Category Archives: real housewives

December 8, 2021 – Willow Confronts Nina About Sonny, It’s Sort Of Real, Heather Shuts Down Her Sushi Party & Love

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Martin picks up Laura’s plate, and she says, yummy. She can see why hummingbird cake is his mother’s favorite. She’ll have to remember to order one when she gets home. He says, maybe. Or maybe they could just order another one and have it brought here. She says she still has to get back, but he says, she still can’t. Not while there’s a threat out there. She says if she chooses to assume the risk, that’s her business, and he asks if they have to keep going over this. Does she really want him to tell Silva that she’s going to make a break for it? She says his devotion to her is astounding, and he says he is devoted; live with it. They’re stuck here, and they’re going to make the best of it. As a matter-of-fact, he has a surprise for her later.

Gladys looks through the NICU window at baby Liam, and dabs at her eyes. Carly hugs her.

Michael goes to Sasha’s room, and sees she’s sleeping. Brando dozes in a chair, but hears Michael, and wakes up. They go outside, and Michael says he didn’t want to wake Brando. Sorry he got there so late. Brando says he wasn’t sleeping, and Michael asks how he’s holding up. Sasha calls to Brando, and says she’d like to see Michael too.

Willow and Nina go into an office, and Willow says she thinks this conversation calls for privacy. Nina says, she and Sonny thought they had privacy in the chapel too, but that turned out not to be the case. Willow was there. Willow says she wishes to God she hadn’t been. She wishes she hadn’t heard a single word.

Maxie goes to Austin’s office, and asks if she can come in. He says, of course (🍷). He’s just a little surprised to see her. Is she there to tell him that he’s wrong again? She wouldn’t be wrong; he was wrong. He really shouldn’t have interfered with Brook and Valentin. He asks why she’s there if they’re not friends, and she says she doesn’t know where she is with that, but there is someone who thinks they’re friends. Maybe even more than that. He says, her ex, Peter August.

Peter dozes in the interrogation room, when Sonny comes in, slamming the door and startling him awake. Peter asks how he got in there, and Sonny laughs. He says, funny thing about Jason. Some of the cops hated him, and some of the cops liked him, but they all respected him. Peter asks if Sonny really expects him to believe the police thought Jason was an honorable man, and Sonny says he doesn’t give a damn what Peter thinks. Look around. Nobody’s there but the two of them. He killed Jason; all rules go out the window. Nobody wants to protect him, and everybody wants to see him pay. So it looks like Sonny is going to do the honors.

Silva tells fake cleaning lady that he called the management office, and it seems Nancy called in sick. She’s good to go. He’s sorry she had to wait and stay later. She says, it’s okay; she can use the overtime.

Inside, Laura says, nothing in the news about Victor Cassadine’s release. Then again, she supposes they wouldn’t tell the press. Most people don’t know him anyway, but she… Martin says, there is nothing she can do about Victor from here. She’s not leaving. It’s final. It’s too dangerous. She says, it’s not just Victor; she misses her family. He says he empathizes. He feels bad that he selfishly has her to himself. It’s not like he has anybody to miss back home like she does. They hug, and he says he’s sorry. He’s going to make sure Agent Silva gets a slice of this wonderful hummingbird cake, since he’s the one who arranged it. He opens the door, and Silva tells him to close the door and stay inside. Fake cleaning lady digs in her pseudo cleaning supplies, and Martin says he just wanted to make sure Silva got a slice of hummingbird cake. Enjoy.

Austin says he was on duty when Peter came in, so he treated him. Peter saw his name on his ID badge, and recognized him as the one who delivered her baby. Then he insinuated Austin kidnapped Louise. Maxie says, he did what? She’s so sorry. What did Austin say? He tells her that he reacted with professional detachment. Until he didn’t. Because he kind of reacted like an angry middle schooler. He stuck Peter a couple extra times with the syringe when he was drawing blood. Maxie tries not to laugh, and asks what he said about her and him, and their friendship, or lack thereof. He says he told Peter the truth. He told Peter that he’d do anything to keep him from hurting Maxie.

Sonny asks if Peter doesn’t get it. They’re all their friends. They want him gone, and he has the power to make that happen. Peter says he didn’t kill Sonny’s precious Jason, and Sonny says, Peter shot at him, and caused a cave-in, and Jason was buried in that godforsaken island. He doesn’t deserve another breath. Peter says, yet here he is – he takes a deep breath – still breathing. Sonny says, not for long. Peter says, Sonny’s not going to kill him, because if he does, his little secret is going to come out.

Carly tells Gladys, she knows it must be terrifying to see her grandson like that, and Gladys says she wasn’t prepared. She knew there were issues, but she was trying to be good about giving Brando and Sasha space. She didn’t visit. Then Brando gave her the okay, and she came straight here. He’s so little. Hooked up to all those tubes and machines. Carly says, it’s overwhelming. The first time she saw him, she was visiting with Sasha, and Brando brought Sonny there. Gladys asks if Carly heard the name they gave him – Liam – and Carly says, it’s a nice name. Gladys says, it’s not rugged, or stylish like Brando. It sounds like a character in a fairytale book. Not like Brando, one of the most fantastic movie stars in all of movie history. Carly says, Liam Neeson’s a pretty big movie star too, and Gladys says, not like Brando. She tried to offer names, but did they listen? No. Liam, it’s such a lackluster name. It must be a millennial thing. Probably Sasha’s idea.

Michael gives Sasha a giftbag, and says he got this for Liam. She thanks him, and says she loves getting gifts for Liam. She can’t wait to see him in his nursery, playing with all of them, making a mess. Maybe his cousin Wiley can show him how to play blocks. She remembers Wiley being obsessed with them, and Michael says he can’t wait to see them together. She asks if Willow is there, and he says they showed up together, but when he was talking to his parents, she must have wandered off. He’s sure she’ll be here soon.

Nina says, Willow must have misunderstood what she heard, or maybe took it out of context. She and Sonny were talking about Peter, and they were both really upset. She doesn’t know if Willow knows this, but Peter tried to kill her. He set the bar on fire when she was in there, and Sonny rushed into the burning building, and saved her life, so they had a friendship back in Nixon Falls when he didn’t know who he was. They had a bond… Can Willow just tell her what she overheard? Willow says enough to know that Nina and Sonny fell in love, and Nina doesn’t regret it, because it was the purest thing she’s ever known.

Maxie tells Austin that she appreciates chivalry, but Peter might have interpreted it as something more. He says, Peter kind of fished around about that, and he told Peter that he’d be proud to be her friend. She asks what Peter said, and Austin tells her that he thinks Peter senses he’s not in that hallowed circle, and said he’s going to do everything he can to keep it that way. She says, he threatened Austin? and he says, Peter mewled like a cornered little kitty cat, instead of yowling. What’s going on? Why is she asking him all of these questions? She says she went to see Peter, and he asks why she’d do that to herself. She says she needed to prove to herself that she could stand in front of Peter and show him that she’s not afraid of him anymore. She wanted him to know he means nothing to her; that she feels nothing for him but contempt. He says, how’d that go?

Michael says, Liam is a great name, and Brando says, Liam Mike Corbin. Michael says, Mike goes on, and Brando says, he was a helluva guy. Michael says he’ll put the gift with the rest of the collection, and Brando says they’d like to ask him something. Michael asks, what’s up? and Sasha says, it involves Willow too. She takes Brando’s hand, and says, it would mean so much to them. Brando asks if they’d do them the favor of being Liam’s godparents, and Michael says he thinks he can speak for Willow in saying, yes, absolutely. They’d be honored to be there for Liam. He and Brando hug.

Gladys tells Carly, she likes the Mike part of his name; she’s going to call him Mike. Carly suggests she let Sasha and Brando decide what they want people to call their son. Gladys says she’s not people; she’s the grandma, the one and only. She doesn’t have to share him with anybody. She bets Carly hates having to share hers with that awful Nina Reeves after what Nina did to her and Sonny. Carly says she’s just glad Wiley has a lot of people who love him, and Gladys says, depends on the people. Carly says, you know what? Liam’s going to have a big extended family. He’s going to have tons of people who love him. Gladys says she can’t wait to take him to the park, or show him off at Carly’s restaurant. Carly laughs, and Gladys says she wants to be there for his first smile, his first steps, his first word. Wouldn’t it be good if it was grandma? Carly says she bets Gladys will stop at nothing to make that happen, and Gladys says she was so young when she had Brando. She wasn’t ready for a baby, and she missed so much. She hopes she can make up for it. They look in the NICU window, and Gladys says, he looks like Brando, don’t you think? Carly says she sees both Sasha and Brando in him. Both of his parents have strong, fighting spirits.

Nina says, Willow deserves to know the truth. She was good to Nina when she didn’t have to be. Willow says, when she didn’t know the whole story. She was willing to bend the rules for Wiley, even though Carly kept pounding it into her how toxic Nina was to their family. She just didn’t realize how toxic, and my God, Sonny’s been insisting that Michael and Carly let go of their hostility toward her. Is it because they’re in love? Have they been sneaking around all this time? Are Nina and Sonny having an affair? Nina says, no, it’s not like that. Yes, they were in love, but as soon as Sonny found out who he really was, it ended. Willow says, so they had an affair in Nixon Falls? but Nina says, no, they never went that far; it never went to that level. It’s exactly what Willow heard her say; it was pure. It was just love. Willow says, and Nina’s not over it.

Sonny says, are you trying to run a bluff on me, Petah? and Peter says, look at Sonny. So calm, and cool, and collected. Nothing like Mike in Nixon Falls. Poor Mike. He was too simple to even know he was being duped by Nina. Does he remember… Can he remember how righteous he was? Telling Peter all about how he found himself in that little town. What he found for himself was a whole lot of Nina, and guess what? He recorded all of it. He has a great picture of that kiss too. It’s all on a thumb drive, safe in a vault, locked away, ready to be opened in the event of Peter’s death. So if Sonny kills him, he’s just going to breathe life into that little secret about Nina and him.

Martin says he doesn’t know how Laura does it, and she says, do what? He says, maintain a stable marriage. He never could. She asks, why not? and he says, simple. He was a terrible husband. She asks if he thinks it’s because his father was a terrible role model, and he says, possibly. Possibly it was because he was always overly attached to his mama, especially after the family went sideways. On the upside, if it wasn’t for his daddy’s philandering ways, he would be without his magnificent sister. He holds up his coffee cup, and says, to you, beautiful. They clink cups, and she says, if he’s trying to cheer her up, it’s working. He says, excellent, and she nearly does a spit-take. He asks if she’s ready for her surprise, and she wonders if it’s a new video game. He says, no. It’s something to get them in the holiday spirit with everyone’s favorite holiday classic Christmas film. He puts on the TV, and she says, not Christina Comes Home for Christmas? (I wonder, is that a real thing? See what I found below.) She can’t watch that movie; she just can’t. She’s sorry.  

Maxie tells Austin, she doesn’t believe she didn’t see through Peter until now. She used to try and protect him, change him. She’s such a fool. Austin says, he doesn’t think so. Don’t beat herself up. She’s a generous person, kind-hearted, and Peter took advantage of that. From the little time he spent with Peter, he can turn the charm on when he wants to. She asks what he means, and he says, Peter has this way of talking, like heightened language, pretty words. He does seem certain the two of them will be together someday. She says, that’s all Peter’s got; dreams and delusions. He says, Peter mentioned fate, but he doesn’t believe in fate, and told him so. She wishes he hadn’t done that. He probably made himself Peter’s newest obsession. He says he’s not worried about that, and she says, make no mistake. Peter sees him as a rival for her, and that could be dangerous for him.

Peter says, Carly won’t have to know anything about Sonny and Nina, as long as he stays alive. Sonny says, Carly will know everything, when the time is right. Peter can keep his little threats to himself. He doesn’t believe for a second Peter has anything stashed in a vault. Even if he did, does Peter think Sonny would let him hold Nixon Falls over his head? This is bigger than Nixon Falls. He took Jason away from him and his family; he terrorized Maxie. Does Peter think Sonny would let him hurt anyone else? Peter asks if Sonny is going to kill him right here in the police station, but Sonny says, no. He’s going to let Peter wait, and wonder, when he hears those footsteps approaching his cell. He’s going to think to himself, did he send somebody? Am I going to die tonight? Hopelessly obsessed with a woman who despises him, he’s never even met his daughter, and doesn’t know where she is… dead or alive. Peter jumps up, and tells Sonny, don’t say that. Don’t you dare say that to me. Sonny tells him, sit down; relax. Wherever she is, she’s better off there than with him.

Gladys tells Carly, Brando was born so healthy. She didn’t know how lucky she was. Then when he succumbed to drugs, she told everyone he was dead, instead of supporting him through it. How could she have done that to her own son? Maybe this is punishment for her being such a bad mother. Carly says, it’s not punishment. Gladys was a young mother, who probably didn’t have the support she needed, and did the best she could under the circumstances. Brando arrives, wheeling Sasha, and hugs Gladys. Gladys says she was giving them space. Their baby is gorgeous. She asks how Sasha is feeling, and Sasha says she should be up and around in a day or two. Gladys says, that’s great. Now will the two of them tell her when her sweet little grandson gets to come home?

Nina tells Willow, it doesn’t matter how she feels about Sonny. He doesn’t love her; he never did. It’s Mike who fell in love with her. Willow says, because Nina didn’t tell him who he really was; that he had a family here, missing him, grieving him. Nina says she swears she didn’t want it to happen. She fought against it. She tried leaving Nixon Falls, but it would always draw her back. When she left Port Charles, she was in such deep pain and confusion, and she found peace in Nixon Falls; a new life, a new her, and Mike was a part of that. Then Michael called, and told her that she could be part of Wiley’s life again. She thought she’d go back to Port Charles and tell the truth, but that didn’t happen. Willow says, all that time, Nina knew Sonny was alive, and never told them. She played with their son, and never said a word. Nina says she wanted to tell them about Sonny, but then Mike would call, and say he missed her or Phyllis needed support. She couldn’t turn her back on them, and went back to Nixon Falls, and there he was. Mike behind the bar, this man that was so sweet and good. He didn’t want to know who he really was. She tried to stop it, but she fell in love with him. Willow says she knows, and Nina will never regret it. But what about Carly? She understands why Nina hasn’t said anything, but why hasn’t Sonny? Nina says, because it’s over. Why would he tell her? There’s no reason to. Willow says, because they’re still sneaking around, having hushed conversations. Nina says, okay. Willow knows the truth now. What is she going to do? Is she going to tell Michael and Carly?

Carly says she’s going to find Michael, and Sasha says, he’s in her room. He was kind enough to offer to pack up the gifts, and take them to Liam’s nursery. Carly says she’ll lend him a hand, and tells them to call if they need anything. She leaves, and Gladys says, sometimes she’s not so bad. What’s the matter with her little Mikey? Brando says, he was deprived of oxygen, and there was a problem with Sasha’s placenta. No one knew what was happening until Sasha went into labor, and that’s when things turned serious for her during the delivery. Gladys says, but Sasha’s okay now, right? And what about the baby? He’s okay too, right? Aren’t they taking him home soon? Sasha leans on Brando’s arm.

Austin says Maxie doesn’t have to worry about him. Peter is under constant supervision; the PCPD, the WSB. Even if he does somehow manage to escape and come after him, Austin will just kill him, and call it self-defense. He thinks Peter has a lot of enemies. Probably someone else will do him in before it comes to that.

Sonny says, Peter really messed up this time. He has two little girls that are a delight. Thank God Peter’s daughter never has to know the horror show he is. When Sonny is playing with his little girls, and his whole family is loving him back, Peter is going to be meeting his maker. He’s going to be in his cell, alone, asking for mercy, and he ain’t gonna get it. Peter says, Sonny, of all people, feels like he’s qualified to judge him, and end his life? Sonny says he’s doing this with peace in his heart, in the name of all the people Peter has hurt and killed. Jason is at the top of that list. He wants Peter to remember that when they come for him, Sonny sent them. They’ll tell when it’s finished, and he’ll smile, and guess what? Everybody is going be so happy that Peter is done, and it’s the end, especially Maxie. They never have to think about him again. He tells Peter, have a nice life, whatever’s left of it, and leaves.

Michael tells Carly, it’s so unfair. Brando and Sasha should be laughing and having fun, planning where they’re going to put all this in Liam’s nursery, not terrified he’ll never get to play with any of it. She says, it’s hard, and she’s sure it brings up painful feelings for Michael over Jonah. He says he grieved for over a year until he got his miracle. He hopes Sasha and Brando don’t have to wait as long for theirs.

Willow tells Nina that she knows about running away and starting over. She also knows something about secrets and loss. She’s been both the recipient and perpetrator, and knows how they can fester and grow. She knows how you can feel trapped in them and by them. Nina says, that’s how she feels, but Willow says, the thing is, someone always gets hurt, and that pure love of hers was based on deceit. She kept Sonny’s identity and whereabouts a secret. Was it because Nina fell for him, and didn’t want him to leave? Nina says, not at first, but toward the end… it got kind of confusing. She knows what she did was wrong. There’s no excuse for it. Keeping Sonny away from his family caused so much pain, but why should Willow compound it by telling people what she overheard; that Nina and Sonny fell in love in Nixon Falls, when it’s over? Willow says, is it? and Nina says, yes. Sonny is with the woman he loves. He’s with his wife and his family, and she respects that. The fallout from all this has been brutal. Why make it worse for Carly and Sonny’s family? Willow asks if Nina means why make it worse for her?

Martin says he doesn’t understand. Everyone loves Christina Comes Home for Christmas; why doesn’t Laura? She says she does love it. She watches it every year. It’s part of their family Christmas tradition, and she can’t do it this year. He says, because she watches it with Doc, and she says, because it reminds her too much of home. It reminds her of her children and her grandkids, her family and friends, everything she’s missing right now. Going out Christmas shopping, the tree lighting in Rice Plaza. She can’t watch a movie where a woman is struggling to get home when she can’t get home. He says, it might be cathartic. How about they watch it tonight, have a good cry, and wake up feeling better tomorrow? She says, but they’re not going to feel better tomorrow, because Christina gets to go home. She gets her happy ending, and they’re going to be stuck there in this damn house. He says he knows that. He’s trying to make the best of the situation. She says, he’s not. She can’t take it anymore. She’s getting out of here. She gets up, and he gets up, saying, stop talking about it, dammit. Don’t do this. He’s begging her. She just has to hold on a little bit longer. She has to do the right thing, the responsible thing, and that means keeping the faith and sitting tight. This too shall pass, but not if she does something stupid. What good will it do for all those people in Port Charles who she loves and misses, who love and miss her, if she gets herself killed? She says, he’s a pretty good lawyer, and he says he has his moments. She says, she does too apparently. She’s sorry she freaked out. She wants to do the responsible thing, for him and herself, but she can’t watch that movie. He says, understood. How about if he pours her a nice glass of cognac, and she can have a nice soak in that oversized tub? She says, for about two hours? He’s totally going to watch that movie, isn’t he? He says, oh yeah, and she says, pour her a glass. She’ll give him the room. They hug.

Nina says, it’s true. If Willow shares what she overheard, that she and Sonny fell in love in Nixon Falls, it will make her bad situation even worse. Carly despises her, but Sonny loves Carly, and Carly loves Sonny. Does Willow really want to drive a wedge between that? One that doesn’t need to be there? Willow says, the secret is driving the wedge between them. Nina asks if Willow has ever heard it’s best not to confess everything to your partner that’s going to hurt them. It might even be selfish to do so, but she’s begging Willow to keep quiet. Not for her sake; she can take whatever Carly throws at her. Carly already hates her, and Michael got her arrested, and told her that he doesn’t want her to see Wiley anymore. She’s begging Willow to keep the secret. Willow doesn’t owe her anything, and she gets what Willow thinks about her, but just let her do this one good thing. Please keep it to herself. Willow says she doesn’t know what she’s going to do, but she has to go, and leaves.  

Michael tells Carly, he knows the situation is hard enough without Nina hanging around, but Carly says she’s not going to let it get to her. There are more important things. She just came from visiting little Liam. Has Michael seen him? It’s heartbreaking. Michael says he wanted to give Brando and Sasha some alone time, but Carly says, they’re not alone. He asks if Willow is with them, but she says, no, Gladys. She thought Willow was with him. The elevator opens, and Willow comes out. Michael says he told Sasha and Brando they’d bring Liam’s things to his nursery, and she says, Liam is such a beautiful name. How is he, and Sasha? Michael says, Sasha is on the mend. She and Brando are hanging in there, waiting for word on their baby’s heath. They have a long night ahead of them. Carly says they were wondering where Willow was. Nina almost comes around the corner, but ducks back, and Willow sees her.

Austin says he wanted to keep an eye on Peter, and volunteered to be his physician, but Maxie says, undo that. He says he wants to do it for her sake. There’s nothing she can say that will change his mind, so save her breath. It’s the least he can do. She asks what he means, and he says, this whole Brook baby daddy thing; he gave her a hard time. He’s not sure why she’s so invested in Bailey’s paternity, but it doesn’t matter. He’s truly sorry, and he can see now that for whatever reason she and Brook are very close. Maxie asks if they can stop talking about it, and he says, that would be great, because he’s been thinking about it a lot, and like he told her ex, he’d do anything to get back in her good graces. She says, and could he stop talking to Peter and asking questions. He asks, why? and she says, anything and everything. He says, cool, and asks if they can be friends, and she says, sure. He says, congratulations by the way, and she asks, for what? He says, facing Peter, and she says, thanks. It feels pretty good. She leaves.

Sasha says Gladys raised a terrific son. She couldn’t have gone through this alone. She can’t believe she even considered it. Being a single parent must have been hard for Gladys. She can understand why Gladys was worried that she wouldn’t be prepared. Gladys thanks her, and says, she was just telling Carly, she hopes she can make up for her mistakes with Brando with her new grandson. She doesn’t want Sasha to worry. She’s going to be around all the time to take care of their little guy. Brando says, they need to wait and see what Liam’s prognosis is. Then they’ll know when they can take him home.

Michael asks if Willow was checking her nursing schedule this whole time, and Willow says she should have known she’d get caught up in things. She should have come straight here. Michael says, she’s here now. He hopes she doesn’t mind, but Sasha and Brando asked them a big favor, and he took the liberty of answering for both of them. They want them to be Liam’s godparents, and he said yes. She says she’s glad he did. Of course (🍷) they will. He says, as their first official act, they should get the gifts to the car, and go see the baby together. Nina continues to listen in, as Carly redistributes the packages. Carly says she’s so happy they’re so supportive of Brando and Sasha. They need to be surrounded by them right now. Family’s really important. Willow says, yes, it is, and glances at Nina.  

Sonny runs into Maxie, and she says she’s so happy to see him. He asks if she’s coming from Sasha and Brando; he was just going to see them. She says, no; she’s planning on visiting tomorrow. She wanted to talk to him about Peter. He says he just saw that son of a bitch. What’s on her mind? She says, what is Sonny going to do about him? Is he going kill him?

Laura says she’s really glad she and Martin got this time to make up for the time they lost not growing up together. He says, on the other hand, they might have driven each other crazy, and she says, there’s still time. She loves him. She gives him a hug, and he says he loves her too. She goes into the other room, and he puts the movie on. There’s a knock at the door, and fake maid says she has their laundry. He opens the door, and says they were told Nancy was sick. He appreciates it. Of all the things he misses about being home, doing laundry isn’t on the list. He sits back down on the couch, and tells her to put it wherever she sees fit. Behind him, she takes a cord out of the laundry basket, and wraps it around his throat. She tightens it, and he struggles against it.

Tomorrow, Ava says, if Nikolas has anything to tell her, the time is now; Britt wonders why she feels like she’s being judged; Nina says, Jason’s death is her fault; and Carly tells Michael, they’re not on the same page right now.

🎄 She’s Coming Home…

I don’t remember this at all. You can find the episode on YouTube, but it’s in parts.

https://daytimeconfidential.com/2008/12/10/christina-comes-home-for-christmas

The Real Housewives of Orange County

Heather’s sushi party was all fabulous, and Heather introduced Nicole to everyone. In Emily’s interview, she thought it made no sense for Heather to be friends with someone who’d sued Terry. Heather had gotten a photographer, and wanted to do a group shot, which I thought was pretty odd, but she has too much money and needs to spend it. In Shannon’s interview, she said that Nicole wasn’t the Pam Anderson lookalike she’d met 16 years ago. The skimpy dress was the same, but not much else. Meow. Because the expense just kept on coming, each place setting had a personalized box, which I assume held chopsticks. Jen and Nicole literally banged a gong, and Heather asked if they should all go have a nibble, which made me cringe. In her interview, Shannon thought it was bizarre that Nicole was friends with Heather and Terry, when she’d sued Terry. God knows what happened in 16 years, but apparently quite a bit. Gina wondered how Shannon could smile to her face, and talk sh*t about her behind her back, and told Emily the lawsuit had been over an alleged (my word; left over from RHOBH’s last season) botched boob job.  Emily engaged Nicole in a conversation about boob jobs, and Nicole said hers were a long story. It had taken four and a half years for her to get where she was. Shannon found out she and Noella went to the same healer, and Terry stopped by to get screen time. In Gina’s interview, she said she felt like she was participating in something to make someone look stupid. Taking Heather aside, she explained what Shannon had told her and Emily about Nicole.  

Emily asked Shannon if she’d told Heather about Nicole, but Shannon said she wasn’t out to hurt anyone. Shannon went to talk to Heather, and saw Gina had beat her to it. In Shannon’s interview, she said she’d made them promise that if it was the same Nicole, they wouldn’t talk about it. While all that was going on outside, inside, Emily told Nicole about what Shannon had blabbed.

Gina said Shannon always made a big thing out of nothing, and Shannon said Gina had promised to keep her mouth shut. Gina said it wasn’t the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and she hadn’t known Heather when Shannon told her about Nicole. Gina split, going back inside to Emily, and Noella came out. Shannon told Noella that she didn’t trust Gina. Heather stomped around saying the show was over. Nicole explained to Emily that she’d made a mistake as a young model. Her attorneys had forced her into a lawsuit. Heather went upstairs, and told Terry that she was leaving the show, and kicking everyone out. That didn’t take long or much.

Shannon told Noella that she became loose-lipped when she drank, and thought she could trust Gina. In Shannon’s interview, she said Gina had no place talking to Heather. They’d just met, and now she was Gina’s good friend. Who TF did Gina think she was? Emily thought if Nicole and Heather were going to be friends, they should clear the air, and in Jen’s interview, she said it was the worst thing in the world to sue your doctor. They were the ones who took care of you, and no one who’d sued her or her husband would be sitting in her house. I get the last part, but it depends on the situation whether it’s the worst or not. Nicole said they’d figure it out, and she hadn’t asked Emily’s opinion, nor did she need it right. Emily told Nicole not to get in her face when she was being a friend. Nicole said she’d only known Emily for 20 minutes, and told Emily, sit down. This was the stupidest thing ever, since, as Emily pointed out, she was already sitting. Emily told her to put her anger somewhere else, and Nicole said Emily was stupid. Go eat sushi, bitch. I might want that on a bumper sticker. Then the yelling started, and Gina suggested Emily walk away. As she walked away, Emily told Nicole that she was trash. She had no education, and had never had a job. F*** you. Then she demanded Gina come with her, which Gina did. This reminded me why I don’t like these shows. It’s not even that I mind the cat fighting, but get a thesaurus, and stop ordering your friends around.

Emily wanted to leave, but Jen coaxed her back inside. Emily joked that she’d handled it well, and Gina said at least she hadn’t called anyone a sloppy chihuahua. We flashed back to Gina calling Braunwyn that. Noella got all excited to meet Heather’s daughter Max, as they were both bi-sexual. Actually, Noella seems like she’s excited about everything all the time. Gina suggested Shannon table it, and Shannon whined that Gina had made a promise.  

Heather and Terry went hunting for Nicole, found her alone, and beat the crap out of her. Not really, but Terry said Nicole had sued him, and Heather asked why Nicole hadn’t told her; they’d been friends for years. Terry said she’d had a complication, and Nicole said she hadn’t thought Terry did anything wrong. She’d been in her 20s, and pushed by her attorneys. She started crying, and Terry said it was fine; Nicole had dropped it, and it went away. In Heather’s interview, she said doctors got sued all the time, and it wasn’t a big deal. It was years ago, and Nicole was allowed a fresh start. I worked for a clinic, and she’s right about them getting sued all the time. That’s why their insurance premiums are so high, and in turn, their fees. The more you know… I was, however, confused at how insane Heather acted, and then she was practically shrugging it off. Terry suggested they hug it out, and Heather said if Nicole left, she’d be super upset. Noella said there seemed to be love and hurt feelings on both sides. Heather asked to talk to Gina and Shannon, and told Gina that people said don’t shoot the messenger, but she was going to. If it didn’t exist in her world, she didn’t know about it. Gina only knew because Shannon told her, and she thought it was sh*tty that Shannon did this. She shouldn’t have said anything. In Shannon’s interview, she said she’d been looking forward to rekindling her friendship with Heather, and she was livid. Heather walked away, and said the party was over. In her interview, she said thousands of dollars of sushi went to waste. Is it me? Who’s fault was that? I wouldn’t have shut down my sushi party for this nonsense. Not to mention, why should Nicole stay if there was going to be no dinner?

Shannon said she hoped someday Heather would know her heart. She hadn’t wanted to hurt Heather. Heather said she was disappointed. She’d honestly thought they had a chance to be real friends. Shannon insisted she was loyal and trustworthy, but Heather said Shannon wasn’t. Shannon could have given her a heads up. She told Shannon, let’s just be done.

The next day, Emily asked Heather to have lunch with her and Gina to sort things out. Shannon called Noella, who was still processing, and thanked her for being supportive. In Shannon’s interview, she said, maybe she wasn’t on an island by herself. Part of her felt horrible. She shouldn’t have said anything, but she didn’t intentionally hurt Heather. She told Noella that she hoped one day her apology would be accepted. Terry and Heather discussed the previous night’s events, and Terry said it had been more like a misunderstanding. He wondered what prompted Shannon, and Heather said, no matter what, it was none of Shannon’s business. The only thing she could come up with was that Shannon wanted to hurt them. Terry said it was like a social acid trip, whatever that meant, and maybe Shannon was harboring something from the past. We flashed back to Shannon telling everyone that Terry and Heather wanted to take the Beadors down, and Shannon screeching that everyone would know the truth. Heather told Terry that the party had cost $36K, and they hadn’t even gotten to the entrée. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, all the wrong people have the money.

Jen met her husband for lunch, and he brought the chihuahua. I love him now. In her interview, she said, when she met him, he’d been shirtless, holding a chihuahua, and that was pretty much how he always was. He was an avoider, who didn’t handle high stress well, but she thrived on it. She was looking to have more balance in her life. Emily and Shane went out to dinner for a date night, and in Emily’s interview, she said they were in a good, loving place in their marriage and not fighting. She asked him if he could believe they’d been married 13 years, and he said he thought he’d be dead by now. Emily said she did too. We flashed back to quarantine, and Shane getting covid, and Emily said there was a time she thought he wouldn’t make it. They talked about the afterlife, and Emily said she wanted the kids to feel like they had a purpose in life. She thought Shane could give them a better example, since she didn’t have roots in any kind of faith. In Emily’s interview, she said, growing up, she’d had no structure, and it felt chaotic. She thought that’s why some of the anger she felt as an adult bubbled up. She wanted her kids to have something to turn to in troubled times.

In Gina’s interview, she said she’d f***ed up Heather’s party. As they waited for Heather at the restaurant, she told Emily that she hadn’t thought what she said would have such a domino effect. Then Heather scolded her like a schoolgirl. As soon as Heather got there, Gina told her that she felt bad about messing up the party. Again, is it me? Heather messed up her own party. Heather said she understood Gina was in a difficult situation, but there was a time and place; it wasn’t good judgement. Gina said, hindsight, and told Heather about her ex bringing her to a barbecue at the home of the woman he was having an affair with. Everyone knew, and she found out later; no one had told her. So she did what she thought was the best thing. Heather said she felt bad, and had she known, she would have treated Gina differently. In Heather’s interview, she said she and Gina had connected, and it had been disappointing and confusing. Now that she had an explanation, she was ready to move on. Emily wondered what Shannon’s goal was, and Heather said, success bred contempt. She didn’t like the J-word, but couldn’t come up with anything else. She hadn’t run over Shannon’s cat. Shannon said she’d trusted Emily and Gina with the info on Nicole, but that was a lie too. Earlier, she’d told Heather that they were manipulative and not to be trusted. Which was it? Emily said, same old Shannon, and Heather said a leopard didn’t change its spots.

