What I Watched Today
(rambling, random thoughts & annoyingly detailed recaps from real time TV watching)
General Hospital
Mike tells Sonny that he doesn’t like surprises too much these days, but Sonny says he’ll like this one. Sonny opens the door, and says, look who’s here. It’s Dante, who says he missed Mike. Sonny says Mike knows who he is, right?
Franco, Elizabeth, and Aiden go to Kelly’s. Aiden says he missed Franco. Franco wants to have a family meeting, and Elizabeth asks, what about? He says about them. Jail isn’t exactly the wedding she deserves. She says she’s happy. They’re a family now; that’s all that matters. Franco says, they’ll talk, and Aiden says he has a lot of recipes. Elizabeth sees a little girl at a nearby table talking on the phone about a party. She asks if that isn’t Kiley from Aiden’s class. There’s a party today? Aiden says, mom, but it’s too late. Elizabeth introduces herself to Kiley, and asks if Aiden is coming to the party. Kiley says it’s Bianca’s birthday today. I can’t believe Elizabeth is actually eavesdropping on a kid. That’s beyond helicopter parenting.
Chase meets Willow outside, and gives her coffee. You know, an empty to-go cup. He’s glad she took the night to think about leaving town. She can trust him to keep Shiloh away, and he hopes she can believe that, and tell him she’s staying.
Shiloh comes out of an examining room, where Sam is waiting. Sam asks if he got stitches, and he says, five. She’s sorry about this. He says he tried to keep it lowkey so there would be no record of Jason attacking him, but when he woke up, he was still bleeding. He had to come in. She asks if there’s any concussion, but he says, no. He’s hard headed. Kristina runs up to them, and asks Shiloh what Jason did to him.
Jason is in the interrogation room, and Jordan comes in. She says she says he’s put her in a dilemma, and hopes he can help. He tells her that he has nothing to say without his attorney. She says, understood. She went through his records, and he’s the guy who never loses control. He’s often been a suspect, rarely prosecuted, and never convicted. He doesn’t make mistakes. He doesn’t lose control either, until yesterday. He lost his cool for no apparent reason. Did Shiloh give him one? Does he know something about Shiloh and DOD that he’s not saying? Margaux asks for a word. Jordan tells Jason maybe this time it’s in everyone’s best interest if he cooperates.
Willow tells Chase that she’s sorry, but she’s handing in her letter of resignation. She has to leave immediately. He asks, why? He’s a detective; doesn’t she trust him? She says she doesn’t trust Shiloh. He’s relentless. He can’t find out about the baby. Chase says it was a closed adoption, but she says he’ll find a way; he’ll get someone to help him. That’s how he works. He makes people open up. Everyone at DOD seems kind and caring. There’s a sense of acceptance, like you belong to a family, but instead of building you up, he brings you down. He strips you bare.
Margaux tells Jordan that she has enough to prove assault, but Jordan says one witness is Jason’s ex, and the other was a waitress who admitted to being more focused on her customers that the altercation. Margaux says Jordan agreed the attack was unprovoked. Jordan says she was acting on information that Shiloh’s life might be in danger, but no name was mentioned. Margaux says it might be enough to prove attempted murder.
Mike looks at Dante again, and says, Dominick? Dante says, close enough. He used to be Dominick, but goes by Dante now. Mike says he used to be someone who was all there. Sonny gets a call, and steps away. Mike asks where in the blazes has Dante been? Dante says he took a job, and was gone too long. Mike says he’s gone sometimes even when he’s there, but Dante came back. Some parts of Mike might not be coming back. Dante says the best parts are still there. Sonny comes back, and Dante suggests they go out to wat. Sonny says he has things to take care of. Jason was arrested, and Diane is in trial until the afternoon. He tells them to go, and have a great time. Dante says, let’s roll.
Shiloh tells Kristina that he’s fine, He just needed a few stitches. Why is she there? She says she heard he was attacked; everyone at DOD is worried. When she heard it was Jason, she got scared. He asks why, and she asks why Sam didn’t warn him. Jason is a hitman. He’s worked for her father for years, and anyone who gets in her father’s way, he eliminates. And it’s not just guns; he’s strong. Sam tells her, that’s enough. Kristina doesn’t know what Jason does or doesn’t do. The stories she’s repeating are highly inappropriate and exaggerated. Kristina says what if he kills Shiloh next time? Sam says Jason attacked him because of her. She’s not defending Jason, but he lost his temper. He’d never try to kill Shiloh. Shiloh thinks Sam is correct. Jason misinterpreted him, and reacted with violence. He doesn’t condone it, but he knows where it’s coming from. Kristina says she doesn’t. Her dad is back in town, and she said she’d see him. She stomps off. Sam asks Shiloh what he’s going to do, and he says it depends on if Jason tried to kill him.
Willow tells Chase that he wouldn’t believe what she’s seen; the secrets that came out in workshops. Sometimes Shiloh used pressure. Other DOD members would come into the room with him, and together they’d keep badgering the errant member with hard truths. Chase says, brainwashing, and Willow says it’s not illegal, and no one would speak up if it was. She’s afraid she might crack under pressure, and say something about the baby. She can’t risk it; it hurts too much already. Chase asks where she’s going, but she doesn’t know yet. Somewhere she can be anonymous. He ask her to let him find a place, and set her up where she’ll be safe. She says she’ll handle it. He asks if he can visit when she’s settled, and she says, we’ll see. He says he’ll take that as a maybe, which almost always means no. She says she can’t think straight. She’s going to miss everything about this place; her students and him, more than he knows. He wishes they could have had a chance. She says she does too. He kisses her, and leaves.
Elizabeth ask Aiden why he didn’t say Bianca was having a party, and Aiden says he forgot. She says he and Bianca have been friends since preschool. Is he excited? He says, no. She said she wanted him to come, but he’s not allowed. Her parents didn’t want him there.
