Category Archives: Christmas

Dec1

November 30, 2022 – The Necklace Changes Hands, the Real Ka-Boom, Carly’s First Day, Where’s the Exit, Her Opinion, the Tree & Traditions

Posted on December 1, 2022 by theresakp

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the bullhorn, Jordan tells Holly that it’s her last chance and to give herself up. Inside the cabin, a woman grabs the briefcase, knocking the lantern over and starting a fire – we can’t see her face. Jordan says she doesn’t like this, and tells Mac to give the order to move, but Robert says, give her a chance to do the right thing. Jordan says, she’s had a chance, multiple ones. Time’s up. There’s an explosion inside the cabin, and debris blows everywhere. Robert says he has to get in there, but Mac holds him back.

Curtis and Portia struggle over a piece of pie, and Curtis says he promised N’neka, but Porta says, N’neka gets plenty of pies and other things from her Savoy suitors. This pie is for Terry. It’s praise-worthy pie. He says he knows; he baked it. She says, with her sweet potato pie recipe, and he says he’ll surrender that piece of pie in exchange for something just as sweet. They kiss, and Trina slips out the back door. On the patio, Marshall says, sneaking out?

Brook tells Chase that she’s starving, and Olivia will kill them if they hold things up. She starts to leave, but he says, look at him. Was she ever going to tell him about the CCRB letter she never wrote? She acts like she’s not sure what he’s talking about, and he says, the letter she told Dante that she’d write; the one that might give him a fighting chance to get his badge back.

Britt goes up to the bar at The Savoy, bumping Ava as she sits down. She orders a Cosmo, tells Ava, her bad, and asks how Ava’s Thanksgiving was. Ava says, it was great; she had Avery. Britt tells N’neka to put Ava’s drinks on her tab, and Ava says, not necessary, but very nice. She asks how Britt’s Thanksgiving was, and Britt says, amazing. It had highs, lows, my mother, cranberry from a can. It was very traditional. Now it’s time for her to get her groove on. Cody walks in, and Britt says, one more box to check. Ava says, which is? and Britt says, a little somethin’ somethin’, when Nikolas walks in, and catches Ava’s eye.

Also at The Savoy, Victor sits alone at a table, and Selina tells him, happy Thanksgiving. He says, and to her, and she asks if he enjoyed a family celebration earlier. He gestures for her to sit, and says, just with his nephew. Sadly, he couldn’t gather the other Cassadines for a celebration of turkey and conviviality. His phone dings, and Selina says she’s sorry, but he tells her not to shed any tears on his account. That’s all going to be changing going forward. He sees a text from Gavin (no doubt the guy I’ve been calling Johann): Have approx. location on Holly. En route. Victor texts back: Necklace top priority. Holly expendable. He tells Selina, he hopes soon to have the incentive he needs to bring his family together.

The woman in the cabin, now consumed by fire, runs out and flails around the yard before finally falling down. Robert screams, Holly! and breaks away from Mac, grabbing a blanket and throwing it over her. Mac runs over, and Robert looks under the blanket, and yells, no! I guess it must be her. Jordan tells an officer to cordon off the area. Canvas the cabin, and find out if anyone within a one-mile radius saw or heard anything. The paramedics tend to Holly, and Mac pulls Robert away. Robert says, she needs him, and one of the paramedics says, they need to move her, or she’s not going to make it.

Selina tells Victor, family can be so troublesome, and ungrateful. She’s been tempted to disavow herself of the whole lot. He laughs, and says, not so easily done. Biological imperative compels us to protect our clan, no matter how sorry a bunch they might be. She says, it seems they have much in common, and asks if she can call him Victor. He says, if he can call her Selina, and she says she’d like to continue their conversation. Perhaps they can compare notes. He raises his glass to her.

Ava tells Britt that she never associated Thanksgiving with trysts. Most people just want a nap. Britt says, when you’re in her position, you carpe diem and carpe dictum, and Ava asks, what position is that? Britt says, hard up. She’s been without since Jason, and before him, there was one forgettable wham-bam with Jax, then a fling thing with Ava’s brother. She hasn’t had relationship sex since… wow… 2014. Nikolas joins them, and Britt adds, with Ava’s husband.

Obrecht stomps over to Cody and says, you – with me, and he follows her out.

Curtis asks what Portia thinks about their first family Thanksgiving, and she says, definitely deserving of high marks. And the food was fantastic. She even overheard his father telling Stella that his son’s turkey was so good. It’s true; she’ll give him that. Curtis says, he’s just so grateful that he has a father to fuss with. Tommy never got that chance, and he intends to make the most of his, just in case this disease tries to take his father away again. What are the chances it rears back up? I’m guessing none, since I don’t think Marshall has schizophrenia.

Trina asks if Marshall pulled guard duty, and he says he’s just minding his own business, cleaning his clarinet. She wraps a blanket around herself, and asks if he isn’t cold. He says he’s wearing a sweater. Curtis busted his chops, and highly suggested he could keep Trina company. He figured boredom would drive her out here sooner or later. She says, here she thought she and Curtis were making progress, and Marshall says, he means well. She says she knows, but it’s not like she’s out here asking to be attacked by a freak with a hook. She just needs to breathe. She’s climbing the walls being shut up most of the time. He says he knows the feeling. Been there; done that.

Brook says, Dante told Chase about the letter? and he says, Dante assumed he knew; that Brook had looped him in. He figured she just hadn’t had the time to write it yet, what with making music and scamming Linc. She says, they’ve been crazy busy, right? Every day, all day, she’s hustling for every number Chase performs, setting up interviews and promos. She can barely breathe. He says, it’s a lot of work, and she’s thrown herself into it, and she says, letting all her responsibilities at Deception slide… He says, so maybe she wanted to and just didn’t find the time. Maybe she thought she did tell him, or maybe she drafted the letter, and didn’t want to spring it on him until it was perfect. He’d understand anything; just tell him. When was she going to let him know Dante asked her to write a letter to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, recommending he get his badge back? She doesn’t say anything, and he says, never? She says she meant to tell him once they got Linc, but he says, that’s not a sure thing. She says, neither is her letter, but he says, Dante told him that her account of his run-ins with Valentin and Linc would go a long way in getting him right with the Board. She says, what’s to stop Linc from having his say? That liar could deny everything. Chase’s best shot at getting his badge back is after they beat Linc, and expose him for the skeeze that he is. She takes Chase’s hands, and says, once they prove Linc has no credibility, is when he can march into the CCRB with her letter, and prove he never gave up on law and order, just because law and order gave up on him. He says, that timetable doesn’t work; which he could have told her if she’d let him in on what was happening. But she didn’t. He can’t think of a single reason why she wouldn’t just tell him. She says, there is only one good reason; the only reason she needed. Us.

Trina says she didn’t mean compare being shut up with family with what Marshall went through when he was hospitalized, and Marshall says, let’s see. You can’t leave when you want to. Your mother and Curtis watch your every move. You can’t see the man in your life, Officer Cabrera. They share enough similarities to make them understand one another. She says she doesn’t think she could ever really understand what he went through, and he says he hopes she never does. She says, he doesn’t talk much about it… you know… He says, having schizophrenia. Why dwell on yesterday, when today’s so rich, and tomorrow’s so bright.

Portia says she can’t tell Curtis if Marshall is going to have another schizophrenic episode. She’s not a psychiatrist; she’s not even up on the latest science. He tells her, Marshall said he never had an episode, not since the arrest that institutionalized in the first place. Maybe Marshall caught a break, like he did, dodging his father’s genetic markers.

Ava and Nikolas gaze into each other’s eyes, and Britt says, they’re so cute. Look at them; coupled up, wedded bliss. Ava says, aren’t they though? and Nikolas says he saw Britt’s mother over there. Britt tells him, her mother says marriage is for the bourgeois. Britt thinks it would be nice if her significant other knew what toppings she likes on her hot dog, or took the wine glass out of her hand when she fell asleep on the couch. Someone who would throw her a birthday party and serve her favorite cake… or just say happy birthday. Ava says, Britt never had a birthday party? and Britt says, no birthday party, no husband. Nikolas says, she still has time, and Britt says, ain’t it the truth? She asks N’neka to get her and her friends another round.

Selina says, Victor’s nephew appears to be occupied with his wife, and Victor says, soon to be ex-wife. Selina says she’s sorry to hear that, but he says, don’t be. It was an imprudent match to begin with; harmful to both of them. It was never meant to last. Selina says, love never is, but that alone never stopped anyone from fighting for it.

Robert goes with Holly to the ambulance, saying, he loves her; hang in there. Mac stops a paramedic, and asks about Holly’s condition, and the paramedic tells him, on observation, it looks like she has burns over 75% of her body. GH is good, but she needs better, so they’re taking her to a burn unit. They’ve radioed for a medivac. Robert says he’s going with her, but Mac says, he’ll just get in the way of the paramedics. He’ll drive Robert to the airfield. Robert tells Mac to get out of his way before he belts him one, when Jordan interrupts, saying, this is a crime scene. She needs her Chief of Detectives. She tells Robert to move, and he leaves.

Portia says, Curtis and his father are lucky, no matter what the reason is. She hopes some of that luck rubs off on Trina. She can’t wait for Esme to be brought to justice. Speaking of Trina, where is she? They look outside, and see her on the patio with Marshall.

Trina says, Marshall has a way of putting things into perspective, and he says, everybody has their burdens. But no one carries it with grace such as hers. Curtis comes out, carrying the piece of pie, Portia behind him. He tells Marshall, the game is on, and Marshall gets up. He says he guesses Portia is going to watch the game with him, and she says she’ll definitely be watching. Enjoy the pie. Marshall asks if that’s the last piece of pie; he doesn’t believe this. He and Portia go inside, and Curtis puts down the pie near Trina, and sits down. She pushes it away, and he says, okay, her loss. He thought it would take the edge off after being caught in his net.

Chase says, Brook took away his best chance at getting his badge back for them? She says she’s never had this before. She’s been with other guys – she’s not exactly Snow White – but true intimacy? Not once. She was starting to think she wasn’t capable of a true connection, but then he came along. She realized, not only was intimacy possible, but it’s here, between them. Since they started working together, it’s only gotten deeper and stronger. If she never gets Linc, if she never gets her songs back, if she never exposes Linc for the creep that he is, she’d be okay. She’s be frustrated and disappointed, but she’d still be okay. Because the true gift is, every minute, she gets closer to him. She thought he felt the same way. He says he does, and she says, that’s why she didn’t tell him about the letter. She thought everything they were doing together was better than anything they’ve done alone. She thought, given enough time, he’d forget about the badge, and what he really wanted would be here with her. Just tell her she’s right.

Outside The Savoy, Cody says he thought he and Obrecht were getting along better. Is he still in the hole for punching Scotty? She says she was moved by his apology, as well as Britt’s endorsement of him. Her feelings are immaterial; only Britta’s matter. She’s a fundamentally lonely person, yearning for what she’s never had; someone to rely on. Now is no time to look for a substitute. Britt can’t do with a romantic distraction; she needs her mother. They both know Britt is headstrong, and behaves contrary to wisdom, and Cody is persistent. So… If it’s money he wants, then it’s money he shall have.

Britt asks Nikolas to be her wingman, and help scope out the sponge-worthy. She stumbles a little, and he asks if she’s okay. Ava suggests she sit down, when Selina comes over with Victor, and asks if there’s a problem. Britt says she just slipped, and Selina asks if she’s been overserved. Britt says she just had one drink, and Selina says, come with her. She tries to take Britt’s arm, but Britt throws Selina’s hand off, and almost falls again. Victor comes on the other side of her, putting her drink on the bar, and he and Selina head for a table with her.

The ambulance stops in the middle of nowhere, and the paramedics get out. Dressed as one of them, Felicia opens the back, and says, all clear. Holly sits up, and takes her head covering off. Robert asks if she’s all right, and she says, right as rain. She’s all fired up. Wow. I really thought it must be someone else, since we couldn’t see who she was. Well done.

Chase tells Brook, singing’s been a pleasant surprise. He had more fun than he thought he would. And it’s not just the performing or celebrity; it’s her. He would have never tried to be Chase the singer with anyone but her. She says, he’s got her, so there’s no problem, but he says, the problem is, he’s not Chase the singer. That’s just some face he was wearing that’s not his. She says, but it could be. She’s seen him when he gets up on stage; he comes alive. He’s so in the moment when he sings. He says, and right when he’s done, he’s checking his newsfeed. He has this fantasy that he’s the one who finds Brando’s killer; that he could still do some good at the PCPD. She says, he can. She never expected him to give up the cop forever; just put him on mute for a while. He says, until he forgets the sound of his voice altogether? Maybe she’s right. He can forget he’s a cop, and focus all his energy on singing, given enough time. But it has to be his choice. Does she get that? And she took that away from him.

Trina says she thought she and Curtis had an understanding after their discussion on boundaries, and he says he thought he’d given her a wide berth. She says, it doesn’t feel that way, and he says, they agreed he wouldn’t go behind her back and butt into her life. He did that. He even refrained from butting in from the front. He’s up for a Nobel Peace Prize. She says, which he’ll lose after assigning his father to guard her, but he says, all he did was set up a watch to keep eyes out for Esme Prince. A man is allowed to protect his castle, and all who reside in it.

Marshall tells Portia, Trina’s not going anywhere. She’s just feeling hemmed in. She thanks him for talking to Trina, and helping her get some of that out, and asks if he’d mind possibly playing for them tonight. He says, sure, and she asks if his illness ever gets in the way of him playing. She’s sorry… He says, no, that’s okay. No one’s ever asked. The only way schizophrenia got between him and his music was when he had to go underground to protect his family from the stigma. She says, so it never inhibited his performance? and he says, just his ambitions. Why all the questions?

Mac asks Jordan if there’s any idea what caused the explosion, and she says, the theory is a faulty stove. She has to get her people inside. Hopefully there’s some evidence to explain Holly’s strange behavior. He hands her an evidence bag, and says, maybe this will help. The firefighters pulled it out. She asks what it is, and he says, the remains of Robert’s briefcase; the one he put the necklace in. She says, so where’s the necklace?

Holly thanks Felicia for the clothes, and Felicia says she’s happy she got the sizes right. She has Holly’s new passport and her international driver’s license. Does she feel better? Holly says, just a little singed around the edges. Robert joins them, and says, that was something. Holly says she’s just sorry he and Mac had to see it; she can’t imagine what it looked like. Felicia says, the danger was minimal. She and Holly worked it out to a tee. Holly tells her, thank you for that… We see Felicia meeting Holly, and Holly says, Felicia was waiting for me when I arrived at the cabin last night. They go inside, and Felicia gives Holly some things out of a duffel bag. Holly says, with fireproof garments, and fire retardant gel to make the ruse look real. Felicia tells her to put it on her face, and Holly says, we went over the instructions on how to rig the stove at the appointed time. Back at the ambulance, Felicia says, Holly flambé. She can’t believe Holly was able to work it out in time. Robert says, they had no choice, and Holly says, they were operating on Victor’s timetable. She couldn’t just hand over the necklace. Robert says, she couldn’t defy Victor either, and Holly says, or Ethan would have paid the price. She and Robert faked Robert’s drugging, so she’d have the opportunity to steal the necklace, and lay a trail to the cabin for the PCPD to find. Robert says, it only works if they have a credible witness to Holly’s injuries, and Holly says, because Ethan’s only chance of survival is if Victor believes she’s of no more use to him.

Cody says, Obrecht’s willing to pay him to stay away from Britt? and she says she’s prepared to give him six figures. He says he doesn’t want her money. He just wants what, by rights, should belong to him. She says, Dominique’s inheritance, and he says, yeah, and he wanted something else; not something, someone. She says, her daughter, and he says he thought he could have both. Boy, did he misjudge that situation. Now it looks like he can’t have either, but maybe all he wanted was Britt. Obrecht will be happy to know, he blew it big time. Her daughter wants nothing to do with him. She says, perhaps Britta’s learned some wisdom after all, and he says, she can tell Britt that he can take no for an answer, and he can take living hand to mouth. So Obrecht can keep her money, and not worry about him dogging Britt. He doesn’t want to go where he’s not wanted. Obrecht says she’ll make sure Britt knows, and he says he’s sure she will. One more thing. What’s wrong with Britt? Why is Obrecht willing to go broke just to keep him away from her? Obrecht says, sorry. Answers were never on offer.

Britt shakes off Victor and Selina as they get to the table, and Victor says he’s going to get her mother. Britt says, leave her mother out of this, and leave her alone. Selina says she’s getting Britt a cab, but Britt says, this is ridiculous. She had one drink. Victor says, not counting the drinks she had on the way over, and Britt says she can handle her liquor. Selina says, but she can’t even stand up straight unaided, and Victor says, wait. This isn’t alcohol, is it? Britt’s sick.

Ava says, Victor won’t be very pleased, seeing Nikolas consorting with the enemy, and Nikolas says he has no intention of divorcing her. She says she had no intention of becoming bait for the PCPD, but sometimes, one never knows what the day may bring. He asks what she’s talking about, and she says, Mac Scorpio thinks Ryan Chamberlain can lead them to Esme if she convinces him to.

Victor says, Faison’s legacy, and Britt says, shut up about that, when Obrecht flies in between them. She slaps Victor, and says, touch her daughter, and she’ll kill him. Selina says, everyone, calm down, and Cody hustles Victor off, suggesting they take a walk. Britt says, he’s going to tell people, but Obrecht says, he wouldn’t dare. There’s a special place in hell for men like that. Selina says, the Ninth Circle… I’ve heard it said.

Robert gives Holly some keys, and says, the car’s untraceable. Drive it over the border to Canada, and with her new ID, she can disappear. She says, Victor will follow up, but he says, witnesses will recall there was a woman placed in a medivac. Felicia says, yours truly. She’ll be dropped off outside Port Charles, and flight plans will indicate Holly Sutton was transferred to a plane transporting her to a burn clinic halfway across the world. Robert says, very private, very secure, and Felicia says, reports will have her comatose with a long, difficult recovery. Robert says, and Victor will probably lose interest, leaving her free to rescue her son. Holly says she won’t squander their efforts, and Felicia says she knows that. Holly thanks them for everything they’ve done on her behalf and her son’s. She just wishes they didn’t have to leave Mac in the dark, but Felicia says, this way, Mac can’t lie to Jordan about Holly. Besides, he’d be the first to agree she’s worth it. Holly wonders how she can ever repay them, and Felicia hugs her, saying, get her son back, and get Victor. Holly says she’s working on it. She remembers…

Selina holds up a diamond, and says, interesting. Holly says, satisfied? and Selina says, she’d prefer the entire necklace, but Holly says, that’s all that’s available, and only in exchange for the guarantee that Victor Cassadine ingests this. She holds up a vial, and asks if it can be done. Selina says she sees Victor at The Savoy on occasion, but she can’t have the club associated with a death. Holly says, if she wanted Victor dead, he’d be dead. He’ll only feel the effects of this drug if the circumstances arise… or don’t. Selina asks, what did Victor do to earn Holly’s animosity? and Holly says, Victor fancies himself a family man, whilst he’s holding her son hostage. She’ll never get Ethan back if Victor is dead. In the meantime, a dose of this will pay him back in kind. Selina says, there’s a special place in hell for such men, and Holly says, the Ninth Circle. Will she do it? Selina says, Holly has her word, and takes the vial.

N’neka brings Victor another drink, and he raises his glass to Selina, who looks at the vial in her hand. She says, and my word is my bond.

Curtis says, Trina’s not a prisoner. He just wants to make sure she’s safe and sound while she’s here. If she doesn’t like his rules, they’re only temporary. But he does need her to respect them, just as he respects her boundaries. And while he hopes this doesn’t compromise the friendship they decided to try out, he’ll understand if it does. She says, two steps forward, one step back is still progress. Fork? He gives her the fork, and she snatches the pie away, telling him, don’t squander that progress. He says he made that pie, and she says, from her mom’s recipe. He throws up his hands in surrender.

Portia says she guesses she’s just curious that none of Marshall’s doctors ever suggested genetic counseling or screening like Curtis had. He says, things like that weren’t around back when he was in the hospital, but she says, those things are commonplace nowadays. Has he ever considered it? and he says, what’s the point? He already has a diagnosis. What would genetic counseling tell him that he doesn’t already know? Um… what I said before.

Chase tells Brook, the only way he’d want to become a singer is if he decides himself, but she never gave him that option. She says she thought he wanted it as much as she did, and he says, to take down Linc? Sure, but she knew how bad he wanted to return to the PCPD. So when Dante asked her to write the letter, she didn’t tell him because she knew he’d be all for it. She says she never thought of it like that, and he says he’s been where she is, making decisions for others, and personal experience showed him just how wrong it was. He did it with Willow. She says, so that’s it? He’s hanging up the mic? She gets it. He says, she doesn’t. It’s not just the mic; it’s us. His singing career is over, and so are they.

Nikolas tells Ava that she can’t be in Ryan’s presence; it’s too dangerous. She says, Ryan is a turnip, and any danger would be worth it to protect Trina. Esme is out there killing people, and she has to do what she can to stop her, even if it means she pays the price for Esme going over the parapet… or he does.

Marshall asks, what would be the benefit after all these years, to get confirmation of what he already knows? when Trina and Curtis come back in. Portia says, somebody enjoyed the pie, and Curtis says, the pie that he barely got to taste. Is Marshall ready for some football? Marshall says, let’s do this, and puts on the TV.

Brook tells Chase to think about what he’s saying, and he says, she’s the most exciting person he’s ever met. She made him feel like the luckiest guy alive. She says, he made her feel the same way, and he says, but then they went in on this plan to expose Linc, and it muddied things up for the both of them. They should have set boundaries; either working together as singer and manager, or two people who can’t get enough of each other. But not both, because now they don’t work as anything. She tells him, don’t say that. That’s not true. They can work this out. He says, she lied to him. She kept him from the thing that makes him who he is. There’s nothing to work out. It’s over. He leaves, and she cries.

Britt tells Obrecht, everything was fine. She could swallow her drink, then suddenly, her feet fell out from under her. Obrecht says she’s so sorry. Let’s go home. Britt asks why Obrecht’s never thrown her a birthday party, and Obrecht says she must have some time, but Britt says, she didn’t. She’s going to throw herself a birthday party to end all parties. If she’s going down, she’s going down dancing, even if she’s dancing on her own. Obrecht helps Britt out of the club, as Cody watches.

Holly tells Robert, so this is goodbye. She’s sorry for everything. Most of all, she’s sorry for coming back to him only to leave again. If there was any other way… He says, there isn’t, and she says, this isn’t their moment. He says, it never is, but she says she recalls a certain… Goodbye, Robert. He asks if she isn’t forgetting something, and she kisses him, but he says he actually meant something else. She says, oh? and he says, the necklace.

