Category Archives: Game of Thrones

October 4, 2022 – The Hook Is Revealed, Booted By Baseball, New Career, a Goodbye, Dragon Update, First Vamp, New Materials, New Vision & Country

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At John F. Kennedy High school in Jacksonville, Drew asks if Carly forgot they’re supposed to meet the reporter at Virginia’s grave in 45 minutes. She says, her mom’s grave is less than 10 minutes from here, and he says he’s guessing this is where she went to high school. She nods, and says she had no intention of ever coming back. They were driving by, and she just needed to see this. She needed to see the spot where her life changed in an instant. So, they were in the same car? Did she just yell, stop, and jump out?

Ava goes into Ryan’s room, and asks if he’s surprised to see her. Knowing that Doc comes in from time to time, she’s updated on his condition, but she just had to see for herself. Doc assures her that he’s still incapable of movement, but she knows how deceitful Ryan is. She never really bought it. She still thinks he could be faking it.

Outside Kelly’s, Victor thanks Nikolas for meeting him, and Nikolas says, like he had a choice. Why has Victor summoned him? Victor says, Nikolas needs to divorce Ava – immediately.

Sitting in a private area at the MetroCourt, Valentin says, Michael is working hard at Aurora; the stock’s up. Michael says, it’s no secret they took a hit when Valentin blocked the merger, but they’re going in the right direction. Valentin says, in no small part thanks to Michael, but Michael says, Drew is doing a great job. He knows what he’s doing. Valentin says, the reason he wanted to meet with Michael is, he thinks Michael’s talents could be better utilized elsewhere. He wants Michael to consider leaving Aurora, and coming back to ELQ full time.

Carver asks Josslyn, what’s the matter; cat got her tongue? Who is she? She says, she’s Josslyn Jax, Sonny’s stepdaughter. She knows most of his guys. Is he new? He says he’s the new chef. He’s just getting the tools of his trade in peak condition. She says she left her jacket here. She’s just going to go grab it. He says, no, she won’t.

Looking pretty worn out, Dex sings The Star Spangled Banner. Wow. I never even noticed he’s hanging in a freezer. Isn’t it cold in there? Why does no one seem cold? Is this a freezer just dedicated to hanging people up? While I’m on the subject, does anyone outside of Sonny’s friends and family eat at this restaurant?

On the phone at the hospital, Sonny says, they’re taking Diane off the ventilator. He’ll call with an update when he gets one. TJ comes out and joins Sonny, along with Dante and Robert. TJ says, Diane is breathing on her own. She’s conscious, although she’s still pretty groggy. Sonny asks if he can see her, but Robert says he’s going to have to wait. If she’s up to it, he has a few questions. TJ gestures for him to go in.

Diane says, Mr. District Attorney. To what does she owe the pleasure? He says he has a good mind to book her for malicious intent. She scared the life out of them. She says she was attacked with a hook, just like Ava and Brando, and he sits down, saying, unfortunately, but she’s a tough cookie. He knows she just woke up, but tell him what she remembers.

Carly says she used to be a cheerleader. Did she ever tell Drew that? He says he doesn’t believe so, and she says, she and Reese made the varsity squad their freshman year; it was quite an accomplishment. I’d say so. I’ve never been a cheerleader, but I don’t think freshmen are normally on the varsity squad. He says, Peyton’s daughter, and she says, they were best, best friends. They were so close, like Josslyn and Trina close. Reese had it going on; country club girl, pretty, popular. It’s probably why they made the squad. Although Carly was a much better athlete and much better cheerleader, even if she does say so herself. He says he has no doubt, and she says, Reese gave her access to a life she wouldn’t have been able to touch. She was so grateful for that. They loved each other like besties, and by junior year, they ran that squad. Until that afternoon. Reese had been ignoring her all day. It was after practice, and Reese, Jody, Lisa, and her were headed to Reese’s car. She realized she forgot her sweater, and went back to grab it. When she came back to Reese’s car, the girls were already in the convertible, and she could tell Reese was talking about her; they were all laughing and whispering. Just like that, Reese looked at her, started the car, and pulled away. It was deliberate. She wanted Carly to know she was leaving her on purpose, and Carly yelled, I hope you crash and burn. Ten seconds later, Reese pulled onto the parkway, right in front of a semi. She saw the whole thing happen. Reese’s convertible disintegrated into a twisted pile of metal. Two girls dead and one in a coma, and Carly stood on this spot without a scratch on her.

Nikolas says he’s not divorcing Ava, and Victor says, come on. Nikolas and Ava have been on the brink of divorce at least three times to his knowledge. It’s time they just got on with it. Nikolas says, aside from the fact he loves his wife, they’re staying married to protect Ava. Victor says, Nikolas is referring to spousal privilege. It’s true as Ava’s husband Nikolas can’t be compelled to testify that he saw Ava and Esme struggling just before Esme plunged to her death. Nikolas tells him to keep his voice down. Why is he bringing that up? Victor assures him that they’re quite alone, but Nikolas says, this conversation’s over. He and Ava are remaining married. Nikolas starts to leave, and Victor says, Nikolas seems to be under the misconception that he has a choice in the matter. He doesn’t.

Ava says she’ll check to see how in control Ryan really is, and snaps her fingers in front of his face, then claps. He blinks once, and she says, that’s convincing enough. She drags a chair over, and grabs her side, saying, she may have overdone it there. That’s right. He doesn’t know about her injury, does he? Some maniac attacked her with a hook. But he knows all about that, doesn’t he? He used a hook on at least one of his victims, so she has to wonder, would he use one on her too, if he could get out of that chair?

Diane tells Robert, she was at Brando’s garage because she’d gone there to see Sasha. She’d been asked to file a continuance concerning Sasha’s guardianship. Sasha didn’t know where the papers were, but thought there was a copy in Brando’s office. He asks, what happened then?

Sonny says, Robert’s in there questioning Diane, and she’s not up for it. She’s still recovering. TJ says, she was stable when he left. He thinks she can handle it. Dante says, Diane is tough, and Sonny says, she’s tough in the courtroom; she’s like a barracuda. But she didn’t have a defense against whoever attacked her with that hook. Dante says, she survived, and if she can ID the attacker, they can finally get ahead of this psycho. Sonny says, give it their best shot, go through all the channels, but he’s telling Dante, he’s going to do what he has to do to make sure Diane gets justice.

Michael says he didn’t see that one coming. Why would Valentin want to bring him back on board after everything he’s done to get ELQ? He tore Michael’s family apart, and he’s sure Valentin doesn’t trust him. Valentin says he trusts Michael. Michael and Drew almost got the better of him, fair and square. It was a strong countermove, and it would have worked if Valentin hadn’t had Ned. Michael asks, why risk alienating Ned by bringing him back on board? and Valentin says, he knows ultimately that Michael will put the good of ELQ first. Michael says, good luck explaining that to Ned, and Valentin says he expects there to be pushback, and he’ll handle that. Michael has expertise Ned lacks. Michael says, that’s always been the case, so what changed? and asks if the company is in trouble, but Valentin says, it’s stronger than ever. He has certain operations he’s undertaking that are at a critical juncture, and he doesn’t want ELQ to suffer. Michael says, Valentin could always step aside, and Valentin says he’s not interested in giving up CEO, but come back to ELQ. He promises he and Michael will both have the time and the resources to devote to their outside projects.

Josslyn asks Carver, what part of her stepfather is his boss is unclear? and he says, Mr. Corinthos isn’t here. He can’t let her have free reign in the restaurant or his workspace, so today, her access is denied. As for Mr. Corinthos’s office, she’ll need his permission to go in there. She says, Sonny won’t be happy to hear he gave her a hard time, and Carver says, she thinks this is a hard time? She says, what she thinks is, he’ll regret being so rude to her, and he says he’ll tell Mr. Corinthos she stopped by. She slams out.

Ava tells Ryan that she was attacked on the Quartermaine grounds, at a picnic they were having to benefit GH’s pediatric wing. Josslyn Jax found her, and made sure she got to the hospital. Unfortunately, Sonny’s cousin Brando was attacked a few days later, and tragically, he did not make it. Diane, Sonny’s lawyer, was the most recent victim. So if it isn’t him or some sort of copycat, maybe it’s Sonny that’s the common denominator. In his mind, Ryan says, outrageous. Unacceptable. If anyone is going to gut you with a hook, my love, it’s going to be me. Don’t delude yourself.

Nikolas tells Victor, he’s the one in possession of the family fortune. Victor has no power over him. Victor says, Nikolas does not want to put that to the test. He’d really rather not waste his time and resources bringing Nikolas back in line, but he will if he has to. Nikolas says he won’t be intimidated into giving up his wife, and Victor says he can’t say he blames Nikolas. Ava is a spectacular woman; beautiful, ruthless, and that wicked sense of humor. But sadly, she’s too much for Nikolas to handle. Nikolas says, no one handles Ava, and Victor says, particularly not Nikolas. Nikolas is way out of his league with his callow tricks and childish games, provoking Ava into fights, so he can declare his love and win her back again. Nikolas says, marriages hit rough patches; they’ve hit one. They’ll get past it. Victor says, his marriage hasn’t hit a rough patch. He jumped into bed with Esme. Open his eyes. Ava came out of hospital, and declined to move back to Windymere. Nikolas says, but she will. She’ll believe in him again because he’s found a way to prove his love for her.

Valentin says, he has no doubt that Michael’s performance at ELQ will be effective, and his outside projects are his own business.. Josslyn walks in, and says she needs to speak with Michael right now. Valentin tells her to take his seat; he has somewhere he has to be anyway. He tells Michael, think about it, and leaves. Michael asks, what’s going on? and she says she thinks she knows why no one has seen Dex. She thinks Sonny is keeping Dex in his restaurant, and Michael needs to help her get in there before Sonny kills him.

Dex continues to sing The Star Spangled Banner, when Carver comes in. He says, don’t let him interrupt. Keep singing if he likes. He just wants to have things ready for when Sonny gets back. He unrolls his knives for the 200th time, and Dex says, don’t waste his time unpacking. Carver’s not going to get to use any of that on him, because he’s innocent. Carver says, Sonny seems unconvinced.

TJ says he has another patient he has to see, but he’ll be back to check on Diane. He leaves, and Dante stands in front of Sonny. Sonny says, what? and Dante says he knows it seems like Sonny is the common denominator with all these victims. He knows everything inside Sonny wants to go after this attacker and make them pay. Sonny says, that’s right, but Dante says, don’t do it.

Diane tells Robert, it’s really just a jumble. She doesn’t even know when Sonny and Sasha left, but they had to have left because she was alone when she was attacked. He asks, what’s the last thing she remembers? and she says, talking to Sonny. Then after that, she’s just trying to get the sequence of events right. Maybe if she could talk to Sonny again…  He says, Sonny is right outside. He’ll get him.

Drew says, you can’t cause an accident by wishing or even screaming the words out loud, and Carly says she knows that, but she contributed to Reese’s state of mind when she pulled out on the parkway in front of that truck. They had been best friends since they were twelve years old. Reese would have never left her behind, never turned against her. That was before she found out Carly slept with her father.

Victor says, enlighten him. How does Nikolas plan to prove his love to Ava this time? Nikolas says, it’s private, between husband and wife. All Victor needs to know is that he’s proven to Ava that she can trust him. Victor says he’s going to need more than that, and Nikolas says he’s afraid Victor is going to have to learn to live with unanswered questions. Now if Victor will excuse him… Valentin blocks his way, and Nikolas says, surely Victor doesn’t expect him to answer to Valentin. Both of them can go to hell. Victor says he anticipated that Nikolas would be less than cooperative, so he reached out to his son for assistance, and don’t call him Shirley. He asks if Valentin was successful, and Valentin says, see for himself, handing Victor the envelope Nikolas gave Ava.

Sonny says, it’s about time Diane woke up. It’s good to see her. She says, thank you, boss. From what she understands, it was touch and go. He asks how she’s feeling, and she says, blissfully numb at the moment. Her mind is foggy, but it’s starting to clear. She’s just trying to piece together what led up to the attack. Dante says, that’s good; whatever she can remember. She asks if Sasha gave her permission to go through Brando’s papers, and Sonny says, yeah. She went into Brando’s office. Dante says, they can’t have Sonny influencing Diane’s memories. They need her recollections unprompted. She says, here she thought hearsay just applied to the courtroom, and Robert says he’s not concerned about admissibility at this point. He just wants to get this psycho. But Dante’s right. Sonny can corroborate, but the memories have to be hers. She says he remembers being in Brando’s office. She found the guardianship papers, but it was so dark in there, she came back out to the garage to read it. Robert asks if anyone was in the garage, when Sonny’s phone rings. She says, the next thing she remembers is seeing Dex.

Carver leaves Sonny a message, saying, he’s ready to get the truth out of that punk. Let him know if he can proceed on his own. Michael walks in with Josslyn, and Carver says, her again. Mr. Corinthos isn’t here. If she doesn’t get that, maybe her friend will. Michael tells him to consider his next move carefully. How Carver chooses to handle the situation could determine his future, as well as Sonny’s. If Carver blows it, Sonny won’t be so forgiving.

Carly tells Drew, she was a minor, and Reese’s father took advantage of her. The adult Carly knows that, but Reese was blindsided. She was devastated when she found out. He says, Reese’s father is dead, right? and she says, he killed himself not long after the accident. Drew tells her, what he did was reprehensible. One day Scout will be 16 years old, and if one of her friend’s fathers seduced her into an inappropriate relationship, Drew would annihilate him before the case ever reached trial. And he knows Carly would do the same thing if Joss, Avery, or Donna was ever in the same situation. She says she’d kill the bastard, and he asks if she’d blame them or think they brought it on themselves. She says, of course (🍷) not, and he asks, then why is she still blaming herself?

Ava tells Ryan, it must be hell, sitting here alone, all day every day. No mental stimulation of any kind; just sitting here waiting for somebody, anybody. She wonders if he’s still waiting for his precious Esme. His eyes shift to her, and she says, bingo.

Victor reads Nikolas’s confession, and Nikolas reaches for the letter, but Valentin steps between him and Victor. He says, easy, and Nikolas asks how the hell he got this. Valentin says, trade secret, and Victor says, the more pertinent question is why the hell a letter like this exists in the first place.

Carver asks what Josslyn wants, and she says, Dex. Where is he? Carver says he has no idea. He’s the chef. He has nothing to do with other employees. Michael says, this is what’s going to happen. His sister Josslyn is going to look around. If she sees Dex is being held anywhere in this restaurant, she’s going to bring him out, and they’re going to leave. If Carver interferes in any way, he’s going to call his brother Detective Falconari of the PCPD, and they’ll have the cops search the premises. If they find Dex is being held prisoner here, Carver is going to be arrested, as well as his boss. Sonny will claim Carver acted on his own, without his knowledge. If Carver thinks he can cut a deal and give Sonny up, they both know how he’ll retaliate. Carver’s best option, his only option, is not allow the police to get involved in the first place. What’s it going to be?

Robert says, Diane saw Dex in the garage with Sonny and Sasha before the attack, and she says, yes. He asks who Dex is, and she says, he works for Sonny. He was there at first, then he wasn’t there. She assumed Sonny sent him on an errand. Dante says, she found the guardianship papers, and took them into the garage where there was better light. Is that when she saw Dex? She says, no… wait. He wasn’t there then. He was there before the attack, then when she came to for a second, she saw him. Robert says, let’s get the sequence right. Diane came out of the office with the papers; who was there? She says, no one. The garage was empty. Sonny and Sasha had gone, and she started reading. That’s when she saw a glimpse of motion out of the corner of her eye. She turned around, and that’s when she saw her. She came at Diane with a hook. Sonny asks if Diane just said she, and Robert says, she saw her attacker? Diane says, she came right at me, and Dante says, she? Diane says, yeah. The attacker was a woman.

Dex sings My Country Tis of Thee, when Josslyn runs in. She asks what Sonny did to him, and he says, nothing yet, but they have to get out of here. Carver is a dangerous freak. Josslyn says he gave her the creeps too, and Dex says, Carver knows she’s here; she has to go. Josslyn tells him that her brother is dealing with Carver. She needs to get him untied. He tells her, use the knives; it will be faster. She asks if Carver used them on him, but he says, no and he never will. Josslyn grabs a knife and starts cutting the ropes on Dex’s wrists. It would be ironic if she cut him by accident. Just saying.  

Dante asks if Diane can describe her attacker, and she says, a woman with a hook. He says he means other details like age, build, hair color, that kind of thing. Diane says, the attacker was about her height. She couldn’t tell her build because she was wearing a bulky coat with a hood, or a cloak; she wasn’t sure. And Diane couldn’t see her hair. Dante says, that’s good. Just take a minute. Robert says, she’s doing great. Can she remember any more details? Dante says, sounds. Does Diane remember hearing anything? Diane says, yes. She was wearing bracelets, and they jangled when she raised up that hook. Dante tells Sonny, bracelets, not dog tags, and Diane wonders why she can remember her bracelets and not her face. TJ comes in, and says, this is far too many visitors. He’s going to have to ask them to leave now. Robert tells Diane that she’s given them a lot to go on, and Sonny tells her, take it easy. Dante says, he’ll be back to check on her later, and Diane tells Robert, if she remembers any more details, she’ll call him. Or she’ll have her people call him. She laughs weakly, and he says, the most important thing is that she focuses that considerable energy of hers on recovering. She’s doing great; that’s the most important thing to remember. She laughs again, and he leaves.

Michael tells Carver, it’s never too soon to quit. If Carver isn’t here, he won’t have to answer to Michael’s brother the cop, or Sonny. Carver heads for the door, when Josslyn brings out Dex. Michael asks if he’s all right, and she says, Sonny had him in the freezer. He was tied by his wrists, hanging from a meat hook. Michael says, all right, let’s go, just another day. Still trying to save what little dignity he has left, and maybe his job, Carver says, they’ll leave when Sonny says they leave. Seriously, if I was Carver, I’d skip town asap after this. It won’t just be, he’ll never work in this town again; it will be a grave in the Pine Barrens.

Carly tells Drew, when Mr. Roberts started paying attention to her, she was flattered. She could tell he liked her, and she liked it. She even started flirting with him in her own way. She knew it was wrong, but she felt like she was doing something new. She should have stopped going to the Roberts’ house; she should have transferred out of the school. But she didn’t want to lose Reese. She didn’t want to stop being the popular girl on the cheerleading squad. She didn’t want to stop going to the country club, pretending she was a member. Reese gave her access to a life she didn’t want to give up, and that’s on her. Drew says, she was a child; he was a predator. She says, Reese found them in bed together. The next day, Reese wouldn’t talk to her, or even look at her. She thought. she hoped, they could talk after they dropped the other girls off, but Reese had already turned against her. Something had broken in Reese. She shouldn’t have been driving; she was too upset. She shouldn’t have been on the road. He says, wait. Did Reese’s mother tell her all this? and she says, Peyton is a vindictive snob, but she’s not wrong. He says, yes, she is.

Ava says, Esme was determined to intern at Spring Ridge so she could work with Ryan. She claimed she was fascinated with his case, which of course (🍷) makes perfect sense now. Esme probably saw him as some kind of kindred spirit. In his mind, Ryan says, you have no idea, and Ava says, she knows Doc had her banned from seeing him, but that cunning Esme found a way around that, didn’t she? Ryan thinks, yes, my clever daughter. She says, in retrospect, she thinks Esme was blackmailing Nikolas, and Ryan thinks, because he betrayed you. Nikolas was never worthy of you. Only I’m worthy of you. She says, but all good blackmail schemes must come to an end, and Esme overstayed her welcome, and now she’s gone.

Victor asks, what possessed Nikolas to confess to a murder he didn’t commit? and Nikolas says he did it to protect his wife. He’d do anything to protect Ava. Victor says, which is precisely why he has to divorce her. Nikolas’s obsession with Ava is not only detrimental to him, it’s jeopardizing the whole family. Nikolas says he doesn’t give a damn, and Victor says, clearly Nikolas doesn’t give a damn. He didn’t give a damn when he alienated his son. He didn’t give a damn when he was unfaithful to his wife. And he obviously didn’t give a damn when he wrote this ridiculous confession. Fortunately, Valentin intercepted the letter before it fell into the wrong hands. Nikolas says, it belongs in Ava’s hands; it was meant for her. Victor says, until she hands it over to the police in a fit of pique. Nikolas says, she wouldn’t do that, and Victor says, because she’d be implicating herself, but Nikolas says, no, because she loves him. Victor says, be that as it may, it’s too late now to matter.

Drew says he can’t believe Peyton didn’t know what her husband was up to. That is a dysfunctional family. He bets Peyton was used to dealing with her husband’s indiscretions because she didn’t want to give up the wealth, and the status, and the social position. She couldn’t afford to confront her husband. It was way easier to blame Carly. The only person who did have an excuse is Reese, because she was a child. It was too painful and confusing and scary to confront her father about what he did, so she made it Carly’s fault too, but it wasn’t her fault. Yes, it was a tragedy, one where the parents acted badly, and the kids paid the price. He gets why she wants to run away. She’s been running her whole life, but it’s time to stop. Let go of the misguided guilt. Let it go. It wasn’t her fault. She says, what happened to Reese was a terrible accident. She hates that it happened, but it wasn’t her fault. He says, it wasn’t, and she says she’s been telling herself that for years, but she never believed it. Seeing Peyton brought it all out. But it’s over, right? He says, it’s over, and holds her.

Josslyn says, they need the police, but Michael tells her, hold on. He tells Carver, this is about to escalate in a way that will not end well. It’s best all-around if Carver just lets them go. Carver says, if he’s so confident Mr. Corinthos won’t mind his guests leaving, they can afford wait until he gets here and gives his okay. Josslyn says, to hell with this freak. She’s calling the cops. Dex says, no cops, and Josslyn says, why not? Sonny tried to kill him. Sonny walks in, and Michael says, hey dad. Look who we found in your freezer.

TJ says, Diane is doing well. He just wants her to try and rest. She says, sorry, doc. Now she can’t stop thinking about her attacker. She’s sure she knows this woman from somewhere. She just can’t place her, and she usually has a good memory for faces. He says, she went through a traumatic experience. The mind will go into protect mode, and keep the disturbing events at bay. She may start to remember in bits and pieces. That’s what happened to him when he went through something traumatic. But driving herself crazy trying to remember won’t do much good for her recovery. Be patient with herself. It’ll come back in time. She says, sorry, doc. That’s not going to work for her. Now she just wants this maniac caught.

Dante tells Robert, that was amazing. Diane just gave them some real valuable information. Robert says, thanks to her, they know the killer is a woman, and Dante says, it could change the direction of the investigation. There could be patterns they haven’t detected yet, or a way to tie the victims together aside from Sonny. Robert says, or it confirms their worst case scenario. The killings and the attacks are random after all.

Ava tells Ryan, Esme just disappeared one afternoon, at the height of Trina Robinson’s trial. She bets that topic never came up in conversation; how she framed an innocent young woman. She was just about to be exposed too, and she just vanished. She made a couple posts from the French Riviera, so the authorities are looking for her. In his mind, Ryan says, Esme would never abandon me for a place as banal as the French Riviera. She’d never abandon me at all. Ava says, she, for one, is glad Esme is gone. She found Esme to be a dangerously disturbed young woman; reckless too. She just kept pushing the boundaries, assuming nobody would ever push back. Windymere’s not a safe place. It can be downright dangerous if you don’t watch your step, and Esme failed to watch hers. She seriously doubts anyone will see Esme Prince ever again. Ryan clenches his fist.

Victor tells Nikolas, Ava is a practical woman. He’s sure she’s already begun to realize her marriage is toxic. It shouldn’t be too hard to convince her that it’s also jeopardizing her future. He’ll also offer her a generous divorce settlement, which he’s sure she’ll be more than happy to accept. Nikolas says, even if Ava agrees, he never will, and Victor tells him, stop being so tedious. Valentin asks if Victor isn’t overlooking something; Nikolas isn’t really necessary. If he were to disappear like Esme did, Spencer would inherit the Cassadine estate. Victor says, Valentin does have a good point. If Nikolas is intractable, there’s always Spencer. After all, accidents do happen. Nikolas says, threats. Victor wants him to choose his life over Ava. Victor says, it isn’t really a choice, is it? How can he be with Ava if he’s dead? Nikolas says he loves her, but Victor says, love is a luxury; survival is essential. Just remember that. Nikolas says, fine. He’ll do it. He’ll divorce Ava. Victor grabs Nikolas’s shoulders, and says, splendid. A hooded figure walks into the background, and Victor says, he’ll have his attorneys draw up the paperwork, and obtain the necessary signatures. Then with Nikolas divorced and Esme dead, he can finally turn his attention to more pressing matters. The hooded figure turns, and we see it’s… Esme.

Not a huge shock, considering all they did was talk about her once we knew it was a woman.

Tomorrow, Carly tells Drew, maybe it’s time she stopped being Carly Corinthos; Willow tells TJ that she has no other choice; Ava tells Ryan, she knew it was too good to be true; Josslyn says, it’s worse than she thought; and Sonny has a problem with that.

⚾️ And They’re Out…

I love how they act like everyone has this Friday off.

🎙 About His Gig’s Side Gig…

While I thought he did a great rendition of Feel It Still for the Nurses Ball, I’m not too sure how likely this would be to happen in any world. Nice try though.

🎬 Final Cut…

He’s now sitting in that great director’s chair in the sky.

🐉 This Week’s Dragon…

The latest on what’s going on in the House.

https://ew.com/tv/recaps/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-episode-7/

https://www.insider.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-1-episode-7-recap-hbo-2022-9

🧛🏽‍♂️ And While We’re At It…

I watched this, and it was quite good. Love the period costumes and sets too.

https://collider.com/interview-with-the-vampire-season-1-episode-1-recap-in-throes-of-increasing-wonder/

🐅 Materially Speaking…

A first look at Season 3.

https://ew.com/tv/his-dark-materials-season-3-angels-first-look/

From the beginning.

https://www.hbo.com/his-dark-materials

💃🏻 Dancing Blind…

So first I saw this, and what like, what the…?

Then I saw this, and was quite impressed. Especially since I have a hard time coordinating my steps and arm motions when doing aerobics.

https://people.com/tv/selma-blair-says-dancing-blindfolded-on-dwts-was-like-boot-camp/

🥿 Kicking Off My Blue Suede Shoes…

Come back tomorrow for a dose of soap and the lowdown on how lowdown Beverly Hills can get. Until then, stay safe, stay never straddling the fence (metaphorically or physically – I can’t imagine that’s comfortable), and stay letting go of misguided guilt.

September 26, 2022 – Dex Saves the Day – Again, Beach Club All Day Off Deck, That’s It, Most Recent House, It’s Back & Bye-Bye

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna and Valentin go to her place, and she suggests he start a fire, and she’ll get them a couple of brandies. He says, good idea, and she says, consider it a down-payment; she owes him a pair of shoes. They were very nice shoes. He says, not to mention comfortable. But no mission is without sacrifice. She says, yeah, they failed, but he says he doesn’t know. She says, Lucy is still in Victor’s clutches, and he says, her own choice, but they got off and on the Haunted Star undetected. They returned the stolen zodiac… She says, borrowed, and he says, borrowed zodiac, and here they are; slightly damp and missing a shoe, but otherwise none the worse for wear. And they’re together. He’d call that a win.

Nikolas tells Ava to take the envelope; it’s hers. She says she doesn’t care if it contains a cashier’s check for a million bucks. It can’t buy back her love and trust, both of which he threw away when he had sex with Esme Prince. He says, it’s not money. He’s not trying to buy back her love. Like he said, this is proof of just how much he loves her. She opens it, and takes out a paper. She asks, what is this? and he tells her, you might say, it’s his life, and as she can see, it’s now in her hands.

At the MetroCourt, the hostess asks if she can get Robert a drink, and he asks for white wine. Mac and Felicia come in, and Mac says, they’re two minutes late, and Robert already has his nose buried in his emails. He told Felicia Robert needed a break. Robert tells him to speak for himself. He’s been looking for Brando’s killer since he got out of bed. He’s thinking, this guy probably sharpened the hook on Ava first. Felicia asks if they can agree both Scorpio brothers need a break. She needs a break. She’s not squeamish, but can they talk about something else besides hooks? Mac says, of course (🍷). He can’t deny her anything, and she flips Robert’s phone over, saying, that’s better. Robert says, now that she’s got her way, what are they going to talk about? She says she can think of one topic for sure, and they look at Cody who’s sitting at the bar.

Cody orders a bottle of beer, and the bartender says, foreign or domestic? He says, always domestic. And also, could he make sure to have a bottle of champagne chilling for when his date arrives? She’s a bit more upscale than him. He looks over at Mac’s table, and says, oh great, him? Is Mac stalking him now? He tells the bartender, on second thought, hold the beer and the bubbly.

At the hospital, Britt tells Terry that she’s officially off the clock. Wish her luck. Terry says, from the looks of things, Britt’s luck is already improving, and Britt says, she’s going on another date with Cody. The last time they saw each other was at the Quartermaine picnic, and they all know how that ended. Terry says, tonight is a new night. Have a good time. Britt thanks her, and they see a vase of roses on the desk. Terry asks when those were delivered, and Britt says, more important, who are they for? She reads the card, and says, lovely Terry, til we meet again. When did Terry get a secret admirer? Terry snatches the card, and says, it’s not a secret. His name’s Yuri, and she met him at the Quartermaine barbecue, which just goes to show the night wasn’t a complete disaster. Finn runs up, and says he needs her. Britt says, it’s too late; she’s off the clock. Finn says, not her. He needs to talk to Terry. It’s important.

Alexis tells Gregory, if Brando was specifically targeted, they need to figure out why. Was it someone he worked with? Was he in a dispute with someone? Anything to give them a clue as to who Brando’s killer is. He asks if they’re following clues now, and she says, if it’s any kind of inconvenience for him, she’s perfectly capable of following up on her own. He says, and cut him out of what might be an important article? Not a chance. When do they start? She says, now, and gets up.

At the garage, there’s a bloody handprint on the desk. On the floor, Diane lies unconscious in a pool of blood.  

Anna tells Valentin, it’s good get out of those damp clothes. Sorry she didn’t have a robe for him. Does he want a blanket? She hands him a drink, and he says, it’s not necessary. She says she ran out of brandy, so scotch. Is that okay? He takes a sip, and says, always, especially when it’s this good. They clink glasses, and she asks, how is he? He says he thinks he’s dreaming because she’s even more beautiful by the firelight, and she thanks him, but says, that’s not what she was asking. In the space of nearly two years, he was raised to believe a lie, that Helena was his mother and Victor was his father, and now Charlotte, the one person he loves without reservation has been taken from him as leverage. He wants to maintain everything is fine and he’s handling it. She’s been where he is, or close enough. Keeping a cool façade when her life was literally blowing up in flames. She wanted to scream and cry, but she was to afraid, because if she started, she didn’t think she would know how to stop. And then if she was broken, truly broken, what would happen to her child? Or she could just be projecting all that. He says, sometimes he thinks his fear for his daughter and his rage for Victor Cassadine is the only thing that’s keeping him sane.

Mac asks if Cody is following them now, and Felicia says, he’s probably wondering the same thing about them. Robert says he doesn’t have the slightest idea what they’re talking about. Who’s the dude at the bar? Mac says, he’s new in town. As a kid, he went to camp with Dante. He works at the Quartermaine stables now. Felicia says, come on. Robert’s going to find out sooner or later. Robert asks what he’s going to find out, and she says, his name is Cody Bell. Robert says, his name was on the list of 50 people still at the Quartermaines’ at the time Ava was attacked, and Mac says, that’s not all he is. Cody takes out his phone.

Britt says, Finn seems more serious than usual. Did he identify the venom that killed Brando Corbin? Terry says, Britt is off the clock, and has a date waiting for her, and Finn tells her not to let them keep her. Britt’s phone rings, and she tells Cody that she was just on her way to meet him. He says, good thing he caught her. He thought maybe they could try something different. Maybe they could meet up at the PC Lanes and go bowling. She says, excuse me? and he says, drink a couple beers, roll a few frames. What’s her size? He’ll rent her a pair of bowling shoes. She says she’s in a dress and heels; she’s not going bowling. They either stick to the plan and meet at the MetroCourt, or she’s going home – alone. He says, the MetroCourt it is. He’ll see her soon. Terry says, change in plans? but Britt says, no. Bye. She leaves, and Terry asks if Britt is right. Did Finn want to talk to her about the toxicology report? He says he pinpointed the venom, and he’s waiting on a supply to treat the venom, so they have it on hand, just in case. She says, if it’s all settled, then why did he want to… It’s about Elizabeth, isn’t it?

Outside the garage, Gregory asks why the door is open, and Alexis says, Brando’s assistant is probably still working. He says, with all the crime that’s been going on around here, he doesn’t have a good feeling about this, but she says, it’s just a garage. Let’s go inside it. They walk in, and Alexis says, oh my God. Gregory says, what the hell? and we see Dex kneeling next to Diane.

Valentin tells Anna, Charlotte is in this world because of him. He knows every parent can say that, but this was different. Helena made an embryo, but it was his call to go with a gestation host. He chose the surrogate. He’s solely responsible for her being alive. It might have been the most selfish thing he’s ever done. He knew the laws he’d broken, the crimes he committed, the people he’d wronged. He made so many enemies. He can hide her all he wants, but she’s always going to have a target on her. She asks if he had to do it over, does he think he’d make a different choice? and he says, of course (🍷) not, and she says she feels the same about Robin. Apart from the fact she’s spectacular, Anna can’t imagine a world without her. Until she became a mother, she lived her life for herself, and as he knows, that led to a series of terrible decisions. She basically sold her soul to the highest bidder. Robin changed all that; Robin changed her entire perspective. She wanted to be a better person, for Robin, the way he wants to be a better person for Charlotte. He says, the only difference is, she succeeded. His case is still very much in doubt.

Nikolas tells Ava, go on. Read it. She reads, I, Nikolas Cassadine, being of sound mind and body – that’s debatable – do hereby acknowledge and confess that I, and I alone, am responsible for the disappearance of Esme Prince. I know this because I killed her.

Robert says, the way Mac is looking at Cody, you’d think he had something on him, but Mac tells him, forget about it. He questioned Cody about the Quartermaine picnic. He has an alibi. Robert asks, then why so interested? when Britt comes in. Felicia asks if Britt wasn’t with Cody on the night of the attack, and Robert asks, since when does Britt Westbourne qualify as a legitimate alibi? Mac has already had a crack at him. Maybe Robert should go over and rattle his tree.

Britt says she’s definitely ready for that champagne cocktail, and Cody asks if she’s sure. Maybe they should relocate to that cool, new burger joint off the highway. She says, first it was bowling, now it’s a burger joint. If he doesn’t want to go on a date with her just say so. He says, it’s not her; it’s them. He nods toward Mac’s table, and she says, the Scorpio brothers? He says, the Chief of Detectives has a brother? and she says, law enforcement runs in the family. Robert’s the DA.

Mac’s cell phone dings, and he tell Robert to wait. There’s been another attack; the details are minimal. Robert says, anything to do with a hook? but Mac says, no. Robert says, then they don’t know if it’s tied to Brando or Ava. It could be totally unrelated. Mac says, it happened in Brando Corbin’s garage, and Robert says, Sonny’s cousin was the second victim. Mac says, they could be looking at victim number three. He needs to take Felicia home, then get to the scene. Felicia tells him to go; she’ll take a Ride Share. Robert tells Mac, then he’s going to the hospital. He wants to be there when the victim gets there.

Finn tells Terry that he’s been worried about Elizabeth, but she’s finally wanting to understand the root cause of all the things she’s been experiencing; the memory loss, the blackouts, all of it. Terry thanks him for telling her, and says, it’s a relief to hear. Ever since Biz found them talking about her, it’s like a wall went up between her and her best friend. He says he knows, but with Doc’s help, she’s finally remembering things from her past she’s been repressing for years. Terry says, about her family? and he says he thinks so. She says she knows better than to push for more. She doesn’t want him to betray Elizabeth’s confidence. She’s just really glad if Biz goes looking into her past, she won’t be going alone.