At the MetroCourt, Mike asks Dante if they didn’t go to a party there. Dante says they did, but Mike says the place looked different, like the club he used to work in. Dante says, Luke’s. They resurrected Luke’s for one night. It was a good time. He’s glad Mike remembers. Mike says he remembers other good times too, like the night Dante spent in a jail cell with him. Dante is surprised Mike looks at it as a good time. Mike says he’s always had a soft spot for Dante. That’s why he took Dante on as a tenant at Kelly’s. He knew from the start Dante was the right guy for Lulu. Has she forgiven Dante for being away. Dante says, he probably doesn’t deserve it, but he almost wishes she hadn’t. Mike asks, how come?
Kristina asks how Sonny is feeling. He says, good. He did what he set out to do. He brought her brother home. She ask if Dante is okay, and Sonny says he is now. How is she? Kristina says she’s doing great. Sonny asks if she’s sure, and she asks, why? Her mom got to him, didn’t she? What did she do? Tell him hysterical accusations about Shiloh? That’s why he asked Kristina over. He’s siding with her.
Sam tells Shiloh that she didn’t want to say this in front of Kristina, but if Jason wanted to kill him, he’d be dead. Shiloh says maybe he should press charges for his own protection. Sam says she’s not making excuses, but what he said to Kristina is true. Jason overreacted; he’s an overprotective father. She’d hate for the boys to lose time with him. Shiloh asks if she thinks he’s a decent role model, using violence instead of words. Sam says, DOD teaches forgiveness. She read in his book, forgiveness leads to a lighter heart. She’s hoping he believes that, for Danny’s sake.
Chase asks Jason what he knows about Shiloh. Jason says he’s saying noting without his attorney. Chase says he set Shiloh up, waiting until he made the first move, and laid him out. He helped Jason out, and Jason’s attorney can subpoena his notes. The waitress stated he was provoked, but if the DA wants to press charges, she won’t make it past the first arraignment. He could have killed Shiloh, and wanted him to know it. Why? Is he threatening someone close to Jason? Because he’s threatening someone close to Chase.
Mike tells Dante that his mind is full of holes, but he can still tell when something’s wrong. Dante says, he always could, and Mike asks what he can do. Dante says this is in confidence, but Mike says, chances are, he won’t remember it to tell anyone else. Dante says, there’s an upside to everything. He didn’t leave because he wanted to; he left because he had to. Or he thought he did to keep his family safe. That’s why he went to Turkey. It was a mission turned into an obsession. Mike doesn’t think anyone has a problem with that. He caught the guy; he succeeded. Dante says, at what cost? So much happened while he was away, to him and the people he loves – none of it good. Mike says Dante seems the same to him. Dante says, on the outside, maybe, but not on the inside. It scares him. He’s afraid of what was done to him, and what he might do because of it.
On the phone with Bianca’s mother, Elizabeth says she appreciates the honesty. The hatefulness and closed-mindedness, not so much. Franco asks what she said. Elizabeth says she claims she tries to maintain a wholesome environment for her daughter. Franco says, she used that word? Elizabeth wonders what that even means, and Franco says they both know what it means.
Willow thanks Brad for meeting her. She’s leaving Port Charles, and wanted to see her son one last time.
Sonny tells Kristina, relax. He didn’t call her over to side with her mother. He misses her, and wanted to lay eyes on his girl. She thanks him, and apologizes. Everyone has been judgmental, but she appreciates that he’s been supportive. She says he and Carly should take a seminar. She knows he’s read Shiloh’s book, but brought a copy for Carly, and a pamphlet on the upcoming courses. She thinks they’d benefit from them. He says he’ll mention to Carly. He has to get something out in in the open. Her mother is concerned, and so is he. Kristina has had a tough couple of years, and he’s hoping she isn’t being pressured into doing something she doesn’t want to. She asks if he thinks she’s gullible. He says he has faith in her, and wants her to happy, but wonders why she’s choosing DOD over her own family.
Chase tells Jason that Shiloh has a cult. He’ll take anyone, but especially young women. If Jason finds any evidence that can be legally used against Shiloh, bring it to him. Help him send Shiloh to prison, instead of going there himself for murder. Margaux comes in, and tells Chase that she wants to go over his notes with him. He leaves, and Margaux tells Jason she doesn’t need to look too hard to uncover a motive. He’s jealous about the attention Shiloh is paying to his ex-wife, or her attention to Shiloh. It made him sloppier than usual. Maybe it’s the straw that’s going to break his back.
Chase tells Shiloh the commissioner is busy, and Shiloh says he’ll wait. He asks how Chase’s meeting went with Miss Tait; his child is in the best of hands. Chase says he didn’t expect a follow up, and asks what Shiloh was going there. Shiloh says reconnecting with an old friend, and asking if she’s going to return to DOD. Chase says, as what? A volunteer? A member? She didn’t seem receptive. Shiloh say she’s a valuable member of the DOD family, and greatly missed. He’s not giving up that easy. He asks Chase to let the commissioner know he’s there, and Chase says he’s on it.
Margaux asks if Jason is sure he has nothing to say. He asks if his attorney if there. Jordan says she’s in the middle of a trial, and will be there some time in the afternoon. Chase pops his head in, and says Shiloh and Sam are there. Margaux suggests they move to the squad room, and tells Chase to bring Jason. Margaux tells Shiloh his timing is good. How can they help him? He says he’s there to about accountability. He wants to address what happened yesterday.
Dante asks if Mike remembers when he took Avery, thinking she was Courtney. They were gone all night, and Dante found them in the stable. Mike says he wanted to show her the horses, and got Sonny in trouble. He didn’t want to, but he screwed everything up. He didn’t mean to, but he couldn’t help it; his mind played tricks on him. Dante says it’s happening to him too, because of whet he went through. His mind is messed up. He doesn’t know what he might do, or if he’ll remember he did it. Mike knows where he’s coming from, and he’s sorry to hear it. It’s a helluva thing.
