Category Archives: real housewives

March 15, 2022 – Sonny Tries To Lower the Temperature, Subbing, Missing Deck, Marge Hosts a Spa Day Minus Jennifer & Friends

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Ava and Nina walk into Beradino’s, and Ava says she’s glad they’re doing this. It’s been ages since they had lunch anywhere but the MetroCourt. They’re seated, and Nina says, it’s nice to be away from the office. Ava says, and it’s much less likely they’ll run into Carly here. She heard from Nikolas that Nina didn’t follow up with Martin Grey about visitation, and Nina says she’s hoping she won’t need Martin to have a place in her grandson’s life. She put the whole scorched earth tactics in reserve. Ava says, Nina’s not naïve enough to think the Corinthos family will do the right thing, but Nina assures Ava that she’s not naïve. She has someone else advocating for her now.

Willow joins Michael in the nook, and holds something up. He asks if it’s what he thinks it is, and she says, one shiny new passport in all its glory. She’s so glad he got it expedited, and now that exams are over, she has a break. He says, Paris, here we come, and kisses her. Sonny walks in, and says, sorry to interrupt. Michael asks, what’s going on? and Sonny says, they need to get on the same page about Nina.

At the hospital, temp Monica (see below) says she’s glad she ran into Finn. He says, it’s always a pleasure, and she says, it’s been so long since she had the department heads at her house for dinner. She’s going to set something up this week, and she’ll let him know about it. They can all let off some steam and get to know each other outside of the hospital. And of course (🍷) significant others are welcome, so he can bring Elizabeth. He thanks her for the invitation, but says he’ll be attending solo. He and Elizabeth have decided to hit pause in their relationship.

Elizabeth bangs on the vending machine, and Drew says, easy there. She says she’s so frustrated. She put her money in, and it’s just stuck. He bangs on it, and the bag falls down. He tells her, Navy SEAL training, and asks if she wants to talk about it. She says, after all the pain and misery they’ve been going through because of Peter, it finally caught up to her family.

Victor tells Yohan, good news. It seems Drew Cain might be able to give them access to what they’ve been searching for after all. Yohan asks how that’s possible, and Victor holds up the Three of Cups tarot card and says, this was amongst the items found on Peter’s dead body. In life, Peter managed to prevent him from gaining access to Drew’s memories, but in death, he’s graciously given Victor a way to get everything he so badly needs.

Outside Kelly’s, Eileen sees Laura, and says, her official calendar said she had a meeting with the heads of State Commerce. Laura says, it got rescheduled. She’s just grabbing a quick lunch. She’ll see Eileen back at city hall. Eileen flashes back to telling Victor, they have a problem; Sam McCall, Robert Scorpio, and Laura Collins are getting too close.

Laura sits with Sam, Dante, and Robert, and says, she just ran into her deputy mayor out there. She hopes she didn’t keep anybody waiting, but Dante says he and Sam just got here. Robert says, thus their group is all assembled, the group that’s going to take out Victor Cassadine.

Innsbruck, Austria. Felicia asks Anna if all this subterfuge is really necessary, and Anna says, they have to be careful none of Victor’s associates are keeping watch on this place. Thankfully, when she spoke to Frisco, he didn’t ask too many questions. Felicia says, he never did, and Anna says, on the books, it just says they’re spending the next few hours being debriefed by the Bureau about the circumstances surrounding Peter’s death. Felicia says, the transportation office looks like it’s going to be closing for the night soon, and Anna says she’s right. They can’t waste a moment. They really need to find proof Luke didn’t die in a random accident. He was murdered.

A clerk walks into the transportation office, and the man behind the desk says, it’s not like him to be late. His shift is over. He’ll see the clerk in the morning. (We find out later the first guy’s name is Kirk, or sounds like Kirk.) Kirk leaves, and Anna (in fake glasses) comes in with Felicia weeping into a handkerchief. The clerk says they’re going to be closing soon, and Anna says she’s so sorry it’s last minute, but she was wondering if he could help with an important matter.

Yohan asks if that’s the card that will access Drew’s old memories, and Victor says, there’s only one way to find out. They’ll have to lure Drew to some secluded location and activate the conditioning. Yohan says, Victor tried that before and it didn’t work out, and Victor says, that’s because he was misled by Peter with the wrong tarot card. Yohan says, Drew knew what Victor was doing. Victor denied it once, and If he tries again, there will be no denying it. Victor says he makes an excellent point. It will be a terrible waste, but if conditioning doesn’t work this time, Drew will have to be eliminated.

Drew says he’s sorry Elizabeth’s family is suffering. Does she want to talk? She says he doesn’t want her to unload her baggage. He has enough going on in his own life. Peter took two years from him that he can’t get back. He says, he’s always here for her and her family, and she says, all right. They walk, and she says, some really strange things have been happening lately, and they all relate to Franco. At first, she thought it was his mom, but she was hospitalized at the time, and now, as much as she doesn’t want to admit it, all signs are starting to point to Jake.

Monica say she’s sorry to hear about Finn and Elizabeth. She always liked them as a couple. He says, so did he. Maybe someday, but now is not the time pursue something. Monica says, it’s none of her business, but please know, she always rooted for both of them. She’s fond of him, and has a soft spot for Elizabeth in her heart. She’s known Elizabeth since she was a teenager. She was Monica’s daughter Emily’s best friend, and she’s the mother of Monica’s grandson Jake. Her connection to Elizabeth’s family goes back even further, because back in the day, she was married to Elizabeth’s father. He says, she was married to Jeff Webber? and she says, yes. It seems like a lifetime ago. It didn’t work out; neither of them was faithful. Jeff lived a life of service as a doctor to the underserved, but it still breaks her heart that he has no relationship with Elizabeth or his grandson. She always wondered what happened there, but guesses you never know what goes on in families. He says, judging from his own difficult family history, no you don’t. The elevator doors open, and Jake is there.  

Michael tells Sonny that he and Willow are on the same page regarding Nina, and Willow says she assumes this is about Wiley. Sonny says he knows Willow and Nina got into it the other day, and Willow asks if that’s how Nina described it. Nina thought she didn’t know what happened between the two of them, and tried to exploit her ignorance to get a visit with Wiley. Willow made it clear that’s not going to happen. Sonny says they’ve got to keep his private life out of this, and Michael says, it isn’t about Sonny; it’s about Nina. She lied to them over and over again, and they don’t trust her. Sonny asks if he has to remind Michael that grandparents have rights in the state of New York, and Wiley and Nina are blood family. Michael says, Nina has the right to go before a judge and petition to see Wiley, but that’s no guarantee the petition will work, especially since he and Willow have the right to argue against visitation. Then it’s up to a judge to decide. Sonny asks, what if he can get Nina to back off and not file that motion in court? and Michael asks why she’d do that. Sonny says, because he believes he can convince Nina not do that, then they all get what they want.

Ava asks if Nina fired Martin and hired a different lawyer, and Nina says her current plan is to try to avoid going to court. Ava asks, how? and Nina says, Sonny offered to talk to Michael and Willow to see the wisdom in lowering the temperature. Get them to see they’re better off in not having a court ruling in this matter. Ava says she sees, and Nina asks what that means. Ava says, nothing. She just doesn’t want Nina to have false hope. Nina says, Sonny is convinced it will work, and Ava says, Sonny was convinced a lot of his recent plans would work. Nina says, it’s not his fault Carly is combative and unreasonable, and Ava says, Carly is always combative and unreasonable. It’s a little late for Sonny to complain about that now. But that doesn’t even matter, does it, because they’re divorced, and Sonny is going to bat for her. Nina says, Sonny is just trying to find an equitable solution. Ava says, Sonny is trying to impress Nina. She’s known Sonny a long time, and that man cannot be without a woman. He’s one of those. And now that Carly is out of the way, and now Nina has her opening and can get in there and get what she wants. Correct her if she’s wrong, but Nina does want Sonny doesn’t she?

Felicia wails, and Anna asks if the clerk speaks English, because her German is a bit rubbish. He says he’ll try his best, and she says she’s an attorney representing the Randolph Forsythe estate. Felicia weeps loudly, and Anna says, this is his widow, and Felicia has been led to believe her late husband was a passenger on that cable car that had that tragic accident back in December. Unfortunately, the investigators weren’t able to find evidence to prove Randolph was on board, and as he can imagine, it’s left the estate in flux. Felicia continues to wail, and Anna says, so what she was hoping was that maybe they could look at the evidence, so they could find some actual proof that he was indeed a passenger. The clerk says he’s not authorized to let anyone see the records, unless they’re government officials. Felicia jumps up, and says she told  Anna this would be a waste of time. This situation will never end. She throws an arm across her forehead, and leans on the wall, crying some more. In German, Anna tells the clerk, Mr. Forsythe told her client he was in Austria, but she has reason to believe he’s alive and well, and ran off with his mistress instead. If her client sees proof her husband wasn’t onboard, she can move on with her life. Felicia sobs loudly, and Anna asks the clerk, please help me give her some closure. He says he can’t allow her access to the computer, but he can let her see the hard copies. Felicia turns around and says, yes! That will work. Thank you, kind sir. A thousand thank yous, yes. Anna turns to Felicia and makes a cutting motion across her throat, and Felicia gets quiet, dabbing at her eyes.

Laura says, so Victor took the bait. He thinks he has the tarot card that will activate Drew’s conditioning. Sam says, he thinks Peter had it on him when he died, and Dante says, he thinks he’s got the key. He’s going to reach out to Drew. He thinks it’s going to work. Laura asks if anyone is concerned Victor might actually be able to activate Drew, and Dante says, not with that card. He and Sam will be monitoring the situation in real time, and Drew’s aware; he’s in the loop, and knows what’s going on. Hopefully, they get something incriminating on Victor. Robert says, this is insanely convoluted, and Laura says she still can’t fully understand how these things are connected. If Luke was killed for the Ice Princess diamond, what does it have to do with Drew’s past? Eileen watches through the window.

Nina says, it’s not as simple as wanting Sonny or not, and Ava says she hopes Nina isn’t worried about the fallout from Sonny’s family. That ship has certainly sailed. Nina says she knows that. It’s not about that. Ava asks, then what is she waiting for? and Nina says, the man she fell in love with in Nixon Falls is very much the man Sonny is now, but recently she’s been confronted with a side of Sonny she doesn’t really know. She went to his penthouse the other night, and sometimes she just doesn’t recognize him. And it makes her wonder if she isn’t just repeating her self-destructive patterns.

Sonny says he doesn’t think Nina will file a legal motion if they allow her to see Wiley from time to time, but Michael says, they don’t want that. Sonny asks if he didn’t say Nina and Wiley are blood related. If they get the court involved, the court could rule against them, and dictate Nina’s visitation time. All they’ve got to do is let Nina see Wiley from time to time, and they dictate the terms. Michael says, he and Willow don’t think it’s healthy for Nina to be in Wiley’s life. What do they gain be playing along? Willow says, she knows Sonny has feelings for Nina, but to be perfectly honest, Willow doesn’t trust her. Even if they agree to a compromise, there’s a strong chance Nina will still file a legal claim. Sonny says he trusts Nina, and Michael says, that’s the problem. Sonny shouldn’t trust Nina.

Drew asks if Elizabeth really thinks Jake is behind the incidents, and she says she doesn’t want to think that, but he was there when Jake came home after he’d been kidnapped by Helena. There was this darkness about him. And does he remember when they left Jake alone? Sam was trapped in the basement. Drew says, that was an accident and they proved it. Jake was able to recover from what happened on Cassadine Island because he had Elizabeth to help him. He had a family he could count on, right? So is Jake is struggling, he knows she has the strength to help him through that again.

Monica asks Jake, what’s going on? and Finn asks if he doesn’t have an appointment. Does his mother know where he is? Monica says, talk to her. He knows he can tell her anything. Finn asks if Monica minds if they have a moment alone, and she says, he’s her grandson. Finn says he realizes that, but there might be some things you don’t want to disclose to your grandmother, and Monica tells Jake, they’ll swap spots. Jake comes out of the elevator, Monica gets in, and the doors close, Finn asks where Jake’s mom is. Does she know where Jake is? Jake says, no, and Finn can’t make him go back there.

Finn takes Jake to his office, so they can have some privacy, and asks, what’s going on? If Jake doesn’t want to talk to him, that’s fine. He can page Jake’s mom, and she can sort this out. Jake says, fine. He’ll talk to Finn. He told Dr. Massey that he had to go to the bathroom, and made a run for it. Finn laughs, and asks why Jake took off. Jake says, whatever, forget it, but Finn says he can’t. They have rules here. If Jake doesn’t go back to Dr. Massey’s office soon, she’s going to call hospital security. There’s a whole procedure for when a child is missing. Jake says he’s not a child, and Finn says he realizes that. He meant when a minor goes missing. He could get fired if he doesn’t call this in, unless Jake gives him a good reason for not going back. Jake says he’s not going back there. He’s tired of being accused of setting Franco’s studio on fire.

Elizabeth thanks Drew for his support; she needed to hear that. Monica comes by, and says she’s sorry to interrupt, but she just saw Jake on the first floor. It seems like he skipped out on his doctor’s appointment. Elizabeth gets up, and says she needs to go find him, but Monica says, it’s okay; he’s with Finn. They wanted to have their privacy. Maybe Jake will open up to Finn, but can she ask Elizabeth something? What is going on with her grandson? Elizabeth says she made an appointment with Dr. Massey. Jake is going through something. Monica says, of course (🍷). It’s understandable. He’s lost his stepfather and his father in the same year. Elizabeth says she thinks they might be dealing with some behavioral issues, and Monica says she’s sorry to hear that. Losing Franco, and then Jason, is too much.

Michael says, Sonny can’t let go of his feelings for Nina. That’s why he trusts her; not because she’s trustworthy. She lied to Sonny’s wife and kids for almost a year about him being alive. This should be a major red flag, and he doesn’t understand why it’s not. Sonny says, what Michael doesn’t understand is, he already confronted that issue. He’s just trying to take down the temperature here. Willow says, she appreciates his intentions, but they’re past the point where turning down the temperature will do any good. Sonny says, it was a mistake to come here, and goes to the door. Michael says, he’s right, it was, because once again, Sonny is choosing Nina’s interests over his family. Sonny turns around.

Ava says she thought they already addressed this, or is Nina slipping back into poor me territory? Nina says, no, and Ava says, she wanted Sonny and she took him. Is she going to have a crisis of conscience about it now? Nina says, it’s not about that. Sonny is dealing with some issues right now, and she thinks it’s wise for her to stay away from him until it’s settled. Ava says, but it’s okay if he goes to bat for her. What are these issues Nina is talking about? Victor walks in, and says, Ava, looking ravishing as always, and kisses her hand. She tells him that he’s too kind, and asks if he knows her friend Nina Reeves. He says, his wayward son’s ex-wife. It’s a shame she and Valentin couldn’t make things work. Nina says, sadly, she couldn’t trust him. She sees now where he’s inherited that trait.

The clerk is out for a smoke break and Kirk comes by, asking if he left his phone in the office. The clerk says, there are two women in the office; an American and a Brit. He knows they’re not authorized, but one of them had family in December’s accident. Kirks tells him to describe them; what did they look like? In the office, Felicia listens in the hallway, and tells Anna, the record keeper is still gone. What exactly are they looking for? Anna says she doesn’t know really. Some kind of inconsistency that can lead them somewhere. She says Felicia was really hamming it up with the whole grieving widow thing, and Felicia says she’s sorry. She was so nervous. She’s out of practice with the undercover stuff. Was it too much? Anna says she’s just grateful Felicia was playing an American. God knows what she’d do with an accent. Anna looks through a folder, and Felicia says, since The Floating Rib is gone, maybe she can get back in the P.I. game. What does Anna think? Anna doesn’t say anything, and Felicia says, that enthusiastic, huh? Anna says, no. She might have found something that proves the cable car crash was no accident.

Elizabeth says, maybe Jake wasn’t ready for her to start dating again, and Monica says, the circumstances surrounding Jason’s death didn’t help. Drew says, which means they’re all kind of in a state of flux. Monica asks if Elizabeth needs her to stick around, but Elizabeth says she’s okay. Drew says he’ll see Monica at home, and Monica leaves. Elizabeth says Drew doesn’t need to stick around either, but he says, that’s what families are for.

Finn asks why Jake thinks Dr. Massey believes he burned down Franco’s art studio, and Jake says, Finn believes it too. So does his mom. That’s why he had to talk to Dr. Massey. He already knows the drill; he’s been in and out of therapy since he was eight years old. After what happened to him, he doesn’t want anyone to believe he’s crazy. Finn says, no one believes that, and Jake says his mom and Dr. Massey believe he’s still disturbed like he was when he was a kid. That’s why she asks him all these leading questions like, was he really at a friend’s house the night the studio burned? Why was he at the library when a picture of his mom showed up at the house? Finn says, maybe there’s another way to look at this. People are acknowledging Jake has been through a lot in the past year. He was close with Franco, and not only did he lose Franco, he lost his dad as well. Jake says, his mom lost Franco too. Why would he want to torture her like that? He wants her to be happy. Finn says, even if it means she’s maybe moving on from Franco?

Dante asks if they might not be complicating this. The Ice Princess is worth the GDP of a small country, maybe Victor is literally just after the money. Sam says, it certainly motivates a lot of people, but… Robert says, they dealt with Victor back in day; the guy’s a playboy. Laura says, he was that. He liked the finer things in life, and mostly motivated by lust and greed. Although lately she’s noticed he seems to like to play God. The Ice Princess diamond, Luke’s death, and there’s something Drew is supposed to remember; they all add up to something. Eileen walks in, and asks Laura if there’s something she should know about.

Ava says, Nina is talking to a member of her family, but Victor says, that’s all right. He supposes there’s no escaping his less than reputable past, which is why he intends to make amends in the future, giving back to the world. Nina says, with what? Charity? He says, something like that, and she says, for Valentin’s sake, she hopes it’s the truth. Victor’s phone rings, and he says he has to take it, and tells Ava that he’ll see her soon. He leaves, and Nina asks, what the hell was all that about?  

Felicia asks what Anna found, and Anna shows her the cable car schedule the day of the accident. The cable car in question was supposed to leave the dock at 9:15 am, but it didn’t actually leave until 9:47 am. Felicia says, that’s not unusual. Delays happen all the time with public transportation. Subways usually have a schedule, but everyone knows they bear little resemblance to reality. Anna says, but this is Austria, and that’s a twelve minute delay, and it should be noted in the records, but it isn’t. There’s nothing here; there’s no engine trouble, no weather issues, no staffing issues. Felicia says, maybe the car was deliberately held back until Luke arrived to assure he was on it. Anna says, that’s what she’s thinking, and as they both know, Luke Spencer was never punctual a day in his life. So it’s as good a theory as any.

Victor asks Kirk what he wants, and Kirk says, they have a situation. There are two women in the records room, looking for information about the crash. Victor says, by any chance is one an America blonde, and the other a British brunette? Kirk says, that’s exactly how his colleague described them. Does Victor know who they are? Victor says he’s afraid he does. The Brit is a senior WSB agent. He knew she was in the area, he just didn’t know she was there to investigate the crash. Kirk says, she’s in the records room right now. He was working in inspection the day of the crash. She could uncover the truth. Victor says, but she won’t, will she? Because Kirk will handle it. Kirk asks, how? and Victor says, by any means necessary.

Anna says she’s going to review these records, starting with whoever was inspecting the cable cars that morning. Then she’s going to photograph the pertinent ones, and have a look at them when she gets back home. Felicia says, sounds like it’s going to take some time. They need to make sure that nice man doesn’t come back any time soon. Maybe she can charm him into going on a coffee run. Anna thanks her, and tells her, just take it easy with the handkerchief thing. Felicia leaves, and Kirk watches.

Laura says she’s just catching up with her friends, and Eileen says, a senior detective on the PCPD and the District Attorney? Dante says, Laura was his mother-in-law, and he still considers her family, and Robert says, he and Laura go back decades. Eileen tells them, they can say whatever they want, but the mayor’s official duties and calendar are a matter of public record. Frankly, this isn’t the first time she’s caught Laura in a white lie like this. Laura says she thinks there’s been a misunderstanding. Surely she’s entitled to a social life, right? To spend time with her friends? Eileen says she still has some more questions and don’t call her Shirley, and Laura asks if she has to remind Eileen that Eileen works for her, not the other way around. Eileen says she knows Laura’s her boss, but the Government Oversight Committee has been breathing down their office’s neck every since former Mayor Lomax resigned in disgrace. If there’s any discrepancy on Laura’s public schedule, she needs to correct it. Let her constituents know that she’s meeting with other public officials, personal or not. Laura says she can’t do that, and Eileen asks, why not? I don’t think that’s how any of that works, but letting it pass.

Sonny tells Michael, that’s not what’s happening here. He’s never chosen Nina over his family. Michael asks, then why not just tell them the truth about what happened in Nixon Falls? Or why didn’t Sonny warn him that he wasn’t going to testify against Nina, and wanted to protect her from the consequences of what she did? (Hmm… Sonny might remind Michael that no one knew ahead of time he’d end up on the stand.) Sonny says he’ll give it to Michael straight because he likes to hear one side. When he came home from Nixon Falls, he found out his wife had married his best friend, and he had to wrap his head around that. Then his best friend Jason dies, just like Michael thought he’d lost Sonny. He was trying to keep his family together, and not make a bad situation worse. Yes, it didn’t work out like he’d hoped. He wanted to tell the whole family the truth on his terms; didn’t happen. But Michael has to remember something. Sonny is his father. He’s always going to do what’s best for Michael, and that’s what he’s trying to do right now. Don’t ever forget that.

Elizabeth says she really does appreciate Drew looking out for her and her family, but she can handle whatever’s going on with Jake. He says he has no doubt about that, but maybe while she’s taking care of the boys, he can look out for her. She says she just wishes she’d caught on to Jake’s behavior sooner. She was so focused on figuring out if she was ready to date, she doesn’t think she paid enough attention to her boys’ feelings. He says he knows her, and knows she always puts her boys first. He’s sure she came to a decision that was well-informed that the  boys were ready. She says he might be giving her too much credit, but he says, not possible. She says she’s just as susceptible to tunnel vision as anyone else, and only see what she wants. He’s a perfect example. She believed he was Jason and didn’t tell anyone. He says, that was ancient history. Elizabeth was in a bad emotional place, but she came out the other side, which is why he knows she has the strength to help Jake with whatever’s going on. She says, if that’s what’s really happening.

Jake asks if Finn thinks he was doing all those things because he didn’t like Finn dating his mom. He told Finn that he was okay with that. As long as Finn is good to his mom, they have no problems. Finn says he believes Jake – he really does – but the police told his mom that whoever put the painting in the living room didn’t break in. They had access to the brownstone, and no one saw Jake in the library that morning. Unless there’s some other reason Jake doesn’t want to tell anyone what he was doing that day.

Ava says she has no idea what Nina is talking about, and Nina says, is she kidding? That charm offense Ava was giving Valentin’s father; what was going on there? And don’t tell her, nothing, because Nina knows Ava has something up her sleeve. Ava says, it’s just that the Cassadines are a complicated bunch. It’s best for everybody if they get along. Nina asks if that’s Ava’s polite way of saying, just butt out, and Ava says, emphasis on polite. Just like Ava will butt out of Nina’s relationship with Sonny. But not before telling Nina that she knows Sonny is advocating for her with Willow and Michael because he was in love with her. Nina says she’s not sure she wants that on her conscience.

Michael says, Sonny wants to do what’s best for him? Then respect the decision he and Willow made about their son. Sonny asks, why use his son to punish Nina? and Willow says, this isn’t about punishing Nina. It’s about what’s appropriate for Wiley. Sonny is an adult. If Nina lies to him or twists the facts, he can handle it, or not, but Wiley is a child. Nina already confused him enough. Monica comes in, and says, Sonny. This is certainly a surprise. Sonny says he was just leaving, but Monica says, since he’s here, there’s something he should know; all three of them. She was doing some serious thinking on her way home, about the ambiguity surrounding Jason’s death. It’s not good for his children to be living inside this limbo. She’s going to petition the court to have Jason declared legally dead.

Jake says, he’d better get back to Dr. Massey. He doesn’t want to get Finn in trouble. Finn says, don’t worry about him, this is about Jake. Can someone corroborate where Jake was that morning? Jake says, forget it, but Finn says he can’t. Tell him the truth. Jake says he can’t, and Finn asks, why? Jake says, if his mom finds out what he did, she’ll never forgive him.

Elizabeth thanks Drew for the pep talk, and he says his shoulder is at her service whenever she needs it. They hug, and Elizabeth leaves. Drew’s phone rings, and he sees it’s Victor. He says, show time.

Eileen says she’s liable for seeing Laura. She can’t pretend she didn’t. Laura says she’s sorry. She didn’t realize she might be putting Eileen in a difficult position. She can’t tell Eileen everything, but Eileen is her deputy, so she guesses Eileen deserves to know something about what’s going on with her. Robert asks if she’s sure, and Laura says, it’ll be all right. She tells Eileen that she has reason to believe her ex-husband Luke Spencer may have been murdered. She’s working on this on her own time. This is her lunch hour. Now she’s just taken a big step in trusting Eileen, so she’s asking Eileen to do the same for her. Can Eileen give her the space she needs wo work on this situation? Because it needs to be kept separate from their office. Can she do that? Eileen says, yes, understood. They can touch base later. Laura thanks her, and Eileen leaves. Laura goes back to the table, and says, now where were we?

Drew asks what Victor wants, and Victor says, he’s sorry; they seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. Drew says, two years in a cell is a bad start, and Victor says, Peter was responsible; Peter’s dead. He’s calling about a different matter entirely, and it’s important they meet in person.

Anna looks at more files, when Kirk suddenly comes in behind her with his gun drawn. She takes more pictures.

Tomorrow, Portia tells Trina that she has exciting news; Esme asks Spencer, who else could have possibly done this; Carly says, there’s no proof, but there will be; and Kirk’s gun goes off.

🩺 Sliding Into GH Like…

All about temporary Monica.

https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/monica-temporarily-recast-on-general-hospital/amp

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Co-primary Charles bitches to Captain Glenn that McDonald’s is better than this. You don’t put sweet sauce on a steak. He feels like he’s losing money eating this disgusting food. Daisy warns Marcos about Charles ranting, and Marcos says, Charles wouldn’t know a good meal if it smacked him in the face. Daisy says Charles is being aggressive and mean, and in Marcos’s interview, he says if Charles said that to his face, he wouldn’t be sitting here. Glenn asks Charles how the food was last night, and Charles deflects. He tells Charles that they’ll find a solution, and tonight’s dinner will be fantastic. Gary asks Daisy about the beach picnic, and she explains the procedure they’re going to follow.

Erica says her mom was happy with the food, but she wasn’t, and Glenn tells Marcos about Charles not being happy with his eggs. He doesn’t get it. It looked delicious, but humor them. He suggests Marcos hear from them what they want. In Glenn’s interview, he says he’ll hear a legitimate complaint, but who comes on a luxury yacht, and says it’s not as good as McDonald’s? Show some class. Colin says, Charles is going to complain because it doesn’t taste like a Happy Meal. Gabriela brings Charles coffee in his cabin, and he whines, where’s his stuff? Guest Janelle tells husband guest Rhett that Charles complains about everything. Some of the crew set up on the beach, while on the boat Charles demands to know where the alcohol is he sees people drinking. Gary arrives at the beach, and asks how it’s going, and Tom says, not well. He’s trying to set up a tent for the guests, and having the usual issues people do with tents. Marcos tells Colin, by tomorrow, he’ll be drinking; the guy is f***ing crazy. Colin says, he has the taste buds of a Billy goat. Tom wonders how to make the tent less ugly, and in his interview, he admits he came in too cocky and confident. We flash back to some of his mistakes, and he says, but he knows how to do better now, and wants to show Gary that he’s not a complete f***ing idiot.

Cindi gets self-tanner all over a white couch, and in Glenn’s interview, he says, accidents happen, but it was a dumb thing to do. The couch cost $50K; it’s just stupid. Tom continues to mess with the tent, and Gabriela wonders who puts on body makeup, then sits on a white couch on a superyacht? The guests are brought to the beach, and Erica tells Daisy, the whole reason Charles came this time was the food. In Daisy’s interview, she says, it’s been a sh*t show all morning. She needs the picnic to go as planned. Charles deigns to try the lox, and in her interview, Daisy says, just eat the food and STFU. Charles says, great food. He thinks he might be grouchy in the morning. Rhett says he’s an a-hole, and Charles says, if he was in New York, it would be okay to be a d-bag. (Um… no.) Rhett says he’d get punched in the face, and Charles says, if people don’t like the way he acts, he doesn’t need to be around them. In Daisy’s interview, she says, they’ve got to be kidding. It had just been good for a hot minute. Charles stomps over to Erica, who was enjoying putting her toes in the surf, and tells her, Janelle said he’d get ass kicked in New York. Erica says, if Janelle wasn’t her hairdresser, she’d let him be a bitch, but she doesn’t want to find a new one. Rhett asks if Charles called his wife a bitch. He’ll f*** Charles’s world up. Daisy says, this is getting bad.

Janelle goes over to Erika, and tells her that Charles had said, if you’re in New York and you bitch, they’ll give you what you want. (I don’t know what planet the NYC they’re talking about is on.) Janelle says Rhett told Charles that he’d get hit in the face, and Charles got pissed and walked off. Erica’s husband likes having trouble with people. In Daisy’s interview, she says, she’d rather have them arguing with each other than complaining about the food. She won’t be surprised if Rhett kicks the sh*t out of him. Erica says she doesn’t control Charles. Back at the boat, Glenn tells Ashley to try carpet cleaner on the couch. She does, and Glenn says, it’s not doing anything, and tells her to try the K2R. Daisy radios that the guests are ready to be picked up. Cindi gives Daisy a necklace that has huge flowers on it, and in her interview, Daisy says she’s never seen anything like it. Cindi asks Gary to put it on her, and Tom grumbles that everything happens, and he misses all of it. Kelsie says, that makes two of them, and they bring the guests back to the boat.

The guests wonder what happened to the couch, and everyone is all, not me, including Cindi. Daisy goes to Charles and Erica’s room, and asks if they want to speak to the chef; Cindi is already there. Erica comes out, and says she’ll be speaking for Charles. On the phone, Rhett tells someone that Charles’s hobby is going to hotels, and bitching about the food to get a room freebie. He’s the biggest d-bag. Erica tells Marcos what Charles likes to eat, emphasis on spaghetti with marina sauce. In Marcos’s interview, he says, it’s the most nasty meal combination he’s ever made in his life. Charles asks Glenn to have dinner with them, and Erica wants Gary to join them too. Daisy reminds them that it’s a decades theme party. Erica complains about the other guests, and Gabriella does chores while Ashley disappears. Glenn asks if the guests want to sail. In Tom’s interview, he says, Ashley is not interested in him. She’s only interested in talking to Gary. Some girls like the Tarzan thing. Glenn puts the sails up, and I pray for Gary to fall out of the top bunk where he’s sleeping. Sailing music happens, doors open, and things slide around. Charles says, it’s an overrated experience, and Erica says, the last time, it was majestic. He says their cat is majestic, and Erica says, he is cute. Marcos whacks his head coming out of the refrigerator doorway. Daisy gets Colin to help, saying, she doesn’t know what to do. Marcos sits in the crew mess, bleeding from his head, and Colin examines his wound. Colin says, it looks nasty. Marcos took some of his scalp off. I literally gasp, seeing a piece of it in his hand.

Colin goes to get Glenn, and Daisy worries about Marcos being in shock.  Colin tells Glenn, Marcos scalped himself inside the fridge. Glenn takes a look, and tells Marcos to keep pressure on it. He’s going to have to see someone. In Glenn’s interview, he says, his first thought was, that’s the end of the season; it’s that serious. He tells Marcos that they’ll figure something out. They’re heading back. Marcos says, he’ll get his head bandaged up, but he still has to make dinner happen. Glenn calls Dr. Tea, and says Marcos scalped a piece off his head, but he’s not sure what type of wound it is. She says she’ll come to the boat. Marcos puts on a hat, and looks for broccoli. They drop anchor, and Charles tells the other guests that when he and Erica first met, he sniffed her butt like a dog. Erika tells Charles that they need to have sex once on the boat, and in a TMI moment, of which there are many, he says give them ten minutes. She says, it should take five, and they go to their cabin. The table is set for dinner, and Dr. Tea arrives.

She examines Marcos, and says, it’s a big piece, but very superficial. She puts a bandage around his head, like in those old-fashioned toothache patient pictures, and tells him that he can change it on his own. In his interview, Marcos says, the guests don’t care. He can’t stop cooking, Tom helps decorate, and Janelle tells Rhett that they have to survive another dinner. She doesn’t have the time or patience. She doesn’t like people like Charles. Keep the f*** away from her. Charles demands hairspray. Glenn tells Gary to stop eating, since they’re joining the guests, and in Gary’s interview, he says he gets good food, and it gets him out of helping in the galley. Score! Cindi comes out dressed like Marilyn Monroe, and Daisy says she looks fabulous. Outside of earshot, Gabriela says, wow, but not in a good way. Rhett face palms.

Tom asks if Marcos doesn’t wish they could go back in time an hour or so, and not do the thing they did. Marcos says he does wish that, and Gary and Glenn join the guests. There’s tons of different food, including spaghetti with marinara sauce In Marcos’s interview, a producer asks what restaurant the menu combination reminds him of, and he says, none. It’s a crazy buffet where a bunch of food is thrown at you. All you can eat until you die. Glenn says Erica and Charles make a nice couple (as my father would say, couple of what?) and Erica says, they’ve known each other since high school. Marcos tells Daisy that Charles probably doesn’t want to bitch in front of the captain, but Daisy says she’s not so sure he cares where he bitches. Janelle leaves the table, and goes to her cabin. Rhett is already there, and she says she can’t take it. Cindi tries to sing Happy Birthday to Glenn like Marilyn did to JFK, and fails miserably. In his interview, Gary dies laughing.

Glenn thanks them for a fantastic meal, and tells Marcos that it was delicious. The next morning, Gabriela hunts for fresh orange juice, but only finds some left over from the day before. Marcos asks if that isn’t the night stew’s responsibility. Gabriela says, it is, and he says they should have a meeting after the charter. Daisy comes by the galley, and asks how Marcos’s head is, and he says the blood passed through the gauze the night before. In his interview, he says, it’s painful but he’s not telling anybody. The couch is still messed up, and Janelle tells Daisy that Erica, Charles, and Cindi are messed up. Daisy says she and Janelle are the same; she’s never seen anything like it. The bags are packed, and Glenn docks the boat. Marcos tells Daisy he’s seen bitching between the two stews, and Daisy says, too many egos. She has to deal with so much bullsh*t. Glenn talks to Cindi about the couch, and she claims she wasn’t sitting there. In a flashback, we see that she clearly was. In Glenn’s interview, he says, the primaries on a charter boat are responsible for any damage. Having that conversation is never fun, but it has to be done. Cindi tells the others that they have to split the bill for the couch, and Janelle is like, no way; she and Rhett didn’t do that. Cindi insists she didn’t either.

The crew lines up, and there are hugs and handshakes. Erica gives a rose to the captain, and Cindi gives him the tip envelope and promises to take care of the problem. They leave, and in Colin’s interview, he says, please never come back. They gather for the tip meeting, and Glenn says, that was interesting. He tells Daisy that her team did a good job, and ran smoothly. It’s a testament to her leadership skills. She says, the stews did a great job, and reminds them, if there are issues, talk to her, and remember it’s a team, so be respectful of each other. Glenn says, Marcos accommodated the guests very well. He was hurt, and still pulled off dinner. They seemed to enjoy everything. He doesn’t feel the tip reflected the quality of service they gave the guests. They worked hard and pulled out all the stops to give them the best charter. The tip is $6500, or $720 each. Even I’m shocked. Bastards. In Daisy’s interview, she says, f*** my f***ing life. She wants to burst into tears. It’s not okay. Glenn says, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a pointy stick, and in her interview, close to tears, Daisy says she doesn’t think people like that deserve nice things. As far as she’s concerned, they can take the tip and shove it. Glenn says, it’s not a reflection on them, and it was still a great start to the season. He tells them, tonight, have fun.

It’s time to chill, and Colin asks if Ashley and Gabriela aren’t getting along, and if titles are still a thing. She says, they are, so Gabriela is above her. He asks if they do different jobs, and she says they do the same thing; they just rotate times. They hashed it out, but she has to respect Gabriela. Geez. Is it that hard? Colin asks about siblings, and she says she has an older sister who she hasn’t talked to in a long time. Her sister screwed every guy Ashley liked in high school, and would brag to her about it. In Ashley’s interview, she says she has a trust thing. She has a few great girlfriends, and knows she comes off as standoffish. She knows she’s doing it, but it’s hard not to be the way she is. Girls are tricky sometimes. Colin says, everyone’s got a history, don’t they? The crew gets dressed to go out, and Glenn asks Daisy, if her best friend’s life depended on it, what would she use on the couch? She tells him, Vanish works miracles, so he uses some, and it comes right out. He begins to use a wet vac, and in her interview, Daisy says she loves Glenn, but do they have to do this now? She needs a f***ing drink. She asks if they can’t look after it tomorrow, and give the camera a look as she walks out.

In the cab, Kelsie says, Marcos’s cooking is fire. The guests were used to McNuggets. At the restaurant, Gary wants to toast to something they’re grateful for, and Marcos says, thank God that f***ing guy left the boat. He says, everyone is amazing, and he never felt like a family in such a short time. In his interview, he says, a chef in this industry can get lonely in the galley, but this crew is different. We drown together or we help. He loves it. They clink glasses.

They order, and Daisy tells the stews that they’re great, and she wants the team to be solid. Gabriela and Daisy go for a smoke, and Ashley tells Gary that he flirts with everyone, like he doesn’t know. He says, there’s always a problem when he flirts, and she says she wants to hook up with him, but he doesn’t seem to want to. In Gary’s interview, he says, Ashley wants two things; his undivided attention, and to get in his pants. He tells her that he doesn’t want to rush things, and in his interview, he says, he might want to sleep with her, but he doesn’t want the consequences. So instead, he hugs Daisy. Colin checks Marcos’s wound, Gabriela downs some wine, and outside, Gary kisses Daisy, but acts silly about it. They go back to the boat.

Daisy tells Marcos to stop touching his wound. Gary tells Colin that he doesn’t understand the girls. They work together and talk to each other, then throw themselves at you. In his interview, Gary says, it’s hard because he knows it won’t just be a few kisses. Ashley wants to get in the hot tub, and he kisses her. She does something we don’t see, but can guess at, because he says, it feels good; naughty-naughty. The only smart one is Glenn, who’s in bed with his headphones on, eating M&Ms. Colin puts plastic wrap around Marcos’s head so he’ll stop messing with it, and they determine Marcos is going to live. In Gary’s interview, he says, if he goes to bed, he’ll have no regrets, but if he stays up, he might. Why can’t little Gary behave?

Ashley asks if Gary is going swimming or going to bed. She gets in his bed with him, but he suddenly decides they should go in the hot tub. They join the others, and Daisy kisses Ashley, then sits on Gary’s lap. As much as you can sit on someone’s lap in the water. Gary tells her that she has beautiful arms, and Ashley starts drinking from the tequila bottle. In Ashley’s interview, she says, Gary’s not interested. Whatever. She’s drunk and horny, and she’s going to have a good time no matter what. She drains the bottle, making me feel sick because I hate tequila. Gary tells the guys that he’s going to do Daisy tonight; don’t tell her. Gabriela calls Gary a toad, and Tom gets confused, thinking she means him, but Ashley corrects that, and flirts with him. In Ashley’s interview, she says Gary blew her off, and it’s not worth the effort. She’s warming up to the idea of someone her age. Gary follows Daisy to the bar, while Ashely and Tom get in a huge lounge chair and take selfies. In Tom’s interview, he says he’d squashed the idea of getting with Ashley, but have we heard the story of the tortoise and the hare? He’s living proof the tortoise won the race. They kiss, and Gabriela takes pictures until she says she feels like a pervert photographer. Tom suggests he and Ashley go to the guest cabin, and they do.

Gary and Daisy roll around in the hot tub, and Ashley asks Tom if he wants her to get naked. Like that might be a no. Daisy kisses Gary, and Colin and Gabriela make themselves scarce.

To be continued… 

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The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Bill had jetted from guys night out, and Evan said Bill was an accomplice; he let it happen. Frank followed Bill to the parking lot, and asked him to come back, but Bill said he was done. There were lines that shouldn’t be crossed. At the table, Joe #2 said that Jennifer dug into everyone’s life. Bill told Frank that he wasn’t staying somewhere he wasn’t welcome, and left. Frank went back to the table, and said it hadn’t gone well. Bill felt it was a personal attack on his wife. Evan said Bill had to rein her in. In Frank’s interview, he said that the other guys would have defended their wives too. But man code was, drama for the ladies, fun for the men. They toasted to Bill, and Luis arrived. There were bro hugs all around, and Joe #2 filled him in on Bill storming out. He said he was shocked that Luis and Teresa had spent the night at Bill’s after the clash between Jennifer and Melissa. Luis said, sorry, and Teresa called with absolutely nothing important. Luis told the guys that Teresa could be wild and crazy, but she was amazing. They met at a time he least expected to meet someone.