Mac says, the firefighters didn’t see a necklace, and Jordan says, call CSU. They need to conduct their own search. They need to make sure nobody walked out with it. He says, it’s possible Holly ditched the necklace, or handed it off to Victor before holing up, and Jordan says, or she had it on her when she left with the paramedics. He says he’ll check with Robert. It’s possible it got destroyed in the fire. She says, a diamond necklace? and he says, a hot enough fire can turn diamond to ash. It might be gone for good. She says, the WSB is going to be pissed

Victor swirls his drink, and drains his glass. His phone dings, and a text from Gavin says: Holly disabled. Necklace missing. Victor shatters his glass on the table.

Holly tells Robert, oh, the necklace. She almost forgot. They laugh, and she takes it out of her pocket, giving it to him. She asks why Victor wanted it so badly. What’s so special about it? He says, it came from the Ice Princess itself. He thinks it has something to do with the diamonds. She says, the Ice Princess has a bad habit of destroying those who covet it. Be careful. He says he’s always careful, and she says, except with his heart, touching his chest. He says, be seeing you, and she slowly walks away. She turns, blows him a kiss, and walks into the mist.

Tomorrow, Sasha tells Chase, in her heart, Brook was doing it for them both; Nina says she hopes Willow can help out a friend; Carly asks Josslyn if Dex is a factor in her decision; and Sonny says, if something is too good to be true, it usually is.

🔥 Like a DVD Extra…

It was pretty impressive.

Behind the Scenes of GENERAL HOSPITAL’s Dangerous Explosion!

🚑 Entering the Hospital…

The final (TBD) Carly recalls her beginnings on GH.

Laura Wright Recalls Her First Day at GENERAL HOSPITAL (EXCLUSIVE)

🥱 More Old News…

Blah-blah-blah, Ramona, blah-blah-blah, Andy.

Andy Cohen Responds To Ramona Singer’s Exit From The Real Housewives Of New York City

🚂 She Thinks They Can…

Why is Teddi weighing in on this? Is she a relationship coach now? Apparently, this site likes her, but still not a fan.

Teddi Mellencamp Says Lisa Vanderpump And Kyle Richards Can Move Past Their Issues

🎄 Light It Already…

Yeah, yeah. Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton are cute, but it was like, come on and flip the switch. Not as bad as waiting for the Best Picture Oscar though.

https://www.rockefellercenter.com/holidays/rockefeller-center-christmas-tree-lighting/

🤸‍♀️ Holly Jollying…

Tomorrow, soap and another episode of that horrifying House. And I’m not talking about The Watcher. Come suffer with me. Until then, stay safe, stay serene in a stormy world, and stay not dwelling on yesterday, when today’s so rich, and tomorrow’s so bright.

⚠️ Warning: Some words not for sensitive ears:

Dec30

December 29, 2021 – Judge Milford Makes a Decision, Second Act Flop, Maybe She’ll Stay, Christmas Leftovers & What

Posted on December 30, 2021 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer sees Josslyn in a classroom at PCU, and asks what she’s doing there. She says she’s taking a seminar; is he? He says he’s trying to withdraw from the classes he scheduled for next semester. He doubts PCU has a remote learning platform for students in Spring Ridge.

Stella goes to Portia’s office, and asks if she’s busy. Portia says she’s never too busy for Stella, and invites her in. Portia asks if Stella is okay, and Stella says she’s fine. She’s there about Curtis. Portia gets up, and asks if something happened with Curtis, but Stella says, no. She’s sorry. It’s really about Marshall.

Marshall says, it’s good to see Curtis; it’s a surprise. Did Curtis use his P.I. skills to track him down? Curtis says, Aunt Stella told him where to find Marshall, and Marshall says, it’s not very fancy, but it will do until he finds a place of his own. Curtis asks if Marshall is looking for an apartment in town, and Marshall says he thought he’d stay and get to know his family… TJ and Curtis. Does Curtis coming there mean it’s a possibility?

Alexis walks into the seminar, and Spencer asks if she’s looking for someone. Alexis says, Professor Kahn. She signed up for the Sociology of Crime seminar. Josslyn says, her too, and Spencer asks why Alexis signed up. Alexis says she’s interested in the sociology aspect, and since she can’t practice law anymore, she thought she’d look into mediation or conflict resolution; something law adjacent. Josslyn says Alexis can sit with her, and Alexis says, cool.

Willow asks if Nina used her, but Nina says she had no idea Scotty was going to put Willow on the stand, or that he even knew that Willow knew something. Willow has to believe her. Michael says, he believes this is what Nina wanted, and Nina says, this is what she wanted? For the whole world to know about her relationship with Mike in Nixon Falls? Is he crazy? She begged Willow not to say anything. Michael says, Scotty blindsided his father and the DA to inflict maximum damage by calling Willow. Nina managed to evade the law, and hurt his family at the same time. Nina says, Michael is the one bent on revenge. If he hadn’t pressed the Llantano DA to arrest her, then none of this would have come up. Her relationship with So… Mike would have stayed a secret.

Sonny calls to Carly, saying, wait. She stops, and he asks her to let him explain. Will she listen to him? She says, listen to who? Sonny? Mike? Or someone else entirely different? He says, her husband, and she says, tell her that he’s not still sleeping with Nina. He says he didn’t sleep with Nina, and she says, he remembered his family before he could? Is that it? He says, he remembered his family and came home to her, where he belongs, and she says, he fell in love with someone else. (Pot, meet kettle.) Where does that leave her?

Curtis says, so Marshall thinks he can just show up there and plant roots? and Marshall says, he just started looking. He’s not sure how long it’s going to take. Curtis says, so Marshall intends to play house in Port Charles, after all this time? Where has he been? Marshall says, everywhere and nowhere. He never stayed in one place very long. Curtis says, that’s it? That’s all Marshall’s got for him? Marshall says, they keep going over this thing. He can’t give Curtis an explanation that will satisfy him. All he can say is how ashamed he is for all the time he lost with Curtis. That’s why he’s here; that’s why he’s staying. He wants them to get to know each other. Curtis says, Marshall wants to get to know him now. Well, guess what? It works both ways. All those years he and Tommy grew up without a father, where was he?

Spencer asks if Alexis has to go back to school to be a mediator, and she says, that’s what she’s trying to figure out. She thought if she just took a three-week seminar during winter break, it might help her decide if she’s ready to be a student again. He says, that’s valid, and asks why Josslyn is taking classes on her winter break. Josslyn says, they’re reading Professor Kahn’s book in her Introduction to Sociology class, and it’s pretty great. When she saw the professor was giving a seminar, she thought it was a great opportunity. He asks if she’s ever explored this concept he calls leisure. He was good at it until his dad fell under Ava’s spell, and his life became a complete dumpster fire. The professor comes in, and asks everyone to take their seats. They have a lot to cover in very little time. She introduces herself, and says she’s passing around a sign-in sheet. If they don’t sign it, they won’t get credit for this lesson. She hands it to Spencer, who just stands there, and she asks if there’s a problem. Josslyn says, no problem, and grabs Spencer, pulling him into the seat next to her, and telling him to be quiet. He might actually learn something.

Willow tells Nina, don’t you dare try to turn this back on us. Michael didn’t come after Nina for revenge; he wanted justice. What Nina did to his father was criminal. What’s worse is, Nina came and went in and out of their lives the whole time. She stood by, and watched Sonny’s family grieve for months. It’s not just criminal; it’s cruel and selfish. Nina says she realizes what she did to Sonny and his family was horrible. She’s said it a million times. That’s why she stayed quiet. She realized Sonny wasn’t telling anyone one about their… her and Mike’s relationship. It was over. The only reason it came out was because Willow overheard a private conversation, and she’s not going to apologize for that. Nina stomps back to the courtroom, nearly running down Scotty on his way out, and telling him, not now. Willow follows Nina, and Michael says Scotty miscalculated, using Willow like that, threatening her and badgering her on the stand the way he did. He won’t forget that. Scotty says he was defending his client, and Michael says, they both know there’s no legal defense for the hell Nina put his family through. Scotty says, Michael must have missed the part where the judge called his father back to the stand, and he testified that he was not Nina’s victim. So don’t blame him if dada was having a good time in Nixon Falls, and didn’t want to come home to his family. Michael punches him in the face.

Sonny says, he and Carly belong together; she knows that. She says, he fell in love with Nina, and he tells her, that was in Nixon Falls. He had amnesia; he wasn’t himself. She asks if he forgot his life as Mike when he remembered he was Sonny? and he says, no. She asks why he didn’t tell her, and he says he was going to, but Jason died, and he didn’t think it was the right time. She says she knew something was wrong, but she thought it was her. She blamed herself because of everything that happened with Jason, but Sonny was lying to her. When she found out Nina knew he was alive – not from him, but from Maxie – what did he say to her? He said, let it go. Now she knows why. He was protecting Nina. He says, he didn’t want to lose her in a war with Nina. He didn’t want to waste any more time with Nina. Nixon Falls is done; it’s over. She asks how he can stand there and say that to her, and he says, because it’s the truth. She says, he’s not just lying to her. He’s lying to himself.

Professor Kahn says, you can track the changes in society by seeing how the laws change in that society while it develops. Take for instance the United States versus Porter. In that case, Arthur Porter was charged with assault when a man broke into his home. Despite putting that man in the hospital, he was found not guilty because he was defending his property. Alexis says, well… and the professor says, excuse me? Alexis says, nothing. Carry on. Professor Kahn thanks her, and says, this is an example of property being valued over people. Alexis says, not really, and the professor asks if she knows the case. Alexis says, actually, she does. Porter was defending his wife and child, so she could argue that Porter was concerned with their well-being and safety, which was the deciding factor. The professor says, oh, she could.

Portia asks if Stella is telling her that Marshall has an ulterior motive for getting back into Curtis’s life, but Stella says she doesn’t know. She hasn’t seen Marshall in years, and has no idea what kind of man he is now. Portia asks, what kind was he? Was Stella unhappy he married her sister? Stella says, no. Irene and Marshall loved each other; that much she does know. But Marshall wasn’t always the easiest person deal with. Portia says, running off from his family, and letting them believe he was dead for decades certainly fits with that description. Stella says, what concerns her, is how Curtis is dealing with it. Earlier, Curtis told her something she never knew; how he and Tommy would make up stories about their heroic dad when they were kids. Portia says, so they painted their father as a hero; it’s not uncommon. And now that childhood fantasy is back from the dead. She gets the sense, that even with all Curtis’s misgivings, he really does want to know his father. Stella says she knows, and she’s worried the reality is going to crush Curtis.

Marshall says Curtis thinks everything he’s saying is lip service, but he’s truly sorry his sons had to grow up without him. If he’d had a choice, it wouldn’t have happened. Curtis says, he keeps alluding to this choice, or lack thereof, whatever that means. As far as he knows, Marshall left and pretended to be dead. Marshall says, it was the hardest thing he’s ever done in his life, and Curtis says, then why did he do it? Marshall says, he thought what he was doing was best for his family, and Curtis says, leaving his mother to raise two boys on her own was best? Marshall says he knew their Aunt Stella would be there to help, and Curtis says, and she did, thank God, but it wasn’t her job. She’s not their father. That’s what they needed – their father. It’s been so long, Curtis barely remembers Marshall. Marshall says he remembers Curtis. He has fond memories of Curtis and Tommy. Giving them piggyback rides up and down the stairs. They used to wear superhero PJs, and drape a towel around their neck like a cape. Marshall tears up, and says, Curtis’s smile was the greatest part of his life. Curtis says, if they meant that much to Marshall, why did he leave? He didn’t care to see them grow up? Marshall says, more than Curtis knows, and Curtis asks, then why did he leave?

Scotty says, that is assault, but Michael says he doesn’t care. He tells Scotty, arrest him, and walks out.

Willow approaches Nina back in the courtroom, and asks if she was wrong this whole time. She gave Nina the benefit of the doubt, and said nothing to Michael or his family, and Nina used her to hurt the people she loves. Nina says, she didn’t do that. For the last time, she didn’t tells Scotty about her and Mike, let alone that Willow knew about them. She’s not responsible for Willow’s choices. Willow says she had no choice, but Nina says, she could have lied.

Carly asks Sonny to tell her the truth. She wants to know every single thing that happened in Nixon Falls. Sonny says, he had no past; he had no ties. He only had a watch with a message engraved on it, to Mike, so that’s what he called himself. Then Phyllis and Lenny took him in and they were great to him. Then Nina showed up; she was Phyllis’s friend. Carly says, Nina knew exactly who he was, but Sonny says he didn’t know that she was lying to him. Then this con man Elijah Crow was trying to take the Tan-O from Lenny and Phyllis, and Nina helped Mike stop him. Carly says, and he fell in love with Nina, but Sonny says, he didn’t remember Carly. She says, maybe he didn’t want to. (I know I wouldn’t.)

Stella says, she’s sure Portia thinks she’s a busybody, but she can’t sit back and wait for Curtis to admit he needs support. Portia says, Curtis needs to work it out in his own way, but Stella says, not if it means leaving him on his own. This isn’t the time for Portia to give Curtis space. It’s the time for her to step up, and show him that he’s not alone.

Marshall tells Curtis, it’s not easy for him to talk about his past. He had some really bad years. Sometimes, he didn’t know if he was going to make it through, but he turned things around. Now he’s finally in a place where he can give Curtis the support a father should. Curtis says, he’s a grown-ass man. He doesn’t need Marshall’s support now. What he needs are answers, but Marshall doesn’t seem to be in a place to give them. He could have used this fatherly support when he was growing up. He and Tommy were teased by the kids. They didn’t believe Marshall had died. They said he was probably in jail. He can’t remember the number of fights he got into defending Marshall’s name, and it was all a lie. Marshall says he’s sorry if he hurt Curtis, and he’s sorry if he hurt Tommy. TJ told him that Tommy had PTSD when he died. He never knew. Curtis says, how would he know that, and what does it matter? Marshall says, everything matters to him about Curtis and Tommy, and Curtis says, then he should have stuck around.

Nina says, when Scotty asked Willow if she knew another reason Sonny wasn’t coming after her, Willow could have said no. Willow says, she was under oath. Scotty was threatening to have her charged with perjury. Nina asks, who would contradict Willow? Who would have stood up and said Willow was lying? Not her. Not Sonny. No one. She hurt Sonny in so many ways, and this was her one chance to do something good for him, and Willow took that away. She starts to walk away, but Willow tells her to get over herself. Not everything is about her. She grabs Nina’s arm, but Nina jerks away, saying, don’t. Willow says, she kept Nina’s secret, but she wasn’t going to lie on the stand for Nina, or put herself at risk to cover up Nina’s mess. Nina says she already told Willow, she wasn’t at risk, and Willow tells her, she also said she didn’t tell Scotty that Willow overheard her, but unless he’s psychic, Nina must have let something slip. Once she was on the stand and under oath, she had to tell what she knew. Nina says, all right. God forbid Willow should get down in the mud with the rest of them. Congratulations. She told the truth, and devastated the family she claims to love in the process.

Sonny says, Carly can’t possibly think he chose not to remember her, but she says she doesn’t know. She didn’t know he and Nina had a secret. He says, that’s not the way it was, and she says, how many times has she found him and Nina together? She was so stupid. He says, there is no him and Nina, and she asks what Willow overheard then. He says, something she didn’t understand, and Carly asks how many times he’s met with Nina. He says, he only met her the one time, to get her to understand the way things were, and that once he remembered Carly and his family, she was nothing. Carly says, before that did she make him happy? He says, he had dreams about Carly when he didn’t know what his name was. The deepest part of him remembered her. He’d have dreams of a blonde woman, and he’d try to touch her, but he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t see her face, but somehow he knew she was his and he was hers, and he’s still hers. Can’t she see that? She says, not after what she heard in that courtroom.

Curtis says, this was a mistake, but Marshall says, don’t go. Curtis says, he doesn’t like carrying around this anger any more than he liked growing up without a father. Marshall just doesn’t get it. He grew up lost. He didn’t have a man to show him how to be a man, the man he wanted to be. Marshall says, yet here he is, and Curtis says, through a lot of hard knocks and stumbles along the way. By the grace of God, he’s here. No thanks to Marshall. Curtis open the door, and Marshall says, please. He can’t change the past, but give him a chance to make things up to him now. Curtis says, not unless Marshall tells him where he’s been. What’s more important than family? Marshall sighs, and Curtis says, all he’s asking for are answers; clear answers, with facts and dates. If Marshall can’t give that to him, don’t bother staying in Port Charles.

Willow asks if Michael is all right. Scotty’s threatening to file a complaint for assault. Did he really punch Scotty? Michael says, right in the face. He knows it was wildly inappropriate. He let Scotty get under his skin, and he lost it. He talked to Diane, and she already cut a deal citing harassment and provocation. Willow says, that’s one less thing to worry about, and he says, he’s sorry DA Sheridan opened the door for Scotty, and put her on the stand. She says, she’s the one who kept Nina’s secret. If she’d told him, none of this would have happened. He says, it’s not her fault. Nina manipulated her. She says, she was trying to protect his parents’ marriage. She didn’t want to be the one to mess things up, and now she did anyway. He tells her not to blame herself. This is all on Scotty and Nina. He just hopes the judge didn’t buy their tactics. He asks if his parents came back, but she says, no. She doesn’t know where they are. Sheridan comes by, and says, this is it. The judge has made his decision.

After class, Spencer wonders if Alexis is going to write an addendum to the professor’s book; Alexis really schooled her. Alexis says, she just takes exception when people don’t state all the facts; she likes facts. Josslyn says, she definitely made the lecture more interactive. It was more like a debate, and Josslyn liked it. Professor Kahn calls to Alexis, and Alexis says, rut-roh. The professor says she’d like a word, and Spencer and Josslyn make themselves scarce. Alexis says, she realizes she overstepped. She gets passionate. She’s sorry she disrupted the lecture. The professor says she recognizes Alexis’s name; she’s the defense attorney. Alexis says, she used to be a defense attorney, and Professor Kahn says, she read Alexis’s article in the Law Review on jury bias; she made some very interesting points. Alexis thanks her, and she asks how Alexis has time to take the seminar, and why would she want to? Alexis says she’s looking at a career change. Her days in the courtroom are over. The professor says, then she’ll cut to the chase. Alexis is wasting their time being here. Alexis doesn’t belong in her class.

Sonny says, he didn’t know who Carly was in his dreams, and she says, she used to see him. She see him, and talk to him when times were bad. He says, that’s because they belong together; she knows that. She says, he kept a part of himself from her. Was he ever going to tell her about Nina in Nixon Falls? He says, yeah. He wanted to so many times, but Jason died; then Brando and Sasha’s baby was in crisis. He wanted to tell her, but he’d get interrupted. She says she thinks he believes he was going to tell her the truth, but she doesn’t. She thinks it was a story he told himself to justify the secret. Meanwhile, he locked away his time with Nina somewhere in his heart, and kept telling her there was nothing wrong; there was nothing between them. He says she keeps putting Nina between them. She’s going to have to let that go. She says, he’s dodged every time she’s asked him. Just now, she asked if he fell in love with Nina, but instead of answering, he said he couldn’t remember Carly. That’s not an answer. He says, it is. He wouldn’t have looked at Nina if that blonde woman in his dream had turned around, and he’d seen her beautiful face. He loves her. She tells him, he said that. What he hasn’t said is how he feels about Nina. Right here, right now, today.

Alexis says, if Professor Kahn is worried she’ll interrupt, she promises to try and control herself, but the professor says, that’s not what she’s talking about. Alexis should be teaching. The students could benefit from her passion for the law, and it’s clear she’s not shy about public speaking. Alexis says, really? and the professor says, she happens to know about a professor who’s retiring. There might be an opening at PCU. Maybe Alexis could start off as an adjunct, and work her way up. Alexis says she never thought about teaching, and Professor Kahn tells her, think about it. It could be just what she’s looking for.

At Portia’s office, Curtis says he hopes Stella wasn’t telling Portia an embarrassing story, like when he lost a tooth trying to ride his bike off their front stoop. Portia says, no, but she’d definitely like to hear that story another day. What brings him by? He says he just left from talking with Marshall, and needed to see her beautiful face. She asks how it went, but he says that’s not why he’s here, and kisses her.

Judge Milford says, this court is here to interpret and uphold the law, not mediate personal disputes. In reviewing all documents and evidence, it is the court’s determination that the Commonwealth has failed to prove Miss Reeves’s actions meet the legal definition of fraud. He’s dismissing all charges against Nina Reeves, and this case is hereby dismissed. This court stands adjourned. The bailiff says, all rise, and the judge leaves. Willow tells Michael, she’s so sorry, but he says, this isn’t over. Sheridan says he’s sorry. He’s also stunned by Judge Milford’s ruling. He wouldn’t have brought the charges if he didn’t think they had a strong case for fraud. Michael says Sheridan made a strong argument, and assures him ELQ will continue to support his campaign. Sheridan says he appreciates that, and apologizes to Willow for calling her to the stand. If he’d had any idea Scotty was going to ambush her, he’d have left her in peace. Willow says she’s just sorry Scotty was able to use her testimony to his advantage, but Sheridan says, actually, Mr. Corinthos’s testimony was the deciding factor. Michael asks what he’s talking about, and Sheridan says, once Mr. Corinthos said he didn’t consider himself a victim, in his mind at least, no crime was committed. Michael says he wasn’t in the courtroom for that, and Sheridan says, it’s an interesting question of law. He wishes he’d done better with it. They leave, and Nina sits at the defense table, looking dejected. Scotty asks what’s with all this business? She’s free as a bird. She asks how he knew about her relationship with Sonny, and he says, that’s what she pays him for, but she says, this is not what she wanted.

Sonny asks if Carly doesn’t think he’s angry at Nina for letting Scotty pull that stunt. She says, and? She asked him how he felt about Nina. Sonny rubs his head, and she says, Sonny. He says, okay, okay, hold on. She has to understand what it felt like to wake up in the woods, not knowing who he was, alone, scared. Phyllis and Lenny took him in. They gave him a job, an anchor. Then Nina… when he sees her, he sees her as Mike’s friend, his confident. But he also sees what she did to Carly and to his kids. It’s really all jumbled up in here, he indicates his heart. She says, Nina let her believe he was dead, and he still has feelings for her after everything she did. Sonny says, let’s go home, but she says she needs time to think. He asks what that means, and she says, she needs some time apart.

