Category Archives: million dollar listing

Sep12

September 11, 2024 – Molly Makes a Bad Choice, Back To School, Finale In LA, VanderTroth, Ring-a-Ding Gone, About Those Moonmen, Sad Remembrance, Vote For Sally Jo & Out

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Willow tells Elizabeth that she’s officially back at GH, and Elizabeth says she’s excited to have her best nurse back. She’ll feel better now that Willow is on Lulu’s rotation. Willow asks how Lulu is doing, but Elizabeth says, not well. But she’s hopeful it’s just a matter of time before Lucky comes home to save his sister.

Ava finds Trina at the gallery, and Trina asks how she is. Ava hasn’t returned her calls. She heard what John did. It must have been terrifying. Ava says, thank God for Jason. He saved her. Trina hugs her and says she’s happy Ava is safe. She doesn’t know what she’d do if anything happened to her.

Ric is working while having coffee at the MetroCourt, and Nina asks if he needs refill. Or can she tempt him with something stronger?

Anna goes into Isaiah’s room, and he asks if there’s any word on Lucky. She says, unfortunately not, but she has some questions she’d like to ask him. He says he’s told them everything, but she says she thinks there’s probably more than what he told them. What has he done to make someone want to kill him?

Jack tells Carly that they’ll inform him if the satellite finds anything on Lucky. For now, they wait, which allows them to enjoy this fine whiskey. He pours, and she says, he comes prepared. He says, always. He understands John Cates was murdered, and she’s not crying any tears over his untimely demise. She says, he made her life hell, and he says, with Cates gone, her life just got less complicated, but she says, yes and no. Her ex-husband is a person of interest in his murder.

Molly finds Alexis in the interrogation room and hugs her. Alexis says she didn’t want Molly to worry. Diane is taking care of it. It’s a misunderstanding, but none of this would have happened if Molly’s father hadn’t gone out of his way to make her look as suspicious as possible.

Ava says, at least she has an airtight alibi. It’s the only decent thing John did. She can’t believe she was so wrong. He got her to lie to the cops, saying Kristina attacked her, but afterward, he wanted her dead so she couldn’t recant. Trina says, she was brave to admit she was lying. It could be used against her in Avery’s custody case. Ava says she couldn’t let Kristina be prosecuted for the death of her baby. It was truly an accident. Trina says she hopes Ava fond a good lawyer, and Ava says, not yet, but Nina is working on it.

Ric says he’ll stick to coffee, and Nina sits down. He asks if she’d like to join him. He’s actually working. She says she’s here to discuss business – Ava – and he reminds her that he declined. She says she’s surprised, and he says, she’s accused of causing the death of his granddaughter. Why should he help her? Nina says, it was a tragic accident. And they both know he’d do anything for buck, even trick someone into marrying him.

Isaiah says he told Anna everything. He escaped and Sidwell tracked him. Anna asks if he has any other enemies, and he says, none that he knows of. She says, so dumb luck. He’s a doctor? He says he’s the best at what he does, and she says, there are a lot of great doctors out there, but Sidwell picked him to kidnap? He says, not greater than him, and she says, his God complex aside, why would Sidwell go to the trouble of sending someone after him to Port Charles? He says, she’ll have to ask him, and she says, maybe he saw something he shouldn’t have. He says, there were a lot of guys with guns, and she says, could anything else in his life have precipitated this attack? What was he doing before Sidwell kidnapped him?

Jack says he assumes Carly is talking about Sonny. The murder of a federal agent is a capital crime. He hopes Sonny has a good alibi. She says, ironclad. They were together, just the two of them. He knows how it is with exes. Sometimes you fall back into old habits. He says, so he’s heard. He only knows Sonny from his reputation. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but if she’s willing to reconnect with him, it speaks well of Sonny… and of her.

Molly asks if Alexis is blaming her dad, and Alexis says, he told the police she disposed of a possible murder weapon. Molly says, Elizabeth backed him up, but Alexis is sure Ric influenced her. He messed with her and the investigation, and now it will take more time for the police to find out who killed John Cates. Molly says she doesn’t think that wasn’t his intention. She knows Alexis would never kill someone. Alexis says she knows Molly loves her dad, but frankly dragging her into this investigation is beyond malicious. Molly says she’s not happy with him either, but they both know it’s Kristina’s fault she’s in this mess, not her dad’s.

Elizabeth says, it’s been 12 years since Lucky lived in Port Charles, and Willow says, it must be tough on her and Aiden. Elizabeth says, it’s not ideal, and Willow asks if she’s worried Lucky might not come back. Elizabeth says, Lucky loves his family, and he’ll do what he can to help.

Isaiah asks if Anna is accusing him of something, but she says she’s trying to understand why a renowned transplant surgeon would leave to do humanitarian service in Africa. He says, it’s no big mystery. He has a specific skill and goes where he’s most needed. She asks if he and Sidwell had crossed paths before, but he says, no. She tells him that he said he felt someone was following him, and he says, working in a war zone made him hyper-aware of his surroundings. She says she thinks he knows more than he’s saying, but he says, she thinks he’s lying. She says she hopes not. If it wasn’t for the well-timed Jordan… He says, the guy who stopped it, the Deputy Mayor. He’d love to meet him and say thank you. Jordan walks in, and Anna says, he’s in luck. Here she is. He says, the hit parade continues.

Jack says, it’s admirable that Carly and Sonny reconnected, but they’re definitely in the minority. She’s smart and knows what she’s doing. He trusts her judgement. Does that mean a reconciliation is in the works? She says, absolutely not, and he says he understands they’ve gotten back together before. She says, he’s been checking on her, and he says he asked a few questions. She says, facing federal charges for Sonny’s business was a one-time thing, and he says, she has nothing to worry about. The charges were dropped. She says, it was lucky there was a break in the FBI’s chain of evidence. Someone out there must like her. He smiles. (Writing Mrs. Jack Brennan on my notebook.)

Alexis tells Molly that Ric sent the police, not her sister, and Molly asks if she’s saying Ric is lying, that she didn’t dispose of a gun. She needs to tell the police everything and quit protecting Kristina from the consequences of her actions. Alexis says she loves Molly and Molly doesn’t need to be involved. They can’t have this conversation. Molly says, Alexis needs to tell the police why she had a gun and where she got it. Stop sacrificing herself for Kristina. Alexis says, Molly needs to take care of herself, not her. She hasn’t been charged. Molly says, not yet, and Alexis says, it’s important she keep her mouth shut and not incriminate herself. Diane will handle it and she won’t be charged. There are far more likely suspects. Molly says, far more likely suspects that would cover their tracks.

Ava thanks Trina for stepping up. She did an amazing job, but it’s late and she should go. Trina says she has no plans, and Ava asks how things are with her and Joss. Trina says, they’ve agreed to disagree, and Ava says, about her. She appreciates Trina standing up for her even when it put her at odds with her best friend. Trina says, Ava was supportive of her relationship with Spencer even when her mom wasn’t, and Ava says she hopes Trina never feels she paid a price for their friendship.

Ric says he’s sorry he married Nina for her money, but he can’t defend someone who hurt his daughter. Nina says she’s sorry for Molly’s loss. She lost a child too and wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone. But how does it help to blame an innocent woman? He says, Ava hasn’t been innocent since she found out she was a Jerome, and Nina says, Ava did horrible things, but she didn’t do this. She and Kristina did argue, but Kristina lost her balance and fell. Does he think if anyone else was there that they’d be brought up on manslaughter charges? They both know what it’s like to be despised and the first person accused. From one black sheep to another, she’s asking him to fight to prevent Ava from being persecuted for her past rather than the supposed crime she’s been charged with.

Trina says, Ava hasn’t cost her anything. Ava didn’t ask her to choose between her and her family. She’s grateful to have Ava in her life. Ava says she’s sure most of the people in this town think the worst of her, and Trina asks how she can help. Ava says, unless she has a defense attorney, there isn’t much she can do. She wishes people would believe it was an accident. Trina reminds Ava that she said, when something horrible happens, it’s easier to have someone to blame. For a while, she felt blaming Esme for Spencer’s death helped her. Now she thinks hating Esme made her grief worse. She thanks Aunt Stella for her family being able to move on without being angry, but they’re still looking for someone to pay for the baby’s death. Ava says, her, and Trina says, it’s a terrible loss, but Ava going to prison won’t lessen the grief, and she’s innocent.

Ric says, he had a personal history with Nina’s father and has done a lot of counterproductive things by holding onto his anger, and Nina says, it’s a no brainer how much better life would be if he let go of his grudge against Sonny. He says, it’s not a grudge. His brother purposely tried to ruin his life and never suffers the consequences for the bad things he does. She asks, what better way to get back at his brother than getting Ava out of the charges? and he says, she makes a tempting argument, but his daughter means the world to him. She’s the best thing in his life, the only thing he’s proud of. He’s afraid his answer is still no. She says she had to try. Her daughter is a better person than she’ll ever hope to be, so she understands him wanting to protect Molly. She thanks him for listening and leaves.

Willow introduces herself to Lulu and says, they’re all rooting for her, especially her family. Like Willow’s family did when she needed a stem cell transplant. Her husband never gave up hope and Michael’s uncle risked his life to bring her donor back. Don’t give up hope. There’s always something that can be done.

Anna says, Deputy Mayor Jordan Ashford, and Isaiah laughs. Jordan says she feels like she’s missing something, and Isaiah says, him making a fool of himself assuming she was a man. He introduces himself and thanks her for saving his life. He stares at her, and she asks if there’s something on her face. He says he’s sorry. Staring is rude. He’s not used to bureaucrats looking so… It doesn’t look like she spends her time in committee meetings. She says she promises her job is more challenging than that, and he says he believes it. She single-handedly saved his life. Why? She says, it seemed like a good idea at the time, and he asks, why visit a random John Doe? She says she wanted to help. She figured his family is wondering where he is. Someone is out there who’s missing him.  

Jack says he’s glad Carly’s legal troubles are over, and toasts to freedom. They clink glasses, and she says, just so there’s no confusion, she hasn’t involved herself in Sonny’s business. She wants to focus on her family. He says, finding Lucky for Lulu, and she says, he’s her best chance for a donor, so she’s going to do what she can to bring him home. He says he admires her determination, and she says, he hasn’t seen anything yet. Is life in Port Charles what he hoped? He says, and then some, and she says, she has a feeling a few people have issues with him being here. He says he’s not sure the Police Commissioner is happy with his presence, when Anna walks in and says, cooperating? Jack says, drink?

Molly says, the animosity between Alexis and Cates is public knowledge, but Alexis says, a lot of people hated him. Molly says, how many of them were caught with a gun? and Alexis says, circumstantial. She didn’t kill Cates. Molly says, what about Kristina? and Alexis says she hopes Kristina is home and resting. Molly tells her to start thinking like a lawyer. If she doesn’t come up with an alternative explanation, she might find herself charged with capital murder. Molly slams out of the room.

Willow tells Lulu that she’s lucky to be alive. She’s not about to screw up the chance, and she came back to GH so she could go back to the life she had before the things with Drew happened. She can’t have feelings for Drew. She loves Michael and the kids and everything they’ve built. She’s going to get Drew out of her head once and for all. Elizabeth is in the doorway and says, Willow? (Rut-roh.)

Diane walks into the interrogation room, and Alexis asks if she’s free to go. Diane wonders if Alexis is doubting her skill, but Alexis says, never. Diane says, yes, she’s free to go. Of course (🍷) it’s a temporary reprieve. Alexis has no alibi and won’t tell the police where she was when John was killed. Now she’s digging a hole with the gun. Alexis says she panicked when she saw the gun. When they find it, they’ll see it wasn’t the murder weapon. Diane says, if they find it, and Alexis says, Diane doesn’t think she did it, does she? Diane says, of course (🍷) not, but Alexis threatened Cates just hours before the murder and two trustworthy witnesses saw her getting rid of a gun. Alexis says, Ric is hardly trustworthy, and Diane tells her to focus. They both know it’s not about what she did or didn’t do. It’s what she can prove in a court of law.

Isaiah says he appreciates Jordan’s intentions. He wouldn’t be breathing if not for her. She says, he didn’t answer her question. Does he have family? He says, it’s more like an interrogation. Is she sure she’s not a cop? She says, she was, and that’s another question. She answered. When someone dodges a question, it usually means they’re hiding something. He says he has nothing to hide, but there are things he’d rather not revisit. He doesn’t expect her to understand. She says, he’d be surprised.

Nina goes to the gallery and asks how Ava is doing. Ava says, she’s hopeful. She just spoke to Trina, and she was reminded that she’s lucky to have someone on her side who believes her. It makes the ordeal easier. Nina says, for what it’s worth (🍷), she believes Ava too, and Ava says she’s surprised Nina is being supportive. Nina asks if it’s hard to imagine her doing the right thing, and Ava says she’s glad to have Nina in her corner. She’s grateful. Nina says she’s been down, as Ava knows, and remembers how badly she needed a friend. Ava asks how it’s going with Ric, and Nina says she’s sorry, but Ric still refuses to take the case.

Molly finds Ric at the MetroCourt and says, he told the police that mom disposed of a gun? He says, she did, and Molly asks if he’s trying to set Alexis up. He says he and Elizabeth saw her the night John Cates was murdered. He’s an officer of the court and obligated to report it. And he wants them to catch the killer. She says, mom didn’t kill Cates, and whatever she’s going through is Kristina’s fault. He asks if she has more information about the case, and she says, not for sure yet. He asks if Kristina owns a gun, and she says, Kristina could have gotten one from Sonny. Michael is covering for her too. Kristina is desperate not to go to prison and maybe she finally snapped. Ric says, Ava changed her story. She said Cates pressured her into making a false statement. Knowing that, does Molly still believe Kristina was the aggressor and responsible for her own fall?

Elizabeth says she’s glad Willow was talking to Lulu. Sometimes even the nurses forget there’s an actual person in the bed and not just a body. Willow says she thinks Lulu can hear on some level. She was filling Lulu in on the things happening in Port Charles. Elizabeth says she thinks it’s great and apologizes for snapping when they were talking about Lucky. Willow says she didn’t mean imply he was avoiding his family, but Elizabeth says she thinks that’s exactly what he’s doing. He’s been running from something for a long time, but she doesn’t know what it is. Sometimes she thinks it’s her. Willow asks, why? and Elizabeth says, it’s a long story. She is a big reason why he left, but she didn’t realize he’d be gone so long. His son barely knows him. Aiden is excited about his dad coming back, but her biggest fear is that Lucky will come back, save Lulu, and leave. What happens when Aiden loses his dad again?

Anna says, this is cozy, and Carly says, Jack is helping them find Lucky. Anna wonders how having a drink helps, and Jack says, they’re waiting for the satellite photos from where they think Lucky is being held. Anna asks what he can tell her about Jenz Sidwell, but he says, nothing he hasn’t read in the papers. His phone rings, and he asks if they’re sure… Send him the link. He tells Carly and Anna that they found Sidwell’s compound, and Carly asks if Lucky is there, but he says, it appears to be abandoned.

Nina says she’s sorry, but Ric isn’t budging, and Ava thanks her for trying. There are a lot of good lawyers in this town, and she can afford the best. Nina says, Ava is taking it better than she expected, and Ava says, Trina reminded her that she’s not alone. She has Trina and now she has Nina. She spent so much time scheming and manipulating situations, she knows she’s lucky to have any friends left. Nina says she knows the feeling.

Molly tells Ric, it doesn’t matter. If Kristina hadn’t gone to Ava’s room, her baby would still be alive. Ric says, they should stop talking about it. It’s making her upset. Molly says, of course (🍷) she’s upset. She lost her baby and her sister that day. He says, isn’t it possible that it was just a terrible accident? but she says, the evidence says otherwise. Ava was arrested. Ric wonders what happened to innocent until proven guilty, and Molly says she needs to know who’s responsible for her baby’s death and they need to pay.  

Elizabeth says she doesn’t know what to say to Aiden. He saw Jake having a relationship with Jason, and he might be hoping that it will be the same with him and his dad. Lucky loves his son, but he doesn’t love living in one place for long.

Jack says, the satellite photos show signs of recent activity. It looks like they missed Sidwell by a few hours. Anna wonders if they can find him and tells Jack to gather all the satellite photos from the area. Maybe they caught Sidwell leaving. Jack says he doesn’t work for her, and he can’t dedicate a satellite to finding one man. Anna says, Lucky’s family helped the WSB for years, and Jack says he knows, but even if he locates Lucky, getting him out can be extremely difficult. Anna tells him to ignore what she said. She’ll find Lucky with or without his help. She leaves, and Carly says, please. She’ll pay for whatever resources they need to have to bring Lucky home. Lulu needs her family. They can’t lose her. Jack asks if they haven’t already lost her. (Apparently not, according to GH casting.)

Diane asks if Alexis thinks Kristina killed Cates, but Alexis says, absolutely not. Diane says, then she has to get Kristina to come in and talk to the police and tell them what happened. Alexis says, she can’t. She’s not in her right mind. She doesn’t know what she’s saying. She’s glad Cates is dead. What if she says that to the police? Diane says, that would be bad, and Alexis says she can handle the scrutiny with the police. Kristina can’t. It’s not an option. Diane says, Alexis doesn’t have the luxury of protecting Kristina anymore. When she disposed of the gun and got caught, it made her suspect number one.

Nina says she’ll have her assistant compile a list of the best criminal attorneys, when Ric walks in. He says, good. They’re both here. Ava says she hopes he didn’t come by to gloat, but he says he’s changed his mind. He’ll take the case. They both ask, why? and he says he’s doing it for his daughter. Molly needs to know what happened. They’ll start in the morning, but if he finds out Ava is lying, he’ll bury her. Does she still want him as her attorney? She says, yeah, because she’s innocent.  

Alexis says, if she’s charged, Diane will convince the jury that she’s innocent, and Diane says, yeah… Alexis knows she’ll always do what she can, but if Alexis is charged, she can’t be her lawyer.

Molly comes into the station and says she needs to make a statement. She has information about the murder of John Cates.

Jack says, Lulu has been in a coma for 4 years and with a transplant, her odds aren’t good. Carly says, as long as Lulu is still breathing, she won’t give up, and he says he won’t take her money. He’ll continue without it, but don’t thank him yet. What he said to Anna was correct. The territory is extremely unstable. Even if she finds Lucky, what’s the plan? She doesn’t have a SEAL team, and the area is too dangerous for civilians. Who is she going to send in to rescue him?

Molly says, the night John Cates was murdered, nobody knows where her sister was. She has no alibi and had a motive to kill him.

Jordan says she lives in Port Charles, but she’ll always root for the Baltimore team. Go Orioles. Isaiah says, what about the Ravens? and she says she told him where she’s from. Now it’s his turn. Anna comes in, and Isaiah asks if they found Lucky. Anna says, after Isaiah escaped, Sidwell made his getaway and the compound was abandoned. Does he have any idea where Sidwell might have gone? He says, Sidwell was always careful about what he said. How are they going to find Lucky now?  

Tomorrow, Sasha asks if Cody is ready for something fun and exciting; Jason tells Carly not to get involved with Jack; and Diane wants to know what Sonny is going to do about this.

📚 School’s In For Autumn…

Celebrities. They’re just like us.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/general-hospital/soap-stars-celebrate-back-to-school-time-see-the-photos

💰 Listings Goals Hit…

Once again, I drooled over JoshF’s 30,000 square foot, 2 and a half acre, $36 million (in Pasadena!) mansion with the elevator going to the museum and bar in the basement. It’s truly an amazing piece of property. If I had a spare $36 million, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Tracy felt it was a small buyer pool for the price point, and it would have to be some kind of collector. She took an embarrassing photo of JoshA, posing as a statue in the museum, and even he laughed his ass off. He begged her not to post it, but no surprise, she did. She told him it was payback for setting her up on last week’s date with the splooge. I bet it got a billion reactions.

The Altman Brothers’ Orange County office was hardly finished, and Heather was having a panic attack, since the ribbon cutting had already been set with the Chamber of Commerce, et al. It was 15 days away, but the magician contractor promised it would be ready. And it was. The outside of the front anyway, which is all they needed. At the ceremony, Tracy sympathized with Heather, whose calendar was way too full, and suggested Heather say no once in a while.

It was the finale, so in wrapping it up, JoshA said the business had surpassed its goal of 500 million in listings. Tracy said, while it had been a slow start, she was excited to move forward, but she wasn’t letting JoshA set her up again. JoshF said he’d done well in a bad market and was a month into the process of reconstructing his dreamhouse. He’d also started seeing Andrew again. The Joshes toasted to high sales, low sales, and no sales.

I don’t think they have a Reunion, but if they do, I’ll be there for it. I enjoy this show more every season, and I’ll miss it. Maybe it’s just as well there’s a break though, since it makes me long for houses I could never afford, and even if I could, I’d probably regret buying something so mammoth. It was tough moving from an apartment to the house I’m in now. It seemed like a mile to the bathroom after having to walk 15 feet.

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 10 Recap: Ending on a High

Flagg spills the tea on the BFFs. Okay, it’s like a couple of drops.

MDLLA Agent Josh Flagg on Friendship With Denise Richards

💍 Hope It Sticks This Time…

I always have hope that VanderPeople have changed and matured as they’ve gotten older. So Mazel Tov to Kristen for achieving one of her goals, even though I’m a wee bit skeptical that she’s matured.

https://people.com/vanderpump-rules-alum-kristen-doute-is-engaged-to-luke-broderick-8707625

🪡 Needed, One Ring On a String…

What is wrong with this woman that she keeps losing jewelry worth tens of thousands of dollars?

Lisa Barlow Loses $100K Ring at NYFW Party: ‘Impossible to Find’

🏆 Giving Them the Moon…

The best way to get the CliffsNotes version.

https://people.com/mtv-vmas-2024-live-updates-8710617

And of course, the best part. I don’t know what Miranda Lambert has going on there, but no. Just no. As always, Taylor Swift is perfection.

https://people.com/red-carpet-arrivals-2024-mtv-vmas-8710673

🥀 A Day To Remember…

I remember not being able to get all the channels when I got up and thinking it was the cable. Then I found a news station that was on and saw that a plane had flown into the WTC. My first thought was, well, it finally happened. Some idiot crashed into it. Then as the newscasters talked, behind them on the screen, the second plane hit. That’s when I knew it was no accident.

https://www.history.com/topics/21st-century/9-11-attacks

🐶 Bringing Joy To the People…

Meet the latest addition to my pack, Sally Jo Buck. I’ve had her a few months, and like her sister Hannah, she brings happiness wherever she goes. I’ve entered her in the Daily Kibble Summer Lovin’ Fun Contest, so click on the link (or copy and paste), scroll down, and give a like to the pictures below.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1082506066776315&type=3

Sally Jo sez: Vote Fur Me!

🍂 Season Of the Soul…

Join me tomorrow for soap and OC in the shade. Until then, stay safe, stay reestablishing lost or taken for granted relationships, and stay not giving up hope. There’s always something that can be done.

Sep5

September 4, 2024 – Lucky Sees a Familiar Face, Lois’s Coach, Branching Out, This Week’s Listings, Showing For Andy, Real Bluestone, NJ’s Own, Fake At the Shore, New Dance, Introduction & Pale

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Curtis sits in Drew’s office, and Drew tells him that Larry McConkey died. Curtis says he saw it on the news. He’s sorry. He knows they were getting close. Drew says, that’s not all that happened today.

Michael and Willow go into the bedroom, and he asks if she’s okay. She says she’s a little shaky, and he says, it’s been a helluva day. Name it, and he’s at her service. She says, what she needs is sleep, but she appreciates him looking out for her. He says he’s her husband. It comes with the territory.

Brick meets Jordan at the Surf Lodge, and she thanks him for coming. He says he knew she’d call eventually, and she asks if he’s that irresistible. He says, her words, not his, and she says she definitely owes him a date. He says, this isn’t it? and she says, this is her asking for a favor.

Lucky is brought to Sidwell, and says he thought Sidwell turned in. Sidwell says he has a touch of insomnia, and he tells the guard to take Lucky’s handcuffs off. He takes it that Lucky is a gambling man, and Lucky says, it runs in the family. Sidwell says, perfect. Deal.

Mac tells Robert, merry Christmas, and Robert says, it’s September. Mac tosses a file on his desk and says he’s early. There was a murder at the Quartermaine mansion. Robert asks if the perp is in the file, and Mac says, there are plenty of suspects, half of Port Charles. But there’s one at the head of the pack. Robert smiles.

At the station, Diane asks Anna if her client is inside, and Anna asks if she doesn’t mean clients. Diane goes into the interrogation room and sees Jason and Ava. She says she’d like a word with her client and his plus one, and Anna leaves. She says she takes it Ava has her own counsel, but Jason says he needs her to help them both tonight.

Sonny tells Carly to make herself at home in the penthouse, but she says she’s not staying. He says, the cops will be here this morning. They have to get their story straight. She says she knows where she was when John Cates was murdered. Where was he?

Sidwell says, they have to agree on the stakes, and Lucky says, if he wins, he goes free. Sidwell says, how about if he wins, he stays alive? If he loses, he dies. He was going to kill Lucky anyway. Lucky says, shall we? and deals.

Brick looks at a photo on his phone and asks Jordan, who is this? She says she was hoping he could help find out. He’s a John Doe who was the victim of a hit and run. He’s at GH, unconscious, and no ID. The police are running his prints, but there’s nothing yet. He says, she thinks he can make the guy’s ID, and she says she’s sure of it, but he says, fingerprints and a photo aren’t a lot to go on. She says she knows she’s asking a lot and he’s busy, but he says, that’s not it. By the time he tracks the ID down, the guy could wake up and tell them who he is. She says, that’s why she appreciates him getting started on the search, and he says, anything for her, but there’s a price.

Sonny says, all that matters is that Jagger is dead. Jagger can’t come after Kristina or anybody he cares about anymore. Carly says, so when someone was killing Cates, he was supposed to be with her, and he says he appreciated her having his back. She says she doesn’t appreciate him implying they were having a tryst. They’re divorced, separated. Now he’s dragged her into the middle of a murder. Why? He says, after everything they’ve been through, he still trusts her with his life.

Ava tells Diane that she was unable to reach her lawyer. He’s been incommunicado for some time. Frankly, she’s worried. Diane says, about him or her? and Ava says, both. She was hoping not to involve lawyers, but Jason wouldn’t say a word without her. Diane says, that’s why he’s her favorite client. Why did Ava think they don’t need an attorney when they’re at the police station? Ava says, they did nothing wrong. Boyle was going to kill her, and Jason stopped her. Diane says she’s on retainer with Jason, but Jason says he’d appreciate her helping Ava too. Diane asks, why? and he says, they can both prove everything they’re saying is true.  

Robert says, so Cates is dead, and Sonny is the number one suspect, and Mac says, Robin is going to take it hard. He’ll call her and be the bad cop on this one. Robert asks if that makes him the good cop, but Mac says, it makes him the father. Robert says, Cates basically lost his way, and Mac says, that’s a nice way to put it. He’s been torturing Kristina and there was nothing they could do about it. (Calling the FBI might have been an option. <heaving Jason sigh>). Robert says, so Sonny has motive, and Mac says, and plenty of opportunity.

Kristina comes downstairs and calls for Alexis, but there’s no answer. She checks her bag, and the gun isn’t there. She rifles through her stuff.

Willow says, there’s something she wants to tell Michael. When Drew first got the news about McConkey’s death, he was very upset, and it dredged up feelings about Alan and him never having had a father figure. It brought out a side of Drew she’s never seen before. Michael’s phone rings, and he says, if it’s important, they’ll call back. Willow says, Drew was so upset, she wanted to comfort him, when… Michael’s phone rings again, and he looks at it. He says, it’s Kristina again, and she says, he should answer it. Kristina tells Michael that he needs to come here right now, but he says he can’t. She says, it’s bad, and he asks, how bad? She says she’s missing a gun.

Carly says, if Sonny trusts her, why did he blindside her with this? Why did he mess up the bed and make everyone believe they had sex? She can account for her whereabouts. Why should she believe him? He tells her that if he admits it, they don’t have spousal privilege. He can’t tell her the details unless she’s willing to marry him again.  

Michael goes to see Kristina, and she tells him that she had a gun and now it’s gone. He says, whose gun and what was she doing with it? She says she had it in her bag, and now it’s gone, and he asks if it’s possible her mom found it. She says she hopes so.

Alexis is on the footbridge with her phone and tells Diane to pick up. She wonders where Diane is and leaves a message for Diane to call her back. Her client may or may not have violated bail. She’ll give Diane five minutes. If she doesn’t call, Alexis will have to make the decision herself. She cries and says, please call back.

Ava says, Cates insisted she amend her statement and say Kristina tried to kill her, and Anna says, she appeared to be speaking of her free will, but Ava says she was coerced. Cates wanted leverage against Sonny. He knew she had reservations, and he was afraid she’d recant. He put her in a hotel room with Agent Boyle and made her believe she was in protective custody. She found a wad of cash in Boyle’s bag and knew she wasn’t an agent. Anna asks why she thinks Cates would mislead her about Boyle, and Ava says she became a liability. Boyle put her in a car and headed for the Pine Barrens. She fought Boyle for the wheel, the car swerved, and Boyle hit someone, but she didn’t stop. They reached the Pine Barrens, and she thinks Jason can take it from there. Jason says he called 911 about the guy that was hit and found Ava and Boyle not far from the car. He disarmed Boyle and called the cops. Anna says, that’s it? and he says, that’s all there is.

Drew tells Curtis that when he got the news about McConkey, it shook him up. He started thinking about his father and how he never knew him and never had a father figure. Emotions came up. Willow was there and she was there for him. Curtis asks, when Drew says she was there for him… Drew says, they kissed.

Alexis paces the bridge, crying and hyperventilating. She holds the gun.  

Carly says she wants to be clear. She’s not marrying Sonny again. He says, that’s settled, but she says, it’s not. They’re still dealing with a federal murder investigation. He says, they’re coming after him and not using his daughter. He’ll be in the crosshairs, no one else. She says, except his alibi is her, and he says, sorry. He has to admit, working together seemed like old times.

Mac tells Robert that he took statements from the Quartermaine family and others present, including the staff. Sonny might be hard to nail down. Cody was in the stable within earshot and didn’t hear anything. Robert says, a silencer used on a stormy night would be hard to hear, and Mac asks what he thinks. Robert says, it took Cody a year to come to Mac and tell him that he was Cody’s father. That hardly makes him a reliable witness.

Jordan asks, what’s the cost? and Brick says, just answer a question. Why is it important? Jordan says, if the guy has a family, they need to know, and Brick says, that’s part of it, but not all of it. She says, the way he was injured got to her. He ran out in front of a car on a road with almost no traffic. He asks if she thinks he was being chased, and she says, yeah. He says, she misses being an investigator, and she says, sometimes. He asks if she ever thinks of going back to police work, and she says, sometimes. Does he think of going back to what he did before? He asks how she knows what he did, and she says she doesn’t. He never told her.

Lucky asks what’s keeping Sidwell up, and Sidwell asks if Lucky cares about his well-being. Lucky says, no. It’s a distraction tactic. Sidwell says, there’s only one reason that costs him sleep – women. In this case, an exceptional one. They met at the tables in Monte Carlo. She has beauty, charm, and elegance. The kind of woman you never forget. Lucky flashes back to dancing with Elizabeth, and says he’s been there. Sidwell asks if he’s thinking about his own lady, and Lucky says, he doubts she’d fit in at Monte Carly, but she is a beauty. What he’d call a winner. Sidwell says, like this? and lays down his hand. Lucky says, more like this, and lays down his.

Diane says, Jason has put her in quite a pickle, having to defend Ava this time, and Jason says, Ava is innocent – this time, and Ava thanks him and Diane. Anna comes in and Ava asks, what happens after she leaves here tonight? Cates isn’t going to stop until she’s dead. Anna says she doesn’t think Ava has to worry about that anymore.

Drew says he feels awful. Michael is his nephew, and Willow is his wife and the mother of his kids. He doesn’t know how to fix the position he’s put her in. Curtis says, all they did was kiss? and Drew says, yes. Curtis says, chalk it up to an emotional moment that got out of hand, but Drew says, it’s more than that. He and Willow have been getting closer and there’s an attraction that’s only getting stronger.

Willow picks up her and Michael’s wedding picture, looks at it, and cries.

Michael tells Kristina to start at the beginning. Where did she get the gun? She says, it was dad’s. She let herself into the penthouse and took it. Then she went to her daughter’s grave. She doesn’t know. Maybe it fell out of her bag, but she has no idea where it is. Michael says, she needs to tell him why she needed it, and she says, to get justice.

