Category Archives: real housewives

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🍊 Switching Allegiances…

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

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

🐉 Movin’ On Up…

Or one more way a streaming service gets your money.

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

⛏  Workin’ In the Coal Mines…

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

July 29, 2022 – Spencer Steps Up, Soap Chef, Returning, Dubai Invite List, Kyle’s Reaction, No Just No, Shameful Shah, Squid Triumph, Just Over 10 Quotes & Lipstick

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny punches the heavy bag, when Brick walks in. Sonny says, it’s been a few months since he’s seen Brick in person, and Brick says, Sonny asked him to assess the west coast family situation. Sonny asks what he found, and Brick says, so far, all’s quiet on the western front. He’s not sure that robbery had anything to do with the west, but things have died down. That means he can give his full attention to finding a replacement, somebody to fill Jason’s shoes. Sonny says he thinks he may have found someone.

Michael tells Dex that he’s tired of Sonny taking whatever he wants. It’s time to face the consequences. Brando comes out, and bounds up the stairs, seeing them. He asks what they’re doing here, and Michael says he’s telling Dex for the last time, stop following him. He doesn’t know if Dex is following his dad’s orders, or he’s showing off, but Sonny’s new errand boy won’t stop harassing him, and it ends today. Dex says, no law against taking the stairs. Last time he checked, Michael didn’t own them.

Sasha thanks Willow for letting her vent. It helps so much to know that Willow understands what happened to her mom was truly an accident. Still, hearing about it can’t be easy. Willow says, no easier than for Sasha to talk about it she imagines. Accidentally hitting someone with her car has to be traumatic for her. Sasha says, it is for sure, especially when those tabloid people keep implying she was driving under the influence. Willow says, those jerks didn’t get to her, and Sasha says she doesn’t know what she did to deserve a friend like Willow. She’s hurt Willow in so many ways, always unintentionally, but still, Willow has never wavered in supporting her. A lot of people would have walked away. Willow says, the feeling’s mutual. She hopes Sasha knows that, because she knows Sasha will have her back, just like she has Sasha’s. Sasha says, Wiley is so lucky to have Willow as his mother, and so will this little one. Willow flashes back to TJ telling her that she has an elevated white blood cell count, but he doesn’t think it’s related to her pregnancy.

At Windymere, Esme says she has to get the hell out of here. She finds a book, and takes a paper out of it. She puts the paper into a manila envelope, and puts that in her suitcase. As she’s zipping up the suitcase, Ava walks in, and says, you conniving little whore. Esme says, as the saying goes, it takes one to know one. Ava says, Esme’s not going to try and talk her way out of this? So unlike her normal lying ways. But even for Esme, this is a new low, sleeping with her boyfriend’s father. That is beyond tacky. Esme asks if it was beyond tacky when Ava was having an affair with Morgan Corinthos, then slept with his father. How old does Ava think Avery should be when Ava informs her that she’s the product of hate sex? Ava asks how she knows about those things, and Esme says, Ava didn’t think she’d do her research? She likes to know what she’s dealing with. Ava asks where Esme thinks she’s going, and Esme says she may have had sex with Nikolas, but Ava is still going to get what she wants. Esme is leaving town, and Ava will never have to see her again. Ava grabs Esme’s arm, and says, she’s not going anywhere; not until she pays for the damage she’s done.

Judge Young tells Diane to call her first witness, as Portia hurries in. She tells Taggert that she got here as quick as she could, and Diane calls Spencer Cassadine. Everyone is like, wha-a-at? and Portia asks, what the hell is happening here? Taggert says he has no idea, and Spencer is sworn in.  

Brick holds the bag as Sonny punches, and asks if Sonny’s been looking at candidates without him. He’ll try not to take it personally. Sonny says, this guy kind of fell into his lap. A low-level guy he has working for him. His name is Dex; he’s a military vet. Brick asks where Sonny found him. He knows Sonny ain’t running help wanted ads in the classifieds. Sonny says, when Chet was away, Dex was running the gym, and Brick asks what Sonny likes about him. Sonny says, he’s hungry; it’s like he’s chasing something more. Brick says, so he reminds you of you, and Sonny laughs, saying, not just him. He’s like Stone, Jason… Brick says, far be it for him to question Sonny’s judgement – which he won’t – but allow him to question Dex’s. There’s no shortage of people who want to get in this business, thinking they know what they’re getting themselves into. But he and Sonny both know, there’s no way to know what it actually does to someone until they live it.

Brando steps between Michael and Dex, and says, that’s enough. He tells Dex to back off Michael. Go for a walk. Dex says, fine, whatever. He’ll see Michael around. Dex leaves, and Michael says he appreciates Brando stepping in, but he could have handled this. Brando says, he’s confused. Dex just followed Michael to the hospital and tried to intimidate him? Michael says he has no idea. Other than maybe Dex thinks he’s impressing Sonny, Michael has no idea what this guy wants from him. Brando says, maybe Michael is right; maybe Dex is just trying to impress Michael’s dad. He can backchannel to Sonny that Michael is having issues with Dex, but Michael says, absolutely not. Brando says he was just trying to help, and Michael says he appreciates it, but he doesn’t want Sonny involved in this. Besides, Brando has bigger things to focus on.

Sasha says, honestly, she doesn’t know what she’d do without Willow’s friendship, when TJ comes out. He says he’s ready for Willow, and Willow tells Sasha, they’ll talk soon. Willow leaves with him, and Sasha’s phone dings. She looks at it, and says, am I keeping my counseling appointment today…

In an exam room, TJ thanks Willow for coming back. He just needs another blood sample. She asks why they need another blood test, and he says, to make sure the first wasn’t an anomaly. She says, doctors aren’t usually the ones who take blood samples, and he says she’s his friend. Sue him if he’s a little invested. She says, raised white blood cell counts can indicate any number of things, but it’s clear he’s worried about something specific. Can he tell her what it is he’s looking for?

Esme says, well, well. It seems Ava’s Prince Charming finally decided to be honest, and tell her that he’s just another slimy frog. Ava says she’s had Esme pegged from the very start. She’s selfish and entitled, but she’s very, very smart; Ava will give her that. Esme helped Spencer torture her for months, and it all came quite naturally to her, didn’t it? She knows Spencer says he put Esme up to setting her car on fire, but Ava saw that look of fear in his eyes. Spencer didn’t do that. He’s selfish, self-centered, and self-serving, but he’s no psychopath; not like Esme. And Esme couldn’t just set it on fire. She had to go a step further and put Ava’s dead daughter’s ID next to it, and that is just sadistic. And Esme made that revenge porn video of Joss and Cam. Again, only a demented mind like Esme’s would do something like that. And she framed Trina to take the fall, but all of that wasn’t enough, was it? Esme had to seduce her husband. She had to trick Ava’s husband into falling into bed with her. Esme says, Nikolas hardly had to be seduced. All thanks to the shrewish ways Ava’s been treating him. Every day Ava came up with new and creative ways to emasculate him. Ava made him feel like less man. All Esme had to do was be there to catch him when he fell.

Diane says, they danced around this during Spencer’s previous testimony, so let’s just cut to the chase, shall they? Does he believe Trina Robinson filmed and distributed an intimate video – Nikolas walks in and sits behind Trina – of Josslyn Jax and Cameron Webber? He says, no, he doesn’t. He knows for a fact Trina couldn’t have distributed that video. Portia tells Taggert, Spencer is defending their daughter, and Diane asks if he can tell the court why he’s so certain. He says he knows for a fact Trina couldn’t have distributed that video because she was with him when the video was released via email.

Willow says she knows TJ doesn’t have any firm answers yet, but what is he worried about? There’s a knock at the door, and Michael comes in. He says he’s sorry to interrupt, but the nurse said they were in here. Willow says, he’s not interrupting, and TJ says, he’s done here. He says he’ll be right back, and leaves. Michael says he’s confused. He thought Willow had an OB appointment; why was TJ here and not Britt? She says, it’s nothing. He was just being a good friend.

Esme says, Nikolas felt unappreciated. In name, he and Ava were husband and wife, yet they were sleeping in separate bedrooms. Who does that? I tell her, probably more people than she thinks, and she says, Ava drove him away, just like she drove away every single person she cared about. Ava says, all the research Esme has done on her, Esme doesn’t know her. Esme says, doesn’t she? She knows Ava turned her back on her brother before he died. Ava says she loved her brother very much. Julian was self-destructive. She had no choice but to walk away. Esme says, just like Ava walked away from Kiki when she found Kiki sleeping with her boyfriend Griffin Monroe. She’s hardly the catalyst for what happened with all of them. Ava does see that the common denominator in all of those twisted scenarios is herself? Ava says, that’s enough. Don’t try to make this about her. Nikolas is Spencer’s father. Did Esme think she was going to trade up to more money by targeting him? Esme says, one more time, she did not target Nikolas. He came running to her. Ava says she knows better. Esme is a stalker. Esme and Spencer played their sick mind game with her; they made her fear for her daughter’s life. The ways they attacked her…. She stops for a moment, then says, all this time, she thought Esme was just her stepson’s obnoxious entitled girlfriend. So why then does this all feel so very personal? Why does Esme hate her so much? There has to be more to this story. There has to be. Esme glances at the envelope sticking out of her suitcase.

Diane asks if Spencer is saying, he was with Trina at the moment that email was distributed to the PCU. He says, that’s exactly what he’s saying, and Diane says, correct her if she’s wrong, but that day her was serving a sentence at the Spring Ridge Minimum Security Prison, was he not? He says, yes, that’s correct, and she asks if Trina was visiting him on that day. He says, no, and she says, he’s going to have to help all of them out here. If he was with Trina in person and not in prison, where was he? He says he arranged for a kind of off-the-books day pass to leave prison. You might say Trina saw him when he escaped.

Sonny says, good workout, and Brick says, all he did was hold the bag. Dex comes in, and asks if it’s a good time, or does Sonny want him to come back later, but Sonny says, no. Actually, it’s a good time. They were just talking about him. This is a good time for Brick and Dex to meet. Sonny introduces them, and says, Brick is a trusted friend, second in command. Brick and Dex shake hands, and Dex says he wanted to give Sonny an update on that thing they discussed when he has a moment. Sonny tells him, whatever he’s got to say, he can say in front of Brick. Brick is like family to him. So how’s their good friend the photographer doing this afternoon? Dex says, he’s not going to be selling anything to anyone again. He definitely won’t be opening his mouth. Dex made sure of that before the cops showed up. Sonny says, Dex talked to the cops?

Michael asks if Willow can tell how excited he is, and she says she can; she is too. He says he can’t stop thinking about how lucky they are. Everything is going to be different this time. They’ll both be there from the very start, and they’re not going to miss any moments with their child.

Brando sees Sasha, and says, there she is. She asks what he’s doing back at the hospital, and he says he felt guilty leaving her behind. Is she going to be late? She says,; she’s not going. He asks, why not? and she says she ran into Willow. It turns out the photographer, the one who harassed her and got in his car and chased her, which led her to hit Harmony, is here at GH. It kind of forced her and Willow to unpack a lot of things they needed to discuss. She was very sympathetic, and in a way, it was therapeutic. He says he understands. Why don’t they reschedule her therapy appointment? She says, no. She’s all talked out.

Portia wonders why Trina didn’t tell them any of this, and Taggert says, she was probably protecting Cassadine. Rory says he has no idea what’s going on, and Josslyn says, she doesn’t either, but maybe Spencer is doing the right thing for once. Judge Young says, quiet in the courtroom, banging his gavel, and tells Diane to please continue. She says, to clarify, Spencer escaped from prison, and Spencer says he planned on going back. He did go back. Arden objects, saying, there’s no way to verify this, but Diane says, the same as any witness’s testimony. Now it’s up to the jury to determine its voracity. The judge says, overruled, but get to point soon. Diane asks how Spencer was able to leave undetected, and he says he’s not proud of this, but someone was bribed to look the other way. She asks why this day was so important that he obtained this unofficial hall pass, and he tears up and says, it was the anniversary of his mother’s death. His mother died when her was a baby, so he never met her. The anniversary of her death is important to him. As a boy, he always laid flowers. The last several years, he was away at boarding school in France, so he couldn’t. So to be back here in Port Charles on that anniversary, and not be able to honor her with flowers was incredibly painful. He went to the graveyard to see her. He never meant for anyone to see him. That’s when he saw Trina at the cemetery, working on a project for PCU. Diane tells the judge that her associate is currently collecting proof of Trina’s PCU assignment, which she’ll be entering as evidence. She asks if Spencer realizes, with this, he could be jeopardizing his freedom, since he was released from Spring Ridge. He says, he knows, and starts to cry, looking at Trina. He says, but at a certain point, you have to stop doing the easy thing, and start doing right thing.

Dex tells Sonny, it’s not his first rodeo, but Brick says, even veteran riders get tossed off the bull. Dex says, he knows enough to make himself scarce before the cops see him. It was Sonny’s son, the detective. Sonny says he doesn’t care who it was. Someone shows up with a badge, you don’t say anything. Dex promises, that’s exactly what he did. He’s sorry he didn’t handle it correctly, but he thought he was doing what Sonny wanted. Sonny says, Dex is right; he did the right thing. Like with Josslyn. Brick asks, what happened with Joss? and Sonny says, they were having a discussion with that reporter that gave Sasha drugs. It got a little heated, and they roughed him up a little bit. It so happens that Josslyn shows up, starts filming the whole thing, and threatening to take the footage to the police. Brick says, what? and Sonny says, she’s upset about what happened with him and her mother, and she wanted payback. Thanks to Dex… He talked her into deleting the footage. He tells Dex that he hasn’t thanked him for that. He appreciates that. Now Dex knows what the boundaries are when dealing with his kids. Dex says, Sonny is the boss; he makes the rules.

Sasha asks Brando, doesn’t he get it? She’s emotionally drained right now. She’s too spent for another therapy session. He says he does get that, but she needs to stick to her program if she’s going to get any better. She says, that’s not for him to decide, is it? and he tells her, he’s not saying that. If she wants, he’ll make the appointment for her. It’s not something she needs to stress out over. She says, oh my God. The only one stressing her out is him. He and Gladys are smothering her.

Ava asks why Esme’s attacks on her are so personal? First Esme threw Morgan in her face, then Kiki and Griffin. Esme didn’t know any of those people (and we barely remember them). Who is giving her this information and why? What the hell did she ever do to Esme? Esme says, if her time in this provincial city has taught her anything, it’s that people here love to gossip. Not many people here like Ava much. Not that Esme’s treated Ava any differently than she would have treated anyone else. It’s a lesson you learn pretty quickly in boarding school. People can be vicious, so a good defense is the best offense. So she learned things. Ava just happens to have more dirt in her past than most people. Ava says, that’s not it. She’s onto something. She knows it; she can feel it. When Spencer asked for Esme’s help torturing her, Esme jumped at the chance, didn’t she? Why was Esme so willing to help him? Spencer ended up in prison. Esme could have very well ended up there as well. If Esme was some simpleton just trying to please her crush, Ava would buy it, but Esme’s no fool, and obviously not very devoted to Spencer. Esme says she’s not the one who’s devotion wavered, and Ava says she sees she pushed a button. Let’s see if she can push a few more.

Diane says, if Trina Robinson didn’t distribute this revenge porn video of Josslyn Jax and Cameron Webber, Spencer must have some suspicion as to who did. Unless of course (🍷) Josslyn and Cameron filmed themselves. Spencer says, no way. It was their first… They wouldn’t do that. Diane asks if he had anything to do with it, but he says, no. Absolutely not. He might not have been the best friend to Josslyn and Cameron over the course of the last year, but he’d never hurt them in that way. She says, this cabin they’ve been discussing belongs to Josslyn’s former stepfather; is that correct? Spencer says, yes. This trip to the cabin was before Sonny and Carly got divorced. She says, tell her about this cabin. Is there staff? Is there anyone else who might have made this video? A cleaning crew perhaps? Spencer says, there was no staff there, okay? and Diane says, okay. Someone else then. A disgruntled neighbor perhaps. Spencer says, no. The cabin is very isolated. Diane says, all right. There were five of them there that night, Trina, who he knows is innocent. Josslyn and Cameron, also innocent. Spencer, who denies any responsibility. That leaves who? Arden objects, saying, speculation, and Diane tells Judge Young, there were five people at the cabin that night, and Spencer was one of them. His opinion has merit. The judge says, overruled, but tread carefully, and Spencer says, there was no outside staff. It had to be someone who was staying in the cabin. Diane says, uh-huh. Who? Spencer looks at Trina, and says, his girlfriend at the time, Esme Prince. Soap looks are exchanged all around.

Brando says, he and his mom don’t mean to smother Sasha. They just want to see her get better. He knows she had a good talk with Willow, and he’s glad they cleared the air. He knows Willow is a good friend to her, but Willow is not a psychiatrist. And the whole Harmony part? He knows she has guilt over that, but it isn’t her main issue. She needs to talk to a doctor about why she turns to pills when she’s already seen how cocaine damaged her life. He’s an addict too, remember? She needs to deal with the root cause. She says, he doesn’t trust her, and he says he does, but he knows how addicts think. The temptation of drugs gets the better of your brain. Sasha needs her psychiatrist’s help. He and her doctors wanted her to go live in rehab, but she didn’t want to do that. So if she’s not going to rehab, she needs to stick to her outpatient therapy. She yells at him, stop trying to control her every move, and he yells back, given the way their life together is spiraling out of control, maybe somebody does need to control her.

Sonny tells Dex to take off; he’s going to go over some stuff with Brick. Dex  starts to leave, but Brick says, hang on. Sonny mentioned Dex was a vet; same here. He’s sure they have a lot to talk about. Dex says he’s sure they do, and leaves. Sonny asks Brick what he thinks, and Brick says, he’s too full of himself. Cocky. Too reckless as far as Brick is concerned. Too flippant with the way he speaks about Sonny’s family, and dealing with the cops. Sonny says, he’s young; he’s got to learn the ropes. Brick says, he deserves a shot. He’s just not sure about sending a rookie to deal with some drug dealer. Sonny says, Dex volunteered, and Brick asks if Sonny thinks someone this young and green will be effective in the enforcer role. Sonny says, Dex is about Jason’s age when Jason started working for him, and Brick says, yeah, but this generation seems to need a lot more growing up than the previous one. Sonny says, every generation needs time to mature. Isn’t that always the case?

Outside, behind a warehouse, Dex looks at his phone.

Michael tells Willow, even though they didn’t plan for the pregnancy, he thinks the timing couldn’t be better. Wiley and the new baby are only going to be a few years apart. She says, for so many years, she was desperate for a brother or sister. Someone she could talk to, play with, share the crazy of life with Harmony. What about him and Morgan? Were they close? He says, there was a time they were fighting over Kiki, but for the most part, they were close. Then there was Dante. Obviously, the didn’t grow up together, and they met as adults, but he’s very glad Dante is in his life. No one can talk him off a cliff like Dante can. His phone dings, he looks at it, and sighs. She asks if something’s wrong, and he says, no, it’s a work thing, but he really needs to handle this. He tells he that he can stick around if she wants, but she says, no. She’s fine. If this were some big step, she’d want him to be here, but it’s just another routine appointment. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, absolutely. He says he’ll see her at home, and leaves.

Diane thanks Spencer, and says, no further questions. Arden says, it’s Spencer’s testimony that he was with Trina the moment the email containing the revenge porn was distributed at PCU; is that correct? He says, that’s correct, and she says, but he has no accounting for Trina’s whereabouts at the moment the video was being filmed, does he? She reminds the court, it’s the non-consensual recording that’s the most pressing charge here. He says, um… and she says, let her repeat. Was he with Miss Robinson when the revenge porn video was filmed? He says, no, he wasn’t, and she says, and to reiterate his previous testimony, he was with Esme Prince when the video was filmed. He says, yes, he was, and once again, I wonder why he’s not bringing up Esme going back to the cabin to get whatever he’d left there, especially since he said something to Esme about it, like, five minutes ago. Arden says, okay then, moving on. Spencer audited classes at PCU last fall. Did he ever have to pull an all-nighter? (For auditing???) He says, yes, and she says, when he needed to turn in a term paper to a professor in the middle of the night, was he aware that you could schedule send an email later for a more reasonable hour using a run-of-the-mill app? Now I stamp my foot and say, that’s a dumb thing to even say, since it’s not like a new email shakes you awake to read it. Spencer says, she lost him, and Diane objects, saying, the State has lost everyone with this line of questioning. Arden says, withdrawn, and tells Judge Young that she’d like to enter into evidence an email that she personally sent to him and opposing counsel. Diane says, excuse me? and Arden says, give it a second. Diane and the judge’s phones beep, and Arden says, there it is. While Mr. Cassadine was accounting for the defendant’s whereabouts, she scheduled her email to be released later.

TJ comes back, and asks Willow if Michael had to leave. She says, it was a work issue. She told him to go deal with it. He says, if she wants to reschedule for a time they can both be here, they can do that, but Willow says she has time. He closes the door, and says he couldn’t help notice that she gave Michael the runaround when he asked why TJ was  taking the lead here, and not Britt. Is there a reason she’s telling Michael this isn’t her usual OB appointment?

Michael tells Dex, he hopes this is important. He was at the hospital with Willow. Dex asks if she’s okay, and Michael says, just standard pregnancy stuff. So what’s going on? Talk to him. Dex says he just wanted to make sure Michael got things squared with Brando; he seemed pretty suspicious. Michael says, he was 100% suspicious, but he bought that he was pissed at Dex for harassing him. Dex says, good, because he has enough people looking at him suspiciously. Michael asks what that means, and Dex says, this guy Brick. He thinks Brick is going to dig into his past. Michael thanks him for the heads up, and says, but if Brick is doing a background check, that’s a good sign Dex is moving closer into Sonny’s inner circle.

Brick says, if Sonny sees something in this guy, there must be something there. Still, Brick is going to run a full background check on him. And that ain’t a request. Sonny says he’s not even going to try and stop Brick. But no matter how much they look into Dex’s past, it’s not going to tell them whether he can deal with this life. All he’s taken care of so far is a low level drug pusher, slash, tabloid photographer. Brick says, so Sonny wants to give Dex a bigger assignment to test him, and Sonny says he was thinking, why don’t they see if Dex can prove himself; trial by fire. They laugh, and Brick says, he likes that.

Brando tells Sasha that he’s so sorry. If he could take those words back, he would. He didn’t mean it. She says, didn’t he? and he says he doesn’t want to control her. He’s just worried about her. So are Michael and Willow, and his mom, and everyone at Deception. Sasha says, admit it. He finally said what he felt. He stopped walking on eggshells like he’s been doing; like everybody’s been doing. He says, that’s not true, and suggests they go home and talk privately, but she says, no. She needs space. He says, from him? and she says, from everybody. She storms out to the stairwell.

Diane objects to the ADA’s theatrics. There’s no proof to suggest that video was sent via pretimed email. Arden says, no further questions, and Judge Young tells Spencer to step down. He asks both counsels to approach the bench, and as Spencer passes her, Trina says she can’t believe he did this. He says, he can’t believe it didn’t work. He’s so sorry. He keeps walking, and Portia asks why Trina didn’t tell them that Spencer was her alibi before. Trina says she was hoping Curtis would have a Hail Mary, so she wouldn’t have to, and Taggert tells her, just keep your chin up, baby girl. Diane is right. There’s zero evidence that video was sent via email timer. Maybe Spencer was her Hail Mary. At the door, Josslyn says she knew she could trust Spencer to do the right thing… after he exhausted all other options. She leaves, and Nikolas asks if he and Spencer can talk. It’s important.

Sasha runs down the stairs, and her phone dings. She stops at the first floor, and sees a text from Sienna: Hey, feel like blowing off some steam with me tonight? Sasha texts back: Sure – I’ll meet you anywhere!

Ava says, so Esme does still have feelings for Spencer. And she’s so jealous that Spencer has feelings for Trina, she slept with his father as what? Revenge? Payback? And she and Trina were just collateral damage, or something more? Esme tries to push the envelope further into the suitcase, but Ava grabs it, and says, what is that? Esme snatches it back, and says, that, is none of your business. Ava says, forget it. Trying to find answers in Esme’s bizarre twisted behavior would have her running in circles, but make no mistake, after everything Esme has done to make the people she loves suffer, Esme is going to do the right thing for the first time in her life. Esme says, and what is that? and Ava says, playtime is over. They’ll deal with Esme sleeping with her husband another time, but right now, Esme is going to march down to that courthouse. She’s going to exonerate Trina, and tell the world that she made that tape of Joss and Cameron. Esme says, they’ve already had this conversation, and she has no idea where Ava is getting this crazy idea. Besides, why would she even do it? Is Ava offering to help her disappear, and make sure she doesn’t go to prison? No. She has no interest in being a fugitive for the rest of her life. Ava says, Esme misunderstands her. She walks closer as she talks, and says, if Esme doesn’t admit she framed Trina, she will make sure nobody ever finds her. At least not while she’s still breathing.

On Monday, TJ wonders why Willow doesn’t want Michael’s support; Portia asks Taggert, what if it’s not enough; Diane says, Trina needs to be the heroine in her own story; and Ava tells Esme, she either tells the truth or it’s the end of the line.

👩🏽‍🍳 Different Kind Of Gig…

Although if she’s playing herself, is it really acting?

🏥 They’re Back…

When I saw this, I was like, what now? But it turns out they actually get a vacation.

👰🏼 Nervous Bride…

I can’t say I blame her.

https://people.com/tv/real-housewives-of-dubai-caroline-stanbury-talks-inviting-cast-to-sergio-carrallo-wedding-exclusive/

💎 She Has Receipts…

Like her longevity is a guarantee. Welcome to 2022.

🍸 Please No…

And what would be the title? The Most Awful Human Being On Earth?