Kristina wonders why Sonny doesn’t want her to be a better person. She’s following the path to enlightenment, and seeing the possibilities in her life. Sonny asks, other than DOD, where does she see herself in the world? She says DOD is her world. Sonny says, it’s a narrow world. Doesn’t she see herself as anything other than a follower?
Margaux tells Shiloh there’s something more serious, a possible threat made against his life. Shiloh says everybody is capable of that. He doesn’t condemn the violent, but heals them. He believes that can come to a place of compassion and understanding. Jordan says, that’s a lofty belief. He says he has to practice what he preaches, and wants the charges against Jason dropped. Sam gives a sly look at Jason.
Willow tells Brad, something came up. She has to leave town. She’s sure that makes him happy. He admits he’s relieved. Whenever he sees her, he pops antacids like candy. She says now that she’s out of the picture, he can relax. At least he has a conscience, and isn’t a deceitful or duplicitous person. She chose him and Lucas because she wanted her baby to be safe and loved, and to never know his father. Brad thought Wiley’s father was out of the picture. He ask if she’s leaving to be with him, and if he knows about Wiley. She says, absolutely not, nor will he ever. This is about her. It’s the last time she’ll see her son, or at least until he comes looking for he as an adult. Brad asks if she wants that, and she hopes he’ll want to find her, but that’s a long time from now, if it happens. This is all she’s going to get for now. She asks if she can hold Wiley. Brad tells her, how can he say no? and gives Wiley to her. She tells Wiley that she’s doing this for him because she loves him so much. Brad gets Wiley’s blanket, and Willow sees a DOD pamphlet in the stroller.
Franco says they have every right to be angry. If he hadn’t pretended to be a serial killer, he wouldn’t have made his past public. Their family doesn’t fit into Bianca’s mom’s stereotypes. He should call her himself. Aiden is a sensitive and superb human being, and doesn’t need anyone who doesn’t accept him for who he is. Elizabeth says maybe there’s something they can do.
Willow asks if Brad is associated with DOD. He says he met a guy, Shiloh, who suggest a course in peaceful parenting, so he’s going to sign up. His sister-in-law knows him, so he must be okay. He hopes it calms him down. He wants to be the best possible parent. She says he won’t need it. She’ll be gone, so he can relax. He says, if only. He saw another seminar on destructive secrets, and how to free yourself from them, so he might… He sees how tightly Willow is holding Wiley, and says he should probably get back. Holding him longer won’t make it easier.
Sonny knows Kristina is getting something good out of DOD, but she’s excluding her family in the process. With all this talk of enlightenment, he’s losing sight of his own daughter. She says she’s evolving. Sonny likes that, but she can’t make DOD her whole world; it’s unhealthy. She tells him not to judge her choices, but he says he’s her father. If he sees her going down a dangerous road, he’s going to say something. Kristina says, ironic. He says they’re trying to wipe out her identity and make her believe her family is worthless. He loves her too much to allow that to happen.
Margaux asks Shiloh if he doesn’t feel his life is in danger or Jason is a threat. Shiloh says no. She says given the statements of the two eyewitnesses that the attack was unprovoked, she can’t dismiss this. Shiloh says that’s where the accountability comes in. Earlier, Jason saw Shiloh with his son, and Shiloh thinks it ultimately triggered the attack. Any attempt on his part to get Jason to take a class with him, exacerbated the situation, and Jason snapped. He gets it. Jason may not forgive him, but he forgives Jason. He understands Jason’s pain, and hopes he uses it as a springboard to evaluate his situation. It’s time to let the healing begin, so let him. Margaux says she’s in no position to argue. She’s dropping the charges, and Jason is free go. Chase takes Jason for processing, and tells him to remember what he said. If Jason finds evidence against Shiloh, bring it to him.
Willow looks distressed, and Brad asks her to give him his son. She tells Wiley that she’ll always love him. Brad leaves, and she cries. Her phone rings. It’s Elizabeth, who asks if Willow can meet with her. Something happened with Aiden, and she wants to know more about what’s happening in his classroom. She’s at Kelly’s now, if Willow is available. Willow says, sure. She takes out the resignation letter, tears it up, and throws it away. Chase sees her, and says he couldn’t help notice that she threw something away, but tore up first. Please tell him it’s her letter of resignation. She says she never turned it in. She’s staying. They hug.
Dante thanks Mike for letting him vent. Mike says Turning Woods is serving turkey clubs for lunch. Yvonne has been gone a while, but she’s back now. Has Dante met his girlfriend? Dante says he missed that, and Mike suggests meeting her right now. Dante says okay. Mike asks if he knows how to get there, and Dante says he knows how to take Mike home. Mike says, how about himself? Does he know how get himself home? That, Dante isn’t too sure about.
Kristina tells Sonny that she’s an adult. She can think for herself, and make her own choices. He doesn’t get to control her life. It was him, wasn’t it, who sent Jason after Shiloh? He says if she thinks he’ll let Shiloh, or anyone else, take away his daughter, she’s forgot who he is. Kristina rolls her eyes, and stomps out, slamming the door. She’s getting good at that. Sonny looks angry.
Sam thanks Shiloh. She appreciates what he’s doing. He says her words mean a lot. He can’t be a mindful teacher unless he practices what he preaches. But if Jason comes after him again, he’ll assume Jason is beyond redemption.
