Category Archives: real housewives

April 19, 2024 – Sonny Calls Out Three Traitors, Pre-Med, Back Again, Arrested, One Out One In, Not Leaving, Together At Last, Pups (!) For All, Ten Quotes A-Quoting & Showers

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Jason does push-ups in his room so we can see his muscles and tattoos. Carly knocks at the door, and he lets her in. She says she really needs his help. There’s a guy downstairs and… She sees his sleeve and asks when he got that. He says, about a year ago, and she asks, why?

Adhering to protocol this time, Diane tells Madison that she’s here to see Nina. Nina’s expecting her. Madison says, yes, she is, and brings Diane into Nina’s office. Madison leaves, and Diane asks if Nina has news for her. Nina tells Diane, smile. She’s going to give Diane what she wants.

Brook says, it would be good to know what Olivia and Lois have planned for her for her bachelorette-slash-bridal shower, and Olivia says, it’s going to be fantastic. Doesn’t she trust them? Brook says, absolutely not, and Olivia says, wise girl. She knows whatever it is, it’s going to be fabulous, and with Brook’s mother running the show, it’s going to be one for the ages. So just sit back, relax, and enjoy her surprise. Lois comes in and says, speaking of surprises, she’s got one for them.

Sonny slams his hand on the table, and says, Dex is becoming a cop? Is Ava sure? Ava says she was with Trina and Trina told her. So unless she’s mistaken… He says, son of a bitch. If Dex goes to the cops, he’s going to tell them everything he knows, unless he stops Dex cold.

Josslyn thanks Anna for seeing her, and Anna says, of course (🍷). What’s on her mind? Josslyn says, Dex. She knows he applied to the police academy. Anna says, yeah. He took his fitness test today. Josslyn says, she can’t let him into the academy. She has to turn him down. Anna asks, why? and Josslyn says, because if Dex becomes a cop, Sonny will have him killed.

Nina looks through some paperwork while Diane peruses the dresses on a rack in the office. She says she thinks Nina will find everything in order, and as Nina is about to sign, Drew walks in. Nina says, they’re in the middle of something. So why doesn’t he leave word with Madison, and she’ll get back with him. Drew tells Diane that he needs to speak with Nina, and Diane says she has a court date anyway. She’s sure they can pick this up tomorrow. She picks up her bag, but Nina says, no. This is her office, and she can do what she wants when she wants to do it. So she’s sure Drew can wait until they finish their business. Nina signs the papers and says, done and done. Diane says, excellent, and double checks the paperwork. She says, fully executed. A pleasure doing business with her. They shake hands, and Diane leaves. Drew asks, what was that all about? and Nina says her current situation wasn’t working for her, so she made some changes. (Forget having sex with this guy. I’d be poisoning his coffee.)

Carly says she would have bet money Jason never got a tattoo, and he says he guesses she would have lost. She asks if she can see it, and he shows her his arm. (I see the word victory and a lion in the mix.) She asks why he did it, and he says, because he was alone. Obviously, he’s been alone before and he thought he liked it, but this time was different because he knew he couldn’t come home. So he guesses he just wanted something that was his, something that couldn’t be taken from him, or something he couldn’t be forced to leave behind. She asks if it hurt, and he says, it doesn’t really matter. It took a while. He never let himself think about home. He’d just shut it down; he wouldn’t think about it. There was nothing to do that night except sit there while this guy worked on him. He guesses he broke his own rule; he thought about home. He thought about Jake and Danny and how tall they were getting. If Jake still liked art and Danny still liked football. He thought about Elizabeth and hoped that they were happy. He thought about Monica and was just hoping she was okay, and she didn’t grieve for him. By that time, the guy was half done. That’s when he let himself think about her.

Lois says, Sonny is coming to the wedding, and Brook asks how she managed that. Since he didn’t RSVP, she assumed he didn’t want to come, and she didn’t want to push since he’s got all this stuff going on lately. Lois says, that is where she comes in. She pushes for Brook… gently and lovingly of course (🍷). Olivia says, of course (🍷). Good for her. Whatever she did, Olivia is glad she did it. Brook thanks her and says, the wedding just wouldn’t be the same without Uncle Sonny there. They hug, and Olivia says, and the Bensonhurst Brigade will be back together again. Brook asks if they should update the seating chart. Does she think Uncle Sonny will bring a plus one? Lois says she asked, but before he could answer, Ava interrupted. What is up with that one anyway? Sonny better watch out, because she’s putting those roots down fast. Brook says, she doesn’t think Uncle Sonny would bring Ava as his plus one, does she?

Sonny tells Ava that he should have taken care of Dex when he had a chance, but Carly talked him out of it. Why did he have to listen? Then Michael hires Dex to infiltrate him and spy on him. Ava says, Michael was definitely wrong, but children do lash out in anger… He says, how is he supposed to forgive? Carly said Michael redeemed himself, but Michael is his son. He wanted to destroy his father, then he changes his mind. No, I don’t want to destroy my father now. I’m going to hire Dex to protect him. What does he need protection from? She says, Michael and Carly definitely overstepped, and he says, yes. When Carly showed up, he should have had his men take her to the car. Or drag her to the car, whatever was needed. But she insisted that Dex was innocent and to let him go, so that’s what he did. He spared Dex’s life and let him go. And now he’s becoming a cop. She says she doesn’t know what Dex is thinking. She does have a soft spot for Dex – he saved her life – but he’s crazy to think he can get away with this. Sonny says he’s done… with all of them. He’ll get that divorce from Nina and deal with Dex, but what does he do about Michael and Carly, especially Jason?

Anna says she sees Josslyn’s concern, but she needs to calm down. Josslyn says, Dex told Anna about how Sonny ordered him to kill Cyrus. That alone is enough for Sonny to kill him. Anna says, Dex joining the PCPD is the best way for them to keep him safe, because Sonny is hardly going to target a police recruit. Josslyn says she’s sorry, but Anna is wrong. Does she know how Josslyn knows? Because last night, Sonny had an FBI agent beat up.

Jason says he figured Carly would be okay without him, but she says, he’s wrong. He says, come on. She’s tough, adaptive, and resilient. She asks where that came from, and he says, it’s something they say on assessments and fitness reports, that if you’re adaptive and resilient, you have a better chance for survival. And she’s the most resilient person he’s ever met. Nothing knocks her down for long. She says, losing him. When she was happy, she didn’t have him to share things with. When she was sad and miserable, he wasn’t there to fix it. It’s funny that he had a rule, because she had one of her own. When she would think she can’t do this because Jason’s not here, she’d tell herself, no. You do it for Jason. Jason wouldn’t let you quit. So even though he wasn’t with her, in a way, he was with her. She takes his hand, lifts his arm, and looks at the tattoo again. She says she likes it. It looks good on him. He thanks her.

Nina says she just needed to finalize some paperwork, and nosiest dude in the world Drew says, for the divorce from Sonny. She says, no. Why doesn’t he just say what he came to say and get out? He says he wants to hear about her business with Diane. What she does on company property affects him. So if she’s planning some new revenge scheme, she has to keep it away from him. She asks if he’s paranoid. That’s why she doesn’t want to tell him anything. But since he insists, she just sold her half of the MetroCourt to his brother… She thought the same thing. Jason’s just going to turn around and give it to Carly, but she has to hand it to Carly, she didn’t waste any time having Jason do her bidding. He says, a buyer can’t buy without a seller, so he’s sure she made a sweet profit on that. She says her father was in the real estate business. She learned a lot from him. You have to wait until somebody really wants your property, and then you make them pay. He says, so much for her loyalty to the MetroCourt, and she says, Carly can have the hotel. It brings her one step closer to the real prize. He says, which is? and she says, getting Sonny back.

Anna says, accusing Sonny of targeting a federal agent is a serious allegation. Does Josslyn have proof to back it up? Josslyn says she doesn’t need physical evidence to put two and two together. Her mom found Agent Cates on the ground, beaten up, not far from Corinthos Coffee warehouse. And it wasn’t a robbery, because he had his gun, he had his wallet. What does that tell her? Anna says, maybe the assailants were interrupted before they could rob him, and Josslyn says, come on. Anna knows that’s not true. She knows it was Sonny. He’s dangerous. And Dex becoming a cop is not protecting him. It’s making him even more of a target. She has to turn him down. Please. Anna says, all right. She can see how much this means to Josslyn, but assuming Dex gets accepted into the academy, ultimately, it’s his choice whether he decides to move forward or not. And she believes he understands the risks involved. Josslyn says, so she’s not going to do anything? Really? Josslyn walks to the door and says, okay, but when Anna throws him some big funeral after Sonny has him killed, and Anna invites all of his family, she doesn’t think they’re going to be there, but she will, and she’ll be sitting front row. And she’s going to look at Anna and they’ll both know Anna could have saved him and she chose not to. So do not hand her the flag from his coffin. She leaves and Anna picks up the phone. She asks someone to come to her office immediately. It’s important.

Ava says she understands Sonny’s anger. She’s been there. Not knowing who you can trust and who you can’t. Not even sure of the ground beneath your feet. She knows it’s tempting to turn his back on everyone that’s failed him, but please, tread lightly. Betrayal by family is a tricky thing. Sometimes family is all you’ve got. He says, they’re family because of Avery. That counts, right? She says, it does to her, and they’re on each other’s side. As for Michael and Carly and even Jason, up until now, they’ve been very loyal. He says, no. That’s wrong. Everything changed when he was in Nixon Falls. When he came back, the trust was broken. First of all, his wife was married, and he was gone what? Less than six months? Jason supposedly died and he was gone for over two years. He couldn’t pick up a phone and say, hey, I’m alive? He didn’t know what Jason was doing. Then Jason tells him to his face that he’s an informant for the Feds. All he knows is, Jason was on the roof with a guy who shot at him. He has to defend himself.

Jason asks if Carly needs him to help her with something, but she says, that’s okay. She can handle it. He says, Carly… and she says, the gas has been shut off downstairs, and there’s an obnoxious man from the city downstairs telling her that it’s all her fault. She could use some back-up. He says he’ll be right down, and she says, thanks. She can’t wait for him to meet Jason.

Lois brings out the seating chart and says, Sonny is seated unaccompanied. She purposely didn’t invite Ava, even though she was standing right there. Sonny knows not to bring her. Olivia says, she hopes, and Lois says, Sonny can read her like she can read Sonny, and he knows not to bring her. Olivia says, okay. Sounds like she has it all under control. She’s got to get back to work. Does Lois need anything else for the bachelorette party? Lois says, no, go on, and Olivia says she’ll see them tonight. She leaves, and Lois asks if Brook has started packing for the honeymoon. Brook says she’s narrowing down her choices. She can’t bring half her closet. She has to leave some space for shopping. She’s going to Florence. They both squeal, and Brook says she’s dreamed about this her entire life. And now, she doesn’t only get to go, she gets to go with the man she loves. How perfect is that?… Well, it’s not entirely perfect. Chase did have to sell his truck to pay for it. Lois says, which she thinks is very sweet of him and noble, and Brook says she does too. She very nearly ruined it though. Thank God Tracy stopped her. Lois asks if she just said, thank God for Tracy.

Drew says he knows he shouldn’t ask (then don’t), but how does Jason buying back the MetroCourt for Carly get Nina closer to Sonny? Nina says she didn’t know he cared, and he says he doesn’t. So forget he asked. You do you. Nina says she was hoping that Sonny would appreciate that she gave her stake up at the MetroCourt so his best friend could have it, and Drew says, good luck with that. She says, that’s it? What did he come here to talk to her about? He says, never mind. He’ll shoot her an email. It had to do with the wellness article she’s running. He’d like to look at some of the research; maybe talk to a reporter. He’ll let her know. He leaves, and Madison tells Nina, the update and revisions are in her inbox. Does Nina want her to print hard copies? Nina says, not yet. She wants Madison to contact the hotel manager because she wants to know when Olivia gets in. She has something very important to discuss with her.

Gas guy Mr. Tandy tells Carly, notifications about the essential repairs were sent, but she says she didn’t get a notification. Will he please have her gas turned back on? Jason joins them and Tandy says, the repairs will take three days. Her carelessness or disorganization is not the city’s fault. Danny walks by outside, and Carly says she’s not careless or disorganized, and unless he has proof those notifications were delivered, she has grounds to sue. He says, the city followed policy, and she says she guesses they’ll find out when her lawyer… Jason says, they know things get lost and misdelivered all the time, but they can’t run a business without gas for three days. Is there anything he can do to help them out? Tandy says he’ll speak with the gas company. They may be able to expedite repairs and get the gas restored by tomorrow. He’ll get right on that. Jason thanks him and he leaves. Jason asks what Carly needed him for, and she says, he’s been arrested enough times to know how good cop/bad cop works. He asks which cop he was, and she says, the good cop.

Danny goes onto the fire escape and enters Jason’s room through the wide-open window. (Really? In a city that’s crime ridden on and off?)

Ava says she knows it’s difficult for Sonny to trust anyone right now, but isolating himself from everybody who might care about him might put him at a disadvantage. He asks, who might that be. Carly? Michael? The only ones he has left are Kristina and Dante. And he can’t talk to Dante because he’s a cop. Michael, Carly, Jason, Dex, and Nina have all turned on him. She tells him that she’s not saying he doesn’t have the right to feel the way he does. She’s just suggesting that things aren’t always black and white. Carly and Michael, in their own warped way, probably thought they were protecting him. And Dex put his life on the line for Sonny more than once. She was in Puerto Rico. She saw it herself. He says, that was before Dex became a cop. And Michael and Carly can think whatever they want, but they put a spy in his organization. She says, at least he knows Jason didn’t have anything to do with that, and he says, based on what? Does she think Carly and Jason didn’t have any contact? She says, he doesn’t believe that, and he says, here’s what he believes. Carly and Jason are loyal to each other. He’s seen it for years with his own eyes. Carly would lie for him, do anything for him. So does he believe she may have had contact with him? Of course (🍷) he believes that. She may have known Jason was alive and didn’t tell him for months. Maybe even years. That’s unforgivable.

Anna thanks Molly for coming, and Molly says, of course (🍷). What’s going on? She said it was important. Anna says, it is. In this file, there are two statements, one from Cyrus Renault, one from Dex Heller. One details how Sonny Corinthos viciously attacked Cyrus at All Saints Chapel on New Year’s Eve, landing him in hospital. Molly looks at the statements, and Anna says, the other tells how Sonny Corinthos ordered his then employee Dex to kill Cyrus when he was a patient at GH. Molly sits down as she reads, and Anna says, questions? Molly says, yeah, one. She has to ask, what’s changed? May she speak plainly? Anna says, please do, and Molly says she thought Anna and Sonny were friends. Anna says she thinks they had a friendship of sorts, a mutual understanding maybe. Mostly because of his relationship with Robin. And she thinks at times, perhaps, they were on the same side, so to speak, battling a common enemy. That being said, when she was Police Commissioner before, she gave Sonny no passes and she gives him none now. And this case falls in her jurisdiction, and she has to pursue it, even if it implicates someone who has been kind to her in the past. Molly says, and why show it to her? Why not go directly to DA Scorpio? Anna says, Robert loathes Sonny, and she thinks he would enjoy it too much. Molly says, that can’t be the reason, and Anna says, in so many words, if Robert were to prosecute Corinthos, it’s just too personal to him. Molly says, it’s personal to her too.

Ava takes the drink out of Sonny’s hand and says, you know what you need? Some air. It’s beautiful out, so why don’t they go for a walk? They can walk across the park and get something to eat. It’ll do him good. Besides, if he’s seen out and about in public, he’ll let everybody know, as far as he’s concerned, it’s business as usual. They’re not getting to him. He says, yeah. He’s not going to get holed up in this place like he’s trying to hide something. He’s not going to be a victim. Come on. He’s hungry. Let’s go get something to eat. He takes Ava’s hand and they walk out.

Danny checks out Jason’s sunglasses and looks around the room. He picks up Jason’s razor and looks at it, then puts on Jason’s leather jacket.

Carly says, that bureaucrat messed up, but he didn’t want to admit it. That’s why she brought Jason into it. She knew Jason could get him to compromise without losing face. Jason says, or maybe he just didn’t want Carly to sue him, and she says she would have won, by the way. She didn’t want to lose three days of business. Her way was faster. Diane comes in and says, Carly is closed? Why? Carly says, it’s a long story. Is she here to see Jason? Diane says, no. She’s here to see both of them actually. She hands Jason some papers and says, there you go, signed, sealed, and delivered. He’s now half-owner of the MetroCourt. Carly says, he bought the MetroCourt? and Diane says, just Nina Reeves’ half. Now all that’s left to do is both of them sign the transfer of ownership, and Jason’s half is once again Carly’s. Jason thanks her and says he’ll get it back to her. Good job. Diane says she’s very happy for Carly, and leaves. Carly says, Jason can’t give her the MetroCourt, and he asks, why not? She says, because it’s on her to get it back. She’s the one who lost it. She did it all on her own. Drew and Michael told her not to invest, but she did it anyway. She put the MetroCourt up for… He says, okay. If he’d been here, does she think it would have happened that way? She says, no, and he signs the paper. He gives it to her and she hugs him, crying. He says, this deal is done. Enjoy it. He leaves.

Brook tells Lois that Tracy explained, if she bought Chase a brand-new truck, it would just devalue the sacrifice he made in order to pay for the honeymoon. Lois says, and she would be right, which is surprising for her to say. Brook says, it was surprising for her to take Tracy’s advice, which prompted her and Chase to talk about money, including her trust fund. Lois says, how did that go? and Brook says, really good. She’s glad they finally did it. It’s actually kind of a relief, and she thinks they’re in a really good place with it now. Lois says, that’s wonderful. She’s so proud of Brook. Brook says she never wanted to talk to Chase about a prenup or her money, because she never wanted him to think she’d believe he would take advantage of it or her. But the whole what’s mine is his wasn’t working either. It was actually doing quite the opposite. She’s just glad all that stuff is behind them. Lois says, it’s better late than never. Some people don’t even have those open lines of communication to discuss the important things. So it’s a good sign that she and Chase do.

Anna asks what Molly thinks. Can she get a conviction? Molly says, it’s pretty comprehensive. Someone could definitely make a case for assault, conspiracy, and attempted murder. Anna says, not someone. She’s giving it to Molly. Molly says she couldn’t possibly prosecute this case, and Anna asks, why not? Molly says, conflict of interest. Her sister is Sonny Corinthos’s daughter and currently pregnant with her child. Anna should give it to Robert. He’ll be aware of the stakes and do what he needs to do to keep emotion out of it. Or there are other ADAs who can work with him and give him the objectivity he needs. Maybe he’ll even assign the case to one of them. Anna says she’s not ready to move forward with it just yet, and Molly says, then why did Anna need to see her? Anna says, because she wants Molly to do it. So consider this fair warning. When she is ready to pull the trigger on it, she’ll be pushing Robert to give it to Molly to prosecute.

Sonny and Ava walk into the MetroCourt, and Olivia says she heard Sonny had a visit from Lois this morning. He says, she won’t take no for an answer, and Olivia says, does she ever? He says, not really, but he stopped fighting. How’s Dante? She says, good. She talked to him this morning. He’s back at work, grumbling about being behind a desk. Sonny says, at least he’s healing quickly, and Ava says, hear, hear. Carly comes in and says she needs to talk to Olivia. It’s very important. They step aside, and Olivia asks, what’s going on? Carly says, welcome her back, and Olivia asks what she’s talking about. Carly says she got her half of the MetroCourt back. She’s Olivia’s partner again. They screech, hug each other, and jump up and down. Sonny and Ava look at each other.

Molly tells Anna that Sonny is her uncle. He’s her sister’s father. It’s a clear conflict of interest. Anna says, that’s usually the judge’s call to make. Yes, of course (🍷) Molly can go to the court and inform them of their relationship, but ultimately, it will be the judge’s decision whether she stays on the case or not. Molly says, not if she recuses herself first, which she would, and Anna says, oh my God. She’s asking Molly to reconsider. Please. It has taken her a while to recognize the fact that Sonny isn’t the person she thought he was all these years. And she’s gravely concerned and disappointed in some of his recent actions. That is why she wants Molly, because she knows Molly will prosecute him fairly. She won’t seek to make him pay, or showboat; nor will she be too lenient. Molly asks if Anna feels that she’s been too lenient with him all these years, and Anna says, maybe. Sonny Corinthos is a larger-than-life figure in this community; he has been for decades. And he’s a generous benefactor, and in his own way, he’s kept Port Charles safe from others less scrupulous than he is about the drug trade. She imagines most city officials feel he’s the lesser of two evils, that he’s like a power to be tolerated and not eliminated. But that is over because she now has tangible proof of what Sonny has become, and frankly, it’s disturbing. And she’s going after him for something he actually did. And he needs to be stopped. Molly says she agrees. There’s absolutely a case here and it needs to be prosecuted. But not by her. There are four other ADAs in this office who don’t have close ties to Sonny. Anna says, in a perfect world, every case would be black and white. They’d know who was right and who was wrong. Who the good guys are and the bad. But that is not reality. In reality, most cases are layered, they’re complicated, they’re messy, and that is why they have to adhere to the rule of law. They can’t just decide who they’re going to pick and choose to investigate and who they’re going to prosecute. If they start relying on their own personal bias, that’s when the entire system breaks down. They have to do their duty, and it’s hers to investigate, and it may well be Molly’s to prosecute. (Um… but this isn’t some personal bias. She’s literally related to the guy. If she was a doctor, she wouldn’t be the one performing surgery either.)

Sitting at the counter in the nook, Lois says, Brook has never really asked about her dad, and Brook says she guesses she just accepted things didn’t work out between the two of them. Her dad was always present in her life, and they were really good at co-parenting. Lois says, and she’s very proud of that. Ned is a wonderful man, and they loved each other so, so much. They just didn’t agree with each other on things like money… and a bunch of other things, which was why she was so adamant about raising Brook in Bensonhurst. She didn’t want Brook to be around all that Quartermaine money and the drama that accompanied it. It’s a decision she’s never regretted. Brook says, she’ll forever be grateful for her upbringing. Growing up with the Bensonhurst Brigade was a gift. Lois says, oh ho! They’re all going to be there, right? And look – she points at the seating chart – she seated Sonny next to Kristina and her girlfriend Blaze, and then she put Michael on the whole other side of the room because something is still going on between Michael and Sonny. Hmm… She hadn’t even thought about that. Brook says, about what? and Lois says, should they invite Jason?

Jason opens the door to his room and sees Danny in his jacket. He heaves a Jason sigh and says, Danny…

Olivia says, how did this happen? and Carly says, Jason. Nina sold him her half, and he signed it over to her. Sonny looks grim, and Olivia says, this is so fantastic. She’s missed Carly so much. The hotel has missed her so much. Please tell Jason, thank you, a million, million times. Nina looks all happy and pleased with herself, and like a cloud of doom, Sonny walks over to Carly and asks if he can have a moment. Carly says, no. Whatever he has to say, he can just say it. He says, you, Jason, Nina. Three liars. Three traitors. You all deserve each other. Soap looks all around, and Nina catches Ava’s eye.

On Monday, dressed in a boa, Lois says, it’s showtime; Drew says he thought maybe Willow would like to know; Nina asks how long Ava’s been playing her for a fool; Sonny tells Carly, that’s proof someone is working against him; and Sam asks Jason how he can do this to their son.

🔬 Before He Was Finn…

This actually sounds like a pretty good story. My favorite role of his will always be the vampire Caleb on Port Charles though. No surprise there.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/michael-easton-shares-a-throwback-movie-clip-with-emma-samms

🏆 Feels Like We Just Did This…

Everyone is hopeful that the Daytime Emmys will be on time this year.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/the-2024-daytime-emmy-awards-nominations

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/daytime-emmys/daytime-emmy-awards-155953

🍻 Nature Or Nurture…

I don’t remember her well, but I do remember her as being a bit unhinged. Perhaps it’s true about the apple not falling far from the tree.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/tyler-campanella-stepson-of-real-housewives-of-new-jersey-star-siggy-flicker-arrested-on-jan-6-charges

🔄 The Circle of Minkoffs…

Where one Minkoff ends, another begins. Hey, wait. Has anyone ever seen them in the same room at the same time?

I’m going to miss her… sniff…

🍼 Daddy Don’t Go…

While I have mad admiration for Andy’s business sense, I don’t think he recognizes that the Housewives franchise is getting old, and Bravo should move on. Now it’s old and cranky and come back to bite him in the ass. I wouldn’t bet the farm on it, but I tend to think the lawsuits against him personally don’t have a lot of merit. I believe what he said about Brandi, who’s scrambling to get away from her own lawsuit, and as for Leah, no one complained at the time, and this isn’t the 80s.

https://people.com/andy-cohen-not-leaving-bravo-despite-legal-troubles-says-network-8635855

🦸🏻 A Bromance For the Ages…

Deadpool is the best and the trailer looks very promising.

https://www.gamesradar.com/deadpool-3-release-date-cast-trailer-plot-deadpool-and-wolverine-marvel

The tease.

https://www.cbr.com/deadpool-wolverine-secret-wars-psa-teaser-theaters

The cameo… maybe.

https://www.cbr.com/deadpool-wolverine-shawn-levy-taylor-swift-cameo

For theorists, conspiracy or otherwise.

https://www.escapistmagazine.com/taylor-swift-fans-think-her-new-album-confirms-her-role-in-deadpool-wolverine

🐶 Barking Up the Right Tree…

Celebrity dogs. They’re just like ours.

https://okmagazine.com/p/most-adorable-moments-celebrities-dogs

You, too, can be a celebrity in your dog’s eyes.

https://people.com/daniel-radcliffe-stephen-colbert-lies-about-puppies-dog-adoption-segment-8636078

🦧 Quotes of the Week

Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn’t know it so it goes on flying anyway. – Mary Kay Ash

Confidence comes not from always being right, but from not fearing to be wrong. Peter McIntyre

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway. – Earl Nightingale

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. – George Bernard Shaw

Get your face out of my… look. – Debbie Johnson, 90 Day Fiancé: Tell All Part 5, after being told by Debbie Aguero, keep my name out of your mouth. (Obviously, comebacks aren’t her strong suit.)

Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones. – Thich Nhat Hanh

Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. – Stephen R. Covey

A memory is a beautiful thing, it’s almost a desire that you miss. – Gustave Flaubert

So, Earth is round, Earth is flat, where are you guys at on that these days? – Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), Fallout

🪂 Pulling the Cord…

Have a weekend filled with places to go and people to see, or at least catching up on your streaming and sleep. Come back again on Monday really Tuesday for soap and Deck exploits. Until then, stay safe, stay knowing your audience, and stay having open lines of communication to discuss the important things.

April 17, 2024 – Brook Has the Money Talk With Chase, Sudsy Stuff, This Week’s Top, An Exit, A Date Or Not, Melrose Return, OctoWonder & Day

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Laura says she hopes she’s not interrupting anything, but Anna says she could use the break. You’d think protecting a community wouldn’t require so much paperwork. Laura says, try getting the right colored trash cans to the right address. You’ll be buried under paperwork for weeks. She was just about to meet someone, but she wanted to talk to Anna first. Anna asks, what’s on her mind? and Laura says, justice. She thinks she and Anna have been standing in the way of it for too long.

As they put away chairs after a meeting, Finn says he and Alexis are in the room at the same time. She asks if he missed her chair stacking abilities, and he says, still not good. He hasn’t seen her. Has she been hitting another meeting or… She says she could give him a million reasons why, but it all boils down to other things taking precedence, and he says, it happens. She says she knows people slack off from time to time, but if she continues to do it this way for this long, she may risk everything.

Aiden tells Violet, dinner has arrived, as he walks into Finn’s apartment with Elizabeth and Jake. Violet says, good. She didn’t feel like cooking. Elizabeth says she’s glad they could help. How is she? Violet says, good, and Elizabeth asks Gregory, how’s his day? He says he’s fine, and she says, Finn’s not home? He says, not yet. The babysitter just left. Violet asks what they’re having for dinner, and Elizabeth says, they’re having turkey burgers, fries, and salad. And her dad better hurry up or he’s going to miss out. Aiden says, they’ll have fries if it’s okay for him to use the air fryer, and Gregory says, of course (🍷) it is. Just make sure to tell Finn how much he loves it. It’ll make his day. Elizabeth tells the boys to unload the stuff in the kitchen and get started, and Gregory tells them to help themselves to anything in there. Violet suggests she show them where everything is, and Gregory says, good thinking. Violet follows the boys, and Elizabeth asks if Gregory is okay with a turkey burger. He says, if she’s asking him if he’ll be able to hold it, or will he fumble it all over himself and the table and the floor, her guess is as good as his. She says she was asking him if he was in the mood for it, and he says, sorry. A burger sounds great. She says, and for the record, if he holds it, drops it, or wears it, it’s still going to taste really good. He asks, what’s going on with Jake? and she says, ugh. He says, never mind. He thinks he knows.

Chase comes out wearing an apron and carrying some plates, and Brook says, the smells coming out of that kitchen are driving her nuts. She can’t wait to dig into this very green… He says, chicken. He was very free with the spinach. He went with their honeymoon theme – chicken Florentine. He sets the plates down, says, Italy, and pulls out her chair. She sits and wonders how she got so lucky. First him, now this. He says he’s made dinner before. It’s not that big of a deal. He opens a bottle of wine, and she says she loves him for doing this. She loves all the extra work he did in the kitchen to make this happen. She loves him for selling his truck, but hates the fact that he doesn’t have it anymore.

Chase says, the truck was just a silly guy thing. He had no idea she was so attached to it. She says she’s attached to him, and he loved that truck, but he says, no. He loves her. Besides – he takes the apron off and sits down – it’s not like he needs the truck to haul lumber or bales of hay or anything like that. She tells him, whatever you say, and he asks if she has a picture in her mind of her standing in the truck bed, holding a Just Married sign, with tin cans hanging from the bumper. She says she does now. She would have loved that. Though at the moment, she would much love Lucy Coe dangling from that bumper. He says he saw what happened on Home & Heart. He’s sorry the video launch of Deception’s new cream was so problematic. She says, if Sasha hadn’t shown up when she did, they’d still be hearing about the trials and triumphs of Lucy Coe, and he says, Sasha’s pretty great. Brook says, because she’s gracious and charming, and she made it clear the viewers that they should buy Deception’s new cream. Lucy made it clear to the viewers that she needs therapy. He says, it got a little better when Scott got there. He at least mentioned the cream. She says, the Home & Heart new product launch was supposed to be another step in Deception’s financial rebound, and he says he’s on track to get a raise at the PCPD’s next fiscal year. She says, he’s on track? He should just get it right now. No one’s better at their job than he is and he works harder than almost anyone. He says, if he does get the raise – they clink glasses – he thinks that they should invest the money in some property, build a little forest getaway, and maybe that truck will come in handy. She says, he realizes they don’t have to wait, right? They could buy five new trucks, five forest getaways… They could probably buy five forests. He asks if they need to have the money talk again, as in, her family has all the money, and he has a decent government salary. She says, they probably should, but first, she just needs to take a couple of bites of this gorgeous, green chicken to fortify herself.

Alexis says she doesn’t know if Gregory told Finn, but she’s so sorry. She’s not going to be able to make Chase’s wedding. He says he’s sorry to hear that. Did she get a better offer? She says she got a different offer. Diane has made it her mission to get her disbarment fixed. He says, good news, and she says, shocking news. She would not have thought after all this time… She thought the chances of them wanting to review her disbarment highly improbable. He says, it became not so improbable, and she says, it became real. She has a hearing with the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan the day after Chase’s wedding, but she has to be there 24 hours in advance. He says he’s sure Chase and Brook will be disappointed, but they’ll be thrilled by the reason. She says, getting a hearing does say the court feels there’s sufficient grounds to take a second look. He says, if anybody deserves a second chance… but she says she doesn’t know about that. He asks why she says that, and she says, maybe she got the justice she deserved the first time when the court smacked her down. He says, the court smacked her down, but she’s doing a pretty good job of it herself, and she says she knows she didn’t support perjury and she didn’t perjure herself, but she did lie to the medical board, and she was under oath. So when the disciplinary committee took action, she didn’t think it was appropriate to contest it. He says he gets it. She needed to punish herself. If we don’t think we’re worth saving, we don’t even try.