Next time, Gina and Noella do cryotherapy; Heather wonders about Shannon’s goal; and Gina confronts Shannon.

🐓 Moving Like Jagger…

Tomorrow, I’ll be serving soap with a side of Runway, so come join me. Until then, stay safe, stay having high ideals, and stay cultivating a strong, fighting spirit.

December 7, 2021 – Maxie Confronts Peter, Can’t Keep Her Down, Schwartz Loses Two Bets, a Break-Up, Ladies Of the Lake, Miami’s Coming, Back On Fear & There

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Spencer comes into the gym and sees Josslyn. He says he heard about Jason. He doesn’t even know what to say except he’s sorry. She doesn’t think there’s much else to say, and he asks how Sonny is doing. She guesses about what you’d expect. They’re all just really, really sad… and shocked and angry. He says he was kind of surprised when she texted. He thought she’d be laying low. She says she’d rather be under her covers, but Jason would hate that. So instead of moping around all day, she decided to let off some steam; punch something. He says, and she thought of him, and she asks if he can handle it. He tosses her some boxing gloves, and says, lace up, Jax. She puts them on, and they fist bump.

Esme dashes into Kelly’s, going over to Trina’s table. She asks if Trina minds if she sits, and Trina says, sure. Trina is doing some work, and Esme points out that she looks busy. Trina says, the life of a college student, when Cameron comes over and asks if he can get Esme anything. She says, a large half-caf latte with soy milk, no foam, and Trina says, God forbid. Esme asks if he got all that, and he says they’ll see when she takes a sip. I have this vision of her getting a lukewarm cup of Sanka. Esme says she just loves Cameron’s sense of humor, and Trina says, he’s a real crack-up. Esme says, and now, down to business, and Trina says, they have business? Esme says their trip isn’t going to plan itself. They’re going to have so much fun.

At the hospital, Michael says he’s sorry he wasn’t there when Carly heard about Jason, but she says, it’s okay. She and his dad wanted to be the ones to tell him. They didn’t want to do it over the phone. He says he would have hated that. If he had to hear it from anyone, he’s glad it was Drew. She says, her too, and they sit. He says he can’t believe this is happening again. He knows they’ve survived without Jason before, but… She says, he doesn’t know how. They’ll handle it the second time like they handled it the first time. As a family. She puts her arms around him.

Willow stands outside the chapel, and hears Sonny tell Nina, whatever happened between them in Nixon Falls needs to come from him, and it will. Nina says she understands, but despite all the pain she caused people – and she knows they’ve gone on with their lives – she has to tell him that their love is the purest thing she’s ever known. She’s so sorry, but she can’t regret that. Willow is like, whoa, and jets. Sonny says he refuses to accept that what Nina did, lied to him and his family, was an act of love. She says, it wasn’t; she can see that now. But it went on for so long. She didn’t know how to get out of it. She didn’t know what words to use. How do you explain something like that? She felt like she was just trapped, like her lies were trapping her, and she was living this life she never intended. In a way, it’s like they have that in common.

Peter is sitting in the interrogation room, when Mac comes in. Peter asks, where’s his lawyer? and Mac says, he hasn’t arrived yet. Peter says he hopes Mac knows better than to question him without representation. That’s literally his job as acting Police Commissioner, isn’t it? To protect Peter’s rights? Mac says he doesn’t give a damn about Peter’s rights because he’s not there as the Police Commissioner. Right now, Peter’s talking to Maxie’s father.

Maxie comes into the station, and asks Anna, where is he? Anna asks, what’s wrong? and Maxie says, pretty much everything. She needs to talk to Peter. Anna thinks it’s a terrible idea, but Maxie says she didn’t ask for Anna’s opinion; she asked where Peter was. Anna says, he’s here, but he’s not allowed visitors, and Maxie says, is that what she is? A visitor? She thinks they can make an exception given the circumstances, but Anna says, that’s not up to her to decide. Maxie says she knows; it’s up to Mac, who they both know is going to say no, unless Anna backs her up. Anna asks, why, after everything Peter put Maxie through? All the physical, mental, and emotional torture. Why is it so important for her to see him?

Mac says he’s dealt with some cowards and lowlifes in his time, but Peter is in a class all by himself. Peter tells him, that’s sweet, and Mac says he takes it back. Peter is in a class with Faison. Peter says, like father, like son, he supposes, and Mac says, coming to town, pretending to be an actual human being. Meanwhile, manipulating Mac’s daughter the entire time, using her grief over Nathan to worm his way in. Peter says he loves Maxie, and Mac says, all the time Peter spent with her, and his grandkids. Peter says, i.e. James, the child he brought into this world with his own hands? Mac says, if only he could take Peter out of it, and Peter says, it’s too bad he’s in police custody then. Mac says, bad things happen in jail all the time, and Peter asks if that’s a threat. Mac says, just a fact, and Peter says, noted. Here’s another one. If anything happens to him, Louise stays gone for good.

Spencer tells Josslyn that he and Esme have been talking a lot about that trip she wants to take. Maybe they could do it on Josslyn’s winter break. Does she think Sonny would let them use his cabin? She says, whoa, and he asks if she thinks he wouldn’t. She says she’s sure he would, but she never agreed to this vacation. He says she and Cameron have to go; Esme really wants to get to know his friends better. She says, so let’s get coffee, or have lunch. Do they really have to go on vacation? She’s sorry, but she just doesn’t think a weekend getaway together would best improve their relationship, if he knows what she means. He says, a toddler would know what she means. Why doesn’t she cut Esme a break? She says, she set Ava’s car on fire, and he says he agrees she went too far, but she only did it for him. She says, in that case… and he says, Esme loves him. She asks if Spencer loves her, and he says, yeah. She asks, why? and he says, she’s gorgeous and exciting and passionate… Josslyn says, so she’s hot, and he says, it’s not the sex… It’s not just the sex. He knows Esme can be a lot, but so can he, right? She says, she doesn’t think he wants her to answer that, and he says, they fit, all right? He thinks if she just gave Esme a chance, she’d see how incredible she really is. She says, okay. Tell her about the real Esme.

Esme asks what Trina is studying, and Trina says, a lot of things, but right this second, nature photography. Esme says, like the exhibit at the gallery? and Trina says, something like that. Cameron brings Esme’s latte, and says, it was such a hit, Trina’s professor asked her to give a presentation to her class. Isn’t that cool? Esme says she doesn’t know; it sounds like a lot of extra work. Trina says, which is why she should get back to it. Esme takes a sip, and Cameron says, well? She says, no offending foam; it’s perfect. Cameron starts to leave, but Esme says she and Trina were just talking about their trip. She’s so excited. Spence is too. Cameron says he didn’t think anything was decided, and Esme says, they’re still batting around ideas. She was thinking winter break. She hasn’t been skiing in ages. Do they ski? Cameron says he does, and she asks if there’s a mountain nearby. He says there is, and Esme says, how amazing does that sound? Skiing by day, snuggling by the fire at night. Her and Spence, Cameron and Josslyn, and Trina, of course (🍷).

Sonny tells Nina not to text him again, because he’s not going to meet her, and she says the only reason she reached out was to warn him about Peter. It’s not like she reached out because she wanted to spend more time with him. She’s not delusional, contrary to popular belief. She knows he loves his wife. He says he does, and she says she’s trying to preserve that. She’s trying to protect his relationship with Carly from whatever this psycho may have planned to break them up. He tells her, don’t worry about Peter, and she says, she’s being honest. She doesn’t want to cost him any more than she already has. He might not believe her, so if Peter is trying to stir up more trouble… He says, Peter’s not going to cause more trouble. Trust him. That son of a bitch killed Jason, his best friend, his brother; he’s gone.

Michael asks where his dad is, but Carly says she doesn’t know where he disappeared to. She thinks he’ll be back soon, but in the meantime, distract her. Did Wiley enjoy Thanksgiving in New York? He says, Wiley enjoyed the holiday lights and the holiday windows. His favorite thing was the dogs. Carly says, the dogs? and Michael says, Wiley pointed out every single one of them when they passed them. She says, that’s a lot of dogs. She bets Annabelle is going to need a brother or sister this Christmas. Michael tells her, he said the same thing; they just have to get Willow on board. She asks if they took Wiley skating, and he says they went to the Central Park rink because Rockefeller Center was too crowded. He crushed it. She says, of course (🍷) he did. She asks if he remembers the first time he was on skates, and he says, she, Jason, and dad brought him. She says, her heart just dropped every single time he fell, but Jason was so calm. He’d just pick Michael back up, and make sure he went off again. He says, he always pictured Jason being there for Wiley. the same way Jason has always been there for him. She says she knows, and puts her arm around him.

Willow comes out of the elevator and sees Epiphany, who asks if she’s all right. Willow says she just heard some bad news, and Epiphany says, Sasha and Brando. Just remember they have a great team doing everything in their power to help that baby boy. Willow asks if she’s seen Michael.

Josslyn hits the heavy bag while Spencer holds it, and he says, Esme puts on a good show, but she’s never actually had a lot of friends. Josslyn says, shocking, and he says if she’s not actually going to take it seriously, they’re not going to talk about it. She says she’s sorry; she will. He says, Esme grew up in boarding schools, and her parents died when she was still pretty young. Josslyn says, that sounds awful, and he says, it was. Not that he realized it at first. He saw party Esme like everybody else, but she was one of the few students who stayed on campus during breaks. Josslyn says, like him, and he says, one night they started talking, and they clicked. She says, it doesn’t surprise her. It seems like he and Esme would have a lot in common. He says, they bonded over the loneliness they felt, and how hard it was to connect with other students. Ever since then, they’ve been together; just the two of them. Them against the world. She says, except the world isn’t actually out to get them. He says she knows what he means. He has Esme’s back and she has his. She says, partners in crime, and he says, so to speak. So after hearing all that, does she think she could maybe possibly give Esme the benefit of the doubt?

Esme tells Trina that she doesn’t have to come solo. She can totally bring a plus one. Trina says, she’s not really seeing anyone, so… and Esme says, it could be a fun start to a relationship. Someone must have caught her eye at PCU. Trina says, not really, and Cameron says, which is fine. This is not really a couples thing anyway. They’re just going as a group of friends. Esme says, right, and Cameron goes to wait on another table. Esme says she hopes she didn’t make Trina uncomfortable, but Trina says she’s fine. She’s sure the weekend will be fun. Esme says she feels kind of bad. She never would have suggested they go away had she known about Trina and Cameron. Trina says, what about them? and Esme says, he told her that he and Trina almost got together. Now he’s with Josslyn. Ouch.

Maxie tells Anna, she hasn’t seen Peter since he disappeared from the hospital, but knowing he was out there somewhere, was like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from. She spent months terrified that she’d walk into her apartment or turn the corner, and he would be there. He’s taken too much from her, and she refuses to be scared of him for one more minute. Anna says, she gets it. If she was in Maxie’s position, she’d want to confront Peter too. Why should she be surprised that her fierce, brave goddaughter wants to do the same? Maxie says, so Anna will help her with Mac? and Mac comes out, saying, absolutely not. Maxie says, he doesn’t even know why she’s there yet, but he says, she wants to see Peter, and the answer is no. He’s not done fighting. Peter claims to know where Louise is. Anna says, he doesn’t. He blackmailed Nina in Nixon Falls precisely because he didn’t know where the baby was, and wanted help finding her. Mac tells her, now he’s saying that he just wanted to ascertain how far Anna and Valentin were in their search, and Maxie says, he’s lying. Mac says he’s sure he is. Peter knows his time is up, and he’s grasping at straws, but that’s his point. Anything Peter would say to Maxie would be a lie, and probably a hurtful one. Why would she want to subject herself to that? She says, it’s not about what Peter has to say to her, but what she has to say to him. Anna says, Maxie is very strong, and Mac says, and stubborn. Maxie says she wonders who taught her that, and Anna says, if Maxie says she needs to do this, she believes her.

Nina tells Sonny, it’s not fair. He’s lost so many people. His father, and now Jason. She wishes she could take his pain away. He says, that’s not how life works, and she says she tricked herself into thinking that if she could keep him away from his past, she could save him from a life of violence. He was so unburdened as Mike. He was so relaxed. She thought Nixon Falls would be a fresh start for him, and maybe a fresh start for her too. He says, it’s not a fresh start if you don’t know what came before. He was living a lie. She says she believed in her head it was real, and he says, his friends and family were stolen from him. He would take the pain of losing Jason any day, because Jason was like his brother; they would do everything together. They would protect each other… She says, she’ll regret every day of her life what her lies robbed him of, and he says, they have to move forward. Live the life they have now. She says, move forward; separate lives. He says, yeah, and leaves.  

Epiphany tells Willow that she hasn’t seen Michael. Willow says, that’s okay; she’ll text him.

Carly asks if Michael heard about Sasha and Brando, and he says, that’s why they came to the hospital. How’s the baby? She says, he’s in the NICU. They named him Liam. Michael says he likes it, and she says, he was deprived of oxygen during the delivery. It’s too soon to tell if he has any brain damage. He says, it must be hell for Sasha and Brando, waiting for news like that, and she asks if Willow is with him. He says, she went to put in a good word at the chapel, and Carly suggests they go to the nurses’ desk and see if there’s an update. They see Willow there, and Michael says, what is it? Is there news about the baby? Willow says, none that she’s aware of, and Carly asks, then what’s wrong?

Maxie says, Mac, please, and he says he’s never been good at saying no to her; why break the cycle now? She thanks him and says she loves him. He says he loves her too, but the second whatever’s going on in there feels weird to her… She says she’s out of there. He says, good, and Anna kisses Maxie’s head, saying, she’s very brave. Maxie says she feels anything but brave right now. She has to do this. Not just for herself, but for Louise.

Trina tells Esme, she’s happy for Cam and Joss; there’s no issue there. Esme says, that’s great, and Trina says she’s serious. Esme says, it’s just that, when Cameron brought it up, it sounded like… Never mind. Trina says, she’s gone this far. Just say it. Esme says, not only is it nothing, it’s none of her business. Just for the record, she’s not one of those people who thinks everyone has to be coupled up to be happy. Before she met Spence, she was perfectly fine on her own. She guesses she just never realized the beauty in having someone understand you so completely. Trina says, and that’s Spencer? and Esme says, now that she’s found him, she has no intention of letting him go.

Michael says Willow seems upset; what’s going on? Sonny comes out of the elevator, and hugs Michael, saying, he’s glad Michael is home. Michael says, so is he, and Sonny asks how he’s holding up. Michael says he’s still in shock. He’s so sorry about Jason. Sonny says, it’s good to have family, and Carly says that’s what she was just telling Michael. As long as they have each other, they can get through anything. Michael says he just can’t believe Jason is gone, and Sonny says, it’s because of Peter August. Carly says she’s glad that bastard has been caught. At least now, he’s going to pay for his crimes. Sonny says, he’s going to pay. He’ll make sure of it.

Peter says, what’s going on? and Mac says, one wrong move, and he’ll shoot Peter himself. He leaves, and Maxie comes in.

Michael says he guesses they’ll just wait for Brando, and Willow says, waiting is her specialty. He says she never answered his question; is she okay? Nina almost comes around the corner, but sees them, and stops. Willow says she’s just praying for that little boy, hoping with all her heart that Sasha and Brando can take him home soon. He says she’s been gone a while. Was she in the chapel the whole time? Willow says, she went, but she didn’t want to disturb the people inside. Nina is like, uh-oh.

Josslyn says, she guesses Spencer thinks Esme is the know all, be all, and she’s really nice – to him. But if she treats everyone else like trash, she’s sorry. She doesn’t want to hang out with her. He asks if they can be real, and she says, let’s try it. He says, it’s not like she’s been that nice to Esme either. Josslyn says, she fired the first shot, but he says, did she though? If he remembers correctly, Josslyn has been pretty cool to her from the start. She says, maybe if he’d mentioned he had a girlfriend; maybe just once instead of hanging all over Trina… He says he was not, and she says she thought they were being real. He says he likes Trina. He thinks she’s super cool. She says, and? and he says, maybe he could have been more direct when he first met her about what was happening. She says, maybe, and he says, but it has always been Esme for him. She asks, then why keep her a secret? and he says he didn’t handle things well in the beginning, okay? She says, all the lying, and the terrorizing of Ava. Ava’s not her favorite person, but even she didn’t deserve that. He says he screwed up. Why is she acting so surprised? It’s not like it’s the first time. She says, no, and she’s sure it won’t be the last, and he says, that’s what friends are, right? The people who love you anyway. She says, all right. Enough with the love talk. He says, she knows what he’s saying. They’ve been friends since forever, so as his friend, can Josslyn give Esme the chance to show her who she really is? She says she can definitely do that.

Peter says Maxie is more beautiful than he even remembered. He knew she woudn’t be able to stay away. She closes the door, and tells him, just shut up. For once, he’s going to listen to what she has to say. This little fantasy he has of them being together, living happily ever after, it’s not going to happen. And honestly, it blows her mind that he still thinks it could. After everything he’s done to her, how could he think she could feel anything toward him but hatred? He says, everything he did was out of love for her, and she says, he’s a murderer. A murderer. He hired a fake nurse to kidnap her and induce labor. That is not love. That is… She doesn’t even know what to call it. Abuse? Torture? She can’t be a mother to her child because of him. She can’t rock her to sleep, or kiss her tiny little hands. She’s missing those moments, and it’s Peter’s fault. She will never forgive him for that. He says he doesn’t believe that, but she says she doesn’t care what he believes. He says he can tell her where Louise is, and she tells him, stop it. He says he can find their little girl, and she says, he’s lying. He says, they can be a family again, and she says, oh my God. He’s in handcuffs, headed to prison, where he’ll rot in a cell for the rest of his life. He’s not going to have a family. He’s not going to have her, and he’s not going to have Louise. There’s nothing for him. Think about that. Choke on it.

Carly tells Sonny that she’d asked for a body pillow for Sasha, and he says, smart idea. She says, it felt good to do something, even if it was just a pillow. He says, every little bit helps. It’s just not easy to wait. She says, nothing is easy right now, and asks him to come sit with Michael and Willow. He says he has something to take care of, and she says, now? He says, Brando texted him, and said he didn’t need anything except good news. She says, the support of his family. What could be more important? He says, if it wasn’t important, he wouldn’t be going, and she asks, what takes precedence over a baby in the NICU? He says he doesn’t want her to worry about it. Call him if there’s an update

Mac says, the search for Louise is going nowhere, but Anna says, that can change in an instant; he knows how this works. He says he feels so hopeless right now, and she says, he’s not putting any weight on what Peter said just now? She doesn’t believe he knows where that little girl is. He says, as a cop, he knows that. Peter is just trying to save his skin. She says, but as a father and grandfather… He says he can’t discount any lead, no matter what the source.

Peter tells Maxie to look at him, and she says there’s nothing she’d rather see less. He says she made him a better man, but she says, he’s not a man; he’s pure evil. And she regrets the day she met him. Goodbye. She’s about to leave, and he says, this is about that doctor, isn’t it? Dr. Gatlin-Holt, the savior in the woods who delivered Louise. Peter met him earlier at GH. Maxie says, so? and he says, so it’s quite obvious he’s interested in Maxie. She says, this is not happening, and he says, which is of course (🍷) a no brainer to him; she’s beautiful. What surprised him is he never imagined Maxie would give him the time of day. She says, are you insane? (Yes!) This has nothing to do with Austin. He says, she’s on a first name basis with him, so they are close, and she says, so what if they were close? So what if they were dating? So what if she was dating the entire PCU football team? That is none of his damn business. She’s none of his business. He says, on the contrary, and stands up. He says, doesn’t she know by now there’s only one man in her life, and that man is him? She says, go to hell, and storms out.

Trina wonders if Cameron’s shift is over, and asks him to join them, but he says he’s meeting Josslyn at the gym. Esme says, that’s where Spence is, and asks for a ride. Trina says, it’s a bummer Esme has to leave so soon, and Esme says, Spence was so glad to have the day off. He’s been working so hard lately. Trina says, maybe Esme should get a job, but Esme laughs, and says she’s way too busy. Trina says, with what? and Esme says, all those classes she’s auditing at PCU, and her internship obviously. Cameron says he can’t imagine working in a prison, and Esme says she calls it prison light. It’s really not that terrible. Trina says, she enjoys it? and Esme says she does. It’s fascinating from a psychological perspective, but she’ll definitely be ready for a break by the time their trip rolls around.

Carly leans her forehead against the vending machine, and repeats, count to ten. Epiphany says, Carly? and Carly says she’s sorry. Epiphany says, what for? and Carly says, for blocking traffic here. There’s no one else around, and Epiphany says, there’s no traffic here. Carly says she doesn’t know why she apologized. She doesn’t usually do that. Epiphany agrees, and Carly says, she doesn’t know why she’s done half the things she’s done in the past few days. Epiphany says, grief. She heard about Jason, and she’s very sorry for Carly’s loss. Carly thanks her, and Epiphany says she means it. Jason was a remarkable person; someone she respected. Carly says, Jason respected her too, and Epiphany says she never doubted that. And she never doubted he loved Carly, without condition or reservation. He would do literally anything for her. Carly says she never doubted that either. Whatever happened, good or bad, if she was hurt, or scared, or wrong, without question, Jason would always be there. She knew he would be, no matter what. Now he’s not going be there anymore. He’s not going to be there ever again. She knows he would want her to keep going and move on, and she will, but she’s going to miss him every single day for the rest of her life. Epiphany says, when Carly is missing him, she hopes Carly thinks back on their wedding day. Jason was happy, and so was she. The love she felt that day is still there, and hers to keep.

Nina comes out, addressing Michael and Willow, and Michael asks if she shouldn’t be meeting with her lawyer. Her preliminary hearing is coming up soon, isn’t it? Nina says, Scotty is on it, but she appreciates his concern. He’s says he’s sure she does, and she says she’s just there for Sasha, not to upset them. Willow says, yet she keeps doing it, and Michael asks, what is her goal exactly? She says, to provide support for Sasha if she needs it. She’ll go wait someplace else. Willow says, good idea, and Nina moves along. Michael asks Willow if it’s selfish to say he’s glad her empathy for Nina only goes so far, and she says, his family comes first with her. He says, their family, and she says, their family. She hopes he knows that, and he says he does. It’s time like these that bring them together. With everything going on, he’s grateful for that. They hug. Wake me when it’s over.

Anna sees Sonny in the stairwell, and asks what he’s doing here. He says, one guess, and she says, she knows he’s ready to explode – they all are – but he’s got to let the authorities handle Peter. He’s being brought up on multiple charges in multiple jurisdictions; he’s not going to walk away. He says, Jason is dead because of that trash, and he wants Peter to know exactly what he’s waiting for.

Josslyn is punching the heavy bag when Cameron and Esme come in. Cameron says, nobody better mess her, and Josslyn says, that’s right. He asks, what’s up? and Josslyn says, she and Spencer were just talking about their trip. Spencer tells them, Josslyn said she thinks they can use Uncle Sonny’s cabin, and Josslyn says she doesn’t see why not, unless he and her mom are planning on using it, but she doesn’t think so. Esme says, sounds like a blast, and Josslyn says, it will for sure be memorable. Esme and Spencer go off to the side, and Esme says, good workout? Spencer says, it was fun, and she says she’s surprised Josslyn agreed to the trip. He says, they had a good talk, and she’s open to getting to know Esme better. Esme asks if he thinks she meant it, and he says, Josslyn doesn’t lie. Cameron asks Josslyn if she’s really cool about this trip thing, and she says, no, but Spencer wants her to get to know the real Esme, and she has a hunch he may be the one surprised. Cameron asks what she’s planning, and Josslyn says, her? Nothing. Esme will do all the work on her own. Until then, there’s no way Josslyn is turning her back on that girl.

Carly tells Michael that his dad had to leave. He said he had something to take care of. Willow says she’s going to check her schedule for next week, and will be right back. Michael asks Carly if everything is okay with her and his dad, but she says, they’re fine. He says, it seems like there’s tension, and she says, there is. There’s grief. Everything that’s been going on with Liam, and… It’s Nina who she’s mad at, not his dad. Michael says he just ran into her, and Carly says, she’s still here? Michael says, hopefully her trial is soon, and they’ll be sending her to jail, and out of their lives for good. She says, from his lips.

Nina sees Willow, and says she overheard that Willow was in the chapel. So was she. Funny. She didn’t see Willow there. Willow says she heard Nina with Sonny.

Peter is dozing, when Sonny comes in, and slams the door, startling him. Sonny stares at him.

Tomorrow, Maxie wishes Austin wouldn’t have done that; Brando needs to ask Michael something; Nina asks what Willow is going to do, now that she knows the truth; and Sonny says since Peter killed Jason, all the rules are out the window.

👠 What Did I Say…?

Helena will be around as long as Constance Towers is. I wonder if I’ll ever find out why Nikolas was left that painting though…

Vanderpump Rules

Brock, James, and Schwartz took a dip in some tubs of ice. Some pseudo therapist told them that it was a mindset, and Brock said it was a way to learn lessons. Yeah. Don’t get in cold water. James was trying to learn to calm down, and the foundation was learning to breathe intentionally. In James’s interview, he said he was looking past normal therapy to get out his rage and anger. He claimed talk therapists didn’t know what to say to him, but I suspect he doesn’t know how to listen. In Schwarz’s interview, he thought, since hot baths were bad for his sperm count, maybe a cold one would do the opposite. I don’t think it works that way though. James said all he could think about was that he was freezing, but it was progress. Afterwards, the guys hung out to talk, and Brock said kids had been cruel when he was young, because he only had four fingers on one hand. In his interview, he explained his hand had gotten caught in the gears of a moving gate as a child. Ouch a million times over. James said when he got in a confrontational moment, it threw him back to a defensive mindset.

Lisa visited Lala, and met dog Lily. Lala said, if Jesus had a dog, it would be Lily. Lily had high liver levels, and was on meds. Lala was waiting on some test results, and was putting out in the universe that it would be a good report. In Lala’s interview, she said Lily had been her companion, her ride or die since she was 21. Lily had gotten her through her drunken days when she couldn’t get out of bed. In Lisa’s interview, she said, Lala had come a long way, and she was happy to be part of her journey. At one time, Lala had been sneaking drinks behind the hostess stand, and now she was a mother, and it was lovely to see. Lala told Lisa about Brock’s birthday, and how she’d gone off on Schwartz for not backing Katie up. She also told Lisa about how the girls were taking pictures of their feet to raise money for Raquel’s new nose. And yes. I know how absolutely stupid that sounds.

Katie’s photographer friend Courtney came to take the foot fetish photos (say that three times real fast), and Ariana said it was the dumbest most amazing thing they’d done. In Raquel’s interview, she said she’d done everything to make the best of her bad nose job, but it needed to be redone. Ariana said she’d done a lot of weird sh*t, but never thought she’d be adding this to her resumé. Raquel told them that she was going to be hosting a picnic as a thank you,  a fancy floral scene. In her interview, she said it was an excuse to be a girly girl; she loved it. Charli brought up Brock’s friend grabbing her at the birthday party, and said she wondered why there’d been no back-up from Scheana. In Charli’s interview, she said she’d been a loyal friend, and Scheana chose a random dude’s back over hers.

Lisa escorted Schwartz to a tattoo parlor, since he’d lost a bet with her. In his interview, he said he’d been pouring his heart out to Lisa while they were drinking wine. She challenged him to a high stakes ping-pong game, and ping-pong was his forte. We saw a clip of him saying that he was going to smoke her, but if he lost, he’d have LVP tattooed somewhere on his body. She said, if she lost, she’d send some cases of wine to the new bar. He lost. He said, that’s how he ended up at the tattoo parlor, He told Lisa that the Katie Bubba tattoo had to remain prominent, since Katie wasn’t feeling supported, which didn’t surprise Lisa, since Katie had been pushed out of the new bar equation. Schwartz said he couldn’t get a home equity loan, and would have to stop with the bets. He’d bet Randall in a pickleball challenge, and if he won, Schwartz would get $2000. If he lost, Randall got a drink named after him featured prominently on TomTom’s menu. He wondered if Katie was going to kill him about the tattoo, but Lisa said Katie was going kill him for other reasons. Tell her it’s a message from God.

Raquel had her Raquel’s Dream Tea Party, and invited the usual suspects, along with her friend Paige. Everyone wore poufy dresses, except for Lala, who said, no one told her that it was going to be so chic. In her interview, she asked if she looked like a bitch who had puffy sleeves and a tutu in her closet. Ariana said she’d understood the assignment. They discussed the foot project, and Raquel said it wasn’t about the pasta; it was about the feet. She told the girls that James had been trying different kinds of therapy, and we saw a clip of him doing (I think) bioenergetics where you let the sound out. I only know about this because of a movement class I was required to take at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. The teacher was into it, and we all hated it. She was all about no one getting enough love as a child, and going back to the womb or something. We pretended to go along with it just to get through the class. But I digress. Scheana said she’d sent invites out for a photo shoot Brock was organizing to advertise his fitness start-up HomeBody. She said he’d put his heart, soul, and every penny into the company. James had been cagey about doing it for free. Charli told Scheana about the dude grabbing her at Brock’s party, and at first, Scheana claimed she didn’t see anything. Then she amended it to not saying anything because Charli had already said something. Lala said Charli had gone hard for Scheana, and Scheana expected people to defend her, but when the shoe was on the other foot, she was nowhere to be found. Charli said she was loyal and a good friend. When Scheana didn’t like someone, Charli told them to go f*** themselves, but it hadn’t been reciprocated. She thought Scheana didn’t want Brock’s friends not to like her, so she’d ignored the incident. Scheana got all teary, and wanted to go home, as she always does when anyone calls her out.

Ariana visited Katie to enlist her help with designing a drinking game, an embellished Never Have I Ever. In Katie’s interview, she said it was nice not being around an egomaniac, and being expected to kiss their ass every minute of every day. Schwartz came home in the middle of their brainstorm, and told Katie that he had one more betting gaff. He hadn’t thought Lisa would be good at ping-pong, so he hadn’t taken the bet seriously. He showed them his new tattoo, which was actually pretty small, and in Ariana’s interview, she said, Schwartz was so good at charming his way out of everything. If she had been Katie, she’d have shoved her rosé glass up his ass. Katie said Schwartz never had her back, and other people took precedent, but Schwartz said it was out of necessity, and not emotionally. He continued to try and explain himself, but she just said, no, every time he started talking.

Randall had all kinds of pickleball pros at his house for the Emmett/Schwartz 2021 Open. In Brock’s interview, he said it was like little man syndrome on steroids with Randall competing against the least competitive person. Brock wanted to talk to James, who didn’t want to do anything for free. Avoiding the tournament, Raquel and Charli got together for a workout. Afterward, Raquel told Charli that Scheana had asked her to stop being friends with Danica, and she had. Charli said she stopped commenting on Danica’s Instagram, since it offended Scheana. Scheana had been texting her about it, and she hadn’t wanted to lose the friendship over it. Charli told Raquel that when she brought up Scheana not having her back at the party, Scheana had flipped it, and played victim. She said Charli was trying to turn it into a me too moment. 

Lala came out in a cheerleader outfit, hoping they could put an end to this grandpa game. Willie, an American Idol runner-up, sang the National Anthem, and the game began. In Ariana’s interview, she said she hadn’t watched American Idol since Kelly Clarkson won, but she wasn’t going to hate on it. I haven’t watched it since Scotty McCreery won, and Lady Gaga performed at the finale. I didn’t think they could ever top that, so why bother? Randall won, scoring 11 points to Schwartz’s 4. Schwartz gave him a copy of the menu with his drink on it, but in his interview, Schwartz said it wasn’t real. Lala asked James about the photo shoot, and James called Brock over. Brock said James had told Raquel not to text him back, but James said he’d told Raquel, not yet, because he wanted to discuss it with her. I have the feeling that wasn’t the case, since James got animated, and Ariana told him to take it down a notch. Katie suggested James might need a favor from Brock one day, and in James’s interview, he said there was a time Katie was on a campaign to take him down, but she had his back now.