💰 Shah-king My Head…

This is just such a shame.

https://people.com/tv/shahs-of-sunset-mike-shouhed-criminal-charges-paulina-ben-cohen-domestic-incident/

🐙 Double the Squid…

Squid Game should definitely be proud of itself.

https://ew.com/awards/the-awardist-digital-magazine-squid-game-double-nominees/

🦉 Quotes of the Week

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times. – Mark Twain

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. – Unknown

I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity. – Albert Einstein

A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life. – William Arthur Ward

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. – Hippocrates

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. – Theodore Vail

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past. – Richard Bach

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

The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. – H.P. Lovecraft

A mathematical formula for happiness: Reality divided by Expectations. There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality or lower your expectations. – Jodi Picoult (I vote for lowering expectations.)

They were great. If I could only make out the words, they’d be greater. – an audience member referring to seeing The Sex Pistols in Pistols

🛌🏽 Taking It To the Sheets…

Enjoy the next two days, but boomerang back on Monday, when there will be soap and Deck doings. Until then, stay safe, stay looking after your mental health as well as your physical health, and stay not doing the easy thing, but the right thing. And don’t wait until you’ve exhausted all other options.

July 27, 2022 – Spencer Testifies At Trina’s Trial, LisaR Calls Erika On the Carpet & Try It

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At Windymere, Jordan says she’d like to ask Nikolas a few questions about his recent visitor. He says, if she’s talking about Esme, she’s not a visitor; she’s their guest. She says she wasn’t referring to Esme, and he says, then who? She says, but since he mentions her, would she or anyone in his household, have any reason to meet with a man who traffics in black market goods? Nikolas opens the door, and she walks in.

Esme goes to Ryan’s room in Spring Ridge, and says she needs his help. He asks, why the sad face? Doesn’t she know by now they can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it? She says he’s right, and kneels in front of him, saying, thank you, daddy. He says, tell him, where has she been? and she says, Doc had PCU cancel her internship, and had her banned from Spring Ridge. He says, family. It’s often more trouble than it’s worth. She says she hopes he doesn’t seriously mean that, because she’s considering sacrificing everything in the name of family.

Trina starts to walk toward Spencer, and Rory says, that’s not a good idea. She says she knows, but keeps going. She asks why Spencer is here, and he says he’s here for her.

Cody walks into the pool area, and slips Aaron some cash, thanking him for the tip, which confuses me for a millisecond, since he’s giving Aaron a tip. He tells Aaron, remember, every time she’s here… Aaron says, he’ll call. Maxie walks in with Britt, and says she thinks they needed this. Britt says she has to stick to mocktails; she has to go to the hospital later. Maxie says, boo, and Britt agrees. Cody approaches, and says, what a pleasant surprise, but Britt says, pleasant is in the eye of the beholder.  

Taggert asks if Ava has any idea what Spencer plans to say on the stand, but she says, no. He was asking questions about the trial yesterday, and didn’t even mention he’d be here today. Trina says, so Spencer is here for her. He contacted Diane, and volunteered to testify on her behalf. He’s a witness for the prosecution. How is he going to help her? He says, by doing his part, and she asks what that even means. He says, it means he’s going to tell the truth, and she says, the actual truth, or the gospel according to Esme? Arden asks if Trina will excuse them, and Trina says, gladly. She leaves, and Arden says she’s glad to see Spencer, but where’s Esme Prince? Why isn’t she in this courtroom?  

In the hallway, Josslyn asks if Trina is okay, and Trina says she was fool to believe this would all work out. Josslyn hugs her.

Nikolas says he can’t think of anyone who would have any reason to be dealing with a black market, and Jordan says, the individual she’s referring to, Oz Haggerty, was seen boarding a launch to Nikolas’s home yesterday at approximately 10:30 am. He says, it’s news to him, and asks if he can offer her a drink. Ice tea or water? He knows she’s on duty. She says, no thank you, and tells him, this shouldn’t take long. She sits down, and he says he wishes he could be more help, but he wasn’t there much yesterday. She asks, who was home yesterday?

Ryan says, sacrifice everything, what does that mean? and Esme says she can’t stay long. If Doc learns she’s here, she’ll be in trouble. He says, obviously, she managed to work her way around him. How’d she manage that? She says, Nikolas pulled strings, and he asks, why? She says she was convincing, and he says, she held their tryst over his head. Was that wise? She says, what’s leverage if you can’t use it? and he says, Nikolas may feel compelled to confess to Ava. She says she thought he wanted Ava to learn of Nikolas’s unfaithfulness, but he says, on their terms. If the transparency comes from him, it could work to his advantage. The noble sinner confesses and comes clean; all that crap. For such a smart girl, sometimes she can be… She says, what? and he says, so short-sighted. She says she’d be careful if she were him. It was her short-sightedness that got her back in here, wasn’t it? He says, when you’re right, you’re right, and she thanks him. She says, besides, if anyone is to blame for their separation, it’s probably his old friend Felicia. She thinks Felicia is the one who ratted her out to Doc.

Maxie asks if Cody would care to join them, but he says, it’s up to Britt. Britt says she’d rather ride a horse. He says, she’s been ducking his calls, his texts, his emails. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was avoiding him. Britt says, my advice, know better, and Maxie asks what she’s missing here. Britt says, Cody was her last Society Set-Ups date, and by last, she means… Maxie says, wait. The only thing she knows about Britt’s last Society Set-Ups date was that it was terrible. No offense. Cody says, none taken. It was terrible, and it was completely his fault. Britt asks if he means that, or is he just telling her what he thinks she wants to here, and he says, all he’s asking is for her to let him make it up to her. She says she’ll text him her answer, and Maxie says, you know what makes for a really good apology? A beverage. Let’s start with those. Cody says, any preference, ladies? and Maxie says, something fruity. Britt says, virgin margarita, and Cody goes to the bar. Maxie says, this guy really gets to Britt, and Britt says, because he’s arrogant, infuriating, and persistent. Maxie says, seems like Society Set-Ups got this one right, and Britt says, she and Cody are the opposite of a match. Between the horse, and the straw hay… Maxie says, she does know that straw and hay are two completely different things, right? Britt says, she didn’t ask, nor does she care, but Cody does. Maxie should ask him. Maxie says, this guy has really gotten under Britt’s skin. That could mean something. Cody comes back, and says, a pina colada for the lady, a beer for the me, and a virgin margarita for the other lady. Britt says, gee, thanks, and asks if it tastes like lies. He asks what it’s going to take to start over, and Maxie says, she’s going to go powder her nose. She leaves, and Cody says, good. Now he can really begin groveling. Britt asks if he shouldn’t be on the ground for that, and he says he would if he thought it would work. She wouldn’t respect a man who did that, would she? She says, only one way to find out, and he says he really is sorry; he admits it. He was wrong. He was trying too hard to be someone he thought she wanted instead of getting to know the real her. He really is sorry and it won’t happen again, he promises. From now on, all she’s going to get is the unadulterated, pure this guy. Remember, she asked for it. So what does she say? Does she want to forgive and forget?

Ava asks if Taggert’s heard from Portia, and he says, she’s still dealing with a patient emergency. Ava says, Trina will understand.

Josslyn asks what Spencer said, and Trina tells her, he’s testifying for the other side. Josslyn says, because he’s a spoiled, selfish tool, and Trina says, the worst part is, for a split second, she thought he was going to say he had her back.

Arden says she needs Esme on the stand, and Spencer says, so does he. She says, excuse me? and he says, don’t worry. He’ll make sure Esme gets here.

Ryan tells Esme, Felicia and his brother will be dealt with, just like anybody who stands in their way. She tells him, he says the sweetest things, and he thanks her. He says, in the meantime, she needs to put some distance between herself and the Cassadines, but she says, she thinks she should stay at least a few more days. He asks, why? They don’t need anything else from them. She says, that may be true for him, and he asks why she came here. She says, Spencer wants her help to exonerate Trina in exchange for information, and he says, she played with that gang of wayward children like they were spiders in a jar. Now she’s paying the price. What is Spencer offering? She says, the identity of her birth mother. Her phone dings, and she looks at a text from Spencer: Where r u? Get 2 the courthouse or no deal. Ryan snatches the phone from her, and says, not on his time.

Nikolas tells Jordan, he and Spencer spent most of the morning at GH, and Ava was at the courthouse attending Trina’s trial. She says, and Esme? and he says, as far as he knows, she was here all day. She asks if Esme could have left without his knowledge, and he says, he’s not Esme’s jailer; she’s free to do as she pleases. Jordan says, anyone else? and he says, just the staff. How long was this guy on the island? She says, undetermined. He was last seen boarding the launch at 10:30 am, and didn’t return via the launch. Any idea how he got off the island? He says, not offhand. He could be of more help if she clued him in on what this is about. She says, Mr. Haggerty is currently hospitalized; drug overdose. Nikolas asks if she thinks he obtained the drugs here, and she says, potentially. She’s also trying to ascertain if he provided an unregistered phone used to film an intimate encounter. He says, the sex tape Trina’s accused of making, and she says, new evidence suggests Mr. Haggerty’s testimony could have bearing on the case. Nikolas says, why not just ask him? and she says she’d love to, but he’s in a medically induced coma, which means he can’t testify either. Convenient, huh? He asks if Mr. Haggerty’s overdose was accidental, and she says, there’s evidence he had a visitor before his collapse. He says, any idea who? and she thanks him for his time. Please speak with his household staff. He says he’ll take care of it personally, and she says, if Esme saw Mr. Haggerty, they’ll need to speak with her right away. Nikolas flashes back to Esme saying she terrorized Ava for Spencer, but she was wrong; Esme taunting Ava, and Ava warning Esme to keep her daughters’ names out of her mouth or she’ll be sorry; Esme saying Sonny and Ava refuse to accept it’s Trina, even though all the evidence points to her; and Esme telling Nikolas, she wants to tell Ava and Spencer that they slept together. The lightbulb comes on.

Britt says, fine. Cody is forgiven, but she never forgets, ever. He says, so what she’s saying is he’s unforgettable? and she says, ugh. Go away. He tells her, smiling causes less wrinkles than frowning. She may not care now, but when she hits 50… She says, yeah, right. Look, he bought her a peace offering, she begrudgingly accepted it. Let’s move on. He says, to another date? and she laughs, saying, not if he was the last cowpoke in the countryside. He says he doesn’t get it. Why won’t she let anyone close to her? She says, he doesn’t know her, and he agrees that he doesn’t, but he’s trying to get to know her. Maxie returns, but hangs back, and Britt says, well, know this. It’s the absolute height of arrogance to assume just because she doesn’t want him to get close to her, that she doesn’t want anyone to get close to her. He says he saw the video of her TED talk at the mixer. Her views on love are pretty clear. She gets up and says she’s done. She tells Maxie, sorry, she’s late for work, and walks out. Maxie says, wait, but Britt keeps going, and Cody asks how he did. She says, that was a clear triumph.

Arden asks if Spencer recalls the weekend getaway he took in January with Cameron Webber, Josslyn Jax, Esme Prince, and the defendant. He says, he does. They were supposed to spend the weekend at his Uncle Sonny’s cabin. She says, supposed to? and he says, their weekend was cut short. She asks, why is that? and Diane objects, saying, Josslyn Jax and Cameron Webber have already testified on record as to why that weekend ended early. Arden says, Josslyn and Cameron stayed. It might benefit the court to get Mr. Cassadine’s perspective on that evening’s events. Judge Young says he’ll allow it, and Arden asks why the weekend ended early. He says, Trina was sick and upset. She ran out of the room while the rest of them argued. Arden says, while this argument took place, where was the defendant? He says, in her room, and Arden says, or so she claims. Diane objects, saying, this blatant sarcasm is meant to influence the jury. If the ADA actually has a question, do you think she can ask it?

Nikolas rifles though stuff on his desk, and grabs his keys. On his way out, Victor comes in, and asks where he’s off to in such a hurry. Nikolas says, whatever this is, he doesn’t have time for it. He needs to get Ava. Victor says, why? Is she in trouble? Nikolas says, no, but his marriage is, and Victor says, mistakes are made in haste. Slow down and tell him what this is about. Nikolas says, it’s a mess, and Victor says, lucky he showed up when he did. Cleaning up messes is one of his specialties. Nikolas says he doesn’t think Victor can fix this, but Victor says, let him be the judge of that. What’s the nature of this particular mess? Nikolas says, it’s Esme. There’s a delicate matter she may tell his wife about.  Victor says, what could Esme possibly tell Ava that… Oh no, Nikolas. Tell me you didn’t. Nikolas says he did, and if he doesn’t stop her, Esme is going to tell Ava everything, and she’s going to blow his future and his family to hell.

Ryan looks at the text from Spencer, and says, thanks to Esme’s childish vendetta against the Robinson girl, Spencer now has a bargaining chip. Worse, his curiosity could lead Spencer to discover he’s her father. She says, that’s his only concern? and pulls over a chair. He says, she’s been compromised; she’s of no use to him. She says, so this relationship is purely transactional? and sits. Doc told her that he feared Ryan could never truly care for another person, and she’s starting to think he was right. He says she knows he cares for her, and she says, does he? Why does he never ask her what she wants? He says, fine. What does she want? She says she wants to know who her mother is, and he says, she’s not seriously considering taking Spencer’s offer? She says she needs the truth; if not from Spencer, than from him – whatever it takes. He asks if Spencer happened to mention how he came by her mother’s identity, and she says, his Uncle Victor. He says, Victor Cassadine. He does have considerable resources. But so does he. If he couldn’t find her, he’s not sure Victor could. She says, there’s a DNA test, and he says, she submitted to a test with names and identifiable markers? She says, of course (🍷) not, but Spencer… He says, managed to get a sample anyway. How convenient. She says, they live in the same house; it’s not like it would be difficult. He says, taking the deal is a bad idea, and she says, if he doesn’t want Spencer to tell her who her mother is, fine. You tell me.

Cody tells Maxie, he doesn’t know how to read Britt, and every time she baits him he just – ugh – walks right into it. She says, there’s a word for that, and he says, insanity? She says, chemistry, and he says, whatever you call it, he’s still dumb enough to pursue it. Any advice? She says she’d advise him to be fearless. But he is the guy who dropped into the pool from 10,000 feet, so… He says, still safer than approaching Britt Westbourne, and she says, come on. Her bark is worse than her bite… Actually, no; scratch that. They’re both terrifying. Britt just wants someone who’ll let her be herself, at her best, and especially at her worst. He says, okay. He might be able to show how he can be that guy, but he’s going to need Maxie’s help.

Judge Young says, objection sustained. If Arden can’t make her case without editorializing for the jury, perhaps she should stop right now. Arden apologizes, and asks if Spencer saw the defendant go into her room. He says, no, and Arden asks if he can verify that Trina was in her room from the time she left the group until the time he left. He says, no, and she says, back to this argument. What happened next? He says, Josslyn went in on him pretty hard. She thought that Esme suggested the drinking game to upset Trina, which was completely unfair. At this time, Esme held nothing but admiration for Trina, and they were both close friends of Trina’s. Trina leans over and tells Diane, that’s not true. Should they object? Diane says, not right now. This is one time they want to let him talk. Arden asks if at that point they left, and Spencer says, yes. Esme demanded to leave as soon as she got back. Arden says, got back from where? and he says, Esme left the room collect herself after Joss unloaded on her.

At the hospital, Jordan asks Britt if the tox screen is back on Oz Haggerty, and Britt says, she’s not sure, but she can check. She’s sorry. She just got in, and isn’t up to speed yet. Is Mr. Haggerty family? Jordan says, he’s related to an ongoing investigation, and Britt asks if she has a warrant or court order allowing Britt to help her. Jordan says, how about if she asks questions, and Britt answers, and Britt says, fire away. Jordan says, the paramedic report indicted Mr. Haggerty OD’d on prescription pain medication. Can Britt confirm or deny? Britt says, maybe, but first she needs Jordan to tell her something. She heard a nurse say that Curtis Ashford has taken up residence outside the patient’s room. Is there something she should know?

Nikolas tells Victor, not only did Esme post the recording she made of Cam and Josslyn, she may have drugged the person who sold her the phone to do it. He’s at GH now in a coma. Victor says, the lady is enterprising, and Nikolas says, she’s a monster, and he allowed her in his home. Victor says, not to mention his bed, and Nikolas says, no one can judge him more harshly than he’s judging himself right now, but Victor says, he’s not judging; he’s assessing. Nikolas says, assess faster. If Esme is capable of framing Trina, what might she do to Spencer or Ava? He has to go warm them. Victor says, no. Neither Ava nor Spencer need ever know about this. As head of the family, he’s made a decision. Esme is no longer entitled to Cassadine hospitality. Nikolas asks what that means exactly, and Victor says, meaning it’s time to evict Esme for good.

Esme says, Ryan is always so vague on the subject of her mother, and he says, his relationship with her mother was… unorthodox. Their courtship was mysterious, exciting. He never knew her friends, her family, not even her real name. She says, he didn’t know her name? So she was just some hookup? He says, she was so much more than that. She understood him. She accepted him. And when she disappeared, he looked everywhere for her. Esme says, so he doesn’t know who she is, and he says he knows her to her core. But unfortunately, he can’t give Esme what she wants. He doesn’t know that Spencer can either. He may be bluffing. Even if he has this information, can she trust him to hold up his end of the deal? She says she doesn’t need to confess. She just needs to get Trina off the hook. He says, so the state is left with no one to prosecute, and she says she can always just run away. He says, as if he’d ever allow that, and she says, and if she dares disobey him, what then? He says, consider herself an orphan, again, and she says, fine. She’ll stay, but if the authorities come looking her way for that stupid sex tape, she might have no choice but to leverage information about him in order to avoid jail time. He gets up and walks over to her.

Cody asks what Maxie thinks about Society Set-Ups, and she says, aside from the pretentious name, it seems legit. He says, Britt doesn’t seem to think so, but she says, Britt is a natural sceptic. As far as her experience with Society Set-Ups goes, her results have been… mixed. He says, fair point. However he does happen to know, Zelda is a wiz at what she does. She says, Zelda is the real deal, and he says, maybe if people Britt cares about can think he’s not wrong for her, Britt can too. She asks if he really likes Britt, and he says, he’d like to like her. Does Maxie think she’ll like this? He hands her a booklet, and she says, a passport? He says, open it, and she reads, no kids, no horses, no slippers. Just you, me, and the adventures we can have together. She turns the page, and says, the first stamp is the Quartermaine stable. He says, he thought it would be a good idea because they’re both explorers… this is corny, isn’t it? Unforgivably corny. She says, this is definitely corny, but it’s also really sweet. She doesn’t get the slippers reference, and he says, you had to be there. Tell him honestly. Is Britt going to hate it?

Jordan tells Britt that Curtis doesn’t want to be far away if Mr. Haggerty wakes up. He may have relevant information to a case that’s personally important to Curtis. Britt looks on the computer, and says, acute opioid intoxication, ingested with alcohol, which led to an adverse reaction. Jordan asks if this person has a prescription, and Britt says, if it’s drug history Jordan is after, she’s forbidden by law to tell Jordan if this person has visited their pharmacy or any pharmacy in western New York. Jordan asks if Britt can tell her if he hasn’t visited those pharmacies, and Britt says she can confirm there’s no record of him doing so. Is this a drug investigation? Because with Cyrus gone, she’d hoped this problem was over. Jordan asks if they’ve had a rash of opioid overdoses, but Britt says, no, but she did have someone recently ask her about this drug in particular. Jordan says, the one Haggerty OD’d on? and Britt asks if she should prepare her staff for more of these, but Jordan says, that would be premature. Their interest in Oz Haggerty has less to do with drugs than the Trina Robinson trial.

Arden asks if after Spencer and Esme departed, they returned at any point, but he says, no. They returned to his grandmother’s house, where they were staying at the time. Arden asks, if after he and Esme left, his testimony is that the only individual present all night with Josslyn and Cameron was the defendant, but he says he doesn’t know who or what happened after they left. They could have thrown a rager with the neighbors for all he knows. She asks, when he and Esme left, was there anyone else in the house with Josslyn and Cameron? and he says, to the best of his knowledge, no. She says, no further questions, and the judge calls for a short recess, telling Diane that she’ll be able to question the witness when they return. Hmm… What about Esme going back to the cabin for Spencer’s watch or whatever it was?

Nikolas tells Victor, put his phone away. Whatever he’s planning, that’s not what Nikolas is asking him for. Victor says, why let this girl jeopardize his happy home life, not to mention this family? and Nikolas says, Esme didn’t jeopardize anything; he did. He should have followed his heart, and told Ava everything immediately. Victor says, this gratuitous guilt is tedious, and in this case, misguided. Esme is nothing more than a vengeful Lolita, who exploited her friends, then drugged a man into a catatonic stupor. They’d all be a lot safer if she were eliminated. Nikolas says, and if Spencer ever finds out their part in that, he’ll lose his son again, but Victor says, Nikolas risks losing him if she lives. Nikolas says he doesn’t want to go down a path he can’t come back from, and Victor says, that ship has already left Southampton, and is well on its way to the iceberg. Nikolas says, before his mother left, she was worried he’d fall into old patterns, and killing Esme would definitely quality. Victor says, Laura’s integrity is admirable, but sometimes she fails to see the bigger picture. Nikolas says he knows Laura doesn’t understand, but he wants to make her proud. He wants to show her, Spencer, and Ava that he’s willing to face up to his failings.

Ryan gets closer to Esme, then hugs her. He says, his brother’s wrong. He’s not an unfeeling monster. His voice cracks as he says, her mother meant everything to him. He puts his hand under her chin, and says, and so does our daughter. She asks why he didn’t tell her any of this, and he says, that time in his life was very painful. Her mother was the only person he could completely be himself with. Then she walked away from him, and that’s why he can’t bear the thought of Esme doing the same. She says she would never do that to him. She would never leave him, and she would never, ever betray him. He says, I know that, my sweet girl, besides – he leans in toward her ear – there’s no place you can go, no place you can run, no place on earth I wouldn’t find you. He kisses her head, and says, one day they will be reunited with her mother, but right now, they have more immediate concerns. He holds her, and she cries.

Maxie tells Cody that she thinks Britt is going to love it. Right after she hates it first. He’s going to need a spare. He says, if she burns it? and she says, see? He’s already learning how Britt thinks. He says, maybe Maxie should give it to her, but she says, no way. She’s not getting in the middle of this mess. He says, she already saw for herself; Britt wants nothing to do with him. She says, the you Britt wants nothing to do with is the phony you that showed up on your date. If he shows up as the real him – gift in hand, heart on his sleeve – that just might show her that he’s the right guy for her. Besides, asking a third party to pass a note is beneath everybody involved. He thanks her, and she says she’s a diehard romantic.

Britt asks if the patient is a potential witness in Trina’s trial, and Jordan says, the individual who inquired about this opioid, could they be connected to our victim? Britt says, Jordan doesn’t think the OD was accidental, and Jordan says, it’s early days. Could the individual who asked Britt about the drugs shed any light on Oz Haggerty, or the video of Joss and Cam? Britt flashes back to Spencer asking her about the pill he found in Esme’s closet, and she tells Jordan that she couldn’t say. Jordan asks if this conversation is privileged, but Britt says, no. Jordan says, Britt is protecting someone; she gets it. But a young woman’s freedom may be at stake. Britt says, what happens if she gives up this person’s identity and the information becomes useless? and Jordan says, if it doesn’t help Trina, then they never had this conversation. How about it? Can Britt tell Jordan what she knows, and let her decide if it’s relevant?   

Diane steps away to take a call, and Trina asks if it isn’t enough that Spencer trashed their friendship and sided with his psycho girlfriend. He had to testify against her? He says, he was subpoenaed; he didn’t have a choice. She says, like that makes a difference. Esme won’t stop until she’s destroyed Trina, and he’s happy to help. He says, she’s wrong, and she says, prove it. Rory comes over and tells Trina, it’s not worth it, and she says, truest thing said in the courtroom today, walking away with him. Ava looks at Spencer.

Victor doesn’t understand Nikolas’s confused sense of honor. Personally, he’d rather bury accusation and accuser before throwing himself on the mercies of an angry wife. Nikolas says he appreciates the thought, sort of, but when it comes to Ava, he refuses to compound his mistakes. He’s done lying. Victor says, at least let him drop Nikolas at the courthouse. Yohan has a talent for shortcuts. Nikolas says, and speed limits? and Victor says, it’s like flying on angel’s wings. Nikolas says, he’ll take any and all the help he can get. I don’t think Nikolas should get in a car with Victor.

Ryan tells Esme, if Ava and Nikolas survive this infidelity, then all of their efforts will have been for nothing. It can’t happen. Her phone rings, and she says she has to take this. She tells Arden that she was just about to call, and Arden says, why call when she could be there in person like she’s supposed to be. Where is she? Esme says she had a family matter, and Arden says, if she’s not here after this recess is over in ten minutes, she’s going to hold Esme in contempt. She says she’s on her way, and tells Ryan that she has to go. He says, if she promises not to do what Spencer asks, he’ll make a promise of his own. When he get out of here, they’ll find her mother together. She says, no promises, and leaves. Ryan sits back down in his wheelchair.  

Diane tells Trina, she knows it was hard, but there’s good news. Trina says, not from where she’s sitting, and Diane says, Spencer Cassadine wasn’t able to account for all of Esme’s whereabouts. That gives them an opening they didn’t have before he took the stand. Taggert says, which means… and Diane says, which means, when Esme Prince gets on the stand, all bets are off.  

Rory says he should have handled his testimony better yesterday, but Josslyn says, he was just doing his job. Trina doesn’t blame him for that. He asks if she’s sure, and she says, read the room, officer. Trina let him hold her hand while she kicked Spencer in the teeth. She thinks he’s good. He says he’s read the room, and Trina. She still cares about Spencer. Josslyn says, so? Spencer was Trina’s friend, and he took Esme’s side against her. That, she will never forgive.

Ava says she’s on to Spencer, and he asks what nefarious thing he’s done now. She says, it’s what he didn’t do. He had every opportunity to give Esme an ironclad alibi, and yet… He tells her, what can he say? He’s an idiot. He turns around, his back to her, and she leans forward and says, he’s a lot of things, but an idiot, never. He smiles, and she says, which begs the question, who’s side is he really on?