Laura says she doesn’t think she or Anna were consciously trying to impede the pursuit of justice. She’s just saying that she knows she’s guilty of not seeing clearly what was right in front of her. She’s sorry. This has been weighing on her for a long time. Anna says she thinks Laura is going to have to be a bit more specific, and Laura says she’s talking about her friendship with Sonny. Anna says she knows he and Laura have a history, and Laura says, Luke and Sonny were friends. The club Luke owned was originally owned by Sonny. Anna says, Paradise Lounge, and Laura says, yeah. Anna says, such an ironic name in retrospect, and Laura tells her, to say it was a disreputable place would be a compliment. Eventually, they just shut it down, and then Luke and Sonny turned that space into Luke’s blues club. They really bonded over that. They became very close, and since then, Sonny has done a lot of things to help a lot of people that she loves. Anna says, he did for Robin. He was there for her daughter in ways she couldn’t be. Laura says, he’s done a lot of good. He really has, especially for the hospital. And the thing is, she really believed they had a bond. Anna says she did too. He listened to her when that double-agent thing came out. She considered him a friend, albeit an unconventional one. Laura says, considered. Past tense? Anna says, an individual walked through this door into her office and told her flat out that Sonny ordered him to kill someone, and Laura says, Sonny ordered a hit. She guesses she knew in theory what Sonny did for a living, but she guesses she didn’t allow herself to think about what it meant in practice. Anna says, he’s charming and generous and has decent impulses, no question. But charm has no moral weight and impulses aren’t character. Laura says she feels so ashamed that it took her so long to wake up and see him for everything that he is. Anna says, every time, she felt they shared this understanding of darkness that no one else shared. She didn’t allow herself to play out what that was, what that actually meant. Laura says her friendship with Sonny was never a secret. She’s just here to say, if Anna ever felt inclined to go easy on Sonny because of her, don’t. (Come on. These two aren’t stupid and they’ve been around the block and back. They knew Sonny was a mob boss, but thought all he did was import coffee?)

Laura says she realizes now that Sonny has a very dark side, one that he can keep hidden from most people, but she got a chance to see what that side was capable of when she saw her brother lying in that hospital bed, and she realized that Sonny is a violent and dangerous time bomb that could go off whenever he decides it’s necessary. Anna says, that sounds about right, and Laura says she knows Cyrus has done the same, probably a lot worse, but Cyrus is not as skilled as Sonny at not getting caught. Anna says, he’s not a generous philanthropist that has woven himself into the very fabric of the city for the past few years, and Laura says she’s still struggling with what Sonny is capable of doing. That he could do what he did to her brother with just his bare hands. Anna says, and in church. She talked to Cyrus, and he said he would not testify against Sonny. There were no other witnesses, and she knew that Sonny would lie about whatever charges she filed against him. Laura says, and as they’re learning, Sonny is really good at lying, and Anna agrees. Laura says she thinks she’ll be going. So if the opportunity presents itself for Anna to pursue this case… Anna says she’ll be ready. Laura can count on it. Laura thanks her and leaves.

Chase says, his wine guy had several choices to pair with tonight’s dinner, but he chose the pinot grigio because it’s Italian, and Brook says, like the chicken. He says, and the woman he loves, and she says she loves him too. And she loves this wine. She thinks she’s had enough of it to have the money conversation. So she and Tracy talked… He says, let him get a pen, and she says, for what? He says, so he can sign the prenup that Tracy drew up and they can get back to the wine, but she says, drink the wine. There is no prenup. He says, it’s fine. He thought about it and he’s fine with signing it. And he wants her to feel safe. She says she does feel safe, and he says he does too. Which is why he’s fine with saying that nothing is ever going to happen to their marriage. Which means this prenup means nothing. So they’ll put it in a drawer and pull it out in 50 years, and they’ll see how much his signature changed. She laughs and says, they both know his signature changes depending on his mood. Remember when his team lost and he had to sign the pizza delivery guy’s receipt? The pen almost went through his hand. There is no prenup. He got another bottle, didn’t he? He says, how about this? If for some reason their marriage falls apart, then he walks away with nothing more than he brought to the marriage. She says she appreciates the offer, and he says, but she’s not going to take it. Because according to Brook’s teachings, you never accept the first offer. She says she couldn’t be prouder. Their marriage isn’t going to fail. She knows it and he knows it. So the conversation they should be having isn’t about what happens when they split up. It’s about what happens when they don’t.

Finn says, good thing Diane is in Alexis’s corner, because it doesn’t sound like Alexis is, and Alexis says she’s just being cautious. She does have a history. He says, history is in the past. It’s done. She says her apologies to him and Mr. Faulkner, but the past is not dead. The past’s not even in the past. It’s right here. And that side of her that’s capable of doing horrible things or self-sabotaging may be in the backseat right now, but it’s always around there, lurking somewhere. He says, they’ve talked about this. They’re wired the same way. That’s what makes them always focus on the negative things first and the good things come in tenth place, but that doesn’t mean they’re to be ignored. Some really wonderful things have come out of her past. She says, her girls. Best thing that ever happened to her. Nothing else even comes close. She refers to them as little Roombas because they’re always wandering here and there and everywhere, but eventually, they always get back on track and come back to mom. He says, she must have done a lot of things right to have three daughters as great as the ones she has. She says, other than her girls, she feels like the most good she’s ever done in the world has been through her legal career. Because she’s been able, in some very small way, to move the needle of justice forward. She wants to do that again. She wants to feel good like that. He says, yes. And if the court case goes the way it should, she will. She says, so she just needs to not get in her own way and stay sober. And they both know if she loses this case, she’ll want a drink to console herself and if she wins it, she’ll want to celebrate. He says, life doesn’t make it easy, does it? and she says, Molly is already worried about her. If she slips up again, her girls may be done with her. He says, she’s not going to let that happen, and she says she’s here. And she’s going to be here tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day. And if she’s not here and he’s here, he better call her out on it. He says, okay. He’s watching his dad die slowly before his eyes. And after treating his dad poorly most of his life, he has a few months to make up for it. So he’ll be there for her if she promises the same for him. They shake hands, and she says, always my friend. She hugs him, and he thanks her.

Violet and Aiden come out of the kitchen, and Elizabeth asks, how’s it going in there? Aiden says, all good, and Violet says, it would be great if Aiden could make the cheese fries instead of regular ones. Gregory says he’s all for it if it’s okay with Aiden’s mom, and Elizabeth asks if they think she’d say no to cheese fries. Is his brother helping? Aiden says, he was, but now he’s on his phone, and Elizabeth says, just yell if they need anything. They go back into the kitchen, and Gregory says, it’s none of his business, but he’s guessing that the tension level has risen a few notches in her house since Jake’s father came back in the picture. She says, yeah. Actually, she was hoping to talk to him about this. She knows there was a time when Finn rejected him, and even though their situations are completely different, there’s a form of that happening with Jake. He doesn’t want to talk about Jason. He doesn’t want to acknowledge his name. He’s so, so angry. Obviously, Gregory didn’t just up and leave his kid without any notice whatsoever, so she doesn’t know. Maybe he doesn’t have any advice to offer. He says, it sounds like Jake’s not the only one who’s angry, and she says, no, he’s not, but he is the one most crippled by it. He says, sometimes he thinks anger is just our way of punishing ourselves when the one we really want to hurt is someone we love and can’t let go of. He can’t tell her how much he loved Finn’s mom. Watching her die was the worst thing that ever happened to him. Worse than waking up now each morning, wondering what ALS has stolen from him. But then he met Jackie. She was so young and vibrant, she made him feel alive again. Maybe it was a rebound. They loved each other and he wanted to be in love again so badly. It didn’t feel wrong to him. It didn’t feel like he was being unfaithful to his late wife. She says, but that’s how Finn saw it, and he says, that’s the way Finn had to see it. Otherwise, he would be being disloyal to his mother. The anger that Finn channeled his way… But like anything that hot and intense, it had to eventually exhaust itself and it did. And what remained is a loving father/son relationship that she sees now. So maybe Jake just needs to let his anger burn itself out so he can get to his own now.

Alexis says, Finn knows if there’s anything he or his father want or need, she’ll be there, and he thanks her. She says she just wants to let him know that she saw Gregory recently and he didn’t look very good. Finn says he knows. And like her, he’s struggling to hang on to his sobriety. When he reflects on his past, he was not a good son. His dad did nothing but good, and he treated him very badly. Alexis says, he’s changed. He’s made amends. He’s not the same person anymore. He says, yeah, but that person knows where he lives. Now his dad has turned inward. Gregory won’t let Finn go to any of his doctor’s appointments with him and won’t let Finn see any of his test results. All he does is give Finn these glowing reports about how well he’s doing, and all Finn has to do is take one look at him to know he’s lying. She says, being a doctor and his son, he picked the wrong guy to try and bluff, and Finn says, he’s holding himself together by sheer force of will so he can make it to Chase’s wedding. She says, it means a lot to him, and he says, it does. It’s going to, right? Chase is the good son. He’s the one who wronged his dad. He turned it around in his head to make himself right. It takes a lot of time and energy to convince yourself everyone else is the problem, but not you. She says she knows the syndrome, and he says he stays up at night thinking of all the time he lost his family, the lost days that became lost years. He doesn’t sleep much anymore. She says, nobody can punish us like we can, and he says, his dad was devoted to his mom. He was there for her. She died so young. Finn was just angry. He was angry at everyone. But when his dad met Jackie and she helped him move on and be happy, he found a way to punish his dad for it. Sleeping with her before the wedding, before their wedding. What kind of son does that? (I’m glad he mentioned this. When Gregory didn’t, I started to wonder if I’d made it up. I guess he felt it wasn’t his place to tell Elizabeth.)

Brook tells Chase that her mother kept them away from the Quartermaine money. She knew it was there, but she had a pretty good career as a music manager. The Quartermaine money wasn’t always a gift. He asks if Ned was around, and she says, enough. She’s pretty sure he paid child support. It’s not like she ever felt she didn’t have two parents. And her grandparents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins, all the people who might have been cousins, they were always around. He says, so that’s why the guest list for their wedding was so long, and she says, and she only invited the ones she likes. Some of her relatives had a house. Some of them had one gifted to them in a will, but none of them were rich. They were comfortable in Bensonhurst. He says his upbringing was probably quieter than hers, but they were pretty middle class too, and she says she wants that kind of life for their kids. A life full of love that makes them feel safe. She knows there are going to be bumps along the way, but they will be surrounded by family who will take them by the hand and help them. He asks if she doesn’t think there will be members of the family who will want to take their hand and put a bunch of money in it, and she says, there definitely will be. He knows her family. That’s going to happen, but there’s two of them and they can send them off. It’ll be a little tricky to have a normal life, especially in Port Charles, but it’s not impossible. He takes her hands and says, if they’re together, nothing is impossible, and she says, there you go. She thinks what granny was really after with that prenup wasn’t about protecting her trust or her inheritances from him; it was about protecting them from what the insanity of that kind of money can bring. He tells her that he never thought he’d say this, but he thinks Tracy has the right idea.

Chase hands Brook her glass of wine and says, here’s what he thinks, and he thinks Tracy would agree. They’re young, they’re healthy, they have careers that they love, and between them, they’re comfortable. She says she’s with him so far, and he says, they take the interest from her trust fund and any other funds she has and put them into a savings account for their kids. It’ll be for education… and shoes. She says, exactly what kind of shoes is he thinking? It sounds good. He says, it will be a safety net if anything comes up, and she says, like a shoe emergency. He says, a medical emergency. Or if they want to help out a loved one. And he’s sure there’s charities they’d like to support. She says she likes the sound of it, and he says, the only thing he cares about their kids inheriting is the good stuff they bring to their lives. Honesty, compassion, a strong work ethic. She says, he brings so much more than that. Granny told her that no one would want to live off their spouse’s money, which is a really weird thing for her to say, considering all the guys in her life did just that. He says he never understood her taste in men, but he understands where she’s coming from. He always wants to feel like he can serve and protect this family. See what he did there? She says she did, and he says he thinks he brings value to their marriage. He can sing. She says, yeah, he can, and he says he can cook. She says she can attest to that, and he says he can catch the bad guys. Some might even say, it’s her dollars against his collars. She tells him that she’d never say that, and they kiss.

Laura goes into the Bistro and says, she asked them to meet and keeps them waiting. She’s so sorry. Cyrus says he’s always happy to wait for his sister, and he used the time to try and figure out the reason behind her unprecedented invitation. She asks what he came up with, but he says, nothing. He decided to be grateful just to spend some time with her. She says she’s glad they’re doing this then. He’s looking well. He thanks her and says he’s feeling good. He’s getting stronger every day. He tries to look at his time at GH as just an extended spa stay. She says, he’s joking, but what happened to him in that church was no joke. He says, it’s in the past, but she says she’s been thinking about it an awful lot lately, and if he chose not to press charges against Sonny because of her, because of her friendship with him, she wants him to reconsider. He deserves justice. She doesn’t want to be the reason he doesn’t get it.

Detective Brennan says, Anna wanted to see him? and she says she wanted to know the status of Dex Heller’s application to the academy. He says, Heller aced the written exam. He’s got a physical and job standard test next. He’s got to say, the guy looks army ready. He can’t imagine there would be a problem with either one. She says, that’s great. Sounds very promising. He says, they don’t get candidates of this caliber very often, and when they do, the academy grabs them. She thanks him for the update, and he says, if he could be honest, he thinks though, in this case, they should consider passing on it.

Violet says, ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served, when Finn walks in. He hugs Violet, and Gregory says, your timing is impeccable, sir. Finn says, sir. He likes it. Jake says he hopes they made enough fries, but Finn says, don’t worry. He’ll just eat Jake’s. Aiden says, there’s another basket ready to go. His air fryer is amazing. Finn says he knows. He keeps telling people and they say he’s crazy. Gregory, Aiden, and Violet head for the kitchen, and Finn asks how Jake’s day was. Jake says, no complaints. How about him? Finn says, no complaints, and Jake says, they’re living the dream. Jake follows the others, and Finn apologizes to Elizabeth for being late. She kisses him and he says he had a meeting and he stayed behind for a little bit and talked to Alexis. She asks if everything is okay, and he says, just checking in with each other. How’s his dad doing? She says, he’s just the sweetest person. If it wasn’t for Finn, she’d be halfway in love with him already. Finn says he better not be late for dinner again, and they go to the kitchen.

Cyrus says, Laura isn’t the reason Sonny escaped justice for his assault. He is. She asks what he means, and he says, Nina Reeves came to see him when he was in the hospital. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Tell him, does she think people like Nina Reeves and the Quartermaines become phenomenally wealthy without breaking the law, or are they just phenomenally good at not getting caught? She says, if she had to take a guess, she’d think that over the generations it’s probably a bit of both. He says, Nina used some of that generational wealth to walk in and buy him a radio spot for his Scripture based show. She asks if that was in exchange for him not pressing charges against Sonny, and he says, yeah and he agreed. She says, now she knows how he got on the radio, and he laughs. He says, it’s over now. He got sick of hearing his own voice and some of his listeners told him they thought he sounded phony when he quoted the Bible. He was terribly offended until he listened to himself. She says, was it bad? and he says he has no standing and no business telling anybody how to live their life. He thinks that came through. He has a lot of work to do on himself, and it’s probably best he takes care of that before he presumes to shepherd a flock. She says, he seems different, at least more thoughtful, and he says he prays that he is. She says, now that he’s taken Nina Reeves payoff, would he consider pressing charges against Sonny?

Brook says she can’t believe how nervous she was talking money with Chase, and he says, she’ll get better with practice. Besides, he thinks they’re going to be having that talk every few years. She asks if he thinks they’ll change their minds, decide they want to buy all the trucks, and he says he’s pretty confident in saying no to that, but money changes. Banks close, markets crash, opportunities come up that weren’t there before. She says, they’ll cross those bridges when they get to them, and maybe they’ll buy them if they want to, but for now, they’re good. He says, she was nervous about having the money talk because of his fragile male ego, wasn’t she? Because if the shoe was on the other foot and he had the millions, he doesn’t think she’d like living off his money either. She says, probably not, and he says, that’s all he needed to hear. She says, he should have told her sooner; she would have said it sooner. He asks if they can be done with this money is a ruinous burden talk, and she says, yes, yes, a thousand times yes. He says he wants her to give him one practical good thing that money brings them, and she says orthodonture. Their kids are going to have beautiful teeth. He laughs.

Anna asks why Brennan thinks they should pass on Heller. He just said Dex was extremely qualified. He says, there’s some things the intake test can’t catch, and she says, for example? He says, Heller made a wrong turn in his life and he’s trying to make up for it, and she says, Brennan thinks Dex is trying to make up for the time he spent working for Corinthos. He says, yes, and penance is the wrong motivation for becoming a cop. When there’s a guy with a gun holed up somewhere, the cops who have something to atone for are the ones who run in too soon too fast. A lot of times, they don’t come out. She says, got it, and thanks him for the update and insight. He says, no problem, and leaves.

Cyrus says he doesn’t know if reinstating charges against Sonny would serve justice or not, and Laura says she saw him when he was lying in that hospital bed. He was unconscious, but that man could have killed him with his bare hands. He says, but he didn’t, thank the good Lord, and she says, yes, thank God, but she heard that Sonny wasn’t able to use his hand for more than a week. Cyrus says, but he was responsible for the circumstances that made his beating happen, and she asks what he means. He says, by dishonest means, he came to know certain things about Nina. And he followed Sonny into that church knowing full well how his ill begotten knowledge would hurt him, and he haunted Sonny with it. He knew the pain would make him crazy and it did. She says, so he goaded Sonny into a rage, and he says, yes. And he knew, even as his own blood was flowing down his face, he had won. With every blow, he had more leverage over Sonny, and it disgusts him. Everything he’s ever done involving Sonny disgusts him. It’s been so long, he doesn’t even know what it was he wanted from Sonny to begin with. But that night, it had to do with revenge. She thanks him for admitting all that to her, and says, but he still didn’t deserve to be beaten like that. He says, maybe he didn’t, but maybe he did. Maybe it would be good for Sonny to go away for a while. He doesn’t know. She says, well, she does, and he says, then he’ll let himself be guided by her, but she says, no. She can’t tell him what to do here. He has to decide this for himself. He says, what an irony. The one time he didn’t ask for it, he holds Sonny’s fate in his hands.

Tomorrow, Finn tells Dante that Chase’s bachelor party went sideways, and he doesn’t know what to do; Cyrus goes to see Anna; Michael tells Josslyn that they should keep an eye on that guy; John says, it’s time he finally gave Carly something in return; and Lois says, it wouldn’t be complete without Sonny.

🧼 All the Soap News Fit To Print…

I was surprised that this was the most difficult scene for him, since Jason got socked with a lot of surprises.

Grandpa Carmine has RSVP’d yes.

New gigs for three.

She deserves it, and she’s absolutely gorgeous.

🔪 Tonight In Chefs…

A Supper Club sounds amazing. I love this site’s blow-by-blow recaps.

💎 Because We Can’t Have Nice Things…

Is Bravo kidding? She was just coming into her own, and part of the trio of reason – Garcelle, Sutton, and Crystal. They never know a good thing when they have it and hang on to the bad things for far too long. She will be missed.

https://ew.com/crystal-kung-minkoff-exits-rhobh-after-3-seasons-8634000

🗽 No Boy Toy Here…

He looks too much like the Count. Methinks the Countess wants one a little younger too. And possibly more French.

No judgement on the age difference. I have zero against that whichever way it goes. But they literally look like a father and daughter when next to each other, especially when he’s holding her hand. I blame it on Mary Kate dressing like she’s 12.

💅🏼 Reviving Their Place…

It’s good to see Heather Locklear sharpening her claws again.

https://people.com/melrose-place-revival-in-the-works-with-heather-locklear-laura-leighton-daphne-zuniga-8629989

🐙 Just Marvelous…

After seeing so many videos of them doing things like playing with divers, I won’t eat octopus (or eel) anymore. Again, no judgement. You do you. I don’t think I could ever give up a tasty burger.

https://people.com/paul-rudd-marvels-at-mimic-octopus-8630194

🪣 Fighting Fire With Water…

Join me tomorrow for more soap and amusement. Until then, stay safe, stay turning obstacles into opportunities, and stay not wasting time and energy convincing yourself everyone else is the problem, but not you. It’s probably you.

April 12, 2024 – Jason Has a Generous Impulse, Outside the Soap, Cancelled Talk, Knots Again, Just Awful, VanderSituation, Details, BravoCon Man, Three Tails, Nonet Quotes & Wild

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At the MetroCourt, Alexis says she’s missed Gregory, and The Invader isn’t the same without him. He says he misses it too. He truly enjoyed the work, but in the words of a famous American poet, you’ve got to know when to fold ‘em. His best days aren’t ahead of him. She says she hopes he doesn’t mind if she still calls him every day with her problems, especially if they’re ethically sticky. He says he’d be hurt if she didn’t. Anything in particular? She says, let’s just eat before I lose my appetite. The Invader gives me heartburn. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and they look at their menus. She says, there was something else she wanted to say to him. She’s so sorry, but she can’t be his extra one for the wedding. He says, why not? and she says, because there’s a slight chance she may be getting her law license back.

At the coffee warehouse, Diane says she takes it Jason got her message about some of his bank accounts being unfrozen. He says he did. Fast work. She says she’s Diane Miller, and he asks if he has enough money to buy back Carly’s half of the MetroCourt. (I swear, I thought that’s what he was going to say before he said it.)

Michael says he doesn’t know what his mom was doing with Agent Cates… and because she never learns, Nina says, it’s all too clear what they were doing. Carly was bringing up room service for two and Agent Cates was wearing nothing but a towel. Curtis says, Nina knows things aren’t always as they appear. He’s sure Carly wouldn’t cheat on Drew. Drew says, it wouldn’t be cheating. He and Carly broke up. Curtis says he’s sorry; he didn’t know. Michael says, his mother’s personal life is her business, not Nina’s, and Nina says she just thinks it’s a shame Carly would hook up with a guy who’s a federal agent after she and Drew broke up.

As she brushes him, Sasha asks not-Comet not to tell his buddies, but she thinks his coat is the shiniest. He must get a lot of vitamin A, D, and E. Cody comes in and says, you again. Any luck with the job search? She says, not really. She’s applied for everything; receptionist positions, corporate communications, positions in insurance and public affairs, most of them in New York and Connecticut. He says he’d hate to see her move, but at least she’s getting nibbles, right? and she says, but nothing that interests her. She’s tired of being considered because these jobs are public facing, and she fits the company’s image. He says, receptionist jobs are out. She’s way too qualified for that. But any company would be lucky to have her. She says, not if they only care about her looks. Been there, done that.

At the Home & Heart studio, Lucy tells Maxie that they need gels because the light is just not flattering… to the product. She asks a woman on the stage if they could please get some lighting gels, and Maxie says, they’d really appreciate it. The woman says she’d have to get the producer’s permission, and Haven says, that’s okay. Just do it. She asks if Maxie and Lucy are ready for another blockbuster segment, and Lucy says, absolutely. Maxie says, all set, and Haven says, no Sasha she hears. Maxie says, unfortunately not, and Haven says she doesn’t know this Blaze, but her granddaughters are very excited. She’s been ordered to get an autograph. So is she here yet? Maxie says, they’ve decided to streamline the duties of the Face, so Blaze will not be the spokesmodel today. Haven asks, then who is doing the selling today? and Lucy says, who else? Moi. (I’ll have what Morgan Fairchild is having. She’s 74 and looks amazing.)

On the phone, Brook says, it’s fully electric, not a hybrid?… Tracy walks in and Brook says, that is so awesome. Send her all the specs and financials. Send her everything. She’s so excited that they have the pickup in stock. She’ll be waiting. Tracy says, don’t tell her that she and Chase has eschewed the traditional limo ride to church for a 4×4.

Michael says, before they believe what Nina’s telling them, just consider the source, and Nina says she imagines Michael is used to this. Carly is not known for her discretion. Drew says, Carly has a right to privacy just like everybody else. He doubts any of them would like everybody to know what they do behind closed doors. Nina says, that’s the thing. Cates’s door wasn’t closed. They were perfectly visible from the hall. Maybe Carly just needed a good… night out. Curtis says, they don’t know what did or didn’t happen. What they do know is, Carly and Agent Cates are consenting adults, so whatever happened is none of their damn business. Drew says, Curtis is right. He’s done discussing it. Nina says, yeah. It must be painful knowing Carly got over their relationship so quickly.

Haven says, so Lucy is the spokesperson, and Lucy says, yes siree bob. Because who better than the founder? Maxie says, and nobody knows the product better than Lucy, and Lucy says, yes, indeed. She’s been in on every single step of developing their new face cream. Haven says she’s going to have to check with her producer about this, and leaves. Lucy says, that certainly could have gone a lot better, and sees Maxie looking at her tablet. She asks, what is with Maxie’s tepid attitude? She just stood there like she swallowed a fish. Why didn’t Maxie have her back more? Maxie says, maybe because she doesn’t agree with Lucy’s decision to do this. Why is she insisting on taking this all on herself? Lucy says, why is Maxie so against… Wait a minute. Maxie wants to get up there herself. She wants the spotlight. Is that correct? Maxie says, Lucy has to be kidding her. She wants Sasha in the spotlight. The public knows her, and they love her. Lucy says, okay, fine, but Maxie has to get over that because Sasha – she lowers her voice – quit. Maxie says, thanks to Lucy, and walks off.

Carly goes the MetroCourt bar and says she got Michael’s text. How did he know she was in the hotel? He says, Nina told him. He guesses she spent the night in Agent Cates’s room. She says, that woman. Nina called to tell him that? Is she going to put it on the cover of The Invader? He says he was in Drew’s office downstairs, and she showed up and filled them in, and Carly says, she told Drew? He says, and him and Curtis Ashford. They were in the middle of a meeting. She says, Nina once told Sonny that she was having an affair with Brick and she was wrong. Does that woman ever learn? Just to be clear, she stayed over with Agent Cates. She did not sleep with him. Michael says he knows, and she asks, how is Drew?

Diane says she doubts Jason has developed a sudden interest in the hospitality industry, so she can only assume… He says he’s going to give the MetroCourt back to Carly, and Diane says, that’s a very generous impulse, but it’s going to take some finessing. First of all, Nina has no incentive to sell. He says, give her one. She can name her price. Diane says, no she can’t. Absolutely not. She has far too much pride in her skills as a negotiator to hand anyone a blank check, much less that real estate heiress. She can make a little profit, but Diane isn’t going to let him overpay. He tells her, handle it however she thinks is best. Just make it happen. She says, his real obstacle is going to be Carly, and he asks, why? She says, because he’s not the first person to offer to help her reclaim the MetroCourt. Initially, Olivia offered to loan her the money. Then Nina, in a craven attempt to suck up to Sonny, offered to sell it back to her. Then Sonny and Michael. And Carly has said no to all of them. She wants to do it herself. He says, don’t worry about Carly. He’ll work it out with her.

Sasha says, Cody’s not trying to get rid of her, is he? and he says, never. But as great as it’s been, she can’t stay with him and the horses forever. She says she knows. She’s going to run out of savings at some point. Sooner than she’d hoped actually. But she loves being here with the horses. They don’t care how she looks. He says, the horses appreciate her for her, and she says, exactly. He says he gets what she’s saying about being underestimated, and she says, people underestimate him too, don’t they? He says, occasionally, but she’s on a whole other level. She has brains, business savvy, personality, not to mention a strong work ethic. She says she’s proud to say she helped develop Deception’s initial business plan, and he says he bets Lucy and Maxie are kicking themselves right now for letting her walk away. Sasha wonders if she should be kicking herself. Was she crazy to leave Deception? He asks, why? Is she thinking about going back?

Maxie says, if Lucy hadn’t undermined Sasha by telling her that she needed to be edgier, they wouldn’t be in this mess, and Lucy says, what mess? They’re not in a mess. There’s no mess. Deception is not in a mess and she’s perfectly capable of being a pitchwoman. Maxie says, not as capable as Sasha. Their customers admire her. Not just for her beauty, but for her courage and the challenges she faced. She justified their faith. She’s not just beautiful, she’s inspirational, and you can’t buy that kind of narrative. Lucy asks, what is Maxie all of a sudden, the voice of reason? It seems like right now Maxie is a little bit power hungry. Maxie says she has just as much of a right to an opinion as Lucy does. They’re equal partners. Lucy says, they are. Maxie is absolutely right. And as such, they should work together against their common enemy, Tracy Quartermaine. But it feels like Maxie’s friendship with Brook has clouded her judgement lately, and maybe Tracy could then bring down Deception. Maxie says, Tracy didn’t want to get rid of Sasha. She actually lobbied to keep her. Lucy says, until she didn’t. Because Sasha quit and she was not fired. Maxie says, all right. Fine. Maybe if Sasha had felt heard and included, she would have stuck around, but Lucy is only interested in her own opinion. Face it. Her love affair with herself is the real problem.

Brook says she and Chase are going to Florence on their honeymoon, and Tracy says, congratulations. Florence is beautiful. It’s one of her most favorite spots on earth. Brook says she can’t wait to stroll through the Tivoli Gardens hand in hand with Chase. It’s going to be so romantic. Tracy asks what this has to do with a truck, and Brook says, since Tracy is so generously paying for the wedding, Chase insisted on paying for the honeymoon. And Florence is a dream come true, but it is more expensive than a stateside destination, so he sold his truck so he could pay for the trip. Tracy says, wow. She has to hand it to him, that is a sweet gesture. Brook says, he loved that truck. That’s why she’s going to be surprising him with a truck as a wedding gift. And guess what? It is fully electric, top of the line. Tracy says, don’t do it, and Brook says, come again? Tracy says, disrespecting your husband is no way to start a marriage, but Brook says, she’s not disrespecting him. She loves him. But there’s no reason he has to choose between their honeymoon and a truck. They can afford both. Tracy says, Brook can afford both.

Curtis says, Nina is way out of line, and she says she’s sorry. She takes his hands and says, but maybe he doesn’t know Drew as well as he thinks. She tells Curtis that she loves him, and he says he loves her too. She leaves, and Curtis tells Drew, that was uncalled for, and Drew says, it’s been worse. Now where were they? Curtis says, in a minute. He wasn’t aware Drew and Carly had broken up. Drew didn’t tell him. Drew says, because Curtis had a few things to focus on, and Curtis says he remembers when Drew came to the gym and told him that things were rocky between him and Carly. He thought they’d work it out, but he guesses they didn’t. They seemed so happy. Drew says, that was before Jason came back.

Carly tells Michael that Agent Cates didn’t want to go to the hospital, so she brought him back here. She stayed with him so she could wake him up every couple of hours. Basically, she was on concussion watch. Michael asks where she found him, and she says, a couple blocks from the coffee warehouse. At first, she thought he was trailing Jason, but then she realized he must have been following Diane. He asks, why? and she says, because Jason’s too hard to follow. He says, it didn’t bother her that the guy she sat up with all night taking care of wants to bust Jason? but she says, it doesn’t bother her because he’s not going to find any evidence against Jason. There’s nothing in that warehouse but coffee. And Sonny is so furious with Jason right now, there’s no way he’s going to bring Jason back to the business. So basically, Sonny is doing Jason a favor.

Alexis says, so basically, instead of sitting and enjoying a wedding with Gregory and the happy couple, she’ll be pacing up and down a hotel room, preparing for her appearance in front of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court. Gregory says, this is momentous. Although he has to admit he’s a little irked that she kept it from him until now. She says she really doesn’t think it could actually happen. It’s the longest of long shots. He says he doesn’t know. Her and Diane teaming up to argue her case. He’d take that bet. He raises his glass and says, to her then, but she says she doesn’t want to jinx anything. Sorry. She’s alternating between pretending this isn’t happening and having paralyzing anxiety because she really, really wants this so much.

Brook tells Tracy that she and Chase share everything. What’s hers is his and vice versa. Tracy says, sounds great. Very unrealistic. Brook says, don’t go there. They already had the prenup conversation, and that’s not happening. Tracy says she totally respects Brook’s misguided decision to forego the prenup. However, she’s learned from previous experience that having more personal wealth than your husband puts undue stress on the marriage. Brook says, no offense, but Chase is nothing like Tracy’s ex-husbands, and Tracy says, Brook means her ex-fortune hunters? She’s absolutely right. But – she pats the spot next to her on the sofa, and Brook sits down – she knows Chase’s father. And she’s assuming in addition to being a stand-up guy, Chase was taught to be the breadwinner in the family. Brook says, please. That is so old school. Tracy asks if Brook hasn’t noticed her husband-to-be is very traditional. It’s part of his charm. Brook says she almost blew it, didn’t she? but Tracy says, she did it out of love. Like he sold his truck out of love. But her going off and buying another one totally negates the sacrifice he made. She’d be devaluing his loving gesture. Brook says, wow. Tracy saw that. She didn’t. Tracy says she’s had many years to make mistakes and learn from them. But buck up, girlie. She’s got herself a thoughtful, generous, devoted husband-to-be. Brook says, the best. She’s just sad he has to give anything up for her.

Gregory asks if Alexis knows what happens when well-meaning people find out you have a terminal illness. You start getting suggestions; mindfulness, positive visualization, prayer, alternative medicines, healthy diets, yoga, acupuncture, you name it. She says, that’s got to be really overwhelming, and he says, yes, but you get used to it. He knows it comes from a good place. She asks if she’s done that, but he says, no, not at all. She asks, what’s his point? and he says, despite what other people may suggest, he thinks what it all comes down to is what you choose to believe. Alexis believes that she could still be a good lawyer. She says she does. She still has as much passion for it than she’s ever had and there’s nothing more satisfying than helping someone get the justice they deserve in court, no matter what the obstacle. He says he bets she was a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom. He hopes he gets a chance to see her back in action. She says she hopes he does too. He should know that most of these appeals are denied, which is why she’s so quiet about it. He says he has faith for both of them, and puts his hand on hers. She says she wishes everyone felt that way.