Gregory tells Dex, whoever he is, step back, but Dex says he needs to do this. He swears he came in and found her like this. He needs to stop the bleeding. Gregory tells him to step back, and put his hands where Gregory can see them, and tells Alexis to call 9-1-1. Dex continues to work on Diane, and says, he’s already called 9-1-1; the paramedics are on the way. Alexis asks who he is, and he says he works for Sonny Corinthos. She’s his lawyer. Are they going to help him or not? Please. Gregory goes over to Diane, and says he can barely feel a pulse. Dex says, they need to stop the bleeding, and Alexis makes another call.

Valentin asks if Anna believes the ends justify the means, and she says she’s not supposed to. He says, but she does, doesn’t she? and she says, yeah, on occasion. He says he thinks it’s his guiding principle. The desired outcome is worth whatever he has to do to get it. He wants to be a better man for Charlotte, but what he wants more than anything is to keep her safe. And if that means he has to murder his own father, so be it. She asks if this is a disclaimer, because she knows who she’s dealing with; she has no illusions about him. He says he enjoyed their evening on the Haunted Star, but he could make the argument that it was a missed opportunity. He had Victor off-guard; he could have cut Victor’s throat. She asks why he didn’t, and he says, for one, there would be a fail-safe in place. Victor lives; Charlotte lives. If Victor dies… She says, yeah. He couldn’t take that chance, and he says, there was another reason he couldn’t kill his father tonight – her.

Ava says, so Nikolas wrote a letter claiming he killed Esme, something they both know isn’t true. He says, the truth is, Esme accidently fell off the parapet and drowned in the water. That accident happened after Ava found out he slept with Esme, and no jury will believe that was an accident. He made that confession to protect her. She asks if he really thinks this is going to work. Does he really think this melodramatic gesture made at the 11th hour is going to change how she feels about him? This so-called confession is just a reminder that he did indeed have sex with his son’s girlfriend. And should it ever be made public, the whole world would know about that. If he expects her to see it as something heroic, he’s just delusional. He says he can do a lot of things, but he doesn’t have a time machine. He can’t undo his errors in judgement. She asks if that’s a polite euphemism for adultery, and he says, the only thing he can do is make sure she doesn’t suffer the consequences. She says, look at her. She’s suffering every day; she suffers all the time. She’s not talking about the wound from the hook. She’s talking about the pain she feels over how he hurt her; the betrayal, the loss of self-esteem. The sheer humiliation that she ever bought into his promises of love and fidelity. Those wounds are never going to heal. He says, if nothing else, he can protect her from what Esme can do to her, even from beyond the grave. His confession might not mean anything to her today, but keep it. Put it in a safe deposit box, and consider his life on deposit as well. And if the day ever comes she needs to withdraw it… She says she’ll keep it under lock and key, but she’s going to need more than a piece of paper. She’s going to need much more.

Britt says, Cody saw Mac and Robert rush out of here. Does he feel better now that their gone? He says, not really, and she asks, why not? Why does he break out in hives at the mere mention of the Scorpio name? He tells her, let’s just say, he and law enforcement don’t make a good match. She says, let her guess; he’s against it. He says, no. They just tend to be against him and people like him who don’t always play by the rules. It’s something he and Britt have in common. She says she’s reformed, and he says, is she? She says, she made a deal, got a clean slate, and she’s sticking to it. Felicia approaches the bar, and asks the bartender for a glass of water. While he’s getting it, she says, another date night. She’s glad the Quartermaine picnic didn’t them off. Cody says, her husband isn’t going to scare him off either. He’s tired of Mac looking at him like he’s hiding some hook up his sleeve. Now he has to deal with Mac’s brother, who’s the DA? Is this is the locals idea of an investigation; there’s a killer running around, so let’s just blame the newest guy in town? Felicia says, Mac is just doing his job. If Cody has nothing to hide, he has absolutely nothing to worry about. Britt suggests she and Cody take a table, and Cody asks Felicia why it feels like her husband is investigating him for personal reasons. She asks what makes him say that? and he says, you tell me. Is it just because he knew Cody’s mom?

Diane is carried out of the garage on a stretcher, and Mac runs in. He asks Alexis to catch him up, and she says, Diane. He says, Diane Miller? and Gregory says, she’s hanging on, but just barely. Mac sees Dex, and says, him? Again? Gregory says, he was the first one on the scene. He found Diane and called 9-1-1. If it wasn’t for him, she’d be dead now. Mac asks what Dex was doing here in the first place, and Alexis says she needs to go to the hospital and be with her friend. Gregory asks Mac if it’s all right for them to leave. They’ll answer any questions he might have. But just for the record, what he saw Dex doing saved Diane’s life. Mac says, of course (🍷). Go ahead, but they’re going to want to question them. Alexis thanks Dex. She says she knows he works for Sonny. Mac is a good man. Listen to him and tell him the truth. She and Gregory leave, and Mac says, Alexis just gave Dex some good advice. The question is, is he going to take it?

Anna asks if Valentin thinks she’d have a problem with him killing Victor, but he says he doesn’t know. Maybe; maybe not. But she’d have a problem with him killing her good friend Lucy, which he’d have to do; he couldn’t leave a witness. Anna says she’d be a witness, and he says, there is that. He’d be asking her to stay quiet about the death of her friend, and he knows she wouldn’t do that, so he’d have to kill her too. She says, could he?

Nikolas asks, what more can he do to prove himself to Ava? If Esme’s disappearance is ever investigated by the police, his confession proves her innocence and his guilt. She says, he has a history of making grand declarations that come to nothing. She needs proof that can’t be faked or forged. He says, fine. What else does she want him to do? If he’s able, he’ll do it. She takes out her phone, and says, here’s what’s going to happen. He’s going to take his confession, look into the camera, and read every single incriminating word. She holds up her phone, he gets ready, and she says, action.

Felicia says, like they told Cody the night they met him at the Quartermaine party, back in the day, they ran in the same circles with Dominique. The person Cody really needs to talk to his Mac; he knew Cody’s mother much better than she did. Cody says he already talked to Scotty, and Scotty was married to his mother. So arguably, he knew her better than anyone, and he claims she never said anything about him. Britt says her champagne is getting flat, and Felicia says she’s so sorry; she’s ruining their date. Britt says, she kind of is, and Felicia almost leaves, but stops and says, Cody really should talk to Mac. Cody asks why he should make it easy for Mac. Her husband’s been asking a lot of questions about him, even though he’s relatively new in Port Charles, and he never even met Ava Jerome or the other victim. Is Mac laying the groundwork to frame him? Felicia says, that’s not fair; he doesn’t know Mac. Cody says, but it’s fair for Mac to assume he knows him? and Felicia tells him, like she said, Mac and Dominique were close once. He says, oh yeah? How close?

Mac says, if Dex knew the garage was closed because the owner was murdered, and his body is in the funeral home, why did Dex just happen by? Dex tells him, he didn’t say that; Mac did. Mac says he’s just trying to help Dex. His fingerprints are all over the place. Diane’s blood is on his hands, literally. Dex also showed up just after Ava Jerome was attacked, and to top it all off, he was seen at Charlie’s shortly before Brando was attacked in the alley outside the pub. Either he has the worst timing in the world, or he knows a helluva lot more than he’s saying. Dex says, his boss always told him not to talk to the cops without a lawyer present. Is he under arrest? Mac says he’s questioning Dex. Dex either answers him here and now, or at the PCPD. What’s it going to be?

Finn says, got it, and hangs up the phone. Robert says, there’s been a report of another stabbing? and Finn says, Mac’s bringing them in now. The paramedics wheel Diane in, and the doctor says a bunch of medical stuff as she’s wheeled past the desk. Gregory and Alexis come in, and Finn asks how they got here about Diane so quickly. Gregory says, they were going to Brando’s garage to speak with his assistant. They were trying to get information as to why Brando was targeted by the attacker, and they found Diane on the ground. Robert joins them, and says, Brando Corbin, Diane Miller, and Ava Jerome. They’ve all got one thing in common – Sonny Corinthos.

Valentin says, yeah, he’d kill Anna, if he had to, to save Charlotte. Just like she’d kill him to save Robin. She says, yeah, she would. She’d miss him though. He moves closer, and says, anything short of that, he wouldn’t harm a hair on her head. He’s loved her since he first saw her. An insane, crushing love that never stood a chance. Now look at them. On the floor of her townhouse. He’s baring his soul in front of the fire, and the look in her eyes doesn’t look like pity. She says, it’s not, and kisses him.

Nikolas reads as Ava films: I, Nikolas Cassadine, being of sound mind and body do hereby acknowledge and confess that I, and I alone, am responsible for the disappearance of Esme Prince. I know this because I killed her. The means? My own two hands, by pushing her off the parapet at Windymere, my family’s estate on Spoon Island. The motive? Revenge… justice, guilt; take your pick. Esme Prince was my son Spencer’s girlfriend, and I had sex with her. To be very clear, it was consensual, and if anything, Esme initiated things, but I shouldn’t have given in to my worst instincts. My behavior was indefensible. However, Esme used that lack of judgement to destroy my marriage. Not only that, she used it to destroy the relationship with my son, and any chance of reconciling with Spencer was ruined. In effect, Esme destroyed my life, and when she taunted me on the turret, in a fit of rage, I grabbed her and pushed her to her death. Honestly, my only regret is not dong it sooner, to spare the ones I love the pain that I caused. This I solemnly swear. Ava says, cut, and he asks if she got all that.

Felicia says she has to go, and asks the bartender for her check. She tells him that she interrupted Britt and Cody’s date. Put the drinks on her tab. Britt says, that’s very sweet, and Felicia says, of course (🍷), but Cody says, no. He doesn’t want her charity. If she wants to give him something, tell him what she and her husband are hiding from him, especially if it’s about his birth mother. She says she understands his frustration, and understands the questions he wants answered, but it isn’t her story to tell. If he wants answers, he has to talk to Mac. It’s not like it’s some state secret. He says, if it’s no big deal, why not tell him now? Why does he have to hear it from her husband? She writes something down on a napkin, and gives it to him, saying, it’s Mac’s personal cell phone number. However, before he makes that call, he needs to ask himself if he really wants to know the truth. Felicia leaves, and Britt says, this date got way more intense than she expected.

Terry tells Finn and Robert that Diane’s wounds are similar to those found on Brando and Ava. Dr. Dempsey has to operate immediately. Diane is wheeled past, and Alexis says, she looks so helpless. Gregory takes her hand, and she thanks him. Finn tells Terry, if the hook was soaked in the same venom that killed Brando, they don’t have much time, and they head for the OR.

Anna and Valentin finally get busy, and Valentin says he’s wanted this for years. He doesn’t want to rush. She says, they can go slow next time.

Ava says she appreciates Nikolas putting his words into action, but if he thinks she’s just going to fall back into his arms, think again. She asks what he’s smiling at, and he says, she rejected him – tonight. But he can see he made progress. So no, she won’t be back in his arms this time, but she will be in the future, and that’s enough for him. He’s leaving her with the recording and the and letter. He’s literally leaving her with his life in his hands. He starts to leave, but comes back, and says, one more thing. He puts a Ferrero Rocher chocolate on her blanket and says, a chocolate truffle for her. He leaves, and she eats it, smiling.

Britt says, whether Cody is willing to admit it or not, this date is pretty much over for her. He says he’s sorry. He really didn’t want tonight to go like this. She says she believes him. Dominique is his biological mother. Of course (🍷) he’s going to have a million questions about her. She understands that, and she’s guessing if Felicia is that eager for him to talk to Mac, it’s for good reason. So why don’t they quit while they’re ahead? She gets up, kisses him on the cheek, and says, bye. He’s about to leave, when the bartender asks if he wants the phone number. He says, yeah. and takes it.

Mac says, back to Dex. Is he going to talk now or talk later? Dex asks if Mac sees an attorney here. No attorney, no talk. Mac says, Dex leaves him no choice, and tells an officer that they’ll be taking Dex down to the station. He doesn’t think they need handcuffs. Right, Dex? Dex says he’s not going to talk, but no, he’s not going to resist arrest by not going to the station. Mac says, smartest thing Dex has said all night, and the officer escorts Dex out. Mac follows, pausing to look at the blood on the floor.

Robert says, any change in Diane’s condition, he wants to know right away, and Finn says, got it. Gregory asks how Alexis is doing, and if she wants him to call one of the girls, but she says, no. Then she’ll have to tell them what happened to Diane, and she’s not ready to do that. He says he understands that, but… She says she was just thinking about how long she’s known Diane; it feels like forever. Diane is the one person who’s been there for her for everything. He says, and if Diane lives, her, him, and Dex made a difference, but she says, that’s not good enough. He says, she’s not a doctor. There’s nothing more she can do here. She says she’s not talking about here. She’s talking about the paper. It’s time to have a conversation with the killer. She starts to leave, and asks if he’s going to just stand there, or is he going to double-check her spelling. He follows her out. Terry gives Finn the results on the lab tests he asked for, and he says, Diane’s system is tainted with the same substance that killed Brando. His phone dings, and Terry asks, what is it? He says, confirmation that the anti-venom just arrived. He has to prep an injection. If there’s a chance of saving Diane, he’s taking it.

There’s a song part, and Anna and Valentin get busy… then busier… then busiest.

Tomorrow, Jordan needs Portia’s help; Josslyn suggests a friendly competition; Drew goes to Jacksonville, and finds Carly; Curtis thanks Sonny for what Sonny did for his family; and Dante bets Dex has plenty to tell him.

Below Deck Mediterranean

Captain Sandy calls Tasha to the bridge, and says she doesn’t want to crush Tasha’s spirit. She’s awesome at service, but when she comes downstairs, it’s filthy. She asks if they really need two people on service when the guests are winding down, and Tasha says, last night, she also had to make food for the guests. The captain asks if one person can’t clean the floor of the pantry while the other is tending to the guests. It should be cleaned before they go to bed, so when she wakes up, it’s not a sh*tshow. Tasha says, physically, there aren’t enough hours inf the day, but Captain Sandy says, they don’t have to be with the guests 24/7. Before they go down, she wants the floors cleaned. She doesn’t want Tasha to think she’s not doing a good job; it’s just dirty. Tasha promises to get it done, and in Tasha’s interview, she says, it’s a kick in the stomach, but it’s her job to take criticisms like this. She’s going to try her best because she cares about her job. She tells Dave about what happened, and he says, she works hard, the guests are happy, and they adore her. She does an amazing job. Tasha says, they’re not just cleaners, and Dave says he couldn’t do it without her. The captain radios the crew that they’re going back to the dock. As soon as the anchor is home, they get underway.

Natalya says, it serves Tash right, and I’m really starting not to like her. As they dock, Captain Sandy curses the wind, and Mzi saves the boat from hitting a dolphin by using a fender. In Mzi’s interview, he says he thinks they’ve made progress. He’s getting in the rhythm, and thinks Storm is becoming a good bosun. He trusts Storm more than Storm does. The captain tells Mzi, good job. The wind was blowing the bow all over. Tasha’s boyfriend continues to pummel her with texts, and Captain Sandy calls for the tip meeting. She says, charter five is down, and they did an awesome job. They haven’t had one service complaint all season, which is unusual, but at the same time, they have to maintain the vessel. The tip is $20K, or $1800 each, and the captain says she has another surprise. They’ve been doing such an amazing job, the owners gave them the day off tomorrow. Dinner tonight on the owners, and the beach club tomorrow all day. Champagne is poured, and Captain Sandy wishes Mzi a happy birthday. As she leaves, she tells everyone, don’t forget to turn the boat around.

Kyle and Tasha start organizing the pantry, but take a break in their cabin. Tasha tells Kyle, they’re human beings; they need a half hour. In the laundry, Natalya makes up a song about Kyle and Tasha not getting things done, and annoys me further. Storm works on the waterline, and in his interview, he says, it’s Mzi’s birthday, and he wants to have fun, but they need to get things done. He made mistakes during the last charters. We flash back to those, and he says he wants Captain Sandy to see he’s committed to the job. Kyle and Tasha go back to pantry organizing, and Kyle says, it grinds his t*ts. Tasha says, she never wants to be on anyone’s sh*t list, but she is. In Tasha’s interview, she says, the only way for them to catch up is to not go out. We see a clip from earlier in the day, and Kyle volunteers to stay and help. Everyone starts to get ready for dinner, and Kyle tells Natalya about staying behind to do the pantry. She tells him, it’s bullsh*t; it’s ridiculous. In Natalya’s interview, she says, it’s Mzi’s birthday, and they’re being selfish. They could have sorted it out in the five hours they just had. She bitches to Courtney, and Kyle says, winge, winge, winge. Natalya goes on and on about the pantry because she’s an idiot.

Jason asks if Tasha and Kyle need help, and Natalya says, this is rubbish. It’s the crew night out and Mzi’s birthday. They can do it tomorrow. In Tasha’s interview, she says, Natalya should be thankful. They’re doing her a favor using their fun time to organize. But if Natalya wants to moan about it, Tasha can’t win. Agreed. Still working, Storm says he’ll see them at the bar. They get to a museum that’s been opened for them, and go up a million steps to a large balcony overlooking the water. The waiter asks if they’d like wine, and Storm says, yes, and tequila. Courtney tells the waiter, what he says, goes. It’s his birthday. Mzi says, it feels quiet, and they toast to his birthday. Back on the boat, Kyle says, he’s spent more time on his knees scrubbing floors than… Well, you know. They finish up, and Tasha, Kyle, Jason, and Storm leave to join the others at the restaurant. Natalya asks, who’s single? and Dave says, Tasha is back with her boyfriend. Natalya takes this opportunity to smack talk Tasha, and says, you shouldn’t mess with how someone feels. Courtney says she’s been in that situation, but Dave says, he and Tasha are good. In Natalya’s interview, she says she’s not going to be all caring. She’s done with it. The others get there, and Natalya tells Storm that he should have come with them, since it’s Mzi’s birthday. Msi says he’s not upset, and I have serious doubts that Natalya is all caring about Mzi’s birthday like she’s pretending. Storm says he and Courtney are homies, and flirts with Natalya. Kyle predicts them having wild sex. Courtney says, let’s bounce, and in Jason’s interview, he says, the rest of the crew are just co-workers to him. When he was in business, he avoided corporate events, and still had better friendships.

The crew moves on to a club, and Natalya tries to get Dave to trash talk Tasha, but he’s not having it, and says, they worked it out. Mzi works at making eye contact with a woman he sees across the room, and in his interview, he says, it shows intent. She gave him a vibe. He dances with her, and she brings him back to her table. In Storm’s interview, he says, happy birthday. Everyone dances, and then it’s time to go. Mzi says, it’s his birthday, and he’ll do what he wants. Courtney and Dave stay behind with him, while the rest of the crew goes back to the boat. Tasha is very proud of the pantry, and shows it off. At the club, Mzi’s new friend Mariana says, she’s married, but not dead, and Mzi says he has a big day tomorrow. In Mzi’s interview, he wonders where she got a husband all of a sudden, and Courtney tells her, goodbye forever. On the boat, everyone is either eating or sleeping, and Storm says he got Natalya a watch, and shows it to Kyle, Jason, and Tasha. In Kyle’s interview, he says, personally, he wouldn’t purchase material items for someone until he knew them better, but he wants to be a witness when Storm gives it to her. Storm hunts Natalya down in her cabin, and when he tells her that he has a present for her, she gets all weird. She asks why he’s buying presents, and tells him to take it back. She opens the watch, and asks, why? Kyle calls her an ungrateful hoe, and says she needs to start facing her feelings and realize what she needs. In the taxi, Mzi says, he’s in love with a married woman, and Courtney says she’s not married. Natalya tells Kyle that the gift stressed her, and he says, she’s insane. When she gets older, she’s going to hate herself for wasting time. After years of holding back, even though he felt like Quasimodo, he talked to Frank. In Natalya’s interview, she says, it’s too intense too soon. She’s never been around a relationship that lasted. Her mom just moved out one day, and after a while, she wondered where her mom went. Her brother explained their parents were getting divorced, and she felt like an idiot. Well… She might love someone then and there, but it’s always a short and sweet thing. Tasha and Kyle giggle over texts back and forth with Frank, talking about making babies. Tasha says she can’t wait to see and have their babies. Mzi has trouble hoisting himself to the upper bunk.

The crew gets up around 8:30 for their day off. Storm admits to Mzi that he actually bought the watch for his sister, and decided to give it to Natalya. In Storm’s interview, he says, Natalya is beautiful, but so full of attitude. She’s crazy, but he likes it. She grounded him. He knows it’s early for gifts, but that’s how he is. They all have mimosas, everyone gets ready, and they leave.

They get to the Surfside Beach Club in Sliema, and Courtney says, it’s like heaven. She can’t wait to be hungover tomorrow. Kyle says he’s just going to sleep, and Natasha’s boyfriend sends more texts. Dave goes into the water, and Kyle says he’s moving her. Tasha tells him that she’s still upset. What Captain Sandy said hurt her heart. In her interview, she says, she can’t get out of her head. Between that and the horrible messages from her boyfriend, she’s in a bad head space. She tells Kyle that it’s been a bit of a roller coaster. Jason separates himself, and is eating lunch, when Mzi asks him to join them. Jason says he’s good, and in his interview, he says, it’s best to break it into math terms. There are 8 yachties; 2 have a toxic relationship, and 4 hate his guts. That equals 1 day that f***ing sucks.

Natalya tells Mzi that she’s freaking out; it’s too soon. She loves the watch, but in the car, Storm told her to cancel her trip to Mexico, and go to South Africa for two weeks with him. OMG – NOT A WHOLE TWO WEEK COMMITMENT! Mzi says, Storm is emotional, and she says, that’s what’s freaking her out. One moment, she thinks this could go somewhere, but then she wonders how he can get so emotional when he’s only known her for a few days. Kyle tells Tasha that he thinks the dynamic has changed, and Natalya feels guilty. I think, highly unlikely. Dave says, the pantry is very neat, and Tasha says she’s proud of it. Natalya twerks, and Courtney joins her. Jason sleeps. Kyle says, Natalya is always on fuse because she doesn’t face her emotions, and Tasha tells Dave that she’s upset about Captain Sandy’s comment. She has a lot of respect for the captain, and loves working for her. She feels like she’s let her down. Dave says he doesn’t agree, and thinks Tasha is incredible. In Tasha’s interview, she says, Dave seems himself now; like the person she first met. She didn’t like when he was putting her through all the drama, but he does make her feel better. Natalya tells Storm that the watch is too much. She loves it, but is concerned about the meaning behind it. Storm asks, what meaning? and says, there’s no hidden agenda; don’t read into it. She says she’s worried, since she doesn’t want to settle down, and he says he’s not asking her to, but if she’s getting that vibe, he’ll back off. Kyle says he’ll have to go for a piercing after all this drama, and Storm tells them that he doesn’t get it. He’s been respectful, and hasn’t said anything about commitment. Kyle says he would die for a man like Storm.

They change for dinner, and Storm walks down to the beach. Natalya says, drama, drama, but goes over to him, and asks if he’s okay. He says he’s not jumping into the sea; he’s just having a moment. Natalya hugs him, and Kyle says, they’re making him sick. He doesn’t know where he is, Malta or Love Island. Storm tells Natalya that he didn’t ask her to check on him. He’s not doing what he’s doing for that reason. Natalya says, he wants her to care, then he doesn’t want sympathy. Storm says he didn’t throw a tiff, and Natalya says, they’re supposed to go out to dinner. He can throw his tantrum by himself. I’m wondering if she’s in the same show I’m watching, or is she trying to gaslight him? He’s not throwing a tantrum by any stretch of the imagination. He was just walking on the beach by himself, and she acts like he’s doing something loud and wrong. He says, it’s the first chance he’s had to release any emotions. Don’t feel like she needs to come after him. He’s not asking her for anything. Natalya says, that’s confusing. Again, is it me? She seems like the confusing one. He’s been consistent and she’s been all over the place. She tells him that she’s been trying day by day, but they need to take it slower, and he says he doesn’t understand what he did to make it fast. She says she’s never had a relationship, and he says, they’re not in a relationship. She says, so it’s chill then, and in Storm’s interview, he says, if she’s thinking it’s too fast, they’re of different mindsets. He doesn’t want to ruin what they do have, so he’ll slow down. Like her, he doesn’t want to get hurt. Natalya says, they’ll rip the Band-Aid off and have a fresh start. Clearly she doesn’t understand what ripping the Band-Aid off means, and they join the others. The crew finally leaves for dinner, and Courtney says, the beach stuff was so fun. Natalya thinks Jason should make an effort to be part of the group.  

They get to a restaurant, and Courtney says, no shots. She points out that Jason is so quiet and so serious, and Kyle says, despite the hate, exclusion, and inclusion, it’s been an absolutely fantastic time. In Kyle’s interview, he says, Natalya is like the Tasmanian Devil; cute to look at, but hella annoying. The crew toasts to a great day off, and Kyle and Courtney go for a smoke. Courtney says, her dad’s struggling. He’s gone to a home, but she’s been so busy, she hasn’t had time to think about it. She gets teary, and in her interview, she says, last season, her dad was supportive and amazing. We flash back to her video chatting with him, and she says, it’s been a bad year for her. Last year, her dad went in a home. She cries, and says, now he can’t talk, and can’t walk. He’s just lying in bed. She was working, scrubbing toilets, and wondered what she was doing with her life. She loves working on deck. It makes it easier to be here. Kyle tells her that she’s a strong woman, and hugs her. They go back to the table, and the crew goes back to the boat.

Storm tells Mzi that he’s going to be causing drama tomorrow, and in Storm’s interview, he says, the last couple of charters, Jason was insubordinate. We flash back to that, and he says, now he’s doing the same thing to Courtney. It’s the first time he’s had to deal with something like this, having a conversation with someone about their work ethic and personality. He doesn’t know what to expect, but Jason’s attitude stops tomorrow.

In the morning, Captain Sandy says, the pantry looks great, and Storm says, time to talk to Jason. Everyone gets up, and the captain tells Tasha, nice work on the pantry. Kyle and Tasha do the cabins, and the boat is turned over. Provisions come, and Dave asks Tasha if he’s being helpful, or overstepping his boundaries. She says he’s helped a lot, and Storm tells Natalya that he needs to have a conversation with Jason. She tells him, good luck, and in Storm’s interview, he says, managing and understanding people is new to him. He’s learning the position, and understanding his responsibilities. He wants to try and make Jason feel like he’s part team of the team. Hopefully he takes it well. He asks Jason if they can chat.

Storm tells Jason that he wants to see if they’re on the same page. He feels tension between them, and Jason and the crew. He wonders where Jason’s head is at, and has some things to say, but wants to hear from Jason first. Jason says he’s trying not to step on toes, and Storm says, Jason gets in a mood, and they all feel it. He becomes snappy, and it becomes difficult to work in an environment when Jason is like that. He wants to challenge Jason to be proactive, and show he wants to be here. Jason says, it’s baffling when Storm says he should be proactive. He’s been carrying more than his load. Storm says he feels it’s the other way around, and being the quitter he is, Jason says he doesn’t want to leave them high and dry, but replace him. Storm says, Jason sounds like he doesn’t want to be here, and Jason says, that’s literally what he’s saying. Storm says he’s not here to make Jason the victim, and wants him to stay.

To be continued…

⚰️ Last week was the finale of Tales of the Walking Dead. Gee, that was quick.

🐉 Jumping Dragons…

This week’s latest on House Targaryen.

https://people.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-recap-the-princess-and-the-queen/

😱 Not Again…

Oh God. Winter House is coming back Octomber 13th. The house that turns middle aged people with decent jobs into 14-year-olds with serious behavioral problems.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/winter-house-season-2-cast-premiere-date-trailer

🌊 Riding the Wave…

Stop in tomorrow, when there will be soap and a roll of the dice. Until then, stay safe, stay practicing forbearance, and stay always having a fail-safe in place.

September 21, 2022 – Portia Gets Brando’s Lab Results Back, Crystal Brings the Roaring 20s To Beverly Hills, Latest House, Newest Tale & Bon Twice

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In a dressing room, someone puts makeup on Chase. Brook says, enough. He’s perfect as he is. Curtis’s voice says, ladies and gentlemen, and others… Coming to the Savoy stage is a hot new star who’s on the rise, so kick back and enjoy what you see with your eyes, and what you hear from his captivating production. Without further ado, or more introduction, put your hands together, and let the music do the talking. The audience applauds, and Brook says, they’re ready for him. Chase gets up, wearing a David Bowie type suit and sunglasses. He takes the sunglasses off, and he has makeup to match. He tells Brook, they can wait. Whereas he can’t wait another minute to be with her. He kisses her, and Lucy says, earth to Brook Lynn. Brook says, she’s sorry. Can Lucy repeat that? Maxie asks, where were you just now? and Lucy says, right. Because she certainly wasn’t here.

Finn is walking while looking at a tablet, when Chase reaches out and pulls him around the corner. Finn asks, what’s wrong with him? and Chase says, you tell me. What happened to Brando?

Curtis calls Portia from the closed club, and says, any word on Brando’s cause of death? She looks at the hospital computer, but cause of death is blank. She says, nothing yet.

Alexis meets Sonny outside Charlie’s, and says, sorry she’s late; work. He says he assumes she was up all night. Hard to stop the press when you have late-breaking news. He holds up The Invader, and the headline says: 2 VICTIMS, 1 HOOK, with a picture of the same type of spear-hook the attacker used.

On the phone at Pier 54, Anna says she has feelers out. They knew this wasn’t going to be easy. It appears to be more dangerous than she anticipated. We see someone in dark clothing, with a hook, not far behind her. She says, of course (🍷) she’s being careful. A black-gloved hand holds out the hook. Anna says, Robert, stop worrying. Take that energy and channel it into finding the person who attacked Ava and killed Brando. The gloved hand turns the hook back and forth, and Anna says she’ll be in touch. She turns, and sees the hook, then realizes it’s Jordan. Jordan says, sorry for startling her. She didn’t want to interrupt Anna’s phone call. Anna says, maybe in order to avoid any future misunderstandings, she might want to leave the sharp objects at home. Jordan says she just picked this up from the marina shop. It’s the same brand and type that was missing from the Quartermaine property. Anna takes it from her, and says, the same type used on Ava and Brando? Jordan says, that’s the theory. She’s on her way to GH to speak to the medical examiner. Anna says, if she needs any assistance, Jordan knows how to reach her. Jordan says, thanks, but the matter she needs off her plate is something she needs to handle herself.

Curtis tells Portia, as soon as he gets this mess sorted out with Jordan and the divorce papers, they will get married. She asks if there’s anything she can do to help, and he says he spoke with Jordan last night. She asks how it went, and he tells her, let’s just say, the divorce papers won’t be an issue. She says, he still didn’t answer her question. Does Jordan feel as he does? She doesn’t mean to be intrusive. He says, she isn’t. His relationship with Jordan isn’t just theirs; she’s a part of it too. He’ll tell her all about it when he sees her. She tells him, just be careful out there, and he says, always. He turns around, and Selina is there with her bodyguard. She says, it seems that things are getting dangerous in Port Charles.

Chase says, Michael called him last night and said Brando was attacked, but they thought he was going to be fine. By the time he got through to Sasha, Brando was dead, and she was in pieces. Finn says, everyone here is in shock as well. One minute, Brando was conscious and in good spirits, and the next thing you know, he was coding. Chase asks how it happened, and Finn says, they’re trying to find out. Portia sent his bloodwork to the lab to try to find the cause. Chase says, and until Finn does, if he does, Brando’s family is suffering, and that mystery is only going to add to their grief. The Invader quoted an anonymous General Hospital source, which means somebody here knows enough to talk to the press about the fact that Ava and Brando were attacked with a hook. He wants to find that person and talk to them himself, so he can find out who killed Sasha’s husband. Finn says, that’s a job for the cops, and Chase is no longer a cop.

Brook says she got the last sparkling water. They’ll have to tell the runner to get another case. She takes a sip, and wonders why the fridge in the breakroom can’t adequately chill a simple sparkling water. How can they be their best and most creative when they’re not sufficiently hydrated? Lucy says, speaking of their best… and Maxie says, they were just discussing Brando. Brook says, poor Sasha… Poor Gladys. Lucy says, it’s horrible, and poor social media response from Deception, or lack thereof, and Brook says she did draw up something. She can send it right over before they publish it. Maxie says, Brook doesn’t have to send it to her or Lucy; just send it out now. Brook asks if they don’t want to weigh in on something this sensitive regarding a partner, and Lucy says, no, that’s the point. With something this sensitive, timeliness is crucial. Brook says she just found out about Brando this morning, and Lucy says, and why is that? They called her last night. They texted her, emailed her, then called her again. Brook says she turns her phone off at night; work/life balance, right? Maxie says, that’s true, but isn’t it possible Brook is focusing more on her life, and not work? and Lucy says, like maybe 101% for life and minus 1% for work? Maxie says, they feel like maybe Brook’s heart isn’t totally with Deception, and Lucy says, like maybe it’s totally with Chase.

Alexis says she’s sorry about Brando, and Sonny says, him too. She asks, how’s Sasha? and he asks if this is on the record. He just doesn’t want to be blindsided. She says she meant to give him a heads up, but time got away from her. What can she do to make amends? He says, Sasha’s having a hard time, so maybe she can keep that in mind, and she says she’ll do her best. He says, they always agree on what’s best for their daughter, and she says, absolutely. Speaking of which, let’s go. They go into Charlie’s, where Victor is telling Kristina, in England if you mispronounce that word, you’re sent to the Tower of London, and your head’s cut off. Kristina laughs, and Victor says, it’s true. Alexis tells Sonny that she thinks they should agree on a plan of action first, and Sonny walks over to Victor and Kristina. Alexis is about to follow, when Valentin grabs her arm, and says, the two of them are going to stay out of this. She says, that’s her daughter, and he says, and Victor is her uncle; that makes him Kristina’s great uncle. He spends more time than he wants to as his father’s lieutenant. It’s better to stay on Victor’s good side, trust him. Let Sonny take care of the bad. Kristina says, Victor is so totally wrong, and Sonny asks what Victor is wrong about. Sonny and Kristina hug, and she says she was just teaching Uncle Victor the correct pronunciation of the word scone. Victor says, and he was just telling Kristina, in Europe, they call it sconn, and Sonny says, in America, his daughter’s correct. Kristina says, back work for her. She’s glad Victor enjoyed his scone. Kristina leaves, and Victor says, always a pleasure, but he must be off. Sonny says, Victor, Victor, Victor. How many times does he have to tell Victor to stay away from his family? Victor says, like it or not, Kristina is his family as well. He greets Alexis, says, ready? to Valentin, and leaves. Outside, he looks at his phone and frowns.  

Chase says, way to kick a guy when he’s down, and Finn says, sorry. He didn’t like saying it any more than Chase liked hearing it, but Chase isn’t part of this investigation. Chase says, he and Sasha bonded when they were trying to help Michael and Willow, and now she’s going through hell. There’s got to be some way he can help her. Finn says, in a way the police can’t. Does he have a lead? Is there somewhere he can go that they can’t? Chase knows the drill. Say he does some digging around and finds something. Without a badge, without a warrant, without jurisdiction, that piece of evidence gets invalidated, and it can throw the whole case out. Then Chase can really kiss his law enforcement career goodbye. Chase says, if Finn thinks he wants to solve this to make himself look good to the higher ups, he couldn’t be more wrong. He’s not angling to use Brando’s death to get his job back. Finn says he knows that. All he’s trying to say is, the PCPD needs a good cop like Chase back on the force, not out in the cold for good. Chase says, who knows when or if he’ll be reinstated. What is he supposed to do in the meantime? Finn says, be there for Sasha, but Chase says, she has plenty of people to be there and comfort her; all he has is time, and frustration. Finn says, if he was Chase, he would spend time with someone he cares about, and channel that energy into a cause that makes a difference. He knows Chase has both.

Brook says, they’re accusing her of shirking her work duties for a guy? and Lucy says, yesterday, Brook spent all morning looking at Chase wallpaper to select it for her computer screen, and somehow their call waiting music is Chase’s demo. Brook says, everyone who’s had to wait on hold has thanked her for it. Since when is it a crime to enjoy a relationship? Maxie says, she and Lucy are happy for her and Chase, and Lucy says, so, so, so happy. It’s okay to focus on her boyfriend sometimes, but Brook is spending more work time promoting Chase’s career and music. So if she doesn’t start promoting and taking care of Deception, and stop mooning over Chase and doing everything for his work and his career, then they’re going to just part ways and fire her. Maxie looks shocked, and Brook says, they want to fire her? Maxie says, no, they’re not going to fire her, and Lucy says, okay, but Brook better get her head back in the game now. Brook’s phone chimes, and she reads: Chase’s Audition 15 Minutes. Brook says, duly noted. She has to run now. Maxie says, no, where is she going? and Brook says, to get her head back in the game.