Joe #2 said they’d seen some stuff on social media, and Luis said he’d had a couple of bad relationships, and he was sure some of the other guys’ exes would talk bad about them. Joe #3 said he thought what they read was 100% bullsh*t, but what should they say if asked. Tiki said he had one question; was there ever physical violence? Luis was adamant there hadn’t been, and said he had some angry exes who were thirsty for attention. Tiki said his wife had been asking him questions, and Luis said there was a rumor the girl who was talking about him had stabbed her husband with a butcher knife. Wouldn’t you hack someone with a butcher knife? Luis said he didn’t want to believe it, and in Frank’s interview, he said, man or woman, violence was never acceptable. But the least they could do was give Luis the benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise. Luis said he’d finally found the one, and in Joe #2’s interview, he said Teresa had made up her mind she wanted Luis to stay in her life. He said, if Luis f***ed up, trust him, he would find out. They toasted to Luis.

Back in their respective corners of the world, Joe #3 told Marge the butcher knife story, and said he thought Luis was deflecting. Evan told Jackie that he thought Luis was a nice guy whose girlfriends hadn’t worked out, but Jackie said she didn’t like the vengeful ex excuse. Joe #2 told Melissa that it had been uncomfortable for him, and Melissa said, unless there was proof, she’d go with the exes lying. Joe guaranteed Teresa wasn’t going to be happy. Teresa told Luis that she didn’t even know Tracy, and now Tracy was using her husband to do detective work, Luis told her that no one said anything wrong, and she said she wanted to protect their love bubble. Marge asked if Bill showed up, and Joe #3 said he got mad and left after Evan said Jennifer was a bad person. Jackie told Evan that he had every right to say what he said, and Evan said he didn’t think Bill was a bad guy, but his wife was a disaster.

Jennifer asked how guys night went, noting that Bill came home fast. Bill said it got upsetting when they insulted his wife’s character. He got up and left; screw them. Jennifer was happy Bill stuck up for her. She knew he didn’t want to be confrontational, but his silence was frustrating. People didn’t think he had her back. Bill said everyone handled things differently, and Jennifer said Bill didn’t show emotion, and she needed him as a life raft. In her interview, she said old feelings of anger were resurfacing; feelings she’d been sitting on. Bill showed no emotion, and she wanted dialogue, emotions, and communication, and he was telling her that he was incapable of that. She felt alone already.

In Dolores’s interview, she said, Frank finally got his sh*t together, and finished the house enough for the kids to leave her townhouse. On the downside, it was pretty empty, and Frankie said, it would be nice to have furniture. Dolores was worried about her mom’s surgery, and in her interview, she said her mother taught her everything she knows. She was used to picking up the phone and calling her, and couldn’t imagine not being able to ask for her advice. She told the kids that she didn’t want to lose her mother, and Gabby said Dolores had been put under anesthesia more times than she told them. David was very involved with helping Valerie, and in her interview, Dolores said her mom had always nursed them back to health. She couldn’t nurse her mom, but David could. She just wanted her mom to be okay. She had to put her pride aside, and let David help.

Marge suggested she host a spa day for Dolores, and Dolores said she’d done so much alone, it was nice to have friends who would do that, but Marge didn’t have to. Marge told Dolores to accept something when people loved her. She said she wasn’t inviting Jennifer, since no one needed the stress or tension. Meanwhile, Teresa was getting ready for her anniversary date with Luis. Gia and Gabriella sat in her dressing room as she did her makeup, and Teresa reminded them that it was her and Luis’s one year anniversary. All she knew was, they were going to dinner. The girls helped her pick something to wear, and Teresa said Luis was an amazing guy. Marge questioned him, but she didn’t know Luis like Teresa did, or see how he treats her. He was the best guy ever, and she loved him. In Gia’s interview, she said her mom and family had been through a lot. We flashed back to Joe #1 saying Teresa was the c-word, Teresa going to jail, Joe going to jail, and Teresa losing her parents. Gia said, it was just so nice to see Teresa in love and happy after so much loss. Teresa said she’d asked her parents in heaven for their help, and that week she met Luis. She suggested if the girls ever needed something to ask them, and Gabriella said she wasn’t forty and single. Ha-ha!

Melissa tried to plan Antonia’s Sweet 16 party, and Antonia gave her a lot of eye rolling. In Melissa’s interview, she said she rolled her eyes at her mom when she was Antonia’s age, but she didn’t have a Sweet 16. Her dad had died in a car accident, and she felt sad and alone. Antonia was also pissed because they’d just moved, and said Melissa didn’t consider her feelings, but Melissa said, oh yes she did. She thought Antonia’s torn ACL had made things worse, since Antonia couldn’t cheer, and in her interview, Melissa said Antonia had been tumbling for years, but fell the wrong way and was injured. She told Antonia that she could do it again, and asked if she’d been trying. Antonia said she had, but wasn’t very convincing. She said she didn’t care, and didn’t want to do it anymore, but Melissa said that wasn’t an option. Melissa cried in her interview, and said it broke her heart. Antonia had gone through her injury, and it was time to get out of it now.

Luis sent a driver to pick up Teresa, and in her interview, she said he was full of romantic surprises. He was a planner, and she loved that. He set the bar high. The driver took Teresa to a pier, that had a rose petal path to a small yacht. Captain Michael welcomed her, and there was a saxophone player on board, along with Luis. They had a drink while the sax player played, and Teresa said she loved it; she played alto sax in elementary school. (Me too – twinsies!) In Teresa’s interview, she said it just went to show, Luis listened to her. He was pretty perfect. The chef came out and told them the menu, and champagne was poured. Luis toasted to Teresa, and the last twelve absolutely amazing months. Teresa gave him a bracelet that was masculine cool, and put it on him. Her card said that a year ago, when they met, her heart had been broken. It had been broken for so long, he was a blessing she didn’t take for granted, In the year they’d been together, she’d never been shown so much love. In her interview, she told us that he’d never said an unkind word to her. He was a dream come true. With the help of the sax player, Luis unfurled a huge scroll with twenty reasons he loved her. She was fierce, strong, and the ultimate badass. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.  

Marge did a check of the spa, where there was also a fabulous catered spread. Melissa arrived first, and champagne was popped. The other women trickled in, and Teresa told them about her date with Luis, and the scroll. She said Luis loved her honesty, and in Marge’s interview, she said, if he loved Teresa for her honesty, was he delusional? Marge brought up Luis’s exes, and Bill leaving guys night in a rage. Jackie thought he could acknowledge what Jennifer had done wrong and still defend her. Tracy said if Jennifer apologized, that would make it good. Teresa said she’d called Jennifer and mentioned the spa day before she realized Jennifer wasn’t on the invite. Marge said Jennifer had kicked them out, and Jackie didn’t get why Jennifer wanted to burn bridges, and Tracy said she thought Jennifer was unhappy in her marriage. Everyone got in robes, and Dolores arrived. She said she and her siblings were taking turns keeping watch on her mother. She couldn’t be left alone because she was in danger of a heart attack. David was going with her to appointments, and Dolores hadn’t spoken to him, but thought it was better that way. It was time for their treatments, and Teresa, Jackie, and Dolores went first, while Melissa, Marge, and Tracy talked smack about David by the pool. Melissa said David seemed to be there for eveyroen in Dolores’s family but Dolores. In Melissa’s interview, she said it was the old school way, You swore it was okay, even though it hurt so much, then exploded on everyone else. They stuck their feet in the pool, and Melissa said Antonia was stressing her out. Her injury had changed her, and she seemed lazy and depressed. Antonia had checked out of the building, and it was making her nervous. There had also been the move, but compared to Melissa’s childhood, Antonia had it easy. In her interview, Melissa said, after they moved to Florida, her dad died, and she was so depressed. She was a New Jersey fish out of water at her new school.

They switched groups treatments, and Teresa talked about Tracy being up in everyone’s business. She wondered why Tiki was questioning Luis for her. Nobody should pry into anyone’s business. She also thought that Jennifer was being picked on, and Jackie said Jennifer came at people hard. Teresa said Marge did too. By this time, the other women had joined them, and Marge said Jennifer took it to the next level. Marge said she wasn’t trying to hurt Jennifer, just point out that she was a hypocrite, but Dolores said Jennifer was very hurt by the affair, and had buried it, not wanting to face it again. She was a f***ing mess. Jennifer was a hypocrite, but they’d both been wrong.

Jennifer met her brother Steven for coffee, and in her interview, she said Steven had loved to sing when they were growing up. When she was feeling bad, he’d practice for her, and it instantly made her feel better. She said she’d told their mother about the affair, and Steven asked how she took it. Jennifer said she was cursing out marge, and wanted to get her back. As for Bill, some Mideast part of her thought, men do this sometimes. In Jennifer’s interview, she said since she’d told the children and her siblings, she thought she should tell her mother before someone else did, She told Steven that it was one thing living through it privately, but now it was out there, and she was forced to deal with it. He said so she was dealing now with what she should have then, and asked how she and Bill were doing, but she said she didn’t know. When Bill was uncomfortable, he didn’t talk. Steven asked if Bill would speak a therapist, and Jennifer said, Bill was afraid they’d open up a Pandora’s box they might not be able to close. Steven said Jennifer was still angry, and Jennifer said she told Bill that he had to show her he cared. She didn’t want to turn into her mother. In her interview, Jennifer said she didn’t think it was fair to stay in a relationship where you weren’t happy, but it was scary for her. Steven asked if she thought things could return to what they were before, but she didn’t know.

This season, line dancing, bro kisses, Teresa moves, a picnic, and a hugs Teresa and Marge fight.

🍯 Time To Jam…

See me tomorrow for soap and OC happenings. Until then, stay safe, stay taking care of your corner of the earth, and stay letting your shoulder be of service to friends who need it.

March 11, 2022 – Video Aftermath, Why, Recast, Bel Air Return, Sonny’s Son, Wu’s Back, Kandi’s World, Claims, Deaf Shah, Sly Guest, Lala’s Ex, Ringless, Excuse, Changes, Winning Country, Ennead Of Quotes & Run It

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Willow asks Michael, on a scale of one to ten, how much does he think Wiley loves Annabelle II? He says, it’s an eleven for sure, and she says she wishes their schedules weren’t so hectic; they could get a dog of their own. (Let me just note here, they’re having this conversation in the nook of the main house, so I guess someone from there can’t look after a dog?) He says, someday, and she asks, when will that be exactly? It’s not as if things will slow down when she becomes a nurse. He says, you know what he can’t wait to do? Sleep in when they’re in Paris. She asks if he’s out of his mind. She’s never been, and there’s so much to see; the Louvre alone. He says he guesses he’ll have to find other ways to get her to stay in bed, and she says, he can be very convincing. They kiss, when Brook walks in. She says, it’s good to see some things haven’t changed. At least the two of them are still together.

Chase goes to Finn’s office, and Finn asks what Chase is up to. Chase says, very little. Does Finn want to know how many hours are left for his suspension? Finn says, Chase has two more months to go, and Chase says he does, but he can still tell Finn the answer to that question. Finn says he knows Chase may be bummed, but Violet is loving having her Uncle Chase at her tea parties. Chase says, that is one up side to unemployment. When is Finn’s next date night, so he can babysit? Finn says Chase is welcome to visit Violet any time he likes, but his date nights with Elizabeth are over.

Elizabeth asks how Cameron wants his eggs, but he says he’s not too hungry right now. She says, who is he and what has he done with her son? Is he not feeling well? He says he went to bed late, so he’s half asleep; he’s fine. Jake comes in, and asks, what’s for breakfast? Cameron says he thought Jake didn’t have school today, and Jake says he doesn’t. Cameron asks why he’s up so early then, but Elizabeth says, this is so nice, all of them eating together. Jake says, Finn too? and she says, no, but she’s glad he brought Finn up. They need to talk about him.

At the MetroCourt, Ava and Nikolas look at her phone, and she asks Nikolas if it isn’t a little ornate. He says, it is, but isn’t that the point, to make a show of their vow renewal? Draw Uncle Victor in under the guise of family togetherness? Assuming Spencer shows for the ceremony and the family is actually together. She says, that is the plan, but the ceremony isn’t only about Victor, or Spencer for that matter. It’s still very much about them, isn’t it? She loves him, and can’t wait to exchange vows with him and actually mean the words. He says he can’t wait for that either, and they kiss.

In the elevator, Esme looks at her wrist, and pulls her sleeve down. She walks out into the MetroCourt, sees Nikolas and Ava kissing, and tells herself, it’s show time.

Josslyn walks into the kitchen, and Carly tells her, good morning. Josslyn says she hopes it’s okay that she slept here, and Carly says, is she kidding? Best surprise ever. Josslyn says she would have given Carly a heads up, but it was late, and Josslyn didn’t want to wake her. Carly says, no heads up needed; this is her home. Is everything okay? Josslyn says, yeah. She just didn’t feel like sleeping at the dorms last night. Carly says, any particular reason why? and Josslyn starts to cry and says, she can’t go back to school. Never. She throws herself into Carly’s arms.

Ava says, the flowers must be spectacular of course (🍷), and a fabulous bouquet for when she walks down the aisle. Esme says, wedding planning? and Ava says, for their vow renewal, yes. Esme sits down, and says, Laura told her that they were having a private ceremony, just the two of them, which is super romantic, but Avery would make an adorable flower girl. Nikolas says, actually, they’ve changed their mind about that, and decided they want their family there. Esme says, really? Spence didn’t mention anything; does he know? Nikolas says, not yet, and Ava says, they just decided last night. Nikolas says he’s going to visit Spencer, and invite him in person. Esme says, she hates to say it – Ava says, but she will –she wouldn’t bother inviting Spence at all.

Michael asks how the visit with Brook’s mom went, and Brook says, good. Her mom said and did all the right things, she got to see her cousins, and they went to all their favorite spots. Michael says, Giuseppe’s? and Brook says, of course (🍷). Willow asks, what’s that? and Brook says, only the best pizza in Brooklyn. Michael says, it’s off the charts, and Willow says, sounds like Brook kept busy. Brook says, it was great to back in the old neighborhood; she needed to get away. Michael says, now she’s back, and Brook says she guesses the first order of business is getting her stuff out of the beach house. Michael says, that’s done. Everything had to be out last week, so he and Chase moved her stuff. Brook says, what? Sorry. Thank you. He says, no problem, and she says she guesses it’s time to get back to real life. Willow asks what that looks like for her, and Brook says, she has absolutely no idea.

Elizabeth says they won’t be seeing Finn for a while, and Cameron asks if they broke up. She says, more like taking time apart. She just wants to be able to spend time with their family right now. Jake asks if it’s because of the weird stuff that’s been happening, but Elizabeth says, it’s more than that. She does have to figure out what’s going on, but she wants to make sure her boys are safe and happy. They are her number one priority. Cameron says they know that, and Elizabeth asks if Jake does. He says, yes, and she says, good, but things haven’t really felt safe and happy lately, right? Which is why she made Jake an appointment to see Dr. Massey today. Jake says, a shrink? and she says, a psychiatrist. She thinks it might be good for him to talk about his feelings. Jake says, that’s just great. She thinks he’s a psycho. He walks out of the kitchen.

Chase asks, what’s going on with Finn and Elizabeth? and Finn says, she’s concerned about the whole portrait thing. Chase says he gets that, and Finn says, he does too. Chase says he spoke with Dante, and he has a patrol going by every hour, and Finn says, that’s a big relief. Chase says, but? and Finn says, Elizabeth thinks it might be something closer to home; in the home, to be exact. She thinks Jake might be acting out. Chase sits down, and says he thought Jake and Aiden denied doing it. Finn says, they did, but now that Betsy Frank has been crossed off the list, Jake is the mostly likely suspect unfortunately. Chase says, so Elizabeth breaks up with Finn because she’s having issues with Jake? Isn’t that an overreaction? Finn says, not when you consider everything the kid’s been through.

Carly tells Josslyn, talk to her. Let her help. Josslyn says she can’t. It’s too horrible. She can’t even think about it, let alone say it out loud. Carly says, Josslyn can tell her anything. Tell her what’s going on, and they’ll fix it. Josslyn cries and says, it can’t be fixed, but Carly says, try her. Josslyn says, the weekend they spent at Sonny’s cabin, she and Cameron had sex, and it was their first time. She never thought something like this could even happen. She feels so stupid. Carly asks if Cameron got her pregnant.

Nikolas says, Esme really believes Spencer won’t come to the ceremony? Last time he saw Spencer, it felt like they were making progress. Esme says she thinks things are getting better with Nikolas and Spence too. It’s just… Ava says, Spencer will never accept her as part of the family, and Esme says she’s sorry, but he won’t. Nikolas says he hopes she’s wrong, because Ava’s not going anywhere. Ava’s phone rings, and she steps away to take the call. Esme peers at Nikolas, and he says, what is it? She says he’s not the man she thought he was. She had a picture in her head from everything Spence told her about his father. He says he can guess what Spencer said about him, but she says she doesn’t think he can.

Michael says he guesses it’s hard to get back to normal life without Bailey, and Brook says she still has Deception. She gets up, and says she’s going to be fine. This was always the plan. Actually more than the plan; this was the goal. For Bailey to go back home to Maxie where she belongs. Willow says, of course (🍷) that was always the plan, but that doesn’t mean Brook didn’t fall in love with that little girl, and it’s not hard on her. Michael gets up, and says, it’s okay to admit that. She wasn’t in Port Charles at the time, but he’s sure his family filled her in, when he found out Sonny was responsible for AJ’s death. Brook says, the father that raised him killed his biological father; that must have been brutal. He says he retaliated. He took from Sonny what he loved the most – Avery. He was able to find legal grounds to prove Sonny was unfit, an was appointed Avery’s custodial guardian. For months he was her only parent. He knows it’s not a perfect parallel, and she says, close enough. He says, Avery was his child, she was his sister. He knew the whole time deep down that the situation was only temporary, but all those months, he saw her and was with her every single day. He was the one to read her stories, to feed her, to change her. He brought her to work, and played blocks with her… Willow joins them, and he says, then when his mother convinced him to give Avery back, Avery left a huge gaping hole in his life and in his heart. And even though he knew it was the right thing to do, that didn’t make it any easier. Brook says, okay. Giving up Bailey is excruciating, but she’s going to get over it. And when she does, she’s going to go back to her single, carefree life; the life she always wanted before all this. Michael asks if she thinks she’s the same person, and Willow says she doesn’t. Michael says, Brook did an amazing thing protecting Bailey from her father, and Brook says, it didn’t start out that way. Michael says, it doesn’t matter how it started, and Willow says, Maxie was in trouble and Brook came through for her friend. Brook says, they didn’t expect that from her, did they? and Michael says, no, but he should have. He’s always known she had a big heart. Brook says she didn’t do it alone. When she needed help, Chase was right there.

Chase says, wow, he didn’t know Jake went through all that, and Finn says, pretty grim stuff for anyone, but a kid that age? Chase says, no wonder he’s having a hard time, but that was years ago, right? Wasn’t he doing better? Finn says, he was, after some serious counselling. He was doing really good, but think about it. First, he loses Franco, then Jason, Finn enters the picture, and all of a sudden, these strange things start happening. Elizabeth’s wedding ring, her dress, the portrait… Chase says, all unsettling, but not overtly dangerous, and Finn says, exactly. What if it’s Jake crying out for help?

Elizabeth says, first of all, she doesn’t like the term psycho, and Jake says, fine. Nuts? Crazy? Loco? Take your pick. She says she doesn’t think he’s any of those things, and Cameron says, look. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you’re crazy. Elizabeth says, they all need to talk to someone once in a while, and Jake says, they think he put the painting there, even though he swore he didn’t. They don’t believe him. Cameron tells him, that’s not what mom’s saying; Jake’s just been through a lot lately. Jake’s phone dings, and he says, Conner sent him a video, asking if it’s really Cameron. What did he post? Cameron says, nothing, and as Jake is about to open it, Cameron says, don’t!

Josslyn says she’s not pregnant, and Carly says, thank God. Josslyn says, they used protection; that’s not the problem. Carly asks, what’s going on? and Josslyn says, that night was perfect. At least that part was. It was everything a first time should be. But then, in sociology class, everyone’s phones started blowing up, and all eyes were on her and Cam, and they had no idea why. She begins crying again, and says, someone sent this video to Professor Kahn’s computer. And the whole thing played in front of the whole class on this giant screen. Carly says she doesn’t understand. What was on the video? Josslyn says, Cameron and her, having sex. Someone filmed them and sent it to the entire school.

Esme tells Nikolas, that’s not what she meant at all; Spence loves him. It borders on worship actually. He said Nikolas was the best father in the universe. It made her jealous of how close they were when Spence was growing up. Spence made it seem like it was the two of them against the world. He says, she told him that he wasn’t the man she expected him to be, yet Spencer painted him in a positive light. She says, glowing light, and he asks if that means he’s worse than she expected.

Carly asks how someone could do that to Josslyn, and Josslyn says, she guesses it’s not the worst thing in the world. Everyone has sex tapes or naked photos… Carly says, it’s not funny; this is not a joke, and Josslyn says she doesn’t know what else to do. Carly says, this is a complete violation. Someone took a private moment between Josslyn and her boyfriend, and made it public without her consent. She’ll get Spinelli to take it off the web. How did this happen, does she know? Josslyn says she doesn’t know. She didn’t even know there was a camera (ha-ha! I typed Cameron) in the bedroom; neither did Cam. Sonny wouldn’t have… Carly says, God no, and Josslyn says she didn’t think so. The only people in the cabin that night were her, Trina, and Cameron. Carly asks, what about Esme and Spencer? and Josslyn says she told Carly, they left. Esme had the nerve to accuse Trina yesterday. Carly asks if she’s serious. Did Esme really think they’d fall for that? Josslyn doesn’t say anything, and Carly says, Joss? Josslyn says she doesn’t know. Trina got pretty drunk at the cabin, to the point she didn’t remember what happened. Carly says, that doesn’t sound like Trina, and Josslyn says, and she didn’t drink that much. It just seemed to affect her like that. She also told them she felt left out when Josslyn and Cam got together. Carly asks if Josslyn really thinks Trina could have sent that video.

Cameron grabs Jake’s phone, and Elizabeth says, what is going on? Cameron says, it’s just a stupid video of him, and he doesn’t want Jake to see him making a fool of himself. He deletes it, and Jake takes his phone back, saying, he can still find it or just have Conner send him the link. Cameron says, leave it alone, please, and Elizabeth tells Jake to get dressed; his appointment’s in 45 minutes. Jake says, what about breakfast? and she says he can eat after he’s dressed. He says, fine, but he knows she’s just trying to get rid of him. He goes upstairs, and Elizabeth tells Cameron, he’s going to watch that video. Cameron says he knows, and she says he may as well just tell her. He asks if he can just die instead, but she says, not an option. Did he do something stupid or dangerous? He says, nothing like that, and she says, then what? He says he can’t tell her while she’s looking at him, and she keeps her back to him, pouring herself some coffee. He says, there’s a video of him going around, and she says, that much she gathered. A video of what? He says, him and Joss having sex.

Chase says, knowing that about Jake, he can see where Elizabeth is coming from, but it’s still a bummer. Finn says, the hardest part for him, is thinking about Elizabeth dealing with this on her own. He’d like to be there for her, but if he does, he’s not respecting her wishes. Chase says, Finn’s between a rock and a hard place, and Finn says, pretty much. If she feels the only way he can help is to keep his distance, so be it. Chase says, how long? and Finn says, how long what? Chase says, how long is this… pause going to be? Finn says, it’s hard to tell. It’s all very depressing. Tell him something good. How’s Brook? Chase says, as far as he knows, she’s still out of town, and Finn says, as far as he knows? Chase says he hasn’t heard from Brook since she left.

Brook says, it blows her mind that Chase just stepped up. He said he was Bailey’s father without her even asking him. Willow says, that’s a good friend, and Michael says, they regret giving Chase a hard time. Willow looks at the clock, and says she has to go; she’s observing rounds at GH. Michael tells her, show those doctors up, Nurse Tate, but she says she’s not a nurse yet. He says, soon enough, and she leaves. Brook tells Michael that he and Willow are nauseatingly cute, and he says, things are going well. What about her? It’s nice to have Willow by his side, someone to do life with. She says, so? Coupledom isn’t for everyone. Some people value their space. He asks if she’s saying she’s one of those people, and she says, isn’t it obvious? He says, not the way she was talking about Chase.

Finn tells Chase, that surprises him. Brook is dodging his calls? Chase says he hasn’t called her, and Finn says, yet people say Chase is the people person. Chase asks what that means, and Finn says, Chase is the one who said he wanted to at least be friends with Brook, and he hasn’t reached out to her? Chase says, he texted her, and Finn asks what he said… wrote… whatever. Chase tells him, he said, how are u? He just put the u; he didn’t spell it out, Finn says, pure poetry, and Chase says, Brook replied, but all she put was a thumbs up, nothing else. So obviously she doesn’t want to talk to him. Finn says, Chase should definitely give up then.

Brook asks if Michael is forgetting the part where she and Chase were pretending to be partners in crime, not romance, he says, she told him Chase was there for her. She says, he was, because he’s a good guy and they’re friends. He says, that’s it? and she says, that’s a lot. It might be a shock to him, but she doesn’t have a long list of close friends; she can’t afford to lose one. Besides, even if she felt something for Chase, it was probably a result of the situation; heightened emotions from taking care of Bailey together. He says, it looked like more, and she says he needs to get his eyes checked. They sit on the window seat, and he says he went over to Chase’s to apologize. She asks how it went, and he says, pretty good, actually. He thinks in time, if he plays his cards right, he and Chase might be friends again someday. But the point of him telling her that is, he could tell Chase was lost without her and Bailey. Just like she is. She says, he could tell how? Did Chase say he was interested in her?

Josslyn tells Carly, there’s no way. Trina would never humiliate her like that, or Cam. Carly says, it sounds more like something Esme would do, and Josslyn says, my God. Everyone saw her having sex. Carly puts her arms around Josslyn and says she’s sorry, and Josslyn says, a lot of people think she did this on purpose; not only film it, but make it public. How sick is that? Carly says, no one who knows her and Cameron would ever think that, and Josslyn says, people who don’t would think that. She’s just a freshman; she’s new on campus. She had so many messages, she had to turn her phone off. Carly says, from random people? and Josslyn says, mostly, but some of the girls on the volleyball team texted her, wanting to know what’s going on. How will she face them? How will she face anyone again? She sits on the floor, and Carly holds her.

Elizabeth says she can’t believe someone sent that video to Cameron’s whole class, and he says he thinks to the whole school. She asks if he can find out who it was, but he shakes his head, and says, it’s pretty easy to stay anonymous when you send stuff out like that. Plus, once it’s out there, it’s out there. Even Jake’s friends are seeing it. She says she’s sorry he’s going through this, and he says, it’s way worse for Josslyn. There’s still a double standard about sex. While he’s getting virtual high-fives, she’s being called a slut. It’s not right. She says, it’s not, and asks how Josslyn is holding up. He says, she turned off her phone last night, and Elizabeth says, smart move. He says he hasn’t heard from her, and he’s a little worried. Elizabeth says she’s worried about him. Double standard or not, this is happening to him too. Does he wasn’t to tell her how he’s feeling about it? He says, he never wants to talk about it ever again, and she says, he can tell her anything. He says, just not this, okay? but she says he should talk to someone. He says, a friend? and she says, if he wants to. He says he doesn’t. He wishes Franco was here. She says, her too, and he says, Franco would know what to say. Or at least find a way to get him to laugh about all  this. She says, he’ll get through this, but he asks, how?

Nikolas says, letting Spencer believe he was dead, he’ll always regret that decision, but Esme says, he misunderstood what she meant. Spence described him as a man with singular focus. For example, when Spence was young, that focus was on him. Now. according to Spence, he’s all about Ava, but she can see that’s not true. There’s room in his heart for more than one person. He says, of course (🍷) there is, and wonders why Spencer can’t see that. Ava is no threat to him or Nikolas’s love for him. Esme says she’s so sorry she helped Spence hurt him and Ava. They were wrong, and she’d like to make almonds amends. She’s been talking to Spence on his behalf, urging him to   reconcile with Nikolas. Nikolas says he appreciates that, and she says, maybe she should talk to him about the vow renewal; soften him up before Nikolas speaks to him. Ava comes back, and says she’s sorry she  took so long. Nikolas says, important call? and she says, it was about Ryan.

Elizabeth says if Jake wants breakfast, he should come downstairs. He comes down in the same clothes, and she says she told him to get dressed, but he says he’s not going. He doesn’t need to see a shrink. She can’t make him go. She says, actually, she can. It’s not punishment. She thinks talking to Dr. Massey can help him. He says, he knows he messed up after Cassadine Island, but he was a kid then. He’s fine now. Why doesn’t she believe him? She says she doesn’t think any of them are fine, not after losing Franco the way they did. Now Jake’s lost his dad. She knows he misses him; she misses him too. He says, it’s not the same, and she says he’s right. She hasn’t been with his dad in a while, but she’ll always love him because they made Jake. She can see him in Jake. Jake says, she can? and she says, he’s so strong, just like his dad was, and when Jake gets upset, he gets quiet like his dad. He says, dad didn’t talk a lot, and she says, he didn’t, but he always listened to Jake, didn’t he? Jake has so many people who love him, but sometimes it’s easier talking to a stranger. It helped when he talked to Dr. Maddox, didn’t it? He says, yeah, and she says she’s sorry he isn’t around anymore, but Dr. Massey is great. Will he at least give it a try? Cameron listens from the kitchen.  

Carly says, Josslyn has nothing to be ashamed of. The video was made without her knowledge or permission, and she didn’t decide to make it public. Josslyn says, people don’t know that, and Carly says, the people who matter do. As far as the rest of them, screw ‘em. You can’t control what people think. Josslyn says she can’t believe this is happening. She’s never been so embarrassed in her life. The whole world saw her naked. Carly says, that’s not true. She doesn’t want to minimize what Josslyn is going through or how she’s feeling, but she wants Josslyn to keep it in perspective. She knows Josslyn feels like everyone is judging her, but they’re not. Josslyn says, but the people she sees every day, what about them? Carly says she knows this seems insurmountable, like she’ll never be over it and never live it down, but life goes on. People forget, and the next scandal is going to replace this one. Trust her, she’s weathered her own and she’s still standing. Josslyn says Carly is stronger than she is, but Carly says, no. Josslyn is stronger.

Michael says, Chase didn’t come out and say he was interested in Brook, but they’re not exactly buddy-buddy right now, so why would Chase confide in him about something like that? Brook says, here’s the deal. If she told Chase that she wanted to be with him, and he wasn’t into it, there aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how awkward that would be. They wouldn’t be able to look at one another, let alone be friends. Why would she risk losing Chase altogether, when she doesn’t even know how she feels about it? He says, she’s looking at it all wrong. Instead of focusing on what she might lose, how about focusing on what she might gain?

Chase sees Willow at the hospital, and she says she’s sorry. She has to run. She doesn’t want to miss rounds. He says, the life of a nurse? and she says, nurse in training. She got so caught up talking to Brook, she didn’t realize the time. He says, she spoke to Brook on the phone? but Willow says, in person. She’s at the house right now. Willow keeps walking, but Chase stops, stunned.

Nikolas asks who’s calling Ava about Ryan, and she says, Doc. He’s been monitoring Ryan from a distance to keep tabs on him at Spring Ridge, but he went to see him face-to-face, and there’s no change. Ryan is still locked inside his body. He wouldn’t even communicate with Doc; no blinkity-blink like he does. Under the table, Esme digs her nails into her palm, and Nikolas says, Ryan shouldn’t be communicating with anyone after what he did to Ava. They should toss him in a cell and lose the key. Ava asks Esme if there’s something wrong, but Esme says, no. It’s just terrible what Ryan did to her. Ava says, yes, but it’s over, and so is he. She’s just relieved they can plan their ceremony without worrying about that monster. There’s absolutely nothing Ryan can do to them from Spring Ridge. Ava’s phone chirps, and she says she has to get back to the gallery. Nikolas says he’ll go too, but Esme says she was hoping they could talk a little more about Spence. Ava tells him to stay, and he says he’ll walk her out. He wants all the time with her that he can get. Esme says, aww, that’s so sweet, and Ava says, they don’t call him a prince for nothin’. Esme tells Nikolas to take his time, and looks at her palm.

Elizabeth walks into the hospital, and sees Finn. Jake walks in behind her, and she tells Jake that she’s proud of him for agreeing to see Dr. Massey. He tells her, let’s just get it over with, and keeps walking. She exchanges looks with Finn and follows.  

Brook flashes back down Chase Memory Lane, from her seeing him again for the first time after pretending to be pregnant, and ending with their kiss in the hospital. There’s a song part, and she looks at his number in her phone. She wonders what she’d even say, when Chase walks in, and says, hi. You’re back.

In the MetroCourt elevator, Carly tells Josslyn that Spinelli was able to wipe the video from all the public websites. That’s good, right? Josslyn says, yeah, but who knows how many people have it saved in their private files? Carly is sure not as many as Josslyn thinks. It’s a start. Josslyn agrees, and Carly asks how she’s feeling. Josslyn says, exposed? She guesses a little better after making through the lobby without any whispers or stares. All she can say is, these better be the best blueberry pancakes she’s ever had. Carly says, they will be. She’ll make sure of it. Everything is going to be okay. Spinelli’s on his way to the cabin; he’s searching for a camera. They’re going to find out who did this, and they’re going to make them pay. They get out, and see Esme on her phone. Carly takes Josslyn’s hand and marches her over to the table. Using her best concerned voice, Esme asks how Josslyn is doing. Josslyn asks how should she be doing after someone purposely humiliated her and Cam with that video? Esme says, it’s so awful. Josslyn is so brave to be out in public with this. She doesn’t know if she could do it. If they’ll excuse her… She gets up, but Carly blocks her path, saying, I don’t think so. Sit down.

On Monday, Curtis asks Selina, what’s in it for him besides the money; Josslyn tells Carly that she needs to fight her own battles; Cameron says Spencer can’t drag him down; Carly asks whose life Esme is going to ruin now; and Britt asks, how much trouble could they get into? I’m guessing a lot.

🌡 Absentee Inga…

Luckily, she wasn’t out of commission for long.

👩🏾‍🎓 A Different Path…

While I’m sad to hear there will be a new Trina, good for her in furthering her education. I wish I’d done that.

🌴 Fresh Move…

She’s going back to a town called Bel-Air.

👨‍👦 Proud Papa…

Like father, like son.

👠 Wu Wu…

Glad to hear she’s back. I like the female mob boss thing.

🍭 Inklusive Kandi…

Kandi gives brings the diversity to her new show.

💰 Bandwagon Of Claims…

The number just keeps growing.

💵 Marketing Op…

But is she paying taxes on it?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10596451/RHOSLCs-Jen-Shah-releases-not-guilty-merch-ahead-fraud-trial.html

🛥 Shady Rose On Deck…

I don’t like this woman.

💫 In Lala’s Orbit…

What a toad.

By God if they’re not right.

💔 Possible VanderSplit…

Why all the mystery? It just seems like with all the blabbermouths on that show, there would be something more definitive.

😍 Exclusively Charmed…

Sounds pretty flimsy.

🦋 Ever-Changing…

I dunno. The Kardashians are magicians with makeup and filters, so who can tell?

🪕 For Those a Little Bit Country…

The winners and the fashions at the ACM Awards.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/entertainment/acm-awards-2022/index.html

https://www.eonline.com/photos/34087/acm-awards-2022-red-carpet-fashion

🎺 Quotes of the Week

You keep coming back like a bad smell. – Tom Brooks referring to Jesse Meester, Darcy and Stacy: Tell All

Judge a man by the reputation of his enemies, and the character of his friends. – K@SH

Survive and tell me what’s harder, zombies or senior year? – member of the archery team, All Of Us Are Dead

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you don’t know about. Be kind. Always. – Robin Williams

I was pretty well grounded. I was being teased and whatever and I didn’t have anger skills, so I would go to the parents and say your children are brats and tell them they were bad parents. – Michael Berryman

Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. – Carl Gustav Jung

People get addicted to feeling offended all the time because it gives them a high; being self-righteous and morally superior feels good. – Mark Manson

I don’t know if I have the strength to keep going back and forth with this lady. – Cynthia Bailey referring to Ramona Singer, Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip

Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. – Henry Ford

🎆 Rocking Off To the Casbah…

See you next time the Dead Walk. Until then, stay safe, stay remembering to turn your clock back, and stay knowing you can’t control what people think. So if they don’t matter, screw ‘em.

March 10, 2022 – Sonny Offers To Help Nina, Filling In, Explosion In A-Town, Joe #2 Talks Drama, Sad Split, Dead Isle & Bubblegum

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At The Savoy, Michael tells Willow that her exams are behind her and it’s time to celebrate. He’s barely seen her, and Wiley missed her goodnight story and kiss last night. He told Wiley that she was learning to save people’s lives like a real life superhero. She looks unhappy, and he tells her not to be upset; she’s definitely the cool parent. She says she’s not a superhero or even a cool parent. She messed up.

Sonny lets Nina into the penthouse, and she thanks him for seeing her. He says she told him it was important, and she asks how he’s feeling. He says, it’s the anniversary of his sister’s death. Don’t worry about it. He didn’t go on any benders. Is that why she’s here? Is she checking up on him? She says, they have to talk, and he says he’s not a fan of those four words. (I don’t think any man is.) She says, it’s about their grandson.

At The Savoy, Diane says, judging from her exterior only, she’s guessing all is right again in Alexis’s world. Alexis says, let’s not get excited. Everything’s fine. Surprisingly, she’s enjoying her job. Diane says, Alexis Davis, editor-in-chief, suits her, and Alexis says, better than her last career as a drunk with intent to murder. She’s gotten by with a lot of help from her friends, Diane and Harmony, who she invited to join them. Be nice.

Maxie comes into the hospital carrying the box of Peter’s belongings, and Austin says, she made it. She says she told him she’d be there, and he says she did, but he thought now that Bailey was back, Maxie would want to spend as much time with her as possible. Maxie says, lesson number one, she means what she says, and he says, good to know. Are there other lessons? She says he’ll find out, and he says he can’t wait. It’s nice to see her. She says, him too, and they almost kiss, but Mac clears his throat. Maxie turns around, and Mac is there with Felicia.

At the MetroCourt, Robert tells Anna, Mac just texted; he and Felicia are on their way. It gives them a chance to catch up. He hasn’t seen too much of her lately. She says she’s been busy, and he asks if that’s code for I’m trying to avoid you. Or is she simply getting used to living with Peter’s ghost.

On the phone, and pressing the elevator button repeatedly, Gladys says she knows Brando is getting married. Don’t do anything without talking to her first. The elevator opens, and Carly comes out. Gladys says, thank God, and Carly asks, what’s going on? Gladys says, Brando’s about to make the biggest mistake of his life, and Carly is going to help her stop it.

At Bliss Street Auto Repair, Brando tells Sasha, he’s been back there for a while. He doesn’t think the guy knows what he’s doing. She tells Brando, go check on him. He doesn’t have to babysit her. He says he’s not babysitting her; he’s keeping her company. She says, then let the man do his job. He says he will. All he’s saying is that the man should have fixed the car by now. She says, the chapel will still be there when they say the car is ready, and he says, then they get to say I do. He can’t wait. She says, neither can she, and they hug.

Gladys says, please tell her Carly got the jet in the divorce, and Carly asks, what’s going on with Brando? Is he okay? Gladys says, Brando’s the farthest thing from okay. He and Sasha are getting married. Carly says, that’s it? and Gladys says, what does she mean, that’s it? They’re eloping tonight. Carly says, Brando and Sasha went through something no parent should have to go through, and it’s not like they’re doing something dangerous. Gladys says, marriage is dangerous. Carly of all people should know that. If she won’t help, Gladys bets Sonny will. She turns and nearly runs over the hostess, and Carly says Gladys has been drinking. Gladys says she’s fine. She had one or two, maybe three. Carly says she’s not letting Gladys go anywhere like this. She’ll drive Gladys to Sonny’s herself. Let’s go. Gladys says, that’s cool, but she’s going to have to floor it. They get in the elevator.

Sonny says, what about Michael and Wiley? Everything all right? Nina says, Wiley is fine. She just thought Sonny deserved a heads up. She’s suing for visitation. He asks, why? and she says, she and Willow had a little chat, and Willow says she doesn’t see a path for her to have any access to Wiley, so she told Willow that she’s going to exercise her legal rights as Wiley’s grandmother. Michael hasn’t told Sonny that? Sonny says he hasn’t talked to Michael, and she says, which means Willow hasn’t told him yet, but Sonny says, Michael’s still not talking to him. She says she’s sorry to put him in this position, and he says he doesn’t blame her for doing what she feels she needs to for her family, but she can’t do that.

Diane says, yay, Harmony’s coming. When did that happen? Alexis says, Harmony just texted her. She’s having a hard time, so Alexis texted her back, and asked her to join them. Temp Harmony (see below) walks in, and thanks them for including her on their girls night out. She tells Alexis that she looks great, and Alexis asks if she had a tough day at Spring Ridge. Harmony says, tougher than usual, and Diane says they all have those, right? What is she drinking? The first round’s on her. Alexis tells Harmony to relax. She’s in a much better place than she was on New Year’s Eve. Harmony says, in that case, she’ll have one of those cocktails The Savoy is famous for. Diane says, two outrageous cocktails and one sparkling water coming right up. She goes to the bar, and Harmony says, there must be ice skating in hell. Alexis asks what that means, and Harmony says, that was one of the most positive interactions she’s had with any of Alexis’s friends. Alexis says, Diane is drama free. She looks at Michael and Willow, and says, speaking of drama free… Harmony supposes she should go say hi, and gets up.

