness. Also their business, that they poured their heart soul into is suffering. Ariana says, Sandoval apologized to the business before he apologized to her publicly, and Schwartz says, Sandoval f***ed up. Everyone is freaking out because they’re being boycotted. Ariana says, why would anyone give money to Sandoval? and Schwartz says, they’ve built a family. She says, Sandoval f***ed up their family because he didn’t give a f***. What did he think was going to happen? He was going to cheat on her and be able to walk away unscathed? Schwartz says he wanted to look her in the eyes and say he’s sorry. He’s being painted as a co-conspirator, and it’s devastating. Ariana says she doesn’t think he’s that person, but she won’t have mutual friends with Sandoval, so they’re not friends anymore. Schwartz says, Sandoval assured him that he was going to do the right thing, and Ariana says, she was ride or die; she defended him. She froze her eggs because, if Sandoval wanted a baby, she wanted him to have it down the road. She cries, and says she wishes she didn’t miss him, but what she misses isn’t real.
Scheana tells Brock knowing what know now they were being blatant and obvious. Sandoval finally texted her, and asked her to hear him out. In Scheana’s interview, she says, she and Sandoval have been friends for 14 years. They opened Villa Blanca together in 2009. She never saw this as being the outcome. She tells Brock that Lala and Katie were saying something was weird, and she told them that they were weird. When the restaurant opened, and no one wanted to take photos with her, he brought her in and said she was with them. Sandoval comes over, and Brock says he’s taking Summer to the park. Sandoval put them in a tough one. I covet Scheana’s giant hoop earrings, and there’s silence. Sandoval says he’s sorry to Ariana obviously, but also to her. He feels bad about the things he said that night. In Scheana’s interview, she says, Sandoval called her after WWHL, and said their friendship was nothing. He said he wasn’t one of her best friends, and she was no one to him. Sandoval says, when he turned 40, he had a spiritual awakening. He was going to break up with Ariana. Scheana says, but he didn’t. He f***ed her best friend instead. She’s known him for 14 years, and realizes she doesn’t know this person. The person she knows wouldn’t do this. The person she questioned in Miami…We flash back to Miami Girl, and Sandoval says, Ariana always knew the truth. Scheana asks if he cheated other than with Miami Girl, and he says, one other time. She says, he’s disgusting, and asks if it was someone random. He says, yeah… no. It’s not fair, so he’s not going into it. Things with Ariana haven’t been good for a long time; at least five years. Scheana asks why he bought the house with her then, and he says he felt it brought them closer together. It was a band-aid. He didn’t know how to end the relationship. Scheana suggests being an adult and having an adult, and having a conversation. He says he tried, and Ariana threatened to kill herself, which I don’t believe for a second. Scheana says, then he should have had her friends ready to rally around her like they’re doing now. Say he’s leaving because he’s not happy, and let them pick up the pieces he left. Don’t f*** her friend. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, from an outside point of view, it’s easy to say he should break up, but emotionally, it was like climbing Mount Everest. He loves Ariana. He cares for her and wants to look out for her. Scheana says she and Sandoval are obviously no longer friends, but she’s going to miss him. She cries and says, right now he don’t deserve any friends she can’t get behind any of this… She doesn’t know what else to say, and he says he’s sorry. She leaves the room, and he leaves the apartment.
Next time – the three-part Season 10 Reunion begins – it’s the height of awful; physical fights have to be broken up; and James calls Sandoval, a worm with a mustache.
🍸 And So It Went…
Take a break tomorrow for soap and tea. Until then, stay safe, stay saying thank you and I’m sorry when the situation calls for it, and stay being an adult and having adult conversations rather than being the definition of backstabber.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Sasha hears a baby crying in her earpiece, and actually looks more annoyed than anything else. Haven says, Sasha hasn’t been in front of the cameras for a while. Looks like someone’s got a bit of the jitters. Russell tells Julie, crank the baby crying in Sasha’s headset up to 8, and Julie says she’s got it. I have to say it. This is kind of ridiculous, not just because it’s a home shopping channel, but it’s in her earpiece, not her head. She had a nervous breakdown; she wasn’t struck stupid. From the sidelines, Lucy says, Sasha,hang in there, and Haven says, Sasha doesn’t look so good.
Anna asks Robert what he means by what was she thinking? and he says, why she wanted to go on the rescue mission. She says, good, because as motives go, stopping a genocidal maniac is self-explanatory to her. He says, it’s one thing to take on Victor. It’s another to take on a virus that has an 80% kill rate. She says, there are worse odds, and they’ve faced them, and he asks if she was thinking about her daughter. Was she thinking about Noah or Emma? How about even him? If she’s going to run off and die with this guy, shouldn’t she be putting her family first? She tells him, don’t ever say she’s prioritized anyone or anything above her family. He would have done the exact same thing. He says, they’re not talking about him, but she says, he knows she’s right. He would do anything, he would risk everything for the woman he loves. He says, first, he’s got to choose the woman.
Alexis meets Diane at the Savoy, and apologizes for being late. She could tell Diane all about it, but she knows Diane doesn’t want to hear about it. What’s the occasion? Diane says she knows she did the right thing, but she needs Alexis to tell her that she did the right thing, and she didn’t… Holly walks in and hugs Felicia, and Diane says, make a fool of herself. Alexis asks if Diane wants to tell her what’s going on, and Diane says, not really.
Holly asks, where’s Felicia’s handsome husband? She thought he was joining them. Felicia says, he was before he got called into the station on a case, and Holly says, that’s the trouble with law enforcement; they’re always on duty. He should become a criminal. They have very flexible schedules… apparently. Felicia says she’ll suggest it when he retires, and Holly says, as much as she’d like to celebrate with Mac, she’s pleased it’s just her and Felicia; the girls. Felicia says, honestly, her too. She knows what Holly’s been up to, but what’s next? Is she back in Port Charles for good? Holly looks over at Diane, and says, that’s the idea, if she’s wanted.
Gladys asks Selina how she’s supposed to get so much money together so quickly. It’s impossible. Selina says, there might be another way for Gladys to repay her debt, and Gladys says, Venmo? Crypto? Can she write Selina a check? Selina says, no, and suggests they talk about this somewhere more private.
There’s a knock at Sonny’s old kitchen door, and Carly walks past the ever glorious moss bowl🎍to answer it. It’s Nina, and Carly thanks her for coming. Nina thanks Carly for calling and asking her. They were interrupted at the hospital, and there’s still so much more Nina has to say. Carly says she’s listening, and asks if Nina wants a glass of wine, but Nina says, no thank you. Like she was telling Carly at the hospital, she’s been doing some soul searching and realizes she’s been acting from a place of fear, and that fear has led her to make some poor decisions that hurt people, mostly Willow. And in that fear and jealousy, she blamed Carly for the distance between her and Willow, and that was wrong. But she thinks it’s easier for her to hate Carly than accept the consequences of her own actions. She knows it’s late, but she understands it now. She’s so sorry. Carly asks if that’s it.
In a hallway at the back of the club, Gladys tells Selina she doesn’t have the money now, but she can get it. A large man joins them, and Gladys asks if that’s Selina’s steno. Selina says she was under the impression Gladys was Stella’s guardian and has complete control of Sasha’s finances. Gladys says, that’s right, but it’s a lot of money to move all at once; Sasha might have questions. She supposes it’s not impossible, but she has to be subtle about it. Selina says she understands Gladys’s quandary. Availing herself of Sasha’s money to pay off her growing debts could put her in an awkward position; with Sasha certainly, but legally as well. But like she said, there are other ways to make good. After all, money isn’t everything.
Sasha says she thinks there’s a problem with her earpiece, and Haven says, what kind of problem? She doesn’t hear anything in hers. What is Sasha hearing exactly? Brook tells Lucy that something is wrong with Sasha, and Lucy says, maybe Maxie pushed her too soon; maybe she’s not ready. Brook says, something’s wrong with her earpiece. Sasha says, The Deceptor is a portable home spa device for the woman on the go, and Russell tells Julie, louder. He wants that baby wailing. Julie says, okay, when Cody comes in. He says, forget the wailing; just cut the sound or he’s going to start streaking. Russell says, he what? and Cody starts taking off his clothes, and says, cut the sound now, or he’s going to start streaking. He takes off his shirt and undoes his belt, and says, by the way, it’s huge, so cut the sound now. Julie leaves, and the crying disappears from Sasha’s earpiece. Flora says, and just look at the design. So much thought went into that. Haven tells Flora, she’s sure their viewers would rather hear all about it from the Face of Deception herself. Go ahead, Sasha. All eyes are on you.
Anna asks what Robert means by that, and he says, she’s tired, it’s late, and he’s kind of overstayed his welcome. She says, he did that when he rang the bell. This is so typical of him. He comes barging in here, picks a fight with her, just because he has something else on his mind. What is it? He says, Holly has indicated that she wants to have a relationship… with him. She says, good. She knows he cares about Holly. What’s the problem? He says, the problem is… another woman.
Felicia asks if this means Ethan is safe, but Holly says, not really, but Australia is familiar territory. He has to replenish his funds if he’s going to… Felicia says, pay back the people he stole from, and Holly says, make restitution. Felicia asks if that’s what they’re calling it these days, and Holly says, it’s not entirely his fault. He’s young, and both of his parents have been known to, on occasion, avail themselves of things that aren’t necessarily theirs. Felicia looks at Diane, and says, case in point.
Diane says she may have given Robert a slight ultimatum, and Alexis asks, how slight? Diane says, she told him not to call her until he’d decided between Holly and her.
Felicia asks if they should relocate, and Holly asks, why? Felicia says she thought this might be a little awkward, but Holly says, it could if they make it so. Actually, if Robert’s fond of Diane, she should take this opportunity to get to know her. She gets up, bringing her drink, and Felicia follows her.
Diane says, it’s early days for Robert, but she’s not going to waste her time if he’s in love with Holly. Holly and Felicia approach the table, and Holly asks if they can join them. Diane says, uh… yeah.
Sasha says, first of all, Haven, Flora, and especially the viewers at home, she’s so sorry. Her earpiece was making this horrible noise. Know what it sounded like, Haven? It’s not important. She thanks the viewers for staying tuned in, and promises they won’t be disappointed. Flora says, don’t keep them in suspense. Tell them all about The Deceptor. Sasha says, The Deceptor is a revolutionary new product; it’s an at home spa device for the woman on the go. Flora asks how it works, and Sasha says, it’s really simple. Would Flora like to be her model? Cody watches from the sidelines, and Flora says she’d love to. Sasha says she thinks Flora is going to love the results.
Alexis says, of course (🍷), please join them, but Diane says, actually, would she and Felicia mind if she and Holly had a moment alone? Felicia suggests they order the second round, but Diane says she has everything she needs right here. Alexis tells Holly to take her seat, and goes to the bar with Felicia. She asks if Felicia thinks they need a referee. Diane says she and Holly don’t know each other very well, but Holly strikes her as a woman who’s direct and to the point. Holly says, guilty as charged, and Diane says, so let’s lay our cards on the table, shall we?
Anna pours more wine from the never-ending bottle, and Robert says, they’re both brilliant, funny, and amusing. While Holly is electrifying, Diane has an ease about her. He can talk shop. Hell, he can talk anything. Anna says, and it’s good to know there’s no chance he’ll have to prosecute her in the next few months, whereas Holly… He tells her, she said that, not him, but she says, he’s thinking it. He says, yeah, and wonders what he should do, and Anna suggests witness protection. He says, come on, but she tells him that she doesn’t know what he wants her to say. He’s always managed to make his own decisions in the past. He says, Diane has stated on no uncertain terms that she won’t compete for his attention, and Anna says, good for her. He says, and Holly… and Anna says she’s sure Holly has no problem with competition. He says, every time he sees her face, he’s home, and Diane challenges him. She says, Holly doesn’t? and he says, she does, but… He comes to Anna because she’s always honest with him, even at times he doesn’t want her to be, but what does he do here?
Haven says, that’s all they have time for tonight so she’d like to thank her special guests, Flora Gardens – Flora says, always a pleasure – and the Face of Deception herself, Sasha Gilmore. Until next time, happy homes and warm hearts. When they’re off the air, Haven tells Sasha that went great, and Sasha says, it did. She’s sorry to disappoint Haven. She’ll be hearing from Sasha’s lawyers. Lucy and Brook applaud, and tell Sasha that she was amazing. Lucy asks, what happened at the beginning of the segment? and Sasha says, they were placing a sound effect in her earpiece; a crying baby. Flora overhears, and goes over to Haven. She says she knows Haven did something to that poor girl’s earpiece, but a crying baby? Haven says she did no such thing, but Flora says, don’t lie to her face. Of all the low-down, disgusting, despicable things to do to a woman who lost a baby. She thought the tweets were bad enough, but trying to push poor Sasha over the edge on live TV? Haven says, there was obviously a screw up. She’ll find the culprit. Flora says she thinks she’s looking at the culprit, and know what else she thinks? Maybe she doesn’t want to be the number one seller on a show where these mistakes happen. She quits. Haven tells her to wait. Those baby sneakers aren’t going to sell themselves. She follows Flora out.
Sasha tells Brook and Lucy that she’s okay. She had a second where she thought history was repeating itself; that she was imagining it. Brook says, that must have been terrifying, and Sasha says, it was. But then, she can’t explain it, but she knew the sound was real. It wasn’t a hallucination; it wasn’t Liam. She knew she was being manipulated, and she could keep going. Julie walks over, and tells Sasha that she’s really sorry. There’s just one more caller, and they’re insisting on talking to Sasha about The Deceptor. Can she patch them in? Lucy says, Julie must be as morally bankrupt as her boss to think that Sasha would trust her, or this show, or anybody here anymore. Sasha tells Lucy, it’s okay; patch them through. Lucy says, no stunts, shaking her finger in Julie’s face, and Julie promises. Sasha asks what she can do for the caller, and a woman says, she’s back. She heard Sasha’s baby died, then her husband died. Such a tragedy for a young person like herself. Sasha says, it was a tragedy, but thanks to the support of her family and friends, she’s doing much better. The woman says, isn’t that a miracle? and Sasha says, it is, and you know what else is a miracle? The new device they call The Deceptor.
Nina says she knew better than to think Carly would accept her apology, and Carly says, if Nina were her, would she accept her apology? I get totally distracted by the call of the moss bowl🎍, and Nina says she’d at least acknowledge it. Carly asks if Nina wants a blue ribbon for self-awareness. Nina talks about what she wants from Willow, but she doesn’t talk about what she wants for Willow. Carly wants Willow to be safe, healthy, and happy. Can Nina say the same? Nina says, when all of this is over, and her daughter pulls through, she wants Willow to have a long, happy, healthy life. Even if she’s not part of it. Carly says she almost believes Nina, and Nina says, but if there’s a way she can be part of it, a way she can repair the relationship, she’s willing to do anything. Carly says, Nina just doesn’t get it. The more Nina pushes, the more she drives people away. And what does she mean by relationship? What relationship? What is there to repair? Nina says, Carly is right. When she first met Willow, when Willow was Charlotte’s teacher, she made Willow’s life miserable. She shouldn’t have done that, even if Willow wasn’t her daughter, but when she found out Willow was hers, she’s been trying to heal their relationship, but of course (🍷) that’s after she scorched the earth ten times over, and they all know that. That’s why… In hindsight, she’s relieved Willow had Carly. Willow needed a mother, and Carly couldn’t be that for her. But Carly could, and she did, and for that Nina is truly grateful.
Holly says, Diane doesn’t waste any time. She likes that. Diane says, who wants to go first? and Holly says, may I? Diane says, please, and Holly apologizes for kissing Robert in his office. Obviously they didn’t know she was there. Diane says, and by that she infers Holly knows… She and Robert have been on exactly one date, and she doesn’t ask for exclusivity until well into the second. As such, her relationship with Robert, whatever it may be, is still in the nascent stages, so there’s no apology necessary. Holly says, still, it was inappropriate, and Diane says, that’s between Holly and Robert. Here’s where she stands on things – and she told this to Robert as well – she will not compete with a woman for any man’s attention. Holly says, fair enough, and Diane should know she has strong feelings for Robert. Diane says, Holly has told Robert of these feelings? and Holly says, why hold back? She and Robert have been dancing around each other for thirty years. Diane says, and Holly believes Robert has these feelings for her as well. That’s what Holly’s trying to say, isn’t it?
At the bar, Felicia tells Alexis, Robert and Holly are two of her closest friends. She just wants what’s best for them. Alexis says, and she wants what’s best for Diane, and Felicia says, of course (🍷) she does. Holly knows what she wants, or what’s next. Alexis says, Felicia sounds like she doesn’t. That doesn’t sound like her. Felicia says she’s not exactly lost and aimless, and Alexis says she is. It’s not fun. Felicia says, actually, she’s looking for a new project, something she can get excited about. Like Alexis with The Invader. She’s on a mission to serve the community, and make real, positive change. Alexis says, that was the plan… from the start, and Felicia says, not now? Alexis says, it’s still the plan. It will always be the plan. If she’s going to be completely honest, The Invader isn’t what she wanted it to be.
Lucy heaps praises on Sasha, and Brook sees Cody walking through, and follows him. Russell tells Sasha and Lucy that The Deceptor is flying off the shelves, and Lucy says, of course (🍷) it is. It’s a wonderful product. And pain sells, but he already knew that, didn’t he? She pokes her finger in his chest, and says, listen, you wimpy little weasel. You, and Haven, and Home & Heart are going to make this right. You are going to make this right.
Brook finds Cody putting on his boots, and asks if he’s a big fan of the home shopping channel. He asks, how else could he add to his porcelain cat collection? and Brook says, he didn’t see those inflammatory tweets that the show had people post? He says he does not understand. What are these tweets she speaks of? She says, he got them to stop that sound effect, and he tells her, if you say so. She says, they’re going to celebrate at The Savoy. Is he in? He sees Lucy telling Sasha, if she’d had any idea of what they were going to put her through, she would have never put Sasha in, and he tells Brook that he has a thing. Next time. But make sure Sasha has fun. She deserves it.
Selina says, Gladys has options. There are things she values more than money. Gladys says, such as? and Selina says, assets, of which Gladys has many. Gladys guesses she could finally unload her house in Bridgeport, but Selina says she’s referring to Gladys’s connections. Gladys says, Selina thinks she has connections? and Selina tells her not to sell herself short. She may hold the key to certain business dealings, certain arrangements that could prove useful to her and her organization. Gladys says, Selina wants the skinny on what goes on at Deception… Oh wait. Is she talking about Gladys’s cousin Sonny?
Anna says she can’t tell Robert what to do, and he says, tell him what not to do; that’s the next best thing. She says, a new person is always very exciting, whereas an old love is kind of comforting. He says, he and Holly certainly know each other, inside and out. Anna says, they do. On the other hand, Diane takes it all very seriously, and so does he. He says, Holly looks at it at best a challenge, and at worst, an obstacle, and she says, very exciting though, isn’t it? He says he’s back to square one here, and she says she can totally understand why he doesn’t want to make this decision. He never thought he’d be in a position like this, right? He says he didn’t, and she says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s not surprised. He’s quite a catch. He does have his moments, rare though… He says he’s got to go. Tell what’s-his-face goodbye. She says, he means goodnight, and he says, that too. He leaves, and Valentin comes out of the kitchen. He says he thought Robert would never leave, and Anna says, my God, leaning back on him.
Holly tells Diane that she and Robert fell in love decades ago, and those feelings never went away. Certainly not for her, but to answer Diane’s question, in typical Robert Scorpio fashion, he has neither confirmed nor denied. Diane laughs, and says, good to know that’s his M.O. Holly says, exactly, and she wanted Diane to know… this might sound patronizing… Diane says, but she’s going to say it anyway, and Holly says she doesn’t want Diane to get hurt. Diane thanks her for her concern, and says, really, she’ll be fine. As she said to Robert, she has no intention of going to war over a man, especially one, who at this stage, is still just a friend. Holly says, they should remain friends. She’d be completely comfortable with that. Diane says, that’s good to know; that’s very generous. So let’s say she bows out, and Holly and Robert pick up where they left off. Holly says, the ideal situation… for her, and Diane says, here’s what she doesn’t understand. What makes Holly so confident that their relationship will work out – this time?
Alexis tells Felicia, the news she wants to report is just a fraction of the news that needs to be reported. And there’s administrative and economical issues. Felicia says, The Invader may not be exactly what Alexis envisioned when she started there, but it’s become a respectable publication. That’s because of her leadership. Alexis thanks her, and Felicia asks if she’s wrong. Alexis says she thinks Felicia is very kind. She spends most of her time finding advertisers, managing investors, managing staff. To be honest, it’s a little disappointing. Her wish for The Invader hasn’t entirely come true. Felicia says, yet, but if anyone can make it happen, it’s Alexis.
Lucy, Brook, and Sasha come into the club, and Lucy says she promises she was very polite when she cornered the Home & Heart producer. She just said, Russell, Russell, Russell, intentional infliction of emotional distress, lawsuit, lawsuit, etc., etc. Guess what? They ended up with five more spots for Deception. Prime time. Of course (🍷) it comes with one condition; hers, not theirs. She wants Sasha to be The Deceptor’s spokesperson.
Carly says she’ll help with Willow, and Nina thanks her, saying, it’s more than she dared to hope. Of course (🍷) they don’t want to do anything to make Willow feel uncomfortable, so she was thinking maybe Carly could set up a phone call. If that goes well, maybe they can… Carly says she’s going to stop Nina. She wants to be really clear. She’ll help Nina with Willow by supporting whatever decision Willow makes for her family. If Willow decides to let Nina in, she promises not to stand in the way. But if Willow decides she wants nothing to do with Nina, Carly won’t advocate for her. Nina says she should have known Carly wasn’t going to help.
Gladys says she doesn’t know anything about Sonny’s business, and Selina says, but they’re close. Gladys says, no, not really. Sonny doesn’t really like her that much. Selina says, even so, Gladys might know more about Sonny’s business than she realizes. Gladys says she doesn’t, and it’s asking for trouble neither of them wants. Selina doesn’t understand why Gladys is bothered by the suggestion. It’s one way for her to handle her ever-increasing debt. Gladys says she can get the money. She just needs a few more days. Selina says she has until tomorrow, noon, and Gladys says, that’s not enough time. Selina says she grows tired of making allowances to someone who won’t take a gift when offered, and Gladys stammers, saying, she’s so thankful for Selina’s patience. Selina says, perhaps she’s been too patient. Noon. Tomorrow. And if she can’t pay, perhaps Sasha will. She leaves with her henchman.
Sasha thanks Lucy and Brook for being so supportive, and Brook says, they never doubted her for a second, but Lucy says she did. If she’s being honest, she feared the worst, but Sasha pulled it together and became this magnificent creature who she knew Sasha could be. Sasha says she doesn’t know what she would have done if they hadn’t been there, and Brook says she thinks Sasha still would have made it. Even when she got distracted, she didn’t fall apart. Lucy says, Sasha got right back on her feet, and there was no stopping her. Brook says, she kept her focus, she kept the segment going, and sunk that landing like a boss. Sasha says, they’re right. She feels more like herself than she has in a long time. Lucy tells her to just pace herself, and Sasha says, maybe it’s the rush talking, but she’s wondering… Maybe it’s time she got back in the driver’s seat. Brook says, from where she’s standing, absolutely. N’neka brings a bottle of champagne, and they go to a table.
Felicia tells Alexis, it can’t be that late. She told Maxie that she was going to stop by and bring her some soup. She thanks Alexis for the chat, and says, Alexis has given her a lot to think about. She leaves, and Alexis says, same here.
The moss bowl is featured prominently, and Nina says she can’t believe she came here groveling and begging for Carly’s forgiveness and help. She never should have listened to Drew. Carly wonders what Drew has to do with it, and Nina tells her that he said she should come here and acknowledge her mistakes and be honest. But Carly doesn’t listen. Carly says, no one can save Nina’s relationship with Willow but her, and Nina says she’s asking how. Carly says, stop pushing through every boundary Willow sets a million miles an hour. And have some patience for a young girl battling cancer. All Nina does is put her needs above Willow’s, time and time again. Nina says, Carly is such a hypocrite, and Carly says, maybe she is; maybe she’s not. But right now, they both know she’s right about Nina and right about Willow. If Nina wants to be Willow’s mother, she’s going to have to do it on Willow’s terms.
Holly tells Diane, that’s an annoyingly good question. The reason she and Robert are going to work out this time is that… this time there are no obstacles. Diane says, what about the fact he’s a district attorney, and Holly leads a colorful life? Holly says, so there’s one obstacle, and Diane asks if it doesn’t concern Holly that, despite there being a rich tapestry that’s her history with Robert, the two of them currently reside in completely different worlds. Holly says she’s not going to apologize for the way she lives her life, but Diane says, no one’s asking her to apologize. Quite the contrary; she thinks Holly should write a book about her escapades. But has the universe really been working overtime to keep her and Robert apart? Or is it more likely that things haven’t worked out because they can’t, and probably never will?
Russell says, The Deceptor’s sales are off the charts, and Haven says, even without a total meltdown. They high-five, and Cody comes onto the set, saying, oh my God, Haven de Haviland. She says, this is a closed set, and he says he knows. He almost ran across it, naked. That’s how he got her PA to cut the cute sound effect they were using to gaslight Sasha. Russell says, the show’s over, so why doesn’t he… Cody grabs Russell’s hand, and asks if he knows how many bones are in this hand. Does he want to find out? Haven asks what he wants, but Cody says, nothing. He just wants her to know, if she ever threatens his friend Sasha again with a stunt like that, her sales figures will be the least of her problems. She asks if he’s threatening her, and he says, yes, ma’am, I am. And she doesn’t want to see him make good on any of his threats. He leaves.
Gladys asks N’neka if Miss Wu is still in the club, and N’neka says she is. Does Gladys want her to tell Selina that she’s looking for her? Gladys says, no, and N’neka moves on. Gladys overhears Sasha say, it’s been a while since she allowed herself to trust her own instincts. Now that’s all going to change. She thinks it’s time to let Gladys off the hook, and end the guardianship. She’s ready to take the reins again. She, Brook, and Lucy clink glasses.
Nina says she’ll give Carly this, besides having the world’s most fabulous moss bowl🎍, she didn’t drive the wedge between Nina and Willow, but once she saw it was there, she didn’t hesitate to take advantage. Carly says, if by take advantage Nina means take care of the young woman her son is in love with, the young woman Nina abused relentlessly, then yeah, she took advantage of her. Nina says, to think she felt guilty about… Carly says, guilty about what? and Nina says, blaming Carly for the estrangement between her and Willow, when it’s clear Carly will do everything in her power to keep them apart. Carly says, Nina can lash out at her all she wants. It doesn’t make it any less true. On her way out the door, Nina says, good luck with the SEC.
Diane asks if she’s spoken out of turn, but Holly says, not at all. She appreciates Diane’s frankness. Diane tells her, then what’s left to say except, you’re welcome. Now if Holly will excuse her, she’s going to call it a night. Holly says, not on her account, but Diane says she has to be in court in the morning. Who knows? Maybe one day she’ll get to defend Holly. Holly says she’d trust her freedom to no one else, and Diane says, nor should she. She walks over to Alexis, who asks, how’d it go? Diane says, not bad. She actually thinks she kind of likes Holly. Alexis says, that’s nice, and suggests she sleep on it. Diane says she’s not too proud to admit, Holly Sutton has some interesting qualities. She almost feels sorry for Robert, having to decide between them. Almost.
Valentin asks what Robert wanted, and Anna says, he’s having a really hard time making a decision. He wanted her to make it for him. Valentin asks if she did, but she says, no; not this time. He says, while she was solving her ex’s life problems – he puts her feet in his lap – her current, which is him – she says she remembers him – was putting the finishing touches on dinner, and not to brag – she says, as if – it’s the greatest amatriciana ever made. Even he’s impressed. Is she hungry? She says she could eat, and he kisses her.
Selina says she’s so glad to see Holly back in Port Charles, and Holly says she’s glad to be back. Especially since there was a moment she didn’t think she’d be back here, or anywhere else, ever again. Selina says, since she’s here safe and sound, she wonders if Holly would be open to doing a little more business. Their last venture proved fruitful to them both, did it not? Robert comes down the stairs, and stops short when he sees them. Holly says, it certainly did, and Robert watches from behind a column.
Tomorrow, Spencer tells Trina that she’s a genius; Selina tells Curtis that she can make the DNA test go any way he wants; Diane tells Mac, if he wants answers, he’ll have to ask his brother; and Holly asks someone for help.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Most embarrassing episode yet. And that’s saying a lot.
12 hours after Dolores’s Prohibition party. We see a clip of Danielle and Marge arguing heatedly at the party, and then Rachel and Danielle arguing. In a voiceover, Melissa says, for the last six months, she’s been keeping a secret, and doing everything in her power to keep the family together. Teresa says she didn’t want to say anything. She was scared they would ruin her wedding. Dolores calls Melissa, and says she feels bad about what happened at her house. She asks if Melissa and Joe #2 are going to the wedding, and Melissa asks how she can celebrate the marriage of the people who are trying to destroy hers. We see a clip of Joe #2 and Louie arguing, and they both look insane. Melissa says she doesn’t need to deal with toxic people, even if they’re in the shape of her family.
12 hours earlier. Dolores gets ready for her Prohibition party, and in her interview, she says she would have been a boss bitch in the 20s. Every mobster would have been fighting over her. We see a group from the Irish School of Dance, and Dolores says, Paulie wanted to bring Ireland to the boys, since the boys didn’t experience Ireland like they did. They have Irish dancers, Irish whiskey, and Irish singers. Paulie is handling everything, and all she has to worry about is looking pretty. It’s like her coming out party. She gets to show the crew her home, and her and Paulie as a couple, doing something together. The women and their SO’s trickle in, and in Melissa says she’s decided the 20s is her era. In her interview, she says she’s waiting for Paulie to get on one knee. Any time now. There’s more food than you can eat in a lifetime, and Frank dances with the Irish dancers for a millisecond. In Jennifer’s interview, she says she likes what whiskey does. She doesn’t remember Ireland, but remembers she had a good time. Rachel tells Marge that Danielle was playing nice at Teresa’s shower, and Marge says, Danielle was crying; she’s always crying. She doesn’t believe it’s just about Danielle’s brother. Rachel says she’s curious as to what’s going on that’s affecting Danielle so deeply. In Danielle’s interview, she says, she’s hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. Bill tells Paulie that the guys he’s been trying to get Joe #2 to talk to Teresa, and we flash back to Joe’s interview, where he said he didn’t want his children raised in hate and anger. He tells Bill that it’s a tough situation, but Bill says, these are moments that only happen once in a lifetime. Melissa asks Danielle why she’d been crying, and Danielle says, everything is a trigger with Melissa and Teresa. Rachel says, Danielle seemed off when they were in Ireland. She has a relationship with Marge, and wants to give her a fair chance. Now she knows if she had said something negative about Jennifer, Danielle would have told her. In Rachel’s interview, she says, Danielle revealing that Teresa and Jennifer were talking to Laura isn’t a bad thing, but it proves her point. Rachel tells Danielle that Laura is Marge’s ex-friend, and it’s sensitive subject, so she wanted to give Marge a heads up. She wanted Marge to know what was being talked about. Danielle says she just wanted Rachel to be careful, and asks if they can put it behind them. In Danielle’s interview, she says she always wanted a friendship with Rachel. She doesn’t want to fight with her or have friction. She tells Rachel that she wants to move forward and build a friendship; their kids get along. Rachel says she was genuinely concerned about Danielle, and Danielle says, what she and Rachel had escalated, but she’s good now. In Rachel’s interview, she says she thinks she and Danielle could have a nice friendship, but they just haven’t been able to get to that point. Melissa comes by and asks how Danielle is. She was concerned about Danielle in Ireland. Danielle says she’s good now. She had things weighing on her mind in Ireland. Melissa wonders what it was.
In Danielle’s interview, she says she has a lot going on in her mind. She’s navigating the best way to tell Melissa about the rumor. She doesn’t want to hurt Melissa, and she’s damned if she does, and damned if she doesn’t. Melissa says, it’s an Irish party, so that means everyone must be drunk. Teresa and Louie are the last to arrive, and Louie deliberately ignores Joe #2. In Joe’s interview, he says, enough is enough. Louie knows what he’s doing, and he doesn’t respect that. Bill insists that it’s going be great night, and Frank tells Joe that Louie was short with him too. Louie says, you’d think, being her blood brother, Joe would show up differently, but Teresa says she has him and her love bubble. She just wants to be happy. Louie says he’s not happy with her brother, and Jennifer says, she’s happy for Teresa; Teresa’s chosen family, who want to celebrate her marriage, will celebrate with her. Danielle tells Jennifer that she’s going to tell Melissa about the rumor. She feels it’s the right thing to do. Jennifer says, she can’t do that, but Danielle tells her, if somebody was saying that about her, she’d want to know. Jennifer says, after what she went through last year, she didn’t want to do that to someone else. In Jennifer’s interview, she says, nobody protected her or her children. She doesn’t want to be that girl to another family. She tells Danielle that she was trying not to repeat what she was told, and in her interview, Jennifer says, Melissa didn’t do anything to her; it was Marge. She tells Danielle, at the end of the day, all this stuff comes from Marge. Danielle says, it’s only a matter of time, and in her interview, she says she doesn’t want to hurt Melissa, and doesn’t want to believe it’s true. She wants to tell her what a woman told her friend. If she heard something like that, and has to tell her in the most sincere way. She tells Jennifer that she’s looking out for Melissa; she’s not going to throw Jennifer under the bus. Jennifer says, it came from Laura, and Danielle says, if they want to put it on her, let them.
Up the Dubs! Whatever that means. Danielle asks Melissa to come outside with her, and Jennifer watches. In Danielle’s interview, she says she has no strategy. She’s going in😐. Melissa is going to say, that’s not true, thanks for telling her, let’s do a shot, go back to the party, and continue the fun. She tells Melissa that she found out some information in Ireland that affected her on level where she was like, f***. She wants Melissa to know what’s being said about her. Laura was saying that Marge claimed a friend caught Melissa in the back seat of a car, kissing a guy. He told Marge about it, and Marge told Laura; that’s what Laura is saying. Melissa says, to be honest, she already heard about it through her husband. His sister called him secretly to tell him, behind Melissa’s back. In Melissa’s interview, she says, six months ago, Teresa called Joe over to her house, and said she’d heard this rumor. She believes it so much, she had to call Joe. How dare Teresa tell her husband that she cheated? She tells Danielle, that’s pretty f***ed up, coming from her sister-in-law. In her interview, she says, Teresa is repeating a baseless rumor from some woman who wants to hurt Marge. Melissa suggests Danielle call them both over. Teresa has accused her of doing a lot of things. She’s been a stripper – we flash back to that – she’s been accused of doing it in parking lots before – we flash back to that – and Teresa has said a multiple times that she’d leave her husband in a heartbeat for a richer man – and we flash back to that. There have been multiple things said that they’ve let go. In her interview, Melissa says, she had no intention of confronting Teresa about this because Joe doesn’t believe this BS, and she wanted Teresa to have a peaceful six months leading up to the wedding. But she has her minion come to make Melissa look bad in front of everyone, so they hear Melissa is a cheater. She asks Danielle if she looks like someone who would be in the back seat of a car, and Danielle says she doesn’t believe it. Why not address the messenger? Marge hears her name, and says she’s going to take Danielle’s Amazon dress and wrap around her throat. She comes over to Danielle and Melissa, and says she’s hearing her name. Danielle says, they were talking about Laura, and Marge wonders why she’s talking about someone she doesn’t know. Danielle says she heard something, and Marge asks, from who? Danielle says, don’t shoot the messenger, but Marge says, she’s not a messenger; she’s a sh*t starter. Danielle says, Marge has got the wrong person, and puts her finger in Marge’s face. When Marge tells her not to do that, she waves her hands all over the place, and Marge calls her a low budget Betty. Across the room, Dolores’s antennae go up, and she wonders if something is going on. Danielle says, everything is coming from Marge, and Rachel asks, what’s going on? Marge says, Danielle is a disgusting wannabe, and Melissa says, these two met up with Laura, pointing at Teresa and Jennifer. She calls Teresa a loser, and says, Teresa called Joe #2 to her house to tell him Melissa was in a car with a guy. In Dolores’s interview, she says she’s been around enough fights to know when it’s going to escalate. This is bad. Melissa follows Teresa around, mimicking her. Honestly, I have never seen adults behave like this. I can’t be certain what goes on behind closed doors, but certainly never at a party. Or a bar. Or anywhere in public.