Jason comes out, and Margaux tells him that Shiloh is an extraordinary man. Jason owes his freedom to Shiloh’s generosity and tolerance. Don’t count on it happening again. If Jason harms Shiloh, she’ll take him down. Jason asks the desk sergeant for his gun. The sergeant looks at Jason’s license, and gives it to him. He loads it and puts it in his waistband. He leaves, and Jordan is like, hmm…
Tomorrow, Monica says they have to prepare Oscar for the end, Nina hopes she and Elizabeth can put the past behind them, and Lulu doesn’t trust Valentin as far as she can throw him.
The Real Housewives of New York City
Dorinda tells Bethenny that she’s getting her nerve up to talk to LuAnn. LuAnn approaches them, and Bethenny says, it’s happening now. John wonders if he’ll have to clean up the mess. LuAnn joins them at the bar. Dorinda compliments her hat, and LuAnn says she’s having a bad hair day. In Dorinda’s interview, she says LuAnn is more afraid than she is. She can’t even make eye contact. She tells LuAnn that she misses seeing her, and LuAnn says they’ll talk another time. Dorinda says, it’s all about Sonja tonight. Bethenny feels like she’s in the way, and in her interview, says, this is a tension that has to be broken. Something has to happen for something to happen. LuAnn says, tonight’s not the night. In her interview, LuAnn thinks it feels fake. She jets back to the other side of the room, and Bethenny tells Dorinda that she thinks it went clean. Dorinda tells Bethenny that LuAnn told her they’ll talk another time. Bethenny says it’s all she wanted for tonight anyway. Dorinda says at some point they’ll have a watershed moment. The foundation is good, but they have to fix the windows on the house. In Bethenny’s interview, she wonders how far LuAnn is going to push things. It’s bending, but if it breaks, they might not be able to put it back together.
LuAnn tells Barbara, they agreed tonight is not the night, but they were cordial. Barbara says, it’s a start. Sonja says Tinsley is mad because she said Tinsley is not effable. She’s dressed like a doll to be put on a shelf. In Tinsley’s interview, she says, sitting next to these ho’bags, anyone would seem un-effable. Dorinda says she’s trying to be welcoming, and see if she can break the wall.
Ramona has a date, so she has to go. She tells Bethenny how sorry she is. In her interview, Bethenny appreciates that they didn’t get mired in conversation. She just said, sorry, and kept it moving. It’s best for both of them. LuAnn tells Ramona not to talk about her anymore, or she’ll burn Ramona’s dress, and Ramona will walk home naked. I’m not so sure that’s much of a threat. A girl Sonja met at the bar earlier comes by, and kisses Sonja. Like in a romantic way. Tinsley hides her eyes, and they kiss some more. Sonja feels the girl’s butt. In Bethenny’s interview, she says the girl was like a Venus flytrap. She swooped over, locked lips with Sonja, and disappeared. It was like a drive-by lesbian moment. Sonja says she saw them at the bar, and thought the girl was going to give her a card, not slip her the tongue.
LuAnn goes to God’s Love We Deliver for her community service. Under the rules of her probation, she has to perform fifty hours of it. She says she’s done it in the past, so she doesn’t mind. Since I have too (not because of probation; I was a volunteer), I’m curious, but we flash back to when she talked to some young homeless girls or something. Not exactly the same thing. Team leader Stephen shows her around, and introduces her to Chef Ryan. He’s made garbanzo and barley soup, which sounds pretty good. He gives her instructions on being a ladler. One straight scoop no double dipping. In her interview, LuAnn says she takes her community service seriously. Every ladle of soup is a reminder of what her life will be like for the next year. I’m assuming she means being tied to doing it, and not that she’s going to be in a soup line. She says, it’s not that easy to not double-dip; the ladle is heavy. She tells one of the women she knows that she saw her parole officer. She’s no-nonsense, and asked for her ID and car registration. LuAnn said she was going away on Friday, but the officer said, it’s can she go away. In LuAnn’s interview, she says she has to get permission to go away, there’s drug testing, and she has to be on her best behavior. Next to her parole officer, Dorinda looks like a lightweight, and LuAnn doesn’t want to mess with her. She and her friend clink soup containers, and sip some soup. Ryan catches them. LuAnn says, if you’re going to soup it out, you have to taste it first. He says that’s a first.
Tinsley is meeting her mom at a super fancy bar. She orders her usual, and champagne for Dale. Dale arrives with tiny dog Bambi. In her interview, Tinsley says her mom is by herself. She has Tinsley’s dog, but uses every excuse to see her in New York. She’s most at peace and calm when she’s with her children, even if she’s not peaceful and calm. Dale shows Tinsley her new shoes, and Tinsley is appalled that they’re from Topper’s new wife’s shoe company. I’m appalled too. Dale says she loves her things. Tinsley says she does too, but it’s her ex-husband’s new wife. Dale says Topper has the most beautiful baby she’s ever seen. We flash back to Tinsley crying over seeing a picture of her eggs. She’s happy for him; it’s all good. In her interview, Tinsley says her mom thinks she doesn’t know anything. Dale shows her a needlepoint she’s working on. It’s a stocking for Tinsley’s dad for Christmas. Tinsley says she wants one for Scott, and Dale says they’ll see how it goes. In Tinsley’s interview, she feels like her relationship is always on the chopping block, and she has to defend it. They still have things to work on, but they’re in it together. She’s invested time, and loves him. She’s going to do what it takes.