Madison hands Nina a stack of messages and tells her that the proofs from the shoot are on her desk. No one can locate Pedro; he still hasn’t delivered the dress for the cover. Nina asks her to call the agent and tell them if Pedro doesn’t deliver in 24 hours, he’s off the cover and her roster. She’s not doing this with him again. She looks through the messages and says, these can wait… Really? Olivia? Madison says, she keeps calling, and Nina says she can’t believe Olivia is still harping on the color refresh she gave the fourth-floor bathrooms. And forget about calling the agent. She wants that pleasure herself. Oh, and if Drew Cain calls, she’s not available.

Drew says, Curtis knows he loves Carly. He still loves Carly, but he’s moving on. He’s getting over it. He’s accepted the fact that she’ll always put Jason first and that is exactly why he had to end it. Curtis says, he ended things? Is he sure Carly is okay with that, after everything they’ve been through? Drew put his life on the line for her. Drew says, believe him. They both know it’s for the best. He did them both a favor. Curtis says, that sucks, and Drew says, it does, but he also knows it’s the right decision. The next time he’s in a relationship, he’s going for the brass ring. He wants what Curtis and Portia have. He wants it to be tested, survivable, solid… Curtis says, it’s true. That’s what they have. They’ve definitely been through the fire, and they’re still standing. Drew says he couldn’t be happier for Curtis.

Lucy tells Maxie that she’s just so passionate about her company. Right now, Deception is the most important thing in her life. Maxie says she knows Lucy loves Deception, but so does she, and Lucy says she knows. She has nothing but love and respect for Maxie. That’s why she lured Maxie away from Crimson to join Deception, but this friendship she has with Tracy’s granddaughter sets her teeth on edge. Because she can’t let that harpy ruin everything that she… they worked so hard to build. Maxie says, they built Deception together, and unless they get on the same page and start trusting each other again, Tracy’s not going to have to lift a finger to destroy Deception. They’re going to do it for her. Haven comes back and says, her producer agrees with her. Lucy is not a suitable replacement for Sasha, so their segment is cancelled.

Diane asks if Jason wants her to put him in touch with a real estate agent, and he asks, why? She says, to find him a place to live? but he says he has a place to live. She says, a rented room above Bobbie’s? and he says, yeah. He likes it there. She says, if he changes his mind, and if she can convince Nina to sell, he’ll have a whole hotel of rooms to choose from. He says he likes where he is, and she asks if he signed the papers her assistant dropped off last night. He says he didn’t get any papers, and she asks what he’s talking about. Her assistant was supposed to bring them to him last night. Carly walks in holding the envelope, and Diane says, this looks familiar, taking it from her. Carly says, Diane’s assistant came by Bobbie’s, and she said she would bring them over, but she got sidetracked. Diane puts them on Jason’s desk and tells him, start signing. He doesn’t need a notary. She’ll pick them up from him the next time she sees him… which she thinks will be soon. She’s off. She leaves and Carly asks if Jason is okay. Jason says he’s good and thanks her for bringing the papers by. She says, that was just an excuse. She wanted to see him. He asks if something happened, and she says she did something he’s not going to like.

Sasha says, if she was thinking about going back to Deception, and just hearing him say that made her stomach drop… He says he guesses that’s a clear answer, and she says she doesn’t want to do something she dreads. Besides, Deception has already moved on. They have a new Face, and booked a new segment on Home & Heart. Today, actually. He says, no regrets? and she says, not one. She may not know what she wants to do, but she knows what she doesn’t want to. He says, that’s progress. When she does figure out what she wants, let him know.

Alexis says, Molly is worried if her appeal is denied, she’ll start drinking again, and Gregory asks if she thinks that could happen. She says she’s an alcoholic. A lapse is always possible. Maybe that’s why she downplayed it so much, because she’s worried the disappointment might… He says, might destroy her? and she says, it’s destroyed her before, and Molly had a front row seat. The life she’s rebuilt doesn’t get her pulse racing, but it’s steady. And she worried if she gets her hopes up, it might be too big of a gamble, and she’s worked too hard for her sobriety. So is this a risk she can afford?

Tracy says, it may be old school, but no spouse or partner worth their salt is going to want to live on their other half’s money, and Brook says, Tracy has dealt with this her entire life, hasn’t she? Tracy says, the family money has given her a lot of advantages, but it’s also caused her a lot of pain. Brook says, those men are idiots. How could anyone look at Tracy and only see dollar signs? She’s an amazing woman, filled with wit and depth and beauty and surprising sensitivity. If those guys couldn’t see that, it’s their loss. Tracy says, yep, she’s a catch. So is Brook. Brook says, not that the Quartermaines are poster children for happy marriages. Look at Edward and Lila. Yeah, they were in love, but how many times did he cheat on her? Tracy says, too many, and Brook says, and Alan and Monica. Tracy says, both serial cheaters and they argued about it the whole time. Brook says, her father was a bigamist. He was married to her mother and Katherine Bell at the same time. Tracy asks, what’s her point? and Brook says, what if she and Chase follow the same pattern? What if their marriage is doomed already?

On the phone, Nina says, they are in charge of the kitchen. Is that correct?… She may have authorized the slightly cutting back of the service staff, but she did not intend for the room service orders to arrive cold. Outside her office, Madison tells Diane that Nina can’t be disturbed. If she likes, Madison can make her an appointment. Diane says she wouldn’t, and barges into Nina’s office, Madison following her. Nina says she expects the room service to maintain the same high standards as the rest of the hotel. She thanks them and Madison says she’s sorry. She told Diane… Nina says, that’s all right. She understands Miss Miller does not like to take no for an answer. Madison leaves, and Nina says, if Diane is here for the divorce papers, she’s wasted her time. Diane says she’s actually here to make an offer on the hotel. She has a client who is interested in purchasing Nina’s half of the MetroCourt, and willing to do it at 3% over market value. Nina asks, who’s the client? and Diane says, Jason Morgan.

Carly says, he was just lying there, and Jason says, and she got out of the car. That’s too big of a risk to take. She says she couldn’t just leave him there. Besides, the muggers took off after she blasted her horn. Anyway, she grabbed John and took him back to his room at the MetroCourt. She spent the night there, waking him up every two hours to make sure he was okay. Jason says, he was jumped a block away from here, and she says, yes, but they didn’t steal anything. They just beat him up. He asks what she’s thinking, and she says she’s thinking it wasn’t a mugging. Maybe it was Sonny.

Lucy says, Haven can’t just cancel their segment, but Haven says, this is live TV. She can’t go on air with an amateur. Lucy laughs and says she hosted the General Hospital Nurses Ball for years and years. And it was on a stage and on camera and she raised millions of dollars for GH. Haven says, congratulations, but she won’t be selling face cream on Home & Heart today. Maxie says, if Haven cancels their segment, what is she going to put in its place? And why would she turn her back on a sure thing? Haven says, they have lots of pre-taped segments. This isn’t the first time this has ever happened. And with Sasha, it was a sure thing. With Lucy, a whole other story. Maxie says, Deception is her highest earner. Haven said so herself. All of their segments have sold out. So will this one.

Gregory tells Alexis, risk is a funny thing. You don’t want to do it unnecessarily, but then again, you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t do it at all. Trust him when he tells her, the things you regret at the end of your life are not the things you tried to do and failed at. It’s the chances you didn’t take. Say she gets reinstated and she’s back doing the thing she loves. Let’s say she doesn’t. She’ll still know she gave it her best effort. And that’s its own reward. Her taking this chance is like skydiving was for him. She says, terrifying? but he says, life affirming.

Carly tells Jason that Cates stopped by Bobbie’s a couple of times, and she just assumed he was working her for information about Sonny, but he never asked her anything significant. But when she told Sonny, he was furious. The way he was toward Jason the other night after his arraignment. Jason says, she thinks Sonny had Cates beat up, and she says she definitely thinks it’s possible. Sonny hates him. And not because he’s an FBI agent, but because of the history they have. She knows the basics about what happened with Karen Wexler, but Sonny regrets it. And Jason knows, when Sonny regrets something, he’s volatile. And on top of that, John was Stone’s older brother and Sonny feels like John abandoned Stone. So she thinks it’s possible Sonny would be targeting Cates. Jason says, John Cates is an FBI agent (in case we didn’t know), and assaulting an FBI agent is a federal crime and Sonny knows that. She says, Sonny knows it. He doesn’t care.

Nina asks, since when has Jason Morgan been interested in the hotel business? and Diane says she’s just here to make the offer. Nina says she would imagine this is for Carly. Does he know whose bed Carly was in last night? He might change his mind. Diane says, interested or not interested? when there’s a knock at the door. Nina says, come in, and Madison says she’s so sorry to interrupt, but accounting needs Nina to sign off on the ad rates. Nina finds the folder and Madison leaves. Diane says she imagines it must be so difficult to run both Crimson and the MetroCourt, and Nina says she loves them both. Diane says she hadn’t realized Nina was interested in the mundane. Cranky guests, plumbing issues, all that tableware and linen to keep track of… Well, she’ll leave Nina to it. She starts to leave, and Nina says, 15% over market. Diane says, four.

Tracy says she doesn’t believe Brook’s marriage is doomed. Just be aware of it. What she thinks is reasonable, Chase may think is extravagant. Like public school versus private school. Brook says she hears Tracy, and Tracy says, as long as she understands that they have very different frames of reference about money, they’ll be okay… on that front. Chase really loves her. Brook says she loves him too. She’s sorry Tracy wasn’t treated with more respect. Tracy says, it’s true. She kissed a lot of frogs. She even exchanged vows with some of them. But in the end, she got her prince. Her marriage to Luke started with blackmail, but it ended with a true partnership. They were equals. Luke accepted her for her. He loved her and she did the same for him. Brook says, it sounds like she was very lucky. Tracy says, she was, and so is Brook. They hug.

Brook says she thinks she and Chase will make it, and Tracy says she certainly hopes so. And whatever happens, she’s always on Brook’s side. Brook says, back atcha, and Tracy says, now she has to get down to the stables because she’s riding again. Brook says, have fun, and Tracy thanks her. Brook says, good talk, and Tracy says, anytime.

Sasha says, very funny, and seeing all the pieces of hay in her hair, Cody asks, what happened to her? She says, Ranger, and he laughs and says, she got a whole bag of tricks. Not a mean bone in his body though. She says, he’s a sweetheart, except messy, and he asks if she’s sure she doesn’t want to reconsider Deception, as he picks the hay out of her hair. She says, can he imagine if Haven de Havilland saw her now?

Haven says she’s here today with Lucy Coe, founder of Deception. Welcome, Lucy. So tell us what fabulous product you have for us today. Lucy thanks Haven and says, in fact, she’s so happy to bring them their brand-new face cream for the woman on the go. It is super moisturizing and goes on like a dream. It’s lightweight and you put this on just one time, and you’re good for the whole day. Haven says, sounds like her kind of moisturizer. She’s so busy and definitely on the go. Lucy says, tell her about it. No one is busier than she is. Besides running Deception of course (🍷), she has a thriving real estate business, and she was also, for many years, on the advisory board of ELQ. On the side, Maxie starts looking miffed, and Lucy says, and her vote kind of contributed to major decisions… Just recently though, that’s changed, but that’s a long story. She can tell them all about it later, but she thinks the viewers probably recognize her the most for being the mistress of ceremonies at the General Hospital Nurses Ball for many years… well, actually until last year. She wasn’t, because… Maxie looks like she has a headache and a half.

Alexis tells Gregory, that parachute jump was euphoric. And she almost backed out. When she forced herself to do it, she realized, until then, she’d been living in fear, and she doesn’t want to do that anymore, so she has to try. He says he thinks they call that resilience, which is also life affirming. And as far as he’s concerned, whether she ever practices law again or not, she already won.

Drew thanks Curtis for coming by. He really wants to discuss this fitness/wellness idea further. Curtis says, definitely. He still can’t believe Nina came at Drew like that. Drew says, it’s all good. She knew what she was doing. Curtis says, maybe. He thinks she’s still hurting over Sonny. Go easy on her. Drew says he and Nina have reached an understanding. They’ve made accommodations with each other. (Is that what the kids are calling it now?)

Nina says, nine. Take it or leave it. Diane says she will take it back to Jason, and Nina says, this might be a little premature. She knows they’re talking about price, but she hasn’t made up her mind to sell, so she needs to think about it. Diane says, the offer won’t be on the table indefinitely, and Nina says, if Jason wants the hotel so badly, he can wait.

Jason asks if that’s why Carly took care of Cates, to make up for what she thinks Sonny did? She says, no. She was just trying to help. It wasn’t until after when she thought about it, and she realized it could have been Sonny. He says, there’s nothing she can do about it. So here’s the thing. Cates is either going to figure it out or he’s not. The best thing she can do is just stay out of this. She says, yeah… That could be a problem. He says, why? and she says she told him, Last night she spent the night in John’s room, in a chair. But this morning, she ordered room service, and when she opened the door to get the tray, John came out of the shower wearing nothing but a towel, and Nina was standing right there, and she saw him. She left a vapor trail straight to Michael and Drew. It’s only going to be a matter of time before Nina tells the entire world that she spent the night with John Cates, including Sonny.

On Monday (unless there’s another eclipse), Brook tells Maxie not to give up yet, she’s got one more Hail Mary; Tracy says, if there’s a problem with it, Cody is out on his hind end; Ava tells Nina that she’s sure it’s progress; and Jason tells Carly that he doesn’t think Sonny would see it that way.

🎭 Old Gig, New Gig…

I’ve never seen this show, but I remember seeing the title in the guide listings.

This looks promising.

💫 What Goes Around…

It would only be fitting, since the replaced a soap. Now can we say goodbye to The View?

👄 Knotty Girls…

And Donna Mills is another one. She’s 83. Is it her vitamins? Something in the water? What? She has no right to look that good. I’m just kidding though. Good on her and Morgan Fairchild.

💃🏿 Back With the Wind…

It might be a season worth watching with Phaedra and Kenya returning.

🏊‍♀️ Another Awful Summer…

Warning: sarcasm ahead. I just can’t understand how things fell apart when Lindsay was in love enough with Carl to make him a sandwich. If you follow this awful nonsense, you might remember many seasons ago when Lindsay’s boyfriend, whose name has been blessedly wiped from my mind, wanted her to make him a sandwich and she went out of her mind. I’m embarrassed to even know that. Then we have Kyle and Amanda who are married, but living on different planets. Run, Amanda, run! Paige and Craig seem to be the only sane ones right now, but we’ll see what happens the next time he brings up marriage.

If you must have more.

🪀 Rebounding From the Rebound…

Ugh. I hate guys like Schwartz. He thinks it’s friends with benefits, while she thinks it’s something more, but he doesn’t dare say anything because he doesn’t want to lose her. Usually, those types don’t say I love you, for which I give them credit, but not good old Schwartzy. He’ll say anything to keep things status quo, which makes him even worse. No surprise he bounced quickly to an actual girlfriend. No doubt he doesn’t like being alone with himself. The good news? He ditched the blond look.

🍸 Giving Them Reunion…

I’m not sure how Lala didn’t fare well. She had zip to be embarrassed about this season. I don’t think I could forgive Sandoval, but I understand why she is. I also understand why she’s getting annoyed with Ariana. Not that I blame Ariana for still being pissed off. I would be too. But to act all middle school and say, if you hang out with him, you’re dead to me, is ridiculous since they’re all in the unique situation of having to deal with each other for the show. What she really wants is for Sandoval to be off the show, but that doesn’t look likely. Instead, she should just rub his nose in the best revenge of living well, instead of snarking at him every chance she gets and acting like she’s a queen banishing a subject. It’s not a good look and could backfire on her eventually.

🎰 Speaking Of Reunions…

Viva Las Vegas. What’s the matter? NYC not good enough for him anymore? And 2024?

🍻 Two Dogs and a Cat Walk Into a Bar…

As Reggie said in Strays, poop for your freedom!

https://people.com/united-airlines-flight-forced-to-divert-after-dog-pooped-in-first-class-aisle-8629565

Get rid of the dude. Keep the dog.

https://people.com/woman-refuses-to-give-away-dog-even-though-boyfriend-allergic-8630181

Do you know this kitteh?

https://people.com/authorities-search-for-owner-of-lost-cat-in-strawberry-dress-8629238

🎺 Quotes of the Week

Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them. – Dalai Lama

You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement and, at the same time, share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.Marie Curie

A little progress each day adds up to big results. – Satya Nani

Clichés are tropes because they’re true. – Wesley Fists (Austin Crute), Daybreak

Make the choice to embrace this day. Do not let your TODAY be stolen by the ghost of yesterday or the “To-Do” list of tomorrow! It’s inspiring to see all the wonderfully amazing things that can happen in a day in which you participate. – Steve Maraboli

People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right. – Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you. – Lao Tzu

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.Gilbert K. Chesterton

I don’t care to eat a chicken foot. – Karen Everett, The Family Chantel

✈️ Absence Makes Someone Not Here…

Take a cuppla days off, then visit again on Monday really Tuesday for soap and not Jill on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not fixing it if it ain’t broke, and stay remembering that the things you regret at the end of your life are not the things you tried to do and failed at. It’s the chances you didn’t take.

April 11, 2024 – Chase Changes the Honeymoon Plans, Blame Game, VanderMoments, Shading Shannon, Dead Talk, Pet (!) Diversity & Normally

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Carly wakes up in the chair and looks over at John sleeping on the sofa.

Brook says, what if they made a mistake? but Lois says, they didn’t. Brook says, what if the style’s all wrong? but Lois says, it won’t be. Brook says, what if the lace is like a gross shade of ivory? but Lois says, that’s never going to happen. Brook says, what if they ruined Lila’s dress for nothing? and Lois says, Lila’s dress was already ruined. Unsalvageable, said the seamstress, except for the best part, which they’re putting to perfect use. So what is she really afraid of? Brook says, what if she doesn’t like it? and Lois says, if she doesn’t like her wedding dress, they’ll scrap it and find her something she loves. Because there’s nothing more important than her happiness on her wedding day. Capisce? Brook says, capisce, and Sandrine walks in with an assistant carrying a garment bag. She says, ladies, are you ready? The wedding gown of your dreams.

Curtis walks slowing into Drew’s office, and Drew says, look at him. He can’t believe this progress. It’s incredible. Curtis says he firmly believes if you do the work, you can achieve anything, and Drew says he was in Greenland with Curtis, so he’s not going to underestimate him, but walking this soon after surgery is next level. Curtis thanks him, and Drew says, and he can take a compliment. Curtis says, Trina’s been on him about absorbing good energy. It sounds a little woo-woo to him, but he’s trying. Drew says he’s happy for Curtis, and Curtis says, don’t keep him in suspense. Why is he here? Michael walks in and says, what’s going on? Drew says, let the meeting of the minds commence.

Alexis says, Nina did not just say that, and Nina asks if she denies it. Alexis says, that she’s being mean to Nina’s precious gossip slinger? Are they in second grade? Nina says, DeWitt is not just The Invader’s society columnist, and Alexis says, ugh, that title. Nina says, he got a promotion. He is now associate publisher. Alexis says she knows that. Nina reminds her of that all the time. How could she possibly forget that Nina has hired someone so incompetent? Nina asks, says who? and Alexis tells her, says me. And it’s not DeWitt’s fault that he’s going to make an ass of himself. That honor belongs to Nina.

TJ meets Marshall at a park bench, hands him a coffee, and says, good morning. Marshall says, and what a beautiful morning it is, and TJ says he has egg sandwiches too, handing Mashall a bag. Marshall says, that’s very thoughtful of him. Not that he wasn’t thrilled to get TJ’s call, but since he has the morning off, why isn’t he spending it with Molly? TJ says he considered it, but he knew how the conversation would go. Marshall asks, how’s that? TJ says, she’d thank him for wanting them to do something together, then she’d say she has an arraignment in five minutes, but she’ll make it up to him tonight. Then that would turn into her trying too hard and both of them faking it through whatever she thought of, or even worse, she stays late at the office to avoid the situation altogether. Marshall asks who they’re talking about here, because that doesn’t sound anything like TJ and Molly.

At the MetroCourt, Anna thanks Valentin for meeting her and apologizes for it being so last minute. He says, lucky for her, he had no breakfast plans, and they sit down. He says he ordered her tea and pours her some. She thanks him for being thoughtful, and he says, she called, and he came. What’s this about? She wonders if he can help her with a case, and he says he’ll always help her. What’s the case? She says, Pikeman.

Brook says she doesn’t know what she was so afraid of. The dress is perfection. Lois says, the only thing more beautiful than that dress was her in it, and Brook asks if she’s crying again. Lois says, get used to it. Her baby girl is getting married in the most magical wedding gown. Brook says she doesn’t know how Sandrine did it, but she really captured the spirit of Lila’s dress to a T. Lois says, it feels like she channeled Lila, all of her kindness and her warmth and her acceptance and her generosity, because that’s who Lila was. Brook says, Lois is so lucky she got to wear Lila’s gown, and Lois says, Brook gets to be a part of that too. Brook says, in the tiniest way, but Lois says, no. In her own way. That’s what makes it so special. Brook gets to have a piece of Lila while still being who she is. Beautiful, amazing, incredible her. Brook thanks Lois for doing this with her, and Lois says, is she kidding? Is she insane? She would have busted that door down if she hadn’t gotten an invite. Brook says, then she’s glad Lois did, and Lois says she’s so happy for Brook. And she’s happy for Chase. She’s happy for all of them really. Brook says she’s happy for them too, and they hug.

Alexis says, why doesn’t Nina just admit it. Nina hired DeWitt to piss her off. Nina says she actually does think he’s an asset, and Alexis says, and the fact he’s a colossal thorn in her side? Nina says, that’s just a perk, no doubt about it. Alexis asks, why? and Nina says, why does she enjoy steam shooting out of Alexis’s ears? Alexis says, why is she doing this? She doesn’t even work here anymore. Nina says, that’s exactly why she needed a replacement, but Alexis says, Nina didn’t need a replacement. Alexis was doing just fine and would do even better if Nina would stop breathing down her neck. Nina asks if Alexis wants people to read her publication, and Alexis asks, what kind of question is that? Everything was fine before Nina got here. Nina says, but is it better since she brought DeWitt on? Be honest about that. It is, because there’s a measurable rise in website traffic. Alexis says, and she thinks that’s because there’s a gossip column? and Nina says, yes, partially. Alexis has to court their readers. She has to give them something delicious and irresistible, so they stick around for the hard news. What she can’t do is decide what’s good for them and ram it down their throats. You have to woo them. Alexis says, what if she just quits? and Nina says, there’s the door.

Michael says, it’s good to see Curtis back on his feet, and Curtis says, it’s good to be back. He hears Jason was exonerated. Michael says, yeah. They’re all relieved about that. Curtis says, when Jason was suspected of taking shots at Sonny, he thought maybe there was a chance he tried before last summer at the MetroCourt. It’s nice to know Jason didn’t put him in that wheelchair. Drew says, he didn’t stay in that wheelchair very long though, did he? and Curtis says, no. He was lucky. He had experimental surgery and it worked. Drew says, come on. The surgery just gave him a chance to walk again. Curtis is the one who made that a reality. All the rehabs, learning how to walk again… Is Curtis kidding him? He can’t imagine what that was like for Curtis. Curtis has all his respect for making it through that and getting to the other side. Curtis thanks him and says he doubts Drew brought them here to compliment him on walking again. Why are they here?

Carly asks how John is feeling, and he says, sore. She says she bets, and he says, and very tired. She says, really? He didn’t sleep well? He says, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep with her waking him up every couple of hours. She says she’s sorry. Should she have let him monitor his own signs of concussion? He says, is he, by the way, concussed? and she says, no. He’s bruised and bloody, but somehow, his head came out unscathed. He asks if that’s her professional opinion as his almost nurse, and she asks if he’s going to start arguing with her this early in the morning. He says he already knows it won’t do any good.

Sandrine says, Lois might surprise Brook, but Brook says, nothing her mother does surprises her. She’s well-aware of her mother’s flair, shall they say, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Lois comes in, and Sandrine tells Brook, like she said. Wearing a midi dress with a black lace overlay and a short white jacket along with pearls, Lois says, ta-da. Brook says, wow… ma… that’s… Lois says, she hates it?

Alexis tells Nina that she always says that – there’s the door – but they both know Nina needs her. Nina says, agreed. And she’s been agreeing with Alexis the whole time. Her point is, she thinks the paper would benefit if they just had DeWitt’s expertise and experience. Alexis says, no, and Nina says, that’s it. Just no. Alexis says she will not sit by and let The Invader be turned back into a tabloid, and Nina says, then don’t let it. Alexis says she’s trying, but Nina is making it very difficult. A messenger comes to the door and says he just needs a signature from Alexis. Alexis signs the form, and Nina says, you know what it’s going to say on Alexis’s tombstone? Alexis says, death by frustration? and thanks the messenger. He leaves, and Nina says, no. It’s going to say, Alexis Davis, didn’t play well with others. Alexis says, and now they’re back to the schoolyard, and Nina says, because Alexis refuses to grow up. DeWitt stays. End of discussion. She leaves, and Molly walks in. Alexis says she hates that woman, and Molly tells her, take a breath. Alexis says, how? She sucked all the air out of the room. Molly says, professional differences? and Alexis tells her, you could say that. She invites Molly in and says, tell her something wonderful that has nothing to do with this publication. Molly says she would, but she can’t. The Invader is actually why she’s here. Alexis puts her head on the desk.

TJ asks if Marshall has ever looked back at a decision and known he should have gone with his gut, and Marshall says, too many times. TJ says, when Molly pitched the idea of Kristina being both their surrogate and egg donor, his instincts were screaming, this is the wrong move. For a million reasons, but the most glaring being that Kristina’s too close. There’s no finish line. There’s no cutting ties at the end. Why? Because there couldn’t be. She’s Molly’s sister. Marshall says, and since Molly couldn’t go forward without his buy-in, that was TJ’s moment to shut it down. TJ says he should have explained why he was against it, calmly and unequivocally, before anything got too far. Instead, he went with the short-term gain of giving Molly what she wanted. Marshall says, some would call that being supportive, but TJ says he calls that being a coward. She was so wrecked. She was utterly devastated that she couldn’t get pregnant. So when she pitched the idea, he knew that for Molly, the closest thing she could have to carrying her own baby was for her sister to have it for her.

Anna tells Valentin that she and Dante were ambushed on the docks by Roman Hume. He worked for Pikeman. It’s just so strange. All roads seem to lead back to this one, ultra secretive organization that’s run by a ghost. He says, a ghost? and she says, Pikeman’s ties to the WSB are clear, but no one seems to know who’s at the top of the pyramid. So she needs information. She was hoping maybe he could provide it for her. He says, Pikeman? and she says, he was working for them as recently as last summer. He says, as an intermediary, a glorified messenger, and she asks how that job came about. He says he did some contract work for them back in the 90s, and they felt comfortable asking him to introduce them to Sonny, but whether Sonny and Pikeman did any work together after that was none of his concern. She says, okay. Maybe she can pick his brain about something else. Or someone. He asks, who? and she says, Jack Brennan.

Lois asks, what’s wrong with it? and Brook says, absolutely nothing. Lois says, well, something, but Brook says, the dress is lovely. It’s classy and elegant and tasteful… Lois says she feels a but coming, and Brook says, no buts. It’s just not really Lois’s style. Lois says, it’s just and but are exactly the same thing, and Brook asks if Lois thinks that’s her style. Lois says, to go out on a Saturday night? No, but she was under the impression that what you wear to your daughter’s wedding isn’t what you wear to go clubbing. They’re two completely different things. Brook says, it doesn’t have to be this different. What kind of nails would she even do with that? Lois says she was thinking maybe just clear, and Brook says, what? Lois says she’s the mother of the bride. She’s supposed to be understated. Brook says, there’s no supposed to be here. This isn’t a royal wedding. There areno standards she has to live up to. Brook just wants her to wear what she wants to wear. Something that makes her feel like her. Lois says, this definitely doesn’t feel like her, and Brook says she didn’t think so. Back to the drawing board. Lois tells Sandrine, let’s pull some colors, some swatches… Maybe show some skin this time. You know what? Maybe a plunging neckline. Brook says, let’s not get carried away, when Chase walks in. He asks if he missed it, and Brook says, missed what? What is he doing here? Sandrine says, there’s been a special order for the bride-to-be, and Brook asks what they’re up to. Sandrine says she was commissioned to design a dress for Brook’s honeymoon, and Brook asks if Chase really thinks that’s necessary. He says, very, and Sandrine takes out a beautiful black cocktail dress. Brook says, it’s gorgeous, and Chase asks if she likes it. Brook says she’s obsessed with it, but it’s long sleeves. Doesn’t he think she’ll be a little warm in Palm Beach? He says, they’re not going to Palm Beach.

Molly says, The Invader ran a piece on the DA’s office being opposed to the overturning of Heather Webber’s conviction, her multiple convictions of assault and homicide going back nearly twenty years. Alexis says, that would be with the metallosis diagnosis. Yes. She signed off on that. Molly says, then she knows the article cited an unnamed source, and Alexis says, yes. Molly says, mom, and Alexis says, what? Molly says, everybody at the DA’s office assumes that source is her. Alexis says, it isn’t, and Molly says, Alexis knows that, and she knows that, but her colleagues, specifically DA Scorpio, do not know that. Alexis asks what Molly wants her to do about it. The story checked out. Molly says she wants Alexis to help her prove that she’s not the one who broke confidentiality and discussed the case with a reporter, and Alexis asks how exactly Molly wants her to do that. Molly says, tell her who did.

Marshall asks if Molly knows TJ has misgivings about Kristina being the surrogate, and TJ tells him that he wouldn’t say it exactly like that, but yeah. Molly has her worries too. He thinks that’s the problem, because whenever he tells her his concerns… Marshall says, about what, besides the being too close part? and TJ says he just doesn’t think Kristina is taking the best care of herself. (Huh?) She’s out late, she’s not avoiding stress, plus the small fact that she’s out with her dad, who’s getting shot at on the regular. Marshall says, points taken. So when he brings all these things up to Molly… TJ says, she takes the position of defending Kristina, even though he knows they share the same concerns. That’s why they avoid the topic altogether. He just feels like, during this time, he and Molly should be closer together, but he just feels more and more distant from her. Marshall says, and what about Kristina? Has their relationship been affected? TJ says, how can it not be? Any time he shares a worry he has with her, she accuses him of overreacting. It’s as if Kristina is having the baby and she’s going to let them know when it’s here. He sounds ungrateful, doesn’t he? Marshall says, no. He sounds human. TJ tells him, that’s what mom said. Marshall says, smart woman, your mother.

Drew says he’s been doing some research and Floodgate Consultancy Group says, the wellness and fitness space is booming out there. They’re all across the country, but especially in the high-end areas, with both residential and urban people spending so much money not only to look good, but to feel good. Really laying the foundation for health, wellness, and longevity. Michael says he read that report too. 40 is the new 25, and with the right fitness regimen and the right products, you, too, can achieve it. Drew says, so thoughts? and Michael says he thinks it’s a good time for Aurora to diversify. Crimson and print media is still a front burner for them, but it is drying up. They need to find alternative revenue streams. He thinks dipping in to an expanding market makes sense. Curtis says, an expanding market like health and wellness, and Drew says, which is where Curtis comes in.

On the phone, Carly says she just ordered toast and eggs. She doesn’t understand what’s taking so long. John comes in, wearing only a towel, and Carly says she’ll hold. She tells John that she bets the shower felt amazing. He says, it did, and she says, it’s amazing what hot water can do, but he says, not so hot really. Carly tells the kitchen that she’s still holding, and looks at John. He says, the water never got too warm, and she says, he’s got to be kidding her. Back on the phone, she says, she’s here. She’s still here… No. She’s pretty sure there’s no food in her hotel room… What? They left the food outside the door, without knocking…?… Okay. She hangs up and says, they’ve got to be kidding her. No hot water, shoddy room service… This hotel is definitely going downhill. She opens the door just as Nina is walking by, and Nina says, oh. Good morning to you. She looks at John standing behind Carly in the towel.

Valentin tells Anna, what he remembers about Jack Brennan is, his rapid rise to director of the WSB was followed by a spectacular fall. He singlehandedly orchestrated Frisco Jones’ ouster and a year later, he was out himself. She says, he knows Jack is in Pentenville, right? and he says, yeah, thanks to her. She says, in part. She went to visit him the other day. Valentin asks, why? and she says, curiosity? Valentin hasn’t been to see him yet? Valentin says, has he been to see Jack Brennan in Pentenville? No, he has not. Why would he do that? She says, because they were close back in the day, when they were all coming up together at the WSB, but he says, no, not really. Jack Brennan did really well academically and even better with the ladies, but he was in the back of the room, not making eye contact. She says she distinctly remembers them at that pub they used to go to… The Archangel. The two of them were playing dice or something. Whatever it was, they were laughing because they’d aced an assignment that the rest of them just botched. He says, that sounds like Jack, but it doesn’t sound like him. If he was at The Archangel, he was lurking. He wasn’t hanging with the cool kids. Not like her. She was at the center of the circle. Jack was too. He thinks she probably has him mixed up with someone else. She says, he and Jack were just feeding off of each other. They were pushing each other to be better, to be smarter… He says, if anybody was pushing anybody, Anna was pushing Jack. They were the best of the best. Everybody knew that. Valentin was on the fast track to a desk job. He and Jack Brennan have never shared more than ten words together.