Tomorrow, Nikolas says he made a mistake; Esme says she’s so going to enjoy this; and Dex says, if Sonny needs something like that done, he’s Sonny’s guy.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

We come in where we left off, Erika announcing there are chicken  tenders, but Crystal can’t have one. Also, she needs another drink. Kathy arrives, and talks to Sheree (not that one) like they know each other, but Sheree doesn’t think they’ve met before. We flash back to Kathy mistaking Garcelle for Kyle. A guy sits down at the piano, and Erika goes to the mic, but someone steers her back to her seat. Asher sings O Holy Night, and I’m like, someone shoot me. In LisaR’s interview, she says, it’s so magical, moving, and meaningful; he’s a talent. Oh please. He’s okay, but the song is a bit ambitious for his limited range. Erika starts to sing loudly along with him, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says she thinks Erika misses the spotlight. She won’t shut up. Erika yells for him to hit high note, but luckily he doesn’t reach for that. In Crystal’s interview, she says, Erika’s had too much to drink, and her behavior is not respectful. She’s a little out of control. Asher finishes, there’s applause, and the guests disperse to mingle. Kathy gets some compliments on her bag, and she says, it’s an antique. Kyle says, it’s last season, and Kathy says, that’s antique for Beverly Hills.

Erika once again tells whoever’s listening that she’s lit, and tells the waitress that she wants a champagne orgasm moment. I have no idea what that means, and I’m not sure I want to, but I’m grateful the drink she’s brought doesn’t have a vibrator as a garnish. Kathy sits down, and Erika says, she needs to get something off her chest. Kathy invited her to events, but she didn’t want to bring scorn and her scarlet letter to Kathy’s daughters or Kathy. For real, she said it like that. Kathy says, if Erika hadn’t replied, it would be different, but she did, and Kathy respects her feelings. Erika asks her to explain to Paris and Nicky that it’s not personal. She just didn’t want to bring shame to them. Like they even noticed she wasn’t there. They toast to Paris and Carter. Kyle is sitting with Crystal, Garcelle, and Sheree, and tells them that Sutton was excited to come, but tested positive for covid. She thought Sutton seemed lonely, and has to be alone on Christmas. It broke her heart. Kathy joins them, and Garcelle asks how Erika is. Kathy says, getting out of control. On the other couch, LisaR suggests Erika put her drink down, but Erika says, no. Kyle says she thinks Erika was having a good time, and they cut her some slack, but Garcelle says, Kyle cut her some slack; she’s not doing that. Kathy says, you don’t want to put yourself in the position of drinking and getting out of control. Erika tells Diana that LisaR’s daughter Amelia inspired her to take care of her mental health. She’s on Lexapro and Wellbutrin, and she’s had drinks, but she’s okay. Not a great endorsement for Amelia’s inspiration. Garcelle tells Kyle, they can’t be in denial for the safety of the friendship . Erika was out of control on the boat – we flash back to Erika telling Garcelle to pee on the new girl – and at Garcelle’s party – we flash back to her telling Garcelle’s son, get the f*** out – and now tonight, when Asher was singing, she was shouting out. Kyle says she thinks she’s sensitive to someone saying someone else drinks too much because of Kim, and in her interview, she says she thinks it’s dangerous to throw around labels. Garcelle wants her to say Erika has a drinking problem, but she’s not doing that. I think it’s more like Kyle is non-committal because she’s a coward. She tells Garcelle that labels make her nervous, and Garcelle says, sometimes there is no excuse; it can just be bad. In Crystal’s interview, she says, Kyle’s idea of being a loyal friend is backing the person 100% of the time. Crystal expects her good friends to call her out, and not just back her blindly. Amen, sister.

Erika says she couldn’t have made it through without LisaR, her daughter, and the people around her. LisaR says, that’s what friends are for, and thank God, Erika doesn’t start singing. Erika starts saying nonsense, and LisaR says, it’s Erika’s first time out, and they need to go home. Erika has a hard time standing, and Diana and LisaR get on either side of her, helping her up. She says she loves everyone. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, maybe tonight everyone will see that Erika is having a hard time. She’s been saying it all along, and knows she’s right. She doesn’t want to be right, but it’s happening right in front of them. She tells Diana that everything was beautiful, and Diana apologizes for her behavior at Garcelle’s party; it was inappropriate. Sutton said a few things, and pressed every button, and she lashed out in a rude way. We flash back to that, and Diana apologizes again. In Diana’s interview, she says she enjoys Garcelle. Garcelle is at ease and approachable. She doesn’t know if it’s Garcelle, her, or Sutton not being there. Kathy hides Kyle’s bag, and Kyle says, this is not an Easter egg hunt. In her interview, she says, her sisters love to hide things. Kathy thinks if she doesn’t have her purse, she can’t leave, so she’ll stay and have more fun.

PK and Dorit sit down to talk, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, three weeks ago, PK was driving home from a work dinner. He’d had a glass of wine, and was pulled over and brought to the station. We see the various news programs talking about it, and she says, weeks later, the press magically found out that PK was brought in on suspicion of a DUI. She found out the day after, but now they need to have the conversation again because she’s annoyed again. He tells her, it was late and he didn’t want to worry her. He’d blown an .081, which was over the legal limit, but on a second test, he blew a .073. He just got a ticket, and originally wasn’t going to tell her. She says, the one thing that’s important in their marriage is, don’t lie, period. He says, no husband would want to wake their wife at 4 am after what she’d been through, and Dorit says, the only reason he told her was because he needed her to pick up his car. In her interview, she says, he should be counting his blessings. He had to tell her. If she’d found out when the press did, they’d have bigger problems. She tells him that she doesn’t trust anyone more than she does him. He says he’d never lie to her, but sometimes he’ll delay telling her, or pick the right time. In Dorit’s interview, she says, she can tell he had the scare of his life, and learned his lesson. She tells him, don’t do it again; she was about to kill him.

Erika, Mikey, and some other assistant check out 25 samples of hair extensions that have come in. LisaR comes by, and Mikey tells her that they’re having a Pretty Mess Hair meeting. In Erika’s interview, she says she knows what it’s like to have it all, and we flash back to private jets, lavish vacations, etc., etc., etc. She says, she’s going to work her ass off to get everything back. Why hair? She’s worn every extension, clip-in, ponytail, tape, and keratin (um… isn’t that a conditioner?) for over a decade, and has the knowledge just from wearing it. Mikey says, it’s on brand, and a long time coming. The meeting breaks up, and LisaR asks if Erika got home from the party okay. Erika says she blacked out. She got home, hit her head, then vomited. In her interview, Erika says, the holidays are hard for everybody, and they’re hard for her this year. She has great memories of family holidays before. They were loving and great, and now it feels desolate. She tells LisaR that it’s the fallout of everything that’s happened, and in her interview, she says she wanted to feel good and have fun, so she overdid it. LisaR says, Erika has been having stronger drinks, and Erika says, it was a routine part of socializing, and it’s hard to regulate. LisaR says, she was out of control, and Mikey says he’s known Erika for twelve or thirteen years, and she’s not a drinker. In her interview, LisaR says she thinks Erika needs to hear what she has to say, and tells Erika that she can’t cross that line; it’s not good for her. Erika says, it’s reckless. She could hurt herself. LisaR says, Erika has gone through tremendous trauma. Her husband wasn’t the guy she or any of them thought he was, and Erika had to deal with it because they’re married. She’s in a lot of pain. In her interview, LisaR says, she comes from experience. When she was six, her sister died of an overdose. Her sister was in pain, but they didn’t consider her an addict. She understands. She tells Erika, stop this now; it’s not who she is. Erika says, it’s hard to accept. She always prided herself on being controlled. She pushed too far, and sometimes it’s hard to be honest with friends. She thanks LisaR, and LisaR says, they all have a rock bottom moment. She thinks this was Erika’s. I can’t help thinking, the only reason LisaR beat Garcelle to the punch is, she thought it would be good screen time, and good for her image as the concerned friend.

Everyone talks about holidays, and in LisaR’s interview, she says, they lost Lois in November, and had to go through Thanksgiving and Christmas without her, but she feels lucky to have spent every Christmas with her. We see clips of what everyone did on Christmas, and in Sutton’s interview, she says, there’s nothing better than spending Christmas Day alone. She bought herself a present so she’d have something to unwrap. We see a beautiful silver and blue cocktail ring, and she says, 2021 was weird. She’s thinking, 2022, this is it. Yeah. We all thought that 2020 was going to be our year.  

Garcelle tells Jaid that she’s doing an audio version of her book, and he says, books suck; he hates reading. Sutton comes over, and Garcelle asks if she has cooties, but she’s good. Garcelle says, she’s so hopeful for 2022. She’s going to try and make a change with herself. Sutton says she wants to be better. She loses her temper. We flash back to her calling Diana an a-hole and soulless, and Garcelle tells her about Diana’s party. She says, Asher sang, and his hair was flowing, and Erika was more than tipsy. Kyle insisted she was just getting lose. Sutton says she doesn’t think Erika would receive any advice from her too well, and Garcelle says, she’ll take care of it. In Sutton’s interview, she says, that would go over well. She’d say, you have a problem, and get her face eaten off. She tells Garcelle, this is her life as a single person. She has to fix that; put her guard down a little. Her ex, Christian, has a serious girlfriend. In her interview, she says, she thinks it’s important that she put herself out there. It’s not fun being alone. She and Garcelle bonded over being divorced single mothers, sharing custody with their exes. They both wanted someone to talk to, since they didn’t have a partner. Sutton says, the failure of it all, and Garcelle says, stop. Sutton says, you feel vulnerable when you’re sick and don’t have anybody. She called every one of her exes.

In Sutton’s interview, she says, this is her fifth date in five months. She’s looking for someone who’s tall, has a job, and is educated. She tells assistant Joshua that she wants to look relaxed, but not slutty. In her interview, she says, dealbreakers are affection for hoodies, ponytails, and white unmarked vans. We flash back to the Reunion where Sutton said boyfriend Michael broke up with her Valentine’s weekend. In her interview, Sutton says, this might point out that she’s not the best dater. She’s just trying again to see if she can be better. A producer asks if she’s considered friends with benefits, and she says, her [male] friends are gay. She’s not sure they want that benefit.

Dorit visits Kyle, and says, the headline about PK has surfaced weeks later. In Dorit’s interview, she says, people who know you, people who haven’t spoken to you in years, everyone wants to send a message. She has to tell the story, and relive this again and again and again… Kyle says, PK told Mauricio, and he didn’t say anything to her. Dorit says, PK tells Mauricio everything. He’d take a bullet for Mauricio. In Kyle’s interview, she says, it’s nice PK and Mauricio have a great relationship, but clearly something major happened, and Mauricio never bothered to tell her. She’s not going to pretend it’s not a big deal, or didn’t hurt her feelings; it did. Kyle tells Dorit, it’s a reminder; a lesson to everyone. She sees the police, and already feels like she has a dead body in the trunk. She would die if she was pulled over. No comment. Kyle says she checks on her daughters every night, and they check on her, and Dorit says, an open doorway of communication is important. She tells her kids the same thing she tells PK: never lie to her. They’ll always get through whatever it is, but it will be better than if they lied.

Sutton meets Sanjit at an upscale pizza place, and in her interview, she says, she never dated much. She married young, and it’s hard to date in 2022 when you’re 50. She and Sanjit met on the [sic] Bumble. We flash back to the women getting in on a call to Sanjit, and Sutton says, after the girls were in his face, they went out. She found out he’s from Virginia, and went to law school in New Orleans. He was also on Jeopardy. She does background checks on people she dates. I can’t say I blame her. She says, they went on one date, and she loved it. They went to a dive bar (not sure what her definition of that is). He had a beer, and she had a glass of wine, and they talked about movies, books, and college football. A month later, they’re going on a second date, and she wants to dive deeper, and get to know him. Sanjit says he loves music, and he found out the Go-Gos are playing at the Whiskey. Instead of taking that cue and saying she’d love to see them, she says she also loves music. She loves garage bands, since she grew up in the 80s. He mentions The Clash, and she says, those were the days. In her interview, she says she doesn’t know what she’s looking for. She doesn’t think marriage. Just somebody to put up with her. She says she’s trying to decide if he wants a third date.

Garcelle meets Erika at a rooftop restaurant/bar, and asks, how’s Erika’s dating life? Erika says, her sex life is better than her dating life. What’s she going to do, hold hands? She asks the waitress for chamomile tea with honey, but the waitress says, they don’t do hot drinks on the roof. Erika asks for cognac, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says, that was a jump. Maybe a Shirley Temple or water. They toast to a happy new year, and Garcelle asks how Erika is. Erika says she’s okay, and Garcelle says, the last time she saw Erika, she was tipsy, but Erika says, not tipsy; blacked out. Garcelle says she was starting slow, and Erika says she appreciates Garcelle being gentle, but she was blacked out. She was thinking she could drink with her medicine, and wanted to have a good time. Garcelle says she gets it, but Erika doesn’t want to let it get to the point where everyone is worried and it looks messy. Erika says, LisaR called her on the carpet, which surprises Garcelle as much as it did me. Erika says, obviously, she’s struggling. She lost her husband, her home, and her stuff, but no one tells you how to rebuild. Um… downsizing for a while maybe? She tells Garcelle, her gut says she’ll be all right, but there are moments she’s like, oh sh*t. Garcelle says, just like everyone else (although everyone else doesn’t have a Glam Squad), and in Garcelle’s interview, she says, the first step is recognizing you have a problem. She believes Erika, and is glad to see she’s owning it. Erika says, she’s had so much ripped away, her eyes are open, and Garcelle asks if she sees anything in their friend group that she didn’t before. Erika says she’s glad Garcelle has Sheree, because Sutton is a liability; she’s unpredictable. In her interview, Garcelle says, she finds it strange that Erika is saying that, since Erika and Sutton were buddies in Mexico. We flash back to that, and Garcelle says, Erika is a liability walking around. Is there a more scandalous woman in America? Garcelle wishes everyone would lay off Sutton, and Erika says, Sutton is the master of her own disaster. She knows Sutton is Garcelle’s friend, but Garcelle doesn’t have to cover for her all the time. Garcelle says she doesn’t think she does that, but Erika says she thinks Garcelle feels responsible for protecting Sutton. Sutton is a big girl. She knows what she’s doing. Garcelle makes a skeptical face.

Next time, LisaR says, everyone thinks she’s a bitch, and Sutton says, she is; Garcelle talks to Dorit about Erika; LisaR brings the group to a wine tasting; and Sutton and LisaR have it out.

🐶 Dogging the Days Of Summer…

Stop in tomorrow to check out some soap and some Charmers. Until then, stay safe, stay motivating others, and stay remembering mistakes are made in haste.

July 26, 2022 – Nina Feels the Fallout, Honored, Jack’s Message, Mistake, Shocking, One More, Revelation, Next Chapter, In Love, For Shame, Sub-Genre, Adding Spice & Stop

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Josslyn brings Carly coffee, and she takes a sip. She tells Josslyn, it’s really strong, and Josslyn says, sorry. She added a few extra scoops. She couldn’t sleep last night, and has to get through the trial today. Is it too much? Carly says, it’s fine; she likes it. Josslyn was out late last night. What’s up? Josslyn says she went for a run, and took a longer route than usual. Carly says, and that route led her to Sonny?

Nina tells pool bartender Aaron that one of the servers just called in, and they’re short-staffed already. Can he fill in? He says he’s a bartender, not wait staff, and she says she realizes that, but it would really help if he could pitch in. He won’t be busy there until lunch. He says he’s in the middle of prep, and doesn’t think she knows what his job is like. She says she thinks he has the time, and he says, she’s been here a whole day. Is Mrs. Quartermaine around? She says, it doesn’t matter how long she’s been here. She’s co-owner, and she’s telling him to pitch in. He says he knows all about her. He read the article in The Invader. He knows how she stole that baby, how she stole Mrs. Corinthos’s husband, and this hotel. Carly was an awesome boss, so he’ll be taking his orders from Mrs. Quartermaine, not her. Sonny says, he’d better watch his mouth. You don’t talk to your boss like that.

Taggert walks Trina into the courtroom, and asks if she’s okay. She says, every person who testified yesterday knows she’s innocent, but the ADA kept twisting their words around, making it sound like they were covering up for her; asking them questions they didn’t know the answer to. He puts his hands on her shoulders, and tells her not to lose hope. Every person who testified yesterday came out swinging. They took every chance they could to protect and defend her. They’re Taggerts. This ain’t over til it’s over. Rory comes in, and says, agreed, and whatever that jury decides, it will be in her favor.

At the hospital, Portia hugs Curtis, and says she missed him last night. Did he get any sleep at all? He says he missed her too. TJ managed to sneak him into one of the on-call rooms for a quick snooze. He wanted to be close, in case Oz’s condition changed. He’s still in a medically induced coma. She says she knows; she checked as soon as she got here. He asks why she’s not at the courthouse, and she says she’s on her way, but had to check on a few of her patients first. He asks how Trina is doing, but Portia says she doesn’t know. Trina was quiet this morning, and left with her dad. Did Curtis talk to Taggert at all? He says, not yet, and she says, talk to her. Tell her how he found this guy. Tell her what happened. Jordan joins them, and says, she’d like to know the same thing.

Esme calls the hospital, and says she’s checking on the status of her father. He came in last night with a drug overdose; Oz Haggerty. She hears someone coming, and hangs up. Spencer comes in, and she says she was just on her way out. He says, no you don’t. Time’s up.

Nikolas asks if Ava is sure she doesn’t want him to go with her to the courthouse. He knows how worried she is about Trina. She says she’ll be fine. That’s sweet though; he’s been very sweet this morning. He says, speaking of sweet… and kisses her. He tells her to call as soon as she knows anything. She says she will, and picks up a manila envelope. He asks, what’s that? and she says, it’s here. He says, what is it? and she says, our future; their divorce papers. Did he know Martin was sending them? He says he was under the impression Martin was still reviewing them. She says, he did. It just needs their signatures. He takes them from her, and tells her not to worry about them now. She’s got enough on her plate worrying about Trina. She’d better get going. She says, they might as well get it over with, but he says he can’t sign them.

Spencer tells Esme, quit stalling. What’s her answer? Is she going to exonerate Trina, so she can learn who her birth mother is; yes or no? She says, that’s not something she can decide overnight, and he says, they’re testifying today, so she needs to make a decision now. She says, so he can go crawling to Trina, and tell her about his noble gesture? He tells her that he hasn’t said anything to Trina. He doesn’t care what she thinks of him. Esme says, oh please, give me a break, and he says, Trina is innocent. All he cares about is making sure she doesn’t go to prison. She says, but he doesn’t give a damn if she goes there? She doesn’t even think it’s possible for her to get Trina off the hook without going to jail herself, but he says, she’ll figure it out. Scheming is second nature to her. She’s been manipulating people and situations since the day they met. She says she never manipulated him; she loved him. Everything she did, she did for him. He wanted to break up his father and Ava, and maybe she took some things too far, but she did that because they were a team and they loved each other; at least she thought so. He says he’s heard all this before. What’s her answer? Is she taking his deal? She says she’s not sure his offer is worth helping Trina. Trina’s the reason she lost him.

Trina says she didn’t think she’d see Rory today, but he says he took a personal day; he wanted to support her. He’s so sorry for what he said on the stand. He feels terrible that he gave the jury any cause to doubt her. She says, that ADA is definitely doing a good job. She’s convinced Trina is guilty. Rory says, well, she’s wrong. It’s lucky Trina has such a smart lawyer. He’d thought he’d blown it for her completely, but when Diane cross-examined him, she gave him a chance to explain that the only reason Trina was in The Highsider was to get the bartender to ID Esme. But he should have done a better job with his original testimony, or figure out a way to dodge ADA Arden’s questions. She tells him, stop. She’s not the least bit upset, so give himself a break. He says he’s upset with himself. He’s going to make it up to her… if she’ll let him.

Jordan says she heard Curtis was quite the hero last night, and he asks if it’s an official interrogation. Jordan says she’s sure they’re both upset with her after her testimony, but she was under oath; she had to answer honestly. Portia says, no one expected anything otherwise, and Jordan says, really? Because she can tell Curtis is holding something back. Come on. Let her have it.

Josslyn says, unbelievable. Sonny came running to Carly after the way he’s treated her. What did he say? Carly says she wants to hear what Josslyn has to say, and Josslyn says, like she told Carly, she went for a run, and took a longer route than usual. She saw Sonny get out of his car, alone, which she thought was weird. Then she saw him walk into this alleyway, which was weirder. She went to check it out, and pulled out her phone as a precaution. She saw Sonny and his new muscle beating up some guy and threatening to kill him, and she recorded the whole thing. Carly says she’s sorry Josslyn had to see that, but she knows Sonny’s life. Did she stop and think it could turn into a more dangerous situation? Josslyn says, at the time, she just saw Sonny breaking the law. If it was anybody else, she would have done the same thing. Maybe not let them see her or hung around after… Carly says, Josslyn did that because she knew Sonny wouldn’t hurt her, and Josslyn says, who cares if Sonny wouldn’t hurt her? He was definitely hurting that guy in the alleyway. Why should Sonny get away with that? Why should she pretend it isn’t happening? Sonny trashed their family, and she’s done looking the other way.

Nina thanks Sonny, but says she thinks she’s got this. He asks the bartender what his name is, and Nina says, his name is Aaron. Sonny tells Aaron that he heard what Aaron said to his boss, and he gets it. What Aaron said was foolish and disrespectful, but in his experience, people who do those kinds of things usually have something else going on. He knows it felt good in the moment, but it doesn’t solve what’s really going on, and it doesn’t help Aaron in the long run to disrespect Nina like that, does it? Aaron shakes his head, and Sonny says he could be wrong. He has been in the past, but if that’s the case, they’ve got a bigger problem.

Curtis tells Jordan, there is something he wants to say, and she says she’s listening. He thanks her, and tells her that he saw what she did on that stand. ADA Arden had her backed into corner after corner, yet Jordan chose her words carefully, so as not to give the ADA any added ammunition against Trina. Then in the cross, she made sure to point out that Trina’s demeanor was not consistent with that of a guilty person, and answered before Arden could object. She did her job admirably; it meant a lot. Portia says, it meant a lot to both of them, and Trina feels the same way. Jordan says, Trina’s a strong young lady, and she’ll always be on the side of justice. To that end, she needs to know how it happened to be Curtis who brought in Oz Haggerty; the same bartender who came up when Diane was questioning Officer Cabrera. The same bartender who allegedly sold Trina the unregistered phone that was used in the crime. Curtis says, it happens that he found Oz passed out, and made sure he was brought here safely. She says, tell her how he found Oz, and why. What does he know that she should know?

Rory says he intends to be by Trina’s side for the rest of the trial, and she asks if Diane knows she’s being replaced. He says, for real. He promises to do all he can to make things better for him. Arden sees them, and says she wants word with Rory, now.

Ava asks if there’s a problem, but Nikolas says, no problem; it’s clarity. He just realized, she was right all along. The divorce is off. She says, he’s been convincing her for weeks they needed to do this. Now he’s doing a 180, and she’s confused. He says he knows. He was wrong. Reality struck. Hearing his grandmother’s house burned down, reminded him how unfair and random life can be. Anything can happen at any moment, and he can’t risk putting her through that. Please tell him that she understands.

Spencer says, all these proclamations of love, and what a team he and Esme were. He thought so too, but he realizes now what they had was never love. If someone loves him, they don’t hurt his friends. They don’t lie to his face over and over again. She says she didn’t, but he says, just don’t. Take the energy she spends on her lies, and put it to good use. Figure out how to set Trina free before it’s too late.

Aaron says, Sonny is right. He has stuff going on with his parents. He’s sorry for what he said, and how he said it. He’ll clock out and go. Nina says she’s not firing him. She accepts his apology. Just don’t let it happen again. He thanks her, calling her boss, and leaves. She tells Sonny that she’s impressed how he talked to Aaron. It reminds her of a man she knew in Nixon Falls. He says, him too, and she thanks him for having her back. He says, always. He had it when he suggested she sell her half of the hotel. This is the exact situation he warned her about. She says, really? How so?

Carly says she gets where Josslyn is coming from, and her feelings are 100% valid, but like she’s told Josslyn’s father many times over the years, if you go after Sonny, you have to consider the collateral damage. Josslyn says, Donna and Avery, and Carly says, yes. They’ve already had so much loss, it’s not fair to take their father away from them again. Josslyn says, that was Sonny’s message too. He said busting him for assault and attempted murder was somehow unfair to Donna and Avery. Carly says, Josslyn doesn’t agree? and Josslyn says, being a father is not a get get-out-of-jail-free pass. It doesn’t excuse the things Sonny has done, and will continue to do. Everyone is saying he’s such a good father, but shouldn’t they consider the life he leads puts Donna and Avery in danger? He certainly didn’t think about them during his time in Nixon Falls. Carly says, he didn’t remember them, but Josslyn says, he didn’t want to remember them. Isn’t that what he said during his testimony? That he was so happy with Nina in Nixon Falls, he didn’t care to think about anything else? Carly says she gets it. She gets Josslyn is mad about what Sonny put them through. So is she, but she’s trying so hard to move past it, and she can’t do that if she’s worrying about Josslyn going after Sonny.

Ava tells Nikolas, of course (🍷) she understands. The divorce on paper is tempting fate. It’s symbolic maybe, but legally binding. She’s thrilled they’re ditching it. He says, him too. Being her husband is all that matters to him. She says she feels the same way about being his wife. Now that that’s settled, she really has to go to court. What’s he going to do with those? He says he’ll find a symbolic way of destroying them, and they’ll celebrate not divorcing tonight. She asks if he has anything in mind, and he says, she’ll find out. They kiss, and she leaves.

Esme says, Spencer is asking a lot of her, but he says, in return for equal value. His Uncle Victor used considerable resources to find her birth mother. Does Esme want to know who she is or not? Nikolas walks in, and asks if everything is okay, and Spencer says, Trina’s trial is today, so they’re a little on edge. Nikolas says he’ll bet. At least he has some good news for Esme. He pulled some strings, and her internship at Spring Ridge has been reinstated. Esme says, oh my God. Really? This is amazing. She thanks him, and hugs him. She says she’s going to call her supervisor now, and work on her schedule. As she leaves, Spencer says, too bad she can’t start today, and she says, yes, of course (🍷), closing the door behind her. Spencer asks why Nikolas is always helping Esme.