Sonja goes to the townhouse. She hasn’t been there since the renters left, and a new guy is coming. She does a smell test, and it passes. She finds some curtains are wet from leak that stemmed from the sky-roof. She wasn’t able to caulk, and nobody caulks a sky-roof as good as she does. She has to show the townhouse to a new perspective tenant. Dorinda comes by, and Sonja shows her the curtains. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Sonja shines in her new apartment, but when she sees Sonja in the townhouse, she gets a Paranormal Witness feeling. It grabs Sonja’s personality, and she’s manic. Dorinda tells her to take the curtains off until the leak is fixed. She’ll get Sonja a good deal on cleaning them. In her interview, she says everyone has a lot to say about John, but when it comes to dry cleaning, he’s a saint. She asks how Sonja feels there, and Sonja says as soon as she walked back in, it was a weight on her. She can’t wait to get the hell out. Dorinda tells Sonja that she saw an amazing apartment. In her interview, Dorinda says lots of fantastic things happened in her apartment, but there were also a lot of endings. It’s time to start fresh. She tells Sonja she immediately thought, this is her home. It’s on Sutton Place. Dorinda describes it as Londony, but I describe it as very expensive real estate. She says she feels elegant and grown-up, and she can walk to Bergdorf’s and have lunch. They take down the curtains.
Ramona meets her date, Marc. Omg, Marc and Singer. But believe me, he’s no Marc Singer. He slips in that he’s been to Paris as they’re saying hello. In her interview, Ramona says she doesn’t know which way to swipe, and went with a matchmaker she met at a speed dating event. She showed Ramona a photo of Marc, and he’s no red scarf guy. We flash back to red scarf guy, and yep. He’s not even that. She says he is educated, successful, and worldly, so she thought she’d give it a shot. He says he was born in Germany, but where he was conceived is more interesting. They order a bottle of wine, his deciding factor being he likes the soccer team from where the wine is made. He says he lived in Paris for two years, and speaks French and German. Ramona says she only speaks English, and sometimes not too well. In her interview, she lists her requirements. She wants a man who’s been married – Marc says he almost got married eight times – someone who doesn’t have to work from 8 am to 8 pm – he says he works all the time – someone who likes to be social – he loves total isolation – and someone with strong morals – he tells her he thinks it’s unnatural to be monogamous. Ramona says, do what works for you, and he says, judgment will kill you; it’s toxic. In Ramona’s interview, she says, there are a lot of red flags. He babbles about his views on marriage, even though she doesn’t want to hear it. His own statistics show only 10% of marriages work. She’s obviously not thrilled.
Bethenny has invited LuAnn, Barbara, and Dorinda to a lunch in Little Italy, where the attire is to be gangster. In her interview, Bethenny says, whether they punch each other, make love, or end up in a dumpster with duct tape over their mouths, something will happen. In Dorinda’s interview, she says she and LuAnn are on different pages, and there has to be some movement with group to break the tension. Dorinda is wearing athleisure and pink hair. Bethenny had to come from another appointment, and Dorinda thinks she looks like the prosecutor. Bethenny asks if Dorinda is nervous. LuAnn doesn’t really want talk, but they can’t say everything is rainbows and unicorns forever. She doesn’t want the unrest. In Bethenny’s interview, she thinks they both need to be accountable for what they did; cop to something. LuAnn arrives, in normal attire. In her interview, Dorinda wonders what happened to fun LuAnn. Maybe the Countess doesn’t do gangster. LuAnn talks about her new house; it’s midcentury and round. Dorinda explains that houses were designed that way to keep out the devil. The devil can only catch you in a corner. LuAnn says it’s good Feng Shui. In her interview, Bethenny thinks they’re both whack jobs. She doesn’t know what they’re talking about. It’s real estate. Barbara joins them, sporting a fedora. In her interview, she complains about LuAnn not dressing up. Just because she spent time in jail, doesn’t make her gangster.
Dorinda tells LuAnn she knows why they’re here. She loves LuAnn, and hopes they can work it out. She thought they were on a good path. She cares for LuAnn, and even if they can’t be friends, she wants peace. LuAnn wishes Dorinda well too. She doesn’t want to keep it going, and feel uncomfortable. She wants to move forward. Bethenny says, there’s no perfect relationship. Everyone has their own sh*t. Everybody makes mistakes. LuAnn says she’s gone over a lot of the things that happened. We see clips of Dorinda making a jerk of herself in Mexico. Dorinda says she apologized, and LuAnn says they were good until her cabaret show happened. We flash back to Dorinda yelling, Jovani! Dorinda starts to talk, but LuAnn doesn’t want the John story again. Dorinda says she was hurt that John wasn’t invited. Bethenny says Dorinda should just admit she heckled Jovani. Dorinda doesn’t think she did. In her interview, Bethenny says Ramona is the apologizer, but Dorinda is the denier. Dorinda thought they were past it, and they agree to give time. Dorinda says, if it’s meant to be, it will be. If not, everything has an ending. In Barbara’s interview, she says Dorinda can’t say that she’s wrong. She always has a excuse for everything, and is her own worst enemy. Bethenny doesn’t know why she did this. She doesn’t think they’ll ever get deep. LuAnn says it’s a truce. In her interview, Bethenny says she’ll be there with popcorn when they finally duke it out, but right now, they’re just making it nice. They toast to truth. LuAnn says they’ve put their guns down. Dorinda and LuAnn hug. In her interview, LuAnn says, the conversation is over. An apology isn’t going to happen. Just move on. Everyone seems happy. For the moment.
Dorinda welcomes her real estate agent, Laurie. In Dorinda’s interview, she says Laurie is a true New Yorker, and a bit of a broad. She looks like a bit of a broad. Like a tough old babe from the Mad Men era. All she needs is a cigarette hanging out of her mouth. Dorinda says Laurie sold her the apartment in 2001, and has stories that would knock your socks off. She opens champagne, and tells Laurie, it’s time to sell the apartment. She wants a fresh start. She got a new apartment, and doesn’t want this one empty. If she can’t sell it, she’s thinking of renting it out. Maybe in the future, Hannah will have a baby and want to move in. They take a selfie. Why? Who knows.