Alexis stands on the bridge and takes out her phone again. She sees Diane hasn’t called, and says, time’s up. She puts her phone back in her bag and hears footsteps. She throws the gun in the water, and Ric and Elizabeth walk onto the bridge eating ice cream.

Michael asks if Kristina used the gun to shoot somebody, and she says, no, but she wanted to. Two people, Ava and Cates. She knew Cates was at the Quartermaines. She heard him telling Anna when he arrested her again. He was charging her with killing her baby. It was so cruel. Michael says, Agent Cates is dead.  

Alexis says, they startled her. She didn’t expect to see them here. Look at Ric. He has two of three of his ex-wives with him on the bridge. Ric says, small world. What brings Alexis out here? Alexis says, she was feeling stressed and wanted some fresh air and a walk. Ric says, they witnessed her littering, and Alexis says, they caught her. Her phone wasn’t working. She got frustrated and tossed it. She wishes she hadn’t. Elizabeth says, here’s hoping a new phone is better, and Alexis says, she’d better go get one and their ice cream is melting. Enjoy their walk. She leaves, and they both look in the water. Rick asks if it looked like a phone, and Elizabeth says, no. It was definitely a gun.

Mac tells Robert that Cody lied, and it was wrong. It wasn’t the best way to start off, but life is too short to hold a grudge against family. Cody saved James’s life too, so there’s that. Robert says, it’s a good thing he gave Cody a second chance, and Mac says, how about Robert? Robert asks why he should care, and Mac says, Robert was never one to cast stones. One of his two great loves had a very colorful past.

Anna tells Ava and Jason that Cates is dead. He was shot at the Quartermaine boathouse. Ava says, good riddance. He was going to have that woman kill her. Anna says, a team checked into Boyle. It’s not her real name, and she’s not affiliated with the FBI or any law enforcement. She has a checkered past, but they’ve corroborated everything Ava and Jason said. They’re both free to go. Ava thanks everybody, and leaves, but Anna says she’d like a word with Jason. Diane asks if she should stay, but Jason says, it’s fine. Diane says she was afraid he’d say that and leaves. Anna says she’s proud of Jason, and he asks, what for? She says, he called the police, and he says, it made more sense than the alternative. She says, while he’s here, what can he tell her about the murder of Special Agent Cates?

Jason says, Anna knew Cates was dead all along, and she asks if she needs to bring Diane back, but he says it’s not necessary. He doesn’t know anything about Cates. She says, what they both know is Cates went bad. There’s nothing worse than an officer of the law using the power of his badge to settle personal scores. A lot of people in this town wanted him dead. He and Sonny are at the top of the list. Jason says he couldn’t have done it, and she says, as a suspect, Jason is in the clear. Sonny is not.  

Carly says, they’re going to be grilled about their alibi at some point, and Sonny says, they need to get their one-night stand story down. She asks how he seduced her this time, and he says he thinks they should say they were at the mansion. No one was there. They saw each other and things started to heat up. She laughs and says, please. That’s a terrible story and totally unbelievable. He asks if she wants rose petals and soft music. Does she think she can do better? Be his guest. She says, they saw each other here in the morning when she dropped off the girls. It felt better being around each other than it had in a long time. They ran into each other at the Quartermaines. Sonny likes the incorporating timeline, and she says she walked him outside. They were talking and got caught in the rain. She brought him upstairs to dry off and they kissed. It was sweet and nostalgic, and they made love. Something like that. He says, yeah. He’s got to admit he likes her version better.

Curtis says, everyone makes mistakes. Drew and Willow are one of them. Drew says he feels like he’s taking advantage of Willow’s gratitude, and Curtis says, he saved Willow’s life and put his own life in danger bringing her donor back. He legitimately earned it. Drew says, he likes the way it makes him feel… and Curtis says, being someone’s hero? and Drew says, it sounds cringeworthy when Curtis says it. The truth is, he admires Willow as much as she admires him. Curtis says, now that they’ve both got the admiration out of their systems, they need to put a stop to this before it goes way too far. Drew says, before today, he might have agreed, but the kiss wasn’t just two people caught up in a moment of feelings. There are real feelings. He can’t deny it anymore.

Elizabeth wonders what Alexis was doing out here alone at night getting rid of a gun, and Rick says, it probably has something to do with one of her daughters. He’s hoping it’s not his. She says she doesn’t know, and he says, clearly, they saw something they shouldn’t. She asks what he suggests they do about it.

Kristina tells Michael that she didn’t do it. She wanted to, but she didn’t. She went to the grave instead. He says he believes her, and she asks if he’s sure Cates is dead. He says, yes, and she says, then it’s over.

Brick says he’s always worked in security, and Jordan says, thanks for filling her in. He sighs and says, the military first, then he was at a three-letter agency. He became disillusioned. Too much power in the wrong hands can be a dangerous thing. So he decided to freelance, choose who he wanted to work with and what methods he employed. He can always walk away if he doesn’t like it. She says, so he breaks the law but has a code, and he says, she’s half right. He has a code. He also has work to do if she wants her guy ID’d. Regrettably, he has to cut the evening short. Jordan says she’ll make it up to him, and he says, with a real date? She says, if that’s what he wants, and he asks if that’s what she wants. She says, yes. She really does. He says, then he’ll make it happen, kisses her on the cheek, and leaves.  

Lucky wins another hand, and Sidwell says, if he’s cheating, he can’t see it and he always sees it. Lucky says he has a little more to lose than Sidwell. Any chance they can change the stakes and play for his freedom? Sidwell says, the stakes say the same. They play until he wins and Lucky dies. Lucky says he would never have agreed to play, but Sidwell says, then Lucky would be dead, and he’d be awake and bored. This is more fun. Lucky says he hates to admit it, but sooner or later, he’s going to lose. It’s the odds. Sidwell says, then he’d better find a way to beat the odds.

Curtis says, feelings aren’t actions or betrayal, and they don’t make Drew a bad person, but Drew says he doesn’t feel like a good person. Willow is in pain because of him. Curtis says he’s sure Willow will forgive him, and Drew says, maybe she shouldn’t. She won’t forgive herself. Curtis says, maybe they should both forgive themselves and each other. Beating themselves up will only make it worse. Forget it every happened. Let it go. Drew says, one thing he can make sure of is acting on his feelings can’t happen again and it won’t happen again, ever.

Willow lies in bed, and Michael touches her face. He kisses her and they get busy. She imagines it’s Drew. She suddenly sits up, and sees that Michael’s side of the bed is empty.

Robert leaves a message for Holly and says he’s thinking of her. He hopes she’s staying out of trouble. Call him. Alexis comes in and says, they need to talk about Cates. He says he takes it she’s heard, and she says, Cates has been abusing her daughter. He’s prosecuting her and using her as a weapon in his obsession to take Sonny down. He says, Cates won’t be her problem anymore. He was shot dead tonight.

Kristina asks what Michael did when he found Cates, and Michael says he called Chase and waited for the police. Then Willow and Drew showed up. Willow was upset and shaking, so she and Drew went to the main house while he waited. Kristina says, so Cates was dead when Michael found him? and Michael says, yes. She says, he didn’t see who shot Cates? and he says, no. He had a lot of enemies. It could have been anyone.

Anna says, Sonny better have a good alibi, and Jason says, what about her? She’s not too broken up. She says she’s thankful Jason survived John Cates. Once upon a time, he was a good man, a good friend to Robin. She doesn’t know what happened, but whatever was worth saving was gone a long time ago. Nevertheless, he was an FBI agent and when they find the killer, they’ll go to prison for the rest of their life.

Sonny asks if Carly’s got everything straight, and she says, yes. She needs to get home. He says, if she stays, it will make the alibi stronger, and she says she hates that it makes sense. Okay, fine. She’ll stay in the guest room. Which one did Ava use? He says, the big one, and she says, the small one it is. She goes in the back, and he unlocks his gun box. He sees a gun missing and says, son of a bitch.

Sidwell asks what Lucky has, when the door opens. Sidwell says, if it isn’t the reason for his insomnia. A woman says, hello, darling. Is this poker? She loves poker. It’s how they met. Lucky tries to hide his expression upon seeing her, and she says, he must deal her in. We see it’s Holly, and Sidwell says, new hand. She sees at Lucky and also hides her reaction. She and Lucky look at one another.  

Tomorrow, Jordan tells Dante that she’s going to pursue every avenue of this investigation that she can think of; Ava asks if this is someone’s idea of a joke; Carly tells Sonny that she’s not taking this any further than she absolutely has to; and Kristina says, one down and one to go.

🧴 The Rain In Spain Stays Mainly On the Plane…

I’m hoping Lois comes to realize that her accent is part of her charm.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/snls-sarah-sherman-is-playing-robin-finch-on-general-hospital

🎭 His Other Endeavors…

Both of these look really good.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/a-sneak-peak-at-nicholas-chavez-in-his-two-new-shows

💰 This Week In LA…

JoshF, being a member of the Cultural Heritage Commission, said he appreciated a house with history, and checked out a Frank Lloyd Wright house that was beyond amazing. It had a hidden elevator that led to a tiki bar, theatre, and museum. We learned that hallways were wide in the old days because of the women’s dresses. He said the house was everything he stood for and represented.  

Tracy checked out a penthouse in a building where she’d sold most of the units, but the developers had decided to keep the penthouse as an investment property. Now they were looking to re-rent or sell it. In going through the apartment – which at 6000+ square feet, is bigger than my house – she found dog pee and poopy on the drapes. Seriously? Again, this just reenforces my theory that all the wrong people have the money.

JoshA showed friend Dr. Ben what he said was the quintessential Beverly Hills estate, with seven bedrooms and 11 baths and a world record for the biggest front door. I have a hard time finding wreaths for my slightly large door, so I can’t imagine. He said, they might as well put a bathroom at the property entrance, since people will sh*t themselves when they see it.

JoshF’s bestie Denise Richards did a cameo in his video for selling the abovementioned house. In his interview, he said, if he was straight, he’d be with Denise. The threesome in Wild Things had him confused. His dog George also made an appearance. No surprise, Denise was in love, and he said, George was dumb as rocks, but Denise told him, those are the nice dogs. Yep, like my Golden Retriever, the misnamed Einstein. He was the sweetest dog you’d ever meet, but literally afraid of his own shadow and as stupid as they come. When Josh’s video editor said Josh’s deadpan performance was not as spot-on as Josh thought, Josh said he was Bill Murray good, but… um… no.

After telling her mother that she was too tired to date – it was exhausting – Tracy went on a blind double-date with the Altmans and Dr. Ben, who she deemed an amalgam of all men in the LA dating pool. She told him that he’d either end up either alone or with shallow bitches until he was 50, and then still be alone. He said he had eight years, and she told him that he was the quintessential LA dude. And that’s not a compliment.

And after all that, I still don’t know what a splooge is.

Next time, the season finale.

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 9 Recap: You Splooge, You Lose

🗽 And In Other Real Estate News…

Quick, let me give Ryan a call. I’m only $13,999,999 short.

Andy Cohen Lists $14 Million NYC Duplex With Ryan Serhant

🏰 Not Quite a Listing…

So she didn’t sell it after all. This is actually a great idea. Bluestone Manor is an amazing property and the Bravoverse misses Dorinda.

Dorinda Medley Gets Tentative Blue Stone Manor Spinoff at Bravo

👠 The Real Jersey Devils…

The money comes, the money goes.

https://okmagazine.com/p/teresa-giudices-net-worth-real-housewife-new-jersey-made-lost-millions/

This dude helped her not at all. When awful joins up with more awful.

Luis Ruelas Appears To Threaten ‘Enemies’ in Creepy Now-Deleted Instagram Post

Yeah, I don’t remember her either.

https://okmagazine.com/p/penny-drossos-karagiorgis-rhonj-entire-cast-fired/

🤽‍♀️ Down the Shore…

It’s hardly shocking that the producers would be involved, but I’m surprised there were actual charges filed. I’m not a fan of this show, especially since I live in a Jersey shore town. The only person I’ve ever met who was even remotely like one of the Jersey Shore cast members, was also a raging alcoholic with several disorders. I tried watching this a few times. I’d stop watching, then watch again, remember why I stopped watching, and stop watching again. Yeah, yeah. I know the definition of crazy.

https://okmagazine.com/p/jersey-shore-nicole-snooki-polizzi-wheres-the-beach-scene-fakery-exposed/

🩰 Dance the Night Away…

I haven’t watched this since Mel B was a contestant, but it looks like an interesting mix.

https://ew.com/dancing-with-the-stars-season-33-cast-reveal-8706007

🐕 A New Burtka-Harris…

So very sad how one of their dogs passed away, but it’s wonderful that they were able to open their hearts to a new furbaby.

https://people.com/neil-patrick-harris-introduces-new-dog-bianca-8706480

🍂 Fall Has Unofficially Begun…

Join me tomorrow for soap and nine lemon tea in the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering that first impressions do count, and stay not holding a grudge against family. Life is too short.

Aug29

August 28, 2024 – Laura Calls In a Favor, A Petition, Powerful, This Week In LA, Test Flirt, Her Date, Rails Residue, Post Deck, New Apes, Where’d He Go & Sadness

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Alexis tells Sonny what happened at Irene’s funeral; how Molly tore into Kristina and Kristina ended up falling on the grave. Everyone was hysterical. Sonny asks what Molly was thinking, and Kristina walks in.

In a hotel room somewhere, Ava says she knows John is headed back to Port Charles and asks when he’ll be back. He says he won’t be gone long, but she says she doesn’t feel safe without him. He says, she’ll be fine, when there’s a knock at the door. He says, Agent Boyle will watch over her, and Boyle walks in.

At the hospital, Anna says, Tracy looks pale. Is she all right? Tracy says she’s not, and Anna asks if she can get Tracy something. Tracy says, it’s not her. It’s Lulu. She needs a miracle.

Laura tells Doc that Nikolas was crushed. That leaves Lucky. She’s got to find him. He travels a lot doing humanitarian work, but she hasn’t heard from him in months. She’s waiting to hear back from the place he last worked. She’s also going through some back channels. Her phone rings, and she asks if Robert has an update.

Gerard (a guard who has a name) says, they’re going in five minutes, and leaves. Lucky says, they did it. It worked. Isaiah says, it played out just like Lucky said, and Lucky tells him that they’re getting out today.

Kristina says she keeps wishing she hadn’t gotten so angry and stormed into Ava’s suite. Sonny says she didn’t know how Ava was going to react. She can’t blame herself. She says, not according to Molly. Molly said she chose to protect Sonny instead of her child and that she was selfish. Alexis says, Molly doesn’t mean that. She was lashing out. Trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense. She’s grieving too, and Kristina was the easiest person to blame. Kristina says, Molly thinks she was going to steal her baby after it was born, but you can’t steal what belongs to you. She was never more certain than at the funeral. When Adela was lowered into the ground, a part of her died too.

Ava says, John told her that he’d keep her safe, and he says he’s held up his end of the bargain so far, but she says she needs to know about the future. When is he bringing Avery? Are they going to be put in the witness protection program? He asks if that’s what she wants, living in some backwater town trying to fit in, and she says she wants to survive. Isn’t that the best option? John says he’s doing what he can. If the plan goes right, she’ll be able to go back, and Sonny will never threaten her or Avery again. She asks if she can give Avery a call, but John says, she’s having a wonderful time with the nanny. If Ava calls, it will just make Avery miss her. She asks if she can at least have her phone, but he says, it’s too risky. Her location could be compromised. Ava says she’s feeling cut off, and he says, that’s the whole point. It’s keeping her safe. Everything is going according to plan. Be patient. Does she trust him? She says, of course (🍷), and he says he’ll see her soon. He leaves with his suitcases.

Anna says, if Nikolas isn’t an option, what happens next? and Tracy says, they have to find Lucky. Anna says, it won’t be easy, but Tracy says, it has to happen unless some donor was overlooked. Anna asks if they have to share DNA or just the same blood type, and Tracy says, they don’t have to share the same DNA, but it’s the best chance for a match. Time is of the essence. If it doesn’t happen soon…. She says she has to take care of something, and leaves.

Robert says, the WSB said Lucky was participating in humanitarian efforts. He saved several doctors and patients in an area under siege. The organization decided to relocate to a more friendly part of the world, and Lucky found himself an area where his talents could be used. Laura asks if the WSB knows where he is, and Robert says, they believe he was headed toward East Africa, to a refugee camp. But it was months ago and nearly impossible to get a message to him. She asks if they have the location of the camp, but he says, the camp is always in flux and isolated. He’ll let her know if he can do more. Keep him in the loop. Doc says he’s sorry, and Laura says, it’s a setback. She’s not giving up. She thinks it’s time to call in a favor.

Isaiah says, Sidwell is complaining of stomach pain. He’s known toddlers who whine less. It’s just indigestion, but he told Sidwell that he needed to get a full panel of tests that require equipment they don’t have, so they’re leaving. Lucky says, all they need to do is make it off the compound. Once they lose the guards, he can get ahold of his contact, and they’ll be on their way. It’s not going to be easy, but it will work. It has to.

Anna goes to Portia’s office and says she learned from Tracy that Lulu’s condition is declining, and she needs a liver transplant. Is that true? Portia says she can’t discuss a patient’s condition without permission of the patient or family, and Anna says, of course (🍷). She doesn’t need information about Lulu’s condition, but needs information about the donor search. Portia says, the potential donor needs to be in good physical and psychological condition. They need to be a non-smoker for six weeks prior, understand the risks of the procedure, and have a compatible blood type. Anna says, what about age? Can they be a minor? Portia says, it’s rare. They prefer it be an adult, but in special circumstances, it’s possible. Anna says, that’s all she needed to hear, and leaves.

Laura goes to Jack’s office, and he asks, to what does he owe the honor? She says she needs his help, and he invites her in. She says her daughter was badly injured in an explosion and has been in a coma ever since. Her health has taken a sudden turn for the worse and she needs a liver transplant in order to survive. He says he’s sorry, but she says she’s not here for sympathy. She’s here for information. He asks what he could possibly know that would help, and she says, he’s a very high-ranking member of the WSB and she’s here to ask him to help her find her son.

Lucky says, Isaiah knows the plan. Wait for his signal, then move. Gerard comes back and says, let’s go. They pick up their bags, and Gerard says, just the doctor. Lucky is staying.

Kristina says she falls asleep and dreams about Adela, and Sonny says, she named the baby after his mother? She says, it’s not what TJ and Molly would have named her, but if she’d lived, that’s what she would have named her. Sonny says, it’s beautiful, and thanks her, and she says, in her dreams, Adela is so beautiful, so tiny, and so sweet. Kristina cries and says she’s so full of joy. She holds Adela and she’s laughing and kissing her face. Then she wakes up and remembers Adela is gone all over again. It’s like a knife to her heart and she can’t breathe. That’s why she’s not sleeping. When she sleeps, she can be with Adela, but when she wakes up, she remembers again that Adela has been taken away from her. There’s a knock at the door, and Alexis says she’ll get rid of them. She opens the door and asks what John is doing here again. He says he’s sorry to intrude, but he has a few more questions for Kristina.

Laura tells Jack that Lucky has been away from Port Charles for several years doing humanitarian work. He’s been providing security for aid workers in East Africa, and it isn’t easy getting in touch in an emergency. Jack says, it’s a chaotic part of the world, and Laura says she needs to bring him back. A donor that’s a full sibling is the best chance for a match. Can he help? He says he’ll do what he can, but he doesn’t want to lie. Finding Lucky will be a challenge. Laura says she realizes that, but he has more resources than she does, and he says, the WSB isn’t popular in that area. Inquiries will have to be made under the radar. Otherwise, it will be considered interference. She says she expects the WSB is expert in covert operations. She’s asking him to give her daughter a chance at life and to locate her son. He says, if it’s in his power to help, he will. He gets up, and she thanks him for his time. Before she goes out the door, she says, her family has done more than their share of favors for the WSB. When they had the power to help, they did. It’s time the WSB repaid the favor. Good day. She leaves.

Isaiah says, Lucky needs to come. They need protection. They’ll be transporting expensive equipment. If it’s stolen, is Gerard going to tell Sidwell it’s gone? Gerard hears something, and he tells Isaiah to be ready by the time he gets back. He leaves, and Isaiah asks what they do now.

Alexis says, no way in hell is John speaking to her daughter, but Kristina says, maybe she should just answer the questions. She has nothing to hide. Alexis says, as her attorney, she’s advising Kristina that it’s a bad idea. As her mother, she forbids it. John can’t come here without scheduling it in advance, and when he does, she’ll be present as Kristina’s attorney. Sonny says, John didn’t come to talk to their daughter. All John has to do is ask him. He’ll talk to John. John says he does have a few questions for Sonny, and Sonny tells him to come to his office tomorrow, but John says, Sonny doesn’t get to pick the time and place. The PC Grill in 20 minutes. Don’t keep him waiting or he’ll come back and take Kristina into custody. (Ugh. His schtick is getting so very old.) He leaves, and Kristina says, he’s just trying to get Sonny to say something. It’s a trap. Sonny says he can deal with it. He knows how to handle Agent Cates.

Ava asks how long Boyle has been with the Bureau, and Boyle says, five years. Ava asks if she’s been working with John, and Boyle says, some of the time. Ava says, John is high up, and asks if he has a lot of power, but Boyle says, they don’t divulge those things to the public. Ava says, nice shoes. She would wear them. Cartullo? Boyle says, good eye. She got them at a sample sale. Ava says, they still must have cost a lot. You can usually tell a cop or a Fed by their shoes. Those are chic. Boyle asks if she needs anything, and Ava says she’d like to have her phone, but Boyles says she meant to eat or drink. Ava says, that depends on how long they’re going to be here, and Boyle says she doesn’t think that long.  

On the phone, Alexis says she’ll be right there. She tells Kristina that the hospital has a problem with her insurance. She’ll be as quick as possible. Will she be okay? Kristina says, yes, but she’s worried about dad. Alexis says, Sonny can take care of himself, but Kristina says she’s upset that she’s the reason John has leverage over him. Alexis says, she has nothing to do with it. John would use any excuse to go after Sonny. When she gets back, they’ll have a snack watch harmless movie. She leaves, and Kristina makes a call. She asks if they can come over. She needs their help.

Lucky tells Isaiah to take the gun. If he gets a chance to stop the guards, run to the airfield and meet his contact. He’ll get Isaiah to Mogadishu. Isaiah says he’s not leaving with Lucky, but Lucky says, unless they shoot their way out, that’s not happening. If he had the chance to get out, he’d leave Isaiah in a heartbeat. Go save himself to save him.

Tracy goes to Laura’s apartment, and Laura asks what she can do for her. Tracy says she wants to help Lulu.

Kristina says she didn’t know who to call, and Jason says, Sonny kept him updated, but it’s good to see her. How is she feeling? She says, physically, she’s healing. She’s just scared. Cates came looking for her and her mom stood up to him. She knows Cates is working with Ava, who’s lying and making up everything. Ava is blaming her, but that’s not accurate. Jason says, it’s hard to be accused of a crime you didn’t commit. She has to fight the impulse to do something. Cates wants her to react and make a mistake so he can find something to charge her with that sticks. Please do not give him that chance. Kristina says, she can’t sit around and wait. She has to do something, but she can’t do it alone. She knows it’s a lot to ask, but he has to help her stop Cates and find a way to make Ava pay.

Ava says she knows a little bit about guns and the one Agent Boyle has, isn’t what Feds typically carry. Boyle says, female agents have their choice of weapons now, and Ava says she could use a coffee. She’ll run down and get one. Boyle says, you never know who’s out there. She’ll go. Ava says she’d like a macchiato, and Boyle says she’ll go to the coffee shop lobby. Sit tight. She leaves, and Ava picks up Boyle’s bag. She says, all right. Who are you?

Sonny meets John at the PC Grill and John says, Kristina seemed upset. How is she doing? Sonny says, John doesn’t care about Kristina or the fake crimes he’s charging her with. Stop playing around and tell him what he wants. John says, Kristina’s not looking too good. She probably won’t make it through the trial, let alone a 20-year sentence. Sonny says, it’s not going to come to that, and John says, Sonny can make his daughter’s troubles go away. Sonny asks, how? and John says, he’s going to confess.

Anna goes to Jack’s office (I’m starting to feel sorry for him), and he says, what an unexpected pleasure. What can he do for her? She tells him to stop playing games. She needs to know Valentin’s location. He says, the WSB doesn’t currently have it, but if he learns anything, she’ll be his first call. She says, he’s lying. She’s conducted run arounds herself. He asks if she’s rethinking letting Valentin escape. Browbeating him won’t help her find him any quicker. She says she needs to find his daughter for Lulu. His phone rings, and he tells them to send him the information immediately. Anna says, he knows Lulu is dying and Charlotte might help save her mother’s life. He needs to give her the courtesy of his full attention to discuss it. He says, she always sees him in the worst possible light, and she says she has reason to. He says, she can badger him or save Lulu. That’s what the phone call was about.

Tracy says she knows Laura is looking for Lucky, and she can use any of the Quartermaines’ resources to help bring him home. Laura thanks her for her generosity, but she’s waiting to hear from the WSB. She spoke to Jack Brennan, the station chief in Port Charles. Tracy says, they should be able to find Lucky, and Laura says, he told her that it was a chaotic part of the world, when her phone rings. It’s Jack, and she says she’s putting him on speakerphone. He says he has good news. He has a location for Lucky. She thanks him, and he says, Lucky was last seen at refugee camps in Somalia and Ethiopia a week ago. She asks if he’s there now, but Jack says he’s not sure. His contact doesn’t currently have eyes on Lucky and he can’t get satellite information for 48 hours. By then, it will be a long shot, since they move frequently. She asks if she can get a message to him to let him know it’s urgent, but he says, communication is sketchy to non-existent. Her best bet is to send someone, but whoever she sends needs to be prepared for the substantial risk. It’s a dangerous part of the world.

Alexis thanks Portia for helping with the insurance, and Portia says, no problem. She knows Alexis has a lot on her plate. How is Kristina doing? Alexis says, she slept last night, so there’s that. She’s got a long road ahead of her. Portia says, she’s a strong woman and clearly has a lot of support. It’s not easy, but she will get through it. Alexis says she takes it Portia heard about the scene between Kristina and Molly after the funeral, and Portia says she thinks they’re in a lot of pain. She imagines Alexis is too. As a mother, she truly feels for Alexis. It’s a terrible position to be in. She’d do anything for Trina, and she just has one daughter. Alexis is stuck in the middle, having to choose. She doesn’t know what she’d do.

Jason says he totally gets where Kristina is coming from, but it’s not her fight. If Cates hadn’t used her, he would find another way. Ava is a means to an end. He’s using Kristina, so don’t give him anything else he can hold over her head. He’s obsessed with getting Sonny. Being obsessed makes him crazy and it makes him dangerous. It also makes him weak. He has tunnel vision. He wants revenge for something that happened decades ago and will risk everything to get it. At some point, he’s going to make a mistake and leave himself open. Sonny knows when to make a move and Cates will never see it coming.

Sonny asks what he’s supposed to confess to, and John says, everything last thing. On the record of course (🍷). No trial, witnesses, or plea bargain. He’ll confess to the smuggling, money laundering, counterfeiting, and murder. Last but not least, he’ll tell them how he groomed an innocent underage girl and put her to work as a stripper. Sonny says, that’s a pretty big swing John’s taking. What if John misses? John says he won’t, and Sonny says, all he’s got is a phony statement from Ava that any lawyer can poke holes in. John asks if he wants to test that theory. If he’s wrong, Kristina will go to prison for a long, long time. It’s her freedom or his.

Isaiah says he’s not leaving Lucky in this mess, and Lucky says he came to rescue Isaiah. Isaiah says he didn’t ask, and Lucky says, he’s asking Isaiah to rescue them both. They’re out of their league and Isaiah needs to get out of here, get back to the states, and bring backup of the three letter kind. Isaiah says, don’t say the CIA, and Lucky says, no. Never go near them. But the WSB owes his family a favor.

Anna tells Jack, time is of the essence. She doesn’t know why they’re pinning their hope on Lucky when there’s another viable donor out there. He says, for the last time, he doesn’t know where Valentin and Charlotte are, but she says she doesn’t believe him. Jack is robbing Charlotte of the chance to save her own mother’s life and putting his efforts into a desperate search for a single man in a strife torn part of the world. When this fails, he’ll have to face the fact that he chose to protect the WSB rather than save the life of an innocent woman. She leaves and Jack ponders.

Tracy tells Laura that they can hire a mercenary or an extraction team. There are security contractors. Laura says, no. She doesn’t want a stranger to find her son. She can do it herself. Tracy says, it’s too dangerous, but Laura says she’s aware of the risks. She has a contact, the man who runs the last organization Lucky was working for. Tracy says she understands the impulse for Laura to go herself, but professionals would be better qualified. Laura says she doesn’t agree. Blood is thicker than water. Tracy asks if Doc is okay with this, and Doc says he knows better than to argue… because he’s going with her. Tracy says, fabulous. The mayor and her psychiatrist husband. What could possibly go wrong? Laura says she appreciates Laura’s concern, but they’ll be okay. Tracy says she hopes so, and Laura says, there is something Tracy can do to help. Look after Ace. Tracy wonders if he shouldn’t be with a family like Elizabeth’s. She has a child who’s Ace’s cousin. Laura says she thought Ace would be more comfortable with Tracy’s family. Don’t they have a nanny on staff? Tracy says, two, and Laura says she hopes throwing Ace into the mix won’t be overwhelming. Tracy says, Ace is welcome to come stay at Monica’s house, and Laura says she couldn’t do this without knowing he was safe. She trusts Tracy. Tracy says she’ll make sure Laura’s grandson has excellent care, and Larua says, then it’s settled. Let’s go find Lucky.  

Kristina says, so Jason isn’t going to stop Cates? but he says, something will be done. He can’t talk about it. She thanks him and says she knew he’d come through.

Sonny says, John has a lot riding on Ava. If she finds a better offer, she’ll recant her statement, and his case will fall apart. John says he’s not worried. Ava is in no position to recant – ever.  

Ava looks in Boyle’s bag. She takes out a pair of sunglasses and says, these cost a fortune. You can’t afford them on a government salary. She takes out a phone, thinks a moment, then puts it back. She finds a wad of cash and says, this is not right. She flashes back to Sonny telling her that John wants her dead and will try to frame him for her murder. The only thing John wants is her dead. Ava puts the bag back and opens the door. Boyle is there with the coffee and says, going somewhere?

Tomorrow, Violet asks when Chase and Brook are having a baby; Willow tells Drew that she’s so sorry; and John tells Kristina that she has a way to make this go away.

📋 Don’t Let Her Go…

You never know. Could work.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-fans-rally-to-save-kelly-monaco

Here’s the petition. I signed and commented.

https://www.change.org/p/retain-kelly-monaco-in-the-cast-of-general-hospital

🎭 No Drama Outside the Lines…

Kudos to them for the tough scenes they’ve been doing so well.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/kate-mansi-opens-up-about-the-powerful-drama-on-gh

💰 Fancy Crossover….

JoshA showed Fancy Pants Heather from the OC a mansion. In his interview, he explained that the Dubrows moved fast and didn’t mess around. That made them his kind of people. The house on a hill had 8 acres and amazing views of pretty much everything, and it was priced at $20 million. A steal Heather couldn’t resist.

There was trouble in his paradise between JoshA and his Heather. HeatherA was being spread too thin between work and family, especially now that the office had expanded to include Orange County.

JoshF went to Fashion Week in Paris, which left Tracy to handle their co-listing. In an odd twist, she showed it to a couple who were JoshF’s clients, meaning she might have to negotiate against Josh, which she said would be fun… for her.

Next time, a 20-car garage and doody on the curtains.

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 8 Recap: Mo’ Mansions, Mo’ Problems

🐩 Looking For a Fabulous Match…

While I think a dog park is a great place to meet a potential date, it was weird when a guy asked if he could buy Whitney and her friend a drink. Are there bars in dog parks now? She finally made the smart move to use a matchmaker.

https://parade.com/news/my-big-fat-fabulous-lifes-whitney-thore-hones-flirting-skills-dog-park-exclusive-clip

🥂 Two Firsts In One Night…

I have to admit, it surprised me that Olivia spent the night with her first ever date. No judgement at all. As a matter of fact, good for her. I just didn’t expect it. If she doesn’t cut out that nervous laughing though, she might not get a second date.

https://people.com/welcome-to-plathville-recap-olivia-plath-spent-night-on-first-date-post-divorce-8702802

👠 Down the Not Quite Shore…

Melissa says she’s done with the drama.

