Category Archives: Bravo

Dec17

December 16, 2020 – Julian Is Haunted, the OC At Arrowhead, Sundance Commences Along With Fashion Week & Reindeer Run

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brick meets Sonny and Jason at the Brooklyn bar. He says he heard about Dev’s passing, and gives Sonny his condolences. He remembers setting up a new identity for Dev when he came there from Turkey. He was a smart kid with a lot of potential. Did Sonny find out who was responsible? Sonny says he did, and he’s glad Brick happens to be in Brooklyn. They need his help tracking down Julian.

In Secaucus, New Jersey, Julian sits in a bus station with gunshot wound. He looks at a ticket to Montreal.

Nikolas watches Ryan in his hospital bed, when Britt comes by. She asks if she can help him?

Ava comes into the hospital, and hears Portia on the phone telling Trina to call back the second she gets the message. Ava asks if something is wrong, and Portia says, as a matter-of-fact there is, and she holds Ava personally responsible.

In the park, Trina says, dad? Jordan says, Trina? and Trina says she shouldn’t sneak up on people like that. They might have a heart condition. Jordan says she didn’t mean to scare Trina. She was thinking about Trina’s dad, and came to a place where she could remember him. Trina says she’ll leave Jordan to it, but Jordan says she’s welcome to stay. It would be nice to spend time with someone else who remembers Taggert. Taggert listens from behind the bushes.

Carly says, Cyrus told Trina her dad was alive? How was Trina anywhere near him? Josslyn says, some guy told Trina to hang around the bistro because someone had information about her dad. She did, and Cyrus showed up. Cyrus is obviously messing with Trina’s head… right? Cyrus walks into the MetroCourt.  

The nurse tells Curtis, there’s no need to worry about his patient’s transition there, but he says he’s not worried. He knows they’ll take good care of her. She says, the doctor sedates all the patients on their first night to make them more comfortable.  

Brandishing a pretty large needle, the doctor tells Laura, this won’t hurt one bit. Before she knows it, she’ll be fast asleep. Curtis bursts in, and says, stop!

Britt tells Nikolas, unless he’s next kin, he has no business in Ryan’s room. Nikolas says he wasn’t in the room; he was in the doorway. Britt says, if she hadn’t come along, he would have been at Ryan’s bedside. What’s the plan? And don’t patronize her with a lie. He says he heard Ryan could be coming out of his coma, and Britt says, and…? He says he’d thought he’d keep tabs on Ryan, and Britt asks if he was really keeping tabs, or was he going to take Ryan out himself?

Portia tells Ava, she called the school, and apparently, Trina has skipped the last two days. Trina said she was taking yesterday off, but then said she changed her mind and she was going. Ava says, but she didn’t? and Portia says, no, and Trina’s not returning her calls. Ava asks if she thinks Trina is at the gallery, and Portia says she would understand if Trina wanted to take a few days to cope with Dev’s death, but she needs to answer her calls. Ava tells her, Trina isn’t hiding out at the gallery. She hasn’t seen Trina since Dev was killed. Portia wonders, then where is she?

Jordan gets that Trina is still angry about her exposing Taggert, and Trina says, thanks to Jordan, Cyrus was released, and everyone thinks her dad is a lousy cop who broke the law. How can she call him a friend? Jordan says if there’s any way she could have protected Taggert’s reputation, she would have, and Trina says, she didn’t try. At least she’s doing something about it. She’s trying to prove his innocence. At least she was until… Jordan says, what? and Trina says, it doesn’t matter. She won’t let anyone think her dad is a bad cop. Jordan understands she wants to clear Taggert’s name, but Trina is setting herself up for disappointment. He did fabricate evidence against Cyrus.

Carly says she’s texting someone to pick Josslyn up, and it’s not up for discussion. On the phone, Cyrus tells someone to take care of it, and Carly approaches him. She tells him, stay the hell away from her daughter and her friends. He says he’s had no contact with Josslyn. Is there another friend Carly is talking about? Carly says, stay away from all of them. Stop poisoning their minds with lies. He asks what makes her think he has? and she  tells him, stay away, or he’s not going to like what happens next. He asks why she’s so worked up about something that hasn’t happened?

Brick says, setting a bomb doesn’t seem like Julian’s style, and Sonny says, he owed Cyrus a favor. Brick asks if they have proof, and Jason says Julian is their proof. That’s why they need to find him. Brick asks if he’s in Brooklyn, and Sonny says they tracked him to an old girlfriend’s apartment, but Cyrus’s men beat them there, and tried to kill Julian. He won’t be going back anytime soon, and it made it more difficult to find him. Brick says, there is one way.

Julian hears an announcement that his bus is delayed an hour. He talks to himself, saying he should have taken a plane. Who is he kidding? Airport security would have been all over him. Come on. One more hour. He changes benches, and a man puts his luggage down, and sits next to him, the man’s newspaper in front of his face. Julian tells him, there are other benches; take it somewhere else. The man lowers the paper, and it’s Duke. He says, no Julian. He’s exactly where he needs to be.

The doctor asks Curtis if something is wrong, and he says, the nurse told him about the injection the doctor gives to help the patients sleep through the night. His patient has a severe allergy to the medication. The doctor says, there was no mention about it in her file, and Curtis says, it was an oversight on Dr. Collins’s part. No doubt his grief over his wife’s slip back into psychosis distracted him. He’d like a moment with his patient. He can help her to relax, and get her to sleep through the night. The doctor and nurse leave, and Laura hugs Curtis, and thanks him.  

Nikolas asks what Britt is implying, and she says Ryan will probably never regain consciousness, but he’d like to make that permanent, right? He says, if Ryan dies, he won’t shed tears, but helping Ryan to his final destination in hell isn’t on his to-do list. Although it’s not a bad thing to wish for; one less serial killer in the world. Doesn’t she think so? She says she took an oath to do no harm. The minute she starts placing value judgements on her patients, she’s turning in her stethoscope. He asks how it feels, being on the high road, and she says, it feels really good. How does it feel being on the low road, so he can hold on to his fortune in a loveless marriage to Ava? He says, it feels right. Their relationship has changed.

Ava tells Portia, Trina is a smart, responsible young woman. It could be that she needed to take the time to grieve her friend. Portia says, but it’s Trina’s senior year. Her grades have been spectacular, and her extracurricular is solid. She doesn’t want Trina to ditch class, and blow her chances at a good college. Ava says, perhaps Trina is avoiding a lecture. While it might be justified, maybe Trina’s not picking up for Portia right now.

Carly tells Cyrus, her daughter and her friends are off limits. He and Sonny might have a truce, but Cyrus doesn’t want a war with her. He says he imagines not, and she walks away. He makes a call, and says, there appears to be truth in what Julian told him. Find Trina, and she’ll lead them to Taggert.

Trina says she knows her dad better than Jordan, but Jordan says, falsifying evidence doesn’t make him a bad man. Trina says, really? Tell the judge who released Cyrus from prison. Jordan says, according to the judge, and her, Trina’s dad broke the law. She thinks Trina needs to understand where her dad was coming from. For two years, they watched tons of people die from overdoses, and there was nothing they could do to stop it, even though they knew Cyrus was responsible. Trina says, if Cyrus was guilty, why did they have to make up evidence? Jordan says they couldn’t find concrete proof, so he couldn’t be convicted. Imagine how frustrating it was. Cyrus was free to sell drugs, and bore no responsibility to the rise in deaths. Trina says, they couldn’t find anything that would stand up in court? and Jordan says, exactly. Her dad, Mark, and Bob made a choice, Cyrus went to prison, and the bodies stopped piling up. Trina asks if she’s saying her dad believed the ends justified the means, and Jordan says, even if he knew it could come crashing down on him. He believed falsifying evidence meant saving lives, and he wouldn’t and couldn’t change a thing. Taggert continues to listen.

Brick asks if they’re familiar with facial recognition software, and Sonny says he’s used it in his business. Jason asks if the cops don’t use it, and Sonny tells Brick to enlighten them. Brick says it can be used to cross-reference photos from social media posts and online activity with active security footage. Sonny asks if it’s legal, and Brick says, it’s a grey area. Civil liberties concerns. They know how it goes. Sonny tells Brick to do what he’s got to do to find Julian.

Julian says, Lavery. No, it’s not possible. Duke says, after all this time, the least Julian can do is call him Duke. Julian says he’s not real. He’s dead. Duke asks if he’s a figment of Julian’s imagination, or is he delirious from blood loss? Call it what he likes, Duke is delighted to be there. Julian asks why he’s there, and Duke says, he’s got a front row seat to Julian’s bad deeds catching up with him. Julian has nowhere else to run. No more rocks to crawl under. No more reinventing himself. They all reach the end of road eventually, some sooner than others, and Julian’s time is finally… Julian drops to his knees.

Curtis says Laura was willing to get doped up to keep the operation going? She says she could use a good night’s sleep. Did he find out if Florence is a patient? He says, she is; room two, this floor. Laura says, perfect. She’ll wait until things quiet down, and slip out. She’ll pay Florence a visit, and find out what connection she has to Cyrus. Curtis has a better idea. He’ll sign her out, and they’ll find some other way in tomorrow morning. Laura says, absolutely not. Their plan worked. Curtis had her admitted, and got them to believe she has a mental illness, helped by Doc’s trumped up referral. She’s not leaving until they get what they need out of Florence.

Brick asks if Sonny has no idea who the shooter was outside the apartment, and Sonny says, Cyrus made sure there was no way to connect the shooter to him. Carly calls Sonny, and he asks if everything is okay. She says, Cyrus apparently told Trina that Taggert is alive. Sonny asks how Cyrus found out, and she tells him, Josslyn didn’t say, but she agreed to help Trina find out if it’s true. Sonny says she has to stop it, and she says she has Josslyn convinced that Taggert is dead, but it’s not good. Sonny says, the most important news is that Cyrus knows Taggert is alive, and he’s going to go after Taggert again.   

Jordan tells Trina, her father is dead, and according to law enforcement, he broke the law. He didn’t do it lightly, and knew it might come back to haunt him. Trina says, he knew it was wrong, but needed to make things right, and Jordan says, he was willing to accept whatever punishment he got. She knows it’s a lot to process, and appreciates Trina sticking around to hear her out. Trina says, it doesn’t cost anything to listen, and Jordan asks Trina to tell her what’s on her mind about her dad. Trina’s phone rings, and it’s Ava. Ava says she’s at the hospital with Trina’s mom. Her mom is concerned about Trina avoiding her calls. She’s worried about Trina, and Trina needs to drop what she’s doing and get to GH and see her right now. Trina says, about that… Okay. She’ll be right there. She tells Jordan, she’s got to go. Her mom is worried. Jordan asks if she can call a ride for Trina, and Trina says, like a cop car? Is she crazy? Trina thinks she’ll call a Ride Share. She thanks Jordan for what she said, and Jordan tells her, be safe. Trina leaves, and Jordan sighs. Taggert comes out, and Jordan asks if he’s happy now. He got to see Trina one last time. He thanks her, and she tells him to take her advice. Get out before Cyrus finds him, and tries to kill him again.

Britt says she should have bet on Nikolas falling in love with Ava. She could have bought a yacht. He says she loves being right, and she agrees. She asks if things have changed, and he says he and Ava are figuring it out. She wonders if he could be more vague, and what it means for the post-nup. Is it in the shredder, or is he being cautious, keeping it around just in case? He says, the road to true love isn’t smooth. Ava comes out of the elevator, and says she hopes she’s not interrupting. Britt says, it’s perfect timing. Nikolas told her there’s been an interesting development in their relationship. An alarm goes off in Ryan’s room, and Britt tells them, stay there. She goes in, and Ava looks at Nikolas.  

Julian tells Duke, he may have a one-way ticket to hell when his life is done, but sorry, he’s not dead yet. Duke says, denial won’t work this time. Right now, Julian is a scared little rat, scuttling away to find a hole to hide in. He doesn’t fight; he flees. Julian says, look who’s talking. Duke’s life wasn’t a bed of roses either. Duke was a gangster like him. Duke can blame Julian all he wants for his death, but Julian isn’t the one who killed him. Duke says Julian had someone else do his dirty work. Now he’s afraid. Duke looks at a woman who’s joined them, and asks if she wouldn’t agree.  

Laura tells Curtis, she can slip out, find Florence, and maybe question her, if she’s in a condition to talk. She knows Curtis doesn’t like this, but it’s the plan that makes the most sense. Pick her up tomorrow. She hopes Florence has the information they need to bring Cyrus down.

Taggert thanks Jordan for what she said to Trina, and Jordan says, dragging his reputation through the mud? He says, explaining why they created evidence to put Cyrus in prison, and helping Trina understand, in the kindest way, that he’s not perfect. Jordan says she meant every word. She also explained her own actions. He says he still thinks they did the right thing, and she says, despite the consequences? He says, breaking the law to protect their families, then worrying about the consequences later. She asks if she they had a choice, and wonders what’s so amusing. He says, they’re partners again. Working together to protect Trina. Jordan has his back like she did when they worked for the DEA. She says, and he has hers. They hug, and she tells him to take care of himself. She hears something, and tells him, get down. A gunman pops out, and Jordan draws her gun.

Josslyn says she saw Carly confront Cyrus; that’s what Trina was worried about. She didn’t want Josslyn to tell Carly, and make it worse between the families. Carly says, she also didn’t want an adult to discover what they were doing. Josslyn says, it doesn’t make sense. Why would Trina’s father fake his death? Carly says, Trina is vulnerable. It was a tragedy that Dev was killed, and it makes sense that Trina would want to believe something positive. Josslyn says she guesses. Trina is convinced her dad faked his death to protect her, but what kind of parent would do that, leave their kid to grieve? Carly says, when Josslyn is a parent, she’ll understand. You’ll do anything to protect your child.

Brick tells Sonny, Cyrus could be tracking Julian like he is, but Sonny says, he doesn’t have a Brick. Brick wonders what if the cops take Julian down themselves? and Sonny says he told Diane to reach out to the PCPD. Jason says there’s probably someone waiting to ambush Julian, and Sonny says, make sure they fail. Brick asks if they’re in the business of keeping Julian alive now, and Sonny says, only until he gives up Cyrus.  

Julian says, Connie Falconari? Is this a joke? He’s not responsible for her death. She says, yet here she is. What little conscience he does have, disagrees. He says Ava shot her. Ava is responsible for her death, not him. She says, Ava killed her to protect him. No one knew he was really the boss of the Jerome crime family. He says, it was Ava’s choice, but Duke says, Julian manipulated her. He made her think she had to act to save him. He convinced Ava that without him, she’d have no one. He doesn’t love Ava; she’s just a pawn. Julian says, that’s not true. He loves Ava, and he won’t be made to feel guilty about her choices. Alexis appears, and says, what about his choices? Has he ever owned up to the fact he took a knife to his wife’s throat? She hands him a knife.

Ava tells Nikolas she can’t help thinking what she’s thinking, and he says, either Ryan dies or goes back into a coma. Even if he makes a full recovery, it’s not the end of the world. She says he can’t threaten her with Julian any longer to get her to do his bidding, and Nikolas tells her, think positive, but she says that’s not really in her DNA. Mac shows up, and Nikolas asks what he’s doing there. Mac says he could ask the same thing, and Ava says they were there about another matter, when the alarm went off in Ryan’s room, so they came to check. Britt comes out, and Mac thanks her for notifying the PCPD about the change in Ryan’s condition. How is he? She says, he regained consciousness.

The gunman lies on the ground, and Jordan says he just took a shot at the Commissioner. He says he wasn’t after her. He was after the girl, hoping to draw Taggert out of hiding.  

Trina shows up at the hospital, and Portia says, thank God she’s okay. Trina says, of course (🍷) she is. Portia didn’t have to worry. Portia says, mothers always worry, and Trina says, sorry. Portia says she would have understood if Trina wanted to take a few days off to cope with dealing with Dev’s death. Why did she lie, and say she was going to classes? Trina says, it’s complicated, but Portia doesn’t have to worry. Portia says, rule number five in the Mother’s Handbook, when a child says, don’t worry, you worry more, but Trina says, if she’s wrong, it would only hurt Portia.

Taggert looks at the gunman, and tells Jordan, he’s gone. Jordan says, Cyrus knows Taggert is alive, and he asks, how? and she says, it doesn’t matter. His family isn’t safe if Cyrus knows he can get to Taggert through Trina. She’s going to take him to the one place she knows Cyrus can’t get to. He says, which is? and she says, trust her.

Ava tells Nikolas, of course (🍷) Ryan wouldn’t do them a favor and die. Britt says their presence isn’t necessary. She still needs to consult with the surgeon, but Ryan’s brain was deprived of oxygen for too long. Ava asks if he’s a vegetable, and Britt says she ran an initial test, and he might be in a vegetative state. Ava tells her, like she said. She’d like to see for herself. She heads for Ryan’s room, and Nikolas stops Britt from following her. Britt asks if she should let Ava go, so she can smother Ryan with a pillow. Nikolas says, the last thing Ava wants is to go to prison. Ryan tortured her for too many years for her to be denied the right to see his condition for herself. Ava looks at Ryan.  

The doctor leaves Laura’s room. She looks around, and slips out of bed. She tiptoes to the dresser, and pulls out some clothing. Geez, you’d think she’d wait a millisecond.

Julian tells Alexis, he didn’t mean to hurt her. He told her, his sister was threatening his family. Connie says, here we go again. It’s never his fault. It’s easier and more convenient to blame someone else. Duke says, Ava is the perfect scapegoat. She’s vengeful, but she doesn’t have mind control. How could she coerce him into trying to kill Alexis? Alexis says he wasn’t trying to kill her; he was trying to save her. Duke says, by dragging her to the pier with a dagger at her throat, while his sister was planting a bomb? Anything to make it more convincing. Alexis says she’s asked herself the same thing many times. Does he have an answer? Julian says she’s got to believe him. He was trying to save her. He loved her then, and still loves her. Duke says he’s not hearing violins, and Connie says, they’d only play the same old song. Julian loves his family. Julian would do anything for his family. Blah-blah-blah. Julian says if he could take it back the harm he caused, he would, but he can’t change the past. What else is there to do? Alexis says, he could balance the scale of justice, and die. She holds the knife to his throat.  

Laura slips out, and walks down the hallway to Florence’s room.

Ava tells Ryan, hello? Anybody home? She gets in his face, and sharply says, wake up! but gets no reaction. She says she wanted him dead. She should have pointed the gun directly at his heart and fired until she ran out of bullets for what he did to her; what he did to Kiki. But sometimes you don’t know the perfect gift until you receive it. He’s been given a fate worse than death. Hell for him is this purgatory of nothingness, and she hopes he suffers for a very long time. She puts her face close to his, and says, take one last look, you son of a bitch. It’s the last time he’s ever going see her. Nikolas asks if she’s ready, and she says she is. She’s released Ryan’s hold on her. They leave, and Ryan is motionless. Then just a hint of a smile happens. It’s so slight, we can’t be sure…

On the phone, Brick says he owes them one. He tells Sonny they checked Julian’s photo, and got a hit in the metro area. It shows Julian waiting for a bus to Canada. Jason asks where he is, and Brick says, Secaucus. Jason says, it’s right across the river. They can be there in no time. Sonny says, Julian isn’t getting away this time.   

Alexis tells Julian, he knows the only way to balance the scales is to just pay the debt he owes them. Connie says, release them from the pain, and Duke tells him, accept his fate. This is the end. Alexis says, just let go, and Julian slumps. It’s announced that his bus is leaving, and Julian’s ticket falls to the floor.   

Portia tells Trina, she doesn’t know what to think, and Trina says, please, no more rules from the handbook. Don’t tell her rule number 6 is, be strong enough to handle anything your kid throws at you. Portia says Trina read the handbook. And she’s going to read Trina the riot act if she doesn’t return to class. It’s not Trina’s job to protect her, and even when Portia is 106 in a nursing home, she’s going to be protecting Trina. Trina says she saw Cyrus at the bistro. That’s why she didn’t go to school. Portia says, she did what? What did he say to her? Trina says he told her that her dad is alive.

Mac finds Jordan in the park, and says, she’s barely out of the hospital. Now she’s taking out a perp? She says, it was self-defense. She killed him to protect someone else. Taggert comes out, and says, long time, Mac. Good to see him. No surprise, Mac is shocked.  

Josslyn asks if Carly thinks there’s any truth in what Cyrus told Trina. Could Taggert be alive? Carly says, just speaking from parental experience, a parent’s instinct is to protect their child, even at the risk of their own life… Carly’s phone rings, and she says Josslyn will be downstairs in the lobby. She tells Josslyn that her ride is there, and to call her the second she gets home. Josslyn says she will, but she thinks Cyrus left while ago. She doesn’t think Cyrus is going to approach her. Carly says, he’d better not, and Josslyn wonders where Carly thinks he went.   

Laura goes into Florence’s room, and I wonder if Cyrus is going to catch her. She approaches the bed, and looks at Florence. She’s about to touch Florence’s hand, when she hears someone coming. The door handle moves.

Tomorrow, Portia tells Trina that Cyrus is about to get what’s coming to him, Curtis tells Laura there’s trouble back in Port Charles, Michael says he’s not going to take away Chase’s choices like Chase did to him, and Jason asks Sonny how he wants to do this.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

On her home video, Emily said she couldn’t go to Lake Arrowhead because she tested positive. She had a headache and was tired, but nothing else. She felt like she did what she was supposed to do, and didn’t know where she got it. The kids were fine, but Shane didn’t feel well, and had a cough. In her interview, Emily said it was a lot mentally, and she was scared everyone in her household had it.  

In Braunwyn’s interview, she said she was nervous to be going on a trip with the women. They drink a lot, and her sobriety was new and fragile. She decided to take her own car, and stay nearby. She thought it would be weird, since Shannon and Emily couldn’t go, and told Sean to leave his phone on. If she called, it meant she was having a nervous breakdown.

Kelly arrived first at the Arrowhead villa. She said it was spectacular, and I agreed. In her interview, she said the view was beautiful, but it felt like Camp Crystal Lake. It had a Friday the 13th vibe.

Shannon was quarantined at John’s house, and said she was still achy. All three kids had tested positive, and she was concerned, even though her last test had been negative. Braunwyn stopped by, staying outside while they video chatted. In Shannon’s interview, she says she was worried about the girls being alone, but she couldn’t be in the same house with them. Braunwyn said she had a device that checked your oxygen intake, and asked if Shannon wanted to borrow it. Shannon said she did, and told Braunwyn that the kids didn’t understand how many people were getting this, and how it trickled down. She was getting fearful, thinking, what if she had it?    

Kelly made a video call to Rick, and showed him around the villa. It was his first day at his new job, and he said it was good so far. He knew a lot of people there. In Kelly’s interview, she said Rick’s had moved to Orange County, since his job moved to L.A. permanently. She thought she couldn’t find a better man or better match. He was her best friend and lover; everything she’d hoped and dreamed of. Elizabeth joined her, and said the view was amazing, and I agreed there too. Kelly brought out a whole reusable shopping bag full of supplements, and Elizabeth asked if she was turning into an old lady. Kelly told Elizabeth about Braunwyn pulling up Elizabeth’s financial information on the internet, and we flashed back to that. Gina arrived, and they sat down to chat. Kelly told them that Vegas was open, and she’d been on airplanes. They talked about Shannon, and in Gina’s interview, she said Shannon was over-dramatic, but if there was ever a time to be that way, it was now. Braunwyn pulled in while she was on the phone with Sean, and said she’d just entered bizzarro world. Kelly wanted to have a drink before Braunwyn got there, and said Braunwyn had been the one telling her not to go out, then Braunwyn went out. Elizabeth said a friend called and said she thought they were supposed to be in quarantine because of the trip. Elizabeth said  they were, and her freind sent her a video of Sean and Braunwyn at a pool party. Elizabeth showed them the video, and in Kelly’s interview, she said Braunwyn was a hypocrite. Pot, kettle. Kettle, black. Everyone is drinking by the time Braunwyn comes in.   

In her interview, Braunwyn said she’d been living in a safe bubble with her family, in an alcohol free home. Here, there were bottles everywhere, and triggers. She’d been there one second, and thinks she shouldn’t have come. Kelly told Braunwyn about the video Elizabeth got, and Braunwyn said it was before she knew she was supposed to quarantine. Kelly said Elizabeth got the video after Braunwyn had called and told her about quarantining. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said, Kelly took the truth, and skewed it. Gina said Shannon had called her up, hysterical, but she’d been allowing John and the kids to come in and out. Now the kids have it. Braunwyn got up, said she didn’t want to talk behind Shannon’s back, and went out on the deck. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said Braunwyn was hypocritical, since Braunwyn had talked behind her back.

In Shannon’s interview, she said she and John were taking supplements to keep their immunity high. She was creating a virus immunity wall. At Shannon’s house, Sophie was having a quarantine countdown, and they were having a great time. She said they missed mom, and smiled a smile that said, not really.

Outside, Gina asked Braunwyn what was going on, and Braunwyn said she didn’t feel okay about discussing someone who wasn’t there. Kelly said Braunwyn didn’t tell anyone to shut up when they were talking about her, and we flashed back to Vicki and the whole train thing. Kelly told her, stop being fake. Braunwyn told Gina, she didn’t know why Kelly was mad, and Gina said Elizabeth was mad at Braunwyn for digging up stuff on the internet. She shouldn’t have done that. Braunwyn said that wasn’t true, and Elizabeth told Kelly that she wanted to know real Braunwyn. Kelly said Braunwyn had a professional photographer there when she was in a protest march, and everything was about her image. Braunwyn was full of sh*t. In her interview, Kelly said, a professional photog defeated the purpose of the protest. Kelly gave Elizabeth a clown mask, and put on a pig mask. We flashed back to Vicki and the ongoing pig insult. Vicki: gone, but not forgotten. Elizabeth said she was Braunwyn, reverting to a middle schooler.

Shannon checked in with the kids, and John said they looked good for an infected scourge. Shannon ran through a list of what they should be taking, and asked how they thought they got it. John asked if they’d been kissing anyone. Shannon asked about their symptoms, but the kids were terrified to tell her. Shannon asked Sophie why she was smiling. What was so funny? In Sophie’s interview, she said, does her mom tend to overreact? Is she breathing oxygen? Yeah. Just a little.

Gina said Braunwyn seemed more hesitant, and asked if Braunwyn would be wondering what they were saying about her if she wasn’t there. It must be more challenging for her. Braunwyn said she was staying at a resort, since she’d have a hard time at 4 am, when everyone was up and partying. In her interview, Braunwyn described the arc of partying. So fun, this is great, I love you so much, waaah! She said she wanted to leave at a high point. Gina asked how Braunwyn’s marriage was doing, and Braunwyn said covid was bad for her marriage. They had no sex for a long time, and were passive/aggressive. It wasn’t pleasant. They went in not knowing if it would work, and came out deciding to put in whatever work they could. In Gina’s interview, she said she wasn’t surprised. The vow renewal seemed sterile. Gina said Sean had been there for Braunwyn, and Braunwyn said Sean almost took the kids and left, but he was afraid she would die.  

Emily did her mid-day checking in on Shane. In her interview, she said the irony was that she tested positive, but Shane’s test was negative, yet he felt sick. To his credit, he was keeping his sense of humor. She was taking care of the kids, her husband had covid and she was taking care of him, and she had covid and no energy. It was more than one person should have to deal with.   

The women went to the lake, and Gina said she’d rather camp with bears than find out what was at the bottom of the effing lake. Elizabeth said she found Braunwyn funnier when she was sober, and Kelly said Braunwyn was better when she was hammered. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said, anyone who would say that to someone in sobriety was messed up; Kelly was an a-hole. Elizabeth and Kelly did some paddle-boarding. Elizabeth called Kelly’s name, causing her to turn and fall off her board, and Elizabeth said she deserved it. Gina wanted to be brave and conquer this. Kelly called Shannon from the beach, and complained about Braunwyn, although she said she didn’t think Braunwyn had any ill will. Braunwyn walked past while Kelly was talking, and Kelly said she’d call Shannon later. Elizabeth tried to help Gina with paddle-boarding, but Gina ended up in the water. In her interview, Gina said it didn’t matter if it was a river, a lake, the ocean, or a pool, she thought the kraken was coming. This kind of thinking is foreign to me, since I live by the ocean and think there’s nothing better than swimming in it. I can be skittish about waves, but I’ve never once thought anything was going to rise from the deep, and devour me as a human sacrifice. A lake is even better. No waves.

Emily was crying and scared. Shane wasn’t getting better, and couldn’t breathe. In her interview, she said she was trying to do the best she could, but she didn’t know if she was making the best choices.  

Elizabeth said she was glad Kelly knew how to cook, and in her interview, Kelly wondered how three women could go through life not knowing how to cook. They wore face shields while cooking, and tried to sanitize while they went along, but they shouldn’t have bothered, since what they were doing didn’t seem very affective. Kelly wanted a drink. In her interview, Braunwyn said two months earlier, she’d had to clean out some wine she’d remembered was in the refrigerator. She thought it wouldn’t be bad to keep, but ended up getting rid of it. Social situations were different now. Alcohol was everywhere, and she was out of her comfort zone. It had seemed like a good idea, but it was too much. Braunwyn went on the deck to call Sean, and was pissed when one of the kids had to get him. She said it was the one thing she’d asked, and she shouldn’t have to track him down. She told him that she could feel drama and toxicity coming. She was the weird alcoholic in the room, and a buzzkill. She hadn’t realized how much drinking was a connector.

Emily took Shane to the hospital, but couldn’t go in with him. He’d texted that his oxygen levels were low, and they had him on an IV and medication, as well as oxygen. In Emily’s interview, she said what she heard was, Shane was going to die in the hospital alone. She called Shannon, and said Shane had been coughing up blood and throwing up. He had a gall bladder attack on top of the virus. He’d tested negative the first time, but they’d still been waiting on the second test results. In Shannon’s interview, she said she should be Shane, since she had lung issues, and it scared her. In Emily’s interview, she said Shannon had been a good friend. They were two women and mothers, comforting each other on their way through this. Shannon said there was so much uncertainty. Who it would touch, and who it would effect badly. None of it made sense, which was what made it frightening. She hit the nail on the head there.

Gina said it wasn’t the same without the others, and Kelly talked about Rick’s new show. The subject of taking down historical statues came up, since Rick is a newscaster, and Braunwyn said some of them were offensive to some people. Kelly said they couldn’t rewrite history. Were they going to tear down the Colosseum? In Braunwyn’s interview, she said marginalized people needed to be respected. She told Kelly, statues didn’t educate, and Elizabeth said they should be put in a museum. Kelly thought it should be put to a vote, but Braunwyn said, being nice hasn’t worked. In her interview, Braunwyn said Orange County was conservative, but she was done keeping her mouth shut. Kelly didn’t think Braunwyn was qualified to discuss minority issues, and Gina said, when she was arrested, she was scared of the consequences, but never scared of the cops. In Gina’s interview, she said the system worked for her, but would it have gone that way if she’d been a Black girl, or guy? Maybe or maybe not, but maybe not wasn’t even okay. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she didn’t get all of it, but thought awareness was what they were striving for, so the cause was working. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said it was an uncomfortable conversation to have, but the only way to change was by having it until it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Elizabeth thought they should do something active and fun the next day, and suggested archery and go-cart driving. Kelly remarked that the alcohol she was drinking was 40%. On the side, Gina asked Braunwyn if they were talking about things. Braunwyn wondered, what things? and Gina said Elizabeth knew she’d been digging up stuff on the internet, and she agreed Braunwyn shouldn’t be doing it. In Gina’s interview, she said Braunwyn had to find a way to channel what she was going through in a more positive way. Kelly asked Elizabeth about confronting Braunwyn, but Elizabeth said she decided to do it tomorrow. Kelly said Braunwyn had two sides. She had a sweet, good side, and another side where she wanted to further her agenda. Gina joined them, and Elizabeth wondered how Sean was dealing with Braunwyn’s newfound sobriety. Gina said they were working through it. Braunwyn was about to call Sean, when she heard Gina freaking out. In Gina’s interview, she said she didn’t realize when she took the master suite, she’d need a full-on beekeeper suit. We saw one corner of the room covered in tons of… some kind of flying creature, but I don’t think it was bees. Elizabeth said there was a big-ass spider in there too.

In Emily’s interview, she said she just got an update from the hospital. Shane wasn’t responding to her texts, and she started to panic. The only information they would give her was that Shane was back in his room and sleeping. He had to give his permission for anything else. That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard, since she’s obviously a pretty close family member. She said she was worn out and worried, and didn’t know how long he was going to be there.

Emily finally got a text from Shane that said she couldn’t imagine what it felt like. It was worse than prison, and every hour was like a fight. Emily told him, please don’t say that, and to let her know he was okay. She loved him.

Next time, ax throwing, biking, Shannon is worried and pissed at her kids, Elizabeth confronts Braunwyn, and Braunwyn helps Elizabeth through a panic attack.

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

It was Park City Fashion Week, and Brooks was going to be the youngest designer there. Jen roller skated from her office to her partner Stuart’s office, and told him, it was Fashion Week, so they were getting in party mode. He fanned her with a giant feather fan, while she hula hooped. I’m not making that up. In her interview, she said her cousin Tony Vainuku was a filmmaker, and debuting his documentary. She was going to be hosting the VIPs. She reminded Stuart about when he got drunk at one of the Sundance parties and thought he was a rapper by the name of Stu Chainz, which is actually pretty funny.

Lisa said her company Lux Marketing was at its most busy during Sundance. It was 10 days of non-stop events. Some people said she was the Queen of Sundance, but she thought she was just good at what she does. In her interview, she said she’d learned if she wanted more, she had to work harder. The LDS church promoted being in constant pursuit of being their best selves, and she loved setting standards for herself. In his interview, John said he and Lisa owned everything jointly, but Lisa was the boss. He didn’t mind, since they worked well together. The producer asked if Lisa had pressed him to do the interview, and he said he couldn’t confirm or deny.

Whitney told Justin about Mary’s luncheon, and Jen came over with Stuart. Jen and Whitney had a hot tub party, and discussed Justin’s birthday. In Whitney’s interview, she said his birthday always falls around the start of Sundance, so she goes all out. He’d sacrificed his standing in the church, and his relationship with his family to be with her, and she wants to show him how grateful she is. He deserved it. She said it wasn’t about choosing teams for her, and she liked Mary. Mary was crazy, but also her friend. Jen told Whitney that Mary had attacked her and called her a hoodlum. In Jen’s interview, she said that had been the last straw. Whitney said she wasn’t letting any drama go down at the party; it was about Justin.

Meredith asked Whitney to walk in the show, and said she was a part of history in the making. Jen said she wanted to be drama free at Justin’s party, and wanted no eye rolling from Mary. In Mary’s interview, she explained that housekeeper Charlinda was her grandma’s brother’s daughter. They weren’t close, but at the end of the day she was family. Heather was worried about Jen and Mary being at the same party, but in Mary’s interview, she said, in life, you weren’t going to like some people, but had to get along. Justin began his birthday by taking a body shot off of his wife, and then they got on a party bus. I’d be the party pooper on a party bus, since I’m a huge fan of seatbelts. In Heather’s interview, she said she loves Jason’s birthday parties. It was one of the reasons he married Whitney. She could turn it up. She was decades younger and sexier, and not afraid to show it. In Whitney’s interview, she said, after the bus, the party moves to her friend Kathryn’s house where they get the VIP treatment. In her interview, Heather said Kathryn was well-connected in Park City. She was the Queen of Sundance, but don’t tell Lisa. Whitney made a toast to Justin, saying he was the sexiest MF’er there. Jen wondered where Mary was, since she’s obviously obsessed. Mary said if she had to be around someone, she didn’t want to fight. She wanted to make sure they were good, and approached Jen.

Jen told Mary that she’d tried to explain where she was coming from, and obviously triggered something. Mary told Jen that her grandfather comment was out of line, but Jen claimed she never said that. Mary said Jen had been screaming things at her, and in her interview, Mary said, Jen was straight-up lying, had a twin, or was not in reality.  In Jen’s interview, she said she’d been drinking and didn’t remember what she’d said. She knows she didn’t say that to Mary’s face, but it was possible she’d said it to someone else. Mary suggested they move on, and said she was willing to do that, but in her interview, she said she was done with Jen.

In Meredith’s interview, she said Park City was the cultural hub of Utah. They had Sundance, but this year was the first ever Park City Fashion Week. She was walking, and would be wearing her own jewelry with McKell Maddox’s clothing. She said Brooks had always loved fashion, and had never let her pick out his clothes. She was proud of his ambition. He was debuting some of his track suits, but he was disappointed  that his dad wasn’t there to support him. Meredith said it made her sad that he couldn’t, and in her interview, said they weren’t getting along, and Seth was taking over a new company in Ohio; the combination made it impossible for him to be there for Brooks. Lisa said she was hosting the most amazing event she’d ever put together at Sundance. It was going to be open to the public, and they were giving away prizes. The walls were all peel-away game pieces. The Sundance Queen never disappoints. Sitter Dezi was with the boys, and suggested they call Lisa, but Lisa ignored the call. In her interview, Lisa said, working mothers have to compartmentalize. During Sundance, mommy is MIA. She doesn’t answer the phone unless it’s work related.

Whitney and Heather went to a bar, and Heather said her drink tasted like water. In her interview, she said Mormons aren’t supposed to drink alcohol. The legislature was made up mostly of Mormons, so they made rules to keep their patrons in line, like limiting alcohol access. The drinks are watered down, and you’re not allowed more than two drinks on a table. It made it hard for closet Mormons like her to get a buzz. Heather told Whitney that she wished she had a fairytale relationship like Whitney did. In Heather’s interview, she said she chose faith, religion, and lifestyle over love, and had deep regret over her choices. She didn’t regret her children, but had wanted the whole package. She told Whitney that she wanted to be seen for who she was, and still be loved. Whitney said she had to put herself out there, but Heather said when she showed who she was, she got her hand slapped. In Heather’s interview, she said she was a virgin when she got married, and felt deprived. She was never single, never dated, and never explored who she was and who she found attractive. Whitney said Heather wasn’t going to find it until she made steps toward it, and thought Heather was making excuses. Heather insisted, in their community she couldn’t find someone. In her interview, she said she needed to find someone who didn’t come from a Mormon perspective of what her role should be. She was divorced, drank, and had three kids. No one wanted to take her home to meet their parents for Sunday dinner. Whitney wanted Heather to have the fairytale, and knew Heather could get it.