Curtis says, he’s surprised the Commissioner is personally investigating an overdose victim, and Jordan says, she takes an interest when the victim’s name comes up in testimony during an ongoing trial. And when the person who found him is closely connected to the defendant. Portia says, certainly Jordan isn’t suggesting that Curtis had anything to do with the OD, and Jordan says, absolutely not, but it does raise questions. What’s going on? Curtis says, if he tells her, this can’t get back to the ADA.

Arden asks Rory, what’s going on? He’s not testifying today, and he’s out of uniform. He says he’s not on duty. He’s here as a private citizen, and she asks how he thinks it looks, cavorting with the defendant. (Cavorting?) He says he can’t control what people think, and she says, but he can control his actions. And if he doesn’t, is he ready for the consequences? Trina and Taggert watch from the courtroom, and Trina asks if Taggert thinks Arden is reprimanding Rory for his actions; for being here and supporting her. He says, it’s very possible, and she says she doesn’t want Rory to get in trouble because he’s her friend. Taggert says, she made Rory aware of the possible ramifications when they started the friendship. What’s going on here and now is not on her. Rory made a choice. I’m not quite getting this, since Arden isn’t his boss, but it’s not the first time something hasn’t made sense to me in Port Charles.

Josslyn says, Carly can relax, because Sonny’s guy convinced her to delete the recording. Carly asks how he managed that, and Josslyn says, he told her that if she turned the footage over to the cops, Sonny would just beat the charges, and that he – the guy – wouldn’t. And he’s probably right. Diane has gotten Sonny out of much worse. She just didn’t understand why the guy should go to prison for just following orders, yet Sonny’s not going to go for giving them. Carly says, makes sense, and Josslyn says, of course (🍷) the guy’s an idiot for even accepting a job from Sonny. Everybody knows who Sonny is and what he does. He had to know sooner or later he’d be expected to do something illegal. Carly says, Jason worked for Sonny, and he wasn’t an idiot, but Josslyn says, maybe he was. She loved Jason – she thought he was the best – but maybe he was an idiot, for making all those sacrifices for Sonny. No offense, but maybe Carly was an idiot for standing by him for that long. Sonny didn’t do that for her. Michael’s right. Sonny’s gotten away with all this crap for all these years because they lined up and made excuses for him. But he showed them who he really is. He showed them what they mean to him. Carly takes Josslyn’s hand, and says she’s not going to defend Sonny, but he’s still Donna and Avery’s father, and for their sake, she’d like to coexist. Josslyn wonders what she’s asking, and Carly says, the next time Josslyn goes for a run and sees Sonny walking down an alley, keep running. Josslyn says, she probably would have, except… Carly says, except what? and Josslyn says she was still mad about her testimony. Carly says, so that’s what fueled her interaction with Sonny? She thinks it was about control. Josslyn says, control of what? and Carly says she thinks Josslyn needed to reclaim some for herself, after the ADA weaponized her words against her best friend.

Sonny says he’s glad Olivia still serves Corinthos Coffee, and Nina says, why wouldn’t they? It’s top notch. He says, it would send the wrong message to change brands now, after everything that’s going on. All he’s saying is, Nina keeping Carly’s half of the hotel is going to cause a fallout. Nina says, now that they’ve established Sonny Corinthos is right, she has a few interns she needs to… He says, it’s not about who’s wrong. It’s about her accusing him of being more concerned about Carly than her. He’s there for her. He’s just trying to protect her. She says, really? She’s dealt with difficult employees before, but she needs to know he has her back when it counts. He says, always, and she says, it didn’t seem that way when he was trying to convince her to sell her half of the MetroCourt. He says, because he thought it was the wrong move. He has to speak his mind, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t support her. She says, there’s a difference between honesty and undermining, and he says he’s always going to be straight with her, even if she doesn’t like what he has to say. If she can’t deal with that, this is not going to work.

Jordan says, her part in Trina’s trial concluded after she gave her testimony, but as far as she’s concerned, the investigation is ongoing. She’s only obligated to inform the DA’s office if she sees a miscarriage of justice. Curtis says, okay. He’s tracking the black market phone Jordan found in Trina’s purse. He’s working to prove it was bought from Oz Haggerty by Esme Prince. Portia says, that’s why Trina and Joss were at The Highsider. They even brought it up in court yesterday, but of course (🍷) they twisted it, and used it against Trina. Curtis says, yeah, they did, but Josslyn and Trina went to that bar to find the bartender who sold Esme that phone. When they found him, they showed him a pic of Esme, and he recognized her. Jordan says she’s impressed by their initiative, but it was reckless. Portia says, she and Trina’s father weren’t happy about it, but she wasn’t surprised. At least they found something. Curtis says, he and Taggert took it from there, with a little help from Marshall, and a nephew who will remain nameless. He and Marshall followed Oz to his hotel room. They dropped a few threats about his connection to Trina’s case, and he took the bait. He went straight to Windymere. Jordan says, that’s interesting. Did he meet with Esme? Curtis says, they couldn’t get proof of that, but they saw Ava at the pier, and looped her in. But by the time she got there, Oz was gone. He’d disappeared, and didn’t return on the launch. He thinks Esme helped him get off the island undetected. Portia says, and now he is here, in a coma, with information that could clear her daughter.

On the phone, Esme says she called before about her father Oz Haggerty… Still no change?… They’re sure?

Nikolas says, Esme is Spencer’s girlfriend; why wouldn’t he help her? Spencer says, pulling strings takes effort. Phone calls, reciprocal favors. He’s just surprised Nikolas is going the extra mile for her. Nikolas says, nothing is more important to him than Spencer, and as long as Spencer cares for Esme, her concerns are important to him as well. Spencer says he didn’t ask Nikolas to do all that for him, and Nikolas says he wants Spencer to be happy. Is he happy? Spencer says he’s trying to be, and Nikolas asks how things are between Spencer and Esme. Spencer says, things are complicated, and Nikolas says, maybe he’s the problem. Spencer asks, how?

Josslyn tells Carly that she’s really worried for Trina. Her case isn’t looking so good. Carly says she knows, and she’s been where Trina is. Josslyn says, that’s what scares her. She felt so helpless on the stand. She counted on her testimony to help show Trina would never do something like that. As the victim, she thought it would turn the tide. That ADA twisted her words, and made Trina look guiltier than ever. Carly says, that’s her job, and Josslyn says she knows, but she doesn’t care. She hates herself for even answering the questions. She should have lied. Carly says, that would be perjury, and Josslyn says, then she should have shut her mouth, and let them hold her in contempt. Carly says, Josslyn did nothing wrong, and Josslyn says, then why does she have this awful feeling? Carly says, she’s afraid for her best friend. When Josslyn was on that stand, she was passionate in defense of Trina’s character, and put the blame on Esme. And the jury heard her, even though the ADA was trying to object. She showed strength, courage, and loyalty, and Carly is damn proud of her. She hugs Josslyn, and asks if she’s ready to go to the trial. Josslyn says, absolutely. She wants anyone on that jury who still doubts Trina to know her friends are not abandoning her. Carly says, that’s right.

Trina asks, what happened? but Rory says, nothing. She says, it was definitely something. ADA Arden didn’t look happy. The ADA thinks it’s bad optics for Rory to support her in public, doesn’t she? Rory says he’s not worried about her, and Trina says she’s not worried about her; she’s worried about him. Ava comes in, and asks how Trina is doing. Rory leaves, and Ava says, Officer Cabrera is back, huh? She hugs Trina, and says, he doesn’t appear to be on duty. Trina says, Rory is here to support her, and Ava says, Rory. Trina says, they’re friends, and Ava says, that’s all? Trina says, ask her again when the trial is over.

Taggert sits next to Rory, and says, Rory is a good friend to his daughter; he appreciates that. She needs her support system at this time. Rory says he’s proud to call Trina his friend, and Taggert says, he should be. Just for the record, Rory and him? They’re still not friends. Rory says, understood, sir.

Sonny says he came here because he didn’t like how he and Nina left things, and he doesn’t want to fight. Nina says, neither does she, but maybe this is another indication they need to take things slow. He says, why is that? and she says, they’re still trying to figure things out. He says, they’ve already figured each other out, but she says, if one fight derails them, it’s better to know now than later. He asks if that’s how she sees it, because he doesn’t see it that way, and she says, it is. He has a need to protect her from the world and coddle her? She doesn’t need to be coddled. She doubts he ever felt he needed to coddle Carly. He says, he and Carly have said way worse things to each other, and done way worse over the years. She says, if they’re aiming to have the kind of arrangement he had with Carly, where it gives them permission to be verbally abusive to each other, she doesn’t want any part of that, and walks away.

Curtis says, as soon as he connected Oz to Esme, he finds Oz fighting for his life. They know Esme is capable of some serious stuff, but this is attempted murder. Jordan asks if he thinks Esme knew he was on to her, and he says, it’s possible. Jordan says, since they can’t rule out illegal drug use being in play, it allows her to discreetly investigate. Portia says, thank you so much, and Curtis says, they appreciate it. Jordan says, she’s doing her job, and leaves. Portia’s phone dings, and she says, one of her patients is critical. Curtis tells her, go look into that, and he’ll stay to keep eyes on Oz. They can’t let him slip through their fingers again, not until he helps Trina.

Nikolas says he hasn’t been the best example to Spencer. He’s sorry Spencer is unhappy. Spencer says, they’ve had their moments, but this isn’t on Nikolas, and Nikolas says, part of being a parent feeling your child’s pain as if it were your own. He knows he’s caused that pain many times, but Spencer says, they’re moving past that now. Nikolas says he doesn’t know if he’ll ever move past the mistakes he’s made with Spencer. He’s like to promise not to make any more, but he probably will despite his best intentions. Just know that Nikolas loves him, and he’s a flawed man. Moving forward, he never wants to hurt Spencer again. Spencer says, they’re both flawed men. It’s okay. He’s… Esme comes in, and says she’s all set to resume her internship. Spencer says, great, but they should be getting to the courthouse. She says she’ll meet him there; she needs to change. He says he’ll wait, but she says, no need. She’ll be there. She won’t be late. He leaves, and Esme says she can’t begin to tell Nikolas how much this means to her. He says, they need to talk about her almost telling Ava and Spencer that they slept together, and she says she overreacted. He has no idea how much this internship means to her. It’s everything; it’s her future. When she contemplated telling them, it was in a weak moment. She would never do anything to hurt him or Spencer that way. He says she sure seemed to mean what she said, but she says, thankfully, it never came to that, and leaves.

Carly asks how Trina is doing, and she says she’s hanging in. Carly says, they’re all behind her; don’t forget that. Stay strong. Carly’s phone rings, and she steps out to take the call. Josslyn asks if that’s Trina’s dad sitting next to Rory, and Trina says she knows, right? His face seems neutral, which is a good sign. She can’t believe Rory showed up for her.

Ava catches Carly in the hallway, and says she understands Carly relinquished her share of the MetroCourt. Carly says she did, and Ava says, if Carly wants to spend more time with Avery, she’ll be glad to make that happen, since Carly will have more free time now. Carly says she’s always happy to spend time with Avery. Her family means more to her than a job ever could. Ava says, Carly is so fortunate she still has them. She’s lost so much lately. Carly says she is fortunate. Ava on the other hand, has to endure living with a stepson who hates her, and his psycho girlfriend who framed Trina. All because Ava’s husband can’t man up and kick them out, huh? Ava says, let’s just hope for the best for Trina, shall we? and goes into the courtroom. Carly’s phone rings again, and she says, Pilar? What’s up?

Sonny says, he knows he and Nina are just getting started. It’s going to take a little while to find their way, but that doesn’t mean they can’t speak their mind. He thinks that’s important, like they did in Nixon Falls. She says, absolutely, and he says he wants this; does she? She says, more than anything, and he says, then they have to stop comparing their relationship to his and Carly’s. That’s in the past. He takes her hand, and says, what they have is different. It’s meaningful, right? Nina says, he doesn’t always have to support her decisions – she knows he won’t – but she needs to know his loyalty is always with her. Carly’s long shadow is always going to hover over them, and no matter how hard they try to move forward, she’s afraid they’re never going to escape it. He says, they won’t, and she says, so he admits there are three people in this relationship, but he says, not between them. Carly is always going to be part of this. They can make peace with the past, but they can’t separate from what’s happened. Carly is the mother of his children, so it’s never going to be just the two of them. He can live with that because Nina means that much to him. What she has to decide is how much he means to her.

Carly tells Josslyn, she’s sorry, but she’s got to go. Donna got hurt on the playground. She’s okay. Pilar said she’s fine, but Carly wants to go home and make sure she’s okay. She’ll text when she gets there, and wants Josslyn to do the same; let her know what’s going on. Josslyn says, sure, and they hug. Josslyn tells Carly to give Donna a hug for her, and Carly leaves.

Taggert tells Trina that Diane is on her way; traffic. How is she doing? Does she need anything? Trina says she’s fine. She’s glad he’s here. She looks at Rory, and asks Taggert to excuse her for a minute. She needs to talk to Rory. Taggert says he’ll wait for her here, and she goes over to Rory. Taggert’s phone rings, and it’s Portia. She says, she doesn’t know what to do, and he tells her, take a breath, and tell him what’s going on. He thought she’d be here by now. She says, that’s the problem; she has an emergency. One of her patients is in critical condition, and being prepped for surgery right now. How does she do that to Trina? He tells her, do what she needs to do, and Trina will understand, but she says, Trina needs her. Trina needs her support, but her patient’s life depends on her. He tells her to take care of her patient, and he’ll take care of their daughter.

Trina says she knows Rory is downplaying what the ADA told him. If he needs to go, please leave. She doesn’t want him getting in any more trouble because of her. He says he wants to be here, but if him being here stresses her out… She says, that’s not what she means. She wants him to know that she realizes he’s putting himself out on a limb for her, and it means a lot. He says, in that case, he’s not going anywhere. Spencer walks in.

At Windymere, Nikolas asks Jordan if it’s an official visit, and she says, actually, it is. He asks how he can help, and she says she’d like to ask him a few questions about his recent visitor.

On the phone, Esme says she knows she’s not on the schedule yet, because her internship just got reinstated, but she needs to come in to see Ryan Chamberlain. Please tell her that she can see him right away. It’s urgent.

Tomorrow, Taggert asks if Ava has any idea what Spencer plans to say on the stand; Esme says, what’s leverage if you can’t use it; Victor says, as head of the family, he’s made a decision; and Ryan says, when you’re right, you’re right. I would assume to Esme, since he doesn’t talk to anyone else.

🍀 Lucky Lucky…

Pretty prestigious. It would have been nice if they’d been more specific about what he’d written though.

🙏 Thankful…

I don’t have kids, but I can’t imagine anything more difficult than losing a child.

⚠️ Not Yet…

Don’t you hate when that happens?

💎 It’s Her Turn…

Looks like Kathy is going to be in the hot seat for a while. She’s had a free ride too long.

💸 Another Day, Another Lawsuit…

I’m honestly starting to wonder.

👠 Took Long Enough…

What is wrong with these women that they even associate with that trash talking drunk?

https://okmagazine.com/p/kim-richards-reveals-why-she-ditched-brandi-glanville-friendship/?utm_source=Jeeng

🍑 After the ATL…

Cynthia is moving and shaking.

💕 Enjoying the Ride…

What that Sheree is up to.

👩🏻‍🍳 Model Chef…

I’d be amazed if anyone even remembers her being on ANTM. I don’t.

https://www.realitytitbit.com/bravo/below-decks-rachel-hargrove-body-shames-tyra-banks-after-2005-clash

🙀 Horror Plus…

The latest in queer horror.

https://ew.com/movies/rise-of-queer-horror-hannibal-chucky-shudder/

And while we’re on the subject, I can’t wait to see this.

https://ew.com/movies/kevin-bacon-they-them-trailer-theo-germaine/

🎶 Stop Right Now…

Not only is she posh, she’s a good sport.

https://people.com/music/victoria-beckham-does-spice-girls-karaoke-on-vacation-the-one-and-only-posh-spice/

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/victoria-beckham-sings-spice-girls-hit-hilarious-karaoke-87375405

World Tour 2008 – All 5 – It was the best!

🧍🏽‍♀️ Taking a Little Sidestep…

Meet me here tomorrow for soap and whatever’s cringeworthy in Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay letting your conscience be your guide, and stay knowing, if you accept a job from a mob boss, sooner or later you’ll be expected to do something illegal.

July 22, 2022 – Yesterday Once More, Real Hospital, Holiday Over, a Return, Midseason Hills, Shut Down, Eww, VanderNews, Dead Talk, Never Ending, Another Spin, Nope On the Best, XII Quotes & Finally

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

For today’s show, see yesterday:

👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 🍷 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼 👉🏼

🩺 Britt’s BFF…

This is a new medical one on me. Of course, now I’m worried I have the same condition.

🏝 Some Vacation…

At least it wasn’t at the beginning.

🧱 Hey La, Hey La, Brick Is Back…

Sadly, I guess he won’t be flirting with Carly anymore. Since I don’t watch sports, I had no idea his main gig was on ESPN.

💎 Cringeworthy Once Again…

In watching this, I understood what it is about Diana that I don’t like. She expects others to be empathetic of her without really knowing her, but she’s quick with judgements about people she doesn’t know. There was a poll on Twitter asking if she was soulless – which I think was just a dramatic word Sutton used, and not to be taken seriously – and I read she blocked people who said yes. Why? Is she afraid she might learn something about herself?

https://ew.com/tv/real-housewives-beverly-hills-midseason-trailer/

Kathy puts in her twelve million two cents.

https://extratv.com/2022/07/21/kathy-hilton-dishes-on-rhobh-drama-with-kyle-richards/

I don’t think anyone needs to be paid to spread negative stories about LisaR. She does well enough on her own.

📰 Exclusive…

Phaedra gives the skinny on landing back at Housewives.

https://www.etonline.com/phaedra-parks-shuts-down-rhoa-return-but-is-down-to-join-rhodubai-after-rhugt-experience-exclusive

☢️ Cross Reality Contamination…

Why? Not that he’s not good looking, but from Winter or Summer House? No, just no. <making cross with my index fingers>

🍸 The Queen Speaks…

https://extratv.com/2022/07/20/lisa-vanderpump-opens-up-about-tom-schwartz-and-katie-maloney-s-split/

And while we’re on the subject.

Oh and why not?

⚰️ Walking Closer…

The latest on TWD.

https://people.com/tv/the-walking-dead-final-episodes-trailer-san-diego-comic-con/

Buzz about the 47th spin-off. (Just kidding. I think it’s only the 10th.)

🎃 It Will Never End…

I’m sure somehow the cash cow that is Halloween will be milked well into the year 3000. Michael Meyers: Cryogenically Unfrozen.

https://ew.com/movies/halloween-ends-trailer-jamie-lee-curtis/

🐉 Spinning Off the Spin-Off…

House of the Dragon hasn’t even started yet, and already things are getting complicated.

https://ew.com/tv/steve-toussaint-game-of-thrones-sea-snake-prequel-series/

😱 But He’s Close…

I’m actually toying with the idea of going to the theater to see this. It looks so good.

https://ew.com/movies/jordan-peele-shuts-down-best-horror-director-praise-john-carpenter/

🦮 Quotes of the Week

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie

Never try to outstubborn a cat. Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

But instead of spending our lives running towards our dreams, we are often running away from a fear of failure or a fear of criticism. – Erin Wright

Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.Steve Maraboli

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. – Revelation 21:4 (NLT)

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man. – Elbert Hubbard

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace. – Thomas Paine

If you don’t like my shade, get out of my shadow. – Shereé (yes, that one) Whitfield, Real Housewives of Atlanta

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. – Marie Curie

I have more in common with a three-toed sloth or a one-eyed pterodactyl or a Kalamata olive than I have with Winston Churchill. – Boris Johnson (What?)

Music doesn’t lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music.  – Jimi Hendrix

Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.- Annette Funicello

🦛 Taking My Hunky Dory and Going…

If all goes according to plan, we’ll all be filling the next two days with activities that are gratifying and/or productive. Or not, if that’s what you like. Then we’ll reconvene on Monday for soap and yachting on the Med. Until then, stay safe, stay doing everything in moderation, but allowing for a splurge now and then, and stay trying to understand where others are coming from. You might not like them anyway, but you won’t hate them. Don’t be a Diana J.

July 20, 2022 – Chase Has His Big Debut, Diana’s Winter Wonderland In Beverly Hills & Black Day

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Brook says, voicemail again? and wonders why Chase isn’t calling her back. She leaves a message, saying, she hopes he isn’t having second thoughts. It’s important. She fully expects to see him at the Haunted Star in a half hour. Be there. She goes inside to the nook, and Michael and Willow are coming in. She asks if they’re still coming. Tonight is open mic night at the Haunted Star. Michael says, that’s tonight? and Willow says, they’re so sorry. Brook asks how they could forget. This is Chase’s big debut.

Finn holds the heavy bag, as Chase punches, and we see Chase has a number of missed calls and messages. Finn asks if Chase is done yet, but Chase says, not yet. Finn says, they’ve been here a few hours. Unless Chase has a personal vendetta against this bag, he’s guessing there’s something Chase doesn’t want to do. Chase makes a face, and Finn says, and by Chase’s reaction, he’s guessing it has something to do with Brook. Chase says, he told her that he’d sing at the Haunted Star on open mic night. Finn says, great, what time? and Chase asks if Finn isn’t meeting Elizabeth. Finn says, no, and Chase says, but she’s back. Finn says, she is, but she needs to spend some time with her boys. Chase asks if it’s Elizabeth’s way of keeping Finn at arm’s length, but Finn says, no. He thinks this time, things are good. Nice diversion, by the way. They were talking about Chase. So when is this open mic thing? Chase says, it doesn’t matter. He can’t go.

Spinelli answers his phone, greetings and salutations, and Cody says, Spinelli. Spinelli asks, to whom is he speaking? and Cody says, his buddy, Cody Bell. Spinelli says he has no desired acquaintance who bears that moniker, and starts to hang up, but Cody says, whoa. Tonight’s his date with Britt Westbourne, so he needs the 4-1-1. Likes, dislikes, what does she look for in a man? Spinelli says, so he can deceive her? but Cody says, so he can get another date. Spinelli says, he cannot… Nay, he will not abet Cody’s deceptions. Lose this number. He ends the call, and Cody says, fine. He guesses he’ll just have to wing it. There’s a knock at the stable door, and Britt says, hello? He says, she’s early, and she says, all the better to get this over with. Who is he talking to, and what does he have to wing?

At the Haunted Star, Maxie asks if Mac is excited about MC’ing tonight, and he says he is. He knows her mom really wanted to be here tonight, but since she’s feeling under the weather, he had to dust off his old skills and pitch in. She tells him, break a leg, and he says, thanks… he thinks. Austin arrives, and Maxie thanks him for rolling with the change of plans. She knows it’s not exactly the super romantic date they talked about. He says, it’s going to be super fun, and he loves how she supports her family. She says, that’s great, and promises they’ll go on a date with just the two of them very soon. They’re about to kiss when Spinelli says, buenos noches. Maxie says she didn’t know he was going to be here tonight, and Spinelli says he couldn’t pass up a chance to mingle. Austin asks Spinelli to join them, and Maxie suggests Austin grab them a couple of drinks. Surprise her. Spinelli says he’ll have a beer, and Austin says, of course (🍷). He leaves, and Spinelli says, it looks like it’s going to be a smash. Maxie asks why he’s stalking her.

Elsewhere on the boat, Epiphany says she appreciates Marshall bringing her out, but the MCATs are really soon, and she needs to study. He says he knows she agrees music is good for the soul. So he’s guessing it’s got to be good for the brain as well. She laughs, and he says, come on. She says, fine. One drink. He says, one drink… and a song.

Sasha asks Brando to check on her discharge papers again; they’re taking forever. He says he doesn’t think they’ll appreciate him checking every five minutes, when Nina walks in. She says hello to them, and hands Sasha a bag, saying, she brought some clothes and toiletries in case Sasha needs them. Sasha thanks Nina, and says she can’t tell Nina how much she appreciates this. Brando says he’ll go check on the discharge papers, and leaves. As Brando goes past the elevator, Sonny comes out with Dex. Sonny says he was hoping to run into Brando, and Brando says, Sonny… Dex, and I laugh because it’s so obvious from his change in tone, he doesn’t like Dex. Sonny gives Dex a look, and Dex moves along. Sonny asks how Sasha is doing, and Brando says, Dr. Sheffer recommends they transfer Sasha to Shadybrook (all things to all people) for rehab. Sonny asks what Sasha thinks of that, and Brando says, she insists all she needs is rest, and that she can get at home. Sonny asks what Brando thinks, and Brando says he just wishes he understood how his wife got here in the first place.

Sasha says, Nina thought of everything. She’s going to get changed. Nina says she thinks that can wait. She’d like to talk to Sasha first. Sasha says she loves Nina, and appreciates everything Nina is doing for her, but she’s going home tonight, so do not try to stop her.

Chase says he knows he’s not a detective anymore… Finn says, right at the moment, and Chase says, but it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to see Finn is still worried about Elizabeth. Finn says he sees a bag; he’s going to go punch it. Chase says, Finn… and Finn says he admits he was a little thrown when Elizabeth checked herself out of Shadybrook, but she came back and they talked, and she says she really wants to be with him. Chase says, that’s great. What’s wrong? Finn says, nothing’s wrong. It just seems fast, that’s all. Chase says, for them to get back together? but Finn says, for Elizabeth to be back to normal. It seems almost too good to be true.