Michael brings Willow a drink, and tells her, take a breath, take a sip of her drink, and tell him how she thinks she messed up. She says she knows she messed up, when Harmony approaches the table, and says what a nice surprise. She’s here with Diane and Alexis, and thought she’d say hi. Willow says she’s been meaning to call, and thanks Harmony again for dropping off her birth certificate. Harmony says, her pleasure. Now the two of them can enjoy that trip to Paris. Michael says, Willow definitely deserves a celebration and a break. She took exams yesterday. Harmony is sure Willow sailed through it.

Maxie asks how Mac’s check-up was, and Felicia says, couldn’t have gone better. Mac’s gunshot wound is healing perfectly, but Maxie isn’t getting off the hook that easily. She and Austin are an item now? Maxie says, it’s new, and Mac says, they look forward to getting to know him better. Felicia says, as much as they’d like to stay and chat, they have a prior engagement. Call her later. She hugs Maxie, and Maxie says, only if Felicia promises to behave herself, but Felicia says, no promises. She says it was a pleasure seeing Austin again, and Mac gruffly says he’s sure they’ll be seeing more of him. They leave, and Maxie laughs, saying, she’s so sorry about that. He says, no, it’s great. He guesses Maxie Jones lesson number two is that she’s really close to her family, and that might take some getting used to. She says, something like that, and he says, no problem. What’s in the box? She says, something she was hoping he could help her with. She needs to get rid of Peter.

In the elevator, Mac asks what they really think about that, and Felicia says, personally, she thinks it’s too soon for Maxie to be in a relationship with someone new. But she’s a grown woman, living her own life. Mac says, they’ll keep an eye on her, and him. If Dr. Gatlin-Holt gets out of line, he’ll smush him like a bug.

The mechanic comes out, and tells Brando, the car needs a new fuel pump, but he can’t get the pump in until tomorrow morning. Sasha says, so they’re stuck here all night, but Brando says, not necessarily. A busted fuel pump can be jerry-rigged; he’s done it a bunch of times in emergencies. The mechanic says he’s welcome to take a look, and Brando goes in the back with him. Sasha takes the pills out of her purse. She sees she doesn’t have much left, and gets out her phone, but there’s no service. She flashes back to Brando telling her that they’re on a back road that runs alongside the river, and if you listen hard, you can hear wedding bells. He says, those bells are ringing for another couple, and she says, soon, they’ll be ringing for them… and for Liam. His brief life will have meaning because he will know, and the whole world will know, he was born out of love. She takes another pill, and Brando says, Sasha?

Robert tells Anna, August bonded everyone by leaving no one unscathed. If she finds herself waking up at night with guilt problems, reach out. She has plenty of support system out there. Don’t ever forget, Peter and Peter alone did all the damage. She takes his hand and thanks him, and says, there’s someone else to blame other than Peter. The man who helped him escape; the man who may have murdered Luke. He says, Victor Cassadine, and she says, one nightmare ends, and another one begins.

Maxie tells Austin, Peter named Britt executor, and his personal effects were given to her, and Britt didn’t want them, so she offered to dispose of them. Does he think he can help her with that? He says, no problem, and she thanks him. He leans in for a kiss again, but Obrecht yanks him back, saying, how dare he come near her dear Maxie after everything he’s put her through? She puts her arm around Maxie, and says, don’t worry, liebchen. She promised Dr. Gatlin-Holt that he’d answer to her for betraying Maxie, and she always keeps her promises.

At the bar, Diane watches the room, and Harmony asks if Willow was able to get her passport. Willow says, not yet. She has an appointment.  They just want to see her birth certificate, and have her fill out an application. After that, they’ll expedite her passport. (It’s not quite like that, but okay.) Michael says he’s sure it will be fine. He and Willow aren’t anticipating any problems.

Diane sits back down, and Alexis says, let’s have a good time. She’s in the mood for some fun. Diane says, she’s in luck, because a very attractive man at the bar cannot take his eyes off her. Alexis says, what? No. The man approaches their table, and says he knows he’s being incredibly bold, but he could help noticing Alexis. He’d like to buy her a drink. Diane says, he may, but Alexis says she already has a drink. He says, maybe some other time, and Diane face palms. She says she just wants to shake Alexis. Alexis said she wanted some fun, now go get it.

Nina tells Sonny, she’s sorry, but the only way she’ll have access to Wiley is if she goes to court. He says, let him lower the temperature with Michael before she resorts to anything drastic. She says she really appreciates the offer, but she’s not sure how much luck he’s going to have. Even if he convinces Michael that she can see Wiley, there’s Carly. He says, Michael’s his own man and makes his own decisions, and she says, that may be true, but Carly’s influence carries a lot of weight. And once Carly finds out Sonny is helping her with Wiley, she’ll be on the warpath. He says, he and Carly are done. It was her choice. She cannot get mad at him for wanting to help his grandson. Nina asks if they’re talking about the same woman, because honestly, Nina is surprised Carly hasn’t come after her already. There’s a knock at the door, and Sonny opens it to Carly and Gladys. Carly sees Nina, and smiles.

Austin says he doesn’t know how many times he has to apologize to Obrecht, but he’s sorry, he’s sorry, he’s sorry, he’s sorry. He should never have trusted Victor. Obrecht says, he was so obsessed with targeting Brook that he blabbed to that fiend in a tailored suit. Of course (🍷) he took the information straight to Peter, letting that schwein know Bailey was really his daughter Louise. He says he made his amends. She put the bug on Victor, and he had to listen to that guy talking for hours and hours and hours, trying to pinpoint where Peter had taken Maxie. Obrecht says, he was scrambling to correct his egregious mistake talking to Victor. He hurt Maxie and her baby, and for her, that’s personal. That requires a different kind of penance. Maxie says she really does appreciate Obrecht looking out for her… Obrecht says she’d do anything for Maxie, and Maxie takes Austin’s arm and says, then she wants Obrecht to forgive him.

Alexis tells Diane, her idea of fun does not include that man, nor does it include any man for that matter. Diane says, it’s been far too long since Alexis had any romance in her life. He seemed nice. Alexis says, so did Neil. So did Julian. One died in her bed, and the other one almost chopped her head off. Diane says, Julian never seemed nice. One of these days, Alexis will have to open herself up to love. The right guy is going to come along, and she’s never going to know it. Alexis says she’s not interested in a relationship, when Harmony comes back. She asks what she missed.

Willow says, after all her lectures about co-existing and keeping the peace… Michael says, so this is about Nina, and she says she ran into Nina at the hospital. He says he’s sure that was a laugh a minute, and she says, Nina asked if she could spend time with Wiley. He says, after his mother just caught her in bed with his father, and Willow says, that was pretty much her reaction. He asks how she thinks she messed up, and she says, Nina caught her off guard, especially since not five minutes before, they were talking about how Nina withholds information. Carly and Sonny are in the middle of a divorce, and Nina’s timing was terrible. She snapped. He says, to be honest, he would have loved to see her go off on Nina; it would have made his day, his week. She says, she pushed Nina too far. Nina told her that she’s going to exercise her legal right to visitation with Wiley. He tells her, don’t worry. They’ll shut her down. That woman isn’t getting anywhere near their son.

Gladys says she’s sorry for crashing their date, and Nina says, it’s not a date. Gladys says she needs Sonny’s help; Brando and Sasha are eloping. They’re on the Canada side of Niagara Falls. Please call his people and have them fire up the jet. They may already be too late. He says he knows she wants to be at her son’s wedding, but if Brando and Sasha are eloping, they probably want to do it alone. She says she doesn’t want to be at their wedding; she wants to stop the wedding. They’re in no state to make a decision like this. She needs to talk to Brando before he ruins his life. Carly says, it’s not her choice to make, and Gladys asks if none of them is worried the least little bit. Brando and Sasha are still grieving their baby. How do they figure they’re capable of entering into marriage? Nina says, Gladys has a point. They owe it to Brando and Sasha to make sure they’re getting married for the right reasons.

Sasha asks, what’s the verdict? and Brando tells her, it’s like Vern said; the pump is shot. She says she was thinking they could get a Ride Share and still make it to the chapel before it closes, but she has no cell service. Brando says, neither does he, and Vern says, the service can be spotty out here. They’re welcome to use the garage phone to call a cab. He’ll place the order for a new fuel pump. Brando tells Sasha, as much as they wanted to get married today, maybe it’s best if they do it in Port Charles, with all of their family and friends… She says, no, and he asks, what’s going on? Is there something she needs to tell him about? She says, it’s just that she has this feeling, if they don’t get married tonight, they never will, and she’ll lose him. He says she’ll never lose him, but she says, he can’t promise that. He says he can and will. He’ll marry her tomorrow in a courthouse or a treehouse, a swamp. Wherever there’s an ordained minister and a witness, that’s where he’ll say his I dos. Vern says, excuse him. He couldn’t help overhearing. He’s actually ordained. Brando says, he can marry them? and Sasha says, today? Vern says he’ll call his wife Lorna and she can be their witness. As long as they don’t mind getting married in a garage. Sasha and Brando look at each other, and say, it’s perfect.

Robert says, if Victor killed Luke, that can only mean one thing. Luke figured out what Victor was up to. Felica says, whatever that is, and Mac says, if the Cassadines and the Ice Princess are involved, that spells trouble for the rest of them. Anna says, somehow, Drew Cain is the key. Drew, Sam, and Dante are trying to trap Victor into exposing whatever it is he’s up to. Robert asks, what if they’re unsuccessful? and Felicia says she and Anna have a plan of their own.

Harmony suggests she go, so Diane and Alexis can work out whatever tension is between them, when Michael comes by and asks if he and Willow can talk to Diane for a minute. Diane says, absolutely, and goes back to his table with him. Harmony says, none of her business, but if Alexis need an ear, she’s happy to lend one. Alexis says, a very nice man offered to buy her a drink, and she said she wasn’t interested, and then Diane goes off and starts talking about her love life, or lack thereof. She does it all the time. Harmony says, let her guess. Alexis overreacted. Alexis makes a gesture meaning a little bit, and Harmony says she spent her life following people who thought they had the answers. The truth is, no one does. Alexis is the only one who knows what’s right for her. She’s sure Alexis has asked herself these questions about romance a hundred times, and came up with the answer based on her experience. She doesn’t want to date? Then that’s the answer, and it’s perfectly okay.

Carly says, Sasha is fragile since she lost the baby. She puts on a tough front, but she’s still struggling. Sonny says, Brando’s still raw, but even though he and Sasha are acting impulsively, they’re good for each other; they’re strong for each other. Carly agrees, and Gladys says she can’t believe she’s hearing this. Nina is close to Sasha. Tell her that she agrees they have to stop the wedding. Nina says, she’s sorry, but after listening to Sonny and Carly, she agrees with them. Carly rolls her eyes, and I want to smack her. Nina says, Sasha and Brando are adults; they make their own choices. And they have a strong relationship. They’re bonded by shared loss. Carly says, Brando and Sasha are grieving together, so they have to trust getting married was the right decision for them. Gladys says, if Sonny isn’t going to lend her the jet, she’ll just rent a helicopter, and Sonny says, wait. He knows her first instinct is to protect her son. Nina says, Gladys can’t make those choices for him, and Carly says, as parents, they have to sit back and let their kids live their lives. Gladys says, so that’s what they all would do in her shoes? and Carly says, yep, and Nina says, afraid so. Sonny says, it’s the hardest thing about being a parent, but it’s got to be done. Gladys says she guesses she’s just not like them. Doing nothing is not in her vocabulary. Nina says, she’s not doing nothing, and Carly says, Brando is always going to need her love and support. She can give him that by letting him do what he needs to do. Sonny says, you just got to be there for him, and whatever comes next.

Outside Bliss Street Auto Repair, Brando says, ready? and Sasha says, ready. Lorna puts on the Wedding March, and Sasha walks out in a super pretty white dress with red flowers on it, carrying a bouquet. Where she got it, who knows? Vern says, they’re gathered here today to join Brando and Sasha in holy matrimony. As they embark on their journey as partners through life, the vows they exchange are their sacred pledge to each other; a contract bound by love. Brando says, they actually didn’t have time to write their vows, and Sasha says, they just jumped in the car, and headed for the nearest chapel. Vern asks if they’d prefer the traditional vows, or would they like to speak from the heart? Sasha says, they’d like to… and Brando says, speak from the heart.

Robert says, don’t keep them in suspense; what’s the plan? Anna says, Victor can’t achieve his objective if he’s in prison, and Felicia says, which means they need to prove Victor murdered Luke. Anna says she’s going to Austria to get proof, and Mac asks where Felicia fits in. Felicia says, they have to make sure Victor doesn’t catch on. If Anna goes to Austria alone, he’ll be suspicious. Anna says, Felicia is coming as her cover, and Mac says, absolutely not. Felicia says, hey! He doesn’t get to tell her what she can and cannot do. He says he’s grateful she rescued Maxie, but he still has nightmares about Peter running her car off the road. She can’t take that risk again. Felicia says, Mac can’t go with Anna. His recovery is coming along nicely, but he’s not fully healed. Robert says, they know what Victor is capable of. Maxie brought home her daughter, and needs Felicia. Felicia’s granddaughter needs her. Felicia says she knows, and she loves being with them, but she and Anna decided that going together would draw the least amount of suspicion. Anna says, they’ll say they’re going to be debriefed about the circumstances surrounding Maxie’s escape, and Peter’s subsequent death. Felicia says, and  to draw the least amount of suspicion, they’ll rent a car and drive to Innsbruck. Anna says, she’ll start the investigation into the tram accident, and Felicia says, Anna is doing the investigation? She knows she’s Anna’s cover, but she can’t be expected to sit around in the hotel room while Anna does all the work. Mac says, he’s in awe of how Anna took down Peter, but Felicia isn’t trained as a field agent. Victor is ruthless. Anna says, they’re going to an office to look at transportation records. If anything even remotely suspicious happens, she’ll get them out of there ASAP. Robert says, they all know what Victor is capable of, but they owe it to Luke, his family, friends and community, to stop him.

Brando says, Sasha has the most kind and generous heart of anyone he’s ever known, all wrapped up into one fierce shell. He’s seen how she fights for those she loves, and he’s honored that she’s chosen to spend the rest of her life with him. He promises to spend the rest of his life loving her and being her partner, whatever may come. He loves her. She says she admits, at first she didn’t know what to think of him, but something undeniable drew her to him, and she learned how brave and selfless he is. He saved her life in so many ways. She was used to being on her own, and looking out for herself, but in him, she’s found the perfect complement to her life. He’s truly her partner, and she’s so thankful she found him.

Maxie says, Austin is in her life now, and it would be easier for all of them if Obrecht would just accept that. Obrecht says, for Maxie, she will agree to co-exist with Dr. Gatlin-Holt. If he makes another mistake, he won’t live to regret it. He says he thinks she means to say, he will live to regret it, but she says, no, she didn’t.  

Brando puts Sasha’s ring on her finger, and says, with this ring, I thee wed, and Sasha does the same with him. Vern says, by the power vested in him, he pronounces them husband and wife. Brando may kiss his bride. And he does. A lot.

Michael says, Nina insists under New York state law, she has the right to see Wiley, but Diane says, Nina is mistaken. The statute Nina is referring to stipulates that if one of the biological parents is dead – in this case, Nelle – the biological grandparent has standing to file for visitation. So Nina has the right to bring her petition in front of a judge, but all that guarantees her is a hearing. She still has to convince the judge to give her access to Wiley. Michael says, but they can argue against it, and Diane says, correct. He says, if she files, he wants Diane to shut her down. Diane says, nothing would give her more pleasure, and Willow says, she was in favor of compromise, but it’s not possible with Nina. She’s repeatedly asked to see Wiley under what amounts to false pretenses. They can’t trust her. Diane says, which is why they need to keep this out of court. The downside is simply too risky. Michael’s a strategist, so think strategically. He’ll have more options if he keeps this out of court. He says, if Nina does file, they should be prepared, and Diane says she’ll delve into case law. In the meantime, her best advice is, do not engage. She’ll call them tomorrow, but for tonight, here’s some unsolicited advice. Push Nina from their thoughts, and enjoy the rest of their evening. She leaves, and Willow says she’s sorry she started this, but Michael says, no, Nina started this, but they’re going to be the ones to finish it.

Sasha says, they did it, and Brando says, it’s real now. She says, speaking of reality, he should call his mother and give her the good news. Vern says they can use the landline inside, and they go in. Brando makes the call.

Sonny asks what Gladys says. Does she want to give her son a chance at his own life? Her phone rings, and it’s Brando. He says he’s in Canada. He and Sasha decided to elope. Gladys fights back tears, and asks him to put her on speaker. He does, and she says, Brando and Sasha, you have all my blessings for a happy life. They thank her, and she says, come home soon, so she can congratulate them in person. He says they will, and he loves her. She says she loves him too. Sonny tells her that she did right the thing, she touches his shoulder, and leaves. Carly thanks him for helping her with Gladys, and follows her.

Felicia asks if Mac is on board about her going to Austria with Anna, and he heaves a sigh. He says, she’s the one who found Maxie and took down Peter. He’d be crazy to think she couldn’t handle herself. Robert says, he and Mac will hold down the fort here, and hopefully keep Victor’s attention off the two of them. Felicia says she loves Mac, and gives him a kiss, telling him, don’t do anything to jeopardize his recovery. He says, aye-aye, captain. Be careful. Find out what Victor is up to, and put a stop to it. Anna asks if she’s ready to go to Austria, and Felicia says, you bet. She wants to see Victor in prison for helping Peter.

Austin says, they got the whole meet-my-family thing out of the way, and Maxie says, she’ll come around. He asks if she has any idea when, and she says, it’ll take a while, but don’t worry. Maxie’s opinion is the only one that matters. Now their real problem is, how do they get rid of Peter’s box? He says, well, this is a hospital, and hospitals are really good at disposing of toxic and hazardous waste. She says she knew he would have the answer, and he says, he does. Come on. It’s time she saw the morgue.

Diane sits back down, and Alexis says she’s sorry she snapped at her. She’ll buy the next round. Diane says, no need. She’s sorry she pushed. Alexis says, she meant well, and Diane says that Alexis is being so nice, and asks what Harmony said to her. Harmony says, she just supported Alexis’s decision, that’s all, and Alexis says, after Neil, she can’t, okay? Diane says she gets it. Alexis gave up her law license for him. Alexis says she thought he was more important than her law license, and he thought drugs were more important than her. Harmony says, that will leave a mark on you, and Alexis says, they all have marks. Let’s just lighten up. Debbie Downer has left the building. Harmony says, there may have been darkness in Alexis’s past, but now the light has returned, and she’s been given a new beginning. That’s something to celebrate. Alexis says, to the light, and Diane laughs. Alexis says she doesn’t know about them, but she’s going to dance.

Nina says, that could have been so much worse, and Sonny says, when someone’s right, Carly’s not afraid to admit it. She asks if Carly and Michael will admit that Wiley deserves to see his other grandmother, and he says, all he can do is try. She says she knows he can be very persuasive when he sets his mind on something, so she’ll put her legal action on hold if he thinks he can convince Michael to let her see Wiley. He thanks her, and says he thinks that works best for everybody. She says, what about Carly? Obviously she doesn’t know Nina threatened to go to court to see Wiley, but she will find out. He tells her to just lay low. He’ll see what he can do about Michael, and they’ll worry about everything else later. She says, he’s right. She’ll focus on the newlyweds.

Outside, Carly says, Gladys did good, and Gladys says, Carly should be nominated for sainthood. If she saw her ex with that woman, she’d rip her hair out and set it on fire. Carly says she’s not a saint. She’s just a woman movin’ on.

Sasha says, surprised? and Brando says, relieved. He asks if there’s a cab company he can call, and Vern says they’re pretty out of the way. It’ll take a while for a cab to pick them up. Lorna suggests Brando and Sasha stay with them tonight. They don’t have a spare room, but one of them can take the sofa, and the other a sleeping bag. (Ideal for a honeymoon!) Vern says, and he’ll be able to get the pump replaced early tomorrow. Sasha thanks them for their very generous offer, and says they accept. Vern asks Lorna to help him clean up, and give these honeymooners some privacy. They leave, and Sasha says, the first night of their honeymoon. She’ll flip him for the sofa. He says he’s truly sorry it didn’t turn out how they imagined, and she says, please don’t tell her that he already regrets marrying her. He says, no, never, but she deserves the world. He knows this wasn’t her fantasy elopement, but she says, it is her fantasy elopement. At the end of the day, he’s her husband. He says, and she’s his wife. She says, for the rest of their lives, and they kiss.  

Tomorrow, Brook asks Michael if Chase said he’s interested in her: Carly asks Josslyn to tell her what’s going on, and they’ll fix it; Esme says, show time; and Cameron tells Jake, don’t! as he’s about to do something on his phone.

👯 Interim BFF…

She was good, but I hope the original comes back soon.

🍑 Peach Pits…

I’m not a regular, but I drop in once in a while.

🤹 Calling Number Two…

Joe Gorga spills the appletini.

💔 Say It Ain’t So…

This made me sad. I really thought they made a great couple.

https://people.com/home/million-dollar-listing-star-josh-flagg-and-husband-bobby-boyd-divorcing-after-5-years-of-marriage/

⚰️ Dead Spin…

The news I’ve been waiting for. I’m not a huge fan of Maggie – she’s aight – but I love Negan, and think he deserves his own show.

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/the-walking-dead-maggie-negan-spinoff-isle-of-the-dead-lauren-cohan-jeffrey-dean-morgan-amc/

🔌 Time To Recharge…

Hit me up tomorrow for some soap, tea galore, meaningful words and as always, a random track. Until then, stay safe, stay on your mettle, and stay knowing that ultimately, only you know what’s right for you.

March 9, 2022 – Ryan’s Truth Is Revealed, Heather Takes Gina To NYC, Salty Talk & Barbie

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In the car, Sasha tells Brando, she can’t believe their actually eloping to Niagara Falls. They’re on their way to get married right now. Brando says he has to keep pinching himself to remind himself that he’s not dreaming. She says, it’s not a dream. At the end of the road is a wedding chapel, and the start of their life together as husband and wife.

On the phone at the MetroCourt bar, Gladys leaves a message for Brando, saying, it’s his mother… again. Why isn’t he answering her calls? She knows he’s on a getaway with Sasha alone, but she’s worried about him… and Sasha. Could he at least send a text? Let her know they’re okay? Maybe send a picture of where they’re staying. Especially, let her know when they’re coming back. She loves him. Lucy sits down, asking if she may offer a word of advice. Gladys says, no; she’s off the clock. Lucy says, it’s not about work. She knows Gladys is worried, but Brando and Sasha deserve all the time they need to heal. And when they come home, they’re gong to be rested and relaxed, and a whole lot richer. Gladys says, well, money isn’t everything.

Victor lifts his cup, and says, to new beginnings for the entire Cassadine clan. Ava and Nikolas just look at him, and he says he’s sorry. He thought they were on the same page. Now he has to wonder if this invitation to their vow renewal is a real olive branch, or just a way of using his genuine love of family for their own purposes.

An orderly pushes Ryan to his room, and says, for a guy who can’t walk or talk, he sure gets under people’s skin. He opens the door, and says, especially that hot new intern. He’d sure like to be the one to rile her up. His phone dings, and while the orderly’s back is turned, Esme approaches the room, and looks at Ryan.

Brando says he doubts the back road is going to be a shortcut to the wedding chapel, and Sasha says, in other words, they’re lost. He says, yeah, and she tells him to put his pride aside, and put on the GPS. He says he hates to admit this, but the GPS went out, and he didn’t want to take the time to fix it. She says, so much for marrying a mechanic and having no car problems. He says, for the record, the GPS is more of a computer issue than a mechanical issue. She tries her phone, but can’t get a signal, and says, there’s a downside of being in the middle of nowhere. He tells her, don’t worry. He’s not one of those guys who won’t stop and ask a local for directions. She says, they haven’t passed a gas station or even another car for miles. What if they’re really lost? He says, they’ll get help, and she says, will they? Are they lost, or has he changed his mind about getting married?

Lucy asks if she heard Gladys right. Money isn’t everything doesn’t sound like her. Is she all right? Does she have a temperature? Lucy tries to feel her forehead, and Gladys says, she’s kidding of course (🍷). She knows Maxie’s back, and they’re full steam ahead to take Deception public. What does that actually mean for Sasha? Lucy says, Gladys knows Sasha is a partner, and thanks to Michael Corinthos’s ninja negotiating skills… talk about having the right boyfriend at the right time. Lucy just wanted a face of Deception, but he wanted an equity stake for Sasha in the company, which Lucy doesn’t regret at all; Sasha has been an incredible asset to the company. Anyway, the point is, when they do take Deception public, that girl is going to get a large share of stock, and her net worth is going to skyrocket. Gladys says, Brando knows how to pick them. She always knew that Gilmore girl had potential. Lucy says, really? That’s not exactly how she remembers it. Since when is Gladys Team Sasha? Gladys says, come on. Any mother would have doubts about Sasha’s history. She was a supermodel. She was leading a supermodel lifestyle; hanging out with gangsters, snorting illegal substances… Lucy says, wow, so very subtle, and Gladys says, but then she saw how brave Sasha was when she and Brando lost little Liam. Lucy says, Gladys is right. She doesn’t doubt Sasha’s bravery; she was very courageous. But Lucy is kind of worried Sasha is rushing her recovery by coming back to work so soon. Gladys says that’s her feeling exactly, but every time she mentioned it, Sasha shut her down. Politely – her manners are impeccable, of course (🍷) – but a wall is still a wall, no matter how pretty it’s painted. Lucy says, maybe it’s not right for them not to respect Sasha’s privacy, and Gladys asks if there’s something wrong with Sasha. Something Brando’s mother should know.

Dante asks how Drew knew it was Britt, and he says he saw the dynamic when they were on Cassadine Island together. Peter used Britt as leverage to control Jason, but Britt never backed down. She let him have it about the hell he put Maxie through, about supposedly hating Faison, but essentially following in his footsteps. Dante says he bets Peter didn’t like hearing that, and Drew says, he did not, but he thinks on some level, Peter envied his sister. Even though she was the prisoner, she had more agency than Peter did, so it makes sense Peter would mess with her any way he could, making her the executor just so she’d have to acknowledge his existence and not forget about him. Dante says, he probably got a kick out of forcing her to deal with whatever he left behind, and Drew says, so they go to Britt, and have her plant the bait. He holds up a tarot card, and says, then they let it get back to Victor what Peter left behind. Sam says, there might be a problem with his plan. Does Britt strike them as the kind of person who’s going to safeguard Peter’s personal effects?

Maxie asks what Anna said, and Britt tells her, the WSB x-rayed and vetted the contents; there’s nothing dangerous inside. No toxic substances or anything potentially lethal. Maxie says, so if it’s harmless, what is Britt going to do with it? Britt tells her, she never said it was harmless; it came from Peter, remember? He knows she hated him. Who knows what he left her to mess with her head? Fortunately, there’s a dumpster in the alley behind the hotel. Maxie says, so? and Britt says, so this is going in the garbage where it belongs. She gets up, and Maxie says, no, don’t do that.

Nikolas says he thanked Victor for interceding for him with Spencer; that was very sincere. He meant what he said. Ava says, she confesses she advised Nikolas to be careful of Victor at first, but that was before she could see for herself that his heart is clearly in the right place this time. Victor says, Laura has been doing her best to turn his family against him, and Nikolas says, his mother can be overprotective at times, but given Victor’s past and recent association with Peter, can he blame her? Victor says, for the last time, his dealings with Peter were extremely limited, and yes, a regrettable lapse in judgement, but he’s not the only one. Peter deceived a great many people, including the formidable Anna Devane, but the man is thankfully dead, and may the discord he caused die with him. As for Laura, for the well-being of his family, he agreed to give her a pass; something, for the record, she would not do for him. Ava says, that’s big of him, and Victor says, consider it a wedding present. Ava says, the real gift would be bringing them all together when she and Nikolas renew their vows. Of course (🍷) they can’t be certain Spencer will accept their invitation. Victor says he has a good feeling about it. After all, Spencer’s significant other supports a father/son reconciliation, and Esme seems to hold great sway with Spencer.

Esme hides around the corner as the orderly leaves, and takes a keycard out of her pocket. She quickly slips into Ryan’s room, and closes the door. She says she knows he terrifies most people, but she’s not most people. What was he thinking out in the day room, speaking out loud? Does he realize someone could have heard him when he opened his mouth to snap at her? After all his planning, all his months of silence, he could have blown the whole thing just to scold her. He says, actually, he was thinking about her, and how she failed him.

Brando says he wants to marry Sasha more than ever. What makes her think he changed his mind? She flashes back to taking a pill, and says she’s sorry for taking this out on him, but if the GPS isn’t working and they’re lost, what do they do? He says, they’re not completely lost. Roll down her window. She does, and he asks if she can hear it. She says, they’re by the river, and he says, they’re on a back road that runs alongside the river. If you listen hard, you can hear wedding bells. Bells ring in the distance, and he says, the bells are ringing from the chapel. She says, soon those bells will be ringing for them, and for Liam. His brief life will have meaning because they’ll know, and the whole world will know, he was born out of love.

Lucy tells Gladys, she admits she and Maxie are a bit worried about Sasha coming back to work too soon after the trauma of losing Liam. She’s speaking from firsthand experience. Those kind of wounds take a long time to heal, if they ever heal at all. Gladys says she tried to get through to Sasha, but Sasha shut her out. It seemed like with Brando’s help she was getting better, and she still believes Sasha will heal, especially when she gets back from that getaway and realizes what this IPO is going to do for the future of their family. But what if this getaway is just an escape from reality?

Britt says, there’s no way Maxie is feeling sentimental about Peter, and Maxie says she is not feeling sentimental, but Bailey is Peter’s only child. Maybe he left something for her. Britt says, like he wrote her a letter? but Maxie says she’s hoping he left her something of financial value. Britt says she takes her role as Aunt Britt very seriously, and she doesn’t want her niece growing up with anything of Peter’s to drag her down. Maxie totally agrees with her, and says, if there’s nothing in that box worth keeping, she’ll help Britt. Britt says, fine, and suggests they open it on the terrace, just in case there’s something in it that makes them howl with rage and disgust.

Anna calls Dante, and he steps away to take the call. Sam asks if Drew is okay. Is he sure there’s no way that card can affect him? Drew says, it’s not the right card, but Victor’s not going to know that, and when he tries to activate Drew, they’ll know what he’s up to. Sam says, Drew knows that card is the hook, and he’s the bait, and if Victor does realize something is going on, Drew is going to be at risk. Is he willing to do this? She’s not going to judge him if he backs out. He says he’s doing it. He wants to take Victor down as much as she does. Dante comes back, and says, Britt’s at the MetroCourt, and she’s already got Peter’s belongings, and Sam says, it’s too late then. There’s no way Britt is going to hold on to Peter’s belongings. Drew says, they’ve got to try. They’ve got to move.

Victor says he believes, where Esme goes, Spencer will follow, and Nikolas agrees they should include Spencer in the vow renewal once he’s finished his time at Spring Ridge. But as for inviting Esme, does he have to remind Victor that she torched Ava’s car? Victor asks if he has to remind Nikolas that Spencer dislikes Ava as much as Nikolas dislikes Esme. If he wants his son to put aside his pride and celebrate their vows, how can he exclude the young woman who has so much influence in young Spencer’s life? Ava tells him, she wouldn’t say Esme’s influence is exactly positive, and Victor says, if they’re going to start throwing stones, none of them are going to walk away without being bruised. Nikolas says, unfortunately, he thinks his uncle is right; either it’s an inclusive family celebration or it isn’t. He thanks Victor for reminding him; he owes Victor. Victor says he’ll leave the two of them to get along with their guest list. He pats Nikolas on the shoulder, and says Nikolas won’t regret this. He leaves, and Nikolas asks, what the hell happened to their intimate, romantic celebration for two? She tells him, they said it would be a night to remember, and with their new guest list, that’s bound to be true.

Ryan says he’s so disappointed in Esme. She had one job; to break up Ava and Nikolas. He had to continue this exhausting charade, pretending to be as animated as an eggplant. She has totally lost sight of the prize. She says, that’s not fair. She did everything she could to help Spence terrorize Ava in the hopes she’d leave Nikolas. She thought leaving Ava’s dead daughter’s hospital badge by her burnt car was an inspired idea. It’s not her fault Ava’s love of Spence’s dad is greater than her fear of a stalker. Ryan says, she doesn’t love Nikolas; she only thinks she does. And Esme’s been wasting her time, playing this adolescent game of kiss-and-tell with Spencer and his friends. She says, what she’s doing is trying to make sure her relationship with Spence looks real. If she’s not convincing, someone might get suspicious, but her loyalty, first and last, is always to him. He tells her, so she says, and she crouches down putting her hands on his knees, saying, please. She’ll do anything. Just let her prove it to him… daddy. He likes when she calls him that, doesn’t he? He says she knows he does, but as the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

Sasha asks if they can’t drive faster, but Brando says, that’s a negative. Her phone rings, and she says, they have cell phones again. He asks who it is. Maxie? Lucy? She says, it’s his mom, and he says he’s been ignoring her calls, but that’s his mom. If one way doesn’t work, she’ll find another. Sasha answers, saying, what a nice surprise, and Gladys nearly does a spit-take, surprised Sasha picked up. She says she knows Sasha and Brando are on a little getaway, and she doesn’t mean to interrupt, but she hasn’t heard from Brando, and naturally as a mother she’s concerned. Sasha looks at Brando, who shakes his head, and Gladys asks if everything is okay. Sasha says she’s sorry, but they have spotty coverage. Gladys is breaking up on her, but she’s sure they’ll have a lot to talk about when they get back. She hangs up, and Gladys says, hello? Lucy says, darn it. Bad connection, huh? Gladys says, Sasha couldn’t wait to get off the phone, although she did blame the bad reception at the Falls. Lucy says, the Falls as in Niagara Falls? Is that where they went? Gladys asks, what’s wrong with Niagara Falls, and Lucy says, nothing. She thinks she got married there… No. She thinks she almost got married there once. Gladys says, if you can’t make it to Vegas, head to Niagara for a quickie wedding… Lucy doesn’t think that’s what they’re doing, does she?

Nikolas says, maybe while he’s making the drinks, Ava can explain her about-face. When did she go from suspecting Victor was up to no good to inviting him to their vow renewal? She says, if he must know, his mother asked her to keep Victor close; they all know he’s up to something. He says, it’s the Cassadine way, and she says his mother is mostly worried about Spencer, knowing he’s susceptible to Victor’s, quote, unquote, generosity. He says, and knowing his mother, she must be concerned that he’s susceptible too. Is that the gist?

On the terrace, Britt tells Maxie that she can still change her mind and drop this off the balcony, and watch Peter’s belongings just shatter on the ground. Maxie says, wait one second. If she destroys that box – toss it, burn it, put it in a vat of battery acid, isn’t she always going to wonder what’s inside of it? Britt says, no, but clearly Maxie is. She suggests they get this over with. She starts to open the box, and I notice it says muzzle this end on one side. I send packages for eBay all the time, and have never once seen a box that says that. It must be a special Peter box. Dante comes out and says, stop. Britt asks if there’s something dangerous in there after all, and Sam says, not dangerous to them, and Maxie says, to who?

Victor walks into the MetroCourt, and asks the hostess for a top-shelf Manhattan. Since it’s such a lovely evening, he thinks he’ll take it on the terrace. He starts to walk toward the terrace door, and Drew intercepts him, saying, Victor’s timing could not be any better.

Esme asks daddy if he has another plan, and Ryan says he has information which is where all good plans begin. For instance, she followed his every instruction to steal the card key, and here she is. And Ava might really believe she found true happiness with Nikolas, but soon enough she’ll find a worm in that apple. Esme says, please tell her; please let her in on things. She can’t help him unless he trusts her. He says, trust is a two-way street. Given how easily distracted she is by petty jealousies and shallow co-ed shenanigans, he’s not sure he count on her anymore. She says, really? Like he said, it’s a two-way street. He doesn’t trust her? Maybe his brother will trust her when she tells him the truth; that he can talk, and he’s been able to for months. She turns to leave, and he grabs her wrist, yanking her down to his level. He says, she’s not going anywhere.

Sasha says she didn’t like lying to Brando’s mom, but what else could she say? He says they just have to break the news to her as gently as possible. By the amount of times she’s called him, it’s clear she hasn’t even gotten used the idea of them taking a few days to themselves. Soon, she’s going to have to get used to seeing a ring on Sasha’s finger, and their names on a license. Finally, she’s going to burst into tears, and claim he robbed her of planning her only son’s wedding, but eventually, after a few years, she’ll get over it. Sasha doesn’t say anything, and he says, if she’s changed her mind and decided she wants a more traditional ceremony, he can turn the car around right now. They can go back to the B&B, and she can look at party planner reviews, but to be honest, they both know she would pick Maxie. Sasha says she doesn’t need a big wedding. She just wants him. She wants to see those rings on their fingers as a reminder they belong to each other, body and soul. He says, speaking of rings, look in the glove compartment. She takes out a box, looks inside, and says, oh my God.  

Gladys says she can’t believe her son would elope and not include her, and Lucy says, that’s kind of the definition elopement. The parents stay home. Gladys says she’s not just any parent. She’s a single mother who sacrificed everything for that boy, and it’s not like him to sneak around behind her back, so this was Sasha’s big idea. Lucy tells her, don’t you dare blame Sasha. She deserves every bit of happiness she can get after everything she’s gone through. Gladys says she was thinking of Sasha. She’s afraid Lucy may be right. She rushed back to work, she’s rushing into marriage, all just to avoid the terrible pain of the loss of Liam. It’s a big mistake, and there has to be something she can do to stop them.

Ryan holds Esme’s wrist in a viselike grip, and she says, let her go. He releases her, and says he guesses her time in Port Charles wasn’t wasted after all. Not if she’s developed a backbone that can stand up to him. She says she had an excellent teacher, and he says he appreciates the compliment. He hopes she makes him proud, and she says she will. That’s always been the plan. He tells her, just remember, he calls the shots. Are they clear? She says, yes, sir; you’re the boss. He says, that’s more like it, but she still has to regain his trust. She says she’ll do anything. Just tell her where to start. He says, back to square one, with Ava.

Nikolas says, if he and Ava both agree Victor can’t be trusted, why invite him to share the happiest day of their lives? She says, Laura is already concerned Victor has made inroads with Spencer. And given what Victor knows about Nikolas in regard to Hayden, he thinks he has the upper hand with Nikolas. Nikolas says, they’re even. His debt is paid in full. She says, five minutes ago, Nikolas said he owed Victor, and she knows he’ll find a way to collect. He asks if she thinks he’d let Victor get the better of him, and she says, no, but she thinks he’ll keep trying. And she thinks he’ll use any weapon he can find, including Nikolas’s son. That’s why she invited him to be there when they renew their vows. She wants Victor to believe they trust him, so when he finally does show them his hand, they’ll be ready.

Victor asks what Drew wants with him, and Drew says he’s putting Victor on notice. They may never be able to prove Victor helped Peter escape, but Drew will never forget the part Victor played in stealing two years of his life. Victor says, it sounds like Drew is threatening him, and Drew says, really? He meant it to sound like a promise. Stay clear of him, and of his family, and everybody he cares about, or he’ll find a way to make Victor pay for every single day he was locked away from his life. Drew goes to the elevator, and the hostess comes back with Victor’s drink. He says he’ll take it with him, and exchanges looks with Drew before he goes outside. Maxie, Britt, Sam, and Dante are gathered around Bailey’s stroller, and Victor asks if they mind if he joins them, or is it a private party? Sam tells Maxie that Bailey is such a beautiful baby, and Victor says he does love babies. He’s gratified that Maxie is finally reunited with her daughter. She thanks him, and Dante asks if Victor knows anything about Peter leaving personal effects behind. Victor says, despite what everyone seems to think, he wasn’t on intimate terms with Peter. Why does Dante ask? Sam says, it’s just that the box Britt is holding just came from the WSB; it contains Peter’s personal effects. Britt says she was going to toss them in the garbage, then Maxie encouraged her to open it, just in case there’s anything inside that could help pay Bailey’s college tuition. Maxie says, just give it to her; she’s taking too long. Maxie grabs the end of the box, and Britt says, take it easy. Maxie says she can’t wait any longer, and they struggle over the box. It falls, and everything goes everywhere. Maxie says, sorry about that, and Victor hones in on the tarot card.

Sasha says, they just decided to get married. How did Brando slip out and buy wedding rings without her knowing it? He says, they’re not what she thinks they are. When they decided to get married on the fly, he had to improvise, so those are actually some spare engine parts that he polished up while she was in the shower, but they’ll serve their purpose until he can take her to a proper jewelry store. She looks at him, and he laughs and says, he’s kidding. When he told her that he was going to the gym, he ran out and went to the closest jewelry store. Those are the real thing, just like they are. She says she loves them, and kisses him. Too bad. I thought the spare parts thing was cool and apropos. They hear something, and she asks, what was that? The check engine light is on. He says he’ll pull over and see what the problem is.  

Lucy takes Gladys’s phone out of her hand, and asks what exactly she’s trying to do. Brando and Sasha are adults, so even if Gladys finds the chapel they may be eloping at, she’s not going to stop their wedding. She can’t. So please, let them follow their hearts. Gladys says, easy for Lucy to say. She’s just Sasha’s business partner, and Sasha is on the verge of being Gladys’s daughter-in-law. Lucy says she really takes issue with that. First, Sasha is her friend, and secondly, Gladys would be damn lucky to have Sasha as a daughter-in-law. Gladys says she doesn’t disagree, and snatches her phone back. She says, if Sasha and Brando were getting married for the right reasons, she’d be all for it. But a few days ago, there was no mention of marriage. she’s afraid the reason they’re eloping is, they’re trying to hide from the pain of Liam’s death. She can’t let that happen.