Jen worked with event planner Mara on the VIP party, and Sharieff actually showed up. Jen was proud of her cousin, and how he was representing Polynesians and Tongans. Heather thought Sundance was a brush with the big life, fun, and fantasy. You could meet men from other areas and cultures. It was the gift of Sundance; no strings attached. In her interview, she says she was always looking for sex, but not for love. Then she said, that sounded horribly vulgar. Could they delete? Nope. Katie and Lala from Vanderpump Rules made an appearance. Crossover! Whitney said she knew Lala through a mutual friend, and had insisted Jen invite them. Tony showed the guests the documentary, which was about a local Utah rap group. In Jen’s interview, she said she the minorities in Utah were the underdogs, and it was important to see their successes. Katie explained she was from Park City, and Jen steered a cute guy in Heather’s direction. She was a bit aggressive IMO, but very funny. In her interview, she said she felt the vibe with Curtis, and wasn’t letting him find another cougar. She left with him, and in Whitney’s interview, she said she wanted to yell, remember who you are and return with honor. Something their Mormon parents had told them growing up.  

Brooks was running late for the show, since he had to do his facial mask. In Meredith’s interview, she said as a parent, it was hard to juggle making kids responsible with their stress level. Suddenly, the smoke alarm went off, and it was so loud, my husband asked me what was going on, and he was in another room. Meredith found a toilet had overflowed, which apparently had something to do with the alarm. To add to the fun, their dog barked incessantly the entire time. Meredith made a call to maintenance while Brooks freaked out, and discovered some dog poopy.

Fashion show coordinator greeted Whitney, who was walking in the show. Brooks ended up being 45 minutes late, and in his interview, he said when he was growing up, his mom made a big deal of Sundance. Now he was part of something he grew up idolizing. Meredith felt badly that Seth wasn’t there, but he’d left a video poem for Brooks. Meredith thought it was sweet, but Brooks said it wasn’t the same as having him there. In Meredith’s interview, she said she’d asked for space, and they needed it, but she wished they’d been more sensitive to what Brooks had going on. She’d tried hard to be a great mom. She teared up, and said it was hard on the kids to see their parents going through hard times. Her parents divorced had hurt her, and she didn’t protect them. She’d screwed up.

I’ve decided I like this show for the most part, but Jen, not so much. I didn’t love how she acted like her drinking was an excuse for supremely insulting Mary.

Next time, the runway shows, Brooks talks to Seth, Whitney’s dad is ready for the next step, and Jen gossips about Meredith.

🥃 Closing Time…

All I have to say is, thank God for Amazon. Without them, I might not have gotten any Christmas gifts. You’d think I’d have been more on top of things this year, but nooo (said in John Belushi voice). All I want for Christmas is a vaccine. Okay, and the annual Holiday Barbie. So whether you’re doing it online or venturing out, stay safe, stay within your budget, and stay out of denial, lest you be haunted later.

Dec15

December 14, 2020 – Obrecht Comes To Save Franco, Rachel Has Enough & Dolly’s Candy

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brando gets in the elevator with Sasha, and she says he’s starting to make it a habit. He says, what? and she says getting in her way. He tells her that he’ll make her a deal; he stays out of her way, if she stays out of his.

On the phone, Franco says he misses Elizabeth and loves her. For the first time in a while, he’s hopeful. He can heal, and they can put all this behind them. All thanks to Dr. Kirk.

In the office, Kirk lies there with the knife protruding from his chest. Scotty says, he can’t be dead, and Obrecht says, yet here he is, with a knife sticking out of his chest. Scotty says, it’s a small, little knife. Kirk was the only shot at saving Franco.

Sasha gets out of the elevator, and walks into the MetroCourt restaurant. Maxie thanks Sasha for meeting her, and Sasha says she’s glad to get back to work. Are they on track for the trunk show? Maxie says she has some bad news. The trunk show is off, and Sasha is out. Sasha says, in the hospital, Maxie said they were still partners, and Maxie says that was before she and Lucy met with the lawyers. Sasha is a liability.

Tracy calls 9-1-1, and says she needs help. Her friend is driving drunk. She gives them Alexis’s address, and asks them to hurry. She looks at Alexis, passed out in the car, and says she brought this on herself.

Britt goes to the MetroCourt, and sees Cyrus. She asks if he has a moment. He says, for his Chief of Staff, always, and she sits down. He asks what’s on her mind, and she says, the overages of the lab expenses are draining the hospital budget. He tells her, say no more. She has every right to know what he’s got cooking, so to speak.

Julian drops down into the alleyway, but on his way out, he’s confronted by Sonny, holding a gun. Sonny tells him not to go anywhere. They have a lot to talk about. Julian says, before Sonny kills him, let him explain some things. Sonny says he can try, and cocks the gun.

Maxie tells Sasha, in order to continue her partnership with Deception, the lawyers and insurance companies are going to need a few guarantees that she’s clean. Sasha promises she is, but Maxie says, unfortunately, she can’t just take Sasha’s word for it. She can’t risk Sasha showing up to a photo shoot or to work with drugs. People are already talking about why she was in the hospital, and she means industry gossip. People pay attention to a Lucy Coe endeavor, and if word gets out, they could lose their contracts. She knows it’s a lot of pressure, but it’s more than Sasha losing her job as a spokesmodel. It’s about losing the company the three of them worked so hard to build; the company that’s been Lucy’s dream since the 90s. Sasha says she knows Maxie can’t take her word, but she’s giving it anyway. She swears she’s finished with drugs. Deception means too much to her to risk losing it. Maxie says she and Lucy were hoping Sasha would say that. After some negotiating, they were able to get the lawyers to convince the insurance company to back down, as long as Sasha agrees to a few tweaks to her contract. Sasha says, anything, but Maxie says maybe she wants to hear them first.

Chase shows up, by Alexis’s car, and asks if anyone is hurt. Tracy says, they sent a detective? and he says he was in the neighborhood. Chase asks if Alexis can hear him, and Tracy is surprised they know each other. Alexis wakes up and asks what he’s doing there. He says, apparently, she drove her car off the road. She says she didn’t, but Tracy says she thought Alexis was going to kill herself.

Scotty tells Obrecht, don’t just stand there, fix him, and she asks how he expects her to do that. He says she’s a doctor. Get some paddles and zap him. She says, silence. The only thing this schwein needs now is a mortician or a taxidermist. He says, if she won’t do something, he’ll find someone who will, and she says, in a WSB facility? Where he just killed one of their top researchers and physicians? He says, it was an accident. The guy was accosting her, and he hit him with a left hook. She says, yes, but repeat that story in the Hague, and he’ll be sent to a WSB black site never to return. He says she was there and can vouch for him, but then says, what is he talking about? Who’s going to take her as a reliable witness? He’s going to be put in a hamster cage for the rest of his life. She says, a big expense to hold an ineffectual criminal, and he says, the guy is dead, isn’t he? She says, for that, she owes him her thanks, and suggests he remains silent while she figures out how to deal with the carcass, or they’ll both rot behind bars.

Cyrus says, while Britt was busy reorganizing the staff – a commendable job – he was working on another venture that might be profitable to the hospital. He became aware than Finn had developed a treatment for a rare, but lethal disease… Britt says, Blackwood, and he says, the point being, not only did the drug save lives, it also saved the hospital from financial ruin. He was determined to follow Finn’s example, and his researchers’ efforts weren’t in vain. She asks, what researchers, and what efforts? and he says, there’s a promising new pain medication, and thanks to some well-placed calls, it’s being expedited for a government review. She says, really, and he says he’d hoped for a more enthusiastic response. She says, a new medication is always a good thing, and he says, but…? She says, if the doctors at GH were found to be incentivizing a patient’s prescription, wouldn’t it put the hospital at risk?

Julian tells Sonny, everything he did, he did for Lucas, and Sonny asks if Lucas wanted Julian to plant a bomb. Julian says he’s not talking about the bomb. Sonny says they know he planted it, and Julian says Cyrus forced him. Sonny asks what Cyrus has on him, and Julian says Cyrus knew, like he did, how Sonny would react when Sonny found out he was keeping Wiley from Michael. That’s what he did for Lucas. He didn’t want to take Lucas’s son away from him. Sonny says, no, but he took Michael’s son away from him. Julian says, Brad did that, and Sonny says, so it’s not Julian’s fault at all. Julian says, why don’t they finish this? They both know how it’s going to end; two in the back, two in the head, or does Sonny want to just shoot him in the gut and watch him bleed out in the alley? Sonny says, that’s one option. Or he could take Julian to the police station, and have him explain how Cyrus ordered him to plant the bomb. Julian says, then Cyrus will kill him. Come on, let’s go. Sonny says the information Julian has is the only thing keeping him alive. Suddenly, a masked gunman pops out of nowhere, and Sonny ducks for cover.

Chase helps Alexis out of the car, and Alexis says she wasn’t driving; Tracy was. Tracy says, Alexis is right. She drove Alexis home and got her in the house. She was a little worse for wear. She couldn’t leave Alexis in that condition, so she went into the kitchen to make coffee. We see what she really did, moving Alexis to the driver’s seat. She says she couldn’t find the coffee, and when she came out to ask where it was, Alexis was gone. The car keys were gone, and the door was open. When she went outside, she saw Alexis pulling out of the driveway. That’s when she called 9-1-1. She ran out to see which direction Alexis went in, and saw she’d run off the road. She found Alexis passed out behind the wheel. Chase thanks her for the information, and asks Alexis if she’d like an ambulance. Alexis says, no, and tells him that she doesn’t remember anything Tracy said. Why would she get back in the car? Tracy says, maybe to buy more vodka. She was complaining all the bottles in the house were empty. Chase asks, what’s the last thing Alexis remembers? and Alexis says, Tracy drove her home; that’s it. He asks if she ever experienced a lapse of memory after drinking before, and Tracy asks if she blacked out again.

Scotty says, dammit! and Obrecht asks what’s wrong with him? He says, A, they have a dead guy over there, and B, she’s trying to concoct some evil masterplan. By the way, she’s taking her sweet time with it, and C, this guy was going to cure his son. Franco has these voices in his head that could be babbling there forever. He can’t believe this is happening. Franco knocks at Kirk’s office door, then tries it, but it’s locked. He asks if they’re okay. Inside, Obrecht tells Scotty that he has to do as she says. He tells her, that depends, and she tells him, take Franco and go back to the hotel; she’ll handle the body. Now go. Scotty comes out, and says he was looking for Franco. Franco says, in Dr. Kirk’s office? and Scotty says the architecture there is tricky. They need to get back; he has a big day tomorrow. Franco wonders why Scotty is shouting, and Scotty says Franco knows how he gets hopped up and carried away. He tells Franco that he’s going to be okay, and Franco says he can’t wait. Scotty says, let’s go.

Obrecht tells dead Kirk that no one lays a hand on her and gets to keep it. Now, what should she do with him?

Maxie says Sasha will have to agree to drug tests – regular and random – and only eat the food provided at photo shoots and meetings. Of course (🍷) they’ll totally get her whatever she wants. They just want to make sure nothing is slipped into her crudités or caviar. Sasha says Maxie doesn’t trust her, does she? but Maxie says she doesn’t trust the drugs. She knows about addiction. Sasha insists she’s not a drug addict, and Maxie says, Lucky was. He’s forever recovering in Africa now, but a long time ago, he was addicted. Sasha says, and Maxie helped him too? but Maxie says, not in the way Sasha means. She got him drugs, and he destroyed his career and family. She’s not letting drugs destroy another person she cares about like she let them destroy Lucky. Sasha says she appreciates that, and Maxie says, she will. Sasha says, the bottom line is, Maxie doesn’t trust her at all, but Maxie says she cares about Sasha. She’s Sasha’s friend, but as a partner, doesn’t trust her. Sitting at the bar, Brando watches both Sasha and Cyrus at another table. He flashes back to Cyrus telling him, addicts are easier to train and tame, but someone like Sasha is unpredictable. Brando tells him that he can handle her, and Cyrus says he hopes Brando does, and proves him wrong. Brando wanted responsibility, now he’s got it.   

Sonny and Jason have a shootout with the guy in the mask, who gets shot. Jason calls to Sonny, and Sonny asks if it’s all clear. Jason kicks the guy, and says, all clear. Sonny comes out, and says, where the hell is Julian? Jason checks the dead guy out, and Sonny asks if Jason recognizes him. Jason says, no, and he has no ID. Sonny says they don’t have to guess at who sent him. We hear sirens, and Sonny says, they’ve got to go. They jet.  

Cyrus tells Britt, certainly he can see her point. However, he believes becoming a pharmacological base for a new pain medication will add to the hospital’s prestige. He hands her some papers, and says, as she can see, his team has researched it. She says, it’s very thorough and detailed. It seems highly effective, but she doesn’t see much information on the side effects, and he says, that’s forthcoming. She tells him, to be clear, she’s all for less pain for the patients, and more money for the hospital. He says, so they’re in agreement, and she says, her priority is medical care, not the sale of drugs.

Maxie tells Sasha, if she needs more time… Sasha flashes back to Cyrus slipping her drugs at the MetroCourt, and her subsequently having a heart attack. She tells Maxie, yes, and Maxie says, yes, she needs more time? Sasha says, yes, she agrees to the protocol. Maxie asks if Sasha is sure, and Sasha says she told Maxie that she’s not a drug addict. It shouldn’t be a problem. Maxie says, theoretically, no, and Sasha says, if it’s what Deception needs to move forward, she’ll do it. She signs the agreement, and asks if they can talk about the trunk show now. Maxie says, one more thing. Sasha knows how this business is. People are always ready to gossip, and the tabloids are always unearthing a story. Sasha says, what story? What happened to her is nobody’s business. Maxie says, maybe not, but people will make it their business to dig to find a story, unless Sasha gets ahead of it. She should consider going public before anyone else does. She and Lucy will stand by her, and make her as comfortable as possible. Sasha says, a public shaming? and Maxie says, it’s going to come out anyway. Sasha says, it was one incident; she’s fine now. Maxie says, Sasha took drugs and they gave her a heart attack. It’s not fine. Sasha asks if it’s a deal breaker, and Maxie says, no. It’s up to Sasha. Sasha says, good, and Maxie says if she’d like to consider it and commit to getting healthy, she can do that by signing her new contract. Sasha signs, and asks, now can they please talk about the trunk show? Maxie says she’ll get on it. She’s sorry about this, but she’s Sasha’s friend, and cares about her. Sasha asks if Maxie minds if she takes a few moments. Maxie says, not at all, and Sasha gets up. Brando keeps an eye on her.  

Alexis tells Tracy, no, she did not black out, and Tracy asks how she can be sure. Alexis says she’s blacked out before, and it takes a hell of a lot more than three drinks. Tracy says she doesn’t know how many drinks Alexis had, and doesn’t think she knows either. Alexis says she does know. She had two before Tracy got there, and one after. Chase asks her to follow his pen with her eyes, but she says, nope. He asks if she’s refusing to follow the pen, and she says, if he’s asking her to take part in a sobriety test, she declines. He says he’s sure she’s aware it’s within her rights to decline, but there will be consequences.

Cyrus tells Britt, it may come as a shock… and she says, little shocks her; have at it. He says he agrees the priority is the well-being of patients, but the drugs will support that. Britt says, while making money? and he says, she, of all people, should appreciate the value in an opportunity dropped in one’s lap. She says, rest assured, she appreciates the chance he gave her. He says he needed the right person for a difficult job, and there she was. She says, and here she still is. He says he knew they’d see eye to eye, and thanks her for being generous with her time. He’s sure she has somewhere else to be. She laughs, and says apparently, she does. She’s not sure what business he thinks he’s in, but she’s in the business of saving lives. She gets up, and walks off.

Tracy tells Alexis, she can consent to rehab. She could dry out, out west, away from the pressures of Port Charles. Alexis says, from the look of things, she doesn’t think she’ll be able to leave the jurisdiction. Chase asks for Alexis’s license, and asks if she still refuses the sobriety test. She says she does, and he says he has no choice but to confiscate her license. Tracy asks how that’s going to help, and Chase says Alexis is under arrest for suspicion of a DWI.

Scotty paces in the hotel room, when there’s a knock on the door. Franco says, he’ll get it, but Scotty tells him, wait. Before he answers the door, he wants Franco to know that he’s really important to him. He cares about Franco. Franco asks who Scotty thinks is on the other side, and Scotty says, it could be anyone. Franco says he knows Scotty is nervous, but Dr. Kirk seems to have it together. Relax, and let the doctor do his job. Franco opens the door, and it’s Obrecht. Scotty asks what brings her by, and she says, what else? She has come to save Franco; to cure his unfortunately distressed and traumatized brain. Franco says, cool. Not that he doesn’t appreciate it, but he has a meeting with Dr. Kirk tomorrow. She says, Dr. Kirk is no longer available. It seems Franco’s fate rests entirely in her hands.

Sasha sees Cyrus, and sits with him. She says she believes she owes him an apology. He says he can’t imagine for what, but he’s intrigued. She says she’s sorry for running off on him last night, and he says he got held up himself with sudden business with the mayor. She says she’d love to make it up to him if he’ll give her another chance, and he says she has a habit of storming in and out of his life, which makes the prospect of knowing her better even more intriguing. Brando grabs Sasha’s arm and tells her to come with him. Cyrus says, that’s not how you treat a lady, and Brando says he caught her searching Cyrus’s apartment for drugs. She said she blames him for her heart attack. Cyrus says, how disappointing, and Brando says, don’t worry. He’ll make sure knows not to bother him again.

Cyrus tells Brando, he’s sure Sasha got the message. He doesn’t know what she thought she could do to him, but she’s way out of her depth. He suggests she go back to playing dress-up. There’s less chance of getting hurt. She pushes past Brando, and Cyrus thanks Brando for his loyalty, and timing. Now is the perfect time to be in his good graces. The tension of the past month is coming to an end, and ahead lies prosperity. Cyrus’s phone rings, and he asks, what’s the problem?  

Britt asks Maxie if she minds if she joins her, and Maxie says, not at all. Britt sits down, and Maxie says, Peter is loving having her in Port Charles. Britt says, that explains her invitation to the wedding. Does Maxie want her to send her regrets? Maxie says, Peter wants her there, so she does too. Family is about acceptance, and like it or not, they’re about to be family. Britt says, which brings her to her nephew. Is there any universe where Maxie would feel comfortable about her seeing James? Maxie says she’ll have to think about that, and Britt says, with her mother in prison, James is her only connection to Nathan. Maxie says she and Peter are committed to keeping Nathan’s memory alive for James, and Britt says she’d like to help. Even though James is a toddler, he must miss his oma. Maxie is sure Obrecht misses James too. He brought out the softer side of her, and they formed an Obrechtian bond. Unfortunately, that bond was broken. It’s probably a good thing Obrecht is in Steinmaur. She doesn’t want to tell Obrecht that she’s marrying Peter and having his child. Britt says, her head would explode.  

Franco tells Obrecht, he doesn’t understand; Kirk just agreed to treat him. Scotty asks, what happened? and Obrecht says, unfortunately, Kirk was sent on urgent WSB business far, far away. Scotty says he could have called, but she says, his reassignment was as sudden as it was unexpected. She’s certain if he could have called, he would have. Franco says he’ll see Kirk when he gets back. He’s coming back, right? Obrecht tells him, who can say? and Franco says, Kirk was kind of his last hope. Obrecht says, look at her and smile. He’s happily mistaken. He says, about…? and she says she took the liberty of perusing his file. She’s certain she can help him. Franco says, that’s generous, but he couldn’t possibly accept it, the way he treated her. She says, fortunately, she’s inclined toward forgiveness, and he says, no offense, but since when is neuropsychology her specialty? She says she has many specialties, and Scotty says, they’re talking about his son’s brain. He’s not letting her mess around with that. She reminds him that before moving to Port Charles, she was director of something-in-German. Scotty looks at Franco, who says he’s got nothing. She says, a clinic to heal the mind. She knows her way around the brain. His file says he’s having potential complications from the memory transfer being reversed. Tell her what happened. Franco says he hears things in his head; other people. She says, disembodied voices? and he says, kind of. It’s not random. It’s more like eavesdropping. Like he’s listening to part of a conversation other people would understand.   

Chase reads Alexis her rights, and asks if she understands them. She says it hasn’t been that long since she was disbarred, and he asks again if she understands them. She says she does, and asks if he’s sure he wants to do this. He says she was in the driver’s seat of a car driven off the road, and she says, maybe she got tired and pulled over. He says they both heard what Tracy said, and without taking a field sobriety test, she’ll be given one at the station. Tracy says, and they’ll send her to rehab, right? but Chase says, if it’s under .8 she’ll be charged with a DWAI, driving while ability impaired, but if it’s .8 or higher, she’ll be charged with a straight-up DWI. 

Maxie tells Britt, despite Obrecht’s unique personality, she decide to keep Obrecht in James’s life; she’s his grandma. She knew Nathan’s death was hurting Obrecht as much as it was her. She’d thought Obrecht was unfeeling, and that she’d been proved wrong. Unfortunately, Obrecht can’t stop blaming Britt’s other brother for what happened. Peter bent over backward to be accommodating, when Obrecht had literally broken his arm, and left him in a burning stable to die. Instead of retaliating, Peter gave her a column in The Invader, and gave her respectability, but she couldn’t let go of blaming him for her crimes. Maxie had to choose between Obrecht and the man she loved. Obrecht lost.

Obrecht tells Franco, they all get stymied, even her. When she’s stuck about a column, what does she do? Anything else, and then poof! the solution comes to her. He’s been distracted long enough. What’s the first thing that comes to his mind. Schnell! He says, Drew, and she says, his dearest friend besides her. What about him? He says he was talking to Kirk as Kirk went through his file, and the doctor thought he wasn’t hearing voices, but one of Drew’s memories. His brain wasn’t super scrubbed after all. She asks if the voice he’s hearing is Drew’s, but he says, no; Peter August’s.  

Tracy tells Alexis that she’ll wait for the tow, but Alexis says, leave it. They should have taken her license away long ago. Let the forest reclaim it. Tracy asks if there’s anyone she can call, but Alexis says, don’t bother. No one cares.

Sasha sits at the bistro, and remembers Brando hustling her out of Cyrus’s apartment, and telling her, stay away for her own good. Her phone rings, and it’s Brando, who asks if she’s okay. She says, after he told a drug kingpin that she was ransacking his apartment for evidence to put him away? Thanks. He asks if she’s alone, but she says, it’s none of his business; stay out of it. Brando asks Cyrus is anything is wrong, and Cyrus says, it’s just a loose end. Nothing he can’t handle. Brando asks if something happened.

At a bar in Brooklyn, Sonny tells Jason, the last time he was there, he was with his dad, who almost died. Jason says Cyrus is shooting at them again, but Sonny says he’s pretty sure Cyrus wasn’t after him. Jason asks if he means Julian, and Sonny says, Cyrus knows Julian is alive. He’s going to be desperate to shut Julian up. Jason wonders if Julian will admit he planted the bomb on Cyrus’s orders, and Sonny says, if Julian was smart, he would have never gotten involved in the first place. If Julian doesn’t give up Cyrus, Sonny is going to kill him, not Jason. He’s going to line up the shot and pull the trigger.

Tomorrow, Martin tells Valentin it’s not going to stay private, Violet is worried about not being the flower girl, Finn needs to say something, and Laura asks Curtis if it’s time to go to Plan B.

Below Deck

The captain calls Shane to the bridge and tells him, have a seat. They need to have a conversation. Captain Lee says, the learning curve is steep, and Shane says, it’s crazy. The captain says he thinks Shane underestimated the amount of work, and then had no time to catch up. Eddie says Shane is a good guy, but sleeping in – we flash back to that – naps in the middle of clean-ups – we flash back to that too – and this morning, missing the alarm. It was the final straw. Captain Lee says, unfortunately, the time has come to part company. Shane isn’t getting it done for him. He wants Eddie to help Shane to get his stuff together, and he’ll have someone take Shane to the airport. In Shane’s interview, he says he feels empty, like a vacuum sucked everything out of him. He was giving everything he had to give, but it’s not enough. He tells the captain that he learned a lot, and in Captain Lee’s interview, he says he takes no pleasure in firing anyone, but there’s no trophy for participation in yachting. It’s not all fun and games.

36 hours later. Rachel says, it’s disgusting and despicable, so no. She’d like a flight home. The captain asks why don’t they don’t talk to them, and Rachel says, go f*** yourself.

Back to earlier, Eddie tells Francesca about Shane leaving, and in her interview, she says he’s not surprised. He wasn’t up to par experience-wise, and if you don’t cut it, you don’t cut it. The captain calls James to get Shane’s surfboard out. Elizabeth asks Francesca what she thinks, and Francesca says, it’s a shame Shane is leaving, but the captain said everyone has to pull their weight, and he’s not pulling his weight. Ashling says goodbye to Shane, and in her interview, says, Shane should have stepped it up, but he’s a sweetheart. We flash back to Shane being just that, and she says, it’s really hard. Shane says goodbye to Izzy and James, then Ashling (again) and Francesca. Francesca goes to the galley, and asks if Rachel wants to say goodbye, but Rachel says she’s good. He’s a nice guy, but you make your bed, you lie in it. In her interview, she says she doesn’t want to lie, and say he’s so amazing, and a wonderful human being. Best of luck. Effing don’t let the past hit you in the ass. Eddie says he’ll miss Shane in a lot of ways, and in Shane’s interview, he says, it’s not fun getting fired. If he had it to do over again, he’d do it differently. He’d study more and learn his knots. He’s heading to the closest beach, and overall chalks this up to a success… except for sleeping… and the logs… and the fenders… and the docking. He leaves, and I yell, Shane! Come back, Shane!  

Eddie tells Elizabeth that Shane couldn’t change his work ethic, and she says she’s been there. Eddie says Shane was sleeping when he was off the boat, and taking naps when he shouldn’t. Francesca comes to get Elizabeth, and Elizabeth tells Eddie, it’s not as if she was just sitting around. Izzy tells James that she used his Comet, and he says they share everything now. It’s like they’re married, but not happily. Eddie joins them, and says, when the captain talks about them not working to their full potential, he’s talking about the deck crew. In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s in a funk. He never wants to lose a crew member, and it reflects on him as a bosun. Someone he looks up to is watching his team fail miserably. He tells James and Izzy that he doesn’t want to get in the middle of their weird relationship. He’s tired of getting yelled at, and hopes they are too. He’s just going to grab a brush and help them clean. Rachel texts with Vincenzo, and tells Francesca that 90% of her stress is missing her boyfriend. Francesca says she can be Rachel’s boyfriend. In a non-sexual way. In Rachel’s interview, she says she and Vincenzo have been together a year. He can handle her; he’s like the Rachel whisperer. It’s the first time she’s had a relationship with someone on land since she started her career. It’s hard to be away from him. She tells Francesca that he helps her keep her sh*t together. Eddie wonders why James is taking so long. The captain calls Executive Crew Replacement, and Francesca radios Ashling and Elizabeth to meet her in the Sky Lounge.  

Francesca tells them that she wanted to do a de-briefing of the last charter. She thinks it went well, and they performed better as a team. Ashling is killing it in laundry, with a smile. She asks to talk to Elizabeth privately, and Ashling leaves. She tells Elizabeth, the guests are the most important thing. When service is down, it reflects on her. Last night was an example. She told Elizabeth to check on the guests every 10 minutes. We flash back to when they hadn’t seen a stew in nearly an hour, and a guest telling Francesca, they’re dying upstairs. Francesca says it’s the reason she’s staying up, and she shouldn’t have to. Elizabeth promises to be on top of things, and Francesca tells her, there are ashtrays, ice buckets, and some other loose ends from the last charter going on. In her interview, Francesca says, she’s trying to get second stew out of Elizabeth, but it’s not happening, and her patience is growing down. She tells Elizabeth, part of being a stew is being proactive. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says there are things she needs to work on and get better at. Francesca is a Gemini, and has two sides. She needs to figure out how to please both sides. She tells Ashling, there are only so many of them to do every little thing.

The deck crew finishes up, and the crew is ready to party. They get dressed, and James finds Izzy crying in her bunk. She tells him that she’s just tired, and it’s her way of letting out stress. In her interview, she says she tried hard to do well, and put any issues aside, but she feels terrible. She’s still being told she could be fired. She wonders if they’re chewing through the crew, and James tells her, no one is sacking her. In Izzy’s interview, she says, she was the youngest growing up, and she’s still her parents’ baby. When they split up, she was 17, and felt broken. She got depressed and anxious. She was out of control, and when things get to crumbling, she’s an anxious mess. Eddie asks if she’s coming, and she says she’s good. Everyone finishes getting ready, and Rachel says her goal for the evening is to get wasted. She’s stoked. James says, when Sunshine went, the vibe went hostile. Elizabeth says she’s bitten her tongue for so long, she doesn’t have one. It’s bleeding out of her soul. <insert eye roll here>

They go to a restaurant, and get espresso martinis. Rachel says, they keep you up and drunk AF. Francesca says it feels weird that Shane isn’t there, but Eddie says he feels good about the team; it can only get better. Elizabeth babbles at James, and he tells her that she’s getting spiritual, and losing him. She says her goal is not to lose him, and says he can be physical and spiritual. In his interview, he says, this is getting deep, but I think it’s more like Elizabeth is getting drunk. She asks if she’s too much for him, and he says she just blew his mind. Francesca asks if Rachel is okay, and Rachel says she just wants to have a life. She loves Vincenzo. Eddie says she’s all right, but in Rachel’s interview, she says she just wants to be with her boyfriend, and it sucks. Eddie tells her, it’s just a few weeks, and in her interview, she says, it would be amazing to have children. She cries, and says Vincenzo makes her feel calm and collected. He’s her best friend, and she just wants to see him. The crew has to be up at 8 am, so they head back to the boat.   

In the taxi, Eddie asks if Elizabeth wants to work on deck, and she says she’s trying not to get in her head. She’s been working hard, but Francesca called her in for a little chat. Rachel says, if she wants to be a yachtie, she has to suck it up. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Rachel is a different person when she’s drinking. It’s like a switch is flipped, and she’s dark and combative. Rachel keeps repeating, suck it up, along with a few other choice phrases, some of which I’ve never heard before.

James jumps rope on deck, and Rachel goes to see Eddie. She says, a lot of bullsh*t is happening in interior. He asks what that has to do with her, and she says she doesn’t know. Something else is happening, but she doesn’t know what. We flash back to her haranguing Elizabeth, and Eddie says if Rachel needs him, he’ll be there. She says he doesn’t have to, but he says he likes being there. Elizabeth virtually introduces James to her friends on her phone, and says he’s the only one up except her. Elizabeth apologizes for interrupting James’s workout, and Eddie tells Rachel, it’s his room now; go to her room. She tells him to s*ck her d*ck. Elizabeth tells James that she has a bad  taste in her mouth about the conversation with Francesca. In James’s interview, he says he’d like to know Elizabeth more. She’s his type of girl. They can have a laugh, and she doesn’t take things seriously. Sometimes it’s risky, but it’s a lot of fun. They hug, and go to their separate cabins.

8 am. Ashling asks if James’s hair is ready, and if he and Elizabeth had a smoochie, but he ignores her. Rachel comes into the crew mess, and Eddie asks how she’s doing. She says, hung over. James tells Eddie, it’s great to be alive, for the most part. Elizabeth tells Ashling that she’s stressing, and Ashling tells her to relax. Francesca joins them, and says, the next charter is coming tomorrow. They need to strip the beds. Lunch is usually, at 1, so they’ll work until then. Elizabeth says she’s getting coffee, then she’ll start the laundry. She needs advice on how to bleach a shirt, and Francesca tells her to use cold water, and go outside, but she should check the instructions. Ashling does the ironing, and Izzy asks why James is grunting. He says he’s hung over, and Eddie jokingly says, no more talking for the rest of day. Ashling says she’s feeling dizzy, and Rachel says she is too. We see the shirt sitting in a bucket of bleach in the laundry room.

The captain says James is washing sh*t that was just washed five minutes ago. Eddie tells James that he just saw Izzy washing the same thing he is, and asks why he’s washing it again. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Shane was just fired yesterday. He knows the captain’s standards, and wants to exceed them. He doesn’t like looking like an a-hole. Chief Engineer Mario asks if they smell something, and says, it smells like solvent. He’s not liking it, and tells everybody to get out while he looks around. Rachel cleans the galley, and Captain Lee radios Eddie to see him. The captain points out that James is washing the same side again. It’s making him effing nuts, and he’s losing his sh*t. Eddie goes out, and asks why James is rinsing what was already rinsed. Go to the top, and work his way down. Mario checks the laundry room, and thinks it could be the bucket. Rachel tells Ashling, if she smells something funky, tell the engineer. Mario radios that there’s no more danger. Rachel calls Vincenzo, and says she wants to see him, but he says he can’t promise. The coronavirus is everywhere. She says, in Europe? and he tells her, they’re starting to isolate cities. She cries, saying she misses him, and he tells her not to cry. She says wants him there, and Elizabeth hears her crying.

Feb 23, 2020. Rachel says she doesn’t want deal with this, and cries. Elizabeth asks, what’s wrong? and Rachel says she wants to see her boyfriend. Elizabeth hugs her, and says she’s sorry. Elizabeth says it’s the fourth charter, and they’re halfway though. Rachel says she’s fine with the charters, and Elizabeth says, they all have those moments. Mario tells Captain Lee that he thinks he pinpointed the safety issue; something was soaking in a bleach mixture. The captain says, not good. James calls his mom, and in his interview, he says he and his mom have the same personality. That’s why she’s his best friend. He tells his mom, they’re not allowed to make jokes. In his interview, he says, Eddie is like his dad. He just absorbs, and doesn’t interact. His mom tells him, it’s a job. Mario tells Francesca one of her staff was using bleach mixed with soap, which causes a gas. It’s the same mixture they used for mustard gas during WWII. The after-affect is caused when it’s inside confined spaces. We flash back to Elizabeth making the concoction. Francesca thanks him for bringing it to her attention, and he says he’ll report it to the captain. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, it’s a massive f*** up. It not only makes him look incompetent, but puts the crew in danger. It’s negligence. Francesca calls Elizabeth to the pantry, and tells her the Chief Engineer came to her, and told her that chemicals in a confined space caused the problem. She’ll have to talk to Captain Lee. Elizabeth says she’s used it on every boat she’s been on, but Francesca says, it was in a confined area. Elizabeth says she’s sorry; it was a mistake. Francesca says, it’s a mistake she shouldn’t be making, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she says she’d never think to approach someone the way Francesca does. She feels like she’s constantly walking on eggshells. It sucks. Francesca says she’s rethinking the stripes she gave Elizabeth. Elizabeth says she doesn’t want to lose her job; they can work this out. Francesca says she needs to think. She tells Rachel about what Elizabeth did, and says that’s why they were feeling dizzy. Rachel says she’s not getting involved, and Francesca says she doesn’t know whether they can keep Elizabeth. Rachel says, if Francesca feels she can replace Elizabeth with someone who’s capable, she’ll support her, and Francesca says she appreciates it. Rachel says, they’re dealt the cards. They need to effing fold, and deal again. In Francesca’s interview, she says, safety is paramount on a yacht, and Elizabeth was putting them all at risk. She asks if she can talk to the captain.

Francesca tells Captain Lee that she wanted to chat about Elizabeth. They’ve gone through a couple of meetings, and she’s not improving. The bleach was the last straw. Elizabeth asks Rachel if she’s getting fired, and Rachel says, Francesca told her to take the bleach outside, and she didn’t. It pissed her off. Francesca tells the captain, Elizabeth isn’t pulling her weight or following through. He asks what she proposes, and she asks if he can get someone else and let Elizabeth go. He says, possibly, but not before the next charter; it’s coming too quickly. In his interview, he says he’s not doubting her rendition of what happened, but he can’t just let Elizabeth go right now. He tells Francesca that she’ll have to make it work, and they’ll discuss it after the next charter. In Francesca’s interview, she says, she gets it, but it’s annoying that she has to pull more weight. It’s not fair.

Elizabeth tells Rachel that Francesca has a perception of her that’s hard to change, and Rachel suggests Elizabeth talk to the captain. Francesca sees them talking, and turns around. Elizabeth asks to talk to her, but Francesca says, not now. In Francesca’s interview, she says, WTF? Elizabeth is getting everyone involved. She’s disappointed that Rachel told Elizabeth to overstep. Elizabeth asks if she can talk to Captain Lee. He says, no problem, but looks like he has a headache. She wants to know what’s happening, and he says, nothing right now. She asks if she’s fired, and he says, no. She says, okay, but he tells her that her future on the boat depends on how she performs during the next charter. If she wants it bad enough, she’ll be there. She says she does, and plans on delivering. He says, that’s all anybody can ask. She thanks him, and leaves.

Francesca is working in the crew mess, and James asks where she wants the laundry. She asks where he thinks it goes. The refrigerator? He tells her not to get upset, and she says he’s asking a stupid question. In his interview, he says, she takes her job too seriously. From now on, she doesn’t exist to him. F*** you. Rachel apologizes to Francesca, but in Francesca’s interview, she says she doesn’t trust either of them. Rachel doesn’t have her back. She tells Rachel that she needs a moment, and Rachel says, effing whatever.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Eddie says, it’s been a stressful day, but let’s do it. Captain Lee says he won’t be saying that once they read the sheets. The primary is Brian Guarani, a top realtor, and he’s coming with another realtor, and a stay at home dad. They want the slide, the jet skis, and rainbow unicorn floats. He reads off two pages of different cuisines they want, including a Viva la France party with an elaborate 10-course dinner. In Francesca’s interview, she says, it’s crazy, but it’s yachting. No request is too massive. She’s seen it on many a charter. They want truffles from Italy, an Austen Martin to drive them to a club, and she’s chaperoned until 6 am sober. Rachel says, it’s disgusting, and it’s despicable. She could be a private chef in Monaco and make more. She’d like a flight home. It’s ostentatious bullsh*t, and they can s*ck her d*ck. Captain Lee says they can talk to the guests to see if they’re as ostentatious as they are on paper, and Rachel says, go f*** yourself. The crew, the captain, and I are all like, what did she just say? and Captain Lee says he’d rather not do that. Rachel says she loves him, and respects the crew, but she’s out. She’s packing. Francesca asks if she’s sure, and she says she’s dead serious. The captain tells her that she’s gotta do what she’s gotta do, and so will he. In his interview, he says this is a first for him. He’s never had a walk-off the day before pick-up, and he’s pissed. The day just got bleepity-bleep-bleep-bleep. Rachel goes to her cabin, saying, she doesn’t play games. They can shove it up their ass. She can make more money at home. In Rachel’s interview, she says, the preference sheet is absolutely ridiculous. She’s overwhelmed, and has to walk away or she’ll explosion. She tells Francesca that she’s sorry. Rachel loves her, but they can eat her cooter, (new one on me) and shove it up their ass. She’s out. Eddie tells Francesca, it’s a tough charter. He just got the provisions, and they’re asking the world and then some. He asks how Rachel is feeling, and Francesca says, she’s quitting. It sounds like she’s lost it. The captain asks Rachel if she’s got a second, and she says she feels like a prisoner. I wonder if he can’t get her a sous chef.