Michael asks if Willow is up for a night out, and Brook asks if she’s not feeling well. Willow says, she’s fine. In fact… Does Michael want to tell her? Michael says he’d be honored. He and Willow are having a baby. Brook squeals, and hugs Willow, saying, congratulations. She’s sorry. Did she just hug Willow too hard? The only pregnancy she ever had was a complete fraud, and she only pretended to read the books. Willow says she’s great, and Brook suggests they go out and celebrate, like tonight. It’s never too early to expose your kid to some culture. Michael says he’s not sure amateurs covering top 40 pop songs is considered culture, but Willow says, babies love music in utero. Michael says, all right. Then they’ll be there. Brook says, great. She just hopes Chase doesn’t get cold feet. She dashes out the door.

Sonny and Brando sit, and Sonny asks if Brando has to get back to Sasha, but Brando says, Nina is with her. The drugs are out of her system, and the doc said there’s no damage to her heart this time. Sonny says, thank God, and Brando says, but the drugs are just a symptom. They might have been a factor in Sasha’s breakdown, but not the cause. Sonny asks if he’s talked to Sasha about Liam, and Brando says, he’s tried. She just shuts down. He wants to tell her everything is going to be okay, but it feels like a lie every time he does. He’s trying to be supportive and honest at the same time, but it’s impossible. What is he supposed to do?

Nina says she fully supports and understands Sasha’s desire to go home, and Sasha says she’s sorry. She thought Nina was going to try to force her to go to rehab. Nina says she’s not, but it’s worth a conversation, doesn’t she think? Sasha says she’s not addicted. Those pills were just supposed to take the edge off. It was obviously a mistake to take them. She just didn’t want… Nina says, to feel. That’s it, isn’t it? She understands the pain you go through when you lose a child; she lost her daughter twice. It can really mess you up. If Sasha feels like she needs a break from the stress and pressure of the world – and there’s a lot out there, isn’t there? – a place like Shadybrook might help. It helped Nina more than she can tell Sasha. Sasha says she appreciates Nina’s understanding, but she doesn’t need a break. Nina asks if she’s sure about that, and Sasha says she can’t think of anything worse than sitting around obsessing about her problems. That’s why Dr. Sheffer has scheduled outpatient therapy sessions for her. Nina says, that’s wonderful, and Sasha says she knows she needs help, and she’s getting it. The worst really is over.

Mac asks Austin how to pronounce a name, and Austin says, Muh-zush-ka. Mac says, all he sees are consonants, and asks how Austin knew. Austin says, a Ukrainian arachnologist popped up once to study a spider; Nina Muzushka. Spelled it the same way. Mac says, maybe he’ll run it by her just to make sure, and Austin says, that’s always a good strategy.

Spinelli says he’s not stalking Maxie. He’s aghast. The very idea is an anathema. She says, when he starts using words she doesn’t understand, that only means one thing; Spinelli is hiding something. Spinelli says, very well. If he may be perfectly honest, he doesn’t think she and Austin are a perfect match.

Cody tells Britt, not important; he was just on the phone. Welcome to his not-so humble abode. She says, it looks great, and he says, it is great. She says she just can’t imagine living with horses, and he says he does have a little apartment upstairs. They don’t make him sleep in the hay. She asks where they’re going to dinner, and he says he thought they could eat here; outside, underneath the stars. He ordered from the MetroCourt. She says he ordered for her, and he says he knows how hard doctors work, and tonight, he just wants her to relax. He’ll take care of everything

Chase and Finn walk back into the gym, and Chase wonders, if he were a phone, where would he be? He sees it, and says, there you are. He looks at it, and says, and there you are. He shows Finn, who says, wow. That is a lot of missed calls… and voicemails… and texts. Chase says he’s been dodging Brook. Oh look, lucky number 11. Finn reads, don’t make me hunt you down. Be at the Haunted Star or else. Normally, he’d recommend Witness Protection, but knowing Brook, she’d probably find him. Chase says, if he gets up there tonight, he has to prove to everyone that he’s worth listening to. What if the audience doesn’t agree? Finn says, all Chase’s dreams will vanish, and he’ll have to go back to being a singing waiter. Chase says he’d rather be a singing waiter, and Finn asks, what’s the problem? Chase flashes back to telling Brook, Linc owns her songs. He punched Linc in the face. Linc’s not going to want anything to do with them, and now Brook wants Linc to manage him? She says, Linc is dirty. Once Linc buys out Chase’s contract, they’ll be in the perfect position to get the goods on him. Chase tells Finn, Brook has a plan, and Finn asks, when doesn’t she? Chase says, to get back at her former music producer that he punched, and Finn asks how he can help. Chase says, Finn can give him a doctor’s note to get out of it, and Finn says, done, but if Chase doesn’t want to sing for Brook, why doesn’t he just tell her?

Maxie tells Spinelli, she doesn’t need a matchmaker. She decides if she and Austin are a perfect match, not him. Be nice. Austin comes back with the drinks, and Spinelli thanks him for the ale; much appreciated. Brook comes in, and Maxie waves. Brook says she’s looking for Chase, and keeps moving. Mac gets on stage, and says, good evening, and welcome. He tells them to settle in with their favorite beverage, and get ready to be impressed. Open mic night is the night that might change someone’s life.

Cody asks if Britt is ready for that riding lesson, but she says she didn’t think he was serious. He says, obviously, she doesn’t have to ride, but come meet Comet. She says she can see him fine from here, and he says she doesn’t have to be nervous. The Q’s bought Comet for a child to ride; Comet is perfectly safe, he promises. She says she told him, she doesn’t like horses, and he says, so she’s made up her mind and that’s it? She says she knows what she likes and what she doesn’t like. Why won’t he let this go? He says he just wants her to try… and she tells him, she said no. He says, all right. They’re supposed to be on a date, right? They’re supposed to be putting forth their best effort to get to know each other, or at least try to. She says, and by choosing not to listen to her when she says she doesn’t like horses, is refusing to get to know her. He says, if you’re opposed to new experiences, you might as well be dead, and she says, maybe he’s not wrong. Maybe she has been a little stubborn. He says, so she’s telling him… and she says, let’s meet this Comet, and approaches the horse.

Sasha says, she knows she thanked Nina before, but that wasn’t enough. She really picked the perfect outfit. Sasha’s phone rings, and Nina hands it to her. She says, she can leave if Sasha wants to talk to Willow, but Sasha says she’s not ready. Nina asks if something happened between them, and Sasha says, no, nothing like that. She found out Willow is pregnant. Nina says, that must have been hard to hear.

Sonny says he hates that Brando is going through this tough time, and Brando says, Sasha is in so much pain. Whatever he’s going through or needs to feel can wait. Sonny tells him not to forget to take care of himself. Whatever pain he’s feeling doesn’t just go away. Brando says he hears Sonny, and Sonny says he hopes Brando does, because at least he feels like he’s giving Brando something helpful. Brando says, whatever Sonny tells him is always helpful. Talking like this… Sonny says, if Brando needs anything, he’s here; he promises.

Mac says he’s sure everyone will recognize their first performer from her show stopping performances at the Nurses Ball. Epiphany sings, and everyone gets totally into it, Marshall bopping to the music. Me too. She’s fabulous.

Britt backs away from Comet, and says, Comet wants to eat her, but Cody says, no. She says, he tried. She thinks she should go, but he says she can’t leave. They haven’t had dinner yet. She says, it’s obviously not working. According to him, she’s bad tempered, judgmental, and devoutly allergic to fun. Why does he want her to stay? He says, because underneath all that attitude, every once in a while, he sees a glimpse of a woman who’s whip smart, wickedly funny, and passionate about life. He just wants to get to know her a little bit better. Will she let him?

Michael tells Willow, the nanny is reading My Truck is Stuck to Wiley, and he seems very quiet and happy. He says they make a run for it. She says she’s ready, and he says, before he forgets, when is her next OB/GYN appointment? He wants to block out the time in his calendar. She says, he doesn’t have to come to every single appointment, but he says he wants to be involved. Jonah and Wiley births were very traumatic. This time, everything’s going to be different. She says, no cult leaders or sociopaths, and he says, just them and Wiley. She says, and 300 other members of his family, and he says, exactly. It’s crazy there’s no craziness. No threat lurking out there to ruin everything. So far, so good, huh? They hug.

There’s applause for Epiphany, and Marshall asks how she feels. She says, he was right. Music is good for the soul. He says, not only does she feel better, she lifted up every person in this room, and she says, he’s a smooth talker, but he says, he only speaks the truth. Brook looks at her phone, when Finn and Chase come in. She asks if it would kill Chase to return a phone call, and what is he wearing? He can’t go on stage dressed like that. He says, about that… when Linc comes over to them. Linc says, Brook Lynn… Detective… Is he still a detective? Brook tells him, get lost, but he says he just came over because he’s concerned about Brook. Does watching other people perform remind her of the talent she lost forever? She sure had a set of pipes on her. It’s a tragedy she can’t sing any longer. Why do some of these characters sound like they came out of a 1940s movie? She thanks him for his phony concern, but she’s better than ever. He says, is that so? and she says, it is. She found something she wants more than fame. Linc says, really? Would that be Chase?

Sasha says, Nina saw her meltdown on Home & Heart, didn’t she? and Nina says she did. Sasha says, it’s funny. She barely remembers it. But she does remember seeing Liam… She means, thinking she saw Liam. She knows he wasn’t there, but in the moment, she was so happy. And she knows it wasn’t the pills. They were responsible for the hallucination, but the feeling… Nina takes her hand, and says she knows the feeling. That you would do anything just to stop the pain. Sasha asks if she can tell Nina something, and Nina says, anything. Sasha says, part of her wishes she could live in that mirage. The feeling of him in her arms; he had weight, and warmth, and breath… and such a beautiful smile. She cries, and Nina holds her.  

Brando thanks Sonny for everything, as usual, and Sonny says, anytime. Brando says, whenever Sonny needs him, and Sonny says, he may need Brando for something. Brando says, name it, and Sonny says he wants Brando to give him the name of the paparazzi scum who gave Sasha drugs. Brando says, his name is Felty, and Sonny says, he and Felty are going to have a little talk. He’s going to make sure Felty never gives drugs to Sasha or anybody again. Brando says he wants in on that talk.

Linc asks if Chase is taking a turn on the stage, and Chase says, that’s why he’s here. Linc says, he’s a brave man. Crowds like this can be brutal. (Friends and family mostly?) He tells Chase, break a leg, and wanders off. Brook says, Chase is really doing it? and Chase says, that was the plan, right? She says she got the impression that he only showed up to turn her down, and he says, her former manager is probably the most disgusting person he’s ever met. He wants to give her the satisfaction of nailing him. She thanks him, says, come with her, and drags him over to the stage. Willow and Michael walk in, and Willow says, she had no doubt that Chase would come here for Brook,  but why is this performance so important to her. Michael says he doesn’t know, but with Brook, he’s learned it’s best not to ask too many questions. Spinelli babbles to Austin, and Maxie kicks him under the table. Austin asks if Spinelli is all right, and Spinelli says, he is indeed well. He asks if Austin was ever a Trekkie (isn’t it Trekker?), but Austin says he didn’t watch a lot of TV. He did see one of the movies he thinks. The one about the whales? Spinelli says, an excellent film.

On the patio, Cody says, this better is better, right? and Britt says, it certainly smells better. He says he guesses riding isn’t for everyone. He’s sorry. He shouldn’t have pushed her. So why don’t they just stay here and talk. That’s why they’re here, right? To get to know each other better? Britt says, okay. She’ll go first. So he’s lived in a lot of places. He says he has, and she asks, where? He says, any place that has mountains or prairies. How about her? She says she’s seen a lot of the world, and he says, it sounds like she’s had some adventures. She says she’s traveled for leisure, for education, once as an international fugitive, so yeah. He says he sees how that could wear down on you, and she says, it can… She’s not like him, enamored of the nomadic lifestyle. He says he used to love the life of a nomad, but he’s done his wandering. He just wants to put down roots. Maybe get a little house of his own. She says, white picket fence, SUV, a wife to bring him his slippers, but he says, his mom would tan his hide if he ever expected a woman to wait on him. She says, smart lady, and he says he just wants an equal partner; someone to grow old with, maybe raise a couple kids. She says, he wants kids? and he says, yes? She gets up, and he asks where she’s going. She says, home. This is a complete waste of time. What the hell was Zelda thinking, saying they were a match?

Sasha says she wants Nina to know she realizes having Liam with her was a fantasy, and Nina says, a beautiful fantasy. Of course (🍷) she understands why Sasha would yearn for that. Sasha says, so Nina doesn’t think she’s crazy? Nina says, if Sasha were to ask around, the majority opinion would be she’s not the perfect judge to define crazy or sanity, but no. Sasha isn’t crazy for wanting her baby back. Sasha says, as long as she knows that it can never happen, and Nina suggests it might be something Sasha should talk to Dr. Sheffer about. Sasha says, good idea. She’ll do that.

Sonny tells Dex, let him know when Felty is located, and Dex says he’s on it. If Sonny needs anything… Sonny says, don’t get carried away, but this is the time to impress him with how well he follows orders. Dex says, got it, and leaves. Brando asks if Sonny is going after Felty now. He’s sending that bastard? Sonny says, Brando said he wanted to go; he has every right. Brando says he wants to, but Sasha needs him more than he needs revenge. Besides, he trusts Sonny to take care of it. Sonny says, oh he will. He promises.

Brando goes back to Sasha’s room, and she says he was gone for a while. Is there a problem? He says, no. He just ran into Sonny, and they got to talking. Nina says, Sonny’s here? but Brando says, no, sorry. He’s got to take care of something. Nina says, as luck would have it, she has to get going too, and Sasha thanks her for everything. Nina says she loves Sasha, and she’s just a phone call away. Sasha says she knows, and Nina leaves. Sasha asks if Brando was really just talking to Sonny. They haven’t hit a snag with her discharge papers? He tells her, Deanna said her paperwork is on its way up, and she says, good. He asks why she would think there was a problem, and she says she knows he thinks it’s too soon for her to come home. He says he is concerned they’re jumping the gun, but it’s her call. And he’d never go behind her back like that. She says she knows; she’s sorry. He says, they’re a team, right? and she says, 100%.

Cody asks what he missed, and Britt says, he’s not at all the man she thought he was. He says he knows he didn’t make a great first impression, and she says, he’s so boring. (We hear crickets, and I wonder if it’s on purpose or coincidence.) She thought at least he’d have some good stories, traveling around like he as. He says he has great stories, and she says, it seems like they’re all in the past. All he wants to do now is sit on his porch and rock himself to sleep. He tells her, he never said any of that, but she says, and yet, he made it perfectly clear. So once and for all, goodbye. She hopes he finds a nice boring wife, who gives him lots and lots of kids; at least a dozen. She starts to walk out, and he says he doesn’t even want any kids. She asks what kind of game he’s playing.

We return to the Haunted Star, and more applause. Austin gets a text: Come to the starboard deck, or I come in and get you. Maxie says she hopes it’s not the hospital, and Austin says he’ll be back. Mac says, let’s hear it for Kathy Muzushka, and there’s more applause. He says, now for another one of the Nurses Ball favorites – Harrison Chase. Chase sings, and Brook smiles. It’s a weak start, but then he gets into it, and everyone claps along. He finishes to much applause.

Sasha says she just wants to fall face down on the bed with Brando, and stay there forever. Or until she gets hungry; then she wants pizza. He asks if she’s saying she missed him, and she says, he has to ask? It’s been a long, long 72 hours. He says he thought maybe she was mad at him for sticking her in there, but she says, he did exactly what she needed him to do; she just didn’t know it. He says, so they’re good? and she says, always. He says he really missed her too. He promises, no matter what, he’ll always be there. She says, he’d better, and they kiss.

Epiphany says, this has been fun, but she really needs to get back to studying, and Marshall says he hopes she learned the most important lesson tonight. She says, what’s that? and he says, never listen to a jazz man. They’re a bad influence. She laughs and says, but jazz men are known to have a good time, so she thought it was worth the risk. They leave, and Chase goes over to Brook and Finn. He says, was he…? and Brook says, amazing. Finn says, he wasn’t terrible at all. Chase says he started off a little shaky, but Brook says, trust her, performing is all about a strong finish. If you wow the audience at the end, no one cares how you started out. Finn says he’s so proud of Chase, when Willow and Michael join them. Willow says, Chase was fantastic, and hugs him. She says, he owned the stage, and Brook says, the best part is she was right; she loves being right. Michael says, they have to take off, but it was a helluva performance. He congratulates Chase, and Chase thanks him, saying, it means a lot. They leave, and Finn says he has to go too, but next time, he’s bringing dad. Chase says, if there is a next time, and Brook says, there will be a next time. Chase says, then bring everybody, and Finn leaves. Chase asks, did the fish take the bait? and Brook says, here’s to hoping. She’ll make herself scarce, and they’ll see what happens. She leaves, and Linc saunters over.

Spinelli asks where Dr. Gatlin-Holt disappeared to, and Maxie says, he had to take a call. Why does he ask? Itching for more Trekkie talk? He says, Austin is a good listener. Perhaps he’s been a tad over protective. She says, yes he has. Austin is a good man, and Spinelli has to start being nicer to him. Now.

Austin steps out on the deck, and sees a bald guy. He backs bald guy up, and says, they can’t be seen together. Bald guy says, careful. Austin is going to hurt his feelings. Austin says he was really clear about that when bald guy visited the campsite. What the hell is he doing here?

Cody says he’s not playing a game, and Britt says, he doesn’t want kids. Why did he say he did? He says, because, while having kids isn’t a high priority, he’d be open to it if his wife wanted them. She asks if he has a bridge he’d like to sell her while he’s at it. All he’s been doing is telling her what he thinks she wants to hear. Why? What does he want from her?

Sonny’s phone rings, and he says, talk to me. Dex says he found Felty, and Sonny says, good. Dex knows what to do. He’ll be there. Dex says, Sonny’s got it.

Linc tells Chase, congratulations, detective. It was a great performance. Chase asks what he wants, and Linc says, he wants to know, has Chase considered a career in music? Brook watches.

Tomorrow, Britt tells Cody, the time of death is right now; Portia tells Marshall, their side is going to need a miracle; Austin says he doesn’t answer to bald guy; and Selena tells Curtis that he doesn’t know how far her reach is.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Dorit calls LisaR, who says she’s better, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, just when you think you’re done with covid, here comes omicron. Erika, LisaR, and Garcelle all have it, but Dorit managed to dodge a bullet. It’s time. LisaR tells Dorit to let her know the gossip after she goes to Kyle’s lunch. Jamie Lee Curtis comes to Kyle’s house, and Kyle tells Jamie that she’s the most unrelaxed human being ever. She just colored her roots, her skin is dyed, and she’s running around like a chicken. Jamie says she doesn’t give sh*t about grey hair; she only cares about Kyle’s heart. That’s why she’s here. Not for any other reason. In Kyle’s interview, she says she’s known since 1978 when they did Halloween together. Although Jamie’s a big star, she’s down to earth, kind-hearted, and thoughtful. She’d reached out about Kyle doing some charity work for the Children’s Hospital of L.A. We see a clip of Jamie announcing that Kyle and Mauricio have joined First Families, which is a new level of giving. Kyle tells us, Jamie founded a company called My Hand in Yours, and 100% of the proceeds go to the hospital. Right now, they’re working on a fundraiser.

The women arrive, and in Diana’s interview, she says, she’s not in the mood for Sutton; not at all. Crystal says, three of their friends are sick, and Jamie says, it’s hard times. In Dorit’s interview, she says, oh my God, Jamie Lee Curtis! and pinches herself. They sit down for lunch, and Sutton sees she’s seated next to Diana. She tells Kyle, really? and Kyle makes a surprised face like it just dawned on her. In Kyle’s interview, she says, let’s be honest, Sutton was going to have an issue with someone somewhere. Somehow it gets switched – I guess by Diana – and Jamie says she’s learning a lot about the group already. Sutton tries to help Sheree (not that one) put an eyelash back on, but gets glue all over her eye. Jamie swoops in to the rescue. I’ll bet she’s a combination of Martha Stewart and Bob Villa at home. Dorit tells Diana that she heard Diana had lunch with Sutton, and asks how it went. Diana says, terrible, and we flash back to that. She shrugs, and tells Dorit that she’s repulsed by Sutton. She went home and scrubbed herself. In Diana’s interview, she says, it’s the truth. She exfoliated. She says, Sutton offends her space.

Dorit gushes over Jamie, who suggests she talk about why she’s here while they eat. She tells them about My Hand in Yours, and shows them the various products. Dorit exclaims some variation of that’s so chic! as each product is shown. Jamie shows a dog leash that has a cute My Paw in Yours charm, and I’m in. Luckily, they have a website. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Jamie found herself a new best friend in Dorit. At this point, Jamie could show them a dirty old tissue, and Dorit would say, it’s so chic! Kyle says she gave $25K to the Kyle Richards and Jamie Lee Curtis Fund for the hospital, and Diana says, she’ll match it. In her interview, Kyle tells us that she should have said a higher number. They open their gifts, and Dorit says she’s excited about the gift bag. Jamie tells them to use everything in good health, and Diana thanks her for giving them the opportunity of being part of the charity. Kyle walks Jamie out, and Sheree sits with Sutton. Dorit joins them, and says, she heard Sutton had lunch with Diana, and Sutton says, Diana is angry. We flash back to that horrible, horrible lunch (said in Sophie from 2 Broke Girls voice), and Sheree asks why Sutton is always in trouble. Sutton thinks it’s because she says what she thinks, and Sheree asks, how’s that working for Sutton (hearing Dr. Phil voice in my head)? Sutton says, not too good. I’m going to be quiet, and ya’ll will be sad. Sheree says she understands, but when someone is bitchy at your lowest moment, it carries a different weight. Sutton asks if that excuses mocking her miscarriages. She would never make fun of anyone’s miscarriage. Dorit says, Sutton questioned Diana about being on bed rest, which wasn’t quite the same thing, but we flash back to that. Dorit says, had Sutton led with empathy, she would have gotten a different reaction. Sutton says, Diana hurt her feelings, and in Dorit’s interview, she says, it’s a pattern. It’s always about Sutton. If you can’t see your own mistakes, you’re going to have trouble. She asks if Sutton wants to try and fix things, and Sutton says she might…

Kyle thanks Diana for the contribution, and she, Diana, and Crystal clink glasses. Kyle asks how Crystal is doing. She saw Crystal’s Instagram post about her eating disorder. Crystal says she hasn’t nailed down what the cause is, and Kyle asks if it’s a control issue, and Crystal says, it’s definitely not appearance. It’s an internal feeling. In Crystal’s interview, she says, the holidays are triggering. She was going to post a family picture, and felt like crap, so she decided to be super real and post how she was feeling. Kyle asks if Crystal just doesn’t eat, or does she eat and throw up, and Crystal says, Kyle is asking the hard questions. Kyle says, that’s because she knows what it’s like, and we flash back to Kyle telling the women she used to heat up a bowl of V8, and that was her food. She tells Crystal, she would eat very little, but worry about what little she ate. In Kyle’s interview, she says, it seems like a cry for help. Crystal says she wakes up thinking about what she’s going to eat. She never eats pasta because it’s a trigger, yet she envies people when they eat it.  In her interview, Crystal says, in every school picture, she’s in the back row. She was not just the tallest girl, but the tallest kid in the class, on top of looking different as a minority, which made it more apparent. She’s worked hard to be accepted, and appreciates how she looks, but it’s still hard. She tells Kyle that physically being in her body sucks. She feels like sh*t all the time; it’s exhausting. Diana says she’s sorry. She knows how much Crystal loves food too. Crystal says she wants to eat a meal, and be okay with it. She doesn’t want to hate what she’s eating every day. Kyle hugs her, and Crystal says she’s tired. In Crystal’s interview, she says, the scariest thing is passing it on to her kids. She doesn’t want them to suffer this much. It’s an ongoing battle. Diana says, because Crystal is being so open, for sure she’ll get there; 100%. Kyle says, the more she talks and is open, she won’t be in her head. In her interview, Kyle says, since she went through her own issues, she educated herself and daughters. She made a conscious effort to make sure they didn’t go through the same thing. Opening up and talking about it can be a good thing if Crystal seeks help. What she’s been doing so far isn’t helping. They join the others, and Kyle asks if they were talking about Sutton and Diana’s lunch. Sutton says, they were, and Kyle says, that sounds… Diana says, awkward.

Sutton says, Diana isn’t ready to accept anything from her, and Diana says, Sutton is right. Kyle asks what Sutton means, and if it involves an apology, but Sutton says, she doesn’t think Diana is ready to ponder any type of friendship with her. Diana says, when she came to L.A., the baby was due soon, and she didn’t want to count the weeks to the birth. So she flipped her life upside down, so she doesn’t go to that dark place. She tried to have fun in Mexico with them, but she shouldn’t have done tequila when she was taking blood thinners. On the way back, she started bleeding again. She’s not happy with her treatment of her own body. She was in a bad place, and sent a rude message to the group. In Diana’s interview, she says she’s still raw emotionally and physically. Sutton’s behavior was hurtful, and Sutton should know better than to talk to her like that. Uh… I dunno about Sutton knowing better, but maybe Sutton should have just stayed out of it, since she doesn’t really know Diana. Sutton says she appreciates Diana’s honesty, and she’s trying. They had a rough start, and she takes responsibility for 95% of it. Diana can take all the time and space she needs, and when she’s ready, Sutton is there to talk. Diana says, they’re taking a time out, and makes what I guess is supposed to be the hand signal for that, but it looks more like when you’re joking around to ward off evil. Sutton does it back.