Spencer finds Josslyn on a bench in the hallway, looking at her phone, and says, success. The dean’s office was still open; he’s enrolled. She says, see? It worked out. He asks, what’s going on? and she says, Nina’s preliminary hearing was today, but she still hasn’t heard a word from anyone. He says, no news is good news, and she asks when that’s ever been true. Fingers crossed, the judge will throw the book at Nina Reeves, bind her over for trial, and revoke her bail. He says, Josslyn’s not vengeful or anything, and she says she hates Nina. She’s the worst kind of hypocrite. She acts all sweet and sympathetic, when all she really cares about is herself and what she wants. He asks why she doesn’t hate Ava that way, and she says, she does hate Ava that way. She’ll never forgive Ava for what she’s done to Morgan. However, she is Avery’s mom and Trina’s mentor, so she has to suck it up and has to coexist. However, she will never buy into Ava’s BS, and she’ll never think Ava is a gracious lady, but she chooses to keep the peace. If he’d come to her before he went on his stalking kick, she’d have told him the same thing. He says he wishes he had. Josslyn would have shot his stalking idea down in flames, and he wouldn’t be looking at 30 days in Spring Ridge. She says, he’ll be okay; he’s stronger than he thinks he is. He says, he hopes so. In the meantime, while his freedom lasts, this trip should erase any traces of lingering tension between her, him, Cameron, Trina, and Esme. They’ll get to know each other better. Josslyn says, she certainly hopes so.

Professor Kahn tells Alexis that she’ll send an introductory email to the chairman of the department. She knows it’s winter break, but she (the chairman) is a workaholic. Alexis says, maybe she’s just passionate about what she does, and the professor says, good. Use that approach. Alexis says she kind of likes this idea. She might like teaching at PCU, but hopes she has the proper qualifications. The professor says she’s certain Alexis does, especially as an adjunct. Who knows? They might want her full time with her credentials. All she needs to do is ace the interview, and pass the routine background check. Alexis says, background check. Of course (🍷).

Marshall lets Stella in, and says, Curtis came by to see him today. She says she figured he would. He had questions, so she told him to come talk to Marshall, but Marshall didn’t tell Curtis, did he? She saw Curtis a while ago, and he surely would have mentioned it. Marshall says, he left dissatisfied, and she says, Curtis is not going to stop until he gets answers. Marshall says, he’s not surprised. Is that why she’s here, to warn him? She says she’s worried about how it will affect her relationship with Curtis, but he says, don’t worry. He’ll never, ever tell Curtis that she knew he wasn’t dead. She’s like a hero to his sons, and he doesn’t want to take that away too.

Portia says, not that she’s objecting at all, but Curtis didn’t answer her question. He says, that’s because he doesn’t want to talk about Marshall. He wants to focus on her. She says, that’s fine with her, and he says he hopes she’s ready for tomorrow night, because he has big plans for them on New Year’s Eve.

Michael says his parents aren’t answering their phones, and Willow hopes they’re all right. He says, they’re really going through it right now. He wants to let them know, according to the judge, Nina’s actions aren’t criminal at all. Willow asks what he’s going to do, and he says he doesn’t know, but what he’s not going to do is sit back and let Nina get away with her crimes against his family.

Nina tells Scotty that he’s not going to stick around for the paperwork; she’s got to go. He says she can thank him, but not just with a check. He did his job. She’s not going to prison. So she’s welcome. She says she can’t think about that right now. She’s too worried about Sonny.

Sonny says, Carly doesn’t need time. He wants her; he wants their family together. She knows that. She says she knows Nina still has a hold on him, but he says, she doesn’t. She asks him to look her in the eye and tell her that Nina means nothing to him. He says he doesn’t know what she wants him to say. Listen… He reaches out to touch her, but she says, stop. He says, they can still work this out, but she says, they can’t. Don’t come home tonight. She walks off, leaving Sonny alone.

Tomorrow, Curtis says he’d like to be closer to Portia, Scout asks if Drew can stay until midnight, Valentin says he’s over it and thinks Anna is too, and Dante asks Sonny if he felt something.

👰🏼 That Was Quick…

I wonder what Vicki predicted for this one.

https://pagesix.com/2021/12/24/joe-bidens-nephew-cuffe-biden-owens-meghan-king-split/

🍼 Picking Lanes…

Now that she’s without Randall’s paycheck, hanging out with the SUR crowd doesn’t seem so unattractive.

https://pagesix.com/2021/12/28/lala-kent-reconsiders-vanderpump-rules-return/

🎄 Not Done Yet…

The last day of Christmas is technically January 5^th, so here’s some post-Christmas Day cheer.

Some blessings:

https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/irish-christmas-blessings

Some lights:

https://nypost.com/2021/12/18/a-stunning-look-at-the-famous-dyker-heights-christmas-lights/

And some celebrities. Who knew Diana Ross liked the matching family PJ thing?

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/celebrity-christmas-photos/

⛄️ Before I Melt Away…

Once again, tomorrow will be this week’s Friday, so join me for soap, tea, quotations, and a seasonally appropriate tune. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping your expectations realistic for both yourself and the new year, and stay not telling yourself a story to justify a secret.

Dec24

December 23, 2021 – Nina’s Hearing Begins, Soap’s On, Changes, New Faces, NJ Romance, Miami Mamas, Sad News, Worse News, Happy News, What Winter Wrought, Holiday Fare, Knowledge Drop, Some Christmasy Quotes & Christmas Live

Posted on December 24, 2021 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Martin wakes up in bed, clutches his head, and says, Lord have mercy. He’s wearing a robe, and his Santa hat is lying on top of him. He pulls back the covers to see a pair of well-manicured feet. He moves to the other end of the bed, and uncovers Lucy, who asks if he’s ready for another round. He puts his Santa hat back on.

Alexis lets Shawn in, and he says he brought her a cup of Corinthos Coffee. She thanks him, and asks what she’s holding. She says, it’s a course catalog from PCU, and he asks if she’s going back to college. She says she is, and asks if it’s a ridiculous idea.

At Cameron’s house, Josslyn and Cameron kiss, and Josslyn asks what time his mom took his brothers ice skating. He says, they left about twenty minutes ago. They’ll be gone a couple of hours. Unless she wants to join them at the rink. She says, let her think, and he says, right, kissing her again. The doorbell rings, and he says he has no clue who that might be. He opens the door, and Esme says, thank God she found him. The absolute worst thing has happened. Josslyn walks up behind Cameron, and says, really? Do tell.

Trina walks into Kelly’s, and says, before Spencer gets a big head, she’s there to get two coffees; one for her, and one for Ava. He says, sure, when Victor walks in. He says, there’s his nephew. How does it feel to have his legal woes a thing of the past? Spencer says, in a word, terrifying.

At the MetroCourt, Laura kisses Doc, and says, what an amazing anniversary they had. She’d take trips more often if she knew she had that kind of homecoming waiting for her. He says he’s just trying to do his part to make sure they’re never separated that long again, and she says, not if she has anything to say about it. They kiss again, and Nikolas approaches their table. He says, clearly, they need more time. Should they reschedule? Laura says, she and Kevin have all the time in the world, but what she has to say to him can’t wait.

Scotty is about to walk into the Llantano County courtroom, when his phone rings. It’s Obrecht, who asks if he’s come up with a strategy to get Willow on the stand. She’s certain Willow knows about Nina and Sonny falling in love in Nixon Falls. He says he’s working on it, and she says, work harder. Michael and Willow walk in, and Michael asks how Willow is feeling. He knows she didn’t agree with him bringing charges against Nina. She says she just wants what’s best for everybody, and he says, what’s best is for Nina to pay for keeping his father hidden from his family for months. He can’t think of anything worse. Sonny and Carly come in, and Michael introduces Willow to DA Sheridan. Carly tells Sonny, Michael is confident the DA Is going to cement his case against Nina today, and Sonny says, that’s up to the judge. He’s sure if Scotty loses today, Nina is going to cop some kind of plea. She says, she hopes so for their family’s sake. She just wants this whole Nixon Falls saga to be over with, and wants Nina out of their lives. Nina walks in, and goes to the defense table. Willow approaches her, and Nina says she really appreciates Willow not saying anything about her and Mike. Willow says she’s not doing it for Nina; she’s doing it for Michael and Wiley. Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she’s really sorry for everything. Willow goes back to Michael, who asks, what was that about? Willow flashes back to Nina asking if she wants to drive a wedge between Carly and Sonny, and tells Michael, family. Michael says, Nina may be biologically related to Wiley, but her actions made it clear she’s not part of their family.

Obrecht says she’s confident Scotty will find a way to protect her niece, and Scotty walks into the courtroom. Sheridan tells Michael, the hearing is basically a formality. It’s not a trial, but technically, Miss Reeves’s attorney can cross-examine anyone he calls. Scotty tells Obrecht that he thinks he just got a flash of inspiration.

Shawn tells Alexis, it’s only natural to feel adrift when you get out of prison. He struggled himself. She says, but now he’s found his direction. Using his non-profit to take over The Invader is a perfect path to his future. There’s a knock at the door, and Alexis opens it to Dante, who apologizes for the impromptu visit. Is Shawn there? This is his last address. She opens the door, and Dante sees Shawn. He says, this is official police business.

Laura tells Nikolas that Doc filled her in on everything about Spencer. She’s upset… She’s concerned. She was pleased to see the two of them managed to co-exist at Christmastime, but she’d hardly call it warm and fuzzy. She knows it’s a step in the right direction, but… He says, he and Spencer have had their setbacks; they both feel betrayed by the other. She says she was heartbroken when she found out it was Spencer who was stalking Ava. It doesn’t excuse Nikolas’s behavior at the party that night, but his instincts about his son were correct. He wonders if that’s why she asked him here, to apologize, and she says she is sorry. He was right about his son, but now she wants Nikolas to do right by him.

Victor says he doesn’t understand. What does Spencer have to be afraid of? Trina says, when her coffee’s ready, she’ll be at the counter, and Spencer introduces her to Victor. Victor says it’s nice to finally meet her. Did Spencer tell her that his plea deal was finalized this morning? She says they didn’t get a chance to talk about it, and Spencer says he signed the paperwork this morning. It’s official. He changed his plea to guilty, he’ll do 500 hours of community service, make restitution to Ava, and do 30 days in Spring Ridge. She says, so no trial, and Victor says, exactly. So what about this plea deal is troubling Spencer? Spencer says, Spring Ridge is minimum security, but it’s still prison. When Victor said he’d take care of Spencer’s situation, Spencer thought that meant he’d go free. Victor says, what Spencer got was a slap on the wrist. No one could have gotten him a better deal. Spencer says he’s truly grateful for everything Victor did. Forget he said anything. Victor supposes, even though it was a long time ago, he does remember being 18 years old, and supposes a month long confinement would have seemed like a death sentence to him. But Spencer is a Cassadine. He’ll keep a stiff upper lip, and when he gets out, he’ll have his whole family waiting for him. Spencer says, not his father, and Victor says, perhaps not, but Spencer will have him. Now why doesn’t he make Victor a cup of tea to go? A heady brew. No one likes a weak leaf. Spencer goes to make the tea, and Victor tells Trina that he’s glad to see his nephew chooses his companions so well.

Esme says she wasn’t expecting to see Josslyn, and Josslyn says, Esme is surprised to see her at her boyfriend’s house? What is Esme even doing here? Esme says she promises nothing nefarious. Spence took the plea deal; he signed the paperwork this morning. Yes, his sentence was lighter than it could have been, but he wasn’t expecting to go to prison at all, and he’s totally freaking out. Cameron says he can understand that. Spencer has to spend a month in prison, and after that, he’s going to have a criminal record for the rest of his life. Josslyn says, and worst of all, despite the fact that Esme is every bit as responsible for stalking Ava, Spencer has to take this whole punishment alone.

Scotty tells Obrecht, this is exactly what they need. He has to go, and Obrecht tells him, good luck, Liebchen. Victor comes out of Kelly’s, and says he remembers when she used to call him that.

Willow asks if Sheridan is still considering a run for Attorney General, and Sheridan says, after visiting their gorgeous home in October, he was concerned about low recognition outside of Llantano County. Scotty puts his briefcase on the table, and listens as Sheridan says, recently, his numbers seem to be going up. Scotty sits, and Nina asks why he looks so happy. He says her aunt has that effect on him.

Lucy says, that was unexpected, and Martin says, he’d call it a Christmas miracle. She hopes he means that in a good way, and he says he means that in the most flattering way possible. He asks, how about some breakfast? He doesn’t know about her, but he managed to work up a very healthy appetite. She asks if he’s serious. He wants to take her down to the MetroCourt for breakfast, and she’ll be wearing the holiday outfit she wore for Christmas that everybody saw her in. Just so he knows, folks will talk. He says he hopes so. He was raised in the South where gossip is sacred, right between Friday night football and Sunday morning service. She thinks he’s forgetting he’s an upstanding lawyer. Not to mention the fact he’s the brother of her ex-husband’s wife, the mayor of Port Charles. He says Lucy is a very accomplished woman, and she thanks him, and says she aims to please. He says her aim could put him in the hospital, but that’s not what he was talking about. Don’t get him wrong, she makes one Olympian Santa’s helper, but he was referring to her role as the co-owner of Deception. Not to mention everything she’s accomplished with the Nurses Ball. She says, he looked her up on the internet? and he tells her, let’s just say he’s noticed her. She tells him, let’s just say, she’s noticed him too, and they kiss. She says she’ll let him buy her breakfast. She hasn’t done that walk of shame in a long time. He says it will be his pleasure to take that walk with her.

Josslyn says, so much of the stalking was clearly Esme’s idea, not Spencer’s. Anyone can see that. She has no idea why Spencer is protecting Esme. Esme says she loves Spence, and as much as he might get on their nerves, she thinks they do too. Cameron was the one who got Spencer the job at Kelly’s when he needed it most. Cameron says she’s right; they care about Spencer. So what can they do to help? Esme says she plans to do what she can to keep Spencer’s spirits up when he’s in Spring Ridge, but if they could create some happy memories before he goes, it would really give Spencer some peace of mind. They already agreed to a weekend getaway, so can Josslyn ask her father if they can use his cabin as soon as possible? Before Spencer has to report to Spring Ridge for his sentence? He really needs this.

Nikolas tells Laura, he’ll be there for his son, but only when he fully owns up to what he’s done. She agrees completely. Spencer needs to take responsibility for his actions, but he’s already trying to do that. Doc says, not only is he working at Kelly’s, he’s started helping around the house. Spencer was mystified as to how to use a dishwasher, but once he showed Spencer how, he started pitching in without too much complaint. Nikolas says, it sounds like there’s progress, but it sounds like Spencer still resents him, and refuses to accept his help. Laura says, what his son needs more than ever is a loving father who can help him make up with Ava, who will set him on the right course. If not Nikolas, whose influence will step in to fill that void?

Obrecht says, the only name she can remember calling Victor is schwein, which is what he is. He says, there’s that fiery minx he fell in love with. He’s so glad the information he provided to the WSB led to her rescue. She says, he’s taking credit for her safe return? He’s the one who had her kidnapped in the first place. Then he tossed her beloved Scotty out of a plane. He says perhaps they could discuss it over dinner. Scotty is, after all, his attorney. She says she’d rather eat glass.

Nina asks Scotty to be honest with her. What are her chances of avoiding a trial? He says, better than she thinks, and she asks what he’s up to. The bailiff tells them, all rise. Court is in session, the honorable Judge Milford presiding. The judge calls the preliminary hearing to order, and tells them, please be seated.

Josslyn tells Esme, there’s been a lot going on, and she hasn’t asked Sonny about the cabin yet. Esme says, but she will, right? and Josslyn says she will, as long as Esme stops asking about how many bedrooms there are, and who’s sleeping where. Esme says she only wanted people to be comfortable, but what’s important now is that Spence has a great time. She’s sure his Uncle Sonny will be happy to support him. Why doesn’t Josslyn call Sonny now? Cameron says, he and Joss will talk it over and get back to her, and she thanks him. She says, it will mean the world to Spence, and to her. Who knows? Maybe we’ll have a great time. She leaves, and Josslyn says, she can’t. Cameron says, whatever they think about Esme, she’s not wrong here. Spencer is going to need all the support he can get before the reality of a month at Spring Ridge hits him. She says, fine. She’ll ask about the cabin, but she’s not changing her opinion about Esme. He says, that’s totally okay. He’d never want to change a single thing about her, especially her mind. She says, now he’s trying to butter her up, and he asks if it’s working. She kisses him.

Spencer brings Trina the coffee, and says, sorry about the wait. She says she knows he put on a brave face for his uncle, but there’s no shame in being nervous about going to Spring Ridge. He says, his uncle is right. He needs to man up. He took the action and needs to face the consequences. He knows he got a lighter sentence because of his privilege. Trina has made it more than clear she thinks he’s a spoiled, entitled baby. She says, true, but she also thinks he’s human, and it’s nice to see.

Doc tells Nikolas, in the new year, Spencer goes to Spring Ridge. Prison is rife with opportunities to make bad choices, align with the wrong people. He needs a strong foundation now. Laura agrees, and says she knows Spencer feels indebted to his Uncle Victor for getting that plea bargain for him. Nikolas says, Victor’s presence in Port Charles concerns him too, and Laura asks why Nikolas helped him in the first place.

Dante tells Shawn, they got an anonymous tip a while back about a body. They followed it up, and found human remains in the Pine Barrens. A John Doe was identified using dental records, and he was a known felon, a gun for hire. Shawn says, a hit man; who was it? Dante says, his last name was Giles, but he went by other aliases as well. They conducted ballistics on the gun that was buried with Giles, and they were conclusive. It was the same gun that shot Hayden Barnes.

Judge Milford tells the court to proceed, and Sheridan says he’d like to call his first witness; Sonny Corinthos.

Lucy and Martin come giggling out of the elevator, Martin looking disheveled with his Santa suit coat falling open. Lucy says she finds it exceptionally charming that he chose to leave his Santa suit on his body in solidarity with her walk of shame, but he needs to know something else. If he’d continued his research on the internet, he would have found she’s been a spectacle many times before. He says he’s delighted join her in causing a commotion, and they walk into the MetroCourt.

Laura says, Nikolas had to have known Victor was hiding out in the compound in Crete. Did he know Victor was working with Peter too? Nikolas promises he had no idea about Peter, and Laura says, so he was just offering Victor a hiding place, or does his involvement go deeper? Nikolas flashes back to Victor telling him that Hayden needed to be dealt with, along with those close to her. He suggests he and Laura talk about this in private, and she asks if he doesn’t think she’s going to tell Doc everything he tells her. Nikolas says, after Valentin shot him, and left him for dead, it was Victor who nursed him back to health. If not for Victor, he might not be here. He returned the favor, and let Victor use the compound in Crete. Martin comes up to their table with Lucy, and says, morning, family. Fine day. Laura says, what a surprise, and hostess Trish tells Lucy that her table is ready. Lucy says, excuse them, and they leave. Nikolas tells Doc and Laura, and they say Christmas only comes once a year, and they laugh. GH is quite naughty today.

Spencer tells Trina, humans are terrible; flawed, selfish, and indulgent. She can’t like seeing that in him. She says, humans are also vulnerable, worthy of love, capable of change. He says he wishes he could see himself through her eyes, and she says, he’s perfectly imperfect, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a person of value. She sees him. He just has to take responsibility for his actions, and give people a chance see him too. He takes her hand, and thanks her. She says, anytime, and Esme watches from the doorway.

Sheridan says, they all know the basic facts. Sonny was on a bridge that collapsed, and fell into an icy river. When he regained consciousness, he had no memory of who he was, or even what his name was. Sonny says, that’s correct. No license. He was wearing a watch that was engraved with the name Mike, so that was the name he used. Sheridan asks how long Sonny was away from his wife and children, who presumed he was dead, and Sonny says, nine months. Sheridan says, when did he finally get his memory back? Sonny says, there was a fire at the Tan-O, and Sheridan says, that was the bar owned by the late Lenny Caulfield and his wife Phyllis, right? and Sonny says, he didn’t know who he was or where he belonged, and they were kind enough to take him in, give him a job and a place to live. Sheridan says, when Sonny recovered his memory, was he aware that someone in Nixon Falls already knew he was Sonny Corinthos? and Sonny says, yeah. Sheridan asks, who was that individual? and Sonny says, it was Nina Reeves. Sheridan says, to Sonny’s knowledge, did Nina Reeves deliberately and intentionally conceal his identity? Sonny says, yeah, and Sheridan says he has no further questions. Scotty asks if Sonny ever alerted the authorities that Nina concealed his identity, and Sonny says, no. Scotty asks, why not? According to the DA, Nina kept him from his wife, his children, his grandchildren, his whole life. Why didn’t he press charges?

Nikolas says he has business to attend to, and Laura says she’s sorry if she came on too strong. She knows he and Spencer want to have a relationship with each other. Nikolas says he’ll think about it, and Laura says, his relationship with Ava is so solid, he can afford to spend some time with Spencer, and restore the bond he has with him. Please don’t do anything to undermine that. Nikolas half-smiles, and leaves.

Dante says, he’s there to officially notify Shawn that they found the person who committed the crime Shawn was wrongfully convicted of. Shawn says, the truth is out, finally, and Dante says, in the eyes of the PCPD, Shawn is in the clear. Alexis says, congratulations. She knows how important this is to Shawn. Dante says, the best to him, and Alexis thanks Dante. Dante leaves, and Alexis says, anonymous tip her posterior. Shawn says, nobody could ever accuse Nikolas of being sloppy, when his phone rings. He says, speak of the devil, and he means that literally. He steps away to take the call.

Steam comes out of Esme’s ears for a second, but then she slaps her fake smile on. She tells Spencer that when he hears what she has to tell him, he’s going to love her more than he already does. He asks, what’s up? and she says she was telling Joss and Cam that he has to report to Spring Ridge soon, which moves their time frame up for a couples weekend. He says, it’s not just for couples, right? They want Trina to feel included. Esme says she’s so sorry. She misspoke. Of course (🍷) they want to include Trina. Esme’s phone rings, and she answers, saying, Joss. They were just talking about their weekend getaway. Josslyn says she and Cameron agree. They should have their weekend getaway before Spencer goes away. Esme says, great. They won’t be sorry. Josslyn looks at Cameron.

Lucy says, tell me, Mr. Claus, are you regretting this now? Martin says, spending time with a beautiful, sophisticated woman? Not for one second. She says, uh-oh. Oh boy, incoming, and Doc and Laura approach their table. Laura asks if Lucy would mind if she had a word alone with her brother, and Lucy says, absolutely not. Mr. Claus is all yours. Martin leaves with Laura.