Captain Lee tells Rachel that he’s not looking forward to these guys, but just because they ask for something, doesn’t mean they’ll get it. They’re in the middle of the Caribbean, and some of it is outrageous. That being said, would she consider doing lunch and dinner on day one? Rachel says, no, and he asks if there’s nothing he can do. She says she knows she’s leaving him between a rock and a hard place. An alarm goes off, and she says she respects him, and loves working under him. The alarm continues, and he gets up, saying, like they don’t have enough. Rachel asks if he minds if she packs. In his interview, Captain Lee says he has less than 24-hours to find a charter chef. They’re screwed six ways to Sunday. Rachel packs, and Eddie asks if Izzy saw the provision list. It’s so bad, Rachel is quitting. Rachel says she’s tired, and they can eat her ass. She looks at the cameraman, and says, in his best interest, she thinks he should call their hounds (not sure what that means). It’s not cool. She gives the finger to the camera.

In her interview, Izzy says they’re down a chef and a deckhand. She thinks they’re f***ed. The captain calls Eddie, and asks him for a hand with Rachel’s luggage. Rachel tells Francesca, she’s sorry, but she drew a line, and Francesca tells her to take care of herself. In Francesca’s interview, she says, if Rachel is bouncing when they need her, she never cared in the first place, and that sucks. Rachel leaves, and Eddie tells Ashling what’s going on. Captain Lee tries to figure out what he did in a previous life to deserve this. In his interview, he says he never had to tell a guest they needed to cancel a charter. His chief and second stew aren’t getting along, they’re down a deckhand, and the chef split. He doesn’t know what he’s going to do.

To be continued…  

🎁 Spoiler: I’m guessing things work out, since on Watch What Happens Live last week, Captain Lee said Rachel was the whole package as far as yacht chefs go.

🤸 Time For Me To Split Too…

How can it be such a long week when it’s only the first day of it? Not to mention, ho-ho-how is it that Christmas is almost here? Although I can’t say I’ll be sorry to see 2020 in the rearview. Show of hands. How many said, 2020 is going to be my year? Yeah, me too, but until the forecast changes, stay safe, stay well-adjusted, and stay not making disgusting, despicable demands.

Dec12

December 11, 2020 – A Reunion Goes Awry, Scrapped, Meet David, DocuTiger, New Gem, Eww, Adult Awards, Good Guy, Dead Talk, Don’t Call Us, Party Clash, Another One, Jillian’s Fight, Farewells, Artists, a Round Number of Quotes & Hippo

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In keeping with the tradition of every long, yet rushed, week, I missed the beginning, but here’s what happened. Dr. Kirk told Franco that he believed the voice Franco was hearing was a leftover memory of Drew’s. Scotty caught Obrecht outside the office, and wondered if she’d escaped from prison. Olivia told Alexis her marriage was just fine, and Alexis asked if she was sure. Tracy interrupted, and steered Alexis away from Olivia, and toward the bar. At one of the tables, Nikolas and Ava were celebrating, and Nikolas said he had a surprise for Ava. It was the post-nup, which he tossed on the table. Sam met Carly at the MetroCourt, and Dante met Olivia. Sam told Carly that she and Jason had separated, and Dante told Olivia that he was thinking about taking Rocco home. Jason and Sonny went to NYC, where Jason thought Spinelli would be able to locate Julian. He told Sonny that he and Sam had separated. Julian knocked on an apartment door, and a woman opened it, but kept the chain-lock on. Julian said he was looking for Kim Nero, and…

The woman says he’s in the right place. This is Dr. Nero’s apartment. He asks if she’s Kim’s roommate, but she says she works there. He says he thought maybe Kim no longer lived there, and she says she knows who he is. He’s Charlie.

Jason tells Sonny, the explosion was terrible. For Sam to think maybe her son could have been in there… He had nothing to do with anything. He dropped Danny off at the Quartermaines, and went to the hospital to talk to Britt. He had no idea what happened until he saw the alerts when he was driving over. He doesn’t know how it felt, standing in the parking lot, thinking their son was dead, waiting to see if they carried his body out. The same way he didn’t know what it was like when Morgan died. He hears Sonny and Carly talk about it, and he grieved when he found out, but he wasn’t there. He didn’t watch it happen. So Sam connected those two things – Morgan’s death could be Danny or Scout’s death – and she doesn’t want that. She’s not wrong.

Carly tells Sam, it’s a big decision, and she knows it cost a lot. Sam says, nothing means more to her than her kids. Standing in The Floating Rib parking lot, not knowing Danny’s condition… Carly says, torture, and Sam says she didn’t want the last memory of her son to be his baseball cap. She wants to watch her kids breathe, grow, and make beautiful lives for themselves. Because of that, it means she can’t be with Jason.

Sam tells Carly, she had no idea what she said. It all came tumbling out; the regret, the fear, all of it. Carly says she knows; Jason just stood there took it. Sam says, yeah. Part of her wanted him to fight for her so bad. To come up with a miraculous loophole where he could still work for Sonny, but keep them safe. She knows it doesn’t exist, and she can’t keep pretending it does.

Sonny says he’s sorry. He can see how bad Jason is hurting, but he’s not surprised. Something changed in Sam that night. Jason says he didn’t see it. He was caught up in everything else, and didn’t realize. Sonny says, he was blindsided, and Jason says that’s why he was late. He was on his way out, when Sam stopped him, and asked him not to come back. He was standing there listening about her fears, and how it’s not the life she wanted for Danny and Scout. He wanted to comfort her, but he couldn’t. He wanted to fight it, but he said he wouldn’t. All he could hear in his head was that he let this happen. He bangs the steering wheel, and says, he let this happen. He knew better. He knew he never should be a father.

The woman lets Julian in, and he says no one has called him Charlie in a long time. She says Kim showed her pictures, and told her how he helped her through her son’s terrible death. He says he wishes he could have done more, and she says, the way Kim talks, he did plenty. He asks how Kim is, and she says Kim never got over losing Oscar, but she was able to pick up the pieces. She got a job at the hospital. She’s going to be surprised to find him there. Julian says, it’s a surprise to him too.   

Ava says she can’t believe Nikolas chose now to throw the post-nup in her face, but he says he’s giving it to her to  destroy it. She asks why he didn’t say so, and he asks if she’d like to do the honors. She tears it up, and throws it on the table. They toast to love, and she says how good it is to get rid of it. He says, one less threat to their happiness. They only have to take care of one more.

Tracy tells Alexis that she and Luke started a promising enterprise in Amsterdam, and they need a good lawyer. Alexis says she lost her license, and Tracy asks if that means she lost her knowledge and experience. Alexis says, no, and Tracy says, it pays well, and Amsterdam is a beautiful part of the world. Alexis can start over. She’s offering Alexis an opportunity. Alexis says it doesn’t sound appealing.

Dante tells Olivia, his gut is telling him to take Rocco home, but he’s worried about it. He’s pretty much a stranger to his own son. He hasn’t been there, and Rocco doesn’t know him. He’s comfortable at the Quartermaine’s, and Leo is there. If he hadn’t left, and this didn’t happen, and Lulu and Rocco had been secure with him, this wouldn’t be the case. Olivia asks if he really believes that, and Dante says he sees it in Rocco’s eyes and body language. Rocco knows Dante is his dad, but he doesn’t feel the way should feel, and Lulu isn’t there to bridge the gap. He needs help knowing what to do with his son.

Franco tells Kirk, he’s read the file now. Most of his life he was a seriously messed up person who did seriously messed up things. When the tumor was removed, all that disappeared, and his impulses were gone. Kirk says, so he’s thinking now that the tumor is back, they’ll return? Franco says he’s terrified, and Kirk says, they’ll take it as it comes, but he’s convinced he can help.

Obrecht tells Scotty to keep it to himself and calls him a dummkopf. She says his only redeeming quality is that his son is an amazing human being. He says Franco  thinks she’s as guilty as he does, but she says, once she explains the truth, Franco will see the light. Franco comes out, and says he’s all ears.

Obrecht tells Franco and Scotty, she’s been exonerated, but the person who framed her is out there. If they know she’s free, they’ll cover their tracks. She’s staying there until they can obtain proof. Please, tell no one. Kirk says he hates to break up this reunion, but he needs a word with Obrecht. He’ll see Franco tomorrow. Kirk and Obrecht go into the office, and Scotty says, unbelievable. Franco says, yeah, and Scotty says, wait a minute, mister. He’s not buying that hogwash, is he?

Olivia tells Dante she’s sorry. Without even realizing it, she’s been running interference between him and Rocco. She thought she was making it easier, but in doing grandma stuff, she thinks she built a wall. He says, that’s not what the conversation is about. She’s been his touchstone, and he’s grateful. She says she gets it, but thinks maybe Dante needs to be Rocco’s touchstone. It’s the only way they can build a bond. They’ll struggle through it, day by day. As much as she loves having him there, maybe it’s best if he takes Rocco home.

Alexis asks, what’s gotten into Tracy? She dragged Alexis over there, now she’s begging her to pack up and move to Amsterdam. Tracy says Alexis isn’t hearing begging. She’s doing this for her. Alexis laughs, and Tracy asks, what’s funny? Alexis says Tracy doesn’t do anything for anyone, unless it’s a Quartermaine. This is about her and Ned, isn’t it?

Nikolas and Ava stand by Ryan’s bedside, and Ava says, it’s over. Ryan is never going to threaten, blackmail, or manipulate her again. Sonny knows everything, and Julian is dead. He jumped to his death before she could kill him. She only wishes she’d killed Ryan a long time ago.

Julian tells the woman, he was hoping to reconnect with Kim. Let her know he’ll never forget her. She says, it sounds final, and he says he came to say goodbye. Crying comes from another room, and Julian asks if there’s a baby there.

Jason says, he got together with Sam in the beginning because she was pregnant with Sonny’s baby. Looking back, he knows he stepped up for Sam and the baby, but he was also doing for Sonny. Sonny and Carly had just gotten back together, and he wanted them to stay together, for all their sakes. They were his family, and there was no possibility of him turning his back on Sonny, and going away to have something separate with Sam. He knew that about himself, which was why, when Sam wanted to have kids, he should have fought against it. He should have been stronger. He tried for a long time, but he loved Sam so much, and she wanted it so bad. He doesn’t regret Danny exists; he loves Danny. Sonny says he knows, and Jason says he’s proud of Danny. He sees parts of him and Sam in Danny, and would never undo that. Sonny says Jason would die for his son, and Jason says, but now Danny is having his life ripped apart, and let’s be real. It’s on me.

Ava tells Nikolas, there’s nothing there that can hurt them anymore, but Nikolas thinks they should make absolutely sure. He picks up a pillow, and Felix walks in. Felix asks what they’re doing there, and Ava says, just checking on Ryan. They were making sure he was under guard, but there’s no security. (Funny. I’ve been saying that about GH for years.) Felix says, if Ryan regains consciousness, he guarantees there will be guards all over the place. Ava asks if there’s been any change, but Felix says, no. Nikolas asks about the prognosis. If he wakes up, will he be functional? Felix says he’s not allowed to say, but for what it’s worth, he hopes Ryan doesn’t remember his name for what he did to Kiki. He still misses her. Ava thanks him, and says she does too. Felix leaves, and Ava asks if Nikolas was really going to kill Ryan. Nikolas says, no. They were going to do it together. They walk out, and Ryan moves his index finger, and his eyelids flutter.

Scotty tells Franco that he wouldn’t trust Obrecht as far as he could throw her. Dr. Kirk too. Franco says Dr. Kirk is going to help him, and stop the voice in his head.

Kirk says Obrecht took a big risk allowing them to see her. She says it wasn’t her intention, but it happened. He says, it did, but they mustn’t let it interfere with their time together. He sent the staff home, and they’re alone. They can finally be together now. He grabs her, and dips her over his desk.

Olivia tells Dante that he and Rocco should be having this conversation. They’re missing Lulu, and they need each other. He says he wants to be able to make it okay for his son, but he doesn’t know how. She says he won’t until he actually does it. Dante asks if she doesn’t think Rocco will balk at the suggestion, but she says he’s not moving to New Zealand. It’s Rocco’s childhood home, and holds his memories. Rocco can still spend three nights a week at grandma’s house, and play with Leo. They need to get him on a schedule.

Alexis says Tracy knows she and Ned slept together. Tracy says, what?! and Alexis says, knock it off. It was stupid, drunk, and one night; it didn’t mean anything, but Olivia should know. Tracy says Alexis isn’t going to tell her… and Alexis says she has no intention of breaking up their marriage. Tracy says, but she’s drinking. That could lead to loose lips, misjudgments, and blackouts. Is Alexis going to tell her that’s never happened?  Alexis says, go to hell. She’s going home. Tracy says she’ll drive her, but Alexis says, unfortunately she’s not drunk. Tracy says, really? and Alexis says, fine. She’ll come back to get her car tomorrow. Tracy says she’s driving Alexis’s car, and won’t take no for an answer. Fork them over. Alexis gives Tracy her keys, and says, in that case… and chugs the rest of her drink.

Carly says she knew Sam was scared, but had no idea she felt this way. Sam says she didn’t either, but she’s had moments in the last couple of days where it hit her so hard. Last night, Jason had to leave, and Danny was really disappointed. They sat down and had a conversation. They talked about feelings, and Danny told her that he was upset when Jason would leave, and he didn’t know when Jason was coming back. He told her that he hated having guards, and the thing that really broke her heart was when he said he couldn’t have friends over because their parents were afraid of Jason. Danny shouldn’t have to deal with that; Scout either. So that means their life with Jason is over. It’s not Jason’s fault; he’s who he is, and never pretended to be otherwise. Carly says, Jason hasn’t changed, but you have.   

Jason says he was surprised at the timing, but not that it happened. He’s known all along there was a chance Sam would reach a point where it didn’t make sense for her; all the risks she’d take for herself, she can’t take for Danny and Scout. At that point, he wanted to say he was leaving the business, and taking them somewhere safe, but he can’t do that. It’s not him. If he left, and something happened to Sonny and his family, he couldn’t live with that. So his only choice is to do what Sam wants, and she wants them to be over. He sighs.

Julian looks at a photo of a baby. The woman comes out, and says, it’s all good now. He just needed a fresh diaper. Julian asks if he’s her son, and she laughs. She says, no. She’s the nanny. It’s Kim’s baby.

Dante thanks Olivia for helping him make sense of this, and coming up with a plan. More important, he thanks her for coming to Geneva. It’s the reason he turned a corner; hearing her on the other side of the door, refusing to give up. She tells him, get used to it. She’ll never give up. She knows the kind of man he is. She sees how he struggles every day, and keeps showing up struggling. It’s all they can ask, that he keep doing his best. She loves him so much, and she’s so proud of him. He says he loves her too.

Alexis says she gets Tracy wanting her son to be happy; Ned is a good man. Tracy says, that he is, and Alexis says she told Ned to tell her. Tracy says, what? and Alexis says she told Ned to tell Olivia. Things have a way of coming out anyway. She feels bad about what she did, and for Olivia. Her husband cheated on her, and she doesn’t deserve it. Somebody ought to tell her. Tracy gives Alexis a look.

Sam tells Carly, she’s envisioning a bright future for her kids. It’s what she wants and knows it’s right, but it comes at the price of losing an incredible man she loves so much. She guesses that’s what happens when you grow up and become a parent. You put the kids first, rather than following your own heart. She’s sorry if she said anything offensive, but Carly says she didn’t. They’re very different people from different circumstances, and the choices they make will be different. Sam is doing what she thinks is right for her family, like Carly is doing what she thinks is right for hers.

Sonny asks if Jason thinks Sam is doing the right thing, and Jason says, he told her as much. They’re adults, and they’ll be okay, but the people whose lives are upended are Danny and Scout. No explanation can change the fact that they’re losing their family. Sonny was damaged by his father, and never really healed until he was grown, and Mike just passed away. He doesn’t want that for Danny and Scout, but he doesn’t know how to stop it from happening. Sonny says there’s a big difference between Jason and his dad. His dad ran away; Jason isn’t doing that. It’s hard on Danny and Scout, but they’ll know he acted in honor. They might not know now, but as they get older, they’ll know it meant something. Jason’s phone rings, and he says, it’s Spinelli. He must have information. Jason answers, and asks what Spinelli’s got.

The nanny says, Kim never told Julian she was pregnant? She knew before she left Port Charles. He says they weren’t exactly on the best terms, and asks the baby’s name. She says, Andrew, but they call him Andy.   

Franco tells Scotty that Kirk thinks the voice is a leftover memory of Drew’s. Better than that, he thinks he can fix it. Scotty says, that would be great, and Franco says, but…? Scotty says he thinks they have an agenda, and he intends to find out what it is.   

Obrecht says, consummating their relationship in Kirk’s office wasn’t the romance she imagined. He says any way they’re together is perfect. She says, it’s not, and he says, she claims to love him, but her actions show him otherwise. He thinks she’s using him to get what she wants. She says what she wants is her freedom. To force her to do sexual favors for it is disgusting. He couldn’t handle a woman like her. He picks up the phone, and says he’s sounding the alarm. Anna needs to know Dante is coming for her and her son. Obrecht puts a pocket knife to his throat, and tells him to put the phone down.

Franco calls Elizabeth, and says he has good news. In the office, Obrecht and Kirk struggle, and Scotty walks in. He asks, what’s going on? and punches Kirk in the face. Kirk falls on the knife. Oops.   

The nanny says, it might be a while until Kim is home, and asks if Julian wants to leave a note. An alarm goes off, and Julian asks, what the hell is that? She says, the fire alarm, and he asks if she was expecting a drill. She says she doesn’t know, but to be safe, they should get out of there. In the hallway, Jason hides.  

Scotty tells Obrecht, it was a small blade. He’ll be okay, right? She says, wrong. He’s dead.  

Olivia tells Dante, it’s so sad to see people buckle. Like Alexis. She’s an admirable woman, but she’s been spewing hate. Dante says he was talking to her earlier, and Olivia tells him, try not to take on her poison. Alexis was drunk, and implying there was something she knew about Olivia’s marriage that Ned wasn’t telling her. Dante says, she has no idea what Alexis was talking about? and she says, no clue.

Alexis is behind the wheel of the car, unconscious. Tracy says, there are those say she’s questionable as a mother. They might be right, but Olivia is the best thing that’s happened to Ned. She refuses to let one mistake ruin his marriage. Since she can’t trust Alexis to keep her mouth shut, she’s doing what she needs to. She gets out of the car.

Nikolas looks in on Ryan, and tells Ava, no signs of life. They’ll make a plan to be free once and for all. Is she sure about this? He should have been there for her when she confronted her brother. When it comes to Ryan, he will be.  

We see Ryan’s eyes are open.

The nanny leaves the apartment, and when she’s gone, Jason comes out. On the phone, Jason tells Sonny, a woman just left, but it wasn’t Kim. He’s going in. He draws his gun, and kicks the door open, but the apartment is empty.  

Carly says Sam seems at peace with her decision, and Sam says she is. Carly thinks that means she made the right one. She has to say she’s sorry it’s come to this for all of them, and Sam says she’s sorry too. She thanks Carly, and Carly says she’s always there for Sam. Sam leaves, and Carly looks like she’s in pain. She calls Jason, and says she just wants him to know that she loves him, and she’s there. Whatever he needs.

The nanny calls Kim, and says the man Kim warned her about showed up. She got rid of him. He has no idea Kim’s baby is his.

Julian jumps down into an alleyway. He starts to leave, but Sonny is there with a gun. He says, don’t run off, Jules. We have a lot to talk about.

On Monday, Maxie has some bad news, Franco wonders who’s on the other side of the door, Cyrus knew someone would see eye to eye with him, and Sonny tells Julian that the information he’s got is keeping him alive.

✂️ Dustin Deleted…

He deserved better than barely a mention.

Watch Josslyn and Trina Mourn Dustin in This GH Deleted Scene

❓ David Who…?

All about David Hamilton and why Laura killed him.

David Hamilton on GENERAL HOSPITAL — Why Laura Killed Him

🐅 Tidbit Of the Tiger

While I was perusing Netflix to watch something for my gig athttps://mupoentertainment.com/theresa-krakauskas/, and feeling like Dory from Finding Nemo, I said, oh look! Tiger King! I’d been out of the loop when it was everyone else’s pandemic distraction, and then forgotten about it. So for the next however many hours it took, I watched the entire series, including Joel McHale’s follow-up The Tiger King and I. I’d forgotten how funny he is. If you haven’t checked this documentary out, by all means do. It’s a different kind of horror show, the entire cast reminding me of a tribe of people the Z Nation group would have come across. (And yes, I’m still bitter about Z Nation’s cancelation, and always will be.) Not since Steve Rubel opened Studio 54 have there been so many screwed up people in one place. A tragedy in the making, all I could think about was how much somebody needed to step in for the animals. The documentary of the battle royale between self-proclaimed Tiger King, Joe Exotic, and Big Cat Rescue owner, Carol Baskin – who may or may not have killed her husband and fed him to a tiger – is a horror of the reality kind. Truth is ultimately stranger than fiction. You can’t make this stuff up.

🏞 Another Good One…

Big Sky is coming up to it’s mid-winter finale (whatever that is), but you can see it all On Demand. John Carroll Lynch’s performance alone is worth the price of admission. Warning: This article will either contain spoilers or fill you in if you want to catch up quickly.

https://tv.avclub.com/big-sky-continues-to-draw-out-its-plot-all-in-the-name-1845840946

👶🏼 Watch If You Dare…

There’s no other way to say it. I Love a Mama’s Boy pisses me off. It’s one of those shows I watch with horrified fascination, wondering if these people are for real. From the mother who started crying at a toy store because her son said she couldn’t get her granddaughter an extra toy, to the full-on bitch in this article. Probably a spoiler, but it won’t matter. You will still watch with your mouth hanging open.

https://www.distractify.com/p/shekeb-and-emily-still-together-i-love-a-mamas-boy

🏆 Presenting Adults…

Awards shows make for strange bedfellows. While I’m not into the adult film industry, I saw one of these awards shows once when it surprised me in coming on after a non-adult film I was watching late at night. Another thing I watched in horrified fascination, although it was actually pretty amusing, and definitely less offensive than Mama’s Boy.

https://pagesix.com/2020/11/22/leah-mcsweeney-beyond-excited-to-be-part-of-pornhub-awards/

https://pagesix.com/2020/11/16/john-waters-set-to-present-at-pornhub-awards-this-year/

👨🏼‍🍳 My Hero…

It’s no secret I have a crush on Gordon Ramsay. Besides being my kitchen spirit animal, it’s nice to know he’s a good deed doer.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/20/gordon-ramsay-reportedly-donated-50k-to-treat-ben-watkins-cancer/

But apparently, he can afford it. This burger does sound tasty though.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/27/gordon-ramsays-new-london-restaurant-will-feature-106-burger/

⚰️ Since No Dead Are Walking Right Now…

Might as well rehash what happened.

‘Fear The Walking Dead’ star Jenna Elfman discusses brutal twist in latest episode

And think about the future Dead.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fear-the-walking-dead-renewed-for-season-7

🍸 Finally…

The one guy who should have been fired long ago for his God-knows-what fueled tirades, homophobia, misogynism, and a whole host of other disgusting behavior.

https://news.avclub.com/cast-member-jax-taylor-fired-from-bravos-vanderpump-rul-1845814706

Too bad Britanny goes with him. She needs to shake that d-bag.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/04/jax-taylor-brittany-cartwright-exiting-vanderpump-rules/

🤼 Snort…

As NeNe once said so eloquently to Peter, stay out of women business.

https://people.com/tv/rhop-candiace-dillard-ashley-darby-husbands-fight-at-holiday-party/

🎭 Hardest Working Man In Show Biz…

Tyler is at it again. This time on BET+. There are several ways to stream it; one is through Amazon Prime. I haven’t seen it yet, but this show looks awesome.

Tyler Perry’s ‘Ruthless’ is back on BET+ and it’s giving us very risqué vibes

🥗 Keto This…

I didn’t even know they were fighting.

https://people.com/health/jillian-michaels-says-al-roker-andy-cohen-didnt-want-to-have-debate-with-her-about-keto-diet/

🥁 And the List Keeps Growing…

Early yearly Roll Call of the Dead.

https://parade.com/1018339/dillondodson/celebrity-deaths-2020/

🎨 Get Some Culture, Dammit…

Welcome to my roots.

https://artsandculture.google.com/story/5-native-american-artists-you-should-know/hwICZEKk3E5BJw

🎺 Quotes of the Week

The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had. – Eric Schmidt

I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it’s an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I’ve learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them. – Sasha Azevedo

A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier. – Tom Stoppard

This week, Washington State officials announced they had discovered the first known murder hornet nest in the U.S. Inside the basketball-sized hive were 200 queens, which really is just too many. – from Mic.com

As to wishing it had not happened, one can’t help momentary wishes: guilt begins only when one embraces them. You can’t help their knocking at the door, but one mustn’t ask them in to lunch. – C. S. Lewis, From The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III

Cute is for Chinese babies. – Howard Howe (Michael Parks), Tusk

We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. – Whoopi Goldberg

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. – Zig Ziglar

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. – Maya Angelou

It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it. – Abraham Lincoln

🚀 To the Weekend and Beyond…

We made it to the end of another seven-day stretch. Masks on, masks off. But always, stay safe, stay ethical, and stay not letting loose lips sink anything.

Dec11

December 10, 2020 – Franco Meets a New Doctor, Covidmania In Charleston, Pat Picks Up & Light

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Alexis visits Sam, who says she can’t do this today. Alexis says she hasn’t been drinking. She just wanted to talk to Sam. Sam asks if Alexis is going to tell her that she’s getting help, and Alexis asks if she can come in. Sam says she thinks they’ve said everything they need to say, and Alexis tells her, they said a lot, but not everything. She’d appreciate one more chance.

Tracy wonders if she should take Ned leaving town personally, but Olivia said she made him promise it would just be a turnaround business trip. Tracy asks why Olivia didn’t go, and Olivia says Ned told her that she’d be bored. Besides she has to be there for Leo and Rocco. Monica says, lots of comings and goings these days, and Olivia says she feels lucky her Dante is back, and she and Ned are back on track. Adversities can challenge a marriage, but luckily, theirs is still strong. Olivia leaves for work, and Tracy asks Monica what Ned is avoiding. Her or Olivia?

At the hospital, Peter says he’s glad Maxie’s appointment went well, and Maxie says she wishes she could text Lulu like she used to. Peter asks if she doesn’t think if Lulu was there, she’d want Maxie to move on with her life, and grab happiness for herself. Maxie says, of course (🍷), but easier said than done. Planning a double wedding is going to be a lot of work. Peter tells her, Anna didn’t say yes, but she says, Anna said she had to talk to Finn. She’s not worried about that. Finn strikes her as the show me where to stand kind of groom.

Finn tells Anna, if he gets the all-clear today, he can go back to work. She’s glad he took the time off seriously, and says he had a nice visit with his dad. He says, it was unexpected. Violet finally got to meet her grandfather, and it was nice seeing the two of them together. She says while he was catching up, she had an interesting conversation with Maxie. Finn takes out his phone and messes with it, and she says Maxie had an unusual idea for their wedding. He says, what’s that? but he’s clearly is paying more attention to his phone. She asks if something is wrong, and he says, it’s Violet’s preschool. They want copies of her vaccination records right away. He says he has to do this now, and she supposes it can wait. They agree to meet back at the reception desk in an hour.

Franco and Scotty walk into the WSB Complex in Geneva. Franco says if security is any indication, they’re serious around there, and Scotty says he’s a big time doctor. Franco thanks Scotty for coming with him, and they approach the reception desk. Franco introduces himself, and says he’s there to see Dr. Kirk. Dr. Kevin Collins made a referral. Receptionist Helga asks if he’s sure it’s today. Dr. Kirk has seen his last patient for the day, and she has no referrals from a Dr. Collins. Scotty says they just flew 20 hours to get there, and Franco says there must be a mistake. They have badges; they’re legitimate. She says, even so, Dr. Kirk isn’t available until March 16th. Franco says he can’t wait that long. She says she’s sorry, but she can’t help him. The office will be closing soon; please see themselves out. She goes into the back, and Franco hears Peter’s voice, saying, I’m telling you, I want this to happen now. He  tells Scotty, he’s hearing the voice in his head. It’s got to be the tumor. Does Scotty think the personality shift is going to start happening now? Scotty suggests they see what the doctor says, but Franco thinks he’s not going to see the doctor. Scotty says he is, and tells him, come on.

Kirk calls Dante for a progress report, and Dante says he’s at GH right now. He found the file on Andre, but can’t find anything incriminating on Peter. If he orchestrated this, he covered his tracks well. Kirk says they know for a fact Peter is responsible for the attacks, and the murder of Drew Cane. It’s Dante’s job to find the proof. Peter August is a bad man who must be stopped. Dante says he’ll complete the mission, and turns around to see Anna.

Elizabeth resends Violet’s immunization papers, and asks Finn how Violet is doing. He says, she’s amazing. She met her grandfather for the first time. He was surprised at how easy it went. Next thing he knew, she’s having a tea party and he’s telling a story. She says, kids are very perceptive. It sounds like his father is a good guy.

Anna says she was hoping to run into Dante, and they hug. She apologizes for interrupting, and asks if it was about Lulu. How is she? He says, there’s no change in her condition, and Anna says she’s sorry. To come back, and have that happen… He says he’s just trying to put one foot in front of the other. She says, what else can he do? She asks if he wants to get a coffee and catch up, and he says, sure.

Tracy says she saw the look on Monica’s face when Olivia started talking about her glowing marriage. Clearly, something’s not so glowing. Olivia seems oblivious, so Ned must be the culprit. Spill. Monica says, okay. Tracy’s son cheated on his wife.

Sam lets Alexis in, and Sam apologizes for not having put Scout’s toys away yet. Alexis says she’s sure Scout is happy to be home, and not locked in Sonny’s compound. Sam asks what brings her by, and Alexis says she wants to apologize for what she said on Thanksgiving. It was a cardinal sin as a mother. She’s sorry for the constant disparagement of Jason. He’s Danny’s father; he’s essentially Scout’s father. They’re a unit and a family, and Sam is an adult. Sam tells her, stop.

Obrecht tells Kirk that he needs to go to Port Charles immediately. His control over Dante is slipping. Kirk says, Dante is still following orders, but she says, still, it would be better if he saw Dante in person to reenforce the subliminal trigger. Kirk says, of course (🍷). Would she come with him? She says there will be plenty of time for them to be together, once the truth about Peter is made public. Then they’ll be free to live their lives as they see fit. It isn’t their time yet. He says her charges were dismissed. She’s a free women; why wait?

Franco tells Scotty, the prisons in Switzerland aren’t made of chocolate, and Scotty says, it’s a WSB facility. They’ll probably shoot them first. Franco says he’s not sure he can even get in to see the doctor, but Scotty says they will.

Alexis says she’s sorry, and Sam says, no; she’s sorry. She didn’t sleep much. Alexis says Sam has a lot going on, and she should do what it takes to make it easy. She came to make amends. She’s letting Sam know she should live her life the way she sees fit, and she respects that Sam’s choices are her own. Sam asks if this is an attempt to get her to accept Alexis’s drinking. Alexis says, it’s not, and Sam says she’s not there for Alexis’s live and let live attitude right now. Alexis wants Sam to accept the drinking in her life, so she’ll accept Jason in Sam’s. Alexis says she’s Sam’s mom, and wants to be in her daughter’s life, and her grandkids lives. She loves and misses them. Sam says, it’s not enough. What Alexis does in her life affects them. Alexis says not if it’s not in front of them. Why can’t she just live her own life at home? Sam says she doesn’t have to watch. There’s a knock at the door, and Sam opens it to Elizabeth. Sam says her mom was just leaving, and Alexis says, nice to see Elizabeth. She’s there if Sam needs her. Alexis jets, and Elizabeth apologizes for showing up unannounced. Sam says it’s okay, and asks what brings her by. Elizabeth says she wanted to talk to Jason. Is he there? Sam says he’s not.  

Maxie and Peter run into Finn, and Maxie says he’s looking well. Is he back to work? He says he hopes soon. He’s there for a final check-up, and asks if they’re there for a check-up too. Peter says, Maxie is, and Maxie says, all’s good on the baby front. She wanted to talk to him, and wonders if Anna spoke to him about the wedding. Finn says Anna told him… something, and Maxie asks if Anna is as excited as she is. What does he think? He says, wedding details are more Anna and Violet’s thing, not his so much. Whatever they say goes. Maxie says she knew he’d say that. She can’t wait to walk down the aisle to him. She hugs him

Tracy asks if Ned is having an affair, but Monica says, no. It was when Olivia was in Europe. It was a one night thing; where alcohol and poor judgement took over. Tracy says, it only takes one night to blow up a life. What was Ned thinking? Monica says she thought Tracy didn’t like Olivia, but Tracy says Olivia has grown on her. She understands the concepts of family and loyalty, and makes Ned happy. But Olivia expects loyalty in return. She’s not one to stand by and accept infidelity. Ned is in danger of losing her. She asks what Monica has done about this.

Anna and Dante sit at the bistro, and Anna says it must have been a heart-wrenching decision to put Lulu in long-term care. Dante says, it was Laura’s decision; she brought him in on it. Silver Water Long-Term Care is where Lulu is. It’s where Sonny and Carly put Michael, and he’s praying they can do the same thing for Lulu that they did for him. Anna says, Rocco must be devastated. He’s going to need his father. Dante says he’s been thinking about that. Rocco not only lost his mother, Dante understands Rocco was close to Lulu’s boyfriend Dustin. Anna says, but Dante is his father, and Dante says, who he barely knows. The whole time he was in Geneva, he thought about coming back. For the longest time, he couldn’t believe it was possible, and when he did, the only thing he wanted to do was rebuild his family. She says, then this happened. She’s really sorry. He tells her, be sorry for Lulu, Laura, and Rocco, not him. He doesn’t deserve it. She says, he had PTSD. He was sick, and went away to get better. What happened in Geneva?

Helga asks what Scotty and Franco are doing. They can’t be back there; it’s authorized personnel only. She’s calling security. They follow her back to the front desk.

Obrecht tells Kirk, they have to stay focused on the mission. Once Peter is exposed for the dangerous traitor he is, then they will be free to live their lives as they see fit. He says, then he’ll push Dante even harder. He wants this mission, and this wait, to be over. Franco begs Helga to let him see the doctor, but she says she told him the doctor has no appointments. There’s the door. She suggests they use it. Franco starts speed talking, telling her who he is, about Elizabeth and the boys, and how Doc told him he could get help there. He asks her to let him see Dr. Kirk. Let him live long enough to see his boys grow up.

Obrecht tells Kirk, it’s unkind of him to tempt her, but they must be strong. Helga buzzes the doctor, and he tells her, he said no interruptions. She says she’s sorry, but a man is there from the United States, Port Charles, New York. He insists on seeing him. Obrecht tells Kirk to find out who it is, and Kirk asks, what’s his name? Helga says, Franco Baldwin. He claims to have an appointment. Obrecht says Kirk has to see him. He was a dear friend. If he’s come all this way, he must be in trouble. Please see him. She’ll go into another office, and wait until he’s gone.   

Elizabeth asks Sam where Jason is, and Sam says, out of town, working. Elizabeth says she was reaching out because of Jake. Sam asks if everything is okay, and Elizabeth says, he’s fine, but Franco is in Geneva, getting specialized treatment. She thought it might be nice for Jason to spend some time with Jake. It would keep his mind off Franco. Sam says, Switzerland is far away, and Elizabeth says, not only far away, but expensive. Franco is having a neurological issue, and Doc said there’s a doctor who might be able to give them an answer. She thought it was worth it for their peace of mind. Sam hopes it will work out, and Elizabeth says, it’s okay. Sam says, as far Jason goes, she thinks it would be best if Jake reached out directly. Elizabeth says she’ll tell Jake to text. Does Sam know when Jason will be back? Sam says she has no idea.

Monica asks Tracy how it’s her responsibility. Tracy is Ned’s mother. Tracy says Monica was supposed to be taking care of things in Port Charles. This is her idea of taking care? Monica says she took reasonable action. She spoke to Ned, and told him that he should come clean with Olivia. Tracy asks how that’s reasonable, and Monica says, Ned agreed. He refused to confess, and said he wasn’t going to hurt Olivia over something he was never going to do again. Tracy says, good; Ned learned his lesson. She wonders if they can pay the woman to keep quiet, but Monica says she doesn’t think Alexis can be bought. Tracy says, what? Ned slept with Alexis?

Alexis goes to the MetroCourt bar and orders a ginger ale. Then a double vodka. Alexis notices Olivia looking at her, and says she just ordered a drink; she’s not drunk. Although she’s working on it. She believes Olivia has other patrons who would benefit more from her convivial hospitality, and Olivia thanks her for the compliment, but she has her sights on Alexis right now. Alexis says there’s no need. She’s a grown woman, and aware of what she’s doing. Olivia says they like to tell themselves  that, but being grown-up doesn’t mean they don’t make poor choices. She’s made her share. Alexis says she didn’t come there to be social. Olivia says she knows. Alexis came there to get hammered. Alexis knows Olivia means well, but she has no intention of making a scene if that’s what Olivia is worried about. Olivia says she’s worried about Alexis. And so is Ned. They both want her to be okay. Alexis tells her, there’s no need to be worried. She’s in Olivia’s lovely establishment to have a drink. It’s not like a crime was committed. Olivia says, you don’t need to commit a crime to ruin a life or hurt a family member. She wishes Ned was there. He would know what to say.

Finn says, that’s a lot of enthusiasm, and Maxie asks why she wouldn’t be enthusiastic. Their wedding is going to rock. He says, oh, she means her wedding, and Maxie says, that’s the beauty of this arrangement; you’re wedding is our wedding. Peter says, maybe Anna didn’t communicate everything, and Finn says, Anna mentioned Maxie had a great idea for the wedding, but she didn’t… Maxie says, rewind. Forget she said anything. She thought of a double wedding. She knows it would mean sharing the spotlight, and Finn says he doesn’t care about the spotlight. Maxie says they don’t either. Combining their weddings will be a big, beautiful, family celebration. Unless he hates the idea. Is he saying no?

Dante tells Anna, he went in screwed up, and came out less so, hopefully. She says she has a personal interest, since she made the arrangements. She was getting updates on his progress, until the incident where he fired at Peter. After that, even with her clearance, there was an information blackout around him. Robert couldn’t make any headway, until he found Dante in the institution in Switzerland. He asks, why the interest? and she says she cares about him. She says, what’s the point? Why all the secrecy?

Franco thanks Dr. Kirk for seeing him, and Kirk says, fortunately, he was still there. Franco introduces Scotty, who gives Kirk Franco’s brain scans and medical records. Kirk apologizes for the mix-up. Franco says Doc was supposed to set up a meeting, and Kirk says he’s familiar with Doc’s work. When he got the call, he wondered why a clinical psychologist would be referring someone to him. Franco says, it’s a long story, and Kirk suggests they take a seat while he looks at the records. Obrecht listens outside the door.  