LisaR calls Erika, and says she’s been decorating the tree, since she hasn’t done any decorating. Erika says, LisaR looks like she feels normal, but LisaR says she doesn’t feel quite normal yet. Erika says she’s out of isolation in two days, and Erika says she’ll see LisaR at Diana’s party on Tuesday. In LisaR’s interview, she says she’s ready for a Diana Jenkins Christmas party. Erika says, the holidays bring back memories of being with Tom and her son, and LisaR asks how much can they take? Erika says, you just keep taking the punches, and rolling with them. You wake up, make the best of it, and f*** it. LisaR says she brought home Erika’s L.A. Magazine cover, but she hasn’t had a chance to read the article. Erika says, there are no revelations; they’re like 365 days late. In Erika’s interview, she says, they recycled the same problems, and criticized her for being ambitious. They dehumanize her, and it hurts. She tells LisaR that she thinks it’s a low blow to call her ambitious. Would it be better for her to be a lazy wife? A polite wife? A staying-in-her-place wife? LisaR asks if she’s talked to Tom, and Erika says, he heard she had covid, and called. In her interview, Erika says, sometimes, he’s super present, but sometimes he thinks she’s someone else. Nothing about their conversations is good, except she knows he’s in a safe place. She’s been down this road with her grandmother, and it doesn’t get better; it only gets worse. LisaR asks if Tom’s brother is still representing him, but Erika says, they dropped their legal team. LisaR asks if Tom has a divorce lawyer, and Erika says, they’re legally separated, so she’s moved on with her life, but she can’t get a divorce with so much legal sh*t going on. In her interview, she says, if she got a divorce, she’d have to pay Tom alimony. She’ll stay married. She tells LisaR, it’s a weird time, and she’s ready for it to be over.

Diana and Asher meet with party planner Clare, and in Diana’s interview, she says, they didn’t celebrate Christmas when she was growing up in Yugoslavia. It was a communist country, so there were no religious holidays. When she went to London, they lit up the streets, and it was beautiful and festive. She enjoys turning the house into a winter wonderland, and likes to go over the top. Asher gets super involved, and in her interview, Diana says, even though Asher is younger, he’s more practical and sensible. She’s the one who’s the bigger dreamer and over-the-top. She doesn’t think anybody can match her over-the-topness.

Kyle visits Kathy, whose house is totally Christmased up. She says, it’s literally a winter wonderland, and looks around. She says, Kathy makes her feel like an underachiever, and Kathy shows her the tree that’s going to be in Architectural Digest, made of vintage fabric. In Kyle’s interview, she says, there’s a different style of tree in each room, and she thinks they’re up year round. She asks if Kathy is doing Christmas this year, but Kathy says, after the wedding, it’s too much. They sit on the terrace for lunch, and Kathy says, trying to get ahold of Kyle is like trying to pull a hemorrhoid out of a bull’s tush. Something I’m sure she knows a lot about. Kyle asks where Kathy’s phone is, and Kathy says she lost it. Kyle says, don’t make her pull out receipts. She brings up her texts to Kathy, and shows Kathy that she has no missed messages. She puts it on speaker, dials Kathy’s number, and it goes straight to voicemail. She says, she’s been telling Kathy this for three years, and in her interview, she says, Kathy uses an iPad to comment on her Instagram, saying, she can’t find her phone and to call her. She has 100,000 people telling her to call her sister. House manager Paola brings out baked potatoes, and in Kyle’s interview, she says, the lady actually has a name. We flash back to Kathy calling Paola the lady who works for me, but in Kathy’s defense, I don’t think she remembers much of anything. Kathy puts sour cream and loads of caviar on her potato, and Kyle asks if it’s the entrée or appetizer. Kathy says, it’s the entrée, and in her interview, Kyle says, unless it’s a baked potato bar, she’s never seen one be a meal. (She’s clearly never been a broke, single person.) She tells Kathy that she’s never seen a person have so much caviar, and in her interview, concedes that if there’s thousands in caviar on the potato, it’s going to be a meal. Have lunch and come over for a baked potato, said nobody, but my sister. Kathy says she’s overwhelmed. She’s wrapped gifts until her hands hurt, and she can’t drive every gift to the recipients. You can’t find ribbon, and somebody peed on her sofa. Kyle asks if she means a pet, but Kathy says, no; a person. All of her carpets are ruined, and she feels like the house is falling apart. Kyle laughs, and so do I. Not only are they rich people problems, who peed on her sofa???

Clare and photographer Carlos are ready to roll, and in Diana’s interview, she says, the pandemic is messing with her. She usually has more guests, so she’s trying to make things cozy to fill up the place, so it doesn’t seem so empty. It will be a covid Christmas miracle. The closest I can come to equating that to something in my own life is, Halloween 2020. The women get ready in their respective houses, and LisaR says she’s excited to see everyone. Crystal calls, and says, Dorit isn’t coming; PK tested positive for covid. Erika tells Micky that she’s been having good time; maybe too much of a good time. We flash back to her incredibly inappropriate behavior at Garcelle’s party, and Mikey asks if she wants a drink now, but she says, no.

First to arrive are Innis and girlfriend Ava. Eneya is there, and they joke that it will be just them. In Diana’s interview, she says, Ava is going to be with them for a month. Having all her kids together is her favorite thing in the world. The women arrive, along with other friends of Diana and Asher’s, and everyone looks sparkly and festive. In LisaR’s interview, she says, it’s a winter wonderland in Beverly Hills. Money was spent for sure. Cash. Lots of it. Erika says she started drinking champagne at home, so she should stick to it. Hmm… I guess Mikey twisted her arm. Kyle says she’s never seen so many Christmas tress in her life. She tells Diana that her house looks to die for, and makes a production out of giving he a hostess gift. She says, Sutton isn’t coming; she tested positive for covid. LisaR says, we’re dropping like flies.

Everyone mingles, and Kathy arrives. In Diana’s interview, she says she met Kathy because of Paris, and knows her more as a stricter figure. Kathy introduces herself all over the place, and hugs the people she knows. We find out Innis knows Paris, and Kathy tells Crystal to put her hands on her head, because that’s how you tell if your dress is too short. Crystal already knows how short her dress is, and declines, but Kathy says, her dress is too short. Garcelle comes in with a unicorn tucked under her arm, and I think, what the… until she presents it to Diana for her daughter. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, the last time she saw Diana was at her birthday party, and Diana was out of control. We flash back to that, and she says, it’s the holidays, and it’s a festive mood. Her gift to Diana is coming to the party and not bringing bad energy, which Diana didn’t do at her party. Garcelle tells Crystal that she looks good, and Crystal says her food issues are plaguing her. Garcelle says, there’s a lot of food during the holidays, and Erika asks if that’s triggering to Crystal. Crystal says, it is, and Erika asks if she eats and feels guilty or denies herself the food. Crystal says, she eats it, then feels bad, and Erika wonders why she just doesn’t take a laxative, and get rid of it. Garcelle – the audience in us all – looks floored, and in her interview, she says, Crystal has an eating disorder. Erika isn’t a doctor, and you don’t prescribe laxatives to someone with an  eating disorder. It’s the most inappropriate thing at the most inappropriate time. Sheree says she’s never had covid, and Garcelle says, Sheree is too beautiful to have it. Meanwhile, Erika is still being inappropriate, asking, what happens when Crystal purges? and Crystal says, she feels relief. Erika asks if Crystal enjoys the food when it’s going in, and Crystal says, she does, but then the guilt comes. When she looks aloof, it’s because she’s thinking about it. Erika asks if she’d rather throw it up or poop it out, pushing the laxative idea again, and in Crystal’s interview, she says she doesn’t know if Erika’s trying to be helpful, or she’s had too many drinks. Erika asks if Crystal has sought treatment, and Crystal says, it’s time. She doesn’t know what will come out of it, and Erika says, what will come out of it is a better Crystal. An appetizer involving chicken tenders comes around, and Erika loudly says, Crystal can’t eat it. Crystal looks lost, and Erika says she needs a drink.  

Too bad Bette Davis is gone. She could have played Erika in the movie.

To be continued…

🦵🏼 Doing the Hokey Pokey…

Come with me tomorrow to investigate some soap and what’s Charming in the South. Until then, stay safe, stay present in conversation, and not just waiting for your cue, and stay remembering, if you can’t see your own mistakes, you’re going to have trouble.

July 19, 2022 – In the Thick Of Trina’s Trial, Demanding Diamond, Many Spoiled Returns, Get In Line, Aussies On Deck & Hot

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

TJ lets Willow into an exam room, and she says she assumed it was about work, but this is medical? She didn’t even know he was on an OB rotation. He says, this isn’t an OB visit, and she says, okay, then what? He says, after she fainted, he ran a series of tests. She says, that’s how they figured out she was pregnant, and he says, yes, but they have to go over the rest of the results. She has an elevated white blood cell count. She says, that’s it? She knows from nurse’s training that it’s normal to have an elevated white blood cell count during pregnancy. He says, that’s true, but from what he sees, he doesn’t think it’s related to her pregnancy, and she says, he thinks she’s sick while she’s pregnant.

Michael and Dante spar at the gym, and Dante says, Rocco can do better than that. Just because Michael’s having a baby, he’s taking it easy on him? Michael says, Dante couldn’t be more wrong. Willow’s good news makes him feel like he can take on the world. Even losing the ELQ merger with Aurora, seems way more manageable now. Face it, your brother is one happy guy. Cody walks in and says, I’ll have what he’s having.

Britt walks past the elevator as Brad comes out, and he says he knows he’s early, but he figured they have time to get a drink at Charlie’s before they head over to the Haunted Star. She says she’s sorry. She should have called him, but the day got away from her. She has one more appointment. He says, that’s okay. He guesses they’ll have to start drinking when they get to the Haunted Star. Now go tell her patient to take two aspirin and call her in the morning. She says, yeah… That’s the thing. She can’t join him tonight. Something’s come up. He asks if she forgot she had plans, and she says, not exactly. He asks if she double-booked herself, and she says, sort of. He says, and it’s not work related? and she shakes her head. He says, oh my God. Does she have a date?

Esme tells Spencer, even if she could guarantee Trina goes free, why in the world would she? Trina, Joss, and Cam have been badmouthing her all across town. Why would she do them any favors? He says, because if she ever wants to know who her birth mother is, she’ll make sure that the judge knows the truth. She’s the only person who can do that.

On the stand, Josslyn says, she knows Trina was in her bedroom the entire time before she and Cameron went to their bedroom, and Arden asks if she can prove that. Were there security cameras all over the cabin? The cabin belongs to Josslyn’s stepfather Sonny Corinthos, so she can see that as a real possibility. Josslyn says, there are no security cameras inside the cabin, and Arden says, which means what exactly. Josslyn says, which means she doesn’t have proof that Trina didn’t leave her bedroom, and Arden says, to be clear, she can’t account for the defendant’s movements from the moment she went into her room to the moment she and Mr. Webber went into theirs. Because of that, won’t she concede that there was plenty of time for her so-called friend, who has already been established to have been filled with jealousy and resentment, to make sure the phone was set up to record Josslyn’s most intimate moments without her knowing? Diane objects, saying, this is pure conjecture on the ADA’s part, and the judge sustains. He tells Arden to watch her step, and Arden says, no more questions. Rory walks into the courtroom.

TJ says, he was there the first time Willow fainted at GH, and that was months before she got pregnant. That’s what prompted him to run this battery of tests; just to be on the safe side. She says, so he thinks there’s a chance something’s wrong with her? but he tells her, all he’s saying is, they need more information. He knows she just finished nursing school, and she’s been under a lot of pressure. So they might be able to chalk this up to anxiety or stress, but there’s also a chance there’s another medical explanation. They have to explore all possibilities. She says, obviously, he thinks there’s a good chance something is wrong. What isn’t he telling her?

Dante starts to introduce Cody to Michael, but Cody says, Michael’s the one who gave him the tour of the Quartermaine stables; made him feel right at home. Michael says, it’s funny Cody calls himself a mere stable hand, because to Leo, he’s already a legend, and Cody says, Leo is a great kid. He’s positively fearless with that horse of his, unlike some people that he knows. Dante asks if Cody is talking about him. He was a city kid; he did great. Michael says, that’s enough for him. They can stay and beat each other’s brains in if they want. He has to meet Willow at GH. In case Cody can’t tell by the big grin on his face, he and Willow are having a baby. Cody congratulates him, and asks Michael to give his best to Willow. Michael says he has to hit the showers. If he’s late he could catch a hard time. Cody says, really? Willow seemed like such a sweetheart to him. Michael says he wasn’t talking about Willow. He was talking about her OB, Britt Westbourne. Cody says, no kidding; small world. Michael asks if he knows Britt.  

Brad says, normally he would be upset about Britt blowing him off, but since she’s practically on the verge of spinsterhood, he’ll give her a pass – this time. She says, she’d love to argue his characterization of her love life, except he’s spot-on. He says, some friendly advice. All she needs to be is the charming, vivacious woman he knows she can be. She says, thanks for the pep talk. She feels so much better about her date tonight.  He says, if she’s not excited about her date, why is she doing it? Is she jumping back into the dating pool because she’s looking for love, or is she just tired of holding on to all her secrets? She asks what that means, and he says, whatever’s weighing on her; what she can’t tell him about? Maybe it’s past time she did.

Diane reminds the court of the difference between a sex tape and revenge porn. A sex tape is made with consent; revenge porn is made without consent. She asks if Josslyn or Cameron ever consented to being recorded, and Josslyn says, no. Neither one of them knew anything about the video; not until it popped up on the screens at PCU. Diane says, yet despite the prosecution’s best efforts to put words in Josslyn’s mouth, Josslyn claims to know her best friend could never have done this. Josslyn says she knows Trina couldn’t, and Arden objects. She says, to use Diane’s words, it’s pure conjecture on the witness’s part. Josslyn says, it’s not conjecture, because she knows exactly the type of person Trina is. She’s known Trina since middle school. Trina is her best friend in the entire world. Josslyn tears up, and says, Trina is there for her on her good days, and more important, Trina is there for her on her bad days. Trina knows right from wrong, and Josslyn knows exactly the type of friend Trina is. She is the type of friend to stick by you when everybody else turns and runs. Diane says, so knowing her best friend, could Josslyn ever imagine that Trina would go to such extreme lengths to humiliate her and Cameron? Josslyn says, never. She doesn’t think Trina would even know how to get a black market phone, let alone use it against them. Diane asks how Josslyn knows it was a black market phone, and she says she doesn’t. All she knows is, a second phone that was a black market phone was found in Trina’s purse, identical to Trina’s real phone; same model, same case. Diane says, but it’s Josslyn’s belief – her conviction – that someone, anyone, could have purchased that phone, and Josslyn says, not anyone. One person did this, and she knows exactly who that person is.

Esme tells Spencer, once Trina recorded Joss and Cam having sex for the first time – which is mind bogglingly horrific – she made it go global. Those are facts; all the evidence says so. He says he agrees with her that the evidence is stacked against Trina, but there’s one catch. Esme asks, what’s that? and he says, they both know Trina didn’t record that revenge porn or distribute it, because Esme did.

Diane says, if Trina Robinson did not make that revenge porn, who did? and Josslyn says, it’s Esme Prince. When Esme’s boyfriend, Spencer Cassadine, wanted to break up his father’s marriage to Ava, Spencer began to stalk Ava, and asked for Esme’s help. Esme lit Ava’s car on fire, and left the hospital ID badge of Ava’s dead daughter Kiki beside the car. That seems like the kind of demented mind that would make revenge porn, don’t you think? Arden objects, and says, she’s aware of Spencer Cassadine getting convicted for stalking his stepmother, but his girlfriend was never charged with anything. Can the witness provide any shred of proof of her claims? Judge Young sustains, and tells Diane, no more speculation; he just wants facts. Diane says, absolutely. She just has a few more questions. She asks what Josslyn’s GPA was her freshman year of college, and Josslyn says, 4.0. Diane congratulates her, and asks who her dorm roommate was. Josslyn says, Trina, and Diane asks who if Trina will be Josslyn’s roommate her sophomore year. Josslyn says, absolutely, and she and Trina smile at each other. Diane has no further questions.

TJ says he’s not keeping Willow in the dark about anything. There are questions though, and that’s why he’s booked her for another series of tests tomorrow. She says, to be clear, this doesn’t concern the baby. This is about her health, correct? He says, correct. Her issue, if there is one, predates the pregnancy. It’s likely the two situations aren’t related. She has an appointment with Dr. Westbourne later. Keep that, and whatever it is, they’ll deal with it.

Cody tells Michael, you might say, he and Britt ran into each other the other day, and Dante says, what Cody means is, he parachuted into the MetroCourt pool, landed on Britt, and they both fell into the water. Michael says, that was all over social media, and Cody says, to be fair, she was standing in his landing zone. Michael says, skydiver, stable hand; is there anything Cody can’t do? Cody says, plenty. Pay a mortgage, ride sidesaddle blindfolded, make babies. He’s never been able to achieve any of those things, so don’t let him keep Michael from that appointment. Dante tells Michael, good luck, and tell Willow he said hi. He’s sure mom and baby are going to be fine. Michael leaves, and Cody says, Dante’s brother seems like a nice guy. Dante says, the best, and Cody asks if he’s chopped liver, but Dante says, no. Cody is the guy who dogged Britt after he told Cody not to.

Britt tells Brad, all she wants is to give this matchmaking thing a chance. If for no other reason than to get her mother off her back. He says, fair enough. So is her date someone he knows? Someone he doesn’t know? Is he hot? She says, he’s rough around the edges, and he says, on the right person that could be hot. Is he hot? She says, he doesn’t seem trustworthy, and Brad says, not to be redundant, but that could be hot on the right person too. She says, fine. He’s hot, in a rough, rustic, scruffy way. He bruises well, and by that she means, he’s one of those guys who actually looks good beaten up. Weird. And then there’s the fact they have nothing in common, and they don’t even like each other. Brad asks how she knows, if they haven’t even met… O.M.G. It’s him, isn’t it? It’s parachute guy.

Jordan is now on the stand, and Arden asks her how this illicit video came to the attention of the PCPD. Jordan says, they received a report from PCU, where the video was first distributed. Then in the course of their investigation, their office got an anonymous tip on their hotline as to the alleged perpetrator’s identity. Arden says, by alleged perpetrator, she’s referring to the defendant, correct? and Jordan says, yes. Arden asks, what happened when they brought Trina in for questioning? and Jordan says, Trina agreed without hesitation, and never asked for legal representation. She said she would do anything to find the person who humiliated her closest friends, Josslyn Jax and Cameron Webber. Arden asks what Jordan found in Trina’s possession, and Jordan says, she had two cell phones in her purse; one that was hers, and one that was nearly identical that she couldn’t account for. Arden holds up the phone in a plastic bag, and says, this is the unaccounted for cell phone, and this is the forensics report on this phone. She gives the report to Jordan, and asks if Jordan can tell them what it says. Jordan says, the digital footprint confirms this cell phone was used to upload and send the video, also known as the revenge porn, to the PCU community. Arden says, anything else? and Jordan says, after its final usage, this phone was never turned on again. Arden asks if there’s anything else that ties the phone to the defendant, and Jordan reads, Miss Robinson’s credit card information was encrypted and used to purchase images of the artist Richard Molineaux. Arden says, in other words, according to Jordan’s own forensics department, the only person tied to that revenge porn video is the defendant Trina Robinson, and Jordan says, the evidence seems to suggest that, yes.

Spencer tells Esme, at first, he didn’t want to believe it. There was a time when he had deeper feelings for her than he ever knew possible. When he brought her home to Port Charles… She says, he means when he asked for her help with his plot to destroy his father’s marriage, and he says, and when she agreed, she raised the stakes by a thousand. He never asked her to torch Ava’s car, and would have never suggested she put Ava’s dead daughter’s hospital ID beside it. That is just so incredibly cruel. But that’s who she really is, isn’t it? Cruel. Joss warned him about her; Trina warned him about her. Hell, even Cam, who gave her the benefit of the doubt, went out of his way to warn him that she was dangerous, and even still, he wanted to believe in her. But then when that video of Josslyn and Cam came out, she couldn’t wait to show it to him. She pretended to be horrified, but he could see it written all over her face how happy she was. Then she insisted it had to be Trina who made it. That’s when he started to wonder and waver, and when he decided to voice his fears that maybe she was the one behind the revenge porn, she instantly came up with a pregnancy scare. She says, he thinks she made that up? and he says, not then. He still wanted to believe in her. But when Trina was arrested, he couldn’t look the other way anymore. Everything Josslyn was saying, and that Trina had done her best not to say, it was all true. Esme was the one who made that video, and she was the one who distributed it to the world. He yells in her face, it was you all along.

Michael finds Willow at the hospital, and says he wondered if he had the wrong time. Is she okay?  

Britt tells Brad, go on, say it. She’s going out with the bum who parachuted into her life, and couldn’t even apologize for almost drowning her. He says, honestly, he’s happy for her. She’s a smart woman. If she decided to give parachute guy a second chance, good for her. She thanks him for saying that, but they both know this will probably end in disaster, and he says, sure seems like it. So he has to ask again, why is she even doing it? and she tells him, he’s supposed to say, it’s going be great, but right now, she’s late to see a patient.

Cody and Dante go into the steam room, and Dante tells Cody to fess up now. He saw Cody all over Britt on the 4th. What’s going on with that? He warned Cody away from Britt, and first thing, his interest level goes through the roof. It’s classic. Cody says, about Dante’s warning about Britt. Given how Dante feels about Britt, his guess is, Dante isn’t going to feel too good about them going on a date.

Esme says, Spencer is right. When they first met, he was an angry, lost self-centered little boy, and thanks to her, he not only lost his virginity, he turned out to be an angry, lost, self-centered man. She can’t believe, after everything she’s done for him, standing by his side when even his own father turned his back on him, this is how he repays her. He says, all she ever did was work her own agenda, and she says, enough. He had his say, now it’s her turn. If he thinks he can just go riding back to Trina, he’s an even bigger fool than she thought. He’s even sadder and more pathetic than when she first met him. They were together at that cabin, remember? She couldn’t have planted that phone even if she wanted to, because when she’d had enough of Josslyn’s holier than thou attitude, they left – together. His precious sweet Trina could have planted that phone and did. There’s simply no way he can get around that. He says, of course (🍷) there is.

Diane says, so an anonymous tip claimed Trina Robinson filmed and distributed the revenge porn. Is there any way to identify the source of that anonymous tip? Jordan says, no. If people thought their identities could be made public, they wouldn’t get the number of tips they get. That’s why it’s anonymous. Diane says, of course (🍷). So anyone could leave a false tip and suffer no repercussions whatsoever. So how did Trina behave when Jordan hauled her into the PCPD for questioning? Jordan says, there was no hauling her in; she came in voluntarily. Diane says, voluntarily? That’s interesting. Jordan already testified that Trina asked for no counsel to be present, but when Jordan began to question her, was she defensive? Jordan says, no; she was very cooperative. She kept repeating that Josslyn and Cameron were her close friends, and she wanted to do whatever was possible to catch the person responsible for the revenge porn. Maybe it’s because her dad was a officer, but she was very eager to do the right thing. Diane says, so when Jordan opened Trina’s bag, and found the other phone… Jordan says she didn’t open Trina’s purse; Trina did. Diane says, Jordan is saying Trina herself opened her bag and produced the other phone? and Jordan says, that’s correct. Diane asks, in her many years of public service as Police Commissioner, in Jordan’s experience, is that the way a guilty person behaves? Arden objects, and says, they’re not doing a composite sketch of a common criminal. Jordan says, actually, she’d like to answer the question. She thinks it’s relevant. Judge Young says, she may answer the question, and Jordan says, Trina did not act anything at all like a guilty person. As she said, Trina’s main goal was to be helpful. Diane has no further questions, and Arden calls Rory to the stand.  

Willow tells Michael, there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s just nervous about their first consultation with the OB. Britt comes around the corner, and congratulates them. She takes it from the way they’re smiling, this is welcome news. Willow says, they weren’t trying to get pregnant, but yes, it’s exciting, and Michael says, they can’t wait to welcome the newest member of their family. Britt says, in that case, she asks the expectant father to wait here while she does a brief exam. Willow hangs back, and Britt promises it won’t take long. And she hopes to give them both a very pleasant surprise. Willow goes follows her into the exam room.

Dante says, he should have known better. Warning Cody to stay away from Britt is like catnip; it’s like forbidden fruit. Cody says, it’s just one date. What’s the big deal? She’s Co-Chief of Staff at the hospital. She can’t be that bad. Dante asks if Cody remembers when the counselors took them hiking on Olsen’s Peak, and Cody says, of course (🍷) he does. Dante was always a few steps behind him. Dante says, there was a sign that said, in big red letters, do not veer off the path. And what did Cody do? He veered them off the path, and they almost got mauled by a bear. Cody laughs, and says, he’d never seen Dante run so fast. Lighten up. There isn’t any danger, there isn’t any fun.

Esme says, at least Ava tried to buy her off. All Spencer can do is try and bluff her. He says, the truth is, he thought to himself, how can I try to twist Esme’s arm? Then it hit him. What would Esme do? For weeks she’d been pretending to sympathize with Joss because she and Cameron hadn’t slept together yet. She even made a major production  of insisting they get the master bedroom at the cabin. And when they got back from skiing, before she came in with the drinks, she was the only person not in the living room. He, Trina, Joss, and Cam were all there, but she was off by herself. He figures that would give her plenty of time to go into the master bedroom and set up that black market phone. Her back is to him, and she smiles. She says, that’s a clever theory, but he doesn’t have proof. She turns to him, and he says, but he’s not done. When they got back to town, he realized he’d forgotten something, and that gave her the very convenient excuse to go back to the cabin to pick up what he’d forgotten, as well as retrieve the phone that she’d recorded on. Once she retrieved it, she sent the video to the PCU server, and planted it in Trina’s purse. She says, okay, Agatha Christie. How could she have known Trina couldn’t handle her booze well and go to her room. Is he accusing her of being a psychic now too? He flashes back to finding the pills in Esme’s closet, and says, no, not psychic. He tries to touch her, but she backs up, and he says, she’s psycho for sure, but he doesn’t think she’s psychic. The reason she knew Trina would pass out is because Esme spiked her hot toddy with those pills of hers; the ones he found in her closet. He showed them to Britt Westbourne, and she told him what could happen if they’re mixed with alcohol. Esme drugged Trina to set her up, and Britt told him if the dosage had been off, even by a little, she could have injured Trina; maybe even killed her. He strokes Esme’s arm, and asks if she still thinks he’s bluffing.