Sonja waits at a rooftop bar for Tinsley and Dale. She says Dale is her cup of tea. She learns things from Dale that make her a better person; she has good manners. Tinsley and her mom arrive, and Sonja shows them pictures of her daughter’s cum laude certificate. Sonja thinks Tinsley undervalues herself. In Tinsley’s interview, she says one week, Sonja tells her that she has a big ego, and the next week, she undervalues herself. Sonja says all the guys should be chasing Tinsley. Dale says Scott is a great guy, but she’d prefer him as a son-in-law. When she was their age, six months was enough to know. Tinsley says between their separations and breakup issues, they’ve technically only been together a couple of months. Dale says Tinsley isn’t giving it much more time, but Tinsley says she’s happy with him. She doesn’t need a ring, and she’s not getting rid of her boyfriend. Dale says, not another three years. In her interview, Sonja says Tinsley is in her pattern. She meets a guy, becomes co-dependent, and he treats her badly. She hangs around for a couple years, and all she has is empty promises and wasted time. Sonja says she has too many guys. She wants someone serious, with a life and friends of their own, who can take care of her, since she knows how to take care of a man.
Barbara visits Dorinda, who says she wants her apartment redone. She wants to spruce it up. Barbara agrees she needs the floors refurbished. She wants to reface the cabinets as well, but Barbara says she would rip out the whole kitchen. Dorinda says that will cost $100K, and Barbara tells her that she doesn’t know the right contractor. Geez. It’s not that big. I don’t think a small kitchen in a house would cost that much to redo. In her interview, Barbara says she’s taken aback. She expected Dorinda’s place would be more refined. Really? I wouldn’t.
They sit down with some wine, and Dorinda asks Barbara how she thinks lunch went. She says LuAnn was happy they moved past it, but was surprised Dorinda wouldn’t budge on an apology. We see a clip of LuAnn telling Barbara that she was dissatisfied not to hear some sort of ownership. Barbara asks her if she trusts Dorinda like she used to. LuAnn says, no. The relationship ha changed; it’s a different friendship. Dorinda tells Barbara that LuAnn is stuck. She feels sorry for her. She wants to victimize herself, and villainize Dorinda. She’s almost obsessed, and Dorinda thinks she should talk to someone. Are we hearing the same conversations? Barbara asks if Dorinda isn’t happy, and Dorinda says she felt great after the lunch. Barbara says they’re coming from two different perspectives. Dorinda tells Barbara, be careful. It’s looking like she drank the Kool-Aid. Barbara says she’s not like that. In Dorinda’s interview, she thinks Barbara doesn’t want to go forward.
Barbara mentions how Dorinda talked about LuAnn’s lawsuit. Dorinda insists that didn’t happen, but we see it did at a lunch with Sonja. Dorinda says she didn’t wave papers around; it was Sonja. Barbara asks if Dorinda expects her to believe Sonja was waving papers around, but Dorinda insists she did. In the clip, no one is waving papers, but Dorinda is clearly showing Sonja the paperwork on her phone. Barbara says it’s no one’s business, and she would hate someone talking about her ex and children. In her interview, Barbara says Dorinda should have shut the conversation down. She tells Dorinda, it’s not supportive of other women. In Barbara’s interview, she wonders if Dorinda ever takes any blame or responsibility for her own actions. If she’s drinking Kool-Aid, Dorinda is sniffing glue. Dorinda starts winding up, saying she’s been LuAnn’s friend for over thirteen years. She’s been ride or die. She starts to cry, saying she was there when no one else was around. She was there to the point of humiliation. I have no clue what she means there, since the only one who’s humiliated Dorinda is Dorinda. She says there’s only so much she can take; it has to end. Barbara can go if she’s going to aggravate her. She can’t have it. Barbara says, no problem. Dorinda can do the renovation herself. Barbara lets herself out, and Dorinda goes in her bedroom, and slams the door.
Next time, Bethenny feels guilty that her only way off the ride was Dennis dying, a doggy fashion show, and Halloween at Bluestone Manor.
If Loving You Is Wrong
Esperanza gets in the bar fight, jumping on Eddie. Some dudes separate Eddie and the other guy. Eddie says he’s cool. Esperanza leaves, and Eddie buys a round.
Randal looks out his window, sees Tanya, and smirks. For someone private, she has no window coverings. He gets out binoculars, and says, what the hell? I have no idea what she’s doing, but it looks like swirling something around in a jar. He laughs and says, all right. She’s putting on a show; here’s a show. He takes off his clothes, and stands in the window. She looks up, and he says, like what you see? You like that? We see his silhouette from her perspective.
Esperanza arrives home. Stephen is waiting. He’s glad she didn’t drive. He’s going to wait for his car; he just wanted to make sure she got home safe. She says, after the night had with Eddie. He started a barfight. He says she knows how to pick them, and she says she picked him. She asks where’s the girl he left with. Is he talking to strays? He says, not right now, and asks if her daughter is home, and she says, yeah. She left her daughter alone and went out. She’s with her grandmother. He asks to come in, saying, the porch light is on. He wants her. She wants him. He doesn’t want to play games. She tells him goodnight, and he says to stop telling him to go when she wants him to stay. She says she’s been with a lot of losers, and can’t afford another one. He says they’re not dating; what’s the big deal? She says they’re on two different pages. He asks what page she’s on, but she doesn’t know. He says she’s confusing as sh*t. She says she wants him. He says, that makes two of us, and she asks if he wants him too. She invites him in, and he says, on one condition. He leaves when he’s ready. She says, fine, and lets him in.
Duncan and his crew watch and wait in a car across the street. Duncan calls Eddie, and says, she let him in. What does he want them to do? Eddie says, stick to the plan. No traces. Duncan says he’ll cave Steven’s pretty face in. Inside, Esperanza lies on the bed, taking her clothes off. Steven gets into bed with her. The phone rings, but he turns the ringer off.