Anna says she’s guessing the matter on Jordan’s plate is the life changing information Jordan gathered on Curtis. Anna thought she wanted to disclose it to Curtis. Jordan says, her self-examination derailed after a tough question from Curtis. He asked if she was trying to hold on to their marriage. Anna asks, what gave him the idea she might be? and Jordan says, a volunteer postal worker. Anna says, okay. What did Jordan tell him? Did she lie? Jordan says, she told the truth. It just wasn’t the answer to the question he asked.

Curtis asks if there’s a poker game going on in the back he’s not aware of, and Selina says, it’s a bit early in the day for a high stakes poker game. He says, then he can’t imagine another reason she might be in his nightclub, and she says, she does have a reason. Just not a good one.  

Valentin says he hopes Victor knows what he’s doing, and Victor says, apart from a lesson in pronunciation, he was offering Kristina his professional assistance in the wake of her close brush with a murderer. Valentin says, it would be a mistake to provoke Sonny Corinthos, and Victor says he can’t believe Valentin is intimidated by a local mob kingpin. Valentin says, Sonny pursues his own ends quietly, but he’s dangerous when provoked, and Victor says, that’s why he’s keeping Valentin around, amongst other reasons. Nice seeing him. Let’s reconnect soon. Valentin says, Victor was going to give him a date when he can visit Charlotte, and Victor says he will, but right now he a more pressing issue to attend to. Adieu.

Curtis asks what Selina wants from him now, and she flashes back to Sonny saying, Chase is a good singer, a good guy, and he thinks Chase would make a good fit for The Savoy; and Selina saying she appreciates Sonny making the connection, and thinks Curtis will too. She tells Curtis, an apology. She’s seen him twice since his engagement, and he never said a word. She had to hear about it from her nephew. Apparently, that’s all anyone is talking about. He says she exaggerates, and she says, Dr. Robinson is a very lucky woman, but she wishes Curtis had shared his intentions with her. She could have connected him to a fine jeweler she knows. He asks how much that favor would have cost him, but she says, no favor; a courtesy from one partner to another. He says, partners are equal; they’re anything but. She says she’s open to expanding his role in her organization, but he says he prefers his independence. She says, independence is an illusion. She’d still like to honor his engagement. He says, she’s done enough, but she says, he doesn’t know what it is yet. Brook and Chase walk in, and Brook says she hopes they’re not late.

Jordan tells Anna, of course (🍷) she still loves Curtis. The divorce wasn’t her choice. He couldn’t forgive her from keeping too many things from him. Anna asks why Jordan is still keeping secrets, and Jordan says, if she told Curtis what she knows, it could destroy his relationship with Portia. And what does that get her? Gratitude? A second chance with him? She’s unlikely to get either. Anna says, what about her own self-respect? and Jordan says she wouldn’t be proud of herself for hurting two people in love. So she’s decided Curtis and Portia’s relationship is no longer her business. Anna says, perhaps not, but is Curtis’s happiness her business? They had a great marriage when they were together. Doesn’t Jordan still love and respect him? By withholding this information, she’s basically decided what Curtis can and can’t handle; what he should and shouldn’t know. is that fair? Valentin shows up, and Jordan tells Anna, thanks for listening. Anna says she’ll always listen, and Valentin says, forgive him for intruding, but is there something Jordan wants to tell them? Jordan says, as a matter-of-fact, she does. Be careful. They know the how of Ava and Brando’s attacks, but they don’t know the why. Which makes it harder to predict who might be the next target. She leaves.

Finn sees Portia, and asks if she isn’t off today. She says, she doesn’t know. Is it today, yesterday, tomorrow; she has no idea. He says, she never left the hospital, and she says, Britt and Terry had their hands full with the police, so she volunteered to take over. He says, she should have told him, but she says she knew he had a prior commitment with his daughter. Besides, Trina’s back in the dorm, Curtis is working late, and with everything that’s going on around here… He says, she needed the hustle and bustle of the hospital, and she says, focusing on work keeps her mind off things. Like what really happened with Brando. She went over everything; his vitals, the post op reports. He should have made a full recovery. Finn says he’s hoping the tests from the lab provide the answers, and she says, if not, maybe they can get some answers from The Invader. She read the article linking the attacks, and disclosing that a hook was used in both. She also happened to notice they cited an anonymous GH source. She wonders who spoke up.

Alexis asks what went on with Sonny and Victor, and he tells her, hold on. He goes over to the bar, and asks if Kristina is okay. She says she’s fine. Save his concern for Sasha and Gladys. Alexis says, their concern is for her right now. She witnessed the attack. They have every right to be concerned. Kristina says, Great Uncle Victor thought so too. He had some pretty good advice. Alexis says, Victor was checking up on her too? and Kristina says, he offered to hire someone to protect her after the attack on Brando. Great guy, but overreact much? Alexis says, in this situation, her Uncle Victor has it sized up correctly.

Lucy scarfs gummi bears, and Maxie tells her not to choke on her gummies. Take nice, even breaths, and breathe away her frustration over Brook. Lucy says, BLQ just might be BFE – bye forever. Maxie says, Brook is in love, and it’s not worth firing her over. They just spoke to her. Let’s give her a chance to do better. She wrests the bag of gummies from Lucy’s hand, and Lucy says, okay. Maybe they should check with the headhunters to just see if there’s some social media talent out there. Maxie asks if they can put a pin in that, and give Brook a second chance. Think of all the mistakes they’ve made for love. Victor walks in, and says, and he hazards a guess that Lucy is long overdue another chance.

Brook asks if Curtis has time for Chase’s audition. It seems like they’re interrupting. Curtis says, apparently there was a mix up. He didn’t realize there was an audition on the books today. Brook says she knew she should have come in person to confirm, and not rely on her assistant, and Chase says, Curtis seems busy. They should come back another time. Brook says she’s sure a successful entrepreneur such as Curtis can eke out two minutes to hear Chase cut loose. Curtis says, he knows from the Nurses Ball that Chase has a set of pipes on him. He could do with a refresher. He always has time for a star on the rise.

Portia tells Finn that she even saw an item on the news this morning, which means the national outfits are sniffing around. That’s all thanks to the Invader story. Whoever decided to speak to Alexis’s reporter, may have been responsible for bringing additional attention to the case, which is such a good thing. Finn says he really doubts the party in question was looking for any kind of attention, when Jordan comes around the corner. Portia says, otherwise, it would have gone on record. She’s sure this civic-minded individual’s only goal was to alert the public to a killer in their midst. Jordan says, the best of intentions. If only they didn’t threaten to disrupt an investigation that barely started. If either of them have any idea as to the identity of this civic-minded individual, please let her know.

Sonny says, he and Kristina’s mother are going to keep her safe, not Victor. Kristina says, she appreciates the concern, but focus on Molly. She had a thing with Brando. She must be feeling awful. Alexis says, Molly didn’t witness the attack, but Kristina says, she’s hardly a witness. It was dark and raining, and she’s not even sure if the attacker was a male or female.  Sonny says, Brando’s killer doesn’t know that, and Kristina says, if she’d gotten a good look, Jordan would have made her sit down with a sketch artist, and the likeness would have been posted on social media and the news outlets, and every lamppost and telephone pole in Port Charles. But there’s no posted likeness, so the attacker knows she’s not a threat. Alexis says, Kristina can’t read the lunatic’s mind. Neither can she or Kristina’s father. That’s why they talked about it, and think it’s best if she came and stayed with one of them, just for a little bit. Kristina says, hard pass, and Alexis says, it won’t matter if she takes a little break. Kristina says she’s not quitting her job, and Sonny says, no one’s suggesting that. Kristina says, PCU is back in session, and Phyllis is slammed with students at night. She’s not going to leave Phyllis hanging. Sonny says, Phyllis will understand, and Alexis says, of course (🍷) she will. Just tell Phyllis she’s scared. Kristina says she’s not scared, and Alexis says she has so much respect for Kristina’s courage; it’s so admirable. Kristina says, this has nothing to do with courage. It’s an objective evaluation of the situation. Alexis asks if Kristina really wants to risk her life for minimum wage slinging beer in a dead end job. Isn’t Kristina a manager? I would hope she’s getting more than minimum wage.

Lucy says, Victor is such a flirt, and he says, guilty as charged. He was merely referring to her wayward companion. Marvin, isn’t it? Lucy and Maxie both say, Martin, and he says, any word on a return date? Lucy says, not just yet, and he says, it’s criminal to allow such a beautiful woman to go unchaperoned. Maxie cough/laughs, and Victor asks if she’s all right. Maxie says, she’s just trying to wrap her head around Lucy and a chaperone, and Lucy says, hey! Victor tells her, don’t engage; it’s not worth it. He asks if there’s somewhere they could talk more privately, and she says she would absolutely love that, but they’re in a huge, very important business meeting. Maxie says, they are? and Lucy says, yes, they are. They were discussing the marketing of the Cunning Concealer. Maxie says, they had that meeting yesterday, and Lucy says, she’s right. They were talking about testing the Bluffing Blush. Maxie says, it passed with flying colors, and Lucy tells Victor, lunch? He says, on him, and on her way out the door, Maxie says, enjoy. Should be fun. Victor says he thought she’d never leave. Now at last he has Lucy all to himself.

Valentin says he’s sorry; he kept Anna waiting. She says, she figured he was with his father. Anything relevant to Charlotte? He says, no. Victor keeps putting him off. Victor’s more concerned about Kristina; she witnessed Brando Corbin’s attack. Anna says, she knows; horrible. So Victor’s playing family man. He says, he’s very devoted to family, as the Cassadines define the term. They eat their young. She says, not him, and puts her hand on his chest. She says, they’re going to bring Charlotte home, and he tells her, when she says it, he almost wants to  believe it’s true. They sit, and he says, the moment he decided to have a child, from the moment Charlotte was born, her life was in danger just because she was his daughter. There were forces, people, enemies who would be tempted to use her as leverage against him. He had to be careful. He just wasn’t careful enough. His own father it turns out was more lethal than anyone. She doesn’t even know to be scared of him. He’s so frightened. Anna says, good. To be brave, sometimes you need to be frightened. Now they need to be brave. He says, why? What happened? She says, she engaged one of Robert’s contacts to surveil the so-called school where Victor is holding Charlotte. Less than 24 hours after taking the assignment, the operative wanted out. Apparently Victor’s name produces a chilling effect. So if Robert’s people are going to back out, they may be on their own. He says, they have Lucy, but she asks if now isn’t the time to reconsider Lucy’s involvement. It was one thing when Anna thought Lucy could get them in the door, but if Robert’s people aren’t going to take the job because they’re afraid of Victor, she can’t in good conscience put a civilian’s life at risk. He says, then they may have to cut her loose before she gets in deeper.

Victor says he’s worn himself out trying to reach Lucy for the last couple of days. He left messages, he sent telegrams, both the written and the singing variety. She says she didn’t get any of that. She’s going to have to fire her assistant. He suggests they do it together; it will be a bonding experience. She says she has the feeling that might be a bit of a violation of HR rules, and he says, then they’ll just have to rewrite the rules over their long-awaited lunch. She says, about that… and he says he’s sensing bad news. She says, Sasha Gilmore’s husband died; he was murdered. So she would feel uncomfortable having lunch with him. It would be tempting, but under the circumstances, not a great idea. Does he understand? He says he understands nothing of the sort.

Kristina says, that escalated quicky, and Alexis says, technically moving the conversation from Kristina’s life being threatened to her career would qualify as a de-escalation. Sonny says, they’re not here to discuss Kristina’s career; they’re here to discuss her safety. Kristina says, a subject that seems to provide her mom a segue into her life choices, and Alexis says, if Kristina had made different life choices, and take a different path, they wouldn’t be… Kristina says, a path more reputable and less dead endy? and Alexis says, she meant limited. This is a great job in the short term. Kristina says, but it’s not law school, and Sonny tells her, no one said anything about law school. Kristina says, here’s their chance, and tells Alexis, go ahead. Does Kristina embarrass her? Alexis says, of course (🍷) not, and Kristina says, Alexis just thinks she should quit her job and do something more productive. Go ahead. Say it. She’ll feel better. Sonny says, that’s enough, and Alexis says, what she meant was, she just wants Kristina to live up to her full potential. Kristina says, and working at Charlie’s is doing anything but.

Portia suggests, if Jordan wants to know who the anonymous source is, give Alexis a call, and Jordan says, so she can get a freedom of the press and we protect our sources speech from Alexis? Why waste her time? Finn says, she thinks one of the doctors here leaked the story? and Jordan says, prior to that article, it wasn’t public knowledge that Brando and Ava had been stabbed with a hook. She’s here to lay down the law with their Co-Chiefs of Staff about disclosing important details. Finn says, Jordan must have bigger priorities than tracking down the source who leaked the information for the article, and Jordan says, believe it or not, she can juggle several priorities at once. Portia asks, how much damage could acknowledging Port Charles might have a serial killer actually do to the investigation? but Jordan says, they won’t know until the damage is done. Remember when The Invader leaked Franco’s brain tumor, and Alexis tried to kill him, and almost killed Dante instead? She wanted to keep the perp guessing. Now this person has an edge, which they can exploit. A nurse tells Portia, this is for her, and hands her some papers. Portia says, it’s the test results from last night. This is Brando’s cause of death.

Selina says she hopes Brook and Chase don’t mind if she stays. She’s considering renting the club for a private party. She’d love to get a sense of the acoustics and how the music plays. Brook says, it’s up to Chase, and he says, whatever. He’s got to get used to an audience at some point. Selina thanks him, and sits down. Brook says, Chase hates her, and he asks where she got that. She says, he’s distracted, thinking about Sasha, and she’s dragging him to an audition that she doesn’t know if he wants. He says, is now the perfect time to sing? No, but does he hate her? Absolutely not. She asks if he’s sure. She know he wishes he could do something for Sasha right now. He says he can’t deny that, and she says, so they’ll go. Forget the audition, and go see Sasha. They’ll both feel better. She starts to leave, but he grabs her arm, and says, Sasha’s got Brando’s mom and Nina hovering over her. Him foisting himself on her might be more about him feeling useful than being of real use to her. Brook says, he won’t know until he tries, and he says, later. Right now, he wants to do something useful for her, for them. They kiss, and Chase sings a song I’d guess is called I’m Falling Into Place.  

Victor tells Lucy, it’s absolutely the right time for their lunch, but she says she doesn’t know if she’d be very good company. She’s so distracted worrying about Sasha. He says, fortunately he’s the master of distraction. He’ll keep her mind off these gruesome events, and focused on their shared interests; hers and his, and ways of increasing her profit potential. She says she’s always looking for a good corporate partner, and he says he thinks he can do a little better than that. Give him her undivided attention, and he may surprise her with a more than satisfactory Cassadine infusion… of capital of course (🍷). He holds out his hand.

Chase finishes his song, and everyone applauds. Brook asks what Curtis thinks, and Curtis says he thinks there’s a Savoy debut in Chase’s future. Chase says, really? and Brook says, of course (🍷) there is. He has the voice, and so much more. She kisses him, and Chase tells Selina, the kid’s got talent. She says, and he has taste, and he says, this private party of hers. The place is hers for 50… thousand. She asks if he accepts checks, but he says, sorry. Cash is king.

Valentin and Anna go to the Deception office, and Anna tells Maxie that they’re looking for Lucy, but she’s not in her office. Maxie says, they just missed her, and Valentin asks if Maxie knows where she went. Maxie tells him, they didn’t say, and Anna says, they? Maxie says, Lucy and Victor; they left together. Anna and Valentin look at each other.

Sonny says, he and Kristina’s mother only want what’s good for her, and she asks if what’s good for her includes her happiness. He says, of course (🍷) it does, and she asks if that includes Alexis too. Alexis asks, what kind of thing is that to say? and Kristina tells them, then the subject is closed. She doesn’t intend on working at Charlie’s until she dies, but right now, working here makes her happy. And she doesn’t intend on dying anytime soon – by crook or by hook. She stomps off, and Sonny tells Alexis, she’s all you. Alexis nods in agreement.

Jordan asks what the tests results say, and Finn wonders if they made the call on Brando’s cause of death. Portia says, the stab wound didn’t kill Brando. The weapon was laced with a toxin; a poison. She hands Jordan the papers.

Tomorrow, Jordan says she’s glad to hear she and Portia are both on the side of truth; Maxie asks what’s going on and how worried she should be; Nina tells Sonny, Drew’s investment is more than he’s letting on; and Carly says, if Peyton wants to do this the hard way, that’s fine with her.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

When we left last week, the women were headed to another bar at Kyle’s insistence. In the car, Kathy said, if she didn’t get in (referring to the dress code), she wouldn’t be mad. LisaR said, she’s Kathy-F***ing-Hilton. She can get in anywhere. I think that’s the crux of a lot of the problems with the world. Nobody should be able to get in anywhere on their name alone, unless they’ve come up with a cure for cancer or something equally important.

We see Aspen at peace, and the snow covered hills. It must know the women are packing to head home. Kyle asks if LisaR is almost ready, and in LisaR’s interview, she says, her head is in a fog after what happened last night. It’s worse than a hangover. They were at the club, and Kathy was having a meltdown. She’s never seen anything like this. She tells Kyle that her face is puffy; Aspen does a number on your filler. Kyle says, her face is puffy from crying, and we see a clip of her getting tissues from the bartender at Kemo Sabe. She tells LisaR that she cried at Kemo Sabe, then she cried talking to Erika. She can’t. In her interview, LisaR tells us, she’s not saying a lot. She’s still in shock. It was nothing she would have imagined coming from anyone in the group, let alone Kathy. Here’s where, were there a camera in my house, I would stare at it like Jim from The Office. In Kyle’s interview, she says, her sister doesn’t want to come out of her room. She can’t believe she’s leaving her sister behind in Aspen because she doesn’t want to go on the plane. If Kathy is this upset, somehow it will be her fault.

Everyone meets at the airport, and they get on the plane. Mauricio says he went skiing, and can’t believe he had to wait for them. LisaR says, after what she’s been through, she’s having a Bloody Mary. Erika says she doesn’t want to fight with Sutton, and Sutton says she doesn’t want to fight with Erika. Erika says, she can’t give Sutton the answers she wants, and when she screams out, it’s pure anger. She’s sorry to everybody on the receiving end. She’s f***ing mad because she doesn’t feel heard. In Sutton’s interview, she wonders why Erika is saying she’s sorry. Is the plane going down? They had good a conversation when they went snowmobiling, but can she trust it? She’s going to try, but she looked out the plane window for the smoke. Kyle says, Kathy was sleeping when they left. She’d texted, saying she wasn’t going on the plane. In Erika’s interview, she says, Kathy’s not on the plane because she had a breakdown in the nightclub, and they all saw. In Kyle’s interview, she says, everybody knows, and in Sutton’s interview, she says, Kathy asked everyone to do a conga line, but no one wanted to. The next thing she knew was Kathy was in her face, said she wanted to go home, and if Sutton didn’t go with her, she was not Kathy’s friend. In Crystal’s interview, she says, she didn’t see it, but there was a commotion. She’s known Kathy a long time, longer than most of the women, and knows how bad her behavior has been. In Diana’s interview, she says, she saw Kathy raging, screaming, mostly at Kyle. Kathy wanted to leave now, and Kyle said she wasn’t doing that; they just got here. In Dorit’s interview, she says, LisaR said she’d take Kathy home, and in LisaR’s interview, she says, it got worse in the sprinter (car). Kathy was screaming that she was going to take down NBC, Bravo, and take down the show. She was going to single-handedly ruin all of them. When they got back to Kyle’s house, it got even worse. Kathy threw her glasses on the floor, and was jumping on them, and pounding the walls. She said, she made Kyle, and she’d destroy Kyle and her family if it was the last thing she did. Why isn’t Bravo showing us this? I’d actually pay money to see this tirade. On the plane, Kyle says, she and her sisters grew up fighting. She and Kim would draw blood. In her interview, she says, LisaR was texting Erika a play-by-play, and she saw Erika’s phone. She didn’t want to go home. LisaR tells Kyle, they’ll have to talk about it at some point, and in her interview, she says, Kyle is more famous and successful than Kathy ever was. Clearly, Kathy is holding on to the anger. We see flashbacks of Mauricio talking about opening his own agency, but being concerned about the family; and Kathy telling Kyle that American Woman will show their mom in a bad light. LisaR says, it’s hard for Kathy to have it all, and then have her sister have more. LisaR tells Kyle not to worry about her sister. It’s not her problem.

LisaR and Sutton go shopping for Crystal’s birthday present, and we see a clip of Crystal inviting everyone to her 39th birthday party. She tells them, it’s going to be a Great Gatsby/Roaring 20s theme. Sutton and LisaR choose an orchid plant, and decide to have it delivered. Crystal tells Rob, the party is tomorrow, and says she’s going crazy. Rob says, it’s going to be fun, but Crystal says she has no idea. In Crystal’s interview, she says, the 20s was a beautiful era, and she wants to dress up with everybody and have a good time. She tells Rob that she’s scared. She wants to have fun, but in Aspen, there was fighting every night. In her interview, she says, they’re not going to ruin her birthday, and crosses her fingers. She suggests they get a shed to lock them in, just in case, and Rob says, they can be given time out. Kyle tells Portia that she’s unpacking then packing again. She asks Portia to find some good crystals for her. She’s going to need good energy after Aspen. In Kyle’s interview, she says she’s filming Halloween Ends. She’s going to miss Crystal’s birthday, but the last thing she wants to talk about is Aspen. Thank God she’ll be being chased by Michael Myers. She hasn’t seen or spoken to Kathy since Aspen. She thinks Kathy went from her house to a hotel, then back to L.A. She’d believed she and Kathy would never go to a bad place again. We flash back to the Reunion where Kathy was crying, and then they hugged and made up. She says she doesn’t know how she can fix this. Um… Pay for Kathy’s therapy? New pup Smokey chews on Kyle’s suitcase, then grabs a sweater, and runs out on the deck, where Kyle has to chase him around until she gets it back – with a hole in it. Once again. Pets, the great leveler. Even Kathy-F***ing-Hilton can’t do a damn thing about an unruly pet.

Erika and Dorit go to a chocolate place, and Dorit says, it would be her five-year-old’s dream come true. Erika says, it smells like heaven, and the manager (or whoever he is; I missed it) says, the thing with chocolate is, no matter what you’re going through, chocolate will make you happy. Erika says, unfortunately, she knows that, and in Dorit’s interview, she says she wanted Erika to have some fun, and what better way to lift her spirits than chocolate? In Erika’s interview, she says, chocolate is like therapy. Real therapy is expensive. She just got her bill. They put hats on to cover their hair for making chocolate, and the manager says, they’re Lucy and Ethel. They dip Oreos in pink chocolate, and make chocolate hearts. Afterward, Dorit tells the manager, their girlfriend is going to be 39, and asks if he can whip up something super special. He says, anything for them. Dorit says she knows Erika must have seen Garcelle on The Real, and Erika says, it was devastating. We see a clip of the show where Garcelle says, giving up the earrings would be a way of saying she has compassion. Dorit says she was talking to Kyle, and it seemed like if she chose to support Erika, in some way she was supporting the alleged crimes. We see a clip of Kyle telling Dorit, what Erika said was disturbing and wrong, and wondering if Dorit agrees with Erika. In her interview, Erika says she can’t deal with these chicks who wonder, what will the neighbors think? Sometimes the ones that are doing the best are hiding the most. She tells Dorit that she’s tired of being the whipping boy while others display not their best behavior. Dorit asks who she’s talking about, and in Erika’s interview, she says, this town has different rules for the hyper-elite. Kathy’s family has a lot of strength, wealth, and connections. People think twice if they want to challenge them.Erika tells Dorit, they’ve seen each other at their worst, and she’s heard things that aren’t the best. If they thinks she’s their whipping boy for the entire group, they have another thing coming.

Everyone gets ready for Crystal’s party, and Erika tells makeup artist Preston and hairstylist Clyde that she misses the old days. They toast, cheers to old school. In Sutton’s interview, she says she doesn’t really like costume parties, but she has an authentic 1920s dress, so she’s kind of excited. Garcelle tells her team that there might be dancing or there might be hair pulling. Sheree comes over while Garcelle is still upstairs, and signs her name on the gift card, saying, this is from us. Garcelle comes down the stairs, dressed in pants with suspenders that say Chanel, dark shirt, and a fedora. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, her inspiration was Josephine Baker. She feels strong, glamorous, and don’t mess with me. Sheree tells Garcelle that she kind of signed her name on the card, and Garcelle says she will f*** Sheree up. She says, they have a lot to talk about. They discussed the $750K earrings on The Real, and she taped it before Aspen. We flash back to Garcelle and Crystal talking about it prior to the taping. She tells Sheree that she hasn’t seen Erika since then, but she thought Erika was wearing the earrings in Aspen. Sheree says, it would be a hard thing to give up, but Garcelle says, stop it right now. You have other stuff. Sheree tells Garcelle, she’s just saying it would be hard, and asks what the consensus was. Garcelle says, hers was, give up the earrings. She can’t imagine Erika hasn’t seen it. In her interview, Garcelle says, everybody is talking about it, but she won’t say anything unless Erika brings it up. She says, it’s Crystal’s birthday, they’re going to celebrate, and they look the part.

Needless to type, the party looks fabulous; food and drink everywhere, a magician, a crescent moon to take a photo with, or on. In Crystal’s interview, she says, she and Rob have an affinity for the 20s. Rob had the same thing for his birthday, but it was a huge party. Because of covid, they minimized the group. She wants to leave the tension behind and give good party. Crystal is dressed in a traditional embroidered Chinese dress with a mandarin collar, but most of the women are flappers. Erika looks like a Ziegfeld Follies girl, and LisaR shows up in a tux. In LisaR’s interview, she says she wanted to be here for Crystal, but it’s hard to get past what she went through with Kathy. She’s in shock. She’s putting on a brave face, but she has PTSD. Please. Like she hasn’t given anyone PTSD. It’s not like Kathy hit her, and a fit is pitched at least every other episode. She should get a load of RHONJ. Kathy arrives, surprising everyone, and makes the rounds, acting like everything is fine. In her interview, LisaR says she’s surprised to see Kathy. She didn’t think Kathy would show, but she’s here and decked out to the nines, acting like nothing happened. It’s so f***ing weird. They all sit down for a moment, but before it gets too awkward, Crystal tells everyone to go down to the parlor, which is what she’s now calling the finished basement. We see before photos, and not a big shock, it’s amazing. In Crystal’s interview, she says, it wasn’t a small project. She doesn’t know the exact amount – she chose not to look – but they were in budget, and she’s proud of that. In her interview, LisaR says, it’s excruciatingly difficult to watch Kathy act like nothing happened. It’s building in her, and she’s super uncomfortable. If everyone knew what Kathy had said about them, they wouldn’t be happy. It’s so f***ed up on every level. We see Rob’s Wurlitzer jukebox, and he says, it’s from 1942, and rare, since they were only made for a year. He paid $30K for it, and considering how pristine it looks, I’m thinking that’s not bad. I also think Quentin Tarantino has that same jukebox.

Erika has a mint julip, and asks if Sutton wants to try it, but Sutton says she doesn’t drink bourbon even though she’s Southern. She takes a sip, and is like, yeah, no. In her interview, she says, it’s going well with Erika. Maybe the Aspen air is still with them. Maybe there’s not enough oxygen and Erika’s not thinking straight. Erika talks to Rob about reconstruction on the house, and tells him that the house she lived in with Tom was built in 1928, so she knows how it is. We flash back to her and Tom discussing redoing the grounds. She tells Sutton that she went by it the other day. It was empty, and the windows and drapes were open. She sat in her car and looked at it. She thought, all right, and drove on. There’s no returning, but she knew that when she left. She’d catalogued it as a chapter in her life, and she’s closed the book. We flash back to Erika giving the women a tour of her house, and she tells Sutton that she can’t be attached to things like that. In Erika’s interview, she says she can’t stay in a place of loss and grief. She has to transcend the negativity, the pain and suffering, and criticism. Let it go and go on to the next chapter.

Rob gets everyone’s attention, and Crystal says, it’s another year of celebrating with them, and it’s special. This is the last year of her thirties. LisaR says, what a brag, and in Diana’s interview, she says, Crystal hasn’t even had her first Botox yet. See you in ten years. I love how it’s a given she will get Botox. Crystal thanks them from her heart, and blows out the candle on the cake, which is decorated like part of a crime scene; a knife sticking out of the top, and blood cascading down it. Everyone gets a beautiful cookie decorated with their name, and Dorit asks Garcelle about The Real. Garcelle says, it’s her job, and in Dorit’s interview, she wonders if Garcelle feels guilty about throwing a grenade masquerading as a place of concern. LisaR tells Crystal that she loves her, but needs to go home. She’s still upset after what happened in Aspen, and can’t sit there. In LisaR’s interview, she says she’s trying, but she feels like she’s seen the devil, and its name is Kathy Hilton. Crystal asks if it’s that bad, and LisaR nods.

In LisaR’s interview, she says, Kathy is polished, a loving mother, a socialite, and a pillar of society. To hear these things coming out of her mouth… She can’t believe anyone would think, feel, or say that about their own family. She leaves, and Erika asks Garcelle if they can talk. Garcelle says, absolutely, and Erika says, she would have loved a heads up about The Real. She knows it was shot before Aspen, and had thought they had a nice time. Garcelle says, they did, and Erika says she thought they’d connected at dinner. Garcelle says, they did, and Erika says, they had a nice moment snowmobiling, and Garcelle could have said, hey girl, I want you to know what’s going to happen. When she saw it, she thought, here we go again. She’d rather find out from the source. Garcelle says she obviously hurt Erika’s feelings and she gets it. She’s sorry. Crystal comes back, and tells them LisaR left. Everyone is like, what? and Garcelle says, without saying goodbye? Crystal tells them, she said she had to go. She was still shaken up about what happened in Aspen. She doesn’t know what that means, but LisaR looked like she saw a ghost. In Kathy’s interview, she says, LisaR has gone through a lot, losing her mom, but she doesn’t believe what she shared with LisaR in Aspen would upset her. LisaR listened, and by no means was there any indication she was upset. If she was the toe [sic] that broke the camel’s back, she apologizes. Kathy says, LisaR is tough; they shouldn’t worry. Garcelle asks Erika to call LisaR, and Erika goes into another room, saying, in the 20s, this would be a soup can and a rope. Not quite. Apparently, she’s never seen Downton Abbey. Diana follows her, and Erika calls, but LisaR doesn’t pick up. Diana says, that’s not like her, and Erika says she thinks LisaR is mad that some behavior might get swept under the rug. They all drank and had a good time, but then Kathy got upset and wanted to leave. She saw Kathy yelling, and LisaR took her home. She thinks LisaR should tell the group what went on. In Erika’s interview, she says, LisaR was texting her as she took Kathy home. She reads some of the texts, and LisaR says she went into the sprinter, and Kathy had an absolute meltdown. Then, after they got back, LisaR texted that she’s never seen or heard anything like it. Anger, screaming, throwing things, crying. Diana tells Erika, they’ve all said ugly things, and Erika says, everybody is quick to condemn her behavior, but if they talk about her behavior, they’re going to talk about everybody in the group.  

Diana says, the Kathy she knows is put together, but not in Aspen. She was raging. She didn’t know who this person was. Erika says she doesn’t know what’s going on, and in her interview, she says, Kathy did what she did in the nightclub. They all saw it. All Kathy has to do is, admit it, apologize, and move on. Diana says, they all saw the wrath, but LisaR saw more wrath. Erika says, the sprinter wrath, then the home wrath. She thinks she feels torn. Diana says, she doesn’t want to get between two sisters. You never want to get between family. Erika says, it’s not about being sisters; it has to do with being Kathy. Erika says, LisaR has her own story, and Diana wonders why she’s not here. She makes clucking noises, and tells Erika, just saying. In Diana’s interview, she says she’s not used to a chicken LisaR. She doesn’t want to be judge and jury, but they don’t know what went down. Everyone should be held to the same standard, and bad behavior should be called out. Everyone else decides to call it a night, except for Dorit, who sits with Erika and Diana. Erika says she was having a conversation with Diana; they were talking about Aspen and Kathy’s behavior. She was running in and out, being angry. Dorit asks if they think that’s why LisaR, and Erika says, LisaR took Kathy home. It got worse in the sprinter and in Kyle’s house. Dorit says she’s never seen Kathy like that, and in her interview, Erika says, be careful of those who have a lot to protect. She has nothing to protect. She says she doesn’t know why LisaR is afraid; they’re not here to protect anybody, and she certainly hasn’t been protected. The game turns on everybody, and it’s Kathy’s turn now. Dorit says she’s afraid if Kathy is outed, Kyle will suffer the most, and Erika shrugs.

Next time, a Pretty Mess hair event; Elton John; LisaR says she’ll never forget it; Kyle feels like Kathy hates her; and LisaR tells Kathy that she’s not getting away with it.

🗯 I dunno. Maybe Kathy’s anger isn’t that far-fetched. She sent Paris to that pseudo school where they beat her. There must have been a reason Paris never told anyone until she was well into her adulthood. It doesn’t sound like Kathy was the best at parenting, but we really don’t know why. I can’t imagine she’d keep her temper under wraps at home where she can actually be herself.

🐉 This Week’s Throne Goes To…

What happened in Dragonstone this week.

⚰️ Deadly Tale…

This one was pretty creepy. The moral: Maybe you’d better listen when an old lady tells you to get out of her house.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1060992/tales-of-the-walking-dead-finale-recap-la-dona/

💃🏽 Cha-cha-cha-ing Off…

Let’s meet tomorrow for soap, Charm, and audio. Until then, stay safe, stay standing your ground, and stay not mispronouncing scone in England. If you do, you’re sent to the Tower of London, and your head’s cut off.

August 19, 2022 – Austin’s Cousin Is In Town, Mason, Leaving, Wedding Aftershock, Shahnanigans, Cheshire Wives, Wedding Album, Dead Tales, Reviewing Dragons, Lucky Amount of Quotes & Time

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Cody says, Britt has questions about him? Good, because he has questions about her too. Which is why it’s good to have date number two. They can learn more about each other. Britt says, much more, and he says, for starters, how does she feel about anchovies on pizza? She says, he’s assuming she likes pizza, and he says, everybody likes pizza. She says, that’s the problem with assumptions. Everybody doesn’t parachute into a pool, then punch a mother’s boyfriend, and announce they’re the son of said boyfriend’s dead wife. He says, now she knows something about him, and she says, he asked about her father before. Why does Cody keep asking about him?

Outside Kelly’s, Alexis says, even though she provides headlines for The Invader, the only headlines she wants to know about right now are from her girls. She, Molly, Kristina, and Sam sit at an outside table, and she asks, who’s first? Molly says, Kristina; she’s got the best news. Alexis says, goodie. What’s up? Kristina says she was promoted to manager at Charlie’s, and Alexis says, congratulations. Well done. Kristina thanks her, and says she’s pretty happy about it. Alexis asks if she sees much of her dad, and Kristina says, he doesn’t own the pub anymore, but he comes in fairly often, so it’s good to spend time with him. Alexis says, even though he’s with Nina? and Kristina says, is she happy dad’s in a relationship with Nina? No, and she was clear about that. She also told him that she’s in no position to throw stones, and he appreciated that, so it doesn’t really effect their relationship. Alexis says, look at her adulting, and hugs Kristina, saying, her baby’s all grown up. Molly’s turn. How’s it going in the DA’s office? Molly says, as Alexis knows, ADA Arden maneuvered her off Trina Robinson’s case because she felt Molly was biased. Kristina says, which is untrue and unfair, but isn’t it a silver lining that Molly doesn’t have to try someone in TJ’s extended family? Molly says, definitely a silver lining, but she hates that no one gives the system a chance to work the way it actually should. As a prosecutor, it’s her job, or should have been her job, to make the strongest case against Trina, using the facts for support. Then Trina’s defense attorney – Diane in this case – makes the strongest defense, and the jury gets to decide. But Jennifer Arden wanted to prove a point. She followed the letter, but not the spirit with her case. At least it ended with the right verdict… this time. Kristina says, tell mom what she’s thinking, and Molly says, about following in Alexis’s footsteps and going over to criminal defense. Alexis says, whatever Molly does, Molly has her full support, and Molly thanks her. Alexis says, Sam’s turn. She’s awfully quiet, so is no news good news?