Arden asks if, when Rory was on duty recently, he was called to a disturbance at a notorious biker bar, The Highsider. He says, that is correct. It was a fairly routine complaint; a fight had broken out. She asks what he found when he got there, and he says he’s not sure he understands the question. There was a bar fight. He arrived after another unit had broken it up. Arden tells the judge that she’s submitting an eyewitness statement from another member of the PCPD. They reported two underage girls who were caught up in this brawl. She asks Rory if they’re in the courtroom, and Diane objects, asking, what does any of this have to do with the charges against her client? Arden says, when Officer Cabrera answers the question the connection will be obvious, and Judge Young allows it. Arden repeats the question, and Rory says, yes, they’re in the courtroom. She asks him to state their names, and he says, Josslyn Jax and Trina Robinson. She thanks him, and says, there’s an even more important question she needs him to answer. Why were Josslyn and Trina in the bar that night?  Um… won’t this ultimately hurt Arden’s case?

Britt lets Michael into the exam room, and says, Willow is a bit early, but there’s a good chance they can detect a fetal heartbeat. Willow asks Michael to hold her hand, and Britt puts the gel on her. They hear it, and Willow says, that’s the baby’s heartbeat. Britt says, sure is, and Michael says, she had him worried there, but it’s strong and steady. Everything’s okay now.

Cody asks Dante why he wouldn’t date Britt. She’s beautiful, she’s successful, and she scraped him up in an alley, and gave him a ride to Dante’s place. Why can’t Dante just be happy for him? Dante says he is happy for Cody, but he’s just looking out for him, since he seems to be incapable of doing it himself. Cody says, so he’s a charity case, and Dante says he’s Cody’s friend. He gave Cody a couch, kept him out of jail, Dante’s mom hooked him up with a job at the Quartermaine stables; what does that say? Cody says, that Dante put in a good word for him, and Dante says, he didn’t do it out of charity. He did it because they’re friends. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time, but he minute he saw Cody falling out of the sky, he knew Cody hadn’t changed a bit. Cody says, Dante has. Maybe it’s because he’s a dad, or maybe it’s the badge, but Dante is different from the kid from Bensonhurst he used to know. Dante says, yeah, he is; he grew up. Maybe Cody should try it sometime.

Spencer says, Esme set up an innocent woman who could potentially go to prison, not to mention what she did to Joss and Cam with the sex tape. He backs her up as he’s talking, and says, he’ll give her this much; she was thorough in her revenge. She found a way to take them all down. She pushes him back, and says, he thinks he’s got it all worked out. What does he expect her to do, walk into that courtroom and trade places with Trina? He says, no, he doesn’t expect her to do that. Doing that would require a conscience, something she clearly doesn’t have. But if she was smart enough to frame Trina, then she’s smart enough to clear Trina without incriminating herself. She says, Trina really means that much to him, and he says he thinks the more pertinent question is, how much does Esme’s mother mean to her? She throws the paper on the table, and says, oh my God, you ass. After all the lies he told her, he expects her to believe he found a match for her DNA. He picks up the paper, and says, he has the evidence. She can look for herself. He can tell her the name. Or she can walk out and let Trina take the fall. It’s up to her. What’s more important to her; ruining Trina’s life or finding her mother?

Rory says, Josslyn and Trina were carrying fake IDs. He confiscated them, and let them off with a stern warning never to try that again. Arden says, very understanding of him, but were they only at that bar that night to drink alcohol as minors? He says he’s not sure what she means, and she puts a folder on the stand, saying, that document is a rap sheet for a bartender, Oz Haggerty, who was working at that same bar. Can he read off the crimes that bartender was arrested for? He reads, petty theft, and he had a prior for trafficking in stolen electronics. She asks if he can be more specific. What kind of electronics? He says, mostly black market cell phones, and she says, he sells black market cell phones. The kind that Trina’s best friend Josslyn, according to her testimony, said the defendant would never know how to buy. Again, Arden might be enthusiastic, but she’s not real bright. Although, outcomes aren’t always logical in Port Charles.

Michael asks if Willow is okay, and Willow says, they just heard their baby’s heartbeat. She’s never been better, or happier. They hug.

Britt thanks TJ for referring a new patient to her. Willow’s pregnancy is progressing nicely. They just heard the baby’s heartbeat. He says, that’s great to hear, but he needs her to keep him in the loop about Willow. She asks why, and he suggests they go to her office, and he’ll fill her in.

Cody tells Dante, he doesn’t have a kid or a steady career, but he’s growing up in his own way. Believe it or not, he’s already making plans for his future. Dante says, by being a stable boy? Come on, man, it’s even got boy in the title. Um… Michael said hand, not boy. Cody tells him, make as many jokes as he wants. He’s going to prove Dante is wrong about a lot of things. Dante says, including Britt Westbourne? and Cody says, the matchmaker herself matched them up. Dante says, here’s hoping the match doesn’t turn into a dumpster fire. If it does, remember his old pal warned him otherwise.

Esme says, Spencer is doing all of this because he thinks he can win Trina over? She clears Trina’s name, and Trina’s all his? Who is delusional now? Even if Trina did have feelings for him, she’s moved on. Or hasn’t he seen her with the hot rookie cop? He asks if that’s her final answer, but she says, he’s given her a lot to think about. He tells her, don’t think long, because this deal isn’t going to be on the table indefinitely, and she says, as a reminder, she’s not the one on trial. And as for him, if she hears he tried to play hero on his own, and go to Trina with this conversation, he will never get what he wants. He holds up the paper, and says, neither will she. She says, if it comes to choosing finding out who her mother is, and hurting him the way he hurt her, don’t be so sure he’ll know what she’ll choose. She leaves, and Spencer drops the paper on the table. Esme paces in the foyer, then leans against the wall, looking sick.  

Diane says she just has a few questions for Rory. When he confiscated Josslyn and Trina’s fake IDs, did he ask why they were there? He says, yes, and she asks what they told him. He says, they were looking for the bartender who sold Esme Prince a black market phone, and Diane asks if it was a referral deal. Esme Prince got a groovy phone (ha-ha) off this guy, and they wanted one too. Arden objects, saying, counsel is leading the witness, but Judge Young says he’ll allow it. He tells Diane to get where she’s going, and she asks Rory if Josslyn and Trina were in The Highsider to purchase a black market phone. He says, no. They were looking for the bartender to ID Esme Prince. Diane says, and did he? and Arden objects, saying, hearsay. Officer Cabrera wasn’t present when Miss Jax and Miss Robinson allegedly spoke to Mr. Haggerty. The officer has no idea what was said, if anything. The judge says, sustained, and Diane says she has no further questions. Judge Young calls for an adjournment, and the bailiff says, all rise, as he leaves the courtroom.

In the hallway, Curtis says he thinks there’s reasonable doubt for sure, and Josslyn says she hates the way the ADA twisted her words. Trina says she doesn’t blame Josslyn. She knows Josslyn is just trying to help her. Jordan comes out, and she and Curtis nod to each other. Rory follows, and he and Trina exchange a look. Portia tells Trina, just hang in there, and hugs her.  

Tomorrow, Cody wants to get to know Britt better, if she’ll let him; Finn tells Chase that something is too good to be true; Brook tells Linc that she’s found something she wants more than fame; Sasha insists she’s not addicted; and Sonny tells Brando that he’ll take care of something.

👠 I Loved Her Too, But…

Lois was better than LisaR on her best day, but she wasn’t a cast member, nor is this The LisaR Show. I totally understand her grief, but this is going overboard with being demanding.

https://people.com/tv/lisa-rinna-slams-rhobh-for-not-properly-honoring-late-mom/

🍊 OC Slam…

Apparently, Tamra is not too happy with Jill outing her return.

https://www.etonline.com/tamra-judge-slams-jill-zarin-after-she-seemingly-spoils-her-rhoc-return-announcement-go-fk-yourself

But Jill claims she’s not the source. They were on Watch What Happens Live together tonight, so they must have kissed and made up. I wasn’t really listening.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1338372/jill-zarin-clarifies-comments-about-tamra-judges-rumored-rhoc-return

💎 Another Day, Another Suit…

I think Erika is a little smarter than Teresa Giudice, who I believe signed things just because Juicy Joe told her too. I wouldn’t say she was in on it, but I think she turned a blind eye.

🦘 I’ve been watching Below Deck Down Under, and while it’s entertaining enough, I’m a little disappointed. Some of the crew could vie with Jax Taylor and the most recent Sailing Yacht cast for worst people ever. It looks like mostly the deckhands are d-bags, one being a very entitled bad sport. I haven’t absorbed enough of it to get a good handle on the interior, except that they flirt shamelessly with the captain. I can’t say I blame them, since he’s movie star handsome. I also love Aesha, originally from Below Deck Mediterranean. She’s the chief stew on this one, and I remember her as always being positive and fun. And of course there’s the Barrier Reef. I don’t think it gets much more beautiful.

https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck-down-under

Beating the Clock…

Join me tomorrow for soap and those awful women from Beverly Hills. Until then, stay safe, stay not beating yourself up over the past, and stay being the type of friend who sticks around when everybody else turns and runs.

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

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🏃🏻‍♀️ Skipping Town…

Laura and Alexis are taking a break from Port Charles.

🚑 Where They Went…

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

🦎 Voice Of a Komodo…

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

💝 Happy Anniversary…

Llanview over the years.

💎 Yeah, Yeah…

This show is the worst this season.

🍊 Not a Shock…

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

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

🧂 A Shock…

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

But of course it’s all about Andy.

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

🐉 Enter the Dragons…

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

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

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

🏆 The Other Emmys…

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

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

🗿 Quotes of the Week

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Common sense is not so common. – Voltaire

🏂 Sliding Into My Own DMs Like…

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

July 13, 2022 – Carly Rejects the Offer, Erika’s Drinking Is Becoming a Problem & Beach

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha opens her eyes, and Brando says, hi, beautiful. She asks if she missed the fireworks, and he says she sure did. She says, that means he did too, but he says, being here with her, he ain’t missing nothing. She asks if she’s told him that he’s the best husband in the entire universe, and he says, no, but he just wants her to get better so they have decades of 4th of Julys ahead of them. She says, now that they’re past the worst of it, be straight with her, how bad is the fallout?

On the phone at the hospital, Portia says she called weeks ago to make an appointment with a genetic specialist. It was rescheduled and she wants to see if she can be fit in as soon as possible. It’s urgent. Curtis comes in with Marshall, and says, urgent? What’s going on?

Rory asks if he can make a confession, and Trina says, he’s the cop, not her. He says he’s been wanting to do that for a long time.

Sonny asks who bought Carly’s half of the hotel, but Olivia tells him, the real estate agent woudn’t say. She should have just gone with her gut. She offered to buy Carly’s half of the hotel, but Carly turned her down flat. She should have ignored Carly and done it anyway, and they wouldn’t be in this situation right now. He tells her not to blame herself, because Carly’s independent to a fault. Olivia says she knows that, but why couldn’t Carly have just said yes to her or to him. Now they’re stuck with some buyer who’s clearly not going to let Carly keep it. They see Drew, and Sonny says, unless she has a guardian angel.

Nina tells Carly that she just bought Carly’s half of the MetroCourt; she just closed the deal. Carly says, Nina is unbelievable. Her petition to visit Wiley didn’t go her way, so she’s going to stick it to Carly and her family, and take away something else she loves? Nina says, just the opposite. She didn’t buy the hotel for herself; she bought it for Carly.

Portia says, this was a consult for a patient, and Curtis says, an urgent consult. She says she may have overstated just a bit, and Marshall says he bets that gets a quicker result. She says, it certainly does, and asks, what brings them by GH? Certainly not a fireworks mishap she hopes. Curtis says, nothing like that. He just wanted to give her an update. She asks if he found evidence that Trina was set up, and he says, no, but thanks to Marshall, they have a lead.

Trina says, Rory’s been waiting a long time to kiss her? She’s glad he finally did. Unless… He says, what? and she says she told him that she wanted a distraction. Was that all that was? He says, definitely not… actually, maybe… He doesn’t know. They should probably check and make sure, doesn’t she think? She says, it’s the responsible thing to do, and he says, exactly, kissing her again.

Brando says, the only thing Sasha needs to worry about is resting and recovering, and she says, so it’s that bad, but he says, no, it’s… She says she’s so embarrassed, and he asks, why? She says she had a breakdown on live television. Doc is holding her here. Maxie and Lucy must be fielding all kinds of questions. He says, they’ve got it covered, but she says she feels awful. This is the second time she majorly messed up; it’s not fair. Gladys comes in, and says, can they believe the cafeteria ran out of hot dogs on the 4th of July? and Brando says, that has to be illegal. Gladys says, Sasha is awake. How is she feeling? Brando says, she’s stressed, so please tell her, everything at Deception is fine, that Lucy and Maxie are handling PR, and everything will be back to normal in no time. Sasha says, it’s her mess. She should be there to clean it up. Gladys says, it’s being handled, and everyone is far more concerned about Sasha. Sasha says, this time out was much needed. She feels much better now. Tomorrow, she goes home, and it’s back to business as usual. Brando and Gladys exchange glances, and Sasha asks, what’s that look? Brando says, they’ll talk about it tomorrow, but Sasha says she wants to talk about it now. Is something wrong? What aren’t they telling her?

Olivia asks how the kids liked the fair, and Drew says, they loved it. They’re back at her place now, safe and sound. She thanks him for taking them, and he says, it was fun. He asks if Carly is around, and Olivia says she hasn’t seen Carly for a minute, but she’s sure Carly is around somewhere. Sonny says, they heard someone bought Carly’s share of the MetroCourt, and Drew asks if they think it was him. Sonny says, was it? and Drew says, he kind of wishes it was. He thought they had more time to strategize. Sonny says, Drew’s been doing a lot of that lately, strategizing on Carly’s behalf, and Drew says, but it hasn’t been doing anybody any good, has it? Olivia asks if they’re going to clue her in, or keep speaking in code, and Drew says, he tried to sell Nina Crimson, so he could reimburse Carly so she could keep the hotel. Olivia says, that’s a great idea, and Drew says, unfortunately not great enough to work though. Sonny says, but Drew had to try, and Drew says he did. Carly woudn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for him.

Carly says, Nina bought her half of the hotel, and Nina says she did, to give it back to Carly, no strings attached. Carly tells her, she doesn’t know what to say, and Nina says she doesn’t have to say anything. Nina doesn’t think it’s right that Carly lost everything just because she was trying to help her son. That’s not fair. Believe it or not, she just wanted to do this for Carly. Carly says, if Nina is sincere… Nina says she is, and Carly says, then something’s in it for her. What is it? Good PR? Does Nina want to reinvent herself being her financial savior?… Oh, Nina is just praying Wiley finds out about this one day. Nina says, no. She understands what she did to Carly’s family is unforgiveable, and Carly says, so Nina is going to give her back her hotel, and it’s going to make up for everything? but Nina says, no. Nothing she could ever do will fully repair the damage she caused Carly. Carly says, Nina means ripping her family apart, and turning Sonny into a man his kids don’t even recognize? She can never repair that. Nina says, okay. So Carly agrees she owes her. Carly says, hell yeah, Nina owes her, and Nina says, then let her do this

Portia asks, what’s the new lead? and Curtis says, one of Marshall’s band members, Jack, got the name and address of the bartender that Trina and Josslyn found. He’s the same man who sold Esme that burner phone. Portia says, the one that was planted in Trina’s bag; that’s wonderful. Curtis says, but when they went back to the bar and his apartment, he was nowhere to be found. Marshall says, they figure he’s lying low because the cops were called to The Highsider. Portia says, he hasn’t been back to work since then? and Curtis says, no. Shady, right? She says, very shady. But what if they don’t find him? It’s just another dead end. Marshall tells her, don’t lose faith. He and Curtis are nowhere close to giving up on exonerating Trina. Curtis says, there’s already another plan in motion.

Brando says, they need to discuss treatment options for when Sasha is released, and Sasha says, treatment options? She already told them, she’s feeling so much better. She was stressed out. Under normal circumstances, she would have been fine, but putting a baby carrier that soon after Liam’s death was not normal. He says he gets that, but she hadn’t seen the baby carrier yet when she took those pills. She says, the pills; he found them on her after he brought her in here. That was just a one-time thing to help her deal, she swears. He says, that wasn’t just a one-time thing, and Gladys says she told him the truth, that Sasha used uppers to get through the IPO. Sasha says, because she was stressed, and Gladys says, she told him that too. Sasha asks if Gladys also told him that she stopped, and Gladys says she’ll let them talk. She leaves, and Sasha tells Brando, listen to her; she’s okay. She doesn’t need any more treatment. He says he loves her and he’s worried about her, but she says, he doesn’t have to be. She’s done with the pills. He has to believe her. He says he wants to, more than anything in the world, but he can’t.

Olivia tells Drew that he can’t blame himself, but he says he set the whole thing in motion. He met with an executive consultant, who pitched him the idea of merging ELQ and Aurora. He thought it was a great idea. He got on board; he got Michael on board. Pitched it to Ned, which turns out was a big miscalculation. Olivia tells him, she thinks the less said about Ned switching sides, the better, and he says, in order for the strategy to work, he had to inflate the stock value of Aurora, which is a legitimate tactic. Had the merger gone through, the stock would have helped it’s value. With that said, he never should have let Carly get involved. Sonny says, as if Drew could stop her, and Olivia says, once Carly sets her mind on something, that’s it; they all know that. All they can do is support her and she’s going to need a lot of that right now. She’s got some tough times ahead of her. Dex walks in, and tells Sonny, the car’s ready; visiting hours are going to be over soon. Sonny thanks him, and says he’s going to check in on Sasha and Brando. Olivia asks him to give Sasha her best, and Drew says he heard what happened; it’s so awful. Sonny says, Carly isn’t going to take his help, but if she needs anything, he’s here. He leaves, and on his way out, his phone rings. Sonny thanks Brick for calling him back, and says he needs Brick to check some information for him… Yeah, right away.

Carly says, now, after months posturing, Nina wants to do what’s right now? and Nina says, that’s not fair. Carly says, Nina wants to talk fair? and Nina says, ever since she… we got back from Nixon Falls, she’s been trying make up for her mistakes. Carly asks if that’s what Nina calls sleeping with her husband, and dragging them all to court just so she can force herself on Wiley? Nina says, he’s her grandson, then composes herself, and says, can they try to think about this practically? She knows there’s nothing she can do to balance the scales, but maybe this will top it a little bit more toward the middle, and that’s all she wants. Carly says she’s sure Nina believes that. She’s sure Nina has convinced herself that she’s trying to make amends, because the truth is far less flattering. Nina bought her half of the hotel, so Sonny couldn’t. Um… wait a minute. Sonny tried, and Carly said no, so what the what? Carly says, Nina and Sonny have been inseparable lately. She’s sure Sonny told Nina that he was going to offer to help her. Nina says, he did, and Carly says, and that just kills Nina, doesn’t it, knowing Sonny ran to her rescue? but Nina says, it didn’t kill her. She expected it actually. She knows Carly and Sonny will always be connected. That’s what happens when you share children. Carly says, funny Nina mentions that, because Michael is Sonny’s son, and yet Sonny sat in that courtroom and listened to Nina’s lawyer attack Michael, and he did nothing. That is why she’s turning down Sonny’s offer to help her, and she’s turning down Nina’s. Nina had her attorney accuse Michael of being violent towards women, and nothing could be further from the truth. Thank God the judge could see through Scotty’s lies, and thank God Michael kept his cool and defended himself, but the fact that it happened at all is on Nina. What Nina did to her family, sleeping with her husband, that’s nothing compared to what she did to Michael. Carly will never forgive her for what she did to Michael in that courtroom. She’d rather crawl on broken glass than take anything from Nina. Nina says, Carly is such a saint, and Carly’s attorney attacked her for all the things she’s done in her past. She had to do what she did; Carly backed her into a corner. Carly puts her finger in Nina’s face, and says she doesn’t care. She doesn’t care if Nina believes her own lies, and doesn’t care if Sonny believes every single word. Nina can’t come in here, and cry a little, and say pretty things, and give her back her hotel, and expect everything to be okay. She opens the door, and says, this place is Nina’s. She’ll be out by the end of the week. Nina leaves, and Carly slams the door behind her.

Drew says he’s really sorry he cost Olivia her business partner, but she asks if he heard her; it’s not his fault. He says, she honestly doesn’t blame him, not even a little bit? and she says, things might have gone a little different, had Michael not tried to drive Ned out of the company… He says, the intention was never to ice out Ned, but she says, by the time they told Ned about the Aurora merger, it was done deal, with no place for him in the family business. Drew says, that’s not true, and she says, no place he wanted. Drew says, so Ned, the guy who led the charge to reclaim ELQ for the Quartermaines, sided with Valentin? She can’t be okay with that. She says she stands by her husband, and he says, fair enough. She says she just wishes the members of this family weren’t always at odds with one another, and he says, it seems to be the Quartermaine way, even before the vote. He told Michael the merger would be the thing to cement his place in the family. She says, he got that right; he’s a Quartermaine through and through. He says he was trying to protect the family from Valentin, and she asks how that worked out for him. He says, not great, but it’s nobody’s fault but Ned’s. What Ned did was incredibly selfish, and it burned a lot of people in the process. She says, Drew got burned by the Quartermaines for the first time. Don’t worry, it won’t be the last. Welcome to the family.  

Curtis says, he was able to use one of his P.I. connections to access the known associates of the bartender. They should have the names and addresses any minute. Portia says, and he thinks that’s where the bartender is? and Curtis says, that’s the hope. She says, but why? and Curtis says, because he knows he’s connected to the crimes Trina is accused of. He’s sure the bartender is scared if he gets drawn in, it will be trouble for him. Marshall says, and who knows what else might be unearthed from his past? and Curtis says, so if they can get this bartender guy to admit he sold the phone to Esme, it could blow this case wide open. Portia says, the trial starts tomorrow, and shakes her head. Curtis’s phone rings and he says, here he is, right here. He steps away, asking, what’s he got? Portia thanks Marshall for trying to help Trina, and he says, she raised a wonderful young woman. The fact that she’s got all these people willing to go to bat for her is a testament to that. She says she prays it’s enough, and they can end this finally once and for all. He pats her arm, and says, of course (🍷).

Rory says, it’s official; not a distraction. Her? Trina says, definitely not a distraction. She really likes him. He says he likes her too, a lot, and she says, he’s obviously a great guy. He says, oh no, here comes the but, and she says she really wanted him to kiss her. She enjoyed it and doesn’t regret it, but… He says, see? and she says, this can’t happen again. He says, does she mind if he asks why? and she says, it’s complicated. He’s so awesome to her and her friends… except for the time he arrested Spencer and Cameron… He asks if she’s backing off them because she’s still hung up on Spencer.

Sonny asks Gladys, how’s Sasha? and she says, thank God he’s here. She messed everything up. He asks what she means, and she says she knew Sasha was struggling. Sasha asked her not to tell Brando, so she didn’t. If she’d been up front with him, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad. He says, she thought she was helping her daughter-in-law, but she says she only made everything worse. He says, they can only do what’s best in the moment. If you ask him, all she’s done is step up for Sasha. She asks, then why does she feel like she’s failing Sasha? but he says, she’s not failing; she’s trying. That’s not failing. Does she know who would be proud? Mike. She says, he thinks so? and he says, he knows so, hugging her. Aww. He’s being the other Mike.

Brando says, Sasha told him that his mom was overreacting about her using again, and Sasha says, she was. Like Gladys said, she just needed some help to get through the IPO. By the time Gladys found out, she’d already stopped using. He says, the point is, she lied to him. He doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do with that. She says, she lied to him because why worry him over nothing? She didn’t want to start their life together that way. He says, which brings him to the next question. Was she using drugs when they got married? She says she was not high during their ceremony. She did take some pills the morning she proposed, but that doesn’t change anything. He asks how she can say that, and she says, pills or not, she wanted to marry him, more than anything. Being his wife makes her so happy. He makes her so happy. He says, she makes him happy too, and she says, those drugs have nothing to do with her feelings for him. She just needed a little something extra to help with the stress and the pressure, but it’s over now. Brando takes her hand, and says, he’s an addict too, remember? The road to sobriety isn’t a straight line. She had a set-back. She says, that’s all it was, a set-back, and he says, he’ll be there to help her get through it, and make sure she’s fully comfortable with the rehab plan. She says, rehab? and he says, she can’t snap her fingers, and think she can get herself back on track. She says, she was stressed, and he asks if she thinks this is the last time she’s going to feel that way. There are therapists who can help her deal with those triggers. She says, okay, she’ll go to therapy, and he says, rehab therapists. She says, she just wants to go home with him, and he says, she needs more than he knows how to give. He cares about her too much to pretend otherwise. He’d ask her to do it for him, but they both know it’s something she has to do for herself. Gladys pops in, and says, Sonny is here, but she can tell him Sasha isn’t ready for visitors. Sasha says, Brando should go talk to him. Thank him for coming, but tell him she’s not ready. Brando asks her to think about what he said, and leaves.

Sonny asks how Brando is holding up, and Brando says, he appreciates Sonny coming by, but now is not a good time. Sonny says he understands, and asks if there’s anything he can do. Brando says he wishes Sonny knew how to get through to Sasha, and Sonny says, Brando will figure it out. Just keep showing her that he loves her, and he’s going to be by her side. Eventually, she will start listening.

Trina tells Rory, she and Spencer were never together. Spencer has absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on between them. Rory asks what that is exactly? and Trina says, let’s be real. Her trial starts tomorrow, and she’s no closer to proving Esme set her up. If she’s convicted… He says, that’s a huge if, and she says, if she is, what future can they possibly have?