At this point, there’s so much yelling and screaming and people bending over in a kiss-my-ass gesture, a lot is left out. It’s just a big, embarrassing free-for-all.
Melissa says, Teresa feeds on the hope she and Joe will get a divorce, and in Teresa’s interview, she says she didn’t want Louie to do it, but he’s the one who told Joe. If Marge was coming for him, he wanted Joe to be able to get in front of it. She never repeated it to anyone. Louie announces that he told Joe, and someone says, calm down, but Louie says he doesn’t give a f***, and gets all crazy eyed. He says he’s a winner. Teresa is winning. Teresa says, Melissa just wants attention, and Joe asks Melissa, what happened? She says, Danielle tried to tell her about the kissing in a car thing, and in Joe’s interview, he says, Louie called and said he needed to see Joe right away. He’d heard Melissa cheated on him. He’s got the wrong girl. Melissa says, they have to stop protecting them, and Marge says, this stupid girl brought it up, indicating Jennifer. Teresa says she knew this would blow back on her, and in Melissa’s interview, she says, Teresa knew this was going to happen, and was nervous. That’s why they were late. She should have told them to shut up. In Jennifer’s interview, she says she told Danielle not to say anything, but you can’t tell people what to do. Marge tells Jennifer that Laura is crazy, and Jennifer says, why fabricate a specific story with names, dates, and places? 😐Laura sung like a bird. Rats, birds. What is this, the poor man’s mafia circa 1948? Marge says she told Laura nothing, and Jennifer is on a revenge tour. She’s upset about what happened last year. Jennifer yells, now her daughter wants to be a therapist. I love how she makes this sound like such a bad thing. She says, that woman threw herself at her husband. <snort> She nearly launches herself at Marge, and starts crying. Bill manages to get her out of the room, but she yells the whole way. Rachel wonders, what just happened, and Teresa follows Jennifer. In her interview, Jennifer says, Melissa is a filthy cheater; not her husband. Melissa says, this was a great party move, and Danielle says she had good intentions. Marge told Laura and Danielle found out when they were in Ireland. Melissa asks if Danielle thinks it happened. In Rachel’s interview, she says, just because you have an ax to grind and say something, where’s the street cred? You can’t just pull something out of the sky and say it’s true. That’s not how it works. Joe #2 laughs, and tells Melissa not to lose any sleep over it. Teresa says that Louie called Joe, and Louie announces that his friend Bo Dietl knows sh*t about everyone in the room. Everyone is like, who the hell is Bo Dietl? In Joe #2’s interview, he wonders who Louie is talking to, and tells Louie to back the f*** up. Nate holds Louie back and some guys hold Joe back, and Joe yells that Nate doesn’t have to hold Louie back.
Joe #2 tells Louie, back the f*** up. He doesn’t talk to Joe’s wife like that. Louie laughs, and goes downstairs, and in Joe #2’s interview, he says, don’t get in his face like an angry devil. Who talks to woman like that? Louie tells Teresa that Melissa tried to fight him, and then Joe wanted to go at him. He told Melissa the truth. Teresa says she didn’t want him to call her brother. She knew it would blow back on her. Marge says, Danielle did this, and Danielle says, Marge can kiss her ass. Marge says, Danielle did to try and break up a family. Good job. In Danielle’s interview, she asks if Marge didn’t legitimately break up a family, which seems oxymoronish. Marge says, Danielle is a stupid bitch, and Rachel says, it wasn’t done privately. In Rachel’s interview, she says, personally, she wouldn’t pick these circumstances. She would have shared it in , but she’s not Danielle. In her interview, Danielle wonders why she’s being painted as the bad guy. It was Marge all along, and she tried to expose that. Joe #2 moans, why can’t we all just get along? The 90s called, and they want that back. In Dolores’s interview, she says she wasn’t thinking about the party and what she’d put into it (oh yes she was). She just wanted everyone to be okay. She’s so hurt for everyone.
We see in the text that Danielle and her brother still haven’t spoken. She’s focusing her energy on her Bougie Kidz line – one tutu at a time. We see Marge is still living with Lexi and Nino (and presumably Joe #3). She’s continuing to build her arsenal – of extended family. Aww. Rachel has officially adopted Jaiden (yay!), and to celebrate, they took a trip to DisneyWorld, where Rachel hung out with her favorite rat, Mickey Mouse. Wait. What? This is the kind of thing that contributes to people who think mice grow up to be rats. Seriously, I had a friend who thought that.
Jennifer visits Teresa, who is cranky from last night. In Jennifer’s interview, she says, it’s supposed to be the happiest time in her good friend’s life. The situation is sad and disappointing. She should see it from my end. Teresa says she feels horrible, and Jennifer says she told Danielle not to do that. Teresa moans that the finger is always pointed at her, and I think of a finger I’d like to point. In the car, Dolores calls Melissa, and says she’s checking in on Melissa. She feels bad about what happened in her house. Melissa says she knew about Laura repeating the rumor. She’s known for six months, and had been dying to tell them. Louie whines to Teresa about being devastated, and Teresa says, it doesn’t stop. Joe #2 does construction on his new house, and in his interview, he says, Louie told him about the rumor, and continued to push. He said Melissa had been with multiple men, and told him to leave her. Then Gia called and said she’d heard what happened, and she thought he could do better. She said, mommy thinks so; they all do. He asked himself if he wanted to be around people who love him or want to hurt him. It’s a f***ed up situation. Melissa tells Dolores that Teresa and Jennifer were behind Danielle talking about the rumor. Teresa has been after her since she was 24, and she doesn’t need to deal with toxic people bringing her down, even if they’re in the shape of her family. Dolores asks if Melissa and Joe are going to the wedding, and Melissa asks how she can go support someone else’s marriage when they’re constantly trying to destroy hers.
Dolores tells Melissa, if they miss the wedding, she thinks it will be over over, but Melissa says, it’s been over. Dolores says she’s on her way to Teresa’s house. If they ask if Teresa’s brother is coming, should she say no? Melissa gives her the go ahead, and Dolores says she’s sorry for everything. She feels bad about last night. In Dolores’s interview, she says she can’t imagine if her only sibling didn’t come to her wedding. it’s not what she wants or wishes for them. It makes her nauseous to say it, but how is anybody coming back from this? She goes to Teresa’s house, and says she’s anxious for Teresa and her brother. She was talking to Melissa, who’s been upset. She’d kept her mouth shut, but now it’s out. In Teresa’s interview, she says she had plenty of opportunity to bring it up, but she kept her mouth quiet. She knew they would put it on her. Louie joins them, and says, last night was heavy. I expect him to put on a Nehru jacket any minute. Dolores says, Melissa felt that Teresa was behind it, but Louie says he called Joe, so he could get ahead of it. He doesn’t deserve to have it blow up in his face. The P.I. Bo Dietl brought him information on every person in the group. In Teresa’s interview, she acts ignorant of knowing anything, and Louie says he’s successful because he surrounds himself with successful people. In Dolores’s interview, she wonders what kind of information he has. She doesn’t understand what he’s talking about with this P.I. She tells them that Melissa said she and Joe weren’t coming to the wedding, and Teresa says, they hate her and Louie. This has been going on for over ten years. First she dealt with it with her ex, now she has a new chapter, and she’s so done. In Teresa’s interview, she says, family is the most important thing. You need to honor and respect family, not hurt them. Jennifer asks if she’s cutting them out of her life, and Teresa says, like her cousin Kathy. In other words, anyone who dares to tell her the truth. In her interview, Teresa says she’s been dragged through the mud and back. It’s gone on long enough. She tells Dolores that Melissa wanted to get her brother away from her, and got her wish.
We see in the text that Melissa is planning a housewarming. Teresa and Louie aren’t invited – it’s chosen family only. Teresa tells Dolores, that’s a relief, and thanks her. We read that Dolores and Paulie are looking for a new home. Dolores is looking for the gold at the end of her rainbow – in the shape of a ring. Jennifer and Bill continue to work on their marriage. Jennifer hopes Bill comes to prioritize the family over the pool house. Teresa tells Louie that she feels relieved, and he says, it’s over. He loves her. The text tells us that they’re preparing for their wedding. They lost two guests, but they’re gaining five pounds – of hair.
Next time – Teresa Gets Married – lots of Bravolebrities; Teresa wants it hot, sexy, and something people won’t forget, with as less clothes [sic] as possible; Jennifer says, the hair should be an accent piece, not the main event; Teresa cries over Melissa and Joe’s Instagram posts; and Gia says, it’s over for everybody.
🧊 Tipping the Iceberg…
Come back tomorrow, if you dare, for soap, and the VanderMoment we’ve all been waiting for. Until then, stay safe, stay arguing productively, and stay keeping it private if you’re going to be the messenger and not a sh*t starter.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Dex tells Josslyn that he has to say goodbye. He’s so sorry. She asks why he sounds like he’s leaving, and he says, because he is.
Sasha walks into the Home & Heart studio, and flashes back to when she was there last time. She introduces herself to a PA, who says her name is Julie, but they met last time. Sasha apologizes, but Julie says, there was a lot going on. Sasha says, that’s one way of putting it, and Julie asks how she’s doing. Sasha says she’s doing okay, and Julie welcomes he back, handing her a production schedule. Sasha asks if it’s cool if she goes on set to check everything, but Haven aka Morgan Fairchild tells her, no, it’s not cool. If Sasha thinks she’s going to work with someone as unstable as she is, she really is crazy.
Scotty asks N’neka for another martini, and Gladys comes to the bar. N’neka asks if she’d like another round, and Gladys says she’s done with seltzer. Scotch, straight up. She had to stay sharp up until now, for all the good it did her. Scotty looks the other way, and Gladys says, rude, when Cody comes out. He tells Gladys, that was an epic crash and burn, and she says, go away. He says, she’s in for a lot of cash. What’s the game plan? Does she have another garage she’s going to secretly sell? Gladys says, he cheated, but he says he didn’t even need to cheat. She’s a lousy poker player whose luck ran out a long time ago.
Anna arrives home, and hears something, so she draws her gun.
Sonny asks if something happened with Willow, but Michael says, she’s hanging in there; handling the chemo as well as can be expected. Sonny says, that’s good, and asks what brings him by. Michael says he needs things to change before it’s too late.
Anna scans the living room, when Valentin comes out of the kitchen. He says, don’t shoot, and she asks, why? He’s an intruder. He says, one that cooks, and kisses her.
Nina sees Drew at the hospital, and says she’s glad she ran into him. He rescued Aunt Liesl, and because of that, Willow now has a fighting chance. She’s really grateful. She thanks him, and he says she’s welcome. He’s really glad this is happening for Willow. All that’s left to do now is pray. She says she’s on it. Is everything okay, or… He says, since the SEC dragged him out of here? and she says, yeah, that.
Gladys thanks N’neka for the drink, when Mac and Felicia walk in. Felicia wonders if they should say hello, but he says he’d better not. Ever since he arrested Cody at the Nurses Ball, things have been tense between them.
Gladys excuses herself and Cody goes over to Scotty, who tells Cody to keep his grubby, sticky fingers off his wallet. Cody says he did not steal that damn bracelet; he was set up. Scotty says, by who? (It’s whom, Scotty) and Cody says, if Scotty agrees to represent him, he’ll tell Scotty. Scotty turns back to his martini.
Felicia and Mac sit at a table, and Felicia says she’s worried about Maxie. She sounded just awful on the phone. Mac says, at least she got someone to fill in for her. Who was it anyway? She tells him, Maxie didn’t say.
Haven says, this was not their agreement. Where is Maxie Jones? Sasha says, Maxie is sick, and asked her to fill in. She explained all of this to Haven’s producer. Haven says, no one told her, but Sasha says, her audience is going to love The Deceptor, and she’s more than capable of co-hosting the segment. Brook joins them, and tells Haven that she’s looking at the Face of Deception. Haven yells for someone to get her Russell – now. She leaves, and Sasha thanks Brook for the assist. She asks what Brook is doing here. She doesn’t work for Deception anymore. Brook says, Maxie didn’t tell Sasha? She’s back.
Josslyn asks where Dex is going, but he says he doesn’t know. He’s sorry, but he can’t stay in Port Charles. She says, of course (🍷) he can, but he says, not anymore. She says, the video of Sonny doing the Pikeman deal, the footage of Sonny breaking the law, he gave it to Michael, right? Then it’s only a matter of time. Willow will get the transplant, she’ll be fine. Then Michael will give the video to the Feds, and Sonny will be arrested. He says, Michael’s not turning Sonny in. Sonny’s not going to prison. She says, since when? and he says, since Michael backed out of their deal.
Michael thanks Sonny for throwing the SEC off Drew’s trail. It gave him time to find Liesl and bring her back home. He and Willow are forever grateful. Sonny says he’s just glad it all worked out, and Willow’s going to get the bone marrow transplant. Michael says, that’s why he’s here. Willow asked him to call off the war between them. Sonny says, it was never his war, and Michael says, she wanted Sonny to have a place in the lives of the people he loves. Sonny asks if Michael thinks he can do that, and Michael says, for Willow, and for his family; yes.
Sasha says she’s confused. Last week, Brook said she needed to be freed up to follow her passion. Brook says she realized it was a mistake. She loves this company, and there’s no reason why she can’t have it all, right? Music and Deception; she’ll make the time. Sasha says, that’s awesome, and welcomes her back. Lucy arrives, and says, it’s sweet of Brook to come support Sasha today, and Brook says, that’s what teammates do. Lucy asks if they joined some sort of sports team together, but Brook says, the Deception team. Lucy says she’s not following, but Sasha says, Brook is back at Deception. She already spoke to Maxie. Lucy says she just spoke to Maxie two minutes ago, and she didn’t mention anything about it, and Brook says, Maxie must have not realized it in her feverish state. Anyway, today isn’t about her. It’s about Sasha and her big comeback. Lucy asks if Sasha is absolutely sure she’s ready for all of this.
Walking with Russell, Haven says, the last time Sasha Gilmore was on this show, it was a disaster. She thought a doll was her dead baby. Russell says, that was almost a year ago. Maxie assured him that Sasha is strong enough. Besides, if she did freak out on camera, would that really be so bad? Their ratings were at an all-time high after Sasha’s breakdown. It reminded their viewers that anything can happen on live TV. Haven says, their ratings have been a little sluggish lately. Maybe they could make this work to their advantage. Uh… Not buying this. Maybe on a reality show, but not home shopping.
Scotty says, Cody wants his representation? and Cody says, should be an easy day, considering he’s innocent. Scotty tells him, says you, but unfortunately, Cody can’t afford him. Cody says he’s got 10K in his pocket that says otherwise, and Scotty says, that’s pocket money, so, no. Cody says, okay, fine. 20K. Scotty says he’s not interested, and walks away from the bar.
Felicia says she knew Mac had an ulterior motive. Not only did he say he’d come tonight, he picked The Savoy as well. He says he loves Holly, and of course (🍷) he wants to celebrate her safe return. What better place to do it at? She asks why they’re really here, when Scotty comes by, and says, two of his favorite people, pulling up a chair. Felicia says, since when? and Scotty says, mind if he joins them? He sits down, and Mac asks what they can do for him. Scotty says, for starters, why is Holly Sutton running around chloroforming people when she should be in a burn unit in Europe?
Nina says she’s sorry this is happening to Drew, and he says, it’s an ongoing investigation, and other than that, he’s uncomfortable discussing it with her. She says, understood, and he asks if she’s here to see Willow. She says, don’t worry. She’s not going into Willow’s room. The last thing she wants to do is upset Willow or Michael. She just feels better being close by. Has he ever wanted to go back in time for a redo? He says, once or twice, and she says, there’s a lot of things she would change. She loves her daughter. He says he believes that, and she says, all she wants is for the transplant to be a success so Willow can go back to her family. He says, a family Nina would love to be a part of, and she says, desperately.
Michael says, Willow made him see that by rejecting Sonny, he’s forcing some of his siblings to choose, and Sonny says, Donna and Avery? Michael says, Krissy too, to an extent. Dante’s the only one who can truly navigate this. It’s not fair to the rest of his siblings. He can tell them to have their own relationship with Sonny, but those are just words. Sonny says, what about Wiley and Baby Amelia? Does Michael feel the same way when it comes to them? Michael says, his kids should be able to know and spend time with their grandfather, and their aunts and uncles who love Sonny. That’s more important than his anger, so for the good of his family, he wants peace.
Josslyn asks Dex, Michael backed down? Of all the ways this could have gone down, Michael pulling the plug is probably the last one she expected. He says, him too, and she asks how Michael could do this to him. Dex says, Michael did it for Josslyn, and she asks what that means. He says, Michael did it for all of them. Michael doesn’t want Sonny going away to cause a permanent rift in the family, and it would have. She says, of course (🍷) it would have, but she thought they all agreed it was worth it. What is happening? This is so wrong. He says, it doesn’t matter. Right, wrong, whatever; Michael isn’t going to change his mind. She says she can’t believe this, and he says, this is the situation, and these are his options. He has to go. She says, then she’s going with him, but he says, no, she’s not.
Felicia says, the explosion at the hunting cabin was staged, and Scotty asks why Holly stole the Ice Princess necklace in the first place. Felicia says, because Victor ordered her to, and Mac says, he needed to find Mikkos’ hiding place in Greenland. Scotty says, those Cassadines. They like to keep things interesting, don’t they? If Holly survived this fake explosion, did the necklace survive as well? Felicia says, they wanted Victor to think it was destroyed while Holly figured out where Victor was holding Ethan, and Scotty asks where the necklace is now. Mac says, they don’t know. It was lost when the WSB sank the Haunted Star. Scotty says, that necklace is worth about 35 million clams, but Mac says, it’s worth nothing now that it’s gone. Scotty looks over at Cody.
Julie tells Haven, she’s on her way, and Haven says, excellent. She asks Russell, is it done? and he says, everyone on their social media is talking about Sasha’s appearance tonight and speculating what could possibly go wrong. She says, that’ll get them watching, and when they watch, they buy.
Sasha says she knows the last time she was here, she almost tanked the company, but Lucy says she’s worried about Sasha, not the company. She thinks it’s brave of Sasha to step up and take Maxie’s place, but if she’s not ready, she doesn’t have to do this. Lucy could do this segment in her sleep. Sasha thanks Lucy, and says, Lucy’s support means everything to her, but she’s the Face of Deception, and she’s a partner in the business. She really wants to pull her weight. Brook asks how it feels to be back here, and Sasha says, it was a little overwhelming at first, but she’s all right now. She keeps telling herself, this is an entirely different situation. She was self-medicating back then, she was deep in her grief for Liam, and then to be asked to model a baby carrier… Brook says, out of nowhere, and Sasha says she wasn’t prepared. Lucy says, no one would have been prepared. What they did was absolutely awful, but look how far she’s come. She’s doing so good, and Lucy is so proud of her. Brook says, if anyone tries to interrupt Sasha’s segment tonight, she’ll tackle them, and Sasha says she’d love to see that. They see Flora on the set, and Flora asks what on earth Sasha is doing here.
Selina says, the cards weren’t in Gladys’s favor tonight, and Gladys says she thought she had a strong enough hand, but then that damn Cody Bell with his flush. Selina says, Mr. Bell had luck on his side, and Gladys says, either that or he’s a cheater, but Selina says, no one cheats in the backroom. Gladys says, of course (🍷). She should be getting home. Selina says, not until they’ve discussed how she’s paying back the money she owes.
Scotty tells Cody, change of plans. He will represent him. Cody says he thought Scotty told him it wasn’t enough, and Scotty says, it’s chump change compared to what they’re going to get. He orders another martini.
Anna asks, what’s going on in her kitchen? It smells amazing. Valentin says his sauce is simmering, and he recently uncorked a bottle of very posh chianti. He’d like to let it breathe, but something tells him that she could use a glass. She says, just fill it to the brim please, and he asks, how was the briefing? She says, it went on forever. She feels like somewhere in the metaverse, she’s still answering questions. They wanted to know everything about Greenland, and Valentin’s father, and the pathogen… She’s very tired. He hands her the glass, and she says she just wants to drink wine and fall asleep in his arms. He says, that’s all? and she says, it depends on how good his pasta is. He kisses her, and the doorbell rings. She says, just ignore them, and they’ll go away, but it continues to ring insistently. She says, there are only two people who ring her doorbell like that. One is Obrecht, and the other is… She opens the door, and we say it together, Robert. Robert walks in, and says, word of advice. The next time she wants to pretend she’s not home, don’t leave the lights on.
Dex says, obviously, the idea of running away with Josslyn sounds amazing, but he has no one. She says, he has her, but he says, she knows what he means. He has no friends or family to fall back on. It’s just him and his skill set. She has this incredible family that not only loves her, they need her. Wiley and Amelia are the sweetest, and Wiley hero worships her. She thinks Wiley was more impressed by Dex, but he says he’s just some guy who used to be a soldier. She’s his Aunt Joss, who’s going to be a doctor. He can’t possibly be to her what she is to him. It would be incredibly selfish of him to say yes. She doesn’t need him as much as he needs her. She says she does need him though, but he says, she likes him and wants him, but she has so much else going on in her life – and that’s a good thing. If she came with him, it would be exciting at first; new identities, new lives… She says, they could make it work, and he says, for a while. Until one day she wakes up and realizes she doesn’t want to be a waitress named Trixie. She says she’d never pick the name Trixie, and he says, she’ll realize she misses her friends and her family; that she misses her life. And that will be his fault.
Selina says, Gladys gambled what she came in with, then dipped into Selina’s bank for $85,000. Gladys says she’s good for it, and Selina says she should hope so. Gladys asks if they can discuss a payment plan, but Selina says, she knows the rules. When players borrow from the house, payment is due at the end of the night. Gladys says she doesn’t have that kind of money at her fingertips, and Selina says, Sasha Gilmore does, and doesn’t Gladys control her daughter-in-law’s finances?
Flora says she’s so sorry. She had no idea she’d be seeing Sasha tonight. Lucy says, the feeling is very, very mutual, and Brook asks if one of her products is being featured. Flora says, a new line of bath salts called Change Your Moody. The little ones just love it, and the moms… Sasha says, it’s okay. Flora can talk about motherhood and babies in front of her. She’s so sorry for her behavior last time. Flora tells her, don’t you dare apologize. She felt terrible for Sasha and for the role she played, however unwittingly, in it all. Which begs the question, why would she of all people be asked to participate tonight? Brook looks at her phone, and says, because someone is trying to push Sasha over the edge.
Cody says, so Leopold’s necklace wasn’t destroyed in that explosion? and Scotty says, no, but due to the WSB’s itchy trigger finger, the jewels went to the bottom of the ocean. Cody says, so he’s back where he started, but Scotty says, that’s where he’s wrong because the necklace is part of Dominique’s estate, meaning Cody and Serina are owed a portion of that money. Cody says he agrees 100%, but regardless of how the necklace was lost, it’s still gone, and Scotty says, the WSB is the reason his and Serina’s big payoff went the way of the Titanic. Cody says, so Scotty is telling him… Scotty says, they sue the WSB.
Drew says he knows Nina thinks Carly is the reason she doesn’t have a relationship with Willow, but Nina says she actually just spoke with Carly about that… Drew says, obviously the reason was her treating Willow like dirt because Nina didn’t like her. Everything changed when Nina found out they were mother and daughter, but everything didn’t change for Willow. Nina says she gets it, and she’s given Willow more than one reason to be untrusting of her, but for the first time, her daughter asked something of her. Willow wants her to stop fighting with Carly, and Nina wants to give that to her, but she doesn’t know how to do it. If they could just start fresh… He says, Nina has to accept that’s just not an option.
Sonny says, peace is what he’s wanted, but he appreciates Michael meeting him halfway. Michael says he gives Willow credit, but Sonny says, it takes Michael too. He shouldn’t be surprised if Michael stepped up for the greater good. That’s why he gave Avery back at the end; he didn’t want to tear the family apart. Michael says, so they have an understanding, and Sonny says, when it comes to Michael’s siblings, and his kids, yeah, but what about when it comes to Nina?
There’s a mini remembrance of Jackie Zeman.
Dex asks Josslyn to talk to him, but she doesn’t know what to say. Dex tells her to say what she’s feeling, and she says she feels conflicted. Is she ready to give up all of her life to be with him? Is she ready to say that? He says he’d be worried if she wasn’t, and she says, but she likes him… a lot, and he says he likes her too. She says she wants to see where it could go. She doesn’t want this to be over, and she doesn’t want him to leave. But she really doesn’t want him to die, and doesn’t want him to spend the rest of his life in prison. He says, those are two possibilities if he stays in Port Charles, and she says, so yeah, she understands… conceptually. He needs to go, and probably should, but the thought of losing him hurts, and when she’s hurt, she gets very scared and anxious. He says he doesn’t want to lose her either, and pulls her close.
Watching Scotty and Cody talk at the bar, Mac says, it looks like Scotty is going to represent Cody, and Felicia asks if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Mac says, for all his faults, Scotty’s a decent defense attorney, and she asks if that means he wants Cody to beat the charges. His phone rings, and he says, it’s the department. She says she’ll give Holly his regrets, and Mac leaves the table.
Gladys says she won’t steal from Sasha, but Selina asks if she didn’t already cross that line when Gladys sold her Brando’s garage. Gladys says, exactly; sold. She didn’t give it away. Selina says, they both know she didn’t pay market price, but Gladys says she can’t do that to Sasha again. Selina says, then they would appear to have a problem, and walks away.
Cody tells Scotty, the only thing they know is that the necklace belonged to Taub. They don’t know if he gave it to Dominique outright. Scotty says, either way, the money is Cody’s – and his sister Serina, who he’s going to share it with, right? Cody says, absolutely. Where do they start? Scotty tells Cody to come by his office tomorrow. He’ll have an affidavit for Cody to sign confirming he’s Taub and Dominique’s son. Cody looks over at Mac, giving Felicia a kiss goodbye.
Brook reads: the Face of Deception returns to H&H. Meltdown part two; stay tuned. Hashtag: Home&Heart. Home & Heart is implying Sasha is going to have another meltdown tonight on the air to get people to watch. Flora says, that’s despicable. She refuses to be part of a disgusting set-up. Lucy says, Haven and her producers better buckle up, because she’s about to take off, but Sasha grabs her arm, and says, don’t. Brook says, Sasha can’t be okay with this, and Sasha says, the more people watching, the more people view The Deceptor. It’s free publicity. Flora says, it’s exploiting Sasha’s mental health. Haven is obviously trying to rattle Sasha. Why else would she be here? They should just call the whole thing off. Sasha says, no. Haven is betting against her. Time to show her that she’s making a huge mistake.
Sonny says, Nina is part of his life. She’s not going anywhere. Michael says he understands that. He can even respect that, but he needs Sonny to respect the fact that Willow needs to decide what kind of relationship, if any, she wants to have with Nina. Sonny says, that’s fair, and Michael asks if he can get Nina to back off; help her understand that Willow is fighting for her life. Sonny says, nobody knows that better than Nina, and Michael says he’s asking Sonny to get her to stop pressuring Willow. I’m not understanding this, since she hasn’t been doing that, but okay. Sonny says he can’t tell Nina how to deal with her own daughter any more than someone can tell him how to deal with his. He has to give her that courtesy. Michael asks if he can at least not advocate for Nina, and not pressure him or Willow, and Sonny asks if Michael feels pressured. Michael says, openly, Sonny is too smart for that, but they both know he’s good at getting what he wants. Sonny shakes his head, and says he agrees to let Nina and Willow figure out their relationship on their own. Can Michael do the same? Michael says he can live with that, and Sonny nods. Michael says he should get back to GH. Sonny says, if Willow needs anything – and he means anything – he’s here. Michael thanks him, and Sonny says he’ll see Michael at the hospital tomorrow, and he wants Michael to know, they’ll keep their distance, but they don’t want to be kept from their family.
Nina asks if Drew thinks Carly will never forgive him, but Drew says he’s saying, you can’t erase the past, or wish it away. A quick fix doesn’t apply in this case, and to assume it does sabotages the future Nina says she wants. She follows him to the elevator, and says she does want it. He asks if she’s willing to work for it, and she says, whatever it takes. He says she’s got to be honest with herself, and he means really honest. And with everybody else, she has to acknowledge her mistakes, and maybe they’ll find a place for her in their lives. He goes into the elevator.
Josslyn tells Dex, stay. They’ll figure something out. He says, even if it means he continues working for Sonny? and she says, for now. Together, they’ll come up with a solution. Don’t give up on us. He says, okay. He can’t imagine never seeing her again. He’ll stay. She hugs him, and says, they’ll think of something, she promises.
Cody asks if an affidavit is really necessary, and Scotty says, it’s important they establish Cody is Leopold Taub’s son. Felicia looks at her phone, and says, no, no, no. This is horrible. Cody asks, what’s wrong? and Felicia says, Sasha is going to be on Home & Heart tonight, and they’re promoting it by suggesting she’s going to have another breakdown. Cody says, he’s got to… and Scotty grabs him, saying, he’s still on board, right? Cody says, yeah, he’ll call Scotty tomorrow, and jets.
Gladys asks Selina how she’s supposed to get all that money together so quickly. It’s impossible. Selina says, there might be another way for Gladys to repay her debt. Well, we know it’s not by being a card shark.
On the Home & Heart set, Flora asks Sasha if she’s sure about this. They can bail at any time. Sasha says she’s sure, and Haven asks Julie if everything is set. Julie says, they’re a go, and Haven walks onto the set, saying, Flora, darling, what a lovely surprise. Flora says, is it though? and Haven asks what she means. Flora says, they both know exactly what she means. You little… The stage manager says, five, four, three, two, one, action, and Haven welcomes everyone back to Home & Heart. She introduces herself, and says, tonight she has two very special guests: Flora Gardens and Sasha Gilmore. Sasha thanks Haven for having her, and says, her viewers are in for a treat. Haven says she hopes so.
Anna tells Robert that she just got off of a long flight. She’s very tired and it would be great if he wasn’t here. He picks up the bottle of wine, and she says, or she supposes he could just help himself to a glass of wine. He pours a glass, and says, it’s nice to see Valentin made it out all in one piece. Valentin says, thanks to the lovely Anna, and Robert says he heard all about the heroics – he nearly drains the glass – dashing into the chamber of death to save his sorry carcass – again. Valentin says, they take turns. Sometimes she saves him; sometimes he saves her. Sometimes they get trapped together, and they like to mix it up. Robert says, next time, do it by himself, and leave Anna out of it, and Anna says she chose to go on the rescue mission. Valentin says, as much fun as this is, he has to put the pasta on, and Robert says he likes his al dente. Valentin says he has no idea why he’d need to know that, and goes into the kitchen. Anna says, Robert needs to stop. She knows what he’s going to say. He says, good. Let’s say it together. Anna Devane, what were you thinking?
Michael comes out of Sonny’s office, and Sonny says he’s going to light a candle for Willow. Michael says, Willow will appreciate that… and he does too. He’ll see Sonny tomorrow. Sonny says, tomorrow, and Michael leaves.
Haven says, this is Sasha’s first television appearance since last year, and Sasha says, it is. Haven asks how she’s holding up, and Sasha says she’s fantastic, and she’s thrilled to introduce Deception’s newest product, The Deceptor. Flora says she’s still using her Deception products, and just loves them, and Sasha says she’s happy to hear that. Haven says, but it must have been a trying year for Sasha, but Sasha ignores her, and says, and now meet The Deceptor wand. Flora asks what it does, and Sasha says she’s glad Flora asked. It will help any woman at any age look her absolute best. Flora says, they could all use that, is she right? Haven says, absolutely, and a baby’s cry comes through Sasha’s earpiece.
Tomorrow, Carly says, Nina will have to do it on Willow’s terms; Haven tells Sasha, all eyes are on her; Robert asks if Anna shouldn’t be putting her family first; and Felicia asks if Holly is back in Port Charles for good.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Daisy cries in the bathroom as primary John looks for her. In her interview, she says she’s so frustrated, if didn’t cry, she’d set the boat on fire. The last thing she wants is another complaint. Gary radios that the guests decided to wait another half hour before going to the beach, and Daisy says, it’s more time for Lucy to do nothing. On the beach, Lucy and Alex do yoga poses. In Madison’s interview, she says, Daisy seems stressed, and she wants to help the situation. Alex tells Lucy that when they get to the beach, they’ll find two skeletons in pink shirts. The guests are finally ready, and Gary radios that they’re coming. He drops the guests off, and goes back for the food. The guests play football, while on the boat, Ileisha gets whole fish instead of the fillet she wanted. In Ileisha’s interview, she says doesn’t mind fileting a fish, but a giant monkfish is going to take her whole prep time. She hopes the primary is going to be happy. Some of the beach food is chicken wings, and Lucy finds there was no bowl packed to put the bones in. In Alex’s interview, he says he feels bad for Lucy. It’s a no brainer to pack a bowl for bones. Somebody is dropping the ball. Young guest Jacob takes a spill backward in his beach chair, taking the wings with him, and John says, it all ended up on the ground anyway. Lucy texts Daisy that John is complaining, and Daisy says she’s so over this. She tells Glenn that John has been complaining a lot.
John says, the beach excursion like when you’re at a nice resort, and want to go to town, but then when you get to town, you want to go back to the resort. Gary thinks it’s not that stressful, and in Daisy’s interview, she says, Gary is in his own . At the end of the day, complaints come back to the interior. He doesn’t give a sh*t how she feels. Gary radios that the guests want to head back, and Daisy says she hates people and hates her life. Lucy tells Alex, she’s glad they enjoyed it – she didn’t. Ileisha cuts her finger open, and in her interview, she says she should know better. She’s no stranger to injuries when she’s rushing. She nearly cut her thumb off one time, and had to go to the hospital. You have to suck it up, and shake it off. She puts a glove on over her bandage, and moves on to making pasta dough. Gary harasses Chase about not being on time, and in Chase’s interview, he says, the time isn’t what Gary told him yesterday. Even when he’s right, he’s wrong. Lucy tells Daisy about having to pick chicken wings out of the sand, and Daisy says she’s pissed at the boys. It feels out of control. John tells Daisy that they’re celebrating his book release tonight, but he has awards to give everyone else. He gives her certificates to fill out for him, and Glenn puts up the sails. Things start falling, and Ileisha says, not the beans. John says, they’ve arrived in life, and Gary tries to sweettalk Mads, but in her interview, she says she thinks he’s got the wrong one. The affection and love bombing are cringy to her. Gary doesn’t get her at all. Daisy tells Gary about the awards ceremony, and he offers to emcee. Guest Lauren asks if they have a steamer, and Lucy takes two dresses to steam. As Lucy is using the steamer, it melts off part of a dress, and Lucy says, her mum would be so disappointed in her.