Martin asks Laura if everything is okay. Is everything all right with his nephew? She says she certainly hopes so. There’s something she didn’t tell him about her meeting with Cyrus. He says, apart from the bit where he finds religion? and she says, Cyrus was adamant that he didn’t put out the hit on them; that somebody else arranged for the killer to go to the safe house.

Lucy asks Doc if Laura sicced him on her because Laura hates the thought of her brother being seen in public with the likes of her. He tells her, don’t be silly. They’re talking about something entirely different. Her and Martin… She says, spit it out, and he says, how’d that happen? She says, Martin asked her what she wanted for Christmas.

Martin asks if Laura is saying she actually believes Cyrus, and Laura says she woudn’t go that far, but she thought she should tell Martin about it. Better to be safe than sorry, right? He says, message received and noted; he’ll be extra careful. Is there something else? She says, Doc has a great dry cleaner who’s a wiz with Santa suits.

Obrecht says, Victor’s presence can only mean Sturm und Drang, and he says, let’s not forget that he was the one who saved her life when Peter wanted her dead, even after she held a knife to his throat. She asks if he’s waiting for a show of gratitude, and he says, perhaps she should consider whether threatening him means it’s more or less likely for him to intervene next time. She says, there won’t be a next time, but he says, with you, mr dear Liesl, there’s always a next time. He brushes her hair back, but she jerks away. He says, he adores her, but just don’t get in his way.

Sheridan objects, saying, whether or not Mr. Corinthos chose to press charges has no bearing on the validity of the case. The judge says, this isn’t a trial, and tells Scotty to proceed. Scotty asks again why Sonny didn’t file charges against Nina. It’s a simple question. Sonny says, then let him answer it. Because he lost too much time already… and he wanted to spend time with his wife and his family. Scotty says, but his son Michael doesn’t share the same viewpoint. In fact, Michael and his ex-wife Willow Tate gave a sizable donation to the DA’s campaign just days before his client was arrested. Willow puts her hand on Michael’s arm, and Scotty says, maybe those two should be on trial for bribery.

On the phone, Nikolas tells Shawn to check the balance. The funds should have been transferred. Shawn says, he’ll do that, but Nikolas might want to know, he just got a visit from the PCPD. It seems they found Hayden’s shooter, or his dead body anyway. The crime has been removed from his record; his name has been restored. Nikolas takes it their business is concluded, and Shawn says, Nikolas fulfilled his part of their agreement, so yes. Nikolas says, great. Have a good day. They hang up, and Alexis asks if the money is all there. Shawn says, and then some. Her nephew thinks this all over. She says, isn’t it? and he says, not by a long shot.

Esme tells Josslyn that she’s with Spencer at Kelly’s. He’ll be so happy when she tells him the news. Josslyn says, that’s why they said yes, for Spencer. She’ll asks Sonny about the cabin today. Esme says, great. They’ll work out the details later. Spencer says, what’s the good news? and Esme says, Joss and Cam just committed. Once his Uncle Sonny signs off on the cabin, they’re good for a getaway. Spencer says, that’s amazing news! It’s incredible. He actually has something to look forward to now. He asks Trina if she’s going to come, and Esme says she’s sure Trina is much too busy with her job and college. Trina says she’s always busy, but she’ll make time for a friend. Count her in. She doesn’t want to pass up the chance to give Spencer the send-off he deserves. Spencer says, this is going to be monumental, and thanks Esme, who says, it’s going to be a send-off for the ages.

Martin goes back to the table, and says, ho-ho hello. Lucy says, let her guess. His sister warned him away from her, but he says, nothing of the sort. Lucy says, oh, it’s worse. She’s biting her tongue; the silent treatment. They had so much fun together. That’s enough. She gets up, but he stops her, and says, it was fun. It’s more than he’s had in a long, long time. He doesn’t know about her, but he doesn’t want the fun to end just yet.

Doc says, so, Laura’s brother and Lucy, and Laura says, she’s just as surprised as he is. Between Martin forging whatever this is with Lucy, and Spencer having to make restitution to Ava, and Nikolas getting tangled up with Victor, it’s going to be one helluva new year

Obrecht says, she’s not afraid of Victor, nor is she impressed. He didn’t compare to Faison in the past, and doesn’t compare with Scotty today. He asks if she really thinks Scotty is that powerful, and she says, stay away from her or he’ll find out. He has no idea what Scotty is capable of. She leaves, and Victor ponders that.

Sheridan says, opposing council’s accusation is outrageous, and Judge Milford asks if Scotty has evidence of a quid pro quo. Scotty says, campaign contributions are public record. They know Michael and Willow gave a huge chunk of money to the DA for his campaign. The timing seems a little fishy. The judge says, Mr. Corinthos doesn’t have to answer, since he’s not one of the parties named, and Scotty says, no further questions. Sheridan says, because Scotty tried to impugn his character, he asks permission to call an additional witness. The judge asks Scotty and Sheridan to approach, and Sheridan says, the defense council is making unfounded accusations against him, and he would like to answer them. The sooner they clear this up, the sooner they can focus on the charges against Miss Reeves. The judge asks Sonny to step down, and the prosecution calls Willow to the stand. Willow gets up, and Nina looks worried.

No preview, just Deck the Halls and full credits.

🎅🏽 In Case You Were Wondering…

The soap schedule for Christmas Eve.

Find Out if Your Favorite Soaps Are Airing on New Year’s Day

⛹️‍♂️ New Kids On the Soap…

Danny:

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/porter-fasullo-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital

Charlotte:

Amelie McLain Is the New Charlotte on GENERAL HOSPITAL

Wiley:

Viron Weaver Is the New Wiley on GENERAL HOSPITAL

💎 Swimming Pools, Movie Stars…

Some fresh, and no doubt Botoxed, faces in Beverly Hills.

https://pagesix.com/2021/12/21/rhobh-gets-2-new-cast-members-including-will-smiths-ex/

https://pagesix.com/2021/12/22/rhobh-newbie-diana-jenkins-has-holiday-hang-with-castmates/

👉🏼 Next…

It’s about time she dumped that guy who was never around. I assume Frank approves.

Inside ‘RHONJ’ Star Dolores Catania’s ‘New Relationship’ After David Split

🌴 What Happened In Miami…

The latest on RHOM.

RHOM Recap: Alexia Shares What Caused Rift Between Peter and Todd, Plus Nicole Throws Sushi and Sake Party for the Ladies

😢 Not So Happy Holidays…

Don’t read if you’re sad already. No one wants a gift like this for Christmas.

https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/pop-culture-news/-walking-dead-actress-alicia-witts-parents-found-dead-home-rcna9704

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10339869/Parents-Walking-Dead-star-Alicia-Witt-died-suspected-hypothermia-officials-say.html

😲 Yikes…

It’s a sad world out there.

Ex Vanderpump Rules Cameraman Michael Ansbach Arrested For Accessory to Manslaughter Following the Deaths of Model Christy Giles and Her Friend

💃🏽 On the Plus Side…

It’s good to hear NeNe is moving forward.

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/black-celeb-couples/nene-leakes-boyfriend/

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨 It’s Official…

I honestly hadn’t seen this coming, but they’re cute together.

Paige DeSorbo And Craig Conover Make Their Love Instagram Official

Nice picture.

https://pagesix.com/2021/12/21/paige-desorbo-and-craig-conover-are-instagram-official/

📺 What’s On…

A list of Christmas TV in the US.

https://www.mostlychristmas.com/christmastvschedule

And… somewhere else. The UK? Canada? I stumbled on this accidentally, but it looks like they have some good shows.

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/christmas-tv-2021/

🎄 The Real Deal…

Everything you wanted to know about Christmas.

https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas

☃️ Quotes of the Week

Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling. – Edna Ferber

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality. – Washington Irving

Christmas can’t be bought from a store. Maybe Christmas means a little bit more. – Dr. Seuss

Aren’t we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know, the birth of Santa. – Bart Simpson

It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. – Mother Theresa

Christmas is a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart. – Freya Stark

If you want to experience the true meaning of Christmas, give something to someone who can offer nothing in return. – Toni Sorenson

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

⛷ And I Heard Him Exclaim As He Drove Out Of Sight…

Since GH is repeating tomorrow, I’ll see you for soap on Monday (nothing new on Deck). Have the merriest of Christmases if you celebrate the holiday, and if not, celebrate something and have a merry day! Until next we meet, stay safe, stay picking your battles wisely, and stay knowing that, even if you’re perfectly imperfect, you’re still a person of value.

Jan9

January 8, 2021 – Sonny’s Rescue Becomes Recovery, Who They Are, Julian’s Exit, Shiloh’s New Gigs, Salt Lake Unity, a Warning, a Scandal, a Reveal, a Baby, UK Update, a List, Muppet Surprise, Three For the Holidays, Two Kinds of Goodbyes, Quadteen Quotes & Future

Posted on January 9, 2021 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Taggert hears someone come into the jail, and says, Trina? But it’s Portia.

On the phone, Jordan thanks someone for the update. Diane knocks on the door, and comes in with Jason, saying she thinks Jordan was expecting them. Jordan says she was expecting Jason, but she isn’t surprised. Diane asks, where else would she be when her client is being questioned by the authorities? Jordan says, when she initially asked Jason to come, Diane’s presence wasn’t necessary. Jason says, now it is? and Jordan says, that depends. Cyrus’s mother is missing. Any thoughts?

Cyrus tells Laura, if it was her mother, would I’m sure she’s fine be acceptable? Because it isn’t to him. Laura says she doesn’t give a damn. Why doesn’t he send his complaints to her daughter, and when she’s well enough to pass them on to her, then she’ll listen. He says he’s telling her for the last time, he had nothing to do with it. She says she’s sick of hearing him say that. He had everything to do with it. He killed two people, and left her daughter comatose. He says at least he’s concerned about Lulu’s welfare. She doesn’t seem to care at all about his mother’s condition. She says of course (🍷) she cares about Florence, but if Florence is with the people he says she’s with, she’s fine.

On the phone, Michael says, so instead of search and rescue, it’s search and recovery… He knows what that means. He thanks them, and says he’ll let his mother know. Willow comes in, and he tells her that she looks really good. She thanks him, and says she has dinner plans at the MetroCourt… with Chase.

Dante sits at the MetroCourt bar having a beer, one eye on Peter. Chase comes in, and says, the conquering hero returns. Welcome home, partner.

Peter makes a call, and says he’d like to speak to Dr. Arthur Cabot… He knows the doctor is in solitary, but this is an emergency medical consultation regarding a procedure he developed. Dr. Cabot is literally the only person who can answer his questions… He knows that, but there must be something… Fine. He gets it. Thanks anyway. He hangs up, and says, for absolutely nothing. He gets up, and nearly runs into Sam, who asks where he’s going in such a hurry.

Carly looks at the Christmas stockings and takes Sonny’s down. She sits on the sofa, looking at it, and sees him come in. She says, Sonny? and wakes up.

Michael says, it makes sense for Willow and Chase to figure everything out, and she says she can reschedule. With everything that’s happening with his father, if he needs her to stick around… He says, that’s okay. She should go. She asks if he’s sure, and if he’s heard anything from the authorities in New Jersey about the search. He says he has, and there’s nothing any of them can do right now.

Dante says it’s good to see Chase, and Chase says he’s glad Dante is back. Dante says, him too, and Chase says he was going to reach out, and it’s not an excuse, but he had some pretty heavy cases, and there was a lot going on in life. Dante says, sorry. He heard Chase looked after his family while he was gone. Chase says, it was an honor and a pleasure. Dante says it’s what good cops do. Chase is one of the best. He pats Chase on the shoulder, and Chase says he was sorry to hear about Lulu. Everyone at the station is pulling for her. Dante thanks him, and says, she was a fixture there. Chase says, she will be again. Soon. He tells Dante that he needs to get a table, but they should catch up some time. Dante says he doesn’t think so, but then tells Chase, he’s just kidding. Chase asks if he’s going to be in Port Charles for a while, and Dante says he is. He needs to look after his family, and tie up some loose ends. He glances surreptitiously at Peter.

Sam tells Peter, she’d like to coordinate Maxie’s bachelorette party and his bachelor party. Peter says he’ll be in touch, but Sam says she’d like to pin down a date. The wedding is only a few weeks away. He says he knows when his wedding is, and also knows she’d be more than pleased if it didn’t happen. She says, Peter… and he says he knows she can’t stand the thought of him marrying Maxie.

Carly opens the door to Sasha, and asks her to come in. She says, Michael isn’t there, if that’s who she’s looking for. Sasha says, actually, she’s there to see Carly.

Portia says Taggert wasn’t expecting her. What surprises her is, he actually thought it was going to be Trina. He says it’s more hope than expectation, and she tells him, it’s a lot to hope for, considering how furious Trina was that he lied to her about his death. He broke her heart. Losing him… He says, she didn’t lose him; he’s right there. Portia says, she did, and that loss changed her in ways she doesn’t think Taggert fully comprehends yet. He says he’s so sorry for the hurt he caused her, and Portia. He knows how it must have felt, but that lie kept Trina alive. He can live with his daughter hating him, as long as she’s alive to do that.

Diane says, Jordan didn’t just ask her client to confess, and Jordan says she has no intention of dragging Jason through a pointless interrogation, but Cyrus came to her, saying his mother was kidnapped from Vermont, and leveling all kinds of accusations. Diane says, against Mr. Morgan? With what proof? Jordan says she has to do her due diligence regardless. Diane says, correct her if she’s wrong, but the PCPD has no jurisdiction over an incident that happened in Vermont. Jordan says, Harvard Law paid off, and Diane laughs. Jordan says, that’s exactly what she told Cyrus, but if he’s telling the truth, and his mother was moved against state lines against her will, the Feds will get involved. And none of them want that.

Cyrus asks Laura, is this the kind of caustic repartee they missed out on not growing up together? She asks, why? Does he want more? He says, what he wants, dear sister, is for her to find his mother. He knows she’s more than capable of crossing certain lines to get what she wants when she’s so motivated. For example, the night they met. She says, when she threw him in solitary. She remembers. Good times. He says, exactly. She knows how to work the system, and he also knows exactly what she’s capable of when she’s backed against the wall. David Hamilton. Theresa Carter. Rick Webber. She says if she hears anything, she’ll let him know. Now if he doesn’t mind, she has a city to run. She starts to walk away, but he grabs her arm, saying, he does mind. He minds very much. A voice yells, get your hands off of her! It’s Lesley (Laura’s mom).

Carly asks how Sasha is; is everything okay? Carly takes down the Christmas stockings, and Sasha says, it is, and a lot of it is due to Carly. She owes Carly a great big thank you, and an apology. Carly asks why Sasha owes her an apology, and Sasha says, she started going to out-patient therapy after her… overdose. Carly says, that’s very brave, but Sasha says, she doesn’t feel very brave. Carly says she’s seeking help for something that almost killed her. She’d say that’s very brave. Sasha says she only started going because Maxie threatened to kick her out of Deception, and Carly says she bets Sasha wasn’t the only one there who was strongarmed into going. Sasha says, once she started going, she learned a few things. There were people she pushed away, or worse, dismissed. People who were trying to help her when she was in a bad way, and Carly is one of them.

Sam says Peter isn’t her favorite person, and she’s sure she’s not his either, but they could put their differences aside for Maxie’s sake. He says, nothing would make him happier, if it were true, but he knows it’s not. He knows Spinelli was trying to railroad him. She says she thought Spinelli was over that, and he says, Spinelli changed his tune for the sake of Maxie and Georgie. Sam says, so has she, and Peter says he hopes that’s true. If she really cares about Maxie – she says, of course (🍷) she does – he says, then she’ll stay out of his way, and brushes past her. Dante watches.

Lesley says she doesn’t know who Cyrus thinks he is, but grabbing at women is illegal. He says she’s absolutely right; he was out of line. Laura asks what Lesley is doing there. She was going to meet Lesley in New York on the weekend, when she went to visit Lulu. Lesley says she knows, but she was thinking about how much Rocco and Charlotte need to have their family around them. So she figured a trip up north was what she needed. Laura says she’ll get Lesley settled in at her house, and Lesley says Laura hasn’t even introduced her to her assailant. He must be Cyrus Renault. Cyrus says his reputation has preceded him, and Lesley says, his reputation and his rap sheet. He says, she must be Lesley Webber, and she says Dr. Lesley Webber to him. As she’s sure he knows, she’s an emeritus member of the hospital board. They’re going to be spending time together. He says, how delightful. He’s really looking forward to spending time with the tramp who slept with his married father.

Portia tells Taggert, she doesn’t understand why he would turn himself in for falsifying evidence against Cyrus. He says, his cover was already blown. Jordan thought the safest thing was to take him off the board, keep his head down. At his arraignment, he’ll plead guilty, and get a lighter sentence. She says, he could do that, but he could also fight to get his life back.

Diane leaves, and Jason closes Jordan’s office door. He says, Cyrus was there? Jordan says, he tried pressuring her, but she shut it down. The only leverage he had over her was her secrets, and she’s fresh out. He says, congratulations, and she thanks him, admitting it feels good. She asks how things are with Cyrus on his end, and he says, it’s been handled, for now. She asks if it has anything to do with Florence Grey, and Jason doesn’t say anything. She says, dammit, Jason. She wishes he would at least say no. She says she appreciates this… alliance they’ve formed, and he says he does too. She tells him, then don’t put her in a position where she has to investigate Cyrus’s allegations against him. There’s a knock at the door, and an officer gives Jordan a big envelope. Jason asks if that’s all, and she tells him to wait. This also concerns him.

Laura tells Lesley that she doesn’t have to listen to Cyrus, but Lesley says she’s curious. Cyrus says she slept with his married father. He has to narrow it down. Laura says, mom! and Lesley says, what? She was a tramp. She probably conquered hundreds of married fathers. Cyrus says, this was a special conquest. It’s what binds them together. Lesley doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about, and he says his father was Gordon Grey. She says, oh, that married father, and Cyrus says, he passed away a long time ago. As he remembers, Lesley and his mother were friends, then Lesley betrayed her. She asks how Florence is, and he says, apparently, fine, but his sister is doing her damnedest to keep her away from him. Lesley says, sister? That would make Lulu his niece, and he just about killed her. He says he had nothing to do with what happened at The Floating Rib. Julian was the culprit. Lesley says she’s sure Julian had nothing better to do than set off a bomb in a restaurant full of people for no reason. He says, as he understands it, there’s a good chance Lulu will recover, which is more than he can say for his father, whose death Lesley set in motion when she educed him. Lesley looks at Laura.

Taggert tells Portia, he lost a year in the shadows. Not to mention the two years he lost undercover, trying to convict Cyrus. She says, he’s earned the right to his life back, and he says, except for one thing; he’s guilty. He knows Trina doesn’t want to believe it, but he planted the evidence that sent Cyrus to prison. She says, Cyrus was responsible for countless murders, and they’re going to work together to expose him for the man he truly is.

Chase meets Willow at the MetroCourt, and pulls out her chair for her. She thanks him, and he says he was in the neighborhood… of her chair. He’d convinced himself that she was going to cancel, and she says she almost did. He says he would have understood, but he’s glad she’s there. She says, she is too, and Chase says he’s really happy they’re doing this. She says, so is she.

Sasha says she’s finally come around to telling Carly, her attempt to give Sasha a swift kick in the right direction was appreciated. Carly says she’s welcome, but doesn’t owe her an apology. Sasha was struggling because of the sacrifice she made for Carly’s family, and she’ll always be indebted. Michael comes in, and Sasha says she was just leaving. Michael says it was good to see her, even if briefly. She says, her too, and Carly asks if he has news about the search. Sasha says, search? and he says, she hasn’t heard? Carly says, Sonny was in an accident, and he’s missing. The police are searching, and they’re going to find him. Michael says he heard from the New Jersey State Police, and Sonny’s status has changed. It’s gone from search and rescue to search and recovery. Carly says, but they’re still searching, right? and Michael says he doesn’t think she understands. She says she does understand. She doesn’t know what they expect to find, but what they’re going to find is Sonny, alive and well.

Sam asks if she can join Dante at the bar. She sits down, and says she noticed he’s keeping a close eye on Peter. Why? He says, apparently marrying your half-brother’s widow, the brother who was killed by their crazy father, doesn’t violate bro code. Sam says if he finds anything interesting, pass it her way. They might have aligned interests. He says, will do, and Sam orders a beer. She says, about Sonny. How’s the family holding up? He says, they’re just waiting for the official word from the search parties, but she says, it’s Sonny. If anything, they have hope. Dante guesses they’re supposed to convince themselves, but to be honest, he feels like the hope for Sonny surviving gets smaller with each passing day.

Carly tells Michael, his father has survived worse than a bridge collapse. Sonny is coming home. She says she’s making coffee, and asks if she can get him anything. He says, that’s okay, and Carly says she’ll be in the kitchen if he needs her. Sasha tells Michael, she’s so sorry, and he thanks her. She says she knows it’s a ridiculous question, but… He says, is he okay? He is for someone whose father is missing and presumed dead. Sasha asks if she can make him a drink, or does he want her to go? He says he wouldn’t mind her staying.

Willow says, he retired just like that? and Chase says, he went from the K-9 unit to a well-to-do couple, and he’s living his best life in Niagara. Even though he ruined his cake at the retirement party. He remembers how the kids went crazy when Chase brought him to the classroom, and his brother hated being upstaged. She says, the kids were excited… Why are they pretending there isn’t a giant elephant in the room? He says, they’re just talking, but she says, they didn’t come there to make small talk, and pretend things are the way they were before. So why are they? He says, it’s what he wants more than anything.

Sam tells Dante that she’s sorry, and he says, Sonny could show up, and Lulu could wake up at any moment. Forget he said anything. He should offer condolences. Sam just lost her father. She says she’s not going to pretend to grieve. The world is a better place without that man it. He says he doesn’t disagree, but there’s one person hurt by Julian being dead, their brother Leo. She says she thinks Leo is better off not knowing Julian existed. She’s glad it’s not up to her. He says, the wheels are already in motion for Ned to officially adopt Leo. It’s crazy; he just lost his father. She says, that’s all the more reason for them to step up for Leo as his brother and sister.