Melissa Gorga Fine With Leaving RHONJ if Teresa Giudice Returns to the Franchise

https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2024/08/longtime-rhonj-star-promises-to-leave-if-castmate-stays-on-show.html

RHONJ: Melissa Gorga Calls Jackie Goldschneider ‘Desperate’ For Fueding With Margaret Josephs

And Danielle is putting on her big girl pants.

Danielle Cabral Says RHONJ Finale at Rails Was ‘Worst Form of Abuse’

🛟 After the Deck Is Over…

We need Chef Ben to come back and save the Med.

What Are the Below Deck Season 1 Cast Doing Now?

🦧 Their Kingdom…

I watched this last weekend. Nice plot twists and phenomenal effects. The story wasn’t bad, but I didn’t exactly come for the drama. It did not disappoint on the action/FX front.

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ reigns on Hulu

Behind the curtain.

https://ew.com/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-side-by-side-raw-cut-with-unfinished-vfx-clip-exclusive-8697941

🦍 Find the Chimp…

Coincidentally, I started watching Chimp Crazy too. The takeaway point being, don’t keep wild animals as pets. It’s abusive to the animal and it could backfire on you.

https://people.com/where-is-tonka-from-chimp-crazy-now-all-about-florida-sanctuary-8703367

🚓 Giving Summer a Speeding Ticket…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a seat in the OC shade. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping an emergency vehicle kit in your car, and stay not trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense.

Aug15

August 14, 2024 – James Disappears From the Park, Oh No, Two For Tea, This Week In LA, NYC Comeback, Next Squid, Witchy, No Cameo, Cover Girl & Goes

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

Mac and Spinelli play frisbee in the park. James wanders off, and Mac wonders what he did.

At the stables, Cody flashes back to Sasha kissing him. Tracy comes by, and he asks if she wants him to prep Hades, but she says she’s planning on taking him for a ride. So buckle up.

Sasha flashes back to Cody saying he loves James, when Willow comes in and tells her that Cody left his hat. She suggests Sasha take it back to him, but Sasha says she has to be on a call with the caterers. Willow says, Olivia isn’t here. She must have forgotten. Sasha says, it’s not with Olivia. It’s with Drew and he’s MIA.

Drew wakes up next to Nina and asks, what time is it? She says, too early to get up, but he says he’s got a call he can’t miss with Sasha and the caterers. It’s for the campaign. Nina tells him to skip it, but he says, it’s too late to bail. She says, Sasha can handle it, but he says, she can’t make decisions without him. Nina kisses him.

Brook, Lois, and Gio eat on the patio, and Lois asks if Blaze got off okay. Brook says, she got on the plane, and Gio says he has to get going. Lois says, pretty soon, he’ll be focusing on concerts, but he says, there might not be as many as he thought. He was counting on the gallery concert for exposure, but who’s going to go to a gallery owned by a murderer?  

On the phone, Sonny says he needs to find Clement. He opens the door and Natalia is there. She says she came to say goodbye. She’s going home to Puerto Rico.

Tracy says she plans on testing Cody’s mind, not his body, and Cody says, fair warning. He has a finite set of skills. She says she’ll go easy on him, and he says, it doesn’t sound like fun. She asks if he can count and differentiate between black and white, and he says he can. She says, then he can play backgammon.

Lois tells Gio that she’s sure the show will go on in spite of Ava, and Brook says, it might bring more people out of curiosity. Lois says, artists would jump at the chance to attach themselves to Ava’s notoriety. He’s too good and has too many positive things in his life to play background music for the upper-class bourgeoisie. He says he doesn’t care what people think about him, but there are a few people whose opinions matter. Like Uncle Sonny.

Natalia tells Sonny about Blaze’s tour, and says, she and Kristina broke up. Sonny says, Kristina didn’t tell him, and Natalia says, it was difficult for both of them. Maybe Kristina is still processing. She saw Blaze off, but they didn’t part on good terms. Sonny says he’s been there. It’s not easy, but they love each other and he’s sure it will work out. Natalia says, hopefully, but their potential reconciliation won’t take place here. Sonny says, so it’s a permanent move, and she says, that’s the plan. Alison doesn’t want her on tour, and she came here be with her, so she has no reason to stick around. He says, what if he gave her one.

Drew says, it’s a great way to start the day, and Nina says, it was a great way to spend the night. He says he thinks they set a new record. It’s been 10 hours, and they haven’t said anything nasty to each other. Now his would-be constituents await. She says, duty calls.

Michael asks if Willow has seen Drew, and she flashes back to her and Drew being in the elevator. She says, not since last night, and he asks if she’d mind calling him. He’s sure Drew will pick up for his star fundraiser. She says she doesn’t know where he is and doesn’t want to call. They hardly cross paths, and from now on, they won’t see each other at the foundation at all. Michael asks what that means.

Spinelli finds James sitting under a tree and asks if James wants to play frisbee, but James says, no, and asks how long they’re going to stay. Spinelli says, they just got here, but James says he’s bored. Spinelli asks what he wants to do. It will just be between them. James says he wants to ride horses with Cody, but Grandpa Mac said no.

Mac tells Felicia and Maxie, Two Trees is amazing, but Maxie says, there’s no Cody. She knows Mac has his own issues with Cody, but forbidding James to see him wasn’t Mac’s call. Felicia says, they discussed this at home, and Mac says, summer is almost over. James will be back in school before he knows it and he’ll forget about Cody. Maxie says she doubts it and asks if he doesn’t think he’s punished Cody long enough. She leaves, and Felicia says, Mac messed up big. She hopes he plans on fixing it, since she’s not doing it for him.

Maxie meets Nina as she walks into the park, and Nina thanks her for texting. It’s a lovely day. Maxie says, Nina is in a good mood. Did she have her teeth whitened? Nina says, no, and Maxie asks if she did her hair. Something is definitely different. Lucy would say her aura is glowing. Lucy would say, when Scott… Did she sleep with Drew again?

Drew comes in and tells Sasha that they’ll have to reschedule. His campaign strategy session went late and he overslept. She tells him, no problem, and Drew apologizes for barging in. Michael tells him that he and Willow were talking about her work at the Institute, and Willow says she’s come to a decision. She’s decided to go back to nursing. She’s resigning.

Tracy says, Cody gets the first roll, and Cody says, she must have been playing for a long time; she’s so knowledgeable. She says she played with her boys when they were young, then picked it back up when she was in the hospital for a while. He asks what she was in the hospital for, and she says, that’s a little forward. He says, she brought up, and she says she was infected with parasitic brain worms on a tropical vacation from a treat fed to her by Ned’s con artist father, Larry Ashton. Cody says, sounds scary, and she says, it was. He says, there are worse ways to spend time in the hospital than playing backgammon, and she says she remembers it fondly. He says, because she got to be the center of attention, but she says, because she made a friend. (I went through a backgammon phase years ago, so I get why Tracy loves it. It can be addicting.)

Brook says she thinks Sonny would respect Gio for sticking to his word, and Lois says, he has to do what’s best for him. Sonny isn’t his keeper. He’s his own man. Gio says he doesn’t want to let Sonny down, and what’s best for him right now is to get to work. He leaves, and Brook says, Lois is usually Sonny’s biggest defender, but she’s telling Gio not to care what Sonny thinks. What’s going on?

Sonny asks if Natalia wants to stay in Port Charles, and she says, it has its charms, but in her current situation, she lacks the income to sustain a bicoastal life. He says, this is where he can help, but she says, the only thing she knows about coffee is that she’s useless in the morning without it. (Same.) He says, she knows numbers, and he calls Brook. He says he was wondering if she could come over. He’s got a proposition for her. Brook asks, what kind of proposition?

Willow tells Drew and Michael that she agonized about it for weeks. She missed nursing. It fulfilled her and she feels she has a purpose as a nurse more than doing PSAs. Michael says he would have understood, and she says she wanted to be sure. She didn’t want to disappoint anyone. Nina has been helpful, and they won’t be working together anymore. Neither will she and Drew, and he’s been so supportive. Drew says he’ll always believe in her. She’s got his faith and support whether she works at the Institute or GH. He and Michael feel the same way. She should do what makes her happy. Willow says she appreciates him making it easy. She has to get the beach stuff together. She’ll meet Michael back here. She and Drew leave in opposite directions, and Sasha says, Michael rolled with Willow’s decision, but he says, what choice did he have?

Nina says she thought Drew would ditch his plans. They had an amazing time. Maxie says she knows. They had great sex. There were fireworks. Drew spending the night was unexpected. Nina says, it’s not like they’re in love. They’re two consenting adults enjoying each other. The more Drew sees it as enjoyable, the less he’ll intrude on her daughter’s marriage.

Spinelli tells James that he knows it seems unfair, but disagreements happen sometimes. Like how he has fights with his friends. James says, they usually make up, and Spinelli says he’s sure Mac and Cody will too, but it will take time.  

Mac says he’s not apologizing to make it easier on Cody. He’s a liar and a sneak. He doesn’t need or want Cody in his life. Felicia says she’s not convinced Cody shouldn’t get a second chance, but it’s Mac’s decision and she’s good with whatever he decides. He says, thanks, and she says, but don’t drag their grandson into it. The longer he keeps James and Cody apart with no explanation, the worse his and James’s relationship will be. Is that a price he’s willing to pay?

Tracy tells Cody that she was not a model patient. Her doctor weathered her ill humor with grace and got to know her. He was gentle and kind, but he was tough. And don’t get her started on how prickly he could be. Cody says, he sounds like an interesting fellow, and she says she clicks with few people the way she did with him. He says he’s glad the doctor was there for her, and she says, her too. Finn is one of a kind. He says, she misses him, and she says, very much.

James sneaks around and watches the others from behind a tree. Spinelli asks if Nina and Maxie want to play frisbee.  

As they sit on a bench, Mac tells Felicia that he’s trying to shield James from disappointment, but sooner or later, he’ll realize Cody is not the hero he pretends to be. She says, what if he’s wrong? What if Cody lives up to James’s expectations? Sometimes people can be better if they know someone believes in them.

James slips behind another tree and watches Mac and Felicia.

Lois and Brook go to the penthouse, and Sonny says he didn’t know Lois was going to show up. Lois says she was with Brook when he called and it piqued her curiosity, so she thought she’d come along. She and Brook greet Natalia, and Lois asks, what’s the idea he’s got them so eager to hear? Sonny says he was investing in a new record label, and Brook says, don’t get her wrong. She’s happy that Blaze is living her dream on tour, but she’s disappointed their idea got shelved. Sonny says, the money he set aside is still there, and he thought of a better use for it than it sitting in a bank collecting interest. Brook asks what he has in mind, and he says he’d like to invest in Deception.

Drew goes to the boathouse where Willow is getting the beach stuff together and asks if Willow needs some help. She says, thanks, but no thanks, then slips moving a box and falls on her behind. He holds out his hand, but she says she’s got it. She gathers what she needs and says she doesn’t want to keep Michael waiting. Drew says he doesn’t want her to make a big mistake.

Sasha says she knows Michael was excited about Willow’s job at the Institute, but he says, only because Willow was. If he’s learned anything from her, it’s that time is precious, and he doesn’t want her wasting it being unhappy. He doesn’t have to tell Sasha how precious time is with the person you love. He’s sorry. He wasn’t thinking. She says she’s made as much peace as she’s going to with Brando’s death. Now she smiles most of the time, rather than cries, when she thinks about him. She doesn’t think she could survive another heartbreak. He says she’s stronger than she thinks. Life doesn’t come with guarantees. You can wonder if you missed out on something great or risk being hurt.

Cody asks if Tracy has heard much from Finn, and she says she thinks he’s been concentrating on his recovery. He says it sounds like they have a special relationship, and he’s sure they’ll be happy to see each other when Finn comes home. She says she doesn’t know how happy Finn will be to see her, and he asks, why not? She says she may have been too hard on him. He hugged her when he left, but she hasn’t heard from him. He says he’s had friends go through rehab, and when Finn is thinking clearly, he’ll understand. She says she hopes so. Her only goal was to help him. He says, it sounds like underneath that tough shell, she’s pretty warm, fuzzy, and compassionate. Did he just win? She says, what? How? He says, beginner’s luck.

Sonny says, Deception has been struggling since last summer. He thinks the cash will take them over the hump and they’ll expand their audience. He’ll structure the deal, but be a silent partner. Brook says, this could be a game changer, and he says, on one condition. They hire Natalia.

Maxie brings Nina over to the group, and Nina says she wanted to come by to see them and James. Mac says, if James is still hellbent on taking riding lessons with Cody, he won’t stand in his way, and Maxie says, finally. She calls to James, but there’s no answer. She wonders where he is and yells, answer me right now!

Sonny says he wants to invest a lot of cash in Deception without taking an active role, but he wants a representative to handle his interests. Natalia is great with finances and negotiating. Brook says, Natalia’s haggling over Blaze’s contract kept Lucy awake at night, but Lois says, the music business is different than a cosmetics company. Brook says, she and Lucy lean more toward the creative side rather than financial, and Sonny says, Natalia knows numbers and will work in his best interest. Lois says, what about when his best interests don’t align with Deception’s? and Natalia says, that’s a fair question. Deception’s best interests are identical to Sonny’s. If he succeeds, then they do. Brook says she needs to discuss it with her partners. She’ll start with Tracy.  She suggests Natalia come along, since she thinks Natalia is her own best advocate, and Natalia says she’d love to. Brook thanks Sonny and says she’ll be in touch, and Natalia tells him, what she said. They leave, and Sonny asks Lois to stick around. He has a few words to say to her. She says she has a dictionary she’d like to break over his head, and he tells her that he just wants to say he’s sorry.

Spinelli suggests they split up to search for James, and Nina says, he’s a smart kid. Maxie says, too smart for his own good, and Spinelli says, it’s the first time he’s taken off like that. Maxie says she thinks she knows where to find him, and leaves, when Nina gets a call from Michael. She asks if everything is all right, and he says, everything’s fine, but he needs to talk to her about Willow.

At the boathouse, Willow tells Drew that her role isn’t what she expected. She’s not feeling fulfilled. He says, then they’ll make her feel fulfilled, but she says, they can’t. Being there at all is the problem. He says he had no indication, and she says she didn’t realize until she visited Kristina. When she was helping Kristina, she remembered why she fell in love with nursing and realized she missed the work. He says, she’s so good. He’s seen the numbers and she’s driving up donor registration. She says she’ll keep doing it until the Institute finds a replacement, but she can’t commit to anything else. She’s going back to GH. He says he’s happy for her, but wants to make sure her motivation is honest. Does her resignation have anything to do with him?

Tracy says, Cody cheated, but he says, how could he? She was watching him the whole time. She says, he’s not a beginner, and he says he never told her that he was. She assumed. It’s only hustling if you’re playing for money. She says she could have won if she hadn’t been distracted by his questions about Finn, and he says he wanted to know more about her. If he happened to win in the meantime, good. She says, next time, she won’t be so benevolent, and he says he expects nothing less. Sasha comes in and says she doesn’t want to interrupt, but Tracy says she arrived just in time. She was about to beat Cody senseless. Rematch? He says he looks forward to it, when Tracy’s phone rings. She walks out while talking to Brook, and Cody tells Sasha, backgammon is a bloodsport around here. She says she found this, and hands him his hat. He puts it on, and she says she found something else – her senses. He asks what she means, and she says she’s tired of being scared and playing it safe. Life is short. She thinks they should do this. He says, do what? and she kisses him.

Mac says he saw James and Spinelli with their heads together. What were they talking about? Spinelli says, James is distressed about Mac’s antipathy toward Cody, and Felicia says, this isn’t the way she wanted to be proved right.

Sasha asks if Cody can take a break, and he says he can take the whole day. He has to shower too. She says, he doesn’t smell bad. They can get dirtier together. They start to get busy, when Maxie walks in. She says she’s sorry. She doesn’t need to see this. Congratulations. She’ll let them both get back to it, but she has a question. Have they seen James anywhere?  

Nina asks Michael, what’s wrong? and Michael tells her that she and Willow won’t be collaborating on the New Tomorrow Institute anymore. Willow is resigning and returning to GH. He’ll let Willow be the one to tell her why. Nina says she can probably guess.  

Drew says, Willow’s work at the Institute is important to them and she’s changing lives. Don’t give up because he made it complicated. She says, it’s the only way to make it better. She loves Michael, and she’s committed to him and her family. But she can’t stop thinking about Drew. It’s wrong, and she wants as much distance put between them as possible before she does anything else she regrets. She takes the beach stuff and leaves.

Sonny says he found out that his meds had been off for a while, and Lois says, that’s a big deal. Is he okay? Did they fix the dosage? He says he’s back on track. He wants her to know she means the world to him. She always has and always will. Lois says, he means the world to her too, and thanks him for telling her. She saw he was off. Now she knows why. He asks if they’re friends again. Are they square? She says, they’re always friends. Square, not so much. He asks what she means, and she says, the infusion of money to Deception. Where is it coming from? (Didn’t they have this conversation? It’s the same money.) He says, every dime is legit. She can call his accountant. She says she believes him, but even the appearance of impropriety will be more damaging than maleficence. He asks what’s worrying her, and she says she loves him, and his personal life is his own, but she doesn’t want the business under federal scrutiny because he’s trying to impress a woman.

Brook tells Tracy, it’s a large infusion of capital that could fund Research and Development for five years. They can finally break ground on that. Tracy asks what Natalia thinks her title should be, and Natalia says she thinks CFO is appropriate. Tracy says she’s surprised the financial institution didn’t contact her, and Brook says, it’s a small bank, but the money is vetted and secured. Tracy asks, what’s the name of the bank? and Brook says, the Bank of Sonny. Tracy says, over my dead body

Tomorrow, Lucy says she thinks it’s a great idea; John tells Ava that he’s got Sonny where he wants him; Maxie says, nobody is going to find James unless he wants them to; and Cody dives into the water, presumably looking for James.

🍽 Eating My Words…

I have no words. Actually, I do, but this blog is rated PG-13.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jacqueline-grace-lopez-says-goodbye-to-general-hospital-2

🫖 Striving For Elegance…

Love these two together.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/ghs-jophielle-love-on-violet-and-tracys-tea-party

💰 Hard Times In Listings…

Not only does the market still stink, buyers are also pulling out of deals; JoshA saying the fallout was around 25%. He came close to getting a new house for JoshF, going so far as to forego his commission, but JoshF wasn’t willing to come up even another $200K. I always figure, when you’re talking millions, what’s another couple hundred thousand? Tracy, playing the role of JoshF’s broker, had already agreed to no commission since JoshF had done the same for her. Since they were at an impasse, Tracy suggested they finish the tequila and call it a night. JoshF then began to lean toward rebuilding his gutted dreamhouse. In an interesting panty twist, Tracy found a pair of satin undies amongst the rubble and threw them over the fence. Nice. She’s going to be exiled to Summer House if she’s not careful.

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 6 Recap: No Deal Is Easy

🗽 Returning To New York…

That pigeon décor is pretty impressive.

https://extratv.com/2024/08/13/watch-erin-lichy-confront-husband-abe-about-lying-in-rhony-season-15-trailer/

RHONY Season 15 Premiere Date is Revealed! Plus Brynn Whitfield Teases “Intense” Episodes, Names MVPs, Who She’s Closest to on Cast, and Talks Dating, Shep Rose, and Captain Jason

🐙 Your Post Christmas Present…

A new Game is coming December 26th.

https://comicbook.com/anime/news/squid-game-season-2-new-players-trailer/

🧹 Channeling Those Before…

Instead of WandaVision’s sitcom approach, Agatha will be using the witches of yore to tell her story.  

https://ew.com/agatha-all-along-trailer-kathryn-hahn-joe-locke-d23-8693175

🦸 Not Done Yet…

The ones who didn’t make it.

https://ew.com/halle-berry-says-ryan-reynolds-never-asked-me-to-cameo-in-deadpool-and-wolverine-8695666

https://people.com/robert-downey-iron-man-cameo-deadpool-wolverine-8693208

🐶 What a Dogue…

Pilaf deserves her own magazine cover. She’s an unbelievably cute little nugget of pup.

https://people.com/demi-moore-tiny-dog-pilaf-gets-her-own-vogue-cover-8695515

🍫 Love You S’more…

Join me tomorrow for soap and the OC in LaQuinta. Until then, stay safe, stay understanding that integrity and character are what really matter, and stay not wasting time being unhappy. Time is precious.

Jul11

July 10, 2024 – Cody Makes a Promise To Sasha, Dubai In the House, New Listings, What’s Cookin’, For the Senior Pets (!) & America

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What I Watched Today

(rambling, random thoughts, recaps, and the whole GH enchilada on Fridays)

General Hospital

In the nook, Sasha gives Drew some coffee, and flashes back to seeing him kiss Willow. She tells him that his speech was inspiring, and he says he’s given other speeches before, but this one was different. She says, last night was full of surprises, when Willow walks in. She asks if Willow wants coffee or a beignet, and Willow says, yes, to both. Sasha says she doesn’t want to brag, but Wiley says these are his new favorites, and Willow says, he calls them bayonets. Sasha tells them to help themselves, and she leaves to see Cody at the stables. Willow and Drew look at each other.

Felicia says she always felt there was a connection between Mac and Cody, and Maxie says, Felicia’s Spidey senses have always been borderline terrifying. She asks if something could have happened to the DNA sample Felicia sent in, but Felicia says, the lab is the best. Even if the sample was contaminated, it would only add to the sample, not take away from it. Maxie says, they’ve all spent a lot of time with Cody, and he’s been wonderful, and Felicia says, that’s why she doesn’t want Maxie to be mad when she says this. He’s lied before, so why should they believe him now?

Scotty goes to Ava’s hotel room, and she checks the hall for a certain FBI agent who’s having her followed because she’s spent time with Sonny. He asks if she means John Cates, and she says, that’s the one. He says he’s known John since high school. He’s a good guy. She asks what Scotty is doing here and is he billing her for it, and he says, oh yeah. He has Diane’s countersuit. Sonny wants sole custody of Avery. He hands her the papers.

Sonny visits his old kitchen and the moss bowl🎍, and Carly says, Avery and Donna are doing crafts with Pilar. Don’t be surprised if they’re covered in glitter. He asks if she doesn’t think Donna is growing up too fast, and she says, that’s why they have to enjoy these glitter filled days. He says, now that Ava’s moved out, would Carly reconsider having Donna spend the night? He and Avery would love it. Jason walks in, as he’s another member of the moss bowl🎍fan club and can’t stay away.

Willow says she wasn’t looking for Drew, but she’s glad she ran into him. She loves Michael with all her heart, and it was wrong of them to kiss. It never should have happened. Drew says, it was an accident. (Yep. He accidentally fell into her lips.) The result of too many drinks and too many fireworks. He loves Michael too and would never hurt him. They did something impulsive and stupid, but one kiss doesn’t have to change anything for anybody.

Maxie says she doesn’t think Cody is lying, but Felicia says she saw the DNA result with her own two eyes. Maxie says, those were the results from the top secret don’t-tell-anyone test. Cody claims the results from the original test prove he’s Mac’s son. Felicia asks if Cody could be working an angle, but Maxie wonders where the big payout would come from. When she talked to Cody last night, she could tell he wanted to bolt. She knows the look of someone wanting to run from the mistakes they’ve made. He was trying to say goodbye without actually saying it. She practically had to threaten him into staying. He can’t leave town after telling Mac that he’s his son.

Sasha goes to the stable and tells Cody that she was going to keep this to herself, but last night… He says, last night he told Mac that he’s his son. He kept thinking about what she’d said. He hated lying to Mac and it just came out. He should have kept his mouth shut. It was worse than he thought. Mac’s furious with him. He said, Cody had plenty of chances to tell him the truth, but he didn’t. He also told Mac about the whole Taub/WSB stuff with Scotty. She asks if Mac understood, and Cody says, what Mac understood is that he betrayed Mac’s family. She says, it was a lot to take in for both of them, and He says, Mac stormed out, so it seems he took in enough. The only person he was madder at than Cody was himself. For believing Cody could be anything but a grifter. She says, that’s harsh and wrong, but give him time. He’s probably in shock. For what it’s worth (🍷), she’s proud of him. He must feel better having that secret off his chest. He says he feels like garbage, and there’s still a weight on his chest. It’s just for a different reason. She asks what he wants to do now, and he says he wants to get the hell out of town.

Ava says, it’s no surprise Sonny is suing for sole custody, and Scotty says, after reading Diane’s filings, he thinks Ava’s expectations should be lower. He doesn’t like the facts of this case. She says, Avery’s father is a dangerous man working in a dangerous business with other dangerous people. What other facts does he need? He says, she was living with Sonny with Avery, but she says she was living there to keep Avery safe and be a loving touchstone for her in a stressful time. He says, judges like stability and don’t like seeing kids ping-ponged around, and she says, that’s why she wants Avery with her full-time, but he says, she’s in a hotel. At Sonny’s, Avery has a routine, and she likes living with her father. Does Ava think a judge will want to take her away from that? She asks if he didn’t tell her that if Sonny had a public meltdown… He says, all bets would be off, but he doubts that’s going to happen during a custody hearing. Sonny’s not that stupid.

Sonny tells Jason that he and Carly are talking on a private matter, and Carly says she and Sonny are discussing the kids. She tells Sonny that Avery is welcome to be there with Donna any day, and Sonny says he has to take care of something, showing her the papers. Ava thinks she deserves to have sole custody of Avery. Carly says she’s happy she doesn’t have to wade into this mess, but he tells her that she might be called to testify because they share custody of Avery’s sister. He needs to know what she’s going to tell the judge about his suitability as a parent.

Sonny says he knows he and Carly have had their problems. He wants to know she’s not going to say he’s a terrible father. She says, it’s no secret they’ve had their issues – he says he’s sorry – but if she’s going to walk in a courtroom and trash anyone, it’s going to be Ava. He says, that’s not what he wanted to hear, but he’ll take it. He heads for the door, but then asks if Jason and his FBI buddy found anything on him.

Sasha asks if Cody is leaving, but he says he told her that he wanted to leave. It would be easier to just disappear, but no. Maxie made him promise he wouldn’t leave, but she’s not the reason he’s not leaving. Sasha is. At least for now. He moves closer, but she stops him and says, he has to stop doing this. He wants a connection with someone, but every time he gets close, he thinks of a reason to bolt. They’re building something. She kisses him and says, he can’t go. If he does, he’ll have a lot more than Maxie to worry about. She’ll hide Tracy’s secret cash box and say he took it. Tracy will have anyone with eyes and a badge looking for him. He says, Tracy has a secret cash box? and she says, not a very well-kept secret. Promise her he won’t go. He hesitates, and she says, how about this. He talks to her first if he decides to go. He says he can do that, and she says she should get back to the house, and leaves.

Ava goes to see Clemont the pharmacist, and he says he has a staff meeting in 15 minutes. He’s going to have to ask her to leave. She says she can sit in. She’s sure his staff will find it fascinating the way he refills Sonny’s bipolar medication. He says he knows she’s not Sonny’s wife. He doesn’t even have a wife. She says, give him time, but it doesn’t matter. She knows he’s been filling Sonny’s prescription with less than a quarter dose and thinks that’s frowned upon in his profession. She’s sure he has his reasons and doesn’t care what they are, but she cares about Sonny’s dosage. He says he’ll change it back to the proper dosage, but she says, he’ll change it to zero. He says, she wants him to give Sonny placebos? and she says she does. Unless he wants Sonny to know what he’s been doing, he’ll do what she wants. He says, it’s dangerous, but she says she’s willing to take that risk.

Drew (who now looks like a creeper) says, they kissed and regretted it and agreed it won’t happen again, and Willow says, absolutely not. He says, the worst thing they can do is dwell on it and let it interfere with their friendship and working together. She tells him that she doesn’t want to compromise her and Michael’s happiness for any reason, and he suggests they put it behind them. It won’t feel as big of a deal in the future. They probably won’t remember it in a year. Michael comes in and says he knew he smelled beignets.

Michael wants to talk to Drew about the wellness division, particularly the budget for Curtis. Willow says, the conversation sounds too exciting for her, and goes out on the patio.

Felicia says, maybe Cody is just mistaken about the DNA results, but Maxie says, they’re pretty conclusive. There’s no real room for interpretation. Felicia says her results were zero, when there’s a knock at the door. It’s Sasha, who asks if it’s a bad time, but Maxie says, no. Sasha says she’s sorry to come by without calling, but this is important. She knows Cody is Mac’s son. If they’re mad at Cody, they should be mad at her too. Cody told her the results months ago.

Clemont says he understands, and he’ll take care of it, and Ava says she knew she could count on him. She asks if anyone’s been asking about her, but he says, no. She says, if anyone does, tell them she was here for a consultation. Make it believable. She hopes he doesn’t do anything to make her come back. She leaves and Clemont looks pretty nervous.

Jason says he’s not working against Sonny, and Sonny says he hopes it stays that way. He’ll be back to pick up Avery. He leaves, and Carly says, he’s not wrong. Jason is working with Cates. Jason says, it’s not to take Sonny down, and Carly suggests he tell Sonny that the only reason he’s working with Cates is to protect her.

Michael and Drew go over the budget, and Michael says he assumes Drew is going to be campaigning to take advantage of the momentum. Drew says he was thinking about that, and Michael says, before he starts shaking hands and kissing babies, did Willow seem off to him?

Willow goes to the stable and asks if Cody is good with her being here. She was wondering how the horses were doing after the fireworks. Cody says, they’re fine. He kept the lights on and gave them extra hay. Some people say you should play classical music to soothe them, but these guys are metalheads. She flashes back to kissing Drew, and says, fireworks are beautiful, but kind of disorienting. You get so distracted, you kind of lose your bearings. (Okay. If you say so, Willow.)

Sasha says she knew Cody lied about the DNA test and that Mac was Cody’s biological father, but it didn’t feel like her secret to tell. Felicia asks how Sasha can be so sure. Her tests results came back negative, and Sasha was there when she told Cody. Sasha says she was also there at the Home & Heart set, when Felicia ordered the DNA test. She saw Felicia take hair from Cody’s brush and she replaced it with her own.

Carly asks why Jason can’t tell Sonny the truth, and Jason says, if Sonny finds out Cates is threatening him, who knows what he’ll do? She agrees, especially with how volatile Sonny’s been, and he asks about the meds. Carly says she checked. He’s taking them. Despite all his faults, he’s always been disciplined with his medication. Jason says, something is off, and she says she agrees, but just now, Sonny seemed like his old self. It was a relief. It seemed like the old Sonny was still in there. Jason says, until he walked in, and she says, that’s when the Sonny she doesn’t recognize showed up. He says he can’t tell Sonny the truth. Not yet. What if he goes after Cates again and kills him?

Holding an ice bucket, Ava opens her door, and Sonny is there. He asks what this garbage is. Is she alleging he’s emotionally unstable? She says she’s not talking to him like this and asks if she should call security. He says he took a page out of her book, and puts his phone on record. Just in case something is misinterpreted later on. Don’t do it.

Willow and Cody have coffee, and she says, he should have come up to the house last night, but he says he wanted to make sure the horses were okay. Did he miss a good time? She says, he was in better company, but people are upbeat about Drew running for congress. Even Tracy is on board. He asks if Willow is going to campaign for him, but she says she’s not a savvy campaigner. He says, she was a teacher, and she says she taught children, not town meetings full of would-be voters. He says, children are people too. If Drew is running as a Quartermaine, it might help if the Quartermaines supported him. Get the family involved. Aside from the kids, Willow is one of the more appealing family members.

Sasha tells Felicia and Maxie, Cody has been wrestling with this decision to tell Mac. She thought, if he had more time, he would get there, so she switched the samples to buy him more time, but she hated lying to them. Please believe that. Felicia says she does, and Maxie says she doesn’t understand. Mac’s a great guy. Sasha says, Cody knows that, but has an issue with not being good enough. He’ll have to tell them the rest. She owed them an explanation and apology. Maxie says she accepts and so does her mom. Felicia says, they appreciate her honesty, and Sasha asks, what happens next? Felicia says, it could turn out to be a good thing for Cody and Mac, and Sasha agrees, but says, Cody told her Mac was really angry and hurt. Felicia says, he was, and it will take time for him to trust Cody again. Sasha says she was trying to help, but by delaying the inevitable, she just made things worse.  

Sonny says, no wonder Scotty is the only lawyer Ava could get, and she says, it’s the strength of the case that matters, not the strength of the lawyers. He asks if that’s what her slip-and-fall guy told her, and she says, defenseless mothers seem to do well in family court. He asks if she’s going to have a stand-in, because that’s something she’s not, and she says, he’ll look good in court unless somebody says something he doesn’t like or looks at him funny. Then all bets are off. He says, Diane can find 20 witnesses to say she’s an unfit mother, and she asks if he thinks his reputation is off limits. What judge is going to give custody of an innocent child to a notorious mobster who used to run a strip club?