Lucy says, Lauren’s husband got stitches, and now she’s ruined Lauren’s f***ing dress. Since she’s trying to take a shower, Daisy comes down in a towel, and Lucy tells her what happened. Daisy says, they can reimburse her, and Mads tells her, it says you can iron it on the label; it shouldn’t have done that. Personally, I think maybe Lucy held it too close. Daisy says, she’ll apologize, and in Daisy’s interview, she says she has to tell the guests, and there will be more sh*tty feedback from Glenn. Her anxiety is sky high. Glenn reminds Gary that they’re eating with the guests, and also tells Ileisha, who luckily has enough food. Gary reminds Daisy that he’s eating with the guests, and Daisy curses her life. She tells Lauren about the dress, and that they’ll reimburse her for it, and after an initial, oh my God, Lauren is cool with it. Gary tells Daisy that she creates a stressful environment, and in Lucy’s interview, she says, the tension between Gary and Daisy is going to spill into the rest of the crew. She hopes they sort their sh*t out soon. A gelato/drinks station is set up on the flybridge, and the stews make out the certificates. The guests are seated for dinner, and John tells Glenn that Gary has charisma😐and Gary talks about the town he grew up in. John asks about the name Parsifal, and Glenn says it’s originally from King Arthur. A German composer had named an opera after a knight, and the owner took it from that. In Glenn’s interview, he says, it’s too long between courses. He’s trying to distract the guests, but senses annoyance. Gary says he’s a momma’s boy, which is no surprise, and John blabs about the real estate he owns, which is no surprise either. Colin tells Ileisha to take a deep breath; the guests are happy with the food. Daisy tells the girls not to touch the dry ice at the gelato station, giving me flashbacks of a Halloween party my roommate and I once had. We ended up nixing dry ice because there were so many warnings, and we feared a tragedy. After dinner, Glenn thanks the guests for including him and Gary, and Daisy calls the crew to the flybridge for help. Gary hides and has a cigarette, and Colin says, it’s a d*ck move. Gary pretends he didn’t know, but in his interview, he says he doesn’t give a sh*t. He’s chief officer, and he’s going to have a smoke if he wants one. He thought Colin was on his side. Daisy wonders, WTF is going on?
In Chase’s interview, he says, if he hid on the boat, it wouldn’t be fine with Gary, but he has more important things to do, like work. The guests go to the flybridge, where caramel, peach, chocolate, and pistachio gelato await. Sigh… Daisy tells the guests that John organized a surprise, and turns it over to Gary. John is given the best book away, and swears he didn’t make it for himself. Jacob and Anastasia get the Straight A Student awards, and Natalia gets Best Accent award. There are probably more, but we don’t see that. Daisy complains to Colin about Gary, but Colin tells her, it’s not worth it. In Daisy’s interview, she says, if it weren’t for Colin, she would feel alone. No one gives a sh*t. Colin hugs her, and says, she’s doing a good job; she’s a great chief stew. In Colin’s interview, he says, considering how close Gary and Daisy are, he’s shocked at Gary’s behavior. Gary can go f*** himself. It’s finally bedtime for all, and in Chase’s interview, he says, anchor watch isn’t his favorite, but he had a sh*t job pressure washing dump trucks for $10 an hour, so he appreciates how easy the work is. He feels like he’s crushing it.
Last day of charter. Ileisha makes a watermelon fruit bowl, and I’m dying here. John asks for a bloody Mary and wonders if it’s not the tail of the cat. Is that a colloquial thing, or is he just way off? Anchor is home, and Alex says, Daisy seems happier. She made it through another round. She says, hanging by the skin of her teeth. Anchor is dropped, and John wonders if Glenn will take a selfie with him. Then as Glenn tries to listen to docking instructions, John keeps talking and talking and talking. In Glenn’s interview, he says, communication during the last meter and a half is critical. I’d be telling John to f*** off already.
Somehow, Glenn manages to dock, and the crew lines up for goodbyes. John says, it was more of an adventure than he’s intended, but they took care of TJ the best they could. He didn’t think he’d smile after that, but then they dressed up like the Spice Girls, and he felt guilty for smiling. They’re the greatest small time yacht crew. He gives Glenn the tip envelope, the crew waves, and Glenn toots the horn. Daisy thinks the guests were happy at the end, but it was overwhelming. The boys pissed her off, and made her feel like she did a sh*t job. Ileisha says, she thinks Daisy did the best she possibly could. Daisy tells her that Gary said it was the best charter yet, but she didn’t know if he was being sarcastic, or just said it to piss her off. It was a d*ck move. He’s a f***ing wanker.
At the tip meeting. Glenn says, it wasn’t the easiest charter. With what went wrong, the big one was TJ’s injury. Gary says he doesn’t know how they could have avoided it. Glenn suggests keeping a better eye on things, but Gary says, once the guests are out there and get close to each other, it’s out of the their hands. They can’t rely on the guests’ common sense. Glenn says, the 90s party was a real hit, and Daisy thanks everyone for pitching in. Glenn says he’s gotten an interesting perspective on Ileisha’s food from eating with the guests. She’s moving in the right direction, but the hold up between courses is longer than he was expecting. Ileisha says she’ll work on it, and Daisy says, they’re trying their hardest with the resources given. Glenn says he just wants them to give it some thought. He doesn’t mean work harder, but work smarter. It’s not about the first 95%, but the last 5% they should be pushing for. He asks for Daisy’s input, but she asks if they can move on and talk later. Glenn says, sure, and asks how Lucy and Mads feel. Lucy says, they were challenged… and Daisy leaves the room, starting to cry. Glenn says, they’ll put it on pause for a minute.
Gary goes after Daisy, who says she just needs five minutes. She’s trying. Gary says he knows. The girls are grateful for her. He hugs her, and Daisy says she’s sick of hearing her f***ing name, and being asked questions she can’t answer. In Gary’s interview, he says, Daisy annoys the f*** out of him, but he feels protective. He doesn’t like seeing her break down. Glenn finds Daisy, and tells her to take a moment. She says she knows it’s not a personal attack, but she feel personally responsible. In Daisy’s interview, she says she’s embarrassed that she lost control emotionally. She feels off her game. She’s doing the best she can, but she’s human and there’s only so much crap she can take. The meeting reconvenes, and Glenn says he doesn’t want to open another can of worms, but is there anything anyone wants to discuss? Colin says, everyone is doing a fantastic job, but they can all improve. Glenn isn’t talking about anyone’s shortcomings; it’s just constructive criticism. In Colin’s interview, he says he’s kind of taken aback. His first charter was stressful, but you didn’t see him crying. It’s about the whole crew, not just Daisy. The tip is $23K, or 2250 euros each, and makes everything okay again. In Alex’s interview, he says, it was just what they needed. Nothing cuts the tension like $23K. Glenn says he’s organized a tasting menu for them at a restaurant; the tender will drop them off. Daisy tells the girls that Gary has no f***ing clue about the pressure, and on deck, Chase tells Colin that he thinks Daisy is just stressed. Colin says, that’s why he was trying to back her up. Gary says he didn’t ask to be invited to dinner, but Colin tells him that taking a smoke break was a d*ck move. It wasn’t cool. Gary gets up and walks away, saying he’s over it. Colin says, Gary has to lead by example. Chase says, their department heads are all imploding; they’re all stressed. Daisy tells Gary to go f*** himself, and Chase says he’s glad he’s not the boss. It isn’t nice.
Next time, the crew’s night out; Mads toasts to her and Alex; Gary asks if Mads is interested in him; Chase says he’s not taking the fall for Alex; a repeat charter; and smoke from the engine.
Summer House
Is it over yet?
Carl says he’s sick of this sh*t, and tells Kyle that Robert was bugging him about Danielle. Robert tells Danielle what Carl said, and how he was grouping her in with the girls. Danielle says she’s done, for the ten millionth time. Carl whines that the most important thing in his life was ruined because he didn’t do something he shouldn’t do. He’s so f***ing mad. Kyle suggests he take a breath, and Carl asks why it’s such a big deal. He and Lindsay moved in together and bought a car together. He told Danielle he was ring shopping; the writing was on the wall. There are bigger things to be upset about. Grow the f*** up. Kyle tells him that everyone else questioned his every move. Should he be doing a start-up? Should be with Amanda? It’s just human nature; people question everything. I hate when one of the people that’s usually an a-hole is the voice of reason. Carl says he gets it, but doesn’t know what to do about it. He ruined his own thing. He didn’t do what they wanted, and made Danielle feel horrible. He ruined a friendship with one decision. Lindsay comes out, and asks, what the hell happened? and Kyle says, Carl needed a minute. Carl says he ruined all kinds of things, and Lindsay suggests the go to South Hampton Social, where their real friends are. Kyle says he’s just hanging out and not a friend, and Carl says he didn’t like hurting anyone’s feelings. They leave, and Kyle tells Robert that Carl felt like he ruined the engagement, and they just left. Lindsay came up in a huff and puff, and decided they should go to South Hampton where they have friends. They do Jameson pickle backs, and Craig says he’s having fun, but it’s a little tense. He gets the gist of everything, and that they think it feels rushed. When he talked to Paige at Kyle’s birthday, it wasn’t until she started crying that he wondered what was going on. To Paige, getting engaged meant them moving in and her leaving her mom. He realized they had more to work out. He thought love was enough. Ciara suggested he stop fantasizing. She wants to meet someone to settle down with, but she’s strategic in how she dates. Craig says she was systematic. She moved to the city by herself and proved she didn’t need someone, but it’s fun to have someone to watch your shows with at night. Ciara says she wants to partner with a best friend, and she’s getting older. This summer she’s feeling older. Craig says, maybe there’s another Craig out there for her, and in Ciara’s interview, she says she’d love to meet someone, but fears she won’t, and it’s crippling. But it’s all in God’s timing and trusting in it. What’s meant to come to her will come, and she’s got to get herself ready in the meantime.
The group goes back to the house, Kyle puts on music, and they dance all over the place, including on the kitchen island. Yuk. In Chris’s interview, he says, when the summer is over, he’s going to miss these crazy nights. They’re dysfunctional, but they’re a family. He’s having fun with the people he’ll build experiences with that will last a lifetime. Ciara, Mya, and Paige push their beds together to make a megabed. In the morning, Carl and Lindsay aren’t back yet, Robert says goodbye, and – oh my God my eyes! – we see Kyle’s ass for the 4738th time. Everyone struggles to get up, and Mya says, you’d think the quiet would be good, but it’s not. It means a storm’s brewing. Amanda tells Kyle, it looks like no one was ever in Carl and Lindsay’s room. She doesn’t think they want to go on the boat today. He says, it’s been challenging, and he’s tired of being the ringbearer… He means ringleader. Amanda tells him to call Carl, and Carl asks, what’s going on? like nothing is different. Kyle asks if he and Lindsay will be joining them, but Carl says, they’re not going to make the boat. They’re with a friend of Lindsay’s where they spent the night. They thought it best to take themselves out of the toxicity. Lindsay thinks Danielle’s negativity is overwhelming, and right now, she’s the only source of negativity in their lives. Kyle says he’s sorry that’s how they feel. He asks if they’re coming back at some point, but Lindsay says she’s over the situation with Danielle. It’s best they’re not there, but it doesn’t seem like anybody cares. They think it’s best to take a break. Kyle says he’s not going to push them, but keep in touch. He hopes they come to the party tomorrow. Amanda says she feels bad that it went this way, and in Kyle’s interview, he says, if there was any hope of reconciling, he thinks it would be the opposite of what they’re doing. It’s like an F-U to the rest of them. He’s very discouraged. Word travels quickly about Carl and Lindsay not coming back for the boat, and Kyle says, they might not come back at all. They’re pushing their own snowball down the mountain. Paige says, Lindsay doesn’t need Danielle, so Danielle is now a non-factor. She has Carl now, and Danielle is angry and upset.
Kory arrives, and picks Sam up, kissing her. He says he’s running on fumes, and in Sam’s interview, she says, he gives her butterflies. When he walks in the room, she’s got to pee like a puppy. She’s been seeing him a lot and she’s not sick of him. It’s been a long time since she felt that way. They make food to take on the boat, and in Paige’s interview, she says, they’re keeping the Lindsay energy alive; all the men have to make their own sandwiches today. There are two boats, and they divide up. The small boat looks like a Fisher Price toy, and Kyle says he feels that this is a blazer moment. In Mya’s interview, she says, she’s here to enjoy the day with her friends, and got a weird DM asking if she and Oliver are exclusive. Who the f*** would be asking her status? She knows something is going on, but doesn’t know how to react. Gabby says her parents bought a house in Texas, and Paige asks if she’s freaking out. Gabby says she’s unwell, but trying not to put her feelings on them. She’s losing them, but she’s gained friends. She’ll be co-dependent in a whole new way. Chris makes Kyle do the Titanic pose on the bow of the boat.
Carl and Lindsay come back to get their stuff when everyone is gone, and Carl puts something over the camera. A producer breaks the fourth wall, and tells him they need footage of them packing. Lindsay says she knows he’s pissed off, but they can’t just vanish. They have to show what’s happening. On the boat, Kyle toasts to Carl and Lindsay’s engagement, and Chris toasts to Danielle. In Carl’s interview, he says, the support they got was drowned out by the negativity. It’s best for them not to be here. Lindsay takes her pineapple upside down cake with them, which is pretty high on the tacky scale. Carl says he’s packing his sh*t and moving on to another pasture.
The remaining housemates come back, and Amanda says, there were two cakes, and one of them is gone. Danielle laughs, and Kyle says, that’s savage. Paige says, she respects the f*** out of that move, and Gabby says, all their stuff is gone. Sam thinks it was a dramatic reaction, and she doesn’t want them to look back and think they should have said goodbye. Their beef is with Danielle, but they’re not Danielle. Kory and Chris find cowboy hats that were left behind and parade around in them. Amanda blames Danielle, and Paige tells her, grow up. Kory and Chris pretend to be Crocodile Dundee, and Ciara asks if they’re not coming back. Amanda says, the cake is gone, which I guess is a definitive answer. Chris and Kory show off the hats, but Danielle says, they can do better than this, making them put the hats back. Amanda tells Mya that Chris and Kory were having fun with the hats, and Danielle says, it was stupid and weird. In Danielle’s interview, she says, as much as she hates that they moved out and she wasn’t part of the engagement, she’s still love them and is loyal. It feels permanent, like it’s an end; an ending she didn’t want. Ciara says, Danielle is still protecting them, even though they’re gone, and Mya says, people need to calm the f*** down. In Mya’s interview, she says, she thinks Danielle is consumed with what’s going on with Lindsay, since she’s been supportive of Lindsay in the past. Ciara says, Danielle is brainwashed and scared of Lindsay, and Kyle tells Danielle that he’s seen her go to bat for Lindsay for years. Danielle says, to a fault. She understands the engagement isn’t about her, but she thought there was a glimmer of hope that Lindsay hadn’t known she was left out. Lindsay knew and was good with it. That she doesn’t matter to them is a blatant stab in the heart while looking her in the eye. Craig says, the second Danielle wasn’t useful, she was cut out of Lindsay’s life. Carl is a great guy, but his is all happening because of Lindsay. She’s the poison. Agreed.
Craig and Chris prepare packaged sushi, which is good, since they’re way too drunk to be making it themselves. Craig says he’s happy that him dating someone pulled Kory into a place where he found someone he likes. He makes Kory says he likes Sam, and Paige wonders why there are shoes in the pool. Kyle says, the only rule tonight is, if you don’t like something, throw it in the pool. Craig explains how to make a maki roll, and thanks them for having him back. They play a game of charades using sexually related references like skinny dipping and striptease. When Chris and Gabby try to depict missionary, they get it backward. I fear for our future. In Paige’s interview, she says they’re having one of the most fun nights without Carl and Lindsay. Carl and Lindsay don’t want be stupid with them. Paige tells Craig not to throw a chair in the pool, and Craig says, before he got here, anything they didn’t understand, they threw in the pool. No surprise, he throws the chair in the pool. He goes inside and calls his mother to tell her happy birthday. Elsewhere in the house, Kyle lifts weights, and says, s*ck my wiener. I’ve mentioned he’s 40, right? Sam and Kory slip into the closet for a quickie. Chris comes by, listens for a second, laughs, and moves on. When they come out, Sam’s hair looks perfect, so it can’t have been that great. Craig tells the girls that he was crying over stuff, but he’s good. Everyone sees there’s something wrong except the one person he wants to see it. Oh, I get it. It’s passive/aggressive time.
Paige follows Craig, and asks what she did. He says, every time he’s sad or has a feeling, she tells him to stop being a p*ssy. He tells Kyle that he missed his mom’s birthday, and he’s sad. She’s been a solid rock in his life. Kyle says Craig has others, the company and Paige, but Craig says, sometimes he feels alone. After Paige throws her guts up, Paige and Craig take Lindsay and Carl’s room, and Craig says he feels better. Kyle wakes up Amanda, who asks why he always wakes her up, which is exactly what I’d been thinking. She tells him that he’s on her sh*t list.
In the morning, the girls commiserate about the summer almost being over. Paige comes in and says, Craig was trying to hug her all night. Now he wants her to shower with him. He always acts dramatic, and it’s her fault. He gets mad because she’s not sensitive. Ciara says, while Paige was throwing up was not the time to be an attention whore. In Paige’s interview, she says she gets Craig is having an emotional whirlwind, but crying on a Saturday night because he misses his mom? And then he says she’s not comforting enough. Where was he when she was throwing up his dinner. The girls laugh, and Craig finally wanders in to get Paige, who says, he’s so dramatic sometimes.
Drinking commences immediately in the morning, and Amanda digs around in the freezer for her face roller. Gabby volunteers to do the inflatables and jungle juice, and Sam says she’ll do the lanterns and smaller decorations. They all work on setting up for the party, and Paige instructs Craig to make the door look like a lion’s mouth the guests will walk through. Amanda tells Kyle that her body knows it’s the last weekend. She doesn’t think she should feel like this after just a few drinks yesterday. Kyle says, Craig was in tears. He thinks Craig is realizing the possibility of an engagement is further away then he thought. He doesn’t know what to tell him. Lindsay and Carl come up the drive, and Lindsay says, it’s the last time they’ll be driving up this driveway this summer. They go into the house.
Next time – finally, the finale – goodbye to the summer of ’22; a conga line; Craig says his ultimate goal is to get closer to an engaemtn; Mya asks why Olivier cheated on her; Kyle tells Amanda that Lindsay doesn’t think her friendship with Danielle is repairable; and Danielle calls Lindsay a monster.
🍀 Here’s Hoping…
Catch the Ryan’s Hope reunion on May 17th at 3 pm.
Join me tomorrow for soap and those awful women in New Jersey, because the Hamptons isn’t enough. Until then, stay safe, stay making sure others know you appreciate them, and stay remembering, nothing cuts the tension like $23K.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
Since it was the premiere, I figured I’d throw in a quickie.
Fear the Walking Dead
Morgan made it to Padre, but not the way he wanted to. More than a place, Padre is also a dude. Morgan sat in an interrogation room, Madison leaning against the wall. Speaking over an intercom, Padre said they wanted Morgan to be a collector, and a steampunkish woman put a baby monitor on the table. A baby started crying, and Morgan wondered why the parents weren’t brought in, but Padre said, the parents didn’t want to build something better, but wanted to rebuild what they’d had, but they couldn’t. Morgan said, someone should comfort her, but Padre said, she’d do what the other children did to survive; separate herself from her emotions. Morgan said she sounded scared. Knowing it must be Mo, he said, let him take his daughter and go, but Padre said, they were doing what was best for her, not Morgan. Morgan jumped up, knocking out a guard and grabbing a gun. He accused Madison of being with Padre, but Madison joined him, saying she was going to do what she said she was. He asked if she was sure, and she said there was nothing worse they could do to her than what she was already living.
In (at?) Padre, we were introduced to Dove and Wren, who were about 15 and 8 respectively. Wren put on protective clothing and went into a ring to fight a zombie. She had some flashbacks of zombies in a swamp, and froze, the zombie getting the better of her. She called to Dove for help, and after rescuing her, Dove said Wren was too young for this. Wren insisted she just needed some training, and offered to do Dove’s chores in return. In the city, some kind of troop or scout leader shouted things like, who sustains our way of life? Who is teaching us to be strong? after which, the group said, Padre! Madison was being kept in a cell in the basement, which looked pretty bleak. The door had a dirty, round window, and one of those slots they feed prisoners through. Wren brought down an oxygen tank, and Madison called her closer. When Wren opened the slot, Madison tried to grab her, and she ran. Later, while Madison was putting lines on the wall to mark the days, steampunk woman came in, saying, it was that time of the week. She gave Madison a shot in an arm scarred with previous shots, and Madison grabbed her gun. Putting it in her mouth, Madison tried to shoot herself, but the woman said there was no ammunition in it. She sedated Madison, and said, they knew what Madison wanted was to die, but in Padre, that wasn’t going to happen.
Wren told Dove that she wanted to go to the mainland to build their future, but Dove said the only thing out there was carrion with teeth. Wren asked about Madison, lying to Dove, and saying she’d come upon Madison’s cell by accident. Dove said her name was Lark and she’d been a collector. She’d saved more kids than anyone, until she helped a guy and his kid get off the island. She took out twelve guards with a sledgehammer, and twice as many carrion. She almost killed Padre.
Wren snuck down to see Madison, and asked if Madison would teach her how to kill carrion. She needed to show Padre that she wasn’t too young to wear the mantle. Madison said she wanted something in return; she wanted the oxygen valve turned off. Wren said she knew Madison wanted to die, and Madison said she’d already done what she set out to do. Madison told her to let the weight of the hammer do the work, and after Wren made an unsuccessful attempt at a swing, Madison asked her to come closer; she’d show her. Madison grabbed the hammer through the slot and got the door open, but Wren knocked Madison back into the cell and down. Madison noticed a scar on Wren, and asked where she’d gotten it. Wren said she’d had it since she was little, and Madison asked how old she was. Wren said she was 8, and Madison said Wren’s name was Mo. She’d helped Mo and her father escape. That’s why she was locked up. She took Mo and walked out, threatening to kill Mo if the guards came closer. Madison knocked out all the guards with the sledgehammer, and told Mo that she was taking her as far away from Padre as possible.
Madison drove Mo in a boat for a while, and heard they were looking for her over the radio. She told Mo that she’d made a promise to Mo’s father, and intended to keep it. They were going to find her dad. They got out, and started hiking, and Mo pretended to get stuck in some mud. When Madison went to help, Mo knocked Madison down, and grabbed the radio. Madison followed Mo, but lost her gun, and told Mo that they had to go inland. Mo said, Madison needed oxygen, but Madison said she could handle herself. Mo wouldn’t be able to handle the dead. Zombies were coming, and Mo tried to face one, but had another swamp flashback and froze. Madison killed the zombie, and Morgan came out of the brush. Madison told Mo that he was her dad, and asked Morgan why Mo was back in Padre. How did he find them? He said he’d heard the chatter on the walkies, and this was where they’d escaped 7 years ago. He was here to take Mo back. They kept walking until they got to Pip’s World of Wonders, a deserted fairground. I love a deserted fairground.
When Padre radioed, Morgan took the radio from Madison, identified himself as Nightingale, and said he had Wren. Madison was like, what just happened? and Morgan said she’d been locked away a long time. Madison asked what they were holding over him, but Morgan said Mo was better off with them than him. Mo said she wanted to go back, and Morgan said, this was about what was best for his kid. After a brief struggle, Morgan said that Madison was only doing this to make herself feel better about the other kids she took. Morgan radioed that he had Wren, and was told, Lark (Madison) was no longer needed, and was now a liability to the settlement. Morgan told Mo to go elsewhere, and was about to shoot Madison, saying, if he didn’t do it, they might not let Mo back in, and it’s what Madison wanted anyway. Madison got Morgan down and got his gun, insisting she was going to save them, but Morgan said they didn’t need saving. Zombies started to come, and Morgan said they’d go through the swamp; the swamps were like flypaper to the zombies. They come in, but they can’t get back out. I’d say that was more of a roach motel. Who still uses flypaper? As they walked, Madison asked if they had Grace, and if that was why Morgan was doing what they wanted. She told Mo, that’s what they did. They found out what mattered and threatened to take it away. Morgan said, they could provide a way of life that works. Hearing Morgan’s name, Mo asked, what kind of a name was that? and Madison said, it was Mo’s name too. They told Madison that they’d go after her kids if she didn’t do what they wanted. Her kids were already dead, but Padre made her believe they were alive. Morgan says, when he and Mo were found, they were out of food and water, and at the mercy of a posse. It was only a matter of time before things ended. A flare went up, and Morgan asked for the radio, but Madison threw it in the swamp instead.
Madison said they had to find shelter, and Morgan said he knew a place. They came to a slowly sinking houseboat, and Mo flashed back to being there before with zombies surrounding it, and asked if something had happened to her here. Morgan said, the less she knew, the better. They needed to stay ahead of them. When they got to the houseboat, Morgan said, Padre was going to come looking for them when they didn’t show up at the estuary. He saw Madison’s arm, and she said, they drew her blood once a week. Sometimes she didn’t cooperate. He told her that he was sorry; he didn’t know they’d locked her up. He’d given himself a set of rules. He only took kids who’d lost their parents or whose parents wanted them to have a better way of life. Madison asked what Padre thought of that, but he said, they didn’t know. She asked, who else was on the rafts? and he said he didn’t know where Daniel and Luciana ended up, and no one knew where Victor was now. Mo looked around the houseboat, picking various things up, but Morgan wouldn’t give her any information about what anything was. She found the Walkman and listened to Grace singing. Morgan said, it was nothing, just a song, but Mo said, it wasn’t. She remembered.
Mo said, the zombies were going to pull them under. She remembered. Madison shouldn’t have taken her off the island. As zombies closed in, Mo got Morgan’s gun, but Morgan promised Mo that Padre would find them before anything happened. Mo said Madison wanted to die; now she was going to get them killed. Morgan said they were going to wait for Padre; this is how they were found last time. He’d radioed and told them to come. Madison said they didn’t have a radio this time, and Morgan said, there were as many zombies in the back of the boat. Madison said she’d draw their attention, while he and Mo got away, and Mo said, this is what happened last time, isn’t it? and Morgan said, yes, and he was sorry. Madison banged the sledgehammer against the outside of the boat, bringing the zombies to her. Mo said they couldn’t leave her behind, but Madison told them to go. Mo’s foot got stuck for real in the swamp, and as Morgan fought off zombies, she flashed back to the first rescue there. Madison started banging the boat again and yelling, over here! Morgan said he didn’t think Padre was coming this time, and just as the zombies were about to overpower Madison, Grace sped up the swamp in a boat, shooting all the zombies.
Grace said she got here as fast as she could ,and Mo asked who she was. Grace said, her mother. Now let’s get the hell out of here. She’d heard the radio chatter when Madison escaped, then heard Nightingale’s message. She figured they’d go to the houseboat. Mo said, Grace was the one singing, and Grace said, it was a long time ago. Mo needed to put that out of her mind. Mo said they didn’t have to go back. Seven years ago, Morgan almost died saving her. They could do this. Padre’s been lying to her, saying Morgan was selfish and couldn’t make hard calls, but he did before and did just now. Madison could come with them. Madison said she’d only slow them down, and Mo asked, what about the other kids she’d rescued from Padre? but Madison said she couldn’t help them. Mo asked, why not, since Madison had helped her, and Grace said, it may not be that simple. They hear boats coming, and Grace said she’d radioed Padre, and they were coming. Morgan said, Padre could protect Mo in ways they couldn’t, and it wasn’t up for debate. Grace said. Mo had to go back, but Mo said she wouldn’t go back. She knew something had been missing, and it was her parents. Morgan said they weren’t her parents. Her parents were Isaac and Rachel, and they were dead. He’d made them a promise a long time ago to take care of her, and that’s why she was going back to Padre. Madison said they had a chance to be with their daughter, and they were throwing it away, but Morgan told her to run and not to make it harder than it was. Mo told her to save herself, so she could save others, but Madison said she wasn’t going to make it. Mo said, she had to try, but it was too late.
Some boats came, and Madison was grabbed by guards. Steampunk woman told Madison not to worry; she still had use for her. Madison told Mo to remember what she’d shown her, and the Padre people took Mo and Madison away. Morgan said, at least they got to see her, and Grace said, that’s what made it so hard. Grace started to leave, and Morgan asked steampunk woman what his next assignment was. She told Morgan that he was being retired as a collector. They’d invested too much in Mo. They were afraid she and Morgan might cross paths again, and now she knew he was her father. He knew what was best for her now, but that might not always be the case. She told the guards to take him away.
In Padre, Mo sat in the interrogation room, and over the intercom, Padre said, sometimes we have to learn a lesson the hard way. He was just glad she was okay. He felt she was going to play a crucial role in the next steps the settlement was about to take.
Mo told Dove that she shouldn’t have gone. She wanted to be a part of what Padre was building Lark showed her what was out there. Lark showed her how lucky she is to be here.
Padre’s voice said he was glad to hear that; they needed people like her. That’s why he was going to let this transgression slide, but future transgressions would bring harsh consequences.
Dove said she hoped Mo learned her lesson, and Mo said she did. Getting in the same arena where she faltered the last time, Mo creamed a zombie.
Padre asked if he’d have to worry about her again, but Mo said, no, sir. He asked if he had her word, and she said, yes, sir.
In the arena, Mo smiled, but then kept it to herself.
Next time, Mo says, something bad happened in there; an army gathers to fight Padre; Morgan and Mo are reunited; Padre comes after Morgan; and lots of zombies.
To All the Moms biological or not, Stepmoms, Moms-To-Be, Mother Figures, and of course Pet Moms…
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Nina meets Ava at The Savoy, where a martini is waiting. Ava says, let’s get the party started, and Nina sit next to her at the bar. Ava says, Trina and Liesl are home, which means Willow has a donor. What should they drink to first?… She says, Nina doesn’t look like she’s in the mood to celebrate anything. What’s wrong?
Carly and Drew walk hand in hand at the hospital, and Carly tells him, she has to say, their relationship being out in the open… He says, makes the whole SEC investigation worth it? and she tells him that she wouldn’t say that, but it is the one silver lining. They hug, and Josslyn walks in. She says, don’t mind her, and hugs Drew, telling him, welcome home. He says he’s so glad to be here; she has no idea. She says, seeing him is like confirmation everything is going to be okay, and thanks him.
Dex comes out onto the hospital roof, and checks a text: Need to meet ASAP. GH roof.
Michael looks in on Willow, when his phone rings. A text says: I’m here. He flashes back to Willow saying the conflict between him and Sonny affects everybody they love. He remembers telling Sonny that eventually Sonny will be forgotten, like he never existed, Sonny replying, he’ll always love Michael, but if he wants Sonny to forgive, he’ll have to pay.
Frank lets Valentin into Sonny’s office, and Sonny says, hail the conquering hero. Valentin says, Sonny can just call. He doesn’t have to send his staff. Sonny says he doesn’t want to inconvenience Valentin, but there are some matters they have to discuss, and no one’s leaving this room until they do that.
Carly asks if Josslyn talked to Trina, but Josslyn says, she’s with her mom and dad. Trina texted her that she and Spencer are alive and back in Port Charles. She thanks Drew, saying, he rescued her best friends, but he says, it was a huge team effort. Spencer and Trina were pretty heroic themselves. Josslyn says, they’re so grateful he was able to get Dr. Obrecht back in time to save Willow. Seriously, he’s a hero. Drew tells her not to get carried away, but Carly says, Josslyn’s right, even though he didn’t get the hero’s welcome he deserved. Josslyn asks, why? What happened?
Nina says she really appreciates Ava coming out with her tonight, but maybe she should go see Trina. Nina knows how worried Ava was. Ava says, she’s safe and with her parents. They should celebrate. At the very least, they should raise a glass to Nina’s Aunt Liesl. She survived being kidnapped by Victor Cassadine – again – and she made it home in time to save Willow’s life. Nina says, yes. Her Aunt Liesl had the procedure to donate her bone marrow, and Willow’s going to have the transplant as soon as she completes her chemotherapy. Ava says, that’s wonderful. Why so glum? Nina says, this morning, Willow offered a way for her to make peace, and Ava says, another reason to celebrate. Nina says, it would be, except she already screwed it up.
Obrecht knocks on Willow’s window, and the phone next to Willow’s bed rings. Willow picks it up, and says, hello, Aunt Liesl. Obrecht says she’s sorry she kept Willow waiting, but she was abducted by a homicidal madman, and Willow tells her, don’t let it happen again. Obrecht says, don’t worry; it won’t. Willow says she’s just glad Obrecht is all right, and Obrecht says, she, too, is quite pleased by her survival. It was a great relief to donate her bone marrow today. Willow says, so it’s done? and Obrecht says, yes. Willow asks if she’s okay, and Obrecht says she had the easy part. She was under anesthesia. Aside from some mild soreness, she feels absolutely fine. Willow tells her that she doesn’t know what to say. Thank you doesn’t even cover it. She starts to cry and says, she’ll be able to watch her children grow up… Grow old with Michael. She’ll be alive, all thanks to Obrecht. Obrecht says she did what she had to. After all, Willow is her family.
Michael comes out on the roof, and thanks Dex for helping Josslyn bring Wiley and Amelia to the hospital. It meant a lot to the both of them. Dex says he’s glad to help. How’s Willow doing? Michael says, she’s tough. She’s determined to pull through for her family. But true to form, she’s more concerned about others than herself, which is why he called Dex here. Dex says he thinks he knows what Michael is going to say. He’ll admit, he thought Michael would want to wait until his wife was better to turn Sonny in… Is there another problem?
Sonny says, he spoke to Anna, and she told him how Valentin got Trina and Spencer and Liesl home. Valentin says, Victor was his father. It was kind of on him to stop Victor, and Sonny says, he’s the reason Nina got her aunt back, and now Willow’s going to get her bone marrow transplant that he hopes saves her life. Valentin says he’s just glad Liesl made it back in time, and Sonny says, Valentin stepped up. He’s not going to forget that. Valentin says he appreciates that, and Sonny says, now can they get to how Valentin’s associates nearly go him and his people killed?
Valentin says he’d never get in the way of Sonny’s operation, much less harm his people, and Sonny says, let him explain the new developments in the Pikeman deal, which Valentin facilitated. It seems like he left out a few important details. Valentin says, with respect, he told Sonny everything he knows. He’s just a middleman; they’re not going to give him specifics. Sonny says, Valentin went on the run after that, so let him fill Valentin in. He was preparing for the first shipment, and a sniper tried to take him out. Fortunately, he missed. When they were discussing this deal, Valentin said something about there being significant risks. Was that code? Did he or did he not know that Sonny could have a target on his back? Doesn’t Sonny always have a target on his back? He is a mob boss.