Lala was glad the tournament was over. It was time for Randall to get back to making those dollar signs. Ariana found out that the picture of her feet had been sold, and she tried to get a shot of Lisa’s feet, saying she’d charge extra, but Lisa said she’d better not. Charli told Scheana that she hadn’t been a good friend lately, and in Scheana’s interview, she said she’d just birthed human child, and that was her whole focus. For the unenlightened, Scheana was like this long before she had the baby. She wants to be liked so much, she’s never on anyone’s side but her own. Charli said Scheana was a dictator in friendships, and in Charli’s interview, she said if Scheana couldn’t understand where she’s coming from, they couldn’t be friends. She told Scheana that she hadn’t been getting friend energy back from her, when she’d been a good friend, and they hugged it out.

Next time, Katie and Sandoval go at it, and not in a fun way; Schwartz tells Sandoval that he needs to respect Katie; the Toms decide to take a break from each other; and Ariana has a birthday.

💔 No Festival This Time…

There aren’t many details, but according to Ariana on Watch What Happens Live, everyone was surprised.

https://people.com/tv/vanderpump-rules-james-kennedy-and-raquel-leviss-call-off-engagement-taping-reunion-bravo-breakup-split/

🏔 Salty Talk…

Bringing you up to speed on Salt Lake City.

🌴 The Wives You’ve Been Waiting For…

The Real Housewives of Miami are back.

https://ew.com/tv/real-housewives-of-miami-season-4-trailer/

⚰️ Back From the Dead…

Well, we never really did see her die.

https://ew.com/tv/kim-dickens-fear-the-walking-dead-madison-clark-return/

😌 Time For Some Shut-Eye…

Come by tomorrow for some soap and an update on Fancy Pants. Until then, stay safe, stay upfront, and stay giving back the friend energy you’re getting.

Nina Runs Into Peter, Catching Up, Getting Out, Adieu, Returning, Staying, Christmas Quad, a Parade, Not So Shamazing, For Sale, a Feud, Not Funny, Up For Grabs, Brainless, Not Twelve Quotes & Boudoir

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

In the elevator, Carly says Sonny is going to have to help her keep it together. She doesn’t want to cry in front of Sasha and Brando. He says, they have to help Sasha and Brando. He doesn’t want them to feel alone, and he doesn’t want her to feel alone. They get out of the elevator just as Nina turns around at the reception desk. She asks if they’re here to see Sasha and Brando; there aren’t any other visitors. Carly says, they don’t need an update, and they keep walking. Nina says, it’s just that they’re trying to tough it out, but they’re pretty fragile, so please be gentle. Carly glares at her.

Brando tucks Sasha in, and asks if she’s worried about the news about their baby, but she says she’s not worried. Is he? He says, of course (🍷) not. In fact, when the three of them get home, he’s going to buy their son his first baseball mitt. She wonders if he’s a little young to be playing catch, but Brando says, not with a name like Liam Mike. He’s strong willed, and like Mike Corbin, he’ll be able to defy the odds and live his life to the fullest. She asks if he knows what the name Brando means, but he says he doesn’t, and she says, sword or fiery torch. He says he will fight for their family with a sword or fiery torch, and she says she knows he will. He says, one day, they’ll tell their grandchildren about their heroic dad who was strong willed and defied the odds, and she says, they’re going to say they were worried for nothing and laugh at them.

Brook tells Chase, Maxie is emotionally exhausted. Not that she blames Maxie, but second guessing isn’t going to get them anywhere. They’re in this thing now; they’ve got to see it through. He says he doesn’t know. Maxie made some strong points. Brook says, she did, but they’re committed, which means they have to deal with it, especially now that Valentin is furious with her. With them, and there’s no telling what else Valentin might do. The doorbell rings, and Brook opens the door to see Valentin on the porch. Chase says, they had enough trouble the last time Valentin was there, so turn around and walk away. Anna joins Valentin, and says, no one wants any trouble. Brook asks, then what does he want?

Drew is getting some coffee at the Quartermaine’s when Maxie walks in, saying, sorry. She just wanted to get a glass of water. He turns around, and says, hi, Maxie; long time no see. She says, Drew, and he says, in the flesh. He’s not a hologram or a figment of her imagination. She says she heard he was alive. She just hadn’t processed it yet. He says, until now, and she hugs him, saying, it’s so processed.

In the hospital, Peter says he’s fine, despite Jason Morgan’s best attempt to kill him, and Austin says, he’s a lucky man. It’s good he was only shot in the arm. He might have some nerve damage, but nothing serious. Peter says, not like getting shot in the chest, right? and Austin says, no. If he was shot in the chest, he’d be in the ICU. Peter takes it Austin doesn’t believe the rumors, and Austin says he hears a lot of rumors. Which one is Peter talking about? Peter tells him, the ones that say he doesn’t have a heart, and Austin says, don’t be silly. If he didn’t have heart, he wouldn’t be alive. Peter says, how clinical of him – he looks at Austin’s ID tag – Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt. Now where does he recognize that name… Of course (🍷). Austin delivered his daughter.

Valentin says he’s not there to hurl accusations or make threats, and Brook says, why not? He did plenty of that before he moved out. Don’t tell her that he lost steam. Chase says, or maybe Valentin found out he was suspended from the force for throwing a punch at him, and came there to gloat. Valentin says he regrets that happened, and Brook asks if he regrets feeding Thanksgiving dinner to the family dog. Valentin says, not really, and Anna says, she understands that passions were running high. It was Thanksgiving; that’s what happens on family occasions. Valentin says, he’s not family, and Chase says he knows this doesn’t help, but when he started putting things together, he was totally blindsided to find out he was Bailey’s father. Valentin says, Brook used both of them, and Brook says, she had her reasons. Anna suggests they not rehash that; it’s not why they’re here. Brook asks if Valentin is there to talk ELQ business with her dad, now that he’s solidified his position as CEO, but Valentin says, no. He’s just there because he wants to say goodbye to his… to Bailey.

Maxie says, Anna told her that Drew was back, but the story was too incredible to be true. Peter faked a plane crash, and then held him captive for over two years? Drew says he wouldn’t have believed it himself if he hadn’t lived through it. Unfortunately, others weren’t so lucky. She says she still hasn’t wrapped her mind around Jason’s death. If only she could go back in time, before Peter was in their lives, when Nathan was still alive. He asks how she’d change the past. Could she stop Nathan from being killed? She says she would if she could, but she guesses at best, she would go back to before she met Peter and fell in love with him. He says, but they can’t go back in time, no matter how much they’d like to. When he was in prison, he just kept focusing on the future, holding on to that, when he’d see Scout again. She says, and Sam… Oh wow. She should just keep her big mouth shut. He says, it’s okay. He went to see them first thing, both of them. She says, Scout and Sam? How did that go? He says, Dante was with them, and she says, it’s been sort of a slow process with them. They kind of got together trying to find him. James is going to be excited to see him. He says he can’t wait, and asks how James is doing. She says, great, and he says she doesn’t have to protect his feelings. He and Sam were done long before Peter abducted him. She asks if he’s saying he’s okay with Sam and Dante, and he says he’s trying to be. It’s not like he has another choice. She says, it must have been great to see Scout, and he says, it made everything he had to do to get home absolutely worthwhile. She says she knows what he means. If she could go back in time, she doesn’t think she would, because then, she wouldn’t have Louise. He says, she found her daughter? Is Louise finally home?

Peter asks Austin to tell him about the circumstances surrounding Louise’s birth. It kills him that he wasn’t there to welcome his daughter into this world. Austin says he certainly was not. He was too busy running from the police to make it to the cabin; Austin’s cabin. And the nurse he hired to kidnap Maxie tried to induce birth. Peter put Maxie, and his own child, at great risk. Peter asks, who’s been feeding Austin all of this? and Austin says, he was there. Peter knows that. Thank God he was hiking in the woods. When he found Maxie, she was already in labor. Peter says, then Austin may have been the last person to see his daughter before she was abducted, and Austin says, it’s a possibility. Peter says, then Austin was in the right place at the right time. Austin knows what became of his daughter.

Sonny wonders if they should take turns visiting Sasha so she’s not overwhelmed, but Nina tells them, go ahead. She just got done visiting Sasha. Carly asks why Nina is still there, and Sonny says, Carly… but Nina says, it’s fine. She knows Carly is upset over the loss of Jason. Carly says, don’t say his name. Nina knows nothing about her and Jason. Carly tells Sonny that she can’t. She’s going to go see Monica. Sonny says, let him come with her, but Carly says she’s just going to go, and walks away. Sonny circles back to Nina, and says, baby’s fine? Nina says, yeah. Sasha should hear an update soon. He says, all right, and walks in toward Sasha’s room.

Sasha says, how can anything possibly be wrong with their baby; look at him. He’s adorable. It’s just that… Brando says he knows. All those tubes are hooked up to Liam, but she has to remind herself, those are making their little boy healthy. She says, yeah, like the cooling blanket, and he says, exactly, and the love of his mommy and daddy. What else does the little guy need? Britt comes in, and says she wants to introduce them to Dr. Fleming, their baby’s neonatologist. Sasha tells the doctor, she’d say it’s nice to meet her, but… Dr. Fleming says she understands, and Brando says, they were told she has news about their baby.

Anna promises Valentin isn’t there to make a scene, and Brook asks if Anna is there to vouch for him. Valentin says, Anna is his friend. This isn’t easy for him. Chase says, of course (🍷) this isn’t easy. None of this is easy. Anna says, especially for Valentin. Brook allowed him, in fact encouraged him, to fall in love with her little girl, knowing he wasn’t her father. Does she expect him to just throw a switch and not love her any longer? Chase says, nobody’s thinking that, but first, Valentin showed up mad as hell, lashing out at Brook in the most hurtful way imaginable, and now he’s here asking for her understanding? What does he want her to believe? Brook feels guilty enough. How much longer is he going to pile it on? Valentin says, he’s not there to pile on any more guilt. That’s not why he’s there. Chase asks if he wants closure with Bailey, but Valentin says he doesn’t believe in closure. Do they think just because he says goodbye, he’ll stop loving her? Chase asks, then why is he here? and Anna says it’s her fault. She insisted he needed to do this. Valentin says, no. Nobody makes him do anything he doesn’t want to do. Bailey is far too young to understand any of this. He hasn’t told Charlotte that she doesn’t have a sister, and he isn’t going to be able to do that until he says goodbye to Bailey. Brook stomps off, and Chase follows her. Valentin tells Anna, he knew this was how she was going to react. She’s not going to let him see Bailey.

Maxie tells Drew, Louise isn’t back yet. She’s just holding out hope that she will be. He asks if there are any breaks in the case, and she says she’s just hoping now that Peter is in custody, whoever has taken Louise will feel it’s safe to bring her back. He says, so she thinks someone took Louise to protect her from Peter? and she says, he thinks she’s deluding herself, doesn’t he? He says, no. He thinks she wants her little girl back more than anything in the world, and if he could make that happen, he would. She thanks him, and says, but she knows in her heart that Louise will be home one day, and it will make all of this worth it. He says, all of what? and she says, things she had to do because of Peter. Things she never thought she’d be forced to do. He says he knows what she means.

Austin says, even if he did know where Louise was – and he doesn’t – Peter is the last person he would tell. Make a fist. That way he can draw blood. This won’t hurt a bit. He plunges the syringe into Peter’s arm, Peter jumps, and I laaaugh. Austin says, oh, goodness me. He’s so sorry; he seems to have missed the vein. He’ll just try that one more time. He does it again, Peter jumps again, and Austin says, oh yeah, there we go. Success. Sorry about that. Normally, he’s not so clumsy. I officially love Austin. Peter says, he’s enjoying this, isn’t he? and Austin says, absolutely. He loves his job, always. Peter says, and that Hippocratic Oath he took to be a doctor? and Austin says, yeah, right, do no harm. It’s sticky though. That’s the question; who gets harmed and who does not? Peter says he supposes it’s the patients who aren’t to be harmed, but he couldn’t tell by the way Austin just stuck him. Austin says, that’s his point. Maxie is also his patient, so do no harm should apply to her as well. Peter asks, and what is Maxie to Austin?

On the phone, Carly says, she went by Monica’s office, but she wasn’t there. She wanted to talk to Monica in person, but it’s probably better it’s on voicemail; she can just hang up if she wants. Carly really hopes she doesn’t. She’s so sorry about Jason. She’s so sorry Monica has to grieve him all over again. He was Carly’s best friend, but he was Monica’s son, and Carly knows what that kind of pain feels like. In all the years of squabbling and fighting, she doesn’t know if she ever thanked Monica for Jason, for the incredible human being he was. He loved Monica so much. Carly knows Monica knows that, but she thought Monica might want to hear it. That’s all. She hangs up, and we see Nina sitting alone on a bench elsewhere at GH.

Sasha asks Dr. Fleming if it’s about Liam’s hypothermia therapy. Is it working? Brando asks if Liam can come home soon, and the doctor’s phone beeps. She says she’s sorry; there’s an emergency in the NICU. Not their baby. Britt says, it’s okay; she’s got this. Dr. Fleming leaves, and Britt says, getting back to their question, hypothermia therapy can take up to 72 hours, as they know. They still need to give the baby’s brain time to cool. What Dr. Fleming wanted to tell them was, the EEG has been scheduled. Sasha says, then what happens? but Britt says they won’t know until they get the results. But they have an entire team dedicated to caring for Liam, and she’ll be the liaison between them and Brando and Sasha. Brando asks what they can do to help, and Britt says, just keep doing what they’re doing, sending a lot of love to that beautiful baby boy, and let the team at GH give him the best possible care. Sasha says, the waiting is so excruciating, and Britt says she knows, but they have to take it a day at a time. Let the therapy run its course. In the meantime, their baby needs them to take care of themselves. Brando tells Sasha, Liam’s strong, but they have to be stronger, and she says, they will be.

Maxie says she knows this is going to sound ridiculous, but she kind of envies Drew. He’s not sure why, and she says, he got the chance to confront Peter. Drew let Peter take his best shot, and he survived. He actually came out on top. He says, at the cost of Jason’s life, and she says she knows. She hates that part, but at least Peter doesn’t have power over Drew anymore. She’d give anything to take away Peter’s power to frighten her. Drew says, when Scout and Danny would have a bad dream, he’d tell them, look under the bed, look in the closet, and when you see nothing but dustballs and clothes, you’ll know that the boogie man has no power over you anymore.

Peter says, do tell. Just how friendly is Austin with the mother of his child? Austin says, Maxie has a lot of friends. He’d be happy to be one of them. Peter says, but he’s not? He suggests Austin keep it that way. Austin asks if that’s a threat, but Peter lifts his hands, showing he’s cuffed to the bed, and says he’s clearly in no position to threaten anyone. But he is a born romantic, and does believe the fates will conspire to reunite his family. Austin says he doesn’t believe in fate, but Peter says he does. Sometimes fate needs a helping hand. Austin smiles, and starts to walk out, and Peter says, bye-bye. Such fun meeting him today.

Carly is looking at a picture of her and Jason on her phone, when Britt comes by. Carly calls her over, and says, Sonny is around here somewhere. They just came to see Sasha. Britt says she just came from Sasha’s room, and Carly asks how she is. Britt says, she’s good; strong. She’s sure Sasha would love to see Carly. Carly says, maybe in a few minutes, heaves a sigh, and sits. Britt is about to go to the desk, but turns back, and sits next to Carly, asking her how she is. Carly says, she just went to say fine, and kind of laughs. She says she came here to support Sasha and Brando, but it’s not like there’s anything she can do for them. Just like she can’t do anything for Jason. How is she? She’s sad, and scared. She doesn’t know what the rest of her life looks like without him. Britt says Carly will figure it out. Know how she knows? Jason told her. He had complete faith in Carly, and she knows Jason doesn’t say things just to be nice. He said it because he believed it; that Carly is strong enough to get through anything. Carly says, she was, when she had Jason to back her up. She didn’t have to be good enough or strong enough for Jason. She could just be her. That’s an amazing feeling, to have someone you can count on no matter what. Jason gave her that feeling. Now he’s gone. She knows how grief works, and the only way out is through. Then someday, when she says she’s fine, she’ll mean it. Britt says, right now, Carly can’t even imagine that day, and Carly says, no. Britt says, her neither; it sounds ridiculous. Carly says, it doesn’t; not to her. She tells Britt to take care of herself, and gets up to go to Sasha’s room.

Chase comes back, and tells Valentin, he’s sorry. Brook wanted to be alone. Valentin says he did warn Chase that honor is in short supply in this house, and so is compassion. If he were Chase, he’d take that beautiful daughter and go far, far away before Brook turns her into a Quartermaine. He tells Anna, let’s go, but Brook says, not yet, walking in with Bailey. Someone misses him very much. She gives Bailey to Valentin, and both Valentin and the baby smile. Chase thinks maybe they should give Valentin some privacy, but Valentin says, that’s not necessary. He and Bailey have no secrets, unlike others in this house. He tells Bailey that she’s a beautiful girl. He has to go, and they may never see one another again. At least not for a long, long time. But he wanted to say goodbye, and he doesn’t know how to find the strength to do that. So what shall they call this? He kisses Bailey’s head.

Carly sees Sonny in the hallway, and asks if he’s been in to see Sasha, but he says he was waiting for her. She thanks him, and says she’s ready. He says, let’s do this, and takes her hand. Brando asks if he can get Sasha anything, but she says, the only thing she needs is for their baby to get healthy, and she knows he will. No child made by a sword and defender of man can be otherwise. He says, Sasha means defender of man? and she says she looked it up when she looked up Brando. He says, strong willed son, daddy is a sword, and mommy defends them both. They’re quite the family. She says, family. She can’t tell him how good that sounds. Family, people she can lean on. Brando says, when she’s scared, and vulnerable, and she says, she’s not the Face of Deception. He says, he’s her family, she’s his family, and Liam’s their family. She says, small… and he says, but plenty big in heart. There’s a knock at the door, and Carly and Sonny come in. Carly says, rumor has it they’re up for visitors, and Sasha says, the more, the merrier. Carly hugs her, and Sonny hugs Brando. Sonny tells Brando, they have his and Sasha’s back. If they need anything, just ask.

Austin sees Britt, and says he just met her brother. She says, he’s not a brother to her; they share a father. Austin says Peter is his patient now, and Britt asks if he wants to be taken off the case, but he says, not at all. He wants to keep on it.

Peter is wheeled down the hall, accompanied by two officers, and he says, how about if he passes on that CT scan? He’s been feeling claustrophobic since that tunnel fell on him. No? All right. In that case, he’ll take a very large muscle relaxant. At the other end of the hall, the elevator doors open, and Nina comes out on the phone. She says she’s running late, and probably won’t make it to the office. She turns to get back in the elevator, but the doors have just closed. Peter is being wheeled toward her, and says, Nina Reeves. Look at her. Still alive and well. It looks like they’re both extra hard to kill.

Valentin shows Bailey a tiny stuffed bear, and says, this is the oldest thing he has. It was his, and got him through some tough nights. He wants her to have it. Drew and Maxie stand quietly just outside the door, and Valentin says, and one day, Bailey will ask her mommy and  daddy where it came from, and they’ll have to tell her it came from someone that loved her so much.

Carly says, they came to cheer Sasha and Brando up, not make them emotional. Brando tells her, they were just saying how important it is to have family to lean on, and Carly says, it is, and Sasha and Brando have them. And they have each other. She and Sonny know how terrifying it is waiting to hear about your baby’s health. Sasha says, Brando told her that Donna had spina bifida. They must have been scared out of their minds. Sonny says, that’s an understatement, and Brando asks how they got through it. Sonny says, they leaned heavily on each other, and Carly says, when she was scared, Sonny let her be scared. He really was strong for her. Sonny says, and she was for him. Carly says, frightening as it was, it brought them closer together, and Sonny says, he’s sure it’s doing the same for them, right? Sasha says she’s sorry they missed Thanksgiving. It must have been wonderful having everyone together. Sonny says, next year, all three of them are coming, and Brando says, they look forward to it. Carly asks if they’ve named their son yet, and Brando says, Liam Mike, short for Michael, after the man who was so good to him when he was growing up. Sonny says his dad would have been very honored, and Brando asks if Sonny wants to see him. Sonny says he’s been waiting for Brando to ask, and they leave. Sasha says, Brando wants to be so strong for her, and Carly takes her hand.

Maxie jets, and Drew follows. Chase tells Brook, he knows Valentin said otherwise, but let’s give him some privacy. Valentin asks Anna not to go, and she stay’s behind. She tells Bailey, it’s quite a little gift Valentin is giving her, and tells Valentin, so beautiful. Outside, Drew asks Maxie, what’s wrong? and she says, it upsets her to see someone separated from a child they love. Brook says, it couldn’t be helped, and Chase tells Drew, Valentin thought he was Bailey’s father, and Drew says, and Chase is; Monica told him. He knows Valentin and the Quartermaines have had their issues, but he might not be there if not for Valentin, Anna, and his brother Jason, may he rest in peace. Maxie quickly walks away.  

Britt asks if Austin feels this loyalty to all the mothers of the babies he’s delivered, and he says, given the circumstances of Louise’s birth, and her bizarre disappearance, can she blame him? She says, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep an eye on Peter, and he says, right. Your enemy’s enemy and all that. She says he has a peculiar habit of being around when things go wrong, whether it’s Maxie giving birth in the woods, or Peter showing up at GH, and he says, and when she loses a dear friend? He doesn’t think things could get much worse, so let’s hope they get better soon.

Nina asks why Peter is here. Why isn’t he locked up in Pentenville? Peter says, she didn’t hear about Jason nearly killing. Because of Jason, he requires medical attention. Nina says, what a shame. Too bad his aim wasn’t better. Peter tells the officers that he and Nina are practically family, and they know how family squabbles can get. Tell him, did her friend Mike finally fly to her rescue, or what? She gets down so they’re face to face, and says, you son of a bitch. There’s a place in hell reserved just for you. He says, people keep telling him that, but he ventures to think she’ll beat him there.

Sasha tells Carly, she made a vow; no more waterworks. Her baby and Brando need her. Carly says, Liam and Brando need her to be healthy, which means she needs to rest. And like it or not, it means doing what the nurses tell her. Sasha says, Epiphany and Elizabeth are having great fun bossing her around, and Carly laughs, saying, she bets. She knows it’s not the experience Sasha looked for, but it sounds like she’ll be able to go home soon. Sasha says, and they’re taking Liam Mike with them. Carly says she likes the name. She kisses Sasha’s forehead, and says she’s going to go, and let Sasha rest. Sasha thanks Carly for being a good friend to her, and Carly says, her pleasure. She’s always here for Sasha. Always. She leaves, and Sasha picks up her and looks at Liam’s picture. She says, you hear that, Liam. You will be coming home with us.

Brando tells Sonny, the tubes feed Liam, and he has a special blanket to cool him down, to help his brain recover from the lack of oxygen. Sonny says, it sounds backwards, and Brando laughs, saying, you’d think it was to keep him warm, but it’s the opposite. Sonny says, you’re never more raw and vulnerable as when you become a father, and Brando asks how Sonny does it. How does he handle the constant fear? Sonny says, you just don’t let it dominate your life. He always pictures Donna’s smile, Avery’s laugh. Kristina, Michael, and Dante are all grown up, but he still worries about them. He’s not Josslyn’s biological father, but he considers her his daughter; he’s her dad. One thing he’s learned about raising kids is, you have absolutely no control. Brando says, that’s a lesson that’s tough for him to learn, but Sonny says, Brando did a great job. He gave his son a great name; Liam Mike. A little Irish charm; his dad’s fighting spirit. Brando asks what makes Sonny sure Liam’s got it, and Sonny says, what makes him think Liam’s not a quitter? Because it runs in the family.

Britt says she has the feeling Austin doesn’t want to keep tabs on Peter out of some professional interest. Austin says he is concerned about Maxie’s physical and emotional well-being, especially now that he’s met the father of her child. Britt says, no one is underestimating the harm Peter is capable of causing, but he’s under guard 24/7, and once he’s released from the hospital, he’ll be locked away for the rest of his unnatural life. Austin says, maybe, but after spending even just a little time with him, he doesn’t sound like a guy who’s giving up on getting his family back. He sounds like a high stakes poker player who’s very pleased with himself because he still has an ace up his sleeve.

Valentin walks into the foyer with Bailey, and tells her, in France, they say, au revoir, mon cheri, which means, until we meet again. Au revoir, mon cheri. He tries not to cry, and gives Bailey to Brook. He and Anna leave, and Brook sighs. Outside, Valentin cries, and Anna holds him. She asks, it’s done. Is he okay? She takes his face in her hands, and says, ready to go? He nods.

Maxie grabs her coat and bag, and says, too many lies, too many hearts broken and lives destroyed. This has to stop. She walks out.

Nina asks the guards if she and Peter could have a second. He’s not going to go anywhere; please? Peter tells them, he’ll be fine. They can go. They leave (highly unlikely IRL), and Nina leans down again, and asks what Peter is intending. He says, me? and she says, yeah, you. He says he doesn’t have to lift a finger. She sealed her own fate in beautiful Nixon Falls when she fell in love with another woman’s husband, and not just any woman, the feisty Carly Corinthos. Frankly, he’s surprised to see Nina in town. He would have thought Carly had run her out of town on a rail by now, right after tarring and feathering her first of course (🍷)… or doesn’t she know. Nina gets up to see Carly standing behind Peter. Rut-roh.

On Monday, Chase says there’s something someone needs to know, Laura wants out of the safe house now, Sonny sees why Britt was special to Jason, and Peter tells Nina to let Carly be the judge of that.

🩰 She Knows Him…

I did know she had a dance background, but didn’t know about Cats.

🏚 She Wants Out Now…

Laura returns to the Port Charles canvas.

🥀 What a Dahl…

Another farewell. I’d forgotten she was Lorenzo Lamas’s mom.

https://people.com/movies/arlene-dahl-actress-turned-beauty-mogul-dead-at-96/

👸🏼 The Princess Returns…

Mac’s better half is home for the holidays.

⚖️ Oh No She Isn’t…

I hadn’t heard this rumor, but I’m glad it’s not true.

📽 Four’s Not a Crowd…

It must have been like old GH home week on this set.

🥁 Soaping the Season…

A good time for a worthy cause.

🏔 She’s Too Good…

Ugh. This woman. She’s like the fly in the Salt Lake ointment.

📿 Housewife Side Hustle…

Garcelle sells her glitzy wares.

🧨 Already It Starts…

And one of them isn’t even on the show.

🃏 I Resemble That…

Eboni did not find it a laughing matter.

😭 Boo-Hoo-Hoo…

Attention ladies, Juicy Joe is once again available.

📺 Sadly, She’s Right…

I’m sure I lose many braincells every time I watch reality TV. Actually, it’s surprising I have a brain at all at this point.

📡 Quotes of the Week

It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. – Mahatma Gandhi

A man travels the world in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. – George Moore

Rather, ten times, die in the surf, heralding the way to a new world, than stand idly on the shore. – Florence Nightingale

To be a revolutionary you have to be a human being. You have to care about people who have no power. – Jane Fonda

It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting. – Paulo Coelho

Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast. – William Shakespeare

Success is a collection of problems solved. – I. M. Pei

With no positivity, there is no hope; with no negativity, there is no improvement. – Criss Jami

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. – Mark Twain

Is your secret job in a red flag factory?Kalani Faagata, 90 Day Fiancé

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

🗼 Au Revoir, Not Goodbye…

Enjoy your next two days off, or on, or whatever your status. See you at the finale of the Dead. Until then, stay safe, stay living without regret, and stay knowing that when you see only dustballs and clothes, the boogie man has no power over you.

December 1, 2021 – Victor Makes a Thanksgiving Appearance, Fancy Pants Back In the OC, Three New Wives Plus One, She Ate My Bow & Rain

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Dante and Sam kiss, and Dante says, sorry; he overstepped. Sam says, no, she wants this too, and they kiss some more, then head upstairs.

Alexis, Shawn, Spencer and Esme have just finished some take-out Chinese, and Spencer thanks Alexis, saying, it’s a nice break from the traditional turkey. She says, all she did was order in from Noodle Buddha, and he says, she is the one with a working credit card though. She says, good point, and Esme says, she and Spence insist on cleaning up. They start to clear the table, and go to the kitchen. Shawn says, Alexis really doesn’t like Spencer’s girlfriend, does she? She says, it’s not about like. She just doesn’t trust Esme.

On the phone, Valentin thanks Mac, and says he expects immediate action to be taken on this matter. Tonight.

Ned tells Olivia, Scout inherited Drew’s shares when he was declared dead, but now that he’s alive, that calls into question Drew’s shares that he signed over to Valentin. She says, which means Valentin’s majority hold on ELQ is in question. He says, Valentin isn’t going to take this lying down, which means he has to act fast while Valentin is still recovering from the pain of realizing Bailey isn’t his daughter. Olivia looks at him, and he says, just say it. Tell him that he’s a jerk for even thinking about this when they just learned Drew is still alive, and Jason probably isn’t. She says she’s going to shock him, and not going to say any of that. She thinks where Valentin is involved, staying ahead of the situation is absolutely the right move.

Chase finds Brook outside, and asks, what’s going on? She was taking care of Bailey one minute, and then just bounced. She says she’s just overwhelmed, trying to process everything they just learned. Everything Drew told them, the miracle he’s alive, the fact that Jason isn’t. Plus, all their personal drama, and the fact that her dad is disappointed in her again, but the sacrifices they’re making for Bailey will be worth it in the end. They have to, because not everyone is so lucky. Not everyone is going home to their loved ones tonight.

Britt walks onto the footbridge, and tells Carly, sorry. She didn’t expect to find Carly there. She actually didn’t think anyone would be there. She just thought she could… She doesn’t know what she thought she could do here. Carly says she does.

On the phone, Sonny says, Cyrus! Realizing Cyrus is no longer there, he throws the phone, and says, you want a war, you bastard, I’ll give you a war.

Drew says Monica wasn’t kidding about Annabelle. She’s so big, she’s going to need a wing of her own. I laugh, because at first, I think he’s talking about a turkey wing, and I figure she’d already had a couple of them. Monica says, actually, she agrees with him. It took her a long time, but she’s finally fallen in love with that dog. He says, she never left Oscar’s side when he was sick, and Monica says, she laid on his bed for weeks after he was gone. Has Drew seen Sam or Scout? He must be anxious to get back to his old life.

Sam leads Dante to the bedroom, and they get busy. I’m not sure how they can concentrate with that loud music playing.

Drew tells Monica that he tried to concentrate on his life here to give him strength. Mostly Scout. Thinking about her got him through those brutal two years, but he can’t charge back into his life in Port Charles, and expect someone as young as Scout to welcome him with open arms. She says, a lot can change in two years, and he says, exactly his point. He doesn’t even know what a return to his life in Port Charles means. When he left, he was still trying to piece together his identity, and find where his place was in the world. She says, let her help him out. His place is here with his family.

Alexis comes out of her house to find Valentin on her porch. She says she thought she heard him talking out there, and he says, he was hoping her invitation to join the orphan Thanksgiving still stands. She asks why he’s not at the Quartermaines having pizza, and he says, change of plans. Charlotte’s with friends this year, and he’s second guessing his choice to be alone. She asks if there’s anything he wants to talk about before they go inside, but he says, no, and she says, let’s go. They go in, and she says, hey, everybody, make room for one more. Spencer asks what the hell Valentin is doing here.

Sonny tells Spinelli, Renault is in prison, and somehow got ahold of a burner phone. Spinelli says, Cyrus called Sonny from prison? On Thanksgiving? How distressing. Sonny says he needs Spinelli to figure out what’s going on, and Spinelli asks why Cyrus called. Sonny says, he probably heard about Jason, and called to taunt him. Spinelli says, heard about Jason? Is he back from Greece? Sonny says, Spinelli doesn’t know? and Spinelli says, know what exactly?

Carly says, she’s surprised Britt even knows about this place, and Britt says, when she and Jason were on the run, they had a lot of downtime. Carly asks if she knew the original bridge was torn down. It wasn’t safe, so Jason made an anonymous donation, and they built this bridge in its place. Britt says she didn’t know that part, but knowing this place had such significance to Jason, she thought she’d feel closer to him if she came here. She cries, and says she imagines Carly had the same idea. Carly says, long before the wedding they just had, long before Jax, even before she met Sonny, Jason was her other half, strange as that may sound. Britt says she knows. When she and Jason were in the lighthouse, he talked a lot about Carly. She laughs and says, well, a lot for Jason. She knows how much they meant to each other. She gets why Carly is there. Does she want Britt to go?