Finn says Maxie has to forgive him. He doesn’t know much about double weddings. Maxie tells him, she thought he said he wanted what Anna wants. He says, that’s what Anna wants? Maxie says, it makes sense. Are they going to have their wedding one weekend, and turn around and have another one the next? Their lists essentially overlap, and it would be easier for the out of town guests. Finn says, if it’s what Anna really wants… and Maxie says, it’s settled then. It’s going to be a celebration Port Charles will never forget.

Dante tells Anna, his treatment was deeply personal, and no one’s business except his own. He told the doctors that he didn’t want to see his family. She says she didn’t mean to pry. She’s glad to see he’s recovered. He says he was feeling back to his old self, when this happened. Lulu is gone, and he’s just trying to keep going, putting one foot in front of  the other. How does he seem to be doing to her? She says, like an old friend who’s been though a lot. He says, it’s a glowing review, and she says she understands how it is on assignment. They mess with your head. It looks to her like he’s gone through some heavy stuff. It’s hard to pull out of it entirely. If he ever wants to talk, she’s there. She reaches for his hand, but he pulls it away. He says he appreciates it. He’ll figure it out. Right now, he just wants to look after his son, and protect the people he loves. He heard she and Finn were getting hitched. That’s great news; congratulations. When’s the big day?

Kirks says, fascinating. Franco is having auditory hallucinations. Does he consistently recognize the voice? Franco says it’s someone he knows casually, and he doesn’t want it banging in his head for the rest of his life. Not long ago, he had a brain tumor, and it influenced him to have antisocial behavior. It’s come back in the same spot, and he’s worried the behavior will come back again. Scotty says, tell Franco that’s not going to happen again. Kirk needs to know Franco is halfway to giving up. Franco says he’s glad Scotty came, but if he can’t sit quietly, he has to leave.   

Sam tells Elizabeth that she and Jason are separating, and Elizabeth says she’s sorry. She asks if it was a mutual decision, and Sam says it was her choice. She realized she can’t keep raising Scout and Danny under constant threat of violence. That’s the reality in Jason’s world. Their kids have been through too much in their lives already. She can’t erase the past, but she can provide as much stability as possible moving forward. What she’s hoping for is, as much peace and stability as she can give them. She admires Elizabeth doing that for Jake. Elizabeth says, all she wants is peace and happiness for both their families. At the end of the day, they’re all kind of stuck with each other.

Alexis gets another drink, and Olivia wants to call a re-do on this. She says, hey, Alexis, how’s your day going? Alexis says, hey, Olivia. Pretty crappy. She reached out to her daughter Sam, and Sam turned her back on her. Olivia says she’s sorry to hear that. She’s willing to bet Sam feels she’s doing it out of love. It’s a tricky line to walk with the people they love most. That’s why Ned is eating himself up. He took the hard line with Brook, and drove her away. She thinks they’re dealing with the same kind of family dynamics, and Ned can help with Sam. Alexis says she knows what Olivia is trying to do, and it’s not working. She’s not up to talking. Olivia says what Alexis is doing isn’t working either, and friends don’t abandon each other.

Tracy tells Monica, Alexis has been nothing but trouble for Ned. Did she say alcohol was involved? She thought Alexis was in recovery. Monica says, not anymore, and Tracy asks how Monica can think the situation is under control? Drunk lips sink ships – and they sink marriages. Monica says, Alexis was quiet on Thanksgiving, and Tracy asks why Monica let her in the house. Monica says, Olivia invited her, and Tracy says she’s heard enough. She has to fix this.

Anna asks if Finn has been waiting long. She had coffee with Dante. He asks how it went, and she says, fine. How’d it go with him? He says, the exam went fine, but something else did come up. A double wedding she was planning with Maxie. Anna says she was trying to talk to him about that. How did he find out? He says he talked to Maxie. He thought it was totally nuts, but Maxie said Anna liked the idea. Anna says she doesn’t like the idea. She never agreed to the idea. He didn’t agree, did he? He says, only because he thought it was what she wanted, and she says, no, no, no. Did he say yes? He nods, and she says, what was he thinking?

Olivia says Alexis is clearly hurting. She wishes Alexis would just talk. Alexis says they’re back where they started. Olivia says she gets it, but she wanted Alexis to know she’s her friend. That’s why she’s doing this. Olivia tells bartender Jessie that Alexis has reached her limit. No more alcohol. Alexis says she’s a paying customer, and Olivia says Alexis knows she has the legal right of refusal, and she’s cutting Alexis off. If Alexis wants to talk, she knows where Olivia will be.

Monica warns Tracy to leave well enough alone, and Tracy asks, when has well enough alone worked for anybody? Monica says it’s none of Tracy’s business, but Tracy says, Ned is her son; he is her business. He’s settled, and married to a woman who adores and stands by him, and he blows it by sleeping with Alexis. Is he having a mid-life crisis? Monica says, it happened when Olivia went to Geneva with Robert Scorpio. Ned got the wrong idea, and ran into Alexis at a bar. Tracy asks if Ned is boozing it up now, and Monica says, no; it was one night. Tracy says, but Alexis still is. Does Monica have any idea how dangerous this is? If Alexis goes on a bender, and starts staying things… Monica says Tracy can’t control it, but Tracy says, maybe she can head it off at the pass.

Scotty walks out of the office, and Obrecht sneaks around. She listens at the door again. Kirk says there’s a WSB file on Franco; he was a patient of Andre Maddox. Franco says Andre performed an experimental procedure on him, and Kirk says, the file has no specifics. Franco says, that’s because it was a total success. It was before the tumor came back. Does Kirk think there’s a direct correlation? Kirk says, there’s a distinct possibility, yes.

Finn tells Anna, there’s no way he’s taking the blame. Why didn’t she tell him? She says she was caught up with other things. What possessed him? He says, Maxie told him that’s what she wanted, and she says, in what universe would she want a double wedding? He says, why didn’t she just tell Maxie, no? and she says she was going to use him to be the bad guy. He’d say no, then she could break it to Maxie gently. He says, great plan. Let him in on it next time. She says, now they’re stuck with it, and it’s his fault.

Dante is still in the bistro when Maxie and Peter come in. Maxie asks how Dante is doing, and he says, okay; how about her? She says, hanging in there. She’s focusing on the positive. Dante says, it’s all they can do. He says he doesn’t want his boss to catch him sleeping on the job; he should go. Peter says he wouldn’t think that, but Dante jets. Peter asks if Dante seemed weird, and Maxie says, Dante gets a pass. He’s grieving Lulu, and she understands. How would Peter feel if something happened to her? He says, nothing and no one is ever going to take her away from him.

Elizabeth asks if Jason fought Sam, and Sam says, no. He was surprised and upset, but he didn’t fight her on it. He said he wanted what was best for her and the kids. If it was like it was in the beginning, just the two of them, but it’s completely different now. Elizabeth says, that makes it more admirable. Sam put her kids first; that’s everything. She knows she wouldn’t be the first person Sam would call when she needs to talk, but she can be the second. Deal? Sam says, deal.   

Alexis approaches Olivia, and says, okay, let’s talk. Olivia suggests they talk somewhere more private, but Alexis doesn’t want to. Is it that Olivia doesn’t want her to ruin the reputation of her establishment or herself? She’s not perfect either. Olivia tells Alexis, she never said she was, and Alexis is making a spectacle of herself. She’s drunk in the middle of the afternoon, and Olivia is worried about her. Alexis says she doesn’t want Olivia’s pity. Olivia needs to worry about herself and her marriage. Tracy walks in. 

Helga tells Scotty, she’s going home. He has to go. Scotty says, hang on. He said he’d be there for his son. She says it’s not possible, and he says he’s not causing trouble. She tells him to wait at the café on the corner, and points to the elevator. He goes in with her, and when the doors close, Obrecht comes around the corner. She says, everyone is gone for the day. Now, the computer. What brings her Franco to this clinic?

Scotty comes back out of the elevator, sees Obrecht, and says, you.

Tomorrow, Tracy offers Alexis a job, Nikolas has a surprise for Ava, Julian tells someone that he’s a friend of Kim Nero’s, and Jason gets frustrated.

Southern Charm

The statue of John C. Calhoun came down. We saw the various news segments on it. Leva and Mona sat in the park, and watched. Leva was glad not to have this monster looking down on them anymore. She said it was a cool moment.

John played with sons Asher and Quinn, and I thought Asher must be a popular name in the South. Jennifer’s son is also Ascher, spelled differently, but same name. In his interview, John said his family went back eight generations, and probably did terrible sh*t, but he really didn’t know if they were slave owners. He said, whatever your family’s legacy was in the past, it didn’t have to be yours, and certainly not your children’s. Leva said there was huge wealth in the old families, but a lot of history came with it. Mona said most people weren’t educated, and in Leva’s interview, she said the silence in the South was deafening. She wished her friends cared more, but that’s the way it was there. Shep called John with the news he was negative, and the others were positive. John asked if Madison and Austen were still together. Social distancing had only made him hornier. Mona thought Kathryn must know about the history of her name, but Leva said sometimes when you were living in white privilege, you didn’t care. Welcome to Charleston.

Kathryn brought supplies to Craig, who came out wearing a mask, as was Kathryn, who also kept more than her social distance. Craig was holed up with Natalie and Taylor, who’d also tested positive. Taylor called Kathryn, and thanked her for dropping off a bag of spinach. She noted Kathryn had included a candle, and Kathryn said it was because when she thought virus, she thought of smells. Taylor said they had their scent back (by which I assume she meant sense of smell). Craig said he felt dirty, but Natalie and Taylor were quarantine angels. Kathryn congratulated Craig on HSN. In Craig’s interview, he said it was the biggest win for him. Kathryn said she was off the grid and off social media. She wanted to meet with Leva, and get some input as to how to move forward.

Everyone cheered when the statue came down. I don’t know if there are any trigger statues for me. Is there even a statue of Custer anywhere?

Venita and Madison had a socially distant visit on Madison’s porch. Madison said the salon had been closed for two months, and they’d been about to reopen, when Austen tested positive. She thought it was best if Hudson continued to stay with her ex. In Madison’s interview, she said during lockdown, Austen had been heavy on drinking, sleeping until noon, and playing video games. She told Venita, the boys thought they’d never get it. Shep, Little Craig (who has apparently gone from Lil to Little this season), Craig, Austen, and Whitney had a Zoom call, and Whitney thought it was a miracle Shep never got the virus. Austen felt like a statistic, and said he’d stayed on the couch for two days. She asked where it stood with Madison, and Austen said, not good. Venita asked Madison if she was officially done, and Madison said the whole relationship had been a struggle. Austen was all talk, no action, and lazy. In Madison’s interview, she says she couldn’t make someone be ready when they weren’t. Austen was wasting time, or maybe she was. Taylor wanted Shep to come to Craig’s and go through it with her, but he was like, no way.

Danni called Shep on her way to the dog park, but Shep didn’t want to go out. So Danni offered to bring her dog Lucy to his place. Shep talked through the door, and told Danni that Austen, Craig, and Taylor had the virus. In Shep’s interview, he said he was keeping himself in quarantine because who the hell knew how this worked. He told Danni that Taylor was mad because he was negative, and asked if she’d heard from Kathryn. Danni said Kathryn wasn’t responding to her, but she was blowing up Leva’s phone. In Shep’s interview, he said Kathryn could be sweet or a goddam terror. Danni felt taken advantage of, and wanted Kathryn to take accountability. Shep told her not to force it because when Kathryn was backed in a corner, she got really crazy. Kathryn called Leva, and asked if she wanted to meet and talk. Leva suggested they FaceTime right then and there, and in the most awkward conversation ever, Kathryn told Leva that her intention had been nothing racist or political. She was just standing up for friend. Leva said, it hit so many nerves because she thought of Kathryn as intelligent, and it wasn’t okay. In Leva’s interview, she said people wanted to coddle Kathryn, but it was her time for accountability. She said Danni had been Kathryn’s friend forever, and Kathryn needed to go fix that sh*t.

Craig practiced his pitch for Sewing Down South. Taylor said he’d done a good job, and he said she hadn’t known him when everyone thought it was crazy and stupid. We took a trip down Pillow Memory Lane, and he showed her the pillow tag with his name on it, which was kind of cool. She said he was amazing for taking her in. She wasn’t sure if she was going back to Shep’s, since she wasn’t a happy camper. In Craig’s interview, he said she needed attention and affection, and if Shep didn’t see it, he’d end up alone.

John took his boys to the batting cages, where he met Madison and Hudson. In his interview, he said a playdate took the heat off. If the kids hated each other, they may as well not talk again. Playdate dating; the way of the future. He flirted with Madison, and said she and Austen waffled. Madison said it had been two years off and on. Austen wasn’t ready to be a stepdad, and she had to move forward.

Craig said HSN was his chance for the big leagues. If he messed up, he wasn’t going to get back in. At least for a while. Whitney and Patricia watched his segment, and Whitney said Craig had surprisingly decent camera presence. He suggested Patricia had some competition, but in her interview, Patricia said she didn’t consider Craig competition. She was going to have pillows in her line, but they were luxury, while his were… affordable. Patricia asked if they should call Craig, and offer congratulations, and Whitney said, no, but it was more funny than mean. In Craig’s interview he said it was a landmark achievement in his life, and encouraged him to commit to going in this direction.

Danni went over to Leva’s place, and said her spread was Pinterest worthy. She was glad for some human contact, but she was having more human contact later, and was dreading it. Kathryn had called, and asked if they could do brunch. Danni said she couldn’t, but asked Kathryn to come by. Leva said she’d talked to Kathryn, and told her to fix her relationships. Danni wondered if Kathryn would have reached out if she hadn’t talked to Leva, but Leva didn’t think so. Danni said Kathryn didn’t know how to be a good friend, but she did know how to find one. Leva said a friendship like Danni’s was rare, and should be valued. If not, it should be goodbye.

Austen finally tested negative, and called Madison. He asked what she was doing, and she said, having a glass of wine. He told her was close by, and asked if she would pour him a glass. She said, okay, and when he got there, she told him that he looked healthy; not swollen or hung over. She told him they’d had this conversation two years too long. She’d expected him to do the right thing, but instead he ran the town with the boys. Austen whined that she was throwing things out there, and she said they were two different people on two different paths. He was doing is ass backward, and she was building a career she worked hard at. He had no work ethic. She didn’t want a 6-foot man on her back treading water for the rest of her life. She’d tried to make it work, but sometimes you hit a wall you can’t move past. She felt like they’d hit that wall, and it was an effing shame. She wanted to be with him. Austen said he didn’t know how to let her go. He loved her so much it hurt. He asked he for another chance, but she said it wasn’t an option. She learned her lesson. She wished him the best, and regretted nothing, but he wasn’t the one for her long term. He guzzled the rest of his wine, and left. Madison looked like she had a headache.

Danni called Leva, and told her Kathryn had said she was a few minutes away half an hour ago. Lave said Kathryn being late was rude enough. Danni said she was dreading it. Kathryn finally showed up, and said she’d heard ya’ll were saying she hadn’t tried to get in touch with Danni, but she had. Danni said she’d been reaching out for a while, and Kathryn said she’d gotten a message from Danni when she going through all of it. Danni said, exactly; she was concerned. Kathryn got defensive, and Danni asked why she hadn’t reached out. Kathryn said ya’ll were going around saying she was off the radar. Danni wondered who this ya’ll was Kathryn kept talking about, and Kathryn said Danni was always putting it on her, and acted like Kathryn wasn’t putting work into the friendship. The whole conversation went downhill fast, with Danni finally saying it was pointless, and thanks for wasting her time. Kathryn left, and Danni called her an unappreciative bitch.

Next time, Taylor thinks Shep is insensitive, John’s ex visits, Patricia hosts a dude’s day, and Austen tells John that Madison is off-limits.

🍸 Patricia was a virtual guest on Watch What Happens Live tonight, and revealed both she and Michael pick up dog poopies. Dog poop, the great leveler.  

🐊 After While, Crocodile…

I’m desperate to be off to dreamland, and will bring the tea tomorrow. Until then, stay safe, stay well-rested, and stay not doing it ass backward.

Dec10

December 9, 2020 – Martin Reveals a Huge Secret, the OC Shuts Down, Meredith Wants Some Room, New Dallas & 8 Bohemian Nights

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yeah, yeah, running late again. Here’s what I missed at the beginning. Sasha and Willow ran into each other at the park, and Sasha thought they should get things out in the open. Avoiding Monica, Carly snuck into the Quartermain mansion through the terrace doors when she saw Michael. She asked him to forgive her for lying. At the MetroCourt, Sonny asked Diane to use her skills to get Martin to spill his connection to Cyrus. As Martin tried to leave, they blocked his way. Laura was working on her target practice, when Cyrus went to the stall next to her. Backtracking to yesterday, Sam told Jason, if he left, don’t come back, and here we are.

Sam says she knows Jason has to go, and he says he’ll send Sonny a text, saying he got hung up. He’s not going anywhere until they figure this out. She told him that she can’t keep living like this. Does she mean here with him? Is she asking him to move out? She says, Danny could have died the other night. She can’t stop thinking about it. Standing in the parking lot, holding Danny’s cap. It brought her back to when her brother Danny died. She stood there, holding the one thing she had left of him. Jason says, his baseball cap, and she says it was hard enough to grieve her brother. She doesn’t think she could survive grieving her child. He says he was going to ask her how long she’s been feeling this way, but he guesses he has the answer. Sam says, the bombing was her breaking point. Since then, she’s been thinking about it, and finally realized. There was nothing she could do about her brother then, but there’s certainly something she can do for her son. She can let Jason go.

Sasha tells Willow, she’s so sorry she and Chase hurt her, and Willow asks if she has any idea what it’s like. Chase broke her heart into a million pieces, but so did Sasha. The way she was raised, her parents moved a lot, even before they got involved with DoD. Because of that, she never had a lot of friends; sometimes none. Then came Chase, and Sasha and Michael. The four of them hanging out was so much fun. Sasha was the first true girlfriend she had. The person she could vent to, and go for advice. Then that disappeared. Sasha says, because of something not real. Chase still loved Willow; he always has. Willow says she believes Chase, and believes Sasha, but knowing and trusting are two different things.

Michael says he knows Carly’s intentions were good, and she was justified in not telling him. If she’d told him it was a set-up, he would have had to tell Willow. It would have put her in an impossible position; stay together for Wiley’s sake, or stay with Chase and risk losing Wiley. Carly says if they’d had to make a choice before the custody hearing, it would have been a disaster. He says, thankfully, Nelle is gone, and Willow will know, no matter who they choose, Wiley will be okay. Carly asks, but will he be okay?   

Martin says he was just leaving, and Diane says, but she just got there. Sonny says, he knows Diane, right? and Martin says, she’s quite unforgettable. She says, flatterer, and Sonny says Diane has some questions for him. Martin says he thought he was finished with his Q&A, but Sonny says, not quite. Martin says he can’t talk about any cases that involve any of them, but Diane says he’s mistaken. Sonny, his wife, and his father were the targets in a shooting, and Sonny recently lost a cousin in a bomb explosion. Martin says he’s sincerely sorry for Sonny’s loss, but what on God’s green earth do those appalling acts of violence have to do with him? Sonny says because the man Martin works for caused them – Cyrus Renault.   

Cyrus says Laura is quite the shot, and she says she finds it helpful to visualize. She thinks about someone she’d like to shoot, and boom! pulls the trigger. He says he hopes he’s never in her sights, and she says, he knows what they say about the word never. He says he hadn’t pegged her for a shooting enthusiast, and she says despite his intrusive research, there’s a lot he doesn’t know. He says he’d love for her to fill him in on her history from her own perspective, but she says she’s not there to regale him with stories. Her daughter is lying comatose in a long-term care facility, likely because of him. He says he’d never want to harm her daughter, and she says, if he means that – he tells her that he does – then get the hell out of Port Charles.

Curtis tells Jordan, he wants to go over the information from the medical supply company. Maybe it will lead to how Cyrus knows Florence. Jordan says, the company supplies thousands of facilities, and it’s possible Cyrus just moved her to another house with private care, or changed his plan for all they know. He says, yes to all that, but it’s the only lead they’ve got. Judging from the postcard, Cyrus has a close personal attachment to Florence. They can use that to get leverage on Cyrus, and get Jordan out from under his thumb.

Jason asks if Sam wants to end things, and she says she doesn’t want to; she has to. They both know what happened at The Floating Rib wasn’t an isolated incident. There will always another crisis, another lockdown, and another time they need to take the kids out of bed in the middle of the night to make sure they’re safe. He asks why she didn’t say anything, and she says he hasn’t been around. And what would have changed? For the past several months, she’s been so focused on them being together, living together, she didn’t stop for a second to consider if being with him was right for their family. The hard truth is, it’s just not working anymore.

Jason says he doesn’t want their kids to risk their lives to spend time with him, and Sam says she doesn’t want that either. She knows she said they could make it work, and keep the kids safe. That’s how much wanted be with him; how much she loves him. But she was in denial. She refused to see that the day was coming when it would catch up to him. He says he’d hoped it wouldn’t. When he came back, and they got back together and became a family, everything hit him. He wanted it to last, but she knows him. She says she does, and he says, if she says she wants out, he won’t fight it. She starts to cry.

Laura says she should want Cyrus brought to justice, tried, and convicted for his involvement in the bombing. He starts to say something, but she tells him, don’t deny it; she won’t believe him. She should want those things, and he says, but she doesn’t? She says, she does. She wants that with every fiber in her being, but she wants peace more. She’s the mayor of this town, and puts its people first. She’d rather see him walk free than stay, and watch the damage accumulate. She wants him to go back to where he came from; go anywhere far away. He says he can’t do that, and she says, there are hospitals everywhere. He says while his business investment is a consideration, he has personal reasons for staying.

Diane says they’ve observed Martin and Cyrus talking, and Cyrus paid his tab. Martin says, that’s hardly criminal, but Diane says Cyrus has been involved in a boatload of crimes. He bombed a restaurant that killed three people, and left a mother in a coma. Martin says he believes Julian is responsible, and Diane says, she knows Julian. It would never occur to him to bomb The Floating Rib, unless he was coerced. He has no motive. Cyrus, on the other hand, had motive for days, going by the name of Jason Morgan. Martin says this is far outside his area of expertise, and starts to get up, but Sonny pushes him back into his seat. Diane says, Jason was at The Floating Rib, and was the intended target. The others were collateral damage. Martin says, it’s tragic and monstrous, and Sonny tells him to explain his connection to Cyrus, or he’ll assume Martin is involved with the bombing. Martin says, Sonny would be wrong. He doesn’t know how to say it. He has no idea what his brother has gotten him into. Diane says, his what?

Jordan tells Curtis, they know the file Cyrus had her pull concerns the death of David Hamilton. Maybe they should take another look at the family association. Maybe there’s a connection to Cyrus. He says, he’s thinking Florence is a stronger lead, assuming it’s the Florence who married Laura’s father. Jordan says, for a woman that age, Florence isn’t that uncommon, and Curtis says, they lived in Port Charles for several years. There must be records. He says he thinks he’ll get some fresh air, and she says, if he’s going to call in a favor that’s illegal to call in… He says he certainly wouldn’t tell the Commissioner. Deniability, and all that stuff.

Sam says, part of her wants Jason to fight for her, and wants him to change, but she already knows he can’t. He says he loves her. He doesn’t want to lose her or the kids, but he can’t lie. He’s tried to leave before, and ended up going back. She says she knows. It’s part of the reason why she fell in love with him; his loyalty and his code. It’s why, in the beginning she never questioned how he lived, and never questioned his work or how it could be just anywhere. He says, but kids change things, and she says she doesn’t want Danny and Scout to live in fear. She doesn’t want to live fear for them, and most of all, she doesn’t want them to die the way Morgan did.

Sonny says, Martin’s brother is Cyrus? and Martin says, correct. Diane says she admits she didn’t think at all this was where her line of questioning was going, but it’s bizarre enough to be true. It’s fascinating. Martin is glad to entertain her, and she asks where they’re from, and how estranged they are. Sonny asks how long Martin has been helping Cyrus get his hooks in the town.

Laura says, the way Cyrus presented it, he had no personal reason to be there; no personal connection whatsoever. He tells her that he didn’t materialize fully formed. He had a childhood, and family he cares about. She says, but has no regard for anyone else’s family. Lulu’s children could grow up without a mother. He says he didn’t realize Lulu might not recover. If she’s not satisfied with where Lulu is, he knows of some excellent long-term care facilities in Vermont. She says she’s not interested in his helpful hints. As far as his target practice goes, she thinks he should reschedule. She can’t be sure one of her shots won’t just go astray – he laughs – and hit a bystander. He says, under her civilized façade, she has a wild streak like his own. She tells him, keep pushing, and he’ll find out just how wild a streak it is. He says, always a pleasure, and leaves. Laura makes a call, and says she needs to see them now.

Willow asks if Sasha has thought about what’s next, and Sasha says, Lucy and Maxie have gone above and beyond, and even Valentin has been decent. They told her there’s still a place for her at Deception. She just has to get over her mortification, and show up for work. Willow says, there’s a great counseling group at the hospital, but Sasha says she’s not sure counseling is for her. Willow says she felt that way too, before giving up her baby. The group, and meeting Michael, made a huge difference. Working through it, empowered her, and might do the same for Sasha. She tells Sasha, when she feels embarrassed or ashamed, remember that she helped save a little boy from an evil monster. There’s nothing more important. Sasha says she’ll hold onto that, and Willow says she should.

Carly tells Michael, she was justified in withholding the truth – it was in Wiley’s best interest – but actions have consequences, and she knows that. He and Willow were friends, and watching them lean on each other was a beautiful thing. She gets it. They started as friends, but she senses it’s more than that. Michael says what he and Willow are, is between them, and no one else.

Sam tells Jason, Morgan’s death was devastating, and he says he can’t imagine. She says it put an end to all the lies they told themselves about this life being safe. She thinks that’s when it hit her. She was standing for what felt like an eternity in The Floating Rib parking lot, thinking she should have known better. She should have learned from what happened to Morgan. No matter what the promises, the good intentions, and the guards, it’s not enough. Nothing can ever ease the pain of losing a child because of the choices you’ve made. They have a second chance. Danny is alive, and she’s learned her lesson. She’s also Scout’s mother, and she has to do what’s best for them. He says he wants that too, and she says she knows he does. With tears in his eyes, he says, if what’s best is for him to leave, he will. He’ll hate it and miss her like crazy, but he will.

Martin tells Diane and Sonny, his brother got in touch with him. He wanted to reconnect, but Martin said, no. Diane asks, why? and Martin says his brother is a complicated person; he’s angry. He was wild when he was young, and now he’s an alleged drug kingpin. He wanted no part of that. Then, their mother fell ill, and went through her medical insurance quickly. The level of care she needed would have bankrupted him, so he contacted Cyrus. To his credit, Cyrus answered, and has been paying her expenses ever since. How he makes his money, Martin doesn’t know, and doesn’t want to know. Diane says they’ll be vetting his story, and Martin says, it’s the truth. May he go? Sonny nods, and he tells them, have a good evening. He leaves, and Diane says, well, that was informative. Sonny says, it’s a start. He’s still got to find out what else Cyrus is hiding.

Epiphany shows up at Jordan’s apartment, and asks if she’s alone. Jordan says she is, and asks, what’s going on? Epiphany says Jordan has a problem. The wheels are coming off her cover-up. If she’s not careful, someone is going to figure out Taggert is alive.

Willow says she’s got to go home, and Sasha says her too. It was good to see her. Willow leaves, and Sasha contemplates their conversation.  

Michael says, talking about how they got there won’t change where they are. He and Willow have been married for months, and they went to living directly as co-parents. Carly says, that’s huge, and he says, every decision was based on a lie. They were bonding and getting closer… because isn’t the right word. It lot had to do with Willow thinking Chase didn’t love her anymore, but it turns out the opposite was true. Chase loved her so much, he let her go; let her hate him so Wiley would be safe. It’s so much more confusing right now. She says she knows she said she’d stay out of it, but she has a piece of advice; don’t push it in either direction. They’re all good people with good intentions. Take the time to sort through who they are now, and how they feel now. He says, and where to go next?

Sam asks if Jason remembers when they first met at the PCPD. They were in handcuffs. He says, how could he forget? and she says, at that moment, she had no idea where their lives would take them. that they’d actually fall in love and have kids. Their theme music starts to play, which has been like waiting for the other shoe to fall during this entire conversation. Jason says, now that they do, they have to come first, and Sam says, they just have to. He says he sees how much it weighs on her. The compromises, the restrictions, the secrets. Danny and Scout shouldn’t have to accept those limitations as normal. They shouldn’t have to deal with the fallout of his choices, and neither should she.

Laura shoots, and Curtis comes in. He says, target practice? and she says, Cyrus was in the booth next to her. It took everything in her not to take a shot at him. He says he’s glad she didn’t. He’d hate for her to get locked up for the likes of trash like that. She tells him that she was rewarded for sharing. Cyrus wouldn’t stop talking about Lulu, and volunteered that he knew of some good long-term care facilities in Vermont. Does he think Cyrus moved Florence to one of them?

Epiphany tells Jordan, Trina has been asking questions. Why couldn’t they save her father? Why did they take him away so fast? Jordan says, that doesn’t mean Trina believes he’s alive, but Epiphany says, she suspects. It wouldn’t be a huge deal, but Taggert is hard to miss. He’s been lurking at GH, and who knows where else. Jordan asks what she’s saying, and Epiphany says, he’s been shadowing Trina and Portia. She caught him in scrubs at the hospital. Jordan says she didn’t even know he was back in town.

Jason says he doesn’t want Sam or the kids to live in fear, and he wouldn’t want to put them in danger. She says just because they don’t want something, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. They’ve learned that the hard way, a lot actually. She never wanted to think… He says, they’ve been through so much to be together, it’s not as simple as him walking away. She says, it’s not simple, but it’s something they have to do. Sonny calls, but Jason doesn’t answer. He says he’s thankful for every day they’ve had together. Danny is his son, and the time he’s spent with Danny and Scout… She gave him a family. He didn’t even know if that was in the cards for him. He doesn’t want this be over, but she says, they have no choice anymore.

Jason says, it feels wrong to walk out on her and the kids, but Sam says, it’s not wrong. She’s asking if he’ll go. His phone rings, and she says, Sonny? He says, yeah, but he’ll call back. Sam picks up the phone, and he says, don’t answer, but she does. She tells Sonny, he’s right here, and hands Jason the phone. He tells Sonny that he’s made arrangements; everything is ready. Are they still meeting at his place? Sonny says he’s at the MetroCourt, and tells Jason to pick him up there. Sam says, he has to go? and Jason says, yeah, he has to go. The music swells, and Sam cries. Jason says loves her and always will, and she says she loves him so much that it hurts, but they’re doing this for their kids. That’s something. He says, that’s everything, and walks out without turning around. Sam sits with her head in her hands crying. Outside, Jason leans on the door.

Willow comes home, and asks if Michael is working. He says he’s tying up some loose ends before he goes to bed. What’s going on? She says she just ran into Sasha in the park, and he asks how she is. Willow says, honestly? She seems better than she has in a while. He says, good. They both try to talk at once, and he tells her to go first. She says, things are really confusing right now for the both of them, and he says, a little bit. She says, whatever happens, they were friends from the start. She doesn’t want that to change. He promises it won’t. He’s not going anywhere.  

Jordan wonders what Taggert is thinking, and Epiphany says, he’s thinking he’s a father, desperate to protect his daughter. She blames Cyrus; his influence is growing. Jordan says, it’s not about blame; it’s about restraint. She needs to send Taggert away before it all falls apart, taking her marriage with it.   

Carly tells Sonny, her mind is blown. Cyrus is Martin’s brother? Sonny says it surprised him too, and she says, that’s it? He’s dropping this in her lap like a bomb (bad choice of words, Carly), and he’s going out of town on business? He says he’s following intel from Martin about Julian. Martin had information that’s not good news, but he has no idea how deep his brother is in with Julian. Cyrus walks in, and says he hopes they’re enjoying a peaceful evening. Sonny says he was about to leave, and Cyrus asks Sonny to accept his condolences about his cousin. He knows the loss must be felt deeply. It’s tragic, and he hopes no misunderstandings result from it. Sonny says, no misunderstandings. When he finds out who’s responsible for the situation, he’ll have all his facts straight.

Curtis suggest he upload the records from the medical company, and see if they ship to Vermont. Laura says, it’s a long shot. At the same time, Cyrus was oddly sincere. He says, that is odd, and she says, maybe he was so caught up, he revealed more than he intended. Curtis looks on his phone, and says, the Mexican company only ships to one facility in Vermont; Mountain Landing Long Term Care. He asks if she’s up for a road trip, and she says, Florence Gray, here they come.

Tomorrow, Olivia says she’s got her sights on Alexis, Scotty says they’re going to see the doctor, Tracy tells Monica it’s something not so wonderful, and Anna asks Dante what happened in Geneva.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Shannon opened the episode with saying, a week ago everything was fine, and they were in Palm Springs. The text told us production closed, and the women filmed themselves. Gina said, if the sun would come out, it wouldn’t feel so much like Armageddon, and it’s possibly the first time she and I have agreed, since it’s been raining here since the fall of 2019.

Quarantine day 4. Shannon and Braunwyn video chatted and talked about appearance being the worst thing, and showing their ever-growing roots. Elizabeth was helping animals, and in her interview, said she had a sincere passion for them because they’re helpless. It’s how she felt in her divorce, and she was hoping to heal the people who adopted rescues as well. Braunwyn said she was doing good. She couldn’t go to meetings, but found a sponsor.

Day 8. Braunwyn had never used a washing machine before. It was the first time she’d been without a housekeeper since she was in high school. I couldn’t even fathom that. In her interview, she said she lived in a smart house, which was great unless you’re not a smart person. She had kitchen hours posted, and said because of her OCD tendencies, the house was spotless. She was up at 6, and in bed at 10, cleaning the whole time. In her interview, she said she was trapped in the house with seven kids, and things that had been kind of annoying were now really annoying.

Day 11. Kelly and Emily met in the park. Emily said, all she knew was that she needed to take her kids somewhere, and drop them off. In her interview, she said, quarantine in Orange County was like upscale house arrest. Her kids were addicted to her, and regardless of how big her house was, she couldn’t get rid of them. Braunwyn joined Kelly and Emily, and said she was over everything. Kelly was going to NYC to see Rick, and in her interview, said it was absurd that the economy was shutting down, and she thought the virus was being blown out of proportion. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said for her, to leave her kids wasn’t an option. She couldn’t understand the risk for a booty call. Braunwyn said she’d seen Elizabeth posting on Instagram that they were lying about the numbers, and they hadn’t done this with the AIDS epidemic. In Emily’s interview, she said she’s no doctor, but she knows AIDS comes from sexual activity. Braunwyn said Elizabeth told a different story to everyone about her situation. Braunwyn didn’t want to be fake, and wanted them to be real women who were open and honest, and supported each other. Emily wondered if Elizabeth and Jimmy were sexually distancing.

Day 12. Shannon said not everyone was following the rules. In her interview, she said John’s son came to stay. She told him that she had a list of rules, and once he came to the house, he couldn’t leave. He decided to leave, and John went too. We saw a clip of Shannon crying about this on Instagram. Kelly filmed herself at LaGuardia Airport, while on her way to see Rick. She said she was scared. She was washing her hands, and staying away from people, but it seemed inevitable.

Day 14. Kelly was in Times Square with Rick, and showed us there was no on the streets. She said it was bizarre, and got a hot dog from a food cart. Rick said she’d been craving one for six months. I totally understood this, since I don’t normally eat hot dogs, but whenever I’m in the city, I’m always compelled to get one from a cart. In Kelly’s interview, she said she wasn’t scared, but she was cautious. She wasn’t letting the virus take her down. She and Rick worked out, and she told him that she couldn’t do pushups because she had fake boobs. He pretended to be shocked at this revelation. In her interview, she said Jolie was taken care of, but Rick was alone. Nothing was going to separate her and her man. Rick gave her a pedicure, which I thought was super boyfriend nice. 

Day 18. Emily said she knew she lived in an Orange County bubble, and could only imagine what other people were going through trying to pay the bills. It was a devastating time. She filmed Shane vacuuming, and said this had never been seen before. In her interview, she said she’d been afraid quarantine would be detrimental to their relationship. Shane still wasn’t getting more sex, since she was tired from no breaks with the kids. Last year, they were fighting in front of the kids, but even though this was a stressful weird time, their marriage was solid, and it was beneficial to the children. Shane continued to clean, and Emily told him it was sexy.

Day 20. Braunwyn said she lived in the real world, but Sean lived where everything was fine. She explained that when she’s unhappy, she lashes out, because it’s easier to project it. Sometimes it felt like she was the only grown-up in the house, and she was so tired. Shannon called Gina, who showed off her new mom haircut. In Gina’s interview, she said salon workers weren’t considered essential, but should be for her. The second time we agreed. Shannon said John was back in the house, and in her interview, Gina said Shannon had called her, and it sounded like she was soused. She was hysterical, and said she’d had a fight with John. Gina thought they were going to break up. Shannon said she’d been beyond devastated. She’d told John that he could stay with his son or her, but he couldn’t do both. He showed up, and was very emotional. He said he understood now. Gina told Shannon, if He was compromised, she has it already, but he shouldn’t go back and forth. Shannon needed to be protected. In her interview, Gina said she was shocked Shannon let him back in. She put her health at risk to hold on to a relationship. She said Shannon was good at following rules, and Shannon agreed. The hunt for toilet paper and paper towels was on, and Kelly told Rick, next time, they were investing in a bidet. Emily hid toilet paper on her back porch for Gina.

Day 24. Kelly called Jolie from NYC, and asked why she was being difficult. Why wasn’t Jolie talking to her? Jolie said quarantine sucked, which about summed it up for all of us. In Kelly’s interview, she said when she came to NYC, she’d intended to just stay for the week Michael had Jolie. She felt guilty, but she got stuck. She didn’t know it was going to be the epicenter; it wasn’t her fault. Jolie said people were freaking out, and Kelly said the virus had been around since December. Jolie insisted it hadn’t, and in her interview, Kelly said, teenagers think they know everything. She asked about school, and Jolie showed Kelly all the homework she’d been given. Kelly said she missed her daughter.

Day 31. Elizabeth pointed out that the liquor store was fully stocked. She said they weren’t drinking since they were trying to be healthy, not drunk and miserable. In Elizabeth’s interview, she said she wasn’t sure if the virus was manmade by Big Pharma, or natural from a monkey, but having to stay home was making her nuts. She wanted to cry, since the lawyers were postponing the divorce. She couldn’t be free or live her life how she wanted to. In her interview, she said she’d thought money would make her happy, but she was realizing it might not make her as happy as she’d thought it would.