Alexis says she cannot and will not reveal the identity of her sources, and Molly tells her that now she’s going to say journalistic integrity. Alexis says, very good, counselor, and Molly says, that’s crazy. Leaked, privileged information is not protected speech. Whoever that source is, not only violated their professional conduct guidelines, they also jeopardized future cases. Alexis says, that sounds like a DA problem, not her problem, and Molly says, it’s a very big problem if the article affected the fairness of a trial. Alexis says, what trial? Heather’s already been convicted on multiple counts, and the DA has already refused to revisit any of those cases. And without a case on the docket, Molly can’t argue that a leak compromised anything. Molly says, she’s impossible, and Alexis says, that’s part of her charm. She holds out her wrists and asks if Molly would like to lock her up until she cracks.

Marshall says, TJ is in a tough and undesirable situation. Life hands those to us sometimes. When one was handed to him, he went for the big fix; he left his family to protect them. But had he stayed, had he gutted it out, it turns out he probably would have had a pretty decent life. TJ says, so Marshall is telling him that he made a huge mistake? but Marshall says, no. He’s saying it’s human nature, or more specifically male nature, to go for the big fix. Sometimes that’s not always the answer. Sometimes you can just let it breathe and settle, and that can be the way to go. TJ says, unfortunately, that ship has sailed, and Marhsall laughs. He says, not for the here and now. Kristina is who she is. And yes, she’s carrying TJ’s baby, and he can’t change that, he can’t erase that. But what he can do is step back and take a look at the whole picture and focus on what really matters. His relationship with Molly.

Carly closes the door and steps out in the hall, telling Nina, stalk much? Nina says, just doing her regular rounds. Carly remembers. Carly says, vividly. Although this hotel is definitely not what it used to be. Nina says, better? but Carly says, not quite. Nina says she didn’t think Carly could surprise her anymore, but she’s done it. An FBI agent? What’s Sonny going to think? Or Jason, for that matter? And poor Drew, forever the runner-up in the twin department. Carly asks if she’s finished, but Nina says she could keep at it all day. Carly looks at the food under the cloche and says she’s happy that Nina’s here. Nina says, no one could be happier than her, and Carly says she’d like to file a complaint about room service. Nina asks if Carly even has time to eat, because she seems quite busy, and Carly asks why Nina doesn’t spend less time worrying about her private life and more time managing her hotel. Nina tells Carly to enjoy the rest of her stay, and leaves. Carly pushes the cart into the room, mumbling about Nina, and John comes out fully dressed. He says, friend of hers? and Carly gives a short laugh.

Curtis says he’s listening, and Drew says, as he mentioned, the wellness/fitness space is booming. Aurora wants to move into that business, but they need someone to spearhead the initiative. Curtis says, meaning? and Michael says, someone with practical experience and knowledge of the fitness industry, a strong leader with customer service experience, and multi-level management skills. Drew says, which are skills Curtis has. The Savoy is a huge success. Curtis asks how they see Aurora moving into the business, and Michael asks what Curtis would do. Curtis says, the most practical thing might be for Aurora to buy up some of the small gyms around the country, rebrand them, and combine them into a national high-end fitness club. People are spending a lot of money in wellness. Meditation rooms, plunge baths, yoga, Pilates, physical training… A mind body connection and combined with a training-slash-fitness facility, this is a one-stop shop. It might require significant capital. Drew says, which they have… Nina walks in, saying, Drew won’t believe this. She just saw Carly… She stops when she sees the other two.

John says he gets the sense Carly and Nina don’t get along, and she says, he must be an FBI agent. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she doesn’t let Nina get to her… She tries not to let Nina get to her. He says he knows a little bit about their history, and she says, lucky him. He says he takes it there isn’t enough water under the bridge yet, and she says, there’s not enough water in the world. Sorry about the eggs. He says, it’s not her fault. Besides, coffee is the only necessary component. (Agreed.) She says, when she owned the MetroCourt, this would have never flown. If a customer complained about their food, they would redo it at no charge. She refills his coffee, and he says, she’s big on customer service. She says, it’s literally what the hospitality industry is all about, and he says, she must have had her fair share of jerks blow through here though. She says, yeah, sure, but for the most part, people were great. And she loved it. She loved making people feel happy and comfortable and special. He asks if she doesn’t get to scratch that itch running Bobbie’s, and she says, to an extent. She loves Bobbie’s – she really does – but it’s a restaurant. Full stop. In this place she got a taste of all of it, really curating a space. From the carpets to the linen to the lighting. Even the music. Putting all of those things together to create the ultimate experience. She loved it. He says, sounds like a symphony, and she says, it kind of was. He says, and she was good at it, and she says, she was great at it. He asks if she thinks she’ll ever do it again, but she says she doesn’t know. She tells people that she will, that she’s going to get her half of the MetroCourt back, but she thinks that’s just a pipe dream, The MetroCourt belongs to someone else, two someone elses. She’s just going to have to accept that.

Chase says he’s been working on a surprise for Brook, and she says, but he’s terrible at keeping secrets. Chase says, it’s true. Her mom has been helping him keep this under wraps. Lois says, guilty as charged, and Brook says, so no more Palm Beach? Chase shakes his head, and she says, please tell her that he’s not working. It’s their honeymoon. He says, they’re still going away, but there has been a change in destination. He leads her over to the loveseat, and she says, okay. As long as it’s not a downgrade, she’s in. Everyone else quietly leaves the room, and she says, so what are they talking? Miami? Charleston? Palm Springs? She’s never been to the desert. He says, think a little further away than that, and she says, like out of the US away? He nods, and she asks what he did. He says he’s marrying the woman of his dreams. No, scratch that. He never dreamed of her because he didn’t know someone this wonderful could exist, and he wants their honeymoon to be a reflection of that. He wants her to remember this trip for the rest of her life. Because she deserves it. She deserves everything. She says, he’s the sweetest man on the planet. So where on this planet is he taking her? He says, Florence, and she says, he’s kidding. He says he’s not kidding, and she says, Florence, Italy? He says, her mom told him that she wanted to go, and she says, only for her entire life. Oh my God, Florence? She jumps up and says, not only does she get to go, she gets to go with him? He asks if she’s happy, and she says, happy doesn’t even begin to cover it, and kisses him.

Molly says, so she guesses Alexis wins – again, and Alexis says, freedom of the press wins – always. Except she has no idea why she’s fighting so hard for it when it comes to this paper. Molly says, because she cares about her job and the integrity of her paper, and Alexis says, integrity the new associate publisher will undoubtedly destroy. Molly starts to leave and picks up the envelope the messenger delivered. She asks, what’s this? and Alexis says, a messenger dropped it off when she was fighting with Nina. Molly asks if she’s looked at it, but Alexis says she was too consumed with rage to care. What is it? Molly says, it’s from the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and Alexis says, they’re handling her appeal. Molly says, it’s probably her decision, whether they’ll review her case, or she’ll stay disbarred. Open it. She holds it out to Alexis, who backs up, saying, no. She can’t. She tells Molly to do it, and Molly asks if she’s sure. Alexis nods, and Molly opens the envelope.

As Molly reads what’s inside, she looks sad, and Alexis says, it’s okay. It was a longshot anyway. So the appeal was denied… Molly says, they’re giving her a hearing. They set a date and everything. Alexis grabs it from her and looks at it. She says, they’re giving her a hearing, and Molly says, not just that. They’re giving her hope. This is hope. They hug and jump up and down.

Marshall says, TJ needs to find reasons for him and Molly to come together that aren’t about the baby. It’s those moments of now, those moments where it’s just the two of them. Those moments are precious too. Now, as much as he enjoyed that egg sandwich and this beautiful park… TJ says, and the incredible company of his grandson, and Marshall says, that too. Get his behind over to the store and buy all the ingredients for Molly’s favorite dinner. Just make sure it’s reheatable in case she does have to work late. Wouldn’t it be nice for Molly to come home and see her favorite meal on the table waiting on her? TJ says, Molly would love that, and Marshall says, don’t spend the next three months wringing his hands over what Kristina is or isn’t doing. Spend the next three months with his partner, being just that – partners – before they become parents. Molly is a very special woman. TJ agrees she is and thanks Marshall. They bro hug.

Chase says, mimosa for the bride-to-be, handing Brook a drink, and she thanks him. They say, cheers, and clink glasses. Brook says she can’t believe it’s true, and he says, believe it. She says, Florence… the Uffizi, the Duomo, David… He says, whoa. Who’s this David guy? She says, and they have to take a day trip to Pisa and an overnight to Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet. He says, she’s thought a lot about this, and she says, this is like a bucket list thing for her. And she can’t wait to look up all the best restaurants and they’re going to have gelato every, single day, no exceptions. Okay? He says, yes, ma’am, and she says, they’re going to drink wine at sunset in every piazza they can find. It’s going to be so incredible. He says, she’s so incredible, and they kiss. She says, they have so much planning to do. Wait. He asks, what’s wrong? and she says, a honeymoon to Florence is a lot more expensive than one stateside. The airfare alone. He says, that’s okay. He has the money for it. She asks, how? and he says he sold his truck.

Anna says, Valentin and Jack weren’t friends, but they certainly knew each other, right? He says, of course (🍷) they did, and she says, when he was working with Pikeman, in his dealings with them, did he ever get the sense Jack was involved? He says, she believes Jack Brennan was working with Pikeman? and she says she does. She can’t get him to admit it, but when Valentin was an intermediary, did anything jump out at him? He says he wishes he had something useful to offer her, but sadly, he doesn’t. She says, okay. It was worth a try. Maybe when she goes back to see him again. He says, don’t. Pikeman and Brennan are dangerous. If they’re working together, then they’re not to be messed with. She thanks him for his concern, but says she can take care of herself. He says, please do, and she thanks him for breakfast and leaves.

John opens the door for Carly and says, thanks again. She says she doesn’t think he thanked her the first time, and he says, then thank you. Not just for saving his hide on the docks, but for getting him back here and keeping an eye on him all night. She says he’s welcome, and he says, and he guesses they get to be friends, even if it’s just for a minute. She says, just for a minute? Are FBI agents not allowed to have friends? Oh. Worried he’s going to divulge classified information? He says, something like that, and she says, makes sense. But how does he know he doesn’t talk in his sleep? She leaves and he watches her walk down the hall.

Drew tells Nina, they’re at a meeting, so try back later, but Michael asks what she was going to say about his mom. And what did Nina do now? Nina says she didn’t do anything. She just thought Drew would want to know Carly moved on quickly from him and is now sleeping with everyone’s favorite FBI agent, John Cates.

Tomorrow, Tracy tells Brook, disrespecting your husband is no way to start a marriage; Maxie asks why Lucy is insisting on taking this all on herself; Alexis tells Gregory that it’s a risk she can afford; and Carly says she did something that someone isn’t going to like.

🛟 Here It Comes…

Now it’s somebody else’s fault she was a pita. Maybe she confused Fraser by answering every time the primary was asked a question.

🍸 Between Rules and Reunion…

I can’t believe anybody actually monitors who follows who. Aren’t they busy not opening restaurants and stuff?

It’s not about the pasta mirror.

🍊 Shady John…

Andy leaps with glee as he twirls his moustache.

⚰️ About Those Dead…

Like the franchise is ever going away.

Ha-ha! I thought it said giant zombie heads. Now that would be a variant.

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-new-villain-zombies-season-1-return

Carol’s turn coming up.

https://www.cbr.com/daryl-dixon-book-of-carol-release-date-cast-news

🐕 From Around the Globe and Back…

Bollywood babies.

Backup pups.

https://people.com/meghan-trainor-stars-in-music-video-with-dogs-8629755

☔️ April Showers Bring More April Showers…

Stop by tomorrow for pre-weekend soap, the Summer smack talk promised, and shenanigans. Until then, stay safe, stay thinking twice before engaging in online debates, and stay doing the work. If you do, you can achieve anything.

April 8, 2024 – GH Eclipsed, Drop Dead Gorgeous Blond Australian Stew On Deck, Poor Ant, At the Villa, Arguing Already, Farewell Too Soon, He Will Finish, Behold the Echidna & Total

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Not today, eclipse.

Below Deck

Fraser thinks Anthony bit off more than he can chew, and he’s worried the chef is not quite there yet. Jill badgers Fraser about the dinner start time, and I already want to smack her. Anthony tells Fraser that he’ll try to make the magic happen. In Barbie’s interview, she says she’s taking the brunt and giving a fake-ass bullsh*t smile that she doesn’t feel. She’s not a complainer. The captain joins the guests for dinner, and Fraser asks for the primary’s dinner preferences first. As Melinda tries to tell him, Jill butts in since she thinks she’s a primary. Anthony tells Fraser that instead one main course, he has to make three different main dishes at the same moment. He can’t build all the plates at the same time. Guest Jen ends up without a plate, but she tells the others not to wait. Jill says her food is cold, and Fraser says, it’s the worst day of his life. In Captain Kerry’s interview, he says, this is the worst dinner service all season, but if he looks pissed, the others will get pissed. To top it off, we have Jill. In Dylan’s interview, he says, when he was growing up, no one told him that he was good looking. Now he gets hit on by guys and girls. He tells Ben about dating a guest, and in his interview, he says he likes the hunt. When he sees a hot girl at the bar, he does pushups and asks, what’s going on baby? Seriously? I don’t care how hot he is. No, just no. The guests finish eating, but dessert isn’t ready, and Fraser says, they have to kill 20 minutes. The stews make up a concoction of rum and almond milk, with a touch of strawberry. The captain tells the guests about meeting his girlfriend on a ship, when the French chocolate souffle comes out. IMO, it’s well worth waiting for. Fraser says, Barbie seems quiet, and she says her fake smile only lasts so long. In the captain’s interview, he says he needs to talk to Anthony after the charter. There’s no use doing it now.

Fraser tells Xandi that tomorrow is going to be the sh*ttiest night. Everyone is so sensitive, the energy is horrific, and they have no stew. Barbie sees Xandi and Fraser talking and tells Kyle that Xandi is talking sh*t about her. In Anthony’s interview, he says, dinner was disappointing. He doesn’t want to be on charter. He wants to run in his room and cry all night. Ben talks about choosing lead deckhand to Fraser, and says, Dylan is like a puppy, interested in everything, but Sunny knows the boat. On the minus side, obviously they’re sleeping together. In Ben’s interview, he says, on paper, Dylan is fantastic, but Sunny works well with the crew and he can rely on her. He has to assess their strengths and weaknesses. Fraser tells him that the person who puts the most effort in needs it. Barbie sighs as she works, looks in the laundry, and says, f*** you. I’m not helping. Stupid-ass bitch. Nice.

In Sunny’s interview, she says she wants to love and connect. She wants to feel feelings. She’s got butterflies over Ben (ick). Captain Kerry gets a text that a new stew is arriving. Anchor is in the pocket and the yacht is en route to Port Louis Marina. Xandi says, this trip might kill her, and in Barbie’s interview, she says she’s ignoring Fraser. She doesn’t know how to communicate with him. He dismisses what she feels, and she can’t win. She can’t be herself and feels defeated. Ben and Sunny are called to the bridge, and the captain says, today is windier. In his interview, he says, the wind is at over 30 knots. The last time he was in this kind of wind, he lost the bow. If anything goes wrong, he’s going to smash into the dock and hit a concrete bank. Fraser wonders why Barbie is ignoring him, and in the captain’s interview, he says, the wind is coming in and there are two steel workboats to the side. If the wind doesn’t back down, he’s going to hit them. It’s a very difficult docking. The wind is holding him off. Jill says, he’s in trouble, because she knows all about being a captain and docking a massive yacht.

Jill says, blah-blah-blah, and Melinda says, this is giving her anxiety. I’m not sure if she means the docking or Jill babbling about it. Captain Kerry manages to dock the boat without incident, and the crew change into their whites. To their happiness, the guests pack. In Fraser’s interview, he says he’s never wanted anything more than to drop these guests in the sh*tter. He’s done. Fraser tells Barbie, well done, and Jill says she’s so sad. She hates this part. They had fun and she hopes she wasn’t too much work. 😐 Melinda thanks the crew, and says, it’s the best vacation ever. The deck crew was flawless, and she knows they were the hardest to cook for with all their different preference. She gives the captain the tip envelope, and they finally leave the crew in peace. Captain Kerry says, that was a fun charter. He’s cracking a beer now. Fraser asks Barbie, what’s happening? and she says, nothing. Kerry calls Anthony to the headmaster’s office. He says he’s going to tell Anthony straight. Dinner service was bullsh*t. His food was cold and two guests were without food. What the f*** was going on? Anthony says he was looking for the best solution for the guests to find dinner amazing. He’s upset with himself. Captain Kerry says he shouldn’t have kicked off with sushi and been laser focused on one guest, and in Anthony’s interview, he says he failed this one. It reminds him of bad moments when he was younger. He was called a loser at school and sees the teacher in his head. Born a loser and dies like a loser. I feel badly for him, but not too dramatic. The captain tells him to do the stuff he can do with his eyes closed. Fraser tells Barbie that she seems off, and she says, it’s an off day. He says, when it’s aimed at him, he thinks she’s in a bad mood and it’s not conducive to the team. She says she went to bed pissed and woke up pissed. He could have told her that he and Xandi were going to the beach to meditate. He says, it’s not like they were chilling, and she wasn’t talking yesterday. She says she’s scared to communicate with him, and he says he can’t deal with it. She says she’s flipped the switch back, so it’s good now.

It’s time for the tip meeting, and Captain Kerry says, it feels like they’ve gone a few rounds with Mike Tyson. His hat’s off to them. The tip is $20K or $1667 each. We hear crickets, and in Kyle’s interview, he says, it’s the worst tip they’ve gotten, but it’s still a lot of money. His mom recently found out they have a Native American heritage and a huge extended family in Montana. He’s going to spend a couple years there, and it will be nice if he can support himself. The captain says, they have tomorrow off, and they’re heading to a resort. The new stew is arriving tonight and will meet them at dinner. In his interview, Fraser says he’s excited. It’s like Christmas has come early. The captain says, the new stew’s first day is a day off. He’ll drink to that. Ben says he’s going on a two-day bender. Barbie tells Kyle that she wants to quit, but he says, mama didn’t raise no quitter, which is pretty funny to hear with his accent. Anthony says he’s ready to party, but he’s sad inside. He feels people know he made a mistake. He’s trying to stop thinking about it, but it not going to be a great night. Kyle drinks some liquor straight from the bottle and says he’s good to go.

New stew Paris arrives at the restaurant. In their interviews, Ben, Kyle, Anthony, and Sunny all say, wow. In Fraser’s interview, he says he knows who Paris is. She’s the ex of a dear friend. We flash back to two seasons ago, and see Fraser with his friend Jake, who’s talking to Paris on the phone. Fraser says, to him that means she’s gold. He tells the others that he worked with her ex, but this is their first time meeting in person. In Paris’s interview, she says she’s a sailing stew. She’s outgoing, funny, and loves mayonnaise. She says what’s on her mind because she has no serotonin left and regains it though people’s suffering. She laughs and says, that’s not true. She’s not evil. She is Australian though, and in Sunny’s interview, she says she’s definitely jealous. Paris is drop dead gorgeous, blond, and from Australia. She feels a little worried about what Ben thinks. Barbie tells Paris that she looks like she can take it emotionally, which is actually kind of rude. Ben and Kyle talk on the side, mostly about Paris. Paris says she’s had four years’ experience, and Fraser says she must be competent with housekeeping. Anthony tells Barbie that he needs them. He’s alone in his department every day. In her interview, Paris says she started in the Mediterranean, then the Atlantic, the Caribbean, and America. She doesn’t know the dynamics on the boat and it’s like a new school. The crew gets back to the boat, and Paris finds out she’ll be bunking with Xandi. She meets Captain Kerry, who says, everyone is nice, but the captain is an a-hole. Sunny and Ben have sex in the bathroom (ick again), when Barbie asks if Sunny can throw out a tampon. It’s an emergency. Sunny says, they were c*ck blocked so hard. What happened to the tie on the door thing?

In the morning, on the way to the resort, Paris says she lives in the country, and they have two kangaroos. She tells them that the echidna (which kind of looks like a hedgehog – see below) has a four-headed penis. Fun fact! They get to the resort and head for the pool. I’m jealous even though I live near the Atlantic Ocean, one of the biggest pools in the word. I need to get a friend who has a pool or talk one of my existing friends into getting one. Barbie tells Ben that Fraser wants to fire her, while Fraser tells Xandi, in the beginning, Barbie was amazing with her work, but her attitude is feral. Barbie whines to Ben that she doesn’t eat or take breaks, and Fraser tells Xandi that Barbie is talking about him now, because he has bat ears. Barbie tells Fraser that she doesn’t feel like she can talk to him because she works for him, not with him. He says she’s horrible to work with when she’s in a mood, and she asks if Fraser wants her to go, but he says, no. He just wants her to accept that this is the job. She then whines to Paris, and in Paris’s interview, she says, this is awkward. Fraser feels comfortable venting to her, but he’s her boss. She just got here, and she feels like Dr. Phil. Everything can be fixed with conversation, a hug, and tequila. Fraser tells Barbie that if she can’t move on, he can’t, and she says she doesn’t feel safe telling him her feelings. He says, if she doesn’t like it, she can f*** off, and she says, that shows how much she can’t trust him. In her interview, she says, Fraser doesn’t like her even though he likes the way she works. He doesn’t care about her or her feelings. In Fraser’s interview, he says, speak up, bitch. Don’t be passive/aggressive. She tells Fraser that she loves him, but he says she doesn’t act like it. She’s a horrible person when she doesn’t want to speak. She says, he wants her to go, but he says he wants her to understand how this works. If she can do it, fantastic. If she can’t… She says, okay, cool, and they part company. In Anthony’s interview, he says he’s still learning. It’s tricky. The restaurant business is different. There’s a guy for everything, and here, he’s by himself. He promised his younger self that one day he’d be successful, and he has to keep that promise. Sunny wonders if Xandi and Ben could have been a thing, but Xandi says, if he was ten years older. Sunny asks if she likes them old, which would be like 40, and Xandi says she’s done raising people’s husbands, whatever that means. Paris asks Barbie if she’s okay, and Barbie tells Paris that she and Fraser are too different, and they clash. They don’t get each other, and personally trigger each other. Paris thinks there’s a resolution if they communicate, if they if don’t trigger each other’s defensiveness. Barbie says she can’t, and in Paris’s interview, she says she feels Barbie and Fraser are similar and the issues cause both of them to be defensive. They’re also out in the sun drinking, which makes them all drama queens. What started from a small issue has grown into a mole hill. She tells Barbie, if it doesn’t work out, it’s his neck on the line. Fraser tells Ben that he’s done with Barbie. Ben says, what about one more charter? but Fraser isn’t having it. He says, she’s impossible to work with. In his interview, Fraser says, he’s given more chances in the past than he should have, and now he’s not about giving more chances. You show your true colors after two chances. We flash back to Barbie’s first, second, third, and fourth chances, and Fraser says, if it’s not great after the fourth, you’re off. He needs to pull the cord earlier. He tells Ben that he’s done.

Ben hugs Fraser and suggests he sleep on it, and in Ben’s interview, he says he thinks Fraser is taking it too far. The problem is Fraser’s lack of management skills in making people gel. Dylan asks if Paris likes Steve Irwin, and she wonders what kind of question that is. He’s a national treasure. Dylan says he watched Steve while growing up, so it must count for something. Paris says, if he was here, he’d say, crikey, that’s cringe. In her interview, she says, Dylan is gorgeous, but so awkward personality-wise. If he was mute, he’d get more action. Dylan leaves and Ben comes along. Paris asks if he put out the fire, and he puts his hand on her knee. He gets even more handsy, and no surprise, Sunny sees. Xandi says, good God, and Sunny says, sayonara. In Sunny’s interview, she says, Ben touching another woman makes her uncomfortable, jealous, and angry. It’s mad disrespect. Paris tells Fraser that she thinks he and Barbie are upset because they’re similar, but he’s like, no way. Barbie calls her mom as she puts on her makeup and cries. She says she doesn’t want to be here and she’s mad at herself for giving up, but she has to quit. She wants to go home. Fraser tells Paris that he’s supported Barbie and tried it all. He won’t look after someone who speaks to him like she does. She’s a subordinate and he’s the chief. Barbie tells her mom that she can’t get through to him and can’t fix it. She has an amazing life at home and doesn’t need to be with people who don’t understand her and she clashes with so much. She doesn’t like giving up. Fraser tells Paris, welcome to the circus.

Next time, in Sunny’s interview, she says, Ben looks like an a-hole; Sunny tells Ben, it’s not okay; Anthony makes fish for a guest who doesn’t eat fish; Barbie says she’s sorry her and Fraser’s contention affected everybody; and Fraser goes to the captain about Barbie.

⚓️ Atlas Of the Deck…

It’s doubtful he’s carrying the show, but despite his faults, he’s one of the best chefs they’ve had.

🏰 Viva La Villa…

I started watching this and the venue is magnificent. Not so much the employees who are already drinking too much and arguing in front of the guests. But Lisa is there along with Puffy (!), so all will be well.

🍊 That Didn’t Take Long…

Apparently, Tamra is already causing problems and the horse hasn’t even left the gate yet.

🥀 Sad OC News…

Today’s PSA: Drug responsibly and for the love of all that’s holy, stay away from fentanyl.

https://people.com/real-housewives-lauri-peterson-son-josh-waring-dead-at-35-8627969

https://www.eonline.com/news/1398971/rhoc-alum-lauri-petersons-son-josh-waring-died-amid-addiction-battle-his-sister-says

🐎 Not Done Yet…

They lost me somewhere in season 4. I think it was a big mistake to open things up to the real world so early. Westworld stopped being Westworld and turned into something else.

https://ew.com/jonathan-nolan-still-intends-to-finish-westworld-8624582

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/westworld-season-5-storyline

🦔 Cute But Mighty In Its Own Way…

Behold, the echidna.

https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/echidna

But wait, there’s more.

https://www.bushheritage.org.au/species/echidna

🌚 Stars Aligning Now…

Join me tomorrow for soap and VanderExploits. Until then, stay safe, stay not leaving puddles around the sink in a public restroom, and stay remembering that everything can be fixed with conversation, a hug, and tequila. And also, that the echidna has a four-headed penis. You’ll be a real hit at parties.

April 5, 2024 – Anna Visits Brennan In Pentenville, Come Monday, New Manager, Their Portrayal, Buddy Project, Poor Ann, Mutual Admiration, Dead Talk, Happily Ever Afters, X Quotes & Clearly

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Lois touches up her manicure in the nook, and Brook says, thank God she’s still here. She needs Lois. Lois asks if it can wait. She’s already late. Brook says, it’s about the wedding, and Lois says, whatever it is, they’ll fix it later. She promises. She starts to dash off and Brook says, fine. She’ll just have to get married without a wedding dress. Lois says, okay, you win.

Sonny sits at the MetroCourt bar and sends a text to Lois: I’m here. Where are you? Natalia comes up to the bar and says, Mr. Corinthos, we meet again.

Molly goes into Bobbie’s and Carly says, she just missed the lunch rush, so take a seat anywhere. She’ll have someone bring out a menu for her. Molly thanks her, and Carly says she wanted to tell Molly she did a great job in court the other day… at Jason’s arraignment. Molly says she’s surprised to hear Carly say that. She thought Carly would hold prosecuting Jason against her. Carly tells her, who says she doesn’t?

In his office pretending to be working, Drew picks up the phone and says, send her in. Jordan walks in, and he asks, what brings her by? She says, when they spoke the other day, he said he’d be open to Aurora promoting the city of Port Charles. She’s here to follow up.

At Pentenville, a guard brings Brennan to the visitor room, and Brennan says, look who it is. Anna says, good afternoon, and he says, it is now. She asks, why is that? and he says he likes being right. He told her that she’d be back to see him, and here she is.

Sam brings Dante into the apartment, and he says he’s got this as he slowly walks to the sofa. She asks if he’s sure about that, and he says he might need a little help. She helps him to sit, and he takes her hand and says he just wanted her to sit next to him. She says she’s missed this, and he says, him too. She says she was afraid she’d never have him here again in their home, and he says, see? All that worry was for nothing. She says she loves him so much, and he says, him too. She says, welcome back, and they kiss.

Sonny asks what brings Natalia to the MetroCourt, and she says she has a meeting and they’re officially late. He says, the person he’s meeting is late too, and asks if she wants to wait with him. She says she would like to, and takes a seat. She’s always surprised by people who just don’t respect the value of other people’s time, but it doesn’t seem to be bothering him. He says he’s just waiting for a friend. Business is business. He asks what she’s drinking, and she asks what he’s having. He says, scotch, and she tells the bartender that she’ll have the same. He says, she doesn’t seem like the white wine type, and she says she’s found that business rivals don’t really respect a Sauvignon Blanc. He says he’s sure her rivals are impressed by her, and she thanks him. She asks if she can make a personal observation and he says, no… He laughs and says, go ahead, and she says, since they last met, he seems lighter, happier. He says, is that right?

Lois says, sit. Tell her everything. Brook says, when they decided to downsize the wedding, she called Sandrine and told her to stop working on alterations on Lila’s dress. But now that Dante’s feeling better – Lois says, thank God – and they’re having the wedding they originally planned, she called Sandrine back and told her to start working on the dress, and she said… Lois says, there was a fire, but Brook says, no, and Lois says, a broken pipe flooded everywhere. Brook says, ma, no, and Lois says, oh God, it’s squirrels again. Brook says, worse. She said the fabric is too old, that it’s falling apart, it won’t hold a seam. Bottom line, the dress cannot be altered. Lois says, that is a setback for sure, but Brook says, it’s more than a setback. The dress can’t be worn. Game over. Lois tells Brook to bite her tongue. She knows when things are impossible, that’s when they start to get creative. There’s got to be some way to salvage some part of Lila’s dress.

Rocco comes in with Scout, and says, Dante’s home. Dante says he is. He told them he was coming back, right? Rocco says, but now he’s here, and Dante says, he’s right, and Rocco’s here too. Sam asks, where’s Danny?

Molly tells Carly that she was assigned the case. She had to make the best argument she could. Carly says she knows Molly was just doing her job. If Jason didn’t make bail and Dante hadn’t woken up to exonerate him, she wouldn’t be in this good of a mood, but that’s not what happened. Jason’s free, Dante’s home with Sam and Rocco, and Molly’s niece and nephew. Molly says, and they’re crazy about him. She just hopes they’re not so excited to see him, they pop Dante’s stitches and Sam has to take him back to the hospital. They laugh, and Carly says, that would be awful. Kristina comes in and says, guess who’s on time? Molly says, not just on time, but early, and Kristina says, the end times must be upon us. She says hi to Carly, who tells them to take a seat – clearly, they can sit anywhere – and she’ll bring them menus. Molly sits, and Kristina tells Carly that she knows Nina is back at Crimson. Is she okay? Carly says she’s better than ever, and Kristina says, really? Carly says she’s busy enough here, and Drew’s a savvy businessman. She’s sure he had a reason for taking Nina back.

Jordan says, since Aurora is headquartered here, it benefits his company for Port Charles to be seen as the vital, thriving, culturally rich city it is. He says, as opposed to the smuggling mecca with outbursts of violence from organized crime get away from, and she says, that’s the image they’re trying to get away from. He says he’s sure the shootings at Selina’s warehouse didn’t help any, and she says she’s really glad they’re having this chat. He asks, why is that? and she says, there are some days she really misses being Police Commissioner, but he’s made it so she doesn’t miss law enforcement at all. They should do this more often. He says, they’ve got to find a way to make that happen. Starting with cleaning up the city’s image. She says she’s hoping Aurora Media will play a pivotal role in rebuilding the city’s image, from the streets up.

Brennan says, they told him that the Police Commissioner was here to see him. When did Anna take back her old job? She says, it’s been a couple of months, and he asks if Police Commissioner wasn’t a come down. International spy to small town cop. (Wow. It was a mecca just two seconds ago.) She says she could do worse. She could be wearing one of those jumpsuits. He laughs and asks if she doesn’t miss working intelligence, and she says, sure, but she actually enjoys doing local police work. He asks how that’s even possible. He remembers her back in the day, the ambition. She was downright scary. She asks if she’s scary now, and he says, she’s not not scary. She laughs and says, he was always such a smooth talker. He says, all Australians. It’s in the genes. He asks why she’s here, and she says, a name came up that made her think of him – Pikeman.

Jordan tells Drew that she wants to rebrand this city. Emphasize the art scene, their gorgeous location, its architecture… His phone rings and he says he thought he told his assistant no interruptions. He’s so sorry. The door opens and John walks in. He tells Drew not to blame his assistant, and Drew says he won’t. Who the hell is he? Jordans says, this is Special Agent John Cates with the FBI, and John says, Deputy Mayor Ashford, always a pleasure. She says she’s sure it is, and Drew says, as John can see, he’s at a meeting right now. What does he want? John says he needs Drew to answer a few questions about his brother Jason Morgan.