Brook says she knows what this is doing to Maxie, to Valentin, to everyone. How devastated Charlotte’s going to be when she finds out Bailey really isn’t her baby sister, not to mention what this is doing to Bailey. She’s bonding with the wrong woman as her mother. He says, what about her? Isn’t she hurting? She says, her part in this is basically telling some lies, a skill she acquired at a young age, and has nearly perfected. She’s taking care of Bailey, which surprisingly, she’s good at. He says, see? That’s his point. Valentin, Maxie, Charlotte, they’re sad right now, but one day, when this secret comes out, and Bailey goes back to Maxie, Brook is going to be the one who’s suffering. Has she thought about that? She says, fine. It’s going to hurt everyone, but after the information they just learned, that Peter is responsible for Jason’s death, that he kept Drew prisoner for over two years, it proves they’re doing the right thing keeping Bailey safe from Peter. They made the right decision. He says, now that Peter is in custody with the WSB, they won’t have to keep up this pretense much longer. He takes her hand, and she says, from his lips. Mac walks up, and Chase asks what he’s doing here. Mac says he’s sorry to bother the family on a holiday, but he needs to ask Chase some questions about Valentin.

Alexis reminds Spencer that it’s her house, and she likes Valentin. She knows Spencer doesn’t like him and they haven’t gotten along in a while, and Spencer says, the man tried to kill him when he was a child. Shawn guesses he missed a lot while he was away, and Valentin tells Spencer, that’s the way his father framed an event from his childhood. Alexis says, all right. It’s Thanksgiving, a day to be grateful, so if the two of them could put away their dueling resentments for a few hours, she’d be grateful. Spencer says, he’ll always be grateful, but in 2021, they finally learned the truth; that Valentin is Helena’s bastard child and has zero claim to anything Cassadine. Alexis tells him, that’s not being grateful, and Spencer says, Valentin shouldn’t even be able to use the last name Cassadine. The doorbell rings, and Alexis wonders, what fresh hell is this? and opens the door. Nikolas says, happy Thanksgiving, and Ava says, they brought pie… Is this a bad time? Alexis says, they have no idea. Nikolas says, they wanted to make sure she wasn’t alone tonight, and Ava says, that’s why they brought pie; pumpkin and pecan. Alexis says, that’s very generous, but as they can see, she’s far from alone. She opens the door, and they walk in. Ava says, happy Thanksgiving, everyone, and Nikolas says, maybe a quiet Thanksgiving at Windymere would be better. Spencer says, good idea, but Esme says, come on. It’s a holiday. This is his chance to show he’s the bigger man. Shawn says Alexis promised him that his Thanksgiving wouldn’t be boring. She sure delivered on that.

Ned says, Olivia thinks this is a good idea? Getting ahead of Valentin? She knows that’s equivalent to declaring war with him, right? She says, what his daughter did to Valentin, it hurt. He’s going to be mad and want revenge, and when the dust settles, of course (🍷) he’s going to try and undermine Drew’s shares of the Quartermaine stock. Ned says, he means this as a compliment; how very Quartermaine of her. She says, you can take the girl out of Brooklyn… he knows how the saying goes. She knows she can be reactionary, but over the past year, she’s slowly, but surely, come to realize Ned’s head is back on his shoulders again. She feels she can trust his intentions, not just with Leo, but with the family. He asks if that includes the two of them. Before they butted heads about Leo, he thought they were on their way to reconciliation. Where does that leave them now?

Drew says Monica has always been so incredibly kind to him, more than he deserves, especially considering the mess and trauma his arrival caused. She says, this family thrives on strife and drama. He wouldn’t be a Quartermaine if he wasn’t stirring things up. He says he sees she redecorated, and she says she thought it was time for a change. Does he like it? He says he likes it a lot, but he misses the family photos on the mantel. She says, her too. It was hard putting those away, but it was just always a reminder of everyone they’ve lost, and now Jason’s gone. She tears up, and he hugs her. She says, but sometimes it takes a new perspective to see things, or really see them. Willow came to her, and asked if she could put some pictures Wiley had drawn on the fridge. All of a sudden, she had this sense of family again. Soon there will be drawings Bailey did next to Wiley’s. They’ll never forget the ones they’ve lost, but they’ve got to find a way to move on with their lives. He says, somehow we do.

Basking in the afterglow, Dante says, that was… Sam says, a long time coming, and he says, that’s one way to put it, kissing her again. He says, it felt like the right thing to do, and she says, this big step had to be about the two of them first. Dante’s phone rings, and he says, it’s probably his mom, worrying why they flaked. They should make their families wait until tomorrow. Unless of course (🍷) she thinks he should take off tonight.

Ava tells Alexis that she’s sorry. She thought she was encouraging Nikolas to do a good thing. Alexis says, she’s not sure Nikolas can do a good thing anymore, even with an instruction manual. Ava says she doesn’t want to fight. She just came to check on Alexis, and see how she was doing. She’s sure Alexis remembers the significance of this day, other than it being a holiday. It’s been a year since they last saw Julian before he… Alexis says she must have blocked that anniversary. As Ava knows, things did not end well with her and Julian. Having said that, she knows he’s Ava’s brother and she misses him, and she’s sorry Ava is in pain. Ava thanks her, and Alexis says, now if Ava will excuse her, she’s going to try and make at least one person smile instead of cry before this dreadful holiday is over. The doorbell rings, and Alexis says, who could this be? Satan? She opens the door, and Victor says, hello, Natasha.

Alexis says, he’s… He says, late for dinner? He supposes he is. Is this any way to great a member of her family? She lets him in, and Spencer says, Uncle Victor, you’re alive, and hugs him. Victor says Spencer is all grown up. Quite a chip off the old block. Nikolas says, sorry. He should have warned them. Alexis says, he knew Victor was alive and didn’t say anything? How long has he known?

Spinelli tells Sonny, they just need to access the appropriate technology, a scan that can measure body temperature, and prove there are signs of life. They need to notify the Greek authorities. Sonny says, they did that already; there’s no sign of life. Even though they haven’t found a body, it doesn’t look good. They have to prepare themselves for the worst case scenario. Spinelli says, Sonny finally found his way home, and so did Drew, only for them to lose Jason. Sonny says, Jason knew the risk going to Greece. In this business, they’re provided with a great life, but it also turns them into people who take action. It’s always a risk. They can’t always take for granted  that they’re going to beat the odds and come home. Jason knew that. Spinelli says, Jason was never concerned about risk; he embraced it, but he truly never thought it would catch up with him. He cries, and Sonny hugs him.

Carly says, the footbridge is a public place. It’s not for her say whether Britt can use it or not. Britt asks if she should join Carly, and Carly says, she knows how important Britt was to Jason, and he was to her. Britt says, the last time they talked, Carly said she wished Jason had never met her, meaning he’d still be alive if their paths had never crossed. Carly tells Britt, she shouldn’t have said that; she’s sorry. I fall out of my chair in shock. Britt says, don’t be. She feels the same way. So whatever Carly feels about her, know that right now, she hates herself too.

Brook tells Mac, let her guess. Valentin is filing charges against her for fraud or something? Mac asks why she’d say that, and she says, no reason. She probably shouldn’t have had that second glass of wine with dinner. Chase asks what Mac is doing here. It’s Thanksgiving; he should be home. Mac says, he’d like to be, but when the PCPD has a formal complaint lodged against the department, he has to pay attention. He doesn’t know the whole story, but Valentin is saying one of his detectives assaulted him over a personal matter. Brook says, that’s ridiculous; Chase was just standing up for her. Mac says, there will be a time and place for Brook to give her version of things, but this is a serious matter, which is why he’s not with his family on this holiday. He needs to speak to Chase in private.

Alexis says, Nikolas knew Victor was alive, and didn’t think to tell her about it? Nikolas says, neither she nor Spencer were speaking to him, and he expected Victor to remain in prison. Spencer says Nikolas warned him away from Victor, but as they know, his word is good for nothing. He always thought Victor was a good man. Victor thanks him, and says, that means a lot. He’s sure they’re wondering why he’s here. He went to Windymere, but it was empty, so he came here, looking for the family he has left. He asks Alexis where her daughters are; he was hoping for a proper family reunion. She says, they had other plans, fortunately, and Victor looks at Valentin, saying, all is not lost. He had no idea Valentin and Natasha had gotten close enough to spend a holiday together. Alexis says she didn’t know Victor and Valentin were so close, but Valentin says, they’re not close. Victor is his father.

Olivia tells Ned, it’s a lot to unpack, but it’s different this time. Ned asks, why? and she says, this time she has hope. Over the course of the last year, there were a lot of times she didn’t have any. She thinks it’s a good sign. Is that enough for now? He says, it’s worth everything to him, and she says, one thing she does know is that she wants him in Leo’s life. Julian’s been gone a year, but even when he was alive, Ned was the most fatherly figure in Leo’s life. Despite what’s gone on between them, she regrets they didn’t make it official last year. He says, him too, and they hug. Monica comes in with Drew, and says she didn’t mean to interrupt, but Olivia tells Drew, if he’s hungry, he’d better jump on some leftover pizza; it goes quick. Monica says she’s right. If he wants to hit the pizza, go now before everyone starts on round two. She’ll have the staff get a room ready for him. He says, that’s not necessary, but she says, he needs them as much as they need him, and Ned says she’s right. They have a lot to catch up on.

Sam asks if Dante is going to just cut and run on her, but he says he’s not going anywhere. He didn’t want to be presumptuous. Rocco is spending the night, but if he’s there for breakfast, there are going to be a lot of awkward questions. Sam suggests they set an alarm extra early, and he can sneak out before the kids wake up… He asks where she went, and she tells him, she was going to say she wanted him to stay because she didn’t want be alone tonight, but that’s not true. She doesn’t want him to stay because she’s lonely. She wants him to stay because she wants to be with him. He says, that’s good. He wants to be with her too. So it’s settled then; he’ll stay.

Alexis tells Valentin, they knew Mikkos wasn’t his father. They also knew Helena had an affair with an unknown man. Victor says, that would be him, and Alexis says, eww. Him and Helena? Victor says he knows Alexis had issues with Helena. Of course (🍷) she did, Helena killed her mother, but he saw a different side to her. Valentin says, so if anyone needs it spelled out, that makes him 100% Cassadine bastard. He told Nikolas that he’d be eating his words. Spencer says, Nikolas knew about this? and Nikolas says, he knew Victor was alive, but had no idea he was Valentin’s father. Have they had DNA tests? Victor says, not yet, but he’s willing to, and Valentin says, as is he. And if it turns out to be true, the silver lining is he and Alexis are blood family. Spencer says he doesn’t believe his Uncle Victor would have a son like Valentin, and Nikolas says, he’s no fan of Valentin’s, but he thinks Spencer is putting Victor up too high. Spencer says he didn’t ask for Nikolas’s opinion, and Ava tells Nikolas that she thinks they should go. Nikolas says, good idea, and Valentin thinks he’ll go too, but Alexis says, no one is leaving until every dish is done. Nikolas says, he’ll stay if his son wants him too, and Spencer says, fine by him if Nikolas stays; he and Esme will go. Nikolas asks if everything has to be a grand gesture, and Spencer says, like Nikolas throwing him out of the house and saying Spencer is nothing to him? Talk about grand gestures, how about dressing up like a stalker and stabbing him? There’s no gesture there? Victor does a two-finger whistle, and says, he recognizes that blood feuds are something of a Cassadine tradition, but speaking as the patriarch of the family, that’s going to change starting today.

Chase goes back inside the mansion, and Brook says she’s gotten him into trouble with his boss, hasn’t she? How bad is it? He says, Mac suspended him from the force for six months.

Drew says, when Monica puts it like that, how can he say no? He thanks her, and she says he’s welcome, leaving to talk to the staff. Olivia goes to check on Leo, and Ned says, it’s his turn to welcome Drew back. It’s nothing short of a miracle, and one this family needs right now. They hug, and Ned says, at the risk of sounding mercenary, he wants to warn Drew that his return created complications with ELQ. Sorting it out is going to put a target on Drew for Valentin.  

Victor says, now that he has their attention, the Cassadines have been plagued for far too long with infighting and family members stabbing each other in the back. Spencer says, sometimes they stab you in the chest, and Victor says, his point exactly. Can’t they imagine how much stronger this family would be together? Alexis says, he’s been dead a long time; he’s missed a lot. There’s a lot of bad blood going on between them, especially in the last three months. He’s not going to be the one to patch the family together. Frankly, she doesn’t think anyone can. Victor says, he hopes for all their sakes, that’s not the case. There will always be threats to this family lurking in the shadows. He just hopes and prays they come to realize this family is a lot stronger with a united front, before those threats step into the light.

Sam looks out window. Dante realizes she’s not next to him in bed, and gets up. He puts his arms around her from behind.

Spinelli tells Sonny that he thinks he should be going home now. He’ll get right to tracing the call. Georgie is getting dropped off in the morning. Sonny says Spinelli can stay there tonight; Josslyn and Carly wouldn’t mind. Spinelli thanks him for his kind offer, but thinks he needs to sit with the news, so he can get in a better headspace for Georgie in the morning. Sonny says, they’re just a phone call away, and Spinelli thanks him. He starts to leave, but says, at the risk of speaking out of turn, he knows things were complicated between Jason, Sonny, and Carly after the negated wedding, and he’s glad things got sorted before… before they lost him. He leaves.

Carly tells Britt, she knows what Jason would want her to say. He’d want her to tell Britt that she doesn’t blame her. That was one of the many roles Jason played in her life. He had the ability to talk her down. With him gone, those generous thoughts don’t come natural. They’re drowned out by loss, and knowing Jason is gone and he’s not coming back. Britt says she understands that feeling, and Carly says she doesn’t want Britt to go. Britt walks to Carly, and puts her arm around her. They stand shoulder to shoulder.

Tomorrow, Olivia asks Dante if things are getting serious with Sam; Valentin tells Anna, if he hurts, Brook is going to hurt too; Carly asks what Sonny is going to do about it; and Brando says he has to prepare Sasha first.

Real Housewives of Orange County

Heather aka Fancy Pants is back, and we heard a whole lot about her house, and how fabulous her life is. And we heard aaalll about the kids. We heard about it for so long, I started wondering where everyone else was. Heather’s life is so important, we didn’t even get opening taglines. Gina and Emily also made it back this season, and Emily said they were best friends again. She thought their friendship had been off because they were at low points in their lives. Now Gina was happy and healthy and it was all good. Gina talked about Matt’s court case being delayed because of covid, and how their relationship got better by the time she had to give a victim impact statement. It was tough seeing him plead guilty. She was still seeing Travis though, so it wasn’t like they were getting back together.

I guess Shannon is the OG of the group now, and we had to hear about her kids. She said the kids growing up was a lot to handle sometimes. She was still the same hypochondriac, but somehow, John was still hanging in strong with her. Heather met with new Housewife and friend Nicole for a hike, and talked some more about her kids. We saw an actual roadrunner run across the road, so there was that. It did not, however, make a beep-beep sound. Heather told Nicole that Shannon had been texting her about past good times, and we flashed back to some past volatile times. Heather thought maybe it was like childbirth, and Shannon was only remembering the good parts, but thought everyone deserved another chance.

Emily had some work done, and brought Gina to new Housewife and aestheticist Dr. Jen. Gina said Dr. Jen was the whole package; educated, working full-time, and a mom, and she was doing it all in stilettos. Since Jen later said she’d die without her nanny, maybe she isn’t quite the whole package Gina thinks. Heather met with Nobu manager John about catering an upcoming. In her interview, she said, to her, a party was a theatrical experience, a complete immersion into fabulousness. We flashed back to some of those immersions, including the cake bow incident a skabillion years ago. (See below for the full story.) Shannon met Emily and Gina for lunch, and Emily said they were the new Tres Amigas. Shannon said she was looking at them in a new light, and Emily said they’d grown on her like barnacles. Shannon said Heather had told her about a friend named Nicole, and she thought she knew Nicole from their kids going to pre-school together. She’d dated Kid Rock. After meeting with John, Heather met Nicole and the final new Housewife Noella.

In Jen’s interview, I had to hear about a stranger’s kids, and husband Ryne who deals in high-end vacation rentals and catering. He gets a thumbs up from me because of the way he was cradling their Chihuahua, and the way the Chi looked up at him so lovingly. Shannon told Gina and Emily that she was hoping Nicole wasn’t the person she thought, since she’d sued Heather’s husband Terry. Why Heather wouldn’t know this, I’m not sure, but Shannon made them swear they wouldn’t say anything. I don’t know why any of these women would expect another to adhere to that promise, given past experience. It’s Season 16, and it hasn’t happened once.

Heather met Shannon and Gina for lunch, and then gave them a tour of her house, which was basically as big as a small city. When Heather was out of earshot, Gina asked if Shannon was cool, since she’d once had a house like that in the same area. In Shannon’s interview, she said the house she and David built had both good and bad memories, and we flashed back on those. She said it was triggering her, but it felt like a lifetime ago. She looked like she wanted to escape when Heather showed off her hot towel drawers, in a bathroom bigger than my entire first floor. Noella went to Nicole’s for lunch, and talked about how life didn’t suck being married to ambulance chaser attorney Sweet James. Sweet James? Really?

The women headed to Heather’s party, Shannon making Emily and Gina swear again that they wouldn’t say anything about Nicole. In Emily’s interview, she said it was typical Shannon behavior, causing trouble on the downlow. Then, if it came up later, she played the innocent victim. Gina didn’t understand Shannon’s endgame. Does anyone? Does Shannon even understand it?

Shannon thought she’d met Jen before, but it had been at a party, so the memory was fuzzy. We saw beautiful people in Heather’s beautiful house eating beautiful food and drinking beautiful drinks. In Gina’s interview, she said she thought it was the right thing to do to tell Heather about Nicole. She didn’t think she was capable of pretending it was okay. Then Nicole arrived. We saw flashes of Gina telling Emily that it was a disaster, and Heather kicking everyone out.   

Then, to be continued…

This season, horse races, fabulous vacations, and other rich people things no one in this cast deserves; lots of fights; Shannon is jealous of Gina’s friendship with Heather; Terry wonders if Shannon is harboring ill will from the past; and Noella says her life is falling apart.

👯‍♀️ New Girls…

The newest Housewives in the OC. Plus one who was demoted early on.

https://people.com/tv/rhoc-newcomers-shake-things-up-in-season-16-trailer-exclusive/

https://screenrant.com/housewives-orange-county-new-cast-season-16-facts/

https://meaww.com/who-nicole-james-rhoc-16-heather-dubrow-friend-terry-surgery-botched-demoted-dated-kid-rock

🎀 The Bow Incident…

I don’t remember much about this woman, but I sure remember the fuss Heather kicked up. She must have said, she ate my bow, ten thousand times.

https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/tbt-sarah-eats-the-bow-on-heathers-cake

🏂 Sliding Out Of This Page Like…

See you tomorrow for some soap and faux fur on the Runway. Until then, stay safe, stay being a queen, but not a drag, and stay not letting generous thoughts get drowned out by loss.

November 24, 2021 – Sam Gets a Thanksgiving Surprise, Grateful For a Finale, Afterward, Trying To Get Back, Thanksgiving TV, Ten Little Quotes Of Gratitude & Alice

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Chase’s phone rings while he’s in the shower. He grabs it, and asks Brook, what’s up? She asks where he is, and he says, in the shower; he did the turkey trot this morning. She asks if cops aren’t supposed to be peace keepers. She needs him there to keep the peace. He asks, what’s going on? and she says, nothing yet, but her father’s head is going to explode when he finds out it’s Chase, not Valentin, who’s Bailey’s father. He asks her to let him get the soap out of his eyes, and dry off, and she says, don’t forget, this was his idea. Now they have to sell it. He says he has to talk to Finn first, and she says she needs him now. He asks if she remembers who saved her bacon from Valentin, and she says, actually he saved Bailey’s bacon from Peter. He tells her, they’re in this together. Stop ordering him around, and he’ll be there soon. She says, just wear a tie, and he says, sure. It will give her father something handy to string him up with.

Austin tells TJ that he did a great job. What’s next? Is he going to choose ER again as his next elective rotation? Finn walks up, and says, infectious diseases. Austin’s loss, his gain. Austin asks, what’s the fun in that? There’s no adrenaline rush in internal medicine. Finn says he’d be surprised, and TJ asks what Austin’s plans are today. Austin says, go home, eat a turkey burger, and watch football. Marshall watches from the landing above.

Curtis is looking at the photo Marshall gave him, when Portia comes into the club. He asks what she’s doing there. He thought he locked the door. She says, no, it was open. Is he okay? He says he just didn’t hear her come in, and she says he looked like he was a million miles away. She didn’t hear back, which isn’t like him, so she decided to come check. He says he got her text, but he has so much going on. He’s sorry. What’s up? She says, dinner, for one. Is he still coming? He says, when? and she says, today. Thanksgiving? She asks if he’s okay.

Dante and Sam watch the parade with the kids from Sam’s balcony, and Rocco says, this is sweet. He wonders why they haven’t done it before, and Sam tells him, play his cards right, and he’ll get invited again. Jake says he’s glad they came; it can get boring. Dante comes up behind Sam, putting his arms around her. He wants to lock down another invite, and she thinks it can be swung. They go inside, and Jake says, that was awesome. Sam tells them to take their coats off, and asks, who’s ready for some treats? Rocco asks where the treats are, and Dante says he and Sam will get that sorted out. They have a movie ready to go upstairs, Kristina Comes Home for Christmas. The boys roll their eyes, and Sam tells Danny that he’s being rude. Rocco says, that movie’s ancient, and Dante says, that’s the point. Good old-fashioned Christmas magic. Scout says she wants to see it, and Sam says, that’s her girl. Go upstairs, and they’ll get some snacks ready. They head upstairs, and Dante says Sam saved his butt. They didn’t want to watch the movie, but she had snacks and treats. She says she has some tricks up her sleeve. She has cookies, muffins, donuts, and cupcakes from Kelly’s. He says, what about coffee? and she says, and nachos. She asks if he thinks the kids are getting along, and he says, yeah. He knows Rocco misses Charlotte. The holidays are always tough without his mom, but he seems happy with Scout and Danny. She says, Danny and Scout miss Jason, and Drew, and he says, at least they get to see their families at the Quartermaines. There’s a holiday movie for her. He thinks it would be a horror film. She says, there’s a sequel at the Davis’s. Is he sure he’s up for it? He says, of course (🍷) he is. He and her mom are good; they made peace. As long as she’s up for what that means, if they show up at their families’ houses at the holidays with their kids together. She says, it’s a big deal, and he says, it makes them official.

Brook tells Ned to go easy on the coffee. He might want to switch to decaf, the way family Thanksgivings go around here. He says, not this year. Things are finally looking up. He and Olivia are finally on the same page. After Leo’s disappearance last night at Ava’s gallery, she came to realize, Leo does need to see a specialist; that he was only acting in Leo’s best interest. Which doesn’t let Brook off the hook for letting Leo out of her eyesight, or using Austin’s genuine concern for Leo against him. She says, she did it for the family. If he’s going to be mad at her for losing Leo and sticking it to Austin, he can kiss the Normal Rockwell Thanksgiving he envisions goodbye. It’s never been the Q’s reality, and it’s not going to start now.

Chase looks in the mirror, and says he can do this. He practices telling Finn about Bailey, and says, he so doesn’t have this.

TJ tells Austin that Portia is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner. They’re all going to be there. Him and Molly… Finn says, Elizabeth and her kids, him and his daughter Violet, his brother Chase. It’s a good group. TJ says Austin will be welcome. No one should be alone on Thanksgiving. He and his Uncle Curtis will have the game on as well. Austin thanks him, but declines, and Finn asks if he’s holding out for a better offer. Olivia asks if she can talk to Austin a second, but he says, no. He’s done talking to her or anyone else in her family ever again. He walks away, and she runs after him. Finn tells TJ that he’s losing his reputation as the quirkiest doctor at GH, and TJ says he wasn’t aware that was Finn’s reputation. Finn says, diplomacy will get him far. Finn looks forward to working with him, and says, see him at dinner.

Curtis says his mind is just trying to figure out what’s real and what isn’t, and Portia asks if he’s talking about the club. Yesterday, he was wondering if the mob was blocking his musical guests, and then arranging for that singer to just magically appear. Did he figure something out? He says, yes, but it wasn’t what he thought. No shadowy organizations. That might have actually been simpler. She says, simpler than what? but he’s not ready to get into this right now. She asks if it’s about the man in the sketch, the one who was asking her and TJ questions about Curtis and the club. What’s going on? He says he wishes he knew, and she says, okay. She sees that he doesn’t want to talk about it right now, so she won’t pry, but if he changes his mind, she’s there to listen. And if he doesn’t feel like coming to dinner, she completely understands. She’ll miss him, but hopes he works through whatever’s going on. She starts to leave, but he tells her, wait. She’s the only one he can talk to about this. Would she stay? Please?

Dante and Sam get the snacks ready, and Dante asks what she wants to bet the kids will be bouncing off the walls by lunch. She says, as long as they don’t break anything too precious at the Quartermaines, she thinks she’ll be okay, and he says, the advantage of going to the Quartermaines is that everything of value has probably been broken or moved. She says, Monica does like having a full house. She’s glad they didn’t tell her that Drew is alive, because then they’d have to tell her that he’s presumed dead, and that would really hurt her. He says, came close though, and she says, it would have been the ultimate gift to bring Drew home for the holidays, not only for Monica, but for Scout. She just hopes Jason makes it home in time for Christmas for Danny’s sake. Dante says, if not, he and Rocco will come decorate the tree with her, but then they have to come and help them decorate theirs, and do things like ice skating. He can teach her how to do that too. She says she’s totally down for that; it all sounds good. Their little families are blending so well. He tells her, like his mother would say, like buttah.

Oliva asks Austin to listen to what she has to say before she breaks her ankle walking in these shoes. He stops, and she says she was wrong about him; about his motives in insisting her son needs to see a specialist. She was in denial, and the other night, something happened. Leo disappeared, and if he hadn’t given that heads up, and Ned hadn’t taken him seriously, she doesn’t think they would have found him in time. Austin says, he was near water, and she says, he was, and because Ned did his homework, they knew to search for him by the docks. Then everything just fell into place. The whole thing Austin was wondering about, and Ned was wondering about, it all makes sense. And she’s committed to getting her son all the support he needs. Austin says, that’s great news, and she says, it’s all because of him. She’s truly sorry that she accused him of using her son to further his position with ELQ. She hopes he forgives her.

Ned asks why Brook is so defensive. Does it have anything to do with Valentin and Charlotte packing up and moving out last night? She says she has to check on Bailey, but he says, stop right there. Initially, he admits he was relieved to see them go, but after seeing Yuri, he noticed Yuri was particularly upset. So he questioned Yuri, and he kept repeating the same phrase about Bailey and Belarus. Ned entered the phrase into the translator, and it was something about the right seed. He’s impressed at how she and Valentin have co-parented. It’s a sign of maturity on her part. So if she’s hit a bump, that doesn’t mean it’s insurmountable. Look at him and Olivia. Whatever’s going on, he’s there to help if he can. She says, he can’t. Valentin isn’t Bailey’s father.

Chase goes to Finn’s office, and says he was hoping to find Finn there. Finn says he’s catching up on patient files, and asks if Chase is working a case. Chase says he’s off today, and Finn asks if he isn’t overdressed for football with TJ and the boys. By the way, Violet is playing quarterback; she’s got the whole thing worked out. Chase says, about that… and Finn says, he’s still coming to dinner, right? Chase says, something’s come up.

Curtis tells Portia, after he tracked down Linc, he found out Linc was working for someone else. She says, the guy from the sketch? Not organized crime. He says he honestly doesn’t know, but the guy came in and they talked. He was the one responsible for getting the artist here. She says, which is why he was so interested in asking questions about The Savoy, but he was also interested in Curtis too. Curtis says, he was interested in both him and the club, and she says, which is why he did Curtis that huge favor? He says, apparently, but he also wanted a relationship. She asks, why? and Curtis says the guy claimed to be his father. She says she thought his father passed when he was a child, and he says, that’s what he was told, and that’s what he believed. Then this man Marshall – of course (🍷) that’s what he says his name is – comes in and tells him otherwise. She asks if he believes Marshall.

Curtis shows Portia the photo, and says, it was the last photo took before he left. She says, there’s a real resemblance between the man in the photo and the man who approached her and TJ. He says he showed Marshall the sketch, and when he asked why his mom and Aunt Stella let him and Tommy believe Marshall was dead, he couldn’t give a straight answer. He said he left because it wasn’t safe, whatever the hell that means. Curtis has to admit, it brought up feelings he didn’t know he had about not having a father in his life. How that pain and emptiness felt growing up, and he didn’t even realize it. About how a sudden disappearance suddenly made his life unpredictable. He never processed that, much less talked about it, until Marshall said he was his father. She says, he was only a child; he was three years old. He probably buried it. That’s exactly how trauma works. It seems Curtis might actually believe it’s true. He says, it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t want a relationship either way, and told Marshall that. At least he had the decency to get the hell out of Curtis’s life again. She asks if that’s the end of it? and he says, it better be, but she says she’s wondering if that’s what he really wants, or is he just trying to protect himself? He’s been a detective and a cop; he must have questions. Maybe there’s more to the story. He says, maybe.

Dante says he hopes Sam is ready to be showered with approval; his mom has been advocating for this a long time. She says she can’t believe she got Olivia’s approval, and he says, she got it big time. She says, that means a lot, and he says, he didn’t tell her, but there was kind of a situation with Leo last night. She asks, what happened? and he says, Leo is okay, but they think he might be on the autism spectrum. She says, she’s so sorry. She knows how trying that can be. He says she told him about her brother, and she says, it wasn’t nearly the same thing, but it was… challenging? He had a genetic disorder that caused behavioral issues. He was a loving boy, so well-rounded, and sweet, and kind. She loved him so much. She tears up, and Dante holds her.

Finn tells Chase, they should be together on Thanksgiving, especially since their mom and dad can’t make it. Just to guilt him some more, Violet will be very disappointed if he doesn’t come. Chase says he hate the thought of letting Violet down. Maybe he can swing by after. Finn says, after what? and Chase says, something’s come up; something he can’t get out of. Finn asks, what’s so urgent? and Chase says, it’s personal. Finn says, like a date? and Chase says, sort of. Finn asks if he can be more vague. What’s the name of the lucky lady who got him to turn his back on his family? Chase says, the mother of his child.

Ned asks what the hell Brook is talking about, and she says, does she really need to spell it out for him? He says, she means she was with more than one man around the same time, and she didn’t know who the father was? She says, it’s a little more complicated that. She knew who the father was, and decided not to be truthful about it for reasons she’s sure he can guess. He says, the ELQ shares? and she says, yes. He says, and she told Valentin last night? and she says, yes. He asks if she’s going to tell him who the father, is or does he not know yet? She says, he knows. He’s wonderful. Not that they have feelings for each other; it’s more casual. They’re friends, which is good, and Ned actually kind of likes him, more than he likes Valentin. He says, that’s not a high bar. So who is it? Who is Bailey’s father? She tells him, it’s Chase.

Finn tells Chase, wait… What?… How?… He knows how. Who’s the mother? Chase asks if Finn remembers when he and Willow broke up. Brook was on the outs with the Qs and she moved in for a while. Finn says, Brook Lynn Quartermaine, Tracy’s granddaughter; she’s the mother, and she didn’t tell him? Chase says, it’s complicated, but he just found out. Brook is a great mom. Finn says, a good mom makes all the difference. So Brook was lying to Valentin and Chase? Chase says, she was, but the lie is over, and they’re sorting through things. Finn says, just like that. Chase isn’t angry? Chase says, at first there were a lot of emotions, but he realized it’s only been a few months, and for part of that time he was living in the same house as Bailey. He held her and sang to her. Finn says, and Brook wants Chase to be part of Bailey’s life? Chase says, absolutely, and Finn says, Chase and Brook, are they…? Chase says, no; they’re just friends. Just that one time. Finn says, sorry. It’s a lot to take in. Congratulations, bro. He fathered a beautiful baby girl. He hugs Chase, saying, he’s happy for him, and Chase says, congratulations to him too. He’s an uncle. Finn says, Violet’s been asking for baby sister; he guesses a baby cousin is the next best thing. Chase asks if Finn can do him a favor and not mention it to Violet or anyone else, especially mom and dad. Brook hasn’t told her family yet, and the situation with Valentin is tricky. Finn says, of course (🍷), and tells Chase to watch his back with them. Not only does Chase have to deal with Valentin and all his nonsense, but the Quartermaines and that brings. Is he sure he’s prepared?