Dante walks in as Olivia is on the phone, asking if they remembered to order the special picnic dessert… Okay. Also, make absolutely sure that Leo’s donkey head is just what they discussed… Perfect. Thank you. She’ll be in touch. Dante asks what that was all about, and she says, the first annual Quartermaine picnic to support the GH Children’s wing is tomorrow, and her frozen desserts, the pièce de résistance. He says, with a donkey’s head thrown in? and she says, naturally. Leo’s summer theater camp is doing a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He’s playing Bottom. He says, the character that turns into a donkey. He must be so excited. He gets to play the donkey. He’s going to kill that. Does he need help with running lines? She says, he already has somebody helping him get into the role, and Dante says, let him guess; Chase? She says, Dante’s friend Cody.

Spinelli frets about management checking the chlorine level in the pool, and Maxie tells him, live dangerously. Take the plunge. He can start by forgetting about Britt, and finding someone who’s a better fit. He asks who she has in mind, and she says, no one specifically, but generally, she should be a match for his heart and his intelligence, have an appreciation for his unique perspective. A sense of humor couldn’t hurt, and it’s not absolutely necessary she be into sci/fi, but a basic knowledge of the Star Wars universe would help. So no, he’s not going to meet her at a business conference or whatever, but that’s what computer programs are for, right? She still doesn’t understand why he won’t try his own algorithm, and he says, there’s no need. His brief infatuation with Dr. Westbourne is already fading. He’s put her in the rearview mirror, so to speak. She asks if he’s been holding out on her. Who’s the lucky lady?

Finn tells Violet, she has her sunblock on, but it’s still not good to get too much sun, and she puts on her sunhat. Gregory says, translation: I know what I’m doing, dad, and Finn says, of course (🍷) she does. He situates Violet in her chaise, and gives her a book. She thanks him, and he tells Gregory that he can’t help it. He loves Violet. He told Elizabeth that he loves her. Gregory says, big step, and Finn says, that’s why he can’t look the other way, even if she hates him for it.

Elizabeth looks at the crushed tube in her bloody palm, when TJ walks in. He asks, what happened? She says she was examining Scotty’s nose… He asks how she cut her hand, but she says she doesn’t know. She clutched the tube, and it just seemed to shatter. TJ asks her to let him take a look, but she says, it’s nothing. He says, it’s a nasty cut, and there are glass shards embedded… She says she can take care of it. She’s sure he has patients to deal with. He says he does, and she’s the first one. Has this ever happened before? She asks what he means, and he says he knows she took some personal time for stress. Did Scotty say something to upset her?

Gregory asks if Elizabeth said she loved Finn back, and Finn says, she did. That’s before he blew it all to hell. Gregory asks how Finn managed that, and Finn says, there’s something going on with Elizabeth beyond the sleeping pills she was taking. Something that involves her parents, maybe her father. Gregory says, let him guess; she wasn’t forthcoming. Finn says, not in the slightest, and Gregory asks if that doesn’t tell him maybe he should drop the subject. Finn asks who he’s talking to. Isn’t Gregory the one who told him to analyze a problem from all sides, and come to a rational conclusion? Gregory says, not when it comes to the heart. There’s nothing rational about emotions. Finn says, now you tell me. There’s a million possibilities, but everything tells him that Elizabeth’s issue involves her family, especially since she keeps acting like they don’t exist. Violet asks if Aunt Elizabeth is seeing ghosts again.

Maxie says, if Spinelli doesn’t fess up, she’s going to throw him in the pool, but he asks what he has to confess. She says, if he’s over Britt, who is he pining for? and he says, a luminous creature; a beacon of warmth and intelligence… with a working knowledge of Star Wars. She asks if they know how he feels, but he says he’s only been worshipping her from afar. If things were different… Austen comes in, and Maxie says, oh my God, throwing her arms around him and kissing him.

Kristina says, they’re all concerned for Spencer, but why would Sam want to talk about him and not Dante? Molly says she kind of has the same feeling. Is everything okay with them? She just wants Sam and Dante to be as happy as she and TJ are. Sam says, she and Dante are very happy… They were happy, until… until he suggested they move in together.

Dante tells Olivia, last he checked, Cody wasn’t a drama coach. How’s he going to help Leo? She says she doesn’t know. He knows about horses and donkeys and stuff. Anyway, Dante should see Leo up on the stage, prancing around and braying. She’s never seen that kid more confident. He says he’s happy Leo and Cody have made fast friends, and he asks if she needs any help with this picnic. She says, he could find that embarrassing apron, and help her with the grill. Before she forgets, she saved seats in the front row for him and Sam for Leo’s play. He says, cool, sounds good, and she says, really? Because his face is telling a different story. He says, it’s fine, ma, and she says, now she’s really worried. He tells her, he said, everything is fine, but she says, Dante Angelo Falconari. From the time he was four years old, she knows when she hears him say, it’s fine, ma, in that tone of voice, she knows two things. A, it’s not fine, and B, he’s trying to hide something from her. Sometimes it’s something completely innocuous, like the time he broke Aunt Cia’s lamp. He says, that damn lamp again. It was hideous, and he was seven. She says, did the family offer up a silent prayer of gratitude for the lamp? Yes, but that’s not the point. The point is, she heard a crash, she asked, what happened? and he said, it’s fine, ma. Just like the time he got drunk for the first time, or the first time he got shot. He should just stop ducking and dodging the question, and tell her what’s really going on. He says he thinks he messed up with Sam.

Cody says, whoa there. He mentioned Britt’s father once, she shut him down, and he never mentioned him again. She says, he failed to mention their fathers knew one another, and he asks how she found out. She says, her mother, and he asks what Obrecht said exactly. Britt says, that Cesar Faison and Leopold Taub had – air quotes – dealings – end air quotes – with one another, and he says, isn’t it weird that their fathers knew each other? She says, weird doesn’t even begin to cover it. He could have told her that from the start. He says he barely knew her. Hell, he didn’t even know Leopold Taub was his father until a few months ago. At the same time he got poleaxed with the news that Dominique was his mother, and her mother’s schnitzel got a fortune that should have been his. She says, as he knows, that fortune belongs to a bunch of beluga whales thanks to Scotty’s daughter Serena. So he can kiss it goodbye. He says, that’s harsh, and she says, he wants harsh? Let’s talk about her family tree. Does he remember when she treated his cracked ribs after he received that beatdown outside of The Savoy? He says he’s probably not going to forget that, and she says, then does he also remember asking her about her parents? He was particularly interested in her father, and – what did he call it? – his legacy. He says, her point? and she says, her point is, why didn’t he tell her then that his father and her father not only knew each other, they did business together. What else is he keeping from her? He asks if she’s proud being Cesar Faison’s daughter, because he looked up Leopold Taub, and he’s not proud either. That whole cartel thing he had going on, and yeah, Cesar Faison was listed as one of his members. So when Dante told him that she was Faison’s daughter… She says, he smelled an opportunity, but he says, no; he smelled trouble. His first instinct was to run as far away from her as possible, and never look back. She asks, what stopped him? and he says, gratitude, for her scraping him up in that alley, giving him his 50 back, driving him all the way to Dante’s… Plus, he liked the smell of her perfume. Gardenias, right? She says, camellias, and he says, close. He liked her crooked smile, and the way she always sees the glass as half full – of strychnine. She asks if that’s a compliment or a cheap shot, and he says he just liked her. But if that’s not good enough, he’ll stick to horses. She can go back to Society Set-Ups and see if Zelda can do better next time. He brings a box into the stables, and when he comes back out, she’s still there. He asks if something is keeping her, and she says, her mother said the matchmaker may be more accurate than she thought.

Olivia says, she thought Dante and Sam were in a good place, and he says, they are. He should have left it there. She says, as opposed to… and he says, as opposed to asking Sam to move in with him. She says, it makes sense, all the time they spend together, and he says, that’s what he was thinking. They spend all this time together, they like each other, they have fun, and when the kids are together, it’s like the most perfect thing in the world. Sam thinks he’s rushing it; that he has to work through some stuff. She asks, what kind of stuff? and he says, like feelings. She says, like his feelings for Sam, or…? He says, for Lulu, and she says, he knows she loves Lulu. She prays everyday that Lulu will come out of that coma, but he’s moved on with his life. Lulu moved on with her life before the explosion. She was going to marry that teacher, wasn’t she? He says, she was. Dustin handed him the ring to give to her before he passed away. She says, Sam’s got to be aware of that, that Lulu was moving on with someone else. He says, it’s not Lulu’s feelings Sam’s talking about. She thinks he’s papered over his feelings. She says, has he? and he says, there’s a big part of him that thinks he should have been able to save her. Olivia hugs him, and says, her wonderful sweet boy. He didn’t put Lulu in that coma. That was Cyrus Renault’s fault. Even if he could go back in time, it’s still Cyrus Renault’s fault, with Julian Jerome doing his dirty work. He says, if he had just gotten there earlier, but she says, don’t do that. If he’d gotten to The Floating Rib earlier, she would have lost him too. No. They’re living in the here and now; that’s what matters. What matters are his feelings for Sam.  

Molly says, so Sam and Dante are moving in together, but Sam says, she and Dante are not moving in together. Kristina says, why not? and Sam says, like she told Spinelli, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Kristina says, moving in together doesn’t fix a bad relationship, it makes a good one better. Molly says, she and TJ had their doubts about sharing everything, even the rent… but Alexis says, let her alone. Kristina says, they’re not pressuring Sam. She’s in a committed relationship with a loving, supportive partner; not everyone gets that lucky. Sam says she knows she hit the jackpot, and Molly asks, what’s the problem? Sam asks if they can not talk about this, and Alexis says, absolutely. Now tell her what’s going on.

Maxie says she thought Austin was going to be gone for days, but he says he got through his business quickly. He tells Spinelli, in fact, he got through his business at warp speed. He came back to be with Maxie, and she says, he did? He says she sounds surprised, and she says, she thought all that talk about family… He says, what talk about family? and she glances at Spinelli, and says, never mind. The important thing is, he’s back. He says, he is. Back for good. Spinelli rolls his eyes.

Finn asks what makes Violet think Aunt Elizabeth is seeing ghosts, and she tells him, he just said,  they don’t exist. Gregory says, her daddy was just talking about her grandpa and step-grandma and how she never sees them. Violet says, okay, and goes back to her book. Finn thanks Gregory, and says, he has to get back to GH. Does Gregory mind? Gregory says, no, and Finn says, everything he needs is right there. Gregory says he’s getting kind of hungry; is Violet? She says she’s so hungry, and Finn tell her to be good for grandpa. He’ll see her back home. They exchange I love yous, and he says, eskimo? They rub noses and he leaves.  

TJ says, he’s let Epiphany know he’s sending Elizabeth home after the x-ray. She should not hold a steering wheel. He’ll call Finn. She says, don’t bother him; she’ll call a Ride Share. They leave the exam room, and in the hallway, he says he’s calling radiation to make sure they get the x-ray right away. She says, he’s very thorough, and he says he thinks the word she’s avoiding is annoying, maybe even obnoxious. She says she’s the one who should apologize for being less than cooperative, and he says he gets it. For a lot of people, it’s an automatic reflex; you’re fine, keep going. He thinks on some level, it’s a survival mechanism, because we’re afraid if we slow down and admit we’re hurt, we won’t get started again. She says she appreciates the we, and he says he’s definitely been through it, and will again, but if he goes too far, hopefully there will be someone to pull him back. He picks up the phone, and says he needs to order an x-ray for a GH staff person… As he talks, Elizabeth looks at the door to the stairs. She goes to it, opens, it, and stands on the landing. She looks down the stairs, and falls forward. It’s all in her head, and TJ asks if she’s okay. She says, absolutely, and he says, radiology can take her now. They leave, and she gives the door one last look.

Cody says, he had quite the interaction with Britt’s mother, and Britt says, when she twisted Cody’s arm behind his back for punching Scotty? He says he can see her mother’s no pushover. He bets Cesar Faison met his match with Liesl Obrecht. She says, no. Don’t let her black belt in karate fool him. Deep down, her mother is a born romantic. She’s actually the one who signed Britt up with Society Set-Ups. He says, remind him to thank her, and Britt says, he punched her boyfriend in the nose. She doubts her mother is interested in a thanks from him. She did suggest they have something in common. He says, really? Tell him something. Did her dad ever mention his?

Austin thanks Spinelli for keeping an eye on Maxie while he was gone. He hates thinking of her alone. Spinelli says, that makes them even. He hates thinking of her with the wrong people. Maxie says, Austin’s timing is perfect. Tomorrow is the first annual Quartermaine picnic for the Children’s wing at GH. Spinelli says, given Austin’s resentment of the Quartermaines, he may choose to skip the picnic, in which case he offers himself as escort to Maxinista. Austin says, that’s very kind of him, but he can handle the Quartermaines if Maxinista can. She says, how about if both of them escort her to the picnic? Mason suddenly bounds in, and asks where Austin’s manners are. Isn’t Austin going to introduce him to his friends?

Sam asks how she can move in with Dante when Lulu is still so much a presence in that house. She doesn’t go there often, but when she does, all she sees are her kitchen, her books, her furniture, or at least the furniture they picked out together. Alexis says, maybe he’s leaving those things around for Rocco’s sake; for Rocco’s comfort. Sam says, fair enough, and it all makes sense, but it’s still really awkward for her. Alexis says, she gets it. For what it’s worth (🍷), she hasn’t seen Sam this happy in a long time. Whatever Dante’s doing, he’s bringing out a peacefulness in Sam that no one else has managed to. And Sam brings joy to Dante’s life, because no one’s seen him this joyful since he came back to Port Charles. She’s pretty certain he’s not seeing Lulu when he sees Sam. Sam’s phone dings, and she says she’s got to go. She tells Alexis that she loves her, and Alexis says she loves Sam more. Sam leaves, passing Gregory and Violet on their way in. Violet says, that’s the lady in the park who grandpa hit with the frisbee, and Alexis says, that’s her.  

Finn asks, what happened to Elizabeth’s hand? and she says, it’s just a cut. TJ says, according to the x-ray, they got all the shards, and she tells Finn, she was just holding an empty collection tube, and it shattered. TJ says he has to check on a patient, and asks if Finn minds waiting until Elizabeth’s Ride Share comes. Finn says, sure, and TJ tells Elizabeth, go home and rest. She says she will, and he leaves. Finn says, forget about the Ride Share; he’ll drive her home himself. She says, what about his patients? and he says he’ll get someone to cover. It just shattered in her hand? She says, it wasn’t an accident. He deserves to know the truth. They go into an exam room, and she says she wasn’t watching what she was doing. He asks, what was distracting her? and she says, for one thing, walking in on him and Terry talking behind her back. He says, that’s his fault, not Terry’s, and they didn’t mean to upset her. She says, he upset her. He doesn’t think she’s capable of  taking care of herself. Why doesn’t he trust her? He says, he’d trust her with his life, but he’s not exactly clear on how just mentioning her family is a violation of that trust. He means no disrespect by that, but he wants to know how to fix things between them. She says, there’s nothing to fix, and he says, if that was true, she’d tell him what really caused her to cut her hand.

Kristina asks Gregory and Violet to join them. She and Molly would love to her all about the frisbee. Violet says, it was an accident, and Gregory thanks them, but says, he and Violet will find another table. Alexis says, don’t be silly. She always enjoys Violet’s company. He tells her, Finn told him that she said he was pestering her, and she asks if she actually used the word pester. He says, according to Finn. He vigorously denied it of course (🍷), but if that’s how she feels, he’ll pester her no longer. Alexis says, don’t go, and tells him to pull up chairs for him and Violet. After all, it’s not every day you get to have lunch with the Davis girls.

Dante tells Olivia, when he asked Sam to move in with him, in retrospect, it probably did catch her off-guard. They were at the Hatchet Ranch… She says, that’s romantic, and he says, it was just one of those things. He’d been thinking about it so much, and he thought Sam had to be on the same page, or at least thinking about it too. When she didn’t say yes immediately, he was thrown off. He backed off. He didn’t want to pressure her. Olivia says she thinks she knows where this is going, and Dante says, they talked it out; at least he thinks they did. He told her that he loved her, and he’d wait as long as she wanted to wait to move in together. He thought they were good. She says, but then the question of whether to move in with each other or not grows from this small manageable thing to this giant elephant that’s taken up permanent residence, not just in the room, but in his psyche. Probably Sam’s psyche too. He says, he doesn’t want to mess this up. He feels like he did, and doesn’t know what to do next. She asks if he’s open to a suggestion, and he says, please. She tells him, stick to basics. What does he want to happen with Sam? He says he wants them to have a life to together with their kids. They don’t need to live in the same place; it doesn’t matter to him. Olivia pats his chest, and says, stick with the feelings; it’s all about the feelings. The living arrangements, all that can wait. It’s all about the feelings. He says he loves her. He wants to trust her and support her, and try to make her as happy as she’s made him. Sam comes in.

Austin says, this is his cousin Mason, and Mason says, country cousin from Pautuck. Maxie says, Austin didn’t tell her that he had a cousin coming into town, but Mason says, don’t blame Austin. He’s a hot-shot doctor. Sometimes he forgets where he’s from, even though the family’s so proud of him. Spinelli asks, what brings him to their fair city? and Mason says, family, while Austin says, business. Mason says, family business. They were hoping Cousin Austin would have stayed longer. Austin says, he did what he had to do when he was there. Now he’s here in his home, Port Charles.

Britt says, whatever unholy alliance her father made with Cody’s ended before they were born. Unless there’s something else he’s not telling her. He says, their fathers knowing each other is just a random coincidence; something they have in common. But isn’t she the least bit curious about what Leopold Taub and Cesar Faison were up to? She says, he never knew his father. Unfortunately, she knew hers, and she’s been trying to live him down ever since. So if he wants to go digging for skeletons in that closet, he can do it alone. She starts to leave, but he grabs her hand, and says, she’s right. Whatever their fathers did, died with them. He’s card player… She says, not a very good one, and he says, it depends on the players, and the game. He lets her hand go, and says, his point is, he always factors the odds and figures them out. What are the odds that on that day, he would parachute into that pool… She says, and almost drown her, but he says, she got a little wet. And if he didn’t say it then, he’s saying it now – she looked gorgeous. She says, now he’s trying to flatter her, and he says, he thinks she looks good soaking wet; so sue him. She says she considered it, and he tells her, just keep in mind, he can’t afford a lawyer, so there’s no way he could pay for the damages. She says, don’t worry. She’s not going to drag him to court, and he says he knew she couldn’t be that hard-hearted. They laugh, and she says, that GIF of her climbing out of the pool is just now coming down everyone’s feed. She doesn’t need to draw more attention to it. He says, so he’s being saved by her self-interest, and she says, bingo, but he says he doesn’t buy it.

Olivia says she has Quartermaine picnic stuff to see to, and tells Dante that she’ll see him later. She tells Sam that it’s nice to see her, and leaves. Sam says, so the Quartermaine picnic fundraiser is tomorrow? and Dante says, his mom’s been going crazy with that. Plus she has Leo’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; he’s playing Bottom. He’s pretty excited about that. She says, and him? He says, that depends on whether or not she’s going with him. I have to mention that A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a pretty ambitious play for a summer theater camp in Leo’s age group.

Alexis says, that was delicious. Anyone for desserts? Violet says, ice cream sundaes for all of us, and Alexis says she likes Violet’s style. She liked it the minute they met. Violet says, as much as Alexis likes her grandpa? and Gregory apologizes for his granddaughter; she apparently has no filter. Alexis says, don’t apologize at all. And to answer Violet’s question, Alexis likes her grandpa… ‘s writing. She doesn’t always agree with it, but it’s never boring. Violet says, never. Alexis should hear one of his bedtime stories.

Spinelli asks how long Mason is in town, and Mason say, it depends on his cousin. Austin tells him, he thinks they said all they needed to say back in Pautuck, but Mason says, not quite. He can’t leave until Austin understands how much he means to his family back home. Austin knows how much they expect from him. Besides, he was hoping Austin would show him the sights in Port Charles. Although he doesn’t have to look much further than this lovely lady. Spinelli says, this lovely lady’s not on the tour, and not reading the room at all, Maxie says she has an idea. Why doesn’t Mason come to the Quartermaine picnic tomorrow? Austin says he’s sure Mason has better things to do, but Mason says he can’t think of one. He hears the Quartermaines are practically royalty. Too bad cuz here missed out on the family jewels.

Elizabeth says, Finn is right; it wasn’t just an accident. He asks, what happened? and she says she was thinking about all the time he’s wasted worrying about her; time they’ll never get back. She just got so angry, she crushed the tube without realizing it. He says he knows what it’s like to keep that kind of anger inside. Is there any chance that’s only part of it? Could the anger be about something else, something in her past, something she barely remembers? She tells him, stick to infectious diseases, and leave the psychiatry to Doc.

Austin says he’s made peace with his father’s family, and Mason says, that’s their Austin. Some folks say money buys happiness, but Austin was raised right. Austin says, thanks, and suggests he and Maxie get out of here. Spinelli tells Maxie, Georgie, James, and Bailey Lou are with her parents, but Mac and Felicia aren’t going to want to babysit all night. Can they talk childcare before she leaves? Maxie tells Austin, one second, and they’ll go, and steps away with Spinelli. Austin tells Mason, there’s no way he’s going to that picnic, but Mason says, watch me.

Alexis says, who knew the eminent Professor Chase was capable of blushing? but he says he doesn’t blush. Violet says, yes he does. He blushed when daddy saw his name in The Invader, and said he was famous. Alexis says, he was famous already academically; he now has a wider audience. Gregory says he wasn’t looking for fame, just for fairness in journalism, and Alexis says, it’s okay to enjoy some attention. Everyone likes attention. He says, he’s not everyone, and she says, that’s for sure.  

Elizabeth asks how many times she has to tell Finn; she’s fine. Now she has to meet her Ride Share. She tells him, let’s not fight anymore. She really hates it. She kisses him, and he says he hates it too. She leaves, and Finn flashes back to Gregory saying, if he disregards Elizabeth’s wishes, it could cost him the relationship; and him saying, he could stand losing her if he knew she would be okay in the end. He makes a call, and says, this is Dr. Finn for Dr. Webber. Is she available?… Yes. Tell her Hamilton Finn called. He needs a consult with Dr. Webber about someone they have in common.

Sam says, of course (🍷) she’ll go to Leo’s play, and Dante says, cool. His mom said she’d get them good seats. She says, Olivia is going to worry about seats after everything she’s got to do tomorrow? and he says, speaking of tomorrow… and she says, she told him, of course (🍷) she’ll go to the picnic. They both start talking, and she says, him first. He says, they don’t have to rush through this. They can just take it slow. They’ll know when the time is right, and just take it slow like she wanted to. She says, yeah, and hugs him.

Cody says, Britt wants to come off as selfish and uncaring, but it’s just not true. She says, yes it is, and he asks, then why did she help him out in that alley behind The Savoy? Why didn’t she just pick up his last 50 and walk off? She says she wishes she did, and he says, really? She says, no, but he was pathetic, crawling on his hands and knees, all bruised and broken. He says he never got to thank her properly for that rescue, so let him do it now. She says, how? and he says he’d like to invite her to the Quartermaine picnic tomorrow. There will be so many people there, it’s not like a date. She says, when he words it like that… She accepts. He says, shall they shake on it? They do, and he says, see her tomorrow. She says, tomorrow, and leaves. Outside, she smiles.  

On Monday, Brook says she would never use Chase; Jordan asks why she gets the sense TJ is trying to get rid of her; Ava says she has truths that will lay Spencer to waste; and Willow won’t accept that.

🍃 Leaf From the Family Tree…

A little bit about the cousin we never knew Austin had.

https://soapdirt.com/general-hospital-comings-goings-austin-holt-shady-cousin-says-fan-fave-returns/

🩺 Nooo…

Kudos to her for prime time and all, but I hope she comes back. I like Britt.

More in depth than In Depth.

https://www.thelist.com/969983/the-real-reason-kelly-thiebaud-is-leaving-britt-and-general-hospital-behind/

🛀 Love Bubble Suds…

Teresa being her usual horrible self.

I wonder if her hair has its own IG.

🧂 Shah’s Got Guts…

No doubt it will be the highlight of the season.

https://people.com/tv/jen-shah-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-costar-meredith-marks-calls-her-gutsy-amid-legal-situation/

✈️ Wives From Where…?

What the hell is this? How is it on Season 15 and I had no clue? And what the hell are those streaming services that carry it? Not that I need another bunch of horrible people to watch.

https://tvdeets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-real-housewives-of-cheshire-season-15/

👰🏽 All the Weddings…

Better than attending them.

https://people.com/tv/real-housewives-wedding-album/

⚰️ Telling Tales…

I watched the first episode, and thought it was promising. Maybe a spoiler, but the dog got it a few minutes in, and I was not pleased with them leading with it. Or including it at all. That being said, I thought it improved as the episode went on. I’m just glad to be out of Georgia.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/tales-of-the-walking-dead-terry-crews-olivia-munn-parker-posey-jillian-bell-1235198520/

🐉 About That Dragon…

I actually haven’t seen this yet.

https://ew.com/tv/tv-reviews/house-of-the-dragon-review-game-of-thrones/

🐓 Quotes of the Week

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing. – Theodore Roosevelt

After a while you learn that privacy is something you can sell, but you can’t buy it back. – Bob Dylan

If you fuel your journey on the opinions of others, you are going to run out of gas. – Steve Maraboli

Dance above the surface of the world. Let your thoughts lift you into creativity that is not hampered by opinion. – Red Haircrow

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. – Buddha

Our lives are the only meaningful expression of what we believe and in Whom we believe. And the only real wealth, for any of us, lies in our faith. – Gordon B. Hinckley

We got a whole lot of money, but we still pay rent, cuz you can’t buy a house in heaven. – Lady Gaga, You & I

💋 Come On, Barbie, Let’s Go Party…

Before you know it, it will be hoodie weather, so take a break, whether you call it the weekend or not. Soak up some sun, walk in the park, or if you’re allergic to nature, take in a movie at the theater. I hear they’re back. See you on Monday for soap and yachting on the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay sassy, and stay not letting any giant elephants take up permanent residence in your psyche. Or the room.

August 2, 2022 – The Trial Concludes With Another Surprise, Changing Camps, Upgrading Thrones & Night

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava and Esme struggle over the envelope. Esme grabs it and runs out on the turret, Ava right behind her. Esme crumples it, and is about to throw it over the wall when Ava grabs her arm, and they battle over it some more. Nikolas comes in, yelling for Ava, and hears them outside. Esme pulls, and yanks too hard, backpedaling right over the wall. Nikolas runs out, and sees Ava looking down. He asks, what the hell happened? Did you push Esme?

Willow waits in Terry’s office. She flashes back to asking if TJ thinks she has cancer, and TJ saying he’s worried she has leukemia.

Curtis watches as a nurse puts Oz’s chart in a file holder. Since we all know how lax security is at GH, the second her back is turned, he takes the folder, puts it under his jacket, and strolls away. When he gets around the corner, he starts taking pictures of the information. Jordan calls to him, and he tries to look innocent.

In the courtroom, Diane tells Trina, she wants to make it clear. When they were at the cabin that weekend, Trina didn’t have feelings for Cameron, because she had feelings for Spencer, correct? Trina says, yes, and Diane asks how long she had these feelings for Spencer? Trina says, they met at her high school graduation party, and he was pretending to be someone else; he called himself Victor. Diane asks if Trina was attracted to Victor, and Trina nods. Diane says, let the record show Miss Robinson has nodded in the affirmative. Yes, she was attracted to Spencer Cassadine when he was using his guise as Victor. So Trina’s had romantic feelings for Spencer for over a year. Trina says, just this past January; maybe even longer, but she doesn’t have romantic feelings for him now. Diane says, to the best of Trina’s knowledge, did Spencer ever return those feelings? and Trina says she doesn’t know. They never went on a date or anything. She thinks he saw her as just a good friend. Besides, Spencer had a girlfriend. Diane says, she would be referring to Esme Prince, and Trina says, yes. Diane says, the same Esme Prince that went to the cabin with them that weekend, and Trina says, yes. Diane asks if Esme was aware that Trina had feelings for her boyfriend.

Elizabeth walks down the stairs with Willow’s lab results, and stops, her pen falling from her hand. She flashes back to Peter lying on the landing, and taking his pulse. She drops all of the paperwork, holds onto the railing, and sits. She hears a child say, daddy.

Ava tells Nikolas, Esme was trying to leave. She had a letter she didn’t want Ava to see, and they were fighting over it. She just… went over. Nikolas says he doesn’t see her anywhere, and Ava says she has to call 9-1-1. She runs inside for her phone, and Nikolas follows. He tells her, don’t call the police. They’ll think she pushed Esme over the parapet. She says she made no secret of wanting Esme gone; she threatened to kill Esme. She looks around, and says, this room has to look pristine. He says, she can’t be here. She was never here… but the staff heard her; they called him. He tells her to go to the master bedroom, and don’t let anyone in but him. Make sure she’s not seen. He hustles her to the door, saying he has to make sure the staff doesn’t come in here. He sees the suitcase, and asks if it’s Esme’s. She says, they have to find her, but he says, Ava has to take care of herself. He checks the hallway, and says, it’s all clear. Go, now.

Trina says, Esme knew she liked Spencer, and she was suspicious of her friendship with him. Diane asks if Trina thinks Esme was jealous of her relationship with Spencer, and Arden objects, saying, it calls for speculation. Diane says, withdrawn. Would Trina describe her relationship with Esme for the court. Trina says, Esme was around because of Spencer; they weren’t friends. Diane asks, why not? and Trina says, Esme helped Spencer stalk her friend Ava Jerome. Esme set Ava’s car on fire. Arden says, objection. Spencer Cassadine pled guilty, and spent a month at Spring Ridge Minimum Security Prison for the crimes he committed against Miss Jerome. There has been no evidence Esme Prince was involved. The defendant is living in the land of wishful thinking. Judge Young says, sustained. Diane’s client can only bring up what can be proved, not what she thinks may have happened. Diane says, of course (🍷), and tells Trina, throughout this trial, the prosecution has accused her of being the kind of person who would violate her friend’s privacy in the most despicable and insidious manner. Has she ever wanted to violate a friend in such a vial manner for any reason? Trina says, no, especially not to Joss and Cam. Their friendship means everything to her. She would never do anything to jeopardize that. Diane thanks her, and says, no further questions. The judge tells Arden, her witness.

Jordan asks if she wants to know, and Curtis says, she doesn’t. She asks, how’s Mr. Haggerty? and he says, still in a medically induced coma. Was she able to draw a connection between him and Esme? She says she went to Windymere, and Nikolas wasn’t aware of Oz visiting there. Nikolas was at the hospital with Spencer when Curtis saw Oz take the launch to Spoon Island. He says, and with Esme’s help, Oz was able to get off the island without anyone seeing him. Jordan says, unfortunately, they don’t have proof Oz met with Esme, and Curtis says, he and Marshall met Ava at the dock, and filled her in on their suspicion that Oz sold Esme the black market phone she used for revenge porn. Ava hoped to find Oz and Esme at Windymere, but when she got there, there was no sign of him. She says, Esme must have helped him get off the island undetected, and he says, Oz was the loose end she needed to tie up. Before Oz lost consciousness, he said, she gave him something. He’s sure Oz meant Esme. Jordan says, to prove it, they have to find evidence that Esme was at the apartment with Oz, and he says, any chance of that happening? She says, forensics is going over the apartment, but there’s so much DNA, it could take months before they discover if any of it belonged to Esme. He says, Trina could be in prison by then, and an appeal could take years, and she says, however, she did learn something interesting.

Elizabeth sits on the steps, hearing a child say, daddy… mommy… She says, who is it? What do you want? Finn says, hey, and comes down. He asks, what happened? Is she okay?

Michael is looking for Willow, and calls her, but gets voicemail. He leaves a message saying, he just got back, but she’s not here. He hopes everything is okay. He loves her. He sees TJ, and asks if he knows what happened to Willow.

Terry comes into her office with Britt, and says she’s asked Britt to consult on Willow’s case. Britt says, unless Willow would like another obstetrician, but Willow says, no, of course (🍷) not; Britt is her OB. Terry asks if Elizabeth came in while Willow was waiting, but Willow says, no. Terry says, she should be here with the results soon, and Willow says, and the results will confirm she has leukemia. Terry says she’s reviewed Willow’s initial bloodwork, and the symptoms she’s shown over the last few months – weakness, fatigue, loss of energy and appetite – can be consistent with adult onset leukemia. Willow asks how that could be possible. She’s healthy. She’s been tired, but she’s had so much going on. Terry reminds her that her diagnosis hasn’t been confirmed yet. If she does have leukemia, it could be genetic, and many patients diagnosed with leukemia have no known risk factors. Willow asks what this means for her baby. Terry suggests they not get ahead of themselves. They need to rule out all other possibilities first. Willow asks how they do that, and Terry says she’d like to perform a blood marrow biopsy. Britt says, Willow studied that procedure in nursing class, and Willow says, they draw the blood marrow out of the pelvic bone to determine if there are cancer cells, and what type they are. Terry says, A+. She’d like to schedule the procedure as soon as possible. As Willow knows, it’s an outpatient procedure, and takes about 30 minutes. Willow says, and it’s safe for her baby? and Britt says, absolutely. They’ll give her a sedative that’s safe for both Willow and her baby. She should avoid eating and drinking before the sedative is administered. Terry says, and she’ll need someone to drive her home, and Willow asks if there’s any way they can do this now. She fits the pre-biopsy criteria; she won’t need a strong sedative. Britt says, it’s painful if she goes that route, but Willow says she doesn’t care. She doesn’t want to wait. She needs to know what she and her child are dealing with. Terry says she has room in her schedule if Willow really wants to do this now, and Willow says she does. Britt asks if she wants to call anyone to be with her, but Willow says, no. She can do this by herself.

Finn tells Elizabeth that she’s okay. He’s going to help her. He’s not going to let anything hurt her. He takes her hand, and she asks, what happened? He says he was hoping she could tell him, but she says she doesn’t know. He says, it’s okay; they’ll figure it out together. Take one deep breath. She does, and he says, better? Let’s take you out of here. He leads her away, leaving the papers littering the stairs.

Curtis sneaks around, putting the file back the same way he took it – with no one noticing, even though the nurse is at the desk. Jordan joins him, and says she spoke to Dr. Westbourne about Mr. Haggerty’s tox screen. She said he has acute opioid intoxication, and she didn’t find a prescription for it in his name. Jordan’s officers checked his motel and his apartment; no sign of drug use. He says, Oz got it from somewhere, and Jordan says, Dr. Westbourne also said someone approached her recently about identifying a drug. She looked it up, and surprise, surprise. The drug Oz ingested was the same one brought to her earlier. He says, who asked Britt about this drug? and she says, Spencer Cassadine.

Arden asks if Trina can account for her whereabouts when Josslyn and Cameron were secretly filmed having sex? Trina says she was in her room. She had too much to drink, and was sick. Arden asks how many drinks she had, and Trina says, one, but she’s not used to whiskey. Arden says, she’d have the court believe she fell ill after one drink, and Trina says, that’s what happened. She felt dizzy, hot and cold, and she went to her room and eventually went to sleep. Arden asks if she remembers the events of that evening, and Trina says, Josslyn told her what happened, but Arden says she’s asking about Trina’s own memories, not Miss Jax. Trina says, she remembers playing Never Have I Ever, but not what anyone said. Then she remembers running out of the room, and then talking to Josslyn through her bedroom door. Arden asks how Trina knows she was in her room for the rest of the evening, and Trina says, because she knows she was. Arden asks if she doesn’t remember retrieving the phone she used to film her best friends, and Trina says, she doesn’t remember because she didn’t film them. Arden asks, then how did the phone come to be in her possession? and Trina says, because she was set up by Esme Prince.