Ryan says, his original plan to break up Ava and Nikolas came up short, and Esme says, if anything, it just made them closer. She knows he loves Ava, but she’s never going to care about him the way Esme does. He thanks her for pouring salt in his wound, and she asks, what’s Plan B? Don’t tell her that he doesn’t have one, because he always does. He says, she thinks she knows him, doesn’t she? and she says, just like he knows her. She brings a chair over and sits, and he says, she’s already completed the first step to insinuate herself into the family. He thinks they can use Spencer’s incarceration to their advantage, and she asks, how? He says, by making herself an even larger presence in their lives, and she says, Nikolas doesn’t trust her, and Ava openly dislikes her and doesn’t even try to hide it. He says, it’s easy to control a teenage boy, whose hormones are raging. Ava and Nikolas? She’s going to have to try harder. If they don’t like her, she’s got to make herself more likeable. She says she’s willing to try, but she thinks Nikolas already blames her for turning Spencer’s head. Ryan says he’s confident Nikolas will come around. You know what they say, like father like son.

Nikolas says, Victor is no one’s fool. He has to realize they have a motive for including him in their ceremony. Ava says, that’s why they have to stay one step ahead of him, and he says, just remember, Victor played King of the Mountain with Peter, and Victor is the one who survived. His mother is right; Victor is up to something. She says, let Victor give it his best shot. As long as they stick together, Victor can’t touch them. Don’t forget – she puts her hand on his – she has a long history dealing with people like Victor.

Maxie says she’ll help pick it up, and Victor says, don’t worry; he’s got this. Sam says, normally, she would help, but she doesn’t want to touch anything Peter’s touched. Never. Dante says, he knows the WSB was done with that and passed it on to Britt, but does she think he could take it down to the PCPD? They have some cases they need to wrap up that Peter was involved in. Maybe it could help them out. Britt asks if there’s something the WSB missed, and he says, no, but they’re looking for espionage, and looking forward to tying up Franco’s murder case. Britt says, the WSB released it to her – she takes it from Victor – so he’d have to talk to Anna Devane. He says he understands, but Anna gave it to Britt because she’s done with it, so would it be cool to pass it on to him? He’ll give it right back to her. They go inside, and Victor takes the tarot card out of his sleeve. Ha-ha! I love this guy.

Gladys gets up, and says, she’s got to stop them. She tells Lucy to have the bartender put the drinks on Carly’s tab, but Lucy jumps up, and says, no, no, no, no. Gladys seriously isn’t going to try and stop Sasha and Brando’s wedding? Gladys says she absolutely is, and Lucy says, please don’t. She’s not really sure they’re eloping, and besides, Niagara Falls is a beautiful place, a natural wonder. Hundreds of thousands of folks visit there every year, and they don’t get married. Gladys says, Brando didn’t return her calls. Something is up; a mother knows. Lucy says, please. Do not try stop the wedding. They’ll only end up resenting Gladys. Gladys says, these are two grief stricken parents. They probably shouldn’t commit to buying a car, much less spending their lives together. There has to be something she can do to stop them from doing something they’ll always regret. Gladys walks out, and Lucy makes a frustrated sound.

Brando closes the car hood, and Sasha asks, how bad? He says, they need a tow, and gets back in the car. He tells her that he already called for one, but they’re in the middle of nowhere; it might take a few hours. She says she should have known this plan was not going to happen. Now they’ll never get to the chapel before it closes. Maybe this is a sign. Maybe they were never meant to have a happy ending. He says he has a blanket in the trunk, and coffee in the thermos, and until help arrives, he’s sure they’ll find some way to keep warn. They kiss, and headlights brighten the car. Sasha says, it’s the tow truck. So much for it taking hours. He says, it looks like they’ll get to have their happy ending after all.

Maxie wheels Bailey’s stroller through the lounge area, and tells Britt, she’s settling down. So much excitement. Better get used to it, Baby Lu, because you mom is a magnet for trouble. Britt says, so is her Auntie Britt. She’s still not sure what happened on the terrace, but if it makes Victor pay for aiding and abetting Peter, it was worth it. Maxie says, well worth it.

Looking at the tarot card, Victor thanks Peter, and says, while Peter is rotting in hell, he’ll make good use of this. He puts it in his pocket.

Nikolas tells Ava, the best way to stay one step ahead of Victor, is by keeping him where they can see him. She says, and Spencer? and he says, when he comes home from Spring Ridge, absolutely, and that goes for Esme as well. But he can promise her one thing. No one will ever come between them. They kiss.

Esme tells Ryan that she needs to go. The orderly will be back any minute. She puts the chair back, and says, but there’s still something she doesn’t understand. Even if Ava leaves Nikolas, what then? Ryan is still a prisoner facing a life sentence. Where is all this leading? He says, leave that to him. Just do as he says and she’ll have her heart’s desire. Not just Spencer and his fortune, but the family she’s always longed for. She says, Ava isn’t her family, and he says, no, but she’s family to him. He gets up, and walks closer to Esme. He says, and what’s mine is yours – he strokes her hair – my beautiful, gifted daughter.

Tomorrow, Sasha says, if they don’t get married now, they never will; Diane tells Alexis to go out and get some fun; Anna tells Robert, one nightmare ends, and another one begins; and Nina tells Sonny that she’s suing for visitation.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Jen and Emily worked out on the beach, and started with squats. My workout nemesis continues to haunt me. Gina told herself not to miss the plane, as she drug her suitcase through the house, picking up a throw rug with it along the way. Noella’s mother Nancy was visiting, and Noella said she’d seen a charge for someplace James was at. She was tempted to go there with their son and ask if he remembered her. I’m your wife. Um… I’m guessing not for much longer.

Heather brought Max and Nick along on the trip, and they were stopping in Syracuse first to visit Heather’s alma mater. In Gina’s interview, she said, what was cool about flying private was that you didn’t have to follow the rules. You waited in a private lobby, and she didn’t know WTF happened to her luggage; they just handled it. Clearly, Heather knew how to travel in style.

When Jen and Emily finished their workout, they sat on the beach and talked. They were going to Shannon’s for a cooking class, and in Jen’s interview, she said she never cooked for the family, and thought Ryne would like it. She told Emily that she’d tried to make dinosaur chicken nuggets, and burned them. Emily asked if things were going better, but Jen wasn’t sure. She wanted it to work, but didn’t know how. She wondered if she should do what he wanted, which was to be an equal partner. Emily asked what she meant; finances, kids, or both. Jen said, owning things together. She’d bought the Hawaii house before they were married. She wondered if it would solve the problem. In Emily’s interview, she said, as an attorney, it sounded like Ryne was ready to leave, but would like some money on his way out. Which is exactly what it sounds like to me. It will solve his problem, and she’ll be left holding the bag. Jen thought they should live separately for a while, but go to counseling twice week as they’d been doing, and have a date night once a week. Emily said she was all about fixing it. After you got a divorce, you just traded one set of problems for another, dating d-bags with toupees who drive Lamborghinis.

Heather said she hadn’t been to Syracuse since she graduated, and it was weird being there with her children. She told Gina to get settled, and they’d go out; the kids were ordering room service. When they reconvened, they toasted to a college hangover. Heather said, back in the day, you could only get into Pagans (the bar they were going to)  if you had a good fake ID, or you were dating the bartender or bouncer. In Heather’s interview, she said she hadn’t been there in 31 years, and was being flooded with memories of shopping, eating, and getting fake IDs that were rejected; fun, silly, stupid sh*t. In Gina’s interview, she said she went to Hofstra in Long Island, but she didn’t do as well. She was a shot girl, but she did go to class. Heather told Gina that they were taking the kids on a tour of her college and sorority house. Then they’d change for her live podcast, and leave directly for Manhattan from the show. Gina told Heather that her brother had gone the educational route, and she went for family life. In her interview, she said she envisioned the same thing as every other woman at the time; go to college, marry her college boyfriend, and have children. Her life was very different from what she’d envisioned.

A student guide gave Max and Nick a campus tour, with Heather and Gina tagging along. In Heather’s interview, she said it was insane that her babies were about to go to college. She wasn’t sentimental about them following in her footsteps. She wanted them to create their own paths. When she was younger, she thought she’d be a Broadway star, and had studied musical theater, but no. She did an episode of Divorce Court (back when they did reenactments) and they flew her out to L.A. She was a working actress, but then met Terry, and the rest was history.

Shannon’s friend Lisa helped Shannon prepare for her cooking party. Noella, Jen, and Emily were coming, and in her interview, Shannon said she was surprised they didn’t know how to cook. When she prepared a dish for guests, she felt it came from the heart. And it made her feel good when people said it was good. We flashed back to some of Shannon’s cooking successes. When her guests arrived, she passed out chef coats and hairnets. In Emily’s interview, she said Shannon was having a party to teach them to cook, and made them look as ugly as possible. Shannon let them ditch the nets, and Lisa ditched the party. Shannon explained that she was going to teach them how to make a crockpot meal that was healthy and super easy. Then they’d make a real meal of grilled shrimp with tomato/fennel sauce. Ugh, fennel. She asked them to help with the crockpot white chili, and in her interview, Emily said she thought Shannon was going to cook, and she was going to eat. In Shannon’s interview, she said, class meant interaction. In Noella’s interview, she said, cooking was like a BJ. She could do it, but she just didn’t want to.  

Heather was introduced as a 1990 alumni, and did her podcast. She told the students that in high school, she had been a big fish in a little pond, and when she got there, everyone seemed secure. She folded in on herself, and gained a Freshman 30. Then she entered the Miss Syracuse pageant, and it was more than a tiara. It helped her think on her feet, and honed her interview skills. In her interview, Heather said she remembered she loved performing, and was a whole person again. In Gina’s interview, she said it was the first time she was seeing Heather in her element, and she was killing it. After the podcast, they got back on the plane, and headed to Manhattan.

Shannon asked if anyone had talked to Heather and Gina before they left, but no one had. Noella spit a shrimp into her napkin, saying it was raw. Everyone else said all theirs were cooked, and in Jen’s interview, she said she found it odd that Noella got the one shrimp that was raw, and Jen was the one who had cooked it. Liar. Shannon called Heather, and got voicemail. She told the women that she was declined, and Noella said, more like blocked.

Heather and Gina finally called on FaceTime, and Gina said it was a great trip. Heather said, love you, miss you, bye, and that was about it. Shannon brought up Emily saying she was jealous of Gina’s friendship with Heather, and said, nothing could be further from the truth. For what reason? The thought never crossed her mind. Gina needed to put pin in her inflated ego. Emily said, Gina deserved to be successful after she’d been through hell and back. In Shannon’s interview, she said she’d been there for Gina when she was going through that tough time, and we flashed back to that. Shannon was offended by the insinuation that she wasn’t capable of being a friend. This was bulsh*t. Emily perused Shannon’s playlist, and Jen told Shannon that she was leaving. She said she and Ryne had been talking about him moving out for a month, but Shannon said she didn’t think that was a good idea. Noella and Emily wondered what they were talking about, and Shannon said Jen was going through stuff. Emily said they were all going through stuff, and Shannon said it was moving out stuff. In Noella’s interview, she said they all had challenges in their marriages. It was supposed to be a sisterhood, but that wasn’t computing with Jen. In Jen’s interview, she said, grown women didn’t act this way, whispering in people’s ears, and putting people down. She was done with this sh*t. She left, and Emily and Noella shed most of their clothes, and jumped in the pool.

In Gina’s interview, she said Heather was eating so many carbs, dancing around in the streets like a wild woman, and heavily buzzed on champagne. Heather asked if Gina would rather be cooking at Shannon’s or here, and Gina said she had to ask? Really?

Shannon joined Emily and Noella in the pool, taking off her pants, but leaving on her chef coat and hat, and announcing she was Chef Shannon. Archie saw his ball in the pool, and jumped in. In Shannon’s interview, she said, who knew her cooking class would end up with people mostly naked in her pool with the dog?

The next morning, Shannon came downstairs to a pretty big mess. Noella called, and Shannon said her place was a crime scene. And three whole weed candies were gone. She wondered if she’d eaten one, but we saw some clips where it looked like Noella was the culprit. Noella said, it was crazy, and she needed the hair of the dog; there was no way she could function. Shannon told her, have a good hair of the dog day, then wondered, where to start?

Jen met with couples counselor Tina, who came to her house. Tina said it had been a challenging year, like Jen didn’t know. In Jen’s interview, she said she and Ryne had known Tina for a few years; they’d gone to her relationship boot camp. Jen said she’d do anything to make the marriage work except giving up the spotlight, and Tina said, even if Ryne wasn’t there, they could about what Jen could change to make life better for herself, her children, and she and Ryne as a couple. You couldn’t heal or change what you weren’t willing to reveal, and Jen had wounds she’d been carrying from when she was a child that hadn’t been resolved. She was rejected as an adolescent, and brought it to the relationship. She asked if Jen felt rejected by Ryne, and Jen said she did. Tina said, it was a pattern, and Jen wondered if she was putting out kindness, but it was being received as something else. She said she was hardest on herself, and Tina wondered if others didn’t pick up on that energy. Jen said Ryne thought she was criticizing him, but that wasn’t what she was doing. Tina said Jen had to take responsibility for knowing what triggered Ryne. Even if she didn’t mean to criticize, Ryne wasn’t being acknowledged when he wasn’t being respected by his standards, but hers. If she did that, Tina thought he’d see it was coming from a heartfelt place. Jen said she hoped so, and in her interview, she said she’d had a lot of loss and heartbreak. Losing Ryne would feel like losing her dad again, and she didn’t want to lose him.

Heather’s mom Carole, Aunt Barb and Uncle Tony joined them for dinner, as well as Gina’s parents Susan and Gene. They’d barely sat down, when Carole told the server, she didn’t want to be rude, but this was how you set a table, moving around the place setting. In Heather’s interview, she said her mother was very proper, and liked things a certain way. She was similar in decorum, but in other ways, they were vastly different. In Gina’s interview, she said, this explained a lot. Where Heather came from, and why she was the way she was. It was funny to see the difference between her parents and Heather’s mom. Her parents were, no substitutes? We’ll have whatever’s on the menu. We’d like a nice cab, but if you bring merlot, we’ll drink it anyway. Heather made a toast to family, and Barb said she was proud of Gina; she looked happy. Carole said Gina had been raised properly, with ethics and morals. Gina said she was a little rough around the edges, but Carole said, people didn’t have ethics today. Heather said, growing up, they had a schedule. If they were going out to dinner at a certain time, if no one was hungry, you were still going to dinner. She was the same way in that she liked to have a plan, but if someone didn’t want to go, they didn’t have to. Carole said, if someone threw up they didn’t go, and in her interview, Heather said she loved her mom very much. She’d done the best she could to be the best parent, but sometimes an emotionally sensitive person needed more. It was a lot to unpack. She’d need 12 hours of therapy… or 12 years. Heather said, if you locked your kids in a box, they’d explode once they got out. She’d had unrealistic curfews. Gina said she never had that.

Gina and Heather went for a drink in their hotel bar afterward, and Heather said it was tough for her mom since her dad died three years ago. Gina said it was still fresh, and Emily called, first showing a video of the pool escapade. Gina said, Shannon had no pants on, and Emily said she was having dinner with Shane. She was surprised she’d recovered from last night. Gina said again that Shannon had no pants on, and Emily said, tequila made you take your pants off. Gina said, when they’d called, it didn’t look like Emily was having the best time, and Emily said she might have been annoyed. Shannon brought up not being jealous of Gina and Heather’s friendship. Gina said when someone went over the top to prove they weren’t jealous, they probably were. Heather said, she doth protest too much, and Emily told Gina that Shannon said she needed to put a pin in it, like she had a big, inflated head. It was sad that Shannon couldn’t be happy for a friend, and thought Gina was arrogant when she was confident. In Gina’s interview, she said, sorry, she felt good about herself. Was Shannon the only one allowed to feel that way? If she was doing well and truly happy, she wouldn’t act like this. Emily told them that Shannon kept saying it was a competition, and wanted them to have more fun than Heather and Gina. Heather said Shannon had done that in Mexico, when she, Tamra, and Vicki said they were going to have more fun than the rest of them. We flashed back to the three of them getting wasted and jumping in the pool. In her interview, Heather said, if falling in the pool with your pants off makes you happy, she’s here for it. But what she didn’t like was the weird, competitive, having-more-fun-than-you thing. She didn’t know what to do with that.  

Next time, Gina asks if Jen ever pictures herself with someone else; Jen has a party, and says Ryne doesn’t have to come if there will be drama; Jeana comes to Jen’s party, and wonders if Kelly is there; and Shannon comes for Gina, calling her an a-hole.   

🧂 This Needs Salt…

The recap.

A little extra.

🐨 G’Night Mate…

Hope to see you tomorrow for a spot of tea and a bar of soap. Until then, stay safe, stay more focused on the inside than the outside, and stay knowing, you can’t heal or change what you’re not willing to reveal.

March 8, 2022 – Laura Puts Together a Small Army, Bill Makes an Exit, Forgetting That Awful House & Every

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Esme says she doesn’t know what’s sadder, that Josslyn taped her little spectacle to show to the world – Cameron says, they didn’t even know it existed – or that she can’t do a halfway decent job of blaming Esme. If Josslyn is so hellbent on blaming someone, don’t look at her, she wasn’t there. Why doesn’t she ask someone who was? She points, and they turn around to see Trina, who asks, what’s going on? Cameron says, what was supposed to be a private moment between him and Joss was filmed and made public. Josslyn says, there’s a video of her and Cam at the cabin, and it was just played in front of Professor Kahn’s class. Trina says she’s so sorry, and Esme says, is she though?

Harmony points at letters, and Ryan blinks. She says, he’s cold; she can get him a blanket. Doc comes in, and says, she’s Harmony, right? Harmony says she is, and he’s Ryan’s brother, Dr. Collins. She’s never seen him visit before. He says he limits contact with this brother whenever possible, and she asks what made him show up today. He says, primarily curiosity. He understands she’s Ryan’s primary caregiver. How would she assess his condition? She says, unchanged. He remains locked in, and communicates only by blinking. He says, so he’s heard, and says hello to Ryan, who doesn’t respond.

Maxie rolls the stroller to where Britt is sitting in the MetroCourt lounge, and says she hopes Britt doesn’t mind Bailey crashing their ladies lunch. Britt says, of course (🍷) she doesn’t. It’s about time she got to meet her niece. Maxie says, Baby Lu, this is your Auntie Britt, and Britt says she’s Bailey’s resident bad influence. She promises to send Bailey home all sticky and keep all her secrets. Bailey looks at Britt like she totally gets it, and Maxie says, speaking of secrets, can Britt forgive her for hers?

Laura sits with Sam and Drew, and says she think it’s their best shot at finding out what Victor’s agenda is. Sam agrees, and says, they just have to iron out the logistical issues. Drew says, Victor isn’t going to be easy to manipulate; their execution has to be flawless. Laura says, which is why they shouldn’t bring in any more people. Do they agree on that? The fewer people the better? They do, and there’s a knock at the door. Sam opens it to Dante, who says he was in the neighborhood and thought he’d drop by. He realizes she has company, and asks if he should he go back outside.

Ava lets Victor into Windymere, and says, what a surprise. He says he was hoping to share some tea with his nephew, and she asks if he’s talking literal tea or the gossip kind. He says, as fun as the second one would be, Darjeeling was more what he had in mind. She says, that can be arranged. Will she do, since Nikolas isn’t here? He says what he was hoping to discuss with his nephew, he could happily relay to his charming wife. It’s about Spencer. The poor boy is struggling, and he’s afraid she and Nikolas are making it worse.

Doc asks Harmony to tell him more about Ryan’s communication skills. She said he can blink out complex messages. She says, it depends on the caregiver. She and Ryan communicate pretty effectively with the letterboard, but it doesn’t go so well with the other staff. Nikolas comes in, and Samuel asks if he can help him. He says he’s there to see Spencer. Samuel knows who he is. His Uncle Victor hired him to look after Spencer, so why doesn’t Samuel go find his son? Samuel asks if Nikolas’s son wants to see him, and Spencer walks in.

Britt picks up Bailey, and says, there’s nothing to forgive, but Maxie says, Bailey is Britt’s family, and Maxie kept her hidden from Britt. Not that it was her intention. She was ready to have Britt deliver her. Britt asks how they could know Cyrus was going to try and kill her, and she’d end up on the run with Jason? Things happen; she understands. Maxie kept her beautiful niece safe, and now they’re both here. She’s proud of Maxie. Maxie thanks her, but says she hates the thought that Peter got his hands on Bailey at all. Britt says, it was ultimately Maxie’s quick thinking that saved her daughter, and Peter’s gone. They never have to worry about him again. Maxie says, but he didn’t take Bailey on his own. There’s another person out there responsible for taking Bailey, and they’re free as a bird right now.

Laura tells Dante, come in, and he asks what he’s walking in on. Laura says, a plot, and he says, sounds both illegal and dangerous. She says, it’s definitely risky, and the legality is kind of murky, so they’re calling this unofficial. Sam says, but necessary, and Laura says, it could be considered a matter of public safety, but it goes beyond her interest as mayor. She’s here as a mother and grandmother, and even thought the plan gives her pause, she’s committed to doing what must be done. Drew says, it sounds like she’s considering bringing Dante in, and Sam says they can trust him. Laura says she knows. Considering Dante’s position, she understands if he doesn’t want to help them, but she needs his discretion either way. He says, of course (🍷). He’s in. He trusts them, they trust him; what are they doing? Laura notices the time, and says she’ll let Sam and Drew fill Dante in on the details. Doc is waiting for her and she’s already late. Don’t anyone make a move without consulting her first. Drew says, they’ll reach out as soon as the plan gets solidified. Laura tells Dante, welcome aboard, and leaves. Dante says, the plan to do what? and Drew says, stop Victor Cassadine.

Victor tells Ava that he was visiting Spencer earlier today, and Spencer was devastated not to be able to visit his mother’s grave on the anniversary of her death. Ava asks if that’s now her fault, and Victor says, of course (🍷) it is; it’s entirely her fault. She brought charges. She says, Spencer stalked and terrorized her and her child, and Victor agrees it wasn’t Spencer’s finest hour, but he’s always felt they should keep family squabbles in-house. She says, what’s done is done; can’t change the past. He says he agrees, but you can change your future plans. She says, any plan in particular? and he says, now that she mentions it, he thinks she and Nikolas should rethink their vow renewal.

Doc says his brother appears unresponsive, and Harmony suggests he let her try. She asks if Ryan needs some eyedrops, and he blinks twice. She says, that’s a no, and Doc says, so his eyes aren’t dry. Ryan just has nothing to say to him. There’s no response, and Doc says, let’s keep it that way. He says goodbye to Harmony, and leaves.

Spencer tells Samuel, it’s okay, and Samuel steps away. Nikolas says he has to admit, he’s surprised Spencer agreed to see him. The last time he was there, Spencer told him not to come back. Spencer says Nikolas can thank his better angels for a change of heart; one angel in particular. Nikolas asks if this angel has a name.

Trina asks what Esme is trying to imply, and Esme says she’s just wondering. Is Trina sorry for Joss and Cam, or is she apologizing for something more? Trina says, like what? and Esme says, whoever recorded and emailed that video was in the cabin. Trina says, and Esme has the nerve to be pointing her crooked finger at her? and Cameron says, no one’s pointing fingers, but Josslyn says, she is. Right in Esme’s face. Esme says, once again, she and Spence left that night, but Trina probably doesn’t remember much. She was pretty out of it. Cameron says, there has to be an explanation for all of this, and Trina says, there is. Cameron and Josslyn were set up.

Britt says, Austin and her mom are convinced Victor Cassadine is involved, and Maxie says, yeah, but they can’t prove it. Britt says, yet. There’s no way her mother’s letting this go. Maxie says, Anna and Robert aren’t going to let go of it either, but she’s tired of looking over her shoulder and jumping at shadows. She just wants to relax, spend time with her kids, and with her precious baby girl. Britt holds Bailey, and asks how James and Georgie are feeling about their little sister. Maxie says, the bright spot in all this; they’re so in love. Britt says, as is Maxie, and Maxie says, it’s new. Anything is possible. She’s not going to rush things. Britt says she was referring to Bailey. Who is Maxie talking about?

Laura meets Doc at the MetroCourt, and he says he hopes her day was more productive than his. She says, that remains to be seen, and asks, what happened at Spring Ridge? He says, Ryan refused to communicate with him. He blinks messages that are understood by the caregivers and medical staff. In fact, he saw Ryan interact with his primary caregiver, but he absolutely refused to acknowledge Doc. Laura asks what that means, and he says, he’s not sure, but it makes him uneasy.

Spencer says, Uncle Victor urged him to be more receptive to Nikolas’s visits, despite his misgivings. Nikolas says, and Spencer listened to him, and Spencer asks why he wouldn’t; Victor listens to him. Believe it or not, Victor holds Nikolas in high esteem. Nikolas says he wouldn’t expect Victor to be his champion, and Spencer says, something else that might surprise Nikolas is, Victor’s never said a word against him. He always says family is what matters most, which is why it surprises Spencer that Nikolas never appears to give Victor the benefit of the doubt. Nikolas says his dealings with Victor is complicated, but he does agree with him on the importance of family. It’s why he’s here today, of all days. Spencer says, so he remembered, and Nikolas says, it’s been almost two decades since Nikolas lost his mother. It seems like it was yesterday. He regrets Spencer has lost so much in his young life, and Spencer says he’s lost Nikolas twice. Nikolas says Spencer hasn’t lost him; he’s lost Spencer.

Ava says, their vow renewal is none of Victor’s business, and he says, therein lies the problem. She and Nikolas want to live in their own private little bubble, and while that might be very romantic, he doesn’t think either one of them considered Spencer. It’s driven him to these sad, desperate acts to get his father’s love and attention. Ava says, Spencer wants to break them up, and Victor says, of course (🍷) he does. Why wouldn’t he? He has to watch the two of them so deeply in love to the exclusion of everyone else, including him. How does she think that makes him feel? She says, Spencer’s a young man; he’s not a child. And from what she’s seen, he should be less concerned about his father’s love, and more concerned about his own.

Trina says, only one person at that cabin was twisted enough to give a teddy bear with Ryan Chamberlain’s voice to an innocent child, and Josslyn says, or torch Ava’s car, leaving her murdered daughter’s hospital badge beneath it. Esme says, those were terrible mistakes, and Josslyn says, mistakes? Because Esme has regrets, or because she got caught? Trina says, and now everyone knows what kind of soulless person Esme really is, and Esme says, she messed up. She doesn’t know how many times she can apologize. She guesses forever, but suggesting she set up Joss and Cam is deflection. Trina says, when someone shows you who they are, believe them. Esme’s had trouble following her since she first set foot in Port Charles, and now she expects them to believe this disgusting stunt is somehow beneath her? Cameron says, let’s not do this right now, and Trina says she doesn’t want to do this at all. She’s sorry it’s making this harder on him and Joss, but Esme’s coming for her, and she’ll be damned if she doesn’t defend herself. Esme says, right. Trina’s not to blame here; she’s at fault.

Britt says, Austin? He and Maxie are a thing? Officially? Maxie says they’re officially trying it out, and Britt says she knew Austin liked Maxie, but after he pointed Bailey in Victor’s direction, his chances had dropped to none and never. Maxie says, Austin majorly messed up, but he apologized, and if you take into consideration how supportive he’s been, and how his quirky personality just cracks her up, she wants to see where it goes. Slowly. Super slowly. Britt says, after what happened with Peter, she’s proud of Maxie not rushing into things too fast. Very pragmatic. Maxie says her kids just got their mom back. She needs to settle in, and reestablish stability for them. Then there’s Deception. They’re coming up on the IPO, and she’s done nothing to contribute. So officially unofficial is the best she can do with Austin at the moment. What about Britt? Anyone new on the horizon? Britt says, same as always. Work keeps her busy. Maxie says, work always keeps her busy. What’s really preventing her from seeing someone?

Josslyn asks if Esme admits she’s behind this, and Esme says, in a manner of speaking. She pushed for the weekend getaway, and described it as a couples trip, which made Trina feel like an outsider. Then she asked those provocative questions during the drinking game. It was immature, petty, and she’s sorry. Had she known it would push Trina over the edge… Trina says, oh hell no, and moves forward. Cameron stops her, but Trina says, no. Not when Esme is talking all this trash about her. Esme says she had no idea Trina had issues with anger. She always seems so poised, but if Esme’s psychology class has taught her anything, it’s that sometimes people who seem so controlled, have an undercurrent of disfunction. Trina says, who the hell are you calling dysfunctional, you conniving bitch?

Nikolas says, he and Spencer both have a lot to answer for. They say, like father like son, and it seems accountability is something they both struggle with, but he’s sure of one thing. Spencer is the greatest gift of his life. He’d planned to tell Courtney that when he visited her grave. Spencer says, he visited mom’s grave? and Nikolas says he had some things he wanted to say to her. Spencer says, like what? and Nikolas says he wanted to apologize for failing Spencer, that Spencer would have been so much better off if his mother had lived. He wanted to ask for help. Spencer asks, what kind of help? and Nikolas says, help in being a better father to Spencer. He didn’t get to say any of it because Sonny was there, and in spite of everything going on with his own life, he was quick to point out the mistakes Nikolas made with Spencer. Spencer says, that sounds like Uncle Sonny, and Nikolas says he’s not Sonny’s biggest fan, but Sonny certainly cares about Spencer. So does he. Spencer says he knows, but what about Ava? Where does Nikolas’s wife fit into all this?

Harmony sits down with a book, and says she’s surprised Ryan chose Wuthering Heights, although she supposes it’s not a romance if you read the novel. It’s about the price of obsession, isn’t it?

Victor says he’s simply trying to promote family harmony, and Ava says, by criticizing her and Nikolas? He says, their desire to recommit themselves to each other is lovely. Actually, it’s inspiriting, but isn’t a vow renewal a chance to recommit themselves to melding their families together? How can they do that without including Spencer? Ava asks if he’s suggesting they call off the ceremony, but he says, no, of course (🍷) not, but it’s a family affair, and as such, surely they have to include the entire family. Ava says, she appreciates that sentiment, and don’t call her Shirley, but she and Nikolas want a drama free ceremony. It is, after all, still about them. Victor says, it is, but Nikolas and Spencer are in a very precarious position right now, and he’s sure she woudn’t want to widen the gap between them. He’s afraid a small, intimate ceremony would do just that. If it’s a matter of expense… She says, it is not, and he says, excellent. He gets up, and says, it’s all settled. She asks whatever gave him that impression. So please sit back down.

Dante says, Drew thinks Victor is after him? and Drew says, Victor tried to activate his conditioning a few days ago, and it didn’t work because he had the wrong tarot card, but it all fits. Victor was helping Peter because Peter promised Victor the means to control him. Dante says, to what end? He knows Drew has combat experience and skills; a lot of ex-military do. Why is Victor going through the trouble for Drew? Sam says, because he wants Drew’s memories, and Drew says, the theory is, Victor is going to activate his conditioning and order Drew to tell him something. Probably something from one of his classified ops when he was a SEAL, but it doesn’t matter, because Andre Maddox said those memories are gone; they cannot be accessed. Sam says, but Victor doesn’t know that, so they’re going to pick up where Peter left off, and let Victor think it’s still possible. Dante asks, how? and Drew says they’re going to supply Victor with the tarot card Peter never handed over. Sam says, and Victor is going to use it, and Drew says, whether Victor gives him an order or asks him a question, it doesn’t matter; they’ll find out what his objective is. Dante asks if Drew is sure he wants to put himself in such a vulnerable spot, and Drew says, absolutely. He wants Victor out of all of their lives for good. Dante asks how they get him the card, and Sam says, they’re still working on that one. Dante says, too bad they can’t just put it in an envelope and slip it under his door, and Sam says, that would be nice. She asks if Dante has any better ideas, and Drew says, in order for this to work, Victor’s got to believe he found the card himself. He wonders if Peter knew why Victor wanted to activate his conditioning, but Dante says, Peter’s dead. Sam says, Dante is a genius. She knows how they’re going to get the tarot card to Victor. Drew asks, how? and Sam says, Peter’s going to give it to him.

Esme says she had no idea that Trina was capable of hurting their friends, or she wouldn’t have provoked her. Josslyn asks if Esme is psycho or just stupid. She and Esme are not friends, and Josslyn wouldn’t spit on Esme if she was on fire. Esme says she’s sorry Josslyn feels that way, but Josslyn says, Esme’s not sorry for any of it. She’s probably actually enjoying herself, and why not? She obviously took a lot of trouble to set it up. Esme says, how dare Josslyn blame her for this; she’s not the one responsible. Cameron says, enough. Trina’s right, Esme is toxic. Get out. Esme says, fine. She’ll go. She hopes they both realize who their true friends are someday. She storms out, and Trina says, she swears, one more word, and she doesn’t know what she would have done. She asks if Josslyn is going to be okay, and Josslyn says, she just needs to pull herself together to leave this room. Trina says she doesn’t know who Esme thought she was fooling with that fake innocent act, and Josslyn says, she’s the absolute worst. How do they think it happened after Esme and Spencer left? Trina says, cameras have timers, and Josslyn asks if anyone saw Esme near their room. Cameron says he doesn’t know. He wasn’t watching her; he didn’t think he needed to. Trina says, sadly, she was out of it most of the night, and Josslyn says she wishes that night had never happened.

Britt asks if Maxie knows who she sounds like, and Maxie says, don’t say it, but Britt says, her mother. It’s a conspiracy, and during Women’s History Month no less, or doesn’t she care? Maxie says, of course (🍷) she cares. She’s the mother of two daughters. Britt says, then Maxie should know how important it is for women to blaze their own trails, reach their own goals, follow their own passion. History isn’t made by women desperate to be in a relationship; it’s made by women who see the bigger picture. Maxie says she’s all for blazing trails and following passions, but she thinks love can be part of the equation. When was the last time Britt went on a date? Britt says she’s had no time. She had to expose Cyrus. Maxie says, he’s been in prison for months, and Britt says, then she had to go to Greece and rescue her mother. Maxie says, she’s home, and in love with Scotty. Britt says, then the whole Peter thing… and Maxie says, that’s defunct, departed; next. Britt says she works a lot. Unless she dates a patient or another doctor, it’s slim pickings. Maxie asks if she’s thought of a matchmaking service, and Britt says, Maxie is working with her mother. Maxie says she just wants Britt to be happy, and Britt asks if anyone is really happy. Maxie says, that’s dark, very dark.

Doc asks how Laura’s meeting went, and she says, they have a plan in the works. All they really need is confirmation of what they suspect, that Victor had a hand in Luke’s death, and also in the abduction of Maxie’s baby. He also seems to have an interest in Drew. Doc asks if she thinks this plan could lead to Victor’s arrest, and she says, probably not. He’s got a real talent for evading justice, but right now she’d settle for getting him out of Port Charles; getting him away from Spencer and Nikolas. He asks if Ava is on board, and Laura says, she is. They’re putting together a small army; all eyes on Victor. All they need is to come up with the right bait, and then they can trip him up for good.

Victor says, as Ava wishes, and sits back down. He didn’t mean to jump the gun. She says she appreciates his concerns and takes them to heart, but if he expects her to unilaterally make a decision about their ceremony, he’s out of luck. She and Nikolas will decide what’s best together. He says, that’s the tragedy of us Cassadines. We’re either fiercely loyal or at each other’s throats, and never the twain. And that plays right into their enemies’ hands. She asks if he doesn’t think that’s a bit grandiose, and he says, maybe, but he’s been a Cassadine a lot longer than she has, and there are always those who wish to thwart them., to undermine their power, and feed off their disunity. Stavros, Mikkos, Helena, all tried and failed to unify them as a family, but he’s determined to change that. That’s why he’s been cultivating a relationship with his son Valentin, as well as working to end the rift between Nikolas and his son. That’s why he’s always there to help Nikolas in times of trouble. Ava flashes back to talking to Laura about getting Victor to lower his guard enough to confide in her. Victor says, he has big plans for this family, and he needs her help. She says, with what? What are these big plans?

Harmony says, if you go by pop culture, Heathcliff is the hero, but if you dive into the book, he’s vengeful and obsessive. Nikolas tells Spencer that Ava knows he’s here. She encouraged him to come, despite what Spencer’s done to her. She won’t not stand in the way of their relationship. Today was a painful reminder that Spencer’s already lost one parent; the other one is right here, hoping Spencer will give him a chance to make things right between them. What does he say? Can he find a way to put the past aside, and can they start fresh? Spencer says, Nikolas didn’t get to say what he wanted at Courtney’s grave, but he thinks she heard him now, and he feels she would want him to say – Esme walks in – yes. Esme says, this is the best thing she’s seen all day, or at least a close second. Nikolas says he’ll be back to visit next week. Maybe when Spencer is out, they can properly celebrate his birthday. Nikolas squeezes Spencer’s shoulder and leaves, and Esme says she didn’t mean to run him off. Spencer says, she heard him; he’ll be back. She says she’s glad, and he says he’s glad she’s back. It gives him a chance to make things right with her. He’s sorry he was so thoughtless about the loss of her parents. She says, it’s forgotten. She didn’t have the best relationship with her adoptive parents. Her grief is nothing compared to his. He never even got the opportunity to know his mother. He says he’s so grateful she understands, and he understands she’s sensitive where Trina is concerned. He won’t bring Trina up so much from now on. She says she’s not sensitive when it comes to Trina. She’s just on to her.

Victor says, the only plan that matters is Ava’s vow renewal, and she says, to be clear, she does know the value of family, and considers herself a Cassadine just as much as a Jerome. He says he didn’t mean to imply otherwise, and she says, if opening their special ceremony to the family will mark a new start, she’s all in, but only if Nikolas agrees. In perfect soap timing, Nikolas walks in, and says, agrees to what? Victor says, he and Nikolas’s lovely bride were having tea. Please do join them. They were discussing the possibility of opening their vow renewal to the entire family. Nikolas says he thought they decided on just the two of them, and Ava says, they had, but his uncle got her wondering if it’s the right way to go. Wasn’t she just saying earlier how important family is, and they’ve got to make an effort? They could start by inviting Spencer. He may not come, but they can extend the invitation. Victor says he’ll be glad to do his part in bringing the lad around, and Nikolas says, Victor does seem to have a lot of pull with his son. Victor asks if that’s a  problem, and Nikolas says, it worked in his favor today. He and Spencer are in a better place than they’ve ever been. Victor says he feels Nikolas is still uncomfortable with his and Spencer’s relationship, but Nikolas says, he has no issue in Victor getting to know Spencer. What worries him is what Spencer might discover about Victor. For instance, none of them initially knew Victor was in league with Peter. Is he hiding anything else? Victor says, certainly. If Nikolas is concerned he has an ulterior motive, he most certainly does.

Sam says, Peter had personal effects, items that were with him at the time of his death? And Dante says, they would have been collected off him; it’s standard procedure. Drew asks, who would have that stuff now? and Dante says, the WSB. Sam says, as evidence? and Dante says, at first, but then they would have gone through it, and passed it on to his next of kin. Drew says, Bailey, by way of Maxie, and Sam says, they have to make that known to Victor. Dante says, so Victor goes through Peter’s belongings, thinking the card he can use to control Drew is among them, and Drew says, he’s a genius. Sam says, they have to get access to Peter’s things, and plant the tarot card in there, and hope Victor finds it. Does Dante know anyone who would be able to help them? He says he might. He’ll make a call.

Doc asks if Laura has shared her suspicions with Tracy, but Laura says, no; she’s too much of a wild card. Anna is going to Austria, and she’s sure Anna will uncover the truth about Luke’s death. He says, so she has full confidence in Anna, and she says, absolutely. He says, but she still wants to go to Austria herself.

Spencer asks what Esme means by she’s on to Trina? and she says, every time she turns around, Trina is trying to get close to him. He says, this is what he was trying to avoid, and she says, don’t you dare try to tell me I’m making it up. She’s seen the stolen glances, Trina holding his hand at Kelly’s, the secret meeting at the gallery before he came here, and her Valentine’s Day present. He says, it wasn’t intended as a Valentine, and she says, he and Trina have an intimate relationship; they share secrets. He flashes back to meeting Trina in the cemetery, and says, they’re just friends. She says, Joss and Cam thought Trina was their friend until she recorded them having sex, and sent the footage to the entire PCU class, and Spencer asks when that happened. She says, just this morning. They were definitely not ready for prime time. He says, that’s insane. Poor Joss. She says, poor Joss accused her at first, until it became clear that her so-called bestie was the culprit. He says, Trina wouldn’t do something like that, and she says, the footage was taken at the cabin after they left. He asks what makes her think it was Trina, and she says, Trina was black out drunk, and in her feelings about being alone and unloved; it tracks. He says, the Trina he knows… and she tells him, that’s what she’s been saying. Maybe he doesn’t know Trina as well as he thinks.

Josslyn tells Cameron, she doesn’t mean she wishes the whole night had never happened, and he says, he knows what she meant. She says, her mind is going a thousand miles a minute. She doesn’t know how this happened. She feels like she’s in a nightmare. Trina says they’ll get to the bottom of this, she promises, and Cameron says, he’ll go to the dean. At least it was contained in the internal student PCU website. Trina’s phone dings, and Josslyn says, what? Trina says, somebody sent her a link to an X-rated website, and Josslyn asks, have we gone viral?