Day 39. Braunwyn said she put on makeup and earrings to go one a car ride. When this was over, it was going to be insane. In her interview, she said she’d been angry. Online meetings weren’t the thing she needed. Sean belittled her over not being able to get the vacuum charger to work. She’d been working hard, and she lost it, and smacked him. She’d hit Sean a couple of times, but it was nothing like what happened in Aspen. She hit him hard across the face. She’d wanted to drink, and was lashing out. Looking back, it was a side of her that he’d never seen. She felt trapped. Trapped in her house, trapped in her marriage, trapped emotionally and physically. Everything that was happening was indicative of the headspace she was in. She’d always put a happy spin on her marriage, but things happened she didn’t talk about. She was 89 days sober, and hadn’t wanted a drink in a while. If she had it in the house, she’d drink it. She wasn’t okay.

I suddenly notice, in the part of the credits where they hold out the orange, they’re wearing masks.

May 1. Elizabeth told us, they could do what they wanted now. We saw her at the beach, and people out shopping and in the park. Gina was shopping in Home Depot, and said everyone had the same idea to work on their house. Get it done. Braunwyn, Emily, Shannon, and Kelly went to visit Shannon, who said in her interview, she needed human contact. Maybe not with Kelly, who’d been all over the place. She might need to stand ten feet away from Kelly. Shannon told the women that Tamra had responded to Gina on social media, saying she’d had a good time with Gina, and then Gina canceled coming over today. In Shannon’s interview, she said she didn’t have a friendship with Tamra anymore, but Tamra trashed her and Kelly on a regular basis. Shannon told the group that Kelly said when Tamra came after her on social media, don’t say anything. In her interview, Shannon said she’d sacrificed other friendships to devote time to Tamra. We flashed back to some moments when Tamra was needy, and Shannon said now she had a void in her life. She was a little lost. Shannon told them that Elizabeth had said she’d been belligerent, and screamed at Jimmy, so he left Palm Springs, but he left because he had to go to work early. In her interview, Shannon said, Jimmy had a job to get to. If Elizabeth isn’t telling the truth about this, maybe she’s not telling the truth about a bunch of other things. In Emily’s interview, she said Shannon was like the Regina George of this part of Orange County. You do the dirty work, and she’ll look at it, but she’s got clean hands. In Kelly’s interview, she said Shannon was the puppet-master this time. She thought Elizabeth told half-truths because she was insecure. She was like a blowfish, making herself bigger than she was, but she was a good person, trying to do the right thing. She called the women a bunch of effing Nancy Drews.

Gina called Braunwyn, who said there were no AA meetings. Braunwyn told Gina that Elizabeth said she was alone, but one of her Instagram posts showed her with a friend at her house, and they were drinking. She thought Elizabeth didn’t have the money she said she did. It was public record that she’d taken out loans against her homes for legal fees. In Emily’s interview, she said she’d be pissed if people were digging up documents on her, and telling others, but she’d be happy to read over them, and give her legal opinion.

Apparently, Emily adopted two kittens during the pandemic, who  tumbled around on the table while the kids were eating. Elizabeth called Gina, and Gina said she anticipated more divorces because of covid. Elizabeth said she and her ex went to let’s settle this. She wondered what was wrong with her that she wanted to win. In her interview, she said covid changed her perspective. She didn’t need to buy stuff to make herself happy. She knew it was because of where she came from, but she lost sight of that when she had the money. Braunwyn went over to Shannon’s house, and they talked about quarantine. Shannon told Braunwyn that she cooked up storm, ate like a pig, and drank everything, and she had nothing show for it. Elizabeth told Kelly that she thought it would be cool for them to go on a girls trip to Arrowhead. Everyone would get tested before they go. Braunwyn talked to Shannon about the impending trip, and Shannon asked who was invited. Was Kelly invited? Shannon said, kind of ish, and Shannon wondered why Elizabeth was telling people she’d been belligerent to Jimmy. Braunwyn said she didn’t know Elizabeth, but everything Elizabeth told her wasn’t real. She wanted to get to know Elizabeth. Honesty was the foundation of friendship, but if Elizabeth couldn’t be honest, how could they be friends? Elizabeth said Gina was harsh on her in Palm Springs, and we flashed back to Gina saying the divorce was going to kill Elizabeth. Gina said she understood what Elizabeth was going through; she didn’t know how to shut off advocating for her ex. Braunwyn told Shannon that Elizabeth was telling different versions of the personal stuff she was sharing. She felt like she couldn’t get to know Elizabeth if she was going to be inconsistent. She should just lay it out, and everyone would accept it. Shannon said she heard the divorce was settled, and Braunwyn said she got it; she lied about stuff too. We flashed back to her being called out, and in Shannon’s interview, she said she had no idea what was going on. Elizabeth laughed everything off, and couldn’t give a straight answer, or gave a different one every time. Gina told Elizabeth that she was supposed to get together with Shannon, but she bailed. In her interview, Elizabeth said she was used to women who wanted to discredit her. It had happened her whole life, and she was used to women like Braunwyn and Shannon. But when they start digging about her personally, she gets nervous. There was some dysfunction in her past she didn’t want out there. I’m intrigued.

May 25. We saw clips from protests in Minneapolis, NYC, Los Angeles, and Laguna Beach. Elizabeth said it was so sad. She’d thought as a society, we would have moved forward, but we’d taken 200 steps back. Gizelle (The Real Housewives of Potomac) and Gina, who are friends outside the franchise, talked virtually, and Gina said, the more conversation, the better. If they didn’t talk, nothing would change, and they had an obligation. We saw tweets from various cast members about Black Lives Matter.

May 31. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said, watching George Floyd being murdered changed everything. She’s had no excuse to tune this out for 42 years, and she was sorry. She wondered what she could do now. Orange County was very conservative and white; take your tax breaks and shut up. She said they had a duty to use their white privilege to help everyone. Her kids had a chance to make changes in the world. Standing up for what’s right should be ingrained on their psyche, and they should pass it on to their children.

Things started opening up, and Braunwyn got together with her friend Shari. Elizabeth went to get Botox, so she could wipe the divorce off her face. Kelly called Shannon, who was nearly hysterical. She said Stella had a cold, and they took a swab. She’d tested positive. While they were there, Shannon found out she had a slight fever, and she’d had a sore throat. Everyone was getting tested. She was so careful; she didn’t understand. In Shannon’s interview, she said she told the girls they needed to be safe, and follow the rules, but the twins went to a party where there were no masks, and they were hugging people. Kelly said, oh my God.

Next time, a trip to Arrowhead, Braunwyn wonders if she and Sean should stay together, and Shane gets very sick.  

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

They backtracked a little, and showed Jen explaining herself at Mary’s luncheon. Meredith said she appreciated Jen’s apology, and she was hopeful. Mary said Jen’s words could be deadly, and Jen told Mary that she just said what everyone was thinking. Mary didn’t agree, and when Jen peppered her response with explicatives, Mary told Jen not to curse at her. She asked why Jen was so angry, and Jen said she tried to open herself up. Mary said she never wanted to talk to Jen again, and told her to go. Heather said Mary had invited them to get to know them better. In Whitney’s interview, she said she didn’t know how they got there, when it had been all good. Jen told Mary to quit making faces at her, and Mary asked if Jen was going to whip her butt. Jen told Mary not to have a party and tell people to open themselves up, and walked out. In her interview, Heather said this had to stop. At this point the score was settled. Forgive and move on. In Lisa’s interview, she said she cringed when Jen said Mary was a grandpa f***er. Now Mary thinks that’s what they all think, and that’s not true. In Jen’s interview, she said she was excited to meet Mary. She was another minority female who’d grown up in Utah, and she thought they’d be alike. It was a let-down; she expected more. Mary said she didn’t want to be cursed at, and Lisa said it was hurtful because there had been no apology. Mary said Jen should have acknowledged her hurt. Meredith said there was no reason to speak disrespectfully to anyone. Heather brought Jen back to the table, and said she didn’t think this was Mary’s intention for the lunch. Respectfully and calmly. In Jen’s interview, she said she was going to take Heather’s advice, rise above, and not react. She told Mary that she wouldn’t be there if she didn’t care. It was hard for her to open up, and when she did, Mary took her legs out from under her. Mary said that wasn’t her purpose, and Heather said she seemed dismissive and hypocritical. Mary didn’t like this comment too much, and said Heather was two-faced. Whitney said Jen was just trying to explain, and help them understand why she reacts the way she does, but Mary couldn’t accept it. Mary called Jen a hoodlum, and in Jen’s interview, she said she didn’t use the words hoodlum or ghetto. They were always used in a derogatory way to make people feel less than. Mary had told her that if she goes to the 7-11 and sees Black people, she goes elsewhere. She wondered who Mary was. Jen told them, she tried, and split.

Mary’s housekeeper Charlinda made some mad beatbox sounds in the kitchen. Meredith told Brooks that Jen’s bottom line was that she only got upset because she cared. In Heather’s interview, she said her ex, Billy, wanted their kids to have a mom who was available 24/7, and provided well for them. Her daughter had been dating the same boy for two years, but most Mormons didn’t let their kids go past a second date with the same person. It could lead to a relationship, which would lead to sex, but she wanted her kids to be carefree, young and in love. She didn’t want the divorce to affect her daughters, but they weren’t as connected to being Mormon anymore. Meredith picked Seth up at the airport. In her interview, she said he’d been going between Ohio and Chicago, and she hadn’t seen him in a few weeks. Things were tense and volatile last time, and she was hoping it would be smoother. Seth said he loved Ohio; he was a blue collar guy. He asked if she was going to live with him in Ohio, but she said they weren’t living in Ohio. He asked if where she lived was more important than who she lived with, and she said he’d uprooted the family every couple of years. In her interview, she said they’d gone from Toronto to Chicago, then Seth commuted to Dallas, and they moved to Park City. It caused hostility in the marriage, and when her oldest graduated, they were so busy moving, she didn’t emotional digest it. Asking her to move was a trigger.

Mary told Robert Sr. that Jen kept picking on her, and she didn’t know why. Jen told Sharrieff about the luncheon, and they each told their story to their spouses, putting their own spin on it. Jen focused on the 7-11 thing, but I was surprised any of them would be going to a 7-11 period. Sharrieff said there were Black folks who didn’t like other Black folks, and Jen said she’d kill Mary with kindness, which I expect will last all of three seconds. Mary told Robert about Jen’s grandfather comment, and said it wasn’t like he was a blood relative. She said it was her against them. Sharrieff told Jen it wasn’t about her, and don’t take personally. Robert told Mary it was pagan jealousy. In Mary’s interview, she said Jen’s behavior was toxic. She was like a bad apple on a tree, and Mary was done.

Whitney went to see her brother Will, and in her interview, said they were best friends from the time they could walk. They did a jujitsu workout, and seemed very sweet together. I actually think they may be nice people, which is like finding a unicorn on these shows. Will told Whitney that she had the talent, and he needed to get her in there full-time. She asked if he’d heard from their dad, but he said no. She told him their dad was committed to sober living. He’d gone to a 30 day rehab, and was supposed to do a 5 days a week program, but when he completed rehab, he took off to California. He had withdrawal so bad, he was on the verge of a relapse. It was easy to be sober in rehab. Whitney said he was going back, but this time, he was paying for it. Will said Whitney was the gatekeeper, and in her interview, Whitney said their parents both had children from other marriages, and when they divorced, it was mom’s kids against dad’s kids. When she decided to support her father, it made the divide wider. He wasn’t Will’s biological father, so she appreciated the support.

Lisa had a birthday party for son Henry at a bowling alley. In Lisa’s interview, she said in the Mormon church, marriage was not only sacred, but for eternity. You picked a partner, and chose to make the best of it. It had worked for her and her husband because they had the same core values. They had a core love of God, a core love of Jesus, and a core love of family and building something together. The eternal church, and the eternal family.   

In Whitney’s interview, she said her dad realized he needed structure that she couldn’t provide. He was going back to rehab for 90 days. It had been a struggle, and took its toll on her emotionally, financially, and spiritually. But it was the first time he was being accountable and responsible. He was choosing to go. In the car, she told him that it was the best she’d felt about the situation ever. I think if he’d do something about his Herman Munster haircut, he might feel a little better about himself. We saw him getting checked in, and Whitney hoped he could let go of past bad choices. It was crucial to his sobriety.

Seth asked Meredith what the plan was, but she said she didn’t have one. As much as she wanted him there, she thought they needed room. He said he’d give her room, and  maybe with him out of the picture, it would help her know what she wanted. In her interview, Meredith said you had to work things out individually in order to come back together as a happy couple. Seth said he didn’t want to separate after 25 years.

Mary met with Heather, who thought she could be friends with both Jen and Mary, and also be loyal to both of them. Mary said Jen was angry with her because she resented not being at the top. She explained how her grandmother had wanted her to take her place, and Heather said people didn’t get that Mary’s grandfather wasn’t a blood relative. Mary started crying, and said she hadn’t wanted to marry him, but she trusted her grandmother. In Mary’s interview, she said it took her two years to adjust. She told Heather that she chose what God told her to do. In Heather’s interview, she said she felt deep empathy. She understood about marrying for faith over love, but Mary’s situation was different. Heather told Mary that there was more that brought her and Jen together than tore them apart, but Mary said Jen burnt the bridge. She was done.

Next time, body shots, Whitney on the pole, Meredith says she runs Sundance, and Brooks has a show during Salt Lake City Fashion Week.

🐴 The Real Housewives of Dallas returns for a new season on January 5th. Minus one LeeAnne, and plus a new Wife.

🥊 Gonna Fly Now…

Is it the end of what used to be called a week yet? I don’t know how, but I’m not ready for the holidays any more than I usually am either. But even if you’re floundering as I am, stay safe, stay on the nice list, and stay using whatever privilege you have to help whoever you can.

Dec8

December 7, 2020 – Franco Makes a Decision, Shane Sleeps In One Time Too Many & This One

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Oops, I did it again, missed the beginning. Here’s the skinny. Franco paced his hospital room, hearing Peter say, you have no choice, in his head. Chase went to the Quartermaine mansion and found Willow. She told him that he’d spoken his mind, and now it was her turn. Violet showed Finn a picture she’d made of the entire family, including Roxie, and went upstairs to get ready for bed. Peter and Maxie went to the bistro, and talked about the bombing. Peter said he had a meeting with Dante, and Maxie said she couldn’t hear Dante’s name without thinking about Lulu. She told Peter that she’d never made a big decision without Lulu’s input. Meanwhile, Dante sat at the MetroCourt bar, looking at a picture of Lulu, when Valentin sat down. And that’s where I came in.

Elizabeth asks why Franco thinks he’s ready to get out of bed. He’s recovering from neurosurgery. He says he thinks he needs to talk to a shrink. He’s hearing a voice. She asks, what kind of voice? and he says it just started after the last surgery. She asks what the voice is saying, and he tells her, you have no choice. She says, in what? but he has no idea. She asks if he recognizes the voice, and he says, that’s the even weirder part. The voice inside his head is Peter.

Maxie tells Peter, remember when she said how precious life is? Anna had almost lost Finn, and she might not speak to her best friend again. He stops her, saying they have to stay positive that Lulu will make a full recovery and come back to them. She says she is, but she doesn’t want to wait to get married. She wants to marry as soon as possible. They’re on the same page, right? Is that what he wants too?

Finn tells Anna that she thinks Violet included everyone in her Port Charles family, and she asks where Violet’s grandfather is. He says she can’t blame Violet for not including him; she hasn’t met him. Anna says, exactly. She was wondering when Violet was going to meet him, since he’s there in Port Charles. He says, she’s not letting this go, and she asks if he’s met her. He says he’s beginning to regret it, and she says whatever issues he and his father have, shouldn’t prevent Violet from the right to meet her grandfather. He supposes he’ll have to give Gregory a call, but she says, not necessary – the doorbell rings – at all. It’s Gregory, who asks if he’s early, but she says, he’s perfect.  

Chase tells Willow, he knows it was a lot at the hospital, and she says, it was. After the initial shock wore off, she had time to wrap her brain around the fact that he’d never slept with Sasha. Part of her was relieved. It was good to know he didn’t betray her, but the longer she thought about it, the more confused and betrayed she felt. He says that’s why he didn’t tell her the truth, but she says, now it’s complicated. He says the last thing he wants is to hurt her or make things more difficult. The plan was for him to come clean after Wiley was safe and secure. She asks why he didn’t, and he says when he saw her and Michael in the park, they looked like a couple who needed and depended on each other, and he chickened out. But when she came to visit him in at the hospital when Finn was shot, he felt so close to her again, he had to tell her the truth. Then when he walked in on her and Michael, he realized he’d waited too long. Their marriage was no longer in name only.

Sasha says Michael doesn’t owe her anything, and Michael says they’ll have to agree to disagree on that one.  He asks how she is, and she says she was told that she’s lucky someone was there to rush her to the ER in time. Michael says he heard it wasn’t regular cocaine that triggered the heart attack, but it was laced with something a lot stronger that could have killed her. Sasha says he must hate her, and he says she couldn’t be more wrong. She says, that look, so kind and caring. She never thought she’d see that look again.

Franco thanks Doc for coming, and Doc says, of course (🍷) he came. Elizabeth told him that Franco is having a reaction to the surgery. Franco says he’s hearing a voice in his head, and it’s Peter. He wonders what it means, and Doc says, Peter is Faison’s son. Franco says, so? and Doc asks, what scares him most about the tumor? Franco says they’ve talked about that, and it’s not that it’s inoperable, but that he’ll somehow turn into the person he used to be. Doc says, someone like Faison. Franco asks if Doc thinks it has something to do with Peter’s father, and Doc says, it’s called projecting. Franco thinks he might become the person he used to be, and he’s projecting that fear onto someone else. Franco says, like Peter? and Doc says, possibly. They can explore that… Scotty comes in, and says, that’s enough. No more exploring, no more shrinking. His son has been through enough. He’s not letting Doc mess with Franco’s brain again.

Maxie asks what Peter thinks, and he says he’s surprised she wants to push it up. She has such a specific vision. She says she does, but between her vision and the baby, it will be a year before they can even think about it. She invited someone to help figure it out. Peter says, a wedding planner? and she says, not exactly. He says, her mom? and she says he’s getting warmer. His mom.

Gregory says, if it’s a bad time, he can go, but Finn says he should stay. There’s someone he should meet. Anna tells Finn, there’s a pot of tea and snacks in the kitchen. He asks where she’s going, and she says Maxie wanted to talk about the wedding, and Finn has a lot of catching up to do. She asks if he wants her to call Chase, but he says he doesn’t need his brother to referee. She says she didn’t think so, and tells Gregory, it was lovely to see him. She tells Finn, good luck, and leaves. Gregory says he wouldn’t mind the tea, if it’s not too much trouble. Finn says, okay, but Violet appears on the stairs, and asks, who is he?

Valentin tells Dante, he wants to do what’s best for Charlotte, and Dante says, if Valentin thinks he can use Lulu’s absence to keep Charlotte away from the family, it’s not happening. Valentin says he was hoping they could work out a schedule so Charlotte and Rocco could see each other as much as possible. What days work for Rocco? Dante spaces out, not answering, and Valentin asks if everything is all right.  

Sasha can’t believe Michael is doing this again, and asks, how many times has he been there to pick her up when she fell? He says he’s not counting. Everyone needs support at some time or another. Don’t pretend to be shatterproof glass with him. She says she knows that, and he says she seems to know a lot. She tells him, don’t believe everything he hears, and he says, in this case, he’s trusting the source – his mom. She says, Carly told him? and he says, it seems the journey that left them there, started months ago when she and Chase lied.   

Willow says she and Michael fell completely in love with Wiley, and gave him the happiest, most nurturing home. She took on the role of Wiley’s mother, and they depended on each other, like parents do, but it became more than that. She tried to explain when she and Chase met at Charlie’s; she and Michael aren’t just platonic friends.  They’re attracted to one another. She’s not saying that to hurt him, but if she deserves honesty from him, he deserves the same from her. He says he understands if she’s moved on. Maybe it’s best to just rip off the bandage. She says, it’s not that simple. When Chase confessed that it was all one big lie, that’s not all he said. He told her that he was still in love with her.

Franco tells Scotty that he asked Doc to come and help. Terry told him that the tumor could lead to a shift in his personality, and that’s bad news. Hearing Peter’s voice might be a start. Doc says, there may be a way to find out, but it’s a long shot if he’s willing to take it.

Maxie meets Anna at the bistro, and tells her that Peter had a meeting, but she wanted talk about the wedding. Anna says, right. Because of Lulu. She can imagine Maxie doesn’t want to plan right now. Take as much time as she needs. Maxie asks, what if she wants to take less time? They’ve wasted too much time already. She doesn’t want to step on Anna’s wedding plans, but she wants to move before the baby arrives. Anna says she can see that. Maxie should grasp any chance of happiness. She feels the same way after nearly losing Finn, but Maxie can’t snap her fingers and plan a wedding overnight. Maxie says, it’s asking the impossible… unless they have a double wedding.

Finn tells Violet, this is someone she might need to add to her drawings; it’s his dad. Gregory says, which means she’s his granddaughter. Violet asks if that means she gets to call him grandpa, and Gregory says he’d be honored. Finn whispers something to Violet, then says, okay. He tells Gregory, it’s the time of night when he reads Violet a story. He was thinking, since Gregory is there, he might like to read to her. Gregory says he’ll do one better; he’ll tell her a story. Would she like that? Violet gets excited, and hops up and down, saying, yes! Tell her a story. She takes Gregory’s hand, and they go into the living room. They sit down, and he says, once upon a time, there was a captain of a big pirate ship named Captain Cutlass.   

Valentin asks if Dante is feeling all right, and Dante says, yeah. He was just distracted. Valentin says, with everything going on, it’s got to be tough with Rocco, and Dante says, it must be hard for Charlotte, knowing that Lulu isn’t coming back. Valentin says, it’s hard to find the words, and Dante says he’s sure Valentin got what he wanted. Valentin asks if Dante thinks he enjoys his daughter crying for her mother every night. He and Lulu came to a truce for Charlotte’s sake. He thinks he and Dante should set aside their animosity, and let Rocco and Charlotte see each other as much as possible for their sakes. Dante suggests they stay on Lulu’s schedule. Valentin looks skeptical.

Willow says, for months it killed her to even be in the same room as Chase. All she could think of was how close they used to be, and how much they’d shared. She wanted a time machine to go back to before she’d walked in on him and Sasha, but that’s not reality. She had to face the fact of life without him. He says he wanted that too, but she’s right; they can’t do that. Sasha said it was a bad idea to tell her the truth; that it was selfish. Maybe Sasha was right, but he couldn’t let her go through life with Willow believing he’d ever stopped loving her, or would ever cheat on her, even if she hated him for it. She says, hated him? He doesn’t understand. It wouldn’t hurt so much if didn’t still love him too.

Sasha tells Michael that Chase wanted to tell the truth, but she argued against it. She hates that they lied, but it worked out the way it should. Wiley is safe with him and Willow, and the two of them have moved on. If she had it to do over again, she wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe not the drugs part, but everything else. Saving Wiley was worth it. Michael says, no question, but they might have found another way to get there. She says they couldn’t take that risk, and neither could he. If it had cost Michael his son, it wouldn’t have worked out between them. He says when he looks at it through her eyes, he sees it definitely wasn’t deception, but an act of love.

Doc asks what Franco is up for, and Franco says, just about anything. Doc explains that he knows of a surgeon in Geneva who’s done research on the brain and reality phenomena. Scotty asks, what’s the Swedish word for malarkey? and Doc tells him, malarkey. He tells Franco, the doctor might say the tumor is creating the voice in his head, but it’s his best chance for an accurate diagnosis. Franco says he needs to figure out where he is, and Scotty says, even if it kills him. Franco says, yes. Even if it kills the monster inside him.     

Peter says he didn’t expect to see Dante and Valentin together. He can push the meeting up if… Valentin says, it’s fine, and tells Dante, he’ll be in touch. He leaves, and Peter thanks Dante for meeting him outside of the office. Dante asks if it’s about the cybersecurity issue, but Peter says, no. Dante asks what he can do for Peter, and Peter says, stop working for him.

Maxie tells Anna, imagine being at the altar, with not only Finn, but her son. Think how amazing it would be, having Peter in a collective I do. Anna says, maybe Maxie should think about it. She gets a text from Valentin asking where she is, and saying he needs to talk to her. She tells Maxie, there’s something she needs to handle, and Maxie says, no biggie. She’s got to run too. She tells Anna to get Finn on board, and, don’t tell Peter; it’s a surprise. Maxie leaves, and Anna says, it’s turning into a night of surprises.

Gregory tells Violet, and at the captain’s command, the pod of whales jumped, and created a huge wave that caused a divergence. Captain Cutlass was able to sail away out of the trap, and on to his next pirate adventure. The end. She says, tell another one, and Finn says, maybe another night. It’s past her bedtime. He asks her to go upstairs, and says he’ll be up to tuck her in. She says goodnight to her grandpa, and leaves. Finn says he hasn’t thought about Captain Cutlass in a long time, but he still holds magic. Violet was enthralled. Gregory says, it’s not magic, but imagination  and a lot of love. It’s easy for a child to understand, but as they get older, they drift away from old loves, like him and Jackie. Finn asks, what about them? and Gregory says, Chase didn’t tell him? They decided to separate.

Chase says, Willow still loves him in spite of everything? She says she loves the man she was with for over a year. The man she thought she’d have a future with, until she thought he didn’t exist, when he cheated on her with Sasha and broke her heart. But now he’s back to being him, the good guy she loves, but that doesn’t change how she feels about Michael. They haven’t signed the annulment, and maybe never will. He says he doesn’t need an immediate answer. She gave him more than he had the right to hope for. He tells her, he was going to say goodbye. Do they shake hands? Hug? They move closer to each other.

Sasha says, she never thought in a million years she’d hear him say he understood what she did; that she lied because she loved him. She betrayed him and stomped on his heart because she loved him. The worst thing she ever did turned out to be the finest thing she ever did. Michael says she’s not done yet. She’s got to get better, get stronger, and be the kick-ass executive and beauty queen who doesn’t need white powder to give her confidence. She says she completely forgot, and he says, forgot what? She says how good it feels to see herself the way he sees her.

Doc tells Franco that he’ll make arrangements. He’ll need to Lucas to sign off, but doesn’t think it will be an issue. Scotty asks if this is his goal or Franco’s, and Franco says it’s his best chance for an accurate diagnosis. Scotty leaves, and Franco  tells Elizabeth, he knows she wants him to start radiation, and he will, but he’s going to put it off for a few weeks. He needs to make sure the tumor isn’t starting something that’s worse. Does she understand? She says she knows he won’t rest until he finds answers, but she’s not letting him go alone.   

Dante asks if Peter is firing him, but Peter says, no. Of course (🍷) not. He’s seen the value in Dante’s work since he brought Dante on. He knows the situation with Lulu hit Dante hard. How could it not be? Dante should be a full-time parent, and enjoy quality time. When he’s ready to come back, let him know. Dante says he can’t. He doesn’t want to sound harsh, but having a routine is good for Rocco and him. If he wasn’t focused on a job, he’d think about Lulu 24 hours a day. Peter asks if he’s sure, and Dante says when he works, he feels like he should finish the job.

Valentin thanks Anna for meeting him, and she asks if it’s about Peter, but he says, it’s about Dante. He met with Dante, hoping they could set a schedule for Charlotte, but he doesn’t think Dante is in the proper headspace for parenting. Anna says she’s not surprised he’s struggling, but Valentin says, that’s not it. The WSB was treating him for PTSD, and he’s concerned they let him out too early.

Finn says, his father and Jackie are separating? What happened? Gregory asks if he means was there one terrible unforgivable event like an affair. There was nothing traumatic; it was like a death from a thousand cuts. Jackie was covering everything from Tiananmen Square to Timbuktu, and he was lecturing from Stanford to St. Andrews. They were always on different schedules, not to mention time zones. It sounds cliché, but they grew apart. They have different interests, and there’s been painfully more silence than conversation. Finn says he’s sorry to hear that, but they’re choosing to separate, not divorce. Maybe there’s a chance, in time. Gregory says, time isn’t guaranteed to anyone. Being shot must have taught Finn that.   

Willow tells Chase, she thinks the best way to say goodbye is a simple goodnight. He says, goodnight, and starts to leave, but turns around. He says, whatever happens going forward, he’s glad she reached out tonight. She says she is too, and he leaves.

Maxie walks into Sasha’s room, saying, what do you mean we’re not family? We’re business partners… She stops short when she sees Michael, and says she didn’t expect see him there. He says he was just heading out, and Sasha thanks him. She tells him not to worry about her. She always lands on her feet. He says the words will be more believable when she’s not in a hospital bed; be careful. He leaves, and Maxie says she came with a whole speech, ready to kick Sasha’s butt, and tell her to get her act together. She’s already lost one friend and doesn’t want to lose another, but seeing the smile on Sasha’s face makes her think maybe Sasha doesn’t need a speech, and she’s getting encouragement from another source.

Franco says he knows Elizabeth would love to be by his side, but she can’t go. She says she knows, but Scotty can. Is he okay with that? He says he is, and she gets in the bed next to him. He says he can’t wait to be a stepdad again. He’s going to fight to the bitter end. She says, it’s not ending yet.

Peter tells Dante, if work is the best therapy, he’ll see Dante first thing in the morning. Dante says he’ll be there, and Peter tells him, it’s a work meeting, so his tab is on the office. Dante leaves, and makes a call outside. He says, it’s him. He almost lost access to the target, but he’s still on the job. They have the evidence to exonerate the innocent party, and he’s ready to complete the mission.

Finn asks when Gregory has to go back to California, but Gregory says he’s in no rush. He’d like to stick around for the wedding, and to tell his granddaughter more stories. Finn asks about his teaching, but Gregory says his teaching is online now; he can teach from anywhere. Why not Port Charles? He tells Finn, face it. He’s going to be seeing more of him.

Valentin tells Anna, whatever Dante is dealing with, he thinks it’s not so much Lulu as the PTSD. Anna says she could reach out to Robert and get his take on it, but Valentin says they don’t need to involve the Bureau. She and Dante are close, right? She says, she could rekindle their friendship, but she’s not a doctor. She can’t diagnose PTSD. He says he’s aware of that, but she can read people, and he’d appreciate it. If Dante is going to spend time around Charlotte, he needs to know Dante is trustworthy.

Finn let’s Chase in, and says Chase is smiling. He hasn’t smiled in months. What gives? Chase tells him, say it; he was right. Finn says, he was right, and Chase says he should have told Willow the truth a long time ago, but better late then never. Finn says, he’s not bleeding… Did she give him a pie in the face? Chase says, none of the above. Finn says Chase looks happy, and he has something else that will make him happy. Their dad is going to stay in town until the wedding. Chase says, the day is getting better and better. Maybe Finn will realize family isn’t so scary after all.

Michael comes home, and Willow asks how Sasha is. He says, physically, she’s much better. They talked through what happened, and hopefully she won’t be looking for any more answers in white powder. Willow is glad to hear they talked, and he asks how her talk was with Chase. She says she ended up with more questions than answers. She knows she wants what’s best for him, and he says, all he wants is the same for her. They hear Wiley crying, and he says, one thing’s for certain, somebody needs them. They go to tend to Wiley.

Tomorrow, Cameron tells Josslyn that they need to follow Trina to the end, Trina asks for Epiphany’s help, Brando thought he had a connection with someone, and Jason asks if Sam is ready for a long chain of events.

Below Deck

When we last left Rachel wanted to punch somebody in the scrotum because there was no caviar. She tells Francesca, what was wrapped up like caviar, was actually salmon roe, and asks her to stall the guests. Keep them drinking. Shane pops his head into the galley, but Rachel tells him to keep moving. She’s not nice right now; she’s not kidding. The guests discuss what options they have for dinner outfits. Rachel tells Ashling to stall, and in her interview, Ashling says Rachel is bonkers, but she’s used to it. Her sister is a chef, and the family often says, the chef has arrived. Don’t say anything; don’t make any sudden movements. Back the hell away.

Francesca tells Elizabeth to clean everything. Guest Justin asks if they can have a full boat tour. Rachel calls the provisor, who says everything was in the same pouch, but promises to get a substitute of that caliber for the caviar. Francesca calls Captain Lee and tells him that the guests would like a tour, and he supposes that can be worked out, but he doesn’t sound too thrilled. In Shane’s interview, he says he hates struggling. He’s been in this position before, and gotten out of it. He went to Berkeley underprepared, but ended up with a 3.5 GPA. He’s determined to make it work and be a proper yachtie.

Francesca starts decorating the table, and in her interview, says, thank God she and Ashling get along. She doesn’t need to tell Ashling what to do. They’re similar, keeping their heads down and just doing what needs to be done. The slide is brought in, and Chase keeps asking if Eddie needs him to do anything. In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s trying to give Shane the least amount of opportunity to screw up. He doesn’t need charming and funny. He needs someone to work hard and get the job done. Rachel continues to freak, and Eddie goes to pick up the steel drum band.

Izzy finds Chase annoying, and James says it’s her own fault. She told him to step up, or he was going to lose her job. In her interview, Izzy says, Shane’s not cut out for yachting, along with a nit picking boss. He needs to shut up and do his job. The provisor calls back, and tells Rachel he’s sending them caviar, and it will be at the Jolly Harbour dock at 6:45. Eddie comes back with the band, which is one guy. Rachel asks Eddie about sending the tender for the caviar, and he goes back out. The captain sighs. Francesca uses a lot of silver branches for the white party décor, and they look gorgeous. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s going to lose her sh*t. Everything is done except the caviar, and time is ticking. Where is it? Francesca tells Captain Lee to feel free to take his time with the tour; the caviar is still coming. He says he’ll handle it, and Francesca sends the guests to meet him on the bow. The captain starts off by explaining a bell, and says, if you’re hearing it, you shouldn’t be where you are. In his interview, he says, if the caviar doesn’t show up, he’s going to be sitting there with his d*ck in his hands. He makes funnies, and stretches out the tour. Rachel paces, and the captain turns the guests over to Francesca.

The drum plays as the guests enter the dining area. Francesca tells Tim, happy birthday, and points out the mother-of-pearl spoon for the caviar. In the galley, Rachel says God hates her guts. In her interview, she asks, where is this effing caviar? Eddie finally gets back with it, and Francesca explains the menu. Rachel puts the caviar in a bowl, saving a bit for garnish, but then drops it. She says, it slipped out of her hand, but luckily, the appetizer was already done. She makes teeny weeny bellinis to go with it, and everyone loves it. I hope it reflects in the tip. In the crew mess, Eddie tells James and Izzy, they make a great team. Izzy says James has the muscles, and she has the brains. Eddie says he appreciates it, and also her babysitting Shane on the beach. The guests tell the captain, it’s an honor to have him join them, and they toast to Tim’s 50th. Rachel explains the first course.

Rachel tells Eddie that she needs a pot washed, and Eddie says he’ll wash the sh*t out of it. Rachel asks for something to hold the parmesan, and Tim says, the food should be illegal, it’s so good. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says he’s impressed with what Rachel is doing in the galley. In his 35 years as a charter captain, he’s never been this impressed. She’s the complete package; everything he wants in a charter chef. The guests applaud.

The steel drum guy goes back, and Tim asks for a carafe with a spout. He says, the two most coveted things are longevity and prosperity, and the longer you drink from the spout, the longer your life. The further away you can drink, the more prosperity you have. The captain calls Eddie, and asks how much K2R they have; it’s getting messy. Eddie comes up to see what’s going on, and says he’s got cases. Captain Lee can’t believe he’s going to do this, and asks Francesca for a bath towel. A couple of the guests say the have something for him to wear instead. They run back to their cabin, and bring back a special shirt with Tim’s picture on it. The captain puts a rug down, so Eddie doesn’t have to suffer for his misgivings. He’s pretty good though, and in his interview, he laughs, and says this is why he gets the big bucks. Shane calls girlfriend Aubrey, who tells him everybody’s relationships are falling apart. She feels grateful, and he says he’s happy too. In his interview, he says he feels lucky to have a girlfriend. It’s good having Aubrey virtually, and it’s the first time he’s been in a mature relationship. He misses her. Shane falls asleep talking to her.

Rachel gets the cake ready, and she and Francesca present it, while singing, Happy Birthday. A guest wonders how Rachel knew it was Tim’s favorite, and Rachel says she’s good like that. James tells Eddie, everyone seems to be getting on together, and Eddie says, the tide is turning. Ashling calls her mom, who hasn’t heard from her in a couple of days. She tells Ashling about the coronavirus, and how they’ve detained people in China. She insists that Ashling get herself a mask, and Ashling promises she will. In Ashling’s interview, she says, in Australia, they knew about it, but hadn’t heard much. She doesn’t think it’s as serious people are making it out to be. Yep. That’s what we all said. Francesca tells Elizabeth to check on the guests every 10 minutes or so, and Eddie sprays the wine stains on the deck. Izzy talks with Elizabeth, and says she looks miserable. In Izzy’s interview, she says, interior is not fun. You’re inside the boat, working under a dictator, at a stressful job. She’s glad she got out. Elizabeth says she’s just tired.

It’s been 42 minutes since anyone checked on the guests, and while Francesca is telling Elizabeth to make sure the cutlery is cleaned, a guest comes into the galley and tells her they’re dying upstairs. They need tequila, red wine, and Bailey’s on ice. In Francesca’s interview, she says she’s mortified. 98% of the time she has a poker face, but she’s pissed right now. She tells Elizabeth that the guests have to be the first priority, and they’ve had a good time – up until now. Elizabeth says she didn’t hear Francesca tell her to check on them, and she’s trying her best. In her interview, Elizabeth says, when Francesca acts like this, it pisses her off. Like what? A boss? Francesca says she’s tired and she’ll address it in the morning. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says, Francesca can still be human and run a tight ship. Francesca sits on the floor of her and Rachel’s cabin, and tells Rachel that she needs to have a proper talk with Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells Eddie that Francesca couldn’t go to bed without giving her sh*t about the guests. Whatever. Francesca tells Rachel that it’s the third charter, and Elizabeth isn’t pulling her weight. She’s not following direction. In Rachel’s interview, she says she likes Elizabeth, but doesn’t want to get involved. She doesn’t want to be in the middle between a department head and a junior stew. The guests go to bed, and James sits at the bar. He says he wants a drink, and Elizabeth says he’ll have to be more sneaky than sitting at the bar. He says they’re the only ones up.   

Eddie asks why Shane isn’t on deck; it’s 7:37. Shane says his phone died. He’s almost 2 hours late, and stumbles around. He apologizes to James, and thanks him for uncovering the furniture. Eddie asks if the captain had fun at dinner, and Captain Lee says he had a good time; the guests are a lot of fun. Eddie says when he got up, Shane was sleeping like a log, and yesterday, he found the lazarette door open. Thank God nothing was stolen. The captain says, there’s $100K worth of sh*t in there. Eddie says, yesterday, when he came back from running errands, Shane was asleep with a cover over his eyes that said, do not disturb. Captain Lee doesn’t get it. Eddie tells the guests that he’s going to put the jet skis in the water. Shane yaps about his phone dying, and in his interview, says it was so stupid. I think we can all agree on that one. Eddie asks Izzy how everything is going, and she says she had a busy morning. Eddie asks, if Shane was going to say something about it, what would he say? and Shane says, he f***ed up. In Eddie’s interview, he says he’s over Shane. He doesn’t know what to say. If there was ever a time not to make a mistake, it would be now.