Ava looks in the mirror, and sees a bruise on her shoulder. She says, damn, and dabs makeup on it. Nikolas comes in, and she asks if he found Esme.

Michael tells TJ that he can’t find Willow. Did TJ get her test results, and is everything okay with her and their baby? TJ flashes back to Willow asking him not to say anything to Michael, and tells Michael, he hasn’t seen her, but as far as he knows, she’s still here. She probably can’t get to a phone. Michael says, she’ll get back to him when she can. He’s trying not to hover, but obviously, he needs to work on it. TJ says, Michael just found out he’s going to be a dad; he’s allowed to care. Michael thanks TJ for looking out for Willow, saying, TJ’s been good to her. TJ says, A, that’s his job, and B, it’s easy to be good to Willow; she’s a special person. Don’t you forget it. Michael says, as if he would. She’s really changed his world, and now they’re having a baby. He can’t say those words enough after how these last few months have been. TJ congratulates him, and says he wishes them every bit of happiness. Michael says, they’ve already been blessed with Wiley. Now they get to experience parenthood again. How lucky can he get?

Willow lies on the operating table, and Terry says she’s administered local anesthesia to Willow’s spine. But without the sedative, she’s about to feel a sharp pain. Willow says she knows. She’s ready.

Curtis tells Jordan, so Spencer asked about the same drug bartender Oz OD’d on. That can’t be a coincidence. She says, according to Dr. Westbourne, Spencer brought her a single capsule, saying he found it. When she pressed him, he said admitted it belonged to Esme. He says, so Esme had access to the same drug Oz took; the one she apparently gave him. What else did Britt say? She tells him, Spencer said he was concerned because he never observed Esme taking this medication. When Britt told him the side effects, he asked what would happen if someone took it with alcohol. Curtis says, the tox screening said Oz ingested the opioids with alcohol, and she says, from that medical chart he didn’t want her to know about? What’s significant about the alcohol connection? If Spencer witnessed Esme taking this drug with alcohol, he would have noticed her getting extremely ill. He says, what if it wasn’t Esme?

Arden says, as stated in multiple witness testimony, Miss Prince was not in the cabin at the time the video was taken. Trina says, she didn’t have to be. She could have put the phone on a timer, or started the video before she left the cabin. Arden says, and yet, Commissioner Ashford testified the phone was recovered in Trina’s bag, and Trina says, Esme planted it. Arden asks if she has proof, and Trina says, no. Arden asks her to speak louder for the record, even though we heard her just fine, and Trina repeats, no. She doesn’t have proof. Arden says, surely if Trina believes Miss Prince framed her, she must have some idea of when she planted the phone. Trina says, she’s done nothing but think about it, and don’t call her Shirley. There was a day when she went to Spring Ridge to visit Spencer Cassadine, and she left her bag on the  table when they were talking. It wasn’t always in her sight, and Esme was there that day interning. Arden says she has the list of staff present at Spring Ridge on the day Trina visited the facility. If Trina believes that’s when the phone was planted in her bag, isn’t it true that any of the staff members could have done it? I object on the grounds of stupidity, and Trina says, why would they? She doesn’t know them; they don’t know her. The only person is Esme Prince. Arden says, the fact is, Trina was the only one in the cabin with Josslyn and Cameron the night the revenge porn video was filmed. No one can account for her whereabouts; not even her. The phone that filmed her friends was found in her bag, and contained her credit card information. Nothing backs up this fanciful story of hers, that Miss Prince filmed the video and planted the phone on her. Diane objects, saying, Arden is badgering the witness. Judge Young sustains, and Diane adds, is there a question anywhere in their future, or is the Assistant District Attorney simply going to use her client as an excuse to expound her own absurd theories? The judge says, duly noted, and tells Arden, if she has a question, ask it. If she doesn’t, sit down. Arden says, no further questions, and Diane says, redirect. Judge Young says, proceed, and Diane says, Trina testified that she and Esme were not friends. Trina says, they weren’t, and Diane asks if Esme and Josslyn were friends. Arden objects, hearsay, but Diane says she’s going to ask her client about interactions she specifically observed between Esme and Josslyn. The judge says he’ll allow it, and Diane asks if Trina ever observed tension or hostility between Josslyn and Esme. Trina says, Josslyn hated Esme from the jump. She called Esme out every chance she got. Diane says, called her out? and Trina tells her, Josslyn said Esme is a liar, and a manipulator. She said to Esme’s face that she didn’t trust her, and they weren’t friends. Diane asks if it was just one altercation, but Trina says, it went on for months, before and after the cabin. Diane asks how Esme reacted when Josslyn called her out, and Trina says, sometimes she acted hurt; other times, she got angry. Diane asks how Esme’s anger showed itself, and Trina says, Esme told Josslyn that she was spoiled and entitled, and that she’d be sorry for what she did to Esme. Diane says, Esme Prince told Josslyn that she’d be sorry, and Trina says, yes. Diane says, and was Josslyn sorry when Esme filmed her most intimate moments, and uploaded them for the entire world to see? Arden objects, and Diane says, withdrawn. She asks if Trina loves her friends, and Trina says, with all of her heart. Diane asks if she’d ever hurt any of them, and she says, never. Diane says, no further questions, and the judge tells Trina to step down.

Nikolas tells Ava, he found the spot where Esme fell, but she wasn’t there. He did find this. He shows her a shoe, and she says, they don’t know if Esme is dead or alive. He says, between the height and the rocks, she could have broken her neck or drowned, but Ava says, they both know that fall is not necessarily fatal. Exhibit A. He says, if Esme lived, what would she say happened between the two of them?

Post operation, Terry says that she’s personally walking this biopsy to the lab, and will let Willow know the results as soon as she gets them.   The nurse will be in shortly to take Willow back to her room, so she can get dressed and be discharged. Just rest until they get here. Willow thanks her, and Terry says, they’re working to rule out other possibilities. Willow says she understands, and Terry says, she did so good. She leaves, and Britt asks if she can take Willow’s picture and hang it on her office wall with a little plaque that says, Bravest Person of the Year, and Willow says she’s hardly that. Britt pulls a stool over and sits. She says, Willow is still brave if she talks to someone and tells them what’s going on. Oversharing can be a positive experience. Willow says, not always. She doesn’t think she can handle the concern. She’s not that brave or strong. Britt tells her not to sell herself short, or Michael. All we can control is what we have now. Willow says, Britt sounds like she really understands, and Britt says, it comes with the job.

Finn gives Elizabeth some water, and asks if she needs anything else, but she says she’s good. He says, don’t hate him, but he doesn’t think she is. Can she tell him what happened? She says she was just delivering some lab reports to Terry’s office… oh, reports. She starts to get up, but he says, it’s okay. He talked to Epiphany. She got a nurse to collect the reports, and she took them to Terry’s office. She thanks him, and sits back down. He says, so she was on her way to Terry’s office… She says she was on the stairs like she’d been doing all day, and he says, and? She tells him that she lost her balance, and he asks if she fell. Is she hurt? She says, no. She caught herself, and lowered herself to the ground where he found her. He says, she was pretty out of it. She didn’t recognize him at first. She says she was just trying to get her bearings, but he says he thinks she might need more than a physical exam. She says she’s not hurt; she just pushed herself too hard on her first day back. He suggests getting a neurologist to check her out, and she says, he thinks she needs her head examined.

In her closing argument, Arden says, of course (🍷) people spin all kinds of stories to hide the truth. That’s why in law we have to rely on facts and evidence. The evidence in this case clearly points to one person – the defendant Trina Robinson. Diane gets up, and says, no one saw Trina set up the phone to record Josslyn Jax and Cameron Webber. No one saw Trina send the email. The evidence in this case is purely circumstantial, and as such, is open to an alternative interpretation. Esme Prince was threatened by Trina’s relationship with Spencer, and took revenge by framing Trina, by filming and distributing revenge porn, which of course (🍷) had the added collateral benefit of humiliating Josslyn Jax. (I have to interject that throughout this day of trial, Spencer has alternated between looking very uncomfortable and looking like he’s going to fly out of his seat.) We know Esme Prince was gone from the cabin when that revenge porn was filmed, but just as an email can be timed in advance, so can a camera on a cellphone. And Esme Prince had the means, opportunity, and a far more compelling motive than Trina Robinson. The prosecution in this case has utterly failed to meet the burden of proof. Now it’s the jury’s responsibility to see that justice is served. They must find Trina Robinson not guilty. Court is adjourned, and Arden tells Diane, nice closing, counselor. Diane says, yes, it was especially good, wasn’t it? and laughs. Portia says she’s so proud of Trina, and Taggert says, that makes two of them. Trina says she told the truth. Now her fate is out of her hands. They hug.

Jordan says, what if it wasn’t Esme? but Curtis says, think about what they know about Esme Prince. She’s sharp. She orchestrated a sex tape, and posted it without any evidence leading back to her. So let’s say she slipped Oz the pill in order to prevent him tying her to the phone. Does Jordan think it was a coincidence Oz was drinking, or did Esme set it up that way because she knew what the combination of the drugs and alcohol would do to him? Since Spencer didn’t think it was a prescription, let’s say Esme did obtain the opioids through less than legal means. Let’s say she researched it because she had another idea in mind. Maybe Spencer did see someone acting strangely after taking the pills mixed with alcohol. She says, like… He says, Trina. The one drink she had at the cabin, she got sick and blacked out. He thinks they can both agree that’s not normal. What if her reaction wasn’t from the drink? What if Esme spiked it? She says, if he’s right, they need to talk to Esme.

Ava tells Nikolas, she came back ready to pack her things and leave, and she ran into Esme. Ava flashes back to Esme saying she’s leaving town, and says, she couldn’t let Esme leave, not when Trina was being framed for her crimes. She tells Nikolas, told Esme that she had to confess, that she wouldn’t let someone who’s like a daughter to her pay for Esme’s actions. She remembers Esme asking where her motherly devotion to Kiki, and if Trina was filling the read void of the daughter Ava drove away. Ava says, she hit Esme. She cut Esme’s lip with her ring. Nikolas says, Ava came home, Esme taunted her and came at her. She had to defend herself. Ava says she knows what he’s trying to do, but she’s still going to look like the aggressor. The cops are going to want to know why she didn’t walk away, and how Esme ended up falling over the parapet. He says, there were no witnesses. Even if Esme did survive, it’s Ava’s word against hers. Ava says, everybody knows she hated Esme. He said himself, the staff heard them fighting. Ava’s DNA is probably all over her; evidence of an assault. If Esme is alive or dead, she’s certainly going to be implicated.

Jordan says, Esme is getting more desperate by the day. Curtis’s bartender is proof of that. He says, Oz is the only one who can prove Esme bought the phone that filmed Joss and Cam, but he’s in a medically induced coma, and they don’t have time for him to wake up. She says, which makes Esme their best lead at this point. She’ll do everything she can to get something out of her. Jordan’s phone rings, and she says, …okay. She’ll deal with it herself. She tells Curtis that there’s a situation that requires her immediate attention that could have repercussions for Trina.

Portia asks how Diane thinks it went; no sugarcoating. Diane says she never sugarcoats. They accomplished what they set out to do. Taggert says, create reasonable doubt in the jury’s mind, and an alternate suspect, and Diane says, a viable suspect. Now it’s just up to the jury to come to the right conclusion.

Trina asks Rory if it’s mean for her to want Arden to vanish in a puff of smoke, and he suggests throwing a bucket of water on her and seeing what happens. Spencer heads toward Trina, but Josslyn intercepts him. He says he can just walk around her, and she says, he did a really nice thing for Trina. Leave it at that. Rory says, Trina’s testimony was very impressive, and she asks if he’s just saying that. He says, she was strong and passionate. There’s no way the jury won’t believe her. She says, it doesn’t hurt she got help from the last place she expected. Josslyn says she will admit she didn’t think Spencer had the guts to stand up there, and say that Esme framed Trina, and he says he told her, Esme’s not his girlfriend anymore. She says, ex or not, she’d pay actual money to see Esme’s face when she finds out that Spencer said she framed Trina.

Nikolas says, Esme could have evidence on her that incriminates Ava, and she says, they have to strategize. He says, fact number one, Esme’s gone, and fact number two, questions will be asked, and they have to have answers, especially for Spencer. She says, answers that do not involve the police. Spencer will want to know why Esme was leaving. Nikolas says, Esme didn’t tell her; no one would expect her to. She says, and if Spencer doesn’t buy it? and he says, things were not always good between them. He just gave Trina an alibi in court. Ava says, and if Esme’s found and her DNA is on her? Nikolas says, she fell into the rocks or the water. Most of Ava’s DNA probably washed off. Not to mention, they lived in the same house. Traces of Ava’s DNA would be on Spencer and the staff… on him. She says, what about the suitcase? and he says, they’ll put it someplace so that if anyone goes looking, they’ll find Esme’s things gone. I can’t believe they’re not pawing through that suitcase, as well as whatever she was leaving behind. He says, no one ever needs to know what happened. Get dressed, and meet him downstairs. She says, wait. What if Esme turns up alive?

Finn says he doesn’t think Elizabeth needs her head examined, but they both know vertigo can stem form psychological causes, not just physical ones. She says she definitely doesn’t need more counseling; he can trust her on that. He says he does trust her, but clearly there’s something going on with her. If she doesn’t want to do it for herself, do it for her kids. They need their mom to take care of them. She says, how dare he accuse her of not being able to take care of her kids? I make the decision that a relationship with Elizabeth is just too damn much work.

Willow sees Michael, and he asks where she was. She wasn’t returning his calls, and he was starting to worry. She says, the doctor wanted to run another test, and he wonders how many tests she needs to take. She says, if she’s learned anything from her nursing class, it’s that GH insists its doctors be as thorough as possible. He says he doesn’t remember Nelle taking this many tests when she was pregnant with Wiley. Then again, she wasn’t exactly honest with him. She says, maybe procedures have changed since Nelle was pregnant, and he says, she seems off. Is everything okay? She says she’s having a baby with the love of her life. What’s not okay? he says, so the appointment went well; no surprises? She says, none worth repeating, and he says, okay.

Finn says, Elizabeth is an amazing mother, and she asks, then where’s he going with this? He says, if there’s a chance something is wrong, doesn’t she want to know for her boys’ sake? and she looks at him like he has two heads. He says, when she checked herself into Shadybrook, she said it was as much for them as it was for her. Doesn’t she want to be healthy and whole for them? She says she’s not broken, and she’s got to go back to work. She opens the door, and Terry is there. Terry asks how she’s feeling, but Elizabeth storms past her. Terry asks Finn, what happened? and he says, something is very wrong.

Nikolas says, if Esme is alive, they’ll deal with it, and Ava says, with any luck, Esme will never be found. They’ll tell the staff she left in a huff (or a minute and a huff), and that she didn’t say where she was going. They’ll look for her. He says, they’ll take care of this. The truth stays between them, he promises. He won’t let anything happen to her.

TJ says he got Curtis’s text; what’s up? Curtis says, Trina is running out of time. Her best chance at freedom is in a medically induced coma. Curtis needs him to wake up. TJ says, waking from a medically induced coma isn’t like flipping a light switch. It takes time, there can be risks… Curtis says, but can it be done? and TJ says, it can be, but he’s not authorized to do that. Curtis says, an innocent young girl could be sent to prison. If there was ever a time for drastic measures, it’s now. Or tell him what he can do. TJ says, he needs Curtis to understand, this will just as likely kill him.

Trina says she owes Spencer an apology for going off on him earlier, but he says, she owes him nothing. He should have spoken up from the start. She says, he testified on the stand that he thought Esme made the revenge porn and posted it. When did he figure that out? Jordan walks in, and says, Spencer is under arrest for escaping Spring Ridge, and Trina says, but he went back. Spencer says, it’s okay, and Jordan reads him his rights. He looks at Trina as he’s walked out the door.  

Tomorrow, Trina asks if Rory thinks they can just be friends; Josslyn tells Cameron, as his girlfriend, she has a right to know; Sonny wonders if Brando is asking him to spy on his wife; and Sasha feels like having fun tonight.

🍊 Switching Allegiances…

Although it’s still California. It’s not like she’s moving to Salt Lake City. Who wants to be around those awful women from RHOBH anyway?

https://people.com/tv/real-housewives-of-orange-county-taylor-armstrong-joins-season-17/

🐉 Movin’ On Up…

Or one more way a streaming service gets your money.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/game-of-thrones-is-getting-a-major-upgrade-on-hbo-max/

⛏  Workin’ In the Coal Mines…

I still have work from my real job to do tonight, so join me tomorrow for soap and the latest villains of Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay not getting in a rut and changing it up once in a while, and stay remembering, all we can control is what we have now. And sometimes we can’t even control that.

July 15, 2022 – Carly’s Last Day At Work, On Leave, End Story, New Gig, OLTL Anniversary, So Sorry Not, Two Exits, Shocking, New House, Not Daytime, Just Over 12 Quotes & Time

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

There’s a knock at Carly’s office door, and she says, almost done. Drew says, then he’s right on time.

Olivia thanks her assistant Ashley for bringing something to her attention, and calls over to Nina. She wonders if she can have a word, and asks why Nina is pumping her staff for information. Nina says, she’s not pumping them for anything. She was just familiarizing herself with the operations around here. Olivia says, Nina has had her fun lording her half ownership of the hotel over Carly, but it’s got to stop. She and Ned are prepared to write Nina a check for every penny she paid, plus 3%. Nina says she’s not interested, and Olivia says, 5%, not a penny more. Nina says, Olivia doesn’t get it. Her half of the MetroCourt isn’t for sale. Sonny comes by and says, why not?

Curtis tells Marshall, Windymere is private property. If they take the launch the guards will tip off Esme that they’re coming. What they need is someone who lives there to help them out. Ava comes out onto the pier and says, hiya, gents. Going my way? Curtis says, they’re good, but maybe she can help Trina, and she says, done. Marshall says, she doesn’t even know what they’re asking, but she says, it doesn’t matter. If whatever it is, is for Trina, she’s in.

Josslyn says, Trina has to use this. This could be a real game changer. Portia walks in, and says, what’s a real game changer? and Josslyn says, new evidence that could help Trina’s case. Portia asks, what is it? Tell her; what’s the new evidence?

Oz (which we find out later is the bartender’s name) barges into Windymere, and Esme says, get out before she calls security. He says he remembers that high and mighty attitude, but he’d check himself before he called security. Because security may lead to the police, and something tells him, the PCPD will be more interested in what he has to say about her, than what she has to say about him.

At the hospital, Nikolas says he can have a plane fueled and ready by this afternoon, and Laura says she appreciates it. She can’t believe it. How much can one family take? (She’s asking that now?) Spencer comes along, and asks, what’s wrong? Laura says she just got a call from her mother in Italy, and Spencer asks if something happened to Great-grandmother Lesley. Nikolas says, the house she and Marcello lived in on Lake Como burned down. Fortunately, no one was there at the time, so one got hurt. Laura says, thank God, and Spencer says, still, that’s terrible. Is there anything he can do? Laura says, there is something he can do; actually, both of them. Spencer says, name it, and she says, put her mind at ease. They’ve both been through an awful lot in the past year. Promise her they’ll be okay with each other if she goes away.

Ava says, so Esme bought a black market phone from a bartender, and used it to record Josslyn and Cameron, and Marshall says, and incriminate Trina. Curtis says, they’ve tracked the bartender, Oz Haggarty, to Windymere. They may be conspiring to cover their tracks as they speak. She says, at Windymere… She’d love to stay and chat, but she has a witch to throw under a house

Esme says she has nothing to hide, from the police or anyone, and Oz says, impressive. She managed that with a straight face. They both know the phone he sold her is the same one she used to shoot her revenge porn. She says, he can’t prove that, but he says he doesn’t have to. That girl’s defense attorney will do it. Or at lease use the info. She asks what he wants, and he snaps his fingers, saying, what else? Cash. You. Owe. Me. 

Trina tells Portia, it’s what she was saying before, that Marshall and Curtis are looking for the bartender who sold Esme the phone. Portia says she thought Trina had some new information, and Trina says, don’t worry. She has faith it will all work out. Stella comes in, and says, so does she. Faith is what we need when all of our efforts are challenged and exhausted. What else do we have?

Carly says, that’s a look, and Drew says he was going for friendly neighborhood mover. She says she can see it, although she’s out of a job, so she doesn’t know if she can afford him. He says he’s pretty affordable. In fact, he’ll move all these boxes for the cost of lunch. She says, that is affordable, although she hired actual movers; they’re going to be here any minute. He says, what? Outbid by the pros; that’s just wrong. He guesses that means lunch is off, but she says, not necessarily. But they can’t go to the restaurant because she doesn’t have a tab there anymore. What does he say to the hot dog vendor at Rice Plaza? He says, this is not a done deal, but she says, the MetroCourt has a new owner. You can’t get more done than that. He tells her, he’s just saying, Nina’s offer is still on the table. She says he knows she turned Nina down, and he knows why.

Sonny asks why Nina wouldn’t sell the hotel to Ned and Olivia. It sounds like the best solution for everyone. Olivia says, and whoever buys the hotel is going to be her new partner. She thinks she deserves some say in the matter. Nina says she thinks Olivia misunderstands her. She has no intention of selling her half of the MetroCourt to anyone. She’s Olivia’s new partner. Olivia says, not on your life, lady, and Nina says, there’s no reason this has to be hostile. She realized she needs to learn a lot about the hospitality business. She’d be really grateful if Olivia would show her the ropes. Olivia says, this is why Nina has been slithering around her hotel, questioning her staff? and Nina says, our hotel. Olivia asks if Sonny is hearing this, and he says, every word. Olivia asks what he’s going to do about it, and Nina says, nothing. Sonny isn’t going to do anything about it, because her business dealings are her affair. Olivia says, emphasis on affair, and Nina says, running this hotel is between Olivia and her, but Olivia says, wrong. It’s between her, Nina, and their lawyers. And it’s going to be a cold day in hell before Nina fills Carly’s shoes; professionally and personally. She shoots Sonny a look, and tells Ashley that she’ll be in her office. Nina looks at Sonny, but he says, don’t look at him. She brought this on herself.

Drew says he wouldn’t expect Carly to let Nina gift her with the hotel, and she says she’s glad he’s listening. Drew says, but she can accept it from him, and she says, she got herself into this mess, and has to get herself out… or not, but either way, she doesn’t want to owe anyone. He says he knew she was going to be stubborn about this, but he had to give it a shot, and she thanks him. She says, and if there is a silver lining in all this, she knows she’s not in this alone, and he says, not by a long shot. So if she won’t let him buy her half the hotel, will she let him carry a box? She says, that she will, and puts one in his hands.

Stella says, she’ll be watching to see if any of those jurors looks at Trina sideways, but Portia says, no, she won’t. She won’t be stepping anywhere near that courtroom.

Outside, Trina asks Josslyn to promise her not to say anything about Spencer being in the cemetery. Not to anyone. Not yet. Josslyn says, sorry. She can’t.

Nikolas says he emailed his attorney in Como, and he’ll put Laura in touch with a good real estate agent. Laura can help Marcello and Lesley figure out where they want to move; if they want an apartment, or want to be out in the country. For what his vote is worth (🍷 it still counts), it might not be a bad idea for them to be in town. Laura says, he’s absolutely right, and she’ll pass that along. What was it he was going to tell her earlier, something about Doc and Esme? He says, it can wait, when Doc joins them, and says, it’s handled; the Deputy Mayor will take a meeting. Laura thanks him, and asks if she can have a word with him. He says, of course (🍷), and she pulls him down the hall. Spencer says, Doc and Esme, what’s that about? and Nikolas says, Esme’s application to the psyche program at PCU. He takes it she didn’t tell Spencer. Spencer says, there’s a lot Esme doesn’t tell him, but that changes today.

Esme brings Oz into the living room, and he says he’s always wondered about this place. She closes the door, and says, people can’t connect them, but he says, too late; they already have. Did she really think he wouldn’t have an insurance policy? Ava comes into the foyer, and Esme says she doesn’t have any money on her, but she can get it to him. He says, don’t try to play him. Meet him tonight; he’ll text the location. He starts to leave, and she says, wait. Who followed him to the motel, and what did they look like? In the worst timing ever, Ava’s phone rings in the foyer. She says, hi to Avery… Yes, tonight… She’s looking forward to it too…  Yes, cupcakes, any flavor she likes… Ava loves her. Ava hangs up, and walks into the living room. I’m loving Ava’s new haircut. She needs a better picture in the opening credits though.

Trina tells Josslyn, if the authorities find out Spencer left Spring Ridge, that could mean real prison; Pentenville. Admitting she was with Spencer at the cemetery the day the video dropped probably won’t even help her, but it will definitely hurt him. Josslyn says, but while Trina is tying herself in knots, deciding whether to save herself by outing Spencer as her alibi, consider this. Spencer already knows that he’s her alibi. He has decided to stay silent, so where is his compassion for her?

Laura tells Doc that she’s having major second thoughts about leaving. Now is not the best time to be leaving Port Charles. Doc says, but the recall was defeated; it’s over. She says, but is it really? There are still a large group of people out there who aren’t happy with her job performance. He says, yes, but fortunately Cyrus lost his voting privileges, and she says, but the detractors who remain still have theirs. Even though she’ll be working remotely, they could easily spin her absence as a dereliction of duty. Trina’s trial starts today, Elizabeth’s state of mind, not to mention Victor. He asks if she’s trying to talk herself out of leaving, and she says, no. She knows her mother needs her. He says, exactly. That’s why a pillar of strength like herself can carry the weight of the world on her own. So they just have to be practical. The first thing they do is go home and pack. Then they reschedule all their appointments for next week. Then he’ll call the bank and convert some currency, and she can call Lesley and make sure they don’t need them to bring anything. She says, he has everything under control, and he says, that’s what he does. She says, he’s amazing, and hugs him. She says, it amazes her how he can keep everyone’s needs in his mind. She’s so lucky to have his love and support. Which is why she hopes he understands… He says, that she needs him to stay here.

Stella says, of course (🍷) she’s attending Trina’s trial, but Portia says, think about it. The courtroom, the trial; it’s a very high pressure situation, and it’s not good for someone with Stella’s medical history. Stella says, Portia knows she loves Trina. She’s such an amazing young woman, and she feels like Trina is family now. Portia says, they love her too, and they love her support and appreciate it. That’s why they’d never forgive themselves if anything ever happened to her. Stella says, meaning she’s supposed to sit back and do nothing? and Portia says, she can pray, but she doesn’t want Stella to worry. Because Curtis, Taggert, and Marshall? They’re on it.

Marshall says, the trial is nerve-wracking, and Curtis says, that it is. They really need these leads to pay off. Marshall says he can see that, and Curtis says, he just doesn’t feel like he’s doing enough. Even if the bartender ID’s Esme buying the phone, that’s no guarantee it will secure Trina’s freedom. Marshall says, there are no guarantees in life. He should know that better than anyone.

Ava sees Esme, by herself, painting her toenails on the white couch. Esme says, something the matter? and Ava asks if Esme is alone; she thought she heard voices. Esme says she was listening to a podcast, and Ava asks if no one has told Esme that she shouldn’t paint her nails on the furniture. Esme says, nope, and Ava says, it doesn’t surprise her. Someone callous enough to destroy lives certainly doesn’t care about safeguarding fabric. Esme says, how wrong Ava is. She does appreciate what’s Ava’s. In fact, she’s so careful when she uses Ava’s things, Ava would never know. Ava asks, what the hell is that supposed to mean?

Drew asks, what are those? and Carly says, they’re pictures. She has a box of personal things she doesn’t trust with the movers. It’s mostly pictures of her kids over the years at the MetroCourt. She flips through them, and says, at the Nurses Ball and stuff. There’s Josslyn and Cam. Drew says, they’re all so young, and Carly says, there’s Morgan. His face… She tells Drew that she’s okay. There’s just a lot of memories here. Drew asks if she remembers when she hired him. New Year’s Eve, many years ago? She says she forgot about that, and laughs. He says, bartender. He made a mean martini; he still does. She says, he makes a terrible martini, and he asks what she means; he’s so talented. She says, their lives have changed so much since then. Drew says, lots of ups and downs, but they’re still here. That doesn’t mean change isn’t hard. She says she’s still working on that letting go thing, especially here. She was good at this. No matter what was going on in her life, the MetroCourt was her constant. He hugs her.

Nina asks if that’s Sonny’s way of telling her that she deserved the way Olivia spoke to her, and he says, she has to be realistic. She had to know there would be strong reactions to her keeping Carly’s half of the MetroCourt. She says, her half, and yes, she knew there was going to be resistance. He says, then why go through the hassle? Why not just give it to Olivia, and walk away? She says, power is the great equalizer, isn’t it? And she intends to keep hers. Not just for herself, but for Wiley. One day, all of this is going to be his. He asks if that’s all, and she says, isn’t that enough? He says, it’s just all this talk about power and Wiley’s inheritance. Is this just a business decision for her, or is this a way to… stick it to Carly. She asks if he thinks all she wants is revenge against his ex-wife. He really believes she’s that petty? He says, after everything she and Carly have been through, she’s going to tell him that she doesn’t want just little bit of revenge? She says, that’s not what this is about, and he says, let’s drop it then, but she says, he just accused her of being spiteful. He says, he didn’t accuse her of anything, and she says, let her remind him of something. She bought half of the hotel to give it back to Carly. So instead of standing here, scolding her, he should be lecturing his ex-wife for turning it down.

Carly looks at a photo, when Olivia comes in, carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She says, she knows Carly said she didn’t want them to make a fuss, but the staff insisted. They all wanted her to know how much she’ll be missed. Carly says, if Olivia makes her cry… and Olivia says, don’t cry; she can take them back. Carly says, don’t you dare take them back; they’re so beautiful. Thank the staff for her. Olivia says, it’s not too late for a proper send-off, but Carly says, no fanfare. The last box is almost packed, and Drew is bringing the car around. This office is no longer hers. Olivia says, it will never be Nina’s. She doesn’t know if Carly knows, but Nina has decided to remain co-owner of the MetroCourt. Carly says, of course (🍷) she has, and Olivia says, Nina may have half the hotel, but Nina will never have her loyalty. It belongs to Carly, first, last, and always. Carly says, even after she ruined their partnership? but Olivia tells her, she’d say that honor goes to her ever-lovin’ husband. If Carly thinks Olivia doesn’t appreciate everything they’ve been through here… Carly trusted Olivia as her operations manager, and backed Olivia as her partner, and loved Olivia as her friend. Carly says she’s always going to love Olivia as her friend; that’s never going to change. And Olivia is making her cry when she told Olivia not to. They hug.

Curtis says, an arrest at a demonstration shouldn’t have resulted in Marshall being held against will at an institution. Don’t worry. He’s not going to push Marshall to talk about it. Marshall fans himself with his hat, and says, in the old neighborhood, there was this guy, Bud the barber. He gave haircuts to anyone who couldn’t afford one; kids from poor families, guys with job interviews, the homeless. Curtis says, sounds like a good guy, and Marshall says, he was. He was respected. Then suddenly people started describing Bud as touched. Every now and again you’d see him wandering around, babbling to himself about some secret mission, or aliens. When the bad days started to outnumber the good, nobody wanted to get a haircut from Bud, even for free. Curtis asks, whatever happened to ol’ Bud? and Marshall says, he’ll tell Curtis what didn’t happen. Bud never got the help he needed. Being institutionalized… Maybe it wasn’t ideal. Maybe it wasn’t even fair, but he got a diagnosis out of it. Some of us wasn’t even that lucky.

Portia says, hopefully they can get the bartender to admit to selling Esme the phone, and Stella tell her to keep telling herself the truth is on Trina’s side. Portia says, but they both know, sometimes the truth isn’t enough.

Trina says she wants Josslyn to help her, but this is her trial, her future. Can Josslyn promise to let her make the decision when and if she tells Diane about Spencer? Please? Josslyn says she’ll stay silent about Spencer for now, but if it looks like Trina is going to be convicted, she’ll stand up in her seat, and tell everybody in that courtroom exactly where Trina was when that email hit those inboxes at PCU. Even if it means Trina never speaks to her again.

Esme tells Ava, she’s sorry. That came out all wrong. Of course (🍷) she respects what’s Ava’s. Ava says, Esme respects nothing. Now let’s get to it, shall we? Esme shrugs, and says, something on Ava’s mind? Ava says, yeah, Trina, and Esme says, it is incredible how many heads that girl lives in rent free. Ava says she’s glad Esme mentioned free rent. How would Esme like to go the rest of her life never worrying about a roof over her head? Esme says, in exchange for? and Ava says, her admission that she filmed the video and framed Trina. Esme says, but she didn’t, and Ava says, okay, but if Esme agreed she did, she wouldn’t have to spend a single day behind bars. She just has to sign a confession, and get herself a ticket anywhere; anywhere but here. Esme asks, what’s the catch? There’s no way Ava would be content with letting her evade justice – if she said she did it. Ava says, she’d be willing to forego justice in this instance. She cares about the greater good, and make no mistake, Trina is greater than Esme, in every way. So what’s the magic number that will make Esme do the right thing?

Laura tells Doc that she’s still worried that Nikolas and Spencer are vulnerable to Victor’s influence. Elizabeth needs him, and he’s one of the few people who can actually keep Esme in check. He tells her, say no more. If it gives her peace of mind, he’ll stay put. She says she adores him, and he says he adores her back. She says, it’s a good deal, and they hug. Nikolas says, they’re heading back to Windymere. He’ll send Laura the flight details when she’s ready. She hugs him, thanking him for coming through for her, and hugs Spencer, saying, remember his promise. He says he hasn’t forgotten. Safe travels. Spencer and Nikolas leave, and Laura asks why she has the feeling she shouldn’t go. Doc says, she’s getting on that plane, and they’ll all be here when she comes back.

Trina asks if Josslyn really thinks she’d stop talking to her bestie, just because she’s trying to save Trina’s life. Josslyn says, she’d better not, because Trina’s her bestie too, and they hug.

Stella tells Portia that she’s not naïve. She’s lived long enough in this world to know how elusive justice can be for people who look like Trina. It’s two steps forward, and one step back, but she still chooses to have hope, because not to, is to fall into despair, and she doesn’t want to live there. There’s still a fight, but she has seen some forward motion, and she has to believe that today, in 2022, that arc will bend the right way toward their girl. Portia says she prays Stella is right. Stella doesn’t know how hard she prays. Not only for her daughter to be vindicated, but to take away this anger… No, this hatred she has for that girl who did this to her baby. She doesn’t want to walk around with this bitterness, but she’s been sitting on it because Trina has so much to handle. But she knows in her bones this is more than jealousy about Trina and Spencer’s friendship. Stella asks if Portia is saying that girl targeted Trina because she’s Black, but Portia says, she was intimidated by Spencer and Trina’s relationship, but she felt the same way about Josslyn. Trina told her that Esme went after Josslyn harder than she ever did her. But who did Esme ultimately target? Stella says, that video was of Joss and Cam though, and Portia says, yes, they were the victims. And Trina was framed as the criminal, to face the criminal justice system in the midst of everything going on in this world, in this country, everywhere. Esme had to know the ramifications of that kind of action; that Trina would have a harder time with it. People pretend it’s not real, but that’s exactly what they’re doing – pretending. Stella says she knows, but there are good people with good hearts out there, and she’s clinging to the hope eyes are opening, and the world is wising up. Portia says, but not everyone wants to wise up with it, and she’s praying to God they didn’t past Diane Miller, and aren’t sitting in that jury and passing judgement on her daughter; her innocent baby girl who didn’t do any of this. She didn’t do anything wrong – Portia starts to cry – and she feels like she didn’t prepare Trina for any of this. She just feels like she failed Trina. Stella hugs her, and she cries.