Willow says she’s grateful for everything Obrecht is doing and has done, and Obrecht says, Willow doesn’t really know her, certainly not well. She understands Willow’s fear that accepting her into her life means accepting Nina, who she thinks she does know well. But she wants Willow to know she has no agenda. Regardless of how Willow feels about her, she considers Willow family. Obrecht has lost almost all her relatives. When that happens, we tend to latch on to whatever family we have left. Sometimes we even put too much pressure on those relationships. Willow asks if that’s a hint for her to be more receptive to Nina, but Obrecht shakes her head, and says, there will a time and place for Willow to consider what role, if any, she wants Nina to have in her life. It doesn’t matter right now. The important thing is that Willow heal, so that someday she may have the opportunity to make that decision and a lifetime of other, happier ones. Willow says she can’t make any promises about Nina. Right now, she’s just praying she comes out the other side of this. Obrecht says, she will, and Willow says, she sounds so certain. Why? Obrecht says, because she’s aware of the tribulations Willow has endured in her life. Tell her. Does it annoy Willow when people assume she’s fragile? Or does she use it to her advantage, so they underestimate her? Willow says she doesn’t know that she’s ever thought about it that way, and Obrecht says, no matter. She sees Willow for the strong woman she is. Even in this weakened state, it’s obvious. She is a survivor. She knows, because it’s in Willow’s blood.
Nina tells Ava, her daughter asked her for a favor, which she’s never done before, so she thinks that’s a step forward. Ava says, it sounds promising. What was the favor? Nina says, unfortunately, it’s something she can’t give Willow, and Ava asks what she wants. Nina says, Willow wants her to drop her vendetta against Carly, and Ava says, that’s all? She fails to see the problem here. She knows how much Nina hates Carly, but compared to having a relationship with her daughter… Do this for Willow. Lay down her arms. Nina says, it’s too late. She made sure of that when she ratted out Drew and Carly to the SEC.
Drew says, then Diane showed up, and she kind of shut the whole thing down, at least for now. Josslyn says she can’t believe they dragged Drew out of there after he risked his life to rescue Victor’s hostages, and he says, the important thing is, they haven’t been charged with anything; this is an ongoing investigation. Carly says, that’s right, and Diane’s on her way here now to discuss the case, and Josslyn says, if Diane’s on it, she’s not going to worry too much. Carly says, Josslyn needs to know, while the SEC is conducting the investigation, her accounts and assets are frozen, and Josslyn asks if Carly needs her to get money from her trust fund, but Carly says, no. She just wants Josslyn to be aware. She doesn’t want Josslyn worrying about her, because Diane is on it, and they’re going to figure it out. Josslyn wonders how long it’s going to take, but Drew says, unfortunately, there’s no way to tell. His phone rings, and he says, it’s the lawyers from Aurora; he has to take it. He steps away, and Josslyn says, it’s really great to see Carly and Drew together out in the open. She can tell Carly is happy, despite everything. Carly says, they are. Speaking of a secret relationship being out in the open, does Josslyn want to talk about showing up here with Dex?
Michael says he’s decided he’s not using the Pikeman evidence against Sonny, and Dex asks if Michael found something else to use against him. Michael says he’s not turning Sonny in at all, and Dex says, why not? Michael says, Willow helped him realize, by sending Sonny to prison, he’ll just be tearing his family apart, and Dex says, Michael told him that he’d be willing to accept that. Michael says, for himself, but not for his siblings. Josslyn wants to see Sonny face justice, but Kristina would never forgive him. And Donna and Avery will be stuck in the middle. It’s not fair to make them choose between Josslyn and Kristina, or him and his father. Dex says, Michael is the boss. He has the right to change his mind. But he was hired to do a job. A job he’s risked his life for a year now getting done. He’s been shot, hung from a meat hook, and threatened with torture. He’s had to spend every day with the knowledge that if Sonny finds out he’s working against him, he’s dead. He knew there were risks when he started working for Michael, but decided it was worth it. (Well, shut up then.) He’s since come to understand Sonny better, but that doesn’t change anything for him. His options are limited here. Michael says he knows he put Dex in a tough spot, and he’s sorry, but for his family’s sake, he can’t turn Sonny in. Dex says, great. He’s really happy for all of them, but where does that leave him? The way he sees it, he only has two options here. He keeps working for Sonny indefinitely, or he puts Sonny away. Michael says, there is one more option. He disappears. Um… How about Dex tells Sonny that he can’t work for him because of Josslyn? I hate when they give Sonny no credit for being a somewhat understanding guy.
Valentin says, Pikeman has a lot of enemies. The kind of people who are going to want to keep Pikeman’s merchandise out of their own enemies’ hands. He didn’t know Sonny was going to be targeted, but he can’t say he’s entirely surprised. Sonny says, the Pikeman rep is cagey any time he tries to ask them for any information, and Valentin says, as with any Pikeman employee. It’s all need to know. Sonny says, the sniper was a ghost, but here’s the thing. He wasn’t a mob hitman; he was black ops.From the espionage world. Valentin’s world. Valentin says he’s not going to get Pikeman to confirm or deny that, but he has good news. He spoke to his source at Pikeman, and they’re happy with the way the shipment went down. They want to work with Sonny again. Sonny says, tell them he’s not interested.
Scotty sees Obrecht going down the hall at the hospital, and says, she’s back. She says, yes, and he says, in one piece he might add. She says she’s unharmed. She should be… He says, he moved heaven and earth to find her, and got chloroformed for his trouble. She says she heard, and he says he’s sorry he almost got her blown up, but he had to do something. She says, on the bright side, his misguided efforts to save her, effectively blew up Victor, and Scotty says, good riddance to him. She says, yes. As she said she should be… She starts walking away, but he says, wait a second. He knows they had a lot of problems before Victor grabbed her, and a lot of stuff to work out, but he thinks about her – she turns around to face him – in the morning when he wakes up, and he thinks about her before he goes to sleep, but the trouble is, he doesn’t sleep anymore. So he was wondering if she feels the same way. Not that she doesn’t sleep. He wouldn’t wish that on anybody, but maybe they could get things back on track. Is there any way things might work out with them?
Josslyn tells Carly, Dex was a big help getting the kids here, and there’s no real reason to hide their relationship anymore now that Sonny knows. Diane comes out of the elevator and walks over to them, and asks if she’s interrupting a mother/daughter catch-up. Josslyn says, nothing they can’t talk about later, and Carly says, and they will. She thanks Diane for coming here, since she didn’t want to stray too far from Willow, and Diane says she understands. Josslyn says she’ll leave them to it. She knows they have a lot to talk about. Now that she knows Diane is the one helping out, she’s sure it will be okay. Diane says she appreciates the vote of confidence, and Josslyn leaves. Diane asks, where’s Drew? and Carly says, he’s making a call. She thanks Diane for getting him released, and Diane says, it was a little too easy… Drew comes back, and thanks Diane for coming. Let’s hear it. What are he and Carly looking at? Diane says, unfortunately, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
Nina and Ava go to a table, and Nina says she hates that she turned in Carly and Drew to the SEC. She let her jealousy get the better of her for Carly becoming more of a mother to Willow. Now she did something she can’t take back. Ava says, when Willow asked her to make peace with Carly, did Nina tell her it was too late? and Nina says, not exactly. When Willow asked her to make peace with Carly, she lied a little bit, and said she wouldn’t get into it with Carly anymore. Ava says, technically, it’s not a lie though. Nina talked to the SEC before she promised Willow. Nina says, it won’t matter to Willow that she took revenge on Carly before Willow asked her not to. That loophole is not going to work for her here. Ava says, Carly will weasel her way out of it somehow. Hopefully after she’s suffered a little bit. In a way, Nina bought herself some time to find her way out of this. Nina says, that doesn’t change what she did to Drew. That man went to Greenland, he faced off with Victor Cassadine, he brought Aunt Liesl back so Willow could get a bone marrow transplant. Almost as soon as he brought Aunt Liesl back to GH, he was intercepted by the SEC. Ava says, that is not ideal, and Nina says she was there; it was horrible. Ava says, there’s nothing Nina can do. What’s done is done. She can’t change it now. Nina says, maybe so; maybe not. Ava asks what she’s thinking, and Nina says she needs to mitigate the damage here. So the only thing she can do is tell Willow the truth.
Diane says she’s been working to get Carly’s private bank accounts unfrozen. Unfortunately, the judge has ruled that they’ll remain frozen for the duration of the investigation. Drew says he’s sure he can arrange for a loan from the Quartermaine assets, but Diane says, no. She strongly advises against that. While the SEC is deciding whether he used his private relationship with Carly to divulge business secrets, how’s it going to look if he loans her money? Carly says, Diane’s right. She doesn’t want him to get in any more trouble. He asks what she needs for money, and Carly says she has some liquid assets to keep her afloat. Besides, Diane is going to get their names cleared. Diane says, about that. Unfortunately… Carly says, no. Diane’s been saying that word a lot today. Diane says she knows. She’s sorry. However, she can’t represent both of them.
Obrecht says she’s just been through a harrowing experience with Victor, and Scotty says, he knows. That’s why… She says, please, let her finish, and he says, anything you want, my schnitzel. She says she dreamed of him calling her that. She confesses that in moments her survival was in question, she did think about him. He has her heart. He takes her hand and says, she has his as well. So with that, they can probably get through anything. She says, if only it were that simple, and pulls her hand back. Her heart doesn’t belong to him alone. He shares that space with her children who are no longer with her; Nathan and Britta. He says he knows that he hurt her, and he’ll do everything he can in his power to make it up to her, but she says, sadly, he cannot. She was a captive on the Haunted Star, the very vessel where her Britta breathed her last breath. When the air strike destroyed it, she thought, it’s gone, the place where her Britta had the best night of her life, and she had her worst. She didn’t know what to think, how to feel, but Scotty was involved, no matter how inadvertently, in its destruction. And it felt like a gift. He says, maybe he did do something right, and she says he’s done many things right, but as much as she loves him, it’s hard for her to even look at him right now. All she can see is Elizabeth, and how he sided with her. And while she understands he sees Elizabeth as a daughter, she must side with the memory of hers. That is our truth, mein Lieber, and unfortunately, it doesn’t set us free. She walks away.
Michael says he’ll give Dex all the money he needs to start somewhere new. Somewhere Sonny can’t touch him. It’s the least he owes Dex. Dex says, that’s not what he agreed to. The deal was, he’d get enough evidence for Michael to put Sonny away forever, then get out of his business. Michael says, Dex did everything he asked Dex to do. He gained Sonny’s trust, he braved the brutality of Sonny’s world. He can’t thank Dex enough for all he’s done. He realizes changing the terms comes at great risk to Dex. Dex says, but Michael’s not going to change his mind, is he? and Michael says, no, he’s not. Dex says, then he’s screwed, and Michael says, Dex knew this job could go wrong a million different ways; he signed up for that too. Dex says he signed up for exactly two possible outcomes. Either Sonny goes to prison, or Sonny catches him and he winds up dead. And since option one is off the table now, the only other one is him not breathing. Michael says, there’s a way for Dex to escape with his life if he lets Michael help him get away. He’ll protect Dex from Sonny. Dex says, if he disappears, he has to say goodbye to his life, and he’s grown very attached to… to this city. Michael says, he’s grown attached to this city or attached to Josslyn?
Josslyn stands at Willow’s window, and on the phone, Willow says she’s happy to see her. Josslyn says she’s surprised Willow is even awake. How’s she feeling? Willow says, if she’s being completely honest, the chemo’s taking a lot out of her. But it will all be worth it, providing Liesl’s donation takes. Josslyn says, it will, and asks if there’s anything she can do for Willow. Willow says, tell her what’s going on. What’s happening in the outside world? Josslyn hesitates, and Willow says, it doesn’t have to be anything big. Tell her something small and personal. Like how she’s studying for her finals. Is she a flashcards or an outlines student? Josslyn laughs, and says, Willow’s lowered the bar. They can do better than that. She’s sort of seeing someone. Willow says, Michael and Carly sort of hinted she was, but didn’t give her any details. She was very annoyed they respected Josslyn’s privacy like that. So tell her. Is Josslyn seeing anyone she knows?
Sonny says, the cargo was a lot riskier than they discussed, and Valentin asks, what was the cargo? Sonny says, just one of the most powerful plastic explosives in the world. Did Valentin know that? Valentin says he knew they dealt in explosives, but he didn’t expect them to ask Sonny to traffic it. Not on his first job with them anyway. Sonny says he’s not in the market of arming terrorists, but Valentin says, he’s not. Their main client is the US military. They make limited covert exports to small countries that need to defend themselves from larger, better equipped military forces. Sonny says, meaning countries that have a vested interest in making sure Pikeman doesn’t move their merchandise, and Valentin says, and would go to extremes to eliminate anyone facilitating the move of said merchandise. Sonny says, there’s no way he’s going to sit back and be Pikeman’s collateral damage, and Valentin says, so Sonny wants him to tell them no deal?
Ava says she loves Nina, but that is a terrible idea, and Nina says, it’s the only thing she can think of. This whole thing is horrible. They froze Drew and Carly’s assets. Ava laughs, and Nina says, it’s not funny. Ava says, it’s not funny when it comes to Drew, but Carly? Considering she lost her shirt in the very deal she’s being investigated for, it’s lucky she has any assets to freeze, and it’s delicious. Nina says, Willow’s not going to see it that way. They could be facing serious prison time, and if there’s any way of salvaging this, building any kind of relationship with her daughter, she’s just going to have to come clean. She’ll have to apologize to Willow for all the pain that she’s put her and her family through. Ava says, let her remind Nina of something. None of the former or current members of the Corinthos family are forgiving people. That includes Willow. If Nina comes clean, Willow will be furious with her. Nina says, what if she finds out later? and Ava says, then she’ll be furious later. If Nina admits what she did, Carly will be out for her blood. Not to mention Michael and Drew, and the whole Quartermaine clan. And of course (🍷) there’s Sonny. Nina, who certainly can’t foresee the consequences of her actions, says, what about Sonny? and Ava says, Carly’s the mother of his children. Does Nina think he’s really going to be fine with her turning Carly over to the Feds? Nina says, he loves her, and Ava says, he does now, but when he finds out she threw Carly to the wolves, she promises Nina, that will change. Nina says she knows there’s going to be consequences. Shouldn’t she face them? Ava says, when Nina dropped the dime on Carly and Drew, was she lying? Nina says, no, and Ava says, exactly. What they did was illegal. All Nina did was report it. If they didn’t want to go to prison for insider trading, maybe they shouldn’t have done it. All Nina will get for her honesty is lifelong and very powerful enemies. She’ll lose Willow, and she’ll lose Sonny forever. Does she really want to throw away everything that makes her happy?
Willow asks Josslyn if she’s happy, and Josslyn says she is. Willow says, good, and thanks Josslyn for sharing at least that much with her. Josslyn promises to share everything eventually with Willow, and Willow says she’ll hold Josslyn to it. She thanks Josslyn for being here; it means the world. Josslyn says, it’s not just her. It’s Michael and her mom and Drew; they’re all here. All of them are going to be here for her every step of the way. Willow says, love and support from the whole family has kept her going through all of this; the way everyone’s coming together. Josslyn says, they love her, and Willow says she loves all of them too. And as nervous as she is about the transplant, she’s also feeling hopeful for all of their futures again. Josslyn tells Willow, goodbye, hangs up the phone, and then says she feels the same way.
Sonny says he wants Valentin to deliver a message from him. He might be open to another deal, one that would facilitate another shipment; the way it was before, not under these circumstances. Pikeman needs to get their affairs in order, and figure out who came after him. Then they can move forward, but not until then. Valentin says he’ll convey that message and get back to Sonny, and leaves.
Nina says, Ava brings up some good points, and Ava says, that Nina obviously hasn’t considered. Nina says, but where does she go now? Does she just go forward with this huge secret hanging over her and everyone she loves? Ava says, yep, and Nina says, what if she gets caught? Ava asks if anyone else besides her is aware Nina knew Drew and Carly were romantically involved prior to the merger, and Nina says, Martin Grey. Ava says, attorney/client privilege; he can’t say anything. Nina says, he assured her that there’s no way to trace the tip back to her, and Ava says, great. She’s not going to say anything, so good news. Nina’s already gotten away with it. She’s the last person anybody would suspect. Nina asks why Ava says that. Her animosity toward Carly isn’t a secret. Ava says, whose animosity toward Carly is a secret?Aurora’s assets were frozen too, right? And Aurora owns Crimson, so why would she undermine her own business? Nina says, that’s true, and Ava says, Nina’s gotten away with murder. Don’t tell anyone where to find the body.
Diane says she was happy to step in and get Drew released, but moving forward, it wouldn’t be in his best interest to have the same representation as Carly. Carly says she doesn’t understand. Won’t it help if they both have the same strategy? Diane says, the SEC is going to pit the two of them against each other. If this goes to trial, they’ll be separate defendants, so they should have separate attorneys fighting their respective cases. Drew says, then Diane should represent Carly, but Carly says, no. He’s the CEO of Aurora. He engineered the merger. He should have the better representation. He says, the Q’s have a shark tank full of lawyers he can use. Carly should have somebody that knows her implicitly and has represented her and her family for years. Carly asks what Diane thinks, and Diane says she thinks Drew is a very smart man who makes a compelling argument. Carly says, okay. Then that’s what they’ll do. Diane says, now that that’s settled, she’ll be in touch. In the meantime, the two of them look great together. She leaves, and Carly puts her head on Drew’s shoulder.
Nina asks if that’s Scotty, and Ava says, he has that lost puppy dog look. As he passes the table, Nina asks, what’s up? and Ava asks if he’s all right. He says he tried to mend some fences with Liesl, but they’re finished. Nina says, she’s just been through a lot, and he says he knows. He thought she might come to his waiting arms, but no such luck. Nina says, just give her some time, and Ava says, the woman obviously loves him. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be so mad at him. What did she say exactly? He says, she told him that their truth does not set them free, which it seems to him means, if you love somebody and mess with the family, there is no coming back.
Carly asks how Drew thinks the SEC is going to pit them against each other, and he says, if they want to play dirty, let them. They can handle whatever the SEC throws at them. The way he sees it, they can take on the world as long as they’re together. They hug.
Scotty tells Nina and Ava that he’s not good company. He’s going to go have some martinis. He heads for the bar, and Ava asks Nina, so what are we doing here? Celebrating, or is Nina planning on ruining her relationship with Willow? Nina says, Ava’s right. She can’t tell Willow that she turned in Carly and Drew to the SEC. Ava says, exactly. Trust her. Nothing good will come of Nina clearing her conscience. Ava lifts her glass, and says, to seeing reason. Everything is going Nina’s way. Liesl is going to save Willow’s life; Carly and Drew will face the consequences of their actions. The best thing for Nina to do is to keep her mouth shut and her eyes forward. Nina lifts her glass, and says, and hope for the best. They clink glasses and drink.
Josslyn comes to the roof, and hugs Dex, asking why he needed to see her. What’s going on? He tells her that he has to say goodbye.
There’s a knock at Sonny’s office door, and he says, come in. Frank says, Sonny has another visitor, but Sonny says he’s not expecting one. Frank says, he’ll want to see this one, and Sonny says, send him in. Frank leaves, and Michael walks in.
On Monday, Lucy asks if Sasha is absolutely sure she’s ready for all of this; Josslyn says she’s going with Dex; Drew tells Nina, it’s just not an option; and Michael tells Sonny that they need things to change before it’s too late.
I love this show. I’m almost done with Season 2, and it’s even better than Season 1. It can be borderline Disney, but not in a bad way. And it’s something different.
We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. – Immanuel Kant
I’ll join this conversation on the proviso that we stop bitching about people, talking about wigs, dresses, bust sizes, penises, drugs, night clubs, and bloody Abba! – Bernadette (Terrence Stamp), Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better. – Robert F. Kennedy
Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained. – Marie Curie
A leader is a dealer in hope. – Napoleon Bonaparte
The pendulum of the mind alternates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong. – Carl Jung
His first word was a paragraph. – Rosetta McMillan (Cleo King), Mike & Molly
I believe in Liberty for all men: the space to stretch their arms and their souls, the right to breathe and the right to vote, the freedom to choose their friends, enjoy the sunshine, and ride on the railroads, uncursed by color; thinking, dreaming, working as they will in a kingdom of beauty and love. – W.E.B. DuBois
🤹🏽♀️ A Mother Of a Day…
Follow the breadcrumbs back on Monday really Tuesday for soap, Sailing, and Summer smack talk. Fear the Walking Dead begins Sunday, so we’ll see on that. Mondays is rough. Until then, stay safe, stay loving your mom even if it has to be from a distance, and stay not messing with the family of somebody you love. There might be no coming back.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Tracy says she recalls Brook saying she owed her when she helped Chase get reinstated, and she wondered when Tracy was going to ask her to pay up. Brook says, right, and Tracy accused her of being like her father, only thinking in terms of money and stock market shenanigans. Tracy says, relax. She’s not going to ask Brook for money or stock, but she has thought of something Brook can do for her that will settle the account. Brook says she really does want to pay Tracy back, but right now’s not the right time, with Willow’s life hanging by a thread, and Michael needing their love and support. Everyone’s distracted. It’s not the time for her to take on a new project. Tracy says, exactly. The family is distracted. It’s the perfect time for Brook to do something without attracting unwanted attention from her nearest and dearest. And lucky for Brook, Tracy knows exactly how she’s going to do it.
Sasha says, Maxie wants her to take her place on the Home & Heart shopping channel? Go back on the same show where she had a nervous breakdown on national TV? Maxie says she wouldn’t be asking, but she has this stupid sinus infection, and Sasha is the only one who can step in and tell everyone about the wonders of their beauty breakthrough, The Deceptor. Gladys says, what about Lucy? and Maxie says, the whole world thought she was dead. Knowing Lucy, she would feel the need to explain she wasn’t really dead; she was being held captive by Victor Cassadine. She would make the whole thing about herself and the product would get lost. No. No, Gladys. It has to be Sasha. Sasha says, her last appearance was a literal nightmare. She hallucinated Liam, which almost cost them the company, not to mention the toll it took on her mental health. Besides, she can’t imagine Home & Heart would want her back on the air. She’s sorry, but… Maxie says, if she says no… She’ll forgive Sasha, but there is one person who never will.
At The Savoy, N’neka places a glass in front of Selina, and says, her usual, the house mocktail with a twist of lime. Selina says, it’s kind of her to remember. As for her private party… N’neka says she has instructions to reserve the backroom for her nephew’s birthday party, and Selina says, excellent. Then everything’s being taken care of. Cody comes over, and says, not everything. She still needs someone who knows his way around a deck of cards. He produces a Jack of Hearts playing card.
Chase walks into the squad room, and everyone applauds. He and Dante bro hug, and says, it’s good to be back. He finds a card alongside a Red Sox mug on his desk, and says, here he wondered if anyone cared he was back to work. Dante pulls out a stack of folders, and says he especially cares, because these are for Chase. He puts them on Chase’s desk and says, have at it. Chase opens the first folder and sees Cody’s picture, and Dante asks how it feels. Chase says, honestly? It kind of feels like he never left. Why isn’t Dante at GH? Dante says he was, but Willow’s in isolation now. There’s only so many times he can tell Michael, it’s going to be okay. Chase asks how Willow is doing, and Dante says, she’s weak, but everyone is optimistic because Drew’s back with Obrecht. Chase says, the bone marrow transplant’s going to work, and Dante says, here’s hoping. In the meantime, he’s going to distract himself with work. Chase asks if he needs help, and Dante points to the pile, and says, those. Chase says, things look pretty bad for Dante’s friend Cody, but Dante says, sometimes things aren’t always what they seem.
Portia says, Trina finally made it home, and Taggert says, and they have Curtis to thank for that, going over to Curtis and shaking his hand. Curtis says, it wasn’t just him. It took a whole team to make this happen. Laura says, yes, it took all of them, and Trina says she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Curtis, Laura, and all the others, but most especially, she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Spencer. Well, technically, she wouldn’t have been there if it wasn’t for Spencer. Taggert says, Curtis is right. Trina’s safe and so are all the other people who could have been hurt if Victor had his way. Spencer says, the good thing is, Uncle Victor didn’t get his way, and Laura says, amen to that. Now it’s time to focus on the living, starting with her sweet little grandson, who hopefully will be growing up in a much better world. First of all, they need to have him checked out to make sure he didn’t suffer any injuries during his captivity or rescue. Portia says, of course (🍷). She’ll take Laura to pediatrics. Laura says, that’s okay. They’re waiting for them. Trina asks if Spencer wants her to come, and he says, thanks, but he thinks his grandmother can handle this. He thinks it’s probably best that Trina be with her family right now. They leave for pediatrics, and Portia tells Trina, despite everything Spencer’s baby brother has gone through, he’s far too young to understand everything that’s happening, so she thinks he’s going to be fine. On the other hand, Portia needs to make sure her little baby girl is all right. Trina says, she’s fine, but there’s one thing she needs, and Portia says, anything. Trina says she needs to talk to her dad.
Sasha wonders who wouldn’t forgive her for not going on Home & Heart. Is Maxie talking about Valentin, or one of the other investors? She embarrassed them once, and won’t risk another meltdown on air. Maxie says, if Sasha doesn’t get back on that horse, or bicycle, or any metaphor she wants to use, the only person who’s never going to forgive her is her. The last time, she was in a really bad place, and Maxie saw her get through that. She knows Sasha is much stronger than she’s ever been before. She wouldn’t be asking Sasha to do this if she didn’t fully believe that. Let’s be real. Sasha’s not just another person in this company; she’s the Face of Deception. And while it’s true, some people get a twisted thrill out of watching others fall down, what people love even more is a redemption story. There’s not a woman out there who didn’t feel Sasha’s pain, and they want to see she’s come back from that. She absolutely cannot say no. Gladys says, maybe Sasha can’t say no, but she can.
Cody holds out the card, and says, it’s Selina’s for the taking. She says, if that’s supposed to be his calling card, it should be a Joker. As for tonight’s poker game, his presence won’t be required. He says, since when? and she says, her guests enjoy playing for high stakes, not with known common criminals. Not only was he foolish enough to steal a bracelet at the Nurses Ball, he made it worse by getting caught. He says he’s innocent, and she says, for his sake, she hopes that’s true. Prison can be so confining. Regardless, didn’t he recently tell her that he wanted out of the game? He says he did, but times change. Defense attorneys don’t come cheap. Have a heart and let him play for his usual cut. She says, he may dream big, but at the end of the day, he’s just a petty thief, and there’s just no room at the table for that.
Chase asks if Dante buys that someone planted a bracelet in Cody’s pocket, and Dante says, ever since he’s known Cody, he’s been in trouble; trouble finds him. When he landed in town last year, Dante thought maybe he left all that behind, but maybe he’s still working angles whenever he can. However, this friendship with Sasha seems legit. Why would he steal her mother-in-law’s bracelet and hide it in his coat pocket? It’s ridiculous. Chase asks if Cody wasn’t friends with Britt Westbourne. Didn’t that involve some jewelry too? Dante says, yeah, but sometimes people do the wrong things for the right reasons. He gets that, and thinks Chase is familiar with that concept as well.
Brook says, helping Chase get his badge back is worth any price, and Tracy says she wants Brook to go back to Deception, the sooner, the better. Brook says, Tracy wants her to get her old job back? and Tracy says, she didn’t burn any bridges when she left, did she? Brook says, no, of course (🍷) not. Those women are all her friends, but she only started working there in the first place to help Maxie. Brook was pretending to be Bailey Lou’s mother, and the only time Maxie could see her child was when Brook brought her to daycare at work. Tracy says, and when Maxie got her child back, Brook stayed at Deception, correct? and Brook says she did. She liked working there; the people, the products… But it’s not what she wants to do with her life. Her passion is music, or doesn’t Tracy remember telling her as a kid not to follow in her dear old dad’s footsteps when he was singing as Eddie Maine? It’s a good thing she didn’t take Tracy’s advice. Not only has she reclaimed the rights to her songs, but all these opportunities are opening up for her now; to produce music and rep musicians. Tracy says, Brook can write all the songs she wants after Brook does this for her, and Brook asks, what part of I quit is unclear to her? Tracy says, unquit. Tell Maxie that she misses working with her. Make nice to Sasha, and God forbid, flatter Lucy Coe. Tell Lucy she wants to learn from her. Brook says, this doesn’t make any sense. Why does Tracy care if she works at a cosmetics company? What is she really after? Tracy says she wants Brook to make herself indispensable, and Brook says she always tries to do that. Tracy says, while she’s at it, keep her eyes open. She wants Brook to find out what’s happening at Research and Development. She doesn’t want to know what the next hot thing for summer is, or what’s going to sell in the fall. She wants to know what’s down the pipeline. Brook says she doesn’t get it. Tracy doesn’t care about ELQ, and now all of a sudden she’s into the cosmetics biz? Tracy tells her, let’s just say I’m curious. From time to time, she’ll check in with Brook, and Brook will tell her what the next big thing is. Brook can do that for her, can’t she? After what she did for Chase? Does that sound like a fair deal to her? Brook says, it sounds like corporate espionage. Is Tracy asking Brook to be her personal spy?
Chase says he’s mad his share of mistakes, but stealing expensive jewelry isn’t one of them, and Dante says, that’s good. It’s also good to have him back. Chase says he didn’t do it on his own; he had help. Dante says, so he and Brook… and Chase says, if Dante were to ask him before the Nurses Ball, he would have said, no way. Dante says, but after she did that thing, standing up to her dirtbag ex-manager? and Chase says, it saved him the trouble of smacking the guy again. Not that he would have. Dante says, never, and Chase tells him, it’s like Dante said about Cody. Sometimes you do the wrong thing for the right reasons.
Cody says, if Selina vouches for him, the other players will come around, and she says, what keeps the poker games running smoothly and profitably is avoiding the curious eyes of authorities. And yet he expects her to allow a common jewel thief to sit at the table? How can she explain that to her guests? How could she retain their trust? He says, by telling them the truth. She says, and what is that? and he says, that he’s not a thief. He was framed.
Gladys says she’s sorry, but she can’t let Maxie use her daughter-in-law to sell some newfangled beauty product; not when her mental health is at stake. Sasha thanks Gladys for standing up for her, but she knows Maxie means well. Gladys says, maybe if it was a different show or a different studio, but to go back to the same place where Sasha had her breakdown? She won’t agree to that. Maxie says, Gladys is actually proving her point. It is Sasha’s well-being she’s thinking about. She needs to face her fears by doing the same show. Gladys says, what if she’s not ready? and Maxie says, isn’t that for Sasha to decide? Sasha asks if Maxie is sure no one else can make this presentation, and Maxie says, she and Sasha are the only ones who’ve been following this product since its planning stages. Nobody knows how to sell it like they do. She wishes she were up to the challenge, but her sinuses are holding her back. But Sasha is up for it. Maxie knows she is. Sasha says, maybe Maxie is right. Maybe the only way to conquer her fear is to face it. Gladys says, legally, it’s up to her to decide, and she won’t let Sasha do it.
Portia asks if Curtis is sure he doesn’t need to see a doctor, but he says, it’s just cuts and bruises. She really should see the other guy. She says she wasn’t only worried for Trina. If anything had happened to him, she doesn’t know… He says, it’s over, and she says, is it?
On the phone, Laura says, they’re all here at the hospital. She thinks they really want to be here.
Spencer promises Ace that this exam is not going to hurt, when Laura walks in, and asks how Ace is doing. Spencer says, he’s good. He was telling Ace that when Laura used to take him to the doctor, she told him if he was good he’d get a lollipop. He wishes things were still that simple. She says, they’re not that simple because things change, but some things never do. She produces a lollipop. Presumably for Spencer, since Ace is way too young for that.
Taggert and Trina go to Portia’s office, and he says, it’s just the two of them. Does she need to tell him something about this Spencer boy? She says, this isn’t about Spencer; it’s about him and her. She wanted to tell him first what she’s decided, because it could impact him more than anyone else. He asks what she’s decided, and she says she’s changed her mind. She wants to take the DNA test and find out the truth. She wants to be absolutely clear. No matter what the test results say, Taggert is still her dad. He says, like he’d let her forget that, and she says she’s serious. He says he was just trying to make it easier for her, but can he ask her why she changed her mind? She says, because of the last few days, and everything she’s been through. When things were at their worst, she saw how Spencer loved his little brother. It reminded her there’s nothing more important than family. That’s when she made the decision that if she made it through, she wasn’t going to let secrets come between her and her family ever again. He says, like her mom did, and she says, twenty years ago, her mother swept things under the rug because she was afraid to face the truth. And one day in the future, hopefully she’ll forgive her mom, but Trina’s not repeating her mistake. They all need answers, and she’s the only one who can get them.
Portia says, when Curtis walked through the door, her heart skipped a beat. Just the thought that she might never see him again… He says he’s not going to lie. There were times out there when he thought he wasn’t going to make it. Hursley comes out of the elevator, and says, Curtis Ashford? Curtis asks, who wants to know? and Hursley says he’s an agent with the WSB, showing Curtis his ID. Curtis says he was already debriefed in Greenland, but Hursley says, not by him. Can he ask Curtis to join him for some additional questions? I wonder if coffee comes with that, and Curtis says, okay, let’s get it over with. They go into the elevator, and Curtis looks at Portia as the doors close.
Brook says she can’t be back at Deception, unless Tracy wants her employee discount for wrinkle cream. Tracy says she doesn’t have wrinkles; she has character. (She does look amazing, and aging naturally, thank you.) The only interest she has in cosmetics is lining her pockets with green. Brook can have all the music she wants, but this way, she can also have health insurance. It sounds like a win-win to her. Brook says, not a chance. She doesn’t know what Tracy is actually up to, but music is her life. Tracy laughs, and says, so Brook is telling her that Chase has no part in it. She called Tracy in tears. She begged Tracy to help her because the Board was about to deny his request for reinstatement. Brook says she’s repeatedly expressed her gratitude for Tracy’s help, and Tracy says, well that help, just like that shiny badge, comes at a price. Or is Brook deluded enough to think that little speech she gave single-handedly convinced them to give Chase another chance? She wonders how Chase would react if he knew he owed his badge not to Brook, but to her, and the very expensive strings she had to pull.
Chase says, Brook would have never gotten mixed up with Linc Brown again if she hadn’t been trying to get his badge back, and Dante says, so Chase is telling him there’s a chance. Chase asks if Dante doesn’t have a lot of work to do, and Dante says, actually, he does. He wants to start digging into that SEC case and see what they’ve got on Drew and Carly. The entire Quartermaine family, his mother included, believe that Ned was behind it. He’s not convinced. But then again, he wasn’t convinced when they found that stolen bracelet in Cody’s pocket either.
Cody tells Selina, Gladys Corbin set him up. She knows he’s onto the scam she’s running to bilk her daughter-in-law. Gladys is trying to discredit him before he blows her and her plan out of the water. Selina says she simply doesn’t care, and he says he respects her point-of-view, but he’s been a regular in that backroom poker game for a while now. Suddenly, if he’s a no-show, someone’s going to start asking questions. She says, such as? and he says, why was a petty thief allowed in the game to begin with?
Maxie says, it’s not up to Gladys to let Sasha do anything. She’s a grown woman with a mind of her own. Gladys says she knows that, but it’s not just her responsibility as Sasha’s court appointed guardian, but as a member of her family. Maxie says, so what Gladys is really telling her is, she’s afraid she’s going to lose money if Sasha has another meltdown, and Gladys says, that’s a low blow. Maxie’s talking about Sasha facing her fears, but what if those fears are too strong right now? What if she cracks again, and they can’t pick up the pieces? Sasha says, Gladys is right. She does have a say, but Sasha’s friends and partners at Deception have stood by her, and she’s ready to return the favor, and start living her life again.