Molly asks if Kristina can be any more insensitive, but Kristina says, Carly is fine. Molly says, if she weren’t fine, does Kristina think she’d let on? This is Carly, for God’s sake. Kristina says, honestly, she doesn’t think Carly is crying many tears over her breakup with Drew, and Molly asks how it’s her business. Kristina says, admit it. She’s just as curious. Know how she knows? Molly hasn’t even asked her about… Molly says, oh my God. How’d it go at the doctor? She’s sorry she and TJ couldn’t be there. Kristina says, it’s totally fine, honestly. She’s laying there in what they have the nerve to call a gown. They put that goop all over her belly and roll that electric eye over it, and that’s it. She was totally fine doing it on her own. Josslyn comes in and Molly says, hi. Josslyn says hi back and goes to the counter. Carly asks if she isn’t sick of this place, and Molly asks Kristina, what’s up with her and Joss? Kristina says she has no idea what Josslyn’s problem is.

On the phone, Lois says, the bodice is completely unsalvageable?… How about those gorgeous pleats?… How popped and yellowed?… And the crinoline?… Oh no… Wait. What? They’re intact? Are they sure?… She’s going to put her daughter on the phone with them right now. She hands the phone to Brook, who says, yes? Hello?… Uh-huh… Oh my God, yes. That would be amazing… She can come in for a fitting anytime… Oh no. She’s so sorry. She can’t come in right now. She has a crucial meeting right now. She hands the phone to Lois, says, sorry, and leaves. Lois sees a bowl of ice cream on the counter and says, ooh, strawberry. She sits down, eats a spoonful, remembers she’s late, and runs off.

Sonny says he’s in the mood to celebrate a little bit, and Natalia asks, what is the special occasion? Sonny says his son is a cop, his oldest son, and he was shot in the line of duty. It was touch and go for a bit, and they thought he wasn’t going to make it. She says, but he did, and Sonny says, yeah. She raises her glass and says, to his son. He says, to Dante, and clinks his glass against hers. She asks if he’s still in the hospital, but Sonny says, he’s home today, and it’s going to take him a while to make a full recovery. She says, okay, but that’s wonderful. She’s happy for both of them. He says, thank you very much. He’s so happy. She says, that reminds her of something he said, that there is nothing more important than making sure your child knows you love them. She’s been thinking about that a lot lately. He asks if things are better with her and Blaze, and she says, yeah – she takes a sip of her drink – and no.

Scout tells Sam, Danny said he had to do something, and Sam asks if he mentioned what that was. Rocco says, no, but that’s just how he is. He’s not big on explanations. Sam says, all right. No big deal. She’ll just shoot him a text. Scout says, she can’t, and Dante asks, why not? Scout says, mommy took his phone when she grounded him, and Sam says, ouch. Scout’s right. She did do that. All right. She knows where to start. Dante says, she thinks he went to see… She shoots him a look, and looking at Sam’s phone, Scout asks why Carly would know where Danny is. Danny walks in with a bakery box and tells Dante, welcome home. Dante says, there he is. He’s back. Sam asks where he’s been, and Danny says, Eckerd’s. He wanted to get some donuts to celebrate Dante’s homecoming.

Natalia tells Sonny that she doesn’t want him to think less of her for saying this, and he says, there’s only one way to find out. She says she’s still struggling with mixed feelings about Allison, and he says, being gay. She says, yeah. She wishes she could wake up tomorrow morning and just feel enlightened and comfortable with the way she is. He says, it takes time, and she asks if it took him time with Kristina. He says, no, not really, but he thinks with Kristina, it took her so long to tell him because she was afraid he’d reject her, which he would never do. Natalia says she feels like it’s a little bit different with Allison, because she’s not altogether convinced that it’s not a reaction to the harassment and abuse she got from her former manager. He says, Linc Brown, and she says, that’s the one. She knows Sonny accepted her right away, but did he ever wonder with Kristina? Did he ever ask why? He tells her that he’d be lying if he said he never wondered if her bad experiences changed her and made her who she is. Know what he learned? That happens to all of us. Kristina was, is, and always will be Kristina. Natalia says, and she’s charming and beautiful, and he says, she gets that from her dad. She laughs, and he wonders if he can ask her something he thinks she may not like. She says, hold on, and takes a sip of her drink. All right. He asks if she thinks she knows what her daughter wants more than her daughter does, and she says, of course (🍷) she thinks that. Of course (🍷) her daughter doesn’t always agree with her all the time. He says, to daughters, and they clink glasses. Lois and Brook arrive and see Sonny with Natalia.

John says, if Jordan wouldn’t mind, but Drew says he wants her to stay. He’s got nothing to hide. John says, it’s fine by him. Has Drew heard from his brother? Drew says he has not, and John says, not since the charges were dropped? Drew says, nope, and John says, what about before? Drew says, the only time he saw Jason was at his arraignment, and John says, and they didn’t speak then. Drew says, actually, no, and John says, to his own brother? Drew says, they’re not that close, and John asks, then why go to the arraignment? Drew says, they have people in common. He was there for them. And that is the extent of their contact. John says he’s sorry, but he finds that hard to believe.

Brennan says, Pikeman, and Anna says, come on. Don’t tell her that he doesn’t know what that is. He says, of course (🍷) he knows. Armaments, defense systems, skilled mercenary soldiers. She says, very lucrative business, and he says, it was. He’s sure it still is. They were investigating them. She says, he was? and he says, the WSB was. Sadly, he no longer considers himself part of that institution. She says, what really amazes her is the fact that he was able to be the director of the WSB and head up Pikeman at the same time, and he says, what? She says, that was terrible, that look of astonishment. He’s not even trying. He says he doesn’t see how one can head a global law enforcement agency and a paramilitary defense contractor at the same time. But the fact she thought he could have, he’s quite flattered. She says, Pikeman has weapons. WSB needs weapons. That way we were able to… She keeps referring to the WSB as we. He says, institutional espionage is addictive. It’s a hard habit to break. She says, a partnership with Pikeman gave the WSB access to untraceable weapons, which allowed them to meddle in countries they were supposed to leave alone. He set it up perfectly. He says he did? He must be really good. She says, he’s one of the best. Then he got himself caught because he couldn’t leave Port Charles alone. Why? What’s so important here?

Kristina says, Molly was in the courtroom, so she didn’t see it, but she and Josslyn got into it before Jason’s arraignment. Josslyn went on and on and on about how Jason just had to be innocent. Molly says, which it turns out he was, and Kristina says, yeah, but no one knew that at the time. But did Josslyn listen? Nope. She was being totally unreasonable.

Josslyn sits down at the counter and says, Dex is becoming a cop, and Carly asks if she’s sure. Josslyn says, yes. He was here and he was reading the paperwork right over there. So what happens when Sonny finds out? What happens if Sonny takes him to the Pine Barrens and Carly isn’t there this time to stop him? Carly says she could try to talk Dex out of it, but if he’s that determined… Josslyn says, Dex should be able to do whatever he wants to do, but he can’t because of Sonny. The FBI should be investigating Sonny, and they should put him away in jail until the end of time like he deserves. Kristina gets up, and Molly says, no, just leave it, but does Kristina listen? Nope. She says, Josslyn is talking trash about her dad, and Josslyn says, in a private conversation. Kristina says, their voices carried. She might want to walk that back. Josslyn asks why she’d want to do that, and Kristina says, a lot of reasons. Everything her father’s ever done for Josslyn.

Josslyn says she’s sorry. What is she supposed to be grateful to Sonny for? Kristina says, he’s been wonderful to Josslyn. She grew up in his house. Josslyn says, he was her stepdad. She was a child. She had to live there. Kristina says, Sonny has always loved Josslyn and treated her like she was one of his own daughters, and what does she do? She tears him down behind his back. Josslyn says, call him over. She’ll say everything right to his face. It wouldn’t be her first time. Kristina says, Josslyn hates him like he is some terrible person. Her father has donated wings to hospitals… Josslyn says, where’s the money coming from that he donates these wings? His coffee imports? Kristina says she’s not discussing what her father may or may not be doing with his business… and Josslyn says, may or may not… Kristina says, about which none of them has firsthand knowledge. Josslyn says, Kristina might not, and Kristina says, Josslyn does? Carly walks over and says, they’re not having this conversation here. They need to take a step back. Kristina says, no, please, enlighten her. She can’t wait to hear this. What does Josslyn think she knows about what her father does? Josslyn says she knows Kristina’s father is a vicious thug and a murderer.

Brook hugs Sonny, and he says he didn’t know her mom was bringing her here. Lois says she wasn’t, but Brook was meeting someone here, and Natalia says, that would be her. Lois and Natalia introduce themselves, and Lois says she’s sorry they’re late. They had a wedding dress emergency. Sonny says, that happens, and Natalia says, does it? She’s never heard of a wedding dress emergency. Lois says, now she has, and Brook suggests she and Natalia chat somewhere more private. Sonny says he hears Blaze is the new Face of Deception. That is exciting. Natalia says, we’ll see, and Brook says, let’s take that table over there and let them catch up. Natalia says, have a nice lunch, and goes with Brook. Lois tells Sonny, she seems… nice.

Sam says, since they eat donuts with their hands, why don’t Scout and Rocco go upstairs to wash up? Scout asks if Danny is in trouble, but Sam says, no. Rocco tells Scout that their business is upstairs. Let’s go mind it. They go upstairs, and Sam tells Danny that she needs him to tell her the truth. No matter what, he’s not in trouble. When he went to get the donuts, did he go and see his father? Danny says, no, and she says, okay. He asks if she believes him, and she says, shouldn’t she? He says, yeah. He just didn’t think she would. She opens a drawer and says, how about this? She’s actually going to give him his phone back. She takes out the phone, hands it to him, and says, but under one condition. She is going to put the locator on, so she knows where he is. He says, so not only does she not believe him, she doesn’t trust him either, but she says she does believe him, and she trusts him. She just wants to protect him. He says, from his own father, and she says, his father isn’t someone he should be around right now. Jason leads a dangerous life. Danny says he’s got homework. He tells Dante, enjoy the donuts, and goes upstairs. Sam says, what? and Dante says, she’s the mom, so what she says goes, but respectfully, he thinks she might have made a mistake there.

John says, like Drew told him, he and his brother have people in common, most notably Sam McCall and Carly Spencer. Both of them were married to one, and both of them were involved with the other. Jordan says, none of which merits investigation from the FBI, and John says he was getting to that. She says, well, hurry, and John says, both Drew and his brother have been charged with a federal crime. His brother went to prison after a no contest plea, and Drew went to prison after pleading guilty to insider trading. He was granted early release, which means if Jason is involved in any criminal activities and Drew is implicated, he could be sent back to Pentenville. (Wouldn’t the FBI already know how close Drew and Jason are or aren’t?)

Brennan says he’s thought a lot about Port Charles. There’s so much to do in this city, so much to discover. Anna says, like a mission report on the defection they worked on together. Does he remember that? He asks, how could he forget? It was a dismal failure. She says, but then he found out she had a hard copy, and he couldn’t let that get out, could he? He says, because it went south? He’ll have her know that he’s been a part of more than one failed mission. She says, but none of those resulted in ten million dollars disappearing, and he says he remembers the ten million too. It’s funny, because back then they thought that was a lot of money. She says, they did, but it’s enough to provide seed money for Pikeman. That’s why he had to destroy the report and silence her in the process. He says, right. So if he’s such a diabolical mastermind, why is she still alive? If she’s the only person who can tie him to the missing money, why wouldn’t he just kill her? She says, it’s not for lack of trying, and he says, or maybe that’s what someone wants her to believe. She asks if he’s saying he’s being framed, and he says, like she hasn’t? She says, it happens to the best of us, and he says, someone didn’t like the direction he was taking with the WSB, and now he’s in here. Maybe she can help him get out. Maybe she can find out who framed him. For old time’s sake. She says she’ll consider it, if he gives her something in return. He says, such as? and she says, a name. With him in here, someone’s got to be running Pikeman. Who?

Josslyn says, Molly is the ADA. She must have access to the file on the assault of Cyrus Renault. Show Kristina. Kristina says, Josslyn wants to talk about thugs and murderers, Cyrus Renault is at the top of that list. Josslyn says, he used to be. Maybe he still is. It doesn’t matter. She should look at the file. And she should take a really good look at the photos and see what her beloved daddy did to a helpless old man who couldn’t fight back. Molly says, this isn’t accomplishing anything. They’re going to go. Josslyn tells Molly, show her. And then show her all of the information in all of the files on all of the lives Sonny has ruined and all of the people he has had killed. Carly tries to interrupt, but Josslyn says, then maybe Kristina will see him for who he really is. Kristina says she can’t be around Josslyn, and walks out. Molly looks at Josslyn, who says, if Molly wants her to apologize, she can’t. Molly says, Kristina is pregnant right now. She can’t handle this kind of stress. Even if she could, what good does it possibly do, rubbing her nose in how Josslyn feels about Sonny? He’s her father. She loves him. She has every right to. Molly leaves, and Josslyn looks guilty, as she should. She can be a mean girl.

Sonny says he thinks that’s a record. Two seconds, and Lois wrote Natalia off. Lois says, oh no. She’s as open as the next person. He says he can see that, and she says she means it. She’s willing to give anyone a chance, but come on. She’s been in the music business a little bit too long. She can spot a stage mother from a mile away, and she’s telling him, that Natalia is enmeshed in her daughter’s life. So much so, that poor kid isn’t going to be able to have a life of her own. He says, and no one can say that about her, and she says, there is no questioning how close she and Brook are. But her daughter is her own person, and she accepts the beautiful, brilliant, vibrant human being that she’s become. He says, and she is that, and Lois says, let’s see if that Natalia can say it about her own kid.

Brook asks what Natalia’s concerns are about Blaze becoming the Face of Deception, and Natalia says, she’s already a star. Brook says, she is, a rising star, and Natalia says, higher and higher every day. So forgive her if she questions some of Brook’s managerial choices. Brook says she’ll be happy to answer any questions Natalia may have. Fire away. Natalia suggests they start with the most obvious, which is that Brook has this wedding taking up all of her time. So will Brook even have time to focus on what’s best for her daughter? Brook says, yes. Next question. Natalia says, let’s just stick with this one. What if she had a wedding dress emergency and she had a meeting with a record label or a venue manager?

Dante says, the more Sam forbids Danny to see his father, the more he’s going to want to see his father. She says she doesn’t know what else to do. Does he have any suggestions? He says, talk to Jason? He doesn’t know. He may be biased right now because technically, the guy saved his life.

Brennan says he can’t tell Anna who’s head of Pikeman because he doesn’t know, and she says, might she remind him that she and Dante Falconari were targeted by Hume. Hume was employed by Pikeman, working under his orders. He says, if she has proof of that, by all means, show it to his attorneys. He’s sure they’d love to see it. As would he. Let him ask her. Does she have any evidence directly tying him to Pikeman? No? Then why does she think that is? She says she may not have anything to tie him to Pikeman now, but she can certainly tie him to it back in the day.

Sam says she’s grateful Jason helped save Dante’s life, but this isn’t about him and Jason. This is about her protecting Danny from Jason. She doesn’t want him to get sucked into Jason’s life more than he already has. Dante says, first of all, he’s not trying to make it about him. He’s with her. He’s just concerned that… She says, forbidding Danny from seeing Jason is only going to make him want to see Jason more. She knows that. She just doesn’t know what else to do. He says he’s going to do whatever it is Sam tells him to do to help her. She says, of course (🍷) he will. Because he knows what it means to be a father. And it’s more than biology. He’s the one who’s here. He’s the one who’s put in the time. He’s the one Danny can count on. He says he doesn’t know about that, but he knows he’s the lucky one, because he has her and those kids. She says, yeah, and they’re about to kiss, when Scout asks if they can eat now. Sam says, of course (🍷). Come on down. The kids all come downstairs, and Sam says she has some really good news. Olivia brought over some dinner, but she was thinking maybe they’d do something a little different. Since it is a celebration, maybe they could have dessert before dinner. Unless of course (🍷), they want to have dinner before dessert. Show of hands. Dinner first?… No? Dessert first? All the hands go up, and Sam says, dessert it is. Danny says, Dante gets first choice, but Dante says he’ll give his first choice to Scout. Scout asks if there’s a pink one with sprinkles and Danny asks what she thinks. She takes one out, and Sam asks what she says. Scout says, thanks Dante. Welcome home. Dante thanks all of them and says, this is the best welcome home ever. Now pass those donuts around.

Drew says, if John wants to investigate him, go for it. Sift through every detail of his life. John can audit his company. He has absolutely nothing to hide. He’s just going to give John a little bit of advice. Make sure he dots every i and crosses every t, because he’s going to make this very public. And he’s pretty sure the FBI doesn’t want John bringing on that kind of exposure for them. John thanks Drew and says he appreciates Drew’s time and cooperation. Drew says, he’s very welcome. So they’re done. John says, for now. If he does hear from his brother – Drew says he won’t – or obtain any information, give him a call. Drew says, John wants to bring down Jason, that’s on him. John leaves, and Jordan asks, who does Drew hate more, his brother or Very Special Agent (ha-ha!) John Cates? He says he definitely doesn’t hate his brother. It’s just, Jason brings on his own trouble, and he doesn’t want to be dragged down into it. She says, heard, and he thanks her for staying. She says she’s so glad she did. Drew tearing into Special Agent Cates was a thing of beauty.

Anna says, that mission report, and Brennan says, the one she believes he tried to have her killed over. She says, that one. It clearly states that he was instrumental in planning that operation where the ten million went missing. It put him in a perfect position to sabotage the op and abscond with the money. Everyone else involved with that op was either sidelined or demoted, but not him. His career skyrocketed. It’s almost as if someone in a much, much, much higher position at the Bureau not only approved of his actions, but was rewarding him for them. They were rewarding him with positions that were advantageous to him and to Pikeman. Pikeman is far too valuable to collapse in his absence. So who did he hand it off to? Who is running it now? He says he wishes he could help her, but alas, she’s wasting her time. He calls the guard and says, the Police Commissioner is done with him. The guard leads him away.

Brook tells Natalia, Blaze wanted to keep it at smaller venues for now, then move on to other ones once they sold those out. After all, it’s better to sell 300 tickets to a 200-person venue than it is to sell 500 tickets to one that holds 1000. Natalia says she happens to believe Blaze could sell out a 1000 plus seat venue, and Brook says, so does she, but this is Blaze’s choice and she backed Blaze because she believes in her. Blaze is her client. She and Blaze will decide what direction to take her career. Natalia says, Blaze might be Brook’s client, but this is her child. It’s her job to safeguard Blaze’s happiness. Brook says, Natalia’s not going to get an objection from her. They all want Blaze to be happy. Natalia says, to that end, she wants to make sure Blaze doesn’t publicize something she can’t take back later. So she wants Blaze’s private life to remain private. Are they clear? Brook says she doesn’t manage Blaze’s private life. And neither does Natalia. Whoever Blaze decides to spend her time with and whoever knows about it, that’s up to Blaze. A word of advice… Natalia says she doesn’t need Brook’s advice, but Brook says, trust her. She does. Sonny is Blaze’s girlfriend’s father, and he loves his little girl. He thinks she hung the moon. She doesn’t think he’d appreciate Natalia trying to keep their relationship a secret.

Lois says, thank God. She can see the relief in Sonny’s face. She can hear it in his voice. He says he’s been relying a lot on Dante lately. Not just as a son, but as a friend. Lois says, how so? and he says, Dante has a way of getting through to him – he lowers his voice – and he needs that in his life right now.

Carly says, Josslyn was right about Sonny, but Kristina refuses to see it. Of course (🍷) she does. Sonny is her father. Josslyn says, don’t tell her that she has to go apologize, and Carly says, no. She doesn’t have to apologize. Kristina isn’t a delicate flower, and she gave just as good as she got. But she’s worried about Josslyn. Josslyn is so angry about the situation with Sonny and Dex, and she gets it, but all that rage Josslyn has inside is only hurting her. Josslyn says, of course (🍷) she’s filled with rage. Sonny sent Dex to kill Cyrus and Dex was going to do it, but he felt like he didn’t have a choice. And she can’t be with someone who could do something like that. Carly says, that’s the choice Josslyn made and she’s proud of her for it. Josslyn says, even if she’s miserable? and Carly says, that’s how she knows it wasn’t an easy choice to make. And as far as if it was worth it or not, only Josslyn knows the answer to that. Josslyn says, all she knows is, she still loves Dex, and she misses him, and Carly says he understands. She’s been there. Josslyn says, but she’s terrified because Dex is going to become a cop, and there’s a real chance Sonny will have him killed.

On Tuesday (see below), Drew asks Nina what he gets out of this; Sonny asks Ava why Drew would hire the woman who put him in prison; Jason says he needs someone to do something else for him; and Carly yells for someone to be left alone.

👓 No Soap Monday…

It’s the solar eclipse, baby.

📋 Carly’s New Hire…

Meet Hunter.

🔬 A Little Mental Health On the Side…

When art imitates life. One of the reasons I love GH. They keep it relevant.

💣 Joining Forces…

I can see them as The Blues Brothers 2.0.

William deVry Updates Fans on His Project With Kin Shriner!

🍸 For Ann’s Sake…

But will she ever actually be working?

There’s no doubt it was stressful.

But apparently, the worm with a mustache doesn’t think it’s stressful picking up his dirty drawers and being a go-between for two people who shouldn’t be sharing a house in the first place.

💎 When Worlds Collide…

Definitely a meet cute.

⚰️ What’s Next In Dead…

New addition to the City.

https://undeadwalking.com/posts/dead-city-season-2-update-sons-of-anarchy-actor-kim-coates-added-to-cast-01htqk16jafm

Thoughts on the Dead future.

🐶 Miracles Happen…

Best happy ending ever.

https://people.com/woman-viral-search-for-senior-dog-missing-from-animal-hospital-exclusive-8620174

That grasshopper must live!

https://people.com/zoo-vets-make-tiny-neck-brace-for-grasshopper-bug-8619996

He’s in love.

https://people.com/simon-cowell-cuddles-adorable-black-white-puppy-8620886

💡 Quotes of the Week

It’s not a lie if you believe it. – George Costanza (Jason Alexander), Seinfeld

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

Quitting can be a hard choice to make, but often it’s a brave one as well.Susan David

A polite enemy is just as difficult to discredit, as a rude friend is to protect. – Bryant H. McGill

The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you. – B. B. King (No one can take integrity away from you either.)

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

Fear imprisons, faith liberates; fear paralyzes, faith empowers; fear disheartens, faith encourages; fear sickens, faith heals; fear makes useless, faith makes serviceable – and, most of all, fear puts hopelessness at the heart of life, while faith rejoices in its God. – Henry Emerson Fosdick 

People will always have opinions about your decision because they’re not courageous enough to take action on their opinion. – Steve Maraboli

The man who insists on seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. – Henri-Frédéric Amiel

And that, my dear, is how you run an asylum. – Matron Grady (Judith Light), Escaping the Madhouse: The Nellie Bly Story

⚡️Aftershocking…

Enjoy the eclipse then join me on Monday really Tuesday for what’s cringeworthy on Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay opening/holding the door open for any human immediately before or after you, and stay celebrating with dessert before dinner on occasion. Unless of course, you want dessert after dinner.

April 4, 2024 – Doc Sees a Striking Change In Heather, Bette’s FOMO, She’s the Worst, This Week’s Top, Two Awful Houses, For the Win & Pieces

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Tracy comes into an exam room, and Terry says, it’s her birthday. Tracy says, it is. A fact that only the two of them noticed. Terry says, well, happy birthday, and Tracy thanks her. Terry asks if she has any big plans, and Tracy says, just her, her couch, and the remote. Terry says, sounds blissful, to be honest. In other good news, she sees no cause for concern in Tracy’s bloodwork. Tracy asks if she’s surprised, and Terry says, no, but Tracy looks a little pale, enough so that she wondered if anemia was in play, but her hemoglobin looks good. Tracy says, if she’s pale, it’s because they’ve just slogged through winter, and like everybody else, she hasn’t been outside much. Terry says, fair enough, and Tracy says, if she has any complaints at all, it’s cold hands and feet, but she assumes it’s because of her age. (Is that why there are so many migrations to Florida after retirement?) And she has been a little lethargic lately. Is that an indication something is going on? Is she sick? Terry tells Tracy that she’s not qualified to say, but Tracy says, she’s Co-Chief of Staff. Who’s more qualified than her? Terry says, a psychiatrist? and Tracy laughs. Terry says she can refer Tracy to Dr. Collins if she likes, and Tracy asks, what possible diagnosis could be going on in here? Terry says, depression?

Cody’s phone rings at the stable, and Sasha tells Olivia that he stepped outside for a second. Should she go get him? Olivia says, no. She just wanted to give him the good news. Dante is being discharged. Sasha says, that’s fantastic, and Olivia says she’s pretty sure Cody would want to be filled in. Sasha says, absolutely. He’ll be thrilled to know Dante is coming home. Olivia says, while she has Sasha on the phone, is she at the house? Sasha says she’s at the stables. Why? Olivia says she was making mashed potatoes and chicken parm for Tracy’s birthday, but now with Dante and the kids coming home, Sam’s not going to have time to cook. She was thinking maybe she’d bring dinner for them instead and grab a cake to celebrate with Tracy. Sasha says, good idea, and Olivia says she could use Sasha’s help. She chopped up the veggies and peeled the potatoes, but the chicken still hasn’t been made. Does Sasha think she could get it started if Olivia talks her through it? Sasha says she could try.

Portia takes Heather’s vitals and asks, what happened to her restraints? Heather says she thinks maybe she lost some weight after the surgery or something. Her hands just slipped out.

Josslyn introduces Felicia to Bobbie’s new manager, Hunter Cruise, and Felicia says, this place is a favorite of hers, so expect to be seeing her a lot. Hunter says, looking forward to it, and Josslyn says, Felicia is one of their regulars. Felicia says she used to work here when she was Josslyn’s age, and Josslyn says, they get a lot of customers from the hospital because it’s a short walk. Curtis comes in with Trina, who tells him to remember he has back-up, and he says, slow and steady. Josslyn starts applauding and everyone else follows suit.

Kristina comes out of the hospital elevator and Blaze is there. Blaze asks, how’s her brother? and Kristina says, he’s good. Actually, he gets to come home today. Blaze says, that’s fantastic. She must be so relieved. Kristina says she is. Every day he’s awake and moving around, she feels a little bit better. Blaze says she bets. She was wondering if Kristina might have a minute. Kristina says, okay, and Blaze says she didn’t mean for Kristina to find out about the whole Deception/Crimson thing like that. She hopes Kristina didn’t think she was keeping it from her. Kristina says she really didn’t know what to think. She still doesn’t.

Cody puts Comet in his stall, when Sasha comes in. He says, Comet must have spring fever. He gave them both a workout. Where did she disappear to? She says she was up at the house. He left his phone on the table, and she answered a call from Olivia. He asks what she said, and Sasha tells him, Dante’s being released from the hospital today. He whoops and hugs her, lifting her in the air.

Tracy says she’s not depressed and doesn’t need a shrink, and Terry tells her, if you say so. Tracy says she leads a full life. She’s the head of a company. If she’s being honest, she’s the majority shareholder in a company that she wants to give to her granddaughter someday, but it keeps her very busy. Terry says she’s sure it does, and Tracy says, if she’s a little down or at loose ends sometimes, it’s because she lost her husband a little over two years ago and it’s grief, and it takes as long as it takes. Terry says, absolutely. There’s no buzzer that will ring and say, that’s it, you’re done. Tracy says, if there was, she’d ignore it. She’s doing this her way, and she doesn’t care what anybody else thinks. Terry says she knows Tracy’s family well enough to know her husband hasn’t been her only loss. Both her parents, her brother Alan – a legend here at GH – a nephew and a niece. Tracy says, that’s not unusual at her stage of life, but Terry says, that doesn’t make it easy. Her general health is good. All the numbers are in range. Maybe she needs to get out more, be a little more active. Tennis club, a women’s golf league… Tracy says, oh no. There will be no popping of my collar, thank you very much. Terry says, then something else, anything, to keep her body moving and get her interacting with people of similar interests. Tracy says she’ll keep it in mind. How’s that? Terry says she’ll take it, and leaves.

Portia tells the guard outside Heather’s room that she needs him inside, and he asks if there’s a problem. She says, the patient’s restraints are loose, and she needs to be supervised at all times. She calls Nurse Erin to come in and help tighten the patient’s restraints, and Erin does. Heather says, there you go – she shows Portia the restraints are on – and she’s not going to say thank you. Though these are more comfortable than handcuffs. (They also seem to be Velcro, so…)

Felicia says, it’s so good to see Curtis. Not only up and about, but on his feet. That must be a record. Trina says, he’s been working at it non-stop, and Felicia says, it shows. Curtis thanks her so much. He didn’t think going out for a bite to eat would call for a hero’s welcome. Trina says, a lot of people were worried about him. They’re allowed to be happy about his recovery. He says, on the road to recovery, and Felicia says, in the fast lane it looks like. Curtis says he’ll accept he applause and the encouragement, and Trina says, thank you. Felicia says she’s got to get back to the hospital, and tells Curtis, keep up the good, and what she’s sure is very hard, work. He thanks her, and Felicia leaves. He says, not exactly lowkey, and Trina says, there’s nothing lowkey about this. He didn’t just beat the odds; he defied them. She’s so proud of him.

Cody says, sorry about the sweat, and Sasha says, no problem. He says, Dante is coming home. That guy. They all thought he wasn’t going to make it, and he probably set a record for getting released from the hospital the fastest. She says, he’s pretty amazing, and Cody asks if Olivia said anything else. Sasha says, she did actually. She wanted to bring some food over to Dante’s because Sam won’t have time to cook. Olivia asked her to get her chicken parm started, but unfortunately, the chicken is spoiled. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, trust her. It won’t be much of a welcome home if Dante, Sam, and the kids all get food poisoning. (Been there, done that, did not like the T-shirt.) She’s going to go back to the house and look in the fridge. She’s sure she can figure something out. He says, she’s a good friend, and she says, it’s the least she can do since Dante helped him rescue her from Ferncliff. He says, she has every right to appreciate it, but he was actually talking about himself. Dante’s his best friend. She’s doing this for Dante, and he appreciates it. He appreciates her. She says she appreciates him too.

Terry goes into her office and says, sorry to keep them waiting. Alexis says, don’t apologize, and Laura says, they know how busy she is. Terry says, unlike Laura, who gets to relax all day, every day, and Laura says, relax? What’s that? Terry says, Portia is doing rounds, so she’s all Laura is going to get. Laura says, which is fine, since she only needs one Chief of Staff to sign off. She hands Terry a manila envelope and Terry takes out some paperwork. She asks what she’s looking at here, and Laura says, it’s a contract that would put city employees on GH’s health plan. Terry says, that’s great, and Laura says she thinks so. Alexis says, what their illustrious mayor is leaving out is that this was a culmination of her efforts. Terry asks how she pulled this off, and Laura says, there was a little bit of arm twisting involved, but she happens to believe city employees deserve access to the best possible health care. After all, they’re the ones who keep the city running, so they deserve it. Terry says, not every politician would make that a priority.

Doc goes in to see Heather, and she says, you again. He says he can come back if she’s not up to talking, but she says, it’s all right. She’s just not really sure where all these conversations are leading, except back to a prison cell. He says, all right. Does she know where she is? She says, he needs new material. She’s in the hospital. He says he means specifically, and she says, General Hospital, in good old Port Charles, New York. He asks if she knows what day it is, and she says she wishes. This place is like a casino. No clocks, the lights are on all the time… It’s like she’s a slot machine and he’s a five-card stud. See what she did there? He says, very clever, and she says she knows everybody thinks she’s dumb, but it’s not true. All the horrible things she did weren’t because of stupidity. It was more like… She doesn’t really know how to describe it. He says, try, and she says, it was like her blood was on fire, and the only way to put out that fire was to do something crazy. He says, or highly illegal, and she says, that too. She’s glad her hip’s better. He says, she must be in much less pain, and she says, it’s not just that. Now when they throw her back in the slammer, at least she’ll be able to pace the yard. It’s the small things, doc.

Josslyn says, PCU keeps bugging her about finding a new roommate, but she’s holding out hope, and Trina says she still doesn’t know what she’s going to do about the fall. The Sorbonne is holding a spot for her, but she can’t even think about going back to Paris. She’s not sure if she wants to go back to PCU either. Curtis says, luckily, she still has time to decide, and Josslyn says she can hold out on housing for as long as necessary. Trina thanks her, and Josslyn says, of course (🍷). Anything for her. Curtis says, that’s a real friend, when Dex walks in and sits at a table.