Drew says, Olivia definitely loves her husband, and she says, damn right she does. He says he just hopes she sees he was trying to do what was right by the family. He didn’t deserve what Ned did. She says, that’s the thing. It’s not about who deserves what. These are Quartermaines. He says, for better or worse, and she says, a lot of times it’s for the worse. Do they love each other? Yes, they do, but they just can’t help giving in to their worst impulses. He says, he thought they could come together against Valentin. Instead, Ned turned against them. She says, that kind of thing is going to happen again and again. And when it does, Drew has a choice to make. He can either hang on to his bitterness and drive the family further apart, or choose to forgive. You bring together the people you love. He says, until the next time someone stabs you in the back, and Olivia says, that will happen. That’s just the way it is. She wishes that wasn’t the case, but she can accept it. So can he. Carly comes in, and Olivia asks how she’s doing, hugging her. Carly says she doesn’t know. The most surreal, twisted thing just happened.

Sonny tells Brando that he’s got go; he’s sorry. Is Brando going to be all right? Brando says, he thinks so, and they hug. He thanks Sonny again for coming, and Sonny goes to the elevator just as Nina is coming out.

Nina says she’s here to check on Sasha. She’s guessing that’s why he’s here too. He says he wants to talk to her in private, and tells Dex to give them a minute. She asks if something is wrong, and Sonny says, come on, taking her hand and walking her down the hall. Dex sits next to Brando, and says he’s sorry about Brando’s wife. Brando thanks him, and Dex says, she’s going to be okay. Brando says, no offense, but Dex doesn’t know that, and Dex says, the odds look good with the support system she’s got. Between Brando and Sonny, they’ll get her through whatever’s going on. Brando says he wishes he had Dex’s confidence, and Dex says, Brando’s a vet, right? Brando says, Marines; he fought in Iraq. Dex says, so Brando’s seen and experienced some rough stuff, and he’s still here. Brando says he heard Dex is a vet too, and Dex says, Army; Afghanistan. Brando says, whereabouts? He had a buddy who was stationed in Bagram for a while. Dex says, they were there too, which isn’t that big a coincidence, since most of them got sent there. Then they sent them to Kandahar. Brando asks how many tours Dex did, and Dex says, just the one.

Sasha says she needs Gladys to have her back on this. Gladys saw how she stopped taking the pills the first time. Gladys says, she didn’t stop for long, but Sasha says she’s learned her lesson. She can’t push herself at work anymore. Going forward, she’s going to make a point to take more downtime. Gladys says, Sasha is acting like it’s no big deal, and Sasha says, it isn’t. Gladys says, Sasha had a break in reality on national television, and Sasha says, that part was a big deal, but that was an isolated incident. They forced her to model a baby carrier. Gladys says, all right. So Sasha is just going to go through the rest of her life being triggered by infants and anything related to them? It’s clear Sasha hasn’t processed losing Liam, not to mention everything she’s been through since. Why is she fighting this? Get the help she so obviously needs.

Marshall and Portia sit down, and Marshall says he’s been meaning to thank her. She says, for what? and he says, for allowing him to stay with her and Curtis. He’ll be out of their hair as soon as he’s able. She says, there’s no rush, and he says, it’s a hell of a time. With Trina’s trial, and now all this… She says, it’s fine. They love having him. He thanks her, and she says, there’s something she wants to tell him too. She’s well aware of the stigma of mental illness, even to this day, and it took a lot of courage to open up to them about his diagnosis. He says, better late than never, and she says, she thinks so. Doesn’t he? He says he’s grateful things are finally okay with him and his son, and she says, schizophrenia usually presents itself in the early 20s, so he must have been living with symptoms for a while before he realized what they were. He says, mainly paranoid, thinking the government was watching him. And actually, that wasn’t going on that long before his arrest. She says, paranoia was his only symptom? and he says, it’s possible he wrote off some other things, but he doesn’t think anything abnormal. Curtis comes back, and Portia says, please tell her that his contact found something that can help Trina.

Olivia says, Nina bought Carly’s half of the hotel? and Carly says, as a gift for her. Isn’t that sweet? Drew asks, what’s the angle? and Carly says, there are tons. Mainly she wants to ease her conscience for the hell she unleashed on Carly and her family, but as always, all roads lead to Wiley, so she’s sure Nina is just doing this to ingratiate herself with him. Olivia asks what Carly said, and Carly tells her that she said hell no. Olivia says she figured, and Carly asks if she’s surprised. Olivia says, no, but part of her wishes Carly had taken Nina up on it. Carly says she’s sorry. They were partners, and she made a decision that left Olivia twisting, but no matter how bad she feels, she can’t accept Nina’s offer; she won’t accept Nina’s offer. Olivia says she sympathizes; she gets it. It’s just the thought of running this place with her… She’s got to go. She promised to tuck Leo in. Carly tells Olivia to kiss him for her, and Olivia says, of course (🍷). They’ll talk tomorrow. She leaves, and Drew says, Carly is committed, he’ll give her that. She said she was going to dig herself out by herself, and look at her; offer number three turned down flat. Carly says, Nina accused Michael of being violent towards women in open court. She could be starving and destitute, and she wouldn’t accept a damn dime from that woman. He says he gets that. So what’s the plan now?

Nina tells Sonny, stop freaking her out, and he finally stops walking. He asks if she bought Carly’s half of the MetroCourt, and she says, yes, and she’s actually surprised he didn’t beat her to it. He says, Carly doesn’t want his help. Why? She says, why did she buy Carly’s half of the hotel? She wanted to give it back to Carly. He says, and? and she says, Carly accused her of being self-serving. Sonny asks, can Nina blame her?

Curtis says his guy emailed him a list of all the known associates of the bartender, and the addresses. Taggert is going to help him check them out. Portia says, that’s wonderful, and Curtis says, by tomorrow morning, they should have all the evidence they need to fight these charges against Trina and end this ridiculous nightmare. Marshall says they should get started, and Curtis says, it’s late. He suggests he take Marshall home and he’ll get started on the leads himself, but Marshall says, not happening, and Portia says, really? Marshall says he’s lost enough time with his family. He doesn’t intend to waste anymore, and she and Trina are part of that family now. Curtis says, how do you argue with that? Marshall says, you don’t, and they leave.

Rory says, everything will work out, and Trina asks how he knows. He says, because he has faith they’ll get the answers they need to exonerate her, and she says, that means more to her than he knows. But until the trial is behind her… He says, she’s going to take life one day at a time? and she says, it’s more like hours at this point. He says, so how about for the next couple of hours they just enjoy the here and now. No worrying about the future or what tomorrow will bring. Her, him, and the pleasure of each other’s company. What does she say? She tells him, she says yes. They hold hands, and look up at the sky. He asks if she knows anything about the stars or constellations, and she says, just that they’re beautiful. He says, they really are, and they gaze at the stars.

Sasha asks if Gladys knows how frustrating it is to keep telling people you’re fine and no one believes you. She doesn’t need to be shipped off to rehab. Gladys says, they just want what’s best for her, and both Brando and Doc think she would benefit from more specialized treatment. Sasha says, and it doesn’t matter what she thinks? and Gladys says, of course (🍷) it does, but maybe it’s a good idea to get some outside opinions; not to mention, professional ones. Sasha says she appreciates them trying to help, but they’re wrong. She does not need to go to rehab, and in 24 hours, it won’t be anyone else’s decision but her own.  

Dex tells Brando, he enlisted right after high school. He doesn’t regret serving, but he almost died so many times, he lost count. Brando says he knows what Dex means. A guy near you that dies, and you didn’t; is there a reason, or was it just random? Either way, what are you supposed to do with the life you got to keep? Dex says he decided not to tempt fate. When his tour was up, he got out. He’s going to grab some coffee. Does Brando want anything? Brando says, no, and Dex leaves.

Carly says she doesn’t have a plan, but hell will freeze over before it involves Nina Reeves, and Drew says, copy that. She decided what was important to her, and she stuck to it. That takes guts. She says, or a serious stubborn streak, and he says, that too. She says, it’s just that her family is really all she has right now. She’s not going to risk losing them for anything or anyone. He asks if they need to do another toast to rising again, and she says she’d settle for just finding her way. Right now she’s feeling really lost, and she doesn’t like the feeling because it’s foreign, and it’s scary, and it’s not her. He says he knows, and holds her.

Nina says, she expects Carly to think the worst of her, but not Sonny, and he says, that’s not what he meant. She and Carly have been going at each other’s throats; that’s their history. Why wouldn’t Carly think she’s self-serving? Nina says, he has a point, but Carly’s not 100% wrong. She bought Carly’s half of the MetroCourt because she was trying to repair some of the damage she caused. He asks if she’s being serious, and she says, yes. Which would not only make her feel better, but she wanted to maybe make things easier for them to move forward. All that pain. Wouldn’t it be nice if it was behind them? He says, it is better she bought it than someone else. They can’t undo the past; they can only make peace with it. She says, has he? and he says, he hasn’t been clear with her lately; things have been up in the air. But he does want to be with her. Whatever it takes; wherever it leads them. He’s all in. She touches his face, and he kisses her.

Tomorrow, Ava says, it’s time Trina told them what the evidence is; Laura asks if she has reason for concern; Victor says, since Valentin failed, he’s taken matters into his own hands; and Spencer tells Esme that something is going to rock her world.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

When we last left, LisaR was demanding if Sutton called Diana an MF’er and soulless. Sutton says, Diana was mocking her miscarriages, and we flash back to Diana saying, here we go with the big blue. Teary at the end, blah-blah-blah. LisaR says, all she heard about was the MF’er and soulless. Garcelle says, LisaR wasn’t at the party, and Erika says, LisaR talked to Diana. Sutton says, she and Diana had started to connect, but LisaR says she doesn’t think Diana got the same takeaway. Sutton says, for her, it felt real, and in Sutton’s interview, she says, they left the conversation in a good place, she thought. We flash back to that, and Sutton says, she was trying to relate to Diana. Kyle says, Diana thought her apology was phony, and that’s where she stepped in. Garcelle says, Kyle jumped ship pretty quick, and we flash back to the party, and Garcelle saying, Diana has a chip on her shoulder that has nothing to do with her, followed by Kyle saying, Diana does not have a chip on her shoulder. Kyle says she’s not jumping ship; they’re all on the same ship. Garcelle insists it felt like Kyle jumped ship, and in Kyle’s interview, she says she makes her own decisions based on how she feels. She doesn’t know where this is coming from. Maybe from the last 11 seasons, where Kyle’s feelings jumped ship every five minutes? They go inside, and mess with Sutton’s phone, finding her a match on Bumble. Sutton says she’s not looking to find a date on Bumble, and in her interview, she says, she’s not here to chat. She wants to see them face-to-face, in a crowded room, with Josh stalking her so it doesn’t get rapey. It happens. Someone says, they have a taker, and Sanjit appears on Sutton’s phone. They all say hi, passing the phone around, then put the phone in Sutton’s face. In her interview, Kyle says, it’s a recipe for disaster, but a fun disaster, and one she wants to be part of. Sutton says she likes Sanjit; he’s normal and smart. She tells the women, don’t scare him. Not until they’ve had at least one date. She apologizes to Sanjit, who seems to be a good sport, and they plan to talk later. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, not that she’s watching Erika, but she said she was going to have one drink. We flash back to Erika drinking, and Garcelle holds up three fingers. She asks if she and Erika can have a conversation, and Erika says, sure. Garcelle says, they were having a good time at her birthday, and Erika’s liquor level was beyond, but under no circumstances should she curse out, not just a kid, but her kid. In Crystal’s interview, she says, as a mother, she completely understands. Erika owes Garcelle a genuine apology. We flash back to Crystal hustling Jax away from Erika at the party. Erika says she agrees and takes full responsibility. She was sh*t talking, and treating the teenagers like adults. It was wrong, but it didn’t come from a bad place. It wasn’t vicious, but it was wrong. Garcelle says, seeing her on the boat in Mexico, then seeing her at the party, Erika needs to balance her meds and her cocktails. Erika says she’s on a new med that makes her sleepy, and Kyle jumps in, saying she’s never seen Erika lose her composure, so she should be cut some slack. Garcelle says, this is what she means by jumping ship. She’s having this conversation with Erika; she’s not talking to Kyle. In Kyle’s interview, she says, Garcelle isn’t 100% wrong, but is she happy Erika is letting her hair down, and not being as guarded? Absolutely. I guess it doesn’t occur to this dimbulb that Erika’s reasons for drinking like that might not be good. Sheree (not that one) says, in this moment, Garcelle needs Kyle to be neutral, and Erika admits to having a few too many sneaky margaritas. And before she insulted Garcelle’s twins, she’d complemented them, saying how well-spoken they were, and not acting like teenagers absorbed in their phones. Sutton says, they were raised right, and Erika says, it’s a testament to Garcelle, and I think, nice move. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, it’s great when a stranger compliments you on your parenting, but even better when it’s a mom who knows what it’s like doing it alone. She’s still annoyed, but Erika scored a point. I’m actually surprised Garcelle isn’t thinking like me. Not only did Erika know she’d score a point, she steered the conversation in a different direction. Erika says she’d still do Oliver, and Sheree says, her too. Garcelle says she’ll have to watch both you heifers, and she’s not bringing him around anymore.

I miss what store it is, but it’s like athletic shoe world, a massive wall of shoes, and shelves upon shelves of shoes. Garcelle is there with Jax and Jaid, and in her interview, she says, labels are important, more to some than others. We flash back to a Dorit head-to-toe designer moment, and Garcelle says, Jaid is all about fashion, but Jax couldn’t care less. She sees a pair that are $2200, and tells Jaid, move away from the Diors. She sees a pair for $9800, and in her interview, she wonders, what does it do? Does it do the dishes? The laundry? She tells Jaid that he can’t go over $500, and in her interview, she says, she never in her life thought she’d pay $500 for a pair of shoes. When Jaid was 11 and asked for Gucci, she told him, absolutely not. We flash back to 2019, and Garcelle tells her sons, get a job, and Jaid says, but we’re 11. She says she can’t address her life now; it’s too big. She would never have thought of it. We flash back to some Garcelle moments, and she says, coming from where she does and now having money, she’s proud of what she’s able to do. Jaid picks out a pair for a conservative $300, and in her interview, Garcelle says, when she and Mike broke up, the odds were against her; an older mother with two babies, who didn’t have much. People thought she wouldn’t be able do it. Jaid keeps looking and finds a Yeezy pair for $650. In Garcelle’s interview, she tells us, she’s proud to say she raised three solid young men, who are sweet and compassionate. They deserve a splurge now and then.

It’s Christmastime in Beverly Hills, and we see all the lights. It’s also Hannukah at Kyle’s house. Mauricio dances in, and you know he’s high. Dorit and her kids join them, sans PK, who’s working in London. In Dorit’s interview, she says, it brings back scary thoughts. PK was in London when the home invasion happened, but it’s very important that she keep things normal for her kids, She’s grateful for Kyle being around the corner. It’s a safe environment, and keeps her anxiety at bay. Mauricio’s parents, sister, and brother-in-law arrive, and in her interview, Dorit says, Hanukkah is probably her favorite holiday. She grew up with the Jewish traditions, and now she wants her kids to experience them. One of the boys tells the Hanukkah story before they light the candles, and it’s very cute. In Kyle’s interview, she says, growing up, she didn’t know what the Jewish traditions were, but when she made a commitment to the faith, she wanted to bring them into her home, and celebrate the holidays. Seeing Dorit happy, relaxed, and enjoying Hanukkah makes it mean a lot more now to have these special moments with friends and family. Mauricio tells Dorit that they’re her second family, and Dorit says she’s grateful.

Diana’s son Innis comes by with his girlfriend Ava. Innis says, Diana’s dream is to have him live across the street, and in Diana’s interview, she says she loves having a full house. Her father was an orphan, and had no family. He talked about his loneliness, and how special family is. Losing her brother, she understood that time with her kids is irreplaceable. Ascher (her fiancé? Her husband? I forget) wonders if it’s a culture thing that Diana doesn’t want her kids to go anywhere. Diana says, growing up, there were a bunch of cousins, and everybody had a plot of land. Innis says, it’s an American thing for kids to move away, and in her interview, Diana says she’s glad her kids have seen how the rest of the world lives. They’re lucky to be able to visit her parents in Bosnia. They taught her kids the language and culture. Her daughter Eneya lives in England, where she does horseback riding. Eneya is different from her; she’s allergic to horses. They call Eneya, who says she’ll be riding for Bosnia in March. Her dad is with her, and Diana says, she has a good dad, and in her interview, she says, she selfishly loves having her family with her. She’s hoping Eneya rides in California, so they can spend time together. Her home is important; she likes it to be warm and welcoming. Despite some people thinking she’s rude and cold, her family wouldn’t agree she’s cold. Rude is questionable. See? I want to like her, but…

Kyle meets Garcelle and Sheree for lunch. Sheree talks about going to Sutton’s boutique, and says, they sat and had some girl talk. She’s trying to understand, and Garcelle says, she’ll catch on. Garcelle tells Kyle that she was having a one-on-one with Erika, and wanted a moment with her. It’s not about not wanting Erika to have fun. Erika’s drinking is becoming a lot. In Garcelle’s interview, she says, Erika suggested a threesome to her older son, told her younger son to f*** off, and almost fell off the boat. We flash back to all those things, and Garcelle says, that’s not just, she’s a little tipsy, get her an Uber. What more does Kyle want it to be? Kyle says, Erika was being free and letting her hair down, but Garcelle asks if Kyle doesn’t think it could lead to alcoholism. Doesn’t she think it’s a problem? Kyle looks at her like Garcelle has two heads with her mouth hanging open, then says she thinks that’s dramatic. Garcelle asks if she doesn’t think Erika drinking when she takes meds is a problem, and in Kyle’s interview, she says she does have past experience on this topic. We flash back to the infamous limo scene, and LisaR saying, Kim is close to death. Kyle says she’s learned from those experiences, and those kinds of words hurt people. Apparently she can’t tell the difference between dramatics and actual concern. Garcelle says, Erika said she was on new meds, and Kyle says she takes Lexapro, but it’s a small dosage. It’s not a big thing. Since she doesn’t add something like, Erika’s on the same meds, I don’t know if this applies, or she’s just talking out of her ass. Sheree says, someone saying what Erika did to someone’s sons is a person not in control, and in Garcelle’s interview, she says she dealt with Oliver’s addiction, and watching someone going down a dark path is hard, especially someone you love. Erika’s not at that point, but she thinks they need to do something before it gets bad. Sheree says she sees both sides. Erika’s been through a lot and she’s bringing the wall down, but Garcelle’s point is valid too. Garcelle says, it could be dangerous. If they see a problem, she thinks they should nip it in the bud.

Diana and assistant Lia are on a mission to get rid of Diana’s storage. Lia says it seems overwhelming, but it’s not that bad. We see pictures of Diana with Elton John and Lady Gaga, and in her interview, she says she lives a big life. She goes to a lot of parties, and has a lot of friends. A producer asks, what’s the craziest thing that’s happened at one of her parties? and she says she had a rock star beat up a prince. But she’s not going into names. Lia suggests, except for what she wants to save for her daughters, she donate the rest, and in Diana’s interview, she says, to help others is a huge honor. When she was a refugee, she was on the receiving end. Her parents were at the mercy of charities for years. She gets involved in things she doesn’t even understand, but as long as it helps someone, she’s in. That’s nice, but if she doesn’t understand it, how does she know it’s really helping someone? Erika comes over, and they give each other not-a-fake hug. Erika drools over the clothes and accessories, and in her interview, she says, there’s easily a million bucks in this room. She had things like this her entire adult life, and right now life has changed for her. She doesn’t feel jealous or bad. Life can’t be solely pinned on the value of material things. If she wants something, she can get it. She’s not broke broke. She sold a lot of her collection, but it’s fine. I dunno. It sure sounds like it’s really not. Erika says, Diana missed Sutton’s party, and Diana says she woke up feeling like her head was going to explode. Erika says, it was a topic, and they have champagne. She says, Sutton told them at the table what happened at the party, leaving out the part where LisaR brought the topic up. Diana says, she thought she’d seen it all, then met Sutton. Why does Sutton want to not like her? Erika says she got in trouble last year. Garcelle and Sutton were her biggest critics, but Sutton pulled the worst out of her. Diana says, in the first five minutes she was in the group, Sutton had a fight with nearly everyone; it can’t be her. In Erika’s interview, she says, Sutton poked a major f***ing bear. Sutton might think things are good, but they ain’t with Diana. She doesn’t think Sutton can survive that confrontation. She says she told Sutton that she thought she and Diana got off on the wrong foot, but she can fix it. We see a clip of Erika telling Sutton to give Diana the benefit of the doubt. Sutton says, she doesn’t tell a lot of people about her miscarriages, and Diana made fun of her. Erika tells her, try again. Erika tells Diane that Sutton was sh*tty to her, and she didn’t swipe it under the rug, but she can live with it. Diana asks how she learns to forgive and forget, but Erika says she doesn’t.  

In Kyle’s interview, she says, when you’re born and raised in L.A., and it’s 90 degrees on Christmas, you get desperate for snow. She doesn’t have it, so she’s going to create it. We see a snow machine pumping snow into her yard. She calls Erika, and says she had snow brought to the house. She wishes Erika could be here tomorrow for the Children’ Hospital benefit with Jamie Lee Curtis. Erika says, Diana’s on her way to lunch with Sutton, and Kyle says, that’s interesting, twirling her mustache. In Sutton’s interview, she says, she’d thought she and Diana ended on a good note, but LisaR inserted herself, so now she’s going straight to Diana. She calls Garcelle from the car, and says she thinks Diana will be tricky. Garcelle says, you can’t be in this group and hold a grudge because someone yelled at you. Sutton says she can come across as harsh, but she’s complex, funny, witty, and a good friend. She promises to give Garcelle a full report.

Sutton and Diana hug, and I don’t know about fake, but it seems halfhearted. Diana asks what they do, and Sutton says, have some lunch and talk about what they need to talk about. She wonders where to start, and Diana suggests the beginning. Sutton says, they can Sound of Music this, but since she wants to go back, Diana had said her words were clumsy before she even knew Sutton. We flash back to Diana saying that, and Diana says she was trying to give Sutton the benefit of the doubt, thinking she doesn’t mean to hurt with her words. But she’s changed her mind. She thinks Sutton means what she says. Sutton says she’s there to make peace, and come to an understanding. She doesn’t want Diana to be mean and shoot daggers. She wants to be civilized. Diana says, the way Sutton provoked her at the party was inappropriate, and Sutton says, it was wrong of her to be sarcastic. Diana says, some things aren’t up for sarcastic remarks. Sutton says, what she did wasn’t right, and she’s willing to say that, but she needs Diana to say that what she did wasn’t right; mocking Sutton’s miscarriages. Diana says, it’s how Sutton said it, but Sutton says she was sincerely trying to bond, and Diana is rolling her eyes. Diana says, Sutton isn’t genuine, and she feels like she needs professional help to communicate with Sutton. Sutton says, if Diana doesn’t think she’s sincere, Diana has a problem. She doesn’t share her miscarriages with many people. Diana says, Sutton threw it in there like she was raising Diana two. It’s too heavy of a subject. Sutton says, how dare Diana? and Diana says, everything goes back to Sutton. Sutton says she was speaking on behalf of all women who have miscarried, and Diana asks if she’s the world’s miscarriage spokeswoman. Sutton says, Diana is delusional, and Diana says she gave Sutton the fakest hug in her life, and Sutton thought it was sincere. She couldn’t wait to shake Sutton off. Sutton asks, who’s fake now? and Diana says she is. In Sutton’s interview, she says, Diana has a problem with herself. She’d choose dealing with Erika over Diana, Sutton says she had no idea, and it was sh*tty of Diana. Diana shrugs, and Sutton says, shame on her. Diana says, for what? Not letting Sutton walk on her and abuse her? Huh? Diana asks if Sutton thinks she can provoke someone, and yell and say mean things, then hug it out 10 minutes later. She cut Diana deep, and if Diana said it was all good, it would be fake. Sutton asks if Diana wants to move on or not, and Diana says, tell her how to move on in a way that’s not fake. Who is Sutton? Sutton says, she’s reactionary. She’s a hot head, but she’s a good friend, and loyal to the end. Diana says, so you say, and Sutton says, so I know. They go back and forth for a few rounds with that, and Sutton finally says she doesn’t know what to do. They’re playing ping-pong. She gets up and says she’s going to go. She has lots of Christmas cards to do. They can be pleasant at Kyle’s thing. Diana agrees, saying, it’s a charity event, and Sutton leaves.

I swear, I’m starting to need Tums or something during this show.  

Next time, Jamie Lee Curtis; Crystal struggles with her eating disorder; Kathy returns; and Erika drinks… and drinks… and drinks.

🍝 On Top of Spaghetti…

Come on by tomorrow for soap (she says with trepidation) and something to Charm you. Until then, stay safe, stay doing your part for the environment, even if it’s just carrying a candy wrapper around in your pocket forever rather than littering, and stay knowing we can’t undo the past; we can only make peace with it.

July 12, 2022 – Another Preemption, Chefs Ranked On Deck, Guilty in Salt Lake & Sunny

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Yep. Another day of hearings, another preemption. And if you don’t know, now you know.

GH

The other soaps.

🌴 Taking the rest of the day off, or at least switching job gears. But here are a couple of nuggets.

🍳 Rate the Chefs…

Several of them were pretty bad, but IMO Leon was the worst. Repeat dishes, nasty remarks, attitude on attitude, not finishing the charter when he was let go. The best thing about him was, when he walked off, Ben replaced him. Not that Ben isn’t moody, but he’s a whole lot of fun.

🧂 Shah Shame…

Her attorney says, she’s a good woman who crossed the line. Please. Seems to me she crossed a lot of lines. And you’d think if she was smart, she might have been a little more low-key on the show, but I guess thieves never think they’ll be caught.

https://people.com/tv/real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-jen-shah-still-filming-after-guilty-plea/

Andy weighs in. At least she’s honest? They forgot to add finally.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1337638/andy-cohen-shares-his-thoughts-on-rhoslc-star-jen-shahs-guilty-plea

🌞 It’s Only a Day Away…

Check in tomorrow when we’ll hopefully have soap, as well as a report on those horrible Beverly Hills diamond holders. Until then, stay safe, stay never letting others limit you, and stay not crossing any lines where you’ll ultimately be pleading guilty.