Spencer thanks Laura, and says, orange too; he likes orange. This brings back memories. He puts the lollipop in his bag, and says he just wants to get the all-clear from the doctor so they can go home. He knows that means more time around Esme, and he hasn’t even told her that they’re home yet. He knows she has every right to be here because she’s Ace’s mom. She says she knew he was going to feel that way, so she hopes he doesn’t mind… He says, mind what? when Esme comes in, saying, where’s her baby? She takes Ace from Spencer, and cries happy tears. Laura says, Esme would be proud of her son. He was just as brave, if not braver, than everyone on the Haunted Star. Spencer says, they all made sure he was safe and warm, and Esme says, by we, he means him and Laura, right? He says, the two of them helped, but Trina also did a lot, and Esme says, tell Trina that she owes her a huge thank you, especially after what all these people say she did to hurt Trina. He says, if she knew Trina, she’d know Trina would never take it out on Ace, and Esme says she’s just glad the nightmare is over, and Victor Cassadine is… Laura says, dead. It’s really okay to say it. The world is a better place without him. Austin comes in and says he’s here to examine Ace. Esme is his mom, so she can stay, but Mayor Collins and Mr. Cassadine, let’s go. Spencer and Laura leave.
Trina tells Taggert, it’s been three months since her world turned upside down, and she found out it might be possible that Curtis… He says he gets it. She wants to know. She says, want to? No, but she feels like she needs to know. if Curtis is her biological father, then that means she’s related to Stella, and Marshall would be her grandfather. Taggert says he appreciates Trina sharing her decision with him. That’s very kind. That’s who he and Portia raised her to be. With that said, she doesn’t need his permission. She says, maybe not, but she’d like his blessing, and he says, she has it. Today, tomorrow, and forever. He kisses the top of her head and says, and he agrees with her. Secrets tear families apart. So go learn whatever she needs to learn, but if she thinks that these results will change who she is or him being her dad… She says, not ever, and hugs him.
Curtis says, so a WSB agent wants to talk with him alone. Is this where Hursley gets rid of him to close the book on Victor Cassadine? Hursley says, they don’t play those games anymore, and Curtis says he’s sure. So if Hursley doesn’t want to silence him, what is it that he wants? Hursley says, the Bureau is very impressed with the way Curtis handled himself amid all the chaos in Greenland, even if he went rogue in doing it, and Curtis says he’d do the same thing again if it meant saving someone he loves. Call it reckless if they want to. Hursley says, they call it initiative, and Curtis says he’s been around the block a few times. He knows if they’re looking at him, they already did their research into his background, so they know it wasn’t all pretty. Hursley says, they know he was a damn good cop before… Let’s just say he made some bad choices, but that was a long time ago. The bottom line is, they could use a man like Curtis. Curtis says he already has a job. He assumes the WSB already knows that. Hursley says, the WSB can’t be everywhere at once. They need assets in the fields; strictly off the books of course (🍷), but ready and able to help when needed. So what does Curtis think?
Maxie says, that is the Sasha Gilmore she knows and loves, and she’s not the only one. Sasha’s one appearance on Home & Heart made quite the impression. Sasha says she bets, but Maxie says, not in a bad way. People sympathize with her. They’ve been following her ever since. They’ll be rooting for her. Sasha says, that’s nice to hear. If she can just find a way to look into that camera again and think about the people watching as friends, as people who have problems just like she does, then maybe she can help them, as well as help herself. Maxie asks if she’s ever told Sasha that she’s her hero. And there’s nobody else she’d rather have… She sneezes, and Gladys hands her a tissue. Gladys says, the last thing she wants is to hold Sasha back. if Sasha really thinks she’s ready for this, Gladys won’t stand in her way. Sasha thanks her, and they hug. Gladys says she just hopes Sasha doesn’t regret it later, and leaves.
Brook says, okay, fine. She can admit Tracy may have persuaded the Review Board to give Chase his job back, but Chase also proved he deserved to be reinstated. Tracy says she agrees. Chase is a straight shooter; exactly her point. How does Brook think he’s going to feel when he finds out she went behind his back to Tracy? Better yet, let’s find out. Tracy gets out her phone, and Brook says, she’s bluffing. Tracy says, is she? As luck would have it, she has Chase on speed dial. She calls, and Dante asks who it is, but Chase says he doesn’t recognize the number. He’s about to hit ignore, when Dante says, hold on. Maybe it’s that anonymous SEC source. Chase answers, and Tracy says, Detective Chase, this is Tracy Quartermaine. Their paths crossed at Michael and Willow’s wedding, remember?
Curtis tells Hursley that there was a part of him that enjoyed all the action in Greenland. Who wouldn’t want to kick ass and take names, especially when the name’s Cassadine? Hursley says, so he can tell his superiors they can count on Curtis? but Curtis says, not exactly, because there’s still a part of him that enjoys working at his nightclub; listening to live music, and making sure his customers are okay, and letting someone else be the tough guy. Hursley says he’ll take that as a maybe. He takes out his phone, and says, there’s no need to give him a definitive answer right now. Curtis’s phone dings, and Hursley says he just texted Curtis his private number. Think about it and give him a call, because that nightclub of his may seem a little tame after saving the planet.
Selina says, Cody’s not going to play his hand with her. The guests at her table trust her. He says, no doubt, but she’ll still have a lot of explaining to do. He thinks the better play is to double down on her faith in him. Gladys flies in, and says, don’t listen to him. He asks Gladys, what’s the matter? Guilty conscience? Gladys says she doesn’t know what lies Cody’s been feeding Selina, but the man was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. If Selina is as smart as Gladys thinks she is, she’ll get rid of him. Selina says, Gladys is half right, because she was thinking of getting rid of both of them.
Chase says, yes, of course (🍷) he remembers Tracy. Brook tries to grab Tracy’s phone, but Tracy shrugs her off, and says, isn’t he sweet. He asks what he can do for her, and she says, her granddaughter just told her that he got reinstated. Congratulations. He says, actually, he owes her granddaughter for standing up for him, and Tracy says, she’s nothing if not loyal. Since she’s back in town for a while, she’s decided she wants to take a better interest in the community. Shall they have lunch? Chase says, lunch? and Brook makes a cutting motion with her hands. Tracy says she’ll be in touch, and ends the call. Chase says, Dante’s mom is married to Ned, right? Does he speak Quartermaine? What the hell was that about? Tracy asks Brook, so what’s it going to be? Is Brook going to take the deal, or is she going to take the lunch?
Sasha tells Maxie that she doesn’t want to hurt her mother-in-law’s feelings, but she can’t depend on Gladys forever. Sooner or later, she has to take charge of her own life; her own choices, her own mistakes. Maxie says, the biggest mistake would be trusting Gladys more than she trusts herself. She’s not saying Gladys doesn’t care about Sasha, but she seems to see Sasha as some sort of victim; someone who needs protecting. Sasha asks how Maxie thinks of her, and Maxie says, besides the fact that Sasha is completely gorgeous, she sees Sasha as strong, capable, someone who has grown leaps and bounds this past year, and is ready to take on the world again. But before Sasha steps in front of those cameras, the only thing that matters is if she feels the same way.
Esme asks if her little boy is going to be all right, and Austin says, considering he survived an adventure on the high seas, and narrowly escaped an international incident, he’d say Ace is doing all right. But he could really use one thing. She says, please tell her, and Austin says, his mom, handing Ace to her.
Curtis asks if Trina and Taggert are still in Portia’s office, and Portia says, yes. Is everything okay? He says, nothing he can’t handle, when Taggert and Trina come out of the elevator. Taggert says, why doesn’t he just take off, but Trina says, no, stay. She was telling her dad, and she wanted Portia and Curtis to hear this from her, so they can stop asking questions and start living like a family again. In order to do that, she wants to get a DNA test.
Austin comes out with Esme and Ace, and Spencer asks, how’s Ace? Austin says, his little brother is doing great. He’s ready to go home. Spencer says, home, meaning all of them going back to living at his grandmother’s place, assuming it’s okay with Laura. Laura says, normally, she doesn’t like to speak for Doc, but she can say with real confidence that they wouldn’t have it any other way. Esme thanks Austin, and they get in the elevator.
Chase asks why Dante thinks Tracy wants to have lunch with him, and Dante says, if it were anyone else, he’d say she wants to talk about Chase and her granddaughter, but it’s Tracy Quartermaine. He thinks she’s got another agenda. Chase asks if Dante thinks he should stay away, and Dante says, he could, or he could be a detective and go out to lunch.
Tracy says, just remember, Detective Chase is only a phone call away, but Brook says, that won’t be necessary. Just as always, Tracy wins. When does Tracy want her to go back to working at Deception?
Sasha tells Maxie, how does she feel about going back in front of the cameras at Home & Heart? Part of her wants to run and hide, but she won’t give in to that fear. Even if she fails… Maxie says, she won’t, and Sasha thanks her, but says she won’t know until she’s there. Maxie says, so she’s in? and Sasha says she’s in. They high-five.
Selina tells Gladys and Cody to consider themselves warned, and says, if Cody can play his cards tonight the way he played them with her, he can have a place at the table. He thanks her, and says she won’t regret it. Gladys clears her throat, and Selina says she hasn’t forgotten about her. She, too, has a place at the table. Who knows? Maybe her luck will change.
Portia says she wishes she’d never put Trina in this position in the first place, but she’s proud of Trina for wanting to know the truth. Taggert seconds that, and Trina thanks them. It means a lot to her. Laura, Esme, Ace, and Spencer come out of the elevator. Spencer says, the doctor gave Ace the thumbs up that he’s healthy, so they’re going to take him home now to his grandmother’s. Trina says, she’s glad his little brother is okay, and they leave, Spencer touching Trina’s arm as they go past.
Tomorrow, Willow tells someone not to let it happen again; Diane tells Drew that it’s going to get worse before it gets better; Scotty is wondering if Obrecht feels the same way; and Dex says he only has two options here.
Vanderpump Rules
At Villa Rosa, Lisa welcomes Velvet, a new friend for Diamond. This has zero to do with anything else in the episode, but the pony is super cute. Ariana and Katie talk logistics of their sandwich shop, when Chef Consultant Penny arrives. She says the shop has good energy; it’s so charming. She’s immediately flooded with ideas. Katie says, they’re having a look-see party, and afterwards, having drinks at SUR. In Katie’s interview, she says, they’ve had to do a lot of work to change a vision to reality. Just like they have trailers for a movie, they want to get the buzz out there. Let people see the shop and taste the sandwiches. Even though opening a restaurant has been difficult, they have one advantage the Toms don’t. They’re willing to ask professionals for help. Katie asks Ariana if everything is okay with Lala, and Ariana says she doesn’t think the situation with Tom not leaving the barbecue is as big of a deal as it was to Lala. Katie says she had flashbacks about Schwartz now showing up for her, and Ariana says, she’s not getting mad at anyone for asking questions. In Ariana’s interview, she says, what Tom did at the barbecue isn’t important to her right now. She’s just annoyed because it puts her in a position for people to undermine her relationship by gossiping.🚩
Raquel and Charli go for retail therapy, and Charli asks how it was at TomTom. Raquel says, it was fun… Actually, it wasn’t fun; it was awkward when she said hi to Katie and her mom. We see a clip of that, and they return the greeting, barely, but say nothing else. She tells Charli that she had a conversation with James. She didn’t appreciate him saying he regretted Rachella. She said, obviously, he loves Ally, and he told her, it’s a different situation. He could never ask for a love like this. She’s pretty sure Ally doesn’t feel the same way. She thinks James is more into Ally than she’s into him, and Charli says, 100%. In Charli’s interview, she says, James sees Ally as his future wife, and Ally sees James as her current boyfriend. Raquel says, that’s why she called Ally her replacement, and in Raquel’s interview, she says she’s turned over a new leaf in overcoming her relationship with James. She needed to see him for who he is, and see Ally in her old position to comprehend it. She’s decided to choose herself over relationships, and stopped compromising in ways that took away from her as a person. Charli asks if Raquel was invited to the sandwich party, and Raquel says, no, but she’s okay with it. She thinks that they’re coming to SUR afterward, and Charli says she’s not taking time off anymore. It says a lot that she’d rather serve Pumptinis than party. They look at some jewelry, and Raquel buys the infamous lightning bolt necklace as birthday gift to herself.🚩Charlie says, she’ll never regret buying good jewelry. It’s an investment.
A long awaited couch arrives at Schwartz & Sandy’s, and In Schwartz’s interview, he says, this booth the last missing piece of the puzzle. They’re so close to being able to open the doors. It’s going to be glorious. Sandoval says he’s jealous of Katie and Ariana, and Schwartz says, their shop is so manageable. They’ve come this far, but still can’t open because they have no line cooks; it’s brutal. They have temporary cooks, but it never ends. He misses his family. Sandoval says he wants to go somewhere cool with Ariana, and Schwartz asks if they’ve been okay. Sandoval says he feels like his very presence annoys her🚩, and we flash back to several times Ariana told him, go away🚩, as we all would. Schwartz says he thinks it speaks to a bigger issue.🚩In his interview, Schwartz says, based on what he’s seen, Tom and Ariana have devolved to roommates.🚩 They lack the intimacy they once had when they hang out, and don’t even acknowledge each other.🚩It’s not looking good.🚩Sandoval says, Ariana doesn’t go out of her way for him like he does for her, and it hurts him at times.🚩Schwartz says, they need to address those things or it magnifies over time, and you become comfortable being d*cks to each other. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, there’s definitely a disconnect, and they argue more than they did earlier in the relationship.🚩In their nine years together, he can count on less than one hand the times Ariana has said he’s right. Schwartz tells him not to be like him and procrastinate. Don’t be Mr. Eventually.
Ariana tells Sandoval that they’re doing four sandwiches, and shows him their logo. He asks if there’s anything he can do to help, but she says, just come and have fun. They talk about Lala questioning Sandoval🚩, and Ariana says she told Lala that she wasn’t mad at him for not leaving the barbecue, but he had to answer for himself; she’s not his spokesperson. Ariana does think he should have left when he saw there was no way for him to get a ride later🚩, but Sandoval says, he knew if he went home, he would want to do something and there was nothing he could do.🚩 Ariana says she’s not annoyed at him, but she’s annoyed at life, and he says, it’s been a lot. He feels like they’re not as connected lately. A lot of things have been bothering him, and they’re stacking up and being swept under the rug. It seems like his very presence annoys her.🚩Ariana tells him, those aren’t words she would say🚩, and he says, she snaps at him and belittles him in front of their friends. We flash back to her telling him that he’s acting weird🚩, and Sandoval says, it hurts his feelings. She says, he’s the only person she wants to hang out with more. It’s never just them, and she’s said that for months. Everyone else gets him peacocking on a night out, and all she gets are the leftovers.🚩 Sandoval says, the sh*t they’re both dealing with, he doesn’t feel as connected as they should be.🚩 They don’t even have a picture together from Scheana’s wedding. We see a few pictures of him with Raquel🚩, and Ariana says she doesn’t think pictures are a marker of connection. Sandoval tells her that he thinks it is, and wonders if she’s going to disagree with everything he says.🚩She says she agrees they’re not as connected as they used to be. They used to put on music and cook together, and don’t do that anymore.🚩 He says he wants them to be better; to be more intimate. Having sex four times year affects him.🚩 Ariana says, maybe he should spend time with her. She can’t have sex with someone who feels like a stranger.🚩 In her interview, she says, they need to focus on each other and have quality time. She wants emotional and physical intimacy🚩, but you can’t telepath a d*ck to a vagina from The Abbey. He asks what she sees as quality time, and she says, taking a walk together, making dinner together, not necessarily getting drunk together. It’s the definition of quality time. He says, that’s her definition🚩, and in Sandoval’s interview, a producer asks what his idea of quality time is. He says, taking mushrooms together and watching the sunrise. Skinny-dipping in the pool. Hang-gliding. He likes stimuli. Sandoval tells Ariana that she goes out with Logan, drinking and singing songs, but she says Sandoval doesn’t like the same things they like.🚩He’s not going to sit and watch Love Island with her. He says he doesn’t have time to watch fifty episodes of Love Island🚩, and she says, that’s literally all they talk about. He says he loves her and wants them to be better. She says she does too, but he has as many guards and walls up as she does.🚩
James and Ally’s cat dodges Ally’s pet, which has nothing to do with anything, but it’s pretty funny because, cats. In James’s interview, he says, the time has come for him to perform at the Imagine festival for three days in Georgia. Whenever he reads his name on the flyer, he feels butterflies in his stomach. We see the flyer, and he’s like the 5000th one down. He says, Ally is coming. They support each other in things that make them happy and help fulfil their needs, like how his DJ’ing pays the rent. He tells her that a car is picking them and taking them to the sandwich party, then taking them to the airport. She asks about the attire, and he says, Lisa is going to be there. She wonders if that means she should wear a gown. He asks if she’s okay with chatting with Lisa, and in his interview, he says, first impressions are important. He feels like introducing Ally to Lisa is like introducing her to his mom. He wants everyone to get along, and for them to be invited to Villa Rosa dinners. He tells Ally that he’s setting up a therapy session on Monday, and she says she’s holding him to it. He hasn’t been bad or crazy, but throwing the drink at the beach wasn’t cool. She knows his emotions come out intense, and he directs them at his friends and the people he loves. He says, there’s only so much he can take before he gets pissed off, and in his interview, he says, when he sees therapy in the movies, it’s because someone’s life is in shambles. Everyone wants to tell him that he has a problem, but take a look at his life with Ally and talk about their own life problems. He doesn’t need to talk about his engagement fail and his world class proposal going to sh*t.
Sandoval goes to Schwartz’s place to get ready for the sandwich party. Schwartz says he’s going in positive, and Sandoval asks if he’s cool with Katie. Schwartz says, if he senses she’s uncomfortable, he’ll dip out. Katie’s still pissed at him. A gossip blogger claimed he saw Schwartz and Raquel making out all night, and Katie was texting him about it being thrown in her face. In Schwartz’s interview, he says he never would have kissed Raquel had he known what the fallout would be, and how much it would hurt Katie. Itwas a lovely kiss, but not worth the blowout. He tells Sandoval that he thinks Katie’s at the tail end of this Raquel thing, and Sandoval asks if he saw Katie’s mom. Schwartz says, she’s upset with him because she sees her daughter distraught and upset, and he’s the one causing that.
Everyone gets ready for the party. Penny tells Ariana and Katie that if Lisa has a sandwich named after her, she’d better get one too. James and Ally are the first to arrive. Ariana gets them a welcome cocktail, and they taste the Greek salad sandwich, which they rave over. James asks if Schwartz is coming, but Katie says she hasn’t talked to him. If he comes, he comes; if he doesn’t, he doesn’t. Lisa comes in, and in Lisa’s interview, she says she’s happy to see them moving forward with the space and the concept. As she always says, if you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman. James tells Lisa about the festival, and she asks how many people he’ll be playing to, but he says that doesn’t matter as much as the connections he’ll make. And his baby is going to be there to support him. Lisa says, more like keep an eye on him, but Ally says, no. She’s coming to support James. James tells Lisa that Ally’s no pushover; she stands her ground. Lisa says, Ally needs to hold tight and stand strong. James can be disrespectful. In her interview, Lisa says, Ally needs to put a strong bit in James’s mouth. If he’s on his own, she’s not sure he’s going to make it. Ally says, James is going to see a therapist, and Lisa says, he’s getting better, but he’s not there yet. They leave, and Lisa samples a sandwich. She says she likes the presentation; it’s unique and sexy. She loves it, and says she knew Penny would come in useful one day. Katie’s mom Teri comes in, and in Katie’s interview, she says she’s so happy her mom is here to see her take a step as a business owner. She also wants Teri to be comfortable there, since she’ll be putting her ass to work ASAP. Kristina comes in with Lala and some guy, and she asks Ariana if Raquel is coming. Ariana says she texted, saying she didn’t want to make Katie uncomfortable, but she’ll be at SUR. In Ariana’s interview, she says, once again she’s in the middle. She’s not picking a side, but this seemed like a compromise that will make everyone happy for once. Lisa leaves for SUR. Scheana calls and says she feels fine, but she’s testing positive for covid. The Toms arrive with flowers for Ariana and Katie. Schwartz says he loves his and Sandoval’s spot, but this is perfect, and Teri takes a photo of Katie and Ariana by their sign. Katie says, this was just the beginning of the vision for Something About Her. Ariana says, it’s just a taste of what’s to come, and they head to SUR for drinks and more sandwiches.
Schwartz tells Sandoval, the sandwich shop is going to open before them; it’s scary. He tells Lisa, happy birthday, and more sandwiches come out. In Sandoval’s interview, he says he and Ariana have been together nearly ten years. He loves her, but because they’re different as people, they’ve grown apart.🚩The issues they’re having aren’t just her fault; they’re his also. He’s hoping get back to where they were. It’s the best relationship he’s ever been in. Schwartz tells Teri, as hard as the breakup was, he misses holidays with her, and she says she told him that he’ll always be family, but he blew it. They had a mutual agreement; nobody in the friend group. Schwartz says, Katie was the one who divorced him, and it was the right decision, but it broke his heart. Six months went by, he was drunk in Mexico, and made out with Raquel. He wasn’t thinking about the agreement. He admits it was insensitive, and Teri says she understands, but it was kind of a real slap in the face. She tears up, and says, it would be so hurtful to any woman. What he did hurt Katie. Was it worth it? He says, no. He loves her and Katie so much. Raquel and Ariana go to the garden bar, and Ariana says she’s glad Raquel is here, but she understands Katie’s feelings. If she were in Katie’s shoes, she’d feel some type of way (I hate that phrase so much – can we not even label our feelings anymore?), but she wants to reiterate that Raquel is still the same sweet person, and she loves Raquel. Raquel isn’t the one Katie had an agreement with, but when she reminded Katie of that, Katie reminded her of what was said in the wine shop. We flash back to Raquel telling Katie that Schwartz was respecting her boundaries, and Katie asking, what about Raquel?🚩Ariana says, they cried together and hugged. Does Raquel feel like things changed in Vegas? Raquel says she realized she shouldn’t put so much emphasis on what people think about her, and earn people’s friendship. She doesn’t need to be friends with Katie and Lala. The trip showed her that. As Dr. Phil would say, so how’s that workin’ for ya? Raquel asks how Ariana and Sandoval are, and Ariana says they had a big argument last night. Sandoval feels like he’s not being heard, and that’s why he’s the loudest in the room. Raquel asks if Ariana remembers when she told her about her and James not having sex, and Ariana said she and Sandoval go through dry spells.🚩 Ariana says, when she comes home from working all night, and then he whips his d*ck out, she’s going to say, oh yeah, let’s f***? It’s never going to happen. They need to spend time together. Raquel says she thinks if you’re in a relationship, you should want to have sex🚩, and Ariana says, you have to be emotionally intimate first. Raquel says, Ariana and Sandoval were on the same wavelength at some point, and Ariana says, they need to work on their connection. She asks if Ariana is still sexually attracted to Sandoval🚩, and Ariana says she thinks he’s so f***ing hot (another dude where I can’t see it), but she’s not hot. She begins to criticize her own body, and Raquel stops her, saying, she’s in her own head. She does this to herself too, and it’s f***ed up. She gets all weepy and says she believes they’re a lot prettier than they think they are. They’re their own worst critics and it translates into their sex lives. Apparently, she’s been reading Cosmopolitan again. In Raquel’s interview, she says, she’s sure body image and insecurities have a role in Ariana and Sandoval’s issues. If you’re not feeling good about yourself, no way can you have good sex.🚩Raquel says, Ariana clearly wants to stay in the relationship, and Ariana says, she wouldn’t have had this conversation if she didn’t. Raquel says, not everyone is that way. She should have broken up with James earlier. She wasn’t attracted to him anymore. Ariana says she thinks they’ll talk things out and they’ll be fine. She and Raquel drink a lemon drop shot.
The sandwiches are a big hit, and Raquel and Peter toast to a great summer. Lala asks if Ken and Lisa like the sandwiches, and Lisa says she tasted some before. They’d already had a taste test at her house. Ken says, it will all be hers when Lisa kicks him out, and Lisa says, when she sees the light after 40 years. Lala asks if Lisa thinks someone her age can find someone that they could be with that long, and Lisa says, of course. It depends on what you put into it. Lala says, she just wants another baby. She’s scarred by what she’s going through, and the next go around she wants an absolute on the future with her kid. In Lala’s interview, she says she wants to give Ocean a sibling, but wants no chance of the baby being taken from her. She tells Lisa that she doesn’t want being with her child every day dependent on someone else’s behavior, and in her interview, she says, the next step is to find a sperm donor, and her co-parent will be her mom. Lisa says, it’s a helluva line to draw in the sand, and asks if Lala doesn’t want a loving relationship. Lala says she hopes her future holds someone to love and adore and grow old with, but she doesn’t want to put her life on hold waiting for a man. She recognizes herself again for the first time in a long time.
Somebody tells Schwartz that he doesn’t smell great, and he blames it on the new shirt he didn’t wash before wearing and sweated on. He takes a lemon wedge, and uses it as deodorant. Raquel strolls over to Katie and sits next to her. She congratulates Katie on the sandwich shop, and says, after the vibe at TomTom, she thought it best not to come, but she tried the sandwiches and they taste bomb. Moving on, she says she knows Katie heard about her and Schwartz making out, and then rage texted Schwartz about it. Katie says, she didn’t rage text, and Raquel wonders if she asked if it was true. Katie says, yeah, and Raquel asks, what’s her point? Katie says, Schwartz keeps gaslighting her that she’s overreacting about the Cancun thing. We flash back to that, and Raquel says, Katie filed for divorce. If they make out, it’s none of her business. Katie asks what the f*** Raquel is doing right now, and in Raquel’s interview, she says, Katie’s never been one of her friends, and Schwartz told her how much the rage texts bother him, but he doesn’t have the balls to say anything. In this situation she would appreciate someone standing up for her. Katie says, they were together for twelve years, which Raquel can’t comprehend, and Raquel says, Katie shouldn’t be texting Schwartz these things. It’s not Katie’s place. Katie asks why it matters to her., and Raquel says, Katie’s been living her life, and has a boyfriend. Katie says, she doesn’t have a boyfriend, and she and Schwartz had conversations about this and about respect. Raquel says she doesn’t appreciate Katie threatening to take the dogs from him, and Katie says, Raquel doesn’t have to appreciate anything. In Katie’s interview, she says she doesn’t know what possessed Raquel to tell her how to run her life. She’d sooner take advice from someone off the street. STFU. She asks Raquel, how thick is her skull? This is her husband, and he and Raquel have been friends for five minutes. Raquel has zero respect. No empathy and no respect. How the f*** was she raised? Raquel says, maybe she has more empathy for Schwartz, and Katie says, that’s clear. She suggests Raquel take her opinion and stick it up her ass. She asks if Lala is hearing this sh*t, and Lala says she’s in awe. Katie thinks Raquel should leave, and Raquel says she just had a bomb ass glamping trip with her best, closest friends🚩, and Schwartz is a new addition to her life🚩. Katie says she’s losing her f***ing mind, and Lala says, she’d have a more productive conversation with a pig; be done with it. In Lala’s interview, she says she doesn’t know why Katie is wasting her time arguing with this buffoon of a person. They’ve known her a long time. She’s going to get nowhere. Teri asks if her conversation with Raquel meant anything, and Raquel says, oh God.🚩Katie says, that’s her mom. Have some respect. Lala asks how Raquel was raised, and Katie says, Raquel is a little c-word. Walk away.
Katie says she’s so f***ing done with Raquel, and at this point, it’s getting pretty loud and getting more attention. Lisa wonders what’s going on, and Raquel says, in her experience, with her f***ing friends who support her… Katie says, what f***ing friends? and Teri says, Raquel was disrespectful and it hurt her so much. Raquel says, she was just being honest. Her first step to being a Housewife, since that’s Housewifespeak for being a bitch. Acting like he has a dog in this fight – oops, he does🚩 – Sandoval says, Katie and Schwartz weren’t together, but Katie says she hasn’t signed any papers yet. Ariana tells them to let Teri finish, and Teri says, Katie and Schwartz love each other, and they’re selling the home they wanted to raise a family in. That’s so hurtful. In Sandoval’s interview, he says, it’s tacky for Katie to have her mom fight her battles. No one is going to clap back at Mrs. Maloney (even though Raquel did just that). It’s kind of f***ed up. Raquel says, Katie told Scheana… and Teri says, that’s so wrong, but Sandoval says, that actually happened. Katie tells him go away, and he says, she thinks she owns the floor. She thinks she owns every situation. When she was still living with Schwartz, she was banging another dude. How did she think Schwartz felt? Raquel says she’s sorry it hurts, and tries to put her hand on Katie, who says, don’t touch me. Raquel says, sorry she’s jealous, and Katie tells her again to walk away. Raquel says she’s done, and walks out. Sandoval tells Teri that it seems the only perspective that matters is hers and Katie’s. Peter asks Schwartz if he’s hiding, but Schwartz says, he’s just taking a breather. By now, Ariana is full-on crying, and tells Lisa that she just wants to go home. She loves both Katie and Raquel, and now there’s all this yelling. Lisa says, it’s been a long time coming, but she doesn’t like that they’re all on Raquel’s case, and she doesn’t think Schwartz hiding is helping anything. Schwartz looks at the ceiling and whistles nonchalantly. Ariana tells Lisa that she’s emotional, and Lisa says, she just lost her dog and her grandmother. Ariana says, she wants to show up for her friends, but she can’t, and in Ariana’s interview, she says, she hates being stuck in the middle of her friends or her friends and her boyfriend. She’s tries to help and give advice and be there for everybody, but she literally feels like she’s being shredded apart from the inside. Sandoval says, Katie never takes accountability for doing anything wrong, and Kristina suggests, instead of focusing on Katie that he focus on his girlfriend, who is clearly upset.🚩That’s his relationship. Katie says, unless Sandoval can start treating her like a human, she’s done. She walks out with Lala, and as she passes Schwartz says she’s done with him too. No surprise, he wonders what he’s done. On the way out, Lala says, Raquel is snickering with Schwartz because she’s a stupid bitch, and Katie does an about-face and goes back in. She asks if Schwartz is laughing with Raquel, but Schwartz says he’s just trying to figure out what happened, which is probably true. Lala tells Katie, Schwartz wasn’t laughing; it was Raquel.🚩In Lala’s interview, she says, Katie is seeing red, and all the emotions she’s been feeling are coming out in this very moment. Schwartz follows Katie outside, and asks, what’s going on? Ariana tells Lisa that she’s not processing things, and Lisa says she’s been through the same thing herself. Outside, Katie tells Schwartz that her self-worth and confidence have been torn down, and Schwartz did that. Clearly too self-centered and stupid to know when to quit, Raquel comes out, and says, sorry to interrupt. Katie says, they’re in the middle of a conversation. Go away.
The text says, in September of 2022, filming wrapped, but then the unimaginable happened, and they turned the cameras back on.
Raquel tries to talk, and Katie tells her again to go away. Raquel says she’s empathetic… but Katie says, she has zero empathy. Raquel says, Katie was hurt by Schwartz making out with someone, and the fact it was her hurt Katie more. She’s sorry for hurting Katie. Katie says, okay, and Raquel says, it wasn’t her intention. Schwartz says, it wasn’t malicious, and we flash back to him telling Raquel it’s forbidden fruit, and Raquel saying, since she’s being accused of it, she might as well do it. Katie says, it was malicious, and Schwartz says, he and Raquel are buddies. Clueless idiot Raquel says, they were just experimenting with a flirty thing; she sees it was nothing now.🚩In Katie’s interview, she says, she gave them a shot and they blew it. Take you and your sick personalities and get the f*** out. Raquel says she’s sorry, and Schwartz feels the need to point out she’s apologizing. Katie says, fine, she’ll go away, and Schwartz is like, no, don’t leave. Raquel finally gets the hint and makes herself scarce. Schwartz says, it was a sincere apology, and Katie asks what he’s talking about; this is done. Schwartz says, it’s not, and Katie says she doesn’t need an apology from Raquel. Schwartz tells her, come sit, since he’s just as clueless as Raquel, but Katie says she doesn’t want to talk to him, and goes inside. The cheese Schwartz sits alone.
Guillermo brings out a cake, and everyone sings Happy Birthday, very badly for people who are in borderline entertainment jobs. There are five candles on the cake, so Lisa is a lot younger than we thought. Lisa blows out the candles, and says she’s still great at a BJ. She tells everyone that she’d say life has been very challenging, then wonders, where Schwartz is when she needs him? Katie says, no one needs him, but Lisa says, because he’s part of this equation. She’s seen them go through so much this last year. Life throws sh*t at you, but it’s not what’s thrown at you; it’s how you deal with it. Schwartz comes in, and she asks where he’s been. He should have been fighting the fight. She’s seen what Lala had been through, and the way the boys have struggled. She loves all of them… Her voice breaks, and she says, they’ll learn how to deal with their problems as they get older. They have the tools and talents and personality now to go forward and solve their problems. She’ll always be there for them. Not just because they work for her, but because of the journey they’re on and they’ve done together, is why she feels so deeply for them. They all love each other; that’s why it gets so intense. Don’t let life get the better of them. She loves each and every f***ing one of them. She Guillermo that no one here eats cake, and to give it to the customers. Everyone laughs, and Lisa tells Ariana, see? They’re laughing again.
Next time – the finale – Sandoval says he was going to break up with Ariana regardless; Scheana says, instead of breaking up, Sandoval f***ed Ariana’s best friend; Sandoval says he felt things he hasn’t felt in a long time (ugh – he’s so basic); Raquel says, it turned out so horribly wrong; and Ariana doesn’t give a f*** about Raquel, and regrets ever loving Sandoval.
🍸Note: There were a lot more exchanges during that melee at SUR. I could barely keep up, but tried to get the highlights. It was ruthless. Congratulations, Tom and Raquel, for wresting the Most Awful Human Being in the World crown from Jax. The other Tom gets a Most Clueless sash. I honestly do think he’s that stupid.
🎂 Let Them Not Eat Cake…
Get some relief from the awful tomorrow, and come by for soap, tea, quotes and a bit of music. Until then, stay safe, stay focused on long term goals rather than short term satisfaction, and stay not being Mr. Eventually.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Ned says, for the thousandth time, he didn’t turn them in, and Tracy says, it was a smart business tactic. Olivia says, it was a gross betrayal, and Ned says he didn’t do it. Brook says, he double-crossed Michael and Valentin when he tanked the merger with Aurora by becoming Chairman of the Board at ELQ. Why does he expect them to believe him now? Ned admits he threw in his lot with Valentin, but that is standard Quartermaine family politics. It’s a far cry from turning Drew and Carly in to the SEC. Drew is family; the Q’s stay loyal to each other. Drew walks in and asks if they’re talking behind his back, and Ned says, he heard Drew brought Dr. Obrecht back from… Ned strides toward him and punches Ned in the face. Ned falls on the sofa, and Brook says, take it easy; this is hardly a fair fight. Drew says, Ned called the SEC after he came to Ned and tried to put this family back together? He wants a war, he’s got one.
Felicia says, Maxie is really doing this, huh? and Maxie says she is. Felicia hands her an ice pack, saying, this is for a sinus infection, which is a lot more effective if you’re lying down and not going to work. Maxie says, they’ve gone through this. She’s had sinus infections before. Felicia says, then she probably knows she needs antibiotics, and she definitely needs rest, but Maxie says, she’ll rest after. Spinelli has the kids, so she has the whole weekend to recover. Felicia asks why she can’t reschedule, and Maxie says, because they’re lucky the Home & Heart channel is letting them pitch their products again after what happened the last time they were there. Calling in sick at the last minute? Not an option. The future of her company is at stake. She coughs, and Felicia puts the ice pack on her own head.