Some of the guests jet ski, and Francesca asks Ashling if everything was tidy when she got up. Ashling says, it was pretty tidy, and Izzy tells James about Shane being late. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says last night didn’t go well for her. Getting yelled at by her boss in front of coworkers isn’t cool. One, what Francesca did wasn’t even close to yelling, and two, Francesca clearly told her to check on the guests every ten minutes, she didn’t listen, and Francesca is her boss. The guests say they love Rachel, and Eddie asks Izzy what he should tell Shane. In Eddie’s interview, he says, Izzy is a badass, who doesn’t take sh*t from anyone. That’s the beginning of being a good leader. He does his best to set his crew members up for success, then lets them do it on their own. Izzy pulls up the anchor, and the boat heads out to Jolly Harbour. Rachel thanks Francesca for helping her last night, and Francesca tells Ashling that she’s glad to have her. She doesn’t have time to train people. Breakfast is served, and the captain starts to dock the boat. Shane is slow with bringing down one of the fenders. Captain Lee says, with the wind coming in the opposite direction, he can potentially hit the dock. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. He yells that he has no stern thruster, and keeps saying he’s not getting anything. One of the guests says, this is where the captain earns his money.

Izzy says docking is nerve wracking every time, and Captain Lee asks if anybody was doing anything on the effing stern. Shane asks basic questions that even I know the answers to just from watching the show. The captain radios Eddie, and asks, who TF put these lines out? Whoever it is, his ass is the captain’s. If anyone thinks he’s pissed, they’re right. In the captain’s interview, he says, the docking was an effing disaster. This is the third time, and they’ve docked the same way. So far, Shane has been given every opportunity to prove himself, but his puppy ass is still on the porch. It’s not rocket science. He tells the crew to get in their whites, and meet on the aft deck.   

The guests say goodbye, and Tim calls Captain Lee the porren champ. I guess that’s the name of that red wine game. Tim tells them, he knows it’s cliché to say it was the best vacation of his life, but it was incredible. He gives the captain the tip envelope, which looks fat. When the guests are off the boat, Captain Lee tells everyone, back to work, except for the deck crew. He tells the deck crew, the docking sucked. The first line is the spring line; it keeps them from hitting the dock. Next is the windward crisscross. If they don’t have them, nothing can happen, In Eddie’s interview, he says he doesn’t know what to do. Like the captain has said, you can’t fix stupid. Captain Lee says he doesn’t want it to happen again. Shane goes over stuff to himself, and the stews strip the beds. In Shane’s interview, he says he’s got to practice more times, and writes a bunch of notes down. In his interview, he says his number one feeling is frustration. He knows he’s in the hot seat, and has to step up. He needs A performing, and he’s at B. If he doesn’t get to A, he can say goodbye to B. Elizabeth says she feels unmotivated.

It’s time for the tip, and Captain Lee says the charter went extremely well. Rachel’s meals were outstanding, and her knowledge of food shows. They did have a few close calls. Some people aren’t performing at where he thinks they should be at this point, and it’s a cause for concern. The tip is $20K, or $1650 each. Shane apologizes to Izzy, and says, when Eddie is around, he feels nervous because Eddie is watching him. Izzy says she felt like that the first time she was on deck. James says, there’s nothing worse than sleeping in, and the captain radios for Eddie. He tells Eddie that he’s been contemplating what to do about Sunshine (their nickname for Shane). Eddie says, on one hand, he sees Shane trying to step up, but he was an hour and a half late today. Captain Lee says, if Shane was gone, it probably wouldn’t be much different than having him here, and radios for Shane to come to the bridge.

When Shane gets there, the captain tells him, have a seat. Unless you’ve just done something incredibly heroic, like saving a life, these are not words you want to hear from the captain. Captain Lee tells Shane, they need to have a conversation.   

Next time, someone mixes bleach with soap and makes mustard gas, the crew goes out, James says it’s getting deep, and Rachel says something is despicable.   

🤸🏽 Gathering No Moss…

Time to get rolling, since I still have editing to do on my next article for https://mupoentertainment.com/theresa-krakauskas/. I spent last weekend watching several obscure horror flicks for review, since nothing says holiday season like a scary movie. So until it’s time for Temptation Tuesday, stay safe, stay adventuresome, and stay drinking your red wine like a normal person.

Dec5

December 4, 2020 – Nikolas Says Ava Is Enough, Two Exits, Intimidated Intimidator, Holidays, a Lawsuit, Coming Out, Breaking Up, Walking Out, Engaged, a Baby, Fashion Fight, New Old Show, Steve’s House, More Than 10 Quotes & McKenzie Twelve

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Going along with how the rest of the week has been, I missed the beginning, so here are the takeaway points. Avery told Carly that her favorite necklace was missing, and Carly reminded Avery that she’d taken it to have it fixed, but didn’t know when she’d get it back. Carly went to Pizzulo’s where Jason and Sonny were talking about Julian. Trina went to see Josslyn, who was in the kitchen where the notorious bowl of moss lives. Britt tried to call Julian at Charlie’s, and was surprised to find out he hadn’t been in all day. Willow told Michael, it was time to face the truth, and here we are…

Nikolas tells Ava, it’s okay. Back up, and tell him what happened from the beginning. She says Ryan threatened to expose Julian’s part in Wiley’s kidnapping, and Nikolas says, Julian helped? She says no one knew about it, but Nelle left a letter tying Julian to the kidnapping. That’s what Ryan was using to blackmail her into divorcing Nikolas. Julian was scared Sonny would kill him, and Jason came looking for Julian. She always knew her brother would meet a violent end, but she was scared Sonny would make him suffer. She starts to cry, and Nikolas says, that’s why she decided to kill him herself; like a mercy killing. She says she wanted it to be quick. She thinks Julian understood, and he understood he was living on borrowed time. She was about to pull the trigger, when Sonny and Jason burst in. She got distracted for a second, and Julian took the opportunity to jump. Nikolas says, from the turret. It’s an extremely hazardous fall, but she survived. Maybe Julian did too. She says Nikolas was there to save her. Julian – God help him – had no one.   

Chase approaches the reception desk, and asks Britt if he can see the toxicology report on Sasha. She asks if he has a warrant. He says he’s not investigating the patient, but needs to know about the substance they ingested. He asks her to please show him the report.

Sasha tells Nina, she didn’t OD; she had a heart attack. Nina says, at her age, that’s hardly normal, and Sasha admits she’s done a few lines to take the edge off. Nina says, Sasha would rather think she had a heart condition than own up to a drug problem? It scared her when she heard what happened. Even though she’s not Sasha’s mother, she still cares about her, and doesn’t want her to throw away her life like this. Sasha asks if Nina really cares, and Nina says Sasha has her whole life ahead of her. She needs to wake up and do better. Please? Sasha smiles, and thanks Nina, and tells her that she really does appreciate Nina’s concern.

Chase opens Sasha’s door, and says he’s sorry to interrupt, but he needs to speak to Sasha. Nina says she has to go anyway. She just wanted to see that Sasha was all right with her own eyes. If Sasha needs anything at all… Sasha says she still feels like Nina’s daughter. Anyone would be lucky to have her for a mom. Nina leaves, and Chase asks how Sasha is feeling. She says, it depends, and he says, on? She says on whether he’s there as a friend or a cop.

Michael tells Willow that he wants to start by saying how much he’s always admired her. He’s thankful Wiley has her for a mother, and like they’ve both been trying to say, they’ve always been good friends, but lately his feelings have deepened and changed. Willow says she’s been feeling the same way. She thinks they were on the verge of something new, but then they found out Chase and Sasha had lied. Michael says she told him that she didn’t regret what happened, and he flashes back to them basking in the afterglow. She says she doesn’t regret anything, and he says, neither does he. She says, but learning that Chase and Sasha never cheated changes things, doesn’t it? and Michael says, does it?

Trina says her father could be hiding, right? and Josslyn says Trina has been spending all her time clearing her dad’s name, and now she thinks he’s alive? Where is this coming from? Trina says, the more she’s been thinking about it, the more it makes sense. Maybe her dad faked his death, and recovered in secret. It sounds crazy, but she’s starting to believe him. Josslyn asks who told her that her father is still alive? and Trina says, Cyrus. 

Carly tells Sonny, Taggert is just as bullheaded as ever. She had to talk him down from going after Cyrus. He’s not going to stay in hiding much longer. Sonny says he has something to tell her too; Cyrus was just there. She asks, why? and Jason says, damage control. Sonny says, Cyrus confirmed Jason was the target, and Julian was responsible for planting the bomb. That much is true. Carly asks, why would Julian want to take Jason out? and Jason says, Cyrus told him to. Carly wonders why Julian would be taking orders from Cyrus, and Jason says Cyrus had leverage over Julian. Carly says, like what? and Sonny asks if she’s ready for this. Julian knew for months that Wiley was Michael’s son. Carly is speechless, a rarity.

Britt sees Lucas, and ask’s to speak to him. Brad told her Lucas saw him. Brad nearly died, and Lucas wouldn’t even give him the time of day. Lucas says it’s none of her concern, but she says Brad is her best friend. She didn’t expect a warm and fuzzy reconciliation, but she also didn’t expect cruelty. He says she knows what Brad did, and she says, Nelle took advantage of Brad’s grief; he wasn’t in his right mind. Lucas says, Wiley lived in a house with people who weren’t his family, and spent his first pivotal year with people who weren’t his parents. Brad watched Michael suffer for a year, and said nothing. He ultimately only looks out for himself. She says, but Brad didn’t. He pled guilty, and took all the blame. He says, Brad was the only one to blame, but she says, that’s not true.  

Chase tells Sasha, he’s a friend above all, and she says she could use one, but he seemed liked a detective when he came in. He says, maybe that’s because he’d just gotten done checking out the toxicology report. She ingested dextrose amphetamine along with the cocaine, a stimulant on top of a stimulant. Britt spoke to the lab technician, who said she’d never seen a combination like that before. Where did she get the drugs? She says, so he is interrogating her, and he says he’s trying to make sense of this situation. There’s bad stuff out there, and he’s trying to track it down. That she’s using anything makes him feel like crap. He should have seen she was struggling. Sasha tells him, don’t. He tried, and it’s her fault she was using. She’s the one who covered it up. She was coping with losing Michael, and falling down on the job at Deception. One line made her feel like she could handle anything – for the moment anyway. She’s weak. He says she’s not weak. She says she doesn’t regret lying to save Wiley. It was the right thing to do, but Chase has been hurting too, and he kept it together. He says, no, he didn’t. He told Willow the truth. He told her that he and Sasha never slept together; it was all a set-up. She asks, how could he do that?

Willow says she knows Michael stayed with Sasha all night when  she was brought into the hospital. Obviously he’s worried about her. Michael says, Willow is too, and Willow asks if he’s been back since. Have they talked? Michael says, no, and she asks, why? He says he doesn’t want to do the wrong thing. He’s so angry, he doesn’t know what would say.

Carly says, Julian knew? He kept Brad’s secret, and watched Michael suffer and said nothing? That’s what Nelle had over him. That’s why he married her. She knew. Sonny says, Julian was probably the one who kidnapped Wiley when they were at the Nurses Ball telethon. Jason says, he chloroformed Monica so he could take Wiley, and Carly says, bastard. All that talk about his love for Lucas, when he was lying to Lucas’s face, and letting him keep a baby that wasn’t his. She says, please tell her Sonny is going to make him pay, and Jason says, maybe he already did.

Carly says she knew something was up when Nelle trotted Julian out as her husband. Sonny tells her, don’t worry. Nelle is dead, and she can’t hurt them anymore. Carly says, that’s not necessarily true. There’s something she has to tell him. Something about Nelle and Nina. Jason makes a really good soap face.   

Nina meets Jax at the bistro, apologizing for being late. He tells her, it’s okay, but she seems scattered. What’s going on? She says she visited Sasha at the hospital. She’s worried about Sasha. She’s been in pain since she and Michael broke up, and has no one to talk to. Jax says, like her, and Nina says, when she brought Sasha to the penthouse, she knew Sasha was suffering and high. She wishes she could have talked to her then. Jax says he hopes Sasha realizes how lucky she is to have Nina care about her, especially after she lied. Nina says, for a time, she couldn’t even look at Sasha, she was so angry, but seeing her alone and lost, with no one to talk to makes the past unimportant. He says Nina has a generous spirit, and sees the good in people, and she says she’s champion of the underdog, or maybe president of the club. They all make mistakes, some more than others. Now that the truth is out, maybe somehow she and Sasha can find their own honest relationship. He says, if she forgave Sasha, does that mean she forgives Valentin as well?

Ava tells Nikolas, she was up all night, searching for any sign of Julian or his body. That’s why he saw her walking on the cliffs. She’d been there for hours. She’s sorry she didn’t tell him the truth. He says he doesn’t care, but he does need to understand. She and Julian were close. She let herself be blackmailed for him. What made her want to kill him? He’s not trying to making her feel bad. She’s probably better off without Julian complicating her life, but he’s family. Ava says Nikolas is her family. He’s her future. She chose him. He says he chooses her. She can trust him. She says she wants to, and wants to tell him everything, but it’s so bad… She swears she didn’t have anything to do with it. She had no idea whatsoever. He says, just tell him. What did Julian do? She says, he’s the one who planted the bomb in The Floating Rib.  

Lucas asks Britt what this is about. His family is grieving, and his cousin is comatose. His plate is full, and he has no time for her games. She says he forgot to mention his husband was almost stabbed to death. He says, ex-husband, and she says he’s so self-righteous. Brad shouldn’t have shielded him. He lost Wiley, and that’s sad. He lost Brad, and it’s ironic, since if not for Brad, he would have lost more.

Sasha asks Chase why he told Willow. Why blow it at this late date? He says he had to be honest even if it caused more pain. He had to tell Willow that he loved her. Sasha says, so he did this for himself? and he says, for everyone. (We’ll leave out the fact that originally, Sasha was the one who told him to tell Willow the truth.) She says, when did he tell Willow? and he says, the night she was brought in. She asks if he thinks Willow told Michael, and he says he assumes so. She says, maybe that’s why Michael was with her when she was unconscious. Does Chase think Michael could forgive her?

Michael tells Willow, he was just so angry at Sasha, being so self-sacrificing that she was willing to throw their relationship over for a lie. He lost her, and the lie worked. Then she turned to drugs and nearly killed herself. What were Sasha and Chase thinking, being so reckless and… Willow says, shatteringly messy, and he says, that sums it up. He can’t unload on Sasha; she’s recovering. So he hasn’t been back. Intellectually, he understands what she did for Wiley, but emotionally, he’s still angry. He doesn’t want to say anything to make things worse. She says she gets it. It blows her away that Sasha and Chase chose to manipulate them, rather than talk openly. Michael says he wants to forgive Sasha, but he doesn’t know if he can.

Willow wonders how they can fault Sasha and Chase for what they did, and Michael says, it’s how they did it. He replayed every conversation they’d had, leading up to Sasha and Chase being together. Willow says, but they weren’t; it was a lie. Michael says, but the pain was real. He questioned everything, wondering how he missed it. She says, they didn’t miss anything. There was nothing to miss. They’d made it up. Pain and hurt aside, that’s the reality, and she and Michael have to figure out what that sacrifice means to them. How they feel about themselves, and Chase and Sasha.

Sasha tells Chase, Michael stayed there all night; it has to mean something. If Michael is worried, maybe he still cares. Chase says Michael was definitely worried, and still cares, but don’t get ahead of herself. She asks if he knows something, and he flashes back to finding Michael and Willow together. He says maybe they can talk another time, and she says, about what? What does he know? Just tell her. He says, Michael and Willow’s marriage… it’s a real marriage.    

Lucas tells Britt, if she has something to say, say it. She says he knows Brad. Does he really think Brad could have kept a secret for so long all by himself? He had help, but he took the fall anyway.    

Josslyn says, Trina talked to Cyrus? She knows he’s dangerous, and shouldn’t have been anywhere near him. Trina says she doesn’t like or trust Cyrus, but when he told her that her father might be alive, something in her soul said he was telling the truth. She believes him. She remembers when she was in the hospital with her father. They were laughing, talking, and planning stuff they were going to do. She went get him some candy, and when she came back, he was gone. It doesn’t make sense. Josslyn asks if Trina thinks maybe she wants it so bad, she’s grasping at straws? and Trina says, maybe, but wouldn’t Josslyn feel the same way if it was her dad? Wouldn’t she do everything in her power to see if he was alive? She has to find out one way or another. Josslyn says, okay; Trina’s got her. She thinks they should talk to Carly and Sonny, but Trina says, absolutely not. She has to promise not to say a word.  

Nikolas says, Julian set off the bomb that left Lulu in a coma, and lying in a hospital in Manhattan? and Ava says, he said Cyrus was threatening his family, even her and Avery. He asks, why bomb The Floating Rib? and she says, to kill Jason. Cyrus said he was going to lure Jason there after hours, and all Julian had to do was drop off the bomb. Nikolas says, it was a crowded restaurant, and she says, somehow Cyrus knew Jason would be there. He says, if Julian was supposed to wait until Jason was alone, why it set off? and she tells him, Julian said Cyrus tricked him. He was supposed to call Cyrus afterward, and the call detonated the bomb. Julian knew not to trust Cyrus, but he was so desperate to save himself from Sonny, he didn’t care about all the people he put at risk. He asks why Ava hid Julian there, and she says she didn’t know the extent of the damage. She didn’t know about Lulu, but as soon as she found out, she knew she had to make a choice. Let Julian drag her down again or choose her own future. She let herself have a moment of clarity, and for the first time in her life, she listened to it. He says, and she chose him. She says, she chose him, and she’d do it again.

Michael says he doesn’t know how he feels about Sasha, and Willow thinks he owes it to himself to find out. Clearly, he still has strong feelings about her. He says, what about them? and she says, whatever they are or could be, they can’t move on until they’re both positive Chase and Sasha are really behind them. He guesses he should take the time to figure it out, after the feelings of anger and confusion are done clouding things. She says she needs to do the same. Clearly (her WOTD), she’s all over the place. At least they know one thing for sure. They’ve always been friends, and she never wants to jeopardize that. He says, it can’t and won’t happen. They’ve been through too much, but they will always be Wiley’s parents, no matter what. She says, no matter what.

Sasha asks if Chase is telling her that Michael and Willow are sleeping together, and he says, yes. They were supposed to get an annulment. Now he’s not so sure. She asks what Willow said when he told her the truth. Did she say it was too late for them? He says, she was mostly stunned. He told her that he loved her, and she had no reply. Sasha says, that’s it then. She knew they’d never recover from this. Michael and Willow will never forgive them. Chase’s phone dings, and he says, it’s Willow. She wants to see him.

Britt says she has to go, and Lucas says she can’t drop something like this on him and take off. She’s telling him Brad had an accomplice other than Nelle? She says, Brad wasn’t Nelle’s accomplice; he was her victim. He had to help. He asks why Brad would take the fall. What was in it for him? She says Lucas doesn’t get it. Everything Brad did, he did for him. Brad loves him, and knew Lucas loved his family. He’d lost Wiley, and Brad wanted him to keep the family he had left. She walks away.   

Josslyn says she certainly doesn’t want to fan the flames of tension between Cyrus and Sonny. She doesn’t understand why he’d bomb The Floating Rib. Trina says there are a lot of reasons not to tell, so please promise her. Pinky swear.

Sonny says, Nelle is Nina’s daughter? and Carly says, it all adds up. When she found out Nelle was dead, Nina felt terrible. She blamed herself for testifying against Nelle at the custody hearing. How is she going to feel when she finds out she testified against her own daughter? Jason has to admit, he didn’t see this one coming, and Sonny asks if anyone else knows. Carly says, Jax. She’s been wanting to tell Sonny, but there was so much going on, she thought it could keep. Sonny asks if Jax is threatening to tell Nina.

Nina asks Jax if he means, is she forgiving Valentin for trying to make her happy by giving her a pretend daughter when he couldn’t find her real one? She doesn’t know. It was wrong, but she understands it a little bit more now. She saw Sasha earlier, when they were saying goodbye to Lulu, and all that pain in Charlotte was in, she would have done anything to take it away. They try to comfort the ones they love, and sometimes go too far. Jax admits he’s guilty of that, and she says, of course (🍷) he is; he’s Sir Galahad. He says, not always. She’s right. Holding on to a lie only hurts the people you love. The truth is always best.

Ava tells Nikolas, she doesn’t know what to feel anymore. She betrayed her brother. She loved him very much, but all she knew was she had to do it for Nikolas, to make amends for what Julian did to his family. But that means, Nikolas is all she has left. Can he accept that? Accept them? And if he could, would that be enough for him? Nikolas says, yes, more than enough. He’s fooled around most of his life, and he’s ready to move forward, together. They’ll build a future together. She says she hopes he doesn’t regret his choice, and he says he loves her too. They kiss, and I breathe a sigh of relief, since I really like them together.

Jason asks how sure Carly is that Jax will protect her secret. If he tells Nina, who knows what else he’ll say. She says Nelle’s fall from the cliff wasn’t her fault, but he says, Nina might not see it that way. She says he cares too much about Nina to tell her that not only is Nelle dead, but Nelle was her daughter. Sonny says, he held Dev’s secret, despite a lot of pressure, and he hopes Jax keeps his mouth shut. Not that I think there won’t be more problems later.

Jax says he needs to tell Nina something, but she says he doesn’t have to. She takes it all back, everything she said about the truth and hope. It’s not that simple. The truth can be brutal, and hope is sometimes the only thing that sustains them. She was dreaming for such a long time that she’d be able to find her child, but the truth is, her daughter isn’t a child anymore. She’s a woman, and Nina prays the family who adopted her loved her and supported her, and gave her the confidence to reach her full potential. Every path to her child led to a dead end. The only thing that comforted her, was that she hoped her child had a good life, even if she doesn’t get to be a part of it. Jax says, maybe Nina’s intuition is right. Maybe it’s time to stop looking.   

Josslyn pinky swears with Trina, and swears she’ll keep the secret. Trina thanks her, and they hug. Josslyn asks what the plan is. She knows Trina has one. Train says they need to find more information – something to prove or disprove Cyrus’s claim – and she thinks she knows where to start.

There’s a knock on Sasha’s door, and Michael comes in.  

Chase goes the Quartermaine mansion and finds Willow. He says he got her text.

On Monday, Willow has something she needs to say to Chase, Violet asks who Gregory is, and Franco says he has voices in his head.

🩺 I Guess It’s Permanent…

A heads up would have been nice. I’m still having to remind myself, this is Lucas, ever time he comes on screen.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/stars-say-goodbye-to-ryan-carnes

👋🏼 Dev, We Hardly Knew Sen…

I’m sorry I didn’t get the young love quadrangle I’d wanted, but I’m sure he’ll be gracing the pages of whatever magazine teens read now for a while.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ashton-arbab-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital

💣 Love To Hate Him…

I loved him as Dodger in China Beach. It’s a shame they made him so bad, he’s going to have to go. Of course, no one ever really dies in Port Charles. I’m still convinced Faison has an evil twin, or will show up without a brain.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jeff-kober-opens-up-intimidating-first-day-as-cyrus

🎁 Celebrate With the Great…

A nice soap opera holiday gallery.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/abc/spend-holidays-with-daytime-favorite-families

💸 Yikes…

I wonder if she still gives zero f***s.

https://people.com/tv/erika-tom-girardi-sued-for-allegedly-using-divorce-to-embezzle-money/

🌈 Let Your Rainbow Fly…

Here’s hoping this brings Braunwyn happiness. I’ve felt badly for her this season.

https://extratv.com/2020/12/02/real-housewives-star-braunwyn-windham-burke-comes-out-i-m-gay/?adid=extra_eme_27766_2020-12-03_features2

☄️ That Was Quick…

At least she didn’t marry this one. Has anyone ever congratulated Vicki on her accuracy in predicting when Meghan’s marriage would end?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1213632/meghan-king-edmonds-and-christian-schauf-break-up-after-6-months-of-dating

👠 Bye Felicias…

I’ve kinda sorta been watching this again.

https://people.com/tv/rhop-karen-huger-walks-out-of-her-own-event-after-monique-samuels-invite-drama/

💍 They Never Learn…

Has she seen Southern Charm? Although there isn’t going to be a prenup. Just saying.

https://extratv.com/2020/12/03/reality-star-thomas-ravenel-engaged-to-heather-mascoe/

🍼 A Baby Situation…

Another guido or guidette is on the way.

https://extratv.com/2020/11/24/reality-star-mike-the-situation-sorrentino-and-lauren-pesce-expecting-first-child/

👗 You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Fashion…

Veronica is a bitch woman who knows what she wants.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/01/haves-and-have-nots-star-angela-robinson-on-fighting-tyler-perry-for-fashion/

🕵🏾‍♂️ Everything Old Is New Again…

I vaguely remember liking this show the first time around. With Queen Latifah starring, I’m sure I’ll like it equally as well, if not more.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/cbs-equalizer-reboot-lands-post-super-bowl-premiere

🐾 Fun Real Estate…

Blue’s Clues’ Steve is selling his pad.

https://people.com/home/former-blues-clues-host-steve-burns-selling-unique-brooklyn-townhouse-for-3-4m-see-inside/

🌬 Quotes of the Week

I’d bet on rabbits if you could get them organized. – Charlie (Charlie Sheen), Two and a Half Men

I love how masks have become face fascinators. – Kate Chastain, Chat Room

No one should be ashamed to admit they are wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that they are wiser today than they were yesterday. – Alexander Pope

There isn’t a shoe size so big my mouth won’t accommodate it. – Rick Legarski (John Carroll Lynch), Big Sky

The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude. – Julia Child

Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history, but not a part of your destiny. – Steve Maraboli

A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. – Harry S. Truman (Or as my friend, Patty, says: Murphy was an optimist.)

If life were predictable it would cease to be life, and be without flavor. – Eleanor Roosevelt

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. – Bertrand Russell

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas A. Edison

Soar with wit. Conquer with dignity. Handle with care. – Criss Jami

Hold fast to dreams. For if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. – James Langston Hughes

True progress quietly and persistently moves along without notice. – Saint Francis of Assisi

I could iron now for days. I love to iron. – a grandmother after smoking weed for the first time. She inhaled. – from The Daily Skimm

⛈ Is 2020 Over Yet…?

Here we are again, cruising into yet another weekend, or another two days into, what day is it, anyway? Regardless of which side of the week fence you sit, try to change it up a little. Even with yo-yoing restrictions, there’s no restriction on creativity. And there’s always Netflix. No Dead this weekend, due to holiday films, which look like they’re an all-weekend thing on AMC. This is a win for me, since the premiere of 90 Day Fiancé (season 8) is happening, and it looks promising. So until we meet for Monday in PC, stay safe, stay inventive, and stay true to your pinky swears.

Dec4

December 3, 2020 – Cyrus Gives Trina Surprising News, a Not-So Charming Pandemic, About That Emoji, Seasonal Happenings & Collective December

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the bistro, Trina tells the man to stop saying her name. She doesn’t know him, and has no business with him. He says, even if it’s about her father?

Sonny asks if Cyrus thinks Julian is responsible for bombing The Floating Rib. Cyrus says he’s not 100% sure, but it’s a well-informed guess. Not long ago, Julian reached out to him. He was desperate, and convinced that Sonny was sending Jason to kill him. Cyrus is aware of Julian’s many transgressions against Sonny and his family, and although Sonny had reasons to eliminate Julian, he chose not to. He thinks Julian feared Sonny was going to uncover a new transgression. He’d begged Cyrus to get rid of Jason before Jason got rid of him. Sonny asks what Cyrus’s response was, and Cyrus is surprised Sonny needs to ask.

Carly runs into Taggert outside, and he wonders where Trina is. Carly says she’s in school, and he hopes she has a bodyguard. He’s aware of the bombing at The Floating Rib, and says, Trina could have been there. Carly says, Trina could have, but she wasn’t. Jason was the target, and it had nothing to do with Trina. Portia didn’t want a guard, but she’s taking extra precautions to protect Trina, who’s eager to have some normalcy in her life. Taggert says he doesn’t want Trina to be in any more danger, and Carly asks what he’s going to do. Blame himself for framing Cyrus, blame Cyrus for retaliating, or use his default, blame Sonny for everything?  

Trina tells the man to go before she calls the cops. She knows the Commissioner personally. (That’s funny, considering she wants nothing to do with Jordan.) The man says he doesn’t want any trouble, but he has important information about her dad.

Portia sees Laura, and asks how she’s doing. Laura says she’s managing, and tells Portia that she talked to Lulu’s caregivers; she’s settled in and comfortable. She’s glad to have Curtis and Jordan back, and Portia says she’s been consulting with Jordan on her medical condition. Jordan says the mayor knows the details, but they should continue their conversation in the examining room, since they don’t know who might be lurking. Portia and Jordan go into the exam room, and Laura asks Curtis if they found anything. Curtis says, a name, but it remains a mystery as much as the PCPD file Cyrus wanted. Laura says she wants to be honest about what she knows about the file, and Curtis wonders how much she could know about a homicide case from the 70s. She says she knew the victim. She’s the one who killed him.

Ava stands on the parapet, thinking about being there with Julian the night before, when Nikolas comes out. He says he’s sorry for startling Ava, and she says she supposes she has a bit of PTSD. Valentin pushed her from the parapet. It was blind luck that she hit the water, and not the rocks, and blind luck that Nikolas was on the bluff and rescued her. Without him, she surely would have drowned. Nikolas says he saw her walking on the bluff earlier, like a Thomas Hardy character. She looked like she was looking for something, maybe someone. Ava says she was thinking  about the explosion at The Floating Rib, and wondering how anyone could plant an explosive device for the express purpose of harming as many people as possible. She was trying to make sense of what happened to his sister, and searching for a way to comfort him, and ease the pain she saw on his face when they took Lulu away. She hugs him.

Martin walks into his office while he’s on the phone. He says he’ll get the files over asap. Funny… Not them. He could have sworn he left the blinds open when he left last night… No, everything else seems as it should be. He tells them they’ll talk later. Someone comes up behind him, but he turns and sprays them in the face with something. We see it’s Julian, who says, what the hell…?

Laura tells Curtis, it happened when she was a teenager. David Hamilton was a friend of her stepfather’s, and he seduced her as a way to get back at her mother. There was an ugly confrontation. She shoved him, and he hit his head and died. Curtis says, it was an accident, and she says she was hysterical. She didn’t even remember it for months, and her mother took the blame. When it came out, she got a suspended sentence. He says he’s sorry; she was so young. It must have been painful. She says, it did a lot of damage to her and her mother. When they showed her the file, she was stunned, but she didn’t say anything. Curtis says she needs to know that she can tell him anything, and she thanks him.

Nikolas tells Ava, he has to believe Lulu will fight with everything inside her. Somewhere in her mind or soul, she knows Rocco and Charlotte need their mother. Ava says it’s okay for him to admit he needs Lulu too, and he says he doesn’t think he realized how much he depended on Lulu as his moral compass. She says, as angry as Lulu was because he let them believe he’d died, she’s still his sister. Sisters forgive their brothers. At least they’re supposed to, right? That’s what being a family is. Nikolas asks if she’s talking about Lulu and him, or her and Julian.   

Martin says Julian has to forgive him. Since he was mugged in the parking garage and his briefcase was stolen, he keeps pepper spray at the ready to make him feel safer. Julian wouldn’t know anything about that, would he? Julian says, no, sorry, and Martin says, normally he doesn’t offer refreshment to people who break into his office, and if Julian doesn’t make his point soon, his manners are going to evaporate. Julian asks if their conversation is under attorney/client privilege, and Martin says, for the right price. Julian says, the price is right; trust him. Sonny and Jason want him dead; his sister does too. Martin asks what gave rise to this belief, and Julian says Ava tried to shoot him, and he thought the best way to get away was to jump from the turret. Which he did, as Jason and Sonny arrived, also brandishing pistols. They think he’s dead, but they’re going to keep looking for him until they find his body. He needs to leave town or they’ll kill him, and if not them, Cyrus. Martin says this doesn’t fall under his job as an attorney. What’s his role? Julian is glad he asked. He needs Martin to help him get out of town.

Sonny tells Cyrus, it’s a simple question. Julian asked him to murder Jason. What was his response? Cyrus says he flatly refused. Eliminating Jason would be a violation of the truce, and downright stupid. He has no desire to provoke a war. Enough people have been hurt already. He turned Julian down, but clearly Julian was desperate. Cyrus assumes Julian took the matter into his own hands. Sonny says, so Julian bombed The Floating Rib? and Cyrus says, Julian was willing to blow up the whole city if that’s what it took. No one has seen Julian, and he imagines Julian is making his way to some country that won’t extradite him. Good luck to the police. He hopes they succeed in tracking him. He tells Sonny that he’ll see himself out. He calls for Brando, and says, let’s go. Brando looks at Sonny, and they leave. Sonny tells Jason, Cyrus really wants them to go after Julian, doesn’t he?

Taggert says Carly is absolutely right; Cyrus is the real problem. All roads point back to him. Carly says, Sonny is on Taggert’s side. He gave Taggert a place to stay, and protected him and Trina. It might not look the way it used to, but at least he’s not really dead. He says, it’s an adjustment, relying on Sonny, and Carly says their daughters are best friends. Trina and Portia are welcome in their home anytime; their families are connected. She remembers when Taggert worked for the PCPD. He was relentless in trying to take Sonny down. He had his justifications, but today, this is where they are, united in a common enemy. Taggert says, agreed, but he wishes Sonny would work faster. He needs to get the job done now. He tells her, truth be told, he should have thrown his badge away years ago, and taken on Cyrus himself.

Trina asks the man what he knows about her dad, and he tells her, stick around. Someone will be by to tell her what she needs to know. He disappears. Not literally, but he’s gone quickly.

Jordan tells Portia, she’s so sorry. The Floating Rib was bombed on her watch. Portia says Jordan wasn’t there, and Jordan says, that’s the problem. She knows Trina and Dev were friends, and Portia says, it’s been hard, especially so close to the death of Trina’s father. Jordan says again, she’s so sorry. She and Curtis thought they were so smart, getting out of town, and out from under Cyrus’s thumb. She left in the middle of a crisis. Maybe if she’d been there, Cyrus would have given her a heads up, and she could have saved lives. Portia says, then what? If Cyrus found out she’d gone against him, he would have threatened TJ again.

Curtis says, maybe Cyrus is dredging up the case to hurt Laura, but she says, that’s the thing. It’s a matter of public record, and she’s never hidden it. He says, maybe this new piece of the puzzle will shed some light on that. He asks if the name Florence Gray means anything to her.

Ava tells Nikolas, she was thinking about Lulu. As devastating as her condition is, she’s alive, so there’s hope. There’s a chance Lulu will wake up one day, and there will be one less death on the hands of whoever planted the bomb. He says, two people are dead, and his sister is comatose. Whoever planted the bomb should go straight to hell. They just need to figure out who it is. Has she heard anything he needs to know?

Martin tells Julian, he’s not a travel agent, and Julian isn’t asking for legal assistance. Julian says Martin might want to help him. When he was hiding there, he started snooping around. He found a safe, and figured there was cash in it that Martin didn’t want to declare. Martin says that’s not Julian’s business, but Julian says, it is. He might want that cash as well as Martin’s car keys. If he goes back to his place, or uses his car or bank accounts, they’ll know he’s alive, and that’s not good. Martin asks, why on God’s green earth does Julian think he’d agree? Julian says he figured Martin would say that, so while he was snooping, he happened to find an interesting picture tucked away in one of Martin’s old law journals. It seems as if Mr. Gray has secrets of his own.   

Laura tells Curtis, Gray is a common name. He says, that’s what they  thought when they ran into Martin, but the name Florence is more distinctive. She asks if they think Florence Gray is connected to Cyrus, and he says they’re fairly certain that’s who Cyrus was keeping at the Wilson address. Laura says, and the recipient of the loving postcard? and he says, that’s the theory. They traced the medical supplies to a company in Mexico City. They looked at the records, and came up with an account at that address. Any chance she recognizes it? He tells her to remember she can tell him anything. Laura says, her biological father was married to Florence Gray.

Portia asks Jordan if Cyrus is responsible for the explosion, and Jordan says they’re almost certain. Portia says if Jordan had been in town, Cyrus would have threatened her to get her cooperation, so it’s best she was out of the equation. Mac Scorpio is sparing her grief. Jordan says, true. Cyrus doesn’t have the same history or leverage with Mac, and Portia says, maybe Mac can actually make a case, and Trina can see the man responsible for her father’s death brought to justice.

Carly says she knows Taggert is getting anxious to see his daughter, but Sonny knows what he’s doing. Taggert says he’s tired of just doing nothing, and thinking of Trina grieving another loss. He saw Dev on Halloween night , and he seemed like a decent kid. Carly says, it’s not Sonny’s fault, but Taggert says, it’s Sonny’s fault he hasn’t gotten Cyrus yet. Maybe Carly’s daughter is used to danger, but his isn’t. She says, how dare he act holier than thou with her? He would have framed Sonny if he’d had the chance. Compromises have consequences, and his didn’t just affect him, but they affected her family. All of this is on him.

Cyrus approaches Trina’s table, and she says she’s supposed to be meeting someone. He says the someone she’s supposed to meet is him, and she says she’s out of there. He says he only has her best interest at heart, and she says, like what he did to her father? Cyrus had her kidnapped, so he could ambush her father, and her dad died saving her. Why would she want to listen to him? He says she’s mistaken. Her father didn’t sacrifice his life to save her. He’s not actually dead. He’s very much alive.

Portia tells Jordan, they came to a meeting of the minds when Jordan told her the truth about her relationship with Cyrus. Is there anything else Jordan has to tell her? Jordan says, actually, there is something she hasn’t told Portia.

Laura tells Curtis, her biological father is Gordon Gray, and his wife’s name was Florence. Is it even possible it’s the same person? Curtis says, Florence Gray lived in Port Charles. Coincidence? Maybe. Laura says, they lived in Port Charles for a few years, but then they moved. She doesn’t know where they went. He takes it they weren’t close, and she says, not at all. Gordon was her mother’s mentor, and they had an affair. When she was born, they told her mother that she was dead. He says he’s sorry; that’s awful. Laura says, fortunately for her, she was raised by a wonderful family, but she didn’t actually live with Leslie until she was a teenager. He says a lot has happened in her life, and she says she was no easy teen either, but Leslie never gave up on her. That’s why they became close. She was fortunate they had such a close relationship. If Cyrus is responsible for what happened to her daughter… He says he feels the same way, but if they can figure out if Florence Gray was the woman married to Laura’s biological father, and can figure out why Cyrus was taking care of her, they might have leverage.