Ned says, Detective Chase is the father? He was here all this time, and they never said a word about it. Brook says, Chase didn’t know, and he says, she never told him? And he never even suspected? She says, she told him that Valentin was the father, and Ned says, but she knew he wasn’t. She kept the truth from Chase because she wanted use her child to get the ELQ shares back. She says, it was her fault they lost control of ELQ; she had to do something. He says, they were just shares. She kept that child from her real father. This is a mess. He has no one to blame but himself. He put too much pressure on Brook; now look where they are. Chase lost time with his daughter, and Valentin lost a child he thought was his. Both of these men’s lives have been completely upended. She says she’s so sorry, but he can’t blame himself. She takes responsibility. She truly did what she thought she had to do. He says, at least he still has his beautiful granddaughter; that won’t change. Just tell him, how did Valentin react to the news? She says, he was devastated, and very angry. Ned says, he’s bound to fight back.

Austin says he’s very happy to hear Olivia has come around, and is there for Leo. That little boy deserves the best chance he can get to have a great life. Olivia agrees, and says she’s committed to getting that for him. She just wishes she hadn’t thought the worst of Austin, and realizes now how lucky they all were that he spotted this and came forward. He says, no parent wants to hear that their child isn’t typical. There’s a pediatric neurologist at GH who’s so great. He’d be happy to give her an introduction. She says she already made an appointment online. She doesn’t want to waste any more time. He says he’s glad to hear that, and she says she’d like to make it up to him. He can join them for Thanksgiving; there’s going to be plenty of food. He shakes his head, and she says he doesn’t forgive her, and he says he can’t forgive her family for denying his father when he was alive, and again denying him after he was dead. He’s never going to forgive Brook for trying to sabotage his medical career, simply for trying to get Leo the help he needs.

Dante says it sounds like Sam didn’t have an easy childhood, but despite everything that happened, she showed love and compassion to Danny anyway. It shows what kind of person she is; a strong, fierce, independent, beautiful woman. She can think on her feet better than anyone he’s ever known. She slashed his tires to make sure he couldn’t follow her. She says he can chalk that one up to street smarts, and he says he’s grateful for her street smarts. She says, know what she’s grateful for? His openness. Even though Sonny is his father, Dante has managed to be able to be loyal Sonny and his job. He still somehow makes it work. When he runs off, she knows he’s not running off to start trouble; he’s running to stop it. That gives her peace. He says, that’s what he calls it too. She asks why her heart is beating so fast, and he says he was going to ask the same thing. They kiss, and Scout comes to the stairs, saying, the boys changed the movie.

Marshall says, Dr. TJ Marshall, and asks if TJ’s got a minute.

Curtis tells Portia, that man, if he’s his father, changed the course of his family’s lives when he disappeared. His mother became an invalid. Aunt Stella gave up the love of her life because they needed her. She taught him and Tommy how to shave. Despite all that love and strength aimed at them, they still felt the loss. They were different from the other kids who mentioned their fathers. There were always those kids with no fathers who were part of a sad club; they were members of that club. She says she’s so sorry, and Curtis says, he allowed that to happen to his family. He stayed away for decades. Now he wants to swoop back in, like some conquering hero. He saved one night at the club. What does Marshall expect from him? To welcome him with open arms – gee, pop, it’s good to see you. Not gonna happen. She says she can see why he sent Marshall away, and she hates that Marshall brought up all of this for him. He says he hates that he was reminded of it, and hates how it still eats at him. Marshall did this to him, and he doesn’t want Marshall in his life. He wishes Marshall hadn’t come back, if Marshall is even his father. She asks if he checked Marshall out, and he says he did a quick internet search. No Marshall Ashford matched his description. She says, they both know you can dive deeper than an internet search, and he says, he could. She says, but he doesn’t want to, and he says he doesn’t know what he wants to do about Marshall. He’s been kind of paralyzed since Marshall dropped his big announcement. His head’s been spinning with memories and realizations, and of course (🍷) questions. She asks if he’s reached out to Stella, but he says, no. She’s still recovering from her stroke, and this is the kind of news that could be too much of a shock to her. He does know Stella would never lie about their father to him and Tommy, ever. So he doesn’t want to risk upsetting her. She says, that’s very wise, but what about TJ? Marshall approached TJ before; he could do it again. He says he was thinking about that, but he hasn’t told TJ because he was sorting out his own thoughts. She’s right. He should give TJ a heads up. He’d hate for this Marshall guy to catch TJ off-guard like he did him.

TJ says he remembers Marshall. Marshall disappeared on him. How does Marshall know his nickname? Marshall asks if that’s not the abbreviation for Thomas Jr., and TJ asks if Marshall looked him up or something. What’s going on? Is he ill? TJ is getting off his rotation, but can make sure the attending sees Marshall. Marshall says, he’s not sick. He didn’t need medical care the last time he came to see TJ. TJ asks, then why did he come? Why is he here now? Marshall tells him, like he said, he came to see TJ.

Chase tells Finn, he knows Valentin is hurt and angry; who wouldn’t be? As for the Q’s, he’ll just have to face the music, and get through it. What else can he do? Finn says, good luck with all that. It’s going to be one hell of a Thanksgiving dinner. At least he can spend the day with his baby girl. He can’t believe he’s saying that. Chase is going to be an amazing father. He sees how Chase is with Violet, who adores him. Chase thanks him for the vote of confidence. Like he said, he’s already lived with Bailey, so he has a head start. Finn says, he must have felt a connection all along; something deep inside. Chase says, now that Finn mentions it, totally. Finn says, when Chase feels the time is right, they’ll get Violet together with her cousin. It’s one more thing to be happy for today. Chase says he has to get going, and Finn tells him, good luck with the Quartermaines, although it’s Brook who did Chase wrong. It’s hard to be angry when he has that baby girl in his life. Chase says, yeah, happy Thanksgiving, and jets. Finn watches him go down the hall, and says, happy Thanksgiving.

Ned says, the whole family will be here today, and Brook says, so? He asks what she’s going to tell them. There’s going to be a million questions. And what about the fact that Chase had a thing for her, and married Willow. And he never suspected that Bailey was his daughter. Brook says, if he remembers, Chase was nearly poisoned to death; he had bigger fish to fry. Ned can’t possibly blame Chase. He says he can and he does. It takes two to make a baby. Maybe Chase didn’t know because he didn’t want to know. He was too busy chasing Willow to step up and be a father. Or too busy snooping around there doing Austin’s biding. He’s not buying it.

Olivia says, Brook honestly thought Austin was using her son. She was just trying to protect the family, that’s all. Austin tells her, like he said, he’s really glad Leo is getting the help he needs; that’s the only thing that’s important. She agrees, but what’s done is done. Can’t he let this thing with Brook go? He says he can try, and she says, great. And the offer still stands if he changes his mind. She leaves, and Finn comes by. He asks Austin, why the long face? and Austin says, sometimes the only way to turn a frown into a smile is the satisfaction of payback. Finn says, okay. He was going to convince Austin to join them, but perhaps alone in front of the TV is a better alternative.

Brook says Ned is projecting his anger at her onto Chase. Go ahead, be mad at her; she’s used to it. He says he’s mad at both of them. It was reckless, thoughtless, and selfish, and now she expects him to sweep up the mess, and act like nothing ever happened. She says she knows it’s Thanksgiving, but don’t go all puritan on her. He’s not exactly a saint himself. He says he’s not pretending to be, unlike her wonderful guy Chase. She says, for the last time, it’s not Chase’s fault. The doorbell rings, and Ned opens the door to Chase, who says, happy Thanksgiving. He brought dessert.  

Portia says, Curtis is going through a lot right now. She just wants him to know that her home is open to him. Whenever he needs her, she’ll be there. And if he changes his mind about Thanksgiving, she’ll be there with food, and a bunch of people who love and appreciate him. He says he can’t believe he tried to push her away. Talking to her was the best decision he could have made. He’s not sure if he’ll make it tonight, but he’s sure he’s grateful for her. He considers her among his blessings. They kiss.

Marshall asks if there’s someplace they can talk private, TJ isn’t sure he wants to do that. He doesn’t know who Marshall is, and he was asking a lot of questions about TJ and his uncle. He doesn’t know what this is, but he’s really not up for it. He’s had a really long night, and has somewhere to be later. Marshall says he doesn’t blame TJ for being suspicious; Curtis was the same way. Just give him a few minutes, and he promises to explain. It would mean the world to him.

Dante tells Scout not to worry. He’ll handle the boys. He promises she’ll get to watch the rest of Kristina Comes Home for Christmas. He takes her hand, and says, come on; we’ll show them. They go upstairs, and Sam breathes in the scent of Dante’s scarf. There’s a knock at the door, and when Sam opens it, a clean-shaven Drew is there.

On Monday, Portia wonders if Curtis needs back up; Valentin says, out with the old and in with the new; Chase wonders if this is a bad idea; and Sonny tells someone, long time no see.

Winter House

When we last left this bunch of miserable people, Ciara had asked if Austen kept in touch with his ex, the even-worse- than-all-of-them-put-together Madison. Austen said they didn’t talk. He didn’t want Ciara to think he was hiding anything, but Madison was literally on the cover of a tabloid, and that sh*t wasn’t easy. He didn’t want it to affect what he thought they had going on. In Ciara’s interview, she said he’d been insanely honest, and it was all she could ask. Apparently, her bar is set low. Craig asked if it bothered Lindsay that Austen was totally into Ciara, and she said, no, then jumped Jason’s bones. Ciara and Austen when to look at her ski outfit in the closet, and never came out. What is wrong with these people, playing 7 Minutes in Heaven at age 45 35 30 or somewhere around there?

There was one day left of vacation, and I was begging for it to end. Okay, I’ve begged for it to end since the first episode. Craig got a text from girlfriend Natalie that she’d gone out to dinner with Madison, and Austen was like, WTF? In Craig’s interview, he said it was insanity. Why would she go out to dinner with the same girl who’s called her a whore. We saw a clip from Watch What Happens Live, where Madison said Austen had slept with Natalie last summer, and she was now dating Craig. I’m not sure why that would determine Natalie to be a whore, but whatever. Craig felt this spoke to something in Natalie’s character that he hadn’t seen and couldn’t deal with. Austen went to Kyle, and said Ciara was a curveball he hadn’t expected, but he wasn’t in a place to be exclusive or give himself completely to someone. In his interview, Austen said that before he left, Madison had come to his house, kissed him on the cheek, and told him not to forget about her. Ugh. I’m not an Austen fan, but no one deserves that horrible woman in their life. He said it was next level manipulation, and he’d tried to cut ties. He wished it was a year from now, and said it showed timing was everything.  

It had gotten warm out, and Austen said skiing in the spring was the bee’s knees, since he walked out of the 1920s. Luke’s igloo had melted, which made him sad, and we flashed back on Luke’s building skills. Everyone dressed all weird in tutus and neon and mullet wigs, looking like they were going to an 80s dance party. Or fitness class. Lindsay asked what Austen had wanted to cry to her about, but he said he was good. Lindsay told Amanda what Austen had said. She didn’t think he was over his ex enough to start something else. Jason and Lindsay agreed they on the same page, but everyone else wasn’t. It was unclear whether they meant the other couples weren’t on the same page as each other, or everyone wasn’t on their page. In Jason’s interview, he said meeting Lindsay had been unexpected, but welcome. She was wild and confrontational, but better too much than not enough. He didn’t think it was a vacation fling, and was to be continued. My guess is, it’s going to get old real fast.  

Since Lindsay’s boobs were two years old, they decided to have a birthday party. In Craig’s interview, he said he was having a great time, and wasn’t excited to go back to Charleston. Finding out Natalie had dinner with Madison was evidence that Natalie wasn’t his person anymore. Luke retrieved his sap-catching bags from the trees, and said being in the city killed his soul. Amanda told Kyle about her conversation with Lindsay, and they speculated on what Austen wanted to tell Lindsay. Kyle said Austen and Ciara were separated by a couple of states, and Amanda said if Austen didn’t see a future, he should make that clear. Amanda said she didn’t want gossip be guessing what it was Austen wasn’t clear on, but they had to protect Ciara’s precious little heart.

Lindsay said she was obsessed with her own boobs, even though internet trolls said they were too far apart. It didn’t hurt that she had the nicest man in the world interested in her. Several of the guys dressed up in tutus and fake boobs, and Kyle laughed about Austen’s pierced ears. They played limbo until Kyle and Craig knocked it down. Amanda talked to Julia in the kitchen, telling her that Austen wasn’t interested in a long distance relationship. In Amanda’s interview, she said she felt like she’d been part of Ciara and Austen’s relationship from the beginning. She’d gone on their first date with them, and seen them blossom. They seemed absolutely perfect together. Which was a long way of saying she was sticking her nose where it didn’t belong. She cornered Austen, and said she didn’t want to go to Ciara without finding out the whole story. Austen told her that he wanted to say it as nicely as he could – it was none of her effing business. Amanda said Ciara was her business, and he said she needed to stay out of it. Amanda started crying, and whined that Austen was a POS. He told her, STFU, and Kyle made excuses that Amanda just cared about them, because he’s a busybody too. Amanda wailed to Ciara and Julia that she’d tried to do the right thing, Ciara was like, it’s cool, and said she’d talk to Austen. Austen said this wasn’t the way he’d wanted it to go, but Ciara said it was out there now, and why was he being defensive? He said he hadn’t come there with a bunch of friends who were all up in his business, and Ciara said Amanda was just concerned about her. She woudn’t be sleeping in his bed if she didn’t like him, and was scared something like this would happen. Austen said he wanted to see her as much as he could, and asked what her master plan was. She said she didn’t have one, and he said he didn’t either. He told her that he was drunk, and  they decided to table it for the night.

In Andrea’s interview, he said he’d come in texting two different girls, but after spending time with Paige, she was growing on him. He wanted her for himself. It was mercifully the last day, and everyone packed. Austen told Ciara that he didn’t think he was ready, and clearly had things he needed to work on with himself. He hoped they could plan on seeing each other. In Ciara’s interview, she said she hadn’t been planning on liking someone to this capacity. (Let me remind you, it’s been two and a half weeks, although it feels like years.) She said she was a hopeless romantic, and reality was hard right now. Andrea made plans with Paige, and in her interview, she said she knew this was going to happen. No one could spend 17 days straight with her, and not love her. In Gabby’s interview, she said she was glad she did it, but it was tough. At the end of the day, growth was better than a hook-up. She’d take what she could get. Ciara told Paige that she appreciated Austen’s honesty, but wondered why she always picked the ones who were emotionally unavailable. They agreed they needed a vacation after the vacation.  

Paige’s parents picked her up, and Andrea helped her move a million boxes of stuff out. For two and a half weeks? She introduced him, and he made it clear they would be seeing each other. Ciara told Austen that she knew he wasn’t ready to date, but they could still be friends that kiss occasionally. In Austen’s interview, he said it had been an amazing couple of weeks. If Ciara was okay with him not being able to fully commit, then he fully welcomed her suggestion. With that, Kyle closed the door. No one will be missed.

At the end, we saw Paige and Andrea kissing in an elevator, and it said, coming soon on Summer House. Omg, it’s like a roach motel.

🏚 No Big Chill Here…

Who zoomed who after Kyle closed the door.

https://screenrant.com/winter-house-austen-kroll-ciara-miller-romance/

https://www.eonline.com/news/1310969/just-how-serious-are-winter-house-couple-paige-desorbo-craig-conover-hear-her-answer

🧲 Like a Bad Penny…

Juicy Joe puts on the gloves.

https://www.eonline.com/news/1310507/joe-giudice-is-fighting-to-return-to-the-u-s-after-italy-deportation

📺 For Your Viewing Pleasure…

If the parade is your jam:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-2021-preview-new-york/index.html

If you want to move on quickly:

https://www.tvinsider.com/1022619/christmas-movies-tv-thanksgiving-weekend-2021/

If a binge is more your style:

https://www.tvinsider.com/1023126/thanksgiving-tv-marathons-2021/

Happy Thanksgiving

🍇 Quotes of the Week

Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind. – Lionel Hampton

Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience. – Roy T. Bennett

The turkey. The sweet potatoes. The stuffing. The pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about? I don’t think so. – Nora Ephron

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the eons, it’s that you can’t give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it. – Rick Riordan

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other. – Randy Pausch

Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot. – Hausa Proverb

It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.David Steindl-Rast

 Be thankful for what you have. Your life is someone else’s fairy tale. – Wale Ayeni

We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count. – Neal A. Maxwell

What if today, we were just grateful for everything?Charlie Brown

💋 Thankful For You…

No matter why you come here – to get details to settle an argument; to find out what went on when you couldn’t watch; to drink some tea, or glean some wise words; or even just to see if I misspelled something or got it wrong – I’m thankful you came, and hopeful you return. I hope wherever you’ve landed during these pandemical times, you’re making lemon drops out of lemons. Wishing you the happiest of Thanksgivings, whether you spend it with family, friends, or with your cat. (Hey, I’ve done that, and it’s not bad. Unless your cat steals that turkey leg you were thawing out.) Whether you’re talking turkey or not, stay safe, stay grateful & stay not envisioning a Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving. I doubt even Norman had one.

November 23, 2021 – The Excavation Team Looks For Jason, Hospital Exit, Remembering OLTL, NYC Woman, Bad Behavior, All About the Parade & Macy’s

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha tells Dr. Navarro, their son is in an incubator and can’t be moved, right? Which means they have to go to him. She asks Brando to get her a wheelchair, and he says, she can’t even sit up right now. She says she’ll do whatever it takes to be with her son, but Dr. Navarro says, that’s not the problem. In her post-operative condition, she can’t visit the NICU right now. She needs time to heal first. Sasha says her baby needs his mother, but the doctor says, he needs his mother to be healthy and whole for what’s to come.

Gladys asks Maxie if that’s Sasha’s room, and Maxie says, Brando is with her, and they’re talking to Sasha’s doctor. Gladys stands outside the door, and Dr. Navarro says she knows it’s hard, but she strongly advises Sasha to use this time to rest. Gather her strength, so when she’s cleared to visit her son, she’ll be prepared. Brando says, prepared for what exactly?

Carly runs into the hospital and finds Sonny. She thanks him for calling her, and asks how Sasha and the baby are. He says, Sasha is out of surgery, and recovering in the ICU, and Carly says she doesn’t understand. Last she heard, everything was fine. How did he hear Sasha and the baby were rushed into surgery?

At the reception desk, Epiphany tells Valentin that the doctor wants him to spend one more night for observation, but he says he’s going to take care of himself; effective immediately. She says, that would be an ill-advised decision, but it’s his choice. He’s going to have to sign a form saying he’s leaving against medical advice. He tells her to give him the form, and she says, fine. Wait here. He asks her not to take too long, and she gives him a look. Nina comes along, and gives Valentin a hug. She asks why he’s leaving, and he says he has to move out of the Quartermaine mansion, and find the strength to say goodbye to his daughter one last time.

As they walk in, Chase asks if Brook doesn’t think it’s a little sacrilegious to hatch a plot in a chapel, and she says, a non-denominational chapel. He asks what that means, and she says they need place to talk away from Valentin. He says he’s listening, and she says, enough of his self-assured, nothing bothers you attitude. Does he have any idea what he’s gotten himself into, pretending to be Bailey’s father? If the truth is found out, he’ll have two enemies – Valentin and Peter.

Anna asks if she can call Maxie back; she’s in the middle of something. Maxie says, Peter just called her. He promised he was going to see her soon. Anna says, they have Peter in custody, and Maxie asks if she’s sure he’s in custody. Anna says, he’s in handcuffs, and waiting to be transferred back to Port Charles to stand trial. Maxie asks if Anna is saying it’s really over, but Anna says, it’s not over yet.

Obrecht examines Drew, and Britt says, let her know when she’s done. She wants to make sure Obrecht’s stitches didn’t open up when she fell in the tunnel. Obrecht says, she’s fine, but Britt is going to have to recite the alphabet backward to make sure she doesn’t have a concussion. Britt says, Z, Y, X, W, V. Is that enough? Obrecht says, for now, and asks if Drew has any other injuries he needs to tell her about. He says, just what she saw. The last time she examined him was when Peter wanted to make sure he was in tip-top shape to kidnap Maxie. She says, thankfully, that plan never materialized, and Britt says, Maxie’s safe, but at what cost to Jason?

Maxie asks, what about Liesl and Britt? Has Anna seen them? Anna says she’s with them now; they’re fine. Maxie says, thank God. She knew Jason wouldn’t let anything happen to them. She thanks Anna for bringing Peter to justice, and Anna says she owed it to Maxie; it’s long overdue. Maxie asks her to thank Jason and Britt for her too, and asks when they’re coming home. Anna says, the situation is quite fluid right now. She’ll be able to have a longer conversation when she gets back. All she wanted was to keep Maxie safe. Maxie hangs up, and sees a text from Brook, saying, must talk. 911. Where are you?

Nina tells Valentin that she doesn’t understand. Is he sending Charlotte to boarding school? He says, not Charlotte, and she asks, what’s going on with Bailey? He says, she’s not his, and Nina asks, what makes him say that? He says, Brook lied to him, and she says, he must be devastated. He says, Brook used Bailey as a bargaining chip to get her ELQ shares back. It was nothing more than an elaborate ruse to get back in her father’s good graces. Nina says, Brook actually said that? and he tells her, she said a lot of things, but it was about ELQ, plain and simple.

Brook asks if Chase has any idea what he signed up for, and he says he wasn’t thinking long term; he was thinking on the fly. She says, until they know Peter’s not a threat anymore, he’s going to have to continue with the fly. He’s going to have to tell everyone. Is he ready to tell his parents that they’re going to be grandparents again? He’s going to have to tell Finn, and how about Willow? It’s not the first time he’s had to tell a lie for the greater good. He says, and the lie worked. It kept Nelle from getting custody of Wiley. She asks if he’s ready to tempt fate again, when her phone dings. She says, Maxie is freaking out about something. She wouldn’t blame Chase if he didn’t want to take this charade any further. Maybe they should go back to Valentin, tell him the truth, and beg for his help. Then Chase wouldn’t have to be part of the charade, and get in any deeper.

Nina asks if Valentin is sure it’s about ELQ; maybe there’s another reason. He says, like what? and she suggests giving Brook the benefit of the doubt. Even his biggest detractors have to admit he’s an amazing father to Charlotte. Maybe the biological father isn’t a good guy. Could that be the reason Brook lied to him? He says, no, because Chase is the real father. Chase told him, and Brook confirmed it.

Carly tells Sonny, if there’s a problem with Sasha and the baby, Brando must be losing his mind. Sonny is the only family Brando has in town besides Gladys, so of course (🍷) Brando reached out to him. Maxie walks past, and Sonny asks, what’s the latest? Carly asks if the baby is okay, and Maxie says, which baby? Carly says, Sasha and Brando’s baby, and Maxie says, of course (🍷). She’s sorry; she has a lot going on. Sasha had a baby boy, and needed an emergency C-section. She’s fine, but the baby is in the NICU. Her phone dings, and she says she’s sorry. That’s all she knows. She walks the other way, and Sonny wonders if it’s just him, or was Maxie all over the place? Carly is sure all this reminded Maxie of the trauma surrounding Louise’s birth. He says it reminds him of what they went through with Donna, and she says, she’ll never forget, but like Sasha, she had one advantage Maxie doesn’t. He asks, what’s that? and she says, a loving, supportive partner by her side.

Elizabeth tells Gladys that she can go in; she knows Gladys is family. Gladys thanks her, but says she doesn’t want to intrude. The doctor sounds so serious. That’s never good, right? Elizabeth goes in, and Brando asks if she’s seen their baby. Sasha asks, how is he? and Elizabeth says, he’s currently in an incubated on a ventilator to assist with breathing. He also has an umbilical line to administer steroids and antibiotics. Brando says, that’s standard procedure in the NICU, right? Because babies are born with under developed lungs all the time. Dr. Navarro says, in this case, it’s not a question of lung capacity. During the placental disruption, their son was deprived of oxygen, and in some babies, that can result in <insert medical term here>, a condition that, depending on the severity, causes disabilities, brain damage, and in some cases, death. Elizabeth says, those are worst case scenarios; they don’t have all the answers. Dr. Navarro says, Dr. Fleming and the wonderful team in the NICU have started a very advanced treatment called hypothermic therapy, which calms the baby down, and has been shown to give the brain an opportunity to slow brain cell damage. Sasha cries, and Elizabeth says, they need to think positively. Sasha asks how she can think anything positive when her baby is hurting, and it’s all her fault?

Sasha says she must have missed a sign, or ignored a symptom, but Dr. Navarro says she’s not to blame. There’s nothing Sasha could have done to prevent what happened. Her placenta separated from her uterus, a completely involuntary medical condition. Sasha says she felt a twinge or something. She definitely knew she wasn’t comfortable, and didn’t reach out to the doctor. Brando tells her to listen to Dr. Navarro. She didn’t know this was going to happen. He’s not going to let her blame herself. Elizabeth says, and most discomfort during pregnancy is harmless. The doctor says Elizabeth is correct. It’s possible what Sasha felt had nothing to do with the abruption. They need to focus on the next steps, when the hypothermia treatment concludes. Brando asks how long it takes, and she says, it can take up to 72 hours. Once it’s done, Dr. Fleming will order an EEG to determine brain function. Brando can visit the NICU now, and if Sasha is strong enough in the morning, she can be wheeled down to see her son. She’ll check in on Sasha later. She leaves, and Elizabeth asks Sasha to listen to her. She knows as moms it’s easy for them to blame themselves, but Sasha  did everything right. She went to her doctor’s appointments, she had bloodwork done, she went on bedrest when she was told to. No one has a crystal ball. Sasha says, so all they can do now is wait? and Brando says, wait, and pray.

Anna says, the excavation team has landed, and they’re headed to the tunnels. Drew says he wants to help, and Britt says, her too, but Anna says, it’s too crowded and dangerous for them to go down there. This is a highly trained team, and they’re equipped with the latest technology. The best thing they can do for Jason is stay out of their way. There’s going to be a formal debriefing with the WSB, but before that happens, she needs to know what the hell went on down in those tunnels. Obrecht says, Peter activated Drew, and when Jason and Drew were fighting, Peter dragged her and Britt into those unstable tunnels, and then got lost. Anna says, by activated, she means conditioning? and Drew says, Peter used Faison’s old shortcut. Anna asks what he had Drew do, but Drew has no idea. The first time was in Crete, and he came to in his cell, grazed by a bullet and bleeding. Anna thinks he sustained the injury during the assassination attempt, and he asks how she knows. She says, she was the target.

Maxie walks into the chapel, and says, please tell her Gladys… She stops, and says, Chase. If he doesn’t mind, she’d like to speak to Brook in private. Brook says, if it’s about Bailey, anything Maxie has to share with her, she can say in front of Chase. He knows everything.

Nina says, Brook told Valentin that Chase was Bailey’s biological father? and he says, yes. She says she’s so sorry; she knows how painful it is. He says he knows she does, because she knows what it’s like to love someone like a daughter, and find out she was deceived, because he did that to her. Call it karma or poetic justice, but what he inflicted on her, Brook inflicted on him. She has every right to gloat.

Sonny says he’s happy that Donna has so much strength and is so healthy, and Carly says, they’re so lucky. She prays the same for Brando and Sasha; that whatever comes their way, they can weather it together as a team. Sonny says, they did it, and she says, they did. She knows it’s a weird time, but they didn’t get to finish their conversation earlier about Nina, and there’s something she needs to say.

Sasha says, she knows she and Brando haven’t taken the most conventional route as a couple, and there’s still so much they don’t know about each other, but he never struck her as the praying type. He says he guesses he’s old enough to admit there are things in the universe he doesn’t understand. Is there God? He doesn’t know, but he’s seen a rainbow after a storm. He’s seen some pretty awesome sunrises and sunsets. In Iraq, in the war, he saw some pretty awful things, but he also saw some of the most profound acts of human kindness. All this is a long way to say he doesn’t know what he believes, but he’ll consider anything that gets them a happy ending with their son. She says, her too. Does he think it’s possible? He says, an hour ago, he didn’t know if she and their son were going to make it. He never prayed like that, even in the war. Now she’s out of danger, and their son is alive. She tells him, people always say babies are resilient, and he says, Maxie was just telling him that James was born on the side of the road, and he’s fine now. Babies can have shaky starts and still grow into healthy strong kids. Their kid has their genes. She says, which makes him a fighter, and he says, damn right. She says, faith is not her strong suit. What if it’s not enough? He says, they have each other, and their son has them, not to mention some of the best medical care there is. Whatever the EEG tells them, he’ll be cherished and loved. If he needs a little help, they’ll provide that. There’s not a thing they can’t see him through. She says, what about what he needs right now? Being stuck in this bed, she can’t help feel… She cries, and he says, it’s okay. They’re in the same boat. They’re both first time parents, and their son is in trouble. Talk to him. She says she feels like she’s already a failure as a mother.

Nina says, when she found out Valentin hired Sasha to pretend to be her daughter, she was devastated. She was so angry and hurt, but she woudn’t wish that pain on anyone. She’s certainly not enjoying watching him lose his daughter. He says, because she’s a good person, but she says she’s done some things lately that make her question that. She does know one thing; when you’re driven by love, you’re pretty much capable of anything.

Carly says, she and Sonny have to resolve the issue of Nina. He referred to Nina as his friend, and she can’t tell him how bad it hurt her. He tells her that he didn’t exactly say that, and they sit down. She says she knows he was talking about his days in Nixon Falls when he was Mike. She wants him to know that she understands he had a life there, and it felt like home. He says, when he got his memory back, coming back there, they were his home; her, his kids, and his grandkids. She says she doesn’t want him to feel like he has to defend life he didn’t choose, but he has to understand she has a big problem with Nina, and what she did to him. She doesn’t want that to come across as her not trusting him. She has 100% faith that he’ll always do what’s best for their family. So as hard as it may be, if he feels what’s best for their family moving forward is for her to lay off Nina, she promises to do her best to try and respect that. He says, try? and she says, it’s her. He can’t expect miracles here. He says he knows it’s not easy. This whole thing… he just… He doesn’t want to talk about this anymore or fight about it. Can they not do that? She says she feels same way. She suggests they go find Sasha’s room, and see if there’s anything they can do for Sasha and Brando.

Maxie says, in this situation, Brook is going to need to define what everything is, and Chase says he knows Bailey isn’t Valentin’s daughter, or even Brook’s. She’s Maxie’s, and Maxie and Brook cooked up this plan to hide her in plain sight to protect her from her actual father, Peter August. Maxie says, sounds like everything, and Brook says, don’t look at her; she didn’t tell him anything. He figured it out on his own, and it’s a good thing. After Gladys came to tell Valentin she was deceiving him, she almost confessed everything. Thankfully, Chase walked in, and said he was the father. Chase says, the timing works. Brook was bunking with him around the time she supposedly got pregnant. Maxie says she needs a second to process this, and sits. She asks how Valentin took the news, and Brook says, how does she think he took it? He’s a wreck. He’s really angry at her for lying to him. Poor guy. Maxie says she knows how much love he has for her baby. Do they think he believed Chase is the baby’s father? Chase says, he seemed to. Chase even acted mad at Brook for lying to him. Maxie says, okay, good. Because now that Peter is coming back to Port Charles, they can’t take any chances. She called Anna, and she said Peter had been apprehended in Greece, and they were extraditing him to Port Charles. Chase says, then their problems are solved. With Peter in custody, Maxie can reveal Bailey is really Louise, and take her daughter back. Maxie says, as much as she wants that to happen, they can’t tell the truth about Bailey anytime soon.

Sonny and Carly see Gladys, and Sonny says, congratulations are in order. She’s a grandmother now. She says she hasn’t been able to see baby. She’s sure he’s beautiful; how could he not be? Carly asks if everything is okay. Did something happen to Sasha or the baby? Gladys says, Sasha is recuperating, but her grandson might not recover.

Valentin says, he wanted to protect what he and Nina had so much, that he ended up hurting her very, very badly. He doesn’t think he understood how much it hurt her to lose Sasha until now. And here she is, giving him a sympathetic ear. She’s just amazing. She says she doesn’t know about that. It’s easy to absolve someone when you realize you need absolution yourself. Maybe one day he’ll find it in his heart to forgive Brook’s deception about Bailey, the way her heart has forgiven him.