Curtis leaves a message for Ava, saying, he just saw Spencer and Nikolas get on the launch. Just giving her a heads up. Call him. Marshall says, relax, and Curtis asks how Marshall can be so calm. Marshall smiles, and says, antipsychotics? I laugh, and Curtis says, he’s glad Marshall didn’t fall through the cracks like Bud. Were Marshall’s symptoms as severe as his? Marshall says, no. He didn’t have delusions or hallucinations, or problems thinking. He was prescribed treatment and meds, and if he hadn’t been, who knows? Curtis asks if Marshall is saying his arrest saved his life, and Marshall says, he’s not saying it brought doom upon him, but he’s had a long time to come to peace with it. Besides, nothing he can do now about it anyway. Curtis thanks him for talking about it, and Marshall says, there’s something about this pier. This is where they had their last breakthrough, isn’t it? Curtis says, pier or no pier, he appreciates Marshall, and he’s glad for the progress. They bro hug, and Marshall says, now they just need to make some more progress and help Trina. Curtis says, he hears that, and wonders why he hasn’t heard from Ava.

Esme says, what a hypocrite Ava is. Here she stands, trying to get Esme to admit to something she didn’t do… Ava says, come on. Don’t play a player. Esme says, Ava is unreal. Why risk everything for an employee? (I think Esme is more elitist than racist.) Ava says, Esme knows very well Trina is much more than an employee to her, and Esme says, Little Miss Perfect inspires such unwavering loyalty. Ava says she’s counting on Esme being as opportunistic as she is bitter. Tick tock; the trial’s about to start. What’s her number? Or should Ava throw one out there to get the ball rolling? Esme says, as someone who has lost their fair share of family, allow her to extend her condolences. Ava is about to lose Trina for five to ten years. Ava says, you insufferable little bitch, and Esme says, she’s finally found her family here, and all the money in the world won’t make her give that up. There is nothing Ava could offer to make her. Nikolas and Spencer come in, and Nikolas asks, just what is Ava offering?

Sonny says he doesn’t think Nina is spiteful, but when word reaches Carly… She’s going through a tough time right now. Nina asks if he hears himself. He’s more concerned about Carly than her. He says, that’s not true; he’s here with Nina right now. She says, but who’s on his mind? Before he got a divorce, he said Carly complained there were three of them in the relationship. Nina’s not so sure Carly was wrong.

Drew tells Carly, the flowers are so beautiful. Her staff really loves her. She says, the feeling’s mutual. It’s crazy. She did not set out to own a hotel, but she came to love the daily challenges; the strategizing, putting out the fires – real ones sometimes. The weddings, the Nurses Ball; she made so many incredible memories here. And she loved every minute. She’s going to miss it, a lot. He asks if she’s ready, but she says she needs a minute. He tells her to take as long as she needs. He picks up the last box and the flowers, and she says she’ll be right down. He tells her, take her time, and leaves. Alone, she says, oh wow. She looks at her name plate on the door, touches it, and slides her name out. She leaves, closing the door behind her. Geez. We don’t even get a MetroCourt Memory Lane?

Alone with Esme, Spencer asks what he and Nikolas walked in on, and she says, more of Ava’s wild accusations. She offered Esme money to admit to filming Joss and Cam. Spencer says, really? How much? She says, not enough to get her to lie; she’s innocent. He says, it’s too bad for Ava. She may have had a chance if she knew what Esme truly wanted… like him. She says, and that is…? and he says, it’s something she wants more than anything else in the world. And only he can give it to her.

Nikolas says he knows Ava wants to help Trina, but is it worth it getting into it with Esme? She says, yes, and he says, let him act as a buffer. Try to avoid being alone with her. She says, not to worry. Esme will be out of their lives pretty soon. Nikolas leaves, and Ava takes out her phone. She calls Curtis, and he asks if she caught the bartender making a deal with Esme, and she says she knows it happened. Unfortunately, she missed it. He was gone before she arrived. Curtis asks, how he could be gone? and Marshall says, the launch never returned. Ava says, there’s another way off the island. Obviously, Esme knows about it. Curtis thanks her for trying, and Marshall says, good Lord, they lost him? All right. Now what?

Stella says, Portia did a wonderful job with Trina. Why does Portia think she failed her? Portia says, all she ever wanted was to give Trina the best life she possibly could. Being a doctor, and her father in law enforcement, they were able to do that. She was proud, so proud she was able to give Trina a comfortable life. Trina grew up with a sense of security, but she lived a sheltered life. The friends she’s made, the schools she’s went to, maybe it was a little bit too sheltered. Maybe in her quest to give Trina this ideal life, she failed to inoculate Trina against the reality of being a woman of color. Stella says, Trina knows who she is, and she’s pretty savvy about the world. She knows they want what’s best for her children, but it’s impossible to completely shield them from pain and injustice. Stop torturing herself. Knowing Trina, Stella can already see Portia taught her what’s important. Portia asks, what’s that? and Stella says, to keep her head to the sky. The world’s gonna knock you down, but what matters is that you get back up, and don’t stay down. Trina’s a fighter, and whatever life throws at their girl, she’ll get back up on her feet.

Carly sighs, and looks around the lobby. Sonny walks over, and asks if she’s okay. She flashes back to finding out Nina is Willow’s biological mother, and says, she’s okay. She has her family. She leaves with Drew.

On Monday (I think), Portia asks if Curtis found the evidence they need to exonerate Trina; Spencer says he has the only proof Esme needs, if she wants it; Carly says, Esme is going to regret the day she messed with their kid; and Sonny says he’s done with talking. It’s time for action.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Skipping Town…

Laura and Alexis are taking a break from Port Charles.

🚑 Where They Went…

I’m still annoyed about their romances with Diane and Epiphany fizzling out.

🦎 Voice Of a Komodo…

I always get a mental picture of the actors standing around in robes and fuzzy slippers.

💝 Happy Anniversary…

Llanview over the years.

💎 Yeah, Yeah…

This show is the worst this season.

🍊 Not a Shock…

All I want to know is, can we still see Mr. Puppers?

https://screenrant.com/rhoc-noella-bergener-jen-armstrong-exit/

🧂 A Shock…

I have to admit, I was pretty surprised too. Not that I didn’t think she was guilty, but I never thought she’d plead it.

But of course it’s all about Andy.

https://people.com/tv/andy-cohen-shares-thoughts-jen-shah-guilty-plea/

🐉 Enter the Dragons…

The latest on House of the Dragon, along with some gorgeous photos.

https://ew.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-cover-story-game-of-thrones-enters-new-age/

https://ew.com/tv/house-of-the-dragon-cover-photos/?

🏆 The Other Emmys…

This year’s nominees for the non-daytime shows.

https://www.avclub.com/emmy-awards-2022-nominee-list-1849165590

🗿 Quotes of the Week

Every time I drink, I break out in handcuffs. – guest on Dr. Phil

Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself. – Og Mandino

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. – Henry David Thoreau (Boy, was he off.)

You are not called to be a canary in a cage. You are called to be an eagle, and to fly sun to sun, over continents. – Henry Ward Beecher, American Clergyman and Author

To be nobody but yourself — in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else — means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. – e. e. cummings

I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare. – Dr. Maya Angelou

He’s the smartest non-smart looking person I know. – Christine Alexandra Chiu, Bling Empire

But that’s what happens. Once the human tragedy has been completed, it gets turned over to the journalists to banalize into entertainment. – Philip Roth

Ask for help. Not because you’re weak, but because you want to remain strong. – Les Brown

Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.Robert Louis Stevenson

The only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks. – Miss J

Disability is what we perceive. Ability is everything we believe! – Tamela D’Amico

The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for. – Bob Marley

Common sense is not so common. – Voltaire

🏂 Sliding Into My Own DMs Like…

Enjoy the next few days, be they a break or the same old. Meet me on Monday for soap and the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay checking yourself before you read others, and stay keeping your head to the sky. The world’s gonna knock you down, but what matters is that you get back up, and don’t stay down.

June 17, 2022 – Drew Celebrates With Carly, Suits, Finished, RomaDrama, Wife Block, Unconcerned, One More, Spinning Thrones, Juneteenth, 10 Quotes For Dads & Vibe

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly sees someone swimming in the pool, and says, the pool’s closed. Drew gets out, and sexy music plays while she stares at him. Erm… He says he was hoping the owner could bend the rules a little for him.

Nina asks if everything’s all right, and Sonny says, it’s just business. It wasn’t anything urgent. He thanks her for waiting, and she says, it would have been rude, not to mention immature, if she’d just walked away in a huff (or a minute and a huff. sorry). He asks if she was tempted, and she says, a little bit. A part of her doesn’t want to hear his answer about the kiss he gave her, but then there’s another part of her that really needs to know, because it means something to her. Did he kiss her because he got into a fight with his ex-wife?

At a drive-in (!), Anna asks if Valentin has ever been here before, but he says he hasn’t had the pleasure. Her? She says, no. All the drive-in theaters she’s seen have been in movies she’s watched. He says, she wanted him to surprise her, and she says, he did. He’s kind of like this movie. He says, old or notorious? and she says, he seems to be black and white, but in reality, he’s a complex balance of shadows. She got that out of a book on Hitchcock. He says he likes it; it makes him sound classic, yet timeless. She says, this is the part where Ingrid Bergman realizes she’s been poisoned, and he says, like the old days, huh? She says, only if your nostalgic about someone being drugged in an undercover operation, and he says he thinks it’s part of their charm tonight.

Trina tells Josslyn that they have to get out of the bar before the cops check their IDs. The instigator, aka tall bald guy, is taken away, and the cops talk to bar guy. Josslyn says, now’s their chance, but as they start to leave, Rory comes in, and asks what they’re doing here.

Selina walks into The Savoy, and asks why Brad called her back here. He says, there’s a problem with the game. Linc comes out of the back and goes to the bar, while Brook stares daggers at him. He asks for a double vodka on the rocks, and Brook starts to stomp over to him, but Chase intercepts her and asks if she’s going somewhere. Brad tells Selina, Judge Abbott canceled at the last minute, so he let another player come in. She says, without vetting him first? Linc tells N’neka to put it on his tab, when Britt comes up to the bar. She says she was here earlier, and realized she can’t find her phone. Did someone turn it in? N’neka says she’ll check, and leaves. Linc says he hopes she finds Britt’s phone. He hates to see a lady in distress.

In the hallway, Brad tells Selina, when he saw the guy’s bankroll, he figured it would be okay. He knew the password. She says, just spit it out; what happened? and Cody comes out, counting a load of cash.

Sonny says, when he kissed Nina, he wasn’t thinking about Carly, and she says, but he did fight with Carly. He says, yeah. Carly and Michael think he turned his back on his family. She says, that’s ridiculous. His family is everything to him. He says, right, and when he went on the stand, it wasn’t against Michael; he was just there to tell the truth. She says, and he was gracious enough to forgive her, and doesn’t hold her responsible anymore for keeping his identity a secret. He says, the thing is, he always believed and still believes Wiley needs to have her in his life. She thanks him, and says, Carly considers that a betrayal. He says, in Carly’s mind, the biggest betrayal was, when Baldwin was going after Michael, he stood by Nina. Nina says she has to be honest. When he did that, she was surprised too.

Drew tells Carly that he just needed a quick swim. It was a crazy day at Aurora, and he didn’t get a chance to work out. She asks, how quick? and he says, only a mile. Navy SEAL. He hopes she isn’t going to revoke his membership, but she says, he’s exactly the distraction she needed after the day she’s had. He says, bad? and she says, beyond. Frustrating… heartbreaking… deeply disappointing, but also the best.

Trina tells Rory that she and Josslyn were tracking down proof Esme framed her, and he says, in a bar known for criminal activity? Trina says, just the place Esme would go to for an unregistered phone, and Josslyn promises they’ll explain everything later, but right now, they need to get out of here. An officer calls Rory over, and asks if he has ID on Josslyn and Trina.

Chase asks, what happened to their hanging out by the pool? and Brook says she’s sorry, but this was too good of a chance to pass up. Linc had a card from The Savoy, with what was obviously a password written on the back. He says, a strong indicator that something shady was going on, and she says, yes, Mr. Sarcasm. This is her chance to catch Linc in the act, and blackmail him into signing the rights to her songs back over to her. He says, there’s so much illegal in what she just said to him, he doesn’t know where to start.

Linc says he knows Britt. She’s the woman in the GIF that’s gone viral; soaking wet… climbing out of the pool. She says, yes, that’s her, and he says, she has a rockin’ bod. It’s like the beauty from the Black Lagoon. They might be able to recreate that in one of his artist’s videos. She says, excuse me? and he says, oh, did he not mention he’s a music producer?

Selina asks, is this the last minute player? and Cody says, they meet again. All the players raved about her in there. She says, did they? and he says, Brad here was kind enough to let him sit in on the game. Texas Hold ‘Em high stakes is exactly how he likes to play. It’s a shame the game ended so early. She says, isn’t it, and he says, thanks for the hospitality. Goodnight. He starts to leave, and she says, Li! A big guy comes in, and she says she’d like a word with this man – outside.

Anna says she loves this movie, and Valentin says he’s never known anyone so thrilled with this film. She says, come on. Cary Grant rescues Ingrid Bergman. The Nazis are thwarted, and the moment he goes back inside, Claude Reins is a dead man. What’s not to love? It’s so good. He says, if she likes this film, she’s going to love the second feature, and she says, he’s not going to tell her what it is? He says she wanted to be surprised. There’s a concession stand that sells bon-bons. A little pedestrian for such a momentous occasion. She says, a drive-in’s momentous? but he says, not the drive-in; us. Her agreeing to an official first date. She says, that is momentous, and he says, so – he brings out a basket from the backseat – he brought charcuterie, and caviar. She says, it’s lovely… and he says, what? She tells him, she loves popcorn at the movies, and he reaches in the back, this time pulling out a bag of popcorn, saying, it’s a good thing he brought some. This is from Japan, salted with umami, and out of this world. She says, popcorn needs to have butter, and he says he’s usually much better at this. She says, bullseye on the movie, and remembering she loves Hitchcock; that’s all perfect. He says, the master of suspense. He never got more romantic than Notorious. She says, yeah, a libeled lady and a charismatic rogue on a spy mission, longing for each other. He says, what’s not to love?

Brook says, of course (🍷) blackmailing Linc is illegal; that’s why she kept him out of it. He says, she ditched him, and she says, for his own good. He’s so close to being reinstated. He says, she asked for his help, and as soon as he agreed, she bailed on him, so she could do it on her own. Not that she got anywhere. She says she begs to differ. Something went way, way wrong. Linc came out of the back room fuming, and when he gets mad, he gets stupid. And when Linc gets stupid, which is most of the time, Linc makes mistakes, and that’s when they’ve got him.

Linc tells Britt, he manages some of the best talent in the business, and she says, he’s rolling in it? He says, private planes, yachts… and she says, he has more than one? He says, that depends where he’s heading, and she pretends to be excited, saying, which she imagines is all over the world. He says, baby, you would not believe the life I’ve lived, and she says she bets he’s seen some things. He says he’s nothing like the guys she’s used to, and she says, so true.

Li tosses Cody into an alleyway, and Cody says, what’s there to talk about? He bought into the game. He played well, he won, fair and square. Selina asks, what’s his definition of fair? What’s indisputable is, he cleaned out all of her other players in eight hands. Cody says, that’s just how the cards fell, and Selina says, when the game goes on all night, the players’ inhibitions wear down, and the stakes go up. If they lose, they ask for credit. Cody says, which she’s more than happy to extend at a far interest rate, and she says, he cut into her profits, she’ll need to recoup her losses, which will come out of his winnings. He says, now who’s not playing fair? and she says something in Mandarin. Li punches Cody in the stomach, and Cody falls to the ground, doubled over.

Nina says, she and Sonny haven’t addressed what Scotty did to Michael on the stand, and he asks if she knew what Scotty was going to do, but she says she didn’t. Scotty told her that he was going to bring up Claudia Zaccara’s death, but she had no idea about the details of how Claudia died. All she knows is, Scotty said he was going to hit Michael with his criminal record. Sonny says, so it sounds like she didn’t know how bad Scotty was going to get with Michael, and she says she didn’t, but she’s not going to get any medals either. Kidnapping Avery, and again, keeping his existence in Nixon Falls a secret. He says, let him guess. Scotty told her, in order to secure visitation with Wiley, she was going to have to level the playing field. She says, make Michael look so bad, she’d look better by comparison, and he says, listen. He just wants her to know, Michael had no intention of killing Claudia. He was just a teenager, and he was defending his little sister. She says she knows that now, and watching Scotty go after him on the stand made her stomach sink. In part because of what she set in motion, and in part because she was sure she’d lose him over it.

Drew says, it’s kind of nice having the place to themselves, and Carly says, one of the perks of co-owning the MetroCourt. He says, she knows he’s only hanging out for the perks, right? and she says she’s under no illusion. They sit, and he says he thinks he knows what she meant when she said, bad, but for the best. It’s when something crappy happens to you, but you needed it. It gives you a wake-up call and shifts your whole perspective. She says, that’s exactly what happened to her today. She hadn’t talked to Sonny since Nina’s visitation hearing. She won’t go into the gory details, but Nina and her lawyer accused Michael of being violent towards women. Can he believe that? He says he heard that, and he’s so incredibly sorry. She says, it was awful, but what was truly indefensible was Sonny. He was in the court room; he heard everything. And when it was over, he comforted Nina. Drew says, she must have felt so betrayed, and she says, yeah, and furious, and devastated. And now, weirdly grateful.

Nina says, when Scotty got done with Michael, and the judge called for a recess because she wanted to talk to Scotty and Diane in chambers, she stood up and felt so alone. She turned around, and there Sonny was, on her side. He looked so stoic, and she had no idea what he was feeling. She thought he was going to tear into her. He says, there was a lot of stuff happening. He was angry with Scotty for going after Michael, and he was disappointed in Michael for going after her. It was a lot. She says she wanted to play fair. She wanted to let everyone just cool down until Michael and Willow would allow her to see Wiley, but Michael and Willow didn’t play fair. He says, even before the five-part feature in The Invader? and she says, they were never going to cool down. Wiley would have been an adult before she was allowed to see him, and by that time, he’d be so brainwashed, he’d never want to see her. Sonny says, she had every right to go for the petition for visitation, and she says she’s made a lot of mistakes, but so has Michael. Nobody is perfect here. He takes her hand, and says, when he saw her in court, she was hurting a lot. All he could think about was making her feel better. She says she just wanted to explain to him what happened. She felt like her skin was ripped off; all her faults were exposed… and there he was. He touched her cheek – she starts to cry, and he gives her his hanky – and that small act of compassion meant more to her than he’ll ever know.

Drew says, Carly is grateful Sonny sided with Nina? and she says, the Sonny she knew would have defended his son, and the fact that he didn’t, brought it all home to her in a way nothing else could. The man she married, the Sonny she loved, the father of her kids, is gone. For as long as she’s known Sonny, he could make her angrier than anyone, and what surprised her today was the anger she didn’t feel. That’s when she realized… He says, her wake-up call, and she says, what Sonny did in that courtroom severed the last tie. They’re Donna’s parents, and will always co-exist for her sake, but they live separate lives. She’s been saying she’s free for a while, but today, she feels free. He tells her, congratulations, and she thanks him. He says, they should celebrate.

Rory says he needs to see their IDs, and Trina says, which one? The real one that says she’s underage, or the fake one that says she’s 23 and her name is Jane? Josslyn says, look, Trina can’t get arrested, even if it’s a misdemeanor. The Title IX investigation came back against her. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and Trina says, thanks, but it turns out it’s the least of her worries. Josslyn tells him, coming here was entirely her idea; she dragged Trina along. Please, just bust her and let Trina go. She hands him her fake ID.

Li kicks Cody’s ass some more, and Selina says, enough. The money. Li reaches in Cody’s pocket, and Cody says, they can’t take his buy-in money; he brought it to the table. She says he cost her far more than she recouped tonight. He’s still in her dept. He says, she can’t leave him with nothing, and she says she’s not completely heartless, and pulls out a bill, tossing it toward him. She tells Li, let’s go, and they leave. Brad tells Cody, sorry, Selina calls to him, and he goes.  

Linc says he doesn’t want to intimidate Britt or anything. He is rich and famous, but deep down, he’s just a regular guy. She says, regular just doesn’t do it for her; neither does rich and famous. She’s into a very particular type. He asks her to enlighten him, and she says, the kind who keeps his head when literal bullets are flying, who’s not overly fussy in the rule of law, and who doesn’t give a damn about pop culture. The kind of guy who can take a punch, and laugh about it. N’neka brings out a phone, and asks if it’s Britt’s, and Britt thanks her, taking it. She tells Linc, by the way, he’s a loser, even if he’s rich and famous, and walks away.

Chase says, if Britt does something illegal, and Linc can prove it, she’ll be in a far worse position than when she started. She says, look at Linc’s expression. Britt blew him off and he is livid. Now’s her chance. She heads for the bar.

Coming out of the club, Britt sees Cody in the alley.

Carly says she’s up for celebrating; what does Drew suggest? He says, how about a night swim? but she says she didn’t bring her suit. He says, they could skinny dip, but she says she owns the hotel. People could come, so… He says he doesn’t think anyone is around, and the pool’s closed. He won’t tell. She says, raincheck? and he says, absolutely. He says, at least put her feet in the water? and sits at the edge of the pool. He holds out his hand, and she says, she can do that, taking it.

Sonny tells Nina, Carly saw him in the courtroom, and that’s what they were fighting about. He guesses she felt that gesture of comfort meant he was okay with Scotty going after Michael. She says she’s so sorry she put him in that position, but he says, he doesn’t regret it. He was just doing what he felt he should do in the moment. She says, Carly can’t forgive him, but he says, she’s done, which is ironic because the divorce has been finalized for a while now. He guesses she doesn’t… She’s cutting the cord, except for Donna. He gets to see Donna as much as he wants. Nina says, no matter what Carly’s issues are, she’s first and foremost a mother. She’s never going to use Donna as a pawn. He says he never thought this would happen. He always thought he’d be connected to Carly, at least from the past and the kids… He flashes back to Carly saying he consoled the woman who initiated an attack on Michael, and she doesn’t know him anymore. He tells Nina, Carly said she doesn’t know who he is anymore, and he’s thinking, of course (🍷) she doesn’t. A lot has changed since Nixon Falls. He’s not the same person; he’s changed. And it seems like the only one who understands him in his life is Nina.

Rory says he’ll need Trina’s too, and the other officer tells Rory, the bouncer checks out. They step aside, and the officer says, his partner is waiting for him; they got a perp violating parole who needs processing at the station. Clear the scene; send everyone home. He leaves, and Rory goes back to Josslyn and Trina. Josslyn asks, what happens now? Is he going to arrest them? He says, technically, it’s not illegal to purchase a fake ID in the state of New York. Using one is more of a grey area; it’s up to the officer’s discretion whether or not he wants to file charges. Trina asks what his discretion is telling him, and he puts the fake ID’s in his pocket, saying, he’ll let them off with a warning, this time.

Cody coughs and groans. Britt picks up the bill, and says, did he lose something?

Brook tells Linc, what a coincidence. Long time, no see. He tells her, get lost. He’s expecting a call from Korea. She says, and there’s a bridge for sale in Brooklyn, and he says he should know better than to visit Port Charles. First, some cowboy took all his cash in a card game; then some woman doesn’t even have the sense to appreciate what he’s offering. His phone rings, and he says, this is it. He says, min-ho; ban nalYes, absolutely. All I Want is still available. Brook says, that’s her song, and Linc says, they will do a phenomenal interpretation, and he’s listened to plenty of boy bands. Might he say, theirs is the best in the K-Pop biz… Yeah, they can change the lyrics from him to her. They can change whatever they want; he owns the song. Brook grabs the phone, and he says, what the hell. She says, the song in question is no longer available. It’s caught up in a copyright lawsuit that could drag on for years. Bye. She hangs up, and Linc says, does she realize what she just did? She says she saved her song. He says he wants his phone back, and grabs her arm. Chase flies between them, separating them, and Linc says, if Chase doesn’t realize she’s using him, he’s dumber than he looks. He holds out his hand, and says, phone. Or he will sell her entire catalog to a porn producer he knows who’ll use it for soundtracks, She says, what a surprise; he knows a porn producer. Linc says, come to think of it, that’s a market she should explore. She can’t sing anymore, but there are other ways to perform, like lying on your back. Chase punches him in the face.

Anna’s phone dings, and she tells Valentin, sorry. She usually remembers to switch these things off. He asks if it’s important, but she says, it’s just work; it’ll keep. He asks if it’s anything to do with the Jennifer Smith case, and she wonders why he’s asking. He says, just curious. He offered his assistance, and she was strangely quiet. She says, it’s not likely she would need it. The WSB thinks the case is airtight. He says, she doesn’t agree? and she says, no. Jennifer insisted she had this French naval captain up in her room. He says, played by Gary Cooper? and she says she wishes. Anyway, they haven’t been able to locate him or confirm his identity. Valentin flashes back to pretending to be the captain, and says, he thinks he can still be of some use.  

Nina tells Sonny, she’s sorry; she didn’t mean to get so emotional. He says he didn’t call her here for consolation, and she says, she knows. She can tell he’s hurting. Why doesn’t he talk to her? He says he’s tired of hurting. He’s tired of being angry and being sorry. This is who he is. Love him or hate him, with her, it seems to be enough. She says she’s tired of hurting too. She’s tired of the loss and regret. He makes her happy, and she wants to embrace that happiness. He asks how they start, and she kisses his hand, and says, slowly.

Carly and Drew eat ice cream cones, as they dangle their feet in the water. Carly says, this is perfect, and he says she doesn’t think his idea of a celebration is kind of lame? She says, sometimes the simplest things are the best. She’s hanging out with him on this gorgeous night, and her feet are in the swimming pool that she co-owns, and she’s got chunk of stock in a media company that’s soaring by the day. He says, a bigger chunk than she expected, but she says she knows a good thing when she sees it.

Britt sits Cody up, and asks what he did to deserve this. He says, this is how it goes when he’s on a winning streak, and she says, he gets beat up and left in an alley with $50? He says, his luck turns harder and faster than a bucking bronco, and she says, there he was, picturing the hot car he was going to buy, that place in Malibu. He says, a 200 acre spread in Wyoming. Nice place; has she ever been? He was going to buy some horses. She says, purebred? but he says, no, the price is too pricey. He was going to get some workhorses to take care of and ride… He closes his eyes, and she says, he may have a concussion, so stay with her. He says he’s not sleeping; he’s just resting his eyes. She says, then she’ll leave him to it. She starts to walk away, and says, damn Hippocratic Oath. First do no harm. She goes back to him, and says she’s a doctor, so first, she’s going to check his injuries. She’s warning him now; this is going to hurt. She moves his head and he groans. She checks his eyes.

Rory says, Trina and Josslyn were looking for a lead on Esme; did they find one? Trina says, yes and no, and Josslyn says, Esme framed Trina by planting the phone in Trina’s bag. Trina says, the phone she used to record the sex tape, and then send it out in an email blast. Josslyn says, they think they found the guy who sold her the phone, and Rory asks, who is he? Trina says, he was tending the bar when they got there; they don’t know his name. Josslyn says, he was about to ID Esme, but the fight broke out, and he slipped away. Trina says, but he works here, which means he’ll be back. Next time they’ll… Rory says, next time, they won’t be anywhere near here, and Josslyn says, they need to find the guy. Rory says, he’ll ask about the bartender. He’ll get a name and description, and he’ll run it. Rory’s phone beeps, and he says he’s got another call; disturbance in progress. How are they getting home? Josslyn says, a Ride Share; they’ll be here in ten minutes. He tells then, be sure not to miss it, and leaves.

Carly thanks Drew for the ice cream, and says, it was a great suggestion. He starts unbuttoning his shirt, and she asks what he’s doing. He says, what does she think he’s doing? He’s working off the ice cream. The mile he swam isn’t going to cut it. He gets in the pool, and she thanks him for the celebration. He tells her, who says it’s over? As far as he’s concerned, it’s just getting started.

Sonny says, he and Nina have been dancing around each other for a year at least, not to mention their time in Nixon Falls. How much slower can they go? She says she wants nothing more than to dive head first into a relationship with him, and he asks, what’s stopping her? She says, herself. The feeling she had in that courtroom when she stood up and saw him. They’re hot and heavy for each other now, but what happens to her when it fizzles out? She takes his hand, and says, he’s unlike any man she’s ever known, and she wants them to build something real between them. He says he appreciates it, but she’s not the only one who’s feeling alone. Carly and Michael cut him out of their life; he can’t rely on them. There is this connection they have, but if she wants to take it slow, he’s okay with that. She says, okay, and picks up her bag. He asks if she’s going home already, and she says she is, handing him back his hanky. He tells her to keep it to remember him, and she laughs, saying, okay. If she doesn’t leave now, she never will. She’ll call him. He says he’s looking forward to it, and she leaves.

Cody asks, will I live? and Britt says, his ribs are bruised, and maybe some are cracked. She recommends an x-ray. He says he’ll get right on that, as soon as he figures out how to stand up, and she says, for pity’s sake, lean on her. She helps him up, and he grunts and groans. She says he’s such a big baby. Is he the same guy who fell from the sky and into the MetroCourt pool without a bump? He says, she cushioned his fall, and she says, she’s parked over there; she’ll drive him to GH. He says, hospitals are pricey, and he’s down to his last fifty, but she says, she’s not going to leave him in the alley. He needs help. He says he knows who can help him, and they owe him.

Anna says, familiar with a lot of French captains, are we? and Valentin says, profiling 101. First of all, how do they know Jennifer didn’t just invent this gallant seafarer? She says, they know he exists because the hotel bartender saw him, and Valentin says, okay. This is where he suggests the captain’s involvement is incidental. Miss Smith is just implicating him as a red herring. She says, no more Hitchcock for him, but he says, it’s Occam’s Razor; the simplest explanation is usually the right one. She doesn’t want to admit her guilt, so she’s claiming innocence, and pointing the finger at some poor sap she met at the hotel bar. Anna says, perhaps, and he asks what she thinks happened, but she says she’s not sharing her theories with a civilian. He asks who she’s calling a civilian. They’ve worked together on plenty of her cases. She asks what he’s doing, and he says he’s trying to help her, but she says, he’s not. She thought this was too good to be true; is this really a date? Or is this whole drive-in, Hitchcock, charcuterie just a tactic to get information out of her?

Josslyn and Trina get in the car, and Josslyn says, how crazy was that? Trina says, the bar fight? The lead on Esme? Josslyn says, the cops showing up? Trina says, they were so close to getting the bartender to ID Esme, and Josslyn says, things could be worse. We could be in the back of a squad car, charged with misdemeanor use of a fake ID… Jane. Trina says, you’re right… Kara. Rory did us a solid tonight. Josslyn says, us? That had nothing to do with her. Rory did it for Trina. He likes her. Trina says she thinks he does.

At The Savoy, Rory asks, what happened here? and Linc says, he was attacked, assault and battery, and he’s pressing charges. Take statements from all the witnesses. Rory asks if N’neka saw the incident, and she says she’s afraid she did. He asks, who did what to whom?

Brook tells Chase, it’s all her fault; she feels awful. He says, he’s the one who lost his cool, and she says, he had every right to. Linc is such a slimeball. They’ll sneak out the back door, hole up at the mansion, and call the ELQ lawyers. They’ll get them out of this. She starts to leave, and asks if he isn’t coming. He says, it will only make things worse if he leaves the scene. He’ll be labeled a fugitive with an APB on his back.

Linc tells Rory, he was the victim of a brutal and unprovoked attack, but Rory says, according to Linc’s witness here – he indicates N’neka – Detective Chase threw the first and only punch. N’neka says, Linc collapsed like wet cardboard, and laughs. Linc says, exactly. Call an ambulance. Chase broke his jaw. Rory says, excuse him, and goes over to Chase. He says, Chase was on suspension when he joined the force, but he’s heard the stories. Chase says he bets. Rory’s heard the witness, and the victim who clearly wants to press charges. He turns around, putting his hands behind his back, and Brook says, no, no. no. He was provoked. Linc had it coming. Please don’t do this. Chase says, Brook… and Rory read Chase his rights, handcuffing him.  

On Monday (which was supposed to be today), Trina tells Portia that she thinks things are going in her favor; Valentin says he’ll do anything Anna wants; Laura tells Martin, she’s narrowed the suspects down to one; and Spencer tells Victor that he has good reason to keep Esme close.

👃 Smelled This Coming…

I have to admit, I always wonder if people who use their religion to opt out are like vegetarians who wear leather shoes.

🦸🏻‍♂️ Wrapping It Up…

Valentin finishes up his side hustle.

💖 Come On Down…

If you happen to be in the neighborhood and enjoy a little romance and/or soap stars, here’s an event for you.

👉🏻 It’s Fancy Pants’ Fault…

Another one who thinks someone is making it personal, when they’re really just vial and unlikeable, and no one likes them.

⛵️ Reaping What He Sowed…

When will Gary get little Gary under control? Does he want to go the way of Jean Luc?

https://www.eonline.com/news/1334521/below-deck-sailing-yachts-gary-king-responds-to-concerns-over-ashley-marti-incident

👰🏼 Not Sure We Care…

But to round out the excuses of why <fill in Vanderpump Rules cast member> wasn’t at Stassi’s wedding, here you go.

🐉 Thrones For the Spin…

A show about Flea Bottom sounds pretty interesting.

https://ew.com/tv/game-of-thrones-every-spinoff-in-development/

💃🏾 Because It’s June…

What Juneteenth is about.

https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth

And what to watch.

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Every father should remember one day his son will follow his example, not his advice. – Charles Kettering

The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They’re not heartless and cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion — to care about people and about your children. – Denzel Washington

A 2-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.Jerry Seinfeld

A father carries pictures where his money used to be. – Steve Martin

The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himself, but for his family.Reed Markham

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, ‘You’re tearing up the grass.’ ‘We’re not raising grass,’ Dad would reply. ‘We’re raising boys.‘ – Harmon Killebrew

Just taught my kids about taxes by eating 38% of their ice cream. – Conan O’Brien

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he’s wrong. – Charles Wadsworth

The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get. – Tim Russert (Although I question who this is attributed to, since I remember my father saying it before Russert’s time.)

The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature. – Abbé Prévost

👔 Happy Father’s Day…

To all the father’s out there, be they biological, father figures, or pet dads – enjoy your day! And then get back to work. See you on Monday for soap and Sailing. Until then, stay safe, stay unregretful about the path not taken, and stay remembering, when something crappy happens to you, it could be a wake-up call and for the best.

May 5, 2022 – Willow Learns Part Of the Secret, Out Of Harmony, a Break-Up, Positivity, Parallel Worlds, Dragon News & Cinco

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the gym, Chet thanks Sonny for the time off, and Sonny asks how the trip to the middle east went. Chet says, it was incredible. He wasn’t sure how he’d feel about being back in the country, but bringing the supplies to the non-profit and sharing his story with the other wounded vets gave him a sense of closure he didn’t realize he needed. Sonny says he’s glad Chet made the trip; he helped a lot of people. He’s also glad Chet’s back. Chet says he’s glad to be back. Turns out he has a lot more to look forward to now that he’s home.

Terry asks Elizabeth, what’s more date worthy; red or sparkly? Elizabeth asks if this is why Terry insisted she come with her to the nail salon; color consultation? Terry says, they needed a girl’s outing. Elizabeth has been working too much. Elizabeth says she’s trying to save up so Cameron can live in the dorms instead of semi-crashing with friends. Getting her nails done is a luxury she can’t afford. Terry says, no worries. It’s her treat, and hands Elizabeth the menu. Elizabeth says, normally she wouldn’t worry, but Terry never wants anyone to come with her to the nail salon. It’s her meditative time. Terry says, after meditating on it, she decided it’s time for a new tradition, and Elizabeth asks, what’s really going on? Terry says, you know, there’s paraffin treatments in there, and Elizabeth looks at her. Terry says, fine. She does have something to confess, but Elizabeth isn’t going to like it.

Britt gives TJ coffee, and says she heard it was a rough night. He says he lost his first patient, and she says, always tough. He says, she wasn’t exactly a stranger. Harmony Miller may have been bad news, but telling her daughter, so sorry, we did everything we could, was worse than he could have imagined. Britt asks if they did do everything he could, and he says, they did. She says, then he’s good, but he says, it doesn’t feel like it. She says, nothing prepares you for the first one.