Lesley tells Cyrus that she has no idea what lies Gordon fed him over the years, but she never seduced anyone… Well, not him. Cyrus tells her, like she said, there were probably hundreds. Lesley says she should have been so lucky. She and Gordon had an affair. He was her professor, and should have been more conscious of the emotional differences between them in the relationship. Cyrus says, it’s fortunate she can pass it through a modern lens, and absolve herself of responsibility. Does it also hold true for his father’s decision to leave Port Charles? He convinced Cyrus’s mother to start fresh down south. She didn’t realize the exodus was at Lesley’s urging. Lesley says, on that point, he’s right, and Cyrus says, and here we are. Who knows how different their lives and destinies would have been in Port Charles. Laura says he has no one to blame but himself, and asks Lesley if she can have a moment alone with Cyrus. She’s not afraid. She wants to talk to her brother. Lesley gives them privacy, and Laura shakes her fists at him. She says she’s not about to let him use her mother as a scapegoat for his lifetime of horrible decisions. Do they understand each other? He says they do, but understand this. He’s trusted her to resolve the situation with Jason promptly. How would she feel if something happened to her mother? She says, spoken like an innocent man.

Laura finds Lesley crying, and asks if she’s okay. Lesley says, not really. Cyrus said some horrible, untrue things, but there’s one thing she can’t shake. Her recklessness when she was young is what led them down the path to the pain they’re all feeling right now. Laura holds her, and says, it’s okay.

Portia tells Taggert, neither was a good plan, and he says he’s exhausted. He just wants it over with. She says, then get a good night’s sleep. Stop thinking about himself, and think about his daughter. Be the man she thinks he is, and fight so she doesn’t lose her father a third time. Jordan comes in and say she didn’t know Portia would still be there. Portia says, Dr. Robinson, and she was just leaving. When she’s gone, Jordan asks if Taggert is okay, and he says, for a man who just got his ass handed to him by his ex, he’s not too bad. She says, Portia is good at that, and asks why he looks so wistful. He says Portia is good at calling him on his crap. That’s why they got married, and why they got divorced, and why they’re still friends. What’s the good word? She says, Cyrus no longer has a hold on the department. He says, what about TJ and Trina? and she says she’ll explain later, but for now, she does have bad news.

Carly stands in the kitchen, and tells herself, stop it. He’s coming back. Sonny’s coming back.

Peter runs into the hospital, and says he hopes the reception nurse can help him. It’s important that he contact a former staff member – Andre Maddox.

Willow says Chase let her believe he slept with her friend, and he asks if it matters that he did it to save Wiley. She says she appreciates what he did, but not being kept out of the loop. He says he had to focus on Wiley. He misses her, and wonders if she misses him too. She says, of course (🍷) she does. From the moment she left the apartment she was missing him every moment of every day for months, until… The pain they made her feel is still real, even if the betrayal wasn’t. They can’t wish it away overnight. He says, give him a chance to show her that he’s the guy she thought he was; a guy she can trust with her heart, and that their love is worth fighting for. He loves her; he never stopped. He knows in his heart and soul she loves him too. She leans in toward him…

Willow says, she can’t; sorry. Chase says he thought she wanted him to, and she says she can’t. She’s married to Michael. She wanted him to kiss her, but she has to go. He asks if she can take a second, but she says, this is too complicated right now, and runs out. Maybe not runs, but she walks really, really fast.

Sasha asks if she should check on Michael’s mom, but he says, she’s probably trying to face what happened. Or she’s doubling down on her denial. It’s best to stay out of her way. She says, it’s obvious which Carly is doing, and he says he’s afraid her not facing reality is setting her up for more pain. She says, Carly is right. Just because the authorities stopped the search and rescue, doesn’t mean Sonny won’t be alive. He says, it’s the not knowing anything that’s the worst. Hearing that it’s changed to search and recovery… Only living things need rescue. His dad is no longer someone to them, just someone they need to… She hugs him, and he thanks her. She asks if he wants some air. She’s missed the walks they used to take to the boathouse. Of course (🍷) it’s freezing. He says, a walk sounds good.

Portia comes out of the elevator, and Cyrus says, it’s good to see her. He knows she has a lot going on with discovering Trina’s father is alive and well. She says, is there something he wants to ask her? but he says he’s just sharing her good news. She says, they’re done here, and walks away.

Jordan tells Taggert, Sonny was in an accident. A bridge he was on collapsed. He says, how the hell…? and she says they’re still gathering details, but Sonny is presumed dead. He doesn’t know what to say, and she says she thought he should know. He thanks her, and says he and Sonny had a complicated history. It’s strange that someone he dedicated his life to bringing down, bent over backward to make sure he was safe. He was a complicated man. She says, he was.

Sam and Dante sit at a table. Sam says, Sonny had the bright idea for a dinner with Carly and himself, and her and Jason. Carly thought it was part of his big plan. Dante does an impression of Sonny saying, we’re all here right now for the summit, and Sam laughs. She says, she and Carly started cracking up, and realized this was part of Sonny’s plan. Dante says they’ve spent the last 20 minutes telling stories about Sonny like they’ve started his wake. Like maybe this time, he could actually be gone for good. They clink beer bottles, and say, to Sonny.

Jason goes into the house, and looks at a picture of Sonny and Carly. Carly says she didn’t hear him come in. He looks grim, and she asks if he saw Michael and Sasha. He says he didn’t, and she says she didn’t mean for them to see each other, but she’s glad they did. Sasha wanted to apologize, and she left the room to give them time alone. Jason says he was at the police station, and has an update. She says she doesn’t want to know, and he says, waiting isn’t going to change anything. They sent a search team into the wreckage from the bridge, and they didn’t find Sonny’s body, but they found this. He hands her a necklace, and she says, Sonny’s St. Christopher medal. He says, it was snagged on the wreckage. They think Sonny was pinned when the bridge collapsed, and his body was dragged down river. He knows Sonny would have gotten out if he’d gotten clear of the wreckage, but he didn’t. Carly starts to hyperventilate, then starts to cry. She says, he was arrogant, and he was selfish. They couldn’t stand each other. She doesn’t know what made them fall in love. She cries, and Jason holds her. She says, I don’t know.

In the woods, we see someone lying in the snow. We don’t see their face, but gee, think it’s Sonny?

On Monday, Chase asks if Finn can possibly relate, Carly asks if they can’t touch Cyrus, Molly wonders if she and TJ have a future, and Brando warns Jason about the Feds.

🏥 What Cyrus Said…

We’ve covered David Hamilton, but Theresa who?

https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Theresa_Carter#:~:text=Nurse%20Theresa%20Carter%20is%20a,an%20unknown%20actress%20in%202006.

And in case you didn’t know Rick either.

https://soaphub.com/general-hospital/general-hospital-wayback-remember-rick-webber/

🐶 He’s An Animal Lover Too…

I wasn’t Julian’s biggest fan, but I don’t think they should have killed him off. Especially since they finally got his hair right.

https://torontosun.com/entertainment/television/exclusive-william-devry-sounds-off-on-his-shocking-gh-exit

🏃🏻 Shiloh Strikes Again…

And he’s pulling double duty.

Coby Ryan McLaughlin Reveals He’s Going To Be on DYNASTY!

Coby Ryan McLaughlin Stars in The Nanny Murders!

💏 But She’s Not Moving To Ohio…

All is well in the Marks household.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/30/rhoslc-star-meredith-marks-reconciles-with-husband-seth/

⚠️ A Warning From Candiace…

I don’t know how seriously I could take someone whose hair looked like hers at the RHOP reunion. What was that?

Candiace Dillard Says Porsha Williams “Should Be Careful About The Lies She Tells” After Defending Monique Samuels

👠 For Those Who Can’t Get Enough…

All about the scandalous scandal.

https://nypost.com/2020/12/23/the-scandalous-divorce-of-erika-jayne-and-tom-girardi/

📡 Full Disclosure…

I have to admit, I was surprised. It’s going to be a while before she’s off the shrink’s couch.

https://pagesix.com/2020/12/31/rhocs-elizabeth-lyn-vargas-opens-up-about-childhood-in-cult/

🙌🏼 Her Reality Goes On…

I actually think Stassi was growing as a person on Vanderpump Rules. It’s a shame cancel culture is so narrowly focused.

https://extratv.com/2021/01/08/stassi-schroeder-and-beau-clark-welcome-first-child-find-out-her-name/

📮 News Of a London Lady…

The good news.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/03/ladies-of-london-alum-caroline-stanbury-is-engaged/

And the bad news.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/07/ladies-of-londons-caroline-stanbury-positive-for-covid-19/

🎈 I’ve Got a Little List…

Pop culture from the past four… whatever that was.

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/02/pop-culture-trump-era-2020-analysis-449495

🧸 Mixed Message…

Well this must have put a damper on many a family’s holiday season.

https://news.avclub.com/remember-when-a-broadcast-of-muppet-family-christmas-en-1845903062

🎉 That Holiday Glow…

More celeb celebrations.

https://extratv.com/photos/image_jpg_20201226_89c768c0b2c54d3da1e806c6c7b16039/

🗽 In Case You Missed It…

And you may as well have. Although it was amusing to see an empty Times Square.

https://nypost.com/2021/01/01/small-crowd-in-times-square-rings-in-new-year-with-low-key-celebration/

🍾 I Can’t Say I Disagree…

The best part was when Anderson Cooper was like, hey dude, slow down, it’s early yet.

https://pagesix.com/2021/01/01/andy-cohen-drunkenly-rips-mayor-bill-de-blasio/

🥁 Roll Call 2020…

Those celebs we lost, and it’s probably not even a full list.

https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/celebrities-who-died-in-2020-47084634

From across the pond.

https://news.sky.com/story/celebrity-deaths-2020-the-famous-faces-and-notable-figures-we-said-goodbye-to-this-year-12128650

🧻 A Different Kind Of Roll Call…

Celebrities, they’re not like us.

https://nypost.com/2021/01/02/2020-taught-us-one-good-thing-celebrities-are-meaningless/

🎙 Quotes of the Week

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6, NLT

Do one thing every day that scares you. – Eleanor Roosevelt

Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends. – Kate Spade

You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life? – Rumi

A good education is not so much one which prepares a man to succeed in the world, as one which enables him to sustain a failure. – Bernard Iddings Bell

Sun is like God calling you an alcoholic. – a hungover Jenny Harper (Amber Tamblyn), Two and a Half Men

Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you. – Anne Lamott

Whoever you are, whatever your dream, you have to be strong in your head and strong in your heart. Be strong. There’s no quitting in the person who wants it bad enough. – Carly Patterson

Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action. – Benjamin Disraeli

The unique ability to take decisive action while maintaining focus on the ultimate mission is what defines a true leader. – Robert Kiyosaki

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not. – Andre Gide

If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door. – Milton Berle (Or kick one out, I say.)

You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins. – Jim Stovall

🌜 Goodnight, Moon…

Even before the pandemic, my weekends weren’t much different than my weekdays. Every day is a work day in one way or another. But whether your days are all workdays, all days off, or a combination, stay safe, stay innovative, and stay on the road less traveled. It’s easier to keep your social distance that way.

Dec15

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

Posted on December 15, 2020 by theresakp

Standard

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.

Dec8

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

Posted on December 8, 2020 by theresakp

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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 50^th. 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.

Dec4

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

Posted on December 4, 2020 by theresakp

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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 7^th 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.

Dec28

December 27, 2019 – Port Charles Celebrates Christmas, Teresa Teams Up, Uncoupling, True Prediction, Tori Wants In, Trying Too Hard, a Loss, Ringing In 14 Quotes & This One Is It

Posted on December 28, 2019 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis plays Santa in Rice Plaza. Jordan tells him the traditional drink is hot cocoa, but he says he could use something stronger. She says she’ll have everything he needs after his shift, and he ho-ho-hos back to work.

Gladys wants to pack up some cookies at Turning Woods, but Sonny says they’re for the residents. She says, Mike is a resident, but he didn’t eat any, and Sonny pays them to keep Mike there. Carly arrives, and Sonny asks how Lucas is. She says, he’s just lying there. He looks like he’s asleep, but it’s not the same. It’s like how Michael was; you can just tell. Michael woke up, so they have to believe Lucas will. It’s Christmas, so it’s the right time. The time when they’re supposed to believe good things happen.

Josslyn tells Dev, if he liked Thanksgiving, he’s going to lose his mind over Christmas. Santa comes down the chimney, and leaves presents for all the good boys and girls. Dev says, Santa was born in Turkey, and has been dropping money down chimney’s since the 1400s. They celebrate Christmas in Turkey, just not like they do in America. She says, the first thing America kids learn is that Christmas isn’t something you can buy. The presents are great, but the true meaning of Christmas is in your heart. It’s about being a little kinder, and having more patience, and if you’re lucky enough to have people in your life who love you, taking the time to let them know you love them back.

Cameron tells Trina that she can stop with the pictures. Trina says he looks handsome. What’s wrong with him? He should be in a good mood. Franco is home. Cameron says, he’d like to be home, but instead he’s there finishing his community service in a Christmas tie. Trina tells him to embrace it and own it, but he just wants to get it done.

Leo sits on Curtis’s lap, and Curtis tells him that he’ll get his crew on it. Right, crew? Cameron hands Curtis a candy cane, and says, right. Curtis tells Leo, don’t ever forget the true spirit of Christmas. It’s better to give than receive. Leo hugs Curtis and says he loves him. Jason asks Scout (who’s made a bit of an age jump) if she’s ready to talk to Santa. He wonders what she’s asking for, and she says it’s a secret she’s only telling Santa.

Nelle tells the guard she should be in the infirmary, but the guard says she’ll be fine, and puts her back in with Sam. She asks if Sam missed her, and sees that Sam got cards from her kids. She bets Sam misses them like crazy. She knows what that’s like.

Tracy asks Monica what possessed her to obliterate years of memories? Monica says they still have them, but Brook says, granny is having difficulty with hers. Maybe Monica could prescribe something. Tracy tells Brook to call her Tracy. She wasn’t advised that Monica was redecorating. When she left, Monica said it was her house too. Monica tells Tracy, she said because Tracy was leaving, and she was in the grips of sentiment. Of course (🍷) the house is all hers. Alan gave it to her. Tracy says that’s because her brother was an idiot, and Brook says, ouch.

Brook and Monica look at the tree. Brook likes it, and Monica agrees. Tracy says, it’s better than the rest of the room, and Brook says, resistance to change is a precursor to dementia. Monica says it’s just Tracy’s personality, and asks if Brook thinks Olivia will be disappointed. Tracy asks why she cares, and Brook says, they have a deal. Monica says Olivia gets all of the other holidays, including Arbor Day. The house was filled with flowers. Tracy says she’s wandering from the subject, and Monica says she gets Christmas. It’s her house; her tree. Olivia decorates the nursery, and it’s a gingerbread fantasy, but the kids love it. She’s sure Olivia would prefer a shiny silver tree, but don’t they think, in the spirit of Christmas… Both Brook and Tracy say, absolutely not. Monica says they agreed on something. It’s a Christmas miracle. Michael and Sasha come in. Michael ho-ho-hos, and stops when he sees Tracy. He says he didn’t know she was coming, and she says she’s questioning the wisdom of her visit.

Scout sits on Santa Curtis’s lap. He says he knows her; Scout. What can he give her for Christmas? She says she wants her mommy to come home.

Nelle asks if Sam heard about her brush with death. Ryan nearly plunged a scalpel in her one remaining kidney. It was just a millimeter away. Sam says, amazing, and Nelle says she could have died. She wonders how Josslyn would feel. She’d have to live with the guilt. She got lucky. Sam wonders how Ryan got a scalpel, and says if he’d wanted Nelle dead, she’d be dead. Nelle says, too bad she didn’t run into Josslyn at GH; she ran into everyone else. Michael was there with Wiley. She guesses he was watching Wiley after the accident. Poor Lucas. He’s not doing so hot. Too bad Sam is in there for killing Shiloh; she could be helping. Nelle is sure Christmas will be melancholy for Sam’s kids. She imagines how Christmas would have been with Michael if their little boy had lived. They’d all be gathered around the Quartermaine Christmas tree. But sadly, Jonah is gone. Her baby is dead, but Sam still has hers, even if can’t see them until who knows when.

Curtis tells Scout that Santa might not be able to bring her mommy home, but he can give her some magic. Cameron gives Curtis a candy cane, and he gives it to Scout. He says he knows it looks like every other candy cane, but this one is magic. Whenever she when licks it, it will remind her of every happy and fun time she had with her mommy. At the same time, her mommy will remember too, and it will make them both feel better until her mommy comes home. Danny suggests they finish up, so they can wrap mommy’s presents. Jason thanks Cameron for assisting, and Cameron says he’s just doing his job. Curtis asks Jason to tell Sam that Santa says hi.

Trina asks Josslyn if Cameron doesn’t look great, and Josslyn says she loves it. It’s very Christmas choir boy. Trina says, it’s part of his community service. Just one more week, and he’s a free man. Dev says they should celebrate; drinks are on him. Trina wants an espresso, and Dev says she’d love Turkish coffee. He knows to get a hot cider for Josslyn. Cameron says he has to get back, and he’ll see them later. Dev goes to get the drinks, and Trina asks if Josslyn is going to make Dev’s Christmas wish come true. Josslyn says she got him a wireless speaker, and Trina asks if she’s blind. Can’t she see Dev is crushing on her?

Carly hopes Sonny doesn’t mind that she invited Brad for Christmas dinner. Whatever his faults, no one can deny he loves Lucas. Sonny says, technically, Brad is on her side of the family, so he’s putting up with Brad for her sake. She guesses so; why? He says that means he can ask her to put up with a guest from his side. Gladys tells Carly, merry Christmas, and Carly asks if she came to visit Mike. Gladys says she did, but Sonny was kind enough to invite her to stay for Christmas.

Michael asks if Brook knew her grandmother was coming to visit, but she says she had no clue. He explains to Sasha that Tracy was living in Amsterdam, and swore she was never coming back. Yet here she is. Brook says, Tracy does nothing without an ulterior motive. Either she screwed up in Amsterdam, and has to lie low, or she’s planning some shenanigans; a double-cross or a takeover. She tells Michael, watch his back.

Tracy tells Monica that she heard they lost Oscar and his father. It’s a lot to handle; she’s sorry. Monica says she takes consolation in that they got to know and love each other. Oscar also left a wonderful legacy to the Kilimanjaro Foundation. Tracy says she heard there was a problem with probate, but Monica says, Ned and Michael are taking care of it. The good news is, the foundation has been funded, and kids are already making their way up the mountain. Ned comes in with Olivia and Leo, and says, merry Christmas, every… Hello, mother. Olivia says, merry Christmas, and Tracy says, this must be Leo. She introduces herself, and Olivia says it’s nice to have her home for the holiday. Ned says, it is indeed. What is she doing there? Tracy says, Amsterdam was too tranquil. She needed a good dose of family. Monica says, lucky them.

Nelle tells Sam, you’d think they’d let her recuperate in the infirmary. She nearly paid with her life to prevent Ryan from escaping. Her lawyer says they’re calling her a hero. What if she gets pardoned, and sent home? She’d get out before Sam, but she’d be happy to help Jason. Sam’s children must be missing her. Scout is too young to know what’s going on, but Danny is old enough. Sam tells Nelle to shut her mouth before she shuts it for her.

Jason thanks Santa’s assistant for watching the kids while he got hot chocolate. He tells them that they’re grandma is going to be there shortly, then they’ll decorate the tree and hang their stockings. He’s going to need help, since he’s terrible at both. Danny laughs, and says Jason does so many cool things. Why is he so awful at decorating? Jason says he just is, but he’s good at following directions.

Alexis tells Jordan that she doesn’t feel merry, and doesn’t think she can be happy, but she’s hanging on. Jordan is sorry Sam is still in Pentenville. They took the case out of her jurisdiction. Alexis says she’s sorry about all of it. Between Sam’s situation and hers, it’s been quite a year. Jordan says, there are some things to be grateful for, and Alexis says they had an exceptional blessing, but it was at the expense of Lucas, who’s still in a coma.

Josslyn asks if Trina thinks Dev is into her because he knows she likes hot cider. Trina says she asked him, and Josslyn asks what he said. Trina says, something lame and incoherent, like boys do when you call them out on their feelings.

Cameron tells Dev that his family got their Christmas wish; he shouldn’t complain. Dev says his happy family is complete, and Cameron asks about Dev’s home in Turkey, and Dev says Christmas came for him too. Sonny welcomed him into the family, and he became friends with them, but Cameron says, what about back home? Dev says everything he needs is there. He has no complaints. Trina and Josslyn join them, and Josslyn tells Dev that her mom is expecting them. Trina says she’ll stay and be moral support for Santa’s assistant. Josslyn tells them, merry Christmas, and Trina says watch out for the mistletoe. Dev asks what that is, and Josslyn tells him, come on.

Sonny tells Carly that Gladys was keeping his father company, and at the end of the visit, his dad wanted him to ask her to stay over. Gladys says, Sonny was kind enough to make it an official invite. Sonny says he couldn’t say no, and Carly says looks like Gladys is joining them for Christmas. Gladys asks if Carly wants a cookie.

Monica wants to try a new Quartermaine tradition – wassailing. Sasha says she’s read about it. It was a medieval precursor to caroling. Monica says, absolutely right (soon to become my new drinking game phrase, along with absolutely not). Alan always wanted do it. Tracy says, Alan was too sentimental for his own good. Monica says, in spite of the tragedies that have befallen them, they’re all together, some from near and far. It’s the perfect time. She passes out the wassail, saying, Alan would want to wish them good health; that’s what wassail means, and what their family needs. Tracy says, Monica didn’t poison it, did she? and Monica says Tracy’s visit was unexpected. She didn’t have time. Maybe next year. They toast to a merry Christmas. A friend of mine brought wassail over one Christmas Eve. It’s pretty tasty.

Alexis tells Jordan that she has to get going. She and Jason are wrapping presents once the kids are asleep. Jordan says she remembers those days. Alexis goes over to Jason and the kids, and Danny tells her about the magic candy cane. She says they’ll have to put it in a place of honor. Jason says he needs to take off, and asks if Alexis minds taking the kids home. She says, even Sonny takes Christmas off, and he says, everything he’s doing, he’s doing for the kids.

Gladys admires the decorations at Sonny’s house, and Carly asks Sonny if there are any other surprise guests. He says, Michael and Sasha, and Gladys says she’d love an Old Fashioned. Carly says she’s going to check on Donna and Avery. Gladys asks who they are, and Carly says, their children. She goes upstairs, and Gladys says, isn’t it wonderful to have a house full of kids? Sonny says, bourbon or rye? And she says they’re both from the old school. If it’s not rye, it’s not an Old Fashioned. Sonny laughs, but says they’re not both from anything. He pays her for a service. Dev and Josslyn arrive, and Gladys tells Dev, look what Santa brought; his nana. She hugs him.

Jason tells Danny to get started, and he’ll be there in a while. Be good. Danny asks if Jason will be home before his bedtime, and Jason says, definitely, and before Santa gets there.