Curtis takes off his shirt (the new Nathan) and tells Comet, let’s get dry. He begins wiping Comet down, when Tracy comes in. She clears her throat, and he says, Matriarch Quartermaine. She says, hard note of that taken, and he says, okey-dokey. What should he call her now? She says she told him, Tracy. Can she have a word? He says, sure, and she says, clothed? He says, sorry about that, and puts on another shirt. He asks how he can help her, and she says she was speaking with someone earlier today and was reminded that she really enjoyed riding. So now that spring has sprung… He says, she really wants to get back up on that horse, and she says she hasn’t actually ridden any of the horses they have now, so she wants one with a sweet temper and an easy gait. He says, don’t we all? and she says, why doesn’t he make himself useful and help her make a selection. He says, follow him, and they go in the back to the stalls.

Trina asks if Josslyn is going to go talk to Dex, but Josslyn says, no, and she doesn’t intend to wait on him either. Curtis says he’s been out of the PI game for a minute and he’s guessing she and Dex aren’t together anymore. Trina says, very astute, and he asks what Josslyn thinks her grandmother would say. Josslyn says, about her relationship status? and Curtis says, Kelly’s, now Bobbie’s, has always been a place where everyone felt welcome. Does she think Bobbie would want a customer ignored? Josslyn says, that’s not fair, but Trina says, he’s not wrong. Curtis says, it is the hospitality business, right? and Josslyn says she’ll ask Hunter to wait on him. She’s the new manager.

Blaze and Kristina sit on a bench and Blaze says she’s sorry the first Kristina heard of her deal with Deception was in an office with Maxie and Nina. Kristina says, it caught her off-guard. She assumed if Blaze had something that big coming up, she would have told her. Blaze says she would have. She should have. But the first time she was approached by the Deception team, nothing came of it. So she didn’t say anything because she thought nothing was going to happen this time either. Then all of a sudden, it was done before she even had time to wrap her head around it. She swears she wasn’t keeping it a secret from Kristina. Kristina says she gets it. The whole thing just blindsided her, but this is very cool for Blaze. She thinks it’s great. It’s really going to broaden Blaze’s demographic. Blaze says she just hopes raising her profile will help her music career, and Kristina says, why wouldn’t it? Blaze says she doesn’t know. It’s a bumpy ride getting there, but the music world, she understands. The fashion and beauty world is a big unknown. Kristina says, fortunately, Blaze has Maxie. There is no one better than her. She’s savvy and she’s chic. She’s also so human. Blaze says, Maxie’s great. What she’s not so sure of is herself. She’s not sure she’ll fit in with what people consider hot or pretty or trendy. Kristina says, she’s beautiful, she’s hot, and she’s trendy. But who cares? That could change in the morning. Blaze says she guesses she’ll find out. But for now, her mom thinks it’s smart to keep her private life private. Is that going to be a problem for them?

Terry signs the document and says, it’s official. She tells Laura, congratulations, and thanks her. Laura says, it’s her pleasure, and Alexis says, since she’s covering this for The Invader, does Terry have any comments? Terry says, public relations isn’t really her strong suit. Can Alexis make something up? Alexis says, funny Terry should ask, because she’s already drafted something up. She takes a paper out of her bag, and says, concise and to the point, handing it to Terry. Terry looks it over, and says, on second thought, maybe she should have their public relations office come up with something.

Doc tells Heather, let’s pretend the restraints don’t exist, and she says, you mean these guys? holding up her hands. He says, and the doctors and the warden have told her that she’s free to go wherever she wants, do whatever she wants. What would that look like? She says she thinks about that all the time, but it’s not what he’d expect. He says, try him, and she says, okay. The first thing she’d do is put flowers on her daughter’s grave. Then she’d remember her daughter’s not in it. So she’d go and take those same flowers to the woman whose husband she killed, the one who’s really beautiful. He says, Sasha Corbin, and she says, yeah. And she’d give them to her instead. And then, if his brother had a will and left her something in it, which – spoiler alert – he didn’t… Doc says, let’s say he did, and she says, then she’d buy a tiny, little house with a yard where her grandson could play. She’d even get one of those playgrounds, the simple kind with the swing and slide and monkey bars. She cries and says, but what good is it to torture herself with things that are impossible? She sinks back down into the bed and says she’s sorry, but he says, no. That’s enough for today. He’ll be back.

Josslyn says, what do you want? and Dex asks if that’s how she talks to all the customers, or is he just lucky? She says, what would you like today, sir? and he says, a lot of things he knows he can’t have, so he’ll settle for a coffee and a grilled cheese, please. She says, coming right up.

Doc tells Portia that he was just in with Heather Webber, and she says, her apologies for that. He says he sees a change in her since her surgery. The difference is, to be honest, quite striking. She says, a difference in Heather? Maybe he should try telling someone who didn’t just almost lose their daughter to that madwoman.

Tracy says, so she plans on riding a few times a week, and Cody says, she won’t regret it. She says, her thighs might, but he says, she’ll be in riding shape in no time. She says, that’s it? He’s not going to try and discourage her? Tell her that she’s too old or fragile; she might break a hip? He says he’s been around long enough to know Tracy Quartermaine’s a lot of things, but fragile ain’t one of them. She says she’s glad he’s paying attention, when Sasha comes back. She says she’s not used to seeing Tracy at the stables, and Cody says, she’d better get used to it. Tracy says, Sasha has to listen to the man. She plans on getting back in the saddle. Pun intended. Sasha says, good for her, and Tracy asks if this is where she’s been spending her time. Sasha says she likes horses, so she asked Cody to put her to work, and Tracy says she’d rather be here too. She’s sorry things didn’t work out between Sasha and Deception. Sasha thanks her and says she really appreciates Tracy going to bat for her. She hopes she didn’t seem ungrateful. She just realized that she didn’t want to spend her days getting her picture taken. Tracy says, that’s definitely Sasha’s prerogative and she gives Sasha credit for making that decision and not going along with what everybody else wants. She tells Cody, see him soon, and he says, adios. Tracy leaves, and he says, that Tracy, all bark, no bite. Sasha gives him a look, and he says, plenty of bite, but she does have her moments. Sasha says, that, she does.

Curtis tells Trina, when he was sitting in that wheelchair, he felt so hopeless. He knew he wasn’t the man he was before, and society didn’t help either. Trina asks what he means, and he says he got to know what it’s like to be disabled in this world. Even if it was unintentional, you get the elbows to the face. You get drinks spilled in your lap, even at his own club. The disrespect was real. She says she’s so sorry he had to go through all that, but he says he’s not. It was a wake-up call. It made him realize that he’s always going to be him. Always, no matter whether he’s seated or he’s standing or somewhere in between. And no one should be made to feel small. No one.

Doc sees Laura with Alexis and says, wife. She says, husband, taking his hands, and he asks what this dynamic duo is up to. Alexis says, he’ll read about it tomorrow in The Invader. Or possibly the next day, depending on how fast the hospital’s PR department can draft an appropriate comment. Laura laughs, and he says, so the contracts are signed. Laura says, they’re signed, sealed, and delivered. From now on, the city employees will have access to GH’s health plan. He tells her, congratulations. He knows the work she put in to make this happen. She says she has to admit, it feels really good, and he asks if she’s headed home or back to city hall. She says, actually, she thought since she’s at the hospital, she should visit Heather. Sort of fulfill her Webber family duties. He says, she’s too good, and she says, she is, isn’t she? He suggests she meet him after, and she says she will. She heads for Heather’s room, and Alexis says, have a good one, but Doc asks if she has a moment. He was wondering if he could run something by her just to get a legal opinion. She says, he knows that she can’t advise him legally. However, she can speak to him as a friend who’s read a few books. He says, fair enough. So hypothetically, let’s say someone has been convicted of horrible, heinous crimes, but we’ve since learned there were mitigating circumstances. Something that wasn’t known during the trial. Not because someone hid it, but because no one knew it existed. She says, he’s talking about Heather Webber, and Portia watches from the reception desk.

Josslyn refills Dex’s coffee and he thanks her. She asks if he’s looking at an employment packet and he says he is. She says she didn’t realize they had employment agencies for bodyguards, and he says he’s trying out a new line of work. She picks up the top page and looks at it. She says, he’s working for the Port Charles Police Department?

Cody finds Sasha with Comet and says he was just reminded of their first photo shoot. Remember? She says, how could she forget? She had the most handsome co-model… the alpaca of course (🍷). Cody says, yeah, he was adorable, when Olivia comes in with a tray of food. Cody says, Mama Q, what’s good? and she asks, what is this? Sasha says, it’s shepherd’s pie; the chicken was bad. Olivia says she knows what it is, but who made it? Where did it come from?

Josslyn says, sorry, it’s just… Dex says, Josslyn Jax, at a loss for words, and she says, this is crazy. He’s going to go from working for Sonny to working for the police? He says, quite a leap, and she says, it’s reckless and stupid. He says, she’s assuming they’ll turn him down, but Anna actually invited him to apply. They’ll accept his military service in place of a college degree. All he has to do is take the test, but who knows? Maybe he’ll fail it. She says, he’s not going to fail the test. He can’t possibly think this is a good idea. He says, why not? and she says, because it makes him even more of a target for Sonny. He says, we can’t all be doctors… What’s that look? Something wrong at school?

Trina picks at her food, and Curtis says, not hungry? She says her appetite’s been pretty weak these days. Besides, it’s this place as well. He says he thought she liked the food here, and she says she does. The food’s amazing. She just doesn’t come here as much, since… He says, right. She and Spencer used to come here a lot. She says, it does sound ridiculous. She can’t even have lunch with her own dad like a normal person. He says, she doesn’t sound ridiculous. She sounds like someone whose heart’s been broken.

Kristina says, as long as she and Blaze can be their authentic selves, be who they are with their friends and family, that’s enough for her. Blaze asks if she’s sure. All she’s done so far with Deception is sign a contract. She can pull out of the deal. Kristina says, Blaze would blow up this deal for her? and Blaze says, that’s the least of what she’d do for Kristina, but Kristina says, no. This could be huge for her career. Blaze says, don’t get her wrong. She wants to be successful, but she also wants to be happy. And Kristina makes her happy.

Laura says she’s sorry she hasn’t come to visit more often, and Heather asks, why would she? Laura’s the mayor; she’s a convict. Laura’s got a city to run and she… doesn’t. Laura says, technically, they’re family. They’re connected through their grandson. Heather says, speaking of. Is he going to be calling Laura mom or grandma, now that she and Doc have adopted him? Laura says she hasn’t really thought about that one yet, but she thinks she has a little bit of time before she crosses that bridge. Heather wonders what his first words will be. She used to wonder that about Esme too. Laura says, Heather is looking really well. How is she feeling? Heather says she’s not in nearly as much pain, and Laura says, good. Heather says, from her hip anyway, and Laura asks if something else is bothering her. Heather says, not physically. But she can’t stop thinking about the disaster that is her life. What has she done? Laura takes her hand.

Alexis says, cobalt poisoning from and artificial hip, and Doc says he knows it sounds like fiction, but it’s real. The official name is metallosis. She says, there is legal recourse. It’s called post-conviction relief. Some say it can be abused, and she knows the governor has tightened up some loopholes over the year. So, in the event of, say, a forced confession, or a coerced guilty plea, suppressed evidence, or evidence that hasn’t been discovered until after the fact, yes, the case can be reopened. He says, so it’s a possibility, and she says, a real one. Eavesdropping from afar, Portia flies down from the desk, and says, please, please tell her they’re not considering letting Heather Webber skate.

Trina says she misses Spencer all the time, but it’s worse in places they used to be together, especially here. And it seems normal. Like in an instant – a literal split second – she’ll forget, and the door will open. She’ll look up, thinking he’s going to be there. Then he’s not. Curtis says he knows their situations are different, but she knows how he had to learn to walk again? She’s going to have to do something similar. She says, how? and he says, it’s going to take patience, grace… It’s definitely going to take time, but broken hearts, like broken bones, do mend themselves together again. Maybe not as strong as they once were in some ways, but miraculously stronger in others. She says she so wants to believe him, and he says, that’s all right. He has enough faith for both of them. She will love again, and she will be loved again, and he can say that with utmost certainty. She tells him that he has to say that, he’s her dad, but he says, no. Because there’s no one on this planet more deserving of love than her.

Josslyn tells Dex, it’s fine. She’s just not sure pre-med is for her anymore. He says, since when? and she says she’s been rethinking a lot of her decisions lately. He says, she told him she wanted to be a healer, that’s all, and she says, you can heal the world in plenty of other ways. Look at what pre-med did to Adam. He says, she’s not Adam, and she says she also sees how hard Trina’s mom works. And the patients aren’t always grateful or even good people. He says, patients like Cyrus Renault? and she picks up the coffee pot and leaves.

Sasha says she used the vegetables and potatoes Olivia had already prepped and found some ground beef in the fridge. She hopes that was okay. Olivia says, okay? and Cody says he can’t tell. Did that mean okay or not okay? Olivia says, it’s amazing, and Cody says, it meant okay. Sasha says, really? and Olivia says, absolutely. It’s delicious. Sam, Dante, and the kids are going to be so psyched. A, to have a homecooked meal, and B, it’s not one of her standard recipes, which she’s sure they’re sick of. Cody says, it does smell good, and Sasha says, Brando always liked it. (So do I. Stop talking about it.) Olivia says, how could he not? and thanks Sasha. Sasha says she’s glad to help, and Olivia says she’ll deliver this and make sure Sasha gets the credit. She’ll see them later. She leaves, and Cody says, wow. Sasha is just racking up the hidden talents. She has selling beauty products, ax throwing, shoveling horse manure. Now she has chef extraordinaire. What’s next? Sasha says she’s no slouch at curling or ice fishing either. He says, this he’s got to see, and she says, stick around and he just might.

Tracy walks into the nook and sees a paper bag on the counter. She slides out a birthday cake that says Birthday girl on it, and says, oh good Lord. She leaves the cake on the counter and walks out.

Trina asks if Curtis is ready, and he says, let’s do this. She helps him walk to the door, and says, he’s cool. He says he’s got this.

Josslyn plops Dex’s grilled cheese and fries on the table. The sandwich is burned and looks like there’s not much cheese in it. She probably spit in the fries. She says, anything else? and he says, nope. Looks great. He picks up the sandwich and takes a bite. (I laugh at how he’s just ignoring it.)

Portia says, this is insane. Doc has to know this. Laura approaches, and Doc says, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Just listen… Portia says she’s listening to everything they’re saying. It makes no sense. Laura wonders what she’s interrupting and asks if everything is okay. Doc says, everything is fine. Really. How was her visit with Heather? Laura says, actually it was surprisingly calm and uneventful. Has Portia noticed a change in Heather? She would love to get her thoughts about Heather’s progress. Portia says, Laura wants her thoughts on Heather Webber? Let her see. Don’t try to sell her on this. Poor, misunderstood Heather Webber? That woman is a murderer. She pulled one over on everyone and they’re going to let her do it again? Alexis says, of course (🍷) this is very personal to Portia… and Portia says, of course (🍷) it’s personal for her. Alexis says, Doc was just asking her if there was any legitimate legal reason… Portia says, no, no, no. She doesn’t want to hear it. She doesn’t want to hear any of that, especially from Alexis, considering she doesn’t practice law anymore. And after this, she thinks she’s seeing why. Alexis says, don’t hold back, and Portia says she won’t. She doesn’t care how nice or how changed or how victimized Heather seems to be to them. How much time has Laura actually spent with her? How much time has she actually spent with that woman? A moment here, a moment there? Why doesn’t Laura try being her or a member of her staff who actually had to deal with her unhinged madness 24/7? And just so they know, this doesn’t even touch on the pain she’s caused Portia’s family and countless other families. So if they want to bring her case in front of a judge and jury, she wants them to do it. Because she’ll fight it. She’ll fight them with every breath that is in her body.

Tomorrow, Carly tells Josslyn that only she knows the answer to that; Anna says she’ll consider it if Brennan gives her something in return; John says, Drew can be sent back to Pentenville; Dante asks if Sam thinks she might have made a mistake; and Sonny wonders if he can ask Natalia something she may not like.

💎 Not So Divine…

Maybe she better watch the show first.

What if she does it for scale?

🛟 Primary In Her Own Mind…

About that freeloader Jill.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13265725/rhony-jill-zarin-deck-worst-guest.html

Cry me a river.

🔪 No Croquettes For You…

The latest in Chefs.

https://people.com/top-chef-recap-episode-3-buddha-lo-calls-out-chefs-for-all-making-croquettes-8624513

🚣‍♂️ Don’t Go In the House…

I thought Kyle got rid of the mullet. It looks like it’s creeping back in. I actually didn’t watch much of this because A, I just can’t, and B, there was a great documentary on VICE about the early Real World shows. When it was an actual show and not just drunken hot tub sex.

https://people.com/summer-house-recap-lindsay-hubbard-didnt-want-kyle-cooke-as-a-groomsman-wedding-to-carl-radke-8624898

What I really don’t get are the spin-off people. Didn’t they see the show before signing up? Do they really want to be playing beer pong into middle age?

🦝 Will Work For Scraps…

It would have been nice to hear how these people came to have a raccoon as a pet. My chihuahua El Wray would be a shoo-in if he didn’t growl at everything bigger than him. Which is most of the world.

https://people.com/florida-rescue-raccoon-louie-wins-cadburys-annual-easter-photo-contest-8621406

🐈 Nervous As a Cat In a Room Full Of Big Dog Breeds…

Slide into my blog tomorrow for soap and mix of amusing diversions. Until then, stay safe; stay minding your CC’s and BCC’s, and don’t always reply to all; and stay remembering that no one should be made to feel small. No one.

March 22, 2024 – Jason Does the Only Thing He Can, Background, Next Wives, Post Reunion, Dead Talk, 2 For 2, Festival Time, A Hug, Pets (!) Online, A Frame’s Worth Of Quotes & Night

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Maxie says, let’s just kind of put this whole Bellpo thing behind. Things got a little tense for them for a second. Sasha says she’s an educated woman having a serious conversation with other intelligent women about how she has to look less wholesome. How nuts is that? Lucy says, her face is really perfect, and Sasha says, except it’s not edgy enough. She’s willing to change her look, but not the way Lucy means it. Lucy says, that’s fine. It’s just that this cover for Bellpo was a huge, huge score, and now they have nothing. Maxie says, there are other magazines in town and they all have covers, but Lucy says, no. She doesn’t get it. Bellpo is the jewel in the industry’s crown. They have to have this exposure if they’re going to pull Deception out of this financial hole. They need those jewels and need Sasha on every single cover they can get. Sasha says she’s been doing this for a while now, and she thinks it’s been long enough, and Maxie says, take some time to think about it. They all should. Sasha says, fine. She’s not hurt. She’s not offended. Not at all. She’s been hearing comments about her appearance since the day she started modeling. It’s the nature of the job. Lucy says, see? She’s a pro and she gets it. And she gets Lucy. Sasha says, after what she’s been through in the past year, especially last summer, she realizes there are more important things in life. More important things in her life than being paid to be looked at. Maxie says she can pretty much guarantee they’re not going to get anything productive done tonight. So she would consider it a personal favor if they could just schedule the time in the future to discuss everyone’s concerns properly. Brook says, sounds good, and Sasha says, good for Maxie. Sure. Lucy says, no. They’re going to settle this right now. Maxie says she really thinks it would be best… Lucy says, they cannot just hug this out this time. She doesn’t think that what just happened to them with Bellpo isn’t going to get out right away. If they stand any chance of salvaging their reputation and recovering all the losses they suffered last summer, they need to do something. And she’s not about to let this tank her company. Brook says, excuse me? Your company?

Cody walks into the stables and says he hopes Comet likes looking at this face, because he’s going to be seeing a lot more of it. He kind of lost it at Deception today. He doesn’t know if he told Comet, but he was the official male Face of Deception. He knows. Didn’t make any sense to him either and he hated it. Anyways, today Lucy told Sasha that her face was too wholesome, and she needed to be edgier. Then Lucy said some more stuff. He doesn’t really know what it was because he kind of tunes her out. He picks up some carrots and says, anyways, what he said to her was, if she’s gonna replace Sasha, she’s gonna replace him too. And then Lucy said he was a bad model anyway… Yeah, he knows, right? So he quit. He gives Comet a carrot and says, you know what? It felt really good to stick it to Lucy. Now he’s wondering if he made the right decision.

Diane meets Robert at the PC Grill and apologizes for being late to lunch. He asks what kept the redhead this time, and she says, interesting question. Nothing but the pursuit of justice.

Chase leads a bunch of children wearing play badges into the squad room and tells them, this is where the action is. Donna asks if this is where they bring bad guys, and he says, yes, and then we question them in there. That is the interrogation room. It’s quieter, a little more private. This is his desk. This is where he works on his cases or helps other detectives work on their cases. He doesn’t just arrest people. Donna points to Dante’s desk, and says, that’s her brother’s desk. He’s a detective too. Chase says, Dante Falconari is one of their best detectives, and Donna says, he got hurt. He’s in the hospital getting better. Chase says, he sure is. So that’s Dante’s desk, this is his desk. They also talk to witnesses here and in the field and collect evidence. Being a police officer can be very dangerous. Officers sacrifice practically everything to keep this community and them safe.

Michael asks how Jason is feeling, and Jason says, better, thanks to him and Willow. Michael says, it looks like he’s moving around better, and Jason says he is. Michael says, that’s good, and Jason asks, what’s wrong? Michael says, Jason has to leave.

Brook says, Lucy’s company is majority owned by her grandmother, and Lucy says, by the thinnest of majorities. Brook says, still, the majority. Any discussion about the Face of Deception – past, present, or future – will involve Tracy. Got it? Lucy says, her grandmother Tracy does not care about the future of Deception, and Brook knows that. Otherwise, she’d still be here, instead of throwing her weight around at some hospital board meeting. Brook says, she didn’t leave the country. She’ll be back. Lucy says, that would be so nice for all of them, and for Deception, if she would just leave the country, but Brook says, it wouldn’t matter. They can’t make a move without Tracy’s involvement or her proxy. Maxie tells them, this is why she said they weren’t going to get anything productive done right now. She’s got to say, a little break is looking better and… Lucy says she founded this company. It was an idea in her head, and she made it a successful reality. Brook says, and somewhere along the way, she left herself vulnerable to a lawsuit, and Lucy says, that’s it. End of discussion. They’re not going to discuss anything now, after a break, ever. Because she doesn’t care what kind of stake Tracy has in the company. It’s more hers than Tracy’s. It’s more hers than anybody else’s, so guess what? If there is a problem, she’ll find a way to handle it, and she’ll fix it. And if Brook doesn’t like it, there’s the door.

As Cody brushes Comet, he says, how dumb is modeling as a job anyways, right? There’s these people standing around, touching your face, your hair, your clothes, putting on makeup. Being around Sasha and Maxie, that was pretty great, but he hadn’t really thought about how this is going to affect them. But they want him to be happy, right? And they’re more than capable of taking care of themselves. He hears Olivia ask if he’s around and he says, in here, Mama Q. Olivia comes in with a casserole dish, and he asks if everything’s okay. She says, Dante’s the same. Sam is with him right now. She came home to get some rest. She tried to take a nap, but it turns out, she can’t relax. So she cooked instead. He thanks her for bringing it down, and she says she guesses she had an ulterior motive. It’s very peaceful here, and she could use a little bit of that right about now.

Michael says, the numbers in the GH pharmacy didn’t match up to what they had in storage, and Jason says, because Willow took meds out to help him. Michael says, the computerized update doesn’t always happen in real time and only a few bottles were taken. They weren’t the kind that had any real value on the streets, so nobody was panicking, but Elizabeth is the head nurse, so… Jason says, so she would have been held responsible for the missing drugs, and Michael says, and Willow would never let her take the fall for this, so he contacted Spinelli. He hacked into the inventory and adjusted the numbers, so Elizabeth and Willow are in the clear. Jason says, that kind of medicine, the amount, it took Spinelli two minutes to figure out who the meds were for. Michael says, he didn’t, but Jason says, too many people are getting pulled into this. Michael says, he’s right, and he feels like crap for saying this, but he can’t keep putting Willow in this position. The FBI are asking questions and it’s not fair to Wiley and Amelia to be taking these kinds of chances. Jason says, Michael is right. He has to leave. Michael says he agrees. And that’s why he found a way for Jason to disappear.

Olivia tells Cody that she’s been talking to Dante non-stop, repeating all those crazy stories from his childhood, the crazy things he did. It’s a miracle she didn’t have fully stark white hair by the time she was 25. It really struck her looking back at how resilient Dante always was. He still is. Cody agrees, and she says, sleep can be very healing, and that’s what her son is doing right now. He is healing. So she talked herself hoarse, and now Sam is talking herself hoarse, and Cody’s got a free meal. He takes the dish from her and says, the day he turns down any of her cooking, she knows he’s been kicked in the head by one of these guys and it’s time to have him committed. She tells him not to get excited; it’s standard issue manicotti. He says, it smells amazing, and she says, it was relaxing to actually do something for someone instead of just sitting around and waiting. He says, no one is good at the kind of waiting she’s doing. If she could spare the time, he’d really love the company. If she doesn’t mind the horse smell of course (🍷). She takes off her coat and says, it’s better than the smell of the hospital. She sits down and says she can see why Leo likes it down here. To be around healthy living things is really nice.

Diane tells Robert that she’s looking into having Alexis’s disbarment vacated. Alexis didn’t even get a hearing. Evidence was just presented that she perjured herself at Neil Byrne’s medical board hearing. Robert says, as he recalls, he was her therapist and she was sleeping with him, but Diane says, oh no. He wasn’t her therapist at the time. They simply didn’t wait the requisite two years before… enjoying each other’s company. Unfortunately, in a regrettable lapse of judgement, Alexis decided to tell the board they were not sleeping together in order to save Neil’s license, but then that lie was discovered and her license was yanked. He says, lawyers who perjure themselves are generally frowned upon, and she says, yes, but they didn’t even give Alexis the chance to challenge the charge. They simply yanked her license and washed their hands of her. He says, she’s a smart woman. She could have appealed. Diane says, she’s a very smart lawyer and she deserved to have a hearing. Everyone deserves to be heard. Robert says, that’s certainly true, and she says she wants to find out who exactly was sitting on the committee at that time, and why the process moved so quickly, and was so under the radar. He says he thinks it was an open and shut case. True? She says she thinks a lot of things are possible. That’s not one of them. She can feel it in her bones. He says he’s intrigued. He loves watching her mind work. He wants to see the sparks fly. She says, don’t go looking for any fire extinguishers, because she’s just getting started.

Lucy says, Sasha knows this crazy business. Has she said anything that isn’t true? No. She had to sacrifice more than anybody else here for this business. She’s given her heart, her mind, her body, her soul, her bank account to make a success of all of this. Sasha says she knows. She cares about this company and its success too. Just not the way she used to. Lucy asks what she’s saying, and Sasha says, hearing Cody speak made her realize what she’s been feeling. She’s so grateful to Lucy for giving her the opportunity to work at Deception. Lucy changed her life. And she loved coming in every day and seeing them. She loves them, but she thinks she’s over all of this. Effective immediately, she’s resigning as the Face of Deception.

Diane tells Robert, at her core, Alexis will always be a lawyer. You can take her bar card away, but she’ll always be driven by the pursuit of justice. It’s one of the things that made them such great friends, this passion that borders on obsession. He says, which plays to the more colorful versions of some of her clients, and she asks what she can say. A life of muted tones is not for her. Alexis has a fondness for colors too. That, and her incredible skill, made Diane offer her a job at her firm. So when her license is reinstated, he’s going to have to go up against both of them in court. He says, and when he wins, he takes them all out to celebrate, and she laughs. She says she knows him – you generous thing – he would anyway, and he says, let’s just hope it happens for Alexis. Diane says she’s contacted everybody she knows, she’s called in almost all her favors, and she will find out why Alexis was barred in such unceremonious fashion. He says, if he can help in any way, he’s at her disposal, and she thanks him and says, that’s very sweet of him. He says, so she’s not going to need him, is she? and she says, no. She has it well in hand. He says he would never bet against her, and she says, only a fool would bet against her and he’s no fool.

Olivia tells Cody that she shouldn’t be here right now. She’s Dante’s mother and should be at his bedside, channeling all her energy to him until he wakes up. She starts to get up, but Cody puts his hand on her arm, and says, an actual mama bear doesn’t have anything on her, but she needs to give herself a break. Otherwise, she’s going to end up in the bed next to Dante. He wouldn’t want that. No one does. She sits back down, and he says, she’s an amazing mom. Dante always says it. She says she knows. You hear those stories sometimes about the moms seeing a kid pinned under a car or something, and they get a big rush of adrenaline, and pick the car up like some kind of superhero. He says he kind of thinks she’s sort of a superhero. She’s been dealing with an incredible amount of stress lately and she’s practically living at the hospital. Any mere mortal would have been crushed by it all. He’d grab her cape and prove it to her, but it’s at the drycleaner. She laughs, and he says he knows if anyone can pull through this, it’s Dante. That same strength is in every fiber of his being. He got it from her.

Maxie asks Sasha, please think about this. Deception needs her. Brook says, she’s right. Deception wouldn’t be where it is without her. Sasha tells them, thank you, and she meant what she said; she loves them. But it’s time. Lucy says, that’s it. It’s time for Sasha to take a vacation. They’ve been expanding the marketing so fast, and all that pressure has been on her. Sasha’s been carrying this all alone. That’s why she thought of maybe a second face, someone who could help her carry the burden, just help her to breathe. Brook tells her, that’s not why she said what she said, and they all know it, and Lucy asks if Brook is living inside her head now. Brook says, God forbid. No wonder Sasha wants out. Lucy says, if Brook is so miserable, she’s not being held hostage. Go. Brook says, should she ever want to leave Deception, she’ll discuss it with the majority shareholder, her grandmother. As for Sasha, she could hire a thousand new Faces of Deception, but it won’t matter. Lucy asks, why is that? and Brook says, because Lucy will run every single one of them off too. She walks out, and Lucy asks, is that true? Is Sasha quitting because of her?

Michael says he can get Jason on the ELQ jet and send him to the Grand Keys. It will only take a couple phone calls to get a doctor to meet him there to oversee his recovery. Jason says, the workers, the flight plans, the money transfers, everything can be traced back to Michael, but Michael says he’ll charter a jet. Jason says, too risky, and Michael says, for Jason, it’s a risk he’s willing to take. Jason says he appreciates that, but Michael knows he can’t let him do it, and Michael says he’s not going to let Jason take off in the middle of the night by himself. What happens to Jason matters to him. Jason says, even if he makes it to the Grand Keys, it would do no good. He told Michael, somebody has leverage over him. If he runs, there’s going to be consequences. Michael asks what he’s going to do, and Jason says, the only thing he can.

As Brook watches, Chase tells the kids that they are now official friends of the Port Charles Police Department. Everybody, raise your right hand. Do they solemnly swear to uphold the law; to be kind, thoughtful, and respectful to other people in their family, school, and community? They nod, and he says, all right. He hereby elevates them to honorary deputy status. Be proud. Cutest child in the world Donna says, this is awesome, and thanks him. Chase says, she’s welcome. The teacher tells them, let’s go get your coats, and leads them out. Brook gives Chase a kiss and says, they’re so cute. He says, it’s definitely one of his more interesting tours, and she says, seeing him be adorable with a bunch of kids is exactly what she needed. He says he thought she was supposed to be at Deception, and she says, she was. She could no longer be kind and helpful and respectful, so she took a break and came here. He asks, what happened? and she says, same thing as always. Lucy Coe. What started off as a simple meeting, turned into a mini disaster because of Lucy. If she strangles Lucy, can she plead temporary insanity? He says she can plead however she wants, but he’d still have to arrest her. Could she maybe hold off on the strangling? At least until after their wedding? Very few people get her the way Lucy does. Brook says, she has a unique… gift, and he says he’s worried about her. Is she sure it was the right thing, going back to Deception? She says, not anymore. She’s starting to think her plan to hand Maxie back Deception is just making everything worse all the way around.

Sasha says, it’s not Lucy’s fault she’s leaving Deception. Lucy is not driving her out. Lucy says, great, and thanks her. She knows they can work something out because she doesn’t want Sasha to leave either. Sasha thanks her for saying that, but she’s not going to change her mind. Lucy knows she never wanted to be a model. Then Michael negotiated an amazing deal for her that included a stake in the company, and she couldn’t say no. Lucy says she remembers. He made that deal with her. Sasha says, she was, and still is, so grateful to Lucy, but she’s not the same person she was when she signed on. The things she’s lived through, the things that she’s lost, they’ve changed her. She isn’t sure what she wants out of life, but she’s sure she doesn’t want to stand in front of cameras getting her picture taken. Or try to fit anyone’s concept of who they want her to be or what she’s supposed to do. Lucy says, okay. She guesses if Sasha feels that’s necessary to live her very best life… She picks up a folder from the desk and says, she would be remiss though, if she didn’t remind Sasha of a couple of the deal points that were in that contract that they all signed together – her Deception shares and her leadership position. If she resigns and she’s not their spokesmodel anymore, then she has to give up both of those. Maxie looks disgruntled.

Diane’s phone rings, and it says, Michael Corinthos. She asks Robert to excuse her. She has to take this. She goes out to the hallway and asks what she can do for Michael. Jason says, it’s not Michael, and she says she’s been expecting this call. What took him so long? He says, the timing wasn’t right, and she says, well, timing is everything. Tell her what he needs.