Brook hugs Michael, and says she’s sorry about Willow’s mom. He says, he’ll tell her when she wakes up, and Brook tells Carly, she can’t even imagine. Carly says, it was rough[T1] , but she’s okay. Brook says she never had any doubts, and tells Wiley that she’ll see him later. Outside, her phone rings, and she says, it’s so good to hear his voice after the day she’s had, and it’s only noon. Chase asks if she’s all right, and she says, just too much reality. She needs a fantasy fix. They’re still on for the screening, right? He says, it’s May the 4th and she asks if he forgot. He says he got the tickets ages ago, and has another commitment. She says, like what; a date? He says, yes, actually. He’s pretty sure her dad doesn’t let her watch PG movies. They’ll talk later. Violet holds up two tiaras, and says, pink or purple?

Michael tells Carly, Willow was so upset last night, he didn’t think she’d be able to sleep. She sat on the bed to take off her shoes, and when he turned around, she was asleep with all her clothes still on. Carly says, it’s a good thing Willow’s getting her rest. She’s going to need her strength for what’s to come.

Chet asks how his temporary replacement did, and Sonny says, he only met Dex for a minute, but he seems capable. Chet says, he took a chance on Dex because he’s a fellow vet, and he had experience in gym management. He just hopes he met Sonny’s expectations. Sonny says, the transition was seamless, and the staff has no complaints, and Chet says, as long as he wasn’t better at Chet’s job than he is. Sonny says, no chance of that, when Dante walks in. He shakes hands with Chet, and Sonny says, he’s here early. Dante says he left Sonny a message, and Sonny says, what’s up? Dante says, he hasn’t heard, and Chet leaves to go back to work. Sonny asks, what’s going on? and Dante says, Carly and Alexis were attacked last night.

Chase says, it’s so hard to choose, and Violet says, last time, he was pink. He says, that’s because he thought she preferred purple, and she says, she does, but when it’s on her head, she can’t see it. That’s why daddy usually picks purple. He says, speaking of which, her dad called, and said he’s so excited to see her tonight, and he blew her a big kiss. She says, Chase will have to call him back, so he can blow Finn a kiss back for her, and he says, or she could do it herself. She says, that’s true, and he says, you know what else is true? With her dad away, they can spend the whole day together. What does she want to do? She says, tea party, and he says, that’s an option. Or they could take a walk in the park, and see the ducks in the lake. She says, tea party, and he says, or they could go to the aquarium, and see the purple fish and all the sea creatures. She says, tea party, and he says, that’s three tea parties in less than 24 hours. She says, you can never have too many tea parties, and he says, noted.

Terry says, Elizabeth’s mani/pedi is actually being underwritten by a generous benefactor, one who’s concerned about the amount of stress she’s been under. Elizabeth thanks Terry for telling her, and says, now if Terry will excuse her, she’s going to kill Finn. Terry asks if she can wait until after she gets her nails done; Elizabeth needs this. Elizabeth says, one afternoon isn’t going to make her forget everything that’s been going on, and Terry asks, what exactly is everything? Elizabeth has been tired and irritable, and the fact Finn asked her to take Elizabeth on this little outing only confirms things are bigger than Elizabeth told her. Elizabeth says she can handle it, and Terry says, who done it then? Who slashed her dress and put her wedding ring in her locker? Who burned down Franco’s studio, took his portrait of her, and left it in her house? If Elizabeth is handling it, she must know this. Elizabeth says she doesn’t enjoy Terry when she’s like this, and Terry says, and yet, she should be used to it by now. Enough with the silence and pretense. Elizabeth is telling her everything, and don’t forget, she’s known Elizabeth longer than anyone, so don’t even think about holding back, because she’ll know.

Britt tells TJ, as much as she hates to say this, Harmony Miller is only the first of many. He says, of patients he’ll lose in the future; he can’t wait. She says, it may not be comforting, but it’s the truth. How is he doing? Amy runs up to Britt, and Britt asks if there’s something she can help with. Amy says she hopes so. She agreed to work a double-shift, but she’s not feeling well, so she was hoping… Britt asks if she checked with Epiphany, and Amy tells her, Epiphany said it was okay with her if it was okay with Britt. She just conducted her final patient rounds and the beds in the ER are at half-capacity. Britt says, go, and Amy jets, Britt saying, feel better. She asks TJ where they were, and he says, how he was doing. He did everything he could to save his patient, and still lost her, so he feels helpless, useless; it’s eating him up. Part of him wants to scream and throw his coffee against the wall. She says, he is a doctor and this is a hospital. There are plenty of fantastic places to scream. He can pick his favorite. He says he’ll try that, and thanks her.

Dante tells Sonny, Carly and Alexis are home and recovering, but they’re pretty rattled. Sonny asks where Harmony is now, and Dante says, she’s dead. Sonny asks, how? and Dante says, she tried to get away on foot and a car hit her. That’s all he can tell Sonny right now. Sonny says he has to call Carly, and Dante asks, what’s the matter? Sonny says, it’s just there was a time when Carly would have called him about this, or the hospital would have contacted him as next-of-kin. But now, in the eyes of the law, they’re not family anymore, so… Dante says, families aren’t made or broken with emergency contact information, but Sonny says, it’s family. There should always be trust and care. He’s always going to care about Carly the rest of his life, but now she doesn’t want anything to do with him.

Michael paces, and Carly says, keep it up and he’s going to wear a groove in the floor. He says, he’s still reeling about what happened. Willow was just starting to regain trust with Harmony, and now she gets to deal with this? Wiley asks, what about Grandma Harmony? and Carly asks what color he wants to color the car. He says, blue, and she says, blue it is, giving him a crayon. Get going. He colors, and she steps aside with Michael, and tells him that he’s going to have to watch it. He says he knows, but he doesn’t understand what led Harmony to do what she did at Round the Mulberry Bush Point, but the police are investigating, which means this is going to go public. She says, and the press is going to jump all over it, and he says, he’s managed to stall Aurora’s digital press, but he can’t control all media. Eventually, this is going to come out, and he doesn’t know how to protect Willow from the fallout.

Violet asks Princess Brandywine – aka Chase, wearing his tiara – how the scones are, and with an English accent, he says, I do believe, Princess Honeycutt, these are the finest scones I’ve had the good fortune to nibble on. Violet thanks him, and there’s a knock at the door. He says, whoever they are, he owes them. He opens the door to Brook, holding two light sabers. She says, may the fourth be with you, and laughs seeing his tiara. She asks if that’s a Jedi or Sith tiara, and Violet says, Uncle Chase is Princess Brandywine. He says, Lady Honeycutt speaks the truth; he is Princess Brandywine. Brook says, then call her Han Solo, because she arrived in the nick of time.

Elizabeth tells Terry, she and the boys are living apart, Aiden is discussing Ouija boards with Lucy Coe, and she can’t even escape this menace in a hotel room. And that brings them to now. Terry says, oh my God. She can’t believe Elizabeth has been dealing with all this. Elizabeth should have told her. Elizabeth says, the police are on the case, and Finn’s been very supportive. What else could Terry have done besides worry? Terry says, offer her support, someone to vent to, her home? Elizabeth says, Finn offered his home as well, but whatever this is, it followed her to the MetroCourt. She doesn’t want it following her to Terry’s home as well. Terry asks if she doesn’t mean whoever, but Elizabeth says, Aiden believes it’s Franco’s ghost. Terry asks if Elizabeth believes he’s right; that she’s being stalked by Franco’s ghost. Amy walks in, sees them, and turns around, but Elizabeth says, Amy.

Dante suggests Sonny reach out to Carly, and Sonny says, someone tries to kill Carly, and she doesn’t reach out to him; same with Michael? That sends a message. They don’t want anything to do with him. Dante says, maybe they’re just catching their breath. Last night was a crazy night. Alexis and Carly were still being treated when Harmony was brought in. They’re all still trying to pick up the pieces, and Michael was worried about Carly and Willow. Maybe he was too distracted to contact Sonny even if he thought of it; even if he wanted to. Sonny says, he doesn’t want to; it’s his choice. Dante asks if Sonny is taking care of himself, and Sonny says, of course (🍷) he is, and Dante says, Sonny lost his best friend, his wife, and now, a son. Sonny says, thanks for reminding him, and Dante says he’s not trying to remind Sonny, but he sees Sonny getting more isolated, and sometimes when that happens, Sonny is more vulnerable.

Michael says, there’s one thing he doesn’t understand, and Carly says, just one? They go farther away from Wiley, and he says, as crazy as what Harmony did at Road Rage Point, what pushed her that far? She seemed like she was in a good place, and rebuilding what she had with Willow. What she tried to do was so outrageous, guaranteed to fail. She must have known that. So why jeopardize her relationship with Willow? Carly says, and this little guy, indicating Wiley, and he says, exactly. She was obviously desperate, and he probably didn’t help that.

Sonny asks if Dante is saying he’s vulnerable, or his business is vulnerable. Dante says, he can’t speak to Sonny’s business, for obvious reasons. He’s just saying, as Sonny’s son, he’s concerned he’ll be drinking again and get off his meds. Sonny says, he’s not wrong, and he appreciates Dante’s concern, but he has a handle. Dante says, on the drinking or the meds? and Sonny says, both. Sonny gets up to punch the heavy bag, and Dante asks, what about being alone? Does he have that handled too? Sonny says Dante doesn’t have to worry about him, and Dante says, good enough. He’s got to run to the Quartermaines, and talk to Willow. Sonny says, they’ll talk later, and Dante leaves.

TJ tells Britt that he almost wishes he could compartmentalize his emotions, but she says, no Chief wants robots populating their staff. He says, she doesn’t want doctors lined up outside the call room, waiting to have a good cry, but she says, sounds pretty good to her. It wasn’t that long ago she had to deliver devastating news to new parents. He says, Brando and Sasha, and she says, feeling too much or too little both have their drawbacks, but given the choice, she’d prefer her medical professionals using their heart as well as their head. He says his favorite professor always said, good doctors come from good listening, and listening can’t be taught. She says, it’s also not billable. The trick is to combine compassion with efficient care. He says, she makes it sound easy, and she says, it’s not, but it’s doable. Tell her. What kind of doctor does he want to be?

Elizabeth invites Amy to join them, and Amy says, thanks, but she was just getting a manicure not a pedicure. Terry says she thought Amy was doing a double, and Amy says she was, but she wasn’t feeling well after last night. Terry asks if she was prescribed a cuticle trim, and Amy says she can find another salon. Elizabeth says, no. They can save the shop talk for when they get back to work, okay? Amy says, it’s not okay, and asks why Terry is picking on her lately. They’re not even at the hospital, and Terry is all up in her business. Terry says, because as far as she knows, Amy is supposed to be at the hospital, and Amy says, Dr. Ashford lost his first patient last night. She was working with him. They couldn’t save her. It got to her. Sorry. Terry says she’s sorry to hear that, but she has a job to do. Amy says, and she doesn’t like the way Terry’s doing it, and she’s probably not the only one. Terry says, which is why staff is given the opportunity to evaluate hospital leadership quarterly, and Amy says, she may forego that, and march straight to Monica. Terry says, knock herself out; they’re done. Elizabeth says, she understands why Amy is upset… Terry says, Amy’s entitled to her anger, and Amy says, oh thank you. Terry says, she’s also entitled to file a formal complaint with the board. What she’s not entitled to is to ruin Terry’s day off. Amy walks to a manicure station, and Elizabeth says, that definitely got her mind off of her problems.

Violet plays with a light saber, and Chase says, Brook is so his hero. Did she pick these up on the way over? She asks if he’s kidding. All the light sabers are gone by the end of April. Her dad actually got these for Rocco and Leo. He couldn’t go to Star Wars, so she brought Star Wars to him. He says he’s glad she remembered, and she says, of course (🍷) she remembered. He says, why of course (🍷)? and she says, it’s a very important day in this galaxy, and it’s important to him. Violet asks Chase to come swordfight with her, and Brook says, he heard the princess. She takes the tiara off of his head and puts it on her own. He tells Violet, these are called light sabers, and they’re the ancient and sacred weapon of the warriors known as the Jedi. He and Violet duel, while Brook watches, smiling.

Michael tells Carly, he was always so guarded with Harmony. Maybe if he’d been more accepting and been honest… Carly says, stop that. No one made Harmony do what she did. She made the choice to hurt people. There’s a knock at the door, and Michael opens it to Dante. Dante goes over to say hi to Wiley, and Carly asks if he’s here to see Willow. Dante says, if she’s resting, he can come back, but Willow comes down the stairs. Michael tells Wiley, mom’s awake; she could use a hug. Wiley hugs Willow, and Carly asks what they can do for Willow. Willows says, hugs help, and Carly says, then she’s next in line. She hugs Willow, and Wiley comes back for a three-way hug. Carly tells Willow that she’s so sorry, and says, she’ll take Wiley to the main house, and come back. She leaves with Wiley, and Michael asks how Willow is holding up. She says, last night was… He says, overwhelming, and Dante says he has more information, if she feels like she’s ready for it.

Chet brings Dex over to say goodbye to Sonny, since it’s his last day. Dex thanks Sonny for the opportunity, and says he hopes his work was satisfactory. Sonny says, if he ever needs a replacement for Chet, he’ll give Dex a call. What’s next for him? Dex says he’s not sure. Ideally, he’d like to stay in another capacity. Chet says he wishes he could offer Dex a permanent position, but they’re fully staffed, and Dex says, if something opens up, he’s happy to scrub floors, fix equipment, or wash towels. No job is too big or small. All he’s asking for is a chance.

Elizabeth asks, since when is there friction between Terry and Amy? and Terry says she had to call Amy out a few times. Nurse Driscoll thinks it’s personal, but it isn’t. She shouldn’t lose her temper; it’s unprofessional. And even worse, it causes frown lines. Elizabeth suggests they talk about something that makes Terry smile. Like her sweet lovah. Terry says, he is not her lovah. It’s not a secret; she just doesn’t want to jinx it. Elizabeth says, if not his name, give her something, and Terry says, he’s funny and handsome, a real gentlemen, and he looks great in a t-shirt. She met him a few months ago. They had a drink on Valentine’s, then he had to leave town. Elizabeth says, that’s not a good sign, but Terry says, they kept in touch, and my God, the man gives great text. Elizabeth says, sounds like Terry is in trouble, and Terry says, speaking of trouble, is Elizabeth going be okay at the hotel tonight? Elizabeth says she just forgot to latch the door; it won’t happen again. Terry asks if she at least called hotel security, and Elizabeth says, she called security, the police, nothing seems to help. Maybe nothing can. Terry says, the ghost theory? and Elizabeth says, Terry is a woman of science, and so is she, but at this point, she’s willing to try everything. Terry says, whatever eases her mind, and Elizabeth says, good, so Terry will go someplace with her later this week? Terry asks if she can be more specific, but Elizabeth says, Terry already trusts her. She doesn’t need to know. Terry says, unfortunately, that’s true, and Elizabeth says, right now, she needs to get back to work, and Terry needs to prep for her hot date.

Brook says, my word, Lady Honeycutt, this tea is delicious, and Violet says, well, thank you, Queen Marshmallow. Brook asks Chase to tell please her they can put something strong and real in these cups, and he says, now she knows his pain. Violet says, the tea is orange spice, daddy’s favorite, and Brook asks if her daddy is working today. Violet says, he had an emergency at the hospital. He’s saving lives. Brook says, he helps a lot of people, and Violet says, Uncle Chase helps a lot of people too. Brook says, the police certainly help a lot of people, and her Uncle Chase is one of the best, and Chase says, he misses it. Brook puts her hand on his, and says, it’s just a few more weeks. Violet notices the attraction between them, and giggles. Brook removes her hand, and asks if Violet heard that. Her Uncle Chase will be back to saving the galaxy soon. Just like Luke… Chase says, Skywalker? and she says, how could she forget? He says, too bad they’re not going to the movie tonight. She could use a refresher. She says, maybe they can have a private screening someday soon.

TJ tells Britt that he wants to be the kind of doctor people are happy to see again. He wants his patients to trust him, and know he’ll move heaven and earth for them. He wants to be a doctor who provides solace when healing is impossible. She asks how that’s going for him so far, and he says, he did all he could to save Harmony, but in breaking the news to Willow, every bit of his confidence and all his training went out the window, and he felt completely out of his depth. Britt says, congratulations. You’re still human. You can’t tell when the losses will hit. You can go a whole year without one, then have three in one hour. He says, damn, and she says, he may need to learn not to internalize every loss; that takes a toll. He asks what she suggests, and she says, self-care. She knows, it’s an overused, crunchy granola term these days, but the concept of putting on an oxygen mask first, you have to take care of you first. She knows it sounds selfish, but it’s the first step in helping others. He says, he’ll keep it in mind, but does she have any recommendations or suggestions for self-care? She says, find something that brings him peace. For some people it’s exercise, therapy, a hobby, or time with loved ones. He’s been here all night, right? While he’s worrying about Willow’s family, has he had time to check in on his own? How’s Molly after her mom was attacked? He says, she’s upset of course (🍷), but she’s Molly. Britt says she doesn’t know what that means, and he says, she’s not only holding it together, but she’s holding everyone together. Britt says, sounds rough; he’s had a rough night. Just say the word, and she has him covered. He says, she means…? and she says, he can go home. This is a time in the beginning of his career where he has to determine what matters most. Otherwise, he can count on having many more dark lonely nights of the soul. She goes to the desk, and he ponders this.

Dante says, officially, he’s here to update Willow on the investigation, and she says, and unofficially? He says, unofficially… when Carly comes back. She asks what she missed, but Michael says, they were just starting. Dante says, unofficially, he’s here as family, and Willow thanks him, but says, please, just tell her why her mother tried to kill Carly and Alexis. Carly says, at Alexis’s house, she found papers that implicated Harmony in a crime, and to stop her from exposing that crime, Harmony attacked and drugged her. Willow says she knows all that. What she doesn’t know is why. What was her mother trying to hide? Dante says, Harmony had killed before.

Violet thanks Chase and Brook for making her tea party a delightful occasion. She’s going to clean up. Don’t have fun without her. Violet leaves with the tea party things, and Brook says, Violet wanted to clean up by herself? She’ll never raise a kid half as well-mannered as her. Chase says, she’ll be a great mom; he’s seen her in action. He asks, how’s Leo? Is he feeling any better about his upcoming performance? She says, he’s still nervous, but Chase helped. He says, we helped. They make a great team. She says, but there’s only so much they can do. Drama therapy is helping, but stage fright is very real. He says, even if you’re not the one performing? Has she written any songs lately? She says, nope, and he tells her that she’s a gifted songwriter. She says she used to be. What if the new stuff isn’t… He says, there’s only one way to find out. He gets it. He hasn’t done his job in so long; what if he can’t remember how to do it? She says, he’s a pro. It’s like riding a bike. He straightens her tiara, and says, if she can have this much faith in him, why can’t she do it for herself?

Elizabeth and Terry stride into the hospital, and Elizabeth thanks Terry for their girl’s outing. Terry says, make sure she thanks Finn too, preferably before she kills him for being considerate of her feelings. He should know by now how much kindness annoys her. Elizabeth says, what’s wrong with that guy? and Terry says, let her know the day of their mystery appointment. Elizabeth says, let her know how her date goes, and gets in the elevator. Terry sees Britt going by, and follows. She asks if Britt knows Amy blew off her second shift for a manicure, and Britt says, she told Amy she could leave early, but a manicure? Good for her. Terry says, excuse me? and Britt says, Amy lost a patient last night. Terry says, it sucks that Amy had a rough night, but it doesn’t excuse the way Amy talked to her. Britt says, she’ll discuss it with Amy, and Terry says she was going to have Epiphany talk to her, but Britt says, she’d like to have a shot at it. Using the carrot instead of the stick; it’s a thing she’s trying. Terry says, let her know how it goes, and starts to leave, when Britt says, that’s not what she’s wearing on her date, is it?

Sonny says he appreciates Dex’s hustle, but they have no jobs right now. Dex says he thought it was worth a try. You only miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Sonny says, good attitude, when Amy comes in, and Chet excuses himself, saying, family awaits. Sonny says, speaking of family, he has to make a call, but don’t be a stranger. Sonny steps away, and calls Carly. He says he heard about last night, and wanted to make sure she was okay. The guys sparring in the ring behind him get out of hand, and Dex steps in, telling them, knock it off. It’s not some back alley. Show some respect.

Dante tells Willow, the body of Brendon Byrne surfaced at Pier 54. They have evidence Harmony murdered him. Willow asks why her mother would kill Brendon Byrne. Did he have a connection to Dawn of Day or Shiloh? Dante says, the only connection they’re aware of is that he was Neil Byrne’s brother, who Harmony also murdered. Michael asks if Dante is saying Harmony murdered a man to conceal killing his brother, then tried to kill his mom and Alexis to cover it? Dante tells him, that’s what he’s saying, but Willow says, that can’t be right. Her mother had her faults, but she was kind and compassionate. She was not a murderer. Dante says, Harmony committed a crime years ago, and went to great lengths to hide it. Willow says, having to do with her past? and Dante says, her past, and Willow’s.

Terry asks how Britt knew she had a date, and Britt says, when she’s bored, she hacks into Terry’s personal calendar, emails, and browser history. She also just overheard Elizabeth. Terry says, if Britt must know, she’s going home to change, so thanks for asking. Britt says, not a fan of unsolicited advice? and Terry says, is anyone? Britt says, then Terry probably isn’t going to like what she has to say. Terry tells her, go on, and Britt says, forget about Amy, forget about the hospital, forget about everything and enjoy her date.

Dex gives the sparring guys the bum’s rush, as Chet watches. Amy says, Terry has it out for her, and Chet says he’s sure that’s not the case. She says, thanks for telling her that her feelings and perceptions aren’t valid. He’s a great brother. He says, she has a history of blowing things out of proportion, and she says, he was adopted. He says, no, she was, and she says, no, she wasn’t. He says, she and her boss are just going through a rough patch. They should just talk it out. She says he doesn’t know Terry; she’s completely unreasonable. He says he can’t imagine what that’s like, and she says, she can’t imagine talking it out; there’s no point. She’s just going to avoid Terry whenever possible.

Terry tells Britt, wait a second. She, of the caustic remarks, who freely judges the choices of others, is actually telling her to go out… Britt says, just enjoy herself, and Terry says, Britt is continually not as aggravating as she thought she’d be. Britt says, what a compliment. Get out. Terry leaves, and TJ tells Britt that she was right. Britt says, as usual. About what? He says he took her advice, and called Molly. She wants to cuddle on the couch, watch Star Wars, and eat vegan pizza. Britt says, sounds like a great way to recharge, and he says he’d like to take her up on her offer if that’s okay. She says, go, leave, be with his domestic partner. He says he just needs to tie up a few things, and she says she’ll hold down the fort. Enjoy that vegan pizza. Oh, and may the fourth be with him. He leaves, and she says, besides, it’s not like she has anyone waiting.

On the phone, Elizabeth speaks to Chelsea, saying, she was referred by Lucy Coe, and would like to schedule a session. She needs help explaining the unexplainable.

Britt tells Chase that she’ll start saying daily affirmations. She’s good enough. She’s strong enough. She will hit the first homerun in the opening game of the summer softball league. He says, in her dreams. Not even in her dreams. She says, the Deception team has something the PCPD doesn’t; a base stealer from Bensonhurst with a 350 batting average. Violet comes out and says, everything is put away, and Chase says he has an idea. If Leo is free, the four of them can go to Kelly’s for dinner. Brook says, Leo can practice his poem for Violet, and Chase says, and they can go back to rounding the bases… in terms of softball. Violet says they can bring the lightsabers, and Brook says, it’s a date. Violet repeats, it’s a date.

Dex apologizes to Sonny, and says, he gave those guys a talking to. They won’t be causing anymore trouble. Sonny says, Dex knows how to handle himself, and Dex says, he’s just doing his job… You know… Sonny says, there might be something he might have for Dex. Come by his office later, and they’ll talk about Dex’s future.

Willow says, the crime her mom committed was referenced in the papers Carly found? and Carly says, they were session notes from Dr. Byrne, who was apparently Harmony’s psychiatrist. In the notes, Dr. Byrne wrote that Harmony revealed a secret to him. Willow asks, what was the secret? and Dante says he’s going to stop Carly here. Before they go any further, he’s obligated to tell Willow that they’ve yet to verify the details. Having said that, they have no reason to doubt the voracity of the comments made by Dr. Byrne that Harmony confessed. Willow thanks him, and says she understands. Now will somebody please tell her? Dante says, Harmony is not her biological mother, and Carly flashes back to Harmony telling her that Willow’s twin is Nelle, and realizing Willow’s mother is Nina.

Tomorrow, Sasha asks what the hell someone is doing here; Jordan asks how Curtis managed that when she said no; Nina says she needs Scotty’s full and complete attention; and Willow asks if Harmony told Carly anything.  

💉 She Hates To Murder and Run, But…

It’s a shame her time in Port Charles got cut short, but she sure has some great footage for her demo reel.

🦄 Checking For Flying Pigs and…

First Naomi Judd, now this. I am truly living in bizarro world.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1329748/general-hospitals-steve-burton-and-pregnant-wife-sheree-break-up-after-23-years

💎 No One Escapes Unscathed…

I dunno what Kathy thought she was getting into being on this show. That’s what she gets for not watching Bravo.

💞 Off-Camera Too…

I just thought this was something sweet to counteract the bad taste of the Steve Burton article.

🐉 Throne To Come…

The latest on House of the Dragon. Looks good.

https://www.hbo.com/house-of-the-dragon

🌿 Like the Corners Of My Mind…

Let’s meet tomorrow for some soap, tea, words you should hear, and music you should listen to. Until then, stay safe, stay absorbing all the knowledge you can, and stay using your heart as well as your head, no matter what your profession.

April 1, 2022 – Trina Makes Her Plea, Byrne Return, Another Year, Annulled, Sponsoring, Deck Wedding, Maid Chosen, NYC Reaction, Dragon Due Date, In the Grammy Know, Music In the Quotes & My Name

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brick and Sonny bro hug, and Sonny says it’s good to see him. He asks how Brick got there so fast from L.A. Brick says he knows a guy, who knows a guy, who has a jet fueled and ready at LAX. When Sonny calls, he’s here. How can he help? Sonny says, there’s been a void in his life for too long that he’s been trying to fill, and Brick says, someone used to fill that void. Sonny says, yeah, Jason.

The guy from Charlie’s comes to Alexis’s office and says, it’s been a long time, Miss Davis. She says, it’s you, and he says she remembers. She says she never forgets a face, especially when it belongs to the man who blamed her for his brother’s death.

Harmony walks into Charlie’s, and sees Nina, who apparently lives there now. Nina asks how it went with Michael and Willow. She saw them, right? Harmony says she did, and Nina asks if Harmony told them that it’s in Wiley’s best interest to visit her. Harmony tells her, she said all that and more, and Nina says, don’t leave her in suspense; what did they say? Harmony says, not what Nina wanted to hear.

Nikolas walks into Windymere’s living room, and says, there’s nothing to fear. You’re safe. Esme and Spencer follow him in, and Esme says, this place is extraordinary. Even the name sounds grand – Windymere. Spencer says, it’s not like she hasn’t been here before, and Esme says, not for months. It’s good to be back. Nikolas says, more important, she’s safe from Sonny and his goons here, and Spencer says, what about the lady of the house? When is he going to loop Ava in?

Ava slips into the courtroom and sits down, as Judge Young is saying, Trina Robinson, you have two counts against you. How do you plead? Trina hesitates, and Scotty starts to talk, but she says she’s got this. She tells the judge that she pleads not guilty, and I say, yes!

Brick says, it’s the perfect time to raise a glass to their gone, but never forgotten, friend… What happened to the bar? No single malt aged twelve years? Sonny says he’s taking a break from that stuff, but the bar’s loaded if Brick wants to go help himself. Brick says, whither thou goest, I will go, and Sonny laughs. They sit down, and Sonny says he was hoping Brick would say that. Brick asks, how he can help fill that void? Is Sonny up for adventure? San Juan? Hong Kong? Marrakesh? Sonny says, not adventure. Monica has declared Jason legally dead, so they’re all going to be going to the memorial service. Brick says, may he rest in peace, and Sonny says, maybe Jason can, but he can’t. Does Brick remember Selena Wu? Brick says he does. Formidable lady. Is she causing Sonny trouble? Sonny says, she gave him advice, something he’s heard already, and Brick asks, what advice? Sonny says, that he can’t run the business alone anymore. He needs somebody else to step up and fill that hole Jason left behind. Brick says, I accept, and Sonny smiles and nods.

Alexis says, Brendan, isn’t it? and he says, it is. She says, the last time they saw each other, it was at Neil’s funeral. Not a very pleasant occasion for many reasons. Alexis flashes back to the funeral, and Brendan telling her, this is a celebration of Neil’s life. Alexis stripped Neil of everything he considered worth living for. He doesn’t want this service tainted with her presence. She’s not welcome. We see her leaving, and in the present, she says, he made his feelings crystal clear. And if it’s any consolation, that moment was devastating to her, and sent her into her own personal hell. He says he heard she lost her law license, hit the booze pretty hard, and didn’t stop until she attacked a cop and went to prison. She says she’s very flattered that he kept up with her life. What does he want?

Nina says, Willow just told Harmony what she thought Michael wanted to hear. Get her alone. She’ll change her mind and let Nina see Wiley. Harmony says she’s sorry. Willow doesn’t think it’s in Wiley’s best interest to have contact with Nina. Nina says, so Michael and Willow want a fight. They’ll get a fight, especially after her run-in with Carly earlier. Harmony asks, what happened? and Nina says she was reaching out to Carly to compromise about Wiley, but she wasn’t having it. Harmony says, she’s going through a rough patch, right? She just got divorced from Sonny? Nina says, Carly filed for that divorce. She pushed it through practically overnight. She threw away Sonny with both hands. Harmony tells Nina, give it some time; let Carly lick her wounds. Give her time to heal. Nina says, if that ever happens. And then what? Wiley will be in college, asking, who’s Nina? and he’ll never know who his birth mother is. If only she knew Nelle was her daughter before Nelle died. She could have saved Nelle from herself, and she wouldn’t have to be begging for a chance to get to know her grandson, or for him to know her.

Nikolas says, they can let Ava know when she gets home. Right now, she’s at Trina’s hearing. Spencer says, right, that was today, and Esme asks if he wishes he was there. He says he’s the last person Trina wants to see, and she says she didn’t ask what Trina would want. Nikolas asks if Esme wants to drop her bags off in the bedroom. It’s the same one as the last time. Spencer says, Nikolas can’t stop Esme from bringing up Trina; she’s obsessed. Esme asks if she doesn’t have reason to be. It doesn’t matter that there’s evidence Trina posted that video of Joss and Cam. Sonny Corinthos still believes it was her. Nikolas says, which is why she’s at Windymere and Spencer is home. And she’s safe. She asks if any place is really safe from Sonny, and Spencer says, Uncle Sonny will do anything and everything to protect his family. She says he means protect them from her, and he tells her, he didn’t say that. She says he didn’t have to. She’ll take her bags up. She leaves, and Nikolas asks why Spencer is treating Esme this way when he invited her to stay here. Spencer says he’s sorry, but Esme pushes his buttons; the way he’s been known to push other people’s. By the way, is there a bomb shelter on the island? Nikolas asks, why? and Spencer says, because he’d like to be inside it when Nikolas tells Ava that he and Esme moved in.

Scotty tells Trina, stick with me, kid. They’ll be sorry they tried to railroad you. ADA Arden says, this was a premeditated act that required a significant amount of planning. The defendant specifically targeted her friends with the intent to cause harm. The state requests bail be set at $250,000. Scotty jumps up, and says, your honor, my client is a freshman in college. She’s not Lizzie Borden. She has ties to the community. She’s innocent until proven guilty. She should be released without bond. Arden says, if the defendant is released without posting significant bail, and access to a computer, she has the capacity to do significant harm. (Huh?) Who knows who else she’s taped? Scotty tells her to save that for her closing statement, if she even gets that far. Judge Young tells Scotty, that will be enough, and tells Arden, there’s no indication the defendant poses a threat to the community. Therefore, the defendant is released without bond. He bangs his gavel, and Scotty dusts off his hands. The judge tells Trina that she’s free to go, pending a trial date to be determined. The bailiff says, court is adjourned, and Portia runs over to Trina, saying, she’s never been more prouder of her. She hugs Trina, and Curtis says, Trina was great. Ava says, may I? and hugs Trina, who thanks her for coming. Ava says she’s so proud of Trina, proclaiming her innocence. Josslyn says, they’ll prove it, no matter what it takes, and she and Trina hug. Trina says, you too, Webber, and Cameron adds to the hug.

Brendan  says he was in pain, and he wasn’t ready to face his brother’s failings, so he lashed out at Alexis; blamed her for Neil’s death. Alexis asks if that’s an apology, and he says, it is. She says she wishes she’d known about Neil’s addiction. She could have helped. But he hid it from her, and she had no clue. He says, she suffered enough. Look at her now. Brand new career, off the booze, respected, productive member of her community. She thanks him for the compliment, and says, he was really hostile to her at Neil’s funeral, so what is it with the sudden attitude adjustment? He says he’s had some bad luck himself; failed marriage, failed business. It brings humility. She says, and the need to make almonds amends? He says, as two people who loved Neil, he hoped they could come to an understanding.

Harmony tells Nina that she’s sorry. Nothing can bring back Wiley’s birth mother, but she has to know that Willow loves that little boy like he’s her own flesh and blood. If Nina gives it some time, maybe Willow can convince Michael that she should see her grandson. Nina asks, how much time? Because this is the same woman Harmony told her thinks she isn’t good for Wiley. She remembers when Willow was Miss Tate, and taught her former stepdaughter Charlotte. She didn’t like Willow then, and she should have trusted her instincts. Harmony says, Willow is highly principled, and Nina says, oh please. Willow says she’s going to help Nina, and the next moment, she pulls a 180 and sides with Michael. She doesn’t have a backbone. She only pretends that she’s compassionate. That weeping Willow is no oak. Harmony says, just because she’s gentle doesn’t mean she’s weak, and Nina says she’s sorry. She knows Willow is Harmony’s daughter. She’s just frustrated. Look how Willow has treated Harmony. She’s barely spoken to Harmony since she got out of prison. Harmony says things are much better between them now, and Nina says, until Michael shuts her down. Then what’s going to happen? She’s incapable of standing up to the man, or Carly. Nina would be better off to ask a stranger for help. Harmony hisses, Willow is no stranger, and she’s just as strong as her mother, but Nina says she’s never going to be as strong as Harmony. Harmony has overcome a lot, and turned her life around. Willow would be lucky to have even one drop of her courage. Harmony says she forgot; she has an appointment. She has to go. She walks out, and I’m starting to wonder if Nina is delusional.

Sonny asks Brick if that’s a serious offer. He could use Brick’s areas of expertise. Brick says, he can definitely help with the logistics, business support, definitely cyber security, but Sonny will need to bring in somebody else as a facilitator. Sonny says he’d trust Brick with his life, and Brick says, trust goes both ways; Sonny knows that. Sonny nods, and says, Jason used to do the day-to-day, but since he passed, Sonny has to deal with the other families, and try to figure out who targeted his stepdaughter. Brick asks if he’s talking about the tape of Josslyn and her boyfriend, and Sonny says, he saw the tape? Bricks says, hell no, but he saw people seeing it. It took every bit of self-control he could muster, not to take every one of them out. (What? Where are people watching this? And where is Brick hanging out?) Brick asks Sonny to please tell him that he found out who did this, and Sonny says he knows who’s responsible. He doesn’t have proof yet, but he put them on notice.

Ava says, congratulations. Scotty has one courageous client, and he says, tell him about it, but she’s got a big fight ahead… He sees Arden, and says, counselor, get used to the judge seeing things my way. Arden says, cyber crimes are insidious. The law is still catching up. The fact is, whatever goes on the internet, stays their forever. His client taped her friends without their knowledge and put it up for the whole world to see. Scotty says, hey Molly, tell your boss here… and Molly says, he can address her as ADA Lansing-Davis. He rolls his eyes, and says, okay, but she can’t really believe Trina did this. She says she believes DA Scorpio offered a generous plea bargain, and it was his obligation as Trina’s attorney to advise her to take it. Arden says, her associate’s right. She should have taken the deal, but she didn’t, so they’re going to trial. She’s going to take a stand for everyone who’s ever had an intimate picture or video weaponized against them. His client might have thought it was no big deal, but she was mistaken, and she’ll go to prison for the full term. She and Molly leave.