Nelle tells the guard that Sam attacked her, and could have busted open her stitches. The guard calls Sam to come out. Nelle says, what about her? but he says only Sam. Under her breath, Sam calls Nelle a bitch as she goes past.

Brook asks how Leo’s visit to Santa was, and he says he asked for everything from his list. Brook says Santa might not bring everything he asked for, so he should ask for more than he’ll get. Sasha says negotiating seems to be a Quartermaine family trait. Michael is a master and was kind enough to handle a negotiation for her today. Brook asks if he’s becoming an agent, but he says he was just doing Sasha a favor. Leo suggests Michael negotiate for him, so he can get everything on his list, and Brook says, spoken like a true Quartermaine. Tracy asks Michael how things are going at ELQ.

Curtis continues to ho-ho-ho, and Jordan says, it’s almost over. He says things are winding down. He’s thinking of saying to all a good night. Would she care to take a ride on his sleigh? She says, gladly, but they see another kid waiting. Jordan’s phone rings, and he asks if it’s police business. She says, no, but she has to take it, and steps away.

Trina tells Cameron that she has some cocoa for Santa’s personal assistant, per North Pole etiquette. They clink paper cups.

Dev says if he’d known Gladys was coming, he’d have gotten her a present. He goes upstairs, and Carly says she made up the guest room. Sonny tells Carly that after Christmas, he’ll send Gladys away. Josslyn calls Gladys Mrs. Corbin, and she says to call her Aunt Gladys, since they’re practically family. Josslyn says, they’re not. She knows Gladys is part of the deal to keep Dev in the country. Gladys says, still, she appreciates them sharing their home. Otherwise, she’d be all alone, looking at old photos of her son. She remembers it like yesterday, how excited Brando was, thinking he heard Santa’s sleigh. She tears up, and says she needs some air. She goes out on the terrace, and Sonny tells Josslyn, a word of advice; the less she says to Gladys, the better. Josslyn says she can’t stand the phony acting, but Sonny says they don’t want Gladys to know how much they’re protecting Dev. Carly says, it gives her too much power. Josslyn says she’s sorry; she hates this. Carly says, her too, but it’s temporary. Out on the terrace, Gladys is on the phone. She says she can’t tell them how much she misses them. She said terrible things she regrets. Now, at this time of year, she can’t stop thinking about them, and wishing it was all different. Sonny comes out, and asks who she’s talking to. She says, Brando.

Nelle asks the guard if Sam is in solitary, and he says, not exactly.

Alexis gives Danny and Scout their stockings to hang up. Danny picks up one that says mom, and wonders if they should hang it up. Jason comes in, and Danny asks where he went. Jason says he was working on a Christmas surprise. Sam is behind him, and asks, who wants a merry Christmas? She hugs the kids, and everyone is all happy.

Trina tells Cameron that he does look handsome. Once she posts his picture, every girl in school is going to show up. He says she’s not posting that, and chases her. On the phone, Jordan says she appreciates it, and thanks them for letting her know. Curtis asks if everything is okay, and she says, an old friend just passed. He asks if it’s someone from their Baltimore days, but she says it’s no one he knows. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, just shocked, but she’s not dwelling on it. It’s Christmas, and she’s going to cherish what’s in front of her; starting with Santa. He hugs her.

The guard tells Nelle that Sam made parole. She’s surprised, and he says he is too.

Sam says she’ll have to give Santa a thank you note, and Alexis says, her too. She got her gift. She tells Sam, welcome home. Sam tells her, merry Christmas, and thanks her. They hug, and Alexis says she’s going home and letting Sam be with her family. She loves them – even Jason. She won’t question him about his errands again. Sam asks who’s going to help mom find her stocking, and Danny gives it to her.

Nelle takes a big piece of cardboard out from under her mattress. It says, Nelle’s Aspirations 2020, and is covered with pictures cut from magazines, most of them of little boys.

Brook says she can tell Tracy that ELQ is doing great. She read the shareholder report, and they’re in the black. Michael says it’s nice to make money, and be kind to the environment. Tracy thinks they should care less about the environment, and more about the bottom line. Michael says they’re doing great. Ned thinks they need to table the discussion for today, but Tracy says Brook needs to be more realistic. She’ll never get rich singing, and needs to look to her stock in ELQ. Couldn’t the family company use another junior executive? Michael says his mom and dad are expecting them, and asks them to film the caroling. They jet, and Olivia tells Ned to get his guitar. Ned calls Jason, and asks if he’s coming by to wassail and carol, but Jason says staying there with Sam. He thanks Ned for that, but Ned says, all he did was tell them that Sam was an excellent candidate for parole. He’s glad they agreed. He tells Jason, merry Christmas to you and yours. Hold them close tonight. Tracy says Ned isn’t doing a favor for Jason, is he?

Jason picks up Scout, so she can hang up her stocking. Danny tells Scout, she did it. She told Santa that she wanted mom home, and he did it. He doesn’t want another present. He tells Sam that they have to help Jason decorate the tree, since he’s terrible at it. Sam and Jason kiss.

Carly brings out cookies, and asks if Josslyn is okay. Josslyn say she’s just writing her thoughts, and Carly says maybe she should try that. Dev comes down with some presents, saying, he’s not the best at wrapping, but he tried. He puts them under the tree, and asks how the carolers get past the guards. Carly says they don’t have those, and Dev says, another iconic American myth shot down. Josslyn says, at least Santa will make it.

Gladys tells Sonny, it’s pathetic really. She’s been paying phone bill since Brando died, so she can hear his voice on the message. Sonny probably thinks she’s a sentimental kook, and maybe she is, but she misses him so much. He died thinking she was mad at him. Sonny tells her, come inside. He’ll make her another Old Fashioned with rye.

Tracy tells Ned, Jason made it clear he doesn’t consider himself a Quartermaine. Dealing with him will only get Ned into trouble. Ned says a lot has happened since she’s been gone. He’ll leave it at that. He suggests they get on with Christmas, and she says, by the looks of things, she got there just in time. Ned brings his guitar into the sitting room, and Olivia thinks they could all use some tidings of comfort and joy.

Brook, Ned, Olivia and Leo sing The First Noel. Monica gives Tracy a drink, and they touch glasses. Tracy hugs Monica.

Finally out of his Santa suit, Curtis takes Jordan’s hand, and they kiss.

Cameron tells Trina, his picture can’t get out. She says she’s deleting it. She already posted it… Psyche! She says she’d never do that. She’s always got his back. They leave the plaza.

Josslyn and Dev go out on the terrace, and Josslyn says, there he is. Dev asks, who? and she says, Santa, pointing to the sky. Doesn’t Dev see him? He looks up, and says, she’s right. He sees him too. He tells her, wait. Something is moving, and Josslyn says, oh my God. You’re right.

Michael and Sasha get to Sonny’s, and Carly tells them, merry Christmas. Josslyn and Dev run in, and Josslyn says they saw the sleigh. Carly tells her, the kids are asleep, but she says she’s serious. There’s a light moving through the sky. They all go out, and gather on the terrace, Gladys hanging back a little. Dev points, and everyone looks up. Sonny says, merry Christmas.

The tree is finished, and Sam watches her family, dabbing at her eyes. Jason puts the lights on. He puts his arms around Sam and the kids, and they all look at the tree.

On Monday, Carly asks Sonny if it’s another interrogation, Sonny says he wants the truth, and Carly says it’s time to tell him exactly what’s going on. It’s looks like it will be a new episode on Monday, Tuesday (New Year’s Eve) is a repeat encore episode, and Wednesday (New Year’s Day) is football.

👯 Super Frenemies…

This article wasn’t exactly a font of information, so I’m skeptical. What could these two possibly be advertising?

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/teresa-giudice-and-caroline-manzo-film-super-bowl-commercial/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

😴 No Surprise…

In case you were living under a rock.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/rhony-teresa-giudice-joe-giudice-separate-20-years-marriage-divorce-rumors/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

👍 I Haven’t Heard Anyone Say It Yet…

Vicki was right.

https://radaronline.com/videos/jim-edmonds-daughter-hayley-says-meghan-king-ruined-family-divorce/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🌴 Better Than Brandi…

I would love to see Tori Spelling on RHOBH. I don’t see how her money situation has anything to do with it. Bethenny Frankel couldn’t pay her rent when she started on RHONY.

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/tori-spelling-begs-real-housewives-90210-flop/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🍹 I Thought He Was In Jail…

Frankly, I think the show is doing just fine without him.

https://radaronline.com/photos/southern-charm-thomas-ravenel-kids-thriving-custody-battle-kathryn-dennis-filming-delayed-photos/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b

🎭 A Light Goes Out On Broadway…

He composed several of my favorite musicals – Mame, Mack & Mabel, and La Cage aux Folles. He was also a true man of the theater, evidenced by this quote:

I said, I can absolutely do it. I know all about Israel, recalled the composer much later. And I knew nothing about Israel.

http://www.playbill.com/article/jerry-herman-composer-of-tuneful-broadway-hits-dies-at-88

🎊 Quotes of the Week

I never worry about being driven to drink; I just worry about being driven home. – W. C. Fields

Ring out the false, ring in the true. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. – William E. Vaughn

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. – Benjamin Franklin

Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness. – William Shakespeare

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfrey

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. – C.S. Lewis

It is never too late to be what you might have been. – George Eliot

Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction. – Germany Kent

Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming. – Mike Dooley

Many years ago, I made a New Year’s resolution to never make new year’s resolutions. Hell, it’s been the only resolution I’ve ever kept! – D.S. Mixell

Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. – Carl Bard

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one. – Brad Paisley

Get the f*** out of my house, Kenny G. – Amy (Mila Kunis), Bad Moms Christmas

🎈 We Can Hope…

Still waiting on that Christmas miracle too.

Dec27

December 26, 2019 – Anna Makes a Connection, Vicki Screeches To the End, Soap Holidays, Behind GH’s Carol, No Joes Here, Unreal Reality, Social Media Moments, Roll Calls Begin & Abba New Year

Posted on December 27, 2019 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At Turning Woods, Sonny sees Mike in his coat, and asks where he’s going. Mike says, out; he has to get out. Sonny tells him, it’s cold outside, and suggests they stay in. He asks if Mike wants a cookie, but Mike says he has to go. Sonny asks, where? and Gladys comes in, saying she’s got Mike’s hat and they should hit the road. Sonny asks what she’s doing there, and she says she was about to take Mike out.

Franco tells Elizabeth, it’s not possible. She says he had no control over his body, but he says he’d remember if he slept with Kim. He wouldn’t… He couldn’t… She says he thought he was Drew, and had no control over what was happening. He says in his right mind, he would never, and Elizabeth says she had the utmost faith in their love. He didn’t sleep with Kim; Drew did.

At Rice Plaza, Cameron and Aiden bring coats for the coat drive. Cameron tells Maxie and Peter that they just got new coats, and Peter says their old ones will go to kids who need them and will love them. Aiden says they feel blessed because they have Franco back. Maxie says they have Peter to thank for that.

Anna looks at Peter’s resumé, and says, Eurotech. She picks up another folder, and says, Peter was there at the same time; the same DVX front company when the gunman was there. She looks at some pictures, and throws up her hands. Finn comes in, and tells her, Violet said the cutest thing. She says, what’s that? and he says when they were cleaning up, Violet noticed all the gingerbread cookies were all men, and said… Is she okay? He asks if she found something out about Peter.

Brad asks Michael where Wiley is, and Michael says, he’s with Willow. They’re waiting for Brad, but if now isn’t the time… Brad says, it’s totally fine.

Nelle tells Willow that the baby is adorable. He’s so cute; what’s his name? Willow says, Wiley, and Nelle asks if Wiley is hers. Willow says, no, but Nelle says she doesn’t seem so sure. Willow says, it’s a long story, but Nelle says she’s got time. Willow says, probably not that much, and starts to leave. Nelle says she doesn’t mean to be intrusive, but she lost her baby. Does Willow think she could possible see Wiley for a moment longer?

Gladys gives Mike his hat. Sonny asks if she’s taking his dad out, and Gladys says they’re cousins. She was told by the staff that she’s allowed. Sonny says they’re not the ones she should be asking, but Gladys says Mike was asking for her, and she thought it was a good way to reconnect with family. She asks Mike, they’re cousins, right? Mike says, right, and she says, and Dev, who lives with Sonny, is her grandchild. Sonny says this isn’t part of the agreement, and she says she’s been getting the payments on time. Sonny asks Mike what they’re planning on doing, and Mike says, go to the track, and play the ponies. Does Sonny want to come? Sonny says Gladys is taking Mike to the track? Gladys says, he wanted to see his wife, but he can’t. She needed to distract him, and remembered he liked playing the ponies. Problem solved. Sonny says, not really. He asks where Yvonne is, and Mike says they took his wife.

Finn asks what Anna found, and Anna says she was cross-checking the histories of Drew, Faison, Shiloh, Brice, and the would-be assassin David Black. It was right there, staring her in the face on Peter’s resumé. She cross-checked the bank records on David Black, and discovered they were at Eurotech at the same time. Finn says, it can’t be a coincidence, and Anna says, it would be next to impossible. He says, for what it’s worth, he was hoping she’d find proof of Peter’s innocence. She says, so was she, and he says, now that she knows, what is she going to do about it?

Cameron doesn’t think they need to go into details, but Aiden says he likes details. Cameron says, there was some crazy stuff going on at the hospital, and Peter saved the doctor who saved Franco. Aiden asks what Peter did, and Cameron says it’s too long to go into, and they have to get home. They leave, and Maxie tells Peter, sorry it was awkward. She can’t help that she wants to shout that her boyfriend is a hero. Peter says he’s not proud of taking a man’s life, but Maxie says the man was going to kill Andre, and possibly Franco. Peter says he was probably just doing his job, and she says no doubt his boss is someone worse and bigger. The guy should be ratted out and sent to prison for the rest of his life.

Elizabeth tells Franco that Kim kept trying to convince her to let him go. If she said, Franco is gone, once, she said it a thousand times. He says they need to confront her, but she says they can’t. Kim left town. He asks if Julian had anything to say about this, and she says, they broke up. He says, because of him.

Brook sees Julian at Rice Plaza, and asks how Lucas is. He says Lucas hasn’t woken up, and is being transferred to long term care. Brook says, that doesn’t mean he’s not going to get better. Lucas is tough, and they can’t give up hope. Sometimes it helps to focus on the good things. It’s Christmas, and Julian’s got Wiley and Leo. He says that’s why he’s there; he’s getting presents. Brook says she can’t figure it out. Leo looks like a Falconari. The family resemblance can be seen a mile away. Their DNA is powerful, but how did he and Olivia happen?

Michael tells Brad, no rush. He and Willow have Wiley covered if he needs time. Brad says it might help for him to see his son. He needs that little guy. A nurse tells Brad that he needs to finish signing Lucas’s transfer to Turning Woods. Brad asks if it can’t wait, and Michael says he’ll bring Wiley to Brad.

Willow tells Nelle that she’s sorry about Nelle’s baby. Nelle thanks her, and says it almost would been easier if he’d been stillborn, but he passed away in her arms. As much as it hurt to lose him, she doesn’t think she’d give those few minutes back for anything. She held him, and felt his heartbeat against her chest; saw him looking up at her. She doesn’t suppose Willow would let her hold Wiley for a moment? Willow looks skeptical.

Willow asks if it’s safe for Nelle. She’s injured, and babies are heavier than they look. She doesn’t want to make anything worse. Nelle doesn’t think that’s possible, and tells Willow, just place him in her lap. It’s super easy. Just as Willow is about to hand Wiley over, Michael stops her. He says, that’s Nelle, and Nelle shows them that she’s handcuffed to the chair.

Julian tells Brook that they were having a bad night, and Brook says she’s been there. He says they got Leo out of it, and Brook says Olivia didn’t want Leo to know he existed. He says they worked it out, but she says, not until he missed out on the first few precious months of Leo’s life. She has a gazillion pictures and videos from back then. Does he want to see them? She wasn’t such a screw up when her family wanted to hide Leo from his gangster father.

Maxie is sure that Helena was somehow involved, and Peter asks if all roads lead back to Helena. She says, and Faison. They’ve both been dead a while, but it’s possible they have a henchman out there who tried to kill Drew and Andre. He won’t get away with it though. Jason is Drew’s brother, and he won’t rest until he finds out who the bad guy is.

Anna tells Finn that she has to figure it out. He says she has evidence, but she says it’s a hazy theory. She doesn’t even know the whole story yet. Finn thinks she should tell Robert, and the police need to know. She says they can connect David Black to the second attempt on Andre’s life, but what about the plane crash? Andre ID’d Brice in the first attempt on his life, but there’s no connection so far between Peter and Brice. Finn says Andre was targeted twice, and Peter has one connection to that. Is she looking for a smoking gun? She says, it would help, and he says, help Robert’s case or help her make up her mind? She says, both, and he says, what if someone else gets hurt in the meantime? Violet comes in, and asks if her mommy is going to be back in time for Christmas.

Marcus walks in, and Mike yells that Marcus took his wife. Sonny says, it’s Marcus, and he’s their friend, but Mike says Marcus is no friend of his. Marcus says he and Mike talked about this, but Mike yells, liar! Marcus stole his wife. Sonny tells him to sit, and guides Mike to a chair, saying, just wait for him. Marcus says he would have called Sonny, but the last time he was there, Mike must have been having a good day. He thought Mike would fill Sonny in. He hadn’t realized Mike had gotten so bad. Sonny says, it hit Mike hard, and Marcus says, it was no different with Yvonne. It’s been a month since she could feed herself. It happens to a lot of people like her and Mike. Sonny says he’s got to ask. Did Marcus put her in a hospice? Marcus says, she’s not nearly ready for that. She’s in the hospital, and he’s having a feeding tube put in. Gladys tells him to please listen to her. He’s making a terrible mistake.

Mike asks if Sonny found out where Yvonne is, and Sonny says, she’s a little sick, and she’s in the hospital. Mike asks if she’s coming back, and Sonny says she is. Marcus says he doesn’t know who Gladys is, but this is none of her business. Gladys says he must love Yvonne, and needs to talk to the doctors. They’ll tell him that Yvonne stopped eating for a reason. It’s called de-set, voluntarily giving up eating and drinking. Also known as death with dignity. Marcus insists it’s not voluntary, and says he doesn’t need this woman’s opinion; he needs to get Yvonne’s things. Sonny asks what Gladys is doing, lecturing Marcus about something she doesn’t know anything about. She says she does.

Anna tells Violet that Finn was about to tell her what Violet said about the gingerbread men. Violet says, there should be gingergirls too. Anna agrees, and shows Violet her Christmas stocking, pointing out that Violet’s name is on it. She tells Violet, if she hangs it, Santa will come and fill it. Violet asks if there’s one for mommy too.

Maxie has something to show Peter. She brings out a stocking with his name on it, and says now that he’s moved in, he’s officially family, and they love him. He says he never had one, which kind of breaks my heart. She asks if he’s okay, and he says, funny how the smallest things can get you. She says, like a stocking? He says he loves it, and loves her and James.

Julian looks through Brook’s phone, and she says she’ll put the pictures in an album and send it to him. He thanks her, and says next to Lucas waking up, it’s the best present he can get. She says she can’t figure him out. He’s sappy and sentimental when it comes to Leo, but he was dark, brooding, and pissed off when they met.

Nelle tells Michael that he didn’t have to send Willow and Wiley away. What does he think she was going to do? He says he has no intention of finding out. She thanks him for being concerned about her health. Ryan almost nicked her good kidney. He says she seems all right, and asks when they’re taking her back. The guard approaches, and he asks why Nelle was left unsupervised. The guard says she could see Nelle from where she was, and he says he assumes they’re taking her back. She says there was engine trouble, but the guy will be there in twenty minutes. Nelle wishes Michael a merry Christmas. She’s sure he’ll be surrounded by loved ones while she’s rotting in her cell, thinking about Jonah. How much does he think Jonah would have loved Christmas? He walks away, and Willow tells him that she’s sorry. He tells her, it’s okay. Nelle is going back to Pentenville where she can’t hurt anyone.

Elizabeth says Franco knows she’s not the kind of wife who would look the other way if her husband cheated. Franco says, under normal circumstances… and she says, they weren’t normal circumstances. He’s not to blame. The fault lies with Cabot and Shiloh. He can’t beat himself up. Cameron and Aiden come in, saying, ho-ho-ho! and carrying a tree. Aiden hugs Franco, who says he’s bigger. His shoulders are big enough to hold the weight of the whole Port Charles art scene. Aiden says he missed Franco, and Franco says he missed Aiden too. Franco goes over to Cameron, and asks how he is. Cameron says he’s good, and asks if Franco likes the tree. Franco says he loves it. It’s the best tree in the whole world ever. Aiden says he made Franco a picture every day while he was gone. Franco says, that’s a lot of art. Aiden shows him some pictures, and says, it was more like therapy; it made him feel better. Franco looks through the pictures, and Aiden says, it’s just some of them. He’s giving Franco the rest on Christmas. Cameron says they didn’t want Christmas unless Franco came home, and Franco says he single-handedly saved the entire holiday. He hugs them.

Anna tells Violet that mommy asked them to look after her for Christmas, and she let Santa know Violet was there. Violet says she misses mommy, and doesn’t know why she’s gone so long. Anna knows it’s hard, but says Violet has to be brave. It’s what mommy would want. Violet doesn’t care what Mommy wants. She wants mommy back now. Finn says mommy loves her more than anything. He sits on the couch with Violet in his lap, and says, mommy had to go away for a good reason. Violet asks, what reason? but he says he doesn’t know. She didn’t tell him. For mommy to keep that kind of secret from her, it must be an important secret. So when mommy comes home, Violet will be happy and mommy will tell her why she went away. Violet asks when she’ll be back, and he says, really soon. Anna says they love having her, and don’t want her to be sad. Finn says he knows mommy misses Violet. He knows that because mommy sent this for her. He gives her a wrapped package. He looks at Anna over Violet’s head, and Anna smiles.

Sonny asks if Gladys knows Marcus’s wife, and she says, of course (🍷) not. He tells her, then keep her mouth shut. She says it might surprise him, but she does have friends in Bridgeport. Her best friend died, and she had Alzheimer’s too. They don’t cure it, do they? Sonny says he’s sorry. She says her friend stopped eating, and her husband and kids were beside themselves, but she could tell something more was happening. When they were alone, she asked, why are you doing this, Dot? and Dottie said clear as day, because I’m done. She could barely sit up anymore, had no privacy, no life, and no dignity. Funny thing about dignity, you might not know where or who you are, but you know when your dignity has been stolen. As gone as Dot was, deep down, she knew she couldn’t live that way. Sonny says he’s sure she wasn’t shy about telling them, and she says she fought with Dot’s kids, and begged their father to take Dot to hospice, so she could die with a tiny shred of dignity, but no. They got the feeding tube. She sits down, and says, it was a miserable death. Nobody should have to leave this world that way. When Dot finally died, Gladys was relieved. She was at peace, and Gladys misses her so damn much.