Maxie tells Sasha not to be so hard on herself, and Sasha says she doesn’t know what to do. Cody is devastated and talking about leaving Port Charles. Maxie says she made him promise he wouldn’t, and Sasha says, so did she. Maxie says, Cody’s promise to Sasha carries more weight, although she threatened him and she’s more dangerous. Sasha says, not really, and Maxie says, Sasha is so sweet, Sasha could be related to her mom. For all they know, maybe she is. Felicia says she would know. Mac is devastated too, but neither one of them is going to approach the other. It seems like they share the same stubborn gene. Maxie asks what they’re going to do about it.

Cody tells Willow that he likes all the Quartermaines, but some of them are more approachable than others. Can she picture Tracy on the campaign trail? Willow says, not so much, and he says, all kidding aside, he thinks Drew should run as part of a family, because that’s the dream. To be surrounded by people that love and care for you and want the best for you. Sometimes when you don’t deserve it. She says, he’s right about being part of a family. The Quartermaines have done that for her, especially Michael. He’s given her everything.

Drew asks what Michael means by Willow being off. Did she say she wasn’t feeling well, because she seemed fine to him. Michael says, nothing like that, but Willow doesn’t always tell him. She just muscles through. Maybe he’s being oversensitive, but whenever she comes down with something, he gets worried that the cancer came back. Drew says, that’s a normal human reaction. Michael witnessed the person he loves going through a terrible disease and has to give himself a break. Michael says, last night, she was tossing and turning, and he doubts she got an hour’s sleep. Drew says, maybe she just had a tough time winding down, and Michael says, he’s right. It was a big day. If Drew says she seems fine, he’ll stop worrying. It’s probably nothing. He leaves.

Jason asks, what happens to Donna and Avery if Sonny’s in prison for killing a federal agent? and Carly says, especially since there’s a possibility of her going to prison, but he says, that’s not going to happen. He’s not going to let it happen. She says she knows he believes that, and if anyone could stop it from happening, it’s him, but it may not be up to him. Or the moss bowl🎍.

Ava says she’s glad Sonny is recording this. Keep talking. Howl at the moon for all she cares. Then go home and listen to himself and judge how suitable he sounds as a parent. He says he’s not going anywhere, when Cates is suddenly at the door, and asks, is there a problem here?

Tomorrow, Ava proposes a deal with John; Heather makes a plea to Laura; and Portia tells Jordan her plan.

🐪 Better Camel Than Never…

I’m on Taleen’s team about the dog. Even if I hate you, I’ll send you condolences on the passing of your pet. It’s a sadness that’s universal and transcends beef.

Real Housewives of Dubai Season 2, Episode 6 Recap: Shut Up and Burn

🌆 LA Is Back…

As usual, there were fabulous houses with views to die for that all our combined incomes could never afford. The market in LA wasn’t great, and the Joshes were at odds over a co-listing, while Tracy tried to bridge the gap with them. JoshA listed a 7200 square foot house at 9000 square feet to get more eyeballs on it, since it had been on the market for 18 months. He played fast and loose with the definition of living space, saying the extra footage was a concrete area that could be a living space. It seemed shady to me, but so do a lot of things in real estate. JoshA appeared on Days of Our Lives as an aggressive businessman with an affinity for cocaine. They thought he resembled his character in real life – an arrogant a-hole – and he was asked back. I tried watching Days for a while, but I just don’t have the time for another soap. They showed clips though, and I’m hoping they have his scenes on YouTube.

Next time, the Heather and Terry Dubrow, and JoshF dresses up as a shark.

Tonight’s full recap here:

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles Season 15, Episode 1 Recap: Just When You Think You’ve Seen It All…

🍳 Leaving the Stove On…

I watched this tonight and really enjoyed it. I think Lisa and Gordon are a great fit, and it’s a little different from the usual cooking competition.

Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: Which Team’s Demonstration Backfired?

Also saw this, and ditto on the enjoyment factor. The new generations spin on it keeps it fresh.

‘MasterChef’ season 14 episode 6 recap: Who was eliminated in ‘Age is Just a Number’? [LIVE BLOG]

🐯 No Judgement…

I don’t think the word furries means what they think it means, but even if it did, more power to them. Senior pets need extra love. My oldest Peke just turned 17½ right now, June 11th.

https://people.com/furries-raise-over-100k-for-homeless-senior-pets-at-pittsburgh-convention-8676313

🪭 It’s Getting Hot in Here…

Join me tomorrow for soap and a peek at the OC. Until then, stay safe, stay keeping anything breakable away from pools and pool decks, and stay not delaying the inevitable. It just makes things worse.

Jan25

January 24, 2022 – Luke’s Past Comes Back To Haunt Laura, No Cooked Fish On Deck, Summer Highlights, Kwame’s 4-1-1, Memorial Guest, Million Dollar Goodbye & Thaw

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Portia says, there he is. She stopped by to say hi, and no Curtis. Curtis gives her a kiss, and says he was at Luke’s memorial. It gave him some food for thought. She says, care to share? and he says he was thinking about Marshall’s cardiac incident, and what it would have meant if he had died. If Curtis had thrown away the only chance he got to know him.

Ned and Olivia are at the MetroCourt with Leo, and Ned says, now? She says, no time like the present, and Ned tells Leo, now that they’re done eating, he and Leo’s mother would like to talk to him about something. Leo asks if he’s in trouble, but Ned says, no, and Olivia asks why he would think that. He says, they’re wearing nice clothes, which means it’s an important day, and Ned says he’s right about that. They just wanted to tell him that they’re having a wedding ceremony at the house in a few days. Leo asks, why? and Olivia says, she and Ned are already married, but they want to have another wedding for their family and friends. Ned says, to show their commitment to their family, and there’s another very important reason. Olivia says, Ned would like to officially adopt Leo, so Ned can be his father. Leo says, but Ned’s not his real father.

At the bar, Austin leaves a voicemail for Maxie. He knows he’s said it before, but he’s saying it again; he’d do just about anything to get Louise back to her. To that end, could she give him a call, so they can coordinate their trip to Pawtuck tomorrow? That’d be great; thanks. Britt walks in, and sits next to Austin. She says she didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but oops, she guesses she did. She asks if he’d like to join her for a drink, and tell her about him and Maxie.

Brook tells Chase, Bailey finally went down. Fingers crossed that she sleeps the night. He says, if she does wake up, he’ll be happy to rock her back to sleep. Brook’s always telling him that Bailey like his singing. Brook says, she does. It’s really… She flashes back on Chase saying he could never be with her, and he asks if she was going to say it’s really a good idea. She says, no, she was going to say it’s unnecessary. She can handle Bailey fine on her own. The doorbell rings, and Brook opens the door to Maxie, who says she’s there for her daughter.

Valentin sees Victor at Charlie’s bar, and says he’s glad Victor has the time to meet with him. He sits down, and Victor says he was going to settle his tab, but he’s more than happy to stick around and spend some time with his son. What is Valentin drinking? Valentin tells the bartender, vodka on the rocks, and Victor orders the same, saying, Valentin does their Russian heritage proud, but Valentin says, he enjoyed vodka when he didn’t know he had a drop of Cassadine blood in him. Victor gives a toast in Russian, and they clink glasses. Valentin says he got an interesting phone call from Dr. Gatlin-Holt today. He said Victor stopped by his office. Victor says he went there to see Valentin. He’s glad to hear Valentin and the good doctor are working together to retaliate against Brook. Of course (🍷) that does make his offer of assistance a little redundant. Valentin says, he likes to keep his options open, and he does value Victor’s expertise. Victor laughs, and tells him, feel free to drop the act. He knows exactly why Valentin is spending time with him.

On the Haunted Star, Laura looks at Luke’s portrait, and says, goodbye, my love. She blows the portrait a kiss, when a woman, dressed entirely in black, including a veil, walks in. She stands in front of Laura, and removes her veil. Laura says, Jennifer Smith, and Jennifer says, fate has been so cruel to take Luke away from them, and even crueler in delaying her to say goodbye. She can’t even tell Laura how much she hated missing the memorial service of their dear ex-husband. Spencer asks if Jennifer was once married to Luke, and Laura says, for five minutes. What is she doing here? What does she want?

On deck, Carly looks up at the sky, and says, Luke, are you out there? Sonny puts his hand on hers, and says he knows they’re feeling a lot tonight. There’s a lot they need to say to each other, but he just wants her to know, the only thing that’s important… Come home.

Oliva says, Ned loves Leo very much, and Ned says, remember, they discussed this last year, that there are many different ways to parent. Some kids have a mom and a dad, some have two moms or two dads, some have stepparents, and sometimes, only one parent. Julian will always be Leo’s biological father. Does he know what that means? Leo nods, and Ned says, he’d like very much to be the father who raises Leo, who makes Leo a part of his family too.

Maxie says, if anyone asks, she had to give Brook some very important Deception research. Chase wonders why anyone would ask, and Maxie says, because Peter followed her to Texas, and then to Nixon Falls. She doesn’t care if he’s in jail awaiting trial; he could have a henchman following her. Brook says, if someone is following her, the last thing she wants is for them to see her leaving the house with Bailey, and Maxie says, she didn’t mean she was going to take Bailey; she just wants to see her. Is she upstairs? Brook says, Maxie doesn’t want to wake her. She’s been having trouble at bedtime, adjusting to a new place. Maxie says, don’t tell her what her daughter needs.

Jennifer says, and who is this handsome young man? and Spencer says, Spencer Cassadine. She says, ooh, a Cassadine, and he asks why she’s there bothering his grandmother. Jennifer says, that’s so lovely; he’s protecting Laura. She must be so proud. Laura says, she is, and Jennifer says, but clearly, she neglected to tell young Spencer about a very substantial part of her history. Laura says, here we go with the histrionics, and Spencer asks how Jennifer is part of Laura’s history. Laura says, Jennifer is Frank Smith’s daughter, and Jennifer says, before his death, her father – may he rest – was a major figure in organized crime. Major. Laura says, Luke worked for Frank Smith, and Frank ordered Luke to marry Jennifer, and on their wedding day, she and Luke ran off together. Jennifer says, please, let’s choose to remember the good times. Now why did no one tell her about the memorial service for her incredible Luke? Laura says, because she wasn’t invited. Now please, return to whatever rock she crawled out from under.

Carly says she and Sonny both know it’s not as simple as just coming home. He says he lost too much time with her already. He doesn’t want to waste another second, but she says, so much hasn’t been addressed. He admitted that he fell in love with Nina. She accepts that it was through no fault of his own. She gets it, but she’s so angry and hurt that he didn’t think she was strong enough to handle the truth after Jason died. He should have told her before. He says, but there was always a crisis, and he wanted things to settle. She says, the anger, the hurt, the betrayal, that’s all stuff she could get past and get over, but the difficult part, the part they’re not saying out loud, is that deep down, she knows he can’t just fall out of love with Nina. His head knows Nina lied to him and hurt his family, but his heart doesn’t. She doesn’t expect him to be able to turn off his feelings at the drop of a hat, but if he needs time to get over Nina, she can’t be around him. She can’t watch him nurse a broken heart for someone else. She was furious not getting the full story, but anger isn’t new to them. What’s impossible is her trying to share a bed with him while he’s trying to get over another woman. He says, it’s the same as her trying to get over falling in love with Jason, and she says, it’s not the same thing. She told him everything after a couple of days. It wasn’t weeks and it wasn’t months. Let’s talk about how she found out about him and Nina. At least when she didn’t tell Sonny, she was trying to protect him. Sonny says, he was trying to protect her, and she says, and Nina. He was trying to protect them both, and that’s heartbreaking because she’s his wife. She thinks they were so happy that he’d come home, they eased back in their old life, and maybe they shouldn’t have. He says he still loves her. Nothing has changed, unless it has for her.

Jennifer makes a drink behind the bar, and Laura says she’s sure Jennifer has heard about her half-brother Cyrus Renault, and his lucrative business in the northwest. It’s actually her territory, isn’t it? Jennifer says, the business was always her father’s domain, and Laura takes the drink from Jennifer, saying, excuse you. The last time they met, Jennifer kidnapped her son, so forgive her if she doesn’t take Jennifer at her word. She takes a sip of the drink, and Jennifer says, fine. She did not come all this way just to pay her respects to Luke. Laura is right. She did have an ulterior motive for coming to Port Charles.

Victor says, Valentin’s sudden enthusiasm for destroying Brook and spending time with him rather came out of the blue. Valentin asks if he’s been enthusiastic, and Victor says, Anna has been looking at him rather crossly lately; curious as to his future plans, no doubt. Since Valentin will do anything for her, Victor is sure Valentin would ingratiate himself to Victor on her behalf. Valentin says, Victor assumes everyone is as calculating as he is, but Victor says, not everyone. In fact, he finds most people reckless, random, and sloppy. All the more reason to appreciate Valentin’s considerable skills at strategy. Besides, Valentin needs to understand that Victor isn’t the least bit bothered by Valentin’s ulterior motives. He’s just happy to spend time with his son any way he can.

Maxie bends over the crib, and says, okay, Louise; mommy’s here. Louise/Bailey starts to cry, and Maxie tells her, don’t cry; it’s okay. Don’t be upset. She cries louder, and Brook comes in. Maxie tells Louise not to cry, and Brook tells Louise, it’s okay. Bailey’s here in her crib, her mobile is here, and her nightlight is here, and I’m here; she’s okay. Bailey/Louise quiets down, and Brook tells her that she’s okay to drift off to dreamland. That’s her girl. Maxie leaves the room.

Britt and Austin sit at a table, and he says, please, whatever ideas she has about him and Maxie, could she just let them go? His focus right now is helping Maxie get her baby back. Britt says, the baby he delivered. If she hadn’t been on the run with Jason, she would have been there to help Maxie. He says, she would have delivered Louise? and she says, Maxie was so worried about what would happen to Louise if Peter got his hands on her, she was prepared to give her baby up for adoption, and let Peter believe she was dead. But she wasn’t there to deliver the baby, and the rest is terrible history. Her brother and his crazy nurse had their own plans for the baby.

Marshall comes into The Savoy, and Portia asks if he shouldn’t be home resting. He says he’s glad he ran into her. He wanted to thank her for helping with his episode last night. She supposes he’s really there to see Curtis, and says, she knows it’s not her place to get involved, but it seems to her, the way Marshall goes about things could be perceived as forward. Curtis asked him for space. Curtis joins them, and tells her, it’s okay. He asked Marshall to stop by.

Olivia says, when Ned adopts Leo, Brook will officially be his sister, and Tracy will really be his grandmother. Leo says, and his name will be Quartermaine, like Olivia. She says, if that’s what he’d like, and Ned says, if Leo still wants him to be his father. Leo nods, and Ned tells Olivia that he’s going to give the lawyers a call, and make sure everything is all set. She says she loves him, and he says he loves her too. He kisses the tops of both their heads, and leaves.

Victor says he could only protect Valentin from a distance when Helena was alive, and Mikkos. Now, finally, he can be a father to Valentin face-to-face. Valentin asks if this means Victor will be at his Little League games and parent/teacher conferences, and Victor says he won’t rest until their family is intact again. They’re going to need each other for what’s coming next. Valentin says, the details of which Victor doesn’t want to share with him, and Victor says, all in due time. Valentin says then he guesses they don’t have anything else to say to one another, but he will get the tab. He takes out his money, and there’s a piece of paper with it. Valentin looks at it, and Victor asks what it is.

Maxie says she feels like such an idiot, but Chase says she’s not, handing her a box of tissues. Maxie says her daughter is old enough to recognize her name, but her name is not Bailey; it’s Louise. And it’s not Maxie’s voice that’s comforting her or helping her fall asleep; it’s Brook’s. That’s how long she’s been away from her mother. Chase says, this is all going to be over soon. Peter will be found guilty of the crimes he’s committed, and be locked away for the rest of his life. Then Maxie’s baby can return home to her. Maxie asks, how soon is soon? A trial could take months. In the meantime, she’s missing every major milestone of Louise’s life. She doesn’t even know who Maxie is. He says, but she will know who Maxie is. Until then, Maxie’s just got to carry a piece of Louise in her heart. She says he has no idea how true that is.

Valentin tells Victor, he knows Bailey isn’t his daughter, but he can’t seem to let go of this. He unfolds the paper, and it’s Bailey/Louise’s sonogram.

Maxie says, ever since she had to give up her daughter, she’s carried Louise’s sonogram in her purse. She puts it on the table, and we see it next to Valentin’s copy.

Carly says, has her love for Sonny changed? How can he ask her that? The only thing she asked for is space and time, and he owes her that. He says, there’s no need. They’ve got to be together. They’ve got to go on an adventure. They’ve got to recommit. Whatever she wants, just say it. He’s going to tell her everyday that he loves her, and everything is going to be fine; it’s going to go back the way it was. She asks if he’s okay, and he says, he’s not okay. He just got back, and his wife isn’t home. He’s going to show her how much he loves her. He leaves, and she says, she only asked for time.

Jennifer tells Laura that she has something to say to her, and Laura says she’s listening. Jennifer says she’s sorry. She’s sorry for all the terrible things she did, and the pain she caused Laura and her family over the years. Laura asks where this is coming from, and Jennifer says she’s had a lot of time to look at herself over the last few years, and her obsession about Luke wasn’t even about Luke at all; it was about herself and her thinking she deserved everything she wanted. She treated Laura horribly because of her sense of entitlement. Sonny walks in, and Jennifer says, look what the cat dragged in. Hello, Sonny.

Valentin tells Victor, he carried this with him the whole time Brook was expecting, after Bailey was born, and he’s still carrying it. Victor says, may I? and looks at it, noting the patient ID on the back. Valentin says he probably should throw it away, but he can’t shake the feeling that one day, he and Bailey are going to have a relationship of some kind. When that day comes, he wants to have that, but if he doesn’t let it go, he doesn’t know how he’s supposed to heal. Victor suggests he hold onto it for Valentin.  

Brook says, Bailey is out like a light, and Maxie says she has to get going. She has to meet her mom. Her mom and Anna are insisting on getting a lead on Louise. They kept pushing her, so she finally agreed to go to Pawtuck with Austin to remember anything that happened when Louise – air quote – went missing – end air quote. She says she can cancel, but Chase says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea. It’ll raise more questions if she bails on her mom and Anna. Brook says, plus, if Austin goes alone, there’s the X factor. Maxie has to go and control the questions and spin the narrative. Maxie asks, what choice does she have, other than telling Austin the truth?

Austin asks if Maxie told Britt who she wanted to adopt Louise, but Ned approaches their table, and says, sorry to interrupt. He just wanted to give them an update on Leo. He’s seeing the specialist Austin recommended. Austin says, great; Olivia mentioned something about that. How does Leo feel about the sessions? Ned says, so far, so good, and Austin says, he thinks, in the long run Leo will be grateful for what they’re doing. Ned says he’s the one who’s grateful, and he wanted to thank Austin. Austin put Ned’s son first, knowing what it could cost him, and he knows his family didn’t do right by Austin. He’s hoping to rectify that.

Marshall says, by the look on Portia’s face, she’s as surprised as he is that Curtis asked him to come. Surprised and grateful. Curtis says he has to admit, he thought it would take a couple of days, given Marshall might need some time to recover. Either way, he’s glad Marshall is there. He’s been doing some thinking since Marshall was in the hospital, and confided to a friend what Marshall told him about being in hiding. Marshall says, he warned Curtis… but Curtis says he trusts them.  They got to talking, and his friend made him realize he was demanding answers from Marshall could put their family in jeopardy. Marshall says he can see why Curtis would think that, and Curtis says he doesn’t like it, but he’s willing not to push it, for now.

Jennifer says, she was hoping she and Sonny would reconnect when she was in town, and he says, they met once or twice, when he was working for her dad. That was a long time ago. She says, and look how far he’s come. The Five Families zabaglione are down to two. Laura asks Spencer to do her a favor; go out on the deck, and give Doc a call. Tell him they’ve been delayed, but they’ll be home soon. He starts to protest, but she says, from the deck. Now. He leaves, and Jennifer says, the Corinthos as Wu families now run the entire east coast. Her father would be so proud. Sonny says, her father’s dead, and she says, still, his empire could grow if that’s Sonny wanted. He says, what he wants is to take care of his family, not have this conversation, and she says she was just trying to be nice. She has an early flight in the morning, and it’s not like they’ll be able to catch up over breakfast. He says she can go back on his private jet because there’s no use for her here. He doesn’t need any distractions when he’s concentrating on Carly and his family. Laura suggests Jennifer get that drink she wanted, and Jennifer goes back to the bar. Sonny fiddles with his phone, and says, come on, and Laura asks if he’s okay. Sonny turns to look at her, and looks like Jack Nicolson in The Shining.

Carly finds Josslyn in her room, and they hug. Carly says, she’s so happy to see Josslyn, and Josslyn says, she dropped Donna and Avery off at Grandma Bobbie’s, and thought she’d come say hi. Carly says she’s glad, and Josslyn asks how Carly is doing. Grandma Bobbie told her that Sonny was at Luke’s memorial. Carly says, he was, and Josslyn asks if she wants to talk about it, but Carly says she doesn’t, because it’s not appropriate. Josslyn says, who cares? Talk to her about it anyway. Not talking isn’t going to make her any less upset about Sonny, and actually saying how she feels about Sonny out loud may be helpful. Carly says she’s sad, and she’s confused, and she keeps waiting for the Sonny she knows to show up. The one who would be furious that Nina kept Sonny from his family for months. The one who would want her to suffer the way they suffered. But this Sonny is just making excuses, saying he wants to protect Carly, when really, it’s Nina he’s protecting.

Marshall thanks Curtis for his understanding, and they shake hands. He’s going to leave them alone now. He doesn’t want to get in the way of their date night. Portia says, he wasn’t; she was actually just leaving. Curtis says, she was? and she suggests Curtis have a great night with his father. She tells them both, goodnight, gives Curtis a kiss, and leaves. Marshall looks at a bottle on the bar, and Curtis says, a tequila man, is he? Marshall says, yes, sir. He was just noticing the brand; top of the line. Curtis has good taste. Curtis gestures to a table, and Marshall sits down. Curtis brings the bottle over, and sits with him. He says he can’t tell Marshall how many times he was warned organized crime would try to muscle him out of his nightclub, and Marshall asks what he’s trying to say. Curtis tells him, he’s saying he knows there are a lot of grey areas about Marshall’s past. If Marshall got mixed up with some not-so-good people, Curtis knows it might not have been willingly. He’s not saying he gets it, but he’s trying to. Does that make sense? Marshall says, it does.

Laura says, Sonny seems out of sorts; is he okay? He says he’s fine, but starts breathing hard, and leaves. Jennifer says, Laura looks like she needs this more than she does, and hands her the drink. What has Sonny Corinthos so hot and bothered? Laura puts the drink down, and says she doesn’t know, but he’s right about one thing. Jennifer being there isn’t helping anyone; Jennifer least of all. Jennifer says, Luke was cruel to both of them. Laura at least got out from all of that. She needs to know how Laura did it. How did she get the catharsis she needed to reclaim her life? Laura says, don’t look for a catharsis. Life doesn’t always wrap itself up cleanly and neatly and completely; it just doesn’t.  The only way any of us gets any closure, is by closing a chapter and opening the next one. Jennifer thanks Laura, and says she’ll take it to heart. Take care. She leaves, and Laura takes a sip of the drink.

Josslyn says, Carly just wants Sonny to admit he messed up, not tell her all the reasons he kept quiet about his feelings for Nina. Carly says, but in Sonny’s mind, those reasons make sense. He didn’t want to inflict more pain after Jason died, or after Brando and Sasha had to take their baby off life support. Josslyn says, his intentions were good, so Carly’s not allowed to be mad? but Carly says, she’s mad, and she feels justified in her anger. Josslyn says, her too, and Carly says, but justifiable anger’s not going to fix things. Josslyn asks if Carly thinks there is any way to fix things.

Olivia tells Leo that she’s going to say something that may not make sense to him for a while. She had blinders on for a long time. She let her own fears and anxieties get in the way. She wasn’t seeing him for who he really is, every last beautiful side of him. But she sees him now; she really does, every bit. She wants him to know, she’ll never let her fears come first ever again. She loves her little man so much. They hug.

Ned tells Austin that he and Olivia are having a family gathering in a few days at the house, to renew their wedding vows. He’d like Austin to be there, but Austin says he has other plans. Ned says, okay. There will be other family occasions, and he’s hoping maybe Austin changes his mind, and joins them. He leaves, and Austin and Britt look at each other.

Chase and Brook both say, bad idea, and Maxie says, think about it first. Austin already thinks Brook is hiding something from him, even more than lying to Valentin about being Bailey’s father. And this way, they could keep him from asking any more inconvenient questions. Brook says, Maxie… and Maxie says, fine. Brook is right as usual. She’s got to get going. Her mom wants to go over details of their Pawtuck outing. Brook says she’s sorry about what happened before with Bailey; she was just cranky. Maxie says, it’s fine. It’s good for her to see her daughter is in good hands. Brook and Chase make a great team. She leaves, and Chase says he agrees with Maxie. He and Brook make a good team. She says, really? She gets the sense she’s just a burden to him.

Carly and Josslyn get in the bed with their coffee, and Carly says she does hope to put the pieces back together. Josslyn tells her not to stay with Sonny if it means she’s unhappy, and Carly says, in the end, that depends on Sonny. He needs to understand that she needs space, or they’ll never be able to make things right.  

Curtis and Marshall clink glasses, and Curtis says, to Marshall’s health. Marshall says, and Curtis’s, and the continued health of The Savoy. They drink, and Marshall says, that’s good. Curtis says, another? and pours Marshall another shot. Marshall says, Curtis is right on the money. Shady characters always try to muscle their way into venues like this. Speaking of the devil, Sonny walks over to the table, and Curtis asks, what’s up? Sonny says, he wants Curtis’s club.

In her car on the phone, Jennifer says, the memorial just ended… No. She did not get the closure she needed, but she did get them what they wanted. Sonny is in no rush to expand to the west coast, which gives them plenty of time to grow strong before they make their move one day… So are they finished here?

Spencer tells Laura that he left the message on Doc’s voicemail, and she thanks him. He asks why she wanted him to leave. It’s not like he doesn’t know his Uncle Sonny is a kingpin. She says, all the more reason for Spencer not to listen in on Sonny’s conversations, especially the ones with Jennifer Smith. He says, she was a lot, and Laura says, that’s one way of putting it. He asks if Laura is worried about Jennifer showing up, and Laura says, it’s a concern, but she has other things to focus on. He says, like running the city, but she says, no. Actually, she was thinking about her family. She knows she’s been hard on him recently, but hopes he knows that she’ll always love him. He says he loves her too, and they hug.

Victor suggests he hold on to the sonogram for Valentin. He can return it when Bailey’s absence from Valentin’s heart is a little less painful. Valentin thanks him, and tells him to take it. Someone has to pull the plug on his attachment to that kid. Like he said, he’s got the tab. Victor says, don’t you dare. Please allow him. It’s the least he can do for the chance of getting to know Valentin better. Valentin says, and him getting to know Victor, and finishes his drink. Valentin says something in French, and leaves, and Victor says, au bien teau, mon fils (good luck, my son).

Austin tells Britt, let’s celebrate. He’s on the A-list of Quartermaine invitees. It makes him want to dance with joy. She says, at least things worked out with Leo. Austin was willing to risk his career when he suspected Leo was on the autism spectrum. He says, that’s just him, Saint Austin, but she says she thinks it’s more than him just being a good doctor. Is there a reason why Leo’s case was so personal to him?

Chase says, Brook is a burden to him? Where’s this coming from? She tells him, forget she said anything; she’s tired. He says, it came from somewhere. Don’t shut him out. She says, she’s not; she swears. She’s going to check on Bailey one more time, and go to bed. She’ll see him in the morning.

Victor finishes his drink, and is about to leave, when he literally runs into Maxie. She drops her stuff, and he sees the sonogram with her patient ID on it.

Tomorrow, Trina asks if Spencer would care to make it interesting, Josslyn asks why Carly was the one to leave when Sonny messed up, Nina says it’s either her or Carly, and Sonny tells Curtis that he’s not leaving until he gets it.

Below Deck

Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts. Everyone is a bit hung over. In Eddie’s interview, he says, the season has been difficult. It kills him that Rayna didn’t think of him as a friend or supporter. He felt like he’d let someone down. He tells Rayna that the thing with Heather isn’t sitting well with him; both that it upset Rayna and that she didn’t feel he’d backed her up. That was the last thing he wanted, and wants to do what he can to support her. He asks if she wants him to grab Heather, so they can kill this, but Rayna says she’s tired of talking to Heather about it. He tells her that she doesn’t express it when she’s upset, and she agrees. He tells her to talk to him next time.

It’s time for the preference sheet meeting, and Captain Lee says the primaries are Jennifer, a real estate entrepreneur from Utah, and husband Darin, who want the charter of a lifetime with their friends. Jennifer has requested no cooked fish, and they want a white party with a curated meal, featuring their dishes from their favorite cuisines. They also want a jungle safari beach party, and a formal dinner party. The captain says, they’re leaving at 11. Until then, he’s leaving them to their own devices. As he walks away, he says, that’s a frightening thought in itself. In Eddie’s interview, he says, they’re all exhausted. One more push. Macho man Eddie is coming out. He tells the deckhands, let’s get her done. Captain Lee asks Eddie to take them out of the dock, and Eddie says he’d like Jake to be on watch. Provisions come in.

Captain Lee tells the crew, 30 minutes. It’s the last one, and he wants to hit it out of the park, because we can’t get through the season without a baseball reference. The guests come on board, and are given champagne. The captain says, Heather will give them the tour; then they’ll get this party started. Rachel says she’s in let’s kill it mode, and makes a charcuterie plate, while Heather shows the guests around. The marina manager yells at them to stop. Wes sees something in the water, and Eddie runs down. The captain says, that’s a big effing no-no. Leaving the engines running, and walking off from the wheelhouse is never acceptable.

Wes fishes garbage, and whatever else that fell, out of the water. Captain Lee tells Eddie, the number one rule; never leave the bridge unattended when everything is fired up. Eddie asks what the captain would have done (WWCLD?), and the captain says, shut everything down. You have no idea what could happen with the electronic controls. He learned the hard way. We flash back to 7 seasons ago, when the boat ripped a pilon off. Eddie gets the boat out into the water, and Captain Lee says, good job. Rayna drops anchor.

Island of Nevis. Kaylee says she’s banging the laundry out, and lunch is served. The guests inform Heather that Nevis is Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace, and express interest in visiting his old house. The slide is put up without incident, and Heather tells Kaylee, tonight is white chic, and puts her on balloon blowing. She gives Kaylee some pearls for the white party, and the guests want champagne for watching the sunset. The captain hears them wondering where someone is to serve the champagne. One suggests asking the captain, but Darin says he is not asking the captain for effing champagne. In Captain Lee’s interview, he says, the guests are paying how much money? They’re not even close to the finish line. The crew needs to get their heads out of their asses, or he’ll eat their asses. He goes to the crew mess, where everyone seems to be, and says, at no time is he ever to see everybody sitting at this table at the same time. The guests are wandering around, looking for drinks. Heather jets, and the captain says, if he sees this again, there will be hell to pay.

Heather says, group champagne flute coming up, and I get a mental picture of a champagne bong. In Fraser’s interview, he says he doesn’t think they’re providing the highest quality of hospitality, but it’s not his job… yet. He puts white feathers on his epaulets. Rayna helps in the galley, and in her interview, she says Rachel is a dragon lady. Rachel’s like Shrek, and Rayna is the donkey. The guests rave about the décor, and the table does look beautiful; pearls and white doilies with tiny white trees on them. Heather serves the salsa and guacamole, but fails to take the bowl of chips. In Rachel’s interview, she says, it’s the last leg of the race. Everyone is tired, but they need to keep communication open. Fraser tells Kaylee to do the cabins, and Heather tells Rachel that the guests are loving the soup, but Rachel says, she’s too tired, and doesn’t give a f***. I’m wondering why on earth the guests would opt for Mexican food at a white party. That’s like asking for a laundry disaster. Lobster ravioli is served, and primary Jennifer says she put it a million times in bold letters on her preference sheet; no cooked fish. From what she’s mumbling, it sounds like she doesn’t like the texture. In Heather’s interview, she says, Rachel had completely forgotten. Clearly, they were all exhausted. She tells Rachel about the mistake, and Rachel says, bloody effing hell.