Laura tells Doc, she would like go to Austria with Anna if she could. She still feels a kind of loyalty to Luke. She’s sorry if it’s hard to hear. He takes her hand, and says, it’s not; it’s understandable. Of course (🍷) he’s concerned it might be dangerous, and he’ll miss her, but he’s not going to stand in her way. She says, that means the world to her, and he asks if she’s leaving right away, but she says she’s not leaving at all. She’s needed here. He says he could have told her that, and she says, not just as mayor; as a wife, as a mother, as a grandmother. They have a predator in Port Charles, and she’s not about to leave while it’s circling the nest.

Nikolas says, so Victor has an ulterior motive, and Victor says, yes, happily. As he told Ava, he intends to reunite this family, and if he can move the needle even a fraction toward a reconciliation between Nikolas and Spencer, he’s gratified. Nikolas says, as is he, and thanks Victor, but Victor says, no. He thanks Nikolas and Ava for reconsidering their plans for their vow renewal. He says, to their family celebration, and they clink teacups.

Dante gets off the phone, and Drew says, that didn’t sound good. Dante says, Peter’s belongings have already been delivered, and it’s too late to recall the messenger. Sam says she’ll reach out to Maxie and see what she can find. Dante says, it’s not Maxie. Peter stipulated a different executor for his estate.

A messenger asks Britt to sign and initial, and she asks who it’s from. He says, everything she needs to know is inside the box. She signs, the messenger leaves, and she opens the attached note. Maxie says, what is it? and Britt says, what’s left of Peter.

Cameron looks at his phone, and says he’s not clicking that. Josslyn asks what they do, and he says, damage control, but first, they’re getting the hell out of here. Let’s go. Trina tells Josslyn to go. They’ll talk later; she’s here for Josslyn. They leave, and Trina’s phone dings. It’s a text from Spencer that says: Heard about the video. Are u ok?

Esme tells Spencer that she’s glad they left the cabin early. They could have been victims of Trina, amateur pornographer. Samuel tells Spencer, it’s time for routine room checks, and Spencer says, these take a while. Esme sees Ryan, and says, don’t worry; she’ll be here. Spencer leaves, and Harmony tells Ryan, that’s it for today. She’ll order him some nutrition before she finishes her shift. She asks if he’s warm enough, and he blinks once.

Harmony leaves, and Esme approaches Ryan. She asks if Ryan needs something. She can get an orderly. He seems distressed. Through clenched teeth, barely moving his mouth, he says, what they hell are you doing?

Tomorrow, Sasha asks if Brando has changed his mind about getting married; Sam tells Dante, there might be a problem with the plan; Drew tells Victor that his timing couldn’t be better; and Maxie tells Britt, don’t do that.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Teresa bitched to Luis that the women were coming for her. They were always right, and she was always wrong. She didn’t want to fight with her family. Back at the house, Traci told the others, all she said was Teresa should be more vocal in supporting her brother. In Teresa’s interview, she said, Traci didn’t know her or what goes on in her family. She needed to step away. Joe #2 and Melissa followed Teresa and Luis down to the dock, and Joe said, sometimes he wanted a sister. Jennifer had called him a crook when he works like a dog. If someone had said the same about Teresa, he’d defend her. Jennifer was evil. Teresa said she didn’t think Jennifer was a bad person, and in Joe’s interview, he said this was coming from the woman yelled at Marge for asking questions. In Melissa’s interview, she said it was ripping the family apart, and Teresa didn’t get it. It was the usual ridiculous amount of hypocrisy. She was done. Joe said Teresa should have his back; that’s what brothers and sisters did. Back at the house, the party continued on, with pictures taken, food consumed, and lots of pinkness. Teresa and Luis came back, and Teresa told Tracy that she didn’t want to fight, but Tracy said, Joe was Teresa’s brother, and she should stand up for him. Teresa said when Marge brought up the video, Joe didn’t say anything, and Tracy said that was a different thing; Teresa’s friends were concerned. Teresa said she’d never seen the video, and in her interview, she said, she never watched it because she didn’t care, and Gia had never seen it either. In Marge’s interview, Marge said Teresa was full of sh*t. She didn’t believe Teresa and Gia hadn’t seen it, or Teresa wouldn’t be so upset. Teresa said they should respect it if she didn’t want to talk about something. She brought up Marge outing Bill on his affair, and Marge said, for years Jennifer had been saying horrible things about her. Everybody had an issue with Jennifer, and she’d pushed it to the limit.

At Jennifer’s house, it wasn’t so pink, and the kids played in the pool. Jennifer said they’d have their own pink party and family night, but in her interview, she said she was mad at Bill for not defending her. She was tired of putting on a brave face for the children, and pretending everything was okay when it was clearly not. Back in Pinkworld, Tiki was wondering what had happened, and Joe #2 said he loved Bill, but Jennifer put her hands on his wife, and Bill didn’t want to get involved. In Joe’s interview, he said, Jennifer had called him a crook, and kicked him out of their house. He and Bill were supposed to be friends. We saw some clips of good times with the guys, and Joe told them, that’s what the wolf pack is. Frank said, no matter what happened with the wives, they don’t let anything come between them. They called Luis over to join them in doing a shot. Melissa told Jackie that she loved them hanging out together. It was too bad Jennifer took Bill away.

Marge and Marge Sr. went out to lunch, and in Marge’s interview, she said,  two weeks into the pandemic, Marge Sr. landed a gig with a wine distributor. Wine was essential to life as far as Marge Sr. was concerned. Marge wondered how they were going to find Marge Sr. a man. She was opinionated and it scared people. Marge Sr. said, and Marge wasn’t opinionated? and Marge said, rumor had it, she could be.

Teresa took Gia to Asbury Park, not far from where I live. Asbury Park was really cool, started going downhill, was a nightmare, and now it’s cool again. She and Gia had some ice cream, and talked about Gia’s first year anniversary with boyfriend Christian coming up. Gia said she wanted to take a helicopter ride around the city, and Teresa asked if Gia liked Luis, and Gia thought he and Teresa were moving too fast. In Gia’s interview, she said, when you were in the honeymoon stage, it was easy to just see the good.

Marge told Marge Sr., on the surface, Luis seemed great, but she heard things. We saw headlines about Luis facing a lawsuit for abuse, and having a playboy past. Marge said, it was hearsay, but Luis’s ex-fiancé implied he’d hit her in front of her kids. Teresa told Gia that she didn’t care what people thought. Marge brought up Luis’s past, but all she cared about were her children, Luis, and his children. Marge Sr. said she hoped it worked out for Teresa, and Marge said, her too.

Dolores’s mother Valerie and father Larry visited her townhouse, and she gave them the tour. She told them that she was up in the air about how long she’d be there. The house renovation fell behind because of covid, and now she felt afraid to leave. She’d never felt so peaceful. She  loved the house where her kids grew up, but it also held some painful memories. Apparently, Frank had exhibited quite a bit of rage back in the day, and in Dolores’s interview, she said, she used to cry to her mother, but there were a lot of things she didn’t tell her dad. He’d been a cop, and would probably have wanted to strangle Frank. Thank God he’d cheated. She didn’t know if the yelling, screaming, and breaking things would have been enough for her to break up with him. She told her parents that Frank was moving back in, and we flashed back to the rule setting dinner. Then she reluctantly told them about breaking up with David, and there was a bit of a silence, broken by Larry saying, oh boy. It had been five years. Dolores said she went on vacations and to events by herself. David didn’t want a life outside of work. Larry said David was like his own, and Valerie said, they didn’t come better, but Dolores had the right to expect more. Dolores said she didn’t want life to pass her by, and Valerie said, Dolores had gone through a lot and survived.

Melissa went to the new property with Joe #2, and in her interview, she said they looked for a great property with a house to knock down. Even though it didn’t look like much now, it would have six bedrooms, and the kitchen would be bigger than the one she had. Joe showed her the plans, and they went out on the back porch where there was a humongous beehive. Melissa screeched and squealed, and flew off the porch. She noticed a broken window, and Joe said he’d broken it since she’d had the keys. He broke another one, and she was like, WTF? but he said they’d have to be broken anyway. She wanted to take a shot, but her rock just bounced off. She said it was hard to believe it was going to go from this to a big beautiful house. She loved her house, but was ready for a change. In Joe’s interview, he said that they’d been going through a rough time – we flashed back to that – and Melissa wanted to move. He loved the house, but changes in life kept it fresh. He was taking his time with building, and Melissa had designed it. They were having fun, and it was going to be like a new chapter.

Jennifer had a kickboxing instructor coming to the house for a session with her and Gabby. In Jennifer’s interview, she said she wasn’t big on working out, but her family decided to change to a healthier diet. It would fun to do something together that was also teaching them a healthy lifestyle change. Dolores was going to join them. She said her mother was extending her trip in Turkey, which didn’t thrill Olivia, but when Olivia was gone, Jennifer told Gabby that she was in no rush for grandma to get back. She was going to have a lot to tell her. In her interview, Jennifer said, they’d decided to tell Gabby about Bill’s affair, and wanted her to know they were in a place where they could talk about it, and everything was going to be okay. Her mother wouldn’t think Bill was the culprit, since she thought, men will be men, but she was going to be mad at Marge for bringing it to light. She told Gabby that grandma would want her to have revenge, and Gabby said, but it was ten years ago. The instructor arrived, and Jennifer told Gabby that she and dad were good. They were going to get through this. I want to like her, but she is really awful.

Dolores came shortly afterward, and they started with squats. Ugh. I hate squats. They used the heavy bag and the instructor sparred with them, and in Jennifer’s interview, she said she thought it was a great idea. It was releasing a lot of tension. She just pictured Marge as a  punching bag, and got some good jabs in there. The instructor said they looked fantastic and did well, and Dolores said she’d take it over a therapist. When the instructor left, Dolores told Jennifer that an abnormality had been discovered when her mother took a stress test. She was going to need an angioplasty. Jennifer asked about David, and Dolores said they’d talked every day when they were going out, and when she texted, saying they hadn’t talked in a while, he said he thought there was nothing left to say. He was still in contact with the kids, and was hanging out with everyone but her. She was avoiding him by not going to the hospital, but she’d also wanted to talk to Jennifer. Jennifer said she’d been hoping she and Melissa would get to a better place, but Melissa got confrontational. And thanks to Marge, Jennifer had to tell everyone about Bill cheating. In Dolores’s interview, she said, Frank cheated on her when she was pregnant with Frankie, and she’d felt shame, wondering if she wasn’t good enough. Jennifer told Dolores, Joe #2 said he loved Bill, but couldn’t stand his wife, and Bill was a p*ssy, not saying a word all night. For ten years, she’d put him on a pedestal. If she saw Bill was being ganged up on, she’d say, if you disrespect him, you disrespect me. He betrayed her once, and was doing it again. Dolores asked if Jennifer was still mad about the affair, and Jennifer said, at this point, she was numb. She dealt with it the only way she knew how, and thought if she forgave Bill, they should never talk about it again. Maybe she hadn’t gotten over it. Dolores said Jennifer’s Cinderella dream was thrown off a cliff. She might still be angry. Jennifer wondered, since she’d decided to move on at the time, was it okay to change her mind? Dolores said, Bill was a reasonable guy, and if Jennifer needed to deal with it, speaking to him might be cathartic. Dolores’s brother called, and told her that Valerie had a 90% blockage. A triple bypass had been scheduled. Dolores told Jennifer that her family was crumbling.

The guys got ready for their night out, and Marge picked out a shirt for Joe #3, which her teeny tiny pup immediately took up residence on. She told him to wear extra cologne. Teresa asked if Luis was looking forward to it, and he said he was nervous. Teresa said she was staying out of the Bill thing, since she didn’t want Joe #2 to think she was taking sides. Bill told Jennifer that obviously, Joe #2 brought the girl drama. Even told Jackie that he didn’t hold Bill responsible for Jennifer’s behavior, and Jackie said she hoped he could admit what his wife did was terrible. The guys met at a restaurant, where Frank ordered an appletini, and Joe #3 said, Frank could crush apples with his biceps. Tiki asked Joe #2 what was up with Luis, and Joe said, supposedly he’d smacked around his ex in front of her kids. He didn’t know what to believe. In Joe #2’s interview, he said, what if the rumors were true, and he’d given Luis the benefit of the doubt? Joe #3 said, when there were witnesses, that was bad. Teresa was in love and it was making her blind. Tiki thought Joe #2 needed to have a conversation with Luis, and wondered if Bill was coming. Frank said, Bill hadn’t responded to the group text, but Joe #2 had responded with, f*** you, Bill. Tiki said, the last thing dude needed was for his ass to be kicked again when he was going through this.

Bill showed up, and said he hadn’t been sure if Joe #2 was joking with the text. He’d thought they were cool, but a night like that changes a lot. He tried not to get involved in the women’s drama. Joe #2 said, Bill’s wife was out of control. What she’d said was dirty and disgusting, and she’d crossed the line. Bill asked if Marge didn’t cross the line. She’d done some digging, but Jennifer hadn’t. Evan said, oh yes she did. She was always trying to find stuff to hurt people. She was not a good person. Bill said he was done, and left. Evan said, bye. See ya.

To be continued…

🏖 Summer House is so awful, I’d literally wiped watching it from my mind immediately, and forgot to include it yesterday. Here are the highlights.

Carl wished Kyle would read the room sometimes. Good luck with that. Paige thought it was rude to go on a date with Adrian while she was talking to Craig, but didn’t know where she and Craig were at. Paige thought it was loser-ish to ask a guy where you were in a relationship, but Paige asked anyway. Craig told Paige that he felt saying they were exclusive at that moment might be too much pressure on him. Austen came to the house, and Ciara told him that she didn’t want Lindsay in his room, which Lindsay reacted to by spitting fire. Then Ciara made out with Austen at the bar to cinch the deal.

Carl invited new main squeeze McKenzie to Lindsay’s princess fairytale birthday party. Just in case you’re confused, no, she wasn’t turning 12; she was turning 35. It was McKenzie’s first time in the Hamptons, so double good luck with that for her in the house. The party décor was pretty impressive, and I loved the costumes, but it still seemed weird. Like, call it a Game of Thrones party or something. Kyle humped the unicorn floatie, proving once again that he shouldn’t drink, and McKenzie told Carl, it was hard to believe Amanda would be with that forever. She was the luckiest girl alive.

This season, Craig wants to introduce Paige to his parents; lots of drinking; Carl and Lindsay hook up; Amanda and Kyle argue about a prenup; lots of fighting, more drinking, and throwing things. In other words, it continues to be just as awful. Maybe Jennifer should move in.

🌉 Once More Unto the Breach…

Drop in tomorrow for a dash of soap and OC happenings. Until then, stay safe, stay viewing your cup as half full, and stay believing someone if they show you who they are.

March 4, 2022 – Sam Suggests Setting a Trap, New Old Faces, Kindest Cut, Vile, Fake, Past Sins, Possible Exit, Yuck, New Amityville, World Changer, SAG Fashion, Mardi This Gras, a Half Dozen Quotes & Give

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha wakes up and Brando brings her coffee in bed, because no one on TV ever has to go to the bathroom first thing like IRL. She asks if she overslept, but he says, there’s no such thing on vacation. She can go back to sleep if she wants. She says, thanks, but she needs to wake up. She takes a sip, and says, good. He tells her that making coffee is one of his many skills, and she says, the others being? He says they have an entire vacation for her to find out. She says she can’t wait, and he says, they have a lot to celebrate. Maxie is finally home safe, and Peter August is gone, and they can just spend time together. Just the two of them. This is exactly what they both need. They kiss.

Trina puts her stuff in her bag, as Professor Kahn tells the students to read chapter 8 and be ready to discuss. The professor asks Trina for a moment of her time. She seemed pretty silent in class; is everything all right? It’s not like her. Trina says there’s been a lot on her mind, and Kahn says she knows freshman year can be overwhelming, but Trina seems to be handling it well. She’s one of the few A students this year. Trina thanks her, and the professor tells her to remember class participation is a third of her grade, and she’d hate to see Trina get lost in the shuffle.

In the hallway, Josslyn thanks Cameron for walking her to class. She knows he has a lot going on at home. He says he’s sorry he can’t be there for her, and asks if things are still weird between her and Trina. Josslyn says, they’re roommates and they barely see each other. A lot of that’s on her, between team meetings and practice she’s really busy, but Trina only comes back to the room to sleep. She’s not returning any of Josslyn’s texts or calls. He says, things have been weird since the cabin with Esme and Spencer, and she says, they’ve only gotten worse since, and it’s all thanks to Esme.

At Spring Ridge, Esme looks at her phone, and flashes back to her plot to film Josslyn and Cameron having sex in the cabin. Spencer throws The Brothers Karamazov on the table, when Esme comes up behind him. She kisses him, and says, happy belated birthday. He asks if she’s crazy; she’s going to get him in trouble. She tells him, lighten up, boyfriend. She knows he spent his birthday alone; the kiss was her present. He says, if the wrong guard sees her, it blows back on him. She says she’s sorry to bother him. He’s lucky, she’s leaving. Class calls. He says, see you around, and she says, someone woke up on the wrong side of the prison cot this morning. What’s with the mood?

Sam sees Carly at the MetroCourt bar, and says she guesses their day of hatchet throwing didn’t cheer her up. Carly says, it did. Sam and Olivia were right; she definitely needed to blow off some steam. She’s just sad today. She’s been thinking about Courtney. She shows Sam a picture of Courtney on her phone, and says, today’s the anniversary of her death.

Sonny leaves flowers at Courtney’s grave, and says, it’s hard to believe how much time has passed since she left them. Her son is a full-grown man, getting himself in trouble. He couldn’t make it last year because… He’s sure she knows what happened. He likes to think she’s always watching out for him. He just wants to let her know that he’s thinking about her, and she’s still in his heart. Nikolas walks into the cemetery, and says, his too.

Victor greets Ava with a double cheek kiss at the MetroCourt, and she says it’s good to see him. Nikolas is meeting her for brunch. If he’d like to join them, that’s fine. He says, unfortunately, he can’t stay; he has some business to attend to. She says, he’s been keeping himself scarce since Valentine’s Day, and Laura approaches, and says, keeping a low profile? Trying to avoid being implicated in an ongoing investigation? That sounds right, doesn’t it?

As they walk out of Kelly’s, Anna thanks Drew for meeting her. She didn’t realize it was going to be so cold, and he says, too bad they weren’t in Port Charles during the heat wave. She says she just wanted to speak to him in private. He says, her message sounded pretty urgent; what’s going on? She says she has this feeling they’re headed for danger, and at the center of it all is Victor… and Drew.

Sonny says he didn’t expect to see Nikolas here, and Nikolas says, Courtney was important to him too. He loved her. Sonny asks if it was worth Nikolas breaking up his marriage to Emily for an affair. He’s just curious. Nikolas says, he loved Courtney, and he was going to marry her, and Sonny asks if Nikolas thinks they’d still be together if Courtney was alive. Nikolas says he thinks so, but the truth is, he doesn’t know. Sonny says, at least he’s honest, and Nikolas says, he does know this though. Courtney is always going to be the mother of his son; nothing is going to change that. Just like Carly is always going to be the mother of Sonny’s children.

Carly says, the MetroCourt was named after Courtney, and Sam says she knows. Carly says, she and Courtney were close, and with Jax out of town, Spencer and Josslyn on the outs, and her impending divorce to Sonny, she feels like all her connections to Courtney are slipping away. And Sam doesn’t need to hear this. Sam says, it’s true she and Courtney weren’t the best of friends, but had she lived, they might have been friends. If she and Elizabeth can be friends, anything is possible. Carly says, hell sure did freeze over there, and Sam says, who knows? Maybe she and Courtney would have been able to bury the hatchet. Carly says, or throw the hatchet at a wall, not at each other.

Victor tells Laura, he’s sorry, but he has no idea what she’s referring to. Laura flashes back to telling Sam that she doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that Victor resurfaced at the same time Luke died and the Ice Princess was stolen; it’s all connected, and Victor was behind it. She tells Victor, there have been a lot of suspicious activities in Port Charles recently, and he asks if this is her way of accusing him of helping Peter escape. If so, he categorically denies having anything to do with it. Peter August was a blight on this city, and all of them are better off without him. Laura says, he can deny it all he wants, but if he was involved, there will be a way to prove it. He says he’ll take that as his cue to leave, and tells Ava, a pleasure as always, kissing her hand. He says, Madam Mayor, and leaves. Ava says, well, that was fun. Does Laura want to tell her what’s going on between her and Victor?

Drew says he’s been working under the same assumption, that Victor is dangerous, and his agenda did not die with Peter. How did Anna get that? Anna says, Liesl bugged Victor, and overheard a conversation he had with Drew and Sam. He says, at the docks, and she says, yeah. He says, he and Sam were convinced Victor was trying to reactivate his old conditioning, and Anna says, exactly. He asks if Valentin knows about this; did Anna mention this to him? Because they shared a cell in Greece for a little bit, and he seemed to have such solid insights into Victor. She says, Valentin’s out of commission right now. He was abducted right before Peter escaped. He turned up in an alley, he was drugged, disoriented, and still recovering from the gunshot wound in Crete. He’s at a clinic out of town, but he’s making progress. He’ll be home soon. Drew asks her to give Valentin his regards when she talks to him, and she says, her wish is, that they expose Victor for whatever his crimes are before Valentin comes home. Drew says, that’s a tall order; they’re going to have to move very quickly. She says she just feels that Victor is going to exploit the father/son relationship, and manipulate Valentin, the same way he’s coopting the rest of his family.

Spencer says, sorry. He didn’t mean to take his anger out on Esme. Forgive him. She says she gets it. Spring Ridge might be minimum security, but it’s still a prison, and he’s still incarcerated. He says, it’s more than that, and starts to cry. Today is the anniversary of his mother’s death. She sits next to him, and takes his hand, and he says, even though he never knew her, he still feels they have a connection. Every year, he made sure there were flowers on her grave, and he’s never missed a year. Until now. She says, his mother understands, but he says, it’s not about her understanding. It’s about letting the world know that he remembers her, because his mother lives on as long as he keeps up these little traditions. When he was talking to Trina about how she felt when she thought her father had died, he thought she felt the same way.

Josslyn says she hates that there’s tension between her and Trina. All she did was call Esme out for playing mind games with her. Cameron says he’s sure Josslyn was very nice and polite, and she says, her mother taught her, you can’t just ignore an Esme and hope they go away. They’re like sharks looking for blood, so the best way to deal with them is to punch them in the nose, and hope they retreat. He says he thinks the expression is to bop them on the nose, and she says that’s not how she does it. Trina walks out of the classroom, and Josslyn asks, how brutal was Kahn’s class? Trina says, there’s lots of participation required today, so be prepared to be called on more than usual. She starts to leave, and Josslyn asks her to wait. She asks if Trina is still mad at her for what she said to Esme the other day.

Esme says, that’s a beautiful sentiment, but Spencer doesn’t need to keep his mother’s memory alive on the anniversary of her passing. He can get flowers for her when he gets out, which won’t be that long. He says, true, and she says, he was in boarding school for years. What did he do during those times? He says Alfred and Ross left flowers on her grave for him, and she says, there you go; you can do that again. Or, she’d be more than honored to leave flowers for his mother. He says, that’s not the point. The point is, he’s finally here in Port Charles, and – he gets louder – he should be able to do this for her, but he can’t, because of the choices… he made. She says she was involved too, and he says, but she doesn’t understand. She says, but Trina would.

Brando and Sasha kiss, and he says, it’s too bad they spent most of the night talking. She says, he could have made a move, and he says he was waiting for a signal from her. He didn’t want to pressure her. She asks if anyone’s ever told him what a great guy he is, and he says, a great guy? That’s something you tell someone you want to put in the friendzone. She says she’s missed him, and he says he’s missed her; he missed them. They kiss some more, and she asks if they have plans in town. He says they have lunch reservations, tickets to Maid of the Mist, or they could just hang out here. They get busy.

Sonny says, he and Carly might not be together, but she’s still a great mother to Michael, Josslyn, Donna, and Avery. Nikolas says, Ava’s Avery’s mother, not Carly, and Sonny says, he’s not here to argue with Nikolas, especially in front of his sister’s grave. He’s just saying she would have been an amazing mother to Spencer if she had lived. Nikolas says, Courtney had a kind soul and the patience of a saint, and Sonny says he would have loved for Spencer to get to know her. Nikolas says, she would have been a good influence on him. She might have even negated the mistakes he made while raising him. You can say he did the best he could raising Spencer… Sonny says he wishes he could, if he believed it, but he’s not going to lie.

Trina says she’s not mad at Josslyn, and Josslyn says, just too busy to respond to her calls or texts? Trina says, maybe she’s a little annoyed. Josslyn made her collateral damage when she got all up in Esme’s face, and Josslyn says, come on. Trina knows that apology was as fake as Esme is. All she did was call Esme out on it. Trina says, and told her something Trina told Josslyn in confidence, and Josslyn says she told Trina that she was sorry for that, but obviously Trina doesn’t believe her. Trina says she just needs a little time to process. Josslyn put her in the middle of her war with Esme. Josslyn says, but Esme wasn’t coming for her; she was coming for Trina. The whole thing was a set-up, start to finish. Esme texts Trina saying she wants to meet up, shows up to apologize, so she can do some saccharine speech about how she made a mistake and wants to be friends. Josslyn admits she lost her temper, and the thing about Spencer giving Trina that book just slipped out. Cameron says, Spencer gave Trina a book? and Trina says, he asked his grandmother to give it to her, and she happened to get it on Valentine’s Day, but it wasn’t a Valentine’s Day gift; it was just a gift. And what part of in confidence does Josslyn not understand? Josslyn says, Cam cares about Trina, unlike Esme. She’s sorry for betraying Trina’s trust, but she’s not going to apologize for defending her friend.

Esme says, so only Trina understands what it’s like for Spencer to lose his mother? She gets up, and he follows. She says, Trina hasn’t experienced real loss. Her father isn’t even dead. He says he’s sorry; it was a stupid thing to say. It’s just that Esme never really talks about her parents. She says she doesn’t like talking about them, and he says he gets it, and he forgets sometimes. (How much you want to bet she ax-murdered them?) He promises to do better; it’s not going to happen again. She asks what about the gift he gave Trina? and he says he gets all his friends thank you gifts. It’s a lot easier than sending handwritten cards. She says, and it’s just a coincidence that his grandmother just happens to give Trina his gift on Valentine’s Day, and he says she has to believe him. Victor walks in, and says, apologies for not visiting Spencer on his birthday… He’s sorry. Would Spencer like him to come back another time?

Laura asks what Ava thinks is going on, and Ava says she thinks Victor helped Peter escape from that prison van, the one that was taking him to Pentenville, and she thinks Victor helped smuggle him out of the country, and she thinks Laura thinks the same thing. Laura asks if it matters now. Peter’s dead. Ava says, but this isn’t about Peter really, is it? It’s about Laura’s Uncle Victor, and for her it’s very, very personal. Laura laughs and says, Ava can think whatever she likes. Actually, she came to meet Sam. Ava asks if Laura doesn’t trust her, and Laura says she was watching Ava with Victor, and it looked kind of close. Ava says, keep your enemies closer and all that. She trusts Victor as much as Laura does.

Drew says, Victor coopting his family is one thing, but what use does Victor have for him? Anna says, the working theory is that Peter was stringing Victor along, and Drew says, right. Peter was going to give Victor the means to activate his conditioning, but he still doesn’t understand it. Why? What use does he have for an ex-Navy SEAL to do his dirty work. He’s got plenty of ex-military on his payroll. She asks if he doesn’t think it’s possible Victor believes he knows something, or rather that he did?

Laura says, she thinks Victor is planning something that could spell trouble for all of them, and Ava says, he has made some cryptic comments about his plans. Laura says, and now, Spencer just idolizes his great-uncle, and it seems like Nikolas warmed up to him too. So she feels like she can’t say anything negative because they both defended him, and that would just drive them closer to Victor. Ava says she knows Nikolas has his guard up, but Laura is right; she thinks Victor is making some progress there, and Spencer is already firmly in Victor’s camp. Laura says, but Ava is smarter than that.

Nikolas says, he walked right into that one, and Sonny says, Nikolas has made a lot of mistakes; mistakes that have changed Spencer’s life and shaped his character. He can’t change that. Nikolas asks what Sonny wants him to do; own up to his decisions and his past? Sonny says, that would be a start, wouldn’t it? Move forward with the people he loves. Don’t run away from his mistakes. Because when you do that, it makes your pain worse.

Sam say she guesses they’re all starting new chapters, and Carly says, things are going good with her and Dante? Sam says she doesn’t want to jinx it, but things are going great. Carly says, what about Drew? and Sam says, that’s definitely over. They just realized they were better off as co-parents, and friends. Why does she ask? Carly says, he’s been very supportive with everything she’s been going through with Sonny and the divorce. She’s trying to look out for him the way he’s looking out for her.

Ava says she’s listening, and Laura says, Victor is trying to make nice with Nikolas, and he’s going to do the same with Ava. Ava says, he’s already trying pretty damn hard, and Laura says, good; let him. Get him to lower his guard so much with her, that he might even confide in her. Ava says, and if he says something incriminating, Laura would like it passed on to her? Laura says, if she likes, and Ava says she’s guessing Laura doesn’t want her to tell her husband about this arrangement. Laura says, they dealt with that situation with Ryan together. She wouldn’t ask for Ava’s help if it wasn’t something serious. Ava says she’s sure she’ll know if Victor says something relevant, and Laura says, she’s sure Ava will. Laura has every confidence in her. She thanks Ava, and leaves.

Carly says she was ready to lose her mind, then she walked in on Sonny and Nina at the Haunted Star. She ran into Drew right after, and he let her vent. He didn’t try to fix her, and he didn’t try to stop her, or make it better. He just let her talk. Laura joins them, telling Sam that she’s sorry she’s late. She got a little sidetracked. She says hi to Carly, and Sam says, not a problem. Sam tells Carly that it was nice talking to her, and Carly says, her too. Carly leaves, and Sam asks, what was so important Laura couldn’t talk to her on the phone about it? Laura says, it is about Victor’s associate, and Sam says, Yohan? Laura says, new details have come to light, and she thought Sam should know about them, considering it involves Drew.

Esme tells Victor, as always a pleasure. She’d like to stay and chat, but she has to bounce. Class calls. She says goodbye to Spencer, and leaves. In the hallway, she takes out her phone, looks at the video, and says,  time to get this done.

Victor asks what all that was about, and Spencer says, his fault. He took his frustration out about being stuck in here on Esme, and she didn’t deserve it. Victor says he takes after his grandfather. He always had a much shorter fuse than the rest of the family. So what exactly lit this particular powder keg? Spencer says, every year he leaves flowers on his mother’s grave on the anniversary of her death. He can’t this year for obvious reasons. Unless… He moves closer to Victor, and Victor says, unless what? Spencer says, unless Victor busts him out.

Drew says, Anna thinks that Victor is trying to access his old memories? and she says, it’s possible. He gets up, and so does she, saying, Andre confirmed to her those memories were gone. He says, but Peter made him believe otherwise. She says, Peter and Faison were in charge of the whole memory experiment. But then Victor took custody of Drew at Creighton-Clark – Laura and Sam walk through the gate – and this kind of tracks with this new information she’s privy to. He says, such as? and Laura says, it’s all right. She thinks Drew has a right to know the truth.

Victor says, absolutely not, and Spencer says he knows Victor has connections in Spring Ridge. He arranged for Samuel to make sure Spencer was safe, how hard can it be for him to arrange a furlough? Victor says, furloughs are almost exclusively reserved for family funerals, and deathbeds. Spencer says, then it can be off the books. This place is surrounded by barbed wire. He can be shuttled out, and be back in an hour. Victor says, he won’t risk extending Spencer’s sentence, much less joining him in here. Not when there’s so much in the works for the future of this family. Spencer says he wants to be a part of that future. They are Cassadines; family means everything to them. They don’t get to pick and choose who they love, who they trust. Just because his mother died hours after he was born doesn’t mean he doesn’t miss her every single day. He knows he screwed up, and he’s being punished for it, and deservedly so. But think about the people Victor’s loved and lost. Wouldn’t Victor do everything in his power to make sure they weren’t forgotten? There must be something he can do.

Trina says, they were so close to being past this, but Josslyn just can’t help herself, can she? Cameron says, let’s just take a moment right now… and Trina says she didn’t know he was taking a course in mediation. He says, none of his business, and Josslyn asks if she was wrong for defending her friends. Trina says, it’s not wrong, but it doesn’t make it better when there are certain things she won’t apologize for, after saying she’s sorry. Josslyn says she’s trying her best here. They all mess up sometimes, like Trina did at the cabin. Trina says, oh my gosh, apologies aren’t transactional. Who made her feelings for Spencer part of the Josslyn Jax show? Josslyn says, it was Esme, not her, and Trina says, it’s always Esme, isn’t it? Can’t Josslyn just take responsibility for making things worse? Can she, for once in her life, think about what Trina is going through? Esme appears, and says, my, my, you can cut the tension with a knife, can’t you?

Nikolas says, Spencer loved Courtney. Maybe he needs to remind Spencer of that more often. He leaves, and Sonny gets down on one knee at Courtney’s grave. He says, he knows he should have been nicer, but he thinks that’s what Nikolas needed, and that’s what Spencer needs, and he’s going to look out for her boy. Just like he trusts she keeps an eye on his dad, Morgan, Jason, and Brando and Sasha’s baby boy.

Sasha says she loves Brando, and he says he loves her too. She says, that was good, and he says, like the first time. She says, except they’re in a bed this time, and not the back seat of a car he’s working on, and he says, there is that. She asks what he’s thinking, and he says he’s thinking it’s been while since they’ve been with each other. Not since… She says, let’s not wait so long next time. She kisses him, and says she’ll be right back. She goes to another room, putting on her robe, and takes a little plastic bag of pills out of her purse. Possibly black beauties. Not that I would know. She takes one. She goes back, and Brando is standing in front of the window. She tells him not to move; she needs a mental picture of this. She walks toward him and says, beautiful. He asks if she means the view, and she says, that too. They look out the window together.

Cameron tells Esme to stay out of this, and she moves on to class. Trina says she should go, but Josslyn says, wait. What if she ditches class so they can talk? Trina says, she’s all talked out; maybe another time. Josslyn says, text her; she’ll always answer. Josslyn goes into class and sits down, ignoring Esme. Cameron tells Trina, for what it’s worth (🍷), he’s very sorry. She says, thanks, and he joins the class. Trina’s phone dings, and Esme bounces out of class, saying, Trina. Trina says she really doesn’t want to hear from Esme, and leaves. Esme looks at the video, and says, don’t worry. Trina probably won’t hear from any of them soon enough.

Nikolas asks if Carly is holding up okay, and she asks, is he? He says, he’s joining his lovely wife, and tells her, take care, but he comes back. He says, Courtney would have loved what Carly’s done with the place; what it’s become. He’s sorry he never told her that. She thanks him, and says he just missed his mother, and he asks what Laura had to say. Carly tells him that she didn’t to say but hello, but she did seem to be getting into it with Ava and Victor.

Drew says, Laura really thinks Victor had something to do with Luke’s death, and Laura says, they don’t have proof; they only have circumstantial evidence. Anna says, they all believe Victor’s been planning something for months. What if Luke stumbled upon it? Victor would only have one way to stop Luke. Drew says he barely knew Luke. How would Luke come across something that relates to him?. Laura says, Creighton-Clark, Helena, Victor, the Ice Princess… Anna says, common threads, the Cassadines, but they can’t stop Victor until they have proof. Drew says, but dozen of people died in that crash, and Anna says, the only way to prove Victor is responsible is to go to Austria. Laura says, she has to tread very carefully. That was deemed an accident. If they reopen the investigation, it’s going to let Victor know they’re on to him. Sam says, there is another way to find out what Victor wants.

Sasha tells Brando, it’s so beautiful here; so peaceful. She doesn’t want to go back to the real world. She doesn’t want this trip to end. He says he wishes he could give her that, but what he can try to do is make the real world just as special. She asks how he plans on doing that, and he says, by planning to spend the rest of his life with her. She says, let’s do it. Let’s get married  today.

Carly is about to get in the elevator, and Sonny is there.

Sam says, something in Drew’s past motivated Victor to help Peter escape, and Anna says, and Peter misled Victor, but now Peter’s dead. Laura asks if it’s possible Victor got access to Andre Maddox and questioned him about Drew’s memories, and Anna says, she doesn’t know, but she can contact Andre for sure. She’s confident he’d never reveal that kind of information, and certainly not to someone like Victor. Drew says, Victor believes he can still access his memories, and Sam says, exactly, so what if they set up a trap for Victor, convincing him it’s possible?  

On the phone, Victor says, no further action from Anna or Drew in regard to their connection to Peter August. But he fears this is only the calm before the storm.

Nikolas walks up behind Ava, and kisses her cheek. He sees her martini, and says, without him? but she says, it’s never too early to continue celebrating Peter’s demise. He says, amen to that. Carly just told him that he saw her with his mother, having a pretty intense conversation. What was that about? She says, they were just gossiping about him. Every once in a while, Laura needs a little reassurance that Ava is taking good care of him. He says, and nothing to do with his uncle? and she says, no. She told Laura that she had a nice conversation with him. She’s making more of an effort with Victor. He says he’s making more of an effort with Spencer, and he’s not having much luck. Ava says, and he’ll keep trying until he does. In the meantime, since his uncle wants to get closer to him, what if they invite him to dinner?

At Courtney’s grave, Spencer says, hello, mother. He’s sorry he’s late this year. He puts the flowers by her gravestone, and says, he sees someone beat him to it, and she wasn’t alone. Trina is cutting through, and sees him. She says, Spencer. What is he doing out of Spring Ridge?  

Kahn is giving a lecture, and talks about free will and a social contract. Cameron asks if Josslyn is okay, and Josslyn asks, who’s being stubborn? Her or Trina? He says, maybe neither; they both had great points. Josslyn says she needs to find Trina and apologize before they start fighting. The professor talks about devising the roles of imprisonment and incarceration, as Josslyn gathers up her stuff, and Esme looks at the file upload/cancel button. Kahn talks about punishment being used sparingly, and happiness being when the greatest good is shared by the greatest number Esme uploads the file, and everyone in the class gets it on their phones. The professor wants to know what’s more important than the lesson, and one of the students says, see for yourself, and puts it on the screen at the front of the classroom. There’s a lot of laughing, including from Esme, and Josslyn and Cameron are mortified. Esme smiles slyly.

I just have to say it, seriously, these are college kids?

On Monday, Lucy thinks it’s a perfect spot; Cameron asks if Josslyn thinks he did it; Elizabeth says she can’t go anywhere with Finn; and Carly says it hurts when she sees Sonny.

In Case You Forgot…

Jake, the son who comes and goes, along with Aiden.

Spencer’s mom, Courtney.

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/03/05/what-happened-to-courtney-on-general-hospital/

🤷🏽‍♂️ In Case You Didn’t Know…

All about Betsy Frank. The first time around was during a period when I wasn’t watching the show, but I always find it amusing that James Franco played Franco.

✂️ Covid Hair No More…

I’m only including this because I sat behind her at Shakespeare in the Park once. And yes, she’s just as gorgeous in person.

☠️ Heather De Vil…

I’m no big fan of Heather’s, but I wouldn’t call her vile. Then again, I’m not batsh*t crazy. I don’t think…

🎭 Be Real…

Another one I’m not a fan of, but maybe she’s scared of them. I would be.

🧂 Salt This…

Don’t ever make it a challenge.

🏛 What a Tease…

I had to give up watching this one, but I peek in once in a while.

🍸 Eww…

I honestly have no problem with an age gap, but I do have a problem when the gap is with Randall.

https://people.com/tv/lala-kent-says-randall-emmett-started-relationship-with-23-year-old-the-same-month-daughter-ocean-was-born/

🚀 Space Haunt…

Come on now. Seriously, what is happening with horror films these days?

👠 She Rocks…

I love Lizzo.

https://people.com/music/lizzo-women-changing-the-world-people-cover-story/

💃🏻 The Carpet Wore Red…

More fashion from the SAG Awards.

https://www.eonline.com/photos/34047/sag-awards-2022-red-carpet-fashion

🎊 Party In NOLA…

Everything you need to know to celebrate Fat Tuesday, even if it’s a little late. You can be early for next year.

https://people.com/human-interest/mardi-gras-everything-to-know/

🛎 Quotes of the Week

Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny. – Lao Tzu

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. – Maya Angelou

Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be. – Shel Silverstein

I haven’t been thrilled since 1865. – Agnes Van Rhijn (Christine Baranski), The Gilded Age

I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom. – Umberto Eco

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

🖋 Very Truly Yours…

Signing off until it’s time for the Dead to Walk. Until then, stay safe, stay cultivating a good support system, and stay keeping traditions of remembrance, but not to the point of breaking out of prison.

March 2, 2022 – Information About Betsy Emerges, Fairy Godheather Waves Her Wand & Ides

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dante shows up at the ax throwing bar where Sam is by herself, and totally misses the target. He says, that was special… which was the nicest word he could think of. She suggests he give it a try, but he says he doesn’t want to show her up. She says, now he’s sounding like an egomaniac. She hands him an ax, and tells him, give it a whirl, positioning him. He tells her to stand back; he doesn’t trust himself with this thing. He makes a perfect bullseye, and she says, of course (🍷).

Finn says he doesn’t want Elizabeth to worry. Dante will figure out how the painting got here, and he’ll be here in case anything else weird happens. She says she just doesn’t understand why. Is she in danger; are her kids not safe? What’s the endgame here? Jake walks in, and says he heard the police were here earlier. What’s going on?