Willow tells Michael that she can’t believe she almost fell into Nelle’s trap. She thought after Shiloh, she could recognize a manipulator. Michael says, Nelle is good at what she does. Willow says Nelle totally played her; she felt sorry for Nelle. Now she knows what he and Chase were up against. Brad joins them, and says, there’s his boy. He knows Wiley misses Daddy Lucas, and is sure Lucas misses him too. Michael asks if Brad knew Nelle was there.

Brad tells Michael, Ryan attacked Nelle. He didn’t mention it because he knows how Michael and his family feel about his friendship with her. Michael says his mom knew. Brad says he can’t think about Nelle at the moment. He has to figure out how he’s going to take care of Wiley without Lucas. He can’t wrap his head around it. Michael says he and Willow can take care of Wiley if he’s not ready, but Brad says, it’s okay. He’s taking Wiley home.

Brook says Julian thought she was a hooker. He had no way to realize that she took care of his baby, and hung out with his other son in high school. He says now that he knows, he’s grateful for the role she played in his children’s lives. She says he thought she was someone he could pay to go away and shut up. He thought wrong. She goes over to the coat table, and Maxie says Brook’s still in town? She thought Brook would be at the recording studio. Brook makes up something about the studio people taking the month off to go to the latest hot spot. Maxie says she’s glad she ran into Brook, and introduces her to Peter. She says Peter just moved in with her and her son. Peter flashes his Christmas stocking, and Maxie says, Georgie is also coming in from Portland. Things at Crimson have been so busy, she’s happy to have the holidays off. They’re gearing up for February’s fashion week. Brook says she gets it. Maxie’s life is perfect. Maxie says, of course (🍷) not. Except wait… it is perfect. It’s amazing how you can have a great relationship if you grow up and stop making stupid mistakes. Brook tells her, merry Christmas, and tells Peter, God help him. When she’s gone, Peter says, what was that about?

Violet opens the gift. It’s a bead crafting set, and Finn tells her that she can make necklaces with it. He puts her in Anna’s desk chair with her gift, and tells her that he needs to talk to Anna for a moment. Anna asks how he knew what to get, and he says, Hayden mentioned Violet loves to make things. Anna says they’ll have to figure out what to tell Violet if Hayden isn’t back before New Year’s. Finn says he has no idea where Hayden is or when she’s coming back.

Franco says he’s happy he came back before Christmas. If he’d come back after Christmas, they wouldn’t get anything and that would make him sad. He’s truly sorry he went away. Aiden says he didn’t mean to. He did it so they could keep Cameron. Cameron thanks him, and Aiden says, it was so weird. Franco looked like himself, but he wasn’t him. Franco says he’s still trying to get used to the idea himself. Elizabeth says they’re running out of time, and the boys have to make their Christmas lists. Franco says if they don’t, then Santa has to improvise, and it will be socks for everyone. Aiden says they got what they wanted, and Cameron tells Franco, that means him coming home. The day is perfect, except for one little thing. He couldn’t get out of community service tonight.

Mike asks Marcus where Yvonne is, and Marcus says, she’s still in the hospital. Mike asks if he can visit, but Marcus says, she can’t see anyone right now and promises to bring her back soon. Mike asks him to tell Yvonne that he loves her, and Marcus says he will. Marcus leaves, and Mike asks Sonny to take him to the hospital. Sonny doesn’t think the doctors would like that, but Yvonne would love to hear about the Christmas festivities there. He suggests Mike rest up so he can sing carols later. Mike says, that would be good to get into the spirit of the holidays.

Cameron comes downstairs in a suit and tie. Elizabeth likes it, and says she could get used to it. Cameron says he’s only wearing it because of community service. Franco says he’s filled with the holiday spirit, and Elizabeth takes a picture of Cameron. Cameron is like, thanks a lot. Franco tells Elizabeth that he’ll see his father tomorrow. Cameron takes a picture of them kissing, and Franco thinks they should put the top on their Tannenbaum.

Gladys tells Mike, she’s sorry they didn’t make it to the track. Mike says, in this cold? Is she crazy? She tells Sonny that she didn’t know how bad Mike was, and he says she should have called him. She says it’s good for her to get out. Dot just died a few weeks ago. Sonny says he’s sorry, and she says, ever since Brando died, she celebrated Christmas with Dot and her family, but they’re not up to it this year. What’s the big deal? It’s just a holiday. Mike says, no one should be alone on Christmas, and asks if Sonny isn’t going to invite her. Gladys says, it’s all right, but Mike says, for him? Sonny asks if she wants to come over.

Michael tells Brad, if he needs anything, give him a call. Willow says, either one of them, and Michael says, they’ll do in a pinch. They adore Wiley. Willow tells Wiley, merry Christmas, and says they’re here if Brad needs anything.

Finn asks Anna how he’s supposed to explain Hayden’s absence when he doesn’t understand it himself? Anna says he needs to assure Violet that he loves her, and he’s not going anywhere. He says, that part is absolutely true. Anna says he’s luckier than he knows. He can be honest with Violet. Their situations aren’t remotely the same. Finn says the difference is, him telling the truth saves Violet from feeling abandoned. Anna telling the truth might save lives. Anna asks him to give her a day or so to think it through. He says he would if he thought that’s what she was really going to do. Is she thinking, or holding onto information? She says he sounds like Robert. It’s her son. What is she supposed to do? Just turn him in? Finn says she has evidence that suggests he shot a hitman he might have hired. She can’t keep it to herself. Anna says she thought he was on her side when comes to Peter, and he says he’s always on her side. She says, okay, and he asks what she’s going to do.

Maxie tells Peter that Brook is a troublemaker from way back. She tried to break up Lulu and Dante. It didn’t work, but she never apologized. Peter says it doesn’t sound like Maxie is letting bygones be bygones, and she says, Brook isn’t really sorry. If she was, it might take Maxie a while to forgive her, but look at them. When she forgives, she forgives all the way. They kiss.

Tracy brings her suitcase into the Quartermain mansion. She looks around, and says, you didn’t… You couldn’t… No, no, no. She calls out for Ned, Olivia, and Monica. Brook comes downstairs and asks, what’s the racket? Is something on fire? Tracy says, Brooklyn? Brook says, granny, and Tracy says, call her Tracy. What happened to this house? Brook says, it’s great, isn’t it? but by the look on her face, I don’t think Tracy agrees.

Tomorrow, Trina asks if Josslyn is going to make Dev’s Christmas wish come true, Jason says everything he’s doing is for the kids, Gladys tells Carly that Sonny invited her for Christmas, and Sam tells Nelle to shut her mouth before Sam does it for her.

The Real Housewives of Orange County – The Reunion: Part Three

Sorry. I missed Part Two. It was on Christmas Eve, so no. Although I doubt I missed anything really, since it’s all flashbacks, and rehashing of old arguments. Here are the highlights.

Vicki got all over Braunwyn for being nakey… with Tamra. After Vicki insisted that somehow Braunwyn ruined the show (i.e. took her place), Andy informed her that nothing had changed on the show. Vicki announced she’s a grandmother now, and wanted to be respected, but I think that ship sailed a long time ago. Andy was happy to prove that point by showing us flashbacks of Vicki, including her involvement in getting Gretchen naked wasted. Everyone else thought this was a laugh riot. For once, Tamra made sense, saying she didn’t think any of them were on the show to be role models. When it was time for Vicki to make her exist, she kvetched all the way back to the dressing room, and beyond. She said she didn’t think she was just a friend, stated several times that she hated Braunwyn, and told the camera man to eff off. The funniest thing was, it never seemed like her role on the show had changed any, and I’m guessing her paycheck just got smaller.

Threesomes and rumors about Kelly were discussed, as well as Kelly’s relationship with Brian, which is no more, and her new engagement. Shane joined the ladies for a while, and I had to laugh when Andy asked how it felt to be a hated househusband, and he said at least he’d accomplished something. Gina talked about Matt getting hauled in for domestic abuse, and IMO, it sounded like she was making excuses for him. He apologized and sent her flowers. Get rid of him.

At the end, Andy asked what each of the women wanted to let go from their lives, and what they wanted to bring in. Kelly wanted to let go of negativity, and bring in Rick Leventhal, her new fiancé. After only three months. Emily wanted to let go of the hurt and the things she’s felt toward Gina, and let in a new beginning for them. Gina told Emily that she felt the same way, and loved her. Braunwyn said she was letting go of always caring what everyone thinks, and trying to please everyone. She was letting in badass Braunwyn. Gina thought she’d let go of a lot already, but was adding risky beauty choices. She would continue to welcome in a new positive brave future. Whatever that means. Tamra claimed she was going to let go of loose lips – highly doubtful – and bring in health and wellness for her family. I’m not sure what that means either. Does she have a new product line coming out? Shannon decided to let go of her past, and let in continued happiness and growth for her family and the new person in her life. Andy said it was all awesome, and the reunion had been fairly therapeutic.

He told the women that he thought they’d toast with wheatgrass. The reaction was swift and negative, and then he added they brought in tequila instead. Braunwyn toasted to sisterhood, and Tamra said, to season 14. May they never relive it.

🎄 A Soapy Christmas…

Spend the holidays in Soapland.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc-daytime-soap-family-holidays-146865?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8097&recip_id=5057&list_id=9

🎭 Breaking Scrooge’s Fourth Wall…

It looks like they had a blast. I’ll bet they were all excited, like how you feel before performing in your high school play.

https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-christmas-carol-behind-the-scenes-174293?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8097

⛅ At Least His Name’s Not Joe…

Good for her. She’s got a life to live too.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1105238/teresa-giudice-looks-cozy-with-ex-tony-after-joe-giudice-split?source=email&medium=emn-content-1&cmpid=evening&content=emn-news

https://extratv.com/2019/12/26/rekindled-romance-teresa-giudice-celebrates-christmas-eve-with-ex-bf/?adid=extra_eme_27324_2019-12-26_rightnow2

🙇 What Is Real Really…?

A few moments that reality TV had.

https://www.eonline.com/shows/daily_pop/videos/300072/3-most-unreal-reality-tv-moments-of-2019?source=email&medium=emn-content-5&cmpid=evening&content=emn-video

🏃 Gangnam Style This…

Lots of fun stuff on this list.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1103804/the-best-social-media-moments-of-the-decade?source=email&medium=emn-content-5&cmpid=morning-a&content=emn-news#photo-1056560

😥 To All the Stars We’ve Loved Before…

Roll calls of the dead. I always think, poor Ric Ocasek got lost in the shuffle.

https://pagesix.com/video/in-memoriam-all-the-celebrities-we-lost-this-year/

https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2019/12/16/celebrity-deaths-of-2019-all-of-the-stars-who-died-this-year/23879780/

🎉 Switching Holiday Gears…

Hoping your Christmas was merry and bright, and Santa brought you everything you wanted. Moving on to 2020. It seems like only yesterday, everyone was talking about Y2K and planes falling out of the air.

Dec24

December 23, 2019 – Finn Becomes Scrooge, Vegas Meets Spring Break, Upcoming, OC Rehashing, Tinsley Opts Out, Wasted Trips, Cynthia Shares, Non-News, Real News & Christmas Wish

Posted on December 24, 2019 by theresakp

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Monica reads to the kids in the hospital, finishing The Night Before Christmas. Finn tells Anna that he doesn’t want to get stuck on the road, but Anna says, the party isn’t over. She’d like to say hello to some of their friends, and spend time with Maxie and Peter. Violet is also enjoying herself. Violet runs up and says she’s loving this party, and asks if she can play with her friends. Finn tells her to stay where he can see her. Chase comes by, and tells Finn, it’s once a year. Can’t he get into the spirit?

Tracy (yay!) says they’ve made their contribution, and Monica has read the story. It’s time to eat turkey and open presents. Monica says it’s about Edward and Lila’s legacy. Maxie tells Peter that James loved the story, but he’s getting tired, and they still have to go to grandma and grandpa’s.

Anna tells Finn that Violet is happy playing with the children, and Felicia’s party is still going on. Finn thinks the party will be a distraction. He’s all for good will and cheer, but not for shrugging off telling kids the lie about a chubby stranger coming down the chimney to give them presents. Anna hopes he didn’t tell that to Violet, and suddenly Violet is there. Anna tells her that Finn is in poor spirits, since he got coal in his stocking last year because he was naughty. She takes Violet with her, and Robert says Finn is a real Scrooge, hooking a candy cane on Finn’s pocket and walking on.

Curtis announces that the storm has taken a turn for the worse. The roads are closed, except for emergency vehicles. Tracy wonders if they can hijack a snowplow. Monica says there are plenty of activities, and treats, and tells the kids to have fun. She gathers them for another story. Anna tells Finn that she hopes Violet didn’t hear what he said. She took the precaution of reinforcing that Santa only comes to children who believe in him and love him, but Finn has to open his heart to the Christmas season.

Michael tells Monica that he found a classic. Monica takes the book from him, and says, A Christmas Carol. Some of it is a little scary. Are the kids okay with that? They all yell, yeah, and she begins to read. Marley was dead to begin with. There was no doubt whatsoever about that.

A clock strikes midnight. Finn as Scrooge sits up.

Monica reads, Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Anna asks Finn if it sounds familiar, and he says, subtle. He gets it. He’s not brimming with Christmas cheer. Tracy says he’s a man after her own heart. He says that’s why she’s his favorite patient, and they hug. He asks what brings her back to town? and she asks if it can’t just be family. Anna says, see? She’s not all bad, but Tracy says, the true meaning of Christmas is long gone. It’s turned into a retail bonanza. Anna tells them that they deserve each other. Finn says they could do worse. Tracy asks, which one is his? and he points out Violet. She says Violet is beautiful, like her mother, and Finn says, she is.

Monica continues to read how Scrooge liked to edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call “nuts” to Scrooge. liked to edge his way along the path of life. Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house…

Scrooge hands Bob Cratchit (Franco) some paperwork. Scrooge’s nephew Fred (Peter) comes in, and tells Scrooge, merry Christmas. Scrooge says, humbug, and Fred says he doesn’t mean that. Scrooge says, he does. What reason does Fred have to be merry? Fred asks him to dine with them tomorrow, and Scrooge says, ugh. Fred asks, why? and Scrooge asks why he got married. Fred says he fell in love. Scrooge makes fun of him, and says, good day. Fred is sorry Scrooge is so resolute, but he’s going to keep his Christmas cheer to the last. Merry Christmas and happy New Year. He tells Cratchit, Merry Christmas, and Cratchit returns the sentiment. Fred leaves, and Scrooge tells Cratchit, another sound from him, and he’ll celebrate by losing his situation.

A man asking for a charitable contribution (Curtis) comes by the office. He tells Scrooge, At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts. Scrooge asks if there are no prisons, and if the work houses are still in order. The man says they are; he wishes he could say they were not. Scrooge is happy to hear it. He supports those establishments, and they cost more than enough. The man says, many can’t go there, and many would rather die. Scrooge says, if they would rather die, than they’d better do it, and decrease the surplus population. He bids the man good day. The clock strikes, and Scrooge says the man wasted what was left of the workday. It’s time to close. He supposes Cratchit is hoping for tomorrow off. Cratchit says, it is customary, and Scrooge says he supposes Cratchit will want the whole day, but be here all the earlier the following morning. Cratchit thanks him, and tells him, merry Christmas.

Scrooge heads home. A couple of children ask for a penny, but he tells them, to the poorhouse with you. Go! At home, Scrooge has a dinner of what looks like wine and ribs, not the usual Dickens fare. His housekeeper Mrs. Dilber (Monica) says he’s eating in bed again. Perhaps the house is too big and empty for him. He tells her, that will be all, and she takes his tray.

The clock strikes midnight. Scrooge wakes. Marley’s ghost (Tracy) floats through the door and glides in. Scrooge quakes, pulling up the covers

At the hospital, Anna asks Chase if Finn has always been wound up so tight. He had a family, and she wonders what’s to blame for his lack of Christmas cheer. Chase says their father went overboard. They had actual sleigh bells that chimed throughout the season. She says, that might be it, and Finn says, you think? Violet finds Finn, and says, the story is getting scary. She asks if he’ll sit with her, and they go back together. Monica reads that Scrooge fought against his senses.

Scrooge asks who the ghost is, and the ghost tells Scrooge to ask who he was. In life, the ghost was his partner in business, Marley. Scrooge doesn’t believe it, thinking it’s just a dream brought on by indigestion. Marley tells him, hear me. His time is nearly gone. Marley explains that he wore the chain he forged in life, link by link and yard by yard, having made it of his own free will. He’s there to warn Scrooge; Scrooge has yet a chance and hope of escaping the same fate. Scrooge asks, how? and Marley says he will be visited by three spirits, each arriving at the stroke of midnight. Without them, he has no hope of escaping the same fate. Marley starts to fade, and Scrooge calls for him to come back, as he fades away. Scrooge wakes up, and laughs, saying, it was just a dream.

The clock strikes midnight, and The Ghost of Christmas Past (Josslyn) arrives. He asks if she’s the spirit whose coming was foretold to him, and she says she is. He asks who or what she is, and she explains she’s the Ghost of Christmas Past. He says, long past? and she says, no. Your past. She tells him to rise and walk with her. He puts on his robe, and she tells him to take her hand. Reluctantly, he does.

The ghost and Scrooge appear at an outdoor party in the park. Fezziwig (Ned) tells everyone a holiday party couldn’t be more welcome. He tells them to eat, drink, and be merry. Scrooge says, it’s old Fezziwig alive again. He was Fezziwig’s apprentice; Fezziwig taught him everything. Young Scrooge (Chase) is approached by another man (Michael), and Scrooge says, it’s him with Dick Wilkins. They were in business together. Fezziwig says, no more work tonight. It’s Christmas Eve. Time to enjoy themselves. Wilkins asks young Scrooge, what’s wrong? and young Scrooge says he has no interest in a celebration. Wilkins tells him to suit himself. Scrooge tells the ghost that Fezziwig threw the grandest parties. The ghost says, a small matter, to make these silly folks so full of gratitude. He’s merely spent a few pounds of their mortal money. Is that so much that he deserves praise? Scrooge says, it’s not about money. He has the power to render them happy or unhappy; to make their service light or burdensome. The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune. Belle (Willow) kisses young Scrooge’s cheek. Scrooge tells the ghost, it’s Belle, the love of his life

At GH, Violet asks Finn, what next? and he says they’ll find out together. Monica reads, he was not alone, but sat by the side of a fair young girl in a mourning-dress: in whose eyes there were tears, which sparkled in the light that shone out of the Ghost of Christmas Past.

The ghost says Scrooge and Belle were engaged. What happened? Belle asks if young Scrooge can’t stop working for one night and dance. He says, Christmas Eve is not a holiday in and of itself. Wilkins says Scrooge isn’t interested in having fun, since he’s just standing there. Can he steal Scrooge’s lady for a dance? Belle says she’d be delighted, and they dance. Young Scrooge starts to leave, and Fezziwig asks where he’s going. He says he has figures to review, but Fezziwig says, it can wait. Take a moment and enjoy life. Otherwise, it will pass by him. Young Scrooge leaves anyway.

Now in Scrooge’s office, Belle tells young Scrooge that he’ll never stop loving anything more than money. It’s not a marriage she wishes to be part of. He asks what she means, and she says she’s sorry, but she cannot marry him. She leaves, and Scrooge tells the ghost, show him no more. Let him home now. But the ghost says she has one more thing to show him.

An older Belle (Anna) and an older Dick Wilkins (Robert) are on a stroll. Scrooge says, Belle. Wilkins says he ran into an old friend; Scrooge. He went by the office. Belle says, he was working on Christmas? and Wilkins asks if it surprises her. She supposes not. She says, poor Scrooge. He’s all alone in the world. Scrooge tells the ghost, please take him back. She takes his hand, and they disappear. Scrooge wakes, and says, it was but a dream. The clock strikes, and he says, no. It can’t be twelve again. Surely the clock is broken. He hears laughter, and a voice says, hello, Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas Present (Obrecht), reclines on his couch. She says, just in time. Look upon me.

Reading to the children, Monica says, I am the Ghost of Christmas Present, said the Spirit. Look upon me! Scrooge reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur.

Scrooge says, I learnt a lesson which is working now. To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it. The ghost tells him to touch her gown, and when he does, they disappear. Scrooge asks where they are, and she says, it’s Christmas day, this very year. Doesn’t he recognize his own nephew’s home? He says he’s never been there. Fred and his wife Clara (Maxie) are entertaining the charity man and his wife (Jordan). Fred tells them, then his uncle called Christmas a humbug. They laugh, and the man says he’ll spare them what Scrooge said when he asked him to give. His wife says Scrooge is rich, but it does him little good, and the man suggests they don’t bother with Scrooge anymore, and carry on with the game. Fred does a pantomime, and the man’s wife says, an animal. Fred says she’s correct. The man asks if he roams the streets, and Fred says he does. The man asks if he travels alone or in a pack, and Clara says, Scrooge! Fred says, right you are, and they toast to Scrooge. The ghost holds out her arm, and Scrooge touches her robe.

Scrooge and the ghost look into a window. The Cratchit’s eldest son, Peter (Cameron) tells his mother (Elizabeth), Tiny Tim (Aiden) sang the sweetest of all. Cratchit says she should have been there, but Emily wonders who would cook dinner then. Scrooge says he knows these people. It’s Bob Cratchit’s house. They look so happy with so little. Cratchit toasts to Scrooge, the founder of their feast. Emily says, Scrooge is a hard, silly man, and Cratchit says, it’s Christmas day. She says she’ll drink for the sake of her husband and the day, but not for Scrooge. They toast, and Cratchit suggests they say grace. Merry Christmas and may God bless them. Tiny Tim says, God bless us, every one, and starts to cough. The ghost turns away, and Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live. She says she sees a vacant seat at the chimney corner, and a crutch without an owner. Scrooge says, tell him Tiny Tim is not going to die, but she says, if these shadows remain unaltered by the future, he will die, but if he has to die, he’d better do it, and decrease the surplus population. She holds out her arm.

Back at his house, Scrooge asks if the ghost is okay, and she says she exists only for a brief time. The present is waiting. He’d do well to remember that. She fades away leaving only her holly crown. The clock strikes midnight again, and Scrooge holds his head. The wind blows through the house, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come stands before him.