Trina thanks Josslyn and Cameron for being here and standing by her. Josslyn says, that’s what friends do, and Trina says, they took back the narrative when they told their story to The Invader. Their courage made her realize she doesn’t need to give in to cyber bullies, to Esme. The world needs to know she’s not the one who hurt them. Scotty says, they’ve got to talk strategy, and Portia says, now? Is that really necessary? Trina’s already been through so much today. He says, that ADA’s out for blood, and Curtis says, the judge hasn’t even set a trial date yet. Trina says, honestly, she just wants to take a long hot bath, and Scotty says, okay, she can do that. Tomorrow, they have a lot of work to do. Trina thanks him, and Curtis says he noticed there were reporters outside in the corridor. They’re going to want a statement, which he doesn’t think any of them should be making. Ava says she knows her way around this courthouse. They can exit this way. Portia tells Trina, let’s go home, and they follow Ava out. Josslyn tells Cameron, if she were her mom, she’d walk out of this courtroom with her head held high. He says, but she’s not her mom; she has nothing to prove. Josslyn says, only to herself, and Smoltz stumbles in. Cameron says, he’s too late; Trina went out the back. Smoltz says, it’s not Trina he wants. It’s Cameron and his girlfriend.

Josslyn says, they already told their stories to The Invader. Read it himself if he can afford the paywall. Smoltz says, he did read it, and Cameron says, then he would know they have nothing else to say. Smoltz says he knows Alexis Davis stole his scoop, and cut him out of the story, and Cameron says, oh boo-hoo. Life’s unfair. Smoltz says, what about their friend Trina? Their story did some good, but what about their friend? Josslyn says, what about Trina? and Smoltz says, did she do it? Did she film them and post it? Cameron says, hell no, and Smoltz asks, how can he be so sure? Do they know who’s responsible? Cameron and Josslyn look at each other, and he says, they do know. They just can’t prove it? Josslyn asks what he wants, and he says, an exclusive. Tell him stuff they didn’t say in the interview, and he’ll help them get the goods on whoever set up their friend. Sound good? Ava comes back, and says, you. Get the hell away from them.

Portia says, welcome home, and asks what Trina thinks. Trina says she liked it when it belonged to Joss’s dad, but she likes it even better now that it’s Portia’s. A safe harbor. Curtis says, good memories? and Trina says, yeah. Six months ago, their biggest problem was opening a jar of Sonny’s marinara sauce. Now everything’s changed. Curtis says, she heard what the lawyer said. They’re going to fight this. Portia says, they’re going to fight this, and they’re going to win. Trina says she told Joss and Cam that their courage gave her courage, but Portia and Curtis’s support helped her out a lot too. Curtis says, they can do a lot more than offer moral support. He could find evidence to exonerate her. He hasn’t forgotten how to find clues in dumpsters and garbage cans. Portia says, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, and Trina says, Spencer’s right. On one hand, there are tons of people who believe in her. Curtis says, and on the other hand? and she says, there’s evidence that proves she did it. Esme made sure of that.

Nikolas tells Spencer, Ava is well-aware of Sonny’s methods when he feels someone has crossed him or his family. She’ll understand the need to protect Esme. Spencer says, but will she understand why he’s sitting across from her at breakfast? and Nikolas says, it’s not a permanent arrangement. If Trina is found guilty, Sonny will have to accept the verdict and back off. Spencer says, even if Uncle Sonny does, he doesn’t think Ava will. Ava loves Trina like a daughter. She’d happily throw Esme to the wolves if it means Trina goes free. Nikolas says, and if Esme is carrying Spencer’s child? Ava may not like it, but she’ll make peace with it. Spencer says, and if Esme’s not pregnant? and Nikolas says, that’s all the more reason for Spencer to find out.

Brick says, so little Spencer has a girlfriend, and Sonny says, he’s not so little anymore. Brick says, Sonny has always liked this kid, and Sonny says, he still does, but not his company. Brick says, Sonny is convinced this Esme Prince is behind the video. Is he sure Spencer didn’t help? Sonny says, Spencer has done some terrible things, but he’s known Josslyn since they were in kindergarten, and Cameron is part of his extended family. He thinks Spencer’s hands are clean. Brick says, so the girlfriend is operating behind his back, and Sonny says, yep. If they can prove Trina is innocent and Esme is guilty, it won’t be just justice for Josslyn and Cameron. It will be a way for Spencer to dump his girlfriend. Brick says he knows Sonny’s got his own people on it, but as always, if Sonny needs him… Sonny says, yeah, he needs Brick, and Brick says, then he’s on it, but in the meantime… Sonny says, what is on his mind? and Brick says, Sonny is always running around looking out for everybody else. Who’s looking out for him?

Scotty goes into Charlie’s, and asks Nina what she wants. He’s very busy. He has a young woman who needs his help, unlike her. She says she’s sorry. She thought she could avoid going to court, and he says she thought she could get somebody to intercede with Wiley’s parents? Somebody like Sonny? But he threw her to the wolves, didn’t he? She says, no, this has nothing to do with Sonny. Her go-between couldn’t really do anything because Willow is so besotted with Michael, she won’t stand up to him or Carly. He says, why would she? Her mother couldn’t even stand up to that snake oil salesman Shiloh. Nina says, he’s not making this easy on her. Can they sit down? He asks, why should he? He kept her out of prison, and she turned her nose up at his legal expertise. So if she wants his help now, he’ll have to hear her say it.

Alexis says she assumes this understanding comes at a price, but Brendan  says, he wouldn’t put it that way. She asks how he’d put it, and he says, she couldn’t have risen from the ashes without help. Is it wrong of him to want the same thing? She says, that depends on what he means by help. Forgiveness? Friendship? He says his brother lost his life by getting involved with a self-destructive alcoholic, and she says, there it is. She was wondering how long he was going to keep up the Mr. Nice Guy act. There’s the door, move toward it, and don’t look back. He says, his brother was never a rich man, and funerals are expensive. She can deny it all she wants, but she contributed to Neil’s death. She needs to make things right. She says she’ll never stop wondering what happened to Neil, and starts to get her stuff together to leave. How he became an addict, and how that addiction took his life. She’s not at all satisfied that’s the truth, but she won’t be browbeaten into paying for his brother’s mistakes. There’s nothing he can say that will make her change her mind. He asks if she’s sure about that.

Alexis says, he needs to leave, but Brendan  says he’s not leaving until he gets what he wants. Harmony walks in, and asks Alexis if she’s early. Alexis says, actually, she’s right on time. Brendan was just leaving. Harmony introduces herself, and he says, Brendan Byrne, Neil’s brother. Harmony Miller. Where does he know that name? Have they met before? Harmony says she doesn’t think so. He might have seen her on TV, in connection with an organization called Dawn of Day. She was pretty notorious back then. Alexis says she and Harmony were just leaving, so if he doesn’t mind… He says, of course (🍷). He’ll send her his contact information. If she sees an opportunity she thinks he might be right for, let him know. He leaves, and Harmony says, what was all that about? Alexis says she doesn’t know, but it was scary.

Sonny says, Brick doesn’t have to worry. He survived all those months in Nixon Falls; he can survive anything. Brick says, but he wasn’t alone, and Sonny asks if he’s talking about Nina. Brick says, yeah. She must be one helluva lady to come between Sonny and Carly. Sonny asks if Brick still has something for his wife, and Brick asks if he doesn’t mean ex-wife. He just admires Sonny’s taste, but he gave up Carly. Brick just hopes this new lady’s worth it.

Nina and Scotty get a drink, and Nina says, okay. He needs to hear her say it. She clears her throat, and says she made a mistake. He says, what? and she repeats it louder. She says, she shouldn’t have pinned all her hopes on Willow’s compassion. Does he feel better? He suggests she hire Martin Grey, that folksy downhome charm works with a few judges. She says she doesn’t need folksy downhome charm. She needs a fighter, a killer, that will leave his opponents bloody in the field. He says, that’s him. However, he’s busy right now with Trina Robinson. Nina says she needs his help, and she’s willing to put him on retainer immediately. He says, before he takes her money, he needs to know she’s going to fight for Wiley, no matter what. And if that means kicking Sonny to the curb, then she’s going to do that.

Trina comes back downstairs, and Portia asks what she thinks. Trina says, great room, and thanks her. Portia says she made it up like Trina’s old room, but she probably wants to get rid of the stuffed animals now that she’s grown up. Trina says, no, never, as all of us who have them past our teenage years would say, but she’s still looking forward to returning to her dorms when this nightmare ends and she proves her innocence.  Then this place is theirs. Portia says, it’s Trina’s home too. And she doesn’t have to be brave. They’re in this together. Curtis says, all of them, and they have a family group hug.

Josslyn says, what part of no way doesn’t Smoltz understand? and Smoltz says, give it up, man. Ava faces him, and says, a journalist like Mr. Smoltz won’t stop until you slam the door in his face, or better yet, on his writing hand. He asks if she hasn’t heard of the first amendment, and she says, it comes right before the second, and I literally lol. Smoltz says, that sounds like a threat, and Ava says she was hoping it would. Cameron says he and Josslyn can handle this, and Josslyn tells Smoltz, they’re not interested in boosting his career. Cameron says, in other words, get lost. Smoltz says, fine; their loss. He stomps to the door, and says, and their friend Trina’s. He slams out, and Josslyn says, this wasn’t Ava’s fight. Ava says, on the contrary. Avery would never forgive her if she didn’t stand up for her sister. Cameron says, that guy had one thing right. Trina’s in deep trouble until they prove she’s innocent. Josslyn says, and Esme’s guilty.

Spencer looks out the window, and Esme tells him, she just got an alert on her phone; Trina pled not guilty. He says he hopes she can prove it, and she says, even if Trina tries to accuse her instead, when she might be carrying his child? He says, let’s find out. Why hasn’t she taken that home pregnancy test yet? She says she’s scared, and he asks if she’s scared that she’s pregnant, or that she’s not?

Harmony says she assumes Brendan was there talking about his brother, and that’s what caused all the tension when she walked in? Alexis says, it was really weird. He shows up all sympathetic, not at all like the guy who heaped abuse on her at Neil’s funeral. Harmony asks if something changed, and Alexis says, he thought the Mr. Nice Guy act would convince her to help bail him out of his troubles. When she refused, he went from Jekyll to Hyde. He thinks she owes him because she caused the relapse that caused Neil’s death. Harmony flashes back to injecting Neil, and says, it was good thing she walked in when she did. Just stay away from Neil’s brother. The farther the better.

Ava tells Josslyn and Cameron, don’t lose any sleep over Esme. The truth will come out. Trina will be vindicated. Cameron says she sounds confident, and Josslyn says, Esme has skated so far… Ava… Ava says she’s spoken to someone who has an interest in seeing Esme punished for targeting the two of  them. Cameron looks at Josslyn, and says, who’s that? Ava says she knows it’s difficult for them to trust her, but this time they’re going to have to. Esme is going to get what’s coming to her. Ava strides out the back way.

Esme says she wants Spencer with her when she takes the test, but she doesn’t need a test to tell her what she really wants. He says, which is? and she says him; she wants to be with him. Does he want to be with her? Don’t answer that now, but ask himself this. If it were without the baby, does her being here work to his advantage? He asks, how? and she says, by driving a wedge between his father and Ava. Isn’t that what he wanted all along?

Sonny tells Brick, he’s taking it day to day. As far as him and Nina, he can’t read into the future, but he will say this. The connection they had in Nixon Falls was real. Brick says, he knows Sonny, and when he wants something, he goes for it, and he usually gets it. Sonny flashes back to him and Nina dancing at Charlie’s, and Brick says, Sonny is thinking about her right now, and Sonny asks if they can get back to the matter at hand. Brick says, the future… without Jason. That’s something they can work on. The future without love, with all due respect, is not for Sonny.

Nina says, Sonny knows she won’t force him to pick sides, but Scotty says, Carly, Michael, and Willow will. So if Sonny has to choose… She says, Sonny is going to do what’s best for his family, and she’s going to do what’s best for hers. He asks if she’s willing to lose lover boy, but she says she won’t lose him. Not if he’s the man she knew in Nixon Falls, and the man she sees in Port Charles. He asks what makes her think she can have it all? and she says, she’s going to have her grandson in her life, and she’s going to have the man who changed her life for the better. He says, sorry, nobody gets it all, nobody, but she says, there’s always a first time.

Sonny says, he and Brick will regroup after Jason’s memorial service. In the meantime, is Brick willing to take on more managerial responsibilities? Brick says he can search for a facilitator to take on some of Jason’s other skill sets; don’t worry about that. Sonny says, okay. He has one more job for Brick. He wants Brick to find out how Esme Prince engineered that video. Brick says, he’s on that; no problem. Sonny asks if Brick wants a drink to seal the deal. Raising his glass, he says, sparkling water. Brick says, to think he’s always admired Sonny, and Sonny says, not anymore? but Brick says, now more than ever, and they clink glasses.

Scotty tells Nina, Michael is out to win, and Diane Miller is a tough cookie. She will dig up whatever she can. Nina says, she understands, and he gets up, asking if there’s anything he needs to know before he files the petition. She tells him, don’t faint, but she thinks her life is pretty much an open book at this point. He says, no little secrets in her diary? No skeletons in her closet? She says, no. Wiley is the only thing left of her daughter in this world. She owes it to Nelle be in his life, whether Michael or Saint Willow like it or not. He says, then hang her hat with him. She won’t regret it. They shake hands, and she says she hopes not.

Alexis says, Harmony never said what brought her by, and Harmony says, it can wait. She’s going to cook Alexis dinner; she’ll make something soothing. Alexis says she could use something soothing. Neil’s brother being here reminds her how horrible Neil’s death was. She can’t help wonder if that eviction is the thing that caused his death. Alexis turns out the lights, and they go to the hallway, but Alexis says  she forgot her phone, and goes back to her desk in the dark. Harmony stands in the doorway, and looks around.

Brendan  looks through a bunch of folders, and finds one that says Harmony Miller. He says he knew that name was familiar.

Trina says, it’s one thing to plead not guilty, but she has to live with that decision. That ADA is obviously out to get her. She couldn’t believe when she said $250,000 bail. Curtis says he believes she was just grandstanding, and the judge ignored her recommendation. Trina says, this time. The ADA thinks Trina’s guilty, and Scotty said she’s out for blood. What if the ADA convinces the jury she’s guilty? Portia says, that’s not going to happen. And instead of dwelling on it, why doesn’t Trina take that nice hot bath she was talking about earlier? It will make her feel better. Trina says Portia talked her into it, and goes upstairs. Portia tells Curtis, she doesn’t know how long she can keep this up. What if Trina’s right? They have no idea what’s going to happen. Curtis says, Trina has a lot of people by her side, and more courage than anyone he knows. Portia says she doesn’t disagree; she has faith in her daughter, just not in the world. Curtis says, as long as they have faith in each other, they can’t lose.

Cameron asks if Josslyn is  ready to go home, and she says, actually, she’d like to go back to the dorms. He says, Trina’s not the only one being brave, and she says, she’s not being brave. She just wants things to go back to normal, if that’s even possible. He says he’ll try to help make that happen, and she thanks him. They kiss, and he says, let’s go. He starts to head to the back, but she says, actually, she’d like to go out the front. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, if she can face a bunch of people on campus, she can face a couple of reporters outside. It’s hard to believe Trina is going to come back here and fight for her innocence. He says, it doesn’t matter what Ava says; this is going to be tough. She says, this is why they need to help Trina. They need to find a piece of evidence that Esme framed her. He asks how they pull that off, and she says, by proving Esme can be in two places at once. She leads him out of the courtroom.

Ava walks into Windymere, calling for Nikolas, and Esme says, he’s upstairs. Ava walks into the living room, where Esme is sitting. She sees Esme is reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting

On Monday, Violet asks Brook how her baby is; Gregory comes for a visit; Ava asks Nikolas what it’s going to be; and Spencer tells Esme, it’s time to take that pregnancy test.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Forgotten Brother…

I forgot about him anyway.

🍾 Happy Anniversary…

A look at GH over the years.

👰🏼 Never Happened…

I think the rules regarding annulments must have relaxed. I thought it either had to be fraud or that you didn’t consummate the marriage. And being realistic, the latter probably hasn’t been an issue since the 1600s.

👭🏼 Sisters Helping One Another…

It’s hard to think of Leah being anyone’s sponsor, but stranger things have happened.

🛥 Her New Deck…

She certainly looks a lot happier than she did on the Mediterranean.

https://people.com/tv/below-deck-med-hannah-ferrier-marries-fiance-josh-roberts/

👰🏻 But She Seemed Like the Normal One…

Proof that the world has gone mad. Maybe Dina is still grieving over Grandma Wrinkles and not in her right mind. In other news, I had no idea Kim D had a last name.

🗽 Reboot Raspberry…

I don’t think Jill Zarin ever stopped expressing a desire to return from the time she was let go.

🐉 Flying In Soon…

An update on House of the Dragon.

🎶 Can’t Stop the Music…

All you need to know.

https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-grammys-nominations-64th-grammy-awards-looking-ahead-how-to-watch

Who’s performing.

https://pitchfork.com/news/grammys-2022-performers-list-see-the-full-lineup/

How no one wants to be there. That’s how I feel seeing a performer in Atlantic City. They don’t want to be there. I don’t want to be there. Why are we here?

🎷 Quotes of the Week

Smile, breathe, and go slowly…Thich Nhat Hanh

Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife. – Kahlil Gibran

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. – Buddha

Music is the soundtrack of your life. – Dick Clark

Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It’s beyond me. – Zora Neale Hurston

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. – Bob Marley

If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down. – Mary Pickford, 1892-1979, American actress

The only truth is music. – Jack Kerouac

I’d rather see my face aging than a face I don’t recognize at all. – Cameron Diaz

There are two means of refuge from the misery of life — music and cats.Albert Schweitzer (Hey, what’s wrong with dogs?)

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. – Steve Jobs

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. – Victor Hugo

✍🏽 Don’t Forget To Write…

I’ll return to the keyboard at approximately Dead o’clock. Be there or be an octagon. Until then, stay safe, stay seeking truth, and stay letting the courage of others give you courage.

March 13, 2022 – Pamela Makes Maggie an Offer, New Element, Coupling Up, All Of Them, Fear’s Return, Strand Spin, Not Involved & It’s For You

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What I Watched Today

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

The Walking Dead

In the alleyway, Max tells Eugene that It was just dumb luck she found the radio parts in a dumpster. It would have never been dumped there for security reasons, so someone thought it was trash, but it just needed some love. We see her putting it together, turning it on, then talking to Eugene. She says, they talked about everything and nothing. We flashed back to Eugene saying he thinks it’s a celestially ordained meet and greet, and Max saying her people are uber cautious. She tells Eugene that she never let herself believe it was possible to leave. Then her brother got involved, and he wasn’t happy. We see Mercer finding her radio equipment, and Max tells him, it’s not what he thinks. He says, a massive communications breach from an unauthorized station is being investigated. Someone’s been talking to a community outsider outside the walls, and Lance is all over it. Please tell him it wasn’t her. Please tell him that she’s not about to sneak out to meet a stranger. It’s dangerous for everyone in the Commonwealth, especially the two of them. Pray Lance doesn’t realize it’s her voice. She tells Eugene that she crossed line, and Lance was on the prowl. It was impossible for her to turn up. Then some other girl was calling herself Stephanie, using her words and voice. We flash back to Max getting ice cream at the same time fake Stephanie did. Max passes Eugene, who asks, that wouldn’t happen to be Rocky Road? but Max doesn’t respond, and walks away. She turns to see him eating ice cream with fake Stephanie, and Max says Eugene seemed happy, so she kept her head down. She didn’t know what else to do. We see Max go in to Pamela’s office to give her some files. She asks if she can get Pamela anything else, and Pamela says, a day her son isn’t acting like an a-hole. She asks Max to have the bank cut off Sebastian’s credit line. Maybe that will whip him into shape. (Doubtful.) Max tells Eugene that Lance was bugging out about him and Alexandria, and Eugene asks what Lance is planning. She says she doesn’t know. Lance is ambitious; it could mean anything. Or it could mean nothing, just the rebuild. He says, the guy in orange armor is her brother? and she says, yes. He asks if she’s Stephanie, but she says, no; Max. There is no Stephanie. It was her mother’s name. He says he’s sorry, brushes past her, and goes out the gate.  

In a Humvee, Pamela tells Lance that they’re a long way from home. She’s not convinced they should stretch their resources. In growing their empire further than their power can stand, they could lose that power. He tells her, it’s not that dramatic, and she says, there’s enough to do at home without worrying about the small communities. He says, give it a chance. She might be surprised. They go into Alexandria, where Aaron has some of the people quickly doing some housekeeping. Mercer, Daryl, Pamela, and Lance step out of the caravan, and Aaron welcomes them. He asks if Pamela wants the grand tour, and she says she’d expect nothing less. He explains that they’re a self-sustaining agricultural community, and have water and solar power. She asks, who was the engineer? but he says, no one. Maggie, the leader of their allied community Hilltop, gave them the plans. Mercer asks Daryl how safe it’s been here, since they’re isolated, and Daryl says, they’ve fought a lot of fights. Mercer asks if Daryl was the leader here, and Daryl guesses he could say that; they all were. Mercer asks what Daryl did before this, but Daryl says, it doesn’t matter. Not to them anyway.

Pamela looks at a picture of Deanna, and says, Deanna looks like how she remembers her. Daryl says, Pamela knew her? and she says, they used to cross paths in philanthropy circles, but back then, Pamela had no interest in politics. Deanna was born to run things. She asks what Deanna was like as a leader, and Daryl says, she brought them in. He’d never met anyone like that. He admired her very much. She built all this for them; something worth fighting for. Pamela says, but it fell, and he says, they always brought it back. She says, it fell more than once? and Mercer’s radio says they’ve got a breach. Daryl says he’s got it, and sees a zombie toddling around outside. He and Mercer jet. Pamela asks Aaron how they lost Deanna, and he says, she got bitten. She asks if Deanna turned, and he says, they had to put her down. Daryl stabs the zombie in the head, and Pamela says she thinks she’s seen enough.

Ezekiel gets some bloodwork done, while Jerry keeps him company. Tomi tells Ezekiel, no food or solids for 12 hours before they see him in the morning, and Jerry says, they thought it was a routine check-up, but Orderly Theo says, it’s pre-op bloodwork before surgery. Ezekiel looks puzzled, and Tomi says, they’re going to take out the tumor. Ezekiel says, no one told him. He thought he was on the list. Tomi says, now he’s at the top of the list, and Theo says, he’s lucky; some people wait years. Jerry asks about the bill, and Tomi says, it’s paid up. However it happened, Ezekiel should be thrilled. They’re going to take good care of him. He’ll see Ezekiel on Friday at 9. He leaves, and Jerry laughs, saying, it’s so frickin’ awesome. Ezekiel doesn’t look happy, and Jerry says, what? Ezekiel wonders how it happened, and Jerry says, maybe it’s a coincidence, or a clerical error, or divine intervention, but doesn’t Ezekiel think he deserves some luck?

Pamela sits with her feet in the water – I note her perfect French pedicure – and breathes the fresh air at Oceanside. Lance tells her that Rachel is ready for her. She tells Rachel that they’re blessed to have the water at their doorstep. She heard Oceanside battled the Saviors and the Whisperers. That says a lot about the strength of their community. She’s excited to be partners, but Rachel says she talked to Maggie, who isn’t partnering. Lance tells Pamela that Hilltop declined, and Rachel says, Maggie has always been there for them. If Maggie decides to be a partner, they will be, but otherwise, it’s a no.

Aaron and Lance ride together to Hilltop, and Lance asks what the point of bringing Aaron along was when he has no helpful intel? Aaron says, it’s not his fault, and Lance says, Aaron should have known about Rachel and Hilltop. Now it looks like they’re not prepared. Aaron tells Lance to stop acting like Alexandria means more to him than it does to Aaron, and Lance says, they’re all in the same sinking boat. He asks if Maggie is going to make it difficult, but Aaron has no answer. Lance says, it’s all or nothing for Pamela. If Maggie says no, Pamela will walk, and Alexandria will be cut off. Aaron says, then they’ll figure it out, and Lance says, it was going so well before they stepped in. Their caravan stops, and zombies are trickling out of the woods. There’s some zombie dispatchment, and Maggie, Dianne, Lydia, and Elijah are part of the fray. Done with the zombies, Daryl helps Maggie up from where she landed, and Pamela says, she must be Maggie.

Aaron brings Maggie some food, but she says she already ate. She says, it’s good to see them, and asks why they trust these people. Daryl tells her, who says they do? When does he ever? She says, fair enough. It’s good Alexandria is getting cleaned up. At least their word meant something. Aaron says, out of 50 thousand people, at least 49.9 of them are decent folks. It’s not forever. Is she sure she doesn’t want to come? Lance approaches, and says, they brought some extra rifles. Pamela proposed they go hunting, if they’re up for it.

They go through the woods, Pamela wearing safari gear, and Pamela says, they’ll scare the food away if they go as a big group. She’ll go with Maggie, and the rest of them can pair off. She doesn’t need a minder. They split up, and Pamela asks Maggie how things got so bad. Maggie says, how do they ever? She can’t figure out why some of them are lucky enough to fight off the world, while other can’t. Pamela says she doesn’t believe in luck, and Maggie says, luck is about opportunity. She doesn’t know anyone who’s had more opportunity than Pamela. Pamela says, being honest, cards on the table, she didn’t want to come on this tour, but it’s her responsibility. It’s what keeps her up at night; the price of leadership. Everything costs something. For her, it’s sleep. What keeps her awake at 3 am is, who does she trust, and how do they stay safe? She wasn’t sure the risk going out was worth it, but the world belongs to them. What she believes to be the natural order of things has vanished, and has to be restored. It will provide a future for their kids. She’s offering a mutual protection pact, like Maggie has with Oceanside. They’d have her back.

Ezekiel is cooking on a hotplate, when Carol knocks at the door. She says, she wanted to see how he was doing, and he says, Nabila and Jerry left him a buffet. She takes over hotplate duty, and says, Jerry told her that Ezekiel had a check-up today. She asks if anything came up, and he says, funny thing. Tomi said he was having surgery on Friday. Carol says, great, and he says, did she… What did she do? She says she didn’t, and he says his debt was wiped out. She says, Lance owed her a favor, but he says, it’s cheating. Why did she do that? She says she doesn’t want him to die. The lines are a lie. Pamela wouldn’t think twice about doing the same thing for her sh*tty son. He says he’s been inside the hospital, and seen all those people suffering, the same as him, and waiting for treatment, the same as him. She asks if he’s supposed to die because the system is broken. Lesser men have been given more, and done nothing with it. He’s not lesser.

Maggie calls Pamela an autocrat, but Pamela says she’s a leader who makes decisions. Maggie is the same thing. Is she an autocrat? Maggie says, Deanna and George taught them how to divide things up. Pamela drives a nicer car, and has a nicer house than a lot of her people. Pamela says she also has more responsibility. Her people need something to look up to. Doesn’t Maggie want her people to look up to her? Maggie says she wants them to look up to her for what she does and has done, not what she has. She asks if she should get the zombie coming up behind Pamela, and Pamela says she was just thinking of going after the one behind Maggie. Maggie stabs the zombie behind Pamela, and Pamela shoots the other one’s head off. Maggie nods appreciatively.

Eugene sits on a bench by the lake, and Rosita joins him with Coco in a stroller. She asks if he’s okay, and he says he’s great. She tells him that he’s got a great poker face, and he asks, how’s the new job? She says, it’s a lot, and he asks if she regrets coming here. She says, does he? He says he thinks she likes it here, and she says, they all get to be together, and everyone is safe. It works for now. He says, going with the flow, and she says she didn’t think she’d end up being a cop. She’s pretty good at it. He says she’s good at everything she does, and she thanks him. She admits she misses home though. She misses the freedom they used to have, but it’ll come when Alexandria is fixed. People will have choices, and that’s good. He says she’s excited about the future, and she says she guesses she is. What is it? Spill. He says he was thinking about when they first met, and he was lying to her about who he was and Washington DC. She says, it was a long time ago. They found their home, and they’re going with the flow, What is it? Get it out. He’ll feel better. He says, Stephanie… isn’t missing. He saw her. He holds back tears, and says she broke up with him. Rosita hugs him, and he cries. He tells her that Stephanie wasn’t who he thought she was, and she says, he can do better. He’ll find his person. She’s out there.

Maggie brings a couple of game birds back to Hilltop. Dianne tells her that they’ve been working on reinforcing the water tower. Lydia sees Daryl, and they hug. He asks how she’s holding up, and she says she’s doing her best, but it feels like some things can’t be fixed; it seems pointless. She asks how you know when it’s time to walk away, and he asks if that’s what she wants to do. Lance asks Maggie if it’s okay to hand out supplies; they have more than enough food and fuel. Maggie tells him, sure, and thanks him. Mercer tells Daryl, it must be hard to be a kid growing up here, and Daryl says, they’re a different kind of kid. This place used to be special, but they’re going through a hard time. They’ll be up and running again. Mercer says, not all places are as lucky as Alexandria, and Daryl says, not all places are as lucky as the Commonwealth. Mercer asks if Daryl is coming around, but Daryl says he wouldn’t go that far. They’ve done good stuff, he’ll give them that, but they ain’t perfect. Mercer tells Daryl not to get comfortable out of his armor. Lance thought it was good for appearance sake, but Daryl has his role to play, and Mercer has his. I’m liking Mercer.

Jerry and Carol visit Ezekiel in the hospital, and Ezekiel says he wants pizza and ice cream, no pineapple. Pineapple on pizza makes no sense. Theo tells Ezekiel, it’s going to be nothing but Jell-O for a while, hotshot.

Maggie sits on some steps, and Lance approaches, one of his hands kind of moving, Maggie says, nervous twitch? and he says, lucky coin. She says she had a lucky rabbit’s foot when she was a kid. Her dog brought it home with the rabbit still attached. Lance says, when he was a kid, he thought the coin was gold, but it was really gold plated, just a lowly nickel. Has she decided? She asks what he gets out of all this, and he tells her that he’s not going to pretend. She’s in over her head. She says he doesn’t know, but he says he knows she’s smart enough to know a good offer… and he’s smart enough to know he’s pissed her off. Maggie says he didn’t answer her question, and he says, the first time he saw Alexandria, he saw potential, as he did in Hilltop and Oceanside. They can have so much more. Imagine picking Herschel up from a concert at the Commonwealth, or taking him to a doctor’s appointment in Alexandria, or going for a boat ride up the coast from Oceanside. And what’s up the coast? Another protected town, another school or a university. Maggie says they tried to build one, and Lance says, of course. They see things the same way; the world as they want to build it. Picture the power of fifty-thousand Commonwealth workers making it a reality. They hear, swarm incoming, and Lance says, as it is, there’s reality.

The Hilltoppers run out with weapons. There are a ton of zombies in the woods, and Maggie and the Hilltoppers start picking them off. Mercer joins them, looking badass, and flips one over himself before killing it. His troopers line up, and he yells, fire! They shoot, and the zombies are done. The bodies are piled up, and Dianne tells Maggie, imagine not dealing with this. Lydia says, they could keep building; no stops and starts. Dianne says, we need this, and Maggie says, she knows. Mercer calls, formation! Let’s go. He tells Daryl, fall in, and when Daryl gets closer, Mercer quietly tells him, they’re always watching. Got him? Daryl says, yeah, and marches behind the troopers. Maggie watches, and Pamela says, never a dull moment here. Maggie says, we try, and Lydia says, everyone’s okay. No injuries, all limbs intact. It’s a good day. Maggie tells Pamela, Hilltop is passing, and Pamela asks, why? Maggie tells Pamela that she said it herself; everything costs something. Aaron watches, and looks mega worried.

Eugene knocks at Max’s apartment, and says, please don’t shut the door. He found raspberry goodness of the Inside Scoop variety. She lets him in, and he sees the radio in pieces. He says he’s so sorry for his ungentlemanlike behavior. He wasn’t listening to her because he was bruised and confused. Max says, he was rude, and he says he let Lance get in his head. It was an infiltration of epic Proportions. Lance is like a snake. Max says, he’s like a worm, and Eugene says he let fake Stephanie into his life. He let her read his manuscript. He’s writing a novel. She asks if a sepulcher is involved, and if it takes place in the Carpathian Mountains. They talk some nerd talk, and she asks how he could let fake Stephanie read it. He says he thought she was Max, but Max says, after all that time, how could he not know it wasn’t her? He says he doesn’t know. He’s not like most folks; he’s used to rejection. Sometimes he didn’t even realize he was being rejected. Let it suffice to say he had his fair amount, and part of him wondered if the connection they had was in his head. When got here, and fake Stephanie didn’t push him away, he wanted so badly for it to be real. The subtle clues escaped him. He never meant to hurt her, but the intent doesn’t excuse the impact. How can he make it up to her? She says she doesn’t know, and asks if she can read his novel. He says, as ill fortune would have it, she came up on him when he was burning the only copy. But he’s committed the text to memory. She asks what the concept is, and he says it’s about a gumshoe going on a rollicking caper to stop a nuclear threat. He also gave the detective an unsavory twin brother, and Max says, an evil twin, nice touch. If Eugene makes the evil twin a scientist, it will ramp up stakes of the nuclear threat. Eugene says, that’s exactly what he did, and she says, it’s like old times.

Daryl gives Maggie a mason jar, saying, it’s something from Judith in case she makes Herschel eat horse meat, She hugs him, and he says she knows where to find him. She says, same for her, and Daryl joins the troopers. Dianne tells Maggie that she’s leaving. Some others are coming, and Maggie should too. Maggie says, be careful who she trusts. Dianne knows that better than anybody. Dianne says, she also knows when to ask for help. It’s become harder, but it doesn’t have to be. Dianne respects the hell out of Maggie, but she can’t do this anymore. She’s sorry. She, Elijah, and another guy leave.

Lance goes to Pamela’s tent, and she says, it was a worthy effort. He says, it’s not over. They still have Alexandria. He just needs time to get the other two. She says, it’s a bold move getting three communities on board. She can see why it would be attractive. He says, it’s ultimately her decision, and she says, he pretends he’s doing it for the good of the Commonwealth, and not for himself. He says he’s doing it for her, and she says, they’ve both had ambitions their whole lives, and ambition is notoriously hard to reel in. So if he wants to try and make it work, fine, but if his job at home suffers, there will be consequences. The Commonwealth always comes first. He leaves.

Lance takes a stroll in the woods, and shoots his gun in the air. A zombie comes toward him from all four directions, and he shoots three of them, one by one. Aaron shows up, and asks if he’s okay. Lance says, A plus, and Aaron asks, what about Alexandria? Are they good? Lance says, everything’s fine. Pamela is on board, and they’re bringing even more in. Get ready. They’re going to remake the world. He blows the last zombie’s head off.

Next time, Aaron talks to Gabriel, Lance needs a solution, and Maggie discovers some dead troopers.

🕶 Going Rogue…

The politics of Eugene and Stephanie.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-rogue-element-eugene-stephanie-angela-kang/

👏 I Can’t Wait…

More on Negan and Maggie’s partnership.

https://ew.com/tv/walking-dead-lauren-cohan-jeffrey-dean-morgan-isle-of-the-dead-spin-off/

🎡 Hold On…

All the Dead spin-offs.

https://www.insider.com/walking-dead-spinoff-shows

⚰️ What the Fear…

Everything about FWD’s return.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-season-7b-premiere-synopsis-follow-me-alicia-clark-alycia-debnam-carey/

🥂 The Thirst Is Real…

Everybody wants more than their fifteen minutes. Not that I blame them.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/fear-the-walking-dead-colman-domingo-victor-strand-spinoff-amc/

🐉 Not Us…

Apparently, not everyone is down with Game of Thrones spin-offs.

https://www.ign.com/articles/game-of-thrones-db-weiss-and-david-benioff-not-involved-with-spin-offs

🦵🏼 Shaking a Leg…

See you tomorrow for soap and Sailing. Until then, stay safe, stay using your time wisely, because there’s only so much of it, and stay knowing that everything costs something.