Portia sees Drew at the MetroCourt bar, and asks if he minds if she sits down. He says he’d be lucky, and she sits down, saying, she’s grabbing some dinner for Curtis, and it’s going to be a minute. She says, he’s not expecting anyone, is he? but he says, no. He just finished a meeting. She asks if it was business or personal, and he says, it was a little bit of both actually; business on behalf of a friend.

On the phone at the Bistro, Curtis says he’ll send the paperwork over, and tell the band he’s excited to have them at the club. Marshall comes in, and Curtis asks why he wanted to meet. Marshall says, because he knows what Curtis did.

Mac makes noises at Bailey, while Felicia talks babytalk, and asks if she knows she’s the cutest baby. Mac says she’s asking the softball questions, and has to hit Bailey with some hard ones, like FDPC or PCPD? when Anna walks in and says, PCPD all the way. Felicia asks if she’s ever seen a more perfect picture, pointing at Maxie holding Bailey, and Anna says, beautiful. Maxie says, Bailey maybe, but she barely had time to brush her hair this morning. Mac says she’s absolutely glowing, and it’s all because of Bailey. Maxie says, it’s because Mac gets to go home today. She’s going to let them visit with Anna, and Felicia leaves with her to pick up a prescription for Mac. Mac tells Anna, talk to him. Will the WSB be able to get any information out of compromised Agent Kreger? She says, doubtful. He’s dead.

Laura sees Maxie with Bailey, and says, there’s the precious baby girl that so many people worked so hard to protect. Maxie says, talk about guardian angels. Her heart is so full of gratitude, it could burst. Austin joins them, and says, how about forgiveness? Is there room in her heart for that?

Dante guesses they can chalk that up to beginner’s luck, and Sam says, beginner’s luck, her you-know-what. He says he loves her you-know-what, and she says she thinks he’s done this before. He says he’s never thrown an ax before, and she says, liar. He says he’ll swear on anything she wants him to, but he’s never thrown an ax a day in his life, and she says, liar. He asks why they don’t chalk it up to beginner’s luck, and his superior hand/eye coordination, and she says, or maybe… You know how some people think they had a past life, and you can bring those skills to this life from that life? She thinks maybe he was a frontier guy, a mountain man. She certainly wasn’t either of those. He says, that’s good because he doesn’t want to picture her as a mountain man. She asks how his day was, and he says, good; a lot of work. She says, anything interesting? and he says, more like strange. He thinks Elizabeth has a stalker.

Jake asks why the police were here, and Cameron comes downstairs, and says, because when he and mom came home, they found this on the mantel. He indicates the portrait, and Jake says, that’s Franco’s. He thought Elizabeth said they were all destroyed, and Elizabeth says, that’s what she was told. Finn asks if Jake saw anyone around the house when he left yesterday, but Jake says he doesn’t think so. Finn says, what about something unusual, like a car he didn’t recognize? What about Betsy Frank? Has she been in contact with him? Jake says, no, and wonders why Finn is asking him this stuff. Cameron says, because someone broke in and placed that here. Finn asks if Jake knows anyone who would do this.

Austin says he never intended for Louise to be in danger, and Maxie tells him, it’s Bailey Louise now. He says he loves that; it’s beautiful. He tells Bailey, he Bailey Louise. He’s Austin. They met when she first arrived. He tells Maxie that he’s sorry. He didn’t know Victor was helping Peter, and Maxie says she asked him to stay out of Brook’s business multiple times. He says he didn’t know what was going on, and that’s no excuse; there is no excuse. He did a dumb thing, and his stupid vendetta could have cost her everything. If she can’t move past it, he gets it. Laura says she’ll give them some privacy, and thanks Austin for giving her the information about Victor. He says, a lot of good it did, and Laura says, the jury’s still out, and leaves. Maxie asks what he had on Victor.

Mac says, so there’s nothing to clue them in as to who could have sent Agent Kreger to kill Peter? and Anna says she thinks it’s significant that Kreger’s dead. He was hit and it was serious, but nobody thought it was fatal. The prognosis was that he was going to recover, then he up and dies here in the hospital? He says, it’s convenient for somebody, when Laura walks in, and asks, how’s the patient? Is he ready to get out of here? He says, the sooner, the better. There’s a loose end in Europe. Anna says, she was just explaining that a Bureau agent went after Peter, and there ended up being an exchange of gunfire with her team, and he got hit, but died before he could be interrogated. He had a phone on him though. Laura says, anything there? and Anna says, no. Most of the data was related to navigation. There was one phone number that piqued her interest. Mac says, belonging to? and she says, it was a burner unfortunately, but the area code was local. He says, local to here? and she says, yes. Laura says, so whoever the agent was communicating with was likely here in Port Charles. Is anybody thinking who she’s thinking? Mac asks Anna to hand him his clothes. He’s not waiting for the nurses anymore. He has to get down to the precinct. Felicia comes back, and says, no, he doesn’t. If he thinks he’s going anywhere other than home, he has to answer to her first.

Marshall sits down, and says he just got a job offer from Curtis’s boy Drew, and Curtis asks, what kind of job? Marshall says, jazz consultant-slash-concierge for Aurora, but Curtis knew that already, didn’t he? Despite the subterfuge, he appreciates Curtis sending work his way, but why couldn’t he just be honest? Curtis says, like Marshall has been with him? and Marshall says, oh, so this is payback? but Curtis says, no; this is an opportunity. One that he knew Marshall would turn down if he knew Curtis had a hand in it, because he’s stubborn and prideful. Marshall says, traits he passed down to his son, and Curtis laughs, and says, fair enough. But he knows Marshall operates on a need to know basis, so he can’t be mad when someone else does the same thing. Marshall says, it’s a moot point anyway. The job requires an extensive background check. Curtis says, and that’s a problem? and Marshall says, it could be. There’s an incident from back in the day that concerns him. Isn’t Curtis going to ask, what kind of incident? Curtis says, no. He’ll wait for Marshall to tell him – or not. Marshall says, progress. If he accepts this offer, Drew might discover he has a criminal history.

Jake tells Cameron that he has no idea what’s going on right now, and Cameron says, mom’s a little but weirded out with this whole portrait thing. She’s also relieved Peter August is toast. Jake says, what? and Cameron says, mom didn’t tell him? Jake says, tell him what?

In the kitchen, Elizabeth says she doesn’t want Finn giving Jake the third degree, and he says he just asked if Jake noticed anything. She says, it felt like he was insinuating Jake had something to do with the portrait, but he says he wasn’t suggesting that. Does she really think he’s accusing her sons, or is she actually worried they could be involved?

Sam tells Dante, it’s so creepy to have a portrait in your house, knowing that someone had been there. Then the ring and the dress. Ugh. He says, Elizabeth was pretty shaken up, and she asks what he thinks. He says, it sounds like it could be a jealous lover, and she asks if he thinks Franco was cheating. He says, no, but he doesn’t know, and she says, he can’t rule anything out. He says he barely knew the guy, and asks what her take is. She asks if he thinks she paid attention to Franco, and he says, no, but she’s friends with Elizabeth. They’ve gotten closer, so maybe she knows about some trouble in paradise. She says, the only thing she saw was, Franco was devoted to Elizabeth, Elizabeth was devoted to him, the kids loved him, he loved the kids; they were one big happy family. He says he guesses he’d better look through Franco’s cell phone records to see if there was anyone he was in constant communication with. She asks if he floated it by Elizabeth, but he says, not yet. She asks if Elizabeth had any ideas, and he says, she’s convinced. Sam asks who Elizabeth thinks is responsible, and he says, Betsy Frank.

Portia says she’s really glad Drew is back, which she knows is a strange thing coming from her, considering they’re not close, but she can see how much he means to Curtis. It’s so sweet, the friendship they share. Drew says he’s really grateful for it, especially considering he’s now lost both his brothers, and she says, she’s so sorry. He thanks her, and she says, when you think about it, he and Curtis have gone through so much change recently. She could write a book about him… He says, please don’t, and she says, but Curtis too. Just this past year, his aunt’s health issues, a divorce, a change of careers. Drew says, and a father reappearing after four decades.

Curtis says, Marshall has a criminal history that Drew may discover, and Marshall says, the records are sealed. Curtis says, sealed records don’t usually show up in a background check, and Marshall says, but it exists, which means it can resurface. Forty years ago, he got locked up briefly, a non-violent offense, but it was the inciting incident that precipitated his disappearance. Curtis says, the reason he went into hiding, and Marshall says, for lack of a better term, yes. He wishes he could forget it ever happened, but it did, and severely impacted his life. He told Drew that he can’t move forward, and Curtis asks if he even wants the job. Marshall says he does, but he wanted Curtis to hear about it from him, not his friend, and Curtis says he appreciates that. He hopes it means Marshall trusts him. Marshall says, of course (🍷) he does. His holding back is not for lack of trust. In fact, telling Curtis is a relief. Curtis says, in that case, why hold back at all?

Felicia asks if Mac heard her, and he says he thinks the whole hospital did. She says, his choice is here or home; work is not an option. He says, there’s a situation… and she says, there’s going to be a situation if he tries to do anything other than get better. Does she have Laura and Anna to thank for this? Anna says, no, and Laura says, us? Felicia asks if they’re encouraging her husband to prematurely return to work, and Anna says she was just briefing him. Mac says, turncoat, and Laura says she was just checking on him. He is indispensable. He says, see? and Laura says, she too, is concerned about his health, so she’s going to see about his temporary replacement. NuJordan walks in, and says, no need for a replacement. She’s back, and reporting for duty.

Austin thanks Maxie for coming to his office to talk to him. When it comes to people like Victor Cassadine, the walls have ears. She asks what Laura was saying about him giving information on Victor, and he says, it wasn’t enough. Victor destroyed the bug before they could hear anything… She says, hold on. He planted a bug on Victor Cassadine? He says, technically, Liesl did, but he set the stage. She looks confused; is she confused? She says, he and her former mother-in-law hatched a plan to trap Victor? and he says, she’s not confused. She says, what was… how was that… why? He says, the answer to that is twofold. First of all, Liesl didn’t really give him a choice, and she says, and the second part? He says he really wanted to make it up to her. It was entirely his fault that Victor found out about Louise. Sorry. Bailey Louise. And he just needed to know what Victor’s game was. She says, but he didn’t find anything, and he says, the bug bit the dust before they heard anything. All they really heard was Victor talking to Drew Cain about memory suppression and tarot cards. She asks if that’s important, and he says, he doesn’t know. The mayor seemed to think so.

Everyone crowds around Jordan, hugging her, and asking how she’s feeling. Mac says, they could have sent a squad car, and Laura says, they could have done better than a squad car. Jordan says, she left yesterday. She took a car service, and she feels great. Anna says she looks great, and Jordan says, being at the clinic for so long had its challenges, but she couldn’t argue with the level of care. Anna asks if she’s back for good now, and she says she is, and apparently needs to get caught up. Laura suggests they step outside, and Mac says, it’s really good to see her recovered. She says, now it’s his turn, and he gives her a thumbs up. They go into the hallway, and Felicia tells Mac that he nurse gave her the discharge papers. Is he ready to go home? He says, he was born ready, and she says, to leave the hospital? He says, that really doesn’t work, does it?

Dante says, Betsy told Elizabeth that she was at Franco’s grave around the time the break-in happened, and Sam asks if he questioned her. He says he tried. He called the hotel, but she wasn’t there. She says, what about an APB? Betsy is technically a person of interest. Dante says, the problem is, Elizabeth is worried Betsy is involving her kids, and she thinks a formal inquiry will blow back on the family. Plus, he’s not convinced that it’s Betsy. She says, Elizabeth is, and he says, because the alternative for Elizabeth is, she has to consider the fact there might have been another woman in the mix. She says, Betsy’s very scary, and he says, she’s scary, crazy, all of that, and he will look into it, but how obsessed with your own kid do you have to be to shred a wedding dress, and burn his art studio? Sam tells him, she’d have to say, pretty obsessed, and he says, he has to retrace Betsy’s steps; find out if she was actually at the cemetery when she said she was. Sam messes with her phone, and he asks what she’s doing. She says she has skills too, and he says, other than throwing axes. She says, hey, Spinelli. She’s going to need his help.

Elizabeth says her boys wouldn’t terrorize her this way. They adored Franco; they would never use his memory to punish her. He agrees, and asks if she’s being defensive because she thinks he shouldn’t question them at all, Because he just wants her to be safe. But if she thinks he’s overstepping, say the word, and he’ll back off.

Cameron asks Jake to say something, and Jake says he’s glad. Is that wrong to be glad when someone dies? Cameron says, not if that someone was Peter August. He took Franco away from them. Jake says, and everyone believed his dad killed Franco, and Cameron says, including him, which made things pretty crappy between the two of them. Jake wishes Peter had died sooner, and Cameron says, Jake’s dad died fighting him. He wishes that too. He hugs Jake.

Marshall says he knows he’s not an ideal father, and Curtis says, ideal for who? Marshall says, anyone, but talking specifically, Curtis, and Curtis says, he’s a grown man. It’s not Marshall’s job to live up to some boyhood fantasy. If Marshall can trust him, and feels a sense of relief to unburden himself, then why not fill in all the pieces of the puzzle? Marshall says, because it might not be safe to do that yet, and Curtis says, Marshall is under no obligation to unburden his soul to him, but if he’s harboring secrets that could be a danger to either his club or his home, he needs to know. He will not put Portia and Trina at risk. Marshall asks since when Portia became a fixture in Curtis’s home, and Curtis says, since he asked her to take the next step with him. The plan is to find a new place and make it their own. Marshall says, that’s wonderful; it fills him with joy to see Curtis so happy. Curtis doesn’t have to be afraid of anything. On everything they hold dear, he promises he will not allow anything to hurt any of them. Curtis says, understood, and if Marshall needs to share more, Curtis is here for him, and he won’t pry. Marshall says, that’s his plan, but right now, he needs to see a man about a job.

Portia says, having Marshall drop from the sky, certainly has knocked Curtis for a loop, and Drew says, he got that impression. It does seem like they’re working toward something. She says she hopes so. All she wants is for Curtis to be happy. He says, what do you know? They want the same thing. Is she doing what he’s doing? She says, what’s that? and he says he’s giving Curtis a little space so he can draw his own conclusions, but at the same time, he’s keeping a cautious eye out. She says he must have been spying on her, and he says, obviously, he prays that Marshall’s intentions are good, but just in case there’s any doubt, he’s at his buddy’s disposal. She says she loves that Drew has Curtis’s back, and he says, always. She raises her glass, and says, to long friendships. He says, and to new ones. He really looks forward to getting to know the woman who clearly has stolen his buddy’s heart.

Anna says, it’s good to see Jordan; she’s looking so strong and healthy. Jordan says, and ready to hit the ground running, and Anna says she’s missed Jordan so much. Jordan says she missed Anna too, and thanks her for all the calls and texts, and Laura for the beautiful weekly flower delivery. They both kept her spirits up. Laura says, they’re both grateful to have her back, but is she sure she’s ready to go back to work? Jordan says she’s sure. They should have seen her when she heard Peter was on the loose. Anna says, they probably had to lock her in her room, and Jordan says, almost. She knows that’s wrapped up, but there have to be other pending cases. Anna says, the investigation’s not completely wrapped up, and Jordan asks, what’s the status? Laura says, some of this is classified, and Jordan isn’t officially back on the job yet. Jordan says she’s sorry; she should have called first, instead of assuming she could just pick up where she left off. Anna thinks they might need as much help as they can get, and as soon as they can get it, and Laura says, barring a few small, but necessary formalities, she hereby reinstates Jordan as Commissioner of the PCPD. Welcome back. Jordan says, she won’t regret it, and Laura says, she knows.

Finn says they haven’t established who he is to Elizabeth’s boys, but he’d like to build something with them… if it’s okay with her. She says she’d like that, and he’s not overstepping. She just wishes she had answers. He says she’s going to. They’re going to figure out who’s doing this, and put a stop to it, he promises.

Jake tells Cameron that he’s sorry mom is freaked out, but also happy Franco’s painting was saved. At least now he has something to remember Franco by. Cameron says they have their memories too, and Jake says, yeah, but memories fade. People move on, and sometimes he worries Franco’s being forgotten. Finn listens in.

Dante stands behind Sam, putting one hand on her waste, and the other on her hand holding the ax. Much like when he taught her to swing a bat, he explains how to throw the ax. He says, just like how she throws a baseball, and she says she likes baseball. He tells her to bring it forward, let it go, and let the ax do the work. She says she’s ready, he steps back, and she throws. She says, bullseye, and it’s very close, but not quite. She thanks Dante and hugs him, and says, she just needed… He says, a little lesson, but she says, a little him; her mountain man. They kiss, and her phone rings. She says, Spinelli is the best in the biz, but his timing is always off. She answers saying, hey… Okay… Send it over right now. Dante asks what Spinelli’s got, and she says, he’s sending over camera footage from the entrance of the cemetery. They look at her phone, and Dante tells her, roll that back. Is that Betsy? She says, sure does look like her. He asks what she’s doing, and Sam says, she never went in; she just left. He says, which means she lied, and they can’t account for her whereabouts. The phone rings again, and she says, talk to her… Okay… She’ll tell him. She tells Dante, Spinelli was about to run a background check on Betsy, mostly insignificant. He says, mostly? and she says, it looks like last November, she was arrested by the New York State Police.

Portia says, a dumpster, why? and Drew says, they were looking for a bag from a defunct Chinese restaurant. It’s a long story. They were hoping to the bag would tie a guy to the crime. They’re in there, and come across this enormous rodent. She says, no, and he says she should have seen it. He’s never seen anybody jump so high so fast in his entire life. Curtis’s exact words were, no, no, no – he waves his finger – I don’t do rats. She says she can see him doing that. How Indiana Jones of him. Drew says, it really was, and she says, they’ve really had some adventures together. He says, they have, and he hears Curtis is about to embark on a new one with her. He heard they’re moving in together. She says they’re looking at properties, and he says, congratulations. Any luck finding one? She says, not so far. They want spacious, and they want contemporary, but nothing’s been quite the right fit. He picks up his phone, and says, before he moved in with the Quartermaines, he was shown a property that was amazing, and it’s still available if she wants him to email her the listing. She says she’d love that. If it works out, she’ll owe him for sure. He says he hears her culinary skills are amazing, and he never turns down a homecooked meal. Just saying. She asks about the kitchen in the new house, and he says, it’s incredible. It’s super high end. It’s got a dual fuel range. It’s got an induction cooktop. She’ll love it. She says, all right, then it’s a deal, and they shake hands.

Austin tells Maxie, he listened to Victor for as long as humanly possible, and that guy, that slippery bastard, didn’t say anything even interesting, much less incriminating, and they had no idea where Peter was taking her. He wishes he could have done more. She says, he did a lot. Making a move like that on Victor took guts. He says, it took Peter. He was afraid they wouldn’t find her. He was afraid of what would happen to her. He was afraid she wouldn’t forgive him. Maxie says, she was afraid too, and he says, of course (🍷). He didn’t mean to compare what she was going through with what he was going through. It must have been very difficult for her, especially when she had to leave Bailey behind. She says, that was the easiest decision she made actually. Believe it or not, she’s used to leaving Bailey behind, especially if it means she’s being protected, which is funny, since now she can’t let Bailey out of her sight. He says, that was the easy part; what was the hard part? She says, staring down the barrel of forever, alone with Peter. Not seeing the peoples she cares about anymore. That made her blood run cold. He says he could imagine. Her mom and Mac… She says, Anna and Britt… Liesl… you. He says he made the list, and she says, whatever Victor’s involvement was with Peter, it wasn’t his fault. She knows he only wanted the best for her. He says he still does want the best for her, and she says she knows. He thanks her for saying that, and asks if this means he’s forgiven. She says, hmm… How do they say yes in Pawtuck? He says, we pretty much just say, yes, and she says, yes. He holds out his hand, and she takes it.

Jordan says, Obrecht told Laura that Victor seemed to want something from Peter? and Anna says, something related to Drew? Laura says, and his conditioning, and Anna says, it’s most likely Victor was working with Peter, quid pro quo. Jordan says, but if the theory is Victor helped Peter escape, why send someone to kill him? and Anna says, maybe he outlived his usefulness? Laura asks if Anna thinks Victor got what he wanted, and what would that be? Anna says, Laura’s guess is as good as hers, and Laura says, all right. They’ll meet tomorrow at the precinct; she’ll text Jordan. She leaves, and Anna asks if Jordan wants to grab dinner. She thinks TJ will probably be in surgery a while. Jordan asks if she can take a raincheck. There’s someone she needs to see.

Portia walks into The Savoy, empty except for Curtis, and says, she comes bearing gifts. He asks if it could be a steak from the MetroCourt, medium rare, and she says, it could. And it’s still warm; she got green lights all the way. He says, this is his lucky day, and she says, luckier than he knows, because she has some exciting news for him.

Dante asks what Betsy was arrested for, and Sam says, a driving infraction. Her phone can’t provide details of the arrest. She usually goes to a friendly neighbor law enforcement guy. He says, how friendly? and she says they’re pretty tight. They have great chemistry, and make the most beautiful ax throwing together. He says it sounds to him like she wants him to like this guy, and she says, no one likes him better than she does. They kiss, and he takes her phone. She says, she knew it; he’s going to show her up. He calls Donovan, and asks if he can do Dante a favor. He tells Sam, she’s not the only person who knows people, and kisses her again.

Finn says he didn’t mean to question Jake earlier, and Jake says, it’s okay, but Finn says, it’s not, and he’s sorry. Jake doesn’t know him well, and sometimes he has a tendency to live in his head. Communication is not always his best suit. Forgive him. He’s just worried about Jake’s mom. Jake says, he and Cam can take care of their mom. They have been ever since Franco… Elizabeth says, they have been, and they’ve been amazing, but it’s not their job to take care of her. She wants, and Franco would want, for them just to enjoy being kids. Jake asks how could she know what Franco would want when he’s not there to tell them? and she says, the same way they knew his favorite paint color, and what part of the movie would make him laugh. They knew him, and they’re so much luckier for it. Finn says he’s not trying to replace Franco, but he hopes together, if Jake is willing, maybe they could forge a different bond. One of their own.

Portia and Curtis look at her phone, and she says, double-sided fireplace, and all that space for entertaining. He says, and a big room for Trina in case she wants to take a break from the dorms. She asks what he’s thinking, and he says he’s thinking it’s perfect, and he’s thinking she looks great. She says she absolutely loves it, and he says he absolutely loves her. Did they just find their new home? He says, they might have, and she squeals and hugs him. Jordan has walked in, and sees.

Marshall finds Drew still at the MetroCourt bar, and says, about that job… Drew says, he reconsidered, and Marshall says he was always interested. He just had to run it by someone important first. He’s grateful for this job offer, and would like to be considered. Drew says, after he fills out the standard application, they’ll get started on that background check, and Marshall says he’s got nothing to hide.

Austin says he’s glad they can talk through this, and Maxie says, her too. His friendship means a lot to her. He asks, how much? and she says, he means on a scale of one to ten? He says, yeah, how much? There was a time not so long ago, they talked about being more than friends. She says she remembers, and he says, him too. She said she had to focus on getting her Louise, now Bailey Louise, back. What is she going to focus on now?

Anna’s phone rings, and she answers it with, what on earth do you want?

Dante says, Betsy was arrested for driving erratically, but she was not under the influence, and Sam says, being sober doesn’t get you arrested. He says, no, but attacking a state troper does, and she says, yikes. He says he guesses Betsy was in such a bad way, they had to stop at the first hospital, and put her on a 19-7A hour hold for evaluation. Sam says, a 72 hour involuntary psychiatric hold? and he says, that’s pretty good, P.I. She says she has her moments, and asks if he knows what it means. He says, Betsy was a danger to herself and others

Finn says he wants to be here for all of them, but he agrees with Jake. Franco shouldn’t be forgotten, and he won’t be. Jake asks if he can go upstairs, and Elizabeth says, of course (🍷). The doorbell rings, and Elizabeth opens the door to Betsy. Elizabeth says she wasn’t expecting Betsy, and Betsy says, there’s something she needs to… She sees Finn, and says she thought Elizabeth would be alone, and starts to leave, but Elizabeth says, wait. Clearly she’s hear for a reason. Tell her what it is. Betsy says she wasn’t honest with Elizabeth before. She deserves the truth – all of it.

Tomorrow, Cameron tells Stella, he can’t help but feel it’s all his fault; Britt tells someone that she has their back; Maxie says she’s ready to make up for lost time; and Anna tells someone, whatever game they’re playing, count her out.

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Emily talked to stepdaughter Shelby about Annabelle’s baptism. Shelby says she’ll feel warm inside, and Emily said that Shelby seemed different; grown-up and so happy. She felt emotional, but didn’t know if it was about the baptism or menopause. She told Shane that it made her think Annabelle could be like Shelby. In Emily’s interview, she said she had no doubt or apprehension about Annabelle’s baptism into the Mormon church, but if you’d asked her a year and a half ago, she would have said, absolutely not. She told Shane that she wondered why she was so emotional. She wanted better for her children than she had. Shane said she had that, and Emily said her dad left when she was young and wasn’t around; she wished he’d been more like Shane. In her interview, she said her parents divorced when she was six, and she didn’t see her dad much. She didn’t know if her mom had alienated him, but she’d had no foundation of a father/daughter relationship. Shane said she didn’t know the whole story, and she said when she saw her dad now, he was the coolest guy ever. She wished she’d had that her whole life. She told Shane that he was a good man, and he said he didn’t need a stack of vaginas. He was a one woman man, and she was his woman.

Heather, Shannon, Jen, and Heather’s friend Tawnie met for drinks. Tawnie was wearing the stupidest outfit I’ve ever seen. Okay, maybe not ever, but it was high on the list. She had some kind of wench-type cincher under her boobs, which were hanging over it, and it was definitely not the sexy look I think she was going for. Jen said her day had been stressful, and Heather asked, why? Jen said it was her relationship. She wanted to talk to Ryne in a professional setting or it would end up worse. In Jen’s interview, she said Ryne felt distant. He’d walked out, and it was humiliation. Then he came home the next morning to yell at her, and she had to go to work and be a normal person. It was an exhausting cycle. She told Heather that she got an email that the mortgage hadn’t been paid, freaked out, and Ryne told her to quit yelling at him. Heather said she had to figure out Ryne’s language, and Shannon said she’d written David a letter since she felt talking went in one ear and out the other. Jen says, she used a sports analogy; Ryne was on the court, but not catching the ball. Instead, he walked off the court. Heather said Terry wasn’t good with feelings, and Shannon said, most men weren’t. We flashed back to Terry wanting onion rings at a dinner party, and Heather working them into their Western party. She told the women, she thought, let’s change the narrative, and got jewelry as a bonus. Jen said she’d mocked Ryne’s gold necklace, and he got her a mini version when he was in Hawaii. Heather said Jen had to pass the ball back, and she’d have them over. In Heather’s interview, she said she thought this was a make or break moment in Jen and Ryne’s relationship, and we flashed back to Jen saying Ryne needed an example of a normal relationship. Heather said it would be helpful for them to be around couples who had navigated the ups and downs of life. They needed to learn how to communicate.

Batsh*t crazy Noella visited friend Keni, and popped some champagne, saying, it was an all the way to the top kind of day. Keni asked how mediation went, and Noella said, it was crazy. She could see the airport where James’s jet would be, but he wasn’t physically there. He’d pushed for them to do it in person, and Keni said, but only for Noella to be there in person. In Noella’s interview, she said James was on FaceTime, but they were in separate rooms. She didn’t hear his voice or see his face. She said, the whole thing felt sad, and all they discussed was money. Keni asked if James asked about personal stuff, and Noella said, zilch. He asked about no specifics like art, furniture, or his $20K shoes. She was into details, like life insurance and their son’s education. In Noella’s interview, she said, there was nothing about James’s concerns, thoughts, or what was in his heart. She would have even settled for hate. She wanted something, but there was only silence after six years of so much noise; joy, excitement, and their child. She told Keni that she could do nothing more to get closure from him, and needed to do it on her own. Keni said Noella couldn’t fix him anymore, and needed to be happy. What she got in her divorce settlement was herself.

Heather visited Gina, and since they were going through Gina’s closets, she brought Gina a new pink leather jacket. In Heather’s interview, she said Gina was launching a business, and needed clothes that reflected the changes in her life. Gina could think of her as her Fairy Godheather. Gina showed Heather around, and in Gina’s interview, she said she and Heather both recognized that her tour was shorter. We flashed back to Heather’s tour of her house, which is as big as a small town. In her interview, Heather said, it was amazing that six kids lived there, and it hadn’t been ravaged. They went to Gina’s bedroom closet, which wasn’t too shabby, and possibly as big as my first NYC apartment. Gina brought out her old prom dress, and Heather wondered why she was keeping it. She was never going to wear it again. Gina said she probably couldn’t fit in it, but when she tried it on, she said it was tight, but she fit. She could wear it to the supermarket there, and no one would bat an eye. Heather went through Gina’s clothes, and wondered why so much still had tags. Gina said she didn’t go anywhere, but she liked to shop. In Heather’s interview, she said Gina didn’t understand her own personal style yet. She wanted Gina to dress young and fresh, but also professional and edgy. She had some nice pieces, but you couldn’t see them because they were smashed together with blobby silhouettes  and weird things. She told Gina that some of her clothes needed to find a new home, but she didn’t know whose home. Gina brought out her wedding dress box, and said it had moved with her several times. She’d wanted her daughter have it or thought maybe the kids could make it into baptism gowns or something for their children. It made her sad. In her interview, Gina said she never thought her life would be different. In letting go of the dress, she was letting go of the life she thought she’d have. She told Heather that even though she was happy, and had no regrets or doubts, that doesn’t make it not sad. Heather suggested she do something fabulous, and give it to someone. It was time to let it go, and make some other bride happy.

Emily had a baptism reception for Annabelle, and Lizzie was there. Remember her? She was on RHOC for a hot minute. Emily joked about it being a Mormon baptism where there was drinking afterward. She told Shane that he hadn’t known he was going to do the blessing. He said he’d spoken from his heart, and it had felt like someone was telling him what to say. In Emily’s interview, she said their friends and family were there, and Shane dunking Annabelle was a beautiful thing to see. It was a beautiful moment between her husband and daughter. She told Shane, in the thirteen years they’d been married, it was only the second time she’d seen him cry. In her interview, she said, she and her sister grew up and floundered. They made stupid mistakes because they didn’t have guidance. She picked the best guy ever to be a dad, but she’d never know what it was like, and it made her sad. Gina and Travis arrived, and Gina said, the ceremony was so beautiful, it made her cry. Emily said she was glad she wasn’t the only one, and everyone applauded Annabelle. There was a huge spread, and they sat down to eat. Emily and Gina sat privately, and Emily thanked Gina for coming. She asked if Gina remembered when she said Shannon was jealous. She had six glasses of champagne, and told Shannon. In Gina’s interview, she said, it wasn’t her first day in high school. She knew if she told Emily something, it would probably get back to Shannon. That wasn’t to say, she didn’t want to take that shot herself. Emily said Shannon told her that Gina liked to talk about herself a lot, and Gina said Shannon was starting to piss her off. There wasn’t much more of Shannon that she could take. If that’s what Shannon got from who she was, Shannon didn’t know her, and she was pissed.  

John and Shannon went out to lunch at the Not So Quiet Woman, and sat at what Shannon now called her booth. Shannon said she was surprised hearing the doctor talk to her about her energy levels possibly being related to hormones. We saw a clip of the doctor saying, if Shannon wasn’t balancing her food properly, she might have a problem with hormones. In Shannon’s interview, she said she and John both said they’d never experienced this level of intimacy with any other partner. She didn’t know some of this stuff was possible. I really didn’t want to know any more, and thank God she changed the topic. She told John that when she’d had the lunch for the women, Heather had brought up Gina’s skincare line. Gina told Emily that Shannon appeared jealous. John said that was so irritating to hear, and in her interview, Shannon said she didn’t know where to go with her friendship with Gina. It went back to the sushi party. We flashed back to that, and Shannon said she was confused as to where the judgment was coming from. She thought it was arrogance. She wondered why Gina wouldn’t bring it up to her, and John said Gina tried to find things to make Shannon look bad. Shannon said it was pretty low of Gina to ask if she even had any friends, and we flashed back to Shannon telling Gina that she only had a small circle, and John said, it was beyond mean; it was cruel. Where the hell did Gina get off saying it looked like Shannon had no friends? In John’s interview, he said, confidence was super attractive, but cockiness was not. In her interview, Shannon said they needed to get to the deeper issue. The little comments kept coming. John said he’d never been anything but kind to Gina and Travis, and for Gina to talk behind Shannon’s back and the comments that came out of her, who did she think she was? Not knowing John that well, I wasn’t sure if he was bored or enjoyed adding to the drama. Either way, I thought they were both exaggerating just a tad.

In Heather’s interview, she said, having a dinner party was like putting on a stage production. Since she had no time, it was simpler than she usually did. Translation: pretty fancy to the rest of us. She found an error on the menu, and in her interview said, she liked things to be the way she envisioned them. It was going to bother her all night. Terry was happy that onion rings were on the menu, and Heather said she’d made the menu of things he loved. Jen wanted Ryne to see how they operated. Terry was like, Ryne? and Heather said, like the river. Terry said he needed to process that.

In the car, Jen whined for Ryne not to talk superficially all night, and he said sports weren’t superficial. They were a metaphor for life. In Jen’s interview, she said Ryne had no idea what he was stepping into when she asked him to wear clothes.

Heather gave last minute instructions to the waitstaff, and Terry realized there was still a tag on his shirt. He asked if that wasn’t how you showed you were successful, and got a hard no from Heather. Coming up the walk, Ryne wished he’d brought dog, and said, who doesn’t like that dog? Not me, and I wished he’d brought Mr. Puppers too. When asked what they’d like to drink, Ryne asked for water, and Jen said he’d never had alcohol. Terry asked if the first question wasn’t always, was he a Mormon? and Ryne said, or an alcoholic. He’d never had any drugs either. It was noted that he was wearing athletic ankle socks with his dress shoes, and he said he didn’t wear shoes often. In Heather’s interview, she said she was just glad he was wearing a shirt. Jen went with Heather to the kitchen, while Terry and Ryne went downstairs to hang. Jen said it wasn’t easy for Ryne. Terry asked what Ryne was into, and Ryne said, sports and gambling. Terry said, so he did have a vice, and asked what Ryne’s game was. Ryne said he played poker until the kids were born, and Terry asked if he did more stuff with the kids than Jen. Ryne said he did, and Terry said it was a kind of role reversal. He couldn’t imagine, as a guy, being married to a doctor. That actually surprised me, coming from him, and he said Jen had met the perfect person. Ryne suggested Terry mention that to her.

Heather’s friends arrived. Michael and Nancy, who had been married 40 years, and Sara and Paul who had been married 20. In Heather’s interview, she said the couples were good compromise, family, and communicating, and had fun together. Jen and Ryne could learn a lot by being with them. In Jen’s interview, she said Ryne acted aloof in social situations, and people sometimes took it as arrogance. They thought she was married to an a-hole.

They sat down to eat, and Jen told Ryne how to angle his chair. In Heather’s interview, she said, Jen was hammered, and we saw clips of all she drank before sitting down at the table. Heather said she liked to see Jen letting loose, but the more loose she became, the more introverted Ryne was getting, and that was bad. Heather suggested a toast, and Jen said, to women’s underwear; not the best thing in the world, but the closest thing to it. Heather said, oh dear, and dinner commenced. Ryne tucked his napkin into his collar, and Jen told him to take it down, but he said he didn’t want to dirty his shirt. Jen was insistent, and he said, for her, he would. In her interview, Heather wondered what he was protecting; the one shirt? Terry said being married successfully for 20 years wasn’t easy; you needed to get past the down time. Heather said nothing about it was easy, but it was worth working for. Paul said his father told him the secret to a successful marriage was to wake up every morning and say he’s sorry. Paul was following suit. Heather asked how Jen and Ryne met, and Jen said she saw a guy in Louis Vuitton sunglasses, and wondered, who TF is he? She slipped him her number, and he called four weeks later. Terry asked how long they were dating before Ryne proposed, and Jen said they had the children before they were married. She’d gotten a job offer at Harvard, and told Ryne that she wasn’t giving up her career unless he asked her to marry him. She was only willing to stay if he proposed. Heather asked what Ryne’s side of the story was, and he said he was going with what Jen said. Heather said, but why did he pick that moment? and Ryne didn’t say anything. Terry said they needed to swear the witness in, and Heather said he was going to be thrown out of court. He actually started to talk, when Jen interrupted, and Heather said it was Ryne’s floor. I think it’s pretty obvious what the problem is in their relationship. He was right when he said it had to be the Jenny Show.  

Ryne said he’d go with what Jen said, and in Heather’s interview, she wondered if he was scared because it was a different story or if it was embarrassing. Jen wouldn’t let Ryne talk, and he was happy not to. Jen said the wine was fantastic, and Heather said, wait until they had the 2013; it was insane. Jen said the wine was very good about ten times, and told Heather that she was connoisseuring [sic] everything that was put in front of her. She might seem drunk, but she was concentrating. She didn’t give a f*** who you like, this was good. She caressed Ryne’s face, and he asked her to stop, to which she responded, f*** you, and told the server to fill her glass. Ryne got up, and she grabbed at him. He told her that she needed to stop drinking, and she said it was good wine. He wandered off, and got on his phone, and Terry gave a toast, to well-established friends and newly established ones. Jen said Heather was awesome. She couldn’t believe Heather put this all together. In her interview, Heather said she’d never seen Jen like this. Loosening up was a goal, but getting hammered was the polar opposite of what she’d been hoping for. Jen needed to be honest about what her part was. Whatever you say was not good. Jen teetered to the door, gathering up Ryne on the way. She said she loved Heather; she was awesome.  

Heather told the other guests that Jen and Ryne had been going through some rough waters, and they’d all been through that. Nancy said Ryne was very shy.

In the car, Jen said Ryne did awesome, and asked if Terry was cool to hang out with. Ryne said he was, and Jen said she literally wanted to collapse in his arms. She put her head in his lap, and he talked workouts with the driver.

Everyone said how Ryne was sweet and nice, and Terry said, let’s be honest. They’re a mess.

Next time, the trip to NYC, Heather and Gina get drunk and eat pizza on the street, Shannon says Gina needs to put a pin in it, and Jen sees a therapist.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Saying Goodbye With Shalom…

Come on down tomorrow for soap and tea. And for those of you who would rather watch people cook than do it yourself, like me, the new Top Chef starts tomorrow (Thursday), along with spin-off Top Chef Family Style. Until then stay safe, stay choosing your friends wisely, and stay leaving your connoisseuring at the door when going to a fancy dinner party.

March 1, 2022 – Carly Throws an Ax At Nina (In Her Mind), Melissa Nearly Has a Fistfight & Winds

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Elizabeth sees Franco’s painting of her propped up on the mantel, and drops the mail in her hands. We see someone in a pair of boots is also in the house.

Sam hugs Drew, and says, it’s good to have him back safe and sound. He must be relieved that Peter is dead. He says he’s especially relieved that Maxie is safe and finally reunited with her daughter. She says, Peter held him prisoner for two years, and kept him away from his own daughter. He says, and killed his brother, so yeah, he’s glad Peter is dead. He feels free, and now that he does, he’s thinking about his own future.

At the MetroCourt bar, Carly says she’s sorry she missed the staff meeting, and asks Olivia how it went. Olivia says, it was great, and asks how the kids are. Carly says, the kids are fine, but that’s not why she’s late. She’s late because she went to file her divorce papers. Olivia says, already? and asks how she feels. Carly says, like a failure.

Willow is digging through her bag at the hospital, and Michael asks if she forgot something. She turns around to see him with her tablet, and she says, he’s a life saver. She has a huge exam to study for and all her notes are on it. She asks, what’s going on? and he says, his mom called. She filed the papers, so the divorce is in motion. She wanted him to be prepared to answer questions from Donna and Avery, and help with the transition. Willow says she’s so sorry his family is going through this. She hates bringing this up, but thinks now’s the time. He says, time for what? and she says, to have a talk about Nina.

Curtis and Stella walk into Charlie’s, and she thanks him for indulging her craving. He says, only because she agreed to share, but she tells him that he’d better get his own. At the bar, Nina flashes back to telling Drew that she doesn’t care what anyone thinks anymore. She just wants to move on with her life. He says, with Sonny, and she says she cares about Sonny, but they’re not together. He asks if Sonny knows that. Curtis says, long time, no see, and Nina hugs him and Stella, saying, this is her lucky day. She’d ask them to join her, but she’s actually leaving. She was dawdling, hoping she could talk to Phyllis, but she’s not going to be in until later. Stella says she’s sorry they missed her; she likes Phyllis too. Nina says, Phyllis always knows the perfect thing to say, and she needed that today. Curtis says, then it’s a good thing they came to Charlie’s. What’s on her mind?

Chase asks, what strange things have been happening to Elizabeth? and Finn says, there was a fire in Franco’s art studio; the police think it was arson. Then the night of their first date, Elizabeth found her wedding ring in her locker at work, which was weird because she’d left it at home. Then she was going to donate some clothing, and discovered the dress she married Franco in, completely cut to shreds. Chase says, it’s suspicious that everything had significance to Franco, and Finn says, it is. They thought maybe one of the boys was having a problem with him seeing their mom, but Chase says, those are sophisticated pranks for kids. Finn says, agreed. Then again, these boys aren’t kids anymore.