At the hospital, Carly says, it’s good to see Sasha here, and Sasha says, try keeping her away. She heard everyone came home safe. Does that mean Dr. Obrecht is back and Willow is getting the transplant? Carly says, it looks like it’s happening. Willow just started her final round of chemo, and they did put her in isolation to protect from possible infection. Sasha says, whatever anyone needs, she and Gladys are here. She knows they’re going through a lot themselves. Carly says, plus being investigated by the SEC.
As Holly and Robert kiss, Diane clears her throat. Holly says, they didn’t know they had an audience, and Diane says, they did, and laughs. Holly says, Robert might consider locking his door, and Diane says, or at least closing it. Holly says, it’s entirely her fault. There’s something about saving the world that makes a woman act entirely impulsive.
Taggert comes out of the hospital elevator, and goes over to Portia, who hugs him. She says, thank goodness he’s back. It’s been a nightmare. He says he tried to get his office involved and couldn’t stand that they were stonewalling. He lost his temper and got detained. She says, he’s not the only one. Robert Scorpio got in trouble with the WSB. He says he could have gone with Curtis and Laura, but she says, don’t do that; Trina is safe. She’s on her way home. He says he still could have helped more, and she says, maybe he still can. Trina might be on her way home, but she’s still not out of danger. Not while Spencer Cassadine is in her life. He says, Portia might not have to worry about that, since there don’t seem to be many Cassadines left.
On the plane, Spencer holds Ace, as Trina naps on his shoulder. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she feels like she can breathe again. They made it.
Curtis says, they should be landing soon, and Laura says, that’s good. He says, well, they did it. They saved the day. The world has no idea. She says, and as per the WSB, they never will, and he says, it’s still good to have the W. She says, winning exacts a high price. She hates to think about what she had to pay to reach this moment.
Drew says he was picked up by Federal agents the second he got home, and Brook says, they all appreciate what he’s done, but he says he doesn’t need to be appreciated. Willow’s life is at stake, but not having him detained would have been appreciated. Ned says he didn’t make that call; it wasn’t him. Drew says, of course (🍷) he did. He said he was going to do it, and he did it. Olivia says she doesn’t care how angry Drew is at Ned; do not bring violence into this house. Drew can’t believe Olivia is defending him, and says he thought Carly was her friend. Of all the spiteful things Ned could have done, he’s going to put Carly through this now? Ned says, for the last time, he didn’t call the SEC, and Drew says, of course (🍷) Ned’s going to deny it. It’s disgusting. Ned waits until he leaves, then stabs Drew in the back, and covers his tracks like the coward he is.
Carly tells Sasha, the timing couldn’t be worse. Her family needs her right now, and she doesn’t know what’s going to happen with this SEC business. Sasha says she’s so sorry, but Carly says, right now, she just wants to focus on Willow’s health. Thank God Drew found Liesl and they’re home safe. Sasha says, it’s a miracle. She and Gladys were so relieved when they heard. Carly asks, where is Gladys? and Sasha says, she’s on the phone with a customer service issue.
On the phone, Gladys says, yes, a family emergency. She has to cancel their trip… That’s right. The deluxe spa package with all the add-ons… She knows. They were supposed to leave tonight. Like she said, a family emergency… What do they mean, non-refundable?
Felicia says she thought Deception stock stabilized, and Maxie says, for now, but in order to keep it that way, they have to take their company to the next level. And being blacklisted by the home shopping circuit? Not particularly helpful. Felicia says she gets it, but Sasha’s on-air meltdown wasn’t her fault, and Maxie says she knows that, but still, she had to call in favors to get them back on Home & Heart. If their product is successful there, it will open doors for them. Everything is riding on this. They’re launching a skincare product called The Deceptor.
In Portia’s office, she tells Taggert, from the start, he knows Spencer’s been a problem. The whole reason Trina got involved in that Esme Prince mess is because he lied to her. And Spencer keeps dragging her into all these dangerous situations. For some reason, Trina’s always willing to forgive him. Taggert says, she doesn’t have to break it down to him. He doesn’t trust that boy one little bit, but now’s not the time to push anything on Trina. Just be thankful she’s coming back to Port Charles and she’s safe. Portia says, she’s safe now, but they can’t ignore the fact that she wouldn’t have been on that boat in the first place if she wasn’t infatuated with Spencer.
Trina asks if Spencer wants her to hold Ace for a while, but he says, that’s okay. He’s just glad they got Ace out of there, and out from under Victor’s influence. She says she still can’t believe he jumped off that boat before it was hit, and he says he almost didn’t. When he heard the drones, he knew what it meant. He froze. His mind knew he had to do something, but his feet were paralyzed. Then he heard her voice clear as day. She asks what she said, and he says, Spencer, you idiot, what are you doing? Get off that boat. Jump. She says, the one time he listened to her, and he says he remembered her face and her voice and her laugh, and he knew he had to get back to her. So before he could stop himself, he dove overboard, and he could see the explosion happening above him. All he could feel were the shock waves going through the water. He thought he was going to drown, so he thought of her again, and he swam to the top and made his way to shore. She saved his life.
Laura tells Curtis that she’s glad they came through this ordeal safe, but experience has taught her, it’s the psychological scars that take the longest to heal. He asks if she’s speaking for Spencer and Trina, or for herself, and she says, both maybe. He says, she’s been dealing with the Cassadines for a long time, and she says, since she was Trina’s age. Her feud with the Cassadines has gone on for forty years. It’s affected her; it’s changed her. Being around that kind of anger toward that family has been a weight on her soul, and now the Haunted Star, her last link to the Cassadines, has exploded. He says, she’s right. It’s gone. It’s exploded. And everything that was attached to it. Does that lift the weight?
Ned says, Drew doesn’t come into his house and attack him with wild accusations, and Drew says he can’t stand being in the same room as Ned. He’s out. Brook says, wait. Can’t they talk about this calmly? Ned says, Drew and Michael tried to screw him out of ELQ by merging with Aurora, and Drew told Carly about it. That’s how this whole thing started, so don’t pretend he’s the only one making deals behind the other’s back. Drew says, Ned is out of control, and his ego wouldn’t let him consider anything else. Congratulations, because now he and Carly might go to prison, but Ned got what he wanted. He walks out, and Ned yells that he had nothing to do with it.
Tracy follows Drew out, and says, leaving so soon? and he says, if she plans on asking him to apologize, that’s not going to happen. She says, that’s the last thing she plans on doing.
Felicia says, so they’re moving into at home skincare devices, and Maxie says, they’re branching out. But Brook quit because she decided to become a full-time music manager, and Lucy lost all credibility when she faked her own death (huh?), so it’s up to her to launch their hot new product and show people how excited they are about it. She sneezes, and Felicia says, she doesn’t sound excited; she sounds sick. Maxie says she took some medicine. It will get her through. Felicia asks if Maxie is sure she’s going to be okay, because she has to get to the station to see Mac. Maxie says she’ll be fine, and Felicia asks if she can just give Maxie some advice before she goes. Delegate. This company can’t ride solely on Maxie’s shoulders, no matter how capable or brilliant she is. She gives Maxie a kiss, says, she’ll be back with soup, and leaves.
Gladys asks if she can reschedule. At their prices, she’d at least expect some flexibility. Especially since the emergency is a family member dealing with cancer. Thanks for asking, by the way… Her tone? What about their tone?
Carly asks how Sasha is after the whole Heather Webber fallout. She hasn’t had time to check in. Sasha says she’s all right. She got her closure, and she’s doing what she needs to do to take care of herself. Carly tells her, don’t forget what they say on an airplane, and Sasha says, you have to put on your own oxygen mask before you can help anyone else. Gladys joins them, and says she’s so sorry about everything that’s happening with Carly, and Carly thanks her and says she’s just focusing on Willow’s health right now. Sasha asks if Gladys is okay, and Gladys says she tried to cancel their trip, but the snooty hotel manager is refusing a refund. She asked about rebooking, but he said it’s more expensive because of the high season. Sasha tells her, book it, and Gladys asks if she doesn’t want to know the cost. Sasha says, they can afford it, and Gladys says, okay, she’ll book it right now. She leaves, and Sasha says, what would she do without Gladys?
Laura tells Curtis that she’s curious to see how her life will unfold now. Maybe Nikolas will come home, or maybe she’ll just find the peace she’s looking for now. He laughs and says he knows that race. Chasing peace is more of a marathon, but he’s here if she needs some cheering on. She says, right back at him. She’s so grateful for everything he’s done for them. She and her grandsons owe their lives to him. he says he’ll always help her, but full disclosure, he had selfish reasons for making sure everyone got home safely. She says she hopes things will open up a little more for him and Trina now. She didn’t want to pry before, but how are things going?
Trina says, something deep inside told her that she had to follow him on that boat. She’s never done anything that crazy in her life… but she doesn’t like to think about what might have happened if she hadn’t. He says, neither does he, and asks if she thinks Ace is going to remember. He was with that creepy nanny – Ace goes oooh, oooh, like he gets it – and Trina says she doesn’t know. He seems to be good, happy to be in Spencer’s arms. They’ll get him checked out when they get home, and he’ll be surrounded by family. Spencer says he just wants to protect Ace. He really loves this little guy.
Diane says, saving the world? How exhilarating. And so modest. Holly says, the only thing missing was Robert, and Robert says he was kind of busy at the time. He was stopping the situation from blowing up… literally. Diane says she doesn’t want to interrupt story hour, so she’ll… Robert says, please. Stay. Holly says, do, because she was just leaving, and she’s sure they have important legal things to discuss. She leaves, and Robert says he wants to apologize, but Diane says, no, no. She’ll settle for the truth.
Maxie paces as she says, 2023 is the year of selfcare. The Deceptor is a portable home spa device for the woman on the – she sneezes – go. Oh my God. I sound like Droopy Dog. The Deceptor tightens and brightens so you can be your best self… Be your best self. She coughs.
Ned says, how dare Drew barge in here and accuse him without a shred of evidence? Olivia and Brook don’t say anything, and he says, then again, what can he expect? His own family doesn’t believe him. They both say, we don’t.
Outside, Tracy tells Drew that she’s not getting into what Ned did or didn’t do, and she doesn’t condone physical violence. Drew says, but? and she says, his actions not only helped Willow, they avenged Luke, so he gets a pass from her… this time. So what is he going to do about the SEC investigation? He says, that’s for him and his lawyer to figure out. He’s not going to spitball with her just to satisfy her curiosity. She says she was wondering if he’s considered who the SEC is actually after. Is it him, a decorated former Navy SEAL, or Carly Corinthos. He says, Spencer, and Tracy laughs and says, that’s right; she changed her name. And she’s still the ex-wife and confidant of the most powerful mob boss in the state of New York. Doesn’t he think the SEC might be interested in hearing any dirt she has on Sonny?
Carly asks if the guardianship thing with Gladys is going well, and Sasha says, absolutely. It’s given her the time and space to put things together. Carly says, good. She has to admit, she was concerned given Gladys’s history. Sasha says, Gladys is still Gladys, but Gladys has really stepped up for her, always acting with her best interests in mind. She’s been a real life saver.
On the phone, Gladys says, that’s right. The upgraded package with the new dates… Perfect. She’ll check her email for the confirmation info… She looks forward to her journey too. She hangs up and says, smug little creep, when her phone dings. It’s a text from Selina: Seat opened up at the table tonight. $5K buy-in.
Carly says, if Sasha is feeling better and more grounded, maybe she doesn’t need a guardian, and Sasha says, at first, that was all she could think about. But barring one major difference of opinion, things have been going really smoothly. She guesses she’s gotten complacent. Her phone dings, and she says, Maxie texting… a work emergency. Gladys comes back, and Sasha says she should run. Carly thanks her for coming by, and Sasha says, absolutely. She asks Carly to keep in touch, and she and Gladys leave.
Portia says, there has to be a way to keep Trina away from Spencer. He knows it’s going to be a mess when Spencer fights Esme for her own child, and he’s going to pull Trina right into that mess. What if Spencer tries to get Trina to help him raise that child? And what if Nikolas comes back? All of a sudden, Nikolas comes back, and wants to be a daddy again. What about that? Taggert tells her, slow down. She’s letting her mind be filled with all kinds of worst case scenarios. She says, all of them are possible though, aren’t they? and he says, first of all, if Nikolas comes back, he’s most likely going to get arrested for unlawful imprisonment. But she’s forgetting the most important thing. They can’t tell Trina what to do. She says, so he’s telling her that he condones Trina having this relationship and being in this messy lifestyle, but he says, no, no even a little bit. He doesn’t want his daughter anywhere near that boy or his lunatic family. But what are they supposed to do? If they forbid Trina to see him, that’s just going to make it worse. Portia says, Trina needs to see how dangerous and destructive Spencer is, and he asks if she’s just going to drive more distance between her and her daughter.
Curtis tells Laura, it was hard with Trina after the wedding. Neither one of them knew what to say to each other. But it’s gotten better since, slowly. Laura says, after their time in Greenland, it’s pretty obvious to her that Trina cares about him. Curtis says he agrees, but Trina is still hesitant about taking the DNA test. She’s not ready. His fear is, she never will be. Laura asks what he wants, but he doesn’t think it matters. He wasn’t the man who raised her, so it’s not his place to pressure her.
Spencer tells Trina that he just wants his little brother to have the chance to be something he never could be, a normal kid. Look what they just went through; all of the danger and violence. Ace was right in the middle of that, and he doesn’t want that kind of upheaval for him. His grandmother thinks he should be patient with Esme, but he knows what’s best for his little brother. He wants to protect Ace. Trina says, he will, and he says, damn right. He’s more sure than ever that he’ll be his brother’s guardian.
Drew asks if Tracy is suggesting he turn against Carly to save himself, but she says she’s simply watching out for a member of her family. It’s what she does. He says, and what a family it is.
Olivia says she loves Ned and will stand by him, but she’s not okay with this. He says he swears, on his Grandmother Lila’s memory, he didn’t call the SEC. Tell him that she believes him. Tracy comes back, and Olivia says she’ll go get him an ice pack. She leaves, and Ned ask if Brook has anything to add. She says she may regret this, but she believes him.
Curtis tells Laura, it’s not even Trina’s fault she’s in this position. He doesn’t want to put added pressure on her. She asks, what about him and Portia? and he says he doesn’t know. She says, no matter what Portia did wrong, she still brought that fabulous human being into the world. She doesn’t want to compare Nikolas and Portia, but Nikolas’s indiscretion is what gave her that wonderful little grandson. If it turns out Curtis is Trina’s biological father… He says he’d be so honored, and she says, maybe he could do what she’s doing. She balances out her feelings of anger and disappointment in Nikolas with happiness; something really good came out of it. He says, the wound is too fresh. Maybe she can let go of her anger, but for him, it’s easier said than done. She says, of course (🍷) it is, but we can still try.
Portia says, Taggert hates the Cassadines. He did ever since Nikolas got involved with his sister. Don’t tell her now that he’s nonchalant about Trina having a relationship with Spencer. He says he can’t stand the Cassadines. He doesn’t want his daughter with one of them. But if they come down hard on her relationship with Spencer, it’s going to backfire in Portia’s face. She says, you do it then. Trina is sensitive to him right now; she’ll listen to him. Tell her how dangerous that family is. He says, and have her pull away from him too? They have to be realistic. Just think about what Trina and Spencer just went through. She says, yeah, and it’s only going to bring them closer together is what it’s going to do, and he says, Trina’s only made up her own mind. Portia says, but she’s wrong this time; she’s just wrong. She doesn’t want Trina to learn the hard way. Spencer’s influence is just growing on Trina, and he’s leading her into dangerous situation after dangerous situation. He’s taking her daughter away from her when she’s the most vulnerable. He says, Trina called her from Greenland, but she says, only because Trina knows her number by heart. He says, it’s because she wanted Portia to help, and she wanted to hear her mother’s voice, and she says, he has no idea how much she wants that to be true. She’s just so afraid she’s damaged her relationship with Trina, and it’s beyond repair.
As Holly is leaving the station, Felicia says, she’s back, and hugs her. She’s so glad everyone got home safe and sound. Holly says, Victor, not so much, and Felicia asks if Holly sees her crying. How is Ethan?Does he know? Holly says, yes. She spoke to him. He’s in Australia, and she’s so relieved. With Victor dead, she’s a whole new woman. Felicia says she doesn’t think she could be that optimistic after everything Holly’s been through, and Holly says, when you almost lose everything, it clarifies what you want to hang on to. That’s why she’s here; she wanted to talk to Robert. Felicia asks how that went, and Holly tells her, let’s just say our conversation ended with a kiss… a very nice kiss.
Robert says, Holly kissed him, and he was totally taken aback, but Diane says, he misunderstands her. She doesn’t care who kissed who behind the bleachers during seventh period. She doesn’t need to know the particulars. He asks what she wants then, and she looks at the champagne and says, clarification. She won’t build a relationship with someone who doesn’t want to be with her. He says he’s totally enjoying the time they’ve spent together, and she laughs and says, consider her swept off her feet. He says he’s not too good with this touchy-feely stuff, and she says she’s starting to get that, so she’s going to make it simple for him. She will not be in competition for his feelings, especially when her competition is the love of his life.
Drew goes to the hospital, and Carly hugs him. She asks how it went with the SEC, and he says, not great, but Sam called Diane for him, so that helped a lot. They really have to talk about their next steps though. And he kind of let his anger get the best of him. He punched Ned in the face. She asks if he’s going to be okay, and Drew says, he’s going to be fine, but the weird thing is, Ned insisted it wasn’t him, even after he hit Ned. She says, Michael, Josslyn, and Sonny, no one else knew, and he says, and Olivia. She says, then Olivia told Ned. Ned threatened them, specifically Drew. Drew says, the bottom line is, the date of the stock purchase implies insider trading, and she says, then it has to be Ned. Who else has to gain from telling the SEC?
Ned says, Brook believes him? and she asks if he really meant what he said about Great Grandmother Lila. He says, of course (🍷). He would never take her name in vain. She says, then yes, she believes him, and he says, that means the world to him. They hug, and Tracy kind of smiles. Ned says he appreciates Brook’s faith. Now he needs to find some aspirin. I guess Olivia went to Alaska to get ice. He leaves, and Tracy says, her granddaughter, the humanitarian. While they have some time alone together, she needs to speak with Brook on a certain matter. Brook asks if this can wait, but Tracy says, not so fast. Brook needs to hear what she has to say.
Felicia and Holly sit in the waiting area, and Felicia says she doesn’t want to speak out of turn, but Robert’s kind of seeing someone. Holly says, Diane Miller? and Felicia says, yeah. Holly says, Diane walked in on her and Robert kissing, and the look on her face spoke volumes. Felicia says, for the record, Diane is good people, and Holly says, hopefully Diane will understand she and Robert have been dancing around each other for years. They have a history that isn’t finished yet. That’s why she came back to Port Charles. She wanted to tell Robert exactly how she feels. Life’s too short. Felicia says she thinks it’s wonderful that Holly is so sure about her feelings for Robert, but does she know if he feels the same way?
Robert asks Diane, who’s talking about competition? He and Holly have a lot of history. She says, history implies the past. What she just walked in on? Definitely present. He says, she kissed him and he didn’t exactly shrink in horror. In some sense, he’s always going to love Holly, but as part of his past. Diane picks up the bottle of champagne, and says, the more she gets to know him, the more she knows not to expect a grand gesture – she reaches for the empty glass on his desk – or a statement to prove how he feels about her. She pours some champagne, and says, although midday champagne is very lovely. She drinks some, and says, she will not build a relationship with a man who is preoccupied with someone else. Hence her question – she drinks some more – has he really left Holly behind?
Brook asks if there’s anything wrong, and Tracy says, not necessarily. She recalls Brook mentioning she owed her for helping get Chase reinstated, and Brook was wondering when she was going to ask her to pay up. Brook says, when Tracy accused her of being like her father, only interested in money and stock market shenanigans, and Tracy says, relax. She’s not asking Brook for money or stocks. But there is something Brook can do as perhaps a way of settling her account.
Drew tells Carly that he just finds it hard to believe Ned would have set this whole plot in motion, especially when he was away trying to save Willow’s life. She says, Olivia must have been out of the loop, or Olivia would have warned her. How could Ned be so stupid? Does he want to ruin his relationship? He says, on the other hand, there’s an upside to this whole mess, and she says he’ll have to enlighten her. He says, they’re busted; their secret’s out. Which means he doesn’t have to look over his shoulder to do what he’s been wanting to do since he got home. She asks, what’s that? and he says, come here, and he’ll show her. They kiss.
Holly says she’ll tell Felicia this. If that kiss was any indication, then there is definitely still a spark between her and Robert. They know Robert is slow to act… Felicia says, some might say cautious, and Holly says, now that she’s back and free of encumbrances, there’s nothing to stand in their way.
Robert tells Diane, when he thought Holly had been killed, it was like someone kicked a hole in his stomach. The life went out of him. When he found her alive, everything was so much lighter. Knowing that Holly is alive and living her life is a whole lot different than wanting to live it with her. Diane thanks him, and says, that was honest. It’s also a long way around to say he’s still figuring things out. Take all the time he needs, but don’t call her until he knows what he wants. She takes the champagne bottle, and leaves.
Maxie thanks Sasha for coming so quickly, and Sasha says, of course (🍷). They would have picked up some chicken soup on the way, but she said it was an emergency. She and Gladys come inside, and Maxie says, it is. She’s not fit for television, and they have to debut The Deceptor today. Gladys says, tell Home & Heart they need to reschedule, but Maxie says, no. She practically had to beg for this spot, and she only got it because she promised them two free tickets to next year’s Nurses Ball. Sasha says, no worries. She’s sure they can find someone to take Maxie’s place. Maxie says, there’s only person she trusts to take the job. She knows it’s going to be difficult, but there’s no choice. It’s got to be Sasha.
Portia thanks Taggert for talking her off the ledge and making her see reason. But most important, she thanks him for still being a friend, especially after everything. He says he told her before, they’ll always be family. Curtis and Trina walk into the hospital, followed by Laura and Spencer holding Ace. Trina runs to Portia, and they hug. Taggert hugs them both. Laura and Spencer smile, but Curtis looks a little lost.
Tomorrow, Tracy asks Brook if it sounds like a fair deal; Curtis tells Portia that it’s over; and Maxie says, Sasha absolutely is not saying no.
🍸 VanderExcuse…
Tonight’s show was a lot. It was hard to type with all the red flags in my way, and I’ve still yet to edit some of it. Rather than do a rush job on such an important piece of the Scandoval puzzle, I’ll serve it to you tomorrow.
🏡 Leaving My Worries On the Doorstep…
Come back tomorrow for soap and the mess that is Tom Sandoval’s life. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering Mother’s Day is this weekend, and stay knowing that you have to put your own oxygen mask on before you can help anyone else.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Diane knocks on Robert’s office door, and says, he asked to see her. She’s assuming it has something to do with a plea deal in the Randall case, but he says he’s recused himself. She’ll have to deal with ADA Ashford-Davis on that one. He called her about something else; something more sensitive.
Ned comes downstairs, but Olivia and Brook block his path to the door. Olivia says, going somewhere? and he says, the office? He’s got a lot of damage control to do. Brook asks if he’s sure he’s not meeting with the SEC, and following up on accusing Carly and Drew of insider trading.
Josslyn tells Dex that she can’t turn her mind off. She keeps wanting to hear from Trina again, or hear something about Drew and Liesl, or something about Willow’s bone marrow transplant. He says, she hopes to have something else to focus on, and she asks if he has any suggestions.
Deanna says she’s sure Dr. Randolph has gone over this with Michael, but she’s reminding him that Willow needs a strong round of chemo to destroy her diseased bone marrow, so it can be replaced by Dr. Obrecht’s healthy marrow. Willow says she also knows that during this process her immune system will be completely compromised, and Deanna says, she’ll have to be in isolation.
Sam tells Dante that she was just talking to Nina, and he asks how that went. She says she and Nina have a not so great history. He says, when Nina first came to Port Charles? and Sam says, Nina was kind of obsessed with her first husband, and he was a big support for Sam when Danny was sick. That’s ancient history, but she feels like she has to step carefully around Nina. But Sonny loves her, so for his sake, she’s willing to make the effort. He says he wishes Michael and Carly would do the same, and she says, that’s kind of ironic. She just told Nina that she should make an effort with Carly.
Nina asks Carly if she could have a minute, and Carly stops and turns around. Nina says she was wrong, and she’s sorry. Carly says, sorry for what? and Nina says, for all the blame she heaped on Carly; for trying to make it Carly’s fault that she’s estranged from Willow. She didn’t get along with Willow when she was Charlotte’s teacher. She didn’t get along with her when Willow became Wiley’s stepmother. At her best, she was critical, and at her worst, she was combative. She regrets her actions more than she can say. But she’s standing here desperately wanting a connection with her daughter. Please, will Carly help her? Drew and Obrecht come out of the elevator.
Deanna says, they’ll move Willow to an isolation room. Everything will be wiped clean daily, she’ll be given a low bacteria diet, and anyone that comes in contact with her will have to be gloved, gowned, and masked. Michael asks if she’ll be allowed visitors, and Deanna says, there will be a protective barrier between Willow and the door. You can’t go past it. It’s very important that friends and family keep their distance; no physical contact to avoid the transmission of bacteria. Willow says she remembers all of this from nursing school. She never thought it would apply to her. Michael asks if they can have a moment alone, and Deanna says, of course (🍷). She tells Willow that she’s going to do great, and leaves. Michael says, they knew this was coming. Isolation is pivotal for the transplant’s success. Willow says she knows, but it scares her thinking this could be the last time she holds his hand.
Josslyn says, Dex wants to cook for her? but he says, no. He wants them to cook together. She says, that sounds good, but there’s a problem; she doesn’t cook. He says, not at all? and she says she can scramble eggs and make a sandwich; sometimes bake some cookies. Other than that, that’s the limit of her repertoire. He says, that’s better than when he started. He was limited to grilled cheese sandwiches, and anything he could pop in the microwave. That’s why he wanted to learn how to cook; so he could actually enjoy what he’s eating. He started following online tutorials and reading recipes, and that’s when he could actually enjoy it, both the process and the result. He’s had a few disasters, but he’s learning as he goes. She says, it sounds like he’s enjoying himself, and he says, cooking takes him out of himself. Instead of worrying about what happens next, he’s just in the moment. She says, it sounds like just what she needs, and he sits down with his laptop. He tells her that they just need to figure out what they’re going to make.
Robert says he wants to apologize for using Diane during that whole Holly business, and she thanks him. He says, for him personally, it snowballed into something else, but she was unaware of that. She says, interesting, and he says he wants to thank her for stepping in the other night and helping him with that Bureau business. She says, her pleasure, and he says he knows. She gets that twinkle in her eye whenever she uses the law to mess with people. She laughs, and says, present company very much included. He says, that brings him to this little get-together now. He’s the DA and she’s the highly respected defense attorney. They’re dancing very close to ethical lines here between sparring and flirting. Unless of course (🍷), they agree to do it by mutual consent.
Ned says he’ll tell them as many times as they need to hear it. He was not the one who turned in Carly and Drew to the SEC. Olivia says, he threatened to, and Brook says, more than once. He says he’s a Quartermaine, and Chairman of the Board. He makes threats all the time, but he doesn’t always carry them out. And he especially wouldn’t turn in Drew and Carly while Willow is fighting for her life. He’s not that heartless. Brook says, not heartless, but he is a world class rationalizer. She can see him telling himself, with a little pressure from the SEC, Drew wouldn’t be around much at ELQ, and that would ultimately be a good decision for the company. The tip wouldn’t generate more than a phone call or two. He never intended for it to go so far as Carly getting picked up at Michael and Willow’s wedding. He says, it was after the wedding, and he was just as shocked and upset as everyone else, and Brook says, especially the groom. Ned says, Michael was completely out of line, assuming he was responsible, and Olivia says, Michael was out of his mind with worry over Willow. He has no reason to trust Ned, and it kills her to say this, but Ned sold out Drew and Michael to Valentin Cassadine. What would stop him from selling out Carly and Drew to the SEC? He asks if a man can’t get peace and quiet in his own house without being hounded by his family, and goes into the living room, Olivia and Brook following. Tracy asks, where is the coffee and the croissants? Have the standards in this house fallen that far? Olivia says, her breakfast niceties are going to have to wait. They’re in the middle of something here. Tracy says, another crisis no one told her about, and Ned says, Olivia and Brook still think he’s responsible for turning in Drew and Carly, and Tracy says, well of course (🍷) he did, and good for him.
Nina hugs Obrecht, and asks if she’s okay. Look at her. Thank God. Obrecht says, God and her rescuers, especially Drew, and Nina asks, what happened? Obrecht says, when Victor’s demented plan started to unravel, he tried to escape with her as his hostage. It was Drew, with an assist from Holly Sutton, who stopped that from happening. Dante and Sam come along, and Obrecht says she uses the term sparingly, but Drew is a hero. Sam says, no surprise there. Scout can’t wait to see her hero dad. She hugs Drew, and he says he can’t wait to see his daughter. He appreciates the kudos, but obviously he was part of an amazing team. Obrecht says, without him, she wouldn’t be here, and Willow wouldn’t have a chance at life, and Nina pulls her aside to talk. Carly asks if Drew’s okay, and he says he’s fine. She tells him, there’s been a lot going on, and he asks if she’s all right. What’s going on? The SEC guys come out of the elevator, and SEC1 says, Drew Cain? They’re with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They were told they could find him here. Nina looks panicked, and Drew asks, what’s this regarding? SEC1 says, they have some questions for him about allegations of insider trading, and Obrecht says, that’s ridiculous. Doesn’t he have eyes? The man just returned from a dangerous rescue mission. Why doesn’t he take his bureaucratic drivel and be gone? SEC1 says, Drew has the option not to speak with them, but they can get a subpoena, and if necessary, a warrant. So if he wants to clear this up, he’ll come with them voluntarily. Sam says, if Drew wants to fight this, she’ll back him all the way, and he thanks her, but says, there’s nothing to fight. SEC1 says, they have a credible allegation that says otherwise, and Obrecht asks how he knows the allegation is credible. By definition, an allegation is something that hasn’t yet been proven. The agents are wasting their time with this legalese doublespeak. She tells Drew not to let them scare him, and he says he’s got this. She needs to focus on Willow. It’s fine. He tells the agents, let’s go, and Carly mouths, I’m sorry. Drew leaves with the agents.
Ned says, it wasn’t him. Carly and Drew did commit insider trading. The date of Carly’s stock purchase speaks for itself. All anyone had to do was realize they were in a personal relationship – not hard to pick up on – and anyone could have turned them in. Brook says, name one.Carly made the investment months ago. Why would the SEC only start caring now? Ned says, they’re bureaucrats. It took them a while to get around to it. Brook says, it took Ned pointing them in Carly and Drew’s direction, but Ned says, if Drew is investigated, it could spill over onto ELQ where he’s a major shareholder. They can accuse him of any nefarious thing, but do not accuse him of being a bad strategist. Olivia says, that’s his defense. Despicably turning over his cousin Drew and his other cousin Michael’s mother to the SEC is bad strategy? Ned says, technically, Michael is his second cousin, and Olivia says, that’s not the point. Tracy says she applauds Ned’s technique. Deny, deny, deny, and when that doesn’t work, obfuscate. Olivia says, the second thing she’s afraid of. He’s turning into Edward right before her eyes.
Diane asks if Robert regrets kissing her the other night when the car broke down, but he says, hell no. Just the opposite. He’d like to see where this could go, but not if she feels he’s using his position to pressure her. She says she appreciates his sensitivity, but she doesn’t feel pressured in the slightest. In fact, she’s intrigued by the prospect of spending more time with him. They’re two sophisticated adults who understand boundaries, and she’s sure they can keep their private and professional lives separate. He says he was hoping she’d say that. On that note – he goes to a cupboard, and takes out a bottle of champagne and two glasses – why don’t they celebrate their newly formed social status? She says, while she appreciates him waiting until they came to terms to bring out the champagne, she wants to point out, it’s noon. He says, that’s the great thing about champagne; you can drink it any time. He pops open the bottle and pours, handing her the first glass. He says, to us, and they almost clink glasses, but her phone rings. She takes it out of her purse, and says, it’s a client. She asks what she can do for them.
Michael promises Willow that it’s not the last time they’re going to hold hands. She’ll be in isolation until her body accepts the new transplant and starts producing healthy cells. She says, listen to him. Overnight medical expert. He says, she’s the nurse. She’s the expert here; he’s just parroting back what the nurses said. She says, he knows how weak she is. There’s a chance she won’t live through this. He says, she’s beaten the odds already; she’s going to beat them again. She says, his love is what’s gotten her this far. She doesn’t need to hold his hand. She can feel it in her heart, and wants him to feel it too. He says he does. Her love is the most precious thing they have, and she says, now would be a good time to kiss her, so she can take that with her. They kiss, when Deanna comes in and says, it’s time.
Dex looks at the screen, and says, butter lettuce, and Josslyn says, lettuce, typing it in her phone. He says, make sure it’s butter lettuce. That’s what the recipe calls for. She says, okay, and raspberries and avocados… He says, don’t forget the radishes, and she says, there’s a lot of fresh ingredients in here. He says, normally, he gets his produce at the farmer’s market, and she says, there’s a farmer’s market here? He says, right next to Rice Plaza. They can go together. She says, he’s right. Now that Sonny knows about them, they don’t have to hide anymore. He says, tell the truth. How freaked out was she when Sonny busted them after the Nurses Ball? She says she thinks paralyzed by fear would be accurate. She didn’t know what to say. Thank God he did. He says, there was no use denying it. Sonny had them dead to rights. She says, that’s a poor choice of words, and he says, that’s the part of Sonny that’s so tough. They lied to him for months about being together, and he knew all along, but he didn’t retaliate. He gave Dex credit for covering him during the warehouse ambush. Then he just let it go. He said it was up to Josslyn’s mom, and he didn’t want to be the romance police. She says, then they can take him at his word. They don’t have to hide anymore. He says, unless she doesn’t want people to know they’re seeing each other, which he’d totally understand. Her phone rings, and she says, it’s Michael. She answers and asks what she can do for him.
Obrecht tells Nina, this is outrageous. How can government lackeys show up at the hospital and drag Drew off? For what? Insider trading? Why were they not investigating Victor? Using those resources, instead of letting him come within a hairsbreadth of taking out half the world? Questioning a man who saved lives; who risked his own life so that Willow could live. Nina sits down and puts her head in her hands. Obrecht says, but no. The SEC only cares about going after a good man who made this world a better place. Nina says, Aunt Liesl, stop! then covers her own mouth. She says she’s sorry. It’s like Drew said; let’s just focus on Willow. She’s the priority. Obrecht says, of course (🍷), and Nina suggests they go see her, and tell her that Obrecht is back. They hurry off.
Carly tells Dante and Sam that Drew is coming into this blind. He had no idea the SEC was investigating him. Sam says, Drew is going to keep a cool head. He’s not going to give the SEC a reason to use anything against him. Carly asks if Dante would mind going to the PCPD and see what’s going on with Drew, and he says he was planning on it anyway. He leaves, and Carly says, it’s ironic. Drew asked her over to tell her not to buy any of Aurora stock. She didn’t listen.