Talking with his mouth full, Cody tells Olivia that he doesn’t know exactly what time it was, but they were at camp. Dante, being Mr. City Kid, had no idea which end to milk the cow from. (Come on.) Olivia laughs and says, in his defense, we didn’t milk a lot of cows in Bensonhurst. He says, it didn’t matter though, because in three days, Dante was like Bear Grylls. She says, and that’s a good thing? and he says, it’s a great thing. Bear Grylls is like this outdoor British survival guy. He could survive on air and bark if he needed to, and Dante was so smart. He could adapt to changes in altitude, time of day, terrain, better than anyone. He started racking up badges right away. Canoeing, first aid, tracking… She says, whatever happened to making lanyards and tying knots? and he says, oh, they tied knots. He laughs and says he practiced tying knots on Dante. He tied Dante into a canoe and pushed him into the middle of the lake. Olivia says, Cody… but Cody says, don’t worry, Mama Q. He pulled a full Houdini. He got out and brought himself back in like, fifteen minutes. And that only took so long because he actually took a nap in the middle of the lake. She laughs, and he says, the fact that his knots didn’t slow Dante down almost cost him his badge. She says, Dante could fall asleep anywhere, and Cody says he knows when Dante wakes up this time, he’s going to look at him with the same look at me, dummy smile that he had last time. She says she hopes so. She should go. She should get herself back to the hospital. She thanks him for cheering her up, and he says, anytime. Thanks for lunch. She hugs him and asks him to do her one favor. He says, anything, and she says, don’t tell her any more stories about camp. He says, all right, and she leaves.

Maxie asks if Lucy hasn’t done enough, and Lucy says she’s just trying to be honest. She wants Sasha to know the consequences if she just walks out. She wants Sasha to understand, to be perfectly clear about what happens. Maxie says, and she’s already dug a hole for them, so why not make it deeper? and Lucy tells Sasha, there is something else. If she resigns and walks away from Deception, she has to sell back her shares at market price. Sasha says, fine. Just send her a check. Lucy says, no. It’s not fine. They’re not worth what it used to be. The market price has gone way down. So if she could just wait until their market strategies work, then maybe when she leaves, she can end up with a big chunk of change. Because right now, she’s going to walk away with 30% of not much, which equals… not much. Sasha says, Gladys basically cleared her out, so whatever she gets, it will be more than she has now. And you can’t put a price on happiness. She leaves, and Lucy looks at Maxie. Maxie says, what the hell is wrong with you?

Chase says, Maxie is lucky to have Brook as a friend. What she’s doing will change Maxie’s life. Brook says, that was the idea, but now Lucy’s over there having a tantrum that she can’t do whatever she wants whenever she wants. That she has to answer to Tracy, and by extension, Brook, and if she can’t… He says, share her toy? and Brook says, exactly. The way things are going, at this point, there might not even be a company to hand over to Maxie, assuming she can pry it out of her grandmother’s hands, which was a long shot to begin with, and is getting longer every day. He says, she can’t control Lucy’s actions. No one can, including Lucy. But she comes from a long line of accomplished schemers, and she’s emerged as one of the family’s best. She can handle Lucy Coe. She tells him that he says the sweetest things, when Diane walks in. Chase asks if she has someone in lock-up today, and she says, no. She’s accompanying her client, who is – she speaks louder – surrendering voluntarily. She goes over to the door, opens it, and Jason walks in. Jason says, yo. Not really, but it looked like he should.

Lucy tells Maxie that they still have an ace in the hole. Blaze. Remember? Maxie was really excited about having her be the Face of Deception before Tracy shot them down. Maxie says, and she still could, but Lucy says, there are so many more possibilities now for Blaze. She doesn’t think Tracy can say no. Think about it. Blaze is really a big deal now. She brings lots of fans and followers. Think of all those folks she could bring to them. Maxie says, yep. She’s right. Blaze is a bigger deal. So she might not be interested or available. And even if she were interested, who’s her manager again? Oh, that’s right. Brook Lynn. And somehow, by the magic of Lucy being Lucy, she’s managed to get even more on Brook’s bad side. Lucy says, come on. This is Deception they’re talking about. Blaze will be interested, and she’ll make herself available to them. She can fix this. She swears. Maxie puts her head in her hands and tells Lucy that anything she does will be temporary. Because she’s not a partner. She’s a one-woman wrecking ball. Lucy doesn’t consult with her. She just does whatever the hell she wants and to hell with everyone else. Their lives don’t matter. Does Lucy have any idea what it’s cost Maxie to stick with her? She can’t even look at Lucy right now. Lucy says, please… but Maxie says, no! This is still her office. Please leave. Lucy picks up her bag, looks back at Maxie, whose head is in her hands again, and she leaves.

There’s a knock at the stable door, and Sasha comes in. Cody says he always knew the stables were the hip place to be, and she says she likes the regulars who hang out here. He asks how she left things at Deception, and she says she’s done at Deception. She walked too. He says he wasn’t pushing her to do that. She didn’t think that, did she? She says, no. Does he think she’d let him push her into doing anything she didn’t want? Relax. She did it for her. She’s been feeling like she needed a change, but she didn’t quite know what that looked like. It’s kind of dumb. He says, not really. It’s hard to see things clearly when you’re in the middle of them. She says, when he just walked like that, something clicked for her. She thinks it was so much harder leaving Deception in her head than it actually was, and he asks if she’s sure. She has history and friends there. She says, they’ll still be her friends. But she’s so tired of hearing about how she looks all the time. If she wakes up with Troll doll hair, she wants to just go with it. He says he’s not sure how that would happen, but he’d love to see it, and she says he might regret saying that. He says, just tell him if he’s overstepping, but is she going to be okay financially? Gladys didn’t help her there. She says her rent is paid for the rest of the month and after that, she’ll think of something. She always does. And she’s not above enhancing her resumé a little bit. He says if she needs a reference for her time spent as CEO of Comet Incorporated, tell them to give him a call. She says he can count on it. Cody gets more carrots, and she asks if he always knew what he wanted to do with his life professionally. He says he never had any idea. You’d think that a guy who made a living getting tossed off of horses would make some kind of plan for the future, but no. There was never a time where he was like, one more year and it’s back to school and off to his real career as a brain surgeon/astronaut. In hindsight, he probably should have been a little smarter. She says he doesn’t really mean that, and he says, she’s right. He was never cut out for a suit and tie kind of job. She asks if it made him nervous when he didn’t know how he was going to pay the rent the next month, and he says, yeah, sometimes. He was also free to pick up any gig interesting or fun. That kind of freedom comes with a price. He gives Comet a carrot, and Sasha says, anxiety? Sleepless nights? He says, sometimes. That kind of life isn’t for everyone. He’s not even sure if it’s for him anymore. She says, that’s a change, and he says he guesses so. He’s happy living here in Port Charles, working for the Q’s. And because he stayed, he has family and friends… horses. Sasha says, really good friends? and he says, yeah. And because of the money that he made standing around and smiling – horribly, apparently – he can afford to have some new dreams. She says, like Serenity? and he says, that’s one of them. She asks, what’s the other? and he just smiles. She says she’s excited for the possibilities. She knows there’s a truly fulfilling career out there, and she’s going to find it. He says, yeah, she is. Here is to her new career. He hands her a carrot, and they clink carrots. Cody takes a bite of his, then gives it to Comet.

Michael goes into the boathouse and texts Willow: No groceries. Boathouse is empty. He says he hopes Jason is right about this.

Chase gives Jason his rights, and Diane congratulates him on his scrupulous recitation of her client’s Miranda rights. Now if Chase doesn’t mind, she’d like a moment to confer with him. Chase says he does mind. She can talk to him after he’s been booked. Diane says she can cite any number of cases where defendants needed to be released due to technicalities that occurred during the booking process, specifically when the booking process was used as a stall to deny defendant’s counsel. She’s sure that’s not his intention, but the easiest way to ensure the booking process goes smoothly at the proper time, is to let her talk to Jason first. Chase looks at Jason, who stares straight ahead, and says, fine. Right this way. He takes them into the interrogation room and closes the door on his way out. Chase tells Brook, Dante is lying in a bed unconscious and the guy who put him there looks just fine to him. She says, looks can be deceiving though, right? It’s a good thing Jason came in. They need to hear what he’s going to say. Chase says, he’s not going to talk. He has Diane for that. He wishes he could… He raises his fists, but Brook puts her hands on his and says she knows. But he has a bunch of honorary deputies out there and they need him here, doing his job, keeping them safe.

Diane says she sure hopes Jason knows what he’s doing. He’s looking at some very serious charges. Two counts of attempted murder, one against a police officer with armor piercing rounds. That alone carries a special circumstance charge. She’ll try to get an arraignment for tomorrow. He thanks her, and she tells him that if she hasn’t said it already, it’s very, very good to see him again. She just wishes it were under better circumstances. He says, him too, and she says, any chance he’s going to tell her what this is all about? He says he can tell her this. He won’t be in here for long.

On Monday, Elizabeth tells Willow that she just wishes she knew anything about Jason; John asks someone what the hell they’re doing here; Chase tells Brook that he’s going to get answers for Dante’s sake; and Michael says he has some news about Jason.

🧼 Filling In the Blanks…

All about the original Stone.

All about Blair. This was suddenly in the headlines on Soaps In Depth, so I wonder if she’s coming back.

👠 Duck and Cover…

New Housewives coming up. I have to admit to being intrigued by the whole Alexis thing. You can’t tell me Andy/Bravo didn’t know this would set Shannon off like a firecracker.

And what’s wrong with McDonald’s?

💎 After the Reunion Is Over…

Can you blame her?

Can you blame her? And seriously, Dorit felt manipulated? If you don’t like it, ignore it and do what you want.

He’d like to stop it, but he’s too busy raiding the refrigerator after an attack of the munchies.

Even if nobody asked her to.

⚰️ Upcoming Ones…

What’s on the burner for Sunday night.

https://www.cbr.com/the-walking-dead-towl-105-clip

https://screenrant.com/walking-dead-ethanol-fire-ones-who-live-ending-hint

🐉 Dragon Times Two…

A peek at Season 2.

https://ew.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-dueling-trailers-ryan-condal-breaks-down-secrets-8611648

https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/house-of-the-dragon-season-2-trailers-black-vs-green

🎸 It’s On…

All you need to know.

https://www.lollapalooza.com

🌊 Gentle Giant…

One of my favorite animals!

https://people.com/footage-manatee-hugs-surfer-board-in-water-8608177

🐕 Socialized Pets…

I’m all about Redford. He reminds me of Jim on Mike & Molly.

🦜 Quotes of the Week

Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff.Betty White

The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made. – Groucho Marx

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure. – Colin Powell

For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the sheltered will never know. – Wise Man (Scott Glenn), Sucker Punch

When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself. Wayne Dyer

It is, of course, quite true that God will not love you any the less, or have less use for you, if you happen to have been born with a very second-rate brain. He has room for people with very little sense, but He wants everyone to use what sense they have. – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (He sounds like Anthony Hopkins in my head.)

Live your vision and demand your success. – Steve Maraboli

Church is meaningless if you’re a monster once you step outside into the real world. – Allen Clifton

I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man. – George Washington

I haven’t seen this much sh*t since my last bowel movement. – Jack Warner (Stanley Tucci), The Feud: Bette and Joan

🚣‍♀️ Rowing the Boat Ashore…

You go, Glen Coco, but then join me on Monday really Tuesday for soap and a murderous Deck. Until then, stay safe, stay not interrupting workers when they’re helping other customers; and stay being kind, thoughtful, and respectful to other people in your family, school, and community.

March 21, 2024 – Cody Quits the Modeling Biz, True Story, Star Studded, Excuses, Nope, That Awful House, Back Again, More Waiting, Tiny Hippo & Fine

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

On the phone, Nina says, Alexis isn’t in. It’s their other boss, and she needs help. Every time she tries to use this computer, she just gets an error message, 3331. What does that even mean? There’s a knock at the door, and she says, finally. She tells the person on the phone, never mind, and thanks them. She says, come in, and Drew walks in. She says, this was unexpected. Does she need to call security? He says, they both know there’s no such thing as security, don’t they?

At the photo shoot for Bellpo magazine, the photographer tells Sasha that he wants big energy from her. Not so accessible. They want a little bit of distance. She’s strong and nobody can touch her. Sasha says, got it, and he starts to take photos. The Bellpo rep says he has some notes for the model, and the photographer tells Sasha that they just have to make a little adjustment. Everybody take five. Lucy goes over to Sasha and Sasha asks if there’s something wrong. Lucy says, no. It’s going great. They just need the photographs to be a teeny, little bit different. Why doesn’t she pretend like she doesn’t really want to be here. Like she’s kind of doing them a favor. Get it? Try that.

Spinelli gives a handout to Tracy, Brook, and Maxie, saying, lovely ladies of Deception. Follow along as they go through… Cody comes in and says, sorry. He didn’t mean to interrupt. He thought he could swing by any time. Maxie says, it’s totally all right. They’re just about to go through their new security protocols. He should stay because he does work for Deception. He says he does, and Tracy tells him, pull up a chair. Why should they be the only ones to suffer? Maxie says she thought he’d be at Sasha’s photo shoot, and Cody asks, why? It’s a solo photo shoot. He doesn’t need to be Sasha’s keeper. Maxie says, that’s true. Sasha does have Lucy there to smooth out any problems. Tracy laughs and says, doesn’t she mean create problems? Does anyone know Lucy Coe?

TJ says he’ll be observing Dr. Enoch during Heather’s surgery. While prepping, he observed there were some gaps in her chart, and he needs more information from her before the surgery. Heather says, fire away, doc, and he asks if she has any allergies. She says, only to other people, and he says, great. No allergies. Has she had any adverse reactions to anesthesia? She says, is being forced to wake up from it count? and he says he’ll take that as a no. (Ha! Sounds like me. I had it once and it was the best sleep I ever had.) His phone dings, and he says he’ll be back. Heather says she’ll be here, showing him her handcuffs. He leaves, and Willow starts to follow, but Heather asks if Willow’s not going to shave her head. Willow says she’s sorry, what? and Heather says, shave her head for the surgery, but Willow says, that won’t be necessary. The surgery is on her hip. Heather says, but she thought heads were shaved for every surgery. If not, finally things are looking up. Willow says, if she needs anything, use her call button, and leaves. Heather tells Laura that she still looks such a fright with her hair all in knots. Oh well. She used to have such pretty hair, didn’t she? Laura says, yeah, and Heather says, it’s been so long. Remember? She used to set it all the time. Laura says, it was beautiful, and Heather says, a long time ago. Another life.

TJ says he’s sure Elizabeth knows Heather Webber’s surgery is this morning, and Elizabeth says, the metalosis diagnosis is kind of crazy, but she doesn’t know a lot about that condition. He says, cobalt poisoning from the breakdown of an artificial hip can be extremely painful and it can disrupt normal organ function in the body. He asks her to excuse him and steps away. Deanna tells Elizabeth that there’s a discrepancy in the med storage area, and Elizabeth says, which is? Deanna says, simply put, the inventory doesn’t match. It’s short. Willow overhears. (Geez, it’s not like it’s opiates.)

Looking at the computer, Elizabeth says, this is the first she’s hearing about a discrepancy. Oh yeah. She sees what Deanna is talking about. Deanna asks if this is something they need to worry about, but Elizabeth says, not yet. It could be a mistake. Sometimes the pharmacy is slow with an update. That could be the issue. Willow texts Michael, and Elizabeth says, when people are selling drugs, it’s the painkillers they’re taking, not the antibiotics. (Thank you.) Willow asks if it’s okay if she takes her break a little early, and Elizabeth says, she can go. It’s actually pretty quiet right now. Willow says she’ll be back, and heads for the elevator.

The photographer tells Sasha, more defiant. Can’t be bothered… A little more edge… more danger. The rep tells Lucy, this isn’t working. There’s no risk, no aloofness. She’s too accessible, too sweet. He tells the photographer, let’s do some motion, and the photographer tells Sasha, let’s do this. Turn her body to the left and look over her shoulder. She hears Lucy talking and asks if they can just stop for a minute. They’re clearly not happy with what they’re seeing, so just tell her exactly what they want, and she can do it. The rep says, it’s not that. She’s doing a great job. Lucy says, the best, and he says, unfortunately, he just doesn’t think the shoot is going to work, for reasons that are beyond their control. Sasha says, oh wow. Okay. That’s too bad. The rep steps away, and Sasha tells Lucy that she guesses they have a free morning. Lucy says, great.

Spinelli says, the improvements he’s made to Deception’s cybersecurity have made it virtually impenetrable. Maxie will not only be the queen of Deception, but also queen of the passcodes. So to access any company file, each of them will need a new code from Maxie every day, while Maxie herself will be getting a new code every morning. Brook says, sounds super secure, and Tracy says, sounds super annoying. Spinelli says, this much security does require extra steps, but it should provide security to the companies, and it should prevent intrusion to the companies indebted and proprietary holdings, such as the ones that threatened The Deceptor not long ago. Tracy asks if he means the one that was created to find intellectual property theft, and Brook says, grandmother… Tracy says, it’s what they’re all thinking, when Maxie’s phone rings. Maxie says, it’s the rep for Bellpo. She has to take this. Excuse her. She leaves, and Spinelli tells them, as he was saying…

On the phone, Maxie asks how the photo shoot is going… It’s canceled? What do they mean?… That’s ridiculous.

Nina says, as Drew can see, she’s extremely busy. He says he sees her staring at the computer screen, but she’s not actually doing anything. She says she can’t log on and the tech is taking forever to get here, and he says, allow him. She says, why? and he says, because he wants her to finish whatever it is she’s doing so she can focus. She asks how he thinks he’s going to log her on. Telepathically? He doesn’t work here. He knows nothing about The Invader’s system. He says, since she’s sitting at Alexis’s desk, he would consider using her password, but she says, they’re not contacting Alexis. They don’t exactly see eye to eye on this writer she hired. She’s trying to post his column before he gets here to derail it. He says, lucky for her, Alexis’s password is on a little sticky note right there. She might want to try that. Nina says she’ll eventually have to talk to Alexis about that potential security risk, after she uses it this one time. She puts in the password and says, yes! What she needs to do is drag the file underneath the header and then just hit post it and done. She laughs and Drew looks like he wants to. She says she’s leaving and she’s going to lock the office, so he’ll have to wait for Alexis outside. He says he’s not actually here to see Alexis. He’s here to see her. She asks, why is that? and he says he’s just wondering how she’s enjoying running The Invader. She says, he wants to know how she likes the job she took after he fired her, and he says, just humor him. She says, okay. It’s not exactly the job she was born to do, and Alexis hates her and all her ideas for making the paper more successful. Then again, she’s getting used to being Port Charles’s favorite punching bag. Why does he ask? He says he’s just wondering, does she miss Crimson?

Laura finishes brushing Heather’s hair and Heather asks if it looks any better. Laura takes out a mirror and says, why doesn’t Heather have a look for herself? What does she think? Heather looks and says, seeing herself in a mirror isn’t something she does much these days. She usually looks better or worse than this? Laura says she thinks Heather looks really good for somebody who’s about to go into surgery, besides, hospital lighting doesn’t do anybody any favors. Heather says, it’s just so strange having this older lady staring back at her. She’s not used to it. She used to be pretty, didn’t she? Laura says she thought so. They all age, and it’s not such a bad thing considering the alternative. Heather says, that’s true, even if they’re not girls anymore. Now they’re co-grandparents. She bets Laura didn’t see that coming. She laughs, and Laura tells her that she can’t say she did. Heather asks how Ace is. Did the antibiotics work on that ear infection of his? Laura says, yes. Worked like a charm. He’s back to his normal, happy self. Heather says, good. One of the disclaimers on the form she filled out said she could die during this operation. Laura tells her not to worry about that. It’s standard procedure for anybody who’s having surgery in the hospital. Besides, her doctor is a very skilled surgeon, one of the best in New York. She’s going to be fine. Heather says, maybe she will, maybe she won’t. It was so nice of Laura to come this morning. She’s the mayor. She has a city to run. She doesn’t have to stay. Laura says, nobody should be alone before surgery. Besides, there aren’t many of us Webbers left, right? Maybe they should stick together. Heather says, it’s nice that Laura remembers her the way she was. She’s glad somebody can.

Willow meets Michael in the stable and says she’s on her break. The meds she took to treat Jason have been flagged in the system as missing. Thank God she didn’t take painkillers, or the police would have already been called, but Elizabeth will have to look into it. He asks if there’s anything that will lead back to her, and she says, no, but Elizabeth is in charge. She’s going to have to answer for the discrepancy. Michael asks if there’s any chance it’s a computer glitch or paperwork error, but she says, no. Everything that goes out of that pharmacy is scanned electronically. This was not. They know it’s missing. He says, they’ll figure this out. Don’t panic. He promises they’ll figure it out. She asks, how? and he says he doesn’t know… yet. She asks if he’s seen Jason this morning, and Michael says, he’s doing okay. He’s moving around better. She says she’s glad Jason is getting better, but she can’t see a way out of this situation for them or him. He says, it’s hard to come up with a plan when they’re still in the dark about so much, and she asks if Jason told him what happened at the warehouse that night, or where he’s been, or why he came back now. He says, what Jason told him, he already told her. Just that he was working as a mercenary for someone who has leverage over him. That’s all he’d say.

Maxie comes back and says, sorry for the interruption. Everything’s fine. Brook says, everything is not fine, and Maxie asks what she means. Brook says, Cody just texted Sasha to let her know how Dante’s doing, and she let him know the photo shoot got canceled. What’s going on? Cody says, sorry, and Brook says, Bellpo is one of the biggest fashion magazines in the world. Sasha being on the cover would have meant huge exposure for Deception. Tracy asks what she wants to bet Lucy messed this up somehow, but Maxie says, it’s not a big deal. She knows how fashion people can be. They run hot, they run cold, they probably just wanted to regroup and find a new direction for the photo shoot. She asks Spinelli what other systems they’re upgrading, and he says he’s glad she asked. He installed the strongest antivirus software available… Lucy comes in with Sasha and says, oh. The gang is all here. Tracy asks what she did to get the photo shoot canceled. Lucy says, I beg your pardon? Tracy says, they know it was called off and they also know she was there, so it must be her fault. Sasha says, it wasn’t Lucy’s fault. She doesn’t know what happened. The shoot just felt off from the start. The Bellpo creative director clearly wasn’t happy, but couldn’t articulate to her why, and the photographer just seemed annoyed that he wasn’t getting the shot. She feels like she did everything she was asked to do and still, it wasn’t working. Brook says she doesn’t get it, and asks Lucy, what happened? Lucy says, a simple problem that can easily be fixed. Sasha is just too wholesome.

Sasha asks, what is too wholesome? and Lucy says, don’t take this the wrong way. It’s just her photographs are too approachable, too radiant. They’re just too darn nice. Maxie asks what Lucy is doing, and Brook tells Sasha not to listen to her. She’s beautiful. Any woman would kill to look like her. Sasha says, let Lucy talk, and Lucy says, it’s intangible. It’s aloofness. It’s edgy. It’s like the model is just out of reach. Kind of like Kate Moss. There was a reason she was on all those covers. Because she had that look. Tracy says, so she wants Sasha to model heroin chic. They think she didn’t do her research before she took over a cosmetics company? Cody says, this is insane. Sasha’s gorgeous and if a photographer can’t capture that, they’re clearly incompetent. Lucy says, obviously she’s gorgeous. No one is saying otherwise. She doesn’t mean to be rude. This isn’t nice or polite to say, but they need exposure. They need Sasha on the covers of those magazines, and they need that kind of exposure now more than ever. So think about it. She is the Face of Deception. Beautiful, yes, but they need mystery, unavailability. They need edginess. Does Sasha think she can do that for them?  

On the phone, Elizabeth says, it’s only a small amount, no street value, only known to medical professionals. She’s going to pull the records of everybody who logged in and out of the pharmacy storage in the past few days, and she’ll get back to them. Deanna asks if she was able to clear up the discrepancy, and Elizabeth says she’s still looking into it. It’s not really enough to affect their standing supply, so it could still be just a reporting error. Deanna asks, what if the meds are really gone? and Elizabeth says, that would mean their system isn’t secure, and that would be a much bigger issue. Deanna asks if someone could lose their job over this, and Elizabeth says, the person in charge. That would be her.

Willow says, what happens if that FBI agent who tried to question Danny questions them? Do they lie? Is that perjury or obstruction of justice? And even if that doesn’t happen, what do they do about the drugs? She can’t let Elizabeth take the fall for the meds she stole. Michael says he doesn’t know. He’s trying to figure this out just like her. What he does know is, he was sent to prison when he was 17 years old. He was just a kid. He was beaten so badly. She knows what happened to him. He couldn’t protect himself. He couldn’t stop the hell he was in, so Jason got himself sent to prison too, to protect him. Jason saved his life. He wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jason, so whatever he needs right now, however he can help Jason, he’s going to do it. He’s asking her to stand with him and help Jason too.

Nina brings in some coffee and says she thought Drew could use some caffeine and sugar, and he asks if he should have her taste them first. She says, ten people saw her buy these. If she was going to poison him, she’d be more discreet. He says, she’s had time to think about his question, and she says she has. She could lie to save her pride, but what’s the point? She misses Crimson. Crimson is her baby, so she misses her. She has to say, being Editor in Chief of Crimson did not prepare her for the newspaper business. The Invader is like a jigsaw puzzle with the pieces constantly moving. He says, it’s the Peter Principle playing out in action. She’s advanced to her level of incompetence. She asks if he can spare her his psychoanalysis of her abilities, and he says, it’s very simple. She was successful enough at Crimson, and she’s failing at this job because subverting the truth about beauty and fashion is practically why magazines like Crimson exist, but when you lie in a newspaper, that’s not good. You’re going to get cot caught. She says she sees what’s happening here. He’s framing this as if it’s her who’s not able to do her job. She thinks it’s the opposite. Is Carly failing at running Crimson? He says he pushed Carly into taking that job. She was never the right fit. She says, and he’s expecting her to believe at some point in their pillow talk, Carly suggested giving Crimson back to her? She knows she has a youthful glow, but she wasn’t born yesterday. He says, Carly and Crimson have parted ways. He fired her. She says, that can’t have gone over well. Carly was so happy to watch her get fired. She was almost giddy when she was able to tell Nina that she was her replacement. He says, after what she did to Carly, can she blame her? Carly never wanted that job at Crimson anyway. She says, so here they are. He and Carly were so united in humiliating her, but he’s alone, asking her if she misses Crimson. Oh my God. Carly dumped him.

Cody says, Lucy owes Sasha an apology, but Sasha says, it’s fine. Lucy’s right. The beauty industry is very different from the real world. Tracy looks at her phone and says she’s sorry. As much as she would like to stay, she’s just gotten an alert that there’s something at the hospital the board members need to be aware of, so she has to go. She congratulates Lucy on another fabulous meeting, and leaves. Maxie says, might she remind Lucy that Sasha is her hand-picked Face of Deception? She can’t hire Sasha for her look, then ask her to change into something she’s not. Cody thanks her and says, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Sasha. She radiates warmth. Her smile could light up a city block. Lucy says, that’s true, but they desperately need that exposure and magazines do not want wholesome. They want mystery. They want edge. So they need another face, a second face. Spinelli’s phone rings and he says he’s sorry. He has to take this. He dashes out.

In the hallway, Spinelli says, Michael? Michael thanks him for picking up and asks if he’s ever hacked into the GH pharmacy control system. Spinelli says he’s not sure. Perhaps in his wild, misspent youth. Why?

Drew asks if Nina is almost done, but she says, not quite. Not even close. He had his moment of victory, so she’s going to enjoy hers. He says, there’s really nothing uglier than expressing joy at somebody else’s misfortune (maybe Drew needs to be tested for cobalt poisoning), and she says she completely agrees. She’s had extensive experience with that, usually as the target, so this is a nice change. Let her guess. Carly ditched him 30 seconds after Jason reappeared. He says, it wasn’t like that, and she says, after he went to prison for her and everything. He says, Carly wasn’t the one who sent him to Pentenville, it was his own fault she was, and she asks what he wants. Obviously, he’s still angry with her. Is he really going to give her Crimson back? He says, maybe. He hasn’t decided whether he’s going to let it die or whether he’ll give it another chance at success. The magazine is costing him a lot of money right now, which they both know he can afford, but he really doesn’t like his name being associated with failure. She says, if he wants to attach Carly’s name to that failure instead, she’s good with that. (My motto: never go back to a job or a man. There’s a reason you left.)

Heather tells Laura, it doesn’t matter how good a doctor is, with surgery, there are always risks. She’s just been wondering what would happen if she didn’t wake up. Does Laura ever think about death? Laura says, of course (🍷) she does, and Heather says, and? Laura says, after the last few years she’s had, where she lost Luke and she lost Bobbie and then Spencer, those were people she never thought she’d have to live without. Heather says she knows how that feels. Laura probably hated Esme, but she misses her baby girl too. Laura says she knows, and she didn’t hate Esme. She was Ace’s mother and she treated Esme like part of the family. Heather thanks her, and Laura says she hated some of the things Esme did. She really hates the last thing she did. Heather says she gets it. She never used to care about dying. She just thought, hey, the world was fine before she was born; why wouldn’t a world without her just be fine too? But she can’t stop wondering now. If she’d just made better choices, maybe she could have had a better life. Laura knew her back in the day. Was she always this… wild? Laura says, she always took a lot of risks. She was never happy with the status quo, and she always went after whatever she wanted, whether it was men or money. She doesn’t think she would have gone about things the same way Heather did. Heather says, but was she this crazy? and Laura says, no. Heather starts to cry, and Laura says, no, she wasn’t. This is a more recent development. TJ comes in and tells Heather that they’re ready for her in the OR. They’ll give her anesthesia and then the surgery. Heather says, then what happens? and Laura asks what she means. Heather tells them, say she goes to the surgery and it’s all successful. Now she has no more pain. All that poison is gone from her body, so she’s less crazy and some people hate her less because now there’s an explanation for why she did all those horrible crimes. Then what? Her life gets better just in time for the DA to send her to that prison all the way across the country for the rest of her life? Laura says she doesn’t know how to respond to that. She doesn’t know if Heather has any options. Heather says, all right then. At least she’ll have her shows. She hears in California, everybody’s got cable TV in their cells. So she can watch Jeopardy. Come on. Let’s go. Laura tells her, good luck, and Heather thanks her, Laura taking her hand for a moment as she’s wheeled out. Heather yells, let’s get this show on the road! and Doc walks in. He says he thought it might be time for Heather’s surgery and asks Laura if she’s okay, but Laura says, no.

Laura tells Doc that she’s been so busy hating Heather and being afraid of Heather, she lost sight of how sick she really is. Or maybe was. What if she wakes up after the surgery and she’s different? Doc says, change is possible, but in the case of mental illness, even with cobalt poisoning, it’s unrealistic to think it might reverse itself overnight. Laura says, but in time she could heal, right? Get back to… Get close to the person she used to be. He tells her, look at it like this. The cobalt has been poisoning her mentally and physically for a long time, so Heather’s skewed way of thinking is now imprinted on her brain. It’s like a bad habit and they both know any habit is hard to break, even under the best circumstances. She says, which these are not, and he says, no. Then again, he’s not a neurologist and he’s never studied the effect of toxic metals on the brain, so anything’s possible. She says she just can’t help but have some empathy for Heather. She’s had her own issues with mental health. She had people around her who loved her and made sure she got the help she needed and that she was okay. What if Heather had had the same thing? Would they have noticed the cobalt poisoning earlier, and how much did that influence the crazy things that she did? What if Heather is not really responsible – she means in the most humane definition of that word – for these crimes she committed?

Drew says, there she is. There’s the Nina they all know and love. When presented with the option of getting something she loves or punishing someone she hates, she chooses revenge every time. She says, he’s the one who brought it up, and he says, there’s no scenario here where Carly is the fall guy if Crimson goes under. So she can just stop fantasizing about that. Nina says, fine. He has his pride. What would it look like if people knew he not only lost his heart, but lost his magazine because he was so blinded by love that he couldn’t see the truth about Carly Spencer? He says, there are two things he feels for her that he could never feel for Carly, and those are rage and contempt. (Way to get someone to do what you want.) She says she’s become familiar with him directing both of those things in her direction lately, and he says, but… She says, ooh, there’s a but here, and he says he’s got to admit, there’s a couple of things she’s pretty good at too. One of them is crimes of the heart, and the other is running Crimson. It seems to him that her being reinstated as the Editor in Chief of Crimson could be her ticket to people admiring her, giving her respect. Doesn’t she want that back?

Spinelli works on his laptop in the hallway and says, almost there.