Maxie says, even though Peter is in custody, he doesn’t sound scared. He promised he’d be seeing her really soon. So she and her daughter are nowhere near safe. Chase says, she told them Peter is in WSB custody. He’s going to face charges in court. Maxie says, Peter has proved over and over again that he always eludes justice, but Brook says, try finding a jury in the state of New York that wouldn’t convict him. Maxie says, there’s one thing she’s learned from this nightmare, and that’s don’t count Peter out. Until he’s exhausted every legal challenge, and is in prison for life, she’s not comfortable revealing the truth about Bailey. Brook says, understood. What does she need from them? Maxie says, right now, she needs them both to be her daughter’s parents.

Britt suggests Obrecht call Scotty. She knows how badly he’d like to hear her voice, and know she’s coming home. Obrecht says, she will, but first, she wants Britt to tell her how she is. Britt says she’s fine, but Obrecht says she doesn’t have to put up a front for her; the stress must be affecting her. Britt lowers her voice, and says, if Obrecht is talking about Huntington’s, there’s no evidence that trauma causes early onset. Obrecht says she not talking about Britt’s physical condition. Not knowing whether Jason is dead or alive must be taking a toll on her emotions. Brit cries, and says, Jason was only there because she asked him for help. If he dies, how does she live with that?

Gladys tells Sonny, the door to Sasha’s room was open enough for her to hear what the doctor told them. She wants to be supportive to them, but they might think she’s overstepping; she knows she tends to do that. Sonny says, at least Gladys is here, and she’s thinking about them. Gladys says he doesn’t need to be so kind, given… everything. He says, hey, family’s family.

Brando says, Sasha didn’t fail their son. She took better care of herself than any mother. She bought books to read to him, put good things into her belly. The nursery she created, it’s so warm and cozy; it’s a child’s wonderland. She was a wonderful mother before their son was even born. She says she feels so helpless. She wants to hold their son so badly. She wants him to know his mother is there for him. She wants to protect him and comfort him. That’s her job. He says, that’s their job, and she asks if he’ll do something for her. He says, anything, and she says, go see their son. He says he wants to see their son, but he doesn’t want to leave her alone. He can text Maxie or Lucy… She says she’ll be fine, but their son needs at least one of his parents to be with him right now. The best thing he can do for her do right now is to do what she can’t. Go tell their son that she loves him.

Valentin thanks Nina for forgiving him. He was so caught up in his own stuff, he hasn’t seen her since she came back. Is she okay? She says, she’s good. She’s fortunate her return to Port Charles wasn’t met with a group of people carrying pitchforks. He says he can’t imagine her doing anything to deserve that. If she ever wants to talk about it… She thanks him, and says she might take him up on that, but tonight is about Sasha. She went into labor, had complications, and needed to have surgery, and that’s all she knows. He says, my God. He made this all about him. Go be with Sasha. He tells her that she set an example, taking the high road, and she says, he can do the same with Brook. At least she hopes he’ll try. She leaves, and Epiphany slams a clipboard on the desk next to Valentin, saying, was that fast enough for him? She keeps walking.

Brook says they have to decide how to break the news to everyone, and Chase says, he should probably act mad at her for a while. She asks if that’s really necessary, and he says, if she kept his baby a secret from him in reality, he’d be furious. She says, so he still has to be a liar in this scenario? and he says, in all fairness, she faked the pregnancy. She says, that’s true. So they’ll go with Valentin’s theory that she always knew Chase was the father, and pretended Valentin was the father to get back the ELQ stock. Maxie says, people will believe that, and Brook says she knows. Maxie says, please know she’s grateful to the both of them. It means everything to her to know she has at least some control over her child’s well-being, especially in light of everything going on with Sasha. Chase asks, what happened with Sasha? and Maxie says, she went into labor, but there were some complications. Chase says, she was so excited the last time he saw her, and asks if she’s okay. Maxie says, Sasha made it through the surgery, but she’s waiting for an update. Brook suggests they keep everything in perspective, and says, the most important thing is to keep Bailey safe from Peter. They can do this. Chase says, they can and they will.

Gladys sees Brando, and runs to him, saying, she was so worried. She hugs him, and Sonny asks how he’s holding up. Brando says, kind of numb actually. Sasha thought it was important that he see their son. He’s downstairs in the NICU. Gladys says she’ll go with him, and Carly asks, when was the last time Brando had something to eat or drink? He says he doesn’t know, and Carly says, then she’ll go to the cafeteria and get him something. She asks Gladys to come with her, since she knows all of Brando’s favorite things, and takes Gladys’s arm. Gladys says, he has to keep up his strength, and Carly tells Brando that she’s sending all of her love to his baby. Gladys lets Carly lead her away, and Sonny asks how Brando is feeling; talk to him. Brando says he’s scared, and Sonny says he wouldn’t be a father if he weren’t. He just has to get past all that. He’s got a brand new son coming into the world, who’s going to need his father and his love. Brando says, what if he doesn’t know what to do? and Sonny says, that’s just fear talking. When he sees that little boy, it will take care of everything. They hug, and Sonny says, got it? Brando says, yeah, and leaves. The elevator opens, and Nina goes to the reception desk. She tells Elizabeth, she’s there about Sasha Gilmore. She knows Sasha gave birth, and needed surgery. Are there any updates? Elizabeth says, Nina knows she can’t give out confidential patient information, but Sasha is recovering in the ICU. Nina says, it’s that bad? How is Sasha? What about the baby? Can Sasha have visitors? Elizabeth says, only family right now, and Nina says, she and Sasha were family once. Please? Elizabeth says she’ll see what she can do.

Brando goes to the NICU, and Epiphany tells him to get dressed so he can meet his son.

Elizabeth asks how Sasha is doing, and if she’s in any pain. Sasha says, nothing physical. She supposes that’s because of the painkillers. Elizabeth says, if Sasha ever wants to talk mom to mom, she’s just one call button away. Sasha thanks her, and says, Elizabeth has been so kind to her. Elizabeth asks if she’s up for a visitor. She’s not family, but wants to see Sasha, and Elizabeth can look the other way. Nina stands in the doorway.

Epiphany tells Brando, she’s there to help. Does he have any questions? He asks if the baby is in any pain, but she says, no; he’s sedated. He asks if it will hurt if he touches the baby, but she says, it won’t hurt; go ahead and touch him. Talk to him. Let the baby know he’s there. If he’s been talking to Sasha’s stomach, the baby is already familiar with his voice. He goes to the incubator, and says, hello, son. I’m your dad. I’m here now.

Outside, Anna tells the excavation guy, run another scan. She goes back in, and Britt asks if the excavation team found Jason. Anna says, they penetrated the tunnel, using radar based technology, to search for a heartbeat. Drew asks what they found, and Anna says, there was no signal. Nothing. Obrecht says, maybe the equipment was faulty, but Anna says, they have both audio and video devices. She’s really sorry, but there’s no sign of life in the tunnel where they last saw Jason. Britt looks out the window.

Maxie says, now that they’ve agreed on the best way to move forward, she’s going to see if she can get an update on Sasha. Chase says, keep them posted, please, and Maxie says, of course (🍷). She leaves, and Brook says, well, baby daddy, she thinks it’s time they told her family. He says, have fun with that, and she says, if he thinks she’s telling the Quartermaine clan herself, he has another thing coming. She can promise him one thing. It will be a helluva Thanksgiving.

Valentin asks if Maxie’s heard the news, and she says, about Peter’s capture? He says he figured Anna would reach out to her first, and she says, actually, Peter beat her to it. He used his one phone call on her, and promised he would see her real soon. He says he hopes she knows Anna would never let that happen, and she says she wishes she could wake up from this nightmare unafraid, but Peter’s pretty relentless. So far, he keeps evading justice. Valentin says, those days are over. Now Peter will pay the price for his actions. Maybe he’ll divulge some information on the fake nurse Chloe that will lead them to Louise. Whatever he can do to help, he’ll do. He knows now there is no greater pain than having a child ripped away from you.

Carly asks if Gladys and Sonny want to see if Sasha’s ready for visitors, but Sonny suggests they sit for a second. Elizabeth said it’s going to be a little more time, and Sasha’s going to get some rest. Why doesn’t Carly give Gladys some pointers on how to be a grandmother? His grandson Wiley adores Carly, just like Gladys’s grandson is going to adore her. He’s going to think she’s irreplaceable.

Sasha tells Nina, she doesn’t know if it’s in her head, but she keeps hearing babies crying. How will she know his cry? Nina holds Sasha while she cries.

Brando tells the baby that he has a message from his mom. He opens the hatch, and touches the baby. He says, she already loves him more than anything. So does he.

Tomorrow, TJ asks why Marshall is there now, Olivia tells Austin that she doesn’t want to waste more time, and Ned asks if Brook is going to tell him who the father is.

⚾️ Another One Out…

Looks like Jason might be staying under that rubble for a while.

https://people.com/tv/steve-burton-out-at-general-hospital-after-refusing-to-comply-with-covid-vaccine-mandate/

🎬 End Of Life…

I recall the end of OLTL too. <SOB!> Even though their characters changed on GH, Kristen Alderson’s final scene with Roger Howarth was made all the more poignant because they really were saying goodbye after a long working relationship.

🗽 Roxy Rocks NYC…

I met her years ago. She was funny and very down-to-earth. This is exactly how I would have pictured her home.

Tripping…

I don’t know if it’s going to be an ongoing thing, but Bravo showed the premiere episode at 8 pm tonight (Tuesday). Since that’s a bad time for me, I didn’t see much of it, but there was drama already. I don’t know why anyone should be surprised that Ramona acted like a brat. She’s been like that since forever.

🦃 That Time Again…

Everything you need to know about this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

https://www.macys.com/social/parade/

🌜 Wynken, Blynken, And Nodden Out…

Tomorrow, it’s a dose of soap and the horror show that is Winter House, which looks like it’s drawing to a close. It’s a short TV week for the usual, since GH will be airing a rerun on Thanksgiving – the February 5th episode – why, when they have a wealth of Quartermaine emergency pizzas? – and on Friday, it’s football. But no matter what’s on your viewing schedule, stay safe, stay aware that words hold power, and stay knowing that, although there are some pretty awful things in the world, there are also profound acts of human kindness.

November 19, 2021 – Sasha Is Rushed To the OR, Farewell Alice, Brad’s Back, Is It On, Christmas Soap, All Good, Begging, Bad Form, Support, Tripping, a Split, Side Hustle, New Tattoo, OctQuotes & Almost

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sasha yowls in pain, and Brando says, she’s got this. Easy for him to say. He tells her, they’re going to be a family, and she says she likes the sound of that.

Elizabeth sees Dr. Navarro, and says she’s been trying to track the doctor down. It’s Sasha Gilmore. She’s worried something is seriously wrong. She and the doctor take off for Sasha’s room.

Willow is punching the heavy bag, when Michael comes into the gym. She says she was just working out, and he says he could see that, but he’s never seen her hit the heavy bag before. She says, it’s her first time. She didn’t know what she was missing. Punching things can be fun. She hits it again.

Chase has a drink at Charlie’s, and flashes back on his conversation with Brook at Kelly’s; Brook explaining why she gave birth in a hotel. He says, the story doesn’t add up, and wonders what Brook is hiding.

Valentin tells Brook, if it was just him, fine. They could keep things the way they are. But there are two other people they have to think about; Charlotte and Bailey. For them, he needs to know. Bailey isn’t his, is she? Brook says, it’s so much more complicated than he thinks it is, and he says, she just has to look in his eyes and tell him Bailey is his daughter. She cries, and says she’s so sorry. She can’t.

Maxie leaves Brook a voicemail to call her back. She needs to know Gladys hasn’t ruined everything. Nina comes out of the elevator, and Maxie asks what she’s doing there. Nina says, Elizabeth tipped her off that Sasha was in labor. What is it? Is it the baby? Maxie says she doesn’t know anything about Sasha or the baby, and Nina says, then what is it? Maxie says, her, and her plan to protect Louise from Peter. It’s falling apart.

At Rice Plaza, Sonny tells Carly, don’t worry about it. It was an accidental meeting; no one got hurt. She says, not tonight, but he got hurt. So did she. They’re whole family was hurt. Doesn’t he get that? Why is he defending Nina? He says he’s not defending Nina. He knows everyone got hurt. He’s just preventing any more hurt now that it’s over. She says, it’s not over, and it’s never going to be over as long as there are no consequences for what Nina did. He gets that, right? Please help her understand here.

Obrecht asks Peter, at what point is he going to admit they’re hopelessly lost? He asks when she’s going to shut her mouth, and she says, so that’s a never? He says he knows what he’s doing, and Britt asks, what’s going on? Obrecht looks at the ceiling, and says, it’s dangerously unstable.

Jason tells Drew, they have a problem, and Drew says, just one? Jason says he’s seen the island from a satellite view, and knows the tunnels exist… Drew says, but as far as which ones he used… Jason says he has no idea where Peter went. Drew crouches down and looks at something. He points and says, they used this one. Jason asks how he knows, and Drew says, Jason might be an expert hitman, but he’s had a little experience tracking people during his time in the Navy. His contribution to this little adventure. Jason tells him, lead the way.

Obrecht says, one false move, or a particularly loud noise, and they’ll all be buried alive. Peter asks if her dire warnings are intended to discourage him, but she says, they’re intended to save his life. Britt tells him to listen to her mother. Peter might hate Obrecht, but he knows she’s smart. Obrecht thanks her, and Peter says, she’s determined to stop him. She’ll tell any lie to slow them down. Britt says, she’s not lying about the loose dirt. Think about it. This island belongs to the Cassadines. He says, so? and she says, so, they’re not well-known for planning. They want a tunnel, they dig a tunnel. They don’t think about shoring it up, or maintaining it for that matter. Obrecht says, the Cassadines came there during the Russian Revolution; this tunnel could be more than a hundred years old. Britt says she knows Peter is arrogant, but even he can’t argue with geology, and gravity. They have to leave.

On the phone, Chase says he knows he’s still on desk duty, but was hoping they could do him a solid, and look something up for him… Awesome. He needs the E-Z Pass record for Brook Lyn Quartermaine’s vehicle on May 27th of this year… Yeah, he’ll hold.

Brook says she’s so sorry she lied to Valentin, but he says he needs to hear her say the words. She says, Bailey isn’t his daughter. She never meant for this to go on for so long. He says for months and months and months she watched him pour his heart into that little girl. She says she’s sorry. She thought it would be over before Valentin fell in love with Bailey, and he says he was in love with her the moment he knew she existed. His child is everything to him. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone look sadder than he looks right now.

Maxie tells Nina, and now, Gladys is going to open her big mouth and tell Valentin that Bailey isn’t his. Nina says, she could have told Maxie this wouldn’t end well, and Maxie says, too late. Nina says she’s sorry, and Maxie says, maybe there’s no reason to panic yet. Gladys doesn’t know everything. She doesn’t know Bailey is really Louise. Nina says, the crucial information is contained, and Maxie says, this could be a good thing, right? Nina was the one who tried to convince her to let Valentin in on the secret. He could actually be an ally. Nina says, she did, but… and Maxie says, she knows. It’s going to be a huge blow finding out Bailey isn’t his. Nina says, monumental, and Maxie says, after he processes it, and realizes she and Brook only did this to protect Louise from Peter, he’ll want to help her. He’ll understand. Wouldn’t it be great? Nina says it would, but she’s afraid it’s highly unlikely.

Sonny says, Carly has to understand. There’s been so much pain in their family in the last year… She says she knows, but the pain isn’t going to go away because Nina has a relationship with Wiley, and clearly, she’s going to stake her claim as his grandmother. So accidental or not, this just proves Michael was right to have charges pressed against Nina in Pennsylvania. Sonny says, if Michael had asked him, he would have said Michael was just making things more complicated. She says she doesn’t get it; this isn’t him. One thing they’ve always agreed on is, if someone comes at them, they’ll come back twice as hard to make sure nobody comes at them again. She’s not talking about sending a message. She’s talking about justice. Why would he deny himself or his family that kind of justice after what Nina did to him? He says, because if they destroy Nina, he would be denying who he had become.

Sasha squeezes Brando’s hand, and he tells her, just breathe. The doctor comes in with Elizabeth, and says she heard things are progressing in here. Brando says, looks like it, and Sasha says, feels like it too. Dr. Navarro says she’d like to run some tests, and do an ultrasound to see how things are going, and Sasha asks if everything is okay. The doctor says, that’s what she wants to confirm, and Brando says, whatever she thinks is best. Dr. Navarro asks Elizabeth to prep Sasha, and they leave. Brando tells Sasha, it’s going to be okay.

Drew says, it looks like they stood around for a while, and then met someone; there’s extra boot prints. Jason says, they probably picked up a guard, and Drew says they have a problem. This tunnel is in really bad shape. Jason says he noticed, and Drew says, loud noises, like, let’s say, gunfire, up the chances of a total collapse. Every gunshot is going to make this place more unstable.

Michael asks Willow, what brought on the sudden urge to go at the bag like that? He thought she was taking Wiley to the Fall Fair in Rice Plaza. She says she did take him. That’s what brought on the sudden desire for a workout. Nina was there. He asks if Nina approached her, but she says, Wiley made the first move. He saw her, wanted to go to her, and she let him. Go ahead. Tell her how much he hates that. He says he hates the idea of Nina being anywhere near their son, but he wasn’t there, so… She says, thank you. She tried keep it lowkey. She and Wiley had a hot chocolate with Nina, then she sent Wiley off with Cindy, who he knows from daycare at the hospital. When she and Nina were alone, she told Nina that she hates what she did, and didn’t think she should see Wiley for the time being, but she wasn’t going to confuse Wiley by dragging him away, and punishing him for Nina’s bad choices. He asks how Nina took it, and she says, Nina was appropriately remorseful. At the same time, she doesn’t think Nina even begins to grasp how selfish and horrible she was, or how much damage she’s done. When Cindy brought Wiley back, all she wanted to do was take him home, and just as they were saying their goodbyes, Carly showed up and jumped to the wrong conclusion. He asks, how wrong? and she says, Carly was going to call the cops on Nina for stalking Wiley. He says, go, mom, since he’s a big jerk, and Willow says, no. He says he knows it made a bad situation worse, but he can enjoy the fantasy, can’t he? She says, sure; he can enjoy it. He wasn’t the one in the middle of Rice Plaza, trying to stop his mom from having Nina dragged away in handcuffs in front of Wiley. She needs more time on the heavy bag. He says, actually, he has a better idea.

Dr. Navarro does the ultrasound, and says, looks like it’s time to get moving. She tells Elizabeth to have the OR prepped right away, and Brando asks if something is wrong. Sasha asks if there’s something wrong with the baby, and the doctor says they need to prep her for an emergency C-section. Sasha says, no, she’s fine, but then cries out in pain. Dr. Navarro says she knows it wasn’t their plan, and under normal circumstances, they’d do everything they could to avoid surgery, but she’s having pain from a placental disruption, and the baby needs to come out now.

Chase sees Bobbie come into Charlie’s, and says, it’s good to see her. She asks him to excuse her for making a beeline to the coffee, but she’s headed to Rice Plaza. She just came off a double-shift at GH. Where everyone is raving about his wife, by the way. He says he thinks she means ex-wife, and she says, that’s why she needs caffeine; she’s so sorry. He tells her, that’s okay, and she says, clearly, her mind isn’t as sharp after a long day. For the record, she loves that Willow makes Michael happy, but she hates that he got hurt in the process. He’s a good man, and he’s been a particularly good friend to Maxie and Lulu. He says he hopes the coffee works its magic, and she goes to the bar to order a large coffee to go. His phone dings, and he looks at it, and says, Beecher’s Corners? What’s she doing there? Bobbie says, she doesn’t know who he’s referring to, but Beecher’s Corners happens to be a lovely place. He says, she’s been? and she says, right before Memorial Day.

Brook says she knows Valentin is upset; he has every right to be. He tells her, don’t tell him how to feel, and identify. I hate when people do that. She says he has to understand; this was never her intention. He says he doesn’t care about her intentions. This is where they are now. When he thinks about the sleepless nights, and the stories they shared… She says, that was real, and he asks, how was it real? She says, because it happened, and he says she’s not who he thought she was. He doesn’t even know what she is. She watched as he bonded with this child. His twelve-year-old daughter thinks she has a sister, and for what? Some stock? The Brook he thought he knew would have never done that. She says, she didn’t.

Maxie says, Nina was the one who advocated for Maxie to tell the truth. Nina says, she did. If Maxie had told him months ago when she said that, she’s sure Valentin would have been supportive. Not only would he have kept the secret, he would have made sure it was airtight, but they made him fall in love with that baby… Just like she made Sonny fall in love with her. Maxie says, not ideal or advised, but when it comes to the truth, isn’t it better late than never? Nina tells her, that’s what people say, tell the truth, but she learned the hard way, they’re only talking about the immediate truth. Hidden truths become secrets, and those only leave pain and chaos in their wake.

Carly says she wants to understand what Sonny is going through, but he has to walk her through it. How can Nina facing justice for what she did to their family, be denying who he’s become? He closes his eyes for a moment, and says, he was gone for nine months, and at that time, he was living another life; they both were. He can’t just believe it’s going to go back to normal, and nothing’s changed. It’s hard for him. She says, things have gone back to normal. They’re the same people they were; they’re the same couple. He says, for the better part of a year, he was another person, and that time doesn’t just vanish from his mind. In Nixon Falls, he didn’t know about Sonny Corinthos, but here he knows he was Mike, and Mike’s still part of him. For nine months, what kept him alive, centered, and safe was the friendships he had with Lenny, Phyllis, and Nina. He just can’t change the fact that up until a couple weeks ago, Nina was… the one friend he had in the whole world.

Chase asks if Bobbie was in Beecher’s Corners on vacation, and she says she supposes there’s no reason to be keeping it a secret at this point. She was supposed to meet Maxie there. He says, like a final hoorah before he baby was born? but she says, not exactly. Maxie had figured out the truth about Peter, but she knew if she tried to end the relationship, there would be… issues. He says, that’s putting it mildly, and she says, Maxie asked her there in a professional capacity. He says, as a nurse? and she says, yeah. The plan was for her to deliver Maxie’s baby in secret.

Brook said this took her by surprise too, but Valentin tells her not to compare their experiences; they’re nothing alike. She says she’s just trying to explain herself. It started off with, oops, I’m pregnant, and Valentin thinks he’s the father. He says, she led him to believe he was the father, and she says, she did something she’s not proud of. She used the situation to her advantage so she could get ELQ back. She was clueless. She had no idea how he’d be as a father or as a partner. She thought he’d just give her child support and leave. He says, which, if she’d accepted, would have been fraud, but go ahead. She asks if he remembers how opposed she was to him moving in. Why does he think that was? What started off as a stupid means to an end, ended up with him and his daughter moving in with her family; their family. The four of them. She thought, what was she doing? but it was too late. Then Gladys found out the truth and started blackmailing her. She had no choice. She never intended to hurt him.

Obrecht tells Peter, congratulations; this is new. She doesn’t suppose Peter knows where they are. He says, for the millionth time, stop talking, or he will kill one of them. Britt asks Obrecht to stop antagonizing Peter, but Obrecht says she’s not; she’s telling him the truth. This whole place could come crumbling down at any time, and this dummkopf is leading us nowhere. Brittwas right; they must turn back. Peter says, no. They’re getting the hell out of here, going to the harbor, and getting on a boat. Then they’re going to the rendezvous point where Drew will be bringing Maxie to him. Drew says, that’s not going to happen, and Peter sees Drew in front of him. holding a gun aimed at him.   

Dr. Navarro explains that the placenta is separating from the uterus. Sasha says, when? and the doctor guesses it happened when her water broke. Sasha says, the placenta is how the baby eats and gets oxygen, and Dr. Navarro says that’s why they have to do the C-section. Brando asks if their son is okay, and the doctor says they’re doing everything int their power to make sure of that. She tells Sasha that they’ll give her an epidural, but she’ll be conscious, and Sasha says, just take care of the baby. The doctor says, the plan is to take care of both of them, and Sasha is wheeled out. Brando says, the doctor made a point of saying both of them. Is Sasha in trouble too? Level with him. Is Sasha’s life at risk too? She says, it’s too early to say, but a hemorrhage could be a complication, which is why they can’t waste time, She jets, and Brando follows.

Nina says, maybe it would help if she went with Maxie, and Maxie says, as in, he might go easier on her? Nina says, well, he won’t kill her because there’s a witness. It’s possible. They see Sasha being wheeled to the OR, and go over to Brando. Nina asks if Sasha is okay, but he says, no. She could lose the baby and he could lose them both. Nina and Maxie hug him.

Peter asks what the hell Drew is doing here, and Drew says he’s taking Britt and her mother off this island, but if he kills Peter in the process, that’s just a bonus. Peter moves for his own gun, and Drew shoots him in the arm. Jason joins them, and there’s gunfire between them and the guards, Britt and Obrecht ducking down. There’s one guard remaining, and he puts up his hands. Drew asks how Jason wants to handle him, and asks the guard if what Peter is paying him is worth dying for. The guard throws his gun down, and Drew tells him, get out. He wisely does, and Jason asks if they’re okay. Britt says, they are now, and runs to Jason, hugging him. She steps away and says, that’s a perfectly normal response; she’s happy he’s not dead. Drew asks, where’s Peter? but he’s gone.

Michael wears punching mitts, while Willow punches, and she says she hates being stuck in the middle. It would be so much easier if Nina moved far away, like New Zealand, or at least California. He says, prison works, but she says, even if Nina goes to prison, she’ll still have legal rights as Wiley’s grandmother. He says, it will be hard exercise those rights in prison, but she says, Nina has money and lawyers, and if she lands in prison, she’ll have nothing but time. Think about it. Does he really want to take Wiley to visit Nina in some prison visiting room? He says, of course (🍷) not, and she says, the fact is, Nina will always be Wiley’s grandmother, unless she chooses to sever those ties. An all-out visitation war over Wiley can only hurt him. For Wiley’s sake, she just wants to find a way for them to co-exist. Is that so impossible to understand? he says he does understand; he just doesn’t agree. Willow throws some more punches.

Chase says, Maxie didn’t want to have her baby in the hospital? and Bobbie says, it wasn’t so much about the venue . He says, because of Peter, and she says, Peter was watching her like a hawk at the time. Her guess is, Maxie wanted to keep her options open. He says, her guess? and she says, all Maxie told her was that she was determined not to let Peter raise her baby. So if that meant going on the run or putting Louise up for adoption… The best laid plans, right? All that strategizing to try and keep Peter away from her baby, and now Maxie has no idea where she is. She tells Chase, it’s good to see him, but she’s got to go. Bobbie leaves, and the wheels turn in Chase’s head.

Valentin cries, and says he’s devastated. He just doesn’t know how else to put it. He loves Bailey so completely, and if he’s not her father, what does he do with that? He wanted to watch her grow up so bad. Brook says he can still do that, and he says, as what? He’s not her father. He wonders how he’s going to tell Charlotte, and she says, they’ll do it together, but he says, no! He doesn’t want her anywhere near his daughter. She says, please, and he says, let him and Charlotte mourn what she’s stolen from them, and then he’ll mourn her too. This is heartbreaking.

Carly says she knew that Nina was a presence in Nixon Falls, for months, and of course (🍷) Sonny saw her. But this is the first she’s hearing that he considers Nina his friend. He says she’s not his friend; he didn’t say that. When he didn’t know who Nina was, or what she’d done to his family… When he was Mike… He takes her hand, and Bobbie runs into the plaza. She says she’s sorry she’s late. She ran into… She asks if she’s interrupting, but Sonny says, they have plans, right? He tells Carly he’ll see her later, and leaves. Bobbie asks if everything is okay, but Carly says she doesn’t know.    

Still in the ring with Willow, Michael says Nina is counting on her to co-exist, and put her mistakes in the past. That way, when anyone approaches her, and holds her accountable, like him or his mom, they’re unreasonable, vindictive. She flips the script and goes from being a borderline psycho, liar, someone who kept his dad a virtual prisoner for nine months… He doesn’t want to go down this rabbit hole. He doesn’t want to waste this moment with her. She’s beautiful, and sweaty, and throwing punches. He doesn’t want to waste that on anyone, least of all, Nina. Willow says, who? and he says, exactly. He doesn’t want to think about the things he hates, and miss the thing he loves, standing right in front of him.

Brando tells Maxie and Nina that he’s terrified. What if they can’t get to the baby in time? Maxie says, he can’t think like that, and Nina says, Maxie’s right. Sasha is incredibly resilient. Maxie says, and so is he. You know what that means? His baby is a badass too. Nina asks if they’ve found baby names yet, and he shakes his head. She says, Badass Corbin has a nice ring to it. I actually like that one. Brando guesses he should head to the OR, and Maxie asks if she can walk with him. She’s had an emergency C-section, so maybe she can tell him what to expect. He says he’d appreciate that, and Nina says, please keep her updated. And tell Sasha that she loves her. They leave, and Nina leans against the wall, looking sad.

Everyone bustles around, prepping for Sasha’s surgery. Dr. Navarro comes in, and gets gloved up. Sasha looks worried. Yikes! We see them cut into her.

Valentin says he admired Brook. He felt lucky, like they were kindred spirits; like they understood one another. And she was gracious to Charlotte. He thought she would be a good influence to her, but he was wrong. It was all a lie. Smoke and mirrors. That’s all she is. She saw the damage she was doing, and stood by and did nothing. She just let it roll, and go on and on… She says, that’s not what happened. There’s a huge piece of this that he doesn’t understand.

Obrecht says, that schwein Peter must have run away in all the commotion. Jason says, they know he’s not headed to the house, and Obrecht says, he doesn’t know where he’s headed. He was hopelessly lost. Britt asks how Jason and Drew found them, and Jason says, Drew was able to track them. Obrecht says, of course (🍷), and tells Drew, congratulations on overcoming the conditioning. Drew says, the credit goes to Jason, but Jason says, actually, the credit goes to Britt. She found a way to give him the card from Peter. Britt hugs Jason again, and Obrecht says she was just trying to be inclusive. Jason asks if Drew can pick up Peter’s trail; they have to find him. Drew asks if Obrecht and Britt can find their way back, and Obrecht says, one of her minor PhDs was in geology. These tunnels are the brink of collapse. Drew says, that gunfire didn’t help the situation, and Obrecht said, it made it exponentially worse. If they want to get out alive, the need to go now. They start to walk, and Jason looks behind them. He says, get down, and Peter starts shooting at them.

Bobbie says she’s not trying to pry, but Carly says, she needs Bobbie to pry. Bobbie says she’s concerned. Everything’s so tense between Carly and Sonny. Is it awkward because of what happened with Carly and Jason? Carly says, no. They talked about that, and they’re all on the same page. It’s got nothing to do with Jason. Bobbie says, that is a relief. Take it from her, there’s nothing worse than feeling like there’s a third person in your marriage.

Michael says he and Willow are so lucky to have each other, and Wiley. They should just focus on that, be here and now, and not worry about anything else. She says, at least not until the next time Nina comes calling. What if she shows up on Thanksgiving; just drops by to give something to Wiley? He says, what if Wiley’s not home? What if he’s in New York City with them? She says, they’re going to New York City? and he says, they could. Has she ever been to the Thanksgiving Day Parade? She says, not in person, and he says, this could be the year. The three of them could go to the parade, Rockefeller Center, Central Park. She asks if they could go see a show, and he says, any show she wants. Her pick. She says, are they really doing this? and he says, let’s get away from this miserable situation, and have an amazing Thanksgiving weekend. All she has to do is say yes. She says, yes, and hugs him. Believe me, the parade’s not all it’s cracked up to be in person. You have to get there before the crack of dawn, the balloons don’t look so perfect, and are a little scary hanging over you, it’s crowded, and the lip-syncing is even more obvious. And if it’s cold, you’ll feel like you’re never going to be warm again after standing on that cement. However, if you can find a place inside along the route to observe, maybe with mimosas and bagels, take that opportunity.

Nina goes into Charlie’s, and tells bartender Johnny that she’s mixing it up today, and orders a vodka soda with lemon. She flashes back to telling Sasha that she’s going to make a fantastic mother, and Sasha saying it would be due to Nina, who’d shown her what it looked like to be a kind, loving mother. Even after Nina knew what Sasha had done, she still showed Sasha compassion. Nina asks Johnny if Phyllis is out, and he says, she stepped out, but she’ll be back soon. Nina starts to take her drink to a table, when Sonny walks in.