Carly tells Taggert, Instead of complaining that Sonny hasn’t taken down Cyrus the way he’d like, he might want to be grateful for his life. They’re doing this for Trina, not him.   

Trina asks if Cyrus really just said her father was alive. She’d be an idiot to believe anything he told her. She was there when her father died. She was at the funeral, and watched when they put the coffin in the ground. She doesn’t know where he’s coming up with this information. He says he never did anything to her father. Her father pretended to be dead to protect her from the criminals who kidnapped her to get to him.

Ava tells Nikolas, there are rumors Cyrus was involved, but he’s too slippery to let himself be implicated. Nikolas says, if evidence shows up pointing to Cyrus, he’s a dead man, and Ava tells him, let the police do their job, so when Lulu wakes up, she doesn’t have to visit him in prison. They go inside, and Nikolas thanks her for being optimistic about Lulu. Despite the miserable way their marriage started, he’s relieved to have her by his side. When Lulu was taken away, he needed her support. Ava says, by his side is where she was meant to be, and Nikolas says, not just for show? She was so late getting there, he was worried. Ava says she had to move heaven and earth to get there, and she was willing to do that. Is he? Nikolas asks, so are they married for real? She moves toward him, and says, last night she heard herself say, I love Nikolas, and she meant it. As far as she’s concerned, their marriage is as real as gets.

Martin tells Julian the photo is doctored, but Julian asks if he’s sure, considering what it says on the back. He wouldn’t mind if the picture found its way into Sonny’s hands? Martin moves for the pepper spray, but Julian grabs it. He suggests they play it nice and simple, and tells Martin to open the safe

Sonny tells Jason, he’s convinced Cyrus has something to do with the bombing, and believes Julian helped, but he doesn’t think it was Julian’s idea. Cyrus is trying to put enough air between him and Julian to make them think his hands are clean. He thinks he covered his tracks, but he’s wrong

Cyrus tells Trina, he admires the way Taggert protected her. A parent’s love for a child is the most beautiful thing in the world, and her father is brimming with love for her. She says, if it’s true, where is he?

Taggert wants Carly to know he’s truly grateful to her and Sonny for hiding him, and everything they’re doing for Trina. He’s getting angry and frustrated, and has time on his hands. He’s been thinking about how Trina had to hear he was a corrupt cop. Carly says Josslyn told her that Trina is determined to set the record straight and clear his name. She refuses to see him as anything but a hero. He says he told Sonny that the only reason he hasn’t killed Cyrus is, if he’s caught, he’ll go to prison, or he’ll be on the run his whole life, and he’ll lose Trina forever. She tells him to trust Sonny. He’ll know when the time is right. Taggert asks what if Cyrus gets rid of Sonny first?   

Nikolas tells Ava that he doesn’t want any threat to their happiness, including Ryan. She says, Ryan’s not a threat; he’s in a coma from the stabbing Nikolas claimed he arranged. Nikolas says, as long as Ryan is alive, there’s a chance he’ll continue to blackmail her, and demand they divorce, or he’ll expose what he knows about Julian. Ava says they don’t have to worry about Julian. He’s not a problem anymore. Nikolas asks what she means.   

Martin opens the safe, and tells Julian, relax. He doesn’t keep a firearm, but he’s rethinking that for the future. He does have a letter written by Julian’s late wife. The original was delivered to Ryan per Nelle’s instructions. It makes for interesting reading; how Julian helped steal Sonny’s grandson. Julian says once Sonny realizes Martin has been sitting on that information for months, he’ll kill him. Martin should destroy it for his own sake. Martin takes out a bunch of money stacks, and puts them on the desk. Julian picks them up, and Martin says he gave Julian everything he has. Now it’s Julian’s turn. Give him back his photo.

Portia asks what Jordan needs to tell her, and Jordan says they uncovered a clue that could lead to Cyrus’s vulnerability. They can use it against him, and get the upper hand. What she’s trying to say is, this could be over soon, and they can stop agonizing about their kids. She’ll know TJ is safe, and Trina will get the justice she deserves.   

Laura tells Curtis, she doesn’t know much about her biological father, and even less about his wife. She doesn’t see how there could possibly be a connection to Cyrus, and wondered why the interest in David Hamilton. What is Cyrus doing, and where is it leading? Curtis said the only pattern that jumped out was that Laura seemed to be at the center.

Cyrus tells Trina that he’s sorry; he has no idea where her father is. He only knows her father is still alive. She asks if he has any photos or videos, and he says he doesn’t, but he got the information from a trusted source. He didn’t think she should continue to hurt and grieve over someone who’s still in the land of the living. If he could locate her father, he would, but most of the people in town are hostile toward him. Trina says she wonders why, and Cyrus says he admires her spirit. He sincerely hopes she finds her father. There’s nothing better than a child reuniting with the parent they love. Trina suggests he stop acting like she believes what he’s saying; she doesn’t. Not one word. Cyrus jets.

Taggert tells Carly, the odds are good that Cyrus will kill more people than he already has, the longer Sonny waits.

Cyrus joins his righthand dude, and says he met with Trina. Mark his words, she’ll find Taggert if he’s there. And when she does, he’ll be there to kill Taggert – again.

Jason tells Sonny, Cyrus paid the bartender to call Julian, who delivered the bomb for Cyrus. Sonny says, they’re both responsible, and Jason says, Cyrus is the bigger threat. Sonny says he hopes they find him alive. They can use him against Cyrus. Jason says other people have survived the fall. There’s a good chance Julian is alive. Sonny wonders where he is, since Ava isn’t hiding him. They have to find Julian.

Julian tells Martin, no can do. He needs the photo for insurance purposes. He starts loading up Martin’s briefcase with the money, and Martin says, for heaven’s sake. Not another briefcase. He gave Julian what he wanted; that was the deal. Julian says, it wasn’t a deal, and don’t mention he saw him. If he finds out Martin mentioned his name, he’ll make sure Martin’s deep, dark secret gets exposed. He closes the briefcase, and asks if Martin isn’t going to wish him good luck and God speed. Martin says, go to hell, and Julian says he’s going to spend his life looking over his shoulder. He’s already there.

Nikolas tells Ava he knows how desperate Julian was. He kept finding excuses to stay in Port Charles. He prays Julian is gone now, and asks how certain she is. She says she knows, and wants him to leave it there. He asks where her brother is, and she says, he’s not a problem anymore. Nikolas says Ava told him that she loved him. If that’s true, tell him. She says, Julian is dead, and he’s dead because of her.

Jax asks if Nina forgives Valentin, Ava and Nikolas come to an understanding, and Carly asks Sonny to tell her that he’s going to make Julian pay

Southern Charm

A state of emergency was declared in South Carolina, and Craig’s voiceover (I guess he’s officially replaced Cameran) told us, as Georgia and the rest of the world went into lockdown, they got used to their new normal. We saw what everyone was doing at home, and the Black Lives Matter protests after the death of George Floyd. Craig said, after two months that felt like two years, restrictions were lifted, and Charleston was back – sort of. 

June. People were masked and cleaning like mad. Michael waited for Patricia, as she grilled him about what supplies he had in the car, like antibacterial wipes and masks. Patricia came out wearing a black lace skirt with slits up to there, and Michael joked that her skirt was indecent. She said, good; too bad no one was around to enjoy it. In Patricia’s interview, she said that both she and Michael were at an age where they were vulnerable, and had started a self-imposed quarantine in March, along with Whitney, who had come to visit. She told Michael, her hair was so long, she felt like an aging hippie, and in her interview, said Michael had been coloring her hair, and she looked like a skunk. They drove to Krispy Kreme, as we all would want to.

Craig’s new girlfriend Natalie was staying with him. In his interview, he said he was pretty sure he loved her. He said, at this point, only the major cities had problems with the virus, and he thought people were overreacting. He claimed he was careful, but we saw clips of him and Shep being not so careful. All of his major deals were on hold, and his business partner thought they should throw an HSN virtual pillow party. Craig balked at the idea, saying his chemistry was better in person, but dude was like, um… we’re in the middle of a pandemic. Shep’s girlfriend Taylor was staying with him as well, and told Shep that she couldn’t smell her armpits. In Shep’s interview, he said, at first he was crazy about taking precautions, but then started not caring. Quarantining with Taylor, he’d gotten a peek into the white picket fence life. He’d looked over the fence and didn’t hate it.

Madison said homeschooling sucked, but luckily son Hudson was smarter than her. Austen met his parents and sister for dinner, and even though they were sitting outside, it looked like no one was observing much of any kind of restrictions. In his interview, Austen said his entire business was based around bars and restaurants, and they were down 46%. The beer was sitting in a warehouse going bad. Madison got together with her mom and aunt, and told them that before quarantine, she and Austen had been good, but she had a five-year plan, and Austen had been doing the opposite. Austen griped that Madison had put him in the backseat, while she was bettering her life by doing things like going to the gym. His sister suggested maybe Madison was on to something, and he should grow up or get out. Reaching for justification, Austen’s mom wondered if Austen and Madison were really compatible. Madison said she was conflicted, and her mom said she was successful and independent. She’d done it all herself, and was a good mom. She didn’t need to have a man. She told them that she was having a birthday party for Austen on a private island.

John said he finally got his boys. They couldn’t come for spring break, but now it was dad camp. Madison called and told him about the birthday party. Leva called Danni, and asked if she’d talked to Kathryn. (This was at the time of the monkey emoji debacle.) Danni said she’d reached out, but she knew that Kathryn needs her space sometimes. Leva said Kathryn had reached out to her a lot, asking for advice. She thought maybe she was Kathryn’s only non-white friend. In Danni’s interview, she said it was a f*** you to her. She’d been there for Kathryn when her mother passed away, and had even been the one to tell her. Leva asked if Danni knew about the statue of John C. Calhoun, who was one of Kathryn’s ancestors. He’d been Vice President twice, and fought to keep slavery, it being his last dying wish. Leva said they were having a conference about taking down the statue, and invited Danni. In Leva’s interview, she thought being able to have a conversation without it being radical was like a weight being lifted. She thought it would be healing for the community, and a powerful first step.

We saw several news clips about Calhoun being 7th Vice President, and supporting slavery. The meeting was at the base of the statue, and Leva said Calhoun Street used to be Boundary Street, and Calhoun was looking down on the boundary between Black and white people. The other Madison from Gwynn’s joined them, along with a few of Leva’s friends. State Representative and minority leader Todd Rutherford gave a speech about why the statue should come down, and said it was time to move on. There weren’t that many people, but that could have been due to the pandemic. In her interview, Leva said Charleston was an old Southern city that was used to everyone being quiet and staying in their place. Leva said she thought it was a beautiful first step. They had more work to do, but taking down the symbols that triggered old pain was a start.    

Kathryn told us, during quarantine, she and Thomas were week on/week off with the kids. She had to figure out homeschooling now, and was trying to make the best of it. Madison called, and Kathryn told her that she had to be creative with entertaining the kids. Madison told her about the party, and said it was really a reason to get everyone together and have fun. Kathryn said she was super depressed about the emoji thing, but Madison didn’t know what was going on. Kathryn said it was a genuine mistake, and had nothing to do with politics or race. In Kathryn’s interview, she said a friend was promoting a Trump party, and although she wasn’t a Trump supporter, her friend was being bullied. Someone started trolling her, and she posted it along with, that’s how seriously I take this, thinking the emoji looked funny. Madison said she had to watch what she said, and think about other people. Kathryn told her that she’d gotten so much hate online, she’d been in a bubble lately.

Leva and friends went to Republic for some food and drink. Danni said Kathryn never talked about her family history, and Madison said she thought Kathryn should be doing more. They toasted to what could be an important day in history, and to change. Danni admitted to being ignorant, and everyone agreed full history wasn’t taught enough in school. Leva said they needed to remove the things that glorified enslavement, and one of the women said these historical figures lived in a time period when they fought for a right they thought existed. Germany wasn’t still flying Nazi flags. Leva said she struggled with Kathryn, and thought Kathryn had to know what was a trigger. If it was her great-grandfather’s statue, she’d know. One of Leva’s friends said Kathryn should speak out; use her voice in a positive light and move on. In Leva’s interview, she said Kathryn should have been there to say it was okay. She told the group that she informed Kathryn about the statue being taken down, and Kathryn said she didn’t care; it was ugly. Leva thought Kathryn was trying to be funny, but she was offended. Madison suggested Kathryn didn’t think that way because of her privilege, and one of the other women said she wished she knew what privilege felt like. Danni thought Kathryn was just selfish, saying, she had no empathy, and couldn’t put herself in other people’s shoes. She ignored everything. Madison said, obviously Kathryn couldn’t help who her ancestors were, but she should speak out. The monkey emoji was brought up, and Madison said there was more to it than that. Kathryn feigned ignorance, but she’d told the person to stop using their minority claim, and they were what was wrong with Charleston. Kathryn had tried to say she didn’t know who she talking to, but with a statement like that, she did, so they fired her. We saw a news blurb that said Kathryn didn’t reflect the values of the brand, and had been terminated. Leva asked if Danni was going to continue their friendship, but Danni said they hadn’t talked in months. Madison said Kathryn reached out when it benefited her, and Danni knew that. IMO, Kathryn wasn’t necessarily thinking in a racist way, but she definitely wasn’t thinking. (Read all about it in the links below, and decide for yourself.) I also think what Danni said is true; she lacks empathy, and she’s very focused on herself, but I don’t know why. She’s been through a lot, and you never know what’s really going on with a person. This is why I don’t think cancel culture is a good look. Most of the time anyway. People make mistakes, and while they should be held accountable for their actions, icing them out isn’t going to teach anybody anything, and I would hope that would be a part of the change we’d like to see in the world. Okay, getting down off my soapbox now.

Shep met with his trainer at an empty gym, and brought Lil Craig along, the real star of this show. He wondered where Austen was, and said it wasn’t like him not to show up. He called Austen, who said something wasn’t right. He was feeling flu-y, and achy. Shep said that was scary. He thought if Austen felt better the next day, he was in the clear, but he wasn’t a doctor. Austen promised he’d bounce back quick, and in Shep’s interview, he said, if you feel sick during a pandemic, and the symptoms are flu, it’s covid. He called Craig, and told him Austen had bailed because of he was feeling flulike. Shep said he was wigging out, because they’d all gone out the past weekend, and Craig said he felt fine. Shep said he did too, and wondered if Madison was still going to have the party. Shep said again that he was wigging out about Austen.

Three days later. Austen made a Zoom call to Madison, but struggled trying to tell her, since he’s such a big baby. He finally spit out that he’d recently tested positive for corona, and obviously they’d just gotten together. We saw a clip of Austen and Madison out with Craig and Shep, and Austen said he was surprised since he’d just tested negative. Madison said he and Craig went out to bars, stayed out all night, and had people over. Now she and Hudson were at risk. She called him selfish, and said she was trying to throw a party for him. The salon had been closed for months, and just reopened. Now everything was legit ruined. He said he could have gotten it from her, since she was working. That’s where I would have hung up, and never talked to him again, but Madison called him an effing idiot, and asked if he’d never heard of protection. She stayed pretty calm, but she was definitely seething, and said her son could have been exposed. Austen said he was praying Hudson wasn’t positive, and hoped and prayed the important people in his life, like her, were negative. He said they didn’t need to hash all this out right now, and she told him that he wasn’t setting foot in her house unless she knew he was negative. He said he understood she was pissed, but they’d talk when he came out of it. She hung up on him, and he said, really? Yes. Really, Austen. As Madison said, you’re an effing idiot.

Next time, Shep tests negative, but everyone else is positive; Austen says it’s not good with Madison; John chats up Madison; Craig joins QVC virtually to sell pillows; the Calhoun statue comes down; and Dani confronts Kathryn.

🐒 It’s All About That Monkey…

Take your pick of viewpoints.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/kathryn-dennis-addresses-monkey-emoji-controversy-southern-charm

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/814462/southern-charm-kathryn-dennis-sends-monkey-emoji-to-black-activist/

Kathryn Dennis Addresses Monkey Emoji Controversy Again; Admits She Was Wrong

🎅 Have a Holly Jolly Pandemic…

You’ve missed a few, but there are many TV specials to come.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/30/must-watch-2020-christmas-specials-to-get-in-the-holiday-spirit/

NYC preps for the holidays. Such as they are.

https://nypost.com/2020/11/27/nyc-holiday-season-is-underway-the-posts-week-in-photos/

At least the tree doesn’t look so skimpy anymore.

https://nypost.com/2020/12/02/midtown-a-ghost-town-before-rockefeller-center-tree-lighting/

🏀 Gotta Bounce…

There will be time for tea tomorrow, but for now, stay safe, stay thinking before you speak (or post), and stay skeptical of mob bosses bearing good news.

Dec3

December 2, 2020 – Cyrus Meets With Sonny, Pandemic In the OC, Mary’s Met Gala Luncheon & Weather

Posted on by
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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

I missed the very beginning, but here are the takeaway points. Peter and Maxie surprised Anna and Finn, along with some welcome home signs made by Violet. Peter told Anna that he thought Maxie was glad to get her mind off Lulu, but was spaced out when they all sat down to talk. Cyrus showed up as soon as Curtis and Jordan got back, and encouraged Jordan to get back to work. Curtis wondered if he was on to them, but Jordan said Portia had doctored her medical records perfectly. Josslyn and Trina packed up Dev’s things, and Josslyn gave Brando a bracelet that had belonged to Dev, and said Dev had considered Brando a good friend. Franco told Cameron that he was sorry about Dev, but Cameron didn’t want to talk about it. At Pozzulo’s Jason told Sonny the shoreline had been searched for miles, but there was no sign of Julian. Sonny thought Sam needed to know that Julian was behind the bombing at The Floating Rib. And away we go.

Curtis thanks Jordan for the medical records she so brilliantly copied in Mexico. He tells her, the person Cyrus was housing in Oregon is Florence Gray. The connection to Cyrus is still unclear, but he tracked her back to Port Charles. She and her husband lived there years ago, but there’s not much information online. Jordan says he needs paper records. Does he have any idea how to get them? Curtis says, if anyone got sick while they were there, there would be hospital records, and Jordan says, what a coincidence. She has an appointment later.   

Carly calls upstairs, telling Trina that her mom is there. She tells Portia that Trina will be right down, and Portia thanks Carly for letting Trina stay over. She asks how Josslyn and Trina are holding up, and Carly says, they’re processing. They’re going to be doing that for a while. One minute, they’re crying, and  the next, they’re laughing about something they did with Dev and Cameron. Portia says she’s trying not to hover, and Carly says, Lucas called, and told her how Portia helped with Lulu. The entire family is grateful. Portia wishes she could have done more. She’s sick of telling that people that, and wishes she could actually do it. Trina comes down, and thanks Carly for having her. Carly says, anytime, and they hug. Trina asks Portia if they’re getting breakfast, and Portia says they are, but she needs to make a quick stop on the way.

While Finn and Anna chat with Peter, Maxie suddenly says she wants to talk about Alex. What’s up with her? Why was she obsessed with Maxie and the baby?

Cameron asks Franco what they do to trim the tumor, and Franco says, they took a little bit off the top and sides. Elizabeth says the medical term is debulking. It reduces the size of the tumor. Cameron says, but it’s still there, and Franco says, it’s smaller, but present and accounted for. Cameron asks, what’s next? and Elizabeth says they need to take it a step at a time. Franco needs to recover first. Franco says he’d like to spend some quality time with the people he loves, and Cameron says, it’s great news. Franco tells Elizabeth that he has a sugar craving, and she leaves for the vending machine. Franco says, Cameron’s mom is gone, so… Stepfather to stepson, man to man, he’s scared. He tells Cameron, his turn, and Cameron says he’s more than scared. He’s terrified.

Cyrus opens the door to Brando, and says once again he appreciates Brando coming in despite his loss. Brando says he wants to keep busy, and Cyrus says, perhaps that’s best. If there’s anything he can do… Brando says, actually, there might be, and Cyrus says, name it. Brando says he’d do anything to get his hands on the  bastard who killed his son. Cyrus wouldn’t happen to know who it is, would he?

Cyrus asks Brando how he would know who did this heinous crime, and Brando says, Sonny has a lot of enemies, and he knows Cyrus keeps his ear to the ground. Cyrus says he can’t fault Brando for asking, and he’s glad Brando did. Sonny might assume he had a hand in the situation, and he needs to clear up any unfounded misconceptions. He asks if Brando thinks his cousin would respond to an appeal from him, and Brando says he and Sonny aren’t exactly on the best terms, but if Cyrus wants, he’ll reach out. Cyrus says, that would be ideal. He says, Brando has a phone call to make, and trusts Brando would be more comfortable without him hovering. Brando leaves, and Cyrus’s right-hand guy (whose name I don’t remember) comes out. He asks if Cyrus believes it’s in his best interest to meet with Sonny, and Cyrus says, it’s in his best interest that Sonny believes his hands are clean.

Anna tells Maxie, her sister wasn’t always like this. She’s done terrible things, but years ago, Alex saved her life. Maxie says, wonderful. She’s sure they’re all grateful. Go, Alex. But more recently she tried to kill Anna, and that doesn’t explain why… Anna says, it kind of does, oddly. In her own way, family is important to Alex, but because of her choices and the mistakes she made, it kept her from being a part of one. She knew the WSB would never stop searching for her. Maxie says, so Alex had to pretend to be Anna. It’s so sad, having to pretend to be someone else to others to love you, but it’s not you they love. They love a lie. Peter asks if it wouldn’t make more sense for Alex to stay far away from the people who know Anna well. She was falling all over them at dinner. Maxie says, it was creepy the way Alex wanted all the details of their lives.  

Franco says he wants Cameron to fight; he needs Cameron to fight. He’s going to do anything and everything to be there for Cameron, his brothers, and his mom, and continue being the husband and father he loves being. Cameron says, he’d better, and Franco says he needs Cameron to promise he’ll fight the impulse to look for the worst in every situation, and force himself to expect great things to happen to him. Can Cameron do that for him? Cameron says, okay, and Franco tells him, come here. He hugs Cameron, and says, onward.

Josslyn gets frustrated with the packing tape (been there), and Sam says, let her help. Josslyn says she’d give anything to be putting effort into Dev’s yearbook page, or helping him with his college apps. He was so excited to be going to college in the states. It’s not fair. Sam says, it’s definitely not fair, and Josslyn says, Dev deserved so much better. Sam says, what happened is terrible, and Josslyn says she knows Sonny and Jason do their best to protect her, and she loves them so much. She never wants to complain, but sometimes she has to wonder what life would be like if they were safe, normal people.

Jason puts Brando on speaker phone, and says they’re listening. Brando says, Cyrus wants to meet, and Sonny asks if he said why. Brando says he wanted to clear up any impression Sonny might have about his involvement with the explosion at The Floating Rib. What should he tell Cyrus? Sonny says if Cyrus wants to talk, he’s willing to listen, but he’s got terms.

Martin asks Elizabeth for a word, and she asks if there’s something she can help him with. He says he represented her husband for a time, and she says she remembers he tried to convince the court that Franco was Drew because he had Drew’s memories. He says that brings him to the point. He has Franco’s will. Elizabeth says, when he thought he was Drew… and Martin says, he filed a will, yes. Recent events reminded him that he still had it. It’s technically Franco’s property, and he should feel free to dispose of it as he sees fit. As for him, he’s officially off the case. He hopes she accepts his best wishes for her husband’s speedy recovery.

Anna says, it’s not the first time Alex tried something like this. She had Anna drugged up and locked in a hospital for months, but was eventually found out. Finn says, by Emma, if his memory serves. Anna says, Emma knew who she was, and Maxie says she’s embarrassed to admit they didn’t figure it out. Anna says, Alex was very good at making people believe it. She was convincing enough to insert herself into a family she wasn’t part of. Maxie asks why Alex would bother to kidnap her, and Anna says she was rescued. She’s fine, the baby is fine, Finn is… She looks at him, and he says, not in the traditional sense, but he’s on the mend. Maxie says, but Lulu’s not, and Anna says she’s so sorry. Maxie says she keeps trying to tell herself that Lulu will make it out of this soon. She’s a Spencer. Anna agrees, she’s a Spencer, and she thinks Lulu would want Maxie to concentrate on the good things in her life; the baby, their wedding, Anna and Finn’s wedding. They haven’t told anyone about the changes they’ve made yet.

Jordan and Curtis meet with Portia, and Curtis tells her, they found a lead. Cyrus had someone stashed in a house in Oregon. They don’t know where that person is now, but they lived in Port Charles at one point. Portia says, that’s something. What do they need from her? Curtis tells her not to feel obligated, and she can opt out at any time. She says, it’s not game to her. She wants to bring down a drug dealer and murderer who directly affected her family. What do they need? Jordan says, by the time they got home, Cyrus was knocking on her front door, and Portia says, even a medical investigator wouldn’t be able to tell that Jordan’s documents weren’t true. Jordan says Cyrus is pressuring her to get back to work, and Portia says she’ll refuse to clear Jordan. Anything else? Curtis says, they need access to medical files from 40 years ago.

Cyrus tells his guy, Julian made claims that Taggert is still alive. If he is, they need to drag him out of hiding. Julian is the perfect means of disposal. Brando comes back, and says he got ahold of Sonny. Cyrus asks if Brando was persuasive, and Brando says, yes, but Sonny has one condition. If they meet, Cyrus has to come alone.

Josslyn tells Sam, sometimes, when she’s in Australia, she pretends that’s what her life is like all the time; no lockdowns, no sudden trips to Puerto Rico, no Friday night game with a bodyguard. Sam asks how Josslyn thinks that would make her feel, but Josslyn honestly doesn’t know. It’s not possible. She says, don’t get her wrong. She’d never want to leave. Australia is great for vacations, even long ones, but her life is there. She guesses that’s just the way it is. Over there, life is one thing, and here, it’s this. Carly has been listening outside the door, and comes in. She asks Josslyn how the playlist for Dev’s service is coming, but Josslyn says she put it aside to pack boxes. Carly suggests she and Sam let her get to it. She’ll be downstairs if Josslyn needs anything. Josslyn thanks Sam for listening, and Sam says, of course (🍷).

Trina sees Cameron at the hospital, and he asks if she’s cutting school. She says she’s thinking about it; him? He says he’s not going back today. She asks how Franco is doing, and he says, the brain tumor came back. She says, that’s awful; she’s sorry. She asks what the prognosis is, and he says, they were able to remove some, but not all of it. The rest they’ll treat with radiation. She says, that sounds encouraging, and he guesses it is, but he feels guilty that Dev died because he was in The Floating Rib. Dev’s life is over, and it seems selfish to be happy about the news regarding Franco. She says he can grieve and still be happy. He can be angry and sad about one thing, and feel happy about the other.

Carly says she knows what Sam is going through; she’s been where Sam is. Sam says thinking that Danny and Jason could have been caught in the explosion, is beyond terrifying. If she’s questioning all this, how the hell can she stay with it? Carly says, talk to her, but leave Josslyn out of it, and Sam says she didn’t mean to overstep. Josslyn wanted to talk, and she was just listening. Carly says the kids can’t see that Sam is struggling, but she does because she’s a mom. Sam says she doesn’t know what to do. The information about the explosion, then lockdown. Danny is old enough to understand and ask questions. What is she supposed to say? He’s going ask why daddy is leaving at all hours. Is she supposed to keep saying, great, dad is back again tonight? Carly says she can tell them the truth when they’re older, but Sam wants to tell him now. Carly says she doesn’t owe him a full explanation, and discussing it might make him anxious and afraid. They don’t need to tell their kids the truth if the truth will hurt them. She learned to cope that way, and so can Sam. The kids need to see that she and Jason love each other, and have faith in each other. Sam says their son almost died because Jason took him to play pool. She needs better than that for her kids.

Finn tells Maxie and Peter, they’ve decided to throw in the towel on a formal wedding. Maxie asks if Anna is okay with that, and Anna says it was her idea. Maxie says, okay, continue, and Finn says they decided on something small and intimate, with the people closest to them. Peter asks if he’s still invited, and Finn says he can be Maxie’s plus one. Maxie says she can understand them not wanting to make a fuss, and Peter says, no, she can’t. She says she understands it happens, and Anna says they don’t want to put it off any longer than they have. Peter tells Finn that Violet has some surprises when she comes home from preschool. They involve Roxie and some new dance moves. Finn says his emotional support animal will need an emotional support animal. Peter goes to get their coats, and Maxie tells Anna, one thing Alex said has her freaking out. Alex said she and Peter were alike. What does Anna think she meant? Anan says she thinks Alex was trying to trouble them both because she could. That’s who she was. Her advice is, Maxie needs to let it go. Alex is dead now, and she wouldn’t want Maxie to waste a moment of happiness because of her. Peter comes back, and asks what he missed, but Maxie says, nothing. She and Anna were just talking about how much they love him. He tells Anna, I love you too, mom, and he and Maxie leave.

At the bistro, Trina tells Portia that she thinks she’ll go to school. Portia says it’s understandable if Trina wanted to take a few days off, but Trina says she wants to feel normal, and ancient history will do that. Portia asks what they’re studying, and Trina says, The Iliad. It’s all about justice; what’s not to love? She says she can’t have Portia looking over her shoulder, and Portia says she’s leaving, but come home right after school.  

Cyrus shows up at Pizzulo’s with Brando, and Jason says he was told to come alone. Cyrus says Brando is Sonny’s family. How could he not bring him? Jason tells a guy to put Brando at a table, and Cyrus goes into Sonny’s office. Cyrus asks if Sonny is going to offer him some Corinthos Coffee, but Sonny says he’s fresh out. Brando said Cyrus wanted him to tell him something about the explosion at The Floating Rib. He’s listening. Cyrus says, to begin with, his sincere condolences on the death of Sonny’s cousin Dev. Sonny says he’s running short on patience; cut to the chase. Tell him what he wants.   

Martin sees Jordan and Curtis, and says he heard Jordan was under the weather. He hopes she’s better soon. As he walks by, he says, Mr. Ashford, and Curtis says, Mr. Gray. When he’s gone, Curtis looks at Jordan, and says, Mr. Gray…

Elizabeth goes back to Franco’s room, and Franco says Cameron was showing him some videos. Elizabeth says she smells social media happening, and Franco says Cameron is trying to convince him to do a dance number with his brothers as soon as he’s out of this bed. Elizabeth suggests he sleep on it, and gives him the candy she got, saying, here’s his sugar. She says she loves him, and Cameron says he does too, but he’s never going to admit it. Franco tells him, don’t forget their deal, and Cameron leaves with Elizabeth. In the hallway, Elizabeth asks, what deal? Cameron says, it’s just something they came up with to make their futures brighter. Franco starts to fall asleep, and hears Peter’s voice saying, I’m telling you, I want this to happen.

Finn asks if Anna is okay, and she says, actually she’s fine. Right at this moment, everything is great; at home, with their wedding happening in a few weeks, Peter and Maxie are happy. Everything is looking up for a change.

Peter asks if Maxie has something on her mind; she doesn’t seem happy. She says, Finn almost died. Peter doesn’t think they should concentrate on that, and Maxie says, they’ll concentrate on happy things, like their wedding. She has some ideas she wants to run by him.   

Trina looks at the picture of her and Taggert on her phone. She says, ancient history has been around thousands of years; it will be there tomorrow. A guy approaches her table, and asks if she’s Trina Robinson.

Josslyn looks at Dev’s jacket, and packs it.  

Carly tells Sam, they all want that for their kids; a perfect life with no disappointments and no danger. But that life doesn’t exist. They have a father who loves them, and would do anything to protect them, but doesn’t always tell them everything. Sam asks what she tells them. Scout is too young to understand, but Danny’s old enough to ask questions. Carly says, tell them that she and their father love them, and whatever is happening in the world around them, they have a mother who will always keep them safe.

Brando sits at the table, and looks at Dev’s bracelet. He puts it on.

Cyrus tells Sonny, he’s not there about what he wants. He’s there for Sonny. Sonny asks, how’s that? and Cyrus says he’s there to give Sonny everything he’s looking for.

Tomorrow, Curtis tells Laura they might have a lead, Cyrus tells Sonny to look no further than Julian, and Carly tells someone that all of this is on them.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Still in Palm Springs, Kelly, Braunwyn, and Elizabeth went to the Frey House, designed by Albert Frey. In Kelly’s interview, she revealed she was a history buff, and loved the mid-century modern that was now hip, funky, and cool. Like her. It wasn’t my style, but still beautiful. It used a lot of natural elements, which I love, and was built around a section of mountain. Kelly thought the house was like Arizona meets Cabo, and in her interview, she said it had a lot of windows. She and Rick could live there and be expositionists [sic]. Seriously, someone needs to get that girl a dictionary. Shannon, Gina, and Emily went on a hike. Shannon wanted to get the toxins out of her body. We flashed back to Shannon talking nonsense when she was drunk at Braunwyn’s vow renewal. The best quote of the night was when Shannon said, you know, the thing about the thing. They discussed Elizabeth’s divorce, and in Emily’s interview, she said she’d met Elizabeth before the other women did, and they’d connected. Now she didn’t know who this emotional chick was. Kelly told Elizabeth that she didn’t think they were getting the whole story, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said, because of the gag order, she couldn’t discuss her net worth or what she’d be receiving, and she didn’t want to poke the bear right now. I think Elizabeth has some serious money issues, especially since she said she was set for life, but still didn’t want her ex to win. I would assume she’s still going to get a bundle from him too. Braunwyn and Kelly suggested she stop talking about it; it was annoying. Elizabeth said she was glad they told her. She thought she was annoying too. In her interview, Elizabeth said she wanted to be perceived as successful. Old pictures of her were shown, and she was unrecognizable, and certainly not a blonde. Gina told Shannon and Emily that Braunwyn had done a 360, and in her interview, said Braunwyn had opened up and got in her heart. Elizabeth talked about going out after the party, and said she got hammered, and Shannon went off on Jimmy. She was screaming she didn’t like his opinions, but they had no idea what he’d done. She asked if Shannon did that, and got a resounding yes. Elizabeth thought it was the alcohol, and in Braunwyn’s interview, she said it hit too close to home. It goes from drinking is fun, to fun with problems, then just problems. It seems like alcohol is the problem with a lot of them. Maybe we need The Real Housewives of Sobriety.

I have to mention. I didn’t even realize how much Tamra and Vicki brought this show down until they were gone. While there are still arguments, they seem more like normal people, and the show is more enjoyable. I even found myself laughing a few times.

We saw that WHO declared a global pandemic. Gina played tennis with friends Kyle and Tatiana, and boyfriend Travis. In her interview, she said if she got emotional, Travis was good with bringing her back. Braunwyn saw therapist Jamie, and in her interview, she said the AA meetings were good, but she went to therapy to have the one-on-one, and deal with the root issue. She was learning how to deal with life on life’s terms. She told Jamie that she’d started drinking at 14, and when she moved to DC at 30, had a miscarriage, she began drinking and abusing Xanax. She said she was so dark, she couldn’t see around or through it, and contemplated suicide, ending up in the psyche ward. Sean had been managing and protecting her since she was 18. There was a dark side to her that few people saw, but he had.

Shannon shopped with Sophie for a debutante ball gown. In her interview, Sophie explained that a deb ball was an entrance for young women into society. The dress had to be white, not ivory, not strapless, and no flowers or lace. While Shannon had been a surfer chick, Sophie’s grandmother and great-grandmother were debutantes. Meanwhile, Braunwyn took Jacob to Cos Bar, which was like Sephora, to get some makeup for him. He seems like a real sweet kid. In her interview, Braunwyn said she never had support growing up, and thought it was important for children to know they’re accepted the way they are. When she was a kid, she needed to fit in a box, but she could only be boxed for so long. Jacob’s journey inspired her, since she’d never been authentic. She said, at the end of the day, the only thing that mattered was that we be true to ourselves.

Elizabeth met with personal trainer Casie, and in her interview, said that she’d spent $2 million in legal fees with the divorce. She’d just lost 30 pounds, and losing the weight was like losing the stress of her husband. When she lost a pound, it was like shedding him from her body. She called mom Lyn, and said the women were finding it annoying that she talked about her divorce, and felt the pieces of the story didn’t fit. Lyn said they’d never understand because Elizabeth’s divorce was in the 1%, and in Elizabeth’s interview, she said the questioning was why she doesn’t get to know women. Well, it’s called friendship, and they just want to know what’s going on in her life.

Sophie tried on Shannon’s old wedding dress, from when Shannon was like a triple-zero. In Shannon’s interview, she said the dress symbolized hardship, but on the flipside, she had three beautiful children she wouldn’t trade for anything. She loved John, but wasn’t rushing into another marriage. She wanted to make sure the relationship was right, and wanted to be smart about the future. Shannon called John’s daughter Julia, who was at Costco, and Julia said they were out of Corona. Everyone thought this was sooo funny, until Julia said they also didn’t have any chicken. She should have gone to the Italian market Gina and Emily went to, since there seemed to be no shortage of anything there. Gina said the market made her feel at home. She told Emily that Shannon was freaking because Braunwyn’s grandma had gotten up close and personal at the party, and thought the pandemic was the end of the world. We flashed back to when Shannon freaked out about Zika when they were on a trip. Shannon realized that instead of antibacterial wipes, Sophie had ordered baby wipes, which were pretty much useless. In Emily’s interview, she says she didn’t know who to trust, or get information from, and wondered what to do about keeping her kids safe. Shannon got weepy over paper towels, and I felt her pain there. She didn’t want to use them in case she could never buy another one. In her interview, she explained that she had permanent scarring in her lungs, which put her at high risk.     

In Kelly’s interview, she talked about the expo being cancelled, saying it was disheartening, since they were looking for investors to get next Positive Beverage to the next level. She said toilet paper was now like a Birkin bag. You had to be on a list to get some. She told Shannon that she thought things were being blown out of proportion. Shannon reminded Kelly that she was in a high risk group, and Kelly said, there were old people, babies, and Shannon. In her interview, Kelly said Shannon was the biggest hypochondriac in the world. Manager Zach told Kelly they should put everything on hold, since it was costing them $50K a month. Gina called mom Susan, and said the kids’ school was closed for a month, and she couldn’t even get toilet paper on Amazon, but she had enough pasta for three months. In her interview, Gina said it felt like 1700 feet just got a lot smaller. I wondered if it was sadder too. Her victim impact statement was coming up, and she said it was going to affect the dynamic of her and Matt’s relationship, and she didn’t want him to be mad at her. She fretted about having six kids there with no school.