Nina and Obrecht are giddy as they approach Willow’s room. They go inside to find the room empty, and Michael sitting in a chair, looking dejected. Nina says, oh my God. What happened to Willow?
Tracy says, her father was a wonderful man, and Olivia says, he was also a liar and a cheat, and a serial philanderer. Brook says she loved Grandpa Edward to pieces, but he kinda was. That’s why they’re all related to Austin. Jimmy Lee Holt, remember? Tracy says, ugh. Don’t mention that name. The too tight pants and the unfortunate hairstyle still makes her shudder. Olivia says, they’re getting off topic. The subject is Ned, and the unconscionable, underhanded way he behaved toward Drew and Carly. Brook says, really not cool, dad. And after all of those lectures about family loyalty. He says he swears, it wasn’t him. Call the SEC; they’ll tell them. Brook says, it was an anonymous tip, and anonymous means they won’t reveal your name. He knows that, and was counting on it. The more he tries to get them to believe he’s innocent, the guiltier he looks. Olivia says, when is he going to learn, it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up? He says, it’s not a crime to tell the SEC about insider trading, and Olivia says, ah-ha! pointing her finger at him. He says, which he did not do. But if he had, it wouldn’t be a crime. Tracy says, oh good Lord, what are they doing here? Josslyn and Dex stand in the doorway.
SEC1 tells Drew that their inquiry concerns the failed Aurora/ELQ merger, and the inflation of the ELQ stock immediately prior to the merger falling apart. Drew is a majority shareholder in Aurora, and has a large block of voting stock in ELQ, enough to be a majority shareholder. Drew says, his point? and SEC1 says, Carly Spencer, formerly Carly Corinthos, never owned stock in Aurora prior to the failed merger. Is that correct? Diane walks in, and says, well hello, agents. How unfortunate they have to do this all again. Her client has nothing further to say.
Robert looks at the two filled champagne glasses on his desk, and says, waste of good champagne. He gets up, picks up the glasses, and pours them into the plant on his desk. And it turns into the moss bowl🎍! Just kidding. He sets the empty glasses on his desk, picks up the bottle, and opens the door. Holly is standing there, and she says, looks like she’s just in time to celebrate.
Tracy asks Ned if Monica has instituted an open door policy, and can anyone just walk right in? Olivia tells Josslyn that she apologizes for her mother-in-law’s rudeness. She’s always welcome. Tracy says, since when? and Brook says, since she’s Michael’s sister and part of their extended family. Ned says, Josslyn was at the wedding, and Tracy says, her hair was different. And who’s he? Olivia says, this is Dex. He works for Sonny. Tracy says, oh well, that’s better. Now they can all be relieved that he’s gainfully employed, carrying brass knuckles and a gun for Sonny. Olivia says, who happens to be the father of her first born son, and Tracy says, Olivia was a teenager. Otherwise she would have hopefully had better judgement, and even better taste. Brook says she thinks Olivia showed great taste. Uncle Sonny’s the best. Tracy says, the best at what? Racketeering? Extortion? And when did we start welcoming his employees in this house? Josslyn says, don’t worry. They’re not staying. Tracy says, because they’re not invited, and Josslyn says, they’re here to pick up Wiley and Amelia. Michael wants to see them at the hospital.
Michael tells Nina and Obrecht that Willow’s been moved to isolation on the third floor. She’s starting chemo to cure her diseased bone marrow and get her ready for the transplant. Nina says she knew that had to happen. She’s so sorry she panicked. Michael says, it’s okay, and Obrecht says, Willow is doing her part, and it’s time she did hers. She’ll consult with Dr. Randolph, and get prepped for her donation procedure. Nina says she’ll walk with Obrecht, and Michael says, what Obrecht is doing, giving Willow a chance at life, it means everything to him and his children. Obrecht says, it’s her privilege. Willow is family. They leave.
Carly tells Sam that she just can’t believe how something that happened with the best of intentions turned out so badly. All she wanted to do was support Michael and Drew, and suddenly, Ned turned it into insider trading. Sam says she thinks it’s incredibly harsh, considering everything that’s going on with Willow, but she guesses when it comes to Ned, nothing else matters but ELQ.
Dante asks the desk sergeant if the SEC is still in there, and he says, they are. They shouldn’t be too long. The guy they’re questioning is being represented by Diane Miller. Dante says, Diane will have them out of there in ten, fifteen minutes. He doesn’t think they’ll get anything out of him.
Diane says, should the SEC choose to move forward with this matter, they’ll have to calendar an interview, and submit all of their questions to her in writing. SEC1 says, they already have enough to issue a subpoena, and Diane laughs and says, by saying that, she gathers they don’t already have a subpoena for her client in this matter. SEC1 says, no, looking sheepish, and she says, then this interview is over. She puts her hand on Drew’s shoulder.
Holly tells Robert, not that she ever had a problem with it before, but when did he go back to drinking in the middle of the day? He says, she’s back, and she says, in the 80s, they were married. Does he recall? They would drink champagne at all hours. He says, it was her favorite, and she says, it still is, so he won’t mind if she helps herself? He hands her the bottle, and says, have a glass – have the bottle – but tell him what happened in Greenland. She says, it was quite an adventure.
Sam goes to the station, and Dante says, Diane is representing Drew. The agents left a little while ago. By the looks on their faces, they got nothin’. She says, in the short term, that would be great. In the long term, Drew could be in a lot of trouble.
Drew says, Diane’s timing was impeccable, and she says, he can thank his ex-wife. It was Sam who called and alerted her. He says he’ll do that. He’s grateful she’s representing him. She says, this was a one-off. They’ll have to discuss further representation down the line. He says, first he has to figure out what the hell is going on, and she says, what’s going on is, he and Carly are alleged to have a personal relationship, and Carly took advantage of said relationship to make a stock purchase in anticipation of the Aurora/ELQ merger. He asks, who brought these allegations to the SEC’s attention? but she says, they don’t know. It was an anonymous tip.
Holly tells Robert that she was on the first flight with Drew and Obrecht. When they left, the Bureau was organizing to get the rest home. He says he doesn’t want to hear about travel arrangements. He wants to hear about Victor and how she stopped him. She says, he was running away with Obrecht as his hostage, but she was waiting for him. Robert says, she shot him, but she says she couldn’t. He was using Obrecht as a shield. However, she distracted him with the unwelcome news that he could no longer father children. He might ask how she knows that, but the last time she was here, she arranged for Victor to drink a special cocktail, as punishment for kidnapping her and Ethan, and forcing her to frame Anna. Robert says, payback really is a bitch, and she says, obviously, it was a sensitive subject, because Victor lost it, and tried to take a shot at her. That gave Drew an opportunity to jump him and take him down, but during the struggle, Obrecht fell. But whilst she and Drew were focused on her, Victor ran away. He asks if Obrecht is all right, and Holly says, she bumped her head, but when she came around, Obrecht was able to tell her how to save Valentin and Anna. He says, save Anna?
Brook tells Olivia and Ned, Michael confirmed Dr. Obrecht is back. Willow is being prepped for her bone marrow transplant. Olivia asks why Brook looks like she just lost her best friend, and Brook says, the chemo Willow is on is really strong. These next few days are going to be tough. Olivia says, once the treatment’s over, she’ll be in remission, right? and Tracy says, fingers crossed, but she’s thinking what Brook is thinking. Willow is very week, and might not recover. Olivia makes some pshht! sounds, and says she’s banning all dark thoughts from this house. The right attitude can make all the difference, and Willow has so much to live for, she’s going to beat this. Ned says, she’s held on longer than anyone could have predicted. She’s going to come through. Olivia says, thank God Drew rescued Dr. Obrecht, and brought her home, and Brook says, it would have been a real bummer had the SEC picked Drew up before he left for Greenland.
Michael tells Carly that Willow has been admitted to isolation, and Dr. Obrecht is being prepped to donate her bone marrow. Carly says, they prayed for a miracle, and it’s happening, and hugs Michael. He says, it’s going to work; she’s going to live. Having chemo and being in isolation is part of the treatment, but he wishes he could hold her and comfort her. Carly says, Willow knew it was going to be hard, but she also knew it was going to be worth it. Michael says he thinks he found a way to show her, when Josslyn and Dex come out of the elevator with Wiley and Amelia. Wiley runs to Michael, who picks him up, and says he sees Wiley has a new friend. Wiley says, he’s Aunt Josslyn’s friend. His name’s Dex and he was a soldier. Isn’t that cool? Michael says, that’s very cool. He didn’t realize Aunt Josslyn was bringing Dex along. Josslyn says she just wanted a little extra help with Wiley and Amelia, and Wiley asks if he can see mommy. Nina comes down the hall, but stops short, and Michael says, that’s why he had Aunt Josslyn bring them here. So they could see mommy, and mommy can see them.
Holly tells Robert that Obrecht had hidden the antidote nearby, and she was able to find it and get it to Anna and Valentin. He says, thank God for Holly, but what was Anna thinking? She says, Anna loves Valentin very much; enough to put her life on the line. He says, tell him something he doesn’t know, and she asks if he’s upset. He says, only that Anna’s so reckless with her life, and she says, he’s not jealous? He says he wishes her well, and Valentin is her mistake to make. She says, there were a few moments in Greenland when she was pretty sure she was going to die, and there was only one thing she wanted to do. She walks up to him, and says, this, kissing him. Diane comes to the door and sees them.
Dex says he met some of Josslyn’s family, and she says, extended family; one branch of it anyway. He asks how they’re connected, and she says, remember she told him about Tracy, Michael’s great aunt? Michael’s biological dad AJ and Ned are first cousins, so she guesses that makes Michael and Ned second cousins. He asks if there will be an exam later, and she says she knows it’s a lot. He says, and it’s only one branch. What are the others? She says, the Spencers, the Corinthos… She might not like Sonny so much right now, but there’s this big, blended sibling group, and various assorted nieces, nephews, and cousins. He asks if she’s okay with all those people knowing they’re together, and she says she wants them to know, taking his hand. He asks if that’s why she brought him along today; she wanted them to know? She says, no. Wiley’s a lot on his own, then they had to get Amelia into the car seat, and the car seat into the car. He says, if she can stitch up a bullet wound in her brother’s living room, he’s pretty sure she can handle two kids and a car seat. She asks if she put him on the spot, but he says, no. He loved it. Meeting Wiley, getting to hold Amelia while she wrestled with the car seat. She says she told him it’s complicated, and he says he just wondered if she brought him along because she wanted help or if she wanted to make a statement.
Sam says, Carly is convinced Ned is the one who turned her and Drew in, and Dante says, Ned reports Drew to the SEC with Carly as collateral damage? That sounds extreme. She says, who even knew Carly and Drew were together? And of all the people who knew… He says, who stands to gain the most from exposing them?
Tracy says, heroism is one thing; business is quite another. Since Drew was foolish enough to confide the merger plans to Carly, and Carly was greedy enough to cash in, they brought the SEC on themselves. Olivia says, no they did not. Ned brought the SEC on them when he turned them in. Ned says, for the thousandth time, he did not turn them in, and Tracy says, it was a smart business tactic. Olivia says, it was a gross betrayal, and Ned says he didn’t do it. Brook says, Ned double-crossed Michael and Drew with Valentin when he tanked the merger with Aurora by becoming Chairman of the Board at ELQ. Why does he expect them to believe him now? He says he admits he threw in his luck with Valentin, but that is standard Quartermaine family politics. It’s a far cry from turning Drew and Carly into the SEC. Drew is family. The Q’s stay loyal to each other. Drew walks in, and asks if they’re talking about him behind his back. He strides toward Ned, who says, they heard he brought Dr. Obrecht back… Drew punches him in the face, knocking him down.
Josslyn says, Dex has her. She wanted Michael to see them together, out in the open. It’s a bonus her mom was there. She’s known about them for months, but she thinks her mom was hoping she’d change her mind. He asks, why? and she says, when her mom was her age, she had someone like him, and she said he was the best thing to ever happen to her. Losing him almost killed her. Her mom doesn’t want that for her. He asks what she thinks, and she says, she thinks history doesn’t always repeat itself. And what happened to him doesn’t have to happen to Dex. She’d rather be happy now than give this up because she’s scared of what might happen in the future. He says, so she’s happy now? and she says she could be happier. He asks, how? and she kisses him.
Willow looks up, and sees Carly and Michael with the kids in the window. Michael says, mommy’s awake, and Wiley says, hi, mommy! We love you! Nina comes by, but keeps walking past them. Wiley waves, and Willow waves back, blowing him a kiss.
Tomorrow, Spencer tells Trina that he’ll be his brother’s guardian; Curtis asks if Laura is speaking for Spencer and Trina, or for herself; Maxie says her company is at stake; and Drew says, Ned wants a war? He’s got one.
The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Marge tells housekeeper Marlene that people are coming over. Marge Sr. arrives, and Marge says, Marlene is the only woman she knows who dresses up to clean. Jen arrives with her mother and her mother’s twin sister. Mazzie and Cazzie. Don’t ask me to tell them apart. In Jen’s interview, she says, her mom has an identical twin, and they love being twins. They’re 80, and still dressing alike. They were born Brooklyn, and were best friends with Barbara Streisand. Her grandmother would play the piano and Barbara would sing. In Marge’s interview, she says she’s never seen two whirling dervishes like this in her life. Now she knows where Jen gets it from. She asks if they know anyone for Marge Sr., but Marge Sr. says, at this point, she couldn’t stand being with someone 24 hours a day. Marge says she’s married to a Stage 5 clinger. In her interview, Jen says, her parents divorced when she was 3. Her parents couldn’t have been more different. Her mother is a kookie extrovert, and her dad is serious. They both remarried and there were more divorces. It was a roller coaster. Her mother was loving, but had a lot to deal with, and they moved around. Her aunts and cousins were still on Long Island, and it was hard on the family, but no matter what happened, her aunt was always a constant. The twins ask if everyone got along in Ireland, and Marge says, there was an immature a-hole. Jen asks if she means Danielle, and Marge says, Danielle can be nice, but she’s going through something with her brother. Everything with Teresa and Melissa reminds her of her brother, and brings the drama back to her. In her interview, Marge says, Danielle is used to being the center of attention. It’s very much look at me, but everything isn’t about her. Marge says she tried to coddle Danielle, but Danielle attacks her. Jen says, the shower was weird. Teresa and Melissa don’t get along, and Teresa says, all she wants is for the family to be together. Marge says, but she doesn’t include Melissa. The twins asks if Melissa is going to the wedding, and Jen says she hopes so.
Dolores gets the family dinner she wanted, and she and Paulie get to the restaurant first. Dolores tells him that Italians never sit with their back to the door. In Frank’s interview, he says he wanted to have dinner to celebrate Frankie getting his dream job, but wanted just the four of them. Dolores says, Paulie is part of their family dynamic now, and this is how she wants it to be. In Dolores’s interview, she says, Frank likes to bust balls and sometimes gets carried away, but no one bust balls more than an Irishman. Brittany, Gabby, and Frankie arrive, and Dolores says she’s proud of the extended family. Gabby says, it was a rough start, and we flash back to Frank calling Paulie Buzz Lightyear. Frank asks how old Paulie was when he came to the US, and Paulie says, 23. He worked as a receptionist to try and help his family out. Frank says he’s impressed, and in his interview, he says he wasn’t Paulie’s biggest fan when they first met. He thought Paulie was stuck up, but he realizes Paulie is like him. He wants to break barriers, and that’s all Frank is looking for. Brittany asks if Paulie knew English when he came, and Paulie explains that they speak English over there. He wants to have a prohibition party, where they dress up in clothes of the era, and thinks it’s a good idea if they invite everyone. Dolores says she’s excited for them to see where she lives now, and Frank says, so she’s not coming home? He asks if Paulie knows what kind of ring Dolores wants, and Paulie says he already has it. Frank says, STFU, but in a nice way.
In Dolores’s interview, a producer asks if she thinks Paulie really has a ring, and she says she doesn’t know. It’s nice to think about these things, but when Frank bought a house and put it in her name before they were married, her father said, they were putting the cart before the horse. This seems like apples and oranges to me, but Dolores has her own way of thinking. Frank says, whatever Brittany wants, she gets, and Dolores says she couldn’t ask for someone nicer for Frank. Frank says he can’t imagine either of them remarrying, but he’d like his son to be his best man. He gets emotional, and in his interview, he says he’s been so worried about losing the family dynamic, but he sees that he hasn’t lost it; the family is getting bigger. Frankie says, everyone is set, and Frank says, life is good; they’re blessed. They toast to everybody’s future.
It just dawns on me that Teresa’s dog’s name is Rosie. Is she named after Cousin Rosie? On the patio, Teresa shows Louie seating charts that Jessica sent her, and they confer. In Teresa’s interview, she says, a lot of logistic things need to be done, but the planning isn’t stressful. She tells Louie that she wants to do a lounge, and voices her concern about Joe #2 and Melissa saying negative things. She suggests Louie ask if his mom wants a special dance, and he calls her. She says, whatever he want to do, and Teresa says, her dad isn’t here to dance with her (I feel momentarily sympathetic), so it’s up to the two of them. In her interview, Teresa says she can’t compare the difference between their families. Louie’s family is all, whatever they need. They’re so amazing, but with her family, nothing. Louie asks how the shower was, and Teresa says, everyone got along, but Melissa’s actions don’t go with what’s happening. She hasn’t RSVP’d to the rehearsal dinner, and she knows there’s a rehearsal dinner before the wedding. Yeah. It’s usually for those in the wedding party, so I’m really confused. Louie texts Joe #2, who tells him that they can’t attend, and will only be around on the wedding day. He says, it literally makes him sick, and Teresa says, it’s the result of Melissa being in Joe’s ear. Louie says, it’s always Teresa’s fault, and in Louie’s interview, she says, Gia told her father what was happening, and Juicy Joe called him. He told Louie not to let Joe #2 interfere in his life. He would because he’s intimidated and insecure. Teresa says, when she was married to Joe #1, they only ever fought because of her brother😐, and Louie says, it’s hard to be calm around an animal like that. He’s not lowering himself for that trash. In Teresa’s interview, she says, she feels horrible and embarrassed. He sees how it is with Louie and his sisters, and she grabbed for her brother. She took the punches, but she’s tired of getting hurt. Louie says, after they’re married, he won’t allow anyone to do anything like that anymore. Honestly, is there a piece we’re not seeing? From my perspective, Teresa is the one doing the hurting, and Louie just looks insane at this point. Even his facial expressions seem crazy and he’s red in the face all the time when he talks about them. Although maybe it’s the spray tan gone wrong.
Danielle goes through her inventory, with her mom Angel cheering her on. They agree the merchandise is cuter in person than online, and Angel says, Danielle needs a brick and mortar store. In Danielle’s interview, she says, the journey was awesome; starting small and getting bigger. But right now she’s a hub for other vendors, and her goal is to have something of her own. Angel says, when Danielle and her brother were kids, growing up, they would kill for each other, but now they want to kill each other. Danielle says she would have never thought, as adults, he wouldn’t have her back, and Angel says, it breaks her heart that she and Danielle are both in pain. In her interview, Danielle says, you hear that Italian boys love their moms, but her brother iced out her mom for taking her side. Angel says she was talking with their dad about him, and he said, try to fix it, but her brother doesn’t want to. It makes her sad, especially now that a baby is involved. She wishes he’d realize what his daughter is missing. In Danielle’s interview, she says she’s not okay with not knowing her niece, and she tells Angel, all they can do is work on themselves, healing, and figuring out a world where he doesn’t exist in their life. In her interview, she says, it consumes her. She wishes they could have a relationship like they once knew. She doesn’t know what she did. Angel says, they have to hope and pray the day comes that they can all be a family again. Maybe he’ll see the light. Danielle says, maybe he’s lost somewhere, but if showed up… She cries, and Angel says, all they can do is wait and hope things change.
In Jennifer’s interview, she says, during covid, her brother went to Turkey because his wife Melda’s visa wasn’t approved. It’s been approved now, she they’ve moved to America. She wants to help them get settled, and found a gorgeous 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment. A friend owns the building, so she got a great rate. Her brother has been coming to the states sporadically to sell jewelry, but had no idea how inflated the prices are here. It’s like they’re starting from scratch. She knows what it’s like to be on a budget, since when Bill was a resident, they struggled. Her in-laws supported them, and helping her brother is a blessing. She meets them at the apartment, which is fully furnished, even with artwork, and blindfolds them before the go in. They take the blindfolds off when they’re inside, and they’re thrilled. As we all would be – it’s very nice. In her interview, Jennifer says, this is what it’s all about. She feels as good as they do to be able to do this. She’s excited for them starting their journey. She tells Michael that there are shops close by, and Melda won’t feel so dependent on him. She had him to herself, but now his business will take time. She doesn’t want him to be like Bill, who comes home and goes straight to the pool house. Michael says, he’s probably tired from work, but you’d think he’d say hello first. She says, it’s hard not to take it personally. She’s been given the task to raise the kids. Michael says, in the family background, the husband supported the family financially, and the mom did everything else, but Jennifer says she’s sick of it. Help her out. Maybe she’s struggling. Bill doesn’t want to go to therapy, but thinks she should go. She doesn’t want to brush things under the rug anymore. She wants to talk. In her interview, she says she doesn’t want to push him to face things; it gets her nowhere. But she feels it would be helpful if he’d go to therapy. He needs to work on himself; it’s a two-way street. She tells Michael that she loves her husband and her life. She doesn’t want to get to a place where it’s the point of no return. A relationship where one person is doing the work for two will not sustain itself.
John tells Rachel, now that they’ve started the adoption process, Jaiden’s biological mother will be contacted. Rachel asks, how soon will they hear about it, and he says, if there’s no contact, they’ll move forward to the next step. Rachel wonders if it’s a good time to tell Jaiden, and in her interview, she says, it stresses her out to think Jaiden’s birth mother is the wild card. Rachel hopes she won’t throw a wrench in the works. She knows Jaiden’s mother can be spiteful and it’s scary. She wants him to be prepared. She tells John that if it goes south, she wants everything to stay as normal as possible, and Jaiden joins the conversation. Rachel tells him that she and his dad met with an attorney to begin the steps to her adopting him. They’ll do a Federal background check on her and contact his birth mom. On paper, she’s still legally his mother, and could sign her parental rights off or fight it. Jaiden asks if she object even though she lost full custody, and John says she can. Rachel says, legally, they have to give her the opportunity, and John says, if she reaches out to Jaiden, let them know before he responds. Rachel says she doesn’t want this to stress him out. Just live his normal life, and if he changes his mind about moving forward, be honest and tell them. They can stop the process. Jaiden says he’s not changing his mind; he wants this to happen. In her interview, Rachel says, to hear that Jaiden wants her to adopt him makes her happy. He made her a mom. She tells Jaiden that she’s loved him since they met, and Jaiden says, he was thinking about the first time they met. In her interview, she says, she was 23. They’ve been through lot as a family. She had a miscarriage, and they tried for a long time to have a baby. Jaiden was her saving grace. Even if she couldn’t have her own kids, he gave meaning to her life. Watching him grow up was one of the greatest lessons of her life. She tells him that she’ll always be his mom. If it doesn’t go the way they want, he’s still her son and she loves him dearly.
As everyone gets ready for the party, Melissa says, Joe #2 hasn’t been to Paulie’s house yet. It’s a manly, masculine man pad. She’s assuming Frank’s coming, but Joe calls him, and Frank says he’ll be there. He recently had dinner with Dolores, Paulie, Brittany, and their kids. Melissa asks how it went, and he says, as Dolores. Paulie said he’d already gotten her a ring. Frank hangs up, and Melissa asks Joe if he thinks there will be an engagement tonight. They wonder how Frank might react.
Dolores tells Paulie that the Gorgas and Giudices aren’t getting along so great, and Paulie says, maybe they need to talk. They need to make up or break up. Marge tells Joe #3, at the shower, Melissa and Teresa were cordial, but Melissa was like just another guest. Danielle tells Nate that Marge started with her, bringing up Laura again, and we flash back to that. She says, Marge is always trying confront her. She’s a little bit of a douche. John tells Rachel that he asked Nate what was up with his wife calling her a rat, and Nate said, Danielle thought she was speaking in confidence, but John said, Rachel just had a friend’s back.
In Jennifer’s interview, she says, some text messages were leaked that Marge sent a friend group, saying, there was a snake in the group. There’s a snake because of Laura repeating what Marge said, and Marge is nervous because she has no idea how much was divulged. Teresa wanted to know why Melissa didn’t go after Marge, and said Marge must have something on her. Laura does. Danielle says, if someone was saying something about her, she’d want to know, but hopes Melissa doesn’t shoot the messenger.
In Teresa’s interview, she says she loves Louie’s style; it’s sexy. She bought all of her ex’s clothes, but she doesn’t have to tell Louie how to dress. She tells Louie that she hopes Joe #2 is calm. He’s not returning any of her calls, and he’s never not taken one of her calls. She wishes this wasn’t happening now, and Louie says, it’s happening on purpose because they’re getting married. Don’t apologize for her brother’s actions because it’s not her fault. He told Teresa that she was miserable, but he sees her happiness and that she’s living her best life. He’s saying she’s miserable because he doesn’t like seeing her happy. He’s projecting his own bullsh*t on her; he’s the one that’s miserable. He’s calculated in everything he does. She says she just wants peace, and Louie says, people think they can keep pushing, but he’s ready to react. She asks if he plans on talking to her brother, and he says he wants to talk to Joe #2 as much as he wants to talk to a rat in the street. In Teresa’s interview, she says she’s never heard Louie talk like this, but she doesn’t blame him. Louie says he said Joe was the family patriarch, not him, but maybe he’s threatened. The problem lies between Joe’s ears, and no one else’s. He’s seen Teresa be loving and forgiving to her brother, while Joe is gaslighting and manipulating her. He doesn’t even want them coming to the wedding. He doesn’t want the bad energy there, and doesn’t want his mother and sisters around that pig of energy. He doesn’t want anyone to waste a flash on taking Joe and Melissa’s picture. He asks Teresa, if she saw him in a snake pit, would she pull him out? She says, of course, and he says he’s pulling her out of the snake pit. Leave the rest of them it. Eventually they’ll all get bit.
So he doesn’t want them there, they end up not coming, and they’re the bad guys? Seriously, what is it I’m not grasping?
Next time – the finale – the prohibition party happens; Danielle says she’s navigating he best way to tell Melissa about the rumor; Marge and Danielle get into it at the party; Dolores says, this is bad; and Louie evokes the spirit of Charlie Sheen by saying, I’m a winner. I’m winning.
🌊 The Tide Is High…
U-turn it back tomorrow for soap, and if you haven’t had enough awful people this week, the reality that birthed Scandoval. Bring your sleuthing skills. Until then, stay safe, stay giving your public transport seat to the old and infirm, and stay out of the snake pit in the first place.
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Carly tells Dante, the only reason she was allowed to go home was because of Sonny.
Nina sees Sam, and asks if she came to the hospital to check on Michael, and Sam says she wanted to see if he or Willow needed anything. Nina says, that’s very kind of her. She was wondering if she could talk to Sam for a second. Sam says, sure. What’s up?
Josslyn goes to Dex’s apartment and when he answers the door, she hugs him. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, they can’t find Spencer.
Somewhere in Greenland. In what looks like a waiting area, Trina tells Ace, the WSB doesn’t mess around, huh? It seems like they got this place set up in seconds. But don’t worry. They’re going to find his big brother. They have to. Valentin comes in, and she asks if there’s any word on Spencer.
Willow says, this is where Michael gets to say I told you so, but he says, him? Never. She says, he never gave up hope or stopped believing they’d get a miracle. It worked. Their miracle is on its way. He says, she’s the miracle. She fought so hard to hold on, and now they get to spend the rest of their lives together. In fact, they get to properly celebrate Paris. When this whole nightmare began, they were planning a trip to Paris. She says she couldn’t find her passport. That’s what started the search for her birth certificate in the first place. It feels like a lifetime ago. He says, so when she’s recovered from her transplant and she’s up for travel, their first stop will be Paris. She asks how his French is coming along. As she recalls, he was working pretty hard on it. He says, oui, oui, mademoiselle, and she says, so he’s in the exact same spot. He says, pretty much, and she says, you and me in the City of Lights. She can just picture it. He says, even better; they’re going to live it. They kiss.
Diane says, so she guesses they’re done, and Sonny says, she’s been more than his and Carly’s lawyer, through two divorces and one remarriage. (That’s all?) She says, and? and he asks if she doesn’t think it’s a little too late to be a stickler for rules. She says she was born a stickler. It’s the knowledge of those rules and the adherence to them that gives her the power to maneuver through the legal system. He says, she can maneuver all she wants. All he wants to know is what Carly is up against and how they get her out of it. She asks why he cares.
Dante asks why Carly is crediting Sonny with her getting released, and she says, because the SEC wanted Drew’s location, and he’s magically located on a flight manifest from San Diego to Hawaii? Dante says, he was actually in Greenland on that rescue mission, and she says, someone sent the Feds on a wild goose chase to buy more time. They both know it was Sonny.
Nina says, Sam was the officiant at the wedding, so any details Sam would feel comfortable sharing, she’d like to hear them. Sam says, Sonny didn’t tell her about the ceremony? and Nina says, you know how guys are. She asked him about the flowers and the dress, and he said they were nice. Sam laughs, and says, that’s an understatement. Willow was a vision. Her dress was understated, but very elegant. Nina says, just like her? and Sam says, just like her. And the bouquet of flowers was just beautiful. (Hmm… that kind of borders on nice.) Nina asks, what about the kids? and Sam says, Wiley was the cutest ring bearer you could ever see. Nina says, so proud, and Sam says, Avery and Donna were the most amazing flower girls. They had these flower crowns on their heads. Nina says, Donna loves a good crown (as we all do), and Sam tells her, the vows were heartfelt. Nina asks if it was sad, but Sam says, no. If anything, she’d say, it was real. She thinks it was hopeful. You’ve never seen two people more in love. She thinks Michael and Willow would say the wedding was perfect. Until of course (🍷) the SEC showed up.
Josslyn says, Trina called her from a WSB satellite phone, and Dex says, from Greenland? How was that connection? She says, about as good as you’d imagine. They only talked for a minute. She said everyone was safe, but the Haunted Star exploded and they can’t find Spencer. He asks if Spencer was on board at the time of the explosion, but she says, it’s unclear. They’re still searching for him, but she could hear it in Trina’s voice. She’s so terrified he’s dead. He says, when a buddy’s missing, they don’t say it out loud if they think they’re gone. It’s like a superstition. She says, why, because it will make it true? and he nods. She says, but what if it is? and he holds her.
Valentin tells Trina that he’s sorry, but there’s no sign of Spencer. Sit down. He’ll tell her everything he knows. They sit, and she asks how he’s feeling. He says he’s feeling better, and thanks her. Say what you will about Liesl, but she was able to outmaneuver his father, and get him the cure. She saved his life. Trina says, thank goodness; that’s amazing. Is there any update on the Haunted Star? He says, the WSB is searching the wreckage, and the nearby shoreline. Anna Devane is in London smacking around meeting with the director, the senior officials, and a number of disgruntled diplomats who want to know about Victor Cassadine’s affiliation with the Bureau. Curtis is being debriefed, and as soon as that’s finished, there’s a plane waiting to take them home. She says, no. She’s not leaving without Spencer. He’s still out there; she can feel it. An agent comes in, and tells Valentin, they’ve recovered a body from the wreckage.
Dante says, things have been strained between Carly and his father even before the divorce, right? and Carly says, things have been strained since Sonny came back from Nixon Falls. He says, let’s not relitigate who did what to who and why. The bottom line is, Carly expected Sonny to step back and let her handle her own problems? She says, something like that. Sonny doing what he did last night just showed her that Sonny might be different in many respects, but at his core, he’s still the man he’s always been.
Nina says she heard Carly had some trouble after the wedding, and Sam says, whoever decided to tip off the SEC has the most heartless timing. Nina flashes back to telling Martin that she hasn’t changed her mind. Just the opposite. She wants him to expose Drew and Carly for engaging in insider trading. Just make sure to keep her name out of it. Sam says, at least the ceremony was over, and Michael and Willow were officially husband and wife by the time the Feds showed up. Nina asks if Willow was really upset, and Sam asks, how can she not be?
Diane says, Sonny’s most recent divorce, while legally straightforward, was acrimonious to put it mildly. When Carly severed ties, she meant it. She waived her right to millions of dollars in assets. All she wanted – all she would accept – was her home and joint custody of Donna. He says, Diane just answered her own question, and she says, how so? He says he and Carly share Donna. She’s Donna’s mother. Does Diane think he’s going to allow Donna’s mother to go to prison? She says, so all this is being done for Donna? and he says, yeah. She says, then she has to hand it to him. She’s very impressed… considering the temptation. Don’t tell her that he hasn’t thought about it. If Carly goes to prison, he now has sole custody of Donna. Not only that, he can share her with Nina.
Willow asks if there’s an ETA on Drew and Liesl, and Michael says, they’re still en route, but they’ll be here some time today. In the meantime though, how about if they look at some potential accommodations in Paris? How about a five-star hotel, where all their needs are taken care of? Or they could go the whole authentic Parisian route, and rent an apartment. He starts looking on his phone, and she asks if he still has the footage on there that incriminates his father. He says, yeah, and she asks if he’s turned it over to the FBI. He says, not yet, and she says, good. She wants him to delete it.
Trina and Valentin are lead to a room with a body bag on a table. She says, that’s not him. It’s not him. It’s not him. It’s not him. The agent unzips the bag, and we see it’s Victor. Trina nearly collapses with relief, and says, it’s not Spencer. He can still be alive.
Sonny says he loves Nina, and Diane says, that much is apparent. He says he’s thrilled that Nina and his girls have a relationship, but for him to be thinking they’re going to raise Donna is a non-starter. She says, because Carly is not going to prison, and he says, that’s why she’s here. So they can strategize and figure out how they can insure that. Is she done poking around in his personal life? She says she can talk about Carly’s case in the hypothetical. How’s that? He says he’ll take it, and she says, hypothetically speaking, the SEC is putting together a strong case against Carly. He asks, how strong? and she says, it’s her belief that the SEC can prove Carly was involved in insider trading. If the case goes to trial, Carly will lose. He says, then the case can’t go to trial, can it?
Carly tells Dante that she hates that her family is divided, but she won’t pretend to be okay with Sonny’s choices. He says he gets that, and she says, specifically, the way he sided with Nina going after Michael and Willow. She knows Dante doesn’t want to talk about that, and Dante says, everything went downhill pretty much from the visitation hearing, right? She says, right, and then she didn’t tell Willow that Nina was her mother, and Sonny got all upset about that. He says, that’s understandable. Regardless of how she feels about Nina, Sonny cares about her, and if she’s hurting, he’s going to be hurt too. Carly tells him that she and Sonny are pretty far apart, but when she realized he was the one who helped her last night, she wasn’t really surprised.
Sam tells Nina that Willow is worried sick about Carly, but not only for Michael’s sake, but Willow and Carly have forged a relationship. Carly has become a friend, a mentor. Nina says, Carly has become the mother that Willow has never had.