We flash back to the prior charters where Rachel neglected one guest’s aversion to cheese, and didn’t quite meet the needs of the guest whose jaw was wired shut. In her interview, Rachel says, she’s so tired, it becomes a compilation. She comes upstairs with the next course, and apologizes to Jennifer for the lobster, saying, she’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Fraser and Jake chat as Fraser pops the balloons, and in Fraser’s interview, he says, he and Jake are different, but complete each other in weird, wonderful ways. They love each other. Jake calls pseudo-fiancé Paris, and says he’s taking an 8 day holiday after the season. She tells him that if there’s a strew position on the boat he’ll be on, she’ll come along, but the phone dies.

The next morning, Jennifer and Darin have coffee on the top deck. Heather says Rachel looks like she’s going to cry or kill someone. No surprise, Rachel opts for the latter. Fraser calls friend Kamille, and in his interview, he says, his aspiration is to be a chief stew. He tells Kamille that he’s too comfortable where he is, and couldn’t live a comfortable life. The guests are seated for breakfast, and I wonder why everyone isn’t clutching coffee cups. Mine doesn’t leave my hand in the morning until noon. Heather tells Fraser that she’s grumpy and over people being grumpy and over it. She’s effing exhausted. In her interview, she says, the boat sucks, and the best way to fix it is with imagination. They need a serious bounce back, and to take it to the next level. She tells Eddie that the guests love Hamilton. Maybe he could think of a cool way to incorporate it. Eddie says he thinks Heather already has an idea, and asks, what’s on her mind? She says, this is how we get $30K…

Heather tells Eddie that she’ll put him in a Hamilton outfit, and he can pull up in a boat. He suggests he ask directions to NYC, so he can better his education, and then leave. Heather produces a grey wig from who-knows-where, along with a bunch of costume pieces. In Eddie’s interview, he says he was into musical theater when he was younger. The first part he played was in The Wizard of Oz. He played Toto, and stole the show. He’s playing it cool, but can’t wait to get his Hamilton on. Heather tells Fraser that she’s going to set up on the beach, and she wants him to stay for the final packing. Rayna and Jake are already there, setting up the tents, and in Rayna’s interview, she says, she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but she’s going to miss Jake. They love each other, but the boat is too small for their big personalities. Regardless, she loves him.

Captain Lee tells Heather, the wheelhouse looks like a costume shop. It’s got to go. Heather thinks the captain is tired and cranky too, and Rachel says, or just pissed because he wants to wear the wig. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s glad the captain didn’t talk to her like that. She would have cried. Heather tells Kaylee that she’s getting it from all angles. It started with Rachel in the morning; then Rayna was giving her attitude. Now it was Captain Lee. In Kaylee’s interview, she said she and Heather were like sisters. They love each other, but they can also want to rip each other’s heads off. She feels it’s her responsibility to pick Heather back up, because that’s what sisters do. Kaylee fixes Heather’s hair in the crew mess, and the captain asks if Heather is chewing gum. Heather promises she’ll spit it out before she waits on the guests, and in her interview, she says, more knives, but she’s still standing. Fraser comes in, and asks Heather something about the dish he’s holding. She tells him to drop it off in the galley, then tend to the guests, but he keeps talking. Afterwards, she tells him that Captain Lee didn’t want to see all three stews in the galley, and when she told him to go, he did the opposite. He made it seem like her word didn’t stand. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s sorry Heather’s not feeling great, but right now, it’s not cute. Chill the f*** out.

Rachel asks Wes to help put aluminum foil on the food trays going to the beach. In Rachel’s interview, she says, screwing up is not an option. She’s made it a la carte, so there’s an option for everyone. Heather and Kaylee go over to the beach, and in Heather’s interview, she says, the picnic has to be seamless. She needs to have her head in the game, and stop worrying about how everyone feels. The guests are brought over, and Kaylee and Wes go back to the boat. Cornhole is played, as it is at every jungle safari beach picnic. Heather takes a group photo of the guests, and Rachel grills. Heather calls Eddie to come with the ice cream, and Eddie gets into his costume.

Looking like an aging minuteman, Eddie tells us, I’m Alexander Hamilton, bitch. He approaches the beach, and upon landing, says he’s on his way to King’s College, but brought them ice cream. In his interview, he says, Lin Manuel, I’m available. Rachel tells Heather that Eddie wasn’t supposed to come until the very end of the meal, and in her interview, Rachel asks why this is happening. If it melts, she’ll look like a dumbass. She tells Heather that she wanted it when the guests were done eating. In Heather’s interview, she asks if she’s in the Twilight Zone. Don’t hate her. She was doing what Rachel wanted. She suggests putting it in the cooler, but Rachel says she doesn’t care anymore.

Next time, the finale, a duel on deck, Rachel tells Heather to STFU, and Heather begs for Rayna’s forgiveness on her knees. It’s a no.

🏖 On the God awful Summer House, the takeaway points were as follows. We found out newcomer Mya had once been engaged to Kwame from Top Chef. Danielle’s boyfriend was also a chef, and getting more successful, so he wasn’t around much, but she seemed okay with that. Ciara said, Austen wasn’t ready to date or be in a relationship, and Carl looked like an entrée. Really? Et tu, Ciara? Some woman cursed Andrea out and called him an a-hole for pushing her in the pool at a pool party. Paige asked the woman and her friend to leave the pool party, but they were like, you can’t fire me, I quit, and said they were on their way out anyway. Andrea got all dramatic about it, and took to his bed. Amanda did weird things with a floatie, and I have no idea why. No surprise, Andrea wanted what he could no longer have, which was Paige, and that confused her, but we know she’s with Craig now, so it really doesn’t matter. I finally looked it up. This cast is mostly between 30 and 40. I have no words.

👨🏾‍🍳 Crossing Over…

If things had worked out, would Kwame have been a Summer Chef?

5 Things to Know About ’Summer House’ Newbie Mya — and Her Ex-Fiance Kwame

👠 Blast From the Past…

All about Jennifer Smith’s return.

Days of Our Lives Vet Crashes General Hospital’s Memorial for Luke as the Character Who Could Be Sonny’s Undoing

💰 It Was a Good Run…

He should have stayed in New York. I’ll bet we see him in a reality show down the road.

https://people.com/home/fredrik-eklund-is-leaving-the-million-dollar-listing-franchise/

🌬 Dreaming On…

Please feel free to join me tomorrow for soap and a VanderReunion where I’m sure sparks will be flying. Until then, stay safe, stay seeking answers, and stay not going to memorials you’re not invited to. No good can come of it.

Jan4

January 3, 2022 – A New Year’s Eve Damper, Pureed Tasting Menu On Deck, Joshes Unite & First Snow

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Alexis wanders into Charlie’s and sits at the bar. The bartender pours her a glass of champagne.

At The Savoy, Doc says, so the official mayoral party-hopping duties are over, right? and Laura says, yep. He says, this stop is just for them to have fun, and she says, you bet. Felicia comes in with Mac, and says they’re thrilled to have Laura back, but Laura says, not half as thrilled as she is to be home. Mac says he’s making a New Year’s resolutions to keep the city as safe as possible, so Laura never has to leave again. Doc says, except for their trip to Paris, and Laura says, a trip to Paris with the man she loves, ringing in the New Year with old friends; the year is shaping up pretty well.

Maxie asks where Anna’s date is, and Anna says she’s kind of like Cinderella in reverse. Her date left at midnight. Maxie says, home to relieve the babysitter? but Anna says, there was no babysitter. It was Charlotte. She had a friend over, and persuaded Valentin that they could see in the New Year unsupervised, but at 12:15, Valentin went home. Maxie says she remembers the first year she was allowed to stay up unsupervised without a babysitter; it was a big deal. Anna says, it’s a right of passage really, and Maxie says she’s sorry Anna’s date was cut short, but it gives them a chance to talk. She knows she was really hard on Anna about Peter, but that was so last year. Can they have a fresh start? Anna gets up and hugs Maxie, saying, there’s nothing she’d love more. Especially now that Peter’s no longer a threat. Maxie says, this time next year, he’ll be nothing but a bad memory.

A guard stands outside Peter’s hospital room when Victor comes out of the elevator in a tux. Britt tells him, stop right there. Visiting hours ended long before the ball dropped in Times Square. And isn’t it time he returned that rental tux? He says, happy New Year to her too. He could hardly ring in 2022 without paying his respects to her brother. She says Victor certainly has a lot to celebrate. While he walks around a free man without a care in the world, his partner in crime may never wake up.

Austin tends to Peter. One of Peter’s fingers moves.

On the footbridge, Carly says, for a moment, she thought… and Drew says, must be the moonlight, and the night mist. She says, or maybe she just wanted it to be him. He says, Jason could always find peace in this place. He was hoping the same magic would work for him. She says, the magic’s gone, and so is Jason, and looks out over the water.

Nina brings Sonny to… I don’t know where, a fancy apartment or house, and he says, we’re here. You’ve done your civic duty. She played designated driver, and now he’s got everything he needs right here. He thanks her, and pours a drink. He sees her watching him, and says he’s not going to drive drunk; he can’t find his keys, remember? That’s why she drove him. And he’s certainly not going to make things worse, because they can’t get any worse. He calls out, hi, honey! I’m home!

Alexis stares at the champagne for a moment, then picks it up. She says, happy New Year, and turns to see Harmony.

Maxie tells Anna, she’s so ready to say goodbye to 2021. She wants to start the new year with a new attitude. She took on Peter, and lived to tell about it. Anna says, yes, she has, when Felicia joins them, saying, happy New Year. She hugs Maxie, and asks if Anna can convince her daughter that it’s time to let them do what they do best. Maxie says, look gorgeous? and Felicia says, that too, but she’s serious. She took a step back because Maxie asked her to, but it’s a new year. Let her and Anna put their skills together to find Maxie’s baby and bring her home.

Doc sits with Mac and Anna, and says, if Mac really wants to keep Laura safe, keep Cyrus in prison. Mac says he understands Laura paid him a visit in Flatland, and she says, she went to see him before she came home. Mac asks if it’s true he found religion, and she says, so he claims, but to be honest, she’s less worried about her brother than another potential menace close to home. Mac says, Victor Cassadine.

Victor tells Britt, it’s true he and Peter had a business arrangement, but that was long before he was made aware of Peter’s many grievous crimes. Britt says she knows Victor was behind her mother’s abduction. He delivered her mother into Peter’s hands. He says, fortunately, dear Liesl survived. Pity the same thing can’t be said for Jason Morgan. He’s sorry; did he hit a nerve?

Austin starts to leave, but Peter grabs his arm. His eyes are open.

Drew tells Carly, he’s not a big New Year’s guy. Some people love to get out there and party, but more often than not, he likes to keep things quiet. Well, there’s quiet and locked in a cell, which is where he spent his last two New Years. So this year, he celebrated by dropping by to visit Scout with a pair of those funny glasses. Carly smiles, and he says, it’s so much more than he could have imagined six months ago. His little girl goes to bed long before midnight, and he didn’t know what to do, so he came here. Anyway, that’s him. He’s guessing she’s here because she misses her best friend. If she wants to talk about it, he’s a pretty good listener.

Sonny asks if Nina knows this place, but she says, she can’t say she does. He says, he bought it in 1994. Before that, he lived above his nightclub called the Paradise. Stone was like a little brother to him, and he was sick. He wanted to make Stone more comfortable, so he bought Stone this place, and he stayed for a couple of years, until he went out by the lake. Sonny couldn’t get rid of it; too much history. He doesn’t know why he’s telling her this. He should know better. She says she’s not his enemy. She swears she didn’t know Willow was going to testify, but he says, she knew Willow overheard them talking about Nixon Falls, and what they were to each other, and didn’t tell him. She didn’t give him a heads up. She says she never dreamed Willow would be forced to testify about them, and she certainly didn’t tell Scotty. She thought it was over. He says, that’s half-truth, and takes a slug straight from the bottle. She suggests maybe he stop drinking. He’s going to have a headache in the morning. He says, it’s his headache to have, because he earned it. She says she hates to leave him like this, but she’s clueless how to help him. She starts to leave, and he says, wait; don’t go.

Alexis says, of all the gin joints in the world, Harmony had to walk into hers, and Harmony says, can Alexis believe Willow didn’t even call to wish her a happy New Year? She’s been trying the entire year to improve her life; staying out of trouble. You’d think the New Year would be the perfect time to cut someone a break, but no; not even a generic text message or a photo of Wiley. She got nothing. It’s not like she expected to get invited to the Quartermaine’s mansion to watch football. She doesn’t even like football. She guesses she kind of likes the halftime show and creative commercials… Alexis says she’s not very sporty, but thinks Harmony is talking about the Superbowl. Harmony tells the bartender that she’s fine, and says, all she really cares about is being with family, but she guesses Willow still views her as an embarrassment. My mother, the ex-true believer, the ex-enabler, who can only get a job working with other misfits at a minimum security prison. Happy New Year to her. Alexis says, this is really helpful. She’s so engaged in Harmony’s problems, she forgot how much she might enjoy that cocktail.

Maxie says, this is the first time Anna and Felicia have been in the same room since Sean Donnelly’s memorial service. No arguing, no yelling; it’s nice to see them acting like friends again, but she doesn’t need their help. By this time next year, Louise will be back in her arms, she just knows it. She leaves, and Felicia says she loves Maxie’s faith, but sometimes faith alone just isn’t enough. Anna says, tell her about it. Is Maxie right about them? Are they friends again?

Mac tells Laura, it wasn’t his call to release Victor. The WSB cut a deal. She says she knows it was out of his hands, and to his credit, Victor kept up his end of the bargain, and gave them the information they needed. So if Peter’s reign of terror is actually over… Doc says, if? The man is in a coma. Laura says, that’s a relief, but Victor’s a free man. Mac says, free to do what? and she says, that’s what she’s afraid of.

Victor says he understands Britt and Jason were an item back in the day, apparently not grasping the concept of back in the day, since it wasn’t that long ago. Something to do with him getting stabbed in Pentenville and coming here for treatment. Then the two of them making a daring escape and being on the run for weeks. It must have been quite an adrenaline rush. She says, it’s none of his business, and he says, then Peter put an end to Jason. It’s all so sad, but he had nothing to do with it. He was in WSB custody at the time of the tunnel collapse. A woman in scrubs runs past them to Peter’s room, and Britt asks Austin, what happened? Are they losing Peter? He says, just the opposite. The patient is awake. Victor says, Peter is out of his coma? and Austin says, yes. He removed Peter’s ET tube, and Peter is having a hard time speaking, but made it clear he wants to see someone. Britt says there’s no way she’s letting him see Maxie, but Austin says, the person he wants to see is Victor.

Carly tells Drew, she came there because she didn’t know where else to go. The person she could always trust, and could always turn to, isn’t there anymore. Drew says, because Jason died on Cassadine Island, and he came back.

Nina asks what Sonny wants from her, and he says, isn’t it the other way around? Doesn’t she want to hear what happened after Willow dropped that bomb in the hearing room, and Carly left, and he went after her? She says, that’s between him and Carly, but he says, Nina is just as much a part of it as anyone else. Let’s not pretend. She says, all right. What happened after he chased after Carly? She sits and says, tell her everything.

Harmony says Alexis is giving her too much credit. She’s not a therapist. They’re not even friends, which is what they established when she ran into Alexis at Rice Plaza. They had a brief connection at Spring Ridge, but now Alexis is on the other side. Alexis says she’s an ex con, but Harmony says, they both know she’s more than that. Alexis says, do they? Her daughters think she can reinvent herself. Her friends do too, but she dipped her toe in the water, and she’s forgotten how to swim. Harmony says, so go buy some water wings, and Alexis says, that’s the best she’s got? With all her experience at Spring Ridge, she’d have thought Harmony could come up with something more inspiring. Harmony asks what magic words Alexis wants to hear; that life’s hard, rise above? In case she didn’t notice, Harmony also ended up alone on New Year’s, until she ran into Alexis, of course (🍷). And even if she could come up with some sympathetic words to talk Alexis off the ledge, what about tomorrow, or the next day? At some point, Alexis is going to have to help herself. Alexis says, okay, okay. She’s just trying to do the best she can. Harmony says, really? She thinks Alexis came here hoping to find Kristina working, so she could put the responsibility on her daughter. So she could have Kristina help stop her from drinking, since she clearly can’t stop herself.

Felicia says she never thought she and Anna stopped being friends. Their friendship just suffered a speedbump in the road. She was terrified for her daughter, and desperate to find her grandchild. Anna says, and she was the one who let Peter get away, but Felicia says she knows Anna was just giving him a chance to save himself. Maybe she would have done the same thing in Anna’s place, but she’d like to think she would have given a friend a warning. Anna say she understands that, and the truth is, she gave Peter way too many chances. Felicia says, the bottom line is, Anna brought Peter to justice, and Anna says, she didn’t do it alone. She had help. Felicia says she meant what she said about the two of them teaming up to find Louise, and Anna says she’s in, whatever it takes. Felicia says she’s pleased to hear Anna say that. She knows there’s a lead out there; something everyone has missed. And she knows the two of them can find it.

Maxie watches Felicia and Anna from the bar, and Mac asks if she’s okay.

Laura tells Doc that she thinks she’s going to ask Valentin to meet her for coffee next week. They have a lot of catching up to do. Doc asks, to touch base about Charlotte, or get information about her grandfather? and she says she was absolutely shocked to find out Valentin was Victor’s son. But now that she’s had a little time to think about it, she thinks there’s a way to use their relationship to everyone’s advantage.

Britt asks Victor, what’s the matter? He was so eager to talk to Peter when he was in a coma. Now Peter is awake and asking for him. He’s getting cold feet? Austin says, he doesn’t think there’s anything to be afraid of. Peter is pretty weak. He doesn’t think Peter is a threat to anyone. Britt says, or is Victor the threat? Victor says, perhaps he can shake the tree a little and find out something about Maxie’s missing child. He holds out his arms, and the guard frisks him. Britt says she’ll give him ten minutes, but Austin says, he thinks five should do it. Victor goes into Peter’s room, and says, look at him. Back in the land of the living. Did he learn that trick from his father? Peter motions him closer, and says, Victor betrayed him, but Victor says, to be fair, Peter betrayed him first. It’s just business; nothing personal. Now that he’s free perhaps he can help Peter. No. Actually he’s the only person in the whole wide world who can help Peter.

Carly tells Drew, Jason knew the risk. He always did what he had to do. That’s just who Jason was. Drew says he finally got to know Jason a little bit in Greece. Peter was keeping them prisoner, and had them chained to a wall in a wine cellar. They were talking about how to escape and how to bring down Peter, and how much they hated the bastard. He guesses it was mostly him. Jason didn’t waste a lot of breath venting or swearing vengeance. She says, that wasn’t his style, and Drew says, at one point, Peter made a mistake that Jason predicted, and Jason kind of smiled. He thinks Jason actually laughed, but he’d thought he was hallucinating for a second. Jason knew they had what they needed to bring Peter down, and looking back, in that moment, he and Jason became a team. They did it; they stopped Peter. She says, at a terrible price, and he says he doesn’t know what brought her here – it’s none of his business – but if she doesn’t blame him for Jason not being here, is it possible she blames herself?

Sonny tells Nina, after Carly left the hearing, she didn’t stop until she got to a park. He finally caught up with her and tried to explain to her… He’s about to pour another drink, but puts the glass down, saying, Nina is right. Alcohol doesn’t do anything to ease the pain. She says, he can’t do it. Even when he feels this rage and guilt, not to mention way to much scotch, he can’t betray Carly’s trust by talking behind her back. She guesses he doesn’t need any words. He’s not with Carly tonight, and that very much says it all. He’s here in a place that’s not his home anymore with a woman who’s not his wife.

Harmony apologizes for the low blow, and Alexis says, there’s a lot of bars she could have gone to. Maybe she did come in there looking for her daughter. Harmony says, the reason she went low is, she doesn’t trust herself with those high minded phrases. When she was with Dawn of Day, she kept Shiloh’s book of wisdom at her fingertips. It made her feel powerful, especially with those lost souls looking for answers, but those phrases are just an illusion. The reality is, she works at Spring Ridge, mostly listening to prisoners, in between doing her grunt work, hoping one day her daughter learns to trust her again. Alexis says, it appears they’re looking for answers in all the wrong places. Perhaps they should just try looking in a mirror.

Laura tells Doc that she thinks Victor will be looking to spend more time with Valentin, which puts Valentin in a unique position to work Victor for information. Doc says, and relay that information to her, and she says, hopefully. Despite his bad character, he’s very devoted to Charlotte. She thinks he’ll realize that stopping Victor is what’s best for Charlotte too. Doc says, even so, can she expect one Cassadine to turn on another? She says she knows that family well, and she’s counting on it, and he says, he’s counting on a more private celebration. As mayor, her car is on standby. She says she loves that perk, and they leave.

Maxie says she’s fine, now that Peter is out of commission, and Mac’s phone rings. It’s Britt, and he asks, what’s up? Britt says, medically speaking, she has good news; a patient woke from a coma. The bad news is, the patient is Peter August. Her next call will be to Maxie. He says, no need; she’s standing beside him. He’ll give her the news, and be there asap. Maxie asks what Britt wanted, and he says, unfortunately, it’s not good news to welcome in 2022. Felicia and Anna join them, and Felicia asks, what is it? He says, Peter’s awake.

Peter tells Victor, he’d laugh if it weren’t too painful. Victor is going to help him? Victor says, it’s true a condition of his deal with the WSB was to reveal Peter’s whereabouts, but Peter is hardly in a position to afford the luxury of holding a grudge. Peter says, why not? and Victor says, someone wants him dead. They tried once, and most likely will want to finish the job. Peter says, and Victor is going to save him? and Victor says he has resources that can greatly prolong Peter’s life expectancy. Now Peter will want to know what Victor wants in return, but it’s not a question of what, is it? It’s a question of who.

Carly tells Drew, she didn’t ask Jason to go to Greece; Britt Westbourne did. Although she could have given him a reason to stay in Port Charles. He asks what she could have said that would have made any difference.

Nina says she knows Sonny probably doesn’t want to hear this – he drains his glass – but maybe it’s a good thing the truth came out. He says he wanted to tell Carly the truth himself, but they were dealing with so much loss, he waited. Obviously, he waited too long. She says, but there was never going to be a good time for Carly to find out what happened between them in Nixon Falls. If there’s anything she can do… He says, like what? You know what? Carly, I’m sorry I fell in love with Mike when I knew he was your husband. She starts to cry, and he says, she can’t do anything. It’s not on her. What Carly can’t get past is what he kept from her.

Alexis asks Harmony if everyone is gossiping about her at Spring Ridge; how she accepted a pardon and escaped punishment. Harmony says, any one of those inmates would have jumped at the chance to go out those doors, and Alexis says, she should never have gone out those doors. Her nephew shouldn’t have gotten away with what he did, and she doesn’t want to be out in the real world, where there’s alcohol everywhere and no one to stop her from drinking it. Harmony says, Alexis has had a glass of champagne at her elbow, and hasn’t taken a sip since she sat down, so she’s doing pretty well. Alexis says, it’s probably because Harmony came by. She doesn’t have anyone to talk to, or anyone she wants to talk to. She distanced herself from everyone, including the friend she left behind there. Harmony says she guesses that’s something else she failed at, since she’s right here.

Back home, Doc says, at last he has Laura all to himself. No more hands to shake, no more babies to kiss. She’s all his. They kiss, and the doorbell rings. He says, you’re kidding. Let’s not answer it. Anyone who rings a doorbell after midnight on New Year’s Eve can’t be a good person. She says, Spencer and Esme might have forgotten their key, but he asks her to let him call her security detail. She says, she refuses to live in fear, and looks through the peephole. She opens the door, and looks shocked.

Anna asks if Peter is alert and talking, but Mac doesn’t know. He’ll give them an update, but thinks, in the meantime, they should all stay there and enjoy the night. Maxie says, no way; she’s coming with him. Felicia says, they’ll go as a family, but Anna says she has to make some calls. Keep her updated. Mac promises to do that, and they leave.

Austin asks if Britt thinks Victor and Peter are plotting world domination, or are they just in there killing each other? Did she want them to kill each other? Is that why she was okay with Victor’s late night visit? Britt laughs, and says, a big part of her was hoping Peter would never wake up from his coma, but if Peter can stand trial and be sent away for the rest of his life, even better. He says he loves it when he’s so completely wrong. He figured her for somebody who would play by the book; she was so keen on seeing him thrown off the staff for Brook’s made up violation. She says, watch it, or she’ll go through with it after all, but he says he doesn’t know about that. He doesn’t think she’s the Britch. People talk, and she has a reputation, but he’s not buying into it, because from his perspective, she worked Christmas Eve, she worked New Year’s Eve, and he thinks she cares a great deal about people and this place, whether she cares to admit it or not. She says, the truth is, she didn’t have a better offer. Isn’t that why he worked too? He says, pretty much, and she says, at least they won’t be the only kids at the uncool table.

Victor says, he and Peter had an agreement once. A certain prisoner was at the heart of that agreement, held in a cell back in Greece. Peter sadly decided to welch on that agreement when Peter tried to kill him. What can he say? Bygones. But the fact is, there’s still something he needs that only their former prisoner can provide. In exchange, he’s prepared to offer Peter protection. It’s not only the best deal he’ll get, it’s the only deal, so why doesn’t he start talking? Tell him how he can get what he needs from Drew Cain.

Drew gets the feeling something more than just missing Jason brought Carly there tonight, and she asks, what makes him think he knows what she’s feeling? He says, she’s clearly hurting about something. Jason isn’t here, but for his sake, Drew would love to help her if she’ll let him.

Sonny says, Carly thinks he’s lying to himself; that he still has feelings Nina. She asks what he said to Carly, but then says, no. Forget she said that. What happened between them in Nixon Falls is just a thing of the past now. It’s buried with the ashes of the Tan-O.

Alexis tells Harmony that she’s not drinking the champagne. She’s going to get some herbal tea. Would Harmony like some? Harmony says, no. It’s way past her bedtime; she has to work in the morning. Alexis says, lucky her, and Harmony tells Alexis to take care of herself. Alexis thanks her, and Harmony smiles and leaves.

Anna calls Valentin and leaves a message. She says she hopes there wasn’t too much chaos when he got back, and that he got a good night’s rest… She has bad news. Peter regained consciousness. There’s not much they can do right now, but call her when he gets this. They have to figure out their next step.

Maxie comes out of the elevator first, and tells Austin that Britt called her dad and said Peter was awake. Does he know anything? He says he was there when Peter regained consciousness, and Felicia tells Maxie that she’s so sorry. Mac sees Britt, and asks her, what’s the prognosis? Is Peter out of the woods, or could he slip back into a coma? Felicia asks Austin if Peter said anything about Louise, but he says, Peter’s not doing a lot of talking. He was incubated, and he’s really uncomfortable. Austin makes Maxie a promise – Peter is never again going be a threat to her or to Louise.

Victor tells Peter, time is of the essence. What is the key for him to get Drew to tell him what he needs to know? Peter says, get him Maxie and his daughter, when Mac comes in, and says, out of the room now. From now on, there’s restricted access until Peter returns to Pentenville to stand trial. Victor says he was just leaving, and nods to Peter as he goes out the door.

Carly says she appreciates what Drew is trying to do, but if he wants to help her, go his way, and she’ll go hers. He says he’s not going to push, but if she changes her mind, she knows how to reach him. He leaves, and she almost calls him back, but doesn’t, and goes the other way.

Sonny says, it’s getting late; Nina should get going. She says, right, and gets her coat and bag. She says she knows it’s strange coming from her, but she really does hope he and Carly work things out. She leaves, and Sonny sits alone.

Doc asks who is it, and we see it’s Tracy. Laura says, it’s past midnight. What’s going on? Tracy says, it’s Luke. He is… He’s gone. Laura looks like she might fall apart.    

Tomorrow, Curtis has something to tell Portia; Ned tells Olivia, it’s about time they made it official; Drew tells Monica that he has unsettled business he has to deal with; Victor says, change is coming; and Bobbie knows something terrible has happened.

Below Deck

Primary Chelsea whines that she just wants to be like everyone else. And again I say, then don’t go on a cruise when your jaw is wired shut. It’s an impossibility to be like everyone else, since people eat their faces off on a cruise. Rachel makes a chicken curry smoothie, and I gag. In Fraser’s interview, he says, it’s stressful between the primaries, and they’re doing the best they can. He is anyway. Co-primary Michael says he’s emphasizing not to give them food without serving Chelsea first. In his interview, Fraser suggests them piping down their drama. Eddie and Jake test out the headphones for silent disco. Chelsea wails that everyone is jumping on her, when that’s not the case, and Michael says she’d be fine if she was eating normal food. Well, yeah. What I said.

In her interview, Heather says, she’d rather scrub a bidet with her tongue than do this dinner service. The energy is dead at the table. Wait. Her tongue has a scrubby side? She hopes the silent disco turns the night around. The guests get ready, and guest Rachel grabs broom Sally, and says she’s bringing her magic to the beach. I don’t know why, since so far, that magic has not worked. Jake and Eddie set up a fire on the beach, and Eddie goes back for the guests, while Heather decorates. It looks very pretty, but once everyone starts dancing to no music, it looks like the dumbest sh*t ever. Fraser tells Rayna. today was mental, and she wonders why they crammed everything into one day. Good question. Heather thinks the picnic saved the charter, and Chelsea seems happy for a hot minute. Back on the boat, Heather asks how Rayna is doing, but Rayna ignores her. Rayna tells Wes that she’s still pissed about Heather using the n-word, and wasn’t happy about Eddie’s reaction either. He’d chastised Rayna for saying Heather shouldn’t put her fingers in the food (I’ve got to second that), but when she told him what Heather had said, Eddie told her not to let it affect her work. He shrugged it off like it was nothing. Wes says, it was a while ago, and she shouldn’t let that sh*t lapse, but she says, she hadn’t wanted to look like an angry Black woman.  

Breakfast is served, and this time, salmon accompanies the eggs benedict. The guests tell Eddie that they want to do water sports, while in galley Rachel says, f*** my life, although I’m not sure why. Maybe no reason. Heather tells Fraser that Rayna’s been giving her the cold shoulder, and she doesn’t know why. She’s not here to make friends; she’s here to make money, but she hasn’t done anything to Rayna to warrant that behavior. She needs to pick her battles, but had to tell someone. She thinks it’s because Jess left, and Fraser finally tells her, that’s not it. She says, clearly he knows something, and he says she’d used a word Rayna didn’t like.

Heather goes off crying, and in her interview, she says, she foolishly assumed everything was good, since they’d had a conversation where she’d apologized and promised to do better. We flash back to that, and she says she doesn’t know how to handle it. She’s never wished more for a time machine than now. Captain Lee continues to search for a new stew, and in his interview, says, it’s a sh*t sandwich. They need a stew, but just for a few charters at the end of the season. There’s not enough lipstick to put on that pig to make it enticing. Heather tells Rachel about Rayna being mad at her, and Fraser gives Heather a hug. Jake comes by, and says, what about him? and gets a hug too. The crew changes into their blacks for dinner, and Rachel asks Rayna for help, since she only has one Vitamix, and can’t take the time to keep washing it.

The captain joins the guest for dinner in full dress uniform. In Rachel’s interview, she says, it’s a sensitive situation, with the primary having her jaw wired shut, and given the fact that Rachel f***ed up. Tonight is a tantalizing multi-course tasting menu, and Chelsea wants every course. It’s the most insane request, aside from prostitutes and coconut oil, that Rachel has come across. I actually think this is weirder than hookers and oil. At dinner, Chelsea tells Captain Lee that she knows the crew is working hard, and Michael says he’s noticed their teamwork. The captain says, it’s hard to find a crew that gets along well. I miss what exactly happened, but Heather’s foot is bleeding, and she desperately tries to stop in. In Rachel’s interview, she says, no one’s head is in the game. Her interior is missing. She recruits the deck crew to help, and when Chelsea sips her first course, she says she can taste everything, reminding me of the gum in Willy Wonka. Jake talks to pseudo-fiancé Paris on the phone. In his interview, he says he and Paris are working sh*t out. In Heather’s interview, she admits she has too much ego to ask for help, but she’s already behind. Jessica isn’t with them, her foot is bleeding everywhere, and she wants to keep another volcano dormant.