Randal calls Alex, and tells her go to the window. She’s not doing this right now, but he says he wants to see her when they talk. She goes, and he says she’s beautiful. She asks when he wants to see the baby. He says, now, and she says, he’s asleep. She’d rather it was when the kids were at school. He says, Marcie took the tapes; there’s no proof. Alex doesn’t care. She just wants it to stop. He says he’s divorced now. Soon, she’ll be divorced too, and they can finally be together. He knows she misses him. She repeats, she’s not doing this. She just wants to raise the baby together. He says they need to talk DNA, and she wishes he’d just let it go. Why can’t he drop it? He says maybe he’s sexually frustrated. She can help. She says she’s hanging up, and he says he’ll see her tomorrow. He punches in another number. He leaves a message saying Larry wants to avoid him, but all he wants is to hunt his ass down. He sees Tanya through the window. He says, you all the way gone, and stands in the window. He says, see you soon baby. Doesn’t he work? Don’t any of them work besides the police force? Even Eddie works more than Randal and Brad. Put together.
Ian pulls up outside his new house. He tells Marcie sorry he’s late. She says, it’s been a rough couple of days. She has his key. He says he just has to get furniture. She knows a great store, and has a friend who does interior design work. She can help him. He says he wants her help. He thought she was interested, but she says she’s not interested in anything right now. He says he’s trying to be a friend. Is she sure everything is okay? She doesn’t know if she’s coming or going these days. He asks if the SOB across the street is still bothering her. He’ll get him to leave her alone. She says, if he does that, she’ll take him to dinner – twice. He says he can be persuasive. She asks what else it will cost, and he asks what else she wants to pay. She says her husband cheated on her, but she stayed faithful. He slept with a friend and neighbor, and they had a baby. She fell in love with the same neighbor’s husband, but he didn’t want her. She thinks she’s paid enough got the rest of her life. He says she’s a beautiful woman. She can’t blame him for trying. Geez. No I’m sorry that your life is in the toilet? She says she’s tired. He offers to take her to dinner, but she says, not tonight. He asks if there’s any homeowners association whose rules he needs to follow, and she says, not at all. She drives off.
Lushion and Natalie do the dishes. Natalie says, it was selfish and unfair of Kelly, trying to take her own life. Lushion says she’s going through a lot. Natalie says she’s been through too much. She let a man get the best of her. Lushion says Natalie has never let him forget it. It’s okay to be vulnerable sometimes. She says she’s been there already. She’s more vulnerable with him than she’s ever been. He laughs, and she says it’s a sore subject for her. Joey is in jail (I forgot all about him!), the kids… Lushion says she has him. She says she appreciates him every day. She loves him. They kiss, and she says she hopes Kelly will be all right. She asks if he thinks she can see Kelly, but he says he had to sneak in. He looks outside, and she asks, what’s making that noise out there? He says Ian is moving in some boxes. He’s been ignoring Lushion’s calls. Lushion says he’ll be right back.
Lushion goes out, and calls Ian. Ian looks at the phone, and puts it back in his pocket. Lushion laughs. Ian brings in a box. Lushion waits outside, and when Ian comes back out, he says, so that’s what we’re doing now? Ignoring calls? He saw Ian moving boxes. It’s kind of late. Ian says he works late, and didn’t know Lushion was up. Lushion says maybe Ian didn’t want him to be up. He’s been ignoring Lushion’s calls all day. Ian says he was in court all day, then moving. Lushion says he’s been trying to reach Ian to talk about Kelly. Ian says he can’t help Lushion with that. Lushion says, she tried to commit suicide, and Ian says, no. Lushion says he was the one who cut her down. Ian says she doesn’t seem like the type of person to take her life. Lushion says she was humiliated. Travis took all her money, and she snapped and shot his ass. The one person who owes him favors won’t rep her. He sent a kid, almost his son’s age. He was terrible. Ian is sorry, but he can’t, and Lushion says that’s what makes him good lawyer. He doesn’t care about nothing or nobody. Ian doesn’t get why she tried to kill herself, but Lushion says he does get it. He tells Ian, sleep well, and starts to leave. Ian asks how she is now; it’s important. Lushion says, why? He doesn’t care. Welcome to the neighborhood. He doesn’t have to sneak in. Lushion won’t bother him. He knows where he stands.
Lushion comes back in, saying, some people. Natalie says, what? He says he wanted to get Kelly a good lawyer. Natalie says, an expensive lawyer. Lushion says she tried to take her life, and he didn’t even care. Natalie says, wow; that’s horrible. Natalie knows he has some money and wants to help. She knows how he is, but if he wants to give Kelly money for a lawyer, she’d appreciate him talking to her. She knows it’s not her money, but they have the kids. He understands. She doesn’t mind him helping, as long as he doesn’t hurt them. He tells her, let him handle it. He’s always thinking about them. They go to bed.
Brad knocks on Marcie’s bedroom door, and asks if he can come in with her. She says he can, and he gets in bed with her, putting his arm around her. He says she’s been amazing to him; he means it. She says, as he’s been to her. He’s sorry about the baby. She says, it wasn’t meant to be, and he says they’ll have one. She says, it hasn’t happened yet. She can’t carry. Brad says, maybe it’s not meant to be with Randal. She’s thought about that. She’s divorced now. Brad says he will be too. He’s giving Alex the divorce papers tomorrow. Marcie says, don’t be too sure she’ll sign them. She can make it ugly. He says he doesn’t want to because of the kids. If Alex has any decency, she’ll sign and let him out. Marcie says, she has no income, and Brad says he’ll have to hire a lawyer. As mad as he was at him, Larry is a good lawyer. He should give him call, or Marcie’s boyfriend. Marcie says he’s not her boyfriend. Brad says Ian wants her, and she says, a lot of guys do – except him. He says, that’s not true. If Alex signs, he thinks they should date. She laughs, and he says, if she wants to. She suggests they take it slow. She says, Randal and Alex will not like it, and Brad says, the hell with them. Brad’s phone rings, and he says, speaking of the devil.