Sasha says, Lucy wants to replace her as the Face of Deception, but Lucy says, no. Not replace, not ever. Just include another face. Think of it as addition, not subtraction. Cody says, this is ridiculous. If she’s suggesting changing Sasha’s position at Deception because she’s somehow too approachable and wholesome, this isn’t the kind of company he wants to be involved with. So they might as well change his face too. Sasha says, no, and Maxie fans herself and says, let’s just take some deep breaths here. Cody doesn’t mean that. He says he doesn’t? and Brook says, Lucy should have run this past her and Maxie first before she just blurted it out. Lucy says, okay, so maybe she blurted it out, but she knows a smart business decision when she makes one. She sorry, but she doesn’t really want to listen to a stable boy who posed for a few pictures. He’s not going to tell her that she’s wrong. If he wants to quit, go ahead. He’s really not a very good model, and they just kind of agreed to keep him around to keep Sasha happy. Maxie says, that is not true… but Cody thanks Lucy for finally being honest with him. Because you know what? He’s never hated a job more than he’s hated this one. Standing around with a fake smile on his face, petting an alpaca, pretending to stare adoringly at any woman, even one that he actually does adore, isn’t for him. He’d rather spend the rest of his life picking up after horses than working for her. She doesn’t have to fire him; he quits. Lucy says, that was so beautiful. That was really a great speech, but he can’t quit. Unfortunately, he does have a contract. He says, so sue him, and walks out, slamming the door.

Maxie says, let’s just give him some time to cool off, and then they’ll have a rational conversation and smooth this over. Sasha says she knows Cody pretty well at this point and can tell he’s made up his mind. He won’t come back. Lucy says, okay. If he wants to quit a great, easy job, then that’s his problem. She’s just being honest. This whole beauty business is tough, it’s brutal, and they all know that. She hopes Sasha isn’t as upset, because her perfect gorgeousness has never been in question. Sasha says she’s not offended. This is not her first rodeo. She’s heard a lot worse. Maxie says she’s glad Sasha’s not mad, and Sasha says she’s not. She promises. But hearing Cody talk about modeling and how he perceives it has made her think. He obviously finds it tiresome and pointless, and hearing his words makes her realize she feels the same way. Maybe it’s time she quits too. Maxie hyperventilates, and Brook tells Sasha not to make any rash decisions, then tells Lucy, look at what you’ve done.

On the phone, Elizabeth says, they can see all the meds have been accounted for, so can they please call off the bloodhounds?… Thank you. She turns around to see Tracy, who says she understands there was some discrepancy that the hospital board was to be made aware of, but Elizabeth says, everything is fine. That message should have never gotten to Tracy until they knew there was an actual problem. But she has to tell Tracy, their reliance on IT security has its drawbacks. The computers are so slow to update, it created an alert that suggested there was a theft in the pharmacy storage. If Tracy wants, she can see everything that’s been accounted for now. She apologizes that Tracy was brought down here for nothing. Tracy says, the timing was perfect. She was actually rescued from something that was even more tedious and more pointless. She thanks Elizabeth and leaves. Willow breathes a sigh of relief.

Doc tells Laura, given the number and gravity of Heather’s crimes, he can’t see her convictions being overturned. She says, he’s probably right, but still, to have a prosthetic implant that’s poisoning you has to carry some weight in court. He says, it seems reasonable to him, but they have to remember that reason and the law don’t always see eye to eye. Why is this weighing on her so much? He thought she’d be happy that Heather’s finally paying for what she did. She says she thought so too, but she’s known Heather most of her life and she just wasn’t this crazy before. She wasn’t. She thinks she also realizes she hasn’t been very sympathetic towards her and all the things she’s been through in her life. Life really hasn’t treated her well. He says, it hasn’t exactly been easy for Laura either, but she didn’t turn to a life of crime, and she says, there but for the grace of God, go I. Maybe it’s that the pain of losing Spencer is so fresh and watching her go through the pain of losing Esme. When she thinks about little Ace and how wonderful it would be for him to grow up without his other grandmother being in prison for a string of murders she committed… He says, she really has a heart of gold. It’s a lot more gold than his. Even with everything Heather has done, she still manages to find compassion for her. He loves her for that. She says she loves him too, and he says, first thing in the morning, he’ll do a search for any psyche diagnoses that have resulted in a conviction being overturned. He’ll let her know what he finds. She thanks him and hugs him. He says, anything for you, Mrs. Collins.

Nina asks why she’d sign up for a daily helping of Drew’s rage and contempt. That’s not exactly appealing. He says his supervision of her work at Crimson in the past was very minimal. He’ll agree to continue with that because he doesn’t have time to dedicate to a monthly scratch and sniff anyway. (Really? I was just thinking he needs a job.) She asks if Carly has even started to put together the new scratch and sniff issue. Or did she just look at a couple pictures, raid the beauty closet, and call it a job well done? He says, that’s very cute. He knows Carly was talking to advertisers and making assignments, so she and Carly can work together on this next issue. She says, that is not happening. Crimson is her baby, her vision. It’s a success because of her. She’s not going to put her name on something full of Carly’s trashy biker chick style. Not even for one month. He says, fine. The decision is made. Hell, Crimson’s sell by date has probably expired by now anyway. Easier to just let it die. He starts to walk out and she says, wait.

Tomorrow, Chase asks Brook if she’s sure it was the right thing to go back to Deception; Cody wonders if he made the right decision; Diane says she’s been expecting this call; and Michael says he’s found a way for Jason to disappear.

🔬 Art Imitates Life…

Unlike many of Heather’s delusions, metal poisoning is a real thing.

🪩 She’s the Host…

This sounds amazing. I wish it was happening closer to me.

🍹 Grief Made Her Do It…

I see she’s taking the LisaR route and blaming the passing of her mother for her poor decisions. I believe there was another car if you do. And haven’t any of these people heard of Uber?

https://people.com/real-housewives-of-potomac-karen-huger-charged-with-dui-dwi-8612507

🍑 Refusal To Film…

I’m guessing there’s more to this story.

https://people.com/nene-leakes-slams-porsha-williams-allegedly-refusing-to-film-show-together-she-is-not-star-8610146

🏊 Not Ready For the Summer…

Because even the reality site recappers need to recover after watching, a capsule of what the most awful people in reality are up to this week. Unfortunately, the only palatable part – Paige looking for a bigger apartment in NYC with Craig at her side – was left out.

🩰 Tiny Dancers…

May 1st on Lifetime

https://ew.com/dance-moms-the-reunion-trailer-maddie-ziegler-absent-8605423

📺 Banner Year Already…

2025 will be here before we know it, right?

https://ew.com/snowpiercer-saved-by-amc-season-4-will-air-2025-8609438

https://ew.com/black-mirror-returns-2025-uss-callister-sequel-8609387

https://www.thewrap.com/yellowjackets-season-3-preview-ashley-lyle

https://comicbook.com/horror/news/yellowjackets-season-3-update-tone-confirmed-tease-first-season

🦛 Hip Hippo Hooray…

Can you imagine this little nugget following you around the house?

https://people.com/rare-pygmy-hippo-birth-at-athens-zoo-has-staff-absolutely-thrilled-8611563

🌈 Following the Color Block Road…

Stop by tomorrow for a dose of soap and Friday shenanigans. Until then, stay safe, stay tasting food before seasoning it, and stay being sympathetic toward those whom life hasn’t treated well.

March 20, 2024 – Valentin Tells Nina His Greatest Hope, Villain Times 2, VanderWTF, Knives Out, Reality Launch, Awarding Excellence, See You Later, Celebrate & Pocket

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

From outside the stables, Tracy hears Cody saying, and that’s how you make a lasso. James says, that’s so cool, and Cody asks if he wants to see something else that’s cool. Tracy goes in to find James at the other end of the lasso, and James says, Cody lassoed him. Tracy says, what a useful skill, and Cody asks if there’s something he can help her with. She says, maybe his job. Her thoroughbred is recovering from laminitis. How’s he doing? Cody suggests they go see, but she says, no. She wants him to tell her. He’s the groom. The condition of all the horses in his care should be in his knowledge. James says, she’s being mean, and Tracy says, excuse me? James says, Cody’s friend is in the hospital. She should be nice to him.

Chase is looking at his badge when Brook walks in. She says, the nerve of some people. Not people, cops. Not all cops, but… She goes over to Chase and asks, what’s wrong? He asks what she said, and she says she just barged in here like a tsunami and he didn’t even notice. What’s going on? How bad is it? He says he saw Dante today, a few times actually, and she asks how he’s doing. He says, no change, and she hugs him.

Molly meets Alexis at the PC Grill and apologizes for being late. Alexis says she has her phone. Time means nothing. Molly says she’s drowning in cases, and Alexis says she knows the feeling. Molly says she bets that’s one thing about the law Alexis doesn’t miss, and Alexis says she misses a lot of it, but maybe not for much longer.

Natalia tells Sonny, sorry about her oversharing, but Sonny says, it’s no problem. She says, that’s kind of him. She was nervous coming in here and everything she wanted to say to Kristina. Of course (🍷) it didn’t even occur to her that Kristina’s father might be witness to it. He says he thinks she’s brave to even show up and be here just to say that to Kristina, and she says she loves her daughter. She wants to support her and it’s complicated. Parenting is so complicated. He says he can relate.

John invites Anna in, and she hands him the bottle of wine. He says he’ll bite. Why does she owe him a drink? She says, he was right, and he says he’s been wrong so much lately, he’d be glad to know where he was right. She says, about Sonny, that she was taking it easy on him. She wasn’t seeing him clearly. He says, and now? and she says, now she does.

Chase says he should have gone with Dante. There were two suspects, and Dante went after both of them. He never should have let Dante go. Brook says, but he followed procedure on Dante’s orders. It was all by the book, right? He says, yes, but that doesn’t change that Dante could die or be in a permanent coma. She says, he doesn’t know what would have happened if he’d gone after Dante. He could be in that hospital instead, or with Dante, or they could both be in the ground. He says, she’s right, but… She says, no more buts. He’s here with her right now and Dante is in the hospital, but he’s still breathing. His heart is still beating. He says, and he… She says, did his duty. He followed orders and procedures. He did his job, a job they both fought for him to get back. He says, maybe he shouldn’t… and she says, shouldn’t what? He says, be a cop anymore.

James tells Tracy, Dante is awesome. He used to live in the house where James lives now and he’s Cody’s best friend and now he’s in the hospital. And that’s why Cody’s so sad. And that’s why he’s here, to cheer him up. Tracy tells him that she has two things to say to that. One, she thinks it’s admirable that he’s showing up for Cody like that and it means he’s a really good friend. James thanks her. As for Cody’s friend Dante, she actually went to see him in the hospital today. Cody says, really? He didn’t realize they were that close. It’s generous of her. James asks if Dante is better.

Valentin finds Nina in Alexis’s office and says, she rang? Nina thanks him for coming, and he asks, where’s Alexis? He assumed she’d be here. She asks why Alexis would be here in her office at her job, and he says, it is kind of late. She says, the news doesn’t stop. She asked Alexis to meet them here, but Alexis blew her off. She said she was otherwise engaged. He says, if she needs a Cassadine so badly, he’s here. What’s the problem? She says, Alexis is trying to force her gossip columnist to quit.

Alexis says, Diane is setting things in motion for her to petition to get her law license back, and Molly asks, how? Alexis says, she’s a legal bloodhound and she found a loophole, and Molly says, one Alexis hadn’t noticed before? Alexis says, actually, she doesn’t think she was really looking before. She lied and she got caught and she took her lumps, and honestly, she wasn’t in a very good emotional place. Molly says, on a number of counts as she recalls, and Alexis says, it’s it nice they can be so accurate with each other. Diane found a number of factors she thinks will play out in her favor. Molly says, such as? and Alexis says, one, she never filed an appeal. Molly asks if she doesn’t only have 90 days to do that, and Alexis says she never had a hearing, which means she never had the opportunity to defend herself. Molly asks what her defense would have been, and Alexis says, well, Britt Westbourne and Julian were her accusers, so what defense would Molly recommend? Molly says, given their collective criminal records and personal integrity issues… Alexis says, Diane thinks those factors along with the fact her alleged perjury happened at a proceeding before the medical board, and Molly asks if that’s enough to get her an appeal. Alexis says, it’s a Hail Mary at best, but Diane filed a petition at the Court of Appeals that will hopefully allow her to file another petition with the Court of Appeals that will lead to an appeal. Molly says, wow, and picks up the menu, and Alexis asks if she has anything else to say besides wow, and Molly says, don’t do it.

Never mind the wine, that’s a bottle of whiskey Anna brought. John pours the drinks and hands Anna one, saying, to clear heads and open eyes. She says she’s going to go with the second thing, and clinks her glass against his. He says, fair enough, and they drink. He says, now that they’ve belted one back, care to share? and she says she owes him an apology. He says, an apology and a drink. This is a banner day. She says she called him out on his attitude toward Sonny, implying he was being unprofessional and making everything personal. He says, to be fair, the guy does really get under his skin. When it comes to Sonny, he hasn’t always stayed professional. She says she’s not exactly a model of that herself, and he says, how so? He hands her another drink, and she says she’s only seen Sonny the way she wants to see him. She’s made excuses for him, rationalized his unacceptable behavior… He says, she means the crimes, and she says, besides murder, racketeering, and a lifetime of felonies, he’s a model citizen. John says, such a good father, and drinks. She says, yeah. Anyway, she’s done convincing herself that he’s greater than the sum of his parts. She sees Sonny very clearly now. She knows exactly who he is.

Sonny says, Natalia’s daughter is very talented, and she says she knows and thanks him. He says he’s seen her perform a few times. It’s not his kind of music, but he can see she connects with the audience. Natalia says, she’s always been like that. The kid is just fearless, on stage and off. She thinks their girls have that in common, fearlessness. He says, Kristina can be a steamroller when she wants to be, and Natalia laughs. She says, and they’re both dreamers, and he says, absolutely. She says, a dangerous combination, being a dreamer and fearless, but in the best way. He says he knows what she means, and she says, Allison was like a little star in the making from the minute she stepped on stage. But she didn’t have a head for business, so Natalia decided to step in and be her business manager. That way, she could watch after her accounts and watch after her. Sonny says, smart move, but Nalalia says she didn’t do a very good job though. She had her nose so deep in Allison’s books and accounts, she didn’t see what that monster Linc Brown was doing to her baby girl. He says, thanks to Brook, she doesn’t have to worry about that, and she asks if he knows Brook Lynn Quartermaine. He says, her mother is his best friend, and Natalia says, Brook shouldn’t have been the one to protect her daughter. She should have paid attention and she would have known something was going on and she should have been the one to protect her. He says, she can’t act on information she doesn’t have, but she says she could have sensed it and done something to stop it. He asks if that’s why she’s controlling Blaze now.

Alexis says she thought Molly of all people would be leading the charge to support her, and Molly says, Alexis knows she thinks she’s a brilliant attorney. Alexis says she knows Molly used to think that. She’s not sure Molly thinks that right now. Molly says she grew up wanting to be Alexis. When she was in law school, even now, today in fact, she still studies Alexis’s briefs. (Insert your favorite underwear joke here.) When she doesn’t know what to do with a case, she looks to see how Alexis did it. And she follows Alexis’s lead. If this were just about the law or Alexis’s career, she’d say, go for it. She would say, there’s nobody more deserving than her. Alexis says, then why is Molly opposing her trying? and Molly says, because she likes Alexis more sober than when she’s drinking.

Nina says she landed Adrian DeWitt. Does Valentin know what a huge get that is? He says he can see, and she says, but Alexis never wanted a gossip column in the first place. It’s too low brow, which makes no sense. How can a society page, detailing the lives of the city’s economic and cultural elite be low brow? He says, that is a paradox, and she says, it is a proven fact that gossip columns increase circulation. And in a journal that prioritized negative things every, single day, the average reader finds joy and release knowing the rich and famous are suffering too. He says, never underestimate the schadenfreude of the American people, and she says, that is precisely what Alexis is doing. She sabotaged the column by postponing it until Friday. He says, and after two days, even salacious news is old, and she says, he gets it. And this – she picks up her tablet – she published an extremely biased article slamming Sonny after the shooting. He asks if there were two articles, and she says, just one. Why? He says, because he’s of the opinion Alexis and The Invader went too easy on Sonny.

Natalia says, now she sees where Kristina gets her directness, and Sonny says, and she hasn’t even met Kristina’s mother yet. She laughs, and he says he and Kristina get along great, but it wasn’t always like that. When she was a teenager, she was going through some real heavy stuff that he doesn’t want to get too specific on, but it was bad. He and her mother were way overprotective. Natalia says, so instead of being protective, they ended up trying to control her, and he says, she can guess what happened. Kristina rebelled. She lashed out, and the more they tried to rein her in, the more she spiraled out of control. Natalia says, that must have been terrifying, and he says, so it was clear to him that he had to stop trying to make decisions for her and just help her stand up so she could make the decisions for herself.  

John asks, what inspired this change of heart? and Anna says, it’s nothing she can prove of course (🍷). He says, so what else is new? and she tells him, let’s just say her eyes have been forced open about Sonny and who he really is. She guesses who he’s always been. And the level of violence he’s capable of. He says, that’s great. What took her so long? Seriously, why the blind spot for Sonny? She says, he knows. He said it the other night. Sonny was there for her daughter when Stone was dying, and she was nowhere to be found.

Cody tells James that his mission is to sweep up the entire stable, and James gets to work. Tracy says, he’s taken a real shine to Cody. And Leo too. Cody says, kids love him, and Tracy asks, why? Do they think of him as a peer? He says, God help them if they think of him as a role model, and she asks how this happened. He says, James was here for his riding lessons, and she says, he gives riding lessons? He says, yes, and she says, on their horses? He says he cleared it with Monica, and she says, Monica owns the stables. The horses… He says, don’t worry. No one is riding her thoroughbred. He is sleeping better, by the way, right? She says, yes, much. Thanks. He says, about James. So James was here for his lesson, and he was going to the hospital to check up on Dante. James overheard him and he must have sounded… She says, concerned? And he says, yeah. Since then, James has been here pretty much every day, helping him out, talking. No one told him to do it. He just kind of decided. James calls for help, and they run to him.

Brook tells Chase, here’s what they’re going to do. First, they’re going to keep praying for Dante. He says, that’s all he’s been doing, and she says, her too, and they’re going to keep doing it. As for whether or not he should be a cop again, that’s easy. He says, it is? and she says, yeah. He should quit the force and revive his singing career. He says, what? and she says, think about it. Instant love from the stage. Men wishing they were him; women longing to be with him… even though they can’t be. They’ll pick up right where they left off. They’ll build his triumphant return to the stage. She’ll even let him pick out what he’s going to wear, pending approval of course (🍷). What does he say? He says he knows what she’s doing, but she says she doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He says, yes, she does, and she says, okay, she does. Is it working? He says he doesn’t want to be a singer. He wants to be what he is. What he’s supposed to be, a cop. She says, he’s a damn good one.

Anna says she’s going to bring up something that might be painful for John, and John says he’s not feeling much pain at the moment. She says, it’s Stone, and he says his brother is always with him. Speak freely. She says, when he was dying and Robin had been diagnosed with HIV, she was nowhere to be found. Her teenage daughter is losing the first great love of her life and may be facing a death sentence of her own, which was what it could be back then, and she was out in the wind. But Sonny was there. Sonny was there for her every day by her side, and Robin loved him for it. She still does. John says he hates to admit it, and he’ll never understand it, not fully, but in Stone’s eyes, Sonny was more of a brother to him than he was. It’s one of the many reasons he hates Sonny. Sorry. He’s making this about him. She was saying? She says she allowed herself, her own perception of Sonny, to be colored by Robin’s and by gratitude and all that guilt. So for years she convinced herself that Sonny was a better man than he really is. She never looked the other way though; she never could. He says he knows that, and she says, but she’s relied on him. She’s relied on Sonny sometimes and given him the benefit of the doubt. But no more. John drains his glass and asks if she’s keeping track. She says, they’re tied, and he says, the difference is, he’s already home, but she says, so is she. She’s two floors up. (Hmm… You thinking what I’m thinking?)

Natalia says, every cell of her wants to guide and protect her daughter from getting hurt, but now she feels like Natalia is the one hurting her. And she’s not wrong. Sonny says he thinks there’s nothing more important than letting their kids know they love them and support the choices they make. It’s up to them to make that clear, especially while their kids can still hear them. Kristina comes back and says, sorry that took so long. Natalia says, no worries. She and Kristina’s dad were just getting to know each other. Kristina says she’s glad they could keep each other company. She has a minute now, so is there anything else Natalia wanted to talk about?

Molly says, the last time Alexis fell off the wagon was when she was disbarred. She wasn’t sure they were going to get her back. Alexis says, and Molly thinks if it doesn’t work out, she’s going to start drinking again, and Molly says, the chances of getting this disbarment overturned is the longest of long shots. Alexis says she knows that, and Molly says, then why put herself through it?

John says he thinks it’s great, and Anna says, which bit? as she pours another drink. He says, her seeing Sonny for the slimebag he is. In fact, he hopes she nails him. She says she’s sure he wants that honor for himself, doesn’t he? and he says he gives her his solemn promise that if he finds any evidence on Sonny, he’ll pass it along to her. Because his job, as little as he likes it, is to protect the son of a bitch. She says she thinks everyone is entitled to be protected under the law, and he says, some people are more worthy than others, but Sonny is clearly a target. And for whatever reason, his life seems to be important enough that somebody has tried to end it several times, and he needs to find out why. Even if he gets to benefit by breathing a little longer. She says, he’s a better cop than she is, but he says, not today, Commissioner Devane. Not today.

Nina tells Valentin that Sonny knows she’s the publisher of The Invader. He might think she has something to do with this article. He says, if Sonny doesn’t blink at federal indictments, what makes her think he’s going to care about a bad review? She says, that’s not the point. The point is, he may jump to the conclusion that she’s trying to use the newspaper to lash out at him. Valentin says, she wants to reconcile with him, right? He knows that. She says, yes, but… and he says, if this article is going to keep that from happening, maybe her marriage isn’t worth fighting for in the first place. She says, he’s never been fond of Sonny, and he says, if Sonny wants her back or not, that article’s not going to make a bit of difference. She says, that article makes all the difference, and he asks, how? She says she can’t control what’s going on with this divorce. She thought she could at least control the newspaper. It turns out she can’t control that either. He says, here’s what he wants to know. She’s a magnificent, brilliant, resilient woman. Why on earth does she continue to torture herself with Sonny?

Alexis says, Molly is right. There is next to no chance that this will come to anything other than a bitter disappointment, and she needs to prepare for that. Molly asks, why? Why brace for impact from an ongoing train when she can just step off the tracks? Alexis says, because when Diane came to her with this strategy, she felt a rush, like she’d been zapped with a defibrillator. Her heart was beating again after it had flatlined for a really long time. And she realized the core part of her, she’d left for dead. She hoped she could get this essential part of her back. Molly says, what if that hope flatlines again? and Alexis says, then she lets it go. Molly says, will it be that easy? and Alexis says, probably not. But if there’s a chance she can go back and do what she loved the most, the thing that makes her her, and that gives her the challenges she needs, and she could be a role model again. Molly says, she’s a great role model, and Alexis says she was. And maybe she can be that again. If there’s just the smallest, tiniest, most infinitesimal chance that she could be that again, she has to try.

Brook pins Chase’s badge onto his coat and says, he’s the best kind of cop, one that tries to find the truth, rather than just pinning whatever on whoever. He actually tries to see justice done. He thanks her, and she says she was thinking about following rules and procedures, and she knows he felt bad about that. He says he still does, but she says, he shouldn’t. He’s an officer of the law, and there’s a reason why procedures exist. It’s to protect us. It’s to protect people. Chase says, that’s the idea, yeah, and she says, some people who are meant to uphold the law fly in the face of procedure to mess with and manipulate people. To try and squeeze them for information. He asks if she’s talking about anyone specific, and she says, Special Agent Cates. He barged past Yuri to interrogate Danny, who was by himself, no adult present. Chase says, that is not okay, and Brook says, damn right it’s not. He says, that just doesn’t seem like Agent Cates.

James stands next to an overturned feed bucket and says, it was heavier than he thought. Now he wrecked the horses’ dinner. Cody says, no he didn’t. Horses don’t mind eating oats that have been spilled on the floor. They eat dirt and grass. Get it back in the bucket, okay? Tracy asks why James was trying to carry a heavy bucket by himself, and James says he was trying to help. Cody tells him to hold the dustpan. He’ll sweep it in. Tracy says she’ll leave them to it, and James asks why she isn’t helping. Tracy says she’s the boss. It’s her job to get other people to clean up. James says, a good boss should be prepared to do everything their employees do (correct), and she asks if his friend Cody taught him that, but James says, no. His Grandpa Mac did. Tracy says, well, they can’t disagree with man of the people Mac Scorpio, and James asks if she’s going to help or is she a bad boss? He hands her the dustpan, and Cody laughs.

Brook asks, since when is Chase so buddy-buddy with Agent Cates? but Chase says he’s not. It’s just Cates seems very by the book. She says, what book might that be? Interrogation for Dummies? Chase says, clearly, he was wrong about the guy. He’s the devil incarnate and generally a bad dude (ha-ha-ha!). Brook tells him not to patronize her, and he says he would never. She says, Cates is a snake and a jerk, and she should make good on all of her threats. He says, she threatened an FBI agent? and she says, damn right she did. He says, like with bodily harm? and she says, no. She just old him that he should be ashamed of interrogating a child without a parent present. He says, okay, and she says, and that she would sue him into oblivion and take his badge. He says, oh. Because threatening a federal agent is kind of a federal crime.

Natalia says she came to mend fences with Kristina and enlist her help about Allison, but she realizes that’s not something she can ask of Kristina. That’s something they have to work out on their own. But she’s really appreciative of Kristina taking the time to talk to her. She gets up and says, Mr. Corinthos, such a pleasure. She shakes Sonny’s hand and leaves. Kristina says, so that just happened, and Sonny asks how she’s doing. She says she doesn’t know. She’s not really sure. Her first impulse was to text Allie and tell her what just happened, but then is that really fair to them? Shouldn’t it be between them whether or not they work things out? But then, how can she pretend it’s not about her and she’s not involved? He says, she can’t.

Cody asks if they got all of it, and James says, let him check… Mission accomplished. He and Cody high-five, and James turns to Tracy with his hand raised. He says, it’s called a high-five. Does she want him to show her how to do it? She laughs and says, no. She knows how to do a high-five. She just hasn’t done one in a while. They high-five, and James says, turns out she is a good boss. She thanks him and asks if his Grandpa Mac has any other good pearls of wisdom. James says, to have a friend, you’ve got to be a friend, and she says, that’s a good one. So she’s the boss and he’s the guest. How about if she invites him up to the house for some hot chocolate? He says, Cody too? and she says, yes, of course (🍷). Come on. She takes the brush from him, and they all head out, Cody lingering for a moment.

Brook asks, is threatening a federal agent a federal crime? and Chase says, well… She says, so what? There was no way she was going to let that jerk intimidate Danny. He says, nor should she. He’s 100% on her side. She asks if he’s sure about that, and he says he is, but in the future, instead of threatening to sue, take his badge, or anything else she might have said – she says, there were no witnesses – perhaps she could kindly remind the overeager law enforcement officer that he can’t question a minor without a parent present. She says, and an attorney, and he says, if that’s necessary. She says, an army of attorneys, and he says, would protect the rights of the minor without ganging up on a federal agent. Right? She says, fine. She’ll show mercy. He says, that’s all he asks. He kind of wishes he saw her laying down the law a little bit. She says, her too. He could have been her witness. He says he loves it when she’s all hot and fired up, and kisses her.

Molly says, if that’s how Alexis feels about it, then okay, and Alexis says, okay as in, I’ve said everything I can possibly say and now I’m washing my hands of it okay? Molly says, hopefully, support her. She’ll have Alexis’s back every step of the way. She’ll be there for her. Alexis says, and what if it goes belly up? and Molly says, what if against all odds it actually happens? Stranger things have. Alexis agrees, and Molly says, but please, monitor herself. Take inventory. Go to meetings. Alexis says she’s been doing that all along and has no intention of stopping, and Molly says, now. She’s talking about during the waiting for the decision. She’s going to get frustrated and might want to skip a meeting now and again. She might even say, screw this altogether, but please promise her that she won’t. That she’ll stay the course. Alexis says she promises, and Molly says, and one more thing. If this doesn’t go her way, if the worst thing happens and she doesn’t get her license back, please promise her that she won’t drink. Alexis says, that’s a promise she can’t make. But she promises to do everything in her power, including calling upon a higher power, to prevent that from happening. Molly says she understands no recovery is guaranteed. She knows there are backslides, and no promise she gets Alexis to make is going to keep her from drinking. Alexis says, yeah, and Molly says she’s so selfish. Alexis says, she’s not selfish. In fact, be selfish, because they’re all really sick and tired of her altruism. Molly says, with Kristina pregnant with their baby, she just really needs her mom right now.

Valentin says, never mind the fact that in order for Nina to fall in love with him, Sonny had to literally forget who he was. Sonny makes her bend over backwards to prove her worth to him and she bends, and he hates it. It breaks his heart to see her do that, especially when Sonny is such a hypocrite. Anyone who wrongs him, he just writes them off. He’s not that complicated. He’s just erratic. Sonny isn’t worthy of her. Nina asks if he’s finished, and he says he wishes. When he heard she and Sonny had broken up and Sonny was looking for a divorce, he could finally breathe. He was that relieved. She asks, why? So she could come back to him? He says, that is lovely, but no. Because he’s not worthy of her either. He was relieved because she could finally forget about having to be Sonny’s wife, and maybe she could finally remember who she really is. She asks who he thinks that is, and he says, she’s Nina Reeves, and Nina Reeves is a marvel, a survivor, a rule breaker. Everything in her life, she’s spun into gold. And it’s his greatest hope for her that she remembers that.

Kristina tells Sonny that if she texts Allie and says her mom was here, that automatically implies that it’s her and Allie against her mom, and she doesn’t necessarily want that. Sonny says he thinks that’s wise, and Kristina says, if she doesn’t tell her, she doesn’t really want to be keeping a secret from her. He says, also wise, and she says she thinks what she should do is wait until she sees her. And if Allie brings it up, then great. If she doesn’t, then she’ll tell Allie what happened tonight. He says he’s curious. What’s her take on Natalia? She says she definitely didn’t win Natalia over initially, but she gives her credit for reaching out. Sonny says, so does he, and Kristina says she gives him a lot more credit. He asks what she means, and she says she told Allie how hard it was to come out to him and when she did, he was like – she imitates his voice – what? You think I don’t know gay people? I know gay people. She would have given anything to see the expression on her own face when he did that. It was like it was no big deal. He says, even looking back, the fact that she didn’t know he would accept that, kind of hurts even now. She asks, why? He’s always been the only one she could really turn to. He says he’ll always be, and she says she knows, and they hug.

John says, today he questioned Daniel Morgan without a parent or guardian present, and Anna says, that’s not good. He says, luckily somebody stopped him. This woman just swooped in like she was on fire, and lit into him, telling him how ashamed he should be, and all of a sudden, he was. She says, oh my God. He met Tracy Quartermaine. He asks if Tracy has a Brooklyn accent, and Anna says, no. He met Brook Lynn. He laughs and says, Brooklyn? Her name is actually Brooklyn? Anyway, he’s got to thank her because she forced him to realize he’d crossed the line. She says, at least he realized his mistake. Some people cross the line and they just double down and floor it. He says he was disappointed that he went there in the first place. Today was not his finest day as a cop. She says, it wasn’t hers either, and raises her glass. She says, here’s to being better tomorrow, and they clink glasses.

Tomorrow, Willow tells Michale that she can’t see a way out of this situation; Sasha stops the photo shoot; Heather asks Laura if she was always this wild; and Drew tells Nina that she’s going to get caught. Or as he says it cot.

💣 Double the Faison…

He’s come back from the dead a few times. I fully expect him to show up again even though Doc put his brain in a jar.

When he first showed up to obsess over Anna.

🍸 Outside the Rules…

But is he really A-list?

https://www.etonline.com/scheana-shay-seemingly-suggests-she-once-had-an-orgy-with-john-mayer-my-body-was-a-wonderland

This should be a surprise to no one.

🍝 They’re the Top…

It was good, but it’s not the same without Padma. <sniff…>

🗽 Jill’s Next Chapter…

Producing her own reality.

🏆 They Have the Image…

You go, Colman Domingo! And I get it, but I still kinda wish They Cloned Tyrone had received the big win.

https://www.etonline.com/2024-naacp-image-awards-the-complete-winners-list-221669

It’s not an awards show without fashion.

https://www.essence.com/gallery/best-red-carpet-looks-naacp-image-awards-2024

🐊 Only In New York…

As much as I love animals, I don’t think I’d be getting in line to pet this one.

https://people.com/large-alligator-seized-after-being-kept-illegally-in-ny-home-8610256

🐇 In Their Easter Bonnet…

It’s never too early to get out the bunny ears. Adjust accordingly for your specific spring holiday.

https://wagwalking.com/daily/how-to-celebrate-easter-with-your-pets

🩰 Watch Me Fly…

Make a return trip tomorrow for soap and more entertainment nonsense… Or is it? Until then, stay safe, stay offering your seat to those who are older or more in need, and stay not allowing your perception to be colored by someone else’s.