Rachel uses cloches to cover the food, so that the scent of the steak wafts out at the table. After seeing Chelsea’s smoothie, in Captain Lee’s interview, he says, it’s a waste of Wagyu to blend it to a pulp. He invites the guests to the wheelhouse to watch the docking the next day. In Heather’s interview, she says, it’s extremely important for her to clear the air with Rayna. She couldn’t put the notion aside that Rayna didn’t like her, and she’d wanted to relate, but lesson learned, the n-word shouldn’t be said regardless of the reason. I totally understand why Rayna was upset and why it shouldn’t be said, but I also think Heather did it for a stupid reason, she’s genuinely sorry, and it’s more like Rayna is using this to be angry about a whole lot of things that Heather has nothing to do with.

Nevis, St. Kitts. In the morning, both Fraser and Heather are late for their shifts. Rachel texts Heather, but gets no response, so Wes and Rayna pitch in, getting coffee for the guests. Wes says he has no idea what he’s doing, and Rayna finally gets Fraser and Heather up. In her interview, Heather says she never thought she’d be the person who sleeps in. It’s making her question her career. She shouldn’t be making rookie mistakes.

Heather tells Captain Lee that a second stew she worked with in Florida might be the perfect person to jump in the mix. The captain says he’s open to anything, and asks Heather to give him the stew’s resumé. Heather says she’d be happy with a warm body to do laundry and dishes. In her interview, she says she’s the one in the lion’s den, and sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. In the captain’s interview, he says, it’s a lot of pressure having clients in the wheelhouse. He can’t point the finger at anyone else. He explains what he’s doing as they dock. Heather texts stew Kaylee to ask for her resumé. The wind starts to whip, and Jake says, it’s at 30 knots, and he’s terrified about docking the boat. It’s a lot of pressure. Captain Lee says he has to rotate the boat 180 degrees, and when the wind blows that strong, it pushes them into the dock and forward. One of the guests asks about dolphins, and in his interview, the captain says, never let them see you sweat. The boat is docked, and the guests applaud. Michael tells Jake that it was so cool, and the captain radios the crew to get their hot asses to the main deck aft in five minutes.

The guests say goodbye, and Chelsea thanks them for their patience and understanding. She thanks Rachel for allow her to participate in the meals, and Rachel gives her a smoothie for the road, one that actually sounds good, with things like chocolate in it. IMO, Rachel is the tip this time. Eddie says he smells like sweat and desperation, and Rayna sings that she deserves a beer. Captain Lee calls the crew to the crew mess, asap.

He says he thought the charter went extremely well. Jake stepped up, and his dock procedure was fantastic. Heather says she appreciated all the help. The tip is $22K, which comes out to $2000 a piece, since they’re short-handed. The captain says he thinks they deserve a day off, and they’re going to a beach by boat to eat, drink, and be merry. He wants them to come back rested, because he plans on working their little asses off. In Fraser’s interview, he says he looks forward to spending time with Jake, joking around and drinking champagne, and hopefully, having a kiss or two. Rachel tries throwing nuts in Eddie and Wes’s open mouths, and they fail miserably at catching them. Wes finally gets one, and everyone goes to bed shortly after 11.

Before leaving for the beach, Heather says she wants to chat with Rayna, but Rayna wants to save it for later. Heather wants to talk before they drink, and Rayna agrees, but says, f*** my life, as soon as Heather is gone. She says she just wants to be alone. Don’t people realize that by now? They sit in one of the lounges, and Heather says she feels there’s tension between them. She knows she said something she shouldn’t have, and it wasn’t right. From the bottom of her heart, she’s sorry. Rayna says she doesn’t feel a genuine connection between them, but wants to move in a positive direction, and they hug it out. The captain sees the crew leaving, and says, thank God. The little boat taking them to the beach has a bar, so they get started early. The captain allows Wes to drive the boat.

Christophe Harbor, St. Kitts. In Jake’s interview, he says he wants to get married and have kids. Distance is making his heart grow fonder of Paris. In Rachel’s interview, she says she’s not drinking today, and we flash back to her impromptu joining of a band when she was drunk. Have fun. This old lady is going to take a nap. Rayna, Fraser, and Jake toast to their amazing relationship, and Wes tries to call Jessica. In Wes’s interview, he says, the crew is amazing, but sometimes it feels like he doesn’t fit in. He’s trying to have fun, but in a more adult way. This isn’t his element. He goes out on a paddleboard, and says he’ll watch from a distance. Rayna tells Fraser that she doesn’t feel comfortable and can’t forget what Heather said. While out on paddleboards, Heather tells Rachel how bad she felt, and that a huge weight has been lifted off of her. Rayna tells Fraser that Heather cried fake tears with her fake apology. She’s over it. Another problem I have with her. She’s a roller coaster ride. I can’t, and won’t, with people like that. Pick a lane.

Fraser and Jake go out on the same paddleboard. In Fraser’s interview, he says, he might have a crush, but understands the limitations, so fine. Rayna says, this is bullsh*t, and paddles out after them. In his interview, Fraser says, Rayna is being a killjoy. Back off and get away from my man. Eddie sees a medium sized spider, and freaks out.

They go back to the boat, and Eddie says he thinks Rayna is jealous. Fraser finds her in a bunk with Jake, and leaves, but Rayna runs after him, and tells him to come watch Norbit with them. Rachel listens at the door, and tells the others that they’re just watching videos. Fraser leaves, and Rayna stays behind, getting nakey with Jake. In Rachel’s interview, she says, this thrupple makes me want to throw upple. Fraser sits alone.

Next time, a Naval officer primary, a new stew is coming, a guest has a shellfish allergy, and Rachel is going to lose her sh*t.

💰 New Million…

Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles has been airing a mini spin-off, Josh and Josh, with Josh Altman and Josh Flagg. Yeah, like I ever thought they were really feuding. Apparently JoshF has left the company he was working for to join JoshA and Tracy at Douglas Elliman. Birds of a feather.

https://www.distractify.com/p/million-dollar-listing-josh-and-josh-spinoff

🎈 In My Beautiful Balloon…

2022 looks like a nice year, but I don’t trust it just yet. Come on down tomorrow for soap and a glimpse of the Toms new bar. Until then, stay safe, stay striving to do better, and stay looking in the mirror first when you’re looking for answers.

Nov19

November 18, 2021 – Carly Loses Her Mind About Nina, Small Business On the Runway, Million Dollar Highlights, What’s Shaking in OC & Pale

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cassadine Island, Greece. Jason looks at The Chariot tarot card. He flashes back to Peter showing it to Drew, and saying, stand down. He messes with the shackles he’s in.

Britt and Obrecht are left alone. Britt tells her mother, it’s going to be okay. They’re going to get out of there. Obrecht says, she sounds confident, and Britt says she is. She slipped Jason The Chariot card. He’s going to be able to break through Drew’s conditioning. Obrecht says, the truth is, they can’t count on anyone but themselves. It’s up to them to get rid of Peter.

Sasha holds Brando’s hand as she goes through a contraction. He asks if she’s okay, and she says, never better. He says, strong one, huh? and she asks if they’re getting closer together. He says, not yet. It looks like they have some time before they meet their son. She tells him, say that again, and he says, there’s more time? She says, the other part, and he says, their son. She smiles. Elizabeth comes in, and asks how they’re doing. He says, according to mom, never better, and Elizabeth says that’s what she likes to hear. She’s going to be staying with them until Dr. Navarro is ready. Brando says he’s going to get coffee, and asks if Sasha wants anything. More ice chips? She says she doesn’t need anything, and he says he’ll be right back. He tells the baby to stay put until he gets back, kisses Sasha’s belly, and leaves. She flashes back to Brando saying she and the baby are all he wants, and kissing him.

Sonny sees Brando by the elevator, and asks how Sasha is doing. Brando says, handling labor like a champ, and Sonny asks how he’s doing. Brando says, happy, excited, nervous, terrified… Did he say happy? Sonny says he did. That all sounds exactly right.

Carly goes stomping over to Nina, and Willow wisely grabs Wiley, and gets him the hell out of there. Carly asks, what’s it going to take to keep Nina away from Wiley? A restraining order? She’s calling the cops. Here Nina is, fresh out on bail, and she’s harassing Willow and Wiley? Nina says she’s doing no such thing; not even close. Willow returns, having deposited Wiley with a caregiver.

Valentin’s phone rings, and Gladys says, don’t answer that. He asks, why? and she says, it’s Brook. He looks at the phone, and sees she’s right, and asks, what if something is wrong with the baby? Gladys says, the baby is fine. Brook is going to try and talk him out of listening to her, and that would be a travesty for him and that little girl.

Austin asks Maxie to just level with him. Tell him the truth. Are she and Brook in some kind of trouble? Brook runs past on the phone, leaving Valentin a message to call her back immediately.

Willow tells Carly, no need to call the police. Nina wasn’t harassing her; not at all. Carly asks if Nina followed her here, and Willow says that never occurred to her. This is beyond stupid, since Nina was there in the middle of a phone call when Willow came along. Nina tells Carly, she was there for the Fall Fair; she was picking something up for Phyllis. Willow says she ran into Nina, that’s all. It’s perfectly innocent. Nina even offered to leave. Carly says, Willow let her stay? Willow says, Wiley was excited to see her, and Carly says she just finished talking to Phyllis, and she was defending Nina. Now here Nina is trying to worm her way back into Wiley’s life, as if she has any right to it. Nina says she doesn’t have to report to Carly, but here it goes. She hasn’t seen Wiley since the day she returned to Port Charles. This was an accident. Carly says the next time Nina accidentally runs into Wiley, walk away. Better yet, turn around and run. Willow tells Carly, that isn’t her decision to make. Carly not letting it go, even though everyone is telling her to, makes me think of a credo I go by. If someone calls you an ass once, shrug it off, but if more than one person calls you an ass, start looking in the mirror for the ears and tail.

Brando says, this dad thing’s a little overwhelming, and Sonny says, that’s one word for it. Brando says, they’re not even done with the birthing part yet, and Sonny asks why he thinks they call it labor? It’s going to be one of the hardest and greatest things he ever has to live through. Can he imagine? You’re watching the woman you love struggle to bring a baby into the world, and all you can do is hold her hand and tell her to breathe. But when it’s over, and you got that little baby, it changes everything. For the better. It’s all right. Sonny hugs Brando, and says he’s going to do it. It’s all going to be worth it. Brando says he can’t wait.

Elizabeth tells Sasha, everything looks good. Her blood pressure is a little elevated, but that’s not abnormal. Sasha asks how she does it, and Elizabeth says, do what? Sasha says she’s overwhelmed at bringing one child into this world, and Elizabeth has three. Elizabeth says, the first one is definitely the biggest adjustment, but you do adjust… and learn and grow and love. Sasha says she’s getting that sense. She already loves this little guy so much, and she hasn’t even met him yet. Elizabeth says, just wait. She has no idea.

Brook wonders why Valentin isn’t answering his phone. Maxie goes over to her, and asks, what’s going on? Keep in mind they have an audience. Brook asks if she’s seen Gladys, and Maxie says, no; why? Brook says, all hell broke loose at the art exhibit. Gladys found out Kip isn’t really the baby’s father. Maxie asks, how? and Brook says, does it matter? She said there’s no stopping her this time. She’s going to tell Valentin the truth. Maxie asks what Brook is still doing standing there, and Brook says, excellent point, and jets.

Valentin says Gladys has his attention. Although he’s not sure why, given the fruitless nature of their previous meeting. Gladys says she’s sorry. She should have told him the truth then. She was intimidated by some cater waiter actor buffoon. He says, let him guess, Brook was the mastermind, and she says, bingo, but she couldn’t let fear keep her from doing the right thing. He wonders if she can do it without so many words, and she says, Brook’s been lying to him.

Austin says, that looked intense, and Maxie says, you know Brook. He says, it also looked familiar. That’s the second time in a short while he’s seen Brook scurry away in a tizzy, and the second time Maxie seemed to be involved. Maxie says, just spit it out. What exactly does he think she and Brook are up to?

Britt tells Obrecht, here’s the good news. Peter isn’t going to kill either one of them. He knows he can’t get Maxie back by any rational means; he’s going to have to brainwash her. Something, unfortunately, Obrecht knows how to do. Obrecht says she’s not an expert like Britt’s father was, but she has a firm enough grasp. Britt says, Peter’s counting on that. He’s going to order Drew to kidnap Maxie and bring her back to him, and have Obrecht program her to love him. She can’t believe she’s even saying these words. Obrecht says, Peter can only get her to do it by threatening Britt, and Britt says, exactly. She’s his leverage. Peter needs Obrecht, and to force her to cooperate, he needs Britt. It’s going to keep them both breathing. Obrecht says, for now.

The guard comes in, and tells Jason, time’s up, Morgan.

Sasha says, this is probably a dumb question, but Elizabeth says, there are no dumb questions. Sasha says, there’s no way to predict how long her labor will be, is there? and Elizabeth says she wishes she did. Every labor is tough, especially with the first one. It could be hours, it could be a day… Brando comes in, and says, a whole day? and Sasha asks if he’s sick of her already. He says, never, handing her a cup of ice chips, and asks what he missed. Elizabeth says, just another contraction, and Sasha says, but the baby kept his word and is still in there. He says, good man. He saw Sonny; he sends his best. Sasha says, that’s sweet. What else did he say? Brando says Sonny told him this is going to change everything, but in the most amazing way. She says she already knew that, and he says, him too. She says, but it’s nice to hear it again.

Nina picks up her shopping bag, and says, maybe it’s time to finish up the shopping that she came there to do. Carly says, that’s thoughtful of her, and Nina leaves. Carly asks if Willow bothered to call Michael, to see if he thought this surprise meeting was a good idea, and Willow says she didn’t. It was spontaneous; it happened. Carly says, if it happens again, is Willow going to protect her son? She gets that Willow is trying to keep the peace, but does she need to remind Willow about the first time Nina spent time with Wiley? She told him Nelle was his mommy, not Willow. Is she really going to expose Wiley to that kind of pain and confusion again?

Obrecht says, so far, she’s disappointed in Jason, and Britt says, who risked his life to save her, even though Obrecht has a long history of terrorizing people he cares about? Obrecht says, that was very kind, although she knows he did it for Britt. He’s got a thing for her, and she doesn’t want Britt thinking he feels sorry for her. Britt says she knows he doesn’t. She doesn’t think he sees her differently. He accepts her as she is, before and after her diagnosis. Obrecht says, then why doesn’t he get a move on and kill that schwein Peter, and get them the hell out of here? Britt says, if that doesn’t happen, for whatever reason, they need to talk. Sooner or later, Peter’s going to let his guard down with one or both of them. They need to agree now. When that happens, and they get the opportunity, they kill him. Obrecht says, of course (🍷) they do, and Britt says, no matter the cost. She doesn’t care if there are five guards holding guns on her, kill the bastard. She means it. She’s going to die anyway, and they have to stop him. So if one of them sees a weapon or an opening, they use it. Deal? Obrecht says, deal. Peter pops in, and says, sorry for the delay. They’ll be on their way as soon as his guards confirm Jason is dead.

The guard tells Jason, don’t worry; he’ll make it quick. He takes out his gun, and Jason knocks him to the floor, still cuffed, getting him in a headlock. The guard slips into unconsciousness, and Jason gets the key. He undoes his shackles and handcuffs. He takes the guard’s gun, and leaves.

Austin says, if he knew what Maxie was up to, why would he ask? She says, maybe he’s the type of person who likes to test people, and he says, if he were, would she pass? She asks, what’s the subject? and he says, deception, and he’s not talking about the company. She says, deception about what? and he says, here’s what he knows for certain. Brook has been a real nervous Nelly in the last few weeks. On more than one occasion, he’s seen them put their heads together, and speak in hushed tones, and the other day, he saw Maxie hand a wad of cash to some guy with a gun. She says, that was a prop; he was an actor. He says, okay, cool, but why did she give him money?

Valentin tells Gladys, he already knows Brook is up to something. He just doesn’t know what it is. She says, he really can’t guess? and he says, he doesn’t like guessing games. She says, it’s a tale as old as time, when Brook walks in, saying, thank God she found Gladys. Gladys asks, why so worried? and Brook says she didn’t want Gladys to think she locked her in the back room at the gallery. She swears it wasn’t her. Gladys asks, who was it then? but Brook has no clue. She thinks she and Gladys should talk, because she’s come up with some really unique and generous ways to meet Gladys’s needs. Gladys says she sees. Brook wants to play nice. It’s too late. She gave Brook plenty of chances, and she blew them all. Brook says, just listen to her, but Valentin interrupts, thanking Gladys for stopping by. He asks for a moment alone with Brook, and Gladys tells him, don’t let Brook snow him. He’s too smart for that. She leaves, and Valentin says, it’s obvious she’s blackmailing Brook. Does she want to tell him why?

Brando says, talking to Sonny got him thinking. What does she think about Mike as their baby’s middle name? She says, Mike as in Sonny’s father? and he says, Mike was around a lot when he was a kid, and he always looked up to him. They lost touch for a long time, but he got to know Mike toward the end of his life, and admired him all over again. Sonny’s always been good to him, and he’s also Michael. She says she loves it; it’s perfect. He was such a wonderful man, kind of like someone else she knows. He asks if he should be jealous, and she says, of himself? She’d advise against it. Elizabeth comes in, and hands Brando a roller, saying, if Sasha gets uncomfortable, he gets to massage her back. Sasha says she feels wonderful right now. Maybe a little impatient. Daddy’s here; let’s get this show on the road. Elizabeth says, if she takes a walk, it might help induce labor, and would probably help with the intensity too. If she has a contraction, stop and relax; don’t try to move through it. Sasha says she’s not sure she could, and Brando asks if she wants to take their baby for a spin. She tells him, try to keep up, and he says he’ll do his best. He and Elizabeth help Sasha out of bed.

Willow tells Carly, Nina learned her lesson. She doesn’t expect Nina will do anything like that again. She understands Carly is trying to protect Wiley; she is too. Carly says, by letting him play with Nina, the woman who kept Sonny away from him, away from all of them? Willow says, this situation isn’t easy for her either. Wiley spotted Nina and reached out to her. What would Carly have her do? Let Wiley cry because he isn’t allowed to see someone who makes him happy? Carly says, that woman hurt Wiley’s entire family. Is that not a consideration for her?

Sonny sees Nina.

Obrecht tells Peter, there’s a much easier way to do this. Once Jason is dead, he won’t be a problem anymore. Peter says, that’s usually how it works, and she says, Jason can’t stop him or hinder his plans. Let Britt go, and she’ll come with him voluntarily. It’s not like everyone doesn’t think she’s rotten anyway; it’s not like she’ll be missed. He says, and she’ll just do what he asks in terms of Maxie just because? She says she’ll do what he asks because if she has to choose  between Maxie and Britt, she’ll choose her daughter every day of the week. He has her word. He says, that is a really great offer, if he trusted her to make good on it. He doesn’t. He tells the guard that they can’t wait any longer. Grab them, and let’s get out. Jason appears, and shoots the guard, and says, don’t move. Drew is suddenly there, and puts a gun on Jason, and says, don’t move.

Brook says, Gladys doesn’t know what she’s talking about, and Valentin says, that’s not an answer. Brook says, Gladys thinks she knows something, but she doesn’t. He closes the door, and says, about Bailey? She said Brook is lying to him about his daughter. Brook says, my God. There’s nothing that woman wouldn’t say or do for money; she’s disgusting. He can’t trust a word she says. He asks if he can trust Brook, and she says, of course (🍷). He says, Austin was already there, and said she was up to something. He’s got a bad feeling. She says, please, and he says, he can’t be right. Brook wouldn’t hurt him that bad just to get her hands on some damn stock.

Drew takes Jason’s gun, and Peter says he’s waited a long time to say these words – kill him. Britt says, no, and distracts Drew for a moment, giving Jason a chance to grab Drew’s gun hand. They struggle, and Obrecht picks up Jason’s gun, but Peter grabs Britt. He says, drop it, or she dies. Obrecht says, he wouldn’t, and he asks if she’d like to test that theory. He asks how her grandson is; James is probably missing his oma right about now. Britt says, do it, but Obrecht puts the gun on the table. Drew and Jason continue to fight, and Peter says, they’re leaving. Now. He takes Britt, and Obrecht follows. Drew slams Jason up against the fireplace.

Maxie tells Austin, so this suspicion is happening because he sees her with her friend a lot, and she gave an actor money? He says, that, and what Gladys said. She says, he’s had more conversations with Gladys? and he says, she’s a very chatty woman. She asks what Gladys said, and he tells her, she’s holding something over Brook’s head, and it has to do with Valentin. He doesn’t know for certain what it is, but he could guess. She asks if he told anyone about this, and he says, only Valentin. Because that’s the only right thing to do.

Brook says, how it started is not how it ended, and he asks what they even means. She says, yes, it was a cynical undertaking at first. She wanted to use the baby to take over ELQ, but that was before she knew how much he’d love her. How much Bailey would love him, and how much she’d love them together. She starts to cry, and says, you know how it is when you put something in motion. It takes on a life of its own, and becomes something that you didn’t intend it to be, but this became something so much more important. Isn’t that what matters? Their family, what they have now. Valentin says, not if it isn’t real.

Sasha tells Brando, Elizabeth was right; walking does ease the pressure. He stops, looking at her, and she says, what? He says, she’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, and she laughs. She says, right now, in her hospital gown, waddling through the corridors? He says, right now, and she doesn’t waddle. She says, that’s good to know. They’ll be decent parents, right? Their son will grow up knowing he’s safe, cared for, and loved. He says, that’s the plan. No? She says, that is the plan. It’s just that word makes her laugh. He says, planning was never their strong suit, and she says, can he believe this is happening? From a one-night stand in his garage to this. He says, just for the record, he can’t be happier, and she says, her neither. Let’s do it. My Lord, she’s so huge, you’d think she was having triplets.

Nina says she’s doing everything in her power to stay away from Sonny and his family. He asks, what happened? and she says she accidentally ran into Willow and Wiley, and she was talking to Wiley. Then Carly shows up, and loses her mind. She’s not sorry about seeing her grandson, but she is sorry if she’s causing him and his family more problems. Carly appears, and says, Nina’s not sorry for any of it, but she will be. Nina asks if Carly is threatening her, and Carly says, damn right she is, under no uncertain terms. Nina says, Michael had her arrested. What more does Carly want? Does she want to draw blood? Carly says, if it comes to that, hell yeah, but Sonny says, Nina knows the rules. There’s no need to fight or draw blood, okay? Carly asks what they’re going to do about Nina’s continued presence in Wiley’s life, and he tells Carly, she said it was an accident. Carly says, he believes her? Willow comes back with Wiley, and Carly runs over, saying, hey. Willow says, since Wiley’s grandparents are arguing, she’s going to take him home. She tells Wiley to say goodnight, and Sonny says, you going home, big boy? Carly tells him, sweet dreams. She loves him. He says he loves her too, and Nina stays where she is, looking sad.

Sasha says, Cornelius, and Brando says, Heathcliff, and no shortening it to Heath. She says, Barnstable, and he says, Aloysius. She says, Boniface, and he says, Hamlet. She says, Elmo, and he says, Elmo? She says, that’s the one he has a problem with? and he says, they can’t name their kid after a puppet. She says, okay, but they can name him Alo… oooh. She doubles over, and says she needs to get back.

Jason and Drew continue to tussle. Jason knocks Drew down, and gets on his back. He  takes out the tarot card, puts it in Drew’s face, and says, stand down. Drew snaps out of it, and Jason says, Drew? Drew says, yeah; it’s him. Jason asks what number he was in high school football, and Drew says, he was 82. Jason gets off of Drew, and Drew sits up, looking around. He says, what the hell?

Maxie says, she’s sorry, but when did Austin become the authority figure on the right thing to do? Was it before or after he took advantage of Chase, to be his spy in the Quartermaine house? He says, that sounds like Brook’s version of the story, and she asks if she got that wrong. He didn’t take advantage of Chase? Because here they have a guy who almost died, and is still stuck in a wheelchair, learning how to walk, and he finds out his wife is involved with Michael. Maybe Austin did think the best way for Chase to get over that pain was to betray the Quartermaines and go through Edward’s private paper. Austin says, he was trying to claim his father’s rightful inheritance, and she says, by using Chase. Austin says, he’s not the one who hurt Chase. Michael did when he slept with his wife. She says, that’s what she finds so interesting about this. Willow and Michael lied to Chase out of love and concern. Austin used him to get his hands on ELQ stock, and he’s the one who did the right thing? He says, in hindsight, he probably could have handled the situation better, and she says, what about Gladys? Can he honestly tell her that he enjoys chatting with her? Because it kind of looks like he’s working her for information; something he can dig up, and take to Valentin. From her point-of-view, he’s using Gladys to get back at Brook, but she’s obviously wrong, because he’s doing the right thing

Brook tells Valentin, this is what’s real. The way Bailey grabs his finger when she falls asleep; the way she lights up like a Christmas tree when he sings to her. And when she tries to sing back in that ridiculously adorable babble of hers. That’s real. Listen to her. Gladys is a horrible woman. She’s angry and nasty grasping. Why listen to anything she has to say? Why let her ruin something that’s really working. Maybe better than anything has ever worked in her entire life. She cries, and says, she’s not talking about the stupid company. She’s talking about her and him and bedtime stories. And Charlotte, and how amazing she is with her little sister. Why let Gladys’s awful insinuations poison something so beautiful. Please don’t do it.

Sonny says goodnight to Wiley, and Nina says she’s sorry to put Willow in such an awkward position. Nina waves goodbye to Wiley, and Willow tells him, it’s time to go. They leave, and Sonny tells Carly, she has to let it go. It was an accidental meeting. Nobody got hurt. She says, not tonight, but he got hurt. She did too. Their whole family was hurt. Doesn’t he care about that? Why is he defending Nina?

Jason picks up his gun, and Drew asks, what happened? How bad did it get? Jason says, Peter took off with Britt and her mother. Drew checks out the guard, and says, he’s alive; he’s just out cold. Jason says, good. No one else deserves to die because of Peter August. Jason says, there’s a small boat with a working motor. It’s on the southeast side of the island. It’s about three miles across open sea to the next island, but Drew is a Navy SEAL. Drew says he can probably make it, but Peter has at least five other guards out there. He’s going to need some back-up. Jason gives him a gun, and Drew asks if he’s sure about this. Jason tells him, like he said, he’s going to need some back-up. Drew takes the gun, and they leave.

Peter brings Obrecht and the others through the wine cellar, and Obrecht asks if they’re picking up some wine for their trip. Peter says, there’s a passage that leads to the water where a boat is waiting. Britt sees the guard on the floor, and asks if they should help him out, but Peter says, there’s no time. Obrecht says, at least tell them where they’re going, and he says they’re going somewhere no one can find them, except for Drew because he’s bringing Maxie. Now move. They go through the passageway.

Brando tells Sasha, she’s got this; she’s doing great. Just breathe. That was a bad one? She nods, and says, it still is. Elizabeth asks if she’s still in contraction, and Sasha says, it isn’t over. Elizabeth asks if she has pain anywhere else, and Sasha says, her back and stomach. Brando asks Elizabeth if Sasha is okay. How’s her blood pressure? Elizabeth says, it’s high, and Brando says, too high? Elizabeth says she’s going to get Dr. Navarro to weigh in on this. She’ll be right back. She leaves, and Sasha says, that’s a little better. He says he hopes nothing is wrong, but she says, don’t worry. Childbirth is notoriously painful, and hard. That’s why they call it labor. He says he doesn’t think labor is strong enough. It needs a new name. She says, that’s it, and he says, what? She says, Laborious Mike Corbin, and he says, it does have a ring to it. She says, she’s a genius, and he says, he’s the one who gave her the inspiration. She says, she’s having his baby, and he says, she is? Why didn’t she say anything?

Maxie starts to walk away, and Austin asks where she’s going. She says, anywhere but here sounds good. He says, Maxie, and she says, don’t Maxie her. She gave him every opportunity, not to mention benefit of the doubt, but he’s on some crusade to take Brook down. He says, that’s not true, and she says, really? He’s essentially interrogated her for the last half hour over something that has nothing to do with him. Then, he told her, with pride, that he went tattling to Valentin. She doesn’t know how else to say it to him. Brook is her friend. He says he’s aware, and she says, and as of now, he’s not. So mind his own business, and stay out of theirs.

Valentin says, he liked Brook. he liked her the moment he met her. And the shared the most amazing one-night stand. She says she’s flattered, and he says, and then she got pregnant. In the last several months, he’s come to see her in a different light, and appreciate her as a mother, partner, and friend. She says she appreciates him too, and he says, they shared some amazing moments. We flash back to Valentin meeting Bailey for the first time, and them agreeing they’ll give Bailey a great life. He says he trusted her. Charlotte and Bailey bonded as sisters. There’s the problem. If it was just him, fine, let things go on the way they are, but there are two other people he’s got to think about; Charlotte and Bailey. And for them, he’s got to know. Bailey’s not his, is she?

Tomorrow, Willow asks Michael if that’s so impossible to understand, Elizabeth says something is seriously wrong, Carly asks Sonny to help her understand, and Drew says if he kills someone, that’s just a bonus.

Project Runway

In Katie’s interview, she said it was her 4th time at the bottom, but her parents had instilled a lot of confidence in her. She felt pumped, and ready to show who she was. Christian told the designers to grab a box. Each one had a different accessory in it from a top NYC accessory designer. The goal was to support small businesses that had taken a downturn in the pandemic, and they would be doing a one-time collab with a designer to create a brand new look and a brand new accessory. Christian said, accessories got him to the next level, and the more customers the better. Shantall started crying, thinking of how getting a business off the ground was similar to her family coming there, and starting from scratch. Christian said the pandemic had been tough, but they were getting through it. The winning designer and accessory designer would split $25K. In addition to the usual trip to Mood, they were also going to a unique store for any special embellishment they liked. The designers opened their boxes to reveal handbags, gloves, jewelry, hats, and shoes. Bones was already familiar with his partner Ashaka Givens, who he said did amazing sculptural hats. He had an idea for a water woman, who characterized the magical moment when the sea and sand touched. Octavio’s designs had walked the red carpet with the headwear designer he was partnered with.

The designers had $400 and 30 minutes to spend in Mood. Christian pointed out that everything Coral made had been black, which is kind of ironic considering her name. Afterward, they went to Hai Trim, where they could spend $250 on notions. When I lived in Manhattan, my apartment was not in a residential area, and there were a lot of trim stores where we often bought beads and such, or things like feathers for Halloween costumes. They’re so much fun to look around in. Aaron decided to take a risk by doing a bathing suit to show off a handbag. The quote of the night was from Bones, who said, if only people knew how long it takes to make a ruffle. Chasity (who I’ve been calling Chastity – sorry) said she thought people underestimated Anna because she was quiet, but it was the quiet ones you had to watch out for. Christian made his tour, and said he didn’t want to force anything on Katie, but suggested making her long dress a mini to give it a more modern look. Bones said it was like two melding worlds. Zayden’s partner called him, saying the rent was due, and in Zayden’s interview, he talked about how he had been homeless when he won a scholarship to fashion school, and all the sacrifices he’d made. I suddenly wanted him to win.

The guest judge was Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Octavio had worked with headwear designer Rodney Patterson who said it was a match made in heaven. His outfit was larger than life, and the model carried one of those round vintage suitcases I love. I also loved Bones’s water woman in layers of blue, white, and grey, topped with Ashaka’s pearly hat. Coral also worked with a hat, from Lynn Paik, and had created a sheer red number, adding touches of her macrame skills. Kristina did a three-piece suit, showcasing shoes by Lauren Brinkers. To pay tribute to an inside joke about a paper bag, she’d also created a handbag that was basically an elevated paper bag. This turned out to be an unintentional bonus, since the judges loved it. Katie had settled on a high/low hem, to complement shoes by Rebecca Heykes. I hated to say it, but it was the same old from Katie, although the print was pretty and the shoes rocked. Shantall had created a red dress using a brooch from Aziza Abdullah Nicole at the beltline. I’m a huge brooch fan, and would love to see more of them worked into wardrobes. Zayden made a caftan style dress to go with a bag by Akilah Stewart, who added matching fabric to the bag. Aaron, who’d gone with the bathing suit, said his companion bag by Lorna Nixon was the Swiss Army knife of handbags, peaking my interest. I wondered if tools popped out of it. Chasity worked with an Andres Quintero Betancourt bag, but I thought her black two-piece pantsuit was boring. One of the most beautiful accessories was a chainmail piece by Sally Reardon that was a necklace, but also went over the shoulders. Anna created a dress that incorporated it, and since she’d needed nothing from Hai Trim, she wore a chainmail headpiece she’d purchased there. When it came down the runway, Steven was visibly into it. Last, but for sure not least, Prajje had made a 40s/50s retro number, with a matching turban. Pretty, but low key, the showpiece being gloves by Katie Sue Niklos. And like Prajje said, they weren’t just gloves; they were gloves. Elbow length, adorned with incredible flowers – like, actual 3-D flowers, not a print – and faux gems. Prajje said he was simply the messenger. Brandon said it was a great show. I always think even the worst of them is great, since sewing isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. I did okay in home ec, and also made a couple of costumes for myself for shows in high school, but that’s about the extent of it. Oh yeah, I made a halter top once. I probably don’t need to tell you how easy those are to make. I still have it though.