Braunwyn told Sean, when they first started canceling things, she thought it was ridiculous, but now she believed they were in uncharted territory. Daughter Rowan said she was terrified. Not of the illness, but of the older people in her life getting it. Braunwyn found Sean’s optimism annoying, and told him not to give the kids false hope. In Braunwyn’s interview, she said it freaked her out watching Rowan get anxious. She was glad she was sober to deal with it. She explained that when she had her first drink, it wasn’t the being drunk she wanted, but she wanted the anxiety to go away. She told Sean if she was drinking, she wouldn’t be able to handle what was needed. She was afraid she might drink, and said there was a bottle of tequila in the cupboard that she’d kept for company. She wanted to get rid of it. Sean was proud of the fact it was unopened and still sealed. Sean got rid of all the liquor, and Braunwyn said she was 43 days sober. She started talking about a meeting, when Sean interrupted, and she got loud, saying no one let her talk. In her interview, she said that she felt like she needed to escape, but there was nowhere to go, because she wanted to escape herself. Being home with 9 kids scared her. She was afraid she’d get bored, and that’s when she made bad choices. It’s when the little voice told her, you can have a drink. No one will know.

At this point, production on season 15 came to a halt.

Later this season, filming virtually, Shane is sick, Shannon says her relationship isn’t a perfect fairytale, quarantine divides the women, Elizabeth says she has a secret she’s been carrying her entire life, and Kelly and Braunwyn argue.    

The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City

My jury is still out on this show. I find it somewhat fascinating, since it’s slightly different from the others, but Jen. She’s about as antagonistic on a good day as Dorinda was when she was drunk off her ass.

We were still at Whitney’s 20s party, and Jen questioned Meredith about canceling the sleepover. Let me stop right here. What adult calls staying overnight a sleepover? Meredith suggested they have this conversation not at a party. In her interview, Meredith said she wanted to spare Jen the embarrassment over her kids’ discomfort at Jen’s antics when she visited. Jen then moved on to questioning her about why she was friends with Mary. Meredith wisely said she didn’t engage in other people’s conflicts. She didn’t think it helped to resolve them. Jen asked if Meredith was going to be Switzerland for the rest of her life. In Meredith’s interview, she said Jen was unhinged. Jen wanted her to pick sides, telling Meredith that if someone did something to her, Jen would back her up 100%. In Whitney’s interview, she said there was no point in trying to talk Jen down. When she got pissed, she blacked out, and there was nothing you could do. Jen wanted to know how Meredith could be friends with Mary, and asked if she was okay with this. I guess this being Mary having said Jen smelled like a hospital. She wailed that it hurt her feelings, and in her interview, she wondered where the friendship and loyalty were. Meredith said, as far as she knew, they’d apologized to each other, said they loved each other, and everything was fine. We flashed back to that, and Jen said she’d accepted Mary’s apology because it was Meredith’s birthday. In her interview, Meredith said her birthday was weeks ago. She hadn’t heard anything more, and thought everything was fine. Even if there had been a problem, they’re not ten. No one can dictate who’s friends with who. Lisa came over, and told Jen to simmer down; it was a party. Meredith said she was disengaging, since this was not productive. Jen yelled that Meredith was going with Mary, who f***ed her grandfather. In Mary’s interview, she said she heard it, but she ignored it. Clearly, there’s something about her that Jen finds fascinating, since her name is always in Jen’s mouth. In Whitney’s interview, she said, whether it was true or not, it wasn’t appropriate. Jen told Lisa that it was either her side or Mary’s. Lisa tried calming her down, and said loved them both. Jen screeched f*** you at Meredith, at which point, Meredith had enough. In her interview, Whitney said Jen had a history of freaking TF out. She decided to check on Jen out of fear, since she didn’t want Jen to freak out because she didn’t. Jen wanted to bounce, and called husband Shareiff on the phone, yelling, where are you? and telling him she wanted to leave because she’s ten and can’t take cab. In Heather’s interview, she said, it was a crazy night. Between the pole dancing, drinking, and grandpa comment, it was a good thing their Mormon friends weren’t there. The flesh would have melted off their faces. Apparently, they were serving lollipop drumsticks, which Heather desperately wanted, and demanded be guarded when she got up from the table. I thought if I heard lollipop drumsticks one more time, I was going to find her and throw one at her.

Jen split, and screamed at everyone in street that she wanted to go TF home. In her interview, Heather said the best way of dealing with Jen on a rampage was to not react. Express your love and support, end it, and move on. She told Jen it was going to be okay, she loved her, and put her in Sharieff’s car.

The next day, Mary visited Whitney, who asked if she’d enjoyed the party, and Mary said, until the end of the night. Meredith told son Brooks about Jen getting upset, and Lisa and Heather went to lunch and discussed. Meredith said that no one should speak that way to another human being, and Jen needed to apologize. Mary thought Jen hated her, and Whitney couldn’t understand it.

Meredith went to MAR gallery, and chatted with gallery owner Maren. Lisa joined her, and in Meredith’s Interview, she said she just moved into her house a couple months ago, and didn’t feel settled in. It needed a part of her, and she liked modern, clean lines that were monochromatic, in her wardrobe and décor. Lisa wanted to touch everything in the gallery, which was weird. Meredith told Lisa she dreaded telling her, but she and her husband were separating. In her interview, Meredith said she and Lisa’s families were close, and she’s held off telling Lisa. She didn’t want her feeling that she had to take sides. She told Lisa they’d been kind of regrouping, and dating each other. Lisa felt blindsided, and Meredith said Jen was the only other one who knew. Lisa said she wouldn’t talk to anyone about it.

Meredith visited Mary, and in her interview, said she’d seen her fair share of homes, and Mary’s house was disjointed from her personal style. Mary was always so put together, but her house was eclectic. We saw one room was dedicated to Christmas, and I don’t think it was December. Mary’s son hung out with them for a millisecond, and Meredith asked what he wanted to do with his life. He said he wanted to be a fashion designer, which was news to Mary, since he’d always  wanted to be a brain surgeon. In Mary’s interview, she said her son had gotten his girlfriend a dog and a Prada purse for her birthday, which was more than he’d ever gotten her. The purse would last a lot longer than the relationship. Mary and Meredith discussed the party, and Mary said she preferred intimate gatherings. She wanted to have a formal luncheon where they could be real. In her interview, she said she wanted them to hear each other. They don’t listen, and she was breaking that yoke in a fun, fashionable, her-style way. She wanted the Met Gala feeling of dressing up. Meredith said Jen had gone from zero to one hundred, and Mary said she’d been going back and forth about inviting Jen. She thought it would be better to invite her, but Jen could end up being a downer. In Mary’s interview, she said she’d be doing the right thing if she invited Jen. If she didn’t, then it looked like she was in this with her.

Jen went to Heather’s house, followed by a food delivery she’d initiated. In Heather’s interview, she said she’d never been with Jen when she didn’t order food or bring her own snacks. She was like a toddler who needed her sippy cup and fruit snacks, or all hell would break loose. Heather told Jen to talk to her about the party, while she made green bean casserole for her kids. Was she okay? Jen asked if her lips looked okay, and Heather said, physically, she was a dream, but she was a mess on the inside. In her interview, Heather said she thought Jen was crazy, but Jen was her friend. Jen told Heather that she held it together to be a supportive wife, but didn’t see her husband much. She said it was the one-year anniversary of dad’s death, and we saw a clip of her at cemetery with Shareiff. I’m not loving Jen, but I felt badly for her here, since I’ve been there. Heather asked if Jen felt lonely and/or over it, and Jen said she was lonely. Shareiff couldn’t come to her dad’s funeral because had to go to a game. She sucked it up like a good football wife, and he never knew how much it hurt her. In her interview, Heather said loyalty was everything to Jen, and she expected Meredith to be loyal, but she was putting way too much on Meredith. Jen was frustrated with Shareiff, and didn’t know what to do with her anger. Jen ranted while Heather nodded, and Jen let fly about Meredith’s separation, and subsequent dating of her husband. We saw a clip of Meredith explaining it to Jen, and in Jen’s interview, she said she’d held on to the secret for months, but she felt betrayed, so now she was going to spill it. This girl is so fourteen-years-old; I can’t stand it. Jen told Heather she’d thought Meredith was a better friend.   

Mary set up for her luncheon. She’d decided to invite Jen, since, if she didn’t, there would be negativity. Jen called Sharieff for a morning pep talk, and he told her not to bring up any negative stuff at the luncheon.

Heather and Whitney rode to the luncheon together, and Heather wasn’t sure that Mary knew what the Met Gala was, since she was using it as a theme, and the Met was a location that had a different theme every year. She thought Jen would make an entrance. She and Mary would have to cross paths at some point, and she hoped Jen would move on. She told Whitney about Meredith’s separation, and Whitney was surprised, since Meredith always said everything was okay. So much for keeping that on the DL. Heather thought, whatever happened, Meredith would handle it with dignity. They pulled up to beefeater valets, and in Whitney’s interview, she said, beefeaters and a red carpet at noon in Salt Lake City. WTF is going on here? It doesn’t make sense, but it screams Mary.

I wasn’t all that impressed with the outfits. They were nice, but didn’t exactly bring glamour to mind, and definitely not the Met Gala. There were a lot of pants suits. There was a beautiful journal set, and a box from Louis Vuitton by each place setting, and Heather was all in. In Meredith’s interview, she said she was apprehensive about seeing Jen. She didn’t know what expect, but thought an apology would be in order. Mary told them to write about something no one knew about them in the journal. She asked them to open the gift, which she said was so they could hear each other. Inside the box was a set of LV earbuds. Before lunch was served, Mary they’d be together as one, and have a beautiful lunch. She thanked God for what they had, and got teary, but Jen wasn’t buying it.

The food looked amazing, and Mary asked them to talk – one at a time with no interruptions – about something people didn’t know. Mary started since it was her party, and said she didn’t trust people; she had issues. Whitney said she was working on not caring about other people’s opinions. And for the record, she wasn’t a swinger. Lisa said she set high goals for herself, and started tearing up. Mary asked what was up with Jen, and Jen said her dad grew up in Tonga with nothing, and wanted a better life for his family in the US. She was the oldest, and in their culture, the oldest child carried a lot of responsibility. She was expected to be perfect. Growing up, everyone thought she was Black, she was stood up for homecoming, and she didn’t go on dates. She understood how it was to work, and loved her friends, but needed to have loyalty reciprocated; the kind of loyalty she learned from her father. She explained she had a tough exterior, but wanted them to understand why she behaves the way she does. Mary said Jen could use words as a weapon. Jen apologized to Meredith, who thanked her for explaining where she was coming from. In Mary’s interview, she said, where’s her apology?   

Next time, Mary asks why Jen is so angry with her, Whitney’s dad does rehab, and Meredith doesn’t want to move to Ohio with her husband.

🌅 Another Night Turns Into Day…

See you in the charming South tomorrow, and in the meantime, stay safe, stay of staunch character, and stay being Switzerland your whole life if you want to.

Dec1

November 30, 2020 – Sonny Shakes Down the Bartender, Shane’s Chakras Are Out Of Whack, Oops, Engaged Off Deck, AMC Reunion, Goodbye Charlie, Star Celebrations, Who’s Real On the Wives & December

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Julian packs, and Ava tells him that she told the staff she was away until further notice. She’s trained them over the years not to ask questions. Julian says, thank God for small favors, and Ava says Julian has reason to be thankful. More than Dev, and the man Lulu was dating; they’re dead. He says, only Jason was supposed to be there. it was supposed to be empty. She says, the place was packed with people. Why did he leave the bomb there? Why didn’t he throw it in the harbor? He says Cyrus didn’t give him a choice, but she says they always have choices, even when they’re backed into a corner. He says, like she did when she shot Connie Falconari?

At the hospital, Laura asks Nikolas if there’s any improvement. Nikolas says, Patrick and Griff were called, and concurred with Lucas’s diagnosis. There’s nothing they can do but wait and hope. Laura says, it’s not that she doesn’t trust Lucas, but she was hoping Patrick or Griff knew of a new way to deal with what’s happening with Lulu. Nikolas says, they send their regards, and tells her that he can reach out to Elizabeth. Maybe she knows where to find Lucky. Laura says, this can’t wait. They have to make a decision about his sister. She looks into Lulu’s room, and sees Dante with Lulu.

Alexis rings the bell at the Quartermaines, and Ned is surprised to see her. She says, Olivia invited her. She would have brought wine, but thought that would be inappropriate. Olivia welcomes Alexis, and thanks her for coming. She tells Ned that she asked Alexis to join them, and to take her coat. Olivia leaves, and Ned asks what in the world made Alexis think this was a good idea? She says his wife wouldn’t take no for an answer, and it would have been more suspicious if she’d turned Olivia down. He says, no offense, but can she stay sober? The doorbell rings, and Alexis says she won’t drink anything she doesn’t have to. Robert comes in, saying, happy Thanksgiving, and Ned says, another surprise guest. Olivia asks for his help in the kitchen, and he asks if she invited the entire city. She asks what he thinks about Alexis and Robert. They’re both members of the Lonely Hearts Club this year, and she thought they could celebrate Thanksgiving by doing some matchmaking.

Epiphany tells Sasha, the drugs increased her heart rate to the point of her having a heart attack. She hopes Sasha realizes the severity of what happened, and relies on her support system next time. Sasha asks, what support system? She has no family. Epiphany says Michael sat by her bed the whole night.

Willow tells Michael, when she realized Chase was telling her the truth, she had to walk out. She’s not ready to talk about it. What about him? Has he talked to Sasha? He says the medication Sasha was given kept her asleep. Olivia  tells them to come on. Thanksgiving punch is being served. They join the others.   

Sonny asks Sam how the family is, and she says, aside from her mother, who she doesn’t want to talk about, Scout is too young to understand anything that’s going on, and Danny is taking it in stride. Carly says, Josslyn is the same way. She’s devastated about Dev, but lockdowns are normal for her. Sonny says, what a way to celebrate Thanksgiving, and Carly says, she doesn’t understand how Cyrus knew Jason was in The Floating Rib. Jason guesses he wasn’t careful enough, and Sam says Jason was in the MetroCourt when he said he was going to The Rib to play pool with Danny. He says, Cyrus wasn’t around, but someone maybe someone on staff at the MetroCourt overheard him. Carly says, Trish just hired a new bartender, Eli. They were going to do a background check on Monday. Sonny asks if Eli is working today, and Carly checks the schedule. She says he’s working from 1 to 9 today, and Sonny says he’s sorry, but he and Jason have to leave. Carly says he’s got to do what he needs to do, and Jason asks Sam if they’re good. She says, sure, but I dunno.    

Epiphany tells Sasha that she has a visitor, and Sasha asks if Michael came back. Brando walks in, and Epiphany says she’ll check on Sasha later. She leaves, and Brando asks if Sasha is feeling better. She says, last night is blurry, but she does remember him being there. He says he brought her there after… She says, she OD’d. That’s what Epiphany said, but it still doesn’t make sense. The amount of cocaine she’d have to ingest would be astronomical. (Just for the record, that’s not necessarily true; it can hit anyone wrong at any time.) He says, so she’s been using? and she says she had a rough year. It’s rare, but she’s used it as a pick-me-up. He says, that’s what people with addictions say, and she starts to tell him that she doesn’t… but he says, people like them. 

Ava tells Julian not to throw Connie in her face. Her nerves were shot because of him. He had her convinced she had to protect him at all costs. Julian says, it’s late in the game to have a conscience, and she says, that’s the difference between them. She’s grown, and she’s not a weak-minded coward who can’t take responsibility, like him. He says he’s glad they’re parting on good terms. She says she’s got to go see her husband, and find out if he has news on the sister Julian put in the hospital. Keep packing. She wants him out by dawn.   

Dante tells Lulu that she needs to wake up. He hasn’t had a chance to tell her how sorry he is. Laura comes in, and asks if he’d mind some company, and he tells her that she should be in there, but Laura says she actually wanted to have a conversation with him about Lulu’s treatment. She’s legally the next of kin, but Dante is Lulu’s husband and Rocco’s father. She feels he has the right to have a say. He thanks her, and asks, what are their options? She says, Lulu isn’t supposed to wake up any time soon, and Dante starts to cry. She says as much as she appreciates GH, maybe it’s not the right place for Lulu’s medical care. He asks what she’s saying. She wants to send Lulu away? Is she giving up on her daughter?

Olivia says Alexis and Robert have a lot in common, and Robert says, they do? She says, they’re both lawyers, and Alexis says, not anymore. Robert says he’s heard Molly is a superstar at PCU, and she’s going to be a lawyer, and Alexis says maybe Molly will throw it all away and be a secret agent for 40 years, then make it a retirement hobby. Olivia laughs, and says Alexis is so funny. She has to check on the turkey. Robert gets up, and says he’s got to check on… something. By the punch bowl in the foyer, Robert asks Olivia what she’s doing, and she says he’s her friend, and Alexis is Ned’s friend; she thought they’d hit it off. He says, in all the time he’s lived there, he and Alexis have never exchanged two words. Olivia says, excuse her for trying to expand his social prospects. She was trying to be a good friend.

Ned tells Alexis, it’s nice to see her not drinking, but the more they’re around each other, the greater the chance Olivia will find out the truth. She asks if he thinks she’s going to bust into a cabinet, and start drinking the booze, but he says, there’s noticeable awkwardness. He’s glad his mother didn’t show up. Alexis says, they need to act normal. They have a long-standing friendship. If they don’t act like it, it will be suspicious, and someone will think something did happen between them. Robert stands in the doorway.

Sasha tells Brando, she barely knows him, and he’s telling her that he has a substance abuse problem. She’ll take his word for it, but not everyone who uses is an addict. She was just blowing off steam. (Amusing choice of words.) He says he’s not trying to judge, but from his past experience, he doesn’t think he’s wrong. He recognizes the warning signs. She says she gets it. Being in the hospital isn’t a good look. She just had too much last night. He says that’s not what he’s talking about. He’s seen her when she’s with Cyrus. She’s constantly going to the bathroom, and comes out sniffling. It’s becoming a nasty habit. She didn’t even ask what was in the bag; if it was cocaine or something stronger. He’s not trying to shame her, but he’s saying this because he’s been there. When he returned home from his tour, he wasn’t in a good place either, and also felt he needed something to take the edge off. A little something here, a little something there, and eventually… She says, it catches up to you.

Ava finds Nikolas at the hospital, and says, he’s been there all night? Lulu’s injuries didn’t seem that serious. Why hasn’t she been discharged? He apologizes for not calling, and says, they didn’t think it was serious. They thought it was just a headache, but her brain was swelling the whole time. Lulu was talking to Dante in the chapel, and collapsed. Ava asks, how bad is it? and he says, the doctors don’t know if she’ll wake up again. She says she’s so sorry, and he says they reached out to Patrick and Griff, but they confirmed Lucas’s diagnosis. Lulu just wasn’t as lucky as Franco. She says, Franco was at The Floating Rib? and he says, and Elizabeth and Cameron. Ava sits, and asks if they’re okay. He says, Elizabeth is fine, thankfully. Cameron has a leg injury, and will be fine, unlike Dev who died. Whoever did this has so much blood on their hands… He totally forgot to make arrangements for her brother, and tells her, sit tight. He’ll figure something out. Ava says let her worry about her brother.

Alexis tells Ned that she has no interest in blowing up his life. They see Robert, and Alexis says, time to refill her club soda. Ned says Robert might not know it, but their family Thanksgiving gatherings can be eventful. Robert says he doesn’t know what he stumbled into, but Olivia is his friend. If Ned hurts her, Robert swears Ned will still be in a wheelchair at Christmas. They hear Olivia yelling, and rush out into the foyer. Ned says, that doesn’t sound good, and Olivia says she was so distracted, she put the turkey in the oven at the wrong temperature. It’s like a charcoal briquet. Ned says, no one is hurt; it’s all fine, but she says, nothing is fine. Lulu is in the hospital, and might never wake up. Rocco may never have another conversation with his mother. Dante and Rocco are practically strangers, and now this. The one thing her son asked her for, a traditional Thanksgiving, and she screwed it up. It’s ruined. Monica says they haven’t cooked a successful turkey since the 90s. Olivia is sticking with tradition. If that’s what she wanted, she did a bang-up job. She says, they all know what they have to do next, and where they need to be,

Laura tells Dante, she’ll never give up. She’ll never stop hoping and praying that Lulu will come back, but the truth is, they’re done everything they can do there. They need to look into a long-term care facility, where doctors and nurses know how to deal with this. He says he just wants time with lulu. He wasted so much time. Please, can he have that? Laura leaves, and he kisses Lulu’s forehead.

Eli finds Sonny and Jason on the terrace, and tells them, sorry. The terrace is closed for the holidays. Jason says, they’re not there for a meal. Sonny says, they need answers, and Eli is going to give them to him and Jason.

Carly gives Sam something to drink, saying, she knows Sam is shaken up. Sam says she thought Jason and Danny were dead, and Carly says she’s so sorry. Sam says it was probably the most horrific hour of her life. She’s grateful Jason and Danny weren’t there, but she can’t stop thinking about Dev. He was so young, and had his whole life ahead of him, and now he’s gone. Carly says, it’s awful, and Sam says, it is. Carly told her Josslyn is used to growing up like this, and it breaks her heart. She doesn’t want that to happen to Scout, and Danny is old enough to understand now. This is a nightmare that will affect him in ways she can’t help. Carly says she gets it. They take chances with their lives they can’t imagine taking with their children. But Sam knew this was the life Jason lived when she chose to have Danny, like she knew about Sonny every time she married him. Fear is part of the deal, and they have to live with it. Sam says, what if she can’t live with it anymore?

Sasha tells Brando, she didn’t go looking for this. She was upset about the break-up, and got drunk. She overslept the day of the big Deception photo shoot, and Maxie freaked out when she saw how bad Sasha looked. Someone pulled her aside, and gave her something to get through it, and it worked. She had energy, and the photos turned out great. He says, in the short term, but then it becomes a way of life, and you depend on it more and more. That’s how the drugs work. Sasha says she’s not an addict, and he says she gave herself a heart attack and ended up in the hospital. Is she scared straight, or is she calling her dealer when she gets home? She asks why he’s spending Thanksgiving with her, and he says she’s the only one he can help right now.

Laura tells Nikolas that Dante actually said she was giving up on her daughter, and he hopes she set Dante straight. He shouldn’t even have a say. She says, he’s Rocco’s father, and it’s better if it doesn’t become a fight. They see Dante, and Nikolas tells Laura that he’ll talk to him, but she says, no. Epiphany comes out, and says, the mayor has visitors.  Everyone from the Quartermaines joins her, and Laura cries. 

Dante asks what Olivia is doing there, and she says, it’s where they should have been. Monica says, it’s not just about food, and Alexis says, it’s about family. Michael says, not just the family they’re born not, but those they choose to make a part of their lives. Ned asks, where else would they be? So…? He hugs Laura.   

Sasha asks how many people were at The Floating Rib, and Brando says, quite a few, including Dev, the son he never knew existed until a few months ago. The son he never imagined would be a part of his life, and now he’s gone. She says she’s so sorry. He should be with family, not there. They should be grieving together. He says he can’t deal with that, but he can help someone who needs it. She says, if someone said they wanted to help her, they could help her do some laps. How about it? He says, how many laps?

Michael asks how Dante is holding up, and Dante says, Laura wants to send Lulu to a long-term care facility, but it feels wrong to him. Michael says he knows it seems that way at first, but moving her to a facility like that is what she needs. His parents were in a similar situation with him, and it broke their hearts, but they made the right choice. He got the special care he needed, and when he woke up from his coma, he was able to leave and lead a normal life. Dante says he gets it, but it feels like they’re giving up on Lulu. Michael says he knows, but they both know Laura well enough to know she’d never give up on Lulu, and he knows Dante won’t either. 

Sam tells Carly, forget what she said, but Carly says, don’t do that. Sam is scared and needs to talk, and Carly is there listening. Sam says she hasn’t been able to catch her breath for the last 24 hours. She’s accepted the violence that goes with Jason’s life, but this is different. Danny almost died. She can’t get used to it. What if next time somebody tries to kill Jason, she, Danny, and Scout are with him? When she first became a mother, she wasn’t involved with Sonny’s world at all. Then she got engaged to Patrick. None of that made her miss Jason less, but for the first time in her life, she wasn’t running a con. She wasn’t married to the mob, or looking over her shoulder. Part of that made her feel normal. She liked Dev.

Eli tells Jason, easy. He doesn’t know what they want. Jason punches him in the stomach, and twists Eli’s arm around behind his back. He says Eli was working last night, and was close enough to hear him say he was going to The Floating Rib. Did he pass it along to Cyrus? Eli says he doesn’t know Cyrus, and Jason says, a guy in a suit with a ponytail. Did Eli tell him that Jason was going to be at The Floating Rib? Eli says, yeah, and Sonny pounds on Eli’s head with his finger, asking if he was paid to do anything else. Eli says, make a call to some guy, and pass on the message to drop off a package at The Floating Rib.

Sasha sees Willow with Michael, and tells Brando, last year at this time, that was her. She says she’s had enough exercise, and wants to go back to her room. Dante apologizes to Laura, saying, he was completely out of line. It’s a lot to process. She says she understands how he feels, and he says she’s right. Of course (🍷) they’ve got to do what’s best for Lulu’s care. He takes Laura’s hands, and says he wants her to know he’ll never stop loving Lulu. Laura says she knows that, and he goes back to Lulu’s room.

Monica asks for a moment. It’s Thanksgiving, but they’re here because a friend, family member, and member of their community is hurting, so she thinks a group prayer is in order. Everyone bows their heads, and Monica says, these last few days have been senseless and tragic. They’ve lost people too quickly, but have to remember to give thanks for what they do have. They have faith that things will get better; they have hope that their wounds will heal. They have the trust and support of those around them, and each other to lean on, and of course (🍷) have faith in God. Amen. Laura hugs Monica, and says she’s so lucky. Ned comes in with a load of pizzas, and Olivia says, it’s not the Thanksgiving dinner she’d promised… and Ned says, but it is keeping with tradition. Laura says, it’s perfect, and thanks them. Tracy walks in, and says, not so fast. First we sing, then we eat. Laura and I cry, and Laura hugs Tracy, thanking her.   

Sam tells Carly, she feels like her loyalty to Jason is in competition with her instincts to be Scout and Danny’s mother. Carly says she’s been there so many times. This life has so many ups and downs. There are good times, but there are dangers; it comes with the territory. Sam says she knows. That’s why she can’t sleep at night.

Eli tells Sonny and Jason, he just thought he was making a few extra bucks. He had no idea the package was a bomb. Jason asks who he called, and he says he doesn’t know; just some guy. Jason tells him to give them the phone, and Sonny takes it. He scrolls through and calls a number back. He hears the outgoing message say he’s reached Julian Jerome. He says, son of a bitch. (Sonny’s go-to curse phrase.)

Julian zips up his bag, when Ava walks in. He says she’s back sooner than he expected. She says, we need to have a talk, big brother. She holds a gun behind her back.

I just have to mention, after months of a mess on his head, Julian’s hair finally looks good. Now he’s leaving.

Tomorrow, Valentin fires Martin, Julian says Ava is choosing Nikolas over her own brother, Sonny says Julian has pushed him too far, and Laura slaps someone.

Below Deck

Shane sleeps while everyone else gets ready for charter. In Eddie’s interview, he says, WTF? It’s like a slap in the face to him and the team. He’s lost all respect for Shane, and he’s not even wasting energy to wake him up or scold him. Francesca warns Rachel that Captain Lee is coming, but I missed the warning system she has. He goes to the galley, and shows them a picture his wife sent of the two of them when they were younger, captioned, your favorite stew, so you don’t forget. He tells them that Maryann was his chief stew, and he got her into yachting. We see another photo of them, and in Rachel’s interview, she says she travels a lot, and understands. The captain says his wife is quite a lady, and Rachel tells Francesca that she misses her dude.

James says he doesn’t even check out Izzy’s ass anymore. Rachel calls boyfriend Vincenzo to say she misses and loves him. He says he misses her too. It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and the captain says primary Tim is a trial attorney. He’ll be joined by his wife Beth, and three other couples. He’s celebrating his 50th with a multi-course dinner, including beluga caviar and a live steel drum band. (It’s not clear whether they want to listen to the band or eat them.) They want a beach barbecue picnic, and a lot rests on Rachel. In Rachel’s interview, she says, these guests seem refreshing. They’re her spirit animal. We flash back to the last charter, where she served the guests lobster, and they wanted more Jell-O shots. Captain Lee says, the service has to match the menu. They also want the dreaded slide.

In the morning, James puts Nutella and chocolate syrup on his toast. Bleh. For dessert, yeah, but I can’t do that kind of thing in the morning. Eddie tells Shane to clean the waterline, and if he scratches his leg, clean it out good. Francesca wants Elizabeth to organize the pantry, and can’t understand why Elizabeth is so messy. Eddie tells Izzy about Shane claiming he wants to improve, yet he found Shane napping. James admits to being body conscious, and in his interview, says he was quiet as a kid, and felt like a loser. He went to the gym, and cracked jokes because he wanted to be heard. Elizabeth tells him, it’s nice to have someone to talk to about sh*t. Rachel suggests printing wine menus along with the food menus, and goes over the food with Francesca. In Francesca’s interview, she says Rachel’s sense of humor is R rated, and hers is more refined. Whatever it was went over my head, since I don’t know what she’s talking about. James does exercises on deck. Izzy tells Shane, initiative plus drive, and Shane asks Eddie what needs help with. Eddie tells Rachel about Shane wearing a sleep mask (he calls it an eye patch) with do not disturb on it. He says he can’t. He’s at the end of his line.

Rachel says she didn’t know Shane was sleeping and sh*t. Izzy tries to show Shane knots, and in Shane’s interview, he says he’s ready to show the crew that he can do his job, but his head is in a tornado. He tries to remember the rabbit hole story Izzy told him to help remember how to make the knot, and says he’s going to do it a million times tonight. Everyone goes to bed

In Shane’s interview, he says he’s a perfectionist, and Eddie not being happy with him is a bummer. Confidence comes from failure, so he’s pretty confident. The next morning, Shane tells James that he slept with his shammy in his bed. Francesca tells the stews that she wants to work on streamlining service more. Everything looks messy at the moment. She tells Elizabeth that she’d like the pantry done now. She doesn’t want to see a mess; they’ll be able to work better. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she thinks she can’t please Francesca, and it’s personal. A producer asks if she’s not really messy, and Elizabeth says she’s like a messy artist. Rachel asks Elizabeth, what’s wrong? but she says, nothing. Shane asks Eddie how he can help, and Eddie tells him, the list is on the wall. He says, Shane has told him a few times that he wants to go the distance, and Shane says he does. Eddie is going to see him in action. Eddie says he hopes so.

Elizabeth and Ashling clean the pantry, and in her interview, Ashling says she feels like she’s in between two pieces of bread. It’s so awkward. She can’t pick a side, or sh*t will hit the fan. Eddie tells them, provisions are here, and everything is brought in. Guest face towels are prepared, and Elizabeth shows Ashling the red tiger eye she carries for confidence. In her interview, Ashling supposes everybody’s different. It’s a half hour until the guests’ arrival, and the crew gets into their whites. Izzy frets over her camel toe, and the captain asks if she’s all right. When she explains, he says, alrighty then, having not expected TMI.

The guests arrive. When Izzy introduces herself, Tim says he’s easy too. Captain Lee says they’re going to get the party started quick. Francesca will give them a tour, they’ll get the luggage on board, and get out of Dodge. Francesca gives the tour, and I’m loving the cushion/pillow colors; very 60s with turquoise, green, and gold. Francesca tells the guests, a cheese board is coming, and puts Ashling on laundry. The boat heads out to Five Island Harbour. Francesca tells the guests that they’re going to anchor and have lunch relatively soon. Izzy says she’s so ready to drop anchor, since it’s her first time as deckhand, and Francesca tells Elizabeth to set the table, but not put out the wine glasses yet. Captain Lee tells the guests that this is the most protected area, and they ask if he’ll join them for dinner tomorrow. In Rachel’s interview, she says the guests are awesome in her eyes. They’re into food and wine, and that’s up her alley. She’s making an amazing, marinated snow crab that can’t fail. She plates it weird, in a crescent shape on the plate, and the guests wonder if something is missing. They also think it’s fake crab. In Francesca’s interview, she wonders on what super yacht they would serve fake crab. What an idiot. She tells Rachel, who says, it’s one of the most expensive seafoods you can have. I’d throw the shells at them as proof. 

The water toys are put in, and some of the guests jump off the boat. Primary Tim takes a nap, and Francesca tells Elizabeth, when she’s finished, prep for dinner. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she’s getting a negative vibe from Francesca. Eddie asks Ashling how day one is, and Ashling says she feels fab. A guest asks if they have a call button, but that’s a no. I can just imagine if they did. Elizabeth calls friend Ana, and says she’s trying to reset. She doesn’t appreciate the way things are said, and Ana tells her, don’t let anyone psych her out. In her interview, Rachel says she’s not happy. The guests didn’t like lunch, so she’s going big for dinner with herb crusted lamb, brioche, and foie gras. It’s dark out, and the guests look at some fish below that might be sharks. One of them wants to jump in and catch one, but as much fun as it would be to see a shark eat him, lucky for him, another guest stops him. In Shane’s interview, he says when he was in high school, he sat in the front, and had all the answers. He’s smart, and doesn’t know why doing this job makes him feel insecure. He’s a perfectionist, so he’s motivated to accomplish the job, but he doesn’t know how to get there. He writes in his journal.

At dinner, a guest is wearing some God-awful pants that look like the American flag. Beth says, it’s amazing, and they’re not going to want to go home. In Rachel’s interview, she says she thought the guests would be refined, but Tim is pretty wasted; it’s embarrassing. Yes it is, because he has to go to bed before dinner even happens. Beth tells him to make sure he comes to his birthday party. Rachel says, the primary hasn’t even touched his food. It’s annoying since she tried to make his food preferences come alive, and he’s done. The tiniest flan in the world is served for dessert, and the guests go to bed. James does crunches in his cabin, and Shane finishes up on deck.        

Eddie finds that Shane left the garage door open, and in his interview, says, it’s basic sh*t. You lock your house when you leave. He keeps repeating, today is a good effing day, while on his way to deal with Shane, but Shane is still in bed. In Francesca’s interview, she says Ashling is thinking like her. She has a go-getter attitude, which is what Francesca needs in a stew – to be more like her. Francesca tells Ashling that she’ll be going to the beach. Eddie says, it’s slide time, and explains the set-up to James. Francesca calls the provisioner, and says they’re having a white party, and need a steel drum band. The slide is the usual pain in the ass to set up, and Francesca tells Elizabeth to do the cabins. Eddie tells Shane that he didn’t close the garage door. In his interview, Eddie says he can’t be too aggressive. He knows the kind of guy Shane is, and his chakras will be out of whack, so Eddie is tiptoeing around him. James tests the slide, and the other toys are put in the water. Francesca tells Tim, happy birthday, and Rachel pushes waffles for breakfast.

Shane outs himself to the captain, telling him about leaving the door open. Captain Lee asks if Shane doesn’t shut the door when he leaves the house. Shane wanders off, and the captain says, dumbass, which about sums it up. Tim skips breakfast, since he doesn’t usually eat in the morning. The crew gets ready for the picnic, and Eddie drives Shane and Ashling over to the beach. In her interview, Rachel says, she’s pressed for time, and has a beach picnic. She loves it. It’s also the primary’s 50th, and he’s requested a multi-course tasting menu. The tender is unloaded at the beach, and they start to set up. Izzy asks if Ashling is single, and she says she is. In Elizabeth’s interview, she says she feels badly about not being part of the beach picnic. She feels like Francesca isn’t happy with her, and Ashling is perfect, and it’s not fair.

Rachel gets the food platters ready for the beach. Francesca radios, asking for two pina coladas, but Rachel says, f*** that. She needs a hand getting stuff in the tender. In her interview, she says the lack of communication with her blows her mind. She doesn’t care what they need do. They need to make sure this sh*t gets schlepped TF out.

Francesca goes with the food, to expedite things. She says she wants to go swimming, but meanwhile, in the galley, Rachel wants to punch someone in the face. Eddie goes back for the guests, and Francesca takes pictures of the table. When the guests arrive, she welcomes Tim to his 50th birthday beach extravaganza. The guests are amazed, and declare food amazing, since this is apparently the only descriptive word they know. Some guests do snorkeling, while others jet ski, and the rest lounge around. Izzy asks if Shane happy, and he says he’s more prepared. In his interview, he says he knows he messed up incredibly, and has to step up his game and work hard. Eddie thinks he’s dumber than he actually is, so it’s frustrating. Ashling radios Eddie, telling him, the guests are ready to be picked up.

Francesca goes over the menu with Rachel, who says she’s going to bed after dinner, and crying. The beach is cleaned up, Shane being sure to scold them for not using paper straws. I have to say, I’m with him on this, since I live near a beach, and it’s horrible how many wash up. Eddie asks Izzy how she’s doing, and she says she’s dirty and messy, but good. Rachel looks for the caviar, and can only find salmon roe. She tells Francesca about it, and in her interview, Rachel says, the primary specifically said something about wanting it, and she’s going to lose her sh*t. Shane asks if she’s okay, and she tells him to keep moving; she’s not joking. She’s going to punch someone in the scrotum.

Alrighty then.

Next time, the captain joins the guests for dinner, Shane’s phone dies, and Captain Lee calls Shane to the bridge for a conversation. Shane looks scared.

🛥 So sorry. A little Deck confusion on my part last night. I thought there wasn’t going to be a new one, so good thing I double-checked. For whatever reason, it was listed, but there was no blurb, and my mind must have registered it as no show. Maybe it was too much Thanksgiving food. That’s my story anyway, and I’m sticking to it.

💍 And the Ring Makes Three…

So it turned out she wouldn’t have had time for that pesky reality show anyway.

https://pagesix.com/2020/11/24/below-deck-alum-hannah-ferrier-announces-engagement-weeks-after-giving-birth/

🌲 Pine Valley Rendezvous…

On December 2nd, at 1 pm, cast members reunite for your virtual pleasure.

Don’t Miss This Special ALL MY CHILDREN Online Reunion!

💈 Just When He Got His Hair Right…

Port Charles bids Julian goodbye.

William deVry Says Goodbye to GENERAL HOSPITAL

🦃 Like an After-Dinner Mint…

See how everyone in the soap world liked their turkey.

See How Your Favorite Stars Celebrated Thanksgiving!

👠 Not One In NYC…

The current status of The Real Housewives as real housewives.

https://pagesix.com/article/which-real-housewives-are-currently-wives/

Or not.

https://pagesix.com/article/why-so-many-real-housewives-divorce-their-husbands/

🧗‍♀️ Off To Climb Every Mountain…

Or maybe just finish watching The Haunting of Bly Manor. Although I really should get back to getting rid of the Black-Friday-Small-Business-Saturday-Who-Knows-What-Sunday-Cyber-Monday assault of emails. Seriously, is five a day from every single retailer really necessary? Whether you took advantage of some sales, or looked at it all like a deer in headlights while hitting the delete button, stay safe, stay grounded mentally, and stay not spending your super yacht vacation napping.