In the real world, Monica says, for in the very air through which this Spirit moved, it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. Ned asks if it’s not too scary, but Anna says, they’re loving it. Monica continues, it was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. But for this it would have been difficult to detach its figure from the night, and separate it from the darkness by which it was surrounded.

The ghost reveals its face, and it’s Ava. Scrooge asks if she’s the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, and she nods. He says she is about to show him shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us. He fears her more than all the others, but knows her purpose is to go him good, and he’s prepared. He goes with her.

They appear in a graveyard. Fred says he doesn’t know what he expected, and Clara says, the people who showed up, did so for a free lunch. He says, some might yet arrive, but she says, he was a miser, poor soul. Good riddance. Fred repeats, good riddance, and they leave. Scrooge wonders why they’d says such a thing, and the ghost pounds the ground with her cycle. Mrs. Dilber and another servant (Brook) go through some belongings. The servant says, if wanted to keep them after he was dead, he would have been more natural in life. He would have had someone there instead of gasping his last alone by himself. Scrooge says he sees the case of this unhappy man might be his own cycle.

At the Cratchit’s house, Peter says, cheer up mother. The man to whom they were in debt to has passed. He saw the man’s servants gathering his possessions. It will give them time to get back on their feet. It’s the one piece of good news they’ve had this Christmas season. Cratchit comes in, and Emily asks where he was. He says he was at Tiny Tim’s grave. He wanted to make sure to wish him a merry Christmas. He holds his wife, and his son comes along the other side. Scrooge sees the crutch next to the fireplace, and says, no. It can’t be. Tiny Tim dead? Surely the future can be changed; can it not? The ghost looks at him, and turns away.

Scrooge and the spirit stand in the graveyard once more. Scrooge asks why bring him back to show him this man’s grave again? The ghost points, and he sees his own grave stone.

Scrooge says the spirit’s nature has interceded for him, and taken pity on him. Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life. The ghost walks toward him, and he falls into the grave.

Mrs. Dilber draws back the drapes, and Scrooge asks, what day is it? She says, Christmas day, sir. He asks her to say it again, and she does. He says he hasn’t missed it. The spirits did it all in one night. Surprising the hell out of her, he kisses her, and runs out. Outside, he sees the same kids who asked him for a penny. He says, sweet children, do you know the poulter on the next corner; the one with the prize turkey in the window? Buy it. He gives them each a crown, and tells them, run like the wind.

His next stop is Fred’s house. He bursts in, and says, merry Christmas to his nephew, his nephew’s wife, and guests. Clara says they weren’t expecting him, but he says he can’t stay. However, he would be remiss not to wish them a merry Christmas. It’s high time they settle the question of Fred’s inheritance. He’s family, and should be regarded as such by the court. He asks Fred to pardon his previous unkindness, and to stop by after the holidays. They’ll make arrangements. He says he must go, and jets. They’re all like, wha-a-at?

Scrooge goes to the Cratchit house, and Peter answers the door. Scrooge gives him the turkey, and tells him to take it to the kitchen. He asks Cratchit to accept it as a sincere apology. It’s come to his attention that Cratchit is long overdue for a significant raise, and his salary is going to be doubled. He doesn’t want to keep them from their Christmas feast, and says he doesn’t expect to see Cratchit in the office until after the New Year. Tiny Tim says he doesn’t have to leave. They’d be honored if he joined them. Scrooge says he’d like that very much.

They hold hands around the table, and Tiny Tim says, God bless us every one.

Monica reads, Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One! Everyone applauds.

Curtis tells everyone, the roads are cleared. They’re good to go. Brook bets Tracy can’t wait to get back to her house, and away from the riff-raff. Tracy says she thinks she’ll stay and help out. Ned shrugs at Michael and Brook, and follows her. Anna tells Finn, it worked out. They’ll be on their way soon. Finn suggests they go by Felicia’s Christmas party, and Anna asks, why the change of heart? He says it’s the first time he’s experienced Christmas as a father, and for a moment, he saw it through Violet’s eyes. Violet tells Finn, it was the best story ever. He says he thought so. And it was a nice reminder that Christmas isn’t just about the presents. It teaches us to love, be charitable, share the joy, and all that good stuff. Anna thinks it’s not a bad idea to keep it in their hearts all year.

Violet says, God bless us, every one. Snow falls, and the camera pans out to show the scene is inside a snow globe.

On Christmas Eve, there will be a repeat encore episode, GH is preempted on Christmas for football, and on Thursday, Nelle asks to hold Wiley, and Mike says someone took his wife.

Below Deck

Smoke inundates the galley. In her interview, Kate knows it’s not Kevin’s fault the exhaust fan is broken, but why is he using the grill? If she didn’t have a blender, she wouldn’t push margaritas. She tells Courtney, some of the signs of the apocalypse are smoke, children, in-laws, and diarrhea. The deckhands bring in the water toys. In Ashton’s interview, he compares Rhylee’s knots to a child learning to tie their shoe laces for the first time. The way she’s doing it is dangerous and frustrating. He needs everyone to rush and get everything done, and they’re wasting time trying to untie her knots. Kevin prepares lunch, and Kate asks for all available deck crew. Kevin thinks the grandparents will be happy with his Greek style lunch. As lunch is served, Albert says there must be two of Kevin. There’s no way one person cranked all this out. Everyone is happy. Kate says it’s the first time family style has worked out.

Captain Lee calls engineer Darrian to the bridge – a rarity! Darrian says the exhaust fan is a mystery, and the captain says, the hits just keep coming. Still at lunch, Albert says they nailed it, except for the beach excursion. Scott – who seems to be the whiner of the group – says he’s not sure it was really treacherous, and thinks they would have been fine. Because he’s a boat captain? An engineer? A map reader? He’s an asshat for sure. In Brian’s interview, he says he always has fun with Courtney until someone else arrives. Then she puts her guard up. He likes her, and wants to spend more time with her.

Master Pearson is hesitant about the slide, and Rhylee says, you know what they say about the slide?. When in Thailand… I don’t think anyone says that, but it works, and Pearson goes down the slide, giving his dad a high-five afterward. Captain Lee tells Kate that the ride back for the grandparents is going to be there in fifteen minutes. Kate says it’s a genius way to deal with the in-laws; just have them for lunch. Kate tells him the primary wants him to join them for dinner; it’s a roaring 20s theme. The captain asks if there’s going to be bathtub gin. The boat comes, and the grandparents leave. Ashton doesn’t want Rhylee doing anything, and she says, nice team work. He tells her to take a break.

The captain puts on his tux, admiring his reflection, and saying, looking GQ. In his interview, he says, when things don’t go as planned, they have to pull out all the stops. Tonight, he’s going to dress up, and help get the guests in a good mood. A gentleman doesn’t leave home without his tux. It’s just good taste. The guests get ready for dinner. Kate says the deckhands are going to hate them, since there will be feathers everywhere. In Kate’s interview, she says she used to love theme parties, and was good at costume parties in her 20s. Darrian gets the fan going, and creates a record of us seeing an off camera crew member twice in one show. Kate says she loves him, calling him a superhero and a legend.

Captain Lee joins the guests, telling them it’s his best Titanic Halloween costume. Kevin is making steak and broccoli soup, with crème brulee for dessert. He says the guests haven’t had the best experience, so he’s knocking it out of the park. Pearson says the soup is laaaaame. Kate tells Kevin the three words she heard were delicious, wonderful, and really good, which is really four words. Ashton radios Rhylee to meet him and Tanner on the bow. He gives them lines, and asks them to practice the bowline knot. In Ashton’s interview, he says it’s a knot that’s easily loosened. Even if they only gain an extra five seconds, he knows from personal experience that five seconds can cost a lot. Ashton says Rhylee seems to have an issue, and she says it’s not something she’s used a lot. She doesn’t know what to say, Ashton says the less she says, the better. In this situation, he’s her superior. Geez. While I can understand that Rhylee should learn the way things are done on that particular boat, that was a little aggressive. In Rhylee’s interview, she says Ashton doesn’t respect her as a co-worker or a person. Ashton tells her not to come there with her attitude again. Rhylee says she’ll just keep taking his. They’re her issue now.

Kevin sings that his steak is the best steak in world. Albert thanks Captain Lee for bringing out all the water toys, and the captain asks if Pearson wore the slide out. Pearson says he did. Aston says he’s watched Tanner struggle with knots, and Rhylee needs to learn. Tanner ties one satisfactorily, and Ashton says Rhylee takes everything he asks as a personal attack. Elsewhere, Rhylee says she’ll stick to polishing. In her interview, she says, it’s not the only kind of knot. Ashton is being a classic child, and she thinks it’s BS. It’s not fair to her. She helps serve dinner. Pearson whines, and mom Torrie thinks it’s bedtime. She tells Pearson that he’s making a scene. Kate tells Kevin, Master Pearson is having a tantrum. Torrie comes into the galley, and tells them no dessert for Pearson since he’s not behaving. She tells Pearson, next time, listen to mommy, and takes him off to bed. Kevin gives Kate some crème brulee, which she appreciates. The captain tells the guests that he has to finish some work, and they thank him for joining them. Ashton tells Kate that Rhylee is up if she’s needed. Kate goes to bed, and Simone tells Courtney that Tanner keeps coming to her, saying he just wants to make sure they’re one the same page, and that it’s casual. It’s making her uncomfortable. Courtney says, it’s awkward, and Simone says she’s not acting like she’s in love. That’s not the case.

Rhylee tells Kate that she’s tired of Ashton acting like she’s not there or does poorly. Kate says, as long as things are safe. In Kate’s interview, she says she commiserates. Ashton isn’t easy to deal with, but at the same time, Rhylee has to learn to take direction. She doesn’t feel like she’s dealing with mature individuals. She tells Rhylee that Ashton is an a-hole.

Final day of charter. Tanner tells Brian about Ashton taking a power stance with Rhylee. You don’t talk to your superior that way. Brian is glad Ashton is finally standing up. It gets hectic. Tanner says, Rhylee is never wrong, and Brian says, you should just do your job. Tanner says, it’s all you can do. The guests are up, and coffee is made. Albert is surprised that Kate remembered he likes honey. Kevin asks Tanner, what’s going on? and Tanner says he was telling Simone about keeping it casual. In her interview, Kate says Tanner wants it done, but this must be his first boatmance. Boatmances don’t end. You have to ship out

Ashton tells Brian that Tanner filled him in on their conversation about Rhylee. Brian says he’s just putting it out there, but he’s in for the last two charters. In Ashton’s interview, he says he thought maybe it was just him, but if another crew member is saying the same thing, it’s probably not going to change.

Kevin makes pancakes, and tells them, rise, baby, rise. He checks out how the guests are doing, and Albert says, the experience has been great. The captain calls Kate to the wheelhouse. He explains that a tender is going to pick up the guests, since they have to take on fuel from a barge. He says he’ll knock out the tip meeting while they’re fueling, then tie up, and knock over their flip. In his interview, he says every country has different rules and regulations. Instead of going straight to the dock, they have to tie to a barge for fuel. Kate tells Albert that they’ll be departing on the tender.

Brian asks Courtney if she wants to go for a drink before the crew goes out, and she says okay. It’s time for the crew to change into their whites, and Captain Lee calls everyone to the aft deck, where there are hugs and goodbyes. Pearson says his favorite part was the slide. Albert says, it was a wonderful vacation, and Kevin knocked it out of the park. Torrie says they were great with the kids. Her only bummer was that they couldn’t go to the beach. Other than that, they had a great time, and they were happy they were able to come. She’s an idiot. Pearson wants to be a captain when he grows up.

The crew gets excited about a dog riding on the fuel barge. The captain calls the crew to the crew mess. He says he thought it went well. The interior was great, and the guests were happy, and Kevin nailed it. The tip is $16,500; $1500 and change each. In her interview, Kate says it’s not the tip she was expecting or hoping for. There were children and several itinerary requests. She admits there was a day filled with smoke, and Ashton canceled the beach party. They were probably docked a grand for that. They’re living and working together, and being stressed out for one reason; to make as much money as possible. She’s tired of doing all the work there. The captain says they’re heading to the dock, where they’re going to get as much done as they can. The boat docks.

Brian asks if Ashton minds if he leaves early to take Courtney for a drink. Courtney tells Kate that she’s grumpy because she has to leave at 5. In her interview, she says she needs at least two business days’ notice for a date, but she likes Brian, so she’ll suck it up and go. She complains that she has nothing to wear, and Kate says she’s never seen this side of Courtney. Tanner says he’s going to have a heat stroke. Tanner wants to go out, but he’s afraid if he talks to another girl, he’ll be hearing about how Simone is jealous. I’m like, wtf? She just said she wanted him to be respectful. I don’t think she was jealous at all. Ashton calls his mom, and says it’s different being in the leadership role. She’s just glad he had no accidents. In Ashton’s interview, he says he’s had issues in the past with his parents. They divorced when he was five years old, but in the last few years, they’ve become extremely close. His mom asks if the other lady is okay, and he says, Kate is Kate. You never know what you’re going to get. She tells him to laugh or make a joke. In his interview, he says it was hard to let his mom know when he went into yachting. He knew she’d be sad not to see him. It effects all of them in that way; they’re not with their families as much as they want to be.

In her interview, Courtney says she’s anxious. She hasn’t been on that many dates, and dates are weird. You want to be emotionally prepared. Emotionally prepared? What kind of dates has she been on? Tanner asks Simone if she wants to have a drink on the sundeck, and Courtney and Brian leave. At the restaurant, they sit outside, and Brian asks if Courtney wants champagne. She says she doesn’t think it exists in Thailand. She tells him that she’s super grumpy, and he says he’s trying to cheer her up. In Brian’s interview, he says, Courtney is hard to please, but hopefully, she’ll come around eventually. He wishes he had a puppy. He suggests he and Courtney have a drink, go back to the boat and relax, and have a good time tonight.

Tanner says Simone kept asking about them, and he wants to be honest. He wonders if they’re on different mindwaves, but Simone thinks they’re on the same one. He says they have two weeks left, and it would be unfair of him to lead her on. He doesn’t want to be an a-hole. She says when he said he just wanted to have fun, she knew what he was saying. He says he doesn’t want to hurt her, and she laughs. He says she’s a cool chick, and in her interview, she says, what the hell? He’s the definition of a f***boy. She’ll just smile and leave. She tells him that she appreciates it, and thinks he’s great. They’re good.

Courtney tells Brian she’s slowly getting lower in her chair. She doesn’t really want to go out tonight either. In Brian’s interview, he says, it’s disappointing. All the time and effort he put into arranging the date, and it feels like he’s taking her to the dentist. It was supposed to be fun. She should have just said she didn’t want to go. They go back to the boat, and Courtney says, tonight is going to seriously suck. I think Courtney seriously sucks. She’s acting like a brat.

The crew gets ready go out. In Simone’s interview, she says she’s not that girl who wants to make a guy upset by looking good, but she does want to try to punish Tanner a little. When she looks sufficiently hot, they leave for shore. Ashton says, Smashton is coming out, and tells Brian that Courtney is a keeper. Kate asks if Courtney is playing it aloof. Courtney says she’s not. She just doesn’t know him well. She’s never going to either, if she keeps behaving the way she is.

Bangla Road, Phuket. It’s like some kind of circus. Almost like the end of the original mini-series of The Stand when they’re in Vegas. Ashton says, this place is alive. In Kate’s interview, she says, Bangla Road is the most wild place on the planet. It’s like Vegas meets spring break. You can see a ping pong show, get a piercing, a tattoo, and an STD all at the same time. Where else is there a Starbuck’s next to a donkey show? They go to a club, where they get bottle service. No surprise, Courtney doesn’t want to be there. Ashton yells at Courtney to wake up. She tells Brian that she feels sweating and gross, but he says she looks amazing and wonderful. In Courtney’s interview, she says she wants to go, but the thought of being alone in a taxi in Thailand for an hour is unbearable. The club might be scary, but outside, it might be scarier. Brian says, Smashton is out of his cage. In Ashton’s interview, he says, it’s been a hard few days’ work, and this is the perfect playground for Smashton. He can feel Smashton wanting to come out and have fun. Kate asks Tanner about his talk with Simone, and he says, she was cool about it. Kate says, Simone is the hottest girl on the dance floor; she’s looking good. Tanner says he’s always wanted to hook up with Kate, and she says he’s twenty-five; he’s a kid. She tells him, calm down. He says, this is his song, and goes out on the dance floor. He ends up dancing, along with Smashton, on some kind of stage thing. Courtney looks sick. Kate tries get her up, but she won’t budge. Courtney and Brian leave, and Courtney gives him a kiss in the taxi. Rhylee and Simone get in with them, and the others get in another one.

Ashton kisses Kate, who wipes her mouth. In her interview, she says she hasn’t given any signs that she would want this opportunity. She doesn’t care how drunk she is – even blackout drunk – she doesn’t make out with someone accidentally twice. She moves to the back seat next to Tanner. Ashton keeps trying to reach back and touch her, and she tells him to stop. He says if she gets drunk, maybe she’ll get lucky, and she says she’s never been that drunk, and he’ll never get that lucky. In the other taxi, Brian gives Rhylee and Simone roses out of a bouquet he bought, and gives the rest to Courtney. Courtney says he’s cute.

Ashton says Tanner’s mom is cool, and Kate asks what’s going on with Ashton’s mom. For whatever drunk reason, Ashton takes offense to this, and says, that was a weak blow. She says they were just talking about Tanner’s mom, and she asked how his mom is. He asks if she thinks she’s a better person for calling his mom out, He turns around in his seat, and tells her to get TF over herself. He tells Kevin, that’s his family, and Kevin tells him, it’s all right. Kevin wisely asks the driver to pull the van over. Ashton gets stupid, and Kevin tells him, calm down. Ashton punches the car door. Seriously, wtf?

Kevin tells Ashton, calm down, bro. Ashton says she has no right to bring his family into it. What gives her the right? In her interview, Kate says, this is not okay. It’s like Ashton morphed into the Incredible Hulk, but it’s not incredible being stuck in a small space with him, and being the target of his anger. Brian kisses Courtney, and Rhylee and Simone tell each other how beautiful they are, and talk about how much fun they had dancing. Tanner tells Ashton, they’re heading back; let’s chill. It doesn’t matter. Ashton quiets down, and Tanner leans back in his seat. Kate says he did very good, and she gives him a peck. He clearly wants more, and knocks over a bunch of beer cans, saying, Jiminy Cricket.

Brian tells Courtney that she looks beautiful, and she thanks him. Tanner says he’s effed up. Kate wonders where Rhylee is. When she finds Rhylee, she says, Ashton is a psycho. He showed it. Ashton and Tanner go to the galley. They make toasties and get the galley full of smoke. Kate says smoke is the least of her concerns. She’s concerned about Ashton’s behavior. Simone asks Courtney if she wants to eavesdrop. Ashton says, it’s his crew, and he’ll manage them as he sees fit. He’ll tell her when he needs advice. She says she didn’t know making fun of Tanner’s mother was a management issue. He says she needs to be put in her place. She’s disrespected his deck crew. Kate says they were talking about Tanner’s mother, and she complimented Ashton’s mother. Ashton says Kate knows less than she thinks. She thinks she knows everything, and he’s sick of her and her attitude. She thinks she’s better than the rest of the crew. He asks Tanner what he thinks, and Tanner says Kate gets away with more than other people do. Ashton is like, ah-ha! and says Tanner is supporting his viewpoint, although not quite. Courtney tells Simone, this is going to be awkward tomorrow. Kate says they can find another chief stew. She quits.

Rhylee follows Kate to her bunk, Ashton says, Kate attacked his family, and he got emotional. Where is he even getting this? Kate says she’d like to gracefully get off the boat. Rhylee says, right now? and Kate says she can’t stay in this environment. Rhylee gets that, and Kate says, then don’t argue with her. She has enough money; she can get a hotel room and a plane ticket. She wants to gather her things, and looks for her phone and passport. She tells the cameraman to tell his friends in the control room that she’d like to go. They can figure it out. Just get her off this boat.

Next time, Rhylee asks if Kate wants to talk to Captain Lee, a producer asks where Kate is going, and Kate says don’t follow her.

📺 Project Runway will be back on January 2^nd, 2020, at 9 pm, and Laverne Cox will be guest judge.. This Thursday, December 26^th, Part Three of The Real Housewives of Orange County: Reunion will air at 10 pm. The Real Housewives of New Jersey and The Real Housewives of Dallas will be back on January 1^st at 8 pm and 9 pm, respectively. Sure. I’ll be spending my holiday evening watching that. Like I’ll tear myself away from my personal annual Downton Abbey marathon. American Idol will premiere its new season on February 16^th, at 8 PM.

🍊 A real quickie on The Real Housewives of Orange County: Reunion, Part Two. If you think about it, they should really just call it what it is, a rehash. Not much happens, except a stroll down the show’s Memory Lane with tons of clips, and the women yelling at each other over issues they’ve finally managed to forget about. So basically, same sh*t, different day. Which was exactly what we saw tonight. One of my personal highlights was finding out that Braunwyn spends $4000 to $5000 a month on groceries. She said this included, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets, like it would make a huge difference at that price point. I also enjoyed the misuse of words, like when Tamra mistook free range for free reign. There was a big discussion on accountability, or as Housewives lingo would put it, owning it. Kelly and Vicki hugged it out, with Vicki saying she was over the pig thing, and Kelly sort of apologizing, but adding that she’d felt backed into a corner. We’ll see how long that lasts. The show ended with Vicki screeching at Braunwyn for her display of nakedness, yelling that they don’t do that on her show, and totally ignoring Kelly, who suggested she tell Tamra the same thing. Vicki also made sure that we again knew She. Started. The. Show. Next time, we can look forward to Vicki telling the show to eff off.

🗽 Now That She’s Free From Egg Pressure…

And she’ll never have to swing on a trapeze again either. At least not in public.

https://betches.com/why-tinsley-mortimer-has-stopped-filming-rhony/

✈ Who Could Forget…?

She cooked, she cleaned, she made it nice.

https://betches.com/ranking-the-10-most-iconic-real-housewives-trips/

🎄 Thanks For Sharing…

Cynthia proves she’s just like us.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1105161/real-housewives-cynthia-bailey-shares-her-go-to-holiday-recipe-and-traditions

🔜 Really a Whole Lot Of Nothing…

A feud possibly ends…

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/12/teresa-giudice-ends-feud-with-caroline-manzo-amid-joe-split/?utm_source=email&em_hash=72048a93bc8188334dc1071a32fe8f3b