Michael tells Willow that he’s gone through a lot of trouble, and someone in particular took a lot of risk to get this footage, and she says she understands. He says, this isn’t doctored; this isn’t a set-up. It’s proof his father was involved in illegal arms dealing, a violation of Federal laws. Why shouldn’t he be brought to justice? She says, because it will hurt a lot of people Michael loves, specifically his little sisters. He says he’s thought about that, and she says, really?What will Avery and Donna do if their father is in prison, especially if Carly’s there too?Avery will have Ava, but Donna will have no one. He says, that’s not going to happen, but she says, he doesn’t know that, and he says, he’ll move heaven and earth to make sure his mom doesn’t go down on insider trading charges. Donna is not going to be alone. If anything, if Sonny’s in prison, his sisters are going to be a lot safer. She asks if he really thinks his sisters are in danger, and he says, everybody in Sonny’s orbit is. And he knows his father does everything in his power to protect his family, and more often than not he’s successful, but even if Donna and Avery are physically safe, eventually, they’re going to find out their father – she says, who they love – is breaking the law. He’s doing things that they have to pretend they don’t see or hear. She says, they’ll become complicit in Sonny’s way of life, and he says, just like it was with him and Morgan. He doesn’t want that for his sisters. She says, those are all valid points… He says he’s sensing a but here, and she says, but if he turns Sonny in, Donna and Avery don’t only lose their father, they lose him too.
Josslyn tells Dex that she’s known Spencer for such a long time, and for most of that time, they were fighting. Dex asks, about what? and she says, everything. He was an entitled, spoiled kid who liked things his way. He says, no wonder they clashed; they were two of a kind. He’s kidding. She says she will admit she was indulged as a kid and liked things her way. She still does, but at her worst, she was maybe a seven. He says, and Spencer? and she says, off the charts. He says, but she liked him, and she says she couldn’t help it. When Spencer wasn’t… Spencer, he was fun.He kept things entertaining. Dex says he could see that, and she says she just can’t wrap her head around the fact that funny, infuriating kid she grew up with could be gone. He holds her.
Trina tells Ace that she knew it. She knew Spencer was still alive. Can she tell him something about his big brother? He can be a real pain in the a… butt, but he’s definitely worth it. She flashes back to telling Spencer that she wishes she could wake up and have these past few days just be a bad dream, and he says, the past few years for him. He’d change everything, except coming back to Port Charles, because he wouldn’t have met her. She remembers seeing him at Pier 54, and him saying, the only thing he knows for sure is that he wants her in his life. She flashes back to telling him that she doesn’t know who she is anymore, and him saying, he does. She’s the sweetest, smartest, bravest person he knows. She remembers their first kiss, and him telling her to be careful on the Haunted Star. She tells Ace, definitely.
Valentin walks around Victor’s body, and says he’s standing here wondering what he’s supposed to say. A word of regret? Some wish that things could have been different between them? He doesn’t think so. Victor always said he watched over Valentin from afar while he was young. He’s grateful. Grateful Victor stayed away. He was a full-grown man by the time he learned he was Victor’s son. He’s grateful he wasn’t raised by Victor. He’s grateful for the family name, which, as of today, is no longer Victor’s; it’s his. And he’ll make sure it’s one that future generations of Cassadines can be proud of. But mostly he’s grateful that he never has to think about Victor again, and this is the last time he says it – goodbye, father. He walks out.
Carly says she and Sonny have always come through for each other, and Dante says, even when they couldn’t stand each other. She says, it’s comforting to know that hasn’t changed; that she can count on Sonny if she needs him.
Nina says, it still boggles her mind, and Sam asks, which part? Nina says, the whole thing. This devotion to Carly, even though Carly withheld information that could have spared Willow this entire ordeal.Think about it. If Carly had told her and Willow the truth that they were mother and daughter, they could have started testing for donors when Willow was diagnosed with leukemia, and her Aunt Liesl could have been identified as a match months ago. And Willow wouldn’t be on death’s door. Sam says she understands Nina sees it that way, but Willow doesn’t. In Willow’s eyes, Carly has been nothing but kind, loving, and supportive. She accepts Willow just as she is. Nina says, and she hasn’t? and Sam says, from Willow’s perspective, no. Nina cries, and says, she’s made mistakes. She’s made a lot of mistakes, but she’s still Willow’s mother. Sam says, sometimes knowing that makes things worse.
Willow says, if Michael turns Sonny in, and he gets arrested, is he planning to hide his involvement? Michael says, no. He’s not a hypocrite. He’s going to tell Sonny and his family about his involvement. She says, that’s exactly what she thought, and exactly why he can’t do it. When Sonny gets sent to prison, Michael’s siblings are going to blame him, and hate him for it. Maybe not Dante. He understands the complexity of the situation, but Kristina… He says, Kristina adores their dad; he can do no wrong as far as she’s concerned. She says, and Avery and Donna. All they’ll understand is that daddy’s gone, and it’s Michael’s fault. At best, they’ll be conflicted and confused, and at worst, they’ll turn away from him. That can’t happen. Those little girls need him too much. The whole family does.
Sonny tells Diane, at this point, no charges have been filed; no arrests have been made, right? She says, because the Feds want to wait to move forward until they’ve had a chance to talk to Drew, and he says, so there’s still an opportunity to make this go away. He’ll put out some feelers and contact some people. She says, he has contacts with the ability to suppress a Federal case? and he says, it’s not a case yet. They’re still in the preliminary investigation stage, right? She says, so he thinks with just the right amount of pressure, the Feds will say, forget it. We’ll just make this go away? He says, it’s possible, but she says, it’s not. He asks, why? and she says, it’s way too late for that. The Feds were acting on a tip from a legitimate source, and now they have uncovered evidence to corroborate the allegations. You can’t walk that back. He says, you do if you discredit the source, and she says, of course (🍷), but they don’t know who the source is. He says, so let’s find out.
Carly tells Dante, the strings Sonny had to pull on her behalf, she doesn’t expect it from him. But if he has any information he can share, that would be great. He says he doesn’t have the SEC’s notes or know what evidence they have, so he can’t say anything with certainty. She says, if he had to guess? and he says, if he had to guess, they’re moving pretty fast, he’d say they have a case. She guesses she has to talk to Diane to see if she can beat this thing, and he says, for the record, he hopes she can too. If there’s anything he can do – legally – he’ll be happy to help. She says, thanks.
Sam says, when she found out Alexis was her mother, it wasn’t welcomed news, and Nina asks if they didn’t get along. Sam says, not at all. In fact, she resented the implication that just because they were related, she had to instantly love Alexis. Nina says, they love each other now. How did they get there? Sam says, time… shared experience… a lot of trial and error for her and Alexis to form that mother/daughter bond. Nina says, time might not be something she and Willow ever have, and Sam says she bets Carly could help Nina with that.
Willow says, she and Michael talked about this when she asked him to invite Sonny to the wedding. Does he remember what he said? He tells her that he said Avery and Donna were more important than anything going on between him and his father. She asks if that’s changed, but he says, no. It’s just the opposite. Can’t she see that he’s doing this to protect his sisters? She says she can understand the argument that they’re better off without Sonny, but he’ll never convince her that they’re better off without him. They count on him. He says he’s not going anywhere, and she says, physically maybe, but in order to lean on him, his sisters need to trust him. They need to know that he’d never do anything to hurt them. No matter how he looks at it, sending their father away will hurt them. Not only that, it will draw a line in the sand that can never be erased. It will make Donna and Avery feel that by loving Sonny, they’re betraying him. Don’t do this to them. Don’t make them choose between him and their father.
Diane says, Sonny cannot compel the SEC to reveal the source of their tip, and he says, so this person screws Carly and Drew and gets off scot-free? She says, the bigger problem is the timeline and corroborating evidence. Carly made a substantial purchase of Aurora stock right before the proposed merger with ELQ. It drove the stock price up, and had the merger gone through, she would have made a fortune. He says, but it didn’t go through, and Diane says, it doesn’t matter. Carly was in possession of privileged information thanks to her personal relationship with Drew, and that can be corroborated. And that is the textbook definition of insider trading. He says he doesn’t see how it benefits the SEC to take Carly down. She lost a lot of money on the deal, and she’s not like a hedge fund manager or a corporate CEO… but Drew is.
Josslyn says she knows Dex doesn’t exactly have fond memories of Spencer, and he says they couldn’t stand each other, but he understands there’s a side of Spencer that he didn’t get to see. She asks if they’re really talking about him in the past tense, and he says, tell him about when Spencer came back to Port Charles. She says, he was a real peach. He was cynical and bitter, almost willfully shallow. He’d put up this wall around him. Trina was able to break through it. He says, brave girl, and she says, Trina saw another version of Spencer. She gave him chance after chance; she believed in him. So much so, she followed him on to the Haunted Star, and now they’re here. She’s going to be so devastated if he’s really gone. She can’t help thinking, why does she get to be the lucky one?
Valentin tells Trina, it’s time to go, and she says, where? The agent says, Mr. Ashford has been debriefed, and he’s already on the plane, and Valentin says, they’ve been cleared to leave Port Charles. She says, they can’t just leave without Spencer, and the agent says, the odds are… Valentin says, they’ve searched the wreckage, and she tells him, then search it again. This baby is totally cracking me up. He’s watching them talk like it’s a tennis match. Baby acting! Valentin says, there are no survivors; just bodies waiting to be identified. She says, he’s wrong. Spencer’s alive. They have to keep looking for him. Valentin says, they’ll keep looking, and she says, good. Then they’ll wait. The agent leaves, and Valentin says, Trina needs to take Ace back to his mother. Her loved ones are waiting for her as well. She says she can’t leave him. He made it. She would feel it if he didn’t. Spencer’s alive. He says, there’s nothing more to do here. It’s time to go home.
Nina says, Carly would never help her, and Sam wonders if Nina has ever asked. Instead of constantly going on the defensive, and doing tit for tat over who’s more wrong, has she ever thought of stepping back and saying, I’m sorry and I need your help? It’s just her opinion. She wishes Nina good luck, and leaves.
On the phone, Dante asks if the SEC guys are still there… Any idea where they went?… All right. Thanks. Sam walks over to him, and kisses him. She asks who he was talking to, and he says, the other woman. He was helping Carly out with something. She says, that’s nice of him, and he says he’s a nice guy. Carly and his dad might be at odds, but family’s family. She says she loves him, he says he loves her too, and they kiss.
Carly and Nina come face to face in front of the elevator.
Willow says, Michael also has to consider his own children. Doesn’t he want Wiley and Amelia to grow up with Donna and Avery? He says, of course (🍷) he does, and she says, then don’t create a rift between them. She’s not asking him to forgive Sonny, or even make peace. But she grew up without a family, which makes her realize how precious theirs is. she realizes that may make her sound hypocritical given her stance on Nina… He says, the two situations are completely different, and she says, she and Nina have never had a relationship; not a good one anyway. Them being estranged doesn’t affect anyone; there’s no collateral damage. With him and Sonny, it affects everyone Michael loves, and she totally believes that keeping their family whole is more important than bringing Sonny to justice. There’s a knock at the door, and Deanna says she has good news. Drew Cain and Dr. Obrecht just landed, and they’re on their way to GH. Time to get Willow prepped for the first step of the transplant. Michael says, it’s time to save Willow’s life.
Sonny says, the Feds are after Drew; Carly’s the leverage. Diane says, that may explain why they were so willing to release her last night when they got a location on Drew. Who, let us not forget, is the CEO and major shareholder of Aurora. He’s the one who broke confidentiality. He’s the one who violated SEC rules when he told Carly about the merger in the first place. He asks if she thinks they’re going to give Carly a deal to give up Drew, and she says, if they do, does he think Carly will take it? He says, one step at a time. First things first. Let’s wait and see if that deal is on the table. She says, once again, she is representing Carly, not him, and he says, anything he does is in Carly’s best interest. She says she has to wonder. If the situation were reversed and he was the one facing Federal charges, does he think Carly would be doing all this for him? He says, no doubt.
Josslyn tells Dex that she and Trina both took chances this year; big ones. Trina fell for Spencer… He says, and? and she asks if he’s going to make her say it. He says, yes, ma’am, and she says, and she fell for him. He says, that makes him the lucky one, but she says she thinks it makes them both lucky. And once Michael turns in the evidence Dex got him against Sonny, Sonny will be arrested. Dex says, they both know that’s not going to happen overnight. He doubts Michael is thinking about anything except Willow undergoing her transplant. She says she’ll wait as long as it takes, because at the end, he’ll be free, and they can figure out what they mean to each other out in the real world. He says, out in the wild, and they laugh. She says, there’s a chance Trina and Spencer never will, and snuggles back into his arms.
Outside, Laura, Trina, and Valentin holding the baby follow the agent. They hear something, and Trina says, Spencer? Spencer walks out from behind a rock, and even though he’s limping, she launches herself into his arms, wrapping her legs and arms around him. She must be a featherweight, since she doesn’t knock him over. Everyone is thrilled, and Spencer and Trina kiss. Maybe she’s a gymnast, since he’s no longer gripping her around the waist, and it’s like she’s suspended on him.
Tomorrow, Sam tells Dante, for someone’s sake, she’s willing to make the effort; Tracy asks about the crisis no one told her about; Willow says, this could be the last time she holds Michael’s hand; and Nina begs Carly for help.
Below Deck Sailing Yacht
Iggy Marina, Portisco. Gary kisses Mads in the hot tub, while Alex stumbles around the crew mess trying to eat. Colin tells Alex, everybody’s gone to bed. In Colin’s interview, he says, leaving your girl in the hot tub with Gary is like waving a banana in front of a monkey and expecting him not to eat it. A rookie error.
In the morning, Lucy curses her life, and Colin asks if anyone hooked up. Chase says he’s done with the lady situation, and in Alex’s interview, he says he thinks he drank too much. He’s pretty sure he blacked out, and thinks he f***ed up his chances with Mads. It hurts. Colin asks Gary how was his first crew night out? What did he do? Mads tells Lucy that she and Gary hooked up, and Lucy asks if it was long or passionate, but in her interview, she makes a face, and says, that’s just gross. I concur. Mads says she wishes she’d made out with other people, and Gary tells Colin that they kissed, and he feels bad off today. Colin says, Gary does it again, and Chase joins them. Glenn asks how everyone is feeling, and Alex says, delightful. They start turning the boat around, and Glenn calls Gary, Ileisha, and Daisy for the preference sheet meeting.
It’s charter three, and Glenn says, the primary is John, a serial entrepreneur. (Ugh.) He’s bringing his family and friends to celebrate the launch of his new book. His girlfriend Natalia is allergic to dairy, and doesn’t want sea food, and friend TJ wants no fried food or meat. Glenn says, it’s going to be tough, and Daisy reads that they want a steak-tastic dinner (I guess not for TJ unless it’s portabella) with a 90s theme, a formal dinner, and post dinner, they want a drink and gelato station. Gary reads that they want to go to the beach, and have some games. He tells Daisy that any time the guests are going on the tender, he wants somebody from interior on service. Daisy says, serving beer and wine is pretty basic, and they can do a lot on the boat, but Glenn says, it’s the same with the deckhands. If all the guests are off the boat, they can afford to send someone. It speaks to a higher level of service. In Glenn’s interview, he says, if he noticed things need adjustments, he’s going to challenge his team to make adjustments. We flash back to Glenn freaking out about no ice on the tender when it was in the ice bucket, and he says he wants the guests feel waited on hand and foot. Glenn tells them, let’s get cracking.
Gary asks how Mads feels, and she asks what he’s talking about. He says, oh, one of those. He had fun, and he’s not trying to start drama. In his interview, he says he’s not going to embarrass her if she doesn’t like talking in the aftermath. Chase complains about there being so much hair in the jacuzzi, and my stomach turns. Colin asks if Daisy made out, but she says she’s not hooking up; she’s staying away from everyone. What are his plans? He says, the stews are too young and the chef has a boyfriend, but he doesn’t find them attractive that way… or her. They flirt without flirting. Gary tells Alex that he hooked up with Mads, but they just kissed. If Alex is into her, he’ll back off. Alex says, no, he’s good, and in his interview, Alex says he doesn’t know why Gary is choosing to tell him this. What does Gary want him to say? Thanks for hooking up with the girl he likes?
Mads talks to Alex about kissing Gary, and he says, they’ve all got little first officer in them; her literally. In Mads’s interview, she says she’d rather not have made out with Gary, but Alex was very drunk, and a girl needs her needs met. While chatting with some of the others on deck, Ileisha says, she used to be able bend over backwards, and apparently, she still can because she demonstrates a backbend. In her interview, she says she grew up in a small town where there was a circus. She was in love with it, and part of it from when she was nine to thirteen, but it didn’t get to the extent where she traveled all over the world. She tells the others that it was called the Spaghetti Circus, and she was great on the unicycle. Gary asks Chase to do anchor watch, giving him 12 to 7:30 am, and in Chase’s interview, he says, he needs a break from Gary’s bitching that he’s doing everything wrong. He welcomes the shift where he can fly under the radar. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Provisions come in and it’s 25 minutes to guest arrival.
As the guests board the boat, primary John takes his shirt off, and in Lucy’s interview, she says, he’s giving her high school d-bag vibes. Daisy gives the tour, and Glenn tells Gary to have a guy follow them in the tender when they pull out. John says, everything in Italy is smaller, and he felt like he was going to break things. Appetizers are served; some appealing little smoked salmon roll-ups that I very much would like to taste. Gary grumbles to Daisy that he doesn’t think the tender would be able to tow the boat, and gets all moody, mumbling that he’ll need one of the girls. In Daisy’s interview, she says, Gary thinks he’s f***ing with her after Glenn implied she wasn’t doing her job well. Gary thinks she’s sexy when she’s angry, but she’s pissed, and not feeling sexy.
The sails go up, and guest Natalia says she’s wanted to do this her entire life. Glenn radios Daisy that they’re starting to sail, and things move and slide. John’s son Jacob says, this is awesome; it’s so sick. Guest Anastasia gives Glenn John’s gold chain, saying, John insists he wear it. Jacob requests a cookies and cream milkshake, guest TJ asks for a grilled cheese, and several different drinks are ordered. In Lucy’s interview, she says, it’s too much right now, and Daisy says she thinks they’re going to ask for everything under the sun. One of the guests asks for SPF, and John asks where his espresso martini is. In Daisy’s interview, she says, nobody sees how many directions she’s being pulled in. F*** off. The sails come down, Chase farts, and anchor is dropped. John says they’d like to do water sports, and Daisy relays the message to Gary. She tells the stews that it’s a 90s theme tonight. She doesn’t know how to do the 90s, and suggests they dress up like the Spice Girls. She’s going to make Gary do it since he pissed her off. Some of the guests use the e-foils, and Gary gives Jacob a lesson. Daisy tells Lucy that she has no time for a break, but she’s going to try and take one tomorrow. Daisy tells Gary that they’re doing the Spice Girls, and he thinks it’s a good idea. She says, he and Alex will be participating, and they’re like, no, but she says, thanks. She appreciates it. Jacob and TJ collide on their boards, and Glenn asks if they’re all right. Jacob is fine, but TJ is bleeding, and Gary washes the wound, then goes to get gauze.
Gary says, TJ got quite a knock, and Glenn suggests he have a seat and relax. In Gary’s interview, he says, they have miles of ocean to play in, and Glenn makes sure TJ didn’t lose consciousness. In Ileisha’s interview, she says, every course will have two options; one for vegetarians. She loves making dairy free and vegetarian dishes because that’s what she likes to eat. When the guests have restrictions, she brings out her party tricks. Gary bandages TJ’s head, and Glenn calls the medic come take a look. He tells Daisy that the medic will be here in an hour, so maybe dinner should be later. TJ says he’s retiring from water sprots. The stews blow up gold balloon letters for the 90s theme, and hang them up. Medic Conor arrives, and tells TJ that he’s going to need stitches because the wound is still bleeding. TJ leaves for the hospital with guest Lauren, and Daisy tells Ileisha, there are two less for dinner. There will be no vegetarians. Ileisha wonders what she’s doing now. Gary tells Glenn that he thinks TJ will be okay, and Glenn says, but it’s not fun. Well, yeah. John says, Jacob knocked out a guest, and wants to invite Gary to join them for dinner. In her interview, Daisy says, is this f***Int happening right now?After a day like today, serving Gary is a sick joke.
Since Gary is busy dressing like Sporty Spice, Daisy asks the guests if tomorrow is okay. They’re good with that, and in her interview, she says, f*** if he’s having dinner on her watch. Not today. Daisy tells the servers not to put dirty plates on clean plates. Let’s not do that. Let’s use our brain. Gary tells Colin that Mads doesn’t want to talk about the other night. Maybe she’s into Alex; maybe it was just because they were the last ones left. Colin says, last man standing, and Gary says, exactly. Daisy radios for Gary and Colin to come help serve, and Gary says, when Daisy calls, Gary listens. When Gary calls, Daisy does not give a sh*t. Glenn tells the guests that there’s nothing to report yet; TJ just got to the hospital. Daisy tells them to gather on the flybridge, and in Chase’s interview, he says, Gary isn’t exactly Sporty Spice. More like Old Spice or Hairy Spice. Daisy announces to the guests, all the way from London, they’ve brought in the Spice Girls to dance for them. I have to admit, the Spice Girls are my not-so guilty pleasure – I saw them twice and I love them! They put on an amazing show, but it’s doubtful all five will ever get together again. In Lucy’s interview, she says she’s finding the guys in dresses both hot and not her jam. Gary says he used to be ripped once upon a time. Now he’s just a creepy uncle. Glenn gets a text from Conor that TJ is in the waiting room. Did they go to an NYC ER? In the morning, they still haven’t come back, and when John checks the empty cabin, he says, what the f***? He asks if Chase knows what’s up, but Chase says, he has no idea; no one filled him in. In Glenn’s interview, he says he’s worried wondering if this guy is okay. John tries to call TJ’s phone, but gets a recording saying his call can’t be completed as dialed. Chase apologizes for waking Glenn, but says, the primary is up, and TJ and Lauren still haven’t come back. In his interview, Glenn asks, what the hell happened? Why are they still in the hospital 12 hours later?In this case, no news is not good news. John says, this is a disaster, and tries TJ’s phone again, but gets the same recording.
John says, OMFG. Now he’s worried. There must be a reason they’re not back. TJ finally calls, and says he’s okay. There were a ton of people, but they’ve got to call his name at some point. Sooner rather than later, he’ll be ready to rage. Conor texts Glenn that they’re just getting in to see the doctor, and he’ll keep Glenn posted. Glenn gives John the update, and says, he’ll be back on board soon. For breakfast, there are, among a million other things, Nutella strawberry crepes, and I’m mystified how they can make stuff that’s unappetizing to me sound so good. Lauran calls John, and says, they’re done. TJ says, he got stitches with an anesthetic, and John asks Daisy if they can have food waiting when Lauren and TJ get back. Daisy says, of course, and tells Ileisha that they’d like a spread for when they get back. Daisy decides to send Lucy to the beach. God forbid the guests drop a crudité and there’s no stew to pick it up. Glenn says, the water taxi is approaching, and Gary leaves to take Alex and Lucy to the beach to set up. Glenn says he’s glad TJ is okay, and tells him that Daisy is bringing them food. He asks if they’ll be going to the beach, but Lauren wants to take a nap first, so John suggest they wait until she’s up. On the beach, Lucy wonders who invented wind, and in Daisy’s interview, she says she’s pretty sure Lucy is doing f*** all while they’re busting their asses. Lucy and Alex lie on the beach, and she asks if they should make a sandcastle or write welcome. Alex suggests they write SOS. Daisy says she’s thisclose to having a meltdown, and in her interview, she says she feels like she’s drowning. She can’t get things under control. If she pushes too many things down, she’ll crumble, and she feels so beaten down. TJ calls for Daisy, but she’s crying in the bathroom.
Next time, John complains; Lucy burns a guest’s dress with the iron; Colin tells Gary that he made a d*ck move; Glenn says, they don’t have to work harder, but have to work smarter; Chase says, all the departments are imploding, and he’s glad he’s not the boss.
Summer House
In Lindsay’s interview, she says she never thought she’d get married to anyone, but Carl is the most beautiful human being ever. He’s the sweetest soul. Sorry girls, he’s off the market now. Kyle gathers everyone together, and tells them, at this very moment, Carl is on one knee, proposing. The housemates aren’t going to the beach. They’re going to Dockers to congratulate and toast to Carl and Lindsay. He doesn’t think Lindsay knew, and Paige wonders if that’s why Carl was in the hospital. Kyle says, Carl flew in Lindsay’s dad and stepmom. It’s their first time in the Hamptons. Danielle says she’s glad she was included. Really f***ing cool. It says a lot without saying anything. Because complaining about that isn’t enough, she says, and now she’s got to show up in dungarees. Paige has to explain to some of the others, that dungarees means jeans, and Danielle says, that’s why she was pushed away. Everything she’s done for this friendship. It’s f***ed up. Beyond crazy. Mya gives Danielle a hug, and Gabby comes around the other side. Danielle says, it’s so f***ed up. Not even a text from Carl. She can’t give up more tears for those a-holes. She tells Kyle that she was cut out of the entire engagement, and Kyle suggests salvaging the friendship, but Danielle says, there’s nothing left. This is the final straw. In Danielle’s interview, she says, that’s all Lindsay thinks of their friendship. For however many summers, Lindsay has been her girl, and Danielle has been rooting her, especially when it comes to men. We flash back to Lindsay telling Danielle about Carl fingerbanging her, and I cringe. In another flashback, Lindsay she’s done with Stephen, the guy who she had the fight with about the sandwich. Danielle says, Lindsay finally found her Prince Charming, and she got no part in it, just because she gave a not over-the-moon supportive opinion about the relationship. It breaks her heart. Outside, Mya is telling Ciara about the engagement, when Danielle comes flying out crying. She tells Mya that she’s so pissed off, and Mya says, let’s talk to Ciara. Danielle says, she had no idea, and Ciara says, that’s weird to her. Mya says, everyone is in a state of shock, and in Ciara’s interview, she says, if Craig was proposing to Paige, and didn’t tell her, she’d beat him to death. She says she thinks it’s rude, and Danielle says, it reiterates they don’t give f*** about her. Inside, Andrea says he’s happy for Carl and Lindsay, but has no idea what’s going on. In Sam’s interview, she says she’s blown away be the volume of Danielle’s rection. She’s super happy, but she’ll be happy over here. Chris thinks Danielle needs to process everything, and Kyle says he’s not helping. He doesn’t know what to say. Danielle sobs, and says she doesn’t want to interact with them ever again. At the beach, Lindsay says, now she’ll be calling Carl her fiancé. Then she calls him babe. I told you they don’t know each other’s names. He says his heart is full, but racing, and in Carl’s interview, he says, he flew in Lindsay’s dad and stepmom to fly in, and her best girlfriend from DC and her husband. It’s all a surprise. The timing for his parents didn’t work out, but the focus is on Lindsay and her family and friends. Chris tells Paige that he knew, and Paige can’t believe that Carl told Chris, but not Danielle. Kyle says, let’s go, and producer Nathan – breaking the fourth wall – tells Danielle that she doesn’t have to go, but Danielle says she’ll never forgive herself if she doesn’t. She looks in the mirror and says, I can do it, about a thousand times. And for my thousandth time, I can’t believe these people are so dramatic at their age. I never once had, or know of any of my friends having, a situation like this. All this angst over someone’s engagement.
The housemates go to the restaurant, and Danielle says hello to Lindsay’s dad and stepmom. Andrea’s girlfriend Lexi is there, and Danielle says, she was told absolutely nothing. She then tells anyone who will listen or within earshot, even though their friendship wasn’t the greatest, she only learned about the engagement an hour ago, and doesn’t think she deserves what’s going down. Some chick named Dannia tells her to snap out of it. She can’t make this about herself. Danielle insists she’s not; she’s just saying. Mya says she’s worried about Danielle, and Sam says she is too. Paige says, she shouldn’t be doing that here. Carl and Lindsay arrive, and Carl remarks how packed the parking lot is. Danielle says, this is the last straw, when Lindsay and Carl come in. Lindsay is all surprised, hugs her dad, cries, and gets on with showing off the ring. Mya tells Danielle that she’s doing a great job, and Lindsay tells everyone how she had no clue Carl was going to propose. In Paige’s interview, she says, Lindsay wore shoulder pads to the beach. She knew she was getting proposed to. She curled her hair. She’s proud of Lindsay. Be prepared, girl. Paige asks Sam when she thinks Kory is going to ask her to be exclusive, but Sam says she doesn’t know as he will. Paige says, he’s telling other people, and in Sam’s interview, she says, it’s making her nervous. They’re approaching the place where she can get hurt, and that’s when she usually pumps the brakes. She doesn’t want to f*** this up. Kyle calls Amanda, and tells her about Lindsay’s engagement. Lindsay gets on the phone, and Amanda brings the pups with her on screen. She says she’s excited and happy for them. Carl goes to the bar with Kyle, and Kyle says he’s proud of Carl. He’s excited for Carl. Carl’s been through a lot this summer, and hasn’t let it cloud his excitement and happiness. Kyle knows it’s the real deal. He might have given Danielle a heads up though. Her reaction was emotional because she assumed she should have been in the know. It hurt her that she was left completely in the dark. Carl says, given how things have gone, he wants to let Danielle and Lindsay sort out what they need to, and Kyle asks if it’s about them, or about Carl and Lindsay. A bunch of people come back to the house, and Paige calls Craig. She tells him about Danielle getting upset, and says, it got awkward. Danielle made sure everyone knew.
Sunday. Danielle shuffles into Mya’s room, and wonders why her life is such a disheveled mess right now. Carl passes out football jerseys that say Vixens and Villains, along with neon green ties for the guys. Danielle whines that she doesn’t want to make it about her, but Paige says, it’s too late. Everyone gets ready to go to the beach, and Sam says, the thought of having to run makes her want to die. At the beach, Andrea sets up cones for the parameters. Lindsay says, everything is perfect, and Carl tells her about Kyle saying he should have given Danielle a heads up; she was hurt that she wasn’t in the loop. He’d told her that he was going ring shopping, but he didn’t tell the girls anything. Lindsay tells him not to feel defensive or like he needs to justify who he told. It’s not about Danielle, and of all people, Danielle should be clear on why she’s not involved. She’s not entertaining this topic any longer. She tells him not to apologize. He owes no one anything.
They play pseudo football, and Sam tells Kory that she didn’t ask the girls to grill him. Mya said he likes her, so tell her in his own words what he’d like the plan to be. Kory says he’d like to hang out and keep seeing each other, and see what happens. She says, her too, and in Kory’s interview, he says, for some reason, he finds it hard to talk about his emotions. He freezes and sweats, and doesn’t know what to say. He’s always trying to be the cool guy, but he doesn’t want to do that with Sam. He sees this as bigger than a Hamptons summer fling.
Back home, Gabby goes to meet a date, and in her interview, she says, Matt is her first blind date, technically. She usually stalks them online first, and this is completely new territory for her. She’s a control freak, but she’s decided to throw caution to the winds, and let fate decide. They talk dogs and top ten lists, and Matt seems cool. Kyle says he missed Amanda’s doctor’s appointment, and she says she had bloodwork and an ultrasound. Her estrogen is lower than average, and reflects someone who’s postmenopausal. Low estrogen causes shifts in mood, headaches, and depression, as well as trouble concentrating and fatigue. Kyle says, that’s spot on, and she says she’s going to see an endocrinologist. She feels relief that she can start feeling like herself again. She knew something wasn’t right. In her interview, she says, since going off birth control, she’s been dealing with a lot. There’s nothing worse than knowing something’s not right. Knowing the reason and that there are things to help makes her feel validated. She tells Kyle that she asked if it would interfere with having a baby, and the doctor said she wasn’t infertile, although it might be more difficult to get pregnant. She asks how long he’s keeping the mullet, and he says he thinks it’s hitting its stride. He thinks it’s his ego now, not just his alter ego.
On the way there, Paige tells Craig that she feels like she’s the one who gets most notoriously drunk on Labor Day weekend. He says, all the couples are in a different place. Carl and Lindsay are getting married. Sam and Kory sound like… Paige says, they’re going to start dating, and he says, and they’re working toward blending their life courses to a collective course. Robert joins Danielle at the house for the weekend, and on the way there, Gabby tells Mya and Ciara about her date. She met him through a friend of friend, and they went to a steakhouse, but he’s a vegetarian. She’s keeping an open mind. They all keep talking about how it’s the last weekend, and I say, thank God. Robert says he sent a text to Carl and Lindsay. They could have just explained that they’re not as good friends, but now it seems malicious. In Danielle’s interview, she says, Robert is boiling. He knows she’s hurting, and wants to have her back… which is hot. Kyle thinks Carl’s biggest fear is pissing off Lindsay, and that had he involved Danielle, Lindsay would be pissed. Lindsay and Carl arrive, and Lindsay goes immediately to the kitchen to make a pineapple upside down cake. She just wants to enjoy the weekend and have fun. In her interview, she says she has zero interest in Danielle. All week, her friends told her in detail how Danielle complained about not being included. Danielle acted the fool, and made her engagement – the happiest moment of her life – about herself. It’s the icing on top of what she’s already done. They’re not just not best friends anymore; they’re not friends. She’s done. Carl tells Kyle that it’s been a whirlwind week. They had literally 400 texts to answer. Kyle tells him to bask in the glory, and Carl says that he didn’t go out of his way not to tell Danielle. In Carl’s interview, he says, he knew Danielle before anyone else. She’s seen him at his worst and still been cool with him. He loves her, and wants to extend an olive branch, but they’re hurt too. A separation is okay. He tells Kyle that he thinks it’s sad to have to choose Kyle says he just wanted Carl to see it from her side. When the time comes, and they’re talking, it might help in how they’re talking. Carl worries that there’s a breaking point in some friendships.
They dress up and head out to a restaurant with private cabanas outside. Robert talks to Carl, and Danielle says she wants to be available and ready in case Robert wants to go. Sam says she can physically feel the discomfort. Carl tells Robert that the engagement was exciting, but it’s been a lot, and Robert says he’s happy for them. A lot happened, and Danielle wondered why he didn’t tell her. She was the last one to know, and it’s kind of embarrassing. Carl says he sees that, but he didn’t tell the girls in the house anything. Robert says, Danielle isn’t a girl in the house. She took a glass to the chest for Lindsay, and the last time Lindsay had a breakup, Danielle was there to pick up the pieces. Them finally being happy is just as important to Danielle as it is to Lindsay, and Lindsay is throwing all that away because of an uncomfortable summer. Carl says he feels bad, but Lindsay isn’t comfortable talking to Danielle about the relationship. Robert asks if it’s about his and Danielle’s relationship, or Lindsay and Danielle? and Carl says, because of the tension, they haven’t talk much. Robert says he wants them to be happy, but now they’re just two people who got engaged who he and Danielle knew at one time. Carl says he needs to take a break, and leaves. Kyle looks stunned, and Danielle goes over to Robert. Robert says he told Carl that they want him and Lindsay to be happy, but it hurts that they can’t be happy with them. Kyle finds Carl, who says he’s done with this sh*t. He doesn’t want any cameras. Kyle says, give him a second, and Carl says, no f***ing cameras, giving the finger to it.
Congratulations to Danielle, who I once thought was the normal one in the house, but this week, gets the award for most awful.
To be continued…
🌻 Ready To Spring Into Summer…
Come back tomorrow for soap and another group of awful people from New Jersey. Until then, stay safe, stay cleaning up after yourself in the kitchen (unless you live alone, then be a slob if you want to), and stay not making someone else’s engagement party – or any other party that’s not yours – about you.
What I Watched - TV With Theresa 