Marcie says, don’t answer, but Brad says, she’s called ten times. it could be the kids. Alex says she’s sorry to bother him. Peter has a fever. If it stays the same, she’s going to keep him home tomorrow. She repeats she’s sorry, but he says he doesn’t care. She says the kids want to know when he’s coming home. He says tell them he’ll see them at school. He’ll pick them up and drop them off. She asks about helping them with homework, and he tells her, don’t do this; use the kids to get to him. She says she’s not doing that. She didn’t call to argue. He asks why she’s calling. Is she going to beg him to take her back? She says she doesn’t want that, and he asks if that’s reverse psychology that Randal taught her. She says he’s been drinking; she can tell. He says she makes him drink. She’s a loathsome bitch. She says he’s not speaking to her that way, and he says she deserves it. He’s coming with divorce papers, and she’d better have a damn pen. Didn’t he just say he wanted to talk to a lawyer? Did he just print out something from the internet? Marcie says, yeah, take it slow, and kisses him.
Tanya is unpacking. Randal comes out, and marches over there like Michael Myers from Halloween. He knocks on the door, and says he came to apologize that she saw him coming out of the shower. She says she didn’t. He says the house has been empty for so long, and she repeats that she didn’t see him. He asks if her husband is home, and she says, he’s at work. Randal holds out his hand, and introduces himself. She says they met earlier. She asks if he’s feeling better, and he says he’s fine; her? She wonders why he’s asking, and he says he saw her going to the mailbox, back and forth. She says she’s waiting for a package, and he says the mail comes after six. Wow, and I thought four was bad. He thinks should paint the wall in the living room red, and she sternly says, no. She doesn’t like red. He asks what her favorite color is, and she says blue. He says his bedroom is an off-blue. He asks what she does, and she tells him that she’s a stay-at-home wife mom-to-be. He says he’s a psychologist, and she says, great. He asks if she has anything to drink, and she says she was just unpacking. He says it’s not a good idea if you’re on medication anyway. She asks if he’s on medication, and he says, no; she is. She says she’s not, but he says he saw it on the counter. She says he can see from there, and he says his vision is 20/20. She says it’s for their dog; he’s around here somewhere. Randal says he has a bottle of wine. Throughout the conversation, she keeps fiddling with her shirt. It’s an off-the-shoulder Flashdance deal, and she keeps pulling it up. She says when her husband gets back, she’ll tell him that Randal stopped by. He tells her that she needs a better lock. Pointing to Alex’s house, he says, there’s a whore in the neighborhood who will spread her legs for anyone. The one next to her killed a man, and there were two people murdered in the house on the end. They should lock their doors and windows, hide the wives, hide the kids, hide the husbands. He says she’s seen what his penis looks like, and she thinks he should leave. He says, time to go, but keeps his hand on the door. He tells her that he just wanted to say, welcome to the neighborhood. She closes the door. She calls her husband (I assume), but he doesn’t pick up. She throws the phone, and sinks to the floor. I must say, this storyline is intriguing me.
Rick flirts with the nurse, and gets in to see Kelly. She asks what the hell he wants, and he says to check on her. She says, it’s too late for that, but he disagrees. He asks how she’s doing, and she says, how does it look like she’s doing. He says, dumb question. He apologizes, and she asks if he’s in on this too. Travis’s plan destroy her. He says that’s why he’s saying he’s sorry. He should have taken her more seriously. She says it doesn’t matter now; he’s dead. She wishes she could take that whole night back. One night that she doesn’t really remember. She heard him, and lost herself. Rick says he wouldn’t have stopped coming for her. People like him don’t, until they destroy your life. She says, he won, but Rick says, no, he didn’t. She says she’s up on charges for murdering Ramsay and Travis, but she didn’t kill Ramsay. Travis started messing with her son, and she couldn’t let that happen. He backed her into a corner. Rick says he’ll do all he can to help her. She says, it’s too late, but he says, it’s never too late. She says she’s in for life. Rick says they have to take her to a regular hospital; it’s the rule. She says she’ll be in handcuffs, and he says, one thing at a time. The nurse says, it’s time to go. He tells Kelly that he’ll be back, and the nurse says, not in here.
Larry picks up his private line, saying he got caught up at the office, but it’s Randal. He says he’s been calling all day. Larry says Randal wouldn’t believe what he’s been though. Randal says Larry had him sign a bunch of papers, and slipped the divorce papers in there. Larry says that’s absurd, and Randal asks how the hell it happened. Larry says, maybe he signed them when he was drinking. Randal says he’s coming to Larry’s office, but Larry says he’s leaving. Randal says he’ll come to the house, and Larry says, good idea. He’ll have his wife cook something, and they can catch up. Randal hangs up.
Steven tells Esperanza that he’s going home; his rules. She doesn’t want him to, and he says, all the more reason. He wants be in control, and says he’ll see her tomorrow. He tells her, sleep well, and she says she’d better not find out he’s meeting up with the girl from the bar. He says, what girl? He tells her, lock the door, but she says it will lock behind him.
He comes out, and the dudes from the car surround him. They knock him down, and start beating on him. They drag him toward the car.
Next time, Larry tells Ian his career will be over, Kelly tells Rick there were others, and Natalie hears screaming outside.
🌟 Regarding Star. As much as I love that show – I await Queen Latifah’s hair every week with bated breath – I wasn’t even aware it had started again. And since Tyler Perry hates me right now, and If Loving You Is Wrong is on Wednesdays, I’d be on overload trying to add it. Hopefully, I can catch up with On Demand on the weekends. Pardon me while I brood about this…
🌜 Not Quite…
But if I’m up much later, it will be. I’ll sleep in the next life.