Wearing surgical gear, Brando runs into the OR. He tells Sasha that he’s right here, and asks how she is. She says, numb, and he says, she’s the bravest person he’s ever met. Dr. Navarro says, this is it; it’s time for their baby to be born. She tells Sasha that she might feel pressure, and Brando says, she’s got this. The doctor says, he’s here, and holds the baby up. Sasha says, oh my God, and Brando says, their first son. The baby is hustled to the corner of the room, and everyone gets busy there. Brando asks, what happened? What’s wrong with their baby?

Brook says, is she a screw up? Yes. Is she shortsighted and selfish? 100%, but there’s a legitimate reason she couldn’t tell him the truth. Chase knocks and walks in, and Valentin says, just in time. Chase asks, what for? and Valentin says, the latest bombshell. It turns out Brook’s been lying to him. He’s not Bailey’s father after all. Chase says, he’s aware, and Valentin says, Brook told him? She says, never. She didn’t tell anyone. Chase says he knows Valentin isn’t Bailey’s father, because he is.

Jason shoots back at Peter, and Obrecht tells him to stop shooting. He tells Drew. get them out of here, and Drew tries, but Britt is resistant. Peter and Jason shoot at one another, and the ceiling starts to crumble, falling on Jason. Britt screams for him, and Drew holds her back.

On Monday, Chase says he’ll never forgive Brook for this, Robert wants any excuse to shoot, everyone lies in the rubble on Cassadine Island, and Sasha is hemorrhaging.

🧺 Alice Has Left the Building…

What an untimely shame. She was so funny on GH! Be sure to check out the tribute where there’s a video of Alice kissing Dobson, who was really Alexis. She will be missed.

https://people.com/tv/general-hospital-actor-bergen-williams-dead-at-62-after/

🔬 Oh Brad…

Apparently, he had some haters, but I’m thrilled he’s coming back.

🦃 Talking Turkey…

Soaps airing or not on Thanksgiving. Why GH is choosing to air a rerun from February is beyond me, when they have their choice of classic pizza-for-Thanksgiving episodes.

🎄 Christmas Days…

DOOL is everywhere these days.

https://ew.com/tv/days-of-our-lives-christmas-movie-for-peacock/

👠 It’s Mediocre To Be Her…

The latest on Erika. I don’t believe for a second, if another rich dude came along, she wouldn’t jump at the chance to get married again. Although she’d probably be a lot smarter.

https://people.com/tv/erika-girardi-says-she-will-never-marry-again-divorce-tom-girardi/

https://people.com/tv/rhobh-erika-girardi-says-everything-is-good-amid-ongoing-legal-trouble/

📩 Ain’t Too Proud…

Even if true, it’s kind of old news. I guess she’s too busy with the new fiancé to pick a new fight.

🎭 Naturally Entitled…

I have never once seen any audience member put a drink on a Broadway stage. It’s a play, not a singles bar. Even worse is walking back from intermission mid-act. Too bad they didn’t make her stand at the back of the theater, which would be their call.

🍑 To NeNe Or Not To NeNe…

Kenya twirls in to give her opinion.

🛥 It Just Doesn’t Matter…

It looks like RHUGT is a thing now.

🍹 Needs New Accessory…

I’m actually sorry this didn’t work out.

https://screenrant.com/southern-charm-kathryn-dennis-chleb-ravenell-breakup-split/

👨🏻 Not With That Mustache…

I’m surprised he hasn’t spoken about this on Vanderpump Rules. He plugs everything else about himself.

💪🏼 No One Will Even Notice…

This is kind of funny. Like when someone is drunk, and they’re trying real hard to keep you from knowing. In other words. It’s a fail.

https://people.com/style/lala-kent-changes-her-rand-tattoo-to-brand-new-after-randall-emmett-breakup/

🎯 Quotes of the Week

Compassion is the ultimate and most meaningful embodiment of emotional maturity. It is through compassion that a person achieves the highest peak and deepest reach in his or her search for self-fulfillment. – Arthur Jersild

Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. – Lou Holtz

If you are going through hell, keep going. – Winston S. Churchill

The really magical things are the ones that happen right in front of you. A lot of the time you keep looking for beauty, but it is already there. And if you look with a bit more intention, you see it. – Vik Muniz

We can always begin again. – Sharon Salzberg

I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying. – Oscar Wilde

Humor is reason gone mad. – Groucho Marx

Our heads are round so thought can change direction. – Francis Picabia

🎬 Once More Unto the Breach…

Until it’s time for the Dead, your homework is to do something different and do something for yourself. Maybe those things are even one and the same, in which case, double that. Whatever you do, stay safe, stay acting out of love, not fear, and stay not thinking about the things you hate. You might miss the things you love.

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

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What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sonny sees Nina.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Project Runway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🍊 Paging the OC…

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

Emily talks trailer.

If you haven’t seen it.

Eww!

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

🏋️ Power Napping Through Life…

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

November 17, 2021 – Nina Crosses Paths With Three People, Austen Gets a Text From an Evil Sorcerer, Salty Wives, Old News, Word On the Ultimate & The 18th

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

At Rice Plaza, Willow says Wiley has been such a good boy while they were shopping, why don’t they celebrate with some hot chocolate? She sees Nina on a bench, dealing with work calls.

Phyllis is wiping down the bar at Charlie’s, when Carly comes in. Carly says, Sonny has Phyllis working already, and Phyllis says, Sonny is counting on her to make this place a success. Since there’s no time like the present… Carly says she thinks Sonny is so excited to have Phyllis in Port Charles, if she made Charlie’s a success, that’s just an added bonus. Phyllis asks if she can get Carly something, but Carly doesn’t want to interrupt her while she’s busy. Phyllis says she has time to talk; what’s on Carly’s mind? Carly says Sonny’s told her so much about Phyllis, she thought they could get to know each other one-on-one.

Alexis sees Sonny at the hospital, and says, she was wondering when she’d run into him. He says, he’s glad she’s back, and they hug.

Maxie goes to the reception desk, and Austin says, she gives Bobbie a ride to work and picks her up; she’s a good friend. She says, actually, she came to talk to him, and he asks, what’s up? She says she doesn’t like the way they left things. He’s obviously angry with her, and she’d like to know what she did.

Dante is in the shower, when his phone rings. Still at the gallery, Olivia says, pick up, but gets voicemail. She tells him, Leo is missing. Please come to Ava’s gallery right away. She needs his help. Ned joins her with Brook, and she says, any word? He says, Leo’s gone.

Spencer tells Trina, congratulations on a job well done, and she thanks him. She says, she has to admit, she was a bit nervous, but everything went off without a hitch. Esme says, it really did. So amazing.

Brando asks if Ava has seen Sasha, but she hasn’t. He says, she must still be in the ladies room, and Ava says, for a pregnant woman in her third trimester, that’s a solid guess. Is everything all right? He says, he found out some amazing news about their baby, and can’t wait to talk to Sasha about it.

Gladys says, dammit. This door is jammed tight. This place is a firetrap. Sasha says, oh no, and Gladys says, don’t worry. On the bright side, when they get out of here, they can sue Ava and make a nice little bundle; get some free art in the process… Sasha says, that’s not what she meant, and Gladys asks, what is it? Sasha says, her water just broke.

Austin says he’s not angry with Maxie. This is just what disagreement looks like, and they’ve agreed to disagree when it comes to Brook. She says, and Gladys? and he says, he won’t run down Maxie’s friend in front of her anymore. He promises. She says she appreciates that. She knows what Brook did to him was unforgivable, but… He says, there’s no but in that sense. What she did was unforgivable period. She says, at least Brook was looking out for her family, and he says, of which he’s a part of. She says, Gladys just looks out for Gladys. He flashes back to Gladys telling him, it’s not about what Brook did to her, it’s what she’s doing to a dear, kind extremely handsome friend of hers, and he says, Valentin Cassadine. He tells Maxie, maybe Gladys just needs someone to talk to, and Maxie says, she kind of thinks Gladys talks too much. He doesn’t understand why it bothers her so much, and she says, because of Brook.

Sonny tells Alexis, Kristina called him, and said Alexis had been released from prison. Kristina was so excited, she almost blew his eardrum out. Alexis says, the lengths she’ll go, to have their daughter miss her. She’s sorry for what she did to Dante. Sonny says, she wouldn’t have picked up the syringe if… She says she wasn’t drunk out of her mind, but he says she was worked up about Peter August writing that article that Franco was dangerous. She thanks him for making excuses, but says he doesn’t have to do that. He asks how she’s doing, and she says she just came from a meeting, if that’s any indication. He says, it indicates she’s committed to staying sober, and she says, ten months today. She asks what he’s doing here, and he says he had a doctor’s appointment. She says, good place to come; there’s a lot of doctors here. He says he’s more concerned about her. Rough reentry? She says, yeah, but she’s hoping in time, things get back to normal. He laughs, saying, that’s not going to happen, and she says, thanks for the pep talk. He says, when things change, they change for the good.

Wiley runs to Nina, and she picks him up. Willow just stands there, staring at her, and Nina puts him back down.

Phyllis says, she’s looking forward to getting to know Sonny’s family, and Carly says, they’re looking forward to getting to know her too. She was told Phyllis moved out of the MetroCourt. Did she find an apartment? Phyllis says, not exactly; she’s living here. Carly says, in that dingy old office of Julian’s? Phyllis says, it’s a perfectly good room, but Carly says, it’s not. Please come back to the MetroCourt, and she’ll help Phyllis find an apartment. Phyllis says, thank you, but the back room is fine. She likes to keep things simple. Too much time in a small town, she guesses. Carly says, a very nice small town. Sonny told her things were good in Nixon Falls, and Phyllis says, they were. Carly asks if Phyllis will tell her about it.

Sasha says she can’t be stuck in here. Her water broke. She’s about to give birth. She has to get to the hospital. Gladys asks if she’s having contractions, and Sasha says, she was having discomfort before, so maybe. Gladys says she’s adorable. When she has a real contraction, she’ll know it. The good news is, they have some time. Babies don’t just pop right out. She still has no service, and suggests they try Sasha’s phone, but Sasha says she left it with Brando. Gladys says, not a problem; that’s Plan A. She bangs on the door again, and yells, we’re stuck in here! Sasha yowls, and sits down, and Gladys runs over. She says, contraction, and tells Sasha to just hang on to her. She can do this.

Dante arrives at the gallery, and Olivia hugs him, saying, thank God he’s here. They’ve got to find Leo. He says, walk him through it, and Brook says, she was right over there with Leo, turned around for a second, and he was gone. She checked the back room, the hallways, the bathroom. Her dad is outside checking the parking lot in case Leo left something in the car. Dante says, they’re covering a lot of ground, and Trina asks, what’s going on? Brook says, Leo is missing, and Trina asks what they can do to help. Ned runs in, and says, the valet saw Leo outside, and Olivia says, he just let Leo run off? Ned says, other people were leaving, and he assumed Leo was with them. Olivia starts to cry, saying, somebody could have walked off with him, but Dante says, calm down. She says he’s right, and Ned tells her, the valet said Leo didn’t seem upset; he was calm. Dante wants to talk to the valet, and Ned leaves with him. Ava says she’ll check the outside security footage, and Spencer says, there’s an ice cream truck on the corner. Trina says, kids love ice cream, and they jet, with Esme following. Brook says she’s going to check the gallery again, and Olivia says she’ll go in the opposite direction. If Brook sees anything, scream bloody murder. Brook says, they’ll find Leo, and Olivia says, damn straight they will.

Austin wonders what him being friendly with Gladys has to do with Maxie and Brook, and Maxie says, Gladys hates Brook. He says he can’t imagine why, and she says she’ll tell him. Gladys is Brook’s assistant, and Brook has this crazy notion Gladys should assist, as in do her job. He can’t imagine working for Brook is a picnic, and Maxie says, who knows? Glady’s sure doesn’t. All Gladys does is complain. She’s a terrible employee, and an even worse human being. He says, why not just fire her? and Maxie says, that’s beside the point, but he asks what the point is. She says she needs a cease fire between him and Brook, and he asks why it’s so important to her. She says, if he keeps going after Brook, she might be collateral damage.

Nina says, it’s good to see Wiley; she’s missed him so much. She looks at Willow, and tells Wiley, she’s sorry, but she has to go. Wiley tells her to stay, and she says she wants to, but she has to go. She’s about to cry, and Willow says, they were just going to get some hot chocolate. She should stay. Nina takes Wiley’s hand.

Phyllis tells Carly, then, the bartender quit an hour into his shift. Lenny was so mad. They really had their hands full. Carly asks what they did, and Phyllis says, adapted. Has anything like that ever happened at the MetroCourt? Carly says, they’ve had their share of walk-outs, but they have so much staff, there’s always someone to cover. Phyllis says, must be nice, and Carly says, even with the five-star rating, it’s hard to get good help. Phyllis says, it’s not every day that someone like Mike comes along. She’s sorry. She’s still getting used to calling him Sonny. Carly says, it’s okay. Phyllis didn’t know Mike was really Sonny Corinthos. Nina knew it.

Olivia and Brook come back, and Olivia tells Ned, they checked all around the building. Brook says, even the dumpsters, and Dante says, he put in a missing child alert. Spencer, Trina, and Esme come in, and Spencer says, they checked out the ice cream truck. Trina says, they looked up and down the street, and she’s sorry, but… Esme says, nobody remembers seeing Leo. Ava says she checked the footage, and Leo seemed absolutely fine, walking down the sidewalk, as calm as can be. Dante asks where he was headed, and Ava says, south. Dante says, near the harbor. Was there anyone with him? Ava says, not that she saw, and Olivia wonders where he could be going. Ned asks Brook to go over it one more time. Where were they? She takes him over to the octopus portrait, and says, right over here. Leo wanted to show her the pictures, and they were looking at the pictures when she got distracted by some cater waiter. By the time she turned around, Leo was gone. Ned says he thinks he knows where Leo went.

Gladys yells, help! We’re stuck in here! Woman in labor! She asks why Sasha gave Brando her phone, and Sasha says, they were going to wait to find out the sex of the baby, but a nurse accidentally revealed it in an email. Gladys says, so Sasha knows? and Sasha says she does. Gladys says, don’t hold her in suspense; she’s got baby clothes to buy. Sasha says she’ll tell Gladys, but only after Brando knows. Gladys says, she didn’t tell him yet? and Sasha says, that’s why she gave him her phone. So he could decide for himself whether he wants to know or not. Gladys says, of course (🍷) he wants to know, and bangs on the door some more, yelling, woman having a baby! Gladys asks if they’re having a boy or a girl, when Sasha has another contraction. Gladys yells, in here! and Brando comes down the hall. He says, mom? and she says, the door’s stuck. He realizes something is shoved in the door jamb, and pulls it out. He opens the door, and Gladys says, that was quick, calling him her big strong son. He says, the door was wedged shut, and she asks if he’s saying somebody locked him in. She flashes back to Brook opening the door for a moment, and leaving when Gladys said she was off the clock. She says, that little snake, and Sasha has another contraction. Brando runs over to her, and asks if she’s okay. She says, they have to hurry. The baby’s coming.

Alexis tells Sonny, she knows her time in the pokey changed her. For better or worse remains to be seen. He says, she seems a little lost, but she’s going to find her way, and she asks how he knows that. He says, because she’s Alexis Davis, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She says, right. So word on the street is, since he’s been back, he’s a little nicer. He laughs, and says she can’t believe everything she hears. She says, that’s what she was thinking too. Maybe a little more mellow. He says, all right, and she says, she was thinking, because for the better part of a year, he wasn’t living like a criminal. He says, that’s true, and she says, correct her if she’s wrong, but he lost his memory. He’s a man without a past, so he’s got a clean slate, right? He says, something like that, and she says he has no idea how appealing that sounds to her.

Brando brings Sasha into the hospital, and Maxie asks, what’s going on? Did something happen with the baby? Brando says Sasha is having it, and Maxie says, right now? Austin brings a wheelchair over, and says, have a seat. Sasha sits, and he asks, who’s her OB? She says, Dr. Navarro. They called her on the way over, and she’s waiting on 4. Maxie says she knows this is a really weird thing to say right now, but she loves Sasha’s outfit. Sasha says, they were at the Photo Ark exhibit at the Jerome gallery; one last night out before the baby. Maxie says she made it just under the wire, and Sasha says, oh my God. When she leaves this hospital, she’s going to be a mom. She doesn’t think she’s ready. Maxie tells her, she already is a mom. She’s just getting ready to meet her baby. Austin, Brando, and Sasha go into the elevator.

Carly says, Sonny told her that he and Nina knew each other in Nixon Falls. She knew him, and never said a word to him about his family back home. And the worst part is, Nina came back to Port Charles several times while Sonny was there, and saw her. She saw Sonny’s family. She saw them mourning, and lied to their faces. Phyllis says, what Nina did was terrible, and Carly says she’s sorry. That’s not why she came here. They should stop talking about Nina. Phyllis asks if Carly is sure she wants to. She seems to have a lot to get off her chest. Carly says, because she can’t let it go. Every time she sees Nina, every time she thinks about her, she’s filled with so much anger and rage. Phyllis says, it sounds like a hard burden to carry, and Carly says, it is. Phyllis says she has to ask, is all this anger at Nina worth her energy?

Trina hopes Ned is right about where Leo went, and Spencer says he ran away once or twice when he was little; he was always okay. Granted, he was a little bit older than Leo is. Trina says, Joss and Cam told her that he had a chauffeur named Chandler that was with him most of the time. Spencer says, not when he ran away. He had Chandler drop him off first. Trina says, of course (🍷) he did, and Esme says, she loves the idea of little Spence up to no good, but Spencer says he’s not sure the people who had to live through it would agree with her. Trina asks, what was up with Sasha and Mrs. Corbin being stuck in the back room? How did that even happen? Of course (🍷) poor Sasha goes into labor. It’s a good thing Brando found Sasha, and got her to the hospital. Otherwise, she would have been stuck back there having the baby. Esme says, Trina was in the back room right before they were, right? and Trina says, she had to get the check and the flowers for Mr. Sartore. Spencer says, it’s lucky Trina didn’t get stuck back there with them. That would have been awful. Esme says, I know, right? It’s terrible.

Olivia and Ned go down to the docks, and call for Leo. Olivia asks if he really thinks Leo would come there; it’s so dark and scary. They shine their flashlights around, and see Leo, lying on the ground.

Sonny says, a clean slate’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and she says, she had a lot of time in prison to sit around and catalog her mistakes. She thinks it would be good to forget all that, but he says, he didn’t just forget all his mistakes. He forgot all the good things; his wife, his kids, her. He knows she doesn’t know Lenny and Phyllis, but they were great. They took him in. He was real happy in Nixon Falls, but then he got his memory back, and he couldn’t run fast enough to get home. She says she gets that. She wouldn’t want to forget her daughters. Her love life is an entirely different story. The last two alone; one tried to kill her, and the other one died in her bed. Who’d want to remember that? He says, think of it this way, it’s got to be better next time, right? She laughs, and says, not really. It’s so cute that he thinks there’s going to be a next time. She’s done. He tells her, if she says so, and she says she does. Actually, she should start looking for love, because he knows the saying, when you stop looking for love is when you find it.

Willow says, Wiley remembers Cindy from daycare, right? She’s going to take him to see Tom the Turkey, while she and Grandma Nina have a little chat. Cindy takes Wiley, and Nina thanks Willow. Willow says she did it for Wiley, and Nina says she knows. She just hopes Michael isn’t too angry when he hears. Willow says, just so Nina knows, she agrees with Michael about her not seeing Wiley, at least not right now. But chances are, their paths are going to cross from time to time, and she didn’t see the point in dragging Wiley away when he was so happy to see her. He misses his grandma. Nina says she missed him too, and Willow says, he also missed Sonny when he was gone. Nina says, of course (🍷). She just wants Willow to know that she’s very grateful for whatever time she can spend with Wiley. Willow says she really hates what Nina did, and doesn’t know if she can forgive Nina for it, but she’s also not going to make Wiley pay for Nina’s actions.

Carly isn’t sure she understands the question, and Phyllis says, she certainly doesn’t expect Carly to forgive Nina, but hopes Carly moves on for her own sake. Carly says that’s really hard for her, and Phyllis says she knows, but it seems Carly’s anger at Nina is only hurting her. Carly says, Nina stole more than time with her husband. She’s known Sonny for decades. She knows him better than anyone, and now, thanks to Nina, there’s a nine-month gap where Sonny was someone else; some guy named Mike. And she’s never going to know that guy. There’s a part of Sonny’s life where he’s a stranger to her, and she hates that. Phyllis says, of course (🍷) she does, but even though that gap exists, it doesn’t mean Carly has to get stuck in it. Carly says, it would be a lot easier if Nina left Port Charles; if her offices weren’t in Carly’s hotel. Phyllis says she understands Sonny spoke to Nina, told her to steer clear of him and his family. Carly says, yeah, and Phyllis says, has Nina complied? Carly says, more or less. She’s Nina’s landlord; they’re bound to cross paths. Phyllis says, it seems to her that both Sonny and Nina are trying to move forward. Can Carly try as well?

Gladys comes into the hospital, and Brando tells her that Dr. Navarro is in with Sasha. Gladys wants to see her, but Brando suggests they give her some privacy. She says, sorry; he’s right. She’s just so excited. A baby. Have they thought of any names yet? Please tell her that they’re not naming the kid Feather, or Storm, or some wacky thing with all consonants. He says, she’ll just have to wait and see, and she says, so everyone tells her. How’s Sasha doing? He says, the contractions are coming faster now. He hopes she’s not in labor long. Gladys asks if he has someplace to be, and he says, no, but it’s hard to wait, especially when he can’t do anything. She says, is he kidding? He’s done plenty already. Sasha needs to be alone; he’s leaving her alone. He’ll be right by her side when she needs him close, and when the baby does come, he’ll be right there, holding her hand. Just be careful. Sometimes, women squeeze so hard, they can break your hand. He says, it’ll be worth it, and she says, at least he’s in the hospital. No place better, right? He says, that’s one way to look at it, and she says she can always find the silver lining. She meant to ask him. He said the door of the back room at the gallery was wedged shut? He says, it was, and she says, like someone was locking them in there on purpose. He says, it was definitely put there on purpose. Whoever did it, probably thought there wasn’t anyone inside. She says, maybe, and he asks why anyone would want to lock her and Sasha inside? She says she has some ideas.

Olivia and Ned run to Leo, and help him up. Olivia asks, what happened? Talk to her. Ned examines Leo’s head, and says, no bump, and Leo repeats, no bump. Olivia asks what Leo was thinking, wandering away from the gallery all by himself? Dante and Brook join them, and Brook says, thank God. Dante asks if Leo is okay, and Ned says, he doesn’t appear to be injured. He was just lying on his stomach by the edge of the dock. Brook asks, what happened? and Ned says he doesn’t know. He asks Leo to look at him, and asks what Leo was doing down by the docks. Leo says, looking for an octopus, and Olivia says, in the dark by himself? He doesn’t have a jacket. Isn’t he cold? Leo says he likes it there, and Brook asks if he was trying to find an octopus like the one in the picture. Olivia says, he can’t just wander off by himself like that; it’s dangerous. They were all frantic about him. Can he see how scared she is?

Brando asks Sasha what the doctor said, and she tells him, she’s only two centimeters dilated, so it’s going to be a while. He sits, and says he’s just sorry he wasn’t there to help. Sasha says she’s glad he wasn’t stuck in there with them. They might have never gotten out. He hopes his mother didn’t make things worse, and she says, actually, Gladys was really helpful. He says, Gladys who? and Sasha says, Gladys kept her cool, and kept her calm. He says, will wonders never cease? Gladys comes in with a bunch of magazines, and says she brought them some distractions. They can catch up on celebrity dirt while waiting for the kid to arrive. Sasha thanks her, saying, it’s exactly what she needed. Gladys says, of course (🍷) it is. Now let’s get this show on the road. She’s ready to be the best grandma ever.

Nina says she noticed Willow wasn’t at the courthouse with Michael when she got extradited to Pennsylvania, and Willow says, she didn’t know. Nina asks if Willow would have gone along with him if she’d known, and Willow tells her, all she can say is, she understands Michael’s anger; his need to make Nina answer for what she did. Nina says, Michael has every right to be angry. If she were him, she’d have a hard time forgiving her too. Willow says, the way she sees it, the court will decide Nina’s punishment, and that’ll be that. Nina hopes she’s not causing any problems between Willow and Michael, and Willow says she isn’t. Whatever happens between her and Michael, has nothing to do with Nina. Nina says, of course (🍷). It’s just that she’s truly sorry if she caused them pain. Willow says, Nina kept her son’s grandfather from him, and lied to their faces about it. She’s not ready to hear Nina’s apology. Nina says she never intended to hurt anyone. She just wasn’t thinking about the children. She would never intentionally hurt a child. She just wasn’t thinking. Willow says, and now everyone is paying the price.

Ava says, good news. Leo’s been found, and he’s okay. Trina asks, where was he? and Ava says, down by the harbor. Trina says, he walked all the way there on his own? In the dark? Ava says, terrifying, isn’t it? There’s really nothing worse than thinking your child is in danger. She looks at Spencer.

Austin wonders if he can ask Maxie a question; it might be kind of sensitive. She says, that depends; what’s the question? He says, seeing Sasha come in to deliver a baby, did she think of Louise? More than she usually does? Maxie says, yeah. Seeing Sasha go into labor definitely brought back memories, but at least Sasha gets to have her baby in the hospital. She didn’t have that luxury with Louise. Or James. He says he has every faith Louise will be returned to her, and she says she misses Louise very much, but just wants her to be safe. He says he’s sorry. She has a very soft heart. She says, she didn’t used to. She’s not even sure she does now. What makes him say that? He says, for one thing, she seems to want everybody to get along, and she says, why bring more discord into a world that already has enough? He says, fair enough. He won’t be unkind to Gladys, but he won’t go out of his way to see her. She thinks that’s best for everyone, but he says he’ll have to take her word on that. Can he ask her another question? She says, how sensitive is this one? and he says, kinda sensitive. Before Sasha came in here, Maxie was saying that if he didn’t get along with Brook, somehow she’d be collateral damage. What does she mean by that?

Dante asks how Ned knew to look down at the docks, and Ned says he was doing some reading about children on the autism spectrum. Many of them are really attracted to water. First responders are taught to search the nearest body of water whenever a child with autism goes missing. Dante says, that’s true, and puts his arm around Olivia. He says he’s going to check on his little brother, and goes over to where Brook is sitting with Leo. Ned asks if Olivia is all right, but she says, no. She’s nowhere near all right. He tells her, he’s not saying Leo is definitely on the spectrum… and she says, they wouldn’t have known where to look for him. She starts to cry, and says she’s scared. He holds her, and says, he’s right here.

Gladys says, can you believe it? Two of he most beautiful, highest paid people in the world fighting over who gets more from the sale of their chateau. Brando tells Sasha to breathe, and she says she thinks she’s good. He asks if she’s sure, and she nods. Gladys says, that was a doozy. Distraction. They spotted him with his ex-wife. Brando tells her, Sasha’s tired, and Gladys says, and? He says he thinks Sasha needs some quiet, and the lightbulb comes on. Gladys says she’ll go grab a coffee or something. She’ll let them relax, but don’t worry; she’ll be back. Sasha says she wouldn’t have it any other way, and Brando closes the door, saying, she’s gone. Sasha says, thank God. She feels bad saying it, because Gladys was very helpful today… He says, but she’s his mom, and she says, exactly. He says, now that they’re finally alone, he can tell her. He read the email. She says he couldn’t stand the suspense, huh? He says he would have been thrilled either way, but now – he takes her hands – he can’t wait to meet their son.

Spencer tells Esme, what a great night, even if it was here. He’s so happy for Trina. Esme turns around, staring daggers at Trina, and says, her too. Can they go now? She really wants to be alone with him. She kisses him, and Trina sees.

Maxie tells Austen, she’s just looking out for her friend, and he says, she’s only a recent friend, right? She says, so? He’s only a recent friend, and she looked out for him with Chase. He says she told him once that she and Brook used to be enemies. What does she care if Brook gets some well-deserved payback? She says, please. She needs him to trust her when she asks him to just let this go. For her sake. He asks if she and Brook are in some kind of trouble.

Brook tells Leo, the next time he wants to see some marine life, she’ll just take him to the aquarium. Okay, little bro? They hear a siren, and Leo yells out, and covers his ears. Dante says, it’s just a police car, and Brook says, Leo’s been through a lot tonight. Olivia thanks Ned for being there for her tonight, and he says, always. She says she has to get Leo home. Is he coming? She holds out her hand, and he takes it. She says, they’ve got a lot to talk about.

Brando says, the contractions are getting closer together, and Sasha says, this is really happening. Is he ready? He says he’s ready, and kisses her hand.

Brook calls Gladys, and asks her to listen. Gladys says, Brook made a huge mistake. Her grandkid could have gotten hurt. Brook says she doesn’t know what Gladys talking about, but she needs to listen. She has an offer for Gladys. Gladys says, too little, too late, because Brook went too far. Whatever happens next, is on her. Brook says she doesn’t know what Gladys thinks she did, and Gladys hangs up.

Sonny says it’s really good to see Alexis. She says, it’s good to see him too. As for his respite in Nixon Falls, she hopes he doesn’t miss it too much. She tickles his stomach, and leaves.

Willow tells Wiley, time to go, and Nina thanks her for her compassion. Willow says, she just wants what’s best for Wiley, and Nina tells Wiley that she loves him so much. It was great to spend time with him and talk with him. She asks for a hug, and Wiley hugs her. Carly comes along and sees them.

Tomorrow, Willow says it isn’t someone’s decision to make (my guess: Carly), Sasha advises Brando against something, Maxie asks what Austin thinks she and Brook are up to, Carly asks what it’s going to take to keep Nina away from Wiley, and Jason is told, time’s up.

Winter House

I immediately got a headache with everyone yelling, wazzup? Paige told Andrea that Amanda said he wanted to stay a single guy, and he said he wanted to go home knowing he’d met a cool chick he wanted to see again. He wasn’t pulling out a ring after five days. In Paige’s interview, she said, she didn’t love that he wanted to leave being a single guy, but dating after knowing each other two weeks was crazy. I think she might have that backwards. I can see dating after two weeks, but not being exclusive. Andrea said he was old school, and wanted to get to know someone. He didn’t get why everyone wanted to make a big deal out of it. Kyle was passed out, and the girls threw Jenga blocks on him. Austen and Ciara, and Paige and Andrea all got in the same bed, and fell asleep, Andrea eventually tip-toeing out.

In Lindsay’s interview, she said, Jason was hot AF and could cook. He’d been there the whole time, and she’d been distracted by idiots. Kyle said his parents were joining them on the slopes, and in Amanda’s interview, she said she’d been a pro skier in her mind in middle school, and then forgot about it until she met Kyle. He came from a family skiers, and it was a lot of pressure. His grandmother had been in the 1940 Olympics, and his parents had met on a blind skiing date. Luke tapped a tree, and said he might as well, since he wasn’t going to be tapping anything else. They headed out to ski and snowboard, Jason saying he wanted radical it up. Those lifts scare TF out of me. Why don’t they have seatbelts? In Gabby’s interview, she said she’d been rejected, and we flashed back to her telling Luke that she wanted him inside her, and him sending her immediately to the friendzone. Seriously though, who says something like that ten minutes after meeting someone? She said she was resetting her mind. She was the Lone Ranger.

Kyle’s mom thought Amanda did fantastic; Kyle, not so much, since he fell at every turn. The girls went to have alcohol, while the dudes got more skiing in – real skiing, as they put it. In Paige’s interview, she wanted to be able to go back home saying, at least I didn’t sleep with him, in case things didn’t work out with Andrea. In Ciara’s interview, she claimed she never had feelings for anyone the way she did for Austen. She thought she could fall for him. In Jason’s interview, he said he was scared when he met Lindsay, but it was a treat. He loved a strong women. There was going to be no sleeping on this trip. Julia got flowers, chocolates, and a bear from her boyfriend, who missed her. No offense to him, but how cliché, and he’s 42. Come on. He can do better. In Craig’s interview, he said there were times he wished Natalie was there, but he was enjoying being by himself. He was in a weird headspace. When hasn’t Craig been in a weird headspace? And can we stop using the word headspace? Austen went to Ciara’s room, and covered the camera.