Anna, Aaron, Chasity, and Shantall were safe. The started with Prajje, who was at the top, Elaine welcoming him back to the winner’s circle. He said he’d thought of his grandmother, dressed to the nines for church. Steven said the outfit was sophisticated glamor, as well as timeless. It could be worn by Jackie O. or Lady Gaga. On the low end was Zayden, who’s mistake seemed to have been detracting from the bag with other accessories. Nina said the dress didn’t deserve to be on the bottom, but the styling was too much. Elaine reminded him about Coco Chanel’s advice to always take one thing off before leaving the house. (Yeah, I don’t listen to that one either.) Also at the top was Coral, who was technically meeting the judges for the first time, since she’d been safe, but in the background. Nina said she’d been impressed with the macrame touches Coral always added. Brandon said whoever wore her piece would be on the Best Dressed List, and Steven said he could see the look on the red carpet. Unfortunately, Bones was on the low end, Elaine telling him that the model was swimming in fabric. She couldn’t imagine who would wear it. Ouch. Nina thought he had no focus, and had overshadowed the accessory. Katie was on the bottom yet again, Elaine suggesting Katie might have chosen a fabric of lighter weight or something sheer. Steven said it was too heavy on the top, and Brandon thought the high/low hem made it seem like she wasn’t sure about the dress. Kristina was on top, with an honorable mention for the paper bag. Nina said it was cohesive, head to toe, and runway ready. Steven said it was also versatile, since the top, pant, and jacket could be worn separately. Also at the top was Octavio, Nina saying the challenge was made for him. Steven said Octavio’s outfit was a lesson in geometry, and had natural movement. Brandon called it, larger than life.

The judges deliberated. In choosing the winner, Nina said that Prajje’s creation was borderline costume, but I wasn’t sure how it couldn’t be, when the gloves were so dramatic. On the losing end, she said she didn’t think Katie trusted herself. The bottom line was, they were choosing who they’d be investing in, and who would have more longevity in their career.

Kristina was the winner, along with Lauren Brinkers, and seemed pretty surprised. She said she had no words, and high-fived Bones. In her interview, she said it felt great. When you were trying to say something, and the judges saw that, it was everything. Nina told Zayden, he was safe, but always take off one thing. She said that Katie was continuously listening to voices that weren’t her own, and the look had embodied it. Bones had too many ideas going on. Then Nina did that thing I hate. She said, Bones… you are in. It’s like a throwback to the early American Idol days, when they were allowed to torture people. Katie said she appreciated the opportunity, especially since she hadn’t even gone to fashion school. Elaine said she hoped Katie would get a clear sense of her capabilities, and trust herself to explore her range. In Katie’s interview, she said she regretted letting other voices crowd out her own, and Christian said she found herself a little bit. He knew she had a customer out there, and would find them and have a moment. Katie said she was going to start a clothing brand when she got back, and her advice was, trust your own voice.

Next time, an avant-garde challenge, a car accident, and Billy Porter as guest judge.

💰 Highlights. I caught some of Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles, since they reran it tonight. It looked like JoshA and Fredrik were on a roller coaster ride, co-listing with seller rep Yuri. First, Yuri wanted Fredrik out, but JoshA told him, they came in together, and they were selling it together. It was both or neither. (More niceness!) He and Fredrik talked about being Thelma and Louise, but they both wanted to be Thelma. JoshF showed a property that once belonged to Doris Day that had a massive 30,000 square foot backyard. He closed the deal during a brunch hosted by Tori Spelling, where he and the buyer were both guests. Yuri ultimately got rid of both JoshA and Fredrik when the property was taken off the market. In his interview, JoshA said it had been three months of work, and he and Fredrik were each out $25K. Remember that the next time you want to be a realtor. Looking on the bright side, Fredrik said, there’s always the next one.

🍊 Paging the OC…

RHOC is back on December 1st, along with Heather Dubrow.

https://pagesix.com/2021/10/28/heather-dubrow-says-rhoc-was-blue-collar-before-she-joined/

Emily talks trailer.

Emily Simpson Says RHOC Trailer “Left Out Most Dramatic Moments” From The Upcoming Season

If you haven’t seen it.

Heather Dubrow Reigns Supreme In Real Housewives Of Orange County Season 16 Trailer

Eww!

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/shannon-storms-beador-daughter-sophie-double-date-boyfriends-photos

🏋️ Power Napping Through Life…

Come and set a spell tomorrow for a little soap, a little tea, and even some knowledge. Until then stay safe, stay comfortable in yourself, and stay remembering there are no dumb questions. Although you might come along a dumb answer or two.

Nov12

November 11, 2021 – Sonny Gives Nina Advice, Soap Singing, Good Son, Skaters On the Runway, Designer Workroom & Fresh Off His Tour

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Curtis tells Linc, it looks like a good crowd. This night is turning out better than he’d hoped. He can’t thank Linc enough. Portia asks if Curtis has seen what’s going on outside. There’s a line around the block. He has a hit on his hands.

At a table, Elizabeth says Finn really went all out for her birthday. He says she deserves it, and much more. She says she appreciates it. It’s nice being out of the house and being adults for once. Now Josslyn and Cameron can study for midterms and have the place to themselves.

From the kitchen, Cameron tells Josslyn, they have sea salt, regular salt, Himalayan salt, and kosher salt. He’s very well prepared. He takes the condom out of his pocket and looks at it. In the living room on the phone, Josslyn says she already told Trina that she has plans with Cameron tonight… She hasn’t changed her mind. She knows Trina packed some makeup for her. She can’t find that lip gloss she likes. She looks in her purse, and pulls out some condoms. She says she thinks she found it.

Carly sits with Michael and Willow at The Savoy, and thanks Michael for scoring the tickets. He says, Aurora gave Curtis a break on ad rates when he opened The Savoy, so in return, he gave them tickets. Willow says, they would have been happy to see Downtown, but Phideaux is way better. Michael is surprised Sonny didn’t snag tickets, but Carly says, after what happened yesterday, they didn’t want to trouble Curtis. It’s fine. Everything has been handled.

Sonny asks Nina how it was catching up with Shawn, and she tells him, she woudn’t say they were catching up, but they were having a great conversation. She and Shawn are barely acquaintances, but they do have something in common. Sonny says, what does that mean? and Nina says, Shawn went to prison for Sonny, and she’s probably going to prison for what she did to him.

Chase tells Brook that he’s doing security at The Savoy to make up for being on desk duty. She says she actually left her security at home; he’s babysitting Bailey. Chase asks if babysitting isn’t a little menial for Yuri, but she says, he makes bank off Valentin, but Valentin had better watch out, or Monica is going to adopt her bodyguard and start calling the shots at ELQ. He says, that’s not squared away yet? and she says, the vote is actually next week. Valentin will finally be out of the CEO chair, and a Quartermaine, mainly her father, will be back in charge of the family business.

At the hospital, Austin asks Valentin how he’s doing, and Valentin says the progress is a little slower than he’d expected. Austin says, progress is progress, and Valentin says he’s awfully cheerful for a man who just lost his voting rights to ELQ. Austin says his dad warned him not to tangle with the Quartermaines. He didn’t listen, and had to learn firsthand how horrible they are. He wishes he hadn’t had to be suspended from his job and almost lose his medical license to find out. Valentin says, and his eyes are wide open now, and Austin says, they sure are. He closes the door, and shuts the blind, and says, the question is, are Valentin’s?

On the phone, Ava says, thank Mr. Sartore again for agreeing to display the Photo Ark at the gallery. They’re so incredibly honored. She hears something, and says she has to run, but thanks them again so much for everything. She comes out, and Scotty is adjusting a painting. She asks what he’s doing, and he says, this was crooked. She tells him to keep his hands off of it, and gets closer. She says, he stinks. He’s been drinking, hasn’t he? He says, what if he has? and she tells him to sit down. She’ll get him some water. He says, water’s not going to help, the government’s not going to help, his so-called friends aren’t going to help. She says she’s his friend, and he asks how she’s going to help him bring Obrecht home.

Valentin tells Austin, he’s locked horns with the Quartermaines plenty over the years. He’s not surprised by anything they do. Austin says, Brook outmaneuvered him. She got Valentin to sign over his shares of ELQ in exchange for access to his daughter. Valentin says, that’s true. His brief moment with Brook gave her leverage, but it also gave him Bailey, and he woudn’t trade her for all the shares of ELQ. Austin says, it’s good he knows that because the board vote is coming up, and Valentin is going to be out. Valentin says, it looks that way, and Austin says, what he’s trying to figure out, Valentin is laying there telling him how wise he is to the ways of the Quartermaines, yet Brook saw him coming from a mile away.

Chase tells Brook, now that the future of ELQ is squared away, she can help him with Maxie, instead of running interference for her like she did at the hospital. Brook says she’s just looking out for Maxie, and he says, the department is out of leads. Maxie is the last person to have seen her baby. She could have a key piece of evidence, and just doesn’t know it yet. She asks if Maxie wouldn’t have remembered something by now, and he says, not necessarily. Brook would be doing him and the PCPD a huge favor if she stopped acting like Maxie’s guard dog, and convinced Maxie to talk to him. Otherwise, that little girl might never come home.

Josslyn shoves the condoms back in her purse, and tells Trina that she’ll be fine; she promises. She asks Cameron if something is burning, and he runs to open the microwave. He says, everything’s fine, and takes out the bag of popcorn, and throws it in the trash. He grabs a bag of pretzels and puts them in a bowl. He comes in, and Josslyn is applying her lip gloss. He says, change of plans. He hopes she likes pretzels. She says she does. Popcorn is overrated anyway.

Carly asks if her presence at The Savoy is a problem for Curtis, and he says, it shouldn’t be. Has she had any more problems with Joey Novak? She says, no. He and Sonny came to an understanding. He says, so no more trouble from Joey, and she says she can’t really speak for her husband’s business anymore, but if Sonny says the problem’s solved, the problem’s solved.

Nina tells Sonny, Diane said Michael wanted her brought to justice, and he’s getting what he wanted. She guesses she should probably get used to calling prison her new home. He says she’s getting way ahead of herself. She hasn’t gone to trial; she hasn’t been convicted. She says, yet. Does he plan on using his power to keep her out of prison? He says she has no idea what he can do with his power, then turns her into a cat. Just kidding. She says, probably not, but she does know this. When she goes to trial, DA Sheridan is going to call him up to the stand and ask him about everything that happened in Nixon Falls. All the lies that she told, the false life she created, the real life she kept him from. He says she’s speaking a different language from him. What if she goes to trial, what if what happened in Nixon Falls is revealed… The point is, you don’t worry about what ifs. She says she envies him, because what ifs are all she’s about. What if Jay (Nathan) never died? What if her baby was never taken from her? What if she was allowed to watch her baby grow up, or at least find her before she spiraled so out of control it was too late to save her? What if she’d told him the truth the first time she saw him in Nixon Falls? What if she and Mike had… He says, that’s a total waste of time because you can’t change the past. All sorts of things could happen before the trial. She says, like what? and he says, like the DA can decide trying to prove identity fraud is more trouble than it’s worth; trying to get the conviction isn’t going to give him the headlines he wanted, and drops the charges. She tells him to stop now. If he keeps talking, he just might make her feel better.

Austin thinks Valentin underestimated Brook. He thinks Valentin thought she was a lightweight, and she played him. She could do it because he was so focused on Ned and Michael. Valentin asks how Austin is implying she played him, and Austin says, he thinks Valentin needs to talk to Brook’s assistant Gladys. He thinks Gladys has all the answers Valentin needs.

Chase says, Brook is close to Maxie. Just talk to her. If anyone can convince Maxie he’s not the boogeyman, it’s her. She says, of course (🍷) he’s not the boogeyman. She’ll talk to Maxie, but can’t make any promises. There are limits to her superpowers. He says, yeah, right, and she asks, what’s with the attitude? He says, she sure seemed powerful when she took a girls night out just hours before she had to pull over and give birth. She says, he remembers? and he says he stopped by the Quartermaines. Actually, he and Yuri bonded over putting together Bailey’s crib. That thing could have collapsed; there were a lot of missing parts. Brook flashes back to telling Yuri that she found parts on the floor, and the crib was super rickety. She says, Chase helped fix the crib. End of story.

Portia asks how Elizabeth’s birthday was back at home, and Elizabeth says, it was nice. Aiden baked her a cake, and the kids decorated, they made her a banner, and to top it off, Finn has taken her out. She’s excited to see the performer. It’s been a long time since she enjoyed live music. Portia says, but it takes some getting used to, right? Being out without Franco, and with Finn instead. Elizabeth says, Finn is a really good friend, but Portia says she’s seen them at the hospital. Sometimes, Elizabeth can’t stop smiling, and other times, she seems so hesitant, like maybe she’s not ready to move on. Elizabeth flashes back to her and Finn’s almost kiss, and says, at times it does seem overwhelming. Portia says, if it doesn’t feel right to be out, with or without Finn, don’t be out. Finn will understand. He certainly knows there’s no timetable for grief. If she wants to go home, she’s got to do what’s best for her.

Cameron and Josslyn are on the couch, when Cameron’s phone dings. He says, it’s probably nothing, but she picks it up, and says, it’s Spencer. He’s not going to stop until Cameron responds. Cameron looks at the phone, and says, he doesn’t know how to work the register. Josslyn says, that’s funny, since he sure knows how to spend money, and he says, maybe Spencer would know if he’d focus more on his job than Esme. He turns his phone off, and suggests they ditch the movie. She asks if he really likes Esme, and he says, undecided. She’s Spencer’s girlfriend. Josslyn says, so? She can’t believe he doesn’t see what a total fake she is. All this, I’m from Europe, and I’m so worldly stuff. Please. He says, she is from Europe, and she’s seen a lot more of the world than he has. Josslyn asks why she’d want to go on a weekend getaway with Esme and her condescending attitude? He says they don’t have to go, but she says, yes they do. Esme won’t leave them alone if they don’t. He says he doesn’t really want to think about Esme, or what she thinks about them, and she says, she doesn’t want to either. He says, you know what he thinks about? Her. They kiss.   

Ava tells Scotty to have some coffee; they’ll get him dried out. He says he doesn’t need drying out. He’s thinking better this way. She says he’ll be of no use to Obrecht with a mind like Swiss cheese. He says, what kind of a guy is he? He gets chucked out of an airplane like a sack of potatoes; then his girlfriend is whisked off to parts unknown. Ava pulls up a chair, and says, none of that was his fault. He was tricked, duped, drugged. Just be glad he’s alive now, and can work to bring Obrecht home. He asks, what has that done for him? All his time, energy, and resources, and he’s got goose egg; he’s got bupkis. He even put up a reward, and nobody’s responded to that. The only thing he does know for sure he succeeded at, is losing Britt, just like he lost Obrecht. She says, nobody can blame him for losing Britt, but he says he knew it was a mistake bringing Jason in. He knows who Jason is, and he badgered Britt to get him. Why couldn’t he have been a good little assassin, and done it by himself? But no, they both go. Now they’ve both gone missing. She says, there could be any number of reasons for that, and he says, none of them good. If Obrecht comes back, and finds her daughter missing… fireworks. She says, Britt’s a grown women, so she’s going to guess Obrecht respects her daughter’s choices. He says she doesn’t get it. He and Obrecht are in love. He had one job, to protect her. And he didn’t. He failed.  

Josslyn and Cameron make out on the couch, and he asks if she’s okay. She says, his hands are cold, and he says, sorry. She says, no big deal, and he asks if she’s sure this is okay. They kiss some more, and she says, something is poking her. She feels around, and pulls out a wooden spoon. He says, Aiden was looking for that. He should have prechecked the couch for cooking utensils and art supplies. Sorry. Why don’t they take this to the bedroom? There’s no wooden spoons there. She says, yeah, sure, and they get up. They see headlights outside.

Willow asks Michael to help her up on the table so she can tell the room how much she loves him. He kisses her hand, and thanks her for being her. She doesn’t have to jump on the table, even though he’d absolutely love to see that. He believes her. She says she’s going to keep saying this as many times as he needs to hear it. They don’t always need to agree. They won’t always agree, but she still loves him. She’s there for the long haul, like it or not. He says he likes it very much, when Carly comes back, apologizing for disappearing. She just wanted to call Sonny and see how it’s going. He’s going to be there soon.

Sonny says Nina doesn’t need his help to feel better or worse. She’s perfectly capable of doing that herself. She says, in other words, quit her complaining, and act like a grownup. Some things don’t change. He asks what she means, and she says, Mike was full of advice, whether she wanted to hear it or not. One positive thing is, Phyllis is going to be in her life, and she’s going to stay in Port Charles. He says, at least she’s managing the place, and Nina says, that’s a good thing. It will give her a fresh purpose, whether she sees it or not, and the job will keep her busy. Nina will just have to find a new watering hole. He says, she finds out Phyllis is putting down roots in Port Charles, and now she’s going to do everything she can to keep her distance. She says, he’s the one who told her to stay out of his life. He owns the place, so how is she supposed to do that? She doesn’t make the rules, she just follows them. He says, maybe he’ll change the rules.

Brook tells Chase, she had nothing to do with that super rickety crib. She’s sure Yuri thinks it’s all her fault, but he’d better watch it; he’s paid for his discretion as much as her protection. Linc approaches, and says, if anyone needs protection, it’s this poor man from her.

Austen wonders why Gladys was so desperate to talk to Valentin, and Valentin says, she claimed to have something to say to him, but then Brook showed up and shooed her out of the room. Austin asks if he wasn’t curious, and Valentin says he was heading into surgery, so he was a little preoccupied, but he’s curious now. Austen says, Gladys is running around town with Brook’s corporate credit card, spending it in decidedly uncorporate ways. She treated him to drinks – plural – at The Savoy. Valentin says, she must like Austin, and Austin says, and she let slip that she thinks Brook is pulling a scam on Valentin.   

Josslyn says she thought Cameron’s mom would be home later than this, and he says, it seems she will be. Someone’s just using the driveway to turn around. He asks if Josslyn is okay; she seems a little off. She says, too many pretzels, but he says they didn’t have any. They don’t have to do this. She says she’s good; it will pass. Besides, doesn’t he want to? He says, of course (🍷) he wants to, but only if she does, and to be honest, it seems like she doesn’t.

Curtis says he’ll have Nika get Finn and Elizabeth a bottle of champagne, and Finn tells Elizabeth, go ahead. She deserves it. She says, what the hell. She’d love some.

Austin reaches to touch Valentin’s flowers, and Valentin moves the vase. He asks what else Gladys told Austin, but Austin says, nothing really. He gets up, and says, she did ask him if he wanted to have a drink at the MetroCourt, but he’s in the middle of his shift. He called her a bunch of times, but she hasn’t returned his calls. Valentin asks if Austin thinks Brook got to her, and Austin says he does. He thinks Brook either terrified that poor woman, or paid her off to keep her mouth shut. He hopes Valentin has more luck with Gladys, but Valentin says he doesn’t need luck.

Brook says, please tell her that she’s having a nightmare, and Chase says he remembers Linc. Linc says, he should; Chase arrested him. Chase says, he’s Brook’s music producer, and Brook says, ex-music producer, and total sexist and skeezy sleaze. Linc asks if that’s any way to talk to an old friend, and she asks what he’s doing there. She hoped he’d been dumped on a toxic waste site. Linc says he’s there to see the show on the stage, not the show on the floor, and Chase says they don’t want a disturbance, but if Linc comes within ten feet of Brook again, he’ll be out on the street. Linc says, there’s no need to manhandle him. He knows when he’s not wanted. Good to see Brook again.

Nina says, Sonny Corinthos is changing his rules, and for her, and he says he didn’t bring Phyllis in to run Charlie’s just to have Nina stay away. Phyllis doesn’t know it yet, but she belongs in Port Charles. She can see who she wants to see. She says, even if it means he’ll have to breathe the same air as she is? and he says, he’s telling her again, stay away from Carly, and respect Michael’s wishes when it comes to Wiley. She promises, and says she knows he said he could change the rules anytime, but she just never thought it would be this soon and in her favor. Sonny says he’s doing this for Phyllis. If the rule change works for Nina, so be it. Nina and I both go, hmm…

Ava says, she knows the WSB knows more than they’re letting on to the public, and Scotty asks what she means. She says, they captured a man during the assault at the compound in Crete, and he says, the one Nikolas owns? She says, used to own. Anyway, the man they captured claims to have a lead on Peter. He says, if that’s true, why is nobody telling him? He’s been running around like a chicken with no head. She says she doesn’t know, but the man in question is demanding a heck of a lot in exchange for cooperation. He asks how bad the guy can be, and she says, apparently, he’s committed many crimes and acts of espionage going back decades. The WSB wants to prosecute him, not cut a deal. He says she’s got to help him; Obrecht’s life is at stake. Who is this guy? She says, Nikolas’s uncle Victor Cassadine. He jumps up, and says, for cryin’ out loud, now this all makes sense. That’s why Nikolas didn’t help him out; he was protecting his uncle. And that’s why she didn’t help him, because she was protecting her husband. She says, he’s not drunk at all. He just tricked her so she would spill her guts. He says, he did, to get the truth, and she says, get out of here, you cretin. He should be ashamed of himself. He says, if the shoe was on the other foot, he would do exactly what she’s doing. So isn’t life and love all grand? He walks out.

Josslyn says she feels so dumb. She was the one pushing for this, now she’s hitting the brakes. He says she’s allowed to change her mind, and she says she just doesn’t want to disappoint him. He says, this is supposed to be about the two of them, not just him. He wants to have sex with her more than anything, but it wasn’t even on the agenda until this morning, when it was suddenly put there. She says she knows. Maybe it’s being in college, or being around Esme, who never misses an opportunity to remind Josslyn how advanced she is. She’s embarrassed to admit it, but he knows how competitive she is. She thinks part of her just wanted to keep up, and the other part of her just wanted to get it out of the way so it wouldn’t take up so much space in her head. He says she shouldn’t have to think about it that way. It’s not like a volleyball game she has to win. She says she knows, and she truly doesn’t want her first time to be about something between her and Esme, or anyone else at PCU having sex. She wants it to be about her and Cameron. He says he just wants it to be right.

Sonny arrives at The Savoy, and asks if he missed anything. Michael says he didn’t, and Carly says she’s just glad he made it. Is everything okay? He nods and smiles. Curtis asks if he can have everyone’s attention. Tonight is a very special night at The Savoy. He thanks them all for being there, and says, it’s his privilege and honor to present, fresh from his sold out summer tour, Phideaux (see below). The audience seems like they’re enjoying it, but aren’t moving around to music much. It brought to mind what another actor said once, when we were doing a play together: is this an audience or an oil painting?

Curtis tells Chase that he noticed Linc was bothering Brook. Does she know that guy? Chase says, he was her music producer, and they have a history. Brook and Linc got into it, and he ended up arresting them both. Curtis says, really? Excuse him. He goes over to Brook, and apologizes for Linc bothering her. He’ll be happy to refund her ticket. She says, that’s sweet of him, but Linc wasn’t bothering her. She was just surprised to see him. She thought he knew better than to show his face in Port Charles again. He asks if the Quartermaines ran Linc out of town, and she says, just one Quartermaine, her dad. He says, if Linc gets in her face again, let him know.

Josslyn says, she was afraid if they didn’t do it, Cameron would be upset and dump her. He says, like that’s going to happen, and she says, it’s not like he can’t find someone else; the girls would be lining up. He says, A, that’s just not true, and B, the only girl he wants is her. He waited years to hold her hand. He can wait a little bit longer for sex. They hug, and he says, however long it takes, he knows it will be worth it.

Finn says, if Elizabeth has had enough, they can sneak out, but she says, is he kidding? She asks why he looks surprised, and he says he was concerned it might be too much for her. He knows it’s not an easy birthday. She says, it’s not, but he’s making it special for her.

Scotty taps Nina on the shoulder, and says, he’s sorry he’s late, but for good reason. He got a line on Obrecht. She asks if he took it to Anna, but he says, Anna is the last person to take anything to. She says, please don’t go to Obrecht’s rescue like Britt did, on his own. They all want to find her, and he’s got to put the WSB in the loop. He says he intends to go to the WSB, but when you do, you can’t make mistakes. Like when you go to Sonny Corinthos.

Carly asks Sonny how it went with Phyllis. Did she agree to manage Charlie’s? He says, on a trial basis; it’s her decision, not his. She says, that’s great, right? She knows how important Phyllis is to him. He says, it’s the right decision, and Phyllis is going to be a terrific manager. She says, they’ve never hung out at Charlie’s, and he says, Julian Jerome didn’t exactly make it appealing. She says, that’s true, but Julian is gone, and Phyllis is running the place, so there’s our excuse to get to know Charlie’s better. D’oh! all over the place.

Scotty says he can’t help Obrecht tonight, so he and Nina should strategize about her trial. He thinks the best defense is a good offense. They’ve got to get Sonny and Michael to back off. She asks if he has something in mind, and he says, the only thing she has in common with that family is a legitimate claim, but she says, no. Wiley’s out of bounds. He says, now that Nelle’s gone, she has legal rights to her grandson. She has to use those legal rights, and push them to get Sonny to back off. She says she’s not going to use her grandson, and he’s looking at this the wrong way. Michael is the one who got the DA to press charges on her, not Sonny. He says, Michael takes his cues from Don Vito. She says, maybe the pre Nixon Falls Don Vito, but not the man Sonny is now.

Portia tells Curtis, the band is amazing, and so is this night. She’s been table hopping, and everyone is having a wonderful time… except for him. What’s wrong? He says, Linc, the band’s producer. Chase arrested him a while back, and Ned Quartermaine ran him out of town. She asks, why? and he says, something he had against Brook. He’s beginning to think Linc’s appearance there wasn’t a coincidence. She says, so he thinks Linc deliberately came there to help him out when his original band canceled? and he says, he thinks someone put Linc up to it.

Valentin asks what Austin wants for the information on Brook and Gladys. He must want something. Austin says, no; they’re good on that. He could tell the way they were talking, Brook may soon find herself in the hottest corner of hell. Valentin says, that’s enough for him? and Austin says, Brook’s misery will be his joy. If Valentin is feeling extra generous, and wants to show his appreciation when Brook gets what’s coming to her, just tell her Austin says hi, and give Brook his regards.

Tomorrow, Robert tells Olivia that the kiss was anything but meaningless, Brook says don’t pop the champagne yet, Esme asks if someone (probably Trina) is trying to steal her boyfriend, and Curtis tells Portia that he’ll stop anyone who tries to take what’s his.

🎸 Replacement Act…

This guy was not bad. He actually reminded me of Billy Idol.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/general-hospital-director-phideaux-xavier-sings-on-the-soap

💰 I caught the end of Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles again, and this is the second week in a row that it was warm and fuzzy. JoshA got house for his parents, and in his interview, he said it put a bow on the last twenty years of his life. Aww! Are we getting kinder, gentler brokers this season? No one seems very happy with Fredrik though.

Project Runway

Aaron was missing Darren, and pointed out that you could become close with the other designers, but one day you were here, and the next you weren’t. One bad day was all it took. The designers were paid a visit by Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir, BFFs and former skating partners. They were now commentators, and needed looks for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. They’d be wearing the winning look live. Anna was hoping to win, and represent the Asian community. The designers were split into pairs; one team member would make an outfit for Tara, and the other for Johnny. Johnny randomly passed out cards to match them. He reminded them that he and Tara were only seen from the waist up – you didn’t see the legs they’d worked their whole lives for, because they were commentators now. He told the group to concentrate on things like color and neckline. He said he liked to go full-on Hunger Games in structure, and I had no clue what he meant, getting a mental picture of him in suede with a bow and arrow. Or on fire. He said they were looking for something special and unique. They liked everything, but also nothing. It was a one-day challenge, which I thought was a little cruel.

The pairs were, Chastity and Zayden, Aaron and Shantall, Prajje and Sabrina, Katie and Octavio, Anna and Bones, and Kristina and Coral. Aaron was worried because Shantall had immunity. He didn’t know if she would show up, but I thought, come on. Only an idiot would think the judges wouldn’t notice they didn’t try, and file that away. In Katie’s interview, she was concerned about keeping her voice within the team, since she’d been in the bottom last week. The designers were given 45 minutes at Mood, and a $1200 budget. I love how crazy they get in that store. I guess the equivalent for me would be a movie material store or B&N.

When Christian came in to harass them, he said he had a Siriano Save. He could use it if he felt a designer’s elimination was a case of bad timing, bad luck, or it was just bad. Zayden did an ice skating twirl to demonstrate his expertise. Bones used Anna’s fabric, but they managed to work it out without a fight. Shantall thought Aaron was pushing her in a good way. In Katie’s interview, she said she’d been brought up to dress modestly, which explained a lot of the Peter Pan collars and such, although I think she wears some amazing prints. It also explained one of her problems in designing; she tended to design for herself. In Sabrina’s interview, she revealed that she’d suffered from arthritis at a young age, and sometimes her body took its toll on her mind. She began to have difficulty toward the end of the day, and had to step away to get it together. Since she hadn’t shared this information with anyone, Prajje was less than sympathetic. In Aaron’s interview, he said, immunity never mattered, and Shantall had worked as hard as he did. The designers were sewing up until the models went on the runway. Tara and Johnny were also the guest judges.

One favorite look of the night came from Anna and Bones, who wanted their outfits to conjure up the thought of ice. Anna’s dress for Tara had a plunging neckline (although in-between netting kept it from being too revealing for prime time), and incredible beaded fringe, very flapperish. Designing for Johnny, Bones had done a beautiful sheer shirt and white pants, but as Brandon said, the vest was a challenge. While Anna’s beading was elegant and high-end, Bones’s vest was more crafty. That was the perfect word, since it literally looked like something you’d make from a virtual class in crafting. It was cool, but not haute couture. Shantall and Aaron were also at the top, although Brandon thought their look was a little Night at the Roxbury. I thought it was a little dark colorwise, with black and navy. At the bottom were Prajje and Sabrina, who went for the gold in their look, but the judges felt the collaboration wasn’t strong. Johnny said the outfits looked like cartoon versions of what a skater would wear. Katie and Octavio scored low too, and Octavio kept trying to throw Katie under the bus, but his shirt for Johnny dwarfed Katie’s outfit for Tara. Brandon said Katie had designed a party on the bottom, and business he didn’t want to be a part of on top. Their model looked pissed, which was kind of funny. Brandon said it seemed like no one got along, and their looks reflected that. They should have been lifting each other up.

The winners were Anna and Bones, with Anna getting the big win. In her interview, she said it would be her lifetime job to represent the Asian community. Brandon told the bottom four, they had been working as team, designing for a team, but lost because there had been no teamwork. Sabrina was out, which surprised me, since I was sure it would be Katie, who’s been consistently disappointing to the judges. Sabrina said, having been born in Afghanistan, she was excited to represent girls who didn’t have opportunities, and show them there’s hope. Johnny said he couldn’t wait to wear her, which would have been creepy coming from that guy in Silence of the Lambs. In Sabrina’s interview, she said she knew she could do better, and it hurt to know that this outfit was her swan song, but the competition had helped her go for her dreams. Christian said Sabrina was a strong, talented, amazing designer who would do great things.  

Fun Fact: Johnny Weir said he’d worn off-the-rack Brandon Maxwell during the last Olympic commentary.

Next time, each designer works with an accessory designer.

🌿 On the Street Where They Live…

The Duggal Greenhouse is where the designers do most of their work. You, too, can rent it for what I’m sure is a modest sum. If you’re a millionaire.

https://duggalgreenhouse.com/

🏎 Ciao, Bella Or Not…

Hope to see you tomorrow for soap, tea, and stuff other people said. Until then, stay safe, stay appreciating the small stuff, and stay not worrying about what ifs. It’s a waste of time since you can’t change the past.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU7cVdCTGuw
Nov5

November 4, 2021 – Ned Gets a Surprise, Ark Artistry, Flowers On the Runway, Flashes, Too Kind, More Costumes & Papa

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Ava says the artist was very pleased with their offer… If they send the payment, she’ll ship the piece to Paris… Yes. Au revoir. Nikolas walks in, and she asks to what she owes this pleasure. He says, after their separation, does he really need a reason to see his lovely wife? She says, that’s very romantic… and a little suspect. Might he be covering an ulterior motive? Shawn comes in, and Nikolas thanks him for coming, and tells Ava that he and Shawn have some business to discuss. Can they use her back room? She says, it’s all his, and asks if there’s anything she can do to facilitate. He says she already has by lending them the room. They shouldn’t be long. He kisses her, and goes in the back with Shawn, but I don’t think she’s buying what he’s selling.