Elizabeth turns around, and gasps. It’s Cameron, who says he’s sorry; he didn’t mean to startle her. Is she okay? She says she didn’t hear him come in, she was so distracted by the portrait. He says, that’s the portrait of her that Franco painted. He thought it was destroyed in the fire. She says, so did she. When she walked in, it was just there. She never thought she would see it again. He says, she didn’t put it there? and she says, no. Was it here when he got home? He says, yeah, but he got here ten minutes ago. He crashed in Carter’s dorm room. What’s going on? She says she’s not sure. Aiden spent the night at Laura’s last night, and Jake is at an overnight trip for school, so she slept at the hospital. As far as she knows, nobody’s been home for the past 24 hours. Which means whoever put that there was in their house. She needs to check on the boys and make sure they’re okay and where they’re supposed to be. He asks what he should do, and she says, call the police.

Chase says, whoever did this had access to Elizabeth’s wedding ring, which means they also had access to her house, and also access to her locker at General Hospital. Does Finn remember what day it was, or if there were any signs of Elizabeth’s locker being tampered with? Because they can access the footage at the hospital. Finn tells him to slow down. He’s not even sure Elizabeth would want Chase to know about this. Chase says, then what are they going to do about it? and Finn says, Chase is his brother, so he told him, but they have to wait and see what Elizabeth wants to do about it. How long before Chase is reinstated anyway? Chase says, a few months. He can’t wait. Finn asks if he’s given any thought to what he’s going to do in the meantime, but Chase says he hasn’t given it much thought. Don’t worry about him; he’ll be fine.

Willow says, remember when she told Michael that she ran into Nina the other night at the hospital? and he says, the night he found out about Nina and his dad? Yes. She says, Nina made a point of asking if there was a way for her to see Wiley, even if she and Carly could never get along, and he says he’s guessing she skipped over the part where his mom had just found Nina and his dad in bed together. She says, Nina played her. She intentionally held back about what she’d done, knowing full well something that monumental would have ramifications for their whole family, and of course (🍷) affect her relationship with Wiley. He says she knows how he feels about Nina, but his dad doesn’t get a pass; he’s just as much to blame. She says, it’s a pattern with Nina. She reaches out, makes a pitch for access to Wiley, and carefully omits whatever objectionable thing she’s done. She doesn’t want to keep Wiley from family members who love him, but she thinks Michael was right all along. Nina isn’t the type of person she wants in Wiley’s life.

Stella says she knows what she wants, and asks if she can get Nina anything, but Nina says, no. Curtis says he’ll have a double order of whatever Stella’s having, and Stella says, coming right up. She goes to the bar, and Curtis tells Nina, she won’t be gone long, so they better talk fast. What’s going on with her, and does it have to do with Sonny? She says, that was a quick change of subject, and he says, the last time he saw her was at The Savoy when she diffused tensions between Sonny and his father. She says, Sonny wasn’t himself that night, and he says, he’s never seen Sonny like that. She says, but his father, she’s never seen anyone stand up to Sonny like that, and he says, it’s not his father’s first time dealing with someone of Sonny’s caliber. She asks how he feels about that, and he says, nice deflection. He just accepted it, and accepted he’s never going to get the answers he wants from Marshall, so he let it go. It definitely eased tensions between his father and him, but then things changed.

Olivia brings Carly a drink, and says, it’s five o’clock somewhere. Carly says she knows she made the right decision, but it’s just hitting her pretty hard, and Olivia says, of course (🍷) it is, because she’s not a robot. Does she want to talk about it? Carly says, no, she thinks she should just work, but Olivia says, forget work. What is the strongest emotion she’s feeling right now? Carly says, disappointment. Obviously in Sonny, but also in herself, because she just wants to be done with it. She keeps asking herself over and over again, what happened? How could her marriage be over? How could she mean so little to Sonny in the end? Then she has to stop herself, because whatever Sonny does or however Sonny feels, it’s not her problem anymore.

Drew tells Sam that he’s considering a leadership position at Aurora, and taking a more active role. He knows she hired Michael as head of media, and he’s doing a great job. The numbers are solid, so he doesn’t want to step on what Michael’s doing, but he does have ideas on where the company should go. Sam says he doesn’t need her approval. He still owns the company, and now that Jax is devested due to conflicts of interest, he can implement anything he wants. She thinks he should go for it. Her phone beeps, and she says she has another appointment; she has to run. He has her full support.

Sam goes to the bar, and joins Olivia and Carly. She says, so are they doing this? and Carly asks what they’re doing. Olivia says she took the liberty of planning a little something to help Carly process her emotions. Carly says, okay, and drains her glass.

The three women go to an ax-throwing place that also serves alcohol (great combination), and Carly asks if they’re really doing this. Olivia says, damn straight. We’re going to throw some axes, ladies.

Nina asks if something happened between Curtis and his dad, when Stella comes back. She says she thought Curtis was making progress with Marshall, and Curtis says, they were. Where’s the food? Stella says, it’s coming. He was saying? Curtis says, he and Portia are moving in together, so the equation has changed. Nina says, that’s great news. She’s glad things are working out for him. He says, they are, but with his situation changing, he needs to know more about his father’s past. Stella says she thought he made his peace with that, and he says he was keeping an open mind. Marshall, of his own admission, said he got mixed up with some dangerous people. So now that Portia is moving in with him, he needs to know he’s not putting her life at risk. If he’s going to let Marshall in his life, he needs to know more about his. Stella says, give him time, but Curtis says, it’s not dependent on Marshall anymore. Drew is helping him find out what Marshall’s been hiding. Nina’s phone dings, and she says she’s sorry. She’d love to stay, but she can’t. She says it was nice to see Stella, and hugs Curtis, telling him that she loves him and to be safe. She leaves, and Stella asks if Curtis is out of his damn mind. He says, absolutely not. He just wants to protect the people he loves. She asks, how? What exactly is he planning?

Drew shakes Marshall’s hand, and says he’s glad Marshall gave him a call. Marshall says Drew had him curious at this proposition, and they sit. Drew says, now that he’s back in town, he’s getting more involved with his media company. He’s not exactly sure how much Marshall knows about his past, and Marshall says, Curtis told him that Drew had been presumed dead for two years, but had really been captured by this August guy. Drew says, sad, but true, and Marshall says he’s been doing some reading about Drew online. He knows Drew is a member of the Quartermaine family, and he also read about Drew’s brother who died. Drew says Marshall has done his homework, and Marshall says he always likes to know about the people he’s potentially doing business with. He hopes that doesn’t make Drew feel uncomfortable. Drew says, not at all. He feels exactly the same way.

Finn tells Chase, he wouldn’t pretend to know the first thing about life or love. He just wants his little brother to find the happiness he deserves. If there’s anything Chase needs, Finn’s here for him. Chase thanks him, and Finn’s phone rings. He says, it’s Elizabeth, and tells her that he’s sorry he’s late. He stopped at Chase’s, and he’s on his way right now. Elizabeth says, someone broke into her house, and he asks if she and the boys are okay. She says, nobody was home, and he says, that’s good. Was anything taken? She says she doesn’t know; she hasn’t had a chance to look. Does he remember she told him about that painting Franco did of her? He says, she told him that she was sorry she didn’t bring it home. It got destroyed in that fire in the studio. She says, except it didn’t. Somehow that painting survived, and whoever broke in, placed it front and center in her house. She has to go; the police are here. Finn says he’s on his way, and Chase asks, what happened? Finn says, someone broke into Elizabeth’s house, and Chase says he’ll come with Finn, but Finn thinks Chase being at a crime scene while he’s on suspension isn’t a good look. Chase tells Finn to call and keep him posted, and Finn says, absolutely.

Michael says he’s all for keeping Nina away from Wiley, especially now, but something tells him that they should take their time and look at the situation from all angles, so they know emotion isn’t driving their decision. The bottom line is, they both want what’s best for Wiley. She says she’s glad she talked to him about this. She’s really angry at Nina right now for a variety of reasons, but they don’t know what will happen in the future, right? Carly and Sonny could reconcile. He says he loves her optimism, but she shouldn’t hold her breath, and she says she thought Chase would never forgive her when he found out about them, but they found a way past the pain and betrayal, and he forgave her… At least until she kind of blew everything up again. He says he thinks she means we. They judged Chase and Brook for sleeping together, when the whole time, they were actually trying to protect Maxie’s baby. She says, now they owe them an apology; she especially owes one to Brook. He suggests they stop by tonight, but she says she has a big exam tomorrow. If he wants to go without her, she promises to touch base with them tomorrow. He says, that works, and tells her, study hard. He’ll see her at the house later. They kiss, and she says she’ll try not to be too late, and Michael leaves. Willow sits down, and Nina comes by.

Finn runs into Elizabeth’s house, and asks if she’s all right. She hugs him, and says she’s a little freaked out. Dante joins them, and says, there’s no evidence of forced break-in anywhere. Could this person have stolen a key? She says she used her key to get in, and Cameron says, him too. Dante asks, what about his brothers? and Cameron says, they have their own housekeys, but Aiden’s at school and Jake is at the library doing a project. Elizabeth says, there’s a hidden key out front, but only she and the boys know about it. Of course (🍷) Franco knew. Dante says he supposes whoever broke in could have used that one. Is she sure the painting was in the studio at the time of the fire? She says, yes; she never moved it. He says, it seems that whoever this arsonist is, is the same person who broke into her house. Elizabeth says, oh my God. She thinks she knows who did this.

Drew says, he wants to expand into the jazz empire. With Aurora’s reach, he really believes they can help talented artists connect with their audiences. He has to confess, he’s not even a novice. He knows little to nothing about jazz. He needs expert advice. He needs a consultant or a concierge, if you will. Somebody who really has a feeling for the music, and where it’s evolving. Marshall says, it sounds like he’s Drew’s man, and Drew says he needs Marshall’s experience. Has he always strictly been a gig musician? Marshall says, it’s how he made the majority of his money, but a job in that field is feast or famine, so from time to time, he had to take jobs to pay the bills. Drew asks, what about now? and Marshall says he hasn’t had a steady gig since he came to Port Charles. He’s starting over and going to reestablish himself. Drew says, he knows the feeling, and Marshall says he supposes Drew does. Come on, man. He knows what this is. Curtis put him up to this, didn’t he?

Curtis says, Drew is just helping him get answers to the questions Marshall refuses to answer, and Stella says, in other words, he’s sneaking around. No good has ever come from that. He says he was a former P.I. Sometimes sneaking around is the only way to get to the truth. If it was just him, he could let it go, but he has Portia and Trina to consider. Marshall left this family for decades. That speaks volumes for how dangerous the folks he was running with are. She says, Portia knows what he does about his father, and she’s still in. Give her credit for making her own choices. He says, what about Trina? He doesn’t want to gamble with her safety. He pulled her out of danger one time, and doesn’t want to put her back in it again. He needs complete answers. She says she understands that, but she’s just worried he’s going about it the wrong way. Instead of him and Drew sneaking around like spies, why doesn’t he do what she suggested, and talk to him. He says he’s tried repeatedly; with Marshall, it’s always a dead end. He’s made it abundantly clear, he’s only going to tell Curtis so much. He knows Stella has her opinions, but could she please trust that he knows what he’s doing? She asks if he remembers when she interfered with his and Portia’s relationship, and he says, how could he forget? She says she stuck her nose in where it didn’t belong, and Trina was hurt as a result. If he keeps poking around behind Marshall’s back. someone could get hurt, and she’s afraid that someone will be him.

Chase is about to go out the door with a box, and finds Michael about to knock. He says, Brook’s not here, and Michael asks if he can come in. Chase says, sure, and Michael says he was hoping to talk to both of them. Will Brook be back soon? Chase says, she’s in Bensonhurst visiting her mother. It’s been rough on her, giving Bailey back to Maxie. She needed to decompress. He’s packing up his things, and he and Michael are far from friends right now, so can it wait? Michael says he’s afraid not.

Carly says, this is ridiculous, but Olivia says, this is therapeutic. Instead of avoiding her emotions, she can release them by throwing an ax at some wood. She even brought a picture for inspiration. She shows a picture of Nina to Carly, but Carly tells her to put it away; she’ll use her imagination. They throw axes, and there’s a song part, but it’s not nearly as fun as when Anna and Obrecht smashed stuff.

Nina tells Willow that she’s visiting her photo editor; she got her appendix out. Willow tells her, enjoy the visit. If Nina will excuse her, she has a big exam to study for. Nina asks if she can spare a few minutes, but Willow says she has a lot of notes to go over. Nina promises it won’t take long. She was hoping after their conversation the other day, Willow was more open to her spending time with Wiley; maybe this weekend. Willow says she can’t talk about this right now, but Nina says, she’s missing her grandson. She knows Willow has to discuss it with Michael, but she was wondering if Willow could give her any indication of how he’s feeling. Willow says she’s astounded that Nina would ask her about Wiley, given the situation with Michael’s parents. Nina says she’s sorry Carly and Sonny weren’t able to work things out, but she doesn’t see how it has any bearing on her relationship with Wiley. Willow says, Carly caught Nina in bed with Sonny. Nina went after a married man like a heat seeking missile, and she doesn’t see why they’d have a problem with that? Nina guesses she shouldn’t be surprised Willow found out, but she never intended for that to happen. Willow asks if Nina keeps a running tally on how many times she’s used that phrase. How many lives have been ruined or damaged by things she never intended? How the hell can Nina ask Willow to advocate for her when she doesn’t believe a word Nina says?

Drew says, it’s a job interview, and Marshall says, and Drew is only doing this because Curtis asked him to help Marshall out. Or does Drew expect him believe he’d hire a musician he doesn’t know to be his jazz concierge? He’s nobody’s charity case, least of all his son’s. The interview is over. He gets up, and Drew says, hear him out.

Michael says he came to apologize, and Chase says, for what? Michael says he had no right coming down so hard on Chase about Brook and Bailey. He’s sorry. Chase says, apology accepted, and Michael says, that was way too easy. Chase says, he’s in the middle of packing up his life; he doesn’t really have it in him to lay into Michael right now, even though he most definitely deserves it. Michael says, Chase loved Bailey too. He can only imagine what Chase must be going through having to let her go. Would he feel better unloading? Chase took a lot of heat from everyone, himself included. He got suspended from the PCPD. He was doing a good thing; Michael had no right to judge. Chase says, Michael had zero right. He acted like Chase sleeping with Brook – which did not happen, by the way – was on par with what Michael and Willow did to him. Michael slept with his wife, and then had the nerve to lay into him because he hurt Willow’s feelings? Cut the crap. The real reason he’s here is to absolve his own guilt. It’s selfish and self-righteous. Michael asks if Chase feels better, and Chase says, actually, yeah. Wow. It would take a lot more than that for me to feel better.

Dante says, Elizabeth has a suspect? and she says, Betsy Frank. He says, Franco’s mother, and Finn asks if she told Dante about the other incident. She says she did, and Dante asks what evidence she has that points to Betsy. She says, Betsy sent her a Valentine’s card. It was very gothic, almost morbid. So she called Betsy today, and it turns out she’s in town visiting Franco’s grave. Convenient, doesn’t he think? She claims she just got here, but she could have been here for months. Dante says he’d like to see the card, but what did she and Betsy talk about? She says, Betsy told her about visiting Franco’s grave, and that she likes to pretend he’s still alive. She also knows Elizabeth is dating Finn because Betsy follows her on social media, which makes her wonder if that pushed her over the edge. Finn says he doesn’t know this woman at all, but for her to go to those lengths seems kind of extreme. Elizabeth says, Betsy’s not there on a good day, and now she’s grieving. People can be pushed to do desperate things while they’re grieving.

Nina wonders where this is coming from. She thought she and Willow had a cordial conversation the other day. Willow says, they did, but she realized it’s just part of Nina’s pattern. Every time she thinks they’ve made headway, she finds out Nina held onto information, or just plain lied by omission. Nina says, what happened between her and Sonny is no one else’s business, and Willow asks, then why go out of her way to drop hints that things between her and Carly were irreconcilable? This isn’t the first time Nina threw her under the bus, but it’s going to be the last. If she’s going to create discord between Michael’s parents, then be nice to her while withholding that information, Willow is going to feel used, played. And trust her, she’s going to resent it. Nina says she’s not trying to play Willow. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. She’s so appreciative of Willow trying to be her ally. Willow says, she’s not Nina’s ally; she’s Wiley’s mother. And until Wiley is old enough, it’s her job to decide what’s best for him, and that includes vetting the people he spends time with. Nina says, Wiley is her family. He’s her grandson. He’s the only thing she has left of her daughter. He’s her blood. Willow says, blood doesn’t entitle Nina to have a relationship with someone. Not if she’s going to hurt them.

Stella says, maybe Curtis should trust that Marshall knows what’s safe or not safe. He’s the one who’s lived his life, and in a much better position to judge than Curtis. Curtis says he wants to know and trust his father, but he can’t do that when he’s so closed off, and Stella says, he needs to trust Curtis too. Give the relationship time to grow; put in the work. Maybe then Marshall will disclose the things he wants to know. But mark her words, if he sneaks around in Marshall’s private business, there will be no chance of that happening.

Drew says, Curtis did ask him to interview Marshall for this job, and he was happy to oblige because he needs a jazz musician. Curtis thought Marshall would be a good fit, and he agreed. Is it so terrible his son is trying to help him out? Marshall says, he supposes not, and sits back down. Drew says, if his friendship with Curtis complicates things, feel free to walk away; no harm, no foul. He’s just got to look elsewhere. Marshall says he doesn’t want to be hasty; the job does sound interesting. Drew says, if they are going to work together, he does have to tell Marshall about the company’s HR policies. Aurora has contracts with the government, and due to their sensitive nature, he has contacts with intelligence agencies to do in depth background checks as a precaution. Marshall asks if all that is necessary, and Drew says he’s afraid so. It’s a condition of their standard policy, just in case of clearance or security issues; it’s pretty simple. HR sends some forms, he puts in his past employers and past addresses, any aliases in case he performed under a stage name. Marshall says, this job doesn’t sound like he’ll have enough time for his own music. He’s going to have to respectfully decline. He hopes there are no hard feelings. Drew says, no, and they shake hands. Marshall says he hopes he sees Drew at his gig, and Drew says, absolutely. He looks forward to it. He thanks Marshall for his time, and Marshall says, sure thing, and leaves.

Michael says, what Chase said about him feeling guilty, he was right. He and Willow felt guilty about their feelings for each other, and hated that it would hurt Chase, so they put off telling him for what they thought were the right reasons, but it was still dishonest. When Chase said he’d slept with Brook, it seemed to balance the scales, and let him off the hook a little. He’s sorry. Chase says, Willow married him because she thought he was dying. Then when he couldn’t walk, she stayed with him to give him hope. He’ll always wish they hadn’t lied to him, but he understands why they did it. Michael wonders when they try to do the right thing they always end up lying, and Chase says, it’s definitely counterintuitive. Michael says, when it comes to doing the right thing, Chase definitely wins. This is the second child he’s saved, right? Chase says, yeah, but Michael and Willow kind of saved his life, so they’re even. Michael says, not even close, and Chase suggests Michael help close that gap by helping him load boxes into his car. He hands Michael a heavy box that says BLQ Bathroom on it.   

Dante asks if Elizabeth minds if he hangs onto the card, and she says, not at all. He asks if Betsy knew about the spare key, but she says, not to her knowledge. She supposes Franco could have told her, but she can’t imagine why. He asks, what about the boys? Could she have checked in with them, and they told her? Cameron says he hasn’t spoken to her, and how weird would it be for her to contact Jake and Aiden? Dante says, Jake and Aiden didn’t mention anything when Elizabeth checked in with them, did they? She says she didn’t tell them about the break-in; she just wanted to make sure they were okay. She never considered Betsy could be using her sons. Dante says, in case one of the kids is involved, he’ll keep a low profile on this, so she can take that worry off her mind.

Olivia tells Carly, looking good, as they pour from a pitcher of beer. Carly says, who knew it could be so much fun and feel incredible to throw an ax? Who came up with this idea? Sam thinks a lumberjack, and Olivia says, if only they could throw axes at all of their problems. Although she guesses in Sonny and Nina’s case, that might not be a very good thing. Sam asks if they really think it’s a good idea to drink beer and throw axes at the same time, and Carly says she does. Speaking of Sonny, she just signed away all her claims to community property. Olivia asks if Carly thinks that’s a good idea, and Carly says she just wanted it to be over, and move forward. Sam asks if she thinks she can, and Carly says, not right now. She can’t move past all the damage Nina did, no matter how hard she tries, and doesn’t think she’ll be able to move past it until Nina pays. Olivia says she doesn’t blame Carly, but karma will take care of this. Nina will get what’s coming to her. Carly says, karma takes too long, and Olivia says, it’s not healthy to focus on revenge. Sam says she thinks Olivia is right. Carly has a new life ahead of her; why doesn’t she focus on that?

Nina asks how Willow could say that. She’d never hurt Wiley. Willow says she doesn’t doubt Nina’s love for Wiley; she just doesn’t know what she’ll get with Nina. Nina says she thinks about Wiley all the time, and misses him every day. She realizes she’s made mistakes. It might be hard to believe, but she’s learning from her mistakes, and promises to be more forthcoming in the future. Willow says she wants to keep the door open for Wiley to have a relationship with Nina, but Michael is another story, and she’s starting to understand where he’s coming from. Nina says, do not keep her from her grandchild.

Curtis says, maybe he and Drew planned the wrong move, and Stella tells him, be patient a while longer, and she believes he’ll learn all he needs to know, and then he can make better decisions to keep all of them safe. He says, that’s all that matters, and his phone rings. He says, Drew, and tells Drew that he was just about to call him. Drew says he has news about Curtis’s dad, and Curtis says, never mind about the interview. Drew says, too late, they just finished, and Curtis asks how it went. Drew says, Marshall turned him down. He wouldn’t agree to a background check.

Dante says he’ll look into Betsy’s whereabouts for the last few months or so, when Cameron comes in, and says he just finished talking with the officer. He showed him the hiding place for the key. Dante thanks him, and tells them not to touch the painting for a little longer. He leaves, and Finn asks how Elizabeth is holding up. She says, the thought that Betsy’s been here for months, using her knowledge of Elizabeth and Franco to play these games is creepy. Has she been breaking into the house the entire time? Following her to work, getting her key, and bringing it back? She’s been working too much. Betsy could have hurt the boys, and she wasn’t there to protect them. Cameron says he can protect them just fine. He’s going to get someone to cover his shift. He doesn’t want Elizabeth to be alone. Elizabeth says she doesn’t want Cameron upending his life over this, and Finn suggests he bunk there for a couple days, just until Dante sorts this out. Chase has been bugging him to spend time with Violet, and she’d like it; more candy, staying up late, and Chase could really use her company right now. Elizabeth says, it’s not an imposition? and Finn says, not at all. Under the circumstances, he’d feel better if he stayed. Cameron says, then it’s settled. He’ll get ready for work. He goes upstairs, and Finn holds Elizabeth. She says she doesn’t want Cameron taking this on. Does he thinks she’s overreacting? He says, no. She’s doing the right thing. He’ll stay until she feels safe again.

Carly tells Sam and Olivia, she’s going with her Initial instinct; she deserves a fresh start. They clink glasses, and she says, watch this. With this throw, she releases herself from Sonny and Nina. Good riddance. She throws the ax, and makes a bullseye. Olivia and Sam cheer.

Willow tells Nina, she’s not saying Nina will never see Wiley again, but they need to let things settle. Nina asks what that means, and Willow says she doesn’t think there’s a path to Nina seeing Wiley on Saturday. Nina says, let her remind Willow, as Wiley’s biological grandmother, she has rights in this state. She hasn’t pushed it out of a gesture of goodwill. But if this is the path they’ll be taking now, that Willow and Michael get to decide to block access to her grandson, then they leave her no choice. She will fight for her rights. She walks away.

Tomorrow, Finn asks if Elizabeth thinks he’s accusing her sons; Anna says, the investigation isn’t completely wrapped up; Marshall says, it might not be safe to do that; and Dante thinks Elizabeth has a stalker.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Another show I often wonder why I watch.

Teresa said Luis was the love of her life, and she was going to protect them. She told a producer, go f*** yourself, and peeled out. Jennifer tried calling her, but got voicemail, so she sent a message for Teresa to call. Bill called, saying he was on his way, and Jennifer told him that Teresa had stormed out, but she had no idea what happened. Teresa was having a party at her house, and invited people Jennifer didn’t like, then took off. It was the definition of leaving someone hanging, and now she had to play hostess. Dolores ranted to Frank about Jackie commenting on Bill sticking his d*ck in someone else, and in her interview, she said it pissed her off that Jackie questioned her loyalty to Jennifer, then talked behind Jennifer’s back.

Bill arrived, and the the guests follow shortly after. In Marge’s interview, she said things were improving with Jennifer, but things were awkward with Bill. She had nothing against him, but she had an issue with the way Jennifer chastised women. In particular, this woman. Jennifer told them about Teresa jetting, and Jackie asked what upset her? She wondered if it had something to do with Luis, and Melissa said she was warned this would happen. Marge asked if Teresa took the food, because she was starving, which sounded like something I would say. Jennifer said they had food, and everyone sat outside. Melissa said she and Jennifer were always going at it, and Jennifer insisted she was just teasing. We flashed back to some nasty comments from Jennifer that didn’t look like teasing to me, and Jennifer said she didn’t know Melissa would get offended that much, which was really another dig. Dolores and Frank joined the group, and they started eating. Dolores asked if Teresa was coming, but nobody knew.

Marge wondered if Teresa wasn’t going to show up for her own party, and Melissa said Teresa was terrified they’d talk about Luis. In Teresa’s interview, she said, since Marge brought up the video, she was sure Marge was talking behind her back. She wanted to handle the situation, and said no one should judge, especially about someone’s past. That’s when she steps in. At the party, Marge said Luis wanted to be with Teresa, and things being made public went with the territory. Teresa and Luis arrived, and in Marge’s interview, she said it was so Teresa. She leaves in a huff, and comes back like nothing happened. Joe #2 asked what Lewis played in high school, and without missing a beat, Frank said, with himself. I laughed so hard, I have no idea what Luis said. It suddenly got very quiet, and Marge said, an awkward silence. Traci whispered to Melissa that she wondered if they’d be addressing the elephant in the room, and Teresa honed in on it, demanding, what elephant? Marge told her that Jennifer had said she left in a fit, and Teresa looked all shocked like she had no idea what Jennifer was talking about. Jennifer said Teresa had been upset, and she was unsure if Teresa was coming back, but Teresa insisted that didn’t happen. She said if stuff was going on behind her back, she was going to find out. Marge said nothing was being said behind her back, but they were curious about the video. People were concerned about her. Teresa said, whatever happened in the past was past. All she wanted to focus on was her present and future with Luis. Luis asked what they wanted to know, but Teresa said he didn’t owe anyone an explanation. Marge said, it was out there, and Teresa was a public figure. Why was she so  defensive? Teresa got louder, and said she didn’t like how nasty Marge was, talking behind her back. She’d been with Luis a year, and Marge should be happy for her. Marge said she was happy, but concerned, and Teresa told Luis not to answer Marge’s question. Marge said she hadn’t asked anything, and Teresa said she got protective when someone went after Luis. Marge said, no one was going after him, and Luis got up to talk. Teresa told him, stop, but he ignored her. He told Marge that on her best day, she didn’t intimidate him, and in Marge’s interview, she said she was trying to help him explain himself. Everyone thought the video was crazy. Teresa kept trying to get Luis to stop talking, and he told her that she had two ears and one mouth; stop interrupting him. Marge said the video was all over the internet, and everyone had wondered about the camp. Luis said he’d become good at business, but had grown up in trauma. A friend of his had started a Warrior camp in California where men could visit their pain and get clarity. He had to learn to be vulnerable, and he’d needed to tell someone that he didn’t want to marry them, and apologize for not being honest. In Jackie’s interview, she said, in the video she saw, Luis was asking someone to marry him. In Marge’s interview, she wondered if he was lying to their faces. Luis said he had a thirsty ex who tried to embarrass him by posting it, but he was proud of the work he’d done. Teresa said, happy now? and Joe #2 asked what she was upset about. Jennifer gossiped all the time, and called him a crook, but Teresa still hung out with her. Teresa said he and Melissa hung out with Marge who went after Jennifer. Marge said Jennifer had been coming at her since they met, and in Dolores’s interview, she said she couldn’t believe they were talking about this again. Has she seen the show?

Jennifer said Marge had exposed a secret, but everything she brought up was already out there. Melissa said Jennifer had dug around, trying to find out who Evan was banging, but Jennifer said Frank had said he knew the woman. Frank told her that he’d never said that, and Jennifer threw Bill under the bus, saying, he was the one who told her. In Jackie’s interview, she said, if Jennifer had found out Evan cheated, she would have shouted about it so everyone could hear it. Jennifer had just been trying to hurt her, like Teresa did. Be a real woman and admit it. Tiki walked into the middle of this mess, and I’m surprised he didn’t walk right back out. Melissa said, when it was about Luis, Teresa said they were digging, but when Jennifer went after someone, it wasn’t digging. Jennifer had called her husband a crook. Jennifer said it was hearsay, and already out there. We flashed back to realtor Michelle telling Jennifer that Joe #2 hadn’t paid her husband. Melissa said Jennifer had written a f***ing novel on social media. Jennifer whined that Melissa had started it, and she was retaliating, adding Joe was a little bitch boy. In Melissa’s interview, she said she would never speak of any of the men that way. Melissa got up, and she and Jennifer got in each other’s faces. When Melissa tried to go into the house, Jennifer grabbed her.  

No surprise, this triggered Melissa to start swinging (and rightly so), but Dolores got in the middle. Melissa said Jennifer looked like a loser; have some couth. Jennifer said, no, you, and Melissa said, you don’t you’re your hands on people. Because she can take responsibility for nothing, Jennifer said Melissa started it. Melissa said she didn’t give a f*** about Jennifer, and Jackie said she was done with Jennifer. Jennifer said Jackie had come to her, pretending to be her friend, and then said Bill had stuck his d*ck in someone else. Jackie said, he did. By the way, during this entire thing, Bill just hung around the outskirts, looking like he wasn’t even paying attention. In Jackie’s interview, she said Jennifer had tried to dig up information on Evan, and shown no remorse. Then she put her hands on Jackie’s friend, so she was done with her. Jennifer screeched for Melissa and Jackie to get out of her house. Jackie had tried to ruin her friendship with Dolores. In Dolores’s interview, she said, Jennifer got herself into trouble and pissed people off, but they were ganging up on her right now. Jennifer was hurt, and no one had empathy for her, when her husband had been called out as a cheater. Tiki and Traci escaped with the others, and in the car, Melissa said, Bill can’t stand Jennifer.

Jennifer ranted that Melissa had started with her, then Teresa’s brother got in on it. Um… He is Melissa’s husband. In the car, Melissa said that if her sisters had been sitting there, everybody would need to watch it, but Joe’s sister didn’t even budge, and it annoyed her. As a matter-of-fact, she was going to text Teresa right now. Bill hid in the kitchen with the other guy, and Teresa said she knew Jennifer had no ill intentions. In Frank’s interview, he said, these women are crazy. This wasn’t going to be the end of it, but he was a man’s man, and took the position of not getting involved in women’s drama. Teresa texted Melissa back that she’d make this better tomorrow.

Back at their own house, Dolores told Frank that melissa had charged at Jennifer, and when you charge at someone, where they come from, it means a fight. I don’t know where she got this charging business, since Jennifer grabbed Melissa as she was walking past, but they’re all idiots who make it up as they go along. Joe #2 told Melissa that Jennifer was not a nice person, and Melissa said, Bill checked out of the building, walking away when his wife got in another woman’s face. Jennifer wasn’t happy about that either, and told Bill that he just stood there. He should have gotten in the middle, and now everyone is thinking he didn’t defend her, and probably can’t stand her. Jackie told Evan that she’d made the comment in the context of feeling bad for Jennifer. Jennifer had taken all the pain, when it was Bill who had done wrong. In Jackie’s interview, she said she knew how it hurt because she’d been there, and to think Jennifer had been trying to add to her pain was upsetting. Jennifer had taken the friendship she’d offered, and thrown it in her face. She was done. Joe #3 told Marge that it had been psychotic, and Marge said she was glad they went past the video topic. Luis told them he’d been breaking up with someone, but on the video, he’d asked them to marry him. Tiki told Tracy that he didn’t even get to finish his drink, and Teresa told Luis that Marge had an evil streak. Luis asked if they could stop talking about it. I’m starting to like him, but I wonder if he’ll last.

At Missy G’s, everyone gathered for breakfast, and Jackie wondered what happened at Jennifer’s after they left. At Jennifer’s place, she made a traditional Turkish breakfast. I don’t know what all was on the table, but it looked good, and it was a lot of food. She told the kids to go play because it was going to be adult time. Jennifer insisted Melissa had charged at her. Marge told Joe #3 that Luis had said she wouldn’t intimidate him on her best day. What man would say that to a woman? Melissa got ready for her pink party, and said, pink makes people happy. Teresa said she was going to talk to Melissa. She was family, and Jennifer was a dear friend. She was going to make it worse help then make up.

At Joe #2 and Melissa’s house, everyone got in the pool. They played a stupid game where the couples were asked questions like, who was more likely to…? The questions ended up being mostly about sex, and it was TMI. Jennifer told Gabby that since they weren’t going to Melissa’s party, they’d have a family night, and their own pink party. Dolores found a photo of her and Frank’s first New Year’s Eve together, and OH MY GOD, THE HAIR. In her interview, she said it was her first night out with her older boyfriend, and she was so excited. Frank ended up staying over on a mattress in the living room, and woke to her mom throwing holy water on him. He’d thought the dog was peeing on him. At Melissa and Joe’s, Marge said, a friend who couldn’t be honest with you wasn’t a friend, and Traci wondered why Teresa was staying at Jennifer’s after Jennifer insulted her brother and fought with Melissa. If someone had done that to her, she would demand her siblings not be friends with them. At Jennifer’s, Teresa left for Melissa’s party, and told Jennifer that they’d make it better. Jennifer said, don’t lose her temper.

Melissa squealed over all the pink, and the food looked fantastic. Melissa asked, what happened after they left? and Dolores said Melissa had charged at Jennifer like she was going to hit her. Again, is she watching the same show I am? Melissa said she stood up to make her point, but Dolores said she thought Melissa was going to hit Jennifer, and Melissa said, Jennifer was the one who grabbed her. Marge said Jackie had been empathetic toward Jennifer, and Jackie said that showed how much she could let go of things. Dolores said she thought what Jackie had said was cruel and vulgar, and Jackie said, it had been misconstrued. I’m sure Dolores wished she had a dictionary handy, and Jackie said, Jennifer shouldn’t have had to shoulder all the guilt and shame. In Jackie’s interview, she said, Dolores would take any opportunity to throw her under the bus, and make herself look like the better friend. Jackie said Jennifer had only doubled down on the things she’d said, and she had enough. Dolores said everyone had ganged up on Jennifer, and Traci said, everyone jumped in, but it could have been resolved. Marge said Jennifer never apologized for anything, and she was an a-hole.  

Luis said he felt bad for Jennifer, but Joe #2 said he didn’t. Jennifer had evilness in her. Teresa said, if she thought that was true, she wouldn’t hang out with Jennifer, but Joe said Jennifer was malicious. Crook was a serious word. He’d been offended, but Teresa still hung out with her. Marge said that Jennifer talked sh*t, and Joe said they might have wondered about Luis’s video, but didn’t say he was a crook. In Joe #2’s interview, he said, when Jennifer talked about Teresa’s little brother like that, who’d busted his ass as far back as he could recall, Teresa should have eaten her alive. Traci told Teresa that Jennifer had called Joe #2 a little bitch boy, and you had to stand up for family; it worked both ways. Teresa said, only family? and in Teresa’s interview, she said Traci was trying to cause problems. Traci said she’d think Teresa would want Joe #2 to be vocal in supporting her, if the shoe was on the other foot, and this pissed Teresa off, so she and Luis left the party.

Tell me again how she doesn’t storm off.

Next time, a (literal) hornet’s nest, Dolores asks if Jennifer is still mad about the affair, and Evan tells Bill that Jennifer is not a good person.

🪕 Fare Thee Well…

Meet me tomorrow for soap and some OC. Until then, stay safe, stay having strength in the face of adversity, and stay remembering it’s not healthy to focus on revenge.

February 25, 2022 – News Of Peter’s Death Travels Fast, Kelly’s the Worst, Dolores’s Take, Heather Whines, Absent, Bribery, a Possibility, Dog, a Dozen Quotes For Black History Month & Taking You

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sam sees Dante near the hospital reception desk, and runs up to him. She says, Anna called, and said they were back in town. Is he a patient here? He says, no, he’s fine. He just has to do a follow-up for the hit in the head he took. He tells her that she looks beautiful, and apologizes for not calling on the way back. The WSB is debriefing him pretty much indefinitely. She says, he’s healthy; that’s the most important thing. Now will he shut up and give her a kiss? He says, yes, ma’am, and does.

Monica says she knows how disappointed Willow must be to postpone her trip to Paris, and Michael says, she doesn’t have a passport, and she’s having difficulty tracking down her birth certificate. Willow says, according to the State Department, they have no record of her. It’s almost like she never existed.

Alexis calls Harmony, and says she’s just checking in. At Charlie’s, Harmony asks if that’s what Alexis is calling giving her a gentle nudge in the right direction, but Alexis says she’s calling to offer moral support. She knows it’s a big day for Harmony. At one of the tables, cash changes hands for what’s no doubt a shady deal, and Alexis asks if Harmony is there. Harmony says Alexis is right; it’s probably one of the most important days of her life. The day she tells Willow that she’s not her biological daughter. Alexis says her boss is here, and she’s got to go. She’ll check in later. Good luck. Shawn walks into Alexis’s office, and says, Harmony, huh? She asks if he has a problem with that.

Elizabeth looks at the card from Betsy, and flashes back to finding her ring in her locker, getting stuck in the art therapy room, and discovering her dress was slashed. Finn asks if she’s okay, and she says she just zoned out for a minute. She needs some caffeine. He says, with the double-shifts she’s pulling, he’s not sure caffeine is going to do the trick. She says, maybe not, and he asks if that’s the card Franco’s mom sent her. She says, she was going to throw it out, and put the bad memories behind her, but unfortunately, she doesn’t think it will put an end to things. He asks what she means, and she says, something big is going on.

Carly looks at the family photo on her desk, along with her divorce papers. Her assistant says someone is here to see her, and Carly says, send them in. Drew walks in, and she asks, what happened?

Nina says, Sonny wouldn’t have called her if he hadn’t been drinking, but he says he would have called her sober. She says, that would have been a first. He’s looking down the barrel of a divorce because he played fast and free with his meds. He says, she doesn’t know that; he doesn’t know that. All he knows is that he’s going through a divorce, and she’s here. She says, he’s changing the subject, but he says he forgot what the subject was already. She says she can’t remember the subject right now, and he takes her hand. He pulls her to him, and they hug. Then he kisses her.

Monica says, Willow had a rather unorthodox childhood, but the fact that the government can’t produce her birth certificate is egregious. Willow says, it’s very frustrating, and Monica says, it’s ridiculous. If there’s anything she can do to help, please let her know. Willow thanks her, and the doorbell rings. Willow opens the door to Harmony, and says, hopefully, her mother can give her all the information she needs.

Shawn says he wouldn’t want someone to judge him based on the worst chapter of his life. He made a fresh start, and Harmony is owed one too. If Alexis says she’s changed… Alexis says, he’ll believe she has? He says, he’ll believe she believes it, and she says she’ll take it as a win. She’s sure he doesn’t want to talk about her personal life on company time, and he says she’s right. He has news of his own. News that’s going to change the future of this company.

Sam says, so it’s all over? and Dante says, it’s all over. Peter’s dead. Speaking of which, there’s some people he’s got to tell. She asks if she can be his back-up, and he says he’d love for her to be his back-up, but he should probably do this on his own. Can he meet her at her place afterward? She says she’s going to hold him to that, he kisses her again, and leaves.

Sonny takes Nina’s hand and starts to lead her to the bedroom, but she tells him, wait, stop. What they’re doing, it’s a huge mistake.

Carly tells Drew, she’s sorry; that wasn’t a great welcome home. She’s glad he’s back and safe, but she heard he went with Dante and Anna to find Maxie, and he has a really somber look on his face. He says, it’s all good news. Maxie is home, and she’s safe, and she’s reuniting with her daughter as they speak. Carly says, that’s wonderful news. When she heard what Maxie and Brook did to protect Maxie’s baby, it broke her heart. He says, the good news is, they never have to look over their shoulder again because Peter is dead. The nightmare he brought over all of them is over now. Maxie and her family can be together again.

Nina says she doesn’t want to cross the line with Sonny, but he says, the line’s already been crossed. She tells him not to joke this away. She thinks she’s made a lot of mistakes, and a kiss between them should mean a lot more than a distraction technique from the real issue of him and his meds. He says, it’s not a technique, and she says, the point is, he went on another bender. She doesn’t claim to be an expert here, but aside from the physical health concerns, alcohol can dull the effects of the medication. Even though he’s back on his meds, he could still be emotionally vulnerable until it kicks in. So what they were about to do would be wrong, just like it was wrong the other day. He says, what happened between them, that wasn’t drinking, and she says, no, but he was drinking heavily days before, and his body is readjusting to all the meds. That would explain what happened between them at the Haunted Star. Then Carly walked in on them. He says, what if he doesn’t want to explain it away? What if his drinking had nothing to do with what happened between them?