In Kyle’s interview, he said he partied a lot, but worked even more. He worked hard, so when he partied, it was going to be extreme. Ciara said she was a smitten kitten, and Austen brought her coffee in the morning. Andrea did the same for Paige. Viking hats were passed out, some with braids, and in Luke’s interview, he said, he grew up in Minnesota around a lot of Scandinavian people, and did a lot of outdoor winter activities. He wanted to get everyone outdoors in the elements. Kyle said, welcome to the first annual Nordic games. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it would be worth it. Luke led The Great Heathen Army team, and Jason led The Skull Crushers. It was no Squid Games, but actually kind of fun to watch them do things like log throwing and tug-of-war. To keep with the theme of adolescent idiocy, Ciara wore a bikini, and Gabby was also scantily clad. After the games, it was on to the hot tub.

Austen got a text, and was all, WTF? Then went off to his room, saying, leave me alone, to no one. Everyone got ready for what Kyle called a nice Viking dinner. Kyle danced, shirtless, in front of the mirror, singing, let’s work it, reminding me why I hate this show. Amanda wondered if Jason was for real, and told Julia that she wanted to make sure he was being genuine. Julia personally endorsed him, and in her interview, she said, it was hard to be without her boyfriend in a party house. Austen told Craig that someone had reached out to him, telling him that Madison had gone to the hospital. He unblocked her, and she’d texted him that she’d had a seizure while she was cooking, and Hudson called the ambulance. He asked if she was okay, and she said she was. He told Craig, WTF? His life was wonderful, and he’d met a great girl who was all about it. Craig said Madison had made Austen start doubting himself, and she was a bad person. I have to agree with that one. In Craig’s interview, he said, Madison’s biggest pleasure in life is putting Austen though hell, and we flashed back to that. He said, Austen was finally getting over her and moving on, but somehow this evil sorcerer will never let him go. Andrea joined them, and Austen said, Madison had texted, please tell me you haven’t moved on. Ciara knocked at the door, and Craig said, go away.

Ciara reported back, and Paige said she thought the boys were weird right now. Austen not coming in the hot tub gave her a weird feeling. Andrea said Austen had to move on, and Craig asked if Austen wanted to be a pawn. Austen wondered if he should say anything to Ciara, since he didn’t want to scare her off, but Craig said he couldn’t be honest about this. After the guys were done with their confab, Paige tried to pump Andrea for information, but he said he had no gossip. The conversation was all about how much Austen liked Ciara. In Andrea’s interview, he said, it wasn’t his secret to share. He respected the bro code. In Paige’s interview, she said she hated the whole male species, because they lie. The obligatory turkey legs were served, deep fried. They lifted the turkey legs in the air, and Craig said it was the best cooked meat he’d ever had in his life. Julia asked what Andrea’s intentions were with her girl, and Austen told her, shut up. That was the dumbest thing he ever heard in his life. All this did was put the focus on him, and Amanda asked Austen where it was going with Ciara. Austen got crazy pissed off, and Julia asked why he was mad. If Andrea and Paige were okay with it, why was he angry?

Kyle stood up, and said, nothing shouts Viking like a tri-colored carrot. Paige and Ciara talked in the kitchen, and Julia and Craig talked in the bathroom. Kyle told Jason that he crushed it. I’m always obsessed with the food on these reality shows, but the food is pretty much the only good thing on this show. Jason is impressive. I think he can do much better than Lindsay. Ciara said Austen was weirding her out, and he told her that he’d gotten out of something 4/5 months ago; it was haunting him. He was messed up from it, and wanted to be honest with her. She wondered why he was telling her now, and asked if something had set it off. Were he and his ex still in communication?

Next time, the finale 🎉 doing the limbo (never a good combination with drinking), Lindsay wants to kidnap Jason, Austen says he’s not in a place to be exclusive, Austen yells at Amanda while wearing a tutu and a giant earring (not a very effective costume for being taken seriously), and Julia says she’ll just be eating cheese while they all fight. You don’t think they’ll have a Holiday House, do you?

🧂 Pass the Salt…

What happened on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City.

https://ew.com/tv/recaps/the-real-housewives-of-salt-lake-city-season-2-episode-10/

🕶 Memory Lane…

Teresa throws shade at her SIL.

🛳 They’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat…

All about The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.

The villa:

https://people.com/home/real-housewives-ultimate-girls-trip-triton-luxury-villa/

The Countess:

https://www.etonline.com/rhugts-luann-de-lesseps-on-introducing-other-housewives-to-the-ramona-coaster-and-the-future-of

Ridiculous Ramona:

https://radaronline.com/p/ramona-singer-kenya-moore-porsha-williams-name-rhugt-racist/

🐑 Sheep In the Distance…

Come on down tomorrow for soap and whatever’s on the Runway. Until then, stay safe, stay being dependable, and stay wanting everyone to get along. Why bring more discord into a world that already has enough?

November 12, 2021 – Chase Starts To Figure It Out, G’Day Mate, a Patriarch Departs, Returning Wife, Freed, Quantum Goodbye, More Games, a Balanced Number Of Quotes & Rose Hip

Standard

What I Watched Today

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

General Hospital

Sonny sees Spencer at Kelly’s, and says, when Josslyn told him Spencer was getting a job there, he almost didn’t believe her. He’s a workin’ man. Congratulations. Spencer says, congratulations for what? Having a job that needs no experience, and pays accordingly? Sonny says, everybody’s got to start somewhere. He didn’t start at the top. But he’s working; how does it feel? Spencer says, like the worst mistake he ever made in his life.

At the hospital. Maxie says, good morning, to Austin. He returns the greeting, and asks what she’s doing there. Wasn’t she there last night? She says she was, but Bobbie’s car broke down, and she gave her a ride. She thought since she was in the building, she’d say hello, but if he’s busy… He says he’s sorry. He had a really terrible night last night, but it’s nice to see her. Chase walks in and says, Maxie’s saved him a trip to the Deception office. He needs to speak with her and Austin. Austin says they’re kind of in the middle of something, and Chase says, something more important than finding Maxie’s missing daughter?

Valentin flashes back to Austin telling him that Gladys thinks Brook is pulling a scam on him. Gladys comes to his room, and asks how he does it. He must be exhausted, but still looks incredibly handsome. He tells her, what can he say? When she’s around, he perks right up.

Portia goes to The Savoy, and Curtis tells her, good morning, and kisses her. She says, it is now. She’s so happy for him. The audience reaction to the artist was amazing. The Savoy was already on its way to being one of the best spots in town, but last night kicked it into another gear. Curtis says, in more ways than one, and she asks what he means. He says, he may have some unwanted help he needs to get rid of.

At the gallery, Trina gives Ned a flyer for the Photo Ark exhibit. She says, it’s the same ad that’s been running online for weeks (weeks?), but she wanted him to see a hard copy. He says, it looks terrific, and thanks her again for bringing the project to his attention. She says she should be thanking him and ELQ for underwriting the exhibit. It’s so important to her, and she’s thrilled they get to be the gallery that displays it to the people of Port Charles. He says, when you run a large organization, you’re constantly approached for donations because people know they’re tax deductible. It’s always nice when the project is so well-intentioned. He’s proud to see ELQ involved with this. She says he’s also doing this for his wife, right? Because Olivia is a big animal lover? Trina bets he can’t wait to see her face when he brings her tonight.

Olivia looks at the painting Ned gave her, and wonders where she’s going to hang it. Robert comes in, saying, a large gentleman from Belarus said he could come in. He hopes it’s okay. She says, much better than okay, and hugs him. She can’t believe Ned punched him over a stupid, meaningless little kiss. He says, let’s be realistic. That kiss was anything but meaningless.

Chase wants to ask Maxie and Austin questions about the night Louise was kidnapped, and Maxie says they’ve already given statements, and answered a bunch of questions. Chase says, that was before Peter resurfaced, and said he has no idea where his daughter is. That brings them back to square one. Their best shot to find Maxie’s daughter is to revisit the night she was born. Since fake nurse Chloe is dead, that leaves the two of them. Austin asks how he knows Peter’s not lying, and Chase says, Nina said Peter was blackmailing her to find Louise. It doesn’t sound like something he would do if he was lying. Austin says, Peter is malignant and ruthless. There isn’t anything he wouldn’t say or do to pursue his own agenda. Chase says, that sounds like someone else he knows, and Maxie says, okay, that’s enough. She can see Chase is letting his personal feelings color his investigation. Does she need to report him to Mac?

Valentin asks why Gladys would be surprised that he delights in the pleasure of her company. Gladys says she didn’t know how he’d be feeling… physically, and he says he’s a little over being stuck in this hospital bed, so why doesn’t she stick around and entertain him? He’s got nothing but time; tell him a story. She says she’s happy to help him fill some time, and closes the door. She sits next to the bed, and says she’s got a terrific story about her neighbor Ethel’s cousin… but he says, no. Tell him a work story. She says she answers phones for Miss Bossy Pants. She doesn’t do anything as important as him. He says, they both know the assistant knows where all the bodies are buried.

At the Bistro, Brook asks Ned what the plan is for the ELQ vote next week. He asks if she can give him five minutes until the caffeine kicks in, but she says, it’s too important to wait. He says he has plenty of time to strategize over the next week, especially now that Austin has withdrawn his claim to the ELQ shares. The last major threat is gone. She says, Valentin Cassadine is the major threat. You’d better believe he’s spending all this time figuring out how to outmaneuver them. He says, last he checked, Valentin was recovering at GH, and she says, so? That just means he has nothing but time to figure out a way to beat them. Don’t pop the champagne just yet. He says, good point. He’ll call Michael again. She says, he seems distracted, but he says he’s fine. She says, tell his face that. He hasn’t cracked a smile yet. Does this have anything to do with Olivia? He says he walked in on her kissing Robert Scorpio. She says, oh no. Is he sure he didn’t misinterpret it? He says, no, but of course (🍷) he reacted like a jealous fool, and punched Robert in the face, for all the good it did. He thinks it’s time to face the fact his marriage is over.

Robert tells Olivia, they’re friends, good friends. But there’s also something more. It’s a pull, and attraction, call it whatever you like, but now that she kissed him, they can’t deny this any longer. She says he’s right, and going to Monte Carlo with him just made it stronger. He says he woudn’t have called her if he’d known she and Ned were having problems back then, and she says, she and Ned have been having problems for a while. He says he can’t help but notice, they’re drawn to each other when she’s having issues, and she asks what he’s saying. He says she seems to use him not to deal with stuff with Nedly.

Portia asks if Curtis still thinks Linc showing up wasn’t a coincidence, and he says, he’s convinced someone sent him there as a front. Think about this. The band he originally scheduled, cancels out of nowhere with a flimsy excuse. According to Brook, Linc is a pariah in Port Charles, and he shows up with an artist that’s eager to perform in a club that was recently in the news for mob activity. Portia says, when he puts it all together, it sounds way too convenient, and he says, someone must want him to owe Linc a favor. She asks who he thinks might have sent Linc, and he says he thinks it’s like Dante warned. He believes the mob is trying to get a foothold in The Savoy.

Sitting at a table, Sonny asks what prompted Spencer to get the job, and Spencer says his dad put Ava in charge of his trust. He refuses to be under her thumb, so he renounced his inheritance, and all that goes with being a Cassadine, including his father. Sonny says he respects Spencer’s decision not to take the easy way out; he’s being his own person. That’s amazing. He’s proud of Spencer. Spencer says, don’t be too proud. He was thisclose to crawling back to his father, and telling him and Ava whatever they wanted to hear, doing whatever they wanted. Sonny asks, what stopped him? and Spencer says, a friend called him out.

Trina puts out companion books to the exhibit, when Esme walks in, and says, this is so exciting. Trina says she still has a lot to set up for the show tonight, and Esme says she’s so stoked. She’ll be there to cheer Trina on, since she has it all mapped out; it’s Disney+ day, so they’re going to be watching Jungle Cruise. (Plugging the parent company, I see.) Trina says, really? Us too. Esme says, us? and Trina says, her and Joss, maybe Cam. After the exhibit, they’re going back to their dorm room, microwave some popcorn, kick back, and stream the movie. It’s a good way to decompress. Esme says she and Spence are going to watch the movie before the exhibit. Interesting how their plans are the opposite. Trina tells Esme, she wouldn’t say the opposite, but Esme says, she would, which is probably for the best. She and Spence need to do their own thing. Trina says, well, enjoy the movie; she still has a lot to set up. Esme says, if Trina doesn’t mind, she just has one question first. She needs to know exactly what’s going on between Trina and Spencer.

Sonny asks what Spencer’s friend said to make him change his mind, and Spencer says, she made him realize he really does value his self-respect, which is a lot more compelling in theory than the reality of working an eight-hour shift there. Part of him wonders if he should just go back to his father and play nice. It’s just that every time he shows up there, he can’t help but feel, whose life is this? Sonny says, Carly caught him up on everything when he was gone. Spencer’s life now is at Kelly’s because of the decisions he made, good or bad. He has to own up to that, and when he does, then he can figure out where he goes from there.

Trina asks what Esme is talking about; nothing is going on between her and Spencer. Esme says, all she knows, is Spencer gave up his trust fund, and severed all ties with his father. All because of Trina. That doesn’t sound like nothing to her. Trina says she didn’t stick her nose in Spencer’s business. He purposely sought her out, asked for advice, and she gave it. That’s it. Whatever Spencer decided to do, that’s on him. He makes his own decisions. Esme says, not when it comes to Trina. Spence seems to be taking her advice a lot these days. She can’t help but wonder. Is Trina trying to steal her boyfriend?

Chase says, he knows it’s traumatizing for Maxie, but truly believes the only way they’ll solve the case is to revisit the night she gave birth. But if she’s not ready to do that, he understands. Austin says he can’t speak for Maxie, but he’s ready to do it. Maxie says he doesn’t have to, but he says there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to help her find Louise. Chase thanks him, and says he appreciates Austin’s cooperation. He tells Maxie that she can go, but Maxie says, that’s not going to happen. Someone needs to keep Chase in line. Austin says, go ahead; ask away.

Gladys says Valentin is right. As Brook’s executive assistant, she’s privy to sensitive information that most of the other office drones know nothing about. He asks if it’s sensitive information he should know something about, but she says he has his own assistant, doesn’t he? If he or she isn’t keeping him well-informed, maybe it’s time to find a new one. He could always poach her from Brook. He says, last time she was there, she said she had something important to tell him, then Brook came in and ushered her right out. Brook’s not here now. What did she want to say? She says, it was nothing important… She can’t tell him, because if she does, somebody could get hurt.

Olivia tells Robert, she’s tired of fighting. She just wants to be happy. Is that so wrong? He says, of course (🍷) not – they sit – but she’s not going to find it with him. She says, he makes her laugh, and she knows he cares about her. He says,  both true, but she’s made no secret of the fact she’s followed his career. She likes the adventure and danger. In her eyes, he’s this hero, this larger than life character, this ideal. She says, he knows that’s just a bunch of BS. She sees him as a real person. She sees him as her friend. He asks if she’s telling him, when Ned doesn’t provide her with what she requires at home, she doesn’t turn to him, this fantasy figure? This thing too good to be true? She asks why she wouldn’t want a partner she can count on standing be her side. After everything she’s been through in this life, doesn’t she deserve that? He says, all that and more, and she says she doesn’t get that from Ned. She can’t rely on Ned anymore.

Portia says, Curtis opened the club because he was looking for a fresh start; as a way to leave behind all the danger and violence of his life as a P.I. Now it seems like that danger is knocking on his door again. He says he’s going to slam the door in danger’s face, and she says, how? She knows he likes Sonny and Jason, but if he asks for their protection, this place will still be known for its mob connections. He says he left a message for Linc to call him back. The first thing he needs to know is who Linc is working for. She hopes he finds out. She sees how hard he works for this place. She hates that someone is trying to corrupt it. He takes her hands, and says she’s adorable. She’s been his biggest cheerleader for The Savoy, ever since the first time they came there on Valentin’s Day for one of his last P.I. cases. She says, of course (🍷) she supports him. She sees how happy this place has made him, and hates that someone is trying to come in and disturb the peace he’s found. He says, this is his baby, and he’ll put a stop to anyone who tries to take what’s his.

Ned thanks Brook for the vote of confidence, and she says, they live in the same house. She’s watched him and Olivia over the past few months, and they seemed to be falling back in love. He’s just going to throw in the towel because their problems haven’t gone away? Nobody’s problems just disappear; that’s called being in a relationship, isn’t it? He says he thought they were both fighting for their marriage. Then he suggested they take Leo to a specialist, and Olivia shuts him out. That is not the sign of a healing marriage. From Olivia’s point-of-view, because he didn’t rubber stamp her beliefs, he’s not supporting her. She can’t see he’s only trying to help Leo. He loves that little boy. She asks if it’s occurred to him that maybe Olivia doesn’t need him to solve this problem, and he asks, how can she if she’s not even open to the possibility that Leo might have an issue? Brook says she hasn’t been a mother long, but if a doctor said something was wrong with Bailey, her first reaction would be to be scared. They all know Olivia is a terrific mother. Instead of telling what do, and leaping into action, maybe he should try just listening to her. Help her face whatever fears she’s having. He says, how can he when Olivia goes running off to Robert the first chance she gets? She says, Olivia is his wife, not Robert’s. He has to figure this thing out, or is he telling her that he’d be okay with losing Olivia?

Olivia tells Robert that she’s felt alone so many times in this marriage. When Valentin was trying a hostile takeover of ELQ, Ned just kept putting the company in front of his family, and had the nerve to be angry with her for going to Europe to try and save her own son, when Ned’s daughter was in the hospital at the same time. Then he wrongly assumes they’re having some kind of affair. Does he give her the benefit of the doubt? Does he ask her? No. He jumps right in bed with Alexis. Robert says he thought they worked that out, and she says, they tried. For a while, it seemed like Ned was becoming a man she could trust again, then this whole thing with Leo happens, and once again, he can’t take her side. He says, Ned thinks the world of Leo, and she says, that’s not in question. He’s not being a partner to her. Robert asks, is that the problem? From where he’s standing, it looks like she’s scared.

Spencer tells Sonny, he knows he made a mistake, and he’s paying for it now. He has this humiliating minimum wage job. He turned down Ava’s horrible deal, which would have made his life much easier, but he didn’t want to be under Ava’s control. He feels like he’s doing a pretty good job of manning up here. What else can he do to prove it to Sonny? Sonny says, Spencer broke his trust. It’s going to take a while to get it back. Spencer says, really? That’s all Sonny has to say? Sonny’s not even going to give him a hint where to start? Sonny tells him, stop looking for shortcuts. He always felt Spencer’s father gave him too many privileges. This isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about working hard. He’s got to get used to that.

Valentin asks Gladys, who will get hurt? and she says, she just means gossip in general. When people say things they shouldn’t, others can get hurt. He says, no. The other day, she had something specific to tell him, and Brook rushed her away. Does it have something to do with Brook? Is it something that concerns him? She says, he totally misunderstood what she was saying, and he says he doesn’t know why she’s being evasive, but there’s something she should know. He can be very generous to those who are kind enough to help him. She says, good to know, and he says, likewise, he can be very uncharitable to those who cross him. She needs to ask herself, does she want to be on his bad side?

Portia goes to get some sparkling water, and sees the sketch. She asks Curtis, what happened with that mystery man TJ’s patient who ran into her, and also came there, always asking questions about Curtis? Did he ever show up again? He says not that he’s aware of; why? She says she doesn’t know if it’s worth mentioning. She has no proof; it’s just a feeling. He says he’s a big believer in feelings. Go ahead. She says, a man shows up asking questions about him, and now the mob seems to be making a move on The Savoy. Could they be related? He says he just doesn’t know. According to Nika, the man asked just as many questions about live music as he did about him. On the other hand, he can’t rule anything out. She says she’s got to go to work, but please be careful. He says she knows he will, and she kisses him goodbye. She leaves, and Curtis’s phone rings. He thanks Linc for getting back to him so soon. Linc says, congratulations on his big success last night. It’s all over social media. Curtis says he noticed that. He couldn’t have done anything without Linc’s last minute save. Linc says, The Savoy’s a great spot. His guy really loved playing there. He’s just happy he could connect the two of them. Curtis says, that’s exactly why he called. Why doesn’t Linc come to The Savoy, and they can discuss a potential future partnership?

Sonny tells Spencer, there’s always more than one option in life. Has he considered apologizing to Ava? Spencer says, Sonny did not just suggest that, and Sonny says she’s not his favorite person in the world, but she is the mother of his daughter. It’s not about Ava; it’s about Spencer. Spencer says, so Sonny is saying, if he apologizes to Ava, he’ll trust him again? but Sonny says, this isn’t a transaction. If Spencer apologizes to Ava, he has to do it sincerely because he messed up and he’s going to own up to that. Spencer says he has owned up to it, but Sonny says, Spencer’s behavior has hurt a lot of people, including his daughter. Spencer’s not a kid anymore. He can’t just excuse everything away. He knows better than that, because if he doesn’t, Sonny can’t help him.

Gladys says, if she didn’t know any better, she’d say Valentin was threatening her. He says he doesn’t want to threaten her, but this is her last chance. Please tell him what she knows. She tells him, she’ll say this much; he shouldn’t trust Brook. He says, why not? but she tells him, that’s all she can say. He says, then she disappoints him. Chase comes to the room, and says if Valentin is up for it, he has a few questions. Gladys says, good timing. She and Valentin are done. She jets, and Chase asks if he wants to know. Valentin says, must be happy hour somewhere. What can he do for Chase? Chase asks how well Valentin knows Austin.

Austin says Maxie really went after Chase. He’s only trying to do his job. She says she thinks Chase is a good guy. She’s just sick of everyone being suspicious of Austin. It’s frustrating. Her baby is out there somewhere, and the police are focusing on the wrong guy. He thanks her, and says he’s lucky to have her in his corner. She says, likewise, and Austin sees Gladys waiting for the elevator. He asks if she’s okay, and she says she had the worst morning. He says he’s sorry to hear that. Does she want to get some coffee, and tell him all about it? She says, not today; she has a lot on her plate. Maxie asks if Brook knows she’s not at the office, and Gladys tells her to try lightening up, or she’s going to need a ton of Deception’s wrinkle cream. She gets in the elevator, and Maxie says she didn’t know Austin was friends with Gladys.

Ned tells Brook, of course (🍷) he doesn’t want his marriage to end. He loves Olivia, but if they can’t get on the same page, what chance do they have? She says she knows he wants what’s best for Leo, and so does Olivia. Maybe they could come together on that common ground, and go from there. He says, it takes two people to make a marriage work. He’s beginning to wonder if Olivia’s heart just isn’t in it anymore.

Olivia tells Robert, the only thing she’s afraid of is spending the rest of her life in a marriage with a partner who doesn’t support or trust her. He says, she doesn’t think for a moment Ned might be thinking the same thing? Think for one minute. What if Ned is right about Leo? Simply do what he suggests, and if he’s wrong, he’ll back off. She says, it doesn’t sound so threatening when he says it like that, and he says, he’s always looked at her as a very brave woman. Is she prepared be wrong in this case? She says she would do anything for Leo, and he says, there she has it. She can be the hero in her own story.

Sonny leaves Kelly’s, and Brook is outside. She hugs him, and says she heard what happened to him. She’s so happy to see him with her own eyes. She’s glad he’s home safe. He says, so is he. Michael told him she had a daughter. She says, Bailey; she’s perfect. Every day she’s changing and discovering something new; Brook can’t keep up. He says, it’s a great age. It’s a magical age. If they’re talking, it’s even better, but you don’t want them to be teenagers, because then they start talking back to you. Brook laughs, and Gladys stands by the gate. He tells Brook to bring Bailey by the house, so he can see her, instead of watching Valentin lurking around. She says he’s got it, and looks over to see Gladys. Sonny follows her gaze, and Gladys smiles broadly.

Chase tells Valentin, now that he’s back to work, he’s looking into Maxie’s baby’s kidnapping. Valentin has done business with Austin; has he ever said anything about the case? Valentin says, Austin was particularly helpful when he and Anna visited Pawtuck, investigating the case. He seemed legitimately interested in helping find Louise. Chase thanks him, and says, if he thinks of anything else, Valentin knows where to find him. Valentin says he’s got it, and Chase wishes him a speedy recovery. Brook would never admit it, but he knows she misses having Valentin around the house. Valentin says he knows Chase and Brook are tight, and he’d never ask Chase to betray her trust, but is she okay? She seems a little frazzled. Chase says, she’s definitely stressed about something. Seeing Linc, her old music producer, at The Savoy last night didn’t help. Valentin says, is he still around? He’s awful. Is she okay? Chase says he stepped in, and kept Linc away from Brook. Valentin says, she gave Yuri the slip, huh? She tends to do that. There was one night she got Yuri to build Bailey’s crib, despite the fact that there was plenty other staff who could have done that. That was the night she snuck out for girls night, and of course (🍷) she ended up giving birth to Bailey in a hotel room. If Yuri had been there, he would have made sure she got to a hospital, and Valentin could have been there for the birth of his daughter, but it didn’t happen. She made sure she was all alone.

Robert says he’ll always be there for Olivia, and they hug. Ned walks in, and Robert says, oops, gotta go, and leaves.

Trina says, steal Esme’s boyfriend? She doesn’t know why Esme thinks that, but no. That’s not her. She and Spence are friends, and that’s it. If Esme has a problem with that, she can take it up with him. Esme says, okay then; they’re good. She feels really silly about how much she needed to hear Trina say that, but Trina understands where she’s coming from, right? Trina says, no, she doesn’t, and Esme says, it’s just that certain friendships can push the boundaries of what’s appropriate and what’s not. Spence talking to her about his inheritance and his dad is just way too intimate. Trina asks if Esme is telling her not to be friends with Spencer, and Esme says, she’s just gently suggesting that the next time Spence tries to engage Trina in such an intimate conversation, just remind him that certain topics are off limits for friends of the opposite sex. Trina says, they’ll have to agree to disagree, because if any friend comes to her with a problem, she’s going to help, no question about it. Because that’s who she is. She walks in the back.

Curtis thanks Linc for coming in, and says he knows Linc is a busy man, so he’ll get to the point. Now that he’s launched The Savoy, things are going well, he’s focusing on his next goal. How to make this the number one place in Port Charles to listen to live music. To do that, he’s going to need help; help from someone like Linc, and his many contacts. Linc says he’d be up for that, and Curtis says, before they enter into a partnership, he needs to know he can trust Linc. So he’s giving Linc the opportunity to tell him anything he needs to know about who he does business with. Linc says, if Curtis doesn’t trust him, he can’t partner with Curtis, and starts to leave. Curtis says he’s not going anywhere until he admits  that he wasn’t here by coincidence the other night; someone sent him. Linc says Curtis is right; he owed someone a favor. That’s all. Curtis asks, who? and Linc says, someone who wants to remain anonymous. Curtis says he used to be a cop; after that, a P.I. He could start going through all the skeletons in Linc’s closet if he wanted to. Why not make it easier on both of them, and just talk to him. Is Linc working with the mob? Linc says, no, absolutely not, and Curtis says, then who sent him? Curtis goes around to the other side of the bar, and gets the sketch. He shows it to Linc, and says, was it this man? Linc doesn’t say anything, and Curtis tells him, he’ll take that as a yes. Obviously, Linc knows this man; who is he? Linc tells Curtis, he can’t say, and Curtis says, Linc told him that he’s not with the mob, so let him tell Linc something. There’s no way he’s going to let some jerk muscle his way in on his business. Linc says, he’s just the messenger, and Curtis slaps the sketch on the bar, and grabs Linc by the lapels. He says, whoever he is, he’s been asking questions about him and his family all over town. Who is he? Marshall yells, let him be. He points to Linc, and says, you, get lost. He tells Curtis, I’m the one you want, my man.

Ned asks what Olivia and Robert were talking about, and Olivia says, they were just clearing the air. He hands her the flyer, and says, there’s an exhibit tonight at the Jerome gallery. It’s being underwritten by ELQ Charities. If she can make it, she should come. She says, ELQ is making a matching donation to the local animal shelter. He says he knows it’s an important charity to her, and leaves. She looks at the painting.

Trina comes back out, and says, Esme’s still here? Esme says, because she wants Trina to know she respects her being such a good friend to Spence, and she appreciates Trina listening to what she had to say. She hopes Trina will think about it. She’ll see her at the show tonight. Break a leg. I’d be afraid Esme meant that literally. Outside, Esme uncurls her palm, and there are bloody crescents where her nails have dug into it.

Gladys says she feels like Sonny has been avoiding her, and Brook says she wonders why. Gladys says, they have to catch up. They have so much to talk about. He suggests she start with her telling Cyrus that he and his family were harboring Dev illegally. She says, it’s just something that came out in conversation, and he says, he bets. He tells Brook to bring Bailey by, and leaves. Brook asks if Gladys really thought Sonny would side with her over his niece.

Austin tells Maxie that he ran into Gladys at The Savoy the other night, and they sat at the bar and chatted. She seems like somebody who could use someone to talk to right now. Maxie says, take her advice, steer clear of Gladys. She’ll do whatever it takes to get ahead. He says, this is kind of ironic, coming from the woman who calls Brook Lyn Quartermaine her BFF. He doesn’t know what Maxie sees in her, but he doesn’t question it; he just accepts it. She can’t afford him the same courtesy? She says, she’s in his corner, remember? Gladys is shady. Austin says, at least she’s up front about it, and walks off.

Brook asks Gladys what that comment to Sonny was about, and Gladys swears she hasn’t told anyone Valentin isn’t Bailey’s father. Brook says, keep it that way, or Pauly’s gonna be pissed. Gladys storms into Kelly’s, and Chase asks, who’s Pauly? Brook turns around to see him standing behind her.

On the phone, Valentin tells Yuri that Brook is in danger from Peter August. It’s imperative that he watch her every move; everyone she sees, everywhere she goes. It’s the only way they’re going to protect her. Valentin is counting on him. He needs to know every last detail of her day.

Brook tells Chase, they were just discussing some Deception business. Just because he’s a detective, doesn’t mean he gets to sneak up on people like that. How long was he standing there? He says he just got here. Why is she lying to him? She says she has no idea what he’s talking about, and he says, she’s lying about the night Bailey was born.

On Monday, Brando tells Gladys that it’s rude to turn down an invitation, Scotty asks if someone wants to walk out of jail free as a bird, Valentin says he and Anna can’t stop from making a deal with the devil, and Curtis wants to know what someone is doing here.

🐨 Where’s Ingo…?

The saga is here and gone. Apparently, it wasn’t the transphobia that got him in the end.

It didn’t help though.

His side.

🥀 Final Bow…

Another soap legend laid to rest.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2021/11/10/jerry-douglas-died-young-and-restless-patriarch-john-abbott/6381565001/

🍊 Like a Bad Penny…

It’s probably like childbirth. She forgot how painful it is, so she’s doing it again.

https://ew.com/tv/real-housewives-of-orange-county-season-16-trailer-heather-dubrow-returns/

And her first order of business.

🦋 Gilded Cage Opened…

Normally, I might not care that much about something like this, but when I heard she had an IUD put in against her will, plus she wanted more children, that was just no. I’m very happy to hear this nightmare is over for her.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/11/12/britney-spears-conservatorship/6379139001/

🏃🏻 Last Leap…

He was one of the busiest men in Hollywood.

🐙 Playing a Second Round…

Contains a SPOILER for the ending of Squid Games, and it’s at the beginning of the article. DO NOT enter here if you’re still contemplating watching it for the first time.

https://ew.com/tv/squid-game-creator-hwang-dong-hyuk-alternate-ending-season-2-plans/

🐣 Quotes of the Week

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time. – John Lubbock

If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people. – Virginia Woolf

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.Dale Carnegie

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else. – Albert Einstein (The first guy to figure out Survivor…)

We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty. – Maya Angelou

You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang in museums, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive. – Merce Cunningham

The old man was nuttier than a squirrel turd. – Little Onion (Joshua Caleb Johnson), The Lord God Bird

Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity. – W. Clement Stone

🦥 Dreaming On…

Time to pull down the blinds on another workweek or just keep doing what you’re doing, if that’s your chosen path. See you at Dead time. Until then, stay safe, stay firm in your ideals, and stay knowing it’s not about shortcuts; it’s about working hard.