Harmony asks Alexis if she can help with anything before she goes, and Alexis looks at Ryan, and says, maybe she could take the psychopath back to his room. Harmony says, sorry, but Ryan has another hour. But since Alexis is uncomfortable with him, maybe she should reconsider their earlier conversation. Alexis asks if she means Nikolas’s offer to have the governor pardon her. She thinks she should be done with making deals with the devil. Spencer comes in, along with Esme wearing a work uniform, and asks which devil they’re talking about.

Trina is looking at her tablet when Ned walks in. He says, wow. Those photos are beautiful. Where did they come from? She says, it’s called the Photo Ark Project, and he says he’s heard of it. He asks if National Geographic isn’t responsible for creating it, and she says, Joel Sartore is the photographer and a National Geographic explorer. His mission is to document every species living under human care. Ned says, that’s incredible. How many species has he already documented? She says, he just reached twelve thousand. He’s been doing it for fifteen years. He says, that’s a great idea. He imagines a lot of the species are endangered, and she says she’s afraid so, but she knows he didn’t come there to gush about the Photo Ark. How can she help him? He says he’s looking for a last minute gift for Olivia, and Trina asks if he forgot her birthday. He says, this is more of a gesture of goodwill. He hopes. (See more on The Photo Ark below.)

Olivia stumbles around behind the bar at the MetroCourt, when Robert comes in. She yells, Robert! and he asks if she’s okay. She says she’s great.

Dante walks into the hospital, and tells Epiphany that they got a call about an assault victim. Does she know anything about that? She says, a man was found beaten and brought to the hospital, and he asks if they have an ID. She says, Joseph Novak. He’s in ICU; it was a severe beating. He nearly died.

Curtis tells Portia that he doesn’t like the idea of this man going around Port Charles, and asking her and TJ questions about him, or working Nika at his club. Something’s not right if he won’t talk to Curtis himself. Portia says she was worried about Cyrus, but it could be something more commonplace. Maybe he owns a competing nightclub, and he’s checking out Curtis’s strengths and weaknesses. He says, something about him seems familiar, but definitely not from hanging out here at the club. Sam comes in, and asks if he always keeps his door unlocked when he’s closed, and he tells her, welcome back. She says she wanted to tell him what she found out about Drew.

Valentin is looking at photos of Charlotte on his phone, when Anna brings Victor in. Valentin says, hello, Victor. Or should he call him dad?

Olivia throws her arms around Robert, saying, she’s so happy to see him. He says, tell him she didn’t drive, and she says she took a car from The Savoy. She knows she left her phone back here. She was  going to find it and… who cares about her. He’s here. Did he catch Peter? And did he find Maxie’s baby? He says, found Peter, lost him again, couldn’t find Louise. She says she’s so sorry, and starts to guzzle his drink, but he takes it away. He asks, what about her? Leave nothing out, and remember she doesn’t have to drink herself sideways to feel good. She says, it’s Ned. They’ve tried. They’ve tried everything, but she’s afraid things between them are worse than ever.

Ava tells Ned, what a pleasant surprise. Is he in the market for some artwork? Trina says, he’s looking for a gift for his wife, and he says he knows you can’t buy forgiveness. Ava says, but you can sure as hell try. Has he looked around? Has he seen anything Olivia might like? She suggests Trina show him the pieces they have that aren’t displayed, and she says she was showing Ned the Photo Ark Project. He says, the collaboration with National Geographic. The photographer, Joel Sartore, is documenting every species living in captivity. Look at the photos; they’re incredible. Ava looks at the tablet, and says, they are, and Trina says, he’s been to wildlife sanctuaries and zoos all over the world. Ned says, the photographer is using it to bring awareness to conservation across the globe, and Ava says, it’s wonderful work, but what does it have to do with the gallery? Trina says, Ava has been encouraging her to put together an art exhibit of her own for extra credit in art class. What if she organizes an exhibit at the gallery hosting the Photo Ark Project?

Alexis tells Spencer, she and Harmony were just talking about ethics, and asks if it isn’t a little late for a visit. Esme says she’s volunteering at Spring Ridge; it’s part of her course work at PCU. Spencer says, Esme is thinking of being a psyche major, so she’s going to be working with some of the patients here. Alexis says, great, and Esme says, for her night shift, the best boyfriend in the world offered to drive her to work. Spencer says he did have an ulterior motive. He wanted a few minutes with his Aunt Alexis before visiting hours are over. Esme tells Harmony, the warden said Harmony would show her the ropes, and Harmony says she was just about to clock off… but, sure. She’ll show Esme around. They leave and Alexis asks, what happened to Spencer’s hand? He says, espresso shots can be hazardous, and she says, he’s pulling his own espresso shots? He says, it wasn’t for him. He’s working at Kelly’s. She laughs, and says, he has a job… at Kelly’s? He says, it’s a bit of a long story, and she says, it’s either him or Dostoyevsky. They sit, and she says, lay it on her.

Shawn tells Nikolas, no wires or microphones. Not that they’d work here; this place is like Fort Knox. Nikolas says that’s why he suggested Ava’s gallery. The security measures insure complete privacy. Has Shawn given any more thought to their conversation the other day? Shawn says, the deal for his silence? and Nikolas says, half a million dollars; it’s just an opening bid. Shawn says, Hayden may have made her peace with Nikolas trying to kill her, but she wasn’t the only victim here. He’s not talking about his years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Nikolas asks what he’s talking about, and Shawn says, Naomie Dreyfuss. Nikolas killed her to make sure he and Sam never found Hayden.

Anna tells the guard she’s got it covered, and he leaves. Valentin says he doesn’t need Anna to stay, but she says she’s not leaving him alone with a megalomaniac. He says he doesn’t need her to babysit him; he can handle it himself. She says she’s sure she can, but she’s still not leaving him alone. Victor says, my oh my, you can cut the sexual tension with a knife, and Anna tells him to get over himself. The only reason he’s there and not the Hague is that the Bureau wants to keep him close to Anna during her investigation. Victor says, in case he cracks. The Bureau’s wasting its time. Valentin suggests not wasting anyone’s time. If Victor wants to make a deal with the Bureau without his and Anna’s help, he can forget that. He needs to help them find Peter and bring him to justice.

Robert pushes a cup of coffee toward Olivia, and says it will help her feel better, but she pushes it back. She says he has to promise everything she’s told him is in the cone of silence; not even Monica knows this. He says he’s a former Bureau agent. He knows when to keep his trap shut. Sorry to hear about Leo though. She says, there’s nothing to be sorry about. Leo is just fine. He’s got his own interests, his own way of being. It’s Ned who’s convinced Leo is on the spectrum after having one conversation with this stupid doctor who isn’t even an autism specialist. Plus, he’s trying to sue the Quartermaines for stocks of ELQ. Plus, broke doctor/patient confidentiality when he went blabbing his mouth all over to Brook. Robert says, sounds like a real keeper, and she says she knew he would understand. There’s no way her son has autism. He says, she knows how he feels about her husband, but he does love Leo, and looks upon that boy like he’s his own. Is it possible his concerns are worth at least a follow-up? She says, if she thought there was any chance that her son actually had something wrong with him, does Robert not think she’d make an appointment with a specialist? He says she knows her son, and they’re very close. She asks if Robert thinks they’re too close. Is he saying she smothers him? He says, it’s called loving your child. He loves his daughter, but he doesn’t smother her. She says, maybe she’s just seeing what she wants to see, and he asks why she’s telling him this and not Ned?

Trina says, the photographer’s on tour to support his new book, Photo Art Wonders. Mr. Sartore free in two weeks, but for one day only. Then he’s not available for at least a year. Ava says she loves Trina’s enthusiasm, and that she wants to spearhead her own project, but she doesn’t think it’s going to be feasible. Trina says she checked the gallery’s calendar, and they’re not hosting any events in those two weeks, but Ava says, the event would have to be underwritten. She doesn’t think it’s possible to find someone to bankroll that kind of event on such short notice. Ned says, how about him? Geez, how about Nikolas? He has more money than God.

Dante asks if Joey has said anything, but Epiphany says he’s still unconscious. A good Samaritan found him at Van Nyes, and called 9-1-1. Dante wonders what he was doing there, and she says, it’s a shortcut to the Harbor View district. A lot of nightlife has sprung up there recently. He says, like The Savoy.

Curtis says, so there never was a plane crash, and Drew’s been alive this whole time, and Sam says, alive, and being held in a compound on the island of Crete. But by the time they got there, Anna and Robert had seen Peter shoot Drew, and Drew fell into the sea. The WSB and the investigators searched for him, but there was no sign of him. If she’d only gotten there sooner… Portia says she hears what ifs from her patients all the time. Looking back doesn’t change anything. The only thing you can do, is think about what you can do now. Sam says she has to talk to Scout, but Portia says, she doesn’t have to talk to Scout immediately. Nothing is going to change overnight. She doubts Peter is going to come back to Port Charles, knowing she, Dante, and Anna are looking for him. Why doesn’t she take this time to think about this? She’s the parent; she controls the narrative.

Victor agrees Peter needs to be brought to justice, but unfortunately, Peter’s whereabouts are the only leverage he has. Anna says, if Victor is innocent, as he claims, why does he need a deal for immunity? He says he ran the Bureau, remember? Once they have their sights on you, proving your innocence is well-nigh impossible. Valentin says Victor knows what Peter’s capable of, and Victor says he knows Peter needs to be stopped, but he also has to look out for his own interests. Valentin says, his daughters are potential targets. If Victor is telling the truth, they’re his granddaughters. Anna says, and if he’s Valentin’s father, wouldn’t he want to cooperate for the family’s sake? Victor says he didn’t lie about that; he is Valentin’s father. Valentin says, forgive him if he doesn’t jump out of this hospital bed for a celebratory embrace, and Victor says he kind of thought Valentin would. Knowing he’s a Cassadine after all, entitled to all the benefits and curses that come with that bloodline.

Nikolas tells Shawn, he had nothing to do with Naomie Dreyfuss’s death; he thought she killed herself. Shawn says, suicide was ruled out, and it was deemed a homicide, but Nikolas says he’s heard nothing about this. Shawn says, because the case is low priority for the police. It’s bad enough Violet hasn’t seen or heard from her mother in over a year, now she’s lost her grandmother too. Where is the justice in that? Nikolas says he’s not disagreeing with Shawn, but since he had nothing to do with it, he’d rather discuss the matter at hand. Shawn says Nikolas is making a charitable donation for his silence, and Nikolas says his charitable donation to the cause of Shawn’s choice, in exchange for Shawn not ruining his reputation with his baseless accusations. Shawn says he could take Nikolas’s money, but this was never about money for him. Nikolas asks what else he can give Shawn, and Shawn says, Nikolas didn’t want to get his hands dirty doing it himself, so he hired a shooter whose still out there somewhere, free as a bird. Nikolas says, this is all conjecture, and Shawn says, let him conjecture this. Give up who actually fired the gun.

Spencer tells Alexis that Doc paid his bail, but there were conditions, and one of them was that he get a job. She says she’s surprised he didn’t turn right around, and walk back into jail, and Spencer laughs. He says, working at Kelly’s has other benefits too. He needs to get back in his father’s good graces. Did Nikolas tell her that he put Ava in control of his money? She says she heard, and he says he needs to show his father that he’s responsible, and he can never speak ill of Ava again. She says, let her know how that works out, and he says, without access to his trust fund, he can’t hire a decent attorney to defend him. She says, he’s a first time offender. Maybe they can plead him out with a suspended sentence and some public service. He says she could plead him out; his public defender would have to remember his name first. Maybe if he agrees to his father’s terms, his father will pay for an A-list attorney. Alexis flashes back to Nikolas trying to barter for her dropping the investigation in exchange for him getting her a pardon, and she tells Spencer, going to his father is a terrible idea.

Harmony says she should have realized the psyche patients are locked in their cells for the night, and Esme looks at Ryan, and asks if Ryan has special privileges. Harmony says, not really. It’s because he’s immobile no one worries he’ll escape. What exactly drew Esme to working with criminals, mentally ill ones at that? Esme says she believes in the power of redemption; that despite our past sins, we can all do better. Harmony knows that better than anyone, doesn’t she?

Trina hugs Ned, thanking him, and Ava tells him, please don’t feel any pressure to underwrite the exhibition. He says, to be honest, there’s a method to his madness. Olivia is crazy about animals, and if he underwrites the exhibition in her name, it might go a long way to her seeing he’s not such a bad guy. Trina tells Ava that she’s going to reach out to the Photo Ark people right now; maybe they can get a date on the books. She leaves, and Ave says, a generous gift, something unique and timely, will also go a long way in helping his troubled marriage. He takes it she has something in mind, and she says, a small framed piece, something that will look terrific in Olivia’s office at the MetroCourt. The artist is on her way up, and one of these days, her works are going to be worth a fortune. He thanks her, saying, he trusts her judgement. A tip to the bartender, and she should be able to sneak it into Olivia’s office as a surprise. 

Robert says, Olivia is admitting to him that she thinks there might be some validity to Ned’s concerns, but rather than talk to Ned about it, she continues to push him away. She says, he’s right, and he says, what was that again? She tells him, stop it; he heard exactly what she said. He says, then what’s the problem? and she says, the problem is, she and Ned don’t communicate. They talk, but they don’t talk to each other; they talk at each other. He says, he’s been down that trail, but she says, not with her. She can tell him anything because unlike Ned, he actually listens.  

Valentin says he didn’t invite Victor there to discuss the Cassadine family tree, and Victor says, give him some credit. he managed to protect Valentin from Mikkos. If he’d known for a second that Valentin was Victor’s son with Helena, he would have killed Valentin without hesitation. Valentin says, he would have thought it was Helena’s doing, her sick revenge in getting Mikkos to accept her bastard son as his own. Victor says, Helena saw it as revenge. He saw it as hiding Valentin in plain sight. For what it’s worth (🍷), Valentin was sent away to boarding school in England, got a degree from Oxford, and was accepted into the WSB training program, despite his physical limitations. Valentin says, when he thought he was living his own life, Victor was pulling the strings. Victor says he made sure certain doors were open to Valentin, but if he’d failed, Victor wouldn’t be able to help him. He wasn’t worried. From an early age, Valentin proved himself to be eminently capable. Valentin says Victor is right about that. Peter’s at large. He’s got his father’s contacts and Faison’s money. He’s tried to kill Valentin, and doesn’t like Victor much either. So save himself, and help them find Peter.

Curtis raises his glass, and says, to Drew, a good man. He, Sam, and Portia clink glasses, and Dante walks in. Sam asks what he’s doing there, and Curtis says, they’re closed, but they’re always open for him. They were just raising a glass to Drew. Dante says he’d love to, but unfortunately he’s here on official business. Sam asks, what’s going on? and he says, Joey Novak was found beaten to a pulp about a block away from the club. Witnesses said they saw him here. Sam says, he doesn’t think Curtis… and Dante says, no, he doesn’t, but he has to ask. Where was Curtis tonight after the club closed? Curtis says he was here with Portia; he can show Dante the video footage. Dante says, no, that’s perfect. Did he see Novak there? Curtis says he saw Joey. He had to be escorted out. He was being a nuisance and it’s not the first time. Dante asks what Joey was doing, and Curtis says, the typical routine, being a tough guy. He didn’t have nobody fooled. Dante says, he’s probably just trying to fill his dead uncle’s shoes, and Curtis says, if he is, he’s not bringing any illegal drugs into the club. Dante says, heads up. Novak’s already made one enemy. He doesn’t want it impacting Curtis

Harmony says, Esme’s done her research, and Esme says she always like know more about the people she meets. When she learned she’d be working with Harmony, she did a deep dive. Harmony says she’s not proud of the mistakes she made while she was part of Dawn of Day, and Esme says, she made those mistakes for a cause she believed in, but Harmony says, there was no cause. It was a racket, a shell game. She went looking for answers, someone to connect the dots, someone to show her clarity. Shiloh told her everything she wanted to hear, and when he had her good and hooked, he turned her inside out. He made her his confident, his accomplice. Eventually, she betrayed her ideals and beliefs, and everyone she loved, including her own daughter. If Esme had asked her at that time, she would have said it was for a higher purpose, a greater good, but Dawn of Day was about one thing, feeding David Henry Archer’s ego. Remember that. When someone tells you they have all the answers, that they can fill you up, that they can give you life’s purpose, head for the nearest exit, and don’t look back.

Spencer asks what happened between Alexis and his father? Just a few weeks ago, she was practically begging him to make things right with him. She says, there are aspects of his father’s life he doesn’t want to be accountable for. If he refuses, she thinks Spencer should keep his distance from him. Spencer asks if she cares to be less vague, and she says, what she cares about, is that Spencer avoid becoming just like him.

Nikolas says, there’s a major flaw in Shawn’s theory; where would he even find a hitman? Never mind hiring one. Here’s where, if I was Shawn, I would stare blankly at the camera, since several mob families live in this town. Where wouldn’t you find a hitman? Shawn says Nikolas could try selling that to a jury, but he doesn’t think Nikolas will get far. Nikolas says and Shawn thinks he can sell his fairytale to the police? Shawn says, not him; Dr. Hamilton Finn. He can just go to Finn, and tell him everything he knows. He might be an ex con, but Finn is an esteemed physician, left raising a little girl whose mother suddenly disappeared. He’ll be able to open doors Shawn can’t. He’ll be able to get the authorities to listen. Not even Nikolas’s mother the mayor will be able to get him out of this. All eyes will be on Hayden’s little girl, who cries herself to sleep every night, wondering why mommy left her. Nikolas says he’s sure there are ways he can help clear Shawn’s name, and Shawn says, then they’re agreed. And that charitable donation Nikolas offered? He accepts, but with an extra zero added on the end. Nikolas says that wasn’t their deal, and Shawn says, it was an opening bid. He just raised it. Nikolas says, so it was about the money after all. Shawn says, oh no, but he’ll put it to good use. A pleasure doing business with him. Nikolas tells Shawn, he meant what he said. He had nothing to do with Naomie Dreyfuss’s death. Shawn says, know what? He almost believed Nikolas.

Victor says he’d like to know that Peter is safely locked away, or better yet, that he’s been killed while trying to escape. He’d like to know that he can no longer go after Valentin or his daughters, who are indeed his granddaughters. He’d like to know that miserable excuse for a human being has finally been stopped once and for all. Valentin asks if there’s a catch in there somewhere, and Victor says, there are certain things in this world that are greater than himself or what he wants. He can’t accomplish those things behind bars. Anna asks what the hell that’s supposed to mean.

Robert says, there’s a reason he and Olivia can talk the way they do; they’re friends. Olivia gets up, and says, they’re good friends, and he says she can tell him the depths of her fears. He’s kind of removed from that part of her life. She disagrees. They’ve been friends for a long time. They’ve had a lot of adventures together. Does he remember how Ethan was grilling him about how close they were? Robert says, he saw something that didn’t exist, and she says, what if does? What if everyone else is just seeing something they’re not? She kisses him, and Ned walks in with a painting.

Victor says, despite his personal interest, he can’t help them. He has to think of the bigger picture. Valentin says, spoken like a true Cassadine, self-preserving to the last. Anna tells the guard to get Victor out of there, and Victor says, he’s truly sorry to disappoint Valentin, but Valentin says he didn’t. Victor proved him right, and he likes being right. Victor leaves with the guard, and Valentin tells Anna, sorry to waste your time, darling. She asks if he’s all right.   

Robert tells Olivia that he thinks she’s got the wrong idea. Ned turns Robert around, and punches him in the face.

Spencer promises Alexis, he’ll be nothing like his father, and she tells him not to make promises he can’t keep. She asks him to do her a favor, and get his hand checked out at GH, but he says, it’s really not that serious. She says, unless it gets infected, and he says, if it would make her feel better. She says, it would, and he says, okay, she wins. He gets up, and says, as always, it’s great seeing her. She gets up, and says, she cares about him. Don’t be like the rest of the family. Money isn’t worth compromising over. He says he’ll think about it, but he knows he’ll disappoint Esme. He doesn’t think she signed up to be the girlfriend of a pauper. He leaves, saying goodbye to Esme on the way out.

Trina tells Ava, this is so great. Once she gets a date, she needs to book the caterers, send out invitations, decide on the food, pick out a display… Ava says, first things first. Tell her mother the good news, and do it in person. Trina thanks Ava, saying, she’s the best boss ever. She hugs Ava, and runs off. Nikolas walks back out with Shawn, who keeps walking out the door. Ava asks if Nikolas wants to tell her what that’s all about.

Curtis tells Dante, he showed Joey Novak the door. He escorted Joey out, and his bouncer, escorted his friend right behind him. He told them, do not come back, because you won’t get let in. And that was it. Is there anything else he can help Dante with? Dante says, no. They’re good, but maybe if he could offer some unsolicited advice? Curtis says, only if he doesn’t have to take it, and Dante says, of course (🍷) not. As Curtis knows, he’s running a nightclub, which is mostly a cash business. That element of shadiness is going to try to creep in. It probably won’t be Joey Novak, because he’s not going to be able to walk for a while, but where one showed up, others will follow. Sam looks at Portia, who looks at the sketch.

Olivia launches herself at Ned, and asks what the hell he thinks he’s doing. He says, what about her? and she tells him not to compare an innocent kiss with physical assault. Robert says, he really thinks there’s been… and Ned says, wasn’t it a year ago Robert warned him not to hurt Olivia? He said there was nothing going on between the two of them. Robert says, he can explain, but Olivia says he doesn’t owe Ned any explanations. She and her husband have been separated for almost a year. It doesn’t even feel very right to call him her husband. Ned says he knows he’s the one who screwed up the marriage, but he thought they were both fighting to save it. She says, maybe Ned was just kidding himself, and Ned points to the painting, saying, this is for her. To show how much he loves her. He gets in the elevator, and Olivia removes the wrap to see a painting of a dog. She starts crying, and runs off with the painting.

Anna says, she can’t help but think Victor is playing Valentin. She feels Victor’s claim to be his father is just a way to get him to cooperate. He says, it doesn’t matter what Victor’s motives are; it doesn’t matter if he’s telling the truth. All that matters is that they track down Peter. She says, they’re running out of options. If she doesn’t get another lead on Peter, she’ll have to make a recommendation to the WSB that they give Victor the immunity he wants.

Nikolas says, he told Ava; it was business. She says, he walked in upbeat and confident, and walked out anything but. What sort of business did he have to discuss with Shawn in her back room? He says, he thought Shawn could help him out with a little matter, but it turns out, he couldn’t. She asks if this little matter has anything to do with his Uncle Victor, and that he’s alive and in cahoots with Peter. He says, sometimes business is just that; it’s business. She knows as well as he does, Cassadine Industries has many tentacles that reach into many interests around the world, and sometimes he has to look outside the company for help. He can show her the spreadsheets and the Power Point presentation. She says, no, God no. She’ll take his word for it. She asks if he’s done in the back room, and he says, all done. She says she needs to prepare a painting for a client, and leaves. He takes out his phone, and leaves a message for Victor. He says, he thought Victor would have extracted himself from the WSB by now. Call when he gets this. Nikolas needs to know if he’s responsible for Naomie Dreyfuss’s murder

Trina runs into Spencer as he’s walking into the hospital, and asks if he’s okay. He says he scalded himself pulling an espresso shot, and his aunt insisted he come in to get it checked out. She’s a little bit of a hypochondriac by proxy. What about her? She says she needed to share something with her mom, but she left already. Is he sure he’s okay? He says he’s been thinking about everything that’s happened these last few months, and how it went so horribly wrong. She wishes she could help, and he says, she at least tried. When they first met, she had no idea he was crazy rich, did she? She says, no, but the last time she checked, he’s not rich; his dad is. She’ll see him around. She leaves, and he smiles.

Harmony gives Esme a folder, telling her that she needs to fill some paperwork out before she leaves tonight. It’s just promising she won’t sue Spring Ridge if an inmate attacks her, permission to look at her school files, stuff like that. Esme says, sure thing, and Harmony leaves. Esme looks at the chessboard, and moves a piece. She says, checkmate.

Seeing Alexis reading The Brothers Karamazov, Harmony says, nothing like a little light reading, and Alexis says, it kind of makes Spring Ridge seem cheerful by comparison. Isn’t it about time for Harmony to clock out? Harmony says, it looks like Alexis and her grandnephew were having quite the talk, and Alexis says, she was just trying to encourage him not to compromise his morals for money. Harmony asks if he listened, and Alexis says she doesn’t know. Seems like he has his hands full with his girlfriend.

Esme watches as Harmony leaves. Alexis tosses her book aside, and follows, and Esme goes over to Ryan. She bends down, and says she told him that she’d find a way back in. She hit a bit of a snafu, but she promises him – she takes his hand – she’ll take care of everything. He blinks twice.

Trina asks who Spencer thinks he’s fooling; Ava tells Nikolas, not if, when; and Sonny says, there’s no coming back from that.

🐘 Joel’s Ark…

There really is a Photo Ark, and the photos really are beautiful and incredible. I’ll bet this guy got a million hits today.

https://www.joelsartore.com/gallery/the-photo-ark/

Project Runway

Chastity wanted to keep her momentum going, even though she had immunity, and Bones said, it felt crazy to be on the bottom; it messed with your mind. The designers came into a room filled with flowers, and Aaron thought maybe they were making a dress out of flowers, but that wasn’t it. They were introduced to Lewis Miller aka the Flower Bandit aka the Botanical Banksy, and inventor of the flower flash (see below). Elaine said he’d done the flowers for her stoop wedding. The challenge was to create a high end fashion look that embraced floral prints. They were also to create the fabric prints as well, and each clothing designer was given a graphic designer to work with. Elaine said they were the best group of designers Project Runway had ever had. They were allowed to use supplemental fabric, with the emphasis on supplemental. The designers used the flowers that were all over the place as inspiration for the prints. Shantall was the only one who didn’t use the blooms, choosing instead to create her own drawing from a childhood memory. It was interesting to see the unique things they came up with, everyone with different designs. Darren said he was playing it safe with simple and pretty, since he’d been semi-tanking. In Boots’s interview, he said prints weren’t his forte and you needed to have an eye for them. Sabrina, who was from Afghanistan, and been refugee in Pakistan as a child, came up with the most amazing print that I thought was very Hermes. She was making a jumpsuit, and including a burka, saying, they were looked at as symbols of oppression, but could also be a statement of woman power. Darren’s print inspiration was a background on SpongeBob SquarePants, and in his interview, he said, imagine him doing fashion for SpongeBob? That’s the dream, man. I was pretty impressed overall with the designs. Christian asked if everyone was feeling amazing. I love Christian. He makes me laugh, but I’m not the target of his witticisms. As usual, he told everyone, have fun, which seems to be his catchphrase. When the models were about to come in, he told the designers it was time for a twist, then said he was just kidding. Like I said.

Gigi Hadid was the guest judge, and high and low six were Kristina, Shantall, Darren, Sabrina, Katie and Prajjé. Kristina had done a robe that the judges thought was fresh and modern, and had great fluidity. Nina thought Shantall’s look, a three-piece suit was the perfect look. She’d taken a risk, creating a print from a drawing that wasn’t heavy on the flowers, but it paid off. Shantall said her son was turning two today, and she was missing out, but this was for her family. Darren was on the bottom with a two-piece outfit that had what I’d say was a skater skirt. Nina wasn’t crazy about it. She said they were there to surprise and experiment, and she’d seen it. It was very cute, but she was right. Elaine said that whatever Darren was trying to say wasn’t translating to them. Sabrina was a shocker to me, being on the bottom, since the jumpsuit and burka was fantastic, but she’d made the mistake of sticking on a pink overskirt, and it was just no. Gigi said it was her favorite print, and she could see the burka on the cover of Vogue Arabia, but she should have lost the skirt. Sabrina said she didn’t want to offend anyone, so she’d covered her model up a little. She removed the skirt, and all of the judges were like, yes, there it is. Nina also thought flats would have been a better choice than heels. Nina asked if Prajjé thought he was in the top or bottom. I would figure if they were asking, I was on the bottom, but they fooled me by loving his look, a bodycon dress with a mermaid bottom. It was very Marilyn Monroe. Elaine thought it was a silhouette that was flattering on everyone, and I thought, yeah, if your stomach is flat. Brandon said he’d had a gay child moment – she is so pretty. Katie got one of the lowest scores, which was no surprise, since it looked like a schoolgirl outfit; cute, but not haute couture. Gigi thought the collar looked like it was made out of felt (it was leather), and I had to agree. Elaine asked Katie if this was high end, and Katie said she didn’t know what it was. She tried to blame it on Christian for making her second guess herself, but Brandon said Christian wasn’t on the runway, and she needed to take what was relevant from his suggestions, but you do you. Gigi said she didn’t hate the skirt.

The judges deliberated, and there was a lot of discussion over Shantall’s print. The challenge was floral print, and Elaine put it best, saying her floral note was a whisper. Brandon said, Darren knew how to design, but wasn’t a designer. Gigi said fashion was either editorial or to sell, and neither way worked with his piece. Nina said Katie’s outfit looked like a costume, and Brandon said she’d tried to blame Christian. This was ironic, since one of the things Christian told her to avoid was being too costume.

The six were brought back in, and Elaine said they’d been asked to create a joyful original floral print look, and they were there for it. Shantall was the winner, and Gigi told her that she’d had the most unique and modern print. Elaine said she was making her baby proud, and Shantall said that she was happy to have achieved the win, especially today. They moved on to the losing end, and Brandon said the looks had been confusing, chaotic, and tortured. He said they kept looking for something new from Darren, but it didn’t happen, and he was out. He had to pack his fabric scraps and go. In parting creative criticism, Sabrina was told the skirt took away from the look, and Brandon told Katie to find herself. The cheese Darren was left alone, and he said being in the competition had changed his life forever. He was from the Philippines, and still an out-of-place, misunderstood, weird gay Asian kid, but he wasn’t the same one as the one who’d come there. Nina said he had talent, but needed to find his voice. In his interview, he said it sucked to go early, because he knew he could do cool stuff. He was more aware as a designer and a person now. Christian said he loved getting to know Darren. He needed to figure out who he wanted to be, but they’d be seeing more of him. Darren sort of made a pass at Christian (joking, not joking), and in his interview, he said he was thankful to be part of this whole thing. It lit a fire under his ass, and he felt more smarter. He paused, and said, more smarter? Much smarter. And grateful.

Next time, figure skaters needing a look for the 2022 Olympics, Brandon says the looks reflected that the designers weren’t getting along, and Elaine says she doesn’t want to do this again.

💐 Better Than Hot…

About those flower flashes. I’ve never seen one, but I’ll have to keep an eye out when I’m in the city.

Lewis Miller’s Flower Flash Campaign Captivates New York

🏯 I had to ditch Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles because, for whatever idiotic reason, Bravo is only showing it at 8 pm, which is a bad time for me. I did catch some of it tonight, as well as the cast on Watch What Happens Live. Tracy had been selling her own house, and looking for another one, using Josh Flagg as a broker. He’d found her dreamhouse for her, and her kids had their hearts set on it, but they couldn’t meet on the price. Tracy said it just wasn’t meant to be, but was obviously disappointed. At the end of the show, Josh handed her the keys, saying he’d given up his commission, and the house was hers. It was $250,000. A. Half. Million. Dollars. What a kind thing to do. I’ve always suspected that they’re all more friendly than they pretend to be on the show; you can tell in co-interviews. On WWHL, they were very supportive of each other, and good sports, being the butt of one another’s jokes. Apparently, the two Joshes are now great friends, and their respective spouses even more so. I don’t usually do heartwarming, but I’ll take it this time.

🎃 Essence Of Halloween…

More costumes.

https://www.essence.com/entertainment/celebrity-halloween-costumes-2021/

And couples costumes.

https://www.essence.com/celebrity/black-celeb-couples/couples-costumes-halloween-2021/

🚢 Abandoning Ship…

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for some soap, probably more costumes, no doubt some gossip, and words to ponder. Until then, stay safe, stay using your free time wisely, and stay not looking back. It doesn’t change anything. The only thing you can do, is think about what you can do now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giv03fG76sI