Finn says, something big is happening. Like what? Sam approaches them and says she’s sorry to interrupt, but have they spoken to Anna this morning? Elizabeth says, no, and Finn says he hasn’t spoken to her in a few days. Why? What’s going on? Sam says, she was in Europe, looking for Peter, and he’s gone. Elizabeth asks if he got away again, but Sam says, no. She means the other kind of gone; he’s dead. She knows she’s had a lot more time to process this, so she’ll say what they’re probably thinking. Peter has always managed to come back when they thought he was gone, but not this time. He’s finally dead, and he will never be able to hurt them, their families, or anyone else ever again.

Drew says, he knows it’s a lot to process about Peter’s death, but he thought Carly would be happy about Maxie. She says she is. She’s so happy Peter is dead. She just wishes Jason was here to see it. He says, Jason, his brother, and her… How would she describe Jason? She says, he was her person. He loved her unconditionally despite her many faults, and she loved him. She still loves him. Drew says, he died saving the lives of people he cared about. He set a course in motion that led to Peter’s downfall. He died a hero because that’s who he was. She says, he was certainly her hero. Always there when she needed him. She still needs him.

Sonny says, the medication and alcohol does explain the connection between him and Nina. They’re drawn to each other like a moth to a flame, and the night at the Haunted Star was a mistake for many reasons; the timing, hurting Carly. Then they talked that night at the chapel. He fell in love with Nina in Nixon Falls when he didn’t know who he was, and those feelings don’t just disappear. Maybe the silver lining is, they now finally get to unpack what they really mean to each other, without all the baggage and deception. She says she understands what he’s saying. They had all that baggage because she’s the one who created that. She described their love in Nixon Falls as pure, and it was, but that was only part of the story. The whole time, she was drowning in guilt. It was wrong of her to fall in love with him when he didn’t have his memory, just like it would be wrong if they explored anything between them when he’s so vulnerable. She goes to freshen up, and there’s a knock at the door. Frank says, there’s someone on the list to see him, and Dante comes to the door. He says, bad time?

Alexis says Shawn doesn’t sound very positive about that news. Should she be worried? Should she be updating her resumé? He says she knows how he keeps his cards close to his chest; it’s actually good news. The circulation for The Invader has actually increased. Aurora Media is downsizing its print division. They’re holding on to The Banner in Llannview for legacy reasons, but they’re divesting from their west coast news readers. She asks how this is affecting him, and he says he’s thinking of buying them up to expand The Invader’s reach. She says, that’s a huge deal; congratulations. He says, there’s just one catch. The offices are located in San Francisco, and he’d have to move there to make this work.

Harmony says, it’s good to see Monica, and Monica says, hopefully, Harmony can help Willow out with this birth certificate issue. Willow asks if they can use the living room, and Monica says, of course (🍷). Willow and Harmony go into the living room, and Monica asks Michael if he thinks Harmony will solve the mystery of the birth certificate. He says he doesn’t know. She’s been pretty evasive so far.

Willow says, Harmony mentioned on the phone that she has some news about Willow’s birth certificate, and Harmony says she does. Willow asks if everything is okay, and Harmony says, there’s something she needs to tell Willow.

Shawn tells Alexis that he’ll have to move his non-profit base of operations to San Francisco, at least for a while. Maybe someday, he can split his time between there and Port Charles. She says, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity. San Francisco’s a beautiful city. She’s so happy for him. He says, and yet, she doesn’t sound like she is, and she says, selfishly, she liked having him around again. She liked when they were rooming together; it was domestic and it was happy, like their happy little playing house. He says, like it would have been years ago, if he hadn’t screwed things up as a couple. She tells him, she didn’t say that, and he says, but she was thinking that. She says, they were good together… when they were good together. He tells her, he’d say they still are. He knows there are a million reasons for him to move to the west coast. He was just wondering if there was one better reason for him to stay.

Willow says, whatever it is, Harmony can tell her. She knows they’ve had their ups and downs, but she’s Harmony’s daughter; she’s here for her. Harmony says, she managed to find Willow’s birth certificate, and Willow asks, how? Harmony says she still has some connections in Claiborne County, and their record-keeping system is badly outdated, but she called in a few favors, and they’re going to send her a new copy of the birth certificate. Willow says, that’s great news, and hugs Harmony.

Elizabeth says, Peter’s dead? Is Sam absolutely sure? Sam says, according to Dante, yes. Anna saw Peter take his last breath. The WSB has possession of his body, did an autopsy, and they’re filing all of the paperwork. The reign of terror that Peter had is finally over. Finn asks if Elizabeth is okay, but she says she doesn’t know how to answer that. Peter was responsible for so much loss; Franco’s death and Jason’s death, all those months Maxie was kept away from her baby. It just feels like there should be something more. Finn agrees, and says, there’s certainly something appealing about Peter rotting in prison for the rest of his life, alone, knowing the world’s completely forgotten about him. At least there’s no possibility of escape this time. Elizabeth says she thought after all this time she’d feel some kind of closure. She’s relieved, but it doesn’t lessen what they lost. Sam says she knows how Elizabeth feels, and Elizabeth thanks her for telling them. She says, Sam doesn’t have to stick around, but Sam says, the way she sees it, her and Elizabeth had their lives significantly turned upside down in the past year and a half, but Jake and Danny are Jason’s sons, so they’re always going to be connected. Elizabeth sought her out when she found out Jason was marrying Carly, because she knew how Sam felt. What she’s trying to say is, she’ll always have Elizabeth’s back. Elizabeth thanks her, and says she’ll continue to have Sam’s. Sam says she’ll give them some private time, and leaves.

Drew says, he takes it things haven’t gotten any better between Carly and Sonny, and she says, it can’t get much worse than walking in on Sonny in bed with Nina; that was definitely a low point. And when she saw Sonny in bed with Nina, all she wanted to do was run to Jason. He had this way of making her feel like the world wasn’t going to end, even though the sky was falling. But she’s glad she ran into Drew. He has the same touch. He says he was worried he just made everything worse, considering they almost… They flash back to almost kissing, and she says, almost.

Nina is still in the bathroom, and Sonny invites Dante in. Dante says, he doesn’t know if anyone told Sonny, but Peter August is dead. Sonny says, really? and Dante says, he won’t be hurting anyone ever again. He wanted to let Sonny know before the news broke. He has to go to the Quartermaines, and let Monica and Michael know, unless Sonny wants to let Michael know. Sonny says, it’s better coming from Dante. Is he saying Anna took Peter out? Dante says, it was a team effort, and Sonny says, he’s going to check in with Anna; see what’s going on. Nina sees Dante is there, and stays hidden, and Dante says he’s not in any rush, and he knows Peter is the reason Jason is dead. So if Sonny wants to talk… Sonny says, he appreciates the offer, but he’s doing fine. Dante says, he’s not. Everything that’s going on with Carly, and his best friend that he’d normally confide this stuff in, isn’t here anymore. He’s not saying he’s Jason, but he’s here for Sonny. Sonny says he has nothing to talk about; he’s fine. He just wants to be left alone, that’s all. Dante asks if it’s a business problem, or is there another reason Sonny’s trying to get rid of him. Nina listens in.

Drew says, he and Carly made the right call stepping back that night. Whatever hole was drawing them together, he doesn’t want it to jeopardize their friendship. She says, they were both having a really bad night. She thought she’d spend the rest of her life with Sonny, and she’s sure he thought the same thing about Sam. And like that – she snaps her fingers – everything changed. He says, they’re not in the same boat; she and Sonny are married. She shows him the papers, and says, they’re getting a divorce. He says he’s sorry to hear that, and she says, her too. She feels like she didn’t have a choice. She kept asking Sonny over and over again to tell her what happened in Nixon Falls, and he just wouldn’t. He wanted to focus on the present, and she gets that, but when the truth came out, because it always does, she couldn’t believe how many secrets Sonny was keeping from her. Then when she walked in on him in bed with Nina, she had to choose herself. How could she be a good role model for Josslyn and Avery and Donna if she stayed in a marriage where she wasn’t respected? He says he can’t argue with any of that. So that’s it; it’s over? She says, they met with lawyers, and kept it as civilized as they could. They agreed, for Donna and Avery’s sake, they wanted to make it as seamless as possible, but they can’t really do that. Life is complicated. Her mouth drops open, and Drew asks, what is it? She says, she just realized. Does Sonny know Peter is dead? Does he have any idea the man who killed Jason is gone?

Dante says, Sonny should know by now, he can’t push Dante away that easy. He’s seen this before. He knows what it is, and knows walking away would be a bad idea. Sonny says, Dante is right. He shouldn’t have snapped at him like that. He had a bad day yesterday. He met with Carly and the attorneys to hammer out the divorce, and it didn’t go very well, so he’s embarrassed to say, he went out and had a lot of drinks, and he feels like hell today. He’s hung over. No big mystery. Some other time, they can have coffee and talk. Dante says he didn’t now Sonny and Carly were doing divorce proceedings. He’s sorry about that. He loves Sonny, and he’ll check in later. Call if he needs anything. Dante leaves, and Nina comes out. She thanks Sonny for not telling Dante she was here. She doesn’t feel like answering a bunch of questions. He says, she doesn’t owe anybody any explanations, and she says she’s just curious. Why didn’t he tell Dante that she was here? He doesn’t say anything, and she says, right. That’s just proof the kiss was a mistake.

Willow tells Harmony, she’s glad the answer was so simple. She was going crazy; it was like she didn’t exist. Harmony says, the way she raised Willow, it’s her fault, but Willow says, Harmony is a seeker. She asks the big questions, and sincerely wants to find a better way to live, a better way to be in the world. And the underlying impulses are good ones, even if some of the outcomes have been horrible and difficult. Harmony says she’s sorry if this process dredged up some memories of the past, but Willow says, that’s all it is now; the past. She’s glad they can move on together. She takes Harmony’s hand.

Alexis says, she’ll give Shawn two reasons; TJ and Molly. He says, TJ is a full-grown man, and his son wasn’t what he was talking about, and she knows that. When they reconnected last year, it felt like fate. She says, it did? and he says, it felt like they were given a do-over in their relationship, without repeating the same mistakes. She helped him get out of jail; now he’s helping her get some purpose back in life. They’re helping each other get back on track. They care about each other. So is he right? Has there been something bubbling up to the surface in the last few months? She says she hadn’t really thought about it, and he says, liar. She says, does she want him in her life? Absolutely. 100%. But when Neil died, a part of her shut down, and she’s not sure how to turn it back on again. He says, but she’d like to, right? when Sam comes to the door. Shawn says he’ll get Alexis those reports, and greets Sam on his way out. Sam says she hopes she wasn’t interrupting anything.

Finn tells Elizabeth that he doesn’t talk about it much, but he knows better than anyone, you don’t get over losing your spouse. It took him a long, long time to make peace with Rieko’s death. There may be a path forward for her, where she can hang onto the good Franco memories, and keep them with her, and at the same time keep the trauma of his death in the past. She says, if only it was that simple. She hasn’t told him what’s been going on with her, and Franco.

Michael asks, what’s the good word? and Willow says, her mom was able to track down her birth certificate. It should be arriving soon. Harmony says she should get going, and Willow opens the door. Dante is on the porch, and Michael asks what he’s doing here. Dante says he wanted to talk to Michael, and Harmony says she doesn’t need to be here for this, and leaves. Willow says she imagines Dante is here to talk about Sonny and Carly; she’ll give them some privacy. Dante says, actually, she should stay, and Monica as well. It involves all of them. He wanted to be the one person to tell them that Peter is dead. He’ll never hurt anyone again.

Drew tells Carly that he has no idea if Sonny knows about Peter. He’s been kind of busy getting debriefed by the Bureau. Carly hates the thought of looking at Sonny right now, but Jason’s family. She should be the one to tell him that Jason’s death was avenged. He says, if she wants some back-up, he’s happy to go with her. She looks at the family photo again, and he says, or he could break it to Sonny himself and take it off her plate.

Nina says, Peter’s dead? She can’t believe it. He made so many people miserable. What happens now that the horrible nightmare is over; it’s ended. He says, what usually follows an ending is a new beginning, and she says she should go. He grabs her arm, and says, she doesn’t have to go now, but she says she does. Whatever happens next, she hopes he considers cutting down on his drinking, or not drink at all. He deserves to have a clear mind when he figures out what he wants to do next. He says he’ll think about it because he believes he owes her that much, but she says, he doesn’t owe her anything. She touches his face, and says, he owes it to himself.

Finn says, so there was more to this besides the ring. Why didn’t Elizabeth say anything? She says, because she felt like she was imagining things, and he says, but it’s real. Tell him. She says, it was Valentine’s Day. She’d decided to donate the dress she wore when she married Franco. She wasn’t going to wear it again, and it had just been hanging in her closet in a garment bag. When the bag was opened, the dress was torn to shreds. She knows all of this seems so random on a case by case basis, but when you combine the ring, the dress, and this card… He says, it’s a pattern. She shouldn’t dismiss that. She says, she just feels like someone is doing this deliberately, and he asks if she’s sure the boys aren’t upset about them and acting out. She says, Cameron is so happy with Josslyn and PCU, his heart is not in a destructive place. He says, Jake and Aiden, and she says, she asked both of them, and they both insist they had nothing to do with the ring. She knows when her boys are lying, and she doesn’t think they are. She guesses she could ask them again. Finn’s phone dings, and he says he has to check on a patient. He’ll see her back at the house. It’s going to be okay.

Alexis asks if Peter’s death gave Sam any closure, and Sam says, closure and relief. Not only for herself, for the entire city, including Alexis. Peter was the one who gaslit Alexis into thinking Franco was a threat to her. Alexis says, she was drunk when she assaulted Dante, and can’t blame Peter for that. Prison, unfortunately, was a wake-up call that she needed to be sober. Sam says, then she reunited with Shawn. How are things going between the two of them? Alexis says, they’re just good friends. He’s also her boss, so anything beyond that would be inappropriate anyway. Sam says she can accept that, even though Alexis is the happiest Sam’s seen her since Neil died. And the way he died was so sudden and unexpected. Alexis pulled herself together, and keeps moving forward. Neil would want her happy. As a matter-of-fact, Sam thinks Shawn was probably the most stable relationship Alexis has been a part of since Sam’s known her. Alexis says, it’s a pretty low bar she’s set, and Sam says, true, but can’t Shawn be Alexis’s confidante, and not Harmony with all her baggage? She knows Alexis said she was giving Harmony a second chance, but has she really changed?

Harmony sits with the shady guy at Charlie’s, and he says, sorry. That seat’s taken. She says, yeah, by her. She’s seen him handle some shady business here and in the alley. Word on the street is, he’s good at forging documents. He says, maybe. What’s it to her? She says, how good is he at forging a birth certificate?

Elizabeth calls Betsy, and says, she knows it’s been a while. She got Betsy’s card, and has some news she thinks Betsy wants to hear. Is there any way she can come to town and talk in person?

Sam says, she freely admits that Harmony has gone above and beyond to redeem herself. She did help them track down Drew, but there is so much history between her and their family. Alexis says, they’ve been through this, and she appreciates it and understands, but she’s going to stop Sam her. Shawn is her friend, and Harmony has been her friend. She cares about both of them. That’s why she’s so grateful that Sam and the girls, including Shawn (I swear, she said it that way) are accepting the possibility that she may have changed.

Harmony gives a wad of money to shady guy, who says, it’s a pleasure doing business with her. He’ll be in touch when he has something. He leaves, and Harmony gets up. She turns around to see Shawn.

Michael says, this is a long time coming. To Jason. He, Willow, Dante, and Monica lift their glasses, and he says, and to all the people not here to see the justice they deserved. They clink glasses, and say, to Jason. Michael says, now they’ll be able to focus on putting all the people whose lives were torn apart by Peter, back together again.

Sonny says, he’ll think about cutting back for his own well-being, and wants to let Nina know it means a lot that she cares. She says she should know better, but she can’t seem to help herself. Sonny opens the door, and Carly and Drew are there.

On Monday, Shawn tells Harmony to watch her step, Alexis asks if Diane doesn’t trust her judgement, Elizabeth wonders if Jake is trying to tell her something, and Drew says he and Nina aren’t going to talk about Carly.

😲 Oh No She Didn’t…

How dare Kelly shade Queen LVP, she who can do no wrong?

👠 A Question Of Loyalty…

Has Dolores seen the show? Teresa isn’t a runner? Since when? Storming off is one of her specialties.

👶🏻 Boo Hoo…

Apparently, someone told Heather this was a sorority.

🧂 Skipping Mary…

Nothing really newsworthy, but amusing.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1320637/see-the-exact-moment-the-rhoslc-cast-learns-mary-cosbys-skipping-the-season-2-reunion

💵 No Accounting…

At least it tips her toward less boring.

💔 Not the Bubbas…

Let’s see. She doesn’t get along with his best friend and business partner, and she’s a go-getter while he’s unambitious AF. And no one saw it coming?

Katie Maloney: Did She Just Announce That She’s Divorcing Tom Schwartz?

🐕‍🦺 All About That Dog…

The article says, everybody was astonished at what the dogs could do, but I’ve had German Shepherds, and I can vouch for the fact they’re no dummies.

https://ew.com/movies/dog-co-director-reid-carolin/

👑 Quotes of the Week

Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed. – Booker T. Washington

Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. – Dr. Mae Jemison, first African-American female astronaut

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear. – Rosa Parks

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. – Nelson Mandela

Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list. – Dennis Leary

I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.Serena Williams

If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. – Shirley Chisholm

Life has two rules: number 1, never quit! Number 2, always remember rule number one. – Duke Ellington

Black history isn’t a separate history. This is all of our history, this is American history, and we need to understand that. It has such an impact on kids and their values and how they view black people. – Karyn Parsons

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost. – Arthur Ashe

A man without knowledge of himself and his heritage is like a tree without roots. – Dick Gregory

The soul that is within me no man can degrade. – Frederick Douglass

☁️ Drifting To Dreamland…

See you at Deadtime, but until then, stay safe, stay supporting equality for all, and stay not saying, I found your birth certificate, when what you really mean is, you’re not my biological daughter.

February 23, 2022 – Maxie’s Ordeal Finally Ends, No OC, Isaac’s Fave, Salty Talk, Reaction, Paternity, a Tease, Blank Slate, Sloth Fun & Mary

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Anna and Drew approach Felicia’s car, guns drawn. The car is empty, and Drew says, it looks like there’s an abandoned car with no damage. Maybe this car crashed, and the other one stopped to help? She says, or that one ran this one off the road, and he says, maybe Maxie’s running away from Peter.

On the embankment, Peter tells Maxie, he doesn’t have much time. Someone picked up his trail. Now climb back up here… Now. She tells him to hear her. She would rather die than go one more step with him. So go ahead, pull the trigger. But when he does, it’s the end of telling himself there’s one shred of goodness left in him, or that he can turn his life around. If he’s going to kill her because she doesn’t love him, admit he’s a monster. He says, she was supposed to save him. Instead, she abandoned him. This is all her fault. Felicia runs out of the woods behind Peter, and whacks him in the head with a tire iron. He tumbles down the embankment, the gun flying from his hand. Maxie goes down the stairs, and says, Peter? She picks up his gun, and tells him that she has it, but he doesn’t move. Felicia asks if he’s dead, but Maxie says she doesn’t know.

At the hospital, Austin asks if they’ve heard anything about Maxie, but Britt says, nothing yet. He says, if it ends up Maxie gets hurt because of something he’s done, he’s never going to be able to live with himself. Brook walks up with Chase, and she says, he thinks this is his fault? She should have known. What did he do now?

Sonny goes into Charlie’s, and sits at the bar. Bartender Johnny says he hates to disappoint, but Phyllis isn’t here. Sonny says he’s sorry to miss Phyllis, but he’s not here for her. He’s here for that. He points to the scotch, and says, scotch, single-malt, make it a double.

Sasha sits in Kelly’s, working, and Nina runs into Lucy outside. Lucy fans herself (with an actual fan) and says, isn’t this warm day absolutely glorious? They could have the meeting outside if they wanted to. Nina says she thinks that might be pushing it, but it’s nice not to have a coat and gloves. She suggests they go inside, saying, maybe they have air conditioning. Lucy grabs Nina’s arm, and says she really wants to talk to Nina first. Nina asks if they can talk inside; Sasha’s waiting. Lucy says, Sasha’s what she wants to talk about.

Mac is on the phone, when Robert walks into his room. Robert asks who he’s talking to, and Mac says he’s trying to reach Felicia. He should have known better than to think she’d be okay with standing on the sidelines, when Maxie’s missing with Peter. Come on, Felicia, pick up.

Felicia asks if Peter is breathing, but Maxie says she can’t tell. Felicia comes down the stairs, and takes Peter’s gun from Maxie. Anna calls to Maxie, and asks if she’s all right. She asks Felicia what she’s doing here, and Drew runs down to check Peter’s pulse. Drew says, he’s still alive, and Anna asks what Felicia is doing here. Drew says, he’s barely breathing, and Peter groans. Anna, Felicia, and Drew keep their guns on him.

Brando says, it’s good to see Sonny, and sits next to him. Sonny says, is it? and Brando asks if everything is okay. Sonny asks if Brando wants to join him in a drink, and Brando says, okay. Sonny says he was going to call Brando, but then lost track of time, but Brando says Sonny doesn’t have to check in. After everything that went down with Liam, it’s about as well as can be expected. Sonny doesn’t need to keep tabs on him. Sonny says Brando isn’t an obligation. He’s family, and family takes care of each other when times are tough. They remind you that you’re not alone. Brando says, in that case, this family thing’s a two-way street. If Sonny ever needs to talk… Sonny says he had a bad day, but Brando has a lot on his plate; losing Liam, and Sasha pulling away from him. Brando says he did make a little progress on that front. He and Sasha actually talked. Now he’s hopeful they’ll still have a future together.

A woman comes up to Sasha’s table, and says she hasn’t seen Sasha in ages. Sasha says, hi, Sienna. She tells Sienna hat she’s really been busy with work, and Sienna says, busy, huh? If Sasha needs anything… Sasha says, no thanks; she doesn’t do that anymore. Sienna says, no worries, but if Sasha ever needs a little pick-me-up to help her with all that work, Sasha’s got her number. Sasha thanks her, and Sienna goes to the counter.

Nina says, what’s wrong with Sasha? Other than the obvious, she’s grieving over the loss of her baby. Lucy says, yeah, that’s just it. This meeting she called. It’s after hours, and Sasha called her yesterday and made her pitch. She told Sasha it was really unnecessary. They can’t move ahead with the IPO until Maxie is found, so there’s really nothing new to discuss. Except maybe she should be cuddling up to Martin right now, instead of discussing new marketing strategy. Nina says, this is what she was afraid of. Sasha throwing herself into work so she doesn’t drown in grief over losing Liam.

Brook says, after everything she and Maxie did to keep Maxie’s daughter safe, Austin blows it by buddying up to Victor Cassadine? Austin says, he didn’t buddy up. He’s not buddies with that guy, and Brook has no right to judge him after everything she’s done. She lies so much, he’s surprised she and Victor aren’t buddies and BFFs. Chase suggests taking it down a notch, and Britt agrees. They’re all stressed and worried about Maxie. The two of them sniping at each other doesn’t help. Brook says, Britt’s right. Now is not the time. Austin agrees, and says, the only thing that matters is Maxie getting home safe.

Drew says, if Peter doesn’t get medical attention soon, he’s not going to make it. He realizes it’s not going to be a great loss; he’s just saying. Anna says she’ll take care of it, and steps away. Peter says, Maxie… and Drew says, you, shut up, and steps in front of the women. He tells Peter, shut up and stay still. They’re calling him an ambulance, believe it or not. Peter croaks out, Maxie, please wait.

Sonny raises his glass, and says, to things getting better for Brando. Brando clinks his beer bottle against Sonny’s glass, and thanks him. Sonny says, he knows what it’s like to lose a child, but at least Brando has Sasha to lean on. Brando says he’s trying to, but like he said, he wants to be there for Sonny too. He asks if this is about Carly, and Sonny says, this? indicating his glass. He hasn’t had a great day. He was with Carly the last part of the day, with her attorney and his attorney to hammer out a deal. They’re getting a divorce. He doesn’t want it; she wants it. She wants to cut her losses. The only thing she wants from the marriage is the house by the lake, and joint custody of Donna. He’s going to spend time with Avery at the penthouse, so they’re going to see less of each other, and Avery, all because their dad messed up. Brando says, they know Sonny loves them, and Sonny asks how Brando knows that. Brando says he’s seen Sonny with them; it’s pretty obvious. Sonny says, you should never assume the person you love knows how you feel, and drains his glass. He says, like Brando and Sasha. He’s glad they talked. What’s next? When is Brando going to see her again? Brando says, they hadn’t really talked about anything, and Sonny turns to him with a smile, and says, Brando has to change that. They’re making progress, and Brando has to show her how much he loves her.

Nina and Lucy sit with Sasha, and Nina says, she’s intrigued. What was so urgent, it couldn’t wait until tomorrow? Sasha says she knows they’re in a holding pattern with the IPO, but they have to be ready to hit the ground running once Maxie is back. Nina says, Sasha… but Sasha barrels on, saying, she has some ideas, but they’re more of a jumping off point. She hands them some folders.

Chase and Brook come into Mac’s room with Louise/Bailey, and Brook asks if anyone is up for a visit. Chase says, they tried driving her around to get her to sleep, but no dice, so they brought her here for a visit. Mac says he’s always thrilled to see his granddaughter, and introduces Robert to his great-niece Louise. Brook says, for right now, she responds to Bailey. They’re trying to call her Louise from time to time. (Here’s a suggestion. How about calling her Bailey/Louise for a while?) Robert says, look at that face; she looks just like Maxie. Brook says, she does, doesn’t she? and Chase says, speaking of which, have they heard any news? Mac says, not yet, and Brook asks, where’s Felicia? Mac says, that’s a very good question.

Peter whimpers Maxie’s name, and she asks if he’s wanting her sympathy. She strides over to him, saying, five minutes ago, he tried to kill her. All he’s done is leave a trail of destruction and broken lives. Liesl paid for his crimes; Drew lost two years of his life. Jason and Franco are dead thanks to him. It’s his turn now, and he deserves it. Peter says, please believe him. He never wanted this to happen. Drew says, he’s so wrong. Maxie is so far out of his reach; so is his child. He doesn’t get it. He survived this, and he’s going to spend the rest of his life in a cell, which Drew has to admit he finds kind of fitting. He knows Peter will have it so much better than he and Jason did, when they were in captivity, but they knew they were innocent. They had lives to come back to. Peter has nothing. He did it to himself. There’s nobody left to care about him. Nobody. Anna comes back, and says, medics are on the way, and asks if everybody is all right. Drew says, yeah, and she tells him to lead Felicia and Maxie up to the road. Felicia asks if she’s in trouble, but Anna says, no; they’ll sort it out. It was self-defense. She was saving her daughter’s life. Peter whimpers to Maxie that he’s scared, but Maxie says she’s leaving. She, Felicia, and Drew go up the stairs, and Peter says, Maxie, please. They leave, and Anna stays behind. Peter says, it’s just you and me, and Anna says, yeah. Just the two of us.

Lucy says she’s impressed, and Nina says, her too. Obviously, Sasha has been putting in a lot of hours and research. Lucy’s phone rings, and she says, it’s Marty, and asks if they’ll excusez-moi. She says she’ll be right back, and leaves. Nina says she had no idea Sasha knew so much about IPOs, but Sasha says she didn’t until recently. It’s amazing how much information you can get online. Nina says she hasn’t seen Brando around much lately. How’s he doing? Sasha says, she’s been avoiding him… but not anymore. They had a good talk. Even though seeing Brando makes her think about Liam, she knows Brando needs her, and she wants to be there for him. She loves Brando, and doesn’t want to lose him too.

Brando tells Sonny that he and Sasha grieve differently, and he doesn’t want to push her into something she’s not ready for. Sonny says he doesn’t want Brando to push her, but he has to let her know he wants to get together. It’s not good to be alone. Brando says, Sasha told him that she’s been avoiding him because she can’t look at him without being reminded of Liam. Sonny says, they need a change of scenery. Brando’s got to take her out of town, someplace romantic, and let her know how great they are together. He’s got a place in Niagara Falls; he’ll hook Brando up. Brando says, he likes the sound of that, but Sasha might not be feeling romantic. Sonny says, if Brando thinks she’s slipping away, he has to keep her close, because time apart is not good for anyone. Brando can trust him on that.

Peter asks if Anna is staying with him to gloat, but she says he’s her responsibility. She protected him when she believed that he could change. He says she’s always been so soft-hearted, and she says she does try to find the good in people – she crouches down next to him – even though some people don’t have any good in them. They embrace their evil tendencies until it controls them. He’s so like his father. Obsessed, entitled, convinced that he can just take whatever he wants. While he’s still alive, Maxie and Louise can never truly feel safe. He says she didn’t call the ambulance, did she? and she says, no, there’s no ambulance coming. She did, however, call the WSB to tell them that he’d been apprehended. She made it clear that the location wasn’t secure, and they shouldn’t approach. He says, so, a killer in the end, but she says, it depends on your perspective. He says, so now what? She walks away and leaves him to die? She says, no one deserves to die alone, not even him. She does hope wherever he winds up, he finds some measure of peace. He lifts his hand as much as he can, and she takes it. He breathes his last, and she cries a little, and says she’s sorry. She closes his eyes, and checks his pulse. She cries a little more, and says, it’s over. Goodbye, Peter. She goes up the stairs, and Peter lies in the snow.

Brook asks Chase, can you believe it? All that driving around, and she’s still awake. Mac’s phone rings, and he says, it’s Felicia. He asks if she’s all right, and she says she’s fine, and much more important, she found Maxie. She’s fine. He says, thank God, and Brook says, what does that mean? Did she find Maxie? Mac says he’s going to put Felicia on speaker. Brook’s here and so is Robert. Can she repeat what she just said? Felicia says, she found Maxie, and they’re both fine. Someone wants to say hello. She gives the phone to Maxie, who asks, how’s Louise? Mac says, she’s three feet away from him in her stroller. He holds out the phone, and says, look, Brook and Chase are here. Brook says she’s so glad Maxie is okay, and Chase says, her daughter is safe and sound, and she’s going to be thrilled to see her. Robert says, this is great news, but he has to ask the big question. What happened to Peter? Chase says, please don’t tell him Peter got away again, but Maxie says, for once, Peter did not get away. Mac asks what that means, and Maxie says, Peter was about to shoot her, and mom attacked him with a tire iron. Mac says, that bastard didn’t hurt her, but she says she’s fine. Anna is with him. She called an ambulance and they’re waiting to go to the hospital. Robert says, she means he’s still alive? and Maxie says, for now. He’s badly injured, and might not make it.

Sonny looks at Carly’s name in his phone contacts, and says, bad idea. He tells Johnny, another one, and Johnny says, got it.

Brando comes into Kelly’s, and approaches Sasha’s table. He says, sorry to interrupt. He sees they’re having a work meeting. Nina says, Sasha wanted to talk about some issues tonight, and Sasha says, they were just wrapping things up. Lucy says, we were? We were… just wrapping things up. Good to see him. What a good meeting; they got a lot done, didn’t they? Okay, ta. She leaves, and Nina says she’s going too. She tells Sasha to call if she needs to talk, and says, it’s nice to see Brando. She leaves, and he sits down. He says he can really clear a room, and Sasha says she’s happy to see him. He says, good. It gives him some hope… that she’ll agree to run away with him.

Drew says Felicia and Maxie have to take him through what happened. How did they find each other? Maxie says, it’s all thanks to her mom. She remembered a place Peter loved, a place he was sent in his summers away from boarding school. She caught a plane to Europe to check it out. Felicia says, meanwhile, Maxie ran away from Peter. She made it to the road and flagged down a car. Maxie says she was obviously surprised to find the driver was her mom, and Felicia says, they headed to the Autobahn, when suddenly she saw headlights in the rearview mirror. They were getting closer and closer. Drew says, Peter, and Felicia says, he ran her car off the road. Maxie says she thought her mom was hurt, and wanted to lead Peter away from her, so she went to the embankment. Felicia says, she wasn’t hurt. She just had the wind knocked out of her from the airbag. But once she caught her breath, she grabbed a tire iron from the trunk. She went down to the embankment, heard gunfire, and there was Peter, ready to shoot her daughter, and she did not hesitate for one second. She swung that tire iron as hard as she could. She doesn’t think she’s ever hit anything as hard in her entire life. Peter went down the embankment, and Drew knows the rest. Anna comes out of the woods, and asks if everything is all right. Maxie says, the ambulance hasn’t gotten here yet. What’s going on with Peter? Anna puts her hands on Maxie’s shoulders, and says, Peter is dead. Maxie asks if she’s sure, and Anna says she watched him take his last breath. She holds Maxie, and I wonder if Peter is going to be like Michael Myers and disappear.

Brook tells Britt, Austin, and Obrecht, good news. They found Maxie; they’re all safe. Austin says, that’s great, and Brook says, it sounds like Peter put Maxie through quite the ordeal, but the most important thing is, she’s not hurt. Britt asks, what about Peter? Is he in custody? Chase joins them, and says, after Brook left, they got word. Peter August is dead. Britt asks if he’s sure; they’ve heard this before. He says, Anna confirmed it to Mac, and Brook says, thank God it’s over. Obrecht says, this calls for a celebration. Does Britt have any libations in her office? Britt says, the bottom left in the credenza, and Obrecht jets.

Sasha asks Brando, run away together; what does that mean? He says, Sonny knows a place in Niagara Falls, and offered it to them if they wanted to get away for a few days. Just the two of them. If that’s too much, they could maybe get a B&B in Beecher’s Corners. They don’t have to talk about Liam. He just misses them, and was hoping they could reconnect, going someplace new where they don’t have any memories. They could just focus on the here now, rather than the past. She says, let’s do it, and he says, that’s fantastic. Which option interests her most, the grand majesty of Niagara Falls, or a cozy B&B? She asks if he has a preference, but he says he’s thrilled either way. She spaces out for a moment, and he says, Sasha? She says, let’s go to Niagara Falls.

Sonny makes a call, and gets Nina’s voicemail. He says, it’s me. Does that mean Sonny or Mike? Sonny’s not doing too good these days, so Mike might be a better option for her. He knows how much she loves Mike. Damn. He’s being stupid right now. It’s him, good or bad, and it’s not really good right now. He’s at Charlie’s. Where is she? He just needs to talk to somebody, and they always had nice talks. He just wants to say… He looks at the phone, and says he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.

On the phone, Robert says, she was there at the end, right? and Anna says she did what she had to do. He says, that guy’s plagued this town for far too long, and she says she’s got to go. She’s got to call Valentin and break the news to him. Robert says, if she really must. Obrecht comes by with a bottle and some cups, and he asks what she wants. She says he must have heard, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and he says, they both despise Peter. She asks if he wants to join her celebration, and he takes a cup.

Austin says, Britt shared her feelings about Peter with him, all the things he’s done, but he’s still her brother. So, checking in. Is she doing okay? She says, Peter made her life hell, just like he did everyone else, and honestly, what she’s feeling most is relief. Relief in knowing her father’s demented bloodline dies with Peter. He says, no kids for her then, huh?

Felicia asks if she can talk to Anna for a second. She knows Anna well enough to recognize when she’s holding something back. Anna says, she didn’t call the ambulance. She needed to know he was dead. It’s unlikely he wouldn’t have survived even if they got here in time, but she hopes Felicia understands. Felicia says she hopes Anna knows that she 100% thinks she did the right thing. Anna says she doesn’t know if it was right, but it was necessary. Felicia says, at one point, Anna cared about Peter; they all did. Does she regret his death now? Anna says, what she thinks she regrets is that she couldn’t figure out a way to stop him sooner. She thinks the Peter she cared for, that at one time she believed was her son, never really existed. Felicia says, he hurt too many people, and too many people are dead because of him. But now, because of Anna – Anna says, us – this nightmare is finally over.

Chase gets a bag of chips from the vending machine, and gives them to Brook. She thanks him, and says she’s so relieved Maxie is okay, she didn’t realize she hadn’t eaten all day. She’s starving. She tells him to take some; he’s probably hungry too. They eat, and he says, it’s good seeing her this happy. She says she’s ecstatic. Peter’s finally gone. Maxie can finally tell the whole world Bailey is her daughter. He says, it’s going to be hard for her to let Bailey go, and she says, when she gave Bailey to Felicia, she was a wreck. It’s going to be hard not to see that beautiful little face every day, but that was the whole point, to keep Bailey safe. Now Maxie can raise her daughter without being concerned Peter will take her away. How can she not be happy about that? He says, part of the reason this whole scheme worked is that people thought the worst of Brook; that she’d lie about her baby’s paternity to get her stock back. He can’t wait for people to know the truth, and see what a noble gesture it really was. She asks what that look is for, and he says, she’s really incredible. She says, he had a lot to do with this scheme too, and he says he knows. They made a good team. He kisses her, and she drops the chips.

Anna says, Dante’s already at the airport, so they can meet him there, and Felicia says, that’s it? There isn’t going to be any police investigation? Anna says, the Bureau has agreed to be a liaison with the Swiss authorities, so they can give their statements on the plane. Maxie says, they’re going home? It’s really over? Anna says, she knows in the past, Peter has survived and haunted them again, but he didn’t make it this time. So let’s go. The cars are here and ready to take them to the airport. Maxie says, when she and Brook made this plan, to hide Louise in plain sight, she could only imagine this moment. She can’t believe this is happening. She cries happy tears, and says, they’re finally safe. Felicia says, she can bring Louise home, and she can finally meet Georgie and James. They hug, and Maxie says she can’t believe this is happening. Felicia mouths thank you to Anna, and Anna smiles at Drew.

Robert says, so Henrik Faison is finally dead, and Mac says, and Felicia’s the one who took him out. Robert says, because he was trying to shoot Maxie, and Mac says, she’d do anything to protect her daughter. Robert says, still. He didn’t see this one coming. Mac says, him either, and tells Louise, you know what means? Her mom will be home soon.

Britt says, kids aren’t part of her future, and Austin says, you never know. She says she’s pretty sure, and tells him, he knows what this means. Maxie might be back in Port Charles tomorrow. He says, looks that way, and she says, the threat of Peter is finally over. He says, Maxie can finally be a mother to Louise, and Britt says, Maxie can go back to her life. He says he’s not sure what she means, and she says, disingenuous is not a good look for him. What’s going to happen when he sees Maxie again?

Brook says, that’s one way to celebrate good news, and Chase says, in a good way, right? She says, look at the mess she made, and starts picking up the chips. He says, let him help, and she says, it’s been quite the day. He says, they should probably get Bailey home, and she says, she’s glad Maxie’s going to be okay. Still, it’s going to be their last night as Bailey’s parents.

Brando and Sasha leave Kelly’s, and he says he’s so glad Sonny suggested Niagara Falls. It’s going to be really good for them to get away; just him and her. She kisses him, and says, she’s never been; it’s supposed to be spectacular. He asks her to text him when she gets home so he knows she’s safe. She says she will, and he leaves. She debates internally for a millisecond, and goes back inside Kelly’s. She sits next to Sienna at the counter, and Sienna says, she thought Sasha left. Sasha says, she changed her mind about what Sienna offered earlier. She definitely needs something to get her through the next few days.

Sonny gets off the barstool, and Johnny asks if he can call Sonny a car, but Sonny says he’s fine. Johnny goes back to work, and Sonny takes out his keys. He says, it’s not that far; he can drive. Nina comes in, and he smiles at her.

Tomorrow, Nina tells Sonny, they have to stop meeting like this; Maxie says it’s her turn to do something for Brook; Anna tells Robert, it’s not something she’s proud of; and Carly asks if Ava really wants to test the flavor of the month against her.

❗️ Surprise! No new RHOC tonight. They had last week’s episodes with bonus scenes, or what I call a cheap show. I definitely felt ripped off, since I’d just seen all that. The only thing of any value was Emily talking about her sister, since I didn’t know she had one.

🛥 On Watch What Happens Live, Isaac Mizrahi said Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip was the best show he’d ever watched in his life. Clearly, he needs a Netflix subscription.

🧂 Extra Salt…

The RHOSL recap.

The denial.

The blame game.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1320381/lisa-barlow-storms-off-set-after-slamming-rhoslc-producers-in-season-2-reunion-trailer

Maybe she can get time served for being on the show.

https://www.distractify.com/p/jen-shah-jail-time

🍤 Warning, Warning…

I remember Bethenny having a severe fish allergy. She gives some simple, but good advice here.

https://people.com/health/bethenny-frankel-had-medical-emergency-accidentally-eating-fish/

🍼 He Manned Up…

Here was a boatmance that never should have happened.

⛵️ Can’t See It…

Kate and Ben had a love/hate relationship too, but them I can see. I don’t know what to make of these two.

💃🏽 Not Much To Know…

An article on DWTS loaded with no information whatsoever.

https://parade.com/1339394/mikebloom/dancing-with-the-stars-2022-season-31/

🦥 On a Slow Note…

Something to make you smile.

🚪 Sneaking Out the Back Door…

I guess it must be President’s Week, since Bravo has nothing new tomorrow either. Although an episode of Galley Talk (always fun!) can be seen at 8 pm, followed by America’s Got Talent: Extreme, whatever the hell that is. I can only imagine. If you’re so inclined, you can join me tomorrow for soap and whatever the hell I can dig up. Until then, stay safe, stay knowing the difference between being honest and being mean, and stay never assuming the person you love knows how you feel.